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Have you ever fake dated your bodyguard? I don't recommend it.

Especially if he's anything like Erik Wilder: former football player, world class know-it-all and unapologetic grump.

To be clear, I didn't want a bodyguard (hence the fake dating idea). Most days, I can’t figure out why he wants the job either. We drive each other insane, probably because we’re as opposite as two people can be.

He’s suspicious, never talks about his past and has the comfort skills of a cactus. I’m a happily ever after kinda girl who knows exactly what she wants out of life.

Erik’s words might say that the lines have to stay firm between us, but those dark eyes of his? They tell another story when he looks at me.

He’s just as stubborn as I am, but when our fake dating plan starts to feel a lot more real, it's only a matter of time before his professional walls come crashing down.

I just have to hope my heart doesn't get buried in the rubble.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2022

About the author

Karla Sorensen

42 books4,551 followers

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5 stars
3,421 (37%)
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3 stars
1,670 (18%)
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76 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 758 reviews
Profile Image for M..
507 reviews725 followers
February 10, 2022
Do I like sports? No. Will that stop me from reading these books? Also big NOPE, not when every new book is better than the last! at this rate I'll never be able to leave the washington wolves universe... I feel like an honorary member of the family!

Tropes: fake dating, bodyguard/client, grumpy-sunshine, sports romance, age gap.

Lydia Pierson most definitely does NOT need a bodyguard/babysitter... but her family who has seen her holed up in her old room at her parents' house for months after the car accident caused by paparazzi think otherwise. Erik Wilder is NOT a bodyguard, but after an injury ended his dream of playing professionally and also took a hit in his personal life —leaving him wary of love— that's what he's doing now. And when a football legend comes to him for help? he can't say no, but he also doesn't know what a hurricane Lydia Pierson is. Perhaps taking on grumpy, silent ex-football player Erik Wilder as a bodyguard is the first step in the right direction for her...and him.

GODDD I'm so in love with every person and couple in this universe! I'm always afraid of the next generations, but Karla really knows what she's doing introducing these new characters, while keeping the old ones (with the same essence!!) around. Lydia was A-MAZ-ING. Not only physically she was like her mother, but also her personality, a hurricane in every sense of the word. She is this girl "stuck" in this influencer life that she is growing sick of because that was never her true plan, and the accident and all its consequences was only the beginning of her journey to find herself; She was funny and driven, and she was also so considerate of everyone who came her way, her intention was always to help.

Lydia was also a bit chatty... the complete opposite of Erik. This character fought so hard not to give an inch of his heart to Lydia, only to lose the battle in a matter of seconds, even if he didn't want to acknowledge it at first. All we know is that he's a former football player who left the field after an injury and never came back, but then when you learn his story? the real reason why he was ready to leave that life and never come back? And how did it all end for him? the reason why he is so lonely and closed now? how to hug a fictional character yahoo answers ���

Their romance was so good because you have those moments where they're making nice gestures for each other, couple things without even being one, and then the moment of realization comes and they're like "no, this is fake... I DON'T love the way she smiles at me."... yeah, suuuuure Jan. Two dummies in love!

P.S. Karla, you keep adding big families to these stories and I keep waiting for you to write a book for each of them... it's like a vicious circle!!

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for bruna.
236 reviews133 followers
February 9, 2022
The first half of “The Plan” was incredible. I always love going back to the “Washington Wolves” world because everything is familiar and all the characters are very special to me. It warms my heart to see how these families grew and how close they still are. I’m sure I will never tire of them! (btw, I can't wait for Emmett's book).

Besides that, Lydia is one of the best heroines Karla has ever created. She captured my attention very quickly because she was this smart, amazing, and determined ball of sunshine. Although she was going through one of the hardest moments of her life, she never gave up on her dreams and her ideals. I also loved how protective she was of the people she loved and how much she reminded me of Paige.

However, I didn’t like the second half that much because the hero’s “mystery” was dragged for too long and it wasn’t enough to justify Erik’s behavior and how careless he was with Lydia’s feelings. In the end, I also felt like he didn’t grovel as much as he should have, considering he spent most of the book denying what he had with Lydia and trying to push her away. This affected my enjoyment of them as a couple and that’s why I couldn’t give it a higher rating.

*ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Christy.
4,262 reviews35.2k followers
December 27, 2022
4 stars

Fake dating body guard romance... I was sold from the blurb!

Lydia is the daughter of a famous retired Wolves player and the owner of the Wolves franchise. Erik used to play for the Wolves but retired early due to an injury. Now he is doing some bodyguard work on the side and picks up Lydia as a client.

Lydia thinks it would be easier to go to certain events with a date/boyfriend rather than an guard. And Erik needs a buffer for a family party... so these two decide to fake date. Of course feelings come with that. I loved Lydia and thought she was such a fun character. Erik was great too. I especially loved the time they were with his family. It was a fun read and the audio was wonderful.

Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Teddy Hamilton & Stella Hunter
Narration Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: Sports romance
Length: 8h 56m

Profile Image for RateTheRomance.
959 reviews120 followers
February 11, 2022
I can always trust Karla Sorensen books to be a great read for me. She writes smart females, all the feels, and great steamy scenes.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡 is a great read with ALL of those things. Lydia is an Internet Influencer whose fame has risen to the point where she is hounded by paparazzi. After an accident leves Lydia shaken and experiencing Anxiety Attacks, she needs a bodyguard. Enter super-grumpy, former Pro Football player, Erik. The Grumpy + Sunshine in this book is perfection! I love Erik and his grumpy ass.

These two have a bit of an age difference (hello, forbidden love!) and the chemistry and the sizzle is palpable. I loved this relationship. So swoony!

Erik's overbearing family is a delight in this book, even his jerky brother. You will fall in love with the entire clan. This book is a slow burn (which I love), but the second half got a bit too slow for me. The love story stalled a bit, which is why I removed a star. But 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡 is absolutely great and you should definitely add it to your TBR.

RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: cheating ex, trauma-induced anxiety, past death of parent, cancer
FEELS-O-METER:4/5 - Tackled some seriously tough topics.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

👇🏻HANG OUT WITH ME HERE!👇🏻
INSTAGRAM | YEAR OF SMUT CHALLENGE
Profile Image for Jeeves Reads Romance.
1,601 reviews684 followers
February 1, 2022
Whenever one of Sorensen's books hits my Kindle, I dive right in because I know I'm in for a great read. And this was definitely bingeable! I absolutely devoured the first half, loving this jaded hero and the grumpy/sunshine dynamic. Though, really, Erik is a complete teddy bear. There's tons of chemistry, some fantastic banter, and these two opposites certainly attract. The bodyguard storyline is excellent at the start, and I wish it hadn't been abandoned so quickly. That's where I started to have a few issues with the story - the age gap (22/30) felt more pronounced in the second half, the reader is missing a few important details, and there were so many characters introduced that it felt like the start of a spinoff series. So this started very strong and sort of fizzled along the way, but I really did love the vast majority of it.

The story follows Lydia, a social media star whose life has completely changed since a car accident left her reeling. While she was once happy to share her life with the world, Lydia is now nervous to leave the house and her image is no longer the most important thing. In an act of desperation, Lydia's parents hire a bodyguard to encourage her to start living life again. Erik is a former football player who left the game after an injury, so he knows a little something about starting over. As the two spend time together, they bond in ways neither one expected, and their relationship no longer feels strictly professional. But crossing the line comes with all kinds of complications, and Erik isn't sure that he's ready for even more change.

I loved these two together, and Erik is such a swoony, growly sweetheart underneath his intimidating exterior. I loved that he was such a loving and loyal guy, not a player, and so steady on his feet. He makes the perfect complement to Lydia, who is just trying to get her bearings, and I was completely okay with the age gap for much of the story. It's a slow burn, and the forbidden aspect ratcheted up the tension in such a delicious way. Unfortunately, this really did unravel a bit in the second half. I think the reader (and Lydia) needed a better understanding of Erik's backstory earlier in the book, because being in the dark was an issue. I also didn't love how aggressive/needy Lydia became in her pursuit, and she really started to show her age later on. Plus, we meet Erik's entire extended family - which, yeah, I would love a series with them - but the romance got lost in the mix. I still devoured this in one sitting and enjoyed it the whole way through, but it lost some of its shine along the way. I'm definitely looking forward to more from the series though, and if we get a spinoff with Erik's siblings - even better. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this bodyguard romance.
Profile Image for sil ♡ the book voyagers.
1,266 reviews3,069 followers
March 17, 2022
No, but this was so good. I cried so much during the novel, because yeah, I get easily emotionals with happy and sad moments, so I always cry lmao. But seriously THIS BOOK. I just want to make everyone read it because it's the best.

