Bybee has another winning series on her hands! Lori is the lawyer for Alliance (so yes Sam and many of our faves from the Weekday Brides are here too!) and takes a group of Alliance clients whose divorces have already gone through (hence the first wives club) on a cruise to help another Alliance client whose husband unexpectedly dies prior to their contract being fulfilled. On the trip she meets Reed, who is not all he seems.

Reed is conflicted between doing the job he was hired to do and dealing with his feelings for Lori. This book is a great blend of mystery and romance with many opportunities for future books. I was guessing to the end who was good and bad.

Not sure how I'll wait for the next book or who I want the book to be about! Everyone should check out this new series!

Many thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

Catherine Bybee is one of the most beautiful and entertaining writers I’ve had the pleasure of reading and re-visit several times and here she is with another interesting series, “First Wives Series”.

“Fool Me Once” is the start of this series and boy oh boy, isn’t it a totally novel concept of a plot. The foundation of the series, Alliance in itself is so very fascinating and the coming of the First Wives Club is even more enthralling and riveting.

As the attorney for Alliance, once divorced and founding member of the so called First Wives Club, Lori Cumberland sets off on a cruise with recent rich divorcees, to keep them out of the limelight and to enjoy some much needed rest and relaxation from the media. She definitely doesn’t need Reed Barlow to throw a wrench in her plans.

Reed Barlow is on a mission to gather intel, not fall in love with the cynical attorney. Yet he cannot keep his distance from Lori and the attraction sparks lust and eventually don’t accept-it’s-love mode. The cruise becomes their dating platform and secrets are just on the horizon to bring a storm.

“Fool Me Once” is an absolute surprise of a read. There’s so much intrigue and suspense, sublime romance and the chemistry between all the players is an absolute pleasure to read and enjoy. Lori and Reed, other members of the First Wives Club, and not to mention Lori’s partner in crime running Alliance and her team of security, this story is adventurous, romantic and truly stunning!

Catherin Bybee is one amazing author you don’t want to miss reading. Her stories are based on real life events, there’s humor in anxiety, emotion in passion, trust in distrust and love in many different ways. She is a master in bringing out the best in her characters and penning a story that brings out her very best
Another charming and captivating read from the effervescent Catherine Bybee!!!

Received an ARC from Montlake Romance via NetGalley for an honest review.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion of the book. I flew through this book and left me with wanting more!!! I have discovered this author since the beginning of this year and every book I read is better than the last. I will be recommending this series to everyone I know. I can't wait remaining books of the series to be released.

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

I absolutely loved this book! I've not read the Weekday Brides series and it's not necessary to read before this book, 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.

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.

It's safe to say I highly recommend this. ARC provided by NetGalley.

A spin-off of the Weekday Brides series, the First Wives series takes the divorce attorney Lori and some of the divorced wives from Alliance. A new twist on finding love, or at least marriage, has made Lori rather cynical about the idea of true love and HEA. Enter Reed who is out to change her mind and you get sparks, chemistry, romance, and suspense with strong women and tight friendships. A good read!

Interesting concept. liked this book

Fool Me Once is the first in a new spin 0ff series from this author. In the Weekday Brides series we saw the women of Alliance marry for convenience. Now we see the other side. Life after the divorce. Lori Cumberland is the divorce attorney that handled many of the divorces for Alliance. She is passionate about her work and cares about the women she helps. After all she's been there done that, never wants to repeat that mistake. She's due a little fun though and what better way than a fun flirty fling on a cruise. Reed Barlow is exactly what she needs. However there is much more to Reed than Lori realizes and she suddenly finds herself and her heart in a whole lot of trouble.

A fantastic read and one I definitely recommend to everyone.

I am a HUGE Bybee fan, and was really excited to hear about this spinoff series. I always liked the way she created that camaraderie between all the different characters, and also gave us a little bit of suspense with the romance.

This book brings us back into the world of Alliance and the Weekday Brides. However, the focus is on three former brides and the lawyer, Lori, who presided over all their prenups and divorces. Lori had been in love and been burned, so she is the perfect person to join this group of former brides and they readjust to live after an Alliance marriage. The "first wives" journey to the Mediterranean for a luxury cruise in order to soothe some wounds. Lori was looking for romance, but fate (or is it?) has a different idea.

I was really excited to catch up with some of my favorite characters from Weekday Brides, but it was even more fun getting to know Lori and the other first wives better. Lori was a great heroine. She was strong, sassy, and no nonsense, but also a good and caring friend. Her and Reed sizzled on the page and I was really rooting for these two. Reed made a few bad choices, but once his heart was in it, he was willing to throw himself in the line of fire to protect Lori, and he may have made me swoon once or twice (or more). Seriously, when Reed talked about hiding the turkey legs, I actually shed a tear.

