If you can’t stand the heat, don’t fall for a firefighter… Mackenzie O’Neil is on a crash course with burnout. She’s got a scar on her face and a shake in her hands. A temporary job as a small-town family physician is just the prescription. She’ll learn to meditate. Sleep more. Take up gardening.
She definitely won’t take her shirtless, firefighting neighbor’s hot body for a test drive.
But Linc and his tattoos are very persuasive. What’s a harmless little adrenaline-fueled fling between neighbors? It’s all naked fun and games until the shadows from Mack’s past find their way into her present. Can Linc be her hero when she needs him the most or will their scars ruin everything?
One thing is certain: Someone is going to get burned.
Author’s Warning: This small-town happily ever after is smokin’ hot, sweetly hilarious, deliciously suspenseful, and a one-two punch to the feels. One-click for a disaster dog, precocious kids, a good ol’ fistfight, nosy neighbors, high-adrenaline first responder heroics, firefighter bromance, and kitchen sexytimes.more
Perfect small town romance with lots of feel good moments, laughter and a touch of suspense. Oh don’t forget the hot stuff too! Highly recommend!
Lucy is the master of small town romcoms that will punch you in the feels and her new book Protecting What’s Mine, is now available!
“This is the flirtation leading up to the first date,” he explained. “A Lincoln Reed First Date isn’t a spontaneous run-in. A Lincoln Reed First Date is a carefully curated experience designed for maximum enjoyment.”
In this third, and final, trip to Benevolence, we journey with Fire Chief Lincoln Read and his love match, Dr. Mackenzie O’Neil on their way to HEA. In a true Lucy Score fashion, their road is paved with hilarious banter, nosy family and community members, ALL the feels, steam and swoon, as well as demons from the past trying their best to stand in the way of happiness for Hotshot (Linc) and Dreamy (Mackenzie).
This book had me crying and laughing from the first chapter and I LOVED catching up with Luke and Harper, Gloria and Aldo as well as all the couples and their offspring we’ve encountered through the years in Benevolence.
Lucy score is an extraordinary story teller, her characters jump off the pages and become a part of your world as you are reading this beautiful story of healing and giving love a chance.
….AND then there is Sunshine, Linc’s yellow lab, his “best girl”, with the uncanny ability to provide comfort to her loved ones and to have everyone fall in love with her and feed her treats.
This is a definite must read!!!
As, always, I enjoy visiting the fictional towns author Lucy Score creates in her books; especially the sweet little town of Benevolence. (No matter how much the people there enjoy “being all up in your business!”) First, there was Luke in Pretending You’re Mine, then we got to know Aldo a lot better in Finally Mine, and now we have Linc–all finding their HEAs with some pretty kick-ass heroines.
Chief Sexy Pants and Doc Dreamy were definitely “two peas in a pod”–they both craved the danger and fed off the adrenaline that came with being a first-responder. They were also two people too humble to accept that their town loved them to pieces and cherished them as their very own HEROES…and heroes they certainly were! Yes! Linc and MacKenzie were definitely a perfect match.
The banter between them was always so flirty, funny, and sexy. Everything with Linc and Mac was filled with heart, humor, and va, va, va, vroom-heat!Something that Lucy Score has mastered right down to a “t.” And while Linc was enthralled with Mack from the moment he laid eyes upon, nicknaming her “Dreamy,” I couldn’t help but notice that Linc was also just as dreamy. Sexy firefighter, amazing uncle, Little League Asst. Coach, and even with everything going on in his life, he was always ready to jump right in to the rescue, whether he was on duty or not. Can you tell that I have quite a huge crush on him right now?!
Don’t get me wrong. Mack was great too. The things she did “on the fly” as a trauma doctor was very bad @$$! Doc Dreamy could definitely hold her own with Linc. That woman was gifted with a spunky little brand of feistiness that had me wanting to give her a high five. I even overlooked it when she got in her own way a little, and it almost cost her a HEA with my crush. I get that she wanted to keep Linc away from a certain part of her life because, well, her family left a lot to be desired. However, I wished she would have let Linc loose, REALLY let him loose on them. I’ve always been a firm believer in cutting off those who threaten your mental health. Toxic people in your life can be deadly, and nobody needs that bulls***! Especially from people who won’t EVER take responsibilities for their actions and always playing the “blame game.”
