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asteroula_t's review
4.0
Fast-paced and emotional read!
Miles and Andrew were my favorite characters. It was definitely Miles' fun side that made me like this book a tad more.
Their interactions even though quite loaded from their past, they were hilarious sometimes.
What I do not enjoy so much with these books, is that everything seems to work out with any situation rather fast.
The characters just wake up and everything is right in the world. It is a way of telling a story, with just a positive vibe all the way through it.
P.s. the 4 stars review is mostly because Miles is a hoot!
Thank you @gayromancereviews for the copy!
Miles and Andrew were my favorite characters. It was definitely Miles' fun side that made me like this book a tad more.
Their interactions even though quite loaded from their past, they were hilarious sometimes.
What I do not enjoy so much with these books, is that everything seems to work out with any situation rather fast.
The characters just wake up and everything is right in the world. It is a way of telling a story, with just a positive vibe all the way through it.
P.s. the 4 stars review is mostly because Miles is a hoot!
Thank you @gayromancereviews for the copy!
dinohakari's review
4.0
What a beautiful ending to a beautiful series. I was waiting for Andrew's book from the very beginning, and at the same time I didn't want it to arrive because of what it meant.
Miles and Andrew met when they were very young, both from abusive homes and lost within the system, and soon fell in love but it all ended when Miles decided to follow a different path than the one they had both first chosen and it was something that Andrew couldn't accept, resenting Miles for years. But then, many years later, he needed his help and Miles saw it as an opportunity to try to bridge the gap between them and make him understand that even though he had chosen a different path, he had never really walked away from Andrew. His feelings were still as strong as before.
And perhaps now, a more mature Andrew, was willing to accept that no matter what job each of them had, there was only one path for the two of them. A path they were destined to travel together.
I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
Miles and Andrew met when they were very young, both from abusive homes and lost within the system, and soon fell in love but it all ended when Miles decided to follow a different path than the one they had both first chosen and it was something that Andrew couldn't accept, resenting Miles for years. But then, many years later, he needed his help and Miles saw it as an opportunity to try to bridge the gap between them and make him understand that even though he had chosen a different path, he had never really walked away from Andrew. His feelings were still as strong as before.
And perhaps now, a more mature Andrew, was willing to accept that no matter what job each of them had, there was only one path for the two of them. A path they were destined to travel together.
I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
jamie_w's review
3.0
This felt like I was reading while on speed. There was very little dialogue. Very little relationship building. There was very little substance here which is a true shame given the history between Miles and Andrew. This was a real missed opportunity to create an impact of two men who were once inseparable, now living very detached lives yet yearning for what they once had. It felt like "how fast can I write this book so I can move on to my next one." It all felt too simple. There was no build up, no angst, no struggle. And the timeline was bonkers. All of the characters were likeable so that wasn't an issue, but there just wasn't much development.
I have a lot of thoughts but it comes down to this, I wanted more emotion and I didn’t get it.
I have a lot of thoughts but it comes down to this, I wanted more emotion and I didn’t get it.
kaitlin_durante's review
5.0
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Crushed But Not Defeated by Nicole Dykes is the final book in the Spark of Hope series. Andrew has been helping everything work through their relationship problems and trauma for years. He has never focused on himself but when a boy needs help and protection he and his ex-best friend and lover Miles must work together to make a safe space for Evan. Miles has always wanted to be back in Andrew’s good graces but has struggled to make headway. It isn’t until the two are brought together to help Evan heal that they learn they may be able to heal their relationship as well.
Andrew has been a character you’ve wanted a HEA for throughout the series. He has always put all his energy into helping his found family find happiness that his own needs have been suffering. He knows he needs to help Evan and is frustrated that the help can only work if Miles is involved. He doesn’t trust Miles after their past but Miles is insistent that there is more to him than flash and money. Andrew is forced to realize that maybe his preconceived notions about Miles are built from a place of hurt and then questions his own worth in their relationship. Luckily Miles isn’t willing to give up that easily.
I wonder if I’m the only one who’s actually seen Andrew lose control. It’s a beautiful sight, and I want that to be true.
Miles wants Andrew’s forgiveness and to see if they can approach the future together. He becomes invested in Evan from the start and knows that he needs these men in his life and as his family. Miles is willing to be patient and let Andrew work through their past. He knows they can be so good together if just given a chance.
I want everything with him. I want to build a life together. But as usual, I guess we’re going to take the scenic route. Fine by me. I’ll never give up.
Spark of Hope has been an emotional ride but so worth it. Andrew and Miles are the perfect low angst end to this series. Although they have trauma from their past and are helping Evan work through his recent experiences, the story still moves swiftly and cohesively. I was pleasantly surprised by Miles’s sweet side and his fierce protectiveness of his new family. Although I am sad to see this series end, I really enjoyed this finale.
