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Strangers in Love #2
Princess and the Player
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.
Level-headed 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 a sex club.
There, she meets NFL star Tuck Avery, dressed as a prince and hiding behind a mask as he celebrates 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 soon realizes her 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. Another shallow jerk is the last thing Francesca needs, 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?
Princess and the Player is a complete stand-alone romance with nuanced characters and a swoony happily ever after.
Level-headed 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 a sex club.
There, she meets NFL star Tuck Avery, dressed as a prince and hiding behind a mask as he celebrates 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 soon realizes her 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. Another shallow jerk is the last thing Francesca needs, 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?
Princess and the Player is a complete stand-alone romance with nuanced characters and a swoony happily ever after.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2022
4304 people are currently reading
16784 people want to read
About the author
Ilsa Madden-Mills
38 books16.4k followers#1 Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today best-selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills pens angsty new adult and contemporary romances.
A former high school English teacher and librarian, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.
She's addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online. ☺
★ Sign up for her newsletter and receive insider info about new releases and exclusive giveaways
★ You can stalk her/sign up on the contact page: ilsamaddenmills.com
★ Facebook: Author Ilsa Madden-Mills
★ Join her private reader group on FB: Unicorn Girls
★ Instagram @Ilsamaddenmills
New Book News:
Dear Ava is live!
Not My Romeo is live!
I Promise You drops October 12/20
Not My Match drops January 19/21 (pre-order on Amazon)
A former high school English teacher and librarian, she adores all things Pride and Prejudice, and of course, Mr. Darcy is her ultimate hero.
She's addicted to frothy coffee beverages, cheesy magnets, and any book featuring unicorns and sword-wielding females. Feel free to stalk her online. ☺
★ Sign up for her newsletter and receive insider info about new releases and exclusive giveaways
★ You can stalk her/sign up on the contact page: ilsamaddenmills.com
★ Facebook: Author Ilsa Madden-Mills
★ Join her private reader group on FB: Unicorn Girls
★ Instagram @Ilsamaddenmills
New Book News:
Dear Ava is live!
Not My Romeo is live!
I Promise You drops October 12/20
Not My Match drops January 19/21 (pre-order on Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,133 reviews
December 14, 2022
1 - 2 Stars
Meh. Too many tropes going on at once, none of which worked for me as a whole.
Meh. Too many tropes going on at once, none of which worked for me as a whole.
April 24, 2023
im not a surprise-pregnancy-trope-hater but this is hands down the worst one i’ve ever read.
November 15, 2022
“One night. No names. No strings. And the masks don’t come off.”
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚🖤💙❤️💜
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 🤓☹️🙃☺️🥰
The heroine: Francesca Lane - she caught her fiancée cheating on her right before the wedding. So on the night that she was supposed to get married, she dons her wedding dress and goes with her friend to club decadence for their fairytale masquerade night where the women are all dressed as fairytale princesses and the men are all in masks.
The Hero: Tuck Avery - he just turned 35, which is old for a wide receiver in the NFL. His birthday is also the same day his dad died ten years ago. His friends on the team take him out for his birthday to a high class BDSM club where the patrons all wear masks and/or costumes. There was a time in Tucks life where he sowed his wild oats, but lately he has enjoyed having regular girlfriends rather than different women every night, but he didn’t have one at the moment so decided to enjoy the night out.
The Story: When the princess bride calls Tuck Avery a pervert in the bar of club Decadence, he is not used to that, especially since she was wrong about his intentions. However, when his friend, the Quarterback of the team makes a bet that he can’t get the princess, Tuck decides to take on the challenge.
Tuck and Francesca have a one night stand, but they find out later that they live in the same building. Tuck has some issues from his past and Francesca grew up in foster care, group homes and Juvie. I like that despite the steamy beginning, their relationship ends up building naturally. They become friends and really enjoy each other’s company. They both have tragic pasts that they struggle to come to grips with.
There are also some great supporting characters in this book from each of their room-mates and best friends, to Francesca’s grumpy old next door neighbor. I liked how they each made their own family from their close friends. Ilsa Madden-Mills writes great romance with so much heart, I was pulling for these two from the start.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚🖤💙❤️💜
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 🤓☹️🙃☺️🥰
The heroine: Francesca Lane - she caught her fiancée cheating on her right before the wedding. So on the night that she was supposed to get married, she dons her wedding dress and goes with her friend to club decadence for their fairytale masquerade night where the women are all dressed as fairytale princesses and the men are all in masks.
The Hero: Tuck Avery - he just turned 35, which is old for a wide receiver in the NFL. His birthday is also the same day his dad died ten years ago. His friends on the team take him out for his birthday to a high class BDSM club where the patrons all wear masks and/or costumes. There was a time in Tucks life where he sowed his wild oats, but lately he has enjoyed having regular girlfriends rather than different women every night, but he didn’t have one at the moment so decided to enjoy the night out.
The Story: When the princess bride calls Tuck Avery a pervert in the bar of club Decadence, he is not used to that, especially since she was wrong about his intentions. However, when his friend, the Quarterback of the team makes a bet that he can’t get the princess, Tuck decides to take on the challenge.
Tuck and Francesca have a one night stand, but they find out later that they live in the same building. Tuck has some issues from his past and Francesca grew up in foster care, group homes and Juvie. I like that despite the steamy beginning, their relationship ends up building naturally. They become friends and really enjoy each other’s company. They both have tragic pasts that they struggle to come to grips with.
There are also some great supporting characters in this book from each of their room-mates and best friends, to Francesca’s grumpy old next door neighbor. I liked how they each made their own family from their close friends. Ilsa Madden-Mills writes great romance with so much heart, I was pulling for these two from the start.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
December 3, 2022
3.5 stars
I wanted a light fun read and I got a light fun read. I had such a fun time reading this. I enjoyed the story, the side characters were fun specially the grumpy old neighbour, and both Tuck and Francesca were likable characters with some minor issues.
The only complain is that I wished that she had told him sooner about the pregnancy, specially knowing that he kinda have trust issues. I wanted the story to be about them going throw the whole pregnancy thing together instead of her telling him at the end for the sake of having a third act conflict that was wrapped up so easily. Other than that the story was an easy fun time whenever you’re in the mood for something like that.
I wanted a light fun read and I got a light fun read. I had such a fun time reading this. I enjoyed the story, the side characters were fun specially the grumpy old neighbour, and both Tuck and Francesca were likable characters with some minor issues.
The only complain is that I wished that she had told him sooner about the pregnancy, specially knowing that he kinda have trust issues. I wanted the story to be about them going throw the whole pregnancy thing together instead of her telling him at the end for the sake of having a third act conflict that was wrapped up so easily. Other than that the story was an easy fun time whenever you’re in the mood for something like that.
June 3, 2022
I know I'll be in the minority, but...
Ugh. I desperately wanted to love this book. Not only did I love the first in the series (standalones) but the premise is my kryptonite! Sadly, it was not meant to be.
I can't help but this that maybe the book hadn't been polished and wasn't ready for reviewers. It was a mess. A complete and total mess. It was a whole lot of tell, and not a lot of show. I was annoyed by 40%, aggravated at 60%, and completely p***ed off by 75%. The beginning was good, the middle was a jumbled mess, and the end was rushed and poorly contrived.
Not good
Ugh. I desperately wanted to love this book. Not only did I love the first in the series (standalones) but the premise is my kryptonite! Sadly, it was not meant to be.
I can't help but this that maybe the book hadn't been polished and wasn't ready for reviewers. It was a mess. A complete and total mess. It was a whole lot of tell, and not a lot of show. I was annoyed by 40%, aggravated at 60%, and completely p***ed off by 75%. The beginning was good, the middle was a jumbled mess, and the end was rushed and poorly contrived.
Not good
November 19, 2022
I guess you can't have a miscommunication when you have no communication at all...
