They shared a steamy night, but it appears that Tuck and Francesca formed a bond that would last a lifetime.

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

I had previously met Tuck in Beauty and the Baller and was excited he got his own story. I knew Tuck was going to win my heart! I wasn’t sure about the set up, meeting in a sex club and all, but I found it easy to root for this couple. Madden-Mills gave both backstories regarding their lack of family connections, but they found that comfort and safety in close friends and each other. That was where this book shined for me. The found family assembled for these two brought tears to my eyes because they were so wonderful and supportive, and I adored each and every one of them.

I will admit there were some side plots I could have done without, but the romance between Tuck and Francesca, the secret baby, and the multitude of feels warmed my heart. Throw in an adorable ending along with a sweet epilogue had me wearing a big stupid grin, and I was one very happy reader.

I enjoyed Francesca and Tuck’s angsty accidental pregnancy romance. I really loved Beauty and the Baller, so I was really excited to get back into this world. This is the second book in the Strangers in Love series, and is a complete standalone.

Francesca, broken hearted tattoo artist, and Tuck, NFL star celebrating his birthday, meet at a masquerade party at a sex club in the city. They have a fun and anonymous night together, but don’t exchange information. It turns out, they live in the same building. Tuck is pretty excited to find the girl that won’t get out of his head, but Francesca winds up pregnant which complicates everything.

Even though Tuck and Francesca come from and live in different worlds, they both have difficult and tragic backstories that affect their views on becoming a parent. This story was definitely more emotional than Beauty and the Baller. However, there were many cute and funny moments especially involving their friends and neighbors.

I definitely recommend this book if you like sports romance and the accidental pregnancy trope.

Tuck and Francesca meet in the most unexpected of places, but they share one magical night together, a night that neither of them will forget. However, they didn’t exchange names or any details. They both are in for a surprise when they cross paths again.
Both these characters have heartbreaking backgrounds and their backgrounds are something that has shaped who they are now. These two also have a lot in common, especially when it comes to their love of art. They do have chemistry, but they also have a lot of secrets between them.
I loved the secondary characters in this story, especially Francesca’s roommates and Jasper. They were entertaining and added to the overall story.
If you’re looking for a surprise pregnancy, sports romance check this one out.

This was another amazing story from this author she never lets me down ! I absolutely adored the characters the banter the steam the emotions this was just so darn good it’s sweet but sexy exciting funny and emotional it definitely pulled on my heartstrings I am obsessed with Tuck he’s so damn delicious and Francesca was such a amazing female lead she has been let down her whole life by the people who supposedly love her these two were perfect for each other in every way I loved their connection the chemistry between them was amazing and the side characters are some of my favorites this was definitely a fantastic story and one I highly recommend!

Well, Ms. Madden-Mills has done it again! 

This is the fast-paced story of Tucker and Francesca.

A night of decadence and some surprises are in store for this couple.

Both have scars from the past that have molded them into the people they are today. But their rough edges fit together perfectly.

I loved the independence and originality of Francesca. I admired the way she created her own family. 

Tucker was a charmer to the max, and I could understand his untrusting nature.

Tucker and Francesca's chemistry was hotter than the hinges on Hades' gates, and the smexy times made me both blush and melt!

I absolutely loved the secondary characters in this story; they made me laugh, and they made my heart swell. They brought levity when it was needed and the backbone when warranted. 

I never fail to fall hard for a story from the talented mind of Ilsa Madden-Mills, and this story is no exception.

Talk about a cute story! I couldn't get enough of Tuck and his princess Francesca. These two have instant chemistry and what should've been just one night of fun turned into so much more. Francesca is one tough cookie who's talent holds no bounds. Raised through foster care she didn't let that slow her down. But after catching her fiancé cheating on her she was dew a night out. Tuck holds so many secrets close to him, but when Francesca slowly starts cracking his armor he doesn't know how to handle it. These two had me laughing out loud, rooting for them and crying with them. Their story is funny, emotional and tugged at my heart. Loved every page of this book.

Princess and the Player is a bit of a departure from Ilsa books, but it was delightfully enjoyable. This book is Tuck’s whom we met in Beauty and the Baller; he and Ronan were teammates. Princess and the Player was fun to read and oft times really funny, emotional, seriously steamy and will have you swooning over Turk!

As another birthday rolls around Tuck is staring a forced retirement in the face. Will he remain on the team, or will his career be coming to an end? Being the old man on the team his teammates Jasper has decided that they need to celebrate his birthday. So, he had made arrangements for Turk and another teammate to go to an exclusive club with him. Little does Tuck realize it’s a masquerade party until they arrive.

