Absorbing, spicy, and heartfelt!

The Forgotten One is a sweet, uplifting tale that takes us into the lives of Maximillian Smith, a down-to-earth guy with a rough past who is still coming to grips with his newly inherited wealth, and Sarah McNeilly, a tabloid reporter who is determined to uncover the truth and write pieces that are meaningful and honest regardless of what her boss would prefer.

The writing is smooth and sincere. The characters are hardworking, passionate, and stubborn. And the plot is an engaging, hopeful tale full of family, drama, disappointments, tender moments, palpable chemistry, expectations, revelations, friendship, and love.

Overall, The Forgotten One is a warm, charming, addictive read by Bybee that can definitely be picked up as a standalone novel, but as someone who absolutely adores this Heirs series, I highly recommend you read them all.

This book is the second in The Heirs series and follows Max's foray into familial bonds as well as white collar work. As Max's involvement with the Stone enterprise develops, he meets a tabloid reporter, Sarah, who is tasked with delivering all of the details of Max's life.
While I'm not always a fan of billionaire stories, this one was an entertaining and uplifting read. The relationships with unknown family are discovered and nurtured in a positive way. I also loved that the book addresses a sad reality that is children in state care. Overall, it was a story full of positive interpersonal relationships and character growth for both Max and Sarah.

I'm loving this series so much! I loved that we got to know more about Max in this book. His pairing with Sarah was a bit of a surprise knowing what her job was. But they were so great together. They had an immediate chemistry and they really just fit. Max was such a surprising character and I loved how he shows he cares for people. It was an amazing trait knowing how difficult his childhood had been. I had been anxiously looking forward to this one and was not disappointed in the slightest. I really want to get to the next book in the series and find out more about Alex. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Wow just wow. I read this immediately after All Our Tomorrows and i wish I could erase the last 4 days and start this journey all over again.
Catherine has an incredible way with words, the flow and pace of the books are just perfect. I loved the storylines in both books and totally invested in all the characters.
This book picks straight up from Book 1 after Chase and Alex finding Max. One minute his life is running from one pay check to another, living in the undesirable Palmdale and the next he’s being told his father who he had no knowledge of has died leaving him and his newly found siblings as heirs to his multi billion dollar empire.
Max doesn’t trust easily, he believed his parents died when he was a baby fording him to grow up in foster homes but mostly group homes including a stint in a Juvenile detention facility.
Sarah McNeilly writes for a gossip magazine but doesn’t sensationalise her stories which is why she’s tasked to unearth the truth behind the connection between Maximillian Smith and the Stone family empire. Max soon realises Sarah could be key to help write the story the right way to not damage the Stone name and manage the fall out it could cause the business.
I won’t give any spoilers but the development of their characters and the story is 😘
The icing on the cake is still following Chase, Piper and Alex’s story. I cannot wait for June 25 for Book 3 (Maybe Alex’s book 🙏)
Thank you NetGalley, Catherine Bybee and Montlake for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

When Maximillian Smith is thrust into the world of the billionaire Stone family, he is not prepared for what lies ahead. Having gone from wondering how to pay for gas to untold wealth, he struggles with finding his feet. Yet when he meets Sarah McNeilly, he finds the person who might help him with his new life by finding his biological mother. Sarah’s latest job is to discover as much dirt as she can on Max, but she doesn’t go looking for gossip and only wants to tell the truth. Yet pressure from her boss puts pressure on her attraction to Max.
Having enjoyed the first book in the series, I was looking forward to more about the Stone family. Once I got beyond Max’s hard exterior and his attempt to push everyone away, I found him to be a complex character. I did enjoy the character of Sarah, who has such great strength of character, which is exactly what Max needed in his search for his mother. Another great addition to the series and I look forward to reading about Alex’s story next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When Maximillian Smith is thrust into the world of the billionaire Stone family, he is not prepared for what lies ahead. Having gone from wondering how to pay for gas, to untold wealth, he struggles with finding his feet. Yet when he meets Sarah McNeilly, he finds the person who might help him with his new life by finding his biological mother. Sarah’s latest job is to discover as much dirt as she can on Max, but she doesn’t go looking for gossip, and only wants to tell the truth. Yet pressure from her boss puts pressure on her attraction to Max.
Having enjoyed the first book in the series, I was looking forward to more about the Stone family. Once I got beyond Max’s hard exterior and trying to push everyone away, I found him to be a complex character. I did enjoy the character of Sarah who has such great strength of character, which is exactly what Max needed in his search for his mother. Another great addition to the series and I look forward to reading about Alex’s story next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an advanced copy of The Forgotten One.

