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Oakwood Ranch #1
Score to Settle
In high school, he broke her heart—now he’s the famous football player whose image she’s meant to clear. Game on.
NFL superstar Jake Sullivan’s playboy reputation is finally catching up with him. To keep his sponsors happy, he needs to wipe the slate clean—and fast. He’s never backed away from a challenge, so he’s confident he can charm the hotshot city journalist sent to write a glowing piece on him without revealing the real reason behind his behavior.
Harper Cassidy is determined to show the world the real Jake. The one who broke her teenage heart. Pulling up to his (admittedly idyllic) family ranch, Harper steels herself for his ridicule once he realizes who she is. But when his stormy dark eyes and stupidly handsome face give nothing away, her blood boils. He doesn’t even remember her! Her boss wants her feature to convince people he’s a good guy. Yeah, right.
They would both rather be anywhere else, but for the next five weeks they’re stuck with each other. So why does Harper’s heart flutter when Jake offers up his sweatshirt and their hands accidentally brush? Why can’t Jake resist taking Harper to places he’s never shown anyone? And stranger supposed playboy Jake hasn’t glanced at a single woman since Harper arrived in his spare room…
They both came into this game determined to win. But somewhere along the way, the rules have started to change…
An enemies-to-lovers forced proximity sports and cowboy romance, Score to Settle is perfect for fans of Stephanie Archer, Liz Tomforde and Elsie Silver. The first in the Oakwood Ranch series, it can also be read as a standalone.
TROPES:
Enemies to lovers
🌶️Forced proximity
🌶️Sports romance
🌶️Grumpy sunshine
🌶️Slow burn
🌶️Workplace romance (sports star vs journalist)
🌶️Found family
NFL superstar Jake Sullivan’s playboy reputation is finally catching up with him. To keep his sponsors happy, he needs to wipe the slate clean—and fast. He’s never backed away from a challenge, so he’s confident he can charm the hotshot city journalist sent to write a glowing piece on him without revealing the real reason behind his behavior.
Harper Cassidy is determined to show the world the real Jake. The one who broke her teenage heart. Pulling up to his (admittedly idyllic) family ranch, Harper steels herself for his ridicule once he realizes who she is. But when his stormy dark eyes and stupidly handsome face give nothing away, her blood boils. He doesn’t even remember her! Her boss wants her feature to convince people he’s a good guy. Yeah, right.
They would both rather be anywhere else, but for the next five weeks they’re stuck with each other. So why does Harper’s heart flutter when Jake offers up his sweatshirt and their hands accidentally brush? Why can’t Jake resist taking Harper to places he’s never shown anyone? And stranger supposed playboy Jake hasn’t glanced at a single woman since Harper arrived in his spare room…
They both came into this game determined to win. But somewhere along the way, the rules have started to change…
An enemies-to-lovers forced proximity sports and cowboy romance, Score to Settle is perfect for fans of Stephanie Archer, Liz Tomforde and Elsie Silver. The first in the Oakwood Ranch series, it can also be read as a standalone.
TROPES:
Enemies to lovers
🌶️Forced proximity
🌶️Sports romance
🌶️Grumpy sunshine
🌶️Slow burn
🌶️Workplace romance (sports star vs journalist)
🌶️Found family
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 10, 2025
227 people are currently reading
837 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 441 reviews
did-not-finish
September 25, 2025dnf
This book was literally so boring. I kept hoping that something was going to happen but nothing monumental occurred. So much so, the book dragged. I also didn't particularly care for the characters either. You don't really get enough of them to care, to be completely honest. Jake and Harper were both flat and relatively irritating, as was her best friend. Don't even get me started on Mia because she was a b-word throughout most of her's and Harper's interactions.
Now, I know that the next book is Dylan's and I am definitely curious as to how his story will progress. So, I am definitely willing to pick up that book and see if I like it more than this one.
*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me a early copy in exchange for an honest review. all opinions are my own.*
This book was literally so boring. I kept hoping that something was going to happen but nothing monumental occurred. So much so, the book dragged. I also didn't particularly care for the characters either. You don't really get enough of them to care, to be completely honest. Jake and Harper were both flat and relatively irritating, as was her best friend. Don't even get me started on Mia because she was a b-word throughout most of her's and Harper's interactions.
Now, I know that the next book is Dylan's and I am definitely curious as to how his story will progress. So, I am definitely willing to pick up that book and see if I like it more than this one.
*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me a early copy in exchange for an honest review. all opinions are my own.*
September 30, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!
Guys, I had an absolute blast with this one! I read 200 pages in a day and stayed up to 2am just to try and finish it! This was a 24-hour book for me. I just loved it! I have already requested book 2 on NetGalley so fingers crossed I get that one too! But I am definitely continuing this series either way and planning on buying the books in hard copy too.
Funny thing is! I don’t even like sports! This book was completely out of my comfort zone! But I do now firmly agree that I do like sport romances! Is it literary fiction … no! But is it damn good! Yes!
Can I just say that the FMC (Harper Cassidy) and MMC (Jake Sullivan) are just adorable! I love their relationship! I also love the side characters in the book too; there were so many moments when the side characters were amazing! I have so many bits highlighted in my notes.
Honourable mentions:
Jake's brothers and their banter!
Mia!!
Tim!! Tim, Tim, he's our man, if he can't do it no one can! I love that man!
Mama!! Mama is who I aspire to be quite frankly: 'I pull the zip of my jacket a little higher, hiding the red fan's tee Mam gave me this morning, wrapped in pretty pink tissue and tied with a bow. So you feel at home at the game, she's said with another of her hugs.' What a delightful woman! Trying to make Harper feel at home with them whilst she stayed there. I just love her!
Also, Flic! I love her! Calling Jake out on his BS! Yes, girlie, we loved it!
The chapter openers - which were often text messages - were so fun! I’ve never seen that format in a book before and I really enjoyed it!
The writing was just great! I loved all the backstory and that both the FMC and MMC had secrets about each other that just added tension to the plot.
The banter between the FMC and MMC was also on point! I laughed so much whilst reading this book!
'I asked Jake as we walked to his truck this morning if there's anything he can do to avoid injury…
"Keep my cleats laced tight and my head in the game."
"So that's a no then," I said.
"Hey, if you've got a nurse's uniform in that suitcase of yours, Cassidy, I might be a little more inclined to get injured." Such a typical Jake comment, using humour to hide his feelings. I shoved him and he staggered, pretending he was already hurt.
"Nurse! I need a nurse!"'
The nurse jokes between them were so funny. I loved the tension between them! The yearning!
Warning! This is a spicy read and there is a fair bit of swearing - but it feels appropriate to the characters and situations. No blaspheming which is nice for me!
I'm definitely going to be continuing this series and will be reading whatever this author wants to release in the future! Big thank you to Bella North! This book was delicious! Can only recommend!
Thanks for reading!
Guys, I had an absolute blast with this one! I read 200 pages in a day and stayed up to 2am just to try and finish it! This was a 24-hour book for me. I just loved it! I have already requested book 2 on NetGalley so fingers crossed I get that one too! But I am definitely continuing this series either way and planning on buying the books in hard copy too.
Funny thing is! I don’t even like sports! This book was completely out of my comfort zone! But I do now firmly agree that I do like sport romances! Is it literary fiction … no! But is it damn good! Yes!
Can I just say that the FMC (Harper Cassidy) and MMC (Jake Sullivan) are just adorable! I love their relationship! I also love the side characters in the book too; there were so many moments when the side characters were amazing! I have so many bits highlighted in my notes.
Honourable mentions:
Jake's brothers and their banter!
Mia!!
Tim!! Tim, Tim, he's our man, if he can't do it no one can! I love that man!
Mama!! Mama is who I aspire to be quite frankly: 'I pull the zip of my jacket a little higher, hiding the red fan's tee Mam gave me this morning, wrapped in pretty pink tissue and tied with a bow. So you feel at home at the game, she's said with another of her hugs.' What a delightful woman! Trying to make Harper feel at home with them whilst she stayed there. I just love her!
Also, Flic! I love her! Calling Jake out on his BS! Yes, girlie, we loved it!
The chapter openers - which were often text messages - were so fun! I’ve never seen that format in a book before and I really enjoyed it!
The writing was just great! I loved all the backstory and that both the FMC and MMC had secrets about each other that just added tension to the plot.
