{"id":5721,"date":"2015-11-20T18:11:13","date_gmt":"2015-11-20T18:11:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/allthethingsinbetween.net\/?p=5721"},"modified":"2019-04-05T21:06:23","modified_gmt":"2019-04-05T21:06:23","slug":"weekend-pick-me-up-very-bad-things-by-ilsa-madden-mills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2015\/11\/20\/weekend-pick-me-up-very-bad-things-by-ilsa-madden-mills\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekend Pick Me Up: Very Bad Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5723 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/VBTs-Teaser-WHT.jpg?resize=600%2C600&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"VBTs-Teaser-WHT\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>ANGST! Oh, the angst, the beautiful turmoil of the angry.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve been asking myself, \u201cWhat took you so long to read this book?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I misunderstood the construction of the series when I read Very Wicked Beginnings. I thought since next novel wasn\u2019t about Cuba or Dovey I\u2019d put off reading it. I hadn\u2019t realized that Very Wicked Things was about those two, and that really it would have been sensible to read the book blurbs before jumping in.<br \/>\n<strong>Library Lesson:<\/strong> Don\u2019t believe the book with the word \u2018beginnings\u2019 is always the start.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Nora Blakely is skating by on the red hot stuff that creates great art and burned bridges: discontent. This girl is determined to rebel in a most exacting fashion to bring upon Armageddon and family ruin. There is only so much tucking in one can do before all that self-loathing spills out and Ms. Blakely is overflowing\u00a0in all direction with stunning passion.<\/p>\n<p>Now, I know, I burned away a world I used to live in as a budding woman. What doesn\u2019t kill you keeps on trying until you kill it. Nora is my girl; I got her number and I am sending her an infinite abundances of high fives. Sometimes you just have to destroy what is there and rebuild.<\/p>\n<p>The Tate brothers have just escaped the drama of Southern California to begin a new life in Texas, free and clear of Los Angeles\u2019 cray cray. Leo\u2019s focus is getting Sebastian through the remainder of high school; giving him some true stability, in a better place. The two brothers are tight and Leo wants to do right by his little brother; like their parents would have wanted. He has no intention of falling in love at first site with a buttercup of a girl who just opened up the Briarcrest Academy assembly with an F-bomb laced non-welcome. Nora Blakely rattles his cage but he can\u2019t help becoming obsessed with her.<\/p>\n<p>If there is one thing I give major props to it is authors who allow their characters to grow in a natural frame of time. Leo and Nora don\u2019t just go for it. Neither of them are ready, and they can\u2019t get on one another\u2019s page for some time which just shows how unprepared they are. That is how most adult relationships evolve and Ilsa Madden-Mills lets this story evolve beautifully. Nora drives you crazy because she is trying so hard to grow up and break away, making mistake after mistake until things shake out right. Leo fights to keep his eyes on Sebastian while going a bit crazy himself because sometimes the thing you want isn\u2019t good for you at the time you want it.<\/p>\n<p>Both of these personal struggles make this book full and beautiful, <em>although<\/em> it also makes for some anxious reading because it\u2019s hard not to become frustrated with two characters who are in it to screw it up.<\/p>\n<p>I loved these book peeps Ilsa Madden-Mills created, especially Sebastian. Good Heavens and beautiful devils do I look forward to his book. And, baby, I promise you Cuba is by far more tempting in this novel than in Very Wicked Beginnings. ME-ow! I\u2019ll have me one of him, and two of the younger Tate.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5563\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/bunny-sep.jpg?resize=175%2C81&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"bunny-sep\" width=\"175\" height=\"81\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-5724\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Very-Bad-Things-Cover.jpg?resize=255%2C407&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Very-Bad-Things-Cover\" width=\"255\" height=\"407\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #d00f5e;\">Very Bad Things Synopsis:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Born into a life of privilege and secrets, Nora Blakely has everything any nineteen-year-old girl could desire. She\u2019s an accomplished pianist, a Texas beauty queen, and on her way to Princeton after high school. She\u2019s perfect&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Then she meets her soulmate. But he doesn\u2019t want her.<\/p>\n<p>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&#8230; until he meets Nora. He resists the pull of their attraction, hung up on their six year age difference.<\/p>\n<p>As they struggle to stay away from each other, secrets will be revealed, tempers will flare, and hearts will be broken.<\/p>\n<p>Welcome to Briarcrest Academy&#8230; where sometimes, the best things in life are Very Bad Things.