Stir Me Up

By Sabrina Elkins

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 .

Contains mature content and some sexual situations. Suited for readers 16 and up.

"Fun, steamy, and leaves you hungry for more. Sabrina Elkins nails the vulnerability of becoming an adult and the choices that come with growing up."
–Katie McGarry, author of Dare You To

"Cami's slow burn for a wounded hero will rivet readers. I seriously loved this book."
–Jennifer Echols, author of Dirty Little Secret

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Nov 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781743647615

Sabrina Elkins

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 fans and encourages you to visit her website, sabrinaelkins.com. You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook at elkins.sabrina, and Twitter @sabrina_elkins.

Book preview

Chapter One

I’m proud to say that after five years of virtual slavery, I am now allowed to make the soup on Wednesday nights for étoile, my father’s restaurant. This may not seem like a big deal, but it is. Soup ranks fairly high in the kitchen pecking order, right up there with preparing the fish and working a stove.

I started at the bottom, peeling potatoes and apples when I was ten. I graduated to dicing onions and garlic. Then I was given the challenge of doing things like stripping and cleaning baby artichokes, which are actually worse than the onions because artichoke hairs can give you an infection if they get embedded under your fingernails—ask me how I know this.

Despite the onions, garlic and artichoke hairs, I managed to stick with cooking long enough to make it to salad prep—only to learn, the hard way, that bell pepper seeds on your cutting board make your knife slip.

Seeing as how knives were obviously too dangerous for me, I was then demoted to melon-balling and pitting cherries. After another year of this, the chef who usually does the soup, Georges, took pity on me and let me watch him. Not cook with him. Watch him. Then I was allowed to make garnishes for him. Then add ingredients for him. Then make soup with him. And now, at long last, I have my own night. The slowest night of the week. On Wednesdays, I get to be soup girl—and Georges gets to be sous-chef and babysitter to the soup girl—who, for her first solo soup ever, has decided to make a tricky-but-hopefully-stunning wild morel with vegetable confetti and a veal infusion.

Now, morels are rare wild mushrooms with caps like extremely delicate honeycombs that are almost impossible to clean. So, when Dad comes over and picks up a morel and taps on it, my already-pounding heart starts to sink. Sure enough, three miniscule grains of sand fall out. Dad’s face turns red.

GEORGES! he yells.

"Oui, chef."

Dad starts yelling at Georges in French. I’m mostly fluent, so I can follow almost all of the bawling out my supervisor is getting. Georges gives me a sideways glare, then Dad turns his rage directly on me. You expect me to feed my customers sand?

No.

You want to go out into the dining room and explain to my customers why they have grit in their mouths?

I’ll reclean them.

Yes, you will. Without water. And if you can’t get it right, you’ll be sweeping floors.

"Oui, chef," I say, though he’s my father. I call him this at work, just like everyone else.

Georges comes over and hands me a toothpick. I use this to clean each honeycomb hole, and I have to do it carefully because the stupid things are insanely fragile, and we can’t just wash the morels out—oh no—for that would wreck their flavor. No bugs. No dirt. No grit—and no water.

I set to work. It takes a tedious two hours, then Georges spot-checks about fifty mushrooms and gives me a nod. Dad sees the nod and comes over. He checks a mushroom—one single mushroom—and no sand comes out. None. Huzzah.

Took you long enough, he says.

I breathe a sigh of relief. I’m tired, but I still have to work seven more hours and then wait another extra hour or so for Dad to take me home. During the school year, I usually drive myself to and from work. But in the summertime, I tend to bum rides with my father. I have two reasons for this—one, to save the gas money. And two, because I like being with him on the drive home at night.

Our restaurant is in Northampton, which is about forty miles from the southeast corner of Vermont, where we live. Lately it’s the only time Dad and I have alone together. Usually on these rides, he lets go of the strict chef thing and just unwinds by talking about his day—how the new fish dish went, what other dishes he wants to try, and how much he wants to try to find certain ingredients, like tiny wild mignonette strawberries.

Tonight though, when the time comes, I climb into the passenger seat and within five blocks my head’s already leaning on the car window.

Something’s happened I have to talk to you about, Dad says, waking me a little.

What? I ask, inwardly cringing. This must be about cleaning the morels.

Julian has been wounded in an IED explosion.

