3.5 stars
I liked this book more than Pretend You're Mine, but unfortunately this story is on the same timeline and covers many of the same events/scenes as in the other book, so if you've read book 1, you know a lot of the framework of what's going to happen.
I liked Gloria and Aldo as characters and enjoyed their love story more than that of Harper and Luke. But it felt all the way through like I was rereading and just getting a different perspective. There were additional details from Gloria's past and Aldo's deployment and return, plus scenes specific to their relationship. I'd probably have rated this higher if I hadn't read the first book.
Trigger warning - domestic abuse, rape, stalking, attempted murder, war, IED, limb loss.

Format - E-ARC (Netgalley)

Rating- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Spice- 🌶 🌶

Series- Benevolence #2

Troupes- Friends to lovers,

CW- domestic abuse, abuse surviver, injured service member, loss of a limb

Gloria and Aldo’s story didn’t start with “Pretend Your Mine” but you can’t tell one with out the other, and I was so impressed with how Lucy wove these two couples stories together so seamlessly! You have to read both of the books in this series back to back! It just makes them more powerful! Lucy already had the power to tear out your heart and take a bite out of it! And Oh My God does she ever with this one.

I wasn’t sure I was gonna connect with Gloria, but the way Lucy handled her coming to terms with the abuse she endured and how to came out the other end and worked so hard to build a life one that she hoped to include Aldo in was really powerful. I both love and was seriously frustrated with Aldo. He had some Massive life changes and trauma to work though, but he had no right to try and tell Gloria what she can and can not handle.

I did really enjoy this book! Lucy is a master at taking on hard subjects and doing them justice while also sprinkling in some humor! This book is a reprint of Finally Mine in 2018 with a brand new beautiful cover!

Thank you Lucy Score and Sourcebooks for this ARC all opinions are my own.

I am a huge Lucy Score fan. She can write books that make you feel invested in the characters and the community they create. This book, the second in the Benevolence series, glimpses the quirky small town and cast of characters that she perfects in later works such as Things We Never Got Over and Maggie Moves On.

After ten years in an abusive relationship, Gloria is finally brave enough to leave and restart her life at twenty-seven. Aldo has loved her since high school and may finally have his chance. However, he is about to go on a 6-month reserve deployment to Afghanistan. He challenges Gloria to spend those months discovering who she is in her new life and if there might be a place for him with her when he returns. Then everything changes after a battlefield injury. Aldo and Gloria both must decide what is worth fighting for in life.

I liked so much about this book - the tender relationship between Aldo and Gloria, the way the characters are brutally honest with each other, and their relationships with their mothers. The book, however, seems like it could be more cohesive. I would start a new chapter only to flip back a page because the chapters didn’t seem to flow together, and the dual POV seemed to overlap and repeat the same events. It also felt like there were a few too many plotlines.

I had the opportunity to review the re-release of Finally Mine in advance of its June 13, 2023 release for NetGalley and Bloom Books in exchange for my honest review.

Better than book 1 for sure, but not as good as Things We Never Got Over. The storytelling still took too long for me and gave insights/details of stuff I didn't care about and not enough of what I liked.

Lucy never disappoints with her small town romances and Finally Mine is no exception. Absolutely loved Gloria and Aldo’s story and how they helped each other heal! I really enjoyed this book! Seeing them grow together and the struggle they faced together was beautifully written.

Battled between a 2.5 and 3 but ended up giving the book the benefit of the doubt and just rounding up. There's was inherently anything bad about this book and it's writing but there also wasn't anything amazing about it either. It just came across pretty bland in writing and in the storyline. The characters had good elements but just didn't seem well developed either. Overall, just a basic book and definitely don't feel compelled to dive into others in the series.

📚 Book Review 📚

Finally Mine
By: Lucy Score

Original Release date: 2018

Read if you like....

