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Ever wonder what would happen if two frenemies needed each other's help to navigate their Christmas predicaments?

Maisey: When I entered a contest to win a weekend getaway to the "Merriest Place on Earth" I didn't think one of the rules would be must be in a relationship––so I told a little fib. Now, they want me and my fiancé to come and enjoy a five-star luxury stay at Mistletoe Lodge. I don't care that I'm not engaged, much less even in a relationship of any kind. I'm still going, but I need to find a fiancé first...

Jack: The annual McCoy holiday party is coming up and I said I'd bring a date––to get my mother to stop pestering me. Do I have a girlfriend right now? Nope. But I am going to use this as my chance to get the woman I have a crush on to pay attention to me. I've got a small window of time to win Masiey Montgomery's heart, again, and I intend to make it happen.

When Sparks Fly is part of the Love in Lake Lorelei Series. This sweet small town enemies-to-lovers Christmas read will have you laughing out loud as you fall in love with Maisey, Jack, and the other residents in the town of Lake Lorelei.

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 22, 2022

33 people are currently reading
168 people want to read

About the author

Anne Kemp

36 books438 followers
Anne Kemp is a bestselling author of romantic comedies. She loves reading (and she doesn’t it ridiculously fast, too!), gluten-free baking (because everyone needs a hobby that makes them crazy), and finding time to binge-watch her favorite shows. She grew up in Maryland but made Los Angeles her home until she encountered her own real-life meet-cute at a friend's wedding where she ended up married to one of the groomsmen. For real.

Anne now lives on the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand, and even though she was married at Mt. Doom, no…she doesn’t have a Hobbit. However, she and her husband do have a terrier named George Clooney and when she’s not writing, she’s usually with them taking a long walk on the river by their home.

You can find Anne on her website - come say hi! She’d love to hear from you: www.annekemp.com

On Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest: @missannekemp

On TikTok: @annekempauthor


You can always find her www.AnneKemp.com.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Profile Image for Jes Drew.
Author 86 books530 followers
November 22, 2022
Christmas is just around the corner, which means it's time to stock up on Christmas rom-coms, old and new. This one has some of my favorite tropes: frenemies, he falls first, and fake relationship. The characters had really great chemistry, and there was plenty of Christmas elements to go around.

Jack especially was a fun character as he learned the consequences of not communicating. Masiey's struggle is forgiveness, which makes for an interesting dynamic. I liked her and independent business woman ways for the most part, but sometimes her temper was a bit much for someone who has so much to lose in a prospective lawsuit. I've never used a treadmill with a safety key before, so I'm not sure what that's all about, but it seems like something an adult should know better than to mess with, so I was a bit mad at her. Thankfully, Jack wasn't.

These two together are absolute lovable disasters, though, and their joint klutziness was hilarious. I couldn't help but laugh. But everyone should definitely give them a half a mile radius when they are out in public together!

If you're looking for another cozy Christmas rom-com to put on your holiday reading list, this one is for you!

Note for more sensitive readers: there was one instance of taking God's name in vain that I saw.

I received a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own. 
Profile Image for Zoya Bishop.
20 reviews
November 22, 2022
I’ve been lucky enough to be part of the ARC team for the Love in Lake Lorelei series and When Sparks Fly just might be my favorite in the series so far! I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers stories, romcoms and anything Christmas related so I was already super excited going into this read, and I wasn’t disappointed! It brought me back to thinking of all the traditions my family has and once had when I was younger. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one sitting. I loved Maisey and Jack’s characters and story line and was so easy to connect with the characters. This story made me happy, sad, and upset, I laughed and there may have been a couple of tears too. I also loved the re-occurrence of past characters in the series. Definitely became a fan of Anne Kemp’s writing and can’t wait to read Dylan and Reid’s story next!
Profile Image for Briana Mae.
144 reviews11 followers
December 2, 2022
Christmas is coming up snow globes and sticky dates, and it’s going to be a hoot!

Jack and Maisey delivered Christmas charm and Kemp’s signature humour by the heaped spoonful in this cozy seasonal rom-com. Lake Lorelai is a small town dream, and Mistletoe Lodge the winter wonderland of one’s heart, and these two settings produced a rich and inviting backdrop for these frenemies to flourish.

When Sparks Fly is packed full of sentiment and tradition, and I loved the pining and charm that accentuated this when they really shook things up between them. As expected, Kemp’s characters were well rounded, lively, and loveable upon the page, and clumsy looked cute as heck as these two continued to attract trouble whilst navigating the awkward tensions of their false engagement. They were absolute troopers and a laugh and a half, and as always, it was a joy to take a break with the Lorelai crew.

