If you’ve ever seen your teenage crush ten years later, and he turns out to be a complete jerk, then you know how Molly Ward feels. The last time she saw Noah Griffin was the regrettable day that she decided to climb into his bedroom window and turn her unrequited crush into something more. That day was bad enough, but things are about to get worse. Noah has become one of the best football … of the best football players in the country, and he’s just landed on Molly’s front step.
As a new addition to the Washington Wolves roster, Noah’s presence is the key to Molly’s promotion in the front office.
The problem is, Noah wants nothing to do with Molly, and his surly attitude is making her job very difficult.
But he’s got another thing coming if he thinks Molly will be intimidated by one grumpy football player, no matter how much he hates being around her.
Once these two go head to head, their mutual dislike explodes into undeniable chemistry. But with what they have at stake, they just might detonate everything else along with it.
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Loved this book and love the cover!
Focused is a fabulous slow-burn romance! It’s very well written with great characters and an amazing storyline.
Noah and Moly have a past – one moment – that could have ruined everything for both of their futures. Now, years later, they must come face to face when Noah changes teams and is now back home and playing for the team that Molly so happens to work for. A new adventure for Molly’s career thrust them closer together and forces them to spend more time together than either of them would like. With chemistry of the charts, a few small ignited moments and a lot of time together these two find love in an unexpected place.
I really enjoyed Molly and Noah’s story and watching their slow burn romance unfold. Focused is an enemies to friends to lovers romance that has all the feels while having the right amount of comedy to make it an unforgettable book.
Highly recommended!
OMG this book will have you in all your feels. From the time we met Molly and Noah in The Marriage Effect, even though it was a small taste. I was so happy when Karla announced The Ward Sisters would be getting their own stories then to find out It would be Noah and Molly I was jumping in my seat.
These two are off the charts AMAZING!!! I could not stop reading. I just wanted more and more. Mr. Grumpy-pants has finally found his match!!! And being able to basically watch it unfold was just beautiful!!! The snark and banter throughout the book had me giggling. I honestly just love these two so much!
Karla you are seriously one AMAZING writer and I CAN NOT wait for Claire’s story oh and that glimpse of who could possibly be Iz’s match….CAN’T WAIT!!!
Absolutely loved this!
“You get a reaction out of him that no one else seems to.”
Molly Ward has to prove herself to her new boss, which means having to deal with the new transfer to the Washington Wolves. Someone she hasn’t seen in ten years. Someone she nearly ruined. Her old neighbour and crush.
“Noah Griffin was staring at me like he was contemplating ways to devour me whole.”
Noah Griffin AKA The Machine is known for his focus and dedication to his sport. His idea of downtime is working out more and watching play footage. Following him around for a documentary is bound to be somewhat boring. However, he never banked on working in such close proximity with the girl who nearly ruined his career before it had even started. Ten years later, he might want to keep his distance but there’s something about Molly Ward that gets under his skin. The more time they spend together, the closer they become. But both could put their careers at risk by blurring the lines of friendship.
“If I touched her, I’d lose the tiny, fragile grasp I had on my control. When had she frayed it down to nothing?”
I adored Molly and Noah. They are such opposites. Molly is so open, sunny and welcoming. Noah is largely humourless and friendless. He keeps everyone at arm’s length. He doesn’t let himself be distracted by anything or anyone. However, Molly manages to crack through his walls and iron control, and he’s suddenly feeling things for the first time in years. I loved that once he’d made up his mind to have her, he just went for it. I adored that Molly brought out the softness in him and made him realise that there was more to life than his career. There was a ton of intense sexual tension between them and they were so hot together! Fabulous read from this author.
A Winning Play from Karla Sorensen
Oh my gosh – I LOVED this book! I don’t like to throw that kind of enthusiasm around for just any book either (especially in cap lock, wow!), so please know it’s the real deal. Speaking for myself as a reader, one of the things that pulls me into a new book is the realness of the characters. I don’t want to read about the adventures of a cardboard cutout Prince from a Disney movie – it doesn’t resonate. When our heroes and heroines have personalities, complete with scars and flaws and a HISTORY, that’s when it really gets good.
Each character that we meet in this book has a depth that is meticulously detailed and well-developed. A huge bonus in the story is that it ties in with other Washington Wolves books, including The Marriage Effect. Yay!
First we meet Molly, who’s kind, fierce, and loyal. She’s excellent at her marketing job with the Wolves franchise, and is offered the chance for a promotion from her new boss. The catch? Her new role will include “handling” the team’s new defensive star, Noah…and the two share an awkward history that’s shaped them both over the last decade. Digging up the past may not have been on either of their bucket lists, but as they muddle though those murky waters, they find a way to heal the old hurt and forge a new path forward.
Wit & sass, anger & resentment, forgiveness & compassion fuel their relationship as they fight their way towards their HEA. The threads of each scene, each interaction that we’re treated to throughout their amazing journey are meticulously woven together to build not only their romance, but their lives. This swoon-worthy, feel-good story is so incredibly satisfying, you won’t want to put it down! Noah and Molly are fantastic characters, they truly make each other better. I can’t wait to read what’s in store for us in the next installment.
