Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills returns with an all-new swoon-fest of a novel about what happens when you look beyond labels and take a chance on love. Badass Athlete: I dare you to… girl.
Lover of fluffy kitties and Star Wars.
Curious.
His dare? Spend one night in his bed—a night he promises will be unforgettable—and she can solve the mystery of who he is.
She knows she shouldn’t, but what else is she going to do with her boring Valentine’s Day? One sexy hook-up later, her mind is blown and the secret’s out.
Maverick Monroe.
Bad boy.
The most talented football player in the country.
Just ask him.
Too bad for him Delaney’s sworn off dating athletes forever after her last heartbreak.
But Maverick wants more than one night and refuses to give up on winning Delaney’s heart. She isn’t one to be fazed by a set of broad shoulders.
Will the bad boy land the nerd girl or will the secrets they keep from each other separate them forever?
I DARE YOU is a full-length stand-alone novel. For a limited time, when you buy or download the book in KU, you’ll also receive an extended excerpt of her #1 Amazon romance Dirty English!
more
**SPOILERS**
Delaney and Maverick…..wow! I just am in love with Ilsa Madden-Mills books! I love Delaney and Maverick, apart and together as a couple. He is a star football player at their college and she is kind of a nerd at college. Delaney wears what people consider nerdy clothes, such as Star Wars, etc.
Maverick is the whole package and has so many surprising sides that I never saw coming! He is also into all the nerdy things that Delaney is, such as Star Wars and on top of that little surprise, he also has a sister that has problems from an accident that their whole family suffered while he was in high school, where they lost their mother, hid sister suffered a brain injury and his dad is an alcoholic that cannot hold down a job.
While juggling, football and college, Maverick also is going home to help take care of his sister, getting her into the shower, fed, takes her grocery shopping, etc, because his father is just worthless.
He is offered cash from an underground fighting ring that would help get his sister into a high end facility that would take care of her needs and give her some that would watch over her like she needs, unfortunately it is against college rules and regulations for this to happen if he happens to get caught. Long story, short…I crazy girl that his roommate is dating lets everything out of the bag and he decides to go public along with many other athletes that were part of this illegal fighting ring, which doesn’t help his chance of getting into the pro’s like he has been working for his whole life, but it didn’t hurt it either. He did have some games that him and the others were suspended from, but in the end his college team won the championship and he got his pro league contract like he has wanted since he was young. Delaney went into fashion with her nerdy girl outfits and was doing great.
Such a great read, great characters, great ending!
This story was great. The narrators were wonderful. I definitely recommend this book and this author.
Delaney and Maverick meet for the first time at a bonfire before their freshman year of college it to start. Maverick approaches Delaney and they both feel the instant attraction but of course he has twins hanging all over him. Fast forward 2.5 years and Delaney is nursing a broken heart on V-day because she walked in on her boyfriend of the last two years sleeping with her worst enemy a month earlier. While taking pulls of vodka and watching a scary movie that is outside of her Star Wars comfort zone she receives a text message from someone she doesn’t know who shall be forever known as He-Man but she has no clue who he is IRL but he absolutely knows who she is. Thus begins their fun textual relationship. Then there is Maverick the star football player. He makes it quiet clear that he has always had feelings for Delaney and now that the ex is out of the way he wants his shot.
This is a fun and quick read that I adored. Delaney and Maverick are so fun together. I love their banter as well as the banter with He-Man and Delaney. Loved all the “nerd” humor – totally love all the same things so it was fun to see a heroine that I could relate to. Also really liked that even though Maverick was the popular jock he loved all the same things Delaney did. Maverick is a devoted brother which makes you love him root for him even more. This was a fun, quirky and sexy book low on the angst. Loved it and highly recommend this book.
Borrowed via KU. I don’t feel like the blurb was accurate ~ it kind of makes it seem like a one-night-stand turned into more. I’m happy, because I liked the actual story much better than what I thought I was getting into. It wasn’t amazing, but it was an enjoyable story.
Delaney & Maverick are a cute/fun couple. Overcoming a lot and dealing with life the best that they can. I liked that this wasn’t insta-Love and that the couple really got to know each other. Mav’s family life is a huge stress with an alcoholic father and a sister who has a TBI (traumatic brain injury). He’s not perfect, and he doesn’t ask for help soon enough ~ but the angst/conflict in this story doesn’t come from juvenile places, so that’s nice.
This reminds me a bit of Sarina Bowen’s “The Year We Hid Away” ~ Maverick and Bridger’s stories are similar. Like Bowen’s books, while there’s an HEA, it’s still work and real life. Which I appreciate.
