5 star Review Beauty and The Baller by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Another well written story by Ms.Madden-Mills. I enjoy Ms. Madden-Mills writing, her characters are easy to relate to, strong and engaging. This is Ronan Smith and Nova Morgan’s story and was an entertaining read.

I love stories set in small towns such as Blue Belle, Texas (I just love the name) so I couldn’t wait to read this story. This is a second chance at love story and was fun. They met a couple of years ago and now fate has put them together again. Nova has returned home after the death of her mother. Finding out that Ronan is her next door neighbour is a shock.

Both Nova and Ronan have baggage and agree to fake date to keep people at bay. However we all know what starts as fake soon becomes complicated. Being around Nova she brings light back into Ronan’s life after the tragedy of his car accident and the loss of his fiancee.

Can these two broken people come together and make one another whole? From the first to the last chapter I was invested in the journey that Nova and Ronan embark on. The writing was strong with some drama, angst, humour and heat with a hero and heroine whose story you cannot help but fall for.

It's been a little while since I've read a book by this author, and I realized as I was reading this that I need to read more! Once I started, I didn't want to stop until I was finished. The small town of Blue Belle, Texas and its' residents were so charming and fun.

Ronan is an ex-NFL player who is now the high school football coach in this small town. He only signed a one-year contract, but the residents want him to stay. To do that, they are trying to set him up with the women in town.

Nova is his next-door neighbor. She and Ronan have met in the past (and then some) but he doesn't initially remember their one night stand. To stop the booster club from their quest to find him a women, he suggest fake dating to Nova.

Ronan has had major loss in his life with the death of his ex girlfriend. Nova just lost her mother. He has higher aspirations than being a high school coach. She's just back to stay in the town she grew up in to take care of her younger sister and he has no plans to stay.

I thoroughly enjoyed this steamy, fun and emotional romance. Thank you to Montlake Romance and NetGalley for an advance readers copy. Thank you to Montlake Romance for my final copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ronan and Nova have a meet-cute in this small-town Texan romance that starts off as a one-night stand. Nova doesn't take any of Ronan's crap, Their connection was undeniable.
This is an enemy to lovers/fake relationships/sports romance with are all tropes that I love. I was able to read this book in one sitting because I needed to know what was going to happen next. I was in a bit of a slump and this was the perfect light-hearted read to get me out of it.

This story was sweet, funny and gave me a warm, heartfelt southern feeling that I really enjoyed.

I enjoyed the chemistry between Ronan and Nova, their banter, their instant connection and the way they helped each other get over past traumas.

The only thing that really bugged me was a decision the hero had to make towards the end. Sometimes it’s ok for hero’s to pick something they want, instead of sacrificing it for the heroine. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed where they ended up at the end.

3.75/4 stars

This was such a dreamy book to read.
Nova and Ronan were a delightful couple. I loved their dynamics and how even when the attraction was there, they knew they need something more to build a relationship.
I adored the small-town vibe. Ilsa always writes about small communities and does it in a way that makes you want to be part of that. The town feels alive and like it's another character in the book.
Now, the side characters were fun to read especially the players. Those kids were amazing! My least favorite character was skeeter. I had a bit of a love-hate thing with him because although he was hilarious, he also frustrated me.
On the other side, my favorite side character was Sabine. She was a complex but very endearing and interesting character.
Overall the story was sweet and heartwarming. A beautiful read about love and overcoming grief.

Thank you to Netgalley and social butterfly pr and the author for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ronan and Nova meet in New York and after a one night stand and don’t see one another for two more years. They meet again in Texas, and as neighbors! Ronan was Nova’s Pro favorite football player and now he is coaching local high school football. This story is so wonderful. Nova is just a piece of sunshine, even when she is truly a bit overwhelmed with how her life is going. Ronan has gotten his life on track, yet he is scared of how she makes him feel. Circumstances bring these two together and maturity keeps them there! Love this couple that can’t help but love one another!

I usually really enjoy books by this author, but I could not get into this one. The characters felt flat, the situations didn't make sense, it was...not good.

