Stir Me Up
Release Date: 10/01/13
Harlequin Teen
Cami Broussard has her future all figured out. She'll finish her senior year of high school, then go to work full-time as an apprentice chef in her father's French restaurant, alongside her boyfriend, Luke. But then twenty-year-old ex-Marine Julian Wyatt comes to live with Cami's family while recovering from serious injuries. And suddenly Cami finds herself questioning everything she thought she wanted.
Julian's all attitude, challenges and intense green-brown eyes. But beneath that abrasive exterior is a man who just might be as lost as Cami's starting to feel. And Cami can't stop thinking about him. Talking to him. Wanting to kiss him. He's got her seriously stirred up. Her senior year has just gotten a lot more complicated….
Julian's all attitude, challenges and intense green-brown eyes. But beneath that abrasive exterior is a man who just might be as lost as Cami's starting to feel. And Cami can't stop thinking about him. Talking to him. Wanting to kiss him. He's got her seriously stirred up. Her senior year has just gotten a lot more complicated….
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MY REVIEW -
Cami
Broussard had worked alongside her father in their restaurant since she can. Now,
almost done with her senior year, she had already everything planned out – she will
apprentice chef in her father’s French restaurant with her boyfriend Luke and
later on, will be a full-time chef. Her father on the other hand has a
different thing in mind – he wanted her to go to college and study.
Then here
comes a cranky, bitter, young wounded ex-marine, Julian Wyatt. He’s her
step-mom’s nephew. Without consulting her, she was thrown out of her room, and
made her room his while he was recovering from his serious injuries. Meeting
him had Cami questioning her previous plans, and everything she had wanted.
But
living with Julian was a hard task. He was constantly angry, and rude. Perhaps
it was the pain, or the intense feeling of dread that had accommodated a large
portion of his heart. He was a bit lost just as her. With no options of going
back to deployment – he didn’t have any solid plans with his life. He can go
back to the university (considering his SAT scores), or take up some work. However,
with one missing leg – his options would have been limited.
Their
relationship started with her throwing a muffin into his head. Unlike his aunt, or the rest of the world, she didn't treat him with kid's gloves. Instead, she throws right back at him whatever he throws at her. It was a
hate-relationship, but as what they have said, there is a thin line between
love and hate. It didn’t take long before the line was crossed. But before it
did, they had been friends. Spending time, talking, and getting more
comfortable with each other. The more and more time they spend, the more and
more Cami was drawn to him. Suddenly, Luke wasn’t as amazing anymore. She doesn’t
think of him as often as she’d like. Instead, her thoughts are filled with
Julian.
I enjoyed
reading this novel. I like the transition of their relationship and their
attitude towards it. Their relationship allowed them to grow. They had made
future plans without telling each other so that they wouldn’t deter it and no
one would dissuade the other to put hold on their plans – which is really
mature. Julian had proved to her dad, that he was gentleman enough to wait, to
allow her to make plans and to do what she really wanted to do with her life
without his influence, and that he cared for her deeply.
The
ending, and most especially their future plans was not what I expected. Just
like Julian and Cami, I was also surprised with both of their plans – I didn’t
see it coming. Nevertheless, it was a perfect ending, and made me tear-up a bit
and…
Sabrina
Elkins will make you fall in love with this wounded soldier and this aspiring
chef.
RATING:
★ARC Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.★
EXCERPT -
It’s maybe twelve-thirty when I decide to do the unthinkable. I slip my jeans back on, take a room key, glance at Estella—sound asleep—and tiptoe out the door barefoot, hands shaking. I knock lightly on Julian’s door, sure he too is fast asleep. I can’t hear a thing inside his room. But I know he’s got the cane and his legs to deal with, so I wait. Even though he’s sleeping. He said he was tired. This is stupid... I clutch my room key and decide I’ll leave. I’ll wait twenty more seconds and then leave. He’s not coming. Okay. I turn—and of course that’s when the door opens. Jeans. Cane. Bare chest.
“Hi,” I manage.
The door opens wider. I slip inside, and I’m instantly pinned to the wall by Julian’s free arm and body. “Estella’s asleep?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“You’re trembling.”
“I... ” His kiss leaves me breathless; my arms are wrapped around him. His balance is better now, but distantly I worry about him falling again. My legs may give out also. “Ahh... ”
“Come to bed.”
AUTHOR BIO -
Sabrina Elkins, author of Stir Me Up, has also worked as a
journalist, movie copywriter and prep cook. She graduated from USC and
currently lives with her husband and three children in the greater Los Angeles
area.
Sabrina loves hearing from her readers, and encourages you to
visit her at
www.sabrinaelkins.com, on Twitter @sabrina_elkins, Facebook at
elkins.sabrina, and Goodreads.
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