
Member Reviews

4.75 Stars
Emmy + Graham
Graham is afraid that his pro football career might be over. His last play won his team the Superbowl but it also messed up his head.
That's why he's in this horrible Arizona desert motel - chasing after a 'dream' he had while he was lying on the field as good as dead.
And who does he find? Emmaline Darling. Pretty much his dream girl. And their meet-cute was just like you'd want it to be as a romance book fan.
But then she goes and steals his Lambo?!
What the heck?
Good thing he needs the leverage... she either marries him, so that he can get his grandma's inheritance, for his little brother - or he'll press charges for grand theft auto!
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN ...
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ADORABLE
Such a cute romance!
We have some real problems too - some health issues on both sides and some family drama - so it's not all sunshiney and rom-commy. But it's also just so adorable and funny and sweet and you just want to shake some sense into them to hurry to that happily ever after.
I love that Emmy works at this amazing book store. I love the cat - even though I'm a dog person. I love the siblings - his and hers! The niece, the football buddies, the friends and co-workers. Amazing cast and locations!
This was just a super adorable kind of fairy tale-ish romance.
Loved it!
► MY DARLING BRIDE was such a funny + sweet + sexy + adorable love story! Just beautiful! I loved it! Run to your nearest book store for your own G - this one is MINE!

4.5 stars
“It’s been a long road to get here, to find the person I need, and once you find them, it’s not hard to figure out the rest.”
My Darling Bride marks the return of one of my favorite authors, Ilsa Madden-Mills, to the page, and this book was well worth the wait.
After a chance meeting in the desert (and a subsequently stolen Lamborghini), bookstore employee Emmy and football player Graham strike up a deal… a marriage of convenience that will ensure that Emmy stays out of jail (for temporarily stealing said Lamborghini) and Graham receives his inheritance from his deceased grandmother.
As is signature with Madden-Mills’ work, an element of fate is deftly injected into the narrative. Readers are aware from the beginning that the meeting between Emmy and Graham is more than a coincidence. And the ways in which they are connected become evident as the narrative unfolds. Both Graham and Emmy are fascinating, complex protagonists with lives that leap off the page. And the subtle (and not so subtle) ways that Graham shows Emmy his feelings (without telling her or even being aware of said feelings) is delightful to read. Fans of Madden-Mills’ other work will also notice a few familiar names from prior novels dropped into this story for good measure.
I also appreciated the ways in which Madden-Mills doesn’t shy away from difficult topics like head injuries and CTE in football players, and homophobia. This book is super aware of the realities of the world, and I thought that added even more depth to the narrative.
I really enjoyed this book, and cannot wait for more stories from this universe.
Thank you to Montlake, NetGalley, and the author for generously providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Emmaline, the fierce protector, was so fun as the heroine. She's been through it, living through domestic violence, but she escapes it and moves forward while still protecting those she loves most. She's also hilarious and bold, I found myself chuckling on more than one occasion. Graham is a big time football star who goes through a traumatic event and it leads him on an adventure out of the city where he meets Emmaline. Why she was in the same location, was no laughing matter, but how she handles the situation she found herself in was genius and highly entertaining!
It turns out, Graham needs a wife asap and Emmaline owes him for unexpected damages to his cars and this turns into an arranged marriage. But man, they were great from the start, it didn't seem arranged until Graham reminded her. I am rooting for these two!

This is a darling of a five-star read. Emmy Darling will win you over, even if you despise car thieves, you can completely understand her reasons, I mean I can even understand the prison boyfriend situation as well, we all go crazy when confronted and brains can go haywire. Graham had me worrying over him, and my heart breaking as I read about him on the field with the team wall, it was all so real and so well done. The thing with this one, was that although Emmy and Graham were the main characters, the secondary characters were just as funny and deep, they all had their own quirks and felt well plotted and rounded. It added so many layers to this story, and made it one that I couldn’t put down.

