Ilsa Madden-Mills became one of my favorite sports romance authors with Beauty and the Baller so I was very excited to read My Darling Jane and it did not disappoint. If you’re a lover of football romance or sports romance in general, give Ilsa a try and I am certain you’ll love her books too!

A darling grumpy sunshine romance
5 stars

Oh I do so love an Ilsa Madden-Mills book. Love it even more that it’s a second book in the unexpected Darlings series. Last year we got the delightful My Darling Bride in what seemed like a non-series novel. But now the sister of the heroine in that first book gets her own happily ever after - and I’m here for it. We really didn’t get to know Jane during her sister’s story, so there’s no need to have read any other books before reading and enjoying this one.

Our heroine, Jane, is a former model and single mum. She’s had her struggles - especially having grown up without her parents and then being abandoned by her daughter’s father, leaving her to raise her alone. Now working in her family bookstore - she wants to strike out on her own with her tailored matchmaking service. Which is why she finds herself frequenting the local bars dressed as cupid.

Jane was a surprisingly likeable character. I say surprisingly because she was, at times, a grumpy jerk! Her emotional walls were sky high and she could be snippy and sarky. But she was loyal, loving, kind and fun. I liked her determination and her grit, making it easy to root for her to get a happily ever after. She definitely deserved it.

While touting for new clients for her matchmaking service, Jane bumps into Jasper Jannich - playboy quarterback and bane of her existence. With Jane’s brother in law being an ex-footballer, Jane and Jasper have bumped into - and butted heads - before. But there’s definitely a spark that Jasper is keen to do something about.

Jasper is the sunshine to Jane’s grump. He’s upbeat, kind and fun - and instantly likeable. But, like Jane, he’s got some childhood trauma that also affects his adult life. Although a bit more open, Jasper, too, has trouble with committing to relationships. But something is different with Jane and he realises that she is what his life has been missing. Although he seemed to fall first - it was definitely a case of Jasper just admitted his feelings before Jane did.

Jane and Jasper have a great chemistry and I loved them as a couple. They had a great heat and the sex scenes were delightful and plentiful. But it was more about how they complimented each other’s personalities. Jane was, at times, quite grumpy, but Jasper loved that about her. And they definitely brought out the best in each other.

Although you don’t need to have read it, those who read My Darling Bride will enjoy the return of quirky bookstore employee, Babs. Emme and Graham make extremely minor appearances - mainly on the phone or at the very end of the book. And Londyn - Jane’s daughter - and Andrew, Jane’s brother, also have cameos.

I’ve given this book 5 stars as I adore Ilsa’s writing style and how she builds a story that always captures me. But that’s not to say that the book was without flaws. Jasper’s bio mum’s story could have been fleshed out more, as could have Jasper’s rivalry with the new quarterback. And that pregnancy dream was just the thing of my Dallas nightmares. But there was nothing that pushed this away from a 5-star read. If you like a fun read of frenemies turned lovers with a lot of heat and a lot of heart then I would definitely recommend this story.

Jane and Jasper are opposites in every way, and though Jasper is harmless, Jane is always irritated whenever he’s around. I didn’t realize Jane was so young. She’s like 25 in here, and she’s spent much of her young adult life taking care of her daughter. Jane wants to prove that she can be successful doing it on her own, and that is to launch her matchmaking business. She really puts herself out there, in her little cupid outfit, but Jasper steps up to help her. I think there are some cute moments here, and it was an entertaining read. Sometimes Jane can be exasperating, but Jasper and Londyn are cute enough to get you into the story.

I enjoyed this story and found the characters so endearing!
Everytime Londyn was calling Jasper,” Jaspie” my heart 🥰

Jane is a single mum who is determined to make her new venture, her matchmaking company, a success!
She wants to find the perfect match for people , spread happiness and ultimately help them find love.
She doesn’t believe in love, because she’s been hurt the hard way… everything revolves around her daughter.

Jasper , the sexy QB, sees everyone settling down around him but it’s not for him… his past makes it hard for him to commit fully.

