Blog Tour - Very Twisted Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Title: Very Twisted Things

Series: Briarcrest Academy # 3

Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills

Release Date: March 1, 2015 

A sassy violinist who lives next door.

An obsessed rock star who watches her through binoculars.

And one night when she bares it all.

Life will never be the same in Tinseltown.

Vital Rejects front guy Sebastian Tate never imagined his YouTube music video would go viral, sky-rocketing him to acting success in Hollywood. Okay, maybe he did. After all, he’s a cocky dude who knows he’s hot-as-hell, and it was only a matter of time before his stars aligned.

But life in Tinseltown is never what it seems.

After being cheated on, his only rule to falling in love is simple: Keep Calm and Don’t Do It. Spying on his mysterious new neighbor with binoculars seems innocent enough, but quickly escalates into an erotic game between two very unlikely people.

Twenty-year-old Violet St. Lyons is a world-renowned violinist who's lost her mojo on stage. She hides away in a Hollywood mansion, trying to find her way through her twisted past in order to make her future.

He’s the life of the party with girls chasing him down for his autograph. She’s the introvert with a potty mouth who doesn’t even know who he is.

When they meet, stars collide, sparks fly, and clothes come off. Yet, giving his heart to a girl isn’t Sebastian’s plan; falling for a guy who craves attention isn’t Violet’s.

Welcome to Briarcrest Academy—Hollywood style—where sometimes the best things in life are VERY TWISTED THINGS.

ADD TO GOODREADS

My heart was swooning when I found out I would be reading Sebastian's story, and it did not disappoint!! The prologue, goodness, that prologue had me gripping my tablet with a death grip; I felt I was the one going through that!! Ms Madden-Mills, you had me in tears with just that opening scene....
 

Sebastian is now on his own, living with his band member/friend, Spider and despite being "Sebastian", he refuses to do relationships unless they are "fake". That is what he has going on with Blair Storm. As I read why, it kind of made sense to me but it complicated things when it came Violet. Sebastian truly is a sweetheart, yet at times I wanted to reach out and smack him because the decisions he made were not the brightest. But, you live and you learn.
 

Violet, with everything that she's gone through, I'm amazed at her ability and strength to carry on live because honestly, I don't believe I could. Violet fights with herself every day just to continue to live, yet she knows her parents would want her to and until now, she didn't really have a big incentive to… That is, until she sees Sebastian, her next door neighbor, spying on her every night. She plays her violin every night but not in front of a crowd, yet she knows she has to find the courage to do so, not only for her but for her parents.

The chemistry between Sebastian and Violet is HOT, and it kept building up until it had me panting and wanting them to go all the way…LOL. Ms. Madden-Mills’ writing was just amazingly beautiful, describing their relationship, fears, hopes and dreams. I could not get enough of Sebastian and V and hope we can get a novella and/or more of them in Spider's book. Please??

If you're looking for freshness, sweetness, angstiness, sexiness and hotness, then click away and get ready for a ride you won't want to get off.

~ Review by Kara

I fell in love with Sebastian in Ilsa's debut novel Very Bad Things. I couldn't wait to get my hands on a book about him! I crossed my fingers book two would be his, but it wasn't. I get it now! Sebastian had to grow up a bit to have his story and OMG! Has he ever grown up! He's hot, he's sexy, he's sweet but most of all, he's a rock star! As Rachael Ray would say, YUMM-O! And he's found his perfect match in V!

This prologue! Oh my! What an absolute hook! I dare you to read the first few pages and not devour this book in one sitting! And thanks to this book I'll NEVER be able to take my kids to the playground and not think very twisted, dirty things! You've ruined swing sets for me, Ilsa!

I really enjoyed this story. Perfect amounts of drama, a little bit of angst and loads of sexual tension. Very Twisted Things was a perfect addition to the Briarcrest Academy series! I'm looking forward to reading Spider's book, so write fast, Ilsa!!

Very Twisted Things is the third book in the Briarcrest Academyseries, it can be read as a standalone, no cliffhanger.