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/book\/show\/17836829-very-bad-things\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5638\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/TBR.jpg?resize=200%2C71&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"TBR\" width=\"200\" height=\"71\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-weight: bold;\">Purchase Very Bad Things:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00F225YK2\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00F225YK2&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=allthethiin02-20&amp;linkId=YKYVG3TUVR26POGU\" target=\"_blank\">Amazon<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/very-bad-things-ilsa-madden-mills\/1116947117?ean=9781494550707\" target=\"_blank\">B&amp;N<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/audiobook\/very-bad-things-briarcrest\/id854654869\" target=\"_blank\">iTunes<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5563\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/bunny-sep.jpg?resize=175%2C81&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"bunny-sep\" width=\"175\" height=\"81\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; color: #d00f5e; font-weight: bold;\">Briarcrest Academy Books:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00K9ZLW3K\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00K9ZLW3K&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=allthethiin02-20&amp;linkId=QUWPUFI7AE256OLB\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img src=\"http:\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;ASIN=B00K9ZLW3K&amp;Format=_SL250_&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=allthethiin02-20\" alt=\"\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=allthethiin02-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00K9ZLW3K\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00KA0AGJK\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00KA0AGJK&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=allthethiin02-20&amp;linkId=H5BTDFEI2PZXP63S\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img src=\"http:\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;ASIN=B00KA0AGJK&amp;Format=_SL250_&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=allthethiin02-20\" alt=\"\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=allthethiin02-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00KA0AGJK\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=allthethiin02-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00KA0AGJK\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00U48ZWE2\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00U48ZWE2&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=allthethiin02-20&amp;linkId=MDLZHV6H2WTH5IDY\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img src=\"http:\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;ASIN=B00U48ZWE2&amp;Format=_SL250_&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=allthethiin02-20\" alt=\"\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=allthethiin02-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B00U48ZWE2\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B015G747E6\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B015G747E6&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=allthethiin02-20&amp;linkId=VFJIXFNFEKTGSGRJ\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img src=\"http:\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;ASIN=B015G747E6&amp;Format=_SL250_&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=allthethiin02-20\" alt=\"\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=allthethiin02-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B015G747E6\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; color: #d00f5e; font-weight: bold;\">Standalone:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1517687462\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=1517687462&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=allthethiin02-20&amp;linkId=QSMF3CWEV74BCTLB\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img src=\"http:\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;ASIN=1517687462&amp;Format=_SL250_&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=allthethiin02-20\" alt=\"\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=allthethiin02-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=1517687462\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5563\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/bunny-sep.jpg?resize=175%2C81&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"bunny-sep\" width=\"175\" height=\"81\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; color: #d00f5e; font-weight: bold;\">Very Bad Things Excerpt:<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SOMETIMES, YOU JUST need a badass song to get you moving in the right direction, to pump you up. Like a theme song. All the superheroes have them. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even the Power Rangers have a hardcore guitar anthem. So, I may not be Wonder Woman with her invisible plane, but I have been called brilliant before. In fact, I have a collection of theme songs for different days, depending on what was going on in my life, and tonight my theme song was \u201cPerfect\u201d by Pink. I blasted it in my car, listening to her sing about a girl who\u2019d been mistreated and misunderstood. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was Saturday night and Emma Easton\u2019s party, but first I was swinging by Club Vita to pick up Sebastian and Mila. Sebastian and I had eaten lunch together every day at school this week, and I\u2019d told him all about my passion for sewing and how I planned to wear one of my creations. Tonight I was wearing last year\u2019s Dior black prom dress, or at least part of the dress, since I\u2019d chopped off the long skirt and the sleeves. Now it was strapless and super short. I\u2019d worn my hair braided and twirled up low in the back with loose curls hanging down the sides. I\u2019d put on more make-up than usual, too, coating my eyes in dark liner and smoky eye shadow. On my lips I\u2019d worn the deep red color that matched my hair. Did I look trashy? I shrugged. Who cared. Tonight\u2019s goal was to get drunk and get fucked. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSweet,\u201d Sebastian said, whistling as he let me in. \u201cGot a hot date tonight?