This book is centered around a common romance novel trope. Single mom, secret child. Poppy became a single mother at sixteen, while the love of her life, TK, went on to live his dream as professional football player, who didn't know what became of the girl he loved, or that he was father. Coincidence draws them back to each other's lives and back together again. Soon, they are functioning as a family. This book is very fast pace, but I didn’t think it evolved or flowed smoothly. The conflicts, between the two main characters were resolved and forgotten about rather quickly. Too quickly in some instances.

Overall, the book is entertaining, but I can’t give it more than 3 stars.

I adored the first book in Alexa Martin’s Playbook series, Intercepted, and I couldn’t wait to read the second, Fumbled. I’m happy to say that it was worth the wait, and it exceeded my high expectations. It’s a second-chance love story brimming with laugh-out-loud humor, fan-yourself-worthy sexy times and tender, emotional romance. Poppy and TK fell in love young and fell out of love hard when their relationship ended abruptly. They haven’t seen each other in ten years and TK doesn’t know that he’s a dad. They run into each other and discover they’ve never fallen out of love, but the secrets and lies between them threaten their reunion. Fumbled is the kind of book that you don’t want to end, and you can’t wait to read again.

Frolic on April 24.

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book after reading and loving Intercepted by this author. I love me a good second chance romance and this was a sign I needed to read. I have to say that this book has one particular trope that I don’t care for BUT the author was able to execute it in a way that I was able to enjoy. It wasn’t dragged out for the entire book and the reasoning was legit.

I really loved Poppy in this story. She was a strong single mother who did the best she could with the crappy hand she was dealt at such a young age.


T.K. took some time to grow on me after his initial reaction to Poppy’s news. I get that several years have passed and he was blindsided but still....that was no way to conduct yourself. I did love that he was able to redeem himself throughout the book. It was nice seeing him adjust to his new role and he was such a sweetheart.

Martin has created such a cast of characters that I’ve come to adore and wish were in my tribe. It was nice to see characters from the first book as well. I also liked that Martin touched on the seriousness of CTE in football without it coming off as a public service announcement. I look forward to reading “Blitzed” later this year! If you’re a fan of sport romance I highly recommend you reading this book/series.

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. They were so sexy together and had so much chemistry! 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 was a page-turner for me and I loved Poppy's humorous internal thoughts.
I loved it so much, I re-read her 1st book, Intercepted (standalone). I love Alexa's sense of humor.

These books were inspired by the eight years Alexa spent as an NFL wife.

I rated this story 4.5 Stars for the clever banter and the fact that I couldn't stop reading and when I had to, I couldn't wait to go back to it and find out what happened.

Poppy and T.K. Moore were high school sweethearts. T.K. is white, Poppy is bi-racial.
Sadly, even in this day in age when love should be love no matter the gender, race or religion it's still can be a factor in a relative's objection, but add in an unexpected pregnancy, and an upcoming long distance relationship and they had so many obstacles at such a young age.

They broke up before T.K. left for college - you find out why in the story.
Fast forward several years and Poppy accidentally runs into T.K. at her job dressed in her scantily clad uniform she is required to wear.
She doesn't tell him about their son, Ace right away and the anticipation of T.K.'s reaction had me speed reading to arrive at that part.
I loved how much Poppy loved their son and how true and loyal she was with her friends.
She was the right combination of feisty, sassy and soft


I loved T.K. in Intercepted and was glad he got his own book.

Who can't help falling in love with a man who says things like -

“You just showed me what was important in life. You gave me the purpose I’d been trying, unsuccessfully, to find in football.”

"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.”

I did want to shake him over one bone-head thing, but I got over it.
I'm easy that way. 😍

It's a 2nd-chance, surprise pregnancy, sports romance and I can’t wait to read whatever she writes in the future.
Alexa Martin has become an automatic one-click author for me

of 2018. I couldn't wait to get my hands on the follow up, Fumbled. I finally read it last week and it was everything I wanted and more.

Y'all know how much I love sports romance, right? Particularly football romance? The Playbook series has quickly become one of my favorite series and Alexa one of my go-to authors. I'm an avid football fan. (I think y'all know that, too.) I especially appreciate football romance when it's obvious the author knows the sport. It adds another level to the story and it's one I appreciate. But, I love all (or at least most) things football. There's a big difference between just making the hero an athlete and making the sport part of the story. What Alexa did was definitely the latter. While the second chance "secret" baby romance between Poppy and TK was fire, one of my favorite parts of the story was the honest look given at the safety of the game. Particularly with regards to CTE.

