Jasper deserved all the stars.

I really wanted to be in the camp with all the 5 stars. I wanted to fit in with the in crowd. I wanted to gush over what a super fun read this was. I wanted to crush super hard over this duo. However, that's not happening. The writing was so cringy, the further into the book the more cringe it got, especially the last quarter. My eye rolls were in full force.

It's been several years since I've read an Ilsa Mills book but I don't remember her writing being this half-assed. If I didn't know better, I would think this was written by someone just trying their hand at story telling. Not a NY Times and USA Best selling author. I've loved her work in the past but this... this has me not wanting to pick another up.

The issues I had were <i>My Darling Jane</i> wasn't fleshed out. There were subplots that had absolutely no point to them. Her ex and his mother didn't move the store one way or the other, felt like they were just there to fill a word count. There was no big epiphany, drama, or explosion surrounding them. Frieda and her whole mean girl act fell flatter than flat. There was no confrontation. No resolution. Again, just feels like a bitchy character was added to cross off the list of needed ingredients. None of these characters had depth or connection. Very one dimensional. Don't even get me started on the talking/conversations...toddlers have better conversational skills. I wanted them to keep their mouths closed and their inner thoughts to themselves, especially during the sex scenes.

Jasper was the only good thing about this book. While his character was all surface level, he was so fucking sweet. A fun, loving gentleman. Always going out of his way to show his interest in his girl, trying to protect her to the best of his ability. Even when his girl was a huge twat waffle. Jane made me want to kick her in the head every time she acted like a nasty wench towards him. In my opinion, Jane was a bad heroine. So childish. Not likeable in the slightest. She ruined this book.

Jasper and boredom are what kept me turning the page.

A light, fun romance featuring a single parent where he falls first. It's a lower angst read that made me smile in parts, but I really wanted some more depth from the characters especially Jasper and Londyn's relationship. I feel like a strong aspect to single parent romances is the connection between the upcoming step parent and the child in the story and I didn't get that here. It's still a fun read that will make you smile!

Thanks to Netgalley & Montlake for access to this
E-ARC! I really enjoyed this. Liked the characters & the steam. Will definitely read more from this author.

My Darling Jane is a cute read. If you love single parent and sport romance then you will love this one. Jane is a single mom juggling trying to raise her daughter, start her matchmaking business and help keep the family bookstore going. She does not do love for herself and not looking for it. Jasper is more than what he seems as a pro athlete. He sees Jane and is ready to be the one. I love how Jasper is with his nieces and Jane's daughter. I love the playful banter between Jasper and Jane. The chemistry is amazing. I could not get enough of this one. Go check it out now.

My Darling Jane is the second book in the Darling series by Ilsa Madden-Mills but can be read as a standalone even though it’s part of a series. I was looking forward to reading Jane’s story ever since I finished reading the first book and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Jane is the middle sibling in the Darling family who is dealing with being a single mother while trying to promote and further elevate her matchmaking business. Jasper, whom we also met in the first book, is the quarterback who is misunderstood in so many ways. I enjoyed reading how these two characters grew up and matured throughout their relationship. They are both dealing with some issues but I liked how they handled them together. Emmy and Graham make small appearances but you really don’t have to read the first book in order to enjoy this one, but I would suggest doing so. Another well written and fun contemporary romance from Ilsa Madden-Mills. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book through NetGalley.

Ilsa Madden-Mills knows how to write a beautiful, sexy love story. My Darling Jane continues to prove the truth of this.

Jane Darling has been badly burned by people who were supposed to love her, so she’s erected some pretty strong walls for the fortress around her heart. She’s starting a new matchmaking business and her latest client is none other than Jasper Jannich, star quarterback for the New York Pythons.

Problem is she’s not setting him up with the right woman.

This love story is funny and heartwarming. Jasper is such a big, warm-hearted golden retriever and Jane is a bit of a black cat. Their getting to know each other scenes are fantastic and the spicy times are delicious. Both of them have top-notch families (for the most part) and I love to see the support.

I received an ARC from #netgalley. All thoughts are mine alone.

#romance #contemporaryromance #arc #mydarlingjane #ilsamaddenmills #bookstagram

I absolutely love this author and everything she writes. This book....I devoured like all of her others. Thank you so much for the ARC!

This was such a sweet romance from Ilsa Madden Mills. I do wish she would indie publish, because one book a year from her just isn’t enough!

