Book Description:
Born into a life of privilege and secrets, Nora Blakely has everything any nineteen-year-old girl could desire. She’s an accomplished pianist, a Texas beauty queen, and on her way to Princeton after high school. She’s perfect…
Leaving behind her million dollar mansion and Jimmy Choos, she becomes a girl hell-bent on pushing the limits with alcohol, drugs, and meaningless sex.
Then she meets her soulmate. But he doesn’t want her.
When it comes to girls, twenty-five-year old Leo Tate has one rule: never fall in love. His gym and his brother are all he cares about…until he meets Nora. He resists the pull of their attraction, hung up on their six year age difference.
As they struggle to stay away from each other, secrets will be revealed, tempers will flare, and hearts will be broken.
Welcome to Briarcrest Academy…where sometimes, the best things in life are
Very Bad Things.
Stephanie’s Review:
I looked forward to this book since I saw Ilsa promoting it. The synopsis/description looked like it was a book right up my alley. You’re immediate sucked into the story. This outwardly good girl is wanting to let loose her bad girl side. She’s tired of being the perfect girl acting like her life isn’t falling apart around her. There were several instances I wanted to jerk a knot in her parents. I know parent’s like Nora’s exist…it’s just a shame. I think it does the child such a disservice.
The story between Nora and Leo is a different twist on fictional relationships lately. She’s chasing him…trying to be the bad girl she thinks she needs to be. She’s 18 and he’s 25. His reason to stay away from her is their age difference. He feels the pull, but his little brother and Nora are in the same class in high school. It’s so hard to remember Nora is a Senior in high school. She’s had to grow up quickly and learn to take care of herself. Did I mention her parent’s are pieces of work?
There is a darker twist to the story, and I thought Ilsa could have expanded upon this portion of the story more. I like some angst in my stories and this had a bit but could have been more. For a debut novel, this one was a great start. There will be more stories in this series, and I am looking forward to reading them.
4 Stars
Excerpt:
Leo Resists Nora
As if he’d made a decision, he pulled me out into the quiet hallway. Once we were alone, he said, “Now, about last night—” he stopped, appearing stuck on what to say.
“Yeah?”
He took two steps away from me, like he needed some space between us, like what he was going to say was difficult. He ran his hand through his hair furiously, pulling on the ends a little. “Nora, look, I think you’re a pretty girl, but there won’t be anything between us.”
My face flushed because I had acted inappropriately last night. Like a slut, really. Yet I didn’t regret it. And then there was my bad list. I wanted him for my meaningless sex. Still.
“Because you think I’m too young.”
“Yes.” He blew out a breath. “I’m sorry if I come across as a prick here, but I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me. I don’t do serious relationships ever, and you deserve something good, not just a quick fuck.”
I stared at his full lips, not holding back. “I like it when you say ‘fuck.’”
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7059622.Ilsa_Madden_Mills
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue0eLwXXpdc
About the Author:
Ilsa Madden-Mills wrote her first work at the age of twelve when she penned a little ditty about a handsome prince who had no sense. Since then, she’s always written, whether it was for work or fun. When she was young, she entered every short story and poetry contest around; when she was in college, she wrote for the university paper; when she taught English, she wrote a play along with a wonderful group of drama students.
Very Bad Things is her first full-length novel and part of a new series called Briarcrest Academy.
She graduated summa cum laude with a master’s in English from an esteemed university in the South where she now resides. She spends her days with two small kids, a neurotic cat, and her Viking husband. When she’s not typing away at a story, you can find her drinking too much Diet Coke, jamming out to Pink, or checking on her carefully maintained chocolate stash.
She loves to hear from fans and fellow avid readers. Check her out on Facebook or her author website.
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorilsamaddenmills
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ilsamaddenmills
Author Website: https://www.ilsamaddenmills.com
Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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