When Sparks Fly

by Monica Murphy

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy comes a sweltering summer romance you won’t be able to put down.

Twenty-two-year-old heiress Rachel Henderson has one goal this hide out at her family’s lake house and recover from the most mortifying breakup Manhattan society has ever witnessed. Sun, swimming, and zero paparazzi, what could go wrong?

But her quiet summer by the lake goes up in literal flames when a spa-day candle mishap sets her mother’s designer curtains on fire. When the local fire department shows up—specifically the ridiculously hot fire captain—the house is saved, but the captain scorches her pride with a lecture about fire safety.

Determined to prove she can handle life on her own without her family’s help, Rachel finds a new roommate and a new job—too bad she’s terrible at it. Oh, and she keeps running into Captain Tall-Dark-and-Infuriating (which definitely isn’t a hardship). The more time they spend together, the more their conversations start to get real, and Rachel finds herself falling for Wyatt. She thinks he might even feel the same way.

The only problem? Wyatt is all about roots and permanence, while Rachel is the very definition of flighty. But this summer, she just might be tempted to stay …

Genres: Romance, Firefighters, Contemporary, Small Town Romance, Rom Com, Fiction, Summer

354 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 26, 2026

About the author

New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author. A believer in kissing. A believer of love.

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Reviews

[Yimmie♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⊹₊🔥⋆｡°✩ 𝙥𝙧𝙚-𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙: the blurb really caught my attention, so i’m hoping this is a good one💜


⋮ ⌗ ┆ 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙:13th May, 2026

[Amanda Blanche · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC copy - releasing in May 2026.

This is an opposites attract - rich naive spoiled big city girl and the gruff single dad small town fireman.

Rachel is hiding out at her family’s vacation home, running away from her problems and her very public break up. Having never worked and relied on her parents for money, she’s not coping well. In an effort to cheer herself up - she sets up a little home spa day - and sets the house on fire. Who shows up to put out the fire, but the captain himself, Wyatt. It is not love at first sight - more like attitude and attraction. As Rachel gets cut off by father and left to figure out her life in this small town, she makes new friends and explores her chemistry with grumpy Wyatt. But Rachel doesn’t know what her plans are, where she belongs and if she wants to settle down - whereas Wyatt needs stability. Even as they grow closer, the cracks in their relationship grow, new insecurities develop and Rachel needs to decide if she’s staying or going.

I think the cover is beautiful, love the retro vibe of it and the artistry. I did not like Rachel as an FMC, I found her to be too much of a “damsel”. And even with her showing some growth, I just didn’t connect to her character. I found the relationship between her and Wyatt to be very superficial, and I also didn’t connect to their connection. I think this book has promise, just missed on some execution and character development - for my preference of reading.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooo addicting!!!
BOOK REVIEW✨

Vale… este libro NO reinventó la rueda, pero ¿me sacó del reading slump? ABSOLUTAMENTE SÍ 😮‍💨🔥

“When Sparks Fly” es de esas historias que se leen en un suspiro: rápida, adictiva, sexy y con suficiente tensión para hacerme patear las piernas en la cama a las 2am. Monica Murphy sabe perfectamente cómo escribir química explosiva y personajes que te desesperan… pero de la forma divertida 👀

¿La trama? Engancha.
¿El romance? Muy hot.
¿Las miradas cargadas de tensión? Criminales.
¿Yo? Entre gritando, sonriendo y necesitando un ventilador.

No fue un cinco estrellas para mí porque quería un poquito MÁS emocionalmente, pero honestamente… este libro apareció en el momento perfecto y me devolvió las ganas de leer devorando capítulos como si no tuviera responsabilidades.

En conclusión: divertido, spicy, caótico y peligrosamente fácil de obsesionarse 🏠🔥📖

Ya tenéis planes para el 26 de mayo 📆
————————————————————————————-

Okay listen… did this book reinvent romance? No.
Did it DRAG me out of my reading slump by the hair? Absolutely 😮‍💨🔥

“When Sparks Fly” is the kind of romance you inhale in one sitting: fast-paced, addictive, steamy and packed with enough tension to have me kicking my feet at 2am like a maniac.

Monica Murphy really knows how to write explosive chemistry and characters that make you want to scream… respectfully 👀

The plot? Fun.
The romance? HOT.
The tension-filled stares? Illegal.
Me? Sweating, giggling and emotionally unstable.

It wasn’t a full five stars because I wanted a little more emotional depth, BUT this book came at the perfect time and reminded me why I love binge-reading romance in the first place.

Final verdict: messy, spicy, entertaining chaos and dangerously easy to devour 🏠🔥📚

Releasing May 26th 📆
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.

[Noi (in & out)]

is this the Fireman book I've been dreaming of??

