Make A Wish by Helena Hunting is the third and final book in the Spark House Series. This is Harley and Gavin‘s story. I listened to the audio book, and it was fantastic to experience the story in that format and if you’re interested in this book, I highly recommend checking out the audio book.
 
Harley is the youngest of the Spark sisters and she enjoys everything that has to do with children. That was amazing to see and made me immediately like her. She is such a kind and sweet person who deserves the best. When she was younger, she used to be a nanny for Gavin and his baby girl until they moved away. She now works for the family business and has a boyfriend, but when Gavin returns to the town, old feelings arise again. Stella Bloom was amazing in bringing Harley to life and she enhanced her personality very well.
 
Gavin is an amazing single father, and he has been through so much. I really liked how grief wasn’t shown as a one-way street and every day can be different. His mother-in-law was horrible, and way too involved for the wrong reasons, and it took him way too long to figure that out. Sometimes he was stuck in the past but being with Harley made him be more in the present and I really liked that. I think Jason Clark captured his broody and loving side very well.
 
Harley and Gavin are connected through his daughter Peyton, and she was an amazing addition to the story and truly a character. Their relationship and the past revolve around her, and it took quite some time to work through, but that was truly necessary so they could move forward. The family aspect was so strong in this book, and it shows life with kids very realistically and that made their romance more complete. There was a good variation of sweet and more intimate scenes as well as some tough ones and I was going through the emotions with them.
 
Overall, Make A Wish is such a good single parent romance, and I really loved it. 4,5 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

When worlds collide for the second time, Harley and Gavin can’t deny their feelings for each other. Seven years ago, it wasn’t meant to be - with Harley as a live-in nanny and caring for Gavin’s newborn daughter, Peyton, their almost kiss becomes the catalyst to move closer to his in-laws and out of her life. But now, nine year old Peyton and Gavin have moved back and their lives begin to tangle back together. For Peyton’s sake, of course, as she’s adjusting to the move. Amidst pressure from his in-laws, Harley’s ever changing role at Spark House, and the delicate balance of dating with a nine year old, their journey is just beginning.

I think this is my favourite of the three Spark sisters books! If you know me, you know that I’m an absolute sucker for a single dad romance. I love kids, and Peyton is an absolute delight - her love of fairies, glitter and art reminds me of me 😂

I thought it was so interesting how grief and love was so intertwined in this one - in a lot of ways, it usually is. Love, while often finding new beginnings, can also end other parts of your life. I appreciated the time and care that was given to Harley and Gavin’s relationship - from professional and caring, to the rekindling of the spark that had been there all along, but not ready to set anything alight.

I really appreciated the discussion of therapy in this book! It’s normal to be overwhelmed, to grieve and need support, so reaching out to a professional who can look at your situation objectively is great.

I knew Harley would be the sweetest soul from the other books, but she was truly spectacular - with her careful handling of Peyton’s mom’s memory, to the way she gives herself to joy so easily, I strive to be like her!

I also really appreciated that nothing happened between Gavin and Harley before they meet again years later. The implications of crossing that professional boundary would have added a bit of ick factor to things - I don’t mind an age gap, but I appreciate when both parties have had time to live their lives first.

Such a sweet novel, and the epilogue made me well up! (Minor spoiler: you know there’s marriage and babies - this is a romance novel, after all - but it felt a lot more meaningful than the generic formula) With great narrators, it’s the perfect recipe for a fun listen all around.

I loved this audiobook and the narrators were great (as they were in the last book). I've enjoyed getting to know the Spark sisters and was looking forward to Harley's story. After getting a second chance with Gavin and his daughter Peyton, Harley must deal with dating a single parent while he is still working through the grief of losing his wife during childbirth. It was emotional and sweet! It's sad that it's the end of this series, but I'm looking forward to more from Helena Hunting.

