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Players Game #1
Fraternize
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.
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.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2017
1463 people are currently reading
4446 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Van Dyken
177 books18.6k followersRachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of mafia and contemporary romances.
Hey guys I'm rarely on Goodreads, if you need to reach me feel free to email!
EMAIL ME: rachelvandykenauthor@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-...
Hey guys I'm rarely on Goodreads, if you need to reach me feel free to email!
EMAIL ME: rachelvandykenauthor@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-...
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September 7, 2017
Fraternize is book one in a brand new series, Players Game, by Rachel Van Dyken. When I decided to read this book, first, it was because I love this author. So that alone assured that I would enjoy the book. But I wasn’t prepared for how this book made me feel. It is a love triangle so you need to know that right up front. But not your usual love triangle. This is a woman that just achieved her life long dream. But as soon as she got there, she was faced with both someone from her past re-entering her life, and someone new coming into her life. She is faced with choosing between her past and her present. Between an old love or a new love.
Emerson Rodner is not your typical skinny girl. She has curves. Her lifelong dream was to be an NFL Cheerleader. She has tried out before but never made it. But this year was the one. She was accepted into the cheerleading squad of the Bellevue Bucks. Their manual pretty much rules their life. Diet restrictions, surprise weigh ins, and most importantly, no fraternizing with the football players.
It’s her first day of practice and Emerson meets Grant Sanchez, one of the captains of the team. Grant is gorgeous and is known for his playboy ways. Grant has set his sights on Emerson. He slowly wears her down. And to her surprise, he is not the man she thought he was at all. He is sweet, considerate, kind, and boy does this man had the ability to sweet talk. I heard myself sigh out loud while I was reading this. This man made me swoon, made my heart miss a few beats. He was adorable.
But with all these things going on in Emerson’s life, she is forced to face someone from her past at the same time. Miller Quinton was her childhood best friend. And in their last year together, he became her first love. She gave him her virginity. But then his dad moved them away and all connections were broken. She blames Miller but Miller thinks it’s her fault. Neither of them really know the truth, what caused them to lose contact. Miller was the love of her life and the source of her greatest pain. One look at him and she knows she still loves him. But he is her past. Could he be a part of her future? Or was there too much history?
“No matter how damaged your heart may be, it never loses its ability to choose again, to try again, to want love even after loss. How could something so wrong feel so right?”
I think I lived this book right along with Emerson! I was completely emotionally invested. And I completely ended up feeling exactly the opposite as I thought I would. Both of these men loved Emerson. Both wanted nothing but her happiness for her. One of them would have to make the sacrifice. Would have to decide that they weren’t the right man for her. That she would be better off with the other one.
What I also loved about this book was that it showed the closeness of the football players, the brotherhood. How they had each other’s backs. What they would do for each other. Was there a bad seed in the group? Yes. But aside from him, these men couldn’t be any closer. There was nothing they wouldn’t do for each other. And it showed in their games, in their abilities as a team.
“I was still afraid, afraid that this was a dream, that this feeling - this thing we had between us - wasn’t real. And I needed it so badly to be real. For something this good to stay this good.”
My rating for this book started out as a four. Then it quickly went to a five. I fell in love. I fell for all three of these characters. One in particular will stay with me. Which one? I don’t want to say. I want to see who you chose. Then I’ll tell you. So if you want a book about real people, real emotions, real issues, while still being fun, sexy and sweet, this one is for you. I loved it. I hope you do too.
“You like me because I find your faults?”
“No! I like you because you make me want to fix them.”
October 4, 2017
When will I ever learn... reading books with two love interests never seems to work for me. I'm always on #TeamNeverGetsTheGirl LOL! Lucky for me, both guys in this story were completely lovable! I adored the bromance between Miller and Sanchez and even though my guy didn't get the girl, I was totally okay with it! Emerson was a fantastic heroine and this book was loads of fun! I'm looking forward to more from the side characters! 4 stars!
September 4, 2017
*****3.75 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
Body trembling, I tried to tell my heart to stop beating so loud. But it was too excited. Racing towards him. Toward someone who I’d always seen as the wrong guy. Who quite possibly could end up being the right one. Because no matter how damaged your heart may be, it never loses its ability to choose again, to try again, to want love even after loss.
FRATERNIZE is the story of Emerson Rodner, a young woman who time and again has suffered great loss, but she’s had the tenacity to move on with her life and go after her dreams. She’s always dreamed of being a cheerleader for the NFL team the Bellevue Bucks and finally, after being rejected the past few years, she has won a spot on the cheer squad. Emerson is a woman with curves and she’s dealt with judgment and criticism almost her entire life but she refused to starve herself to get down to a size zero to fit the stereotype of the ”perfect” cheerleader’s body. But she still battles with insecurity over her appearance.
Emerson’s life hasn’t been easy the past several years. Her best friend who promised to never leave her ended up taking her virginity and then breaking her heart when he moved away during their senior year of high school. Soon after Miller moved, he broke his promise to Em and within a few short months, they lost touch completely. While reeling from a broken heart, she suffered another devastating blow when her father was diagnosed with advanced alzheimers. They were forced to sell their home when the medical bills started piling up and now live in a tiny apartment in a low-income neighborhood. Finally making it on the cheerleading team for the Bellevue Bucks has been the first positive thing to happen to her in over eight years.
On her first day of practice, she runs into one of the hottest and biggest flirts on the football team, Grant Sanchez. He’s known for being the team’s biggest manwhore but for some reason, his cocky attitude and charm seems to put a smile on Em’s face. Her life is about to get extremely complicated when the boy who shattered her heart comes back into her life. Miller has just been traded to the Bellevue Bucks and he is completely stunned when he sees Em out on the field with Sanchez. Just like Em, he hasn’t forgotten about their past and he’s been holding on to feelings of hurt and betrayal all these years later. Em and Miller have very different views as to what caused their relationship to end.
Once the truth is revealed it also becomes apparent that old feelings still exist but now things are complicated because there’s another man who sees how special Em is and he’s made it clear that he intends to win her heart. Emerson has found herself in quite the predicament because Grant has managed to charm his way into her heart but she also hasn’t been able to let Miller go. Not only is she torn between two men but she’s putting her dream of being a Bellevue Bucks cheerleader in jeopardy if she is caught breaking the ”no fraternization” rule.
This story was very slow to take off for me. It took me a while to warm up to it. While I really liked the Heroine, I had a hard time liking Grant and Miller in the beginning. It wasn’t until I was more than halfway through the book that there was any character development with one of the Heroes, but once that happened I was falling for him and knew this was the guy who had to get the girl when all was said and done.
I loved how the three were able to build a friendship between them and that it was clear who the better man was, even to the guy who gets placed in the ”friend zone”. The epilogue will prove to be promising for that guy as we get a teaser as to who his future love interest will be. It looks like Rachel Van Dyken has the makings of another hit series on her hands with ”Player’s Game”!
FRATERNIZE releases on September 12th!
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2vRzs9g
Amazon UK: https://goo.gl/GwXpDp
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
Body trembling, I tried to tell my heart to stop beating so loud. But it was too excited. Racing towards him. Toward someone who I’d always seen as the wrong guy. Who quite possibly could end up being the right one. Because no matter how damaged your heart may be, it never loses its ability to choose again, to try again, to want love even after loss.
FRATERNIZE is the story of Emerson Rodner, a young woman who time and again has suffered great loss, but she’s had the tenacity to move on with her life and go after her dreams. She’s always dreamed of being a cheerleader for the NFL team the Bellevue Bucks and finally, after being rejected the past few years, she has won a spot on the cheer squad. Emerson is a woman with curves and she’s dealt with judgment and criticism almost her entire life but she refused to starve herself to get down to a size zero to fit the stereotype of the ”perfect” cheerleader’s body. But she still battles with insecurity over her appearance.
Emerson’s life hasn’t been easy the past several years. Her best friend who promised to never leave her ended up taking her virginity and then breaking her heart when he moved away during their senior year of high school. Soon after Miller moved, he broke his promise to Em and within a few short months, they lost touch completely. While reeling from a broken heart, she suffered another devastating blow when her father was diagnosed with advanced alzheimers. They were forced to sell their home when the medical bills started piling up and now live in a tiny apartment in a low-income neighborhood. Finally making it on the cheerleading team for the Bellevue Bucks has been the first positive thing to happen to her in over eight years.
On her first day of practice, she runs into one of the hottest and biggest flirts on the football team, Grant Sanchez. He’s known for being the team’s biggest manwhore but for some reason, his cocky attitude and charm seems to put a smile on Em’s face. Her life is about to get extremely complicated when the boy who shattered her heart comes back into her life. Miller has just been traded to the Bellevue Bucks and he is completely stunned when he sees Em out on the field with Sanchez. Just like Em, he hasn’t forgotten about their past and he’s been holding on to feelings of hurt and betrayal all these years later. Em and Miller have very different views as to what caused their relationship to end.
Once the truth is revealed it also becomes apparent that old feelings still exist but now things are complicated because there’s another man who sees how special Em is and he’s made it clear that he intends to win her heart. Emerson has found herself in quite the predicament because Grant has managed to charm his way into her heart but she also hasn’t been able to let Miller go. Not only is she torn between two men but she’s putting her dream of being a Bellevue Bucks cheerleader in jeopardy if she is caught breaking the ”no fraternization” rule.
