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First Wives #1
Fool Me Once
An Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestseller.
From New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes a dazzling series about newfound friendship, unexpected love, and second chances.
Cynical divorce attorney Lori Cumberland lives by one Love is grand, but divorce is a hundred grand. With one failed marriage under her own personal belt, Lori had fallen hard and early—and it isn't something she plans on repeating. She's content focusing on the temporary marriages of her rich and famous clients. When she joins some of her recent divorcées on a celebratory cruise, her only vow is fun, sun, and new friends. But Lori finds herself tempted by a jury of one.
For Reed Barlow, falling into the world of private investigation was easy. He knows the law and knows how to avoid breaking it—all while doing his job. His rule to live by? No emotion, no involvement—until Lori. His charming smile and cocky attitude distracts Lori and lowers her guard, which is exactly what Reed desires.
But what appears as a one-time-only flirtation may be a plot orchestrated by Reed. As he's taking his investigation to a dangerous level, it's Lori who could end up in jeopardy. Reed has only one shot for Lori to grant him a second chance. But if he comes clean with her, he blows his cover. And that just might cost him the opportunity for an alliance of family—and of love.
From New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes a dazzling series about newfound friendship, unexpected love, and second chances.
Cynical divorce attorney Lori Cumberland lives by one Love is grand, but divorce is a hundred grand. With one failed marriage under her own personal belt, Lori had fallen hard and early—and it isn't something she plans on repeating. She's content focusing on the temporary marriages of her rich and famous clients. When she joins some of her recent divorcées on a celebratory cruise, her only vow is fun, sun, and new friends. But Lori finds herself tempted by a jury of one.
For Reed Barlow, falling into the world of private investigation was easy. He knows the law and knows how to avoid breaking it—all while doing his job. His rule to live by? No emotion, no involvement—until Lori. His charming smile and cocky attitude distracts Lori and lowers her guard, which is exactly what Reed desires.
But what appears as a one-time-only flirtation may be a plot orchestrated by Reed. As he's taking his investigation to a dangerous level, it's Lori who could end up in jeopardy. Reed has only one shot for Lori to grant him a second chance. But if he comes clean with her, he blows his cover. And that just might cost him the opportunity for an alliance of family—and of love.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2017
10384 people are currently reading
6122 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Bybee
53 books20.9k followersNew York Times Bestselling Author
USA Today Bestselling Author
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author
Amazon #1 Bestselling Author
#1 IndieReader Bestselling Author
RONE Award Winner 2012
Not Quite Dating
Married by Monday
RONE award Winner 2013
Not Quite Enough
Winner of the More Than Magic Award for Paranormal romance 2011
Silent Vows
Finalist RT Award in Contemporary Romance
Fiance by Friday
New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating from high school, she moved to Southern California with hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the International Bestselling Not Quite series, the MacCoinnich Time Travel series as well as the Internationally Bestselling Weekday Brides series.
Her books have been translated in over twenty languages.
USA Today Bestselling Author
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author
Amazon #1 Bestselling Author
#1 IndieReader Bestselling Author
RONE Award Winner 2012
Not Quite Dating
Married by Monday
RONE award Winner 2013
Not Quite Enough
Winner of the More Than Magic Award for Paranormal romance 2011
Silent Vows
Finalist RT Award in Contemporary Romance
Fiance by Friday
New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating from high school, she moved to Southern California with hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the International Bestselling Not Quite series, the MacCoinnich Time Travel series as well as the Internationally Bestselling Weekday Brides series.
Her books have been translated in over twenty languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 798 reviews
August 24, 2019
Honestly, I loved everything about this book. I have no complaints. The main characters were likeable. Reed was a great Hero. He was very protective without being overbearing. Lori was strong and independent, but didn't push away too much.
The side characters were likeable and brought a lot to the story. Even the bodyguards brought something more. The action/suspense was exciting to read and the author kept me guessing with some of the more anonymous characters and their motives.
I absolutely loved this book. I've not read the Weekday Brides series and it's not necessary to read before this one, but I did a little research when I thought maybe these characters were tied to it, and they are. That makes me a very happy woman because this book was so good! I know the Weekday Brides series has to be as well and I can't wait to read them, and more from the First Wives.
The side characters were likeable and brought a lot to the story. Even the bodyguards brought something more. The action/suspense was exciting to read and the author kept me guessing with some of the more anonymous characters and their motives.
I absolutely loved this book. I've not read the Weekday Brides series and it's not necessary to read before this one, but I did a little research when I thought maybe these characters were tied to it, and they are. That makes me a very happy woman because this book was so good! I know the Weekday Brides series has to be as well and I can't wait to read them, and more from the First Wives.
September 3, 2017
***I received this arc courtesy of Netgallery in exchange for an honest review***
Lori, a divorce attorney, has a pretty unusual job. You see, Lori and her friend have an agency called the Alliance, the idea of this agency is that it creates fake marriages for the rich and famous, every marriage has an expiry date and both parties enter knowing that, at the end of the day the richer party pays the other and the marriage is dissolved, kinda like a job. Reed, the H, has been hired to dig dirt on one of the couple , he gets close to Lori in order to unearth those secrets.
At first I was intrigued but after a couple of pages, not so much. These characters made this arrangement willingly, why should I care when one of them has a panic attack or when people take advantage, you entered with you eyes open, get over yourself. They are richer than they ever were but they kept whinging.
