Score to Settle (Oakwood ranch Book1 ) Bella North

 

Series

Oakwood Ranch

Release date

10-09-25

Language

English

Format

Unabridged Audiobook

Length

9 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher

Hachette UK - Bookouture

Categories

Romance

About this listen

A totally unputdownable, sweet and steamy enemies-to-lovers small town romance

In high school, he broke her heart—now he’s the famous football player whose image she’s meant to clear. Game on.

NFL superstar Jake Sullivan’s playboy reputation is finally catching up with him. To keep his sponsors happy, he needs to wipe the slate clean—and fast. He’s never backed away from a challenge, so he’s confident he can charm the hotshot city journalist sent to write a glowing piece on him without revealing the real reason behind his behavior.

Harper Cassidy is determined to show the world the real Jake. The one who broke her teenage heart. Pulling up to his (admittedly idyllic) family ranch, Harper steels herself for his ridicule once he realizes who she is. But when his stormy dark eyes and stupidly handsome face give nothing away, her blood boils. He doesn’t even remember her! Her boss wants her feature to convince people he’s a good guy. Yeah, right.

They would both rather be anywhere else, but for the next five weeks they’re stuck with each other. So why does Harper’s heart flutter when Jake offers up his sweatshirt and their hands accidentally brush? Why can’t Jake resist taking Harper to places he’s never shown anyone? And stranger still: supposed playboy Jake hasn’t glanced at a single woman since Harper arrived in his spare room…

They both came into this game determined to win. But somewhere along the way, the rules have started to change…

An enemies-to-lovers forced proximity sports and cowboy romance, Score to Settle is perfect for fans of Stephanie Archer, Liz Tomforde and Elsie Silver. The first in the Oakwood Ranch series, it can also be listened to as a standalone.

Narrated in duet style.

TROPES:
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Sports romance
Grumpy sunshine
Slow burn
Workplace romance (sports star vs journalist)
Found family

©2025 Bella North (P)2025 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd  

                           

Score to Settle is an entertaining and highly addictive story right from the opening chapter. Harper and Jake went to the same high school, and now, as adults, Harper has been tasked with interviewing him for a sports magazine as he wants to restore his public image. The only problem is she hates him. I liked the banter between the pair and the inner monologues they each had about the other. I was hoping Harper would get over her issues about Jake from High School and grow up! It took a while, but she got there. The romance that blossomed between them was funny and sweet. The spicy scenes, I generally skip to the end of the chapter, as there were quite a few of them. 

The dual narration was done perfectly. I prefer for the main characters' voices to be performed by the same narrator throughout, no matter which one is narrating the chapter.

I loved that Harper had other writing aspirations, and her novel about vampires in Ancient Egypt is something I would totally read. Maybe the publisher could make that a bonus book when the series ends!

There was a good group of side characters who will make great main characters as the series progresses, and this will definitely compel me to read the next book in the series.