Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for providing me an electronic copy of Changing the Rules by Catherine Bybee. I voluntarily agree to read and review Catherine Bybee’s newest novel, Book 1 in the Richter series. My opinions are my own and are not influenced by the complimentary copy.

Changing the Rules is a great start on Ms. Bybee’s newest series. The pacing pulled me in early on and picked up speed in the second half of the book. By the end, the pacing moved like a freight train on steroids. The climax is amazing!

Claire Kelly is the heroine. She goes undercover at an expensive private high school in California. At first, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this book, but as I stated, it grabbed me at the half way point and kept me reading my Kindle as fast as possible.

Cooper Lockman is the hero. He has known Claire for years, but he took an assignment in Europe when Claire was still a teenager because the attraction between them as way too strong considering the age difference at that time.

When they end up at the private school, Claire as a student and Cooper as a track coach, the attraction threatens to burn them up, but now the age difference is no longer an issue. However, since he’s a teacher and she’s an undercover student, they can’t allow the attraction to consume them. Claire and Cooper are a fantastic couple, and I really wanted to see them together.

If you enjoy contemporary women’s fiction with plenty of suspense and a bit of angst, then you’ll love Changing the Rules as much as I did. This is the first book in MS. Bybee’s new series, and I can’t wait to read the next one. Happy reading!

I really liked that this series had some recurring characters to the author’s other books. You don’t have to of read them. But it was fun piecing them together. It was a griping read.

Changing the Rules is the first book in the all-new Richter series by Catherine Bybee.

Six long years ago, Cooper left for Europe when his feelings for Claire threatened to tank his career and reputation. Now he’s back and ready to pursue her. But Claire thinks of him as her good friend. As they embark on a new and dangerous mission undercover, Cooper changes the rules on her and finally lets her know how he truly feels about her. With the stakes incredibly high and the pressure mounting, will their relationship survive? Will they survive?

I’ve read a handful of books by this author and really liked them. Mostly her romance and women’s fiction. So this romantic suspense was a new genre of book by her for me to read. I’m an avid romantic suspense lover and have been for many years. Needless to say, I jumped in with high expectations.

Now, I’m a characters girl, so if I can’t connect with the main characters, I will generally give up on a story. Let me just say that I loved Cooper. He’s kind of the perfect mix of alpha but tempered with good sense, a solid moral code, and very protective instincts. He’s also great at his job. Claire had a very unconventional upbringing, so what might have been obvious to me regarding Cooper’s feelings didn’t quite register with her at first. She’s understandably shaken by Cooper’s desire for their relationship to move beyond friendship because her coworkers are the closest she’s ever had to family. If it all blew up, what’s left for her?

I wouldn’t call the action fast-paced until the very end, but it didn’t drag, either. Instead, it was a well-paced, steady build to the climax. There were some elements of the backstory and with the characters’ relationships that I felt were missing. There’s obviously a link to some previous stories. I felt I was missing out on a bit of that part of the backstory that would have enhanced this one had the author given us just a little more of that information. However, it’s kind of brilliant from a marketing standpoint as I now want to purchase the previous books linked to this new series.

All in all, this book was just the kind of story this romantic suspense junkie desires: well-paced action, great characters, and mystery and suspense that weren’t too simple that I figured out the who and the why before the climax. The author also kept me guessing as to who the real villain was until the big reveal, so bravo to her! It’s always a bit of a letdown when I can finish the puzzle before the author does it for me.

I give Changing the Rules by Catherin Bybee 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Gosh readers!!! Do not miss this new romance from Catherine Bybee. First in her new Richter series, she sure does change the rules of romance between Claire and Cooper. She's one of those masters of romance and suspense, adding her humorous and witty talent to her stories, and you've got yourself another brilliant read from her.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I really loved the previous book with Sasha and AJ, Say it Again, so was thrilled to see this book come out. While you don't need to read the previous book and this can be read as a stand alone, I had to go back and reread Say it Again. In that book, Claire and Cooper are a small part and those parts are part of this book and explained well so you didn't have to read Say it Again. But, I love Sasha's character so much that I enjoyed the reread!

So, six years have gone by and Claire and Cooper have not had any contact in that time which is explained. Claire has finally grown up and they are thrown together in an undercover situation as they need to find out where missing high school kids are going and who is responsible.

There is a lot of drama, intrigue, and suspense as they navigate the high school scene - Cooper pretending to be a teacher/coach and Claire as a high school senior.

Throw in Neil and his gang, along with Sasha and AJ and the gang is back and is it great!

