I loved this last book in the Spark House Sisters series from Helena Hunting!

Make a Wish is a second chance romance of sorts for Harley and Gavin. In many respects, Gavin was Harley's first love, but it was an unexplored, seemingly unrequited crush from back when Harley was a nanny for Gavin's infant daughter, Peyton. They moved away when Peyton was young, Gavin was never far from Harley's mind. Fast forward 10 years, and they have a chance to start new, and their draw is simply too strong to be ignored.

Gavin is such a wonderful father, and while he and Harley initially just renew a strong friendship as they bond through activities with Peyton, it's just too hard to ignore their chemistry. The feelings that Harley had are never far from her mind, and now that Gavin is further away from the tragedy of losing his wife and closer in age to Harley, he opens himself up to the possibilities as well. They are such a great pair. And I love how Gavin sees Harley, sees what she wants and what she needs, and encourages her to explore her dreams as she figures out her path forward.

Stella Bloom and Jason Clark are two of the finest narrators in the audiobook industry, and they both give performances with so much emotion and depth that they really bring the written words to life. They are a perfect complement to the words that Helena Hunting has written.

I loved this book! The depth of emotions Author Helena Hunting brings to these characters had me gripping hard to my Kindle.
This story touched my heart and I was soo happy to see the HEA of Harley and Gavin.
The narrators brought these charter to life while listening. Very well executed.

This has been my favorite Spark House book out of the series! It can definitely be read as a standalone but I loved this whole 3 part series and would recommend that you start with book one since they do follow a timeline.

We all have a moment in our life that we embarrassed ourselves and we think about it often….right? Well, Harley Sparks has a big one! That one time she almost kissed the widowed father of the toddler girl she nannied for….then the father quickly up and moved never to hear from him again. UNTIL…she runs into him at a birthday party being hosted at Spark House!

This book contains:
✨Grief / Love after Loss
✨ Age Gap
✨ Single Father
✨ Spice - Slow Burn

I was thrilled to get an advanced copy of this audiobook! I listened to the first two books on audio as well. It is narrated by the same two people throughout the whole series: Stella Bloom and Jason Clarke. I really like their work together in these books. I found that this was my favorite out of the three books! I really thought the character of Gavin was amazing and such an attentive father. I loved the relationship that was formed between Harley and the daughter. I found there to be some tense but funny moments through this book!

I highly recommend this book! Helena Hunting has such a huge catalog of books. This is my fourth book by her and I am excited to start reading some of her other works.

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)!

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 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.
Jason Clarke, and Stella Bloom were amazing as they brought this wonderful story to life. They nailed all the characters perfectly. Bloom was not only ideal as the pixie Harley, but her voice performance for Peyton was perfect as well. Clarke portrayed sweet and sexy single dad, Gavin, with all his conflicting emotions and vulnerabilities, flawlessly. Clarke and Bloom made me feel all the complex emotions they went through, making me laugh out loud, cry, and totally swoon.
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 was so sweet! I enjoyed the twist on the nanny trope, with her working for the family in the past and then coming back into their lives in a different role. The characters were really fun. I like how the FMC Harley was portrayed and her love for working with kids.

This was a truly bingeable (is this a word) book! I listened to it as an audiobook and couldn’t get enough of Gavin and Harleys story. The narration was great and it was a very enjoyable listen. If you are looking for a light fun and of course age gap romance, check this one out!

Thanks to #netgalley and #macmillanaudio for the copy of this audiobook in exchange for my review.

I love the performers chosen for this audiobook. Stella Bloom did great narrating Harley and Jason Clarke as Gavin was all sorts of yummy. Both narrators did outstanding making me feel all the emotions. This is my fave book in the series. I couldn’t put this one away. It is captivating. The author penned such an amazing read and the casted narrators levelled up the story and made it phenomenal.

Harley Spark may have had a crush on Gavin Rhodes when she was his nanny for his daughter, Peyton after his wife died during childbirth seeing as she almost kissed him one night. Next thing she knows she is out of a job and Gavin and Peyton are moving to the other side of Colorado. Seven years later and Gavin is back in town and ends up at a child's birthday being thrown at Spark House. Of course as soon as Harley sees Gavin, old feelings come back but she is now dating someone else. Gavin is instantly drawn to Harley and makes the excuse that Peyton wants to spend time with her. Of course the more time these two spend together, the more the "sparks" start to fly. Just when it looks like things are going perfectly for these two, the past comes crashing back in in a destructive way. It will take a lot of trust for these two to find their happy ending but they do in the best way.

