Is she out of reach?Fire Chief and former Army sergeant Kayleigh Baker is determined to save Mulberry’s annual Fourth of July fireworks display. She doesn’t want to disappoint the kids and the fireworks are a bittersweet memory of her mom’s last summer. As the town prepares for the summer parade and picnic, Kelly works to convince her former high school crush — now the straight-laced police chief … straight-laced police chief — to help her cause.
Does he stack up?
Police Chief Liam MacAvoy doesn’t like the chaos the fireworks cause for his department and can’t hide his relief when they’re cancelled. But now he’s got the woman he’s been in love with for as long as he can remember asking for his help. How can he say no? What he’d really like is to show her that fireworks and town traditions are not the only things worth fighting for.
Can the boy next door and the town hero find the courage to finally seize their chance at love?
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A well written story with a very good storyline, the story flowed smoothly across the pages. Fire Chief and former Army sergeant Kayleigh Baker, and Police Chief Liam MacAvoy will have a trying time before they get together, as they are both strong willed people. I really enjoyed this story. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
First the criticism while I felt this book was at heart a romance it sort of got lost with all the arguing between Kayleigh and Liam I think it was nearly the end of the book before they even kissed. This book had a totally different feel to Jamie’s usual books and I have to tell you are prefer her other books
Kayleigh is a retired army vet who has become the fire chief of the town she grew up in and she is determined to get the 4th July fireworks happening even though they have been cancelled Liam as the police chief and he is quite happy that they have been cancelled as they create a lot of dramas for his men These two have history they both grew up together he was from the wealthy part of town while she was all working class. The only thing is that he has always wanted her Will these fireworks be the thing to bring them together or will it finally destroy what could have been You will have to read to see
ONE TITILLATING ROLLERCOASTER!!!
Fireworks on board! Jamie brought the fire and fiasco with this cute little number, laying on some heat and a little magic, working this baby to a head, wrapping it up sleek, shiny and tight. Crushing the boundaries and pushing the limits, displaying the strong suits and short straws, slamming this baby into overdrive, launching it into a frenzy with astonishing impacts, drawing our characters closer than they could have ever anticipated. Throw in drama, tension, turmoil and understated chemistry, you have the recipe for one block busting delight. Surprising happenstance and intriguing mishaps, swirl with the taxing trials and challenging tribulations, spinning alongside the thrilling twists and wicked turns, putting our characters through their paces, testing them in ways they could have never imagined. The characters, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits add realism and diversity, transforming into genuine charismatic personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and vivid descriptions creating an elaborate backdrop that makes the storyline pop. Fantastic job Jamie, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
I really liked reading A Spark of Romance by Jamie K. Schmidt because it was such a great book. This particular book is about Kayleigh and Liam. Liam has been in love with her since high school, but he never let her know that. Kayleigh was chief in her fire department and Liam was chief of police. I was hoping that they would finally get together. It was a romantic book and I really enjoyed reading it. I highly recommend reading it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This story was absolutely NOT what I was expecting from this author. Granted, I haven’t read but 4 or 5 of her books. But every one of the previous stories I’ve read by her have drawn me in, kept me turning pages, had heat coming off the pages, and left me wishing the story never ended. I’m so sorry to say that wasn’t the case with this one.
In the beginning, I could feel a bit of the chemistry between Kayleigh and Liam. Unfortunately, instead of building as the story progressed, it fizzled. I think it was the fact they these two never stop fighting! Seriously…NEVER. Now, to each their own. I know couples that thrive on fighting/arguing over every little thing. That’s not my preference in a romantic relationship, but it works for them. The problem is, I didn’t feel as though either of these two got anything but hurt feelings and discontent from their arguments. There was no rush or sense of accomplishment. Plus, it kept them from moving their relationship from the friend zone into something deeper. The reader is supposed to believe these two have always loved and cared for each other but have been too afraid to speak up. But, since they never interact without some sort of squabble popping up, that connection gets lost in the shuffle. The negative encounters this couple had far outweigh the positive encounters. So, how is any sort of relationship being built? As the reader, I was told they love one another and that they are meant for one another, yet I’m never shown that.
There were things I loved about both Kayleigh and Liam. I also had issues with them both, especially Kayleigh. They are both so stubborn that it became a problem instead of a cute and/or admirable quality. Mostly with Kayleigh. Not only was she stubborn, it also seemed like she was on the verge of running away every time things got tough or weren’t going her way. Fine, if there is character development and the readers learn more about the motivation. Or even if it’s just used to drive the story forward. But no, it happened numerous times with no resolution at the end as to what the actual issue was. It didn’t change the course of the story one iota.
