Sunday, December 8, 2013

BOOK REVIEW - ELITE by RACHEL VAN DYKEN - EAGLE ELITE # 1 - NEW ADULT SUSPENSE ROMANCE

By: Rachel Van Dyken
Published By: Rachel Van Dyken
Released : Available Now
Details: Kindle, 322 Pages

RATING : 4.25 NIXON STARS!

Blurb : Goodreads

When I won the annual Eagle Elite College Scholarship lottery, I was thrilled. After all, my grandma had just died and I wanted to take care of my aging grandpa -- he couldn't be a farmer in Wyoming forever. And graduating from Eagle Elite meant opportunity.

But I wasn't counting on meeting Nixon.

Nor was I counting on the rules of the Elect.

1. Do not touch The Elect.
2. Do not look at The Elect.
3. Do not speak to The Elect.

And worst of all? Don't discover the secret they hide, because in the end, you may just realize... it's about you.

*This is a New Adult Book, blood, violence, cursing, sexual references, and drug use. Not recommended for those under 17.*


BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

Eighteen year old Tracey aka Trace Rooks has won a competition for entry into the Eagle Elite College. She wanted to do her late grandmother proud.

Only the elite students make it into this college to go onto promising careers in politics and other high profile positions in society.

From the moment Trace stepped foot on the grounds of this College, she was in for trouble from the students and the Elect.

Nixon , Chase, Tex and Phoenix all have a hand in making her life difficult the moment she arrives.

“New girl’s here,” came a voice from behind me. I flipped around and my mouth dropped open again. 

“So squeaky clean and innocent. Like a little lamb, right, Chase?” The guy tilted his head. Dark wavy hair fell across his forehead; he had a lip piercing and a tight t-shirt. 


Trace really had no idea who she was talking to.


“No,” Nixon answered for Chase. This time his touch was smooth as he caressed my arm. I tried to jerk away. His face lit up with a smile, and honestly, it was like staring at a fallen angel. Nixon was gorgeous. He was an ass, but he was a gorgeous ass. “You feel this?” His hand continued moving up my arm until he reached my shoulder, and then his hand moved to my neck and his thumb grazed my trembling lips. “Memorize it now, because as of this moment, you can’t touch us. We are untouchable. If you as much as sneeze in our direction, if you as much breathe the same air in my atmosphere, I will make your life hell. This touch, what you feel against your skin, will be the only time you feel another human being as powerful as me near you. So like I said, feel it, remember it, and maybe one day, your brain will do you the supreme favor of forgetting what it felt like to have someone like me touching you. Then, and only then, will you be able to be happy with some mediocre boyfriend and pathetic life.” 

The guy named Chase smirked and hit the other guy on the back. He glared in my direction and then stepped right by me reaching out to lift my chin, closing my once-gaping mouth.

“Much better,” he whispered. We’d hate our charity case to choke on an insect on her first day.” His eyes flickered to Grandpa’s and then back to mine before walking away.



I was rather put off by Nixon at first as this guy is obnoxious, almost to the point of childish, throw in his ego and mean condescending behavior , complete with his posse of mean guys and I was wondering what I was in for.

The two guys who had been standing back from us waved and then flipped me off.

“That’s how they say hello,” Nixon explained. “Alright, Chase, it seems our job is done. Oh and, Farm Girl, don’t forget. Classes start tomorrow. Welcome to Hell.”


He behaved like one of those mean girls you see in movies who has her posse backing her up. But the more you read, the more you realize Nixon doesn’t need a posse to show he has strength and power.

Boy was I a long way from Kansas with what I thought this story was about.

Nixon at times can act kind of ridiculous with his behavior. He is a roller coaster of attitude. A facade for what he is really thinking. 

What he is hiding?

“There is no law here,” Nixon said, pulling out the chair on my other side. “And if there was a law, I’d be the sheriff, judge, and jury.”

Trace's character was a bit up and down with her personality. She can be ballsy and in the next breath... not so much. A little up and down. Eventually when Trace starts to find her feet and understand more what she is dealing with, she pokes back.


“Fine!” I poked him in the chest.

Nixon closed his eyes as if in pain. “Please don’t touch me.”


When Nixon is wearing his good guy t-shirt he is gorgeous, but when he plays for appearances, he can play the school bully, well.

His eyes closed. “Sometimes we aren’t given choices. We just are.”

“What does that even mean?”

Nixon opened his eyes and slowly removed my hand from his chest. “It means that you should have listened to me on the first day of school.”



“I know it sounds crazy. I just ... I don’t like it when people touch me without permission. Ever since I was a kid, after - “ He swallowed. “Anyways, it doesn’t matter. It’s just this thing I have.”

“Like the rules?” I whispered.

“Yeah, like the rules.” His thumb grazed my lower lip. “You’re beautiful, you know.”



Some of the actions of this elite school of students who are all eighteen years and older made me wonder about them going on to such prestigious careers, running companies and family businesses when they so easily listened to rumor and threw a person to the curb without proof and validation.

The chanting of whore and slut every time it appeared Trace did something wrong, when in fact it was far from the truth. It kind of made me wonder how mature these students were. It isn’t high school. These are supposed to be elite students. 

Nixon and his posse can act at times much older than their years. There are two sides to Nixon. The college president and then there is the other...the ruthless, commanding, violent side.

I really like Monroe, Nixon’s twin. She has loyalty and is a friend to Trace. She takes her under her wing from the start.

I did wonder about Nixon and Monroe being twins, there was really only mention of Nixon in the past. Twins normally do everything together. I am trying not to divulge too much. So I am being a little evasive.

Chase is a great character. He is fast becoming a great friend to Trace. He cares.

Maybe too much.



“Sorry.” Chase poured me some water. “Nixon can be a little...”

“A lot.” I nodded. “He can be a lot. A lot of the times."

Chase threw his head back and laughed. “Yes, yes he can.”



Trace has been kept in the dark about a lot of things.

Dangerous things have been kept locked away.


“Your innocence is both aggravating and shocking.” 

When the time presents itself and all is revealed she is expected to make tough decisions about life and death, overnight. From being shielded to facades being dropped, a life born into a life of complications, bodyguards and weapons...a war is brewing.

Who will be loyal?

Who will survive?

Nixon’s smile was sad. “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.”


This is a quick , fast paced read that I really enjoyed. It was full of surprises. It was a fresher idea from what I have been reading. 

I got to admit, I had no clue where this book was going for a portion of it and that is not a bad thing because it intrigued me. I was wondering if these lads were paranormal. 

I was simply wondering. 

Alot.

When facades drop, wait until you see what has been kept hidden in the closet from Trace. Life is no longer about cows and farms, it is about...

I must laugh as for some reason I thought this was a special ops read. I didn’t read the blurb. I have a thing where ninety percent of the time I don’t read blurbs I look at the cover and title and just go for it. I am on a blog tour for Elect book # 2 in the series. I will often say yes to a blog tour without knowing anything about the book. I like to be surprised and sometimes blurbs can give too much away for me. Realizing I had Elite on my kindle from a while back I cracked it open. What a surprise to find that I was rather far from the apple tree with what I thought the book was about.

I am intrigued to see where Rachel takes me in Elect.


Blood may be thicker than water, but, it can easily be washed away by water. 

How loyal are the ones you think you can trust?



Michelle

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