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Playbook #2
Fumbled
9 hours, 53 minutes
A second chance doesn't guarantee a touchdown in this new contemporary romance from the author of Intercepted.
Single-mother Poppy Patterson moved across the country when she was sixteen and pregnant to find a new normal. After years of hard work, she's built a life she loves. It may include a job at a nightclub, weekend soccer games, and more stretch marks than she anticipated, but it's all hers, and nobody can take that away. Well, except for one person.
TK Moore, the starting wide receiver for the Denver Mustangs, dreamt his entire life about being in the NFL. His world is football, parties, and women. Maybe at one point he thought his future would play out with his high school sweetheart by his side, but Poppy is long gone and he's moved on.
When Poppy and TK cross paths in the most unlikely of places, emotions they've suppressed for years come rushing back. But with all the secrets they never told each other lying between them, they'll need more than a dating playbook to help them navigate their relationship.
A second chance doesn't guarantee a touchdown in this new contemporary romance from the author of Intercepted.
Single-mother Poppy Patterson moved across the country when she was sixteen and pregnant to find a new normal. After years of hard work, she's built a life she loves. It may include a job at a nightclub, weekend soccer games, and more stretch marks than she anticipated, but it's all hers, and nobody can take that away. Well, except for one person.
TK Moore, the starting wide receiver for the Denver Mustangs, dreamt his entire life about being in the NFL. His world is football, parties, and women. Maybe at one point he thought his future would play out with his high school sweetheart by his side, but Poppy is long gone and he's moved on.
When Poppy and TK cross paths in the most unlikely of places, emotions they've suppressed for years come rushing back. But with all the secrets they never told each other lying between them, they'll need more than a dating playbook to help them navigate their relationship.
Audiobook
First published April 23, 2019
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About the author
Alexa Martin
9 books2,235 followersAlexa Martin is a writer and stay at home mom. She lives in Colorado with her husband, a former NFL player who now coaches at the high school where they met, their four children, and a German Shepherd. When she's not telling her kids to put their shoes on...again, you can find her catching up with her latest book boyfriend or on Pinterest pinning meals she'll probably never make. Her first book, Intercepted, was inspired by the eight years she spent as an NFL wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,304 reviews
2019
September 16, 2018please let this one not be filled with hashtags 🙄
April 25, 2019
This is hands down my current favorite romance series. It’s p much nonstop swoons from start to finish and I’m obsesseddddd 🥰
May 26, 2019
After absolutely *loving* the audiobook for Intercepted, I was really looking forward to the release of this latest book by Alexa Martin. Sadly, I was bored out of my mind. I honestly would have quit it if I was not so thoroughly convinced that it HAD to get better based on my love for the prior book. Spoiler alert: it didn't get better.
I really dislike the secret baby trope, and while this was presented as a somewhat unintentional one, I still didn't enjoy it. Add in some drama that came and went nowhere (stalker, evil mother of the boyfriend) and I was ready for this book to end. I did appreciate the author's attempt to focus on brain injuries caused by football - but it didn't make for a captivating storyline.
I recommend skipping this one, but definitely *listen* to the audiobook for Intercepted!
I really dislike the secret baby trope, and while this was presented as a somewhat unintentional one, I still didn't enjoy it. Add in some drama that came and went nowhere (stalker, evil mother of the boyfriend) and I was ready for this book to end. I did appreciate the author's attempt to focus on brain injuries caused by football - but it didn't make for a captivating storyline.
I recommend skipping this one, but definitely *listen* to the audiobook for Intercepted!
July 20, 2020
More like 2.75 stars.
Let me start off by saying that, if I'd read book #2 I would have given it a 3.5 stars, but seeing as I read, Intercepted first, I'm left with no choice but to feel this way.
I've anticipated this book, the moment I finished book 1 in the series, and waited, for what seemed like a long time, for book 2. It suuuuuuuuucks that I finish this book feeling highly dissapointed and questioning whether I should pick up the 3 book.
What tainted my reading experience was the fact that this book seems like the fraternal twin to Intercepted and that just bothered me to no end. Like really. This book could have gone in another direction and explored so many other things, (and did at times) the synopsis gave me the impression of this book holding so much potential, instead, this book chose to stick close to the first. Smh.
Intercepted and Fumbled similarities.
☝🏾 Marlee and Poppy both are independent black women with jobs living in a low income area, barely making it financially, who fall for white football players from their past --Marlee (one night stand) Poppy (highschool sweetheart) who both unexpectedly and randomly bump into them after years of having no contact with one another.
Both question the idea of proceeding into a relationship with their love interests due to misunderstandings. Marlee (thought Gavin just wanted a fling) Poppy (thought TK wanted nothing to do with her after she breaks some news to him.) Both are wrong about their assumptions.
Both are hesitant to proceed into a relationship with their love interests because of another person. Marlee(her ex boyfriend Chris, who ends up hurting her and thus leaves her insecure and feeling unable to trust being in a committed relationship) Poppy (her son Ace, whom she wants to protect and not have him ending up getting his hopes up high and thus getting hurt in the end.) Both carry unconfident thoughts throughout the entire relationships, which plays a role in how they behave in their relationships and how much they present and hold back in their relationships.
✌🏾Both have white woman who are envious of them, which appears to be for no valid reason at all. Marlee (any and all women except 2 that come in contact with her.) Poppy (Rochelle, groupies and some wives.) And some of these envious woman plot to hurt/sabotage/expose the protaganists to the internet/media.
Both have random people who try to hurt them. Marlee (the drug dealer and a random pair of drunk pedestrians on the train) Poppy (unknown stalker).
Both face confrontation from members of their love interests family. Marlee (Gavin's sister) Poppy (T.K's mom).
Both have to deal with putting fans in their place after overhearing them talk bad about their love interests.
👌🏾Both had obstacles within their relationships which both ends with them having a break and not having to speak to their love interests for a time, and then ends with them getting back together and living happily ever after.
Both work at HERS receiving special treatment from the manager, and both quit in the end because of their relationships.
🖐🏾Both men, are gorgeous Thor like football Gods, who are the favorite out of all the football players on the team. Nobody wants nobody else but them in the books. Which is funny, because in book 1 nobody talked about falling out in the middle of the damn street over no damn TK in book 1. (Honestly I thought TK was black in book one, but, I'm not even sure anymore, lol.) Both seemed to magically activate present and past thoughts of Marlee and Poppy, and hoardered them for years, once they came in contact with them. To this day, it's hard for me to believe that Gavin couldn't stop thinking of Marlee for years after having a one night stand with her. For TK, it's more believable because they have a long history together, but let's NOT forget he was insistent and consistent on letting Marlee know if Chris didn't marry her, he would. 😏 (I get he had other relationships, but TK told Poppy, he never stopped loving her, and the other girls were nothing serious.) Both play their roles as super heros, coming in to save the day whenever Marlee or Poppy ends up in danger. Both are injured and both Marlee and Poppy are blamed for it. Both come off as waaaaay too poetic, in expressing and professing their love to Marlee and Poppy.
This book was just waaaaaaay to similar to the point where I couldn't not notice and have it not effect my reading experience.🤦🏾♀️ And to make matters worse, the writing/characters/dialogue came off as juvenile and wack. I couldn't STAND Poppy sticking her tongue out🤪, Sadie and that damn glitter! (Like serious, who the hell carries glitter around flinging it on people or throwing it in the air like they just don't care??? Who, what, when, where, WHY and how sway???) 😩
Just like Marlee, Poppy had some issues she clearly needed to consider, release and heal from. Poppy having a tough upbringing and being a young mom, it seemed like she had a bit of anxiety or maybe she was just overly dramatic in how she reacted to stuff; ie: constantly having to count to ten and breathe before she responded, vomiting and nearly fainting when having to come to terms with the changes that would take place in her and her son's life. Pinching herself to keep from fidgeting, being emotional (which I excuse). Poppy seriously needed to meditate or do some yoga 🧘🏾♀️ to clear her blocked and clogged chakras.
Both Marlee and Poppy where hesitant in progressing in their relationships, but did it anyways, despite themselves. And I as a reader, had to suffer through their inner monologues of doubt and negativity. Like come on, if we're gonna be in this relationship, let's do this, if not, let's not. I don't want to hear or deal with too much of this wishy washy thoughts and back and forth nonsense, who you think you are, Aaliyah (rip).🙏🏾
I thought it was fake funny how reluctant Poppy was about TK having and/or picking up Ace, but she was totally on board letting Vonnie (whom she only knew for a little over or under a month ) to take him to a game and spend the night at her house.👀
At the end, I had less than 60 pages left. I skimmed the last bit by only reading some of the dialogue. So there's that.
