Sparked

Heartbreaker Trades #3

by Claire Wilder

Two pink lines on a stick. Not the ideal way to end a work conference. Neither is what happens when I break the news to the guy I spent the night of my life with: our email chain goes silent.

The worst part? I should have known better. I’ve been here before, and have a perpetually pissed-off 15-year-old son to prove it.

I’m pissed off too. But I’m also not the naive 20-year-old apprentice I once was. I’m a master electrician and seasoned single mom. This will be the do-over I always wanted, no man required—or permitted in my life. Ever again.

Then I collide with one on the sidewalk. He’s gracious enough, but when he turns around and those achingly familiar ice-blue eyes meet mine, my stomach hits the pavement.

Sam is as handsome as I remember. But the smile that made me reel that night is nowhere to be seen as he takes in the ten-month-old in my stroller—and sees his own eyes staring back at him.

But between his shock, a new limp, and that happy-go-lucky demeanour I remember vanished, my anger fizzles. It turns out Sam didn’t fall off the face of the earth. He nearly died right after that conference.

At first Sam’s feelings about being a dad are complicated. But it’s not long before he’s knocking on my door, determined to be a part of his son’s life.

We start with simple park dates and neighborhood walks. But soon Sam’s everywhere—fixing holes, doing bedtime, and bonding with both my boys. Worse, he looks at me like being a single mom is a super-power, not a curse.

And like he remembers the wild sparks from our night together as vividly as I do.

But when I realize Sam hasn’t just fallen for my kids, but for me too, the electric fence I rigged around my heart starts to short out. Sam’s all in. And this family we’ve made is better than anything I ever dared dream of. So why do I suddenly feel like running scared?

What you'll find in this book:

What you'll find inside Sparked:
Single Mom
Secret Baby
Golden Retriever Hero (with wounds!)
Excessive Banter
Yearning
He Falls First
"Get it out of our system"
Secret Relationship
Found Family
Small Town
Sparked is book three in the Heartbreaker Trades series about women in trades and the men who love them. This book can be read as a complete standalone.

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance

344 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 24, 2026

About the author

USA Today bestselling author of spicy small-town romance featuring

- Relatable women who always support each other
- Strong, sexy wounded men
- A sometimes rocky but always steamy road that always leads to a guaranteed HEA

Get a free book unavailable in stores when you sign up for my newsletter: clairewilder.com/subscribe

Where to find me:

Website: clairewilder.com
Instagram: instagram.com/clairewilderbooks
Bookbub: bookbub.com/profile/claire-wilder
Amazon: amazon.com/author/clairewilder
Bonus Material: clairewilder.com/extras

Reviews

[cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You saved me, Ellie. Just by being in my life. You still do, every day.”


on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ‎♪ˎˊ˗
"sᴘᴀʀᴋs" x ᴄᴏʟᴅᴘʟᴀʏ
0:54 ──♥─────── 3:46


One unforgettable night turns into an unexpected second chance when a single mom is reunited with the man she never thought she’d see again. What unfolds is such a tender story about healing, family, learning to trust again, and discovering that sometimes the life you never planned for ends up becoming the one you needed most🥹🥹

I swear at this point I think I’ll read absolutely anything this author writes because somehow every single book in this series has just worked for me. I had been counting down the days for this one, and it absolutely delivered. 🙂‍↕️ It had all the heart, all the softness, and all the feelings I was hoping for 👏🏼
I’m also super picky when it comes to accidental pregnancy romances because I feel like they’re either done really well… or they just aren’t 😂 This one? It was handled so beautifully. Every emotion felt earned, every conversation mattered, and nothing ever felt forced 🥹🥹

Sam. WHERE DO I EVEN START???

From the very beginning, all he wanted was for Ellie to feel safe, supported, and heard. He never tried to bulldoze his way into her life or make everything about what he wanted. He just kept showing up with patience, kindness, and the biggest green-flag energy imaginable. Watching him figure out fatherhood was honestly one of my favorite parts of the entire book. The fact that he asked a friend for “dad lessons” because he genuinely wanted to do the best he could??? I MELTEDDDDD (the burping scene had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes 😭🤣)

The little acts of love absolutely destroyed me too. Homemade granola bars. Muffins. Quietly making sure Ellie actually had something to eat because he knew how much she was carrying. SERIOUSLY. SUCH. A. GREAT. GUY. 😭

And watching Ellie slowly realize she didn’t have to do absolutely everything herself? I loved that journey so much. She was incredibly strong, but seeing someone genuinely want to help—not because he thought she couldn’t do it, but because he wanted to lighten her load—was so refreshing. Watching her learn to let someone in was every bit as emotional as watching Sam step into fatherhood🥹

As much as I adored watching Sam with Henry, something about the way he loved Tommy absolutely wrecked me. He never treated him like an obligation or “someone else’s kid.” He just loved him. Fully. Naturally. Without hesitation. Those moments honestly might’ve been my favorite in the entire book 😭😭😭🫶🏼

Also… can we PLEASE talk about how it’s always the softest, sweetest men who somehow end up having the dirtiest mouths??? The slow burn takes its time, but once that tension finally snaps… whew. Buckle up because it is
🔥H🔥O🔥T🔥

This whole book just felt soft. Gentle. Hopeful. It wrapped itself around my heart and refused to let go. 😭 Without a doubt my favorite in the series so far, and after that ending?? You already know I’m counting down the days until the marriage of convenience book with kit and con 😝

favorite quotes ↓

“Whenever I’m with your family, it feels like whatever’s up there is reminding me that life can be so brutal. But that it can be so rich, too. So full and made with this indescribable kind of love. Like sometimes we get to see Heaven right here on earth.”

“I knew nothing could get Ellie out of my system. Not now, not ever. I was in love with her. So in love with her that I was done loving anyone else. If that meant I died alone then so be it.”

“I was in love. I could admit that now. I could also admit that what I felt before for anyone else paled compared to this. What I’d felt before was attachment. Fear. A desperate desire to be loved back. But this? Having Sam love me back was a gift.”

things to know about the book ↓

⚡️ single mom
⚡️ accidental pregnancy
⚡️ golden retriever MMC
⚡️ he falls first
⚡️ found family
⚡️ second chance
⚡️ dual POV

swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 24, 32, 33, 38, 39, 40

Thank you Luna Literary, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

If you're interested in reading my other reviews for books in this series! ↓ ↓
#1 Plunged
#2 Nailed

─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖

july 15th- so excited i get to continue arc reading this series!! 🙌🏼🤭 can't wait for it!!

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars.

