I’ve had the most amazing night of my life — with a complete stranger. Solving a riddle led me on an adventure I never could have imagined, only to be left in handcuffs next to the last person I ever expected to see. Prince Sage Stevinson.I’m considered one of the lucky ones. One of only four women who are in line to marry the Prince of Canterbury due to some antiquated law that should have been … have been updated five hundred years ago.
Every stand-up-straight, hold your chin up, place your hand in your lap while you eat, and suck in your stomach directive, was all to bring me to this moment. Even my name, Everly, represents my happily ever after.
But my happily ever after does not include marrying the Prince. I want to make a difference in this world and living the fake, pretentious life of the royal family is far from my dream.
If Prince Sage wants me to be his Queen, he’ll have to prove he’s more than just one outrageous night.
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This was just the kind of book I needed at the moment I read it. It was pretty unbelievable and out there, but then, aren’t these stories supposed to be?
Everly is independent with ideas about how she wants to change to the world, to make a difference, to put her stamp on something she can be proud of. And if her mother wasn’t so pushy and the rules weren’t so stringent, she may have gotten her way before she had to be placed in the running to marry Prince Sage.
Prince Sage doesn’t want to marry anyone, but it’s a necessity because law dictates he must marry by the time he’s 25 years old. Every woman thrown at him is someone with whom he’d rather not even spend time. Until she enters the running.
Recognition and rebellion are the words of the day for this story, and it was so much fun to watch the way these two are put through their courses while misunderstanding and true love abound. I enjoyed it and look forward to finding time to read more from this author.
5 stars
*ebook generously provided by the author and I’m leaving an honest review*
I liked and enjoyed everything about this book and writing. The writing just flowed and had me engrossed to the story from start to finish wanting to find out what happens next. This is my first book by this author but certainly will not be the last. I loved that it was written in dual POVs. Such a beautiful, amazing, forbidden, royal, sexy story. I laughed, swooned and fell for Sage and Everly. What I really liked about this story is that it was a different tale about the royals and it pleasantly surprised me. It’s not just about the romance, it’s about finding yourself, accepting one another for who they really are, trying to make a change, being down to earth and to help others for the greater good.
Sage is set to be the next king and he must find a wife by his 25th birthday. There are some rules and criteria he should follow in choosing his bride to be. Sage is different from his parents especially his father. He is loyal, down to earth, wants to make change and to help others.
Everly wants to make a change. She does not want to be just a Queen, and a King’s wife. She is content with herself and is not afraid to stand up for herself.
Sage and Everly just click. I loved their love story. Sage and Everly just want to marry out of love without pretenses and to be loved just the way they are. He is determined to show Everly that they are meant to be and that they could be great together. I loved their chemistry and the lengths Sage goes to prove himself to her. They are an amazing couple and a great characters.
I really loved Joey and Logan in this book and would like to see them get their happinness.
Recommend it.
Good all around. Duel POV. I loved prince sage and felt for him and what he was trying to do. I would recommend the book..nice light reading and read in a day.
What an enchanting story. It felt like a modern fairytale.
This was actually my first book about royals but when they’re all written like that it surely won’t be my last. It’s like Tradition and Modern coming together and learning to get along. My only experience in this regard so far had been the movie ‘The Prince and Me’, which I absolutely adore but has got nothing on this book.
I was really surprised at how much I loved this story because although I’m open to reading and learning all kinds of new things, I was not sure where this royal story would lead me. As I’ve mentioned before, it was a new experience for me and now I can say that Lauren popped my royal cherry. *LoL*
The book was very well written and I loved how ‘normal’ the prince was, which may not be for everyone because it could’ve very well been just a story about wealthy influencers instead of a royal family. But what do I know?! It was my first after all.
The getting-to-know-each-other was my favorite part because Sage definitely knew how to woo a woman. Be prepared to swoon for Prince Sage.
The Story:
The Prince of Canterbury is looking for his future wife, and while that may sound romantic it’s anything but. It’s called tradition.
Everly doesn’t want to become a princess. She doesn’t want that kind of life and she definitely doesn’t want to marry for prestige. She’d rather find true love like the one her parents had. But she is meeting the prince anyway for her mother’s sake.
Sage and Everly aren’t that different from each other because both are thrown into a situation by their parents and/or obligations they’d rather not be in. With two stubborn personalities you never know how this will turn out; it could very well end in a complete disaster.
Thoughts:
I loved Everly’s sassy attitude and Sage’s self-confidence. He definitely swept me right off my feet and I rooted for them both to find a way to be together. Only because he’s a prince didn’t mean all his wishes were going to be fulfilled. He had to work hard for what he wanted and I really enjoyed how the story progressed. There was never a dull moment.
