Funny, entertaining with the perfect amount of emotion, Ilsa dose it yet again there is something so addictive about her words I ate this book up I really enjoyed every minute of it..

The laugh out moments were everything I had so much fun reading this and can’t wait for more.

“4.5 Entertaining stars!”

I just love Ilsa Madden-Mills books... there's something so heartwarming, endearing, soul captivating about her words and stories.
A one-night stand that turns into fake dating that then turns into something so much more... I loved every single interaction between Ronan and Nova, her snarky and sassy and sweet... his adorable sexiness, jealousy and dreamy words... together they have that spark, that light, that connection that readers love in their romance books and I LOVED EVERY MOMENT.
Ronan always thought he knew what his big dreams were and everything changed when he found Nova... his star... his home. The chemistry and banter were a chef's kiss. I just love small town romance, the secondary characters that embed themselves into your heart, and the emotions that make you feel overwhelming love in your soul. This book is complete perfection. <3

* 4.5 Stars *
It has been a while since I've been able to read a book in one day, but I really couldn't get enough of Ronan and Nova! Beauty and the Baller was an all around cute romance without being sickly sweet.... There was loss, dealing with grief, snark, steam, a little fake dating, family relationship goals, and some more steam! It's rare to find a romance book that can hold my interest without having a lot of angsty drama but this one managed it, there were obstacles each character had to overcome but I loved watching them grow and heal. I am a hopeless romantic when it comes to books so I love when characters fall in love and get their happily ever after but it is still rare for me to picture couples at soulmates or what readers call One True Pairing; it's hard to read this story and see the way Ronan and Nova's lives have continuously intertwined and not believe that it was inevitable for them to find each other. The chemistry between Ronan and Nova was off the charts at every encounter and the sex scenes were seriously hot. All the side characters added even more to the story and I was shocked to discover that I actually liked the small town "quirks" in Blue Belle.

Beauty and the Baller has so much going for it. It will appeal to so many audiences including sports romance, second chance love and small town romance and let’s be honest you can’t help falling in love with a town called Blue Belle, Texas. This is Ronan Smith and Nova Morgan’s second chance at love and boy do they have an entertaining tale to tell.
Fate seems intent on putting this couple together, they met a few years ago and now they find themselves as neighbors after Nova moves home after the death of her mother. This couple are both carrying plenty of baggage and to try and keep others of their backs they agree to fake date. Ronan is struggling to get over his car accident and the loss of his fiancée and Morgan is dealing with her mothers death so can they help each other through the darkness and will they find light at the end if the tunnel together……
This story ticked all my boxes, it has the perfect mix of love, drama, passion and humour, it has wonderful characters who you can’t help loving and as I said earlier I challeanyone to not fall in love with a town called Blue Belle.

Get Ready To Laugh – There Are 33 LOL Moments By My Count & Many Memorable Lines! Ronan & Nova’s Rom-Com Is Richly Woven With A Wonderful Cast Of Odd Characters That Find A Special Place In Your Heart. This Is A Story About Community, Family, & Football. Fate Wants To Have Her Way With The Couple If Only They Can Trust Enough To Take That Chance.


Ronan Smith, thirty-two, loves all things Star Wars. The franchise is about finding hope amidst the chaos and conquering enemy forces. His love of Star Wars probably helped him to dream big, but he is no longer living the life of his dreams. It hadn’t been easy growing up, but his adult life had been pretty smooth sailing for a while. His father had abandoned his family when Ronan was just six, so he helped out with his two younger sisters while his single mom worked to support them all. It was his middle school gym teacher that set him on his trajectory, and in his ten-year NFL career as a star quarterback, he had earned the Heisman Trophy and led his team to win three Super Bowl titles in a row.

Ronan lived a great life in Manhattan with his long-time best friend and fellow Pythons teammate, Tuck. They were quick friends in spite of their differences. Tuck is the life of the party, whereas Ronan is the serious type. Although he has had his share of fun, especially when egged on by Tuck, Ronan is pretty happy with a book. He is disciplined and hard-working, and his competitive nature doesn’t allow him to give up on his goals. He had casually dated a series of mostly young models, but he knew it was love when Whitney came along. She was just his type – blonde and very sweet – and they got engaged nine months later. He planned to have it all with her – but their happiness was cut short. An accident that still haunts him killed Whitney and his career in one fell swoop.

