Another amazing book by Ms. Mills! I fail in love with Elena and Jack! They are complete opposites him being an NFL Quarterback and Elena a small town librarian. Chemistry is off the charts!! Once I started this book I couldn’t put it down.

Jack and Elena meet on Valentines Day when Elena thinks Jack is her blind date. Jack figures out pretty quickly that Elena thinks she is her blind date who is. Weatherman but never corrects her. During their dinner Elena Ex Preston comes into the same restaurant with his new girlfriend who is Elenas sister. Elena is so over the night even though the date went okay. Jack convinces her to leave the restaurant with him since her Ex is there and it won’t look like she leaves by herself. Jack then talks her into going back to his place. At this point Elena
throws caution to the wind and decides why not have one night stand. Jack is still struggling with the fact that he isn’t the person she thinks he is but never tells her any different.

The next morning Jack leaves before Elena wakes up. He does leave her not saying he isn’t the weatherman and leaves her his name and numbers. He does leave out the part that he is NFL Quarterback. When Elena wakes up and figures out she slept with a complete stranger she is mad. When she figures out that Jack took her panties that she made she is down right furious with him. . She leaves his penthouse with all intentions of never seeing him again. However fate has a different plan.

I loved this story! Jack comes of at first as a rude, reckless jock. However as the book progresses the true is a very sweet and damaged man. It just takes Elena and her sweet town of Daisy to bring out the wonderful man that Jack Hawke is. This is a sweet story with dual POV, sexy times and loveable characters. Also all the supporting characters are funny, well meaning meddlers who made this book to me.

I received an advanced copy for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Amazon Publishing for sending me an advanced reader’s copy of ‘Not My Romeo’ by Ilsa Madden-Mills.

After reading ‘Dear Ava’ by the same author I was excited to read this new book because I knew it would be good.

This book is about Elena, a small town librarian with really cool hobbies and ambitions and a famous football player named Jack Hawke, a blind date, a misunderstanding and Romeo and Juliette.

It truly did not disappoint, It was funny, witty, full of angst and steamy. Elena is quirky, confident, and truly is the coolest librarian and holds her own against a very tall football player. What I loved about their chemistry is that it felt like their connection was kismet right from the beginning. It was fated because no matter if one of them tried to run. They always found each other. Another thing I loved about Jack is how despite being a very tall and large jock, He is shy, full of banter, smart and is not the typical alpha male but instead has very cute moments with Elena despite his trust issues and reservations and her past relationships, they decide to dive in and try to navigate through their intense feelings for each other. Another thing I really liked was the Dual POV, I liked reading both their thoughts and it really helped the story as a reader to see where both Elena and Jack were.

Overall, it is a quick read. I finished it in a few hours but it is definitely cute, steamy and well written. I would definitely recommend this book if you like a steamy romance book with humor.

Not My Romeo was a super fun read with fun and quirky characters and a story line that continuously surprised me. Elena and Jack were laughable, loveable and gave me all the feels I want from characters. I really loved how Ilsa Madden-Mills spun the usual tropes and cliches into something different and fun. From the awkward blind date in the beginning to the super sweet HEA ending and all the stuff in between. Definitely worth a read.

Well well well.....here we are again. It seems to be that I may have a trope type and it may have something to do with sport characters having a life of fame and falling for a commoner. Let's not read into this too much!

This sports type was so fun! This starts off with a blind date gone wrong ...that may turn out just right?

Jack is a famous football star in Nashville but very few know the real him. Small town quirky librarian Elena may just know how to get him to dive down deeper. Then again, she may ne risking it all...

I really loved this read. This was the first book of this authors that I read and I want more. (I just saw this will be a series and I am HERE FOR IT) I loved the writing style. The inner-dialogue was fantastic. It was witty and comical. There is a dual POV and I enjoyed that.

This was swoon worthy in parts and very steamy in others. Heads up, that steam comes at you very fast in the book!

Thank you Montlake and Netgalley for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My first book by this author will definitely not be my last. I loved everything about this story, from the way they met to how they got their HEA. The dates, the friends and family, the heartbreaking backstory, and how amazing both main characters are! I cannot wait for the next book, and who I hope it’s about!

