This book was basically a Hallmark movie without Christmas & with more risqué drama and a lot of sex.

Thank you Net Galley & to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book had so many of my favorite tropes from grumpy sunshine to forced proximity! Overall it was a cute read but I can’t say it was my favorite Lucy Score book. I feel like there wasn’t much to Luke and that he fell sort of flat which was disappointing because I was really excited to watch the relationship between him and Harper develop.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I was hesitant about this book at first because I did not want to get hooked into another series. At first, this book was a little slow for me but it kept my attention.

By the end I found I wanted more. I laughed and cried at the same time. I can't wait to read the next one.

I loved this! It had the small town feel and such fun and lovable characters! Maybe a bit cheesy at some times but sometimes you just need the cheese. With a box of wine. Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

This was a good small town romance. I really liked our heroine. She is probably one of the strongest and likeable heroines I've read in a while. I did struggle with her accepting less than the best at times because she was so accustomed to getting the short end of the stick, but I still really liked her. I think the main reason for my lower rating was that I felt like I needed a little more from her at the end to make up for some of the stupid things he did towards the end. I wasn't so easily forgiving as our saintly MC was, and I never felt like he fully redeemed himself. Maybe I needed more time with the couple together and happy after all the drama before it just cut off into the time jump epilogue. It was on the longer side, so I think that sort of thing could've been added and some other irrelevant parts could've been removed.

Luke Garrison gave me more whiplash than Knox Morgan and I didn’t think it was possible. Lucy Score certainly knows how to write a sexy, but indecisive man.
All in all, I really enjoyed Pretend Your Mine, the side characters were fun and quirky, and Harper & Luke had some instant chemistry that couldn’t be tamed, both of their backstories were fairly heartbreaking, but it was nice to see them overcome them once Luke managed to get over himself.

"Pretend You're Mine" is a contemporary romance novel written by Lucy Score. It tells the story of a woman named Kate, who is struggling to make ends meet and keep her small bakery afloat. To save her business, she agrees to a fake engagement with her best friend, the sexy and charming football player, Beck.

As Kate and Beck navigate their pretend relationship, they must face the challenges and complications that come with faking a romantic connection. Along the way, their feelings for each other begin to grow, and they find themselves drawn to each other in ways they never expected.

The book explores themes of friendship, love, trust, and the idea that sometimes pretending can lead to real feelings. "Pretend You're Mine" is known for its humor, steamy romance, and well-developed characters. It's a popular choice for readers who enjoy contemporary romance novels with a touch of humor and a slow-burning love story.

I'm a big fan of Lucy Score since reading Maggie Moves On. She does a great job with small town romance trope. Whole I enjoyed this novel there were some elements that I had to suspend my disbelief for and it felt a bit "instalove"

The small town romance follows Harper and Luke, who find their live-in boyfriend sleeping with another woman. Harper, a new town hero, becomes involved in a bar and accepts a proposal to act as a fake girlfriend and work as an office manager for Luke. They develop strong feelings, friendships, and secrets, leading to two separations. The story alternates between third-person narratives and is relatively long, with some editing needed. The pace of the story is okay, but it is not considered an instalove. The h rating is 3 stars, with Luke having some past demons that need to be worked on to allow himself to feel for Harper the way he should. Despite his grand gestures to get Harper to forgive him, it wasn't enough for me. Overall, the story is an easy read with some potential improvements.

I just reviewed Pretend You're Mine by Lucy Score. #NetGalley

I enjoyed Pretend You're Mine. it was a cute small-town romance. I do with there had been a little more to their fake dating than there was.

Even though I have several of Lucy Score’s books on my shelf, this is the first that I have read by her. Pretend You’re Mine is the first book of the Benevolence Series.

Our main characters in this book are Luke & Harper. Harper finds her boyfriend cheating on her and storms out of the house with nothing but the clothes on her back. Not thinking straight, she forgets her wallet and finds herself running out of gas in a small town with no gas money. When she pulls into a parking lot of the local bar, she finds a man beating a woman. she jumps into action(on him) and starts attacking him thinking he will stop. Unfortunately, he turns his anger onto her…in comes Luke to the rescue. Luke is in the National Guard awaiting deployment. With nowhere else to go, Harper ends up staying at his house, sharing a bed until he leaves. He made it clear that he was not interested in a relationship but quickly ended up being “friends with benefits”. Ugh!

Both of these characters have experienced a big loss. Harper lost her parents at a young age, forcing her into the foster system with some awful families. Luke tragically lost his wife/child in a car crash. Each handles their emotions differently making them perfect for each other. Don’t get me wrong, I had some serious issues with Luke. I haven’t disliked a MMC this much in a long time! I feel that Harper should have made him grovel more. He was a complete jerk and his yo-yoing with her emotions was so frustrating. Especially when Harper was so loving, funny and made some really great friendships in the short time she was there. Even though I enjoyed the epilogue, I couldn’t get over how Luke treated her.

My biggest complaint is that this book is way longer than it needed to be.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐬…
Fake Dating
Forced Proximity
Small Town Romance
Friends With Benefits
Workplace Romance
Dual POV (3rd person)
Military Romance
One Bed

CW: Death of family members, Domestic violence, physical violence

Even though I am behind in my reviews, I would like to thank @netgalley, @read_bloom & @scorelucy for the ARC of this book for my honest review!

I've been obsessed with Lucy Score books since picking up the Knockemout series - which admittedly I liked better than this, BUT I did still enjoy this. It was a quick read with likeable characters. I already have book #2 so I plan to finish out the trilogy, and will continue to read Lucy Score's books!

This was a good small town romance. I really liked our h. She is probably one of the strongest and likeable h I've read in a while. I did struggle with her accepting less than the best at times because she was so accustomed to getting the short end of the stick, but I still really liked her. I think the main reason for my lower rating was that I felt like I needed a little more from the H at the end to make up for some of the stupid things he did towards the end. I wasn't so easily forgiving as our saintly h was, and I never felt like he fully redeemed himself. Maybe I needed more time with the couple together and happy after all the drama before it just cut off into the time jump epilogue. It was on the longer side, so I think that sort of thing could've been added and some other irrelevant parts could've been removed IMO

Thank you Bloom Books and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was so good! It had me on an emotional rollercoaster!! I was sobbing and laughing and giggling the whole time. I was captivated from the very start and could not put the book down.

I can't wait to check out the rest of the series!

Pretend You're Mine: ★★★★☆ (4)

"Pretend You're Mine" by Lucy Score is a delightful and heartwarming romance novel that skillfully combines fake dating with genuine emotions, creating a story that's both sweet and steamy. This book is a perfect escape into a world of small-town charm, relatable characters, and the power of love to heal and transform.

The story revolves around Luke Garrison, a strong, brooding National Guard member about to be deployed, and Harper, a woman who's been on the move, searching for a place to call home. When their paths unexpectedly cross, Luke hatches a plan to use Harper as a decoy, a fake girlfriend to fend off his family's well-intentioned meddling during his deployment. What begins as a pretend relationship quickly evolves into something much deeper as the two characters discover an undeniable chemistry and a shared desire for love and connection.

Lucy Score's writing is engaging and filled with witty banter that adds humor and charm to the story. Luke and Harper are both endearing characters with their own vulnerabilities and past traumas, making them relatable and easy to root for. Luke's protective nature and Harper's resilience create a perfect balance in their relationship, and their journey from strangers to lovers is beautifully portrayed.

What sets "Pretend You're Mine" apart is the emotional depth and authenticity of the characters' experiences. Both Luke and Harper carry scars from their pasts, and their individual growth and healing add layers of complexity to the story. The author handles their personal challenges with sensitivity and grace, highlighting the power of love and acceptance in overcoming obstacles.

The small-town setting adds a cozy and welcoming backdrop to the romance, and the secondary characters, including Luke's family and friends, contribute to the warmth and community spirit of the narrative. The book captures the essence of a tight-knit town where everyone knows each other's business, but also looks out for one another.

As the fake relationship starts to feel all too real, the sexual tension between Luke and Harper sizzles, leading to steamy and passionate moments that will leave readers breathless. The chemistry between them is palpable, and their love story is both heartwarming and intensely satisfying.

In conclusion, "Pretend You're Mine" is a feel-good romance that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you with a smile on your face. Lucy Score has crafted a story that combines the charm of small-town life with the power of love to heal and transform. It's a tale of second chances, trust, and the beauty of finding home in the arms of someone you never expected. If you're a fan of contemporary romance with genuine emotions and a dash of humor, this book is a must-read.

All the small-town feel-good vibes!!! The story follows Harper who runs away after she catches her boss/boyfriend with another woman, she runs off without even grabbing her things and has no idea where she is going. She ends up in a crazy situation that leads her to meeting Luke.

Harper was feisty, confident, goofy and all around so much fun to read about. Luke and Harper decide that it would benefit both of them to start "fake" dating. They both have their reasons for wanting to fake date each other, but what happens when the lines are blurred and fake starts feeling a lot more like real. You could feel the chemistry between these two coming off the pages!! I thought my kindle was on fire!

The banter between the two, the small town found family and the set up for the next book were really well done. I am excited to see what comes next.

I adore Lucy Score, but this series was just not it for me. So much cringe, and it was really hard to believe in the insta-love. Not to mention, the series of events in this series just seemed super unrealistic.

I really enjoyed this small-town romance! Some of the dialogue was a bit cringey, but overall, I enjoyed the story and the side characters. The romance was way too insta-love for me, but the side characters made up for the speedy romance (the side characters really made the book for me, to be honest). Overall, I'd recommend this if you don't mind insta-love.

I dnf'd!! you can tell this is an older book of hers...... i sure hope this ins't the lucy writing that everyone loves at least.

I made it to 30%_… you can tell this is an older title of hers, she’s a much better writer now. I had to stop after they mentioned his “heavy sack” twice in the span of 5 pages.