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, a prequel novella to Very Wicked Things
Release: Both books will release on May 13th
Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills
Cover: Photography by Toski Covey
Graphics: Sommer Stein at Perfect Pear Creative Covers
Model: Tanner Belcher
Book Description for prequel Very
Wicked Beginnings:
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.
But I never planned on destroying her.
I never planned on wrecking the one thing that could save me.
Welcome to Briarcrest Academy, where wicked love begins…and ends.
Charity
Information:
The Keith Milano Memorial Fund was established to help raise
awareness about the devastating and deadly disease that is mental illness.
Keith’s spirit and laughter is kept alive through our efforts to increase
awareness about mental illness and to raise money for education and imperative
research. Keith often struggled with society’s perception of mental illness.
Our hope is that by having the strength to say that Keith was “Bipolar”
we can strip away the stigma and help others to be more open about their disease. www.keithmilano.org
The Keith Milano Memorial Fund benefits the American Foundation
for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). www.afsp.org
AFSP is the only national
not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and
preventing suicide through research and education, and to reaching out to
people with mood disorders and those affected by suicide.
Add Very Wicked Beginnings to you Goodreads:
Our 5 Star Review
Book
Description:
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.
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…especially when dirty money, past sins, and old flames threaten the very fabric of their lives.
Until the day she meets him, and he rips apart all her well-laid plans. Suddenly, the girl everyone thought unbreakable might just shatter.
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…especially when dirty money, past sins, and old flames threaten the very fabric of their lives.
Welcome
to Briarcrest Academy, where sometimes, only the wicked survive.
Trailer
Excerpt for Very Wicked Things
Book #2 of the Briarcrest Academy
Series
by Ilsa Madden-Mills
I
got out of the shower and dressed hurriedly, anxious to get back to Cuba.
The
door opened, and like he did it every single day, he stepped inside the steamy
bathroom.
“Think
I need a shower, too,” he said, his fingers easing off his football practice
shirt.
What? Now?
Trying
to play it cool and failing miserably, I moved my eyes off his naked chest and
checked out his track pants and the obvious bulge he sported.
Oh. Did his lower body match the rest of him? Was it all
sinewy muscle and big?
Just,
yeah. That thought got stuck in my head and went round and round.
“You staying?” he asked, a grin working his
face. Pleased at my open admiration, probably.
“No,”
I said, but made no move to go. ‘Cause I had no shame when it came to catching
a glimpse of his muscular body.
“Good,”
he said, his smile broadening.
He
pivoted to turn on the shower, and my eyes betrayed me again, admiring the
muscles in his back, checking out how they twitched and rippled when he moved. Football
and rowing had been good to him. My fingers itched to know how they’d feel
underneath my hands. Which was stupid because we had nothing in common. Not a
rich Highland Park boy and a poor girl from Ratcliffe.
And
most importantly, he was a player, not to be trusted.
He
hooked his thumbs into his pants, paused a moment—maybe waiting to see if I’d run
from the room?—but when I didn’t budge, he slid them and his underwear off. My
mouth opened. Cuba Hudson, the most popular guy at Briarcrest was standing
right in front of me, naked and beautiful. And like the cocky bastard he was,
he posed for me, his big-ass biceps and chiseled abs making me vibrate all
over. Need for him slammed into me.
Did I say he was hot?
Well,
I was wrong.
He
was off-the-charts, no-holds-barred, freaking going make-me-lose-my-mind-right-there
delicious. The ultimate man-candy, the kind I knew to stay away from, yet here
I was, ogling him.
“Still
leaving?” he asked huskily.
“Any
minute,” I said in a weak voice, backing up to the wall and propping myself up.
“Just chillin’. Shower wore me out. I might need to hold this wall up for a
sec.”
“I
want you to stay,” he said, eyes at half-mast, glowing with heat.
“Why?”
I said, aching to touch him. But that was crazy. I was a virgin, and I didn’t
know jack about touching a guy’s you-know-what.
“Look
at me, Dovey.”
I
tore my eyes from his manhood, blushing.
His
eyes burned. “There’s a sense of urgency in my head. Like our time is limited.”
I
nodded. Yeah, same here.
“And,
I’ll be honest, I don’t want to rush you, but I’m dying to sink into you. I
want to set you on fire with need for me.” He ghosted his hands over the steel
rod between his legs. Once, twice, and—holy shizzle, he didn’t stop.
My
chest rose faster and faster, and I tried to chill-out, but I couldn’t.
He
lowered his voice. “Kiss me again, Dovey.”
Oh.
“That’s a terrible idea, Cuba. Cause you’re naked, and I’m turned on because
you’re naked. And you’re touching yourself. And
you’re naked.” I sucked in a sharp breath. “Not a good combo. Odds are
we’ll end up in that shower together or back in your bed doing the
double-backed monster.”
“Then
join me in the shower. I’ll be good. For you.” He arched his back, his hands
still doing that back and forth that was driving me insane.
Liar, liar, pants on fire, I thought. No way he would he be
good.
Because
he was the Heartbreaker of Briarcrest Academy. And one wicked boy.
