Single Dad Dilemma

The Kings

By: Karla Sorensen

Narrated by: 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) 🧐

So much snip & fire! Ofc there's tension too!

❄️ holidays/winter
🤬 grumpy x grumpy
🏘 neighbors
🥹 she's kind of a nanny

Barrett is a single dad who's super busy as a football coach but he wants to make things right for his two mischievous kids. Lily is a wanderer who housesits for people across the country and she never ever gets attached or puts down roots. She's looking after the house neighboring Barrett's when his two kids meet her, they instantly connect and latch onto her.

Loved this book! The audio was great! The narrators had me feeling everything the characters were feeling. Lily's narrator CJ Bloom stuck out to me!

Lily and Barrett are grumpy and grumpier. I LOVED their interactions so much. So much snip. So much fire. Of course there's tension underneath all their growls and barbs. I love that Barrett underneath all that is just an awkward dude who doesn't know how to flirt. And Lily is very passionate but fears intimacy after a tragedy earlier in her life.

They bring out the best things for each other. Barrett is stoic and not good at expressing himself but he found himself trying sooo hard for Lily. He was kinda possessive of her too in the tiniest ways that he's never been before in his previous marriage. And Lily's fear of intimacy was challenged HARD but not only Barrett but his kids too. 🥹 the way she fought it was a little heartbreaking cause maybe she doesn't want to be alone.

The kids were adorable and so so sweet. They brought tears to my eyes from laughs and such sweet tender gestures. I love their brand of mischief. Especially Maggie. She's too dang clever and scheme-y!

This book made me cry. Gosh I didn't want her to go there but she did 😭 oh my heart. Then I thought things were fine and dandy but nope more waterworks at the end (but happy ones! Just heart squeezy!)

Loved getting to see Griffin and Ruby again! They're still such cuties. And I loved seeing Griffin and Barrett work on mending their riff from what was last seen in Griffin's book.

Bring tissues

I’m sorry if this isn’t a well thought out review. It hit me in a few of my own tender places and I’m having a hard time articulating my feelings after reading it. I loved the previous book Lessons in Heartbreak and I was looking forward to Barrett’s story. However this story was more about the fmc and his kids. Bring the tissues people this one has a lot of feels. It’s good, heartfelt with a little spice. Excellent 5 star narration by Aiden Snow and CJ Bloom. You definitely want to listen to this one.

single dad delimia

what a great story. although lily's story should have been told long before it was. like in chapter 12. to understand her a little better. other than that I wouldn't change a thing.