This is a sweet romance and companion to Hunting's Sparks Fly (or book two in the Spark House series). I did not read Sparks Fly prior to this book and found that this did not impact my enjoyment of this book, but did pique my interest in the first book. I really liked London as a main character. She is very devoted to her family and while this causes some trouble with her being able to achieve her dreams, it still makes her a strong and likeable character. I had some issues with the love interest, Jackson Holt, but all-in-all, I liked their romance. This is a great romance read for the summer months.

This is the first book I’ve read from this particular romance author but I have seen her name around quite a bit so wanted to check it out. I think it may be on me for not realizing it wasn’t quite a trope I would fully enjoy myself but I was willing to try. The book is fine, well written and actually has plenty of cute moments but I found myself unengaged and didn’t really think there was too much special about the story itself.

Starry-Eyed Love follows London Sparks (whoof! What a name) who turns down an attractive man at a bar while she is out getting break up drinks. Several months later, the same man is revealed to be Jackson Holt, the CEO of a green company that is trying to partner with London’s family hotel business. Sparks fly but they can’t act on their attraction while working together.

So, first off, I probably should have stepped away when I realized this was like a ‘billionaire’ romance trope. Not to get too political but romance books is not what I mean when I say fuck billionaires. At least here, Jackson as our lead is pretty average and has a good ‘green’ message (though pretending you taking your private jet to visit this woman every week and fly her out all the time is green is really breaking my suspension of disbelief). He doesn’t fall into the life of privilege and better-than-thou attitude. He’s nice, he's just rich. Since that was his trope though, and he was simply nice, he just wasn’t THAT interesting.

London was a good main character. I liked her as a person, and her constant fidgeting and social anxiety was relatable. Though those traits seem to lessen through the story. I liked her relationship with her younger sister, who I am guessing the next book will be about but I did not like her older sister, who the first book was about. I will not be reading that book as the character was wholly unlikable in this one. I wonder if the author realized they would come across so badly if you hadn’t heard her own perspective before. Because her entire personality seemed to be sports, her own wedding, and ignoring her sister’s pleas for help.

They have really great banter and some cute moments before they get together (spoiler? Its a romance…I don’t think that counts?). Once they do get together, there is of course, my second hated trope: the third act miscommunication trope. Ugh. You will be able to see this fall out coming from a mile away. Though I did like the resolution.

Also, please cool it with the ‘she bit her lip’. If I drank every time she did this I would be DEAD.

Overall, this book was an easy listen and had some cute moments and at least likable main characters. But I just personally wasn’t a huge fan because it wasn’t quite my wheelhouse. I would definitely still try the author’s other works as (other than lip biting overuse) the writing is really good.

This was an audiobook narrated by Jason Clarke and Stella Bloom. Stella did a great job, Jason - I didn’t like his girl voice but overall was fine. Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this audiobook!

3.5 Rounding up! This was cute! I love Helena Hunting, This audio was good, I love Stella Bloom as a narrator. London & Jackson were so cute, I love how quirky they both were. Definitely worth a read!

Thanks to #Netgalley & #MacmillanAudio for the ALC!

London and Jackson... Where to even start?! First, I didn't realize that it was part of a series, which was a pleasant surprise for 2 reasons; 1, I get to experience more of the Sparks sisters shenanigans, and 2, I was able to completely follow this book as a stand-alone and felt like I wasn't missing vital pieces of information needed to figure out what was going on. This was light, witty and romantic, and although there are detailed sexcapades, they are tastefully written. Watching the relationship between London and Jackson grow (a relationship neither of them realized they were in initially), as well as the dynamic between the Spark sisters as they navigate the family business and balancing their personal lives to form their futures is fascinating. A solid 4.5 stars for me! I can't wait to see where this will go, and to read the 1st book of the series to gain more insight and become even further invested in these characters! #netgalley #starryeyedlove

Starry Eyed Love Audio 🎧 Mini Review

Starry-Eyed Love is the second book in the Spark House romance series. I was gifted the first book last year so I figured I would listen to the second book!

This one combines romance and humor in an engaging and fun story.

The love interest is well-developed between the two main characters. Of course, both also have flaws which make them seem even more realistic.

Overall, this was an entertaining listen with some humor. I will read the third in the series!

Thank you @netgalley & @macmillan.audio for letting me listen to this audio in return for my honest review. #Netgalley #StarryEyedLove #MacmillanAudio #HelenaHunting

I listened to this as an audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed. I LOVE a good strangers to lovers trope. The family dynamics was also really interesting just learning how these sisters worked together professionally and personally. When I think back on this book, I realized how much happened throughout, so it definitely never felt boring. There was always something in each chapter that either had me going back to re-listen or just left me like WHAT. This was a fun audiobook to listen to, flowed along nicely and the narrators were great.