🏡 Small town romance
🥰 Second chances
📚 Series
💘 Scarred characters
🔥🔥🔥 Spice

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a free digital copy for an honest review. Gloria and Aldo both have some scars, trauma, and issues. Will they be able to rise above themselves and find love? Or will they miss out again on an opportunity to find happiness?

I found this book so sweet. That was exactly what I needed right now. Just the right amount of spice and the right amount of wonderful. I found myself smiling at certain parts. Thank you,
Lucy Score!

This book is being released with a new, very cute, cover on June 13, 2023. If you love second chances, small towns, and love then give this one a try!

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 4 stars! ❤️

A dark contemporary romance the completely pulled me into the story. I liked the main characters and the growth the experience. This was my first Lucy Score book but I’m now going to read her previous books. Was steamy.

“Finally Mine” by Lucy Score is a great story about never giving up on someone. This story is well written and you can’t help but fall in love with the characters.
Gloria is coming out of a relationship that haunts her. Aldo has harbored a crush on her since high school. Gloria has to find herself in order to be truly happy. Aldo is giving her the space to do that. As Gloria learns what makes her happy she realizes that Aldo will make her happy.
This story is a great romance that has you rooting for the characters. Highly recommend.

I did like this book, it reminded me alot of the pretend your mine, the stories were similar, but different in a good way. Gloria has been through so much and Aldo just coming back from war losing part of his leg they both had o much to contend with and enough hurdles to get over without adding each other into the mix or so they thought. they both have issues but together they make a great pair.

This was a cute read! I loved Aldo and Gloria so much. Gloria’s development was so great! The third act break up was a bit annoying, but the end redeemed itself. I loved how this ran in the same timeline as Pretend You’re Mine. It was so fun seeing all of the events from Harper and Luke’s book in Gloria/Aldo’s POVs!

Gloria is starting over after a turbulent relationship.  Aldo is healing after a war injury.  They missed their chance the first time around, but will they be able to put their past aside and make it work this time?

This was overall a nice story.  I enjoyed the characters from book one (Pretend You're Mine), and it was nice to read about them again.  I was rooting for Gloria and Aldo, and I was excited to read their story after being introduced to them in the first book.  My only complaint was that a lot of the events already happened in the first book.  There was a lot of overlap that wasn't necessary, and it made the book longer than it had to be.  It didn't seem like its own story but a shadow of the first one.  There was a lot of build-up.  The characters didn't even really start being serious until halfway in.  It was sweet and adorable but redundant. I think it's worth picking up if you enjoyed the first one or you're a Lucy Score fan. It would make a great beach read this summer. 

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

NetGalley Review — my rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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Finally Mine by Lucy Score is the second in a two part companion novel series. This book follows Gloria, post abusive relationship, and Aldo, who is back from deployment with a severe injury.
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Their romance was so cute and fun but a slow burn 🔥 and a tad predictable.
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This story coincided with Luke and Harper’s timeline wise so it felt a little redundant at times.
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All in all, if you read Pretend You’re Mine, give this one a go! This one is set to be re-released on June 13, 2023!
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Big thanks to @read_bloom for this ARC! #netgalley #finallymine
19m

4.75 stars. Thanks to Negalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the E-ARC. Even though Gloria and Aldo came out alot in the first book of this series. Let me tell you Mrs. Lucy still managed to melt my black heart. My heart broke for Aldo and Gloria and what they went thru I cried, cheered, and even threw my phone (on the bed I still needed to finish the book). I love the mom of Aldo we all need a mom like that lol.

I have a really hard time with books like this. Almost every scene so far was in the first book of the series, Pretend You’re Mine, just in different perspectives. It feels like it’s all repeating, and we’re just getting a little more detail. Sadly, the detail isn’t enough. The story isn’t progressing fast enough, and there’s no telling whether or not the book will ever stray from just being a repeat of the first book. On top of that, I just don’t feel the same connection with the main characters of this book that I did with Luke and Harper. Not sure if I’ll try and pick this one back up, since I LOVED the first book, but for now it’s not for me.