This story was very slow to take off for me. It took me a while to warm up to it. While I really liked the Heroine, I had a hard time liking Grant and Miller in the beginning. It wasn’t until I was more than halfway through the book that there was any character development with one of the Heroes, but once that happened I was falling for him and knew this was the guy who had to get the girl when all was said and done.
I loved how the three were able to build a friendship between them and that it was clear who the better man was, even to the guy who gets placed in the ”friend zone”. The epilogue will prove to be promising for that guy as we get a teaser as to who his future love interest will be. It looks like Rachel Van Dyken has the makings of another hit series on her hands with ”Player’s Game”!
FRATERNIZE releases on September 12th!
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2vRzs9g
Amazon UK: https://goo.gl/GwXpDp
September 12, 2017
3.5 stars
➦Rachel Van Dyken delivers an entertaining and sexy sports romance with hot football players and cheerleaders for characters. What I loved the most about this book was the new adult feels of it. It's been a while since I've read a good new adult novel. An while this would probably classify as a contemporary read, the fact that all these characters were so young gave me new adult vibes.
➦This book is about professional football and covers a lot of interesting points, such as how gruesome the practices are and what it's like to be part of a team. The author has a good balance of romance and football and I definitely appreciated the sports aspect of the book.
➦If you haven't derived it from the cover yet, this book has a love triangle in it. And I have to say that normally this is not a trope that turns me off... at all. I actually like this trope. Here, however, I had a bit of a hard time with the delivery of the story.
➦I found myself a bit confused because I didn't know which guy to root for. By the time the heroine made her "pick" I was frustrated because I knew I could have fallen in love with this hero completely if he had his own POV earlier in the book. Because of the fact that there were two guys the character development was lacking for me. I almost felt like by the end of the book I knew the guy who the heroine didn't end up with better than the one she picked... And now I'm really itching to get my paws on his book.
➦If you like sports romances, hot football player heroes, strong heroines and love triangle tropes then do give this book a good look! I can't wait to continue with this series and see what else Rachel Van Dyken brings to the plate!
September 12, 2017
4.5 … Hell 5 ‘CURVES’ STARS
"The dream we’d had so many years ago had happened – just not the way we’d planned.”
Fans of football and childhood, love triangle-ish, romances with humor done just right, shouldn’t pass this book up. To top off all the aforementioned the heroine Emerson is a curvy professional cheerleader!
Emerson and her first love Miller had the same dream as teenagers to play and cheer for the Bucks. Their dream has become a reality too bad they haven’t seen one another in six years due to outstanding circumstances and meddling. To top off this story from being the same old Rachel Van Dyken throws into the mix of Emerson and Miller another football player named Grant Sanchez!
"He was impossible not to like.”
Sanchez’s intent on becoming bff’s and more with Emerson. All the while she is acclimating to her new cheer team while her and Miller’s paths cross and dealing with all those old feelings that never really went away. Yet the author keeps this story from being anything but predictable and I just adored it!
"I’ve always wanted to marry my best friend.”
"The dream we’d had so many years ago had happened – just not the way we’d planned.”
Fans of football and childhood, love triangle-ish, romances with humor done just right, shouldn’t pass this book up. To top off all the aforementioned the heroine Emerson is a curvy professional cheerleader!
Emerson and her first love Miller had the same dream as teenagers to play and cheer for the Bucks. Their dream has become a reality too bad they haven’t seen one another in six years due to outstanding circumstances and meddling. To top off this story from being the same old Rachel Van Dyken throws into the mix of Emerson and Miller another football player named Grant Sanchez!
"He was impossible not to like.”
Sanchez’s intent on becoming bff’s and more with Emerson. All the while she is acclimating to her new cheer team while her and Miller’s paths cross and dealing with all those old feelings that never really went away. Yet the author keeps this story from being anything but predictable and I just adored it!
"I’ve always wanted to marry my best friend.”
September 23, 2017
I don't even like football and I loved the heck outta this book.
Kelly gets a tad bit obsessive with her loving of this author. So I had tried one of her books before and it was kinda meh. This one totally made up for it.
Guys, the heroine is PLUS SIZED! And I loved her.
Emerson wants to be a professional cheerleader more than anything so she has worked hard but refuses to starve herself into a size zero. *swoon hearts everywhere*
She tries out for the Bucks and gets the cheerleader position that she is dying for. She doesn't really expect that "Don't fraternize with the players" rule to be a problem since she has sworn off men since her best friend broke her heart years ago.
Y'all know that best friend is gonna show back up don't you? He does. Miller is the tight end that gets traded to the Bucks..the last place he wants to be because it's his hometown and he has bad memories of it.
Then throw in cocky Grant Sanchez, he is a legendary ladies man and he sees Emerson and decides that she is that cheerleader that he wants to score with.
It sounds corny doesn't it. SHADDUP! It's not. I LOVED it.
I usually hate on the stupid love triangles.
But this one worked real well for me.
I went full on cougar lusting for these two guys.
I had the perfect scenario in my head too!
But this author is not a dirrrty pirate hooker like am so I had to settle for all the angsty stuff of not being able to have both. Dang it.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review
Kelly gets a tad bit obsessive with her loving of this author. So I had tried one of her books before and it was kinda meh. This one totally made up for it.
Guys, the heroine is PLUS SIZED! And I loved her.
Emerson wants to be a professional cheerleader more than anything so she has worked hard but refuses to starve herself into a size zero. *swoon hearts everywhere*
She tries out for the Bucks and gets the cheerleader position that she is dying for. She doesn't really expect that "Don't fraternize with the players" rule to be a problem since she has sworn off men since her best friend broke her heart years ago.
Y'all know that best friend is gonna show back up don't you? He does. Miller is the tight end that gets traded to the Bucks..the last place he wants to be because it's his hometown and he has bad memories of it.
Then throw in cocky Grant Sanchez, he is a legendary ladies man and he sees Emerson and decides that she is that cheerleader that he wants to score with.
It sounds corny doesn't it. SHADDUP! It's not. I LOVED it.
I usually hate on the stupid love triangles.
But this one worked real well for me.
I went full on cougar lusting for these two guys.
I had the perfect scenario in my head too!
But this author is not a dirrrty pirate hooker like am so I had to settle for all the angsty stuff of not being able to have both. Dang it.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review
September 12, 2017
3.5 "Cheer Loud, Cheergirl" Stars
Miller and Emerson were best friends in high school, he was the star of the football team and she was the chubby cheerleader. They bonded over being picked on, Miller was picked on by white boys for being dark skinned and from black boys for having light skin. While Emerson's weight was always the brunt of peoples jokes.
Emerson and Miller had fallen in love by the end of high school but things happen that see Miller leave town. Then a series of unfortunate circumstances see them lose contact completely.
Emerson gets on with life, now an adult but still has the same dream of being a professional cheerleader like her mum. Only one thing is stopping her.
I felt the author went a little OTT with the Emerson 'weight' issue. Okay, fair enough explain at the beginning she is heavier than the average cheerleader but to go on and on just gets annoying.
Imagine Emerson's shock when she is finally selected for the Bellevue Bucks cheer squad, well that's nothing compared to the shock of finding out Miller has been transferred to play for the same team. There is one thing stopping them from being together and his name is Grant Sanchez.
Sanchez is this totally sweet, genuinely nice guy that hides behind his false man whore status. He was so good at acting the 'Jock' he had me fooled for awhile, I just found it hard to believe a millionaire sportsman could be that romantic and charming but hey I'll admit when I'm wrong.
This book is not going to be for everyone. Yes there is a love triangle thing going on but its not your usual love triangle and there is absolutely NO cheating in this book, however there is OM drama that does evoke strong feelings which some may not like.
Overall I enjoyed this story, there was just a couple of issues with the writing that frustrated me, mainly the repetition of feelings and 'issues'.
〰️ Reviewed on behalf of the 1-Click Addict Support Group 〰️
Miller and Emerson were best friends in high school, he was the star of the football team and she was the chubby cheerleader. They bonded over being picked on, Miller was picked on by white boys for being dark skinned and from black boys for having light skin. While Emerson's weight was always the brunt of peoples jokes.
Emerson and Miller had fallen in love by the end of high school but things happen that see Miller leave town. Then a series of unfortunate circumstances see them lose contact completely.
Emerson gets on with life, now an adult but still has the same dream of being a professional cheerleader like her mum. Only one thing is stopping her.
But I was lacking one thing. The ability to squeeze my body into a size two, four, six, or eight. Who do we appreciate? Food, damn it!
I felt the author went a little OTT with the Emerson 'weight' issue. Okay, fair enough explain at the beginning she is heavier than the average cheerleader but to go on and on just gets annoying.
Imagine Emerson's shock when she is finally selected for the Bellevue Bucks cheer squad, well that's nothing compared to the shock of finding out Miller has been transferred to play for the same team. There is one thing stopping them from being together and his name is Grant Sanchez.
Sanchez is this totally sweet, genuinely nice guy that hides behind his false man whore status. He was so good at acting the 'Jock' he had me fooled for awhile, I just found it hard to believe a millionaire sportsman could be that romantic and charming but hey I'll admit when I'm wrong.
"You like me because I find your faults?""Hell no." He laughed."I like you because you make me want to fix them."
This book is not going to be for everyone. Yes there is a love triangle thing going on but its not your usual love triangle and there is absolutely NO cheating in this book, however there is OM drama that does evoke strong feelings which some may not like.
