Fumbled (Playbook #2) by Alexa Martin

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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 sixteen 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.

Source: advance e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review


Who can resist a second chance romance? Certainly not me. Poppy gets the shock of her life when she unexpectedly sees TK, her very former high school boyfriend, at her place of work. She's successfully maintained a low key existence with just herself and her son and then suddenly her past crashes into her. TK can't believe that the girl he was in love with in high school and who disappeared without a notice is now standing in front of him. It's almost surreal. The crazy thing is that they've been living in the same city for a few years now and have never run into each other. It's amazing that Poppy has managed not to freak out about that since TK is one of the most popular athletes in Denver. Now that TK knows that she's okay, he's not willing to lose her again and slowly begins to insinuate himself into her life.

This is going to be so awkward for Poppy when she finally confesses to him the real reason why she left without a word years ago. Psst...he's her baby daddy. It's not a huge secret in the story. Poppy is completely aware that she owes TK the truth so it's a matter of when and ... you can imagine how that goes. Shock. Disbelief. TK feels betrayed at first but then comes around. The rest of the story is about him and Poppy getting reacquainted with each other, getting to know his son, and settling into some kind of a routine as an instant family of three. There's a lot of baggage to unpack between them from what pushed Poppy to leave, to boundaries for TK as a sudden dad, to her unease over the risks of TK's livelihood. The last one becoming more critical as she and her son get closer to him.

Poppy was utterly enjoyable. Despite all her struggles, she has a sunny disposition though she does let the sarcasm drip quite often. She's carved out a comfortable and content life that suits her just fine. She's also resilient and it shows. TK might be a giant on the football field but off of it he's more subdued. He doesn't have an ego or an overtly macho thing going on. He's obviously still in love with Poppy and wants to convince her to give them another chance. I simply liked the two of them together. Admittedly, their reunion does have a few hiccups but it's still seems smooth overall, perhaps a little too smoothly for anyone skeptical. But Poppy is most certainly not about drama so the progression of their relationship made sense to me. I question the angelicness of the kid. Maybe it's an odd thing to remark on and don't get me wrong, sweet, angelic kids exist but it cracks me up that whether it's on tv or in books, single parents almost always seem to have amazing non-back talking, rule-following kids. Yes, I'm a mom of three and that's where I get skeptical. LOL.

The first book in the Playbook series, Intercepted was loads of fun and Fumbled is just as enjoyable and satisfying. I appreciate the interracial romance though that's not even addressed as a "thing" in the story. And talk about things working out in the end -- if ever a heroine deserved to have everything, it's our girl Poppy here.

~ Bel

Her Best Friend's Secret by Anna Mansell

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She deserves the truth. But it will ruin her life. What would you do? 

Emily was meant to be the girl who escaped their small Cornish town. She was going to be the success story. But it didn’t work out the way she’d dreamed it would. And now she’s back home. With a secret that’s even bigger than her failure. 

Emily thinks she can just hide away. But then she runs in to Lolly, her one-time best friend from school, who spontaneously suggests a small reunion with their once close-knit group of friends. Jess and Amanda still live nearby, though none of the four women have spoken in years now. 

But after so much time, everyone’s lives have changed. Nothing is as easy as it was in their schooldays. And everyone’s got secrets. One of which is big enough to ruin not just the fragile friendships, but one woman’s whole life… 

Full of truths about friendship, marriage, and the relationships that define us, Her Best Friend’s Secret is a powerful, relatable and emotionally gripping novel for fans of Jojo Moyes, Diane Chamberlain, and The Silent Wife. 

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review


Emily, Lolly, Amanda and Jess were the best of friends back in the day having shared some memorable and significant moments with each other. When Emily abruptly moved away it put an end to that. The group's dynamic seemed to change overnight and the remaining three began to grow apart as well. 

They're all in their forties now and at different points in their lives. Emily went on to enjoy acting success in America, Lolly became a physical therapist and is married with kids, Amanda who works two jobs is divorced and semi-estranged from her daughter, and Jess has forged a successful career in advertising and continues to enjoy her singleton life. Emily running in to Lolly on her return home is the catalyst that brings the four friends together again. Interestingly, all four are apprehensive about meeting up. After all these years, what could they possibly have in common anymore? However, they all come around when they recall the fondness they had for one another and that maybe they could do with some girl time. 