Swoon!

I really enjoyed Not My Romeo. Quarterback with anxiety and feelings + small-town librarian with different career aspirations + a fair amount of steam = my kind of romance. Plus in between all the swooning, I laughed out loud a few times!

Elena and Jack have a somewhat awkward meet-cute, but I loved that this one wasn't a slow burn romance. The chemistry is there from Day 1.

I'm happy this is book 1 in a series, and looking forward to the next! Ilsa Madden-Mills did a great job introducing Elena's family and roommate, and Jack's friends, without making the book seem too long. I'm not sure who book 2 will follow, but it'll be an auto-add to my tbr regardless!

Just a few things held me back from 5 stars:
- Cigarette smoking (including by a 28-year-old! It's 2020. We know better, and it really isn't cool or OK)
- Throwing a Gatorade bottle in the trash, and using paper plates while at home (again, it's 2020 - ever heard of recycling? Not using disposable plates while in the comfort of your own home? Also seems like it'd be more in line with the plot for Elena to be using her Nana's old dishes)
- Jack picking up a 10-year-old to give him a hug (spoiler to explain why this wouldn't happen when it does, but it wouldn't!)
- Gender-reveal party (just not my thing. Given that Elena had a male roommate who wears heels, you'd think it wouldn't be her thing either)

All the same, I really enjoyed this one and am looking forward to book 2!


CW for recollections of domestic abuse, gun violence, death of a parent, car accident that hurt a child, assault, DUI, fatal car accident

Not My Romeo by Isla Madden-Mills a bounty of a read as boundless as the sea. What a story, this kicks off with sparks galore, a blind date is my idea of hell, so Elena has bigger kahunas than I do, as I would have been smoking a pack of 20 never mind that I don’t smoke. That blue shirt has a lot to answer for, Weatherman Wannabe just made me smile all over, honestly I didn’t expect I would like him like I do, he just is an enigma wrapped in mystery and that mystery just made him so readable, he could be my Romeo any day. I must say a special mention to Topher as he is the sparkling Mercutio to a different Romeo and that also made me smile. As that’s what this whole story did, I was grinning like a loon as I read it, there was just something special about it and I don’t think I have read anything else by this author, but I will be picking up some more as I enjoyed the writing so much and I look forward to being a Unicorn Girl.

I fell in love with the author’s books last year and since then I couldn’t get my hands fast enough on anything she writes.
To say I absolutely love this story isn’t enough because I adore it.
From the first chapter, I’ve fallen in love with Elena and her quirky self. I laughed out loud so many times and in a true Ilsa Madden-Mills way, the angst wasn’t missed from this book.
I devoured it in a few hours because I couldn’t stop reading and flipping the pages fast enough to get to know Jack more and see how everything will unfold in this beautiful love story of two people who found themselves by accident or maybe it was fate’s hand.
Love it and can’t recommend it enough.

Not My Romeo is a delicious love story and I fell for it almost immediately! Ilsa Madden-Mills is a wonderful storyteller and I love how she can write both angst and comedy! I can't wait to see what others think of this one because I know my romance lovers are going to adore it!

ADORABLE.

That is exactly how I would describe Not My Romeo. I loved it from the very first chapter with the hilarious case of mistaken identity all the way to the swoon worthy end. There were a lot of bumps in the middle, but they were all relatable and felt true to a real relationship.

Elena was a great main character. She was this tight-laced Southern belle who had a sultry side. I loved her slight awkwardness and overall attitude. She was the perfect match for a professional football player who didn't trust anyone.

Jack... Well, Jack was misunderstood by a lot of people. He had his reasons for being the "jerk" that he was, but he truly had a good heart. Even when his dumb actions made me mad, I could understand him. I rooted for him and Elena.

Jack and Elena's romance, like I said before, wasn't an easy one. There were so many feelings, history, and other people adding to their issues. I mention this because those people were a smart addition by Madden-Mills. Every single one of them added to the fun of this story. I absolutely loved them, and I can't wait to find out which one of them is going to get the next book. I'm already imaging some of the fun combinations that could happen.