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

"When Sparks Fly" by Monica Murphy is a decent read with an increeeeeeeeeedible cover. It's not my favorite book, but it has its moments of intensely hot spice and humor. It's a small-town romance between a privileged, spoiled FMC who is licking her wounds at her family's vacation home post-very-public-break-up, has recently been cut off by her rich father, and has to learn to fend for herself after she burned part of her family's home down, and a single dad fire captain who isn't looking for anything serious. Rachel (FMC) and Wyatt (MMC) meet when he comes to rescue her when the upstairs portion of her family's home burns down because of her carelessness with a candle during a self-care night. From there, Rachel finds herself stranded in his small town when her father cuts her off monetarily. She is forced to get a job scooping ice cream and to rely on the kindness of strangers/her very quickly formed new friend group to try to reinvent herself. I am sure I am not alone in saying this, but Rachel is annoying as hell for most of the book. Her absolute obtuseness about the world around her is giving Kim Kardashian "I don't even know what a carton of milk costs," and boy howdy, if it's not the time for that!!!!!!!!!! Sure, she comes around, but god, it's hard to listen to her whine about the plight of the poor because daddy cancelled her credit cards and made her return her rental car. Pardon me if *this* poor doesn't feel the slightest bit sorry for her. Wyatt is a fine MMC and has his moments of sweetness, but I never felt a strong connection towards him or between him and his daughter, despite him being portrayed as a devoted father. He has his charms, but he was just sort of....there? They just sort of.... have s3x with each other??? Very insta-love-y, in my opinion. I think that's my main issue with this book: it all feels very surface-level. None of it feels deep or full of yearning or earned in the slightest. It all feels very easy. Even Rachel's instant connections to the small town and its residents happen way too quickly; she never really has to struggle, she just doesn't have enough money. I got a distinct "happy for now" feeling from them as a couple, which sucks for Wyatt's young daughter, because he purposefully made it known that he doesn't let just anyone into her/his life. They *definitely* *do not* feel like a HEA-type of couple. I did like Paige and Nate and their "will they, won't they" vibe, so if they get a book, I will definitely read it.

Thank you to Monica Murphy and VPR Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Britnee Weir]

I was provided this book as an ARC copy from NetGalley.

I DNF’d this at 30%. I’’m so sad because I was so excited for this book… the cover and the synopsis sounded so good. I found the writing a little immature for me and I absolutely hated the FMC. Please tell me why the woman runs into a burning house to save a bag…. I’m sure that she comes into her own as the book goes on but unfortunately, this is the year of DNFing books I don’t love after a certain amount of time.

[Jen M · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a lot of fire fighter romances, the MMC is a fire fighter but that’s the end of the story. The author doesn’t talk about the long shifts away from home and the dangers of the job. They don’t talk about the effect the job has on the people in love with these men who risk everything, but this author did. Yes, it was a cute opposites attract love story but the fact that the author knew first hand what it’s actually like to love a fire fighter and wrote that truth into her story was what really made me love this story. People see the sexy fire fighter calendar and think “I want that” but they don’t get the worry and anxiety that comes from actually loving one.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️

When Sparks Fly was such a low-stakes, easy little firefighter romcom. Rachel is a wealthy heiress hiding out at her family’s lake house after a very public breakup, and within the first few chapters she accidentally almost burns the place down. Enter Wyatt: grumpy firefighter captain, single dad, and very much over Rachel’s chaotic rich-girl energy. Naturally, they end up hate-hooking-up the same night they meet.

Despite sounding dramatic, this book honestly stays pretty light and fun the entire time. Rachel has never really had responsibilities before, so watching her attempt to work an actual job and function independently was entertaining, while Wyatt was the steady, grounded contrast to all her mess. The opposites-attract chemistry worked for me, even if the overall story felt a little predictable.

This was my first Monica Murphy book, and overall I thought it was cute. Nothing super deep or life-changing, but definitely the kind of audiobook you throw on when you want something fun and uncomplicated.

Narration-wise, Kelsey Navarro Foster was easily the highlight for me. I love her in pretty much everything she narrates, and she made Rachel really likable. Tor Thom, unfortunately, was more hit-or-miss here. Wyatt came across flatter than I wanted, and I honestly think a different narrator could’ve elevated the romance quite a bit for me.

Still, if you like grumpy/sunshine vibes, single dads, rich-girl-meets-small-town energy, and low-angst romance, this one is worth picking up.

Thanks to Monica, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for the ALC.

[Savannah Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

i had such high hopes for this one! i’ve been dying for a firefighter romance lately, but this was just okay for me. rachel, an heiress running away to her childhood summer home after a public break up, accidentally sets her house on fire. wyatt is the hot single dad firefighter who responds to the call. i don’t mind a rich fmc who has inherited money, but i do not like an fmc who is infantilized and treated as incapable of working a part time job that most 14 year olds excel at. rachel was just VERY out of touch and it was really challenging not only in this economy but in this job market & her growth was not what i would have hoped for. i will say, i loved wyatt! i thought he was such a fun, grumpy single dad to read about. he was super sweet to his daughter and an amazing dad. i did also LOVE paige & nate!!! paige was SO sweet and i was obsessed with her and how immediately caring she was towards rachel. i genuinely kept reading for paige. all in all, this is a quick read that you can turn your brain off and just escape in. anyone looking for a fast-paced laugh out loud romance would probably enjoy this one!

[Kamryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one! It was easy to turn your brain off and just read it. However, if you’re looking for in-depth and a heartfelt story this isn’t it… unfortunately. I had very high hopes for this one but I was let down.

I love Monica’s writing because it is so fun! However I had a hard time with the FMC (Rachel), I mean she ran back into her BURNING HOUSE to grab her bag… (this happened chapter two btw) but hey it was fun and easy and I had a good laugh. I thought her character would develop over time but uh it really didn’t…

I mean the MMC (Wyatt) he was amazing LOVED him! He even had a daughter which I kinda thought would make him and Rachel’s relationship deeper? Alas that wasn’t the case.

Kinda felt like reality TV in a good way though! It was fun, and super easy to fly through

[ReadingTilTheBreakOfDawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, let's start from the top.
Lovely cover. I'm in love with illustrated cover and the beautiful colors. Super cute and fire!
Story within? Cute. Enjoyable. Predictable with little dramatics. The ending? Too abrupt, but suffice. Narration? Ok. Liked Kelsey Navarro Foster for the spoiled rich FMC, but Tor Thom was a little too one dimensional for the MMC.

Now, let's get into story....
When Sparks Fly is the opposites attract, fish out of water, summer romance story that felt a little too easy, but was cute. Rachel, a rich young woman comes to her family's lake house after experiencing a heartbreak. But while she is bathing, she accidentally catches her house on fire. Wyatt, the local fire Captain (and single dad) is one of the first on the scene and rescues the short-robe -wearing Rachel after she decides to reenter her home to save her Birkin. These two obviously have different priorities, but what happens when they bump into each other again at the local bar?

This story was cute, but I felt like it was so light and never really dug into the characters too deeply. I mean, Rachel is a rich girl that has never worked a day in her life and lives off of her parents' credit cards, but once she is cut off from any money and support, she falls easily into a place to stay and a job. A job that ends up being easy for her to deal with. No real complaining about it, she just does it. Which is apparently all she's ever needed. She may have been a "fish out of the water", but one that could very easily adapt to its new surroundings.

Meanwhile, once she meets Wyatt, obviously he is hot and a fireman, but that is as much as they know about each other once when they decide to have a one night stand. But obviously that lasts only so long, as Wyatt and his daughter end up running into his one night stand when they go to get his daughter some ice cream. And these two just can't deny their chemistry and decide to give the one night stand some more attention.

Like I said, the story is cute and has no real strong drama or friction between the MCs, but is still enjoyable. Rachel is a little too easy and one-dimensional, but likes small town living after being a rich city dweller her whole life. Not realistic and could've had more fun with her trying to adapt to a whole new life. Wyatt had a few more years and responsibilities under his belt, but still took a chance on the girl that was a wild card. I didn't really feel their connection and chemistry and thought it was more surface level, until we get some more emotional stuff towards the very end. Ultimately, I liked the full cast of characters as a whole. From Rachel's roommate, to Wyatt's brother and daughter, they all played a significant role in the overall story and I liked the parts of the story where they were all included.

Lastly, the audiobook. This is the aspect I may have liked best. Kelsey Navarro Foster was not only able to capture the spoiled rich girl, but also the caring young woman that was learning how to survive on her own. I felt like her portrayal made the character and her growth that much more believable. Tor Thom, meanwhile proved to be a little more flat, but also that felt fitting for Wyatt's grumpy exterior. I think mixed with Foster's performance, it made the romantic connection a little too unlikely, but also worked for "opposites attract".

Overall, When Sparks Fly was a low to no angst, easy to read summer romance.

If you like:
Opposites Attract
Small Town MMC/Big City FMC
Age Gap
Single Dad
Failed One Night Stand
Summer Romance
With little to no drama, then this story could be for you.

[Amber (Ambee & Ink) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review and more can be found on my Bookstagram & Booktok @ Ambeeandink!

Thank you so much to Valentine PR, Blackstone & Monica Murphy for the review copy and exchange for an honest review!

TROPES:
🧯Small Town
🔥Grumpy x Sunshine
🧯Single Dad
🔥Age Gap
🧯Firefighter
🔥Found Family


When Sparks Fly was such a fun summer romcom and I absolutely flew through it in a couple sittings. This was my first Monica Murphy book and now I totally get the hype because I already need to read more from her. The second I saw firefighter romance, I was locked in. I come from a family of first responders so give me a man in uniform with emotional baggage and I’m seated every single time.

