•Former beauty queen
•Retired NFL player with a tortured soul
•Enemies-to-lovers greatness

This book pulled so many emotions out of me. From anger, to elation, to heartbreak, to laughing out loud. I loved Nova. She was unapologetically herself throughout the entire novel. She knew what she wanted and she worked and worked until she succeeded. And to just raise her sister the way she was doing really showed her character.

My poor, sweet, broken hearted Ronan. To get knocked down and put yourself back together is one thing. Doing it while grieving is a whole other story. The scars he received were both physically and emotionally draining for him. I needed him to have his happy ending. He deserved it.

Side Note: I also had a coach in high school who ALL the girls swooned over. We fought for the front row in American History just so we could have the best view.

It took me a little while to get into this story - in part I think it was because of Nova. There were a couple of times she said or did something and I instantly thought I was not going to like this book.
But luckily for me I persevered because firstly Isla is the author and secondly there were so many tropes that I always seem to gravitate towards.
Ronan and Nova’s story ended up being one of my favorite reads so far this year. I found by the end of the book everything needed to be written the way it did, including the parts that made me uncomfortable at the beginning. After reading the final word I could not possibly imagine the storyline any other way. Great writing, great characters and of course a really wonderful romance. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

Ilsa has done it again, I swear this woman can do no wrong in my book. Beauty and The Baller is a delightfully fun and witty romance that will have you laughing out loud while swooning at the same time. Ronan and Nova are perfectly imperfect, and I loved every single moment of their story.

Ronan is brooding and broken just how I like my hero’s. His story is one that will break your heart and leave you rooting for him even when you want to punch him in the face. Which inevitably you will want to. He’s got walls up so high that no one can see over them. But he’s this incredible balance of jock and nerd. I loved finding out all his little quirks that really just endeared him to me.

Nova has been hurt, her heart has been battered and bruised to the point she thinks there’s nothing that can fix it. She purposely chooses the wrong men because she knows it won’t work out and she won’t be hurt in the process because she knew from the start that it was doomed to fail. When tragedy strikes and she’s forced back home, she has to come to terms with things from her past in order for her to move on and feel again.

These two had such dynamic passion and chemistry from the very beginning. Every interaction proved this more and more until I thought my Kindle was going to spontaneously combust. I adored the juxtaposing of her sunshine personality and his grumpy demeanor. But what I loved the most was Ronans’ protective warmth. The way he cares and loves and the huge heart that he has.

Ilsa writes romances that warm you from the inside out. The characters and the settings always make you feel like you’ve come home. I’ve never read a story by her that I didn’t immediately fall right into not wanting to come up for air until I’ve finished. Her characters, her worlds, the effortless way she writes and draws out her storylines, everything is flawlessly done. If you love romances that are light and fun with a side of moody than look no further, this book is for you.

I genuinely enjoyed this story. There was a lot going on with the side characters, but the things that typically distract me in a book were thankfully not there. There was no cheating, no true love triangle. There was no misunderstandings that blow up when a simple discussion would resolve it, and even the fake dating was done in a way that it wasn’t truly fake for long. Instead, it was a story of two people meeting at the wrong time, and fate was giving them a second chance at getting it right.

And while I did love Nova and Ronan, I’m hoping that the side characters in this story get their own books, because they were just as well developed and became just as real to me as the main characters. The quirky teacher who sneaks into the closet to vape and the clueless assistant coach who is not catching the signals she keeps throwing; Nova’s intense sister and the sweet football quarterback; the sweater wearing hairless cat and Ronan’s dog…

I did feel like there were some things that were left unclear, the main one being why Nova was so intent on meeting Ronan the first time they interacted years before. But that didn’t overshadow the sweetness or the sexy games these two played in the here and now. If you’re looking for a feel-good sports romance that combines sweet tea, Friday night lights and pool table sex, this is the book for you!

A girl and her sister.
A boy and a lost dream.

Honestly, the book was just fantastic.
The high school kids were great.
The nosy neighbour was enjoyable.
I laughed out loud and was moved emotionally.
Ronan and Nova.. perfect.

Some stories I read stay with me long after I finish reading them. I have a good feeling that Ronan & Nova’s story just got added to that list! Definitely one of the best books I have read so far in 2022.

