Single Dad Dilemma

The Kings

De: Karla Sorensen

Narrado por: Aiden Snow, CJ Bloom

A gruff, divorced NFL coach meets his match in an equally grumpy, commitment-phobic neighbor in this warm-hearted and witty romance about family, second chances, and overcoming the past.

You’d think it was the perfect setup: living next door to the grumpy single dad who needs my help with his troublemaking kids—just until football season is over. Swoony stuff, right?

You know who’s not swooning? Me.

I’m as grumpy as he is, and I’m fairly certain that for NFL Coach Barrett King, it was hate at first sight. It’s nothing I’ll lose sleep over because 1) the feeling is mutual, and 2) I’m not a people person. Just me and my dog, Larry, moving around when the mood strikes, is what I prefer.

Except I start getting attached. First to the kids. Then to their father. I don’t know why. He’s overbearing. His attempts at flirting are just growls and glares. But if I ever see that man smile…well, I might tear all his clothes off.

I don’t do forever. And Barrett—serious, thoughtful, sexier than he has any right to be—doesn’t do short term. We’re headed straight for disaster.

But if we're willing to take a risk, maybe this story won't end in heartbreak. Maybe what started as the perfect setup for two imperfect people just might end in love.

©2025 by Karla Sorensen. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Amazing!!

“Just being happy…” this book…. Another amazing story by Karla Sorenson…. She is one of my favorite authors and this book is one of the many reasons… Barrett and Lily… both grumpy… their soft spot is his kids…. He is an amazing dad even as a head football coach for Bryce and Maggie… she is the neighbor who falls for them too. I loved watching all of them all connect and want to take care of each other and just be happy… a top all time favorite reads for me and a top 2025 read.
The audiobook was amazing… I jumped between listening and reading! So well done!

Best of 2025, right here

Good Narration - don't miss this one!

Wow. I need just a minute to sit with my feelings here. I think this is the best thing I've read this year, and while I've enjoyed all of Karla Sorensen's books (and I think I've read them all), this is absolutely (in my humble opinion) the best thing she's ever written.

Single dad Barrett King, head coach of the Buffalo football team. He's not grumpy, but he is definitely serious. His kids, Bryce and Maggie, are precocious and wonderful.

Lily has been on the run from anything resembling emotional attachment for years. She keeps to herself, travels from job to job, sometimes house or pet-sitting, sometimes other jobs. When Bryce and Maggie come into her back yard to "play" with her very grumpy old dog (Larry), it's the beginning of her heart starting to heal.

Barrett and Lily do nothing but butt heads for a while. The burn is sooo slow, but it's perfect for the story. When the kids are out of town and there's a snowstorm rolling through, there's a little forced proximity that also forces - or just allows - them to really communicate and for Barrett to break through, just a little, of all the things Lily's been holding onto for the last 10+ years.

I won't say more - except readers beware, this will require tissues at least a couple of times. Worth it. SO worth it. I already wish I could read it again for the first time.

Sweet Scale: 6/5
Spicy Scale: 3/5

Sweet Story

I will literally listen to anything that CJ Bloom narrates. Hands down the best female narrator I have experienced , and I have listened to over a thousand. The story was good! Solid bones. Would have liked a little more insight into the past for both of them, it would have made their new found love even more spectacular. A tad more angst maybe would have been nice, but overall a good listen! But like I said, if could have been the phone book and I would have liked it if CJ was reading it!

I love them both so much

Story: 12/10
Spice:1/5
Spice Hierarchy: Open Door
Narration: 5/5, dual

Lily is a loner and never sets down roots. Rather she housesits by bouncing from friends of friends without settling. Barrett is a single dad of two middle kids while also being a head coach for an NFL team. Barrett and Lily strike an agreement that she will watch his kids after school until he gets home. The more time Barrett and Lily spend together the more their friendship grows.

How did Karla write both main characters to be grumpy even with a grumpy dog and still have me immediately falling in love? I’m still not sure, but she did. I may also never forgive her for making my black heart cry with this story. I liked this approach to the single dad trope. Lily isn’t the nanny, she’s the short-term neighbor that checks in on older kids to make sure they are safe and monitored. I didn’t think I was going to like Barrett when I was reading his brother Griffin’s story. But once Barrett made a true appearance with his kids in Lessons in Heartbreak, I knew I wanted Barrett to tell his story too. The Wards and Wolves have a special place in my heart, this is probably my favorite Karla story.

great book

This was a really good book! I liked this author, I'll definitely have to read more!