Oh, I say, thrown. So Dad’s not mad at me? Then his words sink in. Sorry, I’m so tired I can’t think straight. Who is Julian again?

Dad frowns at me. Estella’s nephew. The one she raised since he was a boy. He’s a Marine in Afghanistan.

That’s right. Dad’s new wife, Estella, raised her nephew alongside her son after her sister died. I’ve met her son, Brandon, but not the nephew yet. How wounded is he?

His legs are in very bad shape. He’s in critical condition.

That’s terrible.

It is. They’re planning on airlifting him to a military hospital in Germany until he’s stable enough to be sent to Bethesda. When he is, I want you to go down there with Estella to be with her and lend a hand.

I blink. But I barely know Estella. And I don’t know Julian at all.

Dad holds the wheel and peers down the dark road. Estella can’t be with Julian all the time. She’ll need help and Brandon and I both have to work. Besides, it’ll be a good bonding experience for you two.

What about my work?

I’ll get your shift covered.

Wonderful, I think to myself. Fine, I say with a sigh.

Look, just as a warning, Estella is extremely upset about this.

Of course...

First they hit one roadside bomb, then apparently as Julian was trying to pull the three others in the vehicle to safety, there was a second explosion. None of the others survived.

That’s horrible.

Yes. Dad looks far down the road, shakes his head and grows quiet. We both sit lost in thought and worry. When we reach the house, I see the light is still on in the kitchen. Estella is usually a very well-put-together lady—manicured and meticulously dressed, an elegant brunette with soft brown eyes and a figure Dad can’t stop staring at. Now, of course, she’s a complete mess, hunched at the kitchen table in one of Dad’s old bathrobes. Her shoulder-length hair is pulled back in a ponytail. Her eyes are red and bloodshot. The phone is next to the tissue box. I was thinking I might try to console her, but Dad makes a beeline for her and the two of them aren’t letting go of each other. So, I just tiptoe away.

I brush my teeth, wash my face and hands, strip down to my undershirt and panties and climb into bed. Shelby, my little red-and-white spaniel, is already there waiting for me. I scoot her over a little, close my eyes and think of Estella crying for her nephew at the kitchen table. I think of this guy, Julian, possibly fighting for his life in the belly of a plane somewhere. Then suddenly, I hear yelling.

Chapter Two

NO! Estella cries. I DON’T NEED A BABYSITTER!

Great...thanks, Dad.

He must be answering her because there’s a pause.

THIS IS NOT A SIGHTSEEING TRIP, Estella then yells. I’M GOING TO BE LIVING IN THE HOSPITAL. I CAN’T BE LOOKING AFTER CAMI FOR YOU AT THE SAME TIME.

Another pause.

SO, WHAT WILL SHE DO, SIT THERE IN THE HOSPITAL WAITING TO SEE IF I DETONATE?

The house is quiet. Okay, I guess Dad managed to calm her down. I text Luke, my boyfriend for the past eight months:

Dad’s asked me to fly out of town with Estella soon. Her nephew’s in the hospital.

His response comes almost at once:

If you’re leaving soon, I want to see you. Meet me on the road in ten minutes?

I smile, text him yes, and throw my clothes back on. Then I tiptoe down the hall to check on Dad and Estella. They’re upstairs in their room now. Fortunately, Estella and Dad never seem to come down before seven. I sneak back to my room, throw on my shoes, and stuff a bunch of pillows under my blanket and sheet, partly to fool them on the off chance one of them does come in, but also partly because if I am found out, at least this way they’ll know I’ve left on purpose and haven’t been kidnapped. Then I climb out the back bedroom window. I wouldn’t leave a window purposely unlocked, but the one on the far left has a broken latch, which makes getting back in much easier. For the past month or so of summer I’ve occasionally taken advantage of it. If Dad ever found out about this, he’d filet Luke and lock me in a tower. It’d be seriously terrible. But so far, we’ve gotten away with it.

Our house has a good amount of lawn. It’s a nice piece of land with forest all around it, a big old house set up on a steep little hill. The garage is a separate building at the bottom of the hill and has spare rooms for storage and Dad’s gym equipment. Just off the garage, there’s a small step-down garden with a footbridge that goes over a tiny stream. Apparently, Dad charmed some old widow out of the place back when I was a baby. I don’t blame him for wanting it.

