I really enjoyed reading The Whole Time. Getting to know Salena was so much fun. And, following along with her relationship with Ryan was even more fun!
I always enjoy Catherine Bybee;s writing.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

THE WHOLE TIME is the fourth book in the D’Angelo series and I have enjoyed them all. This book featured Salena Barone, who is not a blood member of the D'Angelo family, but is Chloe's best friend and manages the family restaurant. In an Italian family, that makes her family. Salena has made it clear that she is not looking to get married. She likes men, but hasn't found one that she loves enough to give up her independence. Being Italian, you live at home until you get married, but she is stifled and needs more freedom, so moves in the small apartment above the restaurant. In the last book, Beginning of Forever, Gio and Emma have their love story and are getting married. At the wedding, Salena meets Ryan, the youngest of the wealthy Rutledge wine family and Emma's brother. He is also not looking for anything permanent, but they are immediately attracted to one another. As they spend more time with each other, the chemistry is hard to ignore. They have fun, a few physical encounters, and begin to want more than friendship. The problem is, Salena is keeping a huge secret from everyone, one that could ruin everything.

I love the D'Angelo family. They are loud, boisterous and love each other to bits. They tease and harass, but will protect each other with their lives. Salena is another sister to Gio and Luca, so she has to keep things secret from them as well. Beyond that, I don't want to give away the rest of the plot, so will say no more about it. I loved the banter between Salena and Ryan. They have so much fun together, I don't know how they resist one another. Ryan is a swoon worthy partner to Salena's feisty personality and I was rooting for them both to see how much they really cared about one another. I enjoyed their story, and was pleased to see that Salena got her HEA. I recommend this book and the whole series to those who enjoy a fun, enjoyable romance.

I love Catherine Bybee books, and this series and love the D’Angelo family and I love our hero Ryan in this story, but I did not love Salena. She has no path in life and likes to use men and move on, but somehow ends up dating Ryan and liking him. She finds a path to make money, but keeps it a secret because it’s considered taboo by some and then is excited Ryan kept a secret too so they’re even? Her whole attitude when they are caught by the police acting like teenagers annoyed me too.

Despite my lack of love for our heroine, the writing is top notch, I love catching up with all the D’Angelo family and Ryan is a really cool hero!

I have loved this series and hope we see more of the D’Angelo family! I’d love to see Franny grow up and get her own story!!

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Salena and Ryan meet at Emma’s and Gio’s wedding. Ryan is Emma’s brother, Salena is Chloe’s best friend and a close friend of the D’Angelo family. She’s currently the D’Angelo’s restaurant manager. It’s important to remember when Chloe and Salena were in Vegas, where Chloe and Dante had their surprise wedding, how fun-loving and sexy Salena is. In this book, that is front and center in the middle of the story.

When Ryan and Salena meet, it’s not surprising they had a lot in common, they were both the rowdy child in their family. It’s as if a hidden thread sewed them together. Both were against commitment, and yet, it found its way with them. I loved Ryan, felt for Salena.

Salena had a secret, not illegal, but something her family would disapprove of. So she kept at it in secret, and it made it hard for Salena to commit. She’s independent, needs to be self-reliant, and that is what sold Ryan on her, since his prior experience were clingers who wanted his wealth. Their love story proceeds slow and steamy, with long lingering stares, very few moments to be together, a man who is slowly and strongly falling for his woman who resists to the very end. I loved their story, even as I struggled with her family history.

I hated Salena’s parents! They were so judgy and opinionated, never a positive thought came out of them, as related to their younger daughter. And that is why Salena is so secretive and defensive. I felt for her, a woman so comfortable in her own skin, owning her sexuality, and yet craving an approval that never arrives. The D’Angelos are more understanding and supportive, so I wasn’t surprised she moved out of her parents’ home and into the apartment vacated by Gio.

The first part of this book dragged for me, because there was a lot of the judgy parents. Then enter the D’Angelo family, with their intrusiveness but also love and support. Ryan’s mother is a darling, his father not so much but he’s learned his lesson and behaves. This book is as much about love and steam as about family, which is what makes it so lovable to me. Franny stars in many of the funny moments, innocently springing important information to a startled crowd! I love the complicity between the brothers, sisters, friends and in-laws, they make the story so heartwarming. It was truly a lovely read!

Another day, another Catherine Bybee book that was an absolute delight to read.

