| Title | : | The Crush (The Wolves: A Football Dynasty, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 302 |
| Publication | : | First published July 21, 2022 |
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.
The Crush (The Wolves: A Football Dynasty, #3) Reviews
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2.75 ⭐️
I feel like the whole story was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. There were a lot of “I miss you’s” and “I love her so much” and “I would do anything for her” - but not enough of showing me why they felt that way. There were a few paragraphs telling us that they had a blooming connection in their past - but I didn’t feel like there was enough from the past or the present to make me actually fall for it.
I feel so bad saying this but I was honestly just really bored. There were some moments here and there that kept my attention, but I feel like there was one main issue for the majority of the story (location) and I was very surprised that it took the entire book to work itself out the way it did because I knew what the solution was and I couldn’t understand why it took until the end of book to get there.
I also really didn’t like how they slept together mid-way through and then didn’t talk to each other for FOUR months. I get why - but I didn’t like the time jump. Would have liked either a slower burn with them not jumping in the sack the first chance they got and having them re-kindle their connection slowly over long distance - OR, just actually talking to each other after having the best sex of your life with a person you’re already in love with.
I kind of kept expecting everything to take a different turn than it did… and I kept being disappointed with how it was playing out.
I loved Emmett so much in all the other books and was so excited to read his story - but not every book is gonna be for everyone, and unfortunately this one wasn’t for me. -
“Someday,” he said quietly, “we’ll start this in a place we can finish it.”
Tropes: right person wrong time, friends to lovers, sports romance. Can be read as a standalone.
Talk about a book leaving you completely CRUSHED... Karla Sorensen has always nailed the sweet&steamy sports romance books, so no surprise there, but this book? WOW. Emmett and Adaline's story is a thing of its own and different from anything she has written so far; sweet and steamy indeed, but also so angsty, honest and heartwarming at the same time.
Emmett was a swoon-worthy hero (like father like son), Adaline a relatable and down-to-earth heroine, and the romance felt so natural and real, slow but going somewhere, and " right person, wrong time" is always a hit according to me, so imagine... but that wasn't even the best part for me! As always, the family ties, the heart-to-heart talks, and the À la Paige moves to get what they wanted were what stole my heart.
It was 2AM when I finished this book and I was a MESS after bawling my eyes out, and it wasn't just one scene, nope, it was A LOT of them making me emotional, but honestly, the author did justice to each character in the Ward family here (and the Wilder's too), and this book was the perfect finishing touch to close this chapter and move on to new things. Well done, Karla!
check my edit for this book HERE :-)! -
4.5 stars - listened as an audiobook. this really came to life for me as an audiobook and this is the second karla sorensen book that made me cry which came out of nowhere in the best way.
i'm glad i listened to this instead of reading it because the starting premise is kind of weird, was my only gripe with the book. emmett sees something traumatic happen to a friend and when his friend's wife is there for support, he realizes he missed his opportunity with adaline because he chose his football career over starting something with her years ago. not my favorite starting premise for a book.
however, the rest was really cute and he was basically like i will move the ends of the earth to make something work with you and that's what i care about. the family and side characters in these books really make the story (and make me cry) but i'm so excited to read more from her! -
This one was a high three star, mainly because of the hero. He was my favourite kind of man; responsible, respectful, sweet, understanding and strong. The story itself was a little frustrating, an instalove with a slow burn, where the heroine kept pushing the hero away for completely solvable reasons and I wanted to wring her neck. Also this was sort of a second chance romance but it always felt like it had something missing. We know they used to be friendly and crush on each other in college, and that he turned her down when he got drafted and she asked him to explore their feelings. So they were never really together, and we only ever really get the smallest of glimpses into their time before present day. It was just never fully believable to me how or why they fell in love. They really were together only two nights in the whole book, and since we never really saw them during their youthful crush, I had no idea how he just knew she was the one for him. Lots of telling, with little showing here.
He kind of just decided she was ‘it’ out of nowhere and then started making moves towards her. She pushed him away time and again because he was an athlete and she had baggage from an ex athlete boyfriend, he lived in another city and she needed to stay near her family. But she quickly abandoned those issues near the end like they hadn’t been major barriers to why they couldn’t be together the WHOLE BOOK. I just need more substance to my plots than this book really had. But it was a nice story, can absolutely NOT be read as a stand-alone, you need to have read about 3 other entire series to be able to keep the stories and characters straight, which I have read and still needed to refresh my memory, but a sweet hero who works to give his girl everything. Just not really sure I know why he wanted her for his girl?