The banter between the FMC and MMC was also on point! I laughed so much whilst reading this book!
'I asked Jake as we walked to his truck this morning if there's anything he can do to avoid injury…
"Keep my cleats laced tight and my head in the game."
"So that's a no then," I said.
"Hey, if you've got a nurse's uniform in that suitcase of yours, Cassidy, I might be a little more inclined to get injured." Such a typical Jake comment, using humour to hide his feelings. I shoved him and he staggered, pretending he was already hurt.
"Nurse! I need a nurse!"'
The nurse jokes between them were so funny. I loved the tension between them! The yearning!
Warning! This is a spicy read and there is a fair bit of swearing - but it feels appropriate to the characters and situations. No blaspheming which is nice for me!
I'm definitely going to be continuing this series and will be reading whatever this author wants to release in the future! Big thank you to Bella North! This book was delicious! Can only recommend!
Thanks for reading!
August 2, 2025
-ARC Review, thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and Bella North -
If you’re a fan of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, this is a must read.
Score to Settle follows journalist Harper Cassidy, who’s assigned to write an in-depth profile on NFL tight end Jake Sullivan, a player known more for his bad boy reputation than his time on the football field. Cue the sparks, tension, and emotional baggage.
Harper and Jake were so much fun to read. The pining, the push and pull, the trust issues, and the way their pasts creep into the present made for a really entertaining dynamic. Their chemistry felt natural and engaging.
I did find the first 30 percent of the book a little slow, and it took me a while to get into the story. But once the pace picked up, I couldn’t put it down.
One thing I loved was how vivid the writing was, especially the descriptions of the setting. The author really brings the scenery to life. Some of my favorite lines:
“Nothing compares to the skyline in Denver in November when the sky is bright blue, the sun pale yellow. Fall leaves in burnt orange cling to the trees, waiting for one more gust of wind before they drop. I can almost feel the crisp mountain air on my skin and hear the far-off calls of the golden eagles.”
“The peaks come into view. Low at first. Craggy dark ridges pushing up from the land, glowing orange in the setting sun.”
“Ahead of me, the spruce trees stretch toward the sky, casting long shadows over the untouched snow. Tiny mountains of white sit on the branches and I turn my gaze to the horizon and the real snowcapped peaks of the Rockies, painted shades of orange and pink by the rising sun. The view is breathtaking.”
The ending was a great surprise and added depth to Jake’s character. It showed that he’s not at all the guy the public thinks he is, and that was a satisfying turn.
I do wish we’d gotten more closure on Harper and her novel. Maybe that will come up in the next book?
Overall, 3.5 stars from me. A fun, easy-to-read sports romance with strong characters and some beautifully written moments.
If you’re a fan of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, this is a must read.
Score to Settle follows journalist Harper Cassidy, who’s assigned to write an in-depth profile on NFL tight end Jake Sullivan, a player known more for his bad boy reputation than his time on the football field. Cue the sparks, tension, and emotional baggage.
Harper and Jake were so much fun to read. The pining, the push and pull, the trust issues, and the way their pasts creep into the present made for a really entertaining dynamic. Their chemistry felt natural and engaging.
I did find the first 30 percent of the book a little slow, and it took me a while to get into the story. But once the pace picked up, I couldn’t put it down.
One thing I loved was how vivid the writing was, especially the descriptions of the setting. The author really brings the scenery to life. Some of my favorite lines:
“Nothing compares to the skyline in Denver in November when the sky is bright blue, the sun pale yellow. Fall leaves in burnt orange cling to the trees, waiting for one more gust of wind before they drop. I can almost feel the crisp mountain air on my skin and hear the far-off calls of the golden eagles.”
“The peaks come into view. Low at first. Craggy dark ridges pushing up from the land, glowing orange in the setting sun.”
“Ahead of me, the spruce trees stretch toward the sky, casting long shadows over the untouched snow. Tiny mountains of white sit on the branches and I turn my gaze to the horizon and the real snowcapped peaks of the Rockies, painted shades of orange and pink by the rising sun. The view is breathtaking.”
The ending was a great surprise and added depth to Jake’s character. It showed that he’s not at all the guy the public thinks he is, and that was a satisfying turn.
I do wish we’d gotten more closure on Harper and her novel. Maybe that will come up in the next book?
Overall, 3.5 stars from me. A fun, easy-to-read sports romance with strong characters and some beautifully written moments.
October 6, 2025
Rating: 3,5 ⭐
A sweet and fun read! An enemies to lovers story that turned soft pretty quickly. The chemistry was cute, the banter entertaining, and even though I wished for a bit more tension, it still made for an enjoyable and easy read. Perfect if you’re in the mood for something light and romantic in a lazy Sunday evening!
A sweet and fun read! An enemies to lovers story that turned soft pretty quickly. The chemistry was cute, the banter entertaining, and even though I wished for a bit more tension, it still made for an enjoyable and easy read. Perfect if you’re in the mood for something light and romantic in a lazy Sunday evening!
July 25, 2025
3.75/5 arc provided by NetGalley
„Jake Sullivan has broken a lot of hearts over the years. But I’m pretty sure mine was the first.”
It was good. I had a great time reading this piece.
Jake - football player. Man seen as Casanova by the public, but really sweet and kind man inside. He was so much more than people thought about him.
Cassidy - journalist. I’m torn, actually. She’s a great woman, very intelligent and devoted to her job. But on the other hand she’s so insecure and still in the past it hurts. I understand her reluctance to Jake, with all that happened in High school but come on - that was decade ago.
Plot line is good. The first half of the book was some kind of boring and too long, but after a certain moment author hit the spot and I couldn’t take book away. It is good for a debut, tho.
And spoiler. We hate Scott. We really do. Bastard.
Anyway. Romantic relationship was something else. I’ve fallen for their hesitancy, for them being careful and surrounded by their own walls. Nothing happened too fast, everything has time to shine. I loved it. But. Jake near the end of the book? Oh man, get your shot together and start thinking like grownup you are.
A light, funny and pleasant read for one day - if you are looking for such a book, I have found it for you.
„Jake Sullivan has broken a lot of hearts over the years. But I’m pretty sure mine was the first.”
It was good. I had a great time reading this piece.
Jake - football player. Man seen as Casanova by the public, but really sweet and kind man inside. He was so much more than people thought about him.
Cassidy - journalist. I’m torn, actually. She’s a great woman, very intelligent and devoted to her job. But on the other hand she’s so insecure and still in the past it hurts. I understand her reluctance to Jake, with all that happened in High school but come on - that was decade ago.
Plot line is good. The first half of the book was some kind of boring and too long, but after a certain moment author hit the spot and I couldn’t take book away. It is good for a debut, tho.
And spoiler. We hate Scott. We really do. Bastard.
Anyway. Romantic relationship was something else. I’ve fallen for their hesitancy, for them being careful and surrounded by their own walls. Nothing happened too fast, everything has time to shine. I loved it. But. Jake near the end of the book? Oh man, get your shot together and start thinking like grownup you are.
A light, funny and pleasant read for one day - if you are looking for such a book, I have found it for you.
August 22, 2025
3.25⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Bella North for the eARC!
This was a fun, fast-paced, steamy, sports romance! Honestly, this is a great debut novel.
Harper and Jake start off as enemies and show two different sides to their stories.
The fall and winter vibes are amazing! Perfect timing for upcoming football season. I loved how the airhor described the landscape of Colorado, really capturing the essence of it.
The first part of the book was a little slow as you’re learning about Harper’s insecurities and Jake’s issues with the media. But when it heats up it HEATS up. I loved seeing Harper’s eyes open as she learns more about Jake’s personality and realizing how wrong the media is. Plus their banter and chemistry was *chef’s kiss*
The thing I was not a fan of was the third act break up and it seemed unnecessary for the story.
I will definitely read the next book in the series since it did end on a small cliffhanger. Plus I want to learn more about the brothers and family dynamics ♥️
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Bella North for the eARC!
This was a fun, fast-paced, steamy, sports romance! Honestly, this is a great debut novel.
Harper and Jake start off as enemies and show two different sides to their stories.
The fall and winter vibes are amazing! Perfect timing for upcoming football season. I loved how the airhor described the landscape of Colorado, really capturing the essence of it.
