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Initiation
He was ready for the game. The initiation and the aftermath...that was a different story.
Carter Lynch was an outsider, an army brat transfer. He had what it took to be a star. He was focused, talented...violent. Carter didn't join the football team to make friends or win championships. He didn't care about anything but taking a starting spot, earning a scholarship, and leaving. Until he met Sara and Ben.
Ben was desperate to fit in, desperate for the same starting spot, and desperate for the same girl. The uneasy friends were on a collision course that would change everything. Adult language and sexual content.
Carter Lynch was an outsider, an army brat transfer. He had what it took to be a star. He was focused, talented...violent. Carter didn't join the football team to make friends or win championships. He didn't care about anything but taking a starting spot, earning a scholarship, and leaving. Until he met Sara and Ben.
Ben was desperate to fit in, desperate for the same starting spot, and desperate for the same girl. The uneasy friends were on a collision course that would change everything. Adult language and sexual content.
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First published August 10, 2016
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About the author
Phil M. Williams
42 books362 followersPhil M. Williams is the author of twenty-five books primarily in the thriller genre. His thrillers span many subgenres, such as: murder mysteries, political, domestic, dystopian, legal, psychological, and technothrillers. His stories often feature regular Joes and Janes in extraordinary situations that are ripped from today’s headlines.
Williams lives in central Pennsylvania with his wife, Denise. When not writing, he can be found tending their permaculture farm.
If you’d like to read two of his thriller novels for free. Go to http://PhilWBooks.com.
Williams lives in central Pennsylvania with his wife, Denise. When not writing, he can be found tending their permaculture farm.
If you’d like to read two of his thriller novels for free. Go to http://PhilWBooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
June 3, 2018
Although as a European I don't like and don't know anything about American Football I chose to read this book because I love the authors writing and how he points out some evident socio-political problems.
I must admit that the page-long descriptions of practices and games were somewhat tiring for me, because I could not imagine the scenes in my mind, but the overall story about peer-pressure, hazing, abuse and aggression, keeping up the facade and trying to find love and acceptance in the midst of all this was gripping, depressing, frustrating and all too believable.
I must admit that the page-long descriptions of practices and games were somewhat tiring for me, because I could not imagine the scenes in my mind, but the overall story about peer-pressure, hazing, abuse and aggression, keeping up the facade and trying to find love and acceptance in the midst of all this was gripping, depressing, frustrating and all too believable.
August 5, 2022
Good book
I enjoyed this book it was something different from what I usually read. Kept me interested and was a good story. Recommend.
I enjoyed this book it was something different from what I usually read. Kept me interested and was a good story. Recommend.
June 1, 2018
Awesome
This may have been about football, but the people and situations are spot on. All families have problems, and high school is just about the worst thing to happen to teens, ever.
This may have been about football, but the people and situations are spot on. All families have problems, and high school is just about the worst thing to happen to teens, ever.
September 2, 2018
Very thought provoking, at times shocking
This is my fourth or fifth Phil M. Williams novel and I’ve enjoyed every one. Phil, you’ll never be a cookie cutter writer. Each book is different, nothing similar about any of them, but they’re all powerful, thought provoking and thoroughly engrossing. I did wish for a sequel at times, and maybe there will be.
Warning: most females won’t like this one. It’s highly technical concerning football. Thanks to a lifetime of watching college football games, then having a high school age son who was a star, I was there, for every play through this story. I got it. The suspense was incredible!
Congratulations on another great novel, Phil M. Williams. This one is like none other I’ve ever read, and I’ll keep going until I’ve read all your work.
This is my fourth or fifth Phil M. Williams novel and I’ve enjoyed every one. Phil, you’ll never be a cookie cutter writer. Each book is different, nothing similar about any of them, but they’re all powerful, thought provoking and thoroughly engrossing. I did wish for a sequel at times, and maybe there will be.
Warning: most females won’t like this one. It’s highly technical concerning football. Thanks to a lifetime of watching college football games, then having a high school age son who was a star, I was there, for every play through this story. I got it. The suspense was incredible!