With its small town charm, productive rumour mills, and meddling friends and family, When Sparks Fly boasts the Hallmark heart many have come to love. So, gather your peppermint mocha, cozy blanket and kindle for an easy, cozy night in at the Mistletoe Lodge. You won’t be disappointed.

❄️ Fake Engagement
❄️ Holiday Romance
❄️ Contemporary Novella
❄️ Forced Proximity
❄️ Frenemies to Lovers

I received an advanced copy thanks to the author, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Profile Image for Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy.
2,071 reviews66 followers
November 22, 2022
Oh my gracious! This book was delightful! Maisey Montgomery enters a contest at the Mistletoe Lodge to win a 2 night stay at this dreamy five star resort. The only catch is that you have to be engaged. So, she told a little lie (never dreaming she would win). When she wins the contest, she realizes now she needs a man to fill in - enter Jack McCoy. Jack and Maisey were supposed to go on a date awhile back. He canceled at the last minute. He told her he would call her later, but he ghosted her. He never offered here any explanation for his cancellation. To say that she is not happy with him would be an understatement. Jack also has a predicament. His mother and grandmother are plotting to find him a wife! He needs a stand in girlfriend as well. It is quite obvious that these two are still crushing on each other, but Maisey only sees red when she sees the local hero/firefighter. However, now they need each other. I loved both main characters. They both had communication issues, but their heart was always in the right place. They also live in a small town (Lake Lorelei) where no one can keep a secret, but it also sounds like a delightful place to live! This makes everything that much more difficult for both parties. The title of this book was very well chosen because the sparks are definitely going to fly. This book provided plenty of comic relief as well. I found myself laughing like a hyena in several places in the book. So, I suggest that you grab a peppermint mocha and get ready to be entertained. This book is Christmas at its finest with a touch of romance, memories and plenty of laughs as well.

Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Sierra.
1,001 reviews
November 22, 2022
Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Maisey & Jack’s points of view

Review:

As always with Anne Kemp’s Lake Lorelei books, this was a funny and sweet romance! I loved Maisey and Jack together and how their second chance occurred (thank you Dylan 😉😂). I loved that the story started off with a bang throwing them both together while also putting one of them in a tough spot. I love the small town feel and how quick the rumor mill allows everyone to know everyone else’s business! Some of my favorite scenes from this story include: the opening scene, horseback riding, a sleigh ride, a couples massage mishap, a Christmas lights and mistletoe fiasco, the grand gesture, an interview, and the treadmill accident.

Summary:

Maisey is very interested when her best friend tells her about a contest that has a prize of staying a weekend at the Mistletoe Loge. Only problem: it says that entrants must be engaged as the prize is for two. Maisey doesn’t expect to win, it’s more of a pretend entry. But when she does win, Maisey doesn’t want to give the prize up even though it would be right to. Instead she ends up asking her once crush turned enemy to pretend to be her fiancé.

Jack is only interested in one girl, not that she’ll give him a chance after what he did to her. But when he gets word that his mom and grandma are conspiring to make him the star of his own version of the bachelor, Jack has got to figure a way out. When fate gives him the chance to make things right with Maisey and get out of the matchmaking plot, Jack is quick to accept. Now he just needs to convince Maisey that he’s in it for the long haul…
536 reviews4 followers
November 22, 2022
Maisey has had a crush on Jack for quite sometime. They had met at a wedding and Jack had asked her out on a date. But then he called and said he couldn’t make it. Never any explanation or reason to why they never connected. But Maisey took it personally and she wouldn’t even speak with him. But they are about to run into each other again because she had to call 911 for help getting out of her foot massager.

Then Maisey ends up winning a essay contest where she entered two essays a fake fiancé and the other how she came to own the Red Bird diner. You guessed the fake fiancé won. She won a weekend at Mistletoe Lodge and she had a connection there and really wanted to go! Let’s just say this was a great weekend except for some of the funny incidents that happened.

This book definitely put me in the Christmas spirit and it was an absolute fun read!

