Review: Spark by Brigid Kemmerer

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Source: Review copy from publisher
Published: August 28, 2012
K-Teen

Synopsis: "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…" (Source: Goodreads)
It's no lie that I'm a fan of this series. It's got everything I wanted and some things that I didn't even know I wanted until I read it. 
I enjoyed the first book, Storm, a lot. The only downside for me was the profanity. It felt unnecessary and forced in some cases. After reading Spark, I kind of feel like going back to Storm, because now it all makes sense. I'm not saying that I *like* profanity, but I totally get it now and understand why it was there.
It's all because I now understand Gabriel. I get what makes him tick. I've seen inside his head and I know why he thinks the way he does. I know why he uses the language. I don't know why, but it makes it not so bad for me. Gabriel has suddenly become someone with lots of layers - someone deep and worth investigating. I didn't really like him in the first book, but holy cow, I like him now. It's amazing what getting into someone's head does for your perception of them.
I really liked the story here. It's building on what we saw in Storm, but it's also its own entity. If you haven't read Storm, I think you might be okay to read Spark on its own. There are carryover things, but you'd pick up quickly enough. The pace is fast, the romance is sweet, and it's fantastic getting to know Gabriel more.
All in all, a fantastic read and a book that I'll pick up again and again. It's worth 4 Eiffel Towers!

Content Advisory Language: Heavy Sexuality: Moderate Violence: Moderate

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