But, I'm getting a bit ahead of myself and I don't really want to spoil things for you. Just know you're going to get more than just romance with Fumbled. I mean, the romance is amazing, but there's so much more to this story. I loved Poppy and TK. They were both fantastic characters, even if I did spend some time side-eyeing TK for his reactions at times. Poppy was a bad ass, a fierce mom and a woman I'd love to call a friend. I was 100% Team Poppy. I loved her relationship with her and TK's son, Ace, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching TK get to know both of them. This whole book was addictive and I couldn't put it down once I started.

Fumbled was a fantastic follow up to Intercepted. It gave me the perfect combination of romance and reality, with plenty of swoons, laughs, sexy times and feels. I'm already anxiously awaiting the the third book, Blitzed. I can't wait for Maxwell and Brynn.

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.

As soon as I finished reading Intercepted I went and requested this one from Netgalley, I was So. Excited. Then when the approval came in I threw my TBR list out the window in order to read this one. The thing is, it didn't live up to the hype.
Does that mean it isn't a good book??? Heck no, techno, I just wasn't as enchanted with it as I was the first -- which would have been hard with all my internal hype too.

Poppy is a strong amazing character and her son Ace is so, so adorable. TK isn't who I thought he would be, which threw me for a loop. I thought he would be more goofy and carefree, but we didn't get that. Although, it is also brought up a bit and I appreciated the drama there. Brynn returns here and I gotta admit that she is stealing my heart.

This book is a bit more serious than the first. I don't remember laughing here, which is a HUGE change since I laughed all the time with the first book. I'm just trying to show why my expectations were off and how it might have affected my rating.

With Poppy and TK, I didn't feel a ton of chemistry. I think this is because they had so much in the past that they just picked right back up and didn't really do much on page. Plus, their relationship along with other aspects of the book just felt like it happened so... easily. Everything just fell into place, which ended up making some things feel anticlimatic. Not all relationships need drama, this is true, but I needed a bit more oomph.

Look, I still really enjoyed this book and I am so very excited to eventually read the third book featuring Brynn as the main character. I'm just hoping I'm not wrong with Maxwell's personality this time. If you liked the first book, I think you should give this one a try, just don't expect the same kind of story. Also, this can be read as a standalone -- Marlee and Gavin are mentioned, but knowing their story doesn't help with understanding this one.

Martin's sophomore novel is a fabulous follow up to Intercepted. I loved Poppy from the first page and came to love TK (and of course Ace) as well.

Fumbled is a second chance romance packed with heart, laughs, and a little mystery as well. Martin also tackles some tough subjects, and does so very well. Can't wait for the next in her series!

I have a lot of complicated feelings about this book. There were things I loved, things I didn’t, and a couple of things that I’m still not sure about. Second chance romances are absolutely, 100% my jam. If you mention anywhere in the blurb that the H/H have a past and are reconnecting I am 1000% more likely to hit the request and/or auto-buy button. As much as I enjoyed the first book in this series, Intercepted, I was even more excited for Fumbled simply because it was second chance.

I adored the heroine, Poppy. She is strong, resilient, and does what she needs to do to make sure her son is safe, secure, and feels loved everyday. There were times I felt she was a little judgy of some of the other women around her, but she also had some great women friendships that I enjoyed.

I still don’t know what I think about the hero, TK. He is supposed to be what I’m guessing is a bearded Clay Matthews (Green Bay Packers) look-a-like. At least that’s who came to mind when I was reading his description. At first he comes across as a dude who is completely surprised and excited to see his high-school girlfriend/first love for the first time in ten years. Then a few secrets come out and he turns into a dickhead. Then he kind of redeems himself and I don’t know if I really like him or am still angry with this behavior.

This couple reconnects after TK comes into the gentlemen’s club where Poppy works as a waitress. She doesn’t really want to see him again, because there is a huge secret that she’s hiding AND she’s still angry at him for cutting her out of his life when she told him she was pregnant. But eventually she must tell him about their son, even if she feels a sense of impending doom when she thinks about doing it.

