Pride (The Elite Seven Book 2)

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Mason Blackwell had a lot to deal with growing up. You can almost feel his pain and I don’t mean just the emotional. Our author shows that some people may be an adult but that not all of them are nice and some are a little sick. We have one more story where it seems that the adults have failed the children and in this case that child is Mason. Megan Thorne is not what he expects. She has a few surprises for us but you have to be patient.

Our author takes her time to build this story and it doesn’t feel choppy by doing that either. She held my attention from beginning to end. This second book in The Elite Seven series is not for those that prefer vanilla. For me, that takes a back seat to a secondary character that seems to have a secret agenda. Finding out what her deal is became important because she’s the reason that this group that has come together.

Most of the story is told from Mason’s point of view, which makes sense since it’s his story to tell. But then the author sneaks in Megan’s and we need that so we know what she’s thinking and what she has to say. I found that interesting especially when she reveals something important.

If you haven’t started this series by reading Lust, you could go ahead and read this first since the series is just starting. But for now, I would think about reading it in order and then once it’s done you can go back and switch it up then. Once I got to the end, this author had me thankful that the next book will be out shortly. I’m really looking forward to see what happens with the next deadly sin.

I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie’s Book Reports.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist. But who said the devil was a he? In my world, she was out to cause havoc on all our lives. She’ll use the one thing I care most about to control me—force me into her Elite world, filled with sin, deceit, and power. And under her spell, I’ll lead a sinister brotherhood of seven at one of the most prestigious universities in New Orleans. Seven tasks set forth by the devil herself, promising nothing less than he forbidden fruit of power. What they don’t understand is it will all end in bloodshed and regret. They call me the alpha. the one in charge. The one with pride bigger than any task I could be given. And my pride won’t let me be anywhere but at the top of the food chain until she gives me what I truly want. My task is Meghan Benedict. She’s too pure for me to touch, too good for me to ruin–and the only thing standing in my way to freedom. Accept your sin wisely, for the tasks give to earn your place are not for the weak–they’re for The Elite. As they say, pride comes before the fall. I am Mason Blackwell. I am Pride.

This is the second book in The Elite Seven Series. You should read Lust by Ker Dukey first. It is the kick off to this amazing series. We met Mason who is Pride in the first book and he is the alpha, the leader of the group of seven. Oh my what a backstory he has and oh how evil the woman is who has controlled his life for so long. I’d like to stab that woman in the throat with something sharp. Your going to love to hate her and your going to know exactly who she is in these first two books!! Mason only really cares about one thing in life and that is his sister who is basically held hostage for lack of a better way of explaining it while Mason was put through stuff he never should have had to go through. No the devil herself has mad him the leader of the Elite Seven and it is not a postion he wants and he is willing to do anything to prove who the devil is, make sure his sister is safe, and ge the woman he loves. I know this is a vague review but I do not want to ruin this for anyone. I am loving these book so much and Mason was everything I thought he would be and so much more. J.D. Hollyfield did any amazing job with this book. I can not wait for the next one.

Pride was a trilling second-installment of The Elite Seven series. I was glued to the pages from the second I picked I picked it up until the minute I finished. Pride flawlessly pike up where Lust left off and continued to wrap this reader up in the intense and secretive world of St. Augustine and The Elite. This world has been so richly developed and the characters so dimensional; I can’t help but ravenously anticipate the next book, Wrath.

Much like the previous book in this series, Lust, the romantic storyline of Pride took a bit of a backseat to what was going on with The Elite, all of the intricacies of Mason’s past, and the all the secrets and lies within all of that. As more and more layers were uncovered about the society, I felt myself becoming obsessed with discovering any clues in the novels and figuring out the master plan of whoever is pulling the strings.

I wasn’t sure about Megan and Mason when they first met, especially considering the forbidden nature of their relationship and the things that were being asked of Mason, but as things went on and they actually started to get to know one another, I began to understand what drew them together. Megan provided a stability and support system Mason desperately needed, and Mason gave Megan a safe place to be herself and showed her she was more than the perfect princess her world had molded her into.

