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.

Love

Love this story. Love the characters and the dog. Cried and laughed. So worth it.

Seriously the Best!

Karla, what can I say. I didn’t think I could love anyone as much as I love anyone as much as Logan and Paige….but then I met Barrett and Lily. I’m new to Audible and this is one of the first books that I couldn’t stop listening to. I hope we see more from this family (cough), Maggie, (cough) 🧐

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!

Heartfelt. Great character development.

Love a well written, emotionally rich, slow burn romance novel. Great story. Loveable main characters and believable chemistry. Voice actors were lovely.