I love Rachel's books. There's not many I haven't liked or I've felt fell short. She's one of those authors that just 'gets me' and what I like to read. So when she has something new generally it goes on my list to be read straight away. I loved the Fraternize book (First one in the Players Game series) and added Infraction straight away. I think I even wrote in my review of Fraternize I hoped it would be Miller's turn in the next book. So when I saw this on NG I requested it straight away.

I really can't go into the story of this one. I don't want to give ANYTHING away as there is so much that happens, so many things you find out about the characters.... I just won't spoil it for you. I would NEVER do that. I will say this. I loved this book. I loved Miller anyway. I really felt for him at the end of Fraternize and am glad that we get to hear his story with Kins. I loved that this was also told from Jax's point of view (Kin's brother). This made the book a more indepth read, I learnt more about their relationships and it meant the book was more enjoyable as a whole. The ending worked, I was happy, that was until I looked to see if there was a book 3 <taps foot>. <coughs> Hello?! Book 3? You see yes there is a good ending, one that works and keeps everyone happy. But I am sitting here like, 'Well where is Jax's story?' I need this. So whether Rachel does a novella, another book for Jax or just leaves it who knows. I will say I would like more.

If you like a RVD book, then this one is a yes from me I think you will like it. If you like a football (Its not huge on the football) new adult romance, then yes I recommend this. Hell, I recommend this anyway. Infraction gets a solid 4 stars from me and these 2 books are on my 'physical copy' list as I really enjoyed them - which should tell you how good I think they are.

I love book of sports novels, and this was a good thing. I actually found myself enjoying this book, which unfortunately hasn't happened with the first.Infraction is a mixture of a book that brings emotional themes, serious, doses of humor and a couple that kept me entertained.A book that served the purpose and entertained me. I don't know if we're going to have more books in this series, but I wouldn't mind winning an entire book of Jax, overprotective brother and Harley.

The latest in Rachel Van Dyken’s Players Game series is a romantic comedy with sorrowful undertones. I laughed so hard that I cried, and as the story progressed and I cried for the characters that became friends and went through difficult times. In the end though I had a huge smile that signaled a great read.

When Miller Quinton accepted his best friend and teammate’s request to fake date his little sister, he did so with some personal doubt because he’s already capitulated to her once. Pretending to be in a relationship with her to keep her abusive ex at bay won’t be a problem. The tricky part will be to feign detachment for the sake of his best, but mostly his damaged heart.

Kinsey’s life is coming undone. Her overprotective brother Jax, not only revealed the fact that their father has cancer but that her ex is being considered to join the team. Going along with the rouse to date Miller to keep her brother from worrying is a bad idea because she’d already fallen for Miller once without anyone knowing. Can she risk her heart a second time while hiding her feelings?

I’ve read many of Van Dyken’s creations and have enjoyed all of them. Infraction is a wonderful brew of fun and sexiness, heartbreak and joy that produced a great deal of smiles, laughs along with some tears I didn’t expect but certainly appreciated because nothing beats that great combo: laugh, cry, smile and swoon.

There were many elements I liked about this story. Jax and Kinsey’s mom and dad, and Miller’s grandma were a lovely example of what parents should be like, loving, understanding and with a sense of humor. The friendship between the players was also showcased. And then there were the main characters and Jax. Yes, Jax got several chapters with his own point of view which were not only insightful to the man with the hero complex but also a great guy who deserved his own love story. I suspect we’ll be getting more of Jax and Harley in future installments or a story of their own.

Kinsey and Miller were already friends but they blurred that line one night in Vegas several backs prior. The connection and attraction is still there though and being forced to be in close proximity to each other on a daily basis only makes matters worse. Both were likeable characters I was happily on board with. I loved the push and pull between the, as well as their witty banter and all the heat between them.

Rachel Van Dyken creates a story as heartfelt as it is hilarious, a tribute to living life at its fullest. Infraction is book #2 of the Players Game series. It is standalone contemporary sports romance. It’s a friends to lovers, forbidden brother-best-friend story. Told from several points of view and has a happy ending.

