| Title | : | Blitzed (Playbook, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0451491998 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780451491992 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 325 |
| Publication | : | First published December 3, 2019 |
According to Brynn Larson, Maxwell Lewis is more trouble than he's worth. She doesn't care if he's a football god with a rock-hard body that brings most women to their knees. After an encounter that ends poorly, she's not interested in giving him a second chance. The last thing Brynn expects is for him to turn up at her bar months later, hat in hand. It doesn't matter if he brings more customers to her business--she's still not going on a date with him.
Maxwell knows he made a mistake. He'd been waiting to make his move on Brynn since the day he laid eyes on her and he was finally ready to go for it until he screwed up. He wishes he could tell her the truth about what happened that night, but he just can't. He can't tell anyone, so he'll make amends and hope she'll forgive him.
Brynn's not like other women, though. Playing for the Mustangs doesn't impress her and gifts make her scoff. Max will have to bring his A game if he hopes to win her over.
Blitzed (Playbook, #3) Reviews
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This would have been 5 stars if it hadn't ended the way it did :( I think I have come to find that Alexa Martin's endings just don't jive with me the way I wish they would and it makes me SAD because the rest of the book was *chef's kiss*
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TITLE: BLITZED
AUTHOR: Alexa Martin
SERIES: Playbook #3
RELEASE DATE: December 3, 2019
GENRE: Sports Romance
RATING: 2 Stars
CLIFFHANGER: No
READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG
ATTENTION!
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.
Noooooo! How? Why? I had so much hope for BLITZED! I can't even...I was so looking forward to Brynn's story.
And it started out quite well. I loved Brynn's snark, sass and her insecurities in the beginning but they soon became a major issue. Her snark turned into brashness and rude attitude at times that I didn't find appealing any longer. Her insecurities and mommy issues should have been addressed in a way that should have been relatable but the author only ever touched on it shortly without going into much depth. And then, in the last 20 percent Brynn had an epiphany that she isn't like her mom and that was that. I'm not done with Brynn but first I need to introduce Maxwell.
The hero of this story and the sweetest guy imaginable. He is the shy introvert whose charisma shone from the pages and I'm telling you now that he's the only reason this book got a second star. He was perfect. He took care of Brynn when she was sick, he was thoughtful, honest and just a beautiful soul. He never gave Brynn a reason to doubt him, yet when his brother told lies about him she rather believed Max's brother, who she'd been warned away from, who Max even considered dangerous (yet Brynn threw another woman under the bus and encouraged her to date Theo, all that to keep her away from her boyfriend - the woman who wanted to be a voice for the women who needed it). She never even considered that Theo could be the one lying.
And if that wasn't enough, after she came to her senses with the help of her friends she barged into Max's apartment and all was dandy. No groveling. Nothing. Nada.
Another character in this book stood out and that's Vonny. She's a badass woman who should have her own books.
I know Alexa Martin can do better. She has proven it. This story fell flat for me with all the things that weren't addressed (like why Brynn never asked Max about the things she noticed about him. She was far too busy thinking about jumping his bones). I hope the next book will have Alexa Martin's magic again.
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3.5 stars
Blitzed is the third book in Alexa Martin's 'Playbook' series, and it started out soooo good. I thought for sure this would be my favorite in the series, and in some ways, it was. Brynn was hilarious and made me laugh so many times. I loved her relationship with the WAG's and with her dad. I laughed and smiled so much. I adored Maxwell as well. He was a lot quieter and even more on the shy side, but was so sweet. I hated the miscommunication and how Brynn reacted to the situation. I would have given it a much higher rating if it wasn't for that. Overall, I'm enjoying these characters and this series. I'm looking forward to reading the fourth book soon!
Audio book source: Libby (library borrow)
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Kristen Sieh and Sullivan Jones
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance (Sports Romance)
Length: 8 hours and 49 minutes -
I FREAKIN LOVED IT
review never to come because this was an impulse read and i've already forgotten everything that happened
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5 STARS
I freaking loved it!!Alexa Martin delivers a heartwarming , fun and story!This series is getting better and better! Brynn and Maxwell were perfect for each other!I devour it in one sitting!