I really enjoyed this second chance at love story which I listened to as an audio book. The readers voices were pleasant, and easy to listen to. Gavin had a hard time learning to love again. Harley was just looking for someone to love. Together they found something really beautiful. I just loved how fun Peyton was. She added a cute twist to everything.

I read the first two books in this series and really enjoyed them both. The romance was great and the sisterly bonds pulled at my heartstrings. They were both great reads. But, how I felt about those two stories doesn't come close to how much I loved this book!

Harley and Gavin are a fantastic couple who have a history, meet up again unexpectedly, and realize that maybe there could be more between them. However, Gavin is a single dad who still carries a lot of guilt and who must manage a difficult extended family...so reconnecting is not easy. I loved watching these two deal with the obstacles that were in their way and do what was necessary to move forward. The author didn't sugar coat the difficulty of moving forward after tragedy...this book brought all the feels. This wasn't an easy ride and, when you add a little girl to the mix, my heart broke more than once.

This story was much more than a romance, it was about love and loss, family and commitments, and allowing yourself to embrace what you want and need. I absolutely loved Harley and Gavin's story - it's one that will stay with me for a long time!

I should mention that I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrators were fantastic! They really brought the story to life and helped me feel more immersed in the story.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬💭:
I was sooo excited for the third book in The Spark House series since i really loved When Sparks Fly. But i’m also so sad to see this series end. I adored the Spark sisters and I’m truly going to miss them.

Thank you so much to SMP Romance and Macmillan Audio for a copy of my book and access to the audio. This one comes out 1/24/23!

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛📝:
Harley used to nanny for a toddler of a widowed father, Gavin. Tension arose and they almost kissed. But they moved away and she never heard from them again. Until 7 years later, they return and so do her feelings for him.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. This is definitely my least favorite one out of all the books in the series. I felt a little disconnected to the two main MCs and Gavin was not the most likeable male lead. It started out really strong with the prologue hooking me soon as i started. I felt that it had so much potential, but the whole story fell flat for me. It felt more of a family drama than a romance book. Despite that, I was curious enough to finish and the audio was entertaining to listen to. It gave me perspective on dating a single widowed dad and its complications. If that’s your cup of tea, you might appreciate this one.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚: 𝘚𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘱, 𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘱, 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘦

Helena Hunting continues to do no wrong with her Spark House series! We get to know Harley this time around, when she runs into the man she used to nanny for a decade ago.

Based on their history, Harley is wary of becoming too invested in Peyton and her dad, Gavin's, lives again, but she just can't deny the little girl. As they spend more and more time together, she can't help but fall for the man Gavin's become. Unfortunately, despite this new attraction, he's still dealing with issues from the past.

Harley is such a spunky personality that really shone in this novel! It was a pleasure reading about how much joy she got from hanging with Peyton and planning special events for the Spark House. Plus, the forbidden love angle of her and Gavin was so enticing!

I loved the other two books in this series and this last book didn’t disappoint. You could have definitely read this as a stand alone but I just love seeing how all the girls lives turned out. I love how all three sisters had their own personalities and their own different story line. I found this to be a fun read and highly recommend for anyone looking for a cute romance story with charm and humor.

Thank you to #NetGalley and all of the above listed for this #giftedaudiocopy in exchange for my unbiased review.

The SPARK HOUSE SISTERS series continues as the third sister, Harley, gets her chance at making her dreams a reality. I fell in love with the positive, energetic, caring, selfless character, Harley. She is one of those characters you wish would be brought to life and duplicated, so the entire world could benefit from having her in their life. Her story is captivating as she draws you into her world, and she helps everyone around her cope with the past while simultaneously learning to ask for the things she needs and deserves. This is a definite add for your TBR!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Make a Wish by Helena Hunting
This has series been a favorite!! Each book is about a sister and this time is Harley’s book.
Harley is the youngest and the most effected. She had started to on the elementary teacher track but as the sisters get more involved in the running of Spark House Harley gave that up.
At 20 Harley was a live in nanny for baby Peyton. Gavin, a single father hired her after his wife died in childbirth. When things get a little to close and heated between Gavin and Payton he cuts and moves away.
Years later Harley is running a birthday party when she finds out they have moved back.
Can she get her connection back to Payton and deal with her embracement with Gavin?
Sadly I think this is the last in this series.

This is my first book in this series I have Listen to, so that probably detracted from the rest of the book for me I enjoyed the characters. The storyline was interesting. I really enjoyed Gavin and Payton’s relationship. When h the characters meet Harley was young and Gavin was grieving. It made sense that they needed time before exploring that spark they had from the beginning. Once they reunited, it was like there wasn't years that separated them. They had a lot to still work through but the chemistry was there. I didn’t joy the book and the narrators did a very good job.

The premise of this book is what drew me in and I honestly enjoyed the story. Harley was a nanny for a very broken man and his infant after his wife suddenly died. Fast forward 9 years when they accidently run into each other when he and his daughter move back home. There are many layers to this story and I liked peeling back each layer. I will say that they are portraying Peyton to be 9 years old but the writing is more like a 5 or 6 year old. Peyton was almost annoying at times and at times it took away from the story. I loved development of the characters and the plot so my issue with Peyton was minor but there throughout the story. The side characters were a treat and loved how they completed the story. Overall an enjoyable story to listen to.

Make a Wish by Helena Hunting is the third and final book in the Spark House series and follows the youngest Spark sister, Harley. It is a second-chance, single dad, and friends-to-lovers romance that is full of charm, heart, and humour.

I have been so excited to read Harley's story since she was first introduced and I was not disappointed. I really loved watching her grow and mature, and find a place and purpose within the family business. Her friendship and relationship with Gavin was so sweet. It was a slow-burn, but it really worked and was well developed. Gavin, a widower, had such a heartbreaking beginning and I'm happy the book was dual-POV and we got to know his thoughts as he healed and came to terms with his feeling for Harley. Gavin's daughter, Peyton, was so precious was truly the heart of this story. I love seeing her special relationship with Gavin, and watching her interact with and bond with Harley.

I loved the ending of the book and I was in tears after reading the epilogue. It was such a perfect and beautiful ending for this book and for the series, I'm happy that in addition to Harley, we also got to see into the futures of her sisters, Avery and London. Make a Wish can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the previous books in the series (especially if you want to see Avery and London's respective love stories!).

I really loved the dual narrators, Stella Bloom and Jason Clarke, and thought they did fantastic work bringing Harley and Gavin to life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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. The narrators did an exemplary job narrating Gavin and Harley’s POV. I have experienced this entire series by audiobook and feel that they really added to my enjoyment of these books. I wouldn’t miss out on reading this story! I am voluntarily submitting this review after reading sn advanced complementary copy of this audiobook.

Make A Wish by Helena Hunting is the third book in the Spark House series and I enjoyed it so much. I loved the first Spark House book, “When Sparks Fly” but did not read “Starry-Eyed Loved” which was the second book. I was still able to follow along with the story and did not feel as if I was missing anything. I will go back and read book 2 soon though since I do not want to say goodbye to the Spark sisters just yet.

Publication Date: January 24, 2023

Synopsis:
Haley Spark has a secret she has never told anyone except her grandmother. She almost kissed Gavin, a widowed father she was nannying for. Years later, Haley is working for her family’s company, Spark House, and they a hosting a birthday party for now nine-year-old Peyton and her dad….Gavin. Sparks once again fly on Haley’s side, but she is still embarrassed by the mishap years ago and feels like that was the moment that cause Gavin and Peyton to move away. What will happen when they are reunited this time around?

Thoughts:
Loved the characters in Make a Wish.
Loved the hobbyhorse reference coming back in this one.
Loved getting a glimpse into Declan and Avery’s relationship again.
Loved that Haley is trying to find herself within the family business and watching her growth throughout the book.
Loved the dual narrators, Jason Clarke and Stella Bloom, who did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life.

A 4.5 star read for Make a Wish by Helena Hunting. I have not been enjoying many books lately (see my reel from earlier in the day), but this one was the refreshing read I needed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this copy in exchange for an honest review.