Congratulations on another great novel, Phil M. Williams. This one is like none other I’ve ever read, and I’ll keep going until I’ve read all your work.
May 2, 2025
Another Phil Williams excellent story.
The story comes alive through the characters. They are the best. The plot is so realistic that you might actually believe it happened. The scene settings were good; but I always appreciate more.
The story comes alive through the characters. They are the best. The plot is so realistic that you might actually believe it happened. The scene settings were good; but I always appreciate more.
April 13, 2020
Fresh perspective on a old issue...
This is a fresh look at an old issue, initiation on the high school level. From the first pages, you can feel the immense pressure for newly relocated Carter to fit in, and it looks like football will be his path when he proves to be a driven and gifted athlete. His family life is rough, with rampant domestic violence at home, directed towards both Carter and his younger sister, as well as Carter’s mom. It’s all a perfect storm of pressure to succeed and fit in to make the team. In the midst of this highly charged time comes the initiation and the juggling of many consequences after the hazing, as you get to see first hand the ripple effects start to produce more victims. The characters in author Williams book are true to life, with a few interesting plot twists to keep you wanting to read ‘just a few more pages’ past when you need to take a break. Good book!
This is a fresh look at an old issue, initiation on the high school level. From the first pages, you can feel the immense pressure for newly relocated Carter to fit in, and it looks like football will be his path when he proves to be a driven and gifted athlete. His family life is rough, with rampant domestic violence at home, directed towards both Carter and his younger sister, as well as Carter’s mom. It’s all a perfect storm of pressure to succeed and fit in to make the team. In the midst of this highly charged time comes the initiation and the juggling of many consequences after the hazing, as you get to see first hand the ripple effects start to produce more victims. The characters in author Williams book are true to life, with a few interesting plot twists to keep you wanting to read ‘just a few more pages’ past when you need to take a break. Good book!
January 16, 2019
A very interesting read
I read the book and at first I thought this is just a book about high school and almost didn't finish. But as the book went on, I found that this story was about so much more. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a very good story.
I read the book and at first I thought this is just a book about high school and almost didn't finish. But as the book went on, I found that this story was about so much more. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a very good story.
August 1, 2018
This novel had me so heartbroken while reading. The author really knows how to engage a reader with the dialogue, not to mention a thought provoking and engaging storyline. This book wasn't what I thought it was going to be about at all,and was written for the 90s was very revealing. I liked everything about this story except the intricate details of every aspect of the game of football"boring" lol. But superb thorough writing from the author I was in tears!
January 6, 2019
A fan from the first book on...
Every Phil M. Williams book I've read I have been unable to put down! Initiation definitely did not disappoint!!
Thank you!!
Every Phil M. Williams book I've read I have been unable to put down! Initiation definitely did not disappoint!!
Thank you!!
February 28, 2017
Initiation by Phil M. Williams
This book starts out with Carter and he and his family have just relocated to a new location and his dad has retired from the military. He lives with his mom, sister and dad-not his dad.
Carter is into football and most other sports and is good at it. Other people from the neighborhood stop by to say hi and bring a casserole-the Wheelers who also have a boy Carter's age-Ben.
They do get to spend time together as they are both on football team, just different strings. Book is about the initiation into the football club that every boy wants to be accepted into.
Like how author explains it at the end that not everyone has the same set of initiations. Those I've talked to said it was not that extreme but the way the author details the events make it very possible, for the book.
Liked the football play by play action and locations they go. Lots of sex scenes. Liked how there were just a handful of characters tut there are others that stir things up.
Loved hearing the details of places he went to and how he survived and who helped him. Will be reading more from this author.
Received this book from the author and this is my honest review.
This book starts out with Carter and he and his family have just relocated to a new location and his dad has retired from the military. He lives with his mom, sister and dad-not his dad.
Carter is into football and most other sports and is good at it. Other people from the neighborhood stop by to say hi and bring a casserole-the Wheelers who also have a boy Carter's age-Ben.
