Protecting What's Mine: A Small Town Love Story (Benevolence) Paperback – January 12, 2020

Everything about this book stole my heart! Score has such a gift for bringing words alive so you feel like you've been untethered from the minutia of life and transported into a world where the welcoming small town is quirky, unique and charming, the characters are as real as your family and best of friends, and you’re an integral part of all the events playing out in living color.As if all of that isn’t enough to make a great story, this one starts off with a bang and then continues to build the intensity. Fire chief Lincoln Reed is driving back to Benevolence, MD, and comes upon a multi-vehicle accident before any other first responders. He struggles to save victims, yet he can’t help but notice the new part-time medi-vac doc, Mackenzie ‘Mack' O'Neil. Once Linc is in the emergency department getting his own wounds treated and Mack stops in to check on him, he lets the staff know she's not only family, but she's his future wife. Big words coming from a guy known in town as a player. Besides, Mack came to Benevolence to recover from the burnout of her military career by spending most of her on-duty time in a small family practice, she doesn’t do serious, and she's only there for six months.Linc is far more than he seems, truly caring for those in his community, great with kids, and dedicated to his job of helping people and saving lives. In everything he does, more and more of his big heart and compassionate spirit are shown. Mack is a terrific surgeon, but she has a lot to learn about small towns. It isn’t long before she begins to understand that friends and neighbor are their own kind of family and small-town doctors become entwined in their patients’ lives outside of office hours. She learns that it's healthy to sever blood ties when that blood is bad and the caring people in her life would never judge her for a past she had no control over.Linc and Mack have a lot in common and really are perfect together. They're both highly motivated and intelligent, which doesn’t stop them from making mistakes and needing a few figurative smacks upside the head, and their friends are happy to provide those when appropriate. The tension between them is delicious, their road to forever is hilarious, heartfelt and riveting, and watching them fall is the best kind of entertainment. With gifted writing that lures you in and consumes your soul, this phenomenal, enchanting story will grip you in its suspense, keep you laughing out loud, and leave your heart with a satisfied smile.

I liked Linc in the previous two books and wanted him to also get his HEA. I also liked Mack in Aldo's book, and I was so happy when I learned this was hers and Linc's story. As with any Lucy Score book, I was so excited to read an amazing and funny story and this book definitely delivered!! I loved this story from the beginning and that it takes place a few years after the first two books. I wanted to know more about Linc and Mack from the beginning. I loved their instant attraction and banter. And Sunshine is such a sweet girl🥰. I loved when Mack saw Aldo running and they hugged and he invited her to the cookout. I also loved learning that he and his family had just come back from Disneyland. I just loved knowing he's living his HEA. And that chapter where Linc was playing with his nieces and nephew was so wholesome. I really like him and Mack. I loved the cookout scene!!! Harper, Luke, Sophie, Ty, Claire, Charlie, and the kids, and James and his bf Manny!!! I really enjoyed reading that chapter and Linc and Mack's scene holding baby Avery!! And I am so happy Luke doesn't hate Linc anymore!!I totally get what Mack was feeling when everyone kept showing up at her house to check on her. Socializing for too long is so draining. And I am so happy Linc understands. He was so sweet to come over to her place and bring her food, make her tea, and leave Sunshine with her. And then the BFD showed up and did all of those chores for her. And Linc's sisters are so awesome!! And of course, Aldo, Gloria, and Mrs. Washington. Everyone in this town is so freaking awesome! I loved how things between Mack and Linc slowly heated up and that scene with them both working out and then making out was so hot. I was so sad when they argued and she left.The whole situation with Mack's mom and sister was just so sad and infuriating. My heart broke for Mack and I just hate Andrea, Wendy, and Tony so freaking much! 🤬🤬I'm happy Mack has people like Violet and her family in her life who love her and care for her. I liked how Mack was able to acknowledge her fault in her and Linc's argument and how they resolved their conflict. And chapter 29 was so hot!!!🥵🥵❤️❤️. I loved it!!! I loved how Russell learned to appreciate Mack and how thier work relationship improved. I love Tuesday and Freida so much, too! I really loved watching (reading?) Linc and Mack fall in love as the story progressed. I was smiling the whole time!! Linc's nieces and nephew are so cute. And Lucia is so sweet!! I absolutely adore how Linc was there for Mack at the right moment, offering her his quiet support. He's just so patient and understanding.Reading Linc's side of the story with Karen was so sad. I loved the Halloween party scene at Aldo and Gloria's. It was so sweet of everyone to celebrate Mack. And Mindy was so sweet to have Linc walk her down the aisle. And I was so sad when Linc broke up with Mack😭😭. I can totally understand how she felt and why she refused to let him in but I also understand how he feels and my heart broke when Mack thought about how he felt rejected in the past by Karen and how now she was doing the same. I really felt for them both 😭😭. I was so happy when the guys showed up to talk some sense into both of them and they got back together. And I'm so freaking happy Wendy and Andrea are forever out of Mack's life. That fire scene was so scary!!! But I'm so happy everyone is OK. And the Thanksgiving party was amazing!!! And the epilogue!! Just perfect. I wanted them to live in the old firehouse and Mack bought it!!!!!😁😁😁 The proposal was so perfect and Betsy was fully repaired!!! And the bonus epilogue was even more perfect!!! I really didn't want this book to end. I just loved Linc and Mack so much. And I'm so happy Linc and Luke became friends.I loved this series so much and enjoyed every book. But this one is my most favorite of the three!!❤️❤️🥰🥰😁😁Omg, the story about the real Sunshine broke me. Losing my dog was a devastating blow for me and reading about Sunshine's life and how quickly she passed was like reliving that moment.😭😭😭😭😭 I'm so happy Lucy wrote this amazing story and gave her Linc and such a wonderful happy ending. I'm sure the real Sunshine was just as special, sweet, and the bestest just like Linc's Sunshine!❤️❤️❤️

Touching story very relatable with all the ups and downs this one was good - benevolence series 8.5/10 highly recommendedCan’t wait to dive into the next book

I only can recommend it to you guys because it is so good and you will love it as much as I did.

Dessa tre böcker som en liten serie har gett mig både skratt och gråt.

I loved Linc and Mack's story. It is a great end to the Benevolence series. Looking forward to reading more of Lucy Score.

It exceeded my expectations. I'm into light stories, with beautiful people and happy endings but many tend to be commonplace. Protecting What is Mine, though was extremely interesting. There's mystery, action, romance, hot scenes that are not too long or repetitive, fabulous characters, drama (not too much) and a very satisfying ending. I truly recommend.

I was introduced to Lucy Score through her Bluewater Billionaire series that she wrote, along with 3 other authors. If you haven’t read it you should! I really loved her book and, when this was offered through BookBub, I jumped on it. I wasn’t disappointed. Lucy’s books grab you right from the beginning and won’t let go. You can’t wait to see what happens next so you stay up late at night and your housework suffers for it during the day lol When I reach the end I’m sad the ride is over. I never leave spoilers so I will only say, you will love the story and smokey chemistry between Linc and Mack. Sparks fly right from the moment they meet and, watching them try to figure out how this fits into what they thought their lives would look like in the future, makes for a beautiful love story. I absolutely loved this story and I know you will too!