Our 5 Star Review
Ok, I am a HUGE fan of Ilsa Madden Mills. As soon as I finished her debut novel Very Bad Things I was harassing her about what was coming next. VBT was one of my top 5 reads of 2013 and i wasn't sure how she was going to top it, but she DID! Very Wicked Things exceeded my expectations. It was so different from VBT, yet I fell in love with her writing even more. Ilsa covered a very difficult topic in this story with great care. Very Wicked Things is a beautifully written, emotional, and powerful story of finding light in the darkness and always keeping hope.
Cuba Hudson: heartbreaker, football star, sexy, rich, and a liar. Cuba Hudson is viewed as an icon at Briarcrest Academy. He's got the looks, the wealth, and the social status that makes every girl want him. He puts a smile on his face everyday, but does what the world see match what he feels inside?
"Money hides a world of pain"
Cuba has been through enough heartbreak to last a lifetime. My heart hurt for him. He blames himself for some tragedies that struck his family and he cant let go of that blame, for fear that he will do it again. But then he meets Dovey, and she was his light.
"If i can have her, there'd be no reason to fear the dark"
Dovey is a poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Born into a life of poverty, she has a father that is MIA and a mother who prostitutes herself, leaving Dovey alone without food or heat for days at a time. In her cold lonely apartment complex, she meets Sarah, the ballet teacher. They develop a close relationship and Dovey quickly becomes focused on ballet knowing that it would be her ticket out of Ratcliffe. She ends up at Briarcrest Academy on a scholarship, where she meets Cuba Hudson. Cuba and Dovey really hit it off, despite their different social statuses. Dovey was hesitant because she needed to focus on ballet and Sarah, who became ill with Alzheimer's, but Cuba had other plans for them and just wouldn't give up in his pursuit. The two fall hard for each other..
But when i see Cuba, if there's such a thing as a soulmate...he's mine. It hurts to breathe without him..
My soul ached for his; my body yearned for his touch. I didn't want to exist without him in my world.
Dovey's life quickly spirals out of control with some shocking twists that will leave your mind spinning. She needs to do what she needs to do to keep her friends and family safe, and she will stop at nothing until it's done. All the while Cuba pushes her away for fear of hurting her.
I wasnt sure if we would get a HEA because Dovey and Cuba had both been through so much. Their story was heartbreaking to read. This book was darker than VBT but extremely well written. I cried for both Cuba and Dovey, several times. The characters were well developed, making me feel as if I was right there with them, experiences their struggles. The story was paced perfectly, with some curveballs thrown in that will leave you shocked. And of course, book three was set up brilliantly! I really hope it's about Sebastian!
Ok, I am a HUGE fan of Ilsa Madden Mills. As soon as I finished her debut novel Very Bad Things I was harassing her about what was coming next. VBT was one of my top 5 reads of 2013 and i wasn't sure how she was going to top it, but she DID! Very Wicked Things exceeded my expectations. It was so different from VBT, yet I fell in love with her writing even more. Ilsa covered a very difficult topic in this story with great care. Very Wicked Things is a beautifully written, emotional, and powerful story of finding light in the darkness and always keeping hope.
Cuba Hudson: heartbreaker, football star, sexy, rich, and a liar. Cuba Hudson is viewed as an icon at Briarcrest Academy. He's got the looks, the wealth, and the social status that makes every girl want him. He puts a smile on his face everyday, but does what the world see match what he feels inside?
"Money hides a world of pain"
Cuba has been through enough heartbreak to last a lifetime. My heart hurt for him. He blames himself for some tragedies that struck his family and he cant let go of that blame, for fear that he will do it again. But then he meets Dovey, and she was his light.
"If i can have her, there'd be no reason to fear the dark"
Dovey is a poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Born into a life of poverty, she has a father that is MIA and a mother who prostitutes herself, leaving Dovey alone without food or heat for days at a time. In her cold lonely apartment complex, she meets Sarah, the ballet teacher. They develop a close relationship and Dovey quickly becomes focused on ballet knowing that it would be her ticket out of Ratcliffe. She ends up at Briarcrest Academy on a scholarship, where she meets Cuba Hudson. Cuba and Dovey really hit it off, despite their different social statuses. Dovey was hesitant because she needed to focus on ballet and Sarah, who became ill with Alzheimer's, but Cuba had other plans for them and just wouldn't give up in his pursuit. The two fall hard for each other..
But when i see Cuba, if there's such a thing as a soulmate...he's mine. It hurts to breathe without him..
My soul ached for his; my body yearned for his touch. I didn't want to exist without him in my world.
Dovey's life quickly spirals out of control with some shocking twists that will leave your mind spinning. She needs to do what she needs to do to keep her friends and family safe, and she will stop at nothing until it's done. All the while Cuba pushes her away for fear of hurting her.
I wasnt sure if we would get a HEA because Dovey and Cuba had both been through so much. Their story was heartbreaking to read. This book was darker than VBT but extremely well written. I cried for both Cuba and Dovey, several times. The characters were well developed, making me feel as if I was right there with them, experiences their struggles. The story was paced perfectly, with some curveballs thrown in that will leave you shocked. And of course, book three was set up brilliantly! I really hope it's about Sebastian!
I highly recommend this book. I gave it 5 stars and I am anxious to find out more about book 3. And for my fellow VBT lovers, have no fear...Nora and Leo make a few cameo appearances in Very Wicked Things! Well done, Ilsa!!!
Add Very Wicked Things to your
Goodreads:
Haven’t read the first book Very Bad
Things? It’s on sale!!
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