Book Review : Things We Hide from the Light by Lucy Score

Nash Morgan was always known as the good Morgan brother, with a smile and a wink for everyone. But now, this chief of police is recovering from being shot and his Southern charm has been overshadowed by panic attacks and nightmares. He feels like a broody shell of the man he once was. Nash isn’t about to let anyone in his life know he’s struggling. But his new next-door neighbor, smart and sexy Lina, sees his shadows. As a rule, she’s not a fan of physical contact unless she initiates it, but for some reason Nash’s touch is different. He feels it too. The physical connection between them is incendiary, grounding him and making her wonder if exploring it is worth the risk.

Too bad Lina’s got secrets of her own, and if Nash finds out the real reason she’s in town, he’ll never forgive her. Besides, she doesn’t do relationships. Ever. A hot, short-term fling with a local cop? Absolutely. Sign her up. A relationship with a man who expects her to plant roots? No freaking way. Once she gets what she’s after, she has no intention of sticking around. But Knockemout has a way of getting under people’s skin. And once Nash decides to make Lina his, he’s not about to be dissuaded…even if it means facing the danger that nearly killed him.

Review

Angelina Solavita. Fiercely independent woman. She's got loving over protective caring parents. had a normal childhood untill high school where she got cardiac arrest and almost died and had to admit in hpsoital for over a year. those years she felt helpless by not being able to do anythong and being taken care and examined by docs and parents. Thats what her led to feeling like doing everything on her own and one thing she doesnt like is being told what "not to do" specially when her job was dangerous as insurunce investigator.
and that's also why she doesn't tell anyone about her job not even parents, developing habit of hiding her personal life from her people.
Nash Morgan " Studly do right" and whose ass was very much appreciated by his town. His mom died when he and his brother was young ,resulting his father fall into addiction. He blamed himself for not being able to save both of them. Morgans don't share feelings. after being shot at scene and not being able to remember anything, he's started feeling numb with people and even at work. One thing he doesn't like is dishonest, After being disappointed by his father for breaking his promise of choosing them over his addiction.
And that's what sets them apart Lina's need of hiding and Nash's need of honestly comes from their past's disappointments.
When he met Lina while helping her move in his next door he felts sparks when their fingers touched. After being frustrated at feeling void for so long he craved to feel and that's what Lina makes him feel.

But I wanted her to stay close. Needed her to fan those weak sparks to see if there was anything inside me worth burning.

Him having Panic attacks cause of Shooting and not ever being able to share his feelings, Lina calms him down knowing herself how to take care of herself when she gets one.
Lina does only flings

No burdens. No emotional baggage.

Keep your needs few and your quality time fun.

and Nash had been looking got marriage type relationship. She's got secrets of her own and connected to him which she can't tell and god help her if he finds out that she's been hiding things....
Lina makes him feel like no one can, she makes him feel taken care of like no one could and Nash makes her like being touched.

Angelina was my goddamn miracle. And I would absolutely step across the line of black and white into the gray to protect her.

He's the only one who can hug her without her getting flinched and made her talk about her past fears.

I was scared to death I was going to let him sweep me off my feet with his sexy vulnerability

Nash is so perfect. he's the combination of macho and teddy bear. He joined police to take care of people. That's what he does care . He's got loving friends and family. But after blaming himself for everything that's goes wrong he needs to hear that he's doing something good. But not having open family made him little distant from his family even though he would die for them so would they. I just felt like giving him big hug but here comes our heroine knight in shining armor Lina.
loved their chemistry. It was steamy and adorable with flows. Both have things to learn and needs to work on themselves, which they do directly , indirectly.
This book made me cry and laughed and swept me off my feet. Totally loved Knockemout's noisy people, Nash's friends filled with chaos and family and Lina's over bearing parents and action filled with bullets.