
Member Reviews

So glad we got Gloria and aldos story. A fast read - couldn’t put it down. Definitely enjoyed book two more, and looking forward to 3.

Finally Mine by Lucy Score is a touching and emotional romance that will leave you feeling all the feels. The book follows Gloria, a woman who has escaped an abusive relationship and is now trying to rebuild her life, and Aldo, a war veteran who is struggling with PTSD and a leg amputation. The two come together in a slow-burn romance that is heartwarming and realistic.
While this is the second book in the Benevolence series, it can be read as a standalone without any issues. The author does a good job of revisiting events from the first book without making it feel like a replay. That being said, it's worth noting that the book does deal with heavy topics, so be sure to check trigger warnings before diving in.
What I loved most about this book was how real and believable the characters were. Gloria's journey to healing and finding herself was beautifully told, and I appreciated that the author kept it raw and honest. It's easy to judge survivors of abuse, but abusers are expert manipulators who make their victims feel like it's their fault. Gloria's story was a reminder that healing takes time, patience, and a support system.
The romance between Aldo and Gloria was a slow burn that allowed the characters to truly get to know each other and heal together. The author did a great job of showing that love and understanding can help us overcome the obstacles in our lives and find true happiness. The book was full of heartwrenching emotion, family, and so much love.
Finally Mine is a beautiful story of taking control of your life and facing your fears. It's a reminder that even when we are broken and scarred, we can still find love and happiness. Highly recommended for fans of second-chance romance and emotional reads.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is for everyone who ever had to fight for their chance at happiness. The zany characters are at it again in the charming little town of Benevolence. Gloria and Aldo are both trying to recover from their own traumas and have to learn who they are as individuals in this new phase of life. You will cheer so hard for these two! A summer must read for all romance lovers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloom Books for this arc.
After finishing Pretend You’re Mine, I had high hopes for this book. I was looking forward to learning more about both Aldo and Gloria’s lives.
However, I skimmed through A LOT of this book as much of it is word for word from Pretend You’re Mine. Anytime Harper or Luke are in the scene, it’s basically copied and pasted into this one. I think there could have been a lot more done with their characters that didn’t have to feel like filler.
I’m general, their story was good, the growth made and feelings of being “not good enough” and broken were done well. But it just felt like I was rereading Pretend You’re Mine.
I do still look forward to reading the next book in the series, Protecting What’s Mine, since it is focused on Lincoln- someone who was not involved much in the other two books.

WOW. Such a great book! Lucy Score is becoming on of my top authors! This book showed in depth characters. The book was emotional but funny. I can't wait to read more by this author!
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read.

I've never read a book that is a sequel/follow-up that tells the story of two characters on an identical timeline as the previous book. I don't think I'm even saying that right.
Reading "Pretend You're Mine" about Harper and Luke and then reading this, where the storylines overlap was a trip. Reading lines that were said in PYM and then reading them again here was bizarre. Not bad at all, just weird and a new experience.
I very much enjoyed Gloria & Aldo's love story. They both had obstacles that could've been insurmountable but together they triumphed. I think I could read about the two couples for many books to come.
Gloria and her relationship with Glenn and the domestic violence she suffered was hard to imagine. People (both men & women) go through it every day and it's so brave for those that finally manage to get out!
I know there's a third book in the series but based on the first two I'm not sure who it'll be about. Let's just hope there's lots more of Harper & Luke and Gloria & Aldo.

This is the second book in this series and even if you did not read the first one (and seriously don't miss the first one) this one revisits most of the first book. Gloria has escaped her abusive relationship and is now free to live the rest of her life and just in time before she lost hers. Aldo has always wanted to be part of her life and connecting with her just before he leaves for deployment is not ideal but that is life. Except he suffers a devastating and life altering injury that has him spiraling until he gets a handle on his recovery. They are there for each other and since both have insecurities they have to work through will they be able to find their way together through them? Of course they will!

Unfortunately most of Gloria and Aldo’s story had already been told in pretend your mine, so this felt really repetitive. I didn’t LOVE Gloria or Aldo so I was pretty bored. It seemed like dialog was copied word for word in some spots from the previous book which was frustrating. I love Lucy Score so I’m going to chalk it up to this one wasn’t for me and try again with the next!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloom books for the ARC copy!

Thank you for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was so excited to see this since Lucy Score is all over Booktok, but unfortunately it fell flat for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Lucy Score for letting me read this wonderful book! Benevolence #2 was amazing and I’m so glad we got a closer look into these two characters lives.

Usually sequels are second tier after an explosive first book in the series. I’m happy to say that I enjoyed this one just as much as the first!