Days shy of one year after the accident, at age twenty-nine, Ronan had hit rock bottom. The scars on one side of his face were a permanent reminder of all he lost. He drank to numb the pain and emptiness that were his constant companion. Tuck worried about his friend, but the guilt of his failure kept Ronan down. It was at an end-of-season party with Tuck that Ronan got his second lease on life. The woman of his dreams had crossed paths with him, and though his memory was clouded by alcohol, he woke up the next day ready to turn things around.

About two and a half years later, Ronan has new career goals and a plan to achieve them. Texas is known for its love of high school football, and it was the perfect place for him to start his coaching career. Last year, he had accepted a job as head football coach and World History teacher at Blue Belle High School in a small-ish Texas town. They made it to state finals under his leadership – and if they can win state this year, the offers to move up to college-level should start coming in.

Tuck loves the kids and enjoys coaching, but the pesky locals just won’t give him a break. They live and breathe football. He hadn’t hidden the fact that BBHS was a temporary stop for him, which has them nervous. With school pride and scholarships on the line, the locals aren’t going to make it easy for the town’s favorite person to leave. The booster club has made it their mission to introduce him to a nice local girl that he can settle down with – despite his many protests. Blue Belle is just a stepping stone for him, and he doesn’t want entanglements.

Nova Morgan, twenty-nine, has a bubbly personality and radiates joy wherever she goes. She is sweet yet uninhibited, full of grit and courage. She has done the unthinkable. The former beauty queen swore she wouldn’t move back to Blue Belle, but the death of her mama a few weeks ago had changed everything. She had lost her father fourteen years ago, so it was now just Nova and her fifteen-year-old sister, Sabine. She wasn’t about to take Sabine away from her home and the memories of their mama, even if it meant facing some people that she had hoped to never see again. She had grown up with Andrew, and they were crowned homecoming king and queen together. They were the couple everyone believed would one day marry. Nova even followed him to the University of Texas instead of NYU, as she had once planned. But Andrew broke her heart and her trust, so she left Texas and never looked back.

After getting her BA in art history at NYU, Nova found herself struggling to find work with her degree. She ended up teaching art at a fancy preschool, and by night, she bartended at the Baller. The private club largely hosted professional athletes, which happened to be Nova’s type. She loved football, in particular. She had most recently dated and been dumped by New England Cougars quarterback Zane Williams. Even though that was fresh, there was one man from her past, besides Andrew, who had hurt her most. She was half in love with Ronan Smith the night they spent together, but his words had bitterly stung. She wasn’t sure how she could have been so wrong about the legendary QB, but it was a reminder to guard her heart against men.

When Nova discovers that the party house next door to her mama’s house now belongs to the new BBHS head coach, she never imagines that the town had managed to hire Ronan Smith for the job. Her night with him had ended horribly, and to make matters worse, he doesn’t appear to remember her. The two don’t exactly get off to a good start, and people take notice. Their heated banter eventually leads to some great chemistry, but Ronan makes his intentions to leave town in a year or so abundantly clear. When Ronan sees the opportunity for them to combine forces and ward off the hawks, he proposes a fake dating relationship. The couple has some ups and downs, but they eventually find a very happy ending.

Wow! Ronan and Nova’s story is richly woven with a wonderful cast of odd characters that find a special place in your heart. This is a story about community, family, and football. It is about learning to live and love again after loss. Most of all, this is about following your heart, even if your path takes an unexpected turn. Trust and faith are eventually rewarded here, but both are tested.

Tuck has a huge personality, much like Nova. Skeeter, Ronan’s assistant coach and Nova’s former classmate and friend, is adorably clueless. Sonia, a fellow teacher and former classmate, is the enthusiastic science geek of the group. Lois Meadows is a grandmother and neighbor to Ronan and Nova. She is a member of the booster club, among others, and seems to know everything about everyone in town. Dog is a mix that Ronan adopted after moving to Texas. Sparky, Nova’s cat, is most entertaining. He is a hairless breed – more expressive – and enjoys walks. He might be a cat, but he acts much like a dog.