My Darling Bride by Ilsa Madden-Mills is an engaging romance novel that skillfully reimagines familiar tropes to create a refreshing and original narrative. The story follows Emmaline Darling, an unconventional car thief with a love for books and cats, and Graham Harlan, a famous football star, whose chance encounter leads to an unexpected romance. Madden-Mills' writing style seamlessly combines simplicity and depth, drawing readers into the story effortlessly.
The well-developed central characters, Emmaline and Graham, make for a relatable and endearing couple, though some readers might hope for more passion in their intimate moments. The supporting cast, including the quirky Babs and an adorable cat, adds depth and diversity to the story. Beyond the romance, the novel tackles weighty themes with sensitivity. In sum, My Darling Bride is a must-read for romance enthusiasts, offering a charming love story with a fresh twist on classic elements.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Emmaline is happy to be home. When she gets a proposition she accepts. What could go wrong? This book was a quick read.

I think this was my favourite by Isla Madden-Mills so far! I really liked the story for this one; the plot was very fast paced, and the main characters were both quite interesting. The side characters were perfect additions to the story, and I really enjoyed all of the subplots in the book as well! I found this one to be a bit lighter on the romance and more focused on the story and side characters, which I actually really enjoyed. Overall, I would recommend this book!

A fantastic Fake Darling / Marriage of convinience story!
“My Darling Bride” by Ilsa Madden-Mills is a marriage of convinience love story that will enchant you in no time. This is the story of Graham and Emmy.
“My Darling Bride” was my second book by the author and I am very glad that I gave her another chance after Waylon University, because Graham and Emmy made it into my heart in no time.
Emmy is such a generous and loving person. She has looked after her two younger siblings since she was little and I love the bond between Jane, Andrew and her. She works as a bartender and in a bookstore to pay the bills.
But Graham is just as great as Emmy. He loves his family, or more so his brother, very much and would do anything for him.
As a professional athlete, he suffered a serious head injury that gave him a near-death experience. When he used his recovery time to think about what to do next with his life, he met Emmy, who was in a jam. This suits Graham just fine, as he too could use Emmy's help. In order to help his brother financially, he needs a wife, because only then can he get his inheritance.
The meetcute between the two is simply hilarious! I still don't know whether I just find it funny or not a bit strange 😂
I also really liked the atmosphere in the book, especially the scenes in the bookstore. Honestly, “My Darling Bride” really has everything a good book needs! A great setting, funny dialogues and charming characters!
“My Darling Bride” gets 4.5 out of 5 stars from me.

I love a good sports romance and Isla Madden-Mills is always a go-to author for me. My Darling Bride is a marriage of convenience between book store manager Emmy and NFL player Graham. The pair initially meet in Arizona in a chance meeting...where Emmy steals Graham's car. To help Graham out, Emmy agrees to marry him.
Both main characters have heavy backstories, so content warnings are a must with this one (near death experience, abusive relationship, heart issues, surgery, cheating, traumatic past). Emmy and Graham have a lot of healing to do before they find love and I enjoyed watching them grow together and help each other find their best selves. Emmy absolutely had my heart, especially as she's been taking care of her siblings and niece since she was a teen. I also loved watching Graham's relationship rekindle with his father after a traumatic past.
While I loved Graham and Emmy's initial meet cute, the pacing after they returned to NYC and got married was a tad off for me. This one was more of a slow burn than previous books from this author. I more so enjoyed the character growth for Emmy and Graham, rather than their romantic relationship.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read/review this book. I absolutely loved how this was an enemies to lovers book trope. I loved how he fell in love with her first and hard. I loved the chemistry along with their laughable banter. I give it 5 stars.

My Darling Bride is one of those books that I started out liking and grew to love as it went on. The beginning was a little crazy with all of the wild stuff going on and the characters feeling larger than life. Once I got past the initial set up of how the characters met and the stuff that happens immediately after, things settled down a lot.
I loved Emmy and Graham together. Emmy was a tough cookie who was down on her luck, and nothing was going her way. She took fantastic care of her loved ones, but sometimes to her own detriment. Graham kind of came off as a jerk in the beginning, but he was just understandably irritated. He was a great guy who also supported his loved ones in any way he could. Football was his number one, but he wasn't a fame monster. Emmy and Graham may have started out as a fake couple, but the chemistry and emotional connection was there from pretty much the beginning. The way they worked through everything was a lot of fun. There were also a few surprisingly emotional aspects to this rom com. I was happy it didn't bring the mood of the story down. It only made Emmy and Graham's relationship all the more special.
All of the fantastic side characters helped Emmy and Graham along the way. The relationship Emmy had with her siblings and niece was very special. Emmy also had some delightful co-workers that made me laugh. Graham's relationship with his brother and his husband was really sweet. The dynamic with his dad and half-brother was interesting. I loved his football friends who came out to support him as well. I would read a book about any of these characters but would especially love to read about Jane and Jasper falling in love. Those two almost stole the show at one point. Oh! And there's an adorable cat, too!
My Darling Bride was an entertaining rom com. It had me smiling, laughing, and swooning. I am hoping we get more books about the Darlings in the future.

Book: My Darling Bride
Author: Isla Madden-Mills
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
After the whirlwind of events that was Emmy and Graham’s meet-cute, the pair find themselves in a mutually beneficial deal. If Emmy agrees to marry the famous athlete Graham Harlan, she doesn’t lose the bookstore or her family home, and he secures an inheritance to help his brother chase his dreams. It is doubly helpful that this plan also screws over his half brother, but what he didn’t expect was to actually fall for the girl - now all he needs is for Emmy to realize it.
In all honesty, this read was a quick and cute one. There were details, moments, conversations that were mentioned in little detail and left me wanting more. The set up of secondary characters was executed well - if the second book isn’t about Jasper and Jane, I don’t want it. Just kidding, but these two have a cute hate-to-love and love-to-hate dynamic going.
If you like:
Forced Proximity
Grumpy - Sunshine
Fake Dating
Found Family
TW🚫: cheating exes
Reviewed by: Kassi 🤍
This review was written by members of the Sporty Spice Book Club (sporty.spice.book.club on both Instagram and TikTok).

3.5 stars rounded to 4
Emmaline Darling is having a bad day. She's escaping an abusive relationship and hiding out in a cheap hotel in the desert. When her ex shows up at the hotel she does the only thing she can think of... steal the man next doors Lamborghini and escape to the airport. Graham Harlan is reeling. His football character is stunted after a blow that knocked him unconscious. Now, the pretty girl next door stole his brand new car. His brother can't inherit the money he needs to start his life because of his bigoted grandmother so Graham decided to fulfill his part of the inheritance and gift it to his brother. He tracks the thief back to Manhattan and confronts her with a proposition. He won't turn her into the police if she agrees to marry him (temporarily). Once his brother receives the money they will divorce and go their separate ways.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but can't see myself going back and picking it back up again. I didn't connect with the characters as much as I would have liked to. There is A LOT going on. Emmy has a ton of baggage and with that comes a much heavier book than I was anticipating. Don't get me wrong, I still liked it, it's just not my favorite Madden-Mills book by far. I liked the little throw backs to previous book characters. It always makes me smile to see glimpses into their lives as a couple.
Thank you to Ilsa Madden-Mills, NetGalley, and Montlake for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
#netgalley #montlake #mydarlingbride

Madden-Mills is BACK with another football romance and I’m all for it!
It had been some time since I read an Ilsa Madden-Mills romance so I was super psyched to check out My Darling Bride, her latest football romance that included a marriage of convenience love story.
We first meet Graham who makes THE play to win his team the Super Bowl, only he’s tackled in the endzone and suffers a freak accident where his heart stops beating.
Flash forward to him taking some time to recoup and race his new Lamborghini in the Nevada desert and he meets Emmy at a roadside motel where she’s hiding out from an abusive ex-boyfriend.
Their meet cute is adorable but then she runs off, stealing his car!
Later meeting up in New York City, Graham proposes a marriage of convenience so that he can get his inheritance and so that she can get some much-needed money and make up for stealing his ride.
While it took me a minute to get over the fact that a hot shot football player who has millions already was resorting to a marriage of convenience scheme to get his inheritance (REALLY?!) for his brother (who also has money), I just went with the idea and I fell for Graham and Emmy.
These two both had baggage when it came to trusting their hearts and believing in happily-ever-afters but it was cute to see them open up to each other and ultimately fall for each other as man and wife.
Sometimes it just hits the spot when you have a cute romance with a fun storyline that makes you happy.
I read this book in a day because it just flowed and I enjoyed seeing how these two could finally get out of their own ways.
Emmy is a strong heroine who has been taking care of her family her whole life but she’s not without her own vulnerabilities. I liked that she always took the honest and straight forward approach with Graham!
Graham’s backstory was kind of a quick here it is, but it worked and he was a fun football player to love.
If you love romance books that are just fun stories with great characters that give a wonderful happy ending (even if the setup is a bit ridiculous), this is a great pick.
*Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