Their relationship developed naturally , both were well developed characters.They were sweet and there was sexual tension between them!Maxwell is a swoon worthy hero!
I love this series, each book is refreshing and fun!
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Title: Blitzed
Series: Playbook #3
Author: Alexa Martin
Release date: December 3, 2019
Cliffhanger: No
Genre: sports romance
One of the things I was really looking forward to was more of Alexa Martin's humorous dialogue. It never fails to make me laugh out loud and put a smile on my face. Make no mistake, I was entertained by that aspect and had no problems with boredom. Funny banter between the football players and the WAGs has been a staple in the series. In Blitzed, it was a case of too much of a good thing. It got to the point while reading where I felt that too much of the book centered around the heroine's interactions with the Lady Mustangs, and going places/doing things that didn't move the plot forward at all. The romance has neglected which caused it to feel superficial-especially after what happened during the big conflict at the end. Not only did that seem contrived, but it was really upsetting.
I loved Maxwell. He was a sweet, introverted guy who was very down to earth. He didn't let fame go to his head, instead using his celebrity to help children with his own foundation. He's an all-around good guy that everyone seems to collectively like. Right away I connected to him and fell for the way he silently crushed over Brynn. He's that quiet, modest guy who will always be there when you need him. Which is why his violent outburst in the beginning of the book is really bizarre and out of character. When he destroys some property one night while at Brynne's bar, HERS, you know there had to be something seriously emotionally wrong to cause it. Which brings me to the first hint of issue with the plot. I kept waiting for this to be brought up again. He apologizes, pays for the damages, and then it's like the entire thing evaporated from the heroine's head. Wouldn't you think if you started dating the man who did something like that, it would concern you?
Then he asks her out on a date. There is an incident where she suspects he's arranging a hook up at his hotel when he excuses himself to take a call. But does she communicate with him about it? No. She confides in her friends, they say not to worry, and then it's forgotten. This is a common issue through the book. She has trust issues because of her mom, he has some sort of mysterious issue with his brother. Yet they are only briefly contemplated through the book and then promptly ignored. Zero communication between the two of them about these things, and the self reflection was basically non-existent. Their personal issues were skimmed over in favor of sexy times and laughs with their friends. Which is all well and good, but I read romance for the actual romance. At first I thought that this was just a slow burn situation between them as their friend faze dragged past halfway. Not the case. Once they did get together as a couple, things continued on in the same manner.
Here's where the lack of clarification over Max's brother causes serious issues: Brynn may not have known any details, but she was firmly warned about his character.
“I mean it. Do not talk to him. Do not engage. If you see him, call me and get away from him.” My eyebrows furrow, and fear snakes down my spine. “You’re freaking me out.” He places his hands on my armrests. “I don’t trust my brother, so being freaked isn’t a bad thing.” “I mean, he’s a cop though,” I say, mainly trying to make myself feel better. “He can’t be that bad, Max.” “That little bit of power makes it easier for him to be the worst kind of person.
Sounds pretty serious, right? So why in the world would Brynn push Eloise to date this man? Honestly, it's like what he said went in one ear and out the other. Way to look out for your fellow female. I get that she had issues with her because she was hitting on Max, but to get rid of her by distracting her with a possibly dangerous man?? I did not get that at all. Her actions weren't adding up to me. Up until this point I was digging on Brynn a lot. She owns her own bar that caters to women, she's snarky and intelligent, and she's a take charge boss lady. But there were moments where boss lady crossed over to weirdly bossy and it didn't work for me. Like when she and Max were on a road trip and she was telling him what he was allowed to eat. Or that he could choose the music IF she approved. It came off as rude rather than funny or cute, which started to niggle at my nerves.