I absolutely loved this final book in the Spark House series, of which I have read them all. The book starts with a look back at when Harley was a nanny for Peyton (whose father is Gavin). Gavin is still broken by the fact that his wife died during childbirth and when there is a near kiss when Harley is the nanny, Gavin decides it is best to move away to let Peyton be close to her grandparents (his in-laws). After that recap, we move to the present where Harley is still mortified that she nearly kissed Gavin and cannot believe when she runs into him at a child's party after he and Peyton have moved back to town after being gone for 10 years. Peyton is happy to reconnect with Harley and Gavin and Harley are enjoying each other's company and have a slow build to a relationship. Harley is an exceptionally wonderful heroine and I really loved Peyton too. Gavin is struggling, but a strong character as well.

I received a free audio copy from NetGalley and really enjoyed the narrators Jason Clarke and Stella Bloom. Both of them did an excellent job of pulling me into the story and bringing all of the characters to life. Sometimes when I listen to an audio book I wish I could fast forward through some of the boring parts. I didn't ever feel the need to fast forward during this book, it kept me engaged to the end. Well done.

I enjoyed the book! It’s an easy read that does deal with hard subjects and those two are hardly seen in books. This book also tackled the subject of what it is like dating as a single parent which I really enjoyed reading.

I absolutely enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Make A Wish by Helena Hunting. The narrators were great.

Here are 6 reasons why I loved this second chance love story.

Hayley- she’s a ray of sunshine and while she’s the youngest of the sisters she’s grounded, funny, and clearly an empath, putting others people’s needs before her own, especially for her sisters and the darling baby-girl Peyton who’s truly a really special girl. The bond and love these two share is so beautiful and as sweet as cotton candy.

Gavin- he’s a loving father and son, he’s a great friend and let’s not forget handsome and sexy. He’s 7 years older than Hayley but even though he’s suffered the loss of a partner, which devastated him, he still managed to find a way to provide love for his precious baby girl. It isn’t until he meets again with Hayley that he find what’s missing in his life.

Peyton- this little girl is just adorable, and the link between Gavin and Hayley. Her occurrences, personality and charm stole my heart and ached for her at times.

Hayley’s sisters- Avery and London. I haven’t read their stories, and just by listening to how different and close they are and the guys they’ve partnered with makes me want to go read theirs right now. Make a Wish does read well as a stand alone.

Slow burn- I love slow burn romances and seeing how Gavin and Hayley fall in love was perfection. Loves scenes were steamy, sexy and heartfelt.

Personal growth- seeing how Gavin and Hayley navigated and handled their challenges, family and feelings throughout the story was well plotted and kept me hooked from beginning to end.

Humor- While Make a Wish does deal with overcoming past losses of parents and a spouse, the story was filled with many laugh out loud moments, humor, banter, moments that kept me smiling and engaged. It was spread everywhere, just like glitter which there’s plenty of in this story.

I definitely recommend Make A Wish, and give it 5 stars. I’m adding Helena Hunting to my Must Read Author List. She writes the kind of romantic comedies I enjoy.

I received an advanced audio of the story from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. #stmartinspress

This series. One of my favorites. This book, like the other two books, are complete comfort reads and a wonderful escape. There’s sweetness and spice and characters you can find a bit of yourself in. The entire single dad trope was just perfection. All of the characters made me fall in love with them.

As far as the audiobook, I loved the narrator. She was clear and did a wonderful job expressing the emotions in the book.

Well-done!

Is this what love feels like? If so, sign me up for some more.

The single parent trope isn't usually one of my favorite type of books, but Helena used some magic on this heart of mine. This book was cute through and through! Obviously the romantic interests have some hiccups, but that's really not the highlight of this book and I appreciated that!

Harley is your optimistic, non-confrontational, and loving character. Gavin is your sexy boss-man, single dad. And Peyton is the child I dream of having - absolute treasure!

Make a Wish is perfect for anyone that wants:

- a HEALTHY age gap relationship(9 years, but it's not the main focus of the book)
- to watch Harley grow into a woman that speaks up for what she wants
- to experience a man that finally learns to deal with his pain and trauma that surrounds the loss of his wife

Make A Wish was the 3rd and final book in the Spark House series and I will admit, I think it was my favorite of the series. Do you need to read the others to enjoy this one? Absolutely not as each book is about a different sister. BUT getting each sisters' story and how they correlate to one another's space within the Spark House is that much more enjoyable. 4+ stars.