I absolutely adored these characters. I loved their banter & how they would challenge each other. Ronan & Nova weren’t looking for anything, but somehow they found everything. Ilsa Madden-Mills delivered a great story with plenty of humor & heart.

I really hope that Skeeter & Sonia get to tell their story! I am not ready to leave these characters and their world behind. I know for sure I will be revisiting them soon & often.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

I am just crazy about Ilsa Madden-Mills writing. Her stories are always heart felt and full of endearing characters. Beauty and the Balker is another exceptional addition to her awesome collection of stories. This book is just wonderful. I loved, loved, loved Nova so much! She is strong, quirky, loyal and so refreshing. Her banter with Ronan was just blissful to read. I loved their chemistry and passion. I think I could stay in Blue Belle forever with these characters that feel like family! I wish I could give more than five stars to this book. I absolutely loved it.

Fantastic! I just loved everything about this. It’s real, heartbreaking in places and full of brilliant humour.
This author always manages to write some fantastically funny pieces in her books, as I read the darts challenge the visuals her writing creates had me laughing out loud.

I especially appreciate the grown up way that Ms Madden-Mills tackles the problems and challenges that these wonderful characters face.
It’s a celebration of life, love and being yourself. A lesson in enjoying the little things whilst appreciating the people that matter the most to you.

A total joy to read. Thank you once again Ms Madden-Mills for bringing the perfect escape with these wonderfully real characters…. I’m sad to leave them!

Le sigh...

I loved this book so much.

Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.

The interactions between Ronan and Nova had me cracking up. They were so funny.

This book had everything. Humor, emotion, steam.

I just enjoyed everything about it.

I highly recommend it.

I love a good sports romance and this cover is so pretty. After reading the book I can honestly say that it fits perfectly with the story.
I’m not a huge fan of small town romance, I don’t know why but this one called to me and I’m so glad I decided to pick it up! Probably had something to do with the sports romance and second chance tropes thrown in.
I loved this book, the plot was interesting and kept me on my toes. Then we have Ronan and Nova with their snarky comments, banter, chemistry and cute moments. They are perfect for each other.
This couples journey to being together was beautiful, it wasn’t always plain sailing. But they pulled through because of their love for each other.
I’m excited for the next book in this series and the cover is just as beautiful 😍

I absolutely adored this story.
It is Fake Dating Gold, and there’s a little bit of second chance in there, too.

Ronan and Nova were such a lovely couple, and once again Ilsa has made me fall in love with her entire cast of side characters. I laughed out loud, I got choked up, and I was grinning almost the entire time I read.

If contemporary romance, sports romance, or small town romance is your thing, pick this one up. It’s so good.

I was so excited to hear that a new story was coming from Ms. Madden-Mills! I have been a long-time fan of hers.

This new story is all the things you love in a romance. This story of Nova and Ronin is a story of fate, timing, and finding your glow! There are so many things I loved about this story!

I loved Nova; she is beautiful, fierce and loyal to her family. I also loved her directness and honesty, but I especially loved it when she showed her vulnerabilities in returning home and facing her past.

Oh Ronin, what a broken soul he is. He finds himself in the small town of Blue Belle, coaching high school football, using this as a placeholder for his dreams of coaching college and eventually the NFL. His professional career as a baller was taken from him tragically, both physically and emotionally. He has his walls built high.

I loved their first meeting; it was both steamy and heartbreaking. I loved how coming together years later forged their relationship. I loved how they both leaned on each other for support. I loved the yellow roses and the meaning behind them! So. Much. Love!

I have never been disappointed by a story from Ilsa Madden-Mills, and this story is phenomenal!

Oh sports romance, you suck me in every time. This one was a bit different from the ones I usually read since the main character was a coach instead of a player and I liked that it was more adult. This was a pretty cute story and definitely easy to read, plus the narrator for the audiobook is my husband Sebastian York. I did think the plot was kind of basic and the drama felt forced, but not a bad story.

Nova is struggling to figure out life back in her hometown after her mom passed away. She's now the guardian for her fifteen year-old sister and has to get a job, any job, to support them. I liked that Nova was a good big sister to Sabine and was willing to take whatever came her way and make it work. She did come across as 'not like other girls.' Nova hasn't seen Star Wars or several other big pop culture movies and considers herself a "unicorn." I could have done with less of that attitude.