The first part of the book was a little slow as you’re learning about Harper’s insecurities and Jake’s issues with the media. But when it heats up it HEATS up. I loved seeing Harper’s eyes open as she learns more about Jake’s personality and realizing how wrong the media is. Plus their banter and chemistry was *chef’s kiss*
The thing I was not a fan of was the third act break up and it seemed unnecessary for the story.
I will definitely read the next book in the series since it did end on a small cliffhanger. Plus I want to learn more about the brothers and family dynamics ♥️
September 5, 2025
⭐4.5- Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this before the release date (10th September).
This book actually surprised me so much. I was expecting a cute and fluffy sports romance but this was so much more!
I absolutely adored the writing, it was so easy to imagine each scene, especially the ranch parts, like I felt I was there and could see it in front of me.
Mixing sports romance and a small town romance was honestly genius.
I really liked the dynamic between Jake and Harper. Their banter was 💯. I didn't find myself cringing at all, and the spicy scenes worked perfectly too.
At first I thought that the third act breakup would be all about Harper's high school situation (which it was in a way) and that she would be too hung up on that and it's slightly silly, but it didn't actually irritate me. Even though she was trying to hate him and prove herself right.
Jake's comment did have me 😲😲 that was cruel not gonna lie. And I don't know how I felt about Jake knowing Harper from high school, but we never saw that from his pov?
Also, sometimes I felt there were a little too many descriptive details when it came to football scenes , I found myself getting a bit lost in all the terminology, but that's honestly on me, since I have no clue or knowledge about it whatsoever 🤭.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and can't wait for other books in the series to be released!
This book actually surprised me so much. I was expecting a cute and fluffy sports romance but this was so much more!
I absolutely adored the writing, it was so easy to imagine each scene, especially the ranch parts, like I felt I was there and could see it in front of me.
Mixing sports romance and a small town romance was honestly genius.
I really liked the dynamic between Jake and Harper. Their banter was 💯. I didn't find myself cringing at all, and the spicy scenes worked perfectly too.
At first I thought that the third act breakup would be all about Harper's high school situation (which it was in a way) and that she would be too hung up on that and it's slightly silly, but it didn't actually irritate me. Even though she was trying to hate him and prove herself right.
Jake's comment did have me 😲😲 that was cruel not gonna lie. And I don't know how I felt about Jake knowing Harper from high school, but we never saw that from his pov?
Also, sometimes I felt there were a little too many descriptive details when it came to football scenes , I found myself getting a bit lost in all the terminology, but that's honestly on me, since I have no clue or knowledge about it whatsoever 🤭.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and can't wait for other books in the series to be released!
September 5, 2025
3.75⭐️
Harper and Jake were so cute together!! At first, I wasn’t sure about them, but as Jake started to open up and Harper learned more about who he truly is I was all in. Their relationship didn’t grow too fast or too slow, the pacing made complete sense for this story.
Harper had to grow on me as a character. Her insecurities really took over and stood in her way both personally and professionally, and I’m glad she was able to grow from that.
In book club we say there’s always a character we wish had suffered more and that was SCOTT. He can rot!
The scene under the bridge will forever be in my heart. This was perfect for sports romance lovers who like a little spice.
Thank you to Bella North, Bookouture Audio, and Netgalley for the ALC!
Harper and Jake were so cute together!! At first, I wasn’t sure about them, but as Jake started to open up and Harper learned more about who he truly is I was all in. Their relationship didn’t grow too fast or too slow, the pacing made complete sense for this story.
Harper had to grow on me as a character. Her insecurities really took over and stood in her way both personally and professionally, and I’m glad she was able to grow from that.
In book club we say there’s always a character we wish had suffered more and that was SCOTT. He can rot!
The scene under the bridge will forever be in my heart. This was perfect for sports romance lovers who like a little spice.
Thank you to Bella North, Bookouture Audio, and Netgalley for the ALC!
July 24, 2025
Harper and Jake are one of the cutest sports romance couples! Love the whole tropes of enemies to lovers and forced proximity, not to mention grumpy x sunshine too. Really enjoyed the sports side of it and I definitely learned something about American football too!
Would recommend for fans of sports romances, or who love any of the tropes mentioned above. That, and people who just love a cute romance.
Would recommend for fans of sports romances, or who love any of the tropes mentioned above. That, and people who just love a cute romance.
July 18, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
As someone who’s a total sucker for sports romance, I had to request this book the second I saw it and man it did not disappoint. Harper is such a relatable character. I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty of holding on to anger and blaming others instead of taking accountability, so seeing that reflected in her made her feel so reel to me. And then there’s Jake. The misunderstood but loving guy who, yeah , messed up in the past, but is really making an effort to grow. Is he perfect? No, but he felt real. I really enjoyed their journey, and I’m hoping that the other brothers get their own books🤭🙂↕️
As someone who’s a total sucker for sports romance, I had to request this book the second I saw it and man it did not disappoint. Harper is such a relatable character. I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty of holding on to anger and blaming others instead of taking accountability, so seeing that reflected in her made her feel so reel to me. And then there’s Jake. The misunderstood but loving guy who, yeah , messed up in the past, but is really making an effort to grow. Is he perfect? No, but he felt real. I really enjoyed their journey, and I’m hoping that the other brothers get their own books🤭🙂↕️
October 14, 2025
4 ⭐️
Score to settle is about Harper and Jake.
Harper is a journalist who just moved back to Denver after living in New York City. She was fired from her job, is currently living on her best friends, couch, and working for a sports magazine. (Even if she’s underqualified.)
She does know a lot about sports, but not football. So it comes as a surprise to her when her boss assigns her a five week long assignment of following the local bad boy/ star tight end Jake Sullivan.
She should be grateful she has an assignment that she can show her skills with. The problem? She doesn’t know anything about football, and it was too much about Jake. Especially since she had a huge crush on him in high school and he broke her heart.
Jake is a football player with a bad rep. He has been all over the news or having one too many flings, drinking too much, and being the opposite of what the family owned football team strives for.
Jake’s mom and manager is hoping that a news piece showing the real Jake will clear his reputation, and get him a for sure spot during the next contract renewal. Jake is very angry, because the last thing he wants to do is spend five weeks with a girl who shoots him daggers every time she looks at him.
But will force proximity, one bed trope, and enemies to lovers ignite a flame between these two?
I thoroughly enjoyed this story!! Jake and Harper were great. I felt like I truly got a back story for both of them, and their dynamic made a lot of sense. I always hate a third act break up, but aside from that this spicy read was amazing!
Thank you Bella North, NetGalley, & bookouture for the ARC!
Score to settle is about Harper and Jake.
Harper is a journalist who just moved back to Denver after living in New York City. She was fired from her job, is currently living on her best friends, couch, and working for a sports magazine. (Even if she’s underqualified.)
She does know a lot about sports, but not football. So it comes as a surprise to her when her boss assigns her a five week long assignment of following the local bad boy/ star tight end Jake Sullivan.
She should be grateful she has an assignment that she can show her skills with. The problem? She doesn’t know anything about football, and it was too much about Jake. Especially since she had a huge crush on him in high school and he broke her heart.
Jake is a football player with a bad rep. He has been all over the news or having one too many flings, drinking too much, and being the opposite of what the family owned football team strives for.
Jake’s mom and manager is hoping that a news piece showing the real Jake will clear his reputation, and get him a for sure spot during the next contract renewal. Jake is very angry, because the last thing he wants to do is spend five weeks with a girl who shoots him daggers every time she looks at him.
But will force proximity, one bed trope, and enemies to lovers ignite a flame between these two?
I thoroughly enjoyed this story!! Jake and Harper were great. I felt like I truly got a back story for both of them, and their dynamic made a lot of sense. I always hate a third act break up, but aside from that this spicy read was amazing!
Thank you Bella North, NetGalley, & bookouture for the ARC!
August 5, 2025
*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC*
I simply adored this book. Right from the start, it fell cozy and homey; I was hooked.
Jake and Harper are stuck with each other for the next 5 weeks and both are convinced it will be a pain in their ass. They both have something on the line: Harper's job and Jake's reputation.. Will they be able to work together? Can Harper get over the past?
Things begin to shift, truths come to light, mistakes are made and caracters experience personal growth.
Even though I could not personally relate to the caracter's situations, the author made me feel everything- Hapiness, family love, sadnest & even rage. I really connected with the caracters emotionally.