Grab the tissues! There are six teary scenes by my count. Fate wants to have her way with Ronan and Luna if only they can trust enough to take that chance. As for humor, I counted a whopping thirty-three laugh-out-loud moments. This really had me laughing at points, and there are many memorable lines. The banter is fabulous. This story really sucks you in. It is long enough to fully immerse you into Blue Belle and the characters that make their home there. I was hardly ready for it to end. This is very well-written. There are a few minor typos in my ARC copy, but I assume they are probably caught in the new release The plot is fairly somewhat simple. The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Ronan and Luna. I rate this book 5 full stars.

I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A fun, sexy story with Nova and Ronan! Ronan's career is coming to an end, and unfortunately still grieving his fiancée. He's having a tough time, but then he meets Nova and they have a one night stand. Fast forward 2 years later in a small fun town in Texas......He is the new high school coach and she is neighbor. He is unsure of where he wants to end up but the residents want to show him that their little town is perfect for him to stay, so what better way than to start matchmaking. He needs Nova to fake date him to get them off his back. They were so fun together and it was just a feel good book. Funny and just the chemistry was great. Looking forward to more from this town!

Nova was such a pleasant surprise and more that what I expected. We first meet her dressed as Leia which immediately gave her points in my book. Then we skip ahead from that first meeting with Nova back in the hometown she never wanted to return to, after the loss of her mother and trying to fulfill her promise to take care of her little sister. Enter a whole lot of cute tropes from fake-dating and forced proximity to second changes when Nova comes face-to-face with her unforgettable one-night stand, Ronan, the superstar NFL quarterback she attempted to woe as Leia.

Nova and Ronan are drawn to each other from the very beginning and that chemistry absolutely leaps off the page but what I loved most was their banter while walking side-by-side (sometimes unwillingly) through their own individual grief and healing. Beauty and the Baller had a lot of funny moments and high school shenanigans where sometimes the adults were as immature as the teens. The side characters where also a lot of fun. A goat may or may not have been stolen.

HOWEVER…
Beauty and the Baller was not without some issues. There was one moment that really bothered me. Not a spoiler but here we go: Our main characters were caught in an awkward situation mid sexy competition which left male MC wearing a bra… fast forward to the assistant coach trying to show “Texans are more open minded than those New York people think” by attempting to normalize the bra wearing (I think) by sharing he has a cousin who “wears heels and dresses” and changed their name to Mandy. “No one turned a hair in my family.” Wonderful. This conversation seemed to be implying that he has a trans cousin and the family was cool… except the speaker called the person a “male cousin”, used he/him/his pronouns, and dead-named the them while trying to show his open-mindedness. WTF WAS THE AUTHOR TRYING TO SAY HERE?!? This whole exchange wasn’t necessary to the plot and is frankly harmful.

This was followed later by those all too common “like a girl” quips from the male athletes which further left a sour taste. I get these conversation elements are realistic but should we continue to perpetuate the belief that something “girlie” is bad or that crying is inherently female and “crying like a girl” makes you less than? We can do better than this.

OVERALL
Overall, Beauty and the Baller had some funny, heartfelt and tender moments paired with great chemistry and steam. There was a fun cast of characters from our main couple to the side characters, both adults and teens. I also cannot ignore the issues and the need for a sensitivity reader which definitely left an impression on my overall experience of this book. No rating on this one from me.

Thank you Social Butterfly PR for the opportunity to read and review this book early.

3.5

This book was everything and then some for a fantastic five star read. I loved Nova she was sassy, loyal and amazing in every way.
She is the girl you want o your side. Ronan was so damaged and yet to wonderful.
The side characters were hilarious. Loved the school setting; especially the lice! Humor, heat and heart abound in this awesome story

Beauty and the Baller Shines With Heart and Depth
5 Stars

Read “Beauty and the Baller” if you like:
✔ Small Town Romance
✔ Sports Romance
✔ Enemies to Lovers
✔ Beauty and the Beast homage
✔ One-night Stand
✔ Dual Points of View
✔ Complete Standalone

Nova Morgan, 29 (ex-beauty queen), crashes an end-of-season New York Python’s football celebration dressed in a full slave-Leia-from-Return of the Jedi costume. Scarred and grieving Ronan Smith, 32 (ex-football player) is drawn to her. He just lost his fiancée the year before in a horrific car accident. Ronan and Nova have a one-night stand that ends badly and she runs away.

