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Waylon University #4
I Promise You
From #1 Amazon Charts and WSJ Bestselling Author Ilsa Madden-Mills comes an all-new swoony romance between the football hottie and the mystery girl he kissed years before…
Dillon McQueen: Babe. I promise. You want me.
Serena Jensen: Um, who are you?
There’s a legend at Waylon University: the first girl you kiss freshman year at the bonfire party is the one you’ll never forget. She’ll crawl under your skin. She’ll spark a passion so fierce you’ll burn the world down to possess her.
You might even put a ring on it.
But...timing is everything. That kiss can go horribly wrong. She might run in the opposite direction. And boy, did Serena run.
Dillon is Waylon’s hotshot quarterback with something to prove. All he wants is to graduate and make it to the NFL. What he doesn’t need is to finally meet the mystery girl he kissed at the bonfire freshman year. Isn’t it enough that she’s haunted his dreams for more than a thousand nights?
Fate laughs in his face when he runs into the plucky girl at the Piggly Wiggly. Surrounded by his entourage, he’s got all the Oreos in his cart; she gets revenge by buying every six-pack of his favorite beer.
Obviously, that legend is a curse. She’s not his type and hates him. Worst of all, how can she not remember him when she left a Serena-shaped hole in his heart for the past three years?
So why can’t he stop trying to win her?
Will this quarterback score the girl or make the biggest fumble of his life?
Author’s Note: I Promise You is a complete stand-alone college sports romance. Expect hot football jocks, strong women with pluck, a tell-it-like-it-is Nana, deep feels, fun banter, and a sigh-worthy happy ending. No cheating or cliff-hangers.
*Also read I Dare You, I Bet You, and I Hate You, ALL STAND-ALONE COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROMANCES.
Dillon McQueen: Babe. I promise. You want me.
Serena Jensen: Um, who are you?
There’s a legend at Waylon University: the first girl you kiss freshman year at the bonfire party is the one you’ll never forget. She’ll crawl under your skin. She’ll spark a passion so fierce you’ll burn the world down to possess her.
You might even put a ring on it.
But...timing is everything. That kiss can go horribly wrong. She might run in the opposite direction. And boy, did Serena run.
Dillon is Waylon’s hotshot quarterback with something to prove. All he wants is to graduate and make it to the NFL. What he doesn’t need is to finally meet the mystery girl he kissed at the bonfire freshman year. Isn’t it enough that she’s haunted his dreams for more than a thousand nights?
Fate laughs in his face when he runs into the plucky girl at the Piggly Wiggly. Surrounded by his entourage, he’s got all the Oreos in his cart; she gets revenge by buying every six-pack of his favorite beer.
Obviously, that legend is a curse. She’s not his type and hates him. Worst of all, how can she not remember him when she left a Serena-shaped hole in his heart for the past three years?
So why can’t he stop trying to win her?
Will this quarterback score the girl or make the biggest fumble of his life?
Author’s Note: I Promise You is a complete stand-alone college sports romance. Expect hot football jocks, strong women with pluck, a tell-it-like-it-is Nana, deep feels, fun banter, and a sigh-worthy happy ending. No cheating or cliff-hangers.
*Also read I Dare You, I Bet You, and I Hate You, ALL STAND-ALONE COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROMANCES.
422 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2020
5234 people are currently reading
9255 people want to read
About the author
Ilsa Madden-Mills
39 books16.3k followers#1 Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills pens angsty new adult and contemporary romances.
A former high school English teacher and librarian, 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. ☺
★ Sign up for her newsletter and receive insider info about new releases and exclusive giveaways
★ You can stalk her/sign up on the contact page: ilsamaddenmills.com
★ Facebook: Author Ilsa Madden-Mills
★ Join her private reader group on FB: Unicorn Girls
★ Instagram @Ilsamaddenmills
New Book News:
Dear Ava is live!
Not My Romeo is live!
I Promise You drops October 12/20
Not My Match drops January 19/21 (pre-order on Amazon)
A former high school English teacher and librarian, 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. ☺
★ Sign up for her newsletter and receive insider info about new releases and exclusive giveaways
★ You can stalk her/sign up on the contact page: ilsamaddenmills.com
★ Facebook: Author Ilsa Madden-Mills
★ Join her private reader group on FB: Unicorn Girls
★ Instagram @Ilsamaddenmills
New Book News:
Dear Ava is live!
Not My Romeo is live!
I Promise You drops October 12/20
Not My Match drops January 19/21 (pre-order on Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,191 reviews
November 26, 2020
I promise you, Ilsa does humor and steam like nobody’s business!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜💛💚
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📔📙
World building: 🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈
Character development: 👤👤👤👤👤
The setting: Waylon University
The Hero(s): Dillon McQueen – Quarterback for the Waylon Tigers football team. Dillon wants to go pro, but has self-doubts. He lost his younger brother four years ago and blames himself.
The heroine: Serena Jensen – in Graduate school for Journalism. Serena’s parents died four years ago and she is helping raise her teenaged sister. She doesn’t do much except work and study and she has an unpaid internship at the Gazette.
The Love Story: There is a superstition at Waylon about being a freshman and the first girl you kiss at the bonfire in the woods is the girl who you will never forget. She will be in your thoughts and drive you crazy. Though timing is the key, if timing is right you and the girl will be together, if the timing is bad, she might run and you will be left with a hole in your life. Dillon kisses Serena at his freshman bonfire and the timing is all wrong.
Boy did I love this story. Ilsa Madden-Mills writes steamy romance and humor so well. I was laughing throughout the story and the romance was all that and a bag of chips! (Alexa play “Your Body Is a Wonderland”, by John Mayer). Sizzling intimate scenes and terrific dates, Dillon and Serena were perfect for each other.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜💛💚
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📔📙
World building: 🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈
Character development: 👤👤👤👤👤
The setting: Waylon University
The Hero(s): Dillon McQueen – Quarterback for the Waylon Tigers football team. Dillon wants to go pro, but has self-doubts. He lost his younger brother four years ago and blames himself.
The heroine: Serena Jensen – in Graduate school for Journalism. Serena’s parents died four years ago and she is helping raise her teenaged sister. She doesn’t do much except work and study and she has an unpaid internship at the Gazette.
The Love Story: There is a superstition at Waylon about being a freshman and the first girl you kiss at the bonfire in the woods is the girl who you will never forget. She will be in your thoughts and drive you crazy. Though timing is the key, if timing is right you and the girl will be together, if the timing is bad, she might run and you will be left with a hole in your life. Dillon kisses Serena at his freshman bonfire and the timing is all wrong.
Boy did I love this story. Ilsa Madden-Mills writes steamy romance and humor so well. I was laughing throughout the story and the romance was all that and a bag of chips! (Alexa play “Your Body Is a Wonderland”, by John Mayer). Sizzling intimate scenes and terrific dates, Dillon and Serena were perfect for each other.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
October 20, 2020
3.5 stars
is it just me or does the book cover model lowkey look like my husband #3849 Chris Hemsworth??
you know weirdly enough i've been looking for a book where it's all soft, cute and chill and whaddaya know? this book just showed up on my feed and i was like eehhh why not. and this was actually very cute and adorable!! aaand the fact that Dillon (H) is waaay more into Serena (h) and spent the majority of the book chasing her and fighting for her??
so the premise also drew me in because Dillon first saw Serena (he was a freshman and she was a junior) at a bonfire and apparently whoever you kiss first at that specific bonfire, they end up being your soulmate so he kisses her and never sees her again until 3 years later. and for those years, she was still "tormenting" his mind even though he had no hope whether or not he'll see her again - but SIKE they meet each other again.
and basically this has a lot of things im trash for like:
you guys see this? all chef's kiss material.
// Serena Jensen (h) //
ok i LOVED this girl. this bishh KNEW👏🏼HER👏🏼WORTH and i was all for it. she was in a bad relationship before (but i'll talk about that later) so she's a bit hesitant towards Dillon and to be honest i was kinda annoyed sometimes when she would push him away just cuz i know Dillon was genuine but i guess Serena wasn't sure about him yet so im not too mad about it. but honestly i ain't complaining when she's playing hard to get cuz YESSS girl make him work harder!!! him suffering is entertaining to me 😌✨
we love a hero who gets rejected but still works hard to get the girl cuz that's how much he's into Serena.
// Dillon McQueen (H) //
did i mention he's a simp for Serena? this dude was just very sweet and he's another soft boi. you know, i love asshole heroes but sometimes... soft bois where it's at. he's your typical quarterback, most popular dude in campus type of new adult H but as soon as Serena is in his vicinity, he turns into this adorkable, blubbering mess cuz he's so nervous and doesn't wanna f things up.
ugh. soft bois FOR. THE. WIN.
➵ romance
you know those situations where H and h are forced to be close to each other which then garners sexual tension + emotional connection? yeah it's like that here. there was the scene where Dillon was treating Serena's blister when she went to the stadium, H and h doing yoga, PAINTBALL scene (loved this chapter), blind/speed dating in sorority event, etc.
though, when they finally got together, it felt kinda rushed?? since this is semi-slowburn they didn't get together officially till 74% and then after that a lot of the romance was mostly told and not shown and there were also time jumps. i don't know. everything was going too fast for me BUT there was a little bit of a drama that happens by the end, they break up for few days and Dillon grovels a little bit.
(SPOILERS) also!! the reason why they broke up is hmm... well- it kinda felt weird to me i don't know why. i guess that whole challenge thing in the beginning didn't seem like such a big deal but i guess it IS a big deal since that's the reason why they broke up. i don't know... it just felt like it was thrown there to add drama but heyyy im a ho for drama so i was like
drama in fiction >>> drama in real life
➵ OW/OM drama (spoilers)
there's some ex drama in Serena's side. she was in a long-term relationship with this rockstar, Vane, and they started dating since she was a sophomore (so yes, Dillon met her while she was still with the asshole). she got pregnant, they were married for 2 months, she had a miscarriage and when she was about to tell Vane, she saw him getting a bj soo yeahh the dude cheated on her. what a dick. Vane just causes a little bit of drama and he's kinda the reason why Serena's so hesitant when it comes Dillon
as for OW drama, Dillon is the "prize" for this sorority thing and sorority sisters are supposed to compete to win a date with him. he goes on this date at the end which is kinda one of the reasons why they broke up by the end.
* * *
again, i think it's super cute that Dillon was obsessed with her since the beginning AND he was even celibate for a few months after he met her, hoping he'd see her again. that's how much of a simp he was.
i would've rated this higher but it's a it's not you, it's me type of situation. on one hand, i was in the mood for something soft and light but on the other, i'm in the mood for angsty, stressing me tf out type of drama. UGH I CAN'T CHOOSE.
literally, this is me whenever i choose a book from my tbr:
issa struggle. im a mess and im ok with that ✨
anyways, i just couldn't concentrate on the book because my attention was somewhere else so that kinda derailed my enjoyment BUT this was still very much cute af.
is it just me or does the book cover model lowkey look like my husband #3849 Chris Hemsworth??
you know weirdly enough i've been looking for a book where it's all soft, cute and chill and whaddaya know? this book just showed up on my feed and i was like eehhh why not. and this was actually very cute and adorable!! aaand the fact that Dillon (H) is waaay more into Serena (h) and spent the majority of the book chasing her and fighting for her??
so the premise also drew me in because Dillon first saw Serena (he was a freshman and she was a junior) at a bonfire and apparently whoever you kiss first at that specific bonfire, they end up being your soulmate so he kisses her and never sees her again until 3 years later. and for those years, she was still "tormenting" his mind even though he had no hope whether or not he'll see her again - but SIKE they meet each other again.
and basically this has a lot of things im trash for like:
— H simping for h // Dillon was SO into her guys i can't even explain it
→ cute scenarios where there's tons of sexual tension
→ h "playing hard to get" while H still fights for her
→ emotional connection // bonding over their trauma of losing a family member
→ semi slowburn // y'all when i say the h played hard to get she really played hard to get
→ cute girl friendships // aaahhh i wish there were more scenes of this
→ paintball scene // The Hating Game anyone?
you guys see this? all chef's kiss material.
// Serena Jensen (h) //
ok i LOVED this girl. this bishh KNEW👏🏼HER👏🏼WORTH and i was all for it. she was in a bad relationship before (but i'll talk about that later) so she's a bit hesitant towards Dillon and to be honest i was kinda annoyed sometimes when she would push him away just cuz i know Dillon was genuine but i guess Serena wasn't sure about him yet so im not too mad about it. but honestly i ain't complaining when she's playing hard to get cuz YESSS girl make him work harder!!! him suffering is entertaining to me 😌✨
we love a hero who gets rejected but still works hard to get the girl cuz that's how much he's into Serena.
// Dillon McQueen (H) //
"My soul, my heart, the very essence of me... It's connected to her, a fragile string that's never been broken, not even by three years."
did i mention he's a simp for Serena? this dude was just very sweet and he's another soft boi. you know, i love asshole heroes but sometimes... soft bois where it's at. he's your typical quarterback, most popular dude in campus type of new adult H but as soon as Serena is in his vicinity, he turns into this adorkable, blubbering mess cuz he's so nervous and doesn't wanna f things up.
ugh. soft bois FOR. THE. WIN.
➵ romance
you know those situations where H and h are forced to be close to each other which then garners sexual tension + emotional connection? yeah it's like that here. there was the scene where Dillon was treating Serena's blister when she went to the stadium, H and h doing yoga, PAINTBALL scene (loved this chapter), blind/speed dating in sorority event, etc.
though, when they finally got together, it felt kinda rushed?? since this is semi-slowburn they didn't get together officially till 74% and then after that a lot of the romance was mostly told and not shown and there were also time jumps. i don't know. everything was going too fast for me BUT there was a little bit of a drama that happens by the end, they break up for few days and Dillon grovels a little bit.
(SPOILERS) also!! the reason why they broke up is hmm... well- it kinda felt weird to me i don't know why. i guess that whole challenge thing in the beginning didn't seem like such a big deal but i guess it IS a big deal since that's the reason why they broke up. i don't know... it just felt like it was thrown there to add drama but heyyy im a ho for drama so i was like
drama in fiction >>> drama in real life
➵ OW/OM drama (spoilers)
there's some ex drama in Serena's side. she was in a long-term relationship with this rockstar, Vane, and they started dating since she was a sophomore (so yes, Dillon met her while she was still with the asshole). she got pregnant, they were married for 2 months, she had a miscarriage and when she was about to tell Vane, she saw him getting a bj soo yeahh the dude cheated on her. what a dick. Vane just causes a little bit of drama and he's kinda the reason why Serena's so hesitant when it comes Dillon
as for OW drama, Dillon is the "prize" for this sorority thing and sorority sisters are supposed to compete to win a date with him. he goes on this date at the end which is kinda one of the reasons why they broke up by the end.
* * *
again, i think it's super cute that Dillon was obsessed with her since the beginning AND he was even celibate for a few months after he met her, hoping he'd see her again. that's how much of a simp he was.
i would've rated this higher but it's a it's not you, it's me type of situation. on one hand, i was in the mood for something soft and light but on the other, i'm in the mood for angsty, stressing me tf out type of drama. UGH I CAN'T CHOOSE.
literally, this is me whenever i choose a book from my tbr:
issa struggle. im a mess and im ok with that ✨
anyways, i just couldn't concentrate on the book because my attention was somewhere else so that kinda derailed my enjoyment BUT this was still very much cute af.
Read
October 12, 2020All-new college romance is LIVE and FREE IN KU!
✔️ Emotional Standalone
✔️ Enemies to Lovers
✔️ Popular Quarterback
✔️ Vulnerable Heroine
✔️ He remembers her; she has no clue
✔️ Piggly Wiggly Show Down
Dillon McQueen: Babe. I promise. You want me.
Serena Jensen: Um, who are you?
There’s a legend at Waylon University: the first girl you kiss freshman year at the bonfire party is the one you’ll never forget. She’ll crawl under your skin and never leave. She’ll spark a passion so fierce you’ll burn the world down to possess her.
You might even put a ring on it.
Timing is everything. That kiss can go horribly wrong. She might run in the opposite direction. And boy, did Serena run.
Dillon is Waylon’s hotshot quarterback with something to prove. All he wants is to graduate and make it to the NFL. What he doesn’t need is to finally meet the mystery girl he kissed at the bonfire freshman year. Isn’t it enough that she’s haunted his dreams for more than a thousand nights?
Fate laughs in his face when he runs into the quirky girl at the Piggly Wiggly. Surrounded by his entourage, he’s got all the Oreos in his cart; she gets revenge by buying every six-pack of his favorite beer.
Obviously, that legend is a curse. She’s hates him. Worst of all, how can she not remember him when she left a Serena-shaped hole in his heart for the past three years?
So why can’t he stop trying to win her?
Will this quarterback score the girl or make the biggest fumble of his life?
I PROMISE YOU
Worldwide: http://mybook.to/ipromiseyou
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2GKFfI6
✔️ Emotional Standalone
✔️ Enemies to Lovers
✔️ Popular Quarterback
✔️ Vulnerable Heroine
✔️ He remembers her; she has no clue
✔️ Piggly Wiggly Show Down
Dillon McQueen: Babe. I promise. You want me.
Serena Jensen: Um, who are you?
There’s a legend at Waylon University: the first girl you kiss freshman year at the bonfire party is the one you’ll never forget. She’ll crawl under your skin and never leave. She’ll spark a passion so fierce you’ll burn the world down to possess her.
You might even put a ring on it.
Timing is everything. That kiss can go horribly wrong. She might run in the opposite direction. And boy, did Serena run.
Dillon is Waylon’s hotshot quarterback with something to prove. All he wants is to graduate and make it to the NFL. What he doesn’t need is to finally meet the mystery girl he kissed at the bonfire freshman year. Isn’t it enough that she’s haunted his dreams for more than a thousand nights?
Fate laughs in his face when he runs into the quirky girl at the Piggly Wiggly. Surrounded by his entourage, he’s got all the Oreos in his cart; she gets revenge by buying every six-pack of his favorite beer.
Obviously, that legend is a curse. She’s hates him. Worst of all, how can she not remember him when she left a Serena-shaped hole in his heart for the past three years?
So why can’t he stop trying to win her?
Will this quarterback score the girl or make the biggest fumble of his life?
I PROMISE YOU
Worldwide: http://mybook.to/ipromiseyou
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2GKFfI6
October 11, 2020
5 STARS
Same, girl. SAME.
First of all, I am kicking my own @ss right now because how am I just discovering this series? Ok so maybe it's not a series since it's not marked as one. But if you haven't read I Bet You, I Hate You, and I Dare You, you haven't lived. Just saying.
It seems I'm always on the search for the perfect New Adult sports romance that can combine all of the feels with perfectly dozed steam and this book checked all of my boxes. I fell so hard for these characters, both the main and the secondary. I fell SO HARD.
If you've read the other books I mention, you'll remember Dillon McQueen as the party loving, quick to smile golden boy. I just knew this boy was going to have more layers than an onion, but I simply wasn't prepared for just how many there were. This is one character that has so much depth, that with every layer you peel back, you're simply ravenous for more. On the surface he seems like a party boy that likes to sleep around and has no problem using his good looks to get what he wants. But beneath that is the heart of someone that's still figuring himself out. He's unsure. He's vulnerable. And he's so damn adorable in his uncertainties, that you just want to hug him.
Serena has been there, done that, and has the t-shirt. Literally. She's a little older and a lot wiser, so when the college golden boy sets her in his sights, she's having none of it. The banter and bickering between the two of them was FIRE. I lived for their back and forth. Serena has her own insecurities but this is a woman that gives as hard as she gets and I loved her for it. She made Dillon work for it.
I adored this story, simply adored it. The swoon, the feels, the hilarious banter. All of it effortlessly woven together to make for one addictive read that I never wanted to end. I immediately went back and read the other three books because I simply had to meet the three secondary characters that make an appearance in the beginning of this book. If you're looking for that perfect NA sports romance, look no further! Welcome to your next addiction.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
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He’s part smooth charmer, part uncertain college boy, and it ticks all my boxes.
Help.
Same, girl. SAME.
First of all, I am kicking my own @ss right now because how am I just discovering this series? Ok so maybe it's not a series since it's not marked as one. But if you haven't read I Bet You, I Hate You, and I Dare You, you haven't lived. Just saying.
It seems I'm always on the search for the perfect New Adult sports romance that can combine all of the feels with perfectly dozed steam and this book checked all of my boxes. I fell so hard for these characters, both the main and the secondary. I fell SO HARD.
If you've read the other books I mention, you'll remember Dillon McQueen as the party loving, quick to smile golden boy. I just knew this boy was going to have more layers than an onion, but I simply wasn't prepared for just how many there were. This is one character that has so much depth, that with every layer you peel back, you're simply ravenous for more. On the surface he seems like a party boy that likes to sleep around and has no problem using his good looks to get what he wants. But beneath that is the heart of someone that's still figuring himself out. He's unsure. He's vulnerable. And he's so damn adorable in his uncertainties, that you just want to hug him.
Serena has been there, done that, and has the t-shirt. Literally. She's a little older and a lot wiser, so when the college golden boy sets her in his sights, she's having none of it. The banter and bickering between the two of them was FIRE. I lived for their back and forth. Serena has her own insecurities but this is a woman that gives as hard as she gets and I loved her for it. She made Dillon work for it.
I adored this story, simply adored it. The swoon, the feels, the hilarious banter. All of it effortlessly woven together to make for one addictive read that I never wanted to end. I immediately went back and read the other three books because I simply had to meet the three secondary characters that make an appearance in the beginning of this book. If you're looking for that perfect NA sports romance, look no further! Welcome to your next addiction.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
October 11, 2020
I swear to all that is mighty all of Ilsa's books draw me in to the best level...
Yet again another novel, filled with the romance that we are all looking for! Dillon and Serena bring this level intimacy to another extend that I have not read in a long time. It's the aspect of the world separating them, and then uniting them together once again during a time in which they both needed more than anything.
There walls brake apart so the light can be shed, and it lets their hearts mend together to be together. Reading this novel has made me flutter, and fall in love with this world once again. Especially when the previous characters were mentioned. Hopefully this is not the last book!
ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review...
Follow Me On:
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Yet again another novel, filled with the romance that we are all looking for! Dillon and Serena bring this level intimacy to another extend that I have not read in a long time. It's the aspect of the world separating them, and then uniting them together once again during a time in which they both needed more than anything.
There walls brake apart so the light can be shed, and it lets their hearts mend together to be together. Reading this novel has made me flutter, and fall in love with this world once again. Especially when the previous characters were mentioned. Hopefully this is not the last book!
ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review...
Follow Me On:
Instagram ❁ Twitter
October 12, 2020
3.75
Plot
The first girl you kiss freshman year at the bonfire party is the one you’ll never forget, that was the case with Dillon McQueen. When he first laid eyes on Serena Jensen at the bonfire, he couldn't resist himself and needed a little taste, however Serena didn't feel the same and pushed him away and disappeared. For months he looked for her, stayed celibate hoping he could find his girl. Eventually losing hope he gave up on her and what they could have been, until a few years later they meet again at Piggly Wiggly.
Where Serene see's him with not one but three woman. (DW It was for some tradition, he doesn’t sleep with anyone of them, I'll come back to this later)
First Dillion doesn't recognize Serena because of her hat hiding her face but one thing led to another and he ended up dropping her home and finally got to see her face.....
That night from three years ago rushes at me, playing back in my head: the movement of her hips, the dandelion on her nape… “When can I see you again?” I blurt. “What?” Confusion mars her features, her nose scrunching. “Are you crazy? I’m not one of your kittens!”
After realizing that the woman he was looking for all this time doesn't even remember him, disappointed, he hopes he never see's her again. But fate can be cruel because Serena, a journalism graduate ends up getting a job to report about the Tigers for the season and more specifically to do an article about non other than Dillion.
Characters
Dillion
Honestly, after reading the past few books from this series, I already had mentally prepared myself with how Dillion's character would be, you know the typical cliché womanizer type. But that was not what I got.
Dillion was somewhat similar to Knox from Dear Ava when it came to Serena. He got flustered, embarrassed and accidentally spitted out things he instantly regretted. He didn't push himself on Serena with a cocky attitude that you normally read about. He ALWAYS asked her if she was okay with it first, which I found absolutely adorable!
I couldn’t wait to get away from Serena, afraid I was going to blurt out everything from freshman year right in front of her. "Hello, we kissed once. I may have imagined us as a couple. I looked for you for months." Yes, I’m a lunatic. Yeah, not cool.
He levels me with his searching turquoise gaze. “You said you weren’t interested. Is that true?” An anxious expression flits over his face as he frowns. “I don’t want to bother you or say suggestive things if, uh, if you think I’m terrible. I’ll, um, rein it in…” His words peter out as his eyes shut briefly. “I suck at this. Sometimes, I have no filter. Pretend we’re in middle school. For real, all jokes aside. Do you like me, you know, as a person? Check yes or no.” He squints at me, as if dreading the answer.
“A kiss. Promise me a kiss.” He dips his head, hiding his eyes. “Um, is that okay?”
His face grows redder, embarrassment growing. “I may have thought about popping a cork and pouring it on you, you know, um, when we, um, make out some time in the future. Maybe.” He blows out a breath. “I can’t believe I just said that. I can’t get anything right with you. Kill me now.”
I fucking loved this side of Dillion and how he was patient with Serena and didn't get put off by her past baggage. He took slow baby steps with her even though he probably wanted to pee all around her and claim her as his ASAP.
Serena
Oh god this woman made me laugh so much. From the start she knew exactly who Dylan was, but pretended to not know him and called him every name that starts with the letter "D" except for his actual name. She also kept on asking him how his Lacrosse team was.
“No, and don’t think I’m not keeping tabs on every time you call me a lacrosse player. So far your debt is so big I don’t think you’ll ever pay it off.”
Again another character I absolutely loved. She was a feisty and a strong female lead. She is also google 2.0 spitting out 100000 random information. She didn't give in to Dillion easily because of her past relationship as she didn’t want to lose sight of herself and her family just to get her heartbroken towards the end again.
Also shoutout to Serena’s Nana!! Loved her humour!
Now to the part from where things went flat for me. Chapter 25. The dance. But let me make something clear, this most probably is a complete ME problem and I don't want anyone to NOT read the book because of it.
Anyway now, while I am typing up this review I realized something else, It's been a few days since I have read this book and I can talk about everything that happened pre dance scene for hours. I just loved Dillon and Serena so much, individually and as a couple. It's just everything that happened after the dance, now I just don't remember it. At all. Not even how they made up.
Would I recommend this book? yes, I feel like the reason I got upset was all my fault. I mean if anyone else has read the book and felt the same way, let me know. But I don't think you should NOT read the book just because of a few chapters. As both the characters were amazing majority of the book! And they are officially my second favourite couple from the series (Charm & Blaze will forever be #1).
Plot
The first girl you kiss freshman year at the bonfire party is the one you’ll never forget, that was the case with Dillon McQueen. When he first laid eyes on Serena Jensen at the bonfire, he couldn't resist himself and needed a little taste, however Serena didn't feel the same and pushed him away and disappeared. For months he looked for her, stayed celibate hoping he could find his girl. Eventually losing hope he gave up on her and what they could have been, until a few years later they meet again at Piggly Wiggly.
Where Serene see's him with not one but three woman. (DW It was for some tradition, he doesn’t sleep with anyone of them, I'll come back to this later)
First Dillion doesn't recognize Serena because of her hat hiding her face but one thing led to another and he ended up dropping her home and finally got to see her face.....
That night from three years ago rushes at me, playing back in my head: the movement of her hips, the dandelion on her nape… “When can I see you again?” I blurt. “What?” Confusion mars her features, her nose scrunching. “Are you crazy? I’m not one of your kittens!”
After realizing that the woman he was looking for all this time doesn't even remember him, disappointed, he hopes he never see's her again. But fate can be cruel because Serena, a journalism graduate ends up getting a job to report about the Tigers for the season and more specifically to do an article about non other than Dillion.
Characters
Dillion
Honestly, after reading the past few books from this series, I already had mentally prepared myself with how Dillion's character would be, you know the typical cliché womanizer type. But that was not what I got.
Dillion was somewhat similar to Knox from Dear Ava when it came to Serena. He got flustered, embarrassed and accidentally spitted out things he instantly regretted. He didn't push himself on Serena with a cocky attitude that you normally read about. He ALWAYS asked her if she was okay with it first, which I found absolutely adorable!
I couldn’t wait to get away from Serena, afraid I was going to blurt out everything from freshman year right in front of her. "Hello, we kissed once. I may have imagined us as a couple. I looked for you for months." Yes, I’m a lunatic. Yeah, not cool.
He levels me with his searching turquoise gaze. “You said you weren’t interested. Is that true?” An anxious expression flits over his face as he frowns. “I don’t want to bother you or say suggestive things if, uh, if you think I’m terrible. I’ll, um, rein it in…” His words peter out as his eyes shut briefly. “I suck at this. Sometimes, I have no filter. Pretend we’re in middle school. For real, all jokes aside. Do you like me, you know, as a person? Check yes or no.” He squints at me, as if dreading the answer.
“A kiss. Promise me a kiss.” He dips his head, hiding his eyes. “Um, is that okay?”
His face grows redder, embarrassment growing. “I may have thought about popping a cork and pouring it on you, you know, um, when we, um, make out some time in the future. Maybe.” He blows out a breath. “I can’t believe I just said that. I can’t get anything right with you. Kill me now.”
I fucking loved this side of Dillion and how he was patient with Serena and didn't get put off by her past baggage. He took slow baby steps with her even though he probably wanted to pee all around her and claim her as his ASAP.
Serena
Oh god this woman made me laugh so much. From the start she knew exactly who Dylan was, but pretended to not know him and called him every name that starts with the letter "D" except for his actual name. She also kept on asking him how his Lacrosse team was.
“No, and don’t think I’m not keeping tabs on every time you call me a lacrosse player. So far your debt is so big I don’t think you’ll ever pay it off.”
Again another character I absolutely loved. She was a feisty and a strong female lead. She is also google 2.0 spitting out 100000 random information. She didn't give in to Dillion easily because of her past relationship as she didn’t want to lose sight of herself and her family just to get her heartbroken towards the end again.
Also shoutout to Serena’s Nana!! Loved her humour!
Now to the part from where things went flat for me. Chapter 25. The dance. But let me make something clear, this most probably is a complete ME problem and I don't want anyone to NOT read the book because of it.
Anyway now, while I am typing up this review I realized something else, It's been a few days since I have read this book and I can talk about everything that happened pre dance scene for hours. I just loved Dillon and Serena so much, individually and as a couple. It's just everything that happened after the dance, now I just don't remember it. At all. Not even how they made up.
Would I recommend this book? yes, I feel like the reason I got upset was all my fault. I mean if anyone else has read the book and felt the same way, let me know. But I don't think you should NOT read the book just because of a few chapters. As both the characters were amazing majority of the book! And they are officially my second favourite couple from the series (Charm & Blaze will forever be #1).
October 7, 2020
Oh my... I can't live without Ilsa's books anymore! I'm addicted to her characters, and she keeps creating more book boyfriends that I just can't let go!
I have to say that Dillon is trying to steal my heart from Blaze (from I Hate You), and he might be able to conquer it!
(He totally own me... Don't tell Blaze!)
I'm a huge fan of Sports Romance and this Book brings a new group, kinda of next generation of football players at Waylon University, since the last one is already graduated and in the NFL.
We've met Dillon previously in Blaze and Ryker's books. He was carefree, gentle, loyal and the heart of the party. He rubbed off as a womanizer and a little shallow before, and how wrong was, to think about him that way.
Dillon is a babe with deep emotions and deep insecurities. Being the starter quarterback for the Tigers, put him as the Center of girls attention, but the only one that he really wants, is the one that got away after their hot kiss at the freshman year bonfire party. (Sounds familiar? Yeah... It's the same bonfire kiss' legend from I Dare You)
Serena is a simple girl who lost so much, that her grief and her responsibilities start to weight over her, smothering her fire.
She caught her husband cheating on her, and really don't trust men anymore. She's still burned and with high walls protecting her heart.
I loved how they reconnected after 3yrs, and couldn't deny the attraction that they feel for each other... Serena really tried to resist, but Dillon won her at the same way that he won me. It's a slow burn with so many feelings... I melted!
Their banter made my day and they're both to good to be true... Her random facts, his crumblings discusses, their dates! OMG I loved their dates!
There's a lot of similarities with the previous books, but I think that it's more like a trace for this series at this point. Didn't bothered me.
The epilogue was another one to keep your heart warm until the next book!
And I'm really curious about who's next.
Bring it on that I'm in!
Although this book is in the universe of Waylon University, it can totally be read as a standalone.
ARC Reviewer
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🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷 Review em Português 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷
Oh meu... eu não posso mais viver sem os livros da Ilsa! Eu sou viciada em seus personagens, e ela continua criando mais namorados literários que eu não posso abrir mão!
Devo dizer que Dillon está tentando roubar meu coração do Blaze (de I Hate You), e talvez ele consiga fazer isso!
(Ele é totalmente meu dono... Não diga ao Blaze!)
Sou uma grande fã de Sports Romance e este Livro traz um novo grupo, meio que da próxima geração de jogadores de futebol da Waylon University, já que o último grupo já se formou e está na NFL.
Nós conhecemos Dillon anteriormente nos livros do Blaze e no do Ryker. Ele era despreocupado, gentil, leal e o coração da festa. Ele parecia um mulherengo e um pouco superficial antes, e como foi errado pensar nele dessa forma.
Dillon é um bebê com emoções e inseguranças profundas. Sendo o quarterback titular do Tigers, coloca-o como o centro das atenções das garotas, mas a única que ele realmente quer, é aquela que escapou depois de um beijo quente na festa da fogueira em seu primeiro ano. (Parece familiar? Sim... É a mesma lenda do beijo da fogueira de I Dare You)
Serena é uma garota simples que perdeu tanto, que sua dor e suas responsabilidades começam a pesar sobre ela.
Ela flagrou o marido a traindo e agora realmente não confia nos homens facilmente.
Ela ainda está machucada e construiu muros altos pra proteger seu coração.
Eu amei como eles se reconectaram depois de 3 anos, e não podiam negar a atração que sentiam um pelo outro... Serena realmente tentou resistir, mas Dillon a conquistou da mesma forma que ele me conquistou.
É uma romance lento com tantos sentimentos... Eu derreti!
Suas trocas fizeram o meu dia e os dois são bons demais para ser verdade... Os fatos aleatórios dela, os diálogos atrapalhados dele, seus encontros!
Meu Deus... eu amei seus encontros!
Há muita similaridade com os livros anteriores, mas acho que é mais como um traço desta série neste momento. Não me incomodou muito.
O epílogo foi outro para aquecer o coração até o próximo lançamento!
E estou curiosa para saber quem é o próximo.
Embora este livro faça parte do universo da Waylon University, ele pode ser lido como único.
ARC Reviewer
October 17, 2020
DNF @80%.
October 16, 2020
*ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*
✨ "I don't deserve you, but life keeps bringing us together"✨
WOW!
This was one of the most sweet, sexy and mind-blowing story I've ever read !
I loved it!
I don't even know how to explain what I've felt reading it.
I was on a constant rollercoaster of emotions.
Since the first pages I was completely hooked .
Dillon had a plan , something to prove .
And nothing about this included falling in love .
But we all know you can't go against the legend of the bonfire party : the first girl you kiss freshman year at the bonfire party is the one you'll never forget.
And so it was ...
Since that first kiss nothing was the same . A simple kiss changed everything ...
✨"He pins me with stormy eyes , and I feel like one of those antelopes on the nature channel when she realizes the tiger has her in his sights"✨
Since then Dillion was set on conquering the girl of his dreams , the one .
But she surely didn't make it easy .
Serena has been through a lot , she lost a lot and she experienced too many times pain .
So she built walls so high no one was able to destroy them , until Dillon.
He challenged her , made her see what be really cared for meant . And all of that scared Serena , she didn't want to surrender to her feelings for him .
✨"Caring for someone, putting yourself out there.. It's like a beautiful butterfly in your hand. If you hold really still and try to do everything right , it might stay, but you're going to flinch, and when you do, It might fly away"✨
So she tried to run , but the quarterback was a much better runner than her ...
The chemistry between them was so strong that it almost came out of the pages .
They couldn't resist each other , eventually the passion , the feelings and a little bit of destiny did the job...
✨"The truth is, people are never free of baggage, but sometimes you have to take a chance and jump in feet first . I want this with him"✨
There were some pretty funny and sweet moments that will melt you , literally
I'm not gonna spoiler anything , but you should definitely get ready for a major book hangover
Once again Ilsa created another masterpiece
So I'll not give this book less then 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I hope you'll enjoy it like I did!✨
✨ "I don't deserve you, but life keeps bringing us together"✨
WOW!
This was one of the most sweet, sexy and mind-blowing story I've ever read !
I loved it!
I don't even know how to explain what I've felt reading it.
I was on a constant rollercoaster of emotions.
Since the first pages I was completely hooked .
Dillon had a plan , something to prove .
And nothing about this included falling in love .
But we all know you can't go against the legend of the bonfire party : the first girl you kiss freshman year at the bonfire party is the one you'll never forget.
And so it was ...
Since that first kiss nothing was the same . A simple kiss changed everything ...
✨"He pins me with stormy eyes , and I feel like one of those antelopes on the nature channel when she realizes the tiger has her in his sights"✨
Since then Dillion was set on conquering the girl of his dreams , the one .
But she surely didn't make it easy .
Serena has been through a lot , she lost a lot and she experienced too many times pain .
So she built walls so high no one was able to destroy them , until Dillon.
He challenged her , made her see what be really cared for meant . And all of that scared Serena , she didn't want to surrender to her feelings for him .
✨"Caring for someone, putting yourself out there.. It's like a beautiful butterfly in your hand. If you hold really still and try to do everything right , it might stay, but you're going to flinch, and when you do, It might fly away"✨
So she tried to run , but the quarterback was a much better runner than her ...
The chemistry between them was so strong that it almost came out of the pages .
They couldn't resist each other , eventually the passion , the feelings and a little bit of destiny did the job...
✨"The truth is, people are never free of baggage, but sometimes you have to take a chance and jump in feet first . I want this with him"✨
There were some pretty funny and sweet moments that will melt you , literally
I'm not gonna spoiler anything , but you should definitely get ready for a major book hangover
Once again Ilsa created another masterpiece
So I'll not give this book less then 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I hope you'll enjoy it like I did!✨
October 12, 2020
5 My Heart Picked You stars!
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
There is a legend at Waylon University about the first girl you kiss at the annual bonfire party your freshman year. She will be the one that will steal your heart, and you'll never forget. She'll stay in your thoughts and make you believe in hearts and flowers. Unless your timing is off and things go terribly wrong, and she runs from you. Then you have to leave it up to fate.
The Waylon Tigers in Magnolia, Mississippi are practically royalty at Waylon University, and Dillon McQueen is their hotshot quarterback. As their captain he's focused on leading the team, and as a senior this season is his last shot at the NFL. From the outside he appears to have it all, but he feels like he's constantly having to prove himself. Then his already chaotic world turns more complicated when he crosses paths with the one that got away. A shared moment three years ago with a beautiful stranger changed everything. He was smitten, and hasn't been able to forget her. She's unaffected and doesn't even remember him. She's under his skin, and he's prepared to work for her attention. Will Serena just be the girl who haunts his dreams, or will she be his destiny?
-She doesn't know that I've compared every girl I met to her, and they always came up short! All over a kiss!
-His beauty is pretty much a physical assault to my senses, rich and heady, vibrating with intense masculinity. He's breathtakingly beautiful, that chiseled face, the divine body, all with an air of smoldering sexiness. Should be illegal to be that attractive.
Eye contact with him is a rollercoaster ride. One moment you're at the top, about to lose your breath, and the next you're soaring down a hill and clenching the railing.
I Promise You by Ilsa Madden-Mills is an all new enemies to lovers standalone, new adult, college sports romance set in the Waylon University world about a star football player and his feisty mystery woman. It's so funny, and full of heart. Dillon is super swoony, and my new favorite! It's a flirty, emotional story about true love and fate with all the feels!
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/36UEfvG
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
There is a legend at Waylon University about the first girl you kiss at the annual bonfire party your freshman year. She will be the one that will steal your heart, and you'll never forget. She'll stay in your thoughts and make you believe in hearts and flowers. Unless your timing is off and things go terribly wrong, and she runs from you. Then you have to leave it up to fate.
The Waylon Tigers in Magnolia, Mississippi are practically royalty at Waylon University, and Dillon McQueen is their hotshot quarterback. As their captain he's focused on leading the team, and as a senior this season is his last shot at the NFL. From the outside he appears to have it all, but he feels like he's constantly having to prove himself. Then his already chaotic world turns more complicated when he crosses paths with the one that got away. A shared moment three years ago with a beautiful stranger changed everything. He was smitten, and hasn't been able to forget her. She's unaffected and doesn't even remember him. She's under his skin, and he's prepared to work for her attention. Will Serena just be the girl who haunts his dreams, or will she be his destiny?
-She doesn't know that I've compared every girl I met to her, and they always came up short! All over a kiss!
-His beauty is pretty much a physical assault to my senses, rich and heady, vibrating with intense masculinity. He's breathtakingly beautiful, that chiseled face, the divine body, all with an air of smoldering sexiness. Should be illegal to be that attractive.
Eye contact with him is a rollercoaster ride. One moment you're at the top, about to lose your breath, and the next you're soaring down a hill and clenching the railing.
I Promise You by Ilsa Madden-Mills is an all new enemies to lovers standalone, new adult, college sports romance set in the Waylon University world about a star football player and his feisty mystery woman. It's so funny, and full of heart. Dillon is super swoony, and my new favorite! It's a flirty, emotional story about true love and fate with all the feels!
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/36UEfvG
October 13, 2020
The author delivers with I Promise You another fabulous college sports romance. I loved everything about it. All the characters, the steam, the emotions and the banter were spot on. It was just what I needed. I definitely hope for more books in this standalone series.
I loved how I Promise You started. A legend and a kiss.. That will change the lives of two people. Dillon has never forgotten that kiss or the girl he kissed at a bonfire. When he sees Serena one night, there is something about her that has him intrigued. Serena likes the way he looks, but she tries to keep him at a distant. Serena and Dillon keep bumping into each other. They get to know each other.
Serena and Dillon are such lovable characters. Serena is loyal, independent, caring, determined and strong. Life hasn’t always been easy, but she tries to make it better. She’s focused on college, working and her family. She would do anything for her family. Her grandma is protective and so funny. Serena has been hurt badly in her previous relationship, so she was cautious to start a new relationship and definitely with someone like Dillon. Serena slowly opens up her heart.
Dillon is sporty, talented, loyal, fierce and protective. He loves playing football and loves being part of the team. He hopes to go pro and works very hard for it. Dillon is much more than just a football player and I loved him for that. He could be vulnerable. He didn’t have the easiest childhood and that definitely has an impact on his life. Dillon knows that Serena is it for him, so he takes the time that Serena needs.
I was rooting for Dillon and Serena to be together from the start, even more when I got to know them better. Both of them deserve the love they got from the other. It will take some time before they are together, but it was understandable and I loved their conversations before that. Serena and Dillon will be a beautiful, hot and wonderful couple. The epilogue was just beautiful and perfect.
- My honest review is based on an advanced reader copy of this book -
I loved how I Promise You started. A legend and a kiss.. That will change the lives of two people. Dillon has never forgotten that kiss or the girl he kissed at a bonfire. When he sees Serena one night, there is something about her that has him intrigued. Serena likes the way he looks, but she tries to keep him at a distant. Serena and Dillon keep bumping into each other. They get to know each other.
Serena and Dillon are such lovable characters. Serena is loyal, independent, caring, determined and strong. Life hasn’t always been easy, but she tries to make it better. She’s focused on college, working and her family. She would do anything for her family. Her grandma is protective and so funny. Serena has been hurt badly in her previous relationship, so she was cautious to start a new relationship and definitely with someone like Dillon. Serena slowly opens up her heart.
Dillon is sporty, talented, loyal, fierce and protective. He loves playing football and loves being part of the team. He hopes to go pro and works very hard for it. Dillon is much more than just a football player and I loved him for that. He could be vulnerable. He didn’t have the easiest childhood and that definitely has an impact on his life. Dillon knows that Serena is it for him, so he takes the time that Serena needs.
I was rooting for Dillon and Serena to be together from the start, even more when I got to know them better. Both of them deserve the love they got from the other. It will take some time before they are together, but it was understandable and I loved their conversations before that. Serena and Dillon will be a beautiful, hot and wonderful couple. The epilogue was just beautiful and perfect.
- My honest review is based on an advanced reader copy of this book -
October 12, 2020
There’s no way I can tango with him. He’s exactly my type: sexy as hell with issues.
I Promise You takes us back to Waylon U, and back to the good old bonfire legend. Kiss a girl at your freshman year bonfire, and she will be your destiny, and haunt you for life of you try to ignore that destiny. Dillon plans to avoid that all cost, but when he sees a girl with golden eyes and a dandelion tattoo dancing by the fire to the band and turning down dudes left and right, he’s hypnotized.
I loved Serena and Dillon’s story. It’s honestly fun, full of tension, and sort of slow burn for this author. They really build a flirty friendship up, and have some back and forth before really diving into being more than flirty. I love Dillon is sweet and stumbles over what to say to Serena. I love that Serena has a past and though it holds her back some, it also connects her to Dillon in some ways. I don’t know. I can’t truly explain why I love these two so much, you just have to read them yourself!
If you enjoy college sports romance, that’s sweet, fun, and sexy, then you definitely need to read this series and this book.
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
I Promise You takes us back to Waylon U, and back to the good old bonfire legend. Kiss a girl at your freshman year bonfire, and she will be your destiny, and haunt you for life of you try to ignore that destiny. Dillon plans to avoid that all cost, but when he sees a girl with golden eyes and a dandelion tattoo dancing by the fire to the band and turning down dudes left and right, he’s hypnotized.
I loved Serena and Dillon’s story. It’s honestly fun, full of tension, and sort of slow burn for this author. They really build a flirty friendship up, and have some back and forth before really diving into being more than flirty. I love Dillon is sweet and stumbles over what to say to Serena. I love that Serena has a past and though it holds her back some, it also connects her to Dillon in some ways. I don’t know. I can’t truly explain why I love these two so much, you just have to read them yourself!
If you enjoy college sports romance, that’s sweet, fun, and sexy, then you definitely need to read this series and this book.
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
December 19, 2020
Ilsa Madden-Mills’ latest novel is a swoony confection you won’t want to miss.
Serena Jensen’s life revolves around work, school and family. She wants to finish her graduate degree for journalism and help raise her teenage sister while putting the past firmly behind her. She isn’t looking for love because she knows from previous experience it’s too heartbreaking. Can a charming, determined and devastatingly handsome quarterback change her mind?
Dillon McQueen has some big shoes to fill during his senior year at Waylon. Being the quarterback and captain of the team, while aspiring to go pro has put a lot of pressure on his shoulders and can’t afford to be distracted, but when he sees the girl who got under his skin during freshman year he can’t help but try to win her heart even though she hates his guts.
What follows is an incredibly fun, sexy and swoony love story that had me hooked with its perfect blend of witty banter, a bit of drama and angst, and lots of touching moments and delicious steam.
I felt so much for Dillon and Serena’s woeful pasts, but for some reason Dillon’s felt a bit more sad given his lack of support system as opposed to Serena’s who had a granny who at times stole the show and delightful siblings. Although I loved how much his football brothers were there to help out while also getting glimpses of past characters I loved.
Even though Dillan and Serena didn’t get off on the right foot and seemed to be very different, he was outwardly carefree while she had too much responsibility, they complemented each other very well. I loved her quirkiness, especially when she blurted out random facts while nervous. And while he was cocky and self-assured, Dillon had layers that were very pleasant to see. Plus, he was at times irresistibly awkward too.
I Promise You is a standalone New Adult romance by author Ilsa Madden-Mills. I couldn’t put this book down and smiled from start to finish. It’s a college romance told from both points of view with a wonderful happy ending.
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via Social Butterfly PR. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title. *
Amazon -> https://amzn.to/3iJazE2
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“She's a hot flame, a fire I can’t walk away from.”
Serena Jensen’s life revolves around work, school and family. She wants to finish her graduate degree for journalism and help raise her teenage sister while putting the past firmly behind her. She isn’t looking for love because she knows from previous experience it’s too heartbreaking. Can a charming, determined and devastatingly handsome quarterback change her mind?
Dillon McQueen has some big shoes to fill during his senior year at Waylon. Being the quarterback and captain of the team, while aspiring to go pro has put a lot of pressure on his shoulders and can’t afford to be distracted, but when he sees the girl who got under his skin during freshman year he can’t help but try to win her heart even though she hates his guts.
What follows is an incredibly fun, sexy and swoony love story that had me hooked with its perfect blend of witty banter, a bit of drama and angst, and lots of touching moments and delicious steam.
I felt so much for Dillon and Serena’s woeful pasts, but for some reason Dillon’s felt a bit more sad given his lack of support system as opposed to Serena’s who had a granny who at times stole the show and delightful siblings. Although I loved how much his football brothers were there to help out while also getting glimpses of past characters I loved.
“Fact: lips have more nerve endings than most of the body. People remember kissing more vividly than sex.”
Even though Dillan and Serena didn’t get off on the right foot and seemed to be very different, he was outwardly carefree while she had too much responsibility, they complemented each other very well. I loved her quirkiness, especially when she blurted out random facts while nervous. And while he was cocky and self-assured, Dillon had layers that were very pleasant to see. Plus, he was at times irresistibly awkward too.
“I suck at this. Sometimes, I have no filter. Pretend we’re in middle school. For real, all jokes aside. Do you like me, you know as a person? Check yes or no” He squints at me as if dreading the answer.
He is irresistible.
I Promise You is a standalone New Adult romance by author Ilsa Madden-Mills. I couldn’t put this book down and smiled from start to finish. It’s a college romance told from both points of view with a wonderful happy ending.
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via Social Butterfly PR. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title. *
Amazon -> https://amzn.to/3iJazE2
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October 17, 2020If you like other books by this author, you will like this one too.
I tried. I had the best intentions for this read.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t be invested in the characters, although the blurb was very promising, and lost interest.
After reading 5 chapters I was enough bored and the dialogues felt unexciting and indifferent to me. Dnf@ 20%.
This book was not for me at all... 😔
I tried. I had the best intentions for this read.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t be invested in the characters, although the blurb was very promising, and lost interest.
After reading 5 chapters I was enough bored and the dialogues felt unexciting and indifferent to me. Dnf@ 20%.
This book was not for me at all... 😔
October 5, 2020
This second chance romance was all about the swoon! Dillon McQueen had all the right moves on and off the field. Touchdown!!! with this emotional and sweet new adult romance.
Myth or legend...who cares? True love found them.
Freshman year he spots her at the annual bonfire. They say the first girl you kiss becomes your destiny. Dillon kissed her and she disappeared. It's been three years and now his mystery girl has reappeared and she is a spitfire.
Dillon is determined to make Serena his girl. She's got a trunk load of baggage, so breaking down her walls is going to be a tough job. He's always left it all on the field for football, he's willing to do the same to get the girl.
I loved Serena and her complicated past. Her family was close-knit and full of humor that endeared you to them. They had each other's backs and loved hard, but pulled no punches when it came to the truth. Dillon was a guy searching for something real. He found that in Serena before he even realized who she was. He's ready to take come risks because winning her heart is a challenge he's willing to take.
This was a NA romance with two people who have their own hurts from the past. The sexual tension was sizzling, but the romance was even hotter. I adored this couple and their journey to finding true love. A great read from this automatic one-click author!
Myth or legend...who cares? True love found them.
Freshman year he spots her at the annual bonfire. They say the first girl you kiss becomes your destiny. Dillon kissed her and she disappeared. It's been three years and now his mystery girl has reappeared and she is a spitfire.
Dillon is determined to make Serena his girl. She's got a trunk load of baggage, so breaking down her walls is going to be a tough job. He's always left it all on the field for football, he's willing to do the same to get the girl.
I loved Serena and her complicated past. Her family was close-knit and full of humor that endeared you to them. They had each other's backs and loved hard, but pulled no punches when it came to the truth. Dillon was a guy searching for something real. He found that in Serena before he even realized who she was. He's ready to take come risks because winning her heart is a challenge he's willing to take.
This was a NA romance with two people who have their own hurts from the past. The sexual tension was sizzling, but the romance was even hotter. I adored this couple and their journey to finding true love. A great read from this automatic one-click author!
March 21, 2021
3 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was alright. I liked Dillon and I think he made the book for me, but sadly I struggled with Serena. I ended up even feeling bad for the way she treated him and that wasn’t fun. It was almost to the point that I thought he deserved better tbh. This is a bummer because I did have some success with I Hate You from this series.
And I was hoping this would be good too. Oh well! It was alright for what it was 🤷🏻♀️
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Serena and Dillon’s story. They meet and kiss at Dillon’s freshman bonfire that legend proved made her the girl he’d never forget. Dillon is finally getting his shot at starting quarterback to make a name for himself to pursue the NFL, and Serena is finishing up graduate school to become an author after a messy relationship with a rockstar. They butt heads at first, but after more encounters Dillon starts to break through Serena’s carefully erected walls. There are some funny scenes with friends, some sexy times, and some self induced drama...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Serena and Dillon’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good for the most part. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: Kind of for the H but not for the h.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Dillon. I liked him. I liked how he was a damaged sweetheart under his cocky exterior.
h (heroine) rating: 2.5-3 stars. Serena. She was alright, barely. I didn’t like how she was always comparing the H to her ex and pushing away. I did like her quirkiness though.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends with a cute epilogue and what I would call a HEA ending
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: This was alright. I liked Dillon and I think he made the book for me, but sadly I struggled with Serena. I ended up even feeling bad for the way she treated him and that wasn’t fun. It was almost to the point that I thought he deserved better tbh. This is a bummer because I did have some success with I Hate You from this series.
And I was hoping this would be good too. Oh well! It was alright for what it was 🤷🏻♀️
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Serena and Dillon’s story. They meet and kiss at Dillon’s freshman bonfire that legend proved made her the girl he’d never forget. Dillon is finally getting his shot at starting quarterback to make a name for himself to pursue the NFL, and Serena is finishing up graduate school to become an author after a messy relationship with a rockstar. They butt heads at first, but after more encounters Dillon starts to break through Serena’s carefully erected walls. There are some funny scenes with friends, some sexy times, and some self induced drama...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Serena and Dillon’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good for the most part. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: Kind of for the H but not for the h.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Dillon. I liked him. I liked how he was a damaged sweetheart under his cocky exterior.
h (heroine) rating: 2.5-3 stars. Serena. She was alright, barely. I didn’t like how she was always comparing the H to her ex and pushing away. I did like her quirkiness though.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends with a cute epilogue and what I would call a HEA ending
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
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October 12, 2020LIVE and FREE IN KU!
✔️ Emotional Standalone
✔️ Enemies to Lovers
✔️ Popular Quarterback
✔️ Vulnerable Heroine
✔️ He remembers her; she has no clue
✔️ Piggly Wiggly Show Down
Dillon McQueen: Babe. I promise. You want me.
Serena Jensen: Um, who are you?
There’s a legend at Waylon University: the first girl you kiss freshman year at the bonfire party is the one you’ll never forget. She’ll crawl under your skin and never leave. She’ll spark a passion so fierce you’ll burn the world down to possess her.
You might even put a ring on it.
Timing is everything. That kiss can go horribly wrong. She might run in the opposite direction. And boy, did Serena run.
So why can’t he stop trying to win her?
I PROMISE YOU
Worldwide: http://mybook.to/ipromiseyou
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2GKFfI6
BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/books/i-promi...
Page Turner, Funny, Romantic, Wonderful Characters, Steamy, HEA
✔️ Emotional Standalone
✔️ Enemies to Lovers
✔️ Popular Quarterback
✔️ Vulnerable Heroine
✔️ He remembers her; she has no clue
✔️ Piggly Wiggly Show Down
Dillon McQueen: Babe. I promise. You want me.
Serena Jensen: Um, who are you?
There’s a legend at Waylon University: the first girl you kiss freshman year at the bonfire party is the one you’ll never forget. She’ll crawl under your skin and never leave. She’ll spark a passion so fierce you’ll burn the world down to possess her.
You might even put a ring on it.
Timing is everything. That kiss can go horribly wrong. She might run in the opposite direction. And boy, did Serena run.
So why can’t he stop trying to win her?
I PROMISE YOU
Worldwide: http://mybook.to/ipromiseyou
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2GKFfI6
BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/books/i-promi...
Page Turner, Funny, Romantic, Wonderful Characters, Steamy, HEA
October 31, 2020
4 Stars 🌟
I Promise You is a new adult college sport romance with a hate to love aspect. It is a slow burn romance brimming with sexual tension and passion. It is book 4 that falls in the same world as Waylon University but can be read as a standalone.
Serena is a journalist currently interning at a newspaper and writing an advice coloumn when she is asked to follow and report on the university football team. She is heavily focused on study, work and her family and can't afford distractions including football players. She is still healing from a previous relationship but she is still sucha strong and empowered character. I truly loved her and the way she loved her family.
Dillion is the Quarterback in the university's football team. He is Mr. Popular but doesn't always necessarily enjoy all the attention that comes with that. He is level headed and focused on his future while also harbouring/rekindling feelings he has had for quite some time about the girl he met at the elusive 'bonfire night' and after he has a run in with his old crush he is determined to become a part of her life.
This story was sweet, adorable, funny but also had a lot of emotion and substance. This was exactly the type of book I was in the mood for and it definitely delivered. I absolutely loved that in this story we had the dynamic of the hero chasing after the heroine while the heroine was the one 'playing hard to get'. This story combined some of the themes already explored in the previous books in this series but did not feel repetitive to me and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The side characters where everything and added some humor and depth to the story.
《book aesthetic made by me. I do not own the pictures, all found via pinterest》
《my reviewing system is in my bio for those interested on how I choose to rate books》
I Promise You is a new adult college sport romance with a hate to love aspect. It is a slow burn romance brimming with sexual tension and passion. It is book 4 that falls in the same world as Waylon University but can be read as a standalone.
Serena is a journalist currently interning at a newspaper and writing an advice coloumn when she is asked to follow and report on the university football team. She is heavily focused on study, work and her family and can't afford distractions including football players. She is still healing from a previous relationship but she is still sucha strong and empowered character. I truly loved her and the way she loved her family.
Dillion is the Quarterback in the university's football team. He is Mr. Popular but doesn't always necessarily enjoy all the attention that comes with that. He is level headed and focused on his future while also harbouring/rekindling feelings he has had for quite some time about the girl he met at the elusive 'bonfire night' and after he has a run in with his old crush he is determined to become a part of her life.
This story was sweet, adorable, funny but also had a lot of emotion and substance. This was exactly the type of book I was in the mood for and it definitely delivered. I absolutely loved that in this story we had the dynamic of the hero chasing after the heroine while the heroine was the one 'playing hard to get'. This story combined some of the themes already explored in the previous books in this series but did not feel repetitive to me and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The side characters where everything and added some humor and depth to the story.
《book aesthetic made by me. I do not own the pictures, all found via pinterest》
《my reviewing system is in my bio for those interested on how I choose to rate books》
June 22, 2021
*** 3.5 stars ***
This series is actually great.
I liked the first two books as well.
I Promise You is no different than the first two books that I've read in this series. Everything is almost the same except that H and h in every book jas different family backgrounds and face their own demons.
Here also Dillion wanted to be a part of NFL and did everything in his power to be the best player. The same betting thing happened and he accepted that dumb challenge of bagging Serena.
But I loved the point where Serena's past was so beautifully carved❤️. It has made Serena my one of the favourite heroines!! The perfect mixture of fierceness and naivety. The blend of sacred-from-hurting-again and the believe in hope was so so beautiful to watch💕. She's so loyal to everyone which makes the perfect match for Dillion.
Although the image of Dillion I got from the previous books is very very different from the reality. It doesn't do justice to his personality. No doubt he can an asshole but most of the time he's nice to Serena , which makes him less of an asshole actually.
The storytelling of this author gives each book a new face! That's why I read them even knowing how predictable they can be.
The epilogue was so satisfying. I got to see my favourite Charisma and Blaze❤️
This series is actually great.
I liked the first two books as well.
I Promise You is no different than the first two books that I've read in this series. Everything is almost the same except that H and h in every book jas different family backgrounds and face their own demons.
Here also Dillion wanted to be a part of NFL and did everything in his power to be the best player. The same betting thing happened and he accepted that dumb challenge of bagging Serena.
But I loved the point where Serena's past was so beautifully carved❤️. It has made Serena my one of the favourite heroines!! The perfect mixture of fierceness and naivety. The blend of sacred-from-hurting-again and the believe in hope was so so beautiful to watch💕. She's so loyal to everyone which makes the perfect match for Dillion.
Although the image of Dillion I got from the previous books is very very different from the reality. It doesn't do justice to his personality. No doubt he can an asshole but most of the time he's nice to Serena , which makes him less of an asshole actually.
The storytelling of this author gives each book a new face! That's why I read them even knowing how predictable they can be.
The epilogue was so satisfying. I got to see my favourite Charisma and Blaze❤️
October 3, 2020
„Need me like I need you. Let me in, Dandelion.”
I swear, the boys at Waylon University are running a contest which one is gonna make me swoon harder… I was highly anticipating Dillon’s book and Ilsa Madden-Mills didn’t disappoint! She mixed a perfectly balanced doses of heat, humor and heart in I Promise You. This story is just dreamy- it’s full of heart-melting moments, laugh-out-loud scenes and emotional situations. I was captivated right from the first page and I couldn’t put this book down until the end!
Girl crush alert- you’re gonna love Serena’s character! A little bit guarded and very quirky, this girl is like a breath of fresh air. She’s been burned badly in the past, but she still has the most caring and kind heart. She’s sassy as hell, but also compassionate and loving. Oh, and she has the most fabulous family ever (especially grandma!)
Dillon is divine! Oh, how I loved this charismatic and cocky quarterback… Normally he’s a confident and flirty guy, but when he was getting all flustered and awkward, I swear, I swooned like a schoolgirl. This boy has his issues and when I learned all about them I wanted to crawl inside this book and give him everything he was deprived of.
These two gave me all the feels! They were just as cute as they were funny. Their banter cracked me up and their tender moments turned me into a puddle. The chemistry was off the charts and the passion between Serena and Dillon set my Kindle on fire! They complemented each other beautifully and I couldn’t get enough of them, wheter they were bantering or bringing sweetness and heat.
I Promise You has everything you can wish for in a great NA romance- delicious tension, a bit of angst and a lot of steam! Ilsa Madden-Mills delivered another addicting and unputdownable story that will cause butterflies in your stomach and smile on your face. It’s beautifully written and filled with emotions. Must read!
I swear, the boys at Waylon University are running a contest which one is gonna make me swoon harder… I was highly anticipating Dillon’s book and Ilsa Madden-Mills didn’t disappoint! She mixed a perfectly balanced doses of heat, humor and heart in I Promise You. This story is just dreamy- it’s full of heart-melting moments, laugh-out-loud scenes and emotional situations. I was captivated right from the first page and I couldn’t put this book down until the end!
Girl crush alert- you’re gonna love Serena’s character! A little bit guarded and very quirky, this girl is like a breath of fresh air. She’s been burned badly in the past, but she still has the most caring and kind heart. She’s sassy as hell, but also compassionate and loving. Oh, and she has the most fabulous family ever (especially grandma!)
Dillon is divine! Oh, how I loved this charismatic and cocky quarterback… Normally he’s a confident and flirty guy, but when he was getting all flustered and awkward, I swear, I swooned like a schoolgirl. This boy has his issues and when I learned all about them I wanted to crawl inside this book and give him everything he was deprived of.
These two gave me all the feels! They were just as cute as they were funny. Their banter cracked me up and their tender moments turned me into a puddle. The chemistry was off the charts and the passion between Serena and Dillon set my Kindle on fire! They complemented each other beautifully and I couldn’t get enough of them, wheter they were bantering or bringing sweetness and heat.
I Promise You has everything you can wish for in a great NA romance- delicious tension, a bit of angst and a lot of steam! Ilsa Madden-Mills delivered another addicting and unputdownable story that will cause butterflies in your stomach and smile on your face. It’s beautifully written and filled with emotions. Must read!
October 13, 2020
FIVE FATE STARS for Serena and Dillon 💛🖤💛🖤!!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
AHH, THIS IS SUCH AN AMAZING BOOK!
If I didn’t believe in destiny and true love before, then that sure changed after I've read this book.
Ilsa has written another decisive sports romance that will win you over from the very beginning and in whose funny and romantic situations you will constantly enjoy until the last page.
"I Promise You" is a sweet college sports romance that stole my heart and I want more.
Serena is a female character whose life isn't easy after losing her parents because she has to continue to take care of her young sister and go to college.
Dillon is a male character who has lost his brother in the recent past and blames himself for it.
Serena and Dillon's relationship is unique because they are both two broken souls due to the loss of loved ones and what they have together only strengthened them and makes them whole again.
I loved their love story so much and it will stay in my memory for a long time.
If you're looking for a college sports romance and you also love Ilsa's writing style, then this is the book you should read next!!!
Highly recommended!!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
AHH, THIS IS SUCH AN AMAZING BOOK!
If I didn’t believe in destiny and true love before, then that sure changed after I've read this book.
Ilsa has written another decisive sports romance that will win you over from the very beginning and in whose funny and romantic situations you will constantly enjoy until the last page.
"I Promise You" is a sweet college sports romance that stole my heart and I want more.
Serena is a female character whose life isn't easy after losing her parents because she has to continue to take care of her young sister and go to college.
Dillon is a male character who has lost his brother in the recent past and blames himself for it.
Serena and Dillon's relationship is unique because they are both two broken souls due to the loss of loved ones and what they have together only strengthened them and makes them whole again.
I loved their love story so much and it will stay in my memory for a long time.
If you're looking for a college sports romance and you also love Ilsa's writing style, then this is the book you should read next!!!
Highly recommended!!!
September 3, 2021
5 "I promise" Stars!
I promise you, future readers, that this is a book you do not want to miss.
I promise you not many authors have the ability to have me drop everything to read their New Adult romance. Ilsa does.
I promise you this story is the perfect blend of romance and friendship.
I promise you this story has the perfect blend of #feels and sexy sexy
I promise you that you will root for these two from the bottom of your soul!
I promise you Dillon and Serena will surprise you in the most glorious of ways!
I promise you Ilsa Madden-Mills is a powerful word wizard!
I promise you that if you’re new to this author and give this book a try, you will never look back.
I promise you.
I promise you, future readers, that this is a book you do not want to miss.
I promise you not many authors have the ability to have me drop everything to read their New Adult romance. Ilsa does.
I promise you this story is the perfect blend of romance and friendship.
I promise you this story has the perfect blend of #feels and sexy sexy
I promise you that you will root for these two from the bottom of your soul!
I promise you Dillon and Serena will surprise you in the most glorious of ways!
I promise you Ilsa Madden-Mills is a powerful word wizard!
I promise you that if you’re new to this author and give this book a try, you will never look back.
I promise you.
December 19, 2023
I just thrive off of a man pinning after a woman for years and doesn’t let up. 😮💨
March 28, 2021
3.5⭐️
”Dandelion, thank you for loving me, needing me, trusting me. I promise to love you until my dying breath.
“He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t give up on me, even when I’m not sure which way to turn.”
Synopsis:
"There’s a universal truth at Waylon University: the first girl you kiss freshman year at the annual bonfire party is the one you’ll never forget. She’ll crawl under your skin and make her way into your heart. She’ll spark a passion so fierce you’ll burn the world down to possess her."
Knowing about this superstition and vowing to kiss absolutely zero girls at the bonfire, Dillon is inexplicably drawn to Serena and ends up kissing her. Although they didn't actually run into each other until three years later, Dillon never forgot about the girl at the bonfire.
- ”Just remember, once you kiss her, it’s branded on your heart, some kind of soulmate thing.”
Overview:
- Trigger warning: miscarriage (in the past, off page)
- Setting: Waylon University, Magnolia, Mississippi
- Do you need to read previous books in series?: No
- POV: Dual POV
- Tropes: college, athlete
- Who is the Hero? Dillon (22). He is the quarterback for the school's football team and has big shoes to fill as he finally steps into first string his senior year. He hopes to go pro. He’s a psych major with a French minor. He lost his younger brother four years ago and he shoulders the blame for that loss.
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Hero: breathtakingly beautiful, lackadaisical, discontent, Casanova, charmer, carefree demeanor, a little sad, guilt about his brother plagues him, extrovert, spontaneous, masculine, charismatic
- Who is the Heroine? Serena (24). She is in graduate school for journalism. She majored in creative writing and loves to write fantastical fiction stories. She is currently working at the Magnolia Gazette as an intern. Her parents were killed in a motorcycle accident four years ago and she and her feisty Nana are raising her teenage sister.
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Heroine: offbeat, peculiar, proud, infuriating, smartass, stubborn, dreamer, ornery, fierce, good girl, puts others first
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: bonfire kiss 3% , but the “real” kiss is at 44%
- First time they sleep together: 65%
- First time they say I Love You 95%
- steamy? Yes
- OW/OM drama? Serena was in a relationship with a rockstar and there is a scene where he tries to convince her they need a second chance. Also, Dillon is the "prize" for a sorority date thing and because it involves some more superstition he can't say no. So after Serena and Dillon are together, he ends up having to go on this date and neither are happy about it.
- H/h cheat? No
- Time apart? No
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? the reason for the breakup is due to a secret coming to light.
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? I snort laughed a few times. Nana is a hoot.
- Did I swoon? Not a ton, but I still really liked Dillon
- Cliffhanger? No
- HEA? Yes
- Epilogue? 2 years later. I enjoyed the epilogue.
- Recommend? yes. It didn't blow me away and the drama with the breakup felt a little forces. But still, I enjoyed it.
- ”Like the dandelion, he grew in hard soil, finding the path to my heart.”
- “Family isn’t always about DNA or the people who raised you. It’s about who’s there when things go to hell. For him, it’s his team.”
The following are my thoughts about this book:
- I liked Dillon from the start. He didn't come off as a star athlete who was a jerk.
- The activity scenes were fun: yoga (with all the sexual position pouters 😂), the paintball outing and speed dating sorority event. These scenes brought out the fun, playful side of this couple and showed their chemistry.
- Nana...😂😂. One of my favorite book characters is the cantankerous old person. In is case, Nana stole a few scenes.
- ”She’s about as useful as a steering wheel on a mule when it comes to men.”
- “What’s wrong with a little tango in the sheets? Or, as Nana says, making the bam-bam in the ham?”
- “She’s as confused as a fart in a fan factory.”
- I enjoyed Serena’s “fun facts”
- ”I collect random facts, yes. It’s a quirk.”
- I liked that Bambi and Chantal immediately folded Serena into their little click. No petty jealousy.
- This was a bit of a slow burn. Then once they got together they had a misunderstanding that broke them apart. Then when they finally got back together the story was basically over. I wanted more of them together in a relationship, so the ending felt a little rushed.
- speaking of the breakup, it didn't fly for me. It was rather obscurely explained in a different part of the story so when it blew up it didn't seem like it really should have been that big of a deal. It felt like it was thrown in to create drama.
🔸Quotes🔸
“Lately my sense of style has gone downhill, slammed into some rocks, and rolled right off a cliff.”
Dillon: “I had material things, not denying that, but I would have traded it in for parents who cared about me.”
“Ever hear of the 7-11 rule? People make seven decisions about a person in the first eleven seconds of seeing them.”
“Relationships fail when people bring their insecurities to the table and project them as their partner’s flaws.”
My heart drops. Mom’s getting married and Dad is having another baby? A long breath comes from my chest. Do I even matter at all anymore?”
“Deep down there’s only a few things I want: football, my dad’s approval, and someone authentic.”
”Dandelion, thank you for loving me, needing me, trusting me. I promise to love you until my dying breath.
“He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t give up on me, even when I’m not sure which way to turn.”
Synopsis:
"There’s a universal truth at Waylon University: the first girl you kiss freshman year at the annual bonfire party is the one you’ll never forget. She’ll crawl under your skin and make her way into your heart. She’ll spark a passion so fierce you’ll burn the world down to possess her."
Knowing about this superstition and vowing to kiss absolutely zero girls at the bonfire, Dillon is inexplicably drawn to Serena and ends up kissing her. Although they didn't actually run into each other until three years later, Dillon never forgot about the girl at the bonfire.
- ”Just remember, once you kiss her, it’s branded on your heart, some kind of soulmate thing.”
Overview:
- Trigger warning: miscarriage (in the past, off page)
- Setting: Waylon University, Magnolia, Mississippi
- Do you need to read previous books in series?: No
- POV: Dual POV
- Tropes: college, athlete
- Who is the Hero? Dillon (22). He is the quarterback for the school's football team and has big shoes to fill as he finally steps into first string his senior year. He hopes to go pro. He’s a psych major with a French minor. He lost his younger brother four years ago and he shoulders the blame for that loss.
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Hero: breathtakingly beautiful, lackadaisical, discontent, Casanova, charmer, carefree demeanor, a little sad, guilt about his brother plagues him, extrovert, spontaneous, masculine, charismatic
- Who is the Heroine? Serena (24). She is in graduate school for journalism. She majored in creative writing and loves to write fantastical fiction stories. She is currently working at the Magnolia Gazette as an intern. Her parents were killed in a motorcycle accident four years ago and she and her feisty Nana are raising her teenage sister.