This was my favourite aspect of the novel - their reunion! As soon as they were in the same room it was like all that time and distance didn't matter. Getting reacquainted is a bit awkward at first but that bond they built as teenagers is as strong as ever. Behind the smiles they're all dealing with the demands of life and personal situations that feel too big to take on without the support of the girls. As troubling as their own problems are, one of them holds a big secret that could crush the other friend. Which brings me to the most standout part of the story: each of these women are strong in their own unique way. When they find the other in trouble, they come to each other's aid without hesitation or judgment. I loved that Mansell allowed Emily, Lolly, Amanda and Jess to embrace themselves as they are. I'd say out of all the characters I was most surprised by how much I liked Amanda. I think in my younger days I would've judged her the hardest, and this is the advantage of being older and wiser, I guess, because I'm learning to abide by the motto of to each her own. Don't get me wrong, I liked all of them but Amanda astonished me because she owns every decision she has ever made about her life and owes no one apologies for how she's finding happiness. I was rather fascinated by her. 

I'd previously read Mansell's How to Mend a Broken Heart and admired how she captured her characters' emotions in it. She's done the same thing with Her Best Friend's Secret. It takes a few chapters to set up the pieces but it's thoroughly delightful once it gets underway, even though I knew that Mansell would crush me shortly. And she did. It didn't lessen the blow even when I suspected what was about to come. I was so invested in this story, in these four women, in their friendship. I'm happy to say that Mansell does give each of them their well-deserved and fitting HEA. Female friendships are a tricky thing to write. It's hard to find heroines who feel well-rounded and don't succumb to one stereotype or another. Women are complex and when an author can capture that with sincerity and allow them their strengths and flaws, and celebrate their uniqueness, I'm all for it!

~ Bel

*Please see labels below for content warning and/or potential triggers.

How We Deal With Gravity Cover Re-Reveal

HOW WE DEAL WITH GRAVITY by Ginger Scott is getting a new look! Check it out!

How We Deal With Gravity by Ginger Scott

NA Contemporary Romance

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Blurb:

When her son Max was diagnosed with autism, Avery Abbot’s life changed forever. Her husband left, and her own dreams became a distant fantasy—always second to fighting never-ending battles to make sure Max was given opportunity, love and respect. Finding someone to fight along her side wasn’t even on her list, and she’d come to terms with the fact that she could never be her own priority again.

But a familiar face walking into her life in the form of 25-year-old Mason Street had Avery’s heart waging a war within. Mason was a failure. When he left his hometown five years ago, he was never coming back—it was only a matter of time before his records hit the billboard charts. Women, booze and rock-n-roll—that was it for him. But it seemed fate had a different plan in mind, and with a dropped record contract, little money and nowhere to go, Mason turned to the only family that ever made him feel home—the Abbots.

Avery loved Mason silently for years—until he broke her heart…completely. But time and life have a funny way of changing people, and sometimes second chances are there for a reason. Could this one save them both?

Bel first reviewed How We Deal With Gravity back in 2014. Click here to read it!

About the Author:

Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling and Goodreads Choice Award-nominated author of several young and new adult romances, including Waiting on the Sidelines, Going Long, Blindness, How We Deal With Gravity, This Is Falling, You and Everything After, The Girl I Was Before, Wild Reckless, Wicked Restless, In Your Dreams, The Hard Count, Hold My Breath, A Boy Like You and A Girl Like Me.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger’s other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. (She’s also a sucker for a hot quarterback, catcher, pitcher, point guard…the list goes on.) Ginger has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for more than 15 years. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.

When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).

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What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi

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Scroll down for info about a fantastic giveaway!

It’s all Ryden’s fault. If he hadn’t gotten Meg pregnant, she would have never stopped her chemo treatments and would still be alive. Instead, he’s failing fatherhood one dirty diaper at a time. And it’s not like he’s had time to grieve while struggling to care for their infant daughter, start his senior year, and earn the soccer scholarship he needs to go to college.

The one person who makes Ryden feel like his old self is Joni. She’s fun and energetic—and doesn’t know he has a baby. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to keep his two worlds separate. Finding one of Meg’s journals only stirs up old emotions, and Ryden’s convinced Meg left other notebooks for him to find, some message to help his new life make sense. But how is he going to have a future if he can’t let go of the past?

Ryden is weighed down by so much guilt – getting his girlfriend pregnant, his girlfriend dying because of it, feeling inadequate as a father for his baby girl Hope, and not being able to keep up with school. He’s trying desperately to fulfill his responsibilities but this is also a seventeen year-old who has a lot of growing up to do.  

Verdi gives a realistic portrayal of what life is like with a baby. His world is turned upside down and inside out. It’s hard enough on any new parent let alone a teenager with very limited resources. And the guy wants to do the right thing by his child. But he also wants time off to experience a bit of the life he’s had to give up in order to be a father. Much of the story focuses on his struggle to figure out what a father should be. He grew up without one and he wonders how much of that factors into his ability to be a good dad to Hope. He also wants to pursue his love of soccer with the intention of getting a full ride to college. A full ride means a stellar education and the promise of a more secure future for him and his child. But the demands of that commitment to the team add more pressure to his already tight schedule. At many intervals he was rather naïve about what he could accomplish considering his circumstances. Yet, I didn't want to see his hopes dashed. 

