Stealing Hearts by Lex Martin

POV: Dual 1st Person
3rd ACT BREAK-UP: Yes
TROPES: Single Dad, Age Gap, Marriage of Convenience, Small Town; Brothers Best Friend
SERIES: Wild at Heart book 1
TYPE OF SERIES: Series of Standalones
RELEASE DATE:January 30, 2025
PoP: 47%

Lex Martin spins off her Varsity Dads series with Stealing Hearts. I’m giving it a solid 3/5. The execution was a little uneven, but the heart is present. There were some strong moments and tropes I usually love, this one didn’t fully land for me the way I hoped it would. 

The setup had me totally buzzing going in:

✅ Brother’s best friend
✅ Grumpy single dad
✅ Marriage of convenience
✅ Return to small-town life
✅ A wild, over-the-top ex
✅ Suspense element

I wanted to love Paige and Rhett. Their backstory was compelling. The anger she feels towards him, his anger at her (and himself) works. All the ingredients were there. But unfortunately, the payoff just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Rhett and Paige’s chemistry was where I needed it to be. I kept waiting for that moment where I’d feel their love story take off—and it never fully happened.

Rhett, as our grumpy hero and single dad, had some really sweet moments—especially with his boys—but his emotional walls felt unbreakable at times. He’s guarded for reasons, but I wanted to see more self-awareness by the end. Paige had fire, and I appreciated her resilience as well as her connection to the Rhett’s boys. She returns home with her tail between her legs a little, and injured. However, she’s not the same girl who left. She’s smart, grounded, and just vulnerable enough to make you cheer her on through every chapter. 

And let’s talk about that ex. The added drama felt a bit forced especially when getting to the nitty gritty of her why. It felt like Martin wasn’t sure where to take this storyline and went with an easy route.

I did enjoy the suspense element that wove through the story and part of the reason for the marriage in the first place.  It was well thought out and gave reason and depth to the story.

That said—if you’re into slowish burns with emotional undercurrents and a good small-town romance vibe, there’s definitely something here for you. The bones of the story are solid, and I am curious to see how the rest of the Wild at Heart series develops. With a bit more polish, this series could totally find its stride.

⭐⭐⭐/5. Some sweet moments, a strong premise, but a bit uneven in delivery. Stealing Hearts is worth a read if you love single dads and small-town tropes—just go in with tempered expectations.

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