Spark

Spark #1

by Jennifer Ryder, Lauren K McKellar (Editor)

Not many people know that I, Eevie Lawson, have a problem. An addiction to romance novels. I eat them for breakfast. I hide it the best I can, but I need them to breathe. It's how I cope. I've had a swag of book boyfriends, but now that I'm free from the responsibility of caring for my three younger brothers, it's time to find one in the flesh. In real life, no girl meets their hero on page one, or even at the end of chapter one. I should know. My journey is real. It's not perfect, and it sure as hell isn't easy-but the fight for something worthwhile never is.

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Amazon, Anthologies, M F Romance

300 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2014

About the author

Jennifer Ryder is a bestselling romance author who loves to write about small towns, swoony heroes and strong females who aren’t afraid to fight for what they want.

Born and bred in Canberra, now living on a rural property in New South Wales, Australia, she enjoys the best of city and country. Her loving husband is ever willing to provide inspiration, and her two young cherubs, Jack Russell named Buddy and sheep that don't see fences as barriers, keep life more than interesting.

Check out her work at http://www.jenniferryder.com/

Reviews

[Patrycja]

Does the blurb of this book is about me? Mhmm.... let's see..


Not many people know, that I, Eevie Lawson, have a problem. An addiction. To Romance novels. I eat them for breakfast. I hide it the best I can, but I need them. To breathe. It’s how I cope.

Not many people know, that I, Patrycja, have a problem. An addiction. To Romance novels. I eat them for breakfast. I hide it the best I can, but I need them. To breathe. It’s how I cope.

So, so true!



I have a swag of book boyfriends, but now I’m free of the responsibility of caring for my three younger brothers, it’s time to find one in the flesh.


I have a swag of book boyfriends, but now I’m free (not exactly, but close) of the responsibility of caring for my two younger brothers and two younger sisters, it’s time to find one in the flesh. (Well, it's true I should finally find one, if not a I'll be one of the old crazy cat ladies)


In real life, no girl meets their hero on page one, or even chapter one. I should know.

My journey is real. It’s not perfect, and it sure as hell isn’t easy. But the fight for something worthwhile never is.




In real life, no girl meets their hero on page one, or even chapter one. I should know.

My journey is real. It’s not perfect, and it sure as hell isn’t easy. But the fight for something worthwhile never is.

That part is still in progress, I think.

*****

So, yep I will be reading this one. I think Eevie will be very relatable character....

Marking my calendar now!

[Belle Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am proud to have been a beta reader on this debut novel by Jennifer Ryder.
This story is about Eevie. Her story is not all sweet. It is not all butterflies and roses, but it’s a real story about a real woman.
Number 1, she is a book-worm.

I am sold!!!!

She reads romance to fill a certain void in her life. See, she has never encountered that ‘Spark’ (See what I did there?). But she wants that spark more than anything. It’s unfortunate that the men in her life just don’t cut it.

She has a great group of friends. One of which I want to punch in the nutsack (Jon) for…you will see why.

Enter Aiden. A guy who is so ridiculously sweet, he’s swoon-worthy in every way. I really loved our hero.

Jennifer allows for a beautiful and sometimes gut-wrenching build up. There is no insta-love here, only a spark ;)

Giving away too much wouldn’t be silly of me. You will need to read this book to enjoy the experience of Jennifer Ryder’s writing style.
The best thing about this author? This is her debut novel, which means her writing and plot will only improve the more she writes.

I can’t wait to read more from Jennifer Ryder.

[Kristine GPI Bookblog · Rating 5 out of 5]

May contain minor spoilers.
What an amazing debut novel, I was lucky enough to beta read for Jennifer and her debut Spark has surpassed my wildest expectations.
Eevie is trying to find her way in the world, self confessed book worm wants what she reads about, that illusive spark she's read about so often, her great love, the love that stops time, that causes the world to spin on its axis.
Eevie has had a tough past, caring for her brothers and mother, trying to be everything for everyone with a depressed mother and absentee father.
She has close female friends and her bestfriend Jon who make it possible for her to get out of bed and keep going everyday when she would rather just fall apart. But Jon harbors a secret that will blow her world apart, when she tries to move on she mistakenly puts her trust and faith in Alex who's secret life is ready to blow up in her face.
When all seems useless, there's Aiden, Eevie has lusted after him, has imagined what it would be like to be with him, but he's taken. With Aiden, Eevie doesn't have to imagine it, because she can feel it, that elusive spark that she dreams about, he causes her to feel things she's never experienced before but he's off limits, or atleast she thinks he is.
Spark is a coming if age story about one girl trying desperately to find her place in the world, he shows her through his actions that she's not weak but stronger beyond her wildest hopes and dreams.
Congratulations Jennifer on a stunning debut, Spark is funny, tender and smart - I can't wait to see what you do next!

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

***I received an ARC on behalf of Fiona's Book Reviews blog in return for my honest opinion***

Not many people know that I, Eevie Lawson, have a problem. An addiction to romance novels. I eat them for breakfast. I hide it the best I can, but I need them to breathe. It’s how I cope.

Sound familiar to anyone? Yep, me too...

So poor Eevie is only experiencing the joy of romance through her book boyfriends. For the past few years she's had to step up to take care of her family during her mum's sickness. Now, she's finally fled the nest and she's determined to make up for lost time and start living a real life. She's hoping to find that elusive guy with a 'spark':

The perfect guy and girl always find each other in my books. When will it be my turn?

Eevie experiences a whole array of typical boyfriends in this story - as an aficionado of romantic fiction, she knows what she's dealing with and she recognizes their character traits from her favorite books. This for me was what set this story apart from the hundreds of other romances out there. Her wry observations made this feel so fresh and original.

So everyone from the male best friend (who's secretly in love with her), to the experienced player (who treats her mean to keep her keen) and the unavailable (but cute) friend of a friend crosses her path in this and as we all know from the books we read, any of them could be that one with the spark, no matter how unlikely it may seem at first.

