Sweet, swoony & witty, Make a Wish is such a great rom com! This is the final book in the Spark House series and I loved seeing Harley get her happy ending! The chemistry between her and Gavin was so perfect and I adored the extra spark that Peyton contributed to the story. Overall, I can’t say enough wonderful things about this book and you should definitely check it out!

Gavin and Peyton Rhodes have moved back from Boulder and the first time they see Nanny Harley again is at a birthday party at Spark House and boy have things changed for ALL of them !! Harley is not longer a Nanny and works at Spark House, Gavin has come back to help on his fathers business and Payton .. WOW has this baby turned into a beautiful caring, loving little girl !! Can she make her dad see what she sees in Harley or he already see it ?? With the a big move happening with Miles Hotels and Spark House .. Harley feels like she is loosing her spark or spot at work but this is a good thing for them all .. her sisters included !! Except she doesn’t know where she fits in anymore. But there is one thing or two that she has her eye one but she isn’t sure it could work after 8 years of thinking what if .. Gavin is back and he didn’t think it would feel as good as it does to be back HOME but with Peyton thriving in school and with his parents he knows he made the right decision moving back except his Mother in law is not happy and she makes it KNOWN ! Ughhhh don’t we lol have meddling Mother in Laws ?? Can Gavin be happy with all his decisions he is making with his life and can or will it include Harley ?? Boy .. these two have so much heart ache and deserve to be happy .. not sure someone will let it happen though .. Harley is a breath of fresh air and she and Payton feed off of each others energy !! These three NEED to be together!! Loved every word !!

It has truly been wonderful experiencing the stories of the 3 Spark sisters. Harley’s story is the perfect addition and I loved every minute of it.

Harley and Gavin have a history and the both are living with their own demons because of the past. It was a truly wonderful ride, reading about how they reconnect and manage to face their demons separately and together.

An added bonus to reading Harley and Gavin’s story is meeting Peyton. I absolutely loved her character so much. The story would not have been the same without her!

If you have not started this trilogy, you need to. You will NOT be disappointed!
~Brianne💜

Make a Wish is the third and final book in the Spark House series. It can be read as a stand-alone.

I thoroughly enjoyed the other two books in this series and have read them each a couple of times. I had high expectations for Make a Wish but the storyline given to Harley did not do her character justice. All three of the sisters seem to have lost their “spark” in this book. What happened to the Spark women that were so vibrant and self-sufficient?

Although the FMC is in her late 20’s, she is repeatedly compared to a child (in both her appearance and behavior). After being mistaken for a child on their zoo trip, it is implied that she is often thought of as much younger than she actually is. I have no problem with an age gap in a romance as long (as long as both are adults) but continuing to reference Harley’s childlike qualities is gross. It’s especially icky when Gavin is the one commenting to himself about it.

The MCs don’t have any chemistry. They only go on a single date before jumping right in and there is very little romance to be had. The only thing they seem to have in common is Gavin’s daughter which gives the appearance that he’s really only looking for a new mother or built-in babysitter for his daughter. Harley is treated like childcare by Gavin and her sisters for a majority of the book. Gavin’s MIL was an absolute monster but is somehow given a pass because of what happened to her daughter. Therapy! They all need therapy and I’m glad they finally seek it in the end.

I was happy to see Harley find her voice in the end but it was too late to save the rest of the storyline.

The audiobook itself is well done. The narrators, Stella Bloom and Jason Clarke, did this best that they could have done with the provided material.

I have read numerous books by this author in the past and this was the first one that has disappointed me. I will continue to read Helena Hunting’s work in the future.

I voluntarily read, listened to, and reviewed advanced copies of this book and audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press (St. Martin’s Griffin)!

Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Tropes: second chance romance; band of sisters; age-gap; single dad

Helena Hunting’s Spark House Sisters series has a steady brand of sweetness with a side of steam and unease. If you’ve read the first two books, When Sparks Fly and Starry-Eyed Love, you’ve encountered the growing pains of Avery and London as they transcend their core family unit, adding men to the mix. Make A Wish, the final story of this series, brings about Harley’s growth. In her newest book, Hunting shows her authorial strength as she crafts a main female character such as Harley to find her voice and position in the family business while reviving a long-forgotten love and finding her place within Gavin and Peyton’s family unit.

