[ARC Review] Make a Wish by Helena Hunting

Publisher's 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…  

My thoughts: I loved the first two Spark House novels, and I'm so glad that the youngest Spark sister is finally getting her story! 

Just like Avery and London, Harley has a lot going on when true love comes her way. As their eco-friendly event hotel really starts to take off, Harley Spark feels like she's losing her, well, spark. But then Gavin Rhodes and his daughter come back to town, and the chance to spend time with the little girl she used to nanny for couldn't come at a better time. Even if it means having the constant reminder that she once almost kissed Gavin. Especially if means realizing she may still have feelings for him.

I love a good single dad romance, and Gavin is more than just a one-note character for Harley to gravitate around. He definitely had his own complexities and was every bit as developed as Harley was. Their shared grief over losing people important to them truly allowed them to understand each other in ways no one else could. 

Due to their (mostly) platonic past, they had many hurdles in their present. One of the reasons I love the Spark sisters so much is the fact that they're not afraid to question each other's relationships. And London and Avery definitely had to have several heart-to-heart conversations with Harley about what exactly she was doing with Gavin, especially with Peyton involved. And since there was a child in the picture, one both main characters were connected to, it made this romance and their rocky road to get there that much more meaningful. 

I loved how Hunting incorporated all the main characters from the first two books, and kept the growth of Spark House a running theme throughout all three books. While readers could enjoy Harley and Gavin as a standalone, Make a Wish should truly be read as part of the series to fully understand the sisters and what Spark House means to them. 

As much as I loved Avery and Declan's friends-to-lovers romance in the first book, this third installment may just be my favorite. A second-chance, single dad romance that involves rediscovering your passion and avoiding a meddling mother-in-law? Yes, please. 

[A huge thank you to the author for sharing a review copy of Harley and Gavin's story! All opinions are my own.]

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Release date: 1/24/23

Format: eARC

eARC provided via: NetGalley