Fraternize

Players Game, Book 1

De: Rachel Van Dyken

Narrado por: Summer Morton, Jeremy York, Aiden Snow

New York Times best-selling 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.

©2017 Rachel Van Dyken (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved

Touchdown!

Touchdown for Rachel Van Dyken!! What a great book, not exactly how I saw it going at first which makes it even better! I can't wait to read more of the Players Game Series!

Wow! Great Story!💜

I loved this storyline. I wanted so much for Emerson to end up with him (no spoilers here) but also him too. My heart belonged to both men so I was rooting for them both. From the beginning of this story there were issues that caught my attention, curves, race & family drama this book has it all. Great chemistry, great characters, great story and absolutely amazing narration. I was a little disappointed that Aiden Snow didn’t come in until the close to the end but that’s just way it goes sometimes. It didn’t stop me from loving this book. Well done everyone.
I highly recommend this book.

Sisters Spotlight 💜

Hello Football Players

I don’t know what I was expecting when I started this book I knew I wanted something fun and light-hearted and that is exactly what I got. It does touch on some more serious issues but in a way that doesn’t feel so heavy if that makes sense.

Emerson is a character I immediately loved, her spirit and zest for life shows through even if life has kicked her down but good. She just picks herself up and rolls with the punches.

When we meet the men of this book you’re not sure who to like and why you want to like them both and want them both to be who Emerson needs but that isn’t this kind of book. I loved how it unfolds and why. It really made me see these characters in a different light I loved the story. I couldn’t stop listening!

The narration is FABULOUS! I loved how each POV has their own voice. It really brought this story to life. I love, love, loved it!

surprising

I wasn't sure I was going to finish the story at the beginning. I usually hate book with too much drama from the past. Em, Miller, Grant, and Kinzy hooked me and I listened straight through. loved this book. Maybe even more since I wasn't sure at first.

Football romance, 1st in series

Best Friends Cheerleader Emerson and Footballer Miller cross paths again after years of being estranged when she they are both hired by the Bucks Team. The sparks fly and the heat rises when seasoned Bucks player Grant is thrown in the mix, stirring the pot and making everyone question their current motives and past mistakes.

The narrative trio was an interesting spin. I'm not sure I would have chosen the mail narrators for the characters they each portrayed. I think it might have fit better for the personalities if they had flipped spots. It was still enjoyable to listen to.

Great Read

Fraternize (Players Game #1) was a great read by Rachel Van Dyken. Emerson has accomplished her dream of being a professional cheerleader for her favorite pro football team. There is one mandate for the cheerleaders to not fraternizing with the football players. Unfortunately for her Miller Quinton, her fist love, is on the team. They are thrown back together and feel the pull of eachother. But then there is Grant Sanchez, who wants Emerson as well. I enjoyed reading this book and cant wait to read more by the author.

Nothing like I expected, so much better!

This was my first book written by Rachel Van Dyken, but it won’t be my last. I loved the writing style and how the story was presented. It grabbed my attention, I actually only started listening to it because I had a spare 30 minutes… and I got lost in it for 3 hours, I was so engrossed. I wanted to know what was going to happen next, who was going to get the happy ever after.


So, I bought this book without reading the synopsis, something I rarely do, because, well, I’m picky. Then I read the synopsis and kinda deflated, I don’t like humiliation at the best of times, but especially if centered around weight. I just can’t. Of course, I had already started listening to it, so I figured I’d give it a chance. HOLY CRAP!!!!! This book was NOTHING like I expected. I can’t say that a love triangle is the type of trope I’ve ever sought out, but in this instance, it was done so well that I couldn’t help but love it. Both guys had something about them that was charming and lovable. Clearly, I’m not going to be able to say too much about the book and events because that would be a huge spoiler and you really don’t want this spoiling. You want to have this play out for you and stay on the edge, not knowing who Emerson is going to end up with.

These characters are fantastic. I love them all so much, they each bring something fun and compelling to the story. The banter between them is so fun.

Emerson is my spirit animal, I don’t know how she chose. I couldn’t even decide for her. I was so torn. She’s strong, stronger than I think she even gives herself credit for. She had a dream and even though she could have given it up, she didn’t. She kept fighting.
Sanchez was everything you thought he’d be and nothing you thought he’d be, I wanted to dislike him, I mean, come on, he’s a cocky football player who makes a bet every season on getting a cheerleader into bed and he’s set his sights on the ‘bigger’ girl. He’s an ass, and he turns that around so quick I think we get whiplash. You watch the change in him and it’s really quite beautiful. You can’t help but sit there and hope he doesn’t get his heart broken. I was rooting for him to get the girl.
Miller, sigh, I loved him, I got mad at him and I fell for him all over again. He’s so sweet, to begin with, every girl needs a friend like Miller, but then he’s so angry when he first encounters Emerson again and you really don’t know why, but as time goes on that attraction is undeniable and you’re sure they’re going to kiss and make up. And, yeah, I was also rooting for him to get the girl too. I wanted the second chance romance.

