I received an advanced copy of this book and these are my honest thoughts.

Publication Date: Thursday, July 21, 2022

Blurb

You know that girl from your past that you can’t quite stop thinking about? The one that you pushed away because you had a goal that seemed so much bigger, so much more important than any crush you might have had?
That’s Adaline Wilder for me.
Nothing came before football. Not in college, and not in my five years in the pros. All I wanted was to win games, win a championship, carve my own path out of the illustrious Ward family football legacy. And I’ve done all that. But something is missing.
I’ve never been wrong about what I want. Except with her.
She moved on to someone else, but that baseball playing moron just broke her heart. I don’t blame her for not trusting me, but even Adaline can’t deny the heat when we’re together. 
I have one shot at winning her back. And I intend to take it.

Review

I know I keep saying this, but each time Karla releases a new book, it instantly becomes my favorite, and this time is no exception… but this time, I TRULY MEAN IT WHEN I SAY, EMMETT WARD IS *EVERYTHING* GOOD IN THIS WORLD. This book was highly anticipated for me this summer, and I’m so grateful I got an eARC so I could read this ahead of the release (if any of you suddenly want to start buying me presents, this book is at the TOP OF MY BOOK WISHLIST – for real, wink wink). 

We met Emmett in the OG Washington Wolves series, and got to know him more as a child in the Ward Sisters series, and I’m so glad I got to see grown-up Emmett find his forever. Raised by Logan and Paige, and nearly a handful of sisters, Emmett knows what is important to him and just how full his plate can get. He shows up for the people he cares about, however he can from wherever he is. I love seeing how his resolve to do the right thing and to stand firm in his convictions leads him down some trying paths, but he sets an example that I want every child to have in their life. He’s genuinely a good person, and you can’t help but root for him.

Enter Adaline Wilder, the only person who could match Emmett’s in terms of love for family and loyalty to those they love. I know we got glimpses of Emmett and Adaline in previous books, but I just wanted one little snippet of them together. Their loyalty and understanding of one another makes me wish I could see who they were as young adults.

Adaline loves her families – her blood relatives, her family by marriage, but also her chosen family that stretches to her colleagues and the Ward family. She would literally do anything to take care of the people in her life, even committing to being no more than a half a day away from her hometown so she can quickly get home if need be. And she does need to go home. After her four year relationship with another athlete ended, Adaline doubled down on her commitment to the people she loves, but she also re-established some boundaries for herself. I’m so grateful Emmett decided to shoot his shot with her, because he sure showed her how it felt to truly be loved, cared for, and taken care of by someone, even when she didn’t ask because she’s stubborn.

This is a love story that you want to see evolve in real life. It’s so genuine and there is so much care taken from both sides. These two, individually and independently, sacrificed a relationship because they knew the other wasn’t in a position to give it their all. It hurt. The distance didn’t make them better, but it did help them to get some clarity, which inspired some big moves from both Adaline and Emmett in order for a relationship to work. Once they started communicating, letting other people in on their struggles and hardships, once they started growing together, magic happened.

Outside of adoring these two, I loved getting a glimpse into a lot of the Wilder and Ward families, and I’m so excited to see the Wilder series come to life. 

Some of my favorite parts:

  • Paige being a meddling mom
  • Molly being her dramatic but loving self
  • All the siblings watching the (new) youngster Ward generation playing soccer and being UBER competitive about it
  • Logan. I forgot how much I adored Logan
  • Tim’s speech to Adaline on the porch
  • Logan and Emmett talking at the field
  • Emmett’s grand gestures, over and over again, big and small

I hope if I have kids someday that they turn out like Emmett and Adaline. For real. This book, these families and characters, have a special place in my heart. And FOR REAL this time – Emmett is my new favorite…… Sorensen football player? (:

Thanks to Karla Sorensen and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for the ARC of this one. Five big stars from me.

Rating: 5 Stars

Buy Link:

myBook.to/TheCrush

Free in KU

Meet Karla Sorensen:

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. 

Connect with Karla Sorensen:

Website: http://www.karlasorensen.com
Newsletter: http://www.karlasorensen.com/newsletter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karlasorensenbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karla_sorensen/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ksorensenbooks
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3fgjzlX
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2P7a3Xy
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karla-sorensen
Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesorensensorority/