The Spark and the Drive by Wayne Harrison | Rating: ★★★★☆When I received an ARC of this novel my first initial thought was that I love the title of it and I love that it’s something different from what I usually buy or receive. I couldn’t wait to crack into it because the promising storyline was very present in my mind and it looked to be a fun and thoughtful read, which is everything we can ask for in a good story.
It didn’t disappoint me and I definitely recommend checking it out on its release date: July 15th 2014. The Spark and the Drive draws us in with love, tragedy and betrayal. It offers us a reminder of first loves, first real experiences of adulthood and the life and times of a young man (Justin) who is, like most teenagers, searching for something real in his life. And we see the light in this kids life as he gains experience with working side by side with one of the best mechanics.
Friendships bloom and romance falls into place. Broken homes are explored in depth. Decisions are made and hearts are broken — perhaps not in the way you’d think. And by the end of this novel, it will have destroyed you in the best of ways.
Harrison brings you into this world with great detailing and a thoughtful narration. He shows us a setting in the 1980s, but doesn’t let the setting cross into what the story really means. Seeing as the novel takes place with the world of auto repair, you may learn a little bit about cars and you certainly don’t have to be interested in mechanics to enjoy this story. There are many plot points within this piece of work that may have gone sour by any other writer, but Wayne Harrison does a beautiful job at stirring it all together and not letting one simple thing define the story.