Finally, I reach the road. Our road is like a long sloping dirt path up a mountainside. It winds past a cemetery and branches off in two different directions. I live down one branch of the road. Luke lives down the other branch. It’s late, pitch-dark as only a small back road can get, and Luke is nowhere to be found.

Fortunately, about two minutes later, I see headlights I hope are his approaching and climb into the brush alongside the curb. The road is narrow, and like I said it’s pitch-black out. The truck stops and Luke flips the light on inside. I run around the front and get in next to him.

Hey, he says. Sorry I’m a few minutes late.

Luke’s extremely handsome—tanned skin, black hair and dark brown bedroom eyes. He works in the restaurant with me, on the hot line—one of the three industrial stoves blazing away, and I do mean blazing. I helped him get the job with Dad about six months ago, which was no easy feat given his limited experience. Today was Luke’s day off. No problem.

How’d your soup go? he asks.

Fine. Eventually.

Eventually?

I tell him about the mushroom incident on the way back to his place.

The house Luke lives in isn’t much bigger than a trailer. He parks and takes me inside through the front door. His parents are asleep, but they have three grown sons, are used to girlfriends who sleep over, and don’t mind if their fourth and youngest, at eighteen, now does the same. We go to his closet of a room, mostly just a dresser and a bed. The bed is one of those cheap ones that feels like it might collapse if you move too much on it.

So what’s going on with you leaving?

I fill him in on how Estella’s nephew’s been wounded in Afghanistan, and how Dad’s asked me to fly out with her to see him in a few days. I also tell Luke how weird this will be for me—to be alone with Estella for so long, sharing a hotel room with her and visiting a close relative of hers I’ve never met.

Can’t she just go alone? he asks.

You’d think so. But Dad’s convinced she needs help.

How long will you be gone?

I don’t know, maybe a week? We’re playing it by ear.

Luke looks warmly at me and touches my actual ear.

What? I ask.

Nothing. I’ll just miss you.

I’ll miss you, too.

He draws me in closer to him. I wish I could’ve tried your first solo soup.

Oh, sorry—I was so busy, I didn’t think of bringing you any.

That’s all right. He kisses me and pulls at my shirt.

I was in morel hell making that soup.

He smiles and kisses me again, sliding his arms around me. I love how it feels when he holds me like this; I just sink right into the comfort of being here. But then after awhile he surprises me by unbuttoning my jeans.

Uhh...

Just a little, he says.

But if we start, we won’t want to stop.

We’ll stop.

He comes over me, kissing and caressing me as his hand works its way around to the back of my jeans. Then he shifts me so he’ll have clearer access. I tense up slightly.

It’s okay, he whispers, and we start making out again. His fingers wind up moving closer and pressing against me.

Ahhh, I breathe, still highly uncertain—I mean, it feels great and I hate to disappoint him. But when it gets so hot and heavy, it makes it harder to put on the brakes. And sex is something I don’t think I’m ready for yet. Stop, Luke. Please.

He does. My eyes open. See? I stopped.

I smile. Very good.

Very good as in you liked it?

I cuddle against him, smiling still. Maybe.

Maybe sounds promising. He strokes my hair. Beauty girl.

He’s sweet. He holds me in his arms and explores his newly-claimed turf a few more times before morning. But at five-thirty his alarm goes off and we have to sneak me back home. The kiss goodbye takes longer than usual this time, because of the new development. He’s obviously extremely pleased about it. He can’t stop smiling.

You’re a goofball, I tell him.

You’re fantastic.

I kiss him one last time. He draws me in closer, and I climb over the console so I’m pressed into him. The steering wheel is pushing up against me, which actually works in his favor. Mmm, he says, hugging me tightly. Luke’s told me he likes having me around—in his bed, on his lap, next to him, near him, beside him. When we were in school together he’d meet me after almost every class and often cut class just to be with me at lunch. But he just graduated and I still have senior year to go.

He gives a small wave and watches me leave. Once I’m back in my room, I shuck my shoes, bra and jeans, thinking about him, how he touched me and how he wants me and what it might be like to let him go further. I don’t know why I’m hesitating with him, exactly. We’ve been dating long enough. Most couples probably would have by now. I just feel like once we do have sex everything will change, get so much more serious. The physical would be nice. But then Luke would want me over there all the time. He’d want me to move in with him as soon as I graduate.... I do love him, but a part of me is concerned it might also become kind of smothering. I don’t know. I guess I just like things the way they are.