But Sorensen is a great writer and has great side characters and glimpses into former characters’ lives and she does a great job writing sports romance. This one wasn’t her best, but it had its moments. -
3/4 ⭐️
Non è sicuramente il libro migliore della Sorensen, non c’è una grande storia dietro, è tutto molto tranquillo e lineare, però si lascia comunque leggere.
Spero invece che la nuova serie ci regali delle belle sorprese! 😊 -
Dual POV.
Second chance.
Sports romance.
The book starts with the Hero finally thinking of life outside his career, he realises he wants a future or a chance at one with a missed opportunity with the heroine.
He's all about her.
No other woman drama or ex drama. Other man drama in form of she's recently out of a relationship, so very cautious of giving him a chance. Other man has no scenes.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
I found it a bit frustrating.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t thought of her in the past five years. I did think of her. Often. But those thoughts were fleeting. They’d come and go without disrupting much about my life, simply because I knew—or thought—she was happy in another relationship.
It felt impossible to start something five years ago. She was in Seattle. Everyone knew I was going to Florida.
So he tells her can't start a relationship.
During the separation
Adaline met someone else.
Because I told her I didn’t want to start a relationship with her. With anyone, really. But she’d been the one asking the night before the draft.
A year earlier, and I probably would’ve kissed her when she told me how she felt. Six months earlier, even.
The Hero.
“I’ve gone on dates over the years. Rarely more than one or two, though.”
HEA.
Epilogue. -
Recensione in Review Party sulla mia pagina Bookstagram
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⭐⭐⭐⭐
Avere da tempo immemore una cotta pazzesca per un sexy giocatore di football, il quarterback della squadra, destinato al successo nel mondo dello sport e suo più caro amico, non aveva fatto bene al cuore della giovane Adaline, che ne era uscito distrutto.
E quando lui era partito, la ragazza aveva cercato di farsene una ragione, soffrendo, ma riprendendo in mano la sua vita, diventando anche una efficiente organizzatrice di eventi.
Immaginate il suo sgomento quando Emmett, una volta tornato a casa, le fa capire senza mezzi termini di aver cambiato idea sulla loro amicizia. Adaline piomba nella confusione più totale.
🖋️Uno sport romance dolce e romantico che non prevede particolari drammi, e che dà risalto a valori importanti ed essenziali come la famiglia e i sentimenti veri e duraturi.
Un libro sulle seconde possibilità, ben scritto e sensuale quanto basta, che pone al centro della storia le vicissitudini della meravigliosa famiglia Ward, che tutte noi lettrici della Sorensen amiamo moltissimo. Una famiglia unita che ha come prerogativa quella di dar risalto e sostenere ogni suo componente, senza interferire nella loro vita ma facendone avvertire la presenza. Costante e ricolma d’amore.
*Ringrazio Paola Ciccarelli per la collaborazione e la copia ARC in Anteprima -
Emmett is all grown up!!! If you read The Marriage Effect and the Ward Sisters series, you’ll remember Emmett is the son of Logan and Paige, and he’s technically the nephew of the Ward Sisters (though they were basically raised together so he views them as his sisters). The heroine, Adaline, is the sister of Erik from The Plan.
Adaline used to work for the Ward family for several years as an assistant for Molly Ward (from Focused). Over the years she became an honorary family member, which is how her friendship with Emmett formed. The night before Emmett enters the draft, Adaline admits she has feelings for him, but Emmett is not ready to commit to both a long distance relationship and the start of his football career. Fast forward several years, and Adaline is coming out of a relationship, and Emmett is slowly realizing that there are things that matter more than football. So begins Emmett and Adaline’s journey back to each other.
I think if you’ve read the Washington Wolves/Ward Sisters books along with The Lie/The Plan, you will appreciate how true to character Emmett and Adaline are. At first, I wondered why they spent so much time apart throughout the book, but both are committed to their families and duties, and knew that to start something real, they each would have to make sacrifices, and I loved that. Their chemistry was INSANE, which made each interaction they had that much more explosive, because you knew how much they pined for each other 🥵. They never rushed each other, and when the timing was finally right for them, they got the HEA they deserved💜.