I loved Ace, he was super cute and enjoyable. I enjoyed the topic of football players being a higher risk of getting a concussion. I wasn't aware or even thought about those factors until watching a movie starring Will Smith called, Concussion and I think it's very brave to bring forth that awareness, especially when it comes to something popular as football where nobody really wants to acknowledge the dangers of playing, all they see is the culture of the game, and not how the players are human beings risking their lives for other people's entertainment. I liked how Poppy is more outspoken. That was something I wished Marlee was in book 1. I liked the idea of the protagonist being a single mother and having a healthy and amazing relationship with her child.
Hopefully when the disappointment of the book subsides, my rating will change but for it's a meh for me dog.
Let me start off by saying that, if I'd read book #2 I would have given it a 3.5 stars, but seeing as I read, Intercepted first, I'm left with no choice but to feel this way.
I've anticipated this book, the moment I finished book 1 in the series, and waited, for what seemed like a long time, for book 2. It suuuuuuuuucks that I finish this book feeling highly dissapointed and questioning whether I should pick up the 3 book.
What tainted my reading experience was the fact that this book seems like the fraternal twin to Intercepted and that just bothered me to no end. Like really. This book could have gone in another direction and explored so many other things, (and did at times) the synopsis gave me the impression of this book holding so much potential, instead, this book chose to stick close to the first. Smh.
Intercepted and Fumbled similarities.
☝🏾 Marlee and Poppy both are independent black women with jobs living in a low income area, barely making it financially, who fall for white football players from their past --Marlee (one night stand) Poppy (highschool sweetheart) who both unexpectedly and randomly bump into them after years of having no contact with one another.
Both question the idea of proceeding into a relationship with their love interests due to misunderstandings. Marlee (thought Gavin just wanted a fling) Poppy (thought TK wanted nothing to do with her after she breaks some news to him.) Both are wrong about their assumptions.
Both are hesitant to proceed into a relationship with their love interests because of another person. Marlee(her ex boyfriend Chris, who ends up hurting her and thus leaves her insecure and feeling unable to trust being in a committed relationship) Poppy (her son Ace, whom she wants to protect and not have him ending up getting his hopes up high and thus getting hurt in the end.) Both carry unconfident thoughts throughout the entire relationships, which plays a role in how they behave in their relationships and how much they present and hold back in their relationships.
✌🏾Both have white woman who are envious of them, which appears to be for no valid reason at all. Marlee (any and all women except 2 that come in contact with her.) Poppy (Rochelle, groupies and some wives.) And some of these envious woman plot to hurt/sabotage/expose the protaganists to the internet/media.
Both have random people who try to hurt them. Marlee (the drug dealer and a random pair of drunk pedestrians on the train) Poppy (unknown stalker).
Both face confrontation from members of their love interests family. Marlee (Gavin's sister) Poppy (T.K's mom).
Both have to deal with putting fans in their place after overhearing them talk bad about their love interests.
👌🏾Both had obstacles within their relationships which both ends with them having a break and not having to speak to their love interests for a time, and then ends with them getting back together and living happily ever after.
Both work at HERS receiving special treatment from the manager, and both quit in the end because of their relationships.
🖐🏾Both men, are gorgeous Thor like football Gods, who are the favorite out of all the football players on the team. Nobody wants nobody else but them in the books. Which is funny, because in book 1 nobody talked about falling out in the middle of the damn street over no damn TK in book 1. (Honestly I thought TK was black in book one, but, I'm not even sure anymore, lol.) Both seemed to magically activate present and past thoughts of Marlee and Poppy, and hoardered them for years, once they came in contact with them. To this day, it's hard for me to believe that Gavin couldn't stop thinking of Marlee for years after having a one night stand with her. For TK, it's more believable because they have a long history together, but let's NOT forget he was insistent and consistent on letting Marlee know if Chris didn't marry her, he would. 😏 (I get he had other relationships, but TK told Poppy, he never stopped loving her, and the other girls were nothing serious.) Both play their roles as super heros, coming in to save the day whenever Marlee or Poppy ends up in danger. Both are injured and both Marlee and Poppy are blamed for it. Both come off as waaaaay too poetic, in expressing and professing their love to Marlee and Poppy.
This book was just waaaaaaay to similar to the point where I couldn't not notice and have it not effect my reading experience.🤦🏾♀️ And to make matters worse, the writing/characters/dialogue came off as juvenile and wack. I couldn't STAND Poppy sticking her tongue out🤪, Sadie and that damn glitter! (Like serious, who the hell carries glitter around flinging it on people or throwing it in the air like they just don't care??? Who, what, when, where, WHY and how sway???) 😩
Just like Marlee, Poppy had some issues she clearly needed to consider, release and heal from. Poppy having a tough upbringing and being a young mom, it seemed like she had a bit of anxiety or maybe she was just overly dramatic in how she reacted to stuff; ie: constantly having to count to ten and breathe before she responded, vomiting and nearly fainting when having to come to terms with the changes that would take place in her and her son's life. Pinching herself to keep from fidgeting, being emotional (which I excuse). Poppy seriously needed to meditate or do some yoga 🧘🏾♀️ to clear her blocked and clogged chakras.
Both Marlee and Poppy where hesitant in progressing in their relationships, but did it anyways, despite themselves. And I as a reader, had to suffer through their inner monologues of doubt and negativity. Like come on, if we're gonna be in this relationship, let's do this, if not, let's not. I don't want to hear or deal with too much of this wishy washy thoughts and back and forth nonsense, who you think you are, Aaliyah (rip).🙏🏾
I thought it was fake funny how reluctant Poppy was about TK having and/or picking up Ace, but she was totally on board letting Vonnie (whom she only knew for a little over or under a month ) to take him to a game and spend the night at her house.👀
At the end, I had less than 60 pages left. I skimmed the last bit by only reading some of the dialogue. So there's that.
I loved Ace, he was super cute and enjoyable. I enjoyed the topic of football players being a higher risk of getting a concussion. I wasn't aware or even thought about those factors until watching a movie starring Will Smith called, Concussion and I think it's very brave to bring forth that awareness, especially when it comes to something popular as football where nobody really wants to acknowledge the dangers of playing, all they see is the culture of the game, and not how the players are human beings risking their lives for other people's entertainment. I liked how Poppy is more outspoken. That was something I wished Marlee was in book 1. I liked the idea of the protagonist being a single mother and having a healthy and amazing relationship with her child.
Hopefully when the disappointment of the book subsides, my rating will change but for it's a meh for me dog.
April 15, 2019
TITLE: FUMBLED
AUTHOR: Alexa Martin
GENRE: Sports Romance
TROPES: single mom,
RATING: four stars ✭✭✭✭
CLIFFHANGER: No
Alexa Martin's debut INTERCEPTED last year was such a surprise. What makes her stand out is her real life experience as the wife of a former NFL player, that gives you a look into the issues athletes and their significant others have to deal with. It makes you realize that not everything is glitz and glamour and that the sacrifice they make for playing the game they so love is often bigger than what they bargained for. I love that about her stories, the authenticity and her freaking hilarious, sassy writing style.
Now onto FUMBLED: This is a second chance romance that really did it for me. Poppy is a single mom who works her butt off in a stripper bar to make ends meet. She's a spitfire whose mouth once in a while runs away with her. Pregnant, alone - because her parents kicked her out of the house - and obviously ditched by the boy who was responsible for her state she did a stellar job to raise her son with all the love of a good mother. One night her past catches up with her and the boy, who wouldn't return her messages anymore and cut her so deep, who is now a man and famous NFL star TK Moore, drops back into her life.
Embarrassing your kid is a privilege all moms have. It’s in the Mom Handbook or something.
I LOVE single-mom tropes and the way Poppy was with her son just reminded me why. I loved her characters so much, her snark, her backbone and how she stood up for herself. She doesn't trust TK and it took her a long while to let him back in, always expecting for the other shoe to drop.
Then that annoying thing that’s been happening more and more often when I’m with him happens—something inside me settles. An ache I wasn’t aware I’ve been feeling for years disappears, leaving me lighter and happier than I thought was possible for me. An ache I’m afraid will only multiply when this ends.
My heart hurt for her and I was so angry on her behalf when he was such jerk to her during their first big argument. It almost made my head explode but I put the book away for a minute and really thought it through. While the way TK dealt with learning about his son wasn't my favorite thing I understood why he felt the way he did.
I adored watching TK fall in love with his son and stoking the fire of the one he'd always had for Ace's mother. He was a really good man and although TK showed some erratic behavior, getting angry and annoyed for no apparent reason, I wasn't his biggest fan in the beginning but it all made sense later on. In the light of it all and in hindsight it was easy to give forgive TK. I hurt for him when he realized that he screwed up so badly that he was close to losing it all.
"I want our lives to become so intertwined we can’t figure out where one starts and the other ends. I want you and Ace around as much as I can have you around. I want you both.”
