Things We Hide from the Light (Knockemout Series, 2) Paperback – February 21, 2023

Things We Hide from the Light is another brilliant addition to the Knockemout series! This book grabbed my attention from the first chapter and never let go. The romance between Lena and Nash is absolutely sizzling, but what really drew me in was the emotional depth of their journey. It’s a perfect mix of heat, heart, and healing.Nash’s character is so compelling—he’s strong, complicated, and so deeply layered. His vulnerability and growth throughout the book made me root for him even more. And Lena? She’s fierce, independent, and has a quiet strength that balances Nash perfectly. The two of them together create this incredible dynamic that is both passionate and poignant. Their chemistry is off-the-charts, but it's their emotional connection that really stands out.What I love about this book is how the author continues to balance intense romance with the real, raw struggles the characters face. The healing process, the baggage they carry, and the way they support each other through it all is powerful. It feels real, and you can’t help but get swept up in their story.The small-town vibe of Knockemout continues to feel like home, and I loved seeing old favorites from the previous books pop up throughout. The writing is sharp, the pacing is perfect, and the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.If you're a fan of deeply emotional, slow-burn romances with characters you can't help but root for, Things We Hide from the Light is a must-read. It’s one of those books that lingers in your heart long after you finish it. I can’t wait to see what’s next in the Knockemout series!"Pros:Intense chemistry and emotional depth between the leadsPowerful character growth and healingSmall-town charm and lovable supporting charactersStrong pacing and great twistsReal, raw, and relatable romanceCons:Some readers may find the slow-burn romance frustrating, but I loved how it built.

*** 4.5 Stars ***Things We Hide From the Light (Knockemout #2) by Lucy Score is a slow-burn small-town contemporary romance told in first person, dual POV. The story follows the relationship between police chief Nash Morgan and Lina Solevita, his new neighbor and brother’s college girlfriend.Nash is recovering from a recent gunshot wound, and he has no memory of the incident. The perpetrator is still at large, and Nash is extremely frustrated by his failed attempts to remember. He’s also dealing with anxiety, nightmares, and panic attacks—and hiding his struggles has made his once light and happy demeanor now dark and broody.When Lina moves into the apartment next door, she sees Nash struggling and does what she can to help him. Their attraction to each other is magnetic, and despite Lina’s aversion to physical contact, she doesn’t mind Nash’s touch. He’s determined to win her for keeps, but Lina doesn’t do relationships, and she’s keeping secrets that could change everything.I enjoyed Nash and Lina’s story. I loved how everything turned out so much that, for a moment, I forgot the things that irked me and almost gave it 5 stars. But when I sat down to write my review, and compared it to Things We Never Got Over (which I loved and rated 5 stars without hesitation), these minor irritations were what I remembered most. Namely, the length of the novel and superfluous number of named characters.Like book one, this was a long book, but where Things We Never Got Over captivated me in a way that I didn’t notice the passage of time, Things We Hide From the Light felt long. There were also waaaaay too many named characters. I have a template where I track several things when I read so I can refer to it when I’m ready to review. This helps me remember, because I often read several books before I go back to review them. One of the things I track is named characters and who they are in relation to the lead characters. In this book, I quit doing this at around 65% percent because the list was ridiculously long. So, before writing this review, I grabbed my list and counted the names. There were 87 unique names on it, and 44 out of the 87 were full names that included both a forename and surname. Remember that I quit keeping track at 65% into the novel? I wonder how many names I’d have if I kept track to the end.Apparently, everybody in the town of Knockemout was given a name—LOL—and that’s fine. But if a character is not important to the story—and most of them were not—I don’t need to know their name or anything about their background. That’s just a bunch of extra words that distract from rather than enhance the story, and it feels like a rookie mistake when I know that Lucy Score is far from a rookie author. She’s actually one of my favorites. But I couldn’t ignore these things, which is why I ended up rating this 4.5 stars and rounding down.Overall, I really enjoyed Nash and Lina’s story. I liked them both as characters and thought they were well-suited. It was also fun to revisit with characters from the previous book. I enjoyed the suspense and how the mystery unraveled. Like I said before, I really loved how everything turned out. Until my memory kicked in, I loved it so much that I was ready to rate it 5 stars. I’m looking forward to Lucian and Sloan’s story.

I absolutely loved this book! After enjoying the first one, I snagged the second and third books at a fantastic price on Amazon. I paid $30 for the first book at Barnes & Noble, but got the second and third for half that! I appreciate how Lucy maintained the same town and storyline while offering a fresh perspective throughout the series. The writing is beautiful, and the little added touches really spice things up. It definitely left me eager to dive into the third book! In fact, I couldn't resist ordering it before I even finished the second!