I climb into the bed and decide to let myself sleep in. After all, I don’t have to be at work until two. Unfortunately, Shelby is used to waking up and being fed early. She sits next to me, staring at me with her stomach growling until I force myself up on my feet to go feed her.

Shelby’s a Cavalier King Charles spaniel—not the most athletic of dogs, but very sweet. She’s about twelve years old now. I’ve had her since I was a little kid. She was a birthday present to me and I love her. So, I wait for her to finish her food, give her new water and then let her out. She has a doggie door she can use on her own, but we’ve gotten into the habit of the full door-opening treatment in the morning. No doggie doors before coffee or something, I guess, I don’t know.

She goes through her freshly-opened door and then turns and waits for me to leave so she can do her business in privacy. It’s kind of cute, but I’m too tired to care. I leave her to do her thing and crawl back into bed to sleep for another hour. After I get up again later, I take a fast shower, change and make my way back into the kitchen, where I find Estella hovering over the stove.

Morning, she says. Coffee? She’s staring at the little espresso pot and clearly fighting back tears.

Poor Estella. She’s a wreck over this. He’ll be fine, I say, realizing this is probably zero comfort to her. They have state-of-the-art care for our soldiers now.

Suddenly I’m in a hug. I try to hug her back. But the truth is I was raised mostly by a man and I’m not used to being touched by anyone other than a boyfriend or maybe my aunts the few times I’ve met them. But Estella, I know, is very touchy-feely. Thankfully she pulls away from me pretty quickly. Sorry, I’m a bit of a disaster.

I understand, I tell her, and suddenly the coffee explodes, boiling over and leaking through the seal. Estella reaches for it with a bare hand.

No, don’t! I move her aside, shut off the stove and realize, looking at her, that Estella is barely hanging on. She’s a woman on the verge of a complete meltdown.

I can’t do this, she says mostly to herself.

My guess is she thinks her nephew is either dead or on the verge of death and they’re not telling her. Poor Estella. Poor Julian. I glance at the table and see an open photo album there, next to a water glass. She must have just been looking at it. Are those pictures of him?

Yes.

I go over and take a look. To be honest, I was expecting to see baby pictures, or pictures of him as a little kid, but these must have been taken only a few years ago. Julian looks about my age in the first picture. He’s lounging on the grass in a T-shirt and jeans, all straight nose, cheeks and angular jaw. His toast-brown hair is tinged with blond. There’s a devilish curve in his upper lip. His eyes seem amused—and annoyed. Wow.

Estella smiles, obviously pleased by this reaction. My sister was a knockout. Julian looks just like her. She turns the page. See, here he is with his date for prom his senior year.

The girl is blond, several shades lighter than my own light brown hair, and with eyes far bluer than my gray ones. Also, unlike me, she doesn’t have freckles. She’s extremely pretty.

Yes, his girlfriends always are.

I feel a stab of something, I’m not sure what. Was she a cheerleader?

Actually, this one wasn’t, says Estella.

We look through more pictures of Julian during his senior year, the year I’m about to begin. He was in varsity basketball. There are lots of shots with friends and with Estella’s son Brandon. Several are from Brandon and Claire’s wedding. Brandon has Estella’s dark features whereas his wife, Claire, is much lighter, with a round cherub face and short blond hair, so they’re like opposites and look very cute together. I want to ask Estella what happened to her sister, how she died, and how old Julian was when he came to live with her, but now’s not the time. I just keep complimenting how great everyone looks and then Estella puts the photo album away.

Chapter Three

The minute the album is out of sight, Estella’s stress level multiplies by a factor of about a hundred, particularly when Julian’s arrival date is moved up a day, and Estella’s non-changeable flight is therefore set for the morning after Julian will be there. Ultimately, we’re able to convince her that Julian will probably not be conscious or aware when he first arrives anyway—and no, she shouldn’t just pay for new flights or take the car and drive all the way down to Maryland to be there for him when he first arrives. The morning we have to leave, she’s still a mess about the delay, and about the trip in general. She can’t remember if she packed her socks or travel alarm. She can’t find her keys.