Make A Wish was a fast read for me. The plot structure is fairly uncomplicated as it begins in the past and moves forward seven years. While seven years might seem like a long time progression for Hunting’s main characters, it’s necessary. Harley is an interesting character in this series because, I think more than her sisters, her parents’ deaths factor heavily in her maturation. Even more, the inciting incident for her separation from Gavin and Peyton at the outset of this book keeps Harley in a safe space, stagnating to a certain degree. As her story progressed, my heart actually hurt for Harley as she tried to grow and find herself in an ever-changing Spark House. I hated that she seemed pushed out, which became my attachment to Make A Wish.

Because of this, I struggled with Harley and Gavin’s pairing. It’s easy to love Gavin’s precocious daughter, Peyton, and Harley and Peyton’s relationship is a special one, as emphasized at the story’s end. Yet, I didn’t feel the chemistry between Harley and Gavin, and I believe it’s because we never really get his internal motivations. Their relationship felt uneven to me, and I didn’t fully trust Gavin’s feelings for Harley. This is further underscored later in the story when the couple struggles. Maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but I didn’t entirely love Gavin.

What do I know about Helena Hunting’s Make A Wish?

Its ending will make you shed some tears because it’s heartfelt and ties the series up into a neat little bow. Harley’s journey, for me, is probably the most profound because she doesn’t have a distinct place at the story’s beginning; she has to make space for herself at Spark House and with Gavin and Peyton. And Make A Wish is a beautiful swan song for a sweet package of sisterly love. I will miss Avery, London, and Harley BUT I know Helena Hunting always has more to come for her readers.

This might be my favorite of the Spark sister stories. I’m a huge fan of books where the kids steal the show, and Peyton did not disappoint. Nothing like a 9 year old to keep you on your toes and to keep things interesting.

I finished the book (audio) in 2 sittings. I’ve been sitting on this review and have struggled to find exactly the right words and what I want to say. Overall I think Helena did a great job doing justice to this particular single parent story. It’s one of the better *feels real* portrayals I’ve seen dealing with grief and life after losing a spouse with a small child. For that reason alone it’s worth a read. I would have liked a bit more chemistry in the setup between Harley and Gavin, but overall really enjoyed the story. The one theme with all 3 books that I had a bit of trouble getting past was the sister Spark House relationship. In each book the sisters struggled with the other 2 not listening, and that struggle was definitely featured again in this storyline. While I totally get that in book 1, or even a slight carry over into book 2, by the 3rd book I had to shake my head and wonder why they were repeating the same mistakes and couldn’t get their sh*t together.

PS- Post finishing this series you bet I’m going to need a relisten of the Shacking Up series stat. The little cameos of the Mills and Co has me missing them.

Make A Wish is the third and final book in the Spark House series by Helena Hunting and it's my favorite of the series! It's a single dad, second chance romance full of fun, sorrow, joy, hope, lust, love, friendship and family. Seven years ago Harley was the nanny for Peyton, a toddler who lost her mom. She almost made the mistake of almost kissing Gavin, but nothing happened. Then they moved away. Now they are back and when they run into each other Gavin wants to have lunch and catch up. Harley is thrilled to spend more time with Peyton. She's not sure what to make of the connection she and Gavin seem to have. He seems to be interested in her, but that can't be right? Can it? Gavin never forgot about Harley, but she was barely twenty years old back then. Now she's all woman and he can't deny how he feels about her. But there's Peyton to consider. The more time they spend together the more time he wants with Harley. With Peyton and all to himself. Is he ready to move on? Put the past behind him and have a future with Harley? This is such a great, emotional story! So much loss but so much hope. I thought Gavin and Harley handled things like adults. And Peyton is freaking adorable! I love her honesty and openness. I loved how Gavin talked to his best friend and got advice. How Harley and her sisters are a team. And I loved how Harley stood up for herself. She finally realized what she wanted and she asked for it. It was great to see Avery, London and their men again. I'm sad the series is over, but it ended perfectly!

