Spark and Flame

Boys of Lake Cliff #2

by K. Sterling

K. Sterling invites you to return to Lake Cliff and catch up with Aiden and Lane in this sequel to Hide And Keep that picks up where Safe And Sound ended.

Aiden and Lane are seven years into their Happily Ever After when Aiden begins to question the strength of their marriage. Gavin Langley and his obsession with Aiden tests Lane in unexpected ways and puts their marriage under media and public scrutiny.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Crime, LGBT, Action, Disability

139 pages, ebook

First published March 25, 2016

About the author

Author of the popular Nannies of New York and Boys of Lake Cliff book series, K Sterling has self-published dozens of books. K. is known for fast-paced romantic thrillers and touching gay romcoms. There might be goosebumps and some gore but there’s always true love and lots of laughter.

Reviews

[Barbara➰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread October 2022

Still gutted.


Reread September 2020


Reread September 2018

This one still guts me at times. I love these guys so much and I love how they love each other and are willing to die for the other.


Originally read March 2018

Aiden and Lane have been together for 7 years now. Each is beginning to doubt whether they can be enough for the other. Lane is thinking, "Am I too old and boring for Aiden?" Aiden is thinking, "Is Lane substituting his gardening for his need to have a child?" Each are caught up in self-doubt and insecurities. But there's a new threat that is not only adding to these insecurities, he's making their life a living hell and they're no longer safe in their own home.

Oh man, this one about gutted me. Poor Lane and Aiden both. Each of them are really concerned that they aren't enough for the other. But when Langley makes it his mission to have Aiden, the two reconnect and reaffirm their love for one another. But Langley isn't giving up. I have no idea where Aiden picks up these psychos. Langley was creepy as hell and skeeved me out lol.

I love both of these characters. Aiden cracks me up with the things he says. But he also speaks the truth and you know when he says something, it's from the heart and swoony.

“My favorite pancakes are the ones we eat when it’s just you and me,”

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Lane. You’re my life,”

I am so glad my friends Bo and Lyn put me onto this author. I'm loving her stories and will definitely read more.

[Gerbera_Reads]

I liked this book mostly because of how the relationship between Aiden and Lane was. It was always a work in progress. They doubted, they hesitated, they talked and shared their feelings. It was amusing to witness deep conversations when Aiden's awkward social graces were rearing their ugly heads, when Lane worried about his age. I liked that it was not perfect, that instead of running and being over dramatic these two men actually discussed and shared their thoughts and feelings. Loved the book for this!

Another interesting part was this whole hoopla about Gavin Langley and Aiden being his love interest. I even wondered how it was possible to venerate a criminal on the basis of his charms and good looks. I mean, sure, it's hard to resist an attractive man but to have this whole crazy obsession with him and somehow turn tables on Aiden so publicly - I don't know if that's possible but it definitely was fascinating. But the prison situation was really a cherry on top. I liked how Aiden comported himself and his knowledge and professionalism were very arresting and mildly arousing. I enjoyed how he was able to irritate and unsettle Langley.

The ending was good. I noticed that K. Sterling does not wait to reach the climax of the story till the very end. She does it at 3/4 of the story and gives the characters a chance to get it together and continue on with their lives and to give fuller explanation as to what happens after the tragedy strikes. I really like that. And it does not hurt that Aiden and Lane are dynamite in bed, and in the shower, and up against the wall and basically on every surface available... you go boys! Well done! I recommend this book! I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

[Myriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something is defintely wrong with the page-count and the cover here on GR. Anyway... I still really like the way the author handles Aidan's Asperger's. Nobody is interested in changing who he is and the conflicts that arise get resolved organically.

But that's also really the only thing about this entire series that is close to realistic :) You definitely have to be in the mood for the soapy elements to get dialed up to eleven. For this one it felt like the author had a Criminal Minds marathon with a dash of Silence of the Lambs and maybe that more recent Kevin Bacon show (can't remember the name right now) where he was an FBI agent hunting a serial killer with a crazy cult following. Oh, The Following - duh.

