I love Lucy Score and I loved this book!!. This was a delightful story from a wonderful author and I can't ask for more. I thought this was an outstanding story and I would recommend to other readers.

I love Lucy Score, but this series is a total miss for me. I want my romance heroines to be strong women, not doormats who are continually abused, neglected, and settle under the guise of being "saved by a man."

As always a big thank you to, Netgalley, the author, and the publishers! I enjoyed this book. I wanted to like more than I ended up liking it. I would more than likely not read this book again, but I still think that it is a good book, just for me it doesn't have re-read value. So, for the story it is a second chance type romance. There is some mention of physical abuse so please make sure to check a more detailed trigger warning. So, this book was a re-print with a cool new cover which is super cool in my opinion! The new edition will be available on June 13! 3.9 Stars

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this! This book was incredible. Watching these characters overcome their baggage was so 🤌🏻🤌🏻 I loved this one more than the first book but this couple is 10/10!

This is the second book in the series and it follows two different characters. This book was an easy and quick read. I was worries that too much would be repeated as the story covers the same time frame but from other characters perspectives but it was a great addition to the previous perspectives. Again, the characters and the storyline are very believable and realistic. Good character development. Less spice than the first but fits well when it is added.

I love Lucy Score and this book didn’t disappoint. I read book 1 and 2 back to back so meeting Gloria and Aldo in the first book was fresh in my mind .
I love Aldo and Gloria! This story is amazing both have been through unimaginable experiences. As they both heal they fall in love . I love how it’s the same timeline as the first book of sorts but with some different timing and events. There is significant overlap in the events, so it’s east to follow along to the the series . If you loved Aldo in book one Give it a read! If you haven’t go back and read book 1 after this one ! You won’t be disappointed!

I really loved this story. I love how Lucy score writes such flawed and realistic characters. Although I can't personally relate, you could really feel Glorias and aldos struggles and growth as they navigated their self worth and journey both as individuals and together. I love how in Lucy's stories the path isn't always linear. There can be setbacks in a character as well as moving forward and not everything is straightforward.

It was so good to finally get all of Gloria and Aldo's story in Finally Mine. They were secondary characters in Pretend You're Mine, so I was already very familiar to their story, but it was nice to read all that was involved in their HEA.

At the end of this book I was absolutely thrilled to see some of my favourite words - Extended Epilogue! I love epilogues, and an extended epilogue makes me so very happy. AND that there is another character's book coming - looking forward to that one :)

“You and me? We’re not wounded. We’re scarred.”

Finally Mine is an emotional read that will break your heart and show you the resilience of the human spirit. Aldo and Gloria are absolutely perfect for each other and their heartwarming journey will give you all the feels.

“I think you might be the girl I’ve been waiting my whole life for. But I want you to see who I see. I want you to remember what it’s like to be you.”

Both Aldo and Gloria face circumstances that test their limits and force them to be vulnerable in unexpected ways. I loved the strength of character that they both displayed and how they overcame tragedy. They uplifted and supported one another and it was so beautiful yet heartbreaking at times. They both exemplified warmth and compassion and the sense of understanding that each other needed. I loved these two together and watching their story unfold.

“The thing about a scar? It means we’re healing. It means we’re survivors.”

Finally Mine was a slow burn romance that allowed the characters to truly get to know one another and allowed them to heal both individually and together. Full of heartwrenching emotion, family and so much love, Finally Mine was a beautiful story of taking control of your life and facing your fears. Gloria and Aldo showed that with love and understanding you can overcome the obstacles in your life and find what can truly heal your spirit and make you whole.

Finally Mine is such a sweet follow up story, or you could possibly read as a stand alone, following Pretend You’re Mine. I loved reading on as Aldo and Gloria found their way back to who they are after tragedy not only by themselves but with each other. This story was beautifully written, the characters have depth and so much personality. You will get sucked into the small town of Benevolence and won’t want to leave.

● Book Review ●
• Name: Finally Mine
• Author: Lucy Score
• Genre: Romance
• Rating: 2.25⭐️
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●Thoughts ●
Hmm... I actually did not 100% enjoy this book. The book was predictable since its in the different lens based off of the book 1 and I'm like: ohhh. The book was indeed sad and touches on triggering topics of domestic violence and if you do want to read the book, pls search up the TW before going into the book! The mmc, Aldo isn't my favorite... he didn't do anything to save his woman... red flag red flag. And why did no one help her when she went through physical and emotional abuse???
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● Appreciation ●
Thank you Lucy Score, Netgalley, and Bloom Books for the e-ARC copy!
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● Tags ●
#romamcebook #booktok #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #romamcebookrecommendation #thefinalscore #lucyscore #bloombooks #arc #arcreview

I sadly just couldn’t get into it. Life to short to commit to an okay book when you could find one that provides a fantastic escape! I tried to as keep going and ultimately I know other will enjoy it more for books appeal to everyone in a different way! Thank you for providing this ARC for me to try reading.

We're introduced to Aldo and Gloria in Pretend You're Mine, and I wasn't sure if their relationship could fill an entire novel. I was gloriously wrong!

Aldo and Gloria were such a fun couple to read about. They'd crushed on each other since high school, and they both had their regrets for not getting together sooner. It broke my heart to read Aldo's plans to ask her out after a football game and what stopped him.

