Things We Hide From the Light by Lucy Score is live!
This is the second book in the Knockemout series, a follow up to the fabulous Things We Never Got Over, and a snarky, chemistry-filled enemies-to-lovers romance that is full of emotion, and had my heart pounding, and I loved it!
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Blurb
Bestselling author Lucy Score returns to Knockemout, Virginia, following fan-favorite Things We Never Got Over with Knox’s brother Nash’s story.
Nash Morgan was always known as the good Morgan brother, with a smile and a wink for everyone. But now, this chief of police is recovering from being shot and his Southern charm has been overshadowed by panic attacks and nightmares. He feels like a broody shell of the man he once was. Nash isn’t about to let anyone in his life know he’s struggling. But his new next-door neighbor, smart and sexy Lina, sees his shadows. As a rule, she’s not a fan of physical contact unless she initiates it, but for some reason Nash’s touch is different. He feels it too. The physical connection between them is incendiary, grounding him and making her wonder if exploring it is worth the risk.
Too bad Lina’s got secrets of her own, and if Nash finds out the real reason she’s in town, he’ll never forgive her. Besides, she doesn’t do relationships. Ever. A hot, short-term fling with a local cop? Absolutely. Sign her up. A relationship with a man who expects her to plant roots? No freaking way. Once she gets what she’s after, she has no intention of sticking around. But Knockemout has a way of getting under people’s skin. And once Nash decides to make Lina his, he’s not about to be dissuaded…even if it means facing the danger that nearly killed him.
Review
4.5 stars
This is the second book in the Knockemout series, a follow up to the fabulous Things We Never Got Over, and a snarky, chemistry-filled enemies-to-lovers romance that is full of emotion, and had my heart pounding.
Nash Morgan is the brother of Knox (hero of the last book), and is Knockemout’s Chief of Police. Nicknamed “Studly Do-Right” by the local townsfolk, he is the gorgeous good guy, dedicated to his job and willing to do anything he can to help others. But after being shot in cold blood and almost dying, he is struggling to get back to himself. He is feeling lost and anxious, struggling with nightmares and debilitating panic attacks, and he’s hiding his difficulties from his family and friends, with no idea how to fully recover.
Lina is an old friend of Knox’s who is in Knockemout temporarily, and she’s been ‘adopted’ into the family/friend group. Though she hasn’t shared her reasons for her visit with the group, her high-risk job has led her to chase the very man who shot Nash and who he, himself, is trying to find. But she needs to keep that a secret, which is easy to do since she’s a pretty closed-up person who doesn’t share much at all.
When the Chief of Police expresses an interest in the new arrival in town, she is quick to shoot him down. Lina doesn’t do relationships or attachments, and while she’d be open to a fling, that’s not who Nash is. But the chemistry between them is wild, which leads to all kinds of sparks – aggressive ones. The more these two fight their feelings, the snarkier things get, and it’s so freaking entertaining!
“Why did you provoke me?” she asked.
“You make me feel things. And after going long enough without feeling anything, feeling something – even if it’s anger or adrenaline – is better than the nothing.”
But when Lina helps Nash out when he’s at his most vulnerable, things change. Nash finds rare peace when he’s with Lina, even if she’s still desperate to keep her distance, and they develop a beautifully emotional (yet still slightly snarky) connection as they unexpectedly start to open up to each other.
“Baby, it’s not a game to me. This is my life. You are the only thing in my entire existence that makes me feel like I’ve got a shot at finding my way back. I don’t understand it. And frankly I don’t need to. All I know is I feel better when I’m touching you.”
“Whenever you’re close, everything is better. The closer you are, the easier I breathe … You take away the dark, the cold. And you remind me what it’s like to want to be here.”
It’s a long and slow-burning journey for these two, from light-hearted snark to emotional soul-baring, gutwrenching hurt and sizzling sexual tension. I was feeling it all, and I was right there with them, desperate for the moment when all of those walls would finally drop.
“You keep acting like we’re in some kind of relationship when we’re clearly not.”
“Baby, you and I both know there’s something here even if you’re too scared to acknowledge that.”
“Scared? You think I’m scared?”
“I think I have you shaking in those sexy high-heeled boots of yours.”
He was not wrong, which pissed me off more.
Nash is such an incredible romantic hero. He’s wrestling with his own demons, and he doesn’t always handle the situation with Lina in the right way, but as they find their way forward, he holds nothing back from her, guiding her into trusting her heart and taking a chance with him, and it was so, so beautiful to watch.
His head came up and those blue eyes were serious now. “Tell me what you need to feel safe with this. With us.”
If I hadn’t already lo-liked him, I would have fallen hard just for that.
And Lina’s character growth is gorgeous to see. She’s such a fiercely strong character, and I loved watching her gather up that strength and allow herself to be vulnerable with somebody for the very first time. It’s quite the journey as they find their way past secrets, trauma, and serious emotional barriers to a romance that ended up stealing my heart.
Those big, rough hands settled on my hips as if staking a claim.
My back was flush with his front, every glorious inch of it. And the rightness of it had me wondering why I bothered trying to escape it in the first place.
“I’m gonna turn you around, Angel. And when I do, you’re gonna stop running and I’m gonna stop fighting this.” His voice was a soul-stirring rasp against my ear. “Do you get me?” he prodded.
A shiver rolled up my spine. I so got him. I got him so good.”
The result is a beautiful love story that is both freeing and healing (and oh, so sexy), and I was completely swept up in it.
“You breathed life back into me. You brought me back to the light. Let me have you. Let me take you. Say you’re mine.”
The characters from the first book are a big part of the story, butting themselves into Nash and Lina’s lives, and the moments with the whole crew together are absolutely gold! One scene in particular had me laughing out loud, and I had to go back and reread it just to take in all of the dynamics, the jokes, the snark, and the fabulous way that these characters all interact. So freaking good!
And, of course, there is the continuation of the mystery/suspense storyline, which is expanded on in this book, and which ties in really nicely to the rest of the story, and provides some excitement and suspense as the story reaches its climax.
I loved this book. It’s a long one, but I felt completely invested from start to finish. I love these characters, and their story, I love that we got to see so much of the group together, and I cannot wait for Lucien and Sloane’s book coming up next.
Such a great read – 4.5 stars.
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Knockemout
Things We Never Got Over (#1) (Knox & Naomi)
Review
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Things We Hide From the Light (#2) (Nash & Lina)
Review
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Things We Left Behind (#3) (Lucien & Sloane)
Review
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About the Author
Lucy Score is a Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon bestselling author. Small town contemporary rom-coms are her lady jam and she enjoys delivering the feels with a huge side of happily ever after.
Her books have been translated into several languages, making readers around the world snort laugh, swoon, and sob. Lucy lives in Pennsylvania with the devastatingly handsome Mr. Lucy and their horrible cat.
In her spare time she enjoys sleeping, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and reading all the romance novels in the universe.
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