Review: Three Different Sides of the Same Story!!!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 14, 2013
WOW! I have whiplash from all the twists and turns this book takes from beginning to end. Lies. Secrets. Betrayals. You name any deceptive act, and it takes place in Rachel Van Dyken's Elect. Elect is told from three male perspectives: Nixon - the boss; Chase - the protector; and Phoenix - the betrayer. All three, along with Tex, form the Eagle Elite; protectors and administers of order."`Let's make a pact.'" Chase put his hand on my shoulder. "`A pact?'" I sniffled and turned to him. "`What kind of pact?'" "`One that's forever. One that protects people rather than hurts them.'"This contract, of sorts, helps the four Mafia members to maintain order in a world of chaos, but what happens when one young woman, Trace, puts three best friends at odds with one another? Can anything ever be the same again?Elect picks up right where Elite left out. Blood is on many people's hands, and it is hard to know who to trust in this deadly game. Powerful Mafia families are up against other powerful mob families; players are switching teams and making devious deals, and secrets are coming to light that will have devastating repercussions, not only for the three best friends in the middle of all of the turmoil, but for those they love and call family.For Nixon, it is all about keeping Trace safe, but in protecting her, he risks losing her to his best friend and cousin, Chase. I understand Nixon's motives here, and he is an extremely selfless man in his actions, but I wanted to shake him and tell him to fight for what he wants...to find another way to keep Trace safe without pushing her away and into Chase's arms. He's a Mafia mob boss with a moral compass when it comes to the people he loves, which tends to lead him to make difficult choices that greatly affect what he wants and needs.For Chase, it is not only about keeping Trace safe; it turns in to making Trace his. It is a perfectly logical outcome to form an emotional attachment to someone you are supposed to be protecting 24/7, but to betray the one person who has always had your back and is your blood is unforgivable in my eyes. Yes, the heart wants what the heart wants, but it wasn't Chase's to have.For Phoenix, at first, it is all about revenge and releasing the beast inside that has laid dormant too long; in the end, redemption is what Phoenix receives, and his actions at the end of the book are definitely what redeems him in my eyes. In both books, Phoenix is part of the Eagle Elite, but slightly on the outside looking in...jealous of what the others have in terms of money, power, and even Trace. By gaining more insight into his life in this book in terms of what he had to endure from a young age at his father's hands, it makes sense that Phoenix is constantly fighting demons, and it was only a matter of time before his blackened heart finally unleashed itself.And then there's Trace, our heroine. The one person who holds so many hearts in her hand. I don't blame her for finding comfort in Chase, but I wish she would have really listened when Nixon talked to her and tried to get her to understand what he was doing and why he was doing it. It would have prevented a lot of heartache for three pretty amazing characters.At the end of Elect, it seems as if Trace makes her choice: "`Chase.'" She pulled away and wiped a tear from her eye. "`You have my heart, but Nixon...he owns my soul.'" But, anything can happen in this world of chaos that they still find themselves in. It will be interesting to see how Phoenix's step sister, Mil, fits into this male dominated world as the boss of her family. If her proposition to Chase says anything, it seems readers are still in for quite the wild ride in Book Three.Elect is an amazing 5 star read. It keeps readers on the edge of their seats with clenched fists and wide eyes. I couldn't stop reading, but I also didn't want it to end. Anytime a story can suck me in and not let me go until I'm finished is a fantastic book. Rachel Van Dyken is a true talent in crafting intense storylines with dynamic characters who readers cannot help to love and hate - sometimes at the same time.Pick up Elite and Elect today! You will not be disappointed!Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.5 poison apples! (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)