This book was a fever dream. From the moment the two main characters meet at this club, we see them falling for each other but there are so many lies. They are full on adults who act like teenagers with no self control and I understand why they act the way they do, but I didn't feel like their interactions were genuine.
This book seemed more like it was meant to shock me than it was to inform or entertain me.

I love when the characters create their own families!

Tattoo artist Francesca Lane never expected to see Prince Player from her one night stand when she went to Decadence to get over the end of her engagement and they spend the night together. She finds out later that Prince Player is actually wide receiver Tuck Avery and he lives in the penthouse of her building and she can’t avoid him because he’s everywhere she turns. But he’s rich and Francesca was raised in foster care after being abandoned as a baby so she creates her own family especially Darden.

Tuck Avery and Francesca Lane have so many missed opportunities especially when Francesca doesn’t want to tell him that she’s pregnant with his baby so maybe it was fate for them finally to meet.

Princess and the Player is a stand-alone story in the Strangers in Love series but you should read Beauty and the Baller because Ronan and Nova are funny.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Francesca is the female lead that I wish each romance story had. When an Ex tries to come between her and Tuck, she confronts Tuck in front of the lady. She really takes no bull. She tries so many times to tell Tuck her secret. Unfortunately knows that bad news is coming in his mind so he shuts her down each time. I like the fact that Tuck is Uber wealthy and does not flaunt it. I really did love ready, Princess and the Player.

Great story about Tuck and Francesca.
They are likable characters. They both struggle with demons from the past, and this is a classic love-story about overcoming the obstacles and choosing love. Classic, but with little twists here and there...

I enjoyed reading it - I had no trouble following the story, even though I have not read the first book! (I will, however, be reading it next!)

This one a very entertaining read, the story never gets boring and the characters are endearing.

Francesca is an independent women, she can handle herself and know what she wants in life. And above it all what she doesn’t want, being alone.
When her personal and professional situations both fall apart, meager months apart, she takes each I stride and push forward.
Her and her close friends form a tightly knit family so when the time comes for her to ask for support she gets it.
She’s hesitant at first with Tuck but willing.

Tuck has personal demons, a lot of fear, uncertainty and pain that slows him down in his personal growth without him even realizing to what extent.
His professional career is touch and go in a business where years do pass a lot quicker than for normal people.
He’s unsure of what the future holds and more important of what he can hold on.
However he isn’t one to refuse himself something he wants, it’s in that state of mind that he pursue Fran and is the one that from the start wanted them to see where this could go.

I have to say however that I didn’t really like how long she kept the secret for. I don’t think she needed to be that deceiving for so long, even more with a man that has as much trust issues as Tuck. I do feel because of that, that the amount of time between Tuck knowing and Tuck accepting it all was pretty quick.
Now this is my personal opinion and is influenced by the fact that I never would have hidden something that doesn’t only concern me for that long. It in no way penalizes the story.
So if you love a secret pregnancy book this is for you :)

I loved this book so much! Tuckers friend takes him to a private club for his birthday. And the theme for the night is masquerade. So when Francesca trips into him, he can’t see her face. But is drawn to her fiery personality. Francesca Has come to the club with her friend to try and forget. They agreed to a no name no strings attached night. And then part ways. A couple of months later Francesca is picking up food, when Tucker cuts her in line. Unimpressed with the football player that lives in her building she leaves after getting her food. Until Tucker comes after her, and then she see’s the same cuff bracelet her one night stand had on, on Tucks wrist and realizes that he was her hook up at the club. Tuck is drawn to her, and despite her constant rebuffing, he’s not going to give up that easy. I loved Tuck and Francesca, and all of the side characters. This was a touching story. I was hooked from the first page!

I'm a big sucker for sports romances and absolutely loved this one!
Tuck and Francesca are some of my most favorite characters now.
The whole story was an absolute delight, and the spice was on point!
I cannot wait for the next installment of this series

I was hooked instantly. I've been moving slower while reading recently but this book definitely got me back to my normal pace. I love the combination of a sports romance with an Accidental pregnancy mixed in.

Francesca and Tuck met under false circumstances during Tuck's birthday celebration. Later, they find out how much their lives are truly intertwined and connected as they continue to run into to each other.

How and when Francesca tells Tuck she is pregnant is a major point of this story, especially after finding out that Tuck does not want children. This puts a strain on any developing relationship they might have.

I did love the theme of fate that repeatedly showed up during the story. It's a theme I happen to adore and love the reminder that fighting fate isn't always the best thing!

4.75 stars

Is it fate or is it coincidence?

Author Ilsa Madden-Mills explores this question in her latest novel, ‘Princess and the Player,’ the second interconnected standalone in her Strangers in Love series.

Francesca Lane never thought that she’d spend her wedding day at a masquerade party at a sex club. Nor did she ever think she’d end up hooking up with a handsome stranger at said club. She definitely did not expect to discover later that her steamy one-night-stand is none other than NFL superstar, Tuck Avery. Who happens to also live in her building. Who happens to figure out who she is, and wants to casually pursue their chemistry. And who also happens to be the father of her unborn child.

