3.5 stars

Last year I read Helena Hunting’s first book in the Spark House series, When Sparks Fly. It was ok (came in at 3 stars for me) and while I didn’t LOVE it in the way that I had hoped, I was invested enough in the story and characters that I felt excited to try another book by Hunting. I liked the sound of this one as it sounded like a cross between a missed connection and workplace romance. Overall I thought it sounded cute and just a nice breezy read going into the spring.

So I said yes (obviously!) to reviewing this one and I was glad I did. While this book is part of a series, I would not have been lost in the story if I skipped over the first one. This book has new characters and storylines, the connecting part centers around Spark House and that’s about it—save for the occasional character cross over etc. So if you are worried about reading this one out of order, I would not worry you will be absolutely fine jumping in this series with this one instead of the first book.

If you love more contempo romances, Hunting has quite a few romances under her belt and this book will leave your romance reader heart feeling full! I am glad I decided to give another book by Hunting a go, I did find that I liked this one better than the first book I read by her. I love when that happens!

Summary
Charming, hilarious, and emotional, Starry-Eyed Love is Helena Hunting at her very best!

Having just broken up with her boyfriend, London Spark is not in the mood to be hit on. Especially not when she’s out celebrating her single status with her sisters. So when a very attractive man pays for their drinks and then slips her his number, she passes it right back to him with a ‘thanks, but no thanks’. As the business administrator for their family’s event hotel, the Spark House, London has more important things to worry about, like bringing in new clientele.

As luck would have it, a multi-million-dollar company calls a few months later asking for a meeting to discuss a potential partnership, and London is eager to prove to her sisters, and herself, that she can land this deal. Just when she thinks she has nailed her presentation, the company’s CEO, Jackson Holt, walks in and inserts himself into the meeting. Not only that, but he also happens to be the same guy she turned down at the bar a few months ago.

As they begin to spend more time together, their working relationship blossoms into something more. It isn’t until their professional entanglements are finally over, that London and Jackson are finally ready to take the next step in their relationship. But between Jackson’s secretive past and London’s struggle with her sisters, London must question where she really stands – not just with Jackson, but with the Spark House, too. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
This book satisfied my romance craving in many ways. It had some steam, a lot of romance, and of course left me day dreaming about a rich billionaire. I really liked how Jackson and London had this kind of chance encounter meeting and she turned him down. Immediately that showed me that she was strong and independent and knew that it just wan’t the right time for her and I loved that about her character and their romance. I thought it set the ton for their romance that would develop and evolve later on in the book. They did have an instant connection that carried throughout the book which I thought worked really well. I felt invested in their romance and it felt realistic. Jackson was swoon worthy for me and like London found myself attracted to him which, isn’t that the point of romances?!

The only thing that I felt really weighted this book down for me was the business aspects and language. There was a lot about businesses and a lot of business lingo that just felt a little much for me and made the book read a little more slowly than I anticipated. This did have a lot of cute dialogue and it was relatively fast paced—or was intended to be—but the business part just didn’t flow well for me. This is mostly a minor thing and others might not feel the same but for me it was a little frustrating when I wanted to get going with the story.

I did like this book better than the first one and I am glad that I read it and didn’t just go off of my feelings for the first book. This one felt more developed and was written better than the first one in my opinion. I loved the characters and I thought Jackson and London worked well together as a couple. Lots of well developed chemistry and a feeling of ‘fatefulness’ when it comes to their romance. I just wish some of the business parts were removed or condensed to allow for better flow of the story. If you love romances then I think you will find a lot to love in this one, a charming destiny plot, some steam, and two well matched characters. Get this one on your TBR for summer!

Book Info and Rating
Format: Paperback 352 pages

Published: May 10 2022 by St Martin Griffin

ISBN: 9781250624727

Free review copy provided by publisher, St Martins Griffin, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Genre: Romance, contempo romance

Book 2 in the series follows the middle Spark sister who is doing a job she doesn’t really love, but loves her family so she does it. What she really wants to do is be creative and not deal with the financials or client proposals. I liked London but thought she needed to stand up for herself. Who I didn’t like at all was Jackson. He was a manipulator and kept information from London multiple times. I couldn’t get past this. Writing was decent and I’m curious about the next story, so gave it 3 stars.

Thanks to SMP for the arc for my honest review.

Starry-Eyed Love is the second book in Helena Hunting’s contemporary romance series, Spark House, a series that follows three sisters who run a small boutique hotel together.