The Plan follows Erik and Lydia who end up working together somehow. After experiencing a car crash when a paparazzi was trying to take pictures of her, Lydia doesn't go out her parents's house. Her parents, ALLIE AND LUKE (!!! They are the main characters in The Bombshell Effect), are very worried for her, so they decide to hire a bodyguard to give her a little bit of peace at least. Erik is a former football player with too many secrets. He has so much in his past that he doesn't want to talk about, but Lydia is that ray of sunshine he has always been looking for to finally be able to breathe again.

I'm in love. First, I didn't know it was Allie and Luke's daughter who was the heroine of this book. HELLO?!!!! ALLIEEE AND LUKEEEE. I love them so much okay. Lydia Pierson is basically a billionaire's daughter. Her mom is the owner of a NFL team while her dad is a former football player with a Lombardi trophy in his resume. They are ELITE. Lydia grew up in that world, so she knows a lot about football and she loves it. She wants to be leading the team when her mother finally retires, so she's doing everything possible to achieve that.

This book has grumpy/sunshine, bodyguard trope, FAKE DATING, and so much more. Erik and Lydia have so much sexual chemistry and all around chemistry, like the attraction between them is WILD. HUGE. This romance is a slow burn, because their first kiss is after the 60% and I was d y i n g. You really felt that when they finally would kiss, it was it. They were it for each other. Erik really said "I was born into this world to be with you" AND I JUST LOVE HEROES WHO THINK/SAY THAT.

I feel like there should have been a better groveling scene because Lydia is too good for this world and I was so emo with her throughout all of that. So if there would have been an angstier one, I feel like that would have hit harder. But either way, I loved this book! I don't know if I should read Faith's because I don't particularly like the bad boy trope but ugh I just love the Pierson's so much.
Profile Image for Syndi.
3,310 reviews960 followers
November 22, 2023
The Plan is sweet. Although not very graphic sexy the story made all up. Love both Lydia and Erik. Miss Sorensen brings her two charatcers into the center of the story. She fits all the jagged and pieces of her characters.
It is also good to see other characters on the story. I love Lydia's dad. He is such a strong presence in Lydia life.

Anyway... moving on..

4 stars
Profile Image for Inna (Semi-Hiatus).
1,605 reviews342 followers
May 2, 2022
3 stars. This book just didn’t really make me feel any feelings; it was just ok. The hero did A LOT of pushing away until near the very end. This would have gotten a higher rating if there had been a good grovel scene or a good epilogue - but it lacked both.


Safe; Hero not a manwhore. He was married and was cheated on by his wife. Based on info given, he didn’t have a high body count (such a nice change for an athlete romance). He was with his wife from early highschool & said he had been celibate after finding out about his wife cheating (but was with one woman right after finding out). Heroine’s past barely discussed but she was not a virgin and had at least a couple of previous experiences. No cheating, no om/ow drama, no scenes with om/ow, hero pushed away A LOT, so this might not be for those of you who aren’t into that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Luna  ♡.
372 reviews157 followers
September 29, 2024
»I like him a lot more than I like you. You make one more comment about the man next to me, and you'll find out just how much.«

★ ★ ★

❥ 𝑳𝒚𝒅𝒊𝒂
I liked her. She is confident, funny and loyal. She‘s a real sunshine girl.

❥ 𝑬𝒓𝒊𝒌
He is grumpy and a former football player. I liked the way he cares about Lydia.

✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
This was okay I think. It was entertaining and easy to read. I liked the plot and the characters but the special something was just missing. It‘s nothing unique and you read stories like that very often: grumpy body guard falls for sunshine rich girl.
Still this book was enjoyable!
Lydia and Erik have good tension and their interactions were relatable and funny. The side characters were well integrated in the story and I liked the vibe.
The last 100 pages were boring and I skimmed a lot. It took me so long to finish this book, another sign that this wasn’t my cup of tea. Overall this book had potential but is nothing amazing.

𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Maybe, if you enjoyed the first book.

𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓
plot: 3/5
spice: 1/5
humor: 4/5
couple/tension: 4/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes

𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬
possessive and protective hero, forced proximity, instant attraction, secrets and lies, sports romance, football, bad boy former football player x rich good girl, banter and fluff, grumpy x sunshine, bodyguard, age gap

𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲
ages: Lydia (23) and Erik is in his early thirties I think
cheating: no
sharing: no
kinks: no

𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 The Lie ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 The Plan ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Profile Image for Elisa ♡.
667 reviews1 follower
April 13, 2022
the first half is one story and the second is another.

the first half is a bodyguard romance, between an influencer that has been in a car crash and an ex-football player turned bodyguard.
is a cute story, i enjoyed their slow romance.

the second half is after he decided to quit and it becomes kind of a fake romance.

my problem is that one minute they were racing and the next he quits and suddenly we're meeting his mom! i wanted a bodyguard romance, i wanted the angst the drama, but sadly that's only half of the book :(
Profile Image for Bookgasms Book Blog.
2,859 reviews1,497 followers
June 17, 2022
I really enjoyed this bodyguard/fake dating/Grumpy-Sunshine romance. Erik and Lydia were amazing. I loved their connection and the spitfire banter.

I will also add that this story had the most amazing build up of sexual tension ever. But, and this is just personal preference, I would have preferred more description in the sexy times. Don't get me wrong their tension was hot with all the sighing, pointed looks and touches but I did feel like the build up was incredible to just be glossed over so quickly. In addition, I felt like the ending was somewhat rushed. Anyone who knows me knows that I need grovel and this story just didn't deliver that. Lydia deserved more grovel from Erik. All in all, this was a solid bodyguard/Grumpy Sunshine story and a great read! 4 stars! ~Ratula
Profile Image for val ❋.
315 reviews8 followers
Read
February 10, 2022
she’s rich but she goes to mcdonalds for coffee oMg she’s so different and quirky aaaaahhhhh pls give me a break
Profile Image for rach⭑.
620 reviews281 followers
July 8, 2022
3.5⭑

Tropes;
Fake Dating
Grumpy/Sunshine
Bodyguard Romance
Dual POV

Sorry besties just realised I haven’t written a review for this book yet but now I can’t remember why I gave it 3.5 lmao
Profile Image for The Romantic Rush Blog.
2,116 reviews925 followers
February 9, 2022
Oh my- I’m just loving this sweet and swoony series full of second generation nostalgia and that Karla Sorensen charm! The Plan is a sunshine-grumpy alpha story chock full of sincerity and feels. I’m

The Plan gives us a romance between a broody bodyguard Erik and his sassy, loving charge Lydia. After a recent accident has left her a bit shaken, influencer Lydia has feeling nervous and closed in- so her father (Luke) reaches out to his former teammate Erik to provide protection that hopefully will put Lydia at ease. Both soon discover their assumptions about the other are off base, and quickly sparks fly between these opposites.

I was so excited to dive into this after we met the broader cast of characters in the first book, and I loved this one even more than the first. The chemistry is so delicious and adorable- and I loved watching their souls connecting, trust blossoming, and the flirty banter between them. The sexual tension was so intoxicating and consuming- I felt all the draw between them. Erik is one of my favorite Karla Sorensen book boyfriends- like swoony yumminess. He’s got some real baggage courtesy of his history- and he’s lost, a bit bitter, and certainly broken. But he’s also protective and caring, and Lydia inspires a new openness in him. His closed offness meant it too a minute for me to warm up to him, but Lydia charmed me so quickly that I feel in love with them as a pair straight way. My goodness she’s effervescent - with this big beautiful heart full of love and joy and tenderness. But she’s also got some sass to her, and she’s tough about things that matter. And it’s her magic that makes this couple work- that helps us get to a more meaningful and emotive place in their connection.

As always, we have a vast array of enriching secondary characters- familiar faces and new ones. I loved both of their families- the supportive affection we see as well as the fun. It all adds to this adorable, butterfly inducing, swoony romance with just the right bite of heartache and angst. Karla Sorensen never disappoints, and The Plan is among my most loved of her stories thus far. I love this world!
Profile Image for PP's Bookshelf.
2,496 reviews381 followers
February 4, 2022
I cannot believe I am saying this. But second generation of Washington Wolves is bigger, better and just more addictive. Karla Sorensen just hit this one out of the park. You cannot plan for The Plan. Brooding alpha hero with issues. Fierce heroine. Tons of sexual tension and all the feels. Just perfect.

