This was such an awesome read. I loved every minute of it. Nova is something else and everything she went up against Ronan, I loved her even more. Her commentary on Ronan’s birthday was funny and quirky. I definitely recommend this book to everyone.

I want to touch the stars, even if I get burned.


Beauty and the Baller was a sexy, swoony, angsty read! With a spunky cat, a lovable heroine and a sexy hero, this book was a lot of fun. Add in fake dating, small town charm and a wonderful HEA and this book was such a beautiful love story. If you like sexy, adult romance then you definitely need to check this one out!

“I like seeing you squirm,” she murmurs.
“Why?”
“Payback.” A slow blush works up from her neck to her face as she mutters something under her breath.
“What was that?”
She clears her throat. “Just . . . life has a funny sense of humor.”


Ronan Smith had a tragic past. His fiancé was killed in the car wreck that also killed his professional football career. While still struggling a year later, Ronan found himself having a one night stand with someone he actually felt a connection to. Too bad for Ronan, Nova Morgan saw it as a horrible and left before he woke up. I just want to say I screamed noooooo out loud over something that went down, so I got why Nova bailed afterwards....you'll see lol. Two years later, fate had them both living in the same small town, neighbors and unable to escape one another at every turn.

I’m Ronan Smith and . . . I pause as clarity runs through my head. I want my life back, no matter what that may be.
Closing my eyes, I touch the ring around my neck.
Today is when everything changes.


Ronan was in Blue Belle Texas coaching their high school football team. With the small town scared that they could lose their coach, they went to unimaginable lengths to keep him. Especially their attempts to set him up with every single female. So when Nova re-entered his life, he didn't remember her. He just knew that she wanted nothing to do with him, unlike everyone else. So when he proposed that they fake date, to solve both of their problems, I was so happy when she said yes! Yes Ronan had some growing to do, but I absolutely loved him. Jaded characters always sneak so easily into my heart. And when Ronan started to show us little bits of himself, I just knew he was so much more than meets the eye.

“Everything will be fine. We’re different flowers from the same garden, but we’re perfect together. Mama always said so.”


Nova was completely unique. She was someone who knew what she wanted and went after it, like dressing up in the past as a Star Wars character to win over Ronan for their one night stand. She loved telling us about the outfits she was wearing. She had so much sass. But her life completely flipped upside down when she gained custody of her high school aged sister, since her mother passed away. While trying her best to raise Sabine, Nova definitely had her hands full. This story was an emotional journey for Nova too, and Ronan helped play a big part of that. But Nova had no problems pushing Ronan’s buttons. And telling him when he was being a jerk, I actually clapped out loud in one scene lol.

I literally have no idea what I’ve gotten myself into. On the outside, I’m cool, but on the inside, I’m quivering with uncertainty.


The way the fake dating played out was so much fun! The touching. The kissing. Showing the town that they were together. And time and again they crossed that line of what was real and what was fake. Because Ronan and Nova definitely wanted to rip each other’s clothes off. The passion between them was so intense. And when things did develop between them, it was extremely sexy and hot! But Ronan was terrified to feel and he didn't want to love. His past still haunted him. Except when he was around Nova, it was impossible not to feel. And for Nova, each time Ronan showed a true piece of himself to her, it was hard to keep him away from her heart. It didn’t matter that they didn’t want anything to happen, there was no stopping it!

My head tells me to keep the walls up around us, but the other side of me—my stupid, weak heart—clamors to tell him things.


This story was rounded out so well with some fabulous side characters. I'm looking at you Skeeter, Sabine and Sonia! And I loved the feel of the small town charm that was laced throughout this story. Plus not only did Nova and Ronan's love story cause me to laugh so much, but I even shed a tear. Beauty and the Baller was a wonderful, adult romance that many will fall hard for!

Nova has returned to her small town to raise her younger sister.

Ronan is the high school football coach, after his tragic past, he came to Blue Belle for a new start and a new career in the field that he loves most. Not looking for any love interest his mission is to get on top of his coaching career until Nova comes storming into his life and he realizes who she is.

I enjoyed this story, the characters were great and the world building kept you engage.

