Get ready to dive headfirst into a world of sizzling chemistry and pent-up emotions because this week, we’re spotlighting a romance read that truly makes the sparks fly! I absolutely devoured this book! The friends-to-lovers trope, especially when it involves college friends navigating unresolved feelings as roommates, is simply irresistible. This delicious premise had me glued to my couch, turning pages at lightning speed, and yes, hyperventilating from the intense sexual tension crackling between the characters.
Avery and Declan are undeniably sweet, undeniably sexy, and feel like they were destined to be together from the very beginning. But, and there’s always a “but,” right? Some deeply rooted issues and unspoken truths prevent them from taking that crucial first step towards confessing their long-held feelings.
For years, Avery found herself dating Declan’s college friend, Sam, instead of Declan himself. This was largely because Declan projected an image of being commitment-phobic, the king of one-night stands, and burdened by the baggage of his parents’ messy relationship. However, when Sam betrays Avery’s trust by cheating, it’s Declan who steps up. He’s the one who reveals Sam’s infidelity, the one who cuts ties with Sam entirely to support Avery, and now, as they approach their thirties, their connection is undeniable. Avery is now the owner of Spark House, a charming hotel and event center she inherited after tragically losing her family in a car accident during her teenage years. She runs this business alongside her sisters, London and Harley. Interestingly, she co-owns Spark House with her best friend, Declan. Despite harboring deep romantic feelings for him, Avery consciously keeps a distance, afraid of jeopardizing their precious friendship and convinced her feelings might be unrequited.
Little does she know, Declan is wrestling with the very same emotions.
Initially, I was seriously frustrated with Declan! He racked up some major “punching points” in my book! Before their alumni gathering trip, which he promised to take Avery to in his SUV, he makes a questionable decision. He gets drunk and brings a random woman back from a bar. (I grasped his reasoning – discovering Avery had a hot date and looked stunning in her dress triggered his jealousy, leading him to seek a distraction at the bar! But still, dude, major douche move!) The next morning, Avery frantically knocks on his room door, only to realize he’s still with the woman, nursing a hangover, and to top it off, he’d left his car downtown, making it impossible for him to give Avery the keys.
This forces Avery to embark on a long drive in her own, less reliable car, in the pouring rain. Did I mention that Avery is terrified of driving in such weather? This fear stems from the trauma of losing her family in a car accident! Yes, Declan, you were a HUGE DOUCHE in this moment!
Declan, rightfully, feels absolutely terrible. He calls Avery, consumed with guilt, and during their conversation, he becomes a horrified witness as a white van starts harassing her on the road. Then, BAM! Another vehicle slams into her car! Declan stays on the line, relaying crucial health information to the paramedics who arrive on the scene, and simultaneously calls Avery’s sisters. Landon, understandably panicked and upset, unleashes her blame on Declan for this disaster.
Thankfully, Avery survives the accident, albeit with a broken leg, arm, and several fractured ribs, severely hindering her mobility. From this point on, Declan becomes her unwavering shadow. He never leaves her side, offering a million apologies and transforming himself into her dedicated, full-time nurse.
It’s during these tender moments of caretaking that Declan completely redeems himself and erases those earlier “punching points.” In fact, I even started feeling a little sorry for him – just a little bit, though!
But when his “nursing duties” begin to include… ahem… providing pleasure, things escalate to an entirely new level of scorching hot! I was grateful to be holding an e-reader at this point, because if I had been reading a paperback, those intensely passionate chapters would have set the pages ablaze!
Okay, I might have revealed a bit too much! But I adored the sports-addict male characters, which reminded me of the author’s fantastic Pucked series! The close-knit friendship circle also gave me strong New Girl vibes. As for supporting characters, London was a standout favorite – a loyal, genuine, and wonderfully badass sister. I would absolutely love to read a book centered around her!
Overall: The emotional depth of this story is phenomenal! The chemistry between Avery and Declan is truly explosive – sparks fly off the page! Both main characters are incredibly likable (yes, I even forgave Declan after his epic groveling!). And the sweet, yet smart, conclusion was perfectly satisfying. So, I’m rounding up my 4.5-star rating to a solid 5 stars! I finally found a truly exceptional, sexy romance novel that I’ve been craving!
This is undoubtedly the best book I’ve read by this author recently.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. Please keep the romance novels coming! I’m officially hooked!