Noah and Molly’s story is an epic love story. They have a history and that history causes Noah to make some choices in his life. He is known as “The Machine.” He lives for the game of football. Until he meets Molly. Molly has always been drawn to Noah, hence the poor choice she made as a teenager. This is an enemies to lovers story that will tug at your heartstrings. It shows true compassion between these two and they reconnect and realize that the are each other’s missing piece. This story gave me all of the feels and I’m so excited for each of the Ward sisters’ books!
My heart feels so happy and so full.
I love when a story takes me on an unexpected journey. I took a ride with these characters, as they try to navigate their feelings. From being enemies to becoming friends, to develiping more deeper feelings and falling for each other. I loved reading it all. I was so happy that I got to read about them learning to trust each other and embracing their feelings.
Noah was closed off but ever so slowly, Molly helps him open out and bring out his best qualities. Between that bond and their explosive chemistry there is no doubt these two belong together.
Sweet, brilliant and fun.
Okay I love Karla’s writing! She has the ability to draw you into a story and make you feel like you are part of it! We previously met Molly and know that she is no stranger to football and have been around it her whole life so it is not a surprise that as an adult she is working for the Washington Wolves. Noah Griffin is a blast from Molly’s past, childhood crush that so happen to live next door to her. Fast forward years later and their jobs bring them back together. Molly is sweet, strong, and sassy to Noah’s grumpy, and moody. I loved how their love story is sweet in a subtle way. They find their way back to being friends in the process they fall for each other without even know what is happening. The writing is so great not only does it draws you in and refuses to let you go you take a vested interest in the subplots and secondary characters in the book. It was also nice to see the others characters from the Washington Wolves organization. This is a must read book! Dive in you will not be sorry, you will finish with a smile on your face and anxiously waiting on the next book!
When I started this book, I was so curios on how the first meeting was going to be between Molly and Noah (they knew each other but first meeting where us the readers read about it.) These two didn’t start off in the right foot so when they are thrown to work together, these two were not prepared to be together. I loved how Molly was, she was so sweet and I just loved her relationship with her family. Noah was someone I just loved from the start.
These two were fire, the tension between them was off the charts. I just loved how at the end they caved and gave in into their temptation. This book was really good, I loved Noah and Molly so much. This has to be my favorite book of Karla by far. I cannot wait for everyone to see how amazing these two are and what an amazing love story this is.
If you are in the market for a new sports romance, then look no farther. Focused by Karla Sorensen is a touch of second chance romance, meets a dash of enemies to lovers, and is steaming with tension.
I really enjoyed reading Noah and Molly’s story and look forward to picking up more books by this author in the future!
Focused
Karla Sorensen
5 Stars
Absolutely amazing beginning to a new series! Love the characters and their chemistry! Very well written! Captured my interest from the front cover to the very end!
“Panic was an icy claw that dug straight into my chest, gripped my spine tight, and threatened to tug.”
“No matter how our love story started, as long as it brought us right here, it was perfect.”
“Leave him alone. It would be too weird. He doesn’t even look at you that way.”
Can not wait to read the next book, Faked!
Very highly recommend! You will not regret it!
I fell in love with the Ward sisters when I first met them in The Marriage Effect, so to say I was excited about their series would be an understatement.
Karla opened this series up with Molly and what a really enjoyable read! Great chemistry, great dialogue and the storyline made it hard to put down. I loved how she laid the ground work for the others in this story too.
I received a complimentary ARC – early release copy of this book in Kindle format from the author for review purposes.
This was a wonderful start to the new series about the Ward sisters. This is the first sisters story and it stars the oldest Molly who we last met when she was 16 and had a HUGE crush on her neighbors son, Noah. Now they both are in their 20’s and they meet again, Noah as the new player on their football team and Molly as the person hired to handle him.
I loved the premise of this story. Essentially Amazon is working with the Washington Wolves team to bring Noah’s story to life for the Amazon documentary original series All or Nothing and Molly is promoted to be his main contact and to coordinate that.
For Molly she has grown up and has a fantastic life but Noah has grown up cold and isolated and their first meet was sorta when Molly finds them with a lot of antagonism. For Noah its how he was brought up though he wants to connect, he has no idea how.
This was a really fun story that starts in The Marriage Effect and continues on here and it starts out as enemies and turns into friends. I was a wonderful story and I loved everything about it.
I really don’t know where to even start with this book. It was everything, EVERYTHING I love about Karla Sorensen books! The slow burn, the growly yet teddy bear of a man that Noah is. The bad-ass heroine that Molly is all comes together in the perfect little package that is Focused!
I loved Focused. Molly and Noah have great chemistry. The banter was fun and entertaining.
“I couldn’t have scripted this, couldn’t have planned it, couldn’t have controlled it.
Because sometimes, the best things in life come straight from your blind side.”
