Pretend You're Mine by Lucy ScoreMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Small Town Love
I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.
This book is written as a standalone story within a connected series. Though the book is complete in itself, there are other books in the series that surround the same group of people. There is no cliffhanger.
Harper is having a bad day. She’s left her home, which currently holds her cheating boyfriend and an 18-year-old delivery driver who are occupying her bed. She ran out the door with only her car keys and got in her car to drive to her friend’s house. Only she has no map, phone or GPS. Pulling into a bar parking lot she witnesses a man attacking a woman and without stopping to think jumps to her aid. Now battered and bruised with no purse, keys or phone and rather low on gas she discovers she drove in the wrong direction when leaving home and is now 4 hours drive away, from where she wants to be. Taking pity on her, the bartender manipulates her brother into taking her home and putting her up for the night.
Luke owns a very busy construction firm and is a Captain in the Army Reserves. In a month’s time he’ll be shipping back to Afghanistan. The last thing he wants is to look after a woman who seems incapable of looking after herself, but he is weak in the face of his sister. That Harper is a knock out doesn’t hurt either. However, he is going to be strong and keep her at arm’s length, despite lying to his parents that Harper is his girlfriend so they stop pestering him about the lack of love life he has.
This story is about two strangers thrust together by chance and who start sharing a home on a temporary basis. Luke is very closed off and private. He never shares anything with anybody, whereas Harper is determined to enjoy life no matter what. She’s also a little spontaneous, which means she sometimes forgets her coat. Harper has no family and has spent most of her adult life travelling around since leaving foster care. Luke lives in the same town he grew up in and knows everyone. He has a loud and pushy family that he loves. They are very different characters, but they are drawn together.
I liked that book wasn’t as predictable as most small town romances. It wasn’t just about Luke and Harper but also about Harper making a place for herself within the community. She never had a family before and this town made itself into one for her. For a big chunk of the book Harper is on her own and in a strange way that’s one of my favourite parts of the story, as she discovers her own worth separate from her relationship with Luke.
Both of them have secrets and when they are revealed is when things get a little shaky. I like how real their reactions feel in this book. The emotions are believable and I love how the friendships help as much as the romance does. I really liked all the characters in this ensemble cast that surrounds Harper and Luke. They are all three dimensional and well thought out. There were lots of touching moments that warmed my heart in this book and it made me want to read the next in the series, which is about a relationship between two of the supporting characters in this book.
This is an enjoyable and heartwarming book that entertained me tremendously.
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