I think fans of Pretend You’re Mine will enjoy getting to hear Gloria and Aldo’s story. Gloria having finally left Glenn after the altercation in the parking lot with Harper and Luke is trying to sort out who she is now. Is she poor little Gloria who has been abused the past ten years (and where is the town here? No one could help out??) or fresh start Gloria who is only looking forward. Her high school crush Aldo has definitely shown interest but is she ready for him?

Aldo makes his feeling known to Gloria and promptly gets deployed with Luke. But then Aldo comes back earlier then schedule, losing a leg and having to figure how who *he* is now. I enjoyed getting both of the main characters POV but damn Lucy Score writes a long book and I definitely skimmed. I just could never get over the fact this town never stepped in with Glenn who is comically horrible and Gloria.

I'll be honest, I wasn't sure about this book going in. The beginning is hard to read and I haven't liked reading books that deal with abuse but I ended up really enjoying it. I think Score did a great job showing the main character's progress from self doubt and blaming herself to real growth by the end of the story. So much of this story is about personal growth for both of our main characters. Within that, I love their story together. I liked the therapy aspect, I enjoyed the side characters, and I liked their love story.

I have seen some criticism that the people around her "should have" done something different. I get the frustration but I think Score's story rings true for the adage that you can't make someone leave, you can only be there for them when they do. The book talks about her mom's shelves lined with books about just such things. I appreciated that no one else saved her in this story. She did and then she did the work to heal. Then she entered into a relationship.

.... but I hated the third act breakup in this one! It felt so unnecessary. I could have lived with a pulling back. Unsure about how fast they are moving or about moving in but why make it more like a full break up? It didn't feel needed.

Either way, this was my first Lucy Score book and I'll be adding more to my TBR.

This is a re-release of a book Lucy Score released in 2018 and since I’ve read more recent books of hers, I have to think she’s improved as a writer A LOT since she wrote this book. Gloria’s tale and happily ever after definitely needed to be told. I love stories about women empowering themselves, and this was a classic tale of an abused woman. Aldo’s story also needed to be told. We have men and women who go on tour who come back both mentally and physically injured. I would’ve loved to have seen a fresh story about these two survivors and how they found love with each other. We got a little bit of that but I will admit to being disappointed in how this story was told.

As this is the second book in the series, you’d expect a little bit of referencing of things that had happened with the previous novels characters. Finally Mine takes this referencing 200% further, recapping huge portions of the story- in fact, I feel like the author cut and paste large chunks of the last story and included those bits into this book. I don’t know if it’s because I read these books only a few weeks apart, but there was so much repeating of what I’d already learned in the first novel that I started to not care about Gloria and Aldo’s tale. I spent my time skimming and looking for new portions of their story and then trying to piece those chunks together. I feel like the author did the reader a huge disservice in the style of writing she chose for Finally Mine. I think there are ways we could’ve learned their history where it would’ve felt fresh, or maybe picked up at some point in their plot and wrote some new content. As it stood, it felt like about 60% of this novel was re-capped. That is just not enough new content for me to develop feelings for these characters. The re-capping actually ended up being more annoying than helpful. I so wish this author hadn’t done that to these wonderful characters.

No surprise that I had trouble with this book. I think the characters should’ve been given a chance to have their own story instead of just re-telling what we’d learned in the previous novel, or shown the same plot from a different perspective. Because of that lack of new content I wasn’t able to care for these characters as much as they deserved. Maybe some day this author will re-write this novel so that these characters are allowed a chance to shine. ❤️❤️❣️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

While I love Lucy Score, this series was not for me.
DNF
I read the first one in order to be prepared for the second, and now I realize that was a mistake. The first one felt extremely slow, and when I went to start the second... I realize it was the same scenes as the first book, just from a different perspective. While I do love that we get to have a piece of everyone in the town of Benevolence and keep them through both books, it was just too repetitive. I almost wish Gloria story hadn't happened until after Harper and Lukes Story.

Lucy Score is a phenomenal author and I will continue to read all of her novels, this series is just not the one for me. I will not be posting elsewhere for this novel.

I was so captivated by this heartbreaking, raw, honest, and inspiring story. This is a powerful and beautiful story about how fragile love is and how it is built with courage, hope, and tears. Gloria fell into an abusive relationship that lasted for a decade until she found the courage to leave. She faces all her fears about being seen as 'poor little Gloria' from everyone around her and finds a job, a place to live, and family and friends who support and love her. Aldo is the town hero who has loved Gloria since high school. He finally has his shot at winning her heart. Unfortunately, he is being deployed the next week, and promises he will be back to ask her on a date. But life doesn't always work out as planned, and Aldo has to face his own tragedy, and figure out who he really is. This is an emotional, slow burn story that tackles difficult subjects with honesty, and empathy. I fell hard for Gloria, Aldo, Harper and Luke, and all their family and friends who made this story completely riveting. I loved how Score took her time revealing each scarred character, breaking them down, and then building them back to a stronger, courageous, resilient person who knows they are worthy of love. This is a breathtaking, moving, sweet and tender romance that had me in tears of heartache and joy. It is a beautiful and unforgettable story that will stay with me for a long time.