Reed and Lori's romance was non-existent, they became intimate soon after they met and that was it, I couldn't feel the emotional connection, no matter how the author tried to make it seem they had one. I was bored by the time they had their confrontation and had to skim through the rest.
Lori, a divorce attorney, has a pretty unusual job. You see, Lori and her friend have an agency called the Alliance, the idea of this agency is that it creates fake marriages for the rich and famous, every marriage has an expiry date and both parties enter knowing that, at the end of the day the richer party pays the other and the marriage is dissolved, kinda like a job. Reed, the H, has been hired to dig dirt on one of the couple , he gets close to Lori in order to unearth those secrets.
At first I was intrigued but after a couple of pages, not so much. These characters made this arrangement willingly, why should I care when one of them has a panic attack or when people take advantage, you entered with you eyes open, get over yourself. They are richer than they ever were but they kept whinging.
Reed and Lori's romance was non-existent, they became intimate soon after they met and that was it, I couldn't feel the emotional connection, no matter how the author tried to make it seem they had one. I was bored by the time they had their confrontation and had to skim through the rest.
September 19, 2017
What an exceptional read this was! I loved this storyline with Reed’s secret always in danger of being revealed as well as the unusual side business Lori has with her best friend. Add in the excitement of someone trailing her and Reed’s desperate need to protect and the story just kept getting better and better. The secondary characters were so much fun and I just know they’ll be getting their own stories eventually. Fast paced, filled with mystery and suspense where you never really knew who the bad guy was because they seem to be everywhere, and the perfect couple falling in love makes this a definite must read.
Advanced reader copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review
Dual POV
Safety issues – no mention of OW/OM; no discussion or use of birth control
Possible trigger – woman’s drink is drugged but her friends intervene and nothing happens to her
Epilogue gives us a HEA but no mention of babies
Advanced reader copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review
Dual POV
Safety issues – no mention of OW/OM; no discussion or use of birth control
Possible trigger – woman’s drink is drugged but her friends intervene and nothing happens to her
Epilogue gives us a HEA but no mention of babies
January 22, 2018
I let this review go long enough that details have faded. That isn't helped by the fact that this book had a lot of moving parts and a fast pace. It also wasn't helped by Lori's personality being so absolute. She's competent and deeply invested in her career (which was pretty engaging on its own, actually) so knowing that the way she met Reed would put him forever out of her zone of trust was a tension that I don't think ever really resolved.
Indeed, that tension was probably the most important aspect of this working as a romance and I don't think Bybee carried it off successfully. Reed was awesome, don't get me wrong. I fell for him really early and that never abated. He acted with honor and integrity throughout and that he was initially setup against Lori was just dumb bad luck. He had an incredibly hard line to toe and I think he managed to pull it off. So the fact that Lori won't be able to get past the deception, while a well-developed part of her character, becomes more flaw than strength and I fully adopted Reed's anxiety over the eventual blow-up.
There were enough extenuating strengths of the story that I'm not too bothered by the romance not working. And yes, that's an odd response for me (because romance is a good part of what I enjoy in reading at all). The pace worked and the plot held together (even with all the moving pieces, and that's no mean feat) and I kind of loved the central concept that brings the characters together (even though I suspect that the total market for their services would be way too small to support the kind of expenditures the company was making). So I'm comfortable with the three stars and am interested in the next in the series.
A note about Steamy: I don't remember how many explicit sex scenes there were. I remember thinking it's pretty solidly the middle of my steam tolerance, so a few, but not too many?
Indeed, that tension was probably the most important aspect of this working as a romance and I don't think Bybee carried it off successfully. Reed was awesome, don't get me wrong. I fell for him really early and that never abated. He acted with honor and integrity throughout and that he was initially setup against Lori was just dumb bad luck. He had an incredibly hard line to toe and I think he managed to pull it off. So the fact that Lori won't be able to get past the deception, while a well-developed part of her character, becomes more flaw than strength and I fully adopted Reed's anxiety over the eventual blow-up.
There were enough extenuating strengths of the story that I'm not too bothered by the romance not working. And yes, that's an odd response for me (because romance is a good part of what I enjoy in reading at all). The pace worked and the plot held together (even with all the moving pieces, and that's no mean feat) and I kind of loved the central concept that brings the characters together (even though I suspect that the total market for their services would be way too small to support the kind of expenditures the company was making). So I'm comfortable with the three stars and am interested in the next in the series.
A note about Steamy: I don't remember how many explicit sex scenes there were. I remember thinking it's pretty solidly the middle of my steam tolerance, so a few, but not too many?
September 27, 2017
This is the first book I've read by this author, I've read great reviews of her other series "Weekday Bride". This one is a spinoff of that one, but it was written so well that I didn't really have to muddle through to find out what the Alliance was all about. The Alliance is a special service where a rich, powerful man can arrange to have a "Contract Marriage" for a certain amount of time to the perfect woman of his choice. The marriage is really in name only, a kind of a marriage of convenience if you will, where discretion is a must. Once the marriage contract is over and the marriage dissolves and the woman walks away with a small fortune. It sounds like a win-win situation until something happens during one of the marriages and everything the Alliance has worked so hard to build threatens to blow up in their faces. They are in for some serious turbulence and they have to think fast to save what they have built so far, not only is the Alliance at stake but lives are as well. Lori, one of the founding partners of the Alliance is a high-powered divorce attorney who is in charge of taking care of this little problem and she does a pretty good job of it but who can she really trust? This is a fast-paced read full of suspense and it grabbed my attention from the very start and held it until the end. I loved the whole Alliance concept and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the providing me with a copy of this e-galley in exchange for my honest review.
