The headline could write itself:Matthew Hawkins, star defensive end, comes out of retirement to play for the Washington Wolves. Which is perfectly fine by Ava Baker—it makes her job as publicist for the team easier. There’s only two problems. This particular football player was her first crush. The bigger problem: Matthew Hawkins was once engaged to her older sister. It’s been ten years since Ava … sister.
It’s been ten years since Ava has seen Matthew. He’s bigger, better looking, and best of all—completely single. Despite his history with her sister, the attraction between Ava and Matthew isn’t so one-sided anymore.
It’s hot enough to burn down the entire city of Seattle.
But this headline is far more complicated to write. And not just for the press or what it means for her family— because once her heart is involved, there’s no predicting the ending.
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Ava is the senior PR for the Washington Wolves, in her job she is made of steel, is Teflon and great at her job. But oh hearing that a new transfer is coming out of retirement on a two year contract she cannot help but be nervous… Matthew Hawkins has been on not far from her mind despite not seeing him for ten years…at 14 he was the only person who ‘saw’ her and gave her the time of day.. in a family of stepford robots she was and continues to be the disappointment…but Ava is far from disappointed at seeing Matthew again… and falling back into her teenage crush.. even if he was her sister ex fiancé!
I loved concept, I mean I’ve read a lot of childhood unrequited crush romances… but this takes it to another level of originality.. I was so grateful ( to the author ) that there was such a massive time frame between frame between Matthew and Alleys relationship breakdown and when Matthews and Ava were reacquainted… that time frame helped me get over the thought of sisters dating the same guy… because ( to my own sister… I’d literally be dragged into hell before I dated any of her ex’s )
I really like Matthews perspective and his character he was very believable, a wonderful main main and I actually really liked that he stood to his guns and called Ava out when he needed to #NoSpoilers! Ava was a great female lead with her sassiness and spunk and I really thought their interactions and chemistry was on point! And their chemistry was
First read by this author…and what a didn’t realise was the second in a series… kudos to the author for writing one of the best crafted standalone ( in a series that I have written ) so much so that I’m defiantly going to read the first in this series…. goes without saying I will be keeping an eye peeled for Logan’s book… that dark horse has a whopper of a story to tell I bet (less)
4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this one. I gobbled this one right up. I really couldn’t put it down. Karla Soresen has won me over with her characters. I loved them in her first book I read then she solidified it with this one. I just loved Matthew. He’s great book boyfriend material. He has many swoon worthy moments especially when it comes to Ava. Muscular arms and shoulders are my kryptonite so reading the description of Matthew’s physical attributes had me sold. It’s amazing what a wonderful person Ava is with the family she has. They are a real piece of work if they were my family I wouldn’t want anything to do with them. Ava deserves someone like Matthew in her life. I loved the ending so hard. It was the perfect touch for this book. I highly recommend this one.
I absolutely adored this story! Ava and Matthew are perfect! They are relationship goals! Sorensen’s writing is fire! The angst in this book could be felt through the pages! The humor just adds to the incredible writing. Add in the slow burn and you have one incredible story. I absolutely loved the fact that Ava had a crush on Matthew when they were in school. The whole second chance romance is one of my favorites. I adored The Bombshell Effect so I was thrilled to hear Ava was getting her own book. I can’t wait to see what is next for these characters!
I absolutely loved this book. From the minute Matthew and Ava saw each other again this book pulled me in. What I really loved is even as a young girl Matthew always made Ava feel as she mattered even when her family didn’t. Matthew is one of those guys you just instantly fall for. Ava is so put together in her every day life that when Matthew shows up she gets flustered. This book had a bit of everything. Laughter, drama, heat and so much heart. This author knows how to make you feel as if you’re living the story and she always makes you feel every emotion. I am truly hoping this series continues.
The Ex Effect, is an adorably fun & sweet story! With sports, drama & plenty of heat, this book is definitely a hit!
I loved these characters! Ava was strong & independent, Matthew is sweet and determined. Even with their past and the major hurdles between them their chemistry is off the charts, and I couldn’t help rooting for them from the very beginning.
The storyline was addicting, and once I started I couldn’t put it down. It was one of those books I couldn’t help smiling while reading, and I never wanted it to end.