Overall I enjoyed this story, there was just a couple of issues with the writing that frustrated me, mainly the repetition of feelings and 'issues'.
〰️ Reviewed on behalf of the 1-Click Addict Support Group 〰️
September 12, 2017
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Rachel Van Dyken is a go to author for me so even when she writes a book featuring a love triangle I am right there with grabby hands. I usually try and stay away from love triangles but this is RVD we're talking about so I just couldn't pass on this one, especially after I read an excerpt from the story that about killed me. And now I get to figure out how I'm going to write this review telling you how much I loved it but without spoiling anything.
I was day dreaming about this book all day at work after having to put it down, which was extremely hard by the way. All of these characters just captivated me right away and I was on the edge of my seat ready to pull my hair out in frustration when I couldn't decide who I liked more. That was the brilliant thing about this book, there was no bad guy in the situation. Just three people that were in a complicated situation and trying to handle it the best way possible.
There was a decent amount of angst but there wasn't really a lot of drama involved which I really liked. I became fully invested into this story and the characters and the feelings I had while I was reading were perfect. I love when a story gets me so involved that I'm sad with the characters, happy with them, and rooting for them to get their HEA.
And these men! I wasn't lying when I said I couldn't figure out who I liked more. I wanted them both for myself and I'm a little mad that they don't exist out here in the real world. The one, I'll call him Hero X, was so open and fun. I loved how he was with Emerson and he seemed to always calm her insecurities when they started getting out of hand. Her other love interest, he'll be Hero Y, was just as amazing and I was equally rooting for him to get the girl. He and Emerson had such a close relationship and they learned to fully trust the other, which was brilliant.
Another thing that I found absolutely amazing about this book was Emerson. I love how she owned her curves and didn't change her life to meet others expectations. There were of course times that she was insecure but for the most part she was this badass that let herself enjoy life the way she wanted to whether that was with a salad or a double cheeseburger. I really admired her for it and it made me want to give her a big hug.
After all of this rambling I'm sure you've come to the conclusion that I would definitely recommend this book. Seriously, you don't want to miss out on this one. And it would be a great introduction to RVD's writing if you've never read her before.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Rachel Van Dyken is a go to author for me so even when she writes a book featuring a love triangle I am right there with grabby hands. I usually try and stay away from love triangles but this is RVD we're talking about so I just couldn't pass on this one, especially after I read an excerpt from the story that about killed me. And now I get to figure out how I'm going to write this review telling you how much I loved it but without spoiling anything.
I was day dreaming about this book all day at work after having to put it down, which was extremely hard by the way. All of these characters just captivated me right away and I was on the edge of my seat ready to pull my hair out in frustration when I couldn't decide who I liked more. That was the brilliant thing about this book, there was no bad guy in the situation. Just three people that were in a complicated situation and trying to handle it the best way possible.
There was a decent amount of angst but there wasn't really a lot of drama involved which I really liked. I became fully invested into this story and the characters and the feelings I had while I was reading were perfect. I love when a story gets me so involved that I'm sad with the characters, happy with them, and rooting for them to get their HEA.
And these men! I wasn't lying when I said I couldn't figure out who I liked more. I wanted them both for myself and I'm a little mad that they don't exist out here in the real world. The one, I'll call him Hero X, was so open and fun. I loved how he was with Emerson and he seemed to always calm her insecurities when they started getting out of hand. Her other love interest, he'll be Hero Y, was just as amazing and I was equally rooting for him to get the girl. He and Emerson had such a close relationship and they learned to fully trust the other, which was brilliant.
Another thing that I found absolutely amazing about this book was Emerson. I love how she owned her curves and didn't change her life to meet others expectations. There were of course times that she was insecure but for the most part she was this badass that let herself enjoy life the way she wanted to whether that was with a salad or a double cheeseburger. I really admired her for it and it made me want to give her a big hug.
After all of this rambling I'm sure you've come to the conclusion that I would definitely recommend this book. Seriously, you don't want to miss out on this one. And it would be a great introduction to RVD's writing if you've never read her before.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
October 27, 2017
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
I decided to read Fraternize after a certain someone’s name kept popping up all over creation due to him being an excellent human being and afterwatching sitting in the same room during Sunday Funday when this happened . . . .
I can’t imagine the person who would still not know this – but in case you need written confirmation, YES I am 100% disgusting and was totally able to take something wonderful that happened during a tragedy to make me horny for some porny . . . .
The story here is about Emerson who has dreamed of breaking the mold of who can become a professional cheerleader ever since high school. When Emerson finally lands a spot on the Bucks’ squad, she is elated. She knows she can keep up with the grueling pace, and as for the no fraternization with the football players policy? No problem. Especially since the only two who pay her any attention are her former best friend who now hates her and another who has a reputation of being kind of like this . . . .
If you would have ever told me that I would be this smitten with one of these types of stories . . . .
I would have told you to get your head checked. I’m not going to spoil anything here, so you’ll just have to trust me when I say that this isn’t your typical love triangle tale. Now, there’s probably plenty of people who will still be put off by it, and those people should just go ahead and remove themselves from my space because the way this plot point is used here is NOT OFFENSIVE. There was one teensie little thing that is overused a lot in romance novels that I never enjoy, but it didn’t turn me off in the least. I just wanted to hurry up and get to the addressing of the giant pink elephant and then move on because the rest of the story?????
Emerson was quite the breath of fresh air of a leading lady who had real life shit to deal with and didn’t much sweat the small stuff . . . .
“Go shower. You smell like whiskey and bad choices.”
And the men? Remember up top when I said I wanted to picture bangin’ JJ Watt? Well, imagine my surprise when I was introduced to Miller . . . .
Followed by Grant . . . .
Kudos to you Rachel Van Dyken. I can't understand how so many authors choose to write leading males who play a sport that is predominantly made up of minorities, and yet they are ALWAYS white. Unless they are the kicker, that shouldn't be the case : )
Now please allow me to channel my inner Jason Derulo and ask WILL YOU MAAAAAAAAARRY MEEEEEEEE?
All the stars and I seriously CAN. NOT. WAIT. for the second in this series to come out. So fired up . . . .
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley! And for any of you who are curious – NO I DO NOT KNOW THIS AUTHOR. I simply stalk the intertubes (and have a friend who assists me and sends me PMs in case I miss something) for all of her new releases like any sane person would do because I lurv her.
I decided to read Fraternize after a certain someone’s name kept popping up all over creation due to him being an excellent human being and after
I can’t imagine the person who would still not know this – but in case you need written confirmation, YES I am 100% disgusting and was totally able to take something wonderful that happened during a tragedy to make me horny for some porny . . . .
The story here is about Emerson who has dreamed of breaking the mold of who can become a professional cheerleader ever since high school. When Emerson finally lands a spot on the Bucks’ squad, she is elated. She knows she can keep up with the grueling pace, and as for the no fraternization with the football players policy? No problem. Especially since the only two who pay her any attention are her former best friend who now hates her and another who has a reputation of being kind of like this . . . .
If you would have ever told me that I would be this smitten with one of these types of stories . . . .
I would have told you to get your head checked. I’m not going to spoil anything here, so you’ll just have to trust me when I say that this isn’t your typical love triangle tale. Now, there’s probably plenty of people who will still be put off by it, and those people should just go ahead and remove themselves from my space because the way this plot point is used here is NOT OFFENSIVE. There was one teensie little thing that is overused a lot in romance novels that I never enjoy, but it didn’t turn me off in the least. I just wanted to hurry up and get to the addressing of the giant pink elephant and then move on because the rest of the story?????
Emerson was quite the breath of fresh air of a leading lady who had real life shit to deal with and didn’t much sweat the small stuff . . . .
“Go shower. You smell like whiskey and bad choices.”
And the men? Remember up top when I said I wanted to picture bangin’ JJ Watt? Well, imagine my surprise when I was introduced to Miller . . . .
Followed by Grant . . . .
Kudos to you Rachel Van Dyken. I can't understand how so many authors choose to write leading males who play a sport that is predominantly made up of minorities, and yet they are ALWAYS white. Unless they are the kicker, that shouldn't be the case : )
Now please allow me to channel my inner Jason Derulo and ask WILL YOU MAAAAAAAAARRY MEEEEEEEE?
All the stars and I seriously CAN. NOT. WAIT. for the second in this series to come out. So fired up . . . .
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley! And for any of you who are curious – NO I DO NOT KNOW THIS AUTHOR. I simply stalk the intertubes (and have a friend who assists me and sends me PMs in case I miss something) for all of her new releases like any sane person would do because I lurv her.
September 17, 2017
I’m just giddy with all kinds of wonderfulness after reading this awesome book! I normally shy away from love triangles because, hello, love triangle. I like to have a clear definition of who my characters are going to end up with and it’s just all kinds of angsty when I don’t know. I NEVER go to the end of the book to see how it ends. However, it didn’t take me long to start texting my friend about the deep desperate drive I was fighting to do just that. She’s already read it and I needed to know it was okay to go ahead and have a peek. She refused to give me permission! (She used to be such a great friend.)
I somehow managed to not skip ahead and oh man, I was so glad I didn’t cheat. I absolutely loved the way this story formed and took shape. I found myself so entrenched in these characters I honestly didn’t know who I wanted Emerson to end up with. Both Miller and Grant were perfectly imperfect in their own unique ways. That’s when I started to really sweat though. Because if I loved them both, that meant one of them was going to lose the girl. Someone was going to get hurt and I didn’t want that to happen. See, love triangle dang it!
