THINGS WE LEFT BEHIND is the final book in the smalltown romance Knockemout series by Lucy Score. While this book can be read as a standalone, readers will be more engaged having read the other two books in the series since the story is a continuation from THINGS WE NEVER GOT OVER (Knox and Naomi) and THINGS WE HIDE FROM THE LIGHT (Nash and Lina).
Impetuous librarian Sloane and composed businessman Lucian have traded verbal barbs and spewed venom at each other throughout the series while hinting at a secret event in the past that caused the mutual hatred. This book picks up where the last book leaves off with a mob boss targeting Nash and Lucien trying to unravel who is behind Nash's shooting and seek revenge for his boyhood friend.
Through flashbacks, Lucien and Sloane's history and connection are revealed, as well as the reason for their falling out when they were teenagers. Lucien is a strong, smooth, sexy character with significant issues and Sloane is a sweet, snarky, and sassy partner for the staid Lucien. Together they have explosive chemistry.
The two couples from the prior books in the series are delightfully present as the story evolves to push Lucien and Sloane through difficult times and make fun of them as only old friends can. Readers with triggers of domestic violence should know there is repeated references to both on and off the page.
There was only one woman who could set me free. But I
would rather set myself on fire than ask Sloane Walton for
anything.
Lucian Rollins is a lean, mean
vengeance-seeking mogul. On a quest to erase his
father’s mark on the family name, he spends every
waking minute pulling strings and building an indestructible
empire. The more money and power he amasses, the safer he is
from threats.
Except when it comes to the feisty
small-town librarian that keeps him up at night…
Sloane Walton is a spitfire determined to carry on
her father’s quest for justice. She’ll do that
just as soon as she figures out exactly what the man she
hates did to—or for—her family. Bonded by an
old, dark secret from the past and the dislike they now
share for each other, Sloane trusts Lucian about as far as
she can throw his designer-suited body.
When
bickering accidentally turns to foreplay, these two find
themselves not quite regretting their steamy one-night
stand. Once those flames are fanned, it seems impossible to
put them out again. But with Sloane 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.
Broken men break women. It’s what Lucian
believes, what he’s witnessed, and he’s not
going to take that chance with Sloane. He’d rather
live a life of solitude than put her in danger. But he
learns the hard way that leaving her means leaving her
unprotected from other threats.
It’s the
second time he’s ruthlessly cut her out of his life.
There’s no way she’s going to give him a third
chance. He’s just going to have to make one for
himself.