I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the providing me with a copy of this e-galley in exchange for my honest review.
August 22, 2024
3.5 Divorce cake stars!!
'Divorce cake tastes so much sweeter than wedding cake'
What I wouldn't give to go on the cruise that Lori took her clients on.
Lori is a divorce attorney and runs a company with her friend that matches couples for 'short term' marriages, most of the clients are very high profile. When one of the clients dies unexpectedly Lori decides to take the clients wife on a cruise to get her out of the spotlight. They are joined by two other past clients who were married but now divorced. At first they were having a great time enjoying the sun, drinking, flirting and watching shows.
Lori meets Reed on the cruise, she thinks it's a chance meeting but it's not. Reed is a private detective and is on the cruise to watch one of the women Lori is with, as his feelings for Lori grow he tries everything to hide his real agenda. I did feel the romance between Lori and Reed was rushed over and made secondary to the rest of the plot.
A few sketchy things start to happen while they are on the ship but they shrug it off (bad mistake).
A good start to a series, it set up all the characters for what I'm sure is going to be an interesting series. I would have liked a bit more romance but I did enjoy the suspense/mystery elements.
'Divorce cake tastes so much sweeter than wedding cake'
What I wouldn't give to go on the cruise that Lori took her clients on.
Lori is a divorce attorney and runs a company with her friend that matches couples for 'short term' marriages, most of the clients are very high profile. When one of the clients dies unexpectedly Lori decides to take the clients wife on a cruise to get her out of the spotlight. They are joined by two other past clients who were married but now divorced. At first they were having a great time enjoying the sun, drinking, flirting and watching shows.
Lori meets Reed on the cruise, she thinks it's a chance meeting but it's not. Reed is a private detective and is on the cruise to watch one of the women Lori is with, as his feelings for Lori grow he tries everything to hide his real agenda. I did feel the romance between Lori and Reed was rushed over and made secondary to the rest of the plot.
A few sketchy things start to happen while they are on the ship but they shrug it off (bad mistake).
A good start to a series, it set up all the characters for what I'm sure is going to be an interesting series. I would have liked a bit more romance but I did enjoy the suspense/mystery elements.
May 4, 2018
The narrative was boring, the story lacking and full of holes.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the absurdity of Laurie disclosing all those confidential details about her clients and her practice to a complete stranger. That would never happen. The breach of attorney/client privilege is something no attorney would ever disregard.
It was one absurd action after another... rolling eyes again.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the absurdity of Laurie disclosing all those confidential details about her clients and her practice to a complete stranger. That would never happen. The breach of attorney/client privilege is something no attorney would ever disregard.
It was one absurd action after another... rolling eyes again.
September 29, 2017
3 3/4 Spin-off stars!
I liked it a lot!! Review soon.
I liked it a lot!! Review soon.
June 14, 2021
3/4 ⭐️
Mi aspettavo qualcosa di totalmente diverso, la storia d’amore resta un po’ troppo superficiale per i miei gusti, però è comunque una lettura piacevole.
Mi aspettavo qualcosa di totalmente diverso, la storia d’amore resta un po’ troppo superficiale per i miei gusti, però è comunque una lettura piacevole.
January 17, 2018
4 Counselor stars
Reed : all men were assholes...and he was the worst of them all
I loved reuniting with some named from the weekday bride series by the author !!! #alliance!!I love all the side characters and stories. Our two MCs are a bit on the ehh side. I like them just fine I just wasn't as in love with their story as much as I was with everyone else's .
I loved this story that actually turned into a second chances type of romance with a friendship filled with support and love. #FirstWivesClub
This book goes to show you :
sometimes marriage is not as amazing as the diamond ring it
sometimes you accidentally fall in love
sometimes you fall for a stranger
sometimes people aren't who they say they are
but at the end of the day you can always count on your friends and a bottle of wine.
Reed : all men were assholes...and he was the worst of them all
I loved reuniting with some named from the weekday bride series by the author !!! #alliance!!I love all the side characters and stories. Our two MCs are a bit on the ehh side. I like them just fine I just wasn't as in love with their story as much as I was with everyone else's .
I loved this story that actually turned into a second chances type of romance with a friendship filled with support and love. #FirstWivesClub
This book goes to show you :
sometimes marriage is not as amazing as the diamond ring it
sometimes you accidentally fall in love
sometimes you fall for a stranger
sometimes people aren't who they say they are
but at the end of the day you can always count on your friends and a bottle of wine.
August 23, 2017
Alliance Divorce attorney Lori Cumberland is, herself, a divorcee, so she can talk the talk and walk the walk of her clients; her exclusive, match-made, prenupped, and divorced clients. When she takes 3 of them on a girl’s getaway – two who were recently divorced and one whose husband killed himself within a year of marriage, she plans to have a fun filled, stress-less week aboard a luxury cruise ship.
Since this is a Catherine ByBee book, that’s not gonna happen.
