My Darling Jane is a very cute enemies of sorts to lovers book with great banter. Jane Darling is building her matchmaking business and Jasper the football player agrees to help Jane by becoming a client and recommending her to his teammates. Jane is a single mom working on her business as well as managing a bookstore who does not believe in love for herself, but wants to help her clients meet their soulmates. Jasper is a lonely football player who has eyes only for Jane.
I found their story rather fast paced, They jumped from hating each other (although "hate" is a little strong) to "just friends" to lovers to an HEA. The book made me smile and had me rooting for them the whole time.

My Darling Jane by Ilsa Madden-Mills is the next installment in her My Darling series and the main characters, Jane and Jasper, have appeared in other books in the series.

Jane is trying to get her matchmaking business off the ground, while being a single mom and still working her full=time bookstore job. Jasper is a professional quarterback and Jane's acquaintance, who is definitely not looking for a matchmaker, but after helping Jane with a too handsy man at a bar, agrees to be a client to help get her business off the ground.

After a few disastrous matches, Jane is happy that Jasper is willing to use her services so that she can get some good publicity for her new business. The only problem is Jasper doesn't like and isn't interested in any of the women she sets him up with, because he reluctantly realizes, he wants Jane.

Watching their relationship bloom from frenemies, to friends, to more was fun. This is an easy read and a perfect book to relax with on a lazy summer afternoon. I am going to go back and read the other books in the series - I think this can easily be read as a stand alone, though.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in consideration of an honest opinion. All views are my own.

My Darling Jane by I. M. Mills, published by Montlake, is the second stand alone in the Darlings Series. The previous book is My Darling Bride, Emmy and Graham's story.
This is Jane and Jasper's story. Jane Darling is a single mom, Emmy's younger sister and she is managing a fledging dating agency.
Jasper is a star quarterback on top of his world, and he kind of likes Jane. Jane has a lot of spunk, sometimes she's very annoying. While Jasper has his own issues, but he's always a good guy, contraire to Jane. I just couldn't like her character, shallow, flighty, not able to move on aka hung up on her past - she's just too much; keeps Jasper and the reader at arms lengths. Not my fav read by this author, disappointing at some point I maybe my expectations were too high.

My Darling Jane picks up a good bit after My Darling Bride ends, this time featuring Emmy's sister Jane and her sworn enemy, Jasper Jannich. I loved the football aspect of this book. I loved the vibe Jasper brought from the locker room and his relationship with his teammates. I also liked how relentlessly (but respectfully) pursued Jane even though she acted so turned off by him.

I usually love Ilsa's books, but this one read a bit choppy to me. I liked the idea of the plot a lot, but some of Jane's tactics were a bit too cringey for my taste. I enjoyed her tenacity and work ethic, but felt like she didn't always have the skills to back her business that she was trying to build. And the costume at the bar thing was weird to me. I did really like how her sister tied into the whole story after reading My Darling Bride, and I liked how strong of a character Jane was in the end.

Overall, while I usually love Ilsa's books, this one wasn't for me. I will definitely continue to read this author's books and look forward to the next one in the Darling siblings series.

Jane Darling is a single mother to a 5year old daughter whose father walked away as soon as Jane told him she was pregnant. Doing all she can to give her daughter a secure and happy childhood she works as a manager of a New York bookshop and is also setting up her own dating agency.
Jasper is a famous quarterback with mutual friends Jane and he have always seemed to clash.
When Jane is at a bar dressed in a toga with angel wings to hand out cards to advertise her agency Jasper is there and and rescues her from a men who is getting aggressively ‘handsy’ Jasper has always thought Jane was beautiful even more so when he sees her in the toga.
Afraid of any relationship and commitment Jane tries to deny their obvious attraction to each other but Jasper says he will become a client of her agency to increase its profile. When she sets up dates for him he’s not in the least interested.Her defences weaken and they become closer.
A lovely romance, no great angst but some well written dramatic scenes that keep up the pace and enjoyment of the book. With a satisfying conclusion and lovely epilogue.
My thanks to netgalley and publisher Montlake for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

I’ve read 3 books by this author so far, and they have all made me lol pretty hard and brought allll the heat, the storyline of this one was fun- she’s trying to set him up on dates through her matchmaking business but falls in love with her in the mean time. I love how cute Jasper is with Jane’s daughter 🥹🫶🏼 and the ending was perfect!