There's a healthy dose of reality in this book - one of her boyfriends suffers from premature ejaculation. Gasp! Well that's a new one for me in adult romantic fiction:

A virgin, and a chronic premature ejaculator. You wouldn't read about it.

Well...I have now!

I loved how this story managed to balance real, belly tingling romance with originality and a little wry comedy. Eevie is a romantic at heart, but refreshingly she's not daft nor dim and she doesn't pull any crazy stunts. The whole book is written from her pov and the action takes place over one year so we really get to know her well. It's one of those rare books where you feel like you've left a friend behind when you put it down. I really warmed to her and wanted her to find her Braden or Travis or Christian as much as she did.

Happily, when she finally finds 'the one', it is pretty much perfect. He's hot, sweet, romantic, caring, protective. Again, nothing is rushed or forced between them and the sex scenes...oh my. I really felt like she'd found 'the one'. There's some decent - entirely plausible - drama towards the end that provides some fantastic dramatic tension; it really got my heart racing.

I absolutely loved this story. This finishes in a good place and is not a cliffhanger, but their story continues in the next book. I can't wait to read more. This one is highly recommended.

[TheDanishBookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC received by the author in exchange for an honest review

Once again, I am experiencing quite a book hangover. This romance novel has everything that you could wish for: it is original, fun, sexy, and with angst and drama aplenty.

Meet Genevieve (Eevie): she is a sassy 20-year-old who has just moved out from her parents' and she is longing to spread her wings a bit. She has never been in a romantic relationship and she is dreaming about finding herself in the kind of romance that she, so far, has only read about. Yes, she is a bookworm, and perhaps a bit naive, but due to family issues she is also very mature beyond her years in some aspects.

The hardships that Eevie has endured in the past have very much been a factor in making her the kind of person she is today, and she will have to endure much more before getting her HEA. Fortunately, she has a great support system in her room mate, Crystal, and her co-worker, Cassie. For a brief time, she also has her friend, Jon, but...well, read the book in order to learn more about him *wink*.

This book follows the ups and downs in Eevie's life. As you know, I do not like to say too much about the actual storyline in fear of spoiling it for you - particularly with this story because there is simply A LOT going on in it, and, to me, all the drama is actually very important: the experiences that Eevie has all help in letting her find out who she really is. This leads me to classify this romance novel as a coming-of-age story as we immerse ourselves into learning how Eevie finds her strengths and weaknesses.

"Someday. I would find someone I could love, and that same someone could love me. I'd really thought this stuff would be easier. The perfect guy and girl always find each other in my books. When will it be my turn?" (Eevie)

I found Eevie to be an incredibly endearing character. It is seldom I come across a book heroine that I do not find some kind of fault with, but I am thrilled to say that I could connect with Eevie on so many levels. She is a truly strong person, very smart, and even rather funny. Does she make mistakes? Of course she does, she is only 20! And did I cringe because of some of the choices she made? Absolutely! But let us face it: who has not done something in their early adulthood they regret later in life? Her longing to find that special someone, the one who will spark up her life really hit home. Furthermore, the parts that made me simultaneously shake my head, asking "Why do you go and do something like this?!", and nod my head, thinking, "Yep, been there!", are actually very realistic, at least in my opinion. Like I stated above, Eevie cannot get free of the drama, but she tries to bury her head in the sand in order to get away from it instead of dealing with it - and, again, I say: who can blame her? So yes, I completely understand many of her actions and reactions.

As for Aidan, Eevie's perfect match...Well, he is absolutely gorgeous! He is honestly one of the most swoon-worthy book boyfriends I have ever come across - and I have met many of those - so that statement should give you a pretty good clue as to how much I love him. Even though Eevie and Aidan meet early on in the book, it takes quite a while before they form a romantic relationship. Aidan is sweet, a bit naughty, and a pretty funny guy as well. I get the feeling that there is more than meets the eye with this guy, and I am already longing to read the next book in the series, "Spike".

"That's one of the many things I love about you, Eevie. You're resilient, no matter what." ... "...please, baby...I'm here for you, so, let me be the one that's strong...even if it's just for today." (Aidan

I find it hard to believe that this is Miss Ryder's first novel: her writing draws you in from page one, the pacing of the story is perfect and she has created a whole set of characters that show great depth and compassion towards others - ones that will make you feel as if you could spend a great night at the pub with them. Also, there is a great balance between the more serious moments and the funny ones. To put it bluntly: I am in awe of this author!

If you are still in doubt about whether or not you should buy this book, let me do a quick roundup of all the reasons why you should:

Will you sigh, cry and laugh while reading Eevie's story? Yes. Will you see characters that are two-dimensional and that feel real and believable? Yes. Will you feel every single emotion Eevie experiences? Yes. Will you swoon over Aidan and love the touch of naughtiness in him? I really think you will! And if you are still not sure: well, take a chance and try something new.

As you can tell, I truly fell in love with Eevie and this book has now been added to my favourite books shelf - that is, after all, how I can show how highly I value a book, and I know that I will read it many times in the future.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spark is the emotional rollercoaster of a ride for Eevie Lawson.

Eevie seems to have the luck of the Irish AGAINST her because everything that could go right, went completely wrong.



I have to say - I had a bit of a headache reading this. There was a lot going on that I felt was a bit much. She was caged in by a circle of doom.



Without going into too much detail and fluffing up my review with spoilers, I'll just say that half the things that happened with Eevie, though many could have been prevented, were also situations that can, and do, happen in real life.

The barrage of confusing men...
The seedy best male best friend...
The emotional torment of having to be the one who helps raise a family when you're still getting your feet wet in the world....
Family issues up the wa-zoo...etc, etc, etc.

But then... the world which she escapes to (which many of us can definitely understand) in romance novels slowly, but surely, becomes her reality.

And so you ask...


Why yes. Yes it is. Aidan Stone was her Prince Charming before she even expected it.

I wish there was more Aidan from early on the story. I couldn't done w/o the other two nimrods that were taking up too much of Eevie's time.