Looking forward to Ryker’s book.
He man and princess Leah
This is a sweet love story
Maverick is a gorgeous college football star who comes from a poor background and just wants to look after his sister and make it pro, and is secretly a little bit geeky/nerdy .
Delaney is also gorgeous , friendly unique nerdy type that has no family and isn’t 100% sure what she wants to do and loves Cats ! They meet in freshman year at a bonfire but their story doesn’t really start until a couple of years later .
Their story is sweet and fairly light , and overall a good read
Heard great things about this author but story was just ok. It felt like everything that could go wrong did yet at the end things worked out??
“Legend says the first person you kiss at the party is the one you’ll never forget.”
I am starting to shy away a little from college aged romances – nothing against the books, it is just that I am an old fart and it is a bit pervy lusting after 21 year old boys lol
Also, I know nothing about American football – other than it takes about 42 hours to play a game!
However, there are some authors that I will pick up no matter the age of the characters, and Ilsa Madden-Mills is one of them.
I DareYou is cute, sweet, sexy and a lot of fun. Delaney and Maverick are just adorable, right from the start. She is just the adorable, nerdy/geeky, Star Wars loving, As You Wishing girl.
Maverick is not what I expected him to be – and I loved that.
Together, they are just #goals.
There is a character that I hated from the first page, and yep, still hated them on the last page too. You will figure it out when you start reading too, believe me!
I am now looking forward to the next story in this series.
So run along and get your own Maverick- because this one is Maverick to my Goose.
I was completely hooked from the beginning. Maverick and Delaney’s chemistry is hawt and their banter fun and swoon worthy. Definitely worth the read. Can’t wait to read to read the rest of the series.
I DARE YOU TO TRY TO PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!!!!
First, let me say, once I picked this book up, there was no putting it down, therefore, I’m writing this review at 4:00 am….who could sleep???
I love Delaney Shaw….she’s a geek and nerdy, and she’s really good, strong and loving, but she takes no $hit…not even from the gorgeous and sexy, headed to the NFL, college football player, Maverick Monroe, who has, somehow, taken over her life…
I love this author’s writing….and these characters have so much chemistry, they could melt your kindle….I loved I DARE YOU, and I’m ready for some more stories about this group…There were plenty of peripheral characters from which to choose…like, maybe, Ryker….
I did read this book last year but I never got around to writing a review so I did a re read July 2019.
This review has minor spoilers so if you haven’t read it just letting you know.
I really enjoyed this book. It starts with Delaney and Maverick meeting for the first time at a bonfire party freshman year where they share conversation and one electric kiss but it doesn’t progress to anything after that until.
Move on two years later after a bad break up with her boyfriend Alex, Delaney starts receiving text messages from a guy she calls He-Man. They share some flirty banter and start a friendship while her and Maverick have started talking as well only to find out He-Man is Maverick.
I loved these two together so much. Delaneys nerdy sassiness and Mavericks cocky arrogant attitude but also his soft side and how much he loves and takes care of his sister Raven who suffered a brain injury from a car accident that took his mother.
They do have some hiccups along the way with Maverick keeping secrets from her especially since she already has trust issues from her previous relationship with Alex but it all ends with a Happily ever after. That epilogue was the sweetest!
This book does have some amazing scenes with side characters and an arch nemesis by the name of Martha-Muffin who lets be honest I wanted to punch her a bunch throughout this book but it adds to this already amazing story.
Definitely recommend this book!
This was so freaking good! I’m giving this 5 out of 5 stars. This review is for an ARC, and reflects my honest opinion.
Sports romances are one of my favorite genres, and this book was no exception. It’s the first one I’ve read by this author, and I can’t wait to read more from this series…and the rest of her backlist books.
Delaney was such a great main character. I love books with geeky girls in them, especially when it’s not just a side character. And man, Maverick was perfection. He’s alllll mine! Definitely another addition for my book boyfriend list. He was so thoughtful, loving, sexy as heck, etc. As I was reading, I was wondering if any of this author’s other book love interests will live up to him.
There was obviously some sports stuff in here (mostly football), but a lot more of the book focused on college, and the chemistry between these two…and all the other stuff going on in their lives. I won’t spoil you about that, but let me just say that Mav has a heart of gold, and so does Delaney.
This was such a fast, enjoyable read. I read half one day, and half the next day. Although I felt like this could easily be read in one sitting. I want the next book in this series already!
