Settling the Score

by Lyric Nicole

You are INVITED! Welcome to the Brighton High School 10 Year Reunion!
Lace
Ten years ago I left to pursue my passion.

Then life threw me a curveball, and I never recovered.

Now I’m back in Brighton, where I swore I’d never return

Memories of the two who tormented me haunt me as I drive through town.

Are they going to want to settle the score or are they going to leave me be?

Tye & Grant
After ten years, she has returned at last.

Silently celebrating her accomplishments via social media and news are the only way we can support her after everything that we did back then.

Hurting her will always be our biggest regret. We never gave her the chance she deserved.

Instead, we listened to our friends. If we had followed our heart back then we wouldn’t be in this situation. Settling the score is our only option.

Will she accept us, or will we forever be on the sidelines, cheering from afar?

Genres: Second Chance, Why Choose, Menage, M F M, Mental Health, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 8, 2023

Reviews

[Laura (lady_h_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️½
“Do you think you can be a good girl for us and stay silent?”

This is an entertaining read with abundant dirty talk and multiple spicy scenes, but it was a miss for me. I found that I was forcing myself to finish rather than devouring it as I normally would with so much spice.

I am all about twin sandwiches and sharing; I just wasn't sold on the romance portion of this story. Falling almost instantly for your high school bullies without them offering a significant amount of graveling does not fulfill my requirement for a believable redemption arc for former bullies.

I did like the exploration of depression and other mental health issues. Especially the depression that can develop after suffering a career-ending injury. I thought that was an accurate depiction of the mental gymnastics required to learn how to see oneself through a different lens. The MMCs did not blow off the FMC’s struggles. Instead, they understood her struggles and were there to support her.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes/Features: Enemies to lovers, former high school bullies, FMC battling depression, virgin FMC, twin MMCs, small town, coming home
Narrator: Multiple 1st Person POV
Relationship Type: Why Choose – MFM, medium burn, spicy
Book Type/Ending: Standalone in Brighton High School shared world, HEA
TW/CW: Available in book

[McKenzie Dew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Settling the Score by Lyric Nicole
✨ARC Book Review✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🏐 MFM
🏐 Second Chance Romance
🏐 Public Play 🖐🏻
🏐 High-school Reunion
🏐 Flashbacks
🏐 Professional Volleyball Player FMC
🏐 Realtor MMC
🏐 HEA

Another great addition to the Brighton High School Reunion Series!

This book follows Lacey who was a professional volleyball player until she torn her ACL and her career ended. She feels like she lost everything and her dream of going to the olympics is over just when she was about to go and achieve it. Lacey returns to Brighton for a job and there she sees her former bullies, Tye and Grant. She wants nothing do with them but they have loved her since they first saw her and aren’t ready to let her go. Determined Tye and Grant try to change the way she feels about them they show her that all the bullying wasn’t all that it seemed to be. Will they be able to have their happy ending with Lacey or did they ruin their chances by bullying her when they were younger? Read the book and find out!

It was a fun read. It definitely didn’t focus on the reunion like previous books and that was a nice chance. I liked that it had good mental health reputation and lots of spice! Plus that epilogue was so cute! Would recommend reading!

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

We head to Brighton again as we meet more from the Reunion series. This book takes us to Lacey and the twins, Grant and Tye. High school was tough for Lacey, the bully boys always lurking to embarrass her. Lacey doesn't know the whole story, though.

Heading "home" after a series of unfortunate events in her life and a career ending injury, Lacey struggles with depression and anxiety. She is forced back to Brighton to take a job and meets up again with Grant and Tye, who carry a secret of their own.

Peace, healing and love come to the throuple as they find one another, forgive, and move forward.

This book is a heartwarming piece of the Brighton High School Reunion series and a fun read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rebekah Granger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked the angle of the history the FMC and MMC shared. This book had an great story line that evolved quickly, keeping me hooked the whole time! This author did an amazing job highlighting the way depression makes you feel and the thoughts that come along with it, making the FMC super easy to relate to. I love a hot and spicy book with a good story line.

[Megan Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! I love this story, the twins redemption is perfect.

[Lady Lauren Explorer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Was this what I was expecting, no.

Was it good, yes! I did think that it being short hindered it.

I would love a more in-depth plot for them, but I am happy to have experienced these 3.

[Nicole Scarborough · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm curious about gravy bacon now. Like the others in this series I loved it. It's a quick read but so good. The chemistry was great and it was well written

[Sheree · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the next instalment in the Brighton High School Reunion series and was a short but sweet second chance romance. Our MMCs are twins, Grant and Tye, who have been waiting for their second chance with their high school crush Lacey. With their misguided teenage behaviour, the twins bullied Lacey due to peer pressure and a desperate need to fit in with the ‘cool’ kids. Both regretted ruining their chance with her, but when they attempted to demonstrate their feelings, it backfired and caused Lacey to run from Brighton. Now ten years later the twins finally have their second chance.
Lacey, our FMC has returned to Brighton after losing her professional sporting career due to injury. The last thing she wants is to have her former bullies pushing their way into her life, determined to make amends. Lacey is suffering from depression and struggling to find her purpose now she has lost her main purpose in life. Her attraction to the twins is not a surprise to her, but can she move past their history?

