I loved Ronan and Nova. These two have one night together the ends with Nova leaving Ronan alone. Later Nova’s mother passes and she moves home to take care of her sister. Imagine her surprise to find out her new neighbor and the schools football coach is none other the Ronan. The problem is he doesn’t seem to remember her at all. These to have all the chemistry. I loved Ronan trying to start his life again and having goals but he tries to keep his heart out of it after losing his fiancé. With the town pushing all the single women at him to try and get him to stay the two go into a fake relationship. But real feelings evolve. I loved the story and the characters. The writing was great and I cried in parts. I felt for these two and loved it from start to finish.

I absolutely loved this book! Every book I’ve read by Ilsa Madden Mills is amazing every single one and this one was no different! This story was everything it was sweet emotional funny and super spicy it definitely had me up in all my feels the characters are amazing I loved Nova her quirky attitude and Ronan his heartache oh my I just wanted to hug him and tell him he’s beautiful these two were absolutely perfect for each other their chemistry was palpable this story was just so damn good it was chefs kiss and deserves all the stars!

A delightful southern second chance/fake romance!

I have been looking forward to this book for almost a year now and it did not disappoint!

This book is all about second chance Nova has had her heartbroken by the man she thought she marry and Ronan has lost the women he thought he spend his life with. Ronan and Nova know heartbreak so they are both skeptical and not rushing into anything. When Nova ran into Ronan again, I was expecting a man whore with all the women in and out his house but no it was a cocky hero running away from the women. Small town romances are mixed for me, but this one had the southern charm of the whole town knowing everything! Every woman wants to either date or set up Ronan with the woman who will tie him to the town, which was hilarious watching him hide! Nova and Ronans relationship felt so natural, they both are honest and refreshing!

Ronan perdeu a mulher que amava em um acidente, ele está no fundo do poço. Quando uma mulher chama sua atenção em uma festa eles acabam dormindo juntos e ele a chama pelo nome da sua falecida noiva, só então ele percebe que precisa reagir. Mais de dois anos depois eles se reencontram novamente em outra cidade, em circunstâncias diferentes e obrigados a fingir que estão em um relacionamento.

Estou encantada por essa história! Eu já tinha lido outro livro da autora e gostado muito, mas esse tem todo meu coração. Eu amei como ela trabalhou as interações dos personagens, o envolvimento rápido no começo, o reencontro, o primeiro beijo e a primeira vez após o reencontro, as conversas. Eu amei TUDO! Foi encantador, delicioso, fofo, doce. Estou apaixonada pela história, ainda mais porque sou completamente rendida por fake dating. A autora arrasou em cada cena, em cada detalhe!

O desenvolvimento do romance foi de aquecer o coração. Nova, a protagonista, já teve um amor e ela mostra que sente algo ainda por ele. Assim como Ronan só amou sua noiva. Em momento algum o amor é anulado, existiu de verdade, mas quando a relação deles começa a crescer, nasce um amor entre eles, não é de todo igual, mas também é amor. E foi lindo como a autora respeitou as dores e os sentimentos dos dois. Tudo aconteceu em seu devido tempo e você sente a naturalidade de cada cena.

Não apenas o casal foi incrível, mas os personagens secundários também. Esse é o típico livro que você se apega a todo mundo na história. Todos os personagens são cativantes e você se vê desejando conhecer mais da sua história. Eu pelo menos fiquei.

Já me estendi muito, mas quero completar que o epílogo conseguiu fechar com perfeição todo o livro. Esse é aquele típico livro que você vai amar ler e aquecer o seu coração. Para os amantes de romances levinhos é uma boa pedida!

The beauty and the baller was a quick read for me because it was hard to put down. Nova is a strong independent woman who came back to look after her sister. Her character is well written and Isla Madden-Mills made her great for a romance heroine.

Ronan is more of a broken hero in this story. He’s determined to have no ties that will keep him from coaching in the NFL one day. However, he finds Nova perfect for a fake relationship to stop others from trying to set him up. These two characters really made the story what it was. The chemistry is so well done and with the other secondary characters made it hard to put down.

This is a sports/ second chance romance. This story wraps up well as a standalone so there’s no cliffhanger. It’s a fun, spicy story that I recommend for romance readers.

