Member Reviews
𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞?
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Many times your loved ones seek to protect you but there are times when we must prove that we can stand on our own two feet. Giselle was looking for that; she needed to find her other-half that would trust her self-worth and let her fly. While she found it, she had fun exploring and sucked us into her world.
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Giselle is a woman who has been through quite a few challenges in life, among them Dev, who not only challenges and makes her squirm but also helps her in her search. Life's circumstances unite them and they now share their days together. The chaos follows her and he tries to contain it. Meanwhile his wounds are those who she will seek to heal. A curse, a secret and a new adventure for both of them.
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It’s been a long time since I felt so identified with a character; mostly her fire and ambitions. Giselle’s amazing and I loved the passion with which she does everything and loves those around her. Devon’s an alpha with a heart of gold. Both complement each other and are imperfectly perfect.
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From the first chapter this story will captivate you and you’ll find, as always in Ilsa's books, a lesson in life, relatable details and a sea of emotions. I’m in love with NMM & it’s the best thing I’ve read this year so far.
“...I’m writing my name on you.”
Full Review GR.
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A veces tus seres queridos buscan protegerte, pero hay veces que debemos de probar que podemos valernos por nosotras mismas. Giselle buscaba aquello; necesitaba encontrar a su mitad que confiara en su valor propio y la dejara volar.
Gis es una mujer que ha pasado por bastantes retos en la vida, entre ellos se encuentra Devon, que no solamente la reta y la hace retorcerse sino que también la ayuda en su búsqueda. Las circunstancias de la vida los unen; el caos que la sigue a ella, intenta contenerlo. Las heridas de Dev, ella buscará sanarlas. Una maldición, un secreto y una aventura nueva para los dos.
Me sentí identificada con Gis es increíble y Dev es un alfa con corazón de oro.
One of the best things about Ilsa is that she definitely knows how to develop characters! Devon is a swoon-worthy alpha male but is not perfect by any means, and Giselle is a heroine that you root for, and that you want to see build confidence in herself. The first book in this series is fire, and this second connected standalone does not disappoint!
Every time I read a Ilsa Madden-Mills story I'm nervous it won't live up to the last one. Her stories always grab me in just a few chapters leaving me unable to put the story down. This one is no different.
I absolutely loved that Giselle is a smarty pants. And then you have Devon, a jock. Opposites right? Or not. Giselle knows Devon through her brother and he knows some of her secrets because of this. She is off limits. But she is homeless and Devon has a place for her. Only she's quirky and cares and just grabs his attention the way no one else ever has. I absolutely loved the way Devon was so drawn to her wherever they were. I loved this story with all the extra characters that the author makes you care for, making you want their whole story.
The ending was perfection.
Cute, funny, quirky and a swoon-worthy hero had me devouring this read!
We start with Giselle out on a bad date when Devon approaches her. She knows Devon through her sister, Elena, and is slightly embarrassed at him witnessing her date that’s rapidly going downhill and even more so when she’s knocked over and falls right in front Devon. Her date quickly moves on and Devon is there to help her.
A few days later, she finds herself in a terrible situation when her apartment goes on fire. Giselle the nice person that she is helping others out, then ends up putting herself in danger. Devon just so happens to be driving by and gets all worked up thinking something bad could have happened to her and invites her to come to stay at his house until she can get things sorted out.
Agh, this is slow burn and angst central and I was desperate for them to get together. Both had feelings for each other but didn’t pursue, although I did like the moments when they gave in a little. The sexual tension was through the roof and I was desperate for them to get together.
Devon is such a dreamy hero. He’s caring, funny and an all-round good guy that can be relied upon and although he tried to fight his feelings and stay back, when up against Giselle, he just had to let it all go and go for it. I swooned major over him and is the perfect book boyfriend.
I loved Giselle’s character, she’s different and quirky and the perfect opposite for Devon.
Giselle and Devon’s chemistry was electric and oozed from the pages and was a read I enjoyed and laughed through many parts especially with Giselle’s antics. I love Madden’s words and how good they make you feel when you get to the end and have a happy heart, especially after that really good epilogue. A definite must-read.
ARC received for an honest opinion
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Overall Ratings;
POV - Dual
Hero - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hero - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chemistry - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Star Rating : 3.5 / 5 Stars
POV : Dual
Cliffhanger : None
Hero : Devon. He was a funny and sexy package all wrapped in one! He made me swoon , laugh and cry and so much more! I absolutely adore him!
Heroine : Giselle. She is a nerdy girl who is single. She is obsessed with facts and has recently moved in with Devon.
Pace of the story : Moderate
Angst Rating : 6/10
Heat Rating : 6/10
Triggers Involved : None
Plot Summary :
Giselle is in a dilemma. Recently , she has no idea what to do further with her life. That is when she finds the solution to all her problems in a gorgeous god. Like a cold ,tatted football god. Deon is someone she should stay far away from but that is going to be impossible now since she just agreed to move in with him!
