I always love Ilsa Madden-Mills’ books and especially enjoyed My Darling Bride and we‘re finally back in this world with her newest release. My Darling Jane is Jane and Jasper‘s book.
 
Jane is running her sister’s bookstore and at the same time works on her own matchmaking business. She is a single mom and I loved how she always strives for happiness and success. The funny thing is that she doesn’t believe in love and that’s probably why she’s struggling a bit with her business, and I loved how that changed over the course of this book.
 
Jasper is a football player and family friend to Jane. He is such a golden retriever character who loves his family and wants that for himself. He is the one who has a crush on Jane and therefore doesn’t hesitate to help her and test the matchmaking business. I absolutely adored Jasper and the way the found family aspect was included.
 
Jane and Jasper started off as friends and their story was so cute and romantic. I loved how they spent more and more time together and the development of their relationship felt very real. Jane was always Jasper‘s endgame and he is very determined and loving. My favorite part was their banter.
 
If you’re looking for a heartfelt sports romance, definitely check out this one. 4 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

MY DARLING JANE is the second instalment in Ilsa Madden-Mills’ contemporary, adult THE DARLINGS erotic, romance series. This is thirty-one year old, quarterback Jasper Jannich, and twenty-five year old, former model turned single mother/ matchmaker . book store owner Jane Darling’s story line. MY DARLING JANE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary,

Told from dual first person perspectives (Jane and Jasper) MY DARLING JANE follows the frenemies to lovers relationship between our story line couple.Jane Darling is too busy to date but runs a matchmaking service for those willing to pay. A single mother, co-owner of a book store, and a woman who finds herself attracted to the man she shouldn’t want but when Jasper Jannich keeps pushing, she offers to set him up on a series of dates, dates that don’t go very well. Jealous of the women in Jasper’s life, Jane is willing to consider giving Jasper a chance, a chance that is about to blow up in both of their faces.

The world building follows the tempestuous relationship between our story line couple. Jane struggles with her attraction to a man she believes could break her heart but having experienced the fall-out of rejection and betrayal, Jane battles between head and heart in the face of repeating the past. Jasper Jannich knows something about rejection having faced it at a very young age but when the past reappears for both Jane and Jasper, they struggle to see through the veil of possible deceit and betrayal.

The relationship between Jasper and Jane is a frenemies to lovers in which Jane struggles to set up Jasper with suitable women, knowing the potential for heart break for herself. Having fallen for Jane, Jasper’s heart isn’t willing to put up with Jane’s matchmaking services but when Jane pushes Jasper out of her life, he suspects there is something more going on. The $ex scenes are provocative and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include Graham and Emma (My Darling Bride 1), as well as Jasper’s extended family, and several mismatches found by Jane herself.

MY DARLING JANE is a story of desperation and determination, family and friendships, acceptance and love. The premise is honest yet familiar; the romance is spirited; the characters are sassy, animated and dynamic.



THE READING CAFÉ: https://www.thereadingcafe.com/my-darling-jane-the-darlings-2-by-ilsa-madden-mills-review/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6548490502


BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2224228207

MY DARLING JABE By Ilsa Madden-Mills

On an ordinary day, Jane Darling wouldn’t be caught dead in a sports bar wearing a toga with angel wings. But she’s desperate to launch her matchmaking business to secure her young daughter’s future. Her to attract new clients at any cost.
Her Cupid outfit catches the eye of New York’s beloved star quarterback, Jasper Jannich. She and Jasper have always clashed, but when a pushy admirer goes too far, he steps in as an unexpected knight in shining armor.
He offers a tantalizing to be Cupid’s Arrow’s premier client. Reluctantly, Jane agrees, aware of the business potential despite her reservations about Jasper and his playboy reputation.
As she sets him up on date after date, it grows clear that Jane’s the only woman he wants.
She is his goal, his endgame.

😊What i liked -

✔ Enemies To Lovers/Matchmaker/Single Parent/Grumpy-Sunshine/Sports.
✔ Jane's character was a treat. Strong, independent with her own struggles.
✔ Jaspie was a teddy bear. Cuddly character.
✔ Loved their banter and the chemistry.
✔ The transition from being a matchmaker to being Jasper's soulmate was beautiful and fun.
✔ This book was full of feels. It was heartbreaking as well as a sweet cuddly swoony love story.


