Griffin King, a football player is now in Colorado awaiting his new contract when he runs into Ruby, a librarian in a small town. Ruby knows who Griffin is the moment they locked eyes on each other. Ruby and Griffin lived next door to each other when they were teenagers. Ruby however had a crush on Griffin's twim brother. Ruby is embarrassed because she mistook Griffin for the male escort that she had hire. When the real escort shows up late to their meeting Ruby, flees the cafe. Now Griffin is going to help Ruby get over her insecurity of intimacy. This was a funny and spicy audiobook that anyone will enjoy. I would like to thank both NetGalley and 5 Brilliance Publishing, Inc for letting me listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

I was really excited for this one. Sadly, I really struggled getting into this one and falling in love with these characters. I just never had that moment that was unforgettable with this one and felt it was just ok.

I did end up finishing this one though and enjoyed it for what it was. I just wanted more. I wanted more depth and more from the story and characters. I wanted the emotional moments to tear me apart and it never came.

Overall, this was a decent read but I wanted more.

ALC Review
Lessons in Heartbreak by Karla Sorensen
The Kings - Book
Narrated by: Samantha Brentmoor & Aiden Snow

This was a nice lighthearted read between a football star who is needing to lay low for awhile and a librarian that is in need of some fun in the bedroom. I felt a whole lot of emotions with this one - I kind of wish they would have communicated a bit better.

Pick this one up if you enjoy:
* Summertime romance
* Opposites attract
* Football star x quiet librarian
* Spicy lessons
* Childhood neighbors

This book had the perfect amount of banter, charm and the classic good girl x bad boy vibes. I LOVED Aiden Snow as Griffin and Samantha Brentmoor as Ruby. They were perfectly represented and I just devoured this book so fast.

honestly i saw aiden snow and samantha brentmoor and i didnt need to see anything else. i really enjoyed this audio & the story was amazing

Loved the story of the good girl falling for the playboy. It flowed smoothly and definitely kept my interest. I absolutely loved the narration…I mean, Samantha Brentmoor and Aiden Snow…that’s a dream pairing there. Would and will recommend this one to people.

When I saw that this was going to be a librarian and football player, I had to have it. Then when I saw the audio available to request on netgalley with audio from Samantha Brentmoor and Aiden Snow? Completely sold and so glad I got approved because this book was just SO GOOD!!! I related so much to Ruby and now I just need to find myself a Griffin lol. But in all seriousness, Karla did an amazing job with this story and it's everything I could've wanted from it. The audio was gold and if you get a chance to listen, do that. But now I really want to eyeball read a physical copy because I really want to annotate the heck out of this book...One of my top favorite reads for sure this year and I can't wait to see what book we get next ;)

𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞 𝗯𝘆 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗮 𝗦𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻 is a heartfelt and slow-burn sports romance that delivers equal parts swoon and soul. Ruby, a shy small-town librarian with a guarded heart, reconnects with her childhood neighbor Griffin, now a charming, golden-retriever-energy NFL player benched after a PR scandal. What begins as a hilariously misguided attempt at hiring a “dating coach” turns into something much deeper, as Griffin gently coaxes Ruby out of her shell while confronting his own desire to shed the party-boy persona. Their chemistry is palpable—especially during the unforgettable Pride and Prejudice hand-holding scene—and their emotional growth is beautifully earned. Ruby’s vulnerability, tied to a past health crisis, adds meaningful depth, while Griffin’s evolution makes him truly lovable. There's a third-act rift, but it feels authentic, and the dual epilogues seal the deal with satisfying closure. Birdy as a nickname? Debatable. But the story? Pure warmth.

The narration by Samantha Brentmoor and Aiden Snow is chef kiss!

What a wild, emotional ride this was! Karla Sorenson hit me right in the damn feels!
This story was so much more than a romance it was about living fully, loving deeply, and never taking a single moment for granted.
Ruby and Griffin? Funny, swoony, and sizzling with sexual tension. I loved how they grew with each other both emotionally and in the best slow burn, banter filled ways.

And let’s talk about the audio… Aiden Snow and Samantha Brentmoor absolutely nailed it! It’s been a hot minute since Aiden graced my ear drums and boy did I miss him. Their chemistry? Amazing!

Omg I love this book!! I am someone that loves dark romance and when I want a pallet cleanser I want it to be one to hold my attention and have a great story! And this book did just that!! And the audio!! Both of them did such an amazing job!!

Griffin a star athlete and Birdie (as he calls her) the sweet librarian! They are perfect together. I want more of them. This story will make you fall in love and wanting more! Oh this book definitely has my heart!

Rating: 4.25 ⭐️

This audiobook was so so so much fun. Samantha Brentmoor and Aiden Snow were amazing narrators (as always)!!

I loved the childhood neighbors, opposites attract dynamic, it was so cute and had me giggling. Highly recommended this audiobook!!

I enjoyed this book! Solid 3.75-4 star rating from me.
Initially, I wasn't sure how I was going to like it, but it was a familiar story with a different twist.
Playboy football player. Tiny librarian. Opposites.
Both find themselves around each other after they had been childhood next-door neighbors.
Sweet, quiet, and sheltered Ruby is looking to spice up her life by learning how to be a more sexual being. So she hires an escort.
Enter Griffin, her old neighbor, who suddenly shows up in town and Ruby mistakes for the escort she hires to teach her.
Griffin initially doesn't tell her he isn't her escort. Then the actual escort shows up, and Ruby is horrified!
This leads us to the adventure of Griffin becoming her spicy lesson advisor.
Griffin feels an immediate draw to Ruby as she does to him. The gentleness and protectiveness that Griffin feels with Ruby are swoon-worthy.
Their romance and friendships take sweet and interesting turns.
There is self-growth in both characters.
Dual POV.
The plot is well structured, and the pace is perfect for their love story.
Characters are well developed. Their chemistry was undeniable. They made the perfect opposite-attract couple. Easy to connect with throughout the story.
This was my first Karla Sorensen book, and I am now a fan!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Happy Reading!

Lessons in heartbreak is a good hea romance book. Such a hopeful book of young crush meeting again as adult

Let me preface this by saying I love Karla’s books and I can’t wait for the next one. That being said, I was disappointed in this one and I totally think it a me issue. I went in expecting a light, fun, teach me how to not be awkward around men, storyline and from page 1 it was much more serious and intense than I was expecting. That’s totally a me issue, so set your tonal expectations accordingly. There were also some tropes that I just don’t love in it but that’s also a personal preference, I know many others will be drawn in by those same tropes. Ruby was too timid for me, she has her reasons but I struggled to relate, maybe if her main reason had been revealed earlier I might’ve had an easier time but I think our personalities are just too different. But the ways I struggled will be things other readers totally get and identify with!

I did enjoy Griffin and his storyline! He’s such a sweetie and I love a “bad boy” with a secret heart of gold. His friend Marcus was a delight too. I wouldn’t be mad if we got a novella or full novel even with his and Lauren’s story. They are a hoot. Sometimes you just don’t connect with a FMC and that’s ok, I loved all the other characters and storylines.

I did enjoy the narrators and the audio!