Princess and the Player was a charming, romantic story. With two jaded characters, some steamy scenes, a surprise pregnancy and friends that will have you laughing out loud, this book was so much fun! If you adore adult sports romance, definitely put this one on your list!

“One night. No names. No strings. And the masks don’t come off.”
“Deal.”


This story started us off in a sex club. Tuck was taken there by his best friends, for his birthday. And Francesca, looking like Princess Bride, ended up there after ditching her wedding because her fiancée cheated on her. When Tuck was challenged by his friends to win over the closed off Princess Bride, it led him to rescuing her from a complete jerk. After one thing led to another, they slept together. And it was unforgettable. For the both of them. Yet they left not knowing who the other was, but thankfully fate was on their side.

“Not sweet at all. See, I recall a girl who sat in my lap and fed me birthday cake. She said I slayed the pantyhose dragon. She was perfect.”
“I was drunk, and perfect girls don’t exist.”


I liked Francesca right away. She was a tattoo artist and painted too. Her past and situation with her ex just made me want to hug her and help her find her HEA! Especially when she found out she was pregnant, from her one night stand with a stranger. But I loved her positive attitude and those she surrounded herself with. Her made family was so heartwarming. So when she put the pieces together for who that mystery man was, a NFL player who lived in her building, I was screaming. And so nervous for her. Because there was still that chemistry there. Lots of chemistry. And it seemed that everywhere she turned, Tuck seemed to be there too.

He is everything I shouldn’t want, but . . .
I close the distance between us. My hands move up his chest and curl around his neck. My fingers tangle in his hair.


While Tuck fought so many demons and struggles, he was such a thoughtful gentlemen. He had a rough past and his parents shaped his idea of how he saw his worth in relationships and wanting love. He didn't ever want commitment or a family. On top of that he didn't have a ton of trust in strangers after dealing with a crazy stalker from his past. So Tuck was the ultimate player. And he never got attached. He also had a lot on his plate since he was old for being in the NFL. He knew his days were numbered, but that had been his world forever. Yet even with his dying career, he couldn't seem to get Francesca out of his mind. Tuck wanted her again. And Tuck always seemed to get what he wanted.

I wanted anyone, someone, to just pick me.
I want him to pick our child. Would he?


As the pieces fell together and they figured out who the other was, I was laughing and even gasped out loud. Their banter was fabulous and I loved the ease they could talk to one another. And while they both had some steep walls, Francesca's seemed even higher. So when she would give Tuck an inch, my heart would soar. But with jealousy, desire and friendship mixed together, they were explosive. And secrets were kept, by the both of them. So while there was a lot they had to conquer, I felt like this book had a good amount of angst. Neither too much or too little. It fit. And so did the fate between the two of them too. Francesca started to believe, but Tuck wasn't there. I kept my fingers crossed for the both of them while they kept having steamy or heartwarming moments together.

“Francesca,” Mr. Darden says, then takes my shoulder. “My dear . . .”
I turn to him, and he wraps his arms around me. “My eyes are leaking again,” I whisper.
He gives me his handkerchief.


With a fabulous group of friends, it rounded out this story so well! I adored Jasper and his crazy ways. Darden was her grumpy elderly neighbor who made me smile. I adored Francesca's friendship with Cece, it felt like they were sisters. And from the moment I met Gianna, I liked her right away! And I just have to say that you definitely don't have to read the first book in this series, Beauty and the Baller, to enjoy this book at all. It can easily be read as a standalone but I can't recommend that other book enough! And disclaimer, I didn't read the synopsis so I had no clue this had the pregnancy trope. I love Ilsa's books so I went in knowing nothing, other than it would revolve around a football player and I enjoyed every minute!

“I’m half-afraid you might disappear.” The words are barely a whisper, and I’m not sure she hears. I watch the slow rise of her chest as she drifts off. I’m in deep with her, and I’ve got no idea where we’re going. My fear? This is gonna hurt when it’s over.


If you're looking for a romantic Kindle Unlimited book to binge, I definitely recommend Princess and the Player! With flawed and relatable characters, a heartwarming story-line, fun side characters and a fabulous HEA, this book was such a huge win! I can't wait to read whatever Ilsa releases next!

Favorite Quote: “Besides, it’s all about how you define yourself, yes? To not let the past rule your future? Life picked my path, and I’m just a traveler.”

Synopsis: It’s wedding day but there will be no wedding. After Francesca ditches the altar due to her unfaithful fiancé, she puts on her wedding dress and heads to an exclusive club for the evening. Happy Birthday, Avery! When the guys take NFL star Avery out for his birthday, they attend a masquerade ball at an exclusive club. There is only one rule, the masks must never come off, an evening full of secretive fun. “The weak can never forgive. Forgiving is an attribute of the strong.” When a positive pregnancy test follows a night of secretive fun that was instigated by a bet, decisions will need to be made.