But seriously why do people in romance novels always be like "I have something I need to tell you..." "No, don't say it, let's just keep enjoying this moment..."
First- if someone is about to tell you something why would you randomly stop them? And second- if you want to tell someone something why wouldn't you just say it? If they say no don't tell me all you gotta do is speak up and tell them anyway...
Weirdly enough, I love a surprise pregnancy trope in books. I loved the first book in this series so I was hoping for a five star read - but what I do not love is grown adults who don't communicate - so three stars it is.
But seriously why do people in romance novels always be like "I have something I need to tell you..." "No, don't say it, let's just keep enjoying this moment..."
First- if someone is about to tell you something why would you randomly stop them? And second- if you want to tell someone something why wouldn't you just say it? If they say no don't tell me all you gotta do is speak up and tell them anyway...
Weirdly enough, I love a surprise pregnancy trope in books. I loved the first book in this series so I was hoping for a five star read - but what I do not love is grown adults who don't communicate - so three stars it is.
June 10, 2022
The Strangers in Love series is so far my favorite from this author. I adored Beauty and the Baller and Princess and the Player is even better. Wow. This story swept me away. I liked Tuck from the first book of the series and it was so good to be surprised by all his layers and flaws. Cause he sure had them along with a bag of trauma. Francesca is a strong heroine and has been shaped by her tumultuous upbringing as has Tuck. When these two meet for one night it’s obvious the chemistry and connection is there. Still fate or luck intervenes when they meet again and live in the same building.
Princess and the Player was a superb romance. I fell in love not only with the two leads but also the side characters. Tuck’s NFL friend Jasper was a hoot and Francesca’s friends Cece, Brogan and Darden were just as good. They added so much humor to the story.
Tuck and Francesca were incredible. Explosive chemistry and steamy scenes but the connection was chef’s kiss. Two individuals who’s afraid of being hurt and abandoned find one another. It was a beautiful story and why I read romance. I truly hope this isn’t the final book of The Strangers in Love series cause I’m infatuated with these characters. Bravo.
5 Fated Stars
*The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher Montlake via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Princess and the Player was a superb romance. I fell in love not only with the two leads but also the side characters. Tuck’s NFL friend Jasper was a hoot and Francesca’s friends Cece, Brogan and Darden were just as good. They added so much humor to the story.
Tuck and Francesca were incredible. Explosive chemistry and steamy scenes but the connection was chef’s kiss. Two individuals who’s afraid of being hurt and abandoned find one another. It was a beautiful story and why I read romance. I truly hope this isn’t the final book of The Strangers in Love series cause I’m infatuated with these characters. Bravo.
5 Fated Stars
*The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher Montlake via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
November 8, 2022
Holy moly y'all, this book was so addictive.
I read it in less than 24 hours, which is unheard of for me, and how you know it was a good one.
From the very first page I found myself completely sucked in, reveling in all my favorite components of romance: chemistry, banter, sexy times, and sweet sweet emotion. By the last page, my heart was overflowing and so so happy. Honest go goodness this story was the full package.
This trope can sometimes be troublesome for me, but it was written in such a way that I had no issues with it at all. Well, minus the time I was at about 60% and terrified to move forward because I just knew that Ilsa Madden-Mills was fixin' to rip my heart out. I pushed myself past that point, and did indeed get my heart ripped out, but it was short-term pain and the pay-off was...*chef's kiss*. This was so good.
I absolutely adored this story. I loved the found-family subplot. I loved the scene-stealing secondary characters. I loved how Francesca and Tuck fought for each other, and cared for each other. And as if all that wasn't enough, Tuck's grand gesture in the end had me in full on heart-eyeball mode, swooning like crazy, and so so in love. I'm not sure if it was a perfect story, but I know it was perfect for me and I absolutely recommend it for you! ~ Shelly, 5 Stars
****
Ahhh!! I just love Ilsa Madden-Mills stories!! The Princess and the Player has heart, swoons, SURPRISES and was full of amazing moments that took my breath away!! I just loved Francesca and Tuck's story!
If you loved Tuck from the first book in the series, you will absolutely love him in this story. This story was sexy, swoony and full of amazing banter. I loved the chemistry and connection between them and could not get enough of this book! Furthermore, the emotional connection between them will knock your socks off! This book was straight Fire! 4 stars! ~Ratula ❤️
I read it in less than 24 hours, which is unheard of for me, and how you know it was a good one.
From the very first page I found myself completely sucked in, reveling in all my favorite components of romance: chemistry, banter, sexy times, and sweet sweet emotion. By the last page, my heart was overflowing and so so happy. Honest go goodness this story was the full package.
This trope can sometimes be troublesome for me, but it was written in such a way that I had no issues with it at all. Well, minus the time I was at about 60% and terrified to move forward because I just knew that Ilsa Madden-Mills was fixin' to rip my heart out. I pushed myself past that point, and did indeed get my heart ripped out, but it was short-term pain and the pay-off was...*chef's kiss*. This was so good.
I absolutely adored this story. I loved the found-family subplot. I loved the scene-stealing secondary characters. I loved how Francesca and Tuck fought for each other, and cared for each other. And as if all that wasn't enough, Tuck's grand gesture in the end had me in full on heart-eyeball mode, swooning like crazy, and so so in love. I'm not sure if it was a perfect story, but I know it was perfect for me and I absolutely recommend it for you! ~ Shelly, 5 Stars
****
Ahhh!! I just love Ilsa Madden-Mills stories!! The Princess and the Player has heart, swoons, SURPRISES and was full of amazing moments that took my breath away!! I just loved Francesca and Tuck's story!
If you loved Tuck from the first book in the series, you will absolutely love him in this story. This story was sexy, swoony and full of amazing banter. I loved the chemistry and connection between them and could not get enough of this book! Furthermore, the emotional connection between them will knock your socks off! This book was straight Fire! 4 stars! ~Ratula ❤️
January 12, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
''Fate is a tenacious bitch''
Safety warnings:
- No cheating (between MCs)
- Barely OW drama/OM drama
- Surprise pregnancy
- Mention of domestic/physical abuse
- Mention of suicide/mental illness
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
I skipped book 1 since I wanted to read the second one first as the tropes are some of my favorites (which I know isn't everyone’s cup of tea).
We quickly start the story off with Tuck being taken to a private sex club for his birthday (not his choice and he isn't that happy about it). He just turned 35. He is not doing great with his football career, and he seems to just want to go home. He runs into Francesca....now everyone is wearing a mask and is anonymous so he feels safe knowing nobody will know who he is, and this girl will not know either and she won't be able to use this story to make money.
They end up having a really good night together but don't exchange any personal information so when they part ways it's done with. Fast forward to two months later and they run into each other without knowing who they actually both are and it’s quite a funny scene. We find out they both live in this massive building, and they have for over a decade.
Now I should mention that Francesca was fired from her tattoo parlor job because the boss's niece slept with her fiancée and had an affair, so she was forced to work with both of them knowing what they had done and her ex-fiancée still sort of pining over her? It was so annoying. The fact that she had to get the shit end of the stick...BUT I'm glad the ex-fiancée didn't even stay with the original affair girl and started dating someone else.
OW drama: H has a former gf and sex buddy who he is still close with. He kisses her back right in front of Francesca BEFORE he realizes who Francesca is and that’s as far as it goes. She also attempts to make h feel like they are still having sex but it’s debunked so quickly.
OM drama: h’s first love shows up and it causes scenes of jealousy and that’s it.
Anyways back to the original plot:
Tuck and Francesca slowly realize they are the same people from that night club and despite his reservations and mistrust he starts seeing her and they start this casual yet exclusive relationship. Their sex scenes were hot, but it didn't overpower the plot, nor did it occur so often you were stuck with them not developing as people outside of sex.
Fran finds out she's pregnant from that first night months ago and never tells him. Why? Well, he mentions over and over again he doesn't want kids or that whole life. She keeps it hidden and slowly it unravels, and I truly picked this up because of the scene where he tells her he wants a paternity test.