Poppy found her tribe in FUMBLED and having friends to rely on, who had her back, front and flanks, empowered her - I loved that for her. And these women were so kickass and boss, I loved every single one and I can't wait to get Brynn's books in my hands (there seems to be some serious hate-lust between her and Maxwell - yum!).
Alexa Martin has reinvented writing sports romance - her expertise as the wife of a former NFL player adds a lot of realism to this genre and her stories and I've become addicted to her words. If you love a solid second chance, single-mom romance do not hesitate and grab this!
“You just showed me what was important in life. You gave me the purpose I’d been trying, unsuccessfully, to find in football.”
May 3, 2019
<3 4 STARS <3
This series is so addictive, I enjoyed the first book and I adored Fumbled!It has the things I love in a good story, it has a single mother and a second chance romance!Should I say more? The story was sweet and fun and heartwarming!
Poppy was a lovable and strong heroine, you can easily relate with her and love her.TK wasn't my favorite from the beginning but while I continue reading I find myself liking him even more!The romance was so sweet , my heart was melting with these two!
The writing was fantastic and the story fast paced and captivating! I can't wait to read more books from Alexa Martin in the future!
This series is so addictive, I enjoyed the first book and I adored Fumbled!It has the things I love in a good story, it has a single mother and a second chance romance!Should I say more? The story was sweet and fun and heartwarming!
Poppy was a lovable and strong heroine, you can easily relate with her and love her.TK wasn't my favorite from the beginning but while I continue reading I find myself liking him even more!The romance was so sweet , my heart was melting with these two!
The writing was fantastic and the story fast paced and captivating! I can't wait to read more books from Alexa Martin in the future!
May 14, 2019
The downside to reading really good arcs months before they're released is having to wait even longer for the next book.
I started this book on my 30 minute lunch break and in 2 chapters, the characters completely sucked me in! That was at 12:30, it's just after 7pm and I already finished this book.
In fanfiction, I'm a sucker for an athlete romance, but in Fumbled, there aren't any of the outlandishly stereotyped characters or tropes and I'm completely in love with it. TK was completely swoon worthy and I loved how he was always able to take a step back, even in anger, and see Poppy's point of view and compromise. And Poppy? I love a character who's sassy and speaks their mind.
A bonus for me was that though TK and Poppy are an interracial couple, race isn't a heavy part of the story.
Loved it!
I started this book on my 30 minute lunch break and in 2 chapters, the characters completely sucked me in! That was at 12:30, it's just after 7pm and I already finished this book.
In fanfiction, I'm a sucker for an athlete romance, but in Fumbled, there aren't any of the outlandishly stereotyped characters or tropes and I'm completely in love with it. TK was completely swoon worthy and I loved how he was always able to take a step back, even in anger, and see Poppy's point of view and compromise. And Poppy? I love a character who's sassy and speaks their mind.
A bonus for me was that though TK and Poppy are an interracial couple, race isn't a heavy part of the story.
Loved it!
January 26, 2021
3.5 stars
First things first... can we talk about how much I wanted to love this book? I saw single mom and second chance romance and I was hyped. WHY I didn't connect the dots to see it was a ... I was just hoping she was a single mom reconnecting with an old flame, who happed to be TK that I loved in the first book. Ugh. I can see why so many loved this and I do think in a lot of ways it was better than the first. But that troupe hardly ever truly works for me. I'm hoping the next book in the series will be a win for me because I like Brynn a lot!
First things first... can we talk about how much I wanted to love this book? I saw single mom and second chance romance and I was hyped. WHY I didn't connect the dots to see it was a ... I was just hoping she was a single mom reconnecting with an old flame, who happed to be TK that I loved in the first book. Ugh. I can see why so many loved this and I do think in a lot of ways it was better than the first. But that troupe hardly ever truly works for me. I'm hoping the next book in the series will be a win for me because I like Brynn a lot!
Audio book source: Libby (borrowed)
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: N'Jameh Camara
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance (sports)
Length: 9 hours and 53 minutes
March 9, 2019
Berkley Romance has been KILLING it with the romance these past few years. I absolutely loved Intercepted by Alexa Martin when it came out last year and I was so excited to pick up Fumbled. This was another romance in the Intercepted football world and I couldn't wait to dive in.
Poppy Patterson left everything she knew when she was 16 and pregnant to give her unborn child the life he deserves. She's worked hard and now she has a life she's proud of and a little boy who is living the life he deserves. When her high school boyfriend shows up where she works, Poppy isn't too keen to let him back in when he hurt her so much right before she left all those years ago. TK Moore is a professional football player and is living the dream he worked so hard for in high school and college. When he sees Poppy for the first time in years, all of those old feelings come rushing back. Both Poppy and TK can't seem to stay away from each other, but can the secrets and betrayals from years ago hurt any chances of them finding happiness again?
In the beginning, I have to say, I wasn't the biggest fan of TK. Once he learned the truth about why Poppy had left, though, I really started to love his character and how he was with Poppy and her son. The romance was so sweet and I loved how Poppy entered the world that we were introduced to in Intercepted when Marlee started to date Gavin. The women of the Denver Mustangs are definitely characters and I really enjoyed how Poppy found some women to really bond with and become friends with.
The romance was one of my favorite parts of this book, but I also loved the important discussions surrounding football that Poppy and TK had. Football was such an important part in TK's life that it was hard for him to face Poppy's fears about the dangers football can have for its players. Football became a burden on their relationship and forced them both to make some important decisions.
While I really enjoyed Intercepted, I LOVED Fumbled. I was obsessed with the romance, Poppy's dedication as a mother, and all of the side characters who entered Poppy's life throughout the story. Every sports romance fan needs to pick up Alexa Martin's books!
Poppy Patterson left everything she knew when she was 16 and pregnant to give her unborn child the life he deserves. She's worked hard and now she has a life she's proud of and a little boy who is living the life he deserves. When her high school boyfriend shows up where she works, Poppy isn't too keen to let him back in when he hurt her so much right before she left all those years ago. TK Moore is a professional football player and is living the dream he worked so hard for in high school and college. When he sees Poppy for the first time in years, all of those old feelings come rushing back. Both Poppy and TK can't seem to stay away from each other, but can the secrets and betrayals from years ago hurt any chances of them finding happiness again?
In the beginning, I have to say, I wasn't the biggest fan of TK. Once he learned the truth about why Poppy had left, though, I really started to love his character and how he was with Poppy and her son. The romance was so sweet and I loved how Poppy entered the world that we were introduced to in Intercepted when Marlee started to date Gavin. The women of the Denver Mustangs are definitely characters and I really enjoyed how Poppy found some women to really bond with and become friends with.
The romance was one of my favorite parts of this book, but I also loved the important discussions surrounding football that Poppy and TK had. Football was such an important part in TK's life that it was hard for him to face Poppy's fears about the dangers football can have for its players. Football became a burden on their relationship and forced them both to make some important decisions.
While I really enjoyed Intercepted, I LOVED Fumbled. I was obsessed with the romance, Poppy's dedication as a mother, and all of the side characters who entered Poppy's life throughout the story. Every sports romance fan needs to pick up Alexa Martin's books!
April 19, 2019
I'm waffling on this one.
I thought I would for sure love this more than INTERCEPTED because of the total lack of hashtags but ultimately things felt so rushed, so glossed over, that some of the real strengths of the characters just didn't get the focus they deserved.
This is a second chance romance with a particular trope I don't tend to love anyway but I thought it would at least get a three. But some of the drama near the end just soured it for me. I do like that Martin focused on very real and serious issues within the sport and had that reflected in a lead character, not a side one, and I'll probably read on if there's more to come in this series. But I just felt this one wasn't as solid, the the writing occasionally too simple, to fully enjoy.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
I thought I would for sure love this more than INTERCEPTED because of the total lack of hashtags but ultimately things felt so rushed, so glossed over, that some of the real strengths of the characters just didn't get the focus they deserved.
This is a second chance romance with a particular trope I don't tend to love anyway but I thought it would at least get a three. But some of the drama near the end just soured it for me. I do like that Martin focused on very real and serious issues within the sport and had that reflected in a lead character, not a side one, and I'll probably read on if there's more to come in this series. But I just felt this one wasn't as solid, the the writing occasionally too simple, to fully enjoy.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
May 19, 2019
3-1/2 stars, rounded up because I really enjoyed hanging out with these characters
But.
It's a more ambitious story than Martin's first book, what with the gritty family dynamics. Poppy's parents kicked her out of the house when she got pregnant, and they still aren't in her life. Meanwhile, TK's mother made it clear that a baby wasn't welcome in their family, either, and tried to get Poppy to get an abortion. These are some heavy topics, but they're treated with a determinedly light-hearted tone and end up feeling a bit glossed over. (Think of how the TV show Jane the Virgin treats its sometimes dark-ish plot lines if you watch that, and that is the same tone as this book.) This whole side of the story never gets quite aired out and talked about in the way it deserves.