Make a Wish is a touching, sweet, and steamy second chance romance that will capture your heart. I love single parent romance stories and this slow-burn romance was a real treat. Harley Spark is the youngest of the three Spark sisters. She loves kids and was going to school for child development and working as a nanny. She worked for Gavin Rhodes to help with his new born daughter, Peyton, after his wife died while giving birth. Gavin was struggling, and Harley started to fall hard for them both. After a weak moment where they almost kissed, Gavin moved away to be closer to family to help with Peyton, breaking Harley's heart. Now eight years later, Harley put college on hold, and is working with her sisters to run Spark House. When she was hosting an event there, Gavin and Peyton attend, and they are all surprised, and excited, to see each other. Gavin has moved back and he and Peyton want to rekindle their friendship. Harley and Payton love spending time together being creative, and Gavin and Harley's chemistry is electric right from the start. When they can't ignore their attraction any longer, they begin dating secretly, to protect Payton. But both their lives are complicate right now. Gavin has long harbored guilt he struggles with, and Harley can't find her place at the ever changing Spark house. There are also those that don't want them together, and when it appears they aren't fighting for each other, is it better to separate before all their hearts are shattered for good? This is a beautiful story about love, family, and second chances. I loved Harley, Gavin, and Peyton and the sweet family they were building. Harley was always bright and kindhearted but I really enjoyed watching her grow from being quiet, and meek to a strong, determined woman who knew what she wanted and able to make it happen. Gavin was so sweet and sexy, and I swooned over his interactions with Peyton, but my heart broke for him while he struggled with the ghosts of his past. I also enjoyed catching up with Harley's sisters and their husbands who are so loving and supportive. This is not only a delightful romance, but also a beautiful story about individual growth, forgiveness, family and a second chance at love

This book is the third in the Spark House series (it can be read as standalone, although I recommend you read them in order, but if you don't, it doesn't matter because you'll still enjoy them) and it brings us the story of Harley Spark, the youngest of the Spark sisters. Harley was 20 years old when she worked as a babysitter for Peyton, who was just a baby, the daughter of Gavin, who had lost his wife during the birth of their daughter, at a time when Gavin was overwhelmed and Harley wrong the signals for helping. and tries to kiss him, after this moment Gavin decides to leave Colorado Springs and Harley is left with the pain of losing this sweet girl and feeling that it was her mistake that led them to leave.
Harley, now 28 years old, is still that sweet girl, she adores her sisters and her grandmother and is the one everyone counts on, she enjoys the creative side of things, she loves children and has a magic with them, she doesn't mind dressing up to liven up a party and make them have a magical time, it is at one of these parties where he meets Gavin and his daughter Peyton again.
Gavin is a sweet, chivalrous, hardworking man who loves his daughter Peyton more than anything.
Now that their paths cross again, it's Harley's time to fix that mistake that has weighed on her conscience and heart for so long. These characters begin to reconnect with the idea of ​​friendship, but their attraction is undeniable, and before leaving lead must take many things into consideration before taking that step that will completely change their relationship.
On the other hand, these characters face personal challenges, Harley finds herself at a crossroads by not knowing exactly what her role is in Spark House but she doesn't want to say anything to avoid a conflict and she doesn't want to be away from her sisters for nothing, Gavin he has allowed his mother-in-law to take a motherly role over Peyton, casting a shadow over his role as a father and preventing him from having any personal relationships beyond those of his family. These are part of the challenges that these characters will face during this story, a very sweet story, full of love, family, very strong ties, challenges so real that you can't help but feel identified with them, a father's struggle single wanting to move on but without knowing how to cope with the pain of loss and without affecting her daughter and her well-being, that of a girl who wants to be heard, validated and valued, these characters won my heart from the first story and after reading this book I know it will be a series I will return to often. You will laugh, cry and fall in love with all the characters, completely and 1000% recommended.