I was heartbroken by his reaction but I also couldn't fault him for some of it since he was lied to and kept out of loop with what was going on especially since they were getting closer and he shared so much of his past trauma with abuse and watching his parents abuse each other. His father killing himself on his birthday, his mother blaming him and hating him. Her abandonment and eventual mental breakdown.
I could understand why he felt betrayed and lied to by the one person he was so vulnerable with. You could see throughout his POV's how scared he was to be hurt by her.
The end scene where he is disoriented and basically goes down looking like he is either drunk or sick was unexpected? I loved the little reveal as to why since you are left scratching your head about what is going on with him.
I loved the side characters and I thought her small group of found family was even adorable. They each brought something important into her life. She grew up in foster care and abandoned by her original family (never knowing them) and they found her so that side plot is also interesting though I wish it was more fleshed out? It kind of all came out too fast and too late for me.
In any case this was fun and easy to get through. I know I missed a bunch of stuff that happened but there was a lot and I think once you read it you'll see what I mean.
''Fate is a tenacious bitch''
Safety warnings:
- No cheating (between MCs)
- Barely OW drama/OM drama
- Surprise pregnancy
- Mention of domestic/physical abuse
- Mention of suicide/mental illness
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
I skipped book 1 since I wanted to read the second one first as the tropes are some of my favorites (which I know isn't everyone’s cup of tea).
We quickly start the story off with Tuck being taken to a private sex club for his birthday (not his choice and he isn't that happy about it). He just turned 35. He is not doing great with his football career, and he seems to just want to go home. He runs into Francesca....now everyone is wearing a mask and is anonymous so he feels safe knowing nobody will know who he is, and this girl will not know either and she won't be able to use this story to make money.
They end up having a really good night together but don't exchange any personal information so when they part ways it's done with. Fast forward to two months later and they run into each other without knowing who they actually both are and it’s quite a funny scene. We find out they both live in this massive building, and they have for over a decade.
Now I should mention that Francesca was fired from her tattoo parlor job because the boss's niece slept with her fiancée and had an affair, so she was forced to work with both of them knowing what they had done and her ex-fiancée still sort of pining over her? It was so annoying. The fact that she had to get the shit end of the stick...BUT I'm glad the ex-fiancée didn't even stay with the original affair girl and started dating someone else.
OW drama: H has a former gf and sex buddy who he is still close with. He kisses her back right in front of Francesca BEFORE he realizes who Francesca is and that’s as far as it goes. She also attempts to make h feel like they are still having sex but it’s debunked so quickly.
OM drama: h’s first love shows up and it causes scenes of jealousy and that’s it.
Anyways back to the original plot:
Tuck and Francesca slowly realize they are the same people from that night club and despite his reservations and mistrust he starts seeing her and they start this casual yet exclusive relationship. Their sex scenes were hot, but it didn't overpower the plot, nor did it occur so often you were stuck with them not developing as people outside of sex.
Fran finds out she's pregnant from that first night months ago and never tells him. Why? Well, he mentions over and over again he doesn't want kids or that whole life. She keeps it hidden and slowly it unravels, and I truly picked this up because of the scene where he tells her he wants a paternity test.
I was heartbroken by his reaction but I also couldn't fault him for some of it since he was lied to and kept out of loop with what was going on especially since they were getting closer and he shared so much of his past trauma with abuse and watching his parents abuse each other. His father killing himself on his birthday, his mother blaming him and hating him. Her abandonment and eventual mental breakdown.
I could understand why he felt betrayed and lied to by the one person he was so vulnerable with. You could see throughout his POV's how scared he was to be hurt by her.
The end scene where he is disoriented and basically goes down looking like he is either drunk or sick was unexpected? I loved the little reveal as to why since you are left scratching your head about what is going on with him.
I loved the side characters and I thought her small group of found family was even adorable. They each brought something important into her life. She grew up in foster care and abandoned by her original family (never knowing them) and they found her so that side plot is also interesting though I wish it was more fleshed out? It kind of all came out too fast and too late for me.
In any case this was fun and easy to get through. I know I missed a bunch of stuff that happened but there was a lot and I think once you read it you'll see what I mean.
December 19, 2022
3 stars
After moving the first book in this series, I was so excited to get to this one. I wish this one would have worked better for me. It wasn’t terrible but there was a lot going on, it had a troupe I hate, and overall it just wasn’t my favorite. I both loved and was completely frustrated with Tuck and Francesca. I hope we get a Jasper book because he was one of my favorite characters in this one!
After moving the first book in this series, I was so excited to get to this one. I wish this one would have worked better for me. It wasn’t terrible but there was a lot going on, it had a troupe I hate, and overall it just wasn’t my favorite. I both loved and was completely frustrated with Tuck and Francesca. I hope we get a Jasper book because he was one of my favorite characters in this one!
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 3 stars
Narrators: Lee Samuels & Stella Bloom
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 8h 57m
November 9, 2022
Look, if I’d known it was pregnancy trope, I wouldn’t have opened it. So, note to self, do what you always do and READ THE REVIEWS.
But nope, I liked the first book and thought, I will just go in blind. Alas, I regret that.
I could’ve been able to go with the trope though. IF the FMC (whose name escapes me, and I just finished this book 2 hours ago!) wasn’t a ninny.
80%. Eighty. Percent. into the book she finally tells Player he’s a baby daddy. After screwing him countless times AND every freaking body they both know knowing he’s a baby daddy BUT him🙄
And then she’s SHOCKED- HURT-SAD that the dude who said he didn’t want kids wanted nothing to do with her after she was essentially forced to tell him because- wait for it- his PI has a stack of pictures and HER MEDICAL RECORDS(can we pause here. The absolute violation of privacy and legality further placed this book in the Annoying AF category) which he so graciously (🙄) allows her to open first. So she HAD to tell him.
I don’t know WTH she was waiting for- her baby to pop out of her birth canal? Anyway, I saw that conflict coming.
She annoyed me. They both had tragic back stories. It all got wrapped up in a cute bow and oh wait They’re the LOVE OF EACH OTHER’s LIVES- I missed how this happened. And then weddings, babies, families out of the woodwork and 💥 HEA🎉
It wasn’t the book for me. Obviously
But maybe the problem is me.
But nope, I liked the first book and thought, I will just go in blind. Alas, I regret that.
I could’ve been able to go with the trope though. IF the FMC (whose name escapes me, and I just finished this book 2 hours ago!) wasn’t a ninny.
80%. Eighty. Percent. into the book she finally tells Player he’s a baby daddy. After screwing him countless times AND every freaking body they both know knowing he’s a baby daddy BUT him🙄
And then she’s SHOCKED- HURT-SAD that the dude who said he didn’t want kids wanted nothing to do with her after she was essentially forced to tell him because- wait for it- his PI has a stack of pictures and HER MEDICAL RECORDS(can we pause here. The absolute violation of privacy and legality further placed this book in the Annoying AF category) which he so graciously (🙄) allows her to open first. So she HAD to tell him.
I don’t know WTH she was waiting for- her baby to pop out of her birth canal? Anyway, I saw that conflict coming.
She annoyed me. They both had tragic back stories. It all got wrapped up in a cute bow and oh wait They’re the LOVE OF EACH OTHER’s LIVES- I missed how this happened. And then weddings, babies, families out of the woodwork and 💥 HEA🎉
It wasn’t the book for me. Obviously
But maybe the problem is me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2025
“Some say you’re destined to meet the same person over and over until you get it right.”
This was good—not totally amazing and perfect, but good—and I actually enjoyed some parts of it. I was excited for Tuck’s story after meeting him in Beauty and the Baller, but this wasn’t what I expected. It was enjoyable, yes, but also a little boring. While this is also a sports romance, there were no scenes of Tuck playing football. This has fluff, great characters, a strong FMC and a playboy MMC, lovely and very supportive side characters, a pregnancy trope, banter, and a found family trope.