In addition, concerns about CTE and football are brought up and play a big part in this story. These issues make me wonder how Alexa Martin will continue to write such cheerful football romances.
A minor complaint is that once again, the not-nice women in this book are so awful as to come across as caricatures. But Poppy's girlfriends are so much fun and so warm-hearted and real that they mostly make up for the over-the-top females. Oh, and they all drink A LOT. I'm not opposed to drinking, but I nearly had a hangover by the end of this just from reading about all the imbibing these women do.
Part of me thinks I should 3-star this on account of the lack of depth. But I enjoyed the humor, the warmth, and the love that shines through every page of this book. It's just such a pleasant, good-natured story. So 4 stars it is, and I'm still in line to read Alexa Martin's third book whenever it comes out.
Poppy Patterson didn't manage to get to college, thanks to the unplanned appearance of her son -- and light of her life -- Ace, when she was 16 years old. But she's doing okay for herself, waitressing at a Denver men's club that features aerialists. Then TK Moore, star wide receiver for the Denver Mustangs -- and Poppy's "don't call him my baby daddy!" (though he doesn't know it yet) -- suddenly reappears in her life. How will she handle explaining the past 9 years to him, around the irresistible attraction she still feels toward him?I'm a little torn about this book. Poppy's voice is awesome, just as Marlee's was in Alexa Martin's first book, Intercepted. I loved spending time in her head, laughing at her worldview and her stumbles, both literal and figurative. I loved the girlfriends she has and makes. And I really loved her love for and enjoyment of Ace. Reading this was just such a good time. It has a cheerful, sunny tone that brightened my life for the few days I spent reading it. So it was a solid 4-star reading experience for me.
But.
It's a more ambitious story than Martin's first book, what with the gritty family dynamics. Poppy's parents kicked her out of the house when she got pregnant, and they still aren't in her life. Meanwhile, TK's mother made it clear that a baby wasn't welcome in their family, either, and tried to get Poppy to get an abortion. These are some heavy topics, but they're treated with a determinedly light-hearted tone and end up feeling a bit glossed over. (Think of how the TV show Jane the Virgin treats its sometimes dark-ish plot lines if you watch that, and that is the same tone as this book.) This whole side of the story never gets quite aired out and talked about in the way it deserves.
In addition, concerns about CTE and football are brought up and play a big part in this story. These issues make me wonder how Alexa Martin will continue to write such cheerful football romances.
A minor complaint is that once again, the not-nice women in this book are so awful as to come across as caricatures. But Poppy's girlfriends are so much fun and so warm-hearted and real that they mostly make up for the over-the-top females. Oh, and they all drink A LOT. I'm not opposed to drinking, but I nearly had a hangover by the end of this just from reading about all the imbibing these women do.
Part of me thinks I should 3-star this on account of the lack of depth. But I enjoyed the humor, the warmth, and the love that shines through every page of this book. It's just such a pleasant, good-natured story. So 4 stars it is, and I'm still in line to read Alexa Martin's third book whenever it comes out.
June 12, 2024
I bought this back in 2019 after reading and loving the first book and then just let it sit. On my shelf. Why?? I’m normally not a fan of second chance romances but I really enjoyed this one. All the characters were such fun! And as a football fan, I appreciated the accuracy of those scenes. This is the perfect summer read and escape!
July 5, 2020
I had enjoyed the first book in this series, but when I heard this one was going to be about TK, I was nearly beside myself.
I loved Poppy. She's so strong and sassy and underneath that awesome exterior, she's a marshmallow. I love how much she adored her kid and how fierce and loyal she was towards her friends. This group of women is a set I would love to get arrested with. TK is everything I was expecting. He's sweet and charming and sort of like a big kid. I enjoyed his passion for football and his ability to be all in when he met Ace. {Of course, there is some shit that happens beforehand, but Poppy has it locked down.}
Plot wise, it didn't go in the direction I was expecting. I was sort of waiting for the shoe to drop, but the light conflict came from a different spot. It was a sweet and natural progression and I loved reading Poppy and TK's relationship grow as well as TK and Ace's. Of course there's a break up, because obviously, but the angsty times don't last long. Oh and I'm 10000% here for all of Poppy's information on football related brain injuries.
Overall, it was my favorite of the two. I think there may have been a hint at the next book and I'm crossing all of the things for more from this world.
**Huge thanks to Berkley for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved Poppy. She's so strong and sassy and underneath that awesome exterior, she's a marshmallow. I love how much she adored her kid and how fierce and loyal she was towards her friends. This group of women is a set I would love to get arrested with. TK is everything I was expecting. He's sweet and charming and sort of like a big kid. I enjoyed his passion for football and his ability to be all in when he met Ace. {Of course, there is some shit that happens beforehand, but Poppy has it locked down.}
Plot wise, it didn't go in the direction I was expecting. I was sort of waiting for the shoe to drop, but the light conflict came from a different spot. It was a sweet and natural progression and I loved reading Poppy and TK's relationship grow as well as TK and Ace's. Of course there's a break up, because obviously, but the angsty times don't last long. Oh and I'm 10000% here for all of Poppy's information on football related brain injuries.
Overall, it was my favorite of the two. I think there may have been a hint at the next book and I'm crossing all of the things for more from this world.
**Huge thanks to Berkley for providing the arc free of charge**
April 23, 2019
Title: Fumbled
Series: Playbook #2
Author: Alexa Martin
Release date: April 23, 2019
Cliffhanger: No
Genre: romance
Alexa Martin's debut Intercepted was hilarious and highly entertaining, but her follow up was even better. The snarky narrative that I enjoyed so much was just as present this time in the form of Poppy Patterson. Single mother, waitress, and high school sweetheart of TK, wide receiver for the Denver Mustangs. This is a lighter second-chance romance which was refreshing to read. The majority of the time they are heavier on the angst and I do highly enjoy those, but this was a nice break from the norm. Which isn't to say that this lacked in the emotion department, because there was still plenty of moments that will tug on your heartstrings.
I want our lives to become so intertwined we can’t figure out where one starts and the other ends. I want you and Ace around as much as I can have you around. I want you both.”
Poppy was a teen mother who had to sacrifice her dreams of attending Northwestern in order to raise her son on her own. After choosing to keep the baby, her parents disowned her and she didn't have an easy road. Instead of wallowing in bitterness, she works her butt off without complaint in order to give her son the happy life he deserves. I felt nothing but admiration for her drive, determination, and sense of humor-even when life threw her a curveball. Her crappy job at the Emerald Cabaret brings her face to face with a ghost from her past: Trevor Kyle "TK" Moore.
TK made brief appearances in the previous book and he always came off as a sweet and respectful guy despite his supposed reputation for partying and enjoying a wide variety of women. You're told this about him, but his player lifestyle is not really something you witness. Their first interaction is very early in the book, and from first glance on, he has his eyes set on one woman. His first love, the woman he could never forget, despite the fact that she disappeared on him ten years ago without the courtesy of a goodbye. He was a fantastic hero that is easy to love right from the start. Extroverted, and the life of the party without being ridiculous or too silly. He revels in teasing Poppy and flustering her which almost always ended in a moment of awkward hilarity.
This is not the typical second chance romance where the hero becomes famous and the heroine has stars in her eyes over his fame and glamorous lifestyle. If you think that, you'll be wrong. Rather than feeling awe over her ex's career, it's actually a hindrance to their reconciliation. Poppy makes it abundantly clear that she despises football and the danger it poses to its players.
FOOTBALL IS THE SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE EQUIVALENT TO A CULT. It seems like tons of fun and everyone around you is an avid follower of the religion. Oops. I mean sport.
Fanatics idolize football players as god-like beings, and treat them as if they're incapable of feeling hurt over insensitive words. Martin's first-hand experience as a spouse of an NFL player lends authenticity to her heroines' feelings and challenges. We see examples of what it would be like for family members attending home games in the stadium. The toll that it takes when you have to witness your loved one injured and worry about the severity of the next hit they'll have to take.
I would say that the main conflict of the book revolves around this fear of Poppy's. She has done extensive reading on the brain disease called CTE-Chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This is a degenerative brain disease that's caused by repeated concussions or head trauma. She feels so strongly about the dangers of this to the players' health that she's firmly against her son's interest in the sport and won't budge on her refusal to let him play. Seeing TK out on the field scares her more than impresses her and it's not a simple roadblock for them to overcome.
There are other various things that crop up as they get to know one another again.
What I don’t know is, after all his time as a party boy, star football player supreme, if he’s ready to settle down. It might seem fun to play family man now, but how long until the novelty wears off and he wants his VIP club status back?
I loved the fact that he was all in in his pursuit of her right from the start, but that didn't mean that she was able to trust that things would work out this time around. Years had passed, and they were different people now. Could their love endure through shocking revelations and unexpected strain on their tenuous relationship? TK needed to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was in it for the long haul and that he was willing to put his new family first above all else.