Two and a half years later Nova has returned to her small Texas town of Blue Belle following the unexpected death of her mother. She’s living in her mother’s house and is now guardian of her 15-year-old sister who is on the spectrum. She’s shocked to learn that her neighbor is Ronan, now a high school football coach, much beloved and pampered by the town. Blue Belle will do anything to keep him and his winning record including trying to get him to settle down with a nice local girl.

When Nova and Ronan “meet” for the second time he doesn’t recognize her at all. There’s a mutual animosity between them as Nova calls him a “pompous jerk” and Ronan doesn’t understand why she doesn’t like him.

Despite this, Ronan cooks up a scheme to get the Blue Belle folks off his back regarding setting him up and to help Nova face some people from her past: fake dating!

I love the fake dating trope and Ilsa Madden-Mills serves it well with this book. Nova and Ronan’s chemistry is scorching from the start and the added pressures of fake dating only kindles the flame.

Besides their chemistry, they are both damaged from the past but are trying to pull through to the other side.

Nova: “Beauty is how we go on, the life we create around us. Living a life that’s meaningful.”

I liked how the book plays ith the meaning of “beauty”. They are both scarred but Ronan’s scars are visible. They are transcending the limitations and barriers life has placed in front of them.
Ronan: “...it isn’t just her beauty. There’s an infectious quality about her smile, a sense of irrepressible joy that surrounds her.”

This theme of beauty and both visible and invisible scars permeates the book and gives it depth. They both need to learn to get past the things that prevent them from moving on, embracing love and living again.

Nova: “Life will always be scary. It’s better when you do it with someone.”

“My adorable beast, we’ll take it one day at a time.”

I truly loved Nova and Ronan. Madden-Mills has created some great characters in them. Ronan is wounded and scared but he finds Nova irresistible as will readers of “Beauty and the Baller”. Nova is a bright personality with a side of snark and she knows how to push his buttons. I loved the Star Wars references, their playfulness and the spice factor was superb.

All of the side characters that make up the town of Blue Belle were compelling without overwhelming the main storyline. None of them were underserved by the plot or characterizations and most (the ones you were supposed to) were fun, lovable and only added to the story.

If you love small town romance with some angst, comedy and real depth, then you will love “Beauty and the Baller”. I highly recommend this football romance and give it five stars. Fans of Lucy Score and Tessa Bailey should love this book.

I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

This was definitely a 4.5 star read for me. I am more for the heroines in a book but Ronan took my heart away from Nova in this one. That is not to say that she was lacking because her heart and spunk was so refreshing and spot on that you loved her off top. She was a true Southern Belle that had flaws, doubt, and perseverance. Putting everyone first and keeping promises that she made to herself above all else. Going above and beyond for the looked over. Protecting the vulnerable. The beauty and bright light.

Now Ronan, a complicated disaster that had demons beyond what he showed. He wore the weight of regret, survivors guilt, and defeat like an armor. He not only fought with his heart but with his gut feeling when the fight was not warranted. A giver, educator, and mentor when he wasn't even trying. He loved even when he didn’t want to. Understanding later that every choice you think you have takes little thought. There is a FORCE leading you down the road whether it's the one less traveled or not. Robert Frost was on to something when he wrote that.

Welcome back Ilsa Madden-Mills you do depth with every possible circumstance and character collaboration with ease.

Ronan was at an all time low after losing his fiancée in a tragic accident, but also losing his career. Until he met a mysterious woman dressed as Princess Leia at a party. They had a one night stand, but after that night things changed for Ronan. Nova is a former beauty queen, she has a thing for football players. Now, she is back in her small Texas town after the loss of her mother to take care of her younger sister. What she doesn’t expect is her one night stand from two years prior to be her new neighbor.
I LOVED Ronan and Nova. The second they meet there are insane amounts of chemistry between the two of them. Even after two years, there is so much chemistry between them. I loved the tension, the banter, the sweet moments. Both have their own fears and worries when it comes to relationships, but I loved that both of them were able to help each other see more in themselves.
I loved the secondary characters, especially Sabine (Nova’s sister), Toby, Milo and Bruno (who are football players that Ronan coaches), Sonia, and Skeeter!
If you only read one book this year, it should be this one!
If you’re looking for a small town, fake relationship, workplace, sports romance this is one to read!

Imagine this.....you walk into a party in the city and you are not exactly welcomed. But when a certain someone sets eyes on you, you connect, leave the party and have an amazing night together until the very last minute when something is uttered. One night with one man and it's over.

