Lost goals make way for new dreams. Two enemies must face their cold past and find new warmth in this wintry, forced proximity rom-com from Kris Ripper, author of Book Boyfriend. Aspiring investigative reporter Des Cleary had dreams of a better world—one more accepting of people like him—when he broke the story of Orion Broderick’s relationship. A story that kicked Orion out of the soccer halls of fame and sent him careening into obscurity. Racked with shame, Des abandoned his own career for good. Now working at an LA marketing firm, Des gets a daunting recruit Orion for a Pride campaign aiming to get LGBTQI+ kids into sports. But this is no shot at redemption—how could Des ever make up for what he’s done? Des finds Orion’s cabin in the snowcapped mountains. His strategy? Keep it professional and get out quick. Nature has other plans. Snowed in together, Des and Orion have a chance to address past wrongs and lost goals. Time and shame have changed them both, but winter has a way of clearing the way for fresh beginnings.
Publication Year: 2024
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4.5 stars
Who doesn’t love a snowed-in romance? How about snowed in with your celebrity crush…a crush who may well hate you? This story gave me tons of warm fuzzies before these two even shared their first kiss.
Des really screwed up when he forced Orion out of the closet several years ago. The author does a wonderful job of helping the reader to understand the headspace Des was in when it happened. He was young and idealistic, not that that excuses his actions. Almost from the moment it happens, Des realizes what a horrific thing he did and starts withdrawing from his friends and his writing career because he cannot deal with the repercussions of what he did.
When Orion first appears on the page, he is fun and flirty and extremely kind. I loved having that peek at him before he realized who Des was. Even when he turns quiet and peevish, he cannot hide his kind nature. Every so often he lets his walls drop because Des really isn’t a bad person. I loved the way both characters worked through old hurts to come out better and happier on the other side.
I admit I didn’t envision how these two could end up together with what happened in the past. The author makes it work, and work beautifully.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
0Settle the Score has all the tropey goodness anyone could want: enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, snowed-in, only one bed (but also a couch), cute dog. Kris Ripper’s writing is great: warm, relatable. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get past the premise.
Des outed Orion, a pro soccer star, costing Orion his career and causing him to basically withdraw from society. The outing wasn’t malicious, but Des’s faith in sports and sports fans to support a gay player was definitely misplaced. I just couldn’t see a way for Orion to move past his past with Des, and that’s absolutely on me. The book was written in single POV and not getting any insight from Orion made the enemies to lovers switch even harder to believe.
2 stars for the story, 4 stars for the writing
Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for an eARC. Opinions are my own.
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