I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Not My Romeo by Ilsa Madden-Mills Series: The Game Changers #1
on August 18, 2020
Genres: Adult Sports Romance
Pages: 346
Source: the author
Format: E-galley
My Rating:
Goodreads
Synopsis:
Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills delivers a smart and sexy contemporary romance about a smoking-hot professional football player and the small-town girl he can’t resist.
We start off with a lie on Valentine’s Day.
My blind date isn’t the studious guy I expected: he’s a drop-dead gorgeous player with sinful amber eyes. Somehow we end up at his penthouse. I blame the gin and tonic.
The next day I learn he’s Jack Hawke—bad-boy professional quarterback with a murky past. The NDA he has me sign should be a warning that he isn’t a regular person. Please. I sign it Juliet Capulet, so goodbye, famous football player with abs of steel, and good luck tracking down this small-town librarian.
But Jack keeps showing up in places I least expect him. Just when I’m sure he’s gone, he waltzes into my community theater and wins the part of Romeo to my Juliet. How’s a plain, mostly innocent girl like me supposed to resist a man like him?
Is Jack my real Romeo… or will this gorgeous football player only break my heart?
Not My Romeo, the all-new swoon-worthy contemporary sports romance with heart and heat from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is available now!
Download your copy today or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ztiNzh
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/notmyromeo
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Excerpt:
I pull my white cat-eye glasses out of my purse and slide them on for a better look. My heart flip-flops as butterflies take flight in my stomach. Oh heck no. That can’t be him. He’s . . . he’s . . . freaking gorgeous, and I don’t mean regular handsome but like a movie star: dark hair swept off his face, the strands wavy and unruly with copper highlights, soft and silky brushing against his cheeks, and too long for a newscaster, in my opinion—but what do I know? I don’t own a television.
He lifts his arm to shove his hair back, and my eyes pop at the tightly roped muscles of his forearm and biceps straining through the fabric, the impossibly broad shoulders.
Well, would you look at that.
And this has to be him, right?
I’m in the right restaurant. He’s alone. He’s wearing a blue shirt. He has dark hair. Odds point to yes. Usually the most simple explanation is exactly what it appears. Therefore, he must be my date.
The man in question turns to look out the window, tapping his fingers on the table impatiently, and I take in his profile. Long straight nose, full dark arching eyebrows, and a sharp, bladed jawline. Sensuous lips, the lower one decadently full. Almost wicked. He’s the kind of hot that draws your eyes over and over just to make sure it’s not a mirage. I knew guys like him at NYU—sexy, athletic gym types who played a sport. And those types never gave me a second look. I’d watch them work out while I fumbled my way around one of those god-awful butterfly machines, while beautiful, tall, svelte girls who weren’t sweating fawned over them, bringing them towels, water bottles, and sexy promises.
He takes a sip of an amber liquid, long tanned fingers grasping the fragile container as his eyes rove across the room. They prowl around the restaurant, as if he’s assessing every person in sight, and I feel the sizzle of him even from twenty feet away. Prickles of awareness skate down my spine. I’m the alpha, his body language yells. Come and challenge me.
His gaze drifts right over me without stopping.
Not surprised.
I duck back into the shadows.
Dang it. My hands clench. I wanted nice and nerdy, not this . . . sexy beast!
And judging by the scowl on his face, he’s grumpy. Life’s too short to be dour, Mister. And what is he annoyed about? I am here!
And he did see a picture of me. Topher said so.
Yeah, maybe he doesn’t really want to meet you.
Maybe he’s hoping you won’t show up.
I tap my foot. I should leave. Really.
The smells of Milano’s waft around me, spicy and tantalizing, and my stomach lets out an angry howl. I move from one foot to the next. Every place to eat between here and Daisy is going to be packed. I could always hit a drive-through on the way back home—but how pathetic is a Big Mac and fries on Valentine’s Day? Plus, I’ll have my entire nosy family to answer to tomorrow. They’ve built up this blind date so much: Oooooh, Elena has a date with a weatherman. Ask him if that’s a barometer in his pocket or if he’s just glad to see you.
I give myself a mental pep talk.
Grow some balls, Elena.
Sometimes you have to go out and take what you want.
So what if he’s hot enough to suck the dew off a rose.
You are hungry. Do it for the pasta.
He is your date. Go get ’em, girl.
I gather my resolve, point my little black pumps in his direction, and start marching.
My Review:
Of course, being a librarian myself, I loved that the main character was also a librarian. But Elena was so much quirkier than I am. However she totally personified the whole naughty librarian image when we learned about the different types of lingerie she made. I mean I love those sequins that reverse to make different colors/patterns, but I’d think they might be a bit itchy on undies personally. Just my own opinion. I still loved the idea of all her different sets though.
Then there’s Jack, oh Jack. You gotta love a big tough football star who is also shy! He had a really hard past and it was hard not to feel empathy for him and how he’d been taken advantage of and treated unfairly by the paparazzi. But then when he did things to fix it, like signing up for the play and all the stuff the little boy asked him to do, yeah, it was so easy to fall in love with him.
The story was sweet and fun and hot when you would want it to be. Just as I expect from this author. I also loved the supporting characters, would love to see books for Jack’s football buddies, or even another character that I won’t mention her name so I won’t mess up any plotlines in this. But really, I could barely put down and the only reason I didn’t finish much quicker is because we’re back to school, so I couldn’t just sit and read all day like I wanted.
About the Author:
Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills is best known for her angsty new adult romances and romantic comedies.
Eight of her eleven novels have placed in the Amazon Top 10 Best-seller List: Dirty English #1; Fake Fiancée and I Dare You #2; I Bet You, Filthy English, and Very Bad Things #6; Boyfriend Bargain #8; The Last Guy, her collaboration with Tia Louise, #4.
A former high school English teacher, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.
She’s addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online.
Connect with Ilsa
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Website: https://www.ilsamaddenmills.com
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Whoo hoo! Glad you liked it! I am hoping the series will be built around both Jack and Elena’s “found” families. I am pretty sure Madden-Mills was hinting at something between Elena’s sister and one of Jack’s friend.
That’s what I’m hoping for!
[…] Couldn’t help but adore him too! It was fun getting a glimpse back at Jack and Elena from Not My Romeo, as well as all the fun supporting characters the author gives us in her stories as well. Parents, […]