Este libro es el tercero en la serie Spark House (puede ser leído como standalone, aunque recomiendo que los lean en orden, pero si no lo hacen no importa porque igual los van disfrutar) y nos trae la historia de Harley Spark, la menor de las hermanas Spark. Harley tenía 20 años cuando trabajó como niñera de Peyton, la cual era apenas una bebe, hija de Gavin, quien había perdido a su esposa durante el nacimiento de su hija, en un momento donde Gavin se veía abrumado y Harley por ayudar equivoca las señales y trata de besarlo, luego de este momento Gavin decide irse de Colorado Springs y Harley queda con el dolor de perder a esta dulce niña y sentir que fue su error lo que los llevó a irse.
Harley, ya ahora con 28 años, sigue siendo esa chica dulce, adora a sus hermanas y a su abuela y es con quien todos cuentan, disfruta el lado creativo de las cosas, ama los niños y tiene una magia con ellos, no le importa disfrazarse para animar una fiesta y hacerles pasar un momento mágico, es en una de estas fiestas donde vuelve a encontrarse con Gavin y su hija Peyton.
Gavin es un hombre dulce, caballeroso, trabajador, ama a su hija Peyton más que a nada.
Ahora que sus caminos se vuelven a cruzar es el momento de Harley para arreglar ese error que le ha pesado en su conciencia y corazón por tanto tiempo, estos personajes comienzan a reconectarse con la idea de una amistad pero su atracción es innegable y antes de dejarse llevar deben tomar muchas cosas en consideración antes de dar ese paso que cambiará completamente su relación.
Por otra parte estos personajes se enfrentan a desafíos personales, Harley se encuentra en una encrucijada al no saber con exactitud cuál es su papel en Spark House pero no quiere decir nada para evitar un conflicto y no quiere por nada estar lejos de sus hermanas, Gavin ha dejado que su suegra tome un papel materno sobre Peyton, dando sombra sobre su rol como padre y evitando que tenga relaciones personales más allá que las de su familia. Estos son parte de los retos que estos personajes enfrentarán durante esta historia, una historia por demás dulce, llena de amor, de familia, de lazos muy fuertes, de desafíos tan reales que no puedes evitar sentirte identificado con ellos, la lucha de un padre soltero queriendo seguir adelante pero sin saber como sobrellevar el dolor de la perdida y sin afectar a su hija y su bienestar, la de una chica que quiere ser escuchada, validada y valorada, estos personajes se ganaron mi corazón desde la primera historia y luego de leer este libro se que sera una serie a la que volveré con frecuencia. Vas a reír, llorar y enamorarte de todos los personajes, completamente y 1000% recomendada.

This is the third book in the Spark House Trilogy and we are following the youngest Spark sister Harley. We start the book off when Harley is 20 years old and is a live in nanny for a single dad Gavin and his daughter Peyton and they abruptly move leaving Harley brokenhearted. We flash forward 7 years and Harley and Gavin reunite at one of Spark House's parties. This book not only follows Harley and relationship with Gavin and Peyton but also the journey she goes through with growing up and trying to find her place in the ever changing Spark House. I loved getting to see the growth of the sisters who met in books 1 and 2 as well as all the changes that their business the Spark House takes. I highly recommend this series, it is such a fun one about three sisters who are all very different as they find love while running successful event business! Thank you St. Martin's Griffin and Helena Hunting for my gifted copy for review!!!

The prefect conclusion to the Spark sisters series. This one follows youngest sister, Harley in an age gap romance, with a single dad of her former nannying charge.

This one is heavy on family ties and dynamics. Lots of interaction with young Peyton, and how loss plays a part in a relationships. Landon, Avery and there husbands show up for more family dynamics on Harleys side.

A less steamier book of Helena but this one will hit you in all the emotional feels, and ties up this series perfectly.

They say never act with kids or animals, they’ll upstage you every time. I think the same might be said for books, Peyton was the star of every scene basically the entire book. Gavin, widowed at Peyton’s birth, hired Harley as a nanny for awhile. You can see where this is going, but it took over seven years to happen. Gavin and Harley are fun as a couple and managed to maneuver through their struggles. As the third book we got to catch up with the Spark sisters and their growing families. The family is expanding the business and that’s another issue in Harley’s life. The book has its moments where the drama with a certain person was a little over the top however, it felt a little like my personal life. The series is highly enjoyable and quite entertaining, I’m thankful to have received an early copy. My review was provided voluntarily.

This is the third book in a series about the Spark sisters, but can definitely be read as a stand-alone. I would classify this as a heavily emotional contemporary romance - but really it is a story about grief/loss, family, and healing.