Devon has a lot of rules in his life. Getting close to him is a tough job and there is no way he should be helping out the pretty genius sister of his friend's girlfriend , but now it was too late! She is just living with him , right? It’s not like he will start liking her compoany or maybe even wanting to be with her? Well… only time will tell that!
Overall Opinion :
I am a huge fan of Ilsa’s books. Like a HUGE FAN. Her quirky sense of humour and easy plotlines always pull me in and don’t let me go until the very end! However I am so sad to say that this book just didn’t click for me! I tried okkk , I tried really hard to get into this one , but I just couldn;t concentrate and it didn’t pluck me in. Soon I found myself flipping pages and wanting it to be over soon.
The story was good , and I actually loved the banter between the main characters , however a spark seemed to be missing. I don’t know if it was just me , but I really couldn't connect to the characters in this book. It was a one time read for me and if you are a huge fan of contemporary romance , then make sure you read this one! It didn’t click for me , but that does not mean the same would happen with you. Give this one a try!
Final Verdict :
A one time read for me.
I just couldn’t connect to the characters , no matter how much I tried.
If you are a huge fan of contemporary romance then make sure you read this one! Maybe you’ll love it!
I will admit it, I was a bit nervous as this is Giselle's story and lets face it after book one and all that drama, I was unsure if I even liked her. I was so wrong and there was no need to be worried. This was such a fabulous read, I loved every word. Giselle and her curse added with Devon and his problems, they are a match that we can see working miles away. That's if the two can figure out that they are meant to be together. With loads of drama, laughs (Cindy the spider, talk about a laugh out loud moment), super hot naughty bits, and a cast of characters that has you falling in love with them. This was pretty much the perfect read for me, I give this 5 stars.
Well after reading Jack and Elena’s book Not My Romeo, I couldn’t wait to get Devon’s book! With his witty banter and funny sense of humour, I just knew that his book was going to be a good one.
Well it wasn’t just good, it was bloody amazing! And as much as I loved Jack, Devon is now my favourite out of the two. He’s just so alpha male, but completely swoony as well. My heart was bursting at the seems with just how incredible he is. And as for Giselle, after everything that happened between her an Elena in Not My Romeo I wasn’t too sure if I’d like her. But come the end of that book she did redeem herself and she has certainly made up for it and surpassed my expectations in this one. She may be as some would call a nerd, but she is full of quirks and I loved getting to see all sides of her.
This is most definitely going to be a top favourite for me to the start of this year.
5 Stars ⭐️
So I'm going to get the elephant out the room this is Giselle and Devon's story and yes if you've read book one it's that Giselle. To say that I had a negative view of the heroine is an understatement and I really didn't think I would like her but I did. Devon was exactly as I remembered him but now we see a little extra. I enjoyed the banter between them, I liked his caveman tendencies with Giselle and he made me swoon with his sexy romantic antics. Giselle is quirky she knows more random facts than an encyclopedia and I adored her huge heart which gets her into trouble often. I enjoyed this story both characters kept me on my toes wondering when they give into the inevitable. This was a fun engaging read.
I. Loved. It! Holy cow did I love this!! It was exactly what I hoped it would be and so much more. How does Ilsa capture my attention so quickly and soundly!?! Perfect characters that were beyond entertaining and such a fantastic storyline too. Wasn’t sure how she’d make it just as good, if not better than Not My Romeo, but she did. You should definitely read these two books. So worth your time.
Devon and Giselle were not what I expected but so, so much more! I didn't really like Giselle all that much in the first book but her back story is interesting. She was engaged to the man her sister was dating but left him because he was cheating on her. Devon is known as a playboy and doesn't let anyone get close. Giselle is quirky and loves and takes care of everyone. She's nerdy, smart, and sexy but doesn't think she is. Her apartment building catches fire and Devon offers to let her stay at his place until she can find another place to stay. They've both kind of been crushing on one another from afar for a while but never thought the other would be interested in them. Devon knows Giselle's secret and knows he should stay away from her for her own good, but the heat between the two of them burns up the pages! Both Giselle and Devon are introduced in Not My Romeo, but this book is a standalone.
This was a DNFed for me. I get triggered when their is an alcoholic father. It sounded so good but I just couldn't finish it.
5 stars!
Game Changers just might be my new favorite sports romance series. I fell in love with Jack and Elena in Not My Romeo and now, we get Jack’s best friend, Devon, and Elena’s sister, Giselle, in Not My Match. I’ll be honest, I was worried when I realized that this book was about Giselle because of what went down in the first book of the series with her sister. However, she really is nothing like I thought, and I am happy to say that I was able get over what happened in the past and ended up loving Giselle.
Devon and Giselle start out as acquaintances but you can tell there is a connection. No matter the spark, Giselle became off limits the minute Jack entrusted Devon to watch over her and keep her away from the other guys on the team while Jack and Elena are on their honeymoon.
However, after some turn of events Devon and Giselle find themselves spending a lot of time together. I adore the friendship that forms. It’s so sweet and fun, and the banter is gold but more than that, it’s real and deep. They are there for each other when they need it the most and I love that they truly believe in one another and trust each other.