My favourite retelling story has always been Beauty and the Beast and when I’ve seen that one of my favourite authors is writing one, I couldn’t wait to read it.
Ilsa never disappointed me in any way! I’ve read almost I’ll of her books and this one is like the cherry on top ! It ticks all my boxes for a Must Read romance story!
Beautiful writing, great characters, amazing chemistry and steamy scenes and a happily ever after that worked its way through a lot throughout the book.

My favourite book of the year.

🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

Ronan was devastated when one tragic even destroyed all the plans he had for his future both personally and professionally which sent him in a downward spiral. He has created a new life for himself in Blue Belle where he is coaching the high school football team. He wants no part of the town’s matchmaking attempts so when Nova returns to town he asks her to pretend they are a couple unaware of the past he doesn’t remember and she wants to forget.

Nova has recently endured a tragedy of her own which has her returning to her hometown to be there for her sister. What she doesn’t need is to find out that her new neighbor is Ronan, the man she spent one night with which went from a dream to a disaster and to find herself misleading the town by pretending to be a couple.

The characters of Ronan and Nova are compelling, and their developing relationship is enough to make you swoon. Humorous interactions, hot chemistry and all the feels which will captivate you from beginning to end.

Beauty and the Baller has been an anticipated read of mine and I honestly really enjoyed it!!

Ronan and Nova are both very intriguing characters that I liked getting to know. Nova is my sunshine character and I love everything about. She’s sweet and strong!! She has vulnerable moments but those are the moments that really make you get to know more about her and the way things affect her. Even in the toughest moments she’s there for everyone and sees the beauty in many things. With Ronan his character was very surprising. My heart broke for him a lot. His past has been something that’s been with him through it all so to read about his second chance at something that has haunted him has been intriguing to read about.

All in all Ronan and Nova have insane chemistry and I absolutely love them together. It’s like they complete the parts that made them feel lost. I also really enjoyed the fake-dating aspect of this book,it was fun to read!!

4.5 stars
I adore Ilsa Madden-Mills books and her writing style. She is one of my favorite authors and always delivers a story I can’t put down. After reading the blurb for Beauty and the Baller I needed this book.

I loved Nova and Ronan’s story. I really felt for Ronan and could almost feel what he was going through. He had a lot things to work through and realize what he really wanted. Nova snuck up on him and helped him forget things for a while.

Now a few years later they see each other again. She moved back home and Ronan is her neighbor, the kicker is he doesn’t remember her.

The banter and the chemistry these two have was great. You will fall in love with Nova and Ronan and all the secondary characters. I adored Nova’s little sister. Must read!

I loved the entire Blue Bell Clan!!!

This book was just adorable 😉😉, Once I started it I couldn't put it down. Ronan and Nova's romance was little bit of it all. Ronan struggled with loss and shut himself down wanting to reach his ultimate goal. He was not ready for whirlwind that is Nova. Nova was just awesome, I love her relationship with Sabine. Ilsa Madden-Mills is wonderful at writing quirky character and make you falling in love with them. I really hope we get more stories for the people from Blue Bell.

THE REVIEW FOR THE BOOK: Beauty and the Baller
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
AUTHOR: Ilsa Madden-Mills
TROPE: contemporary romance, sport romance, small town romance
TYPE: Standalone
POV: Dual
MY RATING: 4.5 Stars

Ronan is an NFL player that meets Nova one night when she’s dressed as princess Leia. The two develop and instant connection and spend the night together. A couple years later, the two of them meet again when they find themselves living in the same small town. The reunion was not all that either of them imagined happening in their lifetimes. They thought it was a one and done. Thank you, next. They have to learn to be in this small town together and even start fake dating.

I’m always weary of stories where the male character loses someone he loves and moves on with the female character. I appreciated the fact that the author didn’t focus on that fact so much. Ronan found that he was able to love another person even after his fiancé’s death. I thought this book was charming, hilarious, romantic and steamy. This was just the book to get me out of my book hangover reading slump.

Fans of Ilsa will not be disappointed.

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

One of my favorite romance subgenres is sports romance and this romance was so sweet, sexy, and funny. This book featured all of my favorite tropes in such a fun way that never felt overstuffed. We have a second chance enemies to lovers fake dating all in a small town. Add in a little Beauty and the Beast (but not too much and you have the perfect quick read that will leave you with a smile on your face looking for your own retired football player.

