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Not My Romeo (The Game Changers Book 1)

Not My Romeo (The Game Changers Book 1)

byIlsa Madden-Mills
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Top positive review

All positive reviews›
The Romantic Rush Blog
TOP 500 REVIEWER
5.0 out of 5 starsOne of my favs of the year- clever, charming, and captivating
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
OH MY GOODNESS ILSA MADDEN-MILLS, what a DELIGHTFUL story! Chock full of quirky characters, sexy banter, the right balance of comedy and romantic angst, Not My Romeo quickly rose to one of my top reads of the year and a story that I will likely return to for years to come. The story is so original, and the laughs and swoons were aplenty. I was totally enchanted by this witty and fantastically written opposites attract charmer.

In a blind date mix-up, our delightfully quirky heroine Elena finds herself on a date with the Jack, notorious star NFL quarterback who is constantly at the center of constant bad press off the field. He’s hoping for a quiet dinner alone on Valentine’s Day away from the constant badgering of the press and jersey chasers when a buttoned-up, sexy secretary type plops down across from him and somehow strong-arms her way into a date. Turns out, she’s quite funny, if a bit odd, so he goes with it. Elena, however, just thinks she’s on a blind date with a boring local weatherman who turns out to be quite a hunk of a man and endearingly sardonic. When he discovers Elena thinks he’s someone else, Jack decides to revel in a rare moment of anonymity, leading to a passionate night that both assume is a one night stand. Fate..well and a pair of unicorn panties...draw these two back together. Their attraction and chemistry is undeniable, but both have some lingering baggage from past relational betrayals, and given their rocky and dishonest start, theirpath to romance is rocky...and also pretty damn humorous and endearing.

I loved both of these characters SO hard. Librarian Elena is the definition of adorkable. From her pet swine Romeo down to her homemade clothing choice and unique take on lingerie, she’s just the perfect balance of odd and endearing. She even spells out words when she gets nervous. Her authenticity and self-awareness made her so easy to connect with as a character, and her sass and wit kept me (and Jack) laughing. She’s spunky, but she’s also a tad shy and genuinely kind and compassionate. Ilsa gives her some real emotional range- a fully dimensional character that just really captured my heart. I fell in love with her probably as much as Jack did.

And Jack, oh sweet Jack. I loved how real Ilsa makes him- he’s jaded, distrustful, so this is not an insta-love story. In fact, his motivations are a bit crappy at first. But despite all that, we deeply empathize with him. He’s a victim of his own success- struggling because he trusted the wrong people, now self-isolated because of that breach, and punished in the public eye for crimes he did not commit. I felt his loneliness so much. His walls are high, but at the end of the day he’s a sweet and sensitive man just looking to feel seen and free. He’s quite charming, and also very funny. And, it doesn’t hurt that he’s also an alpha dirty talker, too.

The chemistry here is AMAZING- this isn’t just heat. Oh, the heat is HOT, and the physical chemistry is captivating, but Ilsa builds something deeper here, more soulful. I felt the slow and steady interconnection of their hearts- as they get to know each other, timidly trust one another, and as they mess up in this new relationship. Ilsa keeps the story beautifully focused on the emotional bond- the “getting to know you” moments that books often skip over. And she cleverly (and humorously) finds ways to keep these two in each other’s orbit and interact, even when they are resistant to give in. Their journey is truly magical- I was swept away by the tenderness of this relationship.

While the focus is mostly on this relationship, Ilsa also delivers some fantastic secondary characters and a heavy dose of small town charm that had this native Tennessean craving some sweet tea and chicken casserole. Ilsa is such a compelling character creator- each of the secondary characters are purposeful, impactful to our narrative, and incredibly well articulated. She’s clearly investing in this bench of players for future stories, which is FANTASTIC because I could not get enough of Jack’s friends or Elena’s family and the Daisy Lady Gang. And the town of Daisy- I feel like I’ve lived there my whole life. The church rituals, gossiping neighbors, the hair salon hangouts, the local play and the meddling family-Ilsa truly creates a magical and welcoming place for our story to unfold.

While the romance is charming, this is also a really well done story of individual acceptance and self-actualization. Both characters feel trapped in some way- Jack in his own slandered reputation, Elena in the tension between her aspirations and her own circumstances, including what she sees as her small-town/family values. Both are heavily distrustful of one another, yet somehow, they find true vulnerability and openness with each other. They realize that love is messy, that love requires a leap of faith- that it’s never really safe, you’re never really free of baggage...you just have to jump. And when you jump with the right person- you’ll never fall alone. And oh my- jump they do. Both are able to expose the parts of themselves they’ve been hiding, to let someone else in completely- and the result? Well the result is that both find the supportive freedom they need to finally be their full selves. Pure romantic magic. I could not love this story anymore! Please pick it up! I'm so excited we get more from this world with a series!
Read more
155 people found this helpful

Top critical review

All critical reviews›
Jennifer Hinson
3.0 out of 5 starsI didn’t hate it, but......
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2020
“At least it didn’t break. Are you going to break me?” I tease. “Only in the best way, baby.”

