Lucy Score never disappoints!!! If you read Pretend Your Mine then this book you will notice follows right after. Following the story of Aldo and Gloria!! The character development and plot execution were beautifully written as always by Lucy Score. I feel like Aldo and Gloria deserved this so much and I'm so happy we got to see what became of them.

Nice to meet you. Where you Been
Book 2 in Lucy Score’s Benevolence Series “Finally Mine” is Gloria and Aldo’s story. Although a small-town second chance romance, readers should know that Gloria is healing from past domestic abuse and all that comes with it. And Aldo is dealing with his on issues. Author Score’s writing pulls the reader in and conveys the trauma through the pages. There are connections with the first book, “Pretend your Mine.” It’s as if it were happening simultaneously.

I did like Aldo and how his character was portrayed - strong yet sweet. As mentioned, there are many emotional moments, so grab your tissue box - yet there are many guaranteed happy ones. I love a great epilogue, and this one had substance!

TW: Abuse

This story picks up almost concurrently with "Pretend Your Mine" but focuses on Aldo and Gloria as they both, in their own ways, reset their lives. Gloria was in a long term relationship with a very abusive fellow, and Aldo was injured while on active duty. They both have to strive to find themselves, and do it in a beautiful manner. Did I cry? Yes. But the writing was so beautiful and there was so much witty repartee.

Recommend to all!

Thanks to Bloom Books and NetGalley for this book in exchange for my honest review.

Great new cover but same feelings about this second book as I recently had with the first. I'm not giving up on Score but this was just fair for me. Three stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

These were definitely two characters that deserved a happy ending and I enjoyed the overall plot! The transitions between scenes weren’t very smooth (and sometimes didn’t exist at all) so it felt jumpy and hard to follow. I also lost some of the suspense since it was a parallel story to Pretend Tour Mine, so I wasn’t as drawn in. I think I would have liked it much more had it not been so overlapped with the prior book.

I received this ARC and decided to give it a go even though as I mentioned in the first book's review they're older books being re-released. I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first- these books have this weird patriotism subplot that I just don't get as a Canadian so it kind of took away from the experience for me. I also didn't like the repetitiveness of dialogue and scenarios from the first book since there was overlap- maybe if there had been some separation from my reading the two books but I hit them back to back so it was still fresh. I found myself skimming through those parts, which made up a fair portion of the book. I'll probably continue and read the third but won't rush to do so!

2.5/5

This is the second book in this series and I felt like there was too much of the same thing that was in the first book. Domestic violence is a good part of the story and you might want to be aware of that.

I was so excited to continue with this series, I love the world and the characters Lucy Score has built! The universe seems to be working against these 2 characters, but I love how we get to see how they fight their way back to each other again and again. They both have trauma to deal with but I love how instead of just depending solely on the other person to fix their problems, they are able to work together and still stand strong on their own, but even stronger as a team. This book had me in tears multiple times, you can feel the emotions straight from the pages!

Aldo Moretta and Gloria Parker were something.

I enjoyed these two characters. Both dealing with trauma life has thrown at them in different ways. But together they can get past it right?

Lucy Score is a wonderful storyteller and this one was a goodie.

Gloria finally finding herself and growing into the person she wants to be. Aldo finally getting the girl of his dreams.

The story will make you fall for Aldo and cheer for Gloria. And of course you cannot help but love the secondary characters too.

Small town Benevolence had me laughing and crying and wanting to visit just to spend some time in their lives.

I gave Gloria and Aldo 4 💘

In this book, Gloria and Aldo navigate heavy topics such as emotional abuse and military battles. Gloria learns to stand up for herself and doesn't rely on Aldo to fight her battles. The story takes place during the same timeline as "Pretend You're Mine," with glimpses of behind-the-scenes moments between Aldo and Glo. However, some scenes and dialogue are repeated verbatim from the previous book, which can be distracting. Overall, the author handles delicate topics in a thoughtful way and the character development of Gloria is a highlight.

I liked that Aldo and Gloria got a happy ever after. I did get satisfaction with what happened to Glenn and I hope the town is all the more peaceful afterwards.

Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley, Lucy Score and Sourcebooks for an eCopy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHINGGGGG

OK I became a Lucy Score stan long before I found this book BUT after reading the first in the series I had a fear that since these were her first books that maybe she would still be working out the kinks. I didn't absolutely love the first in the series (but I liked it well enough) and you got enough glimpses of Aldo and Gloria to be invested already so I was pleased to be able to review the second in the series for NetGalley.

Aldo and Gloria have known each other since high school. Due to another relationship in Gloria's life, they missed their chance to connect at that time. But when Gloria ends her 10 year long abusive relationship, Aldo knows he won't miss another chance. Because the universe seems to be working against these two, they reconnect just a couple of weeks before Aldo has to leave for deployment to Afghanistan. Before Aldo leaves he is already fully committed to Gloria. He is so loving and emotionally intelligent and patient when he leaves- he is fully secure that their connection will still be there upon his return. He encourages Gloria to experience life and to find out who she is outside of a relationship so that when he comes home he can show her who she is in a good relationship. The connection you feel from Aldo's side is so moving. This man has zero doubts that he is the one who can make her happy.

