• Initiation

  • By: Maris Black
  • Narrated by: Chris Patton
  • Length: 2 hrs and 8 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (288 ratings)

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Initiation  By  cover art

Initiation

By: Maris Black
Narrated by: Chris Patton
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Publisher's summary

Latino linebacker Emilio Madero has a huge crush on the new backup quarterback. He's perfection in motion with his lean, muscled body and rich-boy good looks. But there's no way in hell Emilio is going to do anything about it. He'll just have to be content with fantasizing about the guy of his dreams and watching him from afar, because hitting on another player is out of the question. That is until Andrew turns the tables and makes the first move. Then all bets are off as the two of them drift into uncharted territory.

©2014 Maris Black (P)2015 Audible, Inc.
  • Series: SSU, Book 1.5
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: Erotica

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What listeners say about Initiation

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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Performance
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Chris Patton is one of my favorite narrators

So this is a bit sized love story that is pretty angst-ridden.

Emilio has a crush on Andrew but fears he’s out-classed by the all American freshman. Not to mention that he can’t just be gay with a guy on the team.

The night the two get together is a truly awful event of hazing and then furtive sex between a jaded “player” and a golden-hearted virgin. Andrew has a lot to teach Emilio about love – the kind you do with your heart.

The smexy times are super hot between these two and in a short number of pages you get the idea that they just might have a chance at something – it’s definitely something that keeps you interested in the series.

But… be warned it is hard to read at times, there is a lot of pain in this story, but a lot of feels too. And a HFN, no HEA – not yet.

Audio

Chris Patton is amazing. I really have become quite a fan of his. I’ve enjoyed every one of his narrations and though he doesn’t do anything “over the top”, he is really good at handling emotions and making you part of the story. It definitely adds to the overall experience.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Can Maris Write a book without sexual assault?

I'm seriously wondering. Even this little novella contained two scenes of sexual assault - the opening "hazing" that the two main characters are absolutely complicit in and than later a non-con scene later on.

I also had to eye-roll hard at the trivializing of racism and homophobia. I also wanted to punt Andrew in the balls because he absolutely is a spoiled little rich boy that likes to spout about how above it all he is - when he has never actually had to face any of the shit he claims shouldn't effect other people.

I always hear about m/m novels that are insulting to gay men, and I actually get it with this one. I'm not sure why I keep giving this author chances when everything I read is such infantile trash...

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Offensive

In the opening paragraphs the book completely bombed for me. One of the first lines uttered by the Hispanic MC was a racist stereotype. He compared himself to a white teammate and said that he himself looked like he should be in prison and the white teammate looked like the lawyer that would be defending him. Even without that jaw dropping racist bigotry, the book was problematic. It started with humiliating hazing and homophobia. This book needs to be pulled and not ever see the light of day again. I will NOT be reading (or listening to) anything by this author ever again.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good short story.

It just felt disconnected from the first SSU book, which threw me off. Book 1, Pinned, was my first time listening to narrator Chris Patton, and he continues to do a fantastic job here.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

loved it!

loved this novella and was sorry it wasn't a full length book. I was hoping book two would be a continuation of Emilio and Andrew because their characters were so rich and I found Emilio fascinating and wanted to know more about his life. however I still got my HEA and loved it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Short but good

I loved the story, I Wanted more of Emilio y Andrew, I hope that next book continue the same line is good I want more

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable Love Story

Initiation is a short novella focusing on the lust and romance that sparks between two football players on a college football team. Emilio is a linebacker who’s firmly in the closet, but he can’t keep his eyes off of Andrew, the cute new quarterback. Lucky for Emilio, Andrew wants more than just Emilio’s eyes on him – he wants his hands and much, much more. The chemistry between these two young men is electric and hot. For a short novella, the characters and relationship were nicely developed and didn’t feel rushed. I wished the book was a little longer just because I wanted to experience more of the relationship between Emilio and Andrew, but I did find the ending pretty satisfying. The audiobook narration was well done and I quite enjoyed the overall production.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome

Wow. This took me back to my high school days. Except it wasn't the stadium that realization hit us. Other than that, pretty much a play by play. THANK YOU!!!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Quick and hot.

Love this series. This is a quick and hot prequel for the main books.
Very enjoyable.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

good

love it love it love it short and I wish it would go on for at least a good six hours that was a really good book its just starting to get some good parts and tear tear tear cry cry cry

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