I am a sucker for a good opening scene and this book had it!
The story has so much heart and the characters are fantastic.
Nova and Ronan are big city residents that move to small town Texas and end up living next door after a chance one night stand a few years before. I really enjoyed the small town feel of this story. The gossipy football boosters that try to keep Ronan in town down to the football players that look up to him. Nova and her sister's relationship was very sweet too.
There are crazy antics and sizzling chemistry.
Just a very fun read with lots of emotions that I highly recommend.
And this cover is perfection.

This latest book from Ilsa Madden-Mills is sure to delight any romance fan looking looking for a sweet and swoony small town romance with lots of laughs thrown in! Ronan and Nova have an awkward one night stand in New York City. Both are bruised in different ways and this night is a wake up call for Ronan. The story picks up two years later when the two unexpectedly become neighbors. Ex NFL star Ronan is now a head football coach in Texas. Nova, former beauty queen, finds herself back in her home town to look after her little sister. This story is a hilarious journey, that’s sometimes touching and sometimes steamy. The supporting cast of characters are all perfection, including the cat! The banter is witty, the storyline gives you all the football in Texas on a Friday night feels! This slow burn, fake romance is a winner!

4.5 Adorkable Swoony Stars!
I really enjoyed this delightful, heartwarming and steamy fake relationship - sports romance. Nova and Ronan meet one night and have an instant connection. It leads to a night of explosive passion, but one word has it ending with disappointment and regret. Nova disappears from his apartment before Ronan could learn her name. Ronan was a champion quarterback in a downward spiral after a career ending, and heartbreaking accident. Now he is determined to turn his life around and be a better man. Fast forward a couple years and he is now a high school football coach working his way up to bigger opportunities. Nova is heartbroken at the sudden loss of her mom, and has moved back to her small home town in Texas to take care of her little sister. Unfortunately, the man she has history with, and never wanted to see again, is living next door. They have a run-in and she lets him have all her fiery anger. Ronan doesn't remember her at first, but feels a connection he hasn't felt in years. They keep running into each other in the most awkward, and hilarious ways. They both find themselves in the position of needing a buffer, and decide they can help each other by having a fake relationship. They only meant to pretend, but the more time they spend together, the more fun they have together, and the more their sizzling attraction grows. They never saw it coming when their hearts became involved. But what happens when Ronan was clear he was always going to leave, and Nova loves her new life, in the town she never wanted to come back too, but now doesn't want to leave? I was completely captivated by Nova and Ronan's story. They had so much fun together, challenging each other, and helping each other find what made them shine. Ronan is drawn to Nova's joy and positive nature, she helps him feel alive again. Nova loved his Star Wars adorkableness, but mostly how he cared for others as he hid behind his hard exterior. He is so swoony with a heart of gold, and I loved how fun and independent she was. They seemed to be star crossed lovers, but their connection and love was written in the stars, and was always meant to be. I also fell hard for all their quirky friends and family who added so much fun and heart to this story. I loved this delightful, moving, and sizzling romance!

📚ARC Review📚

Thank-you NetGalley and Montlake for the chance to review this ARC!

Beauty and the Baller🏈
Out Now✨

5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a lovely read!
· Small Town🏡
· Fake Relationships 👫🏻

I was really looking forward to this one! It was one of those books that you can't put down. I loved all the Texas references cause I'm a Texas girl and after reading this I wanted a DQ blizzard! 🍧

First of Nova is such an awesome name! I love it and Nova as a character was so cool! I loved her! At first I didn't know what to expect from the first chapter but I loved getting to know her. She was such a fun and interesting character. She was a great sister and I loved how kind she was! I felt like her struggle to trust was so realistic and I loved how she was willing to trust Ronan. 💞


Ronan was a swoony hero. He was very likable and you really felt for him as a character. He was so well written! I loved his interactions with the team and his banter with Nova. His struggles were something that I feel were really well written. You could feel his pain as you read. 💞


The supporting characters here we're absolutely lovely. 😍

Overall this was a great read, I laughed and I'll be honest I cried in some of the emotional moments I was just so attached to these characters.

