A masquerade ball brings together an NFL player and a penniless princess in this smart and sexy romance from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills.

Levelheaded Francesca Lane never thought she’d miss her own wedding. But when her fiancé betrays her, she puts on her wedding dress and ditches the altar for a masquerade ball—at an exclusive lifestyle club.

There, she meets unknown-to-her NFL star Tuck Avery, dressed as a prince and hiding behind a mask—he’s there to celebrate his birthday. For one night, Francesca and Tuck indulge in a wickedly incognito affair. No names. No strings. And the masks don’t come off.

Unfortunately, Francesca realizes quickly that her masked prince is the wealthy jock who lives in the penthouse of her apartment building. His hobbies include parties and supermodels—or so the tabloids say. Getting tangled up with a shallow jerk is the last thing Francesca needs right now, so she vows to keep Tuck from recognizing her (not that she’s his type anyway).

But fate has a teeny-tiny trick up her sleeve…a plus sign on a pregnancy test. Can this tormented prince accept love, or will he push his princess away forever?

Smutty + angsty NA romance. Highly recommended if you like the first book. This book is not for everyone.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

Another five-star read by Ilsa Madden Mills! What can I say about her books that hasn't already been said? She just never ceases to amaze me! She tells these seemingly normal stories, but yet makes them so funny and interesting, to where you just can't put them down! This book is just one more example of why Ilsa Madden Mills is such an amazingly talented writer!

Tuck and Francesca were so good together. They had this undeniable connection and chemistry, and they and their friends had me laughing out loud at their antics. It also had some unexpected twists to it. I loved everything about this one, and I highly recommend it with more than five stars!

Gosh I love this series so much. The first was fantastic and this was even better. I can’t wait for more friends to read to talk about it.

Après avoir découvert Nova et Ronan dans Beauty and The Baller, le 1er tome de la série, je me suis laissé tenter par ce second tome.

Tuck est une star de la NFL plutôt en fin de carrière. Sa vie personnelle n’est pas des plus calme et cela commence à affecter ses performances sur le terrain. Ses coéquipiers lui organisent sa fête d’anniversaire dans un club exclusif où il fait la connaissance de Francesca, une princesse, sans vraiment savoir qui elle est car tout le monde porte un masque et les protagonistes décident de garder l’anonymat.

Ce qui n’était qu’une soirée de fête et débauche se termine avec un invité surprise : Francesca tombe enceinte malgré les précautions prises. Et le destin ne les épargne pas, Francesca découvre rapidement que son amant d’un soir habite au sommet de son immeuble. Le prince inconnu n’est plus inconnu du tout mais il ne sait pas encore que sa princesse habite quelques étages plus bas.

Francesca fera tout ce qu’elle peut pour ne pas tomber sur Tuck et qu’il ne découvre son identité, mais le destin s’en mêlera et ils seront l’un et l’autre démasqués. La grande question qui demeure pour Fran c’est avouer ou non sa grossesse à Tuck. Va-t-il penser que c’est un coup monté ? Veut-il fonder une famille ?

Cette romance explore une fois de plus un thème récurrent, la grossesse accidentelle. J’avoue avoir été un peu déçue du choix de l’auteure même si les personnages sont authentiques et attachants. Fran et Tuck ont des passés difficiles, et c’est ce qui va les rapprocher. Alors que Tuck vit son football à fond, malgré son arrivée en fin de carrière, Fran elle est une artiste. Nous la découvrons tatoueuse avant qu’elle ne fasse un changement de carrière un peu forcé.

L’auteure a, pour moi, exploré trop rapidement le passé de Fran et a trop fait durer l’indécision d’avouer à Tuck sa grossesse. Certains passages étaient longs, l’histoire manque de fluidité. Leur histoire mérite pourtant d’être lu car elle démontre que l’on peut toujours s’en sortir même si on prend un mauvais départ.

En bref, une relation qui démarre à l’improviste pour finir par changer des vies. Fran et Tuck surmontent leurs passés et créent quelque chose de nouveau. Même si cela manque d’originalité et traine parfois en longueur, laissez une chance à ce couple de vous faire découvrir leur histoire.

A gorgeous story of love, found family, second chances, redemption, and fate, Ilsa Madden-Mills The Princess and The Player brought me to tears, made me laugh and swoon, with the love between Tuck and Francesca and their found families!

"Family is the compass that guides us, a light that leads us, the most important aspect of a child’s life. It is unconditional and loves you no matter your shortcomings."

The found family aspect in The Princess and The Player is one of the sweetest I've seen this year, and Ilsa Madden-Mills did an amazing job building it up on both sides. Francesca has been alone most of her life, but as an adult she has Cece, Brogan, Mr. Darden, the Doorman Hermann, and even the Widow Carnes. All of these friends, even the grouchy Darden and judgy Widow stand for her and with her in everything, and especially as everything starts to go pear shaped with Tuck.