Honestly, I could gush about this story for a long time. It was just such a great contemporary romance. It contained a bit of Madden-Mills' trademark angst, but also proved once again that she write a more lighthearted romance. I absolutely loved every minute of reading it, and it's sure to put a smile on your face like it did mine.

An original spin on mistaken identity. Liked that author didn’t drag out the mistaken identity but it factored in into the storyline weaved throughout. Characters were like-able and the side characters were a great addition to the book. First I’ve read by this author and enjoyed it! Will recommend to customers

4.5 stars

‘Not My Romeo’ is yet another success from the inimitable Ilsa Madden-Mills. It’s endearing, it’s funny, and it’s powerful. A Madden-Mills novel is always an insta-buy for me, and this new book did not disappoint.

When Elena Riley sits down at NFL superstar Jack Hawke’s table at dinner, he’s more than a little bit confused. She mistakenly thinks he’s her blind date (a weatherman named Greg), and he can’t help but be intrigued by the small town librarian who has no idea who he really is. After their unexpected hookup, Jack comes clean, but Elena wants no part of getting involved with him. But, events keep conspiring to put Elena and Jack in each others’ path. Is it coincidence? Fate? Sheer chemistry? And can they both get over the hurts in their pasts to give a real relationship a try?

One of the things that Madden-Mills is great at is writing complicated, layered characters who deal with real-life traumas and situations. There are plenty of lighthearted moments throughout the novel, and lots of witty dialogue and humor, but there’s also the juxtaposition of circumstances that are not idealized and are serious and traumatic. Elena and Jack both have to process their pasts, and do so in a way that feels genuine and not overwrought. Plus, their chemistry is INSANE. Madden-Mills is quite adept at skirting the line between the idea of fate and coincidence in her pairings. Her couples always seem meant for each other, but in a more realistic way than others who rely on more simplistic iterations of the “insta-love” trope. The supporting characters in this story are also delightful, and left me wanting to know more about their stories.

Fans of Madden-Mills and new readers alike will thoroughly enjoy this novel, and I am excited to see the direction this series goes!


Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake Romance, for providing me with an ARC of ‘Not My Romeo’ in exchange for my honest review.

Oh, wow!!! I could not put this one down! I adored Elena! Oh my God, when she just sat herself down at Jack's table, I just about died laughing. Her sass and fire just made me laugh throughout the entire book! Poor Jack had no idea what he was in for...

Jack was such a strong character, from the very beginning. After everything life threw at him, he was still able to go on living. That, to me, was an awesome trait.

I sure hope we get a book about Devon, next.

This was an awesome story about a down on his luck quarterback and the librarian he meets when she has a blind date. Its a little bit mistaken identity, small town romance. Jack Hawke is a quarterback but his ex wrote a tell all book that featured a bunch of lies. He also just got into a car accident and the press are saying awful things. He is enjoying dinner alone in his restaurant when he meets Elena who thinks he is her blind date.

They have a one night where the next day she finds out who he is. He likes her a lot and she likes him but he has a lot of walls and doesn't trust anyone after what his ex did. But he ends up running into Elena in her small town and they really get each other like no one else.

I loved this story so much. Jack sees something really special in Elena and he truly cannot resist her and I could not resist her either. If you want a light reading story with humor and quirky characters then you will adore this story.

An accidental blind date switcheroo on Valentine’s Day leads to an absolutely wonderful love story

Publish date: August 18, 2020

In Ilsa Madden-Mills’ romantic comedy, “Not My Romeo” (The Game Changers #1), the sassy, kind heroine, Elena, is a lingerie designer in secret. Jack Hawke, the football quarterback she mistakes for her weatherman blind date has a lot of secrets including the fact that he is actually painfully shy. They’ve both suffered recent downturns in their lives but destiny seems to keep throwing them together.

In this funny, charming, small-town romance sparks fly, walls come down and Shakespeare gets involved in an incredibly epic romantic ending. This novel has so much heart and sexy sizzle, warmth and depth that it will stay with you long after you finish. I absolutely loved this book and I thoroughly recommend this to fans of Tessa Bailey’s “Fix Her Up” and Helena Hunting’s “Pucked” series. I’m highly anticipating The Game Changers series.