The writing was simple and easy to follow, and the pacing was fast. I hated how Ilsa skipped so many sweet moments we could’ve had of Tuck and Francesca. She should’ve focused more on the friendship aspect of their relationship and Tuck’s family issues. It was a heavy topic, but it just felt brushed off because of other things.
Francesca is pragmatic, brave, and adaptable, and her tragic past has made her a bit sceptical about her own life. I liked how confident she was and how she knew what she wanted in life, but I didn’t like that she hid the truth from Tuck, even though she knew he had trust issues.
“He is something I never imagined I needed. And I don’t want to lose him. He is air. Life. And his flawed edges? His chaos? I love them the most.”
Tuck Avery is an extrovert, an easygoing guy who doesn’t share much of his thoughts with everyone. He seems like a funny guy, but he had dark and raging moments from his past that left him uncertain about what his future held, and he thought he didn’t deserve to have a family of his own—but he deserved everything.
“No, sweetheart. Listen to me. It’s you; you’re my zero hour. I can’t lose you.”
Tuck and Francesca first met when she was a runaway bride, and I enjoyed that scene a lot because they had this undeniable chemistry and spark. When they met again, they couldn’t stop themselves from wanting to know more about each other. I adore their friendship and how they understood each other. And I love jealous Tuck—actually, I’m just a sucker for jealous scenes! I liked the couple and the chemistry, but the story felt a bit rushed, and I would’ve liked it more if there had been some grovelling at the end and if Francesca had told him the truth about the pregnancy sooner. He deserved that.
“Be wicked with me tonight. I’ll make you forget the guy who hurt you.”
Their relationship started with a one-night stand, then they accidentally met again (or maybe it was fate, as per Francesca’s theory), then hated each other, then Tuck relentlessly tried to talk to Francesca, then they became friends, and finally, lovers. It felt a little rushed to me, especially the friendship part. And I was also waiting for some grovelling from Tuck at the end, followed by some cute scenes of him spoiling Francesca because he finally realised what this baby and she meant to him. But I’m happy they finally cleared all the misunderstandings in the end.
“I remind myself that Francesca and I aren’t my parents. We’re special. We’re, well, fated, written in the stars. And I’ll cherish each moment we share.”
“I don’t know what the future is, if I’ll go down a dark road, but I need you in my life. I don’t deserve you, but I’ll try. I’ll try, I’ll be good for you, I’ll be the best man I can. We know what darkness looks like. We lived it, but we won’t—we’ll be the best fucking parents in the fucking world.”
The ending was sweet and adorable. Francesca and Tuck finally had their family filled with happiness and lovely people who loved and supported them the way they always deserved. It was actually cute to see Tuck as a father and how in love he was with his wife and kids.
November 9, 2022
5 Stars!
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
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
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/3fNWVE7
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
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
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/3fNWVE7
April 16, 2023
3.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise, the banter, the sex scenes, and the side characters!
The Not-So-Good: The lack of grovel. Yes, he did do a big statement and she was not necessarily upset with him because she owned her mistakes, but I thought it needed more because he was hurtful!
The Bad: While I commend the author for tackling such heavy topics that she did here with both mc's pasts, I felt like it wasn't fully addressed in a way that felt sloppy. Why introduce them all and briefly focus on these things not to give us good closure for them?! And the h's family bomb at the end just was weird and frankly I didn't feel it was necessary. I think that was the author's attempt and closing some doors, but there were way too many issues and these being serious issues that were left wide open and unanswered....it felt kind of like she bit off more than she could chew.
Overall: This was better than I expected! I'm going with a rating better than "just okay," but with my issues I mention above, I don't think I can justify a higher rating.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Francesca and Tucker's story. They meet at a masquerade sex club and have an anonymous hot night together. Only they soon find out that they live in the same building and even though both of their lives are chaos, they are drawn to one another in a way neither of them can deny. There are some hot sexy times, some secrets revealed, and some big life changes...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Francesca and Tucker's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No. They take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Tucker. I liked him but I wanted so much more for him! I wanted to experience him working through his issues and grovel more in the end.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Francesca. I liked her. I liked her confidence and comfort in who she was and how loyal and her wit with those she cared about.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed some tears but never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not between mcs
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends with a cute epilogue and what I would call a HEA
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise, the banter, the sex scenes, and the side characters!
The Not-So-Good: The lack of grovel. Yes, he did do a big statement and she was not necessarily upset with him because she owned her mistakes, but I thought it needed more because he was hurtful!
The Bad: While I commend the author for tackling such heavy topics that she did here with both mc's pasts, I felt like it wasn't fully addressed in a way that felt sloppy. Why introduce them all and briefly focus on these things not to give us good closure for them?! And the h's family bomb at the end just was weird and frankly I didn't feel it was necessary. I think that was the author's attempt and closing some doors, but there were way too many issues and these being serious issues that were left wide open and unanswered....it felt kind of like she bit off more than she could chew.
Overall: This was better than I expected! I'm going with a rating better than "just okay," but with my issues I mention above, I don't think I can justify a higher rating.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Francesca and Tucker's story. They meet at a masquerade sex club and have an anonymous hot night together. Only they soon find out that they live in the same building and even though both of their lives are chaos, they are drawn to one another in a way neither of them can deny. There are some hot sexy times, some secrets revealed, and some big life changes...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Francesca and Tucker's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No. They take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Tucker. I liked him but I wanted so much more for him! I wanted to experience him working through his issues and grovel more in the end.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Francesca. I liked her. I liked her confidence and comfort in who she was and how loyal and her wit with those she cared about.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed some tears but never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not between mcs
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends with a cute epilogue and what I would call a HEA
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
December 3, 2022
I enjoyed this but liked the first one better. I read it a few weeks ago and have already completely forgotten what happened.
November 8, 2022
Francesca + Tuck
For his 35th birthday his buddies take Tuck to a very private and elegant sex club. Where he kinda saves and already halfway falls for this mysterious girl dressed as a princess in a wedding dress.
They spent some very amazing and sexy hours together but that's it. No names or details were exchanged.
But as it turns out she does know him ... he's a famous football pro and he lives in her building!
Plus she's also kinda pregnant ...
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN ...
══════════════════
ADORABLE
I just loved this!
Yes, we've read lots of those accidental pregnancy / football / broken billionaire / orphan romances. But we loved them all and here we get all these tropes in one book. I just loved those two together. Poor Tuck with his sad childhood and his parents which all made him scared of having a real relationship and a family. And poor Francesca with her parent-less childhood and the foster homes and all her exes and ugh. Two broken people who have finally found their forever ever after happy place. But of course it takes them a while to get to that happy end. But the journey to that happily ever after was so adorable and funny and sparky and heartbreaking and sweet and just beautiful.
I so want to see this on tv one day. The building and the friends - just amazing!
I had a tiny little hate-moment when we found out where Francesca works - I hate tattoos and I don't like stories with tattoo artists at all. But she got fired pretty quickly - so that was okay. LOL!
PRINCESS AND THE PLAYER was such a funny + adorable + sexy + heartbreaking accidental pregnancy-football-billionaire et cetera love story! I loved it! Run to your nearest amazon for your own TUCK - this one is MINE!
💜
💜
November 9, 2022
”Be wicked with me tonight. I’ll make you forget the guy who hurt you.”
I will be the first to admit that I did not expect this book to be so emotional. Don’t get me wrong it was fun and romantic too, but man I cried more than I thought. Tuck and Francesca meet by chance at a sex club and end up having one night of “wicked fun”. What happens at Decadence stays at Decadence and all that. Neither of them realize that their fun is going to follow them right out of that club, and fate/coincidence is going to bring them back together over and over whether they want to admit they want it or not.
I want to first say that I enjoyed this story. Both Tucker and Francesca had difficult upbringings. Very different upbringings, but both difficult none the less, that have left scars for both of them. Those scars motivate many of the choices that are made in this book. While it was hard for me to accept some of them, I also understood them in a fictional sense.
So, to be transparent this is definitely an unexpected/secret baby book. If you dislike those, you may have a hard time with this one. The difference with this one is that while the heroine is not transparent with the hero about things, she wants to be, and they are not separated. They are building a relationship that they feel is just for now, so it’s unique in ways. They are also dealing with a lot of personal growth and life changes, so it’s not just pregnancy plot.
All in all this was another excellent Ilsa Madden-Mills read. I swear whenever I start her books I don’t want to put them down. I stayed up until 3AM and to the point my brain wasn’t even registering the actual words anymore because I was unwilling to put this down. Then I was quick to pick it up and finish it the next day. So yeah, you could say Princess and the Player is a page turner.
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR9MVCdB/
CW/TW: neglectful parents, death of a parent, parental mental illness discussed, discussions of abuse in foster homes, discussions of mental health
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
I will be the first to admit that I did not expect this book to be so emotional. Don’t get me wrong it was fun and romantic too, but man I cried more than I thought. Tuck and Francesca meet by chance at a sex club and end up having one night of “wicked fun”. What happens at Decadence stays at Decadence and all that. Neither of them realize that their fun is going to follow them right out of that club, and fate/coincidence is going to bring them back together over and over whether they want to admit they want it or not.
I want to first say that I enjoyed this story. Both Tucker and Francesca had difficult upbringings. Very different upbringings, but both difficult none the less, that have left scars for both of them. Those scars motivate many of the choices that are made in this book. While it was hard for me to accept some of them, I also understood them in a fictional sense.
So, to be transparent this is definitely an unexpected/secret baby book. If you dislike those, you may have a hard time with this one. The difference with this one is that while the heroine is not transparent with the hero about things, she wants to be, and they are not separated. They are building a relationship that they feel is just for now, so it’s unique in ways. They are also dealing with a lot of personal growth and life changes, so it’s not just pregnancy plot.
All in all this was another excellent Ilsa Madden-Mills read. I swear whenever I start her books I don’t want to put them down. I stayed up until 3AM and to the point my brain wasn’t even registering the actual words anymore because I was unwilling to put this down. Then I was quick to pick it up and finish it the next day. So yeah, you could say Princess and the Player is a page turner.
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR9MVCdB/
CW/TW: neglectful parents, death of a parent, parental mental illness discussed, discussions of abuse in foster homes, discussions of mental health
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
November 8, 2022
5 'You're my zero hour' Stars!
ARC provided via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
I am so happy to confirm I just finished another masterpiece from Ilsa Madden-Mills. We fell in love with a new crew of characters in this series and it’s safe to say this new installment it’s one of my favorites from this author. While I thoroughly enjoyed Beauty and the Baller, this one just took it to the next level. Tuck and Francesca are just delightful together and you better be ready to get into the magic of their love story.
So, Princess and the Player is the second installment in Ilsa’s Strangers in Love series, and it follows the story of Tuck Avery (Ronan’s best friend from the first book) and the mysterious sassy princess that he meets at a sex club on his birthday (a day that has plenty of bad memories for him). These two agree to have just one night, no names, masks in place. Things don’t go as planned when they discover they live in the same building, their chemistry is still burning hot and things are about to get even more complicated when Francesca realizes she is pregnant.
Oh yes, you fascinating creature.
I’m intrigued by you, but I need to know why there are so many coincidences between us.
Oh my goodness! I devoured this book in a single sitting. This couple just sucked me right in with their unexpected and instant connection. Tuck and Francesca just click in so many ways and they share a delightful night that is about to change their lives forever. I loved Tuck and Fran’s personalities, their depth, the emotions that their pasts bring back and how they fight to win against the vulnerability their memories provoke. Also, their chemistry is out of this world and they just happen to be so incredibly cute together. I fell in love so hard for these two and the love story that grows when neither expected it.
He is something I never imagined I needed.
And I don’t want to lose him.
He is air. Life. And his flawed edges? His chaos? I love them the most.
Therefore, I am rating Princess and the Player with 5 STARS because I loved every single word in this novel, its outstanding characters, their undeniable connection and the emotional journey Tuck and Francesca share together. Their chemistry was mind-blowing, I just had a big smile on my face when they finally got together and accepted their feelings for one another. This is definitely one of my top favorite reads this year and one of my favorites from Ilsa Madden-Mills. Guys, make sure to not miss this book and this beautiful series!
ARC provided via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
I am so happy to confirm I just finished another masterpiece from Ilsa Madden-Mills. We fell in love with a new crew of characters in this series and it’s safe to say this new installment it’s one of my favorites from this author. While I thoroughly enjoyed Beauty and the Baller, this one just took it to the next level. Tuck and Francesca are just delightful together and you better be ready to get into the magic of their love story.
So, Princess and the Player is the second installment in Ilsa’s Strangers in Love series, and it follows the story of Tuck Avery (Ronan’s best friend from the first book) and the mysterious sassy princess that he meets at a sex club on his birthday (a day that has plenty of bad memories for him). These two agree to have just one night, no names, masks in place. Things don’t go as planned when they discover they live in the same building, their chemistry is still burning hot and things are about to get even more complicated when Francesca realizes she is pregnant.
Oh yes, you fascinating creature.
I’m intrigued by you, but I need to know why there are so many coincidences between us.
Oh my goodness! I devoured this book in a single sitting. This couple just sucked me right in with their unexpected and instant connection. Tuck and Francesca just click in so many ways and they share a delightful night that is about to change their lives forever. I loved Tuck and Fran’s personalities, their depth, the emotions that their pasts bring back and how they fight to win against the vulnerability their memories provoke. Also, their chemistry is out of this world and they just happen to be so incredibly cute together. I fell in love so hard for these two and the love story that grows when neither expected it.
He is something I never imagined I needed.
And I don’t want to lose him.
He is air. Life. And his flawed edges? His chaos? I love them the most.
Therefore, I am rating Princess and the Player with 5 STARS because I loved every single word in this novel, its outstanding characters, their undeniable connection and the emotional journey Tuck and Francesca share together. Their chemistry was mind-blowing, I just had a big smile on my face when they finally got together and accepted their feelings for one another. This is definitely one of my top favorite reads this year and one of my favorites from Ilsa Madden-Mills. Guys, make sure to not miss this book and this beautiful series!
November 9, 2022
Surprise pregnancy isn't a trope that I usually look for, but I was totally there for Tuck's story!
Their meet cute was at least interesting, and all the coincidences that led to them finally becoming a thing, made it 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 out later, and I liked how it ended.
December 18, 2022
2 stars
Didn't like this one. I couldn't connect with the hero mostly but I can't say I was a fan of the heroine either. The whole thing was just so dramatic and extra and they both made such a mess of everything.
Give it a rest.
Didn't like this one. I couldn't connect with the hero mostly but I can't say I was a fan of the heroine either. The whole thing was just so dramatic and extra and they both made such a mess of everything.
Give it a rest.
June 9, 2022
this book was alright. some parts i enjoyed and the other parts i didn’t. let’s just say i wanna throw a damn rock at his head. she shouldn’t have forgiven him as fast as she did. homeboy did nothing to earn her forgiveness. getting a tattoo isn’t enough in my opinion 😳
December 28, 2022
I was so excited for Tuck's story and reading the blurb with the accidental preganancy i has such high hopes but this was a mess.
It felt so disjointed.
A lot of side characters and their drama took over the romance plot.
A lot of telling instead of showing "their relationship" if we can call it that.
A lot of info dump about their pasts just thrown in for the sake of justifying their behaviour which is one of my pet peeves tbh. I hate when we find out crutial informations when randomly the h or H says it in their inner monologues. I don't care about that kind of character development.
Plot things aside i hated the h or Franceska.