Much to my amazement, this author managed to work these characters into a position that Emerson’s decision was the only one that made any sense at all. And the man that didn’t get the woman? He ended up in a place where he was okay with it and I believed it. That my friends is pure talent.
Overall, this was an exceptional read filled with lots of great banter, humor that didn’t quite cross over into immaturity, a fabulous cast of characters of which I can’t wait to read more about, and some of the deepest feels I’ve experienced in quite some time. There is nothing like reading a book and laughing out loud only to find yourself choking back tears a few pages later. That is what this story did to me. I loved every minute of it.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review
*Multi POV
*Safe – Let me just say that Emerson does not play these two against each other. Nor is she physical with them one after the other. I felt this book was completely safe. The following isn’t a huge spoiler but might help if you are still struggling to make a decision.
*Possible trigger -
I somehow managed to not skip ahead and oh man, I was so glad I didn’t cheat. I absolutely loved the way this story formed and took shape. I found myself so entrenched in these characters I honestly didn’t know who I wanted Emerson to end up with. Both Miller and Grant were perfectly imperfect in their own unique ways. That’s when I started to really sweat though. Because if I loved them both, that meant one of them was going to lose the girl. Someone was going to get hurt and I didn’t want that to happen. See, love triangle dang it!
Much to my amazement, this author managed to work these characters into a position that Emerson’s decision was the only one that made any sense at all. And the man that didn’t get the woman? He ended up in a place where he was okay with it and I believed it. That my friends is pure talent.
Overall, this was an exceptional read filled with lots of great banter, humor that didn’t quite cross over into immaturity, a fabulous cast of characters of which I can’t wait to read more about, and some of the deepest feels I’ve experienced in quite some time. There is nothing like reading a book and laughing out loud only to find yourself choking back tears a few pages later. That is what this story did to me. I loved every minute of it.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review
*Multi POV
*Safe – Let me just say that Emerson does not play these two against each other. Nor is she physical with them one after the other. I felt this book was completely safe. The following isn’t a huge spoiler but might help if you are still struggling to make a decision.
*Possible trigger -
September 15, 2017
*Thanks again to Skyscape for sending me an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Emerson and Miller used to be best friends. But when Miller moved away at the beginning of their senior year, the two stopped talking to each other. They both think the other one is responsible for their loss of contact and so they don’t see each other until their ways coincidentally cross again six years later. Now Emerson is a cheerleader for the Bellevue Bucks, a successful football team, and Miller joins the team as a player. Their childhood dream has come true but the circumstances are a little different than they thought they’d be. Will the two end up as lovers, friends or enemies?
‘Fraternize’ is a very quick read and I finished it within less than a day. The book immediately captivated me and I really enjoyed it. I loved Rachel van Dyken’s writing style and you can clearly see that this isn’t the first book she published. It was so well written that I think I’ll check out some of her other works now because she seems to be a very talented author. I also immediately fell in love with the characters she created and I’m so glad I found a book about the relationship of a cheerleader and a player that wasn’t about the usual stick thin, bitchy cheerleader you normally find in similar books.
All in all, this is a very quick and enjoyable read and I’d definitely recommend it to everyone who’s looking for a good new adult romance novel. I decided to give it 4 out of 5 stars and I’m definitely interested in reading the second part of this series which will be published in January.
Emerson and Miller used to be best friends. But when Miller moved away at the beginning of their senior year, the two stopped talking to each other. They both think the other one is responsible for their loss of contact and so they don’t see each other until their ways coincidentally cross again six years later. Now Emerson is a cheerleader for the Bellevue Bucks, a successful football team, and Miller joins the team as a player. Their childhood dream has come true but the circumstances are a little different than they thought they’d be. Will the two end up as lovers, friends or enemies?
‘Fraternize’ is a very quick read and I finished it within less than a day. The book immediately captivated me and I really enjoyed it. I loved Rachel van Dyken’s writing style and you can clearly see that this isn’t the first book she published. It was so well written that I think I’ll check out some of her other works now because she seems to be a very talented author. I also immediately fell in love with the characters she created and I’m so glad I found a book about the relationship of a cheerleader and a player that wasn’t about the usual stick thin, bitchy cheerleader you normally find in similar books.
All in all, this is a very quick and enjoyable read and I’d definitely recommend it to everyone who’s looking for a good new adult romance novel. I decided to give it 4 out of 5 stars and I’m definitely interested in reading the second part of this series which will be published in January.
September 11, 2017
Wow! That was completely unexpected. I've read a few of Rachel Van Dykens romcoms and loved them so I jumped at the chance to read this newest from her. What I wasn't expecting was how emotional this book was going to be. It was very funny and I had a lot of laugh out loud moments, but I also cried in a couple of scenes. This had a great balance of humor and seriousness.
Im not a fan of love triangles and the only reason I gave this a shot was because of the author. As you can see by my 5 Star rating, I loved it! It's not what I was expecting of a love triangle. I actually felt everyone was where they should be at the end. I didn't feel sorry for the one that didn't get chosen. It's not to say I wasn't conflicted, because I loved all the characters! There was no bad guy in this story. Well, except for a teammate that stirred a bit of trouble for them, but the author closed this up very nicely.
I hope this doesn't spoil anything but I feel like I have to mention that the author shocked me with who Emerson ends up with. I thought I knew where this story was going and then it dawned on me at one particular moment in the book that I was wrong. I had to stop reading and think back to the all the previous moments and see it with new eyes. I kind of love that! It was pretty brilliant and the reason why this went from 4 to 5 stars.
When I said the author wrapped this up nicely? That's the reason I wasn't sad about who lost out. We got to see him open his eyes and see someone else which I assume was the teaser for the new next book. I'm so invested in these people that I can't wait! ARC provided by NetGalley.
Im not a fan of love triangles and the only reason I gave this a shot was because of the author. As you can see by my 5 Star rating, I loved it! It's not what I was expecting of a love triangle. I actually felt everyone was where they should be at the end. I didn't feel sorry for the one that didn't get chosen. It's not to say I wasn't conflicted, because I loved all the characters! There was no bad guy in this story. Well, except for a teammate that stirred a bit of trouble for them, but the author closed this up very nicely.
I hope this doesn't spoil anything but I feel like I have to mention that the author shocked me with who Emerson ends up with. I thought I knew where this story was going and then it dawned on me at one particular moment in the book that I was wrong. I had to stop reading and think back to the all the previous moments and see it with new eyes. I kind of love that! It was pretty brilliant and the reason why this went from 4 to 5 stars.
When I said the author wrapped this up nicely? That's the reason I wasn't sad about who lost out. We got to see him open his eyes and see someone else which I assume was the teaser for the new next book. I'm so invested in these people that I can't wait! ARC provided by NetGalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2017
This is a well-written book but it's really not my cup of tea. Here's why:
1. I went into it expecting it to be lighthearted, flirty and fun. Don't the blurb and cover give you that impression? Or maybe it's just me. Anyway, while parts of it are indeed "fluffy"... at the core, the story still had too much angst/drama. Even the epilogue has drama! Ugh. No thank you.
But what gets to me is that the biggest angsty situation could've been resolved with a good (even if painful) conversation. And guess what? The stupid heart-to-heart took place nearly at the end of the book! I felt bad that I had to wade through so much s-t-u-f-f to finally get to a major turning point in the MC's lives. And then there were like only 3 chapters left of the book, so the ending felt so rushed.
2. This is a love triangle. There's Emerson, Miller, and Sanchez. But majority of the book's chapters alternate between only Emerson and Miller's POVs.
I think that there should've been more chapters with Sanchez's POV. If I'm not mistaken, there were only 2 or 3. Again WTH? He's a big part of the story! As such, I felt like a vital part was missing!
***
Sigh. Bottom line: I ended the book feeling bad instead of happy. The main reason why I pick the books that I do is to read about couples getting their HEA, for the feels. I don't like books that make me feel sad/bad. Not good. 😢
Nevertheless, I still want to thank NetGalley for granting my request for an ARC of this book. I'm sorry but it's just not the type of story that I like to read.
1. I went into it expecting it to be lighthearted, flirty and fun. Don't the blurb and cover give you that impression? Or maybe it's just me. Anyway, while parts of it are indeed "fluffy"... at the core, the story still had too much angst/drama. Even the epilogue has drama! Ugh. No thank you.
But what gets to me is that the biggest angsty situation could've been resolved with a good (even if painful) conversation. And guess what? The stupid heart-to-heart took place nearly at the end of the book! I felt bad that I had to wade through so much s-t-u-f-f to finally get to a major turning point in the MC's lives. And then there were like only 3 chapters left of the book, so the ending felt so rushed.
2. This is a love triangle. There's Emerson, Miller, and Sanchez. But majority of the book's chapters alternate between only Emerson and Miller's POVs.
I think that there should've been more chapters with Sanchez's POV. If I'm not mistaken, there were only 2 or 3. Again WTH? He's a big part of the story! As such, I felt like a vital part was missing!
***
Sigh. Bottom line: I ended the book feeling bad instead of happy. The main reason why I pick the books that I do is to read about couples getting their HEA, for the feels. I don't like books that make me feel sad/bad. Not good. 😢
Nevertheless, I still want to thank NetGalley for granting my request for an ARC of this book. I'm sorry but it's just not the type of story that I like to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2017
I had the collegiate experience. The voice. The skills. But I was lacking one thing. The ability to squeeze my body into a size two, four, six, eight. Who do we appreciate? Food, damn it!