This was my first book by Karla Sorensen, and I can’t wait to read more!
Karla is my new go-to-author!
Although The Bombshell is still my favorite, The Ex Effect was also a beautifully written story about two people losing their way, only to find their path back to each other.
This story is emotional, but also funny and full of quirks. I loved Ava’s sassiness and confidence she has in what she’s doing. And Matthew was incredibly sweet!
And Logan! Uff, I NEED his book. Like yesterday!
If you’re a fan of Susan Elizabeth Phillips, you’ll love Washington Wolfs by Karla Sorense
Karla is a fairly new author to me. She’s someone my friends have recommended but I hadn’t gotten round to reading. After meeting her at a signing in Rome and reading her short story in Cock Tales she now has a new fan.
With the Ex Effect she has given me all the things I love, a perfect mixture of comedy, steamy red hot chemistry and a bit of angst to keep you captivated. The sexual tension between Matthew and Ava was seriously tense and yummy, but that first kiss………..wow!!! seriously worth waiting for.
I loved all the characters, except the evil sister, and I’m hoping a few of them get their stories. I now want to go and read The Bombshell Effect
I devoured this in one sitting. It’s a fun sweet romance. I love the football setting. Matthew was fantastic, he’s hardworking and honest. I really enjoyed the pace it moved it, it didn’t feel like it was dragging or rushing.
This is a new author to me and i’ll definitely be reading more from her.
The Ex Effect is everything I love about romance: a great female lead (who is both smart and funny), a fantastically sexy male lead, and chemistry for days! While the heat factor was a bit tamer than what I usually go for, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ava and Matthew’s journey. I especially loved how much I hated her sister! I definitely have to go back and read The Bombshell Effect and I hope that Karla Sorenson continues the series so that we can get even more HEAs from the Washington Wolves. 4 out of 5 wine glasses.
This is my second Karla Sorensen ARC, and this one got me so excited because the blurb alone was very enticing! I’ve read Luke and Allie’s story and enjoyed it, I figured this is no different.
I’ve read a lot of sports romance this year alone, and I must say that this is the first time I’ve read about the male lead being an ex of the sister of the female lead. And to top it off, they work together! Can you imagine the drama?lol
I like that Ava evolved into a stronger and more confident character… and Matthew, well…. you can’t blame the guy for having walls like Fort Knox. I would’ve wanted that he had more competition though… I felt like he needed to work harder for Ava’s affection… or Ava should’ve resisted him more…
To me, I think they got together really fast and was simply carried away by the heat of the moment. If they resisted each other a little bit longer… like maybe have more build-up between them, it would’ve been very perfect… at least in my opinion.
This book will definitely make you realize that you can’t help who your heart beats for… you can’t help who you fall in love with—though in reality it would’ve been very weird seeing as Matthew was engaged to Ava’s sister and they were together for years… even though the story was fast forwarded a decade later, still it’s weird you know?lol. But I still overall enjoyed it.
It’s definitely a fast-paced romance… It was easy to read , had very little angst and has a dash of humor in it. If you’re looking to read something light for the weekend then this is the book to pick-up next.
This is my first read by this author but it will most definitely not be my last. Sorensen grabbed hold of me from the start with this amazing group of characters and kept me engrossed in their story until the very last word.
I absolutely adored Matthew and fell hard for him from the start. My heart ached for him for all that he had been through and I couldn’t wait to see him find his happy. Ave is the kind of strong independent woman that I could totally see myself being friends with.
I couldn’t put this one down. I highly recommend one-clicking this one!
I don’t think I’ll ever not love something written by Karla Sorensen, but seriously this book HOOOMAHGAWD, I super loved it. Whatever is bigger than love, that’s how I feel about Matthew and Ava. Since there’s an endless list of things a loved in this book from tiny details to huge moments I’ll try to narrow it down in to some sort of maybe logical sounding explanation instead of fangirl gibberish. Try being the key word there.
First of all, Matthew. I big loved him. He’s this perfect combination of giant, tough, sexy football star and super sweet, funny, gentleman that has you saying “awwww” and also has you reaching for a fan. Then there’s Ava. Who manages to be a no nonsense PR bad@#$ oozing confidence and being cool as a cucumber when it comes to her job, but also has a softer and vulnerable side that makes her someone easy to relate to when it comes to her personal life.