I’m a sucker for a single dad but this was also a touch of second chances and a definite age gap.
Swoony, sexy, endearing, deals with grief, and with just enough cheesiness that will leave you with a smile on your face. Gavin, Harley and Peyton were just wonderful as one unit and as separate characters. And the narrators performing the story? They were fantastic and brought the characters to life for their journey.

Harley was Gavin's nanny for his daughter Peyton after losing his wife. Harley was there for Peyton's first 2 years of her life until Gavin and Peyton took off to live near his MIL for a fresh start for his daughter and himself. After no communication for over 7 years, Gavin and Peyton are back and happen to run into Harley at the Spark House at a birthday party. Harley has an immediate connection to Peyton and perhaps some lingering feelings for Gavin.

I loved seeing Peyton, Gavin and Harley together on 'dates' and the way Harley truly cared for Peyton. I was a little worried that her connection would be too strong with the child over Gavin, but I had nothing to worry about. Once they went on their first date it was over! They had chemistry that did not include his daughter and for a successful relationship, you need both. I loved their unit from beginning to end.
Peyton was truly a joy to watch. She had her moments as a kid, but she truly loved her dad and brought a lot to the story and the overall journey for her, her dad and Harley. I felt for her during the times with her grandmother, but understood.
Gavin was a widow trying to balance all parts of his life. He was doing the best he could but also needed the help of others for his daughter. He thought that was best, but he needed to understand that what he had and gave was enough. Being a widow carries a lot of guilt and I liked seeing him come into his own while also accepting that he deserved love just as much as his daughter did.
I was so happy to finally get Harley's story. She is the youngest Spark sister and was often overlooked for what she wanted and her role at Spark House. She was like a background player and I just wanted to hold her hand. Luckily, she had a strength that showed through and her love of children was infectious. She was a joy to watch grow and realize she wanted more out of life than what she currently had.

I really loved this story and LOVED listening to the audiobook. The dual narration of Jason Clarke (such a swoony voice and always perfect for a sexy dad) and Stella Bloom was perfection. Both of their voices were perfect for the characters and I couldn't have loved them more.

Overall, this was a great book on its own but even better as the final addition to the Spark Houses series. I love the Spark Sisters, their event hotel and the men that balanced them out. If you are a fan of single dads then this book should definitely be on your list!

I adore this series and this book is so wonderful, warm and sweet…as the final book in the trilogy is wraps up the sisters stories so wonderfully.

This has so many wonderful tropes - single dad, age gap, nanny, 2nd chance and friends to lovers. Helena blends all these tropes together into a wonderful love story.

Harley and Gavin are great characters..takes them a bit to figure out their relationship but once they do it’s wonderful. Gavin’s daughter Peyton plays a big role in them coming together - she is adorable and sweet.

As with all stories, the couple goes through some challenges..however, these two face some big obstacles they have to navigate.

A fantastic story that can be read as a standalone but I suggest reading the other books in the series to learn about the other sisters.

Jason Clarke and Stella Bloom do an amazing job with this story. Jason’s voice is so deep, dreamy and wonderful. Stella’s voice is so sweet and strong - her Payton voice is awesome! They bring a range of emotions and personality to each of these characters.

Make a Wish is book 3 of the Spark House series by author Helena Hunting. It is a standalone contemporary romance, told from both POV with a HEA.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
✔️ sing father
✔️ love after loss
✔️ age gap
✔️ slow burn

Harley loves kids & used to be a nanny but has been working with her sisters at Spark House for the past seven years helping organize events. The last person she expected to see at one of said events was Gavin and Peyton Rhodes, her last infant charge and her widowed father.

Now that they’re back though, Gavin doesn’t hesitate to reach out to ask for her help with Peyton and Harley is more than eager to spend time with both of them, going as far as ignoring her totally wrong for her boyfriend.

