Princess and the Player is the second book in the Strangers in Love series by author Ilsa Madden-Mills. This is a contemporary sports romance that can be read as a standalone.
In this story we get Tuck Avery and Francesca Lane. Tuck is a hotshot NFL wide receiver and the night of his birthday also happens to be the anniversary of the day his father died 10 years prior. To appease his friends, Tuck agrees to a night out in masquerade. What he doesn't expect is to be taken to a high class BDSM club. Furthermore, he gets it on with a woman he has dubbed Princess Bride due to her outfit. One hot night of No names, no strings and masks don't come off.
Francesca caught her fiancee in a compromising position with someone who wasn't her before her wedding. So on what would have been her wedding night, she hits up club decadence for their masquerade party. Her costume of choice? Her wedding dress. This is the night where she lets go of all her inhibitions for a hot night with a nameless and faceless stranger.
What happens when these two learn that not only do they know of pne another, but they also live in the same building?
This was another great addition to the series. I love reading anything Ilsa writes. This book had a good storyline, banter, chemistry and steam. Can't wait for more of this series.

Princess and the Player is the second book in the series called Strangers in Love, however, each book stands on it's own with one main couple. I have read the first book and, not that this story is terrible, but I liked Beauty and the Baller more. I'm not a huge fan of babies/children in my romance. I usually avoid the trope but I am a fan of Ilsa Madden-Mills and she can usually make it work when I wouldn't otherwise accept it. For the most part I was ok with the pregnancy in this one because it wasn't the sole focus of every scene.

Francesca and Tuck meet in a unique way on Tuck's (not a fan of this name) birthday celebration with Tuck's two buddies. Francesca (not a fan of this name either) ended her engagement when her fiancée cheats, but she puts on her dress and goes out with her friend. and Tuck isn't interested in a serious relationship. She meets Tuck, their chemistry is great, they agree to a one and done hook-up, and just like they agreed, they somewhat reluctantly go their separate ways.

There were many side characters to be found in this story. Jasper (another name I'm not fond of unless it's a butler or chauffeur) was pretty close to Tuck ("T" from now on). Francesca (I'm calling her "F" from now on) has her besty, Cece, who has fallen in love and making huge changes in her life and her other besty, Brogan (🙄) who is our token LGBTQ character and is my favorite side character. There are other friends, neighbors, and associates with some more names I'm not fond of but each play and important part of the story while also providing comic relief.

F and T both have some baggage and major trust issues that unfold over the course of their relationship. It takes a lot of time and patience but they do grow closer. Then she drops the baby bømb and T doesn't take it well, naturally. I'll let you read about it yourself. F finds out some life changing information about herself which is both interesting and mysterious at the same time. T makes some life altering decisions that affect both their present and the future. There's a lot going on for F and T that you are going to want to read.

I was pretty immersed in the first half of the book but it did drag a bit here and there and I think I know where I lost interest. There was a lot going on in this one and each plot line deserved time. It did get bogged down a couple of times but it works out satisfactorily in the end. I enjoyed the book

For the most part this was a well written story and had good plot lines and back stories for the characters. There weren't any major errors although I have noticed that the author likes to use the word grouse a lot. I've been counting the occurrences for fun. 😂 Also, she started using the word carding/card in place of just "running fingers through hair". I had to look it up because I have never seen the word used that way. And I am not sure her usage is the way the word is intended to be used but what do I know; I've never written a book. I can barely write a review. 😂

Overall, I did enjoy the story and I would definitely recommend it. There is no cheating, no overly obnoxious OW/OM drama, and F, T, and the baby get a beautiful HEA. I look forward to the next installment which I am guessing is Jasper and possibly Courtney though I will be reading no matter who it's about. I'm giving this a four shiny star rating.

This book hurts in all the right ways. I may have screamed out loud at the MMC because he was so in denial about someone being able to love him. These two deserved happy, and the journey to get there was epic.

Princess and the Player by Ilsa Madden-Mills has been on my gotta read list since I read Beauty and the Baller. I have read just about every book Ilsa has written after discovering Dear Ava a few years ago. I've been anticipating Tuck's story since his appearance in Beauty and the Baller.

It's a sports romance with a chance meeting resulting in a passionate night where their identities are masked and their story unfolds.

It's filled with mystery, family issues of abandonment and fears. It's got a band of friends that stick together and have each other's backs no matter what comes at them.

Tuck's vulnerability and fears make him human and real. He has a tough guy persona as a famous football player but is also riddled with self doubt, self loathing, insecurity, anger and fear. I understood the struggles he faced with his past history and the fight within himself to believe that he is his own person and is not defined by his parents or his tragic past. His journey to acceptance, to opening himself up, to making his own destiny and fighting for the life he wants. It was emotional, inspirational, heartbreaking and liberating.

Francesca struggles with her own past and abandonment issues from being left at the police station as a baby. Her unknown history plagued her growing up. By luck, she is able to build a life with friends and a benefactor that became her family and a solid support through her times of need. A chance meeting with a masked stranger sets her life off the tracks with unexpected twists along the way.

I enjoyed reading Princess and the Player by Ilsa Madden-Mills and recommend this book..

The stage for an electric encounter between Francesca Lane and Tucker Avery, better known as the Princess Bride and Prince Player. Francesca, a skilled tattoo artist and art connoisseur, crosses paths with Tucker, New York's star wide receiver. They agree to an anonymous, no-strings-attached night at the sex club, keeping their masks on. However, fate has other plans, as they soon discover they reside in the same building. While both are undeniably smitten, Francesca faces an unexpected nine-month surprise, a prospect that might not align with Tucker's cautious nature.

This book left me with a sense of enjoyment, although it didn't reach the pinnacle of perfection. Being my first encounter with this author's work, I was drawn in by the favorable reviews of the initial installment in the series, prompting me to pick up this particular book. It proved to be a pleasurable experience, albeit with moments that failed to captivate me entirely.

Despite being categorized as a sports romance, the narrative lacked vivid depictions of Tucker's football career. Nevertheless, it compensated with an abundance of delightful fluff, well-crafted characters, a resilient and compelling female protagonist, a charismatic yet promiscuous male lead, endearing secondary characters, a pregnancy trope, engaging banter, and a heartwarming found family element.

The chemistry between the central couple was captivating, but I found the plot to unfold at an accelerated pace, leaving me desiring a more gradual development. The backstories of both characters held tremendous potential but were repeatedly brushed aside, leaving them somewhat unexplored. Regrettably, the steamy elements occasionally overshadowed the narrative's core.

The author's writing style exhibited simplicity and finesse, contributing to a swift pace. However, I felt a pang of disappointment as Ilsa skipped over several poignant moments that could have further highlighted the connection between Tucker and Francesca. The exploration of their friendship and the handling of Tucker's family issues, although weighty topics, received less attention than anticipated, ultimately leaving them somewhat glossed over.

To sum it up, this book is a quick and fun read with lots of heat, hilarious characters, and adorable moments. It's not perfect, but it's definitely worth checking out.

I loved the first book in this series where we got a small insight to Tuck. I was highly anticipating this book. Ilsa did not disappoint. Our main characters ( Tuck & Fran) both have tortured pasts. It added additional layers to this story that I really enjoyed. The writing is fantastic and the story gives you all the feels. Please check out this book. You will thank me for it!!

This is a book 2 in the series and I only say because I didn’t realize until I went to right my review 😂😬 (stand-alone books it was fine)

With that said I love a good athlete as the main character, I mean who doesn’t?! And surprise pregnancy? Also a favorite.

The part that ruined the above for me was THAT they do not communicate! One of the things I hate most in books. JUST SAY IT.

Thanks NetGalley for the chance to read and review.

DNF: i loved the first book in this series but unfortunately this sequel fell flat for me. i enjoyed the plot but both the characters weren’t relatable or fun for me which made it really hard to pay attention while reading.

🏈Surprise Pregnancy
👑Football playing Hero
🏈Artsy Heroine
👑 Angsty Feels

This is one of my new top favorite Ilsa Madden Mills books. I’ve been in the weirdest reading mood and I’m so happy this story helped with that. It’s been a while since I got sucked into a story, and I just wanted to see what would happen next. This story was definitely that way for me.