Have a safe trip, Dad says to her. Call me when you get there. He gives her an embarrassingly long hug and kiss goodbye and then turns to me and tells me—in French—to be as helpful as possible. Like this message is so important it requires his native language for added emphasis.

I will.

We finally make it into the shuttle van and to the airport and then there’s the stress over the tickets and whether to check or carry on the bags. This, of course, is really all about Julian and how worried she is for him, and nothing I do or say makes her feel any better. I only hope when she sees him, she’ll feel slightly more reassured.

Estella’s going to have a nervous breakdown before we even reach the hospital, I text Luke. But I have to power down my phone for takeoff before he can text me back.

Estella spends the whole flight memorizing maps of the area surrounding the hospital and then shredding her cocktail napkin into tiny little pieces and floating them in her ice water.

We’ll be landing soon, I say encouragingly to her. She blinks and nods but doesn’t really answer.

We carried on the bags, so without delay Estella hits the cab line and gets us from the airport to our hotel. There are a lot of hotels within a few miles of the hospital. Estella’s picked out one of the ones within walking distance.

Let’s just check in, drop off the bags and head right over, she says. She seems definitely on edge now, almost cranky.

The hospital is just under a mile away, so still a fair distance. The bags hit the room and I just have time to use the bathroom before she’s hurrying me back out again. When she wants to, Estella can really move. I’ve never been left in the dust so quickly outside of a running track before in my life. I have to pretty much jog to keep up with her, and the fact that I’m slowing her down seems to make her bad mood even worse.

I wish you’d hurry! she snaps.

Good grief. Did you hear some news about Julian that has you more worried? I ask.

Estella glares at me in response. All I meant was did a call come in I don’t know about that has her particularly in a rush. But I don’t bother to explain and she doesn’t care to stop to listen. Then all at once she turns to me when we reach an intersection and are forced to wait for the light.

Look, Cami. I appreciate your father’s concern for me, she says. But this really isn’t the kind of thing you need to be exposed to.

Oh, so that’s it. She’s still upset I’ve been sent on the trip with her, whereas I’ve pretty much made my peace with it. I’m just here to help, I tell her. "What if Julian could use a fresh blanket or a hot meal? I can run out and fetch those things for you. I can go back to the hotel and get something for you, whatever you might need. I can call people like my father or Brandon to let them know what’s

Reviews for Stir Me Up

[alwaysyaatheart · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4.5 StarsStir Me Up is a wonderful coming of age romance that I really did enjoy. Cami Broussard is a senior in high school, she has a boyfriend, is in the process of applying for college at her dad's insistance, and she works for her dad in his French restaurant. As long as she can remember, Cami has wanted to be a chef, but her dad wants more options for her. Things seem to be going well with Luke, but he wants to take their relationship places she isn't ready to go. Everything in her life changes when Julian, her stepmother Estella's nephew is seriously injured in Afghanistan and comes to live with them while he recovers. Estella raised Julian after his parents died, so he is like a son to her. Cami is not happy about the situation, but understands and wants to help. Part of that help is that she is going to have to give up her downstairs bedroom to Julian, which she is not happy about at all, but again, willingly does, even though it means she is going to have to sleep in a tiny alcove since the house only has two bedrooms. Julian is very angry and downright mean while in the hospital, and when he first comes to live with them, especially to Cami. While it's something that is understandable considering what he's been through, Cami isn't afraid to call him on his crap and does so quite often. Julian responds to her in a likewise manner, telling her like it is and not afraid to speak his mind. To say they don't get along is putting it mildly. Over time, their relationship changes and they become friends, which gradually grows into something more. This produces another plethora of challenges, especially considering their living situation and their rather complicated family dynamics. As the year progresses, they grow closer, grow stronger as a couple and as individuals, and they face quite a few obstacles regarding the future, as well as the present. Julian also has his own demons to deal with related to Afghanistan.I loved Cami. She is determined, strong-willed, and snarky. She is unsure what to do about her future, but one thing she is sure of, and that is the way she feels about Julian. Julian is a hot and sexy war hero, and despite his initial jerkdom, he turns out to be a really great guy. He cares deeply for Cami also, he supports her and wants the best for her, not influenced by him or anyone else, including her dad. He still has his "moments," but Cami refuses to let him wallow in self-pity or anger. I loved watching these characters grow in their relationship and grow individually as they take life by the horns, determined to live it to its fullest. The romance is hot between them and the chemistry is electrifying. There are some sexual scenes, which Sabrina Elkins wrote so well, and I applaud her in going where she did with that because truthfully, it made the story seem that much more believable and genuine. It was also done in good taste. Sabrina Elkins has done a wonderful job in creating two characters that are real and fleshed out, giving the reader the ability to really connect with them. The secondary characters were all well written and fun to get to know. I loved Cami's best friend Taryn. Her dad and stepmother also played important roles in the book, as did Estella's son Brandon. The plot is interesting and fast paced and I was engrossed from beginning to end. The only thing I would have liked to have seen would have been an epilogue or a little more detail about what happens with Cami and Julian in the months and/or year(s) that follow the event the book ends on. Don't get me wrong, the ending is a happy one. That is just my personal preference, and doesn't effect the quality of the story in the least. Another bonus that was entertaining and fun to read about was all the food/restaurant related things, which were delightful and enjoyable. I read that Sabrina Elkins is considering writing another novel, which will be Taryn, Cami's best friend's story, and I am really hoping that pans out, and that maybe we will even get a glimpse of what is going on with Cami and Julian in it if she does so. Stir Me Up is a great romance that both young adults, older adults, and those in between will love.