Rachel and Wyatt come from completely different worlds and you can feel it immediately. Wyatt is small town, born and raised, captain at the firehouse, single dad vibes. Rachel is a rich heiress hiding out at her family’s lake house after a very public breakup that honestly sounds like my personal nightmare. Then she accidentally sets her curtains on fire during a self care day and Wyatt shows up with his crew and it’s chaos from there, for the rest of the summer.

I thought the premise was honestly so cute. Failed one night stand, figuring out who you are outside of everyone else’s expectations, learning how to stand on your own, all wrapped up in a fun summery romance? Inject it directly into my veins. Were these the deepest characters I’ve ever read? No. But did I have a ridiculously good time reading this book? Absolutely.

The spice is definitely on the lighter side though. I’d give it like a 1.5 out of 5. It’s there, but if you skipped over it you honestly wouldn’t miss anything important plot wise.

The side characters were honestly one of my favorite parts. I loved Rachel and Paige’s friendship and how naturally they clicked because it really highlighted how fake and surface level most of Rachel’s other friendships were. And Nate’s brother??? That man was down astronomically for Paige and nobody can convince me otherwise. I needed that storyline immediately.

Overall, When Sparks Fly is the perfect throw-it-in-your-beach-bag summer read. If you love slutty mustaches, firefighters, grumpy/sunshine energy, and small town romance chaos, this book is absolutely for you!

[Amity Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narration by Tor Thom & Kelsey Navarro Foster these who brought the fun & made this one such a good time! I really enjoyed their performance and the audio!!

This was a fun summer fling romance. Rich sunshiny FMC, hot firefighter single dad MMC

Rachel has never had to fend for herself, but after life throws her some curveballs she faces changes & grows to love the little small-town she was visiting. Wyatt is the grumpy man who swoops in and becomes the hottest summer fling. But their relationship brings so much heat & chemistry & I loved watching these characters grow.

Definitely a cute & fun little read with some emotion and lovable characters! Thank you NetGalley & Valentine PR for this early audio!

[Catie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute summer fling romance book that turned into a cozy fling and add in a hot firefighter, yes please!

You meet Rachel, a rich girl who has never had to do anything for herself. When she realizes her boyfriend is a lying cheat and dumps him, she flees to her parent’s cabin across the country.

Where we meet Wyatt, a single dad with a hot ass job to serve and protect hehe.

When Rachel has to fend for herself, she grows close to this small town life and even closer to Wyatt.

Super quick read and my first of Monica’s!

[Chelsea Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the arc VPR!
Absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. I love the growth from both MCs throughout the story, and whewwww Wyatt. Enough said!

[Mamawattto4 Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC

⭐️⭐️⭐️ – When Sparks Fly by Monica Murphy

This was my first Monica Murphy book, and I went in SO excited because firefighter romance?? Yes please. That’s one of those tropes that usually has me hooked immediately.

But honestly…this one was a bit of a struggle for me.

The biggest issue was Rachel. I really tried, but I just could not get past how immature and honestly kind of annoying she felt through a lot of the story. Instead of connecting with her, I found myself getting frustrated over and over again. It made it hard to fully enjoy the romance when I wasn’t rooting for her the way I wanted to be.

Wyatt, on the other hand? He deserved better 🤷🏼‍♀️ He felt more grounded and easy to like, and I kept wishing he had a love interest that matched his energy a little more.

The writing itself was fine, and I still love the idea of a firefighter romance, but the character dynamic just didn’t work for me the way I hoped it would. Not a bad read, just not the right fit for me.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love When Sparks Fly by Monica Murphy because it started off so strong. The setup was fun, summery, and super engaging. Rachel is a spoiled New York heiress who escapes to her family’s lake house after a very public break-up, only to accidentally set part of the house on fire and meet Wyatt, the local fire chief. Cue the grumpy sunshine vibes, small town summer setting, and a steamy one night stand.

The first half genuinely hooked me. I loved the lake town atmosphere, Rachel having to actually fend for herself for once, and her working at the ice cream parlour while flirting with the grumpy fire chief. It had all the ingredients for the perfect summer romance.

Unfortunately, it started to lose me in the second half because I just didn’t buy the romance at all. Rachel and Wyatt felt very insta lust rather than an actual emotional connection. They were clearly attracted to each other, but I never really felt the chemistry deepen beyond that, so the relationship moved far too quickly for me to fully invest in.

A lot of the side plots also felt underdeveloped because the book focused so heavily on the romance, which was the weakest part for me. Wyatt being a single dad especially didn’t work the way I hoped it would. Normally I love single dad romances, but here I never got those swoony, protective dad vibes. There were multiple moments where he was supposedly stressed about childcare, yet he had no issue leaving his daughter to go off with Rachel, which just felt inconsistent and took me out of the story.

