Marlee is a fierce, loving and sassy heroine, determined to be independent for the first time in her life—even if it means sacrificing the best sex (and the best relationship) she's ever had. Her love story isn't about which football player is The One for her, it's about a woman claiming her independence on her own terms, even when a hunky guy keeps coming to the rescue.
By far, the most stunning achievement in this book is the first person 'voice' of Marlee. I don’t just mean she’s telling the story, it’s that Alexa Martin’s has created an entirely distinctive worldview which saturates every page in the book. Marlee uses sharp, sarcastic humor (there’s a lot of ironic hashtagging, which #WorkedForMeButMightNotForYou) to create the armor she shows to the world, but we also see the ways she’s struggling ... This deep dive into Marlee’s point of view isn’t just a technical achievement; it feels brave. Alexa Martin isn’t afraid to include Marlee’s negative, spiteful, or mean feelings. For me, this was refreshing ... Unfortunately, that first person narration that works so well to develop Marlee fails to create compelling characterization for both Chris and the hero, Gavin Pope ... as a romance, it was disappointing. Marlee’s strong voice wasn’t enough to overcome the uneven pacing, the fuzziness of Gavin’s character, and the number of plotting shortcuts.
Apart from Naomi, Marlee’s best friend, who is married to another Mustangs player, all of the Lady Mustangs are terrible, awful people. I admit I had some discomfort with just how many bitchy women were portrayed. I know women can be terrible people but the sheer volume of them in Intercepted was a thing to behold. I expect for some readers this will be a dealbreaker ... In some respects Chris was a bit of a caricature because he was just so awful I did wonder why Marlee had put up with him for so long. In contrast (but even without that contrast to be honest) Gavin is a dream. He’s respectful, helpful, kind, generous, thoughtful and sexy ... For the most part the writing was clever and engaging, with plenty of humour and apart from all the hashtags it worked for me. However, some of the tropes used felt a little tired and I didn’t understand and did not like Gavin’s actions toward the end of the book (he’s not a cheater readers, no fears on that account).
Fresh voices and strong multicultural characters from every rung of the social ladder make Martin’s debut novel a must-read for fans of contemporary romance with a sporty twist. This witty, sexy, and refreshingly realistic take on what it’s like to date a professional athlete is a reflection of Martin’s real-life experience as an NFL wife.
The ups and downs of love in the NFL are well portrayed with a heavy dose of humor and snark in Martin’s sports romance ... . Marlee’s frequently self-deprecating first-person account, including catchy hashtags ('All aboard, ladies and gentlemen. #HotMessExpress'), will be perfect for readers looking for a fun contemporary.