WRITING STYLE: 5/5
PLOT: 5/5
WORLD-BUILDING: 5/5
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 5/5
ROMANCE: 5/5
HEAT: 5/5

Description:
Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills delivers a smart and sexy contemporary romance about a smoking-hot professional football player and the small-town girl he can’t resist.
We start off with a lie on Valentine’s Day.

My blind date isn’t the studious guy I expected: he’s a drop-dead gorgeous player with sinful amber eyes. Somehow we end up at his penthouse. I blame the gin and tonic.

The next day I learn he’s Jack Hawke—bad-boy professional quarterback with a murky past. The NDA he has me sign should be a warning that he isn’t a regular person. Please. I sign it Juliet Capulet, so goodbye, famous football player with abs of steel, and good luck tracking down this small-town librarian.

But Jack keeps showing up in places I least expect him. Just when I’m sure he’s gone, he waltzes into my community theater and wins the part of Romeo to my Juliet. How’s a plain, mostly innocent girl like me supposed to resist a man like him?

Is Jack my real Romeo…or will this gorgeous football player only break my heart?

Many thanks to Netgalley, Montlake and Ilsa Madden-Mills for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review of “Not My Romeo”. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

#NetGalley #NotMyRomeo

"Not My Romeo" was a fun book to read, if a bit formulaic. There's Elena, the unwittingly sexy librarian, and Jack, the misunderstood famous football player who needs to fix his reputation. She has an unusual pet (a teacup pig) and a gay best-friend/roommate who makes her push her boundaries. Said friend sets Elena up on a blind-date, she mistakes Jack for the blind date who never showed, he doesn't correct her and they end up having a one-night stand (which she would usually never do, of course). So, this book will feel familiar, but if you go in knowing this and are not searching for the next original romance story line, it is a fun book to read. Like your favorite shoes that you keep buying in all different colors because they are just right for you.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not My Romeo is a perfect romantic comedy pitting a small town librarian against a cynical major league quarterback. The meet cute (a blind date mistake) will catch readers’ interest and the ensuing story will keep it there. Readers should be aware that this book has a lot of heat and sexy scenes guaranteed to have readers clamping...well at least fanning their faces! Quirky characters, hot football players and a well written story add up to time well spent. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

Good book! I definitely enjoyed reading this book! It wasn't my all time favorite but still definitely worth reading! The characters were good, the book flowed smoothly, there was some heartbreak and heartache! It was an all around decent read! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

Going on a blind date and finding a man in a blue shirt should be easy on Valentines Day. Elena knew when needed to put he past behind her and going on this date is definitely a step in the right direction. Her “weatherman” was someone she could easily talk to and she found herself opening up in a way she never had before. Finding out who her date truly is was something she was never prepared for. She gave him a chance and saw who he truly was and not who the media portrayed him. He may not have been her Romeo in the beginning but he definitely finds what he was missing from his life all along. This book was simply amazing and a definite must read!

Oh my....
I was invited to review “Not My Romeo” by Ms. Madden-Mills. At first I hesitated and almost passed and I am so glad I didn’t. This was certainly delicious!

I love books that make me grin like an idiot and curl my toes and Jack and Elena’s story was one of those!

Their story takes off pretty quick, with our heroine at a restaurant- on Valentine’s Day- looking for her bling date. She mistakenly thinks Jack is her blind date and proceeds to sit down and talk his ear off. He was pretty stunned at first, confused that she does not recognize him as the star quarterback. The more she talks and does not recognize him the more he is intrigued. After a one night stand Elena finds out who he is and while they both think they have seen the last of each other life certainly has different plans

I liked Elena. She was spunky and so on point. She had me laughing out loud. Her relationship with her family was also pretty entertaining. I really liked the small town home. I can picture her historical house and charming little town and just want to escape there.

Jack was our quiet lead. Trust issues were pretty dominant for their story. Having been burned by his ex, it made it hard for him to trust Elena. He was also pretty socially awkward and Elenas outgoing personality is a good match for Jack. Their chemistry was pretty hot!

This is the first book of Ms Madden-Mills and I can tell you that it won’t be my last!

Thank you for the opportunity to provide an honest review