Not My Romeo is a new sports romance/small town romance standalone where a blind date mixup involving mistaken identity sets up a love story that soon seems fated. Jack Hawke is the star QB for the pro team in Nashville, always hated & labeled an arrogant bad boy by the media, it only gets worse after a bad breakup & her tell all book of lies. He isn’t looking for a woman or trouble, yet both arrive in the form of sweet librarian Elena Riley when she mistakes him for her blind date. One night of passion turns into a fascination that doesn’t go away. He’s the kind of guy Elena needs to steer clear of.....but when he shows up to star as the Romeo to her Juliet in the town’s upcoming play, they both discover that maybe they are exactly who each other needs.

“I love you,” I say, the words broken. “I knew you’d sweep me away—and in the end, you’d crush me. I stayed right with you all the way because I couldn’t bear to not be part of your world!”

This was hands down the most anticipated release for me this month (and one of the years as well) so I went in with high expectations. I liked the premise and that cover is OMG hotness. Maybe I was unfair in my expectations, because it just didn’t live up to the hype. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a bad read....quite the opposite, it was adorable and sweet and all that. The problem came down to two things....it reminded me of other books/movies AND it was honestly slightly forgettable....even now (a few days later), I couldn’t remember the heroine’s name to save my life. It was just......okay.

Book Facts:
Told in: Dual POV, all present day.
Type? First installment of an all new series of interconnected stories called The Game Changers.
Triggers: N/A
Ends in: HEA ending for couple with overall universe expanding into other installments.

The Main Players:
Jack Hawke: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
“It’s beautiful, the way he wants me. And the beauty of it is that it’s not just about the sex between us; it’s about him, his awkwardness, how he gets me, how he carried me in the rain.”

Elena Riley: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Is she crazy? Who the hell is she? Yet I’m hanging on her every word, slowly warming up, feeling . . . interested.”

What worked for me:
❤️ It was funny but not in that overdone kinda way. Every character in this book had a moment where they genuinely pulled (at the very least) a giggle from me. That may not seem like a huge feat BUT it’s actually rare for every “involved” character to be part of those moments.

❤️ It’s rare when I feel like the support characters outshine the leads, but that’s the case with this book. From Aunt Clara and her completely inappropriate texts/dialogue, to her mama’s unintentional funny moments (where I feel most Southern girls can all see a little of their own mamas in her), to Topher and his steadfast support/loyalty to Elena, Timmy and his adorable-ness, and even Devon (& Aiden) with their arrogance....it all came together to create a group that was more likable and relatable than the two we were supposed to connect with more.

❤️ I LOVED the blind date aspect of this story. The chapters that lead up to and involved that scene were my faves of the book. It was a unique premise (for me), and I felt like Elena was someone we could all relate to a little....being the “everyday” girl in front of someone seemingly unattainable and getting a shot at him.

❤️ I wasn’t a fan of the whole Romeo & Juliet dynamic of the story, even if it was just a play they both starred in. It was a little cheesy and just didn’t “fit” Jack’s character. However, the actual performance and how it plays out was hilarious to me.....
“Juliet?” I start as he climbs back up the trellis. “Romeo, you’re back. What a surprise.”
....giving me that spark of excitement missing as it neared the end that was necessary to keep me going.

❤️ Despite not being a big fan of Jack’s, I have to admit I actually liked that he was everything opposite of what his public persona was. His love for K-dramas, his shyness and social awkwardness, and his gentlemanly ways made him a lot more bearable when he did something stupid involving Elena.

What didn’t:
🖤 It felt like it was a combo of a few very well known books/movies I’ve seen before. There was something about Jack and Elena’s romance (and his commitment phobia) that was very much reminiscent of the Driven series. It felt too “been there done that” in some parts. Then the whole beauty shop/small town southern vibe that is Steel Magnolias, one of my most fave childhood movies BUT also something that felt a little too in your face. Was it enough to completely deter me? Of course not, but I couldn’t help comparing.

🖤 The same way I loved the support characters and felt they outshined the leads, it’s also a “strike” against the book in a sense considering the leads should always be the two most important/connectable characters in the book. When that doesn’t happen, it leads to a read that isn’t very memorable and quite possibly the reason I couldn’t remember the heroine’s name of this book so soon after reading it yet could remember all the secondary ones. When you can’t really connect to the two the book is all about, it’s hard to really “love” or enjoy a story like it’s meant to be enjoyed.

🖤 While I admired Elena’s refusal to bend to what he wanted (the NDA being the main one), I felt it was quite empty when she continued to give him everything knowing he had no intentions of giving her his all in return (originally). Not to mention, his inability to trust her and immediate think the worst of her yet she so easily forgives him just made her a little too weak for me. Oh but don’t worry, he wasn’t too high on my “admired” list considering his refusal to see her as someone other than his ex. Of course it all works out in the end, but it just was kinda “whatever” at that point.

