5⭐️/ 3🌶️ 

Guess what? We’re back in Knockemout! WOO! With Nash and Lina at the center of this story, there was plenty of flirtation between the two as well as some good old favorites like, Knox, Naomi, Waylay, and the rest of the townsfolk from the small town of Knockemout. This story picked up following the events of Nash after he experienced a traumatic event from getting shot, and he wasn’t the same person he once was. Dealing with the aftermath, Nash hid behind closed walls (both mentally and physically) and hid the truth behind how he was really feeling from his family and friends. Lina as it seemed also had some business to attend to, and was very secretive about what she was truly up to. With a mix of danger, secrets, romance, and more, Lucy Score had me diving back into this series wanting more and obviously falling in love with Nash and Lina. 

If you haven’t read the first book, “Things We Never Got Over”, I highly suggest you start there as this book contained vital details from the previous book and won’t make sense if you haven’t read the first book in the series. Anyways, this book focused on Nash Morgan (Knox’s brother) a.k.a. Chief of Police, and Lina an insurance investigator. Lina and Nash were completely different in that, Nash was the “good/golden boy” always following the rules and maintaining the law in Knockemout, whereas Lina thrived in the face of pressure, high tense situations, and a little bit of danger every now and then. Although now, Nash wasn’t the same man he once was. With the shooting, Nash dealt with his injury healing, feeling unable to live up to his job as chief, and overall dealing with both mental and emotional issues alongside physical. You could tell that Nash wasn’t one for small talk to company or his care free flirtatious self like he previously was, but with Lina being in town for mysterious reasons only known by her, she seemed to have struck a match of burning desire in Nash that he hadn’t felt at all since his injury. I really liked how unabashedly Lina was towards Nash such as, implying sexy innuendos, calling him handsome, and teasing him. Meanwhile, Nash was just constantly caught off guard with the natural ease Lina had at telling him such flirty comments that got both his heart and… other parts of him going. 

Amongst all that Nash was dealing with from his mental health and physical condition, I really loved seeing how Lina was there for him. Lina was all fun and flirty, but the way that Nash felt calm and better with her near him made me swoon especially with the things he said like, “stay” or “please don’t leave, I need you.” I was with Lina in that HOW COULD YOU NOT FEEL FLUTTERS IN YOUR HEART WHEN NASH SAYS, “I need you”?! OMG! I LOVED IT! Lina wasn’t just a breathe of fresh air to Nash, but she lit flames inside him, made him feel alive like he hadn’t in a long time since the shooting. The way Nash was with Lina was exhilarating to watch unfold and equally Lina couldn’t help but fall a little bit more for the charming, handsome police chief (sigh) what a dreamy man. 

Of course living in Knockemout wasn’t just quiet and easy, there was always something happening in town and obviously eventually everyone would know about it haha. Just like the first book, I loved the close relationships between everyone from Naomi and Knox with Waylay to Stef, Sloane, Naomi’s parents, and Lucian. You can’t tell me that you don’t love these characters because I sure do! With Knox and Naomi still being part of the story, I loved seeing our favorite grumpy bar owner/entrepreneur with the lovely, sweet sunshine. Even seeing the little interactions between Lucian and Sloane were fun, and teasing us with what I can only imagine will unfold in their book! While Nash struggled with his depression and anxiety, it was still great seeing that his friends and family were there for him even though he felt alone most of the time due to his self isolation and hiding the truth of what he was really experiencing. We’ve come a long way from the first book in now seeing the tight bonds these characters have created with their new found family. Even for Waylay, in the previous book she once was stuck with her horrible mom (Naomi’s twin sister), but then found herself surrounded by so many people who loved and supported her, so to see her again in this book with all these fantastic people was a heartfelt moment to see through out the book. 

The romance between Nash and Lina wasn’t just all fiery passion and desire, it was also emotional and deep like they had never felt before. With Nash feeling alive and bright being with Lina, it was like he felt recharged and ready to conquer anything in his way, but he still had his moments where his fear clouded his love for Lina thinking he couldn’t protect her. Lina, the strong willed woman that she was originally was determined to not fall for our resident golden boy chief, but she wasn’t immune to the heartfelt and sweet gestures that Nash said and did for her. Compared to the other book, I really felt like this romance was entirely unique in the sense that not only were Lina and Nash dealing with Duncan Hugo and the dangers along with it, but also the reality that they each were taking the opportunity to shed their vulnerabilities in front of one another. Even when things got tough, whether it was Lina feeling scared or Nash feeling like he couldn’t protect Lina, they each were committed to helping one another through whatever they were going through. 

Lucy Score, you’ve done it again! Nash and Lina were spectacular! Their love was uniquely beautiful, heartfelt, emotional, vulnerable, yet filled with hope and light. At the core of Nash and Lina’s story, it was filled with so much of them each finding their way to happiness and breaking down their walls to fully embrace one another. Being back in Knockemout was all kinds of fun, but it also had its moments of danger especially towards the end. With a little bit of danger, plot twist, and Lina and Nash trying to catch a bad guy, I was shook. Seeing Knox, Naomi, Waylay, Sloane, Lucian, and the rest of the characters was loads of fun, and fantastic. I genuinely caught so caught up in the story that I was fully in it believing I was right alongside the characters. I truly do love the meaning behind this story, and just how the title tied into the significance of Nash and Lina’s story. The whole book was fantastic, and towards the ending, I was at the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next. With the way the story ended it truly fit Lina and Nash’s style! The epilogue and bonus epilogue were chef’s kiss, and I was so overjoyed at seeing Nash and Lina’s happy ending together! (Sigh) I cannot get over how amazing Lina and Nash were, both were strong yet flawed in their own ways, but in the end bared themselves to the core, and found happiness with each other. A must read, and I cannot wait to see what’ll happen with Lucian and Sloane’d book next! OMG SO EXCITED!