[jeracafite · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I got this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This was a very cute novel. I loved the food aspects put into this book and it was a big part of who Cami is. She is a food nut (though not like her father) and it was very entertaining and educational for me as a reader. And Julian... I cannot even imagine what someone would go through what Julian went through after coming back from war... His reaction when first coming home makes a lot of sense to me. But I loved how Cami did not give up on him and tried to kill him with niceness. There was a lot of character development in this novel and I really enjoyed watching these two characters grow into the grownups that they ended up at the end of the novel. I'm glad I finally got to read this - it was very cute and made me think about things more closely than I would have if I hadn't read this.

[barbara.lohr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another author mentioned this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The combination of a late teen working in her father's French bakery and an injured vet makes for an engaging plot. The author also sets up a believable family backdrop. The father is remarried and Cami's stepmother brings her half son to their home to recover. The vet is older, more experienced. And he's bitter, with good reason. Cami's innocence clashes with his reality. Life isn't simple and this book takes an interesting ride down that road of recovery... and discovery.

[vanyadrum · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

NOTE: I received this eARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Gosh, there was only one reason I requested this book in the first place. The cover. These two.. Pepe and Stella who have made an appearance on JLA's Lux covers... I don't know, I just had the feeling that if they're on the cover, the book's gonna rock.

And it did.

Stir Me Up rocked my world. I didn't expect it, though like I said I hoped and my gut told me I would. Still. I had my doubts until I actually sat down and started reading. I was consumed by the words. Seriously.

The drama, the emotions, the loss, they were like a tornado let loose. I found myself wanting more the further I got. I wanted more of the romance, more of the depth behind each character, more of the figure-out-what-you-want-out-of-life stuff that was going on.

Stir Me Up lets us into the life of Cami, a senior in high-school who wants to be a chef after she graduates. Her dad however, tries to push her to go to college. To have a back up plan, he says, but Cami wants to hear none of it. She's determined she knows what she wants and is prepared to defend her choices. I really liked that air of independence in her. The confidence, the certainty. You'd think that she was just a stubborn cocky brat who didn't care about wise advise, but she's not. When her dad explained his reasons why he wanted something else for her, she actually took her time to research what a full time chef actually does; how much time she'd actually have left for herself and her future family; what kind of work place relations she could expect from colleagues and so on. I think that was a super grown up thing to do, and for it I admire her.

I also think that Cami was one very brave girl, speaking her mind and feelings honestly. I liked how she didn't lead Luke on when she felt her feelings for him change. I liked how she took fate in her hands and moved in on Julian. I liked how she made everyone stir up and stop wining about things. It was her passion to live and enjoy life, I think, that made everyone really get into it.