Such a dang good slow burn romance! I'm usually wary of reading ARCs because I'm afraid I won't like it and then I'll feel bad, but I never have to worry about this problem with Ilsa's books. Ronan, is a professional football player who retires after losing his fiancee in a car accident. He's a complete emotional and alcohol induced mess when he first meets Nova (he gravitates toward her because she was dressed up as Princess Leia, as one would expect from a heterosexual male Star Wars fan). They share one super hot night and immediately part ways. Two years later, Ronan's pulled himself together and is coaching a HS football team, but guess who also ended up in the same town? Ronan's motto for his team is, "Win the heart, win everything," but will he be able to figure out how to apply that to his own life? You should read to find out, but Ilsa definitely won my heart with this book (again!) 💜

Lots of witty banter, fun supporting characters, small town charm, and of course, super hot you know what (like, really hot). I really enjoyed reading this book, so thanks for the ARC, Ilsa! Can't wait to read the next one.

Beauty and the Baller was nowhere near perfect but it was absolutely everything I wanted. Humor, heart, and absolutely wonderful characters, this book easily wove small-town charm and football life in Texas, with dreams and plans and the derailment of those plans in an honest and very real way.

Truth be told, I didn't ~love~ the Melinda storyline and it could have easily been left out, and I do think that Nova was one of the most unprofessional teachers I've ever read about in my life and it was a bit weird, but neither of those things mattered to me enough to ruin how happy I was while reading this book. It was so charming and so funny and so just plain enjoyable, that really, I flew through the entire thing and immediately want more. Especially of Tuck. Can we have more Tuck, please?

Nova and Ronan had everything I wanted from them - slight angst, broken pieces, and pasts they needed help moving beyond, and through each other, and the friendships they cultivated in the small town of Blue Belle, TX, they were able to accomplish so much together and one their own. And I loved it.

Beauty and the Baller was a blast (and yes I cried) and I’m so happy Ilsa is back 👏🏼


[Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review]

This is a sports romance, with close proximity, and fake dating all rolled into one, basically all my weaknesses.

Ronan is an ex-NFL quarterback turned coach after a car accident left him injured and losing his fiancée. His new town is throwing single women at him to hopefully entice him to stay.

Nova sneaks into a party and ends up having a wild night with Ronan while he is in the depths of his grief. She wasn’t planning to end up moving back home after her mom passed and taking care of her sister, right next door to Ronan.

She agrees to fake date him to keep his prospects away, and her ex from thinking she hasn’t moved on.

Ronan wasn’t expecting to feel jealous, and finds himself enjoying spending time with Ronan and her sister. Soon he has to decide if he wants to stay or if his career is more important.

This story just flowed so well and I didn’t want to put it down. Seeing Ronan help the kids he coached, and the impact they both had was endearing. The small town feel and the adorable meddling booster women added some humor and lightness. Highly recommend this read which was 5 stars for me.

I received an arc for review, all opinions are my own.

SWOOOON!!! Beauty and the Baller just radiates with heartfelt charm and romantic chemistry. This story is everything that makes Ilsa Madden-Mills one of my all time favorites. Uniquely told, hilariously funny, endearingly emotive and delightfully sweet, and oh so sexy. Add in Ilsa’s small town story charisma, and I fell head over heels for this epically lovably story. Ilsa Madden Mills at her best!

From the very beginning, I knew this story would make me both laugh and cry. Ronan and Nova have quite a memorable meet cute- Ilsa begins their story on an eccentric and fun note, but with a slight bittersweetness to it all. I was enraptured by their chemistry, fell in love with them immediately but also had my heart break. Flash forward to a second chance meeting in the small town of Blue Bell, Texas, and that’s where we really get to know our former beauty queen turned guardian and this ex-footballer turned coach. And they can’t quite seem to escape each other. A string of hilarious, small town meddling circumstances and a bit of personal baggage result in these two fake dating - but their chemistry and budding connection is anything but fake.