Being back with alllllll the family, including the spouses and kids, was sooooo nostalgic!! I feel like we’ve grown with this family, and they played a big role in encouraging Emmett and Adaline’s relationship. I love everything about the world that this author has created, and I cannot wait to see what she does next!
TROPES: sports romance (football); wrong time/wrong place; family saga; small town vibes -
Good gravy but Karla Sorensen gives good sports romance.
I feel utterly and thoroughly spoiled having just turned the last page of this book. The Crush was all of my favorite things wrapped into one sweet, sexy, romantic package.
I don't think my heart ever even stood a chance against Emmett Ward. I mean, his pedigree had him set up for success (the Wards excel at swoon), and yet I was still completely taken with his soulful honesty about his feelings, the goodness of his heart, and the sexy, possessive way he pursued Adaline.
These two were absolute perfection. Their hearts were a perfect match, they were both insanely likeable - in that way that I would want to be their best friend if I weren't actually so in love with them. I loved their banter, the heat that constantly simmered between them, and especially the tender way they loved each other, putting each other first, and slowly but surely clearing the path of anything that stood in their way.
The Crush was pretty low angst. It was a heartfelt, stripped down love story. There was no unnecessary drama, and because of that it felt almost indulgent, a decadent treat for my heart, and I enjoyed it so very much! ~ Shelly, 4.5 Stars -
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US *
Amazon UK
When I tell you I devoured this book! Emmett is just...
I wasn't expecting this book to be so emotional but my lord the journey Ms. Sorenson took Emmett and Adaline on was not an easy one. They had me invested in their relationship though and I couldn't put this book down. I was on the edge of my seat every other page just dying to figure out how they would work things out and I loved that. This was such a captivating story and the characters were so easy to like. I easily fell for them and my heart hurt along with theirs when things got hard between them.
I also have to say that I really appreciated how mature Emmett and Adaline were. There could have been some angst thrown in if they both didn't handle the rejection well, but that didn't happen and it made me love them even more. -
All the Emmett-Bump stars for this one ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was one of those books that had me fighting with myself. Half of me wanting to speed read because of the awesomeness inside and the other half trying to slow down and savour the final book in the series.
Adaline and Emmett were the very definition of “good people.” What I mean is, both are fantastic characters who you can’t help falling for and NEED to get their HEA. Their connection feels genuine and their chemistry was just delicious.
I loved how the author didn’t add any unnecessary drama, she let their love story unfold in a genuine way with just the right amount of angst and heartbreak. I absolutely adored this book.
I received an arc of this book -
Two stars for Ward family, ship wasn't giving but that's okay I'm read for Wilder family series.
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" Не си правиш услуга, като седиш отстрани в собствения си живот..."
/ The Crush
Четейки The Crush в жарките дълги дни на юли, позволих на романтичното настроението да повярва на духа, характерите на героите и на постъпките им. Емет е мъж, когото всяка жена би искала да познава. И да има вниманието му. И отношението му...Спортната му кариера на звезден играч го е накарала да остави на стоп кадър личния си живот. Подхранван от амбиция и хъс да даде най - доброто от себе си в играта, Емет върви напред сам до момента на инцидент със съотборник . Гледката на подкрепящите го съпругата преобръща наопаки света и пренарежда приоритетите. Защото славата, успеха, парите и любимата игра могат да изчезнат за миг при контузия или нещастен случай. И ако човек е сам на върха, долу в низините също може да бъде сам. Семейството може да не бъде достатъчна утеха. За Емет има само един човек, който би осмислил и успеха и падението. Приятелката от детството му. Аделин, с която добрите моменти, страстта и грижата винаги са били под повърхността на много по - дълбоките им чувства.Но в любовта желатията и задълженията са различни светове. Емет е решил да не иска от Аделин жертви в името на общото им бъдеще, които биха й коствали по - късни съжаления. Ако искат да бъдат заедно, той ще бъде човекът, който ще направи това да работи за тях. Но договорите му с висшата лига са в действие.Съотборниците му разчитат на него в началото на сезона. Той иска да докаже способностите си на терена. Иска и да бъде с Аделин всеки ден.Единственият , който стои на пътя му към щастието е собственика на отбора. Какво му остава на Емет, освен да предприеме нещо драстично? Не би бил син на майка си , ако не постъпи като нея в стремежа си да бъде с жената, та която държи. Страстна и ярка книга, която много деликатно докосва най - чувствителните места, желания и блянове на една жена. Емет е създаден от Karla Sorensen като съвършения мъж. Любящ, целеустремен, склонен към компромиси, лоялен, успешен, но неподвластен на славата... The Crush е четиво точно за летните дни, когато страстите ни определят как ще ги запо��ним. -
More like 2.5 stars. This has several parts that are seriously overwritten and yet it lacked a compelling plot. It was kind of easy and I like a lot more angst than this offered.
