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kaydanielsromance's review against another edition
5.0
This right here demonstrates the best formula Ilsa Madden-Mills writes - broken, hot jock falls for quirky, smart girl. It's one of the reasons why I never hesitate to read Ilsa's books and she has become a one-click author for me.
Ilsa is a master at bringing the vulnerability out in every character she writes and in Devon and Giselle it is no different. At first we meet a confident pro-football star and shy science girl, but soon we discover their inner workings. Devon has more to him than just the confident womanizer he appears to be and Giselle may be inexperienced, but her inner vixen is dying to break free.
Giselle has the worst luck in the dating department. From a very early age, not only has her choices in the wrong men led to disastrous dates, but some of those dates have lead to the men going to the hospital. She refers to it as being cursed, but maybe she just hasn't met the right man to break the curse. She hasn't proven that theory because well...no man has ever felt right or really stuck around. Poor Giselle. However, Devon can't seem to stay away, but he's not dating her. He's the best friend of her sister's husband and when Giselle needs a place to stay he offers up a room at his place. That's what acquaintance/friends do after all.
Devon has no idea what he's doing. Offering up his pent house to Giselle is a horrible and wonderful idea all wrapped up in one package. She temps him like no other woman ever has, but he also knows it's the best option when she has no where else to go after her apartment building caught on fire. It's just for a few days until she can find something else, but those few days may just drive him out of his mind, while she drives herself into his heart.
While Giselle has never really had a real relationship with anyone, she is so sweetly quirky and adorable in her innocence. Her brilliant mind is really what attracts Devon to her more than anything as they build a friendship between them. Where as Devon hasn't had a real relationship with a woman since college, so letting Giselle get close is dangerous territory, but the longer he tells himself it is just a friend helping out a friend he's fine, but the longer he fools himself it's just a timebomb waiting to explode. The chemistry between them is truly explosive, but they both keep a lid on it, neither one of them willing to jeopardize what they have, but can it last the longer they are in each other's close proximity?
This is a slow burn, friends/roommates to lovers romance with a lot of witty banter, quirky characters from Daisy and hot men from the football team. Overall, it's a wonderful, fun read.
Ilsa is a master at bringing the vulnerability out in every character she writes and in Devon and Giselle it is no different. At first we meet a confident pro-football star and shy science girl, but soon we discover their inner workings. Devon has more to him than just the confident womanizer he appears to be and Giselle may be inexperienced, but her inner vixen is dying to break free.
Giselle has the worst luck in the dating department. From a very early age, not only has her choices in the wrong men led to disastrous dates, but some of those dates have lead to the men going to the hospital. She refers to it as being cursed, but maybe she just hasn't met the right man to break the curse. She hasn't proven that theory because well...no man has ever felt right or really stuck around. Poor Giselle. However, Devon can't seem to stay away, but he's not dating her. He's the best friend of her sister's husband and when Giselle needs a place to stay he offers up a room at his place. That's what acquaintance/friends do after all.
Devon has no idea what he's doing. Offering up his pent house to Giselle is a horrible and wonderful idea all wrapped up in one package. She temps him like no other woman ever has, but he also knows it's the best option when she has no where else to go after her apartment building caught on fire. It's just for a few days until she can find something else, but those few days may just drive him out of his mind, while she drives herself into his heart.
While Giselle has never really had a real relationship with anyone, she is so sweetly quirky and adorable in her innocence. Her brilliant mind is really what attracts Devon to her more than anything as they build a friendship between them. Where as Devon hasn't had a real relationship with a woman since college, so letting Giselle get close is dangerous territory, but the longer he tells himself it is just a friend helping out a friend he's fine, but the longer he fools himself it's just a timebomb waiting to explode. The chemistry between them is truly explosive, but they both keep a lid on it, neither one of them willing to jeopardize what they have, but can it last the longer they are in each other's close proximity?
This is a slow burn, friends/roommates to lovers romance with a lot of witty banter, quirky characters from Daisy and hot men from the football team. Overall, it's a wonderful, fun read.
epicipec's review against another edition
4.0
Ughh ai just wanna say that Myrtle is the best character I wish we had more of her. Also I am wondering if the nest book is going to be about Aiden or Aunt Clara and the post guy
izzyy's review against another edition
2.0
love this author's other books - but i don't think this book was for me. the beginning was cute, but the story just continued to drag and drag to me.
autumngavora's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
sophiehamiltonauthor's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
olovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
"You are the best person in all of my universes." *swoon*
Ilsa has a way of taking a character that a lot of people either don't understand or don't like and make them your favorite character. I didn't know how to feel about Giselle because in MY mind, I could never imagine anyone doing what she did to her sister. Entering Giselle's mind, makes you see things the way she does and you understand..well I did, but maybe I’m just too forgiving? I really loved getting into Giselle's head and seeing how smart she is, her creativity, and the way she loves. She cares so much for other people--Myrtle, Elena, Jack, Cynthia, Aunt Clare, Topher, and most of all Devon.
Devon. Need I say more? I swear Ilsa gives us a new book boyfriend to top her last release. The way Devon was with Giselle was probably my favorite thing ever. No judgements, just understanding. They could read each other and their banter made me feel like that friend/sister that always third wheels. Just watching them fall in love before they realize themselves that they are falling in love. They were just so cute and amazing together. They were there for each other and they both shared things with each other that they shared with no one else.
When Devon gets possessive and jealous--YES. Just...YES. Also, when he tells her to get in the car...SWOON. Like stop, that's how babies get made. (I guess that says a lot more about me than anything...) IDK, I just love when the hero does that. It does things to my soul.