The mystery of Max's brother finally comes out around 90% in the book. Without going into specifics, his brother Theo shows up to cause drama at the bar. She listens to everything the man says and swallows every word of it. This man whom she was told to never be alone with. She automatically, without hesitation chooses to believe his words over the man she claims to be in love with. Proving that she has a disastrous level of trust in him and worse, doesn't even realize her mistake on her own. She has to be BASHED over the head with logic by her father and the Lady Mustangs before reluctantly seeing what was in front of her face all along. Every one of her loved ones gave him their unconditional trust, but she couldn't because of reasons. When she blamed him for her lack of trust because he never confided in her, I couldn't believe it. Communication is a two-way street, lady. I was so fed up with her by this point.
All of the air leaves me in one whoosh as memories I’ve been working hard to suppress come rushing to the forefront of my mind. Warnings he gave me about Theo. The look of concern he wore when I told him Eloise was seeing him. His insistence that I not ever be alone with Theo.
Is anyone else confused by that? Why would you work hard to suppress these hints he was giving her about his brother? She's suppressing warnings about someone who could cause harm. That makes a lot of sense.
There should have been groveling after her actions because that was a MAJOR screw up on her part, and the entire rushed event got brushed under the rug by him. If I had one criticism of Max, it would be that he was too nice at times. As much as I loved him, he should have held her more accountable when she hurt him the way she did. For a large portion of the book I would have given this a three despite my plot issues, but then the ending happened and there wasn't any recovering from it. I do really like this author's writing style, unfortunately this particular story was a bit of a disappointment. I felt a definite lack of connection to the characters' romantic relationship which is more than a minor issue for me personally. You can't love them all though, and I still look forward to seeing what's next in the Playbook series.
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This one was a little disappointing, given how much I enjoyed the first two books. I had a hard time getting into the romance.
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CW: talk of sexual assault
It’s definitely a 2.5 but I’m rounding down to 2 because GR still won’t give us half stars.
If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know that I absolutely adored Alexa Martin’s debut Intercepted. Fumbled was fun too but u guess I had too much expectations. But I couldn’t lessen them for this book because it features one of my favorite characters since the beginning, Brynne. So imagine my disappointment when it didn’t turn out that way. This review might go into spoiler territory, so please read at your own discretion.
The writing by the author is still fun and I’m glad for that because it means I finished the book in a single sitting and never felt bored. There is a lot of fun banter, but it’s mostly between the Lady Mustangs and while it could be over the top sometimes, I enjoyed it. It’s always nice to see a supportive group of women. And I liked that the author took time to develop a friendship between the MCs even though they were clearly attracted to each other. I really enjoyed all the time they spent together getting to know each other better and their conversations brought a smile to my face. But no communication between them about important issues was a trope that was used prominently and it totally soured my experience towards the end.
Brynne is a sassy, determined entrepreneur who has built a community for women with her bar and I have really admired her character since the beginning. And she is still all that, but she made so many decisions in this book that felt unlike her that I was disappointed. She completely ignores red flags about a guy she has been warned is dangerous, throws another woman into his path despite the warnings because she is scared that said woman might be interested in her boyfriend, and finally decides to unconditionally believe whatever this guy tells her without ever giving her boyfriend a benefit of the doubt or the opportunity to explain. And then she absolutely does no apologizing or groveling towards the end which completely ruined whatever I may have enjoyed in the first part of the book.
Maxwell is really the sweetest, most introverted guy I’ve read about in a while. He is kind, compassionate, very considerate and just the kind of guy you want in your corner when the going gets tough. His date ideas are the loveliest and his asking for verbal consent every time (which I know is bare minimum but still) really endeared me a lot to him. I was completely in love with him since the first page. So when the ending conflict happened, I was pretty unhappy that he brushed it all off without even letting Brynne apologize properly, because I thought it was a serious breaking of trust and I just couldn’t believe it can be so easily resolved.
The side characters are always the best part of the books in this series and it was no different this time around. I’ve come to love all the women here and there were some cool additions too. But Vonnie definitely stole the show here by being a great nosy friend, a worthy leader of Lady Mustangs and also a badass lawyer and mother. I also adored Brynne’s father because he is lovely and supportive and just a delight to be around.
