seffra's review against another edition
5.0
5 Dragonflies...
I hid the major spoiler but there are spoilers throughout!
Wow, wOw, WOW.
Meet my Declan Blay:
Meet my Elizabeth Bennett:
This book was amazing!!! I was not prepared for this..AT ALL.
Mr. Declan "Dirty English" Blay:
Elizabeth suffered horribly on a night that should have been one she'd remember for the rest of her life.
The injustice she faced was so hard to read about! I love that Ilsa Madden-Mills touched on such a prominent topic in this day and age.
CONSENT.
Many people don't discuss how many people believe it isn't rape if the girl had consumed alcohol and drugs.
She was broken beyond repair and didn't believe in falling in love. She gave up on her dreams because she lacked the drive to create.
I also loved how Ilsa took the trope of "getting the other on the same page with you" and turned it on it's hilt. It's usually the girl fighting for more but NOPE!!! Declan knew he wanted her so he told her what he wanted and she needed to find herself on the same page without being cajoled or coerced.
This book. THIS BOOK!!!
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good love story with two people who deserved their happily ever after. The writing was really good and the story was well paced. I love how everything was needed. You know how there are times where you feel that you can skim things in a story? Well, I never got that feeling! I loved her writing and I really hope Declan's twin, Dax gets a book!!
One thing that touched my heart was the blue dragonflies. It was so sweet that Declan thought that his mother was with him in the big moments of his life in the form of a Dragonfly..Declan...I love you.
I hid the major spoiler but there are spoilers throughout!
Wow, wOw, WOW.
Meet my Declan Blay:
Meet my Elizabeth Bennett:
This book was amazing!!! I was not prepared for this..AT ALL.
Mr. Declan "Dirty English" Blay:
Elizabeth suffered horribly on a night that should have been one she'd remember for the rest of her life.
Spoiler
poor girl was raped by her ass of a boyfriend, Colby and the whole school made her feel like it was her fault!CONSENT.
Many people don't discuss how many people believe it isn't rape if the girl had consumed alcohol and drugs.
She was broken beyond repair and didn't believe in falling in love. She gave up on her dreams because she lacked the drive to create.
I also loved how Ilsa took the trope of "getting the other on the same page with you" and turned it on it's hilt. It's usually the girl fighting for more but NOPE!!! Declan knew he wanted her so he told her what he wanted and she needed to find herself on the same page without being cajoled or coerced.
This book. THIS BOOK!!!
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good love story with two people who deserved their happily ever after. The writing was really good and the story was well paced. I love how everything was needed. You know how there are times where you feel that you can skim things in a story? Well, I never got that feeling! I loved her writing and I really hope Declan's twin, Dax gets a book!!
One thing that touched my heart was the blue dragonflies. It was so sweet that Declan thought that his mother was with him in the big moments of his life in the form of a Dragonfly..Declan...I love you.
bookgirl0925's review against another edition
4.0
I really Liked this book,went into it not expecting much and was very surprised. The writing was great,the storyline interesting and the characters believable and likable. I've never been into the fighters,but Declan was definitely swoon worthy!
theoriginal_b00k_nerd's review against another edition
5.0
Dirty English - British Bad Boys #1 - Review
"Loving Declan was like the rain storms I loved to dance in. Crazy and unpredictable, sometimes turbulent, sometimes gentile."
Couple: Elizabeth & Declan Blay
Author: Lisa Madden-Mills
Tropes: British bad boy & American girl, bad boy romance, wallflower, frenemy to lover, friends to lovers, college/highschool romance, Mr. Dary themes, ex-fighter
Review: The Brits are coming and I am loving this British Invasion of Declan and Dax Blay! Worlds collide when a British ex-street fighter lays on a seemingly sweet and naive American girl. This read is one of my top Ilsa Madden-Mills books and is uber emotional, raw, gritty and tragic all in one.
