This book is a small town romance that had me engaged and invested from beginning to end. Nova returns to her home town to look after her sister and immediately meets Ronan, her new neighbour and huge mistake one night stand. Ronan now coaches the local high school football team, and is trying to mend his broken heart after an unbearable tragedy. From here a lovely story unfolds. With a small town setting, noisy meddling neighbors, and a whole lot of responsibilities that Nova had to deal with, Ronan was just another unexpected surprise in her life. The fact that Nova and Ronan ended up seeing each other after two years, and being neighbors in the same small town wasn't just a coincidence, but maybe fate. Either way, Nova couldn't believe it, and despite Ronan not knowing or remembering Nova right away, he still felt like she was vividly familiar to him.

Characters:

The characters are layered, showcasing emotional struggles and growth, with Ronan as the tortured hero and Nova as a supportive and strong figure.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is a blend of humor and emotional depth, with well-developed characters and engaging dialogue.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative features a fake relationship between the two main characters, exploring themes of grief, connection, and healing following personal tragedies.

Setting:

The story is set in a vibrant small-town Texas, characterized by close-knit community interactions and local charm.

Pacing:

The pacing is rapid and engaging, balancing humor and emotional arcs throughout the narrative.

Notes:

The story is set in the small town of Blue Belle, Texas.

Ronan, a former NFL player, lost his fiancée in a tragic car crash.

Nova returns to her hometown to take care of her sister after their mother's death.

Ronan struggles with self-worth and guilt over his fiancée's death.

The main characters have a complicated history—a one-night stand two years prior.

They enter a fake relationship to fend off potential romantic interests.

Both characters gradually open up about their vulnerabilities and fears throughout the story.

Ronan is a huge Star Wars fan and is described humorously as a 'geeky fanboy.'

The book is praised for its romantic, heartfelt, and humorous moments.

Nova is portrayed as strong, beautiful, and caring, especially towards her autistic sister.

The novel includes themes of healing and letting go of past traumas.

Ronan becomes protective of Nova, which is a relatable romantic trope.

The audiobook version is well-received, enhancing the experience for listeners.

The secondary characters add depth and fun to the narrative, involving the community in the romance.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes related to grief, loss, and emotional trauma.

Has Romance?

The romance in Beauty and the Baller is a significant and central aspect of the story.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

An Amazon Charts and #1 Kindle Store bestseller.

An NFL quarterback turned small-town coach gets sacked by a Texas beauty queen in this swoony, passionate romance from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills.

Gorgeous, talented, and brilliant, NFL quarterback Ronan Smith has the world in his hands. But after losing his career and his fiancée in a car accident, he falls into a pit of grief and bad choices. When a mysterious girl shows up to his party, he feels drawn to her and makes her his…for one night.

Former beauty queen Nova Morgan is on a mission. Scantily clad as a princess from a galaxy far, far away, she sneaks into a high-profile party to capture the attention of her favorite quarterback. But her hopes crash after an awful one-night stand.

Fast-forward two years. Broke and desperate, Nova returns home to Blue Belle, Texas, where, by a cosmic twist of fate, her broody neighbor is none other than Ronan, the shiny new football coach everyone adores. But he has no idea who she is.

The booster club keeps shoving women at Ronan to keep him in town. His solution? He proposes fake dating to Nova. But things heat up for real under these Friday-night lights when he realizes she's the one who slipped away.

Has this jaded beauty found her forever baller, or will his past keep them apart?

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Beauty and the Baller

Ilsa Madden-Mills

Book 1 in the series:Strangers in Love