Elite (Eagle Elite Book 1)

I am a HUGE fan of Rachel Van Dyken. I have not read a book of hers that I have not LOVED !! I could not put Elite down from the moment I picked it up. I was sucked in just by reading the Prologue. "Whoever told me life was easy -- lied. it's hard. It sucks. The crazy thing is -- nobody has the guts to admit the truth. Everyone, and I mean everyone, has a secret. Everyone has a story that needs to be told." ~ Trace Trace was raised by her grandparents after her parents were killed. Trace won the lottery to attend the prestigious Eagle Elite College. Trace wanted to be able to take care of her aging grandpa once she graduated and she wanted to make him proud. The day Trace arrived at Eagle Elite, her life was about to change. FOREVER. Upon arriving, Trace was greeted by the welcoming committee, Nixon, Chase, Tex and Phoenix, the ELECT. It appeared that these four thought their roles at the Eagle Elite were quite important. They had a reputation to live up to and they were going to make sure Trace knew exactly who they were. Nixon made sure to advise Trace that there were rules she needed to follow while attending the school. Rules are what kept people safe. What rules could Trace possibly have to follow to keep her safe? Safe from what? All she was doing was attending school? There was something about Trace that got under Nixon's skin. Nixon immediately had Trace on his radar and made her the focus of his attack. Nixon humiliated Trace the first day she was there. She knew this was going to be a tough semester and she was just praying that she would get through it. She lucked out with a great roommate, Monroe... who just happened to be the twin of Nixon. Monroe takes Trace under her wing and tries to help Trace fit in. Trace is given a key card that gains her access to places that most are not granted. For some reason, Nixon has given her access to lunch with the Elect. The Elect consists of Nixon, Chase, Phoenix, Tex and Monroe. Trace didn't understand why Nixon would do this and why he was being nice. There were times Nixon would be mean to her, but then there were times he was nice to her. His mood swings were given her whiplash. After spending time with Nixon, Trace began to develop feelings. She definitely was attracted to him. How could she not be? He was six foot two, olive complexion, thick arms, a body to kill for, dark hair, tattoos, a lip ring, he was just gorgeous. When she was around him, she felt butterflies in her stomach. The only problem is, she didn't know if she could trust him. She never knew if he was setting her up to humiliate her again. "There was something about him. Something that made me want to touch him, made me crave his touch, and I hated that I responded to him, especially after the way he treated me at first." ~ Trace Nixon was very secretive. He grew up in a life style that most only saw portrayed on television. Nixon knew he had to protect his family and the ones he loved. He only told Trace what he wanted her to know. If he told her too much, her life would be in danger. Nixon is drawn to Trace. It is evident that he has a connection to Trace that is unexplainable. He vows to protect her from any harm that comes her way. Nixon knows a secret, that nobody else knows except for his best friend/cousin, Chase. Nixon needs Chase's help. Nixon needs to distance himself from Trace to protect her. Nixon needs Chase to be his eyes and ears when he is not around. Trace's life was about to change. Trace finds out some information that was going to change everything. The secret that Nixon and Chase know, is a secret that can cost Trace her life. Nixon makes a decision that is going to hurt him and Trace in the process. Nixon vows to protect Trace at all costs. Even if it means he may be pushing Trace into the arms of someone else. "When I make a promise I keep it. Regardless of whom it hurts, even if it means it hurts me or someone I care about the most. Sometimes... sometimes in life we're asked to sacrifice something for the greater good." ~ Nixon "I love you, Trace. I always have. Just remember that, okay? Hold on to it. No matter what I say or what I do...and trust me, I'll do some terrible things. Just know. I love you. With every fiber of my being." ~ Nixon Chase.. Oh Chase. What a total sweetheart!! Chase had a connection with Trace as well. Chase was developing feelings for Trace, but did Trace feel the same way? Did Trace see Chase as more than just a friend? Was it wrong that Chase had feelings for his cousin's girlfriend? Would he act on his feelings? When Trace needed someone, Chase was always there. Was he more to her than she was willing to admit? I LOVED this book. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started Elite, but I was blown away by it. I wanted to hate Nixon, I really did, but I couldn't. In the beginning he is such an arrogant creep. The pain that he caused Trace, I wanted to punch him in his face and kick him in his balls. But after getting the back story on why he did what he did, I don't agree with what he did, but I understand why he did it. Once the puzzle pieces started to fall together and we get the whole story, I was routing for Nixon and Trace. Trace and Nixon loved each other. But sometimes, love isn't enough to keep people together. Nixon made a promise keep Trace safe at all costs. If being with Trace was going to have her in harms way, Nixon would sacrifice his own happiness to make sure she was safe. This book was amazing. You must ONE CLICK it. I tip my hat to you Rachel. You delivered another book that had me wanting more. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see where you were going with this story. You shocked me with some things, and I have to admit, I never saw them coming!!