The ladies meet a group of men on the boat, one man in particular who captures Lori’s eye and lust – Reed Barlow. Reed attaches himself to the girl’s group easily,
and all the women like him, enough to talk without censuring themselves around him – something they should be doing. Even Lori drops her guard with him.
After the cruise, Reed continues the affair he started on the boat with Lori and she begins to think he may just be the man to finally crack through to her protected heart.
But Reed isn’t what he seems.
Throw in a Russian oil magnate hell bent on eliminating one of Lori’s clients, a former First lady to a Governor she’s still in love with, and the entire Alliance crew from ByBee’s Weekday bridal series, and Fool Me Once turns into a chock-filled story that I devoured in one afternoon because I simply did not want to, nor could, put down until I go to the last page!
Fool me Once was Lori’s story, and I’m hoping that her three clients in the book have their own books coming!
5 more than well deserved stars for one of my favorite, go-to authors. Thank you, Netgalley and Montlake, for letting me read an arc of this story for an honest opinion. My honest opinion? Go buy this book the moment it’s released!
Since this is a Catherine ByBee book, that’s not gonna happen.
The ladies meet a group of men on the boat, one man in particular who captures Lori’s eye and lust – Reed Barlow. Reed attaches himself to the girl’s group easily,
and all the women like him, enough to talk without censuring themselves around him – something they should be doing. Even Lori drops her guard with him.
After the cruise, Reed continues the affair he started on the boat with Lori and she begins to think he may just be the man to finally crack through to her protected heart.
But Reed isn’t what he seems.
Throw in a Russian oil magnate hell bent on eliminating one of Lori’s clients, a former First lady to a Governor she’s still in love with, and the entire Alliance crew from ByBee’s Weekday bridal series, and Fool Me Once turns into a chock-filled story that I devoured in one afternoon because I simply did not want to, nor could, put down until I go to the last page!
Fool me Once was Lori’s story, and I’m hoping that her three clients in the book have their own books coming!
5 more than well deserved stars for one of my favorite, go-to authors. Thank you, Netgalley and Montlake, for letting me read an arc of this story for an honest opinion. My honest opinion? Go buy this book the moment it’s released!
February 25, 2020
BEWARE of SPILER
It was okay. Maybe it's me. I mean, everyone else likes it. I couldn't connect with any character. Here we have 2 ex-wives and 1 widow accompanied by their lawyer on a cruise to try and get low and away from the tabloid/news. While doing so, the lawyer met a guy and hit it off even though the guy was keeping something from her. Sounds awesome right? Only it's not.
The three ladies (2 ex-wives and 1 widow) entered the marriage via contract. They married rich man in exchange with a huge payment and went separate ways after the time agreed was up. One rich man wanted an eye-candy wife, the other wanted to make his dying mother happy while another wanted to boost his image for political purpose.
If only these women were not silly. Yes, it was an agreement but, shouldn't they keep up with appearance and stay out of public eyes rather than go on a cruise. A secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere maybe.
I'm not connected enough to even remember their name except for Reed. They were a lot to remember to begin with.
It was okay. Maybe it's me. I mean, everyone else likes it. I couldn't connect with any character. Here we have 2 ex-wives and 1 widow accompanied by their lawyer on a cruise to try and get low and away from the tabloid/news. While doing so, the lawyer met a guy and hit it off even though the guy was keeping something from her. Sounds awesome right? Only it's not.
The three ladies (2 ex-wives and 1 widow) entered the marriage via contract. They married rich man in exchange with a huge payment and went separate ways after the time agreed was up. One rich man wanted an eye-candy wife, the other wanted to make his dying mother happy while another wanted to boost his image for political purpose.
If only these women were not silly. Yes, it was an agreement but, shouldn't they keep up with appearance and stay out of public eyes rather than go on a cruise. A secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere maybe.
I'm not connected enough to even remember their name except for Reed. They were a lot to remember to begin with.
December 17, 2018
I enjoyed the premise & the main characters - except for the fact that they made the women idiots.... as well as the "top notch" security team. I really don't like when the main characters are that dumb but supposed to be so brilliant & secretive. After being exploited by con artists on the trip, not one of the women nor any of the security even run an internet search on Reed. They all just blindly accept him into their circle & then the lawyer blabs her big secrets to him in bed. Ugh please. Lori is supposed to be this top attorney and can't figure out how to protect Alliance w the contracts but a former cop can figure out the legal loopholes? Again, please give me a break. The final insult is that Lori takes back a man who lied to her from the minute they met; placed bugs in her home to spy on her; slept with her for information; and had numerous times he could have confided in her & didn't. None of that is forgivable nor a man you can trust yet we are supposed to believe they'll ride off into the happily ever after. No thanks.
June 9, 2021
3.5 ⭐
Primo libro che leggo di questa autrice e primo della serie "Prime mogli", che ruota attorno ad un'agenzia che gestisce matrimoni e divorzi combinati nell'alta società americana.
La protagonista di questo romanzo è la consulente legale di questa agenzia, Lori Cumberland con un matrimonio alle spalle e ora dedita solo al lavoro. Grazie ad una crociera con le sue single amiche/clienti e Prime mogli conoscerà Reed Barrow, un uomo affascinante, senza filtri e che la stimolerà ad uscire dalla sua zona di comfort. Ma Reed in realtà è un investigatore privato assoldato proprio per controllare una delle amiche di Lori. Tra i due l'attrazione sarà immediata, trascorreranno insieme sulla nave una settimana di baci, sesso ma anche gite, segreti, indagini e misteri. Ma una volta finita la crociera cosa ne sarà di questo rapporto?
