I enjoyed this story, which pulled me in from the start. Francesca and Tuck meet at a masquerade party and eventually have a one night stand. Both think about each other, but they don’t even know each other’s name. When they run into each other one night and thereafter, it seems like fate is pushing them together. Tuck isn’t looking for a relationship based on family drama from his past and Francesca is trying to figure her career out as they try to navigate the pull they have to each other.

A masquerade party leads to a chance meeting. Later, Francesca and Tuck meet again, but she’s pregnant and he doesn’t know. They get involved and she still doesn’t tell him. As he gets further entangled with her and her life, what will she do?

I found myself more fascinated with Francesca and her friends in the building than I did with her and Tuck. I was not impressed with the behavior or attitudes presented by them. I’m sure they came across how they were meant to, so kudos to the author. Tuck showed some growth, so he redeemed himself.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was just not for me. It had potential and I did read it quickly but I felt like there were too many moments where Francesca could have opened up but didn’t. It just felt frustrating. The highlight for me was the secondary characters - and I need their books ASAP.

I'm binged this book in a day. I could not put it down. I absolutely adored tuck and his ability to show emotions and his fears from his past traumas.

Francesca's longing for family and finding family where you are with such a great pleasure in this story. As someone with my own family drama this was refreshing to read.

I'm a bit over the pregnancy trope, and I definitely loathe a lack of communication in a book. Those issues did not hinder me from devouring this story.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this galley copy. I would definitely recommend it.

god i love them. thoroughly enjoyed every moment i spent reading this and i loved the characters even more

The best word to describe this one is saucy. Super fun & tropey contemporary romance (and in the best ways possible)

I really loved the characters and the story was really fun. I loved the fate aspect, and the side characters were absolutely delightful. Honestly, I could read about Darden for the rest of my life.
I love books with a strong “found family” element, and this delivered in all the right ways.
The only reason this isn’t a 5 star, is just because I found it unbelievable that ticks emotional progress would happen within about 10 minutes.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book! This was my first book by this author and I’d definitely pick up more.
Francesca and Tucks story was funny, sexy and I loved their connection, I am not normally a fan of pregnancy tropes but this had a good pace and the main characters just drew me in to their story. Overall a really enjoyable read!

it was a good read. Like the characters of the couple. must read this book. go and read this now. Must read and get it now.

I read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the author's first book in this series, but I have to say this one was a bit different.
I liked the side characters, like Mr Darden, Cece, Jasper and Francesca's sisters. It was an interesting slide plot, finding some of her family.
However, I found Tuck and Fran to have funny interactions. It was difficult to see their relationship progress properly.

I read Princess and the Player this past weekend, and immediately went back to read Beauty and the Baller since I already had purchased that book previously. I did this because I loved P&P SO very much that I couldn't wait to read the other book. It took me a bit to warm up to Tuck and he had some deep issues that he had to work through, but I really did love Francesca. She was so good for Tuck. For a part of the book, I thought she just needed to be 100% honest with Tuck (so many books would have the conflict over if this was done), but the author did play this all out the way it should (no spoilers, so sorry I'm vague) and I was extremely satisfied with the outcome. Excellent book. 5 Stars!

This book was a fever dream. From the moment the two main characters meet at this club, we see them falling for each other but there are so many lies. They are full on adults who act like teenagers with no self control and I understand why they act the way they do, but I didn't feel like their interactions were genuine.
This book seemed more like it was meant to shock me than it was to inform or entertain me.

I love when the characters create their own families!

Tattoo artist Francesca Lane never expected to see Prince Player from her one night stand when she went to Decadence to get over the end of her engagement and they spend the night together. She finds out later that Prince Player is actually wide receiver Tuck Avery and he lives in the penthouse of her building and she can’t avoid him because he’s everywhere she turns. But he’s rich and Francesca was raised in foster care after being abandoned as a baby so she creates her own family especially Darden.

Tuck Avery and Francesca Lane have so many missed opportunities especially when Francesca doesn’t want to tell him that she’s pregnant with his baby so maybe it was fate for them finally to meet.

Princess and the Player is a stand-alone story in the Strangers in Love series but you should read Beauty and the Baller because Ronan and Nova are funny.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Francesca is the female lead that I wish each romance story had. When an Ex tries to come between her and Tuck, she confronts Tuck in front of the lady. She really takes no bull. She tries so many times to tell Tuck her secret. Unfortunately knows that bad news is coming in his mind so he shuts her down each time. I like the fact that Tuck is Uber wealthy and does not flaunt it. I really did love ready, Princess and the Player.

