Review: Spark by Brigid Kemmerer

                                  Book: Spark (Elemental #2) by Brigid Kemmerer
                                  Pages: 345
                                  Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
                                  Source: Sent from Kensington Teen

Short Synopsis: Gabriel Merrick has a soft spot for fires. He can literally control and manipulate fires. But when the town starts having multiple fire fires, all signs point to Gabriel as the culprit. Can Gabriel get out of this mess and prove his innocence?

My Thoughts: Another awesome read by Brigid Kemmerer. I've become addicted to her writing style, and the series!

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.
Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.
More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.
Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.
The fuse is lit…
--From Goodreads

Wow. A very emotional read with this one. Gabriel Merrick is your typical bad boy type that has trouble written all over him at every corner. Though Gabriel has a very difficult power to control, he is often misrepresented as someone who doesn't care about consequences or outcomes. I loved reading the fact that even though Gabriel does have a certain appearance, on the inside, he is still very caring, and doesn't put up with other individuals bullying others. Kemmerer does an excellent job of disliking the characters Ryan and Taylor, as they become the main bullies in Layne and Simon's lives. 

In this novel, we meet a new character named Layne, who is also very troubled. She has scars from a past fire accident that she was involved in, a deaf brother who is constantly picked on, and is treated as a social outcast at school, and parents who really aren't always around. When the two meet, it isn't on the best of terms. Yet both can't seem to stay away from each other, and are always seeking the other out. 

As problems start to arise in town, we find that Gabriel is more caring about the current situation going on, and with his affinity for fire, decides to take control to warn and help others in the fires. I found it a bit odd, that he wouldn't let his family in on what he was doing, even if what he was doing was a good thing. 

I loved reading how even though Layne and Gabriel are from completely different families, they still managed to come together through helping Layne's brother, and through tutoring Gabriel. The ending was also a surprise as Kemmerer writes with such suspense and mystery and had me completely fooled as to who the actual culprit really was. All in all, a very different, emotional, and heartwarming read in this latest installment. I definitely can't wait to read the next one.

Would I recommend this book: Yes

Rating: I give this book a 4.5/5.