Boyfriend Bargain

Oh how i looked forward to this book, the teasing snippets released from the author had me salivating, and then the cover!! Well hello !! I knew i would just have to dive into this book.
Not only did i love the book and characters, it exceeded all my expectations!!
“Z” is at he top of his game and already drafted but is finishing his last year at school, but some issues from the past and the present pressures on him, are weighing him down.
Sugar is a girl, with a determination to succeed, to become more than ever expected of her, especially to the eyes of her absent father.
I loved the romance between these two characters, it was fun, steamy, flirty, yet underneath the surface we had two people, drowning under the the emotional weights, and pressures they at times placed upon themselves. I loved the depth i felt from both their positions and it all felt so real. We all expect young people to have peer pressures from those around them, but sometimes the worst is when they desperately try to live up to the ones that are heaved onto them from family. To be better, to show they are worthy, to rise above being left feeling they are never enough.
I am a bit of a sucker for sport romance, but more than that, i love when i can really feel the characters and get so invested in them, that they just feel real for me, that doesn’t always happen. Zack and Sugar most definitely owned me, and i loved and was captured by every single emotional moment of their rocky journey.

New sports romance from Ilsa!

I expected a rom/com. What I received were so many feelings and a storyline that was for the ages. Z had demons and Sugar well, she had justifiable walls. Together there was a match made in wonderful destruction. A love so deep they didn’t know how to handle it all. This was a wonderful story of trials and acceptance. Guilt and forgiveness. Letting go and embracing the past.

Ilsa did her thing with this one and it is not on my top of 2019.

Boyfriend Bargain was a steamy standalone college hockey romance that packed a emotional punch with the struggles rooted from their pasts, the flaws, the mistakes that both Z and Sugar faced.

Z might be the star hockey player and captain of his team but he was much more than a hot jock. His constant battle with himself and the pressure he felt were heart-breaking. And I really liked that he was trying his best and was getting the help he needed.

Sugar was an independent heroine who has had a difficult childhood but kept striving forward. I loved that she was firm and did not let her cheating ex-boyfriend wiggle his way back in her good graces.

Z and Sugar needed each other, both physically and emotionally. When these two were together, their chemistry was explosive. They shared a raw connection that grew into a relationship that was more than what they bargained for. And I just loved how they transitioned between having a fake relationship to a real one. It was messy but the more they got to know each other, the deeper their feelings ran.

A great cover photo starts off a book in just he right place. It makes it easy to imagine that hot guy especially if his description matches the cover photo. Zach’s hair was described perfectly an I could picture that guy walking into a party and all action sort of stopping and the sizzle of excitement amping up like something important was happening or a celebrity had arrived.

His history with his girlfriend that died and overwhelming guilt causing anxiety issues that he had within him to flare up and get out of control was an interesting plot line. The fact that Sugar was interested in using him as a fake boyfriend and she just happened to look like the girlfriend that died increased the intrigue and you just know that was heading for problems. I won’t give away spoilers from later in the book, but I enjoyed the story.

The romance was extremely hot between the two main characters. They didn’t have that should we or shouldn’t we back and forth for most of the book like some romances. They couldn’t stop themselves a few times, which was awesome. Also the friends were funny, I especially liked Zach’s friend Eric.

I loved everything about this book. These two characters were meant to be even through all the drama. I love that the author hit on some mental awareness and seeing Z struggle through it was just like in real life. Anxiety isn’t anything to hang your head about and I loved how the therapy helped. Z truly was an amazing guy and Sugar was his perfect match. With struggles of her own these two make it through to their happily ever after. So many emotions and so much goodness. what started off as fake grew to be so much more.

Highly recommended.

Another great story from Ilsa. What happens when you strike up a deal with a famous college hockey player, so you can get into the law school of your dreams? Well, craziness, of course. Love the main characters and cannot wait to read about the other friends too.

Je ne connaissais pas la plume d’Isla Madden Mills et après avoir lu le résumé, j’ai voulu tenter de découvrir son univers. Si vous êtes à la recherche d’une romance sympathique sans prise de têtes, vous passerez un bon moment. Cette lecture a été dévorée rapidement et bien que certains éléments arrivent un peu trop vite à mon goût, j’ai tout de même passé un bon moment de lecture.