While I mostly read the type of romance stories that have me giving them at least an R rating, and more often than not an NC-17 or even XXX, I have no issues with love stories that are behind closed doors (so to speak). With this author, my experience has been some pretty risqué and steamy scenes so I had to really contemplate if my problem with the lack of intimacy was because I expected it in something she wrote or if it really was something that was missing from the story. I’ve come down on the side of it was missing. You guys, there is not a kiss between these two as adults until the last page. I hate giving spoilers, you know that, but I have to tell you that. The. Last. Page. There are a few hand grazes and such, but all things that can be construed as comfort from a friend if you didn’t know that Liam and Kayleigh had romantic feelings for each other. I almost rated the story as G, but settled on PG since there is some language and undertones here and there.
Now, this story was definitely written as though it could be a novella to introduce a new series. We meet a lot of characters (who I mostly liked better than Kayleigh) and learn a bit about the town and surrounding areas. It would explain (to a certain extent) the lack of depth in this story. Oddly enough, I would most likely read another book if this is a series. And I’m not going to give up on this author at all. Like I said, I greatly enjoyed the previous books I’ve read by her. I’m hoping this was just a fluke. I have to tell you, it has confused me greatly.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
3.5 Stars
The story line was good, the character work was great and the book had a fairly smooth flow to it. This was an entertaining read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The perfect summer read for the fourth of July. Fire Chief Kayleigh, is bound and determined to save the fireworks display in memory of her mother while butting heads with Police Chief, Liam. They are both strong willed characters that have secret crushes on each other since high school.
Loved the banter between these two, everyone knew they were perfect for each other if they could only come to a truce. Great small town feelings through out this story. I highly recommend this sweet romance book of second chances.
With no fireworks for my small town this year I could totally identify with Kayleigh Baker in A Spark of Romance by Jamie K. Schmidt. Being the fire chief she would have a handle on safety as well as enjoyment. Police Chief Liam MacAvoy’s attitude was simply the stick in the mud to me. Thank goodness for his long time crush asking for his help to turn him around.
Enjoyable story during this time of new normal when the old normal wasn’t so bad. It reminds us that it won’t last forever but that love will. If only these two who are hotter together than a July afternoon can get past their lack of ability to express their feelings.
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the first time reading from this author,great storyline.Will read more from her in the near future. Would make a cute Hallmark movie for the summer series.
This was a very sweet, small town, friends to lovers romance. It was a clean, slow burn story. I really enjoyed the characters and getting to see the ups and downs this story held.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Fireworks are magical! I love fireworks and I agree with Kayleigh – 4th of July deserves fireworks. This is a sweet story about Kayleigh and Liam. They are both chiefs – she is for the fire department and he is for the police department. Well Liam is about to deliver some bad news to Kayleigh as the place that was supposed to deliver the fireworks was flooded out and then robbed. Now they only have half the money to make this work and Liam and along with Evan doesn’t want to spend the money due to what happened the year before, which some part is funny but also to use the money for something else. Well Kayleigh is not going to give up the problem with these two is that they have feelings for each other but one is waiting for the other to act on it. The story has some funny scenes, but the competitive nature in these two is what makes this story great.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Assumptions And Fear –
Liam and Kayleigh have been friend since kindergarten, but went their separate ways after high school. Kayleigh returned over ten years later and Liam realised that his feeling for Kayleigh hadn’t disappeared in their time apart. Unfortunately, they are both stubborn, competitive and headstrong, but have a heart of gold where others are concerned. This story is about two people trying to navigate through the ups and downs of their daily life and find a way to acknowledge their feelings for each other. It is a wonderful book that deserves to be recommended.
I received an ARC of this book from Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I adored this story. This author can really write and she creates stories and characters I absolutely adore. This is a wonderful story and I absolutely loved it. But the couple don’t even kiss until 90% of this book ends and I really wanted more romance. That said this was a lovely story just not really romance.
This is a the story about three best friends in a small town who grew up together in small town and now they help run the town. Kayleigh is the fire chief and a former military army. Liam is the Police Chief and Evan is the Mayor or Townsman or something like that. Kay belongs to the middle class and Liam richer part of town. And they are both in love with each other but also best friends and they never tell each other how they feel. All three get dragged in to an issue of whether theys hould fireworks for the 4th of July and it really hurts their relationship.