Molly Ward is intent on proving she is not just her family name. That she deserves and has earned her job and promotion.
Noah Griffin is nicknamed ‘The Machine’ because of his complete focus on football and keeping himself at the top of his game.
“I think,” I started slowly, “that it’s easier for someone like Noah to stay focused when he keeps blinders on to everything else besides football.”
Focused is a standalone story. The characters were introduced in a previous book, you don’t miss anything by jumping right into this one.
-4 Stars!-
I seriously could not get enough of this book. These characters, the way their lives changed after one teenage mistake, and how they try to work with each other now made for such an exciting journey.
Molly was such a fun character. She is amazing at her job, doesn’t use her brother as an excuse, and maybe, sometimes acts before she thinks.
Noah is a closed off brooding jerk. He cares about nothing but football, and isn’t about to let any distractions get in his way.
Watching these two evolve from enemies, to friends, to something more was amazing. It wasn’t fast. It took learning to trust, valuing each other’s time, and realizing being closed off to people isn’t going to make you happy.
I also loved the secondary characters. You get glimpses of past characters and realize how much you miss the Washington Wolves. You have the camera crew who know how to meddle just enough, and then you get the rest of the award clan who are each unique in their own way. Being raised by Logan and Paige have made them into strong, independent women, and I cannot wait to see them bring a guy to his knees!
– An Arc was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.-
Noah is totally focused on his football career, and Molly gets under his skin, but will these two take a chance on a relationship? This is a beautifully written story which is sweet, heartfelt, emotional, humorous, and with undeniable chemistry which had me hooked and intrigued throughout this riveting tale. I highly recommend for all lovers of a sports romance, as you will not be disappointed.
4.5-stars.
Focused by Karla Sorensen is a bit of an enemies to lovers slow burn romance that was full of steamy chemistry, great back and forth and characters you will just love! As a teenager, Molly once crushed hard on Noah Griffin, but things did not turn our very well for either of them. Now years later, they both find themselves working together, and though they want nothing more than to avoid each other, life has other plans.
Molly wants a promotion and prove she earned it, however, unfortunately, Noah stands in her way. They need to find a way to work together for the team, Washington Wolves, and put their differences aside. Molly was determined and smart and wanted to just prove herself. Noah has been focused only on football and his goals, but Molly has a way of tearing down his walls. This story was a fun, steamy and slow burning romance. I loved watching the characters fall and seeing old friends.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
“Something about him scrambled my brain waves, and if I was honest with myself, that had always been true.”
Molly and Noah had a quick, hot, and nearly illegal start which led to them not being the best of friends, and both of them making changes in the way they live. Years later they meet back up, because of their jobs and although they agree to avoid each other and or be civil, that doesn’t quite work out as planned. They are forced together for a special project and let’s just say the lite forced proximity makes this story quite interesting. The sassy, strong, sweet, and hard-working heroine and the moody, broody, grump grump hero. Sounds like the perfect pairing, right?
It was so sweet reading these two fall in love. It’s subtle, sweet, and tense. Once they hit go, they really go. Not only were Molly and Noah so fun to read, but all the side characters really were amazing. Karla really does a fantastic job making the subplots and the surrounding story interesting, without the main characters losing their spotlight. Molly’s relationship with her family was amazing. Mrs. Sorensen really has something special with the bond she’s built between these sisters. The banter. The emotional baggage they have and how they all handle it differently. So good.
Seeing the characters from the original Washington Wolves series was so fun too. You’re in the same fun world, but you’re a little to the left, hanging with the next generation of characters and I love how the author bridged that small gap without making the original series the highlight.
Focused is just an all around a great read, and by the end you’ll have a smile on your face and will already be ready to harass Mrs. Sorensen for more of the Ward sisters!
A romcom that pulls on your heart strings. I really enjoyed this book. It’s got humor, romance and a touch of angst. The writing is done at just the right pace. It was perfection. Watching the story unfold and seeing their love shine through was beautiful. Fighting for love at all costs is worth the pain. Karla did an incredible job with this story and I can’t wait to get my hands on more of her books.
This book is everything you want!! Karla Sorensen delivers another beautiful story!! From Chapter 1 I was addicted. I love how the story is set up and flows.
The Marriage Effect is one of my all time favorite reads…. I love the continuation of all the characters. This is book is a standalone but if you haven’t read the other Washington Wolves books, go get them now!!
Molly and Noah have a past as teenagers. Now as adults they must work together. Noah is known as “The Machine”. Football is his only priority! As Molly is around him, she challenges him in ways he doesn’t expect and he’s dream to her and how she makes him feel.
Molly and Noah really want to be together but their careers are their priority. As the fight their feelings, how they get to happily ever after is incredible.
This is my first 2020 too read. It gives all the feels, I laughed, I cried, I wanted so much more. I never wanted to book to end. I love the Ward sisters. I loved seeing Paige and Logan again and how they love their family. I loved Noah and his grandmom’s relationship!
Family is everything, relationships should be priorities and Focused delivers all this!!