Beauty and the Baller was a great read! It was a Small town/fake dating /sports romance. Ronan and Nova meet after Nova crashes a party dressed as Princess Leia! They have a not so good one night stand. Nova moves back to her hometown two years later and "meets" her neighbor and the new high school football coach! I loved all the banter and pop culture references. Nova and Ronan's chemistry was perfect and the steamy scenes were explosive! Loved these two alot! I also loved all of the secondary characters - Nova's sister Sabine was probably my favorite of them. Definitely recommend.

Aaah, Blue Belle - now if that isn't a town name that will give you all sorts of ideas of what is going on.

And if you are thinking small town, football obsessed and everyone in your business, then you are spot on.

Ronan and Nova are each other's one night stand they cannot forget, and when they meet up again, those sparks fly again - though this time it is not the lusty sparks, it is the I kinda hate you vibe.

Add in the small town where everyone is in their business and hijinx ensue.

I mean, the premis of the story is nothing new, I have read many former-sports-star-moves-to-small-town stories, but there was something about Nova and Ronan that I just couldn't stop reading.

Enjoyable small town romance, with fun, laughter and some sadness and frustration (this is aimed at you, Ronan!!). I wouldn't mind going back to this town for more stories.

A southern bell and a football coach, fated mates from different worlds that collide to one and are truly inseparable...

Ronan and Nova... sighs... these two are simply a dream boat. This was the perfect book I needed to read to get out of my book funk. Ilsa's books are always my favorites, and this one was just the right amount of sweet that I needed. Everything about Nova's and Ronan's meet cute was the ideal meet cute. And though obstacles were in the way from them being together, fate would always bring them back. All the characters, from Nova's sister to Ronan's football players. This story is the right cherry for everyone to enjoy this spring;

“My beauty. We’re gonna have the world…”

I am hoping Ilsa writes a story for Sabine. She is the type of quirky, and unique character that we romance lovers truly adore.

Bittersweet tale of returning to the town of your youth and coming face to face with a one night stand that left a very deep impression on her heart. After her mother's death, Nova comes home to care for her teenage sibling only to find out the former NFL star Ronan who she had one infamous night with as her next door neighbor. With any small town there are loads of whispers and busybodies and that only leads the reader to more enjoyable moments in a book that was great from beginning to end. Friday night lights and the pull to be back in the NFL may cause Ronan to think he knows what is best, but it is his heart for Nova that leads him into their HEA. Great storyline and great characters.

I loved this book!! I went in with little knowledge and I’m kinda glad I did! It was wonderful. Ronan was great. Poor guy had a lot of emotions. And I get why. Losing Whitney had to have been hard for him. Nova was adorable and dorky and I loved her! She had me laughing so much. She is a great big sister. Sabine is lucky! Skeeter was hilarious! Seriously, the lice epidemic?! Cracked up about it. Lois made me chuckle. She’s such a meddling grandma, in the best way! I needed more Tuck though. He just seemed like a great best friend. I fell in love with these two. I really really did. They both needed each other and the path to get to each other was a good one to go down. They both bring something to the table that the other needs and that makes my heart happy. I honestly can’t wait to read this book again!

Big city to small town
Second Chance romance
Sports romance
Fake dating
A quirky leading lady and a soft broken lead male
A story that broke my heart and put me back together.

This book had it all and more. I absolutely loved it from beginning to end. Nova and Ronans relationship was everything I wanted in a romance and more. They had amazing chemistry from the get go and I loved how circumstances and fate threw them back together. Nova was quirky and spunky, had no filter and i loved her. Both her and Ronan are hurting and trying to piece themselves back together. Ronan isn't looking for a relationship he's got his walls up high and Nova chips away at him bit by bit. A beautiful story from start to finish ❤

Ilsa is back baby!! 🙌🏽

The wait is over, and boy is it worth it! This story follows Nova, former beauty Queen & small town girl, and Ronan, NFL quarterback player.

