The Best of All by Karla Sorensen

He’s commitment phobic. She believes in happy endings. The twist of fate that binds them is a surprise they never saw coming in a bittersweet romance about instant family—and not-so-instant love.

A decade-old animosity is the only thing Liam Davies and Zoe Valentine have in common. Until their mutual best friends pass away and they’re appointed co-guardians of the trusting couple’s precocious toddler, Mira.

Liam is committed only to professional football. Relationship-wise, he’s even better at defense. Still wrestling with a tough childhood, he’s not cut out to be a father. Why his late best buddy believed in him, Liam has no idea.

An optimistic romantic, Zoe has always dreamed of a fairy-tale life. But even though Liam’s biceps make her dizzy and she can’t stop thinking about his lips on hers, he’s not exactly Prince Charming. With or without that brooding Brit, she is determined to make good on her friends’ last wish.

Forced into a predicament they never expected, Zoe and Liam are discovering things about each other that could scorch through boundaries, warm hearts, and change minds. And best of all, with their shared love for a pint-size surprise like Mira, they might just turn a house into a home.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of The Best Men series!
For book one, The Best Laid Plans, click HERE.

 

 

Book 2
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Narrated by Samantha Brentmoor & Shane East
~ Also Available to Read & Listen with KindleUnlimited ~

 

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and I would most definitely recommend that you read book one first, as it starts at about the same time, but deals with another fallout and another redemption entirely. I read it ten months ago and very quickly (even after reading 200 or so books in between!), I was right back in the situation. I didn't remember much about the lead characters, but certainly Mira, Chris, and Amie... and a few tears!

Catapulted into parenthood, Zoe is embracing her grief at her friends' deaths whilst doing her best for Mira. Then the lawyers reveal an unexpected twist – she shares guardianship with her nemesis, Liam. We soon can see that his brusque, brash behaviour is a front to cover up some pretty bad damage from his dad... and a clear desire to make Zoe his.

Even if we have a good guess at how the book will end, the journey is hugely enjoyable – and well written with plenty of treats thrown in. Liam's NFL life and how he is dealing with his grief, how his teammates support and challenge him, shows us the man he truly is. Zoe's lovely older neighbour, Rosa, and her saucy book club; its members love to tease and joke about the naughty books they read!

I really hope we get more of this lovely new family, and ideally Burke and Charlotte too – because I really like this world!

 

 

 

KARLA SORENSEN is the Amazon Top Ten bestselling author of numerous series, including the Ward Sisters, the Washington Wolves, the Bachelors of the Ridge, and Three Little Words. When she’s not devouring Dramione fanfic or avoiding the laundry, you can find her watching football (British and American) or HGTV or listening to Enneagram podcasts so she can psychoanalyze everyone in her life, in no particular order of importance. With a degree in advertising and public relations from Grand Valley State University, she made her living in senior health care prior to writing full-time, and never reads or writes anything without a happily ever after. Karla lives in Michigan with her husband, two boys, and a big shaggy rescue dog named Bear.

Connect with Karla Sorensen!

Facebook  ~  Instagram  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: The Sorensen Sorority

 

 

 

ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of The Best of All (The Best Men #2) by Karla Sorensen to read and review.

The Best Laid Plans by Karla Sorensen

A tough-as-leather football player. A happy-go-lucky historian. It’s love against all odds in a warm and emotional romance about found family, friendship, and the restorative powers of the heart.

Former Dallas football player Burke Barrett is weathering a lot of changes. He’s retired from football. He’s mourning the loss of his best friend. And now he’s been bequeathed a dilapidated house in northern Michigan he doesn’t want. To his surprise it comes with a long-legged, blindly optimistic renovation manager with big ideas for Burke’s inheritance. She’s passionate, irritating, and irresistible.

Restoration expert Charlotte Cunningham is used to rough exteriors. This surly client, with his stubbled jaw, towering physique, and inflexible attitude, is worth smoothing over. The attraction sizzles, and a proposal is in order: a romantic tryst to relieve the tension. No strings attached. A safe bet for both of them since Burke is prepared to renovate, sell, and move on.

A pet project with an end date. Does that go for love too? Burke must decide what he really wants and what he’s willing to risk. He should know by now that the best-laid plans can change in a heartbeat.