"Sparked" by Claire Wilder is so sweet! I really enjoyed this book. I am typically not a huge fan of second-chance romances, but this one really worked for me. I loved how Ellie (FMC) and Sam's (MMC) relationship slowly unfolded while they learned to co-parent their young son with one another. Ellie and Sam had a one-night stand during a trade conference. There was a big spark between them, and she felt like she was able to be herself and take for herself with Sam. Well, Ellie wound up pregnant. When she tried to contact Sam about the pregnancy, he never responded, and she was blocked online, so she thought he had ghosted her. Hurt and alone, she has been a single mother ever since. Ellie also has a 15-year-old son named Tommy who is more than a brooding handful. Still, Ellie is a dedicated mother to him and baby Henry, giving her entire self to her wonderful sons. When she literally runs into Sam many, many months later, he learns that he is a father for the first time. Stunned, he wants in on his son's life, so he starts babysitting and slowly co-parenting not only Henry, but Tommy, too. Despite being angry and still hurt about the situation, Ellie can't seem to stay away from Sam, who has taken to the parenting this quite well. He also has a unique ability to anticipate her needs and help her when-and-wherever she needs it so she can simultaneously run her business. I found the rekindling of their relationship and the formulation of their little family to be both heartwarming and realistic. These characters and conversations and situations feel real and lived-in. The conversation Ellie has with Tommy after he (redacted) to Sam?? Oh my god, I BAWLED! I felt so, so deeply for that boy! They don't shy away from their hurts or insecurities or pains. I loved seeing how Sam desperately wanted to make amends for the situation. He was such a golden retriever... but he's not without his own personal traumas. I loved Ellie's dedication to her kids, how strong she was, the sacrifices she made for work and for her kids, how relatable she was. I loved watching them reconnect. What a great book in a great series!

Thank you to Claire Wilder and The Smuthood for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5🌟, 3🌶️

This was such a sweet, emotional romance that completely won me over.

I’m usually picky with second-chance and accidental-pregnancy stories, but this one worked beautifully for me. I loved how naturally the romance, co-parenting, healing, and found family came together.

Ellie and Sam were so easy to root for. Ellie’s strength and devotion to her boys really touched me, while Sam’s patience, kindness, and determination to show up for his family made him such a lovable hero. I especially adored his relationship with Tommy, and watching Ellie slowly learn she didn’t have to carry everything alone gave their story so much heart.

This made me laugh, blush, and definitely tear up. The chemistry was fantastic, but it was the quiet moments of care and watching this little family come together that really got me.