My Darling Bride is the Ilsa romance I have been waiting for! Graham and Emmy’s story is one that had me in awe and believing the magic of love!
Graham and Emmy have the most messy meet disaster. They were thrown together by fate but their passion and love is what kept them fighting for not just love but the life they both deserved to love!
There were so many times I felt I knew the direction of the story but as always Ilsa kept me on my toes because nothing went as I saw. I love a book that takes things in a direction you didn’t predict, but one that was perfection in ever way!
I loved everything about Emmy! Her gentle soul and loving heart! I love how much she rallied around those she loved and didn’t stop fighting even when she felt she should. Graham is a man who knows what he wants and will do what it takes for his brother. He doesn’t have a lot of people who he can trust or count on but something about Emmy called to the dark places inside of himself and together they healed.

This story sucked me in and kept me reading to find out what happened next. I really liked Emmy and Graham. There were a few moments that irritated me a bit towards the end of the book. However, the book overall was very satisfying.
This is a stand-alone story with a HEA (happily ever after). Emmy is the manager at a bookstore that she loves and Graham is a professional football player who had a near-death experience while playing in the previous season. They both end up at the same motel and Emmy steals Graham's car after she needs a quick getaway from her ex-boyfriend. Graham needs a wife of convenience and Emmy is the perfect person for the role especially since she owes him one for stealing his car.
All in all, this was a nice story with a few humorous parts. I also really enjoyed the interactions between Emmy's sister and Graham's quarterback. I kind of hope they get their own story next.
Just FYI, I received an ARC via NetGalley and this is my honest review of the book.

I have loved all the books I've read by her and I can definitely add this one to another of my favorite by her. She does an amazing job of creating characters that pull you in to want to know about them and their stories. Graham is in need of a wife and Emmy is in need of paying him back for stealing his car. This is such a cute marriage of convenience story. I loved the piece at the beginning where he sees a woman and knows she is meant to be in his life. This was carried out so well as he realizes Emmy is that woman he was mean to find all along. One of my favorite parts was the strong sibling dynamite. You can tell that both Graham and Emmy want to do whatever they can for their siblings and this was carried out so well throughout the book. I cannot wait for it to come out, so I can grab my own physical copy and read it all over again!

Thanks NetGalley
This was so cute. The way they met was too funny 😂 I was dying laughing with the unicorn love. The side characters even entertained me as well. Like I’m even willing to read Jane and Jasper book (this never happens to me).
I will rate this more a 3.5 stars. I don’t like (hate) the dreaded ex drama. in this one both have it but I felt like hers was resolved better and faster. He was still hung up on his.
Another thing. They hardly spend time together. He’s always leaving. Ugh 😑 took forever for them to get on the same page.

From the very beginning of this book, I loved the relationship between Emmy and Graham. Their banter and chemistry made it such a fun read. Graham was so supportive and protective of Emmy. The spice was also top notch. I also loved the relationships with the family and friends as an added bonus to the main characters relationship. I am secretly hoping for a story on Jane and Jasper.
If you love marriage of convenience, sports romance, and a happily ever after then this is a book for you.
Thank you so much to @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Got this book as an arc from the publishers. I loved this book so much. It was funny and witty and an easy going read. Only reason I did not give 5 stars is because the plot seemed a little fast for me. But other than that this was an awesome read and would definitely recommend to others!