I personally liked how the author wrote Jake. Altough he broke Harpers heart in highschool, I knew right away from the first lines that he is a sweet man. I deffinitely need more of him and the ranch!
Side caracter Mia - I have my eyes on her! Shes funny. I would love for a book in the series with her as the main caracter. I need to know what happens next!
4/5 stars. Read it. 🫶🏼
I simply adored this book. Right from the start, it fell cozy and homey; I was hooked.
Jake and Harper are stuck with each other for the next 5 weeks and both are convinced it will be a pain in their ass. They both have something on the line: Harper's job and Jake's reputation.. Will they be able to work together? Can Harper get over the past?
Things begin to shift, truths come to light, mistakes are made and caracters experience personal growth.
Even though I could not personally relate to the caracter's situations, the author made me feel everything- Hapiness, family love, sadnest & even rage. I really connected with the caracters emotionally.
I personally liked how the author wrote Jake. Altough he broke Harpers heart in highschool, I knew right away from the first lines that he is a sweet man. I deffinitely need more of him and the ranch!
Side caracter Mia - I have my eyes on her! Shes funny. I would love for a book in the series with her as the main caracter. I need to know what happens next!
4/5 stars. Read it. 🫶🏼
October 16, 2025
I've got to say I love a sports romance. They're always fun & usually have swoonworthy, strong & brooding MMCs with fiesty, driven FMCs, which is a winning combination.
This is a slow burn enemies-to-lovers - Harper is a journalist with a grudge sent to write a feature on Jake, the NFL star she went to high school with. Some giggles, heart & injustice later & the story follows the well-worn path to happiness, or does it. This book did have one of my least favourite tropes, miscommunication. Why can grown adults not just talk to one another? It's not just the once & not just the main characters, so it did annoy me a little. However, I did enjoy this one, I love the family element & that there are two more brothers whose stories will be up next. I hope we check back in with Harper & Jake as the series progresses.
This is a slow burn enemies-to-lovers - Harper is a journalist with a grudge sent to write a feature on Jake, the NFL star she went to high school with. Some giggles, heart & injustice later & the story follows the well-worn path to happiness, or does it. This book did have one of my least favourite tropes, miscommunication. Why can grown adults not just talk to one another? It's not just the once & not just the main characters, so it did annoy me a little. However, I did enjoy this one, I love the family element & that there are two more brothers whose stories will be up next. I hope we check back in with Harper & Jake as the series progresses.
August 12, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Thankyou so much Netgalley, Bella North and Bookouture for this arc!!
Harper, a sports magazine writer is set a task like no other. To fix Jake, a NFL star, public image which is bordering the line of beyond repair.
I had so much fun reading this, it’s super fast paced, there’s so much banter and tension and all the characters are so loveable (not talking about you scott or gordon.) One thing i really enjoyed about this book was the level of attention and detail. The setting was so well described and the NFL games you could envision as a movie in your head.
My only quip was it was a little too fast paced for me. I wished we had more time to fully explore the characters and their family dynamics. Andddd i would’ve loved more closure in the ending how did the playoffs go!? how are harper and jake!? what’s dylan up to!?!…i mean we might still see more in the next book 👀
Thankyou so much Netgalley, Bella North and Bookouture for this arc!!
Harper, a sports magazine writer is set a task like no other. To fix Jake, a NFL star, public image which is bordering the line of beyond repair.
I had so much fun reading this, it’s super fast paced, there’s so much banter and tension and all the characters are so loveable (not talking about you scott or gordon.) One thing i really enjoyed about this book was the level of attention and detail. The setting was so well described and the NFL games you could envision as a movie in your head.
My only quip was it was a little too fast paced for me. I wished we had more time to fully explore the characters and their family dynamics. Andddd i would’ve loved more closure in the ending how did the playoffs go!? how are harper and jake!? what’s dylan up to!?!…i mean we might still see more in the next book 👀
September 7, 2025
ALC Review
This was a cute 🥰 and fun listen with great banter, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, second chance sports romance with just enough 🌶️🔥… This audiobook is performed in duet by Sean Masters and Andi Arndt.
Jake an NFL star needs to change his perception the media is portraying him to be. If not, he’ll lose playing football for the team he loves.
Harper is a sports reporter tasked with writing a story about Jake but she’s holding a grudge from the past that no one knows about.
They may not be happy about working together but they both need this feature to be great to help their careers.
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ audiobook and narration
This was a cute 🥰 and fun listen with great banter, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, second chance sports romance with just enough 🌶️🔥… This audiobook is performed in duet by Sean Masters and Andi Arndt.
Jake an NFL star needs to change his perception the media is portraying him to be. If not, he’ll lose playing football for the team he loves.
Harper is a sports reporter tasked with writing a story about Jake but she’s holding a grudge from the past that no one knows about.
They may not be happy about working together but they both need this feature to be great to help their careers.
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ audiobook and narration
August 21, 2025
Merci à NetGalley, Bookouture, et Bella North pour m'avoir permis d'avoir accès à cet arc.
Beaucoup de chose m'avaient charmé dans cette romance : la couverture très jolie, la proximité forcée, l'aspect hockey mélangé avec l'aspect ranch. Je ne savais pas trop si tout ça allait se mélanger très bien mais j'ai été convaincue par ma lecture. J'ai beaucoup aimé les deux personnages principaux et leur romance. J'ai aimé la complexité des rapports familiaux chez Jack et l'aspect seconde chance dans la mesure où ils se sont connus au lycée d'abord. J'ai également aimé l'écriture de cette romance et j'ai hâte de découvrir d'autres tomes de cette série.
Beaucoup de chose m'avaient charmé dans cette romance : la couverture très jolie, la proximité forcée, l'aspect hockey mélangé avec l'aspect ranch. Je ne savais pas trop si tout ça allait se mélanger très bien mais j'ai été convaincue par ma lecture. J'ai beaucoup aimé les deux personnages principaux et leur romance. J'ai aimé la complexité des rapports familiaux chez Jack et l'aspect seconde chance dans la mesure où ils se sont connus au lycée d'abord. J'ai également aimé l'écriture de cette romance et j'ai hâte de découvrir d'autres tomes de cette série.
September 3, 2025
This fun sports romance is about enemies-to-lovers set against the backdrop of the NFL. This book, the first in the Oakwood Ranch series, is a charming and quick read. I would definitely recommend this read.
The plot is engaging with the development of its two main characters. While the initial reason for the female lead's animosity towards the male lead felt immature, this premise actually allows both characters to show growth throughout the story. Watching them navigate their guilt and bad feelings for each other is satisfying. I appreciated the bit of diversity with the family and friends in the story.
I was looking for a make-up romance scene at the end as that is what you typically expect in a romance. Additionally, I could have done without the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce references, especially with the female lead wearing red lipstick to the games and sitting in the box with the male lead's mom.
Despite these minor critiques, Score to Settle is an excellent choice for a cozy night in. I initially picked it up intending to read just a few chapters, but I was so invested that I ended up finishing the entire book in one sitting. I’m already looking forward to the next books in the Oakwood Ranch series. I received an ARC audiobook via NetGallery.
The plot is engaging with the development of its two main characters. While the initial reason for the female lead's animosity towards the male lead felt immature, this premise actually allows both characters to show growth throughout the story. Watching them navigate their guilt and bad feelings for each other is satisfying. I appreciated the bit of diversity with the family and friends in the story.
I was looking for a make-up romance scene at the end as that is what you typically expect in a romance. Additionally, I could have done without the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce references, especially with the female lead wearing red lipstick to the games and sitting in the box with the male lead's mom.
Despite these minor critiques, Score to Settle is an excellent choice for a cozy night in. I initially picked it up intending to read just a few chapters, but I was so invested that I ended up finishing the entire book in one sitting. I’m already looking forward to the next books in the Oakwood Ranch series. I received an ARC audiobook via NetGallery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2025
✨ARC reader✨ Thank you NetGalley
⭐️3.75 star read for me. It’s a cute easy to read sports romance.
🌶️2.75 spice level for me.
Sports journalist is forced to write an article on her high school crush, Jake. It’s a bit slow to start as both characters are keeping secrets. Once it starts to pick up pace, about 40% mark, I couldn’t put it down.