A warm read that left me with a very happy heart.

~~~~

Huge thank you to Claire Wilder and Luna Literary for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Single Mom / Reverse Slow Burn / Emotional and Heartwarming

God dammit! I want more of this story. Claire has this unique and fantastic way of catch you and pulling you in with the story of her books. Then she makes you cry and then she makes you blush. This story reminds me of the Redbeard Cove series. It’s devestatingly emotional, pulling in deep conversations and complex character experiences. Then she builds these relationships between all the characters, the FMC and MMC, but also with all the side characters. Claire especially does such a fantastic job at writing single parents in a way that values and highlights the kids. Sam and Ellie’s relationship is more than just between them, it’s also their son and her son. In this book Tommy is a trouble teen who just needs people to be there for him. Sam becomes this listening ear and breaks down those walls with him. It was so beautifully done I was blurry eyed reading it, even now remembering the scenes I’m emotional. I love how sensitive and aware Sam is. Claire is not afraid to write that sweet man, who’s a freak in the sheets lol. It was a great way to highlight that you can be a great man by not being perfect and making mistakes. So long as you are working hard to be better and put your loved ones first. This book was so well written, so well plotted, and perfectly paced. There was not a moment when I thought something was missing. I cannot wait to read Kits book next!!!

[Isabella Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

“ɪ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɢᴇᴛ ᴇʟʟɪᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴍʏ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ. ɴᴏᴛ ɴᴏᴡ, ɴᴏᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀ. ɪ ᴡᴀs ɪɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ. sᴏ ɪɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴡᴀs ᴅᴏɴᴇ ʟᴏᴠɪɴɢ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴇʟsᴇ. ɪғ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ɪ ᴅɪᴇᴅ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ sᴏ ʙᴇ ɪᴛ.”

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️ 2/5

Claire Wilder, you already know I love you. At this point, I see her name and I’m reading it. No further questions required. 😂

And apparently we’ve taken a brief intermission from my regularly scheduled morally questionable men because SAM?!

🚩 Where are the red flags, sir???

Because this man was out here being emotionally available, communicating, showing up for his family, making homemade granola bars, and generally behaving like a well-adjusted adult.

Suspicious behavior around these parts. 😂

Sparked follows Ellie, a badass master electrician and single mom who has one incredible night with Sam while away at a work conference.

And then…

Two pink lines. 🤰🏻

She emails him.

Nothing.

Radio silence.

Now Ellie has already raised one child essentially on her own, so she decides she can damn well do it again.

Except TEN MONTHS later she literally runs into Sam on the sidewalk.

And he looks into the stroller…

…straight into a tiny pair of his own ice-blue eyes.

👁️👄👁️

HELLO, DAD.

Except Sam didn’t ghost her.

The man NEARLY DIED.

So while I had already prepared my pitchfork and was ready to personally fight him on Ellie’s behalf, suddenly I had to put it away. RUDE. 😂

And from there? Sam absolutely stole my heart.

This man doesn’t barge into Ellie’s life demanding anything. He knows she’s been doing this without him. He knows he has to earn his place. So he does exactly that.

He. Shows. Up.

Again.

And again.

And again.

He learns how to be a dad. He asks for help when he doesn’t know what he’s doing. He bonds with Henry. He fixes things around the house. He does bedtime. He makes sure Ellie EATS because he notices she’s so busy taking care of everyone else that she forgets herself.

HOMEMADE GRANOLA BARS?!

Sam, please.

I’m used to men expressing affection through murder. I don’t know what to do with this. 😭😂

But one of my absolute favorite parts was his relationship with Tommy, Ellie’s fifteen-year-old son.

Because Sam never treated Tommy like baggage attached to the woman he wanted. He cared about him because Tommy mattered to Ellie, and eventually because Tommy mattered to him. Watching that relationship develop hit me right in the damn feelings.

And Ellie needed someone like Sam.

She’s spent so long surviving and handling everything herself that accepting help almost feels more terrifying than struggling alone. I loved watching her slowly realize that letting someone take care of her sometimes doesn’t make her any less capable.

And I REALLY loved that Sam understood the difference between saving her and supporting her.

Ellie doesn’t need rescuing.

She’s already built an entire life herself.

Sam just wants to stand beside her and make that life a little easier.

🥹 Excuse me while my cold, dark-romance-loving heart experiences an unfamiliar emotion.

AND THEN THERE’S THE CHEMISTRY.

Because why is it ALWAYS the sweet golden retriever men?! 😮‍💨

Sir was walking around making muffins and being Dad of the Year while simultaneously looking at Ellie like he remembered exactly what happened at that conference.

The yearning was YEARNING.

And when they finally stop pretending those sparks aren’t still there?

🔥🔥🔥

Thank you, Claire. That’s all I’ll say.

I also loved the women-in-trades aspect of this series. Ellie being a master electrician isn’t just some cute little character detail tossed into the background. She’s talented, experienced, proud of what she’s built, and I loved seeing that represented.

Was everything perfect for me? Not quite. There were moments when Ellie’s instinct to run frustrated me a little, and parts of the story moved more gently than I typically prefer.

But Sam, Ellie, Henry, and Tommy as this unexpected little family completely won me over.

Single mom
⚡ Secret baby
Golden retriever MMC
⚡ Second chance
He falls first
⚡ Found family
Small town
⚡ Secret relationship
Yearninggggg
⚡ “Get it out of our system”
Women in trades
⚡ A man who actually COMMUNICATES?!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Claire Wilder remains firmly on my list because she knows how to give me romance with heart, banter, chemistry, and characters I actually care about.

And listen…

I’m going back to my morally gray men now. 😂🚩

But every once in a while, apparently I’ll allow a sweet man with emotional intelligence to sneak through the gates.

Especially when he’s good with kids and knows how to use his hands.

NEXT UP: KIT AND CON’S MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE?!

FAKE MARRIAGE?!

Oh, Claire.

You know exactly how to get me back. 😈

[My Used Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Heartbreaker Trades series is one I always look forward to reading whenever a new book is released. Sadly, the third book in the series, Sparked, just didn't hit the same way the first two did for me. I ended up giving this one 3 out of 5 stars.

My biggest issue with this book was the pacing. The beginning moved much too slowly for me, and it took until about halfway through before I really started getting invested. Once I reached that point, the story did pick up, and there were definitely moments when I didn't want to put the book down. Getting through that first half was just a little tough for me.

What kept me reading during that slower beginning was Ellie. I loved seeing her as a strong single mother raising two boys while also working for herself and trying to balance everything life was throwing at her. Luckily, she had a great village of friends who were there to help when she needed them, but Ellie still did an amazing job of managing her career and her family. Her strength and determination were definitely something I admired about her.

Around the halfway point, Sam and Ellie's relationship also started to pick up. For a while, I honestly wondered if they were even attracted to each other and how the author was going to get them to their happily ever after. Thankfully, the attraction eventually showed up, and when it did, there were definitely some spicy moments. 🔥

The relationship between Sam and Ellie's oldest son was another part of the story that I thought had so much potential. I love reading stories where a father figure steps in and takes a child who isn't biologically his under his wing, and they develop a strong bond. There were glimpses of that between Sam and the boy, but I really wish we had gotten more of it. The scene on the bus where Sam told him he wasn't leaving him really got to me. My heart broke for this boy because all he wanted was what his little brother had: to feel wanted by his dad. I would have loved to see Sam become more of that person for him throughout the story.

While Sparked wasn't my favorite book in the series, I still enjoyed seeing another woman working in a male-dominated field, which is one of the things I love about this series. I also enjoyed the second half enough to keep me invested, and if you've been following the Heartbreaker Trades series, I would still recommend giving this one a read.