The only teeny tiny thing I was not 100% happy about was the ending. It may be due to the fact that this was originally planned as a novella, but I just felt that the ending didn’t do the rest of the story justice. I can’t really explain it because it still was a very nice ending and there was nothing wrong with it. I just didn’t ‘feel’ it, if you get what I mean. Regardless, the story was brilliant and I enjoyed it to the fullest.
“I wanna be the change.
We can all be kings and queens
If we can just learn to believe
If we can just learn to believe.”
Fly on the Way by Thousand Foot Krutch.
I’m not going to say I loved Sage and Everly’s relationship from the get-go because that would be a lie. And I don’t lie. But what I’m going to tell you is how much I ended up loving them at the end of their journey. How wrong I was to think they were not perfect for each other. How wrong I was to think their relationship was rushed. Because with every turn of the pages, they showed me how perfect they were together. Sage was born to lead a country with Everly by his side.
And is not that the beauty of books? How the authors have the ability to change your mind with her words?
From concerts to sex clubs to the Air Force. Lauren Runow has taken me to different journeys with every book she has written. But it’s this royal journey, the one that consolidates her as one of my favorite authors.
Sparks Fly is far more than a royal romance. This story is passion, it’s pure inspiration. I was there, as a commoner, cheering up for them, feeling everything they were feeling. Wanting to be a part of the change. If my town was a Monarchy and I had the chance to chose a King, it would definitely be Prince Sage Stevinson. Because #ImWithSage
What started out as just a tradition, ended up being the change of a country. A passionate love story that will bring out all the inspirational feelings.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good royal romance with emotions and so much heart. So if you’re looking for that, look no further. Lauren Runow will give you that and more .
Are you ready to be the change?
Sparks Fly was a very different book from the others that I have read by Lauren Runow. I have read them all, so this was a different, but pleasant surprise to read. It is written as a sort of modern day fairy-tale. Once upon a time there was a Prince Sage Stevinson who was destined to be King of Canterbury. His father was King and his mother Queen. Sage was expected to take a wife before his 25th birthday Not just any wife, but one of four eligible bachelorettes with the proper bloodline. The prince was to choose from these four that his father & mother would introduce him to one at a time.
Everly Stanley (Stone Family heir) was the 3rd woman in the line of four choices. There was a questionable fact in her being qualified. Her mother had married a mere commoner and married for love. Everly’s father had died and left her mother destitute. Her mother had to work hard to feed, clothe, and shelter the two of them. This is why her determined goal to have Everly marry a prince and lead a easier life then she. Her mother swears the only way she won’t have to struggle through life is if she marries Prince Sage, the next king of their small island country. Everly does not want to marry the prince. Just like the Prince they choose love. Neither will settle for anything more than someone who lights their world on fire. They were both surprised that when they came together Sparks Fly!
Be the Change….
Another first for me author and this is a fantastic story.
The story of Prince Sage and Everly is a modern day fairy tale with a humanitarian twist, which is just lovely!
Everly wants to be her own person, wants to do what she wants to do and be who she wants to be. When royal dictate puts a monkey wrench in her plans, she wants nothing to do with it. I like her independent spirit and feistiness. What every good princess should be in my opinion.
Sage tries hard to make the world a better place but heavy is the crown that he wears. He bucks traditions and embraces some too and when he meets Everly, well you guessed it Sparks Fly!
I liked how Lauren highlights music into the story and adds the humanitarianism. It makes this story a light, fast paced read that was enjoyable. It was a lovely happily ever after with a modern twist!
Thank you for your words Lauren! Can’t wait to read this author soon!
This story kinda reminded me of The Princess Diaries 2, at least the basic premise. Tiny country run by a monarchy that has outdated “rules” about who the royal family can and cannot marry. Which are SO antiquated but I’m glad that Sage found a way around it and was willing to stand up for himself and his love.
I love that both Everly and Sage weren’t into the arranged marriage deal – can you call it arranged if they ultimately got to choose out of a handful of options? Anyway, you get the point. Everly was going to go to the “meet” with her potential fiancee even though she had NO desire to get married for anything less than love. And Sage didn’t want to either. So you know they were a match made in heaven. Plus how swoony Sage is!!! <3
It’s Prince Sage’s duty to marry before his 25th Birthday. His bride-to-be must be of certain lineage. He has to chose between 4 candidates.
Everly is not thrilled to be one of the candidates, though her mom, sees this opportunity as Everly’s life to take a much higher path than her own. Her mom left royalty behind to marry Everly’s dad, a commoner.