Together, I thought Poppy and TK were adorable, charming, and intrinsically right for each other. Their separation as teens was caused by interference by a third party and a misunderstanding rather than any horrible action on either of their parts. When they reconnect, their love is as strong as ever, and the heat between them equally so. There was no doubt in my mind that they had the goods to remain strong partners and parents long term. There was minimal drama with a malicious person leaving threatening notes for Poppy, but it wasn't over the top. In the previous book there several moments where the heroine's safety was threatened to the point where it didn't feel entirely realistic. I was impressed with how it was toned down this time and didn't add anything unnecessary to the plot.
I simply love Martin's brand of humor and romance, and I think she's a new voice in the genre that will be around for a long time to come.
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April 23, 2019
Originally posted at Booklovers For Life
I was a huge fan of Alexa Martin’s debut novel, Intercepted, so when I heard she’d be writing more stories for the Denver Mustangs football team, I was ecstatic. And even more so when I discovered Fumbled would be a second chance romance, which is my go-to romance trope. Alexa Martin did not disappoint with this second novel – I love the way she writes tough, independent heroines, and the heroes who will do anything for them!
Poppy Patterson is a single mother whose life revolves around her beloved son. She’s worked hard to provide for them both, and she couldn’t be prouder of Ace. She’s built a good life for the two of them, but when her high school sweetheart, and the man who got her pregnant, shows back up in her life, all of the feelings she thought she’d moved on from come crashing back. She wants her son to have his father in his life, but will she be able to protect her heart from TK Moore this second time around?
TK is living the football dream he’s always wanted for himself. There’s just one thing missing, and he realizes what it is when he discovers Poppy and Ace – his family. There are secrets that need to be aired out, but bottom line, TK wants to be a part of his family’s life. Where Poppy is rightfully wary and hesitant to restart their relationship, TK goes all in with helping and providing for his family. He’s determined to win Poppy’s heart, and being the big sweetheart that he is, Poppy has no chance of guarding her heart from him.
While I liked TK, Poppy was what made the story for me in Fumbled. I admired the hell out of this woman, who created an amazing life for her and her child on her own. She’s smart, funny, head-strong, and an incredible mother. I was also impressed with the way the author chose to portray football, which is not always about money and glory. Poppy knows the dangers and risks that come with this professional sport and has important discussions with TK and Ace about it.
Fumbled is another fantastic sports romance from a romance author who knows how to write, and write well. There’s a good setup within this book for the next couple in the Playbook series, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.
Amazon Ebook: https://amzn.to/2ITcmIj
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2Uzz2iT
Audible: https://amzn.to/2DuAzkR
Liked this review? Subscribe to Booklovers For Life for more!
I was a huge fan of Alexa Martin’s debut novel, Intercepted, so when I heard she’d be writing more stories for the Denver Mustangs football team, I was ecstatic. And even more so when I discovered Fumbled would be a second chance romance, which is my go-to romance trope. Alexa Martin did not disappoint with this second novel – I love the way she writes tough, independent heroines, and the heroes who will do anything for them!
Poppy Patterson is a single mother whose life revolves around her beloved son. She’s worked hard to provide for them both, and she couldn’t be prouder of Ace. She’s built a good life for the two of them, but when her high school sweetheart, and the man who got her pregnant, shows back up in her life, all of the feelings she thought she’d moved on from come crashing back. She wants her son to have his father in his life, but will she be able to protect her heart from TK Moore this second time around?
TK is living the football dream he’s always wanted for himself. There’s just one thing missing, and he realizes what it is when he discovers Poppy and Ace – his family. There are secrets that need to be aired out, but bottom line, TK wants to be a part of his family’s life. Where Poppy is rightfully wary and hesitant to restart their relationship, TK goes all in with helping and providing for his family. He’s determined to win Poppy’s heart, and being the big sweetheart that he is, Poppy has no chance of guarding her heart from him.
While I liked TK, Poppy was what made the story for me in Fumbled. I admired the hell out of this woman, who created an amazing life for her and her child on her own. She’s smart, funny, head-strong, and an incredible mother. I was also impressed with the way the author chose to portray football, which is not always about money and glory. Poppy knows the dangers and risks that come with this professional sport and has important discussions with TK and Ace about it.
Fumbled is another fantastic sports romance from a romance author who knows how to write, and write well. There’s a good setup within this book for the next couple in the Playbook series, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.
Amazon Ebook: https://amzn.to/2ITcmIj
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2Uzz2iT
Audible: https://amzn.to/2DuAzkR
Liked this review? Subscribe to Booklovers For Life for more!
July 24, 2022
This was nothing like the first book. Here we have a perfect romance right out of the box with no build up, no chemistry, no nothing. And a heroine who does one inexplicable thing after another. I never understood her motivations and everything was just dumb.
The entire opening premise was completely wrong . And later, when we reach our conflict, she walks away because insert most absurd argument here.
The main point of this book was to discuss the brain damage done to American football players with every tackle. I'm not entirely sure what the author's take-home message was though. It sounded like no one should play football. And that's probably a wise message, but out of place? Unrealistic? Preaching to the choir?
The entire opening premise was completely wrong . And later, when we reach our conflict, she walks away because insert most absurd argument here.
The main point of this book was to discuss the brain damage done to American football players with every tackle. I'm not entirely sure what the author's take-home message was though. It sounded like no one should play football. And that's probably a wise message, but out of place? Unrealistic? Preaching to the choir?
December 4, 2019
This shit was the absolute cutest thing ever! Firstly I love Alexa Martin and she might be my new favorite football romance writer hands down. She takes the glamor and makes it real and she never hides the ugly side, she’s really honest with the ramifications of playing football.
Poppy was an amazing leading lady, Ace was the sweetest thing ever and TK was as ever my baby. This trio seriously warmed every inch of my heart and I couldn’t be happier after closing the book.
Poppy was an amazing leading lady, Ace was the sweetest thing ever and TK was as ever my baby. This trio seriously warmed every inch of my heart and I couldn’t be happier after closing the book.
January 6, 2020
I received this from the publisher and Netgalley In exchange for my honest review. This was such a cute funny book. It kept me entertained throughout and the friend group she had was amazing. The romance was wonderful. It all came together perfectly!
March 28, 2021
The books in this series are pretty easy to read in a day or two and I like that the author incorporates her experience as a WAG in these books. We see the drama that goes on behind the scenes with the players and their significant others. The problem with Fumbled was that it felt too much like Intercepted and the relationship just happened way too fast.
Fumbled is set in the same town, both have white footballers from their past come back into their lives, both have random threats of danger as a convenient way to live with these men, both work for Brynn, both have hating white rivals. I didn't even realize TK was in the first book until I went back and looked because someone else told me. How is he suddenly the fan fave of the team?
Poppy didn't have Marlee's wit. She was often a spiraling wreck who acted like a teen girl when having to confront her feelings about anything. I hate secret baby stories because they always have the woman lying for years while acting like the man doesn't have a right to be angry for more than five minutes. Plus they just easily fell right back into being a couple after that drama was out of the way.
I did enjoy the discussion of CTE but wished it hadn't been so tacked on towards the end because it felt very rushed.
Fumbled is set in the same town, both have white footballers from their past come back into their lives, both have random threats of danger as a convenient way to live with these men, both work for Brynn, both have hating white rivals. I didn't even realize TK was in the first book until I went back and looked because someone else told me. How is he suddenly the fan fave of the team?
Poppy didn't have Marlee's wit. She was often a spiraling wreck who acted like a teen girl when having to confront her feelings about anything. I hate secret baby stories because they always have the woman lying for years while acting like the man doesn't have a right to be angry for more than five minutes. Plus they just easily fell right back into being a couple after that drama was out of the way.
I did enjoy the discussion of CTE but wished it hadn't been so tacked on towards the end because it felt very rushed.
April 14, 2019
What a fun read! Alexa Martin's debut romance, Intercepted, was a great read and I had high hopes for Fumbled. I'm happy to say that Fumbled was even better than Intercepted for me. I can't say I'm surprised, however. After all, it does have one of my favorite tropes of second chance romance. :)
Poppy, the heroine, was the real MVP. I loved her so much! She was witty, funny, and brave. She had a great engaging personality and I found myself very easily warming up to her. She's had a bit of a rough life with getting pregnant at 16 and having to raise her son on her own. She didn't let anything get her down, however. She wanted to give her son, Ace, the best upbringing that she could and she did everything to make sure that his needs and happiness were met. Poppy really was an extraordinarily fierce woman who would do anything for her son. Poppy works as a waitress at a cabaret-style nightclub where she stumbles upon TK one night. TK also happens to be her baby daddy. Talk about drama!