These two make for quite an amazing couple. Between the perfect chemistry, some serious swoon, and just the right bit of drama to really pull you in their story left me smiling and ready to dive in for more of Karla’s magnificent writing!
If you want to read a football romance.. get yourself an author who understands, lives and breathes football like Karla Sorensen does. Trust me. It does make a difference.
Now, to the actual content. If anyone’s squeamish about a guy with a girl – that relationship ending badly and 10 years later reconnecting with the younger sister he was friends with and that going well.. please exit now. It’s okay. But don’t mess it up for the rest who just want to enjoy a beautifully told story.
The journey for Matthew and Ava is anything but easy. Each has their own demons, that they’d rather avoid and instead throw themselves into the work they love wholeheartedly. But once the old easy friendship meshes with the new “oh,the other one looks mighty fine and is kinda awesome”, things get even messier. Instead of facing it, they enjoy Cloud 9, which ends up bringing them many more problems.
I love, love, LOVE Matthew. He is so real and honest. He is a little temperamental and not always facing up his own demons, but overall, he just wants to love who he loves and play the game as best he can. Ava. My darling Ava. She’s plagued by guilt and lots of old feelings that are making it hard to fully embrace the future.. but Matthew’s arms sure sound like a future. 😉
Ms. Sorensen writes great sports romance with all the right details, without giving a play by play when not necessary. I adored this love story and felt it seemed so real. Their troubles and the path they have to walk to get to their happy ever after is realistic, beautiful, not without stumbling blocks, and not all irrationally happy. But gorgeous and so much fun.
The Ex Effect by Karla Sorensen was a funny, steamy and a bit emotional sports romance. Matthew Hawkins is coming out of retirement. He is now playing with the Washington Wolves. As the team publicist, Ava Baker, will do her job. The issue? Matthew and Ava have a shared history and not the good kind. Matthew was once engaged to Ava’s sister.
Ten years later, the chemistry between Matthew and Ava is steamy and hot. Ava once had a huge crush on Matthew when she was younger. Now Ava is a strong and determined woman. Football players stand no chance against her. Then Matthew comes back into her life. He was sweet, caring and ready to stand up for her when she needed it.
This is my second read by Karla Sorensen and I loved it. The Ex Effect had the same charm and wit I loved in The Bombshell Effect and I definitely look forward to reading more of this author. The story was charming, and I loved the characters so much.
4.5 stars! Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
I absolutely loved this story. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for smart and funny with a dash of hot!
Ava is a fantastic character – believable, relatable and seriously funny. I felt very protective of her and wanted to seriously smack her sister in the head (a lot). Matthew – well he is Delicious with a capital D. The best kind of sport romance hero. Their story is complicated by their shared history and the baggage both of them have from their pasts. But who wants an easy love story – not me!
Their connection was genuine, their chemistry was seriously hot and although the “heat” factor of this one is lower than what I usually read it was definitely HOT!
Add in some intriguing side characters (who I’m hoping get stories of their own) and you’ve got an awesome read.
This book was everything I was hoping for and more. I love Karla’s take on sports romance books. She makes sure the woman stands out just as much as the alpha male. I love the how fierce and stubborn Ava is. She rules the world in her own way. She would be competition for any man in her field. She has had to work for everything she has and is recognized for all her hard work. Matthew as come along way too. He is stubborn and strong willed but has a soft spot for Ava. Joining her team and working with her was easy. Getting the one thing he wants most in life (Ava) is becoming a bit of a challenge. These two together are off the charts hot. I loved the plot of this book it was fun and easy to fall in love with. The writing hooks you immediately and has you finishing in one sitting. Yes, it’s that good. I can’t wait to see what Karla has instore next for us.
The Ex Effect by Karla Sorensen
5+++++ Stars
I totally devoured this book!! Truly loved it!
Ava and Matthew~ so much chemistry, so many emotions
Matthew was engaged to Ava’s sister. Matthew retired from football.
“Shame.
Embarrassment.
Despair.
Pain.
Love.
Disappointment.
Anger.
