BOOKWORM REVIEW: Pretend You're Mine by Lucy Score
Harper did not mean to end up in Benevolence, MD. But here she is after running off when her boyfriend/boss got caught with someone else. Without a phone or wallet, she might be stranded if it weren't for the generosity of the Garrison Family, especially Luke.
As part of a deal to get herself back on her feet, she agrees to be Luke's fake girlfriend and work for his construction company. As they spend more time together, they feel the draw, the attraction. While Harper is willing to give love another shot, something is stopping Luke from committing and getting them their HEA.
This is one of my favorite series, and revisiting Benevolence has reminded me why. I enjoyed the arc of Harper and Luke's relationship. I got a lovely mix of angst, tension, and spice. Despite the instant attraction, Lucy Score made us wait and work for our two main characters to figure out their journey. The wait was worth it.
One of my favorite parts of the story is the ensemble cast. Score did a great job of creating memorable characters that I found relatable and became invested in their fates, and despite a prolific cast, I did not feel lost at all as to who's who.
This is the first book in the series, and it kicked things off well for the other books. I cannot wait to revisit and dive into Gloria and Aldo's story next.
ABOUT THE BOOK
I only wanted to protect you...Luke Garrison is a hometown hero, a member of the National Guard ready to deploy again. He's strong, sexy, broody. The last thing he's looking for is a woman to ruin his solitude. When the wildly beautiful Harper stumbles into his life, though, he realizes that she's the perfect decoy. A fake girlfriend to keep his family off his back until he's deployed.
So what if kissing her sends his mind to wicked places? He can control himself. Can't he?
Harper was on her way to starting a new life... again. But something about Luke makes her want to settle down in this small town and make his house a home. When she's in his arms, she finally knows what it's like to feel safe. Protected.
One night of sharing a bed turns into something much, much more... and soon Luke can't keep his mind off Harper's wide gray eyes or his hands off her luscious curves. He never thought he'd feel this way about a woman again. But he knows that he can't tell her the truth about his dark past. And she can't reveal what she's running from.
At least this isn't a real relationship. It's only for a month. It's only pretend. Until it isn't...