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![Elle ♡ [semi-hiatus]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1521418447i/78060090._UY200_CR25,0,200,200_.jpg)
3-3.5 stars
"Someone smacked my ass when he strode, fist raised in the air, into the end zone."
"They all took turns bumping my fist, shoving at my back, smacking my ass."
Okay so first of all this was a sports romance, which we all know I love, but would it really be a sports romance without a bunch of grown men smacking each other on the butt?🧐 🤷🏼♀️ idk.
This one was really hard for me to rate. I really liked the characters, but the premise was a bit crazy. It was basically the most extreme case of instalove, without any declarations of love, but extreme actions that couldn't be justified for anything less. The heroine wasn't the one that got away so much as the one that never was. She had a crush on him, he rejected her, he casually thinks about her over the years and 5 years later he has an epiphany during a friend's life or death experience that he wants a partner in life and all he can picture is her. Conveniently she just broke up with her long time boyfriend and he decides to make a move...but has given anything past that absolutely no thought, namely that they live on opposite sides of the country and neither is willing/can move 🤔🥴? So I just never knew where he thought this was going and then my "instalove without the love" comment is referring to the fact that he decides to try and solve the not living near each other problem before they even start dating, like what?! I could understand the grand gestures and crazy shit he's trying to do if they were madly in love, had been dating for a year or so at least or had deep romantic history in the past to rekindle, but they literally had a one night stand and homie is flipping his whole life upside down so they can start dating. Mind you he hasn't even talked to her about any of this to make sure she's down, he hasn't said he loves her yet (or told the readers that) because the author is trying to make him not seem insane by already loving her? Idk. And lastly his actions could have profound negative affects on his career but who cares right, it's all in the name of not-yet-love?? Make it make sense.
BUT BESIDES THAT I weirdly really liked Emmett and Adaline. I found them very compelling as characters. Emmett is the golden boy who's worked hard his whole life, but never faced true adversity or not been able to get something he wants. The something he wants now is Adaline and there's a whole slew of complications keeping them apart, namely the distance though. "You assumed you could waltz into her life, and everything would magically fall into place. You've been patient because you had no other choice." So he's learning a few life lessons, but since this is a romance novel it's all going to work out for him in the end. And Adaline is as loyal as the day is long, endlessly devoted to her family and a go-getter entrepreneur. She was hard not to like and as crazy as their instalove was they somehow made me really believe in their unproclaimed feelings for each other.
So I dunno, this one was a bit of a wildcard, it mostly worked for me, but it really shouldn't have. I honestly don't have a problem with instalove, I can get down with that if the author makes it believable and I could've loved this book if she had chosen a better backstory, but alas I don't write them I just read them so it is what it is and I still kind of liked it. -
4.5
Adoro i romanzi di Karla Sorensen, pagine godibili che scorrono con tenero romanticismo, una voce narrativa che scivola fluida come il miele e suscita quell' emozione calda e positiva che colma il cuore di gioia e riempie la mente di sogni. Sono passati 5 anni dall' ultima volta che ha visto Adaline eppure Emmett non ha mai dimenticato la morbida curva del suo sorriso e la dolcezza impressa nel suo sguardo mentre gli apriva fiduciosa il suo cuore. Ma in quel momento non aveva spazio per una relazione seria e ha rinunciato a cogliere quel dono d' amore optando per la strada che lo ha portato ad una gloriosa carriera sportiva. Adaline ha sempre avuto una cotta pazzesca per quel ragazzo bello, intelligente, brillante e con un talento innato per lo sport, ma con il cuore a pezzi ha voltato pagina certa che per nulla al mondo le loro vite si sarebbero nuovamente intrecciate. Lei è l' unica donna che abbia suscitato in Emmett un vero interesse, l' unica che gli sia rimasta dentro e che ancora desidera. Torna nella sua vita in punta di piedi e con delicatezza fermamente deciso a riconquistare la sua fiducia e il suo amore. Una storia d'amore meravigliosa che regala attimi profondi e dinamiche semplici ma intense. Due cuori miti e generosi, due anime buone e splendide che hanno ritrovato finalmente la chimica che ha alimentato quella scintilla che li ha uniti per sempre.