~ Review by Erin

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills writes about strong heroines and sexy alpha males that sometimes you just want to slap.

She is addicted to dystopian and all things fantasy, including unicorns and sword-wielding heroines. Other fascinations include frothy coffee beverages, Instagram, Ian Somerhalder (seriously hot), astronomy (she’s a Gemini), Sephora make-up, homemade soups, and tattoos.

When she’s not pecking away on her computer, she shops for cool magnets and paints old furniture.

She loves to hear from readers and fellow authors.

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GOODREADS

Blog Tour - Very Wicked Beginnings & Very Wicked Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills

 

Because Ilsa Madden-Mills fell in love with her beautifully flawed characters in Very Wicked Things, she penned Very Wicked Beginnings as a prequel novella to the book, featuring the story of football star Cuba Hudson and ballerina Dovey Beckham.

Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, all May proceeds from the sale of the novella will be donated to The Keith Milano Memorial Fund which benefits the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). www.afsp.org

Title: Very Wicked Beginnings

Series: Briarcrest Academy #1.5

Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills

Release Date: May 13, 2014
 

Girls say I’m a walking, talking sex god. Guys call me Hollywood because my life is golden.

It’s not.

But, ESPN did rank me as a four-star recruit, calling me one of the best defensive players since Briarcrest Academy opened its esteemed doors. So yeah, with football and a stellar GPA, my future seemed good.

Then Dovey Beckham shows up in her short skirts and ballet shoes. Driving me insane. Making me want to beg for her attention.

But that wouldn’t happen, because Cuba Hudson didn’t beg for
anything.

She walked around BA like she owned the place, and most days she looked right through me…the one girl I couldn’t have.
So, of course, I made it my mission to claim her, to put her notch on my bedpost.

Because no girl can resist the Heartbreaker of BA.

Welcome to Briarcrest Academy, where wicked love begins…and ends.

 

ADD TO GOODREADS

☆ ☆ ☆☆ 4.5 WICKED BEGINNING STARS ☆ ☆ ☆☆

 

 

Very Wicked Beginnings has me wickedly excited for golden boy, “Hollywood” Cuba Hudson of Briarcrest Academy.  We were first introduced to Cuba in Very Bad Things and I couldn’t wait to dive into Cuba’s story. In this prequel novella, readers finally see the “real” Cuba Hudson and are introduced to his love interest, Dovey Beckham, a ballerina, who has tiptoed and danced her way into Cuba’s mind.

 

Cuba Hudson is known as “Hollywood” around his peers. From the outside perspective, he had it all from money, popularity, athletic abilities, and a long line up of girls. But behind the perfect image, lies a man filled with guilt and sadness. His home life is filled with sadness since his mother is battling and struggling with depression.

Dovey Beckham is a ballerina. Her passion is to dance and has been given a scholarship to Briarcrest Academy. Unlike the rest of her peers, she does not come from money. She is the girl from the other side of tracks.

When Cuba spots Dovey for the first time, he is mesmerized by her beauty, elegance and the way she danced. Time stood still and all he saw was the ballerina who captured and helped erased sadness. Be prepared as Ms. Ilsa Madden-Mills gives us a taste of only the start the wicked beginnings of Cuba’s pursuit of Dovey. What will happen when two worlds collide? What secrets will be unraveled?

 

 

~ Review by Michelle

 

 

Title: Very Wicked Things

Series: Briarcrest Academy #2

Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills

Release Date: May 13, 2014
 

 

Born on the poor side of town…

 

Ballerina Dovey Beckham is a scholarship student at Briarcrest Academy, determined to prove she’s more than just a girl with the wrong pedigree. She does whatever it takes to succeed in her endgame, even if it means surrendering her body…but never her heart.

 

Until the day she meets him, and he rips apart all her well-laid plans. Suddenly, the girl everyone thought unbreakable might just shatter.

 

Born into wealth and privilege…

 

Cuba “Hollywood” Hudson is rich, spoiled, and a star football player. With his fast cars and superficial girlfriends, he lives the high-life, hiding his secrets from the world.

