A Sudden Spark

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

HO, LIWEN Y.

A SUDDEN SPARK

He's a writer too shy to speak to women. She's a single mom who's sworn off men. Little do they know how much a marriage of convenience will shake up their lives.

Brandon Spark may know a thing or two about women as a romance author, but his real love life proves otherwise. Between his hang-up over a college friend and hours with social anxiety, dating is the last thing on his mind -- unit he runs into his old crush.

Hair stylist Bria Montgomery made some major mistakes a decade ago -- wandering from her faith, then getting pregnant and dropping out of college. She's desperate to leave her past -- and the men from it -- behind, but it's impossible when they keep showing up in her life.

Brandon can't believe he has a second chance with his first love: Bria can't fathom ever falling for a guy she friend-zoned years ago. When an unexpected custody battle forces them to become husband and wife, things get intense and personal -- fast. Will this sudden change end their friendship or spark a lasting romance?

My Review:

published in 2018

I fear I abandoned the Spark brothers back in 2020 but I'm determined to catch-up with all their shenanigans and, of course, romance (!) in very short order. This is the second book in the series but easily reads well as a standalone too. Love the brotherly connection, their genuine interactions whether they are joking around or engaging in serious heart-to-hearts. It's a fantastic foundation for a series.

And this time it's Brandon's turn to find love, which is only fair since he's...wait for it...a popular romance author who writes swoonworthy happily ever afters all the time...except in real life. Because Brandon is painfully shy and suffers from social anxiety. But he made one special friend in college and after they reconnect during a chance encounter, he can't resist trying again. 

The author manages to convey all the awkward emotions and heartbreak along with a healthy dose of humour to lighten things up a bit. Like this:

"If God could make a donkey in the Old Testament talk, He could certainly help him form some words, couldn't He?" (p 48)

Guffaw and happy sigh. This story is sooooo romantical not to mention...drum roll please....rapapapum...Contemporary Marriage of Convenience Alert!!! And we all know it takes imagination + talent to make that trope work in the 21st century and Liwen Y. Ho does it brilliantly!!!!!

When I wasn't swooning over Brandon or his brothers, I was cheering Bria on through her struggles as a single mom who has recently recommitted to her faith. Loved the inspirational arc in this novel and the timeless truths other characters speak into Bria's life.

"Well, if it's any consolation, nothing that happens is a surprise to the Lord. The real surprise is seeing how He turns things around for us. And when He doesn't change the circumstances, He does something even better."

"What's that?"

"He changes hearts." (p 33-34)

I have to celebrate a Christian Fiction novel that inspires while entertains and A Sudden Spark does all that -- and more -- exceedingly well.

Goal Update: #2 Catch-up on series I'm behind in, #5 Diversify my reading

 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Sudden Spark, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 26 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck