Member Reviews

Starry-Eyed Love is the second novel in Helena Hunting’s Spark House series. In this book, we get to read about London, one of the three sisters the series focuses on. I was pleasantly surprised by the first book, When Sparks Fly (review here), and I think I enjoyed this one even more!

Here’s the book’s description:
Having just broken up with her boyfriend, London Spark is not in the mood to be hit on. Especially not when she’s out celebrating her single status with her sisters. So when a very attractive man pays for their drinks and then slips her his number, she passes it right back to him with a ‘thanks, but no thanks’. As the business administrator for their family’s event hotel, the Spark House, London has more important things to worry about, like bringing in new clientele.
As luck would have it, a multi-million-dollar company calls a few months later asking for a meeting to discuss a potential partnership, and London is eager to prove to her sisters, and herself, that she can land this deal. Just when she thinks she has nailed her presentation, the company’s CEO, Jackson Holt, walks in and inserts himself into the meeting. Not only that, but he also happens to be the same guy she turned down at the bar a few months ago.
As they begin to spend more time together, their working relationship blossoms into something more. It isn’t until their professional entanglements are finally over, that London and Jackson are finally ready to take the next step in their relationship. But between Jackson’s secretive past and London’s struggle with her sisters, London must question where she really stands - not just with Jackson, but with the Spark House, too.
I think this romance came along for me just at the right time. It’s been a little while since I actually read it (school really gets in the way of writing blog reviews!) so, thinking back, I’m not sure exactly what it was that made me bump up the rating for this book to 4 stars. You know me though – I’m all about how a book made me feel vs how “good” it is. I was all in for this romance and the fact that I was completely invested made me really enjoy my reading time.

There was a lot of miscommunication in this book. Neither London nor Jackson really share how they’re feeling as they’re both worried the other might not want the same things. Plus, London was hiding SO MUCH from her sisters. They have such a close relationship, but this novel showed that they weren’t really talking to each other. How did neither of her sisters realize how beaten down London was getting?

I really liked the romance – miscommunication aside – between London and Jackson. Normally I hate reading about billionaire heroes because there’s always a serious power imbalance between him and the heroine and that makes me feel icky. But Jackson was a solid dude and you could tell he respected London and truly wanted her and her family business to succeed. They had time to get to know each other as they worked as business partners before finally giving into the romantic feelings they had for each other. I think that allowed for a more solid foundation of a relationship.

I’m definitely looking forward to book three in the Spark House series after enjoying Starry-Eyed Love so much. When Helena Hunting does romance right, she does it right and this series is a great one to dive into this summer.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Was this review helpful?

What's not to love about a book when you get to meet a charming billionaire hero. A sassy smart creative heroine and characters that you can relate and understand.
Starry-eyed love was a sweet and sexy book. I loved the chemistry between Jackson and London and really enjoyed reading how thier story developed.
I also liked how the book tackles the topic of running a family business along with it. It was an interesting side story for me.
So in short it's a must read if you are looking for a sweet sexy swoony romance.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed the first book of the Spark House series, though I am not a fan of friends turning into lovers, but Avery and Declan would always be an exception.

The second book in this series focused more on the second sister, the always straightforward and artistic London. She met the guy who asked her for a date, but she rejected him because she was still heartbroken. It turned out that Jackson Holt is a billionaire and that he is the owner of the company that is interested in having a project with their small business.

I love that the names of the characters are places! It is both smart and cute! Though their love story was a bit slow because of the professionalism that they both wanted to maintain, there was definitely a spark between London and Jackson from the beginning.

I actually like their stories more than the first one. I cannot wait for Harley's story next.

Thank you, St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

Is it too obvious to say, if you were a fan of When Sparks Fly, you’d be a fan of Starry-Eyed Love? Well, it’s true! Not every book in a series is created equally but this is definitely just as romantic and as fun of a read!

For whatever reason I’ve never been a huge fan of these kinds of series where the story follows another character. I tend to get attached to the first character and just hope for more. However, if I were to have read this book without having read the first one in the series, I would enjoy just as much! As much as I’d prefer long series, I still finished this book in less than five sittings. I’m clearly a sucker for a good romance novel and Helena Hunting provides just that!

As the weather gets warmer, this is the perfect romance to grab and read at the beach! It has some familiar characters, but provides a new plot line, (a fun one if you like the whole ceo trope). This is both exciting and romance-filled and a great quick read.

Was this review helpful?

I loved being back with the Spark sisters, and hearing a little more about London the middle Spark sister.

This book was second chance romance meets Hallmark movie gold.

