Karla Sorensen

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Luke Pierson doesn't do media and he definitely doesn't go for the female fans that throw themselves at him, especially not the new blonde neighbor. Except, she really is attractive and her smart mouth has been feature in one too many fantasies. Allie Sutton doesn't do jerks and she doesn't do football, at least she didn't until her father left his beloved team to her. There's got to be a purpose to it, so she takes it on hoping to find her show more way in a world she knows little about. She never expected to find joy in the sport, in the managing of a football empire, and she certainly was not expecting her surly neighbor to be the star quarterback. What begins as respectful dislike becomes sneaky glances and soon follows an affair that thrusts them into the spotlight and makes everything complicated.

"Rich. Powerful. Confident.
And I hated her at that moment because she was so beautiful that it hurt to look at her."

I am one of the most judgemental sports romance fans, I rarely love everything about them and those that I do I covet and read often...The Bombshell Effect just joined that pile. From every single player to the very top boss to the football field and the world she created around it, Karla Sorensen brings the world of the Washington Wolves to life. It was such a realistic, engaging, and romantic story. I automatically fell in love with Luke Pierson and I had so much compassion for Allie Sutton. Both had such high walls up, desperate to not repeat the past and terrified of finding themself in the spotlight in the wrong light. I also laughed a lot, loving that these enigmatic characters with so much personal success couldn't understand the concept of opening up for one another and allowing love in. Their success as a couple seemed impossible, which made for some highly entertaining dialogue, some terrific scenes featuring a sassy six year old, and several high-tension moments in the stadium.

"He looked like he'd fought a battle-dirty and exhausted and happy. And ... hot. Okay, he looked hot. And sweaty. And hot."

Luke and Allie had the kind of chemistry that burned like a bonfire with lighter fluid on it, it definitely wasn't just a spark. I loved how Karla focused on each character dealing with their personal life stuff, spent a significant amount of time on the field and game time, but also created a romance that flowed seamlessly. It's rare to not get lost with so much going on, but rather than confusion I just felt myself slipping into the characters lives like I was just another friend along for their wild romance. Luke was such a manly man and his chapters really felt like he wasn't just some character, but a real guy going through the torturous emotions of realizing he's falling for his boss...who also happens to be the neighbor he's been a real jerk to. Allie is described as a bombshell and much of her actions backed up that description, but she also is presented as a smart businesswoman filled with passion and strength. It's obvious from the start these two belong together, they're like yin and yang, but the road it takes for them to figure it out is what makes this book so good. Of course, it's not all football and lust driven emotions, there's also a heartfelt story with Luke protecting his daughter's future and Allie discovering who her father really was beyond the football team he loved.

"It was a realization that came far too late. Because I could never, ever forget that she felt like this."

Karla Sorensen was a new to me author when I picked up The Bombshell Effect, but she won't be after finishing it. I devoured this book and cannot wait to read more from her, because this is definitely how you do contemporary romance. With just the right amount of serious and a dash of hilarity, The Bombshell Effect is a must-read for sports romance fans.

ARC provided. show less

Single Dad Dilemma by Karla Sorensen
The Kings #2

~ Excellent story that had me up till 1am reading, unwilling to sleep, but so cold in the 48F bedroom that I had to close the book and turn the light off to warm my fingers under a huge pile of blankets ~

What I liked:
* Lily Townsend: wanderer, house sitter, excellent baker, fit, feisty, guarded, difficult backstory, has secrets, questioning her future, worked many jobs, canine pal Larry is her sounding board, attracted to Barrett, eventually show more opened up and grew a lot
* Barrett King: professional football coach, divorced, has custody of his son and daughter, overcoming sibling estrangement, life regimented into15 minute blocks of time, focused on excellence, rarely smiles, attracted to Lily, eventually opened up and grew a lot
* Larry: growling barking canine that Lily belongs to and finding out why they are together
* That Barrett put his children first and was there for them despite his heavy workload
* Maggie and Bryce: Barrett’s preteen children who can run rings around the adults in their lives and how loving, kind, caring, and bright they both were
* The way Lily clicked with Maggie & Bryce and that she was so good with them, in spite of wanting to guard her heart
* The slow burn feel with chemistry not acted upon between Lily and Barratt
* Getting to see Griffin King (Lesson in Heartbreak – The Kings book one) and Ruby (his fiancé)
* How wonderful Barrett’s parents seemed to be
* Catching a glimpse of the football team, owner, and other members of the staff and team and wondering if perhaps some of the football players will show up in books of their own – Thinking about football players doing ballet…that was fun
* That it had mature adult communication with caring, wisdom, and all the feels
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing that drew me in, made me care, and feel part of the story
* That I would gladly have more than one character as a friend if that were an option

What I didn’t like:
* Thinking about some of the painful events and emotions some of the characters had to deal with

Did I like this book? My, oh my, YES
Would I read more by this author? Without a doubt

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC – This is my honest review

5 Stars show less

LOVED this book. Adorable voice. Great chemistry between the friends-to-lovers couple. Wonderful strong representation of a disabled character in a wheelchair in a romantic relationship. Joss got a virus when she was 14, and when it spread to her spine, loss sensation in her legs. Her best friend Levi fell in love with her the moment her saw her, but she wasn’t ready for a relationship back then. Years later, they’re still besties, but when another guy comes on the scene, does that show more change things? I loved getting to spend more time in Green Valley, in the bakery, loved the strong characters all around, and seeing these two fall in love. LOVE LOVE LOVE this one!!! And yay that the Green Valley expanded series is available in KU!! 5/5 stars.

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader. show less

This story is a poignant romance exploring love, family, and friendship. Burke Barrett, a former football player, faces life's challenges, including grief and unexpected inheritances. When he meets Charlotte Cunningham, a passionate restoration expert, their connection is palpable, yet the story doesn't shy away from addressing their emotional struggles, from infertility to childhood trauma. The novel beautifully captures the importance of chosen family and supportive relationships, creating show more a heartwarming atmosphere. While Burke's emotional struggles sometimes felt overwhelming, the book's realism added depth to the characters. Despite the heaviness, the story's genuine portrayal of love and its transformative power deeply moved me. This is a compelling read, evoking a mix of emotions that lingers long after the final page. show less