This disappointed me sm. These two were not good for each other might I say there were even toxic. He pretty much manipulated her into liking him and she was so annoying and ungrateful. Also why was this 700 pgs??? This would have been better if it was short and sweet and to the POINT. The first book was perfection and this was a let down. BOOOOOOOOOOO

Netgalley thanks for a free ebook on the day of the pub day but unfortunately I already spend my money on this ebook/audiobook and physical book. Pls send out books earlier than the pub day that’s so frustrating.

I was so stinking excited for the return to Knockemout. I am obsessed with all things Lucy Score and Things We Hide From The Light was no different.

If you loved grumpy Knox Morgan you will swoon for even grumpier Nash Morgan. I loved how this book gave us the insight into the tortured town sheriff and also revealed his softer, more vulnerable side. Then there's Lina. She is as bad ass as they come and I loved seeing her stand up to Nash's grumpiness with her own. She was fiery and snarky and all the things I love in a female lead.

I really loved the return to Knockemout and seeing Knox, Naomi, Waylay (and Waylon) and Liza J all back in the story. There was some really fun parts of this book with Naomi, Sloane, Stef and Lina that made me laugh and wish I was part of their "girls plus Stef" group.

This book also adds some new characters like a rescue dog, a spunky, very strong next door neighbor, and a swoon worthy federal agent who gets wrapped up in the mix.

Overall I loved this book, these characters and this story. I blew through despite its hefty size. My only thing was parts of the story felt a little recycled from the first book. But, it clearly didn't bother me enough to keep me from devouring the book and these amazing characters. I would give it 4.5 stars.

I would not recommend starting this series with Things We Hide From The Light. This book was very tied into the events of the first book so this isn't a series that I would say you can start with book 2 and not really miss anything. I don't think the story would make sense without having read TWNGO.

I will say one thing this book did was make me SO READY for Sloane and Lucian's book which is out in September! Their banter and the tension between them in this book left me dying for their story!

As always, Lucy Score delivers another great read which I would highly recommend. Huge thanks to Bloom Books for the EARC in exchange for an honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

I am low-key obsessed with the Knockemout series! These small town, dual POV, slow burn, steamy romances are full of humor, heart and an unforgettable cast of characters. I loved the opposites attract romance that develops between Police Chief Nash and insurance claim agent Lina (Angelina).

These two each have their own past baggage (Lina had a heart episode as a teen and suffered from panic attacks) while Nash is still dealing with PTSD, depression and panic attacks following a gun shooting at the end of the first book.

Together they help each other heal their hurts but of course there are misunderstandings and a whole lot of SPICINESS getting through them! Great on audio narrated by Lila Winters and Sebastian York. Now I can't wait for the third book and Sloane and Lucian's second chance romance.

Recommended for fans of books with a strong characters, great mental health rep and a bit of suspense (ie Catherine Cowles, Samantha Young, Devney Perry, etc). Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

If you are a member of the Thick Books Love Club you might want to check out Lucy Score’s romances.

She has a keen eye for voice, her secondary characters are often endearingly eccentric (Mrs. Tweedy ), the steam is gooood, & there’s a nice bit of sweetness to magnify that lusty spice.

With that being said, Lucy Score’s recent release--Things We Hide From the Light, out now—is uneven for me.

Likes—all of the things I mentioned earlier. Plus a badass heroine named Lina who’s basically a bouncer hunter + treasure seeker + adrenaline enjoyer & a hero—Nash Morgan— who’s a well-respected police chief with a great butt.

Dislikes, or maybe it’s more accurate to say discomforts—this book reveals Nash’s depression after surviving being shot & losing the memory of what happened & the inclusion of mental health challenges is always something I respect & love.

But I find myself uncomfortable with how Nash pressures Lina into actions & situations by using his emotional/mental state (even if his intentions aren’t malicious, even if she is also drawn to him).

Not that Lina can’t be that important to him & to his happiness…it’s more of a concern for me that he hasn’t tried to find & regularly actively pursue other resources in addition to his relationship with Lina.

This book is angsty if angst is your jam, it’s got plenty of tension between leads, & then there’s a nice payoff at the end with a double epilogue (!).

The more I think about this one the less I know what to rate it. 3.5 stars️? Either way, the bottom line is: there are some things I really liked about it, some things I didn’t like, & I’m looking forward to the next one (second chance with Sloane and Lucian, anyone?!)

3.5⭐️. Out now!

CWs: Depression. Shot in previous book. Op she was in charge of resulted in injury. Previous heart issues. Panic attack. Flippant reference to assault. Racist cop incident with another cop. Discussion of child with cancer. Assault, attempted sexual assault. Addict father.

[ID: Jess’s white hand holds the ebook in front of an evergreen that has four yellow daffodils tucked into the leaves.]

I will forever be here for Lucy Score and anything she writes. This is book two in one of my favorite small town romance series. Plus add in a grumpy/sunshine trope and I’m just swooning. I enjoyed being able to see where character from book 1 were too!

Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review!

** spoiler alert ** a HUGE thank you to SOURCEBOOKS, NET GALLEY & LUCY MF SCORE for this arc in exchange for a review 💘

WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW LETS GET INTO IT!

Lucy Score has always been one of my most favourite authors and she just keeps reminding me why. Her stories are SO authentic and so HUMAN. Her characters are so genuine, and the way she writes their inner monologues always has me so emotional. I love her.

Let’s be clear: Things We Hide From The Light is one of the best books I have ever read.

Nash’s destructive behaviours and depressive episode is heartbreaking. His thoughts and feelings really make you feel.

Angelina’s fear of loss, or vulnerability is all consuming and incredibly relatable. Her need to put up a front and pretend nothing bothers her is so understandable.

Their dialogue, their inner monologues, the way they slowly fell for each other - Lucy Score had me glued to every word because I was SO invested. I wanted them to have their happy ever after because they DESERVED it. It was so unbelievably beautiful watching them fall for each other. I cried a lot.

I’d also like to add that the Knox and Naomi dialogue and wedding had me bawling. The protectiveness, his GROWTH, his love for waylay? All of it was fucking incredible.

The line that really had me bawling is the “thank you for loving me” and picturing Knox fall to his knees at the sight of Naomi in a wedding dress. Gave me butterflies just thinking about it.

Truthfully, this was a fucking fantastic book that I think will be at the top of my 2023 reads. I cannot WAIT for the Lucian and Sloane story. I am SO thrilled and wow - wow wow wow!!!!!!

THANK YOU LUCY SCORE FOR MAKING ME BELIEVE IN LOVE 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

There’s just something about the town Knockemout that has me in a chokehold - that something being the three very hot and grumpy men 🤤

I wasn’t a huge fan of Nash going into this book, and was more excited for Lucian’s story in book 3. HOWEVER. I take back any negative thing I’ve ever said about the man. He is ultimate book boyfriend goals. We get to see all the different faces of Nash in this book - the do-good small town chief, the depressed man struggling to feel something again, and the dirty talking but sweet husband-material hunk.

LINA. How do I even describe my love for Lina?! I might love her more than Nash. This woman is the ultimate badass. While she’s not in as dark of a place as Nash is, she does know what it’s like to feel like that and is able to help support him while he heals.

What I love so much about this book is that it shows how surrounding yourself with people who love you and being vulnerable enough to let them help you can bring you happiness you didn’t know you could have. Lina and Nash have many layers of defenses when it comes to being vulnerable, and without the help of their friends as well as each other they wouldn’t have come to the ending this book brings us to.

While this is a romance, there is quite a bit of action (which is why I love Lucy Score so much). I loved how there were multiple plots for us to follow, but it never got confusing and kept me intrigued the whole time.

I enjoyed every bit of this book, and loved ALLLL of the Naomi and Knox cameos. It also made me SO EXCITED for book 3!!! I’ll be thinking of Nash & Lina’s story until I can get my hands on Lucian & Sloane’s 👀

Thank you to Bloom Books and Lucy for the advanced copy!

I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did! If I’m being entirely honest, I was not impressed with, I actually disliked it, Things We Never Got Over. There aspects in the first book that were much better in the second book.
Firstly, the characters. Nash is such a good male character, definitely much better than Knox. His vulnerability and transparency to his struggles was something I connected to and I appreciated it. Lina was also great. I loved that she has a backbone and isn’t afraid to speak her mind.
Secondly, the writing. It is better than the first novel, but I do find that it still has those moments of unnecessary paragraphs and descriptions. Which leads me into the problem this book suffers from — and that is the length.
This book dragged out way too long, which was one of my issues with TTWNGO. Despite enjoyed the slow burn of the romance, there are moments in which I lost interest in the story.
I know it is something Lucy Score does in all her books, but I just wished the second book was shorter because it just feels unnecessarily long.

I was so happy to be back in the small town of Knockemout, VA. Gosh I just love these characters so much. My favorite scenes were when the whole gang was together. They were a lot of fun and their dialogue was hilarious. The author created a series set in such a special town with memorable relationships. I always feel a sense of comfort when I read her books.