But the little time we did get to spend with Aidan, you kind of grow to like him a lot.

He's supportive, wears his heart on his sleeve, is open and honest with Eevie and is her knight in shining armor especially when she needed him during a huge turning point in the story.

And then... I read the author's acknowledgment at the end of the book and it just totally changed a lot of my perspective in fully grasping the real meaning of events that occurred in Eevie's life and the true story behind Aidan.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Aidan Stone. Hot, sexy, gorgeous man. I want one. Especially one with an Australian accent!

Eevie has finally moved out on her own. After taking care of her family for several years, she is able to branch out and live a little. She goes out on the town with her friends, she has a good job, and she is looking for her Mr. Perfect.

Eevie's best friend Jon is everything to her. Except a love interest. Too bad for him, that's exactly what he wants out of her. Can I explain how much I dislike this guy? He's a real dick. Who gives their best friend an ultimatum? Who makes their best friend choose a life with them or without? This asshole. I'm super glad he isn't around much.

As Eevie is on the path of self-discovery, she encounters Alex, an older man with a kinky side. Does she know about this kinky side? Not until after she realizes he's a real creeper. Alex. Ugh. As hot as those kinks seemed to be, I'm glad he's gone too. This paves the way for the REAL man to show up.

After this, Aidan is the man to have. He's sweet and kind and caring and he wants Eevie. And Eevie wants him. This relationship starts with a nice low burn. The kind of pull that you're not sure even exists, but then you experience it--in a hand hold, a glance, an accidental brushing of arms--and you know it does. You're 110% sure that this is the person you've been saving yourself for. You know it's the person you've been waiting to share your life with.

But what do you do when disaster strikes? Do you become closer or do you move on? How does one deal with serious problems? For Aidan and Eevie, I believe their love becomes stronger than ever before. They are in it for the long haul. They have that Spark.

And with a name like Aidan Maverick Stone, what's not to love?

[Red Cheeks Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Spark Evie is looking for love. Sure she reads all of the romance books, knows all the moves and what guy she wants, however she is learning the hard way he isn’t easy to find. Evie is freshly moved out of her parents house, living with her friend Crystal and working. She had it pretty rough at home for the last few years and once things settled down there, she decided it was time for her to shine. On her first day as a free woman, Evie receives flowers from her best friend Jon. As she hopes the romantic roses don’t mean what she thinks, they do. So now Evie has to deal with her best friend and his feelings while branching out on her own.

Evie trying to sort things with Jon and salvage what is left of the friendship. To take her mind off of things for a while, Evie and Crystal hit the bars a few nights a week drinking, dancing and having a good time. Crystal’s boyfriend Rob brings his friend Aiden one night and that is it for Evie, everything she read about book boyfriends is standing right there in front of her just out of reach. Aiden and Evie are polite, but she has a full plate at the moment and he has a girlfriend.

Over the months Evie goes through some ups and downs with a few men and finally lands with what she feels is the perfect guy, Aiden. Evie and Aiden have felt a connection from the moment they met, however things aren’t as easy as a romance book and they now have to navigate the choppy waters of love together.

Spark was a little slow out of the gate for me, but about mid-way through really picked up steam and even got pretty steamy. Aiden is a perfect book boyfriend and the entire time I was cringing to see what bad thing was in store for our cute couple. No way were things going to be that easy for them and unfortunately, I was right. While she started out a bit on the weak side, Evie turned out to be a pretty strong girl in her own right. We get two epilogues and a sneak peek that Sparked (pun intended) my interest enough to pick up the second book to see what Evie is going to do with the information she received. Great book, well written.
Tiffany

[Michelle ♥ The Romance Vault ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Spark (ooh that rhymes!) in return for an honest review. My reviews are my own and are 100% honest.

Well I wasn't sure at all at what to expect going into reading this debut novel but in all honesty I have to say I really enjoyed my ride with Eevie, following all her ups and downs. This had me laughing out loud in a couple of places, it's not humorous all the way through but there was a couple of places I just couldn't not laugh at what was said or going on.

This is not a book where girl meets boy and fall into insta love, it's girl meets several boys and the pitfulls of dating guys. My first burst of laughter was with Jon and Eevie and when she found out what she did about him and what she's thinking about after he has fallen asleep. That whole scene was delivered extremely well and I don't know if I'm happy about this but it's also going to stay with me! ☺

Then what happens next is another chapter of Eevie's getting a boyfriend time and again what happens keeps you reading on.

Interspersed with all of this is Eevie's family problems and the story too-s and fro-s a bit from her and her boyfriend dilemma to her Mum and what's happening in the family home. Sometimes when Eevie's deliberating over what's going on around her I lose the connection to the story a bit, not a lot but just a bit and then something kicks off again that held me right back with it again.

This is not all about love and sex although it does contain hot scenes so falls into the New Adult genre but it's also soft and revolves around Eevie and her journey and what she's going through as she wets her feet in the dating field.

When Aiden comes into the picture the story becomes a little steamier and I wondered at how this was going to pan out, I got to the end to find out that there will be another book about them so I was a little saddened that this didn't get wrapped up in book 1 but I will read Spike to find out what happens next.

[Victoria Debono · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spark!
5 bright rainbow stars from me. From the first page I knew I was going to love this story, I enjoy a book that gives the characters an introduction at the beginning and so many of them to get to know. Each person in Eevie's life was a relatable character I was dying to know. I was happy she had a big sister in Cassie and a best friend in Crystal. Every girl needs good people to help get through the hard times in life. I cried with Eevie each time her life turned to shit, as a young 20 year old, she dealt with so much. Her mothers illness and the way she has to step up for her family broke my heart. She puts her plans aside to take care of her brothers and don't get me started with Daddy issues. This girl is such a sweetheart and going through the ups and downs of life as a young woman with dreams and desires for herself, wow does she make some mistakes but only to get to the man that will finally be her Prince Charming. Aidan Stone, swoon, he is such a honey, I need more of this hunky fun guy. I loved the way Jennifer Ryder wrote the first book of this 5 parts series, leaving it open for so much more to happen, it really does just scratch the surface. I more than felt the 'Spark' between Aidan and Eevie and can't wait to enjoy their journey as well as continue following Jennifer Ryder grow as an author.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much that I read it in the one sitting. The characters were great, and it was wonderful to see the setting and mannerisms being so Aussie.
Really looking forward to Spike, so we can see what the ex is planning.
So happy that I get to meet Jennifer in person, and grab a signed paperback of this book - can't wait for March 22nd!

