It pains me to do this. I LOVE Alexa Martin, I recommend the first two in this series constantly. But I will not be finishing this one. I found the scene in the beginning where Maxwell throws his drink/phone at Brynn to be very upsetting, and I was very disappointed this scene occurred. On the page violent outbursts are not okay, especially between two people that we are supposed to root for.

While I DNF this one, I still look forward to reading more from Alexa Martin and highly recommend her first two books.

I have enjoyed Alexa’s sporty romances and this one is no different. With its witty commentary and swoony moments of romance this will be a sure touchdown with readers.

Although I wasn't originally interested in a story about Brynn, finally reading it definitely changed my mind. I swear, this series gets better with each book. And although I wasn't excited about her book, as it turns out, I really enjoyed it.

Brynn and Maxwell were always good friends who were clearly attracted to each other. But then there was a moment of weakness that Maxwell had that caused all that to end. Brynn no longer wants to give him a chance and Maxwell is a bit embarrassed. But, Brynn can't resist him so she gives him another try...

Although I liked this book, I wasn't too much of a fan of Brynn and Maxwell together. It wasn't as spicy as it was in Intercepted. This was more like, lukewarm. It had it's hot moments yes, but for the most part, it was kinda boring.

The writing style is the main reason why I still liked this one. The humor and the dialogue made this book. I laughed throughout the whole book. It wasn't swooning like the other two, but the laughing made me ok with that.

The conflict in this one was a doozie though. It was a lot deeper than the last two. It kind of caught me by surprise. But I did feel that it was resolved too fast. I know Maxwell is nice, but I don't think he was that nice. He should've been a bit more mad than he was. And, I would have liked to see him go done and what all transpired. But we got none of that.

This book wasn't my favorite, but there was still something about it that kept me interested. Not exactly what I was expecting, but I still liked it nonetheless.

In Blitzed, Brynn, the owner of HERS, the bar that is the backdrop of many scenes in this series gets to indulge her attraction to Maxwell Lewis, the quiet player who just happened to trash her bar at the end of the second book in this series. Maxwell is sorry about what he's done, but offers no explanation after paying for the repairs. Even so, Brynn is still attracted to him I liked that they took a good portion of this book becoming friends.

It does seem to take a while for Maxwell and Brynn to develop a physical relationship, and I didn't mind that about this book. Max isn't a talkative character and I'm still not sure I understand the whole issue that provides the conflict in the story. What does shine in this particular book are the relationships between the wives and girlfriends and Brynn. In many respects you might consider this a women's fiction title with a heaping dose of romance because it's really the women who captured my attention and made me laugh in this story. Add a little more Poppy and a dash of TK and I pretty much devoured this book in a day or two.

As for the romance, Max and Brynn are great together except for the fact he isn't always forthcoming about himself with her until the final pages of the book. The ending gets wrapped up in a neat bow late in the book and it left me wishing that there had been more page time for the ending, hence the 4 stars instead of 5.

I do like this series. I will remember it for the incredible women behind the NFL stars in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.

I really enjoyed this! It started out a little slow, but I love Maxwell with my entire being. He is so sweet and perfect. I also love characters that run restaurants and bars so Brynn is definitely a character that I enjoyed reading about.

4 stars — Another one where I’m debating between 3.5 and 4, but the good stuff that delighted me really delighted me, so I’m giving it the boost.

I enjoy these books by Ms. Martin in this series, but I can’t say I’m particularly blown away. There’s something about the writing that feels a bit disjointed or something, and for this one in particular, I wasn’t a fan of the conflict/climax and how that played out.

But there are other things that, like I said above, just absolutely delighted me. One of the things that truly stands out is how Ms. Martin takes a group of women I would probably NEVER be friends with, have VERY little in common with, but still makes me care about them. I love that she presents a view on women that might normally be seen as catty or superficial, and gives them dimension and depth. I’m so tired of how society tears down one group to make another group feel better, instead of just celebrating our differences. And I honestly felt that way about the Mustang Ladies. I don’t watch reality TV. I don’t care about Louboutins (or however you spell that), or any of those “designer” things. I’m also not big on makeup and glamour and all that shiznit. But we got elements of all of those in the Lady Mustangs, and I still cared about them, and I got to see different sides to them. I also got to see a group of ladies SUPPORTING one another, and being there for one another, which was a major element of this story (particularly since Brynn provided a place for them to all meet and celebrate women together). I think the part that delighted me the most was the way Eloise’s characters role played out in the story. I was expecting it to go the same mean girl way, and it didn’t! Yay for delightful surprises!