It's fun mix that would have actually benefited from about 50K more words to give the thriller plot some meat. Otherwise it's really just Aidan and Lane getting frisky every ten sentences interrupted by gossamer strands of plot. I realize this sounds negative and if you're not in the mood it absolutely is. But if you want competently written porn with some plot with characters that are actually more than paper thin? Look no further!

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes it’s totally crazy but I really like these two. Aiden and Lane have been together for 7 years. And things are good. Actually things are great. But then Gavin Langley is obsessed with Aiden. And life becomes very complicated for these two.

This was an okay read but the sex to story ratio was out for me. But it’s Mr Lavender next so...

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series was a great read!!!! A great rec for my GR friends. Just the right balance between humor, sex and suspense. Will read this author again.

[Chappy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great to catch up with Lane and Aiden, I just can't get enough of these two. Unfortunately, poor Aiden has a knack for attracting crazy-ass stalkers.

Hilarious with Aiden and little puppy Shepard, tons of smoking hot sexy times, action-packed and full of drama. This book has it all.

[Daphne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first book in this series so it's likely that any book would have a hard time living up to that. Unfortunately, I didn't love this one as much. While Lane and Aiden continue to be one of my favorite couples (their unwavering love for each other just gets me right in the feels), Aiden's voice was different in this book. He sounded more stilted, like his abilities were higher in the previous book. Absolutely he still had the funny almost childlike perceptions though and I loved the whole thing with the dog and fish. Lane was also a bit different, less cop-like and vigilant than previously.

The thriller part of the story was unlikely. While we do love the cult of celebrity as a culture, the whole Langley adoration, stalking screaming fans thing was a bit much. Although we are in an election season where Trump is a viable candidate so maybe I'm giving people too much credit.

The dialogue was fantastic. I cracked up during the discussion about Lane's sex face looking like a goat. (Poor Lane). And K. Sterling continues to write the hottest sex scenes between these two.

All in all, it was good to check in with these two again even if this book was less awesome than the first.

[Amanda Jean]

Ok I just cannot read this anymore. I really liked the fist book Hide and Keep but this one?? It is just ridiculous. Aiden is getting publicly "courted" by an arsonist he had put away. Langley is apparently so attractive and charming that the public, media and even the damn warden seem to forget that he is a killer and try to push Aiden toward him. They bash Lane and sympathize Langley. I skimmed this mostly but when the warden at the prison "smiles warmly at Langley" then tells Aiden "don't you think you should hear him out?" Nope. I am officially done. In no world should a warden be swooning at a killer.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sieben Jahre sind sie nun schon zusammen und Aiden ist unschlüssig, ob Lane auch wirklich glücklich mit ihm ist. Ob ihm nichts in ihrer Beziehung fehlt. Aiden ist sich seiner Defizite sehr wohl bewusst und glaubt zu wissen, dass Lane mehr braucht. Dabei ist Lane mit seinem Aiden sehr glücklich und hat nun seinen Garten für sich entdeckt. Lane mutiert zum leidenschaftlichen Gärtner und Aiden versteht diese Leidenschaft etwas falsch und glaubt, dass sie ein Haustier brauchen.

Natürlich brauchen sie kein Haustier und Lane und seine Schwester Kat führen Aiden sehr schnell vor Augen wie viel Arbeit ein Hundebaby macht und welche Veränderungen das für Aidens Leben mit sich bringen würde. Dabei ziehen Gewitterwolken auf, die die Beziehung von Lane und Aiden belasten. Denn ein verurteilter Mörder und Brandstifter mutiert zum Medienstar und gefährdet aus dem Gefängnis heraus ihre Beziehung. Und plötzlich wird der Mann auch noch eine ernsthafte Gefahr für ihr Leben.