The relationship between the three main characters is compelling and you really don’t know which way it’s going to go until close to the end, and then a twist is thrown in to try and throw you off course. Here is a little spoiler, this book does not contain a lot of sex, if you’re hoping for the ‘players’ to be getting it on every chapter, I’m sorry, but this isn’t that book. Sexual tension, yes, heaps and heaps of sexual tension. This is a book that is very much character driven, my favourite, it’s about how each of them deals with, accept and move on from the past. It’s a story about friendship. Another thing I love about this book is that the guy that doesn’t get the girl doesn’t settle, he doesn’t get a runners-up prize so to speak.


This is the first performance I’ve heard by Summer Morton, but it will not be the last. I thought she was a fantastic choice for Emerson and handled both Miller and Sanchez really well too. I’m always nervous when I’m introduced to a female narrator, I’m so picky about what I like and male voices performed by a female are always a toughy, but I was pleasantly surprised and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more.

Jeremy York was as wonderful as ever. I could listen to him for hours, oh wait, I did. He really brings the emotions of the characters to the forefront. Although I did like all of the different voices, he was just so perfect as Miller it’s hard to comment on the others. Miller’s character experiences so many different emotions throughout this book and Jeremy brings each and every one of them to live and gives them a sense of realism that is hard to match.

So, as mentioned above I was super excited that Aiden Snow was narrating this book. In fact, he was the main reason I ran to audible. There I was listening away, tapping my fingers and doing the whole ‘Aiden, Aiden, where is Aiden’ speech in my head. Aiden Snow turns up in chapter 34, yes, you read that right, chapter THIRTY-FOUR!!!! I want to be mad about this, I want to curse the author and audible for not warning me about this. However, listen to chapter 34 and tell me that was not one of the best chapters in this book, not just the performance, but the emotion, that chapter alone sums up this book and why I’m not so mad. Aiden Snow is the perfect choice for Grant Sanchez, he has that deep, gruff sexiness going on that just fits the character. The way he conveyed the emotion the characters were experiencing was wonderful and effective. Did I mention sexy-time also ensued? And dammmmmmn, yep, the perfect voice for that. Trust me, even though Aiden narrates 4 chapters it actually enhances the story hearing those chapters from Sanchez’ POV and in a different voice.

Rachel Van Dyken has an amzing new series!

Rachel Van Dyken has once again written a story that completely held me captive. I could not put this book down, when I was forced to, I thought about it until I could find out what happens next. There were so many twists and turns I didn't see coming. I laughed, I cried and I felt every emotion as each character experienced them. Rachel developed such believable characters I was so excited to realize I would learn more about them in future books to come. I love the world she created in this story and never wanted to leave it.

Emerson has finally made her dream come true. She is a professional cheerleader, despite the odds stacked against her for being a plus sized person. Her hard work and dedication has paid off. In recent years, her life had begun to fall apart, but now her future has hope, until her ex-best friend shows up. When the past, present and future collide for Emerson, there was no way of knowing how it would turn out.

PS - Summer Morton, Jeremy York and Aiden Snow do a phenomenal job of narrating this incredible story. They completely bring the world Rachel created to life. I feel further in love with these memorable characters, due to their performances. Based upon this performance alone, I will gladly listen to other books any of them work on as well.

yes 👍 !

OMG Awesome Book ! I absolutely love this story ! WoW I couldn't get enough of the story . I cried and then I laughed so hard I'm sure the neighbors heard me lol 😉 ! Yeah it's just that good !

Unexpected Gem

This book was so unexpected. I initially got it to just fill my time, I was in between trying to figure out what I wanted to listen to and stumbled across this one. I had recently discovered Rachel Van Dyken so I knew I couldn't go wrong. This one had my emotions a little jumbled on who I wanted to ultimately be in Emerson's life. I actually really liked Grant Sanchez and I really liked Miller. There is also humor in this book as with Rachel Van Dyken's other books. The narration was good and I'm still torn as to the ending. Definitely going on to book 2.