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I wiggled my eyebrows like he always did. \u201cI might get lucky.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMm-hmm,\u201d he said, watching me with an interesting expression. I started to ask him what that look meant . . . <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just then the buzzer rang. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThat\u2019ll be Mila,\u201d I said eagerly. Since I\u2019d been leaving school early, we hadn\u2019t had a chance to catch up. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She bounced in, and I swear she looked like a teenage Laura Bush, wearing pearls, a pink velveteen tailored jacket and a pleated chiffon skirt. She\u2019d flung a pink Coach bag over her arm, and I wanted to hug her she was so cute. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I introduced them and her eyes widened, taking in Sebastian\u2019s tall form and blue eyes. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wait until she met the full-sized version. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAlrighty then, let\u2019s head up to the loft. Leo\u2019s date brought appetizers for us to try, and he wants to meet Mila,\u201d he said. I noticed when he had said date , his eyes had locked on mine, like he was assessing my reaction. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou didn\u2019t mention how frickin\u2019 hot Sebastian is. I\u2019m pissed I don\u2019t have any classes with him. By the way, your hair is sweet . So glad you went the Monte Carlo Red and not the blue,\u201d Mila whispered to me as we followed Sebastian up the stairs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt was called Midnight Indigo.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She scrunched her nose. \u201cWhatever. Blue hair is strange.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we walked in the spacious kitchen, Leo was laughing down at the petite twenty-something-year-old that had been with him at the park. Up close, I could see she was pretty in polished, confident way, with lots of make-up and manicured nails. She looked relatively normal, too; I couldn\u2019t compete with that.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I watched them, remembering how he didn\u2019t want me. Even though he wasn\u2019t mine, I wanted to pummel her with my fists; I wanted to rip out all her long dark hair. Which looked like extensions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I stood there uncomfortably until Sebastian eased up beside me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. I leaned back against him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leo saw us, stiffened, and quickly looked away. I wondered if it was going to be weird between us. It\u2019d been a week since our movie. I\u2019d seen him a couple of times, once when I\u2019d dropped off Sebastian from eating out and once when I\u2019d come to deliver some muffins he\u2019d ordered from Aunt Portia\u2019s. He\u2019d been cordial then, yet detached, his eyes looking everywhere except at me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He sat down his bottle of Corona. \u201cGuys, this is Tiffany. She works for the catering company that\u2019s doing the food for the grand opening,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTiffany, this is Nora and her friend . . . Mila?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mila nodded, a dazed and goofy expression on her face. I wasn\u2019t surprised my normally loquacious friend was suddenly struck quiet. Leo could do that.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThey\u2019re both attending Briarcrest Academy with Sebastian.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tiffany smiled at us, showing her super white teeth. She raked her gaze over me and Mila, and I assumed mentally dismissed us as no competition. \u201cOh, really! How charming!\u201d she exclaimed in a true, slow-talking Texas drawl.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charming.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Seriously, do people in their twenties use that word in conversation? I mean, I had a large vocabulary and used words no one else did, but charming just seemed pretentious. I cocked my head and studied her, trying to see what he saw in her. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She kept talking in her dulcet tones. \u201cBy the way, it\u2019s Tiffani-with-an-i,\u201d she said, giving us a smile that showcased her dimples. Gag.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As she chatted about her own years in high school, I did the calculations in my head and figured she was only three or four years older than me. I glared at Leo. This was the kind of girl he went for: fake with big tits?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He finally glanced at me, his eyes scanning over my skimpy dress and when he raked both hands through his blond hair furiously, I knew he was fuming about something. I shrugged and took a page from the stupid girl book and flicked my hair over my shoulder. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLeo,\u201d Tiffani-with-an-i purred, running her hand possessively across his shoulder and down to his bicep, \u201cyou\u2019ve got to tell me what machines you use to get this defined. You feel so hard,\u201d she told him teasingly and glanced over at me with a smug look. I looked back in confusion, not understanding her sudden animosity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She pouted at Leo. \u201cBut I only want you to show me how to use them, not one of those mean trainers I\u2019ve seen,\u201d she said, shuddering theatrically.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTiffani here is a big fan of astrology,\u201d Sebastian stated suddenly, his mouth twitching. \u201cShe\u2019s getting an online license to be an accredited astrological consultant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhat like a psychic?