Every time that I pick up a book by this author, I know that I'm in for a treat, and although our hero in Beauty and the Baller has a tragic backstory, this is actually a fairly light read and definitely one that I wanted to sink my teeth into.

Ronan Smith had it all before a tragic accident took the love of his life and destroyed his NFL career. After losing himself in grief, he meets a mystery woman who finally makes him feel something for the first time since his world fell apart, but he completely messes it all up and loses her too. Fast forward two years and the mystery girl, Nova, ends up being Ronan's new neighbor.

Now, this book has plenty of tropes that I've read before: hero tainted by tragedy, heroine returning to her home town, a fake relationship...BUT, there are so many original spins put on this common story that I truly felt like this was something new and unique. It really is a lighter read with plenty of laughs. I mean some of the situations in this book truly are funny and it just added a fun aspect to what could have been an otherwise typical storyline. I loved all of the characters in this one, and I really could imagine so many of the secondary characters getting stories of their own. This story has all of the feels of a small town, second chance romance, and I couldn't get enough of it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this small town sports romance. I loved the enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and fake dating elements. Nova and Ronan were perfect together and I loved watching them fall. Here’s to hoping Tuck gets a book!

Ilsa always writes the characters you can't help but love... Nova and Ronan are no different!!

I love a second chance romance with laughter.. And you get that with this book. But you also get the love and struggles that make this book so good.

I didn't want to say goodbye to these characters, they stole my heart... Especially Ronan! He is the broody neighbor with flaws.. But you have to love him! It is impossible not to...

Nova is pure sunshine!! I loved her personality.. She had the perfect amount of sass too!

These two have great chemistry and it shows... Nova and Ronan have the connection that you enjoy reading about and love to see how their story unfolds!

Ronan and Nova are everything I love about the small town, second chance, fake-dating tropes! Big heartache and dealing with real feelings mixed with the humor I have come to love and expect from Ilsa. Always a one-click! Love this sports flavored grumpy / sunshine romance!

Beauty and the Baller is Ilsa's newest and she proves why it's worth waiting for an amazing story.

I love this southern sports romance story so much. I honestly didn't know what to expect but I really enjoyed this story. Nova and Ronan are characters you won't soon forget.

Ilsa really knows how to get readers to connect to her characters almost immediately and keep them engaged the whole time.

I love the character development and the many layers to this plot. I love the secondary just as much as the main ones. Ilsa just had this knack for making everything blend together so flawlessly. The flow of this story was just right and I enjoyed watching Nova and Ronan go from neighbors, to friends to more.

There isn't one thing I would change about this story. The plot, the characters, the dialogue – it all gels so well together. Another hit from Ilsa.

I Absolutely loved this beautiful small town romance that is captivating from the first page.

Ilsa writing style is enjoyable and there is no dull moment in the story. Really Enjoyed it.

Nova and Ronan were perfect together. Their first meet cute was an experience that they both remember but for two different reasons.
Ronan was just navigating his new life, but felt this undeniable draw towards his new neighbor. Nova wasn’t going to be easy on him and their interactions were pure entertainment. Watching Nova protect herself and grow as a person, made me love her character even more.
Their paths continuously cross, and you can tell that their relationship was meant to be. Add in all the fun, humorous, and quirky scenes, and I couldn’t put it down.

3.5 stars rounded up. A meet-disaster of a one night stand only to end up as neighbors in a small town? And did I mention he’s a former NFL player? This was a fun, quick read.

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for my chance to review,

This book was such a funny refreshing read. I enjoyed it so much, highly recommend it.
I can't wait for the next book in this series

This book was so much more than I expected. Second chance and small southern town romance filled with obstacles love after loss and fighting for what you truly want. Another perfectly written Ilsa book that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!!