They do get to spend time together as they are both on football team, just different strings. Book is about the initiation into the football club that every boy wants to be accepted into.
Like how author explains it at the end that not everyone has the same set of initiations. Those I've talked to said it was not that extreme but the way the author details the events make it very possible, for the book.
Liked the football play by play action and locations they go. Lots of sex scenes. Liked how there were just a handful of characters tut there are others that stir things up.
Loved hearing the details of places he went to and how he survived and who helped him. Will be reading more from this author.
Received this book from the author and this is my honest review.
November 18, 2020
Good Football parent read
Both my boys play high school football. This thrilling read was eye opening about what could happen. Highly recommend this one
Both my boys play high school football. This thrilling read was eye opening about what could happen. Highly recommend this one
November 8, 2018
Great story
A good read with believable characters. I suspect there is a lot of resemblance to read life in the events of the book. Will plan on reading more from Phil Williams.
A good read with believable characters. I suspect there is a lot of resemblance to read life in the events of the book. Will plan on reading more from Phil Williams.
November 5, 2018
Wow
I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this book, but wow!!! I did not see what happened happening!!!! Loved how it ended!! So glad Carter got his happy ending!!!
I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this book, but wow!!! I did not see what happened happening!!!! Loved how it ended!! So glad Carter got his happy ending!!!
October 8, 2017
"Initiations" grabbed me right from the first pages and didn't let go until the end. A teen and his family move into a small rural town where high-school sports - especially football - is revered for its untarnished record. Carter, the new kid, is overly confident that he is going to be a first-string player in the upcoming season, dethroning the All-State members currently holding those positions. He befriends a neighbor, Ben, who also wants to play varsity football and joins Carter in his training regimen to become stronger. Football means everything to these two teenagers.
Just prior to the first game, the underclassmen are invited to a party hosted by the seniors on one of the surrounding farms. Turns out, it's a front for the annual football initiation and twice as many girls than guys are in attendance. There are sexual undertones and the newbies are offered a choice of three challenges during the initiation. The mental stress is on overdrive. If they make the wrong choice, they'd be picked on for the rest of the season. One of twelve makes the wrong choice and is unable to cope with the ongoing hazing.
Carter is an excellent football player and does replace the star player as a starter which creates animosity between the two. He's also a violent player who uses his skills to defend great players from other teams - making them appear mediocre. The team's record is unblemished and everyone is celebrating...until the emergency school board meeting.
This is actually an emotional story that continues to pull at your heart strings. Carter has two girls pining for him, his step-father is abusive to both him and his mother, and he's protective of his younger sister. It is also a story about a young boy standing by his convictions and doing what he thinks is right to put an end to the hazing. Only, his action threatens the town's football future - something many in his town won't stand for.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Initiation" and recommend it for everyone. Some of the sex scenes are rather steamy, but aside from that, it's an engaging read with a great ending. Great job Mr. Williams!
John Podlaski, author
"Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel" and "When Can I Stop Running?"
Just prior to the first game, the underclassmen are invited to a party hosted by the seniors on one of the surrounding farms. Turns out, it's a front for the annual football initiation and twice as many girls than guys are in attendance. There are sexual undertones and the newbies are offered a choice of three challenges during the initiation. The mental stress is on overdrive. If they make the wrong choice, they'd be picked on for the rest of the season. One of twelve makes the wrong choice and is unable to cope with the ongoing hazing.
Carter is an excellent football player and does replace the star player as a starter which creates animosity between the two. He's also a violent player who uses his skills to defend great players from other teams - making them appear mediocre. The team's record is unblemished and everyone is celebrating...until the emergency school board meeting.
This is actually an emotional story that continues to pull at your heart strings. Carter has two girls pining for him, his step-father is abusive to both him and his mother, and he's protective of his younger sister. It is also a story about a young boy standing by his convictions and doing what he thinks is right to put an end to the hazing. Only, his action threatens the town's football future - something many in his town won't stand for.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Initiation" and recommend it for everyone. Some of the sex scenes are rather steamy, but aside from that, it's an engaging read with a great ending. Great job Mr. Williams!