Der erste Teil dieser Geschichte ist wie immer sehr amüsant und leicht geschrieben. Wieder wird der Leser Zeuge vieler sexueller Handlungen, lustiger Wortwechsel und amüsanter Gedankengänge Aidans. *fangirliemodus* Ich kann nicht anders. Bei diesem Paar ist einfach alles erlaubt, weil ich sie einfach so süss miteinander umgehen und einfach nur liebenswert sind. Ihre Beziehung ist nicht immer konfliktfrei und man muss schon viel Geduld aufbringen, um mit jemand wie Aiden zusammenzuleben. Aber das kann Lane.

Und Lane würde auch alles tun um seinen Mann zu beschützen. Das ist dann auch im zweiten Teil die Herausforderung, denn ihrer beider Leben ist schlagartig in Gefahr. Doch ausgerechnet Aiden wächst in dieser sehr gefährlichen Situation über sich hinaus und reagiert für den Leser wirklich überraschend. Der Crime-Anteil ist in dieser Geschichte höher und K. Sterling versteht es wirklich den Leser zu fesseln. Leider gibt es ein paar kleine Plotschwächen und Ungereimtheiten.

Trotzdem war es ein tolles Buch, das auf jeden Fall zu den Keepern wandern wird! Mit Freude habe ich nun gesehen, dass es auch eine Art Spin-Off zu dieser Reihe und auch ein Wiedersehen mit Lane und Aiden gibt.

[Mirjam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short review:

MC's rating: 4*
Story rating: 3.5*
Heat level rating: 4*
Romance rating: 3*
Story wrap up rating: 3*
Overall rating: 3.5*



Part of the Boys of Lake Cliff Series that is best enjoyed when read in order:

[Jenn C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn! I just can't get enough of these two. The sweetness, purity and depth of Aiden's love for Lane (and vice versus) is just . More importantly the playfulness of them together is perfect! The thought of these two not being together actually hurts my head and heart. The last line of Chapter 26 - heartbreaking. Chapter 33 - Lane telling Aiden what he thought about what he did and Aiden thinking nothing of it - he had no choice he had to, awwww. Then the chat between Lane and Chief in Chapter 35 all points showing what these two mean to each other and there is no option there is no life if they weren't together. Sorry didn't want to give away anything but those three spots are just to precious to not mention. Here's to hoping to see more of these two.

The only (minor) downside to this is, as others have noted, is the similarity of the stalking like the first book.

[Kittykills · Rating 1 out of 5]

find a theme and do not deviate. again some psychotic dude has hots for the MC yet again......this time it's personal.....duh! duh! duh!
Alfred is once again being wanted by some one not his hubs and there is fire but that is lost in the plot holes let by the frequency of sex had by the MC's. not much has changed but the years between bk 1 and bk 3. read them to stave off boredom today as it was raining here.
MC 2 is not Chief popo while mc1 has written bks and consulting on side.....wooohooo. scary guy check sex check same tired storyline from previous bks check total waste of money check.

[1tigerlily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in for Team Aiden!

I started with 'In The Kill', found 'Hide and Keep' to read more about the cop and the psychologist, then had to read 'Spark and Flame'. I love these boys and appreciate someone like Aiden (the psychologist with Asperger's) being a part of such good stories. Now I really want to see one with Lane, Aiden, Lavender (Jeremy), and Sage! Thanks for mystery and steam! Still get confused with the pronouns sometimes but the stories are so worth it!

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 grudging stars.

While I am glad I read this so I could get to In the Kill I was mostly annoyed at the repetitive and frequent sex, the breaking of the story into 2 parts, and the villain. I did like this one better than the first half.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I would have liked this more if it hadn't had the same type of bad guy in it.

[Ruth Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book! Lane and Aiden capture the readers imagination. The characters are so well written that it's easy to get lost in the world they live in.
Aiden has tried everything to make sure Lane has all he needs with some funny outcomes! Aiden doesn't like the fact Langley is still obsessed with him and when he has to meet with him Aiden is very unhappy. Langley has a secret and he'll only talk to Aiden about it.
Lane will do anything to protect Aiden and when he has to leave his home to protect him he's happy to do so. It just so happens that Aiden will also do anything for Lane and he may be the one doing the protecting!
These two men have built a great life together and they show the reader they are meant to be together in every word.
This book will have the reader frantically turning the pages to find out what happens next. The plot is so well written that it's hard to put down. This book is one of those that you can't stop reading but when it's finished you are sad.
This is a really great series that will have you desperate for the next book. I can't recommend them strongly enough.