🤔What could have been better-

✔ Wanted more of Jaspie and Londyn scenes. They were Adobs together.


📚Who Should read :
👶Beginners
💝Romance Lover
💕Enemies To Lovers Romance
☀ Grumpy-Sunshine Romance


📈My Rating : 4.5/5

Thank you, Ilsa Madden-Mills & Grey's Promo , for a copy.

Ilsa Madden-Mills's second installment in The Darlings series is such a fun and heartwarming, he falls first romance! Madden-Mills is an author whose tone and voice has a fun and contemporary feel that makes it very easy to engage with. Madden-Mills's work is always clear, thoughtful and centers interesting and well rounded characters. My Darling Jane was a really lovely addition to this series, I enjoyed the first a lot and really fell in love with this second installment and the world that has been crafted. My Darling Jane is a charming match-maker style romance between a football player and an up and coming match-maker who is a single mom and former model. This novel is beautifully paced and has the perfect balance of humor and heart, making it a romance that is easy to fall in love!

Our grumpy heroine Jane and the sunshine hero Jasper are two people who sizzle with tension and energy. There is always a fine line between love and hate and these two prove that. Watching this two circle around each other, banter, challenge and excite the other. It is fun to watch these two explore and question what they want for their future, what they want with each other and if love is worth the risk. I love that Jasper, who might see like a silly jock only looking for a good lay, has a depth the people overlook. I love that Jasper challenges Jane to see the true him and that he does not falter around what he wants. Madden-Mills does a lovely job building their relationship with conversation and small moments, she shows the inherent trust and chemistry through their physical relationship, and explores the depth of their feelings through gentle moments and attentions.

I would definitely recommend this novel and this series by Madden-Mills to anyone that loves a contemporary romance with heart and humor. My Darling Jane is a wonderful addition to Madden-Mills's work and is sure to leave you with a smile on your face!

Thank you so much to Grey's Promotions for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jane is a single mother to her daughter Londyn who just wants to give her the best life that she can. Part of that is ensuring the success of her matchmaking business as even if love isn’t in her future she believes she can help others find it. An attempt to publicize her business may not have gone as planned but it does allow her to garner Jasper as a client.

Jasper is a professional football player who has been judged without people knowing him or his backstory. He is a good teammate, a loyal friend and close to his family. He has had feelings for Jane for a while, but they don’t seem to be reciprocated however signing up as a client and dating other women might just be the solution he needs.

Jane and Jasper were so much fun together from the humorous banter, the great chemistry and the fact that they have a lot more in common than they expected. Jasper just gets Jane, and he isn’t about to be deterred by her attitude or fears which will only make you love him more.

Jasper Jannich seems to have a commitment issue when it comes to girlfriends. When he rushes into a local bar looking for his teenage twin nieces he spots his teammate, Graham's sister-in-law, Jane, dressed as Cupid. When he offers to become one of her clients in search of "connection", she turns him down for acting like the player she believes him to be. He persistently tries to change her mind until she finally relents. Spending more time with him, she realizes they have a lot in common with each of their mother's abandoning them, leaving an unfilled emotional hole. Parts of their past return to upset the balance each has found in their respective lives. I loved Jasper's determination to figure out his past in order to have a future with Jane.
There were a lot of events, some emotional, thrown into this story which affected the main characters. They felt neatly wrapped up with a bow at the end which kept this story light-hearted.

My Darling Jane was my first book by this author and it was cute with two characters that come from the same type of background. I think with that understanding between them, it allows them to be more emotional and understand where the other is coming from. It is obvious that Jane and Jasper have a connection from the first time we see them together.

Jane is a single mom who is working to start her own matchmaking business, but it isn't going so well. Jasper is a professional football player who isn't looking for love, but we know how things happen when we least expect them. Jasper can't help but to mess with Jane when he first fills out the questionnaire to get a match. After some back and forth she finally agrees to set him up, but it doesn't go as expected. As she sets him up on dates, the chemistry between them continues to grow. So will Jasper find his happily ever after through Jane or with Jane?

