Princess and the Player
by Ilse Madden-Mills
My review:
“Princess and the Player” is an entertaining, opposites attract, secret pregnancy story by Ilse Madden-Mills, it’s the second book in the ‘Strangers in Love’ series. It can be read and enjoyed as a complete standalone story.
Life has taught Francesca that she needs to remain level-headed no matter what, and that things will always be tough for her. After a brutally difficult childhood, she’s got two great friends and roommates, a career in which she excels, and a loving fiancé. The fiancé turns out to be a cheater, and Francesca ends up going to a masquerade at an upscale adult club with her roommates. Tuck also happens to be at the club that night, celebrating his birthday. The masquerade mask obscures his identity as a long-time professional football player. He and Francesca spend a hot night together and part ways in the morning without ever having exchanged – as agreed. As life continues in its usual way, it doesn’t take long for Francesca to realize that her mysterious Prince was really the playboy football player who lives in the penthouse of her building. She doesn’t need a man like that in her life at all… Not that he would be interested in her anyway. Yet, he seems to be interested, even though he doesn’t recognize her from their past encounter. And then the positive pregnancy test happens, leaving her with a big secret that she’s afraid to tell Tuck, who’s made his resolve to never have children known to her already.
The main characters in this book are multidimensional, with complex emotions and concerns. Francesca and Tuck also have scorching hot chemistry between them. Even so, at different times I wanted to hug or throttle each of them. Or both of them. There are excellent secondary characters who add more layers of interest to the story and to the main characters. There are several unexpected twists and turns in this book, and some moments that could make you cry. The writing style pulled me into the story immediately and kept my interest to the very satisfying end. The epilogue was equally wonderful. I’m going to go back and read the first book in the series and will be on the lookout for book number three.