Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: Kensington Teen
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Source: Publisher
Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.
Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.
Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.
More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.
Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.
The fuse is lit…
❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦❦
CATCHALLSpark was very similar in many ways to its predecessor, but also markedly different. The heroine and the hero are both decidedly different from those in Storm, and the plot too is different. I loved Spark just like I loved Storm, and while it wasn't worse, it wasn't necessarily better. It really was just a bit too similar. The characters were developed even more and it was a lot of fun, but somehow it still lacks something for me.
THE HEROINE
LAYNE
Layne was a pretty hard girl to relate to at first. She doesn't have many friends, and we eventually learn that the one friend she does have isn't a very good one at all. I think most everyone can relate to the feeling of being alone at least somewhat, but it was her attitude about it that was difficult to grasp. Even so, I warmed up to her. She's not Becca, and probably not my favorite of all heroines, but she's got pluck. And she has self-respect, which is crazy nice to see. I admire that.
THE FIFTH
THE HEROINE
LAYNE
Layne was a pretty hard girl to relate to at first. She doesn't have many friends, and we eventually learn that the one friend she does have isn't a very good one at all. I think most everyone can relate to the feeling of being alone at least somewhat, but it was her attitude about it that was difficult to grasp. Even so, I warmed up to her. She's not Becca, and probably not my favorite of all heroines, but she's got pluck. And she has self-respect, which is crazy nice to see. I admire that.
THE FIFTH
HUNTER
Hunter was revealed in Storm to be the son of Guides. In this book, he befriends Gabriel, but at the same time he has his own agenda. It seems like he wants to help Gabriel. Maybe he does. But that's not his only plan. There are still secrets behind his smiles.
THE BROTHERS
MICHAEL
I love Michael. I especially loved how in this book it almost seems like he's beginning to soften. He still has that hard edge, but when someone needs him he pushes it aside. He has to be strong for his brothers, but it's revealed that maybe when he's alone he just kind of lets loose. Frees himself from responsibility, imagines what his life could have been. But he won't abandon his brothers.
NICK
Nick is Gabriel's twin, and we get to witness firsthand the jealousy he has for him. Gabriel thinks of nick as being perfect, the good twin, and it's crystal clear that Nick loves Gabriel and wants to be more like him. When he's thrown into a difficult situation, he wants to do what Gabriel would do. Despite what Gabriel (and occasionally I) think, Nick isn't perfect. But like the rest of us, he tries to be.
GABRIEL
Gabriel is center stage in this book, the focus of this novel, the one whose thoughts we get to peruse relentlessly. He lacks control. He's wild and reckless. Gabriel is the brother who never thinks twice, never thinks about the consequences. If he ever does, he does it too late. He can be difficult, but he's a good person. Even when his activities might get him into serious trouble, he can't stop. Because he knows he's helping people, and that's enough for him. Gabriel is a dynamic character too, very different in the beginning in the book than he is in the end. Awesome character arc.
CHRIS
Chris actually isn't in this book much, like at all. He's there a little, at the meeting with Becca's father or sometimes making cameos at the Merrick house. It's clear he still doesn't really trust Hunter. Not much to him in this book. I wish I could say more, but there's just not much to say.
THE BROTHER
SIMON
I adored Simon. He was sweet for sure, and though he didn't always seem brave he was definitely strong and when he needed to he stood up for himself and for Gabriel to do the right thing. He's stubborn, but not too stubborn. And he cares, that much is clear. He's had a difficult life, but he doesn't let it stop him.
THE PLOT
So, the plot! What happens in Spark?
The first things that really seems to happen is that Gabriel gets a new math teacher. One who won't put up with any of his old tricks. She expects him to get his own work done, or he's off his team. That's something that's important to him, so he goes to Layne, who helped him before, and asks her to tutor him. There are ups and downs before they finally get there, but that's what makes everything so interesting.
Gabriel also finds himself befriending Hunter, and they too get mixed up in very different activities together, ones involving fire. I won't say more than that, but it's very suspenseful and an excellent twist on the story. Moreover, it's clear that it's definitely going somewhere.
Basically, I loved the plot! I did feel that like Storm it dragged at some parts, but overall there was much more action. Spark held my interest much better than Storm and at every moment left me dying to turn the page.
Exciting, sparkling, dangerous. What more could I ask for?
THE ROMANCE
Romance! My favorite. Layne and Gabriel are clearly an unlikely pair—you don't have to be the brightest crayon in the box to know that. He's a jock who's surrounded by people. She's a brainiac and somewhat of a loner. Though they don't have the type of chemistry that crackles through the pages, they have a seriously strong connection and it's played out beautifully more than once. They really work together somehow, and the development of their relationship is sweet and sexy all at once.
THE WRITING
Brigid's writing seems less masterly somehow in this book. Not by much, but I didn't seem to love it as much as I did in the first. Maybe I'm just getting used to it, maybe not. Either way, I needed more. I had a difficult time connecting to Layne's voice, and though I could hear Gabriel's voice clearly hearing half of the story isn't enough for me. Somehow the writing seemed lacking, though her sense of humor was clearly intact. The banter between the brothers only grows and shines in the novel.
