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.

Jane and Jasper are opposites in every way, and though Jasper is harmless, Jane is always irritated whenever he’s around. I didn’t realize Jane was so young. She’s like 25 in here, and she’s spent much of her young adult life taking care of her daughter. Jane wants to prove that she can be successful doing it on her own, and that is to launch her matchmaking business. She really puts herself out there, in her little cupid outfit, but Jasper steps up to help her. I think there are some cute moments here, and it was an entertaining read. Sometimes Jane can be exasperating, but Jasper and Londyn are cute enough to get you into the story.

I enjoyed this story and found the characters so endearing!
Everytime Londyn was calling Jasper,” Jaspie” my heart 🥰

Jane is a single mum who is determined to make her new venture, her matchmaking company, a success!
She wants to find the perfect match for people , spread happiness and ultimately help them find love.
She doesn’t believe in love, because she’s been hurt the hard way… everything revolves around her daughter.

Jasper , the sexy QB, sees everyone settling down around him but it’s not for him… his past makes it hard for him to commit fully.

One night he bumped into Jane dressed as Cupid in a bar and so it began! The banter between them, the love hate relationship and the should we/ should we not will get you hooked and rooting for them.

Don’t get me wrong, Jasper’s trauma and Jane’s past made both of them soulmates, in my opinion, but it was deeper than that. The author managed successfully to make you feel their fear, pain and hope at the same time.

I LOVED how both characters were close to their family and the twins… they made me laugh so much… same for the library’s announcements!

Jasper decides to sign up for Jane’s matchmaking services just to get closer to her… whereas Jane was determined to find him the perfect match to not fall for him…
Trust me when I say that they deserve their HEA. Their story is not just a romance, it’s about life , the past and allowing yourself to move forward leaving the past behind and seizing the day … and the future.
There’s always a plan B…
Beautiful story from start to finish.

*Arc provided for an honest review

I recently finished My Darling Jane, the second book in Ilsa Madden-Mills' The Darlings series, and I have to say, I was thoroughly entertained. This contemporary romance beautifully blends humor and heartfelt moments, and I found myself completely immersed in the story.

Jane, the protagonist, is a relatable single mom who is trying to juggle her responsibilities while navigating her feelings for a charming quarterback. I loved how Madden-Mills developed Jane’s character; she felt real and authentic, making it easy for me to connect with her struggles and triumphs. The chemistry between Jane and the quarterback was electric, and their journey from friends to lovers kept me on the edge of my seat. The tension was palpable, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way.

While the plot did have some predictable elements that are common in romance novels, I appreciated how Madden-Mills added her unique flair to these familiar tropes. The humor sprinkled throughout the narrative made me laugh out loud, and the emotional depth added layers to the characters’ experiences. The writing flowed effortlessly, making it a quick and enjoyable read.

Overall, I would rate My Darling Jane 4 stars. It’s a delightful addition to the romance genre that left me feeling warm and satisfied. If you’re looking for a fun escape filled with charming characters and heartfelt moments, this book is definitely worth picking up!

I enjoyed My Darling Jane. It is a romance novel with a sports star lead, a bookstore worker/matchmaker and a cute kid. I enjoyed reading this and the characters. It was a quick read with a lot of heart and strong family vibes. It was also nice to get little glimpses into previous characters lives now, although it would be a very easy standalone read as well.

Book 2 in The Darlings series. Jasper & Jane, they seriously had me cracking up with their banter. They are enemies lol, and they are a trip. But once they start letting their guard down (more so her), they become a whole lot more. Fun enjoyable read

Oh, how I love Jane and Jasper! These two were meant to be together! Such a great book from a wonderful author!