Of course I loved the suspense element, because it brought Neil and Rick back into my life (I missed you boys!), but I also found this Sasha character quite intriguing, and I really hope we see more of her, as we work out this nefarious plot that is running along side the romance.

Yes, I loved all these things, but when it comes to a Bybee book, it's the friendships or rather, family of friends that bring me the most joy. You have the sisterly like vibe with the female characters, the bromance between the male characters, and the overall family vibe when they are all together. They laugh together, they hurt together, they get mad together.

I hope each book will focus on one of the first wives, because I really want the whole story behind Shannon's Alliance marriage.

It was so much fun to be back in the world of Alliance and the Weekday Brides, and I can't wait for more of this series.

It was a bit more complicated than your average romance novel and I couldn't really connect with it. The chemistry between the hero and heroine wasn't that compelling. I wouldn't read another book in this series.

I received a review copy from NetGalley.

I read Catherine Bybee’s Fool Me Once (First Wives Series, Book 1) during a particularly stressful, busy time, and even though I had virtually no free time, I  found myself reading it in the wee hours of the morning—I was enjoying it that much and it was offering a much needed escape from the turmoil around me. Catherine Bybee is one of those authors whose books are predictably enjoyable and immensely readable. What a gift. Fool Me Once is the first in a new series (The First Wives Club) that is a spin-off of sorts from the Weekday Bride Series. 

Fool Me Once’s two leads, Lori Cumberland and Reed Barlow, meet on a Mediterranean cruise that Lori is taking with three other “first wives.” The chemistry between them is instantaneous but Reed isn't who he appears to be. Who exactly is Reed and what are his motivations? Fool Me Once is filled with good guys and bad guys and a host of people watching the “first wives,” but which wife (or more) and for what reasons? All this makes the book full of intrigue and fun. There is just enough danger to be thrilling but not so much to darken the book’s general tone.

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it for fans of Catherine Bybee and any reader who enjoys books that fall into the romance or romantic-suspense genres. A fun read, four stars.

I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor did I receive any compensation. The opinions stated are solely my own.

I was sad when the Weekday Brides series was done, but was so excited for this new series from Catherine Bybee! This could not have been a better book! I was completely consumed by it and I devoured it in one sitting. Yes, I'm a binge reader! And this book was so good that I couldn't put it down if I had tried! I love how Catherine makes the reader feel like she is there with the characters and is exploring the cruise and the many cities right along with them! I don't want to ruin this story for you by giving too much away, but just know you really need to one-click it right now.

First off, I loved how Catherine wove the Weekday Brides ladies into this new book. While, the reader gets to see them, they specifically aren't the main focus. Lori works with them and is now on a mission for work, fun and sun on the high seas in the Mediterranean.
The women she is cruising with have been her clients and she mothers them, but just wants them to be able to unwind without the press following them or them sharing too much information with strangers. Even though this group of women is unlikely, they have more in common than they first realize and it allows them to be free among themselves. They are a good support system for each other when things go haywire. Trina, Avery, Shannon and Lori form a bond on this trip and have each other's back.

As with other Bybee stories, this one has that underlying threat that you know is there and you can't see or touch it yet. I enjoyed how she divulged that information scene-by-scene, and the reader knows there's an underlying darkness, but yet not sure what form that will take. I also enjoyed Reed's presence among the women and I was cheering for him! Not only was he a great match for Lori, but he also kept an eye on them. I also liked how his purpose for being on the cruise wasn't given away right up front. We had to dive into the story to see more to Reed's background.

I love how realistic Catherine's stories are and she writes in such a way that you feel like you know them and could be friends with them. I think that's why I devoured this book. I didn't want to walk away from my friends! I loved the twists and the turns and the feels I went through while reading this book. This was a fantastic start to the series and I anxiously await future books! Hats off to Catherine for another amazing book! I HIGHLY recommend it!

This author is extremely talented and has a strong track record. Unfortunately, this time around it did not work for me. The way certain situations happened and how the dialogue represented the attitudes of the male characters was something that was hard. I will continue to look for this author as I said she is very talented.

The start of another great series by Catherine Bybee! As always, a story filled with the right amounts of romance and intrigue. Looking forward to the next one!

Catherine’s Weekday Brides series describes arranged marriages of convenience which blossom into love. This story is focused on the ones that didn’t work out as planned. Divorce attorney, Lori Cumberland, feels responsible for the well being of her clients and decides to take them away from it all on a cruise on the Med where she encounters Reed Barlow, who manages to slip under her hard outer shell. Reed is actually a PI on a mission to find the dirt on one of clients and finds himself in an impossible position, his loyalties torn. We follow the group through intrigue, twists and turns which leaves us desperately wanting more in this new series. Highly recommended.