Ronan needs some serious grief counseling to get over his fiancé's death. He's a good guy and great with the players, but he was struggling to move forward and commit to anything. I think it would have been nice to see a man go to therapy, but instead the story went the way of 'the right woman will heal him and he'll be able to let his trauma go.' That's not how things usually work unfortunately and it seemed unrealistic.

I did like the parts with the teenagers, especially when they found a mentor in either Nova or Ronan. It's nice seeing kids have someone who accepts them and makes them feel cared for. I especially liked how Nova won her class over and got them to engage and learn.

This is an amusing, steamy romance and if you're a fan of Madden-Mills, you'll have a ball reading it ;)

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the copy

This was my first ever read from Ilsa and I had heard so many amazing things about her books and writing, I was really excited to read this book. I had enjoyed this book since beginning to ending.

Ilsa has not overdone any character, whether it's Nova quirky, sassy or Ronan grumpy personality. One can't stop falling in love with these characters. They're so fun, sassy, sarcastic and when they open up to each other showing their vulnerabilities. It would really make you fall in love more with these.

Nova is a amazing person. Even though she never want to return to their small town due to so many reasons she did because her sister needs her. Her bond with her sister is so good to see that you will have tears for these beautiful girls for enduring so much pain at young age.

Ronan is such a grumpy guy that I couldn't stop laughing whenever Nova teases him. I am glad he pulled his head out from gutter at right time.

If you're looking for a fake dating, grumpysunshine, second chance trope you would really love this one.

This was such a beautiful story about a grieving grumpy ex-NFL player and a hard-working woman raising her sister who meet up for an incredible one night stand not expecting to see each other again. As luck would have it they do meet up again when they least expect it.

I immediately liked Ronan. He was a sympathetic character and seemed to be one of the good ones. He deserved a happy ever after. I was slow to warm up to the Nova character but once she settled in more in the book, the more I liked her. She was good for Ronan. Together they were certainly a lot of fun.

From sizzling lovers to grumpy frenemies. From grumpy frenemies to hysterical fake dating. From hysterical fake dating to a very romantic HEA. Not a dull moment to be had. I laughed more than once over the MCs, fun lovable side characters, the small town football crazy townsfolk, and all their crazy antics. Seriously, not one dull moment.

It's not all smooth sailing but no relationship ever is but our happy couple grow and learn about each other and themselves. They figure out what is important and find their way through it all back to each other.

I am definitely recommending this story to all of you rom-com romance readers and lovers of football and love.😁 It wasn't perfect but I won't bore you with the little things. I am giving Beauty and the Baller 4 stars.

4.5 stars!

Nova is the beauty queen who had the worst luck when it comes to relationships with athletes and doesn’t want anything to do with them. Ronan Smith is the baller who was a star football player with a wonderful fiancé. In a blink of an eye he lost not only the game but the love of his life.

Ronan is at rock bottom when he meets Nova. She’s a fantasy come to life and she gives him a night to escape his pain. In the morning, she is gone but she sparked something inside of him. He sees everything differently and decides to take control of his life.

Two years later, Nova ends up in her home town taking care of her teenage sister after her mother passes away. When the neighbor throws a loud party, she is all for giving him a piece of her mind, what she doesn’t expect is her one-night stand staring back at her.

Beauty and the Baller contains so many different tropes and I think they are all well done and tie together perfectly. A one-night stand turns enemies-to-lovers turns into fake dating that becomes real, giving these two a second chance romance, and I loved it all!

I adore Nova and Ronan. When they meet, they are both at two different places in their lives. It takes fate to bring them together and we get an explosion of humor, heat, and heart!

These two just work. I love their dynamic and the back and forth/push and pull was fantastic. Even when they fight their attraction you can tell they are drawn to each other. They had a spark the night they met and they still have amazing chemistry years later. The sexual tension is off the charts and they can’t control themselves which leads them to some smoking hot encounters. And though they aren’t looking for a relationship, they end up in a complicated one.

There are so many hilarious moments in this story and I loved how much this book made me laugh. It wasn’t as angsty as I was expecting but it still has a whole lot of heart and emotion. There is so much growth for both Nova and Ronan as they explore what they truly want and what matters most, and I loved how their emotions play out. And the supporting characters!! From Nova’s sister and Ronan’s best friend, to their work buddies, they all are entertaining and add so much to the story.

