Well. I guess you can't have miscommunication if you just don't have communication, so that's something I suppose?

I liked the first book in this series, but this one felt like it was written by a completely different author. The characters never really connected for me, and every time the story seemed to hit its stride it would suddenly veer off into a completely different direction. There may have been a bit too much going on trope-wise as well.

Thanks to Netgalley & Montlake for this copy of Princess & the Player by Isla Madden-Mills!

This review is WAY late, but working to clear out these old galleys. I ended up listening to this via audio, and I am glad I did because I think the narration was the best part of this story. I wanted to like Francesca so much, but the longer this story drug out the more I could not get with her. I thought the characters seemed hastily written and they didn't seem to have any chemistry whatsoever. The book felt messy in general, a lot of tropes, a lot of weird scenes that didn't make sense to be in the story, and a lot of side characters that were unnecessary to the plot.

I wish I could say more things I liked about this but unfortunately I cannot.

To celebrate his birthday, ageing football player is taken to a masquerade party at an exclusive sex club by his friends. There he meets Francesca and they have a no string attached hookup with masks on. But when Francesca not only discovers she is pregnant, but the NFL star who knocked her up lives in her building, it looks like that no strings hookup, has strings.

I’ve loved Beauty and the Baller and was really looking forward to tuck’s story. Surprise pregnancy is obviously a hit or miss trope for so many, but as long as their is a good plot and character development I’m a fan! This book definitely had both! Tuck and Francesca both had their fair share of tragic family history and this shaped their outlooks on life and influenced many of their decisions. I really loved all their scenes together and their banter was top tier! Also, I’m a sucker for the nickname princess - don’t judge me it’s cute af.

I feel like no one does side characters quite like this author. All of them were really memorable and I hope Jasper gets a story! I devoured the first half of this book, then I felt it kinda lost its pace in the 2nd half a little bit. The characters were what held this story together for me, as I would say I preferred the plot in Beauty and the Baller but nothing beats smalltown imo!

I generally do not like surprise baby books but Ilsa Madden-Mills writes such compelling characters that it makes it impossible not to get drawn into her stories and wrapped up in the lives of these fictional people.

In this second book in the Strangers In Love series Francesca Lane meets NFL star Tuck Avery at a sex club where they are both wearing masquerade masks and don't know who the other one is. Francesca soon realizes who Tuck is and that he lives in her apartment building. She is dead set to forget that night and move on without Tuck in her life until she ends up with a positive pregnancy test.

This was a fun second book in this series. I enjoyed Tuck and Francesca as characters and Francesca had some amazing friends that made this a really enjoyable read. I did get frustrated with how long it took Francesca to tell Tuck what was going on. Overall this was an enjoyable read but not my favorite book by Ilsa Madden-Mills.

If you enjoy surprise pregnancy stories or sports romance books, this one is worth picking up!

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book felt messy and rushed. A lot of the plot didn’t make sense as far as how things would normally flow. I didn’t love the nickname. Not as good as the first one.

I love all the drama here. Ilsa Madden-Mills does a fantastic job of building tension with secrets and ex's that come out of the woodwork at the worst (read: best) times. All of the secondary characters help bring so much levity and laughter, Cece, Brogan, Darden, Jasper, I love them all. Tuck and Francesca have off the charts chemistry and such great banter. This was a great book, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Jasper and Courtney get a book, because enemies to lovers is one of the best.

I absolutely loved Beauty and the Baller and was so excited for this next installment with Francesca and Tuck.

I wasn’t as much of a fan of this book as the first. I don’t really love the surprise pregnancy trope, but wanted to give this book a try as I adored the first and the writer’s style. Unfortunately due to the HUGE lack of communication I couldn’t get on board. I kept thinking Francesca would tell Tuck about the pregnancy, but ended up hiding it for almost the entire book!?!

While this book was not my favorite, I do like the author’s work. I am definitely interested to see where she takes this series next.

I want to thank NetGalley, Ilsa Madden-Mills and Montlake for the e-ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

Francesca and Tuck have a very unconventional, sexy “Meet Cute” that’s really a “Meet HOT!”
They share an an anonymous night together, a one and done… or so they thought.
Life has a few surprises in store for these two.
I love the raw nature of this story, it’s a unique romance that’s sexual and also very emotional. I think those two aspects are very well balanced.
Both characters had traumatic younger years and very serious issues. Their family issues and lack of love and support are long lasting.
It affects them many ways, one of those is mistrust in romantic relationships and feelings. They both have strong abandonment issues.
While it’s a big part of the story, it’s still a very fun, entertaining and lighter romantic journey.
It’s a mix of celebrity(sports) romance and accidental pregnancy.
Fate may also play a part…. Maybe if you believe 💫
Both characters have a few things going on in their lives/plot outside of the accidental pregnancy and their growing relationship. I love the smaller plot lines as well. They result in big things for the characters.
It was an entertaining, enjoyable story with clever humor and just the right amount of quirkiness to make me feel completely engaged and continually smiling.
I love the way art plays a big part in the story and connects many of the characters.
There’s some beautiful, poetic moments that caught me by surprise. I loved that!
The quirky secondary characters are so unique and lively they practically jump out of the pages. I want them to be my chosen family!
The secondary characters play a big, fun and wonderful part of this unconventional and sexy romance.
There’s plenty of heart and it’s super hot & steamy!
This is a touchdown for me💛🏈💙

Thank you for the ARC! Listen that blurb sold me like that was interesting. Unfortunately the reality didn’t meet the expectations and it was boring.

This was a wild ride. This book had so much going on and yet I kept reading it. Not quite sure I would say this is a great book, but it did suck me in and that is something.