Reader’s Thoughts: This was my first true five star read this month. Ilsa had me hooked from the very beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters within this novel. Our two main characters were full of steam and sarcasm which had me giggling and yelling page after page. I was rooting for them both from the very beginning. I was dying for them to let down their walls. The secondary characters, including Cherry, added to the storyline. I would love to see their stories unfold in future novels. Thank you, @socialbutterfly_pr and @ilsamaddenmills for providing me with a complimentary review copy. In no way has that influenced my voluntary review.

Available now in eBook, Paperback, and Audio Book
⭐️⭐️⭐⭐⭐️

Meet the Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills pens angsty new adult and contemporary romances. Ilsa is a former high school English teacher and librarian who is addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Ilsa is a Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Amazon bestselling author.

Princess and the Player is the second book in Ilsa Madden-Mills Strangers In Love series and is Francesca and Tuck's addictive story. Princess and the Player is a surprise baby, sports romance with all the feels. I loved everything about this book and the series. I can't wait to read more!

5 stars!

Francesca and Tuck meet at a high end club where masks are required and your desires are fulfilled. After an amazing night together, they part ways not knowing each other’s names and they assume they will never meet again. Fate has other ideas. Turns out they live in the same building and Francesca has seen him around. She’d never guess that he was the man behind the mask who gave her more than an unforgettable night.

Tuck and Francesca meet again at a café but things don’t go as well the second time around. There is an intensity between them and familiarity but they don’t recognize each other right away. When Francesca realizes Tuck is the mystery man, she also discovers she is pregnant with his baby, and it’s something that catches her completely by surprise.

OMG, I adored Tuck and Francesca. From the moment these two met I knew there was a connection. They never could forget about their one-night stand and when they meet again Tuck wants to get to know her better. He pursues her and though she is holding onto a pretty big secret, she can’t stop from knowing him either.

The physical aspect of their relationship is easy. They have smoking hot chemistry and the attraction is palpable. It’s the emotional part that makes things more difficult. Both have been hurt in the past and have their own issues with rejection and neither want to have their heart broken. Francesca knows Tuck doesn’t want kids because of his own experience with his parents and since she was abandoned as a baby, she won’t do the same to her baby, and it sets them up for what could be a very heartbreaking situation.

Before they know it, feelings are full on and they could see a future together. They work so well, being just what the other needs. They are able to be themselves and love each other unconditionally. They want to heal the wounds and never let hurt in again. However, hurt is on the horizon and gets closer each day that passes.
He is something I never imagined I needed…Her is air. Life. And his flawed edges? His chaos? I love them the most.

Even though there is some drama in this story and I was definitely dreading the heartbreak that was coming I think it was all done very well. It could have gone other ways but I loved how they come together in the end. Their love is real and I was swooning when Tuck makes his decision. And Francesca is so strong and didn’t give up on the life she wanted.

The secondary characters are fantastic. I couldn’t get enough of Darden, Cece, and Brogan and their love and support for Francesca, nor could I get enough of their humor. I loved Jasper and his friendship with Tuck, and the fun he brings wherever he is.

Overall, I loved Princess and the Player and can’t get enough of the Strangers in Love series. I want more!

I am a huge fan of Ilsa, and she continues to stretch and give us stories that leave a lasting impression (Dear Ava, anyone?). Princess and the Player is, quite frankly, an angsty read. Both of the main characters had devastating childhoods that left them with a pile of baggage suitable for overseas travel. There is fear of abandonment, fear of trust, fear surrounding careers, just all-around fear that has stacked their respective baggage into massive walls that are difficult to scale. Throw into that a surprise pregnancy, and the fuses are lit for the fear rockets to fly. But what Ilsa gives us is a story of a found family that will love you through and around your emotional baggage. A found family that will help you through the rocky times. A found family that will talk you through your stupid moves and stupid words. A found family that will intervene and give you hard truths, but that will also be there for the good times or bad. A found family that will not abandon you or blame you. That is what makes their story so good. I personally prefer Ilsa's more lighthearted novels, but I would not take one thing away from Tuck and Francesca. It was a lovely story of finding love and finding a family.

I've been waiting for this book ever since it was announced...And when I received an ARC, I devoured it right away.

It's heartwarming and surprisingly heart-wrenching. Heart-wrenching because I did not expect it to tug my heart at a much deeper level. So, depending on how emotional you are at the time of reading, you might need your Kleenex near you.

I enjoyed every page from start to finish. Tuck is swoon-worthy and Francesca is inspiring! I wish there was an epilogue that will show these two 5-8 years in the future.

Okay so I thought I loved book one in this series but book two just blew me away!!

