This story had me at hobbyhorse! 🤣

A Classic friends to lovers romance.

In When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting we meet Avery and Declan, friends from college, turned roommates, who always have each other’s backs. But when Declan ditches Avery for a one night stand, things go from bad to worse. They are forced to navigate a new layer in their relationship. But for two people who are not the best in relationship this new layer is stretched thin.

A cute story that I listening to on audio as a palette cleanser after reading Velvet was the Night and The Last House on Needless Street.

I do have one complaint about the audio though…a big one! So…I usually listen to thrillers and romance on audio (they help while house cleaning). The narrator for Declan was completely wrong for the story. His voice would have been perfect for a thriller, but for this story his voice was eerie and very creepy. I was cringing on the romantic parts because his voice was so off. I would definitely recommend reading this one on your own instead of the audio.

I loved this one. I loved what Helena did with these two. I thought the ending was perfect. I felt like all things happened for a reason.

Best friends to lovers Rom-com. Good story and great characters. If you like romance, you should check this one out.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the eARC for an honest review. #Netgalley #Whensparksfly

This is a romantic friends to lovers romance. A little too steamy for my taste but everyone has different interests. Well crafted.
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I always know when I read a book by Helena Hunting that I am going to love it! I know when I read a book by her I am going to become absorbed with it, and not want to put it down. I read this one in just two sittings.

This was such a well written friends to lovers romance, and it even had some forced proximity in it too. Avery and Declan were just the sweetest characters, and I loved the buildup between them. The buildup between them felt very real. Also, the chemistry between them was so steamy! 🔥 Overall, this is such a cute book and it’ll make you smile when reading it. There is some trauma Avery has to overcome in this book, but the author does a great job at it. If you’re looking for a good romance book to read, I highly recommend checking this one out!

This was one of those books where one minute I couldn't put it down and the next I was ready for it to be over. While it had two narrators, it really felt one sided with most of the plot coming from Avery's narration. If there was going to be two sides to the story i think it would have been more helpful to dive deep into Declan's brain rather than glossing over the surface. While I found the ending to be "mature" in nature, I questioned if it would be the way things really would have gone down after spending so long getting to know these characters. Overall a good listen while commuting.

I didn’t think I’d love this audiobook as much as I did because the plot wasn’t anything novel. But the characters Avery and Declan were enthralling individually and together.
Also, the author told the story in a way that kept me engaged and entertained even though I suspected where the journey was headed.

Avery was a character that was a grown up tomboy. She enjoyed her guy friends and sports as much as she enjoyed her own sisters. She inherited Declan and the guys from her ex fiancée (after the broke up) and they are now clique. Her banter with the guys was entertaining.

The author added just enough heat, tenderness and character development to make it one of my favorite reads this year. It had a good number of tropes but the dual narration really put the story telling on another level. It’s a treat to be in both characters heads and hearing their thoughts. The narrators added a special touch to the story. I definitely recommend this audiobook to those who want a feel good rom-com that is well paced and sexy.

I loved this book, Avery is strong, independent, a great friend, fun, and loving woman that has suffered several different types of trauma. Declan at first is a cocky guy that slept around alot in order to bury his feelings but he is also a kind, loyal friend that too has and continues too suffer trauma that he never worked through. This story has moments of love, fun, fear, sadness, anger, and guilt. After certain events hidden feelings come out, passion erupts, anxiety is heightened in some areas, and jealousy rears its head which causes hurt feelings and anger. Time apart, help that has been needed for so long occurs, and alot of talking and admitting feelings brings about such a beautiful reunion full of hope and love. I love this couple together and the epilogue is fun, beautiful, and perfect. I think Helena handled this storyline very well, she touched on how a trauma can affect many parts of your life and how people and asking for help can make a big difference but it takes work and time. I can’t wait to read the books for Avery’s sisters. I was given an ARC copy of the audiobook from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

After her abusive marriage, Aurora Sherborne, the now widowed Countess of Radcliff, has decided to avoid love and emotional entanglements at all costs. With her three best friends married and starting their own families, she is beginning to feel lonely and want a child of her own, but that means a marriage of convenience with no feelings attached.