And OH MY HEART. I just adored these two together. Nova is a ball of sunshine- she’s kind, loving, and so selfless. I loved how Ronan gets under skin, how he tries her patience, and I loved the sass that accompanies her sweet. She’s so witty and clever. I fell so in love with her. And Ronan broke my heart, but he also claimed it. This is a broken man, a man shut down, prickly from pain. But he has so much love to give, and I loved the protective alpha that came out in him. His evolving vulnerability makes him both dreamy and a bit edgy. And their chemistry is off the charts- the flirting, the banter, the antics, and the HEAT! These two have such a palpable connection it vibrated off the page.

Ilsa has such a talent in writing stories of emotional substance, with real emotive poignancy, while also keep the books light and fun. Both of these characters have had some real heartache and loss, both are a bit lost in a life they never would have chosen for themselves. They each have their own baggage and pain that they are dealing with in very different ways, but neither are truly healing. Until they find each other- and even though their romance starts as “fake” a hesitant and unusual friendship blossoms. They find camaraderie in the ways they understand each other. Ironic that the person they can be the most honest with is the person they are lying to everyone else with. It’s such a beautiful enemies to friends to lovers progression, watching these two find healing and hope and new direction with one another. Beauty and the Baller is more than about romantic second chances, it’s about finding yourself again, about the restorative power of unconditional love, even if you find it in the place you least expect it.

I could not love this book more. This sweet story, the amazing town, and with a secondary cast of characters that are just as charming and entertaining, I could not turn the pages fast enough. One of my all time favorite Ilsa stories- it’s heart healing, it’s hilarious, and it’s pure magic.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4252712009

A Thoroughly enjoyable read

Each time Iisa Madden-Mills brings out a new book I know that I'm in for a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read. BEAUTY AND THE BALLER can definitely be added to my list of her favourites. This is a story of Ronan Smith and Nova Morgan's second chance at finding love.

Almost three years ago Ronan's world crumbled around him, a car accident taking away both his fiancee and his football career. A drunken night, to try and forget everything, sees Ronan having a one night stand with a beautiful woman. No details or numbers were exchanged, so he continued his life by moving to a small town and becoming the local highschool"s coach. After the death of her mother, Novas returns home to look after her younger sister and finds herself living next door to Ronan. Ronan, the very same man she shared one amazing night with ... a man who has no memory of her.

Ronan is in dire need of help, the townsfolk are trying to get him a wife so that he won't leave. So, he comes up with the radical idea that he and Nova begin a fake relationship. From there the real fun begins. I loved Nova, she was such fun, she'd make a great best friend, and Ronan was just magnificent. It was just so easy to be drawn into their lives and that of the small town that they live in. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is just so caring, loving, and meddling. The chemistry between Nova and Ronan sizzled, and their fake, not so fake, relationship was just perfect.

Ms. Madden-Mills has penned a story that I simply loved. Every word from beginning to end drew me in deeper and deeper. And the epilogue ... perfect. So, do yourself a favour, grab it and enjoy.

Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction

✨✨✨✨✨ FIVE STARS✨✨✨✨✨

I really liked this book. I feel in love with the characters and found myself wanting to know more about the secondary characters!

I really liked Ronan and Nova. I loved the chemistry they have. There banter had me cracking up laughing in places.

Nova is selfless. She is all for making others feel happy. She will forgo what she wants/needs to make sure the ones she loves have what they want. I wish more people in the world were like her!!

Ronan is lost. He’s trying to find his place in a world that exploded on him. He has a plan and Nova wasn’t part of the plan. Can he overcome the obstacles in his life and let Nova in?

I didn’t want this book to end. I really wish I could have more of them. Maybe we’ll get a Sabine and Toby book!!! I would love to see their young love bloom into a forever love.

Ilsa, my Lord woman, it is worth it to wait for you to release one of your book beauties. I mean Knox and Ava, River and Anastasia, Jack and Elena, and Devon and Giselle; now we add Ronan and Nova. Throw in more adorable pets and side characters to die for; it is a feast for the heart. That is not an exaggeration. Beauty and the Baller tugged on the heartstrings with poignant scenes of the sadness of losing loved ones, the loss of dreams, questioning why, and struggling to move on. Next thing you know, you're laughing at high school teachers vaping in the supply closet, Star Wars references, high school shenanigans, and mean girls. Ronan and Nova run us through all the things as we get the delicious journey of their romance and HEA. Beauty and the Baller is a MUST READ!! Honestly, Ilsa has elevated sports romance to a level that it is so much more than romance; it is family, friends, the atmosphere, the feeling of football in the South, Sundrops, and Piggly Wiggly(s), pets with personality, and good food. Y'all ALL need this book in your life.

