This was a wonderful read to get me out of a reading funk. I loved the banter between Emmy and Graham, but what made this book is that you get both POV's which makes you fall even more in love with both characters. I enjoyed that both main characters came with their own bunch of fun unique family/ side characters that just blend together so well. I loved seeing old characters from the earlier football books pop in throughout the story and I am on edge waiting for Jane's and Jasper's book.

The whole "cream" situation at the bookstore, the "pig" and the story behind it, along with the pick a different flower situations melted my heart.

I received an advanced reader's copy of My Darling Bride by Ilsa Madden-Mills from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Overall, I quite enjoyed this novel and it made for a quick, easy read. The main characters - Emmaline and Graham - were an interesting match. Their chemistry was hot, the banter was engaging, and the action moved along. All in all, this novel was well written and the plot was engaging and entertaining.

I was so excited to see Ilsa Madden-Mills have a new book available on NetGalley! Emmy and Graham’s story was another great read by her and I loved their dynamic together.

Emmy was experienced a childhood with domestic abuse, so when her boyfriend put his hands on her… she fled. She got to a small town in Arizona and stopped to regroup and go home without Kian (her now ex-boyfriend). While stopped in Arizona she meets Graham. She acts as he is her boyfriend to scare off another hotel patron who has been making her really uncomfortable. Graham had experienced a concussion and heart issues after experiencing a severe tackle in the Super Bowl. He was trying to find his way back to football and good health when he met Emmy at this hotel. He said he’d protect her, and he meant it. He was a protector at heart, and this was a key theme for the two of their relationship moving forward.

Someone else G wanted to protect was his brother, Brody. He was ineligible to receive his portion of their inheritance because he married a man, not a female. G thought this was wrong, and wanted to marry to get the inheritance before his snakey half brother could. That’s where Emmy comes in… the perfect marriage of convenience. Emmy owes G for stealing his $400k Lamborghini. So she agrees.

The two of them have a great family that really make their journey hilarious and so easy to read. It was fun to see how each of them had people in their corners that wanted to push their marriage to be a real relationship, but also were wary the other didn’t break any hearts in the process. This book read really easy, and was a fun story. I hope Jane gets a book next!

My Darling Bride is the story of Emmy and Graham who meet each other in the wackiest of ways. Emmy ends up stealing Graham's Lamborghini and thus the two get further involved with each other.

I enjoyed reading this book. I found both the main characters likeable and the secondary characters were endearing too. The story kept a good pace and I was keen to see what happened next and how it would all unfold.

Emmy is on the run from her abusive ex-boyfriend when she meets Graham at a rundown motel in the middle of the Arizona desert. Graham, a professional football player, is driving his new Lamborghini through the desert to clear his head after he took a bad hit on the field. In Emmy’s panic to get away from her ex, she “borrows” Graham’s brand new Lamborghini. Graham tracks her down once he makes it back in New York and, instead of pressing charges, he tells her he’ll drop it if she agrees to marry him.

I could not put this book down! Emmy and Graham’s first time meeting was hilarious. I loved the banter between the two characters. They were perfect for each other. I was ready to yell at Graham several times but he was seriously the sweetest.

The side characters were very entertaining as well and added a lot to the story! You could really see how much Emmy loved her siblings and I may have shed a few tears in a couple of their scenes lol.

This is my new favorite book by Ilsa and definitely recommend it!

I absolutely loved this story, Emmy and Graham have the perfect blend of passion and tension.
The opening of the book is the biggest hook I've ever read, with Graham's incident and Emmy's past catching up with her. Their initial "fake dating" scheme leads to an agreed marriage which certainly has its ups and downs - they don't get an easy ride but there is hope and love in the end.
I'm looking forward to a Jane and Jasper spin off 😍

Thank you netgalley for the arc!

Rating 3.5 rounded up to 4.

You could tell from the get go that there was undeniable chemistry between Emmy and Graham! The key trope in this one is fake dating/ marriage of convenience and it showed it off so well!

It was a quick and easy read and definitely looking forward to reading more of Isla books!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I’m a huge Ilsa Madden Mills fan and I absolutely adore her books. I really enjoyed this story but I wasn’t a big fan of Graham.

Emmaline was an amazing heroine. I loved how much she loved her family and how much she wanted to protect them. She was so strong and selfless! And very sassy! I enjoyed her character development. She went through a lot ( CW domestic violence and health issues, grief ) but she still managed to open up and find happiness.

She was very patient with Graham and their meet-cute was hilarious to be honest!

Graham… he had baggage but I struggled with him. He acted super sweet and did so many nice things for Emmaline but he did some things that really pissed me off.


There were some spicy scenes but not too many.

In the end, I wish we got to see more of them “together”. There were many subplots that were resolved super quickly and then promptly forgotten. I very much enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Emmaline's family. There were some nods to previous Ilsa Madden-Mills characters ( I love how everything is connected in some way!). I foresee a love story between two of the secondary characters of this book!

I found the writing absolutely beautiful, I think this author has a way with words and truly knows how to give characters depth.

Overall this was a nice read, if you enjoy football players, and marriages of convenience this is for you!

This may be my personal favourite book from this author. I love a marriage of convenience and this was done perfectly!

