5 Stars / 3 Steam Fans

The third book in the Playbook series and Alexa Martin does not fail to bring it once again! Brynn is the bar owner and pivotal location in the first two books so it was only fitting that we got to know another strong, independent, women. Brynn and Maxwell have a friendship were their chemistry is seen by everyone but the two of them. Brynn has deep commitment issues from her past and Maxwell has family secrets as well. I loved the banter between the two of them and their journey is super sweet without being dependent on each other to find happiness. This story was everything I needed and more, strong independent characters, fun and sexy banter, and a different story line once again.

I have been on this journey with Alexa Martin since last year when she released the first book in this series. You guys I am so happy that I took a chance on this author. She is an absolutely amazing, creative, and inspirational author. I wish her all the best along this journey and will continue to support her work.

This specific video review will be in the September 2019 wrap-up.

For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

This was a cute romantic comedy that I adored! I loved the inter-racial relationship and the world that Alexa Martin has created in this series. I also couldn't stop laughing at the way Brynn and her friends, the wives and girlfriends of the Denver Mustangs, interacted with one another. Not only was this an entertaining romance, it also was a great book of female empowerment of a woman owning her own business and also have strong supportive friends in her circle.

There's something so engaging and addicting and unputdownable about Alexa Martin's writing. Maybe it's that she writes football romance with such an authentic voice. She doesn't shy away from the actual football and I have the feeling I'm getting this perfect mix of fantasy meets reality - and it somehow enhances the fantasy. I can't put my finger on it, but suffice to say these books are like decadent treats for me: I luxuriate in them, I gobble them up with gluttonous greed, and I am always, always satisfied.

Blitzed was no exception. I felt that delicious dull ache in my heart as it yearned for Maxwell and Brynn to fumble their way toward each other. I loved the slow burn between them. I loved that after a couple false starts, they found a solid friendship foundation that made their love story so much more satisfying in the end.

There were a couple little blips that kept this from being five stars for me. I felt like the way Brynn handled the conflict wasn't necessarily true to her character, and then I felt like the whole thing wrapped up a little too quickly and a little too neatly after it hung over their story like a little black cloud for almost the entire book. There were some areas where I wanted to go a little deeper and hit a little harder. But they were just that - blips in an otherwise perfectly executed, perfectly satisfying love story.

And I was satisfied. Like I said, Ms. Martin's writing hits all my sweet spots: authentic dialogue, sparky banter, and sweetly sizzling chemistry that is like a happy pill for my romance loving heart. I am hooked, and will be back for more (and more, and more...) of this amazing goodness.

Alexa Martin's insider information regarding love in the NFL makes this series so great. I quite like sports romances and this latest installment was great, providing the reader with slow burning love story!

I think Alexa Martin is getting better and better. This was super enjoyable. I will say, though, that I did not care for [ the fact that Brynn believed Theo at the very end of the book. It just did NOT ring true for me. (hide spoiler)]

That said, I devoured this, and I unhesitatingly recommend it.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Alexa Martin has another winner! I hope this series never ends. My only quibble with this one is related to how quickly Brynn believes something that happens late in the book. Brynn is so independent and savvy, and I have a hard time with that. But really, I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants a good romcom, even if they hate football.

Go ahead and sign me up for every single thing that Alexa Martin does.

Writing another book in this series? I'm there.

Writing a new series? Sign me up.

Writing the back of a shampoo bottle. Yes. Give it to me.



What can I say? I've really enjoyed everything Alexa Martin has done, including the newest book in this series of stand alones, Blitzed. Brynn is funny and strong and her counterpart, Maxwell, is sweet and attentive and together they make for a fun and swoony read.



The standout thing for me is how Blitzed shows us how empowered women empower women. Brynn is a woman's woman. She's supportive and encouraging to her girlfriends and clients and even strangers. She's exactly as awesome as I hoped she'd be when we met her two books ago...maybe even more so because in those books she was so put together and in this one we get to see her clumsy self, her interior monologue, and that even she has moments of failure. And while we never get to be in Maxwell's head, he's doing all the right things, saying all the right things, and I will happily volunteer as tribute should he ever need a fictional best friend.



Finally, we can't talk about these novels without talking about the absolutely hilarious Lady Mustangs. These women are the kind of women we all need in our lives--they call you on your shit, they support you no matter what, and they do it with humor, kindness, fierceness, and style. Damn what I wouldn't give to be their newest friend.



Y'all don't skip this series. Every book is entertaining as hell--lots of heart, romance, and laughs. Please, Alexa Martin, get to writing; we need more!

An independent female bar owner who has reluctantly befriended the WAGs of the local NFL team falls for the shy, Ivy League educated NFL superstar despite trying her hardest not to? I'm all the way here for it. Blitzed is funny, sweet, infuriating, and sexy as hell.

Alexa Martin is officially a must read author for me.

Who could not love Brynn and Maxwell? They were the perfect opposites attract couple. Brynn is brash and fly by the seat of your pants type of person. I loved her personality. Then you have Maxwell who is all shy and quiet. He is one of those people that when they have something to say you better listen. He can definitely pull off the naughty talk! They just fit perfectly. I loved how Brynn put herself out there for a relationship with Maxwell. The only issue I had is her believing someone she literally had no business believing when she didn’t even know the person. I really love this series, it is full of friendship and support and Blitzed had an abundance of it. I loved that the Lady Mustangs stick together and also knocked the good sense that God gave her back into Brynn. Blitzed had the perfect combo of sweet and funny. Alexa always manages to create these lovable characters that are full of chemistry. She knocked it out of the park again. I wonder who is next? Eloise seems very interesting, she really redeemed herself and I really warmed up to her.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a novella of all the Lady Mustangs in their pov to get a sneak peek into their lives? I would love to read about Justin and Vonnie. And to also see what goes on in Charli’s head. I’m just throwing that idea out there.

