The Plan by Karla Sorensen

You know when you read a book from an author you haven’t read before, and you’re left wondering why you haven’t? Like why haven’t I been privy to this amazing fictional world that this person crafted so well? That’s what The Plan is for me. It’s got so many things I love in a romance: grumpy alpha hero, sweet and sunshiny heroine, and just enough steam and tension to keep me wanting to turn the pages until I’ve devoured it whole.

This story centers around Erik, the surly former NFL player for the Washington Wolves who is now working as a bodyguard, and Lydia, who is the sweet 22-year-old influencer and daughter of the Wolves’ owner and her former quarterback husband. When the book begins, Lydia has been holed up in her parents’ house for the past couple months following a paparazzi-induced car accident, and her parents want Erik to become her driver/bodyguard to sort of coax her back into feeling safe enough to once again be a part of society. It takes a minute for Lydia to agree to having Erik around, but when she does the fun starts and we see how a grump and happy-go-lucky younger woman go from reluctant strangers to sort of friends to more.

These main characters are written so incredibly well! Erik is my new favorite grumpy and complex yet ultimately loveable character. He’s nearly insufferable in parts and has trouble seeing what’s right in front of him, and it makes for such a compelling read. I love a hero that gets under my skin, and that’s what Erik managed to do. And Lydia? I simply love her character. She’s sweet and smart and such fun. She’s the light to his dark, and I couldn’t imagine a better counterpart for Erik.

I feel like the theme of this book would have to be that love and friendship has the power to heal. At the start, Lydia is terrified to even leave the safety of her parents’ home, but little by little with Erik by her side she’s able to slowly come back out into the world. That simple companionship and knowledge that he’s there with her gives her the strength to become the person she already was inside. Then there’s Erik who’s been knocked down by events in his life, but with Lydia in his life the notion that he could become less miserable and alone comes about.

Also, I really enjoyed both Erik and Lydia’s families as secondary characters. They acted as the main character’s consciousnesses and foundations when they failed to do it all on their own. I loved seeing the love and support that the families had for Erik and Lydia, and their presence in the story acted to propel the story at certain times and added even more depth to it.

Sweet and funny but with plenty of tension and drama, The Plan is definitely a must read. If you love the idea of a grumpy hero and a sweet and lovely heroine, this one is for you.