With the accitendal pregnancy you can get 2 stories, one when she hids their kid for years and the other one or in this case when she tells him the truth in the last chapters!! And honestly i wish she hid their child because seeing how she deliberetly decided to omit the truth when everyone around them seemed to know but Tuck was so annoying.
He deserved so much better.
It felt so disjointed.
A lot of side characters and their drama took over the romance plot.
A lot of telling instead of showing "their relationship" if we can call it that.
A lot of info dump about their pasts just thrown in for the sake of justifying their behaviour which is one of my pet peeves tbh. I hate when we find out crutial informations when randomly the h or H says it in their inner monologues. I don't care about that kind of character development.
Plot things aside i hated the h or Franceska.
With the accitendal pregnancy you can get 2 stories, one when she hids their kid for years and the other one or in this case when she tells him the truth in the last chapters!! And honestly i wish she hid their child because seeing how she deliberetly decided to omit the truth when everyone around them seemed to know but Tuck was so annoying.
He deserved so much better.
November 15, 2022
this is some addictive shit because I couldn't stop reading
also, our lead girl annoyed me a lot, she could and should have told him sooner
million times better than book one
3,5
also, our lead girl annoyed me a lot, she could and should have told him sooner
million times better than book one
3,5
November 28, 2022
i hast never read a man more vile
November 21, 2022
4 just when you think I’ll zig, I’ll zag stars
I am a hoooooar for surprise baby books, slap the ONS label and the opposites-attract trope and I’m THERE. Oh, and the tortured hero, jp ness and delicious omd were just the cherry on top I didn’t know I needed 🫠.
It’s Tuck’s bday (35) and his friends take him out to a smeex club to celebrate. There, he bumps into a princess who’s wearing a wedding dress. She seems standoffish, so his friends bet that he can’t get her to sleep with him. Challenge accepted 😈.
Francesca (30) goes to the club with her friends on the day that was supposed to be her wedding day. Months before, she found her fiancé actively cheating on her and she gets taken there as a way of forgetting and moving on.
They’re both wearing masks and agree to keep their anonymity just for this night. They even guess things about each other. And then. It’s on 😉 (which we don’t see 😑FTB alert).
Months pass and neither have been able to forget that er0tic AS F night (sigh. Too bad we didn’t see 😏). She’s an artist and currently works at a tattoo shop, until she gets fired because of the woman her fiancé cheated on her with 🤬. She goes to buy a consolation soup because not only is she jobless, but she’s been feeling sick; she gets cut off by this tall, athletic man at the register.
It’s none other than wide receiver Tuck. Good looking, very fit and tall Tuck, who easily flirts with women. So what does Francesca do? Well, she drops the napkin holder on his foot of course 🤣🤣.
And now, Tuck wants to get to know this feisty woman👀 who makes him giggle and makes him work for it 💁🏻♀️.
What I liked/loved (possible spoilers):
—the chemistry 👀. From the moment they first meet, their chemistry is palpable. They have easy going conversations and get along from the get-go which makes their buildup and tension even more delicious. Shoot, even the napkin holder scene had me smiling. When they both realize who the other is and they’re in the same room, it gets 🔥. The elevator scene alone would’ve gotten ME pregnant too 🤷🏻♀️ (and no fluids are interchanged). No wonder Francesca got pregnant 😅.
—the smexxy times. We don’t get TOO many, but what we get are 🥵. Good LAWD. The first complete scene we get is at a bookstore. BE STILL MY NERDY SMU++y HEART🥰😩. Those books on the third floor had no idea what they were gonna witness, because… dayummm 🔥💦🥵👀. And the way Tuck’s so persistent about trying to kiss her was 🥵😅🫠. Jeeezus
—the banter and funny moments. Not only do Tuck and Francesca provide some haha moments, but the side characters do too. Jasper, Cece, Brogan, and even Darden were all amazing.
—the kiss. I love that it’s FRANCESCA (the h) who’s reluctant to kiss, so when Tuck finally gets the kiss he’s been craving, it was 🔥. It could’ve been more💦, but I’ll take it
—the fate angle. I was LOOOOVING this❤️! So many “coincidences”, so many 😱 moments. It totally took kismet to another level 😅. I mean. The surprise baby was going to happen no matter how much BC they used!!!
—the tortured hero meets the down-on-her-luck heroine. Sigh. It made the combination to the perfect angst in this book
—how all-in Tuck gets when he starts developing feelings. I love it when a man chases and gets what he wants 💅
—the OMD 😈. Seeing Tuck’s reactions to all these men wanting Francesca was priceless 💅. You better watch it Tuck; you’re not the only one that’s been with people that still want them 💁🏻♀️
—BOTH are experienced. It’s rare to get two MCs who have enough experience to know when THE ONE is in front of them. Many times the FMC (h) is a lot less experienced, but in this case, I felt like it was a more even playing field than normal 🤷🏻♀️. I love that. BOTH have been with enough people to know that this is IT for them and it’s different ❤️
—what he does to grovel. It was cute lol, ESPECIALLY considering his fear. But I’m gonna comment down below on this
—when Francesca basically tells Tuck (through his lawyer) to go f himself 💅😬😅. It was beautiful 💁🏻♀️
—although there are OP drama, they’re not drawn out too much. They give a small amount of angst just to make mc sweat
—TURTLE D!CK 🤣🤣🤣 the nude scene with Jasper was hilarious!! Good thing it happened cause I was getting irritated that there was a mostly naked woman trying to get with Tuck (his ex Courtney). Leave it to Jasper to swoop in with his naked self and save the awkward AF scene 😅
—the delivery scene. I was laughing but also swooning ❤️
What I didn’t like/wanted more of:
—less FTB scenes please. Sigh. I get it, but man, I wanted to see more 🔥. Their chemistry is fate, come on lol
—how long it takes Francesca to tell Tuck 😬. No wonder he gets upset. But. Tuck. Really? REALLY??? You NEVER noticed? 🫣🤦🏻♀️ ay yay yay
—the groveling was over way too quickly. He was an a$$ after finding out she was pregnant and basically cuts her out of her life. I get it; he’s not ready etc etc but she wasn’t at fault 🤷🏻♀️. So he goes to the hospital. So what 🙄😑lol. Make him pay longer please. Let him sweat in his regret juices longer 💅
Overall, I loved this ❤️
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing
-child abuse past/abusive father
-death of fathers (suicide and drug OD)
-parent with mental health issues
-mental health issues/therapy
-OMD- OM1: her ex wants her back and keeps pursuing her. OM2: was someone the h used to sleep with when she was a teenager. The H puts him in his place. 💅
-OW- the H’s ex kissed him without him wanting it. That’s when the h realizes the H is her ONS. Ow is staying at H’s place and tries to seduce H. H turns her down But she does kiss him on the mouth (he stops her). She tries to cause some drama but the H puts her in her place quickly. OW2 tries to flirt with the H when he’s eating with his friend, but the h claims him 💁🏻♀️
-h was cheated on and finds out months before her wedding day
-it’s been months since either mc has had sex
-edging
-condoms/implant but it doesn’t matter 😬🤣
I am a hoooooar for surprise baby books, slap the ONS label and the opposites-attract trope and I’m THERE. Oh, and the tortured hero, jp ness and delicious omd were just the cherry on top I didn’t know I needed 🫠.
It’s Tuck’s bday (35) and his friends take him out to a smeex club to celebrate. There, he bumps into a princess who’s wearing a wedding dress. She seems standoffish, so his friends bet that he can’t get her to sleep with him. Challenge accepted 😈.
Francesca (30) goes to the club with her friends on the day that was supposed to be her wedding day. Months before, she found her fiancé actively cheating on her and she gets taken there as a way of forgetting and moving on.
They’re both wearing masks and agree to keep their anonymity just for this night. They even guess things about each other. And then. It’s on 😉 (which we don’t see 😑FTB alert).