Pride is the second book in The Elite Seven series from various authors. Despite each book focusing on a different main character, these books need to be read in order because there is an overarching storyline about the Elite secret society and knowing the details in each book is imperative for understanding that. Pride is written in dual first-person perspective, narrated by Megan and Mason.

I rarely pick up new-to-me authors because I’ve been burned by lackluster writing and poor editing in the past. However, the premise of this series was so fascinating to me, and I have read a couple of the authors writing within the world, I knew I had to give the authors I hadn’t read a chance, too. I was absolutely won over by JD Hollyfield’s work in this Pride. The story was intense and well-paced, the writing was engrossing and well-done, and I will definitely be putting Ms. Hollyfield on my list of authors to watch.

PRIDE by J.D. Hollyfield is book Two in The Elite Seven Series. This is the story of Mason Blackwell and Meghan Benedict. This series is dealing with different people from the Elite Seven giving us their stories in each book. But, this also continues a underling story of the Elite, so I do think reading the books in order helps you a lot with understand what is going on in each book. Mason is the main person in this book and in the series of Elite Seven he is to be the leader. Mason choices have been taken from him from the start… when his parents died leaving him and his sister Evelyn alone. They were both shifted to different foster homes. They landed within the Griffin home where all bad things really started happening. Lillian Griffin was evil and used Mason’s sister to control him. Now he is suppose to take down Meghan but she is everything he ever wanted and gives him peace he never had. Can he save her and himself? Page turner for me…need more from this series ASAP.

WOOOOWWWW!!
This story keeps getting more intense and unpredictable and I love it. It’s better and better every time. An easy life is not anything that Mason has ever experienced. Life has just been unfair to him. So many people in this story are corrupt, mean and just plain evil. Doing twisted things to get ahead, to get revenge. For example, before I just hated Lillian, but now I hate that snake with a passion. When you read of the way she toys with Mason and his sister, you will too.

Mason needs and escape, needs a release for his frustration. He is ready to snap. And more than anything, he needs someone to trust. His desires are punishing, his venting is rough. But Meghan is more than willing to be the receiver because he still delivers in the most delicious ways. He makes her feel normal. He is a sexy beast of a man and his connection to Meghan is naughty and taboo. The best kind there is.

I’m loving that this guys are finding women that are the complete opposite to them. That they are getting from them everything that has been denied before. With these women by their side they have what they need to be part of this secret society and fight. Plus easy is not what is coming next. That snake has made everyone’s life miserable and she is not done with the torture. This is war now. I’m so excited to read what comes next!! This guys may be new to this kind of cut throat behavior but they are learning fast and have each other’s back.

This is book 2 of the Elite 7. My hell things are crazy. Suspenseful, twisty just so good.
I loved getting to know the Alpha Mason.
I can’t wait to see what happens next!!!!!

***4.5 Stars***

Okay. So, things were all kinds of…intense and crazy in Lust and with the way things ended I had a sneaking suspicion that the crazy would get bumped up a few notches in Pride and I wasn’t wrong. From page one things are all kinds of WTF?!? Worthy and it only gets better from there as more secrets are revealed and lives, and hearts, are toyed with.

I loved Mason. He is all kinds of protective alpha AF and isn’t apologetic for it. He also proves that one should not judge a book by it’s cover (in more ways than one) and has many facets to what makes him tick, but the one inescapable truth is that he’s got a lot more heart than most. Megan was interesting. She’s bright, sweet and while not necessarily naive, she’s not worldly either. She’s kind of…inbetween and it makes for some interesting times. Their journey was filled with all kinds of sexual tension, which was quite obvious from their first collision. But as things become more and they find that they have more going on between them than just a very physical connection, the lines start to blur in more ways than one.

Things definitely got a lot more interesting in this baby. We get a little more of the rest of the Elite Seven ~ I’m still all about Gluttony, but Sloth and Greed are very close behind, though truth be told all of them intrigue the hell out of me and I cannot wait to see where things go from here for all of them, so bring on Wrath!

Note: Books need to be read in order, these are not standalones.

~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~