Aldo being the perfect MMC:

'I'd like to date you, Gloria'
The glug of water she'd just taken to was down the bitterness of disappointment came back out on a cough and ran down her chin.
Gently, he mopped her face with a napkin
'I'm sorry I don't think I heard you correctly.'
He grinned. 'That's not the reaction I was expecting. It'll be a fun story to tell our grandkids, though' - THIS MAN NEVER WAVERED

'he'd bought a dozen houseplants this week for the express purpose of having Gloria in his house weekly while he was gone.'

Lucy Score writing brilliance:
'Do you know how many people would do anything for a love like this? For even an ounce of what you two found in each other? Do you know how many would fight and claw and beg for this? And you throw it away like it's replaceable?'

You also get plenty of Harper charm from book one: 'Eat your burger. You're weak with hunger and stupidity'

Unfortunately- because once again the universe is against them- Aldo experiences so trauma while he is deployed and comes back feeling like he isn't good enough for Gloria. At this point it's Gloria's turn to fight for them. This is the story of them finding their way through all of their heartbreak to get back to one another.

I loved this book so wholeheartedly. Lucy Score had me crying at almost every stage and I could not put this book down. The characters are so damaged and the theme of the book- that damaged people can still love and be loved- is so beautifully betrayed.

A great addition to the “Pretend You’re Mine” story, “Finally Mine” follows the plot lines of Gloria and Aldo. I loved the behind the scenes look into their relationship and how it enhanced what we already knew about Gloria and Aldo from “Pretend You’re Mine!”

I love the knock ‘emout books but this one wasn’t for me. Didn’t vibe with the characters or storylines.

I adore Lucy Score and her newest novel sizzles along the spice-meter. I did find it difficult to stay engaged during some of the inner monologs due to the intense negativity caused by prior abuse and trauma for our leading characters. It still largely follows the classic romance arch-type, but there is a lot of focus on the healing process which does depart from the overarching trope slightly. It is an important book- romance and love after abuse and trauma- but feels a little heavier than a "classic" romance.

I love Lucy Score. I slubbed around for an entire day reading this. I love love love Aldo. I thought it was cool how this ran completely parallel to Pretend You’re Mine. The Benevolence series may be my new favorite Score series. Can’t wait to check out Linc’s story.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy on exchange of an honest review.

I love a good small town romance!

after being in A long term abusive relationship Gloria is trying to find herself. Aldo has had a crush from a far since high school and has just been waiting on his chance. But Also is deploying to Afghanistan for 6 months and wants to date Gloria when he returns. Will it work?
I loved the relationship between Gloria and Aldo. Steam was great.
BUT
I wish it wasn't taking place at the same time as ANOTHER romance in the book. I was distracted by all the details of the other romance ( the first book that I haven't read) . I feel like we could have had less details about that storyline and we would have had a better book.

I was so excited to read this and go back to Benevolence! Score really makes her towns feel like home and her characters feel like family that you love to keep coming back to.

Aldo may be one of my all time favorite book boyfriends. He is an absolute king and amazing partner. Once he battled his demons, he went above and beyond in everything he did for Gloria, including giving her space and time to heal for herself and listening to her story when he wanted to punch Glenn.

I think my biggest issue with this book is that because it occurs at the same time as pretend your mine, there are quite a few scenes where the dialogue from the first book is word for word repeated in this book. While this may not be a problem if you spread the books out, I read them both within a week so it felt very repetitive.

My other issue was the third act breakup felt really out of character for Gloria. Why is she suddenly questioning their relationship after talking to Aldo so much about healing and communication and trust and after all her work with her therapist? And after she yelled at Luke for literally doing the exact same thing. I’m glad everyone told her she was a chickenshit.

Overall another really enjoyable book by Lucy Score and j can’t wait to read the third book in the Benevolence series!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Lucy score herself for providing me this arc in exchange for a honest review. Another masterpiece from Lucy score. Loved both books provided to me from this series, and the covers ARE TO DIE FOR!

An emotional, heartwarming story about finding yourself and rising above the darkness.

Set in a small town, with a military veteran serving as the MMC, this story is all about the FMC, Gloria, saving herself. Rebuilding herself. Wanting better for herself. Realising her worth - herself.

I’m still processing exactly how I feel. There were some utterly unforgivable things here if you look at the actions of the townsfolk, “hero” included, through one light…. But then there was a heroine who saw her worth and saved herself in another. I’m off to read the first one to see if that sheds anymore details.

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read an older title getting a revamped cover. All thoughts are my own ☺️