Make A Wish Review

Author: Helena Hunting

Series: Spark House #3

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: MacMillan Audio

Narrators: Jason Clarke, Stella Bloom

Release Date: Jan. 24, 2023

Purchase Link: Amazon

Special thanks to MacMillan Audio for an audiobook of this title. #MacMillanAudio

With her signature charm and sense of humor, bestselling author Helena Hunting creates a novel about love, family, and second chances in Make a Wish.

Review:

MAKE A WISH is the third and final book in the Spark House romance series and it features the youngest sister Harley.  Like previous books, it low-angst, sweet and a bit predictable, but highly readable.

Seven years ago, Harley Sparks was a nanny for single dad Gavin Rhodes' young daughter Peyton.  Gavin lost his wife to cancer and is still working through the grief process, and Harley stepped into their lives to help take some of the childcare load off his shoulders.  One night when they're alone in the kitchen and he's obviously hurting, Harley attempts to comfort her boss by hugging him, but it turns into an unreciprocated kiss.  The embarrassment is palatable for both of them and shortly thereafter Gavin moves across the country with his daughter.  Fast forward seven years and an accidental meet up flames old feelings between Harley, Gavin and yes, his daughter Peyton.  Harley falls into a pattern of meeting dad and daughter for dinner, ice cream and days in the park and the flames of heat between them grow.  In order for their romance to blossom, there are obstacles to overcome such as an overbearing mother-in-law that doesn't appear to want her son-in-law Gavin to move on and Harley's own internal battle over both her career and personal future.

MAKE A WISH is a heartwarming story that unfolds tackling themes like single parent, age difference, loss, grief and self-esteem.  The support cast includes characters from previous books and for that reason I recommend reading the series in order.  Having said that, this book certainly stands alone with a pertinent background information included.  I listened to the audiobook version and enjoyed performances by Stella Bloom and Jason Clarke in a dual POV format.  Highly recommended to fans of romance featuring single parents, age gaps and adorable children.

Synopsis:

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…