🖤 How her little sister is set up in this one, not only doing something absolutely unforgivable in terms of sister loyalty but playing the victim as if she had a legitimate excuse for her actions really isn’t the best way to appeal to readers to want to get to know her in the next installment. I think I would’ve respected her more had she just woman-ed up and not made excuses, but the whole playing the victim in order to make her more likable to readers didn’t really do it for me. But who am I kidding....I’m going to read her installment because I love me some Devon.

The Verdict:
Despite having my share of issues with this book, I can’t deny it was a fun little read. It won’t be one I reach for the re-read or likely one I remember reading 6 mths from now, but I didn’t feel like I wasted my time and I thought it was cute. So should you invest the time? If you have some to spare and are into cute sports romance reads, this isn’t a bad way to take up the time. It’s just not something that will likely blow your mind.

“That sometimes, fate gives you a bad game, but in the end destiny straightens it out. And you win. You and I are going to win.”
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From the United States

The Romantic Rush Blog
TOP 500 REVIEWER
5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favs of the year- clever, charming, and captivating
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
OH MY GOODNESS ILSA MADDEN-MILLS, what a DELIGHTFUL story! Chock full of quirky characters, sexy banter, the right balance of comedy and romantic angst, Not My Romeo quickly rose to one of my top reads of the year and a story that I will likely return to for years to come. The story is so original, and the laughs and swoons were aplenty. I was totally enchanted by this witty and fantastically written opposites attract charmer.

In a blind date mix-up, our delightfully quirky heroine Elena finds herself on a date with the Jack, notorious star NFL quarterback who is constantly at the center of constant bad press off the field. He’s hoping for a quiet dinner alone on Valentine’s Day away from the constant badgering of the press and jersey chasers when a buttoned-up, sexy secretary type plops down across from him and somehow strong-arms her way into a date. Turns out, she’s quite funny, if a bit odd, so he goes with it. Elena, however, just thinks she’s on a blind date with a boring local weatherman who turns out to be quite a hunk of a man and endearingly sardonic. When he discovers Elena thinks he’s someone else, Jack decides to revel in a rare moment of anonymity, leading to a passionate night that both assume is a one night stand. Fate..well and a pair of unicorn panties...draw these two back together. Their attraction and chemistry is undeniable, but both have some lingering baggage from past relational betrayals, and given their rocky and dishonest start, theirpath to romance is rocky...and also pretty damn humorous and endearing.

I loved both of these characters SO hard. Librarian Elena is the definition of adorkable. From her pet swine Romeo down to her homemade clothing choice and unique take on lingerie, she’s just the perfect balance of odd and endearing. She even spells out words when she gets nervous. Her authenticity and self-awareness made her so easy to connect with as a character, and her sass and wit kept me (and Jack) laughing. She’s spunky, but she’s also a tad shy and genuinely kind and compassionate. Ilsa gives her some real emotional range- a fully dimensional character that just really captured my heart. I fell in love with her probably as much as Jack did.

And Jack, oh sweet Jack. I loved how real Ilsa makes him- he’s jaded, distrustful, so this is not an insta-love story. In fact, his motivations are a bit crappy at first. But despite all that, we deeply empathize with him. He’s a victim of his own success- struggling because he trusted the wrong people, now self-isolated because of that breach, and punished in the public eye for crimes he did not commit. I felt his loneliness so much. His walls are high, but at the end of the day he’s a sweet and sensitive man just looking to feel seen and free. He’s quite charming, and also very funny. And, it doesn’t hurt that he’s also an alpha dirty talker, too.

The chemistry here is AMAZING- this isn’t just heat. Oh, the heat is HOT, and the physical chemistry is captivating, but Ilsa builds something deeper here, more soulful. I felt the slow and steady interconnection of their hearts- as they get to know each other, timidly trust one another, and as they mess up in this new relationship. Ilsa keeps the story beautifully focused on the emotional bond- the “getting to know you” moments that books often skip over. And she cleverly (and humorously) finds ways to keep these two in each other’s orbit and interact, even when they are resistant to give in. Their journey is truly magical- I was swept away by the tenderness of this relationship.

While the focus is mostly on this relationship, Ilsa also delivers some fantastic secondary characters and a heavy dose of small town charm that had this native Tennessean craving some sweet tea and chicken casserole. Ilsa is such a compelling character creator- each of the secondary characters are purposeful, impactful to our narrative, and incredibly well articulated. She’s clearly investing in this bench of players for future stories, which is FANTASTIC because I could not get enough of Jack’s friends or Elena’s family and the Daisy Lady Gang. And the town of Daisy- I feel like I’ve lived there my whole life. The church rituals, gossiping neighbors, the hair salon hangouts, the local play and the meddling family-Ilsa truly creates a magical and welcoming place for our story to unfold.

While the romance is charming, this is also a really well done story of individual acceptance and self-actualization. Both characters feel trapped in some way- Jack in his own slandered reputation, Elena in the tension between her aspirations and her own circumstances, including what she sees as her small-town/family values. Both are heavily distrustful of one another, yet somehow, they find true vulnerability and openness with each other. They realize that love is messy, that love requires a leap of faith- that it’s never really safe, you’re never really free of baggage...you just have to jump. And when you jump with the right person- you’ll never fall alone. And oh my- jump they do. Both are able to expose the parts of themselves they’ve been hiding, to let someone else in completely- and the result? Well the result is that both find the supportive freedom they need to finally be their full selves. Pure romantic magic. I could not love this story anymore! Please pick it up! I'm so excited we get more from this world with a series!
Customer image
The Romantic Rush Blog
5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favs of the year- clever, charming, and captivating
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
OH MY GOODNESS ILSA MADDEN-MILLS, what a DELIGHTFUL story! Chock full of quirky characters, sexy banter, the right balance of comedy and romantic angst, Not My Romeo quickly rose to one of my top reads of the year and a story that I will likely return to for years to come. The story is so original, and the laughs and swoons were aplenty. I was totally enchanted by this witty and fantastically written opposites attract charmer.

In a blind date mix-up, our delightfully quirky heroine Elena finds herself on a date with the Jack, notorious star NFL quarterback who is constantly at the center of constant bad press off the field. He’s hoping for a quiet dinner alone on Valentine’s Day away from the constant badgering of the press and jersey chasers when a buttoned-up, sexy secretary type plops down across from him and somehow strong-arms her way into a date. Turns out, she’s quite funny, if a bit odd, so he goes with it. Elena, however, just thinks she’s on a blind date with a boring local weatherman who turns out to be quite a hunk of a man and endearingly sardonic. When he discovers Elena thinks he’s someone else, Jack decides to revel in a rare moment of anonymity, leading to a passionate night that both assume is a one night stand. Fate..well and a pair of unicorn panties...draw these two back together. Their attraction and chemistry is undeniable, but both have some lingering baggage from past relational betrayals, and given their rocky and dishonest start, theirpath to romance is rocky...and also pretty damn humorous and endearing.

I loved both of these characters SO hard. Librarian Elena is the definition of adorkable. From her pet swine Romeo down to her homemade clothing choice and unique take on lingerie, she’s just the perfect balance of odd and endearing. She even spells out words when she gets nervous. Her authenticity and self-awareness made her so easy to connect with as a character, and her sass and wit kept me (and Jack) laughing. She’s spunky, but she’s also a tad shy and genuinely kind and compassionate. Ilsa gives her some real emotional range- a fully dimensional character that just really captured my heart. I fell in love with her probably as much as Jack did.

And Jack, oh sweet Jack. I loved how real Ilsa makes him- he’s jaded, distrustful, so this is not an insta-love story. In fact, his motivations are a bit crappy at first. But despite all that, we deeply empathize with him. He’s a victim of his own success- struggling because he trusted the wrong people, now self-isolated because of that breach, and punished in the public eye for crimes he did not commit. I felt his loneliness so much. His walls are high, but at the end of the day he’s a sweet and sensitive man just looking to feel seen and free. He’s quite charming, and also very funny. And, it doesn’t hurt that he’s also an alpha dirty talker, too.

The chemistry here is AMAZING- this isn’t just heat. Oh, the heat is HOT, and the physical chemistry is captivating, but Ilsa builds something deeper here, more soulful. I felt the slow and steady interconnection of their hearts- as they get to know each other, timidly trust one another, and as they mess up in this new relationship. Ilsa keeps the story beautifully focused on the emotional bond- the “getting to know you” moments that books often skip over. And she cleverly (and humorously) finds ways to keep these two in each other’s orbit and interact, even when they are resistant to give in. Their journey is truly magical- I was swept away by the tenderness of this relationship.

While the focus is mostly on this relationship, Ilsa also delivers some fantastic secondary characters and a heavy dose of small town charm that had this native Tennessean craving some sweet tea and chicken casserole. Ilsa is such a compelling character creator- each of the secondary characters are purposeful, impactful to our narrative, and incredibly well articulated. She’s clearly investing in this bench of players for future stories, which is FANTASTIC because I could not get enough of Jack’s friends or Elena’s family and the Daisy Lady Gang. And the town of Daisy- I feel like I’ve lived there my whole life. The church rituals, gossiping neighbors, the hair salon hangouts, the local play and the meddling family-Ilsa truly creates a magical and welcoming place for our story to unfold.

While the romance is charming, this is also a really well done story of individual acceptance and self-actualization. Both characters feel trapped in some way- Jack in his own slandered reputation, Elena in the tension between her aspirations and her own circumstances, including what she sees as her small-town/family values. Both are heavily distrustful of one another, yet somehow, they find true vulnerability and openness with each other. They realize that love is messy, that love requires a leap of faith- that it’s never really safe, you’re never really free of baggage...you just have to jump. And when you jump with the right person- you’ll never fall alone. And oh my- jump they do. Both are able to expose the parts of themselves they’ve been hiding, to let someone else in completely- and the result? Well the result is that both find the supportive freedom they need to finally be their full selves. Pure romantic magic. I could not love this story anymore! Please pick it up! I'm so excited we get more from this world with a series!
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Keri Loves Books
TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE VOICE
5.0 out of 5 stars Hooked On Hawke
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
Hooked on Hawke!!! I could have pulled an all nighter with this sizzling romance, but I dragged it out because I didn’t want it to end. Touchdown with this swoony romance!