Francesca also came to the club with a couple of her friends for the first time too. It’s here that Francesca and Turk meet. Turk is downhearted by the prospect of losing his spot on the team, while Francesca is equally heartbroken about her cheating fiancé and has ended up wearing her bridal gown to the club on what was to be her wedding day. When these two meet it’s all sparks and fire as things began to really heat up between them. Strangers to each other it was kind of cute how they nicknamed each other. Tuck calling Francesca “Princess” while she in turn called him “Player.” It would only be a matter of time before the simmering lust between Turk and Francesca would lead them to a night of titillating sexy times!

Leaving the club they thought that they would never see each other again. Only fate had something else in store for them. They would run into each other and finally realizing that they actually lived in the same building. Turk and Francesca had both had lived with heartbreak growing up, but finding each other made life more bearable. It was amazing to see them grow close to each other but at the same time you waited for the other shoe to drop. And drop it did… thanks to two little pink lines!

Would these two find their way back to each other? Or would they find a way to work it out?

This was a great story with tons of feels. Plus, I loved how in spite of everything Tuck and Francesca had gone through growing up that they had found each other… and their family!!

Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Tropes: one night stand; surprise baby; neighbors to lovers; sports romance; angsty romance

“‘We all have darkness. People you see on the street, people you work with, people you love, people you hate. If there’s no darkness, then there’s no room for light. And when that darkness hits you, and it will, all that matters is that you keep going, one step at a time until you’re up and back on your journey.”

It’s been over a week, and I’m still thinking about Ilsa Madden-Mills’s Princess and the Player. I’m not certain what type of voodoo IMM conjures because every book I’ve ever read of hers has hit me in the solar plexus. She lays her stories in a bed of humor, crafting the initial chemistry of her characters that is instantaneous and combustible. It’s often littered with moments of spice and moments of chuckles. And this book has a smattering of the latter and a heap of the former. But what it really has is some soul-defining angst in it. I was thinking back over IMM’s books as a way to compare Princess…, and I think its angst level compares to her books such as Spider (my favorite), Dear Ava, etc. IMM intends to punch you in the gut, and it will do her readers well to have a box of tissues close as her hero, Tuck, and her heroine, Francesca, fall deeply in love with each other, while working through their own issues. Princess and the Player is a heart-rending composite of two people, broken down by their life choices, who find hope and light in each other, to their surprise.

Both Francesca and Tuck have been wounded by the people in their past. They are two sides of the same coin: different past circumstances, the same healed wounds. Thankfully, they have friends in the form of found families to help them through their difficulties. For Tuck, it’s Jasper; and for Francesca, it’s her roommates, Cece and Brogan. These characters, their friends, act as their guides, granting wisdom and protection as Tuck and Francesca work to become vulnerable with each other. While these two fall quickly into their physical pairing, it’s their emotional journey that acts as a slow burn. Their ability to become vulnerable with each other is the tension of this story. Both have been hurt, and they’ve built solid walls to protect their hearts. For me, their development to trust in each other is the driving force of their story. Honestly, Francesca is a hold-out, failing to reveal her biggest secret until almost the end, and it’s one of the main reasons you turn the page. IMM showcases her storytelling prowess as Tuck and Francesca unearth each other’s secrets like one would peel layers off an onion. And just like you do with an onion, each layer incites tears. The emotional gravitas of Tuck and Francesca’s story is deep and long and the best part of this book, in my opinion.

I’m not certain how Ilsa Madden-Mills weaves together her characters to make them so likable when you want to be angry at them. But she does this over and over and over again. It’s astounding how much I love her stories. She infuses life truths into her romances that resemble the experiences of her readers, so you “see” yourself represented in her characters even when they are professional football players or artists. There is something very special about Tuck and Francesca, and you will swoon while reading their epilogue because you simply can’t help it.

Princess and the Player is an absolute must read.

5 Star!
Tuck Avery is a famous professional football player for the New York Pythons. At thirty five he’s the oldest wide receiver in the NFL. He has a reputation as a carefree party guy, and on the outside seems to have it all. He’s a star athlete that everyone adores and everything appears to come easy for him. Then he meets a stranger that challenges and intrigues him. The gorgeous brunette is full of fire and attitude, and he’s drawn to her. Could she end up being the most real and genuine part of his life?