Ilsa is a one click author for me! There is no hesitation when it comes to her books and I will admit at the start of the book Jane was a frazzled mess and I couldn’t understand why she was wanting her company so bad but as I continued with the book I started to realize that her goal was for people to find their person. She maybe gave up on love for herself but she wanted the world around her to find the person who would stand beside them and never leave them.

It is through her entrepreneurial endeavors that she crosses paths with Jasper again and a flame is ignited for them both! If only she wasn’t trying to find him his Cupid match! Things between these two start gradually but you can feel when things go from friends to more. Both have past demons that they need to face and I felt that the issues with them seem to be resolved quickly and I wanted more but I was happy with the ending and seeing them happy. The more I thought about it, I also didn’t mind that it was not explained more because they are not important to who Jasper and Jane are at this point in their lives.

Jasper is definitely not who I thought he was as a character and I loved that the man had a soft side, especially when it came to his nieces. As a former single mom I have a soft spot for Jane and how strong she is.

I loved the first book, this one didn’t sit right. Really loved the hate banter they had at the beginning, Jane was Jasper’s matchmaker because he was starting to feel like settling down. I don’t remember but I think they kissed in the previous book and if they did it was not mentioned here but would have been useful for the storyline. The surprise at the end is what has me feeling unsure, Jane has abandonment issues both her mom and sperm donor leaving her behind. It felt like she trapped Jasper with a “surprise” by leaving it up to fate, which was unnecessary to the story, he’d already came to his senses into wanting a real relationship with her.

Becoming a true fan of Ilsa Madden-Mills! This is a stand alone sequel to the My Darling Wife. I truly enjoyed Jane getting her own story as I feel like love with her during the first book!

This was a great sports rom but just a sprinkle of sports.

Jane and Jasper... what a pair. I freaky liked Jane's relationship with her daughter Londyn, but the main characters relationship didn't feel exactly right. I also didn't like how certain conflicts were glazed over... what happened to Jane's business with the poor review.? What happened with Jasper's mom? Addressing it in the epilogue felt rushed and a bit empty.

I loved the first Darling book, and the second sister is just as fun!

Matchmaker Jane and QB Jasper have great banter and good chemistry throughout the story, and while I wish that the two challenges they each are going through were a little more in-depth for character building, it is a fun read. The friends to lovers is a hit or miss for me, but in some ways I feel this was almost like frenemies at the start and moved into friends then lovers. I loved the dual POV and Jaspers interactions with his adopted family, and the love they have.

I would say going into this one for fun, good banter, and just a wonderful weekend read. A great read for football season and sports romance lovers.

After reading the first book in this series, I was hoping for this book. I was hoping for Janes' story. And we got it.
I loved Jasper and Jane. I love how easy they fall for one another.
But ...
I loves the first book more. I don't know why, I can not put my fing on it, but I wanted a bit more. A bit more mom - daughter connection, I wanted a little bit more Jane and Jasper, I wanted Emma to be more in this book.
I love, love this author and her writing style, so this is not bad at all it is a solid 4 stars, mybe Mills spoiled me with her books, because for me they are almost every one a 5 stars read.
But this one ended at 4.
What buged me the most is when Jane gave a cold sholder to Jasper. And she pushed him away, and then said, well he could have stayed.
I eanted to yell - Do not be such a girl - tell him What you want?! Not what you think you want!!!

I normally really like Ilsa Madden Mills books. They are fun romps and good easy romances but this one just did not connect with me. I liked aspects of it but it almost seemed weirdly rushed to me. Plot lines like his biological mother or the father of her child felt too easily resolved and too quickly done so. I also felt the ending and epilogue were unearned. I hope her next book is back to what I expect from the author.

This is actually more a 2.5 then a 2

Title: My Darling Jane by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Release Date: November, 5th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

My Darling Jane" by Ilsa Madden-Mills is a delightful romp through the world of sports romance, with a twist that adds depth and charm to the genre. This Wall Street Journal bestseller is a testament to Madden-Mills' skill in crafting stories that are both heartwarming and steamy, with characters that leap off the page and into your heart.