Garrett Winslow, now the Duke of Corwin and grieving the loss of his beloved father, has loved Aurora since they were children. He hasn’t been back in England long from his world travels, but the distance didn’t lessen his feelings for Aurora in the slightest. Unfortunately, she keeps him firmly in his place as her brother’s best friend, leaving Garrett to use every bit of tenderness he possesses in an effort to show her the love and happiness they could have together.

The first part of this book was lovely and drew me in so much. Garrett charmed me to no end, and I loved him as a hero. He was sweet and sensitive, but he never felt weak or emasculated and I would love to see more heroes like him. My issue here was with Aurora. I’ll start by saying she went through an absolutely hellacious marriage to a monstrous man, but I don’t think that excuses how she treated Garrett. On numerous occasions she enumerates Garrett’s fine qualities and how different he is from her former husband, how good of a man he is, how he would never treat her that way, etc. She then goes on to say she could never marry him because he loves her, and she doesn’t want that. She would rather risk a husband who has no feeling for her and would treat her like an object. This complete lack of logic was maddening for me, especially as poor Garrett is just there having to suffer seeing her court other men, who are of course terrible, but she somehow can’t see this. I just wanted to shake some sense into her and even her friends grew frustrated with her nonsense. It also frustrated me that she told Garrett she would never remarry and listed out understandable reasons, even though they were still hurtful for Garrett. Where she lost me is when she suddenly decided right after this conversation that she needed to have her own children and find a man with which to enter a loveless marriage. All of her previously reasonable fears just flew out the window to be replaced with nonsensical thinking and a problem that was almost entirely of her own making. On top of that, she treated Garrett terribly, taking advantage of his friendship, and then grew incredibly jealous when he received attention from other women, even when he wasn’t reciprocating it and had been blatantly honest about wanting to marry her. Thankfully she did come to her senses eventually, but not until after Garrett had suffered much heartache and not until nearly the end of the book, leaving things to wrap up in a rather abrupt fashion in my opinion.

All in all, I loved Garrett, I enjoyed that this book was mostly driven by conversation over action. I enjoyed the dynamics between this endearing friend group and would love to know more about the sparks that were flying between Helen and Geb and if Prudence can find a new HEA after the loss of her husband. This one was just negatively affected by the heroine for me, but the hero was awesome and made it worth reading.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I found the narrators of the audiobook engaging and easy to listen to. I enjoyed the story for the most part; it was a classic caregiver falling in love trope. I did not 100% love the relationship in the story because there were some elements that I think were problematic. I found it to be a story I was invested in finishing, even though it had begun to make me uncomfortable with where the relationship ended. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and didn't find myself impatient to switch perspectives when the author wasn't ready.

When Sparks Fly
by Helena Hunting
Narrated by Jason Clarke; Stella Bloom

I received an arc of the audiobook from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.

I am a long time fan of Helena Hunting, especially her audiobooks. Her narrators are always amazing and When Sparks Fly did not disappoint. I loved her All In Series and super enjoyed the Pucked series as well. This book is categorized as a standalone but if you’re a Helena Hunting fan like I am even though I didn’t know any of these characters they felt familiar because they embodied the characteristics I have come to know and love as being a trademark of hers. They are human and flawed. They feel real. They have hurts and hang ups and quirks that are relatable. They feel like people you may know or like a part of yourself.

I love the emotional growth that she can illustrate in her writing. Conflict resolutions and learning to deal with faults is not fast and easy just like real life it’s slow and takes effort and hard work. Honestly quality life lessons can be learned here and yet it’s also laugh out loud funny and I need a glass of ice water steamy.

5/5 Amazing! Loved it! Cannot say enough good things!

I was surprisingly underwhelmed with this book. I really wanted to like it but for some reason I just didn't care that much about the 2 main characters romance. They did have chemistry at moments but by the end it just fell flat. Maybe it was Declan's insecurities because I just do not see the appeal of sticking around with someone who has that much baggage and jealousy to deal with. I do like that the author wrote a little about his therapy and attempting to work through his issues but it felt like that part was very rushed to get to the happy ending. The narrators of the audiobook were very good and I did enjoy listening to them.