To conclude, I just want to say I’m pretty unhappy with the way this book turned out. It has a good cast of characters, the sweetest hero ever and a mostly wonderful heroine. But there were lots of questionable choices made and the no communication thing didn’t work for me at all. I don’t know if there are gonna be any more books in these series but I think I still wanna read whatever the author writes next. But I definitely won’t recommend this one. -
Spoilers ahead 1.5* (things get a bit ranty so be prepared)
"One of Buzzfeed's top 16 romance books to read this fall"
😂
That's actually on Amazon right now and I just want to ask Where??? Where the hell is the ROMANCE book I paid $9:99 for!!!! NINE *%#%$$%%%% ninety nine people!!!!!!!!!!! Grrrrrrrrrr
1)As much as I love Vonnie and the girls, the girlmance took up 80% of this book! We get lots and lots of time with all the girls and even met new girls who've been accepted into the fold or may be accepted. We get lots and lots of time with the girls of HERS and the success story of Brynn's bar......what we don't get is lots and lots of Brynn/Maxwell time who were supposed to be the freaking mcs of this book. Brynn and Maxwell have been circling each other for 4 freaking years and STILL we have to wait pass 50% for them to get together???? Are you kidding me!!!!!
2)This was the weirdest most awkward pairing of this author's books to date. There was no chemistry between Brynn and Maxwell as the previous couples enjoyed making this book an even greater disappointment
3) I've admired Brynn in the previous books and was actually looking forward to her book but this Brynn nuh uh not the Brynn I expected! She doesn't do relationships and has regular ONS....just as I'm fed up of manwhores I'm fed up of the female equivalent #sorrynotsorry. It also seems in the years in between she may have been with OM....anyways I already wasn't a fan of Brynn's at this point but see Maxwell warns Brynn that his brother is bad news, now see if a guy I liked and admired felt it necessary to warn me about his own blood I'd probably take heed but nope not dumbass I mean Brynn. She not only hooks him up with another woman( where's the girl code?) But when he shows up talking smack about Maxwell she BELIEVES him!!!*gasp* seriously??? Whyyyyyyyyy This wasn't the sassy confident Brynn I was expecting, an immature and irrational alien took her place!
4)This author seems to have developed a formula that she's unfortunately sticking too so far, apparently there MUST be a drama at 90% to cause a separation which is then quickly explained and resolved......again whyyyyyyy especially in this one where we already had limited couple time in the first damn place!
5) At the beginning Maxwell has a violent reaction to a phone call, he makes a half assed explanation and apology to Brynn and that's it. Later she thinks he's hooking up with someone.....she doesn't ask a question....then she assumes he's dating someone else and she discusses it.....with her girlfriends! I mean seriously can't these people communicate at all
6) We didn't really get Maxwell's POV another trait with this author and he was the silent type so we never really got to know Maxwell
I PAID $9.99 for this!!!! Can you feel my pain?!!!? That was at least 3 books or more 😭😭😭😭 I'm so bitterly disappointed and broke!
I've enjoyed the previous books well enough but I'll definitely be approaching this author's books with more caution in the future
***********$9.99 so don't nobody even think of trying me!!!!! -
Brynn Larson has a great life. She owns the successful female-centered bar HERS in Denver, has a terrific group of girlfriends who provide fun and support, enjoys a close relationship with her father, and can find a handsome one-night stand anytime she feels the urge. But she and Maxwell Lewis of the Denver Mustangs have been dancing around each other for a few years, and maybe the time is finally right for them to actually get together.
These Alexa Martin books are more the on-going stories of a group of women -- the WAGS (Wives and Girlfriends) of the Denver Mustangs football team and the employees at HERS -- than straight-up romances. And this book is waaay more the story of Brynn and her female friends than it is a romance. I was expecting to see a lot more of that handsome cover man than I did, which was a little disappointing.
That said, this was a mostly enjoyable read for me. The female friendships in these books are the best part of this series, and I was happy to spend more time with these women. I was especially happy that the Mean Girls plot threads of the previous two books were absent from this one! There’s still one female caricature in the form of Brynn’s mother. But other than that, every woman in this book is rounded out and given a chance to be a whole human being.