Arc provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The third in Alexa Martin's addictive Playbook series features strong, silent football superstar Maxwell Lewis and funny, outspoken bar-owner Brynn Larson. Brynn says she doesn't do relationships and so maybe that's why Maxwell is taking the slow and steady path to win her heart. Steamy and hilarious, this is an fun read that is as much about Brynn and the world of supportive women that she's built around her as it is about the developing relationship. Conflict arise that threatens to keep them apart, and while it could have been a stronger element of the book, this was still a laugh-out-loud read that mixes football, cocktails, reality shows and, my favorite of all of them, a pure-unadulterated love of the show Parks and Recreation. (Advanced copy read courtesy of NetGalley. Opinions are my own.)

The third book in the Playbook series doesn’t disappoint. Humor, romance and drama. Alexa Martin continues to deliver.

The Lady Mustangs and the HERS bar family support and provoke each other. What great friendships these women have. I especially want Vonnie as my bestie. But I wish I would have read the other two first! Still a great book!

Alexa Martin's Fumbled was the first sports romance I ever read, so when I saw that she had another book featuring the Lady Mustangs, I requested as fast as I could! Blitzed pairs bar owner Brynn with football player Maxwell. They have instant chemistry, and Maxwell is caring and compassionate. As a result, instead of a story about wooing, Brynn and Maxwell actually have to learn how to be in a relationship with each other. It feels like a grown up and modern kind of love story. Instead of hot air balloon rides or horse-drawn carriages, there is roadside assistance and timely deliveries of soup. And ok, there is no horse drawn carriage, but there is a dog-drawn sled. I loved Maxwell's gentle confidence and Brynn's passion for her career.

But in a lot of ways, the real love story is between the Lady Mustangs! Alexa Martin loves women and believes in the transformative power of women's friendships. I love the ways that they support each other and never devolve into petty competition. Keeping my fingers crossed for a book about Vonnie!

While I preferred the first two books in the author's Playbook series, I very much enjoyed this one featuring Brynn, owner of the HERS bar. She does not want to get involved with a professional football player, but soft-spoken Maxwell wears down her defenses, Things in his past threaten to derail their relationship, but of course love wins out in the end. Alexa Martin is an author to watch in the future, as she deftly weaves emotion, humor, and romance throughout her stories.

Absolutely loved all 3 books in Alexa Martin’s Playbook series, especially this one because I have so many common interests as the main character, Brynn. I love how Martin connects the characters together between the three novels and am really hope she writes many more about the players and their Lady Mustangs. Amazing series!!! Steamy romance and hilarious banter between characters. Football games and bar scenes. Couldn’t put it down, Thank you for the review copy.

I stumbled on Alexa Martin's first book and I loved it. Book two, was even better. So, of course I was excited to read Blitzed!

In Blitzed, we finally get to know more about Brynn the owner of HERS a bar where both Marlee from Intercepted and Poppy from Fumbled worked.

This book can be read as a stand-alone, but you really should be reading everything by Alexa Martin!!

Thank you Berkley Romance and Alexa Martin for the chance to read and review an early copy of BLITZED. Brynn’s story was needed! The female empowerment and girl gang was off the charts and Maxwell was perfection in a hero. So good!

This is Maxwell and Brynn book, this is the third book in the playbook series. Maxwell is a hot shot NFL player and is a sexy sexy man!! Lol I need me a Maxwell! He knew from the moment he met Brynn that she would change his life! So he makes his move but fate conspires against him at every turn! Brynn owns the local bar and hot spot for NFL players and their wives. She owes a lot to her bar being so busy to the latest reality show! She inadvertently ends up being on the show! From her past she knows better than to fall for a player! Even though Maxwell turns her into a tongue tied mess! This book was really good and I’ve read The whole series, I still think the first book is my favorite but I did enjoy it all three! The only thing I didn’t like too much was Maxwell doesn’t talk very much I would’ve like to hear more from him and the book lagged a little in the beginning but it’s definitely worth reading! I loved hearing from all the wags I would love to be a part of their group that are a trip!! Lol Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

I have loved Brynn since the first book in this series, and I am so happy she got her own book! Maxwell is just the ultimate best guy for her, and in general he's just the best. They both have so much love to give and so much of just them that is perfect. Separately they are amazing, and together they are just everything.

Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an arc for review. This has in no way influenced my opinion.
This book started out fine, but the characters failed to develop much personality, the romance doesn't make sense, and the friend group is cartoonish. There are also two dramatic story lines that occur near the end of the book, neither of which gets appropriate treatment. Separately from that, Brynn's about-face on a long-held personal family decision is basically one sentence, but Maxwell's "secret" and the resulting implications are even more poorly handled.
The lack of spark, the poor pacing, and the odd dramatic choices all make this book a hard no for me, although the series looks to be doing fine without my support.

Max doesn't understand his woman at times, “I’ve never seen a woman get so excited over men’s shoes,” he says." Max is quite the caregiver, “go lie down,” he demands, pushing the door open and ignoring my warning. “I brought Gatorade, crackers, and soup. I’ll call my doctor, she makes house calls.” I liked this book, I liked Max.