Brynn was pretty easy to like on the whole. I particularly connected with her ability to get ridiculously excited about the things she loves (Hamilton, Parks and Rec, Louboutin sneakers). Maybe not her need to force others to like the same things, but it was all in good fun. I also appreciated how genuine she was. She truly loves the people in her life (despite how snarky she is with them), and wants them to succeed. And when she meets new people, in general she delights in learning about them (with exceptions). My disconnect with her is how quickly she jumps to conclusions, and just doesn’t think things through all the way. This came to play in both her Dad and Maxwell…she’s passionate, but also volatile in her emotions. It made me cringe occasionally, and I was particularly bummed with how little she thought about the Theo/Maxwell stuff. Basically, I was disappointed in her, and I kind of wished she’d figured it out on her own a bit more.

Maxwell was pretty sweet and endearing in general. I loved his shy self, and how kind and caring he was. His crush and pursuit of Brynn was nothing short of adorable. It made the bouts of temper and the secrets a bit harder to believe…like, I got it a bit, but not to that extent. He definitely didn’t help the situation, though I understood there was more at play than just trust.

And the two of them together were pretty sweet actually. It was definitely fun watching their courtship.

So yeah. A solid sports romance, with a bit more of a beta hero (which I love), and some good girl power thrown in.

I have read all the books in this series and I have enjoyed them immensely. Brynn own the bar where all the wives of the Mustang football team hang out. All the ladies have become close and it's nice to see old characters from the other books. Brynn has some past issues with abandonment but she is a strong character. Maxwell is quiet and shy despite being a big guy on the team. He has had a thing for Brynn and the ladies think it's time for Brynn to get a man especially by the name of Maxwell. He himself has some trouble and it adds a little more issues for a happily ever after. This is a slow burn that was cute and Maxwell was adorable. this one fell a little slow for me, but I did enjoy it Overall.

I hate shitting all over books so I will try and keep this review short and non-asshole. I loved Intercepted. Liked Fumbled. Had high hopes for this one because I absolutely adored Brynn in the previous two books. Here are my problems with this book:

- I wanted a romance. I got a book about the lady mustangs with a very small dash of romance.
- Brynn was NOT the Brynn from the previous two books.
- Maxwell told Brynn he didn't trust his brother, didn't want the brother around Brynn, and it's like Brynn removes it from her memory. Why? Why don't you take that seriously? Why don't you trust your gut? Why on earth would you believe this guy you barely know that you have been warned against?! Bloody hell.
- Brynn goes to a brewery and the guy asks if she is waiting on a boyfriend and Brynn acts like it happens all the time, like men are so stupid they don't know women like beer and can go to breweries. Are you kidding me? Whatever. But then, she's all like, the difference is women only like good beer, not the stuff that tastes like piss. so the women who drink the pissy gross beer are, what, lying? Not real women? men? Don't you understand generalisations are bad either way?! UGH. I'm not getting mad over this one scene, it happens so often in this book where Brynn (or lets be real, the author) has these super strong opinions that are constantly conflicting with other opinions or trashing other people who don't agree.
- Lastly but most importantly - to me - the prologue was in Maxwell's POV and it was cute. and then in the FIRST CHAPTER HE THROWS HIS PHONE AT A BOTTLE OF TEQUILA AND BREAKS SEVERAL BOTTLES AND THEN THROWS HIS GLASS AGAIN AND BASICALLY THERE IS GLASS EVERYWHERE. are you FUCKING KIDDING ME? this is NOT OKAY. he leaves a cheque for damages and apologises and everything is willy nilly? are you kidding me? not only where she worked, but she actually owned the business? not to mention how fucking dangerous that is? and hey, how bout the fact that it's a bloody red flag?! and why? because he got a phone call that made him angry? why didn't any of the other phone calls make him that angry? honestly it was just so ridiculous and made me so angry I almost DNF'd it right then and there and I should have.