Una storia sulle seconde possibilità in cui emergono con potenza i sentimenti legati soprattutto agli affetti familiari. Legami saldi che sanciscono l' unione, la forza il conforto e il supporto di una famiglia pilastro fondamentale nella vita nonché l' amore ben radicato nel cuore che lega due persone anche a distanza capaci di superare qualsiasi ostacolo pur di trovarsi e stare insieme. L' autrice ha incastrato tutti i tasselli nel modo giusto costruendo una storia perfetta per incantare e farci sognare con due protagonisti eccezionali e deliziosamente tratteggiati sostenuti da personaggi secondari altrettanto ben delineati che insieme hanno dato forma e volume ad una trama lineare, priva di scossoni narrativi, ma emotivamente potente, toccante, intrigante e molto coinvolgente.
Segui @simoloverosa anche si Instagram Facebook e Tik Tok -
Forse quando si parla di Karla Sorensen sono un po’ di parte, questa autrice nemmeno lo sa, però con i suoi libri mi ha sempre lasciato tanto ed essere arrivata a leggere il libro di Emmett – l’ultimo Ward – non mi ha solo emozionato, mi ha dato la sensazione di aver chiuso un cerchio. Le aspettative riguardo La cotta erano alte, e devo ammettere che se avevo perso la testa per Emmett nella sua versione junior, adesso da adulto mi ha letteralmente stesa. Questo per me è stato un po’ un libro coccola, dove ci troviamo un bravo ragazzo che capisce di aver sempre provato qualcosa per una brava ragazza. Ci sono drammi? No, c’è la vita. Per quanto si veda in parte un mondo patinato, fatto di sport, soldi, contratti e persone famose, in realtà il fulcro è quanto i sentimenti siano forti e quanto la famiglia sia importante. Mi sono rivista un bel po’ in Adaline, nel suo essere autonoma, forte, sempre presente e col pensiero di dover fare la cosa giusta – mettendosi anche in secondo piano. In Emmett ho rivisto l’amore della famiglia, quella famiglia numerosa e rumorosa, ma anche il voler sempre raggiungere i propri obiettivi. Perché quando una cosa la sai, la sai e basta. Sì, in parte il comportamento di quest’ultimo potrebbe sembrare un capriccio, ma per me è stato solo un aprire gli occhi. Sì, Adaline potrebbe sembrare tonta, ma in quel caso è la paura che prende il sopravvento e come dicevo prima, la convinzione di non poter avere quello che si vuole perché non è giusto. Resta il fatto che questo romanzo parla di seconde possibilità, di quanto un qualcosa quando è giusto non ha alternative. Davvero una bella storia, scorrevole, ben scritta e tradotta e che come al solito strappa sorrisi e sospiri sognanti.
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3 stelle e 1/2
💋Recensione per il blog New Adult e dintorni💋
Siamo arrivati all’ultimo capitolo della saga della famiglia Ward con il piccolino di casa, l'amatissimo Emmett. Cresciuto a pane e football con i Washington Wolves lo troviamo distante da casa, in Florida a fare i conti già così giovane, con un rimpianto amoroso, Adaline.
Emmett Ward è il quarterback dei Ft. Lauderdale, all’apice della carriera si rende conto, per colpa di un grave infortunio dell’amico e compagno di squadra Malcolm, quanto l’amore e una persona accanto manchino nella sua vita. Ha un grande rimpianto, aver rifiutato una ragazza, l’unica che l’aveva veramente attratto anni prima, Adaline. Farle una sorpresa e correre a riconquistarla è una missione che però ha mille difficoltà. Rivelare i sentimenti non è facile per lui, quando la loro chimica prenderà il sopravvento e soprattutto quando la lontananza sarà un grande elefante nella stanza.
«Un giorno» disse, succhiandomi la pelle all’altezza della mandibola. «Un giorno inizieremo dove possiamo finire.»