The Whole Time (The D’Angelos #4) takes us back to Little Italy in San Diego and the D’Angelo family restaurant. With all the D’Angelo siblings happily married, this book follows family friend and restaurant manager Selena Barone as she moves out of the home of her uber-traditional parents and into the top apartment above the restaurant. When she meets Ryan at the wedding of Gio (the D’Angelo’s middle child) and Emma (their story is in book three of this series, Beginning of Forever), sparks fly both ways but Selena is reluctant to have a serious relationship.

I confess, this one didn’t pull me in as hard or quickly as the other three books in this series - but that’s more a me problem. I had a hard time connecting with Selena and her “I don’t give a @&$#” attitude (especially when she absolutely did give a @&$#), and I didn’t ever feel like I was truly able to understand why she was the way she was. But I liked her a lot. And Ryan? I liked him even more! There’s nothing I love more than a hero who falls first and is willing to be patient and play the long game to win the heart of the woman he loves.

I suspect some readers may say nothing happens in this book. To a point, that is true - we spend a lot of time with Selena and Ryan’s day-to-day activities and seeing their relationship develop in a very sweet, organic way. We watch as Selena builds a potentially scandalous side-hustle to improve her finances. But there isn’t a whole lot of angst or soap-opera levels of drama. Just relatable people dealing with realistic life challenges. And you know what? THOSE are my favorite kinds of stories. They are also the kind of stories this author specializes in and I love them.

Catherine Bybee is one of my favorite authors and this book - this whole series, really - is one of the many reasons why. I know whenever I open one of her books I’m going to get a heartwarming story about lovable characters that will leave me with a smile on my face. And there’s not much better than that!

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

Salena Barone is the daughter of strict Italian Catholic parents and expected to live at home until marriage. But at 35 and with no intention of being controlled by any man, she's finally out on her own and renting the apartment above D'Angelos restaurant and also working as their manager.
Ryan is the youngest of the Rutledge wine family, determined to make his own way and not depend on his trust fund. When these two meet at his sister's wedding is instant attraction, but neither is looking for long term. But as their friends with benefits starts to develop into something more, Salena knows she has to find a way to tell the secret that might blow up everything.
This was a great continuation of the D'Angelo series. It can be read as a standalone, but there are a lot of characters in this story from pervious books. I love how these two interact with the other characters in the series. They're both so independent and determined to make their own way despite overly controlling parents on both sides. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a good read! I always love a strong female lead, and this definitely provided that! I also love the D'Angelo family, and it was so fun to be back in their world! I've truly enjoyed this series. Overall, this was a fun, easy read that I would definitely recommend to romance and fiction readers alike!

Thanks to NEtgalley for the advanced copy to review. All opinions are my own.

Great story. Salerna breaks away from her somewhat controlling parents and moves into an apartment over italian restaurant that her childhood friends family owns. They welcome her with open arms and at a wedding she meets Ryan.
Wonderful love story with a touch and go theme, but love wins in the end.
Loved reading from this author and looking forward to more in the future.

Welcome back to Little Italy and the D'angelos.

I adored restaurant manager/friend to the D'Angelos through all the books. I love the way the D'angelo family adopted her as one of their own, and look out for her.

And we met Ryan previously - if you have read the previous books, you will remeber him as Emma's brother.

The spark and attraction is strong with them, but can they survive Salena's secret, or will it sour for them before they really start?

You will need to read to find that out, but you will want to read. The whole series is cute and adorable

I have really enjoyed this series by Catherine Bybee but I have to admit, this story, featuring Salena, who we have met in prior books and Ryan, who is the brother of the heroine in a prior story, felt a little slower than the others. Salena is a free spirit how, because of her past, doesn't want a relationship. Ryan is the black sheep of the Rutledge family and he immediately felt a kinship towards Salena and wanted to be with her. Eventually she agrees, although not wanting to be in a serious relationship, especially given her extra way of making money (nothing too bad but keeping hidden to not be a spoiler), kept him at arm's length. I disliked her family intensely and it took me a little to work up to liking Salena (she was a little abrasive in the beginning) but by the end, I was a fan. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an early read.

I love Catherine Bybee books. She always has a way to make you feel like you're watching (reading) a movie. I loved the family dynamic in this one so much! I can sympathize with Salena and the need to walk away with what doesn't serve you. Especially overbearing Italian parents (they mean well). Insert residential bad boy Ryan who comes out of left field and turns her world upside down!