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting
Narrated by Jason Clarke & Stella Bloom
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: September 21, 2021
Genre: Romance

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting is a standalone romance and is absolutely wonderful! This is the first book I have read by the author and I absolutely loved it!

There was so much goodness in this book: wonderful characters, personal growth, a beautiful story, and so much love! I was so drawn to the characters and loved their story. I loved the humor and the interactions throughout. This was a beautiful friends to lovers romance and such a heartwarming tale.

The narration by Jason Clarke & Stella Bloom was incredible! They did such a great job bringing the story to life!

I'm so grateful to Helena Hunting, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed getting to know Avery and Declan - they seem like they'd be fun people to hang out with. I also enjoyed the evolution of their relationship from friends to more but found some of Declan's motivations hard to believe, especially the requisite breakup-so-we-can-makeup fight. While this book was very focused on the relationship, which it should be, I wanted a little more about her business and some of the crazy events they had there. I always reach for Helena Hunting's more recent books and will definitely read the next.

Terrific read!!! I just finished the audiobook version and I couldn’t wait to review the story.

Such a feel good story of friendship, love and overcoming obstacles. I loved every character in this book.

The narrators did such a wonderful job bringing all the characters to life.

If you are a fan of Christina Lauren books, this book (& author) will be right up your alley. Grab a drink and a tissue and jump in. Trust me you won’t want the story to end. I know I didn’t.

I devoured this book in one day! I loved the characters and everything they went through. Parts of it reminded me of other romance books, but it was swoon worthy. The narrators were perfect!

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting is a fast paced rom-com type story that alternates perspectives between Avery- the athletic, hangs with the boys, boss lady running a family event hotel and Declan- the super hot room mate who doesn't do relationships.
When a series of choices leads to an accident that leaves Avery unable to care for herself, Declan looks for absolution from his sins by providing the best care he can for her. It doesn't take too long for providing for her needs to expand to include providing for "her needs" and sparks definitely start to fly.
This story is cute, steamy, and exactly what you'd hope for in a sexy, fast paced modern romance. I will say that in listening to the audio, I at times for the switch to the male narrator jarring, but it was still overall easy to listen to and enjoyable. I'd recommend for people who enjoy this genre.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of this audiobook.

When Sparks Fly is a sweet, endearing story. Declan and Avery's friendship was so much fun to read. Their chemistry felt real and the development of their romance felt inevitable, with just the right blend of tender moments and sexual tension. Their sisters and friends rounded off a very likable cast of characters. When Avery needs Declan, he is there for her unconditionally and without reserves. At the end, I thought some of the angst was a bit overdone, but overall it was a story that made me smile a lot. In the Audio version, Avery's voice was spot on, but I found Declan's voice to be a bit off-putting, a bit too slow, obviously this is a personal preference and he could sound just right to other people.

I really enjoyed this latest friends to lovers story by Helena Hunting. I think that this is one of the hardest tropes to make believable, many times either the characters fall flat or lack believable chemistry. This story was spot on. I loved their friendship and their chemistry. Avery and Declan are best friends and roommates. When Avery is injured in a car accident she must rely on Declan to take care of her, wink, wink. The two begin to question their feelings for each other and wonder what would happen to their friendship if they acted on the attraction that they feel for one another? The fact that both know each others issues lends to the story's credibility. I enjoyed their supportive friends and Avery's sisters were great. The story is told from alternating perspectives which is narrated by different people which made the story more enjoyable. Overall is it a sweet, angsty romance that will keep you turning each page to find out whether or not they are going to become more than friends.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Ugh. I wish I had a better review for this one, but I did not finish it. The two main reasons are the male narrator and the plot. The male narrator did not feel into the story at all. It was like he was bored with the story. And the plot line. I just couldn't with the amount of masturbation and orgasm talk. I don't even think I got halfway through the audio book before stopping and it felt like half of what I had listened to was about giving each other orgasms. Not worth my time to read that. I'm sorry. I rarely DNF a book, sadly this was one.