Erik Wilder severed all his ties with professional football after his injury and has been trying to find his way since then. He could not refuse when his ex team mate and captain Luke Pierson reaches out to him to work as a bodyguard for his daughter Lydia. She is an influencer with spark and sass but a recent accident has left her shaky and cornered. Erik assumed a lot about her but she blew his ideas away and she won't stop till she reaches inside his dark bitter heart.

Oh my god. Just taking few seconds( or rather, hours) to take a deep breath and trying to absorb all the wicked deliciousness called Erik Wilder. Broody. Jaded. Broken. Hurt. Angry. Lost. And still the most perfect man ever. I just cannot take this level of alpha perfection. He forced himself to come out of his shell for Lydia. Because how can anyone resist Lydia Pierson. She is the pure ray of sunshine in a rainy day. All rainbows and glitters and with a heart so pure and loving that she got me on my knees. But she is not some cute beauty only. She is a fighter. She fights for herself and also for people she cares for. Like Erik. The sexual tension in this story is sky high and I was dying from it till the first kiss happened. Holy angsty enemies to lovers fire! It had an amazing emotional depth and that was the driving power of the story. Erik and Lydia are forbidden. But inevitable. Their emotional connection was complex and soul deep and intense. It was heartbreaking sometimes and swoonworthy sometimes. But perfect all the way.

Karla Sorensen managed to give me butterflies in stomach, happy tears in eyes and sweet oblivion for my romance loving heart in The Plan. Don't walk. RUN.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
Profile Image for Vivi220414.
416 reviews23 followers
May 31, 2022
4.5 stelle
Una storia divertente e romantica, ma che ha saputo commuovermi, lo scontroso Erik e Lydia hanno saputo conquistarmi... La famiglia Wilder è un'altra delle sorprese di questo libro, spero che l'autrice possa scrivere su ognuno dei fratelli Wilder 🤞
Profile Image for jordane.
787 reviews216 followers
February 8, 2022
“I knew that one weekend would never be enough. I just had to hope he felt the same.”


3.5/5

The Plan is Karla Sorensen's newest book in the Washington Wolves universe and follows Allie and Luke Pierson's daughter, Lydia, and her bodyguard, sometimes fake boyfriend, Erik Wilder. After her car accident, Lydia is going through a rough time and is nervous about leaving her home. She has lost some of her confidence, so to help her get rid of her fears, her parents hire Erik, a former pro football player still haunted by his past, as her bodyguard.

After reading Faith's book, I was very excited to dive into The Plan, which ended up being a very enjoyable read. It's always great to return to the Washington Wolves universe because the characters are endearing, just like Lydia and Erik were. I liked the grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Lydia and Erik a lot, although it took me some time to actually warm up to Erik, which explains my final rating. On the other hand, I instantly fell in love with Lydia, and I think it's impossible not to!! She is very determined, caring, sassy, and funny. Her relationship with her family is strong, and she would do anything to help the people around her. Quiet, broody, and sometimes grumpy Erik also couldn't resist her, and I loved the way we witnessed him fall more and more in love with her. He was pretty secretive about his past with Lydia for most of the book, which bothered me a bit and also explains why I didn't get attached to him right away. Nevertheless, I liked Lydia and Erik's dynamic, and their chemistry was very palpable. The forbidden aspect of their romance also ratcheted up the tension perfectly, and they shared some fun banter. These two complement each other so well!

The moments between Lydia and her family were among my favorites, as well as those with Erik's siblings. They are very interesting characters that allowed us to learn more about Erik and understand him better. I hope we'll see more of them in the future, maybe through a new series 👀

Overall, The Plan was a great grumpy/sunshine, fake dating romance. Lydia is definitely one of my favorite Karla Sorensen characters, and I enjoyed her and Erik's story. I'm excited for Emmett's book and curious to see who he will be paired with. I hope it comes out next because I need more content from Paige, Logan, and the Ward sisters.