I loved watching Jasper and Jane together, they are so much more than we originally see them as. I think in the beginning they are very superficial because of the banter and standoffish behavior. It isn't until later that we get to start peeling back layers of who Jasper really is. I think Jane grew as a character throughout the book too. She was like Jasper, had walls up protecting herself, but as time went on she starting letting people in. I think that the banter and the chemistry between these two characters really makes this book as well as the relationship that Jasper forms with her daughter. This was a really sweet story and it keeps you interested.

Received ARC in exchange for voluntary honest review from Ilsa Madden-Mills and Grey's Promotions.

Jasper is a quarterback for the NFL, he has a charming personality and happens to be one of New Yorks’s eligible bachelors. Jane is a single mom to a beautiful girl; Jane is also a strong an independent trying to make ends meet she’s trying to get her matchmaking business up and running she goes to a local bar to find clientele. While there she runs into Jasper where he would bring in a lot of business. Things slowly start to become blurred, and things start to change, and some feelings start to arise. This was a sweet and fun read Jane and Jasper have amazing banter that keeps you glued to your kindle.

3.75 Stars— Jane’s in a bit of a crisis. She needs new clients and she needs them now. Luckily she’s been on Jasper’s radar for a while and he’ll do anything to help her, even though he’d rather be with her.

Jasper was a doll and I adored him so much.

Some of the balance was off, but I still had a good time reading this story and I really enjoy this world

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I feel I enjoyed this one more than the first book. The reverse grump/sunshine is always a hit. That golden retriever energy Jasper puts out is addicting. Jane is such a great single mom, I loved the scenes with London. I do feel the ending was kind of predictable and could maybe have gone a different way. Overall, I really like Jane and Jasper together. They have a great connection.

A frenemies to lovers, reverse grumpy/sunshine tale for single mum Jane Darling, a former model trying to get her matchmaking business off the ground. Quarterback Jasper Jannich has had a thing for Jane since he met her so, in an attempt to spend some time with her, he volunteers to be her star client in the belief that if people find out he’s using her services as a matchmaker, then others will follow his example but its really Jane he has his eye on. My Darling Jane was a relatively easy and fast-paced read but it fell a little flat on content for me. There were a couple of story lines included such as the respective reappearances of Jasper’s mother and Jane’s baby daddy, both events could’ve brought some angst to the overall story especially given that both the hero and heroine had abandonment and trust issues but they didn’t seem to go anywhere and where concluded off screen so to speak in the epilogue. I did love the character of Jasper who had a bit of a golden retriever about him as he teased and tormented Jane and to be honest, I felt he was too good for Jane who came across as being a bit judgemental, jumping to conclusions about Jasper when he hadn’t done anything to deserve it. I would’ve liked to have seen more development in his relationship with Jane’s daughter Londyn, but she just seemed to accept him in her life like he was familiar to her and it just felt a little forced.

I just knew I was going to absolutely fall head over heels with Jasper, but I didn't expect to also fall for Jane and Londyn.

Jane is the best compliment to Jasper and his perfect match in every way.

Jasper is the life of the party and always joking, so it's no surprise that Jane has never taken him seriously.
He is everything she was missing and I so enjoyed how he wormed his way into her heart!

3.75⭐️
I was excited for this book when I read My Darling Bride, Jane and Jasper had chemistry in that book, even if it was through arguing!

Jane is trying to make a good life for her and her daughter, she is managing her sister's book store while trying to build her matchmaking business. While she is trying to drum up some new business, she runs into Jasper. With Jasper being friends with her brother-in-law, Jane sees him occaisionally. She finds him attractive but isn't interested in the quarterback with the playboy reputation. Jasper pushes her buttons and seems to enjoy himself while doing it.

Jasper didn't have an excellent end to last season and is looking to bounce back next season. He is also taking care of his teenage nieces while his older sister is away, when they sneak out and head to the local bar, Jasper has to track them down. He runs into Jane and somehow convinces her to find him a match. Jane agrees because his endorsement of her new business could help grow the business.

I really enjoyed the back and forth between Jane and Jasper, I especially enjoyed the dates Jasper went on. I liked seeing them getting to know each other, Jane just judged Jasper on what she assumed he was like. She learned that there is so much more to Jasper than how he is portrayed. Both of these characters had fear of abandonment and similar past trauma, which also made them skittish around new relationships.

