Reviewed by Christine

TITLE: Mark Cooper versus America

SERIES: Prescott College #1

AUTHOR: J.A. Rock and Lisa Henry

NARRATOR: Joel Leslie

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 9 hours, 45 minutes

RELEASE DATE: February 13, 2018

BLURB:

Mark Cooper is angry, homesick, and about to take his stepdad’s dubious advice and rush Prescott College’s biggest party fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi. Greek life is as foreign to Aussie transplant Mark as Pennsylvania’s snowstorms and bear sightings. So, when the fraternity extends Mark a bid, Mark vows to get himself kicked out by the end of pledge period. But then he’s drawn into Alpha Delt’s feud with a neighboring fraternity.

Studious Deacon Holt is disappointed to learn Mark’s pledging Alpha Delt, his fraternity Phi Sigma Kappa’s sworn enemy. Mark is too beautiful for Deacon to pass up an invitation for sex, but beyond sex, Deacon’s not sure. He wants a relationship, but a difficult family situation prevents him from pursuing anything beyond his studies.

Mark and Deacon’s affair heats up as the war between their fraternities escalates. They explore kinks they didn’t know they had while keeping their liaison a secret from their brothers. But what Romeo and Juliet didn’t teach these star-crossed lovers is how to move beyond sex and into a place where they share more than a bed. That’s something they’ll have to figure out on their own—if the friction between their houses, and between Mark and America, doesn’t tear them apart.
REVIEW:

Mark Cooper is pledging a fraternity to make his new stepfather happy. However, things aren’t going so well, and he decides to get himself removed from the fraternity as soon as possible. When his attraction for Deacon, a member of the rival frat next door, heats up, a Romeo and Juliet relationship ensues. What neither of them counts on is falling so hard and the impact that has on both their casual sex relationship and on the rivalry between their houses.

I can always count on the team of J.A. Rock and Lisa Henry to provide an entertaining, amusing, and satisfying read. Mark Cooper versus America spotlights their unique blend of humor and poignancy, and Joel Leslie delivers a fabulous performance as icing on the cake.

Told in dual, third person points of view, the voices—both literary and theatrical—are clearly and thoughtfully portrayed. Mark is the sweet, goofy, irreverent freshman who has recently been deposited into Pennsylvania from Australia and is just trying to fit in and make his family happy. Deacon is older, more seasoned and serious, and finds Mark irresistible. The two of them come together in a somewhat unlikely “opposites attract” sort of way, and they sizzle on the pages. Readers should be aware that there are undertones of D/s and some fairly graphic scenes between these two college boys. Both erotic and tender, the sexual explorations here are definitely very adult in nature and highly charged with the hormones of the young human male animal. In other words, they are hot and numerous. By contrast, their emotional connection surges and takes root in a natural, young love kind of way, and their conversations feel authentic and are as well developed as the characters. The reader gets significant, insightful background stories from both points of view, and as the characters’ individualities unfold, their bond solidifies.

There are many laugh-out-loud moments, right along with some more horrifying, especially from Mark’s perspective. The reader sees the good, the bad, and the ugly of his fraternity brothers through his lens of disbelief, fondness, and confusion. Of course there is hazing, and though it can be uncomfortable to witness, the more intense scenes occur off page. There is certainly a message here, carefully offset by the common sense, humor, and inclusivity of the young characters and their grasp on reality and responsibility. The secondary characters are well crafted, particularly the fraternity brothers. The reader is also treated to a more poignant glimpse into Mark and Deacon’s family lives, each with their own special blend of personalities and issues. The resolutions are satisfying and a bit unexpected. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say that diamonds in the rough can shine, too.

I must also commend Joel Leslie on yet another brilliant performance. His ability to capture the flavors of characters and their ethnicities, origins, and personality traits never ceases to amaze me. He is truly a joy to behold, and whenever his voice fills my car on my long daily commutes, I am utterly transported. Thank you, Mr. Leslie, for such a hugely entertaining listening experience.

I highly recommend Mark Cooper versus America and am anticipating the audio release of the next book in the Prescott College series. The authors have created an engaging world full of appealing characters with fresh voices and intriguing experiences. J.A. and Lisa, you’ve done it again!

RATING: 

BUY LINKS:

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