The author does a great job building the setting and tone for the story. I’m sad I don’t wake up to the view she described everyday.
I do wish we learned more about Harper and her relationship with her dad. Does she take the leap and pivot her career? I have more questions that I hope get answered in the next book.
It is well written, but pretty predictable. It’s a fluffy, slow burn, spicy romance. I am excited to learn more about the characters in the series
⭐️3.75 star read for me. It’s a cute easy to read sports romance.
🌶️2.75 spice level for me.
Sports journalist is forced to write an article on her high school crush, Jake. It’s a bit slow to start as both characters are keeping secrets. Once it starts to pick up pace, about 40% mark, I couldn’t put it down.
The author does a great job building the setting and tone for the story. I’m sad I don’t wake up to the view she described everyday.
I do wish we learned more about Harper and her relationship with her dad. Does she take the leap and pivot her career? I have more questions that I hope get answered in the next book.
It is well written, but pretty predictable. It’s a fluffy, slow burn, spicy romance. I am excited to learn more about the characters in the series
December 1, 2025
“You look good in anything, Cassidy. Including my sweatshirt.”
NFL superstar Jake Sullivan’s playboy reputation is finally catching up with him. To keep his sponsors happy, he needs to wipe the slate clean—and fast. He’s never backed away from a challenge, so he’s confident he can charm the hotshot city journalist sent to write a glowing piece on him without revealing the real reason behind his behavior. Harper Cassidy is determined to show the world the real Jake. The one who broke her teenage heart. Pulling up to his (admittedly idyllic) family ranch, Harper steels herself for his ridicule once he realizes who she is. But when his stormy dark eyes and stupidly handsome face give nothing away, her blood boils. He doesn’t even remember her! Her boss wants her feature to convince people he’s a good guy. Yeah, right. They would both rather be anywhere else, but for the next five weeks they’re stuck with each other. So why does Harper’s heart flutter when Jake offers up his sweatshirt and their hands accidentally brush? Why can’t Jake resist taking Harper to places he’s never shown anyone? And stranger supposed playboy Jake hasn’t glanced at a single woman since Harper arrived in his spare room…
Jake felt a little like he struggled with his emotions day to day. Understandably, he is under an incredible amount of pressure at a pivotal point in his career. But it felt a little like he was switching in an instant between hateful and calm. With the revelations later in the book, his emotions and the way he reacted to various things felt out of place and didn’t make sense to me. I think he is a great character with incredible work ethic, but I feel the way he is written let him down a bit.
Harper is a very intelligent woman - just perhaps not emotionally. She certainly allows her heart to guide many of her actions. I can understand it to an extent, she has gone through a lot in her personal life and with her career, but I would have thought that would encourage her to be more guarded and emotionally mature than she appeared to be here. That said, she has a very giving heart and is incredibly kind. She fit right in at the family ranch and you could see the difference in how she thought and acted, all for the positive. It would have been amazing to explore that more!
I am someone who will never say no to a sports romance. I find I gravitate towards more ice hockey or perhaps even Formula 1 romances because I understand the sport better. With American Football, I get lost. However, I didn’t feel massively lost in this story which is always a bonus! The plot is rather fun and I really liked that it handled some deep and emotional moments as well. It felt like it certainly enhanced the story and added depth when needed. There was something off with the flow for me, though. I found myself struggling through a fair amount, having my attention drift from the book. Something like that it’s entirely reassuring - however, it could just be that my current mindset isn’t 100% there and not so much a reflection on the book itself. We have quite the cast of characters which is always fun. But we don’t get to know many of them which I consider to be a drawback - especially in a story set in a small town where community is everything for those living there. I totally get that there is never going to be a book long enough that can go into depth about different characters. But when you are only given surface level to characters who are best friends to those leading the story, I want to know more! Sadly I don’t feel we got much of that. The romance itself was rather sweet and enjoyable. I liked that there was this element of enemies to lovers initially and that it then bloomed and morphed into what we ended with. The spicy moments too, were rather nice though they didn’t blow my socks off! However, saying that, I think it works for the spice to be more mellow for this kind of story. The ending wasn’t bad though I wasn’t too keen on the use of the miscommunication trope. There were plenty of options for drama that didn’t result in the need for that! But otherwise, I think it was a nice ending.
Overall, Score to Settle is a sweet small town romance with a dash of spiciness thrown in.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
NFL superstar Jake Sullivan’s playboy reputation is finally catching up with him. To keep his sponsors happy, he needs to wipe the slate clean—and fast. He’s never backed away from a challenge, so he’s confident he can charm the hotshot city journalist sent to write a glowing piece on him without revealing the real reason behind his behavior. Harper Cassidy is determined to show the world the real Jake. The one who broke her teenage heart. Pulling up to his (admittedly idyllic) family ranch, Harper steels herself for his ridicule once he realizes who she is. But when his stormy dark eyes and stupidly handsome face give nothing away, her blood boils. He doesn’t even remember her! Her boss wants her feature to convince people he’s a good guy. Yeah, right. They would both rather be anywhere else, but for the next five weeks they’re stuck with each other. So why does Harper’s heart flutter when Jake offers up his sweatshirt and their hands accidentally brush? Why can’t Jake resist taking Harper to places he’s never shown anyone? And stranger supposed playboy Jake hasn’t glanced at a single woman since Harper arrived in his spare room…
Jake felt a little like he struggled with his emotions day to day. Understandably, he is under an incredible amount of pressure at a pivotal point in his career. But it felt a little like he was switching in an instant between hateful and calm. With the revelations later in the book, his emotions and the way he reacted to various things felt out of place and didn’t make sense to me. I think he is a great character with incredible work ethic, but I feel the way he is written let him down a bit.
Harper is a very intelligent woman - just perhaps not emotionally. She certainly allows her heart to guide many of her actions. I can understand it to an extent, she has gone through a lot in her personal life and with her career, but I would have thought that would encourage her to be more guarded and emotionally mature than she appeared to be here. That said, she has a very giving heart and is incredibly kind. She fit right in at the family ranch and you could see the difference in how she thought and acted, all for the positive. It would have been amazing to explore that more!
I am someone who will never say no to a sports romance. I find I gravitate towards more ice hockey or perhaps even Formula 1 romances because I understand the sport better. With American Football, I get lost. However, I didn’t feel massively lost in this story which is always a bonus! The plot is rather fun and I really liked that it handled some deep and emotional moments as well. It felt like it certainly enhanced the story and added depth when needed. There was something off with the flow for me, though. I found myself struggling through a fair amount, having my attention drift from the book. Something like that it’s entirely reassuring - however, it could just be that my current mindset isn’t 100% there and not so much a reflection on the book itself. We have quite the cast of characters which is always fun. But we don’t get to know many of them which I consider to be a drawback - especially in a story set in a small town where community is everything for those living there. I totally get that there is never going to be a book long enough that can go into depth about different characters. But when you are only given surface level to characters who are best friends to those leading the story, I want to know more! Sadly I don’t feel we got much of that. The romance itself was rather sweet and enjoyable. I liked that there was this element of enemies to lovers initially and that it then bloomed and morphed into what we ended with. The spicy moments too, were rather nice though they didn’t blow my socks off! However, saying that, I think it works for the spice to be more mellow for this kind of story. The ending wasn’t bad though I wasn’t too keen on the use of the miscommunication trope. There were plenty of options for drama that didn’t result in the need for that! But otherwise, I think it was a nice ending.
Overall, Score to Settle is a sweet small town romance with a dash of spiciness thrown in.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
September 19, 2025
This is the first book in the Oakwood Ranch series and I've found yet another series that I'm obsessed with!
When Harper is sent out to write a feature on NFL's bad boy Jake, she's determined to show the world the "real" Jake - the one who broke her heart in high school!
The problem is, that Jake is nowhere to be found and sparks fly as they get to know each other better.
This is your classic sports romance which follows the standard format we've all grown to love.
But I loved that there were some great unique elements to this story that had me even more hooked - and I totally devoured this in just 2 sittings!
I loved the mix of genres here as we see the sports romance with some ranch elements woven in too - after playing a tough game, riding through that lush landscape created the highs of the game with the chill and romance that just hit the spot.
Both characters had such a great backstory, I won't give anything away, but I absolutely loved watching each of them soften to each other and open up about some of their past traumas.
I was so frustrated at the mini drama towards the end though, rooting for things to work out well!