4.5 stars for Andrew and Miles using the past as a stepping stone to a bright future.
Crushed But Not Defeated by Nicole Dykes is the final book in the Spark of Hope series. Andrew has been helping everything work through their relationship problems and trauma for years. He has never focused on himself but when a boy needs help and protection he and his ex-best friend and lover Miles must work together to make a safe space for Evan. Miles has always wanted to be back in Andrew’s good graces but has struggled to make headway. It isn’t until the two are brought together to help Evan heal that they learn they may be able to heal their relationship as well.
Andrew has been a character you’ve wanted a HEA for throughout the series. He has always put all his energy into helping his found family find happiness that his own needs have been suffering. He knows he needs to help Evan and is frustrated that the help can only work if Miles is involved. He doesn’t trust Miles after their past but Miles is insistent that there is more to him than flash and money. Andrew is forced to realize that maybe his preconceived notions about Miles are built from a place of hurt and then questions his own worth in their relationship. Luckily Miles isn’t willing to give up that easily.
I wonder if I’m the only one who’s actually seen Andrew lose control. It’s a beautiful sight, and I want that to be true.
Miles wants Andrew’s forgiveness and to see if they can approach the future together. He becomes invested in Evan from the start and knows that he needs these men in his life and as his family. Miles is willing to be patient and let Andrew work through their past. He knows they can be so good together if just given a chance.
I want everything with him. I want to build a life together. But as usual, I guess we’re going to take the scenic route. Fine by me. I’ll never give up.
Spark of Hope has been an emotional ride but so worth it. Andrew and Miles are the perfect low angst end to this series. Although they have trauma from their past and are helping Evan work through his recent experiences, the story still moves swiftly and cohesively. I was pleasantly surprised by Miles’s sweet side and his fierce protectiveness of his new family. Although I am sad to see this series end, I really enjoyed this finale.
4.5 stars for Andrew and Miles using the past as a stepping stone to a bright future.
alexisisreading's review against another edition
3.0
This was a nice ending to the whole Spark of Hope series, Andrew and Miles had been previously teased in the previous books and it was clear they had a bit of animosity for one another.
I loved the second chance romance aspect of Andrew and Miles’ relationship, but I do wish we got to see them slowly begin to rekindle their relationship, instead it went from 0 to 100 real quick. I usually never say this but I kind of wish the book had been longer? There were a lot of good tropes and the story itself of why Andrew and Miles were even back in contact with each other was interesting enough, I just felt like everything happened way too quickly.
I loved the second chance romance aspect of Andrew and Miles’ relationship, but I do wish we got to see them slowly begin to rekindle their relationship, instead it went from 0 to 100 real quick. I usually never say this but I kind of wish the book had been longer? There were a lot of good tropes and the story itself of why Andrew and Miles were even back in contact with each other was interesting enough, I just felt like everything happened way too quickly.
tdl2188's review
5.0
This book is soo good. I love how fast Miles is there to be Andrew "boyfriend" so they can get Evan out of a group home. Even though Andrew is very resistant at first i am so happy he ends up letting his heart do the talking not his head. Such a great book
liza5326's review
5.0
This series has been such an emotional roller coaster. How can it not when it focuses on trauma and healing? I have been dying for Andrew’s story since the beginning and it made the absolute perfect way to end this wonderful series. Andrew didn’t always make the best decisions, but he made the right ones in the end. Miles was infinitely patient with him, never judging him for the way he treated him in the past. And they both made amazing fathers for Evan.
monanava123's review
4.0
Andrew’s story is finally here and you guessed it, it’s with Miles!!!! These two were always so tense around each other in prior books that I knew something was up. For these two, their biggest enemy was their own stubbornness. They spent YEARS apart because they were too stubborn to talk it out and when Roman and Ben forced Andrew to see that, there was a complete 180. Everything flowed easily in this book and between Miles and Andrew. Add in the insta love and protectiveness over Evan, the teen in the prior book that was silently screaming for help, and we have an insta family!
Although there are a few rough topics in this book that deal with child neglect, the teen’s trauma after killing his dad and being abandoned by his mom, and some others this book is fairly light and a quick read.
It really is a nice wrap up and a goodbye to the series. We are caught up on all the past couples’ lives and where they are at now and we see how their lives are still all interconnected. I have a feeling people will say that the book wrapped up too nicely and that some processes were made to sound too easy but Nicole addresses these in her Authors Note at the end.
Overall I’m happy with the way it ended and it was an easy read in between angsty books.
“But as usual, I guess we’re going to take the scenic route. Fine by me. I’ll never give up. Not on him. Or on us.”
Although there are a few rough topics in this book that deal with child neglect, the teen’s trauma after killing his dad and being abandoned by his mom, and some others this book is fairly light and a quick read.