**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.

Fool Me once is the first book in the “First Wives “ series by Catherine Bybee. This series is kind of a spinoff from The Weekday Brides series. This book is about Lori who is the Lawyer who does all the pre-nups and divorces for the Alliance Brides

Lori is a Lawyer who specialized in Divorces and Pre-nups. Most of her clients are couples who work with a company called Alliance. Alliance sets up marriages for men who need a bride quickly for a short amount of time. The groom will pay the bride at the end of the marriage in the form of a pre-nup. A lot of the clients are very wealthy or politicians. She is pretty happy with her life and her friends.

Lori is currently working with a client whose Husband commits suicide. Since the clients husbands death is so high profile Lori wants to get the Trina out of the country for a while. Lori, books a cruise for Trina and two other Alliance clients Shannon and Avery. Shannon and Avery have already divorced their arranged husbands but can be trusted to not talk about situation that Trina is in.

While Lori is on the cruise she meets a man named Reed. Reed is on the cruise for work as well. His work is to find out about one of the ladies that Lori is on the cruise with. Lori and Reed get along well and she doesn’t since any danger and assumes their meeting is by chance. Lori and Reed start a friendship/relationship on the cruise and realize they both live in the same town. They decide to try and see each other once they arrive back in the states.

This is a very sweet story with a little suspense but a lot of love, dual POV and some sexy scenes. I thought i had the plot and twists figured out but I was wrong at the very end. I didnt see the ending coming but it was a perfect.. I love a book that keeps my attention to the very end and this one definetly did just that.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

What a great idea for a series! And what a way to start it off. It was great seeing old favorites and meeting new ones. From the first moment they meet eyes, Lori and Reed are bound together and almost inseperable. Little did they expect this crazy ride of passion, deception and danger. 

Lori was an attorney by trade. And working with friend Samantha Harris and her company Alliance really is a match made in heaven. Handling all the legal for persons divorcing after contracted marriage has made her wealthy. But also made her friends and she's come to care for a few of the women affected by the divorces. Now after a horror no one should have to live through, she takes the girls on a cruise. Just to be who they are away from the out lic and to regroup. Little does she expect to meet her match in Reed.

Reed is a P.I. hired to find dirt on one of the women on the cruise ship. Little did he k ow she would be surrounded by friends, or that one in particular would catch his eye. Now he wants to know all about Lori but something changes with the women aboard ship and things become dangerous. 
Wanting to keep up the relationship, he finds out they both live in Cali and goes from there. But after she finds out his real job things won't be easy on him. 

As real danger surrounds Lori and her friends, Alliance brings in security and with Reed having an unknown contact helping them they forge a union that will bring everything to a head. And hopefully keep everyone safe. But will Lori and Reed be able to keep their hearts safe or will they be shattered with all the lies and deception?

Bybee's move from Weekday Brides to First Wives is very, very successful. Lori and Reed's story is an excellent transition and beginning to this new series. It is beyond great to see previous characters after they completed their contracts and get their true HEA's. Beginning with Lori's story as a way to bridge the gap between the two series was genius. Bybee seldom disappoints her readers.

A romance with one of the main characters being a divorce attorney involved in marriages for hire? This doesn't sound like a premise that should work but Catherine Bybee has written another winner! The Alliance crafts marriages between two parties for a certain length of time & compensation. Lori writes the prenup, the contract & deals with the divorce. She also tries to comfort the women if things don't go as planned. She takes three of the women on a cruise to relax & let go after two of them are divorced & the third ends up a widow. Trouble seems to find them onboard & follows them home.

Lori has met the perfect man & the chemistry is intense. Reed is hot enough to make her forget her decision not to get involved. However, Reed has his secrets & as events begin to unfold, he's torn between keeping his secrets & protecting Lori. If he tells her he's a private investigator, she'll want to know more than he can tell her & he'll lose her for keeping a lie. Can Reed walk the thin line? Can Lori protect herself & the three women? Can Reed & Lori find a way to make their relationship work?

Catherine Bybee has a way of writing romances with a twist that showcase the power & individuality of women. The characters are all believable & three dimensional. Lori comes across as bossy & jaded but as a reader, I was able to identify with her & become engaged in the story. Ms. Bybee was able to completely illustrate the corner that Reed had managed to work himself into & the way he was able to justify his actions in warning Lori's partner in Alliance. I can't wait for the next book!