London shrugs off a stranger in a bar, she doesn’t feel ready to date, having just broke up with her boyfriend, even if the stranger is hot. But she may get a second chance at romance when she bumps into a familiar man a few months later in a business meeting for Spark House.

Jackson Holt is a big NYC executive coming to a small town to help out the family owned business, Spark House, and finding other reasons to stay … Hallmark movie, plain and simple.

This was a sweet, simple and predictable read. But I still liked it. I will be interested to read Harley’s book, which is the next in the series.

Was this review helpful?

I’m really enjoying the stories about the Spark sisters. They are so different, but when it comes to Spark House, they work as a unit. London Spark is burning the candle at both ends. She has her job at Spark House, as well as a thriving Etsy business. When the opportunity comes up to work with a mega firm on a partnership that would be very lucrative for their business, London is sent to do the presentation. During her meeting, the CEO of the firm, Jackson Holt, enters and there is something familiar about him. Turns out the he had approached London at a bar a few months prior and she turned him down. The attraction is still there, but now they are working together on a charity event, and cannot cross the line from business to personal. Once the event is over, the decide to give a relationship a try. What happens next is a lot of mixed messages and crossed signals. I loved these two characters and they were put through the wringer to work on getting a chance at a happily ever after. Really looking forward to reading about the last Spark sister soon.

Was this review helpful?

I did not enjoy London’s character in the first book, so I cannot continue to read this series. The first book romanticized a toxic and controlling relationship. The sisters, London included, were quite rude to their sister who was in a terrible car accident.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this so much more than the 1st book (which I enjoyed) The family dynamic is still present between the sisters who are working to grow the family business. London gets caught in a tricky situation when business and pleasure get Tangled together and it made for a great story. I couldn't put this one down. Really enjoyed the story and the characters and can't wait for the final book in the series

Was this review helpful?

I think I enjoyed London's story a little bit more than Avery's. The chemistry between London and Jackson was on point and I appreciated seeing him fight for them in the most professional way possible. It was refreshing to see the man make sacrifices in their life instead of the woman. I also enjoyed seeing more of Spark House and more details of the business. It frustrated me so much how long it took London to finally get Avery to see the changes that needed to happen but I was so relieved when it was resolved and I'm looking forward to seeing that come to fruition in the final installment.

Was this review helpful?

This was one of my favorite books of all time. The Spark sisters are epic characters, and I love the way the writing flows. Helena Hunting is a romantic comedy master writer.

Was this review helpful?

I think most women have been London at one time or another.
She runs a business with her sisters and is consistently second guessing herself and her abilities. The part of the job that she does is something that comes very hard to her and she spends so much time preparing that she has little time for her own life. To be honest, I didn't really care much for Avery in this story. Loved her in When Sparks Fly, but she irked me here. I'll chalk it up to being a bridezilla. I really felt for London's struggles. She has an Etsy shop doing what she loves. Finds a guy who is interesting and give her butterflies but she passes because she wants to keep up her end when it comes to the business. I could just identify with that so much. Going above and beyond professionally to prove yourself at the sacrifice of your own interests. It's time for women to start taking the control back and when London had enough, I cheered for her. I loved watching her take her lifeback and making it the way that she wants it to be.
Jackson is the perfect guy for her and I swooned at the way that her pursued her. <3

Was this review helpful?

Starry-Eyed Love is the newest book by @helenahunting and it released last month! It is the second book in the Spark House series, but can easily be read as standalone. Last year I read the first book, When Sparks Fly, and I fell in love with Spark House and the Spark sisters.

This book follows London Spark as she desperately tries to manage the business side of Spark House and their growing popularity as well as her growing feelings for the CEO of the multi-million dollar company, Holt Media which has now formed a partnership with Spark House. This was a slow burn “workplace” billionaire romance and it was done SO well! I loved the sisterly bond (and sister drama), seeing the business side of Spark House, and the steamy romance between London and Jackson. This is only the second book by Helena Hunting that I have read, but I am convinced that she can do no wrong. I really want to go back and read more of her backlist and I’m always so excited for Harley’s book next!

Thank you so much @getredprbooks, @stmartinspress, and @netgalley for the gifted copies!

Was this review helpful?

The is a fantastic second installment in the Spark House series. London is starting to feel in over her head. The event company she runs with her sisters has really taken off, her personal Etsy business is growing, and her boyfriend just broke up with her. So she has no time for the charming, hot stranger who pays for her night out and asks her out only to find out a few months later that the man she turned down is none other than the CEO of the huge company that she is hoping to build a partnership with for her family business. Jackson has never forgotten the beautiful woman who turned him down months ago and is delighted to run into her in a business meeting. His company and hers have agreed to a partnership and so Jackson must force himself to keep things professional.