FRATERNIZE is a lot of things. It's a sports romance, a love triangle, a second chance romance, a best-friends-to-lovers romance, a slowburn, and a story featuring diverse characters and a plus sized woman. Like I said, it's a lot of things. It's also my first read by Van Dyken and it definitely won't be my last.
"I'm kind of.. not used to getting rejected."
"Take an ibuprofen and have a nice glass of wine tonight, Sanchez. Things will look so much better in the morning after a good night's sleep."
This story, I felt, started off a little rocky with some flashbacks that didn't exactly transition well. But it took off pretty soon after. The writing was witty, some of the situations were hilarious, but there was an undercurrent of seriousness and genuine emotion, not to mention angst, that grounded it, too.
"So, what's it going to be? You going to be my friend and hers? You going to be a good teammate and help us win the championship? Or will we war?"
I think I had my own prediction as to how this romance was going to play out even before the opening pages. We expect tropes and we often get them. That's just the way it works. I won't confirm whether Van Dyken lets those run their course or not but I will say that the end result was hugely satisfying. And while I actually walked away liking all the characters, including the supporting cast, it was the 'new' love interest in Emerson's world who holds a particularly special place in my heart. None of them were perfect but none of them frustrated me beyond reason, either. Or.. even at all, I think?
Maybe that was his superpower; Grant Sanchez was able to weasel his way into any situation and come out on top.
That being said, I did find FRATERNIZE to be a little silly at times, and even a little over the top. And there were some events near the end that kind of felt like a letdown due to added and unnecessary drama after a really solid middle run. I think this would've been a much more overall satisfying read if it was less NA and more.. A. If we'd had characters in their late twenties instead of early. Van Dyken wrote them in a pretty mature fashion for the most part but then would occasionally let them slip into ridiculousness as if to make up for the fact that they were acting too old or something. That being said, I still found myself laughing more often than not. It's hard to explain.
"You like me because I find your faults?"
"Hell no. I like you because you make me want to fix them."
I really enjoyed how the romance played out, though, and often that isn't something you'll hear me say about a love triangle or messy angsty situation. But this had the perfect balance of elements and I'm really looking forward to the next in the series to see more of these characters and for the next book's couple.
3.5 "go shower. you smell like whiskey and bad choices" stars
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
FRATERNIZE is a lot of things. It's a sports romance, a love triangle, a second chance romance, a best-friends-to-lovers romance, a slowburn, and a story featuring diverse characters and a plus sized woman. Like I said, it's a lot of things. It's also my first read by Van Dyken and it definitely won't be my last.
"I'm kind of.. not used to getting rejected."
"Take an ibuprofen and have a nice glass of wine tonight, Sanchez. Things will look so much better in the morning after a good night's sleep."
This story, I felt, started off a little rocky with some flashbacks that didn't exactly transition well. But it took off pretty soon after. The writing was witty, some of the situations were hilarious, but there was an undercurrent of seriousness and genuine emotion, not to mention angst, that grounded it, too.
"So, what's it going to be? You going to be my friend and hers? You going to be a good teammate and help us win the championship? Or will we war?"
I think I had my own prediction as to how this romance was going to play out even before the opening pages. We expect tropes and we often get them. That's just the way it works. I won't confirm whether Van Dyken lets those run their course or not but I will say that the end result was hugely satisfying. And while I actually walked away liking all the characters, including the supporting cast, it was the 'new' love interest in Emerson's world who holds a particularly special place in my heart. None of them were perfect but none of them frustrated me beyond reason, either. Or.. even at all, I think?
Maybe that was his superpower; Grant Sanchez was able to weasel his way into any situation and come out on top.
That being said, I did find FRATERNIZE to be a little silly at times, and even a little over the top. And there were some events near the end that kind of felt like a letdown due to added and unnecessary drama after a really solid middle run. I think this would've been a much more overall satisfying read if it was less NA and more.. A. If we'd had characters in their late twenties instead of early. Van Dyken wrote them in a pretty mature fashion for the most part but then would occasionally let them slip into ridiculousness as if to make up for the fact that they were acting too old or something. That being said, I still found myself laughing more often than not. It's hard to explain.
"You like me because I find your faults?"
"Hell no. I like you because you make me want to fix them."
I really enjoyed how the romance played out, though, and often that isn't something you'll hear me say about a love triangle or messy angsty situation. But this had the perfect balance of elements and I'm really looking forward to the next in the series to see more of these characters and for the next book's couple.
3.5 "go shower. you smell like whiskey and bad choices" stars
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
dnf
July 18, 2022DNF @20% This is available to read & listen for free on KU.
I thought I could handle the love triangle in this book, but I can’t. I made the mistake of looking at the next book of this series and accidentally found out who the heroine chose. And I’m sorry, but no. I can’t support the final outcome of this book, so I’m not going to waste my time.
Oh, and there’s a lot of negativity towards “skinny” women who supposedly starve themselves. The heroine is curvy and the reader is reminded of this every 3 sentences. It’s fine to have her be curvy, but how about not judging the skinny women in this story as being shallow for watching their weight?
I think it’s best not to read spoilers if you want to enjoy this book.
I will say that I like this author’s writing style, just not the story itself.
I thought I could handle the love triangle in this book, but I can’t. I made the mistake of looking at the next book of this series and accidentally found out who the heroine chose. And I’m sorry, but no. I can’t support the final outcome of this book, so I’m not going to waste my time.
Oh, and there’s a lot of negativity towards “skinny” women who supposedly starve themselves. The heroine is curvy and the reader is reminded of this every 3 sentences. It’s fine to have her be curvy, but how about not judging the skinny women in this story as being shallow for watching their weight?
I think it’s best not to read spoilers if you want to enjoy this book.
I will say that I like this author’s writing style, just not the story itself.
September 13, 2017
ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
Fraternize by Rachel Van Dyken is a charming love triangle-ish story. You must be wondering how could I say a love triangle is charming... well it’s partly because there is a very obvious choice as to who should win the heart of the heroine. And also due in part that RVD doesn’t make it so angsty.
Emerson Rodner finally landed her dream job as the newest member of the cheer squad for the NFL team, Bellevue Bucks. While Emerson is a bit self-conscious about her weight since she is not considered the normal size 2, she tries to fully embraces her big girl curves. As the newest member of the cheer squad, she is greeted by the biggest flirts and star of the team, Grant Sanchez.
Grant Sanchez is immediately intrigued by Emerson. What could be the start of possibly a new relationship is about to get sidelined when Emerson’s first love and best friend becomes the newest player on the Bellevue Bucks. What happens when two guys wants Em? Will she be scoring a touchdown with Grant? Or rekindling an old flame with Miller?
Fraternize definitely showcases RVD’s ability to incorporate humor and romance into one unforgettable love story. I love all three of the main characters as they brought forth something to the storyline. As always, the writing was on point since RVD made this sort of love triangle fun, light, and beautiful in her own romantic way. So if you are looking for a book that was fresh, charming, and entertaining then this RVD book might be for you.
Rachel Van Dyken
Fraternize by Rachel Van Dyken is a charming love triangle-ish story. You must be wondering how could I say a love triangle is charming... well it’s partly because there is a very obvious choice as to who should win the heart of the heroine. And also due in part that RVD doesn’t make it so angsty.
Emerson Rodner finally landed her dream job as the newest member of the cheer squad for the NFL team, Bellevue Bucks. While Emerson is a bit self-conscious about her weight since she is not considered the normal size 2, she tries to fully embraces her big girl curves. As the newest member of the cheer squad, she is greeted by the biggest flirts and star of the team, Grant Sanchez.
Grant Sanchez is immediately intrigued by Emerson. What could be the start of possibly a new relationship is about to get sidelined when Emerson’s first love and best friend becomes the newest player on the Bellevue Bucks. What happens when two guys wants Em? Will she be scoring a touchdown with Grant? Or rekindling an old flame with Miller?
Fraternize definitely showcases RVD’s ability to incorporate humor and romance into one unforgettable love story. I love all three of the main characters as they brought forth something to the storyline. As always, the writing was on point since RVD made this sort of love triangle fun, light, and beautiful in her own romantic way. So if you are looking for a book that was fresh, charming, and entertaining then this RVD book might be for you.
Rachel Van Dyken
September 22, 2017
I think this is the first time in a love triangle where I could not decide which guy the heroine (Emerson) should end up with.....I mean, I loved both Grant and Miller! It was hard not to....
Emerson has finally achieved her dream of becoming a pro football cheerleader. I love that she was not the typical size zero and had the confidence she needed to fulfill her dream. But she does not expect her long lost high school romance to end up on the team, nor does she expect the womanizing Grant (whose on the same team) to take an interest in her!
One thing I absolutely loved was the friendship between Grant and Miller.....yep, they were teammates who became like brothers.....and basically it was, "may the best man win" where Emerson was concerned. Loved the way it all played out!
This was very well written and I love that Ms. Van Dyken changed it up a bit from the typical love triangles we normally read about. There's so much more to this book.
I am still torn between the two guys......but SO EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT BOOK!!!!!
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.
Emerson has finally achieved her dream of becoming a pro football cheerleader. I love that she was not the typical size zero and had the confidence she needed to fulfill her dream. But she does not expect her long lost high school romance to end up on the team, nor does she expect the womanizing Grant (whose on the same team) to take an interest in her!
