BEAUTY and the BALLER by ILSA MADDEN-MILLS

“We’re different flowers from the same garden, but we’re perfect together. Mama always said so.”

We really loved Beauty and the Baller by Ilsa Madden-Mills. It was a heart-warming, angsty, fun, and swoony sport and small-town romance that ticked a lot of boxes for us. Nova and Ronan are fabulous characters, and we loved their journey, individually as well as together. Their connection and chemistry was on fire and their banter and the situational comedy they got themselves into made us laugh. We loved the feel of the community spirit and the friendships as well as the beautiful story of a family (big shout-out to Sabine!), second chances, and healing.

“Beauty is how we go on, the life we create around us. Living a life that’s meaningful.”

Ronan Smith fell on hard times, from being a revered NFL player and engaged to the love of his life he had everything he wanted, until suddenly he didn’t. Falling into a dark pit of despair he ends up in a small town as the school football coach and sets himself straight on a path of healing and living again. However, Ronan doesn’t do relationships, not since the tragedy which still haunts him. Sure, he’s had one-night stands, one in particular which he can’t seem to forget, but serious relationships are a huge no! Nova is back in her Texas hometown, desperately looking for work whilst bringing up her little sister. Imagine her surprise when she discovers that the quarterback she slept with two years ago, who she still has tremendous feelings for, is the town’s coveted bachelor and respected football coach. The gorgeous man whom the women of the town are adamant needs a wife and roots so that he’ll stay. Ronan needs a fake girlfriend to avoid all the matchmaking and who better than Nova. We all know though that in our romance books there’s nothing -fake- about it and what begins as a silly excuse to spend time together soon turns into a wonderful and hot as all-get-out love affair. Get ready to swoon and fall in love with this story!

“Princess, when I love someone, it’s with my soul. It’s full commitment. It’s a relationship that will grow, evolve, and change to fit us. I won’t ever stop trying to be the best man I can be. I won’t give up on us, through thick and thin.”