3 1/2 Stars for the quarterback and the matchmaker

I loved the first book in this series ... I laughed and laughed, but this one kinda fell flat for me. I liked Jane and Jasper well enough, I just didn't love them. I would have liked to see more of Jane and Jasper with Jane's daughter. Jasper's nieces seemed very immature for seventeen year olds. I sure hope that Jane's brother Andrew gets a book.

Jane is a single mom and is trying to start a business of her own ... an online matchmaking service. Jasper is the star quarterback for an NFL team and a player. Jane and Jasper have known each other for awhile but they are like oil and water. Jasper loves to get on Jane's every last nerve and maybe ... just maybe ... he has a thing for her. Jasper reluctantly agrees to be on her dating site to try and help her business, but really he just want to see more of her. Will Jane be able to set Jasper up successfully?

I received an early copy courtesy of Montlake through NetGalley.

Tropes:
⭐️ he falls first
⭐️ single mom
⭐️ football player
⭐️ matchmaker
⭐️ frenemies

This book follows Jane and Jasper. Jane is the sister of the heroine from my darling bride. I was a little worried about not reading the first book but I had no issues without reading the first book. This is a complete standalone.

Jane is a matchmaker starting up her business and Jasper who she considers a frenemie sees his way to get closer to the girl hes always secretly wanted. I love a good secret pining trope especially when it’s the man doing the pining. And Jasper was PINING for his girl!!

Jane did not make it easy on him but Jasper was persistent and went on all the dates Jane set up and followed all her rules. He was playing the long game and he knew who he wanted he just needed her to catch up.

I really enjoyed reading this book and will definitely read more from this author.

My Darling Jane is the second book in The Darlings series but can be read as a standalone. Jane is the owner of a matchmaking business and a single mom to an adorable little girl and she is fiercely independent because life has taught her she needs to be. Jasper is a pro quarterback and she has made it her mission to find him a match. Too bad Jasper wants to be her match and she is fighting it with everything she has.

There were parts of this book I really enjoyed and then parts I struggled with. Overall, I struggled with Jane and how she interacted with Jasper on the whole. I am not sure why he felt so much attraction to her honestly. I did feel like she was a really good mother and she cared for her siblings immensely. It was clear she had a good heart but her interactions were very questionable at times. I struggled with parts of the story involving Jane's ex and Jasper's mom as I don't feel like they were well developed. There was also a big issue related to Jane's business that I didn't feel like was fully developed and worked out either. I also feel like Jane and Jasper's relationship seemed much more physical and less built on a good foundation, though I did overall really like Jasper. He was probably the highlight of this story, though I also enjoyed the parts with Londyn. I definitely enjoyed the he falls first aspect and protective hero parts of the story.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. It was engaging enough, but it was just ok. This author used to be a go to, must read, one of my absolute faves, but I feel like her writing has changed over the last three or four books and I feel like they have been more misses for me sadly, or perhaps my tastes have changed, but either way I feel like it's probably time for me to branch off into another direction.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Montlake for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Release Date: Nov 5 2024
2.8/5 rounded up
My Darling Jane is the second installment in the Darling series. This one features the middle sibling Jane, a single mom who is trying to get her matchmaking business up and running while still managing the bookstore that belongs to the family. The MMC is Jasper, football player and longtime friend/teammate of Jane's brother in law. Jasper has a bit of a ladies man reputation, but he's trying to convince her to match him with someone as he is ready to settle down and have a serious relationship. The problem is that they are attracted to each other from the get go and had always have a bantering frenemies kind of relationship. You don't have to read the first one to enjoy this one but it adds to the experience to know the other characters and how they met for the first time too. I did liked My Darling Bride a bit better than this one.

For one of the themes being Jane's story as a single mom I feel like we didn't get that many interactions with her daughter Londyn. The one outing of the three of them was cute but it would have been nice to have more. Another thing that was a bit odd was the way Jasper was taking care of his twin 17 year old nieces for the first bit of the book. What was weird was not that they were there but how they got treated or acted. They're seventeen but every interaction felt like they were middle schoolers. One character I liked was Barb, Jane's coworker at the bookstore she was a hoot.