Overall, this had such a fun premise and strong summer vibes, but the romance never fully convinced me. A decent beach read if you’re looking for something quick and steamy, but I wanted a lot more emotional depth from the relationship.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Sparks Fly is a cute, light summer romance that combines so many of my favorite tropes: firefighter romance, small-town vibes, different sides of the tracks, single dad, and a swoony summer love story.

In this story, Rachel, a wealthy heiress, suffers a very public and humiliating breakup. In the aftermath, she escapes to her family’s vacation home in California to avoid the publicity and recover from the fallout. During a self-care night gone wrong, she accidentally sets her house on fire — which is how she meets Wyatt, the town’s fire chief and the MMC.

What stood out to me most was Rachel’s character development. She begins the story as someone who has never had to work or support herself financially. When she is suddenly cut off, I expected her to completely fall apart. Instead, Rachel surprised me by rolling up her sleeves and figuring things out on her own. It was incredibly rewarding to watch her grow more self-sufficient and gain confidence in her ability to build a life for herself.

The romance starts off hot and heavy from the beginning, but it quickly develops into something much deeper than physical attraction. There’s genuine emotional depth to their relationship, which made me even more invested in their story.

Overall, this was such an enjoyable and entertaining read that feels perfect for summer. If you’re looking for a sweet and steamy romance with strong character growth and plenty of small-town charm, I definitely recommend picking this one up.

[A_Stylish_Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

What started as a way to escape a humiliating break up turned into a nightmare for Rachel when she accidentally sets her house on fire. She basically ends up homeless and broke for the summer and Rachel, a nice local girl helps her out.

She ends up living with her and working at the local ice cream store while her family vacation home is being repaired.

I will say that Rachel is hard to like in the beginning, she is beyond spoiled and privileged and so clueless. Once she starts working and getting to know the town people she starts to mature a bit.

Wyatt, who isn't looking to date since he is a busy as fire chief and a single dad but somehow gets super attracted to Rachel. I enjoyed their banter and their summer fling turn to something more.

I enjoyed Wyatt's brothers and how they added fun to the story. Overall, a fun summer romance story.

Thank you @blackstonepublishing for a copy of the book.

[anovelaccount (Kayla) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one started strong for me. I did not like Rachel, but I recognized a huge opportunity for growth over the course of the story. Unfortunately, I really felt like her growth was limited and did not reach its potential. I wanted more and felt like it was possible but that the author just went in a different direction, which was disappointing to me. I also thought the relationship didn’t develop as much as I’d like throughout the story. We see glimpses of depth, but ultimately the relationship felt shallow. I was unsure why a stable man with a daughter would want Rachel, aside from lust—and while I hoped that would become abundantly clear by the end, it just wasn’t.

But listen, I loved the cover (it’s what drew me in), the small town vibes, the firefighting aspects even though they’re few in number, and Wyatt as a whole is a dream despite his questionable taste in women.

Thank you to VPR and the author for the gifted copy!

[Katie Shaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Small town romance + single dad firefighter?! Say less.

When Rachel, a socialite and heiress, accidentally catches her family’s summer home on fire, she comes face to face with one very grumpy firefighter in the most chaotic meet cute imaginable. After getting cut off by her father, she’s forced to stay in town and actually work for the first time in her life… which unfortunately means constantly running into the same firefighter she can’t stop thinking about.

This one was SO good. It was witty, swoony, spicy, and such a quick addictive read. The chemistry between Rachel and Wyatt had me smiling the entire time, and I loved watching Rachel slowly find herself.

If you Alexis from Schitts creek definitely add this one to your tbr! Rachel was absolutely giving Alexis Rose vibes!

[Kassie Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.25⭐️
Single dad
Rich girl
Firefighter


Rachel was a little hard to like. I did like Wyatt.

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super sweet romance that I really enjoyed! Multiple POV, my fave, and lovable characters to carry the story. The setting was really cute and the small town vibes were great. Read in one sitting, would recommend!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc

[Nicole Holdaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of When Sparks Fly immediately caught my attention… rich city girl meets grumpy, broody firefighter after he saves her from a house fire. It’s a trope-filled setup that I’m always excited to dive into, and the story largely delivers on exactly what it promises.
One thing I appreciated was that the female main character didn’t lean into the stereotypical entitled rich girl persona. Despite coming from wealth, she didn’t act spoiled or dismissive of others, which was refreshing. However, I did find her overall immaturity difficult to connect with at times, and that created a bit of distance for me as a reader.
The side characters were a highlight of the book. They added depth and personality to the story, and I’m especially hoping we get more from Paige and Nate in a future installment because their dynamic definitely caught my interest.
I was a bit disappointed that the storyline surrounding the house and its repairs seemed to fade away as the book progressed, since it initially felt like it might play a larger role in the plot. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the injury introduced very late while the MMC was on the job it felt a bit abrupt. That said, the emotional conflict that followed and the way the characters navigated it ultimately led to some satisfying moments of tension and resolution between them.
Overall, while some elements didn’t fully work for me, the story still had engaging moments and strong supporting characters that kept me invested.