The romance was a bit meh with a bit of uh-oh for me, though. Maxwell is incredibly handsome, an actual rocket scientist, and happy to go to art museums with Brynn. But he also has a bit of an anger management problem that never gets addressed. What he does in the first chapter gets essentially glossed over for the rest of the book. Brynn's behavior regarding the Big Obstacle to True Love was also a bit disturbing to me. Then the Big Obstacle just gets magic-wanded away, much too easily. (It’s as if the author/editor realized there should only be five more pages in the whole book, so *poof* problem solved. Seriously.)
Also (mini-rant follows)
I’ll keep reading these books. But so far,
Intercepted is definitely the best of the series. -
I’ve enjoyed the previous books in this series and Brynn has been a character I’ve loved, so I was excited to see she was getting her own book.
I liked Brynn well enough. Her inner monologue was very odd to me as it came across like she was telling a story to someone. Every time she clarified something or argued with herself, it would take me out of the story. I liked Maxwell. He’s charming and considerate and I would have loved more open communication between the two of them. Of course, Vonnie is always fun and the relationship of all of the Lady Mustangs is delightful.
Plot wise, it felt flimsy. There wasn’t a lot of direction and the few scenes of conflict that were supposed to keep things going felt out of place. The big reveals slash secrets slash surprises all happened so close to the ending, the resolution was immediate and it didn’t feel as satisfying.
Overall, it was the characters that kept me reading, even if I wasn’t into the actual story of it. I’m hopeful that Eloise will be the next book, but regardless of who it’s, I’ll be reading it.
FYI: talk of sexual assault
**Huge thanks to Berkley for providing the arc free of charge** -
4.5/ 5 stars
Blitzed is the third book in the Playbook series. This is a series of interconnected standalone books. Each book has its own female narrator. But a lot of the supporting characters are in all of the books.
This book is a sports contemporary romance (football). It is sexy. But it is also funny and has a romantic comedy/Chick lit vibe.
I have read both Intercepted and Fumbled and really liked them both. So I was so anxious to get to read this third book in the series. I adore these books and I absolutely love that the author was an NFL wife. So she knows exactly what she is writing about.
The narrator of this book is 32 year old Brynn (1st person POV). She was in both of the previous books. Her best friend is Marlee (narrator of book one). She owns HERS (the bar where a lot of the scenes in the previous books take place).
The epilogue of Fumbled was about Brynn and Maxwell. It seems to be the same timeline as chapter one of Blitzed.
The story takes place in Denver and is centered around the Denver Mustangs football team. Maxwell is the defensive back for this team.
There was so much to like about this book. I absolutely love the WAGS (wives and girlfriends of the Mustangs). And I adore when they have team meetings or go to HERS bar. And I really like Love the Player the new reality show that follows the wives and girlfriends of the Mustangs.
I love that Poppy, Ace and TK are in this book (Poppy is the narrator of Fumbled). Marlee (narrator of first book) is not really in this book (although she is in the epilogue). I also loved Vonnie, the Lady Mustang in this book the most.
I really liked Brynn. She is such a strong woman. I loved seeing her go to football games. I loved that she is obsessed with musical theatre.
The book is fun and sexy. But it also deals with a few serious issues. I think these added a lot to the story. Overall, this was a great addition to the series. If you love sports romance this series is fantastic! And I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
Thank you Berkley and netgalley for allowing me to read this book. I absolutely love this series! -
I realize this book isn't out for a few months but when football is in the air and a new Alexa Martin sports romance hits your kindle, you do not wait to jump right in. And I'm so glad I didn't. Brynn and Maxwell's slow burning friends to lovers romance was exactly what I needed today, a deliciously addictive story of friendship, football and fierce attraction. I did nothing this weekend but devour Blitzed and now that I'm finished, all I can think about is watching a game while drinking good beer and fist bumping the deliciousness that was this storyline.
