Joey Sullivan is hurting. All he ever wanted was to escape his homophobic family. For a time, his dreams of being a popstar succeeded with Below Zero. But when the record label throws the band aside, Joey ultimately has to face the shame of returning home. Gabe Robinson loves his town. As a firefighter, he’d do anything to protect it. He even tries to help the prickly, fallen-from-grace Joey … fallen-from-grace Joey Sullivan. Gabe is nursing his own broken heart though, so his immediate attraction to Joey can’t be anything other than a rebound.
An unexpected road trip forces Joey and Gabe together and the sparks fly between them, but it can’t last. Their worlds are too different. Joey plans to get as far away from home as soon as he can, yet Gabe can’t imagine any other life. But when Joey hits rock bottom, Gabe is the only one who can save him. Protect him. Keep him warm.
Gabe’s saved lives before. But can he rescue hearts?
Spark is a steamy, standalone gay romance novel with a guaranteed HEA and absolutely no cliffhanger.
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I give this 4.5 stars because the sweetness and love was overloaded and I LOVED IT!
Joey and Gabe’s story was a perfect opposites attract, major trust issues, learning to see the good in people story.
Joey was out of luck after his boyband broke apart. He desperatly wanted to make it but he had to move home to a town he run away from because he ran out of money. His dad and brother hated him because of his sexuality, he had limited options with work, and he only saw the wicked and ugly in people.
But then he met Gabe. The sweetest, kindest, most genuinly good hearted person in town. For Joey asking for help is the hardest thing. For Gabe helping others is essential. Joey is bitter and dreams big while Gabe is kind and sweet.
They are the most unlikely pair. And somehow they cannot seem to keep distance.
I loved this book because it was not afraid to state the ugly shit that sometimes goes on in the world. And it openly showed misfortunes. Also it was a cute and hinest love story with all the ugly parts of fighting and mistrust. But also with the love and support and warmth.
All in all, it was a very sweet story. I felt like the author imlroved a lot in writing since the first book and I was happy to see less grammar mistakes. I will definetly start the third book soon.
This is the second book in the homecoming hearts series and man do these boys have some crappy parents!!
This book stars former member of Below Zero, Joey and Greenwich hometown community volunteer Gabe. Joey is forced to return to his hometown when he runs out of options and money in LA. His homophobic, hateful father is none too pleased about this and Joey’s mother is too afraid to stand up to him. Joey is continually hopeful that something will come up and he will once again be able to escape Greenwich forever. Gabe has recently broken up with his live-in boyfriend of five years and is trying to adjust to the loneliness. He works at the library and volunteers as a firefighter, at a homeless shelter and for other community organizations. He grew up in Greenwich and thinks it’s a great place to live.
The trajectory of Joey and Gabe’s relationship is sweet but also heartbreaking. Joey has been so scarred by his awful family that he can’t bring himself to trust or rely on others. Gabe is afraid of scaring Joey off. The crisis moment is so infuriating I wanted to slap people. The resolution makes you want to cheer and reminds you of great movie scenes. It is made all the better if you’ve read book one first.
I am really enjoying the series and am immediately starting on book three.
*I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my objective review *
Plenty of emotion and lots of heat for two guys who deserve better
5stars
I loved this story even more than the first book in this Homecoming Hearts series. Gabe is the sweetest, most generous guy and he does not deserve any of the grief he goes through. Joey has his reasons, mostly rooted in his awful family situation, for thinking he can’t trust to ask anyone for help and fighting against his connection with Gabe. All of their woes, separately and together, really brought me into the story, hoping for better days. Their passion sizzles, their emotions boil over, and there’s a snowy day and night that just totally moved me almost to tears.
I love a romance that gets me emotionally involved and this one definitely did it!
I purchased this story as part of a boxed set; this is my voluntary and honest review.
I was gifted my copy of this book, that I write a review was not required.
This is book two in the series, Homecoming Hearts, but you don’t need to have read book one for this one to make sense, they can be all read as stand alones.
Oh! Joey, Joey, Joey! I felt for Joey, deep in my heart! His father is a nasty piece of work, and he makes no effort to hide his feelings about Joey and his life. And while all the band members go home, (Ive already book 4) it’s Joey’s homecoming that leaves a mark that most.
Gabe is lovely, quite happy with his lot, and his life. He just wants someone else in it. Joey fits the bill but Joey is such a hard nut to crack. His Independence is a hard won thing, and he plans to keep it. even if it might kill him.
Quite a bit more emotionally charged than Scorch and Steam, I’ve yet to read Burn, but I will get to it shortly!
Read it, but have the tissues ready and be prepared to swear profusely at the waste of space that is Joey’s father and brother. His momma though, she surprises you!
5 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**