Tuck thinks he's still alone after his friend Ronan retired, but doesn't notice that Jasper, Deacon and even the semi-wretched Camille are always there. They may bedevil him like no one else, but they've also got his back all the time. Jasper doesn't even let Camille do the dumbest thing possible in trying to get between Tuck and Francesca.

The plot line and redemption arc for both these characters is so well developed, nothing is left out. The beauty of Frannie and Tuck's relationship from beginning to end, to beginning again is achingly sweet in a way that you just root for them the whole time - you can see how beautiful they could really be together if they just stop fighting themselves so hard!

Five out of five stars for Ilsa Madden-Mills gloriously gorgeous The Princess and The Player. Everyone needs this kind of found family love story on their shelf!!

When sparks fly at a masquerade night, can no strings turn into more? Francesca and Tuck have a very unique meet-cute, and it turns out that fate might be throwing them together for a reason. But first, they must grow and learn to trust themselves before the princess and the player can get their happily ever after.

The Princess and the Player has a lot of emotions - it’s a very fun romcom and it also made me cry a little. The epilogue was delightful, too!

Hot one stand…check….role playing…check…feeling when you don’t want them..check. What more can I say about this amazing book?! Francesca and Tuck…the perfect non couple! Secrets and pasts and non communication will get you a hot one stand…bask in the fire of these two!!!

I loved this book, the male lead was quite grumpy and sceptical which is the male lead I love and the female lead doesn't let people push her around. I loved this all the way through the book but this book relies heavily on the miscommunication trope which I don't mind but be warned!
This isn't the largest miscommunication trope I have seen but it relies heavily on the ending and third part crisis, I loved how they met but the pregnancy trope isn't the best for me but I think it fits well with them both as if it wasn't by accident they probably wouldn't have had children together.

I really enjoyed this one. It was a fun Sunday afternoon read. I was entertained with the characters and it really was a story of fate stepping in when Tuck and Francesca need it.

They have lived in the same building for years until a chance encounter at a private club sets off a chance reaction of chance meetings. Their story was an entertaining one to read. Both Tuck and Francesca have led completely different lives but they both have some scars from it.

Its hard to write this review without giving the storyline away and honestly its one you need to experience and enjoy yourself. You will laugh and cry throughout. All the characters were engaging and entertaining. You wont be able to help yourself love them all. I could have read more.

This was a really enjoyable book.
I love that the forming of Tuck and Francesca's relationship was not conventional, but it worked for them. They had an interesting way of meeting, then getting to know each other, and finding out just how connected they were but hadn't realised.
They were both great characters, both with some baggage, and neither were perfect, but knew they had something between them.
So many wonderful side characters too, that I'm hoping we get more of.
I'm not sure if there's more planned for this series, but i'm hoping so as I'm really enjoying this series and all the characters.

POV: First person / Dual
Genre: Sports Romance (American Football) / One night stand / Neighbours / Surprise Pregnancy / Hidden Pregnancy

On his 35th birthday, NFL wide receiver Tuck’s plans of a night indulging in chocolate cake are thrown out of the window when his friends surprise him with a masquerade night at a very private and elegant sex club, Decadence. Once there he rescues a mysterious Princess, dressed in a wedding gown. The chemistry between the two is smoking, and they indulge in each other, for one night only, no names and the masks stay on.

Fast forward a few weeks, and Tuck bumps into his Princess again, the pair are able to deduce who each other is. It’s not long before Tuck and Francesca are spending more and more time together. They have a connection that Tuck wants to explore, but he’s been burned before and doesn’t trust easily.

What he doesn’t know is that Francesca is keeping secrets from him, she’s pregnant, and the baby she’s carrying is his…

Tuck and Francesca had wonderful chemistry and their scenes together were steamy! Princess and the Player pulled me in, I thoroughly enjoyed the various components of the story and how they pulled together to engross you. The chemistry, banter, sexy times, sweetness and emotional depth were extremely well written.

Princess and the Player is a story of two individuals, who despite being from different worlds are inexplicably linked by their emotional trauma stemming from difficult childhoods. It was a story of fate and serendipity, and by the last page, my heart was full with a smile on my face.

A Cinderella Story.
I enjoyed reading this book. I liked her friends a lot. I'm not a big fan of surprise pregnancies in my books. But it wasn't the focus of the entire book so I didn't mind it here. I really loved how the FMC grew up without a support system and has a strong support system (chosen family) now.