*ARC kindly provided by the author and Wildfire Marketing Solutions in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for buket.
874 reviews1,348 followers
June 6, 2022
i LOVE grumpy-sunshine trope especially if the grumpy one isn't mean but actually a depressed little boy 💅🏽

i enjoyed this book more than i imagined so i'm giving 5 star because why not
Profile Image for Erin Lewis.
5,302 reviews189 followers
February 2, 2022
5 Star review of The Plan by Karla Sorensen

The Plan is a book that will draw you in and keep you riveted from the first chapter.
The last thing Lydia wanted was a bodyguard, particularly a man like Erik Wilder and yet she
finds herself fake dating him as a cover.

I really liked both Erik and Lydia; he’s a bit of a grump and most definitely stubborn, but
there is something about him that keeps draws Lydia to him. I really liked Lydia, she is such
an engaging and caring character that you cannot help but like her.

What will happen when the sizzling attraction becomes to hard to resist and lines will be blurred? I thoroughly enjoyed the push and pull dynamic of their relationship as the tension build until it explodes.

There were moments where I laughed and times where I swooned in this entertaining read. Erik and Lydia could not have been more different and yet they really were well suited to one another.

This is a little gem and one I suggest you one click, I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,708 reviews60 followers
February 13, 2022
My favorite in the series!! This grumpy-sunshine story had all the feels! Erik is the broody hero with so many walls and Lydia’s intelligence, warmth and caring slowly but surely knock them down.

Both Erik and Lydia have had some drama in their pasts and Erik is hired to help Lydia out of the protective shell she’s created for herself. He does way more than that! You can feel the chemistry between the two of them from the very beginning. Their feelings only grew stronger as they learned to trust each other, even as they try to hide their feelings behind witty banter and nonchalance. But, trust me, they have SO MUCH CHALANCE!

Erik’s backstory was surprisingly emotional and had a twist I didn’t expect. His family matches Lydia’s for exceptional love and support, but for a while Erik didn’t feel worthy of their comfort. I loved going home with him to experience his family’s antics.

I really enjoy knowing all the members of Lydia’s family and their love stories. I am so glad Lydia is finally getting hers. I felt like she was hiding a lot of brilliance behind her social media persona. So glad she working toward her goal of running the franchise.

Loved this book and so enjoyed the journey of Erik and Lydia!

I received an advance copy from Wildfire PR and these are my honest opinions.
Profile Image for veronica ☽.
418 reviews54 followers
August 7, 2022
This book took me almost a week to read, It was sluggish and if you skipped to 60% you still would not miss a thing. You ever just strongly dislike a male main character? Because Eric Wilder kept getting on my shit list. Overall 3 stars.

tropes: age gap, grumpy sunshine, bodyguard romance, slow burn, and fake dating.
Profile Image for Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog).
5,554 reviews201 followers
February 9, 2022




Universal

When Erik's offered a bodyguard position he's really not sure if he'll take it. He's a former football player, what does he know about bodyguarding? Except he does know, he knows how to intimidate, and he knows how to protect, which is what he'll be doing for his new client, a young social media influencer who's trying to find her footing since an accident left her reeling. Erik cannot say no to her father, a former football player himself, a man who knows what it's like to have left football behind and to be trying to figure out where to go next, where to find a place to belong.



Lydia may be the daughter of a football legacy marriage, but she's independent, not one to coast by on her family's coattails. But after an accident robs her of her normal zest for life, her dad, being the protective guy he is, takes it upon himself to hire her a bodyguard. A very grumpy, growly bodyguard whom she can't help but notice is also really, really hot. But, as she finds, Erik's not just a hot grumpypants, he's actually a teddybear underneath his intimidating form. A guy she can't help but fall for as they start to fake date. But, the ever after Lydia dreams of may never come to be because Erik's got scars from a past he never talks about, and he's not about to let Lydia past a certain point, not about to admit to feelings that could put his heart in jeopardy again. He'll have to decide if he can live without his beautiful sunshine, though, or if he can let down his guard enough to reach for that happiness.



Grumpy/sunshine is always such fun to read as two opposites fall for each other. Here, it took awhile for me to warm up to Erik because his grump was pronounced and his communication skills were practically nil. I loved Lydia right from the beginning, though, and was rooting for her to get her man even though I knew it was going to take awhile to fight past all his demons. The Plan is slow burn packed with tension and more than a little emotion. Now I'm excited to read more of these Washington Wolves finding love.