Thank you to the author and Luna Literary for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I hope there are more books to come in this series because I love reading about women succeeding in male-dominated careers.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3

Thank you to Luna Literary for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to pick this book up because it had so many of my favorite tropes. I love single-parent romances, and even though I’m not the biggest fan of second chances, I still wanted to get this book a chance.

One of my favorite parts of the book was definitely Ellie. I really liked her character and how confident and independent she was. She was just such a role model being a single mom of two kids, and I loved her from the very beginning.

I also really enjoyed watching Sam step up, not only for his son, Henry, but also for Tommy. Seeing him build that relationship with Tommy was one of the sweetest parts of the book.

That being said, I think where I struggled the most was with Sam. He was such a kind and caring person, but for some reason I just never fully connected with him. I kept waiting for that moment where I would become invested in his story, but it just never happened.

I also felt like the mystery surrounding why Sam disappeared and never answered Ellie’s calls or messages. For me, it just started to feel repetitive, and I really wasn’t interested in trying to find out what happened.

Another thing I wish had been touched on one more was, I really wanted to see Sam finally confront his parents about the way they treated him. It didn’t necessarily need resolution, but I would have loved to see him stand up for himself. I also felt the same way about Ellie and her brother. There were a lot of mentions of how her brother treated her and how towards the end of the book he was in therapy and how he wanted to reach out to her, and I was a little disappointed that it never happened.

Overall, even though this book didn’t completely work for me, I did see the hints about the next book in the series, and I’m definitely interested in giving that book a try.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sparked

What an intense, exciting and full of unexpected drama throughout story. When you meet someone and truly have a great connection, but know it cannot go anywhere , do to both of your localities. But time passes, unexpected events, and suddenly you're thrown into the same city. Now, decisions need to be made, or not? Can their feelings be real? Did they ever go away, and can they truly trust for the other to stay? Beautiful story ❤️.

[Michellelovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the heartbreaker trades series and it was so good. I 10/10 recommend this book.

Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Shana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
This was sweet. I loved that Sam cultivated a relationship with Tommy too. Thank you to luna literary for this arc.

[Jenna Lundberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚡💛 An Unexpected Family That Hit Me Right in the Feelings 💛⚡
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️

Sparked was one of those books that made me want more time with these characters even after I finished. Claire Wilder has such a wonderful way of balancing romance with the messy, emotional realities of family, healing, and starting over, and Ellie and Sam’s story had me laughing one minute and completely emotional the next.

Ellie is already raising her fifteen-year-old son, Tommy, when a one-night stand with Sam at a work conference results in an unexpected pregnancy. She tries to contact him, but when he never responds and she discovers she’s been blocked online, she assumes he ghosted her. Fast-forward months later, and Ellie literally runs into Sam on the sidewalk with ten-month-old Henry in the stroller. One look at that baby with his unmistakable blue eyes changes everything.

Except Sam never knew.

Learning what actually happened to him after their night together completely changes the situation, and I loved that this wasn't a simple secret-baby story where someone intentionally kept a child from the other parent. There is hurt and anger to work through, but there are also circumstances neither of them could have controlled.

And then there was Sam. 💛 He is absolutely a golden retriever hero, but he's a wounded one. He's sweet, sensitive, funny, attentive, and determined to make up for time he never knew he'd lost. He isn't perfect, and I loved that the story didn't need him to be. What mattered was what he did once he knew the truth.

He showed up. Again and again.

And not only for Henry.

His relationship with Tommy became one of my absolute favorite parts of the entire book. Tommy is fifteen, angry, hurting, and dealing with emotions much bigger than he knows how to express. Sam never tries to force his way into his life or pretend he has all the answers. He simply listens and gives Tommy another person he can depend on. Some of their scenes absolutely wrecked me, and the conversation Ellie has with Tommy after one particularly emotional moment had me BAWLING.

I also loved Ellie. She is strong and capable, a master electrician running her own business, and a mom who has spent years putting her boys before herself. But the story never makes her strength mean that she doesn't get tired, scared, overwhelmed, or need someone to take care of her sometimes too. Sam noticing what she needs without treating her like she isn't capable of handling her own life was such an important part of why their relationship worked for me.

And their romance? 🔥

The sparks from that first night definitely never disappeared. Their physical chemistry is still there, but what made me invested was watching them build something beyond it. Park dates, neighborhood walks, bedtime routines, fixing things around the house, parenting together, and slowly becoming this little family before Ellie is quite ready to admit that's exactly what they're doing. Those quieter moments ended up being some of the most romantic ones.

This book also goes into some incredibly heavy territory involving grief, trauma, parenting, and healing. There were several moments that genuinely hurt to read, and I appreciated that the characters were allowed to be complicated and affected by what they had experienced. My only small wish was that we had learned more about Sam's past a little earlier because I think having that context sooner would have made certain parts of his journey even more impactful.

But overall, I absolutely loved Sparked. It made me laugh, made me blush, and then proceeded to make me cry when I wasn't prepared for it. 😂 Ellie and Sam's romance was beautiful, but it was watching Sam, Ellie, Tommy, and Henry slowly become a family that really made this one special for me.

Please check the trigger warnings before reading because there are several difficult and potentially sensitive topics throughout the story.

Thank you so much to Claire Wilder and Luna Literary for the gifted advanced copy. I absolutely loved getting to experience Ellie and Sam's story. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 💛

[C.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story absolutely destroyed me. From the very first chapter, we hit the ground running*wink*. What follows is an emotional journey filled with healing, second chances, found family, and more than a few moments that completely shattered my heart.

Ellie was such a strong heroine. As a single mom doing everything she could for her two boys, she carried so much responsibility on her shoulders. Watching her juggle motherhood, work, exhaustion, and guilt while still putting everyone else first made her incredibly easy to root for. Her love for her children was evident in every decision she made, even when those decisions came at her own expense.

Sam completely stole my heart. He wasn't perfect, but from the moment he learned the truth, he made a genuine effort to step up and be present. I loved that his focus wasn't just on doing the right thing, but on building real relationships. Watching him navigate fatherhood for the first time, learn from those around him, and slowly find where he belonged was one of my favorite parts of the story. His bond with both boys felt natural and earned, and every small gesture showed just how deeply he cared.

The romance developed beautifully alongside the co-parenting. There was undeniable chemistry between Ellie and Sam, but what made their relationship so compelling was everything beyond the attraction. They took the time to learn about each other's lives, fears, and dreams. Some of the quietest moments between them ended up being the most romantic because they were built on trust, vulnerability, and genuine care.

This book also explores grief, trauma, and healing from multiple perspectives, and those storylines hit incredibly hard. Several characters carry devastating emotional wounds, and slowly learning what shaped them made many scenes almost impossible to read without tearing up. There were multiple moments that completely broke me, especially as more of each character's past came to light. This is definitely a story that earns its emotional payoff.