Sugar Ryan est une jeune femme qui a la tête sur les épaules et qui a un but très précis dans sa vie : à savoir entrer dans la prestigieuse université de droit afin de prouver à son père ( mais surtout à elle même) qu’elle peut y arriver bien qu’il l’ait laissé tomber comme une vieille chaussette depuis sa plus tendre enfance. Se retrouvant seule après la mort de sa mère, elle a su trouver en Mara non seulement une figure maternelle mais aussi une épaule sur laquelle se reposer. Elle a deux meilleures amies, Taylor et Poppy, qui sont très sympathiques mais après un énième revers amoureux, elle se retrouve avec Julia comme colocataire. On ne peut pas dire que sa vie sociale soit très épanouie étant donné le but qu’elle s’est fixée mais elle va devoir aller contre sa nature si elle veut intégrer la fac de ses rêves. Ce que j’ai aimé chez elle est le fait qu’elle a de l’éloquence, qu’elle est à l’écoute et qu’elle a un bon sens de l’humour. Elle ne fait pas partie de ces filles qui bavent d’envie dès qu’un sportif met le pied en dehors d’un terrain mais elle va devoir demander de l’aide à un hockeyeur de talent si elle veut toucher du bout de doigts son rêve.

En effet, quand elle rencontre Zach Morgan , elle sait qu’elle pourrait tenir là sa chance d’obtenir un entretien pour plaider sa cause. L’alchimie est immédiate entre eux mais elle tentera de mettre des limites ou devrais je dire des clauses , dans le contrat qu’ils vont passer à deux. C’est simple et c’est donnant donnant : ils vont simuler une relation amoureuse et cela leur permettra d’aller dans la bonne direction tous les deux. Mais il y a un souci de taille : Zach est un réputé tombeur et les filles ne font pas plus d’un mois dans son lit. Qu’à cela ne tienne , elle pourra mettre fin à leur accord une fois la fac acquise. Si sur le papier les choses sont claires et nettes, la frontière entre l’amitié et le flirt est plus que brouillée. Ca matche tout de suite entre eux et succomber à la tentation a beau être épanouissant, elle ne peut pas se permettre de souffrir à nouveau. J’ai adoré leur relation et j’avais hâte de voir où cela aller nous mener. Comme je l’ai dit un peu plus tôt; j’aurais aimé que la tension crépite un peu plus longtemps mais ce n’est qu’un petit détail.

Zach Morgan est le tout premier personnage que nous découvrons et dès le début , nous comprenons que tout n’est pas rose pour lui. En tant que capitaine de l’équipe de hockey et joueur brillant, la pression est à son comble. Elle vient s’ajouter à un traumatisme qui date de quelques années et qui semble se réveiller de plus en plus régulièrement. Quand on est à ce stade de sa carrière, on ne peut pas se permettre de faux pas et enchaîner les filles ne semblent plus lui correspondre. Quand il rencontre Sugar, on sent que les choses pourraient changer mais certains éléments de son passé vont venir jeter le trouble. J’ai adoré son meilleur ami Eric qui apporte la touche fantaisie , fun et folie de cette romance. Il ne manque jamais une occasion de se mettre en avant mais pour faire avancer les choses. Il est un réel allié qui connaît le problème qui touche notre héros et j’ai adoré son amitié avec notre héroïne. Reece est le frère de Zach et ce dernier nous donnera plus de fil à retordre. On va comprendre la complexité de sa relation avec son frère mais il nous faudra attendre les révélations finales pour en savoir plus à son sujet. Va t-il s’amuser avec Sugar ou ses intentions sont elles réellement bien dirigées?

Bref, j’ai passé un bon moment de lecture avec cette romance sportive . Isla Madden Mills nous offre une comédie romantique sympathique avec des rebondissements intéressants. J’aurais aimé que certains aspects soient plus travaillés en profondeurs mais cela n’a pas pour autant gâché ma lecture.

4.5 stars

Z (Zach Morgan) is the Hockey player all the girls want. He’s the typical cocky, arrogant player but he’s hiding his demons behind his walls so no-one can see.

Sugar is completely different to Z. She was raised by her mums best friend after she died and she is working hard at law school but she keeps getting rejection letters from the law schools she applies for. When she discovers the dean of her first choice is a huge fan of Z she concocts a plan to get him to pretend to be her boyfriend.

This wasn’t a typical fake-boyfriend tale which I loved as there was defiantly more to Sugar and Z. There are a lot of secrets, ones that eat at you unless you get the support you need. Some much heart in this battle.

Once I started this book I couldn’t put it down and was thoroughly entertained throughout.

I am such a fan of Ilsa’s story telling and wonderful characters! Sugar and Zack are funny, sexy, a battle of wits and such a plesure to read. Sugar is a gal just trying to get into law school and yes her grades speak for themselves but she is just on the cusp of getting in Vanderbilt . It just so happens that if she is seen on the arm of a player that the President may just take notice to her and her skills. Zach is the star player on the college hockey team and has been drafted by the NHL in Nashville . Zack is still facing his past and losing someone he loved and this gal that needs his help has struck a cord in him . Sugar needs a fake hockey boyfriend and Zach just needs Sugar so a deal is made. They each are dealing with thier own demons from the past and this deal may help them both out just a bit!! They are funny, sexy and the witty banter is wonderful !!! I fell in love with them !!!
~~Michele McMullen ~~