ARC provided by Wildfire Marketing Solutions for an honest review.

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Profile Image for Sally.
375 reviews37 followers
July 13, 2023
3.5 ⭐

"Il piano" è uno dei primi libri dedicati alle nuove generazioni, difatti Lydia è la figlia di Allie e Luke di "Effetto bomba" e sorella di Faith. Il protagonista maschile è Erik, ex giocatore di football e ora guardia del corpo. Verrà incaricato da Luke, padre di Lydia, di affiancare la ragazza dopo un incidente in auto che le ha provocato un braccio rotto e un disturbo post traumatico da stress. Lydia, infatti, esce il minimo indispensabile e teme il momento in cui dovrà partecipare a degli eventi di sponsor (è influencer) e il momento in cui dovrà rimettersi alla guida. Lei rimarrà da subito affascinata da quest uomo schivo, silenzioso e a volte burbero ma che la sprona nel superare le sue paure, la ammira e la guarda come non è stata mai guardata. La loro è un'attrazione potente, ma anche in questo caso, come è nello schema della Sorensen, è la donna che è più sfacciata ed intraprendente a far cedere l'uomo che non ne vuole sapere. Erik non vuole permettersi distrazioni e vuole solo fare bene il suo lavoro. Inoltre è stato sposato, tradito e c'è un altro segreto che verrà svelato solo alla fine del libro. Complice un infortunio, ma soprattutto il divorzio, Erik si allontana sempre di più dalla famiglia, abbandona il football e diventa un uomo che non vuole più innamorarsi. Ma ovviamente, sappiamo come andrà a finire con Lydia!

Quando si tratta di guardie del corpo il mio interesse si impenna e quindi le premesse e le battute iniziali del romanzo mi avevano dato delle ottime vibrazioni. Però con l'andare avanti nella lettura mi sono chiesta quale fosse il ruolo di Erik. Mi spiego, Lydia non ha stalker da cui essere protetta o altri pericoli e la sua paura sociale e dell'auto vengono praticamente risolte subito, in maniera secondo me anche poco credibile. Quindi che ci stava a fare Erik? E difatti rimane perché Lydia lo vuole conquistare a tutti i costi (a volte in maniera anche esagerata ed invadente, ma le voglio dare l'attenuante dei 22 anni) e per dare via al trope del finto fidanzamento durante un weekend nella famiglia di Erik. Ecco, questa parte tolti alcuni momenti con i fratelli di lui, di gioco e tensione sessuale tra i protagonisti mi ha un po' annoiata. Inoltre, Lydia viene dipinta come la ragazza che sa fare tutto: sa guidare una Ferrari come un automobilista provetto (non si sa dove abbia imparato), sa giocare a football come un giocatore professionista e sa leggere schemi di gioco meglio di un coach, sa come aiutare gli altri, sa legare con tutti. Insomma una perfezione che ad un certo punto mi ha dato sui nervi. Ho apprezzato molto però la sua voglia e determinazione nel voler studiare per prendere il posto di sua madre come presidente della squadra in futuro. E questo lo fa perché ha una passione sincera per il football.
Altri aspetti che non mi hanno convinta sono questioni che sono sparite, altre non approfondite (non ho capito perché Erik e suo fratello Ian non si sopportino) e il motivo di tutta questa pesantezza interiore di Erik tanto da farlo allontanare da tutti, mi ha lasciata un po' perplessa.
Gli aspetti positivi sono la chimica tra i protagonisti ed i rapporti familiari, bello rivedere Luke ed Allie in veste di genitori e Faith un'ottima sorella, così come nella famiglia di Erik.
Insomma, un romanzo che se avesse avuto più movimento e avesse mantenuto la linea della guardia del corpo con un motivo valido, mi avrebbe conquistata di più!
Profile Image for Sabrina Fornero.
1,268 reviews20 followers
May 13, 2022
💋Recensione per il blog New Adult e dintorni💋

Torniamo a Seattle dai Washington Wolves per conoscere l’altra figlia di Luke Pierson, la piccola di casa, Lydia. Lei è un influencer con un largo seguito mentre il nostro protagonista maschile sarà un sexy bodyguard con un passato da giocatore di football, proprio tra le file dei Wolves.
Erik e Lydia sono ai poli opposti ma si troveranno ad attrarsi fino a capitolare l’uno nelle braccia dell’altra.

