Thank you to Helena Hunting, her team, NetGalley and the team at St. Martin’s Press for the advance reader copy of Make a Wish, the third standalone in the Spark House series.
I adore this Spark House series and now that each sister’s story is complete I cannot wait to recommend binging these three stories back to back.
I am a Helena Hunting review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.
With her signature charm and sense of humor, bestselling author Helena Hunting creates a novel about love, family, and second chances in Make a Wish.
Ever have a defining life moment you wish you could do over? Harley Spark has one. The time she almost kissed the widowed father of the toddler she nannied for. It was so bad they moved across the state and she never saw them again.
Fast forward seven years and she’s totally over it. At least she thinks she is. Until Gavin Rhodes and his adorable now nine-year-old daughter, Peyton, reappear at a princess-themed birthday party hosted by Spark House, Harley’s family’s event hotel. Despite trying to avoid the awkwardness of the situation, she can’t help but notice how unbearably sexy he looks in a tutu. Add to that a spontaneous hives breakout, and it’s clear she’s not even remotely over the mortification of her egregious error all those years ago.
Except Gavin seems oblivious to her inner turmoil. So much so that he suggests they get together for lunch. For Peyton’s sake, of course. It’s the perfect opportunity to heal old wounds. Or it could just reopen them. This is one of those times Harley wishes she could see the future…
Check out my more detailed thoughts below…
- Characters: Harley is the youngest Spark sister and is seemingly the most lost about her role in the future of Spark House. As much as these books have been about the sisters and their love interests, it has also been cool to see the evolution of Spark House. Harley is the type of character that is easy to love, a super nice person and caring to all. Her love interest is Gavin, and oh my poor boy! I really loved how dynamic his character was. He doesn’t really have it all together much either, both of our characters are struggling with this. For Gavin, his story is just as much a story of someone figuring out how to live with their grief instead of pushing it down.
- Setting: This story is set in Colorado Springs, with the Spark House playing a major role. I enjoyed that the Spark House represented different things for each Spark sister. For Harley, it is a stressor, but some aspects that are seemingly becoming obsolete bring her joy. If you have read these books in the order you will appreciate the inner workings of the Spark House and Mills Co. acquisition, you’ll love it even more if you have read the books about the Mills’ (Shacking Up, Hooking Up).
- Pacing: Helena really concocted these stories at such a perfect length. I was said when it ended because I am sad to leave the Spark sisters behind.
- Romance: This was an interesting romance. I have seen takes on this trope before, the nanny/babysitter and the single dad falling in love. I have never seen someone write it in this way, that the first temptation happened so many years before and then we flash forward years later. When the heroine is a bit older and a bit more ready for this relationship to surpass just a crush or flirtation. Helena always does a good job of balancing the hot, intensity of the characters hooking up in secret. Balanced nicely with the way that feelings could not help but grow between Harley and Gavin.
Make a Wish receives five out of five stars.
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Thank you again to Helena and her team for the review opportunity.