Tuck and Francesca’s love story seems simple on the surface but there’s so much going on beneath the surface. Tuck is a complex hero and I loved that he wasn’t your average alpha football player. And Francesca, we’ll she was my favourite kind of heroine. Throw in some fantastic friends and this was such an enjoyable read. Definitely recommend.

One night between strangers was all it was ever supposed to be for Tuck Avery and Francesca Lane. But after the best anonymous sex of their lives, these two single, yet guarded, individuals are about to start finding themselves running into each other everywhere...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Princess and the Player was a complicated, flirty, and fun, opposites attract romance! Francesca and Tuck had an epic evening in a sex club that was sure to provide memories to last a lifetime, but once they realize they live in the same building?! One night may never be enough... no matter how complicated their lives are about to get...

This book was a delightfully sexy and entertaining read! Francesca was a strong and talented woman who has never had an easy lot in life. Her latest heartbreak, in the form of a cheating fiancé, brings her to a night of debauchery with her friends at a sex club. One evening of anonymous sex later, and Francesca is about to get the surprise of her lifetime...

Tuck is considered an old man in the NFL, and has no idea what life will be like after he retires. And while Francesca holds his interest in innumerable ways, he makes no secret of what a future with him would look like...

I loved this book so much, Francesca and Tuck were both intriguing characters who have had pain in their pasts and family issues that weigh on them often. After they recognize each other outside of their night of anonymity, the road to a relationship is anything but forthcoming. Tuck is a famous football player who lives in the penthouse, while Francesca is recently jilted and jobless, but for what their differences are, the attraction between them is always simmering, just below the surface...

I absolutely adore both books on the Strangers in Love series, and I sincerely hope there are MANY more books featuring these fabulous characters and the world of these sexy NFL players...

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

Thanks to Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with this arc.

Ilsa Madden-Mills does not disappoint. Her books have a way of drawing you in. I couldn't put it down.

🏈 ARC REVIEW 🎨
Review: 4/5 ⭐️
Steam: 3/5 🔥

#theprincessandtheplayer is an all new sports romance by @ilsamaddenmills

Tuck has played football for over a decade. He’s one of the best players but is getting older. He holds a lot of baggage from his past; growing up and family issues. He doesn’t get too close or let anyone in. His friend takes him to a club for his birthday where he spends a night with a woman. There’s something about her even then that drags him in. They lose touch, but he finds her right under his nose, as they live in the same building. He chases after her, but when he finds out some secrets he pushes her away. Can he step up and be the man he needs to be or is he already too broken to allow his heart to love?

Francesca has had one fork in the road after another. She’s doing the best she can to survive with her best friends who’ve become her family by her side. She blows off steam at a club her friends drag her to, and is captivated by this hulking man. After their night together, she’s always on the lookout for him but nothing comes. Until she sees the man who changed something in her. This football player is determined to have her, but she’s been hiding a secret. Can she tell him and hope he stays or will she feel abandoned by him just like everyone else she’s cared about?

I liked the book. Definitely parts I could have done without (nothing major) but it was a good story. There’s a lot of emotions and both characters have a dark past that haunts them. They find comfort in each other and learn to drop their walls. I loved the relationship they built and how they expressed their emotions to one another. Side characters definitely won the book over for me. They were absolute perfection. Good book and worth a read, check trigger warnings if any due to some discussed content.

One night. No strings attached. Masks don’t come off.

This has to be my favorite trope. When Francesca and Tuck meet at a masquerade ball they decide to partake in a night of fun… but what happens when you find out you actually live in the same building and are noticing them in places you frequently visit. Is it planned?

Tuck has a difficult time letting people in more than Francesca but they can’t seem to ignore this pull they have. Especially when their one stand stand turns out to be more than that.

They both did things that made me mad and want to throw my kindle. 😂

This book was a 5/5 😍 and I devoured it in one night!

If you love the surprise pregnancy trope you will absolutely love this book! I loved Francesca and Tuck so much!!! The side characters in this book were a hoot too!! You will find yourself laughing one moment and feeling the feels the next! This book shows you that families come in all different forms. I loved that aspect of this story! I was hooked from the moment I started it! It was pretty much a one sit read for me! I was so sad when it ended! I wanted so much more!!! Not in a bad way…I’m just needy! I absolutely recommend this book!

Received a arc for a honest review!

A steamy, one night stand turns more serious after an accidental pregnancy links adult orphan Francesca to washed-up Football phenom, Tuck. These two opposites meet randomly at a sex party only to find themselves neighbors in New York City months later.