Great story! I loved reading more details about Aldo and Gloria's story. My only issue is that it felt very Deja Vu re-reading the same events just from a different POV. More of a 4.5/5 for me but knowing that this was not a planned story I understand why.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Gloria and Aldos story 😍 I absolutely adored it! They are adorable and I loved how you got to see their perspectives on some scenes from Pretend Your Mone

I'll be honest, I saw some reviews before I read Finally Mine and I was prepared for some really graphic on the page violence and domestic abuse based on the adamantly opposed to this book reviewers, so I steeled myself and hesitantly started reading. While there was definitely violence and allusion to domestic assaults, this was not the horror show I steeled myself for. The main character, Gloria, is a survivor and she's building herself back to full strength after a decade of horror that she lived through. Her story is not one I'd wish on anyone but Lucy Score gives Gloria a new life filled with love and laughter and hope and family. She also gives her one hell of a counterpart in Aldo-a man dealing with his own demons but also a man completely smitten with Gloria, who is kind and gentle and funny and wonderful. If you read Pretend You're Mine you already know a lot of their story, but this time around you get it through their eyes and with more of the ins and outs of how it all actually happens.

In my opinion, Finally Mine isn't meant to be a full exploration of the recovery of your life after domestic abuse or losing a limb in war, and if you were reading it for that then I can see why some of the reviewers weren't happy with some of the depictions or the way certain things went down. I see this novel as one that shows what might be possible for someone who has lived through either of those things; it gives lighthearted fun and sweet romance to two people/characters who wanted desperately to know a life that wasn't defined by those things anymore. And in that, I see success and happiness and hope for an HEA for us all.

Book Name: Finally Mine
Author: Lucy Score

ARC
Thank you to Sourcebook Bloom Books and NetGalley for the ARC of Lucy Score’s Finally Mine

Stars: 4.25
Spice: 4

Character Anthology Series
Fast Paced
Dual POV
Contemporary Romance

- Topics
- Overcoming Abuse
- Overcoming Physical Trauma
- Military
- Tropes
- Small Town
- Overcoming Trauma
- Slow Burn (ish)
- It’s Always Been You
- He Falls First
- Military Romance
- Thoughts
- Wish it had picked up halfway through “Pretend Your mine” or after
-Felt like a rewrite in first 25%
- I need a Linc Book
- Epilogue was Perfection
- Picks Up at 50%
- Gloria was a beautifully written realization of a woman recovering 10/10

I love this book just as much as the other one! Maybe even a little more! It was more than I could have asked for from a book!

Oh my gosh! I absolutely LOVED this book!

Aldo was such a sweet, warm-hearted hero. His longing for Gloria was never in question. Even when things went south for him, his thoughts were of her. I fell in love with his wit and charm in the first book of this series, and he grew all the sweeter, all the more charming in this one. He’s definitely a top favorite hero for me.

Gloria had a rough, rocky, nightmarish past and I loved that she found the fortitude to break free from that on her own. After all that bad, to find something so perfectly imperfect with Aldo had me feeling all the things. I found myself laughing, crying, and cheering them on.

This is exactly what I look for when settling down with a romance. This is a bit long but it never lost my attention or made me want to skim. I was glued to every word, every action, and every emotion throughout this story. And then the author made sure I would always remember these characters by giving me not one, but two epilogues filled with love, laughter and family.

Lucy Score's books are like coming home to me. Instantly, I fall in love with all the ones that I have read, and this one was no exception!

I am an Aldo girl through and through. His mom gives me absolute life. Seeing the healing from both Aldo and Gloria was beautiful, and I loved their relationship. Aldo also brought a lot of humor, which had me cackling in public. Rereading of a lot of the events and conversations from the first book I didn't care for, but I understand why it was there as they were important events in their story.

Overall, LOVE, and I can't wait for the next one!

This was a good second chance romance but I didn’t love it as much as the first book in the series because we got to see so much of this relationship in the first book… that spoiled this book for me a bit. While it was good to see more details of their relationship this book wasn’t as great as the first for me.

Gloria has finally decided to leave her abusive boyfriend. What she doesn't expect is for high school crush Aldo to actually return her feelings.