Elena is spunky. She may look like a demure librarian but she’s really a fire cracker! After being betrayed by her ex-boyfriend when he up and left her for someone else, she finds herself on a blind date on Valentine’s day.

A case of mistaken identity leads to a fun dinner and a night neither one of them will ever forget. The sexy librarian is a wild cat and the football quarterback has met his match. One night will never be enough. Good thing fate agreed.

Jack Hawke is shy, incredibly hot athlete. He just wants to play ball and live a quiet life out of the spotlight. However, the media and his ex won’t leave him alone. After getting burned one too many times, trust is not something he gives. No one gets beyond the walls he’s built to protect himself...except maybe the buttoned up girl who loves her pet pig and can throw out the sass like no one’s business.

Jack is your tortured hero. Truly a good guy, but struggles with troubled past. When he catches feels, he runs. He does his best to keep people at arms length and shields his privacy desperately. He also has a heart of gold and has a silly side that will endear him to you. He’s so easy to love.

Elena is so much fun. She’s a little quirky and whole lot spunky. She is salt of the earth good people, who was raised in a small town, by strong women. She knows what she wants and she chases her dreams even when it’s not what’s expected of her. She’s the rule breaker. My favorite type of heroine.

The attraction and chemistry between Jack and Elena is scorching. These two share such a passion and desire for each other that it just bleeds off the pages. Their connection is enviable.

The story was told in alternating, first person POV. You’ll get both perspectives, which I love. The secondary characters only made me want more (Devon). A wonderfully beautiful romance that started out as an unplanned dinner date and ended up as a forever neither saw coming.
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Heather F.
5.0 out of 5 stars One of Madden-Mills best!
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
Not My Romeo drew me in from the very beginning and I have to say, it's one of Ilsa Madden-Mills best books, in my opinion! This book has a bit of everything, but along with it being a great rom-com, it also has a whole lot of heart.

Elena Riley, the local librarian in her hometown of Daisy, has a blind date set up for Valentine's Day and it doesn't go quite as planned. When she sees the man she thinks is Greg, the weatherman she's to meet, she sits down with him and proceeds to have dinner. Not only that, she heads home with the man she had dinner with, however she has no idea that she has ended up with Jack Hawke, the starting quarterback for the local professional football team!

While Jack has trust issues and Elena was hurt in her last relationship, what starts to unfold between the two is not at all what either one of them expected! Add to that Elena's family, who has it's own zany moments, along with a staging of Romeo and Juliet, some other colorful members of the Daisy community and you've got yourself the makings of one delightful and entertaining story!

I enjoyed this book not only because it was a great rom-com, but also because the characters were fantastic. I felt like we really got to know both Jack and Elena, which made it easier to understand what they were both dealing with. There were some swoonworthy moments towards the end too that just made me smile. This is one I would suggest you run, not walk to pick up!
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Jill S
5.0 out of 5 stars Oh Romeo!! ❤ Jack and Elena are lovely!
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
Well if I could audibly sigh in a review, I would! Ilsa once again made me swoon, blush, and feel content after reading her words. Not My Romeo is a wonderful mistaken identity/sports romance with two amazing main characters in Jack and Elena. I love all of Elena’s quirks and her penchant for scandalous lingerie, and I absolutely adore that it’s because she loves to feel sexy! She’s got an adventurous, confident personality and it 100% works. Jack’s focus has been football for years, after a tragic childhood. His past has made him weary to trust, but he can't seem to get enough of Elena. They both have reservations—for different reasons—but their explosive chemistry is undeniable.

With great dialogue, secondary characters, and an engrossing storyline, Not My Romeo is another hit from Ilsa. I’m excited to read more from this new world and I give 5 Shakespearean stars for this one!
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Amy Dickinson
5.0 out of 5 stars Ilsa Madden-Mills is a Romance Genius...
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
Overall Grade: More than 5 ⭐️

“Because the one is supposed to get you, accept you.”

“It is a truth universally acknowledged”, that a single reader of romance in possession of a couple of bucks and a few pennies, must be in want of an Ilsa Madden-Mills’s romance. That’s right. I’ve decided that Jane Austen and Ilsa Madden-Mills are an apt pairing given that the same tenets that drive my love for Jane Austen also drive my adoration for Ilsa Madden-Mills’s brand of romance. What are those tenets? Here goes:

*One handsomely swoony alpha-hero with a bit of a broken soul requiring a tenacious, headstrong, obstinate heroine to mend those broken parts into wholeness

*One tenacious headstrong, obstinate heroine with a certain set of quirks and imagination who infuses a certain level of humanity into the handsomely swoony alpha-hero with a bit of a broken soul
Some carefully-plotted story with just the right amount of angst, steam, romance, and humor, all of them combining to keep you engaged from page 1 to the very end.

