Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Striking Sparks
SERIES: Walker Boys #1, Dreamspun Desires #24
AUTHOR: Ari McKay
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 214 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 15, 2016
BLURB:
The stakes are high and the heat is on.
Beau Walker, owner of the Barbecue Shack, needs the help of Jake Parnell, his one-time rival and secret crush, in a televised barbecue competition. Beau is a proud man, but the stakes are high, and smart, sexy Jake is his only hope, even if being around Jake reawakens the attraction he’s fought for years.
Jake left his hometown, determined to build a life somewhere his sexuality wouldn’t hurt his family’s restaurant business—and far away from hunky, obstinate Beau Walker. Then his twin, Josh, is killed, and Jake returns to support his brother’s wife and children. Despite his reservations, he agrees to go head-to-head against Beau on national television. Between stress and grief, as well as pride and determination, only one thing is certain—the heat between Beau and Jake extends well beyond the kitchen.
REVIEW:
This book was so good but so heartwrenching at the same time. I didn’t know half the time whether to cry or shake these boys to get their heads out of their butts. These boys were so frustrating sometimes, but they were so endearing.
All Jake wanted in his life was to live in a town where he could be free to be the gay man he was without fear of bigots or assholes. He also wanted to do that away from the one man who took his breath away and riled him up more than anyone EVER. But life has a way of kicking people in the pants and things don’t turn out the way we want. Jake lost his twin in an accident and he doesn’t even have time to grieve or breathe. All he can do is try to keep his brother’s restaurant going, even though that’s the last thing he wants to do, and try to make sure his sister-in-law and their children from going under. He would do anything for his family. Including moving back to this hick town and running a restaurant he wanted no part of. What makes all this even worse is that Beau Walker needs him for a contest on TV in order to help their restaurants. Jake wants no part of being around Beau. Beau made it perfectly clear how he really feels about Jake, and Jake returned the favor to Beau. Past hurts and miscommunication have led these two to be bitter ‘enemies’, but in order to make sure his family is taken care of he has to suck it up and bite the bullet. But the grief and pressure get to be too much and Jake snaps under the strain. Now they have to figure out how to navigate everything to make everyone happy. And maybe they can be real about how they really feel and have a happily ever after.
If I ever wanted to shake someone…..these boys are so hardheaded. Beau and Jake, basically being the only gay men in this town, come from ‘opposite sides of the tracks’ so to speak. Beau wasn’t the greatest at school and Jake was super smart. The sparks between them were so explosive, but they could never get past needling each other. Truth was, both were scared to death to let their guards down. While Beau was out, Jake was not. And being in a small town full of people who weren’t open minded didn’t help.
My heart broke for for Jake. Trying to be the strong one for everyone when you lose someone is just too much. You never get to grieve or breathe or anything. But what I loved, is in spite of all the bad blood between Beau and Jake, Beau didn’t hesitate to be there for Jake when he needed someone the most. And that made a change.
This is such a good book. I’m not going to lie, you will need tissues. But it’s such a good story of hope and love as well. I hope you guys pick this up if you haven’t yet.
RATING: 
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