This is why I love Melissa Brayden! She creates interesting characters and places them in situations that keep me riveted page after page. I loved this romance between the number one and number two female pro surfers and I think you will too.

While it's above a lot of f/f books I've seen till now, I got a bit tired of the....formula? It just felt the same as I've read the book before and before. I enjoyed first and second one more and then it just got repetitive.

A fantastic addition to a fantastic series. Both Elle and Gia were very likeable and relatable characters, their chemistry sizzled and jumped off the pages. The romantic storyline was very well paced with a healthy dose of competition between the two leads. I was really invested in their story and rooting for both of them to succeed. An excellent read.

There’s something about surf related books that I find very enticing. The sport itself, being one with the water and the board... This book was a great read! Gia and Ellen had a lot of chemistry and I loved their interactions! It was everything I was hoping this book would be and more! I can’t wait to read other books of this author.

Once again an absolutely stunning romance from Melissa Brayden! The shifting perspectives flowed together effortlessly, each character had a very distinctive voice and I was totally invested in both of them - individually and as a couple - by the end of the second chapter. The only reason this isn't a five star is due to the way sex is treated: at first I was convinced that would be asexual; all the signs pointed towards it but then it took a swift turn and changed direction. The connection between them was 100% believable and I loved every page but the connotation of someone who doesn't like sex being 'broken' slightly spoiled the book for me. Overall the plot was incredible and I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Sparks Like Ours was a fresh and fun book to read, very quick and simple too, which made it so easy to be one of those books you finish in one day. I loved the surf theme of the book and I fell in love with Gia and Elle. I only found out it was part of a series when I finished the book, but it can easily be read as a standalone.
I love the "girls supporting other girls" that goes in this book, I love how they're family to each other and how close the friendships were.
I also liked how the author dealt with the discover and compreention of the characters sexuality, and how the romance took its own time, becoming that slow burn we cheer so hard to end well.
It's the kind of read that warms the heart, makes you laugh and cry and fall in love with it's characters and the story itself. Highly recomend!

This is the first book that I have read by Melissa Brayden, and my first thought was that it contained a disproportionate amount of gay people. But she writes really well and I enjoyed the read. 💕

The story follows two world-class surfers, Gia Malone and her main rival Elle Britton. It's about their attraction to each other, after their agents throw them together for an advertising campaign, and how their relationship affects both of their careers.

It's a fun and lovely romance story, and is worth a read.

I really enjoyed this book and mentioned it when recording an upcoming episode of Wicked Wallflowers podcast!

I have really enjoyed all of Brayden's books. I was more excited when I first began reading her books and would preorder, and start them the day they were available. I am not that reader anymore, but I still enjoy them a great deal. I have liked each book in this series more than the last. I still do not feel like this group compares to the Soho group, but I liked this book the best. I enjoyed catching glimpses of some of our favorites from her other books, and look forward to more that in the next one. This book was an easy uncomplicated romance, with some pretty hot scenes, some humors moments and of course great dialogue. I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to the final book in the series.

Gia Malone and Elle Britton are both elite surfers who have competed against each other for years. Brayden does a good job immersing us into the world of surfing. I actually found myself wanting more of it.. As she has done in the past, the author builds up the developing attraction between the two leads wonderfully. Just as their relationship is taking off, however, Gia and Elle find their standings start to fall. They start to weigh their feelings for each other against their ambitions. A few of the secondary plot lines didn't seem necessary, such as when a sponsor reveals sabotaging Gia's vehicle to get the women closer to each other. Also, you only briefly meet their coaches, which could have been explored further. Being more self-contained could have benefited the book in many ways.

I loved the chemistry between the two and felt there could have been a better way to end the story. Somehow, it wasn't as good as Brayden's previous ones.. It seemed like Gia and Elle had to sacrifice wanting to be at the top of their profession in order to be together. Even though they weren't surfing with the best results, correlation is not causation. Challenging each other to be better is something I feel could have been maintained at the end of the story. Maybe have them be apart but ultimately realize that they love each other too much to let the other go.

