Review: Elite by Rachel Van Dyken

Title: Elite (Eagle Elite #1)
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Published: April 14th 2013
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
*A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review*

For Tracey Rooks, life with her grandparents on a Wyoming farm has always been simple. But after her grandmother's death, Tracey is all her grandfather has. So when Eagle Elite University announces its annual scholarship lottery, Tracey jumps at the opportunity to secure their future and enters. She isn't expecting much-but then she wins. And life as she knows it will never be same . . .
The students at Eagle Elite are unlike any she's ever met . . . and they refuse to make things easy for her. There's Nixon, gorgeous, irresistible, and leader of a group that everyone fears: The Elect. Their rules are simple. 1. Do not touch The Elect. 2. Do not look at The Elect. 3. Do not speak to The Elect. No matter how hard she tries to stay away, The Elect are always around her and it isn't long until she finds out the reason why they keep their friends close and their enemies even closer. She just didn't realize she was the enemy -- until it was too late.

I'm not a huge fan of surprises unless they're good so I think you get why I didn't have a lovely, friendly, adorable relationship with this book. It wasn't at all what I expected and I am sorry if some of you enjoyed this book, what comes next is solely my opinion and we're all different. Whatever floats your boat, dude! This pretty, unfortunately, did nothing for me.

When I met Nixon I had no idea what life had in store for me. In my wildest dreams, I could have never imagined this.

The story. So we have this weird, weird school where all the influential kids attend and Tracey, being a cow-loving farm girl (seriously, she loved her cows more than herself) with a scolarship, wasn't an insider. She was an outsider intruding in and it did not suit well for the Elite. The four guys, along with Nixon--Tracey's love interest--run the school and organize everything: lunch schedules, give elevator passes, choose who's at the top of the food chain in the school etc. They are the Elect. They also bully people both physically and emotionally. Also, Nixon owns the school and if a teacher sees bullying, they don't even blink an eye. 'Hello Mr. Nixon' is all they say, smile and walk away.

My thoughts. Ok, so here's the thing. I'm not going to lie, I'm tired of the same old formula where the main characters have dark pasts and they need this other half who completes them and gives a meaning to their lives and helps one surpass one's past etc. Does it happen in life? I believe so, but it's getting tiresome. Mad props for Rachel for trying to pull off something different. However, sadly this isn't the only aspect I'm looking for in books, I need more. The whole plot was just plain confusing. The first half of it on my part was spent on thoughts like 'wtf is going on' and 'stand the eff up for yourself' and the latter half was where the first part was explained, but it wasn't enough of an explanation for me.

The MC.. Where do I even start with her? She was a clutz who didn't stand up for herself. When she tried, she got to starr in this huge bullying scheme where she was drugged, labeled as a slut, didn't get to eat, got thrown with eggs and sugar water etc. Oh, and she cried about every single thing. In public, by the way. I don't get why she didn't leave the school. You're bullied that heavily in college. The whole time she had a crush on the guy who ran the school and was the head of the Elect who bullied her. He was bullying her to supposedly protect her and as it turned out later on, he had every reason to protect her. Does it make his actions okay? Most definitely not! Even though when the whole twist came in to the picture, it turned out that Nixon loves this girl, but I mean.. wtf? Look, the premise was truly intriguing and awesome, the way it was delivered lacked believability.

The saddest thing is that I actually want to read the sequel because I want to know what happens next regarding the ending. How messed up is that? I am not, in fact, a fan of spoilery reviews, but sometimes they pay off so I hope that there will be spoiler-ish reviews on Goodreads so I can read them and find out what happens without actually purchasing the book. I hate writing these negative reviews and I understand what could appeal to readers in Elite, but as much as it pains me to say this, I wasn't happy while reading this and I think there are better books out there by this author to be discovered beforehand.

Oh, just a little note here at the end: the teaser for the second book introduces a lovely love triangle of Nixon, Tracey and Nixon's best friend. Are. You. Kidding. Me. I think you get my frustration..

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Meet the author

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Book Haul #22

Haven't done one in a while again. I think it's been a month if not more. I haven't received any paperbacks throughout this time other than The Sea of Tranquility--love that book--which I loaned to my mom and she took it to her vacation with her so I can't show it to you this week. The rest of the paperbacks/hard covers I've received before, but haven't showcased yet. If you've read any of these, let me know and I'll push them up on my tbr list. Be sure to leave me your links so I can visit all of you lovelies back:)

Physical copies

Sweet Peril (Sweet Evil #2) by Wendy Higgins

Dreamless (Starcrossed #2) by Josephine Angelini

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2) by Veronica Rossi

Apollyon (Covenant #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare (read, review will be up soon)

E-books

OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu (arc, currently reading)

Elite by Rachel van Dyken (review copy, already read)

The Lies We Tell by Elizabeth Dunk (arc, already read)

I also received a little bit of swag throughout that time. A huge thanks to Jennifer Jacopelli for these gorgeous bookmarks. Moreover, the always wonderful Trisha Wolfe, who is just one of the best human beings, sent me signed bookmarks which she designed herself, by the way, and a very lovely letter. Thanks so so so much you guys! *hugs*

A HUGE thanks to Edelweiss, Netgalley, Simon Pulse, Forever, Harlequin Australia, Jennifer Jacopelli and Trisha Wolfe.

What did you get this week? Leave your links below and I'll check out your goodies :)

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by The Mod Podge Bookshelf and Stacking the Shelves is a weekly event hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Summer Lovin' Read-a-thon 2013 Wrap-Up

Hey, lovelies! I hope you all had a great weekend. It's so very sunny outside and unfortunately I got a sunburn. Meh.. It's not all that bad though, I've had worse. I guess that's what I get for laying out in the sun all day even if I use sun cream. The wheather has been superb though--not a cloud in a sky and it totally goes with the theme of this read-a-thon. I had so much fun and I'm looking forward to participating in even more read-a-thons since the first one was a success on my part. I didn't end up reading that much from the list I created for myself, but I read quite a bit nevertheless. You want to know what I read? I'll give you the complete list of day by day and a few thoughts on the books I read.

Day 1: Started Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter. Read to page 117.
Day 2: Started Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown--15% in. Continuing Born at Midnight.
Day 3: Read to 20% of Thousand Words and read to page 220 on Bron at Midnight.
Day 4: Read to around page 300 of Born at Mifnight
Day 5: Read to 50% of Thousand Words
Day 6: Finished Thousand Words. Read two additional novels: Wrong Kind of Love by Amanda Heath and Elite by Rachel Van Dyken.
Day 7: Finished Born at Midnight and started (and will hopefully finish) Breach by K.I. Lynn.

So I ended up reading..

Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter
I ended up liking it a lot. The MC was pretty well-written and even though her constant kissing thoughts regarding the two guys who drooled over her bothered me a bit, I still think Kylie was a decent character. I liked the friendships and the few twists and turns that took me by surprise. I also enjoyed the world-building which was quite different from the usual supernatural world I have come across so far. I think this one will get a decent four stars.

Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown
Another great story for me. It was my first ever Jennifer Brown's book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had no idea sexting would be that big of an issue and Ashleigh's story touched me in a way I didn't expect. I will definitely read more by Ms. Brown. As I gathered from that little interview with her at the end of the book, she writes issue books that are different and really make you think and these kinda books suit me well. Also, her writing is good so yes, definitely an author I'll explore more when I have time.

Wrong Kind of Love by Amanda Heath
Ok, so I read the first book and skimmed parts of it, that's why I haven't marked it as read on Goodreads. I did like the best friend of the MC and the MC's twin brothers though so I knew I wanted to read their book someday. I was rooting for Caden all the way and of course since it's from his and Grace's POV we know that they'll end up together, there's no other option. However, I was so annoyed by Grace that I wanted to sucker punch her at times. She was almost as annoying as Ms. Anastasia Steele. Ugh.. I liked the main idea and Caden was ok, but overall it was meh for me.

Elite by Rachel Van Dyken
This read-a-thon is all about firsts for me as I see. I didn't plan on reading it, but I ended up doing so since I was intrigued. I heard it was about a secret society among our ordinary one and I knew it was a book I wanted to pick up. Ok, so the beginning was a bit awkward. It got better, but again, the MC just ruined it for me. Every time someone said something that wasn't like.. didn't make sense immediately, she asked them if they were high. Wtf? So when I'm in a mood to be silly and say silly things and laugh about them I'm immediately tripping and so is everybody else? I think she was just too dumb. Sorry. The secret society thing was different though and it ended up being a first of that kind (I don't want to give away the society's um.. essence.) so I want to know more and I'll pick up the sequel even if the main character is a tad annoying.

and I'm currently reading Breach by K.I. Lynn as we speak. It's pretty good, but very very VERY steamy. Kinda reminds me of The Crossfire series by Sylvia Day. I know both of the MCs have secrets and I want to know what they are. I can tell that it's not just all adult fiction with the very graphic steamy scenes, but there's a story beneath all that. I hope it'll come out soon though since I don't think I can handle all that steaminess anymore. I need a real story not just an erotic story, you know..

AAAANNDDD that's it for me this week. I'll go and try to finish Breach now and I hope you guys had indeed a great weekend and please stop by to see my review for one of the most intriguing books I have ever read. It'll be up tomorrow and on Tuesday I'll have a giveaway for US/Can peeps so a lot of stuff to look forward to next week:)