[Manda Eclectic Mood Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.25 rounded up because I was feeling generous
✨Summer Romance
✨Dual POV
✨Small Town
✨Single Dad
✨Found Family
✨Firefighter
✨First in a series
🌶️ 3+ spice scenes

Rachel sets her vacation house on fire after a bad-public break up. She's rescued by Fire Captain Wyatt in nothing more than her bathrobe. Stuck in California, she finds the kindest person ever to let her stay in her guest room while she tries to find a job and make enough money to get home. Unless she decides to stay for the very good-looking fireman that keeps showing up.

positives: the cover was so cute. Wyatt was a good dad with apprehension to bring anyone into his life that he shares with his child. he's a firefighter with a good family.
Rachel is unwilling to give up after she was cut off from her rich daddy. The side characters were just as interesting as the main. Maybe a bit more interesting i.m.o...

negatives: it was very lust forward and insta-lovey. 30 percent into the book and they're full on doing it. - so, if you like spice throughout the book then you might like this.
It would be a great vacation or poolside book.

Thank you to Blackstone publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an early copy and review it honestly.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Sparks Fly by Monica Murphy is a sweltering, low-stakes summer romance that delivers a classic, trope-filled setup. This opposites-attract, grumpy-meets-sunshine story brings together a rich, naive, and spoiled big-city girl and a gruff, small-town firefighter captain. The premise completely hooks you from the start, especially if you love single-dad dynamics and rich-girl-meets-small-town energy.

The story centers on twenty-two-year-old heiress Rachel Henderson, who flees Manhattan society to hide out at her family’s lake house. Her goal is to enjoy the sun, swimming, and zero paparazzi while recovering from the most mortifying, public breakup her social circle has ever witnessed. However, her quiet summer by the lake goes up in literal flames. In an effort to cheer herself up, she sets up a home spa day, but a candle mishap sets her mother's designer curtains on fire and accidentally almost burns the whole place down.

Enter Fire Captain Wyatt: a ridiculously hot, grumpy single dad who is very much over Rachel's chaotic rich-girl energy. He saves the house but scorches her pride with a lecture about fire safety. It is definitely not love at first sight—more like attitude and attraction—yet the chemistry between them is absolutely undeniable, electric, and scorching hot. In fact, they end up hate-hooking-up the very same night they meet.

The plot thickens when Rachel's father cuts her off financially, leaving her with literally no money. Having never worked and always relying on her parents, she is initially at a loss and not coping well. Determined to prove she can handle life on her own, she meets a local girl named Paige, who kindly offers her a room and a job. Watching Rachel attempt to work an actual job, make new friends, and function independently for the first time is highly entertaining. Wyatt serves as the perfect steady, grounded contrast to all her mess.

As Rachel and Wyatt grow closer, they explore their palpable chemistry, and their conversations start to get real. Rachel begins to fall for her "Captain Tall-Dark-and-Infuriating" and starts to change, growing into her own person. However, the romance feels almost impossible because they are opposites in every way, from their backgrounds and lifestyles to their core needs. Wyatt is all about roots, stability, and permanence, while Rachel is the very definition of flighty, unsure of her plans or where she belongs. As they get closer, the cracks in their relationship grow, new insecurities and fears develop, and Rachel has to decide if she is staying or going.

As a reader, your experience with this book might depend heavily on how you connect with the character execution. Some readers find Rachel a bit too much of a "damsel" and struggle with her immaturity, feeling that her connection with Wyatt stays a bit superficial. For others, she reveals an unexpected level of depth, strength, and character growth as the story unfolds, making her transition from a spoiled socialite into an independent woman genuinely rewarding. Wyatt, however, is a universal highlight—easy to love, devoted, and a fantastic anchor for the story.

The secondary characters really steal the show and add a significant amount of charm to the town. Rachel’s friendship with her new roommate, Paige, is a wonderful bonus, giving Rachel someone truly in her corner. The local crew provides a great foundation for the world, and the book even includes fun, unexpected cameos from characters in previous novels. The dynamic between Paige and Nate is particularly engaging, leaving readers crossing their fingers for a future installment dedicated to their happily ever after.

While the story follows a somewhat predictable path, it carries a surprising amount of emotional weight and heart toward the end, leading to a beautiful and satisfying resolution. Wrapped in a beautiful cover with a wonderful, artistic retro vibe, it is the perfect fun and uncomplicated romcom to toss in your beach bag for a summer vacation.