I have to say, I was fairly enamored by TK at first glance, but when he refused to believe that he is Ace's father, I really wanted to get inside the book and whoop the dumbass. He eventually does make up for his reaction and trust me, the groveling made the whole situation worth it. He was a soft, but gruff guy who was head over heels in love with Poppy. It was sweet just how devoted to her and Ace he was. I loved watching him bond with Ace especially. It was too much for my heart to take in! The chemistry and romance between Poppy and TK were also very well-written. I love a good second chance romance and Alexa Martin definitely did the trope justice with Fumbled. I also liked how relatively drama-free this book was. Yes, there were obstacles to their relationship, but they weren't unbelievable. More than I loved the romance, I loved the female friendships here. Poppy gets to be part of the WAGs and the way the women embraced Poppy into their group made me so happy. Fumbled also delved into the realities of sports injuries and football as a career. I appreciated the insight that Alexa Martin provided.
Fumbled is proof that Alexa Martin is an author to watch out. Her voice is fresh, funny, and her stories romantic. I can't wait to see what she has stored up her sleeves for her readers!
Poppy, the heroine, was the real MVP. I loved her so much! She was witty, funny, and brave. She had a great engaging personality and I found myself very easily warming up to her. She's had a bit of a rough life with getting pregnant at 16 and having to raise her son on her own. She didn't let anything get her down, however. She wanted to give her son, Ace, the best upbringing that she could and she did everything to make sure that his needs and happiness were met. Poppy really was an extraordinarily fierce woman who would do anything for her son. Poppy works as a waitress at a cabaret-style nightclub where she stumbles upon TK one night. TK also happens to be her baby daddy. Talk about drama!
I have to say, I was fairly enamored by TK at first glance, but when he refused to believe that he is Ace's father, I really wanted to get inside the book and whoop the dumbass. He eventually does make up for his reaction and trust me, the groveling made the whole situation worth it. He was a soft, but gruff guy who was head over heels in love with Poppy. It was sweet just how devoted to her and Ace he was. I loved watching him bond with Ace especially. It was too much for my heart to take in! The chemistry and romance between Poppy and TK were also very well-written. I love a good second chance romance and Alexa Martin definitely did the trope justice with Fumbled. I also liked how relatively drama-free this book was. Yes, there were obstacles to their relationship, but they weren't unbelievable. More than I loved the romance, I loved the female friendships here. Poppy gets to be part of the WAGs and the way the women embraced Poppy into their group made me so happy. Fumbled also delved into the realities of sports injuries and football as a career. I appreciated the insight that Alexa Martin provided.
Fumbled is proof that Alexa Martin is an author to watch out. Her voice is fresh, funny, and her stories romantic. I can't wait to see what she has stored up her sleeves for her readers!
January 13, 2021
3 stars
It took me longer than normal to finish this despite the book being not that long, the reason being how disjointed the story felt. It would have been a great story if the book followed one plot rather than multiple ones to just end all those plots with a flap. The author attempted to take the story in a thriller type of way but end it with a nonsense basic explanation ??? I’m confused to why she introduce that part at all! Also I felt like she didn’t truly dedicate the story around CTE that happens to football players because of concussions, she just scratched the surface. I left the story with more questions than answers.
Although, I kind of like the romance and characters, the female character, Poppy looks was barely described while TK (the love interest) looks were the only thing we truly know about him. This book could have benefited greatly if it had dual POV. We could have known more about TK deeper than his looks. Also while we are discussing looks, Am I the only one who found it difficult to imagine what their Ace looks like??
Anyway the story was decent enough and I’m a sucker for second chance romance so 3 stars is all this book will get from me.
It took me longer than normal to finish this despite the book being not that long, the reason being how disjointed the story felt. It would have been a great story if the book followed one plot rather than multiple ones to just end all those plots with a flap. The author attempted to take the story in a thriller type of way but end it with a nonsense basic explanation ??? I’m confused to why she introduce that part at all! Also I felt like she didn’t truly dedicate the story around CTE that happens to football players because of concussions, she just scratched the surface. I left the story with more questions than answers.
Although, I kind of like the romance and characters, the female character, Poppy looks was barely described while TK (the love interest) looks were the only thing we truly know about him. This book could have benefited greatly if it had dual POV. We could have known more about TK deeper than his looks. Also while we are discussing looks, Am I the only one who found it difficult to imagine what their Ace looks like??
Anyway the story was decent enough and I’m a sucker for second chance romance so 3 stars is all this book will get from me.
September 19, 2019
Again, another good book by Alexa Martin. Poppy is a fierce and strong character. She does tend to run a little on the stubborn side but it was all for love. And TK was a great character as well, we could see he clearly cared for Poppy and he adored Ace. Seeing all of their relationship blossom throughout the book made me fuzzy inside. I loved how Ace grew to adore TK and Poppy making friends with the NFL wives. And of course, the romance was sizzling between Poppy and TK. Super content with this read. Highly recommend.
March 14, 2019
The second book in the Playbook series delivers the same smart, snappy writing and multi-dimensional, easy to love characters as the first. I'm so thrilled to have taken a chance on Alexa Martin's writing, because these books are everything for my sappy little football loving heart.
I loved the set-up in Fumbled. Single mom/secret baby and wildly beloved NFL wide receiver? Yes, I was on board, and sucked in immediately. The first part of this book is very strong. I might have liked a little more angst in the reconnection of Poppy and TK, and I definitely would have liked more closure on the events, and the relationships with people from their past - but even despite those two issues, I loved them and their rocky, heartfelt story.
The mix of playful, flirtation, sexy time, and far deeper emotional connection is practically perfect. There are some serious, ripped from the headlines issues addressed in this story and Ms. Martin did not shy away from them. It was interesting, and heartbreaking to witness this fantastic couple navigate these tricky emotional and physical landmines - factor in a child with a mega case of hero worship - and there were moments that left me gutted. However, plenty of other moments that caused my heart to soar and flutter. Like I said, the balance here is well done and I enjoyed it so much.
Usually in sports romance I rave on and on about the bromance. I have even said that the bromance is the best part of most sports romances. There's not much of that here. Instead, Ms. Martin has turned this idea on its head and delivered a hilarious, heartwarming, and completely satisfying sisterhood. In this case? The sisterhood is the best part of this sports romance and y'all, it is fantastic. I loved these ladies something fierce and am hoping to get more time with them in future releases!
In all? Ms. Martin appears to be hitting her stride in her follow-up to Intercepted and I am now enthusiastically and happily along for the ride with this series. I loved this second chance romance and cannot wait for more to come! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
I loved the set-up in Fumbled. Single mom/secret baby and wildly beloved NFL wide receiver? Yes, I was on board, and sucked in immediately. The first part of this book is very strong. I might have liked a little more angst in the reconnection of Poppy and TK, and I definitely would have liked more closure on the events, and the relationships with people from their past - but even despite those two issues, I loved them and their rocky, heartfelt story.
The mix of playful, flirtation, sexy time, and far deeper emotional connection is practically perfect. There are some serious, ripped from the headlines issues addressed in this story and Ms. Martin did not shy away from them. It was interesting, and heartbreaking to witness this fantastic couple navigate these tricky emotional and physical landmines - factor in a child with a mega case of hero worship - and there were moments that left me gutted. However, plenty of other moments that caused my heart to soar and flutter. Like I said, the balance here is well done and I enjoyed it so much.
Usually in sports romance I rave on and on about the bromance. I have even said that the bromance is the best part of most sports romances. There's not much of that here. Instead, Ms. Martin has turned this idea on its head and delivered a hilarious, heartwarming, and completely satisfying sisterhood. In this case? The sisterhood is the best part of this sports romance and y'all, it is fantastic. I loved these ladies something fierce and am hoping to get more time with them in future releases!
In all? Ms. Martin appears to be hitting her stride in her follow-up to Intercepted and I am now enthusiastically and happily along for the ride with this series. I loved this second chance romance and cannot wait for more to come! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
April 15, 2019
(free review copy) LOVED IT. Alexa Martin is now on my list of must-read authors, with her second book being even more delectable than her first. Fierce, strong, hilarious and smart female leads with men who worship them - SO GOOD. I loved how little drama and angst this story had, and it cements my theory that I care zero about football unless it’s in an empowering romance story.
This is 2nd in a series and while it has different main characters I would still recommend reading Intercepted first since that storyline is mentioned in this one. And it’s amazing, so why skip it???
This is 2nd in a series and while it has different main characters I would still recommend reading Intercepted first since that storyline is mentioned in this one. And it’s amazing, so why skip it???
July 7, 2019
ARC from the publisher
4.5 stars
Fumbled is book two in Alexa Martin's Playbook series, and having read and enjoyed Intercepted by this author, I knew I was in for a good time. Yes, I loved the romance in this book, but the way this author writes her female friend groups is so much fun! I would love to be friends with Poppy and her gal pals. I love the support they give each other and the fact that even though some of these friendships are brand new, they'd already go to the wall for each other. I also loved that there was no judgment there - they welcomed Poppy’s eccentric friend right into their fold without blinking.