The supporting cast added so much warmth to the story as well. The friendships, family dynamics, and neighbors created a wonderful sense of community, and I especially loved seeing the relationships that formed around the children.

My only small critique is that I would have preferred to learn more about Sam's past earlier in the book. The mystery surrounding what happened to him lasted a bit longer than I would have liked, and I think having that context sooner would have made some of his actions and struggles even more impactful.

Overall, this was an incredibly emotional, heartfelt romance that left me in pieces before putting me back together again. It balances hope with heartbreak, and love with healing, in a way that felt authentic and deeply moving.

Please pay close attention to the trigger warnings before picking this one up. This story contains multiple heavy themes and several heartbreaking moments involving different characters that may be difficult for some readers. Going in prepared will make for a much better reading experience.

Thank you to Luna Literary and the author for the ARC!

[Edie L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sparked by Claire Wilder

If single-parent romances are your thing, then you’re going to want to add this one to your TBR! ❤️📚

First, a huge thank you to Luna Literary for the ARC! As always, this review reflects my own honest opinions. They may not be everyone’s, but they’re mine, and I always promise to keep my reviews honest.

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, then you already know I’m an absolute sucker for a single-parent romance. Throw in a surprise pregnancy, found family, or kids, and I’m requesting that book before I even finish reading the blurb!

Let’s talk about Ellie because she was hands down my favorite part of this story. I absolutely loved her! She was confident, fiercely independent, and such an incredible mom. Watching her juggle raising two children while handling everything life threw at her made me admire her even more. As a single mom myself, I found myself connecting with her on such a personal level. She felt authentic, relatable, and impossible not to root for.

Now…don’t throw your Kindles at me. 😂

I liked Sam. I truly did. I absolutely believed he was the man Ellie deserved, but I never completely fell in love with him the way I wanted to.

The biggest reason was the mystery surrounding why he disappeared. The constant teasing about why he never answered Ellie’s calls or messages started to feel repetitive after a while. Instead of building suspense, I found myself losing interest in that particular storyline. I eventually reached the point where I just wanted the answer instead of another reminder that there was a mystery.

Another thing I really wish we’d gotten was closure with Sam and his parents. After everything they put him through, I desperately wanted to see him stand up for himself. I wanted that emotional payoff. I felt the same way about Ellie and her brother. Those confrontations felt like they were building toward something bigger, so I was a little disappointed we never got to fully experience those moments.

But here’s the thing…those issues didn’t stop me from enjoying the story.

The chemistry between Sam and Ellie was wonderful. The tension? So good. The pining? Chef’s kiss. The slow burn of their relationship had me smiling so many times. This book made me laugh, made me cry, and had me cheering for Ellie every step of the way. She would do absolutely anything for her children, and watching Sam become the kind of man who stepped up—not just for his biological son, but for an entire family—was incredibly heartwarming.

So, would I recommend this book?

Absolutely.

It wasn’t a perfect five-star read for me, but it was still an emotional, heartfelt romance with lovable characters, adorable family moments, plenty of swoony chemistry, and all the feels that make me love this genre. If single-parent romances are your comfort reads like they are mine, I definitely think this one deserves a spot on your TBR.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sparked picks up right where Nailed left off, with a frazzled Elle turning up on Sarah’s doorstep, baby on her hip, her whole world feeling like it’s been turned upside down.

When Sam and Elle first met at the conference, the attraction between them was undeniable. Elle wasn’t looking for anything serious…just one chance to have some fun before returning to the reality of being a single mum.

Now, fate has brought them back to the same town… quite literally, as they bump into each other. Elle is hurt, angry, and completely thrown off balance. But as the story unfolds, it quickly becomes clear that not everything is as it first seemed with Sam.

Finding out he’s a father completely changes Sam’s world, and I genuinely felt for him. Rather than shying away from the responsibility, he embraces it wholeheartedly. He’s more than ready to be there for Elle and the boys. The biggest hurdle between them isn’t a lack of feelings, it’s that they never had the chance to clear the air. Sam still hasn’t had the opportunity to explain what happened after the conference and why he unexpectedly went radio silent, leaving Elle to fill in the blanks herself and given her past experience…it’s a lot of blanks resulting in a lot of negatives.

The longing between these two is written so beautifully. They absolutely pine for each other, and you can feel every glance, every hesitation, and every ounce of longing bleeding from the pages.

And Sam with Tommy? My heart absolutely melted. Watching their relationship develop was one of my favourite parts of the book.

Of course, the chemistry between Sam and Elle eventually becomes impossible to ignore. Sam is all in and ready to devote himself completely to Elle and the boys. Realisation has hit him like a sledgehammer, and he knows exactly what he wants. But after everything she’s been through, it’s Elle who’s terrified of trusting again, and you completely understand why.

One of the moments that really got me was when Sam didn’t turn up and Elle immediately feared the worst. Seeing her, and everyone around her, doubt him despite everything he’d already shown about the kind of man he was genuinely broke my heart. I was gutted for him.

I actually loved that this book focused just as much on the emotional side as it did the romance. It’s about healing from the past, working through old traumas and learning to trust again after you’ve been hurt. You really feel both Sam and Elle’s vulnerabilities throughout the story, which made their journey together feel even more special.

The ending was everything I wanted. A perfect HEA that left me closing the book with the biggest smile.

And finally… Kit and Conrad?! I am so ready for their story!

[yue · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something genuinely fun about a romance that opens with a premise as chaotic as this one. A one-night stand, a surprise pregnancy, and then the gut-drop moment of running into the father on a random sidewalk months later after thinking he bailed on you. Claire Wilder doesn't ease you into the tension. She just drops you right in the middle of it.

Sparked is already the third book in the Heartbreaker Trades series, I honestly haven't read the first two books but all I can say is that this really felt like a standalone novel. I didn't really feel that I missed any crucial sccenes from the previous books.

Sam starts out complicated, which is the honest way to do it. A man finding out he's going to be a father to a baby he didn't know existed is such a strong premise that Claire handled very well. What the book did especially well is the slow weave of Sam into everyday family life. How everyday he tried to be there not just for Ellie and Henry but also to Tommy. It's not grand gestures that win her over. It's really him showing up. The boys matter here in a way that feels real, not decorative. When a love interest genuinely connects with a single mother's kids, and you can feel that it's not just a shortcut to her heart but something he actually means, that's when a story like this lands properly. What I really loved about this was how genuinely he treated Tommy as his own. I think that's the greatest charm of this story. He got Tommy to open up to him and to trust him.

The chemistry between Ellie and Sam carries the weight it needs to. That one night clearly meant something for the both of them. The tension that builds from their second-chance collision has an edge to it because the attraction never went away, it just got buried under circumstances neither of them planned for. That's a solid foundation for a romance, because the question isn't really whether they're drawn to each other. It's whether that's enough, and whether she can trust it.

Her guardedness is handled well. She's a single mother with boys who already love her and a life she's built carefully to protect them. Letting someone in isn't a small thing, and the book treats it like it isn't. The emotional stakes feel proportionate to what she'd actually be risking.

I do however wished that we get to see more of Tommy and Sam or more of Sam navigating fatherhood. There are still many aspects of the story that I wished was expanded more but overall I liked it. It was a light and fun story to read.