If you loved beauty and the baller I definitely think you are going to love this one. This story mixes the fun and light characters that ilsa writes so well, but also gives you that emotion and feels that I expect from one of her stories.

Tucker is definitely different then I assumed he would be based off of the previous book, But in a perfect way. He had so many layers to him and so much depth, I went into this thinking he’d be some playboy… but he was definitely not that. There is so much more to him, and getting to see his struggles with his past.. really made me fall for him even more. He is definitely swoon worthy, the way he is with Francesca and some of the patience and perseverance when they are getting to know each-other, I loved him.

Both leading characters have pasts they had/have to overcome in their own way. Francesca is so strong, life isn’t always easy for her, but her confidence and strength really drew me to her. I also loved her roommates, the love they have for each other, and the little family they created had me smiling whenever they were together on the page. I really hope some of them get books.

Overall this was an amazing sports romance with the feels and the perfect amount of angst. It honestly checks all my boxes. Definitely recommend.

Since I knew this was going to be Tuck’s story I was counting down the days to read it and it was absolutely perfect, it’s steamy, funny but also really emotional, the characters had a rough past so they both had a lot of insecurities, but I loved reading how they changed throughout the book and how they helped each other heal.

Francesca never knew her parents and her experiences in foster homes weren’t good, so she learned from a young age to be independent and not trust easily. She always loved art and she worked as a tattoo artist but she was fired thanks to his cheating ex. The day it was supposed to be her wedding she went to a sex club where Tuck was with friends celebrating his birthday. They shared a night with no names and masks on so they didn’t see each other again for almost 2 months. When they met again she realized her ONS was no other than Tuck Avery, a NFL player and a resident on her apartment. She then realized she was pregnant and Tuck was very insistent on spending time together, but she knew he was known for being a player and not ready for a big commitment like a baby so they started spending time together but she still was afraid of his reaction to her pregnancy thanks to her abandonment issues.

Tuck also had a difficult childhood thanks to his abusive dad and bipolar mom, so he had a lot of demons to face and that’s why he wasn’t ready to have a family and be committed to someone. His NFL career was also suffering so spending time with Francesca was one of the things he loved doing. Their chemistry was undeniable from the start and Tuck always tried to be in Francesca’s radar.

I suffered a lot reading about their childhoods and the fears they still had, but I loved that Francesca now had some good friends and people who always supported her. Tuck also had good friends and his interactions with them were really fun, especially with Jasper. Tuck and Francesca came a long way from the first chapter, they both faced their fears and I loved reading how everything happened between them and how at the end Tuck accepted his new family and realized being with Francesca was what mattered at the end.

This unfortunately wasn't as good as the last one. I know you shouldn't compare books, but I just didn't get as lost in the writing as I usually do with Isla's book.

Princess and the Player was fun, snarky, emotional and these characters made me fall in love with them.
Francesa Lane is a woman scorned, she has just discovered that her fiancé has been unfaithful. Now that in itself is bad but it was with their boss, so she is a jilted bride that has to work with these two hypocrites. She needs to regroup so she takes off in her wedding dress and meets friends at Club Decadence. She just needs time to think and sort herself out she doesn't need a hot hero to save her but here he is in all his overly handsome annoying glory!
A mask, no names, a costume and no strings for the night.
Tuck Avery is out for the night with friends they surprised him with a trip to a very elite club. It is a private club, and he is anonymous, which works for him. He doesn't need anyone to know him, he is a wide receiver for the NFL and does not need to be the next story int he headlines. He doesn't want to be here until the beautiful bride with sass catches his eye. He thinks that he is swooping in and saving her from some jerk, and she thinks he is a pervert. This whole night is about to get very interesting. Their chemistry is off the charts, they have wonderfully funny sexually charged banter and they are playing a character for the night. They part ways but fate is a fickle character! Get ready for Francesa and Tuck to thoroughly entertain you while they navigate this new situation, their feelings and the roadblocks surrounding them.
~~Michele McMullen ~~

I'm a big fan of Ilsa's pen, book she publishing book that I will definitely read and move on to my reading priorities.