So...Poppy and TK - man I loved them so hard. It was clear they had a past, and the author covered it, but I never felt like it was relied on to solidify their current connection. (Aside from the fact that they never got over each other.) They were a lot of fun together, and I like that they pushed each other out of their comfort zones. I also like that when Poppy shared certain things with TK, his first instinct was to believe her. I think a lot of authors would have (and realistically could have) gone the other way, but this author didn’t and for me, it made Poppy and TK more solid. Also, I loved Poppy’s relationship with her son. They adored each other, and they had their little daily traditions that were so sweet. She was such a wonderful mother and worked hard to give him a good life. All their interactions were just so perfect. As for TK, the repercussions of playing football were front and center in this book, and this is just one more reason why TK is so perfect. He makes tough decisions and weighs Poppy’s concerns once he has time to think about them. He was very driven and successful, but those things didn’t cloud his judgment. He really wanted to do what was best for everyone involved, no matter what the cost.
There was a trope used in this book that, when used, walks a really fine line. Not all authors can pull this off successfully, but Alexa Martin really did. The way the whole thing played out was a clustery mess, and Poppy’s reactions and reservations were so credible and you just felt for her. I was cheering her on throughout this whole book and wanted her to get her happily ever after.
I have just a few gripes - #1, I think the storyline with TK’s mother could have and should have been a more prominent part of this story. I wanted her to get the comeuppance she so deserved. Two, there was a storyline that came out of nowhere about halfway through the book that never felt fleshed out, and I think the story would have been better without it. Lastly, I feel like the ending here was a bit shaky, and I felt the same with Intercepted. Having said that, I’m willing to ride out this series and read anything this author writes; I think maybe she is finding her footing, and the journey these characters go on and the relationships they forge make the reads so worth it. Overall, I loved Poppy and TK’s story, and found it nearly impossible to put down; Fumbled was just so much fun, and if you’re a fan of sports romance, you have to pick this one up!
This review was originally posted on Books & Beauty Are My Bag.
4.5 stars
Fumbled is book two in Alexa Martin's Playbook series, and having read and enjoyed Intercepted by this author, I knew I was in for a good time. Yes, I loved the romance in this book, but the way this author writes her female friend groups is so much fun! I would love to be friends with Poppy and her gal pals. I love the support they give each other and the fact that even though some of these friendships are brand new, they'd already go to the wall for each other. I also loved that there was no judgment there - they welcomed Poppy’s eccentric friend right into their fold without blinking.
So...Poppy and TK - man I loved them so hard. It was clear they had a past, and the author covered it, but I never felt like it was relied on to solidify their current connection. (Aside from the fact that they never got over each other.) They were a lot of fun together, and I like that they pushed each other out of their comfort zones. I also like that when Poppy shared certain things with TK, his first instinct was to believe her. I think a lot of authors would have (and realistically could have) gone the other way, but this author didn’t and for me, it made Poppy and TK more solid. Also, I loved Poppy’s relationship with her son. They adored each other, and they had their little daily traditions that were so sweet. She was such a wonderful mother and worked hard to give him a good life. All their interactions were just so perfect. As for TK, the repercussions of playing football were front and center in this book, and this is just one more reason why TK is so perfect. He makes tough decisions and weighs Poppy’s concerns once he has time to think about them. He was very driven and successful, but those things didn’t cloud his judgment. He really wanted to do what was best for everyone involved, no matter what the cost.
There was a trope used in this book that, when used, walks a really fine line. Not all authors can pull this off successfully, but Alexa Martin really did. The way the whole thing played out was a clustery mess, and Poppy’s reactions and reservations were so credible and you just felt for her. I was cheering her on throughout this whole book and wanted her to get her happily ever after.
I have just a few gripes - #1, I think the storyline with TK’s mother could have and should have been a more prominent part of this story. I wanted her to get the comeuppance she so deserved. Two, there was a storyline that came out of nowhere about halfway through the book that never felt fleshed out, and I think the story would have been better without it. Lastly, I feel like the ending here was a bit shaky, and I felt the same with Intercepted. Having said that, I’m willing to ride out this series and read anything this author writes; I think maybe she is finding her footing, and the journey these characters go on and the relationships they forge make the reads so worth it. Overall, I loved Poppy and TK’s story, and found it nearly impossible to put down; Fumbled was just so much fun, and if you’re a fan of sports romance, you have to pick this one up!
This review was originally posted on Books & Beauty Are My Bag.
July 28, 2019
Intercepted was one of my surprise favorites of last year, and the only reason it took me this long to read Fumbled is because I read some mixed reviews and I didn’t want to be disappointed by the author. I finally decided to pick it up and thanks to my much lowered expectations, it turned out to be an okay read.
The author impressed me a lot in her debut because the characters were well fleshed out and the plot was both deep and entertaining. That same spark was missing a bit in this sophomore attempt. While I do like the second chance romance trope because it can make for some good angst, there wasn’t that much of it here. The issues never felt more than superficial, everything getting resolved a bit too quickly and not letting the emotions build up in me as a reader. The pacing of the story felt too rushed, so I wasn’t feeling convinced by anything that was happening. I guess I just wanted the characters to breathe and think a little before jumping headlong into every decision. There were also multiple subplots like the stalker and evil mother which added nothing to the story and weren’t resolved properly. The one good thing I liked which had some proper emphasis was about the consequences of playing a sport like football and how repeated head injuries can lead to long term brain related ailments like CTE, but I definitely would have enjoyed more if this aspect was a little more fleshed out.
Poppy is a very fierce and sassy protagonist and I mostly liked her. She is a hard working single mom who is doing everything she can to give a good upbringing for her child and I admired her for it. She also never takes any bullshit and stands up for herself, which reminded me a bit of Marlee. But when it comes to TK, she became a totally different person. TK is a great guy and wants to be involved in his son’s life completely and I liked him a lot for it. But the author was not able to convince me why it was so easy for them to get together immediately despite a decade long separation. While I was totally rooting for the family to be together, I think the couple never took enough time to get to know each other better after all these years.
Ace is an adorable little nine year old, appropriately mischievous for his age but also very well sorted and polite on other occasions. I loved his relationship with his mother and the easy way he bonded with his dad. But I definitely would have liked to see more of the three of them together. The girl gang in this book is amazing too with some new additions. Sadie and Vonnie are both dramatic af but they brought a lot of laughs to the proceedings and I liked that Poppy was able to find her own tribe whom she could rely on for support. And I’m very very excited that the next book is going to be about the amazing Brynn.
While this book turn out to be as fun as it’s predecessor, it’s still an okay one time read. You can definitely give it a try if you like a second chance romance with a secret baby trope. I thought the book was kinda rushed but I didn’t get bored and I’m definitely looking forward to the final book of the trilogy.
The author impressed me a lot in her debut because the characters were well fleshed out and the plot was both deep and entertaining. That same spark was missing a bit in this sophomore attempt. While I do like the second chance romance trope because it can make for some good angst, there wasn’t that much of it here. The issues never felt more than superficial, everything getting resolved a bit too quickly and not letting the emotions build up in me as a reader. The pacing of the story felt too rushed, so I wasn’t feeling convinced by anything that was happening. I guess I just wanted the characters to breathe and think a little before jumping headlong into every decision. There were also multiple subplots like the stalker and evil mother which added nothing to the story and weren’t resolved properly. The one good thing I liked which had some proper emphasis was about the consequences of playing a sport like football and how repeated head injuries can lead to long term brain related ailments like CTE, but I definitely would have enjoyed more if this aspect was a little more fleshed out.
Poppy is a very fierce and sassy protagonist and I mostly liked her. She is a hard working single mom who is doing everything she can to give a good upbringing for her child and I admired her for it. She also never takes any bullshit and stands up for herself, which reminded me a bit of Marlee. But when it comes to TK, she became a totally different person. TK is a great guy and wants to be involved in his son’s life completely and I liked him a lot for it. But the author was not able to convince me why it was so easy for them to get together immediately despite a decade long separation. While I was totally rooting for the family to be together, I think the couple never took enough time to get to know each other better after all these years.
Ace is an adorable little nine year old, appropriately mischievous for his age but also very well sorted and polite on other occasions. I loved his relationship with his mother and the easy way he bonded with his dad. But I definitely would have liked to see more of the three of them together. The girl gang in this book is amazing too with some new additions. Sadie and Vonnie are both dramatic af but they brought a lot of laughs to the proceedings and I liked that Poppy was able to find her own tribe whom she could rely on for support. And I’m very very excited that the next book is going to be about the amazing Brynn.
While this book turn out to be as fun as it’s predecessor, it’s still an okay one time read. You can definitely give it a try if you like a second chance romance with a secret baby trope. I thought the book was kinda rushed but I didn’t get bored and I’m definitely looking forward to the final book of the trilogy.
