Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score is a contemporary romance and the third book in the Knockemout series.
The story follows Sloane, a fiercely independent small-town librarian, and Lucian, a ruthless businessman haunted by the secrets of their past. Their lives become intertwined again after years of estrangement and as their old animosity reignites, a simmering attraction threatens to rewrite their history.
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Lucian Rollins is a lean, mean vengeance-seeking mogul. On a quest to erase his abusive father’s mark on the family name, he spends every waking minute pulling strings and building his empire. The more money and power he gains, the safer he feels.
Except when it comes to one feisty small-town librarian…
Bonded by an old, dark secret from the past and their current mutual disdain, Sloane Walton trusts Lucian about as far as she can throw his designer-suited body.
When bickering accidentally turns to foreplay, the flames are fanned, and it’s impossible to put them out again. But with Sloane more than ready to start a family and Lucian refusing to even consider the idea of marriage and kids, these enemies-to-lovers are stuck at an impasse.
Until Lucian learns the hard way that leaving Sloane is impossible―the very least he can do is to keep her safe.
Things We Left Behind Book Review
I’ve found the Knockemout series by Lucy Score to be a bit of a mixed bag. The first book was ok (I didn’t love the male main character), the second was underwhelming but this book was definitely the best of the three.
It helps that it features two of my favourite tropes – enemies to lovers and the classic grumpy/sunshine dynamic. I was especially looking forward to this one because Lucian and Sloane had such great chemistry in the earlier books, and I was excited to see their relationship unfold.
That said, I can’t completely rave about it. Like other Lucy Score books, this one felt a bit too long. I love a big book (and I cannot lie!), but parts of this story seemed unnecessarily dragged out, which slowed down the pace for me.
As much as I was excited to dive into Lucian and Sloane’s story, I didn’t enjoy their characters as much as I did in the previous books. Lucian, who’s supposed to be brooding and mysterious, came across as childish and immature at times. And Sloane, who I loved for her smart and sassy personality, felt, dare I say, a bit desperate in some parts.
Overall, I did enjoy Things We Left Behind. The romance, the tropes, and the small-town vibes were all there. It just didn’t hit quite as hard as I hoped. Still, if you’ve been following the series, it’s definitely worth a read!
What to read next
If you enjoyed this novel, you might also want to check out the Bootleg Springs series by Lucy Score.
Lucy Score Books to Read on Kindle Unlimited
Many Lucy Score books are currently available to read on Kindle Unlimited. Sign up to Kindle Unlimited for a monthly fee and many Lucy Score books (and other romance novels) are included in the monthly price. You might even be entitled to a free trial!
