Such a cute small town romance! Everyone besides Aldo’s mom stressed me out 😂 but it was such a fun ride watching these couples come tougher. Great example of how found family can be just what a person needs.

I mistakingly expected a lighter touch to this general fiction/romance. Gloria Parker marries the guy who peaks in high school and it has been terrible. She survives ten years of abuse before taking a stand in public saying she is done. It causes a beat down with witnesses that at least gets him put in jail. The abuse is not graphically detailed but she is scarred and her bruises have bruises. She has support from her mom and friend Harper.

Aldo Moretta says he fells in love with Gloria when she sang in the high school musical. But when she chose her eventual husband he became a player turned his back on her abuse as it wasn’t his place. Now he returns home after an accident during his deployment. They have sparks but he isn’t sure she can love him because of his injuries. She is having a hard time trusting any man again.

I can understand why some people DNF’d thinking Aldo was not a hero for making no effort to help Gloria when she was married. But not sure how realistic that would be. I enjoyed the steaminess between the two when they finally get over their issues. I also like that Gloria gets the moment to rescue herself and standing against her ex husband.

I’m new to the author and will read more from her. Thank you to Sourcebook, Bloom Book and Netgalley for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)

📚✨Book Review✨📚

Finally Mine
Author: Lucy Score

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Notes: I received a copy of this book as an advanced reader, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

What I Liked:
🇺🇸 I am always a sucker for small town romance. Add in a dash of “I’ve loved you forever,” and I’m a goner immediately.

🇺🇸Women like Gloria who have been through a lot but find their way through it are a special type of strong. It’s really admirable and makes their success and happiness at the end that much more enjoyable.

🇺🇸Aldo, regardless of his ups and downs, was a dream. The hometown hero with the heart of gold. What more could a girl ask for!!! ❤️❤️❤️

What I Didn’t Like:
🇺🇸 This book was HEAVY with emotions, more so than other books from Lucy Score that I’ve read. Between Gloria being a victim of domestic violence and Aldo dealing with PTSD, the two are filled with trauma. It is great to see them both in therapy and not just keeping it inside. Sometimes the only way out of a tough situation is through and for both of them it was with therapy and each other.

Final Thoughts:
🇺🇸 I’ve loved every book from Lucy Score and this one is no exception. It’s a bit sader than some others, but her writing style is there and is still a win for me. Looking forward to going back to the town of Benevolence soon!




#bookreview #reviewsneedlovetoo #readforeverpub #unpopularopinion #booktok #bookstagram #bookfriend #books #bookish #booklover #instablog #romancereader #romcom #fantasybooks

I absolutely love Lucy Score. Her stories are so relatable and seem like they could happen in real-time. Characters grab your attention right away.

A really sweet small town romance and t was great watching Gloria regain her sense of self throughout the book. Unfortunately for me it just felt a bit disjointed and hard to get into even though I absolutely LOVE Lucy Score. Definitely worth the read just not for me Unfortunately.

DNF at 20%. I really enjoy Lucy scores books but this one couldn’t grasp my attention. I really enjoyed pretend you’re mine but there was far too much overlap in this one. I also was triggered by the abuse. I think others will enjoy this but it wasn’t for me. Thanks Netgalley and Bloom (Sourcebooks) for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Having met Gloria and Aldo in the previous book it was nice to see them as the main characters in this book. Gloria at first seemed like a weak character but slowly gained strength. Aldo is a character that is easy to like and cheer for and hope for a HEA. It was a good story.

Lucy Score weaves a world that I just want to hang out in. I loved getting to revisit Benevolence and see all of the characters that we know and love from the first book. I really liked getting more from Aldo (who is the best) and Gloria. Both of their moms were so much fun to read and the story was so good. i just wish that it was a little bit less of a revisit from book one and more new than old.

I knew this would be gut wrenching and I was right. Tears in the first chapter. Lucy knows how to bring out different emotions within a book. Tears, hope, laughter...
Self doubt is reality when you face things unforeseen. They both had to overcome so much though when they changed their mindset the world was an open book.
This quote "I have to know my truth and believe in myself"💗 fact is no one can do it for you. Their love is so sweet and built on a solid surface. It's what we all look for friends, lovers, chemistry. I am glad they were able to achieve their HEA. The family and friends that rallied around them was an amazing support system. I love Ms. Moretta. Her and Aldo's relationship was wonderful to see even with all the yelling. This story does deal with abuse (from Gloria's ex) and PTSD/injuries. I also enjoyed the other side of Harper and Luke's story. It brought more clarity to their story. This book is a stand alone but I would suggest reading them in order.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Publication date: June 13, 2023

Finally Mine is the second book in the Benevolence series by Lucy Score. This one was also refreshed and republished.