As she spends time with both Gavin and Peyton, she realizes that the connection between them. But even after breaking up with her boyfriend, navigating the delicate waters of dealing with Gavin’s grief over his wife and his overbearing in-laws proves to be more than they can handle.

Make a Wish had a lot of heart and emphasis in family and friends, particularly Harley and her sisters and it felt more like a women’s lit vs. a romance. Harley & Gavin's relationship is a slow burn and almost all of their interactions revolve around Gavin's daughter. Because of this, there wasn’t a lot of steam or romance, yet it was a very sweet story with lots of feels.

The narration by Stella Bloom and Jason Clarke was good. She does a great job with all the different voices including the male ones and I enjoyed Jason’s deep voice very much.

I listened to the third and final book in the Spark House series this weekend and it was lovely! Told in dual perspective, this is a second chance romance where the youngest Spark sister, Harley, gets to reunite with her former nannying charge, Peyton, and her adorable father, Gavin. More than just a romance, the book deals with grief, learning how to move on, and handling extended family drama.
I wanted to feature a fountain, since the title made me think of making wishes in a fountain. And when I found this one that featured horses, too, I was so excited - I mean, they aren’t hobby horses… I think you can probably read this book without having read the others in the series, but I think you’d understand the hobby horse reference, both here and in this book, if you start with When Sparks Fly. The relationships between the sisters is my favorite part of this series. Maybe it’s because I’m an only child, but I love reading about siblings who really enjoy each other. I listened to both this and Starry-Eyed Love, and the narration by Jason Clarke and Stella Bloom on both books is great. I honestly am not sure which sister’s story I enjoyed the most - what a great series!
Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinion. Make a Wish will be published on January 24th, so take the next week or so to catch up on the Spark sisters in order to enjoy this one as soon as it’s out!!

I've been eagerly awaiting Harley's story and Make a Wish definitely didn't disappoint.

This book builds from a previous time to present day. The main character, Harley was nannying for Gavin and his daughter, Peyton after the death of his wife. There is a lot he is trying to process and Harley is only twenty but has assumed an almost "mother-like" role to his daughter. Feeling overwhelmed and maybe a little afraid of his blossoming feelings for Harley, he leaves town and moves to Boulder where his inlaws live. Harley doesn't hear from him again for years.....until she unexpectedly runs into him and Peyton years later.

After moving back, Harley and Gavin start doing things with Peyton. Eventually, they both acknowledge that they want more from the relationship and decide to pursue their romantic feelings. But it won't be easy going. Gavin still harbors guilt over his wife's death in childbirth and his mother-in-law is less than welcoming of Harley in their lives. With so many raw emotions throwing up roadblocks, how will they manage? It's hard enough to date when there is a child or children involved anyway. You definitely don't need the challenge of added baggage. But what they have is special and if they can make it work, then they have the possibility for a wonderful future together.

Thank you to NetGalley for this early audio copy. I enjoyed listening to this story. The narration was done well and kept me immersed in the storyline without distraction. I chose to listen and review it voluntarily and the opinions contained within are my own.

I have really enjoyed the whole Spark House series, and this is the 3rd book in it, about the youngest Spark sister Harley. They read like light, funny, a bit spicy romcoms but also deal with heavier issues - in this one Harley and Gavin and his family deal with grief, regret, guilt, single parenthood and becoming a widow, and how all these things impact their lives long-term. Harley is such a fun and relatable character that she really made the book for me. She loves kids, and as the youngest sister who's also small in stature she's often underestimated. She wants to keep working with her sisters but their vision doesn't always align with what she wants to do with her life and it is empowering to watch how she works through this conflict. I think any of these books could be read as a stand-alone as it's a character based series, the only spoiler would be what happened to the other sisters in the previous books. But really they're all worth reading from the beginning, if you enjoy one you will love them all.

Stella Bloom and Jason Clarke were the perfect narrators for this audiobook, it really felt like Harley and Gavin were telling their own story!

This is the third and final book in a trilogy that follows the Spark sisters and I’ve read and really enjoyed them all. You don’t have to read them in order as each sister gets her own book but you should because they’re all really fun and then you get to see their stories grow over all three books.