One night he bumped into Jane dressed as Cupid in a bar and so it began! The banter between them, the love hate relationship and the should we/ should we not will get you hooked and rooting for them.

Don’t get me wrong, Jasper’s trauma and Jane’s past made both of them soulmates, in my opinion, but it was deeper than that. The author managed successfully to make you feel their fear, pain and hope at the same time.

I LOVED how both characters were close to their family and the twins… they made me laugh so much… same for the library’s announcements!

Jasper decides to sign up for Jane’s matchmaking services just to get closer to her… whereas Jane was determined to find him the perfect match to not fall for him…
Trust me when I say that they deserve their HEA. Their story is not just a romance, it’s about life , the past and allowing yourself to move forward leaving the past behind and seizing the day … and the future.
There’s always a plan B…
Beautiful story from start to finish.

*Arc provided for an honest review

I recently finished My Darling Jane, the second book in Ilsa Madden-Mills' The Darlings series, and I have to say, I was thoroughly entertained. This contemporary romance beautifully blends humor and heartfelt moments, and I found myself completely immersed in the story.

Jane, the protagonist, is a relatable single mom who is trying to juggle her responsibilities while navigating her feelings for a charming quarterback. I loved how Madden-Mills developed Jane’s character; she felt real and authentic, making it easy for me to connect with her struggles and triumphs. The chemistry between Jane and the quarterback was electric, and their journey from friends to lovers kept me on the edge of my seat. The tension was palpable, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way.

While the plot did have some predictable elements that are common in romance novels, I appreciated how Madden-Mills added her unique flair to these familiar tropes. The humor sprinkled throughout the narrative made me laugh out loud, and the emotional depth added layers to the characters’ experiences. The writing flowed effortlessly, making it a quick and enjoyable read.

Overall, I would rate My Darling Jane 4 stars. It’s a delightful addition to the romance genre that left me feeling warm and satisfied. If you’re looking for a fun escape filled with charming characters and heartfelt moments, this book is definitely worth picking up!

I enjoyed My Darling Jane. It is a romance novel with a sports star lead, a bookstore worker/matchmaker and a cute kid. I enjoyed reading this and the characters. It was a quick read with a lot of heart and strong family vibes. It was also nice to get little glimpses into previous characters lives now, although it would be a very easy standalone read as well.

Book 2 in The Darlings series. Jasper & Jane, they seriously had me cracking up with their banter. They are enemies lol, and they are a trip. But once they start letting their guard down (more so her), they become a whole lot more. Fun enjoyable read

Oh, how I love Jane and Jasper! These two were meant to be together! Such a great book from a wonderful author!

Jasper Jannich is the sweetest teddy bear ever. From the beginning he wanted Jane. The woman he described was Jane. Gosh, I was kicking my feet and giggling over the way he acted over her. From the banter to the utter desire that radiated off both of them, this was a super cute read. I love how Jasper was just there for her, he was her rock and her constant when she needed a shoulder to lean on. Fate definitely had a hand in them being together. The tarot card scene was my favorite part it was like the foundation of everything.
I hope hope hope we get a story for Andrew 💕

✨Review✨
***
My Darling Jane was so good!!! I loved Jasper and Jane. They were perfect together. Their chemistry and relationship was so good. I loved the banter and friendship they formed. Jasper was perfect. He was so sweet, funny, and kind. I loved Jane's personality and attitude. The writing was so good and the story was so easy to read and love. The spice was perfect and the ending was so sweet.
***
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🔥🔥
Romance: 🩷🩷🩷

Ranking: 4.5⭐

After reading the first book of The Darlings I had high expectations for Jane & Jasper, and they didn't disappoint! They are both characters who are very afraid of loving and being hurt, their story has sad moments, BUT Ilsa Madden-Mills also lets us see the connection they share, a beautiful love story and more secondary characters to love!

