Special Release Price!WSJ bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills delivers a gripping enemies-to-lovers, secret admirer, high school romance.The rich and popular Sharks rule at prestigious, ivy-covered Camden Prep. Once upon a time, I wanted to be part of their world–until they destroyed me.The last thing I expected was an anonymous love letter from one of them.Please. I hate every one of those … them.
Please. I hate every one of those rich jerks for what they did to me. The question is, which Shark is my secret admirer?
Knox, the scarred quarterback.
Dane, his twin brother.
Or Chance, the ex who dumped me. . .
Dear Ava,
Your eyes are the color of the Caribbean Sea.
Wait. That’s stupid.
What I really mean is, you look at me and I feel something REAL.
It’s been ten months since you were here, but I can’t forget you.
I’ve missed seeing you walk down the hall.
I’ve missed you cheering at my football games.
I’ve missed the smell of your hair.
And then everything fell apart the night of the kegger.
Don’t hate me because I’m a Shark.
I just want to make you mine.
Still.
★★★★★
“A gut punch right in the feels. These characters wreck you. It’s a deep storyline, with such tender, beautiful, unbelievably perfect romance. Gah. I. Am. Wowed. Five Stars!” Angie, Angie’s Dreamy Reads
Not part of any other series. Dark High School Romance. Recommended for 18+.
A short excerpt of Dear Ava appeared in Team Player 2. (No longer available) This all-new, full-length version is 331 pages and 100,000 words.
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4.5 stars
Oh my Dearest Ava, my heart was broken for you and everything that happened but I love how you are a survivor and fight back with everything in you for your life and dreams.
My sweet Knox, you are a true hero for your endless love and faith in people that really matters.
I cried, I swore, I cheered, I had my heart broken in million pieces and sewed back together by this epic love story.
Some people wear their scars on their body for everyone to see but others can’t show them because some tragic moments in their life are not leaving visible ones. Both of them are beautiful and deserve to love and be loved.
Where do I even start? Dear Ava is not like any book I have read by Ilsa Madden-Mills. To say I wasn’t expecting what I got would be an understatement, but make not mistake it was an absolutely amazing surprise. Madden-Mills knocked me off my feet with this book.
Ava is a fantastic heroine, she’s strong, courageous, smart, loyal, determined, independent, loving, and a million other things. She went through hell and came out on the other side stronger. Knox is a shark. He’s untouchable, unapproachable, misjudged, loving, and loyal. He is also proof that what you see is not what you get.
Knox and Ava’s story is emotional and raw. I can’t explain how emotionally invested in these two characters I was. The more I read the more I loved them. Each and every page made me love these two even more. These two own my heart now! Their story is definitely not rainbows and sunshine, it’s a lot of heartache and pain and not just their own.
Dear Ava is well-written, captivating, and emotional. Madden-Mills had me on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened next. Not only were Knox and Ava amazing characters but so were the side characters. Dane took a piece of my heart with him, and I hope we get his book. I need him to get a happy ever after. All the stars for Dear Ava and Ilsa Madden-Mills!
A dark-bully romance that doesn’t disappoint. This story has so much emotion, dark and heavy, heart breaking, right on over to the parts that will make you laugh out loud.
Ava is a beyond strong, especially given the hand life dealt her, from her mom to high school and beyond. Knox seems to be the typical popular QB1, but things aren’t always what they seem.
Not only did I enjoy watching Ava and Knox’s story unfold, I really liked the other players in their day to day and wouldn’t mind reading more about any/all of them.
I enjoy Ilsa Madden Mills’ love stories as they are always romantic, full of swoony moments and the most engaging banter. Dear Ava, however, was on another level for me!! This amazing story was edgier, more emotional and told a story of a young woman who persevered and the man who was determined to see justice for her.
Gah!! This story was very beautifully written as it was full of heart, painful moments that took my breath away and engaging spitfire banter. I loved Knox and Ava’s connection and the way they were drawn to one another. Their love story was raw, powerful and so touching.