Jane Darling is no ordinary matchmaker. She's a single mom with a dream to secure a better future for her daughter, and she's willing to don a toga and angel wings to make it happen. Her unconventional approach to attracting clients leads her to a sports bar, where she encounters Jasper Jannich, New York's star quarterback and her unlikely ally.

Jasper is every bit the playboy athlete you'd expect, but there's more to him than meets the eye. His interest in Jane goes beyond her matchmaking services; he sees in her a kindred spirit, someone who, like him, is fiercely dedicated to those they love.

Their evolving relationship is a dance of push and pull, with Jasper's persistent advances and Jane's cautious retreats creating a tension that's both palpable and endearing.

Madden-Mills does an excellent job of balancing the lighthearted elements of the story with the more serious themes of single parenthood, second chances, and the fear of opening one's heart after heartbreak. Jane's journey is one of self-discovery and empowerment, as she learns to trust again and to believe in the possibility of love. Jasper, for his part, shows remarkable growth, transforming from a carefree bachelor to a man ready to commit to the woman he loves.

The chemistry between Jane and Jasper is undeniable, and Madden-Mills handles their romantic development with a deft touch. The banter is witty, the tension is real, and the payoff is satisfying. Their relationship is built on a foundation of mutual respect and understanding, which makes their love story all the more compelling.

As the second title in The Darlings series, "My Darling Jane" stands alone beautifully, offering readers a complete and engaging story. However, the book also serves as an enticing introduction to the series, with enough background and character development to make readers curious about the other Darlings.

“My Darling Jane" is a must-read for fans of sports romance and anyone who loves a good friends-to-lovers story.

Ilsa Madden-Mills has crafted a tale that's both sexy and sweet, with characters you can't help but root for. Whether you're a fan of the genre or just looking for a feel-good romance, this book is sure to hit the spot.

Thank you to The Publisher Montlake ,The Author Ilsa Madden-Mills & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing the arc. My Darling Jane is part of a series, which I didn’t realize before reading. I think if I had read the other books, maybe the characters would’ve made more sense to me. This book was not bad — but it felt very fast to me. There was a lot going on, and I don’t feel like there was much character development, but again, maybe the characters were more in the other books! Not a bad read overall — there were a few different tropes in this book, and it was still a fun read.

Jane es exmodelo, tiene una hija y está intentando poner en marcha un negocio de emparejamiento. Su ex, el donador de esperma le envía la invitación de su boda, ella se pone mal porque el tipejo le dijo que jamás quería atarse a nadie, se fue y jamás conoció a su hija y ahora 5 años después quiere conocerla.

5 años celibe
Jasper es un jugador de americano, fue compañero de equipo del protagonista del libro anterior, él y Jane se conocen desde hace años, pero ella lo ve como tonto.

No me gustó que él coquete hasta con las piedras, eso solo debería estar reservado para Jane. Realmente no pasa nada malo porque en esos momentos Jane es quien no quiere nada que ver con Jasper y el lo hace para molestarla.

Me canso ver a Jane alejandolo y consertandole citas para que luego estuviera celosa, o sea ella le estaba buscando una esposa. Sólo fueron 2 citas y él no se interesó en ninguna de ellas porque quería a Jane.


No me gustó como fue el primer acercamiento de Tomas con Londyn.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My Darling Jane by Ilsa Madden-Mills was every bit of charming and fun!

Ilsa Madden-Mills has a knack for mixing fun and charming and sweet elements and still making it steamy and parts emotional. I loved the sport romance aspect of the book that mixes a matchmaker that despises him and yet they can't help but fall for each other. I could right off the bat tell how down bad he was for her and how teasing her and making her mad was banter and flirting for him. I love how they both grow as individuals throughout the book. He learns how to take love and life seriously. He's used to casual and being fun but with her he has to try and work for it and not only that but as a single mom, she has to guard and protect her and her daughter. I love that he goes from aloofness to calling them his girls. I loved how he slowly warms up to the idea and fights for them and that she.makes him work for it. I thought the book was flirty, fun, steamy but also touches on subjects like trusting and learning to fall for someone and that it's okay. I really enjoyed this book and the epilogue was absolutely perfect. I couldn't think of a better ending for them. Fans of Madden-Mills or sport romance fans will love and devour this single mom and athlete hate to love romance and I cannot recommend it enough!