I wish I was more articulate and better with the words. Basically, I think this book had a bunch of things happen to create conflict but they were unforgivable/unbelievable to me. Like I said, I hate being an asshole but you have to explain why you didn't like a book and they are my reasons.

I listened to a podcast with Alexa Martin on it before Fumbled came out and she sounded AWESOME. like fun and fabulous and i want to be her friend. i'm sure she wouldn't want to be my friend if she ever saw this review, and i honestly hate that i disliked this book. i'm rating it 2 stars because there were a couple cute/good parts and i don't hate it enough to rate it 2 stars. unfortunately, it has made me wary of picking up another book by this author, no matter how much i enjoyed intercepted or how cool i think the author is in real life.

anyway. huge bummer.

I flipping adore this series. I assume because Alexa lived this life in her past is why it makes the story line so much more believable. Alexa Martin has such a knack at writing brilliantly funny sweet stories. This time around Blitzed is about Brynn Larson, the feisty Bar owner whom has been a large character in both the first two books.

Maxwell Lewis was introduced earlier but a smaller character. He was the quiet sexy player. Though he's always been drawn to Brynn. Brynn has sworn off relationships so Maxwell has a challenge to change her mind.

". . . If you give us a chance, I'll never make you choose. I would never test your independence or dedication to your career."

There first meeting is pure Brynn.

"You're Brynn? Not sure why, but I thought you'd be a dude."
"Misogyny." I shrug.

The reason why Brynn swears off relationships is because she got hurt in her past.

" . . . Don't let your demons ruin something that could be really good."

Thankfully she has kickass friends and father who don't let close off her heart.

"Girl," Vonnie says, wiping away her tears of laughter. "You have no fucking game."

I loved the banter between the characters, especially with Maxwell and Brynn

"I knew it!" she yells. "I knew his shy, fine ass was hiding all sorts of treats below the surface."
"So many treats."

What frustrated me the most was when Brynn believed Maxwell's brother truth over Maxwell's. Even though she just met him. That part pissed me off. For such a strong woman I was surprised she believed that and so quick to judge and put up walls to the truth.

~Either I believe the man I love or I believe a woman who had no reason to lie.~

She didn't know the whole story so I it wasn't black and white like she thought it was. This part really irked me and I wish it wasn't part of the story. I know it was a key part but I felt like it weakened Brynn a bit when I wanted her to be a strong ass character from start to finish.

If it wasn't for that part I would loved it completely from start to finish. Besides that part it has kick ass friends whom I adore all of them and I love how loyal and funny they are. I adored Maxwell from the beginning and was championing for him the whole time.

I did truly love Maxwell and Brynn together, well once she got over herself.

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to leave a positive review.

I started reading this book, before I decided I should actually read the first 2 books in the series. Anyway, after reading books 1 and 2, I eagerly started this book... And I loved it. I think this is the best book in the series.

Brynn appears in both prior books, and Maxwell is mentioned in book 2 (not sure about book 1). Brynn is the founder and owner of the bar, HERS. The antics of the Lady Mustangs are amusing, and I really enjoyed the interactions between Brynn and the other ladies.

Maxwell was a bit of an enigma throughout most of the book. He was so dreamy and caring and you could just tell that underneath the shy exterior there was a wicked sense of humor.

I loved the slow build in Maxwell and Brynn's relationship. Together they made each other a better version of themselves. And yes, they went through a few rough spots, but I could actually see them coming together afterwards and being able to move past it.

I was so excited to get my hands on Blitzed. I have devoured Alexa Martin’s first two books and couldn’t wait for more! And Blitzed definitely lived up to my expectations.

This was a slow burn romance that just worked so well. I love that Maxwell and Brynn built a solid best friendship before they dove into coupledom. For me, it made the whole story just work so much better. It meant when they hit those bumps in the road they had a foundation to fall back on. It meant them being mad and then them getting past it made perfect sense. They KNEW each other. They had background.

Maxwell… gotta love that strong silent type who knows how to let loose once he is with the one he loves. Man is he ever sexy! And Brynn. Brynn! That woman knows what she wants and she has created quite the world in her bar HERS.

The friendships that are represented in this whole series are FRIENDSHIP GOALS! I want to head on over to HERS and slip in the mix and see if they notice. I need friends like that who totally have your back and don’t just let you disappear into yourself.