This is the 4th book in the series, it is kind of a standalone, but I think you may be missing out on some of the nuances of the character interactions if you haven’t read the previous books in the series. Now that all 3 of the D’Angelo siblings have found their happily-ever-afters, it is time for Salena’s story. Salena is the wild child friend of Chloe, and she is looking for some independence from her parents, who believe she should live with them until she is married. Salena moves out into an apartment and her already strained budget takes a hit when her car breaks down beyond repair. Salena has a new love interest that is willing and able to take care of her, but Salena is determined to make ends meet on her own, even if it means by taking on an unconventional way to make money.

I liked Salena’s story, but found myself cheering for he, while also cringing at some of her choices. Not my favorite in the series, but still a fun read!

Overall Grade: B

Tropes: insta-attraction; opposites attract; friend’s brother

Catherine Bybee’s The Whole Time gifts us with Salena’s romance. If you’ve been reading her The D’Angelos series, Salena has been a breath of fresh air amongst the old charm of the D’Angelo’s romances. While her best friend, Chloe, is the requisite rule-follower, Salena marches to the beat of her own drum. She’s independent (seemingly so) and knows herself well. She’s a $exual being who doesn’t apologize for it. Instead, we find through her story that she leans into it, and it’s her superpower.

It would make sense that she would need a partner such as Ryan who would accept her as she is and be attracted by it. The self-professed “black sheep” of his family, Ryan is an apt match for Salena. The Whole Time is a story of instant attraction and a journey of becoming. The story begins with Salena sneaking out of her parents’ home to find the independence she craves from her old-world Italian family. It ends with her having found that independence and a whole lot more.

What I’ve loved about The D’Angelos series is its location, the charm of its characters, and the real-life feel of Bybee’s characters. These are characters whom you expect to meet on your street. While we might not be Italian, we understand the difficulty of growing up with a certain amount of respect for parental expectations while also wanting to find our own space. Bybee deftly crafts this struggle in both Ryan’s and Salena’s lives. She makes it palpable and understandable for her reader. Whether you’re the son of a wealthy wine owner or the daughter of traditional Italians, we can understand the want to be our own person on our own terms.

Throughout The Whole Time, we are once again treated to the lives of the D’Angelos after the conclusions of their stories. I love the relationships that Bybee has created through these stories. The theme of family is the foundation of these stories, and they add a layer to Salena and Ryan’s romantic journey.

My biggest criticism about this story is its heavy-handedness in chronology. In the former D’Angelos stories, they don’t read like a time diary. This one, however, walks us through each month of Ryan and Salina’s lives. It sometimes makes the story feel tedious. While I believe the character development and the capacity to place them in the space of this world are these story’s strengths, there were times when the story read slow, and I believe it has to do with the plodding of its chronology.

Catherine Bybee, however, did not disappoint with The Whole Time. My favorite moments come at the end when Ryan and Salena find their happy ending on their own terms. Even though this book and its predecessors are set in San Diego and Temecula, neither of which I’d describe as traditional “small towns,” this newest book from Bybee gives you all the feels of a small-town romance.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand I loved the D’Angelo family and the sense of community they engendered through their restaurant. There were a lot of funny and feel good moments as Salena was welcomed to the fold, by moving in to the apartment about the restaurant. The flip side was Salena’s character - She had made some questionable choices, which made her hard to relate to, though I wanted to like her for being independent and true to herself. Ryan, the main male character was very much the likable bad boy and it was fun to see these two black sheep characters get together..

I really enjoyed this one. Ryan and Salena were such interesting characters, I loved the connection the two of them had. The way their relationship developed and the way the two of them cared for each other, it was one of my favorites. I don't know why, but I just love the stories where the main characters naturally fall into a deeper relationship. Where there isn't really a conversation about exclusivity or being in a relationship, it just kind of happens in the course of living their lives. I know that sounds ridiculous because I hate the miscommunication trope and I love when couples are able to openly communicate with each other. While Ryan and Salena may just fall into their relationship, without much conversation, there wasn't any miscommunication and when it came down to it, they were able to talk to each other.

I liked the similarities between the two of them, and I enjoyed the growth they both demonstrated throughout the course of this book. The way they supported each other and just wanted the best for each other was so good. I loved getting to see the D'Angelo family in this one, and I love how they bring people into their fold and love them like family. This was a great addition to The D'Angelos series.

