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Oakwood Ranch #2
Game Over
His football days might be over. But the game is just beginning…
Forced out of the game by a career-ending injury, Dylan Sullivan is busy drowning his sorrows in the local bar. Slumped a few stools down, Izzy Brooks knocks back another bourbon. Her grandpa is selling the horses she loves, meaning she’s out of a job—and a home.
The next morning, Dylan wakes groggily to the sound of horses’ hooves—with zero memory of the night before. Unlucky for him, there’s a tougher-than-nails, sexy-as-hell ranch hand with a scowl the size of Texas to fill him in… Last night, Dylan bought eighteen horses to fill his family’s empty ranch. Izzy’s horses.
Izzy’s future relies on Dylan becoming the rancher he never planned to be. As she puts him through his paces, competitive sparks—and something even more sizzling—fly. And stolen moments amongst the haystacks start to feel like a new beginning for both of them.
But when Dylan gets a chance to rejoin the world of football, the hope in Izzy’s heart flatlines. Will he prove every misgiving she had about him true? Or will he realize the path he never expected to walk is the one leading to the happy ending he was looking for?
Game Over is a steamy but heartfelt enemies-to-lovers cowboy and sports romance, perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, Stephanie Archer and Liz Tomforde. The second in the Oakwood Ranch series, it can also be read as a standalone.
Readers are falling HARD for the Oakwood Ranch
“It’s 1am and I’m here with tears streaming down my face… Completely blown away… I have no idea how any review could do this justice… One of the best of our time… Stolen my heart… Full on made me belly laugh… Biggest book hangover of all time… INCREDIBLE!… I devoured page after page in just one sitting… Zero regrets… Deserving of ALL the praise… My book of the year.” Littlemissbooklover87, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Wow, what a ride!… Had me hooked… The tension? Practically bursting off the page!… AND THE SPICE!… Had me fanning my cheeks and turning my brightness down on my phone to make sure no one could see… Added to my 5-star hall of fame!” Reading_with_nix, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Loved every second… Ridiculously edible… ICONIC… Has my heart. The banter? Sharp. The pining? Gut-wrenching. The trust issues? Delicious… I'm unwell… Fluffy, spicy, and addicting… You won’t be able to put it down… Perfect.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Love love loved!!!!!!… Everything I wanted and more!… So perfect!… I did not want it to end!” Jessica’s Book Biz, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Everything I want in a romance… Blends sports romance with cowboy charm in such a fresh, engaging way… Absolutely nailed it… The banter? Perfect
Forced out of the game by a career-ending injury, Dylan Sullivan is busy drowning his sorrows in the local bar. Slumped a few stools down, Izzy Brooks knocks back another bourbon. Her grandpa is selling the horses she loves, meaning she’s out of a job—and a home.
The next morning, Dylan wakes groggily to the sound of horses’ hooves—with zero memory of the night before. Unlucky for him, there’s a tougher-than-nails, sexy-as-hell ranch hand with a scowl the size of Texas to fill him in… Last night, Dylan bought eighteen horses to fill his family’s empty ranch. Izzy’s horses.
Izzy’s future relies on Dylan becoming the rancher he never planned to be. As she puts him through his paces, competitive sparks—and something even more sizzling—fly. And stolen moments amongst the haystacks start to feel like a new beginning for both of them.
But when Dylan gets a chance to rejoin the world of football, the hope in Izzy’s heart flatlines. Will he prove every misgiving she had about him true? Or will he realize the path he never expected to walk is the one leading to the happy ending he was looking for?
Game Over is a steamy but heartfelt enemies-to-lovers cowboy and sports romance, perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, Stephanie Archer and Liz Tomforde. The second in the Oakwood Ranch series, it can also be read as a standalone.
Readers are falling HARD for the Oakwood Ranch
“It’s 1am and I’m here with tears streaming down my face… Completely blown away… I have no idea how any review could do this justice… One of the best of our time… Stolen my heart… Full on made me belly laugh… Biggest book hangover of all time… INCREDIBLE!… I devoured page after page in just one sitting… Zero regrets… Deserving of ALL the praise… My book of the year.” Littlemissbooklover87, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Wow, what a ride!… Had me hooked… The tension? Practically bursting off the page!… AND THE SPICE!… Had me fanning my cheeks and turning my brightness down on my phone to make sure no one could see… Added to my 5-star hall of fame!” Reading_with_nix, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Loved every second… Ridiculously edible… ICONIC… Has my heart. The banter? Sharp. The pining? Gut-wrenching. The trust issues? Delicious… I'm unwell… Fluffy, spicy, and addicting… You won’t be able to put it down… Perfect.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Love love loved!!!!!!… Everything I wanted and more!… So perfect!… I did not want it to end!” Jessica’s Book Biz, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Everything I want in a romance… Blends sports romance with cowboy charm in such a fresh, engaging way… Absolutely nailed it… The banter? Perfect
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 22, 2026
44 people are currently reading
447 people want to read
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January 25, 2026
Rating: 2.75 stars.
I’m honestly not even sure if I truly enjoyed this book, or if I was just reading to see where it was going, even though I already knew everything. It was fun and entertaining in moments, but for the millionth time: a slow burn with insta-lust is not a slow burn. Sigh.
I actually liked the ending more than the rest of the book. It leaned emotional rather than romantic, and that worked for me, because I didn’t connect with the romance at all. The beginning had potential: the enemies dynamic, the tension, the mutual irritation just from hearing each other’s names. But after a while, it became repetitive. The same conflicts, the same arguments, the same reactions, over and over, and that made parts of the story feel stagnant.
Still, it wasn’t a bad experience. It had entertaining moments, and I can see why people would enjoy it.
Overall: fun in certain aspects, not a favorite in the end.
If you’re looking for something light to giggle over and pass the time, this one might be worth picking up.
>>> ──────── .✦
🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆ I saw the cover and immediately knew I had to request the audiobook ARC, and I’m so excited to finally dive into it. I’ve been searching for a good slow-burn romance for a while, and finding one that mixes cowboy vibes, grumpy–sunshine energy, and enemies-to-lovers? Yeah, I didn’t stand a chance.
This feels like exactly the kind of romance that will have me kicking my feet and smiling at my headphones. If this story grabs my heart the way I’m hoping it will, I already know I’ll be picking up the first book without hesitation.
A huge thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with the audiobook ARC. I’m ready to get emotionally invested.
I’m honestly not even sure if I truly enjoyed this book, or if I was just reading to see where it was going, even though I already knew everything. It was fun and entertaining in moments, but for the millionth time: a slow burn with insta-lust is not a slow burn. Sigh.
I actually liked the ending more than the rest of the book. It leaned emotional rather than romantic, and that worked for me, because I didn’t connect with the romance at all. The beginning had potential: the enemies dynamic, the tension, the mutual irritation just from hearing each other’s names. But after a while, it became repetitive. The same conflicts, the same arguments, the same reactions, over and over, and that made parts of the story feel stagnant.
Still, it wasn’t a bad experience. It had entertaining moments, and I can see why people would enjoy it.
Overall: fun in certain aspects, not a favorite in the end.
If you’re looking for something light to giggle over and pass the time, this one might be worth picking up.
>>> ──────── .✦
🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆ I saw the cover and immediately knew I had to request the audiobook ARC, and I’m so excited to finally dive into it. I’ve been searching for a good slow-burn romance for a while, and finding one that mixes cowboy vibes, grumpy–sunshine energy, and enemies-to-lovers? Yeah, I didn’t stand a chance.
This feels like exactly the kind of romance that will have me kicking my feet and smiling at my headphones. If this story grabs my heart the way I’m hoping it will, I already know I’ll be picking up the first book without hesitation.
A huge thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with the audiobook ARC. I’m ready to get emotionally invested.
October 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC! All thoughts are my own!
🎉 Expected Publication Date: 22nd of January 2026 🎉
🤍 Tropes 🤍
🩷 Romance
💋The Spice
🏈NFL
😜Banter
👥Brotherhood
🤠Cowboys/Cowgirls
🐎Horses
🌱New Directions in Life
😤 Grumpy x Grumpy
🤏Close Proximity
👨👩👧👦 Found Family
👩👧Single Mama
🎀👧🏻Darling Little Girl
⚠️ Warnings ⚠️
╰➤ Sexually Explicit Language/Content
╰➤ Swearing
╰➤ Alcohol Used as a Coping Mechanism
╰➤ Abandonment from Family Members
I am so happy to be reading book two in the Oakwood Ranch series!!
The first book was about one of the Sullivan brothers - Jake - book two is now about the next brother Dylan! The third one I am assuming will be about the third and final brother Chase!
Dylan Sullivan (MMC) and Izzy Brooks (FMC) were an absolute delight. I have underlined so many parts of this book that I found amusing or poignant. I really like the backstory of these two characters. Dylan’s injury and his need to redirect himself in his life were great plot points and I just love Izzy and her daughter Madison. I also liked that Dylan wasn’t as much of a player as Jake haha! Bella North can really tell a great story. The writing and characters are vibrant and fun. The flirting and banter is great between all of the characters. It is really quite witty. I just had such a great time! I love the MMC and FMC. I love the Sullivan brothers! I love Flic and the FMC’s friendship. I also love the MMC with the FMC’s daughter. So many sweet moments to be had!
I feel both of the main characters were in a state of crisis at the beginning of the book. Dylan was struggling post-injury and finding his feet, and Izzy was facing unemployment with a daughter to provide for. It was a great setup to the story! I will say, however, that I liked the initial meeting that they had in the cars. That was quite good, but I did not like the bar scene personally. It was too quick and insta-lusty for me. I wish that scene had played out differently a bit. I will say that there were times when the main characters failed to communicate properly or had emotional outburst that were on the dramatic side. They are explained with backstory but towards the end I was a bit like, just kiss and make up already! I still enjoyed the story though and loved the ending!
I have to say the brother’s banter was on point again in this book!
‘“What the hell?” I (Dylan) growl. The sound of my own voice pounds in my head. “I could’ve been naked. Or had a woman in here.”
Jake snorts. “Please. You’ve spent the last two years celibate and sulking. The only thing in here is you and your pity party.”’ XD
‘Dylan: I’m busy.
Jake: If you’re throwing another pity party, Dyl, maybe invite us next time!
Chase: Before you buy a fleet of antique tractors?”
Jake: Or a herd of llamas. Ranch diversification, right?
Dylan: Dicks!’ XD
‘“The Sullivan charm is in there somewhere, Dyl,” Jake throws out.
“Buried under a mountain of grump,” Chase finishes.’ XD
The brothers were savage to each other at times! It had me belly laughing. I don’t have siblings really but if I did I would want a relationship like the Sullivan’s. Absolutely savage at times!
I loved the secondary characters too. Mama Sullivan is a gem. She is the real MVP I swear! Acts of services without end, taking care of everyone as usual!
‘“You need anything today?” she (Mama) asks like she does every day.’
She is such a babe! She is the mother I aspire to be quite frankly!
Flic is equally awesome in this book!
‘Izzy: Are you sure Dylan’s a nice guy? All I’m seeing is a jerk who buys horse stock and then disappears for a week!
Flic: I didn’t say he wasn’t grumpy, but yeah, he’s one of the good guys. You could do a hell of a lot worse!!
Izzy: I’m working for the guy and that’s it. Grumpy assholes are not my type.
Flic: I didn’t realize dried-up spinsters had a type!
Izzy: I’m not taking dating advice from a woman who knows every word to every Disney song in existence.’
These burns! Had my rolling!
And my favourite little Madison!
‘Dylan rubs at the stumble on his jaw! “I like horses fine. I’m just not sure they like me.”
“Mom says horses don’t like jerks,” Mad says. “Are you a jerk?”
…
“This is Rusty. He’s grumpy, so you’ll get along fine.”’
I mean seriously! Who could not love this girl! She says the truth and doesn’t hold the punches back. She was a darling!
Guys this is such a fun read! The romance is great. The banter is epic. The relationships all feel real and have depth to them. Is it perfect? Maybe not! But I loved it! Easy five stars from me!!! Where is book 3 already!!!!!?
Thanks all for reading!
🤍🤍🤍
🎉 Expected Publication Date: 22nd of January 2026 🎉
🤍 Tropes 🤍
🩷 Romance
💋The Spice
🏈NFL
😜Banter
👥Brotherhood
🤠Cowboys/Cowgirls
🐎Horses
🌱New Directions in Life
😤 Grumpy x Grumpy
🤏Close Proximity
👨👩👧👦 Found Family
👩👧Single Mama
🎀👧🏻Darling Little Girl
⚠️ Warnings ⚠️
╰➤ Sexually Explicit Language/Content
╰➤ Swearing
╰➤ Alcohol Used as a Coping Mechanism
╰➤ Abandonment from Family Members
I am so happy to be reading book two in the Oakwood Ranch series!!
The first book was about one of the Sullivan brothers - Jake - book two is now about the next brother Dylan! The third one I am assuming will be about the third and final brother Chase!
Dylan Sullivan (MMC) and Izzy Brooks (FMC) were an absolute delight. I have underlined so many parts of this book that I found amusing or poignant. I really like the backstory of these two characters. Dylan’s injury and his need to redirect himself in his life were great plot points and I just love Izzy and her daughter Madison. I also liked that Dylan wasn’t as much of a player as Jake haha! Bella North can really tell a great story. The writing and characters are vibrant and fun. The flirting and banter is great between all of the characters. It is really quite witty. I just had such a great time! I love the MMC and FMC. I love the Sullivan brothers! I love Flic and the FMC’s friendship. I also love the MMC with the FMC’s daughter. So many sweet moments to be had!
I feel both of the main characters were in a state of crisis at the beginning of the book. Dylan was struggling post-injury and finding his feet, and Izzy was facing unemployment with a daughter to provide for. It was a great setup to the story! I will say, however, that I liked the initial meeting that they had in the cars. That was quite good, but I did not like the bar scene personally. It was too quick and insta-lusty for me. I wish that scene had played out differently a bit. I will say that there were times when the main characters failed to communicate properly or had emotional outburst that were on the dramatic side. They are explained with backstory but towards the end I was a bit like, just kiss and make up already! I still enjoyed the story though and loved the ending!
I have to say the brother’s banter was on point again in this book!
‘“What the hell?” I (Dylan) growl. The sound of my own voice pounds in my head. “I could’ve been naked. Or had a woman in here.”
Jake snorts. “Please. You’ve spent the last two years celibate and sulking. The only thing in here is you and your pity party.”’ XD
‘Dylan: I’m busy.
Jake: If you’re throwing another pity party, Dyl, maybe invite us next time!
Chase: Before you buy a fleet of antique tractors?”
Jake: Or a herd of llamas. Ranch diversification, right?
Dylan: Dicks!’ XD
‘“The Sullivan charm is in there somewhere, Dyl,” Jake throws out.
“Buried under a mountain of grump,” Chase finishes.’ XD
The brothers were savage to each other at times! It had me belly laughing. I don’t have siblings really but if I did I would want a relationship like the Sullivan’s. Absolutely savage at times!
I loved the secondary characters too. Mama Sullivan is a gem. She is the real MVP I swear! Acts of services without end, taking care of everyone as usual!
‘“You need anything today?” she (Mama) asks like she does every day.’
She is such a babe! She is the mother I aspire to be quite frankly!
Flic is equally awesome in this book!
‘Izzy: Are you sure Dylan’s a nice guy? All I’m seeing is a jerk who buys horse stock and then disappears for a week!
Flic: I didn’t say he wasn’t grumpy, but yeah, he’s one of the good guys. You could do a hell of a lot worse!!
Izzy: I’m working for the guy and that’s it. Grumpy assholes are not my type.
Flic: I didn’t realize dried-up spinsters had a type!
Izzy: I’m not taking dating advice from a woman who knows every word to every Disney song in existence.’
These burns! Had my rolling!
And my favourite little Madison!
‘Dylan rubs at the stumble on his jaw! “I like horses fine. I’m just not sure they like me.”
“Mom says horses don’t like jerks,” Mad says. “Are you a jerk?”
…
“This is Rusty. He’s grumpy, so you’ll get along fine.”’
I mean seriously! Who could not love this girl! She says the truth and doesn’t hold the punches back. She was a darling!
Guys this is such a fun read! The romance is great. The banter is epic. The relationships all feel real and have depth to them. Is it perfect? Maybe not! But I loved it! Easy five stars from me!!! Where is book 3 already!!!!!?
Thanks all for reading!
🤍🤍🤍
November 26, 2025
Game Over starts strong with a premise that immediately hooks you. A fallen football star and a sharp-tongued ranch hand forced to work side by side after one wild, impulsive night changes both of their lives. It’s the kind of setup that promises tension, redemption, and sparks flying in all the right ways 😏😏
Dylan, once living the high life under stadium lights, is now left to face who he is without the game that defined him. Izzy, on the other hand, is fighting tooth and nail to keep her world from falling apart after losing the horses she loves. When their paths collide, the result is an emotional tug-of-war filled with stubborn pride, slow-burn attraction, and plenty of barbed banter.
While I love a good enemies-to-lovers dynamic, Izzy’s attitude sometimes crossed from fiery to frustrating. Her strength and independence were admirable, but she often came off a little too harsh. (especially when Dylan was genuinely trying to find his footing again) There were moments when her words seemed to drag him back down just as he was starting to heal, and that made it harder for me to root for her 😕
Dylan, for his part, had his flaws too—grumpy, lost, and maybe a little too stuck in the past—but I found his journey more sympathetic. Watching him slowly rediscover purpose outside of football was one of the story’s best parts 🩷🩷
The chemistry between them built gradually, and I did appreciate how it captured that stubborn “we should hate each other but can’t stay away” energy. The ending was also satisfying and brought a nice sense of closure once both characters finally let down their walls.
Overall, this one is a mix of sweet and spicy with plenty of grit. The story had promise, and the emotional setup was strong, but honestly Izzy made it hard for me to fully fall in love with the story. Still, if you enjoy enemies-to-lovers stories with a ranch backdrop, stubborn characters, and slow-burn tension that keeps you flipping pages, it’s worth the read.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”And when she smiles-not the sarcastic smirk, but the rare, soft smile she tries to hide-I find myself wondering what it would be like to reach for her hand, tug her toward me, and press my lips to hers.”
⸻
"I can take care of myself," she says with her trademark eye roll.
"Didn't say you couldn't. But it doesn't mean I'm not going to be looking out for you, too."
⸻
“Falling for someone means laying myself bare. And yet, this doesn't feel like falling. It feels like being caught. Like maybe I don't have to do this alone anymore.”
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🏈 enemies→lovers
🐴 grumpy x grumpy
🏈 forced proximity
🐴 slow burn
🏈 dual POV
🐴 workplace romance
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Bella North for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
Dylan, once living the high life under stadium lights, is now left to face who he is without the game that defined him. Izzy, on the other hand, is fighting tooth and nail to keep her world from falling apart after losing the horses she loves. When their paths collide, the result is an emotional tug-of-war filled with stubborn pride, slow-burn attraction, and plenty of barbed banter.
While I love a good enemies-to-lovers dynamic, Izzy’s attitude sometimes crossed from fiery to frustrating. Her strength and independence were admirable, but she often came off a little too harsh. (especially when Dylan was genuinely trying to find his footing again) There were moments when her words seemed to drag him back down just as he was starting to heal, and that made it harder for me to root for her 😕
Dylan, for his part, had his flaws too—grumpy, lost, and maybe a little too stuck in the past—but I found his journey more sympathetic. Watching him slowly rediscover purpose outside of football was one of the story’s best parts 🩷🩷
The chemistry between them built gradually, and I did appreciate how it captured that stubborn “we should hate each other but can’t stay away” energy. The ending was also satisfying and brought a nice sense of closure once both characters finally let down their walls.
Overall, this one is a mix of sweet and spicy with plenty of grit. The story had promise, and the emotional setup was strong, but honestly Izzy made it hard for me to fully fall in love with the story. Still, if you enjoy enemies-to-lovers stories with a ranch backdrop, stubborn characters, and slow-burn tension that keeps you flipping pages, it’s worth the read.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”And when she smiles-not the sarcastic smirk, but the rare, soft smile she tries to hide-I find myself wondering what it would be like to reach for her hand, tug her toward me, and press my lips to hers.”
⸻
"I can take care of myself," she says with her trademark eye roll.
"Didn't say you couldn't. But it doesn't mean I'm not going to be looking out for you, too."
⸻
“Falling for someone means laying myself bare. And yet, this doesn't feel like falling. It feels like being caught. Like maybe I don't have to do this alone anymore.”
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🏈 enemies→lovers
🐴 grumpy x grumpy
🏈 forced proximity
🐴 slow burn
🏈 dual POV
🐴 workplace romance
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Bella North for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
October 1, 2025
2.5 ˖⁺‧✮
unfortunately i didn’t like this book. it was a plain romance with a “grumpy” male character (who was rather shy than grumpy😭) and an annoying female character who was pissed on the mmc for no reason.
from the beginning there this usual banter between the main characters which publishers classified as “enemies”🥲…. there were no enemies. they weren’t best friends but they also weren’t ENEMIES. i’m tired of publishers adding “enemies to lovers” trope when in reality it’s just an annoying person being mad for no reason. izzie was so annoying with her attitude. i truly understand her position, especially when the first dialogue with her parents happened, but there were no reasons for her to just be so mad with dylan.
their relationship felt very pushed. she felt an attraction but it didn’t feel like there was anything else about dylan that attracted her. i honestly think that him being nice to maddie was reason she “fell for him”.
the story felt too boring and undeveloped. the romance felt very rushed and needs a lot of details and re-editing. characters need more depth and personality because as of now, she’s just a grumpy hard working girl and he’s the most boring guy in that area.
there are better books in this genre and as much as i wanted to like this (the cover is cuuuteeeee) i really don’t think this one is worth the attention:(
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the early copy!
unfortunately i didn’t like this book. it was a plain romance with a “grumpy” male character (who was rather shy than grumpy😭) and an annoying female character who was pissed on the mmc for no reason.
from the beginning there this usual banter between the main characters which publishers classified as “enemies”🥲…. there were no enemies. they weren’t best friends but they also weren’t ENEMIES. i’m tired of publishers adding “enemies to lovers” trope when in reality it’s just an annoying person being mad for no reason. izzie was so annoying with her attitude. i truly understand her position, especially when the first dialogue with her parents happened, but there were no reasons for her to just be so mad with dylan.
their relationship felt very pushed. she felt an attraction but it didn’t feel like there was anything else about dylan that attracted her. i honestly think that him being nice to maddie was reason she “fell for him”.
the story felt too boring and undeveloped. the romance felt very rushed and needs a lot of details and re-editing. characters need more depth and personality because as of now, she’s just a grumpy hard working girl and he’s the most boring guy in that area.
there are better books in this genre and as much as i wanted to like this (the cover is cuuuteeeee) i really don’t think this one is worth the attention:(
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the early copy!
January 22, 2026
when I first read ‘score to settle’, I fell in love with Bella Norths writing and I just knew I had to read everything that she wrote. So, when I saw that she announced ‘Game Over’, I knew I had to read it and it definitely didn’t disappoint.
I don’t think I’ve ever cried at the first chapter of a book before so I guess I can now tick that off of my list. I first met Dylan in ‘score to settle’ and I knew from the moment that I first saw him that I would end up falling in love with him. I love a good grumpy mmc and Dylan Sullivan was the perfect fit. ‘Game over’ had me in my feels, the angst, the tension, the romance!!! Wow!!! The growth both Dylan and Izzy had throughout this book was so well written, watching them both gradually let their walls down for each other. The book was so homey, both characters were super likeable and you really got to understand both of them throughout the book.
Special mention to the icon Mad, may she continue to terrorise Dylan and Izzy at family meals. Watching Dylan and Mad together was the cutest thing ever, my heart felt like it was going to explode.
I think Game Over may be one of my favourite reads this year and i really hope it gets the recognition it deserves. Bella North yet again did an incredible job!
arc provided by netgalley
I don’t think I’ve ever cried at the first chapter of a book before so I guess I can now tick that off of my list. I first met Dylan in ‘score to settle’ and I knew from the moment that I first saw him that I would end up falling in love with him. I love a good grumpy mmc and Dylan Sullivan was the perfect fit. ‘Game over’ had me in my feels, the angst, the tension, the romance!!! Wow!!! The growth both Dylan and Izzy had throughout this book was so well written, watching them both gradually let their walls down for each other. The book was so homey, both characters were super likeable and you really got to understand both of them throughout the book.
Special mention to the icon Mad, may she continue to terrorise Dylan and Izzy at family meals. Watching Dylan and Mad together was the cutest thing ever, my heart felt like it was going to explode.
I think Game Over may be one of my favourite reads this year and i really hope it gets the recognition it deserves. Bella North yet again did an incredible job!
arc provided by netgalley
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October 13, 2025
Full ARC RTC!!
4 ⭐️ Dylan and Izzy fighting in a ranch... K.I.S.S.I.N.G
lol, but seriously, this was peak 'you get me hot and bothered, but get the f**k out of my face' energy, and I loveeeed every second.
Also, I forever love single-mom romances, and this has it paired with a rancher-on-the-fence, ex-pro athlete MMC! So good!
4 ⭐️ Dylan and Izzy fighting in a ranch... K.I.S.S.I.N.G
lol, but seriously, this was peak 'you get me hot and bothered, but get the f**k out of my face' energy, and I loveeeed every second.
Also, I forever love single-mom romances, and this has it paired with a rancher-on-the-fence, ex-pro athlete MMC! So good!
October 20, 2025
3.5 Stars
Thank you Bookouture/Netgalley for this ARC!!
I’m an absolute sucker for either a sports romance or a cowboy romance, and now I can have both??
This was a true standalone romance which I really enjoyed, I never felt like I was missing something when old characters were reintroduced. Loved the Grumpy-Lovers romance from both sides. Sometimes a grumpy/sunshine can be so repetitive, but it was nice to hear both Dylan and Izzy just be menaces to each other at times.
Kids in romance books are also hit or miss with me, but Mad was fine! I felt like she really helped me understand Izzy more, and I was actually looking forward to seeing her interactions with Dylan.
A quick, cute, dirty read. I will 100% be going back for Score to Settle, and looking forward to Chase’s story!
Thank you Bookouture/Netgalley for this ARC!!
I’m an absolute sucker for either a sports romance or a cowboy romance, and now I can have both??
This was a true standalone romance which I really enjoyed, I never felt like I was missing something when old characters were reintroduced. Loved the Grumpy-Lovers romance from both sides. Sometimes a grumpy/sunshine can be so repetitive, but it was nice to hear both Dylan and Izzy just be menaces to each other at times.
Kids in romance books are also hit or miss with me, but Mad was fine! I felt like she really helped me understand Izzy more, and I was actually looking forward to seeing her interactions with Dylan.
A quick, cute, dirty read. I will 100% be going back for Score to Settle, and looking forward to Chase’s story!
December 4, 2025
Thank you to Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Forced out of the game by a career-ending injury, Dylan Sullivan is busy drowning his sorrows in the local bar. Slumped a few stools down, Izzy Brooks knocks back another bourbon. Her grandpa is selling the horses she loves, meaning she’s out of a job—and a home. The next morning, Dylan wakes groggily to the sound of horses’ hooves—with zero memory of the night before. Unlucky for him, there’s a tougher-than-nails, sexy-as-hell ranch hand with a scowl the size of Texas to fill him in… Last night, Dylan bought eighteen horses to fill his family’s empty ranch. Izzy’s horses. Izzy’s future relies on Dylan becoming the rancher he never planned to be. As she puts him through his paces, competitive sparks—and something even more sizzling—fly. And stolen moments amongst the haystacks start to feel like a new beginning for both of them. But when Dylan gets a chance to rejoin the world of football, the hope in Izzy’s heart flatlines. Will he prove every misgiving she had about him true? Or will he realize the path he never expected to walk is the one leading to the happy ending he was looking for?
Dylan is a grumpy git. There is no doubt about it and I can safely say, I don’t entirely like him. Yes, he has gone through a lot and his dream and livelihood were taken from him. But there are many in far worse positions who have taken the crap thrown at them a million times better than Dylan ever could or has. He is great with kids and clearly cares about animals, but there is so much frostiness to him that I just could not form a connection with him. If anything, I kind of hoped he’d fail…
Izzy is a fireball. She’s sassy and protective and very much a mama bear. I loved her relationship with Mad and could see the pride she has for her job. I will say, she is a little bit emotionally immature. However, because I enjoyed reading her character, I didn’t mind this considerably. I would have loved to know more about her past, about the boundaries she crossed and the blockades she broke through. I think this would have helped endear me further to her as a person.
Going into this, I wasn’t too sure what to expect. I had issues with the pacing of the first book and didn’t like Dylan very much as a character. So, I admit I was a little worried. Once again, the plot itself was pretty good but I just really struggled with the pacing. I felt myself slogging through and I don’t know if that’s perhaps down to the writing. I liked what I was reading but didn’t feel this connection to what was going on and the characters themselves. And it really is such a shame because I adore cowboy romances so this should have hit the spot! Character wise, I had hoped to see more new faces. Considering the job and the need for community, we saw so few new characters and that felt a little like a flaw for me. I did love seeing characters from the previous book popping in and out, giving us glimpses of their future. However, it just didn’t feel like enough. If you know me, you know I love enemies to lovers but this felt a little off. They’re not so much enemies but incredibly bitter to each other which doesn’t sit the same for me. The budding romance mellowed them out a bit but I didn’t get that spark of enjoyment watching in unfold. The ending was rather lovely but focused more on the couple from the previous book! It was a great moment but I was just hoping for a bit more.
Overall, Game Over is a sequel that just didn’t hit right with me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book.
Forced out of the game by a career-ending injury, Dylan Sullivan is busy drowning his sorrows in the local bar. Slumped a few stools down, Izzy Brooks knocks back another bourbon. Her grandpa is selling the horses she loves, meaning she’s out of a job—and a home. The next morning, Dylan wakes groggily to the sound of horses’ hooves—with zero memory of the night before. Unlucky for him, there’s a tougher-than-nails, sexy-as-hell ranch hand with a scowl the size of Texas to fill him in… Last night, Dylan bought eighteen horses to fill his family’s empty ranch. Izzy’s horses. Izzy’s future relies on Dylan becoming the rancher he never planned to be. As she puts him through his paces, competitive sparks—and something even more sizzling—fly. And stolen moments amongst the haystacks start to feel like a new beginning for both of them. But when Dylan gets a chance to rejoin the world of football, the hope in Izzy’s heart flatlines. Will he prove every misgiving she had about him true? Or will he realize the path he never expected to walk is the one leading to the happy ending he was looking for?
Dylan is a grumpy git. There is no doubt about it and I can safely say, I don’t entirely like him. Yes, he has gone through a lot and his dream and livelihood were taken from him. But there are many in far worse positions who have taken the crap thrown at them a million times better than Dylan ever could or has. He is great with kids and clearly cares about animals, but there is so much frostiness to him that I just could not form a connection with him. If anything, I kind of hoped he’d fail…
Izzy is a fireball. She’s sassy and protective and very much a mama bear. I loved her relationship with Mad and could see the pride she has for her job. I will say, she is a little bit emotionally immature. However, because I enjoyed reading her character, I didn’t mind this considerably. I would have loved to know more about her past, about the boundaries she crossed and the blockades she broke through. I think this would have helped endear me further to her as a person.
Going into this, I wasn’t too sure what to expect. I had issues with the pacing of the first book and didn’t like Dylan very much as a character. So, I admit I was a little worried. Once again, the plot itself was pretty good but I just really struggled with the pacing. I felt myself slogging through and I don’t know if that’s perhaps down to the writing. I liked what I was reading but didn’t feel this connection to what was going on and the characters themselves. And it really is such a shame because I adore cowboy romances so this should have hit the spot! Character wise, I had hoped to see more new faces. Considering the job and the need for community, we saw so few new characters and that felt a little like a flaw for me. I did love seeing characters from the previous book popping in and out, giving us glimpses of their future. However, it just didn’t feel like enough. If you know me, you know I love enemies to lovers but this felt a little off. They’re not so much enemies but incredibly bitter to each other which doesn’t sit the same for me. The budding romance mellowed them out a bit but I didn’t get that spark of enjoyment watching in unfold. The ending was rather lovely but focused more on the couple from the previous book! It was a great moment but I was just hoping for a bit more.
Overall, Game Over is a sequel that just didn’t hit right with me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book.
November 13, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
the premise of this book was really promising! i mean sports x cowboy romance? sign me up
unfortunately this book just didn't click with me. there isn't anything majorly wrong, and perhaps i'm being a bit nitpicky but here are some of my thoughts:
- i did like all the side characters (i think they mentioned the MMC being grumpy a bit too much and that wasn't very realistic though)
- madison and dylan's relationship was cute!
- the main characters felt underdeveloped. i didn't understand why we chose this dynamic tbh or why they were together
- we also had a few too many opening chapters where characters woke up and it got quite repetitive
- the 'epilogue' being two months later ??? i want to see at the very least a year later
i think my main issue is with the relationship itself, i did not think they had anything particularly special which sucks to say because i am always trying to root for the main characters, especially in a romance book like this where you know they're going to end up together.
thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC!
the premise of this book was really promising! i mean sports x cowboy romance? sign me up
unfortunately this book just didn't click with me. there isn't anything majorly wrong, and perhaps i'm being a bit nitpicky but here are some of my thoughts:
- i did like all the side characters (i think they mentioned the MMC being grumpy a bit too much and that wasn't very realistic though)
- madison and dylan's relationship was cute!
- the main characters felt underdeveloped. i didn't understand why we chose this dynamic tbh or why they were together
- we also had a few too many opening chapters where characters woke up and it got quite repetitive
- the 'epilogue' being two months later ??? i want to see at the very least a year later
i think my main issue is with the relationship itself, i did not think they had anything particularly special which sucks to say because i am always trying to root for the main characters, especially in a romance book like this where you know they're going to end up together.
thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC!
November 16, 2025
I really enjoyed this!! 3.5 rounded up to a 4! At first, Dylan was a little blah but he really developed as the book went on and become such a better person for Izzy. I’m a sucker for the single mom trope, especially when the MMC is grumpy and the kid turns him into a sunshine. The slow burn in this book was SO good!!the banter? Just as good. Izzy was such a fiercely independent FMC and I loved her. I loved getting her inner thoughts and second guessing herself. It made her character progression in the last quarter of the book so good. I for sure will be picking up the next one when it comes out!
Thank you NetGalley & bookoutre for this ARC!
Thank you NetGalley & bookoutre for this ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2025
Oh. My. Goodness!
Starting with a fender bender and ending with the best love story!
Izzy is not just Dylan’s, but I’m claiming her as mine as well, because who wouldn’t want a bad*ss mom who rocks a pair of cutoffs!!
-Enemies to Lovers
-Grumpy x Grumpy
-Cowboy Romance
HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THIS!
I was hooked from the minute he ran into her (and yes I’m Team Iz! He hit her)
I just want more of this story! I want to see what happens with Fury, the houses getting built, and want to see our lovely #dreamteam running the farm/team!
I can’t wait until the book is released, I need the physical book in my hands ASAP!!
Starting with a fender bender and ending with the best love story!
Izzy is not just Dylan’s, but I’m claiming her as mine as well, because who wouldn’t want a bad*ss mom who rocks a pair of cutoffs!!
-Enemies to Lovers
-Grumpy x Grumpy
-Cowboy Romance
HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THIS!
I was hooked from the minute he ran into her (and yes I’m Team Iz! He hit her)
I just want more of this story! I want to see what happens with Fury, the houses getting built, and want to see our lovely #dreamteam running the farm/team!
I can’t wait until the book is released, I need the physical book in my hands ASAP!!
December 6, 2025
This book has Disney channel original movie energy, and I mean that positively. It's a very fun premise a man getting blind drunk and waking up with eighteen horses on his property. The scene where he wakes up to find all the horses is very fun. Honestly I think the scene before hand where he and Izzy meet for the first time and his meeting with the coach could have been cut and just started straight at the bar and then we meet Izzy later at the ranch. Their kiss in the first chapter felt a bit contrived and came out lf nowhere, and I'm just personally not a fan of when the characters are horny at first sight which is what the literal first page is; Dylan being horny for Izzy. It feels like those scenes exist to both justify marketing it as enemies to lovers and so that the characters would go into it already being sexually attracted to each other rather than letting the tension build up. It just came across like they liked each other for no particular reason other than physical attraction.
I found Dylan kind of a mixed bag as a character. Yes, I liked his angst about no longer doing football. That was an interesting backstory for him. However, that's pretty much where his character ended. All his thoughts were do I keep the horse or not, I miss football, and wanting to have sex with Izzy. I didn't feel like I got to know who he actually is he was just a man who is strong and doesn't know what his career will be. Izzy on the other hand she did have more going on, she's a woman who likes to be as independent as possible because she's been let down before and doesn't want to get caught in the crossfire again. I enjoy her conflict of not fully being able to trust Dylan because he doesn't even know what he wants so how can she know he'll stick around for her. I also liked the inclusion of Madison, and the story took the time for us to see her and Dylan creating a bond with one another.
Now, something this book did have going for it was the horse content. Weirdly enough, a lot of cowboy/ranching books I read can be very light on the horses, which is always annoying, so I was very pleased at how often we were hanging out with horses, I could've even gone for more horse hyjix, but that's personal preference. It did seem like we never really got into the logistics of what it actually takes to have eighteen horses but this did take place over a short time period and also its just a fluffy romance not a hard look at the ranching business so it doesn't really matter. But it was good we actually had Dylan being around the horses and having to learn what they need to properly take care of them.
Now, this next part was something I noticed that I have to be a bit critical of, and I might be reading too much into it. But I don't really like in 2025 reading a book written by a white author where the majority of the characters are white, having a biracial character whose black father walked out on him as a baby. I feel we are beyond having plot lines like that. It probably wasn't intentional however I think it's the responsibility of author and their team to be more mindful about introducing these kind of plot elements when writing about people from a background they don't come from. Considering this is an interconnected series if the author was planning on writing a future book about Chase writing these kind of stereotypes just isn't a great look and honesty I would have felt uncomfortable and disappointed with myself if I didn't mention this in my review.
Despite not absolutely loving this, I do think there is a strong audience for this kind of book, perfect for anyone who likes Elsie Silver or Lyra Sage. Although this is a part of an interconnected series, I think it can be read on its own if you wanted to read it first. I hope that the team behind the book will be more mindful about certain harmful tropes and stereotypes in th future. Overall, writing style itself was easy to follow, since the author is very early in her career I think her voice will get stronger with future books and get less telling us what everyone is feeling and showing us instead.
Arc copy provided by netgalley.
I found Dylan kind of a mixed bag as a character. Yes, I liked his angst about no longer doing football. That was an interesting backstory for him. However, that's pretty much where his character ended. All his thoughts were do I keep the horse or not, I miss football, and wanting to have sex with Izzy. I didn't feel like I got to know who he actually is he was just a man who is strong and doesn't know what his career will be. Izzy on the other hand she did have more going on, she's a woman who likes to be as independent as possible because she's been let down before and doesn't want to get caught in the crossfire again. I enjoy her conflict of not fully being able to trust Dylan because he doesn't even know what he wants so how can she know he'll stick around for her. I also liked the inclusion of Madison, and the story took the time for us to see her and Dylan creating a bond with one another.
Now, something this book did have going for it was the horse content. Weirdly enough, a lot of cowboy/ranching books I read can be very light on the horses, which is always annoying, so I was very pleased at how often we were hanging out with horses, I could've even gone for more horse hyjix, but that's personal preference. It did seem like we never really got into the logistics of what it actually takes to have eighteen horses but this did take place over a short time period and also its just a fluffy romance not a hard look at the ranching business so it doesn't really matter. But it was good we actually had Dylan being around the horses and having to learn what they need to properly take care of them.
Now, this next part was something I noticed that I have to be a bit critical of, and I might be reading too much into it. But I don't really like in 2025 reading a book written by a white author where the majority of the characters are white, having a biracial character whose black father walked out on him as a baby. I feel we are beyond having plot lines like that. It probably wasn't intentional however I think it's the responsibility of author and their team to be more mindful about introducing these kind of plot elements when writing about people from a background they don't come from. Considering this is an interconnected series if the author was planning on writing a future book about Chase writing these kind of stereotypes just isn't a great look and honesty I would have felt uncomfortable and disappointed with myself if I didn't mention this in my review.
Despite not absolutely loving this, I do think there is a strong audience for this kind of book, perfect for anyone who likes Elsie Silver or Lyra Sage. Although this is a part of an interconnected series, I think it can be read on its own if you wanted to read it first. I hope that the team behind the book will be more mindful about certain harmful tropes and stereotypes in th future. Overall, writing style itself was easy to follow, since the author is very early in her career I think her voice will get stronger with future books and get less telling us what everyone is feeling and showing us instead.
Arc copy provided by netgalley.
December 24, 2025
I loved this book. It’s such a comforting story about starting over later in life, letting go of the life you thought you’d have, and slowly stepping into something new. Izzy and Dylan felt real and easy to connect with, and the whole story just had a warm, hopeful vibe. A really enjoyable, feel-good read.
Thank you NetGalley and Bella North for allowing me to read the ARC!!!!
Thank you NetGalley and Bella North for allowing me to read the ARC!!!!
January 25, 2026
From the very start, Game Over had me hooked! With delicious high-stakes tension between a fallen football star and a feisty ranch hand who are forced together after an impulsive night of drinking. Dylan and Izzy are locked in an emotional tug-of-war fueled by stubborn pride and barbed banter. Watching Dylan rediscover his purpose outside the stadium lights while Izzy fights for the horses she loves makes for a redemption story that feels both gritty and deeply earned.
The enemies-to-lovers energy here is top-tier. Their chemistry is an electrifying, slow-burn that perfectly captures the tension of two people who want to stay apart but simply can’t. By the time they finally let their walls down, the payoff is incredibly satisfying. If you’re looking for a mix of sweet and spicy with a rugged ranch backdrop, this is definitely worth adding to your TBR!
The enemies-to-lovers energy here is top-tier. Their chemistry is an electrifying, slow-burn that perfectly captures the tension of two people who want to stay apart but simply can’t. By the time they finally let their walls down, the payoff is incredibly satisfying. If you’re looking for a mix of sweet and spicy with a rugged ranch backdrop, this is definitely worth adding to your TBR!
January 28, 2026
I received this book for free on netgalley to review, this is my honest opinion on this book.
I'm giving this book a 3.5 rating, which is my neutral rating and is not a bad rating! The book was okay, the plot was engaging and kept me reading. I am interested in reading this authors other books and would be happy to read the next book in the series!
This is basically a grumpyxgrumpy trope which is worked well in this book but I did get annoyed at the constant snips and his comments in the start.
Right of the bat I like lizzy, she's strong, independent and takes no shit off anyone especially dylan. As for dylan, he was slowly growing on me, but at 60% into the book I was still not a huge fan of Declan. The man loves to self pity...I was finding hard to keep feeling sorry for him, because he constantly snapped and moaned at lizzy but I found she really wasn't the problem and she worked her ass off running a ranch of 18 HORSES, she also was repairing the broken down ranch all by herself while he drove off each morning or slept in. His mother and brothers had to keep telling him to start taking responsibility. I know his life as he knew it was basically over and I was sympathetic but he literally had a living and breathing responsibilities to care for.
Madison was just adorable and my heart bled for her because of her dad, I was so happy when dylan had became a father figure for her
Overall it was a good book and would recommend it
I'm giving this book a 3.5 rating, which is my neutral rating and is not a bad rating! The book was okay, the plot was engaging and kept me reading. I am interested in reading this authors other books and would be happy to read the next book in the series!
This is basically a grumpyxgrumpy trope which is worked well in this book but I did get annoyed at the constant snips and his comments in the start.
Right of the bat I like lizzy, she's strong, independent and takes no shit off anyone especially dylan. As for dylan, he was slowly growing on me, but at 60% into the book I was still not a huge fan of Declan. The man loves to self pity...I was finding hard to keep feeling sorry for him, because he constantly snapped and moaned at lizzy but I found she really wasn't the problem and she worked her ass off running a ranch of 18 HORSES, she also was repairing the broken down ranch all by herself while he drove off each morning or slept in. His mother and brothers had to keep telling him to start taking responsibility. I know his life as he knew it was basically over and I was sympathetic but he literally had a living and breathing responsibilities to care for.
Madison was just adorable and my heart bled for her because of her dad, I was so happy when dylan had became a father figure for her
Overall it was a good book and would recommend it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2025
4✨ I really enjoyed this book this is Book 2 in the series. We first meet Dylan in Settle To Score where we see him as a grumpy, angry bitter man who has tour his ACL tear during a game. Being turned down is never easy so when Dylan is turned down for the career he’s worked years as a footballer for Stormhawk because he’s not full fit to join again. He makes a drunken deal with Bill the ranch with a health condition and has to have an early retirement for him to sell him the ranch to him. Also to have Bill ranch help work with him for 6 weeks.
Izzy a down to earth kind of girl while her family are overachievers, married at to young only to divorce a year later. She’s Bill granddaughter and ranch hand now with Bill early retirement she’s the one that has to work with Dylan. Dylan the same guy who crashed into her, Dylan the guy who gave her money then left her on the side of the road!! Yessss that Dylan 🫢
Izzy has a little secret she’s holds back from tell Dylan while she’s works with him at the ranch.
They both have their only insurances when it comes to trust which brings them closer to but also causes a rift between them.
The third act break up was like a child spitting out their dummy 🙈 but other than that I really enjoyed this book!! 🥰
Highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture for the arc 🤩
Izzy a down to earth kind of girl while her family are overachievers, married at to young only to divorce a year later. She’s Bill granddaughter and ranch hand now with Bill early retirement she’s the one that has to work with Dylan. Dylan the same guy who crashed into her, Dylan the guy who gave her money then left her on the side of the road!! Yessss that Dylan 🫢
Izzy has a little secret she’s holds back from tell Dylan while she’s works with him at the ranch.
They both have their only insurances when it comes to trust which brings them closer to but also causes a rift between them.
The third act break up was like a child spitting out their dummy 🙈 but other than that I really enjoyed this book!! 🥰
Highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture for the arc 🤩
January 28, 2026
Sports romance is one of my favorite genres and this story has been absolutely wonderful so far! I’m a little over halfway through with the audiobook (mom things - only being able to listen occasionally) and it’s been so nice having such a fun place to escape to. I think Savannah Peachwood and Tor Thom are great narrators and really bring the story to life.
One thing I had to get used to regarding the audiobook was that the narrator switches for the characters. Every other audiobook I’ve previously listened to had the narrator using a modified version of their voice so that was surprising at first but I got used to it fairly quickly.
Trigger warning: there is a parent death off page and it is discussed heavily from what I’ve read so far, so be cautious if this is something that affects you.
This is a slow burn romance so I haven’t gotten to any extra spicy content yet but there are little hints in the beginning but nothing too risqué.
This is also the second book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone! There are a handful of things spoiled if you were to read this one first, but I don’t think enough is shared for the first story to be ruined if you were to read out of order.
Thank you Netgalley, Bella North, and Bookouture for the ARC and I can’t wait to update once I’ve finished!
One thing I had to get used to regarding the audiobook was that the narrator switches for the characters. Every other audiobook I’ve previously listened to had the narrator using a modified version of their voice so that was surprising at first but I got used to it fairly quickly.
Trigger warning: there is a parent death off page and it is discussed heavily from what I’ve read so far, so be cautious if this is something that affects you.
This is a slow burn romance so I haven’t gotten to any extra spicy content yet but there are little hints in the beginning but nothing too risqué.
This is also the second book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone! There are a handful of things spoiled if you were to read this one first, but I don’t think enough is shared for the first story to be ruined if you were to read out of order.
Thank you Netgalley, Bella North, and Bookouture for the ARC and I can’t wait to update once I’ve finished!
January 16, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
First of all I just want to say thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC 🤍
Bella North's writing captivated me from the start, since Score to Settle. Written in the first person, we can make a super quick and easy connection with the characters.
Here we learn the story of Dylan and Izzy. Where the NFL star meets the new ranch helper 🤭
Izzy is a single mother and does everything she can to give Madison the childhood she never had. Dylan is forced to give up his dream and make decisions that will change the course of his life. What they didn't know was that they needed each other to achieve this 🥰
Enemies to Lovers where both are grumpy as a loon 🤭 but it doesn't last long because their chemistry grows and you'll be amazed!! 🔥
I really liked the way they actually hated each other at the beginning, and the slow burn was on point. Dylan's interaction with Madison was one of the highlights of the book. And finally, the smut was also a chef’s kiss 🤌🏼.
It's a light read, with a slight touch of drama but it fills the heart 🤍
First of all I just want to say thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC 🤍
Bella North's writing captivated me from the start, since Score to Settle. Written in the first person, we can make a super quick and easy connection with the characters.
Here we learn the story of Dylan and Izzy. Where the NFL star meets the new ranch helper 🤭
Izzy is a single mother and does everything she can to give Madison the childhood she never had. Dylan is forced to give up his dream and make decisions that will change the course of his life. What they didn't know was that they needed each other to achieve this 🥰
Enemies to Lovers where both are grumpy as a loon 🤭 but it doesn't last long because their chemistry grows and you'll be amazed!! 🔥
I really liked the way they actually hated each other at the beginning, and the slow burn was on point. Dylan's interaction with Madison was one of the highlights of the book. And finally, the smut was also a chef’s kiss 🤌🏼.
It's a light read, with a slight touch of drama but it fills the heart 🤍
January 25, 2026
Dylan Sullivan's football career is over with one devastating injury and he's drowning his sorrows at the local bar when a new opportunity comes his way. But the next morning he has no memory of buying 18 horses to fill his family ranch... or hiring the beautiful spitfire who's been their ranch hand.
Izzy knew her grandfather's health was declining and her days with her beloved horses were numbered. She has six weeks to convince the new owner to keep her on, and even more, to keep the horses at Oakwood ranch. But how can she trust this man with her heart and her future when he's shown he'll jump at any opportunity to return to his football life?
Grumpy Dylan had me looking forward to his story in the first book and I loved seeing him come out of his depression and find a new purpose. He and Izzy together at just perfection with flirty banter and spice. Now I'm looking forward to Chase's story with his infectious energy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
Izzy knew her grandfather's health was declining and her days with her beloved horses were numbered. She has six weeks to convince the new owner to keep her on, and even more, to keep the horses at Oakwood ranch. But how can she trust this man with her heart and her future when he's shown he'll jump at any opportunity to return to his football life?
Grumpy Dylan had me looking forward to his story in the first book and I loved seeing him come out of his depression and find a new purpose. He and Izzy together at just perfection with flirty banter and spice. Now I'm looking forward to Chase's story with his infectious energy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
December 11, 2025
An enemies to lovers between an ex-footballer turned rancher and the sexy ranch hand he can't stand? Hell yeah!
Although it took me a while to get into the story, I soon became invested in the characters and their journey of self-discovery. The story's concept appealed to me - him randomly buying eighteen horses and then having to take care of them - but I mainly kept reading because of Izzy and her bond with her daughter Madison. Watching them build a home at Oakwood Ranch after years of not belonging and never settling, was a joy. Dylan's brothers and mother also sweetened the deal - I love a good found family. Romance-wise, I could see where the author was going with this and I enjoyed many scenes with electrifying tension between Dylan and Izzy. However, their constant back-and-forth started to bug me around the 70% mark. They didn't know what they wanted, they were both as stubborn as mules, and it got annoying real quick.
3 ⭐️ ARC Review
Although it took me a while to get into the story, I soon became invested in the characters and their journey of self-discovery. The story's concept appealed to me - him randomly buying eighteen horses and then having to take care of them - but I mainly kept reading because of Izzy and her bond with her daughter Madison. Watching them build a home at Oakwood Ranch after years of not belonging and never settling, was a joy. Dylan's brothers and mother also sweetened the deal - I love a good found family. Romance-wise, I could see where the author was going with this and I enjoyed many scenes with electrifying tension between Dylan and Izzy. However, their constant back-and-forth started to bug me around the 70% mark. They didn't know what they wanted, they were both as stubborn as mules, and it got annoying real quick.
3 ⭐️ ARC Review
January 26, 2026
Ex football player turned rancher?!? Say less!! The premise of this book was so good. The story is easy to follow. We have an enemies to lovers trope, grumpy to grumpy, single mom, sports/cowboy romance all in one amazing story! Our MMC Dylan was a very likable character. A good man trying to figure out what is next for him as well as trying to not let anyone down including himself. FMC Izzy was not my favorite, but you get to learn why she acts the way she does to try to understand her. They both had a past that kept them from trusting each other and their future. Loved their growth. I did feel like some points to the story kept repeating in multiple chapters, which was not necessary in my opinion. But again I still enjoyed the story. The family around them and Mad, the sweet little girl, were amazing.
Thank you to Netgally and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Netgally and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 19, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!
I dove straight into this after finishing Score to Settle, the first book in the Oakwood Ranch series. This book follows another Sullivan brother, Dylan, who is reeling from a career-ending injury. While nursing his wounds (and his drink) at a local bar, he crosses paths with Izzy, a headstrong single mom determined to build a stable future for her daughter, Mad.
I really enjoyed the quick spark of attraction that ignites in the bar, especially after their initial, frustration-filled first meeting. I was hooked from the very beginning and can already tell this series is going to be a firm favorite of mine. It delivers on so many beloved tropes:
🏈 NFL romance
🤝🏼 Brotherhood
🤬 Grumpy x grumpy
👩🏼🤝👨🏻 Found family
🤱🏼 Single mom
❤️🔥 Close proximity
I dove straight into this after finishing Score to Settle, the first book in the Oakwood Ranch series. This book follows another Sullivan brother, Dylan, who is reeling from a career-ending injury. While nursing his wounds (and his drink) at a local bar, he crosses paths with Izzy, a headstrong single mom determined to build a stable future for her daughter, Mad.
I really enjoyed the quick spark of attraction that ignites in the bar, especially after their initial, frustration-filled first meeting. I was hooked from the very beginning and can already tell this series is going to be a firm favorite of mine. It delivers on so many beloved tropes:
🏈 NFL romance
🤝🏼 Brotherhood
🤬 Grumpy x grumpy
👩🏼🤝👨🏻 Found family
🤱🏼 Single mom
❤️🔥 Close proximity
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest opinion.
After reading Score to Settle this summer and loving it, I was so excited to jump into this one. I’m officially a fan of Bella North, and she once again delivered a really enjoyable romance.
While Score to Settle was a football romance, Game Over leans more into cowboy/ranch vibes. It can definitely be read as a standalone if you haven’t read book one.
I loved the characters and the slow burn. i felt like their relationship felt believable and earned. They were flawed, made mistakes, and had to work through real obstacles, which made their love story feel genuine and satisfying by the end.
Overall, this was a fun, easy read and a great way to start my 2026 reading year.
Tropes:
Single mom • Slow burn • Coworkers • Enemies to lovers • Ranch setting • Grumpy x grumpy • Ex-NFL player • Found family
After reading Score to Settle this summer and loving it, I was so excited to jump into this one. I’m officially a fan of Bella North, and she once again delivered a really enjoyable romance.
While Score to Settle was a football romance, Game Over leans more into cowboy/ranch vibes. It can definitely be read as a standalone if you haven’t read book one.
I loved the characters and the slow burn. i felt like their relationship felt believable and earned. They were flawed, made mistakes, and had to work through real obstacles, which made their love story feel genuine and satisfying by the end.
Overall, this was a fun, easy read and a great way to start my 2026 reading year.
Tropes:
Single mom • Slow burn • Coworkers • Enemies to lovers • Ranch setting • Grumpy x grumpy • Ex-NFL player • Found family
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
Give me a ranch romance, and I’m instantly hooked.
After a career ending knee injury, Dylan loses his future in football and then makes one drunken purchase that’s about to change everything. What he buys? A whole ranch, complete with 18 horses… and Brooks (only for 6 weeks though).