This is a beautiful small town romance. Here's what I loved:

Aldo and Gloria. These two are literally the cutest couple. They both have had feelings for each other for so long. They are also both going through so much pain and trauma. Check trigger warnings for this one (abuse, trauma). They work with each other to find their way through both of their traumas. But at the end of the day, it's about coming to terms with everything themselves. They both have really nice journeys.

The town. Just like in the first Benevolence novel, I adored everyone in this town. They all have their own quirks and accept each other, building families out of friendships.

The friendships. All of the scenes with Harper, Sophie, and Gloria were my favorite. Their banter was perfect!

This was a unique novel in that it is a true companion for the first book in the series (they run concurrently). While I adored Harper and Luke, Aldo and Gloria stole my heart in this one!

-series
-small town
-overcoming trauma
-slow burn
-it's always been you

This book takes place the same time frame as the first book in the series. But this one is Gloria and Aldo’s story. Having read the first one I pretty much already knew what was going to happen. It was still a decent read.

Gloria & Aldo were both super sweet - I loved them for each other!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:
Gloria is stronger than she thinks, something Aldo has always known. After 10 years in an abusive relationship, Gloria has finally freed herself. Aldo is NOT going to miss his opportunity with her this time, no matter the consequences.

They share an unforgettable kiss, and a promise to date in 6 months when Aldo is back from deployment. Gloria needs time for herself, to heal and figure out how to be an independent adult.

Aldo comes back following a life-changing injury, and isn’t the same man who left. With time, and support from friends and each other, they figure out a way back to where they should be.

Review:
I noticed in several reviews how others were upset that no one did anything to stop the abuse… unfortunately the reality is, unless Gloria was willing to report it and leave him, nothing really could be done. She would have kept going back to him regardless, and without her willing to press charges, he couldn’t be arrested either.

“I wasn’t there. But she didn’t need me. If she doesn’t need a hero, what can I be to her? If I’m not a hero, what am I?”

I really felt so sad for Gloria, and also for Aldo when he returned with his injury. They both needed healing in their own ways, and to figure out who they are in the now, post their respected traumas.

“You and me? We’re not wounded. We’re scarred.”
“The thing about a scar?” Gloria continued. “It means we’re healing. It means we’re survivors.

This book is second in a series, and I definitely recommend reading the first, first. Though it does give away a lot of Gloria & Aldo’s story, I enjoyed reading it again from their perspective and seeing the development of their relationship.

Read if you enjoy:
⭐️ Small town
⭐️ Longtime crush
⭐️ He falls first
⭐️ Post-trauma healing
⭐️ Military hero
⭐️ Slow burn
⭐️ 2nd in series
⭐️ Dual POV/3rd person

*TW: domestic violence, physical and mental abuse, post-trauma from war

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for an advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

i unfortunately had to dnf this book. first of all this was way too long for my taste. im sick of contemporary romances being this long for absolutely no reason when the exact same story can be conveyed in lesser pages. i can't get myself to like the hero. gloria is in an abusive situation for the longest time & absolutely no one helps her. that was way too hard to read about.

“You can’t control everything and everyone. You can’t make everything perfect and everyone happy. You can be happy and make good choices for yourself.”

Lucy Score can do no wrong. And while Aldo can make some awful mistakes, he too can do no long-term damage to Gloria’s nor my love. Some characters are just like that.

A war veteran with ghosts. A victim of domestic abuse with just as many. Two souls that almost found each other 10 years ago and that now have the chance of carving their own HEA together.

Aldo & Gloria’s story runs concurrent with Luke & Harper’s so we get to see some of those events from an outsider perspective. It’s like a backstage pass to all the major shows 😁

{Let me just say this… I’ve been waiting for Linc’s story since he showed up in book 1. It’s going to be my favorite. I just know it}

What’s inside:
🖤small town romance
🖤he falls first
🖤dual POV
🖤love after trauma
🖤military romance

Adult. 4.5 stars ⭐️

I loved Pretend You’re Mine, so when I heard about Finally Mine and how it was Aldo and Gloria’s story I was over the moon excited. These two characters are just so sweet and so easy to root for on their own, but together they’re the best. If you’ve read Pretend You’re Mine you know the outcome of their story, but in this book you get to relive the story from their perspective. All the moments that I had wished we got to experience in the last book we got in here and they were just as perfect as I’d hoped they’d be. I’m so glad Lucy decided to write this follow up to Pretend You’re Mine because it really would have been so sad to never have their story out in the world.

Thank you to the author, Lucy Score, SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on June 13, 2023.

Unfortunately, I DNF’d @ 40%. The premise of the book seemed promising with it being Aldo getting another chance to actually be with Gloria, but it fell flat for me. There was a lot of talk about her abusive ex and the time the MCs are apart dragged on. If this were 100 pages shorter I would try to finish, but I just don’t care enough about the characters or the storyline to finish.