Lydia Pierson è giovane ricca e famosa quando il mondo le crolla addosso. Milioni di follower e paparazzi che la inseguano sono il suo terrore quando, dopo un incidente automobilistico è costretta a barricarsi in casa Pierson e a nascondersi dalla notorietà. Il padre è disperato, vede la sua bambina spegnersi ogni giorno che passa e non la riconosce più fino ad affidarsi ad una vecchia conoscenza. Erik è esperto di sicurezza ed è questa che serve per spronare la figlia ad affrontare il mondo a testa alta. Quello che non prevede è il coinvolgimento sentimentale che la figlia svilupperà nei confronti dell’algido amico.

‘Naturalmente, l’unica donna che osava spingermi fuori dalla mia comfort zone ben definita non poteva che starmi accanto a ogni passo mentre scendevamo nella follia alimentata dalla lussuria.’

Erik Wilder è un trentenne che si è trovato a reinventarsi dopo un infortunio sportivo. Non è più tornato nel quartier generale dei Wolves e nemmeno a casa, dove la numerosa famiglia lo attende. Tanti i segreti che custodisce e a causa del suo carattere ermetico e burbero non riesce a soddisfare nessuna delle domande che la sua nuova cliente gli pone. Non deve cedere al fascino di quella ragazza e se lei ha un piano per tornare nel jet set che l’acclama, lui ha un piano ancora più pericoloso per tornare a casa, proprio con lei.

‘Con mia immensa gioia, Erik era davvero sexy quando faceva il paternalista. Cioè, era incredibilmente sexy anche quando si limitava a esistere, ma per la prima volta nella mia breve esistenza, capivo il fascino dell’alfa dominante.’

Ormai la Sorensen è una garanzia, qualunque storia riesca a inventarsi è un successo perché siamo così affezionate al mondo dei Wolves da non averne mai abbastanza. Questo romanzo è sicuramente uno slow burn dolce e ammaliante, lei lo fa ammattire e lui testardo non riesce a cederle senza prima rovinare tutto a causa della sua bassa autostima. I segreti che custodisce nel suo cuore spezzato non vedono l’ora di essere svelati e Lydia non è la ragazza frivola e viziata che sembra. Può invece comprenderlo, aiutarlo e amarlo.
La parte hot tarda ad arrivare ma quando il tenebroso protagonista cede all’attrazione diventa rovente e intrigante.
Con i Wilder si apre un nuovo e lungo capitolo per la Sorensen perché i fratelli di Erik sono tanti e mi incuriosiscono dal primo all’ultimo. Nel prossimo futuro ci aspetta il piccolo di casa Ward, Emmett, amico di famiglia di Lydia e giovane stella dei Wolves che se la dovrà vedere con la sorellina di Erik, Adaline.
Se i risultati sono questi, lunga vita ai Wolves e se non siete ancora entrate nel tunnel, fatelo, i libri sono tanti e autoconclusivi.
Profile Image for Jess L..
Author 2 books262 followers
May 10, 2022
Ci sono autrici che non puoi fare a meno di leggere dopo averla scoperta e Karla Sorensen è una di queste, per. Ogni volta che esce un suo nuovo libro m’illumino come un albero di Natale. Ero curiosa di leggere la storia di Lydia e credo che non potesse esserci un titolo migliore per questo romanzo… Il piano non ci parla semplicemente della storia d’amore tra Lydia ed Erik, vengono trattati – anche se in modo leggero per non appesantire la lettura – temi come la paura dopo un incidente, la famiglia, le delusioni e vari tipi di dolori, ma soprattutto si affronta tutto a testa alta, con i propri tempi. Devo ammettere che, emotivamente parlando, l’altro volume mi ha catturato e coinvolta di più, ma la storia di Lydia ci permette di vedere facce diverse di una medaglia che non si ferma al praticare uno sport, ma anche a cosa succede dopo o ad afferrare i propri sogni e realizzarli, a reinventarsi. Ho adorato le parti in famiglia, come mi è piaciuto vedere la crescita dei sentimenti tra i due protagonisti. Insomma, con la scrittura di Karla Sorensen non ci si annoia mai, ma ora rimane una sola domanda: cos’altro ci aspetterà?
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