Book review: WHEN SPARKS FLY, by Monica Murphy

This was a sweet, easy romance read with lovely character growth! For me, Monica Murphy is the queen of YA romances, but this one didn’t have quite the same spark as previous ones. Maybe it’s because the characters are older — 22 and 29 — or because the plot is more linear, with most of the angst coming from side characters who will clearly get their own book next. Still, I enjoyed it a lot, especially Wyatt and Rachel.

Rachel starts off as a pampered New York girl who’s been humiliated by a charming British jerk, and she escapes to her family’s house in California to hide and breathe. A small accident (okay… a fire) brings Wyatt, the local fire captain, into her life. He thinks she’s clueless, and honestly, she kind of is — but she owns her mistakes, and that’s what made me like her from the start.

What really won me over was Rachel’s growth. Cut off financially and stranded in a small town, she takes a job at a local restaurant, works hard, makes friends, and slowly proves to herself that she’s capable. Watching her flourish was my favorite part of the book.

Wyatt is a single dad with a sweet daughter and emotional scars. Their romance builds slowly, with both of them fighting their feelings because they know summer won’t last forever. There’s some small‑town jealousy, some family tension, and one big life‑changing event that shakes everything up.

Even though the story didn’t have the usual Murphy magic for me, it was still warm, charming, and full of heart. Rachel and Wyatt are easy to root for, and Rachel’s journey from sheltered to strong made the whole book worth it.

Purchase links

FREE with Kindle Unlimited

https://bit.ly/3Mt4Uqb

Audible: https://bit.ly/48LYKd6

Narrated by: Tor Thom & Kelsey Navarro Foster

Paperback: https://geni.us/IuaekK8

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4oCZJRR

About the author

Monica Murphy is a New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere, along with their four cats and one crazy dog. She's a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to sometimes putting her characters through tough, angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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