London Spark is the focus of this second installment, and I loved her from the opening scene when we encounter her and her two sisters, Avery and Harley at a bar together. London has just broken up with her boyfriend and the sisters are celebrating her newly single status. London is ready to focus her attention on the family business and has no interest in dating right now, so when a handsome stranger at the bar flirts with her, she tells him she’s not available. Little does she know at the time, but that man, Jackson Holt, is about to change her life in more ways than one.

I really loved the chemistry between London and Jackson right from that first meeting and was actually disappointed when she blew him off. Color me tickled then when London is invited to a meeting to discuss bringing Spark House on board as a partner for a huge environmentally friendly initiative. If you guessed Jackson Holt is the founder of this initiative, you would be correct. This of course forces London in close proximity to Jackson, whether she likes it or not, and things take off from there. London and Jackson are a great match on pretty much every level and there are plenty of flirty sexy moments between them, but I’ll say now to prepare yourself for a slow burn since they do have a working relationship and there are some angsty moments as they try to figure out how to navigate the professional and the personal.

As much as I enjoyed London and Jackson’s story, I was also a big fan of the relationship between the sisters. They are experiencing some growing pains as the hotel expands and so even though they adore each other, there is still the occasional tension. London, in particular, is in an awkward position. She has somehow landed in the position of business administrator, so she is responsible for bringing in new clientele and planning events. This isn’t her wheelhouse at all, as she is more of a creative type, and as much as she wants to help her sisters with the business and doesn’t want to create drama, this particular job and the way Avery is pushing her and refusing to hire outside help, is running her ragged. I loved how realistically Hunting portrays these relationships, especially the angst and tension, as London comes to terms with the idea that the only way out involves confronting Avery. Hunting hits that perfect and very relatable balance of “I love you more than anything but something has got to give.”

Starry-Eyed Love was my first time reading something from Helena Hunting but it definitely won’t be my last because this book was just such a delight – equal parts charming, and funny, and with a delicious side of drama and angst to spice things up.

I had gotten to know London in the previous book and was glad to know her story was coming next in the series. I had found her interesting, especially as it related to her dynamic with her sisters. From the little I learned of her, I came to admire her loyalty to her sisters and Spark House. But I also got the sense that she wanted more than what she was currently doing with her career.

in this installment we get to really see the role she plays in Spark House and the toll it was taking on her, which served to endear her more to me. 😀

So of course, I wanted what was best for her and a romance with a handsome, charming man was just the right kind of "spark" she needed in her life.

I loved Jackson. Not only was he the right amount of sexy and wicked, he was also caring and driven to succeed. Together with London, they made the perfect pair--driven, with an obvious connection and chemistry to burn.

I enjoyed catching up with the sisters and seeing them work together to make Spark House successful, but most of all I enjoyed seeing how their bond kept growing, their easy acceptance and their loyalty to each other even when they butted heads.

All in all, a fun steamy read.

ARC for honest review with no compensation Received from NetGalley, St Martins Press 4.5 stars

Starry Eyed Love is book 2 in the Spark House series by Helena Hunting and so glad to be back with the Spark sisters.

Up next is London Spark and Jackson Holt. They met months ago only they never connected in the right way until she is asked for a business meeting to discuss a partnership and who walks in on the meeting but the CEO, Jackson Holt, the man she turned down months ago…

Secrets, family issues, laughter, friends turn into lovers, mixed signals, wedding planning mixed in and so much more. We need book 3 now…lol.

I’m a huge Helena Hunting fan, so receiving an ARC of Starry-Eyed Love had me elated. While this can be a stand alone novel, it is the 2nd in the Spark sisters series and this made me appreciate it more. The three Spark sisters have worked incredibly hard to build an amazing Bed & Breakfast and event venue at the Spark House in beautiful Colorado. Starry-Eyed Love focuses on the middle sister, London. She’s the people pleaser of the bunch, willing to sacrifice her time and energy to do anything the sisters need to make the Spark House successful. She’s put her creativity to the side to focus on business and also any possible romance. When London spearheads a new collaboration with a predominant business, she’s blindsided by the company’s CEO Jackson Holt. Jackson built his company from the ground up and is eager to help London and the Spark House be successful. Despite trying to remain professional, Jackson and London can’t deny their attraction and chemistry. In typical Helena Hunting fashion, she’s created a fun and engaging story filled with sparks on every page. The relationship between the three sisters is so endearing and relatable. I love the deep concepts that Hunting weaves into each story, but appreciate that her writing always feels fresh, light and entertaining. I’ll always be first in line for Helena Huntings’ novels and Starry-Eyed Love should not be missed!