\u201d Mila scoffed. \u201cIs that a real thing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tiffani-with-an-i sniffed. \u201cFor your information, tarot cards are a science, and I can tell the future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAll for nineteen ninety-nine per minute,\u201d Sebastian muttered under his breath, and I covered my laugh with a cough. Mila patted me on the back.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHey, aren\u2019t you Ellen Blakely\u2019s daughter, from Good Morning, Dallas ?\u201d she asked, her eyes squinting at me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I stiffened. \u201cYes.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI knew it! I worked with your mother once when she did a cooking segment, and I got to make my spinach quiches on her show! She\u2019s classy, absolutely divine.\u201d She smirked, her eyes flashing over my dress. \u201cFunny that you look nothing like her.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYes.\u201d Thank God.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou were there that day,\u201d she said as she shook her finger at me, \u201cbut I almost didn\u2019t recognize you with the red hair. And, wow, you were a bit of a chunk then, no offense. How much weight did you lose?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI just got taller,\u201d I said politely.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSorry if that came out all wrong,\u201d she said in a sugary voice. \u201cI hope I didn\u2019t hurt your feelings?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I laughed. Fat chance. She\u2019d hurt me enough just by being with Leo. \u201cNo, I did have a big butt. I had buck teeth and braces, too,\u201d I said as Sebastian started singing Sir Mix-a-Lot\u2019s \u201cBaby Got Back.\u201d I reached over and popped him in the arm while he laughed and tried to get away.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Mila grinned at Tiffani-with-an-i with a sly gleam in her eye, I knew her fur had been rubbed the wrong way by Tiffani\u2019s comments. She was going to bite back. \u201cSpeaking of being classy, Nora would never tell you herself, but she won the Miss Texas Rose pageant last fall. I saw the whole thing. Big honking diamante crown on her head, and a big-ass sash over her shoulder. It was sweeeet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sebastian\u2019s mouth gaped. \u201cNo way. Nora\u2019s no pageant princess.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I shrugged, not sure what to say.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sebastian grinned. \u201cAre you going to be in the Miss America pageant because that would be kinda cool. You\u2019d be famous. Which reminds me: do you really glue the bottoms of your swim suit to your ass cheeks? You know, so it doesn\u2019t move?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5563\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/bunny-sep.jpg?resize=175%2C81&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"bunny-sep\" width=\"175\" height=\"81\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; color: #d00f5e; font-weight: bold;\">Meet Ilsa Madden-Mills:<\/p>\n<p class=\"font_7\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font_7\">She&#8217;s addicted to dystopian books and all things fantasy, including unicorns and sword-wielding females. Other fascinations include frothy coffee beverages, dark chocolate, Instagram, Ian Somerhalder (seriously hot), astronomy (she&#8217;s a Gemini), Sephora make-up, and tattoos.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font_7\">She has a degree in English and a Master&#8217;s in Education.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font_7\">When she&#8217;s not pecking away on her computer, she shops for cool magnets, paints old furniture, and eats her weight in sushi.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5563\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/bunny-sep.jpg?resize=175%2C81&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"bunny-sep\" width=\"175\" height=\"81\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; color: #d00f5e; font-weight: bold;\">Ilsa Madden-Mills&#8217; Web Tracks:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ilsamaddenmills.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Website<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/authorilsamaddenmills\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ilsamaddenmills\" target=\"_blank\">Twitter<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/ilsamaddenmills\/\" target=\"_blank\">instagram<\/a>\u00a0| <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/author\/show\/7059622.Ilsa_Madden_Mills\" target=\"_blank\">Goodreads<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Ilsa-Madden-Mills\/e\/B00F277DE2\/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1\" target=\"_blank\">Amazon Author Page<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/ilsamaddenmills\/\" target=\"_blank\">Pinterest<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5563\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/bunny-sep.jpg?resize=175%2C81&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"bunny-sep\" width=\"175\" height=\"81\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; color: #d00f5e; font-weight: bold;\"><a style=\"margin-right: 10px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/alicreanati\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5567\" src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/logo-facebook-no-chibi.jpg?resize=200%2C96&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"logo-facebook-no-chibi\" width=\"200\" height=\"96\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><a style=\"margin-left: 10px;\" href=\"http:\/\/mailto:bloggers@allthethingsinbetween.net\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5566\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/logo-email-no-chibi.jpg?resize=200%2C96&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"logo-email-no-chibi\" width=\"200\" height=\"96\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ANGST! Oh, the angst, the beautiful turmoil of the angry. I\u2019ve been asking myself, \u201cWhat took you so long to read this book?