I received this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I have to say, I am blown away by how beautifully written this story is. When Harper finds herself stuck in a town she doesn’t know, she finds herself in a sticky situation. Luke swoops in and gives her a place to stay and their love story begins from there. I do have to say I think Harper forgave him way too quickly at the end, but nevertheless, I’m happy they ended up where they needed to be.

I’ve only read one series by Lucy Score, but I love the angst she puts between characters so I knew I needed to read another small town romance by her!

Harper is stopping through small town Benevolence after her boyfriend cheats on her. She left her home with no real plan. She runs out of gas at a bar and spots a man abusing a woman and she jumps him to get him off her. She ends up knocked out, and when she opens her eyes Luke Garrison is standing over her.

He goes all protective mode on her and takes her to his house to make sure she is okay overnight. But he only has one bed so they end up snuggling all night 😂😂

But then he needs a favor from her — be his fake girlfriend for family dinner and she obliges. But we all know the fake dating always leads to real dating, right? Luke is leaving on a 6 month deployment soon so he literally doesn’t want to start anything and tells her that over and over. But then he asks her to stay.

Luke and Harper both have really big secrets they’ll have to discuss before they can move on with their relationship. And I think I loved how Lucy incorporated the real life emotions when it comes to trauma. Such a good read!

Tropes:
Close proximity (my fave)
Fake dating
Long distance relationship
Small town romance
Slow burn

Spice 🌶️🌶️

What a great read! I laughed.. I cried!! This is definitely not your average fake-dating trope! The character development was so good and I absolutely loved falling in love with the small town of Benevolence! Can’t wait to read Finally Mine!

Ugh I don’t know how to feel about this book. I love Lucy Score, and that’s why I requested this book. I didn’t know this was a military book and as a military spouse, it made me dislike this book. But I also didn’t enjoy the main characters.

Luke was in his feelings and honestly just really shitty the entirety of the story. All he seemed to be interested in was sex and when Harper wanted more, he told her he didn’t but then continued to lead her on? Then got mad at her because she found out about his lie and was trying to help him fix it?? He was aggressive for no reason, and treated Harper like shit. He was a selfish, cowardly man and I could not stand him.

And then the issues with Harper, who didn’t stand up for herself and basically let Luke use her the entire story. She knows Luke can’t love her and chooses to stay? He chooses Harper over his dead wife in the last 5% of the book. And the story about her past is just randomly thrown in to add some drama to the story.

There was no connection between the characters and I hated all the military talk and how dramatic Luke made it all seem. Honestly, not a fan of this one but to each their own!

I read my first Lucy Score book a few months ago, and I've read so many since then - now a must read author for me, so I was so excited to have this opportunity to read a new one! I enjoyed the love story (of course), but also the extended cast of characters and this wonderful town. Another hit!

This was okay. The plot was somewhat unrealistic the military aspect doesn't work that way with "Captains" and only a six month deployment, I can say this because I am in the military. I thought the plot line was really dragged out and some things could been taken out. I loved the foster aspect of it and wish more books would discuss that side. I really felt like the male was "gaslighting" every second he could and it really bothered me. I get it he's been through a lot but after like the third or fourth time of being gaslighted most women will walk away especially after what he did to her as the end some things you just can't go back to. I love the author's notes on why she wrote this book and i love the romance and found family theme at the end i just think some things weren't healthy.

I’ve grown to really enjoy Lucy Score’s work! If you liked her other small town romances this one is definitely for you as well! It seems the trilogy is being re-released with new covers!

This is not my first book from this author. I have read and enjoyed other books from her, so I was excited to give this book from her a try. It was a good read but there were things I liked and disliked about this story. The main characters Harper and Luke were okay characters, and although I enjoyed Harper, it took me a while to warm up to Luke. There were quite a few times where I thought both main characters could act and deal with things on a more mature level. I could have gone without Harper telling Luke repeatedly how she felt about him. He knew how she felt even if he didn't want to truly accept what he was feeling or made excuses for himself. Which at times it seems as if he did that a lot, but he didn't refuse sex. There were times where the story seemed as if was more about lust than love when it came to them. Then there were times where this story had me laughing out loud at their antics. This story also had sweet, steamy, heartbreaking and heartwarming moments but I was happy that Harper and Luke got their HEA in the end and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

I love this. Oh my stars! Lucy Score you are the Queen!! I will read anything you write!! This was absolutely amazing and so very good. I will be buying this trilogy to have on my shelf!!
I just reviewed Pretend You're Mine by Lucy Score. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Lucy Score has done it again!! This story was about Luke who is a hometown hero who can’t seem to make up his mind or believe in his feelings. It follows a girl who always finds trouble. This book kept me plenty interested but it was a bit long. I could’ve done without some of the part with Luke gone. But I think it was a solid read.

Pretend You're Mine is a sexy romance book telling the story of Luke who's a servicemember and Harper who comes to his small town of Benevolence and shakes things up as soon as she gets there. I enjoyed the backstory of Luke who has demons in his past and Harper who has her own past that she's trying to escape. A solid 4 stars - just wish the book was a tad bit shorter!

I love Lucy. I first read this book back in 2015 and when I saw it available to request with the new cover, I figured now was a good time for a re-read. I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed it. Lucy Score does small town romance so, so well. I love Harper and her strength and resilience in the face of all life has put her through. She brings such a wonderful light to the community around her, and people are immediately drawn to her. Luke is no different. Their ruse to keep his family off his back prior to his next deployment quickly becomes real, despite Luke trying everything to avoid it. Luke and his lack of communication skills and dire need for therapy are the one major shortcoming of this book. I love the good side of him with Harper and think their chemistry jumps off the page, but when he’s outright mean to her to push her away (more than once) I lose patience with him fast. The book also gets a little steam-heavy at times but it does get reined back in to let the plot shine again. Like I said, I love this book and look forward to continuing my re-read of the series.