 

Until the day he meets her, and she offers him something he’s never tasted…love.

 

But once in a lifetime kind of love doesn’t come easy. When trust crumbles and doubts creep in, both will have to decide to either love or let go…forever.

 

Welcome to Briarcrest Academy, where sometimes, only the wicked survive.

 

ADD TO GOODREADS

 

☆ ☆ ☆☆ ☆ 5 Very Wicked Stars ☆ ☆ ☆☆ ☆
 

So after I read Very Wicked Beginnings, I was thinking a cute romantic tale of Cuba pursuing his chase of Dovey in Very Wicked Things but Ms. Ilsa Madden-Mills had to put to a wicked abrupt halt to that. Of  course, she had to put her readers on a wicked emotional roller-coaster since this book is titled Very Wicked Things.  This book hooked me from the very first page and I was secretly at work trying to get my reading fix of Cuba and Dovey. Ilsa knows for a fact that  I was secretly trying to hide in my office so I can invest all my attention to Cuba and Dovey. I just want to tell Ilsa that you literally gutted my heart with Cuba and Dovey’s story.  Seriously, this book took my heart, twisted it around, tore it to pieces, and slowly taped it back together. Very Wicked Things was such an emotional, heartbreaking, heartfelt, and beautiful journey that I loved every bit of the ride that Ilsa took her readers on.

 

In Very Wicked Beginnings, we learned that Cuba’s mother has been battling with severe depression and that Cuba blames himself for his mother’s illness. In Very Wicked Things, a year has passed since Cuba and Dovey first met each other and we learn that Cuba humiliated Dovey in front of the school when he broke up with her. The Cuba for now is a big fat jerk. He ignores Dovey and doesn’t give her the time of day. Soon we learn that Cuba’s mother committed suicide and he blames himself for his mother and sister’s death.  He feels that he will only disappoint anyone who tries to love him and people are better off without loving him hence, he distances himself from Dovey. His reasonings may sound dumb but as someone who suffered and experienced lost, I can totally understand his sadness and his feelings of detachment.

 

Dovey literally broke my heart. Her childhood and upbringing had me in tears. She is a fighter and survivor and applaud her for her strength to LIVE and DREAM. While others may succumb and give up, Dovey did what she had to do rise above from being stuck in her situation.  What she lacked in money, she made up in intelligence and perseverance.  She made her dreams of becoming a dancer in a reality.

 

The sexual tension and chemistry between Dovey and Cuba had me going crazy!!! I was like WHY Ilsa are you torturing us!!!! I wanted to scream at Cuba and tell him to man up and claim Dovey. And as for Dovey, I must applaud her strength dealing with the whole Cuba situation. I just wanted to give her a big hug and say it will be okay.  Soon I found myself begging Ilsa just to give us a glimmer of hope for these two and when she did I was screaming YES...FINALLY!!! The emotional rollercoaster that Cuba and Dovey put me through made me demand that they get HEA! Hell they f*cking deserved one after all they been through. Both survived heartaches, loss and practically been to hell and back so they needed that fairy tale HEA.

 

Oh and as for the ending, I absolutely loved it. Yes, the ending made me over the moon happy! Ilsa did an amazing job in Very Wicked Things. She made you fall in love with all the characters and had your emotions invested in everyone. You couldn’t put down your kindle because you had to know how will Cuba and Dovey get their HEA.  Very Wicked Things was deliciously wicked and a must read!

 

~ Review by Michelle

 

 

#1 Very Bad Things
 

 

#1.5 Very Wicked Beginnings

 

#2 Very Wicked Things
 

 

 

 

Ilsa Madden-Mills is a loving wife and mother, a loyal friend, and a teacher. When all that is done, she writes. Obsessively.

 

She spent several years teaching high school English, but now hangs out at home with two small kids, a neurotic cat, and her Viking husband. She collects magnets and rarely cooks except to bake her own pretzels.

 

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 authors.

 

Very Wicked Things is Book 2 of the BA Series.

 

Very Bad Things is currently available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks.

