The Spark of Love by Amanda Cabot

 

I'm going to be honest, this review may be a little biased because I absolutely love Mesquite Springs and The Spark of Love was the perfect way Cabot could have ended our journey alongside such a dear cast of characters.

The Spark of Love is Cabot's third and final outing to Mesquite Springs and this time readers are given two lead female characters. Alexandra Tarkington, daughter of hotel owner Calvin Tarkington (introduced in the previous visit to Mesquite Springs) and dear Laura Downey who finally gets her own time to shine as well.

One of my favourite things about Cabot's writing is the way she takes themes, plot points, and anecdotes from previous books in a series and weaves them into current stories.  I loved getting the updates on the the townspeople from the main characters Laura and Alexandra through to earlier primary characters like Polly, Evelyn, Dorothy, and Mrs. Lockheart. Even the puppies got an update. This really helps reader immersion and it felt like visiting old friends and catching up after being away. I also felt these moments helped emphasize just how much care Cabot puts into her characters and stories to wrap them up with the storylines they deserve.

So I was pleased to see Laura get a shot at love after two books of heartbreak and it was so worth the wait. I appreciated the patience Cabot gifted Laura's story as neither Laura nor her beau would have been in a place to maintain a healthy relationship in book one. Instead readers see both characters slowly grow, learn, and heal into a place where they can be equal participants balancing, encouraging, and loving each other.

That said, Alexandra is the obvious main character and for the "outsider" in town she manages to hold the story well. 

Those new to Mesquite Springs may find a lot of familiar plot hooks in this series but Cabot hasn't set out to rewrite the genre. Her strength is in tested wisdom, characters that leap off the page and invite you to sit down over pie, romances that make you want to play matchmaker, and plots that wrap up with a completion that makes you want to cheer.

I recommend taking a chance on Mesquite Springs but to get the full breadth of its charm and Cabot's skill do yourself a favour and read all three in their printed order, it's worth the time.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

This book was provided as part of the #RevellReads book tour. The opinions are my own.