Finally Mine Lucy Score Novels & Stories

So, about the characters in Lucy Score's 'Finally Mine' (which is the second book in the 'Benevolence' series, I think?). The two you're basically living inside are Aldo Moretta and Gloria Yates. Aldo is this small-town cop, a total good guy who's secretly carried a torch for Gloria since, like, forever. She's been through a lot, stuck in this awful, abusive relationship with a guy named Bradley for years. The whole book kicks off when she finally, FINALLY leaves him at the start.

It's really their story. Aldo's brother Frankie is around a fair bit, and you see some of the folks from the first book, like Luke and Sophie, but it's intensely focused on Aldo stepping up to support Gloria while she pieces herself back together. He's incredibly patient, which is just... ugh, so needed for her. She's not some damsel, though. Watching her reclaim her life, her confidence, even her sense of humor is the best part. They both have to unlearn a lot of their own baggage before they can really be together. The side characters are fun, but they're definitely background noise to this central, slow-burn healing romance.

Audible is your main destination for 'Finally Mine' by Lucy Score. I snagged it there a few months back, and the narration is fantastic. It feels like the official hub for most of her titles, so you're getting the intended production quality and supporting the author directly, which is always a plus.

Sometimes I check if a title is included with a subscription like Audible Plus, but I don't think this one was. I just used a credit. It's worth it, though—the narrator nails the small-town charm and the steamier moments in a way that just reading the text didn't quite capture for me. I ended up re-listening to a few chapters while doing chores.

I read it last month after seeing it all over BookTok, and my reaction is... mixed. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic between the small-town sheriff and the free-spirited newcomer is executed solidly, Lucy Score knows how to write that banter. But the plot felt incredibly familiar, like I'd read a dozen versions of it before. The third-act conflict, without giving spoilers, hinges on a miscommunication that made me want to shake both characters. It wraps up a bit too neatly for my taste. If you're deep into the genre and just want a reliably sweet, steamy read with a protective male lead, you'll probably enjoy it. I finished it in a weekend, but it didn't leave a lasting impression like some of her other books have for me.

That said, the side characters are fun and clearly set up for a series, which is a smart move. I might check out the next one just to see where it goes, but it's not a top-tier recommendation from me.