I’ve been jonesing to read Pride, especially after the intense way Lust ended and all I can say is that from the very beginning, Pride took that intensity, turned it up on high and kept it going all the way through! This book was just, “Whoa!” but in the very best way. It demanded my complete attention and I just HAD to know what was going to happen next! J.D. Hollyfield brought the heat, the feels, and the action — she brought it all and I loved every minute of it.

Pride was dark, delicious, and dirty. It was gritty, naughty, and raw, but with sweet, heart melting moments too. It went from zero to sixty in a heartbeat and stayed there for much of the book. Mason and Megan were just wonderful, I absolutely loved and adored them so much. Pride was so fan-flipping-tastic and now I’m even more eager to read the rest of the series!

This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland

Pride was a better read than I was expecting. To be honest I thought Lust was just okay, partly because the whole Elite Seven secret society thing was...just okay in that story. In Pride though? Yeah, I had to go along with some things and say okay, sure, why not, but overall I think it worked a lot better. I understood more why Mason would get mixed up in all this and everything you get to find out a bit more about the society. I am curious to see what ends up happening with everyone.

Mason loves his sister more than anything and would do anything for her. They didn't have the best of lives at times, and then things really got messed up for them. While he tries to stay strong and not give in to the evil people trying to control him, but in the end he has to for her. Because he would do anything for her.

Through all of the chaos that is going on with him he meets Meghan. Who he is tasked with ruining....only he likes her. Cares about her. A lot. So he is not sure he can do what he needs to. He is a good guy stuck in a hard place. He needs to keep his sister safe, but he is also starting to fall for Meghan so I felt for him.

I liked Meghan. She was a normal lady, but has found she has some kink to her. And I loved watching her explore that and figure out what she likes. It is not something I read often and made me cheer her on even more. Because everyone should find what does it for them and have fun.

This story was fun and I can't wait for the next one to see what happened/will happen next! And see what will ultimately happen with the Elite Seven!

*Note: I received a free copy of this book for voluntary review consideration

Mason and Evelyn Blackwell have been in the foster care system for years. Mason is almost out when the siblings are placed with the Griffin family. Lillian Griffin decides that Mason will be the perfect leader for her secret society since he has so much to lose if he doesn't do exactly as Lillian says. Holding Evelyn as a bargaining chip, Lillian puts Mason through hell until he agrees to lead the initiates of the Elite. Mason must delegate evil deeds to the other members to complete as well as complete his own. Mason's task is to expose the dark secret of the new Theology professor at St. Augustine University. However, once he finds out who the unlikely professor is, Mason's task becomes much more difficult.


The second book in The Elite Seven series focuses on the group's leader, Mason who has been given the sin of pride. So far, books one and two have meshed together really well, keeping characterization and timeline all in sync. In Pride, the evil nature of The Elite Seven becomes apparent as Mason is a very reluctant initiate. Mason's life has not been easy, so his character is more relatable than Rhett in book one, Lust. Through Mason, we find out a lot more about LIllian's character, her motivations and how much pull she has within the Elite. Mason's story line is as much seated in revenge against Lillian as it is his relationship with his target, Meghan. Mason and Meghan's relationship was explosive, dirty, hot and incredibly sexy. These steamy scenes also happened a lot throughout the book, so this one has a high heat rating. Pride's story pushes along the plot of the Elite Seven society and leads into the next story of Wrath.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

4.5 stars.

This started out a little frustrating for me but I ended up loving it.

So for almost 30% of this book we don't meet, mention, or see the heroine. I think she comes in at 28% but even then I didn't know for certain that it would be her because her name was never mentioned. I hoped it was but didn't end up finding out for sure until about 35% in. That's a long time to wait for the love interest to show up or have a presence in the story.

However once Megan officially entered the scene I was on board and flipping those pages, wanting to know how everything would play out with her and Mason.

Lillian is a horrible person. I can understand

Spoiler

her hurting her brother, after all he's the one who actually hurt her. But to torture, mentally, physically, whatever, an innocent person, whose only "crime" was being born to the person who hurt you, no...just no. I felt horrible for child Lillian, adult Lillian can go jump off a cliff.

I adored the brother/sister relationship of Mason and Evie. I'm a sucker for a good protective brother sister dynamic.

One thing, that's not a big deal, but annoyed me all the same was that as someone who watches Judge Judy quite often, and has since she first started her show, the inaccuracies of the 2 mentions of Judge Judy bothered me. Judge Judy has never used a gavel to end a case. It's a folder tap and/or says 'we're done' or 'goodbye' or something to that affect and stands up and leaves. Never a gavel. And also the second mention of Judge Judy mentioned a spousal support case and about whether a wife? would pay that or not, which she doesn't decide those things on her show. Her show is a small claims court show. So I wish the author just spent 30 minutes watching 1 episode and I feel like those mistakes wouldn't have been made.

Overall this was really great. I ended up reading it fairly quickly and didn't want to put it down. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

DEVOURED this book! Haha. Like i couldn't put this down it was that good. I loved reading Pride's story. Mason and Evie are siblings that haven't had things always go their way and thats putting it lightly. This author did a phenomenal job adding on to the Elite7 story. I can't wait to read the next installment it just keeps getting better!

Second book in this series. I am loving the Elite. Mason goes through hell right from the beginning. The mother that adopted him and his sister has it out for him. But being a part of the Elite changes him. Hold on because you are taken on another intense ride with the Elite boys. It just keeps getting better and better with each book. I can't wait to read the next one. Amazing well written intense. Loved every minute of this book.

It was good.

I’m definitely invested in this series but have to say Pride didn’t keep my attention like I wanted it to. I feel like we were missing half the story.

Hmmm...this book (like book one) was a little bit of a mixed bag. I felt the romance in this one was a bit more developed but still took a backseat to Mason's background and the whole "Elite Seven" storyline. Which for me is the highlight of these books. I did like the fact that we didn't get too much OW stuff. The hero wasn't a manwhore. I didn't much care for the fact that this was an older woman/younger man story and the first sex scene was a little much. Mainly because it seemed SO over the top for two people that had JUST meet in a bar...but OK I went with it. (lol)



I think going forward I need to lower my expectations a bit regarding the "romances" and just sit back and enjoy the comradery between all the guys and the twists and turns that come from the whole "secret society" angle. That is definitely the best part of these books (so far).

Another finished book but still not quite satisfied. I really tried to enjoy the book and i did, it just that the development of the story is still lacking.