Princess and the Player is a second book in a series by Miller. It follows Tuck Avery and Francesca (I forgot her last name). For Avery's 35th birthday party, a couple of his teammates take him to a sex club with strings attached, like you much keep identity a secret. At said club, he meets Princess Bride where they have a night filled with unimaginable passion. Fast forward to actual story, and we meet our female main character, Francesca, a tattoo artist, who is recently fired from her job due to her fiancée sleeping with the manager. (It's a convoluted mess and really very illegal). In a slew of events, she figures out her masked Lover and her virus that just won't quit are non other than Tuck Avery and his baby. The book follows Tuck and Francesca's relationship, weaving ideas of fate, past trauma, and hope.

I don't normally like pregnancy trope, but I decided to give this one a go. It felt fascinating because the pregnancy was a source of redemption for Francesca, and a sense of secrecy. The fall out of Tuck finally figuring out he is the father was a bit lackluster, and turnaround//ending of the book seemed forced.

I loved Beauty and the Baller, but I think this one just sorta fell short.

However, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read this before published date in exchange for an honest review

This book was heart-warming, heart-wrenching, and heart-pounding. The characters were well-written, the emotional depth was just the right amount of heavy, and the sexual tension was perfect. I teared up, I laughed, I bit my nails, and I loved every minute of it.

Princess and the Player is the second book in the Strangers in Love series by Ilse Madden-Mills. The first book in the series Beauty and the Baller was one of my favorite books of 2021. I was excited to read more about Tuck who was the best friend of the first book's hero.

Tuck and Francesca meet at an exclusive private club. Both are going through a tough time and agree to a masked no questions asked one night stand. Weeks later, Tuck and Francesca have a chance encounter at a coffee shop that ends with them verbally sparing. They almost immediately recognize each other from the private club. Francesca realizes she is pregnant but knows that Tuck isn't interested in anything serious. He continues to pursue her despite her turning him down. How can she navigate her feelings toward Tuck and the secret that she is keeping from him?

Francesca drove me a bit batty during this book. I loved that she was so feisty and confident but when it came to the pregnancy she spent entirely too much of the book keeping it secret. I know she "tried" to tell him a couple of times but it felt like she had soooo many opportunities to really tell him if she wanted to.

Tuck has a troubled past. He may have grown up privileged but life with his parents wasn't easy. I think adding the element of coping with his mother's mental illness gave Tuck a level of depth that he needed as a character.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read but was missing that spark the first book captured. Make no mistake though, it was steamy! One aspect that was particularly strong was Francesca's found family. From her grouchy elderly neighbor to her nosy best friend roommates, the secondary characters were a highlight of this book. Thank you to MontLake and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Tropes include: one night stand, surprise baby, sports romance, tortured hero, found family, sex club
#netgalley #illsemaddenmills #princessandtheplayer #montlake

Francesca Lane is an artist who was betrayed by her fiancé. On the night that was supposed to be her wedding, she goes to a mascarade at a NY club. There she meets Tuck Avery, famous wide receiver for the NY Pythons football team. Since they are wearing masks, they don’t have a clue who they are with. They agree to one night, no names and the masks remain on. Of course, they live in the same building, and that night left a little souvenir that will make itself known in nine months. Both Tuck and Francesca have complicated backstories that make trust and a potential happily ever after difficult. Seeing their progression and growth was truly enjoyable. Thoroughly enjoyable book. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Since first discovering her books, this Author is an instant Download for me.
I love how we get not only the feels and get to peel back the layer of the MC in each of her books, we also get the funny and laugh out moments.

We first met Tuck in Beauty and the Baller, the Bestie of Ronan with his quick wit and charm he easily became a favorite secondary character.
As we know tho, those who smile the most and laugh the hardest sometimes have the most to hide inside, and out Tuck was holding a lot inside.

Francesca, our FMC is betrayed by her fiancé, so she goes with a friend to a exclusive club donning her wedding dress and mask, she has an out of this world encounter with a masked player.... none other than our Tuck. They have an explosive night with no names, no attachments, and no worries.... so they thought.

I absolutely loved this book, loved our main characters and as always the side characters.

Princess And The Player is book 2 in a series of standalones!

I honestly didn’t read the premise it’s an Ilsa book so I grabbed it (thank you NetGalley and Publisher)

The way that these two meet was unexpected but honestly perfect because though each one is wearing a mask they are both able to shed the mask they wear in society! They do not click immediately but when Fran finally gives him a chance he because her knight!! They agree to one night of passion!