*A happy ending so carefully wrought that you can’t help but tear up over both the pleasure of the moment and the pain of having to leave characters whose characterizations make them seemingly real, new friends.

Yes. Each tome of the Ilsa Madden-Mills’s booklist brings these set of qualities that inspire one-clicks in Amazon at the announcement of a new book, impatient waiting for said book, constant visits to IMM’s Facebook page for nuggets of the forthcoming book, and, on receiving said book, a careful, but expedited read of her newest romance. Around and around the merry-go-round that is Ilsa Madden-Mills’s romances go because she writes romance that makes you pine for entry into her romance worlds. That’s right. If I had my way, I would jump feet first into the worlds she creates because they captivate her readers with characters, story, and the promise of love. And, once again, Madden-Mills has crafted a story that brings all of these qualities together in her newest book, Not My Romeo.

Am I being overly effusive? Possibly, but it’s simply the way I am with IMM’s stories. I’ve only been reading romance over the course of 2 ½ years, and I read mostly indie authors such as IMM. I’ve read only one of the traditionally more “popular” romance writers, missing the others. Ilsa Madden-Mills was, I believe, the third romance writer whom I read her entire booklist, at the time, in one sitting. Her stories captivate me as a reader because they portend to be innocent and light at first glance, but deeper into the story, we are met with deeper, more troubled issues. This is definitely the case with Not My Romeo (of which, I could not put down once I began reading it). Her hero, Jack, is complicated. According to his surface, his life seems perfect, as he’s a wealthy NFL player. Yet, we find out quickly that, underlying that handsome facade lies hurts, and those hurts have caused his life to be upended based on public scrutiny grounded in conjecture and gossip. I believe the saying “never judge a book by its cover” resounds in Jack’s story. And, as a staple of Madden-Mills’s romance, Jack needs some mending. He’s complicated, and IMM, as she does so often, brilliantly crafts a heroine who brings light to his life.

“He watched you like you were the sun to his moon.”

Enter Elena. You learn very quickly that this woman who bears her own wounds offers a soft place for Jack’s hardness (both literal and figurative) to land. She is the IMM heroine: tenacious, headstrong, obstinate as a protection for her own heart. I think my favorite moments between Jack and Elena in Not My Romeo happen as a result of Elena setting boundaries for herself and instituting them. There are several times in this story when it would be easy for Elena to take Jack’s offerings even though they are limited. However, in doing so, she could never be his heroine because he requires someone who can break down his heavily-fortified walls. In denying him, she causes him to question himself. This is the romantic gold of IMM’s stories. If you want an easy read from her, you will find it interwoven with some hard truths about life through the actualization of her characters. It’s why I love her romances. She aptly combines the difficult with the effortless. This is what keeps you reading until the very end.

I think when you look at a story such as Not My Romeo you have to understand that our pasts impact our future selves. This is very clear in Ilsa Madden-Mills’s story. Whether it’s abusive behavior, whether it’s poor choices we’ve made, or whether it’s how others have treated us, they leave behind excisions that eventually scab over and scar, but they can never be new skin again. As such, these scars create a weakness that influences our choices in the present and the future. For both Madden-Mills’s characters, those scars impact their ability to be present and make choices that bring about their happiness. And this is the story’s biggest truth. We have to allow ourselves to move beyond those weaknesses, to not let the scars of our past influence how we live abundantly in the present. Even in Jane Austen’s time, this particular “truth was self-evident,” as she wrote it into her novels. Even now, in the midst of a pandemic, political upheaval, and racial tensions, we could focus on the weaknesses of the time as Jack does for much of Not My Romeo. However, as Ilsa Madden-Mills carefully walks us through his journey with Elena, we realize that making better choices in the spirit of love will leave us with a happiness beyond our imaginations. I loved Not My Romeo. It wasn’t a story that I wanted to leave, and I imagine you will feel the same. So grab this one quick.
Customer image
Amy Dickinson
5.0 out of 5 stars Ilsa Madden-Mills is a Romance Genius...
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
Overall Grade: More than 5 ⭐️

“Because the one is supposed to get you, accept you.”

“It is a truth universally acknowledged”, that a single reader of romance in possession of a couple of bucks and a few pennies, must be in want of an Ilsa Madden-Mills’s romance. That’s right. I’ve decided that Jane Austen and Ilsa Madden-Mills are an apt pairing given that the same tenets that drive my love for Jane Austen also drive my adoration for Ilsa Madden-Mills’s brand of romance. What are those tenets? Here goes:

*One handsomely swoony alpha-hero with a bit of a broken soul requiring a tenacious, headstrong, obstinate heroine to mend those broken parts into wholeness

*One tenacious headstrong, obstinate heroine with a certain set of quirks and imagination who infuses a certain level of humanity into the handsomely swoony alpha-hero with a bit of a broken soul
Some carefully-plotted story with just the right amount of angst, steam, romance, and humor, all of them combining to keep you engaged from page 1 to the very end.