\u201d I misunderstood the construction of the series when I read Very Wicked Beginnings. I thought since next novel wasn\u2019t about Cuba or Dovey I\u2019d put off reading it. I hadn\u2019t realized that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5723,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[181,544,2082],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/VBTs-Teaser-WHT.jpg?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11709,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2021\/01\/20\/new-release-not-my-match-by-ilsa-madden-mills\/","url_meta":{"origin":5721,"position":0},"title":"New Release: Not My Match by Ilsa Madden-Mills","date":"2021-01-20","format":false,"excerpt":"New Release: Not My Match by Ilsa Madden-Mills Title: Not My Match (The Game Changers #2) Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills Genre: Sports Romance Release Date: 19 January 2021","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Book It&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"Not My Match by Ilsa Madden-Mills","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/NMM-BT-banner.png?fit=851%2C314&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11773,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2021\/02\/09\/book-review-not-my-match-by-ilsa-madden-mills\/","url_meta":{"origin":5721,"position":1},"title":"Book Review: Not My Match by Ilsa Madden-Mills","date":"2021-02-09","format":false,"excerpt":"Book Review: Not My Match by Ilsa Madden-Mills Title: Not My Match (The Game Changers #2) Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills Genre: Sports Romance My rating: 5 of 5 stars","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Adult Fiction&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"Not My Match by Ilsa Madden Mills","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Not-My-Match-by-Ilsa-Madden-Mills.png?fit=815%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11204,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2020\/10\/13\/blog-tour-i-promise-you-by-ilsa-madden-mills\/","url_meta":{"origin":5721,"position":2},"title":"Blog Tour: I Promise You by Ilsa Madden-Mills","date":"2020-10-13","format":false,"excerpt":"Title: I Promise You (#4) Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills Genre: New Adult, College Sports Romance Release Date: 12 October 2020","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog Tour&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"I Promise You by Ilsa Madden-Mills","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/I-Promise-You-BT-banner.png?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10244,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2020\/07\/25\/book-review-big-bad-claws-by-michele-mills\/","url_meta":{"origin":5721,"position":3},"title":"Book Review: Big Bad Claws by Michele Mills","date":"2020-07-25","format":false,"excerpt":"Big Bad Claws by Michele Mills Title: Big Bad Claws (Fever Brothers #2)Author: Michele MillsGenre: Alien RomanceRating: 5 of 5 stars I read Big Bad Claws and immediately went and one-clicked three other first in series this author wrote, so it's safe to say I liked it. Lila is a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Book Blitz&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"Big Bad Claws by Michele Mills","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/BR-BBC-Banner.png?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11513,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2020\/11\/04\/book-blitz\/","url_meta":{"origin":5721,"position":4},"title":"Book Blitz: Wicked Wolves and Tangled Truths by Danielle Annett","date":"2020-11-04","format":false,"excerpt":"Title: Wicked Wolves and Tangled Truths (Blood and Magic: Hellbound #1) Author: Danielle Annett Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy Release Date: 25 September 2020","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Adult Fiction&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"Wicked Wolves and Tangled Truths by Danielle Annett","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/WickedWolvesBlitzBanner-1.png?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5698,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2015\/10\/29\/book-it-daemon-black-is-back\/","url_meta":{"origin":5721,"position":5},"title":"Book it: Daemon Black is Back!","date":"2015-10-29","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Inkslinger Blogger PR is beyond thrilled to bring you all the Trailer Reveal for Jennifer L. Armentrout's OBLIVION! OBLIVION is a Young Adult Paranormal Romance being published by Entangled Teen, and is a part of Jennifer L. Armentrout\u2019s New York Times and USA Today bestselling LUX Series. It is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Book It&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Trailer-Reveal.jpg?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5721"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5721"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5721\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6647,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5721\/revisions\/6647"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5723"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5721"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5721"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5721"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}