I have recently been introduced to Helena Hunting and I am so glad that I have a back list of books to read. But even more grateful that I received an ARC E-book of When Sparks Fly, her latest book, from St.Martin’s Press through Netgalley.

When Sparks Fly is book 1 in the Spark House Series. It follows best friends Avery and Declan as they navigate life after a car accident. Avery is immobile for weeks after the accident and Declan becomes her sole caregiver during this time and this is where things start to move from friendship to more. Their friendship goes all the way back to college and there has always been an underlying attraction. With forced proximity these two begin to question what may have happened if they had dated. From helping out to foreplay to love.

I think that Helena was able to weave humour, growth, and struggle into this book. That being said, I am feeling very indifferent. It was not a DNF but I wasn’t in love with it. It could also be because I am not always a fan of the friends to lovers trope. The story also pulls in the sick/hurt trope as well with Delcan being the caregiver. His ability to dote on Avery, after the accident I really did enjoy. Some of it likely out of guilt but I also think that he would have cared for her in any situation. There was lots of emotion and the past ultimately came back to bite both Avery and Declan. Don’t get me wrong I really do enjoy Helena’s writing and her books so I am not upset that I read this book. I just didn’t love it as much as I was expecting to.

Here are a few quick points to help you decide whether or not you want to read this book.
If you love books with:
♥️ friend-to-lovers
♥️ roommates
♥️ forced proximity
♥️ nursing back to health
♥️ dual POV
♥️ great steam
Then I think this would be a great book for you.

Avery Sparks and her two sisters run Spark House, a hotel/event space. London and Harley each have their strengths but for Avery it is her dream. Since college she has been best friends with Declan, a hot financial guy with an active sex life, and they share a condo. On her way to a meeting with the hotel Avery is an accident breaking her leg and arm and Declan blames himself. If he hadn't gone out drinking the night before and picked up a random he would have driven her. This is a sweet romance of friends becoming lovers. I felt that things were a little slow during the recounting of all the obstacles Avery went through with her recovery and Declan taking care of her but I did like them as a couple. The ending was predictable. Heck it is a romance novel but I felt it could have been handled a bit differently.

I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy.

Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. There was nothing specifically wrong with it, I just could not focus on it.

I was a bit bored with the characters and couldn't seem to care about them at all. I would put the book down only to pick it back up a couple weeks late and put it back down.

This was my first Helena Hunting book so I will definitely try another of hers. This one just wasn't it.

I enjoyed this book. I’ve only read Helena’s hockey series so I was hoping that I would love this book just as much as I love her hockey guys!

Avery is an amazing character! I love how she isn’t the normal heroine. She doesn’t have to be dolled up all the time. She’s one of the guys. I really related to her!

Declan avoids commitment at all costs. He doesn’t realize what Avery means to her until he almost loses her. But can he still overcome he’s commitment phobia?

This book had me rooting for Avery and Declan to make it work. I really enjoyed watching them learn how to navigate life as it kept throwing them curve balls. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

Nope. I hated this one. There are lots of points of contentions and this would be one of the worst friends to lovers storyline I have read. The big blowout after the main characters get together is blown so out of proportion that you want to chuck this book out. Would not recommend.

I had just been saying recently how even though I do enjoy all the rom-com books lately, what I've missed (and really wanted) were the romances with angst and sexy times. When Sparks Fly totally fit the bill! I actually went into the book pretty blind as my main reason for reading it was because Helena Hunting wrote it and she did not disappoint. Avery and her two younger sisters run their family business, the Spark House, a premier hotel/event space in Colorado Springs. Between a job she loves, her friends and sisters, and living in a condo with her best friend Declan, life is good. Then Avery is in a car accident which leaves her immobile for weeks. It's a sobering moment for all as it could've been much worse and brings up painful memories for both Avery and her sisters, and Declan insists on being her sole caretaker throughout her healing process. And this is when is get complicated (I love a complicated, messy relationship in my romances!).

Avery and Declan have a long history together stemming since college but suddenly being together 24/7 and him taking care of her every need (and I mean every need!), has them questioning and finally realizing what's between them. I absolutely loved the progression of their relationship. We got to see the good, the bad, and the ugly and I appreciated that while the author was ramping up on the romance aspect, she didn't neglect the fact that Avery was healing her body and how frustrating that was for such an active person. She also didn't shy away from Avery and Declan's issues, with the former dealing with hers head on while the latter preferred to shut down. It made the conflict that much sadder and intense and likewise, the conclusion that much sweeter.

Do I recommend? Yes! I really, really enjoyed this.

I love watching two people move from friendship to something more and all the trials and tribulations along the way.
Avery makes him work for it. Dec has to earn back her trust, her friendship, and her heart. And it’s not an easy path—it’s twisty and steep, but Dec is bound and determined.