I received this ARC from the author for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
324 reviews2 followers
November 20, 2022
I would like to thank Anne Kemp for the ARC of her book. This was a fun and cheerful read! Maisey and Jack live in a hometown where everyone knows everyone (where ever body knows your na-a-ame). Jack is a fireman who rescues Maisey from a rather embarrassing situation,even though she would prefer help from pretty much anyone else. These two have history as well as crushes on each other so what went wrong? Will there ever be a lull in the darn interruptions so that Jack can offer an explanation and see if Maisey can finally forgive him?
Profile Image for Terrie Romero.
514 reviews1 follower
November 23, 2022
I am in love with Love in Lake Lorelei series. Maisey and Jack’s story is book 3. I have read alphaholes, bikers and mafia lately. I need a reprieve from them and this was what I needed. I have laughed, cried and aggravated but have loved it all the way through. You can’t beat this series for sweet and fun love. This is a must read.
Profile Image for Amy Rhoads.
227 reviews6 followers
December 4, 2022
What a great Christmas Rom Com! I loved Jack and Maisey’s relationship. When the two of them are around each other expect that someone may end up on their back.

This book is perfect if you are looking for a Christmas romance. The author’s story telling of people in this town keeps getting better and better. This is the best story yet!
Profile Image for Sabrina Rivera.
23 reviews2 followers
November 19, 2022
This book was fantastic! It reminded me of many good memories and traditions of my own. It had me laughing and crying (happy tears). The characters were relatable, and the shenanigans were hilarious!
Profile Image for ♡Lea♡.
442 reviews3 followers
November 21, 2022
This is a sweet romantic comedy where man stands up woman and woman is pissed. Of course she ends up getting herself into a couple of tough spots where only a second chance will fix everything. Another great rrad from a fantastic author 👏 😀

Happy Reading 📚
Profile Image for Lisa J Page.
Author 3 books46 followers
November 22, 2022
I was lucky enough to be selected as an ARC reader. Well with this book I couldn't put it down. Loved the Characters of Jack and Maisey and their story. Looking forward to more in the Lake Lorelei series as read the previous two already. Well done Anne, you certainly got me hooked into this series.
Profile Image for Jessica.
222 reviews36 followers
December 26, 2023
I feel like this could have been a bit longer with more detail added in the beginning as the plot and how they ended up as fake fiancés just wasn’t believable for me.

I did love both Jack & Maisie’s characters and their relationship was playful and cute. Maisie reminded me of myself which is why I resonated with her and Jack the fireman was a swoon worthy fake fiancé.

The family history of the lodge was lost on me and just showed up in the middle and I would have liked more of an insight on that in the beginning.

Mistletoe Lodge sounds like the perfect winter getaway and I definitely want to visit!
Profile Image for Manee Contreras.
266 reviews12 followers
November 24, 2022
Romance level: kissing.

The first chapter 😂. It was funny how despite the situation she was in, Maisey was at Jack's throat. I get it, that situation must not feel nice at all.

And I also get his reluctance to open up. I get him not telling her was part of the plot.
It took time for both of them to trust each other, so it felt realistic. Frustratingly realistic.

I liked the whole trip! It was hilarious seeing them being caught up in the pretend. Also they went through so much 😂 it was cute & funny all the mishaps (yes, even the massage).

I was kind of confused a little bit when the main problem hit. Maisey needed to stop assuming situations, which I was glad she realized later & stopped. Jack needed also his wake up call.

The big gestures were really funny & sweet. Gran was the best, as well as Etta & Dylan. The story was a little fast paced, but overall it was really cute. The epilogue was the sweetest. I'm really excited for Dylan & Reid's story!

⚠️TW: death of a loved one (cancer); Family member w/ Alzheimer.

🍁
* I was kindly gifted an ARC from the author. This doesn't influence in any form my review/opinion of the book*
Profile Image for Moni.
614 reviews
April 24, 2023
4.5 out of 5 stars

This is book 3 of the Love in Lake Lorelei Series but is a standalone. The book's blurb gives you an idea of what to expect. It's a good fake engagement dual pov Christmas romance.

Because of family memories, Maisie is determined to enjoy her winning getaway at Mistletoe Lodge - even if it means asking Jack to pretend to be her fiancé. While their crush is mutual, Maisie cannot forgive Jack for ghosting her before & tries to keep her feelings to herself. But, as Jack helps her & they spend time together she learns more about what kind of man he is. However, once they survive their weekend getaway & return home, she wonders if her assumptions about him were right all along.

The freniemies part of their relationship is one sided as Jack never thinks about her/treats her negatively but it is fun to see Maisie accept her feelings. She did say or do a couple of things that weren't completely fair to Jack but she was self aware. It's a sweet & clean romance. The conflict isn't heavy & the book is full of things gone wrong moments that will make you chuckle. Overall, it's an easy read that is enjoyable - especially during the holidays.
35 reviews
December 2, 2022
Book Review: When Sparks Fly by Anne Kemp!

