Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Blindside Lesson
SERIES: Desert Football (Book 5)
AUTHOR: Christie Gordon
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 312 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 21, 2026
BLURB:
Getting a tutor was supposed to be about passing my class. Instead, it became the one thing I wasn’t prepared for.
Tex (Travis)
Football is my future. The draft. Everything I’ve worked for.
Walking into my tutor’s apartment, I don’t expect Colton Reed—quiet, brilliant, and tempting in a way that hits me hard.
He’s not my normal type. He’s not supposed to be an option.
He’s my tutor.
But he looks at me like I matter, like I’m more than a jersey and a body built for the line.
Every study session blurs into something closer. Heavier. Harder to walk away from.
I’ve never been confused about who I want.
But Colton makes me want things I can’t afford to lose.
My career. His job. Both our hearts.
And once I fall, I fall hard.
Colton
I like rules. Order. Lines that don’t get crossed.
Tutoring Travis Rowlings should’ve been simple.
Help him pass. Keep it professional. Don’t get attached.
Except he’s warm and earnest and looks at me like I’m something worth choosing.
And wanting him terrifies me, because I’ve never wanted a man like this before.
I’m not out. My father wouldn’t understand.
And falling for Travis could cost me everything I’ve built.
But every secret kiss and stolen moment pulls me deeper.
Pretending this doesn’t matter is becoming impossible.
I’m falling for my student.
And I can’t stop.
Blindside Lesson is book 5 in the Desert Football series, featuring a golden-hearted offensive lineman, a guarded graduate-student tutor, bi awakening vibes, forbidden attraction, secret dating, emotional vulnerability, found family, and heat that builds until it breaks.
Buy now and fall for the boys who never meant to cross the line—until love blindsides them both.
REVIEW:
Finally…we get the gorgeous Tex’s story! You know what they say…save the best for last and this one was pure gold!
Tex is in his last year of football at ASU. He’s a superstar and a beast on the field. He, Malik and Grey are the last ones to live in the Desert Dog House, a group of lgbtq+ football players that live together and support one another. All three are hoping to be chosen in the draft to play for the NFL. But he not only needs to play well on the field this final year of school but pass all his classes. And there lays the problem. Write a pages long essay,no problem, throw a bunch of math problems at him and it’s all over. This business analytics class is kicking his behind! His roommate and good friend Malik suggests that he get one of the tutors that ASU offer to help him pass the class. What he doesn’t expect was for Colton to be just his type! Colton is tutoring students as he finishes up his masters degree in business. His life is extremely orderly and needs to be that way. His mother’s death when he was a teenager really did a number on him. And being a rule follower, he has thwart these advances the gorgeous football player he’s tutoring is throwing at him. But can these two actually keep their hands…or lips off each other?
Tex has been the resident hottie that takes care of everyone. He’s the one that does the cooking for the Desert Dogs and watches out for his friends. Colton catching his eye and keeping it was a treat. I have wanted the gorgeous blond to get his HEA and NFL contract like all his friends. And Colton was the perfect man for Tex. Tex’s patience and caring demeanor was the perfect fit for Colton too. I loved them both and only wanted the best for them. I was thankful that Tex’s encouragement to reach out for professional therapy was followed by Colton. Just like Tex needed help with school and Colton was a great fit to help him, Colton desperately needed professional therapy to help him deal with his past and all that hurt.
If you read book four: Rushing Closer (which I recommend you read all these wonderful books in order) you will quickly realize that these two books take place at the same time. And you will get a special treat in meeting up with all the Desert Dog House mates at the end of this book which appears to be the final book of the series. I’m a football girl deep at heart and loved every minute of this final book and the whole series. Huge thumbs up for me!
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