This was a spicy one and these scenes were well written within the storyline - each one progressing the relationship perfectly.
What I loved about this was that often in sports romance a, the sport takes a real step back and although games are mentioned, we don't ever get too technical.
Not being a sports fan, I usually appreciate that.
However, here, there were a good number of games followed and in each, the play is well described.
This was done so well as to not getting too technical and be boring (for a non-fan) but give just that little bit of extra insight, building the excitement of the game and what it means to the players.
A really great addition.
We met some great side characters in Jake's teammates and Harper's friends so I have a few ideas for future books but with nothing too solid set up here, I'm so excited to see who will feature next.
A totally bingeable read and I can't wait for book 2 soon!...
When Harper is sent out to write a feature on NFL's bad boy Jake, she's determined to show the world the "real" Jake - the one who broke her heart in high school!
The problem is, that Jake is nowhere to be found and sparks fly as they get to know each other better.
This is your classic sports romance which follows the standard format we've all grown to love.
But I loved that there were some great unique elements to this story that had me even more hooked - and I totally devoured this in just 2 sittings!
I loved the mix of genres here as we see the sports romance with some ranch elements woven in too - after playing a tough game, riding through that lush landscape created the highs of the game with the chill and romance that just hit the spot.
Both characters had such a great backstory, I won't give anything away, but I absolutely loved watching each of them soften to each other and open up about some of their past traumas.
I was so frustrated at the mini drama towards the end though, rooting for things to work out well!
This was a spicy one and these scenes were well written within the storyline - each one progressing the relationship perfectly.
What I loved about this was that often in sports romance a, the sport takes a real step back and although games are mentioned, we don't ever get too technical.
Not being a sports fan, I usually appreciate that.
However, here, there were a good number of games followed and in each, the play is well described.
This was done so well as to not getting too technical and be boring (for a non-fan) but give just that little bit of extra insight, building the excitement of the game and what it means to the players.
A really great addition.
We met some great side characters in Jake's teammates and Harper's friends so I have a few ideas for future books but with nothing too solid set up here, I'm so excited to see who will feature next.
A totally bingeable read and I can't wait for book 2 soon!...
August 4, 2025
Score to settle (Oakwood Rance #1)
Jake Sullivan is a high flying NFL player.
Harper Cassidy is a sports journalist / budding author.
Summary: Their worlds collide when Harper is assigned to get to know Jake, so that she can write a feature on him to try and save his reputation. Harper already knows Jake, she has done since high school and thinks this is the perfect chance for her to show everyone the real Jake Sullivan,the one who humiliated her, destroyed her confidence and broke her heart.
My thoughts: I ADORED this story from start to finish, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of Harper and Jake getting to know each other and how it moved from standoffish to ‘I can’t stop thinking about you’. I honestly couldn’t stop reading.
Oakwood Ranch should just be a place that everyone can go to and it felt really special how Much Mama made Harper feel at home. You could feel the family love embedded in the ranch and honestly if I could sign myself up to be part of the Sullivan family I would! I also adored the strong female friendship between Mia and Harper within the book.
The story flows well between the two character POV’s and is written seamlessly so that different stages of the book fit together like a puzzle. The romance is sweet and has real swoon-worthy moments to it! There were some times where I wanted to bang Harper and Jake’s heads together, these moments were short lived and eventually made me laugh but I guess that is romance for you!
There was a little surprise in the plot at the end which I was not expecting at all! It was confusing at first, but when it all unravelled it felt like everything had come together in the most perfect way and I felt really happy for the characters and also I was glad it ended how it did.
Although this is a romance, the book also touches upon elements of how both characters manage their grief over the loss of a family member. This resonated with me so much and made me feel quite emotional. Family and friends is a key theme throughout the book, there are a variety of relationships between characters and the book is written in a way that doesn’t overlap them too much. However, gives them enough spotlight to be recognised how they should be. I genuinely adored the relationship that Jake has with his siblings and his Mum. It was a stark contrast to the family experience that Harper had, which I think made me appreciate the way in which Bella highlighted the differences between the two characters.
I cannot wait for the next instalment of Oakwood Ranch (fingers crossed it’s Dylan first). 🙊
Favourite Tropes:
* Forced Proximity
* Enemy to lovers
Jake Sullivan is a high flying NFL player.
Harper Cassidy is a sports journalist / budding author.
Summary: Their worlds collide when Harper is assigned to get to know Jake, so that she can write a feature on him to try and save his reputation. Harper already knows Jake, she has done since high school and thinks this is the perfect chance for her to show everyone the real Jake Sullivan,the one who humiliated her, destroyed her confidence and broke her heart.
My thoughts: I ADORED this story from start to finish, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of Harper and Jake getting to know each other and how it moved from standoffish to ‘I can’t stop thinking about you’. I honestly couldn’t stop reading.
Oakwood Ranch should just be a place that everyone can go to and it felt really special how Much Mama made Harper feel at home. You could feel the family love embedded in the ranch and honestly if I could sign myself up to be part of the Sullivan family I would! I also adored the strong female friendship between Mia and Harper within the book.
The story flows well between the two character POV’s and is written seamlessly so that different stages of the book fit together like a puzzle. The romance is sweet and has real swoon-worthy moments to it! There were some times where I wanted to bang Harper and Jake’s heads together, these moments were short lived and eventually made me laugh but I guess that is romance for you!
There was a little surprise in the plot at the end which I was not expecting at all! It was confusing at first, but when it all unravelled it felt like everything had come together in the most perfect way and I felt really happy for the characters and also I was glad it ended how it did.
Although this is a romance, the book also touches upon elements of how both characters manage their grief over the loss of a family member. This resonated with me so much and made me feel quite emotional. Family and friends is a key theme throughout the book, there are a variety of relationships between characters and the book is written in a way that doesn’t overlap them too much. However, gives them enough spotlight to be recognised how they should be. I genuinely adored the relationship that Jake has with his siblings and his Mum. It was a stark contrast to the family experience that Harper had, which I think made me appreciate the way in which Bella highlighted the differences between the two characters.
I cannot wait for the next instalment of Oakwood Ranch (fingers crossed it’s Dylan first). 🙊
Favourite Tropes:
* Forced Proximity
* Enemy to lovers
September 8, 2025
Harper is a junior sports journalist coming towards the end of her probationary period and desperate to impress so that she has a job at the end of it. She’s unexpectedly assigned to write a feature on a star football player with a playboy reputation, with his team hoping it will help rehabilitate his image. Unfortunately for him, Harper knew him in high school and is holding a major grudge after an incident destroyed her teenage confidence and broke her heart.
Jake may not know why the journalist sent to write a feature on him hates him, but he can sense it immediately and isn’t keen to make her job any easier.
The initial animosity between Jake and Harper gives way to some delicious tension as the two of them spend more time together. They butt heads, before coming to an uneasy truce and they start seeing another side to each other. Whilst Harper has her defences up and Jake hides behind a flippant charm, it doesn’t take long before the forced proximity does its job and they start falling for each other.
I know zip about American football so a lot of that went over my head, but you get a real sense of the pressure that Jake is under and how it affects his relationships with his brothers (also football players). I loved the ranch setting and how both of them found so much peace there.
I really enjoyed how the various threads of the story were resolved and how both of them fought for their relationship in the end. This was a great debut and I found Harper and Jake easy to root for. There are some great side characters who definitely have promise for their own stories so I’ll be keeping an eye out for them in the future!
*I received a review copy from the publisher - this is my honest opinion.
Jake may not know why the journalist sent to write a feature on him hates him, but he can sense it immediately and isn’t keen to make her job any easier.
The initial animosity between Jake and Harper gives way to some delicious tension as the two of them spend more time together. They butt heads, before coming to an uneasy truce and they start seeing another side to each other. Whilst Harper has her defences up and Jake hides behind a flippant charm, it doesn’t take long before the forced proximity does its job and they start falling for each other.
I know zip about American football so a lot of that went over my head, but you get a real sense of the pressure that Jake is under and how it affects his relationships with his brothers (also football players). I loved the ranch setting and how both of them found so much peace there.
I really enjoyed how the various threads of the story were resolved and how both of them fought for their relationship in the end. This was a great debut and I found Harper and Jake easy to root for. There are some great side characters who definitely have promise for their own stories so I’ll be keeping an eye out for them in the future!