Overall, this story was unique and absolutely delicious. It made me tear up, swoon and fall in love with Knox and Ava over and over. What an incredible story! 5 stars! ~Ratula
This was an excellent story, well written, and it kept my attention through to the end. It was one of those books that I could not put down. This book was so good that I finished it and then read it again.
Ava and Knox had such an intense dynamic. They both come from a place of heartbreak and the way they interact with each other shows that they have their defenses up at all times.
Ava has a lot on her plate, and after what happened to her in the past, she isn’t letting anything stand in the way of her dreams.
Knox has it all or so it seems. He keeps people at arms length and doesn’t share much with others. Ava is the only person he can’t get out of his head, and his actions towards her are swoon worthy.
The journey these two have to take isn’t easy, but it was necessary. Yes, it made me mad, sad, happy, and then I felt relief. in the end I realized that this relationship wouldn’t have worked any other way.
My jaw was handing open for most of the book, and Dane made my heart break even more. I was kind of sad that his story wrapped up at the end. I was hoping he would eventually get his own book!
-An Arc was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.-
This was first released as part of the Team Player Anthology, it started out as a quick read back then but the author listened to her fans and expanded the story and gave us what we wanted more of Ava, Knox and the students of Camden Prep. Whether or not you have read the novella this full length novel should be added to your TBR list.
Camden Prep is a typical Ivy League School full of rich snobby students and it’s the elite Sharks that rule the school. Ava is not the normal student she is the scholarship girl always on the outside, all she ever wanted was to be accepted , be part of the in crowd even thought she might have a chance at being a cheerleader but things went very wrong one night when someone took something very precious that wasn’t there’s to take and it could have destroyed her if she wasn’t so strong and determined . A year later Ava is back in school looking for answers looking for revenge but more importantly looking for justice for herself and a start in life for her younger brother. First day back Ava finds a note from a secret admirer but which Shark wrote the note was it Knox leader of the Sharks and the star quarterback, his twin brother Dane or Chance the Shark who dumped me…..will Ava find out who her admirer is, will she get revenge and justice and will she get the HEA she so deserves, guess you need to grab a copy of the book to find that out……
This book intrigued me, it captivated me and it ticked all my boxes, I cried and I cheered for Ava because her story touched me on so many levels but what I didn’t expect was to fall big time for Knox and a few other Camden Prep students, I really wanted to hate these guys but as the story unfolds you get to see the real men and to get to join Ava on an epic journey of love, learning and trusting…..
I really hope this author decides to make a series from the students of Camden Prep because I’m sure each one has their own special take to tell.
5 well deserved stars!!! I absolutely LOVED this book!!! Dear Ava is one of the best things I’ve read in a long time. It grabs your attention and interest from the first page. The characters and the storyline were very fascinating! Bravo Ilsa!!!
I’ve been excited to read Dear Ava as a full lenght story since I read it as a novella in an Anthology. I knew then this was a story that needed to be told in full.
I was absolutely consumed by this book it has some wonderful characters.
It does raise awareness and touch upon difficult subjects whilst delivering a beautiful love story. I think that’s why I loved it so much.
Ava is amazing, I admired her resiliency the way she took charge of her life was very brave. I loved her steely determination and her fire. Ava is a goal oriented girl with hopes and dreams and instead of letting her personal Hell drag her under she comes back stronger because of it.
Knox is an enigma, one of those closed off characters. You just know there’s more to him than meets the eye.
There’s just something about him, he completely fascinated me and I fell under his spell straight away.
I seriously loved Knox and Ava together, they have this spark, they were kindred spirts. Their witty banter and the way they verbally sparred with each other was so fun.
They’re sweet and a little bit spicy, such a great combination.
Their story touched my heart and I loved every minute of their emotional journey.
I’m really really hoping Ilsa Madden-Mills has plans to make this into a series. There’re some fantastic characters in this book that NEED their stories too…especially Dane, he owns my heart for so many reasons.
Pick up Dear Ava, you won’t regret it.
“Why did you come tonight?” He lets out a frustrated growl, all male. Hot eyes drift over me. “I want you so bad I can’t think straight.”
Flawless, emotional and so beautiful!