Eventually they go out on a date and Poppy does tell him and she was right for worrying about his reaction because WHAT AN ASSHOLE. He yells at her, he accuses her of trying to stick him with her kid, he acts like a classic douchebag hero and I was so angry. But thank goodness Ace looks like a mini TK, because as soon as he sees his son for the first time he knows he’s his and Poppy was telling the truth. *eye roll emoji*

I will admit that after the way he acted when Poppy told him about their son and how TK’s mother treated her when she came to her for help it was hard for me to see him in a favorable light for most of the book. And even though the author did a wonderful job of diving deep into the long term effects of brain injuries and concussions in football I was still apprehensive about him. He does something at the end that had me cheering and happy for them as a couple, though. There is even a lovely HEA.

One of the very best things about this book was Ace. I loved him. He was drawn so well and I adored his relationship with his mother.

There is an external conflict involving a stalker that I felt was kind of unnecessary, but whatever. It brought out TK’s protective instincts and forced close proximity so I guess it did what it intended to do, but I do wish TK and Poppy were brought together in a different way.

In the end I enjoyed Fumbled very much and TK redeemed himself. This was a fast, fun read and I would definitely recommend. Brynn and Maxwell are up next in the third book in the series, Blitzed, which has a release date of December 3, 2019. This sounds like an enemies to lovers romance and I am super excited.

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.

Fumbled by Alexa Martin is the second story in her Playbook series about NFL players and the women who become their partners through the lows and highs of a professional football career.

Poppy Patterson and TK Moore might have been an item in high school, but their lives went in very different directions. TK went on to a successful football career through college and now he's playing wide receiver for the Denver Mustangs. Poppy, pregnant at 16 and believing that TK didn't want to be held back by a baby, ended up on her own as a single mother. Her son Ace has never known who his father is, but that's about to change.

A chance meeting with TK at a club where Poppy works as a waitress is something she's been both anticipating and dreading, knowing that living in the same city might bring them into each others sights again. And when she gets up the courage to tell him about Ace, his first reaction is angry disbelief. But once TK sees Ace and realizes Poppy is telling the truth, everything changes. He wants to be part of his son's life – and Poppy's too. Poppy's heart broke the first time she and TK were together. Can she forgive him and give them the second chance at happiness they deserve?

Secret baby alert! No secret to the reader though as it's clear from the start why Poppy is raising her son alone and also why TK isn't involved. TK has reasons for not believing Poppy when she tells him the story, and we quickly learn that there are circumstances that have kept them apart, but TK's sincere desire to be involved in Ace's life comes through immediately.

TK is a very likable and generous man, a hardworking football player and it's clear he's held a torch for Poppy that's never gone out. He wants to resume a relationship with Poppy but she is rightfully cautious. She's had to make her own way most of the time (with some help from her aunt) and is a fierce mama bear when it comes to her son. I loved her character, her feisty nature and her internal monologue is laugh out loud funny. She's wary of TK's wealth and taking advantage of it, and stands her ground when it comes to not uprooting Ace from the life he knows now, his home and school and friends.

The rekindling of the romance between TK and Poppy is a slow burn affair, with Poppy taking her time to decide if it's really what she wants. But when they do reconnect, they share some sexy scenes. Poppy has never been in the world of professional football so part of the story is her and Ace becoming part of the 'wives and girlfriends' scene and Poppy makes some new female friends that help her navigate her new role. I thoroughly enjoyed the girlfriend scenes too – the author has a great voice for female characters and the story is told all from Poppy's point of view.

But with the reality of sports injuries becoming increasingly visible, the author doesn't shy away from that aspect of the sport. Poppy has kept her son out of football because of her concerns over brain injuries. Though TK would like to deny it, he has bouts of irrational anger that Poppy believes are due to the concussions he's had playing the game, and when she and Ace witness some hard hits during TK's on-field plays she tells her concerns to TK. She makes it clear that her son won't be following in his father's footsteps, despite his obvious aptitude for the game. Poppy makes TK consider his career in a new light and make some tough choices.

Whether you are a football fan or not, there's much to enjoy about this story. There's a depth of understanding of the sport and what goes on behind the scenes for the partners of the players that make it a realistic read (no surprise, since the author has personal experience in this regard). There's a delightful and sexy second chance romance for a couple who are clearly compatible equals and parents learning to become a real family unit. And their son is a joyful boisterous nine year old thrilled to have a Dad, a boy who steals all his on page scenes. The combination of serious and laugh out loud funny makes for a wholly entertaining read. I'm looking forward to the next in the series!

This review has been posted at Harlequin Junkie and feedback updated with the link.