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this second book in Helena Hunting's Spark Sisters series! A quick-paced read, London and Jackson's road to romance was sweet, sexy, and absolutely delightful, but what really stood out for me was the family dynamics between the Spark sisters. Hunting dug deep as she built the conflict for both the romantic relationship and the family one, both completely satisfying for this reader. There were some wonderful laugh out loud moments and angsty moments that made my heart hurt, but I enjoyed every moment!

This is the second book of the Stark House series. I really liked how this book flowed. The characters interacted well with each other and others in the book. London and Jackson were meant to meet the way they did in the beginning I think if they had met any other way it would not have worked as well as it did.
I will admit that I cried towards the end of the book and I'm not one to usually cry while reading a book. I didn't like the way that Trent was with Jackson and trying to talk him out of his relationship with London all the time I do get that he was looking out for his friend and boss but as a friend he should have also been happy for them.
I would greatly recommend this book to everyone but only if they read When Sparks Fly book 1 of the Spark House series as this is not a stand alone book.

This book was wonderful! This is the second book about the Spark sisters, but can easily stand on its own. London Spark is one of three sisters that run a hotel, Spark House, that has been in their family for generations. It's there she meets Jackson, the CEO of a Media company. And needless to say, "Sparks" fly! Thank you so much to Netgalley and the Publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I really enjoyed this book! I found myself laughing (and maybe crying a little) and had a very hard time putting this book down. It was an easy read, but definitely engaging!

Starry-Eyed Love is book 2 in the Spark House series; however, the story also works as a stand-alone. Book 2 focuses on the second sister, London. Here, London and Jackson have a slow-burn romance as they move from co-workers to friends to lovers. Of course, the story is filled with miscommunication and conflicts. But the steam (and make-up steam) between our London and Jackson will start your pages on fire. Overall, a fun, breezy read, perfect for the beach.

3.5 stars.

This is about family values. Sisterly love is very prominent. Even when they are having a family crisis, their love for each other shines.

This story is about London who manages the financial and business sides of the family business. Ideally, it's not really what she wants to do, but she perseveres for her sisters ' sake. She is single at the moment and she is not ready to jump in a relationship. Jackson is a business mogul. He asks her out when having a drink and she turns him down. She doesn't know anything about him and she is asked to attend a meeting in view of promoting and expanding their business. She attends the meeting and little does she know that she has met the CEO. Jackson himself. When he sees her, he abandons all other meetings. It takes her a while to recognise that he is the same guy who asked her out three months ago. Will he give the sponship that he has offered to her or will remember about the rejection?

Jackson and London get on well, except it's strictly business when deep down there is an attraction to each other. The story is well paced and portrayed. Overall, the sisters get on pretty well except when there is the occasional fireworks. Jackson and London are very well suited , but as always there are misunderstandings. Jackson hasn't been comlplety honest with her and when the truth comes out, she is as angry as she is devastated. She doesn't give him a chance to explain, but it all ends well after that initial hiccup.

I was kindly issued with an eARC from Netgalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

Better than the last! London works hard to keep her family legacy alive, even when she is very unhappy. When Jackson enters her orbit, her business sky-rockets and so does her love life. I enjoyed this charming book, even when London's sister Avery made me so, so mad.

London was a fun main character to follow. This is both a sisterly story, but also a hard-core romance. The romantic interest is absolutely compatible with London and it was enjoyable seeing their story playout.

London Spark recently broke up with her boyfriend and isn't ready for another relationship ship anytime soon. While out with her sisters one evening she gets hit on by a good looking man but she's not ready to date so she doesn't take his number. London really doesn't have time to date, as the administrator for her family's business she worries about finding new clients and keeping the business moving forward. When a multi-million-dollar company contacts her she hopes that a partnership will come out of the meeting. The meeting seems to be going well.for her when an unexpected guest makes an appearance, the man whom she turned down on her night out. Jackson is surprised to see the woman who wouldn't take his number bit is also intrigued. The two start to get together for work and while doing so feelings start to form. Follow along as these two both start to fall for the other, can the two get over the past that the other is so secretive about? Will love win in the end? This was a lovely romantic read that I couldn't put down.

Helena Hunting delivers a fun and swoony friends to lovers romance that you won't be able to put down.