[Akeisha -Til' The Last Page BB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I read the synopsis of 'Spark' I was fascinated with the story. Turns out the book lived up to everything that I was expecting. This story was brilliant, sexy, hot, heart-breaking, everything that is good mixed up in one pot.(yes I said pot lol)

I have to be honest, half way into the book I had put a full stop on it.
Not because I didn't love the book but I wanted to stalk the author while I was reading . I followed Jennifer on every social media site she was on. I instantly fell in love with her writing and she has officially gain a new fan. Enough of my rambling but here is why I adored this novel and rated this book 4.5 Stars.

We are introduced to Eevie, a 20 year old girl who was selfless, funny and caring. Eevie moved out of her parent's home because she wanted to experience life after having to take care of her family for so many years. Despite feeling guilty about leaving her family, Eevie is set to make it on her own(with a roommate of course). Did I mention that Eevie is addicted to Romance Novels? She mentioned some of my all time favourite book boyfriends and I loved that we shared the same crushes*sigh*. I loved that this story was so different and I could see myself in Eevie shoes most of the time.

Her best friend Jon at first glanced appeared to be a sweet, caring and loving. Jon's part in this story is that he threw a curve ball at Eevie and gave her an ultimatum. What the ultimatum is? you will have to read to find out!!

Eevie being a little naïve and afraid of losing her best friend goes along with this ultimatum even though she knew it could never work. We see their friendship tested and Eevie's reaction to the entire situation.

I liked that she went through a few relationships in this book . It's not the usually see a hot guy at the bar and then instantly fall in love with him. We saw the broken girl she really was. She had a lack of self confidence at times and also possessed a gift which she did not seem to value at first. She also tried her damn hardest to give this gift away. At this point in the story I wanted to trip her a few times but eventually she woke up and realized it isn't all rainbows and sexy book boyfriends when it comes to real relationships.

Until she meets Aidan Stone.......

Both Aidan and Eevie were instantly drawn to each other from the moment they met. There were a few situations in their path that stop them from being together initially.

Aidan! Aidan! Aidan! boy did I love this guy. Aidan was hot, successful, caring, supportive and I can go on for days about this hot stud. If I were to talk about the sex scenes, I might need another page or two to describe my feelings and the scale of hotness required lol. I also loved that Aidan was strong enough to stood by Eevie's side when everything around her fell apart.

Jennifer did an excellent job throwing in curve balls and as usually I used a few chose words.

This book was just an emotional roller-coaster of love, heart-break and putting the pieces back together.
By no means am I saying that this book was perfect because at times I wanted to pull Eevie by her hair and tell her to man up. Overall, I enjoyed this book and will say it is a must read.

You will enjoy it!!


**FAVOURITE QUOTES**

“My ever-growing collection of romance novels are piled high in stacks in the corner. As soon as I have enough spare cash, ill treat them to new bookshelf. Its the least I can do for my babies”

“ Fire could burst form my mouth. And I wish it would , so I could incinerate this prick to a crisp”

“ To create a wildfire, all it takes is a spark”

"Do you know how long I've wanted you? Wanted to taste these lips?”

[Mandie Foxylutely · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Copy provided by the author in exchange for my honest review for the blog tour

This is the debut novel of author Jennifer Ryder and what an amazing debut it is.

The story follows through Eevie’s coming of age, leading up to her twenty first birthday and the struggles and trepidation she went through to get there. Through family responsibilities, Eevie has been held back on her young adulthood but now with things at home improved she is able to flee the nest and take her first steps into her own independence and start living her life. The book starts as Eevie has moved into her own apartment with her friend Chrystal.

I must say I did find the first third of the book a little slow but in hindsight it was a required input so the reader got a full understanding of who Eevie was and what she had gone through. I liked that it did not make her out to be a repressed and wounded soul but actually celebrated the strong woman she turned out to be because of it.

Her difficulty with her best friend Ian, and how the relationship change was forced upon her was an eye opener, especially his ‘condition’ – that was a first for me to read in a new adult book! I liked how you could actually see how Eevie was aging and all the effed up stuff being thrown at her added strength to her persona. When she seemed to get over one thing another was thrown at her, so having come to terms with what happened with Ian, she went through the craziness that Alex landed on her. I must say for one so young she went through some tough challenges in such a short space of time!

However the story took on a different feel when we got to Aiden. He was just a delight to devour reading – from his spiky dark hair to his twinkling eyes to his toned abs, he was a new book boyfriend to love. Wouldn’t we all love our book boyfriends to become real like Eevie’s ‘Braydens et al’ did? I certainly would! What I loved about Aiden was he wasn’t made out to be some hot guy with a hidden past that made him out to be some kind of dirt bag. Yes he had ‘father’ issues but he didn’t let it affect who he was to become. He was a normal hot guy. Yay!

I loved how the reader was fed little teasers to entice you in to the fabulousness that was to come with the pairing. You could see the development of Eevie and Aiden from the beginning and its gradual build up from the ‘spark’ to the sizzling sexiness that Aiden brought out. The scenes with his bike and the car bonnet? Whoo hoo - steamilicous baby!

Not all of the book is all sexiness, sweetness and light, there are elements of angst and disquiet, especially in one part around Dean and the depths he sank to when he carried out a vile act against Eevie. That was a sensitive subject to cover and how it would impact on her relationship with Aiden but it was skilfully tackled. I did breathe a sigh of relief when the outcome was revealed.

