Blindside Lesson: A Nerd/Jock Football MM Romance (Desert Football Book 5)

Colton's story was done really tactfully and not overdone. You can see his growth. I love these 2 as a couple. I really liked Evan and I'm looking forward to his book. I hope Dante gets a book too!

Travis/Tex & Colton "He made me feel safe, desired, attractive...all the emotions I hadn't felt in so long." "Tex gave me what no one else could--confidence in myself. That I was worthy of being desired and loved." Travis is a complete sweetheart and while immediately and passionately drawn to Colton, he never tries to overstep any bounds because he's not just like that. There's a lot of emotional growth in this story, mostly from Colton's side because Travis is pretty aware of who he is and how he wants to live his life, which is great to see because it's not always easy to have that feeling in place for a college student. Watching these two talk everything through and develop their relationship and the romance was really sweet and a lot of fun. And as it always is for any of the series I've read from Christy Gordon, the Desert Dogs are going to be ones I'm going to have to read again, but I'll probably have to backtrack just because the universe is so interconnected that it's fun when you have a random cameo in this last football book about the lead singer of the rock band at least two series ago. I absolutely disliked Sara, and her absolute persistence with trying to get together with Colton. She goes way too far, way beyond the preferred interactions between people, especially possible romance partners. She doesn't listen to Colton and she actively puts herself in between Colton and Travis. The resolution of her part in the storyline was acceptable, but felt like it…

I have really enjoyed this series and was looking forward to Tex’s story and it did not disappoint! I’m a big fan of the whole jock/nerd trope and again – Tex and Colton delivered there! I liked how genuine and real their story felt, they catch feelings pretty quickly but it’s not all simple and easy for them. Colton has some real issues he’s working through and Tex shows up and is such a great source of support and love for him. I loved that Tex sticks with him though – determined to get his man. I thought this was a really heartfelt read, there’s a real mix of romance, humor, sweetness and also trauma and healing. It’s very moving! I really liked the balance of their story, how it all mixed together and gave it a good flow. I also loved how many characters from other books show up and really round out the whole story. Overall, I definitely enjoyed this book. Tex and Colton are just perfect for each other and find their happiness together. There are great supporting characters and even some family redemption to really bring it all together. A great conclusion the Desert Football series filled with wonderful characters and so much love!

The 5-book Desert Football series by Christie Gordon comes to its natural conclusion in Blindside Lesson, with all of the housemates in the “Desert Dog” queer football house finally finding their happily ever after. ASU college senior and offensive lineman on the college football team, Travis (Tex), is the remaining household member not paired up. Since ending a serious relationship with his high school sweetheart, Dante, a few years prior, he has been more focused on his football career and academics than romance, but after seeing his friends coupling off one by one, he feels like maybe that’s something he might want as well. He lucks into meeting Colton when searching for a tutor for his business analytics class. He expects his tutor to be a nerd. And he may be nerdy, but Colton is also exactly Travis’ type. Travis is unclear whether Colton is even interested in men. But he surely wants to find out and goes to great lengths to solve that mystery. Colton is a grad student at ASU, having moved to Arizona from Rochester, NY where he grew up. Colton had gone through some personal trauma for a time before moving to Arizona and is still struggling with its impact on his sexuality when first meeting Travis. He is bisexual, but has actively been avoiding dating men for reasons I won’t share here to avoid spoilers. Though they are both attracted to each other from the start, Colton is hesitant to pursue any kind of relationship, especially a public one, with Travis due to…

4.5 stars, rounded to 5 This turned out to be a fitting ending to the Desert Football series when Travis/Tex, last unattached member of the Desert Dog House, finally meets his match. It’s senior year, and three ASU football players remain in the house. Malik and Grey have hooked up, leaving Travis the odd man out. He’s been concentrating on classes and football since his breakup Sophmore year with his long-distance boyfriend, but seeing Malik and Grey so wrapped up in each other, the desire to have someone of his own is starting to take hold. When he hires a tutor to help him with the difficult math in a business class, there is an instant connection to the quiet, controlled man, but Travis has no idea if the tutor, Colton, would be interested in him. It was fun watching Tex try to figure out whether any interest was on Colton’s side, since his interested glances and body language didn’t match the verbal message. Colton has years worth of baggage he is dealing with, making it difficult for him to accept that he is interested in Tex, and at times the hot, then cold, drives Tex crazy. But Tex is willing to give Colton all the time he needs to figure things out, willing to keep things in the friend zone in public, always there with encouragement and support, not giving up on this intriguing man. There are pitfalls along the way, especially an annoying other student of Colton’s that bring out the green-eyed monster in Tex, as well as Colton’s relationship with his dad, but…