It’s finally Harley’s turn and I’ve been wanting to get to know her better since the first book. This one has a blend of some tropes, you get second chance, age gap, friends to lovers and a single dad. I love all of those and the author merges them all so well. Helena always brings a certain type of charm and humor to her books and this was no exception. The narration by Stella and Jason was excellent as usual and overall this was a delightful end to the series with an epilogue that brought it all together perfectly.

This was such a great ending to this series. I loved seeing the final sister get her HEA, use her loss to help a family heal, and see the sisters all finally find their place.

The audiobook had great narrators, and I loved hearing all the moments come to life.

***audio arc from Netgalley

I adore single parent books. I just like that added element to a new budding relationship. I also love seeing the hero being a dad. Gavin and Peyton's relationship was really special, and Peyton played a really big role in this book. She was adorable and I also loved her relationship with Harley.

I'm not the biggest fan of long separations in books, but in this case it made sense. 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 from the start.

It was so good to see the last sister find her true love and have that happily ever after that Avery and London found in their story. I just loved all three sisters and really enjoyed this series.

Thank you @netgalley for the #audiobook version of #MakeAWish by #HelenaHunting. This is book 3 in the #SparkHouse series.

I ADORED this #romance. Here’s the premise: sisters Avery, London and Harley lost their parents at a young age. Each one of them has had their own journey to independence and they now run a boutique event hotel together.

Harley is a fun-loving, warm, maternal person who enjoys being a #nanny. She loves glitter and arts and crafts. She is a live-in for her widowed employer and cares for his baby daughter. But one night, the feelings she has for him almost make her overstep. He and his daughter move away and Harley is wracked by guilt.

Fast forward seven years. Harley bumps into Gavin again, with his now nine-year-old daughter. It turns out the germs of those feelings are still there, and they continue to grow. But it’s not simple to give #love a #secondchance. Gavin lost his wife in childbirth - can he handle loving someone to that extent again? What about pregnancy?

This is a #book that normalizes challenges in a #relationship - but also focuses on how to work on them. The growth that Gavin and Harley experience is moving and hard-earned. #Loss causes disruption in everyone’s life - as Harley learns when trying to interact with the mother of Gavin’s first wife, who is cold to her. This is a book about humans being #human - and it’s really well done. (There’s also a positive focus on #therapy!)

Sweet and bittersweet, with full-fledged, fleshed out characters, this is a romance that is worth the read. (And now I want to go back and read the first two books in this series!)

This book will come out on January 23rd. Add it to your list!

#ilovebooks #booksbooksbooks #bookaddict #reading #readersofinstagram #instabooks #booksofinsta #bookstagram #booklover #bookworm #bookreview #bookish #bookblog #booklovers #bookreviews #bookshelf #bookparty

This was such a sweet story. Even if it was a little heartbreaking in the beginning for Gavin.

I don’t typically like single parent stories, but this one may have just changed my mind. I like it even more that it’s the dad as the single parent. Gavin clearly puts his daughter, Peyton, first. Which makes him even more swoon worthy.

Harley is someone I think we should all strive to be. She is incredibly sweet, loving, and GREAT with kids. The two together just make sense.

Cute story, four stars all the way around.

ThNk you NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the ARC!!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for my ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 1/24/23
Series: Spark House, book 3, but can be read as a standalone
Quick plot summary: Harley's life turns upside down when the single dad and daughter she nannied for appear back in Colorado Springs seven years later. She almost kissed him years ago - and those feelings come right back, along with their complications.
Tropes: single dad, second chance romance, girlfriend/daughter friendship

Romcoms are some of my fave audiobooks, and this one was great to listen to! I loved seeing Harley's relationship with Gavin's daughter Peyton - their colorful unicorns and princess parties made me smile. Harley and Gavin both brought out the best in each other and learned to fight for what they wanted. I liked that the book was upbeat and positive but also had moments of conflict to balance out the tone.

If you like sweet romcoms with a touch of spice, check this one out!