Review: Infraction (Players Game #2) by Rachel Van Dyken

Print Length: 278 pages

Publisher: Skyscape (January 09, 2018)

From Goodreads.com: Pro footballer Miller Quinton would do anything for his best friend and teammate—including “fake dating” his friend’s sister. What no one knows is that seven months ago in Vegas, Miller and Kinsey did a whole lot more than just kiss. Miller knows that this cheerleader is off-limits to him and any guy on the team. Still, he can’t stop himself.

Kinsey’s whole world is on the verge of crumbling. Her dad has cancer. Her overprotective brother is falling apart. Dating Miller may be a fake-out, but he’s the one guy who can make her forget about everything—including all the reasons she stayed away from football players. With each heated moment, Miller feels more like a safe place…even though he’s not safe at all.

Now temptation is testing every rule in the game of love. But how long can they go on playing when winning is a harder goal than either of them imagined?

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My Rating: 2 stars out of 5

Although this is being marketed as book number two in a series, you do not need to have read the first book in order for this one to make sense. There is of course, some cross-over between the characters, but this story focuses on Miller and Kinsley (and to a lesser extent her brother Jax and her friend Harley). 

Speaking just on this story... *sigh* 

Ok so on the whole I enjoyed this one more than I did the first in the series. I enjoyed the playful banter between the characters, I enjoyed the complicated relationships between all of the characters, and I enjoyed seeing the brotherhood that exists between the players. The fact that we also got to see things from Jax's perspective (and his introduction to Hayley) added another layer to this story. I had such high hopes this was going to be a 4 or 5 star read. 

AND THEN.... I don't know what happened. I have read A LOT of Rachel's books, and for the most part, I've loved a lot of them. She has been in fact one of my favorite authors. However, certain aspects of this story were so disgustingly inappropriate, not to mention tacky, that I had to drop some stars off. 

**********BEGIN SPOILERS********

Don't get me wrong, I am all for a well a sex scene when it adds to the overall plot. Heck, I even enjoy the occasional sex scene when it DOESN'T add to the overall plot. But to take two characters, place them at a HOSPITAL PARTY for SICK children/teenagers and think its ok to have said characters sneak off, hide behind a large potted plant and proceed to make out, touch and basically dry hump to orgasm? It begs the question just who thought that was a good idea. 

These would be the same two characters, who while visiting her parents (did I mention her father is dying), had a bit of a falling out. They quickly reconciled however, to the point they decided to have sex in his car. While parked across the street from her parents house. Tacky much?

**********END SPOILERS********

All things considered, I believe this story may still appeal to those who enjoy sports romances, or romantic comedies in general. I would read more from this author. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                        Infraction (Players Game #2)  is available from Amazon.com