A huge thank you to Claire Wilder and Luna Literary for trusting me with an advance review copy of Sparked. It truly means a lot to me. As always, every thought and opinion shared in this review is completely honest and my own.

[Nicole Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤍🌸🩷
Sparked | Heartbreaker Trades - Book Three
By Claire Wilder

5 ⭐️
3.5 🌶️

Oh boy. If you haven’t added a Claire Wilder book to your TBR you are missing out. We jump SO fast back to Quince Valley with the third installment from the Heartbreaker Trades series which follows some bad ass women in trades.
FMC Ellie James is a master electrition and single mom. We met her with Sarah as she first came to Quince Valley in Nailed… we also see her again, meeting our MMC Sam Caplin while snowed in at a trade convention.

The glimpse into Sam and Ellie’s first night together in the first chapter is insane. This man fell for Ellie immediately… the way that he already know so many of her tells and how to quiet the negative voices in her head. You can’t convince me he didn’t fall in love that first night. (What better way to make a baby, right?)

My least favourite thing is a time jump, but we bounce forward 16 months to Ellie being settled in Quince Valley.. Raising her new baby and dealing with an overly emotional 15 year old son. The last thing she expected was to slam headfirst into Sam walking home one day.

Immediately recognizing not only the woman he never stopped thinking about but also the baby with those bright blue eyes and dark hair giggling up at him. Sam is thrown, but you can see immediately he was meant to be a dad. He just slipped so quickly into that mindset (the same one I saw in my partner as we became parents.) Somewhat hectic, worried and anxious and so filled with unconditional love.

The way I mentioned that Sam quickly was able to read and silence Ellie’s fears and worries, Ellie (after a minor meltdown) is so quick to understand how Sam overthinks his new life. She does it with loads of nerves and anxiety.

Seeing Sam and Ellie develop their relationship… her watching him be a dad, him being there not only for Ellie and Henry but also for Ellie’s teenaged son Tommy, who is angry and frustrated with the world and just as much of a skeptic about Sam as Ellie is.

Sam and Ellie… together though? Explosive. Their chemistry was so loud. The look and touches… the thoughtful moments… and the spice. Good god, Claire writes some of the most drool worthy men (I’m still thinking about Raph from Give and Take and Mitch from Plunged). Sam might be my fave Claire Wilder man. 100% dad in the streets, daddy in the sheets.

The beautiful way that this family comes together will sit with me for a long time. This is one of those books you just remember… and one that I will be thinking about for a long time. Sam and Ellie were made for eachother… they were so so clearly meant to be and I will recommend this book to ANYONE.

💛Single Mom
🩷Secret Baby
💜He Falls First
🧡Secret Relationship
🩷Found Family

📖 ARC REVIEW

[Ofwitchbrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire Wilder, I had meetings in the morning.

I had RESPONSIBILITIES.

And yet there I was at 1:30 a.m., swollen-faced and fucking sobbing over a wounded golden retriever learning how to be a dad.

Sparked absolutely wrecked me.

Ellie thinks Sam ghosted her after their one night together left her pregnant. Fair assumption. Men have done worse with considerably less effort. Then she runs into him over a year later, baby in tow, and discovers the bastard did not disappear.

He nearly DIED .

Oh, excellent. Now I’m crying and I can’t even hate him.

Watching Sam find out he has a son and immediately start building himself into their lives took me OUT. The walks, the bedtime routines, the holes being fixed, the way he kept showing up without demanding Ellie trust him before she was ready. This man looked at her exhausted single-mum life and saw a woman worth worshipping.

GREEN FLAGS EVERYWHERE. DISGUSTING.

But Sam and Tommy were the emotional kill shot.

The patience he had with that boy. The way he listened. The way he understood that loving Ellie meant loving both of her children with his whole chest. Claire could have left me alone, but instead she chose to personally flood my bedroom with tears on a work night.

And Ellie broke my heart too. She is capable, exhausted, fiercely protective, and so used to carrying everything herself that being loved properly feels more frightening than doing it all alone. I understood every wall she built, even while wanting to grab her by the shoulders and scream BABE, THAT MAN IS PRACTICALLY HOUSE-TRAINED. LET HIM IN.

The yearning was obscene. The family moments ruined me. The spice reminded me that sweet men can still behave like absolute animals once the bedroom door closes.

A perfect balance. God bless.

Five stars.

This book took my heart, introduced it to Sam, let Tommy stomp on it for emotional development, then handed it back to me at 1:30 in the fucking morning.

Thank you to Claire Wilder for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You're a good guy. Now take me into my room and fuck me like you're not."

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

After a whirlwind night with Sam, Ellie is left with a little more than she bargained for. And after she's completely written him off for ignoring & blocking her when she tried to reach out about his baby, she just so happens to run into him in Quince Valley.

This was the sweetest, coziest read. You can't help but be on Ellie's side in the beginning, when it's presented that Sam ghosted her after getting the news that she was pregnant. But there's so many fun miscommunication moments along the way, and it quickly becomes clear that Sam isn't an asshole after all - and that he hasn't been able to stop thinking about Ellie and the night they shared.

I loved Ellie - she's such a strong mom and she works so hard to be there as much as she can for Tommy and Henry, all while juggling a full and expanding career. As much as she likes Sam, she's been burned before and has to think of her family first, and the way that's explored and how Sam steps up (and how Ellie does get to have fun moments for herself) was so well done. And Sam - he really is a golden retriever of a man. He was making me laugh out loud as he navigated new fatherhood (the high five, please!), and he loves so deeply and so earnestly - I so wanted them to find a way to be together. His moments with Tommy were some of my favorites, he's such a good man.

I am so !!! at the peeks we got for the next book! My fave trope and ahh the characters, I can't wait. 💖 This was such a great book - if you love a romance with genuine and heartfelt family moments, you're going to eat this up!

Tropes & Tags:
🛠️ Single Mom
🍼 Secret Baby
💖 Golden Retriever Hero (with wounds!)
🛠️ Excessive Banter
🍼 Yearning
💖 He Falls First
🛠️ "Get it out of our system"
🍼 Secret Relationship
💖 Found Family
🛠️ Small Town

[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much Claire Wilder and Luna Literary Management! 📖]

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY FAVORITE OF THE SERIES SO FAR!

If you, like me, have been DESPERATELY needing beautifully green-flag men in your books these days (the world is red flag enough yall) then dive right on into Sparked and get cozy. Because Sam Caplin is president and CEO of green flag heroes. SWOOOOON.

This man finds out his life is about to change forever...and instead of running? He leans ALL the way in. Patient. Emotionally mature. Hilariously awkward. Completely devoted. He just keeps showing up, again and again, proving that love is often found in the little things. All for the girl that got away and the ADORABLE little one that’s his. And somehow this absolute sweetheart also has one of the filthiest mouths I’ve read in a while. DAYUM CLAIRE. 🥵

I know “secret baby” can be a trope that makes people hesitate…for me it really depends on the context. But trust me, it works here. Nothing felt petty or manufactured, no one is villainized, and the conditions here make sense. And somehow the angst is low. But the book is DEFINITELY high on feelings. I laughed, teared up, swooned, and completely fell in love with this little family. Sam’s relationship with both Henry and Tommy honestly stole the entire book for me. Those family moments hit just as hard as the romance. I love a leading man falling just as hard for the single mom’s kiddos as he falls for her.

And again just love the whole context of this series…the women working in the trades. The broader world is great, all the incredible friendships, the emotional depth, the humor..it’s just feel good romance you can cuddle up with and feel all warm and fuzzy. But this one is def my fav so far! I can’t wait for it on audio!

What to expect:
Single Mom
Secret Baby
Wounded Golden Retriever Hero
Yearning
He Falls First
He’s SUPER into her
Protective Hero
Found Family
Small Town

Sparked is book three in the Heartbreaker Trades series about women in trades and the men who love them. This book can be read as a complete standalone.

[onlyhereforthehea · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌶️🌶️.5/5

