Only Ours

Lacy Creek #3

by Bethany Monaco Smith

For the last sixteen years, I’ve known one thing, Cece O’Brien is off limits.

My best friend Mikey made it clear, if I want my body to remain intact, I’m not allowed to touch his little sister.

The only problem? I did a hell of a lot more than touch her last night. Now we’re sneaking around, hiding our relationship from Mikey and her entire family—the people who took me in when I left my abusive father. I owe them everything. But the second Cece’s lips met mine, my loyalty shifted to her.

Now I’m playing by her rules and praying that when her family finds out, they won’t disown me. And when Mikey finds out, he won’t kill me.

Will George and Cece’s relationship survive when everyone finally finds out the truth? Find out in this steamy, funny, and heartfelt best friend’s little sister, secret romance.

Genres: Contemporary

ebook

Published September 1, 2025

About the author

Bethany Monaco Smith is a writer-mom. When she’s not busy hanging with her boys, she’s writing cozy small town romances with lots of heart, a bit of steam, and all the feels. She loves happily-ever-afters and cries at every emotional moment, whether reading, writing, or watching. When she’s not mom-ing or writing, you can find her binge-reading on Kindle Unlimited, spending too much time on Instagram, and supporting fellow indie authors. Bethany survives on coffee, rewatching the same TV shows over and over, and her KU subscription. She lives in the Southern Tier of NY with her husband and two sons. You can find out more about Bethany and what she’s working on next on Instagram @bethanymonacosmith

Reviews

[Kristy Finto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting out, I didn't love this novella as much as the others but that quickly changed. I love Cece and George so much and was so happy they finally got together. I'm not a huge fan of lying in books but Bethany did a great job at making me feel comfortable reading this. Such a great book.

[Lacey Braziel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm officially obsessed with George and Cece. This book has an unrequited love opening and my heart was bleeding for Cece. Only she isn't the only one with a crush. I can't gush about this book enough. It's a quick read, but oh-so-satisfying.

[Stephanie Hutchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

George and Ceci might be my favorite couple of Bethany's. A sweet love that has been building for years until it couldn't be denied. No matter the circumstances.

I enjoyed the three books in this series and cannot wait to see what she has planned next.

[Sonja Huyser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderfully fun loving story. Real people,real situations and real feelings...hot chapters and romantic moments...just a all round great story.

[syana · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorite book in this series!

[Colleen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes in life you just have to go for it! Even if it has to remain a secret.
Cece O'Brien is a feisty one. Her character is fun, unique, and deeply in love. After 16yrs of crushing over her brother's best friend, Cece finally has the courage to go after what she wants. And what she wants is George Lincoln. But knowing her brother will disapprove, they must keep their relationship underwraps.

Secret love relationships last for such a short time, until someone is ready to spread the good word to the world. But with George having so much to lose, Cece begins to panic and makes a hasty decision. Evidently, her brother finds out at the worst possible time and gets a rude awakening. George on the other hand needs to accept the fact that Cece’s accident isn’t his fault. Being raised in a toxic family environment, George has to come to terms that that he deserves good things in life, and not all bad things are a result of his actions.

Overall, this book was a fun read. Lots of sexy, swoon-worthy scenes - there's one with a Bridgerton spin. Cece is my favorite female out of the 3 Lacy Creek stories. Her relationships with her brothers were heartwarming.

[Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about them:
George & Cece.

The third novel in Lacy Creek trilogy. Friends to lovers trope in a small town. Dual POVs. A bit of spice here and there (mostly everywhere). Their love stories was the hardest and most struggle to read. It discussed about family abuse. Realistic and sad to know the truth it really happens in our life nowadays. This is HEA novella so I'm happy to know the couple got what they deserved.

My overall review can be found on Lacy Creek trilogy compiled as a book.

[Booksandufos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A darling end to the trilogy. Classic tropes are done in a steamy and dramatic way. Highly recommend reading all three books together. As they are beautiful back to back.

[Munch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay did someone say brother’s best friend romance? Sign me the hell up. George and Cece finally overcame their childish crushes and definitely pulled through in the end when they needed each other. The build of their love from reluctance, awkwardness and longing to deep soulmate level love was every bit worth the anxiety they had me at while hiding their relationship from their brother. Also there is a parental trauma confrontation that was timed so perfectly. I think I would vote this to be my most favourite novella in the series.