The book just got better the further I read through it and overall it was a four star read for me and I can’t wait to read the next in the series, Spike. A brilliant debut for Ms Ryder.

Further details at Foxylutely Book Reviews blog
http://foxylutely.blogspot.com/2014/0...

[The Hopeless Romantics Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: Jo Rushton ARC received for Honest Review

I loved the synopsis to this book by debut Author "Jennifer Ryder". It described a story about a girl who loved to read romance novel's and now it was her turn to find a real boyfriend rather than obsessing over her many book boyfriends. Of course we all know that, unfortunately, finding your soul mate is not as easy as it is in the world of our beloved books. "Spark" sounded like a story where any one of us could be the main character, what's not to love about that?

In "Spark" we saw Eevie on a quest to find Mr Right. Eevie was just a regular girl.. the girl next door. She was sweet and pretty but didn't have much experience when it came to boys. At the beginning of the story, I saw her go from one bad romance to another and that began to frustrate me a little. It was obvious the boys she went out with just weren't right for her but it was just one bad choice after another. I guess in the grander scheme of things, you only learn from experience, right?

So eventually Eevie's quest led her to hunky Aidan. Yay!!! OK so maybe not because despite their eyes meeting over a crowded room and sparks flying, they were both in relationships with other people... damn shame because it meant she had to let him go. Now in the synopsis we're told that no one meets their hero on page one or even at the end of the first chapter and the synopsis was right. I had to wait until almost half way through the book before things started getting exciting for Eevie. This drove me a little crazy!! At last Eevie and Aidan got re-acquainted and this time there was no stopping them.

"Do you know how long I've wanted you? Wanted to taste these lips?"

The couple were so attracted to each other, the passion between them growing so intense that when they did finally get together, it was electric At last Eevie's luck appeared to be changing, but would Eevie's and Aidan's happiness last?

I really liked the main characters in "Spark." Aidan was the perfect guy for Evie, he was sweet, caring, loving and of course very sexy and I just loved how protective he was of her. My heart melted for Evie because it appeared she had finally found her Mr Right. She truly deserved some real love and romance in her life.

"Aidan gave me everything I needed. He gave me time. He gave me support and most of all he gave me love. Unconditional, unrestricted love."

Although I found "Spark" a little slow to begin with, failing to capture my imagination, the second half of the story really made up for it. I'm glad that I continued to read because "Spark" turned out to be an enjoyable read. I loved the second half of the story, it began to really pull me in and I became hooked. Spark is the first book in the series. There was no a nasty cliff-hanger at the end but it did leave me wanting more. I'm already looking forward to reading the second book in the series already to see whats in store for for this couple. I give this book 4 sparkly hearts!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

***ARC was provided by author in exchange for an honest review***

What happens when sparks fly between two people, but they are never acted on because where they are in their lives won’t allow it?

For Eevie Lawson, it means she kisses some frogs before she reunites with her prince…Aidan Stone, the one who ignites her heart with a simple look and the one who seems intent on putting Eevie’s book boyfriends on the shelf for good.

Eevie’s past few years have been filled with taking care of her brothers and her mother. She never regretted putting them first, but it left little time for anything else, especially a social life. Enter Brayden, Rush, Travis, Woods, and many other book boyfriends to fill her void, but even her “men” can’t help her find her way through the chaos in her life. The men Eevie tries to find a connection with, Jon and Alex, are definitely not the ones for her, but her lack of experience leads her to make bad decision after bad decision until it’s finally the right time for her and Aidan to see if the spark they have can ignite into something else. Will Eevie finally get her ultimate book boyfriend or will incidences out of their control smother their flames?

Eevie is a fantastic heroine. She’s strong yet vulnerable…sassy yet timid. She’s an endearing character because she’s the girl next door…she’s like many of the women reading romance novels, searching for what’s missing in their lives. She makes mistakes and struggles to understand others' actions as well as her own choices, but she keeps moving forward, putting one step in front of the other, despite all the hardships her and her mother and brothers face.

Aidan Stone is a swoon worthy book boyfriend. The chemistry between Aidan and Eevie is electric, even from the beginning, but it takes quite some time for them to start a relationship. Once they get together, it is hot and heavy, but there seems to be more to Aidan than readers realize, so I can’t wait to see what Jennifer Ryder has in store for her readers in Spike.

Spark was a bit slow for me in the beginning…I constantly kept wondering what Eevie saw in Jon and Alex for that matter. I felt teased by Aidan’s early introduction and then he was gone. I know Eevie needed to experience life, and it wasn’t there time yet, but I guess like Eevie, it’s hard to be without your book boyfriends! I really enjoyed the book. Eevie and Aidan’s friends are a great addition to the story…the way Cassie and Crystal have Eevie’s back is exactly the kind of friendship every girl needs. There’s steamy scenes, witty banter, and enough angst to keep you reading until the very end. This is a great debut novel...definitely worth the read.

4 poison apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea where to begin with this review! My brain is still trying to recover from the O.M.G and process exactly what I need to write here!!!

The first thought that pops into my mind is "good things come to those who wait", and boy does that statement cover Eevie completely!!!
She's far from your normal twenty year old. She's overcome so much. A sick mum. Having to take over all of her mother's duties and looking after her 3 brothers. Losing her best friend because he's a douche, (lol its true) and being treated like a toy by an ex.
Any other twenty year old would've been running for the hills, but not Eevie. Her one escape is her "book boyfriends" and she longs for one of her very own.

But she's eventually moved out on her own, and finally started living. An accomplishment she's very proud of.

Its during this time that she meets Aidan Stone, her room mates boyfriend's friend. He's a cabinet maker by profession and a motor cross rider, a sport he hopes to take up professionally and a super hottie.

Her favourite book boyfriends come to life. When they meet they're both in relationships, but that doesn't stop her from fantasying about him. virgin or not.
They eventually hook up, at the right time and for the right reasons, and Eevie finally gets her dream first time with her dream man.

This book has it all - everything a great book should have.