Overall, Beauty and the Baller is a delightful, charming, hilarious, and swoony love story, and I couldn’t get enough of it!

Beauty and the Baller by Ilsa Madden-Mills is one of my favorite surprises this year. Having moved to Texas in my latter teen years, I can unequivocally say that Madden-Mills perfectly captures Texas' all-consuming love and obsession with all things football. And despite my lack of interest in the sport, I thoroughly loved everything about her southern, small town, fake dating sports romance! Isn’t it crazy how it’s almost harder to review books you love because all you want is to write pages about everything you love about a book? Beauty and the Baller left me inundated with all the feelings I love from reading romances and have been missing lately, and that's why it’s taken me so long to write this review. Madden’s vivid description, creation, deft development of multifaceted, fascinating characters, and beautiful storytelling drew me into Beauty and the Baller at once, and I could not put it down!

Ronan and Nova are so made for each other. Ronan’s balanced personality doesn’t quite fit the stereotype of a star athlete at all. He’s nerdy, honest, humble, full of integrity, faithful, and not a manwhore. Nova’s spirit is so bright, and she’s personable, vulnerable, beautiful, and yet not the typical beauty queen. While she loves her fashion, she’s neither vain nor shallow. Instead, she’s strong and brave, which she needs to be, living in the town where she hoped never to return. She's committed to being the best sister and substitute parent she can be for her teenage autistic sister after their mom's unexpected death. I love how Nova and Ronan play, laugh, and have blistering hot sex but also support, encourage, and build each other up. Their interactions are sweet, funny, and full of intense emotions and heat, and they balance each other out, helping each other heal, move on from the pain of the past, and find their bliss.

Former beauty queen Nova Morgan’s one-night-stand with her favorite quarterback ends on a sour note after she sneaks into a high-profile party to capture his attention in a barely-there costume of one of NFL quarterback Ronan Smith's favorite characters. Two years later, Nova returns home to Blue Belle, Texas, broke and desperate, to discover Ronan is her neighbor and he doesn’t remember her at all. Ronan proposes that he and Nova fake date to convince the booster club to stop throwing women at him to get him to stay in town as the high school’s beloved new football coach. It would also help Nova by creating a barrier between her and her high school sweetheart. The sparks and connection between them intensify and deepen the more time they spend together, becoming even more complicated when he recognizes she's the woman he’s been dreaming of since she drew him from the depths of despair that out-of-this-world night they shared.

Beauty and the Baller is a sweet, captivating, angsty, funny, steamy, charming, hot AF small-town romance exploring themes of risk-taking, faith, second chances at happiness, family, and facing fears. I am so looking forward to reading the next book in the series and more books by Madden-Mills, of which I happen to have quite a few on my TBR.

I'm starting to get tired of saying how much I love Ilsa Madden-Mills books.
Ronan and Nova really gave Blaze and Charisma form I Hate You run for their money.

Something about Ronan really did it for me. I'm not sure if it is his honesty or just the way he carried himself around. And do NOT get me started on Nova. She is my spirit animal. She was the binding piece that kept everything together. Her personality matched her name to a T.
I loved that she got her HEA the way she did because she needed the love and happiness after how her ex (MF Andrew) left her. They were perfect for each other and I’m just so happy to have read this book.

If there ever was an author that will keep bringing you books and characters to love is Ilsa. She is my one-click and go to author for sure.

I'm not a football fan whatsoever, but Ilsa Madden-Mills sucks me in every time.

This book was hard to put down it was a fun, small-town, heartfelt, angsty, and oh-so-sexy read.

It had me laughing so hard one minute my husband asked if I was ok. Then I was tearing up the next. And then I wanted to reach through the pages to hug the characters the next. You'll fall in love with all the characters and want more.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book (given by the author through Netgalley)...

I do love a good small town romance and this book did not disappoint.

Ronan and Nova had a one night stand two and a half years ago, but things didn't really end on the best note, there was ghosting and maybe wrong names being shouted out. Unfortunately for Nova, their awkward one night stand won't be left in the past because now they live in the same town and he doesn't remember her. What makes it even more crazier is Ronan's plan to fake date Nova to keep the matchmakers at bay.

More review to come.