One thing I absolutely loved was the friendship between Grant and Miller.....yep, they were teammates who became like brothers.....and basically it was, "may the best man win" where Emerson was concerned. Loved the way it all played out!
This was very well written and I love that Ms. Van Dyken changed it up a bit from the typical love triangles we normally read about. There's so much more to this book.
I am still torn between the two guys......but SO EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT BOOK!!!!!
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.
September 8, 2017
Wow! Ever since I started reading Rachel Van Dyken's books, it's only this time I had the hardest time writing a review. Fraternize is a book that gave me conflicting emotions yet took me to an enjoyable ride of friendship, fun, laughter and love.
Love triangle tropes are my kind of books no matter how torturous it is. Add up some good sports romance and I'll be in heaven for real. I just love the feeling of reading something that will not just captivate me but will make me feel the heroines struggle of choosing someone especially when both men happened to have a special place in her heart. However though, reading Fraternize took me to a journey so different from what I am accustomed to. There were no angst filled moments that made me stopped reading because it felt too much. Oh, there was in fact angst-ish moments but those had a different effect on me that in the end left me enjoying it instead. No tears shed because someone was left alone. And to top it all, there was no choosing on my side who I wanted to end up who. I'm a glutton for punishment, but to choose over someone from this book?Man, I will be left in tears for days. But alas! I was not, this is RVD after all and this woman could knock it off with her love triangle that made me a happy woman than a slobbering mess.
Oooohhh.. why you ask? Well let me start by saying RVD had me with just the premise of this book that I kept flipping the pages like a mad woman hungry for flesh. In anticipation for some heart wrenching scenes, I prepared myself because it's love triangle duh.. but no!!! It wasn't necessary. Instead I was sucked right into the journey of these three characters and enjoyed every moment with them. The character portrayals was on point. Emerson, Miller and Sanchez are one's you wanted to be friends with. I love their realness and I love how they made me laugh so hard there were tears in my eyes. But above all, I love the fact the love triangle brewing in their circle boils down to loving Emerson and wasn't added with too much of testosterone games between the two men. It wasn't an easy feat, I could feel the emotions these three had but RVD made it in a way I could just read freely without getting my emotions at stake but will leave me satisfied nonetheless. It didn't even matter to me who she'll gonna end up with because in the end, both men loved her deeply. That to say, I enjoyed it. I love how everything turned out and I love that the HEA did not cost too much between the three of them. There's drama for sure, and in as much as I wanna say it wasn't necessary I still appreciate how it was included in the story.
Overall, I love this book. Fraternize is a light hearted read but the journey I had with the characters was an enjoyable one. Each had their own uniqueness and I love them for that. When I say I couldn't choose one, I really couldn't. And that's for you to find out why. Their story, their journey, it was soo good that I don't want it to end. The friendship and love as well as the slow burn romance was perfectly written. I love how I was teased with the steamy scenes because as the story progresses, Rachel did not hold back. My reader was on fire! Above all, I love how RVD made me laugh and fell in love with her characters.
Great job Rachel! Keep rockin'.
September 20, 2017
My review disappeared! Ug. Anyway, great book. I really wish we got Grant's POV a lot more than we did. I will say, I am not sure about the next book, because 1/2 of this book was in Miller's POV and it will be the same for the next. I don't know, I would have really liked a lot more Grant.
March 10, 2019
The man kissed like he played—without apology and without fear.
With hilarious humor, lovable characters and a story line that was to die for, Fraternize became one of my favorites by Rachel Van Dyken. I easily found myself emotionally invested and I couldn't stop the gasps, screams, happy tears or ugly crying that happened. This book was absolutely everything and I've come to realize that Rachel Van Dyken is the queen of love triangles. Every single time she makes me fall for both of the guys and I end up loving the outcome, I don't know how she does it!
Things were looking up.
But I had to know the universe wasn’t going to be in my corner for much longer. You can only steal all the luck for so long. - Emerson
You guys, I absolutely loved Emerson! She was strong, determined, worked her butt off and was such a good person. I loved that we got to watch her dream come true of being a professional cheerleader. But with her new job came a slew of rules that ranged from what she was allowed to eat to not fraternizing with the football players. And while she thought the no fraternizing rule would be easy enough, that quickly changed when two men stepped into her life.
Me: I missed you.
Miller: That’s in the past.
Me: Deal.
Miller: And Em?
Me: Yeah?
Miller: I’m pretty sure, I missed you more . .
One of the guys was Miller Quinton, and from that first chapter we jumped back in time to when him and Emerson were in High School. Stolen moments from Emerson and Miller's past crashed into the current and it always stole my breath away. Their memories were so powerful. Not only had they been best friends since they were seven, but she even lost her virginity to him when they were teenagers. We quickly saw that Miller was charming, sexy and he knew how to make Emerson smile. So of course I jumped right on Team Miller! With him being transferred to the football team that Emerson cheered for, I couldn't wait to see them back together. It didn't matter that they were no longer friends, feelings like that don't just go away!
“Why?” I had a hard time finding my voice as he slowly moved his head back up. It was impossible not to feel the heat from his body.
He stopped, looking me in the eye. “Because one day, he’s going to regret walking away from you. And I want to be there when it’s too late—when you’re in my arms, my bed instead.” - Emerson and Sanchez
But then Grant Sanchez walked into the story and he stole my breath too. He made me laugh, smile and I loved his friendly personality. He slowly started to invade Emerson's world, since he was a football player on the team Emerson cheered for, and he knew what he wanted. Emerson. I loved that he messed with Miller, to help Emerson get back at him. I loved that Sanchez helped pick her up, when her heart was hurting from Miller. And I loved that he was not only a ton of fun, but constantly made Emerson laugh. But there was a hiccup. Sanchez was the hugest player ever, so could Emerson even trust him? While watching the story unfold, there was a profound moment that I knew I completely trusted Sanchez. But then I paused, I was now on Team Miller and Team Sanchez. What's a girl to do?
His demeanor changed around her.
And even though she would die before admitting it, hers changed around him.
She was less guarded—and she smiled. She fucking smiled.
I swallowed my hurt.
My pride.
And the breaking in my heart as I nodded toward him and mouthed, “ Friends .” - Miller to Sanchez
The fact that Miller and Sanchez were not only teammates but friends, proved all over again what amazing men they both were. I wanted Miller and Sanchez to get their HEAs, because they both deserved it. But the story came to the point, where I knew without a shadow of a doubt who I wanted Emerson to be with. I felt guilty that I chose one of them, but I kept hoping the other would find true love too.
What was happening?
What was I doing?
This wasn’t how the story was supposed to go.
So I definitely recommend Fraternize to everyone that adores romance, sports and love triangles done right. But there's so much more in this story that I didn't even touch on. The games were so much fun to read about! I loved watching Emerson make friends with Kinsey, whom I adored. And there was something in Emerson's life, with her dad, that hit close to home with someone I love. While her heart broke, mine did too and I ugly cried. This book constantly made me run the gauntlet of emotions! Especially with that ending, which was absolutely perfect. On top of that we were even given an epilogue that has me beyond ecstatic for the next book! I can't wait to pick up Infraction, I just know it's going to be fabulous!
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October 4, 2017
I figure out early on that this was somewhat of love triangle. Hmm.
First, it was teen first love (high school). Emerson, the h is the shy curvy bff of Miller- the football star. Emerson has always had the dream to join the cheerleading squad. She's rejected every time.
During their last year of school, they are suddenly separated (Miller's dad moves them away). They promise to keep in touch but that is interrupted & each thinks the other has rejected the other.
They meet again years later- on the football field. Literally.
This is 1st person POV, alternating Emerson & Miller.
Emerson is still into cheerleading -this time for the Bucks- a professional football team.
Miller isn't the only stand out football stud. He's new to the Bucks. Sanchez (Grant) has eyes for Emerson. It just kills Miller. He doesn't trust Sanchez's motives.
Sanchez is very outgoing and knows what (who) he wants. He wants Emerson. They become friends.
I wasn't so put off by the triangle. At first.
Then it went on and on and on. Pick ONE! Then build on that relationship.
There was a huge slow middle. The dialogue seemed very immature.
Sorry this didn't work for me. I liked Emerson but some things were left hanging.
This was available on KU, but I received an ARC from Netgalley. 3 stars.
First, it was teen first love (high school). Emerson, the h is the shy curvy bff of Miller- the football star. Emerson has always had the dream to join the cheerleading squad. She's rejected every time.
During their last year of school, they are suddenly separated (Miller's dad moves them away). They promise to keep in touch but that is interrupted & each thinks the other has rejected the other.
They meet again years later- on the football field. Literally.
This is 1st person POV, alternating Emerson & Miller.
Emerson is still into cheerleading -this time for the Bucks- a professional football team.
Miller isn't the only stand out football stud. He's new to the Bucks. Sanchez (Grant) has eyes for Emerson. It just kills Miller. He doesn't trust Sanchez's motives.
Sanchez is very outgoing and knows what (who) he wants. He wants Emerson. They become friends.
I wasn't so put off by the triangle. At first.
Then it went on and on and on. Pick ONE! Then build on that relationship.
There was a huge slow middle. The dialogue seemed very immature.
Sorry this didn't work for me. I liked Emerson but some things were left hanging.
This was available on KU, but I received an ARC from Netgalley. 3 stars.
September 14, 2017
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review.