*A happy ending so carefully wrought that you can’t help but tear up over both the pleasure of the moment and the pain of having to leave characters whose characterizations make them seemingly real, new friends.

Yes. Each tome of the Ilsa Madden-Mills’s booklist brings these set of qualities that inspire one-clicks in Amazon at the announcement of a new book, impatient waiting for said book, constant visits to IMM’s Facebook page for nuggets of the forthcoming book, and, on receiving said book, a careful, but expedited read of her newest romance. Around and around the merry-go-round that is Ilsa Madden-Mills’s romances go because she writes romance that makes you pine for entry into her romance worlds. That’s right. If I had my way, I would jump feet first into the worlds she creates because they captivate her readers with characters, story, and the promise of love. And, once again, Madden-Mills has crafted a story that brings all of these qualities together in her newest book, Not My Romeo.

Am I being overly effusive? Possibly, but it’s simply the way I am with IMM’s stories. I’ve only been reading romance over the course of 2 ½ years, and I read mostly indie authors such as IMM. I’ve read only one of the traditionally more “popular” romance writers, missing the others. Ilsa Madden-Mills was, I believe, the third romance writer whom I read her entire booklist, at the time, in one sitting. Her stories captivate me as a reader because they portend to be innocent and light at first glance, but deeper into the story, we are met with deeper, more troubled issues. This is definitely the case with Not My Romeo (of which, I could not put down once I began reading it). Her hero, Jack, is complicated. According to his surface, his life seems perfect, as he’s a wealthy NFL player. Yet, we find out quickly that, underlying that handsome facade lies hurts, and those hurts have caused his life to be upended based on public scrutiny grounded in conjecture and gossip. I believe the saying “never judge a book by its cover” resounds in Jack’s story. And, as a staple of Madden-Mills’s romance, Jack needs some mending. He’s complicated, and IMM, as she does so often, brilliantly crafts a heroine who brings light to his life.

“He watched you like you were the sun to his moon.”

Enter Elena. You learn very quickly that this woman who bears her own wounds offers a soft place for Jack’s hardness (both literal and figurative) to land. She is the IMM heroine: tenacious, headstrong, obstinate as a protection for her own heart. I think my favorite moments between Jack and Elena in Not My Romeo happen as a result of Elena setting boundaries for herself and instituting them. There are several times in this story when it would be easy for Elena to take Jack’s offerings even though they are limited. However, in doing so, she could never be his heroine because he requires someone who can break down his heavily-fortified walls. In denying him, she causes him to question himself. This is the romantic gold of IMM’s stories. If you want an easy read from her, you will find it interwoven with some hard truths about life through the actualization of her characters. It’s why I love her romances. She aptly combines the difficult with the effortless. This is what keeps you reading until the very end.

I think when you look at a story such as Not My Romeo you have to understand that our pasts impact our future selves. This is very clear in Ilsa Madden-Mills’s story. Whether it’s abusive behavior, whether it’s poor choices we’ve made, or whether it’s how others have treated us, they leave behind excisions that eventually scab over and scar, but they can never be new skin again. As such, these scars create a weakness that influences our choices in the present and the future. For both Madden-Mills’s characters, those scars impact their ability to be present and make choices that bring about their happiness. And this is the story’s biggest truth. We have to allow ourselves to move beyond those weaknesses, to not let the scars of our past influence how we live abundantly in the present. Even in Jane Austen’s time, this particular “truth was self-evident,” as she wrote it into her novels. Even now, in the midst of a pandemic, political upheaval, and racial tensions, we could focus on the weaknesses of the time as Jack does for much of Not My Romeo. However, as Ilsa Madden-Mills carefully walks us through his journey with Elena, we realize that making better choices in the spirit of love will leave us with a happiness beyond our imaginations. I loved Not My Romeo. It wasn’t a story that I wanted to leave, and I imagine you will feel the same. So grab this one quick.
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S. Red
VINE VOICE
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely loved this one!
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
I absolutely loved this story, and it’s now become one of my favorites from Ilsa Madden-Mills. I loved Jack and Elena and watching them try and fight their growing attraction to each other was amazing.

Jack is an NFL star, who has a reputation for being a bad boy. He’s been burned before, so when a gorgeous girl mistakes him for her blind date on Valentine’s day, for some reason he finds himself not correcting her, but also asking her to sign an NDA.

Elena is none to pleased to be asked to sign an NDA, but she does…just not with her own name. After their one night together, she says good riddance, or so she thought. She can’t seem to shake Jack, and the more time they spend together the harder it is to be apart. But when push comes to shove, can Jack be all in?