For those diving into the audiobook companion, the narration is brought to life by Tor Thom and Kelsey Navarro Foster. Kelsey Navarro Foster is a total standout, delivering a fantastic performance that makes Rachel incredibly likable and engaging. Tor Thom's portrayal of Wyatt is a bit more hit-or-miss, occasionally coming across flatter than expected, where a different narrator might have elevated the romantic tension even further. Overall, whether it is your first Monica Murphy book or you are a returning fan, this low-angst, addictive, and delicious read is a cute, light-hearted journey that is well worth picking up.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[MJLovestoRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Sparks Fly is classic Monica Murphy. Which is always a wonderful thing for this long-time fan. I fell into this talented author's words so darn easily and in turn, was completely consumed by the love affair between Rachel and Wyatt. Their meet-cute was crazy good as Rachel was simply trying to decompress in her family's summer home after her life was turned upside down by a brutal and very public breakup. But her relaxing bathtime turned into a fast-moving fire and the next thing she knew, the sexy and very capable fire captain named Wyatt was bringing Rachel to safety. These two traded barbs like an old married couple as Rachel ran back inside the house to retrieve a Birkin heirloom, causing Wyatt to realize that she was definitely different than the residents of his charming small town. Which, of course, meant he was more than curious and perhaps would finally shed a bit of his grumpy self in order to get to know her just a little bit better.

Murphy took the small-town genre and gave it the kind of life I can't resist with this wonderful book. With two seemingly mismatched characters, I'm always in awe of how she manages to fit such differing personalities so perfectly together. Rachel was only on the west coast to nurse her emotional wounds for an undisclosed short time and yet as time progressed, she not only found her footing but herself for perhaps the very first time ever. Sure, she was this rich heiress who never worked a day in her life but she has a heart of gold and a drive to please others. I loved her newfound friendship with the delightful Paige and how Rachel fit in with her co-workers once she showed she truly could be one of the girls.

With Wyatt, who has a ton of his own emotional baggage when it comes to relationships, the change in him once he realizes that Rachel may be in Foxglove Bay for more than just a few days has him feeling out of sorts. The man doesn't do relationships since he was burned by his adorable daughter's mother. And now he's not sure if he wants more with Rachel or if their sexual chemistry is clouding his judgment. But I couldn't blame him for falling for her the way he did since she makes him feel appreciated like no one else does, and he makes her feel seen. It's the very best in an opposites attract kind of romance.

Sure, their love affair went from zero to sixty but I just knew Rachel had found her home when her family life in New York continued to make her feel small. That Wyatt was the kind of man you want forever with. She stumbles a bit as she creates this new life for herself but I loved that her newfound friends never allowed her to fall. Except maybe, of course, into Wyatt's very capable arms.

With the sweetest grand gesture towards the end of the book that had my heart bursting for joy, the road for Wyatt and Rachel never looked brighter. As each handled Wyatt's incident in a way that forced some time apart, I was over the moon with how they eventually reconciled and declared their love for one another.

When looking for the kind of romance that will have you smiling from ear to ear, with a few chuckles and beautifully heartwarming moments thrown in to make you swoon, look no further than When Sparks Fly. A new series with the very best start that has me wanting so much more from these endearing characters. It's a keeper for sure. Oh, and I need to mention that the added bonus of seeing Scarlett and Tate and a mention of those delicious Callahan men from prior Murphy books was truly the proverbial cherry on top!

5 big stars!

[Kay Daniels (Kay Daniels Romance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Sparks Fly is the sweetest little small town romance packed with a lot of big feelings.

First of all I have to say that my mind couldn't shut off the comparison to Rachel Greene in Friends to the Rachel in this book, but I suppose if the shoe fits and all that, plus I loved Rachel from Friends, so trust me, it's a good comparison. But back to this Rachel...she's a very rich socialite, with money at her disposal so she's never had to work for what she wants or even stay to clean up any of her mistakes, which seem to happen often. So when she accidentally sets fire to her parents vacation home which is after running from her last dumpster fire mistake, it's the last straw in her father's eyes and he cuts her off. She's left with only the smokey tinged clothes in her suitcase and literally nothing else to her name while, for the first time in her life, she needs to figure out her next move. It's a lot for Rachel to figure out, when she's never had to figure anything out, but fortunately for her, she's landed in the nicest small town where she meets Paige, the proclaimed town sweetheart, who lends Rachel a helping hand and is pretty much her fairy godmother. Paige helps Rachel in so many ways, but it's truly Wyatt, the single dad, Captain of the fire house, and all around grump every time she sees him that lights up her world and makes the decision to stay in the small town all worth while.

Speaking of Captain Grumpy Pants...I mean Wyatt, he's one of the firemen who came to Rachel's rescue when her house was on fire and there is a reason why he's sort of grumpy around her. Starting with...his first impression of her wasn't exactly the best, but then he doesn't usually think too highly of people who run back into burning buildings, especially when he's just pulled them out, and even more so when he discovers it was over a purse nonetheless. These two spark in all kinds of ways throughout the book and to say that Wyatt wasn't looking for love when he first met Rachel is more than an understatement. He’s lived in Foxglove Bay all his life, so long enough to know that women like her never stay beyond the summer at least, so he was amazed to see that she stayed, found a job, and actually grew on him the longer she fell into his orbit.