La storia è caratterizzata dalla presenza di molti personaggi ed intrecci, a tal punto che ho fatto un po' fatica all'inizio a starci dietro, e abbiamo anche un pizzico di suspense e azione.
Sinceramente, a dispetto delle mie impressioni iniziali, la relazione tra Lori e Reed non mi ha totalmente coinvolta emotivamente perché secondo me è mancato un approfondimento dei sentimenti dei protagonisti. Non ho percepito amore ed emozioni tra loro. Mi è sembrata una relazione senza evoluzione e basata solo su attrazione fisica, anche se scene di sesso descritte ce ne sono pochissime.
Inoltre, alcuni punti li ho trovati lenti e prolissi perché l'autrice si è dilungata nel trattare temi di economia che mi hanno un po' annoiata.
Ho apprezzato molto, però, il tocco di suspense e azione. Carini il finale e l'epilogo.
Insomma, una lettura abbastanza piacevole ma senza infamia e senza lode, per quanto mi riguarda.
Primo libro che leggo di questa autrice e primo della serie "Prime mogli", che ruota attorno ad un'agenzia che gestisce matrimoni e divorzi combinati nell'alta società americana.
La protagonista di questo romanzo è la consulente legale di questa agenzia, Lori Cumberland con un matrimonio alle spalle e ora dedita solo al lavoro. Grazie ad una crociera con le sue single amiche/clienti e Prime mogli conoscerà Reed Barrow, un uomo affascinante, senza filtri e che la stimolerà ad uscire dalla sua zona di comfort. Ma Reed in realtà è un investigatore privato assoldato proprio per controllare una delle amiche di Lori. Tra i due l'attrazione sarà immediata, trascorreranno insieme sulla nave una settimana di baci, sesso ma anche gite, segreti, indagini e misteri. Ma una volta finita la crociera cosa ne sarà di questo rapporto?
La storia è caratterizzata dalla presenza di molti personaggi ed intrecci, a tal punto che ho fatto un po' fatica all'inizio a starci dietro, e abbiamo anche un pizzico di suspense e azione.
Sinceramente, a dispetto delle mie impressioni iniziali, la relazione tra Lori e Reed non mi ha totalmente coinvolta emotivamente perché secondo me è mancato un approfondimento dei sentimenti dei protagonisti. Non ho percepito amore ed emozioni tra loro. Mi è sembrata una relazione senza evoluzione e basata solo su attrazione fisica, anche se scene di sesso descritte ce ne sono pochissime.
Inoltre, alcuni punti li ho trovati lenti e prolissi perché l'autrice si è dilungata nel trattare temi di economia che mi hanno un po' annoiata.
Ho apprezzato molto, però, il tocco di suspense e azione. Carini il finale e l'epilogo.
Insomma, una lettura abbastanza piacevole ma senza infamia e senza lode, per quanto mi riguarda.
September 16, 2020
"A vida começa onde acaba a tua zona de conforto..."
Eu adoro os livros da autora e ver mais uma saga a ser traduzida é incrível!
Para quem não sabe este livro é o primeiro da saga First Wives, saga esta que é spin-off da saga Noivas da Semana. Como é uma saga spin-off as personagens da saga anterior vão aparecendo e é incrível ver como estão nesta nova fase das suas vidas.
Como já é habitual nos livros da autora, temos romance, com mistério, com ação... O que resulta numa história incrível e altamente viciante!
Adorei! Adorei!
Aqui temos a Lori que é a advogada da Alliance e que resolve criar o clube das Primeiras Esposas com algumas das clientes da Alliance - a Trina, a Avery e a Shannon - toda a premissa está incrível, não dá para descrever o quanto adorei tudo. Temos um cruzeiro pelo Mediterrâneo, temos perseguições, temos roubos e romance ❤️ já para não falar numa espia/assassina (sim... A Sasha é a wild card da história e das personagens mais interessantes de sempre, preciso de saber mais sobre ela).
O romance é incrível, o Reed tem muitos segredos, mas acredito que tem bom coração e isso nota-se quando está com a Lori - adoro os dois juntos.
Leiam, é tão bom! Não me canso de ler os livros da autora, são o meu guilty pleasure.
Eu adoro os livros da autora e ver mais uma saga a ser traduzida é incrível!
Para quem não sabe este livro é o primeiro da saga First Wives, saga esta que é spin-off da saga Noivas da Semana. Como é uma saga spin-off as personagens da saga anterior vão aparecendo e é incrível ver como estão nesta nova fase das suas vidas.
Como já é habitual nos livros da autora, temos romance, com mistério, com ação... O que resulta numa história incrível e altamente viciante!
Adorei! Adorei!
Aqui temos a Lori que é a advogada da Alliance e que resolve criar o clube das Primeiras Esposas com algumas das clientes da Alliance - a Trina, a Avery e a Shannon - toda a premissa está incrível, não dá para descrever o quanto adorei tudo. Temos um cruzeiro pelo Mediterrâneo, temos perseguições, temos roubos e romance ❤️ já para não falar numa espia/assassina (sim... A Sasha é a wild card da história e das personagens mais interessantes de sempre, preciso de saber mais sobre ela).