Emmaline has to steal Graham's car to get away from her dangerous ex-bf. Graham promises his brother he'll get married to secure the family inheritance and needs a bride urgently. He forces her to marry him or he'll press charges... But they fall in love along the way...

Love Graham and Emmaline together. They are fun and sweet. I love their chemistry. Can definitely relate to Emmaline and how she loves books. There are some dark topics like domestic violence though ....A terrific read.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

My Darling Bride turned out to be a significant fake marriage story after a somewhat disappointing start for this reader. Once the convoluted “meet cute” was over and the characters began to be defined this became a must finish read. The author has given both the hero and heroine life changing physical attributes/disabilities (multiple concussions for him; a-fib issues for her) and similar family abandonment issues while also reviving up their physical attraction practically to flaming levels. Author Ilsa Madden-Mills has done a lot of research and it certainly shows in her manuscript. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Highly recommend.

Oh, this book had me feeling a lot of things. It isn’t that extraordinary, but it’s well paced.

It’s a solid romcom, the characters are well written, and the plot is explored thoroughly as well. I really felt for Emmy as the eldest responsible sister and her relationship with her siblings made me really emotional!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this book!

WOW! This book is hot and steamy and for any bookworm, who could not fall in love with Emmy.

Emmy works at a book store and on a trip to Vegas with her boyfriend Kian, she flees domestic violence and ends up at a motel in the Arizona, where she meets Graham, whom is searching for the girl he saw in his visons, following his near death experience.

Emmy uses Graham as her ruse to stop an encounter with the sleazy fake Clint. However Kian has also found Emmy and she knows she has to escape the motel, but the only option is to steal Graham's very expensive car,

Graham is a huge football star and wants to help his brother with his financial troubles and inherit his fortune. The only problem is Graham has to be married to do so. He hatches a plan to marry Emmy and seek her acceptable of the plan, as a pay back for stealing his car. It's a mutual agreement on both parts and Emmy gets to remain at the bookshop she loves. However, Emmy and Graham both start to realise that their feelings for each other are growing and can they really walk away from the 'pretend' marriage after all.

I could not put this book down, it was that great that I finished it within one night. The author (Ilsa) covered elements of domestic abuse and childhood trauma so sensitively, there are some great saucy scenes and for any bookworm that has dreamt of being swept of her feet, this is a true life fairytale.

After Emmy Darling's boyfriend, Kian, becomes abusive, she heads to Arizona to collect her thoughts before returning home to NYC.

Coincidentally, Graham, a famous football player, is seeking peace and quiet in the same location. He never expected his path to cross with Emmy's.

In an attempt to avoid a confrontation with Kian, Emmy takes desperate measures and "borrows" Graham's car.

Now, Emmy must make amends. Graham seizes the opportunity to propose a deal - a three-month marriage for him to secure his inheritance and help his brother start his business.

✨Thoughts✨
This was a solid romcom. It managed to discuss serious themes while keeping an uplifting mood. The main characters had good chemistry. The steamy scenes were a delight to read.

Overall, this was a fast-paced story that I recommend to those who enjoy sports romance and marriage of convenience.

This was great!

The storyline was fabulous from the beginning to the very end. The characters had you rooting for them. And I loved that there wasn't a ton of drama and angst.

I enjoyed this and would read more books by this author!

This was so cute. The way they met was so funny I was dying laughing with the unicorn love. The side characters even entertained me as well.

This book is a perfect example of why the idiom "don't judge a book by its cover" was coined. I chose to read this book on a whim, fully expecting to abandon it halfway because at first glance, I assumed that it would be a story that lacked substance.

Sure, this one's a quick read, but it definitely packs a punch! This is my first story by Ilsa Madden-Mills, and I've quickly learned that I really do enjoy her style of writing.

On the surface, Emmy and Graham are polar opposites and have no business even meeting each other. But, of course, first there's the fake story to ward off "Fake Clint", a stolen Lamborghini and an abusive ex that won't take "no" for an answer. The solution? Get married.

This is a wonderful enemies-to-lovers story that also has a fake relationship element to it. But, really, who's faking? It's clear that he falls fast and hard, but Graham's past keeps him from giving into his feelings right away. As for Emmy? Once she's honest with herself, she's so open about her feelings for him.

I definitely didn't enjoy the third act, because WHAT WAS HE THINKING?! But, all in all, the conclusion gave readers a much needed HEA for these adorable characters.

4 Darling-to-darling ⭐️

So happy to have a new book by Illsa Madden- Mills. My darling bride does have some apperances from some other characters from Princess and the Player. I hope that Jasper will get his own book next.

This is hands down my favorite Ilsa book I've ever read. The butterflies I got while reading this? Unreal. Graham is my new favorite book boyfriend and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Emmy and Graham meet because she steals his Lamborghini, hehe oops. And his punishment for her instead of pressing charges is, of course, an arranged marriage!!! Graham is the sweetest guy and even sweeter to Emmy. He for sure fell first, and hard. Both main characters have some major health issues they are fighting as well as family/past BS so they're hesitant to get close to each other.

The nicknames he calls her!!!! He buys the bookstore she works at!!!! I just can't with this man, just dreamy.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC to review. I am hands down buying this when it releases later this year!!

**My only critique is the cover as I feel there could be a better cover to accurately represent the story and their relationship more!

Love this book!!!!!


"Thank you so much netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced review copy if this book💗
"I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”