I really loved watching these two begin coming out of their emotional shells and in trusting the other, become trustworthy, and capable of real love in all its varieties.

This is a story about three people, Avery and Declan and Sam. They three were very close until college when Sam was in a relationship with Avery who loved him a lot. But he cheated on her and she dumped him and Dec chose to dump Sam too and became Avery's best friend. When they graduated college they worked together and also lived with each other. But through the years it was very platonic.

Dec has many one night stands because he is the son of a bad divorce. He is anti love and relationships and marriage. Avery's parents died in a car accident many years before and she is a scared driver and so when she wants to see some college friends, she asks Dec to drive her.

But the day of, Dec flakes on her in a big way and she ends up in a terrible car accident. Feeling very guilty, Dec offers to take care of her. The accident dredges up unresolved feelings from Dec about Avery and Avery is very frustrated after her accident.

These two make some decisons on where they want to take their relationship and Dec still has many issues. Can he grow up or will he destroy his relationship with Avery?And what happens when Sam contacts her?

This was a really different type of story than I have read from this author. I felt it was not very romantic or sweet or funny. It was a lot more of serious book than I have read by the author before. Both Dec and Avery have some serious issues and they both have to learn to grow up, face their pasts and figure out where they want their futures to go. It was a really interesting story and I enjoyed it, but it was more women's fiction than romantic and it was a more serious story than I expected from this author.

I think this is the first book that I have read from this author, and I quite enjoyed reading it. The characters are engaging and likable, despite their "issues" and I like the trope of friends to lovers as I also married my best friend, over 42 years ago.

Avery Spark and Declan McCormick became best friends in college where both suppressed their more physical feelings towards each other and became best friends, eventually becoming roommates and buying a condo together. But slowly those feelings start to surface, which leads to jealousy on DeClan's part and a very serious car accident for Avery. As Declan, feeling guilty becomes her number one caretaker, they eventually give in to their attraction, but that too leads to a series of unfortunate and fortunate events. Funny while still exploring some serious issues.

I read an ARC from NetGalley.com This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

This storyline was unique which made me want to read the book from the start. I did feel that some parts of the book moved slowly but then picked back up and made me want to keep reading to find out what happens at the end! Declan and Avery's relationship was one that you couldn't help but root for! Thanks for the great read!

There were so many things about this one that I loved- the Spark sisters relationship, Avery as a whole, the use of the caretaker trope. But man oh man did Declan try me. I do think that this was kind of the point, he made some bad decisions and had some major growing to do emotionally, so hats off to Helena and her writing, but sheesh it was good he showed how caring and thoughtful he could be too. Of course, making characters realistic and three-dimensional keeps books fresh and different, so I'm not mad about the choices.

I did love Helena's traditional hijinks and hilarity that were woven into this one (hobby-horsing anyone?). This was a bonus book read with my book club, LoveArctually and we had a chance to Zoom with Helena- she's just ask hilarious and full of personality as you would expect after reading one of her books. It was a blast talking about this one, what's next for the Spark sisters and how so many of her books have easter eggs of each other hidden throughout.

So glad to have this one to add to my growing Helena collection and can't wait to see what's up next for London in the next book in this series next year!

4 stars. Avery Spark runs Spark House with her 2 sisters. They were orphaned when their parents were in a car accident. She shares a house with her college best friend, Declan McCormick. Declan is a bit of a partyer, who is also prone to make bad decisions. When Declan is unavailable to drive Avery to a sales pitch, she decides to overcome her fear and drive herself. As she’s driving, she is involved in an accident while talking on the phone with Declan. Due to her injuries, she will need someone to help her, so Declan takes some time off from work to be with Avery as she heals.
This is a friends-to-lovers romance. Typically, not my favorite trope in romance, this one was very good. These two have a great chemistry from the very beginning. And when things heat up, Sparks do indeed fly!
Thank you to #Netgalley and #StMartinsPress for the advanced e-copy of #WhenSparksFly. This is the first book in a planned series and I look forward to reading the next book in the Spark House series.

"When Sparks Fly" was such a great rom-com book. The plot was a bit predictable but the journey getting there was enjoyable from page 1 till the last word. There were moments of depth filled with humor and love. I liked both Avery and Declan's character ARCS. Their journeys seem very real and genuine. The chemistry in "When Sparks Fly" was well-written and totally believable. The friends to lovers trope was perfectly played between Avery and Declan.

Avery and Declan have been best friends for a very long time. They live together as friends, hang out and watch sports together, and both secretly are in love with the other. When Declan stands Avery up on the day of their high school reunion get together, she has to drive herself and ends up getting into an accident that could have been a lot worse than the broken leg she suffers. Declan feels terrible and does everything he can to help her because he knows the accident would not have happened if he had been there to go with Avery. Her recovery ends up allowing them to realize that they have feelings for each other--but how do they deal with that without losing their friendship? This was so cute and funny! I always love a friends-to-lovers story, and this one was perfect!

