The book Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score is a contemporary romance set in a small town. This book is the third and final instalment of the author’s Knockemout series. The story follows Lucian Rollins, a powerful business mogul with enigmatic connections and methods, and Sloane Walton, a librarian in the small town. Lucian and Sloane have unresolved past issues between them. Now, they are enemies who cannot stand each other.
The story begins in the present, where Lucian and Sloane do not let a chance go by to taunt and tease each other. There is definitely chemistry between them, as seen in the previous books. The history between them is clearly filled with pain and betrayal. It is something that has kept them at bay for decades. With their friends coupled up, and them seeing a lot more of each other, it takes their romantic tension to another level. Lucian and Sloane know that things from the past, that have not been resolved, are hanging over their heads. Yet they are unwilling to take any initiative. Their banter and constant back and forth is hilarious, though they act silly. In the context of the story, it makes sense.
Once the timeline starts moving between past and present, it gets so interesting. I liked how their past unfolded. They were extremely close as teenagers, watching out for each other as best as they could. Lucian’s backstory is tragic with his abusive father. Growing up, Sloane and her family always welcomed him and made sure he could come over whenever he wanted. Their bond is strong, Slone being one of the few people he trusts. When an incident with his father lands Lucian a night in jail, which is partly Sloane’s fault, he feels betrayed. The romance between them is kind of slow burn, but I liked how it played out.
The push and pull between these characters kept me engaged. There was already a familiarity with each other because they were so close once. Both of them guarded, which also makes sense once the past is revealed. Lucian has been quietly protective of Sloane over the years, but he is hesitant. Their sexual tension and spicy scenes, I thought, were done well. Lucian is his biggest enemy when it comes to Sloane. He lets his past cloud his judgment, and he treats her badly. It makes sense from his perspective, but for her, it’s horrible. I was happy when Sloane didn’t fold immediately when he wanted her back. She keeps him on his toes and lets him know how much his behavior affected her.
The characters are the anchors of the plot. Lucian and Sloane are individuals with a lot of emotional depth. The grief of Sloane losing her father and the trauma of Lucian’s past play a major role in bringing them to an understanding. They just get each other. I enjoyed how the small town and second chance romance tropes played into the overall story. The happy couple from previous books also added to the found family feeling in the story. The best part of Lucian and Sloane’s story for me was the strong romantic tension and chemistry that simmered with every interaction. The book could have been shorter, even with secondary plotlines completed.
I enjoyed reading Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score. This was the story I was waiting to get to since I read the first book. It does a good job of balancing romance, humor, and even drama. This book concludes the Knockemout series by tying up loose ends. The emotional aspects, like Lucian’s trauma and Sloane losing her father, are dealt with sensitivity, which I really enjoyed. Overall, I loved reading this book, and it was a satisfying conclusion to the series.
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