Adaline Wilder è un’organizzatrice di eventi che ha mosso i primi passi in questo lavoro grazie alla zia/sorella di Emmett, Molly Ward. Completamente affascinata e amante della famiglia Ward, pensava di essere ad un passo dal conquistare la sua cotta adolescenziale, quando Emmett la respinge. Sfortunata in amore e molto attaccata alla sua famiglia allargata, i Wilder, non sarà facile per lei cedere alle lusinghe del ritrovato Emmett dopo aver perso fiducia nel blasonato mondo del football con un ex che l’ha delusa ulteriormente.
‘Il mio cuore voleva che mi sporgessi in avanti e scoprissi se le sue labbra erano buone come sembravano. Il mio cuore voleva. Ma il mio cervello mi esortava a restare ferma dov’ero, un singolo granello di prudenza che sussurrava attraverso quel denso impulso d’attrazione. Il mio cervello ricordava.’
Aspettavo quest’ultimo capitolo nonostante non fossi pronta a lasciare la famiglia Ward.
Emmett, il piccolino di casa, che avevamo conosciuto grazie alle sue marachelle ai danni delle zie, considerate come sorelle da lui, è cresciuto bene direi. Sia dal punto di vista fisico essendo uno sportivo molto attraente e sia dal punto di vista mentale essendo un ragazzo con i piedi per terra. Appena capisce ciò a cui ha rinunciato fa di tutto per riprendersi la ragazza che è pronto ad amare. Adeline è molto titubante ma come darle torto, oltretutto sta passando un delicato momento in famiglia che non la fa essere ottimista in questa nuova fase di vita amorosa.
Una storia dolce e piena di speranza che però avrei voluto più ricca di angst e di pathos. La trama è lineare e abbastanza scontata, la famiglia, da ambo le parti, la fa da padrona con una buona dose di amarcord per i Ward e nuove prospettive per i Wilder. Sette sono i figli e la prossima storia dovrebbe riguardare Greer che abbiamo visto spesso in questo capitolo interagire con la sorella Adaline, vedremo.
Alla Sorensen vorrei dire di osare un po’ di più, di non vivere sugli allori, di impegnarsi di più. Mi piace lo slow burn e anche le trame semplici ma bisogna saper gestire il tutto con una narrazione intrigante che qua non ho visto.
La parte hot c’è ed è forse la parte che ha impresso più brio alla storia, rianimandola un pochino fortunatamente.
‘Era il paradiso… era l’inferno… qualcosa in bilico nel mezzo. Tormento, dolore e insensato, ardente piacere erano aggrovigliati e annodati insieme fino a non poterli distinguere.’
Sono certa che questa talentuosa autrice può fare molto più di questo. Vedremo! -
Okay.. where can I find my own Emmett? He was the ultimate swoony book boyfriend. I loved that this was just about two people trying to find a way to make a relationship possible, without outside drama. The beginning was a bit slow but by the end, this book had me in tears.
arc received in exchange for an honest review. -
grumpy/sunshine + roommates??? fingers crossed🤞🏽✨
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4.5 stars
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DNF 33%
I found this boring and the characters were off to me. Leaving it unrated for now - might give it another try later. -
Took a little break from the "heavier" reads I've been hitting lately to turn to a fun-to-read sports-related romance. And "The Crush" was just what I was looking for. Fun-to-read with characters I really adored in a long hard fought battle to happily-ever-after. Gotta love those football players to come through with the score! -
Books, Coffee & Passion
Adaline and Emmett have history. The classic case of the right person at the wrong time. 5 years ago, they were attracted to each other and had a connection. When Adaline confessed about having feelings for Emmett, Emmett was about to be drafted so he put football first. The timing was off, so they ended up not getting together and Emmett moved to Florida to play in the NFL.
Now, after a certain scary event, Emmett realizes that maybe his priorities were wrong. After talking with Parker, his friend and Adaline’s brother, Emmett finds out that Adaline is now single… And he wants his chance with her. Adaline is not ready for a relationship. She also promised herself that she would never get involved with another athlete. Will the timing be right for this two after 5 years? Or are they in different mindsets again?
Even though Emmett and Adaline didn’t have a relationship when they were younger, their story felt like a second chance story. I guess it really was, just because they weren’t involved, that didn’t mean they didn’t have feelings for each other. Their connection was very strong from the moment Emmett showed up in Adaline’s life again.
