3.5 stars
• I thoroughly loved reading about Lucian’s full story and why he did the things he did. It was great to see that there was more to him than what we saw on surface level.

• The writing itself is OK. Nothing amazing – the use of some words over and over is annoying (melee, morosely, mercurial, cloying) as if she was limited on word choice.

• The characters, however, are great and come to life on the pages. I’m a bit disappointed that this is the last Knockemout book.

• Side note, judges, aren’t that stupid. They wouldn’t just show up the way it was written. ( )

In terms of the whole Knockemout series, this third book slides into a close second place with Knox and Naomi’s story (the first) being my favorite only because I don’t remember the first being so long. I really enjoyed Lucian and Sloane’s story—loved their history and broody, combustible relationship—but the beginning was a little too expository, a little too long. The second half was just what I wanted, totally satisfying in a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers kind of way.

“Something loosened in my chest. Something old and rusted. Like an ancient lock finally forced open. Fresh air swept inside, blowing aside the cobwebs, lighting the hearth. She’s always been mine. I was just now excepting that fact. Once some thing was mine, I never gave it up” (531). ( )

By far my favorite of the Knockemout Series! I can't get enough of Sloane, she is someone I would want to be friends with. Her and Lucian and their chemistry...wow ( )

Lucian Rollins and Sloane Walton have been circling around each other since they were kids, but tragedy and misunderstanding kept them apart for years. However, with all of the danger that has been surrounding their friends, Lucian and Sloane have been thrown together in multiple situations, causing them to realize that the attraction they have felt for one another may be more, but there are still so many secrets and so much history keeping them from figuring out what everyone else around them already knows.

Things We Left Behind is a very good ending to an enjoyable series taking place in Knockemout. Both protagonists are damaged and dealing with the aftermath of Lucian's abusive childhood. The secrets of the past are slowly revealed in flashback chapters throughout the first half of the book. The best parts of the story are the times when Lucian and Sloane let down their guard and enjoy each other. However, there are pacing issues with this book. The long first three quarters of the book frequently repeat the reasons why the two main characters are apart, and the suspense part of the plot only takes place in the last quarter of the narrative. Overall, though, even with these issues, Things We Left Behind is an entertaining finale to this delightful series. ( )

Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score
Knockemout series #3. Contemporary romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series as previous couples play roles in this story.
Lucian Rollins and Sloane Walton were neighbors in their teens when his father was violent against his family. To protect Lucian, Sloane calls the police and years later he still hasn’t forgiven her for taking him away from protecting his mother. They have a love hate relationship of bickering which turns from foreplay to a sexual relationship that can’t get enough of. But he is drawing the line on emotions or a future.

Very steamy bordering on erotica, but Lucian refuses to commit to any emotions which turns hurtful and ultimately dangerous for Sloane.
I loved the banter and playfulness but not so much his refusal to feel or get past his hurt from his youth. I did admire their determination to right the wrongs of the past.
The couples from all three books interacted quite a bit in the book on the investigation and as friends. Some funny stereotypes in the dialog playing off men and women differences.
A pleasing romance in the end but disliking his attitude through most of the book put me in the same category as Sloane - I didn’t trust him. He does make a good effort in the end.

I received a copy of the from NetGalley and the publisher. ( )