Great story about Tuck and Francesca.
They are likable characters. They both struggle with demons from the past, and this is a classic love-story about overcoming the obstacles and choosing love. Classic, but with little twists here and there...

I enjoyed reading it - I had no trouble following the story, even though I have not read the first book! (I will, however, be reading it next!)

This one a very entertaining read, the story never gets boring and the characters are endearing.

Francesca is an independent women, she can handle herself and know what she wants in life. And above it all what she doesn’t want, being alone.
When her personal and professional situations both fall apart, meager months apart, she takes each I stride and push forward.
Her and her close friends form a tightly knit family so when the time comes for her to ask for support she gets it.
She’s hesitant at first with Tuck but willing.

Tuck has personal demons, a lot of fear, uncertainty and pain that slows him down in his personal growth without him even realizing to what extent.
His professional career is touch and go in a business where years do pass a lot quicker than for normal people.
He’s unsure of what the future holds and more important of what he can hold on.
However he isn’t one to refuse himself something he wants, it’s in that state of mind that he pursue Fran and is the one that from the start wanted them to see where this could go.

I have to say however that I didn’t really like how long she kept the secret for. I don’t think she needed to be that deceiving for so long, even more with a man that has as much trust issues as Tuck. I do feel because of that, that the amount of time between Tuck knowing and Tuck accepting it all was pretty quick.
Now this is my personal opinion and is influenced by the fact that I never would have hidden something that doesn’t only concern me for that long. It in no way penalizes the story.
So if you love a secret pregnancy book this is for you :)

I loved this book so much! Tuckers friend takes him to a private club for his birthday. And the theme for the night is masquerade. So when Francesca trips into him, he can’t see her face. But is drawn to her fiery personality. Francesca Has come to the club with her friend to try and forget. They agreed to a no name no strings attached night. And then part ways. A couple of months later Francesca is picking up food, when Tucker cuts her in line. Unimpressed with the football player that lives in her building she leaves after getting her food. Until Tucker comes after her, and then she see’s the same cuff bracelet her one night stand had on, on Tucks wrist and realizes that he was her hook up at the club. Tuck is drawn to her, and despite her constant rebuffing, he’s not going to give up that easy. I loved Tuck and Francesca, and all of the side characters. This was a touching story. I was hooked from the first page!

I'm a big sucker for sports romances and absolutely loved this one!
Tuck and Francesca are some of my most favorite characters now.
The whole story was an absolute delight, and the spice was on point!
I cannot wait for the next installment of this series

I was hooked instantly. I've been moving slower while reading recently but this book definitely got me back to my normal pace. I love the combination of a sports romance with an Accidental pregnancy mixed in.

Francesca and Tuck met under false circumstances during Tuck's birthday celebration. Later, they find out how much their lives are truly intertwined and connected as they continue to run into to each other.

How and when Francesca tells Tuck she is pregnant is a major point of this story, especially after finding out that Tuck does not want children. This puts a strain on any developing relationship they might have.

I did love the theme of fate that repeatedly showed up during the story. It's a theme I happen to adore and love the reminder that fighting fate isn't always the best thing!

4.75 stars

Is it fate or is it coincidence?

Author Ilsa Madden-Mills explores this question in her latest novel, ‘Princess and the Player,’ the second interconnected standalone in her Strangers in Love series.

Francesca Lane never thought that she’d spend her wedding day at a masquerade party at a sex club. Nor did she ever think she’d end up hooking up with a handsome stranger at said club. She definitely did not expect to discover later that her steamy one-night-stand is none other than NFL superstar, Tuck Avery. Who happens to also live in her building. Who happens to figure out who she is, and wants to casually pursue their chemistry. And who also happens to be the father of her unborn child.

Given the expected trope of unplanned pregnancy, I was completely (and pleasantly) surprised by the direction that Madden-Mills takes in this story. I thought I knew where it was going, and I was dead wrong. (And never happier to be so.) The ways in which Madden-Mills adds layers to the plot, all while playing with the question of fate versus coincidence, is super deft and compelling.

All of the relationships in the novel are interesting on their own, be they romantic, platonic, or familial. Francesca and Tuck are so well suited for one another, and the supporting cast of characters all feel unique and special in their own right. Put it to you this way: I wouldn’t be mad to see books for Jasper and for Cece in the future. (Just putting that out into the universe.)

If you love Ilsa Madden-Mills, you will love this book. And if you are new to her work, you are in for a wonderful surprise.

Thank you to the author, Montlake, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.