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.”

I was approved for Fumbled before I read Intercepted. But as a result of my friends speaking so many high praises, I purchased and read Intercepted first. And what I’ve noticed from reading both stories now, is that Alexa Martin writes stories with real and tangible characters.

I haven’t connected to a character like this in a while, and I am so thankful for it.

I originally read these stories for the fun and lovely romance, but I walked away with a completely elevated experience. You may ask me, Michelle, what are you talking about? and let me tell you, I loved every moment of this reading experience.

Fumbled is about TK Moore, all-star wide receiver for the Denver Mustangs. He made his appearance in Intercepted, and he was the cute and adorable boy-next-door if you added over 6 feet tall and described in a really cute way. TK is sweet and proper, and you’d want him on your side – romantic or not. Poppy is the girl who got away. But don’t let the description of a girl fool you. Poppy is sassy and filled with so much strength and confidence. I loved her, I loved him, and together? They were a force to reckon with.

Their story is hard, but real. I’ve seen it happen to people around me, and to see it on paper? I welcomed it. Crazy drama is just that, and sometimes that’s what happens. I wasn’t a fan of the stalker premise, because it was just another thing to add to everything that was going on. I much more enjoyed the story of nonacceptance than anything else.

What I absolutely appreciated is the discussion of long-term effects of the game. It’s relevant in most physical sports teams, but I’m really glad that Martin discussed it at length.

Great story and such a quick read. The writing flowed so well, and the loss of sleep was well worth it. Looking forward to Blizted later this year!

*Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*

This was cute! I read Martin’s other book, Intercepted, and liked it, so I thought I’d give this one a try as well. The writing is super casual and conversational, which I liked, but which sometimes didn’t translate well through text. That being said, I really liked the main characters. Poppy was protective of her son, was wary of Tk, had a bit of a temper, was open with her feelings, and was just genuinely herself. She was a flawed character whose flaws weren’t turned into playful quirks, which is all too common in this genre. It was the same with TK. He was arrogant and full of himself and had a hard time being mature and serious, but he genuinely cared deeply about Poppy and Ace. They were real characters just going through their lives, which I really appreciated.

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!

As far as the other was concerned, Poppy was the one that got away, and TK was the one who left, but ten years after the demise of their relationship, TK and Poppy crossed paths, and uncover the truth behind their breakup.

I really enjoyed Martin's debut, Intercepted, and it there, that I first had the pleasure of meeting TK. He was portrayed as this easy going party boy, but I knew there had to be more to him, and I was eager to get his story. I am thrilled to say, that this installment of the Playbook series was even better than the last.

Those who know me are well aware of my undying affection for second chance romances. I love the history and the idea of being able to repair something that was broken. Well, let me tell you, this second chance romance was one I really wanted to succeed. TK and Poppy were high school sweethearts, who parted ways, but they never really face-to-face ended things, and it seemed that both never really knew the whole truth of why their relationship had ended. That whole setup just made this romance more delectable for me.

Then there was Poppy. She was the type of heroine I automatically love and root for. She was single mom, doing what she needed to do in order to support her son, Ace. I admired that she had recovered from some major setbacks, and kept moving forward. She rose to the occasion, and grew to be an incredible mother. She struggled financially, and kept herself emotionally closed off, but she never shirked her responsibilities as a mom, and always made sure her son had a safe and loving home.

When TK and Poppy encountered each other after so many years, the sparks flew. I immediately knew there was a lot more to their story, because they seemed to still harbor some strong feelings for one another. This second chance had a bunch of ups and downs, but it was fabulous seeing TK take on a parenting role and Poppy opening her heart.

The thing that sets Martin's books apart from other sports romances is the insider's point of view she brings to the story. In this book, we get a look at training camp and learn a bit about how it affected the players families, in addition to getting front row seats to each game. Martin also incorporated the issue of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) into the story. I appreciated that she took on the topic, and she managed to seamlessly work it into this romance.

You know what else Martin does well? She writes fabulous female friendships. Poppy may have been a single mom, but she had a lot of support from her friend, Sadie, who was, as Poppy put it, "my own little rainbow". As TK and Poppy's worlds began to blend, Sadie was joined by two Mustang wives, Vonnie and Charli, and Brynn, the owner of Her's to form Poppy's official squad, and I adored them. They went out of their way for each other, backed each other up, and were dedicated and faithful friends, who anyone would want as their own.