Like many small towns, there’s no shortage of nosy neighbors and busybodies. But I thought it was funny–a little scary–yet very endearing how the Wives Brigade descended upon Linc, and Mack had to deal with the “Masculine Girlfriends!” (You’ll understand exactly what I mean when you pick up this awesome book!) I thought that was a great little twist in the “we’re sticking our nose in your business” and offering up unsolicited advice part. Throughout all of the books in this series, I’ve learned that this was the way the people of Benevolence took care of their own.
And last–but certainly not least–the Bonus Epilogue! When Lucy Score writes an epilogue, I’m always left feeling like I’ve been magically immersed in these people’s lives and haven’t missed out on a single milestone. I loved it!
Linc Reed could protect me anytime day or night! The man has it all going on or so we all think. However, looks can be deceiving. Many a comic and actor just wants to be seen in a certain way or hide behind the act. So people believe this is the real persona when in fact it’s an act. It’s the same with just about every human you meet. You don’t always get what you see. Sometimes there’s so much more. We are protecting ourselves. The title of this book is like a double entendre and that’s all I’m going to say about that. I don’t do spoilers. You need to read this fantastic book so you get the full enjoyment of all this story delivers in all it’s forms. Then you can see what I’m referring to.
What I love is the heart of these people, the town, the come together moments. Yes, everyone is in everyone’s business. This town is the Cheers where everybody knows your name but instead of just the bar (which this town has) it’s the entire town! Yes, everyone is in everyone’s business. It can be frustrating and intrusive and if you’re a newbie to the town, like Mack, it can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not a sharer by nature. You’re definitely going to identify with some of these characters.
Another aspect to this author’s stories that many times we get to meet up with characters from previous novels. This story is no different. However, no worries if you haven’t read the other books you won’t be lost. The author does an excellent job of seamlessly filling in what you need to know. Believe me, once you read this book you will go back and read all her other books or at least the ones associated with this series.
You are going to get all the feels you’re looking for; smiles, laughs, tears, intrigue, drama, romance and thee most beautiful heat. You even get bonus material and author’s notes which is worth the read alone. Your heart may melt.
Benevolence is a town you will want to revisit over and over. It will stay with you long after you’re done reading. You’ll think of a scene and you will smile or tear up. Sunshine will not be just a description of a sunny day it will become so much more! You deserve to know what that so much more is! Bravo, Lucy Score!
What a wonderful book! Lucy Score has crafted a story that is hard to put down, interesting and entertaining characters, and a small town I wish I could move to.
Protecting What’s Mine has Lucy’s trademark combo of humor and heart. Linc, the town fire chief, is a really great guy who hasn’t had serious relationships. When Dr. Mackenzie aka Mack moves to town, though, their connection is instantaneous.
I fell in love with both Linc and Mack. They are both first responders who put their heart and souls into providing the best care they can for those they serve.
Mack was so strong and kick ass. She still had issues to work through, but I really liked seeing her experience small town life and how it changed her and she changed the town.
Linc was a fun character in Pretend You’re Mine and Finally Mine, but here I got to know how big his heart is and his huge capacity for love for family, friends, and Mack.
This is the third book from Lucy set in Benevolence, but can be read as a standalone. I definitely recommend reading Pretend You’re Mine and Finally Mine too, though! They are set about five years prior to Protecting What’s Mine.
Thank you to the author providing an ARC for an honest review.
Protecting What’s Mine by Lucy Score
Revisiting Benevolence, MD, is such a joy for me because Pretend Your Mine was my first Lucy book and all-time favorite. While Protecting What’s Mine is a stand-alone, if you have the opportunity, I encourage you to also read Pretend You’re Mine and Finally Mine as it will give you some background on the lovable quirky townsfolk who bring it to life.
Fire Chief Lincoln Reed aka “Chief Sexy Pants” is a bit full of himself–confident and strong with a sweet gooey center. An everyday real-life hero, he is good with children, loves dogs, is witty and fun to be around, a family man, loyal and trustworthy, hot and handy, and not afraid to get down and dirty. An all-around big flirt and never one to settle down, his mind starts to consider the possibility when the new doctor in town literally lands in the middle of an accident scene he’s working and he can’t stop thinking about her.
After leaving the military, flight trauma surgeon Mackenzie O’Neil aka “Dr. Dreamy” is in town to rejuvenate and unwind. Day by day, she and the Chief keep crossing paths especially after they realize they are next-door neighbors. Never a dull moment in Benevolence!