Ahhhhh this romance was sweet. The TENSION between Jackson and London, and their chemistry was sooooo good. Oof, and London’s PAIN was so well described, it reminded me of similar breakups.. It was spicy— which I don’t usually go for — but I just skipped it. Anyway, the characters were well written and I liked the story. 💛

Additionally, I loved the narrators, they really drew me in.

This was my first audiobook from Net Galley and it was a great experience. A big fan of Helena Hunting and the previous book in this series, I was excited to see this one as an advanced listening copy. In Starry-Eyed Love, we return back to Colorado, the Spark House hotel and the Spark Sisters. This story features London, the middle sister, an anxious and creative soul stuck in a position she doesn’t like at the hotel, but deeply connected to her sisters. She meets Jackson, a billionaire businessman, through work and we have more sparks flying!
Helena writes tension so well! This had some work romance, billionaire trope and a lot of steam. I loved London and Jackson together. I don’t know how realistic all the business parts of this wore, but I adored the story anyway. The narration was on point from both the female and male narrators, beautifully inflected and easy to listen to.

London Spark has just broken up with her boyfriend when a handsome man hits on her while she’s at a bar with her sisters. Uninterested in a rebound and not ready for anything more, she turns him down and turns her focus to her family’s event hotel and her role as business administrator.

A few months later, a major company calls and asks to meet with London to discuss a partnership. Out of her comfort zone, London works to prove to herself that she can do this, and her meeting is going well, up until the company’s CEO crashes it and turns out to be none other than the guy she turned down at the bar.

Jackson Holt is known for keeping his relationships private but he’s struggling to keep things professional with London when his feelings are anything but. When their professional business is finally over, they take their relationship to official status, but with issues cropping up from Jackson’s past and from London’s job and her sisters, neither knows where they stand.

This story got off to a pretty slow start and it took me a while to get into it. We meet the hero in the first chapter, but then he and the heroine don’t meet again for several months and even then, the heroine narrates the majority of the chapters. We hardly get any of Jackson’s point of view and I found it a little odd that it took so long for him to even really appear on the page and then he only narrated one chapter out of the first ten. That may have been for the best, however, just because the male narrator didn’t differentiate much between dialogues and inner monologues so sometimes it was hard to tell what was something Jackson was saying to London and what was just his thoughts. Other than that, I loved the male narrator’s voice, the female narrator did great voices, especially helpful for telling the three sisters apart, and helped me stay invested in the story once it did grab me.

I have to say, the hot and cold dynamic between Jackson and London wasn’t the most romantic thing I’ve ever read, but it did make sense given the fear of attachment they both had. I also was not crazy about the unexpected other woman drama that cropped up (nothing Jackson did/no cheating), but it did highlight how clueless Jackson was. I think they both assumed a lot about what the other was thinking and were in desperate need of some communication, but this finally did come through in the end in a satisfying way and I loved the epilogue. I’m also really glad I read Avery’s book first because she was such a pill in this one that I’m not sure I’d want to go back and read her story if I hadn’t already. Overall, this story was definitely worth the read and I liked London and Jackson as a couple, but I would recommend reading the series in order.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book and its audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Loved going back to the Spark House with the Spark sisters! This is London and Jackson’s story. While I very much liked Avery’s story I LOVED London’s story so much more. London wants to be the person who never lets anyone down and shoulders everything without asking for anything in return and I feel like we’ve all been there. And Jackson 😍

Charming and adorable.

So yes, don’t skip this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this early recording!

I have yet to find a book written by Helena Hunting that I did not enjoy! This second installment of the Spark House series was a fun, quick, and feel good romance that I devoured in one sitting.

Starry-Eyed Love focuses on London Spark, one of the three sisters who owns and works for Spark House. The other half of this story is Jackson Holt, the CEO of a company that ends up in business with Spark House. A few months before this business relationship begins, Jackson tries to pick up London at a bar when he sees her from across the room. Having just gotten out of a relationship London turns him down and lies about still being in a relationship. When they meet again sparks fly between the two, but Jackson is trying to maintain his distance as she is someone he is now working with. This makes for a type of slow-burn friends to lovers story. While I don’t usually enjoy the trope of slow-burn, I did find myself really enjoying it when it came to this story.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves rom-coms, the tropes of slow-burn and friends to lovers, and a fluffy quick read. It’s just one of those romance stories that makes you happy.

Loved getting another spark sisters book. I didn't love this book as much as the first one but i did find it a sweet cute read and enjoyed getting to follow London and Jackson as their show burn romance bloomed

This is the second book in the series, though it could be read as a stand alone. I loved getting to visit with the Spark sisters again. I feel differently about Avery (the sister from the first book) after reading this one, though. I hope there is a book for Harley, I just loved her relationship with London. They seem very close. As for London and Jackson? So cute! I really appreciated the realness of the way London felt about her position at Spark House and the things she struggled with. I like that both Jackson and London had some baggage from the past, and they really dealt with it well throughout the book. It just felt realistic to me as far as the pacing went.