I loved both of the main characters in this story. Nova is a bad bitch who knows what she wants and deserves. Caleb is her slightly scarred beast who is such an protective but sweet book boyfriend. What I loved if both of them have dealt with grief and they both help each other move on from it while challenging each other.

Overall I could not recommend this book enough and even better if you have Kindle Unlimited it is available there. If you don’t it’s available now to purchase. Thanks to Montlake, Social Butterfly PR, and NetGalley for my ARC for an honest review.

PERFECTION!!

This story in every way is perfection!

Ronan is a man who has lost so much! He’s lost and alone but one night lit a spark that he hasn’t found since. Until…his feisty neighbor chastises him two years later! Is it fate or is it torture!?

Nova is a bright light just like her name suggests! She’s feisty and though life has dealt her a few blows she comes out on top and stronger than ever but she may not be strong enough to resist Ronan if given a second chance.

I loved these two separately and together! They both had such amazing hearts and how they helped their student made me fall in love even more! Together they healed each other’s wounds and brought out the best! One of the best books I have read this year.

This a fun story with heart. All the favorites, sports, fake dating, great characters and smiles. Ronan’s always told his team “ If you win the heart, you win everything”. It took a while for him to really understand the the true meaning Life had dealt him some blows . He lost his NFL career, his fiancée and he was lost until he got to a little town in Texas. He found family and friends that he didn’t know he needed. He is a smart, nerdy alpha that shows his possessive side. He has battle scars and is sweet and adorable. Nova is a sassy, fun loving woman with a huge heart. She holds her own with Ronan. Very entertaining and easy to read with a great epilogue

OVERALL RATING – 5
RECOMMENDED FOR: grumpy /sunshiny / tragedy on one side / small town

First my usual points:
- I do not do spoilers unless warned.
- Read the summary above; it will tell you what the book is about. I will not reiterate.
- This is a standalone as far as I’m aware
- No errors that I caught as far as editing.
- The author was not new to me

BOOK:
- Cover adequately reflects the story:
- Genre/troupe: contemporary romance
- 1st person alternate POV

Star Ratings - 1 (poor) - 5(READ THIS BOOK)
• Writing Quality: 5 stars;
• Story ingredient: 5 stars
• Ease of reading/Pace: 5 stars
• Plot strength: 5 stars
• Steam Level 5 stars
• Characters:
 He has been left scarred after tragic event, slightly cocky; slightly geeky
 She is a dreamer but also a realist and willing to do what is necessary

Notes/Opinion (personal):
I enjoyed the story overall. I liked Ronan more than Nova, which I attribute to their personality. Her type of personality, I'd slap her and roll my eyes at before walking away. I think she relied on her looks too much. Ronan suffered through a tragedy and had to get over himself to move on. In the end, it was an enjoyable read and left me with a few laughs. .

This story is full of fun and comedy gold.
Small town Texas, aggressive women on the husband hunt and meddling matchmakers have never been so entertaining!
Ronan and Nova are extremely lovable characters with a connection on many levels.
Their banter is so amusing, their intellectual connection is great and they have strong emotional moments together that really touched my heart.
Then, there’s their spicy hot chemistry.
They are a smoke show together!
I love the fun nature of their flirting and the intensity of their sexual encounters.

The humor is so sharp and witty. The snark, one-liners and jokes are absolutely hilarious.
The comical and zany situations the characters get into are so cleverly done.
I was so entertained by this immensely enjoyable story and the amazing cast of quirky characters.

Tragedy is what brings Nova and Ronan to small town living in Texas. The emotions they are dealing with are relatable and they make the characters so sympathetic.
I love the way the author creates such amazingly vivid characters. I felt so invested in the main and in secondary characters lives. I love them!
The secondary characters are a big part of the story and the author manages to breath so much life into them that they enhance the story so much and yet they don’t steal anything from the main characters story and time.
Even a cat has a memorable personality and added funny moments to scenes. It’s such a unique style of writing that I absolutely adore.
An awesome story with so many hilarious scenes.

There is plenty of heart and thought provoking aspects to the story. There’s really beautiful sentiments and moments that pulled at my heartstrings.
It’s such a feel good RomCom with just enough heart wrenching moments to make it full and balanced.
It’s a new favorite, I absolutely loved it!
I think it’s one I’ll read again, the characters are so entertaining and witty.