I loved the premise of this book! Finally kindling a long awaited loved between two friends.

Touching on the mental health of both main characters was a plus for me. It made the characters more real and not surface level as most romance books can be.

I'll be honest and say I didn't finish this book. I made it about 50% through and just didn't have it in me to keep going. I felt no connection to either character and didn't really care if they decided they wanted to escalate their friendship to friends with benefits. Everything just felt very blah. With so many good, creative romance books on the market now, it takes a little more than what When Sparks Fly gave to keep me invested.

When Sparks Fly is a sweet and sexy friends to lovers romance featuring Avery and Declan.
This pair have been best friends since college, they own and live together in a condo, and both have some baggage from their past and struggle to form lasting relationships.
Avery and Declan are endearing and relatable and I particularly enjoyed the development of their characters over the course of this title.
Avery is the eldest of the three spark sisters who run Spark House an event venue and hotel. She’s independent, confident, and driven to make her family business a success. When she’s unfortunately injured, she’s put at the mercy of others, and has no choice but to let them take control.
Declan has a well-earned reputation with the ladies. He’s charming, charismatic, and loyal, and despite some of his early actions he has a big heart and will do anything for those he cares for most.
I enjoyed the undeniable chemistry between this pair, and hope that at some point in the future we will get the stories of the other two Spark sisters.

Avery was living her best life when she was in an accident that left her needing some care. Declan is her best friend and roommate. He decides that he will take care of Avery. The two have been friends a long time but never got involved because Avery dated Declan's best friend Sam at one time. Now the two have an unhealthy relationship as the story goes on. I didn't care as much for Declan.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and am leaving a review.

Avery Spark co-runs an event hotel with her 2 sisters and lives with her best friend Declan McCormick.

Avery is a workaholic, relationship adverse since her last serious boyfriend cheated on her in college.

Declan is also a workaholic and relationship adverse but not that he's ever had one. No, his parents did a number on him, that relationship has made him run from anything resembling a relationship.

They get along great, who says your best friend, who is the opposite sex can't also be your roommate and it be platonic.

You know where this is going but oh boy the trip is so, well every emotion imaginable. You will laugh, cry and scream. I've read every book by this author and there are some heavy scenes but just as many light hearted and steamy ones. This is a well written story and one that is easily imagined on the big screen.

Loved the book, very well done

All the Ways to Make a Mess
My review of When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting is painfully late, and that shame is my own. I have been a long-time fan of Helena Hunting and was so excited to read her newest release. Please do not let my tardiness give you any reservations about diving into this one headfirst!

Our leading lady Avery works with her sisters at Spark House, a hotel that has become a destination spot for events from everything to weddings to hobbyhorse competitions, which we get to witness in all it’s glory! She lives with her college friend Declan who while being distractingly handsome is a commitment-phobe and also simultaneously the friend of her ex-boyfriend making him officially hands-off…or is he? While obvious to everyone around them that there are unrequited feelings between them it takes a horrible accident to make them face facts, they were never going to be able to stay “Just Friends.”

The relationship between Avery and Declan is more complex than a typical friends-to-lovers trope that we are used to. There are underlying issues that require both of them to take a serious internal mental dive before they are able to pursue long-term romance. I will say with all honesty at the beginning of the book I was not a fan of Declan, and I’m not sure that I was supposed to. His inability to deal with his feelings lead to selfish actions which ultimately contributed to the perfect storm that resulted in Avery’s accident. His guilt about what happened only furthered his spiral into an unhealthy mental state. While he cared for Avery and they began to admit their feelings for each other I spent a lot of the book waiting for the other shoe to drop. I actually began to feel sorry for him once the groveling started because it was obvious he knew what he did, but wasn’t willing to confront what drove him to it. Once Declan finally hits the wall, he gained my respect by getting the help he needed rather than relying on love and intimacy alone to hold him together.

Avery and Declan’s story stands out to me because even though they were best friends and roommates prior to the mushy stuff there wasn’t some Aha moment where they suddenly realized they were meant to be together all along. It was a slow build with bumps along the way that leads to a relationship built on newly realized truths.

Helena Hunting has always been an author that sticks out when people ask for laugh-out-loud recommendations, specifically her Pucked series. There are scenes in this book that definitely fit that ticket but overall I found this to be a bit more emotional than books of hers that I had read previously. For me this was not a negative in the slightest but just reinforced my adoration of her books. I am so excited that Avery’s sisters will be getting their stories and will be anxiously awaiting their release!