A wonderful story line.

Characters you can relate to.

Sexual Tension.

Steamy hot love scenes.

Laughter.

Tears.

Friendship

Love.

Drama.

Life changing problems.

I can so relate to Eevie, I see bits of myself in her. Having to deal with things that I were way beyond my years. The only place I could feel safe was with my nose in a book. At least for that time I could forget about my problems and be someone else. Its where my love of romance novels came from - being in a world where the only problems you faced were whether you could fall in love with before the end of the book!!!

Its a feel good story you wont be able to put down that will leave you wanting more. Thank goodness this is the first book in a 3 book series, because i definatly want more Aidan and Eevie. And I'll be recommending it to everyone as a definate must read!!!!

This was the first book I've read of Jennifer Ryder's and if future books are judged by this, I'm hooked for life. It was absolutely awesome!

***** out of 5 stars, for being an over-all feeling good love story. Can't wait for the next one Jennifer!

[Shirley Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Eevie's story sure packed a punch. From the beginning, Jennifer Ryder made sure that I could relate to Eevie by letting me see how deep was her yearning to find man to connect with. Her desire to be loved and love in return felt real.

Eevie has been living her life taking care of others. She's smart and caring, but she's at a moment in her life where she wants more. Now that she finally is on her own with time to spend on herself, she wants what she has always longed for - a love of her own.

In comes Aiden, a handsome man she met through friends. They shared an attraction but both were 'taken' at the time so neither one acted on it. As the story progresses, Eevie moves on from her 'relationship' and tries her hand at another only to realize that she has been going about her journey the wrong way. Although with those 'relationships' failing, she still moves on determined not to lose her way again.



Eevie finally has the chance to explore the 'spark' she felt with Aiden. Once they lay eyes on each other again their attraction explodes and their connection starts to deepen immediately. Through flirtatious banter, honest interactions and whispered words, Eevie and Aiden get to know each other and open themselves up to the possibility of a relationship.



Although the lust was palpable, I appreciated the other emotions the author threw into the mix. Jennifer Ryder highlighted the conflicting emotions that Eevie felt throughout the story, Aiden's fear and rage about what happened and their hope that everything would be okay. I enjoyed the characters, their story and their journey.

All in all, a sweet romance with emotional undertones about a woman's journey to find the man that would ignite in her the spark that had been missing in her life.

*I received an ARC of this title in exchange of my honest opinion as a participant of this event.

[Anny hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provide a copy of the book by the Author for an honest review.

I just finish reading this for the second time, yes I read it twice that's how much I felt in love with this book, I love the characters, their where time that this book made me mad, and cried at the same time, but I love it from the first page to the last one, and I want more I cant wait for the second book, I am gone keep this short since I don't want to give anything away.

This is the story of Eevie, she is a book warm she loves to read, she could read for breakfast, lunch and diner if they let her, after taking care of her brothers for so many years, she is now free to do what ever she wants, she move in with her friend she has a job, and the most important thing that she want to do is to lose her virginity, when her friend invited her out to the club she agree to go, only to regret it the next day after waking up with a hang over, the night that she goes to hang out with her best male friend, he drop a bomb on her of how he really feel about her, and gives her choice, she agree since she did not want to lose his friendship, since he always their for her every time that the drama of her family catch up to her, few days later her friend/roommate introduce her to the sexy hunk that is Aiden, from the moment they see each other they have a spark going on, the only problem is that he has a girlfriend and she is with her best friend, once time goes by Eevie cant take it anymore and end things with her best friend, after that she find out that Aiden had end thing with his girlfriend and now is a single man, after that night everything change for both of them.

I love the way that Eevie and Aiden are with each other, love it how Aiden did not waist no time to go after Eevie once he was a free man, love the way that he cares about her, I love everything about Eevie, love her attitude love it how she don't put up with no one crap, love how she acts with Aiden.

I really love and enjoy reading this book, I cant wait for the second book, author Jennifer Ryder THANK YOU for introducing me to this amazing wonderful characters and this awesome great book love it.

[Sarah Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spark. 4.5* Review.

I was given an ARC for an honest review.

I'm so conflicted over this book. I loved to hate it. But oh so loved it.

Eevie loved to read about her book boyfriends. She had the fairy tale image in her head. But let's face it, they are imaginary men, fictional characters that are there to dream about.

Okay yes we all have book boyfriends. And yes we all live in the real world and get that the fairy tale is all it may not be, but honestly if she has kept her virtue for so long. Then a little longer can't kill.

John pushed my buttons so much. He put Eevie in the most awkward position. To be placed in a situation like that with your best friend must be horrible. She never looked at him that way. Yes she loves him in her own way, but when she is imagining herself with her book boyfriends and fantasising. Well let's be honest John was never in her dreams.

He had been her one constant through so much. He was the person she ran to when she was at her lowest. Until he gave her no other options.

I know Eeive was hurt and her birthday was fast approaching. But I couldn't get my head around why Eevie was so willing to allow a nobody to deflower her. She had saved herself for so long. Why try and give it away on a drunken night out.

Aaarrrgggghhh. I so wanted to scream at her.

I loved that no matter what was happening, Eevie's friends were always there. They knew when she was up and down. And supported her.

Oh and Aidan ( swoon ), was sweet and adorable. He reminds me of the boy next door.
Once there eyes met you could see the chemistry. It just took them a little longer to get to where they needed to be. The only problem was. Was Eeive going to make any huge mistakes before they got there?

There were some twist and turns in this book which I didn't see coming and to be honest it was nice as it wasn't predictable towards the end.

Looking forward to book 2. Spike, in the Spark Series.

Written on behalf of Sarah's Book Reviews.

[Brenda Demko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a coming of age, finding herself, looking for love in some of the wrong places kind of story.

Eevie a major book lover (my kinda woman) has recently moved into an apartment which is a huge development in her life. You see her mother was unwell for a few years and Eevie handled the chores, shopping, bill paying, taking care of her younger brothers, everything! Now, she is finally free to enjoy herself and live a little.