And nothing. Just nothing.
I could barely process all the things I’d felt in the past hour, the past week, or month, let alone try to name them and be mentally healthy about it.”
Very highly recommend! Karla did a marvelous job!
Do you ever read a book and feel as though you are wrapped in a warm fuzzy blanket? Even when the story grows cold, you still feel the warmth of that blanket because the cold isn’t too cold, and you know it will thaw eventually.
This is the state of Karla Sorensen’s The Ex Effect. Let me state that I did not read the first book in this series, The Bombshell Effect. It currently sits in my Kindle Library waiting for a read. Given my experience with The Ex Effect, I will read it sooner than later.
The Ex Effect tells the story of Ava and Matthew. Ava is the PR guru for the Washington Wolves, the fictional team of Sorensen’s first book. Matthew is a formerly retired player who comes out of retirement to play for the Wolves. Matthew and Ava have a past. It is this past that complicates a potential love relationship for the two. Will they be able to move beyond that past to find a future?
Together, Ava and Matthew make up the comfort of the warm blanket I mentioned at the beginning of this review. They have chemistry from the start, and, not shockingly, they end up together quickly. Personally, I love that. I don’t want them to rush into marriage at mach speed. However, I don’t want to be tortured by their tortured attraction to each other. Sorensen does not make us wait on them. She gets in, hooks them up, and starts the trouble in the relationship to move the story along.
The satin of the warm blanket that is this book is the continuing story of the Wolves. We read Allie and Luke again, along with Paige and Logan. It’s this community that provides the comfort of the trust of an ongoing story. We can relish in the idea that we will see the characters again in future stories. I’m hoping we will get a story for Logan, as he plays prominently in this story. With that, I’d expect to read Allie, Luke, Ava, and Matthew again in his story. It’s that warm comfort that keeps you picking up that blanket again.
Even when Ava and Matthew struggle, it isn’t a heart-rending struggle. It pinches for a bit, but Sorensen resolves it for us quickly. She does it with some humor, to boot. Lastly, and I appreciated this too (trust me, I am not a prude. I have read lots of sexy stuff in books), sexually, Ava and Matthew are fairly tame. Yes, they are sexual dynamite, but she doesn’t force them into bed over and over again. We understand that they are sexual dynamite but we read a focus on their relationship, not the sex. Lastly, Matthew is the one who first struggles with wanting deeper intimacy from Ava. He wants “in” because his feelings grow deeper by the chapter. It’s refreshing to read a man who has a certain depth of emotional maturity. It gives us hope for the men in our world.
If you want the comfort of a serious rom-com, wrapped in the love of two characters who will make you smile, then you’ll want to read this book. I couldn’t put it down, and I covered myself in its delicious warmth.
Overall:
I cannot put into words how amazing this book was!
Ava was married to her job and never cracked. Not even when she was surrounded by a bunch of sweaty, naked football players. It was her responsibility to keep the Washington Wolves PR in a positive light.
Matthew had retired from football, but decided he wasn’t ready to leave the sport yet. Starting the season in a new town with a new team made him unsettled. He wasn’t use to being the new guy. The only bright spot was knowing Ava was there.
Ava is hiding in the shadow of her perfect sister. This sister just so happens to be Matthew’s ex-finance. This situation makes their relationship less than ideal.
Ava and Matthew were absolutely perfect together. Karla wrote their story in a way that made it seem that everything in the past happened solely so that they could be together. The chemistry between these two may have been one sided when Ava was smaller, but had definitely even out now that they were adults.
I was so sad to see this story end. I became so wrapped up in their story that I was seriously holding my breath at the end. It was also nice to get to see how the past characters’ lives have progressed. I cannot wait to see wait else Karla has in store for this series because I know one broody hero that desperately needs his HEA!
-An Arc was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.-
Matthew comes out of his injury forced retirement to join the Wolves team as a star defender. Ave is a publicist for the team, and she knows Matthew from previously being engaged to her snobby sister, and she had a huge crush on him growing up. The chemistry between these two is intense. No spoilers; this is a must read, you will not be disappointed. This is a well written flawless story, which had me totally hooked and intrigued throughout this addictive page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author, whose work I highly recommend for all readers.