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Format: Paperback
Publishers: Kensington
Published: 28th August 2012
Pages: 345
Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Main Characters: Gabriel, Layne
Date Read: 1st July - 4th July 2014
Date Read: 1st July - 4th July 2014
Rating Given:
The raw emotion clawed at his chest, at his throat, at his eyes, spilling over until he was crying in earnest.
Then Nick had an arm around his back and Gabriel was crying into his brother's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Nicky, I'm sorry."
I have the first three books in this series for a while now but as soon as I read and loved the first one Storm I knew I wouldn't be waiting very long to read this one and I'm glad I never waited as I loved this book just as much maybe even more than the first one...
As I said in my review for Storm I really don't like the covers for this series as I really don't think that the models are fitting for the characters especially the main one in this cover who is supposed to be Gabriel and in my head he looks nothing like this guy and I imagine him taller. I do like the use of different colours in this series of covers especially with the way they have used the colours what you would associate with that particular element.
I must admit I was a little nervous about starting this book as sometimes the sequals can be bad but I needn't have worried as I loved this book as it was just as beautifully written as the first one. Like Storm, Spark also had more to the story than just the romance as the romance took a back seat but it was there and I loved the hint of it as it just showed me that there is more to a story than love and that I can enjoy it that way. The romance that was there wasn't an instant thing it was like a slow build up which I felt it made real and it was so sweet as well as HOT! I loved that there was some serious issues addressed especially the bullying which was written in a delicate manner but it seemed so real making want to cry for them. The ending was great with some questions unanswered but that felt like it was setting up the rest of the series.
I loved pretty much all of the characters at different times as there where times when some of the good characters wasn't so nice. Gabriel I loved in what we saw of him in the first book but with us getting to know more about him in this book it made me love him even more which I didn't think was possible. There was a lot of this book that Gabriel broke my heart as it seemed like no one believed in him including his family and it's no wonder that he finds it hard to believe that someone is being genuinely kind to him. I really liked Layne's character as she had a lot of personal problems but she still held her head high she seemed so strong yet sensitive at the same time. I was surprised that I wasn't a huge fan of Nick in this book but I think that had more to do with me being on Gabriel's side but he did have his good Nick moments too. Throughout this book I was really liking Hunter but then I wouldn't be sure about him which does make me more nervous about his book which is coming next.
Overall I had so much love for this book and of course Gabriel!
Gabriel turned his head to look at her. His entire life was going to shit, but seeing her here was like finding a little glimmer of light amid the darkness.
Synopsis:
Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally. Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can't. Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he's not doing it. And no one seems to believe him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Because Layne has a few secrets of her own...
The raw emotion clawed at his chest, at his throat, at his eyes, spilling over until he was crying in earnest.
Then Nick had an arm around his back and Gabriel was crying into his brother's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Nicky, I'm sorry."
I have the first three books in this series for a while now but as soon as I read and loved the first one Storm I knew I wouldn't be waiting very long to read this one and I'm glad I never waited as I loved this book just as much maybe even more than the first one...
As I said in my review for Storm I really don't like the covers for this series as I really don't think that the models are fitting for the characters especially the main one in this cover who is supposed to be Gabriel and in my head he looks nothing like this guy and I imagine him taller. I do like the use of different colours in this series of covers especially with the way they have used the colours what you would associate with that particular element.
I must admit I was a little nervous about starting this book as sometimes the sequals can be bad but I needn't have worried as I loved this book as it was just as beautifully written as the first one. Like Storm, Spark also had more to the story than just the romance as the romance took a back seat but it was there and I loved the hint of it as it just showed me that there is more to a story than love and that I can enjoy it that way. The romance that was there wasn't an instant thing it was like a slow build up which I felt it made real and it was so sweet as well as HOT! I loved that there was some serious issues addressed especially the bullying which was written in a delicate manner but it seemed so real making want to cry for them. The ending was great with some questions unanswered but that felt like it was setting up the rest of the series.
I loved pretty much all of the characters at different times as there where times when some of the good characters wasn't so nice. Gabriel I loved in what we saw of him in the first book but with us getting to know more about him in this book it made me love him even more which I didn't think was possible. There was a lot of this book that Gabriel broke my heart as it seemed like no one believed in him including his family and it's no wonder that he finds it hard to believe that someone is being genuinely kind to him. I really liked Layne's character as she had a lot of personal problems but she still held her head high she seemed so strong yet sensitive at the same time. I was surprised that I wasn't a huge fan of Nick in this book but I think that had more to do with me being on Gabriel's side but he did have his good Nick moments too. Throughout this book I was really liking Hunter but then I wouldn't be sure about him which does make me more nervous about his book which is coming next.
Overall I had so much love for this book and of course Gabriel!
Gabriel turned his head to look at her. His entire life was going to shit, but seeing her here was like finding a little glimmer of light amid the darkness.