Lately nothing is as it should be for Francesca Lane. She’s fresh off a break up and her life is a total mess. A night out is just what she needs, and a no names, no strings one night stand is the cherry on top of a wonderful evening. She plans to never see her sexy stranger again, but soon realizes that’s not going to be easy since she now knows who he is. She wants to still remain anonymous, but their paths continue to cross. Soon she can’t deny there just might be something between them. Has she finally met the one man to make her believe I’m fate and happily ever after?

Princess and the Player by Ilsa Madden-Mills is the second book in the Strangers in Love series. It’s a standalone, neighbors, sports romance full of emotion, angst, humor, chemistry and fabulous banter. I’ve wanted more of Tuck since we met him as Ronan’s funny best friend. Who knew there were so many beautiful layers to Tuck Avery. This story has so much heart and swoon. Just LOVED it!!! <333

This was cute.
I liked it a lot better than book one. The main characters were cute and they balanced each other rather well.
There were some things that I didn't believe like a guy not noticing his girlfriend's stomach was getting bigger 🤷‍♀️ I was like that makes no sense yet still I like their relationship.
My favorite characters were Francesca's roommates. I love ride or die supportive friends and those two were amazing.
I liked the main plot yet i still feel like something was missing here. The ending felt to rush or like a lot of things were fixed too easy.
The story was enjoyable though and the epilogue was super adorable so it was a fun read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I can barely handle how good this book is!! These characters hooked me from the first page. Francesca and Tuck definitely deserved all of the HEAs. This story had me all in my feels but the end was such perfection. I really hope there's so much more from this series!!

Surprise pregnancy isn't a trope that I usually look for, but I was totally here for Tuck's story!
Their meet cute was at least interesting, and all the coincidences that led to them finally becoming a thing, make it an really sweet.

Francesca is an interesting character, full of art and love, but she's also really closed up to everyone outside her chosen family circle.
When she gets pregnant after a one night stand at a sex club, and then find out who her baby's daddy is, things get complicated with feelings that neither of them are willing to face or assume.

I liked both main characters, and as always, the side characters were a real treat here, complementing their group in a really good way!
I loved the writing, and even though I felt that she could have told him sooner, I also saw all the red flags in doing it, since he was adamant in not wanting a family.

All worked it out, and I liked how it ended.

From the first page to the last, I was captivated by Francesca & Tuck and their story.

Francesca just got dumped, the last thing she expected was to find love again. She couldn’t have planned on Tuck. I love how much humor and heart was in their story.

I can’t wait to see what adventures Ilsa Madden-Mills will take her readers on next!

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

4 1/2 stars

Oh this book has so much to love! Masquerade outing to a private club where the masks don't come off and names aren't exchanged. Right from the beginning, Tuck and Francesca's chemistry is off the charts and crazy hot. Then as the book continues, other fun twists get added to it as well. Francesca is a strong woman who has some moments where she makes poor choices. I didn't like the secret she insisted on keeping for way too long. Other than that, I had few faults with the story.

Tuck had some personal baggage which made him overly sensitized to certain situations. Because of this, he was a little too quick to react without listening fully and weighing all the information first. It was the one time that I didn't care for him as a character. Other than that, he was a perfectly swoony male lead for the majority of the story.

I haven't read the first book in this series yet, but absolutely intend to. You definitely do not need to have read it to enjoy this story.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

This was not good. It started out okay and I was mostly vibing, but then it just devolved from there and kept getting worse and I don’t even know why I finished. The writing was chaotic, the plot weirdly thought out, the nicknames atrocious, and it just was not it. I’m bummed.

I could keep going but I don’t really want to think much about this book anymore so I’m just gonna say this book was bad and I’m sad about it.


(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)

I felt like this was an adult version of Scrooge getting visits from boyfriends past, present, and future. Also, I know pregnancies are different but I really was surprised that he couldn't tell. Great story, and in typical fashion I read the entire thing in two chunks because I couldn't stop reading once I started. I like the epilogue of checking in years later, but it almost seems like a different tone than the rest of the book. Maybe it's supposed to, since it's so much further down the road in the relationship. Another great story and I enjoyed it more than the first in the series!

Ilsa Madden Mills' ongoing theme of fated love continues to enchant her readers in her latest work Princess and the Player.

Aging football superstar Tuck Avery was clinging to the life he had made for himself even as that life inevitably evolved. His past held him back from a future beyond what he had so far achieved and as much as he wanted more he was stuck by his inability to see beyond the present. Artist Francesca Lane had more than her share of let downs and it was no surprise that she guarded her heart and let few people into her inner circle. When Tuck and Francesca met in an unconventional and unexpected way it seemed that fate had given them a break for once unfortunately they had to wade through lifetimes of hurts and self imposed walls to get their HEA's.

