Audiobook Review: Fraternize by Rachel Van Dyken
- KA
- Oct 17, 2017
- 7 min read
This book was nothing like I expected. It was so much more. I wish I could listen to it again for the first time.
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.
PURCHASE LINKS
Written by: Rachel Van Dyken
Narrated by: Summer Morton, Jeremy York, Aiden Snow
Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date: 09-12-17
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Whispersynced at $1.99/£3.49
REVIEW
Rating:
Story - 5 Stars
Performance - 5 Stars
Overall - 5 Stars
Emerson Rodner and Miller Quinton were high-school friends, that became more. They had a shared dream to play for the Bellevue Bucks. Miller as a tight-end and Emerson on the sidelines cheering him on. How life changes, now they cannot stand one another. When Emerson finally lands her dream, cheerleading for the Bucks squad she's not bothered by the non-fraternization policy, she hates football players. But when Miller is traded to the Bucks, the one team he specifically didn’t want to play for. They’re thrust back together and the attraction is undeniable, but can they overcome the past. And what about Grant Sanchez, the best receiver in the league and the playboy of the team, he has his sights set on Emerson and he’s irresistible. Will Emerson be able to resist not one but two of the hottest men in the league…both on and off the field?
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. A couple of standout characters that are more in the background were Kinsey and Jax. A sister/ brother combo that is fun and I can’t wait to see where their characters are taken and what happens, especially after that epilogue. And Jax, man, I need that guy’s story and pronto. I may be a little in love.
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 book contains many emotional moments, for the characters and for the listeners. One of the main issues raised that was handled sensitively and with understanding was the Alzheimer’s aspect of the story. It also added another dimension to the story, that although wasn’t needed gives a boost to these characters and how they handled themselves and in my opinion made them so much more relatable.
I may have done a happy dance and ran to audible the moment I heard Jeremy York AND Aiden Snow were narrating this audiobook. Listener heaven, right? Plus adding in a female narration, sheesh, it’s definitely what a listener hopes for. This audiobook, damn, it is everything. Even though I have a tiny complaint (see below), it actually worked so perfectly and the narrator voices complemented each other so perfectly, it was tough to actually complain.
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.
To connect with Rachel Van Dyken:
To connect with Jeremy York:
To Connect with Aiden Snow:
To connect with Summer Morton:
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