The chemistry between the main characters crackles from the very first page. Their shared past gives the story depth, and their witty banter adds just the right amount of spice. North masterfully balances humor, heat, and heart, crafting a romance that feels both swoon-worthy and authentic.
Set against the backdrop of a small town filled with quirky side characters and second chances, this story is impossible to put down. Whether you're in it for the slow-burn tension, emotional payoff, or just love a good rivals-to-lovers trope, this book delivers.

This book was so sweet and fun! Jake and Harper were so fun to read as they grew and developed as a couple and individually. Second chance romances are my fave and this one was a real treat!

The pacing for this book was what stood out to me the most. Bella was incredible at writing plot twists and turns. There were several moments when I was mentally screaming at the characters to get their acts together because they were perfect together! These two characters had a lot of shared history, and Bella did a wonderful job sharing that piece by piece in a way that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I absolutely love reading sports romances and this one did not disappoint. The interactions between Harper and Jake felt so real, there was lots of growth while they get to know each other better. Harper knows nothing about football and is chosen to write a feature about Jake, who is a football player. It’s enemies to lovers, forced proximity and a workplace romance. All the good things, it was incredible!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-arc!

To be honest, sports romances have never really been my thing. I always assumed they were full of clichés…predictable banter, a few games thrown in, and a romance that felt a little “meh.” But Score to Settle by Bella North completely changed my mind. I might just start picking up more books from this genre!
This one had all the classic romance tropes I love: enemies to lovers, a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, workplace tension, forced proximity, and a beautifully crafted found family vibe. And the best part? You get to watch Jake fall harder and harder for Harper with every chapter,it’s addictive.
Harper is a sports journalist on probation who’s assigned to write a feature on her childhood crush, Jake Sullivan. To complete the assignment, she’s asked to stay with his family at their Oakwood Ranch. What starts as awkward tension soon builds into banter, chemistry, and eventually, a slow burn romance that hits all the right notes.
Also, fair warning, the second half of the book gets a little spicy (I’d give it a 3.9 out of 5 on the heat scale), so get ready for things to heat up! And the ending? Pure rom com gold,maybe even better than a movie.

This book had me hooked from the very beginning. I loved the premise of them going to the same high school but he didn't notice her but she noticed him. I enjoyed watching not just Jakes but Harper's walls come down. The side characters were great. I would love to see more of Dylan and Chase. This book had one of my favorite tropes the one bed trope. I eat that up every single time. The banter and spice between the character were off the charts. Will definitely read more from this author.

Thank you to Bella North, Bookouture and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! All information below is based off my own opinion of the book! I also like to keep my reviews short and simple as someone who looks at the short reviews before reading books. 💕⭐️
Book rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorite characters: Jake, buck
Review: I loved every minute of this book! I found myself laughing out loud. I love a good sports romance and mix it with enemies to lovers and I’m hooked! I found myself not wanting to stop reading this book! I’m hoping there will be more books about the other brothers and the friend Mia!

Pro footballer player who comes from a ranch? This sounded right up my street!
Jake Sullivan needs to improve his image so sports journalist Harper Cassidy comes to stay on his family ranch for 5 weeks to shadow him and write a piece about the real Jake….but these 2 have history and Harper sees this as her opportunity to make Jake pay for past hurt.

This is a solid debut from Bella North. I found the first half of the book a little slow at times but once it hit its stride it really improved and hooked me in. Jake and Harper did give me whiplash a few times, and after initially not being a huge fan of Harper she definitely grew on me. I loved seeing the more emotional moments between them and how their relationship evolved. I really hope we see more of them in a future book as this was set over a 5 week period and I’d like to see them again a few years down the line. Jake has 2 brothers who also play pro football so hopefully they’ll get their own books too!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for this ARC!

Fast, easy, and totally captivating. I flew through this! Loved the setup—NFL superstar with a PR mess + the journalist he unknowingly broke in high school, stuck together at his family ranch. Great enemies-to-lovers slow burn with fun banter, found-family warmth, and just enough steam. Excellent mix of sports + cowboy romance vibes and a strong series start (Oakwood Ranch #1, but works as a standalone). Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC; all opinions are my own.

„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 felt 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.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first sat down to read this book, but book ended up being better than I expected. I like that the book switches POV’s between Jake and Harper, although sometimes it took me a minute to notice the POV change. Jake and Harper both have real insecurities, Jake just hides his better. Harper is someone who I really related to as someone who was a shy, somewhat nerdy kid in high school who even now only has a handful of close friends. I am not sure if I saw much actual character growth in this book, Jake is the same as he always is, just not hiding behind his walls to those he cares about, and Harper was still the same shy girl, but with a little bit more self confidence. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others who enjoy steamy football romances.

This is a fun one! I really loved the setting of Oakwood Ranch where Jake and his family live. The author does a great job describing this beautiful home in Colorado. Jake plays for the NFL and Harper is a journalist. They both need help to keep their careers moving forward. Jake’s image needs to be cleaned up and Harper wants a promotion to secure her job at a magazine. The angst feels real because they have known of each other since high school and it didn’t end well. They both experienced grief at a young age and it shaped how they handle basically everything.

As they get to know each other over 5 weeks, they realize maybe they have more in common than they thought. The physical attraction is immediate but the mental attraction takes time. Jake needs someone to see him beyond his football/bad boy reputation. Harper needs to know that someone actually cares about her and how she feels.

Jake & Harper are relatable characters so watching them fall in love was really sweet. I loved the ranch setting + sports romance aspect of the book. I hope the author continues and makes this a series 💖

Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture, and Bella North for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

(Link to goodreads review posted below. Review will be posted to Amazon & B&N on publication day)

One of my favorite Sports Romance stories I've read this year, I really loved the characters!

This storyline pulled me right in and even after finishing it, i'm still thinking about it. The author took some of my favorite genres and tropes and seamlessly mashed them together. I can't wait to head back into this world and find out whose story will be next.

The author did a great job showcasing character growth for the Harper (FMC) and Jake (MMC) , I loved watching their relationship develop and grow. They both had to overcome so much in their youth, I was rooting for them to get a HEA.

The storyline as a whole was just so well-rounded, I was just as invested in the side characters stories as I was the main characters.

I'll definitely be recommending it and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

🏈Pro Football Player | 📝Journalist
😐Grumpy | Grudgy Sunshine
🤠Ranch Setting
💞Strong Friendship | Found Family
🖤Enemies To Lovers♥️
💕Forced Proximity
🛏️One Bed
🏘️Workplace Romance
🌶️On Page Spice

Thank you Bella North, Net Galley and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

It took me a little while to really get into Score to Settle, but once the story found its rhythm, I couldn’t put it down. The enemies-to-lovers vibe between Jake and Harper wasn’t just your typical playful teasing—it was genuinely tense and a bit raw, which made their slow-building chemistry feel so much more authentic. They’re not pretending to like each other, and the personal stakes are high enough that they’re forced to face their issues head-on.

What really impressed me was how well the characters were crafted. Their actions and decisions felt realistic and layered, making me curious about their deeper motivations. Instead of leaving me confused or frustrated by their misunderstandings, the story gradually revealed the reasons behind their behavior, which made the conflicts feel natural and earned.

The book struck a nice balance of passion, tension, and emotional layers. The football scenes were lively and immersive, and the backdrop of media and journalism gave the story a fresh, grounded touch. I also appreciated how the side characters and their histories were given proper attention—it all felt intentional and well put together.

Although I didn’t completely fall head over heels for Jake and Harper, their relationship kept me engaged throughout. The pacing was steady, and the ending surprised me with a twist I didn’t see coming—though I did wish for a bit more emotional closure in the final chapters.

Overall, Score to Settle was a really solid, enjoyable read. If you like enemies-to-lovers stories with real tension, meaningful stakes, and a slow-burn romance, this one’s definitely worth checking out.

Score to settle is about Harper, a writer for a sports magazine. Harper is tasked with writing a piece on Jake, a well known famous football play that is labeled a playboy. Harper grew up in the same town as Jake and has some history with Jake that he is unaware of. Harper spends week with Jake and his family for her article. Along the way, the two characters form a connection but Harper worries that she will be out of job because of it. There were some great unexpected twist and turns.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up

I really loved the writing, the story and the characters. The chemistry between the two main characters is so well done, and the growth from enemies to lovers with their banter and yearning was excellent. My reason for it not being a true 4 ⭐️ or even higher is that, as a football fan, the scenes of the football games took me out of the story a bit. I understand wanting to include game scenes, however having the details wrong on the way the game is played, such as having the tight end playing defense, and what seemed like the entire offense playing defense, it felt almost as though this football world was melded with soccer. However that being said, I did enjoy reading this, and loved the way that the author handled grief, self doubt, and finding your strength and being able to trust not only someone else, but yourself enough to let them in and take that risk. It looks as though this is going to be the start of a new series, and I will continue reading because in the end it was the story and characters that pulled me in and made me stay, and the football was just an extra point.

The description got my attention, and it did live up to my expectations. I liked the development of the story, it felt natural. The time line was a little short and a little longer of a timeline would have made it just a little more realistic for the romance aspect. The writing style was perfect, it was easy to understand, and it made the flow of the story just effortless for me.
I don’t really like the whole ‘manwhore’ type of a trope just because I feel like are we still shaming for how many people someone sleeps with, however I did enjoy how the author actually portrayed the male main character to be 1. Upfront and honest about enjoying sex and to have slept with x many women, and 2. Very vocal about consent- I think just good representation to have this. His entire personality like being the type of person who just cares with their entire being, motivating and caring to the female character. A great MMC. Another thing that I appreciated was a positive portrayal of a male with a great relationship with their mom. I also thought the fact both characters had experienced loss of a parent was something that definitely allowed to relate to one another, especially in the sense of now looking back and seeing the impact it has. Definitely included a lot of traits we would love to see in ALL men!!
The only thing that I didn’t like about the female character was the needing some type of a male to ‘heal’ you. It is a sad reality but still. He was a pretty nice guy all round.
I liked Harper, there was plenty of times throughout she made me laugh out loud, she was relateable.

Solid 4 stars! I loved both Harper and Jake. They both seemed so genuine in who they were. There was true dislike in the beginning, there was mutual attraction but it did not feel like some "enemies to lovers" where its all about how hot the other person is and no good reason for them to be enemies. The beginning of this book gave me series Elsie Silver vibes, in the best way. The tension in this book was strong and then it got pretty spicy in the second half of the book. Overall, I really enjoyed this. There are some cheesy parts but it also gave me the feels and had some super sweet parts. I wish we could have maybe had an epilogue or one more extra chapter at the end but I was still satisfied. I can not believe when I looked this book up and saw that this seems to be the authors debut novel. I can not wait to read more by Bella North and hope that maybe Dylan gets his own story next!

Thanks Bella North, NetGalley, and Bookouture for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

rating: 🌟🌟🌟⭐️ (3.5/5)

💭 thoughts:
It took me a little time to get into the story, but one thing I really appreciated is that Jake and Harper actually start off as proper enemies. Not just tension-lite — they genuinely don’t like each other, and they don’t pretend otherwise. But with stakes high and personal goals intertwined, they’re stuck with each other in the best way.
North does a great job of fleshing out each character’s motivations. Every time you catch yourself thinking, "Why would they say that?" or "Why are they acting like this?" — The next chapter answers you. It makes the miscommunication trope feel justified and purposeful rather than frustrating (a rare win 👏).
The story is both spicy (yes, like that 🥵) and full of tension. Jake and Harper have undeniable chemistry, and it’s matched by vivid Football action scenes and well-written insights into the media/journalism world. The setting felt lived-in, like you were at Oakwood Ranch yourself, and I appreciated how the side characters and the protagonists’ backstories were written with care and intention.
The story was well-paced, complete, and definitely enjoyable, but it didn’t quite *click* for me in the way my usual 5-star reads do. I didn’t fall in love with the characters the way I wanted to, and while the ending took a turn that was interesting, I personally wanted a bit more emotional satisfaction in the conclusion.
That said, there’s a part of the story (no spoilers, promise) tied to the characters’ pasts that gets revealed toward the end — and it *did* keep me turning pages because I really wanted to find out what happened.
Overall, this was a fun, well-rounded read, and while Score to Settle didn’t make me scream into a pillow (the gold standard), it did keep me hooked, and I’d recommend it if you’re in the mood for enemies-to-lovers with a solid plot, actual stakes, and a satisfying slow burn.

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🤭🙂‍↕️

Cute sports romcom great for the weekend or vacation. Journalist with a grudge has to shadow her high school crush who is now a famed football player, in every way. Nothing really new, rollercoaster of obstacles and slimy ex add turmoil as feelings run hot and cold - and pretty spicy hot at times.