I loved how Emmett was completely sure that he wanted a relationship with Adaline from pretty much the beginning. I also enjoyed how he held back at first for her sake. He gave Adaline the time she needed and it was amazing to see how he put her needs first. I loved how their relationship progressed and how Emmett slowly convinced Adaline that they would work.
Another aspect I enjoyed in it was the focus on the hard life an athlete like Emmett has. Sure, they make tons of money, but the hard work, the crazy hours getting fit, training, bonding with their teammates, playing, the press, the fans, the constant traveling, the possibility of getting traded and moving to another city without much notice… That takes a toll on their personal and family life. And their families can sometimes suffer from their absence. I definitely understood Adaline’s worries about having a steady relationship with an athlete.
Emmett and Adaline were so sweet together, I couldn’t help falling in love with both of them. I enjoyed the family moments in this one too. Their families were great. I loved to see Allie making a cameo too! However, I wanted a little more from their past together. We didn’t get to see the beginning of their connection and how they fell in love with each other in the past. Both of them talked about it, but I still felt like something was missing.
Overall, a sweet, super entertaining read, with lovable characters, strong chemistry and steamy moments, great banter, a few emotional moments, and stellar writing. -
2.5 Stars
I was so excited for Emmett's book......but this ended up being disappointing. There is zero backstory. I think we met the heroine (I already forgot her name) from another book, but I don't remember her.
There should have been some flashbacks or something. We're told of their history in bits and pieces but not enough to understand their relationship. So it was hard to connect with them as a couple.
Best part for me was catching up with Paige and Isabel and the other original characters. Adding .5 stars for them.
This cannot be read as a stand-alone. You will be completely lost. But honestly I’d skip it. -
pro tip: if you’re gonna read this book don’t be an idiot like me and assume it’s a standalone or else you’ll be confused 90% of the time wondering who all these characters are. so totally my fault for not doing more research but also the relationship made no sense. there was no development between them and they’d go months without any communication and we’re just left to understand how they fell in love without seeing any growth??
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DNF 10%
I'm going to be completely honest here, I did not give this book a chance. It may just be my mood too. I wasn't in the correct mood to read something like this. No triggers or anything, just very predictable. I know how it's going to end. I mean we all do. Maybe I'll pick this up again later, but right now, I'm just not in the mood for a predictable story line.
DNF 10% -
Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Loganism (n.): (lo-gan-ism) that one singular sentence in a Karla Sorensen Ward romance that flips the perspective of its titular character, usually a Ward sibling or son; a turning point; a reminder that Logan Ward (with a bit of competition from his son, Emmett Ward, is and will always be Karla Sorensen’s most swooniest MMC/hero, no matter whose story he exists in.
“This weekend. Trade stories with me, Adaline Wilder I want to hear if you’ll tell me.”
And so begins Karla Sorensen’s beautiful rendering of Emmett Ward and Adaline Wilder’s love journey in The Crush. To say that the anticipation for this book is high would be an understatement. When you live through the gorgeousness that is Logan and Paige’s romance in The Marriage Effect and fall deeply in love with his sisters’ stories in later books, you can’t help but want the happily ever after for the youngest Ward. And true to her skill and craftsmanship, she absolutely does not disappoint.
“There was an equilibrium when I was with Adaline.”
As Sorensen has done repeatedly, her masterful storytelling draws you deeply into Emmett and Adaline’s story. She has a heavy task ahead of her: make the reigning golden child shine in the wake of his own parents’ and aunts’ delicious stories. How do you craft Emmett Ward when his parents are beloved, the infamous markers of Sorensen’s talent? You combine the attributes into one while also giving him the space to be himself. And Emmett, well, he gives his father a run for the title as one of Sorensen’s most beloved heroes. He’s the definition of a swoony hero: handsome; a gentle giant; a feminist, raised under the careful hand of a brood of willful, independent women; and a hard worker. And he loves people, namely Adaline, hard. He loves beyond himself. There are so many gorgeous moments in The Crush that create little fractures in our reading hearts. Sorensen quickly and deftly fills them, but the mixture of nostalgia combined with Emmett’s own personal journey makes you emotional.
“Adaline wasn’t fireworks and lightning. She was something softer, sneaking up on me until I couldn’t look away. A sunrise, maybe. A beginning point that changed so gradually you hardly noticed until the brightest, most vivid colors you’ve ever seen dominated the entire horizon.”