I received a copy of the re-release as an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tropes: Small Town, Military, Friends to Lovers, Wounded Warrior, Slow Burn

TW: PTSD, Physical Abuse (past), Verbal Abuse (past), Harassment

Thank you to NetGalley & Bloom Books for an E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

We follow Gloria and Aldo, and how they overcome their trauma from the past and build a life together. Gloria was able to escape her 10 year abusive relationship from her high school boyfriend — now she gets to start her life over. The only thing is that Gloria does not know what it is like to be a “normal” person — she was controlled, yelled, and abused, which led her to not know who she is or what she likes anymore. While Gloria is trying to rebuild her life, she meets the hometown hero, Aldo.

It’s not a surprise that I have this book 5 stars, it was so freaking good! I loved Gloria and Aldo and watching them build a life together. This book explores self discovery, healing, and second chances, and it was written so well. This book will give you emotional damage, so be prepared. Another thing that I enjoyed is revisiting Luke and Harper from “Pretend You’re Mine”. Even though there was some repetitiveness of Pretend You’re Mine in Finally Mine, I found it to be necessary because you were able to understand their thoughts and feelings on what was going on. I’m really loving this small town romance series so much, and I can’t wait to read the last book, Protecting What’s Mine!

This was definitely a change up from my normal thriller I grab for. There were parts of this book that I enjoyed but found the first half slow going. The second half was a little more spicy. I am a sucker for a good happy ending and this one did not disappoint in that category. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

"Finally Mine" by Lucy Score is a captivating romance novel that explores the themes of healing, self-discovery, and second chances. The story follows Gloria, a woman who escapes from an abusive relationship, as she rebuilds her life and finds love with Aldo, a hometown hero. The book sensitively addresses the topic of domestic violence and depicts Gloria's transformation from a broken individual to a strong, independent woman. The romance between Gloria and Aldo is heartwarming, and readers will be invested in their journey towards happiness. While some may find the pacing slow at times, the book delivers a satisfying romance that tugs at the heartstrings.

One commendable aspect of the book is the inclusion of therapy and the characters' willingness to seek help. It emphasizes the importance of mental health and showcases a responsible approach to addressing trauma. The author's ability to evoke a range of emotions from readers is also praiseworthy, as the book delves into heavy emotional territory and handles sensitive subjects with care. The raw emotions portrayed by the characters make their triumphs and moments of happiness all the more impactful. Although some readers may prefer a first-person perspective, the engaging storyline and well-crafted characters overshadow this minor preference.

"Finally Mine" can be enjoyed as a standalone novel, despite being part of a series, and offers enough backstory for new readers to immerse themselves in the story. The supporting cast of characters adds humor and warmth, enhancing the overall reading experience. Lucy Score's skillful storytelling and relatable characters make this book a delightful read, appealing to fans of small-town and military romances. Overall, "Finally Mine" is a touching and emotionally charged novel that beautifully portrays the journey towards healing and love after trauma.

4.5 stars

As Gloria is trying to move on after being in a horrible, long term relationship; hometown hero, Aldo Moretta walks back into her life.

Aldo has had feelings for Gloria since high school. Could this be his second chance with her?

Aldo was certainly a swoony hometown hero. He was so caring, thoughtful and an all-around great guy.

Along with the romance, we see Gloria finding herself again. It was wonderful to see her come into her own and rebuild her life.

As Aldo faced a life-altering event. It was nice to see his friends and Gloria help him through his challenges.

I really enjoyed this second chance romance. It has all the feels from happiness to sadness to laughter. Highly recommend for all the romance fans!

Gloria spent too much time being abused and now she's finally free. Aldo is a breath of fresh air and a good guy but he's deploying. And then he loses his leg, These two find purpose in healing one another and then things get,. well, you know. There aren't any surprises here but it's a good read. I suspect some will put this down because of the early pages detailing the assaults Gloria endured but give it a chance. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.