The audio version was done well. I like that we have a male for the Jackson parts of the book. Both narrators are captivating.

Bottom Line: Read it!

**I received an audio copy of Starry-Eyed Love from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

Starry Eyed Love has us revisiting the Spark sisters in part two of the Spark House series. Our lead London is the super crafty, business savvy, level headed middle sister. One night while the girls are out to dinner a handsome stranger pays for their drinks, and asks London on a date. Having just recently ended a year long relationship London politely declines, but still has lingering thoughts of the bearded man from the restaurant that night.
As chance would have it when the Spark House partners with a large company out of New York City the CEO is none other than the man from the bar, Jackson Holt.
For the first few chapters I got heavy Fifty Shades of Grey meeting vibes. Maybe it was just me or maybe all broody billionaires speak the same but I swear there's a direct quote in there somewhere.
This was a fun + light read with a bit of cheesiness here and there. I enjoyed the narrators but did prefer London's parts. Avery came across as quite unlikeable in this book. Harley seems super likable and I am excited for book three and to see her find her happily ever after. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netfalley for an advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Solid workplace romcom with added family dynamic. 3.5 stars.

Starry-Eyed Lover is the second book in the Spark House series and follows the middle Spark sister, London. It could be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading When Sparks Fly first.

I liked London and how she was willing to help her family. I wished that she hadn’t felt as though her dreams weren’t important though. I didn’t swoon that much over Jackson, I found his first introduction to be underwhelming and his second confusing. I felt like something was missing to form such a strong connection between London and Jackson. I didn’t like how Jackson sometimes bulldozed London and didn’t give her agency in business related things.

The first half of this book was slow as it followed the business side of things and I wanted more romance. Which might be why I felt like some depth was lacking from these characters and their relationship.

I enjoyed the sister friendship between London and Harley. I hope that Harley gets her own story. Avery was extremely frustrating in this one and I wanted to shake her to make her see reason.

I loved When Sparks Fly, but I’m not sure I didn’t like this one even more. I loved London and Jackson. Despite a few failed connection attempts, they quickly develop a professional plus more relationship. I always love a good will they/won’t they. I loved the friendship between Harley and London. I loved London, how hard working she was, and how much she cared for her sisters. As much as I liked Avery in the first book, she came off pretty rude and over the top in this book. I can’t wait for a third book!

I will update with a link when I post to my Instagram account.

A sweet romance that has just enough angst to keep things interesting without overdoing it! I've discovered that this is part of a series and is the second book, but I didn't feel lost by not reading the books in order. I did enjoy the characters and plotting so I will be looking for the first book and any others in this series as the author did an outstanding job of writing an entertaining read. I also felt that the dual narrators did an outstanding job of helping the author bring her characters more fully to life. The dynamic of family and friendships helps strengthen the story and help bring all the characters together cohesively! I can't wait to read or rather listen to more!

I really enjoyed Jackson and Landon’s slow-burning romance. They had great chemistry and the build-up of their romance was agonizing but well worth it. I loved the sisterhood between the Spark girls. The narrators did a great job in bringing the story alive. A truly wonderful and fun listen.

I've read Helena Hunting books for years and enjoyed them. I'm disappointed in this most recent series with the Spark sisters. It was fine. But it didn't meet my standard for chemistry and believability. The misogyny was cringe-worthy. And while the last book was about a fairly normal couple, the billionaire who is somehow clueless about social norms is a tired trope. I would only recommend this if someone is a voracious romance reader and needs more to read.

A Brilliant Helena Hunting Read!

After Letting down Jackson on a night out London comes across him as a work contact a few months later, sparks really do Fly as both these London and Jackson are Cautious to open up their hearts.

I deducted a star as it doesn't have the comical feel to it as some of the other reads and parts where just Cheesy, But the characters and writing were still brilliant.....

⭐ Pure Stilton Moments... I could Feel them coming....... it Felt More Hallmark than Hunting at times.

⭐ Avery didn't come Across Great... so if you loved the Last book be prepared for that.

⭐ I Loved London.... She was the Most interesting sister to me last book and this current read.

⭐Don't get me wrong i recycle and try to do my bit by walking places rather than driving Have a bag for life... But this is everything...... An Extremely Environmentally friendly book (I mean Everything) Im surprised they Use condoms.

⭐ Jackson and London i could really see them together i think they fit perfectly and loved how the relationship Blossomed.

⭐ The story was Fun... it was moreish