She has some great friends and just when she starts to enjoy herself, one friend changes the rules of their friendship by giving her an ultimatum. Her mother drops a bombshell which has her head spinning and her heart hurting. She meets a man who she desires like no one she's ever known but they are both unavailable.

Things go from bad to worse, get better, get worse, get better and then she has to deal with a major issue when a "friend" does something utterly unbelievable.

There was so much emotion written into Spark. I laughed, cried, gasped, yelled, cried.... You get the picture.

There was drama, relationship ins and outs, disappointments, some steam and romance, ;-)

I really liked Aiden. At the end of the book, is a tiny snippet of the next book in this series, Spike. It gave me a spike in my adrenaline! I hope that my affection for Aiden is not wrongly placed. I can not wait to find out.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book. I can tell you worry warts that it does not end in a cliff hanger.

I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. It was totally engaging, both heart wrenching, and heart warming in equal measures. In other words I took a shine to this Sparkle. :-) I look forward to seeing many, many, many more books from this debut author. :-)

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everybody wants to look for that certain spark in anybody to make sure they know it's the right one. For Eevie, it was harder for her. She wanted so desperately to find that right person. She is twenty years old and was still a virgin.

Aidan was just your typical guy who was built in all the right ways and was a hard worker. He was working towards a goal of becoming a professional motorcross racer. When he was racing he worker as a cabinetmaker. He was looking for that right person to make a life with also. He was looking for that spark also.

When Eevie first met Aidan, she was in a confusing relationship. She thought he was gorgeous but he was in a relationship and so was she so she didn't think of it. Aidan was looking at Eevie with shocked eyes. He was is awe of her.

It was months before Eevie and Aidan would see each other again after that first day. Eevie had went through a dark time in her life after that day. Her life was spiraling out of control and she didn't know what to do. Then one night she was out with some. friends celebrating a birthday when they saw each other again. That was the day that would change both of them for the rest of their lives.

As time went on, Eevie and Aidan went through some trying times and many good times. As each event that happened to them they were together and worked through it. For them, they finally for that spark that they were looking for. But what they didn't know was what the future held for them.

What will happen to Eevie and Aidan? Will they still have the happy ever after or will they fall apart? Will part of Widens past come back to haunt him? Will Eevie be able to handle school and Aidan's career?

I would recommend this to my friends.

[Hooked On Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am going to start this review off by saying get ready for a roller coaster ride of emotion. This book sent me back to my awkward years when I looked into the mirror and didn’t seem to see what everyone else saw when they looked at me.

The main character Eevie has had her fair share of ups and downs in her life with family issues and finally got the courage to move out to start a life of her own. This is when her rollercoaster ride begins. Her best friend Jon has always been her rock to fall back on. He has been with her through all the tough times in her life. Until one day that friendship just wasn’t enough. Eevie is left with a tough decision to make about her lifelong friendship.

Eevie has a few men in and out of her life in this book and it will keep up on the edge of your seat. I will also say there will be some mind blowing sex thrown into the mix also.

Enter Aidan wow what can I say about this sexy dirt bike riding gentleman. He had me from the first moment he appeared in the book. He just oozed sex appeal. He always seemed to show up when you would least expect him. The sexual tension between him and Eevie had me dying to turn the page to see what was going to happen next.

There will also be some tough issues in this book that will tear at your heart strings. I don’t want to give away too much in this review because once you start reading this book I do not think you will be able to put it down. There were a couple of spelling errors in the book but I found that didn’t take away from the story at all. And I am so happy that by the looks of the Prologue there might me a second book!!!

[Karen Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading Spark, I thought it was moving a bit slowly. I’d heard about Eevie and Aidan, especially Aidan, and I was wondering when I was going to get to the ‘good’ bits. But the more I got into Spark, I realised that it was important that I know about Eevie’s back story. Each event played a part in influencing Eevie and making her into the woman that captures Aidan’s heart. The more I became involved in the story, the harder it was to put down.
Aidan wasn’t the only character I fell in love with. When the book starts, Genieve has just moved out of home into a flat with Crystal. Eevie is only 20 but she’s not your average 20 year old. She’s independent and not afraid to say what she thinks (most of the time). I wish she had relied on her instincts more. You have to read Spark to understand what I’m talking about.
Some people think Aidan is a bad boy, but I definitely didn’t think so. Sure, he might look like a bad boy on the outside since he wears leather and he’s a mad biker, but he is SO MUCH more. Yes, he’s hot but it was the way he cared for and loved Eevie that made me become a fully paid up member of the Aidan Stone fan club. There is a mystery surrounding Aidan and I’m looking forward to finding out his secrets, hopefully in book 2.
The minor characters in Spark also help to make a very entertaining and easy read. I loved nearly every single one of them, but there were a couple who had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. Again, you need to read Spark to find out why.
I gave Spark 5 out of 5 stars and I can’t wait to spend more quality time with Aidan.
Written by Karen from Confessions of a Bookaholic

[Romancing Susan (Monti) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC for an honest review.

First off, I want to say, if you have read Jennifer’s acknowledgement, she states that this story is about her and that she is Eevie. I am glad Eevie (Jennifer) has found her Aidan (Ben).

Secondly, I applaud Eevie. Braving to face life on her own. She has her share of “losers” in her life at a young age of 20. Her supposed best friend Jon, there’s Alex and then Dean; I am not going elaborate about these men and how they have affected Eevie’s life. Not to mention she also has family issues and has to take over her mom’s duties watching over her brothers while her dad goes MIA. I applaud her for her strength, for her being resilient and not letting these “trials” to interfere with her life.

To tell you the truth, I struggled a little at the beginning. But after I got her writing style, I found the book very enjoyable. Aidan as the hero deserves swoon flags from me. For Eevie to be certified bookworm and addicted to book boyfriends, she is afraid that she will never get to experience the ‘Spark” one gets in found in her books. She gets a lot of hit and miss. Aidan is as close to what you read in books, loving and supportive, understanding and HOT. Spark has the balance of fun, angst, pain, love, and friendship. I should also mention the spark that Eevie is longing for in her life.