"Sparks Like Ours" reminds me of Brayden's previous work "First Position." In the latter, Brayden did a great job having Ana and Natalie challenge and make each other better dancers. The cherry on top is that the world of ballet is set up beautifully. I wish the same happened for Sparks Like Ours. Also, Gia reminds me of Hunter from "Just Three Words." Brayden is a very good writer. I hope she writes more mature relationships like she did with Emory and Sarah in "Heartblock." Still, "Sparks Like Ours" is a solid story and a worthwhile read.

Unfortunately for a writer of Brayden's character, I would expect more.

This book completely lacked depth, perhaps highlighted by the great opportunity presented by the surfing background.

The characters were sweet but not overly believable in any of their convictions.

This is the third book in the Seven Shores romance series. Although this book is part of a series, one could read it as a standalone book. The series deals with the lives of four good friends. In Sparks Like Ours we learn more about Gia, a professional surfer.

Gia is currently ranked number two in the world and has a highly competitive relationship with the number one ranked woman, Elle Britton. Although Gia and Elle have met in competition for several years, they really don't know each other. It is when they are pushed into working together in a marketing campaign, that they discover their mutual attraction. There is only one drawback - Ellie is straight, or at least she thinks she is.

This is a book with an excellent plot and all the characters are well-developed. Readers will enjoy the interactions among the women, as well as the surfing action that takes place throughout the book. Although I am not a surfer, I thoroughly appreciated learning about surfing and the physical demands placed upon an individual who is competing at a high level.

I highly recommend this book. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

I was given this ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

It's Gia's turn in the Seven Shores Romance series.

She's #3 in the surfing world and when she wins a tournament suddenly she's number two, and she's only looking up at the number one, Elle.

They've always been very different people when it came to out of the water stuff, but, when a chip maker comes up with an ad campaign for both of them to do together, and then Gia's Jeep breaks down and Elle gives her a ride. The romance suddenly has just a few sparks. Will they be able to get a full blown fire going from them though? That's the question.

From there they get closer and closer. It's in fits and starts because 1) they're competitors, and, 2) Elle is straight seeming at the beginning of the book. The first one of those reasons was what interested me the most because I'm not sure that I've read a lesfic where the two women falling in love were quite so specifically competing for the same thing. And so I really wondered how Brayden would resolve that part of the book (I was pretty sure I knew how the romance would end).

The end wasn't my favorite part of the book unfortunately, but, it wasn't bad, just only good. And I assume that there's another book in the series since Hadley has to get her girl.

It wasn't my favorite book of the series thus far, but, I really liked the surfing descriptions and the characters were pretty awesome as usual.

I was given this ARC by Netgalley on behalf of Bold Strokes Books.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy. This is the first book that I have read by Melissa Brayden. This is not the usual type of books that I read. It is the first one of this type that I have read. Gia is a world class surfer who is looking to become the top surfer. Love steps in and side tracks her. This was an interesting read. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants something different to read.

I love Melissa Brayden. Let's just get that out of the way. Her writing style is funny, the dialogue is snappy, and her characters are lovable, realistic and just wonderful. This is the case for every book I've read from her, and this one is among them.

I wasn't aware that this was book number 3 in a series, and I was unsure if I should read the two previous ones before this. I didn't, and that worked too.

This book is sweet, funny, angsty and all over romantic. To be recommended!

ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a Brayden fan, but for some reason this series isn’t sitting as well with me as the Soho series did. I had the same issues with this one as I did with book two, in that the four friends are way too ‘cutesy’ in their banter with each other, and they all sound exactly the same. It made scenes with the four of them tiresome rather than sweet.

As for the pairing, I liked both Gia and Elle, and enjoyed their romance. It unfolded slowly and seemed realistic (both ups and downs) and the supporting characters on Elle’s side were both good.