So this book has a college setting, only it's like no college I ever went to, and I'm pretty sure I prefer my college experience than the one the kids in this school have. But hey that's just me. So the beginning starts out a little rough for me, not as in hard to read because of bad writing or anything, but rather hard to read because it's hard to see how Trace is treated at her new school. And for the record Trace deserves a medal for not breaking someones nose, if anyone ever did to me what they did to her, I don't think I would be able to reign myself in enough to not lash out. I liked Trace, she puts up with far more than I would, but it's understand and doesn't read as false. I like that she does have a mouth on her, that she has no problem dishing back whatever is served to her. Granted this always seems to backfire (issues with a drink, eggs, the list goes on). But she does for the most part stand her ground. If I had one complaint about Trace it comes after she was attacked and after said attack she's like making out with someone, with it being so fresh I don't think it read as convincing or real. Nixon as a character both pisses me of to the extreme and then I flip the page and then I like him again. He is clearly playing the politics of the school/life he lives, but still sometimes I think he takes it way to far. You can tell without a doubt that he is stuck in a world that has these jaded rules and he is doing his best to remain both loyal and true to his word as well as do as close to the right thing as he can. Without a doubt he tries to protect the people he cares about, but forces tend to work against him in this respect. Thankfully, Trace has a couple allies at the school, her roommate Monroe is there for her the moment she meets her. I like Monroe, she is genuinely nice to Trace, but still can't exactly stand up to her brother, Nixon. My only real notes about Monroe are that I wish she had more depth, but hey this is a series so maybe we will see more depth from her in book two, especially since she was kept from knowing things for he vast majority of the book this go round. Chase is also another good secondary character, he clearly cares for Trace and protects her whenever possible, but a love triangle is clearly in the future for Nixon/Trace/Chase. It will be interesting to see how that plays out because Chase is Nixon's cousin. The mob is the backdrop for this book, which does make it hard for ordinary people to kind of relate to some of the situations that these characters find themselves in. But what it lacks in relatability it makes up for with a fast pace and a storyline that pulls you in. The author does a good job of keeping enough mystery in the air about what is going on that you can't help but want to turn the page a little bit faster. Overall I think the book is a solid opening for the series. I do want to read the second one, so it's easy for me to recommend this book. If you like books with romance, are a fan of new adult, or just like books with a mafia flare then I think you should definitely give this book a try. It was a good read and an excellent ride with the characters.

I’m going to start off by saying this is my first book by Rachel, and I was really drawn in by Tracey’s innocence but also her intelligence, just not in a social setting! Nixon is one of the Elect and he dictates the rules to all new students, however, for some reason he seems to have taken a position of protection with Trace, which confuses her. Also there are lots of questions which Nixon won’t answer, which leads to more. As a Harry Potter fan, while I was reading I kept saying, curiouser and curiouser! It was a good quick paced read, it did annoy me slightly that as a farm girl she wouldn’t stand up for herself when she was accused of things she hadn’t done but also that her intelligence fled and others battled for her. In this type of world, she would be the prey and get eaten if not for Nixon and Chase and Monroe! But in all fairness she hasn’t been exposed to this type of life, so I imagine it would take some getting used to.

arrivato

OMG you guys! I've found a new love in mafia romance! This is book one in Rachel's very popular Eagle Elite series and I can tell you now that right from the beginning I knew I was going to be hooked - big time! Trace is a farm girl from Wyoming who grew up with her grandparents after her parent's accident when she was six. When her grandmother died of cancer, her grandfather agreed to let her enter into an annual scholarship lottery for Eagle Elite University. It was the only thing she could think of to help secure hers and her grandfathers futures. Entering into Eagle Elite will unknowingly change her life drastically. First of all, the kids at Eagle Elite don't act like your typical university kids. There is a group on campus that everyone fears. They're called The Elect. And their leader, Nixon is drop dead gorgeous - but also a complete ass. Everyone fears them. Nobody stands up to them, with their rules and authority. They especially do not stand up to Nixon who seems to be known all over town and nobody blinks an eye at anything he does. The kids there are ruthless to her. They devour the little farm girl who "doesn't belong". That is - until The Elect start to keep her close. There's a reason behind the saying "keep your friends close and your enemies closer." She just didn't realize she was the enemy until it was too late. "I need you like I need my heart to pump blood through my body, like I need air to breathe, like we need gravity. Hell, you are my gravity. Being with you makes me feel centered and whole, and I'm too screwed up to convince you to want any difference. I'm too selfish to push you into someone else's arms when I know mine may be the worst ones for you to be in." I seriously do not know why it took me so long to start this series! I mean - I'm desperately trying to read all of Rachel's books. I want to read them all right now and there's not enough time in a day to do so! But now i'm on my Eagle Elite kick and I am so, incredibly hooked it's not even funny! There were so many emotions going all over the place. I was back and forth between love and hate through so much of this story! There was so much happening and I kept trying to guess what was going to happen next but no matter what, Rachel always had a surprise for me around the corner. There is no doubt you will be flipping through the pages and on the edge of your seat during this book! You will get your fill of swooning characters. Heartbreak and love. New friendships and betrayals. Fighting. Lots of fighting. It is a mafia story after all. Rachel is going to throw you on a rollercoaster and she will be laughing while you scream at the top of your lungs! She is the boss! The other f'n boss of mafia romance!! If you haven't started this series yet, get on it! Get on it now! "Yeah, Chase. I have a cow under my bed. It's invisible, though, so you can't see it. But sometimes at night it comes out to play. What the hell is wrong with your brain?" I still can't decide if i'm Team Nixon or Team Chase..... Only time will tell! Onto book 2!!

This book was not what I was expecting at all and in all the best ways. Can anyone say plot twists? I love a good plot twist and this book has some amazing ones. It's dark at times but it's also just a generally really engaging read. The characters are compelling. The plot is rich with intrigue. The writing pulls you in. I can see myself devouring the rest of this series. 100% think this book is worth a one click and read.

I've never read anything by Rachel Van Dyken before but I definitely will be reading more after reading this book! I was looking for an easy read and this book was less than a £1 I liked the overview and so downloaded it, within 2 chapters I was HOOKED! It's different to other college/YA books I've read (and I've read more than my fair share of them), I really liked Nixon & Chase, however at times I wanted a little more from Trace & Monroe than always being 'saved' by the male characters. There is a 2nd book in the series & I will definitely be reading it, now that Trace knows the truth I hope the 2nd book will be a little more grown up as relationships develop. I would recommend this book to a friend. Very good read! Enjoy!