Publisher: Pocket Books
Publish Date: Out now
How I got this book: From the publisher
The Larkin sisters are used to hearing whispers behind their backs. Being raised by hippie parents in the small resort town of Barringer’s Pass, Colorado, they were always considered oddballs, and for a while, they did everything they could to earn the name. But now, older and wiser, they’re discovering that it’s not so great to be the wild child, and are struggling to earn a new place for themselves in town.
When Maggie Larkin resists the come-ons of a sleazy actor in town to shoot a film, she pisses off more than a pretty boy and his manager. Turns out that Rafe DeLuca isn’t just a movie star…he’s possibly a killer, and Maggie’s landed herself in more trouble than she could imagine. Enter Cal Drummond, cop extraordinaire, who’s been trailing DeLuca himself for weeks, convinced that his recently murdered sister is one of Rafe’s victims. He’s determined not to let another woman be victimized by the dangerous Rafe, and if that means sticking like glue to Maggie, so be it.
Maggie and Cal seem like perfect opposites, but as we all know…opposites attract!
This blurb came from Goodreads.
Pocket Books is also sponsoring a giveaway along with this review so keep reading to find out how to enter.
When we were offered this book to review I read the blurb and it seemed pretty interesting so I accepted the request. I happen to have a soft spot for characters who are trying to redeem themselves or to distance themselves from their less then stellar behavior in the past. I also liked the thought of a murder mystery and a grieving bound to be overprotective cop. Unfortunately after finishing Silver Sparks I still haven’t decided if I liked the book or not.
I enjoyed seeing the bonds between Maggie and her two sisters along with the relationship between Cal and surviving much younger sister. Each was determined to protect the others and willing to do anything to get revenge on Rafe. But some aspects of the family ties didn’t ring consistent. Maggie mentions that her reputation was an attempt to live up to what people were saying because of her hippie parents, yet she never demonstrated any sense of resentment or strain with her parents when she visited them later in the book. I found that odd because on other occasions she was hurt and humiliated by that same reputation. One of Maggie’s two sisters, Sophie, was raised completely separately so she never painted with the same reputation yet when her professional and personal world fell apart due to the influence of Rafe and his family’s money Sophie didn’t have any reaction except anger and a determination to help expose Rafe for what he was.
As characters Maggie and Cal remained pretty consistent. I could certainly see the personality trait that made Maggie decide to live up to her reputation. I liked seeing how she didn’t just completely flip a switch and become a completely different person when she decided to live respectably. Cal was certainly fixated on Rafe and determined to bring his sister’s killer to justice but based on his behavior I kept thinking that his sister was killed years ago instead of within a month or so. Unfortunately I never connected with either Maggie or Cal so I was never sucked into what they were experiencing. I actually found Cal’s sister more interesting.
Ms Ambrose employed some interesting twists in the murder mystery portion of Silver Sparks but I thought some of the things that happened were a bit too coincidental and tied the threads up too nicely in the later portion of the book. Due to my background reading murder mysteries I personally enjoy getting clues along the way and then having the “aha” moment when the puzzle fits into place.
I give Silver Sparks a C.
Thanks to Pocket Books we have a print copy to giveaway. To enter leave a comment talking about what reality show actor/actress you would most like to meet and what show they are on. This contest will close on Jan 23d with the winner announced on the 24th.
Links to purchase:
I would love to win this Starr Ambrose books. I have read her previous ones and have enjoyed them.
I have never watched a reality show.
This is going to sound crazy, but I would like to meet Snookie from the Jersey Shore..
Thanks for the giveaway!!!
yadkny@hotmail.com
I would like to meet Lisa from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills because she seems very straightforward and funny.
the only reality show i can watch here is The X Factor, and I don’t know any of them :p
but I do hope this is an international giveaway =)
punkme15 at gmail dot com
I would not mind being lost on an island with Jeff Probst the host of SURVIVOR. He’s a bit of a honey.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I would love to meet Simon Crowell. He may be grouchy and mean but he can definitely choose talents.
I’m not much of a reality tv watcher, but if Ghost Hunters is in that genre, I’d love to meet everyone on that show, especially Grant and Jason.
I would love to meet Jeff Probst from Survivor.
I would like to meet anyone who’s competed on The Amazing Race which is one of my favorite races…especially the cowboy duo.
i would love to meet the guys from Supernatural..either or, im not that picky..lol
I don’t watch reality shows. So.. none
I would love to meet Vinny from Jersey shore! the fact that the boy can cook and is so close to his family is the biggestest reason …. oh and he’s cute 🙂
I don’t actually watch tv and I really hate reality tv but I guess I would pick Sharon Osborne because my daughter is crazy about her. I think its called America’s got talent.
Duh, forgot to answer the question. Tom Bergeron – he is a funny host – just love him on DWTS.
I would pick Tom Bergeron from Dancing With the Stars because he is such fun to watch as he wrestles with all the problems of a live show.
Don’t know if this one international or not, but I’ll give it a try.
I rarely watch reality show, but once I watch Dancing with the Stars, and I want to meet w/ Maxim! Maybe dancing with him too =)