Months pass and neither have been able to forget that er0tic AS F night (sigh. Too bad we didn’t see 😏). She’s an artist and currently works at a tattoo shop, until she gets fired because of the woman her fiancé cheated on her with 🤬. She goes to buy a consolation soup because not only is she jobless, but she’s been feeling sick; she gets cut off by this tall, athletic man at the register.
It’s none other than wide receiver Tuck. Good looking, very fit and tall Tuck, who easily flirts with women. So what does Francesca do? Well, she drops the napkin holder on his foot of course 🤣🤣.
And now, Tuck wants to get to know this feisty woman👀 who makes him giggle and makes him work for it 💁🏻♀️.
What I liked/loved (possible spoilers):
—the chemistry 👀. From the moment they first meet, their chemistry is palpable. They have easy going conversations and get along from the get-go which makes their buildup and tension even more delicious. Shoot, even the napkin holder scene had me smiling. When they both realize who the other is and they’re in the same room, it gets 🔥. The elevator scene alone would’ve gotten ME pregnant too 🤷🏻♀️ (and no fluids are interchanged). No wonder Francesca got pregnant 😅.
—the smexxy times. We don’t get TOO many, but what we get are 🥵. Good LAWD. The first complete scene we get is at a bookstore. BE STILL MY NERDY SMU++y HEART🥰😩. Those books on the third floor had no idea what they were gonna witness, because… dayummm 🔥💦🥵👀. And the way Tuck’s so persistent about trying to kiss her was 🥵😅🫠. Jeeezus
—the banter and funny moments. Not only do Tuck and Francesca provide some haha moments, but the side characters do too. Jasper, Cece, Brogan, and even Darden were all amazing.
—the kiss. I love that it’s FRANCESCA (the h) who’s reluctant to kiss, so when Tuck finally gets the kiss he’s been craving, it was 🔥. It could’ve been more💦, but I’ll take it
—the fate angle. I was LOOOOVING this❤️! So many “coincidences”, so many 😱 moments. It totally took kismet to another level 😅. I mean. The surprise baby was going to happen no matter how much BC they used!!!
—the tortured hero meets the down-on-her-luck heroine. Sigh. It made the combination to the perfect angst in this book
—how all-in Tuck gets when he starts developing feelings. I love it when a man chases and gets what he wants 💅
—the OMD 😈. Seeing Tuck’s reactions to all these men wanting Francesca was priceless 💅. You better watch it Tuck; you’re not the only one that’s been with people that still want them 💁🏻♀️
—BOTH are experienced. It’s rare to get two MCs who have enough experience to know when THE ONE is in front of them. Many times the FMC (h) is a lot less experienced, but in this case, I felt like it was a more even playing field than normal 🤷🏻♀️. I love that. BOTH have been with enough people to know that this is IT for them and it’s different ❤️
—what he does to grovel. It was cute lol, ESPECIALLY considering his fear. But I’m gonna comment down below on this
—when Francesca basically tells Tuck (through his lawyer) to go f himself 💅😬😅. It was beautiful 💁🏻♀️
—although there are OP drama, they’re not drawn out too much. They give a small amount of angst just to make mc sweat
—TURTLE D!CK 🤣🤣🤣 the nude scene with Jasper was hilarious!! Good thing it happened cause I was getting irritated that there was a mostly naked woman trying to get with Tuck (his ex Courtney). Leave it to Jasper to swoop in with his naked self and save the awkward AF scene 😅
—the delivery scene. I was laughing but also swooning ❤️
What I didn’t like/wanted more of:
—less FTB scenes please. Sigh. I get it, but man, I wanted to see more 🔥. Their chemistry is fate, come on lol
—how long it takes Francesca to tell Tuck 😬. No wonder he gets upset. But. Tuck. Really? REALLY??? You NEVER noticed? 🫣🤦🏻♀️ ay yay yay
—the groveling was over way too quickly. He was an a$$ after finding out she was pregnant and basically cuts her out of her life. I get it; he’s not ready etc etc but she wasn’t at fault 🤷🏻♀️. So he goes to the hospital. So what 🙄😑lol. Make him pay longer please. Let him sweat in his regret juices longer 💅
Overall, I loved this ❤️
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing
-child abuse past/abusive father
-death of fathers (suicide and drug OD)
-parent with mental health issues
-mental health issues/therapy
-OMD- OM1: her ex wants her back and keeps pursuing her. OM2: was someone the h used to sleep with when she was a teenager. The H puts him in his place. 💅
-OW- the H’s ex kissed him without him wanting it. That’s when the h realizes the H is her ONS. Ow is staying at H’s place and tries to seduce H. H turns her down But she does kiss him on the mouth (he stops her). She tries to cause some drama but the H puts her in her place quickly. OW2 tries to flirt with the H when he’s eating with his friend, but the h claims him 💁🏻♀️
-h was cheated on and finds out months before her wedding day
-it’s been months since either mc has had sex
-edging
-condoms/implant but it doesn’t matter 😬🤣
February 12, 2023
Isla just KNOWS how to write characters so well!! I actually enjoy contemporary romance because of her! she makes me cry all the time because THE CHARACTERS are so real and emotional in a sense that so many authors can’t write.
I HATE THE ACCIDENTAL PREGNANCY TROPE but somehow this book made it work and it was done so well and I got to cry my eyes out and feel feelings and ugh SO GOOD!
I really enjoyed the storyline and the way it was all laid out. Only bother for me is the ending was a bit rushed and the timing was not my favourite. I loved the first 75%of this book but the last 25% was too rushed and not my vibe.
THAT library scene👀🐱🥵
SMUT WAS GOOD (lol)
4/5⭐️
I HATE THE ACCIDENTAL PREGNANCY TROPE but somehow this book made it work and it was done so well and I got to cry my eyes out and feel feelings and ugh SO GOOD!
I really enjoyed the storyline and the way it was all laid out. Only bother for me is the ending was a bit rushed and the timing was not my favourite. I loved the first 75%of this book but the last 25% was too rushed and not my vibe.
THAT library scene👀🐱🥵
SMUT WAS GOOD (lol)
4/5⭐️
no-way-jose
November 6, 2025Note to self: just couldn’t get into the book, per 1-star reviews it’s has a dragged out miscommunication trope, stop re-downloading and trying multiple times. Its done, let it go, Lori!
August 29, 2023
Princess and the Player is book 2 in the Stranger in Love series by Ilsa Madden-Mills. A stand-alone romance, told from both POV with a HEA
Tropes:
✔️ big city
✔️ strangers to lovers
✔️ sports
✔️ surprise pregnancy
What do a jilted bride, a surprise birthday celebration for and NFL player and a sex-club have in common? It’s the setting for a fiery meet-cute between the Princess Bride and Prince Player, otherwise known as Francesca Lane and Tucker Avery. A tattoo artist-slash-art connoisseur and the NY’s NFL best wide receiver.
They agreed on a no strings, no names, one night stand without taking their masks off at the sex club. But not long after, they realize they live in the same building. And while they’re both besotted, Francesca has a bug of the 9-month kind that will surely not be welcomed by the extremely cautious Tuck.
I loved Beauty and the Baller and was eagerly awaiting Tuck’s book, which I did enjoy and could hardly put down. But there were a couple of things that caught me off guard.
The first was that I was expecting a lighter rom-com-ish story. Princess and the Player was a bit too angsty for me to be considered rom-com. The second, and more concerning was that even though I didn’t really know Tuck from the previous book, I thought of him as an easy going guy, but he had a lot of baggage that made him more complex. That said, I really liked getting to know him.
My heart hurt for him and for Francesca. Neither had an easy upbringing, and that carried over to their relationship, the openness and trust issues they had to work through to be able to forge a deep and meaningful relationship.
They did have the help and support of their chosen family, especially Francesca. Her roommates and best friends Brogan and Cecelia, together with her cantankerous next door neighbor Mr. Darden along with Tuck’s temporary roomie and teammate Jasper were all loveable, fun and a wonderful added layer to the story.