You can read this book as a standalone, but I loved seeing some of the events from the first book from a fresh perspective. Finally Mine fills in all the gaps about Gloria's struggle to become whole after years of abuse and Aldo's recovery after the bombing. His patience with her tugs at your heart strings. He truly did want what was best for her even if he was hurt in the process.

As a woman who's been in an abusive relationship, I have to give kudos to the author. She really captured the struggle to leave and how hard it is to regain your sense of worth once you do leave.

Finally Mine has romance, suspense, small town shenanigans, and some truly beautiful moments between Gloria and Aldo. Fans of second chance romances will devour it!

This book was okay - I thought it was good but there were some parts of it that I didn't like. I wish that Aldo had waited longer to court Gloria, I thought he went in too fast, considering that she just got out of an abusive relationship.

I wish Gloria had taken time to be on her own - I mean I know Aldo had given her 6 months but in the back of her mind, she was still going to be with Aldo.

Anyways, there were some aspects of the book that felt like it was really slow and by the end, I just wanted to wrap it up but it went on with Harper and Luke, which I didn't think was necessary because the book wasn't supposed to be about them.

But I did enjoy the characters - I think if you're a fan of Lucy Score, to definitely check it out - especially if you have read the first in the series.

Trigger warnings: this book does contain abuse - physical and emotional

After reading the first installment of this series, I was so excited to see Gloria and Aldo’s relationship but my enthusiasm kind of fell flat.

A lot of the book is just rehashing the first book in the series from different point of view’s. Which makes it kind of boring because you already know what is going to happen if you read the first book. It almost seems like this book is about all four characters instead of just Gloria and Aldo.

The aspects I loved:
- Seeing a women come from a 10 year abusive relationship and finding happiness herself instead of jumping into a relationship immediately. Going to therapy and talking through her issues.
- Seeing a war veteran who struggled with PTSD/leg amputation also overcoming that with the help of therapy and good friendships
- them both over coming traumas and seeing they could still be loved even though they both had baggage, scars and were “damaged goods”

Tropes:
Small town romance
War hero
It’s always been you
Friends to lovers

Spice:
🌶️🌶️

ARC provided by net galley

Finally, Mine is the second book in the Benevolence series and happens simultaneously as Pretend You're Mine, focusing on Aldo and Gloria, who sided characters in the previous book. This book has themes of second-chance love and childhood friends; both characters were going through mental struggles, with Aldo adjusting to life outside of the national guard and Gloria learning to live outside of an abusive relationship she had lived in for the last 10 years in. I enjoyed the growth those two had both separately and together.
I really loved the setting of these two stories; it feels very small towney with everyone's business spreading like wildfire and many prolific side characters appearing in both Finally Mine and Pretend You're Mine. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet small town romance and people looking to see the same story from multiple perspectives.

“I thought I was too damaged to know what real love was. But I was wrong. I know what it is because of my scars, because of my past. I know what love is. I know that I love you and that I’ll spend the rest of my life loving you if you let me.” Her voice trembled. “Hell, I’ll spend the rest of my life loving you even if you don’t let me.”

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of Finally Mine.

Gloria Parker wasted ten years with the wrong man – one who almost cost her her life.

Arlo Moretta’s life seems fulfilling from the outside looking in but has always been missing something – the right girl.

This one was a little hard for me to read but I am SO glad that I stuck it out despite being lightly triggered from Gloria’s past. I do wish that SOMEONE would have spoke up for Gloria, helped her out, etc.. but as someone who’s been in that type of situation (not on the same scale) I know that it’s hard to listen to those outside of the relationship.

I was introduced to both Gloria and Arlo in Pretend You’re Mine and I wanted to go deeper and that’s exactly what Finally Mine did for me! You’re seeing the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s all there. Lucy did an amazing job with this story.

Please read the TW in this book. I almost couldn’t finish it. I am glad that I did, however your mental health is much more important than any book.

Finally Mine by Lucy Score, is the second book in her Benevolence series.

Unfortunately, I found this to be really slow. I wound up skimming lots of sections just to get to the end.
I loved the characters, and the whole idea of the story, but I think the constant repetitiveness of discussions had in the previous book really dampened the whole book for me.

I still look forward to reading book three in this series, Protecting What's Mine.

2.5 stars

I don’t know what to say (again) about this series. When I saw books 1&2 available to review, I was excited! I’ve enjoyed Lucy Scores newer releases. However, sometimes when older titles are re-released, they don’t always land the same way. I expected these books to be heartwarming small town tales. I don’t know if I’m the problem but they were both pretty toxic. It’s surprising. In this book, Gloria is in an abusive relationship for a decade. Both her mother and the male romantic interest in this book were aware of the abuse. The whole town was aware of the abuse. Apparently no one ever tried to help her? There were some big hurdles to climb in the first half to get on board with how everything turned out in the end. I did like this second one more than the first so that’s a plus!
*Thanks to Bloombooks and NetGalley for this advance review copy of the republished book.

This is the second book in the Benevolence series, and I think it’s just not the series for me. I don’t enjoy the military storylines and the blatant abuse that is ignored by many of the characters and the town. I normally love Lucy Score’s books, but this series is not one I’d recommend. This book has a large amount of overlap with the first book, and I really don’t enjoy that with a series. It feels like you are reading the same book twice. However, if you enjoy a military romance, this may be the book for you!

Thank you to Lucy Score, Bloom Books, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.