I really enjoyed the depiction of Lacey’s depression and its impact on her life and behaviours. Her anxiety was realistic and not magically solved just by having the male characters in her life. I loved how the men supported and accepted Lacey as she was. They weren’t trying to change/fix her and they accepted her need for time to process her feelings. The story was quick and well written, flowing smoothly between the past and present. I would have appreciated a more equal point of view from the twins, and I feel like their relationship could have been fleshed out a little bit more.

Overall, this was a wonderful addition to the series and I enjoyed reading it.

I received an arc and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[DFS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Settling the Score. It released on my birthday, so reading this has been a real treat and was the best way spend a small part of the day. Lace, Grant, and Tye were fun characters to read about. There was so much misunderstanding when the trio were in high school and almost every sports team at Brighton High School are filled with donkeys (can't type the word at risk of the review being rejected). Lace's life took a derailment when she is injured and is forced to retire from professional volleyball. She is forced to go back to the one place she hoped to never come back to. While she never wanted to come back, Grant and Tye dreamt of her coming back and them finally getting their shot with her. I liked Lace and I liked the boys. The book was very entertaining and had some funny moments, but at times I wish the book was a bit longer. We see that Lace is still dealing with anxiety from her time in high school and her depression from being forced to retire, but her reconnection with Grant and Tye left something to be desired considering all the emotional anguish she was put under by them. I enjoyed the book. I will definitely read this again, but I wish the conflict hit a bit harder.

[Gemma Kitchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

She left everything behind as soon as she could to pursue her sports career, but then she got the injury that left her rehabilitating and looking at what her next move would be and as it turned out that was back to Brighton and taking up a job at Brighton High School. Could she really go back there, to work at the place that caused her so much anguish. The twins had caused her so much trouble, but that last night destroyed her.

The twins back then Grant and Tye tried to fit in with the popular crowd they done what they done to get a long with the team, they followed and didn’t really take account for what hurt they were causing. They tried to hide their feelings for Lacey, but that didn’t work and that pushed the others to get Grant and Tye to do what they wanted and in the end that pushed her away.

They have loved her for ten years, and cant believe their luck when she returns. Both boys have become friendly with Lacey’s mum and in turn have an ally on their side with Lacey. Can Lacey overcome her demons.

This was a lovely story of the twins redeeming themselves with Lacey and a HEA.

[Katelyn Welytok · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. This book featured Lacey, Grant and Tye. It showcased what their relationship was back in high school. Which wasn’t great at all. Grant and Tye were her bullies, who in a moment of a truce/trust betray her massively.

This story is multi partner, mfm. It is also told in multiple view points. Lacey is the main female character and it starts with her almost reaching her dreams to hitting rock bottom in one instance. Due to this she has to go back to live with her mom in Brighton taking a new job, and facing her past.

Grant and Tye are twins and they were Lacey’s bullies. They always went with the crowd instead of standing up to them. They have changed a lot since high school, with one goal in mind, Lacey.

This story is about reformation, second chances, romance, and falling in love. It has a cute plot to it. The connection these characters share was great to read and visualize as you read the story.

Overall this was a quick, sweet read. It ended in a happily ever after, and I would recommend it.

[Devonne Hahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 ⭐️

This wasn't a bad story and I felt it has the potential to be a really good story.

I absolutely love bully romances but I just didn't feel like this story had the type of bullying to make FMC Lacey not want to return to her hometown and the reunion. The prank and the one incident that occurs before she leaves town for college, were awful and embarrassing. But the rest of the occurrences seemed more like teasing than bullying. This is is just my personal opinion tho and I read some really dark bully romances.

Also, not sure if the dialogue with Lacey's mom was clunky or if it was due to the fact Lacey had been away from home for 10 years, but it just didn't feel flowy/natural to me.

Other than that, the story was enjoyable. I liked how Tye and Grant owned up to the things in high school and wanted to prove they changed from their teenage selves to Lacey.

Spice Level: 🌶🌶 (I'm a sucker for some praise kink and I enjoyed the praise)

Story does end on a HEA <3

[Trish Bannister · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am going to be sad when the Reunion Anthology is done!!! I loved this format as I am discovering new authors each weel The story Lyric wrote was a read I enjoyed and I connected with all that the characters were feeling.