Wyatt and Rachel have instant sparks, even after the purse incident, and it takes a lot for them to stay away from one another because of their attraction to one another, so their build is more on the emotional side as it takes some time to build trust between them as these two both have walls high enough to block out the sun.

When Sparks Fly, overall, was an easy breezy read because these two have great chemistry and everything should just work, but then reality would crash in and it was the reminder that they did in fact have obstacles to overcome...dangnabit. How dare life step in because life should be champagne and roses all the time, am I right? Unfortunately, not, which is why I enjoyed the ups and downs that they faced since it's a reminder that life isn't always sunshine and rainbows, but filled with hills and mountains too.

[Finger Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars
3 Spicy

Heiress Rachel Henderson is dumped publicly and embarrassed that her "friends" and family don't rally around her, in fact they do almost the opposite. To escape or perhaps run away she goes to the lake house her family owns where she spent summers filled with wonderful memories. She hopes to lick her wounds there and escape the reality of her broken heart. Instead she breaks the house, or well...burns some of it down. A fire breaks out by accident and Rachel is "saved" by local and grumpy fire captain Wyatt. A single father who doesn't do relationships or feelings.

Rachel is put in a hard situation when her father finds out about the accident. In a fit to teach his spoiled daughter a lesson he cuts her off completely. Rachel is now stuck in the lake town with no place to live, no car and no money at all.

I absolutely love the evolution of Rachel.....until the end. I don't believe she was ever really truly spoiled. She was raised by parents who gave her everything but also saw her as a shiny trinket to display. The majority of her friends were clout or social media chasers who found more enjoyment in her embarrassing breakup then her friendship. Rachel just wants to find her place, where she feels comfort and safe. Her M.O is when things start to fall apart she runs. After being cut off she gets a job, doesn't complain and works hard even though the work is definitely beneath what she is capable of.

Her relationship with Wyatt starts off hot and heavy as they think they will never see each other again. As she stays in town and try to pick up her life they have this intense push/ pull dance with each other. They are physical attracted to each other, but both aren't sure what they could mean for the future with so many unknowns. Both have baggage with relationships. At the end I was slightly mad at Rachel again. When she is under pressure I feel she crumples and runs. She fought so hard and did so much to earn her independence I did think a lot of that was jeopardized with how Murphy chose the big peak of the storyline to be. Though it does have a HEA I would have preferred it to go a different way showing her growth vs returning to bad habits.


Thank you to the author, Valentine PR and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC and allowing me to review.

#MonicaMurphy #WhenSparksFly AdultRomance #AgeGap #AlphaHero #Firefighter

[Brooke (The_Brookeshelf_) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A single dad, firefighter living in a small town has crossed paths with a spoiled daddy’s girl, what could possibly go wrong?!

The cover is what instantly drew me into this book before I knew anything else about it. The colors, the retro/style cartoon characters, the flames, I just loved it all!

Rachel and Wyatt have an instant attraction to one another, but when Rachel ultimately doesn’t leave Wyatt’s small town following her vacation, their one night stand might come with more than either of them bargained for. Rachel is looking for redemption after having her heart broken and having her highly privileged life stripped away from her, while Wyatt has been the hard working, single dad, and fire captain that the town absolutely adores. This dynamic offers the perfect opposites attract energy.

While Rachel eventually gained some independence and work ethic, there wasn’t much character growth for either of them, or for the relationship as a whole. Things seemed to stay very surface level building off of their insta-lust, and while they did seem to develop some feelings, I didn’t feel that this was the energy between the characters as much as the words on the page were trying to make me believe. The ending was where things were really starting to get deeper but it felt rushed to wrap it all up and that’s really where I wanted to spend more time.

The side characters in the story were great at offering some depth and alternative perspectives to the main characters including Wyatt’s daughter and brother, and Rachel’s roommate. I really enjoyed these interactions, especially when Rachel was working and Wyatt would come in, because the teens in the shop with her were so cute trying to hype her up.

The story is a cute, easy listen, so just go in with these expectations and I think it will be enjoyable.

As far as the audio went, I had some difficulty with the quality of the sound, whether that was on my end or the recording because it sounded somewhat muffled or distant, giving it a low quality sound. The narrator’s both did a good job in representing their characters and balancing out the grumpy-sunshine attitudes.

Thank you to Monica Murphy, Blackstone Publishing, and Valentine PR for this ebook and audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Tropes:
Small town romance
Firefighter MMC
Fish out of water
Opposites attract
Grumpy sunshine
Single dad
Low angst