Will a temporary job as a small-town family physician lead to her to finally being at peace and accept her past? Her heart is guarded and so are her secrets, but is Linc the man who can love and protect her and get her to settle down? I promise, as you turn each page you will fall more and more in love with him. You will sigh and just want to hug Linc as you read why he is vulnerable, how he put his heart on the line before, and how he longs for his own HEA. He is so patient and intuitive, and this slow-burn romance will leave you breathless.
Some of my favorite scenes are revisiting all of the Garrisons and the Morettas and getting up-to-date on their family, including Luke’s younger brother, James, finding love as well as Mrs. Moretta–you go girl! Also, you will laugh and laugh how nothing is sacred and every one is in every one else’s business like when the good Doc got hurt and the entire town pitched in to help and pry information out of her. So funny!
But this book isn’t all laughs; there are very serious topics that the author covered with great sensitivity and care. The scenes when Mack and Linc decide to bare their souls are very emotional, raw, and real. Lucy writes the swooniest of swoony heroes and strong smart heroines, and you will love the character growth of both of them. These two appear to be opposites, but have so much in common and are a perfect match. They truly love, trust, and respect each other and watching their relationship progress was beautiful to read.
An added note is how relatable the characters are, especially in their chosen career paths. I am always in awe and have the highest respect and gratitude for First Responders, and it’s obvious that Lucy did her research in order to get the details correct to portray these characters in realistic settings.
A second added note is about Sunshine, the feisty yellow lab who stole many scenes in this book. The description and playful nature of this beautiful dog just warmed my heart and then made me CRY like a baby when I read the dedication to the real-life Sunshine at the end of the book. Cried so hard for Lucy and Tim and their very generous loving hearts.
Lucy FREAKIN’ Score … what have you done to me? Forever tainting book boyfriends.
Fire Chief Lincoln Reed has the biggest heart and the biggest love-striking arrows waiting to be launched at the perfect woman. He’s down to earth, always shows up for family and is just that all-around great guy.
Dr. MacKenzie O’Neill is trying to find her path. She’s come to town for doctor coverage. She is one of the best, fiercest, smartest woman I’ve ever read. I didn’t want to say good-bye.
Mack and Linc are good for each other, they are mostly honest, heartfelt and so SWOOOOONY. Did I mention lighting the pages on fire!?
But, in typical Lucy Freakin’ Score fashion you’ll never get over them, they have helped save each other and those around them and you are left crying and thinking, did I read that right!?
Thanks for making this a great 2020 read
A sexy, sweet, funny small-town romance. And there are hot firefighters in it! Perfect weekend reading!
There’s a hot firefighter and a rescue dog. What else do you need to know?
A hilarious, witty, sexy read.
5 shooting stars!
From the first heart pounding chapter to the last sweet words, this book captured my attention, and my heart. When Fire Chief Lincoln Reed first sees Doctor Mackenzie O’Neill step off a helicopter at a horrific crash scene he is smitten, and so was I! Chief Sexy Pants and Doc Dreamy are two of my favorite characters ever. They are both smart, complicated, strong, confident, scarred, and vulnerable. They both know what they want, but will they end up wanting the same thing? Transient Mack and hometown hero Linc are so much more than I expected, I loved their rocky road to love!
This book is exciting, funny, sweet, heart pounding, and incredibly sexy! I loved going on the ride-along that is Protecting What’s Mine!
What a ride!! Lucy wrote such an amazing story that had me laughing, crying and swooning! Protecting What’s Mine is technically the third book in her Small Town Love Stories. Pretend You’re Mind (Luke & Harper) and Finally Mine (Aldo & Gloria) are the other two and are equally as amazing! You should read them all if you haven’t already!!
Lincoln was the town fire chief and he was as hot in bed as he was out in the field. He thought he was enjoying single life until he met Mackenzie. Was it love at first sight?
Mackenzie was getting burned out, too much time in a high stress field will do that. She decided a change of pace was in order and filled in at a small town doctors office. Little did she know, the slow town life was going to be more eventful than she could ever imagine. Linc was one of those events, could she survive his sexiness??
The chemistry between Linc and Mack was on fire! Lucy did such an amazing job to capture the heartfelt moments these two experienced. I loved that I got to see all of my favorite characters step up and be there for each other! The connections they all shared made this book so much more! I hope this was not the last time we see all these guys, I’m not ready to say goodbye!