Especially Julian. He was a war hero from Afghanistan. During his mission a bomb blew the vehicle he was in and he was left with one leg missing from the knee down. Sad, I know, but the thing is, even in his pain, he wouldn't leave his comrades, trying to help even when it was obvious he could do nothing to save them. Julian thought he was no hero, but I know otherwise. Cami knew it too and was determined to make him see it.

Too bad he was a stubborn brat. The guilt he felt for being the sole survivor gave him nightmares. It also made him feel undeserving of any attention. And to top it all, he expressively didn't want to be taken care of by Cami. Because in his condition, how could he ever be the person she'd want to love? So, to escape her, he gives her attitude. He's really nasty and mean, hoping it would drive her away.

It's all a war of stubbornness I guess. Who would give in first, then, you wonder? I'm not saying. But I can tell you this - you would want to find out for yourself.

[brandileigh2003 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was another new adult romance, though I really suppose it can be classified as young adult. While there is sex and foreplay, it manages to be hot and moving while still not going into as much detail as most other NA I have read. I am not tired of them yet, and this one swept me away! I adored Cami and in her insecurities and personality I could be her, and I'd want to be because this girl can cook. She is a chef in training and has worked in her dad's restaurant with him since she was little. But Cami had a good voice, a dry sense of humor, and I loved seeing the world through her eyes. There is a love triangle, but there is a definite decision made, so I don't know if it really counts. And the synopsis even states that Luke was in her life before Julian came into her home and her life. I was getting some major hot marine syndrome over here, he's wounded, a hero, snarky, and of course, once you get past the initial harshness and pain, there is a sweet, sensitive, caring and amazing man under the muscles and face. I enjoyed the family presence in this one. While they weren't all whole, they bond together and make something strong and supportive. I loved Cami and Julian's bantering that led to an intense romance. Their chemistry was palpable, and I loved every glance, kiss and more. They did more than sexual things though, they had deep conversations, encouraged each other, and tried to figure out their respective futures while still encouraging each other to follow their dreams no matter what. The ending was sweet, hopeful and I didn't know how she did it but the fulfilled their promised and I still considered it a HEA. Bottom Line: Sweet romance that started with harshness and escalated to banter and then earth shattering kisses and more.

[jwitt33 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cami is 17, finishing up her senior year of high school, when a wounded Marine (her step-mother's nephew) moves in with the family, wreaking havoc on Cami's life. Julian is 20 and has a major chip on his shoulder, which is understandable since he lost some friends in an IED explosion, along with one of his legs. Unfortunately, he seems to have a major problem with Cami, and they rub each other wrong from the get go. The interesting stuff happens when they start getting along, as you would expect.I read that "fans of Katie McGarry will devour this book," and Katie even wrote a blurb for it. I have to agree with this statement, and since I love Katie's books, I enjoyed this one.. I had a bit of a problem getting past the fact that Cami was underage when they met, but she was close to 18, so I got past that pretty quickly. The story also dragged a bit in the second half of the book, but I liked the ending.All in all, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Sabrina Elkins' work.4/5 stars.

[bookishthings · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I’m going to try to keep this short and sweet.

This is probably one of my favorite contemporary reads of the year. I love the romance, or building up to the romance. Cami is a senior that’s trying to decide what to do with her life. Julian is a veteran that’s trying to figure out what he supposed to do now. Both have a tendency to snap at each other. It’s one of those things we hear when we are children, “when a boy picks on you that means he likes you.” I felt this way about both Cami and Julian. I loved the relationship of Cami and her dad. Her dad may seem like a hard ass, but he’s just looking out for her.

As much as the book is about love, it’s also about finding yourself, and what you want to do. This age is a big deal, and Cami has to decide between school or going straight to working in a kitchen. I love the descriptions when she was making some of her dishes. You could tell the mood she was in while making them. There are a few tense moments when it comes to Julian, which is totally understandable. I think he’s a bit rough around the edges at the beginning.

Over all I love how much both Cami and Julian grow throughout the novel. The ending was great, and made me go all swoony. :D <3 Also, at the end are recipes for some of the meals that Cami makes. I can’t wait to try them out.