I enjoyed the dual Pov's, the bantering and some of the conversations they had. They both had dealt with parental abandonment so they connected in that aspect. In my opinion they hooked up way too early in the story, Jane had barely match him with anyone when they were all over each other on her couch. This is a **SPOILER** but I have to say the I was also disappointed abut the way she got pregnant again, everything happened so fast. Having an unplanned pregnancy so young and dealing with her daughter's father leaving her too was a big topic and how she was determined to do better, I don't think Jane and Jasper's relationship needed that trope. **SOILER**

*Also as a side note because it was bothering me. It is mentioned a couple of times in the book that Jasper has long hair, at one time even wearing it in a man bun. The guy in the cover does not have long hair.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mountlake for the opportunity to read this ARC share my honest opinion.

funny. entertaining. spicy. i love ilsa's books so much!!
always fast paced with entertaining story lines. the most dreamy men and likeable characters. loved this one!

I don’t typically like books about matchmakers but I do typically like books by Ilsa Madden-Mills so I had to this book a try. I was not at all disappointed that I did. This was a more quiet romance than I was expecting, not a ton of drama which lets the connection between the two main characters shine through. I loved watching them slowly learn to trust what they felt.

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

This was such a quick and fun read! It deals with some pretty serious topics, specifically abandonment by the people who should love us most, which allowed me to connect to the book on a deeper level. A matchmaker playing cupid, and a football player friend of the family - what could go wrong? The banter was witty and giving, and I loved the romance and spice. Exactly what I needed!

I adored the first installment in The Darlings series and Ilsa Madden-Mills has once again blown me away with the follow-up novel My Darling Jane! This captivating novel centers around Jane Darling and Jasper Jannich, whom we previously met in the first book.

Jane, a single mother with a young daughter, is determined to establish her matchmaking business and has her sights set on signing star quarterback Jasper as her client. Jane tries her hardest to match him with his perfect match for the sake of publicity, but Jasper only has eyes for one woman.

As a fan of sports romance novels, I found My Darling Jane to be a perfect example of why I love this genre. The witty banter between the characters had me laughing out loud, and their undeniable chemistry kept me engrossed in their journey. I sincerely hope that Ilsa Madden-Mills continues this series, as I am eager to devour more of these fantastic novels. My Darling Jane is a 5-star romance novel that I highly recommend to all.

This was such a sweet read. I loved the concept and Jane's development over the course of the book was really great!

Jane Darling has started her own matchmaking service, ready to help people who have had it with the dating apps. But it’s tough to start a new business, especially when one is already juggling managing the family’s bookstore and raising her 4 year old daughter, Londyn. So, when Jasper Jannich, the star quarterback for New York, and best friend of her brother-in-law, offers to become a client, she jumps at the chance to utilize his high profile to help the business. The problem is that Jasper and Jane have a ton of chemistry themselves and it is harder and harder for them to deny their feelings. Still, there is a lot going on in both of their lives, both have been burned in love, and they aren't sure they are ready to take the leap again.

So for me, my reaction to Darling Jane was a lot like my feelings about the Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy: I loved the first book in the series which felt fresh with snappy dialogue and enduring characters who were figuring out some shit. In the sequels, I struggled to see the connection between the two main characters. There were just so many extraneous issues that it feels like the reader is bounced from one thing to another. And because of all that, the time that Jasper and Jane spend together feels rushed and disconnected. I could have done without Jasper’s twin nieces staying with him. I am not sure what that plot device was supposed to do, but I was just annoyed with them.

Should you still read it, yes, yes you should, because Madden-Mills writes witty and engaging stories. Even when I am nitpicking, I still love Madden-Mills books - Beauty and the Baller is one of my favorite reads. I will be waiting patiently for Andrew’s book and look forward to seeing Jasper and Jane again, just as supporting characters.

This is a five-star read that has been struck by cupid’s arrow. My goodness I adore Isla Madden Mills they just create such amazing characters that will make your heart sing, especially little Londyn, she will break many hearts if we ever get a The Darlings second generation that much is clear. This is number two in The Darlings series, but honestly, it’s not necessary that you read number one, it does compliment, but its not like you are too lost if you don’t. Jane is just the strongest woman; she would do anything to give her daughter a good life; by making her business a success she can do that. I can completely see why she wouldn’t give Jasper a look in, as her history means she expects the worst, and with his history you would likely get it. But this is a story of ups and downs, of trial and tribulations, of the worst happening and wondering what next, so pick it up and get to finding out if Cupid will be striking you as well.

Release date: 05 November,2024
Topics & themes: single parent, abandonment issues, matchmaking, sports, adoption, family ties, kids

Even though we met these characters in previous books, you don't have to read that book. It is completely fine to read this as standalone.

It is an okay read, I didn't fall in love with our main couple, I liked them just fine but nothing more than that.

If you are looking for a light contemporary romance, you might give this one a try.

3.5 ⭐️


Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy of the book