I’ve been reading the Heartbreaker Trades series from the beginning, and Sparked is such a great addition to the series.

What I love about this series is that every book has a great storyline and plot, but more than anything, they all have so much heart. Honestly, I think this one might have the biggest heart of the three.

Seeing everything Ellie and Sam have been through and how life hasn’t gone the way either of them imagined made their journey back to each other all the more meaningful. One of my favorite parts was seeing Sam learn how to be a dad, not just to his own baby but to Ellie’s older son as well. That relationship felt so genuine, and I loved seeing it grow. It was one of my favorite parts of the book.

This book has such a quiet, heartfelt quality that I really appreciated. It’s not flashy or overly dramatic, and it isn’t trying to cram in a million plot points. Instead, it’s a story that’s very character driven and focused on two people learning how to become a family. Along the way, they’re also navigating their own struggles. Ellie is trying to balance motherhood, work, and raising a teenager, while Sam is working through the trauma of everything he’s been through.

More than anything, this book is about second chances, not just in love, but in life, and finding your way back to the people you’re meant to be with. I loved watching this little family slowly come together.

Claire Wilder does such an excellent job of creating characters you genuinely want to root for. You can’t help but hope they figure things out, and it’s incredibly satisfying when they finally do. Another wonderful addition to a series I’ve really loved.

🌟 thank you to Claire Wilder for the ARC and the opportunity to read and provide my honest review.

[Crystal LoCicero · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

“Ellie,” I breathed. “Are you sure? I’m not going to pressure you to do anything after this, but I need you to be sure this is what you want.” “I know, Sam,” she whispered. “You’re a good guy. Now take me into my room and f- me like you’re not.”

OK, so yes this is secret baby...but it's a 'good' reason not something petty or annoying. And yes, this is book 3 in a series of standalones and is currently the only one I have read. I didn't feel confused or left out, but I did add the other books to my tbr.

The mmc is my favorite. He is such a green flag and the things that come out of his mouth(and his inner monologs) are hilarious. I actually giggled quite a bit while reading this. The breast feeding conversation is top tier comedy.

I loved that the kids weren't perfect little humans. They were very much their age and had real emotions and highs and lows.

The book did have flashback chapters and I'm not a fan of those, but the story we got from those chapters was heartbreaking and I honestly wasn't prepared for how sad it made me.

The friend group was fun, I am very invested in the single dad neighbor getting a book with a cute hea. I also find the female work group fascinating and unique and I can't wait to read more. Women dominating in men's fields is a new favorite trope of mine.

Overall, this book gave me all the feels. Giggling, tearing up, snorting, scoffing, cheering, omg-ing... it was a very entertaining read.

I recieved this book as an ARC, but the review is completely independent and reflects my own genuine thoughts, feelings, and opinions.

[rosesreadsromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

🍼 "This was my life's purpose. To be a dad. To be a husband." 🍼

"Sometimes all you need is a second chance, because time wasn't ready for the first one." 🤍


Sam and Ellie couldn't be more different ✨
Sam spent years traveling the world, drifting through life and searching for where he truly belonged 🌍
Ellie, on the other hand, is an older, confident single mom who has built a life for herself and her son through hard work and determination 💖

They first meet at a conference and the attraction between them is instant 🔥 What was only supposed to be a ONS quickly turns into something much bigger when fate brings them back together months later... in the most unexpected way 🍼

Sam completely stole my heart 🩵 I loved his patience, persistence, and the way he never stopped showing up for Ellie 🫠 After the initial shock, he didn't run away—he stepped up, embraced every challenge, and gave everything he had to Ellie and her little family 😍 He was caring, supportive, and always made sure Ellie knew just how beautiful, strong, and incredible she truly was 🥹

Ellie was just as inspiring 🥰 She never let life's challenges define her ✨ Instead, she worked hard to become an expert in a field traditionally dominated by men, all while raising her son on her own 👏🏻 I really admired her strength and determination 💖

The chemistry between them was impossible to ignore ❤️‍🔥 Their banter, the longing, and all those little moments filled with tension kept me turning the pages ☺️

If you love:
🍼 Single Mom
🤫 Secret Baby
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Found family
✨ Age Gap
🏡 Small-Town Romance

...then I think you'll really enjoy this one! 📚❤️



📖 Sparked by Claire Wilder (ARC) 🍼✨🩵

[Daniela Hernandez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sparked by Claire Wilder 2.5 ⭐️ | 3 🌶️
 Single mom
 Secret baby
 Reverse age gap she’s older
 Cinnamon MMC
Thanks to Luna Literary and the author for the ARC provided.

“No Sam. We have a baby. Meet your son, Henry.”

I have to say Sparked is probably my favorite from this series and I was super excited to read Ellie and Sam’s story and even though I loved most of it, there were some aspects that kind of left the book down.
Some of the good aspects
• I love Ellie and Sam’s chemistry, those two were meant to be.
• Sam was freaking adorable. I know he was obviously surprised at the beginning but once you know what happened to him, it’s easy to understand.
• The way he was more than happy to practically be a stay at home dad to take care of not just Henry but Tommy too.
• Ellie is a fantastic mom. I actually cried once we knew why Tommy was having all those issues. The world can sometimes be so cruel and even if we want to, there’s no way to protect our kids as we wish.
• Tommy and Sam’s relationship, even if it was kind of at the end, was so wholesome.

No, what I didn’t like about this book.

• This is something that I have noticed from the first book. I was really interested in the whole concept of women being in male dominated fields, because who doesn’t love strong women killing it and showing everyone we can do the same exact activities that men do. BUT I feel like during these series, we don’t see them doing a lot of the jobs they mentioned. We knew Ellie is an electrician and she mentioned having a couple of jobs here and there, but during the whole book we don’t really see her fully in her profession (the exact thing happened to Sarah and Winona). I’m not saying the author should entirely focus on that, but if one of the main aspects from your series is women in men dominated fields, then SHOW ME a bit more of that.
• Sam’s trauma was really overlooked. We had the chapters with flashbacks, but at some point everything was really brushed off if that makes sense. It would’ve been nice to see Sam talking more deeply with his therapist, his family or with Ellie about it.
• I wished we were able to see some proper bonding moments between Sam and Henry, and Tommy too. I felt like once that Ellie and Sam accepted to work together, the story jumped quite quick. There are some interactions, yes, but I felt like we didn’t get to see that properly.
• I know Sam was more than happy with being a dad and everything else, but I was hoping him and Ellie had a longer conversation about it, again, everything just feels rushed.
In general, I enjoyed the book, but not as much as I thought I was going to. Still, I’m really interested in the next one, as we had some hints about what is going to happen next.

[NurseLadyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gah! Sam is adorable in his pure nature! His green flag energy just doesn’t stop and I am here for it! Did I just binge this in a couple of hours? Yes. Yes, I did! It was too good to put down!

Ellie gained more than she bargained for with her one night stand- a baby and his daddy who steps up when Ellie and Sam literally crash into each other. What follows is a series of getting to know each other play dates and hella lot of yearning.

Sam does so much to prove to both himself and Ellie that he is a great dad. He has “dad lessons” with Conrad the neighbor and single dad (oh, hey there, amazing side character!). He patiently builds a relationship with Ellie’s oldest son (one of my favorite parts of the book). Serious A+ for the parenting example with that one! All while he pines for Ellie.

Ellie, meanwhile, can’t turn her brain off. Call it a mom thing. Call it a “there’s so many moving parts, and if I drop one, so many will fail” thing. Call it a “this guy is gorgeous and has all the green flags and is highly distracting” thing. Yes, call it that. Because she pines for him, but doesn’t think she deserves him.

Sam’s revelation of how thoughts of Ellie got him through was one of the top three “I love you without saying I love you”s of all time! I ugly cried! The way he has fallen for Tommy as much as his own son? I cried big tears.