Alexa Martin’s writing is so engaging. When I crack open one of her books I just lose myself in her words. I’ve said this before but it bears repeating: Alexa Martin’s books are the perfect mix of fun, football, flirty, friendships and family sprinkled over with a dose of seriousness.

I want more. Do you hear that Alexa Martin? Please tell me you are giving us more!!!! I am NOT ready to leave this world!

I’ve really enjoyed each book in this series. Blitzed features Brynn Larson, owner of Hers, and Maxwell Lewis, who plays for the Denver Mustangs. Both of them have been kind of hovering around each other for a while, but it isn’t until Max does something shocking and completely out of character that Brynn decides maybe she doesn’t want to get to know him better.

If you’ve read the previous books in this series, you will be familiar with the cast of characters, pretty much all of them make an appearance. For some reason I found this book to be a bit slower paced in parts and it took me awhile to really become invested in this couple’s relationship. Which kind of makes me sad.

I think the other thing that brought me out of the story a couple of times was the constant comments amongst the female characters about how fine the Mustang men were. Do sports wives do this? About each other’s significant others? It felt kind of weird. Hmmm… maybe it’s just a me thing.

Overall I some issues, but did enjoy this book. I look forward to whatever this author puts out next.

I adored the first two, standalone books in Alexa Martin’s Playbook series, so I eagerly awaited the third installment, Blitzed. I am thrilled to say that it did not disappoint. It’s an entertaining and heartwarming slow-burn romance featuring a quietly charming, smart and sexy football player, Maxwell, and a feisty, vibrant and hilarious business woman, Brynn. He patiently and sweetly pursues her, and I love how they develop a genuine friendship before things turn romantic. Alexa Martin’s dry, sharp wit is present on every page and will have you laughing to the point of tears, and you’ll adore the cast of strong secondary characters who are Brynn’s loyal girlfriends. Blitzed is a funny, feel-good read that you do not want to miss.

4.5 stars.
Blitzed is the third book in the Playbook series.
I LOVED LOVED LOVED 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 & 𝙁𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙙.
Alexa Martin's writing is clever witted and fresh. I couldn't wait to read an ARC of 𝘽𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙯𝙚𝙙.

I couldn't put this book down. It's such an addictive sports romance.
I fell in love with swoony Maxwell.

I love that once you fall in love with characters in different books, you can still follow their relationships throughout the other books.

These books were inspired by the eight years Alexa spent as an NFL wife, so she knows the true ins and outs.

Alexa has become a one-click author for me, and I can't wait for her next book.

I've read the first two books in the series and was pleased to see this one on NetGalley. One of the things I liked about this is that, unlike many contemporary romances, I didn't feel like there was a manufactured conflict between the leads. Brynn, the main female character, struggles with trust and commitment, but the root of her issues is clear and the way she works through it seems somewhat realistic. The romance is supposed to be the main point here, but I was actually more interested in the female friendships that seemed to me to be the heart of the bok.

I love, love, love, this series! In this, the third book we finally get to see Brynn get her HEA. Hunky Maxwell, a player for the Mustangs, and she have been sort of flirting for a while. Brynn is somewhat hesitant about dating an athlete after a bad experience. Maxwell, the big brawny football player is just shy! When he finally decides to make a move, something triggers him and he ends up acting the fool. Game over for Brynn, no second chance.

Of course we know he’s going to make every effort to get back on her good side and she’s gonna let him. Like the other two books in the series, the story is not all fluff. The romance builds up slowly and pays off in the end. Brynn has serious trust issues and Maxwell blows his first chance. Maxwell has issues of his own that impede his pursuit. With the help of the Lady Mustangs, the players, and Brynn’s staff and friends, these two work it out.

This is a great winter read. Hunker down on a comfy couch with a nice glass of wine and enjoy this romance!

Blitzed was going so well, and then it completely stuck the landing. It just blew it. The final major conflict could've gone in the direction of working with the relationship building of the book and been used as a h/h versus antagonist but no, it went another way. Then there was not enough grovel. The grovel should've been EPIC to rebuild trust.

