Broken Play

False Start, Book 1

By: Alison Rhymes

Narrated by: CJ Bloom, Edward Black

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

They have ties that bind.

June grew up in the shadow of her brother and his best friend, Drew McKenna. She stood back while Drew dated his way through high school and college, watching and waiting. Waiting for him to realize he loved her as much as she loved him.

When he did, it was the happiest she'd ever been. Until she found him with another woman only five years after their marriage.

Leaving her husband was a simple decision, but there was no easy way to cut him out of her family. When June receives a fresh start to her career, she also finds what could be a new lease on love. Reality hits Drew with a vengeance.

He wants her back.

She wants to make him suffer.

Contains mature themes.

©2022 Alison Rhymes (P)2023 Tantor

Really Good

I felt all the heartache of of the heroine. Finding your husband with an ex-girlfriend would be so hard and to find out they were regularly seeing each other. She made grovel. Good book!

Beautiful and so emotional

I had to keep tissues at hand for this one… CJ Bloom was a top notch narrator, as usual, and her counterpart was perfect. Their story was heart-breaking but brought to life so perfectly. Listened to in one day as I could not stop. 🔥🔥🔥🔥index high aside from gut-wrenching emotions.

Heartbreaking and healing at the same time

Loved this book when I read it but CJ Bloom really brought June to life. Felt I knew June better through this narration.

Heart wrenching journey

Great book on a plot line I never thought I would enjoy reading. Very angsty read, but if you are in mood for one this is an excellent choice. Performance was good but CJ Bloom seemed way too chipper at beginning and the tone of her read for several chapters didn’t fit story/scenes.

Oh, my heart hurts so good

I've been searching for more romance books that feature, love before, and after infidelity and heartbreak. This book has it all. My heart broke so many times that I quit counting. I just became familiar with the ache in my chest and butterflies in my stomach. Thank you for writing such an amazing book. I'm looking forward to the next.

Emotional Listen

I finally read this one... Or should I say, I listened to the audio! I really enjoyed this audio! The narrators do an awesome job with the emotions in this book.

I have been putting this one off because one of the tropes in the book is not my favorite to read. I am so happy I finally gave this book a chance.

This book is a marriage in trouble with characters that you may not like at first. But I liked Drew through this entire book, I didn't agree with his actions. He is one you will grow to love!
June is the character that your heart will break for, and through this book, I loved seeing her grow into the woman she should have always been. She is so strong and confident towards the end, and her husband helped her to get there.

Even through heartache and everything, these two belong together. I loved the way this book ended. And I can't wait to get into the next book.

Finding Strength and Rebuilding Trust After Betrayal

I read this book last year when it was released and couldn’t wait to listen to the audiobook too (which I have done, three times in the past week).

This was the first book that I found that deals with infidelity in the moment. Not focusing on a character after the infidelity happened, but with the main character being caught with his pants down.

When we think of romance books, we don’t often or probably not at all, think of cheating as the main storyline. But it is a part of many relationships that happens often. Its effects on relationships vary from anger to heartache to emptiness to self-doubt to questioning your self-worth.

Drew and June’s story was written beautifully. I felt Drew’s pain, when he was faced with what his betrayal did to their marriage and was determined to put in the work. I did feel like the work that he was so willing to put in after the fact, should have been his go to before cheating. But the aftermath of June finding out was the catalyst to push to do what he should have always done.

Ahhh June! I connected with June in this story, because I was a June. I felt her pain as if it were my own, but to watch her grow into the strong capable woman she never knew she was, was a breath of fresh air! As sad as it may seem, if it were not for Drew’s infidelity, June would have likely still be in a holding state while Drew chased his career. She would never have found her purpose or identity without Drew had she not put herself first.

People are averse to reading romance books that have to do with cheating, but I would recommend this book every single time!

Amazing story line

You find a lot of sports books all follow a similar story time. This one DOES NOT. It is one gripping store that I could read over and over. Can’t wait to see what next.

I'm Not a Fan of Cheating Stories But This One Was Good

I'm not a fan of cheating stories but this one was honestly really great. A great love story showing growth and honesty.

This book will challenge you - LET IT!

Firstly - CJ Bloom and Edward Black are AMAZING and MAKE THIS BOOK PALETABLE! Their performances were raw and felt tangible in a way that made me push through the uncomfortable feelings and kept going to see how the story would unfold. I think if I had read this book vs listened to it I would have DNF'd it on the spot and I'm so glad I didn't.

This book rocked my world and challenged me and made me look at things through a lens I never imagined. I will not beat around the bush - there is cheating in this book - DONT LET THAT DETER YOU! This journey was so worth while and I will tell you why - JUNE! She is the real catalyst and star of this book. The cheating happens right away so the entire story is the aftermath and how they crawl their way back to each other. Its raw and painful but the journey of self discovery, self worth and independence for June is WORTH IT! She is inspiring. She chose herself and everything that was best for her. Her entire identity had been wrapped up in all things Drew since she was young and now that he's been knocked down from his pedestal in her mind she has to discover who she is without him. The journey is hard fought and when she's finally healed enough and understands who she is and what she truly wants - she uses her self determination to decide what is right for her and makes that man WORK for her love and trust back. Outside of June, Drew's self healing journey is fraught with strife and pain. of course it doesn't excuse his behavior but he is choosing to actively grow and better himself for the both of them and their future. The sex and spice is deliberate in this story and I love that. Its strategic on Alison's part as the writer. She didn't put sex in just to put it in - it has so much purpose on the journey towards healing themselves individually and together.

I've always viewed the idea of cheating as black and white, and I will say that 95% of the time - it is. But in this particular story Alison will challenge you to look at cheating through the complicated lens that it has the potential to be. If its meant to be and well and truly fought for, then those that are supposed to be together and choose to heal together can come out on the other side together. I personally would never be okay with a partner being unfaithful but I also have greater empathy and understanding for those that choose a different path after infidelity than myself and I love that I was challenged to that understanding.