This was just not for me. The first chapter put me off, and it didn't any better from there. Nova shows up to a party to seduce Ronan at his friends request. Now that wouldn't be a problem for me if Ronan wouldn't have been blackout drunk. He still takes her to his room, and Nova had no problem with this. I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be involved in something that I know for sure he isn't even going to remember when I'm stone sober. Cherry on top of this whole thing? He calls his dead fiancé's name when he gets his. Like what? I would never want to go back for more, but of course she does. I kept hoping that Ronan would be able to move on, and I guess technically he does, but it's very clear that Nova is a consolation prize. She will always be second place to him and that's just not a romance to me. I've read other books by this author that I really enjoyed, so I will be reading more from her. I just hope this was a me thing.

Absolutely obsessed. A classic Ilsa book with enough of a tragic past to make the happy ending feel earned, and chemistry that would start closets on fire.

This is an ARC review.

I love Ilsa Madden-Mills books. Her writing is an excellent mix of drama, rom com, spice, and heart. Beauty and the Baller is no different. This is told in dual POV, the main characters are adults. As in all of Ilsa's stories we get a HEA.

I adore the characters in this story. Ronan is a pro footballer forced to leave the game he loves due to injury. Nova is her own person, once the popular girl in school now just living life the way she wants. Both the characters have their own share of damage and baggage to work through. The small Texas town of Blue Belle is the setting, Nova returning home to care for her teenage sister after the loss of their mother. Ronan trying to find a life after football is the coach/teacher at Blue Belle High.

There are some really emotional moments in the story but it is balanced nicely with some fun and laughs. Nova and Ronan have some amazing chemistry and the intimate moments are some of my favorites.

If you've read any of Ilsa's books before and enjoyed them I have no doubt this will be your next favorite.

Tropes:
Sports romance (Football)
Drama
Rom Com
Second Chance
Friends-to-lovers
Fake Dating

Ronan was spiraling after the year he had, the loss of the game he loves, and the woman he had planned a future with. It is his final night as a Python and he has no idea how to climb out of the hole he is deep in. When his fantasy walks into the party dressed as Princess Leia from Star Wars they share a night together that's enough to snap Ronan out of his funk and have him working towards a new future.

Nova is back in Blue Belle taking care of her sister. She misses New York but this is Sabine's home she could never take her away after losing their mother. She is doing her best but there is so much to get her head around, her biggest concern, apart from Sabine, is finding a job but in a small town there aren't a lot of choices and as an art major, Blue Belle doesn't have a huge calling.

Lately, though the ruckus her neighbor causes are becoming an issue and after a party-goer takes out the roses her mother planted for the girls she decides it's time to confront this neighbor. Turns out the neighbor is the high school football coach and the boosters are doing everything they can to keep him happy. This is why his house is currently full of single females. When the man in question finally appears Nova can't believe it's Ronan Smith. It was two and half years ago that they shared a night that broke Nova's heart a little. While she remembers him it seems as though he doesn't recognize her. Nova isn't sure if it's a good thing or not.

Ronan is a little thrown by the tall blond beauty ranting in his kitchen, to try and keep some peace he tries to talk to her and sort out their differences. There is something about her that rattles in his mind but he's not sure what it is. He enjoys the fact that Nova isn't throwing herself at him like the women currently in his house. Since he's been in Blue Belle it seems every single woman in town is being offered up to him. There is the hope he'll fall for someone and make Blue Belle his home. He has goals though, while he loves his team and is proud of his accomplishments with the team he has a plan that doesn't involve settling in Blue Belle for good.

The two find themselves bumping into each other regularly and the sparring makes them both feel alive. When Ronan realizes who Nova is he tries to make things right.

Nova's past is alive and well in Blue Belle, she's tried to avoid it but that's no longer possible. With getting a job at the school as an English teacher and the coach's PA she comes face to face with her ex Andrew. When Ronan comes up with an idea that can work for them both the two begin fake dating. Nova gets to show Andrew she has moved on to better things and Ronan gets the women of the town to step back.