5 stars
I went into this expecting the writing to be good, due to the author, but a little worried it'd be a cliche. Thank goodness I was wrong!
Embry is a full figured girl who is a cheerleader. However, other than worrying over her weight when it was natural (like a weigh in), she's very secure in who she is. That alone was a breath of fresh air. She's confident and fun with a good heart. There was the worry of getting on the team as a full figured girl, but considering it's cheerleading, again, it was natural. So for that alone, I was happy.
Now, the men. Grant... I adore Grant. He's my favorite, that cocky, fun guy who is up front and in your face of what he wants. Wilson is fun too. He's a little more moody and broken, but he's super sweet. Their relationship together is fun, watching these two ex-rivals become teammates. It's also fun to watch the real feelings of them both having feelings for the same girl and still trying to be a team.
The relationships and where they go... well, in the beginning, for Wilson, it's anger from the past. For Grant, it's he wants to bed her to start. I'm not going to give any details about how anything develops after that. There were moments of humor, angst, swooning, and in the end, huge smiles. In the end, I just wish I could read it for the first time all over again. It was that good.
5 stars
I went into this expecting the writing to be good, due to the author, but a little worried it'd be a cliche. Thank goodness I was wrong!
Embry is a full figured girl who is a cheerleader. However, other than worrying over her weight when it was natural (like a weigh in), she's very secure in who she is. That alone was a breath of fresh air. She's confident and fun with a good heart. There was the worry of getting on the team as a full figured girl, but considering it's cheerleading, again, it was natural. So for that alone, I was happy.
Now, the men. Grant... I adore Grant. He's my favorite, that cocky, fun guy who is up front and in your face of what he wants. Wilson is fun too. He's a little more moody and broken, but he's super sweet. Their relationship together is fun, watching these two ex-rivals become teammates. It's also fun to watch the real feelings of them both having feelings for the same girl and still trying to be a team.
The relationships and where they go... well, in the beginning, for Wilson, it's anger from the past. For Grant, it's he wants to bed her to start. I'm not going to give any details about how anything develops after that. There were moments of humor, angst, swooning, and in the end, huge smiles. In the end, I just wish I could read it for the first time all over again. It was that good.
September 21, 2017
1.5 Stars
So frustrated!! That's how I feel after reading this book. This book had me from the burb. The storyline had such great potential, so I just don't get how it went so bad so fast.
So there is a love triangle which you already know from the blurb. Emerson was very indecisive and even past 50% she was going back and forth between the two guys. Honestly , this I had no problem with. Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens is one of my favorite books and the heroine in that book was also going back and forth between two guys. What I did have a problem with was the fact that the two heroes also seemed to not be able to make up their minds as well. Especially Miller who went from hating her because of a really stupid obstacle in their past to being attracted to her to being ok with just being friends and so the cycle went for the whole book. I was so confused!
The best of all though was the fact that for the entire book we get the POV Why in the world would you do this!!
Now the sexual chemistry in this book was good but the actual steamy scenes are very few.
Sorry this just did not work for me.
1.5 Stars
Contemporary New Adult Romance
POV: Dual
HEA
So frustrated!! That's how I feel after reading this book. This book had me from the burb. The storyline had such great potential, so I just don't get how it went so bad so fast.
So there is a love triangle which you already know from the blurb. Emerson was very indecisive and even past 50% she was going back and forth between the two guys. Honestly , this I had no problem with. Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens is one of my favorite books and the heroine in that book was also going back and forth between two guys. What I did have a problem with was the fact that the two heroes also seemed to not be able to make up their minds as well. Especially Miller who went from hating her because of a really stupid obstacle in their past to being attracted to her to being ok with just being friends and so the cycle went for the whole book. I was so confused!
The best of all though was the fact that for the entire book we get the POV Why in the world would you do this!!
Now the sexual chemistry in this book was good but the actual steamy scenes are very few.
Sorry this just did not work for me.
1.5 Stars
Contemporary New Adult Romance
POV: Dual
HEA
September 20, 2017
Oh man, I absolutely LOVED this book. Like SO SO SO much. First of all, y'all know I'm a sucker for angst, so give me a triangle and I'm a happy camper. But what made this one stand out was that it was ALSO about a thicker girl, and since I've been thick my entire life, I LOVE reading about heroines who look like me.
Em was such a bad a**. Every time I read her chapters, I wanted to high five her. Like... how on earth did she resist Sanchez for so long?! I have no idea. Sanchez is everything that I love -- cocky, sexy, and has a softer side that he only shows to certain people. SWOON.
And then there's Miller, who is the best friend who's always been there. I swear, I got the angstiest vibes when him and Em were in the same room. All those lost years, all that tension... SIGH. I just love it.
This was my first RVD book and I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to read her. Her style is so fun and addicting, I had the hardest time ever putting the book down. Can't wait to read more from her and, even more so, in this connected series! 5 stars!
Em was such a bad a**. Every time I read her chapters, I wanted to high five her. Like... how on earth did she resist Sanchez for so long?! I have no idea. Sanchez is everything that I love -- cocky, sexy, and has a softer side that he only shows to certain people. SWOON.
And then there's Miller, who is the best friend who's always been there. I swear, I got the angstiest vibes when him and Em were in the same room. All those lost years, all that tension... SIGH. I just love it.
This was my first RVD book and I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to read her. Her style is so fun and addicting, I had the hardest time ever putting the book down. Can't wait to read more from her and, even more so, in this connected series! 5 stars!
September 12, 2017
Signed paperback of one of Christine's FAVES this year! #Fraternize Enter on the blog!
http://shhmomsreading.com/fraternize-...
4-4.5 STARS!
OMG I devoured this book in ONE DAY despite me trying to read slow, I just couldn't stop turning the pages. This book was so addicting, just so damn good that I didn't want it to end.
Emerson and Miller were best friends growing up—until the day that Miller moved away and they severed ties never to speak again.
Fast forward years later and they are both living their dreams—Emerson is an NFL cheerleader and Miller has come home to play football for the Bellevue Bucks, his hometown’s team.
When Emerson and Miller come face to face after so much time, I felt so heartbroken for them for all the time lost, the friendship and love that they once shared underneath the surface but both still feeling the pain of their disconnect.
And let's not even talk about the no fraternizing with the players rule or sexy as hell Grant Sanchez who likes Emerson's curves in the best possible way! OMG *fans self*
I loved Emerson's strength and her overall character. I love a woman with curves and was so excited to read a different story about a different character outside of the every day. I loved that despite her insecurities, she loved herself and her body and worked hard to get what she wanted. Emerson's loyalty and friendship is what really made me adore her because it's hard to find true, real people and Emerson was that and more.
Now there are a couple of things in the story that I wished were developed more—namely the secret that she had hidden from Miller. I felt like it was glossed over a bit and wanted more when it came to that.
Overall, I love Rachel's words... she makes me smile and laugh out loud, she makes me shed a tear when it comes to the emotions and feels she wants to evoke in readers and most importantly she makes me care about her characters that long after I close the book, I am still thinking about them and wishing I hadn't read through the story so quickly to have spent more time with them.
I am VERY MUCH looking forward to the next book in the series... and no I won't tell you who it's about but when it comes to love and romance, I know that Rachel will give us another hit that will be hard to forget.
I love LOVE and Fraternize was so much fun and a great start to a new series that I can't wait to read more about!!!
http://shhmomsreading.com/fraternize-...
4-4.5 STARS!
OMG I devoured this book in ONE DAY despite me trying to read slow, I just couldn't stop turning the pages. This book was so addicting, just so damn good that I didn't want it to end.
Emerson and Miller were best friends growing up—until the day that Miller moved away and they severed ties never to speak again.
Fast forward years later and they are both living their dreams—Emerson is an NFL cheerleader and Miller has come home to play football for the Bellevue Bucks, his hometown’s team.
When Emerson and Miller come face to face after so much time, I felt so heartbroken for them for all the time lost, the friendship and love that they once shared underneath the surface but both still feeling the pain of their disconnect.
And let's not even talk about the no fraternizing with the players rule or sexy as hell Grant Sanchez who likes Emerson's curves in the best possible way! OMG *fans self*
I loved Emerson's strength and her overall character. I love a woman with curves and was so excited to read a different story about a different character outside of the every day. I loved that despite her insecurities, she loved herself and her body and worked hard to get what she wanted. Emerson's loyalty and friendship is what really made me adore her because it's hard to find true, real people and Emerson was that and more.
Now there are a couple of things in the story that I wished were developed more—namely the secret that she had hidden from Miller. I felt like it was glossed over a bit and wanted more when it came to that.
Overall, I love Rachel's words... she makes me smile and laugh out loud, she makes me shed a tear when it comes to the emotions and feels she wants to evoke in readers and most importantly she makes me care about her characters that long after I close the book, I am still thinking about them and wishing I hadn't read through the story so quickly to have spent more time with them.
I am VERY MUCH looking forward to the next book in the series... and no I won't tell you who it's about but when it comes to love and romance, I know that Rachel will give us another hit that will be hard to forget.
I love LOVE and Fraternize was so much fun and a great start to a new series that I can't wait to read more about!!!
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December 30, 2019dnf @ 50%
March 15, 2019
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!
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!