I adored this book. Franchesca is having a run of bad luck and life is a total mess. She decides that she needs to have a night out and meet a sexy guy and have a one night stand because she plans to never see him again or she thought, they bumped into one another at a club and sparks start to fly and it's game over for them both.

I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this story because I couldn’t put my book down. It was easy to read and the supporting characters were all fun and engaging. I loved their banter and their antics and the amazing support systems that two people without blood family could create.

While I adored Tuck and Francesca’s friends and wanted all of the as my own, I did have my issues with Tuck and Francesca themselves though. Both of them seemed so inconsistent that it was hard to get an honest feel for who they truly were. I loved the instant attraction and the backstories we learn about both of them. What I didn’t love as much was their banter and the selfishness they both displayed with regards to Francesca’s pregnancy. For two people that never had much family themselves, I found it strange that they didn’t want to give a new life as much family as they could. I found Francesca’s reluctance to tell Tuck about the baby very odd considering it wasn’t something she could conceal forever. And Tuck’s behavior when he found out was just unforgivable. He needed to do a hell of a lot more groveling than he did!

As for their verbal sparring, it was strange. I loved the back and forth of Francesca’s best friends. I want to keep Cece and Brogan for myself because they were hilarious, Darden’s dry, grumpy humor was adorable, and Jasper was so gosh darn wholesomely sweet. But the back and forth between Tuck and Francesca? It was odd. I was never sure what they were trying to say to one another and Francesca ran so hot and cold that I never knew what mood she was in. She was a strong character that took no nonsense and I loved that about her. I just wanted more consistency in her actions.

Overall, I enjoyed myself immensely reading the book. I wanted to find out what I could about both characters and the histories that brought them to where they were. I found myself so in deep with the story that I literally forgot that I wasn’t sitting in an apartment building in Manhattan. I just wanted to like the way the main characters to make better choices!! The universe was telling the they needed to be together. They just needed to listen sooner.

I loved Princess and the Player! Tuck is mister all about himself and his ways, but he will crawl inside your heart and make you swoon! Tuck runs into Francesca at a very exclusive club where no names are shared and he ends up saving the princess from the prince. Francesca is having quite the night and runs into Tuck. These two have a connection and the more time spent together, they give into one night with each other. However, fate has a way of intervening. Francesca is dealing with life changes and can’t believe the man from the club is Tuck Avery, football star and lives in her building. Tuck is drawn to her and can’t stay away. What happens when these two give in, but the lines get crossed, secrets are kept, will these two figure things out or will it just be meant to be a short lived fling? Tuck and Francesca will hit you with all the feels, banter, add in some hilarious friends and past exes that don’t know where to stay - in the past, and this book will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see if the Princess and the Player are meant to be!

Awe, I loved it. Really liked getting More Tuck, loved getting to know Francesca and her friends. Loved the turns and twists. And I really love when authors add in a grandparent type figure as well. Just makes my heart happy. 💛💛

Solid story

Princess and the Player is such a fun, satisfying read! Tuck and Francesca are so entertaining, from their meeting through all of the push and pull of their relationship. And, as always, I live for Madden-Mills side characters and how vibrant and hilarious they can be. If you can't get enough of sweet, funny contemporary romance, strong, intelligent characters, plenty of steam, and a bit of drama, grab this one and settle in! 5 Stars!

Leave it to Ilsa Madden Mills to take my least favorite trope (accidental pregnancy) and create a book I still LOVED!

I love Ilsa’s books by default and I requested this one before I even knew the tropes, but, I will say, I’d you give me an NFL player romance I’ll be happy on any day!

I loved this one with the found family, the crazy friends, the quirky neighbors. It was just a hug of a sports book and it left even my accidental pregnancy hating heart happy.

Thank you so much for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

ARC Provided by the Publisher

DNF at 22%

I didn't like either character. At all. And while arguably that makes them perfect for one another, it didn't make for a book I wanted to read.

I'm unable to recommend this title.

One of my Favorites!!!

Princess and the Player is book #2 of the Strangers in Love series by Ilsa Madden-Mills. I absolutely loved the first book and eagerly awaited this one. Francesca and Tuck meet as strangers at a masquerade party. Each are hurting and looking for escape. Fate plays a part in making what was to be a one night stand in to so much more. Both the main characters in this story are so well developed as are the side characters. The theme, for me, seemed to be found family and I adored all the people in this book! Francesca and Tuck are both going through so much. They are both driven by their pasts, but will they be brave enough to hold on to each other and dream of a beautiful future? This book had everything!
-fun meet cute
-football
-surprise pregnancy
-kick ass friends
-and, of course, a perfectly constructed HEA.
This was one of my favorite reads of the fall! And the epilogue? I smiled so much my cheeks hurt! Another great story by this author.

I typically love this author, and I loved the first book in this series, but this one just didn't grab me like the others. I think there was maybe just too much all going on at once. Aside from the note below, I didn't actively dislike the story or anything, it just won't go down as a favorite.

My biggest issue with this one is a "it's me, not the book" thing, but I absolutely hate the hidden pregnancy trope. LOATHE it. Had I realized that was a big part of this story line, I wouldn't have opted for an ARC. I tried to not let that impact my rating since that IS a personal preference though.

I really enjoyed this book. I love the way that Tuck and Francesca met. I love what happens when they meet again. And how they progressed through the story. It's definitely a story about how your past can shape your present and future. The characters are so likeable and it was just a story that flowed so well and easy to read. So many tropes going on. - Sports, Enemies to lovers, Secret baby. Tuck really pulled through for me.