Sting

Speechless. Not in a bad way though. It has taken me two days after reading this to be able to breath and get my thoughts into a somewhat coherent sentence.

Sting is the way a book is supposed to be. It draws you in and captures you and just when you think Ryan Clark will let you go, that hold tightens. With each page it gets more and more intense. I won't lie, there were tears. By the end of it, I was left blinking and staring at my screen and the only words I could muster were "what the fudge did I just read?" Again, that is a good reaction not bad. The only bad thing about Sting? Was that it ended. Whatever you think you know about Ryan Clark, prepare to have your mind blown!

Love love loved it.

It's no secret that I was eagerly awaiting Ryan's book, when I was first introduced to Cassie's brother in Spike I was intrigued, sure I know Aiden was the hero but I couldn't help being swept up by the charming police Detective, his innate need to protect and serve had me wrapped around his little finger. When he was came to the surface again in Strike , it only fuelled my hunger for this sexy leading man, his kinky side only further served to intrigue me.

I was excited for this book, eager to know more about his life, and I wasn't disappointed. Willow Asher has been through hell and back, after surviving more pain and hurt than anyone ever should she's finally free to start to live her life again, with the help of Gabby her business partner, Willow has carved out her place in the town she now calls home, as far as she's come from the girl who left everything she knew behind two years ago, she's still not ready to move on and find someone new, to let someone in and to trust a man again. When Ryan Palmer comes walking into to her café wanting a coffee Willow has no idea that her life is about to change.

Detective Ryan Clark is undercover posing as a fisherman in a small coastal township, as Ryan Palmer he is the smooth, charming, new man in town. Waltzing into a busy café for his much needed caffeine hit, he stumbles upon Willow, feeling an instant attraction Ryan is suddenly caught by knowing he should stay away and simultaneously wanting to know more about the beguiling blonde haired beauty.

Where the previous books in the Spark series have been fast and action packed, Sting is set at a slower pace, Willow has been burnt in the past and forced to move away from everything she knew and loved, starting over as someone new, and Ryan lives his life pretending to be someone else, these two characters have so much to hide, but despite trying desperately at times to stay away from one another, their soul deep connection, and intense attraction proves impossible to halt.

What I loved so much in Sting was the sheer strength and protective nature Ryan shows, his need to prove to Willow that not all men will hurt her is endearing, his ability to give her love in a way that her trauma riddled mind can accept is endearing. All four leading characters have pasts and baggage, in it's most simple description Sting is a story of second chances, of love and of overcoming past hurts to find yourself on the other side. Where Ryan seems like the alpha in this budding relationship, it's Willow's quiet strength, the courage of her convictions and even her vulnerability that had me so enamoured with her. With quirky best friend Gabby, and Ryan's partner Mick, Ryder once again proves that she can seamlessly create an ensemble cast of characters that grab you by the collar and demand your attention. Going from strength to strength, Jennifer Ryder has me in a state of reading readiness, awaiting my next trip into her world.