There was just something about the book though that didn’t gel, maybe it was the friends stuff, and all the cute little get-togethers (like the Ms Pac-Man and ice-cream stuff), or it could have been the surfing talk (I’m not a fan and found it a little boring) but whatever it was I just didn’t love this. I was also annoyed that Mallory from the Soho books showed up, I get that she’s in advertising and they were doing an ad campaign but it’s a stretch to make me believe that a boutique ad company from New York would be doing that campaign. Hunter also gets a mention in a very weak and unnecessary tie-in to Gia that the book also could have done without.

I feel like if this had been a stand-alone rather than part of this series I would have liked it more. It’s a nice read, but not my favourite Brayden. I am looking forward to Hadley’s book though, she’s been my favourite character throughout.

3.5 stars but I’ve rounded down because I liked books 1 and 2 better.

Competitors in the professional surfing championships, and potential lovers onshore? Is this love or war…

4.5 stars

This is the third in the Seven Shores romance series. This is a group of four friends who live in Venice Beach, with different lives and jobs, but a lovely sense of fun and friendship. Each book examines a different member of the group as they work, and find a soul mate.

Gia Malone is the #2 surfer in the world, and she is gunning for #1. Absolutely determined to be the best in the world, Gia’s focus is on improving her skills and techniques, and that comes by hard work.

In the number 1 spot in the surfing rankings is the smoking hot, and always happy, Elle Britton. Elle is getting tired of the endless promotions and the grind that cuts in on her surfing time, but her feel for the waves and hard work keeps her on top of her game.

When a company wants to sponsor them both, it throws the competitive pair into each other’s orbit. Not sure whether to make love or war, this is a battle on and off the waves for Gia and Elle.

Once again, Brayden shows just how good she is at bringing these characters, and an unlikely scenario, to life. Gia and Elle are smart and capable, and there is believability to the dialogue and their interactions, which I really liked. The pacing of the romance was good, and there were enough surprises in the plot to keep me guessing.

In the background is the friendship of the rest of the gang. While I have read the other stories, I haven’t read them for a while and it took me a bit of time to work out who was who. I don’t think it would be a problem to come into the series at this point, but if you can, read the series from the first book. The first one is Eyes Like Those (probably the best of the series; 5 stars from me), and then Hearts Like Hers (probably the least successful of the series so far). I presume the next one will star the engaging Hadley, and I’m really looking forward to reading that episode in the series.

Regardless of my slight preferences for one book and set of characters over another, this is a very even series, and a well written one. It is a joy to dip into Brayden’s world, and to hang out with her smart, brave and funny characters. Enjoy.

Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Gia wants to be the best surfer in the world. The only one standing in her way is Elle. Elle is a fan favorite and currently ranked number one. Gia wants to dislike her but the more she gets to know her, the more she likes her. Can these two compete to be number one while exploring their feelings for one another?



This is my first Melinda Braydon book, so I didn’t know anything about the series or her writing style. I came into it with an open mind and absolutely loved it. Not only are Gia and Elle fleshed out characters but there’s a depth to them I didn’t expect. The conflict is there but so is the electric chemistry. The plot moved quickly with plenty of minor characters to keep me turning the pages. The romance was lovely and the surfing makes Sparks Like Ours the perfect beach read! I can’t wait to read more in this series and highly recommend.



Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in the hopes I’d review it.



My Rating: 5 stars

This book was the latest in the Seven Shores series. It wasn't the best of the series, but it wasn't my least favorite either. The formula is pretty much the same - each book features one of the Seven Shores friends who finally finds and loses love, then finally ends up happily ever after.

As a fan of connected stories, I really enjoyed this latest installment of the Seven Shores romances. These are not complicated tales, but they do have great characters each with very different backgrounds and backstories. I love the way Melissa Brayden crafts her books to make them so easy to read.
Gia is a great character, and I really liked the surfing background. It was something different and added depth and interest. That said, Izzy and her trademark quick wit introduced in Eyes Like Those will be difficult to outshine.
Overall, an excellent addition to a fun, very readable series.