Ronan loses his career and fiancée in a tragic turn of events and ends up as a small town football coach. Nova finds her self back in her small town, and having to face a past she would have rather left behind. After their one night stand from years before, they find they are neighbors.

This book contains all the the hilarious hi jinxs, and heart, that comes with small town living. All the feels for Nova and Ronan, and some steamy and sexy scenes.

I enjoyed this book so much, I didn’t want it to end.

Melli’s Book Breakdown
🤍Dual POV
🤍Sports Romance
🤍Football Romance
🤍Small Town (TX) Romance
🤍enemies-ish to lovers
🤍Steamy 🔥
🤍HEA

Sweet, quint and full of glow, Beauty and the Baller has that special kind of charm.

With an engaging storyline, quick banter, some swoon worthy moments and a side of steam, this book has all the makings of a great romance. But honestly, it's true magic, and Ilsa's specialty is in the little moments. The intimacy, friendship, family and love that's so tangible it pours off the pages.
The growth, self discovery and reflection that all the characters go through feels so genuine it lends them an extra sense of realness, and I would absolutely love to read more of their stories.

5 stars and a yellow rose

BEAUTY AND THE BALLER has everything I need. Enemies-to-Lovers, fake relationship, ex pro-sports player with a hot body, strong female lead, autism representation, snort-laughs, love, loss, healing, family, quirky small town charm.....EVERYTHING.

Nova is hilarious and hardworking and so damn likable. I adored her! And Ronan is just swoony. A true cinnamon roll hero who is dealing with grief and job pressure and a small town who is all up in his business. I loved Nova and Ronan together so much! And their steamy scenes are H-O-T.

BEAUTY AND THE BALLER gets a very enthusiastic 5-STARS from me. This book can, at times, read a little slow, but keep reading because it is so, so, SO good!

Ilsa Madden-Mills did it again! Beauty and the Baller was a book that I really enjoyed from beginning to end, it's a story of grief, loss and healing, with very funny, hot and peculiar moments that made me love its characters main madly , and wish that more than one secondary had its own story.

Nova is a girl who returns to her hometown to take care of her sister, Sabine after her mother's death she is going through her loss, trying to rebuild her life in the place she never thought to return to and doesn't have the best memories of when she discovers her new neighbor is Ronan: the man she had a very unfortunate one night stan a couple of years ago. Everything in Nova's life is turned upside down, but I loved her way of facing every obstacle that came her way, her unconditional love & constant concern to do things right for Sabine and that she had the possibility of forming a new family in the least unexpected place of all.

Ronan is a former futbol player, now coach of the Blue Belle team and the man the whole town loves, when he met Nova he was going through a loss that seemed endless and he made some mistakes, but two years later he's a new man: he has his professional goals more than clear, he's professional with his boys, takes care of them and is much more than their coach,He is a BIG fan of Star Wars, a very handsome, flirtatious and mature nerd, who lives with a strong trauma that doesn't allow him to get close to people, and although his story is painful, it's also hopeful, and I have to say that I LOVE it whenever he find the necessary impulse to make changes in his life with Nova's help.

Ronan & Nova have a rare first meeting, with a beautiful cause behind it, full of emotions, feelings and revelations, especially for Ronan, I loved that since that moment we could realize that something special was happening between them, and although things didn't end in the best way, when Nova sees Ronan again the shared chemistry is still present. But even so, things between these two are not easy, there is a constant sexual tension between them, very funny confrontations and moments in which both show their true personality. Plus, the relationship between Nova & Ronan takes a very tender and sensual turn when they begin to pretend to be a couple: he begins to know more about Nova's past, to worry and be protective of her, and for Nova becomes harder to ignore her feelings for Ronan, even though she knows their relationship is temporary. One of the things that I liked the most about their relationship was that they both helped each other grow, overcome the losses of the past and heal, without realizing it and without wanting it which is even better, that together they found their place in the world, that they did friends, a new family and in the process, they became important pillars for the Blue Belle community.