London Spark, along with her two sisters, own and operate an event hotel called Spark House. After breaking up with her boyfriend, the sisters are spending a night out celebrating, when London is approached by an attractive man who pays for their drinks and tries to give her his number. Despite the fact that she technically was single, London declines, and returns to enjoying their night out.

Fast forward a few months and a large company reaches out to Spark House about a potential collaboration. London attends the pitch meeting, where the CEO, Jackson Holt, surprises them by interrupting and sitting in the meeting. This is when London realizes that Jackson is the guy from that night out that she denied! Clearly taking an interest in more than just Spark House, Jackson in more hands on with London and this project than ever before. In an effort to keep things professional during the initial project, several bumps are hit along the road.

What a great book! Despite being in a series, I think that this book could be read as a standalone. 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for an advanced copy for honest review.

Starry Eyed Love by Helena Hunting is the newest installment in the stand-alone series, Spark House.

Now, I loved the first book When Sparks Fly but this one? Well, for two nights in a row I had to talk myself into stopping my “Just One More Chapter” thoughts and as the clock got closer & closer to 4AM.. each chapter was just too good to leave off on.

I plain adored/loved/LIVED for this book and I cannot recommend it enough. London and Jackson are a second chance, will they won’t they romance. A romance where two extremely different people can’t help but fall for the chemistry that is so obvious between them. Helena Hunting is definitely one of my favorite rom-com writers and all you have to do is read this book to find out why!

This was such a fun, slow-burn romcom with a meet-cute, a friendship, and then something more. I enjoyed the sparks buzzing between London and Jackson and cheered as they got together. The sparks flying between London and her sisters were a bit tempestuous at times, as they can be with family, but they could still count on each other. There were a few slow spots (at least for me), but I found this to be an enjoyable read overall. This is book two in the series.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

London and Jackson's love story in Starry-Eyed Love by Helena Hunting, book two in her Spark House series, combines the stress of running a business with all that entails; dreams, goals, creative genius with the delicate balancing act of trying to live your life and finding happiness one deserves. It is an amazing story of family, relationships, and acceptance; misunderstand and mistrust; romance, passion and love.

Several months earlier, following the break-up of her most recent relationship, London spent the evening at a bar with her sisters where she would meet a stranger but with her break up still fresh in her mind, London declined the handsome stranger, never getting his name or details. Several months later London is doing an important presentation to help grow the family event hotel business and the CEO of Holt Media and Consulting, stops in to join the meeting and London realizes it’s the man from the bar; super rich and successful Jackson Holt. Holt Media is hoping to liaison with Spark House for a business proposal, a proposal that will bring London and Jackson up close and personal. Despite the sparks flying, the possibility of a conflict of interest forces these to remain a professional demeanor; until their chemistry interferes. What develops is the building romance and relationship between London and Jackson, and the potential fall-out as Jackson’s past refuses to walk away, destroying London. There is plenty of magnetic attraction and sizzling chemistry between these two. There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including London’s sisters Harley, Avery and Avery’s fiancé Declan. Jackson’s friends and business partners Trent, Lincoln and Griffin, as well as his assistant Mitchell, and Selene Angelis, Jackson’s social media and marketing advisor also add an additional depth to the story.

Ms. Hunting wrote an emotional, wonderful, heartwarming romance that kept me turning the pages as I followed the twist and turns of Avery and Declan’s relationship. She provided a tale rich with magnetic attraction, sizzling chemistry, clever banter, the magic of friends, and charming characters giving London and Jackson a chance at love, happiness, and a future neither expected. I highly recommend Starry-Eyed Love to other readers and can’t wait for Harley’s story.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Starry-Eyed Love was a fresh and fun read.

I haven't swooned this hard while reading a book in a while. Jackson Holt, the CEO is proposing a partnership with The Spark House which complicates his desire to date London. However, it is funny how much time they spend together in the name of "business" when Jackson is dating her. London is dedicated to her family. and tries to balance her work life with the possibility of starting a relationship. When we last visited all three sisters, I remember Avery forgiving Declan too soon. The damage he invoked was horrible and I wanted him to suffer even more for forgiveness. However, I don't remember Avery being a pain in the a** like she was in London's story.
Hunting does an amazing job of building the steam. It was the "mini" dates between Jackson and London that kept me turning the pages. If you have a private jet, it's easy to keep my attention (ha ha) . Its completed with the sweetness of a boy-meets-girl love story touched with current events such as sustainability and conservation.
Jackson and London are #couplegoals. I enjoyed reading their cinderella love story.