Elizabeth is a wallflower, a shy girl with a troubled and dark past. After going to her first college party with friends, Shelly and Blake, she runs into Declan Blay, a British bad boy. Elizabeth was a girl who broke my heart and put it back together with her inner warrior strength and determination to begin living life again. After suffering in her past she tries to put violence behind her until she meets Declan who happens to be a fighter.
Declan is not your normal bad boy. After laying eyes on Elizabeth he is hooked. He instantly feels something for this tiny slip of woman who fights with all her heart to live. His raw honesty and love for her are what make this book exceptional. While he could fight her on his beliefs, he takes time to learn how to help her and encourage her that it is okay to love again.
This book will cause you to have those tissues close and require an all night binge! The couple has an intense chemistry but the romance is what this book is about. While Declan is slow with Elizabeth in the stem department, he is swoon trying to win affections and her time. The trust the he earns from her and the healing he allows her to have are something that bring me back to this story again and again!
I recommend this for anyone who loves second chances and FMC who learn to forgive and forget.
Rating: 1000+ there is no sale for this amazing read!
"Loving Declan was like the rain storms I loved to dance in. Crazy and unpredictable, sometimes turbulent, sometimes gentile."
Couple: Elizabeth & Declan Blay
Author: Lisa Madden-Mills
Tropes: British bad boy & American girl, bad boy romance, wallflower, frenemy to lover, friends to lovers, college/highschool romance, Mr. Dary themes, ex-fighter
Review: The Brits are coming and I am loving this British Invasion of Declan and Dax Blay! Worlds collide when a British ex-street fighter lays on a seemingly sweet and naive American girl. This read is one of my top Ilsa Madden-Mills books and is uber emotional, raw, gritty and tragic all in one.
Elizabeth is a wallflower, a shy girl with a troubled and dark past. After going to her first college party with friends, Shelly and Blake, she runs into Declan Blay, a British bad boy. Elizabeth was a girl who broke my heart and put it back together with her inner warrior strength and determination to begin living life again. After suffering in her past she tries to put violence behind her until she meets Declan who happens to be a fighter.
Declan is not your normal bad boy. After laying eyes on Elizabeth he is hooked. He instantly feels something for this tiny slip of woman who fights with all her heart to live. His raw honesty and love for her are what make this book exceptional. While he could fight her on his beliefs, he takes time to learn how to help her and encourage her that it is okay to love again.
This book will cause you to have those tissues close and require an all night binge! The couple has an intense chemistry but the romance is what this book is about. While Declan is slow with Elizabeth in the stem department, he is swoon trying to win affections and her time. The trust the he earns from her and the healing he allows her to have are something that bring me back to this story again and again!
I recommend this for anyone who loves second chances and FMC who learn to forgive and forget.
Rating: 1000+ there is no sale for this amazing read!
smitch29's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
This book was really pretty good. My only issue was with myself. I shouldn't have read it when I did. I know I go through reading phases on the tone and subset genre that I enjoy. And right now I just wasn't in the mood for something that got as deep as this book got. I was more in the mood for something with more stupid drama and more humor. This book didn't have much humor and had non-stupid drama (I guess deserved drama, or more natural drama).
I did like all the characters and I enjoyed what they all brought the table. I think, given I'm in the right mood for it, I will really like any spin-off story.
This book was really pretty good. My only issue was with myself. I shouldn't have read it when I did. I know I go through reading phases on the tone and subset genre that I enjoy. And right now I just wasn't in the mood for something that got as deep as this book got. I was more in the mood for something with more stupid drama and more humor. This book didn't have much humor and had non-stupid drama (I guess deserved drama, or more natural drama).
I did like all the characters and I enjoyed what they all brought the table. I think, given I'm in the right mood for it, I will really like any spin-off story.
natneedsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I've been on an Ilsa Madden Mills wagon lately and have read several of her books in a row. And while there wasn't anything wrong with this book per se, it didn't wow me either. I think the main problem for me was that I didn't love Elizabeth. She goes through such a horrible experience right off the bat that my heart went out to her before the book even got going. However, she slowly lost some of my sympathy.