*I received a review copy from the publisher - this is my honest opinion.
September 7, 2025
Score to Settle
Oakwood Ranch
By: Bella North
Narrated by: Andi Arndt, Sean Masters
Harper finally sees the chance to get her revenge and prove her worth to her editor. Writing a piece about Jake, her high school crush and his true self would not only let herself know what she believed was true but would let the world know too. Jake is a tight end, successful, but needs this article to keep his career on the path he wants. Harper is a pain, but there is something that is getting under his skin about her. Time, close proximity, and family all keep this story flying by. This is my first Bella North listen, and I could not put it down. Jake is sweet, much different than expected, and I love the realization of this when Harper figures it out. Harper is determined yet concerned for her own career as well as trying not to fall for Jake again. The past always catches up with you, and this story brings it all to the front. High school mishaps and feelings, past relationships and family issues make this a phenomenal start to the series and now I cannot wait for Dylan's story.
Andi Arndt and Sean Masters lead the team to victory with a fantastic performance as Harper and Jake. Arndt knows how to delve into all the feels, from the young girl Harper was who was hurt to the mature adult she becomes. Masters is smooth and charismatic as well as cautious as he finds his way as Jake. Both are amazing story tellers and made this listen a touchdown!
Oakwood Ranch
By: Bella North
Narrated by: Andi Arndt, Sean Masters
Harper finally sees the chance to get her revenge and prove her worth to her editor. Writing a piece about Jake, her high school crush and his true self would not only let herself know what she believed was true but would let the world know too. Jake is a tight end, successful, but needs this article to keep his career on the path he wants. Harper is a pain, but there is something that is getting under his skin about her. Time, close proximity, and family all keep this story flying by. This is my first Bella North listen, and I could not put it down. Jake is sweet, much different than expected, and I love the realization of this when Harper figures it out. Harper is determined yet concerned for her own career as well as trying not to fall for Jake again. The past always catches up with you, and this story brings it all to the front. High school mishaps and feelings, past relationships and family issues make this a phenomenal start to the series and now I cannot wait for Dylan's story.
Andi Arndt and Sean Masters lead the team to victory with a fantastic performance as Harper and Jake. Arndt knows how to delve into all the feels, from the young girl Harper was who was hurt to the mature adult she becomes. Masters is smooth and charismatic as well as cautious as he finds his way as Jake. Both are amazing story tellers and made this listen a touchdown!
September 10, 2025
Score to Settle by Bella North 💜
Oakwood Ranch, Book 1
Interconnected Standalone
Narrated by Andi Arndt and Sean Masters
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Sports Romance
ALC Review
🗓️ September 10
🎧football romance
🎧journalist/athlete
🎧high school crush
🎧dislike to love
🎧forced proximity
🎧slow burn
🎧one bed
🎧found family
📖”Have you forgiven me for breaking your heart yet?”
I got attached to this story. It’s as simple as that. I started this audio with no expectations, really. It was my first Bella North, I liked the blurb and hit request on NetGalley without much more to it. I wanted something fun to read about football so it could match the best season of the year. And boy oh boy did I have fun. Not only that. I got two characters that became part of my daily life, if that makes sense. I got attached to listening to their story, I got attached to both Jake and Harper, and now I’m missing them a whole lot.
Who hasn’t done ridiculous things in high school. But in Jake’s case, what he did to Harper will come back to haunt him in the form of a woman with an assignment and a score to settle. But honestly, that’s the least that can be said about this story. This was so much more than a catalyst. Because a catalyst it was. Nothing more. It set the wheels in motion but these two were the ones moving my heart and propelling my soul forward. All the vulnerable moments, all the sweet exchanges, all the banter had me smiling and rooting fiercely for them.
It didn’t hurt relatability the fact that she’s a journalist too ahaha
Oakwood Ranch, Book 1
Interconnected Standalone
Narrated by Andi Arndt and Sean Masters
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Sports Romance
ALC Review
🗓️ September 10
🎧football romance
🎧journalist/athlete
🎧high school crush
🎧dislike to love
🎧forced proximity
🎧slow burn
🎧one bed
🎧found family
📖”Have you forgiven me for breaking your heart yet?”
I got attached to this story. It’s as simple as that. I started this audio with no expectations, really. It was my first Bella North, I liked the blurb and hit request on NetGalley without much more to it. I wanted something fun to read about football so it could match the best season of the year. And boy oh boy did I have fun. Not only that. I got two characters that became part of my daily life, if that makes sense. I got attached to listening to their story, I got attached to both Jake and Harper, and now I’m missing them a whole lot.
Who hasn’t done ridiculous things in high school. But in Jake’s case, what he did to Harper will come back to haunt him in the form of a woman with an assignment and a score to settle. But honestly, that’s the least that can be said about this story. This was so much more than a catalyst. Because a catalyst it was. Nothing more. It set the wheels in motion but these two were the ones moving my heart and propelling my soul forward. All the vulnerable moments, all the sweet exchanges, all the banter had me smiling and rooting fiercely for them.
It didn’t hurt relatability the fact that she’s a journalist too ahaha
September 17, 2025
Score to settle review: 3.25 stars.
In high school, he broke her heart—now he’s the famous football player whose image she’s meant to clear. Game on.
Score to settle was a fun, well-paced story that was both engaging and humorous.
Characters:
While Harper’s deep seeded insecurities fuelled a lot of the plot of this book, it was great to see that she actually learned from it and didn’t continue to act like a petulant child.
Jake is seen as the typical troublesome sports star but, in actuality, he is as selfless as they come. His dedication to the team and the sport as well as his passion for helping and advocating for families who have lost a parent/guardian makes him more than the typical 2-dimensional smug bad boy that you usually see in sports romance novels.
Momma is simply the best character to ever exist, hands down. I loved that queen.
I liked seeing the dynamic between the brothers of the family and learning that one of the brother’s is actually adopted! It’s not that common to see adoptive situations in books so that was very refreshing to me as I am also an adopted child.
Plot:
This is where the book lost stars for me. The plot line itself with a journalist being teamed up with a sports star and is tasked with writing a feature to clean up their image felt so tired and derivative. Though it did add in those extra elements with Jake covering for his friends and so it wasn’t actually him that was being the douche-bag.
The slow reveal of both the FMC and the MMC’s past and family dynamics really drove the plot.
Overall: I wasn’t really blown away with the plot itself as it was very predictable, however I really enjoyed the characters. I was pleasantly surprised with the character growth and development with made the main characters not completely insufferable. Overall, a fun and enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book!
In high school, he broke her heart—now he’s the famous football player whose image she’s meant to clear. Game on.
Score to settle was a fun, well-paced story that was both engaging and humorous.
Characters:
While Harper’s deep seeded insecurities fuelled a lot of the plot of this book, it was great to see that she actually learned from it and didn’t continue to act like a petulant child.
Jake is seen as the typical troublesome sports star but, in actuality, he is as selfless as they come. His dedication to the team and the sport as well as his passion for helping and advocating for families who have lost a parent/guardian makes him more than the typical 2-dimensional smug bad boy that you usually see in sports romance novels.
Momma is simply the best character to ever exist, hands down. I loved that queen.
I liked seeing the dynamic between the brothers of the family and learning that one of the brother’s is actually adopted! It’s not that common to see adoptive situations in books so that was very refreshing to me as I am also an adopted child.
Plot:
This is where the book lost stars for me. The plot line itself with a journalist being teamed up with a sports star and is tasked with writing a feature to clean up their image felt so tired and derivative. Though it did add in those extra elements with Jake covering for his friends and so it wasn’t actually him that was being the douche-bag.
The slow reveal of both the FMC and the MMC’s past and family dynamics really drove the plot.
Overall: I wasn’t really blown away with the plot itself as it was very predictable, however I really enjoyed the characters. I was pleasantly surprised with the character growth and development with made the main characters not completely insufferable. Overall, a fun and enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book!
September 21, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5/5)
Format: e-ARC #AD-PRproduct
Genre: Contemporary romance (🌶️🌶️1/2)
Series: Oakwood Ranch, book 1
——
Thank you to Tandem Collective, NetGalley, and Bookouture for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. #AD #PRProduct
This book was such a delight! The story follows Harper Cassidy, a determined sports journalist assigned to cover Jake Sullivan, a star football player with a not-so-great reputation when it comes to love. What begins as a professional clash quickly turns into a slow-burning connection that neither of them can ignore.