The romance between Nash and Lina was loaded with chemistry. The push and pull between them was fantastic. Nash really struggled at the beginning of the book and Lina was the one who pulled him back into the light. I enjoyed this serious storyline and the depth it created. Every time Lina tried to push Nash away, he would hold on tighter. I loved their scenes together and the forced proximity of being neighbors to then more. Made for some really good steamy scenes.

There was a mystery intertwined throughout the story. I felt it got better as the book progressed but there were some points where I got bored with the details.

I read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Well we all know this was a LOT of people's most anticipated read for the year. It for sure was one of mine. I feel like I need to start by sayin Things We Never Got Over was a solid 4 for me. I had some issues with length and the ending & parts of Knox's character. I was SO excited to experience Nash's story because I truly loved him. And let me tell you? I got a tortured and broody Nash unexpectedly and I LOVED IT. Nash and Lina's relationship was back and forth I needed. Nash, though tortured, remained true to his sweet & caring self despite it all. Lina was a bad ass & gave hell right back to everyone around her.

Read if you like
- small town
- brooding, tortured MMC
- bad ass FMC
- found family
- Law & Order/ Sons of Anarchy vibes

My favorite parts: We got to see more of Lucian (that book is going to be literal fire). More of Stef (made me giggle). We got more scenes where all the girls interacted (this had me howling). All the things I loved about TWNGO was elevated in this one. THE BONUS EPIOLOGUE sealed this read for me.

Downfalls: I thought it was too long. The ending had the same vibe as TWNGO (which wasnt my favorite). Some repetition of the characters issues.

Overall, I think if you read TWNGO this is going to be a must read before Lucian's story in Things We Left Behind. Solid 4 star read.

Where to even start with this one!!! Things We Never Got Over was one of my top reads of 2022 and also one of my top 10 reads ever so it’s safe to say this was one of my most highly anticipated reads this year and it absolutely…. did NOT disappoint. 4.5/5 stars easily. I don’t know how Lucy Score managed to create an entire town that I love filled with people that I love but she did it and I will never be the same. I love Lina and Nash & all of their stubbornness. They took me for a ride with their hardheaded ways but once they finally got past their stuff, it was beautiful 😭 I’m going to miss this town and these characters for the next 7 months but I’ll be waiting for September and Lucian and Sloane’s book every single day until then.

Thank you #netgalley for an early read of #ThingsWeHideFromTheLight in exchange for my honest review.

I freaking love this book🥰

I loved the first one, but I definitely think this one tops it in my books. Lina and Nash as frustrated as they may get with each other… they have each others backs.

This broody shell of a man is brought back to life through Lina, and y’all know I got a thing for the main characters being grumpy first responders, ex-military or anything of the sorts so this book checked all the boxes💕

Stoked for book 3!! Thanks Lucy Score and Netgalley for the e-arc !

This was soooo good! This story starts right where Things We Never Got Over ended. It was everything I wanted it to be after reading the first book. I absolutely loved Nash and Lina. This was angsty, slow burn and just overall so adorable. Piper, the puppy, is honestly one of the best things about this book. Every chapter I read was just so good and I just wanted to keep reading. All I can say is that I can't wait for Lucian and Sloane's book. I am ready to dive into another Knockemout adventure!

YES YES YES

Nothing about this book was bad. I loved these two grumps so much it hurt. Lucy score has done it again and I cannot wait for the third in this series!!!

This book was just perfection. The characters, the spice, the found family, the EMOTIONS!

I love Lucy Score books, the way she tells a story takes romance to the next level. You get to see these characters grow in such amazing ways. We don’t just see the first time they hit a rough patch, we get to see them tackle multiple ones. It makes these characters feel even more real.

Nash and Lina have top notch chemistry, and firecracker banter, and a town full of side characters that really make me wish Knockemout was a real place.

I love that there is the underlying suspense through this series, it definitely keeps me glued to the pages. Even though it does have a level of suspense throughout, I was laughing out loud through most of the book, the author did such an amazing job weaving those moments in between the deeper emotional ones.

While this story centers around Nash and Lina, Knox and Naomi (and Waylay) are woven into the story as well. This books picks up a few weeks after the end of Things We Never Get Over, and I definitely suggest this series to be read in order.

This series has quickly become my favorite, and I cannot wait for the next book!