And there are layers of wisdom in this story: a Loganism, a deep discussion with Isabel, and a heart-to-heart conversation between Adaline and her stepfather, Tim, that create the underlying message of this book: that any relationship is hard and requires sacrifice and effort to make it profitable (not the sexiest word for a beautiful romance such as this one, but an apt word). Sorensen has the benefit of The Marriage Effect, Focused, Faked, Floored, and Forbidden as foundational to Emmett’s understanding of relationships. It’s a detriment as much as a benefit to have been surrounded by incredible relationships, but we learn through Sorensen’s storytelling that it impresses upon him incompletely. That is often the danger of romances: the idea that romance and relationships should be easy and stay easy. However, her characters and readers learn quickly that life is never easy, and we must often do what is difficult for the greater reward. To underscore that idea, Sorensen makes her readers work for Adaline and Emmett’s happy ending. In doing so, she crafts realism into the fictional world many of us love to inhabit during our reading time. This is the single main reason why I adore Sorensen to my toes. There is spice, sweetness, and light, but there is also a shade of reality in her stories that allows us to find ourselves situated with her beloved characters. And we need the promise that we can escape our own troubles and find our own happy endings too.
“Emmett wanted me any way he could have me. No pretense, no lies, and no excuses of what would come next.”
Is Adaline Wilder a breath of fresh air in The Curse? Indeed. She is seminal and necessary to Emmett’s growth. She is self-possessed, independent, loving, compassionate, and everything good in a romance heroine. And she knows her boundaries and lives to them. Through her characterization, we learn the importance of choosing yourself and expecting a love interest to make you a priority as well. Together, Emmett and Adaline are pure unadulterated divinity.
“‘Someday,’ he said, sucking at the skin by my jaw, ‘someday we’ll start where we can finish.”
From her wordsmithing to her characterizations to her capacity in wringing out the details of her story, Karla Sorensen’s The Crush reminds me why she is an automatic one-click. I want to read her stories because I find life in them despite personal struggle. Emmett and Adaline will absolutely steal your heart, but you will end this book in complete and utter peace with the biggest smile on your face and happy tears in your eyes. I know I did. -
**Audio Review**
Swoon! The Crush by Karla Sorensen was a friends-to-lovers sports romance that left my heart feeling deliciously happy. Emmett and Adaline have this magnetic meant-to-be attraction, but their timing has been all wrong. However, with a gentle push from family and a second chance to make things right, these two discover that true love will always find a way.
Samantha Brentmoor and Stephen Dexter narrate this audiobook. This is the first time I’ve heard them paired together, and I loved how well their voices complimented each other. Samantha added the perfect passionate and determined feminine touch to voice Adaline. Plus, you get a softer side to her irresistible male voice that was on point for Emmett’s calm, loving demeanor. Stephen brought all the soul-satisfying charm to loyal, loving, and understanding, Emmett which of course made me adore him even more.
Overall, I loved this book. If you are a fan of a friends-to-lovers romance with a hot responsible football star, a sweet kind-hearted heroine, a masquerade dance, bonfires by the beach, family time, super hot steamy times, football games, meaningful conversations, and a HEA that is completely crushworthy then you will love Emmett and Adaline’s story. I’m looking forward to more from Karla Sorensen. -
I never knew how much I needed this book until I started it. Emmett Ward had a lot to live up to and held a special place in my heart, as we have seen him in so many books, and still, he surpassed all my expectations. I loved Emmett so much. Once he knew what he wanted, he was determined and self-confident and yet caring and protective. He was truly a product of his parents, though I saw so much of Paige in him. He owned my heart throughout the story. He was everything and Adeline was his match in every way.
Adeline was sweet, caring, and likable. She gave all of herself to those she loved and took on responsibilities that weighed on her and yet she did all she could for others. It was as if they continuously circled each other until they clashed together. Their journey was emotional and touching and I could not stop reading. I loved this book so much and highly recommend it and so grateful the author gave us this story.
I do want to mention this can be read as a standalone, though you meet his parents in the Washington Wolves series and see him through the years in the Ward Sisters series, you do not need to read the book. I will however, say, I loved every book in the Washington Wolves world and highly recommend them.
Happy reading!