I loved this author's Weekday Brides series so I was pleasantly surprised to follow up with my favorite couple of the series in this book. Neil McBain has started his own security company and Claire is one of his employees and also like a daughter to him and Gwen. When an undercover assignment comes through for Claire and coworker Jax to pose as high school students to bring down a sex trafficking ring she jumps on it. Her education at her own school was very different, so she looks forward to her experience in a normal American high school. Longtime friend and crush Cooper poses as the school's track coach and Claire is one of the star runners. As time goes on and they get closer to finding the criminals, their attraction becomes more and more obvious, even to the other students. But will they catch the criminals before they set their sights on Claire herself?
I liked how this book shines a light on this very real and serious issue. The fact that the teachers themselves were suspected to be assisting in the human trafficking was terrifying. I look forward to reading the rest of this series as they come out.
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed are completely my own and given voluntarily.

In Changing the Rules, Catherine Bybee brings her interesting secondary characters into another generation. The focus of this new series is on some of the students from Richter (a private school featured in a previous Bybee book) as they now work for MacBain Security (another feature of previous books).

We meet Claire and Cooper as they reconnect after 6 years apart. The primary story is a mystery/crime fighting tale as they and their team fight to break up a sex trafficking ring in local high schools. There is a sweet romantic undercurrent to the story as well.

Having read the books where both MacBain and Richter were introduced, I felt comfortable with the references to both institutions as I got to know Claire, Cooper, and their team. Ms Bybee did an excellent job with world building around this group without bogging down the story being told in Changing the Rules.

With likable, intersting characters, a dose of intrique, and light romance - this was a great start to a new series. I am looking forward to seeing what is in store for more of Claire's former classmates. Hopefully we see her roomate, Jax's, story soon.

Changing the Rules by Catherine Bybee is a romance with a bit of mystery and suspense. Claire and Cooper have history and though they have not seen each other for years, they are now forced to work together. The chemistry and feelings they share cannot be denied, but the job should take priority. As they get closer to the truth, the danger grows, can they find their way to each other before it’s too late? A captivating read with so many feels.

Happy reading!

After everything that Claire had endured, she needed a new beginning, and she found a home at MacBain security. She doesn’t hesitate to go undercover at a high school where teenagers are being coerced into the sex trade especially since it has personal implications to those she cares the most about.

After spending the last six years abroad Cooper has returned to the US and Claire. When they worked together previously his feelings for her were much deeper than friends and co-workers, but the timing wasn’t right. He now finds himself working closely with her and he is determined to show her that they make the perfect partners both personally and professionally.

As the intrigue escalates so does the romance as the compelling characters and the captivating storyline draw you in and have you invested in the outcome.

Catherine Bybee once again delivers a book that is crafted perfectly to fit her characters. Both Claire and Cooper live for the adrenaline that their work gives them, so it was fitting that this story had a heavy focus on the mystery/investigation as these two navigated their personal relationship, all while trying not to blow their covers.

I just loved Claire – she’s full of sass and snark, falling easily into her role as a high school senior. I was a big fan of “21 Jump Street” and it was fun to watch both Claire and Jax as they navigated their way through the halls of high school and all the drama that went with it. Cooper was so sweet and I loved how he worked his way into Claire’s heart. These two had some serious chemistry, and once they finally were able to act on their feelings there was no denying that they were perfect for each other.

There were so many great characters in this book. I am a huge Sasha fan and loved the time on the page she was given. She has been a huge influence on Claire and I loved watching Claire channel her inner-Sasha at times. It looks like Leo will be featured in the next book, and I’m sure Jax will also get her turn at a happy ever after, and I can’t to learn their stories as well.

You really can’t go wrong with a Catherine Bybee book and I would highly recommend this one to anyone!

This book is the first in a new Richter series, full of adventure, romance, and suspense! I haven’t read a lot of romantic suspense, but let me tell you…I am into it!

The crew at MacBain Security and Solutions has been tasked with weeding out a human trafficking ring that is targeting kids at California high schools. Claire Kelly is going undercover as a student and Cooper Lockman as a teacher and assistant track coach.

Claire and Cooper worked together six years ago, but since then Cooper has been in Europe, doing his best to avoid his feelings for Claire. As the case starts to heat up, so do their feelings.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book, and the story kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. While this book is the start of a new series I believe it’s a spin-off from the First Wives series, and I have heard from a few people that the author’s book Say It Again gives you the whole backstory of what went on with the super spy school where Claire and Cooper first met, so I’ll definitely be going back to read that one.

Book two in the Richter series is scheduled to come out in July of this year, and is titled A Thin Disguise. it follows former gun-for-hire, Olivia, and FBI agent, Leo Grant, on a race to find a killer. So stay tuned for that one!

What an awesome story. Ms. Bybee brings character's to life. She also has the courage to make her book about something real that happens right under our noses, human trafficking. There is suspense, mystery, a wonderful storyline that keeps you turning pages. This story is entertaining, exciting and includes romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a review. I can't wait to read the next book.

There’s not much that incites more excitement in me than a new Catherine Bybee series. Apparently my review for Say It Again (First Wives #5) went from my lips to Ms. Bybee’s ears because she did exactly what I was hoping for: give Claire her own story!

And Changing the Rules was everything I was hoping it would be.

Claire Kelly was raised at Richter, a military training boarding school in Germany. As a trained assasin, she’s about as bad ass of a heroine you’ll ever come across. When the school closed down six years ago under a cloud of scandal, Sasha (a former Richter graduate) took Claire under her wing, and she was also essentially adopted by Gwen and Neil MacBain, the owner of MacBain Securities and Solutions. Since then, Claire has gone to college, gotten her private investigator’s license, and has a frequently less-than-exciting job with MacBain Securities.

After a career in the military, Cooper Lockman was hired by MacBain Securities. Six years ago, he fell in love with Claire. But she was only 18 years old and Neil wasn’t keen on his pseudo daughter getting involved with an employee who was not only seven years older, but far more experienced with life in the real world. When Neil offered Cooper a position in London and strongly suggested he take it, Cooper did his best to put his feelings for Claire behind him. It didn’t work.

Now the local police department has asked MacBain Securities for help finding a human trafficker who’s taking girls from local high schools, so it’s all hands on deck, bringing Cooper back to California and back into Claire’s orbit.

This is a modern-day 21 Jump Street, only with internationally trained operatives. I do love me a romantic suspense story and this one pretty much ticked all my boxes:
Fast paced story? ✔️
Kept me guessing? ✔️
Realistic love story? ✔️
Equal parts suspense and romance? Well...

That’s the only thing not completely satisfying about this book. The romantic suspense reader in me wants as much relationship development as there is for the suspense part of the book. I really liked Claire and Ryan and wanted more of them. I really liked that Ryan fell for Claire years ago, but wish he would have spent more time pining for her during their separation instead of just trying to move on. But, I loved how it wasn’t hard for Ryan to sell Claire on the idea of them being together. Even though Claire was in her early 20s, she had a maturity in her relationship with Ryan that’s seldom seen in today’s books. So even though I would have liked far more of Ryan and Claire, what was there was GOOD.

I can’t wait for the rest of this series. Confession...I already have a copy of the next book and it’s totally making my fingers itchy to start it! But as I’ve done with other Catherine Bybee books, I’ll use it as a carrot to dangle in front of my lengthy to-read list. Surely knowing I have the next Catherine Bybee release already in hand will make me read faster, right?!

* thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

CHANGING THE RULES (Richter Book #1) by Catherine Bybee is the first book in a new romantic suspense series featuring characters working for MacBain Security and Solutions that were introduced in the fifth and final book “Say It Again” in the First Wives Club series. Even with the crossover, this book is easily read as a standalone with background information given in the story.

Claire Kelly was taught an impressive set of covert skills at her private military boarding school, Richter in Germany. Given a home and college education by the MacBain’s, Kelly has now worked for MacBain Security and Solutions for six years while living with her best friend and fellow Richter graduate, Jax.

Cooper Lockman has been working in the European MacBain office for the last six years and has returned to the California headquarters in time for a new assignment with Claire. He left to give Claire time to mature and make her own life, but he is back and finds he still wants her.

Claire as a student and Cooper as a back-up track coach are working undercover in a local high school to root out a sex-trafficking ring with a mastermind who has eluded local undercover police. The more they uncover, the more dangerous their situation even as their relationship heats up.

I was so happy to see Claire and Cooper get a story. Claire is a character that can take care of herself and was trained in all covert skills and yet she is a caring and giving adult. Abandoned as a baby and still at times affected by that, she loves the MacBain and Hoffman families. Cooper is perfect for Claire. He is willing to give her up for six years, appreciates her skills and does not seek to change her. Ms. Bybee does a wonderful job of making Claire and Cooper’s romance grow naturally while also keeping the plot and suspense moving at a rapid pace with ever increasing tension. All the characters, past and present and the increasing suspense keep you turning the pages to get to the final solution.

I highly recommend this romantic suspense and I am looking forward to many more!

This new series started with two of my favourite CB characters to daye - Neil and Sasha.

I loved that they have brought about a new series for me to enjoy.

The Richter series are going to feel heavier than Ms Bybee's previous series, but that is to be expected with the subject matter of Changing The Rules.

Thus book gave this old duck memories of her days watching 21 Jump Street.

I did find that it took me a while to really get into the swing of this book, but once I was in it I couldn't wait to turn each page.

Adored Claire, but the character who i loooved is Jax, and I can't wait for her story.

This book does delve into the world of sex slavery, so at times it is not for the faint hearted

Overall this was a nice romantic suspense story. I liked both Cooper and Claire's characters. The plot was realistic and the setting at the high school developed . I loved Claire's impersonation of a defiant teenager! The story keeps the reader guessing about the identity of the true villains.
This book is labeled as book one in a new series, yet I felt that I was picking up in the middle of story. I have a feeling these characters and their backstory were explored in a previous book/series. For that reason I felt it hard to connect fully to these characters and the story was not as satisfying as it could have been.

*** I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***

I thoroughly enjoyed Changing The Rule by Catherine Bybee. It is the story of Cooper and Claire, 2 private investigators with troubling backgrounds. They work for a company tasked with uncovering players in a high school human trafficking ring. This book is full of all the good stuff: action, suspense, and romance. It is well written, covers a tough topic, and is very engaging. The characters were relatable to me and developed well with the storyline. I look forward to reading the 2nd Richter installment. I'd recommend this book, though, it may be a trigger for some who have trauma from similar experiences of abuse.

What a ride that book was, from the very beginning we are into an undercover missions at high schools, with some pretty serious topics. I was drawn in by the suspense of the story, the wonderful characters and the chemistry that they have together. I can see there are many more side characters to also get their stories in the series.

Claire has not has an easy upbringing but it has helped to mold her to the person she is today. She works hard at her job and is constantly trying to do better. She is fiercely loyal to those she loves and that included her team. She is a little shocked when Cooper arrives back and shares his feelings. Is she ready for something like that?

Cooper has just arrived back from working overseas for the past six years. He knew then he had feelings for Claire but she was too young to act on them. Now that age doesn't hold the same distance. But will she feel the same way about him? Can he work along side her and not let his feelings show?

Will they be able to catch the bad guys and still have time to search out a possible relationship?

This is my first book by Catherine Bybee and I will definitely be looking for more. I am excited for more of this series.

***Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***

As the first in a new series, there’s a bit of a problem here in that you apparently have to have read TWO other series by the author to understand the backstory of the heroine, Claire, who was rescued at 18 from some sort of elite German boarding school in the business of producing spy-assassins along with her best friend Jax. That was six years ago; Cooper Lockman at the time was in his mid-twenties and knew he had no business being attracted to Claire. Accepting an assignment in Europe, he left, but couldn’t put her out of his mind.

Now Cooper is back and he and Claire (and Jax) are going undercover in high school, trying to find out the who, how and why of several girls who have disappeared and later found to have been sex trafficked. Claire’s in as a student, Cooper a substitute teacher, so it’s crucial they keep any feelings they might be developing for each other strictly on the back burner. Which is, because this is a romance after all, pretty much impossible.

I absolutely loved Claire as a heroine; she kicks ass and takes no prisoners, including calling Cooper out when he starts being a fool. To his credit, he never tries to wrap her in cotton wool, a pet hate of mine in romantic suspenses; he trusts her to use her skills appropriately to get her part of the job done.

What I didn’t get here was all that much of a read on Cooper. Maybe his backstory is in other books by this author, but we are told almost nothing about him here. Barely a hint of what he’s been doing in Europe for six years, even less about who he was before that and where he came from, and as a hero therefore he was unfortunately something of a cipher, and I found it hard to understand why Claire fell for him. I’m not a big fan of the ‘older guy waiting for the heroine to grow up to make his move’ plotline anyway as it has some icky undertones for me, and not really getting to know Cooper as a person made that worse.

The plot is intriguing - and tragic, with the author having done plenty of research underpinning her work, the confronting reality that young women are trafficked out of American high schools every day something that’s not shied away from. Overall this is a good read, but I do believe first-in-series books should not require you to have read other entire series to understand backstory, and Cooper’s lack of characterisation means I was never going to give this five stars anyway. Four stars, because Catherine Bybee knows how to tell a good suspense, but I needed better backstory for Cooper in particular.

I am a fan of Catherine Bybee. When I heard she started a new series, a romantic suspense series, I knew that I would be reading it. I enjoyed that the story was realistic in that prostitution of children is something that is happening in Any Town USA. The topic is not something most people discuss but it is in the news weekly. Catherine Bybee did a great job in not covering over the hard facts and making her story pretty but she in telling the truth of living the life and the horrible people who forced children into the life.



The sparks between Cooper and Claire made the story fun to read. I liked how they circled, teased, flirted, and enjoyed each other. The way that Neil made sure Cooper behaved had me smiling, the friends that encouraged the two of them had me envious, and the work they did had me thinking of them as heroes.



Changing the Rules is a quick and fun book. I read it in just a couple days and already have told my friends that they should buy their own copies.