Flash forward a couple years, the city and party setting is gone and now we are in a small town in Texas. Where football is everything and I'm invested! I'm an Ilsa Madden-Mills fan, especially when she combines football into her stories. I'm a goner. This had the football, the characters were out of college and they came with baggage. Now this was my story I could get behind. While the story started out as a somewhat cringey drunken one night stand, it turned into something else entirely. It was a small town romance, with a side of fake dating and some major past to get behind.

Nova has to move back home to Blue Belle, Texas to care for her high school sister Sabine after their mother passes. It's not exactly where she thought she'd be in life, but family first. And who is her neighbor but the high school football coach that the whole town loves. He's an ex NFL star, he's leading the football team to wins and all the ladies love him. But Nova hasn't even met him and she is not liking what his presence brings to her neighborhood. Their "meet cute" is funny and sexy and just perfect when she interrupts a gathering at his house.

I absolutely loved Nova. Her southern charm, her unwavering love for a man that didn't know if he could love, her love of family and the way she cared for those around her was what made her perfect. She was funny, a tad quirky and her and Ronan had great chemistry and fun banter. But her love of Sabine and Dolly (Parton) is what endeared me to her.
Ronan was a little bit harder to crack, but that's why I liked him too. He wasn't easy. He had some issues with his past and where he thought he'd be in life. He didn't want all the female attention always sent his way, and he really was only looking at Blue Belle as a stepping stone to better and bigger things. But when he met his match and realized who Nova was, that's when things got interesting. I wasn't all for their fake dating, but they needed some sort of boundaries to distinguish their relationship too, so it worked for them.

While this is definitely Nova and Ronan's story, I really enjoyed the secondary characters and the small town setting. Small towns and their charm always get me. Especially when I can relate back to my high school days and the rivalry we had with close towns. IMM included those aspects in here and made it very fun and relatable. And those secondary characters? Can we get some Sabine and her beautiful mind as a future leading lady? Maybe even Ronan's friend Tuck needs a story with him settling down.

For an entertaining read that is sexy and fun, with great characters all around, and a pinch of emotional, check out this book. Ilsa Madden-Mills gives us charm, laughs and just the right amount of angst in this contemporary romcom.

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley and the author, all opinions are my own. I'm a long time fan of the author's work, and this one is a knock out! I loved every minute of Nova and Ronan's story.

This follows former NFL quarterback turned high school football coach Ronan, who is still grieving the loss of his fiancée. The people of the small town of Blue Bell, Texas where he is coaching happens to be where our female lead Nova is from. Nova and Ronan have met before, but when she moves home to take care of her sister and deal with her own grief, she finds Ronan is her new neighbor. Not sure he remembers her from their brief but steamy one night encounter, they don't exactly make the best of impressions on one another. Ronan has become the town's golden boy, and the town will do anything to make him stay as the coach. They are willing to do just about anything to get him to settle down and make Blue Bell their coach and they encourage Nova to make nice with her neighbor. The town's antics are kind of ridiculous. Booster organizations can get kind of crazy in real life when you have a competitive team (not sure if they are this crazy though).

Ronan isn't really bought into the antics of the community and the boosters, and he has plans for this future that may or may not involve high school football. He is undecided if his short term lies in Blue Belle. What he does know is that he is attracted to Nova and he is tired of being asked to date and marry every eligible bachelorette in town. He also needs an assistant to help him with his day to day responsibilities as coach. Nova needs a job, so when an opening as a part time teacher and personal assistant to the Head Coach opens up she reluctantly takes it knowing that it might not be a good idea. She has no formal teaching qualifications and she too is attracted to Ronan. Spending time as his assistant might not be the best idea especially because he is always surrounded by an entourage of women trying to garner his attention. They come to an arrangement that helps them both out, but it kind of backfires when their fake dating finds them having feelings for each other.

I love this! I loved the banter between Nova and Ronan. I loved Nova as a big sister to her neuro-diverse sister who is navigating being a teenager, dating, and the loss of their mom. I really love the relationship that Nova and Sabine have with each other. Nova has alot on her plate, but she figures it all out. I really liked the growth we see between Nova and Ronan. They both have to deal with grief and let go of past relationships to move on together. This has great side characters and wonderful humor. This also has some steamy scenes without being over the top. I highly recommend this if you like fake dating, enemies to lovers, and sports romances.

