Foxylutely Books!: Book Tour with excerpts and review

Saturday, 19 April 2014

Book Tour with excerpts and review - Spark by Jennifer Ryder

Title: Spark

Author: Jennifer Ryder

Genre: Erotic Romance/ Romantic Suspense

Publication Date: February 28, 2014

Tour Host: Dreams Come True Promotions

Not many people know that I, Eevie Lawson, have a problem. An addiction to romance novels. I eat them for breakfast. I hide it the best I can, but I need them to breathe. It’s how I cope.

I’ve had a swag of book boyfriends, but now that I’m free from the responsibility of caring for my three younger brothers, it’s time to find one in the flesh.

In real life, no girl meets their hero on page one, or even at the end of chapter one. I should know.

My journey is real. It’s not perfect, and it sure as hell isn’t easy—but the fight for something worthwhile never is.

Foxy Rating = Four Stars

*Copy provided by the author in exchange for my honest review for the blog tour

This is the debut novel of author Jennifer Ryder and what an amazing debut it is.

The story follows through Eevie’s coming of age, leading up to her twenty first birthday and the struggles and trepidation she went through to get there. Through family responsibilities, Eevie has been held back on her young adulthood but now with things at home improved she is able to flee the nest and take her first steps into her own independence and start living her life. The book starts as Eevie has moved into her own apartment with her friend Chrystal.

I must say I did find the first third of the book a little slow but in hindsight it was a required input so the reader got a full understanding of who Eevie was and what she had gone through. I liked that it did not make her out to be a repressed and wounded soul but actually celebrated the strong woman she turned out to be because of it.

Her difficulty with her best friend Ian, and how the relationship change was forced upon her was an eye opener, especially his ‘condition’ – that was a first for me to read in a new adult book! I liked how you could actually see how Eevie was aging and all the effed up stuff being thrown at her added strength to her persona. When she seemed to get over one thing another was thrown at her, so having come to terms with what happened with Ian, she went through the craziness that Alex landed on her. I must say for one so young she went through some tough challenges in such a short space of time!

However the story took on a different feel when we got to Aiden. He was just a delight to devour reading – from his spiky dark hair to his twinkling eyes to his toned abs, he was a new book boyfriend to love. Wouldn’t we all love our book boyfriends to become real like Eevie’s ‘Braydens et al’ did? I certainly would! What I loved about Aiden was he wasn’t made out to be some hot guy with a hidden past that made him out to be some kind of dirt bag. Yes he had ‘father’ issues but he didn’t let it affect who he was to become. He was a normal hot guy. Yay!

I loved how the reader was fed little teasers to entice you in to the fabulousness that was to come with the pairing. You could see the development of Eevie and Aiden from the beginning and its gradual build up from the ‘spark’ to the sizzling sexiness that Aiden brought out. The scenes with his bike and the car bonnet? Whoo hoo - steamilicous baby!

Not all of the book is all sexiness, sweetness and light, there are elements of angst and disquiet, especially in one part around Dean and the depths he sank to when he carried out a vile act against Eevie. That was a sensitive subject to cover and how it would impact on her relationship with Aiden but it was skilfully tackled. I did breathe a sigh of relief when the outcome was revealed.

The book just got better the further I read through it and overall it was a four star read for me and I can’t wait to read the next in the series, Spike. A brilliant debut for Ms Ryder.

A sexy imagination, a life-long love of books and a sucker for romance, Jennifer Ryder couldn't stifle her creativity any longer.

Writing steamy adult romance has become her new focus. Living on a rural property in New South Wales, Australia, she enjoys the best of city and country.

Her loving husband is ever willing to provide inspiration, and her two young cherubs, and sheep that don't see fences as barriers, keep life more than interesting.

Favourite cuisine would have to be Japanese, although I’ll eat anything besides broad beans.
I was a champion ‘speller’ in primary school. Yes. I’m a nerd.
I have skydived, and loved it, but now having kids I would never do it again.
I married my first love, and have been together 16 years.
Favourite drink? BIG toss up between coffee and vodka, but seeings I have to be coherent most of the time, coffee it is.
I only ever eat cheeseburgers when I am hungover.
I believe coke and cheeseburgers are the best hangover cure.
I once worked as a Security Guard.
I once fell asleep with my eyes open, working as a Security guard. True Story.
I know how to use the jaws of life, being trained in motor vehicle accident rescue as a previous member of the State Emergency Services.
I am addicted to romance novels. Without question.
I have a thing for tall, dark and handsome.
I have a thing for boys on bikes.
I love chocolate, but my addiction can be satisfied with just a square (this drives my girlfriend’s nuts).
I can ride a dirt bike (seriously).
I failed my first driving exam BIG time, and it was enough to keep me away for two years before trying again.
I never liked Barbies. Still don’t.
I got married in a little white chapel on top of a hill on Hamilton Island, Australia.
I do have too many book boyfriends to count.
I always have to have my toenails painted, otherwise they just look wrong!