The chemistry with these two was fantastic! The way that Jackson adores London is so sweet. I normally do not enjoy instalove but this one definitely works. I loved London and her ambition. The two together provided a fun, flirty read perfect for an afternoon escape. I enjoy the sisters aspect of this series and am really looking forward to the next book coming out. If you are looking for a light-hearted steamy read then this one is for you.

Was this review helpful?

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I have really enjoyed some of Helena Hunting's books in the past - specifically some of her books in the Pucked series I thought were really good. And I had read the first book in the Sparks House series so I thought I'd try this one too. I have to be honest though, this book just wasn't for me. It was a perfectly lovely book and I'm sure many people would really enjoy it. But I found Jackson to be way way too much. I think the shut off point for me was when he arranges a surprise trip to New York (for a woman who doesn't like surprises) and then doesn't tell her that dinner is with a hugely successful hotel colleague because he didn't want her to "overthink it" ahead of time. I'm sorry but no. If that were me I honestly would've walked away from him after that dinner, that would've been inexcusable for me. London felt like a bit of a doormat to me in parts of this book too - it was just hard for me to get through. It was very sweet and very rich man sweeps in and saves the poor overworked little lady so if that's your deal then I'd definitely recommend this one.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book, it was fun and sweet and a great blend of the wit and humor I love about Helena Hunting's writing! London and Jackson are great characters and I loved the development of their attraction and relationship.

Talk about mixing business with pleasure, even though it's not what they set out for, it's definitely what happens. I liked how conflicts were handled, without too much angst and really working through it. It kept me reading and I enjoyed it from start to finish!

Was this review helpful?

Helena Hunting takes us back to Sparks House,which is an event hotel that three sisters run. This book is focused on newly single London. Her and her boyfriend just broke up and her mind is as far away from a new relationship as possible. She even had to turn down an extremely handsome man when she was out celebrating her new found freedom.

London has decided to concentrate on Sparks House and her online Etsy shop instead of getting into another relationship.
Then Jackson Holt, CEO of a multi-million dollar company and as luck would have it, they guy that hit on her in the bar.

London starts working with Jackson on a huge event at Sparks House and suddenly the lines between business and pleasure become blurred. London has a lot to figure out for herself…what to do about Jackson, her place at Sparks House and her life overall.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved going back to Sparks House and how Avery and Declan are doing and getting to know London better. Super fun read and I love how all of the characters have flaws that they need to overcome to find happiness.

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

My friends let me start off by saying that I have a lot of books to review, a lot, and you will see this sentence at the top of a lot of them till I catch up, so if you tend to read any of my reviews you will notice it has been quite a while since I have written one, let's just say lots has happened. So, let's begin.

So, we have the Spark sisters who run a hotel business and that should be their focus, and it is London's main focus. London has recently broken up with her boyfriend and decided to go out to celebrate with her sisters, she gets hit on, but it is too soon for her and declines the invite., she has more important things to worry about and is celebrating being single with her sisters. While keeping her family's business running a business opportunity arises, and who should appear but the man that she rejected! She is attracted to him, there is no denying it, but she just does not have the time, or does she? I am not a fan of audio books; I will stick to reading.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this fun and charming contemporary romance with unforgettable characters and a story that immediately pulled me in and kept me totally immersed in all that was happening until I read the last word. I loved the undeniable attraction and chemistry between London Spark, business administrator for their family event hotel, Spark House, and Holt Media and Consulting CEO Jackson Holt. The strong secondary characters added to my reading pleasure in this can't-put-down book. I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review. I liked it so much, I purchased a copy to read again later.

Was this review helpful?

After reading When Sparks Fly I really wanted to continue on with the Spark House series and read London’s story! I really liked London in the first book and I loved her even more after reading Starry Eyed Love!

Was this review helpful?

A billionaire boyfriend, whirlwind workplace romance full of family drama and 🔥🔥🔥⁣

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲-𝐄𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 is the second book in the 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 and it did not disappoint. I love books where hard working, always pleasing others people meet someone and have their worlds turned upside down, in the best way of coursel Here we have media mogul, Jackson Holt - who brings the charm, heat and sparks and London Sparks who to me is by far the hardest working and most giving of the sisters. The two meet at a bar and London⁣
rejects Jackson after recently suffering a break-up only to have the two meet again through business. I adored this couple together - the chemistry was spot on and you could just feel how impossible it was for them to keep their relationship as strictly business. The emotion, angst and steam was perfect for the story. I also loved how Hunting has developed the relationship between the sisters and their business between the two books. Looking forward to little sister Harley's story next. ⁣

If you enjoy romances with steam, humor, emotion, HEAs and family drama you must read this series.

Was this review helpful?