I absolutely loved My Darling Bride so I couldn't wait for this book!

This book tells the story of Jane and Jasper, Jane owns a match making business that is in need of help. Jasper, a famous football star, offers his help.

I love the concept of this book. Jasper is a real sweetheart, Jane however I had a hard time liking her. This is reverse grumpy/sunshine yet I found Jane a little cringe to be honest.
Other than that it was such a nice read, it was entertaining, and well written.

Overall I would recommend this book.

Thank you to Ilsa Madden Mills and Grey's promotion for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars
This was such a delightfully fun read. The banter between Jane and Jasper was one of my favorite parts of the book. Plenty of sexual tension between them. Jane finds love for others with her Cupid's Arrow, but her most premier client is also her most difficult especially since she really wants that yumminess for herself even if she denies it. I loved Jasper's family. Him in uncle mode is such a fun experience. You can tell how much family means to him. Then we have Jane's little one. She is so adorable!! This book had me hooked right away. Jane and Jasper had me gobbling up the pages. They be opposites in personality, but they balance one another. It's not an easy road, but Jasper's fun caring personality is hard to resist. He sees Jane and appreciates the hot mess she thinks she is. A great read that I recommend. It has plenty of heart, heat, and humor for you to get lost in.

A sweet and spicy story. I enjoyed Jasper and Jane! I could have done without the miscommunication stuff, but overall just spicy and swoon worthy! It was a nice escape to get lost in for a while!

Is this sweet and sexy at the same time. I love the interaction and banter between the characters. It was just a delight to read.

Jane has just started her matchmaking business. Jasper wants her to matchmake him, but really he wants a chance with Jane. Will she give him a chance? Great read, fun sports romance.

This is a captivating read with a sizzling sports romance that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster of love, laughter, and second chances.
Jane Darling is a determined and quirky matchmaker, and Jasper Jannich, is the charming but infamous New York quarterback. Their dynamic crackles with tension from the start—especially when Jane, in a bid to promote her matchmaking business, wears a toga with angel wings and inadvertently catches Jasper’s eye. Despite their history of clashing, when an unwanted admirer harasses Jane, Jasper swoops in like the unexpected knight in shining armor he never thought he’d be.
The premise of a “he-falls-first” romance adds a refreshing twist to the typical sports romance formula, and the author does an excellent job of capturing the vulnerability of both characters. Jasper may be a star quarterback with a playboy reputation, but his genuine feelings for Jane begin to shine through as she sets him up with various women. As their professional relationship deepens, so does the undeniable attraction between them. Their chemistry sizzles off the page, making their slow-burn romance even more engaging.
Jane, on the other hand, is a relatable and multi-dimensional heroine. Her fierce determination to build a future for her young daughter while overcoming her own fears of love adds emotional depth to the story. Her hesitations about Jasper are understandable, given her past heartbreak, and her journey toward opening her heart again is both touching and satisfying.
Overall, the story delivers a satisfying combination of sizzling chemistry, heartfelt moments, and the all-too-relatable fears of opening up to love again.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Gah, this whole series is just amazing. The characters feel relatable and true. I love the supporting characters. A little bit of a sports romance plus frienemies ish to lovers. He falls first.

I might have said this a time or two but i think Jasper takes the cake when we talk about golden retriever energy. The man was bouncing off the walls if he didn't have something to do. His banter with Jane was hilarious even if at times my head was spinning.

I loved Jane in her sister book (My darling bride). She is a single mother and has no time for his shenanigans. But he's slowly starting to break through her walls and feelings they're both in denial about.
I was invested with the plot especially with his past coming back to show their ugly head. What i liked the most was probably the fact that both her sister and her brother let her take charge and not step (too much) in to help her shape what was to become her HEA.

From enemies-to-lovers, this story was filled with 2 people who just want to be loved for who they are. And they both found that person even if it took a few mishaps to get there.

*Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads*

This is a good book. The two main characters are Jane and Jasper. Jane is a matchmaker. Jasper is a football quarterback. He applies to get a matchmaker matchup. He goes out on three different dates. There is an instant attraction between Jane and Jasper. At first they kiss. They start dating. They start spending the night. They fall in love.

Another great read from Ilsa Madden-Mills. She delivered a beautifully easy to read story filled with amazing chemistry with witty banter and I enjoyed every word.

This one features Jane and Jasper. These two are complete opposites but couldn't compliment each other more. Jane is a single parent, a hopeless romantic that is setting a new business as a matchmaker up. Jasper is a star quarterback with a playboy reputation. He seeks her matchmaking skills but the more women she sets him up with the more he begins to think Jane is the one for him, he just has to convince her of this.

I cannot wait to see what Ilsa brings us next as her stories always entertain and captivate me.

My Darling Jane is the second book in The Darlings series by author Ilsa Madden-Mills. After reading My Darling Bride, the first book in this series I was excited for this book. However, this story did fall a little flat compared to the first book but it doesn't mean that i'll be giving up on Ilsa as she has been one of my go-to authors for many years now.
My Darling Jane is a frenemies-to-lovers, single parent, contemporary romance between matchmaker Jane Darling, and playboy quarterback Jasper Jannich. Both these characters have their own issues to deal with and with Jane trying to find Jasper his perfect match, the more time she spends with him its hard for her not to fall for his soft fun loving side, especially the way he is with his nieces. As for Jasper, he knows that Jane is his endgame. Yes, he goes on the dates that she arranges for him but that doesn't stop him from trying to win her over and break down her walls.
Overall, this story was filled with fun banter, chemistry, connection, passion and humor.

My Darling Jane by Ilsa Madden-Mills is a charming and emotional contemporary romance that explores love, loss, and second chances. The story follows Jane, a woman navigating the complexities of moving on after heartbreak, while unexpectedly finding a new connection that challenges her heart. Madden-Mills’ writing is engaging, with well-crafted characters and a perfect balance of heat and emotion. My Darling Jane is a heartfelt read for fans of swoon-worthy romances with depth and emotional resonance.

I think I found my favorite comfort read of 2024.

Jasper is a handsome, bachelor, and a quarterback.
Jane is a beautiful, hardworking, single mom, and an owner of a bookstore and a matchmaking business.

Jane has been helping Jasper find the woman that he wants to settle but after three dates, he still wasn't satisfied. He wants more. And he wants Jane.
Jane doesn't want anything to do with Jasper. He is her client for heaven sake but when things get heavy for her, it Jasper who was there for her all the time amd that makes Jane's feelings confused.

Jasper and Jane never really have a good relationship because these two bicker all the time but they can never avoid the tension between them.

I knew there was something fishy between those two. And it was never too late for them to explore it.

Jane and Jasper's relationship was rocky but hell, these two gave me so much butterflies.
I feel like a teenager, smiling like an idiot everytime these two are in the same room.

I love and adore the whole story.
Super light and not heavy on the drama but it still made me teary eyed for a bit.

3.75 ⭐️
I really enjoyed jasper 🥺 he had such a kind heart, sweet, and he was funny! I liked Jane, but sometimes she just didn’t do it for me. But I really enjoyed their story!

“He calls me angel. He likes my scowl.” 🩷

Not quite my cup of tea but if you like sports themed romances you might enjoy this one a lot more than I did.

I really liked this book! It was a sports romance book! I definitely do recommend if you like to read this genre!

Jane to get her business off the ground is walking into a sports bar wearing a toga and angel wings, hoping to get attention she is not in least happy that the attention she has gotten is from Jasper Jannich the star quarterback who all they do is argue. Now though she has to be nice because of the hopes of her business and wanting a future for her daughter. A fun story about two people overcoming fears of commitment and just problems with themselves.

Ilsa Madden-Mills never disappoints with sports romances! I really enjoyed My Darling Jane and would recommend for anyone looking for a similar genre.

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.