I love Lucy Score and every book she wrote.
Personally, the benevolence series is not my favorite.
But, Finally mine was my favorite of the three.
I love Aldo and Gloria and how they got their second chance love.
Gloria is such a strong female character who feels deeply. She is fierce and she grows so much in the story.
Aldo does the same in other ways and I loved how they complemented each other.
Her scars are inside and his are outside and they helped each other to get through it.
If you like a second chance romance in a little town with spice, you're gonna love this book.
I given this one a 3.5 ⭐.

This gives me "It Ends With Us" vibes, and not in the good way (if there is a good way). D U D E. TEN YEARS? You just chillinggg???

DNF. I figured I would like this one better than Pretend Your Mine but it was worse. I appreciated the look into someone who was in an abusive relationship for so long, but it just made me too angry that no one did ANYTHING.
Also was not a hero in any sense besides being a war hero. Back at home he did absolutely nothing.
Thank you to NetGallery and Bloom Books for this eARC.

This is Gloria and Aldo’s love story . It’s a happily ever after book and it is sweet going into the details of the romance . You get a little bit of their romance in book one of the benevolence series . The writing is typical Lucy score and this book is long like her typical other books . There are steaming parts and some cute romance scenes between the two main characters

Loved loved loved can’t say enough good things! Will be reading more of her work for sure! Thank you for letting me read!

Finally Mine by Lucy Score is a heart wrenching second chance romance. This is a truly moving tale of redemption and rebirth from trauma and pain. Aldo and Gloria didn't have an easy path to happily ever after and your heart is going to be tested here.
I will say two things before I go in details of my review : 1) I have not read Luke and Harper's story that came before this one so I am not sure what's other reviews are talking about this one being a somehow repeat of book 1. 2) This is sad and disappointing to see the narrow view of some reviewers about how someone in a domestic violence should react or how their family members should react. Domestic violence is a monster with never ending heads and there is no set way for anyone to react. And I feel if they read the full book, they would see the situation is no one's fault but the abuser.
Aldo is going to make a move finally for the woman he has loved for years from afar as Gloria has finally left her 10 years of abusive marriage. But he need to let her heal and he has a six month long deployment as national guard soon. This deployment will forever change his life because he will lose not only his leg..but his soul too. Can two broken Souls be whole together?
I absolutely loved Gloria's journey to healing and finding herself. I am so glad the author kept it raw and real. It's so easy to judge one’s action but abusers manipulate the survivors expertly..like her husband did. Made her feel like it's her fault. She was completely broken without her confidence or without her sass or without self belief. But she found some amazing friends and of course Aldo..who helped her to rebuild her life. There were many moments of setback, doubts and fears but she slayed her demons. Aldo started as a dazzling character. Confident. Charming. Alpha. Protective, sweet and sexy. The war ravaged not only his body..but his soul too. And for some time he was in a dark place and he thought he is not worthy of Gloria. Now it's Gloria s turn to make him believe in himself again. It was a bittersweet romance with plenty of angst. It was slow burn but finally you will get some spice. I loved the small town..and I absolutely loved Luke and Harper! I guess I have to read their story too.
I reviewed a complementary copy from Netgalle and Bloom Books

I really enjoyed the first book. I could hardly get through this one. So many repeat conversations. I feel like there were whole chapters I just skimmed through because it was just word for word from book one. Also, I know Aldo was hurting, and I appreciated Grace standing up for herself against him being an a$shat, but I really disliked him in this book for too much of the story. He knows everything she's been through, he knows he gave her hope for them, and yet he completely mistreats her because of his own issues. Barely got through this one to be honest, which I was sad about because I loved the characters in the first book.

This is the story of Aldo and Gloria. This book really hit home for me. It is a beautiful story of overcoming our demons and the past that tries to define our future and will if we don't break it.
This is the second book, with Pretend Your Mine coming first. They are stand-alone novels but interweave greatly in both books.
This story was beautifully told and rang true. Gloria was in an abusive relationship for ten years with her high school boyfriend. She was telling him she was done when he choked her, likely going to kill her, and a stranger stepped in. She presses charges this time and hands over her evidence of every beating she has ever received at his hands. Her story of growth is beautiful.
Aldo has been in love with Gloria since high school, but Glenn started dating her before he got the nerve to ask her out. When he confronted Glenn about being so possessive, Gloria got hurt. So, he backed off and loved her from afar while playing the field. He is about to be deployed when Gloria presses charges. He tells her how he feels but that he doesn't want her to wait for him. He wants her to grow and learn who she is again. He wants her to find what she loves, pursue it, and date. He doesn't give her a way to contact him while he is gone for six months. Until everything changes.
Aldo is so swoon worthy. His understanding and maturity 98% of the time are unmatched.
I highly recommend this, I would just say don't read Pretend Your Mine and Finally Mine back to back as there is a lot of overlap. They are both so good!

Finally Mine is interconnected to the timeline of Pretend Your Mine. I love how Gloria finds another second chance in love and in life.
Will recommend the series to other romance readers I know.