After really enjoying Beauty and the Baller earlier this year, I was excited to see that Tuck would get his own HEA in Princess and the Player. Even though this book contains one of my least favorite tropes (accidental pregnancy), I went into it hopeful that Tuck would turn it around for me but no such luck. I’m giving this book two stars for a lot of reasons - the character development (or lack of it), the too quick resolution, the lack of chemistry between the MCs and the unnecessary plot points.

Tucker (Tuck) Avery and Francesca Lane meet at an exclusive sex club and have one night together that results in an unexpected pregnancy but they never saw each other’s face and didn’t exchange names. They live in the same building together so it was inevitable that they’d find each other again. I liked the beginning of this story - their meeting and how their paths kept crossing was interesting to me but the coincidences quickly got old and felt really unbelievable. The biggest problem with this story though was that I just didn’t care about either of the MCs - they didn’t really have great chemistry, they were both kind of self-absorbed and I wasn’t invested in their growth or relationship.

And where were Ronan and Nova?! We get a few mentions from Tuck about them, but I was hoping for an appearance by these two at some point but it never happened - felt like a huge missed opportunity. There were so many side characters in this story, what’s two more? Would have loved to see more of a connection between the stories since Tuck still considers Ronan his best friend.

I wanted to enjoy this one just as much as BATB but I found myself skimming the last 25% just to see how it ended. The resolution is one of the things that drove me the most crazy…so many things wrapped up so quickly - Tuck’s grand gesture felt so abrupt and I really disliked that Francesca just expected him to change just because she wanted him to be in her and the baby’s life. Things really didn’t come together here for me and I finished the story feeling pretty underwhelmed.

NFL Player Tuck Avery is at a crossroads in his career and his life. Burned by love one time too many, this is a man in the public eye with no trust, in women. He's just too familiar with the back-ground checks and NDA contracts, also throw in a harsh past he wants to keep in the past. A night out with the boys is just what he needs
Francesca Lane couldn't be more opposite to Tuck, she's got no knowledge of her back-ground due to being abandoned as a baby, yet they instantly connect at a masquerade night in a "nawty club" with what was supposed to be a one-night thing.
The stars have aligned, and fate takes control. Now realizing they both live in the same apartment block and running into each other all the time, finds them growing closer each day.

Love comes when we least expect it and I loved every aspect of Tuck and Francesca's relationship. The closer they became the more my emotions got involved. The friends of both were a blast, the family issues were heartbreaking.
Both had trust issues that could obviously blow up in their faces at any time and I had great difficulty putting this book down, i was so afraid of missing something!!!
Of course, we also have twists and turns that send your emotions flying, you just never know what's going to happen.
I loved this story from beginning to end, I was just sorry it had to end, I could have stayed in their world with them for a long, long, time!
If you want a book with characters, you can love, and own your heart this is a book for you!!!

Princess and the Player was one of those books that I picked up and absolutely devoured!

Francesca Lane learned that her fiancee was cheating on her and so on what would have been her wedding day, she donned her wedding dress and went to a party at an exclusive sex club. She ends up meeting a man she dubs "the player" and they spend a hot, no strings attached night together.

Tuck Avery is at the party that night because his friends decided they were going to take him out for his birthday. While Tuck isn't all that into partying, he isn't upset when he encounters the beautiful, sexy, enchanting woman he ends up spending the night with.

Of course neither thinks they'll never see one another again, but fate has other plans for Francesca and Tuck. They start ending up in the same places around town, they figure out they live in the same building and they start building a friendship that could lend itself to being more. Will they end up finding their way together or will a piece of information that Francesca hasn't divulged end up tearing them apart before things even start?

I'm a sucker for a good sports romance and there is no doubt this was a great one. This series has been so enjoyable and I'm looking forward to the next one that Isla Madden-Mills has for us!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher**

I devoured Tuck and Francesca's story. Tuck's NFL career is winding down and Francesca's making use of her unused wedding dress when they literally bump into each other an exclusive club.

Francesca is a total badass who has been dealt a bad hand, but she knows it made her who she is today - bent but not broken. I absolutely love her character, her chosen family, her depth, her fire (she is freaking feisty and I love it)!

Tuck has had a pretty rough childhood, but didn't look at it the same way. He fears he'll turn into his parents and has been taken advantage of for his money. As a result, he keeps steel walls around his heart.

Their story is so much fun, but it's steamy, clever, witty and deep, too. Dual POV, amazing characters, great character development and a HEA!

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

Girls like me don’t have time to wallow. We’ve been rejected before, and when it happens, we make plans. We move on. We survive.