[darkfaerietales_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.Quick & Dirty: Beautiful heartfelt book full of relatable characters, sexy romance, and real life issues. It’s a fast read with lots of layers that made it unique and interesting.Opening Sentence: I’m proud to say that after five years of virtual slavery, I am now allowed to make the soup on Wednesday nights for étoile, my father’s restaurant.The Review: Cami is 17 years old and getting ready to start her last year of high school. Life couldn’t be better. She is very passionate about cooking and she gets to work part-time in her father’s French restaurant this year alongside her boyfriend, Luke. Then there is a tragic accident and her stepmother’s nephew has to move in with them. Suddenly Cami’s carefully planned future is about to get very confusing.While stationed in Afghanistan there was an explosion that left Julian seriously injured and all the rest of his unit dead. Not only does he take up room in her home, he also makes his way into her heart. While she watches him struggle, she can’t help but respect and admire him. He wakes up emotions and feelings that Cami has never felt before. Julian is frustrating, angry, and broken, but underneath all that Cami finds a kindred spirit that might feel just as lost as she is.Cami is an amazing character. She has an extreme love for cooking, which I really enjoyed and found relatable since I also enjoy cooking. She is an amazing and sweet girl, but she also has a feisty side to her. She’s not at all afraid to speak her mind, which was refreshing. The love and affection she shows others is very endearing and made her a very likable character. But not everything in Cami’s life is perfect at times, she feels completely lost. High school ends in just a year and she has no idea what she wants to do with her future. She has a few options but none of them feel right. You get to watch her struggle to make some hard life decisions that all teenagers have to go through. She is a great heroine and I loved being inside her head.Julian is a hot and grumpy ex-marine. When you meet him he has just lost his leg and the other leg is left in tatters. He is so broken and ridden with guilt, he honestly doesn’t know what to do with himself. Once he meets Cami you start to see glimpses of the old Julian. She doesn’t treat him like he is any different, and she doesn’t put up with any of his crap. As he slowly put his life back together you get to see how love and forgiveness can really heal so many wounds. The thing I loved most about Julian was that he could be a real person. His experience has happened to many men and women from our military. It reminds me how much I should appreciate them and what they sacrifice for our country. The loss and guilt he felt is all too real in many lives today. He is a wonderful, very believable character that I truly loved reading about.This was a very quick read that was immensely enjoyable. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth the story has. Yes, it is total chick lit, but on top of the romance there are real issues presented that made the story so much more believable and heartfelt. It wasn’t all fluff and drama, which was a nice change for a contemporary read. The characters were so unique and developed, and really well thought out. Elkins took time to develop everything slowly, which made it all feel so much more real. The romance was beautifully done with just the right mix of drama and heat. There was a moment in the book where I did start to lose a tad bit of interest, but it didn’t take too long for me to get swept back up in the story. Overall, this was a very good read and I would highly recommend it to anyone that is looking to progress into New Adult books. This fills the gap between YA and NA perfectly, which makes it a really good start for the New Adult genre.Notable Scene:I can’t hear his response.She leans over his face, probably to kiss him. Then she turns away from him, obviously hiding the fact that she’s crying. I feel so bad for her, I go in and hand her the crumpled tissue in my pocket. She takes it and holds my arm. She holds it like she needs it to stay upright. I don’t even notice the patient in the bed, I’m so focused on Estella, and she’s blocking my view anyway. “I’ll get you a chair,” I say. She’s nodding. Trying to keep it together.“No, don’t sit down,” a garbled voice from behind her says. “Just leave.”“But Julian,” Estella begins, turning to face him.“LEAVE!” he cries.Some nerve. “You know, Estella has been worried half out of her mind,” I say.“She flew down here with her heart in her…”Holy Mother of God. Estella moves away and I’m looking at her nephew. And I’m praying. Holy Mother of God, I pray. Well, a sort-of prayer. His eyes are so blackened and swollen he must hardly be able to see. His nose is broken and bandaged. His bottom lip is a busted mess. He’s wearing a neck brace. His right leg, covered by a hand-knitted quilt, is cut off just below the knee. His left leg is bare and outfitted with an extremely scary-looking apparatus made of metal rods and pins. The pins have been surgically inserted into his skin, presumably to hold the bones in place. I close my eyes. Holy Mother, ease his pain, I think to myself. Heal him.“Julian, this is your new step-cousin, Camille,” Estella says.“GET OUT!” Something is knocked across the room—a book I think.FTC Advisory: Harlequin Teen provided me with a copy of Stir Me Up. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.