All throughout Highschool, Lacey was bullied by the twins, Grant and Tye and they tried to embarrass her when they could. As most girls being bullied, she never had a clue that they were going about thier crush wrong... (not to mention the peer pressure to be "cool")

Lacey, a professional athlete is injured and we see her as she is trying to dig herself out of her depression and has to head back to Brighton for a job. Focused on her carreer for the past 10 years, she was not connected to her mother over the years and we see her repair her relationship and watch as they reconnect. She is put together with the twins, not trusting them at first only to find out the reasons behind thier behavior and see how they have changed and grown as men. I loved "watching" the understanding, forgiveness and trust develop. I loved it!

[Alanys Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the ninth installment of the Brighton high school reunion series🥹 we are reaching the end very soon!
We are presented with Lacey a medically discharged athlete who has depression and, Tye and Grant, twins who bullied the girl they loved.
Lacey went through the most embarrassing moment of her life in highschool and decided to cut everyone from Brighton off, but after the injury she received and the news that she may never play again she fell into a depression and decided to go back home.
Tye and Grant have been in love with Lacey since eighth grade but in highschool to fit in, decided to pick on and push the girl they love away. After that night they always followed her games and social media. They want her and will get her.

To be honest this was the shortest book of the series. I felt it rushed and I felt like it had a few plot holes.
To only reason why I’m giving it four stars is because the moments when the three of them are together it’s wholesome and really enjoyable to read.
I also wanted to see more of Tye since Grant appeared more.
Truth be told it was an enjoyable read and honestly I can’t wait to read the next installment!!!!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute MFM story about Lacey and her former bullies, Grant and Tye. I liked how the FMC struggled with depression and anxiety and the author gave a glimpse into what that can be like. I thought it was cute how Grant and Tye kept up with Lacey’s volleyball career and even became close with Lacey’s mom. The spice in this story was also pretty good. Now I am a huge why choose girlie. Those are my favorite. BUT with this story I didn’t really understand why it was the twins and not just one MMC. Even when Lacey talked about them she kept referring to them as the twins like they were just one person. It didn’t seem necessary to me. Her mom also just accepted that both guys were asking her out on a date and she was hooking up with both. It just seemed odd. I would have preferred this story to just have one MMC.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’re getting closer to the end of the reunion series and honestly it’s been so much fun reading all the stories.

This time we have Lacey who was bullied by the twins Tye and Grant who actually loved her but never told her. After completely embarrassing her she runs to start her future and now 10 years later after devastating events she has to return home.

This was probably one of the more shorter books in the series and it was nice seeing the second chance they got but there was hardly any reunion in the book at all. It felt more like the timing of things just happened to be a coincidence that the reunion was about to happen. I loved that they got their happy ending but I just wished there was a bit more. The twins were hot and I definitely loved them but just felt like the book was rushed to me.

[Angela Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting book in the Brighton high reunion series, we feature Lacey and twins Grant and Tye. Twins is one of my favourite tropes so was definitely interested in how this story played out.
I’m surprised they got any takers for the reunion, the amount of bullying that happened there, this is another case, rather like Rhett and Olivia from a previous story in this series - Colour outside the lines.
I love a bit of grovelling and true repentance from the bullies and this is well done here.
The growth in the characters over the book as they all look back makes you think, high school isn’t a great experience for a lot of us, bullying and peer pressure playing a major part.
Another bittersweet story in this amazing series.

[TheheartofBrigid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Settling The Score is the ninth book in the A Brighton High School Reunion series and is written by Lyric Nicole.

💜 new career beginnings
💜 second chances
💜 old confessions
💜 🌶🌶🌶🌶 spice

Lacey is just finishing up her last physical therapy appointment after recovering from her ACL tear that she got during a volleyball game. But, no that’s all over and she needs to find another job. Unfortunately, the only job for someone with her qualifications is at Brighton High School and that takes her back to a town she never wanted to go back to, especially if they are still there. Tye and Grant gave her a hard time all through high school and she does not want to face them again.

This was a sweet romance with some ménage scenes. It also represents someone trying to live with depression and anxiety. I also liked how they also showed how second chances could work. This was a fun read.

[Shannon Parrent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows Lacey a volleyball player who for some unknown reason is bullied and picked on by twins Grant and Tye. They made her life difficult and it all lead to one party after graduating high school where Lacey finally let her guard down and let the twins in to be crushed so ran from the party and never looked back. Flash forward 10 Yeats layer Lacey's life in down in the dumps due to a knee injury causing her to return home for a job. The last person she thinking she will run into is Grant but she does. What Lacey didn't know is the twins have been in love with her and will do anything to get her to see how wrong they were and to make her fall in love with them. Lots of steamy moments and some hard truths will they get their HEA??