I usually don’t love romance stories that involve children- as it is not something I am able to relate to yet. The second-mom trope doesn’t typically resonate with me. However this story was very powerful and I appreciated the complexities that come with attempting a relationship with someone who has a young child.

I definitely teared up at times, and there were a lot of really tough situations the characters had to face. I mean seriously. I genuinely don’t know how I would have reacted to some of the issues Harley and Gavin dealt with- and I wasn’t sure what the right answer was. I loved that this book made me dig really deep inside myself to see how I felt about their struggles and how I would feel in the same situation.

I love when a book challenges me mentally and emotionally. I would very much like to read the first two books in the series.

Triggers include death of spouse/grief, and heavy emotional trauma.

A fitting wrap up to The Spark House trilogy. Small town, age gap, single Dad romance. Helena Hunting never disappoints with her captivating story telling. The writing is good and the pacing is just right. Great characters, chemistry, and steam. Satisfying HEA. This book was a delight- It can be read as a stand alone but best read as part of the series to prevent spoilers.

A strong finish to the Spark House trilogy!

I am a huge fan of this author. Her ability to write stories about very real characters with their insecurities, emotional struggles, strength, and bravery is as present here a in all of her novels, where she blends her humor with emotion to create stories that make me fall in love with them. I also love the way she writes children with all their exuberance and love for life as well as their own emotional needs. Then nine-year old child and her single dad are impossible not to fall in love with in this story. Harley didn’t stand a chance of avoiding them. The strong bond between the sisters is just as present in this story as the two preceding ones and the backdrop of the continuous changes with their family event space added depth to Harley’s character and her place in her family. I wouldn’t miss out on reading this story! I am voluntarily submitting this review after reading sn advanced complementary copy of this book.

Make a Wish was without a doubt my favorite of the Spark House series - it really hit the right note emotionally for me. Harley is so incredibly sweet, understanding, and fantastic with kids. I adored her interactions with Gavin’s daughter. More than once my heartstrings were tugged, especially that epilogue.

As a widow, I often dislike the way the widow or widower are portrayed in books. Often they are shown as grieving for a year or less and then poof the grief is gone and they are ready for a relationship. I appreciated that Gavin was given time to grieve and live in his new role of a solo parent before falling in love again. I also love that space was given in their relationship for memories of his late wife.

What you can expect:
🔹Age gap
🔹Friends to lovers
🔹Former nanny and widowed dad
🔹Updates on the other Spark sisters
🔹Typical Helena open door steam

If you haven’t picked up this series yet, I highly recommend it.

***ARC Provided by the Author***

Sometimes, a book just works. It flows well, the connection with the characters feels real, the secondary characters enhance the story without pulling focus from the main characters.

Harley and Gavin are one of these stories. I love their initial meeting, and I love the way both see it as an issue, but for different reasons, which is so true to what happens in life.

I liked the way their relationship developed, and that others were also around to tell them what they were seeing, to allow for them to see things in a different light.

Usually, I get frustrated when there are characters who cause issues for the main couple, but in this one, it worked as it forced Gavin, and in a way Harley, to deal with the things that happened 7 years ago (which is both in the blurb and in the first chapter) and not try to pretend that it didn't exist and isn't going to keep being an issue until it's dealt with.

This book made me connect with the characters, and feel for them, and want to see them figure out a way to make it work out in the end. And, the way it is worked out doesn't feel rushed but feels like people who are faced with something they have known was an issue and that, finally, the thing that they will lose if they don't handle it is more than the fear of handling it.

I enjoyed and absolutely recommend this title. It can be read as a standalone, but it's also fun to have read the other books in the series as they are loosely connected.

La saga Spark House touche à sa fin et nous avons suivi ces trois soeurs qui ont pris leur destin en main et monté leur entreprise familiale, ce qui aurait rendu fiers leurs parents. Dans ce dernier tome, nous en apprenons plus sur Harley Spark qui est la seule à ne pas être en couple et qui aspire à de grandes choses au sein de l'entreprise. Elle devra cependant faire entendre sa voie dans divers domaines si elle veut enfin être heureuse et complétement épanouie.