O romance é incrível, o Reed tem muitos segredos, mas acredito que tem bom coração e isso nota-se quando está com a Lori - adoro os dois juntos.
Leiam, é tão bom! Não me canso de ler os livros da autora, são o meu guilty pleasure.
July 10, 2022
3.5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐
My first read by Catherine Bybee ...I thought it was time...I see her books on the bestsellers list all the time.
I liked it...not loved it...her story styling not so much my cup of tea...maybe it is just this particular book ... but I found it a little cliche and cheesy if I am honest.
Easy reading and I would certainly be up for another book in the near future...maybe a different series..but I would like to hear more about Sasha...so I need to figure out which book has her story.
My first read by Catherine Bybee ...I thought it was time...I see her books on the bestsellers list all the time.
I liked it...not loved it...her story styling not so much my cup of tea...maybe it is just this particular book ... but I found it a little cliche and cheesy if I am honest.
Easy reading and I would certainly be up for another book in the near future...maybe a different series..but I would like to hear more about Sasha...so I need to figure out which book has her story.
September 11, 2017
3.5/5.0
I wondered what this talented author would come up with after the amazingly awesome Weekday Bride series ended. The idea of a series focusing on the brides AFTER their contracts have ended is genius!
We start with Lori - the lawyer who has facilitated all the contracts but who, herself, has been burned in divorce. The set-up was awesome, the characters are promising. I just didn't connect with Reed and Lori as a couple. There wasn't enough written below the very surface of their relationship to really become invested in them as a couple. I especially never really understood why Reed was falling for Lori. And, in return, other than Reed being hot, why was Reed worth investing in? Never did get those questions answered.
Still the story was new and creative, the premise fun and intriguing. Just hope the next installments dig a bit deeper and allow us to understand and enjoy the journey to love once again.
I wondered what this talented author would come up with after the amazingly awesome Weekday Bride series ended. The idea of a series focusing on the brides AFTER their contracts have ended is genius!
We start with Lori - the lawyer who has facilitated all the contracts but who, herself, has been burned in divorce. The set-up was awesome, the characters are promising. I just didn't connect with Reed and Lori as a couple. There wasn't enough written below the very surface of their relationship to really become invested in them as a couple. I especially never really understood why Reed was falling for Lori. And, in return, other than Reed being hot, why was Reed worth investing in? Never did get those questions answered.
Still the story was new and creative, the premise fun and intriguing. Just hope the next installments dig a bit deeper and allow us to understand and enjoy the journey to love once again.
September 7, 2017
**Copy Provided by Netgalley and Montlake Romance for an honest review**
We have previously met Lori in a previous series, The Weekday Brides, and now we get the chance to meet the single lady.
Lori is a mother hen and feels responsible for all the ladies that cross her path, especially if they meet through Alliance, the company her friends work for.
Reed has a job to do and very quickly finds that Lori is loyal, friendly, takes responibiltiy for her friends and helps them to the best of her abilities.
Catherine gives me a little of everything that i want, hot romance, the best of friends, suspense, drama and a happy ever after along with the knowledge that other characters in the story are also going to get their happy ever after.
You just cannot help but root for all of the girls to get the happiness they need and deserve.
We have previously met Lori in a previous series, The Weekday Brides, and now we get the chance to meet the single lady.
Lori is a mother hen and feels responsible for all the ladies that cross her path, especially if they meet through Alliance, the company her friends work for.
Reed has a job to do and very quickly finds that Lori is loyal, friendly, takes responibiltiy for her friends and helps them to the best of her abilities.
Catherine gives me a little of everything that i want, hot romance, the best of friends, suspense, drama and a happy ever after along with the knowledge that other characters in the story are also going to get their happy ever after.
You just cannot help but root for all of the girls to get the happiness they need and deserve.
not-interested
August 4, 20186% in and this book is not for me. The plot revolves around rich divorced women finding love. I just can't see myself empathising with this lot, especially since most except the lawyer (heroine of this book)gained their wealth through commercial arrangements purely for monetary gains. They disdained the men for wanting a trophy wife but what about these women who essentially prostitute themselves (with or without sex involved) for a far bank account (not that they were poor to start with). The heroine is the marriage/divorce broker.
August 28, 2020
Já conhecia esta autora de outras duas series anteriores e sempre gostei muito da escrita e das histórias dela. Esta é um paralelo de outra série, Noivas da Semana, com todos os livros traduzidos em português – e os quais me faltam ler uns 3 ainda. Mas mesmo assim, ler esta serie não mudou nada. A verdade é que me deu até vontade de terminar logo a série anterior. Foi bom também, rever alguns personagens de livros anteriores.
Nesta história temos dois adultos com os seus problemas e vidas conturbadas, que se conhecem num cruzeiro o qual vai mudar a vida de ambos em várias vertentes.
Lori, a advogada de Divórcios e Reed, o detective privado. Gostei bastante da forma como a história foi levada – uma mistura boa de romance, drama e acção. Não foi uma história com momentos mortos e isso é muito bom. Mantém o interesse e queremos saber sempre um pouco mais, tanto de como vai parar o romance, como o mistério que se foi infiltrando nas páginas do livro.
