Happy Wednesday! Head Over Heels is out today I received an eARC in exchange for review and ordered the paperback as soon as it was available because, spoiler alert, it’s my favorite read of 2024 so far! This is book two in the Wilder Family series, between middle brother Cameron Wilder and the woman with whom he gets stuck on an elevator. Cameron and Ivy are strangers with an immediate attraction (I was sweating a little at their interaction) but are quickly rescued from their predicament, only for her to reappear in his life as a much needed client of his family’s construction company. The two are forced to spend time together as her family’s home is remodeled and soon their initial attraction sparks right back up again. I loved both characters separately and together. Cameron is the good guy brother, the nice one, the one who fixes all the problems.He’s just so capable and emotionally mature and GAAHHH I loved him. Ivy is much more reserved thanks to her upbringing and I love that we got a slightly icy heroine! Cold girls need love too and it was a delight to watch Cameron purposefully and masterfully melt some of those walls. Their small town boy/city girl opposites attract vibe was excellent and boy did they have a lot of chemistry! I loved being back with the Wilder family, whom we’ve met through both this series and another, though things have definitely taken a sad turn as their father’s health continues to decline. Anticipatory grief is a hard thing to deal with and I loved that Ivy could be there for Cameron, who’s always there for everyone else. Also I sobbed like a baby. This was such an excellent, sexy, emotional, heartfelt small town romance. Karla’s long been a favorite author of mine but I feel like she’s entered a new era with these past few releases and I’m so glad I get to go along for the ride!
My Take: I loved it! This is a great addition to the Washington Wolves family, and the Ward family as well. It’s always fun to see characters we’ve met and loved already, and this sets up a new world for the Ward sisters. This could absolutely be read as a standalone, since its “next gen”.
I loved the relationship between Molly and Noah and how it changed and evolved from when we first met them. I love a grumpy leading man, and Noah did not disappoint. Plenty of sparks, humor, and just a small amount of sports talk- just how I like a sports romance. 5/5 stars
Blurb:
If you’ve ever seen your teenage crush ten years later, and he turns out to be a complete jerk, then you know how Molly Ward feels.
The last time she saw Noah Griffin was the regrettable day that she decided to climb into his bedroom window and turn her unrequited crush into something more.
That day was bad enough, but things are about to get worse.
Noah has become one of the best football players in the country, and he’s just landed on Molly’s front step.
As a new addition to the Washington Wolves roster, Noah’s presence is the key to Molly’s promotion in the front office.
The problem is, Noah wants nothing to do with Molly, and his surly attitude is making her job very difficult.
But he’s got another thing coming if he thinks Molly will be intimidated by one grumpy football player, no matter how much he hates being around her.
Once these two go head to head, their mutual dislike explodes into undeniable chemistry. But with what they have at stake, they just might detonate everything else along with it.
Michelle Claypot_reads “All the stars in the world for this! What a way to kick off my reading for 2020!! Oh my heart! This was absolute perfection.”
The Overflowing Bookcase “A wonderful novel that will become one I will re-read time and time again.”
PP’s Bookshelf “I just love when authors make me feel every single confusing, infuriating, breathtaking and heartbreaking feeling right in my heart. And Karla Sorensen did exactly that in Focused.”
Author Bio:
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.
If you’ve ever seen your teenage crush ten years later, and he turns out to be a complete jerk, then you know how Molly Ward feels.
The last time she saw Noah Griffin was the regrettable day that she decided to climb into his bedroom window and turn her unrequited crush into something more.
That day was bad enough, but things are about to get worse.
Noah has become one of the best football players in the country, and he’s just landed on Molly’s front step.
As a new addition to the Washington Wolves roster, Noah’s presence is the key to Molly’s promotion in the front office.
The problem is, Noah wants nothing to do with Molly, and his surly attitude is making her job very difficult.
But he’s got another thing coming if he thinks Molly will be intimidated by one grumpy football player, no matter how much he hates being around her.
Once these two go head to head, their mutual dislike explodes into undeniable chemistry. But with what they have at stake, they just might detonate everything else along with it.
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.
(ARC REVIEW:) The Marriage Effect centers around two characters we’ve met previously in the Washington Wolves series, but can absolutely be read as a standalone. Logan Ward, football player, upstanding guy who’s always made an impression previously, and guardian to his four younger sisters, and feisty former model Paige McKinney, who’ve we’ve met previously as Allie, the owner of the Washington Wolves, best friend. Logan finds himself in need of a wife to help maintain guardianship of his sisters, and Paige just so happens to find herself in need of a husband for her own reasons. She finds herself impetuously blurting out she’s Logan’s fiance in front of the worst possible person, and Logan and Paige quickly strike a deal. They get married as a means to an end, but soon realize they have more in common than they ever would have imagined.
So, full disclosure. Do I love football? No, I do not. But do I love sports romances? They are okay. But I sure love the Washington Wolves series, and The Marriage Effect has been my favorite of the series. Why? Because it’s not about the sport, it’s about the people, and their motivations, passions, and intentions. The sport itself is a background character, enriching the story but not overwhelming.
The spark between Paige and Logan is explosive, regardless of how hard Logan tries to fight it. They balance each other out in the best possible way, and together on the challenges raising four teenage girls bring. There is emotion, drama, humor, love, and family. It’s a story of fighting for what/who you love, and the journey you take when falling in love. I love that Paige is a fiesty, funny, take no shit kind of girl and that Logan is a strong, steady protector who loves hard if you’re lucky enough to be in his circle.
And hey, if this book is any indication, maybe I do like sports romances. Or maybe I’m just a big fan of Karla Sorensen’s. 5/5 stars.
Blurb:
Logan Ward doesn’t want any more women in his life.
Being a football player and legal guardian to his four younger sisters means his playbook is full. However, one of them just landed in the hospital, which gives his brother the shot he needs to challenge Logan for custody.
Legal counsel says there’s only one thing Logan can do—find himself a wife.
Paige McKinney doesn’t always think things through.
Like walking away from her modeling career without a thought of what might come next. She really doesn’t think it through when she proclaims herself Logan’s fiancé at the hospital, simply because the sexy—albeit grumpy—football player forgot his cell phone at a party and security won’t let her pass. It’s not her fault it was overheard by the worst possible person.
A bargain is struck, and a fake marriage is the perfect solution. But the simple solution creates a whole new problem: they’re not as different as they seem. The reluctant groom has fire inside him, and his impetuous bride is about to light the match.
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.
Here is the gorgeous cover (designed by Najla Qamber Designs) for Karla Sorensen’s The Marriage Effect. I can’t wait for June 12th when this baby drops! I’ve loved Logan previously so I’m super excited for his story.
Logan Ward doesn’t want any more women in his life.
Being a football player and legal guardian to his four younger sisters means his playbook is full. However, one of them just landed in the hospital, which gives his brother the shot he needs to challenge Logan for custody.
Legal counsel says there’s only one thing Logan can do—find himself a wife.
Paige McKinney doesn’t always think things through.
Like walking away from her modeling career without a thought of what might come next. She really doesn’t think it through when she proclaims herself Logan’s fiancé at the hospital, simply because the sexy—albeit grumpy—football player forgot his cell phone at a party and security won’t let her pass. It’s not her fault it was overheard by the worst possible person.
A bargain is struck, and a fake marriage is the perfect solution. But the simple solution creates a whole new problem: they’re not as different as they seem. The reluctant groom has fire inside him, and his impetuous bride is about to light the match.
Romance Reviewed 