Review: Heartbreaker Handoff by Lex Martin (Varsity Dads #5)

March 08, 2024

Note: An advance reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author via Give Me Books Promotions.

While moving to Charming, Texas with her family wasn't exactly something that twenty-year-old Roxanne Santos wanted, she was used to it, what with her father's football career as a player and coach. So yeah, she may have rebelled a bit and partied more than her parents would have wanted, but she's finally getting herself in order and proving her worth as a cheerleader in the same Division 1 university her father is the football coach at. Until one unplanned pregnancy test puts her scholarship at risk and guarantees the disappointment of her parents. The fact that she finds out that the star quarterback who got her pregnant wasn't as faithful as he proclaimed to be makes matters worse. But she's got a strong support system made up of close-knit friends, particularly her best friend, Billy. Twenty-year-old William Babcock is the football team's safety, and while he's good on the field, his reputation off of it appears to be putting his chances of getting drafted in question. His coach isn't a fan of his either. So claiming to be the father of Rox's baby even though he isn't? Well, it's certainly going to make the next few months interesting. Adding that simmering attraction between Rox and Billy could lead to heartbreak...for both.

The world needs more Billy Babcocks. I mean, the guy may have had notable extracurricular activities in the past, but there's no doubting just how devoted he was to Rox, and that was even before they got together. Yes, he was dedicated to football, but he made a point of putting Rox--and Marley--first, and who the heck wouldn't want that?! As for Rox, it took a while for her to get her footing and to speak up for herself. Having Billy by her side proved to be the push she needed, and I enjoyed seeing the growth she experienced. Rox and Billy's story was a friends-to-lovers romance, and the fact that Rox was pregnant with another guy's child was definitely an angle that stirred up interesting touchpoints for both of them. There were a lot of lighthearted moments here, interspersed with a sprinkling of angst. Marley's biological father was, well, someone who was neither worthy of Rox or his daughter. In as much as I love a redemption story, there's just no redeeming this guy, plus I'm glad he isn't the male main character in the next book. All in all, Heartbreak Handoff was a great addition to the Varsity Dads series. Four stars.

-------------------------

Read my reviews for the Varsity Dads series: