I have read a lot of Lucy Score, and somehow had not gotten to this series yet. Netgalley offered ARC's for new covers, and I am offering an honest review:

Mixed feelings on this one. Definitely a stay up way past your bedtime to finish it book, as usual for Lucy Score. This was a long book (as I said, waaay past bedtime), but I think it's because so many characters were introduced and developed. Three couples, not just one---even though one of them is the featured couple in the next book (reading that next). Makes for a lot of pages. Minor spoiler alerts for below:

Steamy, funny, even a few tears. While I was reading, I was engaged with the characters, but after I finished, I was feeling a little let down by Luke. While he was your typical broody alpha hero: successful contractor, super protective, National Guard Captain, he was also kind of a dick to Harper. I know it's a trope--the "can't get over the dead wife and love again guy" (that's the spoiler--and only a spoiler because it took so long to explicitly reveal it. Hints came early, and it wasn't tough to guess), but he really jerked her around. Now, to be fair, she totally let him, but the HEA came pretty suddenly for all the bad feelings that brewed up between these two. As long as the book was, maybe more focus on the main characters and less extra stuff would have left some room for Harper to get to think for a minute before taking Luke back (or even make Luke grovel a bit more after being such an ass to Harper).

Those reservations aside, this is still a 4-star book. Lucy's writing is engaging and you really get caught up in her stories. There's steam, so if you like clean, this may not be for you. I am looking forward to the next book--reading it next!

First off, how gorg is this new cover?! Pretend You’re Mine (Book 1 in her Benevolence series) is the book Lucy says made her into a full time author and it’s being rereleased on 5/9/23!

If you’re new here, lemme just say I love Lucy. I adore her books, her banter, and pretty much everything about her writing. She is the small town romance queen!

This book definitely has the essence of why I love Lucy so much, but it unfortunately fell short for me. It was really interesting to read one of her first books and see how much her writing has developed over the years, but the chemistry between our two main characters felt a little forced and I had a hard time really caring about either of them. Luke was pretty insufferable to me probably 80% of the novel.

I do love the conflict in this book and what they both have to overcome to be their best open & vulnerable selves with one another! The small town vibes are *chef’s kiss* too. Her books always have a really endearing cast of side characters and Pretend You’re Mine is no different.

Definitely worth the read, I just wouldn’t make it your first Lucy Score book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @sourcebooks @read_bloom & @netgalley for the arc! Excited to read Aldo’s story next

Romantic and will make you heart ache! Loved the chemistry between our main characters! Newer author for me, but again loving her writing style!

Pretend You’re Mine
Luke and Harper will always hold the most special place in my heart. Pretend You’re Mine was my introduction to the phenomenal story telling of Lucy Score, and it reignited my love for reading.
Harper finds herself in Benevolence, as her car runs out if gas, after she’s found her boyfriend cheating on her, and leaving her apartment and hometown in a haste without any of her things.
She happens upon a fight that outside of a local bar, proceeds to break it up and meets Luke while doing so.
And as they say - the rest is history….
Harper falls in love with Benevolence, it’s residents and small town shenanigans, and soon finds herself in fake relationship wit Luke.
The author paints a vivid picture of a small town life, and the tight-knit, meddling and caring community of Benevolence in this captivating romcom that has all the hallmarks of a primo romance! We get love, swoon, humor, spice, as well as amazing cast of well developed characters with a side of suspense in this unforgettable love story with a guaranteed HEA.
I highly recommend Pretend You’re Mine to everyone who enjoys a great book!!

This was my first Lucy Score book and I absolutely loved it!! She is great at writing small town love stories. This one definitely made me cry a bit, but the steam was great!