✔️ Strangers to Friends to Lovers
✔️ He Falls First
✔️ Dancer Heroine
✔️ Tattooed Biker Billionaire Hero
✔️ Circle of Friends
✔️ Third Person Dual POV

Salena and Ryan’s story in The Whole Time by Catherine Bybee, book four in the D’Angelos series; a passionate, hopeful tale that transports you to San Diego and into the lives of both the hardworking Salena Barone, who is determined to do whatever it takes to make ends meet and live on her own, even if it means doing a side gig that not everyone would understand or approve of, and the successful bad boy Ryan Rutledge who is more than content with casual dating and never actually falling in love. Ryan and Salena are each trying to break free of their individual family drama as they find themselves intertwined more often than not. With big feelings growing and independence at the forefront, this growing romance sizzles and grows. A smoldering slow burn is the perfect description of the growing connection between Ryan and Salena.

Ms. Bybee wrote an amazing story; one that is heartfelt, with a blend of tricky situations, tender moments, new beginnings, self-discovery, friendship, family, happiness, romance, and love. I highly recommend The Whole Time to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

The Whole Time is the fourth book in the D’Angelo series.

Salena Barone works for the D’Angelo family and loves working in the family restaurant. At the age of 26 she is past ready for the time to move out of her family home. Her parents believe until she is married, she will live with them. After packing most of her belongings she attempts to leave while they are sleeping to avoid the guilt and drama that comes with per parents. Her father wakes up and her worst fears are realized, they overreact and try to guilt her into staying, but she is determined to move out and move to the top floor above the restaurant.

The night before Emma Rutledge and Giovanni D’Angelo's wedding (book 3) Salena meets Ryan, Emma's brother, they find that they are instantly attracted to one another. Neither is looking for a long-term relationship, but it is apparent to everyone else they are perfect for one another.

Ryan is very different than the rest of his siblings. He is not interested in his family’s wine business. He prefers to invest in commercial real estate. He rides a motorcycle and has tattoos. Although, just like his siblings he does not have a good relationship with his father.

Salena and Ryan aren't conventional and want to live their lives on their own terms. Salena is making money on the side by doing something most would consider inappropriate. But the extra money she is making is allowing her to buy a new car and have more money than she has had previously. When her secret is revealed will it destroy her future with Ryan.

I really like this series. It's fun and very steamy. The family issues are relatable to most everyone. Salena and Ryan were so fun getting to know them. I highly recommend this book and series.

4.5⭐

Readers are transported back to the high-spirited D'Angelo family in The Whole Time.

But this time it's Chloe's best friend Salena who takes centre stage. And she's a character I've been desperate to read about. As she has always come across as fun, flirty, and full of life. Which she certainly is!

But thanks to a heap of catholic guilt and a sister who got pregnant at nineteen. Salena is still living at home at the age of twenty-six. Surrounded by two wonderful parents who can be stifling.

And so Salena makes the bold move to live alone in the vacant apartment at her friend's family restaurant. Hoping that the close proximity to home will appease her parents and give her the freedom she craves.

And when she meets the gorgeous, sexy, tattooed, free-spirited, motorbike-riding black sheep of the Rutledge family, Ryan, at Emma and Gio's wedding, Salena is more than happy to be free of her parents' disapproving gaze.

Especially when the two begin dating casually.

But as time goes on, it's clear that the pair are anything but casual. Only neither Salena or Ryan has been completely honest with each other and have disapproving family to deal with.

And with a strong sense of family, humour and emotion. Not to mention spicy moments and sweetness. The Whole Time is another delightful addition to the D'Angelos series, and I am hoping for more to come in the future. But if not, I will definitely be rereading the series in years to come.

My thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Whole Time. 😊

THE WHOLE TIME is the fourth book in the D’Angelo series! Talk about an awesome family! They always have each other’s backs no matter what is going on within the family. Seriously, I want this family to adopt me! I love them and want to join them for Sunday dinners! Salena Barone loves the D’Angelo family and loves working in the family restaurant. All she wants to do is get away from her over protective parents and moves to the top floor of the restaurant to get out of their clutches! Needless to say, her parents aren’t happy.

The night before another D’Angelo wedding, Salena meets Ryan, and its instant chemistry. In THE WHOLE TIME, neither one of them is looking for a commitment, or so they say. They both seem to be okay with casual dating or are they? Anyway, Ryan is the black sheep of the Rutledge family. He wants nothing to do with his family’s wine business. He, like Salena wants to forge his own path and do what he wants. Not what is expected of him.

I don’t want to say too much for fear of giving away all of THE WHOLE TIME but once I started reading this beautiful and heart breaking story, I could not stop! I really hope there is another book in this series and fall more in love with the D’Angelos. Their family is going to worm their way into your heart and never leave. A perfect heartfelt and wonderful story to spend the afternoon with!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Whole Time. Another brilliant book by Catherine Bybee which is part of an amazing series. Totally recommend.