Friday 24 February 2017

Review: The Spark by Sylvie Stewart

When your back is against the wall, can you change the person life’s experiences have molded you to be?

Fiona Pierce is many things to many people. Dutiful daughter to her loving parents, fiercely loyal friend to her very tolerant bestie, half-assed employee to her laundry list of bosses, and dedicated fashion goddess and spreader of good cheer to the world at large. But Fiona is hiding something behind her irresistible smile – something she’s determined to keep to herself.

Mark Beckett doesn’t do complicated. Saddled with lingering baggage from his childhood, Mark sails through life one girl at a time – with frequent gym breaks in between. He likes his life just how it is and doesn’t see any need to change his work-hard/play-hard attitude.

When an unexpected blast from the past threatens to turn his family's life upside down, Mark finds help in the unlikeliest of places – specifically the pint-sized princess who has a knack for pushing his buttons.

Can you overcome your fears and embrace the happiness you might just deserve? And, perhaps more importantly, can you really fall in love with someone who is so damn insufferable?


ebook, 385 pages
Published November 29th 2016 
Series: The Carolina Connections #2
Genre:  Contemporary Romance/New Adult/Romantic Comedy

Kristine's Thoughts:

** I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

The Spark is the second book in The Carolina Connections series but can be read as a stand alone. I have not had the opportunity to read the first book but it didn't hinder my understanding or enjoyment of it at all. In fact, now that I have read The Spark it has made me want to go back and read the first book.

First, I need to apologise because I read this book over a month ago and I am now just sitting to write my thoughts. I'm hoping that I can still do the book justice even though it is not so fresh in my memory. It accompanied me on vacation and I had it finished before my flight landed.

So what can I say about The Spark? It was everything I look for in a contemporary romance and more. It had a humour to it that I really enjoyed. In fact, I had a few laugh out loud moments on the plane and I was really glad that I was sitting beside my husband and not some stranger. It also took a bit of a different approach than most of the romance novels I have read of late. In The Spark it was actually the male lead, Mark, who (eventually) wanted a relationship first and the female lead, Fiona, who resisted. It was kind of a refreshing change.

What made me enjoy this book the most was Fiona. Her character was everything we think and feel but are too afraid, filtered or polite to say out loud. Not Fiona! There was a lack of filter with that girl that kept me smiling throughout the entire book. Stewart created a character that I think we all have a bit of inside. It was almost like our inner monologues had come to life in print. Her self talk was hilarious and so totally relatable. I was routing for her every step of the way and hoping for a "happily ever after" for her and Mark.

Just to make the romance a little more complicated, as any good contemporary romance does, there was a dead beat dad, some hit men, a medical history and misunderstandings galore. So if chemistry isn't enough, there was plenty of other stuff to keep the reader interested.

The Spark was just a fun, laugh out loud book that kept me thoroughly entertained. I enjoyed every minute of it!





About the Author
Hi, I'm Sylvie Stewart and I'm a spy. No, wait, I meant to say I'm an author of Romance and Romantic Comedy. Really.
Like the characters in my books, North Carolina is where I call home these days, and I love love love it here! You should totally move here.
When I'm not writing, I'm hanging out with my kids or arguing with my husband about which of us is funnier. It’s usually a tie. Reading is, of course, a huge hobby of mine, but I'm also getting into kayaking these days and, in case you were wondering, those two activities cannot be combined. I also enjoy hanging out with my friends and my extended family, sharing some laughs and a glass of wine. I should note at this point that wine goes very well with both reading and kayaking so next time I talk about my interests maybe I should include some kind of Venn diagram or something. So that's about it. Now you know all about me.
P.S. I really am a spy but they told me not to tell anyone so, you know, can you keep it on the down low? Awesome!
Connect with Sylvie
 

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