It soon became clear that Tuck and Francesca were remarkably well suited even as their personal issues came to the forefront and presented challenges. The very things seemingly holding Tuck and Francesca back instead enabled this couple to move on when they were forced to confront them versus suppressing them, in the end serving as a catalyst for each other's what could be's. The snark and push pull of this couple lit up the pages with desire and longing even while pushing them to deal with their problems. The jolt of their unforeseen attraction proved to be exactly what they needed to move on. Despite there being a fair amount of poignant moments in this work there were more than enough laughs and sweet gestures helping to mitigate the huge amount of pain circulating throughout this story rounding it out.

There is no denying that Ms. Madden-Mills writes some of the best supporting characters out there. They are in a whole league of their own and while they never detract from the story at hand they always add something special to this author's works and this once again proved true in Princess and the Player. Charming and fun each secondary character added to the story with their quirkiness and standout personalities.

Ms. Madden-Mills’ ability to unite lost souls in well deserved happily ever afters coupled with her engaging writing has successfully kept her audience coming back over and over. Her stories are full of depth and have a sensitivity that she translates beautifully to her work. By no means are her characters perfect, in fact they are often riddled with flaws, but in the end each and everyone of her portrayals possess some form of kindness and the ability ultimately to move past their emotional wounds. Ilsa Madden-Mill’s Princess and the Player is one big touching hug of a story and a perfect read to crack even the toughest heart!

***5 Stars***

I couldn’t put this baby down.
Well, I did because of that workthing, but I did sneak in a few chapters when I shouldn’t have.
It had all that I love in a book no matter the genre and has me crossing my toes that we get to catch up with this cast of characters at some point in the future to see how they are all doing.

I adored Francesca and Tuck. Both have gone through some pretty trying and hurtful situations in their lives, but they’ve managed to carve out lives that make them happy, at least on the surface. Francesca is feisty, Tuck is charming and they are both just good people with huge hearts.

Their journey was definitely an interesting one and definitely makes one believe in fate. The chemistry between them was undeniable and their bantering was a lot of fun. I enjoyed watching as they collided time and time again and how, despite some hesitation, they found that they truly liked who the other person was. As for the “Surprise! I’m pregnant” issue. I actually liked how that played out and in the end, I love how things worked out for Francesca and Tuck.

This was simply a fun read. It was easy to like Francesca and Tuck from the start and be fully invested in them getting their HEA. There are some topics that may make some uncomfortable, but they are necessary for character growth. And as for the supporting cast of characters…I freakin’ adored them all ~ well at least the ones that were considered friends and family by our MC’s. Darden is my fav, Cece and Broga are a close second, but I’m crossing my toes that Jasper get’s a book at some point down the road because he was awesome!

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed

I loved reading Tuck and Francesca’s story. When they meet there is an immediate connection and they have one incredible night together. After that night, neither one of them has any expectations of ever meeting again, but fate has other ideas.

I found Tuck easy to like. He Is successful in football, but unfortunately, his personal life is a mess. At thirty-five he is the oldest wide receiver in football and he is not sure what he will do when his football career is over. Tuck’s life seems to be going downhill and he isn’t sure what to do about it. When Tuck meets Francesca again, he wants to spend time with her, but he has a hard time convincing her it’s a good idea.

I easily connected with Tuck and Francesca and I was rooting for them because they both deserve some good in their lives. I felt sorry for them because neither of them has had an easy life, they are both flawed and have baggage from their pasts.

This is a wonderfully written story and it left me with a good feeling. Tuck and Francesca are perfect for each other. They are interesting, easy to connect with and I enjoyed all of their encounters. I also enjoyed the odd assortment of friends in this story. They add a lot of laughter and entertainment. I highly recommend the Princess and the Player.

*Thank you to Montlake, Ilsa Madden-Mills, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I love this series. I loved Beauty and the Baller and I love this one even more. There wasn't a character in this book what wasn't multi-layered, flawed and hilarious. Francesca is strong and independent. Tuck had what appeared to be an idyllic childhood, but was anything but. I am usually not a lover of secret pregnancy books but I got it. If I had to nitpick on anything, I just wished that authors did more research on New York City while placing their characters there. This is an amazing romance with everything you want; steam, angst, humor and respect. Brilliant!