Fabulous. "Things We Hide from the Light" is fun, fast, and just a little ridiculous and dramatic. Nash is such a better lead than Knox - he's got a heart of gold but is hurt and struggling. Lina is a wonderfully strong lead in her own right and a perfect complement to Nash's broody protectiveness. This book also has a much better balance of side characters than the first - still enough to give it a sense of community, but without being a side show of over the top caricatures.

I didn't absolutely love "Things We Never Got Over," but I would recommend reading it before diving into Nash and Lina's story. There is a continuation of a story line, along with a strong background of the friends and family. And Lucy Score's writing is so easy to read, even if the characters aren't favorites.

I am absolutely giddy to read Sloane & Lucian's story next!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Thank you Bloom Books for the ARC of Things We Hide from the Light.

Rating: 4.5 star
Genre: Romantic Suspense (in my opinion!)

Thoughts: Steph and I both just LOVED the first book in this series, and have been impatiently waiting to read the second book.

This book is Nash's story and leaves off soon after the first book ends.

Full honesty...it took me a little longer to get into this book. For the first 15% of this book, I wasn't sure how I felt, but I ended up loving it!

I love the mixture of romance and mystery/suspense in these books! I also love the small town, family vibe too! Fair warning...these books are long. I think they are both in the 500 to 600 page range!

Although these stories might not always be 100% believable, I really love them and cannot wait for Lucien's story!!!!

So happy to be back at Knockemout!!! I loved every second of this book! Lucy Score is a fantastic author. She creates such real characters, that you cant help but love. I loved Nash and Lina together! They were so swoonworthy as a couple!!! And I loved being able to see Knox and Naomi too!!! I CANNOT wait for the next installment in this series! Keep em coming!

Thank you NetGalley, Lucy Score, and Bloom Books for the E-ARC!

Things We Hide From the Light by Lucy Score is the much anticipated second book in the Knockemout series & I can unsurprisingly say it totally delivers! TWHFTL is the perfect read for romance fans who love a longer story full of depth, intriguing mystery, tense suspense, humor, face-fanning-as-it’s-read spice & the loveliest example of small town & family you could ask for.

The Knockemout series has the most incredible small town vibes to the point I want to move to this fictional place! It’s ridiculously charming & I adore all the amazing events that happen, the characters that live there & all the love stories they provide, even if it’s just the love they have for their neighbors that are in need of help.

This book follows two familiar characters from the first book, Knox’s brother, Nash Morgan & Knox’s old friend, Lina. After the events of the first book & how things ended for Nash, I was so curious for his story as well as the mysterious Lina’s. Because of the horrific events from TWNGO, Nash is suffering from PTSD, anxiety as well as panic attacks. It felt extremely realistic & as someone who’s experienced that, I could supremely relate to his feelings & attacks. I appreciated the authenticity in those moments. I loved that the characters from the first book were ever present as the mystery continues on into this book.

Lucy Score has the incredible ability to create the mast idyllic small town as well as the found family that resides there. Then, by adding the suspenseful mystery & intriguing character developments, it creates the most entertaining & captivating story.

I will also add I cannot wait for the curious tale of Lucian!

To my fellow romance fans, I highly recommend reading this book as well as anything by Lucy Score!

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Bloom Books for the free book, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

Trigger Warnings: This book mentions &/or contains PTSD, anxiety, panic attacks, violence, kidnapping, gore, murder & physical & verbal abuse.

I will also post on Amazon & Instagram & add links once I do!

Things We Hide from the Light is book two in the Knockemout series and picks up right where Things We Never Got Over left off. It follows chief of police and Knox’s brother, Nash, and his new neighbor Lina, who is in town temporarily for work. As the story centers around a criminal case, there is a lot of suspense and to me, the romantic suspense elements overpower the contemporary romance feel often seen in Score’s books. However, this versatility in her writing is what makes her an auto-buy author to me!

While this book is long (592 pages), it read quickly. I loved getting to know Nash and Lina, both as individuals and as a couple, especially seeing how vulnerable and open they were once they peeled off their layers. With regards to the romance, this was definitely a slow-burn but with the tension, angst, banter and chemistry, I wasn’t bored waiting for something physical to happen. One of my favorite parts by far was how we got glimpses of Knox, Naomi's and Waylay’s life after falling in love with them in the first book as well as Lucian and Sloane’s characters, who I assume are the stars of book three. Definitely a must read if you loved Things We Never Got Over!

What to expect:
-Small town vibes
-Grumpy/sunshine pairing
-Instant attraction
-Suspense and mystery
-Wounded and vulnerable hero
-Badass heroine
-Dial POV
-Open door scenes

Thank you Bloom for the ARC. Pub date 2/21