John Podlaski, author
"Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel" and "When Can I Stop Running?"
April 19, 2018
Good solid writing
Once AGAIN Mr. Williams has written a good read. However if you hate football you might want to skip this one. I love Everything about football!
Once AGAIN Mr. Williams has written a good read. However if you hate football you might want to skip this one. I love Everything about football!
July 23, 2019
This is an interesting story about ‘army brat’ Carter Lynch who wants a starting spot on the football team so that he can earn a scholarship and leave his parents home. Phil M Williams hits us right on the bulls-eye with a story about teen life and teen struggles. There are outsiders, cliques and bullying, and not all of that is exclusively at school for Carter. There’s so much happening right from the start that any decent review would take hours to read if it included everything. For me that’s the thing I always take from this author's writing, there is always a lot packed into each book. This story takes several turns, some not so good for any of the characters involved, before it crashes to a climax. Then we’re taken a little further and we’re eager to go because we’ve learnt who these people are and we want to know ‘what happens next’ for them. Overall a great story, about a lot of hard subjects, that the author handles with skill and sense. It’s clear he understood what he wanted to say and how to say it whilst bringing a sense of reality to the characters involved.
October 11, 2019
Initiation by skillful Author Phil M. Williams broke my heart with this book. It is difficult to read with tears in your eyes. What main character Carter (Lynch) Wheeler went through is a heart breaker. Hazing is a very real issue in our world, and I am so delighted accomplished and skilled Author Phil M. Williams used his writing platform to bring home that point so well. A beautifully told story about the ugly adversity Carter endured at the hands of his horrible Step Father, weak and traitorous Mother, then betrayed by his football mates in a hazing incident, is but a few of the things Carter had to get through in life. But Carter preserved and those who persevere succeed. Carter was a beautiful person put to the tests of life for sure. Initiation by skilled writer and Author Phil M. Williams reached in and touched my heart with this story. When I say I “highly” recommend Initiation, I use the word “highly” in the strongest sense of the word. I urge readers to read Initation by Author Phil M. Williams and to not miss one of the best told stories I have ever read.
July 15, 2022
What an awesome read
One of the most inspiring books I have read in a long time! It should be required for high school students. It will touch the hearts of all that read it.
One of the most inspiring books I have read in a long time! It should be required for high school students. It will touch the hearts of all that read it.
March 9, 2020
Early influences
The subject material in Mr. Williams books is real, gritty, and relevant. Events in the lives of teens shape who and what they become. In this book we see the life altering effects of humiliation and the feeling of powerlessness.
The subject material in Mr. Williams books is real, gritty, and relevant. Events in the lives of teens shape who and what they become. In this book we see the life altering effects of humiliation and the feeling of powerlessness.
May 15, 2024
Five stars or three?
I've read quite a few Phil M. Williams books and so far they have all received my five star rating. Initiation is a good adult story with good characters, explicit sex scenes and violence. However, I have a problem that most non- Americans will have. Large chunks of the story contain American football terms and are totally incomprehensible to most Europeans and probably the rest of the world. At least one chapter is virtually a review of a whole game, and left me waiting to get back on track with the story. For the above reasons I suggest that it is a five star in the US, but more of a three star for everyone else.
I've read quite a few Phil M. Williams books and so far they have all received my five star rating. Initiation is a good adult story with good characters, explicit sex scenes and violence. However, I have a problem that most non- Americans will have. Large chunks of the story contain American football terms and are totally incomprehensible to most Europeans and probably the rest of the world. At least one chapter is virtually a review of a whole game, and left me waiting to get back on track with the story. For the above reasons I suggest that it is a five star in the US, but more of a three star for everyone else.