Quick review:
★ Character development: 👤👤👤👤
★ World building: 🌏🌏🌏🌏
★ Plot: 📚📚📚
★ Romance: 💕💕💕💕
★ Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
★ I received an ARC of this title from the author via Candi Kane. The excerpts are from that copy.
★See all my book edits on Instagram
Tropes:
✔️ big city
✔️ strangers to lovers
✔️ sports
✔️ surprise pregnancy
What do a jilted bride, a surprise birthday celebration for and NFL player and a sex-club have in common? It’s the setting for a fiery meet-cute between the Princess Bride and Prince Player, otherwise known as Francesca Lane and Tucker Avery. A tattoo artist-slash-art connoisseur and the NY’s NFL best wide receiver.
They agreed on a no strings, no names, one night stand without taking their masks off at the sex club. But not long after, they realize they live in the same building. And while they’re both besotted, Francesca has a bug of the 9-month kind that will surely not be welcomed by the extremely cautious Tuck.
I loved Beauty and the Baller and was eagerly awaiting Tuck’s book, which I did enjoy and could hardly put down. But there were a couple of things that caught me off guard.
The first was that I was expecting a lighter rom-com-ish story. Princess and the Player was a bit too angsty for me to be considered rom-com. The second, and more concerning was that even though I didn’t really know Tuck from the previous book, I thought of him as an easy going guy, but he had a lot of baggage that made him more complex. That said, I really liked getting to know him.
My heart hurt for him and for Francesca. Neither had an easy upbringing, and that carried over to their relationship, the openness and trust issues they had to work through to be able to forge a deep and meaningful relationship.
They did have the help and support of their chosen family, especially Francesca. Her roommates and best friends Brogan and Cecelia, together with her cantankerous next door neighbor Mr. Darden along with Tuck’s temporary roomie and teammate Jasper were all loveable, fun and a wonderful added layer to the story.
Quick review:
★ Character development: 👤👤👤👤
★ World building: 🌏🌏🌏🌏
★ Plot: 📚📚📚
★ Romance: 💕💕💕💕
★ Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
★ I received an ARC of this title from the author via Candi Kane. The excerpts are from that copy.
★See all my book edits on Instagram
November 30, 2022
Ilsa Madden-Mills just never really disappoints! THIS.WOMAN! I mean, even when her stories haven’t blown me away, she still does not disappoint!
Tuck & Francesca #win feel-good romance of the year for me. Their story was a pleasure to get lost in both when I read it and when I listened to it just two nights ago! I know, I’m #extra with the whole reading and listening but the audio was $1.99 … I mean … So I stopped myself from writing a review until I had gone thru both formats to see if maybe the audio enhanced my experience and whatnot. Spoiler alert, it did not because I already loved it :) (but I should note that there have been times in the past when the audio ruined the whole experience for me, this is just not one of those times)
The surprise pregnancy angel has been written a million times before, but I found that all the little nuances that Ilsa made part of this journey made it fresh and new for me. You’ll have to read the book to get some of these points, but I loved the living situation she created with Tuck and Francesca. It gave the story an air of kismet that felt organic for them. I also really loved the parallel to Ronan & Nova’s meet (the first book in this series, Beauty and the Baller) not only with how well they connected but also the circumstance behind being where they were and why. It connected the two books in a unique way.
For a romantic comedy, I found the story to be much more emotional than expected. Yes, it had plenty of entertainment and light-hearted plot-points, but the substance of the story held an emotional line straight to my heart and I found myself deeply invested in the outcome of not just their journey, but them as individuals! The secondary characters added not just levity to the story, but also enhanced the overall tone of the story.
My heart still belongs to Ronan & Nova but I might just let Tuck & Francesca visit and stay for a while :) Well done once again, Ilsa!
Tuck & Francesca #win feel-good romance of the year for me. Their story was a pleasure to get lost in both when I read it and when I listened to it just two nights ago! I know, I’m #extra with the whole reading and listening but the audio was $1.99 … I mean … So I stopped myself from writing a review until I had gone thru both formats to see if maybe the audio enhanced my experience and whatnot. Spoiler alert, it did not because I already loved it :) (but I should note that there have been times in the past when the audio ruined the whole experience for me, this is just not one of those times)
The surprise pregnancy angel has been written a million times before, but I found that all the little nuances that Ilsa made part of this journey made it fresh and new for me. You’ll have to read the book to get some of these points, but I loved the living situation she created with Tuck and Francesca. It gave the story an air of kismet that felt organic for them. I also really loved the parallel to Ronan & Nova’s meet (the first book in this series, Beauty and the Baller) not only with how well they connected but also the circumstance behind being where they were and why. It connected the two books in a unique way.
For a romantic comedy, I found the story to be much more emotional than expected. Yes, it had plenty of entertainment and light-hearted plot-points, but the substance of the story held an emotional line straight to my heart and I found myself deeply invested in the outcome of not just their journey, but them as individuals! The secondary characters added not just levity to the story, but also enhanced the overall tone of the story.
My heart still belongs to Ronan & Nova but I might just let Tuck & Francesca visit and stay for a while :) Well done once again, Ilsa!
April 16, 2023
#1 Beauty and the Baller — 2.5 stars
#2 Princess and the Player — 3.75 stars
why is this so good? (probably because the trope is one of my faves) i dont recall the first book being even half as entertaining. the penthouse/apartment building setting and the h’s friendship with her old neighbor just made me think of Mabel with Oliver & Charles in Only Murders in the Building. it was so funny. her supportive roomates cracked me up too.
despite the H & h having a ONS, their relationship progresses somewhat naturally with the H relentlessly pursuing the h and them becoming friends. they have an accidental pregnancy from the ONS, but the h doesnt tell the H about it until later into the story and it becomes a third act conflict. so this part was annoying cause i didnt get the cute scenes (where the H took care of the h and spoiled her because of the baby) i was hoping for.
the reason for this mis/no-communication is because of their personal hang-ups. the h grew up in foster care, so she has a fear of rejection. the H’s past is actually similar to Christian Harpers from Twisted Lies, but their hang ups are slightly different. while Christian doesnt believe in love, the H here is afraid of marriage or just having a family/being a father.
so the mishap was understandable, but i still think the right thing wouldve been to tell the H sooner since he also has trust issues. regardless, this was still a fun read for me, and it delivered plenty on the feels and steam. plus, the found family really warmed my heart. the only thing i truly, very, absolutely dislike was the H’s name, Tuck, lol. i mean, wHYyy.
(read as an audiobook)
#2 Princess and the Player — 3.75 stars
why is this so good? (probably because the trope is one of my faves) i dont recall the first book being even half as entertaining. the penthouse/apartment building setting and the h’s friendship with her old neighbor just made me think of Mabel with Oliver & Charles in Only Murders in the Building. it was so funny. her supportive roomates cracked me up too.
despite the H & h having a ONS, their relationship progresses somewhat naturally with the H relentlessly pursuing the h and them becoming friends. they have an accidental pregnancy from the ONS, but the h doesnt tell the H about it until later into the story and it becomes a third act conflict. so this part was annoying cause i didnt get the cute scenes (where the H took care of the h and spoiled her because of the baby) i was hoping for.
the reason for this mis/no-communication is because of their personal hang-ups. the h grew up in foster care, so she has a fear of rejection. the H’s past is actually similar to Christian Harpers from Twisted Lies, but their hang ups are slightly different. while Christian doesnt believe in love, the H here is afraid of marriage or just having a family/being a father.
so the mishap was understandable, but i still think the right thing wouldve been to tell the H sooner since he also has trust issues. regardless, this was still a fun read for me, and it delivered plenty on the feels and steam. plus, the found family really warmed my heart. the only thing i truly, very, absolutely dislike was the H’s name, Tuck, lol. i mean, wHYyy.
(read as an audiobook)
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