Espero que a bertrand continue a serie e que não decida parar a meio. Seria uma pena, pois penso comprar toda ela, caso assim seja.
É uma história muito agradável, para uma leitura leve e longa. Dei-lhe 5 estrelas porque foi o que disse a mim mesma quando o livro terminou.
Nesta história temos dois adultos com os seus problemas e vidas conturbadas, que se conhecem num cruzeiro o qual vai mudar a vida de ambos em várias vertentes.
Lori, a advogada de Divórcios e Reed, o detective privado. Gostei bastante da forma como a história foi levada – uma mistura boa de romance, drama e acção. Não foi uma história com momentos mortos e isso é muito bom. Mantém o interesse e queremos saber sempre um pouco mais, tanto de como vai parar o romance, como o mistério que se foi infiltrando nas páginas do livro.
Espero que a bertrand continue a serie e que não decida parar a meio. Seria uma pena, pois penso comprar toda ela, caso assim seja.
É uma história muito agradável, para uma leitura leve e longa. Dei-lhe 5 estrelas porque foi o que disse a mim mesma quando o livro terminou.
October 2, 2018
4.5 Stars
Fool Me Once is the first entry into the spin-off series from the Weekday Bride series. While it isn't absolutely necessary, I would still recommend reading that series before this one. You get a good feel for background and more out of the guest appearances of those characters. Plus, that series is awesome.
Okay, onto this book. I really enjoyed it. I love the way Bybee writes her women. They are always smart, always supportive, and incredibly independent. I love that. This story shows off a new friendship group, and I loved all the women we were introduced to. Add in a mystery, some suspense, some twists, a lot of romance, and you have a great story. While some things are left open, Lori and Reed are closed up nicely. The only reason I took half a star off this one is because I didn't think Reed did enough to warrant Lori's forgiveness at the end. I think what he was doing was pretty bad, so I had hoped for more grovelling. Other than that, I loved it! Definitely recommend!
Fool Me Once is the first entry into the spin-off series from the Weekday Bride series. While it isn't absolutely necessary, I would still recommend reading that series before this one. You get a good feel for background and more out of the guest appearances of those characters. Plus, that series is awesome.
Okay, onto this book. I really enjoyed it. I love the way Bybee writes her women. They are always smart, always supportive, and incredibly independent. I love that. This story shows off a new friendship group, and I loved all the women we were introduced to. Add in a mystery, some suspense, some twists, a lot of romance, and you have a great story. While some things are left open, Lori and Reed are closed up nicely. The only reason I took half a star off this one is because I didn't think Reed did enough to warrant Lori's forgiveness at the end. I think what he was doing was pretty bad, so I had hoped for more grovelling. Other than that, I loved it! Definitely recommend!
September 17, 2020
Uma leitura leve e gira para descontrair, gostei de conhecer Lori Cumberland e Reed e toda a forma como o romance surge entre umas férias de sonho e o que acaba por tornar-se uma batalha contra o tempo para salvar uma das clientes, gostei da relação entre as supostas divorciadas e Lori, mais parecia mãe delas do que amiga e Reed soube dar-lhe a volta em grande...o irmão dela era uma peça e tanto! Foi bom rever o pessoal da saga das noivas e ver como vão os relacionamentos anteriores...leitura fluída!
April 19, 2023
Книгата беше скучна! Предвидим сюжет и никаква романтика или страст. Не разбрах в кой момент Лори и Рийд се влюбиха, и двамата бяха доста повърхностни.
September 4, 2017
**ARC provided by the Author via NetGalley***
The premise of this book is really interesting. A divorce attorney who is involved in working out the divorces of the people who she helps by assisting with the legalities of their arranged marriages. I love that the heroine in the story is a part of the world that helps marriages end. In the acknowledgements, Ms. Bybee mentions that she has been through a divorce herself, and that the emotions are rough, even when it is wanted...and the perspective of the author in this book gave it a different feel than other books I have read where the heroine is divorced.
Lori and Reed meet on a cruise ship and start a vacation fling, but then discoverer that there's a lot more than just the vacation between them...but he is not being honest.
My favorite thing about Bybee's stories is how human her characters are...they react the way people do. And, they seem real...there's something about the way she writes them that makes them feel authentic and truthful. That, in addition to the romance, is why I enjoyed this book.
As with other books that function as the first in a series, there was a lot of build up of the secondary characters and this did pull some of the focus from Lori and Reed. Not a lot, but enough that it felt, in places, that there was a little too much of the secondary characters.
I do recommend this tile and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
The premise of this book is really interesting. A divorce attorney who is involved in working out the divorces of the people who she helps by assisting with the legalities of their arranged marriages. I love that the heroine in the story is a part of the world that helps marriages end. In the acknowledgements, Ms. Bybee mentions that she has been through a divorce herself, and that the emotions are rough, even when it is wanted...and the perspective of the author in this book gave it a different feel than other books I have read where the heroine is divorced.
Lori and Reed meet on a cruise ship and start a vacation fling, but then discoverer that there's a lot more than just the vacation between them...but he is not being honest.
My favorite thing about Bybee's stories is how human her characters are...they react the way people do. And, they seem real...there's something about the way she writes them that makes them feel authentic and truthful. That, in addition to the romance, is why I enjoyed this book.