I loved the dynamic between these characters. Maxwell Lewis is most certainly the strong, silent type and Brynn is his polar opposite. She's loud and unapologetically independent and together they develop a friendship that only mildly disguises their rapidly growing attraction. It was ADDICTIVE and sexy and wildly entertaining watching their chemistry come to a rapid boil. And, more, it was so much fun watching their friends cheer them on from the sidelines.
If you haven't read the other books in this series yet, I can't recommend them enough. I'm an addict, completely obsessed with Alexa Martin's Playbook series. I'm consistently rapt by the hilariously glamorous lifestyles of the WAGS, and the blissfully romantic yet achingly complicated stories that evolve in each book. If sports romances packed with witty banter and smart plotlines are your jam, these books are sure to end up in your hall of fame.
I adored this book! I felt giddy as hell from all the feels in this story, laughed my butt off over the antics of the Lady Mustangs, and my heart broke over how unpredictably painful it became in certain moments. Blitzed is the full package, a MUST READ... I can't recommend this book and this series enough! -
More Mustang drama! Loved this addition to the series and I can't wait for book 4!!
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Intercepted ★★★★☆
Fumbled ★★★☆☆
After devouring the first two books of this series this month, I was super excited to get to Brynn’s story. She came off so sassy and I just knew I would love her book. Sadly friends, that didn’t happen.
What I did enjoy from this book was being back in the Mustang community and the friendship between the women. Every time these ladies are together I never fail to laugh. The way they are so in tune with one another and so protective of each other never seems to amaze me.
The actual story between Brynn and Maxwell? I don’t know another word for how I felt while reading except boring. I didn’t feel any chemistry between them and the turn from friendship to romance wasn’t believable to me. I can’t love a romance novel if there isn’t a romance to actually root for.
Besides the romance not being what I expected, the biggest disappointment for me was Brynn. I really don’t believe that this was the woman who was so sassy and had the best concept for a bar. It’s like she was a watered down version of the person we got to see in previous books. She came off a bit immature and almost whiney. I also didn’t like some of the choices that her character made.
While this didn’t live up to my expectations, I still plan on continuing this series and I hope the next book will be about Eloise!
TW: Talks of sexual assault
✨I received an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.
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*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
This review will be short and straight to the point...especially since I'm two months late when it comes to writing this review.
I was super excited to read Brynn and Maxwell's book. These two have been tip-toeing around one other for months now and I was finally ready to see them give into their feelings and just smush faces already. But once I finished, I was left with mixed feelings.
Let's first touch on what worked for me. I've always liked Brynn Sterling/Larson (I honestly don't know what Brynn's last name is because my ARC says Sterling but the synopsis says Larson so obviously someone wasn't paying attention, lol) and my feelings did not change after reading this book. We're so used to seeing the sassy side of Brynn, but in this book we get to see a more vulnerable side and we finally understand why she's so hesitant to let people get close to her. One of my favorite things about this book was Brynn's relationship with her father. Those two were thick as thieves but Frank Sterling (we're going with Sterling since that's what my ARC states!) also had no issue calling his daughter out on her shit when she needed it. I also couldn't get enough of the Lady Mustangs! I keep stating in my previous reviews that the female friendships in this series are one of the bests I've read so I loved seeing this group of women meddling with Brynn's love life because after all, your friends usually know what's best for you (even when you don't know it yourself).
On to what didn't work. As sweet as I found Maxwell Lewis to be, I still feel like I don't know who he truly is. Like we barely got to see him for the first half of the book. He would just randomly pop up and most of those coincidental run-ins with Brynn were planned by the Lady Mustangs. This is why I also wasn't a huge fan of the romance. Where was the sizzle? The pop? With all that damn angst Martin was putting us through, I thought for sure that by the time Brynn and Maxwell got their heads on right and stopped fighting the inevitable, we would've finally seen the passion between these two but the heat just wasn't there for me. Another thing that didn't work for me was the conflict. I'm not gonna get too into it since it's a spoiler but that whole situation with Maxwell just came out of left field and the way it was resolved just didn't sit right with me.