This series has officially moved from “books I like and want some more” to “my favs, I hope these authors write a little quicker” 💖

This book made me cry, laugh, show signs of extreme irritation, swoon, cry some more and grin like the cat that ate the canary. 😂

There is nothing in this world as precious as a sibling bond, and Rachel does an amazing job showing the more private side of that relationship. With all the ups and downs a family can face, the author wraps this story into a heart breaking bow and gives us a wonderful ending!

Infraction was so good! I wasn't sure it would be because I didn't enjoy the first book in the series, Fraternize, but I was pleased to fall in love with it.

In Infraction, Miller and Kinsey are both shocked when her older brother and Miller's teammate Jax force them to be in a fake relationship. Jax doesn't know about their previous hookup, and if he did, Miller would be dead. Jax trusts Miller to keep his hands to himself, but that's easier said than done. There's still chemistry between Miller and Kinsey that can't be denied.

This book was written from three points of view: Miller, Kinsey, and Jax's. I loved this dynamic. It gave insight into Miller and Kinsey's relationship, but also both of their relationships with Jax. The only thing that would have made it even better would have been if Harley's point of view would have been included.

I also really liked Miller and Kinsey's relationship. There were so many great ah-ha moments. They learned more from each other than I expected. I loved what brought them even closer together. Infraction was such a special relationship story.

Overall, Infraction was a great sports romance. I found it to be a stronger book than the first one in the series. I liked it so much more.

Infraction
By: Rachel Van Dyken
📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

Emotionally draining with a HEA!!!

WOWED AGAIN...Rachel Van Dyken did it again in this sassy, flirty, fun and emotionally draining book. I went into this book one day after reading Fraternized. Technically you don’t have to read book one to understand but it will make it so much better if you do. It was definitely a roller coaster ride an so is Fractured. Below is the authors blurb because her words are better than I could have done.

Authors Blurb: 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?

I really enjoyed this book and it kept me engrossed throughout. I really loved the characters and the way they interacted with each other. This is a intense, gut wrenching, sad, that is also a fun, hot, romantic must read book and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV my personal favorite this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks you Netgally for letting me read and review.

Another winner! I adore this series, and this second installment was just as good as the first. I was excited to see Miller get his story. There was a lot going on in this book, plenty of secrets, a good amount of pain and suffering, and a horrible ex, but somehow it all worked together so well to form an emotional and believable romance. And yes, these books certainly have their snarky, funny moments, but I feel like these characters and their stories are more fully formed and "real" than a lot of the sports romances or rom coms I seem to,pick up. Definitely looking forward to the next one!

Holla! Are you ready for some FOOTBALL? Heck yes! Meet Miller Quinton and fall head-over-heels in love! At least thats what I did! Hey Kinsey! Can I have him for a bit? Pleasssseee! Pleasssssseeee!

"...he was like an emotional terrorist who bombed your heart only to tell you that you'd have to leave the country to find a hospital big enough to fix it!"

Kinsey and Miller are the best couple.
They made me laugh - so hard!
I may have even snorted.
There was angst... because there always is.

"Living? That will always be the hardest thing you will ever do." <--- Thank you Rachel for the reminder. It may be the hardest thing I'll ever do, but it's the best thing I'll ever do. Living is how we receive our blessings.

This may be a book about football and falling in love, but like all of Rachel Van Dyken's books, she teaches us all about life, love and lessons. I always want to be a better person after reading one of her books and Infraction is no different.

5 Lesson-Filled Stars for Infraction

5 Stars! Rachel VanDyken does it again with this new novel. It had all the emotions: you will laugh, cry, and cheer on this group of characters. Definitely recommend to anyone who loves a good romantic story with laughs and life lessons.

*Novel generously provided by Netgalley*

After reading Fraternize I didn't think this series could get any better, but boy was I wrong. In Infraction we get to delve into the forbidden romance between Kinsey and Miller, and their relationship was one I will be re-reading quite a lot.

Kinsey and Miller were amazing to read about and I loved their friendly back and forth with one another. Theirs wasn't a super angsty read which I really liked, instead we got to see the funny and witty banter between them that had me cracking a smile multiple times. It was just a really fun book to read even though there were times it had me reaching for the tissues. Those funny moments made the sad ones worth it and I really liked that there was a good balance between the two.