September 12, 2017
Emerson is finally seeing her dreams come true: cheering for professional football. She has a whole rule book to follow that make her question her dream, especially as she is not the traditional professional cheerleader body type -- she’s got curves. Most of the rules aren’t too bad, but the fraternization rule quickly becomes a challenge when she meets Grant Sanchez, one of the team captains. And shortly thereafter runs into someone from her past she thought she’d never see again: her ex best friend and first love, Miller Quinton.
I liked Emerson’s character. She is determined and focused on her goals, while also keeping her small family afloat. She has to work hard to provide for herself and her father and though she has very little free time, cheering is important to her so she makes it work.
The guys were each harder to love in their own ways. I loved that Miller had returned after so many years away, and as the pieces of their past are uncovered I couldn’t help but love him even more.
Grant Sanchez was very much the stereotypical overconfident professional athlete, but he also was very goal oriented and loyal to his team.
There were times I couldn’t decide which guy I was rooting for, and other times I had a clear leader in my head. There were even times that clear leader switched places for me. I wasn’t prepared for a full on love triangle, and think I struggled more than I needed to with that aspect of the story.
This was a fun, sporty triangle with strong friends to lovers ties. The side characters added a lot of fun to what was already an entertaining story. Though I wasn’t always sure which team I was on, I knew this was a story I had to consume and am looking forward to more from this series.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I liked Emerson’s character. She is determined and focused on her goals, while also keeping her small family afloat. She has to work hard to provide for herself and her father and though she has very little free time, cheering is important to her so she makes it work.
The guys were each harder to love in their own ways. I loved that Miller had returned after so many years away, and as the pieces of their past are uncovered I couldn’t help but love him even more.
Grant Sanchez was very much the stereotypical overconfident professional athlete, but he also was very goal oriented and loyal to his team.
There were times I couldn’t decide which guy I was rooting for, and other times I had a clear leader in my head. There were even times that clear leader switched places for me. I wasn’t prepared for a full on love triangle, and think I struggled more than I needed to with that aspect of the story.
This was a fun, sporty triangle with strong friends to lovers ties. The side characters added a lot of fun to what was already an entertaining story. Though I wasn’t always sure which team I was on, I knew this was a story I had to consume and am looking forward to more from this series.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2017
Emerson Rodner has been working towards achieving her goal of becoming a professional NFL cheerleader and is finally getting her chance. She is not a typical tiny cheerleader in that she is tall, plus-sized and curvy, though she is strong, motivated, and sassy. Like most NFL teams there is a strict fraternization rule with the players, but she is not really worried about that initially.
But she catches the eye of the Grant Sanchez, the team captain and rumored to be a ladies' man. He is flirty, sexy, sweet, cocky, and very persistent. And he might have been motivated at least in the beginning by something else as well. And then comes Miller Quinton, the new tight end...who also happens to be her childhood to teen best friend, first love and lover that broke her heart. Two men. Attraction. Attention. Against the rules.
Sanchez really goes after her and is determined to worm his way in. He is observant, attentive, patient, and caring even though he can be quite unfiltered, over-the-top, and funny. Miller is still angry and hurt and dealing with his own issues from their past. He gets a slower start and watches from the sidelines, but eventually he starts moving back at least towards the friendzone knowing he is going to want more. There is competition, jealousy, and friendship interfering. But both men are gearing up to catch the girl.
Emerson's life is not easy now and it wasn't in the past. She still has some things to work through...including talking some things through with Miller. Both she and Miller will have to confront their past and resolve those feelings before there is any hope of moving on.
Who is the man Emerson truly loves and needs to be with? The one who was her first and best friend or the one that is really pushing for a chance at her present and future? Both are worthy. Both have a chance. But she needs to choose one and follow her heart. And even then there still might be things that could surprise or hurt her.
This is a fun, sexy, sweet, and emotional slow burn, love-triangle, and friends-to-lovers story. I honestly was not sure who I was supposed to be rooting for and at times was not sure who I even wanted to win. It is told in all three of their points of view but the majority seems to be in Emerson and Miller's (and they had some flashbacks too). I liked both Sanchez and Miller. I loved that Emerson was curvy, real, confident, and that both of the men saw her as sexy and beautiful inside and out. I also enjoyed the side characters of Jax and Kinsey and the camaraderie of the team and friend group, while there were some antagonists that I certainly did not. The author did a good job having just enough football and cheerleading in the story to make it realistic. I am looking forward to the next book, Infraction that was teased at the end.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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But she catches the eye of the Grant Sanchez, the team captain and rumored to be a ladies' man. He is flirty, sexy, sweet, cocky, and very persistent. And he might have been motivated at least in the beginning by something else as well. And then comes Miller Quinton, the new tight end...who also happens to be her childhood to teen best friend, first love and lover that broke her heart. Two men. Attraction. Attention. Against the rules.
Sanchez really goes after her and is determined to worm his way in. He is observant, attentive, patient, and caring even though he can be quite unfiltered, over-the-top, and funny. Miller is still angry and hurt and dealing with his own issues from their past. He gets a slower start and watches from the sidelines, but eventually he starts moving back at least towards the friendzone knowing he is going to want more. There is competition, jealousy, and friendship interfering. But both men are gearing up to catch the girl.
Emerson's life is not easy now and it wasn't in the past. She still has some things to work through...including talking some things through with Miller. Both she and Miller will have to confront their past and resolve those feelings before there is any hope of moving on.
Who is the man Emerson truly loves and needs to be with? The one who was her first and best friend or the one that is really pushing for a chance at her present and future? Both are worthy. Both have a chance. But she needs to choose one and follow her heart. And even then there still might be things that could surprise or hurt her.
This is a fun, sexy, sweet, and emotional slow burn, love-triangle, and friends-to-lovers story. I honestly was not sure who I was supposed to be rooting for and at times was not sure who I even wanted to win. It is told in all three of their points of view but the majority seems to be in Emerson and Miller's (and they had some flashbacks too). I liked both Sanchez and Miller. I loved that Emerson was curvy, real, confident, and that both of the men saw her as sexy and beautiful inside and out. I also enjoyed the side characters of Jax and Kinsey and the camaraderie of the team and friend group, while there were some antagonists that I certainly did not. The author did a good job having just enough football and cheerleading in the story to make it realistic. I am looking forward to the next book, Infraction that was teased at the end.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Follow Me: Reviews by Tammy & Kim | Facebook | Twitter
September 6, 2017
Fraternize was a hilarious, charming, sexy, and fun contemporary romance. The author's writing felt so genuine and real that it was really easy for me to get sucked into the world she created. I genuinely laughed out loud numerous times and I swooned too many times to count while reading Fraternize.
There were so many lovable and memorable characters in this book. I loved how the author created so many unique characters. There were side characters that were prominent throughout the entire story and they never felt like they were tossed to the side. One of my favorite things about all the characters was how hilarious they all were! Each character had their own unique humor, which really shined in this book.
Going into this book, I knew there was going to be a love triangle. I was a little hesitant about the love triangle, however, the romance in this book surprised me. I don't want to spoil anything in regards to the romance, but I was EXTREMELY satisfied with out the romance ended up. I really wanted the romance to end up that way, so I was glad that is how the romance played out. My only issue with this romance was that I wish Emerson and one of the love interests would have had better communication. I felt like there was some unnecessary drama brought up due to Emerson and other characters lack of communication. That being said, I really enjoyed the romance as a whole throughout this story.
This book had some really romantic moments that made me want to cry! The male character that Emerson ended up with was so swoon-worthy and he did so many sweet things!!! Also, THIS BOOK WAS SO STEAMY. HOLY COW!!!!! HAVE A TALL GLASS OF ICE WATER AROUND TO COOL YOU OFF!
There were some elements of this book that felt a bit silly and too dramatic. I feel like some of those elements could have been toned down a tiny bit. One element of this book that I was not expecting was how emotional it got. There were some really hard topics that were addressed in this book, which made me tear up. I actually would have liked to see a little more development of that emotional storyline in the book, but I still enjoyed the amount of it that was presented in the book.
Overall, this was a really fun and addictive book. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series!
4 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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There were so many lovable and memorable characters in this book. I loved how the author created so many unique characters. There were side characters that were prominent throughout the entire story and they never felt like they were tossed to the side. One of my favorite things about all the characters was how hilarious they all were! Each character had their own unique humor, which really shined in this book.
Going into this book, I knew there was going to be a love triangle. I was a little hesitant about the love triangle, however, the romance in this book surprised me. I don't want to spoil anything in regards to the romance, but I was EXTREMELY satisfied with out the romance ended up. I really wanted the romance to end up that way, so I was glad that is how the romance played out. My only issue with this romance was that I wish Emerson and one of the love interests would have had better communication. I felt like there was some unnecessary drama brought up due to Emerson and other characters lack of communication. That being said, I really enjoyed the romance as a whole throughout this story.
This book had some really romantic moments that made me want to cry! The male character that Emerson ended up with was so swoon-worthy and he did so many sweet things!!! Also, THIS BOOK WAS SO STEAMY. HOLY COW!!!!! HAVE A TALL GLASS OF ICE WATER AROUND TO COOL YOU OFF!
There were some elements of this book that felt a bit silly and too dramatic. I feel like some of those elements could have been toned down a tiny bit. One element of this book that I was not expecting was how emotional it got. There were some really hard topics that were addressed in this book, which made me tear up. I actually would have liked to see a little more development of that emotional storyline in the book, but I still enjoyed the amount of it that was presented in the book.
Overall, this was a really fun and addictive book. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series!
4 / 5 Fangs
*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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