 

 

WEBSITE

 

FACEBOOK

 

TWITTER

 

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Cover Reveal - Very Wicked Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Very Wicked Things

Book 2 of the Briarcrest Academy Series

A new adult romance from bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills

Release Date May 13, 2014
 

 

Born on the poor side of town…

 

Ballerina Dovey Beckham is a scholarship student at Briarcrest Academy, determined to prove she’s more than just a girl with the wrong pedigree. She does whatever it takes to succeed in her endgame, even if it means surrendering her body…but never her heart.

 

Until the day she meets him, and he rips apart all her well-laid plans. Suddenly, the girl everyone thought unbreakable might just shatter.

 

Born into wealth and privilege…

 

Cuba “Hollywood” Hudson is rich, spoiled, and a star football player. With his fast cars and superficial girlfriends, he lives the high-life, hiding his secrets from the world.

 

Until the day he meets her, and she offers him something he’s never tasted…love.

 

But once in a lifetime kind of love doesn’t come easy. When trust crumbles and doubts creep in, both will have to decide to either love or let go…forever.

 

Welcome to Briarcrest Academy, where sometimes, only the wicked survive.

 

ADD TO GOODREADS

 

 

 

 

Cuba’s POV
 

Not exactly a meet-cute…
 

The room closed in, making me sweat. I hadn’t talked to her in over a year, and now here we were, face-to-face. Two ex-lovers who hated each other.

 

I had to get away from her.

 

Dovey tilted her head as I stood, giving me a scathing glare. “Leaving so soon? Yeah, go ahead, cut and run. Coward.”

 

I ignored her and tried to get Weinstein’s attention, to let her know she could flunk me for all I cared.

 

“Before you go, tell me one thing, and I’ll make sure we aren’t partners in this class. You’ll be free of me,” she said.

 

“What?” I asked, my voice going all raspy, blocking all the words I wanted to say. They weren’t things she ever needed to hear.

 

“Why so cruel to me? You aren’t to the other girls you date and dump. Why single me out?”

 

I seethed. “And it didn’t take you long to find someone else, now did it? How is Spider? Does he get you hot like I did?”

 

She smirked. “He’s fine. He thinks I hung the moon. He thinks you’re an ass. I agree.”

 

I tightened my fists and pressed them against my thighs, swearing to myself I wasn’t responding to her bait. I swore. She was a dangerous game I didn’t need to play.

 

Suddenly, her face fell. Was she recalling the last time we were together? Was she remembering how I used to…

 

“I trusted you,” she whispered, all her anger seeming to be gone. The unsteadiness of her voice undid me, sent me right over the edge of that precarious cliff I’d been hanging on to by the skin of my teeth.

 

Yeah, she hadn’t been the only one who’d trusted me. I’d ruined them all. Every last one. Dark thoughts assaulted me, of the blood I had on my hands.

 

Snap! My pencil broke and small pieces flew across my desk and into the empty space between us.

 

I wanted to pummel my desk until my fists bled. I wanted to punch a hole through the wall, the floor, my face.

 

Everything was my fault. Just mine.

 

She’d been collateral damage, the kind that breaks everyone involved. And I was sorry for it, but sometimes you do what hurts because it’s for the best.

 

But she was my kryptonite, leaving me no option but to hurt her. Again.

 

I didn’t think about my cruel words, I just said them. “You were a curiosity, Dovey. You weren’t the usual BA girl, and I wanted a taste. That’s all. I moved on when it got boring. Get over it.”

 

Ilsa Madden-Mills is a loving wife and mother, a loyal friend, and a teacher. When all that is done, she writes. Obsessively.

 

She spent several years teaching high school English, but now hangs out at home with two small kids, a neurotic cat, and her Viking husband. She collects magnets and rarely cooks except to bake her own pretzels.

 

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 authors.

 

Very Wicked Things is Book 2 of the BA Series.

 

Very Bad Things is currently available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iBooks.

 

 

AVAILABLE NOW

 

#1 Very Bad Things

 

 

 

 

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