January 26, 2022
Phil M Williams has written a story about two boys who both wanted to join the high school football team. Once chosen, new team members are forced to go through a rite of passage by the older team members. This initiation can sometimes have devastating consequences. The story was heart-breaking and relevant to what happens in schools today. There was some sexual content. Tristan Wright's and Sarah Grace Wright's narrations were evocative and added to the story's impact. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily left this review.
July 15, 2017
Outstanding!
I really enjoyed this story of school football and the extremes that teams go to to get that edge. Reading how The main character, Carter is just on the edge of uncontrollable rage. But through the Grace of God go I. This was a REALLY GOOD READ! There is explicit sex if that offends you, but I think it needed to be in the story to be able to understand the pressure that was put on the characters. Well done Mr Wiiliams.
I really enjoyed this story of school football and the extremes that teams go to to get that edge. Reading how The main character, Carter is just on the edge of uncontrollable rage. But through the Grace of God go I. This was a REALLY GOOD READ! There is explicit sex if that offends you, but I think it needed to be in the story to be able to understand the pressure that was put on the characters. Well done Mr Wiiliams.
January 31, 2019
Great read!
First off I don't know anything about football, but it didn't stop me from enjoying this book. The characters were well developed and believable. The dialogue flowed smoothly. The editing was well done with very few grammatical errors and misspelled words. I will certainly be reading more from this author. This was a great book about the hardships of life and second chances.
First off I don't know anything about football, but it didn't stop me from enjoying this book. The characters were well developed and believable. The dialogue flowed smoothly. The editing was well done with very few grammatical errors and misspelled words. I will certainly be reading more from this author. This was a great book about the hardships of life and second chances.
October 17, 2019
Making the cut!
Like every book of Mr. Williams I have read, a 5star is cutting his work short.
Loved this book, parts of the content brought back memories from my school days.
Some not so fine! You will not be disappointed in this read.
Looking forward to the next book from him!
Like every book of Mr. Williams I have read, a 5star is cutting his work short.
Loved this book, parts of the content brought back memories from my school days.
Some not so fine! You will not be disappointed in this read.
Looking forward to the next book from him!
October 22, 2019
Life is an initiation?
Carter and his friends remind all of us how painful it can be to compete in high school. Carter further faces severe consequences which happens to many of us. One might say that the unfairness of this world sneaks up on us gradually through school experiences.
Carter and his friends remind all of us how painful it can be to compete in high school. Carter further faces severe consequences which happens to many of us. One might say that the unfairness of this world sneaks up on us gradually through school experiences.
May 14, 2021
As disturbing as it is well written. High school gets touted as the best years of life. But that is only true for the very few at the top.
For others it can be a hell that twists and shapes the rest of your life. This book explores not just high school but team sports and some very disturbing practices.
Great story, written with sensitivity and truth.
For others it can be a hell that twists and shapes the rest of your life. This book explores not just high school but team sports and some very disturbing practices.
Great story, written with sensitivity and truth.
October 3, 2021
Another great read
The author has such a superb ability to make all characters and story line so real. I expect to open a door and see Sarah and Carter standing there. The chosen plot was something many of us lived so its easy to appreciate the reaction to the circumstances the characters found themselves struggling with.
The author has such a superb ability to make all characters and story line so real. I expect to open a door and see Sarah and Carter standing there. The chosen plot was something many of us lived so its easy to appreciate the reaction to the circumstances the characters found themselves struggling with.
December 2, 2018
great coming of age story
July 5, 2019
Excellent story
I really enjoyed this story. It touched on a lot of interesting and important topics, and really held my interest. I couldn’t wait to get back to reading it each day.
I really enjoyed this story. It touched on a lot of interesting and important topics, and really held my interest. I couldn’t wait to get back to reading it each day.
August 18, 2021
Page turning true to life story
Well developed characters and a plot line that will keep you turning the pages and hungry for more. My first book by this author....but certainly not my last. I highly recommend this book.
Well developed characters and a plot line that will keep you turning the pages and hungry for more. My first book by this author....but certainly not my last. I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews