I Promise You: Stand-Alone College Sports Romance (Waylon University)

I Promise You, Ilsa Madden-Mills newest second chance, sports romance is everything! Five years ago, I discovered an author I literally couldn’t get enough of although at the time and she couldn’t write fast enough to satisfy my avid (or perhaps rabid would be the better choice? 😉) enthusiasm! That author was Ilsa Madden-Mills and to this day, I devour each and every word she writes with a zeal I reserve solely for her storytelling! Every single time I see that Ilsa’s got a new book coming out, I’m all about turning my schedule around and upside down to get an early bloggers copy and devouring the story in one go. And that’s EXACTLY what I do. I don’t go to sleep until I read them cover to cover. And it’s a solid fact that it’s impossible to go wrong with any book Ilsa’s written. Whether you’re looking for your next favorite author, or a single read to pass the time, you’re sure to love any book written by IMM. Ilsa’s most recent series is the Waylon U books, which are sports romances and share the same motif…or in this case, the university's legend: “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.” The legend at Waylon University brought about a sexy series of interconnected, heartfelt, contemporary romance standalones which include: I Dare You, I Bet You, I Hate You and now, I Promise You. These books can be read entirely independently and out of order but if you are anything like me, you’ll pick up the first and binge read all. Ilsa’s writing is lightly angsty, sexy, heartfelt and at times, down right LOL funny. The banter between the characters is usually some of my favorite parts of the story and she includes secondary characters that you are just dying to get to know and see in their own spin-offs. I Promise You is Dillion McQueen’s book, a secondary character featured most prominently in I Bet You. He’s the football team captain now that Ryker’s graduated and the quarterback with an ax to grind and a burning desire to prove himself. He’s handsome, charming and has the ladies falling at his feet… literally. But Dillion is so much more than the guy he portrays—he’s slightly broke, and completely hung up on a girl he kissed his at his freshman bonfire and hasn’t seen anywhere since. He’s adorably awkward at times and overconfident at others but it’s the perfect blend. Enter heroine, Serena Jenson, the quirky journalist and lover of words who is barely hanging on with the weight of the world on her shoulders… until Dillion and his entourage of beauties show up in the Piggly Wiggly turning her world topsy turvy. Until the chance to have a little fun at the cocky football player’s expense…and dine on the $500 bet she has going with her co-workers. She’s awkward and shy and bold all at once and I was instantly intrigued. Her life has been full of tragedy and yet, her family life is rich and one of my favorite things about her! Raising her 17-year-old little sister with her Grandmother had me rolling with laughter and no joke, my husband kicking me out of the room at 3 am because he couldn’t sleep with my nonstop ‘baying’. (But I digress… ) Dillion and Serena’s characters were perfectly penned to pull at your heartstrings and root for their HEA from the beginning. Their chemistry is undeniable and the. Neither character has had it easy and the pull they feel towards one another is startling but while one is willing to chase it down and hold on tight, the other practically sprints the opposite direction to kept the chance at more heartbreak at bay. You’ll be swooning over Dillion from the very beginning—I was. Yet, between the trip to the Safari Park and the midnight Paintball raid, I completely fell hook, line and sinker for Dillion and dubbed him my newest book boyfriend—as I’m sure you will as well! If you’re a fan of contemporary or sports romance, you’ll can go wrong with I Promise You. It’s perfectly paced and well written to keep you turning page after page until you too have devoured the book in one sitting! I Promise You is without a doubt your next five star read. It’s a charming, steamy, second chance at love that will sell you instantly on Ilsa Madden-Mills storytelling prowess and have you one-clicking every single book she’s written!

I went into I Promise You not liking our Hero, Dillon. He was a character in I Hate You. I didn't find him funny when he talked about how hot he was. It was a turn off. It gave me the impression that he was a tool. So, I had to make myself read this book. Well, I'm glad I read it. The Dillon in this book was nothing like the Dillon in the previous book in the series. What a relief that was. He was real, and genuine, and although he still had a healthy ego, it was small enough to fit inside his helmet. He was likeable and committed to Serena so it was easy to see the attraction. Serena was smart and a little damaged, as well. She was pretty confident and strong so she did everything she could to keep him at a distance. The chemistry was there to stay. Of course, things never go that way but I won't say anymore. Serena's family were a bit on the crazy side but it only added some fun. Then there were the Thetas but these became friends with Serena because they weren't of the mean girl Thetas. They also might lead to future books or not. But never say never. Dillon's roomies and the rookey he was babysitting were fun, as well. I have a soft spot for Owen. And to bring it altogether we have an author who excels in college sports romance. She knows how to build her characters and write a story that pulls you in and makes you feel everything they feel and like it. There is just one tiny thing that bugged me in this book. The word grouse or grouses is an ugly word and it's a bird. It was used eight times in the story. Correctly, I must add. I'm just a weirdo. I wish the author had used a few different synonyms in place of a few grouses so it wouldn't stand out to me and distract me from the story. It's probably more me than anyone else but I needed to get it out, just in case. The book is still another great story, from a great series, from a great author. I definitely recommend it for those who love this trope as much as I do. I'm giving it 4.5 shiny stars, a thumbs up, and a heart emoji. ***I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.***

'I Promise You' was such a sweet and beautiful journey of two people that have lost so much. At Waylon University there is a superstition that if you kiss someone at the bonfire your freshman year you are fated to them. Dillon fell into a trance the moment he laid eyes on Serena at that bonfire. He couldn't stop himself as he walked right up to her danced a while and then kissed her. The rest was history.... 3 years later when they met again! Dillon!!! Are there really men out there like you?? Dillon ultimately falls for Serena from that one kiss. So the superstition has to be real, right? After that night he searched high and low for Serena, but never finds her. 3 years later, it's his turn to shine as quarterback for Waylon. He's in his prime, except Serena is still stuck in his head. He's had relationships, but never nothing serious. My heart broke for Dillon. Tragedy struck his family before starting college, his dad moved across the country, and his mom only cared about herself. Dillon was so alone. But, even after all that, Dillon is BOYFRIEND GOALS. Ilsa Madden-Mills did a wonderful job developing his character. I love how he chased after what he wanted and never gave up. He is the epitome of sweet. Serena endured so much. Tragedy struck her family as well, around the same time it struck Dillon's. And then it was like a tumbleweed after that. She met a guy, got in a relationship with said guy and it was really all about him. CRAPPY RELATIONSHIP. This relationship broke her in so many different ways that will not be mentioned. So, Serena has trust issues. My heart broke for her as well. This girl needed a hug. But, at the same time she was a strong and fierce woman and I admire that in a heroine. And, she was hilarious. Serena's character was a perfect match for Dillon. 3 years later, Dillon and Serena run into each other at the Piggly Wiggly (which is probably one of the best scenes in the book). They had me cracking up. She didn't recognize him at first and it took him a second to recognize her. He was upset that she didn't recognize him at first, but once that was worked out all was good. They had a slow burn, but the sexual tension between them was something to be said. They had great chemistry! I love how Dillon was always in her corner and made her feel special and wanted. They both had some jealous tendencies, which made them feel so real, because come on who doesn't feel jealous every now and then. The supporting characters were fabulous. Nana was my favorite and Romy was raw and real. I, also, loved Dillon and Owen's relationship turned out. And, the Theta girls were great additions; even Ashley because who doesn't love a little drama! All in all, it was a really sweet story and low on the angst. You will fall in love with Dillon and be rooting for Serena all the way. This was a perfect addition to the Waylon University books. Thank you Ilsa Madden-Mills for another great book! Now I need an Owen Sinclair book; wishful thinking, obviously.

This is the last book in the Waylon University series😢😢 So sad to see it end. Luckily there are still many more books by Ilsa Madden-Mills for me to read. She is the truly a talented author. This is a book in a series but can be read as a stand alone. There are a few characters from previous books that pop in, but it is not necessary to have read the other books to follow this story. There are some wonderful side characters in this one. As there have been in the previous books in this series. The interactions of verbal gymnastics between the two main characters are legendary! I love the random facts Serena (MFC) comes out with, her talking out loud to herself or random inanimate objects, & saying "Alexa play" whatever random song comes into her brain during regular conversation has now been added to my own speech 😄 Her whole family does this & it is hilarious! Her family especially her Nana & sister are great side characters. They add a lot of humor heart, & love to this story. Dillion (MMC) is not just a pretty boy, player, QB1. He has layers of emotions, intelligence, heart, love, & loss. He is a great "book boyfriend" for sure. They both grow throughout this story & it's so sweet to read. They have their own insecurities & issues they are both individually working. Fate just keeps throwing them together when the timing it right finally! This is not an insta-love romance. It's definitely more of a slowish burn. There is heat & insta-attraction on both parts. Just bad timing, but if it's meant to be it will be. There is no cheating in their relationship. Though Serena had been cheated on before. That makes he more wary of Dillion. Since she believes he is a player at first. Dillion has to work a bit to make her see he is serious about her. She has to fight to stay out of her head & remember Dillion is NOT like the guy from a previous serious relationship. Our pasts & baggage can keep getting in the way of our future if we aren't careful. We all have to learn from our mistakes, hurts, etc & move on. Even if it is HARD & there are back slides. As long as you keep trying to keep moving forward, healing, & hoping for a better tomorrow. Things will get better. They both are learning this. Watching/reading their relationship is a joy. I loved this book & this couple!! I truly recommend you give this one a try. Hopefully, you'll enjoy it half as much as I did!

***5 Stars*** This baby was all kinds of awkward, swoon worthy and yet frustrating goodness...and that’s just what Dillion and Serena put me through. Add in their friends and family and you get a lot more laughs and whole lot of heart. I adored Serena and Dillion. Serena has been put through the wringer, but she put on her big girl boots and is that person who, once she decides you are her person, will do all that she can to help you out. She’s sassy, snarky and upfront about what she wants. Dillion...I loved the guy and he definitely kept me on my toes because one never knew just which Dillion would come out to play, but all sides of him were kind of amazing. As for their journey to their HEA, it was a lot of fun. Their bantering, from the start, was so much fun and the chemistry was intense. They had a flow that was easy to get lost in and I was rooting for them from the start. I loved how persistent Dillion was without being too pushy and I loved how Serena stood her ground, but knew when to go with the flow. The bumps in their road were relatively small, but when the big one hit ~ one that wasn’t too much a surprise ~ I was totally team Serena, though I still rooted for Dillion and loved how everything worked out for them. Again, this was a fun read. It had just the right balance of humor, drama, sm@xyness and heart and just hit all the right buttons for me. I loved catching up with all the previous couples in the series and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the new ones that pop up this one. Nancy was probably my fav, but everyone brought something to the table that made this a great read and that epilogue was all kinds of awesome. And as always, there are a couple of characters I’d love more of, so I’m crossing my toes that this isn’t the last time we hear from Julian or Sinclair.

Dillon and Serena both have endured hard losses through out their life. Serena has a lot of hurt from a previous relationship. Dillion has a lot of hurt and guilt from life. Dillion loves that Serena doesn’t care about his status. She gives him a good run for his money. Serena is snarky, funny, loves with her whole being. Dillion wants Serena from their very first kiss. The life lessons these two went through and go through will make you want to hug them. Goodness. Wonderful book with lots of laughs, tugging off the heartstrings, and a few tears. Nana was such a fun character she needs her own novella.

The characters were ok, the plot was ok. There was a lot of ok in this book. There were things that I could have really loved, if the circumstances were right. I could have loved the sweet declarations that the hero made about her after their first meeting; if he hadn’t went back to being a manho a couple of months after he met her and continued it for years. Unlike normal in these manho books I didn’t actually judge him for being with other girls after he met her, because it was one kiss. He tried to look for her for a while. However the vocal and inner monologue of feeling just became boring and eye-rolling after a while because he didn’t back it up. He says that he fell in love with her that night, which was really sweet. Had it really been love and faithfulness to her for no other reason than that he truly felt it? That would have made an amazing story (especially with this author and the types of heroes she writes). I can’t remember where I heard it, it’s from a movie but the phrase “real men work without a net” popped into my head more than once. As is, it made him seem childish, immature, and really cliche! The “I fell in love with her, but wouldn’t accidentally want to do work without the guarantee of a payoff so I’ll keep screwing other girls like always” thing has been done to DEATH! The jock that actually felt about a girl so deeply after one day that he knew she was different, even though it goes against all of his instincts but was still willing to back it up? That would have been a unique story worth reading. As is I didn’t hate the story, I just didn’t love it. Without the “feelings” aspect being believable, he didn’t really have any distinguishing characteristics that hooked me. He was pretty much just a “basic” guy, albeit a football player/ frat guy. Kudos to the author for not having the heroine just sitting at home lining for him though. I’m so tired of seeing that done to death. She moved in and had a relationship with a rock star f3?2! If he did end up being a dbag). The hero just didn’t trigger my swoon reflexes, who knows he might for someone else!

Every year at Waylon University there is a huge bonfire party, and legend has it that the first girl you kiss during your freshman year at this party is one that you’ll never be able to forget. She’s the girl that grabs ahold of you and wriggles her way under your skin. Dillon was warned not to kiss a girl, but when he saw Serena he couldn’t resist. However sometimes, the kiss doesn’t mean the same thing for both of you, as was the case for Dillon and Serena. Fast-forward a few years, and Dillon is now the quarterback for Waylon. He’s got one goal in mind, and that’s the NFL. However fate has a way of throwing things our way, and when he runs into Serena, the mystery girl from the bonfire, she’s full of sass and snark and Dillon isn’t quite sure she remembers their kiss. Boy how wrong he is. The legend is just that, a legend, Serena’s been hurt before and she isn’t trying to go down that road again. But Dillon won’t give up, as the two spend more time circling around each other, their chemistry is undeniable, but can Dillon win the girl, or lose her and the game he loves? Let me just tell you, I absolutely love everything but Ilsa, and this series is one of my favorites by her. And I was really sure that nobody could pass Ryker for me, but I absolutely love Dillon. He’s such a sweetheart, he can be cocky sure, but underneath that arrogance is a wonderful man. I also have a girl crush on Serena. She gives as good as she gets and after some mistakes she knows what she wants from life and love. The two of them complement each other so beautifully, their push and pull, ugh I don’t even think I can adequately describe it. So many feels with this one. Also the secondary characters in this book are HILARIOUS, Serena’s grandma is a hoot. While this book can be read as a complete stand-alone, and I promise you won’t feel like you are missing anything by not reading the first books, I highly recommend reading them because they’re amazing as well!