I also loved that we got the bonus of a little side romance between Jax and Harley. I usually wouldn't be a fan of someone else getting so many POV's but this author of course wrote it so well that Jax's POV blended perfectly with Kinsey and Miller's and it actually added a lot to the overall story.

Bottom line, if your a fan of the brother-best-friend trope like I am then this is your next book. I would even say that you could read it as a standalone if you weren't easily curious about side characters that are mentioned in books.

I was so excited to get to read Miller's story. I loved him in Fraternize. He was definitely my favorite character there and my favorite character in this book. I thought this story was cute and fun and it kept me entertained from page one. I did not put this book down. Rachel's stories are always addictive no matter what genre she writes. I love her work and I am always excited to read something new from her.

Fraternize was one of my favorite reads this year and had high hopes for infraction. I can safely say that infraction does not suffer from the sophomore curse. Not only in infraction a fun read, Rachel does a good job at pulling at the heart strings and I can say there might have been a few tears shed and an ugly cry thrown in for good measure.

Miller is the guy who did not get the girl in the last book and I'm okay cause #teamsanchez here. While Miller played a huge part in the first book we really didn't get to know what made him tick. When the layers are pulled back we see a man who never got over the loss of his mother and it has ruined every relationship he has ever had. Miller is a man who has lived selfishly, willing to take everything but refusing to give for fear of being hurt.

Kinsey is a girl with secrets. She has been abused and hurt by people who should have loved and protected her that she is willing to hide who she is in order to protect herself and those closets to her. Kinsey deep down just wants a guy to love and cherish her, but she often feels that she is not worthy of such love.

Miller and Kinsey had such amazing chemistry and I loved watching them work through there issues. There journey was not always easy and it was rough at times, but they kept fighting, kept talking and refused to give up on each other.

The only thing that did not work for me where the Jax's chapters. Jax is a great character and really deserved his own book but reading his chapters felt a little distracting and took away from Miller and Kinsey.

Otherwise this was another great read and can not recommend this dulogy enough.

***********Received an ARC from the Publisher via Netgalley***********

Shortly after the events of Fraternize, Miller and Kinsey are back with their own story. Anderson, Kinsey’s horrible ex, is back in town -- and playing for the Bellevue Bucks! Kinsey’s older brother, Jax, asks his best friend and teammate Miller to stand in as Kinsey’s pretend boyfriend to keep Anderson away, but the whole Bucks team knows that anybody who touches Kinsey will incur Jax’s wrath. This whole situation would probably be easier if Kinsey and Miller hadn’t shared a secret, drunken night in Vegas.

Alright. Let’s do this.

I loved Miller in Fraternize and although I stand by my original opinion that he and Emerson should have ended up together, I was happy to see him get his own shot at love. I also loved Kinsey the previous book, and despite being a little hung up on my ship that never sailed, I can admit that she and Miller had some definite chemistry.

Everything starts at the end of Fraternize and continues into the beginning of this book when Kinsey and Miller drunkenly hook up in Vegas. Nothing comes of it because the two of them pretend that it never happened, due to both Miller being a huge jerk and both of them knowing that Jax would kill Miller if he ever found out. But once Jax sort of forces them back together, everything combusts and it’s hard for them to keep their hands to themselves.

I can go for a good fake relationship story or a good forbidden relationship story, but it’s honestly kind of weird when they’re combined. Especially weird was the degree of Jax’s overprotectiveness, which absolutely surpassed “concerned older sibling” and headed straight for “there’s something weird going on here.” I had hoped that it would make sense once more of Kinsey’s backstory was revealed, but honestly, it just got weirder. The whole weirdness -- and I’m sorry that I can’t think of any other word to describe it -- between Jax and Kinsey made it difficult to focus on the actual romance between Kinsey and Miller.

Adding to that weirdness is the fact that Jax’s love story is interwoven with Kinsey’s -- I adored him in Fraternize and I think that he deserved his own book. He shouldn’t have been shoved into Kinsey’s book like that. And, no spoilers, but Jax’s ending? Totally unrealistic.