“No One Likes a Beautiful Asshole”
And with those sarcastic words, Dr. Mack O’Neil cemented herself in my book loving heart. Linc had long ago cemented himself in my heart – every time Lucy mentioned a new book, I would sit quivering like I imagine Sunshine did for a treat to see who it would be about. I can’t even begin to tell you how I excited I was that she wrote Linc’s story! I just knew there was more to the happy go lucky, super flirty fireman than met the eye. Spoiler alert – I was right!!
Linc and Mack are both first responders, Linc as the Fire Chief and Mack as a trauma surgeon trying something “new” by taking a 6 month family practitioner post in Benevolence. Both have their own baggage and being able to read how they help each other overcome it was So. Much. Fun. It was also absolutely amazing to catch up with Harper and Luke and Gloria and Aldo. For reasons you’ll understand after you read it, the book brings us full circle from Pretend You’re Mine (which happens to be my all time favorite book by ANY author.) I laughed out loud, and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about when you read it!
I can’t stress enough how imperative it is that you one click this book – it has it all: small town feel, romance, mystery and danger – my little heart’s book catnip, if you will. And if you haven’t read Pretend You’re Mine and Finally Mine, you certainly don’t have to in order to enjoy this one, but I HIGHLY recommend you read them in order. Enjoy and remember #lincandmack4eva!!!!!
Chief Sexy Pants and Doc Dreamy are my new favorite characters of Lucy Score. I swear I say this every book, but it is the TRUTH. I love this opposite’s attract story! Linc’s ability to empathize with Mackenzie’s hang-ups was so swoon-worthy. Mac’s ability to understand Linc’s role as the Chief, something that has been lacking in previous relationships. There was just so much empathy and respect between these two that I was left wanting more of their story. Add to this the steaminess and romance, whew. I was hooked after the first full page.
I loved the supporting characters of Sunshine the dog and Linc’s nieces and nephew.
Just like Lucy’s Blue Moon world, I want to move to Benevolence.
Overall Grade:
“He dropped his forehead to hers. ‘Jesus. You level me.’”
So what is it about rom-coms that make us come back for more? The usual smart-alecky hero? The heroine who easily stands her ground against said hero? The sarcastic quips bantered back and forth? The snarky words that act as foreplay to some steamy bedroom scenes? The author’s inherent humor infused in the lines of her/his story? The underlying earnestness of the hero and heroine’s trial to a happy ending? If you answered “yes” to all of this, then you know the power of the rom-com. And Lucy Score writes rom-com SO well. Enter Protecting What’s Mine, and you have one of my favorite new romantic comedies.
So what is it about this new book that should move your finger to the cursor to one-click Lucy Score’s new romance? Well, here goes:
*Linc. Hands down, Linc is everything you love in a rom-com. Equal parts handsome, smarta$$, and smart but emotionally dense, he is also a firefighter. He’s no stranger to entering dangerous situations, acting as the big hero. His heart is big, and he’s great with kids. He is everything you love about a hero in a rom-com because, from the first chapter, Linc is bought into the character of Mackenzie. Even when he’s making mistakes pursuing her, it’s clear how much Linc wants a future with Mack that he’s willing to forgo his own safety for her. He is your favorite requisite hero. He’s good, mind, body, and soul. And he has a cute nickname for his doctor love, Dreamy.
*Mackenzie “Mack”. Like Linc, she is everything that makes a rom-com interesting. Quite frankly, Mack is a “bad-a$$” female. She thrives on danger, one-night stands, and temporary situations. However, when you look deeper, these are all symptoms of past emotional injuries. She challenges Linc in that she doesn’t fall quickly for his “game.” Instead, she makes him work for her. She’s mentally intelligent, but she has to learn emotional intelligence on her journey. Her struggle towards permanence and falling for Linc is the challenge of their journey. While Linc has lived the single life, he’s willing to forgo it for the right woman. Mack becomes the hold-out in this story, driving its tension. When she finally accepts Linc’s love for her, her journey becomes the message of Protecting What’s Mine: allowing yourself to be more than you believe you can be and letting go of dreams that no longer work.
*The surrounding cast of characters. Protecting What’s Mine is settled within Score’s other books such as Pretend You’re Mine and Finally Mine. As such, there are characters here who Score readers have already fallen for, so they return to pull you back into Score’s storytelling universe. This is like returning to high school for a reunion, but you actually love the people in attendance. It’s nostalgic and welcoming. And these other characters provide support for Linc and Mack. Thankfully, they speak wisdom into them as they struggle toward their happy ending. Infused in their relationships is hilarity, adding the layers of humor endemic of rom-coms.
