MAKE A WISH (Spark House 3) by Helena Hunting-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 24, 2023

Ever have a defining life moment you wish you could do over? Harley Spark has one. The time she almost kissed the widowed father of the toddler she nannied for. It was so bad they moved across the state and she never saw them again.

Fast forward seven years and she’s totally over it. At least she thinks she is. Until Gavin Rhodes and his adorable now nine-year-old daughter, Peyton, reappear at a princess-themed birthday party hosted by Spark House, Harley’s family’s event hotel. Despite trying to avoid the awkwardness of the situation, she can’t help but notice how unbearably sexy he looks in a tutu. Add to that a spontaneous hives breakout, and it’s clear she’s not even remotely over the mortification of her egregious error all those years ago.

Except Gavin seems oblivious to her inner turmoil. So much so that he suggests they get together for lunch. For Peyton’s sake, of course. It’s the perfect opportunity to heal old wounds. Or it could just reopen them. This is one of those times Harley wishes she could see the future…

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REVIEW: MAKE A WISH is the third instalment in Helena Hunting’s contemporary, adult SPARK HOUSE romance series focusing on the Spark sisters: Avery, London and Harley. This is thirty-eight year old, landscape architect and widower Gavin Rhodes, and twenty-eight year old, nanny/co-owner of Spark House/Event hotel Harley Spark’ s story line. MAKE A WISH can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Harley and Gavin) with a final chapter from Peyton, MAKE A WISH follows the building relationship and romance between thirty-eight year old, landscape architect and widower Gavin Rhodes, and twenty-eight year old, nanny/co-owner of Spark House/Event hotel Harley Spark. At twenty years of age, Harley Spark was hired as the nanny to Gavin Rhodes’ infant daughter Peyton but Gavin was struggling in the wake of his wife’s death, and his attraction to our story line heroine. Battling his emotions, Gavin and his daughter Peyton moved across the state, leaving a heart broken Harley in the process. Fast forward to present day wherein Harley is now working for the family owned Spark House and Event Centre, she will come face to face with her past in the guise of Gavin Rhodes and his now nine year old daughter. Hoping to renew their friendship Gavin begins to include our heroine in family events, as well as depending upon Harley to help out in a pinch but all does not go according to plan when the heart wants something more, and guilt and grief threaten any possibility of a future together. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Gavin and Harley, and the potential fall-out as Gavin is unable to let go of the past, and Harley is unable to compete with the ghost of a woman who died too young.

Harley Spark had always intended to get her degree in infant and child care but Gavin’s rejection, and the need to help refurbish the Spark House meant Harley spent most of her time working for the family business. With the hopes of a children’s centre and birthday party event house, Harley’s plans are rejected, and she finds herself at a stalemate with her future going forward. The return of Gavin and his daughter Peyton pulls Harley into the family she once loved and adored but there may be an underlying issue for the man with whom Harley is falling in love. Gavin Rhodes has yet to move forward from the loss of his wife, and in his grief has allowed external forces to control the who, what and how of his nuclear family. Renewing his friendship with Peyton pushes Gavin outside of his current comfort zone, a friendship that quickly turns into something more.

The relationship between Gavin and Harley is one of second chances, of a sorts; a rebuilding friendship wherein Harley is unable to see past the obvious, and Gavin continues to hide behind a wall of grief, guilt and loss. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

All of the previous story line couples plays secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Gavin’s soon to be ten year old daughter Peyton, his parents Judith and Gareth, his former in-laws Karen and Kyle, and his friends.co-worker Ian and Lynn.

MAKE A WISH is an emotional story of grief and loss, guilt and struggle, acceptance and love, family, friendships and moving forward. The premise is impassioned and touching; the romance is seductive but heart breaking; the characters are struggling, determined and real.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
When Sparks Fly
Starry Eyed Love

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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FOLLOW: NYT and USA Today Bestselling author of The PUCKED Series, Helena Hunting lives outside of Toronto with her amazing family and her two awesome cats, who think the best place to sleep is her keyboard. Helena writes everything from contemporary romance to romance comedy, sports romance and angsty new adult romance.