I got completely wrapped up in Dear Ava. I reread every page up to two to three times. I just couldn’t get enough. Ava and Him…, you won’t want to miss every gut wrenching and heart pounding round between these two. A wonderfully addictive read that kept my heart racing from start to finish, full of feeling and intensity that will appeal to the reader seeking an emotional rush.
Ilsa had my heart in her hands with this one. #allthefeels
Wow… this book is an incredible journey of how in an instant… lives can be changed. Ava and Knox- what a heartfelt story.
I had so many emotions throughout the book. Ilsa Madden- Mills delivers another amazing book.
Ava is strong and broken but is true fighter. Knox is the rich football player who has so much depth. Their story…. heartbreaking and beautiful. This book was filled with sadness and romance and suspense- all wrapped up in one. I could not put this book down.
75% in I wanted to read the ending because my heart felt for all of them. Not just Ava and Knox but all the characters. I loved the complexity of the story. Of the history of both Ava and Knox’s families. I loved Dane- Knox’s twin and their relationship.
Read this book now. It gives all the feels! It goes into my top 2020 reads. I couldn’t put it down and just so you know… I didn’t cheat to read the ending but I do say…. the ending is perfect. Amongst heartache…. there can be happiness!!!
My heart is full after the ending! Ava had such a crappy upbringing but overcame it only to be knocked down again by people she thought she could trust. Knox was amazing and supportive and perfect for Ava. The ending was unexpected but perfect!
Wow, I absolutely fell in love with Dear Ava. I was sucked in from the start and could not put it down. Ava and Knox will steal your heart. Ava has had a tough life, but experiences something she thought she could protect herself from happening. The hard part is she is determined to not let it destroy her, put on a strong face for school, and figure out what happened. Knox is the king of football and school, but has a side that will melt your heart. Knox and Ava get thrown together and will have you on the edge of seat waiting to see what will happen. This story is emotional, angsty, and romance-filled. Read this book, you will not be disappointed.
I don’t even know where to start with this one. Just get ready to shed some tears. This was super emotional. We actually got the beginning of this short story in the Team Player 2 anthology last fall and I loved it then, and was eagerly anticipating the full length novel. And it absolutely did not disappoint.
Dear Ava is my favorite Ilsa Madden-Mills’ story. It focuses on a very strong teenage girl who has something terrible happen to her, while at her private school. She had a hard life, received a scholarship to a private school and somehow made it into the in crowd, when she was attacked at a party. It’s a difficult book to read, especially the beginning. The prologue is so descriptive with the aftermath of an attack being described in great detail. It is bound to be a trigger for some people. The details were hard to read but so important and done so well. The next chapter immediately picks up 10 months later with Ava returning to the school, in an effort to find who her attacker was. She begins a tentative friendship with the head “Shark”, Knox. At the same time, she receives a letter in her locker from a secret admirer and begins corresponding with him. While there are some romantic aspects of the story, the main thing is Ava getting closure and rising above her circumstances to survive. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful and stunning and you should absolutely read this one.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I oved Dear Ava from the start. By that I mean, way back when it was a novella (also known as a tease! Let’s be real! It was a total bookworm tease!) in the Team Player 2 Anthology. Don’t freak out if you missed it, Dear Ava has it all. It starts at the very gut wrenching, heart twisting, vengeance demanding beginning. While Dear Ava has very a sensitive matter at its epicenter, it does not include it in these pages. Ilsa Madden-Mills has captured the fear, anxiety, devastation, and realization without actually putting the reader in the trauma. It’s tasteful and sit very poignant.
It’s also highly romantic! Dear Ava has a full on swoon worthy Southern boy who no doubt will steal your heart, mind, and soul. If he isn’t already on of your top book boyfriends, you will find out very soon there is going to be a shift in the force.
One person’s scary football player is another one’s hero. Hot Guy can be my hero any and every day of the week. My jealousy is purely…nope, no way to sugar coat it. I’m totally jealous and still smiling like a loon at the ending. Ilsa Madden-Mills better be giving us more from this crew. These friends are the kind you will have for life and that’s how long I want to follow them around (one story at a time!).