FULL DISCLOSURE: I normally would rather take an ice-pick to my eyes than read a New Adult romance on purpose. I went after this one on purpose because 1. Who walks away from a cover like THAT without giving the book a chance and 2. This author has proven to me before she can write New Adult without the constant ridiculousness that surrounds that age group. And she did it again!
This is a sports romance so of course our hero, Maverick, is arrogant and overconfident and every other adjective you can think of to fit the star of a football team would have but he wasn’t a dumb jock for sure. He was smart and witty and had purpose! Our heroine, Delaney, was good-natured and beautiful and just plain delightful.
Delaney has bad history with sports boys so she’s really cautious about her attraction to Maverick. Their one and done wasn’t nearly enough for Maverick and he aims to show her that not all men are created equal.
I enjoyed this story tremendously. I really have no clue why I haven’t devoured every book by this author. It isn’t that the book was unique in the story-line, it’s that it didn’t have that it factor I hate so much in New Adult romances. It was written well and very well unfolded. There’s a few things here and there that I thought could have been fleshed out in the story a little better but totally minor. This book is a huge hit and I can’t wait for more! The story put a smile on my face and that says a lot!
Ilsa was a new to me author and I have to say, I loved this book. Mostly I loved Maverick, but that is besides the point. I read some reviews that said it was more of a rom-com and while there were parts that felt that way, this book was deeper than that in my opinion. Maverick was a dumb kid, but you can understand why he was unsure of what he wanted when he was 18. He boded his time, waiting for Delaney to be single again. He knew he wanted her, I loved that aspect. I didn’t love the Alex situation towards the end, it felt weird to me, but it didn’t deter from Maverick being an amazing guy and Delaney being a great heroine. I will for sure read more by this author.
Maverick and Delaney I loved them so much. Delaney has been hurt by another football player, now she finds herself with another, will she open up to him or will she run away. Maverick is the star player on the team, but he has secrets and he will do everything to protect his sister. This story is so good, the audiobook was incredible and I totally recommend it.
What a fun read of knowing what you want and going after it. But then what happens when there are a few speed bumps in the road of life? Decisions have to be made and possibly hearts will be broken. Family, love, college, sports….. In that order!
This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased, honest opinion.
First off, This story was so much more than a typical romance. There were a lot of factors going on and a lot of hardships that our main characters face. It does have cutesy moments, don’t get me wrong. In fact, I had this biggest grin on my face while reading this book. At times I had to turn my Kindle off just to stop cheesing so hard.
The main guy, Maverick Monroe, truly has a heart of gold. He is definitely one of a kind!! I LOVED his cocky attitude and the enormous amount of confidence this guy had. Maverick had this way of being cocky but not obnoxious. Which isn’t easy to do, I might add. Maverick was juggling an obscene amount of things while in college. He was a star member of the football team, did workouts, school, and took care of his family. Things weren’t always easy and we see Maverick dealing with all of these things throughout the story. I fell in love with him easily and you will too.
The female MC of the story was Delaney. Delaney was into Star Wars, cats, and had a quirk of nervous sneezing. It was more adorable than it sounds lol! Delaney was such a down to earth character. I loved her friendship with her roommate Skye. Honestly, all the side characters were a great addition to the book. I loved Maverick’s best friend/roomie Ryker as well.
A few things to note, I read this story in less than 24 hours. It was a great read and hard to put down. I will say the ending felt a bit too unrealistic for me. I expected things to turn out differently than what they did. BUT, it was still a great story and I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait for Ryker’s story that’s up next in this series. This is my first book by this author and I definitely will pick up more from her!
I love the idea behind this book, the dares did make me laugh. I got emotionally attached to the characters, the struggles they went through and the good times that they had. I liked the way it resolved and then ended. A thoroughly enjoyable book.
I loved this book from the get go. Delaney was hilarious with her quick witty and side comments. Mavrick played the untouchable jock but it was easy to see there was a lot more too him. As she heals from her betrayal Delaney becomes text buddies with anonymous guy, Nick named he-man. Her conflicting feelings for the men in her life and the situations around her she doesn’t want to let go. Great read, loved the characters.
What a fun read! I Dare You was just the type of college romance to leave you with a smile on your face. Maverick as the cocky football player with a heart and brain was the perfect counterpart to Delaney, the nerdy but confident girl next door. Add in their past heartbreaks and current circumstances and you get a story with a bit of depth and drama. 5 stars for I Dare You!
This book was light-hearted and so much fun. It was the perfect vacation read for me.