*Scenes upon scenes of funny, sad, or sweet. It’s all here. There were so many times when I sighed from happiness, wiped a tear from my eye, or laughed out loud at Linc’s version of wooing Dreamy. Add to that the quips of their friends, along with the wisdom of Mackenzie’s co-workers. There is so much to love in this book that, before you know it, it’s over. The plot points and inherent scenes keep you reading page after page until the end, which brings the sweetest of surprises, usurping your typical rom-com proposal. There isn’t any part of this book that you don’t love.
So, why do we read rom-com? I mean, they’re predictable. We know there will be a happy ending, and the journey of the hero and heroine will be somewhat easy. Well, we read writers such as Lucy Score because, quite simply, they put easy smiles on our faces and leave us with the levity of their story. As a book reviewer, I have found myself, of late, mired in heavy reading, stories that tear at my soul (of which I adore…don’t get me wrong). However, stories such as Protecting What’s Mine lift my soul and help me fall deeper in love with romance because their stories are essential to the world of romance. We need laughter with our pain. We need the predictability of their form to offer us respite from the darkness of romance. Even more, Lucy Score has so much diversity in her storytelling that she challenges romance tropes within the realm of her light romance. There is always a message running deeper in her stories. Protecting What’s Mine is the best of what you love about rom-com, and it’s an easy one-click.
“Plans changed. Dreams grew. And happiness sometimes just snuck up on a person when they were least expecting it.”
I have been a fan of Lucy Score’s writing for a few years and her books just keep getting better!
This book is full of witty dialogue that makes you smile (and laugh!) even through some tough issues. It is steamy and swoony and oh so sexy. Linc and Mack were PERFECT together! I’m so glad he found his person!
It was so fun to revisit the people of Benevolence and catch up on their lives.
One of my favorite things in the book was Sunshine! Finding out that she was based a real dog made her character even better!
Thank you Lucy Score for another fabulous book that I will re read!
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.
LUCY FREAKING SCORE DID IT AGAIN! SERIOUSLY! I can’t get enough of Lucy’s writing and each book just gets better and better. She is one of the first author’s where I literally powered through everything she wrote because I couldn’t get enough.
Protecting What’s Mine is everything you could want in a romance book. It’s got heat, steam, fun, banter, angst, trial, and that happily ever after you desire. Lincoln Reed may look like a playboy on the surface, but when you get to really know him, he’s is panty-melting hot that makes you wish you personally knew a firefighter like him. Then there is Mack. Oh this girl. She literally set my soul on fire. She is strong-headed, beautiful, opinionated… but she is also lost in a sense of she doesn’t really know where she belongs.
Their first meeting was everything. I can’t even put into words what it felt like because it was just BAM, in your face. And the fact that Mack just kinda blew him off at first, it was so much fun. Their back and forth banter made the story so much more than your typical boy meets girl, boy likes girl, boy pursues girl, etc. They have such a strong dynamic from the very beginning that you can’t help but fall in love with them.
If you’re looking for a hot romance that has some ridiculously cute banter, a dog, that small town charm, and a firefighting hottie, then this is that book for you!
Protecting What’s Mine is a standalone romance.
Five beautiful stars for this super hot romance!
Holy hotness! This book is hotter than a 5 alarm fire! Linc and Mack are absolutely perfect for each other. Linc is the book boyfriend that everyone will be fighting over for years to come! I loved Mack….she’s tough, independent and I love that her career is a typically male dominated field. I loved catching up with Aldo and Gloria, Luke and Harper and the small town folks of Benevolence. If you love a small town feel good book with fantastic characters then look no further….this book will check those boxes and so many more! 5 blazing stars!
Absolutely Loved Sunshine, Linc & Mack!!!! It was great to be back in Benevolence, MD and it’s amazing residences! I find I’m at a loss to describe this wonderful book & give it the praise it deserves.
This book was EVERYTHING I was hoping for. Linc’s story needed to be told. Everyone thinks of Linc as the town flirt. Mack is the first woman to actually “see” him. Can two adrenaline junkies work? A firefighter and a trauma doctor? I feel like a need to give a shoutout to Sunshine the scene stealing dog. Everyone in town loves Sunshine. Benevolence is one of my favorite book locations ever. It was great to catch up with old friends. That’s what they feel like, old friends. The bonus epilogue is a must read as well. I stayed up way into the night to finish it. Totally worth it. The other two books in the series are ones I have read multiple times. This one will be too. This book is packing the heat, you’ve been warned.