REVIEW: Starry-Eyed Love by Helena Hunting

In Starry-Eyed Love by Helena Hunting (5/10), London Spark had almost forgotten about the handsome bearded man who asked her out a couple of months ago while having a few drinks with her sisters. She was in a bad place personally, newly single and stressed out about her family’s hotel and event business, Spark House. But when London meets Jackson Holt for the second time–sans beard this time–talk about chemistry! The bad news is he’s the CEO of the media company helping Spark House partner up with other like-minded companies. Meaning, London and Jackson shouldn’t date. The good news is it means more time together to grow a friendship until they can act on their feelings when the project ends.

‘I can’t figure him out, and it’s driving me mad. I love what he’s doing for Spark House, but I also want to get naked with him. And I have no idea where he stands on that because his answers are always vague. He’s the king of mixed signals.’

Jackson might be used to going after what he wants when it comes to business but he’s more reserved in his personal life after being burned one too many times. Although there was something about London from day one that drew him in. Even though she rebuffed him when he asked her out, it doesn’t mean Jackson won’t take a chance again–when the time is right. Because working with London is an exquisite form of torture, seeing her lovely face in meetings, enjoying her witty responses in their many conversations. But it’s not what Jackson craves. What he truly wants is to shower London with love and attention. And he won’t stop until he makes her his own.

‘When she steps in and wraps her arms around my waist, I sink into the warm embrace. I don’t know if there’s ever been a time in my life when I’ve felt so connected to another person.’

Starry-Eyed love is another sigh-worthy romance from Helena Hunting that made me fall head over heels for the Spark sisters all over again. With a dash of family drama and a slow burn relationship that was oh so right, this will surely leave a lasting impression.

“I’ve spent a lot of years avoiding love because I’ve been afraid of what I stand to lose… It seemed too painful. But what I’ve learned is that loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life.”

*Swoon* Helena Hunting is on a roll with her Spark House series. (And all of her other books, actually…) This time around it was middle sister London’s time to shine. I really had to appreciate how Hunting played up London’s strengths as an asset to the family business–plus her growing side gig with her crafts on Etsy–while balancing it out with her weaknesses. Mainly how difficult it was to be front and center as the face of Spark House to their clients. London was much better at the design and organizational side, which I can totally understand. It fit her personality more, capitalizing on her creativity instead of giving her anxiety dealing with people. And I loved how Jackson saw it immediately and gently tried to push her to voice her opinions to her sisters so they could make changes to benefit them all. Not easy in a family-run business. But if you read When Sparks Fly (Avery & Declan’s book) then you know it’s been a long time coming.

Jackson made a pretty wonderful hero. He was smart and sexy, had great instincts in business–but maybe not so much in his personal life, and wasn’t overly alpha like a lot of CEOs are portrayed. He was down to earth even though he was on his way to being a billionaire. And Jackson had also gone through some tough losses young in life like London and her sisters did so he understood her on a very deep level. They were like two puzzle pieces that fit together perfectly. It was the rest of the world that needed to figure out how well they worked as a couple. But by the absolutely lovely ending, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind. Sigh…

QOTD: London’s working relationship with her two sisters was a large part of the conflict in this story. Have you ever worked with family members or close friends? How did it go?

Book Info:

Publication: Expected publication: May 10th 2022 | St. Martin’s Griffin | Spark House #2

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.