Fumbled

The Playbook, Book 2

By: Alexa Martin

Narrated by: N'Jameh Camara

One of NPR's Best Books of 2019

A second chance doesn't guarantee a touchdown in this new contemporary romance from the author of Intercepted.

Single mother Poppy Patterson moved across the country when she was 16 and pregnant to find a new normal. After years of hard work, she's built a life she loves. It may include a job at a nightclub, weekend soccer games, and more stretch marks than she anticipated, but it's all hers, and nobody can take that away. Well, except for one person.

TK Moore, the starting wide receiver for the Denver Mustangs, dreamt his entire life about being in the NFL. His world is football, parties, and women. Maybe at one point he thought his future would play out with his high school sweetheart by his side, but Poppy is long gone, and he's moved on.

When Poppy and TK cross paths in the most unlikely of places, emotions they've suppressed for years come rushing back. But with all the secrets they never told each other lying between them, they'll need more than a dating playbook to help them navigate their relationship.

©2019 Alexa Martin (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"I wish I could jump into the Fumbled world and hang out on the couch and drink wine and gossip with Poppy and her friends!" (Jasmine Guillory, New York Times best-selling author)

"Get ready for sparks to fly..." (PopSugar)

"Sports romances often use the sport as a fun setting to give the hero wealth and a perfect body, but Fumbled takes things a step further. Martin takes a hot-button contemporary issue and tackles it with emotion and verve, making it the perfect obstacle in the relationship - the resolution of which only makes the happily-ever-after expertly bittersweet and all the more earned." (Entertainment Weekly)

"Readers will laugh, swoon, and grow to love every character in this entertaining contemporary romance." (Publishers Weekly)

So Awesome!

Engaging story masterfully read! I had a glass of wine right also with the girls!

Review: Fumbled, by Alexa Martin

I read the first book in the Playbook series last October, after seeing such great buzz about it. But I didn’t get around to reviewing it. I’m not making the same mistake for book 2, Fumbled. These are both great books, so please consider this an endorsement for Intercepted, as well as Fumbled.

I feel that one of the best things about Martin’s book(s) is that she is able to make me care about football. I’m not a football fan. At all. But with the way Martin writes, I’m drawn into the excitement and emotions of the game when it’s presented in the book. I also think that some of this is accomplished by not making this a “football romance” in the same way other sports romances are. There’s football in the book. The hero is a big-deal player. But this book doesn’t revolve around the game. When the game is included, it’s done so to push the plot, character development, and endgame along. It’s not just to have the sport in the book. (Not putting down more sports heavy romances. This just works so much better for me.)

I also really enjoy Poppy’s character. This is a second chance romance, as can be seen in the description. And while the relationship restarts early in the book, the relationship is also a slow burn all the way to the end. Poppy is so strong and protective of her son, Ace. No matter what seems to be happening between her and TK, she never forgets that she and Ace could get hurt at any time. Martin didn’t allow Poppy to get lost in the relationship and it’s not often I read of a character who’s strong in this way.

Having two amazing books to start off this series, I’ll be finding myself wanting to fast forward to December for the release of Blitzed. Can’t wait to read Brynn’s story. I really want to know more about her!

Voice doesn't match characters

Loved the story but the narrator's voice doesn't do the characters justice, especially the main character. Luckily the story was good enough that I pushed through.

Enjoyed it!

Good story, I'm ready for the next one in the series. Book club will be discussing it later today!

ABSOLUTE FAN

Mrs Alexa, my praise and adoration of your craft has nothing to do with me being at Denver native, but everything to do with your work it’s beautiful I’ve enjoyed so much of these two stories and stocking for the third book to come out. I love the way you’ve captured every character the detail and essence that you put in it each woman is so real, I thank you for caring enough to share your imagination and realities in these books. Blessings to you beautiful woman . An absolute fan! Nanette

Comedy and Romance

The sort was good. Had me laughing from chapter 1!
Love the way this second chance love unraveled. Good feels 😊

Pretty Good

I really enjoyed this story. I’m typically good a predicting book but this one tricked me. I thought I had the story line figured out within the first few chapters. I was wrong! Great casual relaxing read.

Poppy was Pathetic...

Poppy' s character was so disappointing 😞. She b-tched about everything. I get that she's been independent for a long time, but when someone offers you help, you either take it, or politely decline, don't take it & get mad afterwards because you don't know how to handle situations. If your significant other is willing, try to work it out...communicate, commit, & put a resolution into practice. Try, but, if that fails, then call it quits...she wasn't even trying. Also, she knew TK's profession, and I get the danger of it & her concerns, however, she chose to pursue a relationship with him. Then, when he gets hurt she says, I can't do this anymore because he's quick to anger, forgetful, and showing signs of CTE. Don't just leave, communicate, work out a plan for the future to bring his career to a close. TK was an a-- intitally, that's when she should've let it go, but she wanted him to pursue her. Unless, he took accountability & reversed course in a more positive direction & committed, which it seems like he did, because he wanted a family with her. It seems like she fought him every step of the way. But, he could've easily told Poppy, see ya, your mental health is a problem, you have too many hangups & insecurities...but, he didn't, it was aggravating, but he tried to comfort her and work through their problems as a family. She wasn't willing to compromise, until the end, when HE was the one that made the sacrifices. She was immature. Narration was ok, I really liked her voice -- she just appeared overly excited at times.

I WANT MOORE :-)

OMG, I LOVE this story. Please PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, more of the Moores. I have so many questions. How was the wedding? Did Poppi reconcile with her parents? Did they have more babies? What does TK do now post NFL ? Lots of questions....

Enjoyable but...

I felt like the author got tired of writing or something after giving us so much the firs 3 quarters (pun intended ☺️). The ending could have been so much more climactic compared to book 1. The handling of the female muse was so boring for example.

Narrator is phenomenal