[SophiaH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still baffled, still no answer to the question what it is that draws me to this series.

This time around I had the impression that we got more insights into the relationship itself. It still was a lot of hot... steaming... sweaty... well you know what I'm talking about. But there were so many moments in this book where they questioned their place in the relationship, where they worked on being a good partner and husband, where you felt their love for each other and their bond grow ever stronger.

And that moment were my heart nearly stopped. I almost cried. But at the same time while gruesome and heart wrenching it was also such a profound moment, it felt like a milestone, like that moment were you see the soul of the other person, who they truly are and what they truly feel, who they are at the core. And Lane and Aiden were beautiful.

[Daesy · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Grammar**

I'm bit sad that this book was the last of the series,I would have read more books about this amazing couple. Aiden and Lane are very much in love and they would do anything for each other, even die, and in this book they almost do it.
The big bad of this book, is Langley. We met him in the last book, he was a serial arsonist that Aiden put to jail. The man has an obsession for Aiden and it seems that a lot of ppl worship him like a celebrety and dont see him as a criminal. Thanks to the press always talking about him, of how he was smart and handsome, he has now a real cult. A lof of ppl follow him and do all he wants, and is thanks to one of his worshiper if he is able to get out of jail and make Aiden and Lane's lives a living hell.
I really wanted to slap all the ppl in this book that continued saying Langley was handsome, smart and would be a better husband for Lane, they were all insane and with mental problems. They invaded their privacy, took pictures of Lane and Aiden's making love, and when Langley killed some cops near their house, these ppl cheered for him and his actions.
The sad thing is, that there are really ppl like this, ppl that write to serial killers and ask them to marry them, and knowing that made that part of the book realistic. Maybe there were too many ppl following Langley but this is something that could really happen, in a world like ours.
There was a lot of drama in this book.
Mostly of the time Lane had to hear people telling him how he was wrong for Aiden and Langley was better than him and I dont know he was able to be so patient and dont hit them in the head. The fact that he knew they were crazy and that Aiden was madly in love with him, may have helped.

I loved Aiden and Lane together, there were also some fun moments, when Aiden thinks that Lane maybe misses the fact that they dont have children and asks him if he wants a pet, then when Lane plays along and takes a dog, he doesnt even know how to talk to the puppy or to train him and is shocked by what the little guy does. Luckily for him the dog wasnt really for them, but for Lane's nephew, Kat's son, and Lane had taken him only for few days, to prove that they didnt need a pet or a kid to be happy, bcs Aiden is all that he ever wanted and will ever want, and for Aiden is the same.

Later Lane will buy Aiden a fish, something easier to care for and keep him company when Lane is working. (He is chief of the police now and he is 41 and Aiden 35).

Like I said before, there is a lot of drama in this book. Langley has hidden the body of one of his last victim and he will talk only to Aiden. When Aiden finally decides to meet him and goes to the prison, what he hears from his mouth will chill him to the bone. Aiden is sure that Langley is ready to escape and that someone will help him, and he becomes sure of that when he leaves the room and a guard grabs his arm and tells him that Langley still wanted to talk to him. The woman is in love with the criminal and ready to do anything for him. When Aiden is back home, he tells Lane what happend at the prison and Lane calls them to make sure they will change Langley's guard, but is too late. The fact that Aiden discovered their plans, made them act faster.
Langley is free, and they are sure he is coming for them. Later that same night they will find out that that woman set herself to fire and died.

Few nights later a bomb kills the cops that are watching Lane and Aiden's house. Soon after Aiden's cell rings and is Langley, that tells them he can get to them when he wants.