[Sylvia Pelletier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grant and tye were two young and dumb kids wanting to fit in with the popular crowd, but in doing so they may have pushed the girl they loved too far. Lacey left after that humiliating night without looking back for ten years. Now after an injury ended her athlete career she's heading back home for the first time in years. There she runs into Grant and tye and she's not sure what to think or feel. They finally have a chance to make it up to her and explain what really happened that night, but will she listen or even care? This was such a good read and had good mental health representation with some excellent spice thrown in. I loved the twin sandwich 😏 and the epilogue was so cute!

[Christina Rybka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lacey left ten years ago after Tye and Grant’s bullying went too far. She went on with a full ride to a university, and went to be in the US Volleyball team. Ten years later she tore her ACL and her volleyball career is over. The only job she can get is back in Brighten. She goes home to her mom’s house, and runs in Tye and Grant who try and pursue her, and want to take her to ten year reunion. Can Tye and Grant convince Lacey that they are not playing her? Great characters and storyline Highly recommended Amazing book. Love Lacey, Tye, and Grant they have a great dynamic. Great supporting characters. This is my first book by this author definitely not my last.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lacey, Tye and Grant’s story was good. The brothers always had a fascination with her in school. But trying to keep on the sports teams with all the peer pressures high school forces them to do some unsavory things to Lacey. Tens year later, after suffering a career ending injury, Lacey is back to start a new one. Just her luck she runs into one of the brothers pretty much immediately. Tye and Grant are determined to make amends with Lacey and show her that they’re not the same guys they were back then. But she’s not going to make it easy!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are vmback with another book in the Brighton High School reuionion and this is Laceys book.

This books is about how lacey was bullied by her former bullies Grant and Tye through her high school years but she never knew why and leaves after.

Due to a injury she is forced to return back to her home town were her former bullies are, Grant and Tye. This book shows alot of growth from the characters from thier younger years and the I lived the grovelling the twins did. Was a good read enjoyed it.

[Larks Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The One That Almost Got Away

After years of being away, Lace returns home and faces the two guys who tormented her in high school. She realizes the complicated feelings she held for them both still exist. She also learns the truth regarding their interactions in the past. It’s a quick steamy read with parts dealing with heavier subject matters such as depression. The story has multiple points of view from Lace to Grant to Tye. The story takes place months before the reunion and leading up to the event with past flashback scenes. This is a MFM romance where it’s a given the relationship will be between the three of them, and no one bats an eye over it in the story.

[DeeDeeWReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in the Brighton 10 year Reunion Series.

Lacey was bullied by twin brothers, but one evening sent her running from them and the city. After an injury brings her home, seeing the twins again makes things so much harder. Tho, did they always want her? Are they playing more tricks on her?

Come along as we hit the 10 year reunion for Brighton High. This is a great MMF story with lots of heart.

I am loving every book in this series an as we are coming closer to the last one, I am sad it’s going to be over, but I am loving the journeys of healing, in many ways.

[Amber Pickerill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lacey was a pro volleyball player until an injury caused her to return home, the place she's avoided for 10 years. Now that she's back, she is determined to stay away from the twins that bullied her throughout high school, Tye and Grant. But sometimes things aren't always as they appear. Tye and Grant have loved Lacey forever and now that's she's back they are determined to make her theirs.
A great read that has you rooting for the second chance!
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

awww such a great read!

Oh the joys of high school drama. Not with this poor girl where it literally tore her world apart and cut everyone and everything out , that had to do with Brighton. Now of course when it rains it pours Lacey was cut from anything volleyball due to torn acl. Sucks to go back where you ran from. It was fun reading about tye Lacey and grant and how they went about mending wounds and even a happy ending but before all that deal with the drama of high school . Having some major steam with the twins . I could not put this book down.

[Jalesa Kraus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this whole series and each book keeps you on your toes, this book definitely held up to that. I loved the storyline of Lacey and the twins. It’s not your typical story or romance, but it made it that much more interesting to see what would happen with them. I also loved how the author included mental health issues like anxiety, depression, panic attacks and more, it really helps people who suffer with those feel less weird about dealing with it and knowing that others go through the same silent struggle and it’s okay to need support from others.

[Robyn Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to try Gravy bacon now......

First and most importantly.....I need to know where I can find some strawberry oreo ice cream! Now that is out of the way, can we talk about how excited Grant was when we litany home to tell his brother Lacey was home? It was totally unexpected and I loved it. I love how they immediately notice and help her out of her panic attacks. To me it shows that they notice more then anyone else!

[Katelyn Rizzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooooo good girly ! Ok I’ll be honest not sure if I would be friends with Lacey growing up lol she kind of drove Blum nuts at points :-( she was like stuck in the past with I mean growing up 🫣but TYE and Grant made up for her being annoying at times .
I love the back story how her pro career in volleyball ended and how she came back home to work.
This seemed so real, like this happens a lot.
I loved this book!