When Sparks Fly

June 28, 2021
Hunting (A Kiss for a Kiss) delivers an enjoyable friends-to-lovers romance ignited by a lengthy recovery from a car accident. Twenty-eight-year-old hotelier Avery Spark is on her way to a business meeting when she crashes her car and breaks multiple bones. Declan McCormick, her roommate and best friend since college, offers to provide round-the-clock care during her recovery out of guilt for not driving her to the meeting as he’d promised. Avery is frustrated with her lack of mobility, but, with the encouragement of her sisters, finds an outlet in documenting her recovery on social media. And after Declan walks in on Avery masturbating, the pair decide he should help her relieve her sexual tension while her mobility is limited, leading both to admit to long-hidden mutual attraction. When pot brownies inspire an out-of-character rant from Avery that she posts on her hotel’s social media, the loss of a major sponsor threatens the business. In her attempts to fix her mistake, Avery pursues an alternate sponsor—with serious consequences for her fragile relationship. Hunting hits familiar notes but makes them sing, resulting in a predictable but charming love story. This is a solid pick for romance fans.

August 1, 2021

Declan and Avery have been friends--best friends--since college. Declan, an expert in one-night stands, has only ever had one solid relationship--his friendship with Avery. Neither would ever do anything to jeopardize the friendship. But then Declan breaks his promise to drive Avery to an important meeting one rainy morning. Instead, he sleeps late with a random hookup, letting Avery down for the first time ever. When Avery gets into a car crash and breaks several bones, Declan feels guilty and volunteers to personally provide her with the necessary round-the-clock care. This starts off easy enough, but soon the close proximity begins to change their friendship into something more intimate, something they've tried to deny for years. Hunting's (Meet Cute) latest is a witty romantic comedy with emotional depth; the realistic, well-paced plot is populated by fully realized, likable characters. Declan and Avery's slowly evolving slow-burn relationship will hook readers, and their gradually revealed backstories make their actions and reactions understandable, relatable, and very readable. VERDICT Readers looking for a good friends-to-lovers or forced-proximity romance will enjoy. Recommended for general purchase.--Heather Miller Cover, Homewood P.L., AL

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2021
Two friends become something more after a terrifying car accident puts things into perspective for both of them. Avery Spark and Declan McCormick have been best friends since college and now live together in a Colorado Springs condo. Avery runs Spark House, an event hotel started by her grandparents, while Declan is a successful financial adviser. Avery is heading to their alma mater for a meeting about hosting events, and Declan is going to drive there with her and watch a soccer game, but after a night of heavy drinking and a one-night stand that hasn't ended by Sunday morning, Declan bails, leaving Avery to make the trip herself. Unfortunately, the forecast calls for heavy rain, and Avery has been an anxious driver since her own parents died in a car accident when she and her sisters were young. History (almost) repeats itself, and Avery is in an accident; she winds up hospitalized, and Declan is wracked with grief. He promises to make it up to her by looking after her recovery once she's released. As Declan cares for Avery, who's healing from many broken bones and bruises, their yearslong friendship gives way to steamy attraction. Things should have ended here, as there is enough material for an emotional and satisfying romantic arc, but Hunting jumps the shark by adding a viral scandal. High on pot brownies, Avery posts a social media rant that jeopardizes Spark House's standing with the public, its sponsors, and its vendors. This wholly unnecessary plot addition weakens Declan and Avery's romantic journey with a large dose of secondhand embarrassment. Still, the cast is lovely; Hunting knows how to throw together a fun group of characters and lay the foundation for potential sequels. Declan is a self-assured man who can admit when he's really messed up. Avery is a wonderful older sister and leader, making those around her feel at ease. The supporting characters--Avery's two sisters and her and Declan's group of friends--make the romance richer. If only the plot were as nuanced. Unnecessary plot twists sink this promising romance.

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August 1, 2021
Avery Spark likes to think of herself as one of the guys. When she's not busy working at Spark House, her family's event hotel, she likes nothing better than to kick back with her roommate and bestie Declan McCormick and their friends Mark and Jerome. However, when Avery sustains some serious injuries from an automobile accident, she accepts guilt-ridden Declan's offer to help her navigate her recovery. Now after spending so much time so close to him, Avery realizes that her new romantic feelings for Declan mean that they never go back to just being friends. In this delightfully fun standalone contemporary from prolific and ever-lively Hunting, the author plays to her literary strengths by giving readers a sensuality-forward storyline that is neatly lightened by snarky humor even as it's deftly grounded by a thoughtful exploration of the roles family and friends can play in our lives.

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