What I really like Everly’s character is that she is comfortable in her own skin. She is her own woman and doesn’t change herself to please anyone not even the King. Which puts her out of the running, not that she cares. She only wants to marry for money.
Through solving a puzzle she gets to know Sage without knowing that it’s really him.
What impressed me about Sage is that he is very dedicated to helping others. Even when he wasn’t allowed to help others in his country due to his father’s idea of what their ‘image’ should he traveled to other country’s to provide help where needed. His greatest dream is to become King and use his time as reign as a period of change for his country and the citizens.
Together Sage and Everly connect on so many levels and you can just invision the many great changes the country will have with them in control. Sage’s father is going to do everything in his power to make sure they do not end up together. Sage is just as determined to prove love can conquer all.
I just want to say that the King is ruthless and Marie is appalling. I also love Sage’s partners in crime, Logan and Joey.
Sparks Fly was a sweet modern day fairy tale romance. Based on a Royal family this was a light easy read. Unwilling to marry for anything other than love the Prince and Everly got to know each other and fell in love. This novel had it all, family drama, humanitarian needs, possible banishment, romance, angst and an HEA ending.
I loved Sage and Everly. They were so well suited and complimented each other. They were both relatable and likable. This story had amazing characters who were able and willing to assist them in making the change needed.
This was a fun read and I enjoyed it.
This is the 2nd book of Lauren’s that I have read and it is different from Last Chance. The characters Everly and Sage are just perfect for each other. They met when Sage was “interviewing” candidates for marriage and Everly was one of the “candidates”! Everly didn’t want to have anything to do with being royalty since she wants to make an impact to the world. Sage finds out who Everly really is and what her passions are. Their relationship has obstacles that must be overcome but they will fight for it and have their HEA! This is a quick and romantic read for those that love sweet and steamy. I can’t wait for the next book from Lauren!
I really enjoyed this book.
It took me a minute to realize that it is set in modern day. At the begining, there was not a lot of reference points to time frame so at I thought it may have been in a time long, long ago. The other thing that kept happening was that I was picturing Chris ~he makes my heart swoon ~ Pine and Anne Hathaway because the writing is so visual – it was as if I was watching the.words come to life as I read.
The characters are developed quickly, the secondary characters helped move the story along and caused me to want to know more about his friends and the situation gives me hope that people are making the world a better place.
This book is one that I would recommend for a lazy weekend. It is a quick and satisfying read.
This is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year! Sage is absolute perfection! Everly is amazing and I love her! Finding the one person who gets you and makes you and your life exactly how you want it to be can get tricky with Royal tradition holding you down to only a handful of people to choose to wed. This story gives us a feel of exactly that. Proving love us worth the fight! I also have to add I love Logan and Joey! The whole time I was reading, I couldn’t help but smile and feel good in my heart. This will be one of my go to books when I want a re-read. Do not hesitate to one click this baby!
“Nothing is what you think. You have to find the truth in everything. At the end, is where we will begin.”
Sparks Fly is my first book by Lauren Runow and I truly wonder why… I can’t believe I haven’t picked up any of her books before. This book truly makes sparks fly!
“Tingles fly down my body at the sound of his voice, but when I see him they feel more like explosions.”
Sparks Fly is a page turner par excellence and totally movie worthy! I just found my new favorite royal couple! Everly and Sage just click. Fate had a wicked way of throwing their lives together and they suddenly find themselves in a whirlwind of a love-story. I just couldn’t get enough of them and I really hope, we get a second book!
“The smile she turns to give me melts more than my heart; it melts my soul.”
Everly is, well … she just is. So content with herself, her dreams and what she wants out of live. She’s not afraid to stand up for herself and what she believes in. And I’m amazed how blindly she trusts Sage right away. And he never proves her wrong.
“This fight is worth it because at the end is where we begin.”
Sage is amazing. I have no other words for him. The way he courts Everly is simply swoon worthy. He’s determined to marry the girl of his dreams that just entered his reality. He goes up and beyond to make his dream come true and isn’t afraid of consequences. Like Everly he knows exactly what he wants out of live and doesn’t shy any challenges.
I believe our real world need more men or in this case princes like Sage.
“The man I never wanted who’s now the man that will give me more than I ever need.”
Sparks Fly has everything a romance readers heart longs for. I just couldn’t put it down and my heart was right along Everly and Sage’s journey.