Why was she letting her mom use her personal nightmare for her own personal gain. Yes, I realize "letting" may not be the right word but she did nothing to stop it. She didn't even put up much a fight against her mom not to do it. For someone who was so tough and never spoke of it, she didn't defend herself much either.
And I get that she was sleeping around with lots of guys to show she had control of her own body and decisions, but it bugged me that she gave no thought or care to anyone but herself at this point. So now she becomes the one using them.
But what really made me dislike her was how she treated Blake!! He's one of only 2 of her best friends. He's supported and protected her since her experience. He deserved to be treated with more respect. He tells her he's in love with her and she pretty much blows him off, walks away, and hooks up with Declan in front of him. More than once she asks like a total b*tch when he's telling her important and sensitive things.
Then there was Declan. He's gorgeous and protective, smart and has a little bit of bad boy to him. He seems perfect! There's so much to like about Declan. What I didn't like was how he let the ex girlfriend be so involved. Seriously? This tough guy who doesn't seem to take much crap let's his ex come mess up things up in his new relationship by sitting there hitting on him in front of the guy she cheated with?! And she pops up next to him more than once. Bug Off!! Why didn't he tell her to get lost.
There was great chemistry between Elizabeth and Declan. There were hot scenes and sweet declarations. I enjoyed the book, but I didn't love it.
Why was she letting her mom use her personal nightmare for her own personal gain. Yes, I realize "letting" may not be the right word but she did nothing to stop it. She didn't even put up much a fight against her mom not to do it. For someone who was so tough and never spoke of it, she didn't defend herself much either.
And I get that she was sleeping around with lots of guys to show she had control of her own body and decisions, but it bugged me that she gave no thought or care to anyone but herself at this point. So now she becomes the one using them.
But what really made me dislike her was how she treated Blake!! He's one of only 2 of her best friends. He's supported and protected her since her experience. He deserved to be treated with more respect. He tells her he's in love with her and she pretty much blows him off, walks away, and hooks up with Declan in front of him. More than once she asks like a total b*tch when he's telling her important and sensitive things.
Then there was Declan. He's gorgeous and protective, smart and has a little bit of bad boy to him. He seems perfect! There's so much to like about Declan. What I didn't like was how he let the ex girlfriend be so involved. Seriously? This tough guy who doesn't seem to take much crap let's his ex come mess up things up in his new relationship by sitting there hitting on him in front of the guy she cheated with?! And she pops up next to him more than once. Bug Off!! Why didn't he tell her to get lost.
There was great chemistry between Elizabeth and Declan. There were hot scenes and sweet declarations. I enjoyed the book, but I didn't love it.
bestofjess's review against another edition
3.0
3-1/2 stars
I expected more confrontation with Elizabeth's past. I was almost done with the book when I thought about how her past had kind of just disappeared.
I expected more confrontation with Elizabeth's past. I was almost done with the book when I thought about how her past had kind of just disappeared.
ambrizs's review against another edition
4.0
Good book
I really enjoyed this book. Full of twists and turns the story cut my attention and the characters were well-developed and likable. I would recommend reading this book.
I really enjoyed this book. Full of twists and turns the story cut my attention and the characters were well-developed and likable. I would recommend reading this book.
amyheartsfiction's review against another edition
2.0
If only...
This book.....sounded like a good time. It was not. Our heroine is a self involved shallow jerk. The story has contradictions and holes. At one point it was good for a bit, which is why it's a 2 star from me instead of a 1....but then it flopped in the ending. Skip it.
This book.....sounded like a good time. It was not. Our heroine is a self involved shallow jerk. The story has contradictions and holes. At one point it was good for a bit, which is why it's a 2 star from me instead of a 1....but then it flopped in the ending. Skip it.