This is Jennifer Ryder’s debut book and has done a great job with it. Looking forward to her next book.

[Beth Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review:
4 Stars

This book started off a little slow but then picked up speed. At first it seemed to have little too much back story and not enough character development. But then Jennifer Ryder forged ahead with a juicy romance.

Eevie is completely oblivious to her best-friend Jon's affections so he basically corners her to reveal his feelings by threatening their friendship. She caves and figures why not try it out and see what happens. Disaster! As soon as she gives Jon a chance, suitors come out of the woodwork....Aidan in particular. Aidan is a smoking hot motocrosser and friend of a friend. Aidan ignites something in Eevie that she is missing in her psuedo-relationship with Jon. Fortunately or unfortunately, Aidan is also in a relationship. Eventually all the stars align, and they are both single and can explore this deep attraction.

I really enjoyed that Eevie and Aidan's relationship has a few obstacles to overcome. It definitely lead to quite a build-up in anticipation. I enjoyed the book and I'm looking forward what Jennifer Ryder will do with these characters next.

Complimentary copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.

Favorite Quote: "Too bad the only place we can be together involves me being comatose and probably snoring my head off with bad hair and equally bad breath." -Eevie

"Atta girl. I knew you were environmentally responsible. I promise you, once you start, you'll never wanna shower alone again." -Aidan

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eevie Lawson is living on her own for the first time. She has has to put her own life on hold to help her mother and brothers during the years she should have been finishing college. She loves a good romance novel and wants nothing more than a healthy happy sex life and someone to love. Eevie doesn't have much real-life experience, but she knows that she is ready. Unfortunately, it can be tough to find someone who matches up to the perfect book boyfriends that live in her novels.

Eevie is hard-working, smart, kind, and loyal. It is really tough to watch her go through some rough attempts at a relationship before finding one that is worth everything she has to offer. Her friends are a supportive and wonderful, and they are all deserving of the love and care they offer to each other. When Aidan enters the picture and Eevie realizes what sexual chemistry really feels like things start to get interesting. When Eevie and Aidan realize that they both have even more to offer each other besides an incredible physical connection, it is something fantastic to experience. These are characters that it is easy to care about and even though there are some serious challenges ahead, it is easy to see how they can get through anything together. I will be looking forward to the next book in this series!

*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review

[Terri Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an ARC of this book for my honest review*

Genevieve Paige Lawson, a young university student had to take a couple of years off of school to take care of her ailing mother and her brothers. Things happen around the house and she feels like her world is falling apart.

She has always been so busy and preoccupied that she has never had a boyfriend, only her book boyfriends. Her best male friend, Jon, admitted that he had fallen in love with her and they needed to be boyfriend and girlfriend or nothing at all, that he couldn't maintain 'best friend' status any longer. She loved him as a friend, but just couldn't be 'in love' with him. So she lost her best friend. While mourning the loss of her friendship, her broken family and loneliness of no boyfriend, she sees Aidan Stone. He makes her heart beat like nothing has ever done before.

Events that I will not name happen and Aidan never leaves her side. The love story is wonderful how you watch it grow from first glance to finally seeing them together. I can't wait to see where their relationship goes. Hurry and get Spike done for me!!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely one of those books that makes a great impression for a first in a series. I was sucked into Eevie’s world from the very beginning. She blunders, makes mistakes, and comes back stronger for it.

Eevie struggles with her first few interactions with the opposite sex. Having been stuck in her parents’ house until recently, she’s somewhat naïve about men and relationships and tends to compare every man to her book boyfriends. After 2 failed relationships she is single again and discovers so is Aiden, a man who she’s met a few times but was dating someone. I absolutely love Aiden. He supports and listens to Eevie and is sweet and loving too. It doesn’t hurt that he’s a sexy as hell carpenter that is working his way into the professional motocross world.

All of the characters in this book had unique personality. Even the not so great people in the book felt like they were real and it brought depth to the story. The plot was engaging and the story line flowed very smoothly. I had no problems finishing this in one day. This was an excellent story and I look forward to the next book in the series. 5 out of 5 stars!

[Two Nerds With Words · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewer: Bex (A personal read)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Spark is a novel that I inhaled quickly. It's such an intense, sweet and fabulous hot read.

From the opening, I was absorbed into the narrative and felt a certain level of kinship with the main character Eevie. The author, Jennifer Ryder, has successfully created a main character who readers can bond with and relate to. Eevie is a well-formed character; it was a pleasure to follow her story. Enter Aiden. He is drool-worthy, and right up there with having the goods for a hot-as-hell book boyfriend.

There's just the right level of realism mixed in with escapism. As such, I felt a great amount of tension as the plot peaked with it's complication, and I was rewarded by many uplifting moments, creating a lovely balance. Likewise, what was so refreshing with Jennifer Ryder's debut novel, was the context and focus on moto-cross. I loved this concept and think the author crafted a strong story overall.

Most definitely a 'don't think just buy' read.

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eevie is a normal 20 year old, except for the fact that she spend the last 2 years of her life taking care of her brothers while her Mom was sick and her Dad was MIA. Now finally on her own, she's ready to fin "the one"…..like the heroes in her beloved romance novels. But she quickly learns that guys like that don't exist in the real world. Until she meets Aiden. Aiden is everything a girl wants in a man, and they definitely have that "spark", but unfortunately, Eevie is in a relationship with Jon, her best friend, and Aiden has a girlfriend. After a bunch of drama, can they finally find their spark together?

This story was sweet with just enough emotional angst to keep it interesting. Eevie has some cringe-worthy encounters with the men in her life. Some funny, some sad and some very sexy. The only issue I have with this book is that there's not enough Aiden!!! It's Eevie's story and she goes through a lot to find herself so that she and Aiden can have their moment. This is a great read for someone wanting a break from the extremely emotional NA books.