The quote “nothing will go wrong if I stick to the script” basically encompasses this book! But boy did things go wrong from being trapped in a foot massager, falling off ladders, out of carriages, and amateur horse riding; it will have you laughing out loud!
Maisey is a cafe owner that has a seriouse grudge with the drool-worthy firefighter across the street! Jack is trying to avoid Gran and his mom from setting him up on constant blind dates! Fate + a friend’s nudging lands them on a weekend getaway as a “fake engaged” couple! This book leaves you frustrated in the best way! It has it all from laugh out loud moments to sweet romantic moments. You’ll fall in love with Jack and wish Maisey was your best friend! Speaking of best friends…. I can’t wait for the next book! (That’s all I’ll spoil about that!!) Such a fun Christmas read!! Grab your copy and hot chocolate (extra whip cream… jack) and enjoy!!
Profile Image for Nikki.
655 reviews17 followers
December 2, 2022
This book I part of The Love in Lake Lorelei Sweet rom com series. I couldn’t wait for this book to finally get Maisey and Jacks story. I fell in love with Maisey in the first book I read by Anne. Once again Anne does an amazing job at the details in this book. Maisey enters a contest for a night stay at a the Mistletoe Lodge which is a five star resort, and wins. Only hiccup is, she has to be engaged. In comes Jack, Lake Lorelei’s very own firefighter, but there’s a history with these two. And Jack has his own dilemma as his mom and grandma are trying to find him a wife as they think he needs to settle down. Perfect answer to both issues, right?! The banter in this book is absolutely amazing. I laughed so much. And the rumors that spread through Lake Lorelei were great. Will Jack finally get his second chance with Maisey? Such a quick, fun, sweet rom com read. Can’t wait to read what Anne has for us next.
119 reviews3 followers
December 8, 2022
When I entered a contest to win a weekend getaway to the “Merriest Place on Earth” I didn’t think one of the rules would be must be in a relationship––so I told a little fib. Now, they want me and my fiancé to come and enjoy a five-star luxury stay at their Christmas village. I don’t care that I’m not engaged, much less even in a relationship of any kind. I’m still going but I need to find a fiancé first...
The annual McCoy holiday party is coming up and I said I’d bring a date––to get my mother to stop pestering me. Do I have a girlfriend right now? Nope. But I am going to use this as my chance to get the woman I have a crush on to pay attention to me. I’ve got a small window of time to win Masiey Montgomery’s heart, again, and I intend to make it happen.This was a quick read for me that had me staying up too late reading.I received an advanced copy of the book from the author so these are my thoughts on the book.
Profile Image for Nicole (all_bookedup).
490 reviews22 followers
November 23, 2022
5 Stars

Tropes:

Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Small Town
Fake Relationship

Dual POV

I have been looking for a cozy Christmas read and this one was it! I absolutely loved it! I have been waiting for Maisey's book since I started reading the Lake Lorelei series. And let me tell you, Anne did not disappoint.

I loved how clumsy both Maisey and Jack were. I loved the banter between them, and the sexual tension you could feel coming off the page. There were definitely sparks flying! (Maybe enter an eye roll for that pun). I loved the mention of characters from past books. I just loved this book!

As always, Anne's writing is fantastic. Her use of details lets you feel like you were visiting Mistletoe Lodge yourself. I loved how we got to see a sneak peek of the next book. I cannot wait to read it.

I want to say a big thank you to Anne for this ARC!
Profile Image for Jerrye  Tellmeagreatstorylove.
820 reviews16 followers
December 8, 2022
This was my first Anne Kemp book and I am definitely hooked on them now. I love enemies to lovers and this one was super cute. It’s also a Christmas story so that made it even better. There was plenty of snark, banter, hilariously awkward situations and just the right touch of swoon. Anne did a wonderful job of helping her characters become real and react in realistic ways. I loved how each part of the story tied well into the rest of it. It was a fun story with the perfect amount of depth to make it truly wonderful to read. And now I want to read all Anne’s books - especially Dylan's which is coming next. Definitely add this one to your holiday TBR, it’s a great one to include.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the publisher. I am not required by anyone to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Jerrie Wright.
140 reviews8 followers
December 20, 2022
When Sparks Fly is part of the Love in Lake Lorelei series. This book is a Christmas RonCom that takes enemies and makes them lovers. Maisy and Jack are the main characters of this book and they have a great storyline that the reader can connect to. Kemp's writing style about Christmas time is full of tradition and sentiment. Maisy and Jack are clumsy and they attract trouble where they go. All while they pretend to be engaged. They are spending time together because Maisy won a contest and needed to be engaged to stay at Mistletoe Lodge. This book is like having a Hallmark movie in paperback. Kemp has written about small town life, that is amazing and funny with the rumors and how fast they spread. This is a quick read and will have you itching for the next book in the series. I received an ARC from the author. I voluntarily reviewed this book and these are my own words and opinion.
1,848 reviews19 followers
December 9, 2022
Anne Kemp is a new to me author and I won her book in a contest. I am so glad that I did. Once I started reading I just could not put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Maisey reminds me a lot of me, when she gets mad at you, she holds a grudge for a while. Also she is a little clumsy and well so am I. She also is a great person and owns the Red Bird Cafe. Well I won't tell much here, because I don't want to spoil anything.

