Review: My Darling Jane by Ilsa Madden-Mills

“I’m intoxicated by him. Drunk. With every breath, I’m falling deeper into the spell he weaves.” (p. 184)

★★★☆☆
🌶🌶🌶

Series: The Darlings, Book 2

Review:

First, I would like to thank the author, Grey's Promotions, Montlake, and NetGalley for providing me with a free advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

He’s all in. He just needs to convince the matchmaker she’s met her match.

When Jane found out she was pregnant, the father left. She has raised her daughter, Londyn, alone, and hasn’t dated since. To get clients for her new venture, matchmaking, she goes out in a cupid costume, catching the attention of a playboy quarterback named Jasper. He proposes something she can’t refuse, even though she cannot stand him: he will try out her matchmaking service. The publicity her business would gain from his participation is too good to pass up. Jasper only has one match in mind, though, but Jane has Londyn–and her heart–to consider.

My Darling Jane by Ilsa Madden-Mills is a standalone within an interconnected series. It is a sweet romantic comedy, but unlike most rom-coms, this story is full of emotion. Both Jane and Jasper have severe abandonment issues, but Jane’s prevent her from considering a relationship. With Jasper’s estranged biological mother and Jane’s ex both trying to re-enter their lives, there is a lot of emotional turmoil. While Jasper is a star quarterback, I wouldn’t classify this as a sports romance; the book doesn’t explore his career. Instead, we meet the side of Jasper that the public doesn’t get to see: the man who stepped in to raise his twin teenage nieces. If the rest of this series has this much heart, I’d love to read them all!

Because the Audible audiobook of My Darling Jane is included with Kindle Unlimited, I was thrilled to listen to the book! I think it would have been better if it were performed as a duet, but the narrators did a good job varying their voices to reflect different genders when necessary.

Audience: adult
Trigger warnings: abandonment, child in hospital, grief
Recommended for fans of: romantic comedy, enemies-to-lovers, protective MMC, he falls first, slow burn, reverse grumpy sunshine, single mom, surprise pregnancy

Publisher's Synopsis:

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills returns with a sexy he-falls-first sports romance about a quarterback and his frenemy-matchmaker.

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 mission: 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 proposal: 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.

She’s not not interested…but her heart has been burned before. To get anywhere, they’ll need courage and faith, not just sizzling chemistry.

He’s ready to make the pass. Is his darling ready to catch it?

Source:

Grey's Promotions & NetGalley

©Montlake: November 5, 2024
Edition: Digital ARC, read on Audible via Kindle Unlimited
295 pages

Start reading the Darlings series on Kindle Unlimited, or listen to the Audible audiobooks—included free with KU!
1. My Darling Bride: https://amzn.to/3AUw57T
2. My Darling Jane: https://amzn.to/3YUmExh
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