Audiobook Sample
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- Title: False Start
- Author: Piper Rayne
- Narrator: Callie Dalton, Joe Arden
- Length: 01:34:09
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 05/12/2022
- Publisher: Findaway Voices
- Genre: Romance, Rom-Com, Sports, Romance, Rom-Com, Sports
- ISBN13: 9.80E+12
It’s not every day you stumble upon a story that feels like a dusty road trip through your own past, but “False Start” by Piper Rayne, narrated by Callie Dalton and Joe Arden, does just that. This audiobook freebie landed in my lap – or rather, my ears – like an unexpected detour on a well-worn route. Picture this: a college romance with all the giddy highs of a first crush and the gut-punch lows of betrayal, wrapped in a sports rom-com package that’s as light as a summer breeze yet layered with emotional grit. It’s a prequel to the Kingsmen Football Stars series, but trust me, you don’t need the playbook to enjoy this one – it stands alone like a roadside diner worth stopping for.
The story unfolds like a memory I didn’t know I had. Our quiet introvert heroine – who I’ll call my kindred spirit – gets noticed by Lee Burrows, the campus quarterback and golden boy I swear I’ve met at every college bar from Austin to Ann Arbor. Their chemistry starts with a biology tutoring gig, a setup that’s as classic as a vinyl record spinning in a desert hostel. I couldn’t help but grin as Lee’s flirty questions – ‘Who was that guy you were talking to?’ – echoed the awkward charm of my own college days, when I once tried to impress a girl in anthropology class by asking about her notes on kinship systems. Spoiler: it didn’t work as well as Lee’s moves. But when the truth hits our heroine and shatters her fantasy, it’s a twist that reminds me of the time I trusted a street vendor in Oaxaca to sell me ‘authentic’ mole, only to taste the tourist-trap tang of disappointment.
This audiobook experience took me back to a night in the Atacama Desert, when I first listened to “One Hundred Years of Solitude” under a sky so vast it swallowed me whole. The narrator’s voice back then wove magic into the surreal dunes, and here, Callie Dalton and Joe Arden do something similar. Dalton’s warm, introspective tone captures our heroine’s quiet strength – like the soft hum of a grandmother I once heard spinning tales in Oaxaca, her pauses as powerful as her words. Arden, meanwhile, brings Lee to life with a cocky swagger that’s pure quarterback, but he layers in just enough vulnerability to make you root for him, even when you want to shake some sense into him. Together, they’re a duet that feels like a campfire chat, intimate and alive, pulling you into every stolen glance and whispered doubt.
The themes here – first love, betrayal, and the courage to walk away – hit me square in the chest. It’s not just a romance; it’s a rom-com with a sports twist that knows how to play the field. Piper Rayne, with their MFA-honed knack for storytelling, crafts a world where you can almost taste the stale library air and hear the thump of a football on grass. The dialogue sparkles like a good mezcal – sharp, smooth, and a little smoky – while the pacing keeps you hooked, even if the runtime clocks in at a brisk 5 hours and 40 minutes. It’s a tale of personal transformation, much like the hidden histories I’ve chased from market stalls to mountain trails, where the quiet ones often have the loudest stories.
The audio quality is crisp, a small miracle for a free audiobook that doesn’t skimp on production. Dalton and Arden’s voices dance between scenes with a rhythm that’s easy to sink into, though I’ll admit the shift from tender moments to Lee’s jock bravado can feel abrupt if you’re not ready for it. Still, it’s a small hiccup in an otherwise seamless listening experience. The strength lies in how they amplify Rayne’s vivid characters – our heroine’s shy resolve grows bolder with every chapter, and Lee’s charm hides a complexity that sneaks up on you.
But let’s keep it real: it’s not perfect. The plot leans hard on familiar tropes – tutoring sessions turning flirty, the big reveal that’s more predictable than a tourist trap souvenir. If you’ve read your share of rom-coms, you might see the twist coming a mile away, like spotting a mirage in the desert. And at under six hours, it’s a quick listen that leaves you wanting more depth, especially in Lee’s redemption arc. For a prequel, though, it’s a tasty appetizer – light, fun, and free, with just enough heart to make you curious about the main course.
Compared to other sports romances, “False Start” sits comfortably alongside names like Lyssa Kay Adams or Tessa Bailey – think “The Bromance Book Club” meets “It Happened One Summer”, but with a college vibe and a tighter runtime. It’s less about the slow burn and more about the spark that flares and fades fast, perfect for listeners who crave a quick escape over a sprawling saga. The rom-com beats are pure comfort food, like the tacos I devoured in Oaxaca after a long day of listening to local lore.
If you’re a fan of romance audiobooks with a sports edge, or just someone who loves a good underdog story, this one’s for you. It’s ideal for a lazy Sunday or a road trip pit stop – download it free from Audiobooks.com and let it whisk you away. I’d say it’s best for those who don’t mind a trope-heavy ride and can forgive a few fumbles for the sake of a charming score.
Reflecting on it now, “False Start” feels like one of those fleeting connections you make on the road – a hostel fling that’s all fireworks until the bus rolls out. It reminds me of a time when I swapped stories with a stranger in Portugal, both of us laughing over our youthful missteps. This audiobook captures that same bittersweet rush, and I’m glad I took the detour to hear it.
Until the next story finds us, happy trails and happy listening,
Marcus Rivera