The Princess and the Player is the second book in the Strangers in Love series by the fabulous Ilsa Madden Mills. I knew when we met Tuck I was going to love him. His story is everything I wanted it to be and more! He's funny, sexy, a pro baller, but he's also hurting and has a past that's constantly haunting him. When he meets a beautiful stranger at a masquerade party at a sex club, it seems like the perfect night. No names, no faces and just one night. But fate had other ideas. Turns out she lives in his building and doesn't seem to want anything to do with him. Francesca never thought her one-night stand would turn out to be her rich and famous neighbor, but here we are. Now not only does she see him everywhere, she's keeping a very big secret from him. She's pregnant. What are the odds. The connection between Tuck and Francesca is too strong for either of them to ignore. For once Tuck wants to actually get to know a woman. There's just something about her that calls to him. Calms him. Makes him want to be a better man. But what happens when he finds out about the baby? Will that be the end of them or the beginning of their story? Oh man! I loved Tuck and Francesca! Their romance isn't all fun and games. They both have pasts and have a hard time accepting love. But they are destined to be together. I loved watching them fall and grow and finally give in. Overall, I laughed, cried, got hot and bothered and just loved it!

I love all of Ilsa Madden Mills books but I didn't think any book could knock Not My Romeo off the top spot until I read Princess and the Player. Everything about this book was so incredible. From the storyline, the character development, the side characters, it was just amazing. Tuck Avery has so many more layers to him than the outside world sees, but what athlete wouldn't embrace the bachelor heartthrob that woman fall all over them? Tuck often visits clubs that keep his identity anonymous. He meets the girl with the eyes that he can't forget. Little does he know she lives in his building of all places. These two are 100% drawn to each other instantly but can Tuck overcome his past to keep his new found princess?

3.5 Stars

This is the second book of this series however it can be read as a standalone. I liked this book but I didn't fall in love with it. I found it difficult to get fully immersed in the storyline or with the characters. I haven't read the first book maybe if I had I would have seen a different Tuck. He seemed a little immature at times and his personality was all over the place. Francesca was my favourite of the two characters I liked her personality and her eclectic group of friends. I would have liked her to come clean to Tuck sooner as it felt like everything was resolved really quickly also I would have liked him to work harder for forgiveness she gave in to soon.

I loved this book. I loved the incredibly layered characters, the intricate way the story weaves through Tuck and Fran’s past and present. I’m not usually a huge fan of an accidental pregnancy but the way this HEA played out, it was still a definite yes for me. I am always a sucker for Ilsa. Her MMCs are consistently complicated and dreamy and her FMCs are tough and resilient. 5/5 for me!

A great addition to this series. This one will have you feeling all the feels. The chemistry between Tuck and Francesca is on fire and their journey is full of emotions and laugh out loud moments. It’s definitely worth the read.

This was amazing and I listened and went back and forth between the audio and reading the digital version here. I just love Ilsa Madden-Mills and her steamy and swoony characters. She's one of my favorite authors to look forward to curling up and reading at the end of the day. She always pulls me in and I find myself lost in her book and lose time. Love her!

Thoroughly emotional, this is a rollercoaster of a romance that got me feeling all the things, Tuck and Francesca’s story begins one fateful night at a very exclusive sort of membership-only club where they promise each other one night and only one night. Neither of them knew it then, but they’d eventually find out they live in the same building and that they’ve met before. Very quickly after that Francesca finds out that her and Tuck’s night together left her with an automatic plus one, but for her own reasons she doesn’t rush to let him know. They begin to really get to know one another and eventually their reunion turns into much more, but how long can Francesca’s secret last?

If you love characters with tragic pasts, then this book is for you. Tuck’s life growing up was difficult, and Francesca’s life has always been hard from birth having had to grow up in the system. These two share that commonality, and it’s in large part their pasts that inform their current lives. Discovering how their characters backstories formed them made my heart hurt, but it made me fall in love with how they are in the present even more. Tuck’s become quite the man (despite making me mad especially at one point), and Francesca’s this feisty and incredibly strong heroine. To say I adored her is an understatement.

Something I especially enjoyed about this book is that it’s more complicated than your average sports romance. Don’t get me wrong, because I love a good sports romance, but the drama and angst inherent in this story just got me. I mean, at one point I actually cried. I won’t ruin the book by giving anything away, but it’s that tension that kept me rivetted. This book proved to be more powerful than I initially anticipated, and I loved the sort of strife that coursed through it.

Having said all that, I also loved how fun this book was at times. The banter is cheeky, and the secondary cast of characters is simply quality. They lend this lightheartedness to a storyline that could possibly become too serious and provide this lovely sort of family for Tuck and Francesca. They’re all pretty entertaining, and their addition to the book lends an almost playfulness to it that I think made the story even richer.

Well written and filled with emotion and amazing characters, this is a romance that’s not to be missed. It’s an addictive tale that’s filled with ups and downs that I found instantly addictive, and I think you will, too.

I'm typically a big Madden-Mills fan (I've enjoyed nearly a dozen of her books), but this particular series hasn't been resonating with me. The biggest downfall for this book, however, is that there's a huge difference between an accidental pregnancy romance (which I like) and a secret baby romance (which I loathe). Somewhere along the way, this crosses the line from one to the other, and that demolished my interest in the book. There were some other issues as well, so this is the kind of book that I never became emotionally invested in - there was a decent amount of skimming involved. Madden-Mills' writing style is great, so here's hoping that the next one goes smoother.