Fate had other ideas and keeps throwing these two together! Their encounters are hilarious but over time a friendship starts to form! Francesca hides a secret though and it just might be their undoing.

I will honestly say that at first I was skeptical with my feelings on this book. Tuck wasn’t who I thought he was at first but in a good way. He has a few nuances but once you get to know him he makes sense and he fits with Fran perfectly. I loved Fran she is very strong and has found her people. She loves those close to her heart fiercely and I love how she paves her own way! Once Tuck let’s his walls down you truly see just how strong and loving he is. He just needed the right person to show him the way.

An intimate encounter at a sex club masquerade ball leads to a surprise connection–and a surprise pregnancy–in Princess and the Player. An artist and jilted bride, who grew up without a family, and a famous football wide receiver, whose family memories are colored by pain–can they really have more in common than being incognito at the same party, at the same time in NYC?

It turns out fate has been crossing their paths for years, and later, when they see each other unmasked, there’s no mistaking who they were that night at the club.

She has hard edges with a soft core; he has insecurities; and both are apprehensive to enter into anything serious for their own reasons. This one has some heaviness, and while there is some humor mixed in, there is not the same level of levity to balance out the heavier themes as you find in Beauty and the Baller.

In this one Ilsa Madden-Mills serves up plenty of steam, some anywhere but the bed action, heart-wrenching moments, and heart touching ones. Some of my favorite scenes involve Francesca’s found family and Jasper’s upbeat and offbeat friendship with Tuck.

CW: abuse, foster homes, abandonment, infidelity, stalker, manic depression, suicide, death of a parent, guilt

I received an advance copy from Montlake and NetGalley. Review opinions are my own.

Ilsa Madden-Mills never disappoints and her latest novel Princess and the Player had me staying up into the wee hours of the night to finish because it’s just that good!! Princess and the Player is the second novel is Ilsa’s Strangers in Love series and I was thrilled to get Tuck’s story!! Tuck is a super famous NFL superstar, so when he goes to a masquerade party he loves that the women who caught his eye that night has no idea who he is. The problem is he can’t get her off of his mind and he has no idea who she is!! The masked lady is Francesca, a super talented artist who is finding herself at a professional crossroads who didn’t expect to meet a handsome stranger at a party. I was completely in the hook at this point and I love what Ilsa had in mind for these two!!

This addictive read has everything I love in a great romance novel- sweet, steam, sass, and angst! The storyline was perfectly paced—I enjoyed it so much I read the entire book in record time! The cast of characters were so incredibly endearing! I love when major AND minor characters are memorable and Ilsa Madden-Mills came through big time in this novel! Princess and the Player is a 5 star read that I highly recommend! I am keeping my fingers crossed there will be many more future installments in this fantastic series!

My first read by Ilsa Madden-Mills and not my last. Masquerade Balls where strangers meet are my kryptonite. I enjoyed this story from start to finish.

Rated 4.5 Stars

Princess and the Player was my first book by this author but it won’t be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed Tuck and Francesca’s story. I thought it was just a light, fluffy and sexy story when I first started reading it but there was more to it than that which I loved. I enjoyed their journey and I’m definitely looking forward to reading the first book in the series. I definitely recommend it.

DNF. Unfortunately I got to about 30% and couldn't bring myself to finish the book. The characters were uninspiring and the drama felt unnecessary. Usually I am a huge fan of Ilsa Madden-Mills, but this book just didn't live up to any of her other work. I will definitely keep reading her books in the future even though this one was not a favorite of mine.

Tuck Avery is celebrating his 35th birthday. In lieu of spending it alone, he allows his friends to drag him to a private club where he meets a masked princess in a wedding gown. Behind the mask is Francesca Lane, seeking a good memory to replace the bad on the day she was supposed to marry her cheating finance. One night, no names, no strings, and still wearing their masks, they spend a fiery night together.

I LOVED this story. I loved the multi-layered storyline, the characters, and everything mixed in. I loved Tuck. Beneath the charisma and charming smile is a man with deep-rooted pain. Francesca is just as complex. She's a small spitfire who hasn't let her hard life scar her.

The story was heartfelt and hopeful. I found myself smiling in parts and feeling a swell of emotions in others. There's a lot of heat here, and even though it's frequent and steamy, it doesn't overshadow the romance or emotion woven into the story. There's inner turmoil, a battle of wills, and mending hearts. This is also a story about found family and the strong bonds formed by ride-or-die friends. I absolutely loved the supporting cast of characters and how they added to Tuck and Francesca's journey. I loved Jasper's chaos, Cee's extravagance, and Darden's bristly nature.

Was this a perfect story? Nope. Were there secrets that should have been revealed much sooner? Absolutely. But just as this story proved, even when something is meant to happen, it doesn't always play out the way we plan. And I just went with it and loved watching these two fall in love and how they struggled with their demons at every turn. This story just worked for me from the fun beginning to the strikingly beautiful end.

/I received an early edition of this book. This did not affect my opinion of the book or content of my review./

Princess and the Player is a new sports romance in Ilsa Madden-Mills series, Strangers in Love. This is the 2nd book in the series but it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. After sharing a passionate together at a masquerade ball, the hero and heroine run into one another later realizing they live in the same building.

I like a sports romance and don’t mind surprise baby trope, but this one just didn’t work for me because I felt the romance was lacking. However, I always enjoy Ilsa Madden-Mills, so I will continue to read her books and look forward to them.

I must admit that I personally loved the first book in the series much more than this one.
Same writing, same great character development and a story that makes me swoon and want to slap and kiss at the same time both of them.
It’s going to be another hit from one of my all times favourites authors!

4.5 stars

This book started a little shakey for me but once it hit its
stride it was the fun weekend read I was looking for. I
wish that Francesca had not kept the secret foe such
an uncomfortably long time and that the conflict at the
end hadn't resolved so quickly and seemingly out of the
blue but the fantasy of the hot football player wooing
the object of his affection through winter time walks and
lavished attention made it all worth while.

A Five-star read that sparkles like the best tiara. This is number two in the Strangers in Love series, but they can easily be read as stand-alone. Francesca is just someone you warm too, she has her spiky edges, but she is so warm under it all, she attracts people to her like waves receding into the shoreline, they have no choice. There has to be the underlier, the rouge wave that goes its own way, but that wave soon disappears into the ocean. Tuck really is something else, not just the player he portrays, but something deeper. I adored the writing and really felt in my bones that Francesca and Tuck are two halves of a whole. There are so many amazing characters in this story, each one has something special in them, and I am so hoping we can hear more about several of them.

A little too much fluff and not quite enough plot for me. I liked the Tuck and Francesca characters but I felt like the story kind of dragged on a little. Thank you, NetGalley. I always feel guilty when I don’t love it!

Omg if I thought I loved Beauty and the Baller. Book 2 of the series out did it ! You meet tuck in beauty and the baller as Ronan’s best friend . It’s hard not to love him in book one.

But man book two , your heart really only has eyes for Tuck. Troubled childhood, anger issues , Tuck only has one thing on his mind Football. He meets the stunning Francesca masked while at an exclusive club, one steamy one night stand later. Francesca bumps into Tuck, the man she dislikes , and quickly realizes that he is her one night stand . Throw in a pregnancy . Can a chance encounter turn in to more ? Will these two stop fighting the inevitable?!

Fantastic book! Oh my I hope Ilsa continues on with this series , it has humor, some really steamy scenes and lots of chemistry .

I couldn’t put it down . Thank you NetGalley and Ilsa Madden-Mills for this ARC

There was a lot to love in this novel. I have read most of the author’s catalogue and the tone of this piece felt quite different. I really appreciated the sex positive representation of sex work and alternative lifestyles beyond what is often portrayed in BDSM romances. The relationships between the heroine and her found family were compelling but I never really connected with the romance. There was a lot of talking *about* the development of their relationship, like meaningful walks & dates the main characters’ mention in their inner monologues but we don’t actually see these moments happen. Overall their relationship felt more like lust than love but was still an enjoyable read.

This was my first Ilsa Madden-Mills but will definitely NOT be my last!

Tuck gets whisked away to a masquerade event at a sex club for his birthday [against his will]. He's the football player who dates supermodels and goes on yachts.

Francesca is a tattoo artist that was abandoned at a police station when she was born with just a locket for show. She also attends the masquerade event, wearing her wedding dress.

What happens to be a one night stand turns into an unexpected pregnancy. Tuck has a messed up past that leaves him screaming from being a dad. Francesca has a baby on the way.... but will parenthood be in story for this football player?

I devoured Princess and the Player in less than a day. It was a steamy ride that unearthed emotions from both main characters. Told in dual POVs, I felt for both Francesca and Tuck emotionally. I cannot wait to read and see what else Madden- Mills has up her sleeve.


Thank you Montlake publishing for my arc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.