So while Blitzed didn't end up wowing me as much as I had hoped it would, I hear that this series ain't over yet so I have hopes that the next installment will win me over! -
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. ~ Shelly, 4 Stars -
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. -
Bruh, I loved this so much! Ok to be fair it was just so much damn cuteness that that couldn’t be helped. But the journey of broken girl and reserved guy was just to good. Also we are seeing people who we have known for a whole series wise and so it’s charming to finally be able to focus on them and them alone. Bonus points because this story was so genuine and their love was just to pure. Yes the hurdle they end up facing is a rough one but worked so well in getting into her head that it was painful to read about. All in all I couldn’t put this down and give it all the stars.
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This is third in a series. Poppy and TK (from book two) are frequently present and mildly important in this one and characters from the first show up, later. But more importantly, Brynn is in both other books and much of her background is established in those stories. I'd definitely recommend reading at least the second book before this one.
This story felt, I dunno, rote? Brynn is interesting, but I knew she would be. She's a strong presence in the series and I looked forward to getting to know her. Unfortunately, we learn early on that she's a huge pile of negative motivation* with no more justification than that her mother is an abandoning jerk and she figures that means she will be, too. I hate this trope because it's so . . . lazy. I mean, however much people may judge other families for predilections or tendencies both good and bad, nobody actually believes that their own actions and inclinations are predetermined by their DNA. Influenced maybe but so convinced that you'd leave people who love you and whom you love because that's what your own mother did? not so much...
So that's pretty weak and Maxwell is so closed off and shy that it's hard to get a read on that guy. I mean, he's so sweet four out of five dentists recommend brushing after contact with him. Only, then he pulls some furtive crap or brushes Brynn off for a week at random and I'm all like "where the crap is this coming from?!?" And the explanation when it comes doesn't actually account for all the weirdness we noticed if you play it back afterwards.
But it is funny and I laughed out loud a couple of times because Martin has some vivid side characters who make these books fun and that's not nothing. Indeed, I was cruising on 3½ stars and definitely rounding up when we get to the dark moment. And it was so very stupid and unnecessary that I nearly dropped it two stars for the idiocy. Fortunately, while it lasts way too long in the internal timeline, Martin condenses it to a handful of pages. Which is actually kind of cheap, but at least it gets that bit over with, finally. So I'm ending this with 2½ stars. And I'm rounding up because, as I said, I laughed out loud more than usual and that's not nothing.
A note about Steamy: There are three explicit sex scenes, though not terribly long, putting this in the middle of my steam tolerance. They were kind of "extra" in that romance-novel way, but that's fine.
* 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. -
Always a fun time reading Alexa Martin’s books. Lots of cute moments and overall the story was fun.
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Great series looking forward to Book 4 coming in October 😎👍🏽
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ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review
This was my first Alexa Martin read, so even though i have not read the previous books, I did not feel that I was missing too much.
Now, what can I say about this book? Hmmm, I was really looking forward to it and was excited to read it, however it fell flat. I didn't really feel any chemistry between Brynn and Maxwell, and I felt myself wanting to skip ahead as it just plodded along. I was waiting for something to happen.
I liked Maxwell, however I didn't really find myself liking Brynn much at all. She tries to come across as a big, strong, feminista of a woman, but she doesn't pull it off. I am all for girl power, however this just.. wasn't.
What I did like was the bonds between the Lady Mustangs, the way they have each other's backs and the way they are always there for each other.
This was a a miss, but i will go back and read the first books eventually.
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MMmeh.
This was cute, and just ok. The drama towards the end kind of ruined it for me. I just couldn't stay invested, and was easily distracted during this one. I'm hoping Snapped can finish out this series strong. -
Note: I received this as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is 6 out of 5 stars. I didn't realize it was the 3rd in the series until I had it downloaded and even with that confusion, this book was absolutely incredible. Brynn is a strong female who runs a bar for women and is an actual, certified badass--and oh, yeah, her hunk just happens to be a professional football player. There's so many supportive and uplifting female characters, so many shared successes, and so much wholesomeness and positivity I could burst. I feel like I need to apologize to myself for not reading Alexa Martin sooner. This is the contemporary romance author to read. -
Brynn and Maxwell are a delight together. She’s the outgoing and defiantly single owner of HERS, the women-centric Denver bar where the stars of a reality show like to hang out. He’s the quiet, talented defensive back for the Denver Mustangs. Watching them slowly trust each other and give in to their mutual attraction is a pleasure. Plus, they bond over old Parks and Rec episodes. What’s not to like?