Oh, and Lauren, if you have time by chance, could you write a book for Joey and Logan as well? <3
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Sparks Fly was amazing! I loved loved it! It is definitely my favorite book by Lauren! This was such a sweet story and a modern fairy tale with a twist! Prince Sage was sexy and swoony, Everly was sassy and awesome! Sage and Everly were perfect together, I loved them! They had amazing chemistry! I loved the secondary characters, Jeannine, Logan and Joey and I’m hoping they will have books also! This is definitely a must read!
Sparks Fly captured me as soon as I read the first few sentences. I haven’t been so gitty reading a story like this in a while and I read a lot. #imforSage all the way and just swooning over this man from beginning to the very end. Everly and her personality is priceless, she will speak her mind and not feel guilty about it. Sage is so much more of a man then what the King wants to portray him as and it goes to show you that you need to stand your ground and fight for what you want in your heart of hearts otherwise what’s the point. I’ve read all of this authors work to date and I must say that THIS story is my favorite one yet. Once I started I couldn’t and didn’t want to put my kindle down. There was laughter, love and even tears shed as I consumed this beautifully written story. You not only need to add this to your TBR list but bump it straight to he too as your next read. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
This was a great feel good book
I had some serious mixed feelings about this book. There were things I really loved and there were things I didn’t like at all. Sparks Fly is definitely a entertaining read that you could easily finish in one sitting. Prince Sage is very lovable and charming. More than that, he does not carry most of the cliches you find in any romance starring a Prince.
I really liked Prince Sage. He was not your typical Prince. He accepted his arranged marriage out of duty and his desire to make his kingdom better. He wanted to be better than his father and help his people strive. I also loved that his humanitarian work as well. When he meets Everly and sees that she’s much like him and not dying to be with him. It makes him intrigued by her even more than he’s already been. Sage has watched Everly for a long time. It was great that for once this wasn’t about a Prince who didn’t want his title or needed a commoner to tell him all the good he could do for his people. He already knew it and Everly had the same aspirations. I also liked that Sage had to prove that he wasn’t a fake, a cheater, or player to Everly.
Everly is a different story for me because I actually didn’t like her at times. I think she was all around great for Sage. There were some things that ended up happening that I didn’t agree with. She gets caught basically having sex in the open with Sage and is almost nonchalant about it and her mother doesn’t even get mad or talk to her about it. But what her mom does talk to her about is an article that compares Everly and a girl named Marie who Sage’s father wants him to marry. What? Are you serious? My parents practically beat my ass when they saw I took a picture of myself in my underwear. So yea there things wrong with her character that drove me crazy.
I will say that the ending of this book was really good and I definitely enjoyed it. I think I have a hard time with books like this. I haven’t been a fan of many books that involve princes who fall for “normal people.” Sage’s character is really great and its what I loved most about this book.
OMG!! Sparks fly within the pages of this story!!!!! The twists and turns kept me swiping page after page wanting to know what happened next.
Prince Sage of Canterbury must marry before the age of 25 and the clock is ticking. Making his predicament even worse is the rules of monarchy. There are only four women that he can choose from because of bloodlines. He wants nothing to do with marriage without love, without the same beliefs.
Everly has led an interesting life. Her bloodline screams aristocracy, by her mother’s choice of love over duty has them living a difficult, challenging life. She has lived a free life, spending much time on a special rock unknowing watched and envied by Prince Sage.
As one of the four acceptable women, Everly goes to lunch with the Royal Family. Prince Sage is very accepting, but the King removes her from the acceptable list. I love a story about forbidden love, and this romance will be forbidden with a capital F.
Prince Sage knows what he wants and he won’t stop until he gets Everly. The author has such a vivid imagination. She came up with some amazing dates, some great adventures. There was no way he couldn’t dazzle Everly.
The King refuses to accept Everly. The King makes demands and expects to be followed. Prince Sage will not listen to anything but his heart. His heart sings loudly. His actions are such a magnificent statement to love a positive future.
Sparks fly on so many different occasions. It was wonderful, swoon worthy.
This is the first time I have read this author and wow I was blown away. The concept alone was brilliant. I loved that while it was a royal book, the one that was royal wasn’t pompous and the heroine didn’t have to put him in his place. The couple just gelled and for that, it made it such a beautiful read!
Everly is a girl who just wants to live her life. The way she carried herself throughout the story was amazing. She is spunky and full of sass and gives as good as she gets, but she also knows when to be the calming force with Sage. Sage is not your typical royal. He wants to make life better for people and with his station he could do so. The fight he has with his father is insane but I adore how Sage stands his ground.
Overall, this was a beautiful story of finding love when you least expect it under such extreme circumstances! The passion and unconditional love that these two share is beautiful. The lengths that Sage has to go to to prove to his father he means business is insane. The sparks really fly in this story, in more ways than one!