I liked how Blitzed starts off as an epic (four years!) slow burn and then friends to lovers book. Brynn is a business owner who's professional success is continuing with her bar, and Maxwell is a football player who's doing well and doesn't have an ego about it (which is pretty dang rare). Brynn has an amazing group of friends and a fantastic, supportive dad who raised her after her mom bailed. I loved seeing them with their friends who are all for them getting together.

The book opens when it finally seems like that is a go until Maxwell throws his phone and breaks a mirror and shelves in Brynn's bar after a phone call. Then he is persona non grata to her. It takes waaaay too long for him to finally talk about the conflict he's facing. I don't think I will reread this - though I really loved parts of it - because I will want to skip the last few chapters of the book.
Blitzed was going so well, and then it completely stuck the landing. It just blew it. The final major conflict could've gone in the direction of working with the relationship building of the book and been used as a h/h versus antagonist but no, it went another way. Then there was not enough grovel. The grovel should've been EPIC to rebuild trust.


I liked how Blitzed starts off as an epic (four years!) slow burn and then friends to lovers book. Brynn is a business owner who's professional success is continuing with her bar, and Maxwell is a football player who's doing well and doesn't have an ego about it (which is pretty dang rare). Brynn has an amazing group of friends and a fantastic, supportive dad who raised her after her mom bailed. I loved seeing them with their friends who are all for them getting together.


The book opens when it finally seems like that is a go until Maxwell throws his phone and breaks a mirror and shelves in Brynn's bar after a phone call. Then he is persona non grata to her. It takes waaaay too long for him to finally talk about the conflict he's facing. I don't think I will reread this - though I really loved parts of it - because I will want to skip the last few chapters of the book.

Readers of the series will enjoy catching up with all of the characters. It would also be a good recommendation for readers looking for a heroine who is an entrepreneur.

Blitzed is the third book in the Playbook series, which focuses on the love lives of the Denver Mustangs football team. Written by a former NFL wife, these fun, flirty, sexy stories sing with authenticity and humor. You don’t have to read the first two books to enjoy this one but you definitely should. Not only does it give you a deeper introduction to some of the characters, they’re such wonderful reads you simply won’t want to miss them.

We first met Brynn Sterling, owner of the female centered bar HERS, in Intercepted, book one of the saga. She gave the heroine of that story a job, and consequently, HERS  became the monthly meeting place for the Lady Mustangs, the official organization of the WAGS (wives and girlfriends) of the Mustang players and the unofficial hangout for a lot of the WAGS during away games. The ladies also often meet at HERS for lunch or just to shoot the breeze, and as a result, Brynn has become an informal member of their group. She’s developed a lot of great friendships, not just with the wives and girlfriends but with the players who have begun hanging out at HERS too. Especially with shy, quiet Maxwell Lewis. The gorgeous hunk doesn’t say much but his slow smile and subtle wit have made him one of Brynn’s favorite people. They’ve been cautiously flirting for four years when it looks like he finally might make his move.  Brynn is all ready to get aboard the idea of a friends with benefits situation when the unthinkable happens. Maxwell gets a phone call while sitting at the bar as she’s serving drinks and is so angered by whatever is said that he finishes it not by hanging up but by flinging his cell at a top-tier bottle of tequila that was sitting on a shelf behind Brynn. Before she can react, the glass snifter of whiskey he was drinking follows it, knocking into the shelf and shattering bottles in a truly spectacular fashion. Another Mustang player hustles Maxwell out the door, leaving her standing in glass shards and spilled alcohol, wondering what had driven her bashful, sweet friend to behave as he did.

The next morning Maxwell slips a check under the door to pay for damages and HERS is back to normal in no time. Well, almost back to normal. Maxwell comes in, ready to make his apologies, but Brynn is not in a forgiving mood. She ignores him for a full week before the WAGS take pity on him and arrange for him to join her during a tasting at a brewery. Brynn and Maxwell work out their issues over a few artisanal beers and after a bit more flirting, they move from the seeing-each-other-when-with-mutual-friends-zone to the hanging-out-friends zone. She introduces him to the TV show Parks and Recreation. He takes her to museums and buys her slushies and sneakers. They start dating and Brynn is pretty sure she’s looking at true love when a single weekend away ushers in a string of tragedies that have her questioning everything she believed about the man she loves - and herself.