Her books are incredible for me, they are my safe place, I know I will love and enjoy them from beginning to end.

Every male character that Ilsa creates is amazing, they're amazing and it's impossible not to fall completely in love with them.

So this was no exception, I loved Tuck from start to finish.

I loved the book and I enjoyed it very much, it is an agile read, very entertaining, a very good read if you want to read a sports romance 🏈.

The book is wonderful, I read it in just two days because I couldn't stop reading, I love the interactions between the main characters too much, they are so funny and their group of friends haha ​​😂 I died laughing with all of them, Jasper won my heart and I hope he is the next to have a book.

I met Tuck in the first book and I obviously loved him and was dying to know his story, so it was wonderful to see that this man who is so funny and a good friend, is also sweet, caring, someone who will always be there for you if you need him.

Tuck is a professional football player 🏈, for the world he is already an old player and whose best years have passed, but football is all he has in life so he can't see himself doing anything else, he's been through a complicated moment in his life, he is no longer at his best in the game 🏈 but life has a surprise for him, when on his birthday he meets a beautiful girl who will change many things in his life and the way he lives it.

ALL THE STARS!!!

Ilsa Madden Mills is a must read author to me. This book had me hooked from the very first page. The chemistry between the characters had me on the floor!

Francesca and Tuck were EVERYTHING! The way they met had me giggling nonstop! When the unexpected happens, Tuck just proves that he is GOALS!!!!

Princess and the Player is an incredibly steamy and graphic romance novel involving the accidental pregnancy trope, FYI in case thats not your thing. It was a very quick read although it deals with very difficult topics in the discussion of the characters backstories, it doesnt linger there or bring that much depth to them. I didnt always understand who the characters were or what they wanted but I liked some of the side characters and the theme of found family.

I definitely devoured this book. I love it so much. It was everything I wanted in a book.

Tuck and Francesca had a one night stand after she was betrayed by her ex. No strings attached. But what happens when the pregnancy test came back positive? Love the character development.

Highly recommended!!!

Ilsa hit it out of the park. I love this series and this book was just as amazing as the first. You will not be disappointed with this read.

One single moment that succumbed to their most wicked desires. Not knowing the other and then everything changes when the masks come off. Such an amazing story that is one emotional roller coaster of a ride.

Tout commence quand les amis et coéquipiers de Tuck entraînent celui-ci pour fêter son anniversaire dans un sex club. Naturellement, pour éviter d’être reconnu, il doit porter un masque. Dans ce club, il rencontre une femme avec une robe de mariée qui ne le reconnait absolument malgré son piètre déguisement mais surtout elle vient de subir une rupture à quelques heures de son mariage. Ils décident de passer la soirée ensemble et de ne jamais se revoir. Pourtant, les choses vont en décider autrement…

J'ai beaucoup aimé l'intrigue qui est assez rafraîchissante et qui change un peu la manière dont les thèmes sont abordés. J'ai adoré le personnage de Francesca qui n’a jamais eu la vie facile et pourtant, elle continue à se battre. Les interactions avec ses colocataires et ses voisins m’ont fait mourir de rire! Tuck se remet en question régulièrement à cause de son passé mais aussi à cause de ses parents. La relation entre les deux est différente de ce qu’on peut trouver dans les autres romances, elle démarre sur les chapeaux de route mais au final, c’est un slow burn, j’ai vraiment aimé cet aspect là.

En bref, un livre qui casse un peu les codes de la romance et avec lequel on passe un bon moment!

I requested this without reading the synopsis and regretted it immediately. I loved the first book so much and was so excited for this one but I hate the surprise pregnancy trope. Obviously other dont mind it because authors keep using it but it feels like such a horrible way to force two people together. With that being said I did kinda enjoy this one. I did feel as though there was so gaslighting and I dont like when the woman doesn't tell a man she's pregnant because he said off cut that he doesn't want kids, like dang give him a chance. I dont know I think I'm not a great person to give an unbiased review on this type of book so would suggest if you read the first and liked it then defiantly read this one.