Brooks is a young single mom, and she’s very much part of the deal. Scarred by her past, she’s terrified of getting hurt again, which makes trusting Dylan anything but easy.
Did Dylan really think this through? Will he regret such a spontaneous decision? And can two wounded people stop running long enough to choose each other?
You’ll have to read this spicy romance to find out.
I loved the plot, but I was occasionally irritated by Brooks. Things could’ve been so much easier if the characters actually talked to each other instead of running away..
Give me a ranch romance, and I’m instantly hooked.
After a career ending knee injury, Dylan loses his future in football and then makes one drunken purchase that’s about to change everything. What he buys? A whole ranch, complete with 18 horses… and Brooks (only for 6 weeks though).
Brooks is a young single mom, and she’s very much part of the deal. Scarred by her past, she’s terrified of getting hurt again, which makes trusting Dylan anything but easy.
Did Dylan really think this through? Will he regret such a spontaneous decision? And can two wounded people stop running long enough to choose each other?
You’ll have to read this spicy romance to find out.
I loved the plot, but I was occasionally irritated by Brooks. Things could’ve been so much easier if the characters actually talked to each other instead of running away..
October 1, 2025
4.5 ⭐️!!!!!
Thank you Bookouture/Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
This is my first book by Bella North and it definitely won’t be my last. I am obsessed with the characters and world that she created within this book
At the time of starting this book, I was in a massive reading slump but this pulled me right out of it. The found family and banter is perfect! The short chapters and dual POV make the book even better as well!
I haven’t read the first in this series but it was so easy to follow along with the story and who was who. It has made me very excited to be able to go back and read the first one!
I loved how wholesome some of the scenes were in this book. I did find Izzy slightly irritating towards the end in some of the scenes but I can’t blame her really considering the circumstances. I think it’s hard for us as readers to not think that since we know what was going on in Dylan’s mind
Sometimes kids in books can be too much but Mad was perfect! She was so cute and her relationship with Dylan was adorable!
I would highly recommend this book! I will be adding “Score to Settle” to my TBR immediately
Thank you Bookouture/Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
This is my first book by Bella North and it definitely won’t be my last. I am obsessed with the characters and world that she created within this book
At the time of starting this book, I was in a massive reading slump but this pulled me right out of it. The found family and banter is perfect! The short chapters and dual POV make the book even better as well!
I haven’t read the first in this series but it was so easy to follow along with the story and who was who. It has made me very excited to be able to go back and read the first one!
I loved how wholesome some of the scenes were in this book. I did find Izzy slightly irritating towards the end in some of the scenes but I can’t blame her really considering the circumstances. I think it’s hard for us as readers to not think that since we know what was going on in Dylan’s mind
Sometimes kids in books can be too much but Mad was perfect! She was so cute and her relationship with Dylan was adorable!
I would highly recommend this book! I will be adding “Score to Settle” to my TBR immediately
November 10, 2025
i tried to read this book three times since November 2nd, and unfortunately, I couldn’t make it past the 55% mark. I genuinely appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC, but this story just wasn’t for me. The writing style and the character development didn’t quite match my personal taste, even though I usually enjoy cowboy romances a lot.
This is definitely one of those cases where it simply comes down to reading preferences—there’s nothing “wrong” with the book itself, it just didn’t align with the kind of tone and emotional depth I normally look for. I truly hope that other readers who connect with this style will be able to give it all the love it deserves.
Thank you again for the chance to read the advanced copy.
thank you Netgalley and Bookouture!
This is definitely one of those cases where it simply comes down to reading preferences—there’s nothing “wrong” with the book itself, it just didn’t align with the kind of tone and emotional depth I normally look for. I truly hope that other readers who connect with this style will be able to give it all the love it deserves.
Thank you again for the chance to read the advanced copy.
thank you Netgalley and Bookouture!
January 17, 2026
I received this as an ALC from NetGalley in exchange for review.
Game Over was my first book by Bella North and I really liked it. It’s a romance between a 🔥 former NFL player and a single mom.
I felt like both characters had depth and substance. Their chemistry was more believable as the story progressed. I appreciated the unforced way the MMC bonded with Izzy’s daughter. It all felt natural answering genuine. The FMC was a little quick to anger at times, but I don’t think lol it was too much considering her whole situation.
The audiobook was an enjoyable expletive. I love a duet narration and both narrators were easy to understand.
This was a great story and I would definitely recommend it to fans of romance books. And I will be checking out more from Bella North 💜
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Game Over was my first book by Bella North and I really liked it. It’s a romance between a 🔥 former NFL player and a single mom.
I felt like both characters had depth and substance. Their chemistry was more believable as the story progressed. I appreciated the unforced way the MMC bonded with Izzy’s daughter. It all felt natural answering genuine. The FMC was a little quick to anger at times, but I don’t think lol it was too much considering her whole situation.
The audiobook was an enjoyable expletive. I love a duet narration and both narrators were easy to understand.
This was a great story and I would definitely recommend it to fans of romance books. And I will be checking out more from Bella North 💜
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2,75 ⭐
I was so excited to dive back into Oakwood Ranch with a sports x cowboy romance. I looove the Sullivan family and the ranch vibes.
That being said, Game Over didn't really hit the spot for me. I couldn't connect with both main characters nor the romance aspect. The "banter" for me was just anger & harsh comments. They eventually have somewhat of a breakthrough, and I was starting to see them connect and really enjoyed it. But then the conflict happens, and I was sooooo annoyed at Izzy.
What I really liked though is Dylan's relationship with Mad. It was so sweet!! I also really enjoyed having Jake and Chase and loved the ranch vibes. Hoping Chase is next 🤞🏽
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion 🫶🏽
I was so excited to dive back into Oakwood Ranch with a sports x cowboy romance. I looove the Sullivan family and the ranch vibes.
That being said, Game Over didn't really hit the spot for me. I couldn't connect with both main characters nor the romance aspect. The "banter" for me was just anger & harsh comments. They eventually have somewhat of a breakthrough, and I was starting to see them connect and really enjoyed it. But then the conflict happens, and I was sooooo annoyed at Izzy.
What I really liked though is Dylan's relationship with Mad. It was so sweet!! I also really enjoyed having Jake and Chase and loved the ranch vibes. Hoping Chase is next 🤞🏽
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion 🫶🏽
January 29, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
Thank you so much to @netgalley and Bella North for my arc copy for this book
Game Over was my very first cowboy romance, and I can safely say it won’t be my last. This book delivered such a satisfying mix of enemies-to-lovers tension and a beautifully paced slow burn that had me completely invested from the start.
The chemistry between the main Izzy and Dylan was undeniable, and I loved how their banter and frustration slowly evolved into something deeper. The tension was written so well that every interaction felt charged, making the eventual romance even more rewarding.
If you love a good enemies-to-lovers trope with a slow build and plenty of sparks along the way, I highly recommend giving this one a read.
Thank you so much to @netgalley and Bella North for my arc copy for this book
Game Over was my very first cowboy romance, and I can safely say it won’t be my last. This book delivered such a satisfying mix of enemies-to-lovers tension and a beautifully paced slow burn that had me completely invested from the start.
The chemistry between the main Izzy and Dylan was undeniable, and I loved how their banter and frustration slowly evolved into something deeper. The tension was written so well that every interaction felt charged, making the eventual romance even more rewarding.
If you love a good enemies-to-lovers trope with a slow build and plenty of sparks along the way, I highly recommend giving this one a read.
October 17, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending this my way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Game Over by Bella North is an upcoming romance set for release in January 2026. I loved the ranch aspect of this, and it was very reminiscent of an Elsie Silver or Saddle Club (the Aussie girls will know). This was a cute, quick read but where it lost me was the romance - they were both a bit too grumpy for my taste. Saying this, It was great to read during my slump and I'd consider reading more from this author in future.
Game Over by Bella North is an upcoming romance set for release in January 2026. I loved the ranch aspect of this, and it was very reminiscent of an Elsie Silver or Saddle Club (the Aussie girls will know). This was a cute, quick read but where it lost me was the romance - they were both a bit too grumpy for my taste. Saying this, It was great to read during my slump and I'd consider reading more from this author in future.
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