Review: Spark by Brigid Kemmerer

  Spark Brigid Kemmerer 
  Publisher: Kensington
  Publication date: August 28th 2012
  Source: NetGalley
  My Rating: 4 stars

 

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…

In Spark we are told the story from Merrick brother Gabriel, In Storm I just saw Gabriel as the hot headed cheeky Merrick brother, Chris had already played so much havoc with my heart in Storm that I didn’t think another Merrick brother would be able to sneak their way in, but boy was I wrong.

*contains some spoilers if you haven't read Storm*

Now that the problems with the guide have been dealt with, the Merrick brothers can stay put, but under one condition that they don’t bring attention to themselves. Gabriel has a tough time dealing with this; he has a tough time dealing with anyone telling him what to do period. But especially now his control over his element is evolving there are only so many places he can practice without bringing everything burning down, plus with his brothers being able to control their elements that little bit more Gabriel feels left out. But then Hunter comes up with a suggestion, it’s risky but at least this way Gabriel can practice his element.

I devoured Spark in one day, I don’t know what it is, Kemmerer just has a special way with words that lures you in, that you never want to leave. I was so disappointed when I’d finished this book as I have no idea when I’ll next get my Merrick brother fix I have to confess I may be a little bit enamoured by them to the point of obsession. Anyway I digress it was seriously something getting Gabriel’s pov. I love how with each book Kemmerer allows us to get to know each brother that little bit more. I was totally surprised by the side we were given of Gabriel, underneath all that bravado there is a true softy. Some of his scenes just shredded at my heart and others just made me melt. I don’t know why I had overlooked Gabriel in Storm, may be because I had Chris far too much on the brain, or maybe because of Gabriel’s snarky tendencies and his hot headedness. Previously I had thought that the scenes with Becca and Chris were sweet, but now I’ve come to the realisation that they don’t compare to some of the scenes between Gabriel and Layne. I know a lot of readers will be reconsidering Gabriel as their favourite Merrick brother after this.

I enjoyed how in Spark we were able to move away from the issues that were integral in Storm. The focus was on something completely different and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also liked how we got to see another side of Michael, he came across as a person who didn’t need to control everything, yes he was in Gabriel’s face a lot of the time, but he had loosened up a lot more since Storm.

Again with Hunter I’m still confused where I stand with him, it was great he was helping Gabriel out, but I still felt he had his own agenda I don’t know why. I’m hoping the novella from Hunter’s pov will finally clear everything up.

Kemmerer again hasn’t failed to disappoint me with her latest instalment; she has again left me wanting more. I can’t wait until my next Merrick fix.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read this book.