The chemistry between Harper and Jake was off the charts. The tension felt natural and earned, especially given their shared history from high school, which added an unexpected second-chance romance vibe. I loved how Bella North built their relationship with care—the characters had the chance to truly get to know each other before anything happened, so when it did, it felt believable and satisfying.
Another highlight for me was the descriptive writing. The author does a wonderful job of painting the scenery, making it so easy to immerse yourself in the world she created. It felt like I was right there, watching Harper and Jake’s story unfold.
If I had one critique, it’s that I would have liked a little more development at the end, once Harper and Jake’s relationship actually began. But with more books in the series to come, I suspect their story isn’t finished yet, and I’m excited to see more of them in future installments.
Overall, Score to Settle is a fun, swoony, and heartfelt romance that will appeal to anyone who loves sports romance mixed with found family vibes and that irresistible enemies-to-lovers spark. I’ll definitely be recommending this one!
Read this if you like:
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Sports romance
✨ Found family
✨ Workplace romance
✨ Slow burn
Format: e-ARC #AD-PRproduct
Genre: Contemporary romance (🌶️🌶️1/2)
Series: Oakwood Ranch, book 1
——
Thank you to Tandem Collective, NetGalley, and Bookouture for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. #AD #PRProduct
This book was such a delight! The story follows Harper Cassidy, a determined sports journalist assigned to cover Jake Sullivan, a star football player with a not-so-great reputation when it comes to love. What begins as a professional clash quickly turns into a slow-burning connection that neither of them can ignore.
The chemistry between Harper and Jake was off the charts. The tension felt natural and earned, especially given their shared history from high school, which added an unexpected second-chance romance vibe. I loved how Bella North built their relationship with care—the characters had the chance to truly get to know each other before anything happened, so when it did, it felt believable and satisfying.
Another highlight for me was the descriptive writing. The author does a wonderful job of painting the scenery, making it so easy to immerse yourself in the world she created. It felt like I was right there, watching Harper and Jake’s story unfold.
If I had one critique, it’s that I would have liked a little more development at the end, once Harper and Jake’s relationship actually began. But with more books in the series to come, I suspect their story isn’t finished yet, and I’m excited to see more of them in future installments.
Overall, Score to Settle is a fun, swoony, and heartfelt romance that will appeal to anyone who loves sports romance mixed with found family vibes and that irresistible enemies-to-lovers spark. I’ll definitely be recommending this one!
Read this if you like:
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Sports romance
✨ Found family
✨ Workplace romance
✨ Slow burn
August 16, 2025
Release date: September 10th
I’m so grateful to NetGalley and Bookouture for the arc of Score to Settle!
This book delivered a heartfelt mix of slow-burn romance, small-town vibes, and emotional depth that had me hooked from the first chapter. The story follows Harper, a smart, no-nonsense sports journalist who returns to her hometown for a career-defining assignment, only to be paired with none other than Jake Sullivan—the moody NFL star and her former high school crush. From their first interaction, the chemistry was electric, full of delicious banter and emotional tension.
What really stood out to me was the way Bella North balanced humor and heart. Jake might come off gruff and guarded, but there’s so much going on beneath the surface—grief, guilt, and the kind of emotional baggage that makes you ache for him. Harper, on the other hand, is strong and determined, but there’s also a softness to her, especially as she begins to let her guard down around Jake and his incredibly charming family. The found-family dynamic, especially with Jake’s mom and brothers, added warmth that made this book feel like home.
While I loved the pacing and character development, I did find myself wanting just a little more from some of the side plot resolutions—that’s really the only reason this is a 4-star instead of a 5 for me.
I’m so grateful to NetGalley and Bookouture for the arc of Score to Settle!
This book delivered a heartfelt mix of slow-burn romance, small-town vibes, and emotional depth that had me hooked from the first chapter. The story follows Harper, a smart, no-nonsense sports journalist who returns to her hometown for a career-defining assignment, only to be paired with none other than Jake Sullivan—the moody NFL star and her former high school crush. From their first interaction, the chemistry was electric, full of delicious banter and emotional tension.
What really stood out to me was the way Bella North balanced humor and heart. Jake might come off gruff and guarded, but there’s so much going on beneath the surface—grief, guilt, and the kind of emotional baggage that makes you ache for him. Harper, on the other hand, is strong and determined, but there’s also a softness to her, especially as she begins to let her guard down around Jake and his incredibly charming family. The found-family dynamic, especially with Jake’s mom and brothers, added warmth that made this book feel like home.
While I loved the pacing and character development, I did find myself wanting just a little more from some of the side plot resolutions—that’s really the only reason this is a 4-star instead of a 5 for me.
August 18, 2025
3⭐
This story was too forced for my liking. First 40% of the book was slow and a little boring, then something happened and I was hooked. But the last 10% was again predictable, forced and a bit (*opening thesaurus to get synonyms for boring*) mundane at times.
I hated the fmc's best friend because she was miserable in her own life so she had to try and control Harper's life, she made comments like: I don't understand why we are friends even and so on. These are the things you should never say to a person who is struggling with her self worth, rejection and insecurities. And yet the best friend did all that.
I loved Harper and Jake though. Harper was such a sweetheart who would benefit from therapy and Jake is just.. Jake- perfect gentleman, caring, etcetc. Exactly the book boyfriend you would fall for. I was about to rate this book 4/5 even though it was a bit dull and forced at times. These two were just the greatest together. They healed each other's inner children together but the ending ruined it for me.
I didn't understand what the author wanted to say with the fact that Jake knew all along who Harper was, it just confused things for me. Also, why the third-act breakup? Or if it was necessary for the mc's to finally understand that they are meant for each other then why did they get back together so quickly. It gave major- I need to write a few hundred words more for my essay- vibes.
This story was too forced for my liking. First 40% of the book was slow and a little boring, then something happened and I was hooked. But the last 10% was again predictable, forced and a bit (*opening thesaurus to get synonyms for boring*) mundane at times.
I hated the fmc's best friend because she was miserable in her own life so she had to try and control Harper's life, she made comments like: I don't understand why we are friends even and so on. These are the things you should never say to a person who is struggling with her self worth, rejection and insecurities. And yet the best friend did all that.
I loved Harper and Jake though. Harper was such a sweetheart who would benefit from therapy and Jake is just.. Jake- perfect gentleman, caring, etcetc. Exactly the book boyfriend you would fall for. I was about to rate this book 4/5 even though it was a bit dull and forced at times. These two were just the greatest together. They healed each other's inner children together but the ending ruined it for me.
I didn't understand what the author wanted to say with the fact that Jake knew all along who Harper was, it just confused things for me. Also, why the third-act breakup? Or if it was necessary for the mc's to finally understand that they are meant for each other then why did they get back together so quickly. It gave major- I need to write a few hundred words more for my essay- vibes.
September 4, 2025
Score to Settle is the first sports romance in the Oakwood Ranch series. Harper Cassidy is determined to make a name for herself in the journalistic world after being let go from her dream job in NYC. Her latest assignment has her going to back to her past and shadowing football star, Jake Sullivan. The same Jake Sullivan that she had a crush on in high school. Jake has a reputation of being a playboy and in hopes of clearing his name he’s agreed to a story on him written by none other than Harper. Forced to face her past in order to succeed at her future Harper moves into Oakwood Ranch with Jake to get the best story possible. Will she be able to forget the past or will those old feelings read their heads as she follows Jake for the story?
Sports romance is my go to romance category and I thought with football season starting this was a good one to read next. It held my interest from the beginning and I enjoyed the history between Jake and Harper and how everything was woven together. I found this to be a fast read that was easy to get into. The characters were good and I liked getting to know some of the side characters. I definitely see potential for more on this series and look forward to what might come next. If you are looking for an easy to get into sports romance this is a good one to check out.
Sports romance is my go to romance category and I thought with football season starting this was a good one to read next. It held my interest from the beginning and I enjoyed the history between Jake and Harper and how everything was woven together. I found this to be a fast read that was easy to get into. The characters were good and I liked getting to know some of the side characters. I definitely see potential for more on this series and look forward to what might come next. If you are looking for an easy to get into sports romance this is a good one to check out.
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