Dominic was staring at me like he couldn’t decide whether to chop me into pieces or pull my hair and French kiss me.
Dominic
I got her fired. Okay, so I’d had a bad day and took it out on a bystander in a pizza shop. But there’s nothing innocent about Ally Morales. She proves that her first day of her new job… in my office… after being hired by my mother.
So maybe her colorful, annoying, … colorful, annoying, inexplicably alluring personality brightens up the magazine’s offices that have felt like a prison for the past year. Maybe I like that she argues with me in front of the editorial staff. And maybe my after-hours fantasies are haunted by those brown eyes and that sharp tongue.
But that doesn’t mean that I’m going to be the next Russo man to take advantage of his position. I might be a second-generation asshole, but I am not my father.
She’s working herself to death at half a dozen dead-end jobs for some secret reason she doesn’t feel like sharing with me. And I’m going to fix it all. Don’t accuse me of caring. She’s nothing more than a puzzle to be solved. If I can get her to quit, I can finally peel away all those layers. Then I can go back to salvaging the family name and forget all about the dancing, beer-slinging brunette.
Ally
Ha. Hold my beer, Grumpy Grump Face.
Author’s Note: A steamy, swoony workplace romantic comedy with a grumpy boss hero determined to save the day and a plucky heroine who is starting to wonder if there might actually be a beating heart just beneath her boss’s sexy vests.
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If you get your knickers all in a bunch over enemies-to-lovers then sadly, this book is not for you. But…. if fury filled arguments with a side of lust cause you to break out into a fit of giggles liken to Lydia or Kitty Bennet, then this is definitely your book!
By a Thread, written by Lucy Score, is a charming, zingy, heart-warming roller coaster ride of emotions from page one.
“He looks like he wants to commit murder. We don’t get along. We don’t like each other. However, I do like annoying him.”
Ally, a genuinely good person, is working five jobs to make ends meet when she first encounters Dominic Russo. Dominic, who is such a great grumpy grump face, works at a well-known and very successful magazine that his mother started. Things kind of spiral out of control between the two and words are said….. or spelled out in a very creative way and Ally is once again looking for another job.
I was drawn to her. Inexplicably. Unfairly. Stupidly.
Dom experiences feelings he doesn’t really understand and this guy finding love is the absolute best thing ever. The journey these two embark on is crazy, hot, fast-paced, emotionally charged, filled with secrets that neither really want to share, and basically just so perfectly lovely that I may have highlighted close to half of this book on my kindle. And can I just say that drunk Dominic may be the best character ever written in the history of FOREVER!
Lucy Score’s writing is my idea of excellence, yet she somehow managed to reach a whole new level with By a Thread. She writes dynamic characters from all walks of life and each one contributes perfectly to the story without taking the spotlight from the main story. Lucy Score excels at dropping the reader into the lives of her characters and allowing them to feel and experience what the characters are feeling and experiencing. She threw in some really difficult issues but did so with an abundance of class and finesse. This book really deserves all the stars.
Hands down, one of the best books I’ve read. I love Lucy Score’s books and I’ve read them all but this one was different. It was deeper, and dealt with some serious issues. But there was humor throughout the story. And, OMGosh! the feels!
Ally is a graphic designer who has moved back home to Jersey to take care of her ailing father. She’s flat broke and working multiple jobs just to be able to pay for her dad’s nursing home bill. Meanwhile, she’s trying to fix up her dad’s house so she can sell it to help pay her dad’s bills. Ally is proud and strong. She never asks for help and insists on doing things for herself.
Dominic Russo has taken over as creative director of the family’s fashion magazine after his father was ousted following a scandal. Dom is stressed and promises himself he will never be like his father. Dom is feared at Label and his grumpy grump face attitude carries over into the rest of his life. When he manages to get Ally fired from one of the jobs she so desperately needs she doesn’t know what to do. That is until Dominic’s mom hands her a business card and offers her a job.
The sparks that fly between Dom and Ally are nuclear. The story is hotter than holy heck. And the feels… well, they’ll really get you. There are plenty of laughs too.
I just loved this book and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Absolutely loved this book!!! Oh my gosh…..Dominic & Ally & Brownie stole my heart! What an amazingly satisfying slow burn!
Lucy Score is the master of grumpy heros and witty heroines! The humor, banter, and chemistry are off the charts. I was hooked from chapter 1 when I found myself giggling at Ally and Dominic’s first meet and I knew right then this was going to be a winner. This book ranks right up there as one of my favorite Lucy Score books. Definitely 1-click worthy!