With her matchmaking business needing an influx of eligible men that are worth dating, Jane finds herself seeking out the last man she ever thought she would. Football phenom Jasper is not looking for a HEA, but just a good time - that is until sparks fly between him and June. Can passion ignite in just a moment between two unlikely people? Ilsa Madden-Mills will make her readers laugh out loud while at the same time hope for a HEA. A great addition to the series.

📖 My Darling Jane (The Darlings)
✍️ Ilsa Madden-Mills
🗓️ Nov 05 2024
📝 Montlake

Genre:
Contemporary romance, sports romance

Series or standalone:
Apparently this is part two of a series! I had no trouble reading this as a standalone though. It took me a while to find out which one was the previous book; My Darling Bride. Apparently Jasper and Jane are characters from previous novels and now got their own book.

<b> Tropes: </b>
❤️he falls first
❤️ single mother
❤️ football player
❤️ matchmaking
❤️ frenemies

⚠️: cults, abandonment, foster care
POV
dual, first persons POV

💭Summary 💭
Jane is a single mom who is persistent on making a name for herself and providing for her daughter. Besides having a young daughter, she dedicated herself to her (hopefully) up and coming business, a matchmaking agency. But as most beginnings are rough, she decided to go all in.
Dressed in a cupids costume she hits a sports bar. Not her choice of spending the evening, but you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. She meets her kind of nemesis Jasper, who actually decided to help her out…. The beloved star quarterback becomes her new elite bachelor. It’s just…he has only eyes for Jane…

Cover:
The font was very fitting for the agency and the agenda of the book. Plus a kind of hot guy on the cover? Won’t say no to that!

Heroine:
Jane Darling (25)
I immediately loved her. Her sense of humour, sarcasm and tenacity. Jane is a fabulous young woman who handles single motherhood and a business.

Hero:
Jasper Jannich (31)
Jasper was so much more than I expected. I didn’t expect so much depth to him and the whole cult story line .

Side cast:
Her daughter Londyn (4ish?), her ex boyfriend and sperm donor Thomas.

Diverse cast of characters?:
Right from the beginning you get different characters which all bring something unique to the table. There’s a sense of warmth and family, a lot of support going on. I love the dynamics between the different characters.

<b> character development </b>
Jane is a tough one at first, life made her. Jasper never had it easy as well, but I love his tenacity and positivity. Both grew immensely on me and I loved to watch their relationship grow.

Location:
New York City, New York, USA 🇺🇸

Fluency/Writing:
I was immediately charmed by the writing. I read one of her novels years ago and I don’t remember much, just that it was nothing to write home about? This one the other hand? Hooked from the first page.
The blurb sounded like a (bad) romantic comedy to me, but this exceeded my expectations! This book is definitely victim of a badly written blurb. I mean, this had so much more depth than I imagined. I loved the characters and the development.
I imagined something cutesy and in a way it also was, but this book exceeded my expectations. I loved the writing, super easy to get lost in, the characters were amazing and all in all, I am so happy I’ve read this.

🌶️: 4/5
😱: -
😭:2/5
❤️: 4/5
⭐️: 4/5
What I’ve learned while reading:
- queen of heavens s e x position - doesn’t it say it all? Had to look up that one 🙃
- Continuing on that note… splitting the bamboo got a whole new meaning….
Do I recommend:

⭐️Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own, I was under no obligation to review.

4.5


I'm so so happy with this book, it was exactly what I hoped for jane and jasper's story and even a few extra surprises that made it even better than I expected.

It was clear on emmygraham's book the chemistry these two have, their banter and push and pull was perfect to make them a couple, but what really makes them the one for each other is present in this book with jasper's backstory and how that makes jane realize he's so much more than what she thought with his first impression.

Jane is a wonderful character, strong and fearless but also secretly hopeful and with some emotional scars to heal, and with the help and love of jasper she does it perfectly.

Jasper is a sweetheart, a sunshine that hides some clouds but still shines, a wonderful family man and friend, who falls so hard for Jane and adores Londyn from the very start, he's just the perfect man for this darling girl.

The side characters make this book absolutely golden and hilarious (yes Babs this is for you) and I truly hope we get to read about the darling man Andrew, I'm super curious about who his love could be. And how it fits inside this big sweet loving family.

I'm always excited to read a new Ilsa book because she never lets me down, and this one is no exception.