“You’re nuttier than a squirrel at a peanut festival. I know because we have a national peanut festival in my hometown. The squirrels race here and there with their tails swishing, not knowing if they’re gonna poop or sneak a peanut.”

She’s hammering on the steel walls around my heart. I can’t let her in.

One of my least favorite tropes is accidental pregnancy. So what the heck was I doing reading this book?
It's Ilsa Madden-Mills and I love her brand of romance with a little comedy thrown in, so I gave it a chance and I have to say that Princess and the Player was addictive and had me not wanting to put the book down until I finished Tuck and Francesca's story.

Tuck and Francesa meet at a private club that neither one of them should be in. They are masked and ready to have anonymous fun. Tuck is there with his friends celebrating his birthday and Francesca is running from a past relationship and out to have a good time with her friends, her family. Tuck and Francesca meet and what starts as a bet ends in a night of the best sex, best connection either of them has had in a long time. But then they go their separate ways, not knowing who one another is. A sexy meet cute with fun banter and a great connection that both of them thought would be the end.

Their paths end up crossing again, and that's where the fun starts. When Francesca finds out that the man she still thinks about lives in her building and is a star football player to her recently fired artist. But there's some spark between them and Tuck can't help but chase a woman that has something to hide and both of them harboring pasts that are painful for both of them.

I really enjoyed this fun yet emotional romance told in dual POV. Their time together was never wasted and we get to see a whole cast of characters that sometimes stole the show. From Tuck's roommate/teammate (Jasper) to Francesca's roommates that have become her family (Cece and Brodan), you will fall in love with everyone, even characters that you may not exactly like. The chemistry between the whole cast was fun, sweet and shows that found family is just as good or better than a blood family. I loved seeing Francesca break through Tuck's walls and them really connecting on so many levels. My only issue I had with the whole story was how long the pregnancy was hidden. It just didn't seem likely, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of Francesca and Tuck's journey to find their family and their happiness.

I love a good sports romance or characters that are sports players, but I love good banter even more and this had them both. That along with the amazing cast of characters that you wish you could be a part of should definitely have you one-clicking this book.

4.5 Stars for Princess and the Player ( Strangers in Love #2)
After reading the previous book I was excited to see where we would be taken with Tucker’s story and all I’m going to say is this is a very interesting read. It has the perfect mix of love and passion and once you add in an accidental pregnancy you get another layer to keep you captivated.
Tucker and Francesca meet while he is out celebrating his birthday but it was only meant to be one night but fate has other plans and this couple find that their life is connected in many ways…..
Francesca hasn’t had an easy life and when she finds out she is pregnant she is determined to give her child a better life than she had but will Tucker feel the same….one click to find out what the future holds for this adorable couple.
This book certainly ticked my boxes, it’s an entertaining read, it will keep you n the edge of your seat as you watch this couple do some soul searching, it’s emotional and a heartwarming read. A great addition to the Strangers in Love Series.

I hope there is an audiobook for this because I really want to listen to an awesome narration team bring it to life! This book, following Tuck and Francesca is so fun. An interesting start- they meet in an exclusive club- and then they find each other in the real world, finding out that the world is indeed small. I loved their interplay and while there were many laughs, there was also a deeper aspect to this story, as both had difficult upbringings. The supporting cast was amazing and while I'm not a huge fan of surprise baby stories, I did find the general roll-out of that story line well done and believable. Stay for the laughs, a few happy tears and just some wonderful characters!

Oh man! I loved every minute of reading this book by Ilsa Madden-mills. There is the angst, the funny banter between these two characters. Loved every single moment and felt I was a filly amongst the wall and just peeking into their lives, I highly recommend this book!

“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.

Princess and the Player
By: Lisa Madden-Mills

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

How do you let love Win?

In this incredible book in the Strangers in love series we Get Tick and Francesca story. These two have not so much in common the question is will they open up and find out. This book shows loyal friends with fun outrageous personalities. I’d say the only thing missing was a cameo from Ronan from book 1. It’s like they had a one sided friendship Tuck was there for Ronan but when Tucks struggling were is his friend. Otherwise incredibly great book. The author writing is flawless, and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shockingly intimate I have become a huge fan of this author. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some are quick witted story lines are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.

Authors Blurb: Levelheaded 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 an exclusive lifestyle club.

There, she meets unknown-to-her NFL star Tuck Avery, dressed as a prince and hiding behind a mask—he’s there to celebrate 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 realizes quickly that her masked 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. Getting tangled up with a shallow jerk is the last thing Francesca needs right now, 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?