It really is a nice wrap up and a goodbye to the series. We are caught up on all the past couples’ lives and where they are at now and we see how their lives are still all interconnected. I have a feeling people will say that the book wrapped up too nicely and that some processes were made to sound too easy but Nicole addresses these in her Authors Note at the end.
Overall I’m happy with the way it ended and it was an easy read in between angsty books.
“But as usual, I guess we’re going to take the scenic route. Fine by me. I’ll never give up. Not on him. Or on us.”
stephreviewsbooks's review
5.0
Andrew has been the pinnacle of this series and we finally get to hear his story. I was expecting Miles to be the baddy in the story; the rich, sexy suit-wearing lawyer, who was going to hurt Andrew. Spoiler alert: neither are baddies. This is a story of rekindled love, miscommunication and second chances. It's a humbling tale with two incredible men stepping up to help a child from a life not unlike their own. The subject matter is angsty but the story itself isn't, it has a calmness, which is perfect when trying to be calm and strong around a skittish child. The scenes between Andrew and Miles take a while because they have history to sort out but they are incredibly sexy together. The intensity between them is incredible once they finally voice their feelings. Miles and Andrew are trying their best to help Evan and Oliver work through their trauma. Naturally, Andrew knows the drill; combining his personal experience with his professional training. Miles surprises himself that he is able to help the boys. He uses his own experiences to guide him and it highlights that despite him being successful and a well adjusted adult, the trauma doesn't fully leave you. This book concludes the series. All the characters came together in this book and that gave us closure. The whole series has been 5 stars and one of those series that has a profound effect on the reader. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
jacqueleenthereadingqueen's review
5.0
"Miles and I met young and bonded hard over that simple fact - we had to take care of ourselves because the people who should have loved us the most didn't"
I've been eagerly awaiting the last book in the Spark of Hope series for quite some time. Though I'm sad this series is finished, I am ecstatic that I finally got to see Andrew get his HEA. Andrew has been present in all of the books in this series. He's the man who started it all, the one who formed the Spark of Hope trauma support group in the first place. We see him throughout each of the books being a shoulder to lean on, the man to come to for advice, and even just an ear to listen. He's an incredible human being who's made it his mission to make the world a better place despite the circumstances of his upbringing. That's always been his plan ever since he was a kid. Well one thing was different. When he was a kid his best friend Miles was included in his plan...until Miles confessed his plans had changed and then everything else changed as well.
I loved how Miles and Andrew's story unfolded. It was obvious to all that these two still had strong feelings for each other, even if it tended to manifest in different ways. There was a lot of hurt left over from their past. Mistakes were made. But when push came to shove and Andrew needed someone Miles showed up. He showed up big time. Seeing these two come together to help someone in need made it clear what a great team they made. Watching them fall deeper in love and become a family made it even clearer. I truly believe these two were meant to be and I enjoyed everything about them finding their way to happiness together.
"I don't care about the past. I just want the future with you."
PS: I just want to add how much I appreciate the author and how they handled the difficult topics this series dealt with. There were many different types of trauma portrayed along with many different ways of coping with said traumas. There's no right way to heal from something that has traumatized a person and what helps one may not help another. Mental health is one of the most important things we as humans can work on and I believe Nicole Dykes did this series justice on that front. So thank you.
I've been eagerly awaiting the last book in the Spark of Hope series for quite some time. Though I'm sad this series is finished, I am ecstatic that I finally got to see Andrew get his HEA. Andrew has been present in all of the books in this series. He's the man who started it all, the one who formed the Spark of Hope trauma support group in the first place. We see him throughout each of the books being a shoulder to lean on, the man to come to for advice, and even just an ear to listen. He's an incredible human being who's made it his mission to make the world a better place despite the circumstances of his upbringing. That's always been his plan ever since he was a kid. Well one thing was different. When he was a kid his best friend Miles was included in his plan...until Miles confessed his plans had changed and then everything else changed as well.
I loved how Miles and Andrew's story unfolded. It was obvious to all that these two still had strong feelings for each other, even if it tended to manifest in different ways. There was a lot of hurt left over from their past. Mistakes were made. But when push came to shove and Andrew needed someone Miles showed up. He showed up big time. Seeing these two come together to help someone in need made it clear what a great team they made. Watching them fall deeper in love and become a family made it even clearer. I truly believe these two were meant to be and I enjoyed everything about them finding their way to happiness together.
"I don't care about the past. I just want the future with you."
PS: I just want to add how much I appreciate the author and how they handled the difficult topics this series dealt with. There were many different types of trauma portrayed along with many different ways of coping with said traumas. There's no right way to heal from something that has traumatized a person and what helps one may not help another. Mental health is one of the most important things we as humans can work on and I believe Nicole Dykes did this series justice on that front. So thank you.