This story was a series of wonderful moments. Watching them play out was so satisfying! My heart is big and full for this family! I loved this way more than I thought possible!

This book is great for fans of green flag golden retrievers, blue collar and business - owning FMCs, single moms and the guys who fall for the kids as hard as they fall for the mom, surprise pregnancy, and grumpy teens who learn safety in the new love interest.

I was so lucky to have received this ARC with many thanks to the author and Luna Literary. This is my honest review.

Oh, and, dang it, Claire Wilder! Way to root for women!! The facts on childcare being a barrier to work early in the story and then the Heartbreaker Trades ball speech… I’m crying again. It’s not even that time of the month, but here I am, a big ol’ fountain.

[Alix Bliffen · Rating 5 out of 5]

From tragedy to ready made family

For a moment, I was expecting something more silly to be the backstory, not heroic. I can take all of my negative thoughts back.

He stepped up not only for Henry, but for Tommy too. I was not expecting that, but I should have since the moment these two clicked in the prologue. 

The chemistry was off the pages intense and you could tell they just had something that needed to be said. I'm glad they didn't rush, that they took their time and that they built something that meant something.

What kills me is that for a family that wanted their son to be successful, they were successful at driving him away and giving him the perfect reason to stay away until he needed someone to help him heal and then when he was healed enough, he ran again.

This book pulls at your heartstrings and doesn't let go. It is real, and raw and gives you the ugly truth about how hard it is to be a single mom, and a working single mom with a teenage son as well as a newborn on top of that. It is rough, it is not easy and you seriously do need a village to navigate the rough road it is to be successful as a mom and as a working mom. 

Hands down Claire nailed this book. It was beautiful, it was real, it gave me a glimpse into what my life might be like in the next year or two...I might have had to stop reading to shed some tears. Tommy reminds me of my oldest and it scares me a tiny bit. 

If I had to pick a book to be a guide to life....it would be this one, because there isn't a guide there is just raw honesty and this book has it. 

[Marisol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Claire Wilder for the opportunity to ARC read Sparked.

I really enjoyed continuing the Heartbreaker Trades Series and returning to Quincy Valley! This was a heartfelt story about unexpected parenthood, second chances, and finding the family you never knew you wanted.

Ellie never imagined that one night with Sam would have such a lasting impact on her life. When Sam returns to Quincy Valley, he never expects to run into Ellie again, especially not to discover that she has a baby who looks exactly like him. Once he learns that Henry is his son, Sam is determined to show Ellie that he isn't going anywhere.

I really appreciated watching Sam step into his role as a father. He didn't just want to be there for Henry; he also made an effort to build a relationship with Tommy, Ellie's teenage son. As he spends more time with Ellie and her boys, Sam begins to realize that everything he thought he was running from fatherhood, commitment, and family; might actually be everything he's always wanted.

I loved the family dynamics and the way Sam worked to earn Ellie's trust. Their relationship developed alongside Sam's journey toward accepting the life he wanted for himself.

I'm excited to continue the Heartbreaker series and see all of these women find their place, and their happily ever after in Quincy Valley.

A sweet, emotional read filled with family, love, and second chances. 🤍

[Megs · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔌💗ARC Review💗🔌
♾️⭐️

Thank You Claire Wilder for this ARC of sparked, I FELT the sparks 🫶

This book STOLE MY HEART‼️🥹
The way that I absolutely adored and loved these characters and this story was so beyond heartwarming and swoony perfection I’m still just living in my feels over here 🥹🫶

Sam is the most Golden Retriever (who was lost and healing for a sec) but the way he was so down bad for Ellie from their fateful night together, he absolutely never wavered.

The way that when Ellie ran into Sam the year plus later and was blatantly honest with him and how she didn’t shut him out was just so Ellie, how she was low key panicking and falling apart on the inside she proved how amazing a mom she was when she didn’t shut him out.

The sweetest/ most special moment was the way Sam kept showing up for Ellie’s 15 year old son Tommy, how he never gave up on him and showed home that he will show up for him even when it might seem impossible.

My heart is so full, Claire Wilder took me on the most spectacular beautiful journey, it will definitely give you that spark that will shock you into all the feels 🤭

Tropes:
🩷Single Mom
🔌Secret Baby
🩷Golden Retriever Hero (with wounds!)
🔌Excessive Banter
🩷Yearning
🔌He Falls First
🩷“Get it out of our system”
🔌Secret Relationship
🩷Found Family
🔌Small Town

[Itsmep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional, heartwarming surprise. While it leans into the secret baby trope, the story focuses less on misunderstandings and more on healing, forgiveness, and what it means to become a family.

One of my favorite parts was the MMC (Sam). He's the definition of a golden retriever hero with a wounded heart. Once he discovers he has a son, he didn't shy away from the responsibility. Reading about him embracing fatherhood and slowly building a relationship with both the FMC and his son was incredibly rewarding. The devotion and quiet yearning made him impossible not to love, and the fact that he falls first only made his character even sweeter.

The FMC's hesitation also felt understandable. Having already experienced "abandonment," she had every reason to guard her heart, and I appreciated that the story acknowledged how difficult it can be to trust again. The emotional growth on both sides felt genuine, especially once the truth behind Sam's disappearance came to light.

The small-town setting and found family elements added so much warmth to the story, creating a wonderful support system around the characters. While the pacing slowed in a few places, the heartfelt moments and emotional payoff made it well worth the journey.

I received this book as an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Luna Literacy for my advance copy of Sparked by Claire Wilder in exchange for my honest opinion!

This is book 3 in the Heartbreaker Trades, but it can be read as a standalone. I just appreciate the representation of women in the construction field. This isn't something seen and I just love seeing the domination they bring and the company they've created. It was so refreshing!! Who knew women in construction was something I would end up loving!!

Ellie and Sam have a one night stand at a conference and everything is ok...until Ellie ends up pregnant. She tries reaching out to Sam, but ends up blocked so she takes that as her sign he wants nothing to do with her or the baby. As a single mother, she moves to the town he talked about because he spoke so highly about it being a great place to grow up, which is all she wants for her kids.

She ends up running into him and he decides he wants to be a father to his child. Can the sparks from their one night stand stay in the past, or will they prove to be too much and reignite? How can Ellie get over how he ignored her?

This is a solid 4 star read. The reason for why Sam ignored her was a little bizarre and I didn't feel it necessarily fit in, but I mean it worked. I cannot wait for more women in the trades books!

[Spicy_bookcorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

📕BOOK REVIEW📕

Oh I really enjoyed this one; it was sweet, emotional and funny.

Ellie and Sam meet at a conference and end up hitting it off to the point two pink lines show up a while after, and Sam is no where to be seen. Months later, Sam bumps into Ellie and his daughter and Ellie is furious: how could the man who showed her it’s ok to trust again, turn a blind eye to his daughter? However, Sam needs to prove to Ellie that he didn’t know, and that he was battling his own demons whilst he missed crucial family time with his daughter, all while being there for Ellie, showing up for his daughter and building a relationship with Ellie’s 15 year old son.

I loved Ellie. I thought she was absolutely delightful, considerate and understanding. I adored her relationship with her son, who was struggling, and she did what any mother would do: leave an awful situation and start somewhere new. I loved her for this. I also adored Sam and how he treated her son as if he was his own, and the way he wormed himself back into Ellie’s life was golden.

The plot at times was quite humorous, it provided some light relief to some difficult moments. Ellie and Sam were just cute together, but also incredibly sexy and HOT.

Gah. I loved them.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5