Pushing The Limits

by Katie McGarry

So wrong for each other …and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-usin So wrong for each other …and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

 

REVIEW:

 

Have you ever felt that when you read a lot, the chances of finding a book absolutely perfect goes down? Because you feel that you have already read something similar before somewhere.

 

After reading a few such books, I read THIS PARTICULAR BOOK. I can't believe I am almost three years late in doing so. 

 

This book was MORE THAN PERFECT. Rather it pushed the definition of perfect up for me. So unique, so beautiful,  so heart warming, so heart breaking, so romantic, so unforgettable. This book will stay with me forever and I totally get why it got such impressive reviews when it released.

 

The title. Sigh. Pushing the Limits. It perfectly sums the book up.

 

This the story of Echo and Noah, two almost adults with pasts that have scarred them, even literally, presents that frustrate them and futures that seem out of reach.

 

Echo almost died one fateful night but she cannot remember the details and people refuse to tell it to her. But what she does know is that her mother tried to kill her which she does not truly believe. On top of that she lost her brother, her father married her babysitter and her (popular) boyfriend and friends disassociated themselves with her . Now, she stuck with a nosey counsellor, long sleeved t shirts and a strict father's aspirations.

 

Noah. You know every girl wants a bad boy who will be good just for her? Noah happens to lead that line of guys. Eternally grateful to Katy McGarry for creating him <3

At an early age, Noah and his younger brothers lost their parents to fire. Soon after, they were separated and moved into foster care. His experience at his first foster home was bad to say the least. His subsequent  transfers too did nothing for his good. He lost his innocence, acquired an image and supressed his potential. Now, he is stuck with another foster family. He has two best friends who mean the world to him and he would do anything to get custody of his brothers so that he can have a family again.

 

Innocent twisted souls, these two. 

 

Ms Collins, Noah and Echo's counsellor is downright amazing. I could hear 'How to Save a Life' by The Fray playing in the background during her scenes with these two. She makes Echo tutor Noah and in the process, earns their (and mine)trust and love. She is like the fairy godmother of this Cinderella.

 

Pushing the Limits perfectly captures the difficulty in opening up to someone, trusting them, saving them, getting saved and finding peace. Read it. Read it. Read it. Borrow it from me if you want to but read it.

 

RATING:   5/ 5 Stars

 

 

Storm (Elemental #1)

by Brigid Kemmerer

Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they have more power than you dream.

Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—all the ones she doesn't want. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water—just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they have more power than you dream.

Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—all the ones she doesn't want. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water—just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They’re powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life’s at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who’s hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming .

 

Review:

 

This book is awesome from like page 2. Reading it felt like reading the script of a teenaged centric, paranormal tv show that has the potential to become huge.

 

Merrick Brothers Micheal, Gabriel, Nick and Chris have a very strong connection to the four elements earth, fire, air and water respectively. Their connection is so strong that people want them to DIE. (They are jealous.)

 

Our story revolves mainly around the youngest Merrick, Chris. When two bad guys ambush him and beat him up, he is saved by an Aquafina bottle and Becca Chandler, who apparently, has a 'reputation' in school. However, that is not true.

 

And from that time onwards, she ends up getting involved in Elemental business which needless to say is life threatening. Enters new boy slash self defence trainer slash *spoiler* Hunter Garrity. What we get is a love triangle in a backdrop of a very action packed and heart warming plot.

 

The best thing about this book is the relationships between the four brothers. The family vibe. All four of them are so different and you cross your fingers for them. As far as the love story is concerned, I was confused about whom Becca would end up with at the end of the first book but it was sweet. Romantic. Brigid Kemmerer has a very simple yet impactful way of writing that keeps on promising you more and more in the pages to come. And it never disappoints.

This book has everything: love, action, suspense, drama and the x factor!

RATING:  4/5 stars