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ARC from the publisher
DNF @ 58%, so no rating.
I really wanted to hang in there and finish this one, but I just couldn't do it. Having met Brynn earlier in the series, I was convinced that this book was going to be my favorite. Brynn owns a successful bar geared towards women, she's fun and vivacious, and everyone loves to be around her. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand...she's not in this book. The name might be the same and it might be taking place in her bar, but Brynn was nowhere to be found in this book. The woman in this book was, as one of my blogger buddies put it, a hot mess. A hot mess I can deal with. But Brynn is so judgmental and I think she's supposed to be snarky, but her jokes are way off their intended target. They made me cringe instead of laugh, and wanted to quit before I really started to hate her. I'll remember the Brynn from the previous books, thank you very much, and pretend that Maxwell (the star of this book and a man who has the patience of a saint,) ended up with someone who treated him better than Brynn did. -
This book ended up being a good read but it was really slow in parts and I spent way too much time waiting for something to happen. I did enjoy seeing all of our friends from the previous books but was bummed that I wasn't as invested in Maxwell and Brynne's romance as I was in Ace and Poppy's romance. Oh well, we can't win them all.
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DNF. Goodness. This woman writes like a groupie. I can’t take anymore.
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Summary
Brynn and Maxwell have always been drawn to each other. But after an encounter that ended poorly, Brynn no longer wants anything to do with him.
Maxwell knows he mad a mistake, and possibly messed up his one chance with the woman he's been waiting to make a move on. And he'll do anything to prove he's sorry - other than tell her the truth about what triggered his outburst that night.
Overview
➸ POV: 1st Person, Brynn's POV
➸ Brynn Sterling: 32, Owns the bar HRS, Only child, Close with father, Afraid of relationships because her mother walked out on them when Brynn was 15
➸ Maxwell Lewis: Defensive back for the Denver Mustangs, Shy, Quiet, and Secretive, Has a younger half brother
➸ Content Warnings: Child Abandonment, Rape/Sexual Assault, Blackmail, Heart Attack (+ scenes set in a hospital)
My Thoughts
I really love this series!! I find Alexa Martin's writing to be laugh out loud funny and extremely witty - which makes for some of my favorite characters! However, I think where this series (and this book included) fall short of a perfect 5 stars for me, is with the endings.
Alexa Martin writes my absolutely favorite female characters! I love that across all 3 books, every female character is well developed, layered, flawed, and wholly unique. I love that not only are her characters relatable, they're realistic to the diversity of women. I love that Martin does not shy away from femininity or try to tone down her female characters - they like boogie AF drinks, reality TV, and fashion. It's so refreshing to read characters that feel real and authentic and not like they're dulled down to appeal to broad(male) audience.
And Brynn was no exception! She drove me absolutely crazy at times but in the best way possible. She felt like someone I would actually be friends with or no in real life. And her obsession with Parks & Rec - relatable! I also think that Maxwell might be my favorite hero of the series so far! I wish we had gotten more time with him (or a POV from him) because he did end up feeling less developed that Brynn. But I liked that he was your stereotypical, alpha-male athlete.
Where is lost a star was in the brother plot line. I don't like when books (particularly romances) through in one final altercation 15 pages before the end of the book. It always feels unnecessary since there is no time left for anything to be developed from it. Instead I'm left feeling like it was tossed in for one final shock factor. And that was the case here. I think there was plenty of tension and conflict in the story already, and Maxwell's brother could easily have been left out. I just didn't particularly like how it was handled or how it ended.
Overall, this is really fun, laugh out loud series I can't get enough of! It's full of amazing characters and romantic chemistry. I can't wait to dive into the next book soon!