Jasper Jannich is the sweetest teddy bear ever. From the beginning he wanted Jane. The woman he described was Jane. Gosh, I was kicking my feet and giggling over the way he acted over her. From the banter to the utter desire that radiated off both of them, this was a super cute read. I love how Jasper was just there for her, he was her rock and her constant when she needed a shoulder to lean on. Fate definitely had a hand in them being together. The tarot card scene was my favorite part it was like the foundation of everything.
I hope hope hope we get a story for Andrew 💕

✨Review✨
***
My Darling Jane was so good!!! I loved Jasper and Jane. They were perfect together. Their chemistry and relationship was so good. I loved the banter and friendship they formed. Jasper was perfect. He was so sweet, funny, and kind. I loved Jane's personality and attitude. The writing was so good and the story was so easy to read and love. The spice was perfect and the ending was so sweet.
***
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🔥🔥
Romance: 🩷🩷🩷

Ranking: 4.5⭐

After reading the first book of The Darlings I had high expectations for Jane & Jasper, and they didn't disappoint! They are both characters who are very afraid of loving and being hurt, their story has sad moments, BUT Ilsa Madden-Mills also lets us see the connection they share, a beautiful love story and more secondary characters to love!

Jane was a character that I didn't really like in the first book, BUT she stole my heart in this second one! First of all I loved that My Darling Jane starts some time after the first book ended because that made the change in Jane & Andrew's lives much more evident: I could see a Jane who, even though she faces problems keeping her business afloat, is also determined to succeed on her own. It broke my heart to hear about her story of abandonment and how it has led her to protect herself from further pain, but despite all that Jane strives every day to give her little Londyn a happy and loving life, and one of the things I loved the most was that Jane wasn't alone in that job, that Babs & Andrew were always supporting her, especially her relationship with her brother was one of the things that melted my heart the most about Jane's plot. One thing that was unexpected in this character's story was the return of Tomas to her life, he's Londyn's dad and Jane's ex who she hasn't seen since he found out she was pregnant.

Jasper is a character I've been dying to read since his first appearance in Ilsa's books! I fell in love with his charming, playful and spontaneous personality and I didn't expect him to share such a heartbreaking story as Jane's: it was very sad to learn about the tragedies of his childhood, how much it hurt him, and how, just like the heroine of the story, he does everything he can to not suffer again. Another thing I didn't expect from this character was that sweet, tender, adorable and loving side that he always brings out when he's with his nieces and when he tries to be with Jane when she needs him and that made me love him even more.

Jane & Jasper are two people very hurt by their past and that complicates their love story a lot, but despite those obstacles, the dynamic between these two is one of the funniest thanks to their attempts to show each other "how much they dislike the other", that they know how to push each other's buttons and especially thanks to the connection that develops between Jasper & Jane after that first failed date he has at her service. I really liked that they are each other's safe place, that despite their insecurities and fears they allow themselves to be vulnerable with each other and that they confide in each other the things that hurt them the most, I also loved that Jasper was always sure that his date had to be with Jane and that he wouldn't stop until he got it, also, I loved the ending that the author gave to this story, without a doubt one of my favorites.

I think there's just one small detail that kept me from giving this book five stars: and that is that thi is not the single parent trope story we're used to (view spoiler). In part I think it's because the author already showed us these characters in the first book of the series and we know that they already know each other, but I think it was necessary to show that relationship between the two most important people in Jane's life too.

💘Jane: 5/5
🏈Jasper: 5/5
💘Plot: 4.5/5
🏈Love story: 5/5
💘Secondary characters: 5/5
🏈Universe: 5/5
💘Cover: 5/5
🌶️: 2.5/5

I started chapter one late one night while I was half asleep in bed. Read it and decided the book wasn’t for me. Picked it up a week later to try another chapter and never put it down.

Lesson learned: Dont start a new book when I can barely keep my eyes open.

I ended up really liking the romance between Jasper and Jane. It’s mentioned how charming Jasper is and he even charmed me. His banter with Jane made her more likeable to me as I felt I was seeing the real Jane. I’m here for the snarky scowls.

My first book by the author and I really enjoyed it. I liked that Jasper and Jane had struggles to deal with outside of the relationship as it made them stronger in the end.

Small side note. I got super excited when Mr Darden mentioned getting books on honey badgers. It made me wonder if the author had read Shelly Laurenston’s honey badger series.

Thanks to netgalley, Montlake and Ilsa Madden Mills for the arc and this is my honest review.