While this was a wonderful story I wanted more romance and this story is more centered on the 4th of July fireworks than on figuring out Kayleigh and Laim’s relayionship. That said it was a wonderful story and I absolutely loved it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kayleigh, the fire chief in Mulberry, was in the Army when her mother died. She moved around for years, trying to deal with that and find her own place. Liam, the police chief, Kayleigh, and Evan, the town’s first selectman, have been best friends forever. Liam and Kayleigh have been trying to get together forever. It seems like the universe has been conspiring against them. But there have been so many obstacles – he comes from money, she’s working class; she was gone for years, but not forgotten; her lack of cooking abilities; emergencies with both of their jobs; his mother’s attempts at matchmaking… The cancellation of the annual fireworks show for July 4 is a huge bone of contention between them. He has no idea that she has the world’s biggest crush on him. She has no idea that he has the world’s biggest crush on her. This is such a nice book – glad to have had the chance to read it. Liam and Kayleigh are both stubborn and hard-headed, and I couldn’t decide which one is worse. It takes forever for these two to get their act together. But it was sooooo worth the wait. Her family has really stuck together through the years, and the other characters in the book are fun and interesting, especially the neighbor’s dog.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed Kayleigh and Liam’s story in A Spark of Romance by Jamie K Schmidt. This is a story of best friends, secretly crushing on each other, who grow up, go their own way, yet end up back in their small town; one as the Fire Chief and the other as the Police Chief.
Fire Chief and former Army sergeant, Kayleigh Baker is determined to save Mulberry’s annual Fourth of July fireworks display after a series of mishaps have cancelled it. The fireworks are a bittersweet memory of her mom and the displays she created before her death. Kayleigh also wants to recreate the summers she and her friends had when they were children. As the town prepares for the summer parade and picnic, Kayleigh has her work cut out if she is going to convince her former high school crush, now the police chief, to help her cause. Police Chief Liam MacAvoy is not a fan of the chaos the fireworks create for his department and is relieved when they are cancelled. When Kayleigh comes asking for his help he struggles with saying no to her. He had been in love with her for as long as he can remember; at least as far back as high school and their days of being friends. He would really like to show her that fireworks and their town traditions are not the only things worth fighting for; he wants her to give them a chance. After all, they share some major magnetism, off the charts chemistry, and could supply the town with the electricity they generate. Now Liam just has to convince Kayleigh that he’s the one.
Ms Schmidt wrote a wonderfully sweet and emotional story that is definitely not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with chemistry, amusing banter, and charming characters giving Kayleigh and Liam a chance for love and a future together. I highly recommend A Spark of Romance to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Kayleigh and Liam have been friends for years and both have feelings for each other, but both are afraid to act on it. Kayleigh is the Fire Chief and wants to have the town’s 4th of July fireworks celebration. Liam is the Chief of Police and thinks the celebration causes to much trouble and frankly he is relieved when it’s cancelled. They often bicker and fight even outside of work, until Liam believes he may have lost Kayleigh for good. Will he find the courage to tell her how he really feels before it’s too late? Will Kayleigh tell open her heart and tell him the same? I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jamie K. Schmidt has written a 5-star book. Kayleigh has had a crush on Liam for a long time. She is the fire chief and he is the police chief and their friend Evan is the mayor of their small town. The emotions that they both go through are over the top. They fight over the smallest thing and they are both jealous when someone else gets near the other one. This book has a little betrayal, self-doubt, and mistrust.
Will Kayleigh realize that there is no way out over their feelings about Liam.
Will Liam ever understand how Kayleigh’s emotions play with her moods?
This was a wonderful book and I would recommend it to anyone.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kayleigh and Liam were both stubborn in constant competition with each other in this book. Some of them were pretty funny like how her her firehouse team found a way to make extra chili to win the competition against the police officers. Other things like the crazy roof climbing dog next door, a fire in Kayleigh’s kitchen, and other situations kept coming up to keep them from admitting their feelings for each other and taking a risk on changing their relationship to more than friends. I loved her sisters and her friend Beck and hope they have their own romances in future books.
A Spark of Romance
By Jamie K. Schmidt
Main Characters: Liam and Kayleigh
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.
4 out of 5 stars
Liam is the police chief and Kayleigh is the fire chief. These two friends but each wants more but are not communicating it. The anticipation makes it all worthwhile. Loved the humor and the stubbornness of these two strong-willed people. This was a friend to lover’s romance with a HEA ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed reading this book. Life in a small town has a lot of undertows. A family of five, husband and wife, plus three daughters. Each with their own talents and differing jobs. The police chief is in love with one of the sisters, since childhood. Since his love returned to town after being in the army and a couple of other jobs, he is hoping to have a chance with her. The other two sisters have their stories also. A very interesting book I read straight through. I freely accepted this book and give my honest opinion.