“You are the best person in all my universes.”
Their story is a slow burn romance because Devon gave up on love a long time ago and that is exactly what Giselle is looking for. They have some serious heat between them but they want different things. Yet fighting the attraction proves to be harder than they could have imagined. With Giselle trying to find someone to take her virginity and Devon thoroughly against that idea, they have some challenges to overcome. It’s a little angsty but nothing over the top, and I enjoyed that both characters grow during their journey and how they finally come together.
I am also glad I got to see Giselle and Elena together after all that happened in book one, and I love how they healed. It was an added bonus to this entertaining love story.
Overall, Not My Match was a fantastic addition to the Game Changers series and I can’t wait for more with this group of characters!
I'm really enjoying this series, especially the heroes. So much swoon!!
Lots of tension and chemistry in this one. The story moved a little slow for my taste but the pace seemed to fit, so it worked. If you're a IMM fan you'll enjoy this one. I found it to be a pretty quick read and I'm looking forward what she gives us next.
First my usual points:
- I do not do spoilers unless warned.
- Read the summary above; it will tell you what the book is about. I will not reiterate.
- This is a standalone; but the last of a series; it is best enjoyed after reading the prior book
- No errors that I caught as far as editing.
- The author was not new to me
I highly enjoyed Not My Romeo where we met Devon - the womanizer and Giselle, who was 'the other woman' at the time.
Not my Match is their story. I definitely enjoyed Devon but Giselle took a while for me to warm up to. I never really completely liked her (something about her personality didn't appeal) but did root for both of them in the end.
This is not a difficult, in depth book but a fun read that involved two people searching for their happily ever after and their families poling their noses in along the way.
Definitely recommend for a fun escape.
Ever since this book was announced, I felt like Giselle and Devon were a weird pairing. Unfortunately, I never ended up convinced that they were right for each other. I adore most of Ilsa Madden-Mills' new adult books, this is just that rare exception, a case of "it's not you, it's me," and I'm still excited to see what she writes next.
Thanks to Montlake and Netgalley for my copy to review.
There are tropes that seem completely ridiculous until someone like Ilsa decides to take them on. Then they seem like the greatest idea ever conceived and you can't read the pages fast enough.
I love these stories! I adore Giselle's personality in every way and I love that Devon (like most of Ilsa's swoony guys) doesn't see how doomed he is until it's too late and he's already fallen a$$ over teakettle, as my mom would say.
The HEART in Ilsa's books is my favorite part. She does romance perfectly. You won't be disappointed!
This is one of my very favorite authors, every book she writes tops the last. This was a great addition to the series and kept me turning the pages long into the night. I’ll read anything this author writes. Fantastic!
Wow... Just WOW!!!
I think every review for a book I've read so far by Ilsa Madden-Mills has stared the same and that's me being speech less. I can not wrap my head around the fact that with every book she writes, I fall head over heels in love with her leading men and women.
Devon ... I don't have words to describe how much I loved him. His childhood has left him with some scars and I wanted to wrap myself around him and never let go. Giselle was a bit quirky and he needed her in his life. I loved the friendship that they had and the chemistry and the slow burn was driving me up the wall. But when the spark finally ignited the flame? Pure bliss ❤️
I see a pattern that is starting to take pace with Ilsa's books and that's that this is (I say this almost every time) my favorite book so far!!!
***Review copy received by the author for an honest opinion ***
Not My Romeo was one of my surprise favorite reads of 2020. I adored everything about the story, a combination of small town and sports romance? Yes, please! I could not have been more excited to read the second book in Ilsa Madden-Mills Game Changers series, Not My Match.
After meeting Devon in Not My Romeo I hoped that the second book would be about him, and once his flirty banter with Giselle Riley was revealed I had the highest hopes that she would be the heroine. I was not let down! This book was the perfect combination of funny, emotional, and steamy.
Giselle is such a great heroine, I loved all the moments with her getting so excited about her studies and I LOVED that she was a physicist. I’m all here for super smart, academic heroines! I was a little apprehensive that she’s a virgin, but I loved how it was handled in the story. Oh and did I mention she writes erotic alien romance?? I adored that was her side passion!
Devon is just as delightful as in the first book and I loved how this story let us go deeper into his character. Its obvious during the first book how much he’s attracted to Giselle and it was delightful to watch their banter and interactions.
I love a forced proximity and I was thrilled when this took a turn in that direction! Ilsa Madden-Mills never lets me down when it comes to steam and Not My Match was no different. Not My Match was a five star read for me and I cannot wait for the next book in this series!
After meeting Giselle in book 1, I was a little apprehensive about reading her story. I just wasn't sure if I could love her. But true to form, Ilsa had me wanting to be her friend and loving her from the beginning of this one.
The handsome football player Devon had me falling in love from the start. I mean you can't help but love a bad boy.
I couldn't get enough of these two. The slow burn kept me glued to my kindle and I just could not put it down. I loved their story and can't wait to see what Ilsa brings us next!!