Given the expected trope of unplanned pregnancy, I was completely (and pleasantly) surprised by the direction that Madden-Mills takes in this story. I thought I knew where it was going, and I was dead wrong. (And never happier to be so.) The ways in which Madden-Mills adds layers to the plot, all while playing with the question of fate versus coincidence, is super deft and compelling.

All of the relationships in the novel are interesting on their own, be they romantic, platonic, or familial. Francesca and Tuck are so well suited for one another, and the supporting cast of characters all feel unique and special in their own right. Put it to you this way: I wouldn’t be mad to see books for Jasper and for Cece in the future. (Just putting that out into the universe.)

If you love Ilsa Madden-Mills, you will love this book. And if you are new to her work, you are in for a wonderful surprise.

Thank you to the author, Montlake, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked the first book in this series but this one just didn’t do it for me. I didn’t really like either of the main characters. How did she think she’d keep getting away with keeping her pregnancy secret? Why were there so many exes. There was family drama that just seemed so far fetched and unrealistic. Plus I feel like the Tucker I remember from the first book was a completely different personality? I did enjoy the side characters, and I loved their sweet walks they took together. Tucker is such a sweetheart. Honestly, I think this just needs some more editing in the back half maybe?

Holy moly y'all, this book was so addictive.

I read it in less than 24 hours, which is unheard of for me, and how you know it was a good one.

From the very first page I found myself completely sucked in, reveling in all my favorite components of romance: chemistry, banter, sexy times, and sweet sweet emotion. By the last page, my heart was overflowing and so so happy. Honest go goodness this story was the full package.

This trope can sometimes be troublesome for me, but it was written in such a way that I had no issues with it at all. Well, minus the time I was at about 60% and terrified to move forward because I just knew that Ilsa Madden-Mills was fixin' to rip my heart out. I pushed myself past that point, and did indeed get my heart ripped out, but it was short-term pain and the pay-off was...*chef's kiss*. This was so good.

I absolutely adored this story. I loved the found-family subplot. I loved the scene-stealing secondary characters. I loved how Francesca and Tuck fought for each other, and cared for each other. And as if all that wasn't enough, Tuck's grand gesture in the end had me in full on heart-eyeball mode, swooning like crazy, and so so in love. I'm not sure if it was a perfect story, but I know it was perfect for me and I absolutely recommend it for you!

Thank you so much Montlake for this ARC!

Princess and the Player is the second book in the Strangers in Love series by Lisa Madden-Mills (but it can be read as a standalone). I adored Tuck since we first met him in Beauty and the Baller and his story is even better than I hoped for!

Francesca and Tuck meet for the first time during a masquerade party in a sex club. Neither of them went there for a one night stand, but as soon as they meet they are attracted to each other and soon decide to spend one unforgettable night together. A few months later they meet again and it’s really like fate when it turns out they actually live in the same building. But pretty soon everything will change because Francesca is pregnant… and Tuck absolutely doesn’t want children. Will these two be able to get their happy ending?

I was so happy when I learned Tuck would get his own book, he was one of my favorite characters in Beauty and the Baller and here we learn so much more about the amazing man he is. Both he and Francesca didn’t have it easy in their lives but I loved how strong they were and how they fought for their dreams. Their romance is my favorite part of this book, it was amazing to see how they slowly started to trust each other, open up about their past and how they supported each other, these two have such a beautiful relationship.

I really enjoyed reading Princess and the Player and I’m so glad I had the chance to read it early. If you liked Beauty and the Baller you will definitely love this book too, and if you didn’t, you should absolutely check it out, I’m sure you won’t regret it!

This is a good book. The two main characters are Francesca and Tuck. Francesca is a tattoo artist and an artist. Tuck is a football player. There is an instant attraction when they meet at a club. They both have trust issues but together they work them out and fall in love

I received an advanced reader copy to leave an honest review of this book. I have not read many books by Madden-Mills but I loved this book! In fact I have already gone and gotten the first book in the series to read also. Great writing style, excellent characters and a fun/romantic plot with some obvious angst.

This book follows Tuck, a professional football player with a lot emotional turmoil from his parents. His mother is bipolar and wants nothing to do with him since she blames him for his father's death. His parents were very abusive towards each other and emotionally towards Tuck. Then there is Francesca who is an orphan; she was given up as a baby and has major abandonment issues as she was shuffled from home to home. A chance encounter at a private club during a masquerade party is the beginning for Tuck and Francesca. No names, one night, no taking off the masks. It seems perfect until Francesca ends up pregnant. Once that happens, it seems like fate throws the two together at every opportunity. Unfortunately, Fran doesn't trust Tucker not to abandon them so she doesn't tell him about the pregnancy; especially when Tucker makes it clear doesn't want any kids and potentially end up like his parents.

