Review: A perfect conclusion to Eevie & Aidan's love story - and just as original as the first book in the series!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 8, 2014
Complimentary copy given by the author in exchange for an honest reviewIf you follow my reviews, you will know how much I loved the first book in the series, "Spark", and if that is not the case, you can find my review on my blog.Whereas I feel that "Spark" was mostly about Eevie's personal journey to becoming her own woman, "Spike" takes it one step further and tells us the love story of Eevie and Aidan and about the hardships they have to go through together in order to find their happy-ever-after. Do not be alarmed, though: there are plenty of sweet, funny and sexy moments as there were in the first book. But let me start at the beginning:It has been six months since Eevie and Aidan began their romantic relationship and they are still very much in love with each other. That special spark they have always shared is still there, and you can immediately feel their deep connection when you start reading the book. Aidan asks Eevie to move in with him, and she eagerly says yes. They are both ready to take their relationship further, and you would think that their future will be filled with nothing but happiness from now on.That is not the case, however, and without giving you any spoilers (which I hate), I will just say that I was rather thrown when I found out who the culprit was. And that is all you will get from me on the matter.I might as well lay the cards on the table right now and let you know that, once again, I loved Eevie and Aidan. Like I stated above, they just have that certain connection that most people long to find in their partners, and their love for one another is evident on every page. Their banter is loveable, sexy and funny, and their deep-seated need to protect each other from heartache and strife is palpable. They are truly soul mates, and Miss Ryder definitely knows how to convey this with her writing.Eevie is still a feisty, adorable character. But what makes me love her even more now is the fact that she has become a stronger, self-confident woman, and her wanting to protect Aidan shows great character - even though she does go about doing it the wrong way. Nevertheless, I enjoyed seeing how much she has evolved, both on her own but also through her relationship with Aidan, and that is definitely part of the reasons for my high rating of this novel.Let me say one or two things about Aidan now. Oh my goodness, he is swoon-worthy: cute, alpha, and sexy. I love his naughty side, his sense of humour, and his ability to love unconditionally. I am thrilled that the author gives us his point of view this time because it allows the reader to fully connect with him. His passion for his sport is made clearer in "Spike", but it is also great learning how that it is not all he focuses on. No, he sees Eevie, and he has always known, purely by instinct, that she is the woman made for him. She is it for him, plain and simple, and he is not afraid to show the world that that is how he feels.I am not trying to paint a picture of two perfect people: they are definitely not infallible. If they were portrayed as such, I would, in all honesty, not like their story. Both Eevie and Aidan make mistakes, but these mistakes are done in order to protect each other. This is why they seem so realistic, and why you can relate to and connect with them completely. They will have to learn to fully trust and depend on each other in order for them to get their happy ending which is also the way it is with real people in the real world.As with the first installment in the Spark Series, I really like Miss Ryder’s way of telling a story. Her writing is very down-to-earth with just a touch of quirkiness (if that is even a word?), the pace of the story is perfect, with plenty of steamy, yet tasteful, scenes that left me blushing more than once. Last, there is no question about the fact that she feels very strongly for her characters. I also really love her introducing us to some new secondary characters: a very sexy police detective – Ryan – and a teammate of Aidan’s – Jones. These men…? Well, you just know that they hold many secrets and that what you see is not what you will get - at least not completely. I believe Miss Ryder will be releasing their stories later this year, and I just know that they will be very interesting and…how should I put it…? The only words coming to mind at the moment are naughty ones so I better watch my tongue. Suffice it to say, I am awaiting their stories with bated breath!I do not feel that I can write that much more without giving too much of the story away. The suspense element works really well, in my opinion, and you are in for quite a wild ride when you read the book. The range of emotions is wide: funny, romantic, painful, passionate…I could go on and on, but I choose not to. All I will leave you with is this: if you loved “Spark”, you will adore “Spike”!