I entered the world of Benevolence when I read Harper and Luke’s story in Pretend You’re Mine. The second book focuses on Luke’s best friend Aldo and his love interest Gloria. We are introduced to both of these characters in the first book.

Gloria is scarred and broken. After 10 years in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship, she knows she’ll never have the chance to find true love. If she can just start believing in herself and get some strength and independence, maybe she can find her way to love again.

Aldo is a hometown hero spending months away from home as a National Guard. He’s also been in love with Gloria since high school and can’t believe he might finally have a chance to show her how a real man should treat their woman. As he heads off for a 6 month tour, Aldo encourages Gloria to find herself while he’s away and gives her hope about their future relationship.

Aldo is injured in the line of duty. Losing half his leg to a bomb blast. As Aldo struggles with his recovery, he wonders if he can truly be the man Gloria needs. Can these two battered and broken hearts find each other? And be what each of them needs to heal and become one?

I really enjoyed Aldo and Gloria’s story. It was somewhat similar to the first one and I liked how this book referenced several events that crisscrossed with the main characters in both books. Really tying the stories and relationships together.

This one had a good amount of spice and was a quick read. This is another 4 star read for me.

#NetGalley #finallymine #lucyscore

Anything Lucy score is a hit for me! I adore this series and can’t wait to read the next one! Just wish Goodreads would update the cover!!!

I didn't realize that this was a companion novel for Pretend Your Mine at first until I also started reading that book. I feel like those two books should have been released at the same time so people could read them together given that it is the same story and the same time in both books, just 2 different couples. In my opinion, this made it confusing and not so great. I would have much preferred if Finally Mine and Pretend Your Mine were the same universe but didn't go through the same scenes over and over again. It felt like the same recipe, just being made in a different bowl. I would have liked it if Harper and Gloria weren't the exact same person, and if Luke and Aldo weren't the exact same person. Both couples deal with abuse and miscommunication.

Focusing solely on Finally Mine, I really could not stand Aldo. I felt like he was so controlling and forceful. I felt like he pushed Gloria to be in a relationship with him and then he got injured and SHOVED her so far from his sight. He was so manipulative and abusive in his own way. I would have loved it if he was just her friend from the get-go and helped her heal. I wanted him to be someone she could lean on and be vulnerable with. It would have been great if he could be an example for her on how to grow into difficult times, but he just wasn't any of that. He seemed like an overgrown child the majority of the time and I wanted to punch him in the face multiple chapters.

I also felt like there wasn't much character growth. You see both characters struggling and then off book, they're fine? Suddenly Aldo goes from struggling walking two feet to running half a mile in the next chapter? I would have liked to see that progress. I would have liked it to go like this: Gloria yells at him and calls him a jerk, he goes to bed feeling bad for himself. He realizes he is being a jerk and he wants to show Gloria that it's okay to have setbacks but to try your best to be a better version of yourself today. He then struggles to get out of bed, he works really hard going up and down his stairs. Then he starts walking outside. Then he shaves off the beard AND THEN we see him starting to feel like himself, see him starting to jog and then run AND THEN HE CAN ENTER THE 5K RACE. That progression right there would have made so much more sense. It would have shown us his character growth and how he was able to heal himself.

Same with Gloria, I would have liked to witness her character growth instead of being told, "And now she is better!"

I really liked the side characters, like Luke's family, Aldo's family, Gloria's mom (wish I knew more about her dad but c'est la vie), I liked Ty and Lincoln. I know Lincoln has his own book and he seemed like the only interesting character really.

I wanted Aldo and Gloria to be there to support each other as friends and not trauma bond into a relationship that feels doomed if I'm being honest. I would be surprised if they were still together 10 years from when the book ends. It just felt like they grew separately and would be 2 completely different people. They should have grown together.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This author is fairly new to me but I have to say I have immensely enjoyed this series so far. When an author can capture the emotions and your heart breaks right along with the characters, I consider that a great read.

Gloria and Aldo were perfect for each other. The strength and patience both had was outstanding and only added to the story. Both were struggling with some life events but they certainly found their HEA ending.

💛“How do I become my own hero? Because I’m ready. I’m done being damaged and fragile and careful and scared. I’m done.”💛
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Did I request multiple books I’ve already read on NetGalley solely because I liked the new covers even though they’re eARCS I can’t put on my shelf? Of course I did!
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Finally Mine is the second book in Lucy Score’s Benevolence interconnected stand-alone series! Needless to say, I’m a huge fan.
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Just before he deploys, finally has a chance with his dream girl, Gloria, after she bravely leaves a long-term abusive relationship. When tragedy strikes, will the “will they/won’t they” almost couple be able to overcome the obstacles in their path, or will they stumble and go their separate ways?
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Bonus quote:
“I’m the boyfriend,” he shot back. “Boyfriends help cook breakfast after Pride and Prejudice sleepovers.”
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
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Read if you like:
🏘️ Small town romance
❤️‍🩹 Love after trauma
🥹 It was always you
🇺🇸 Military romance
💕 Journeys of self-love and acceptance
🎢 All the feels
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Thank you NetGalley, Lucy Score, and Sourcebooks Bloom books for this eArc!
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Check this series out on KU or pick up the beautiful new cover to add to your shelf!