Harley Spark a été la nounou de Peyton alors que celle-ci n'avait qu'un an et demi. Pourtant, même si sept ans se sont écoulés, quand elles se retrouveront ce sera comme si elles ne s'étaient jamais quittées. Harley est une jeune femme qui organise des fêtes d'anniversaire, qui donne des coups de main à l'institurice de Peyton et donc, vous l'aurez compris, qui aime les enfants. Elle est à même de comprendre ce que vit Peyton étant donné qu'elle aussi à perdu ses parents et qu'elle s'est retrouvée seuls avec ses soeurs, élevées par leur grand-mère. Mais à 27 ans, elle est encore un peu au point mort car sa place dans l'entreprise perd un peu d'ampleur entre les restrictions budgétaires d'un côté mais une nouvelle gestion des réseaxu sociaux de l'autre. En couple avec Chad, on ne la sent pas épanouie et on ne voit pas en eux un joli couple avec des projets d'avenirs. Ils ne partagent pas les mêmes centres d'întérêt et ne partagent rien à deux. Quand Gavin va ressurgir dans sa vie et lui demander de l'aide avec sa fille, la frontière va se brouiller et des sentiments pourraient renaître. Mais elle ne doit pas oublier qu'il y a une petite fille dans l'équation, un père un peu débordé mais surtout une grand-mère plus qu'envahissante et humiliante. Sera-t-elle prête à tous les sacrifices pour un amour qui n'est peut-être qu'éphémère?

Gavin Rhodes a perdu sa femme Macie dans des conditions tragiques et traumatisantes. Il s'est reposé sur Harley alros qu'elle n'avait que vingt ans et les rumeurs ont eu raison de cette relation de confiance. Il fait passer son travail avant tout puis sa fille, ce qui est normal. Quand il revient dans la vie de la jeune femme, il va trouver en elle une femme pleine d'esprit, de créativité et de charme qui fait du bien à sa fille. On va le voir tisser une relation de plus en plus intense avec elle mais attention à ne pas la considérer que comme la babysitter. Il devra affirmer ses choix et ne pas douter car Harley mérite qu'on se batte pour elle et qu'elle ait une place de choix dans sa vie. Nous le voyons dans les discussions avec son ami Ian qu'il est perdu mais surtout qu'il porte une culpabilité bien trop importante pour qu'il soit heureux. Il devra tourner la page car la présence de Macie est toujours très présente, ne serait qu'avec Karen, la grand mère de Peyton que j'ai détestée. Elle est constamment dans le jugement et elle a tellement souffert de la perte de sa fille qu'elle veut avoir la main mise sur sa petite fille et cela n'est pas sain. Notre héros devra donc ouvrir les yeux avant qu'il ne soit trop tard, au risque de perdre une personne essentielle à sa vie mais surtout à son bonheur.

Bref, j'ai de nouveau passé un très bon moment de lecture avec ce dernier tome. Nous avons eu des thématiques différentes dans les trois tomes mais l'amour est toujours le dénominateur commun à ces trois soeurs; Hayley comme Gavin nous feront vivre de belles émotions dans une conclusion finale parfaite.

Make a Wish is the final book in Helena Hunting’s Spark House series and I love that she saved Harlow for last! We’ve gotten to see glimpses of her in the first two books but I loved finally getting to really know her. There is so much more to her character than imagined and Make a Wish gives us a chance to let us really see her grow. I loved the dynamic between her and Gavin. Though he’s a bit older, he’s still in new territory with relationships and in its own way this is a second chance. Harlow is sweet, and imaginative, and has a heart of gold. Pairing Her with a single dad was perfect for her character and her relationship with Peyton just makes it even sweeter. And, if you love a single dad like I do, you’ll love seeing Gavin with Peyton.

I’m sorry to see Spark House come to an end but this is the perfect ending. We also got to check in with Avery and Declan and London and Jackson. It’s always fun to see the sisters together, As always, Helena makes the story sweet and funny with a side of spice!

I think this is my favorite one of the sisters. It felt more emotional than the other two. It's a single dad romance. I loved the story. It's easy to read. I really enjoy reading about the bond of the sisters. I'm happy they all got their own story.