If we’re being honest, I expected a lot more from this. Having read and loved several of Sorensen’s more recent books, I was excited to start the series that has been so influential to her work. And it was just kinda disappointing. There is so much internalization that the reader knows a LOT more about these characters than they do about each other, even as they are declaring their love out of nowhere. There is some good tension and an intriguing setup, but the potential of the tropes is never fulfilled. And the whole thing just felt shallow. So it’s (unfortunately) very easy to see the ways Sorensen’s writing has developed in the years since. Not exactly how I thought this would go, but there it is.
The story follows Allie, a woman who discovers that her estranged father left her ownership of a pro football team. Allie isn’t the biggest fan of football and the inheritance came out of nowhere, so she’s not sure what to think. So when she learns that her infuriatingly sexy neighbor is one of the players on the team, it’s another shock to the system. Luke is a jaded single father who doesn’t trust beautiful women, so he’s initially wary of Allie. But as the two spend more time together, they realize that there’s a spark of attraction between them that’s impossible to ignore – no matter how much they should.
On the surface, this sounds right up my alley. I’m a big fan of Sorensen’s (recent) work, and I love a grumpy single dad AND a fiery heroine. Unfortunately, these two rarely have any conversations that don’t revolve around work, so we don’t get any adorable family moments or any bonding over their complicated pasts. We barely get any conversation between them, really, just a ton of internal dialogue. And the transition from feuding to no strings to love happened in the blink of an eye. I certainly wouldn’t have minded a longer length, which I think would’ve smoothed out a lot of these issues. There’s nothing specific that I DISliked, but I also think it barely scratched the surface.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZrJXxP
Audio Note:
The audio was good! I’m not familiar with the female narrator, but she gives a solid performance. Her voice was easy to listen to and relaxing. Troy Duran has gotten even more popular since this production, so it was fun to listen to him. And I really can’t complain about the runtime – I started at the beginning of the workday and was finished by quitting time, which was ideal. There’s not a ton of spice, so it worked well in that aspect, though these two pant over each other’s bodies quite a bit. The audio was a good choice for experiencing this series starter.
Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3kbh9tb
Blurb:
My new neighbor is a complete jerk. A tall, brooding, tattooed jerk. I tried to be nice, bake some cupcakes for him and his adorable daughter, and the only reaction I could come up with to his ice-cold reception was to shove those pink cupcakes right into his muscular chest.
In my defense, it was a rough week.
Being back in Seattle for the first time in years was hard enough, the fact that I was there for the dispersal of my father’s will made it even harder. I had no intention of staying, until I got a football stadium-sized surprise as my dad’s final gift to me.
No … really. He left me a football team.
It’s how I found myself in a conference room, staring down the veteran quarterback who wants nothing to do with a new owner. And that quarterback? It’s my tall, brooding, tattooed jerk of a neighbor.
Now he’s everywhere. Next door with his daughter. In meetings. Don’t even get me started on away games.
Luke Pierson is under my skin, and pretty soon, I’m not sure I want it any other way.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZrJXxP
Try Forbidden – a book I loved!
I loved the series that follows The Bombshell Effect, so you might have better luck with those, particularly Faked and Forbidden. Forbidden is a single dad romance that gets it right!
No man has ever been able to rattle Isabel Ward. Until Aiden Hennessy walks in the door of her gym—ownership papers in hand.
The former fighter is a lot of things- a devoted single dad, a widower trying to start over, and a watchful presence that knocks her off her very capable feet.
To make matters worse, Isabel had a crush on him for the entirety of her teenage years. Doodles in her diary, and letters declaring her admiration—while never sent—haunt the absolute crap out of her now that she has to face him every single day.
She’s not the only one affected.
No woman has tempted Aiden to move on from the memory of his wife—until Isabel. But she’s too young, too feisty, too much of everything he should avoid.
Working together makes avoidance impossible, and so is pretending like the blistering chemistry between them doesn’t exist.
Now that the unshakeable woman is shaken and the un-temptable man is tempted, Isabel and Aiden have to decide what they’re willing to risk for a taste of the forbidden.
Read the review here
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3dpZSpo
About the Author:
Well, let’s see … I’m a wife and a mother. If the things that I write bring a smile to someone’s face, then I’ve done my job. I am obsessed with Outlander (both the books and the show). I’m almost exclusively a romance reader, which means some people will never consider me a literary snob. If I could meet one historical figure, it would be Jane Austen. I received my Bachelors in Public Relations and worked in health care marketing before I had my babies. I hate Twitter. I do it, but I hate it. Also, if you want to get on my good side, bring me wine and I’ll love you forever.
Social Media Links:
Facebook page- www.facebook.com/karlasorensenbooks
Reader Group- www.facebook.com/groups/thesorensensorority
Website- www.karlasorensen.com
Twitter- www.twitter.com/ksorensenbooks
Amazon –https://www.amazon.com/Karla-Sorensen/e/B00UQZ9ENI
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13563232.Karla_Sorensen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karla_sorensen/
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