Ronan is still reeling from the loss of his fiancé and pro football career from a tragic accident and has hit rock bottom when the girl of his nerdy dreams accidentally stumbles into his team’s ritzy party dressed like Princess Leia (and in desperate need of saving). Ronan comes to her rescue and they spend a hot night together back in his hotel room with one tiny little mishap on his end. When he wakes she’s gone and he has only fuzzy memories of the girl of his dreams that woke him from his grieving finally sparking life in him again.

Two years later, Nova has moved back to her small hometown of Texas to step in as her younger sister, Sabine’s guardian after the loss of their mother. She’s prepared to do whatever it takes to make Sabine’s high school experience as perfect as she can even if that means getting along with the people she never wanted to see again after high school.

First she has to deal with her new annoying neighbor aka the town’s beloved football coach. She’s stunned when he turns out to be the man she left in bed 2 years ago especially as that night and him are burned into her memories. She’s even more surprised when she finds out he doesn’t remember her. To make matters worse the booster club is intent on finding him a wife to get him to stay and no one is safe from their scheming, not even her.

When Ronan proposes they fake date to keep the town off his back and help her keep her cool around her cheating high school ex-boyfriend and her ex-best friend she figures she can keep her feelings out of it for both their sakes. With him leaving and her not wanting to get burned by him again it seems like the perfect solution. When Ronan remembers and fake feelings turn real where does it leave them this time around?

My emotions went through the ringer in this one. I was especially devastated when Ronan didn’t remember her but elated when he finally had his light bulb moment. These two are so passionate and their banter especially at the beginning had me hooked. And don’t even get me started on the delicious and healthy amount of steam. I adored Nova and Sabine’s relationship as well as the friendships she kindled with those around her in need. I was so heartbroken for Ronan and then for Nova. Ilsa put our emotions through the ringer in this one. I was devastated when Ronan didn’t remember her. There’s a healthy amount spice in this one and these two are straight fire together. They are passionate and their banter especially at the beginning had me hooked. They are the kind of couple that makes you believe in fate.

It’s been a while since we got a book from Ms. Madden-Mills but I’m happy to say the magic is very much still alive in her books. I found myself flying through this story desperate for these two to get their HEA but loving every second of the journey along the way. If you’re a fan of sports romance, fake dating, and workplace romance set in a small town you’ll love this one. Definitely going on the list for books to reread when I need a good hard swoon.

Thanks so much to social butterfly pr and Ilsa Madden Mills for providing me with an early copy to review via Netgalley.

Ilsa Madden-Mills has finally returned with a brand new book and like always, it's definitely worth the wait. It's been so long since I read a good fake dating romance, so I was surprised that this book turns out better than I have expected. Something about this book feels slightly special to me which became the reason why I love it!

I really liked the chemistry between Ronan and Nova especially since they serve my all-time favourite tropes. Them serving second chance and forced proximity is my definite win. I can truly feel the connection that these two shared with one another.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read and Ilsa Madden-Mills has done a great job in delivering the story. It was well written and the story is both entertaining and emotional at the same time I highly recommend everyone to try Beauty and the Baller especially if you're into small-town romance.

Beauty and The Baller is one rather amazing sports romance with entertaining moments. The small town of Blue Belle honestly reminds me of a tv series and I loved the way the townsfolk rallied around.
Ronan met Nova at a party and their connection is off the charts but after that night, she disappears!
He’s an ex footballer, coaching high school and when Nova returns home to care for her sister, the storyline gets rather interesting. Ronan and Nova are at loggerheads, he’s not into commitment and she is. These two are like chalk and cheese but the sizzling chemistry is ripe. How will life turn out for all involved especially when fake dating. Do their pasts get in the way of a happy ever after? Go read it for yourself to find out.
An enjoyable read and I cant wait to see what the author writes next!

Two and half years ago Ronan Smith's life was kind of a mess, his NFL career was over and he had just lost his fiancé in a car accident. He was barely surviving the aftermath, then he met an intriguing woman at a party that he thought would give him the escape he needed. They shared one night, and by morning's light she was gone, and he never had the chance to ask her for her name... it's almost as if she wasn't real!

But Nova Morgan is very real and about to come crashing into his life all over again... and this time he'll definitely know her name!