[Debbie Ohrem · Rating 5 out of 5]

These 3 short stories were amazing! Each had wonderful characters, lots of steam and were so fun. I also loved that they carried the previous stories through as well!

[AddictedToReadingRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

George and Cece are one of the best best friend’s sister story I’ve read.

George and Cece are one of the best best friend’s sister story I’ve read. I love them so much. This last couple in the O’Brien family is so perfect too. George with all his past manage to find the love if his life in Ce and Cece finally act on her huge crush, a real relationship for her now. Mikey and Luke are amazing brothers to Ce and amazing friends/brothers to G. Mama O is really amazing with great advices too but Mr O’Brien is an awesome dad too, I love how they love all their 6 kids (three biological) and all the grandchildren they have!!! I love them! They have a pretty great family. This end to the serie is so good. Don’t forget to read the bonus chapter ❤️

[Alyssa Skaggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great fast read. I loved the connection between cece and George and the way they fought the attraction until they gave in. I love every book by this author

[Kelchickbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you have been crushing on your brother's best friend since you were little but he never saw you as anything other than Mikey's little sister you just go on with your life. Ms. Smith does it yet again with Cece and Geroge's story. She delivers us a brother's best friend romance that will have you feeling all sorts of feels. From reading the first two books you could tell that Cece was crushing on George but the feelings were not reciprocated. Why? Well, we find out that Mikey has threatened George with his life if he went near her. Would that be enough for him to stay away once she was an adult, all grown up and perfect?

George has not had the best past but the O'Brien family has always been there and they are his family. Can he see past the threats from Mikey and the fact that Cece is like family, to make a move on the one girl that he has liked for a long time? Finally getting together but only after rumours were laid to rest and the truth comes out. Needing to keep it a secret from Mikey was one of the hardest things that they had to do. Funny that certain people could see what happened but the one that stayed oblivious was the one that did the threatening. When news comes to light regarding George's past and crap hits the fan, with the help of friends and family Cece and George finally find their way back to one another.

Cece and George's story has to be my favourite of the three. The two of them has this attraction that no matter what it was not going to stop them. The two of them were meant to be together. Even though Mikey was being the protective big brother, his assumptions got in the way and he needed to see that George was the best person for Cece to end up with. Although you could read Only Ours as a standalone, I highly recommend reading both Finally Yours and Always Mine first as you will get a better understanding of the relationships between the six of them. Definitely pick up this trilogy and enjoy the ride.

[Shani (Bttrflymama88) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only Ours by Bethany Monaco Smith is book 3 in the Lacy Creek Series and follows the story of Cece & George.

Another short and sweet book...

*Brother's Best Friend/Best Friend's Little Sister ✅
*Friends to Lovers ✅
*Secret Romance ✅
*Small Town Romance ✅
*Secret Crush grows into Secretly in Love! ✅
*A HEA that was a long time coming!! ✅

I went into this story with having really like Mikey & Trish, absolutely loved Zoey & Luke and just unsure of where/how I would feel on Cece & George. However I quickly found that I would love these two together just as much as I loved Luke by himself! 😉 George & Cece have been a long time coming. Cece has had a crush on George since she was 13 years old. However with him being 4 years older it was never a thought. As they got older he was engaged and any feelings that could have been were buried in the back of George's mind. Now after a break up, a rocky year following and some healing along the way George is in a place where he is ready to confront those feelings despite Cece's overprotective big brother and his best friend who has been more like a brother to him the majority of his life!
But Cece and George finally get their chance. Although not easy. Add in that overprotective big brother, some drama, a few misunderstandings, a car accident, a few punches, def some spice, lots of love and they finally get their long awaited happily ever after and I couldn't be happier for them!!!

Although this wasn't my favorite out of the 3 (sorry Luke & Zoey have my heart!) and I was frustrated with some parts (although I understood her view Cece was really getting on my nerves! I was yelling just rip the bandaid off already!!) I still absolutely loved it! I def recommend this series! I also def suggest reading them in order even though you could probably read them as stand alones. It's just better reading all 3 together!

[Veronica (Rao) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I waited to review until I finished the series. I hate giving bad reviews so I guess I’d hoped by the end of the series some of the characters and overall ridiculousness would…changed? Idk what I was hoping for, but either way, I didn’t get it. This was the last and just like the two before it, the description had more substance than the actual book. This series is about 6 people who all grew up so close and intertwined with each other’s lives yet it takes them (all) until they are between 28-34(ish) before they actually do anything about it.