Overall a great book! Lots for the two to overcome to be together but with the help of some awesome characters in the book. Would highly recommend.

Princess and the Player was a really cute sports romance with a accidental pregnancy thrown on top.

I really enjoyed how the author connected these characters with more than a chance encounter, but instead all of these little coincidences that added up. It really created this “meant to be” theme that played well with the drama.

There was also an element of hidden family as the MC (Francesca) was abandoned at birth and only had this heirloom necklace to connect her to her brith family. I will say that this might have been a little much on top of the other tropes included already in the plot. I’m not quite sure how much it really added to the plot and was kind of a side story working parallel and distracting from the main characters.

That being said, I did enjoy reading this book because it did have so many great tropes that I look for in my books: found family, sports romance, lost family, surprise pregnancy, and maybe a couple others!

Overall a good sports romance read that definitely brings the drama and emotion but balances it with interesting characters. Definitely a good addition to any romcom lovers shelves.

3.5 ⭐️This is the second book in the Strangers in Love series but can be read as a stand-alone! Honestly, the first was way better, so I suggest reading that first!

Francesca and Tuck meet at a masquerade party and agree to spend the night together with no strings attached. Francesca just caught her fiancé cheating and Tuck has no plans for a relationship. However, fate had other things in store and of course, the two run into each other when and where they least expect it!

I loved how the themes of fate and coincidence were ingrained throughout the stores and how the author emphasized the importance of found family. There was great banter and a good amount of steam. I also loved the scenes that focused on the two MCs getting to know each other, especially their walks in the park. What’s not giving this a higher rating is the way the author incorporated the unplanned pregnancy trope. There was also some inconsistency between Tuck’s personality in Beauty and the Baller and in this one.

Read if you like:
-Sports romance
-Just a hookup
-Alrernating POVs
-Found family
-NYC setting

Thank you Montlake for the ARC!!

This one was not as polished as the Beauty and the Baller, but it’s a good story.

It’s a fast paced whirl wind romance where renowned football player Tuck Avery meets Francesca, a woman scorned by her ex - fiancé, at an exclusive club. The one word that would sum these two up would be chemistry. They had it in spades. I really loved the sense of humor between the two and how they often just seemed free to be themselves.

As I said, this one wasn’t as polished, not only in terms of grammar and such, but also in terms of flow. I just felt like many transitions were rough and it was a little too much on the cheesy side for my liking in the last 15% of the book or so.

Otherwise, I loved the side characters as I did in Beauty and the Baller.

Mr. Darden is hands down the highlight of this book. He was crankiest old man with the best sense of humor and a kinder heart than one might initially believe. CeCe is brazen and a complete handful. She gave me quite a few chuckles. Brogan isn’t in the forefront as much, so unfortunately there’s not much to say about him. Jasper…Jasper I did not love as much. He was on 1000 with no brakes 24/7 and I found that I became exasperated at times with him, but there were other times where he gave me a few chuckles as well.

Super sweet and cheesy read if you’re in the mood for that kind of read.

Rating: 3.5

Francesca Lane is having a crappy day. She found out her fiancee was cheating on her and decides to play dress up in her wedding dress and attend a masquerade ball at an exclusive sex club. It's there that she meets the man she dubs the player. He's seductive, handsome and kind to her. They agree to a one night, no strings attached night.

It's Tuck Avery's 35th birthday and his friends decide to surprise him with a birthday party at a sex club. Tuck's not too into the celebrating, until he literally runs into the pretty lady dressed up as a princess. But they both agreed to a one night stand and to never see each other again. No names, no truths - just one night.

Only, fate has other ideas for Francesca and Tuck. Soon these find each other at the same restaurants, book stores and even living in the same building in Manhattan. The more time they spend together the closer they become. Only Francesca has a teensy tiny little secret that she's hiding. And the longer she keeps it in, the worse it will be when Tuck finds out the truth.

I always love Ilsa Madden-Mills writing and flew through Princess and the Player in less than a day. The way she creates not only the main characters, but the supporting characters always feels so effortless. I always get old school Susan Elizabeth Phillips vibes when I'm reading her sports romances!

While I'm not a fan of the oops, I'm pregnant storyline, I feel like Ilsa did a great job still showing us the vulnerabilities of both Francesca and Tuck in Princess and the Player. Both of these characters had a lot of trauma from their past and they were both figuring out how to come to terms with that.

I am adoring the Strangers in Love series and hope to read more from this series in the future.

CW: anxiety, stalker (in past), parental neglect, cheating (secondary characters), pregnancy

I adored the first book in this series - but this one fell very flat for me. I should say - one-night stands that lead to unexpected pregnancies are NOT my favorite. Tuck and Francesca were both difficult to like and their feelings about a baby - while something I think most people could identify with - were challenging. This was a DNF for me at about the 35% mark.

Ilsa Madden-Mills is such a talented author - and I wanted to love this - but it just wasn't for me.

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect book to snuggle up with on any day.