I liked the relationship Jane had with Jasper's nieces, I thought it was sweet. I liked how Jasper came to Jane's rescue with the ex-boyfriend/father of her daughter.

I did feel like some things were missing with this one: there was very little sports in this sports romance. Jasper is a quarterback, but there wasn't much about his life as an athlete. I also would've liked to have seen some more interaction between Jasper and Londyn (Jane's daughter). There were very few scenes with the two of them and I wanted a bit more of a relationship there.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and I hope we get a book for the Darling brother, Andrew!

Thank you to Ilsa Madden Mills, Netgalley and Montlake for my arc of this book.

Unfortunately, this was just okay for me. I enjoyed the first book in this series but this one didn't completely work for me. My struggle was with the characters themselves and their connection, which made it really hard to push through the book. While I didn't necessarily like or dislike the main characters, they were just kind of meh. I didn't connect with either one of them. They grew on me only slightly through the book. Their chemistry was not great. I honestly preferred more of the scenes with the other characters. Babs and the twin nieces were a highlight for sure. I did enjoy the epilogue a lot.

Another cute one from Madden-Mills - the two in this series are sweet and I’ve enjoyed both. They are definitely standalone, though, with little overlap. No need to read book one to read this one.

The idea of the matchmaking client and former flame, who happens to be a star NFL player, falling for the owner and creator of the brand new matchmaking company, is certainly unique … but there are a lot of things that happen throughout the book that are very much the same as a lot of the others that did make it feel like more of the same.

It was a nice and quick read, but I was hoping for a bit more of something unique, based on the blurb. Still enjoyable, just not more than a 4-star.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the early copy. This is my honest feedback.

My Darling Jane is the follow up and second book in Mills’ The Darlings series.

Jane & Jasper are the central characters in this book. Jane has opened a matchmaking business and is in search of clients, while still working at the family bookstore. Jasper is an NFL QB and a major thorn in Jane’s side. Their banter is what drives the story. Jane is also a single mom to her four year old daughter. Jane and Jasper both suffer from past trauma and abandonment issues, which leads them to question and second guess everything.

While I am a fan of the author’s work, I found this story a bit cluttered with all the side characters and those who return from the past to “make amends”.

I enjoyed it, not my favorite of hers.
Overall I give it 3.5 stars.

I so loved the first book in this darling series and I had such high hopes for Emmy’s sister Jane’s story….
I enjoyed it but not as much as the first one.
I love a single mum romance but with this I didn’t feel we got enough of Jane’s daughter… I wanted more of her cuteness and more of her interactions with Jasper.
The connection between Jasper and Jane was great with their banter…their chemistry was hot and I enjoyed their moments of intimacy…especially as both their guards came down and their interactions became more honest and vulnerable.
Jasper is such a great character I really felt for him at one point but I was cross with Jane that the one time he needed her she didn’t make herself available for him….
I wanted more with both their side stories, more from Jasper’s teammates …just more, however it’s a quick fun read that I devoured in a day….!

Do you believe in love?
What can I say about Jasper and Jane? I loved them! The second book in the Darling series and Ms Mills has delivered the same high level of LOL humour, emotion, sweetness and steam.
This frenemies to lovers, reverse grumpy sunshine gives another set of characters that are realistic, engaging and entertaining, and who you wish you were friends with. I couldn’t get enough.

Jasper and Jane are match made in heaven, both thibking they have nothing in common but they do. Jasper is needing a reliable partner to help with his family. His friends partners friend Jane is a local match maker. Can she help him?? I love the quirkness of them both and they grew to know one another and found their camaraderie with one another. Loved this so much!

4 Star Review My Darling Jane (The Darlings #2) by Illsa Madden-Mills

My Darling Jane was an emotional, entertaining, well written love story that ticked the boxes for me. This is matchmaker Jane Darling and quarterback, Jasper Jannich’s story.

I fell hard and fast for Jasper, he is such a swoon worthing and caring man and there was so much more to him than what he allowed to show.

I loved the chemistry between them and the love that blossomed as their relationship developed. In fact I loved how all in Jasper was.

The journey was not without its challenges but it was well worth it on the end as they found their happily ever after.