This particular trope, the brothers best friend-hands off my sister- is just annoying. I love the falling for my brothers best friend trope usually but after enduring Mikey’s (the brother) character for 3 books, albeit shorts ones, I just couldn’t handle it anymore. He was such an alpha male (again, usually love those) jerk.

While I liked George & Cece’s characters okay, Cece added a little humor to the book, the story was just too close to the others before it.

Maybe if these books were longer, the author could put a little more into it, but overall doing an entire series where they all love their matches for literally 1.5 decades but no one does anything about it and then within 1 year they all decide enough is enough, just completely implausible.

[Resse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I choose you. More importantly, I choose us.

George is an honorary O’Brien. For most of his life, he has been at the O’Briens more than his own house. They view him as family. Mikey and George are best friends, and Cece is his “little sister.” Somewhere along the way, it changed.

As his best friend’s sister, Cece was off-limits. But everything changed, and George no longer could honor Mikey’s wishes.

Loyalty is a finicky thing. It isn’t easy having to choose between your best friend and your significant other, especially if they’re related.

Sometimes secrets can be fun until they aren’t. Secrets can only be secrets for so long. Eventually, the truth will always come out.

Bethany Monaco Smith writes realistic and relatable characters. There’s something that you can resonate with that makes the reading experience better. She’s created a world where you can feel like you are a part of it. Cece frustrated me at times, and I loved George. Cece and George were always there for each other and understands one another. Only Ours is emotional, quick, and relatable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.25)

[Vicki Simonsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only Ours is the third book in the Lacy Creek series.

Mikey and Luke's little sister CeCe has had a crush on Mikey's best friend George since she was a teenager, but he's never paid her much attention.
George has steered clear of CeCe after having been warned away repeatedly by Mikey, but one night changes it all and now they have to navigate friends and family while figuring out if what they have can actually work.

I don't normally enjoy stories involving secret relationships and lying in general, but it works in Only Ours because the characters actually struggle with the decision making the situation seem more believable.
This book is much more action packed than the previous two and I'm here for it! Was on the edge of my seat for a while there 😱😅

Also, I absolutely LOVE the epilogues Bethany writes! (Go read Freaking Love for an epic epilogue! *nudge* *nudge*)

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do when your best friend tells you never to date his sister “or else”…but you have feelings for her that you can’t get past once you’re both adults? You date her anyway.

George had a bit of a rough life growing up, and at eighteen was out on his own. He knew his own life needed change, and he made those changes happen. Cece was just the little sister of his best friend he wasn’t supposed to ever fall for after Mikey caught him looking at her when they were still teens. Cece knew what she wanted, despite never wanting to make her brother mad. She never really fell for anyone, because she knew who she loved. George got burned by his one and only ex, who he thought he loved…but the truth is, he never loved anyone BUT Cece.

So can these two make things work, and make Mikey understand that it’s ok for them to be in love and perhaps share a life together?

[Nooksandshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only Ours is the third book in the Lacy Creek series. 

Mikey and Luke's little sister CeCe has had a crush on Mikey's best friend George since she was a teenager, but he's never paid her much attention.

George has steered clear of CeCe after having been warned away repeatedly by Mikey, but one night changes it all and now they have to navigate friends and family while figuring out if what they have can actually work.

I don't normally enjoy stories involving secret relationships and lying in general, but it's tolerable in Only Ours because the characters actually struggle with the decision making the situation seem more believable. 

This book is much more action packed than the previous two and I'm here for it! Was on the edge of my seat for a while there 😱😅

Also, I absolutely LOVE the epilogues Bethany writes! 

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only Ours is book 3, the last in the Lacy Creek novella trilogy. And it ends with a bang of longing. (Well, that was an interesting way to say it. 😉) There’s nothing like the tension and longing in the brothers-best-friend/best-friend’s-little-sister trope. George has wanted Cece for years but would never dare to cross that line as Mikey made it clear it was a definite no. And she has pined for him hard as well. Once the two come together it’s fireworks but they have to keep it under wraps.

I think this is my favorite of the 3. Having a close knit protective family myself, I can totally relate to Cece not wanting to tell the family and specifically her imposing and opinionated big brother, Mikey. A sexy, well-written novella that delivers it all.

