Alex by Sawyer Bennett

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“I’m not sure why you were labeled the team prick. I’m just not seeing it.” -Sawyer Bennett, Alex

Alex isn't know for being the best person to his hockey fans.  But when the management forces him to work with Sutton on an outreach program for at-risk kids, he finds himself finding new things to appreciate about his sport and becoming a better person both on and off the ice. But when he starts having problems on the ice, he has to reevaluate his life. But will he make the right decision or will everything fall apart? Find the official description on Goodreads.

Both characters were definitely unique. But Alex was much more so. Many of the characters in any of the sports romance I have read enjoy their sports. But Alex isn't enjoying Hockey, mostly because of his father. I’ll leave that for you to find out more about. Plus he was a bit of a….well there are lots of words for him, so let’s just say he doesn't have a people personality. It definitely makes for an intriguing read. Sutton was a lot more happy and yet she could hold her own against Alex. It was fun to see their interactions and watch as they got under each others skin.

Sawyer Bennett also made me feel as if I was going to my first hockey game again when I experienced through Sutton’s point of view(although I wish one of the players would have done that to me. I would have fainted.) It was a marvelous feeling and one I was glad that Sawyer Bennett was able to capture so fully.

There were hockey scenes but they were fewer in number than the rest and while I wished we could have had more hockey I also enjoyed the moments that Alex did have. At many points, especially towards the end, I was sighing over everything. And I noticed that Garrett’s name also is the name of the next book so I was looking eagerly for scenes in which he participated and he definitely made me laugh.

Alex was a great read and I have a feeling that it’s just the beginning! Alex is due for release October 14th, 2014.

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Elite by Rachel Van Dyken

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Tracey won the lottery to enter the Eagle Elite University, and she's ecstatic. She's able to fulfill her grandmother's wish for her and she can pay back her grandparents for everything they've done for her. But when she arrives, she finds that things are much different on this campus. There are rules and if you don't follow them...while just watch your back. Find the official description on Goodreads.

Elite was a book that I enjoyed very much, and I'm definitely going to add this author to my list of keep an eye out for new books by. The writing really flowed smoothly and the Traci's voice really came through. It didn't feel like it was a book, it felt like it was either a movie playing out in front of me or that I was a background character in the book watching things happen. 

There were lots of different moments even moments where there was deep thought and speaking on the human condition. It added more depth to the book and I really enjoyed that.

Throughout Elite, you do find yourself thinking. Either sympathizing with different characters or trying to figure out what or who is being nice only to turn around and stab Tracey in the back. It added a little bit of intrigue into the book and I liked the fact that I was suspicious about people's motives. It made for a great read.

The Eagle Elite University is definitely not like any university I've ever heard of. I loved that. It added a bit of need to find out what was all going on. I found a lot of the book questioning what the heck kind of school this was and I swear there were points in which curiosity almost killed me.

The plot was very unique as I don't think people have really thought about taking on this age group and this topic(I'm not going to mention the combo as it would be spoilery, ;)) It was new, and shiny and I don't know but it made Elite stand out in my mind, and I definitely want to read more by Rachel Van Dyken.

You should definitely give Elite a read even if New Adult/Young Adult isn't something you typically read. It was a great book, one I will definitely be reading again.

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