 

 

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~

 

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first in a new series. I really enjoyed it – it is a very different take on a sports romance, dealing with a man who has just retired from the game due to injury, and the unexpected turn his life takes due the to death of a close friend and fellow player, Chris, and his wife, Aimie. For a moment he panics that he is going to be asked to look after the children but, in fact, he is left a house! It had been in Chris's family for centuries but needed complete restoration after being sold off.

Charlotte is living in the guest house and working on the period restoration of the house in accordance with the memories of its owners, when they die in an accident. Now a somewhat angry Burke turns up saying he is now the owner of the house, trusted by his friend to get the job done.

As we watch Burke grieve his career, and his friend, and try and manage spending time at the house and with his sister and niblings, the line is stretched thin. Then he also realises how much Charlotte means to him – but struggles with understanding just how it can all fit together. And along the way, the house returns to its former glory thanks to Burke, Charlotte, and William, the contractor.

I loved how, as the house restoration progresses, Burke also finds some peace and a new fulfilling life.

 

 

 

KARLA SORENSEN is the Amazon Top Ten bestselling author of numerous series, including the Ward Sisters, the Washington Wolves, the Bachelors of the Ridge, and Three Little Words. When she’s not devouring Dramione fanfic or avoiding the laundry, you can find her watching football (British and American) or HGTV or listening to Enneagram podcasts so she can psychoanalyze everyone in her life, in no particular order of importance. With a degree in advertising and public relations from Grand Valley State University, she made her living in senior health care prior to writing full-time, and never reads or writes anything without a happily ever after. Karla lives in Michigan with her husband, two boys, and a big shaggy rescue dog named Bear.

Connect with Karla Sorensen!

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: The Sorensen Sorority

 

 

 

ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of The Best Laid Plans (The Best Men #1) by Karla Sorensen to read and review.

May the Best Man Win by Mira Lyn Kelly

Four friends
Each a Best Man at a wedding
One chance to get it right

Jase Foster can't believe his bad luck. He's been paired with the she-devil herself for his best friend's wedding: Emily Klein of the miles-long legs and killer smile. She may be sin in a bridesmaid dress, but there's no way he's falling for her again.

They can barely stand each other, but given how many of their friends are getting married, they'll just have to play nice-at least when they're in company. Once they're alone, more than just gloves come off as Jase and Emily discover their chemistry is combustible, and there may be something to this enemies to lovers thing after all...

Book 1
Buy Links

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Jase and Emily's story is an enemies-to-lovers story. At least on the surface. It doesn't take long for us to learn that Jase and Emily share a history that goes all the way back to high school and there is a lot more going on than meets the eye.

Em and Jase keep getting paired up in their friends' wedding parties and they can't stand each other. The tension between these two is high and their chemistry if off the charts. There are plenty of hot scenes, but it is the building of friendship and trust by our couple and the healing of past hurts that got to my heart. I was wishing so hard for Em and Jase to get a happily ever after. Romance is not smooth sailing for these two.

May the Best Man Win is a great start to a new series. I look forward to reading the next book, Best Man for the Job.


Lee’Anne – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 Stars

This was a good read but I really felt like it started off missing a chapter. It took me until almost 10% into the book to figure out what was going on, there were to many characters introduced all at once and it was just very confusing at the beginning. I also found the storyline to be a bit unbelievable, I just don’t realistically see anyone being invited to be in so many different weddings and definitely not two people. On the upside though, it really was a good read once the confusion was straightened out. I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion and Jase and Emily’s chemistry is off the charts.

Jase and Emily have known one another since high school and Jase believes that Emily broke his then best friend’s heart. The two despise one another and have had the unfortunate luck to be thrown together because of their similar heights in their friends’ weddings. (I lost count exactly, but I think maybe 5/6 weddings?) Though the two hate each other, their attraction to one another is off the charts, and after being forced together so many times, they can no longer resist. There is a ton of back and forth with neither of them being on the same page about commitment, leading us to believe they’re never going to work it out.

I do look forward to reading the next book in this series, I’m excited to see where the author takes us next.

USA Today bestselling author Mira Lyn Kelly grew up in the Chicago area and earned her degree in Fine Arts from Loyola University. She met the love of her life while studying abroad in Rome, Italy, only to discover he'd been living right around the corner from her. They live in rural Minnesota.

Connect with Mira

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of May the Best Man Win (The Best Men #1) by Mira Lyn Kelly to read and review.