Don't you just love when a book completely takes you by surprise!?

That is exactly what Beauty and the Baller did for me, it was so much more than what the blurb gave us!
This book checked some of my fave boxes:
Small Town
Second Chance
Fake Dating
Memorable Meet Cute

"We’re different flowers from the same garden, but we’re perfect together."

It was quirky, sexy, oh so funny, and the sexual tension between our main characters... chef's kiss! I loved watching our characters grow and able to open themselves up to the possibilities of not only love but when life throws you an interception. The connection that all our characters had....makes this book so much more entertaining.

I don't need to tell you more than you need to read this book.

I have read and loved a number of Ilsa Madden-Mills' books, and this is my new favorite from her!

Nova and Ronan's story had a little bit of everything. There was humor, friendship, family, sweet and swoony moments, and no shortage of chemistry and steam between them.

Their relationship doesn't progress in a typical way, and it was entertaining to read. They spent one night together while both still living in New York City and are surprised to find themselves as neighbors when Nova moves back to her hometown of Blue Bell. Then they make a deal to fake date, but it's obvious the attraction and feelings they have for one another are anything but fake.

I really liked Nova. She was relatable and had so much heart. Ronan was genuine, kind, and thoughtful. Both only want the best for the people they care about, and I thought they were so great together.

This is one of my favorite reads this year and I hope we get more from the town of Blue Belle!

Let me just say that author Ilsa Madden-Mills nailed it again. This is definitely going into my best of 2022 reads lost. The stories this author writes just always manages to suck me straight in. From start to finish I devoured every single page. I just had to know what happened next with these characters. Beauty and the Baller was just the book I needed right now. It was so worth the wait to me. It's without fail that this authors books always manage to get me out of any book slump I am in at the time. Not only is this cover simply beautiful but the story with in is just as beautiful. I always have a weak spot for sports romances because let's face it y'all they are just all around my jam. Plus when you add in a little humor, angst, and small town vibes I am completely sold. I could rave about this book alone for just how adorable it was. From the characters to the plot everything just had my heart melting.

Ronan and Nova is all chemistry in this book and I was here for it y'all. They had my Kindle ready to burst into flames so many times with their spark. I also really loved their wit and easy banter. So many times I did not now if I wanted to laugh or swoon. Because let's face it this author has the recipe for swoon worthy alpha hero's in the bag! I love when a hero is possessive and Ronan made sure everyone knew just how much Nova was his! Nova was a easy heroine to love as well. She was relateable, down to earth, and sassy. My heart did ache for Nova as well as Ronan because both had their struggles in life this story. I was definitely rooting for them both to be happy and for things to look up for both of them.

*5 STARS*
Well earned for this swoon worthy romance. If you are looking for a laugh that also packs in all the feels with a side of football then I would highly recommend reading Beauty and the Baller. Any book that can commence the book hangover status when finished is a winner in my book.

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read an Ilsa Madden-Mills book, and reading Beauty and the baller feels like a coming home. A small town romance about moving on, starting over, and giving into love again—Beauty and the Baller tells the story of Nova, a former beauty queen who is forced to move back to her small town after the death of her mother, and Ronan, the former NFL hotshot turned High School Coach who has a past that he has never been fully able to shake. With an awkward as all get out meet-cute, these two take a journey that none of them really bargained for. Honestly, Mills throws it out of the park with this small town romance, to the point where I couldn’t stop thinking about these characters. Nova and Ronan are a pair that you can’t help but root for as they navigate their future together all the while working on coming to peace with their past.

One of the many things I love about Mill’s writing, is how subtle yet explosive her romance is. She brings such a lyrical and enchanting spin to her contemporary romances to the point where the authenticity of the story has a whole is heightened in the most beautiful ways. I absolutely adored this book—from our main characters, the setting (Can I live in Blue Belle?!), all the way to the all too realistic side characters that you can’t help but root for as they too find their HEA.

If you haven’t gotten your hands on this stellar book yet—what are you waiting for?! I promise you--you will swoon, laugh, and swoon some more as Ronan and Nova steal your heart, one darling at a time ;)

Huge thank you to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!