This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV my personal favorite this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕

Thank you to Netgalley and Ilsa Madden-Mills for this ARC.

I thought this book was brilliant! I loved getting to delve into Tuck's flaws and trauma. I loved how strong and resilient Francesca is. I really liked all the side characters and hope to read more of this series.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Beauty and the Baller, so I was looking forward to this even though I’m not a fan of the surprise pregnancy trope. There’s been a few authors that have done this well, so I had hope! However, there was also so much miscommunication, or just no or inconsistent communication, between the main characters that it ruined any chances for me to enjoy their story. I did enjoy the found family that Francesca & Tuck surrounded themselves with, especially Mr Darden. I enjoyed their interactions with Francesca & Tuck rather than the interactions between Francesca & Tuck.

I adored Beauty and the Baller and Princess and the Player is even better! This is the second book in the Strangers in Love series but can be read as a stand-alone. Tuck and Francesca meet at a high-scale sex club and, faces hidden behind masks. I loved how Francesca and Tuck fought for each other, and cared for each other. Some people really don't enjoy this trope, but Ilsa Madden-Mills is truly an artist with her words. She did a great job with this book!

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a DNF for me. I get it they are Damanged. Oh the trauma. Not for me.

Just like other Madden-Mills books, I could not put this down!

Francessca and Tuck meet at a masked ball at a “special” club. The hook up for a night of no-strings, no-faces fun. They never expect to run into each other again until fate has other ideas and an unexpected surprise up her sleeve.

While Tick is your average sports romance character, I loved the raw and gritty background of Francessca. I wanted to give her a big hug after everything she went through!

It’s the second in the series but can be read as a stand alone. The first one is good so don’t miss out on it.

Read this if you love;

~Dual POV
~One Night Stand
~Sports Romance
~Surprise Pregnancy

4.5 Stars 🌟

Tuck Avery is an NFL veteran. The sport has always been everything to him. The more we learn about him the more we realise that football was his escape from a less than perfect home life. He’s well liked with charm and charisma for days but he doesn’t go deep….he likes the convenience of a girlfriend but doesn’t want the depth of a relationship.

Francesca is a really likeable lady once you get past the prickles and self preservation…..she’s a fighter and her life has dictated that for her…determination and some wonderful friends have kept her straight.

There are a lot of layers to this story with each character facing their own individual challenges. The friends and found family brought so much depth, heart and humour which enriched and enhanced the whole experience.

These two are made for each other, with Fran’s understanding and Tuck’s heart they make quite the pair…..but of course there are bumps in the road and misunderstandings, couple that with low self belief and lots of self doubt on both sides and they have some big barriers to cross….

My only complaint, if you can call it that, is I wanted another chapter before their epilogue and then more of their epilogue….I would have liked to share a bit more in their joy and wonder as their new adventures began….

Princess and the Player was another addictive, witty and swoon worthy romance from Ilsa Madden Mills.

Tuck and Francesca meet at a masquerade ball and share an unforgettable night together with no strings, no names and no regrets.

I've loved Tuck since I met him in Beauty and the Baller so it was good to learn more about him. Tuck comes across as super confident but he has a troubled past which haunts him, so he has trust and commitment issues.

Francesca was a great girl who cares for others, she too had a rough past so has her own issues to deal with.

Tuck and Francesca have great chemistry from the start that turned into a deep connection between them, they were fated to be together and I loved their journey.

Once again this author has delivered a fun, flirty and deliciously dirty romance, that's sure to leave a smile on your face.

I'm really hoping Jasper gets his book, he seriously cracked me up.

This book sucked me right in and I read it in one day. Although I loved it. It lacked a teeny bit of something and idk what that is. Maybe connection. It's part of a series but can be read as a standalone. Although the first one is worth it, it was slightly better. I say 3.75 ⭐

Princess and the Player (sighs dramatically) where for art thou hottie from the night we don't talk about?

Okay, so there's no restrictions on the night of nights. A wicked and scorching night worth all the fantasies and instant replays. Worth even the extra 8ish pounds...

I love being back in this world. I love these silly football players that think their lives are better but learn the truth. Sexy, sweet and deeply wounded Tuck finds everything he never knew he needed. And the Princess, well of course, she gets her very own Prince!

Francesca isn't having the best of luck and continually running into a player like Tuck isn't helping her situation - especially when she realizes that they're far more connected than she ever wanted to be.... I read this in one sitting - I couldn't put it down! Not only did I fall in love with Francesca and Tuck but all of the wonderful side characters were fantastic as well! I haven't met an Ilsa Madden-Mills book that hasn't made me fall in love with reading all over again!