Fraternize (Players Game #1)
by Rachel Van Dyken
Pub date: September 12, 2017
Publisher: Skyscape
Available in Canada through Thomas Allen & Son
Add to Goodreads
Pub date: September 12, 2017
Publisher: Skyscape
Available in Canada through Thomas Allen & Son
Add to Goodreads
Description:
New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken kicks off a brand-new series in which romance is a game and love is a touchdown.
Emerson just made her dream come true as a professional cheerleader for her favorite pro football team. But even though the plus-size athlete is breaking down boundaries, she still has to contend with the massive rulebook. Carbs? Nope. Chocolate? Definitely not. Still, Emerson loves her curves, and she’ll rock the hell out of this job even if it kills her. Except for one mandate that is easier read than done…
No fraternizing with the players.
Problem one is Miller Quinton: Emerson’s first love, first sex, and the guy who still ignites her daydreams and R-rated fantasies. Thrown back together, Miller and Emerson feel the undeniable pull of passion again, even if the conflict that tore them apart seems insurmountable. Then there’s way-too-sexy Grant Sanchez. He has a serious reputation with the ladies, and when it comes to winning someone he wants, he doesn’t let anyone stand in his way.
Now Emerson is breaking every rule in the manual. But what she doesn’t know is that she’s part of a wicked little game—one that could steal both her dream and her heart.
Emerson just made her dream come true as a professional cheerleader for her favorite pro football team. But even though the plus-size athlete is breaking down boundaries, she still has to contend with the massive rulebook. Carbs? Nope. Chocolate? Definitely not. Still, Emerson loves her curves, and she’ll rock the hell out of this job even if it kills her. Except for one mandate that is easier read than done…
No fraternizing with the players.
Problem one is Miller Quinton: Emerson’s first love, first sex, and the guy who still ignites her daydreams and R-rated fantasies. Thrown back together, Miller and Emerson feel the undeniable pull of passion again, even if the conflict that tore them apart seems insurmountable. Then there’s way-too-sexy Grant Sanchez. He has a serious reputation with the ladies, and when it comes to winning someone he wants, he doesn’t let anyone stand in his way.
Now Emerson is breaking every rule in the manual. But what she doesn’t know is that she’s part of a wicked little game—one that could steal both her dream and her heart.
My Thoughts:
This was a fun quick read (can be read in one night, but be prepared for a late night!)
I enjoyed the story and found that this was more a story of friends finding their way back to each other rather than a love story. It starts out as a love triangle but you may be surprised how it ends, I gotta say I was guessing who Emerson would pick all the way to the end- that's if she does pick someone...
I don't know much (or anything) about football, but if what they say in this book is true and there really is a rule of no FRATERNIZING between cheerleaders and football players, that's interesting. BUT what really angered me was that only the cheerleaders seemed to be punished when caught- does this really happen?!
With that said, Fraternize is well paced and broken up into multiple perspectives between Emerson, Miller and Sanchez (a bit), although I must say (as old followers will already know) I prefer to read from one perspective (and usually the heroines), so I think I would have preferred to have just a few chapters giving a sneak peek in the guys minds, I like to be kept guessing along with the heroine haha.
I would categorize this read as more of a slow burn new adult read. Each character has their own drama but no ones drama overwhelms the plot. Emerson is an incredibly likeable character, even though she still has some physical hang-ups (as many of us do). Miller was an ok character but I really was "cheering" for Sanchez through this whole book- he's adorable and charming!
The ending was satisfying and lets readers know where Rachel plans to take this crew in her sequel. I look forward to seeing all these characters in book 2!
If you're in the mood for a quick, slow burn romance with humour than give Fraternize a read!
Thank you Thomas Allen and Sons for the review copy!
Happy reading!!!
Get Your Copy Today!
About Rachel Van Dyken:
Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!
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Haven’t read part 1 of the chapter one excerpt yet?
Check out yesterday’s post to find out how this flashback fits in!
CHAPTER ONE EXCERPT – Part 2 of 2
(Then)
The locker room door shut behind the last cheer member, blanketing me in silence. Well, except for the noise coming from the other side of the room.
The walls were thin.
Very thin.
The guys were still shouting and banging hands against lockers.
I grinned and walked over to the door that led into the guys’ locker room. A small hallway with two offices divided the space between the girls’ and the guys’ locker rooms. The athletic director’s office was on one side and the football coaches’ office on the other. If you wanted to sneak across, you had to get on your hands and knees and crawl.
So I wasn’t at all surprised when I opened the door and looked down.
And Miller looked up.
“Fancy meeting you here.” I knelt to his level and crossed my arms. “Escaping so soon?”
“You know how I feel about male shower time.” His grin was back, but it was shaky. Yeah, I knew all too well how he felt about it.
Both of us had our issues.
I had my weight.
He had the color of his skin.
Stupid.
So damn stupid that tears threatened. Tears for him, not for me.
The white guys made fun of him for being too dark. And the black guys made fun of him for being too white.
He couldn’t win.
After a long game, I knew he was exhausted and just wanted to shower and go home.
“Come on.” I held out my hand and drug him into the girls’ locker room. “You can shower in here.”
“With you?”
“You should be so lucky, Casanova.”
“Break my heart, why don’t you,” he grumbled, placing a hand across his chest and then grabbed his bag from the floor.
He knew I’d let him in. He knew I’d say yes.
We were best friends.
Not that I’d ever admit it out loud since he’d probably wanted to test me—but I’d go to prison for the guy. Cheerfully.
I’d already suffered numerous school detentions in the name of friendship after joining in on several of his harmless pranks.
The principal called us Satan’s duo.
I took it as a compliment.
I think Miller did too.
“So…” He plopped his bag down on one of the benches and dropped his shorts.
Thank you Thomas Allen and Sons for this great preview and for allowing me to participate in the Blog Tour!
Make sure you follow the rest of the tour and enter for a chance to win a copy of Fraternize!
Fraternize Blog Tour Schedule:
Sept. 22 – Padfoots Library | Guest Post
