Another book in the series and I'm still liking them. It was still an easy read and very enjoyable. ( )

What Amy Haskel thought would be her best (and last) year at prestigious Eli University has been crazier than she could have ever imagined. After being tapped into the uber-secret Rose & Grave secret society she's dealt with:1. disgruntled patriarchs who think adding girls to the society will be it's downfall2. fellow society brothers who have no qualms about publishing society secrets; breaking several oaths in the processSo Amy hasn't exactly had much breathing room or time to work on her thesis for that matter. By the time Spring Break rolls around, Amy is more than ready for some R&R at the private Rose & Grave island, Cavador Key. Only she's not about to escape the ever-present R&G intrigue including threats of exposure even as she's eyeballing a particular patriarch who is looking less annoying and suddenly ever more appealing. *rubs hands together*I don’t know why it took me so long to return to the Secret Society Girl series. Sure, I enjoyed reading about Amy’s escapades with her Rose & Grave brothers in Secret Society Girl and Under the Rose, but the previous two books just didn’t grab me in an unforgettable way. I could also attribute my reticence for continuing on the fact that the cover of Rites of Spring (Break) looks suspiciously like a fluffy gossip girl read and I was less than inclined to pick it up on that base alone. Shame on me for judging by the cover and all that nonsense.And now? Well, after reading about 20 pages of Amy’s story, my backside was so sore from kicking myself that I don’t think I can sit down for a week. Natch. I had forgotten just how intelligent, how layered, and ultimately just how much fun Amy and the crew are. Not to mention the genius inclusion of numerous lists, charts, and footnotes (of all things) right in the middle of the book that, if anything, were enough to make my inner OCD organizer fall madly in love. Who else but Diana Peterfreund could break up one of the hottest scenes(!!) I've read in a long time with Amy's list on why she shouldn't be in said situation and not have me completely put out but actually loving every bit of it? No one else, that's who. So why has it taken me so long to return to Amy, the Diggers and the all-encompassing drama of Eli? I have no idea. But return I did and I couldn’t have been more pleased. And, I hereby confess it will not take me half as long to pick up Tap & Gown. ( )

The third book in Diana Peterfreund's Ivy League series is not as good as the 2nd in the series, but slightly better than the first. In Rites of Spring (Break), Amy and her fellow Diggers go on vacation to an exclusive, hidden island meant for use by Rose and Grave members only. I don't remember a whole lot of what happened in this book, but the plot involves deadly pranks, more tension from anti-female Patriarchs, and a very, very surprising hook-up (hey, it's Spring Break!). Fun book, especially if you read it on the beach or by the pool. ( )

Another Yale-set novel I didn't like. Make that "Eli University" in New Haven. Maybe that 1969 rejection is biasing my thinking. The secret society goings-on seemed pointless. ( )

The second half of Amy Haskel’s senior year at Eli University isn’t going so well. For one thing, she was recognized as a Rose & Grave member by a rival secret society they were performing a prank on, and thus bears the brunt of much hazing—hazing that even tangles with her romantic past. So it’s with some relief that Amy joins some fellow Diggers on a private island for spring break.

However, it’s not just the water that holds danger for the swimming-handicapped Amy. It appears that someone has infiltrated the island and is trying to sabotage Digger traditions. Amy just wants to forget about the outside world as she enjoys a new possible romance with an old foe, but when the attacks turn personal, she knows she can’t look the other way anymore.

Even a thousand miles away from the cold and hallowed grounds of Eli University, Diana Peterfreund’s IVY LEAGUE novels are still just as good. There’s still romance, mystery, danger, and intelligent bantering to satisfy readers.

I very much enjoyed the romance that was developed in RITES OF SPRING (BREAK), especially as I thought from the first book that it was coming sooner or later. Indeed, Diana Peterfreund skillfully drops hints about future events throughout this book. While occasionally it gets to the point where I think it’s overkill, the hints will not bother a less discerning reader, nor does it take away from my overall enjoyment of this novel.

I haven’t said much that I haven’t already said about previous books in the IVY LEAGUE series, but the third book in this series is still as strong as ever. This series is one that I wish will never end. ( )

Finally, Amy ends up kissing the boy I've liked all along! Pure beachy fun, I'd give to fans of the first. ( )

If you've been reading my reviews for the last week or so, you know all about Diana Peterfreund's Ivy League series. Rites of Spring (Break) is book 3 in the series, and it's all I've got until May! The last book will not be published until then, and I must tell you that I cannot wait to get my hands on it!

In Rites of Spring (Break), we catch up with our indefatigable heroine Amy Haskell, as she navigates her way through her senior year at the country's prestigious Eli University. As a member of the university's most distinguished secret society, the Order of the Rose & Grave, Amy's senior year should be full of opportunity and prestige. Unfortunately as part of the first tap class to include women in the order, Amy's membership has been pretty much all work and no play. She's spent the last two books being ostracized by important society patriarchs, losing important job offers, and being betrayed by her fellow "Diggers".

As her class is poised for their first real caper - breaking into the house of the Dragon's Head society and stealing back one of their statues - Amy is caught on camera, and becomes an official enemy of the rival secret society. The attacks on her begin, and Amy can't wait for Spring Break, when she will escape campus and spend a week on the societies private island. A few days before departure, Amy is devastated when she learns the real reason she has been targeted (and I can't tell you more without giving it away!) Suffice it to say that once on the island the mayhem continues and Amy's life is in constant danger. Lucky for her, the most unlikely of her society brothers is aware of the problem, and will do everything in his power to make her safe again.

Rites of Spring (Break) is the best yet in the series. The plot continued to be excellent, with lots of twists and turns that had me alternately gasping and laughing out loud. The characters have grown so much in the past three books, and I can't wait to see what happens as they prepare for graduation in book 4, Tap and Gown. ( )

Amy Haskel has survived several attempts by patriarchs to oust her and the other females in her tap class from the Rose and Grave society. When Spring Break rolls around, she is more than ready for a vacation, and she's eager to spend some time sunbathing on the society's private island. Her vacation is anything but restful, however, when problems continue to plague the society, and they become far more dangerous in nature. In addition to the society's problems, Amy unexpectedly begins a romance with a society patriarch.

One of the best things about this novel is that most of the infighting between members of Amy's tap class seems to have been laid to rest, and they finally seem to learn how to work together. However, they continue to have problems relating to the patriarchs, something I suspect will come to a head in the fourth and final novel. Fans of the first two won't be disappointed with this one. ( )

I adore this series and can’t begin to tell you how excited I was when I received the email telling me that it was available for pre-order as an ebook. Think squeeing fangirl. Which paled in comparison to my reaction when, on completing my pre-order, found that actually the file was already available for download (excited, much?)… There was speed reading of my last quarter of my “in progress” novel JUST to reach this one. There was a very early to bed so I could read, uninterrupted. So my expectations were pretty high.

Within that context it’s perhaps not surprising that the initial few chapters were a let down. I don’t like Amy in “competitive I want the guy because that’s the way I win” mode (hate THOSE girls), so the first few chapters hit a few of my personal bug bears pretty hard.

That said, once we moved on to the main plot, I had a much better time. The mystery/whodunit was easy to spot but then, I don’t read these books to be intrigued. These are pure escapist magic; smart, romantic and funny – like Gilmore Girls (the later years) with out the speed-talking and creepy-intense mother/daughter relationship. Love, love, love. I’ll be JUST as super excited when the last instalment is released this time next year. ( )