Beauty and the Baller is delightfully penned romance about two souls that need a little love in their lives now more than ever. Both carry scars that haven't quite healed and their about the re-meet the person that has the power to heal all that ails them. It's not a quick fall though as they start their relationship out on purely faux terms, but as they start to spend more time together they start to get glimpses of something that they'd like to hold on to. Even if it means facing those old wounds and opening their hearts again. It's an emotional and entertaining journey that will tug on your heartstrings and have you smiling throughout!

It's been some time since I have read a title from this author and it didn't take long to be reminded of why I love her stories so much. They have this way of taking over my heart and thoughts and holding them tight until the last page comes, and I find that happily ever after. And this one was well worth the wait!! Highly recommend you meet this pairing, they will steal your heart at first glance and leave it forever moved!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbased opinion.

There is nothing Texans love more than their Friday Night Lights and winning state football championships. That is unless it’s a story by Ilsa Madden-Mills that highlights their love for the game and throws a little romance in with it. I’m kidding, but not about how this story is about love and Texas, it is that and so much more.

Ilsa writes beautifully emotional stories with complex characters and real life, and it just doesn’t get any better than that.

Nova and Ronan’s story is such a fun one to get to witness, it starts with a one night stand of sorts and goes on from there. I love these two, Nova puts herself out there in a what you see is what you get sort of way and that is what charms Ronan, he’s never met anyone like her.

This story has all the good stuff, there’s that gooey emotion that we all love, hilarious side characters to make you laugh, and so much heat that you will for sure be blushing.

Beauty and the Baller was Fantastic!! A perfect example of why I love reading sports romance, and for me it showed exactly why this author is one of the very best in this genre. Ilsa Madden Mills knows her stuff and it shows.

The story had every thing I love and I quickly found myself immersed in the lives of Ronan and Nova, Dog and the hairless cat....yes they were quite a crazy bunch. As always there were some amazingly quirky loveable secondary characters who enriched the story too.

I bloody loved all the witty humour, scorching chemistry and the hilarious interactions between the characters. The deeper background stories for Ronan and Nova added to the emotional side whilst pulling on your heartstrings. It showed exactly how deep their scars run adding layers to their personalities which made them more relatable, likeable and easy to love.

I absolutely loved Ronan and Nova together, the stars aligned when they met and the force is definitely with them. 💙💛💙💛💙

Review Ilsa Madden-Mills made me laugh and swoon so hard in Beauty and the Baller. And she also made it hurt like hell. Ronan and Nova are something special. This enemies to lovers, small town sports romance was all about overwhelming, all consuming and extraordinary feels. I smiled. I cried. I fall head over heels in love with Ronan and Nova.

Nova Morgan moved back to Blue Belle after her mother's death. She has to take care of her specially abled sister Sabine and their house and their finances. And then she comes to face to face with Ronan. Her new neighbour. The new football team coach who is taking their school team to new heights. Ex NFL legend.And the unforgettable one night stand years ago. They are in middle of a messy situation. Ronan's uncertain future plans. Nova's struggles. And their sizzling hot attraction. When Ronan proposed a fake dating relationship, they both thought it to be something casual. But they are anything but casual.

Gawwwd I love this book. Like crazy loved! Ronan has been hurt and lost people he loved. He has the scars inside and outside. He is broken and lost. The small town is his chance to heal and it's a stepping stone for his future. At least he thought so. Till Nova Morgan blasted her way inside his hard heart. She is sparkly. Full of hope, resilience, fierceness, happiness and just overall a glowing warm presence. The author portrayed the grumpy hero and sunshine heroine dynamics so well. Nova brightened Ronan's cold dark world. And Ronan made her feel alive again. Once she was the darling of this town..the beauty queen..destined to be the great thing. But heartbreak and bad decisions somehow dampened her spirit. Coming back to her home town was a rejuvenating process for her too.

The chemistry between Ronan and Nova was just mindblowing. A bit flirty and witty and hilarious. A bit heartbreaking and intense and raw. Their banter. Their physical connection. Their hearts' dilemmas. Such an amazing combination of sexy, swoony and heartaching! And the secondary characters? Just perfect. The plot was so well built and executed that I couldn't put it down even for a second. I just devoured it! Another clear cut super duper hit from Ilsa Madden-Mills!

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily