Make a Wish

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.

I adore this Spark House series and now that each sister’s story is complete I cannot wait to recommend binging these three stories back to back.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…
Characters: Harley is the youngest Spark sister and is seemingly the most lost about her role in the future of Spark House. As much as these books have been about the sisters and their love interests, it has also been cool to see the evolution of Spark House. Harley is the type of character that is easy to love, a super nice person and caring to all. Her love interest is Gavin, and oh my poor boy! I really loved how dynamic his character was. He doesn’t really have it all together much either, both of our characters are struggling with this. For Gavin, his story is just as much a story of someone figuring out how to live with their grief instead of pushing it down.
Setting: This story is set in Colorado Springs, with the Spark House playing a major role. I enjoyed that the Spark House represented different things for each Spark sister. For Harley, it is a stressor, but some aspects that are seemingly becoming obsolete bring her joy. If you have read these books in the order you will appreciate the inner workings of the Spark House and Mills Co. acquisition, you’ll love it even more if you have read the books about the Mills’ (Shacking Up, Hooking Up).
Pacing: Helena really concocted these stories at such a perfect length. I was said when it ended because I am sad to leave the Spark sisters behind.
Romance: This was an interesting romance. I have seen takes on this trope before, the nanny/babysitter and the single dad falling in love. I have never seen someone write it in this way, that the first temptation happened so many years before and then we flash forward years later. When the heroine is a bit older and a bit more ready for this relationship to surpass just a crush or flirtation. Helena always does a good job of balancing the hot, intensity of the characters hooking up in secret. Balanced nicely with the way that feelings could not help but grow between Harley and Gavin.

I'm presuming this is the last book in this series as it is the last sister's story. This has been a cute romance series. Harley is such a ray of sunshine ... she made my heart happy. There were times I wanted to give Gavin a swift kick, but I know he went through a lot when he lost his wife and had a daughter to raise on his own. Then there's Gavin's daughter Payton ... she is just so cute. I love that the dynamic between Payton and Harley is strong right from the start. This is a great addition to the series and I'm sad that it's over.

Harley is the youngest Spark sister and she loves kids. Right out of school she takes a nanny job for a man (Gavin) who lost his wife during childbirth. When Harley starts to have feelings for Gavin, he up and moves to Boulder which is about 2 hours away, leaving Harley without a job. Harley is not only heart-broken because of Gavin, but also because she loved his daughter.She decides to take a break from kids and goes to work at Spark house with her sisters. Seven years later Gavin and his daughter move back to Colorado Springs and accidently meet Harley at a birthday party Peyton is attending. It doesn't take long for Harley's feelings for Gavin to come rushing back ... only this time, does Gavin feel the same? Or will the memory of his deceased wife keep them apart?

I received an early copy in exchange for a honest review.