This was an exceptional story filled with heart, humor, and heat that had me laughing and smiling my way through! A seriously scorching hot and hilarious page-turner! I loved the characters, the animosity and bickering, the tension and angst, the emotion and drama, and the building love between two stubborn and determined characters. This checked every box of things I love about romance!
By a Thread is a truly delightful read with an important message of consent and trust.
I loved this book from beginning to the end but I almost didn’t survive the slow burn between our two main characters.
Dominic, a director of a fashion paper, and Ally’s, a waitress, journey is not too easy.
They definitely started off on the wrong foot having an argument on a pizza topping but even at that time the chemistry and the physical attraction between them was untenable and they soon discover that the bantering counts as foreplay.
I liked how Ally stands up to Dominic, and how she doesn’t allow herself to be intimidated and overpowered by Dominic’s grumpy, domineering and icy personality. I think they were a great match for each other and they helped each other to grow and overcome their troubles.
This was the first book I’ve read written by Lucy Score and it won’t be the last.
This is the treat you have been looking for and didn’t know it. It will satisfy your every desire and you won’t gain one ounce. In fact you might lose a few from the workout of all the emotions you will experience. You will laugh from the very beginning and keep doing so all while watching a metamorphosis take place with these colorful characters. This isn’t just a story, it’s a journey of two characters lives and how they got to where they are in life, how they are unwittingly evolving (some quicker than others) into the beings they have become and if they are willing to let go and take it even further. It raises so many questions about human nature, such as; can we get beyond who we think we really are, do we want to change, are we defined by our parentage, our DNA, do our parents always know what is best for us is, perception all it’s cracked up to be, is it better to keep everything to ourselves or is there a time to stop holding on to so much and just as the song says, “Let it Be”, does love conquer all, or are you destined to never love at all, can you ever be really free just to be? So many issues I didn’t touch on. You will discover some I haven’t even mentioned when you read it, all while enjoying the heck out of this book.
I don’t do spoilers. I feel it’s not fair to the author or the reader. Read the blurb then buy the book to get the full enjoyment.
What I will say is that the first time I heard (yes heard because these characters come to life in your mind’s eye) Dominic call Ally, Maleficent, I spit out my drink I was laughing so hard. I was not prepared for that. Never fear Ally has the perfect name for him as well, Charming. I could just picture her saying it with a smile, a sweet sarcasm and a little bite. She is definitely a woman not to be taken advantage of. The banter between these two will have you laughing out loud. The push and pull will leave you breathless. The heat, woah! The unspoken love will have you swooning. The opening scene is worth the price of the admission as they say.
The secondary characters are colorful, smart, and entertaining. There are villains to stir your ire, and strong, vibrant, diversified women who bring energy and robustness to an already wonderful story. To add to all the deliciousness are some pretty and interesting guys.
This is a story of trust and hope with a lot of love, even if they don’t know it. Okay I have to stop because I’ll just keep going. Every time I think Lucy Score has already out done herself by her last book, she proves me wrong. It would seem all her books are her best and this is certainly no different. To say i loved this book would be redundant at this point. Well meet Miss Redundant because I loved this book. I know you will too.
P.S. – make sure to read the authors note it adds so much to the story. It was also what came to my my mind while reading. That is all!!!
I don’t think I have ever highlighted so many pages in a book in all the years I’ve been reading romance. Lucy Score brought her “A game” with this book. Sexual tension, beautiful romance,angst, banter, hot and heavy love scenes that will bring the more advanced/seasoned romance reader to their knees. Ally & Dominic are pure passion with a lot “muy caliente”; pure fire ! The office friends, coworkers, neighbors, family and long time friends could easily have a book of their own written about them. The supporting cast of characters are stellar. This story did touch upon several important subject matters that will pull your heart strings. This book is destined to go to the top of several best selling lists…it’s that good. I cannot wait for everyone to have the chance to read this story
5*
Dominic has taken his father’s position in the fashion company his mother runs. Things haven’t been plain sailing especially after the scandal his father caused.
Ally is struggling to make things work money been her main worry along with her dads care needs.
When Dominic doesn’t do as Ally requests she confronts him only for him to take it further.
Two determined people one sweet, one grumpy the two certainly take you on a roller coaster.
Another fabulous story.
I was absolutely hooked by the beginning of the story. The snark & banter between Ally & Dominic was so much fun and kept me highly entertained. I laughed out loud multiple times while reading this story! I found it amusing how Dominic wanted to keep some distance between himself & Ally but at the same time found himself drawn to her & her sass. With Dominic being such a grump and yes we find out why he is a grumpy grump face & Ally looking for the positives in life even when life is hard for her. This book is an absolute winner!
Goodness Gracious, this book, these characters, the writing! Without a doubt, this is one of my favorites from Lucy Score. From the start I was snickering at the explosive meet-fire, because honestly these two aren’t cute, they’re sexy, spicy and oh so hot. The bickering, banter, and pull between Dominic and Ally didn’t lag a bit. I laughed out loud every time one of them threw out another nick name for the other. And the giggles kept coming with the hilarious zingers and one-liners. It wasn’t all fun and games as some serious issues arose and we rode that roller coaster of emotion as well.
These are mature characters, both at crossroads in their lives. I was dizzy at the amount of jobs Ally had in order to keep her life and her father’s afloat. I loved how both stubborn and proud she was, while also showing her vulnerability piece by piece to Dom. And then Grumpy Grump Face, who seems to have all his stuff together, ever so slowly, reveals the wounds. Dominic was an interesting hero, drunk Dominic was the best! Then when these frenemies get together, BOOM, combustible!
As always, Lucy gives the best side characters, and there were so many great ones in By A Thread. I loved the diversity of friends, family and co-workers. I loved the depth of Ally and Dom. This is one of my best reads of 2020 and I highly recommend!
This author has endeared herself to my heart forever. Every book just keeps getting better. While this is the longest book she’s written, it’s well worth your time, it literally has everything:
Slow Burn
Enemies to Lovers
Laugh out loud moments
Main character secret that’s actually a secret
Workplace sadness brought to light
Sick parent
Memorable side characters
A Mr Darcy moment
A heartfelt grand gesture
And my favorite – a Happily Ever After
Id be spoiling if I said any more except that Dominic messed up big time and for the first time ever I didn’t know if I could forgive him, but he redeemed himself in a quiet way that made my heart explode into a million hearts and flowers.
Read.This.Book. please!
Let me begin by saying Pretend You’re Mine has been my favorite book (by any author) since the day it came out. That was…until I read By a Thread. In a move I did NOT see coming, Lucy outdid herself and created two of the best, funniest, swooniest (it’s a word, tell the others), HOTTEST characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Honestly, I’m finding it hard to put into words just how much I loved this book.
Lucy never starts a book halfheartedly – she always starts with a bang and refuses to let you catch your breath. Dominic is a wealthy man thrust into an extremely difficult situation and has lots of baggage to overcome. Ally is a spitfire who has fallen on some truly tragic times but refuses to allow her circumstances define her. The combination is nothing short of electric! Their first meeting sets the tone for the rest of their banter which is side splittingly funny and then so sweet. Their chemistry is off the charts hot and their love story is absolutely perfect.
If you’ve never read a Lucy Score book before, settle in for the ride of your life. If you’re like me and a ride or die fan of Lucy’s, you know that every book exceeds your expectations and this doesn’t disappoint! I absolutely adore this story and can’t wait to re-read it to savor it all over again. Trust me – you NEED this book in your life!!!
This is Dominic and Ally story. Ally is a feisty character who is more that capable of standing up for herself, especially against her grumpy and sexy boss Dominic, who is more than determined to find out what secrets she is hiding. This is a beautifully written story which is filled with witty and sarcastic banter, and is a humorous, steamy enemies / lovers romance story, which had me enthralled throughout this addictive page turner. I highly recommend for all readers.
This story is going to give you all the feels!
This is the story of Dominic and Ally. And what a delicious story it is.
From high fashion glitz and glamour to the crushing disease of dementia, this story is going to grab you from the beginning and not let go until the very end! I couldn’t put this story down once I started.
Ally is a down to earth, optimistic, brassy kind of gal! She is working herself to an early grave trying to keep promises made. She is a proud woman, and that pride can be her downfall.
Dominic is paying for his father’s crimes and downfall. He is grouchy and cantankerous and a true alphahole!! But down deep he is struggling with overcoming the scars of his childhood and his relationship with his father.
The sparks between Ally and Dominic was off the charts hawt! Their love/hate relationship was so compelling and I was so invested in both of them. Both Ally and Dominic love hard and when past insecurities and secrets come to light, they both stumble and falter. I was moved! I was crying! And I was cheering hard for the two of them!
The dialouge between all the characters is so smart, funny and moving! Ms. Score has a true talent for writing and her stories are some of the best I have read!
I just finished By A Thread by Lucy Score; Dominic Russo, Mr. Grumpy Grump Face, is our latest hero. He’s got more baggage than I’ve encountered in a novel, but it only adds to the fun of the story as the irrepressible Ally works her magic in his life. As these two go from hatingly referring to each other as “Charming” and “Maleficent” to use the same names in a loving way makes this book a genuinely excellent love story to read.
