I have been sitting on this book for almost a year and I am kicking myself for waiting so long. The true mark of a great author is one that evokes real emotion from the reader. Lucy Score absolutely does not disappoint with Finally Mine. Aldo and Gloria just never get their timing right. And then once they finally do, they have both gone through so much physical or emotional trauma that they aren’t quite sure how to get through. But watching them push through the pain and discomfort is a thing of absolute beauty. My favorite part of this book is that Lucy Score does not shy away from the hard topics. Aldo comes home from war with physical and mental trauma. And this is so real in the book. There is no closed door on the emotions and let me tell you, I was all up in my feels, ugly tears and all, as I read through his experiences. Contrast that with the beauty of watching Gloria rose from the ashes of an abusive relationship and begin to not only trust those around her, but more importantly, learn to trust herself again. This book is a new favorite from this author and one I hope others pick up sooner rather than later. Don’t be like me folks. You don’t want to miss this one!

This book was amazing, and I'm still laughing!!! The evil rescue kitten absolutely made this book. It was just as good as Pretend. 10/10, absolutely recommend!!!

Short synopsis: Gloria finally decides to leave her abusive husband, and a budding romance between her high school crush Aldo ensues. He is sent overseas for military and after an accident they must both work through trauma and tragedy.

My thoughts: This one is heavy! With the abuse, and the military PTSD and trauma it’s bound to be a wild ride. I feel like the author did a great job at discussing such difficult topics with care. But if you’re sensitive please take care of your heart.

I loved watching Gloria and Aldo as they navigated their own personal trauma and found a way to be there and support each other. Such a good example of caring for your own mental health before you can care for someone else’s.

I also really enjoyed seeing cameos from the previous book, and am anxious to read book 3 and see what more we have in store!

Read if you love:
- Sad and moving romances
- second chance
- small town series
- moving through grief and pain
- military
- standing on your own two feet

A beautifully written romance that captures the magic of falling in love. The main characters have great chemistry, and their witty banter keeps the story light and fun. The plot is engaging, with just the right mix of drama and humor. This book is a warm hug for the heart—perfect for a cozy afternoon read!

Finally Mine by Lucy Score is a heartwarming, small-town romance that perfectly blends humor, emotional depth, and swoon-worthy moments. As part of her Benevolence series, the book focuses on Aldo Moretta and Gloria Parker, two individuals with deep emotional scars and a history of unresolved tension.

Lucy Score excels at writing authentic, relatable characters, and Finally Mine showcases this through Aldo and Gloria's second-chance love story. Both are strong, independent characters who are healing from past trauma, and their chemistry is palpable from the start. The novel delves into themes of forgiveness, self-acceptance, and the healing power of love, giving readers an emotional, but ultimately uplifting journey.

The small-town setting of Benevolence adds charm to the story, filled with endearing side characters and a sense of community that creates a warm backdrop to the romance. While the emotional intensity of Aldo and Gloria's relationship keeps you invested, Lucy Score also brings her signature humor and lightness, making this a perfect balance between heartfelt and fun.

Overall, Finally Mine is a deeply satisfying read for fans of small-town, slow-burn romances, especially if you enjoy stories about second chances and emotional growth.

I really enjoyed this one it was the heartwarming romance i needed at the time. It carried a lot of emotional depth.

I. LOVED. THIS. Oh my gosh. I thoroughly enjoyed Pretend You’re Mine, but Finally Mine took the cake for me!!! Ugh Aldo was so sweet, and I loved how Gloria fought to make him see he was worthy and a hero. I’d like to give this all the stars, 5 doesn’t do it any justice!

I DNF'd this one due to no one helping Gloria. Could not handle, wish someone stepped in to help her. I also did not have any feelings towards Aldo, how can there be a hero when he doesn't lift a finger through abuse?

I just love picking up a Lucy Score book when I need a steamy romance to lose myself in! They are always guaranteed to be fast paced, full of dynamic characters, serious topics and definitely laughter.

I will say that this book had a lot of repeat in it from the first book in the series, since it took place in the exact same timeline. This was the only detractor from the story, as I kind of found myself skimming those repetitive parts.

I really enjoy Lucy Score's writing style and think her growth is definitely evident throughout her works. Interesting plot that had me rooting for Aldo and Gloria. Their growth was beautifully written throughout the novel. I do recommend reading the books back-to-back for the full experience.

This is a second book in a series of 3 books. I recommend reading the books in order and back-to-back so you don't forget details. I rated this book 2/5 because I felt it could have been shorter. The story felt drug out and I noticed I was zoning out and not really enjoying it.

This story was unfortunately not for me. I didn’t enjoy the writing style or the pacing. It took me a long time to get to the 30% mark when I ultimately decided to DNF. I didn’t post any reviews anywhere as I can see how other people would like it and don’t want to sway any opinions with something that didn’t work for me due to personal issues. Thank you again for the opportunity.

Lucy Score is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. She’s witty and fun and makes the characters seem so relatable. This series is something I would recommend to my friends for a good read.

This was a very good book. I enjoyed reading it. The characters and plot kept me interested. I would read another book by this author.

heart eyes emoji* I sighed in pleasure the whole way through Finally Mine. It may have taken Gloria years, but she managed to find the strength to change her circumstances. Seeing her bloom was real pleasure. And Aldo! Yummy yummy Aldo. Even when he was feeling sorry for himself, he was trying to put Gloria's needs first. This was a bit long, but the plot kept moving along nicely and the end will definitely give you warm fuzzies!.

I absolutely loved Pretend Your Mine, so I couldn’t wait for book 2 of the series! However, it fell short for me. I didn’t like how the scenes were repeated from book one, but just in their POV. It was a waste of time, and I couldn’t engage with the story.

I really enjoyed watching the growth Gloria went through. She was such a trooper for Aldo once he returned. Those deployments and injuries do a number on you. Aldo was the perfect guy for her.

Gloria was in an abusive relationship for 10 years. She is finally learning what it means to stand on her own two feet. Aldo has loved Gloria since high school, but he's about to deploy with the National Guard and he wants to make sure Gloria has some time to find herself before he asks her out. When he returns injured from the war, nothing goes as they had planned.

Gloria's story is such an important one to be told. I'm so glad Lucy Score decided to give us a look into not only the love story of Aldo and Gloria, but the empowering difficult struggle of overcoming an abusive relationship. Two books into the series and I'm ready to move to Benevolence.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the ARC of Finally Mine.

This book was a struggle for me. It starts off very rough. The second part of the book gets better as the romance develops, but I had some serious issues with how they handled domestic violence. Nobody stepped in to help Gloria, not even the hero, who knew what was going on but felt powerless to do anything. It's not okay how the characters just ignored what was happening, and it made it hard for me to keep reading.

If you're sensitive to domestic violence, I'd recommend giving this book a pass.
I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

I think Lucy is now one of my new favorites. I loved the world building, the characters, and even the cover art of both of these books.. I definitely have to read more!