Now let’s talk about how literally every character in this book tried to control what Kinsey did. Her ex, Anderson, was vilified (and rightfully so) for wanting to control every aspect of her life, but let’s be honest here. So did Jax. And, to a lesser degree, so did a number of other characters. Kinsey is a grown woman and regardless of what’s in her past, she should have full ownership of her life choices. If she wants to make mistakes and get her heart broken, let her. That’s part of life. Her family and friends should understand that.

All in all, I really wish that I would have enjoyed this one more. While I was a big fan of Fraternize, I struggled to finish Infraction and just couldn’t get over the weird vibes between Jax and Kinsey. Here’s hoping that my next RVD book will be better.

Final rating: ★★☆☆☆

I received a free advance copy of Infraction from the publisher (via Netgalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Infraction is the second book in Rachel Van Dyken’s ‘Players Game’ series and since it’s about Miller, who was my favorite character of the first book, I was so excited to get to it! When I got approved for an arc on Netgalley I jumped in straight away. I enjoyed this book lots! Miller is still a favorite of mine, but I also adored Jax in this one! I’m hoping we get his story next!

Miller has it bad for Kinsey, and she likes him as well, but there is one big problem… that big problem is Jax, Kinsey’s older and very overprotective brother who is also Miller’s teammate. Jax has his reasons being as protective as he is, and it really helped getting his POV so we could see that. I understood him and ended up loving him by the end, because I got it, and I respected him for it.

Back to Miller and Kinsey… these two have a connection, attraction, and friendship. They can have fun together and seem like a perfect pair. They both realize that, but things with Jax make it complicated between them. Miller is supposed to be looking after Kinsey for Jax, and if Jax knew the kind of feelings Miller had for his little sister, it wouldn’t be good. This results in the two of them hiding their feelings, and then, hiding their relationship… you can guess how that turns out!

Most of this story truly was a joy to read. Toward the end… well, lets just say I cried for a solid 20 minutes reading. I didn’t expect for this book to make me cry, but there were some emotional parts at the end that really got to me. Most of the book, however, was a lot of fun and much lighter.

I love the banter, the steamy and swoony moments, the friendship, the family, and all the emotion. Infraction is an entertaining read and a solid 4 stars! If you’re looking for a heartwarming story that will make you laugh and make you cry, I highly recommend!

**Advanced copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Infraction is the second book in Rachel Van Dyken's Players Game series and it showcases each and every emotion you can imagine. It has all of the highs and lows you look for in a great book.

Miller Quinton is one of those guys that will do anything for his "family" and there is no doubt that Jax Romanov fits that description. Jax might not be blood related, but in Miller's world, he'll still do whatever he can to help a close friend and in this case he is asked to "fake date" Jax's sister, Kinsey to help her out with an ex, who happens to be one of their teammates. While that might sound like a complicated ask from a friend at any time, what Jax doesn't know is that a kiss between Kinsey and Miller in Vegas some months ago wasn't just a kiss...

Kinsey Romanov has been dealing with a lot in her life and because of that, she's just come back from an extended trip thanks to the suggestion of her brother and the guy she is now fake-dating, Miller. While Kinsey appreciates her brother watching out for her, sometimes he goes just a tad too far with his over protectiveness and it's starting to wear on her.

As Kinsey and Miller continue to spend time together, what started out as fake is quickly growing to be real. Will secrets that are being kept on both sides signal the end of this relationship before it really begins? Or will it be the over-protectiveness of Jax that ends up causing problems?

I really enjoyed the characters in this book and while there were definitely parts that were laugh out loud funny, there were also a lot of very emotional parts that tugged at my heartstrings. Rachel Van Dyken did a fantastic job of crafting a story that took us through the highs and lows of relationships , both familial and romantic, and showed us that having the heart of a lion is sometimes the best thing a person can remember. I would highly recommend picking this book up!