As with other books that function as the first in a series, there was a lot of build up of the secondary characters and this did pull some of the focus from Lori and Reed. Not a lot, but enough that it felt, in places, that there was a little too much of the secondary characters.
I do recommend this tile and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
March 10, 2019
I really enjoyed this story. It is a great blend of humor, emotion, mystery and suspense. I loved being able to switch back and forth with the ebook and audiobook seamlessly. Awesome narration on the audiobook!
“If you’re sorry, say it, mean it, own it, and do something about it!”
Fool Me Once is my first book by this author and I’m looking forward to reading more!
-4 Stars!-
“If you’re sorry, say it, mean it, own it, and do something about it!”
Fool Me Once is my first book by this author and I’m looking forward to reading more!
-4 Stars!-
August 13, 2017
**Advanced copy provided by NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review**
In the first installment in the Weekday Bride series spinoff, First Wives series, we get a glimpse of some of our past faves and meet some new characters! We got a glimpse of Lori in the first series as she's the attorney for Alliance. She has been asked to help out the brides who are transitioning out of their contracts and the end of their “arranged marriages”. She herself is a divorcee and that left her feeling very bitter about love and any new relationship. The last things she expects when she and the other ladies head out on a cruise is to find herself attracted to a man but that's exactly what happens when she meets Reed Barlow (a PI that may have ulterior motives). Was their meeting a coincidence?
This book has everything the first series had: friendships, strong women, romance, suspense, and more. It sucks you right in from the very beginning! A terrific start to the new series and I cant' wait to see what lies ahead!
In the first installment in the Weekday Bride series spinoff, First Wives series, we get a glimpse of some of our past faves and meet some new characters! We got a glimpse of Lori in the first series as she's the attorney for Alliance. She has been asked to help out the brides who are transitioning out of their contracts and the end of their “arranged marriages”. She herself is a divorcee and that left her feeling very bitter about love and any new relationship. The last things she expects when she and the other ladies head out on a cruise is to find herself attracted to a man but that's exactly what happens when she meets Reed Barlow (a PI that may have ulterior motives). Was their meeting a coincidence?
This book has everything the first series had: friendships, strong women, romance, suspense, and more. It sucks you right in from the very beginning! A terrific start to the new series and I cant' wait to see what lies ahead!
July 5, 2018
Catherine Bybee's books always amaze me they are just so good. Every single time. FOOL ME ONCE, the first book in her new series, First Wives, goes beyond that. I was completely enthralled right from the beginning. I was eager to know more about Lori and her group of friends, Trina, Avery, and Shannon. It helped that they had ties to the familiar and much loved Weekday Brides characters. Reed was just enough of a mystery to make his charm even sexier without me seriously thinking he'd end up being the bad guy. Because let's face it, there are always some very evil men intending the heroine or one of her friends harm in all of Bybee's books. That's how she hooks you. Or me at least. I get all caught up in the building friendships and romance, and then OMG! Someone she's already managed to have me adore is threatened... And that's when it truly becomes the book you can't possibly put down. Not until your girl is safe. Not until you're rewarded for your lost sleep by reading about the steaming hot sex that comes after the rescue! Fool Me Once is one of Bybee's best. I'm leaving out details, because I'm not giving up spoilers, but I highly recommend you buy and read soon. The writing is incredible! You don't want to miss this one!! 5 stars
~Complimentary copy downloaded from NetGalley. All opinions about how much I loved this book are all mine!
~Complimentary copy downloaded from NetGalley. All opinions about how much I loved this book are all mine!
September 23, 2017
I really, really liked this book. There was soooo much dialogue and not once did I roll my eyes or wonder what the author was thinking when she wrote that. I loved Reed and Lori. As well as Avery, Trina and Shannon. They were all fantastic secondary characters. Oh, and it was so nice seeing Sam again, and Neil and Rick from Weekday Brides.
This was kind of a mystery, so that was good. Trying to figure out if Sasha was good or not was fun. Then finding out who she worked for was certainly a shocker.
Ruslan Petrov was a real bad guy and such a creep that he was fun to hate. And I knew something was up with Rogelio and Miguel.
There was explicit sex in this book and the F-bomb was used 6 times.
As to the narration: Emma Wilder did a great job on the voices. The men sounded like men and that’s the most important thing to me, the Spanish accents were great, the women all had their own voice. However, she really needs to work on reading with some kind of emotions in her own voice.
November 17, 2020
Costumo gostar dos romances desta autora, sim leram bem, costumo, desta vez senti-me enganada. Estava eu à espera de vir a gostar tanto desta história e não gostei e porquê perguntam vocês? Muitas personagens ao barulho. Sim, entendo que a autora queira explicar, mas se fosse baseado numa personagem apenas teria ficado muito melhor e a minha pontuação não seria 3 estrelas como foi. Bastante confuso, muita personagem e muita confusão à mistura. Não sei se vou ler a continuação dos livros desta saga...
https://aviciadadoslivros.blogspot.co...
https://aviciadadoslivros.blogspot.co...
August 4, 2018
Sadly, this was not for me. As a movie I think I would have loved it, but in book form I managed to get to around 35% and decided to give up. It’s not that I did not like the book, but there were just too many people involved and not enough focus on the romance. Reed seemed like a very lovable hero, and maybe the romance picked up further along, but I did not feel enough connection to this story to continue. Maybe I will try another one further down the track.
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