The synopsis above in no way captures the utter charm of this story. Brynn is an absolutely fabulous heroine: strong and independent but with a heart of gold. I loved her sense of humor and her witty yet silly way of saying things, but most of all, I loved how she viewed life. The author gives her unique perspectives on things and I got a kick out of looking at the world from her point of view. For example, one of my favorite portions of the book was when she talks about the experience a bar can provide:

It’s weird to me. That all of us can come to the same places, laugh, smile and for a moment our lives are in sync. But then we leave and those bonds we so sparingly made are severed. The women you laughed with as you fixed your lipstick in the bathroom are forgotten. We are so intertwined, yet at the same time so distant that no cocktail or Ping-Pong game can ever bridge the gap. But for a moment, these places change that. For a small window in our lives, differences are forgotten and the only thing that matters is being happy with whoever surrounds you.

To me, that captures perfectly one of the small joys of going out, and that sort of wise, astute way of looking at the world meant I enjoyed every moment I spent with this heroine.

Maxwell is a great character, too. That opening sequence in the bar, where he throws the phone, initially had me very nervous. I’m not a fan of men who express their frustrations with violent gestures but this was a one off moment for Maxwell and when we learn everything that led to it, we can understand if not necessarily condone it. Once we move past that episode, we realize how perfect he is for Brynn. He’s kind, thoughtful, devoted, caring and patient. He really listens to her, cares about what matters to her and shares with her what matters to him. Brynn has issues from her past that have had her wary about commitment but Maxwell’s calm, steady presence as a friend gives her the time she needs to make a choice about moving them from friends to lovers. The author does a really nice job of showing us what’s at stake for both of them; not only do they have problems from their pasts to get beyond, but the fact that HERS is so closely linked with Maxwell’s job means that they need to handle every aspect of their relationship carefully. They would both still be attending events at HERS that involved the Mustangs if things didn’t work out and they wanted that to be able to happen with as little drama as possible.

So they take a while to become a couple but I loved going on that journey with them. They build a very solid foundation before moving towards the physical spectrum of the relationship but while I’m not always a fan of the slow burn romance, it really works here because the characters connected so well in every other way.

I also loved how the author kept all the characters we’ve loved throughout the series engaged in the story without them being obvious cameos. As friends of both characters, they’re an integral, natural part of the narrative. I also adored the new secondary character of Brynn’s dad; it was great to get to know (and love) him.

Blitzed is a fantastic, lighthearted love story that is sure to please Ms. Martin’s many fans and make her some new ones. I strongly recommend it to contemporary romance fans, especially those who like their romances funny, sexy and sweet.

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo
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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.

Blitzed is the third book in Alexa Martin’s Playbook series. Although there wasn’t anything uniquely compelling about Brynn and Maxwell’s relationship, there were things that I rather liked. I like that Maxwell and Brynn fall in love over small things, like their shared love of 7/11 taquitos and slurpees. I love the ease between them. Maxwell is soft spoken and shy, despite being an incredibly talented and famous football player. Brynn is excitable, a bit scattered, but she’s dedicated to HERS and creating a safe and special space for women. The middle of the book is a mixture of the same type of scenes, repeated and reordered: football games, Brynn and Maxwell on dates/watching TV, Brynn and her friends. It continues like this, interrupted only briefly to introduce Maxwell’s half-brother Theo, who Maxwell tells Brynn not only to stay away from, but to never be alone with.
Blitzed is a novel bookended with two incredibly startling and upsetting events and filled with a lot of nice but aimless scenes of female friendship and a lot of meandering thoughts courtesy of Brynn. And, after my delight in the first two books of the series, Blitzed was also a let down.
When I think about Blitzed in conversation with the previous two books in the series, where I think that Blitzed struggles is that it lacks a central linchpin like Intercepted and Fumbled. In Intercepted, Marlee leaves her cheating boyfriend and builds an independent life for the first time in adulthood while falling in love again. In Fumbled, Poppy must tell TK about the son he never knew existed. In Blitzed, Brynn… talks about Parks and Recreation a lot? Worries about becoming her mother, but only sometimes and rarely in a way that made sense to me? I’d like to imagine that the next book in the series might be able to right the plot-ship after this, but I’m not sure if I’ll stick my neck out to find out.