Aiden and Lane decide to leave the country, they dont want anyone else to die for them. They are driving to the airport when another car crashes on theirs.

When Aiden wakes up he is tied and in a dark van and Lane isnt with him. He could escape and call for help, but his life without Lane doesnt make any sense, he needs to find out if his husband is dead or alive and he wants to kill Langley.
When Aiden finally finds them, Lane his tied and pale, it seems dead and Langley is on the phone, maybe with one of the people that are helping him. Aiden is able to hit him in the head and then runs to Lane.
Lane is still alive, but barely. When the man wakes up,he tells Aiden to leave and save himself, they are still talking and Aiden is trying to free him, when Langley regains consciousness and attacks Aiden.

In the end Aiden is able to kill him, but when he turns he sees that Lane's eyes are closed and he thinks the man is dead, for a second he thinks about killing himself since he doesnt want a life without Lane, but he loses consciousness before he is able to carry out his plan.

Aiden wakes up hours later, maybe days, and he is in a hospital. The first thing he tells his friend and boss is that he wants to die bcs Lane isnt with him anymore, but the boss replies that Lane is badly hurt but alive.

Aiden will never tell Lane about the fact that he almost committed suicide.

When finally Lane wakes up, he still cant move the lower part of his body, but he is confident that he will do soon. He is stubborn and this will help him.

The next pages are all about Lane's recovery and how he and Aiden are still madly in love. Nothing will ever change it.

Till the epilogue I was scared that Lane would never been able to walk again, but I was wrong. In the last pages we see him back on his feet, litterally, and fighting with Aiden about a cookie. Lane steals Aiden's cookie and then starts to run and Aiden runs after him. They end up having sex.

I miss them, I would read more book about them. Aiden was cute, smart and yes also strange, while Lane was kind, patient and stubborn, and together they were sweet and hot as hell.


I already miss them..damn!

[Becky A · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Spark and Flame" received TWO AND A HALF stars.

The novel gained *stars* for these items:

* gained for: "The book caught my interest in the first five pages."

1/2 * gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."

* gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I wanted more!"

The novel failed to gain stars for this item:

NO STAR gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."

NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author. I will automatically try anything s/he writes."

[Ilse Marijke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love audiobooks, so I’ve listened to the first two books. I love the narrator, he’s explicit in his words and very understandable. The story again has a storyline and a plot; that’s all I ask for, that is for the writer to intrigue me and make me listen to the story, get me to engage and enter into the world that is being built for the reader/listener. That’s all I ask for when I buy a(n) (audio)book. I recommend this author. ❤️

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book to the series. Lana and Aiden are my favorite of all characters. I love the pace of the story. The chemistry between them are hot. The author brought out a lot of emotions for this book.
“I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book and was not required to leave a review.”
Thank you for sharing your book with us.

[...]

DNF @41% ... I think I'm just done with this series. I did enjoy the first book, but I'm not really in the mood for the stalked by the obsessive psychopath plot line in this one... and tbh, this author's writing style just doesn't engage me enough to feel really emotionally invested with these two irt to the continued evolution of their love story.

[Amber Fueston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lane and Aiden's love is still going strong. They have a new and even more dangerous enemy now though. The tension was a lot higher in this one but the ever plentiful sexy and sweet times helped to balance it out.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find these enjoyable and diverting. The stories are more internally focused than the Bisbee Bachelor's Club, although there does seem to be a good family system. Found this book in a KU series bundle.

[Kim Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

More from Aidan and Lane. Similar plot as the first book.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving these boys hard..❤️

[Essie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overused plot ( would people really fangirling that much over serial killer?) BUT I love Aiden and Lane so it’s forgiven!

[Dena · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75* still too much sex but worth skimming through those scenes. I really like this couple.

[Marguerite Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

And I quit. So stupid. It would actually be a good story if 75% of the sex was cut out

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 round up

Meh, only ok. I still like the characters, but the editing is a bit rough and the plot bounces around and doesn't flow particularly well.