A great read. Aldo has always wanted a chance with Gloria. Now she is single but he is injured so will they find a way to be together. An emotional read. I liked the overlap with the first book in this series.

I read the first book in this series years ago, and it was so wonderful to revisit Benevolence. I do believe that this book would be best enjoyed after reading the first book since the timelines go hand in hand.

This book was a huge process of growth, dealing with mental health, and grief. There are quite a bit of content warnings that should be taken into account with this book, so be cautious before starting especially due to domestic violence.

I really loved that the books centers around mental health and seeking therapy to help through traumatic events for these characters. Whole chapters devoted to ‘getting it out’ instead of letting it fester inside.

Gloria and Aldo have so much to overcome and even though they have some missteps along the way they are honest with each other and lift their partner up.

What to expect:
🌸Florist
🌸Army vet
🌸Dual POV
🌸Therapy rep
🌸Small town
🌸Charming support characters
🌸Drama
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💭My Thoughts
I enjoyed this book SO much more than Pretend You’re Mine! Finally Mine addressed many of my issues with the first book, and therapy played a major (and necessary) role. Gloria is creating a new life for herself after spending years isolated in a toxic marriage, while Aldo is adjusting to life with an amputated limb. Aldo’s confidence and charm was swoony. He had a huge crush on Gloria in high school, but missed her chance with her. Now that Gloria has finally dropped her POS husband, Aldo isn’t going to let her slip away again. This is a heavy read, but Gloria’s history is consistent with what I’ve learned about domestic violence. I’ve seen other reviewers bash Aldo and the town for not “saving” her from her past relationship, but that’s just not how abuse works. Gloria had to be the one to make that decision for herself. I’m usually not big on character driven stories, but I loved this one for Gloria. Book 1 was borderline more smut that plot, but this time the spice didn’t kick in until about the last 25%.
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Lastly, there is a lot of overlap between Pretend You’re Mine and Finally Mine. You re-read many of the same scenes but from the POV of Gloria and Aldo this time. I enjoyed this but that may be because I like Gloria and Aldo more to begin with.
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If you enjoy books that make you laugh but also hit you hard in the feels, I definitely recommend 💕

This book was a bit tough for me. I love Lucy Score - her Knockemout series is one of my favorites, and I absolutely loved “By a Thread”. This one, though, didn’t hit the spot.

The Lucy-isms were all there: strong characters, good dialogue, some fun side characters and relationships. But I just couldn’t get past the fact that the subject matter for this is very intense (DV, with escalating abuse) and the way it’s resolved, particularly with those around Gloria, felt a bit too swept under the rug for me. Maybe if more had been done to show that the people in Gloria’s life had tried over the years to get her out, but they ended up in the situation of her not being able go, it would have worked. But as it stands, it just looked like no one in her life did anything to support her, least of all Aldo.

I liked Aldo overall - he was strong, but had to come to terms with his infallibility. But even he fell a little flat for me. All in, I know this book is a few years old and Lucy Score’s style has clearly evolved. I just won’t be adding this one to my just-read list.

I'm still not feeling this couple and this book felt like a lot of fluff and no real substance. I don't think I'll be continuing with this series.

Gloria is finally free from a toxic relationship and working on finding herself. She’s doing that by reconnecting with her mom and drinking margaritas and getting makeovers. She’s scared but learning that doesn’t mean she’s broken.

Even though Gloria has vowed off men, she finds herself drawn to the larger-than-life Aldo. They go on one date before he is deployed. When he comes back wounded, it’s not only his body that needs healing.

Determined Aldo is the man for her, Gloria steps up and becomes the hero they both need.

Based on the first sentence of this blurb I expected a delightfully smutty read. However, that was not the case and in the steamy romance regard I was disappointed. This was my second Lucy Score book. I absolutely adore her writing style, but they are always longer than I feel necessary to get the story across. I also really did not enjoy how Aldo knew Gloria was being domestically abused and he just stood by. People in this situation don’t necessarily always want help, or to be saved, but they can always use a friend and Aldo just stayed away and dated other women. I loved the small-town vibes of this book and how all the characters knew each other. Lucy Score does know how to write a wonderful small town.

While I did not enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed Things We Never Got Over, I do still recommend her books and cannot wait to read Things We Hide From the Light.

This book deals with some heavy topics so make sure you know what you are getting into. This re-release is out June 13th.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Bloom Books, Bloom Books, @read_bloom, and Netgalley, @netgalley, for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.