Where to begin?! I LOVED this book.
This was a first reads for me from Lucy Score. It's not something I wouldve gravitated towards with the old cover, but when I saw the new upcoming release cover on Netgalley I knew immediately I wanted to try for a chance to read it. I was chosen and let me tell you, I was NOT disappointed.

I laughed, I cried, (I dont remember the last time I cried with a book) I stayed up wayyyy too late trying to finish each page. I loved this book. I'm not sure if all Lucy Score books are amazing, but this one for sure has made me want to read the rest of them. All because of a cover change, the characters, the storyline, the chase and the slow to get relationship. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
100/10 will recommend to EVERYONE!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this amazing book.

Harper is just taking a break from driving in this tiny town of Benevolence when she sees a woman getting beaten and jumps to her rescue. When the dust settles and the man is sent to jail, Harper has a few bruises of her own. Luke Garrison takes her home and gives her a bed for the night, a fact which gives his sister ideas. Couldn't this woman be the solution to keep his mother off his back about dating just long enough for him to leave on his next deployment?
Harper wasn't expecting to settle in this town, much less fall into the strong arms of this national guard captain. But he offers her shelter and a job and it's only for a month. What harm could it do? But soon she's accepted by family and friends and it's feeling like the only home she's ever known. But he's afraid to risk his heart after his dark past, and she has secrets that could threaten everyone around her.
Oh this sexy, broody, stubborn man! Harper gives him everything and he's too stubborn to keep it. I just wanted to reach through and shake him just like everybody in town.
I love Lucy Score and I was so excited to get an ARC of this book! I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lucy Score does small town romance so well 🥺 I love living in the city, but her books really have me debating packing everything up and moving to a small town where everybody knows my name.

Harper Wilde stumbles into Benevolence, MD after a very, VERY bad day. She’s gone through a break up, run out of gas, and gotten knocked out all in the course of a few hours. With no phone and no money, she’s pretty much stranded until local hottie Luke Garrison agrees to let her stay at his place for the night. One night turns into a month as Luke realizes that fake dating Harper is the perfect way to distract his family until he leaves for his deployment to Afghanistan.

There was a lot I really liked about this story. I enjoyed all of the small town side characters and how welcoming they were. I enjoyed (most of) the plot - there were several times when I didn’t really know where the story was going, which kept things interesting. This book was LONG for a romance, but it didn’t really feel like it. I really liked Harper. She was a bit of a mess, but also strong and authentic. Luke, on the other hand, was not my favorite. His communication skills were severely lacking, and I do think that Harper deserved much better.

I’m super excited to read the second book in this series, Gloria and Aldo’s story!

Oh my gosh!!! This book!! Probably the fastest i’ve ever read a book!
Once I started it I can put it down. It had all the emotions!! Although this book definitely could’ve been a two part series, I’m glad it wasn’t because I got their full story and didn’t have to wait for another book.
The story, the people, and the town were all beautifully detailed.

Harper and Luke are a beautiful couple that have ups and downs. Together and with the help of their family, and the town, they over come all the challenges and secrets and heartache that they face.

Thank you, Netgalley and Lucy Score for this ARC
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Lucy Score is a must read for me. Her characters are loveable and have amazing depth. Her love of tacos is unparalleled. When I saw that Protecting what's Mine is getting a new cover, it got bumped up to the top of my tbr. The spice is steamy and had me 🥵. One of my favorite things about LS books is that though they are chunky, they don't feel long. The character and story development is smooth and flawless. Such a talented writer. Harper and Luke are fire. Harper had me crying several times in this story. Her struggle with the past and trying to put down root while Luke is pushing back and fighting it. Ugh. My heart. Love love loved it. All the stars

I did enjoy this book, not quite as much as Things we never got over, but that is a high bar. Lucy Score's writing is accessible and swallows you into the story. Originally I didn't think I would love the concept of the book but it was pretty good.

My main issue would be the pacing, sometimes we had a lot of sex scenes, things that could have been replaced with the characters building a more intimate connection that wasn't centered around sex. Also, some of the sex seemed uncomfortable (Butt play is good but please use lube!)

The characters were likable and I'm looking forward to reading Aldo and Gloria's story.

Pretend You’re Mine

In this story we meet Harper who is a free spirited woman running away without a plan. As Harper is running away from a crummy ex, she leaves without her purse, money, or a phone and rushed off. She stops at a bar, where she notices a huge guy beating on a small woman and without thinking she jumps on him to help her. Harper is saved from the huge guy by the very serious Luke. Luke is a soldier home between deployments. Luke is both fascinated by, and irritated by impulsive and big hearted Harper. Seeing as how Harper finds herself with no money and no place to stay, Luke’s sister suggest that Harper stay with her brother Luke to help Harper and to get his family off his back with their matchmaking. As the two keep getting thrown together their fake relationship starts to feel not so fake. But Luke never wanted a relationship and Harper wants nothing more than to find a home. Can the two of them figure out what they want before it is too late? I loved the town of Benevolence, and all the meddling side characters. So excited this is a series so I can stay with these characters a little longer. I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

I love the new cover! And I love everything about this book. Lucy Score has become quite well known and popular and I can definitely see why. This book had me laughing, crying, angry, happy, sad, and all the other emotions you can possibly think of. I think only one other book every has actually brought tears to my eyes. And the spice factor in this one is hot!
This is the first book in a series of three and I definitely recommend reading the entire series!

Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, Bloom Books for a free digital copy in exchange for my honest review.