I adored this story of two people finding love and and a sense of home with each other. It is a story of second chances in many different ways—love in general, careers, between them. These two made me laugh, made me swoon, and made me want to strangle them at times. I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that the secondary characters are really some of the biggest standouts here, and that includes both the older generation (I’m talking about you Lois!) and the high school kids with their endless enthusiasm and excitement for all things football and pep rallies. Speaking of which… Football is like its own character, and I can’t say that I hate it! From start to finish, I loved my moments spent in the ‘south’ with these friends.

This story came along at a moment when I was feeling really low with everything going on in my life. Beauty and the Baller takes you on a raw emotional ride that will have you giggling and swooning at the same time. While these two have a history and it does play some factor into their lives in the now, there is so much more depth to this story between them. Nova is trying to keep her head above water to take care of her sister, while we have Ronan who is just trying to get by in life after such a tragedy. I found that these two are a balm on each other’s souls as they navigate a fake relationship to catching feelings and so much more in between. There are some hilarious moments that I legit snorted at to some really raw ones that will have you reaching for your tissues! Add the sizzle of these two and you have a whole package. Highly recommend this one. PS… LONG LIVE THE THONG! IYKYK!

It's been a bit since Ilsa's last release and I was so excited for this book. I always enjoyed her sports romance and this book is no exception. The first time Ronan and Nova met each other really caught my eye because it was truly different. That time they spent together lasted one night. Fast forward two years later, they met again but grumpy Ronan does not remember Nova, his new neighbour, at all.

I wished their story has a little fewer things going on and more focused on their romance. I love small-town romances, I always enjoy the townie shenanigans, but it was just too cluttered with a lot of other things going on in the small town. I mean, it's interesting, definitely adds some fun to the story. But I don't think their story really needed it. Despite that, I still enjoyed it.

I don't know where to begin. This story is so beautiful, full of love for friends, family and football. It had me so hooked, I was cooking dinner and reading because I could not put it down.
Nova and Ronan had one night together in NY. He was still heartbroken over his ex and Nova walks thinking she will never see him again, but fate has other plans for them in Texas. From the moment she walks into his birthday party to the very end I loved it all. Before long they have a plan to help each other, but soon feelings and more come into play. Their chemistry, banter, and "glow" shine throughout. There is so much more in this story than the main characters. You can't help but love everyone, even the pets!!! This book is a must read! I can only hope Isla gives us more from this group!

Fun, sexy, and super sweet, this second chance romance will have you reading until the end without stopping. I loved Ronan and Nova. This was such a feel good story.

BEAUTY AND THE BALLER

Kindle Unlimited: [X]YES [ ]NO
Stand-alone: [X]YES [ ]NO
Author: Ilsa Madden- Mills
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spiciness rating: 🌶🌶/5
POV: Dual; first person
Main Couple: Nova & Ronan
Favorite Character: Nova
Tropes: Sports romance; fake relationship; grumpy/sunshine

Review:

When I first started reading contemporary romance, Ilsa was one of the first authors I became fan. I love her books, and this one was not an exception.
Nova is one of my favorite female characters ever. I loved her bright, determined and caring personality. She is the soul of this book. Ronan was also a great person, but he came with lots of baggage and I wouldn’t be so patient as Nova was. There are a bunch of secondary characters in this story and all of them were interesting. I didn’t care much for the Star Wars or the football parts because they are not subjects that interest me, but Ilsa wrote it in a way that didn’t get boring.
The story was fun most of the times, but we also get the emotional parts.
I recommend this book to everyone who likes romance. I had a good time reading it.

I’m grateful for this ARC and this is my honest opinion.