Ilsa absolutely killed this book. From beginning to end I couldn’t put it down, and actually ended up reading this book in one sitting. She created such a beautiful story, and as much as I didn’t want to finish this one, I had to know what was going to happen. The banter between not just Jack and Elena but all of the characters was pure gold. This book was perfection, and I’m so excited that it’s the start of what I can already tell is going to be an amazing series!
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ShannonVM
5.0 out of 5 stars I want to move to Daisy and be their friend!
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
4.5*

First things first- I want to move to Daisy, TN, but sadly it's not a real place. Yes, I Googled. There's a Soddy-Daisy, TN, but it doesn't sound quite as nice as Daisy does. So I guess I'll stay where I am, for now.

I love Jack and Elena. This is the second book I've read recently, both from favorite authors, where I've really liked the hero and heroine equally. Usually I lean more towards one or the other, but with these two I couldn't help but fall for them both. I was hooked from the moment Elena sat down, thinking she was meeting her blind date, and Jack just went with it. Oh, if only all blind dates turned out so well!

Jack is one of my favorite types of heroes- strong, determined alpha on the outside, but underneath a bit insecure, a little socially awkward, and a whole lot of swoony. Not to say there weren't a few times when I wanted to bop him upside the head because of some of the things he did , even if I understood where he was coming from.
Jack puts on a good front for friends and fans, but I loved how Elena was able to see through to the real man.
Speaking of Elena, I have a major girl crush on her! I want to be her friend or just be her- she's all kinds of cool and quirky and all around awesome. Plus she's got a great house, a job most bookworms would love to have, and a wonderful, if meddling, family.

Not My Romeo was fun and entertaining, sexy, emotional, with a small side of angst. I really enjoyed seeing Jack open up and share his vulnerabilities with Elena. They are a case of opposites attract, who end up being the perfect balance for each other.
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Jacquie C M
5.0 out of 5 stars This book delivered EVERYTHING I want in a romance!
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
Not My Romeo offers a fresh take on who a romance hero can be. At a glance, Jack Hawke is the star NFL quarterback with the bad reputation and aloof attitude. But Ilsa Madden-Mills has given Jack a personality and depth that sets him apart from the legions of heros we read every day. I won't give anything away, but Jack is a man you want to get to know. I fell in love with him a little more with each turn of the page. Ms. Madden-Mills has an incomparable talent for drawing me into her characters lives.

Elena is the perfect match for Jack, though seemingly opposite in every way. Pint sized and curvy, this sassy southern girl is nothing like the women he's known before. A buttoned-up librarian by day, Elena's got a sexy side that has Jack intrigued. She fascinates him, even though he doesn't know if he can trust her. Elena's been burned by love, but wants to keep trying. That determination leads to their first unexpected and thoroughly entertaining encounter.

For me, Not My Romeo is a romantic dram-edy. There's no slapstick humor but so many laugh out loud moments. Elena's quirky family and Jack's friends add yet another bright layer to this story. I want to read more about every single one of them, and Not My Match, the next Game Changers book, will hopefully give me that chance!
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Brigid Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars So much love for this book!!
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
Where do I start??? Not My Romeo is deserving of more than 5 stars. It's a rom-com at the heart of it but it also has the perfect amount of angst.

This is small town girl, Elena, and bad boy football star Jack's story. There is just so many wonderful layers to these two characters! Elena is the town librarian. She dresses like the town librarian but oh boy is there a wild side to her and underneath her clothes is one of her biggest secrets. It seems destiny was at work when she met Jack, on Valentine's Day no less! He is so swoony and sexy with a side of broken and not seen for who he really is. Watching these two get their HEA was nothing short of pure enjoyment with some laughter and happy tears.

Side note: there are some really amazing side characters that I really hope are going to get their own story!!
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Nancy Reads
5.0 out of 5 stars Fate Brought Them Together
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
NOT MY ROMEO caught my interest from the very beginning. Elena Riley is a small town librarian. She is sad & lonely after her boyfriend dumped her for her own sister. Her best friend has fixed Elena up with a blind date for Valentine's day. He is a weatherman and she was told he was attractive. They were to meet at a restaurant. When she can't find him and the hostess wasn't helpful, she goes looking for him herself. When she spots a lone man in a blue shirt at a table, she can not believe how drop-dead-gorgeous her blind date is to look at. So look at him she does! After a few gin and tonic, somehow they end up at his penthouse. It isn't until the next day, that she wakes up to a note on the pillow, that she learns the man she slept with was not the weatherman. Yet she is more upset that he took her favorite panties that she designed herself. If she ever sees him again, she will get them back!

The man that she spend the most satisfying night of her entire life with is none other than Jack Hawke. A bad-boy professional quarterback with a awful reputation. Since the man she spent the delightful night with does not match up with the rumors about him. All she knows is that she slept with a famous football player and he stole her panties. Fate is definitely with Elena and Jack meeting up again. Jack keeps showing up in places, she would least expect to see him. That sometimes fate gives you a bad game, but in the end destiny straightens it out. And you win. There were too many things that brought them together. Destiny brought them together. They are Romeo and Juliet making their own HEA!
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