Just like any other Ilsa book, this pulls you in right at the beginning and your chances of getting anything done the day you start reading are slim to none. So...when you start it; have some chocolate chip cookies handy, get a blanket, and just get comfy and enjoy all the universes of Kate and Vureck ;)
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
Ilsa has a way of taking a character that a lot of people either don't understand or don't like and make them your favorite character. I didn't know how to feel about Giselle because in MY mind, I could never imagine anyone doing what she did to her sister. Entering Giselle's mind, makes you see things the way she does and you understand..well I did, but maybe I’m just too forgiving? I really loved getting into Giselle's head and seeing how smart she is, her creativity, and the way she loves. She cares so much for other people--Myrtle, Elena, Jack, Cynthia, Aunt Clare, Topher, and most of all Devon.
Devon. Need I say more? I swear Ilsa gives us a new book boyfriend to top her last release. The way Devon was with Giselle was probably my favorite thing ever. No judgements, just understanding. They could read each other and their banter made me feel like that friend/sister that always third wheels. Just watching them fall in love before they realize themselves that they are falling in love. They were just so cute and amazing together. They were there for each other and they both shared things with each other that they shared with no one else.
When Devon gets possessive and jealous--YES. Just...YES. Also, when he tells her to get in the car...SWOON. Like stop, that's how babies get made. (I guess that says a lot more about me than anything...) IDK, I just love when the hero does that. It does things to my soul.
Just like any other Ilsa book, this pulls you in right at the beginning and your chances of getting anything done the day you start reading are slim to none. So...when you start it; have some chocolate chip cookies handy, get a blanket, and just get comfy and enjoy all the universes of Kate and Vureck ;)
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
rachellynnreadss's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED Devon & Giselle's story. Devon is a hunky famous football player who knows Giselle through his teammate and best friend. She is very sweet, kind of shy & keeps to herself. She has always thought that Devon was hot but knew that he was a player so never took any action towards him. Then something happens and Devon & Giselle are thrown together. Devon is asked by his teammate & best friend (also Giselle's new family member) to keep men away from her & to watch out for her while he is gone. Then things get extra spicy when Giselle has to stay in Devon's penthouse for awhile due to becoming homeless. The sexual tension in this book is THE BOMB. It is sweet, sexy & lots of tension. There is jealousy on both sides and just overall an amazing sporty romance.
I love this book & highly recommend!
I love this book & highly recommend!
sarahs_spoilers's review against another edition
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1-2: Why did I waste my time?
2-3: Meh. Not terrible, I guess.
3-4: Solid effort!
4-5: So very, very good.
5: Love. LOVE. Favorite!
🌶️🌶️ .5
1-2: No spice 😚
2-3: A smidge of spicy 😘
3-4: Booktok levels spice 🤭
4-5: Fidgety Kitty 🤯
5: Debauched smut 💦
————————-
- Football player x Nerdy Girl
- Virgin/Sexy Times Tutor
- Forced Proximity/Roommates
- Slow burn
- Giselle is a quirky bird - writing an alien romance, has a smashing-anger barn, BFF with 80 yo neighbor, dyes hair blue
- Giselle was cheated on by her BF (who she could never get it going for - virgin!)
- Devon is a pro football player who is supposed to “keep an eye” on Giselle, the Virgin, as per Jack her brother-in-law; Dad is a drinker and gambler and owes ppl money
- Bad luck birthday - this year, her apartment was ruined bc of a fire - moved in with Devon
- Devon had wanted Giselle for months but she was with someone else/She’s wanted him since college and always watched his games
- Devon wingmans got her and gets super jealous of her dates
- Giselle’s mothers meal prayer 😂
- Multiverse conversation under his star-filled skylight 🥰
- Aiden hitting on Giselle to push Devon’s buttons 😂
Pregnancy scare that makes her realize she wants forever with Devon
- Devon was hesitant of love bc of a failed relationship SEVEN years ago
- First sex scene at 75%
“I hope a shark takes his throwing arm right off.” Jesus.
“It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brains fall out,” I quote. She lifts up on her elbow and stares at me. “Carl Sagan?” “‘For small creatures such as we, the vastness is only bearable with love.’ Sagan again.”
“Oh, Devon. You are the best person in all my universes.”
“Dear Heavenly Father…Mothers are the pillars of generations to come, which brings me to my daughter Elena and her husband, Jack. Please make her fertile and give them babies to populate the earth. Lord, I need grandchildren in my life to fill the empty places.
Lord, give special attention to my sweet Giselle, who recently got a book agent when I spent thousands of dollars to send her to college to be a scientist. She’s writing romance about aliens. Dear Lord, I’m sure there’s no extramarital sex in it. She would never do that. Please, Father, let her finish her doctorate. I’ve invested enough money to retire in Boca, and I don’t want it to go to waste.
For Devon, Lord, we ask that you bless his football season along with Jack. I’ve never seen a team that needs a Super Bowl more. They’ve come in second the last two years, and it’s embarrassing for them. Help them be fast and quick and defeat their opponents with the vengeance of your mighty angels.
Lord, be with Devon and Giselle. Forgive them for living together before marriage. She assures me they are not having sex. You know her heart and his. Help them as they date. Give him patience and gentleness. He will need it. Also give him the perseverance to not be tempted by her. Keep her chaste and sweet until the day she walks down the aisle.
Finally, Father, bless my sister. She’s in love with a man years younger than her and is scared to tell us, when the whole town already knows he sneaks in her back door every night. I pray she sees the light and makes an honest man of Scotty—who isn’t here because she won’t invite him. Amen.”
“I’d be nothing but a shadow of who I am if I left you,” I whisper.