ARC provided by the author. All opinions are my own.

[Idalia Helaena · Rating 5 out of 5]

For his entire life, George has known that Cece was off limits. Her brother Mikey has made that more than clear, and until now, he’s never been willing to risk it. But the moment something happens between him and Cece, he realizes that his loyalty now belongs to her. Now they’re sneaking around, and George is praying that it’ll be okay once everyone finds out.

Oh my gosh! Best friend’s little sister is one of my all time favorite tropes, and this novella did not disappoint! I loved Cece and George’s story. I truly believed that they loved each other, and I was invested in their relationship from the very beginning. This novella was a super sweet ending to the Lacy Creek trilogy. I would recommend this trilogy to those who love friends to lovers and/or small town romance!

[Read By Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I immediately fell in love with Cece and wanted nothing more than for her to be finally happy. From the other books, you could see how much she liked George but her brother Mikey was so against the two of them being together. It honestly made me want to smack the man.

I loved how everything in this book played out and was not expecting some of the twists that Bethany threw at us. Honestly, the more I read this the more I fell in love with George. I love Cece and him together and just love the man that he is. It was refreshing and different from a lot of other MMC.

Exceptional job Bethany.

[LC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super Fun Story!

What do you do when your oldest brother is a huge pain in the tookus?! When you’re not so secretly in love with his best friend and he absolutely forbids said friend from making a move? Well, if you’re CeCe O’Brien, you pine and you hope that sooner or later the best friend makes a move!

This story was super fun. I have enjoyed this series of novellas so much. George and CeCe’s story finished out the O’Brien siblings. Again, a sweet and quick read. A pretty fast paced story that gives you all the feels and makes you crazy with the older brother hijinks from Mikey. 😊

[Lauren Loubert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The books in this series of novellas can be read as standalones, but I would suggest reading them in order to really get the most out of tbe stories and the characters.

I've read a few best friend's sister/brother's best friend books over the years, but this one is definitely a fave. I loved how George and Cece were finally able to get the happily ever after they deserved. I enjoyed their overall story and tbe progression of their relationship. Theirs is my favourite "couple" story of the novellas, but my heart still belongs to Luke.

[Kelly Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spice 4/5
Age Gap Romance
Secret Romance
Best Friend's Sister

George and Cece have known each other for years. Cece has had a crush on George since she was a younger girl. George has only heard one thing for years, "Stay away from Cece."

George and Cece finally take the chance. What happens when her brother finds out? Will they withstand the trials that stand in their way, or will the group dynamic be ruined?

Great finish to the trilogy.

[Elin Kind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the start, throwing us right in to the action. Loved the middle. Loved the end! Many twists and turns I wasn't expecting, and more than the other two novellas, this had me wondering what was going to happen next. I loved seeing the couples from the previous two stories, and it wrapped everything up neatly!
I received the entire series as an ARC in return for an honest review.

[A.J. Ranney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Friend's sister is one of my favorite tropes and this one did not disappoint. I loved the angst and drama of George and Cece trying to keep their relationship a secret. And the tension between the two of them was perfect and had me fanning myself more than once! Another wonderful story!

[Valerie Charron · Rating 5 out of 5]

George and Cece are my favorite couple. I'm obsessed with them. My heart was bleeding at some point. It was unfortunatly a quick read (I want more) but it was so satisfying.

[Carolina Hora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only ours in the last book on the Lacy Creek Trilogy, written by Bethany Monaco Smith. This book dives into the forbidden relationship between George and Cece. He was abused by his father and thanks to the O'Brians family he got out and got some much-needed help. George and Mikey have been best friends forever and Cece is Mikey's little sister, whom George swore not to touch. But alas promises like that are hard to keep and the forbidden fruit becomes the object we most desire. Will they be able to navigate their relationship to the highly anticipated happy ever after?
This book was my favorite of the whole trilogy, there's nothing better than a forbidden romance and a grumpy big brother trying to interfere with his little sister's dating life. There were so many funny moments, with a bit of drama mixed up, capped with a whole lot of steam. The perfect ending to a wonderful series! I'm in awe of you Bethany, and I can't wait to read your next books!

[Jessicams · Rating 3 out of 5]

it wasn´t bad, but the premise it´s very similar to another book i read before.