Ilsa Madden-Mills is always an automatic read for me, I don’t even read the blurbs because I’ve read enough of her books to know I won’t be disappointed… and I think this one might just be my favorite yet! I am a little worried that she might not be able to top this one… the characters, the story line and the emotions… everything was completely on point. Technically the characters are still in high school for 90% of the book so this is probably considered Young Adult, but they weren’t kids, with everything they went through and how the main characters acted I feel like this story is more New Adult romance.
Ilsa Madden-Mills didn’t pull any punches, from the very first chapter we where thrown in the deep end with Ava and what happened. It had me hooked and left me reeling, I needed to know what was going to happen next… to be hooked and invested from the very beginning is a wonderful thing! While I loved Ava and her close friends, the rest of the kids at that school deserved some serious throat punches… this story was chalked full of victim blaming which is sadly typical in situations like this. I think Ava might be my favorite female high school character, she is so tough and brave. After everything she went through in her childhood and then at high school, she endured it and she still thrived into something better. I honestly loved everything about her! Knox Knox Knox, what can I say other than he made me melt! I had to laugh at the classroom scene of them sharing a table in class, it made me picture Twilight when Edward and Bella had to share a table that first day. There is nothing better than a hurting, brooding hero that struggles to stay away from the heroine because he thinks he isn’t good enough. I loved the struggle Knox went through, and not to mention all the ways he was protecting Ava. The ending was absolutely beautiful, I thought the choices Ilsa Madden-Mills had the characters make were realistic and honest… and the 2 epilogues completely healed my heart and gave me so much peace after everything they went through! If I could give this more than 5 stars I would, I really just want to reread it again and soak it all up!
ALL THE STARS!!! Their Beautiful Circle
Beautifully written. Emotionally heart-wrenching. Just WOW! I was completely moved by this story. It’s strength, unbelievable resilience and unending love. It was an amazing journey. This will be one of your Top Reads of 2020!
Ava is strong. Her life has been anything but easy, however she does not let her absent parents or the pain from her past hold her back. She has a brother to take care of and goals she is determined to reach.
Her life was completely thrown off course, but now she’s back. She’s going to finish out her senior year at the high school that will bring back the pain, but also guarantee her future.
She is a warrior. She puts up with the insults and the mean girls. Nothing is going to stop her from finding the truth and taking her life back. And then the unexpected happens when a shark becomes an unlikely ally. She never thought Knox would become her lifeline.
Along the way she’ll create her own circle. A family of her own making. It won’t be easy. The truth will bring some peace, but moving forward will require the ultimate sacrifice.
I was completely consumed by this story from the first page to the last. It truly was a journey of pain, revenge, letting go and ultimately lasting love. Ava came full circle and it was amazing to be along for the ride.
The sexual tension was palpable. The connection was soul-searing and could withstand time and distance. The culmination was better than you can even imagine! I LOVED KNOX AND AVA!
Truly a favorite read. The author gave us a story you won’t stop thinking about and characters you will let into your heart.
I leave you with this quote,
“Our lines got a little blurry along the way, through broken hearts and time lost, but in the end, we made a full, complete, beautiful circle.”
“ … . .”u2063u2063
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I LOVE Knox & Ava! Seriously, I have never rooted for a couple the way I did for this one. The two of them together was absolutely breathtaking.u2063u2063
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What a freaking warrior! I know, you think I mean Ava, and you’d be right, but also Knox! u2063u2063
Knox is trying to balance so many things on his plate, help his brother, lead his team, be with Ava, keep his friends, and solve a mystery. It’s a lot for anyone, but especially for a high school boy. I love a good guy, almost as much as I love a bad boy. They just melt you, like butter, and that’s exactly what’s happened here. u2063u2063
Ok. Now Ava. This girl doesn’t need someone to save her, she’s got it handled herself. She comes back to Camden, ready to face the world, all to provide someone she loves with exceptional opportunities. And if that isn’t the bravest thing, idk what is.u2063u2063
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The side characters, Dane, Wyatt, Chance, and Piper, I need so much more. u2063u2063
Highly recommend this read. Seriously. Do it.u2063u2063
5 Truth or Dare Crowns
I read this short story last year in the Team Player 2 Anthology and was immediately hooked, I could not wait until the full book came out. Ilsa is a master at grabbing you from the prologue and keeping you completely engrossed until the very last word. This book is not an easy one and their HEA is a hard fought one, but all that just adds to the beauty of this story.