THE ENDING
Spark ended on a nice note. Gabriel's story and the development of it were taken far enough, a large part of the plot resolved, but still a ton of room for more. He and Layne are finally really trusting each other, and he's started to achieve the control he desires. But even though so much is going well for him, it's easy to see that his story isn't over. And this is all done without a huge cliffhanger. Just some suspense and a but of drama.
WRAPUP
Spark was a fun read that could have used more work but was also one of the best books I've ever read. The characters sparkles and the plot had enough action to keep me up past midnight and then some. I fell in love with the world all over again. I absolutely and completely recommend this series, and personally I believe it will be no chore to read Brigid's further works. If these books are anything, they are a joy to read, and who could give that up?
FINE.
Hunter was revealed in Storm to be the son of Guides. In this book, he befriends Gabriel, but at the same time he has his own agenda. It seems like he wants to help Gabriel. Maybe he does. But that's not his only plan. There are still secrets behind his smiles.
THE BROTHERS
MICHAEL
I love Michael. I especially loved how in this book it almost seems like he's beginning to soften. He still has that hard edge, but when someone needs him he pushes it aside. He has to be strong for his brothers, but it's revealed that maybe when he's alone he just kind of lets loose. Frees himself from responsibility, imagines what his life could have been. But he won't abandon his brothers.
NICK
Nick is Gabriel's twin, and we get to witness firsthand the jealousy he has for him. Gabriel thinks of nick as being perfect, the good twin, and it's crystal clear that Nick loves Gabriel and wants to be more like him. When he's thrown into a difficult situation, he wants to do what Gabriel would do. Despite what Gabriel (and occasionally I) think, Nick isn't perfect. But like the rest of us, he tries to be.
GABRIEL
Gabriel is center stage in this book, the focus of this novel, the one whose thoughts we get to peruse relentlessly. He lacks control. He's wild and reckless. Gabriel is the brother who never thinks twice, never thinks about the consequences. If he ever does, he does it too late. He can be difficult, but he's a good person. Even when his activities might get him into serious trouble, he can't stop. Because he knows he's helping people, and that's enough for him. Gabriel is a dynamic character too, very different in the beginning in the book than he is in the end. Awesome character arc.
CHRIS
Chris actually isn't in this book much, like at all. He's there a little, at the meeting with Becca's father or sometimes making cameos at the Merrick house. It's clear he still doesn't really trust Hunter. Not much to him in this book. I wish I could say more, but there's just not much to say.
THE BROTHER
SIMON
I adored Simon. He was sweet for sure, and though he didn't always seem brave he was definitely strong and when he needed to he stood up for himself and for Gabriel to do the right thing. He's stubborn, but not too stubborn. And he cares, that much is clear. He's had a difficult life, but he doesn't let it stop him.
THE PLOT
So, the plot! What happens in Spark?
The first things that really seems to happen is that Gabriel gets a new math teacher. One who won't put up with any of his old tricks. She expects him to get his own work done, or he's off his team. That's something that's important to him, so he goes to Layne, who helped him before, and asks her to tutor him. There are ups and downs before they finally get there, but that's what makes everything so interesting.
Gabriel also finds himself befriending Hunter, and they too get mixed up in very different activities together, ones involving fire. I won't say more than that, but it's very suspenseful and an excellent twist on the story. Moreover, it's clear that it's definitely going somewhere.
Basically, I loved the plot! I did feel that like Storm it dragged at some parts, but overall there was much more action. Spark held my interest much better than Storm and at every moment left me dying to turn the page.
Exciting, sparkling, dangerous. What more could I ask for?
THE ROMANCE
Romance! My favorite. Layne and Gabriel are clearly an unlikely pair—you don't have to be the brightest crayon in the box to know that. He's a jock who's surrounded by people. She's a brainiac and somewhat of a loner. Though they don't have the type of chemistry that crackles through the pages, they have a seriously strong connection and it's played out beautifully more than once. They really work together somehow, and the development of their relationship is sweet and sexy all at once.
THE WRITING
Brigid's writing seems less masterly somehow in this book. Not by much, but I didn't seem to love it as much as I did in the first. Maybe I'm just getting used to it, maybe not. Either way, I needed more. I had a difficult time connecting to Layne's voice, and though I could hear Gabriel's voice clearly hearing half of the story isn't enough for me. Somehow the writing seemed lacking, though her sense of humor was clearly intact. The banter between the brothers only grows and shines in the novel.
THE ENDING
Spark ended on a nice note. Gabriel's story and the development of it were taken far enough, a large part of the plot resolved, but still a ton of room for more. He and Layne are finally really trusting each other, and he's started to achieve the control he desires. But even though so much is going well for him, it's easy to see that his story isn't over. And this is all done without a huge cliffhanger. Just some suspense and a but of drama.
WRAPUP
Spark was a fun read that could have used more work but was also one of the best books I've ever read. The characters sparkles and the plot had enough action to keep me up past midnight and then some. I fell in love with the world all over again. I absolutely and completely recommend this series, and personally I believe it will be no chore to read Brigid's further works. If these books are anything, they are a joy to read, and who could give that up?
FINE.
****FINAL RATING: 4.20 RED ROSES****