Jane was a character that I didn't really like in the first book, BUT she stole my heart in this second one! First of all I loved that My Darling Jane starts some time after the first book ended because that made the change in Jane & Andrew's lives much more evident: I could see a Jane who, even though she faces problems keeping her business afloat, is also determined to succeed on her own. It broke my heart to hear about her story of abandonment and how it has led her to protect herself from further pain, but despite all that Jane strives every day to give her little Londyn a happy and loving life, and one of the things I loved the most was that Jane wasn't alone in that job, that Babs & Andrew were always supporting her, especially her relationship with her brother was one of the things that melted my heart the most about Jane's plot. One thing that was unexpected in this character's story was the return of Tomas to her life, he's Londyn's dad and Jane's ex who she hasn't seen since he found out she was pregnant.

Jasper is a character I've been dying to read since his first appearance in Ilsa's books! I fell in love with his charming, playful and spontaneous personality and I didn't expect him to share such a heartbreaking story as Jane's: it was very sad to learn about the tragedies of his childhood, how much it hurt him, and how, just like the heroine of the story, he does everything he can to not suffer again. Another thing I didn't expect from this character was that sweet, tender, adorable and loving side that he always brings out when he's with his nieces and when he tries to be with Jane when she needs him and that made me love him even more.

Jane & Jasper are two people very hurt by their past and that complicates their love story a lot, but despite those obstacles, the dynamic between these two is one of the funniest thanks to their attempts to show each other "how much they dislike the other", that they know how to push each other's buttons and especially thanks to the connection that develops between Jasper & Jane after that first failed date he has at her service. I really liked that they are each other's safe place, that despite their insecurities and fears they allow themselves to be vulnerable with each other and that they confide in each other the things that hurt them the most, I also loved that Jasper was always sure that his date had to be with Jane and that he wouldn't stop until he got it, also, I loved the ending that the author gave to this story, without a doubt one of my favorites.

I think there's just one small detail that kept me from giving this book five stars: and that is that thi is not the single parent trope story we're used to (view spoiler). In part I think it's because the author already showed us these characters in the first book of the series and we know that they already know each other, but I think it was necessary to show that relationship between the two most important people in Jane's life too.

💘Jane: 5/5
🏈Jasper: 5/5
💘Plot: 4.5/5
🏈Love story: 5/5
💘Secondary characters: 5/5
🏈Universe: 5/5
💘Cover: 5/5
🌶️: 2.5/5

I started chapter one late one night while I was half asleep in bed. Read it and decided the book wasn’t for me. Picked it up a week later to try another chapter and never put it down.

Lesson learned: Dont start a new book when I can barely keep my eyes open.

I ended up really liking the romance between Jasper and Jane. It’s mentioned how charming Jasper is and he even charmed me. His banter with Jane made her more likeable to me as I felt I was seeing the real Jane. I’m here for the snarky scowls.

My first book by the author and I really enjoyed it. I liked that Jasper and Jane had struggles to deal with outside of the relationship as it made them stronger in the end.

Small side note. I got super excited when Mr Darden mentioned getting books on honey badgers. It made me wonder if the author had read Shelly Laurenston’s honey badger series.

Thanks to netgalley, Montlake and Ilsa Madden Mills for the arc and this is my honest review.

This is about a FMC trying to be a matchmaker and winds up falling for the MMC.
Lots of fun banter.
This is a fun light read. If you like this author then this book is for you.


Read this book if you love
🤰 accidental pregnancy
🔢 age gap (25/31)
😬 angst
😆 banter
🐈‍⬛ black cat (to him) FMC
😳 forbidden lovers
🏝️ forced proximity
🤜 frenemies -to-lovers
👦 he falls first
🩹 hurt/comfort
🥰 nicknames
🔀 opposites attract
🙏 praise
👩‍👦 single parent
🏈 sports romance (football)
💼 workplace romance

“I won’t pretend I’m not scared. This is huge. But I meant what I said. I love you, and I never want to be away from you again like I have been. I want to be a part of your life every single day."

Jasper and Jane.

**sigh**

Love Jasper and Jane's story! It's a little angsty and frustrating but it's also swoon-worthy, s3x¥ and heartwarming!