This was a great second chance romance, and I was extremely invested in the outcome for these two. Martin gifted me with a fantastic ending, and if I am guessing the next coupling correctly from the epilogue, we are in for a treat.

4.5 Stars

In book two of the Playbook series, Poppy Patterson is in a good place in her life. As a pregnant teenager, Poppy moved away from all that she knew and loved including the man who fathered their child. Poppy’s whole world revolves around her young son. She works a job that does not fulfill her own dreams but provides them with a decent living. Poppy has loved TK Moore since she was fifteen, but life circumstances ripped them apart. When Poppy runs into to TK again at her job as waitress in an upscale gentleman’s club, those feelings come roaring back.

TK Moore never understood why Poppy left so abruptly. He went on to pro football fame and fortune living the good life while everyday putting himself at risk for crippling, horrific brain damage from CTE. When they reconnect, TK is stunned to learn he is a father and at first, denies all responsibility once again causing Poppy much pain. When he finally accepts the reality and responsibility, they begin the complicated dance of becoming a family.

As Poppy and TK find their way back to each other, several difficult issues surface, not the least of which Poppy notices changes in TK’s personality that seem directly linked to past and current football injuries. Poppy will do anything to protect their son, Ace, and her own heart even if that means turning away from the only man she has ever loved.

Some characters are introduced in the first book; however, this story can be read as a standalone. Ms. Martin’s witty dialogue, the heartfelt emotions of her characters, and firsthand knowledge of the life of a football player’s wife imbue this story with just the right balance of humor, angst, and romance making it a very pleasurable read.

I may have actually liked this one even better than Intercepted! (For those of you who were annoyed by the constant hashtags in Intercepted, there aren't any of those here!) Poppy is an excellent main character, and I really loved her taking a firm stance on a major safety issue (concussions and brain injury in the NFL). She's spent a lot of years working hard to be an amazing mom and provide for her son on her own, and when TK reenters the picture it throws her whole world for a loop, and is a great story about reunited first love.

<strong>Fumbled</strong> is the second book in Alexa Martin's <a href="http://bookbinge.com/reviews/series/playbook/" target="_blank">Playbook</a> series but it's the first book that I've read by Martin. It definitely won't be the last. I really enjoyed this one and am super glad that Tracy recommended this series to me.

Poppy Patterson is a single mother who is just trying to do right by her young son, Ace. After her parents kicked her out when she got pregnant, Poppy moved to Denver, CO to live with her Aunt and raise her young son. Ace has never met his father before and Poppy never planned on them ever meeting until she runs into TK Moore at her place of employment. When they run into each other, the chemistry that was always there between them strikes right up again and Poppy realizes that TK isn't going to go away. He's not going to leave her peaceful life in Denver alone, which means that he's going to meet his son and while Poppy wants nothing more than for TK to know their amazing son, someone has to protect Ace from possible heartbreak and Poppy has to do that while protecting her own heart. Things get real interesting, real fast.

TK Moore has it all. The career, the money, the women and everything is as he likes it...until he runs into a blast from the past and realizes that he very much wants Poppy Patterson to be a part of his life and he wants to be a part of her life again in a big way. When he finds out that Poppy has been raising his son on her own all of these years, TK wants in her life all the way. He has a lot of time to make up for and Ace is pretty awesome so TK starts working on the three of them becoming a family.

This story was a second chance romance and though there were times when I thought Poppy and TK both were extra (lots of yelling between the two), I still rather enjoyed their romance. Poppy talks like me and I really enjoyed that. A lot of the things she said to Ace, my own daughter Brenna has heard from me so I connected with her, hell I even connected with her yelling since Brenna swears that I yell a lot too. I admired the way that she raised Ace and connected with how she put Ace first at every turn. Ace was really lucky to have her and I loved that she knew that she was lucky to have Ace just as much as Ace was lucky to have her. When TK comes into her life, I thought Martin handled Poppy's insecurities well. I felt her confusion and thought that she reacted to life as realistically as any normal person would. She was kicked around and knocked down but she was never out of the game. She just kept right on getting back up and I liked that about her.

TK was pretty awesome as well. I loved that they complimented each other. TK was the more solid, reserved partner and Poppy was the emotional one who would pop off because she ain't the one...but they were both still strong on their own and even stronger together. Their romance was solid and I really enjoyed their emotional roller coaster. I recommend it period.

<strong>Grade: 4 out of 5</strong>