Title: Enduring the Wild Sparks
Series: Wild Sparks Series
Author: Ren Alexander
Release Date: April 26th
Hadley Beckett has a long way to go on the road to redemption, which is heartbreaking and unforgiving. As she continues to recover, her family and friends rally around her, each having their own idea about how to help Hadley heal, as honest or misguided they may be.
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My Rating:
Favorite Quotes:
“You sure picked up the wrong kid at the hospital. That one doesn’t have horns or cloven hooves. You’d better take him back before they figure it out.”
“What already? You’re killing me faster than a mosquito at a nude beach.”
“Do you need a tissue for your issue? A towel for your scowl?”
“I don’t spy. I’m just very observant. If you watch life happening in the present, you won’t miss it.”
“‘Wait just one hot minute. Stop the bench presses! That isn’t the kind of smile I was expecting to see from you, Dashiell!’ Victor gasps and his hand goes to his chest. ‘Merciful Lord of living creatures, you two are making sweet, magical, passionate love together, aren’t you?’”
“This kid needs a diaper change and a cigarette, as much as he’s been manhandled by women in the last five minutes.”
“Believe me. I’m sensitive. I got my junk waxed Saturday. I’m raw like Eddie Murphy, but smoother than a porn star.”
“I’m hollow, just existing through the day, but sitting here with you, I’m whole.”
My Review:
Finally! After what felt like years of anticipation while anxiously awaiting the arrival of this highly coveted missive, I pounced on and devoured this tome with the greediness of a yo-yo dieter at the all you can eat seafood buffet. Enduring The Wild Sparks immediately resumes where Igniting The Wild Sparks left off, and I was surprised by the ease in which I was catapulted back into the vortex of Hadley’s plight with a sense of devastation, loss, and betrayal. She is wrecked, floundering, and haunted. And she remains that way to varying degrees throughout this installment, although she occasionally made attempts to redirect herself and demonstrated brief periods of improvement... she just can’t seem to get it right. I compare her to a poor navigator with faulty GPS; she generally squandered her time and energy and ended up taking one wrong road after another… all while ignoring the big flashing road signs and helpful map books in the glove compartment.
The plot was well paced and full of twists, curves balls, and surprising revelations. The writing was superb, insightful, unpredictable, entertaining, and well detailed. I often found my cold heart in my throat and I was frequently oblivious to my environment for long periods of time while reading, which was brought to my attention by a pouting husband who huffed his complaint of being totally ignored and having to fend for himself. So plan ahead - or lock your doors - to avoid undue whining and the inconsiderate interruptions from family members demanding to be watered and fed.
In sum, Enduring The Wild Sparks was devastating and heart squeezing, yet not maudlin; full of nuanced, quirky and unique characters who were well drawn and fully inhabited; and laced with Ms. Alexander’s own brand of snarky humor and steamy sensual scenes that had me yelping and my kindle smokin’. Nirvana! However, completing this review has me currently tapping my index finger on my desk and already feeling an intense yen for the next book of Sparks… but when it comes to an addictive story with excellent writing and memorable characters, I tend to be greedy like that.
Empress DJ
Ren Alexander was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, but grew up in a nearby tiny, historical, college town in the Northern Panhandle of the state. She graduated from West Liberty University, where she received a B.S. in criminal justice. Although interested in that field, her true passion was reading and writing. She currently lives in Detroit, Michigan with her husband, two daughters and three cats. "Chasing the Wild Sparks" is Ren's first novel.
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