Very Bad Things
Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills
Release Date: September 13, 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Hosted By: Stephanie's Book Reports
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.
I rated Very
Bad Things 4.5 leaves. It’s been a while since I’ve read a New Adult
romance that takes place in high school. However, the contents of this book
were so mature and intense that I kept forgetting that Nora was only in high
school. The only reason I remembered was because the age difference between 18
year old Nora and 25 year old Leo was supposedly an “issue”. Anyway, so Nora
attends Briarcrest Academy (little of the book actually takes place in school)
which is in the upper class community of Highland Park in Dallas, Texas. Her
family is very prestigious. Her family sucks to say the least. Her father is always
on business slash having affairs. And then her mother and step-brother make her
life a living nightmare. Her mom is a psychotic control freak with no bounds.
Her step-brother…well, I can’t spoil it and talk about what his problem is now
can I? I’ll just say that he is sick and twisted. This is not your average
story of a little Misunderstood rich brat. It is the ultimate story about
finding yourself, learning to be happy, and letting love in.
At the very beginning of the book we get to see
Nora finally tell everyone eff you. Literally actually. In front of the whole
school, her family, and other prestigious people. It was pretty great. Then, we
gradually learn more about the insane things that she has suffered through
because of her mother. Nora then makes a list of the bad things she wants to do
to break away from her mother. But, it’s more than that, she’s trying to make
herself feel alive. All of a sudden, we get a POV change! Yay! I love dual POVs
and I couldn’t imagine this book without getting to see Leo’s side along with
Nora’s story. Leo has been playing dad to his brother, Sebastian, who is the
same age as Nora, ever since both their parents died. He has never been in a
committed relationship because he is scared of losing someone he loves like he
lost his parents. I like how we get to find out ALMOST all their dirty laundry
at the beginning of the book. Because the rest of the book is dripping with off
the charts chemistry and oozing with sexual tension. From the very first
glimpse at each other to the last love-making scene, Ilsa Madden-Mills leaves
no doubt that Nora and Leo are destined to be together. It was a VERY rocky
journey for them. I mean, this book just had everything! From the great circle
of friends to the suspense to the disgusting antagonist to the hot, sexy lead
male to the strong, unique heroine to the life lessons and finally to the
ultimate love story.
I loved Nora. I wanted to be her friend. I have a
slight look into what it’s like to have a controlling parent, however, Nora
deals with way more than that. There were a lot of moments in the book where I
was just like, “F*** yeah! You go girl!” Cheesy I know, but so true. Nora was
already forced to grow up quickly because of the non-existent childhood she
had, but in this book she went on the journey of figuring out what it’s like to
be free and own your life. I was so proud of her. She went after what she
wanted, even though it might have scared her. One of those things was Leo. Oh,
Leo… He was so stubborn. It’s been a while since I’ve read a male lead to
stubborn to realize his feelings for the girl he loves. It was beyond
frustrating but all it took was one calling Nora “Buttercup” for my heart to
thaw back out. He had such a pure heart on top of his extremely good looks. I hated
his friends with benefits buddy. She needed to go away like yesterday. But, it
all makes for the perfect recipe of the amazingness that is Very Bad Things. There are really no
words to describe THE FEELS. It was so intense and emotional! There are definitely
some unexpected plot twists. And overall, I just couldn’t get enough. I can’t
wait to see what Ilsa Madden-Mills has in store for us next. Maybe a book for
Sebastian? *hint hint*
The Kiss in the Library
“I got one last request, and I’ll never ask again,” Leo
said.
“What?” I croaked out.
He set his books on a shelf and then took mine and set them
beside his. He tugged me to him until our chests were touching.
“What are you doing?” I mumbled in confusion.
He put his hands on either side of my face and slid them
into my hair, letting out a breath as if in relief. “Just saying goodbye,
Nora.”
“You’re going to kiss me?” I asked, tears pricking my eyes
at the sadness in his face.
“Please, just this last time, Buttercup,” he said.
And with that one word, I was his.
He lowered his head, his gaze holding me captive. When our
lips touched, his heated eyes stayed open and mine did, too. My mouth melted
into his, moaning as his hot tongue explored the details of my tongue, my
teeth, my lips. We started slow but it escalated rapidly, the passion between
us burning higher and higher. He owned me with his mouth, and I was lost.
I palmed his ass, grinding myself against him. He hissed at
the increased pressure and pushed me back against the sturdy bookshelf,
positioning me so his hips fit into my pelvis. I lifted one of my legs, and he
caught it and wrapped it around him.
“Say my name,” he muttered gruffly as I sucked hard at his
neck. He grunted, and I dug my nails into his back as I kissed my way around
his collarbone, sucking another spot.
“Say it, Nora.”
“Leo, Leo, Leo,” I pleaded, arching my back and pushing into
him.
He shuddered. “Fucking love that,” he whispered.
He placed his lips
back on mine, dominating my mouth, like a man starved. All I could think about
was him, him, him . . . his lips, his tongue, his taste,
his butterscotch smell. I wanted all of him, and I’d never have him, and that
thought made me frantic. I gripped him tighter, pushed my nails deeper, and
kissed him harder.
I never wanted to say goodbye.
Ilsa Madden-Mills is a loving wife and mother,
a loyal friend, and a teacher. When all that is done, she writes. Obsessively.
She spends her days 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 from fans and fellow authors. Check her out on Facebook or her author website.
She spends her days 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 from fans and fellow authors. Check her out on Facebook or her author website.
~*~
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