“Dear Ava, Your eye’s are the color of the Caribbean Sea. Shit. That’s stupid. What I really mean is…you look at me and I feel something REAL. And that never happens. It’s been ten months since you were here, but I can’t forget you.”
From the very beginning you are thrust right into the storyline and I am not going to lie, it’s a tough start. Your heart is immediately aching from the scene that plays out and from that moment on you are in a perpetual state of tension/anxiousness. You are drawn to Ava and her struggle from the very start her pain is right there in your face and palpable. Ilsa wrote her with such realism that you can feel what she feels and all that she’s going through as the story progresses. But what you also feel is her strength, not just of character but of conviction. She is trying to deal and come to terms with so much and being back in this environment isn’t just for her to overcome her trauma but for her brother whom she loves fiercely, to be able to give him more than she was ever given. She is a strong person more so than I think many could be if put in the same position. I found myself aching for her and rooting her on throughout the whole book. I wanted her to win I needed her to win because damn it she deserves it!
“Ava,” He says in acknowledgement, his voice husky, laced with dark undertones. His tone reminds me of the night, steel wrapped in black velvet, hinting at secrets and barely leashed power.”
Knox let me tell you this man is something else. The person that he portrays to the outside world is not who he is. He too has things that he is trying to work through. And what happens to Ava opens a door to all these underlying emotions that he was trying to keep locked away. Knox loves with all that he has and its shows through his actions and the way he tries to take care of those around him. This man made me feel all the things! The delicacy with which he handles Ava will seriously make you swoon. He holds himself away thinking it’s best for her and watching as they both start chipping away at each other’s highly built walls will melt your heart. Their banter and the ease that they find while with each other will tug at your heartstrings, especially at a time when they are both hurting for different reasons, they still found that comfort in each other.
“She’s the eye of a hurricane, the winds of her pain whipping around her protectively.”
This book sliced at my heart and soul, but I found that I could not put it down, I needed to know what was going to happen, for my own peace of mind. This book is guaranteed to run you through the gambit of your emotions leaving you completely drained but satisfied. My heart ached through most of the story and it brought tears to my eyes at other times, but their hard fought HEA was worth every single second. Ilsa has created such a heartfelt and dynamic story layered with societal issues that you hope someone will not have to endure in real life, but you know that so many do. I fell in love with this story as a short but I am obsessed with it as a standalone.
After taking a moment to collect my thoughts, I think I can finally review things, although I don’t think anything I have to say will do this book justice. It was truly a tragic, gut-wrenchingly, heartbreaking but a beautiful love story that had my emotions all over the place. I was crying one minute, cursing the author out the next and now I sit here speechless trying to find the right words.
I thought this book was going to be amazing… It wasn’t, it was so much more than that. The angst, the emotion… It was breaking my heart. Everything Ava went through, my heart aches for this woman but she was a survivor too, and the fight in her was strong, she fought for her dreams and she fought with everything she had. I am completely in love with this character, and I am in awe with the author. She truly wrote an outstanding heroine that I couldn’t help but love.
Knox stole my heart. He’s the Hero in this story and he truly is one. He’ll help and do just about anything for the people he loves and those that matter in his life. But Ava wasn’t the only one who suffered, Knox carried the world on his shoulders, but he wasn’t the time to give up and even while he carried around so much, and to everyone, he’s one person. A cold and calculated kind of man, but deep down he’s so much more than that and watching as Ava broke down his walls, and she hadn’t realized it made my heart on overdrive. The connection between these two was addictive and the passion and desire and love were undeniable.
I want to dive in deep, but I won’t but I will say that this is an amazing read, but there are trigger warnings and it does touch down on some pretty touchy and tough subjects that could be triggering to some.
This was captivating, heartbreaking, tragically beautiful, laced with so much angst and emotion that I felt like I was drowning. But I loved every moment of it.
5 Stars!