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Heroine: offbeat, peculiar, proud, infuriating, smartass, stubborn, dreamer, ornery, fierce, good girl, puts others first
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: bonfire kiss 3% , but the “real” kiss is at 44%
- First time they sleep together: 65%
- First time they say I Love You 95%
- steamy? Yes
- OW/OM drama? Serena was in a relationship with a rockstar and there is a scene where he tries to convince her they need a second chance. Also, Dillon is the "prize" for a sorority date thing and because it involves some more superstition he can't say no. So after Serena and Dillon are together, he ends up having to go on this date and neither are happy about it.
- H/h cheat? No
- Time apart? No
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? the reason for the breakup is due to a secret coming to light.
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? I snort laughed a few times. Nana is a hoot.
- Did I swoon? Not a ton, but I still really liked Dillon
- Cliffhanger? No
- HEA? Yes
- Epilogue? 2 years later. I enjoyed the epilogue.
- Recommend? yes. It didn't blow me away and the drama with the breakup felt a little forces. But still, I enjoyed it.
- ”Like the dandelion, he grew in hard soil, finding the path to my heart.”
- “Family isn’t always about DNA or the people who raised you. It’s about who’s there when things go to hell. For him, it’s his team.”
The following are my thoughts about this book:
- I liked Dillon from the start. He didn't come off as a star athlete who was a jerk.
- The activity scenes were fun: yoga (with all the sexual position pouters 😂), the paintball outing and speed dating sorority event. These scenes brought out the fun, playful side of this couple and showed their chemistry.
- Nana...😂😂. One of my favorite book characters is the cantankerous old person. In is case, Nana stole a few scenes.
- ”She’s about as useful as a steering wheel on a mule when it comes to men.”
- “What’s wrong with a little tango in the sheets? Or, as Nana says, making the bam-bam in the ham?”
- “She’s as confused as a fart in a fan factory.”
- I enjoyed Serena’s “fun facts”
- ”I collect random facts, yes. It’s a quirk.”
- I liked that Bambi and Chantal immediately folded Serena into their little click. No petty jealousy.
- This was a bit of a slow burn. Then once they got together they had a misunderstanding that broke them apart. Then when they finally got back together the story was basically over. I wanted more of them together in a relationship, so the ending felt a little rushed.
- speaking of the breakup, it didn't fly for me. It was rather obscurely explained in a different part of the story so when it blew up it didn't seem like it really should have been that big of a deal. It felt like it was thrown in to create drama.
🔸Quotes🔸
“Lately my sense of style has gone downhill, slammed into some rocks, and rolled right off a cliff.”
Dillon: “I had material things, not denying that, but I would have traded it in for parents who cared about me.”
“Ever hear of the 7-11 rule? People make seven decisions about a person in the first eleven seconds of seeing them.”
“Relationships fail when people bring their insecurities to the table and project them as their partner’s flaws.”
My heart drops. Mom’s getting married and Dad is having another baby? A long breath comes from my chest. Do I even matter at all anymore?”
“Deep down there’s only a few things I want: football, my dad’s approval, and someone authentic.”
October 12, 2020
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Ilsa Madden-Mills writes some of my favorite college heroes and Dillon McQueen has been one of the best so far. I loved that he wasn't the usual playboy jock that just thinks he can do anything he wants. There was a level of cockiness to him but nothing overly in your face about it and he was actually pretty down to earth. And it was adorable to see him chase after Serena who didn't even want to give him the time of day.
Dillon and Serena were the perfect fit for each other and I loved the witty banter they had with one another. There was never a dull moment between them and it made their story really fun to read. I was intrigued about them before I even started the book but once I actually saw them together I was even more captivated. Definitely a must read!
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Ilsa Madden-Mills writes some of my favorite college heroes and Dillon McQueen has been one of the best so far. I loved that he wasn't the usual playboy jock that just thinks he can do anything he wants. There was a level of cockiness to him but nothing overly in your face about it and he was actually pretty down to earth. And it was adorable to see him chase after Serena who didn't even want to give him the time of day.
Dillon and Serena were the perfect fit for each other and I loved the witty banter they had with one another. There was never a dull moment between them and it made their story really fun to read. I was intrigued about them before I even started the book but once I actually saw them together I was even more captivated. Definitely a must read!
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review
October 14, 2020
I am going in!!!!!!!!
Update:
@65%
*Bliss* I am lovingggg this book so far. I love the main characters and the secondary characters are just as good
RTC
Update:
@65%
*Bliss* I am lovingggg this book so far. I love the main characters and the secondary characters are just as good
RTC
October 12, 2020
🏈 🏈 🏈 🏈 🏈 🏈 🏈 🏈 🏈 🏈
Back in Magnolia!
Dillon and Serena. Three years ago they shared this one amazing kiss.
It was bonfire night and very dark and they didn't really see each other.
Legend says, whoever you kiss bonfire night as a freshman will be the one. The one you can't get out of your head and heart....
Now three years later they meet again.
But they are so not each other's types. Plus he has to give all to his sport - so that he'll get into the NFL. And Serena is busy writing for the paper and taking care of her family.
But ... Legend says... LOL!
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN....
══════════════════
ADORABLE
Another fun and sweet college football love story with a few sad & emotional parts thrown in!
I think I've read a million sexy and funny & heartbreaking sports romances. BUT - I love those books! I love football and college romances. And this one was so sweet and funny and sexy and a bit moving ... I loved Serena & Dillon and all the others too!
I really enjoyed reading this book! So many funny moments and sweet moments.
I loved the ALEXA PLAY... lines!
Great college romance!
Wouldn't mind seeing this as a tv show one day.
I PROMISE YOU was such a funny & adorable college football romance! I loved it! Run to your nearest amazon for your own DILLON - this one is MINE!
💜
💜
Back in Magnolia!
Dillon and Serena. Three years ago they shared this one amazing kiss.
It was bonfire night and very dark and they didn't really see each other.
Legend says, whoever you kiss bonfire night as a freshman will be the one. The one you can't get out of your head and heart....
Now three years later they meet again.
But they are so not each other's types. Plus he has to give all to his sport - so that he'll get into the NFL. And Serena is busy writing for the paper and taking care of her family.
But ... Legend says... LOL!
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN....
══════════════════
ADORABLE
Another fun and sweet college football love story with a few sad & emotional parts thrown in!
I think I've read a million sexy and funny & heartbreaking sports romances. BUT - I love those books! I love football and college romances. And this one was so sweet and funny and sexy and a bit moving ... I loved Serena & Dillon and all the others too!
I really enjoyed reading this book! So many funny moments and sweet moments.
I loved the ALEXA PLAY... lines!
Great college romance!
Wouldn't mind seeing this as a tv show one day.
I PROMISE YOU was such a funny & adorable college football romance! I loved it! Run to your nearest amazon for your own DILLON - this one is MINE!
💜
💜
October 13, 2020
5 I Promise.....I’ll devour this book Stars
Isla Madden-Mills you are one of my few go to authors that I immediately one click as soon as your books are released and you NEVER disappoint!!
Any reader who loves sports romance can not go wrong one clicking one of Isla’s books!!
Isla Madden-Mills you are one of my few go to authors that I immediately one click as soon as your books are released and you NEVER disappoint!!
Any reader who loves sports romance can not go wrong one clicking one of Isla’s books!!
October 13, 2020
4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
RTC
🖤Follow me on Instagram for more edits🖤
Ohh be still my heart! love me a shy, awkward dude.
"I couldn’t wait to get away from Serena, afraid I was going to blurt out everything from freshman year right in front of her. Hello, we kissed once. I may have imagined us as a couple. I looked for you for months. Yes, I’m a lunatic. Yeah, not cool."
Just have to love a guy who is worried if his dressing style is on point and ready to impress the girl 😁😍
"Closer” by Nine Inch Nails plays from the speakers in the den, the song drifting into my
room as I rifle through my closet for something to wear to Cadillac’s. Nope, not the button-up shirt (dressy and screams trying too hard), and no, not anything loose (I need to show o my assets), and not the Henley (it’s too damn hot). Yeah! I snag a faded navy Tigers shirt with the orange paw on the pocket. It’s an oldie, all the way back to my sophomore days, and it’s snug, but not too snug. Passed a killer psychology test and won a wet T-shirt contest with it last year."
RTC
🖤Follow me on Instagram for more edits🖤
Ohh be still my heart! love me a shy, awkward dude.
"I couldn’t wait to get away from Serena, afraid I was going to blurt out everything from freshman year right in front of her. Hello, we kissed once. I may have imagined us as a couple. I looked for you for months. Yes, I’m a lunatic. Yeah, not cool."
Just have to love a guy who is worried if his dressing style is on point and ready to impress the girl 😁😍
"Closer” by Nine Inch Nails plays from the speakers in the den, the song drifting into my
room as I rifle through my closet for something to wear to Cadillac’s. Nope, not the button-up shirt (dressy and screams trying too hard), and no, not anything loose (I need to show o my assets), and not the Henley (it’s too damn hot). Yeah! I snag a faded navy Tigers shirt with the orange paw on the pocket. It’s an oldie, all the way back to my sophomore days, and it’s snug, but not too snug. Passed a killer psychology test and won a wet T-shirt contest with it last year."
Read
October 13, 2020LIVE and FREE IN KU!
✔️ Emotional Standalone
✔️ Enemies to Lovers
✔️ Popular Quarterback
✔️ Vulnerable Heroine
✔️ He remembers her; she has no clue
✔️ Piggly Wiggly Show Down
Dillon McQueen: Babe. I promise. You want me.
Serena Jensen: Um, who are you?
There’s a legend at Waylon University: the first girl you kiss freshman year at the bonfire party is the one you’ll never forget. She’ll crawl under your skin and never leave. She’ll spark a passion so fierce you’ll burn the world down to possess her.
You might even put a ring on it.
Timing is everything. That kiss can go horribly wrong. She might run in the opposite direction. And boy, did Serena run.
So why can’t he stop trying to win her?
I PROMISE YOU
Worldwide: http://mybook.to/ipromiseyou
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2GKFfI6
✔️ Emotional Standalone
✔️ Enemies to Lovers
✔️ Popular Quarterback
✔️ Vulnerable Heroine
✔️ He remembers her; she has no clue
✔️ Piggly Wiggly Show Down
Dillon McQueen: Babe. I promise. You want me.
Serena Jensen: Um, who are you?
There’s a legend at Waylon University: the first girl you kiss freshman year at the bonfire party is the one you’ll never forget. She’ll crawl under your skin and never leave. She’ll spark a passion so fierce you’ll burn the world down to possess her.
You might even put a ring on it.
Timing is everything. That kiss can go horribly wrong. She might run in the opposite direction. And boy, did Serena run.
So why can’t he stop trying to win her?
I PROMISE YOU
Worldwide: http://mybook.to/ipromiseyou
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2GKFfI6
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,191 reviews