Ryden’s frantic search for Meg’s journals become his obsession. He’s convinced that reading them will give him answers, a stronger connection to Meg and her thoughts. He doesn’t bank on them giving him more questions. He's also blindsided by his growing feelings for his co-worker, Joni who takes his mind off of his chaotic life. It’s a reprieve when he’s with her because he can temporarily suspend this other part of his life and just be. It’s a jerk move but the guy is confused and overwhelmed by life in general so he’s not exactly making the wisest of decisions. 

With sincerity and honesty, Verdi gives us a heartbroken single teen dad trying to adjust to life with his child. He's doing his best to make ends meet and to learn what it means to be a parent with the help of his resilient mother and two other friends who knew Meg well. Understanding where all the pieces of himself and Meg fit take an emotional toll on him. But part of growing up and maturing is understanding what can be fixed, what needs to be let go of and when to ask for help. There's hope for Ryden yet, and this guy who wants to be everything for his daughter, is a hero.

~ Bel

Enter the giveaway for your chance to win one of three signed copies of What You Left Behind and three signed bookmarks courtesy of Sourcebooks Fire! You can also read the first chapter.

How We Deal With Gravity by Ginger Scott

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When her son Max was diagnosed with autism, Avery Abbot’s life changed forever. Her husband left, and her own dreams became a distant fantasy—always second to fighting never-ending battles to make sure Max was given opportunity, love and respect. Finding someone to fight along her side wasn’t even on her list, and she’d come to terms with the fact that she could never be her own priority again.

But a familiar face walking into her life in the form of 25-year-old Mason Street had Avery’s heart waging a war within. Mason was a failure. When he left his hometown five years ago, he was never coming back—it was only a matter of time before his records hit the billboard charts. Women, booze and rock-n-roll—that was it for him. But it seemed fate had a different plan in mind, and with a dropped record contract, little money and nowhere to go, Mason turned to the only family that ever made him feel home—the Abbots.

Avery loved Mason silently for years—until he broke her heart…completely. But time and life have a funny way of changing people, and sometimes second chances are there for a reason. Could this one save them both?

A while ago, I bypassed this title because it just didn’t seem up my alley. Recently after being thoroughly charmed by This Is Falling I decided to give this a go and what I discovered is another gem from Ginger Scott.

The tone is absolutely heavier than some books I’ve read of late. The first chapter opens with Abby at a grocery store trying her best to console her son Max as he’s having a public meltdown. Those few pages capture the very real hardship of being the parent of an autistic child. And it’s not just learning how to work with their autistic child, it’s also having to endure the judgmental attitudes of people who couldn’t bother to understand that it's not a simple behavioural issue. I was shocked by some of the things Abby describes.

Abby’s whole world is her son. Everything she does and works towards is to make a better future for him. She sacrifices a lot to do that and relies heavily on her father and her best friend for support. Both of them give willingly and it’s comforting that they both adore and love Abby and Max so much. Simply put, they're awesome and Abby is truly blessed to call them family. Mason comes back to town to recover from his band’s disaster of a tour. He expects to just lay low and reevaluate things but he’s thrown when he runs into Abby. They have a history, one of being friends only but seeing her now, Mason would like more than that.

Initially, Mason is a bit of a jerk but something about Abby causes him to refocus his priorities. Hearing of her divorce and what her life is like now, and seeing how special Max is, he finds himself delicately infiltrating their lives. Abby in the meantime is skeptical. The Mason she remembers was a self-centered knucklehead and she has no room for someone like that in her life. She and Max are a package deal and anyone who wants in has to accept that Max and his needs will always come first. Is Mason up to the task? And is Abby willing to find out? 

As I read along, I found myself internalizing a lot of things. Parenting is hard. I’m the mother of three kids and I wonder some days how I manage in between dealing with three very distinct personalities, homework, shuffling them off to their various activities and social events, managing a household and having a job too. Having a child with special needs requires ultimate strength. Getting a glimpse into this life that requires strict order, routine and a bottomless well of patience and humility opened my eyes to the daily challenges that special needs children and their families face.

This is what Mason is exposed to and for the first time in his life, he’s thinking beyond himself. He comes a long way from the beginning of the book to become someone important to Abby and Max. When another career opportunity presents itself, he has to weigh the pros and cons of accepting it. This doesn’t mean that mistakes don’t happen. Screw ups are part of being human and Abby, who knows she doesn’t have it all figured out, is acutely aware of that.

How We Deal With Gravity is revealing and hopeful. Reading is the best kind of magic where you’re transported into a different world. In this case, it’s the world that we live in. But we get to see it through a new lens thanks to Ginger Scott's beautifully crafted and sensitive story.

~ Bel