Wanting to keep her pregnancy to herself, especially after Tuck expresses no interest in having a family, Frankie is determined to become a great solo mom. This book had a perfect amount of emotional depth, family drama and steamy sex to satisfy any romance lover. Great on audio with a dual narration and highly recommended for fans of Abby Jimenez or Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Much thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

CW: bipolar parent, grown adult with foster care background

When Francesca found out that her fiancé was cheating on her she not only left him but lost her job as a tattoo artist as well. While enjoying a night out with friends she meets a masked stranger, and they spend a steamy night together never expecting to meet again. She is about to find out that fate had other ideas and not only is he her neighbor, but their night was memorable in more than one way.

Tuck is reaching the end of his football career and isn’t sure what the future holds for him. Francesca intrigues him unlike any woman he has met before but due to his past and his history with woman because of his celebrity status he believes that he is destined to be alone but there is something about her that has him wondering if he could have more.

Although their pasts are very different, they have both been tumultuous which is having an effect on their choices in the present. The chemistry between was intense but they had some challenges to overcome with the help of friends and family that they have chosen.

These two have an unconventional start and then turns out these two live in the same building. Which works quite well when there's a little surprise thrown in! I love watching these two navigate their feelings and work through their pasts. Such a fun, spicy, quick read for me!

Princess and the Player is the second book in the Strangers in Love series by Ilsa Madden-Mills. Unfortunately, I found this incredibly disappointing. In general, I don't really like the surprise pregnancy trope, but I was hopeful IMM would knock it out of the park since I adored the first book in the series. It felt incredibly unpolished and was all over the place throughout the entire book after the first 25% or so. I spent most of it extremely frustrated with the FMC and truly didn't understand (small spoiler) her decision to keep the pregnancy a secret for as long as she did. It also led to the pacing being way off - the conclusion felt rushed and not believable. Especially with the character inconsistencies from book 1 with our love interest.

I wish I could recommend this book, but I'm just going to stick to book 1 and Ilsa's other books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is the second book in this sports romance series so I enjoyed getting to hear more about familiar characters. I also really liked the art mentions, the found family aspect and the bit of mystery that was apart of it.

5/5 ⭐
3/5 🌶️

I absolutely loved Francesca and Tuck's story. Both main characters were beautifully written. Both had these tragic pasts that held them back from love, but fate was determined and kept pushing them together. Tuck's story was especially heartbreaking, I think it hit me harder because he was the more broken adult... He had such a hard time letting his walls down and just when you thought he'd be okay, he threw them back up tenfold.

I really loved the smaller storylines, especially Francesca's past. I loved how her story ended there. Both of these characters had their own found families and they were such an incredible support system. Darden was hilarious and amazing, I'm so happy he was such a big part of their story. I adored all of the side characters and hope we get more stories from them, especially Brogan and Jasper.

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

This Tuck and Francesca's book.

I have been waiting to read Tuck's book since we met him in Beauty and the Baller, I mean his antics are the reason Ronan and Nova had the one special night. Now Tuck seems to be on his own crazy journey that he wasn't expecting when he met Francesca. I truly enjoyed Ronan and Nova's story, but Tuck and Francesca's journey was just as special and endearing. We have two broken people who have been hurt and are afraid being left behind again.

More review to come.

Princess and the Player is the second book in the Strangers in Love series, but it can be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the first book yet, and I didn’t feel like I had missed any piece of the story.

Francesca and Tuck meet in a unique, fun way. Francesca ended her engagement after catching her fiancée in a compromising situation, and Tuck isn’t interested in a serious relationship. Their attraction is instant, hence the decision to share a one-night stand. Their chemistry is off the charts, so that night is much more than either of them hoped. However, they walk away from each other that same night just like they agreed. Fortunately, a few weeks later they bump into each other and realize they live in the same building, and their chemistry is even hotter after one night…

I enjoyed the first half of Tuck and Fran’s story a lot. Tuck’s emotional struggle with his past, his parents, and even his genes was so well written. I loved how flawed and real that side of him was. Fran also had a complex past and it influenced how she handled what was happening in her life and her relationship with Tuck. Trust didn’t come easy for these two. It made perfect sense considering what both of them went through. Regardless, that lack of trust went on for too long. Francesca keeping the pregnancy from Tuck for that long exasperated me. The story also had a lot going on at the same time. Fran had to deal with the surprise pregnancy, a new job, a friend’s decision that had an emotional impact on her, and a huge discovery she ended up making about her family, Tuck was struggling with his career, his feelings for Fran, talking about creating a nonprofit, dealing with stuff about his mom… It was just too much going on. It came to a point when it was mostly “tell” than show, and things felt rushed in the end. Fortunately, I still liked how things wrapped up.

I wanted to love this book, but sadly that didn’t happen. However, there were several things about this book I liked:

Found family;
Strong backstories and flawed characters;
Tuck and Fran’s walks in the park;
The chemistry between them;
Tuck’s sports career;
The first fast-paced half of the story;
Jasper (Tuck’s teammate and friend).

I still want to read the first book in this series and I’ll surely read Jasper’s story if he gets one.