A PRIVILEGED standalone novel, get ready for secret societies, international romance, and college debauchery…If you’re in, you’ll never have to ask. If you ask, you’ll never be in.Eloise Mason knows what it’s like to live among the privileged. Seeking a change from the upper crust society of Europe, she flies halfway across the world for a semester abroad in the one place guaranteed to toss … one place guaranteed to toss responsibility out the window and provide some good, old-fashioned fun; college in The United States.
Except nothing at the picturesque, Ivy-covered university in Vermont appears as it seems. And after a mysterious invitation arrives on her doorstep, curiosity wins over the need to turn her back on games meant for the rich and ruthless.
Secret societies, risky tasks, and an inner circle to rival the royals. But it may just be one American boy who threatens to be the most dangerous endeavor of all.
Colton Reiter defines the word idolized at Jade Mountain University. In fact, he practically rules the roost from the three point line of the basketball court. The college’s star point guard, he is a god and treated as such; professional scouts at every game, teachers looking the other way when it comes to grades, and girls falling into his lap at the snap of a finger. He wants for nothing, or at least that’s what he wants everyone to believe.
But when he meets the sassy girl with the British accent who could care less about his status, her very existence threatens to unveil the skeletons buried deep in the back of his closet.
With stakes this high, and hearts on the line, can they turn their backs on power and popularity before the ivory tower comes crashing down on their heads?
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Elite is the second book in the Privileged series. It can be read as a standalone. I would recommend reading the first one either before or after Elite to get to know Eloise better. She was definitely one of my faves from Privileged. Elite starts off a few years later…
Eloise wanted to get back to some normalcy after living the life of the rich and privileged in Paris. She will be studying aboard in Vermont for the next few months. She is eager to learn. To be more independent. To be a university gal in America. To maybe even meet a real life cowboy. To hit a frat party or two. What she didn’t expect was to be thrown into this world so quickly. A mysterious note on her bed intrigues her on her first day in town. Meeting a cheeky boy on her first night in a college pub.
A secret society that wants her. A basketball star who won’t give up. New friends who enjoy her company and her cooking. She could get used to this. Too bad it can only last for so long. One semester to be exact. She isn’t so sure about the secret society. The girls are the type she wanted to get away from but the mystery of the it all makes her want to finish what she started when she showed up to the boathouse. To be in not out. In the end is it worth it?
Now, for the basketball superstar. Colton is cocky as much as he is charming and handsome. She was warned to stay away from the boys on Greek row but she couldn’t stay away from him. There was something different about him. She didn’t know what it was but he seemed to get her. There was a connection from the moment they met. He felt it too. She didn’t fall at his feet. She did quite the opposite. She had mouth on her and with that accent, it made him want her even more. Not just in his bed. He knew this kind of woman is like a unicorn and he could not let her go.
Awe…I loved Colton and Eloise. Their banter is fun. Their connection is real. Their chemistry is hot. But the story isn’t just about them. He has his secrets. She has secrets to discover.
Overall…I loved it. It’s different. The elite part of it is intriguing. The secret societies. Maybe it’s because I don’t read many books based on a college campus. I never lived on one so it’s like a new world to me while reading. What I did love most was that Eloise wanted to find her normal.
Quotes:
“You’re going to have to try harder than that, superstar.”
“Oh, darling, I’m nobody’s baby.” The twinkle in Eloise’s eye is dangerous, and I like it.
“These are pigs in a blanket …”
Colton kisses me chastely on the cheek. “They’re pork with puff pastry, and that’s how I see them. Don’t be a downer.”
Carrie Aarons is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. Eloise and Colton were a fun couple. They are living in a world of the wealthy and, for the lack of a better word, elite. I’ll tell you it’s a bit hard and suffocating to hear how wonderful they all are the entire book. However, Eloise and Colton made this book!!! The heiress meets college basketball star! While Eloise takes a break from her high life, she ends up right in the same lifestyle at the college. But being Eloise and Colton work together to fix their problems. They are a lovely couple and I just loved how they really work together to overcome their problems.
Normally, Carrie is a 5 Star author for me. This one was so close and really it could be there. There was a bit of suspense added to Elite. I loved it. I think Carrie could have done something really special with this book. It would have made this book more of a romantic suspense instead of a new adult or contemporary romance. I didn’t feel like this suspense area was closed successfully. After reading this, I’m really hoping that Carrie gives us a real romantic suspenseful book.
Carries writing was fantastic as usual. Her characters are interesting and unique. Not all of them are likable, but really, not all people are likable!! I really enjoyed Colton and Eloise together. I’ll continue to watch for Carrie Aarons books as well as the next installment of the Privileged series!!
I received an ARC of this book with the hop that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.
Lie with dogs and you get fleas.
Made your bed, now sleep in it.
There a tons of ways to say that what goes around comes back around. The sassy Brit chick has plenty to say to the ridiculously gorgeous piece of man meat in front of her, if only she could reel her tongue in long enough to do so. If you loved that Nora had a decent friend in Privileged, you will love knowing that this is Eloise’s time to shine. (Though we see Nora..and perhaps her adorable, reformed bad boy too.)
Looking for a diversion, Eloise flees the pressure of the Sorbonne for an American college experience. Though I don’t recall a slurpee scene at Wawa’s, Eloise lives it up in the small college town. Even so much as to snare the attention of the local athletic “god”, Colton.
These two are bound to happen. They are fighting a losing battle and when they break boy is that hot!!!
Elite is just as much backstabbing drama as Privileged but with a Skulls vibe to it. (Apparently 90s movies make better books,though Joshua Jackson and Paul Walker made me love that movie.) It’s fun, feisty, and even a bit freaky….;) Elite is everything most people want to be.
Reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
Oh my god! This synopsis practically shows the whole plot of the book, little left to analyze without revealing spoilers. I wil really try to show you why I loved it without take all the surprises.
I really like the writing of Carrie Aarons and her plot lines are always well built and amazing, Elite brings a love story showing two characters needing to face their problems, to mature beyond discovering the love and support one in the arms of the other.
As Eloise discovers the underworld of the fraternities, she and Colton approach and he gradually conquering her heart even if he does not want anything like that because both of them do not want serious relationship.
Amidst betrayals, intrigues, lies and so much romance, the plot traps from beginning to end with several moments of suspense and many romantic ones. I really liked how everything was conducted until the end I just did not quite understand what the cover had to do with the story even though Colton’s world rotate around the world of the elite, the book involves much more than all this, because it is narrated by both her and him and askes for a cover with both of them. .
4,5/5 stars
Eloise is a girl that seemingly has everything she could ever want: money, exclusive schools, expensive vacations. However she longs for the one things she doesn’t have, the love and attention of her parents. To try to take control of her life, she moves to a small American University. Only, things are not as they seem to be at first glance.
Colton appears to be an all American boy: a popular, smart basketball player. But he, too isn’t what he seems to be on the outside. He has secrets, secrets that could destroy everything he has worked so hard for.
When Eloise catches Colton’s eye, he can’t seem to stay away from her, even when she rejects him at every turn. But Colton is used to getting whatever he wants, and doesn’t give up.
This book was definitely a surprise to me. In the beginning, I thought that it was just going to be about those spoiled college kids, frat life, and keg parties. But it was so much more than that.
Through it all, this book isn’t about spoiled rich kids in college, doing things they shouldn’t be doing. It’s about loyalty, love, and knowing that life is about more than just college. It’s about what comes next, and looking past what you have, to see what could be.
Elite is loosely connected to a previous book by this author, Privileged. Elise is a secondary character in that book, and some of the characters show up in this one. It is definitely not necessary to read that one first, but it was a great book. This story was exceptionally well written, with surprises around every corner. The characters were so real, that I found myself falling into the story, even when I should have been doing something else. This book is definitely worth reading.