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.
After my reaction to Fraternize there was no question in me to read this one too, especially after the little teaser chapter we got in the first book. Well, this one definitely surprised me but unfortunately in the negative way. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped, maybe because it was much heavier than I expected.
I just simply didn’t like how the actions of the 2, well 3 because Jax plays a pretty big part here, formed the story. The heaviness, the grief and sickness put paired with Kinsey personality just put a spin on the storyline that didn’t go well in my opinion.
In the first book Kinsey was a bubbly and cheeky character whereas here she was constantly hiding and her avoidance of being completely honest annoyed me. Yes, she has reasons to grieve and to be cautious towards people especially after how Jax treats her but I just didn’t like her.
There is no question when it comes to the author’s talent, she has an amazing style and most of the time she writes phenomenal books but this one was just an okay read for me. But since my main problem was with the plot you can say that this is purely a preference thing on my part or the mood I was in while reading, which means most of the Rachel van Dyken fans will loved this book.
I don’t know if Jax is going to get his own book because his story mostly concluded in this one also but I would love some more stories in this series.

I really enjoyed this book. It's best read if you have read Fraternization first, but not completely mandatory. There was less football and cheerleading in this book than the first one (actually, almost none until the last few chapters), and I did miss that a bit and wish that we saw them in their element a little bit more. However, I liked Miller and Quinton together and I liked their story. In addition, getting the bonus of a bit of her brother's story built in made this extra special. If you want a fun, easy read that still gives you a good story this is your book.

I definitely liked Infraction more than Fraternize, but there were still some things that I wasn't completely nuts about. It felt like a lot at first with everything that was going on and getting the perspectives of three different people. I'm assuming if you've read Infraction that you read Fraternize as well so it's ok if I mention everyone by name now. I love Miller and have since the start of Fraternize. Even though he still has his issues, just like everyone else, he's probably my favorite character of the group. I was disappointed when he didn't end up with Emerson, but in the end it worked out and I think I may even like Kinsey more than Em. Miller is a great guy and can be really sweet and charming, he just has some hang ups on the concept of love because of his past. I loved being in his head and learning more about him and I was so happy he finally got his happy ending that he deserves. Kinsey is a sweet, but strong girl. She has also been through a lot in her life and it's really sad, but she's a tough cookie. She also definitely deserves a happily ever after. Miller is just what she needs in her life and she is just what he needs in his life. They're really cute together. I'm a bit torn on all of the Jax stuff. I really like Jax, just not when he's being an overprotective jerk. He's a great brother most of the time, he's just really protective. He can be really cute with Harley, and I love that she makes him smile and laugh. I like that he gets his story as well, and I get why it's done together with Kinsey and Miller's story, but it almost seemed like it took away a little from Miller and Kins. Plus I was sort of hoping that Jax would get his own book because I feel like there was so much to work with with him and his head. So that made me a little sad that he only gets a limited amount of chapters in his sister's book. It was a lot happening for all the characters in a short time span. I will admit that I wasn't super nuts about the first third of the book. There was a lot happening in the storyline, there was a lot of hatred amongst the characters, and I just didn't like the way some things were handled and some of the jabs that were taken, especially by Sanchez and Jax. It got better as the book went on and things started falling into place for all the characters. The end is super sad and emotional, but at the same time it's quite fitting for the characters and how much they grow throughout the book. In the end I enjoyed the book and was happy with how it all turned out.

First come to first….Did I enjoy this book? Yes. Was it as good as fraternize? Sadly no.
Okay first lets say what was right:
Miller: You get to see more of Miller and you want him to be okay – I was rooting so hard for Sanchez and Em but I will wanted Miller to get his happy ending.
The writing: As usual – Rachel is an emotional terrorist! She makes you feel so much – You cry, you laugh, you get angry and you love along the characters.
Sanchez: Bless his heart did I miss the man – He really is the comic relief in this book and I wished I had more of him and Em.
What I liked less:
Jax: I love Jax – however his story could have use more chapters as I believe there was more to say. It felt a bit rushed which was quite of a shame. He had issues with women you didn’t really know where they came from or how exactly they were fixed.
Miller: As much as I loved Miller he seems to be too confused for me and it felt hard to grow attached to him.
Predictability: No matter how much I loved the story it was predictable and some elements could have been kept secret a bit longer….sadly I can’t say more I don’t want to spoil anything.
In conclusion: Another strong novel written by Rachel who will please her fans and fans of any good sport romance.
Stars: 3.5/5