But Beauty & the Baller is not only their love story, at least not only Ronan & Nova's, there are two other couples that we can get to know a little bit about, who I fell in love with and I NEED them to have their own book: Sabine & Toby are the sweetest and I think they both have a lot of potential to have an epic and original story, for their part, Sonia & Skeeter were a funny and adorable mess, totally different from each other but with something that makes them work, it would also be wonderful to be able to read what happened on that first date, and how they came to their happy ending. Another of the characters that I fell in love with was Tuck, Ronan's best friend, a very interesting, funny character who at first glance seems like the typical athlete, but who I sure is much more than that. And how to forget the rest of the boys at school, Milo, Bruno & Caleb, they all stole my heart and I'd be lying if I said I don't care what happened to them after this book.

Book: Beauty and the Baller
Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫stars
Angst level: 💧💧💧
Spice level: 🌶 🌶️🌶️
Heroine: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 stars
Hero: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 stars

"Make the impossible real. Reach for the stars, even if they burn..."

There are a few authors that possess the ability to break and mend your heart so easily as none other than Mrs. Madden-Mills, angst queen!

It has been a while since I've had the privilege to read/review one of her books and this one was just the perfect combination of what she does best than anyone else; and that is a beautiful written romance novel with just the right amount of comedic relief, utterly consuming passion and heartbreaking angst.

So, yeah you'll read this lovely book about two individuals who have been hurt and have built walls to protect themselves from their past experiences. Beaty and the Baller is about how Nova and Ronan, realize that sometimes you have to put yourself out there and be vulnerable, even when pain and hurt await for you.

As always, this is my opinion of this book, yours may differ and that's okay. Be kind.

ARC provided in exchange for was an honest review.

Awwwww!
Beauty and the Baller by Ilsa Madden-Mills was just the perfect love story I needed!
Nova and Ronan couldn't deny the power of attraction... so one thing lead... to one-night-stand... a very bad one. Oops!
So it's such a surprise when both meet again- years later - in the same small town...
Will they remember each other? And what'll going with Nova and Ronan?
Ha!
Read the book to find out more! 😉

WELL...OMG I JUST LOVED THIS BOOK!
I DEVOURED it because Nova and Ronan and everyone else in Blue Belle was sooooo charming and cute and funny!
I definitely would move to this small town!
The chemistry between Nova and Ronan was exquisite! OMG!
Talking about constantly goose bumps everywhere here! 🔥❤
Awwww and RONAN! Be still my beating heart!
With Nova he has the perfect addition! Definitely!
And I laughed so much that my stomach hurt a few times but I didn't regret this hurt. LOL
It was definitely worth it!
Aaand be prepared with lots of cold water! Because WOW - it's getting hot in here! 🔥🔥

Beauty and the Baller was such a cuuute and beautiful love story!!!
I can't stop grinning now!
OMG and the epilogue! 😍😍😍
THE WHOLE BOOK WAS WONDERFUL!

Thanks a lot to Montlake Publishing and Ilsa Madden-Mills for this ARC via NetGalley.

♡ This is my honest review in my own words. ♡

2 stars

Ilsa Madden-Mills is a name that I've seen come up a lot as a romance reader so when I saw this book come up on NetGalley, I figured that now is as good a time as any to jump into her catalogue.

Whelp. I'm definitely in the minority opinion for this one.

This book was all over the map for me. The blurb promised this really angsty romance between two people who are really emotionally damaged and for me, that never really hit home because there was just so much other stuff going on around it. The amount of local color that Madden-Mills is trying to establish is excessive and forced so many of the major moments in the relationship like their actual fake dates and even Ronan's realization that he has fallen in love with Nova off-page, which left me so unsatisfied. Outside of the leads' respective trauma, there wasn't a lot to grab onto with these characters and what is there often felt illogical or shoehorned in. Honestly, the best character in this book was Nova's little sister Sabine and her quest to find love as a autistic teen. She was an absolute delight and saved this book from being a complete miss for me.

I would maybe be interested in reading some of Madden-Mill's backlist since her books are so popular, but this one just did not do it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!