December 7, 2019
Sport romance
Second chance
Secret child
Any original storyline on the list above, you think?
No? Yeah it’s a no.
However, I read this book till finished and only break few times and continue to read it again till the end. That’s a compliment, after I tried to read more than 10 books this week, and dropped them after few early chapters, they just couldn’t hold my interest! 🙄🤨😫
This hero is none of those mean heroes who got mad to heroine regarding their child like many in other similar story. Also, even thought he was a manwhore during their separation, yeah I know it’s a sport romance, remember? 🙄 This heroine wasn’t an angel either! 😘😂
And what I liked most, it’s the hero decision regarding his career.
Now, that was special and I didn’t read often in Sport Football Romance.
❤️
Second chance
Secret child
Any original storyline on the list above, you think?
No? Yeah it’s a no.
However, I read this book till finished and only break few times and continue to read it again till the end. That’s a compliment, after I tried to read more than 10 books this week, and dropped them after few early chapters, they just couldn’t hold my interest! 🙄🤨😫
This hero is none of those mean heroes who got mad to heroine regarding their child like many in other similar story. Also, even thought he was a manwhore during their separation, yeah I know it’s a sport romance, remember? 🙄 This heroine wasn’t an angel either! 😘😂
And what I liked most, it’s the hero decision regarding his career.
Now, that was special and I didn’t read often in Sport Football Romance.
❤️
April 23, 2019
★4 STARS★
Running into your significant ex can be awkward at the best of times, but when your ex is an NFL star TK Moore who happens upon you at your waitressing gig at a strip club; it’s safe to say the awkwardness goes off the Richter scale.
As shocked as Poppy Patterson is, she’s thrown by his excitement at seeing her. As far as she is concerned they ended acrimoniously, and after raising their son alone for the last nine years, the excitement is certainly not reciprocated.
She’s not the pregnant and heartbroken sixteen year old girl she once was. She’s strong, hardworking and an exemplary mother to her son, and because of that, she decides to give TK a second chance at being a dad.
My love for TK was instant, but his knee jerk reaction to Poppy’s news cast a temporary shadow on the affection I had for him. Once his shock passed my admiration was back with a vengeance as we saw him navigate fatherhood and make know his hope to start anew with Poppy.
After the success of INTERCEPTED it was a given that Alexa Martin would added to my roster of auto authors. I enjoyed the sense of fun and easy readability she offered, and the added bonus of it being a sport romance was more than I cared to resist.
I was sure I would be in safe hands when it came to her sophomore novel FUMBLED, and with second chance romance a particular favourite trope of mine, I was not surprised she once again scored a winning touchdown of a read.
April 21, 2019
4 Stars / 2 Steam Fans
I loved this new installment into the Playbook family. Poppy and TK had a relationship when they were in high school but secrets and lies tore them apart for 10 years. Poppy becomes a single parent and TK becomes a famous football player until they meet again one night. I liked that this story had some focus on the wives and girlfriends connected to the football league but mainly focused on Poppy and TK's relationship and things that they were journeying through. There was too much focus on TK's physical appearance and at times the plot direction seemed to just fall off. Otherwise, I really, really enjoyed this book and look forward to more books by Alexa Martin!
This specific video review will be included in the April 2019 wrap-up.
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
I loved this new installment into the Playbook family. Poppy and TK had a relationship when they were in high school but secrets and lies tore them apart for 10 years. Poppy becomes a single parent and TK becomes a famous football player until they meet again one night. I liked that this story had some focus on the wives and girlfriends connected to the football league but mainly focused on Poppy and TK's relationship and things that they were journeying through. There was too much focus on TK's physical appearance and at times the plot direction seemed to just fall off. Otherwise, I really, really enjoyed this book and look forward to more books by Alexa Martin!
This specific video review will be included in the April 2019 wrap-up.
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
December 30, 2019
This is second in a series, though you can read it on its own if you like. You have some bleed-over characters, but not in any important way and you wouldn't really miss anything if you skip to this one first.
I'm glad to see that Martin was able to give Poppy her own distinct narrative voice and that it was as effective in this story as Marlee's in the first. The characterization problem manifests as well, however, though at least in a much milder way.
I was drawn in to Poppy from the start and really liked her determination and dedication to her son. I like that she has support but that she isn't afraid to buckle up and get the job done even when her plans get blown out of the water by some unforeseen event. And I loved her interactions with her son, Ace. Martin does well depicting him as a believable nine year-old and that's harder than it looks.
And she does a decent job with TK, too. I love the competent guy who loves to take care of those in his orbit and I liked how conscientious he is. I particularly liked that he didn't seem to have a condescending bone in his body and that he was willing to meet Poppy as much as she would let him.
Unfortunately, this turns out to be an "issue" book and I kind of hate that happening in my romance stories. Since an issue book has to deal with an extraordinary circumstance (because while most people have "an issue" or two, any given thing that can be an issue is going to be rare), it is easy to feel the heavy hand of the author picking on the characters to make her characters miserable/sad/lonely/dead/whatever. And since Martin made chronic traumatic encephalopathy the issue, that's even more the case than usual. We're still in our diagnostic infancy with CTE and Martin kind of larded symptoms on for poor TK so that he not only had them all, he had them noticeably and severe enough that diagnosis was a near certainty—which is part of the problem as CTE is notoriously impossible to diagnose in the living. So it isn't a terribly convincing or realistic look at the issue, either, particularly considering that TK hadn't had a history of having his head knocked around and we even learn that his first concussion happens in this book.
TK's CTE can be seen as another stumble with characterization, but Poppy's late-story fatalism is the bigger example of the author tacking things on that aren't supported by prior setup. Poppy has taken the (emotional) hits, so some pessimism is probably justified. But her undermining every happy moment with TK with felt gratuitous and frustrating. It's one of those negative motivations* that stop plot dead and prevent our girl from complete commitment even though we can tell that she's emotionally all-in.
In the end, this is a stronger story than the first, though it's still a bit rocky for my taste. I do like the strong leading women so far, weak characterization/motivations aside. This one is stronger-enough that I'm taking the 3½ stars and rounding up to four. At least some of that is managing a second-chance romance that actually works and felt present and real and that's no small thing, either.
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes putting this in the middle of my steam tolerance. It's all romancey sex, so not terribly relevant in any sense of story or character development (which is my fancy-pants way of saying "gratuitous", I suppose).
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work, here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
I'm glad to see that Martin was able to give Poppy her own distinct narrative voice and that it was as effective in this story as Marlee's in the first. The characterization problem manifests as well, however, though at least in a much milder way.
I was drawn in to Poppy from the start and really liked her determination and dedication to her son. I like that she has support but that she isn't afraid to buckle up and get the job done even when her plans get blown out of the water by some unforeseen event. And I loved her interactions with her son, Ace. Martin does well depicting him as a believable nine year-old and that's harder than it looks.
And she does a decent job with TK, too. I love the competent guy who loves to take care of those in his orbit and I liked how conscientious he is. I particularly liked that he didn't seem to have a condescending bone in his body and that he was willing to meet Poppy as much as she would let him.
Unfortunately, this turns out to be an "issue" book and I kind of hate that happening in my romance stories. Since an issue book has to deal with an extraordinary circumstance (because while most people have "an issue" or two, any given thing that can be an issue is going to be rare), it is easy to feel the heavy hand of the author picking on the characters to make her characters miserable/sad/lonely/dead/whatever. And since Martin made chronic traumatic encephalopathy the issue, that's even more the case than usual. We're still in our diagnostic infancy with CTE and Martin kind of larded symptoms on for poor TK so that he not only had them all, he had them noticeably and severe enough that diagnosis was a near certainty—which is part of the problem as CTE is notoriously impossible to diagnose in the living. So it isn't a terribly convincing or realistic look at the issue, either, particularly considering that TK hadn't had a history of having his head knocked around and we even learn that his first concussion happens in this book.
TK's CTE can be seen as another stumble with characterization, but Poppy's late-story fatalism is the bigger example of the author tacking things on that aren't supported by prior setup. Poppy has taken the (emotional) hits, so some pessimism is probably justified. But her undermining every happy moment with TK with felt gratuitous and frustrating. It's one of those negative motivations* that stop plot dead and prevent our girl from complete commitment even though we can tell that she's emotionally all-in.
In the end, this is a stronger story than the first, though it's still a bit rocky for my taste. I do like the strong leading women so far, weak characterization/motivations aside. This one is stronger-enough that I'm taking the 3½ stars and rounding up to four. At least some of that is managing a second-chance romance that actually works and felt present and real and that's no small thing, either.
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes putting this in the middle of my steam tolerance. It's all romancey sex, so not terribly relevant in any sense of story or character development (which is my fancy-pants way of saying "gratuitous", I suppose).
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work, here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
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