The problem is the chemistry that burned them that night years ago is still right there. Despite the rules, they try to enforce they keep finding themselves drawn to each other. Neither knows how to deal with feelings that are building or how they'll survive the fallout when the fake dating comes to an end.

When Ronan gets the job offer of his dream he's conflicted about what the right thing to do is. He's starting to feel things for Nova that he didn't ever think he'd feel again, but what does that mean for his dream job.


Happy Reading.

This book felt way to long. I thought it was never going to end. I felt the references to songs and movies felt very dated and not the things teenagers/young adults are into. Overall, I never believed in the romance.

I have yet to read a book by Ilsa that I have not fallen in love with. The characters and the story line are always amazing and the chemistry is off the charts. I fall in love with every single one of her characters that I've ever read about.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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This is a 3.5 star read, rounded up to 4 stars.

I’m a sucker for a sports romance, and when it also involves fake dating, even better.

Beauty and the Baller had a really good mix of supporting characters as well, which made for a really enjoyable book.

I loved Ronan and Nova!! Ilsa has been becoming one of my one-click authors and this book definitely showed me why!

Ronan was a broken man who lost everything in a split second. His life was completely altered in a way that he was struggling to cope with. Enter Nova. They have a hot and steamy time before everything goes so so wrong. Two years later they are in the same town and being drawn to each other. But Ronan is still working on himself and coming to terms with this new life of his. Nova didn't expect to end up back in her hometown but here she is, and working with none other than the guy who was able to shatter her more than she though someone could in one night. But when he proposes fake dating to keep the other woman off his back, she thinks she can put her heart and feelings aside to help him.

Their story is funny and sweet with a side of steamy. I read it twice in about 5 months because I loved so much. I am generally not a romcom fan but Ilsa drew me in with these characters. I loved how strong both of them were after their lives were upended. I also loved their wit and banter. They were both able to take as good as they gave!

I will definitely be reading the rest of this series!

A story that had it all. A must read!

I loved this story from the very beginning! What an emotional ride! We may all need to trust in fate a little more. The personal struggles and grief that both of the main characters deal with, along with their honesty, wit, and personal growth is truly amazing. The love that they have for one another, with obstacles they both need to overcome is remarkable. All of the characters within the story are well written and made me care for many of them while wondering what is next for them. Especially Nova's little sister Sabine, Toby, Skeeter, Sonia, Tuck and Lois. This story had everything I wanted, small town romance, second chance, opposites attract, football, and a Rom com with a sassy, confident, tell it like it female MC. Ilsa Madden-Mills did it again! Thank you so much for this amazing story with real life struggles that are relatable and understandable. They are what I love about a story and help it seem real and resonate. I could not put it down! This is a must read!

I loved this sports romance by one of my favorite authors. I adored Nova. The story was humorous, sexy, and emotional. This was a binge read for me.

Beauty and the Baller was a sexy and sweet one night stand to fake romance to oops, turns out we caught real feelings romance--with football and a roomful of Star Wars memorabilia for some added flavor.

What kind of heroine has never seen Star Wars? I mean, really... ;)

Nova and Ronan had one of the more unique meets I've seen in romance--IDK if I'd classify it as "cute" necessarily, since one of them had waaaay too much to drink and it didn't end particularly well, but since they both came to terms with it eventually and it did inspire Ronan to turn his life around, so win-win. But it involved a very realistic Princess Leia costume (probably not the one you're thinking of...though maybe it is, you'll have to read it and see!) and a well-meaning bestie who will probably never let them forget he's the one who (kind of) got them together.

It's not all classic movie merch and games, though--both Nova and Ronan have personal issues they need to work through before they can get to their HEA, and goodness, at least one of them takes until almost the end of the book to get it together. It eventually does happen, though, leaving us with a very sweet happy ending--and an even sweeter epilogue (squee!)

Beauty and the Baller is a standalone as far as I'm aware--but I for one wouldn't complain at all if Ms Madden-Mills wanted to bring us back to Blue Belle, Texas...

Rating: 4 stars / B+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.