But if you are looking for a great book, try reading this one, I will be reading more of Anne Kem]'s books and I am glad they are in Kindle Unlimited right now.
155 reviews2 followers
December 3, 2022
Anne, you've done it again. You've delivered another beautiful story. This series is amazing and so cosy. They are 100% worth the read.

Some laugh out loud moments as well as tear jerker moments. Whether that was just me.... I'm not sure.

I absolutely loved this story. What is not to love?

The characters are wonderful and how Mistletoe Lodge was described was pure perfection.

I love that it was Dual POV.

I loved how history repeated itself a little for both characters. To find out things associated with their grandparents was wonderful.

Highly recommend
Profile Image for Ashley.
330 reviews5 followers
December 4, 2022
I finished my first read of December and it is perfect! It is sweet and dare I say has some sass?

Maisey wins an essay contest about her and her fiancé, but there is no fiancé. Jack needs someone to stop his family from setting him up. Can the two fake a relationship?

I enjoyed Maisey’s storyline. She finally gets the answer to something she has questioned and it is bigger than she knew. I liked the history the author added to this part.

Highly recommend checking out When Sparks Fly this holiday season. Can’t wait for the next installment out in the Spring!

Thank you for the ARC!
Profile Image for Alysia Massart.
325 reviews1 follower
December 17, 2022
Sweet, misunderstandings, and a cute setting.

I read the summary and automatically ordered this one for the couple that I new would eventually be together after they figured some things out. I liked the story and why she asked and he said yes, but don't like the reason why he ghosted her before the book started. You could have called, texted, or showed up and said why instead of that. I went down a star because of some phrases that were used multiple times and some spelling issues. Overall good and I plan to look up other books by this author.
Profile Image for Katiie.
692 reviews3 followers
December 4, 2022
exceptional<3

I absolutely enjoy the reading this book. I really love this small town from this author. She knows how to make the sweetest love story possible. I love following all the characters from the first book and seeing how they all find their love 🖤🖤. Thank u for a wonderful story! Definitely recommend reading this book for a cute Christmas story. It has all u need. Family, best friends, small town, love, and the spirit of Christmas.
Profile Image for Merry Jelks-Emmanuel.
13.5k reviews155 followers
December 4, 2022
This intriguing story is a winner! Maisey has a crush on Jack. They met at a wedding where he asked her on a date. He cancelled without any reason why and she took it personally and refused to speak with him. When she enters two essay contests, she wins the fake fiance one and her journey begun! This story is filled with holiday festivities that puts you in the mood! I am volunteering to leave a review for an ARC of this book.
Profile Image for Deanna .
111 reviews1 follower
December 9, 2022
Adorably Sweet

I got really excited when I read “Beaufort, South Carolina”. I live in Beaufort County!
Anne Kemp definitely picked a good title for this book, the sparks sure fly between Jack and Maisey. I’m glad Maisey was able to learn about her families history at and connected with the Mistletoe Lodge. Everyone will enjoy reading When Sparks Fly, book 3 (The Love in Lake Lorelei Sweet Rom Com Series).
Profile Image for thelostbookmark.20.
78 reviews
January 5, 2023

“When Sparks Fly” by Anne Kemp is great Christmas read! If you love enemies to lovers tropes, rom coms, and Christmas romances, then this story will be perfect for you. I only wish I had a fire place that I could cozy up in front of while reading this book. I felt the Christmas spirit while the story captivated me with its descriptions. I absolutely love the “Love in Lake Lorelei Series” and fell in love with Maisey and Jack’s story!
1,408 reviews8 followers
October 8, 2023
Miscommunication, Lying and Love

When do two wrongs make a right? Well, maybe with Jack and Maisey? Jack dropped the ball when life events prevented him from firming up a date he had set up with Maisey. Maisey fabricated a whopper of a story to win a spot at Mistletoe Lodge. The two of them have a unique experience as a result of all of the above, and the reader gets a delightful romance story with a happy ending. Well done, again, Anne Kemp.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews

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