Review: Princess and the Player (Strangers in Love #2) by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Princess and the Player

(Strangers in Love #2)

by Ilsa Madden-Mills 

November 8, 2022

Goodreads Summary:

A masquerade ball brings together an NFL player and a penniless princess in this smart and sexy romance from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills.

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?

Review

When I read Beauty and the Baller earlier this year I thought it would be all we got from the characters. I couldn't have been more thrilled when I heard Tuck was getting his own story! Princess and the Player was fiery, cozy and crazy addictive.

Francesca and Tuck both had some heavy baggage but they could not weigh down the most supportive found families they found themselves with ;) Francesca's friends made up an odd but interesting bunch: CeCe was an absolute riot, Brogan was a reliable shoulder to lean on and Mr. Darden cared for her in his grumpy nagging way. He even helped Francesca figure out the mystery surrounding her birth. Tuck had his teammate/roommate, Jasper, who despite all his joking around, looked out for Tuck both physically and mentally. I loved it.

I thought no one could beat Nova and Ronan's chemistry from Beauty and the Baller but Francesca and Tuck were on fire in Princess and the Player! The connection they shared felt very genuine while the intensity between them led to some of the hottest sex scenes. They belonged together.

My discomfort with the storyline lies in when Francesca began a consensual relationship with Tuck but still hid her pregnancy from him. I could relate to how she kept justifying the delay in telling him but dishonesty is never the way to go. Francesca and Tuck were headed towards major heartaches from the very beginning. Then Tuck's realization and Francesca's acceptance came too fast and too easy. I'm truly happy for them but I wanted to see more struggles- some back and forth groveling after their big blowup.

Beauty and the Baller, Princess and the Player- the Strangers in Love series has the most sporty and apt titles. I know both stories wrapped up nicely but I need more flirty fun. Please can we get another book?!

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the copy I received.