MY DARLING JANE by Ilsa Madden-Mills (The Darlings #2)
Jasper and Jane's story
Tropes: Single Parent, Match Maker, Sports - Football QB
Jane is a single mom raising her adorable daughter Londyn, managing her family bookstore while starting a Match Making business. Both Jane and Jasper were abandoned as children which left them both with relationship issues.
Jasper is a successful football quarterback who has a reputation of being a womanizer. He's actually a great guy who cares for his family members, and doesn't want to be lonely anymore.
Well, Jane needs more male clients and Jasper, her brother in laws friend offers to join. His celebrity would hopefully bring in more high profile clients. His application is hilarious!!!
This story was heart warming and addictive. I really connected with both Jasper and Jane. They were fun with lot's of banter that had me laughing out loud. Even Londyn came up with a few good one liners!!! They scorching hot chemistry was obvious right from the start, they just fought it.
There were many subplots that kept the story interesting. I honestly really loved everything about this story!!

This is a sweet sexy love story that invites you to fall in love with these characters. Jane is a single mom doing the best she can, and Jasper is a big marshmallow that is such a genuine person. I really enjoyed his interactions with his nieces and Jane's daughter London. The audiobook is a delight to listen to and a great way to enjoy this romance.

I’ve come to expect to enjoy books from Ilsa Madden-Mills and this was another winner! I hadn’t read book 1 but I don’t think that affected my enjoyment of the story. They do mention some of their past encounters that give you some idea of their history.

I loved the banter and tension between these two. Jane dislikes Jasper before truly getting to know him, and Jasper appears to have more of a reluctant attraction. He is intrigued by her but she is NOT receptive! So when he volunteers to be the first high profile client for her new matchmaking service, she agrees to set him up on dates, while inadvertently getting to know and like him in the process. This setup made for some interesting encounters and funny moments!

Their relationship evolves into a friendship, and eventually sparks are flying and things get spicy. Jasper’s history and how it related to Jane and her daughter’s path was really a great way to connect them. Though I would have liked a little more time spent with her daughter to see that bond develop between her and Jasper.

Overall another enjoyable read from Ilsa Madden-Mills and I’m sure I’ll be picking up the next book she writes!

**Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.**

Best way to describe this book is straightforward, sports romance.

Jasper absolutely won me over in this book and is the true reason I rated this book the way I did. Which says alot because we don't get his POV at all in this story.

Jane - she took some time to warm up to. I think it would have helped to have more scenes with her daughter (she is Jane's main focus) and seeing that side of Jane. I do wish there were more scenes overall with her daughter to show that connection between all of them.

My Darling Jane moves quickly and told only from one POV. Ilsa delivers some great spicy moments and some good humor.

Overall, it's a good read, especially if you enjoy stories that aren't filled with too much depth.

I do look forward to more from this series.

This was a good fast paced story.

I thought the pacing was a little too fast at the end and wanted to see more of them once they actually got together instead of just small glimpses of them

I enjoyed the storyline and really liked both the main characters

- single mum
- sports romance (pro American football)
- accidentally pregnancy
- hate (dislike) to love

I love Ilsa Madden-Mills’ books. I’ve read them all and any new releases I read without any prior knowledge. After reading My Darling Bride, and absolutely loving it, I was excited to dive back into the life of the Darling’s. This time we follow Jane, who is working hard to kick off her new matchmaking business. As a single mother, she balances her chaotic life. Enter Jasper, pro football player and ultimate single guy agrees to let Jane find his perfect match, but it might be closer than you think.
Jasper is a charmer. On the surface he comes across as a player who floats through life. As the book progresses we see a deeper side to him. He is a family man, who loves having his teen nieces over. Jasper was a really great character to get to know. Jane was so hard-working. She was prepared to handle anything alone. After a tumultuous relationship with her daughter’s father, she faces everything alone with some support from her sister, who we met in the first book and her brother.
This was once again another Ilsa book that I loved. She writes great romance, deep characters and I really hope Andrew gets his own book at some point. I can’t wait to see what she will release next.
Thank you for the eARC!