This book is timely in its subject matter. No spoilers. It’s a tough read at times because people can be icky. Plain and simple. But knowing there are still good people at work in the world, standing up and doing what’s right is good for the soul. Ally is struggling, stubborn, and prideful, and these personality traits frequently get in the way. Dominic is struggling, stubborn, and prideful, and his personality traits frequently get in the way. These two are the classic immovable force meets an immovable object. Sparks is a mild term for the meeting of these two forces. More like instantaneous combustion. The verbal sparring between these two is some of the best I have ever read. When the sparring goes to smoldering innuendo and small flash fires of desire, it’s more small inferno as opposed to a slow burn. When we get the flash fire when they finally give in, it is oh so satisfying because, by this time, we are so rooting for this couple. We are totally in love with both of them, and this makes the cheerleader reader in us all do happy cartwheels for them.
We get to add-in an adorable dog with an enthusiastic tongue. Friends who are so stinking flamboyantly bold and who do not hold back on calling both our loves on their stupid behavior. Nor do they hesitate in defending them when necessary. This book generated all the feels. Tears (there are some genuinely touching moments in this book), so many laughs (it made me so happy), quite a few moments when you wanted to pump your fist and say, “YES!” when an idiot got what they deserved, and those oh so satisfying heartbeat moments that make you smile and sigh. Lucy continues to make me a happy, contented reader with bold firey heroines who are not afraid to stand up for themselves and the men who love and pursue them. You need this book in your life.
This is probably one of my favorite books by Lucy Score and one of my top favorite enemies-to-lovers romances. Usually when someone asks me for an enemies-to-lovers romance, the first book I’ll recommend to them is By a Thread. I read this book prior to 2021 or early-2021, reread it again in December… and forgot to write a review . So here is my review, weeks after reading it.
Dom and Ally had me cracking up laughing with all their squabbling! (First with their “meet cute” in the Pizzeria, and then the scene where they’re in a meeting and Dom calls her Sausage Fingers LOL!) Their chemistry was sooo hot, they lit up and steamed up every scene they were in!
I loved how Dom struggled with not wanting to be like his dad, yet also really attracted to Ally and wanting to be with her. He’s a protector and I loved that he tried to protect Ally and her loved ones.
Ally was an okay character. Some of her choices I didn’t agree with, but I loved that she never stopped fighting to give her father the life/place that he deserved. I loved her relationship with her father and his nurses. I loved the group of friends she made at the office and how they all were rooting for each other.
If you’re looking for a hysterically funny and super steamy enemies-to-lovers story, this is the story for you!
Ally is having a bad day. Actually, scratch that. She’s having a bad life. But then bad goes to worse when she meets Dominic, and ten minutes later he gets her fired. Lucky for Ally, Dom’s mother offers her a job, but when she turns up for work, it’s the last straw for Dom. He’s already on edge in a job he doesn’t want, trying to save the family company from his father’s predatory behaviour, and he can’t function when Ally’s around. She gives him grief, bad-mouths him in front of his staff, and seems to know which button of his to press. His attraction for her is starting to override his fury, but he can’t be like his father. He’ll never take advantage of his position, despite how much Ally drives him up the wall, around the bend, and into the private bathroom of his penthouse office in order to (ahem) take the edge off.
By a Thread is hilarious, angsty and super fucking hot. I never knew a scene could be so explosive when the characters don’t even touch. You understand why both of them are holding back, and that makes it even more powerful when they finally come together (no pun intended, it’s just what this book does to me)…
If you haven’t read Lucy Score’s hysterical, grumpy boss rom-com, By a Thread, pull out your kleenex and grab a seat. You’re going to love it.
Dominic has a really bad day and takes it out on the server at the pizza place. Ally sasses right back, and just like that,a war starts. He gets her fired from her job, then his mother hires her to work for him. Just cleaning up her son’s mess. I’m sure you understand. It’s all downhill from there.
This was the first Lucy Score book I have read. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would it be a sappy romance, a sweet romance, or a dramatic one? Oh my gosh, I laughed so hard. My favorite books are with a feisty heroine that doesn’t take any crap and a strong hero who is broody, grumpy, yet sweet underneath. This book was incredible. This was a funny, entertaining, and comical book from the nicknames of “Maleficent” and “Charming” to the comebacks, sharp-witted attacks, and the chemistry that was off the charts. If you like the banter in Sweet Home Alabama, then this is the perfect book for you. I cannot wait to dive into another Lucy Score story!