Max is just a normal guy until one day he is told he has half siblings and a father who was very wealthy. Max was told that his parents had been dead since he was little. But he soon finds out that his father just recently died and his mother abandoned him when he was little. His life changes in an instant and one day he meets Sarah who he finds out is a reporter digging for dirt on him. He initially wants nothing to do with her but later decides he has a chance to control the narrative. He tries to learn to let his family in and accept his new found fortune. He also grows closer to Sarah and they go on a search to find his mother.

This is the second book in this series and I recommend reading the first book before you read this one. I really enjoyed this book and the storyline. It was easy to connect with the characters the story kept me engaged. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to find out what happens!

💰Loved the male lead and his rocky backstory!👍

4-4.5 🌟stars
This second story in Bybee's The Heirs series introduces Max, a blue collar everyman with a difference. He's a product of the foster and social care system, abandoned by his mother while a toddler and unacknowledged by his wealthy as Croesus dad, yet thanks to a mentor he takes the hard-working and just path. Suddenly, he finds he's got siblings and a huge fortune, plus paparazzi who are ready to follow his every move. From a forgotten child who aged out of the system to a sought after billionaire in the blink of an eye. Yet he remains fundamentally unchanged. What an appealing premise for a story!

I liked everything about Max, and how he handles himself through all the upheaval, and especially through the search for his mother. Sarah, the journalist who catches his eye, was a character that I thought could have had more development, more depth. Their scenes together were good. There's some steam, but I liked that it wasn't the focus of the plot or their romantic relationship.

If you enjoyed the first book in the series, you will probably be happy to see those characters return as Max's newfound family. The way they brought him into the fold of the family both business wise and emotionally, giving Max the close family life he's never had and Max's reaction: touching.

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

The Forgotten One by Catherine Bybee is the first book that I have read by her and it won't be my last. I just loved this story. This had me on the edge of my seat from the first page. This is a wonderful heartwarming and delightful story. I just love all of the characters. Catherine is just a wonderful story teller and I will be reading more of her books. Catherine keeps you wanting to read more and not wanting to put it down.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Catherine Bybee and Montlake for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book hooked me from the first paragraph! I LOVED the story of Max finding out about his birth family and seeing his transformation from a guy living paycheck to paycheck to a billionaire with a huge heart! This book was just so good!!!

Another winner from Bybee! I was excited to read the next book in The Heirs series and this did not disappoint. The story picks back up with Chase and Alex trying to find their long lost brother Maximillian Smith. Along the way their group gets entangled with reporter Sarah McNeilly who is looking to surface the truth about Stone family rumors. While Max learns about his past, gets to know his family and acclimatizes to being rich overnight- a romance blossoms! This was another great read and I am ready for the next one.

The Forgotten One is the second book in The Heirs series. While it can be read as a standalone, reading the first book in the series will definitely help any reader understand the interpersonal relationships more easily.

Max wakes up one day as a blue-collar worker who is minding his business and living his life. The next day, he learns that he may very likely have a half-brother and half-sister, which is the shock of his life given how he grew up. Max spent much of his childhood in the foster care system, so the idea of family is foreign to him. Oh, and not just any family, one that is very prominent and worth a lot of money.

Sarah has aspirations of working at a reputable publication, but right now she's working at a tabloid. Even though she's in a job she doesn't love, she still has standards and won't write what isn't true. In order to keep her job, her boss tells her she has to get the dirt on who "Maximillian Smith" is.

Max and Sarah have an interesting beginning, which I really liked. Sarah's background helps Max learn how to navigate the press and their connection grows from that. I also enjoyed the relationships that Max had with his siblings. It was great to see how they evolved and I look forward to seeing how they continue to grow.

This series has been so entertaining so far, and I look forward to the next book!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Wow! Amazing. I enjoyed the first book and was looking forward to reading about Max, the brother they never knew about.

I loved Max’s reaction to Alex and Chase giving him the news, and watching him navigate his world being turned upside down and trying to find a new purpose. His interactions with Sarah were touching, he was attracted to her before he knew who she was, as was she to him. I really enjoyed Sarah’s integrity and pride in her reporting and how even before she knew the facts, or who Max truly was she supported him and put him first, I liked her standing up to her boss.

Learning about Max’s back story was heartbreaking, and Sarah’s reaction to her learning it was touching, she really wanted to help Max make his life better and help other kids in his position. Seeing Max get a family who love him for himself and no other reason was nice, family doesn’t have to be blood, just people who love and care for you.

Beautiful and heart warming from the start, I couldn’t put it down.

Sarah and Max meet when she is sent after a story by her boss. Max had suddenly discovered he had a family he knew nothing about (and a lot of money).

Sarah is looking for the truth behind the story, but her boss is looking to sell copies. She likes Max when they meet and wants to help him navigate this new world he is now part of.

Max grew up in foster care, Sarah grew up in a traditional, happy family, so their childhoods were very different. Max is closed off due to always being let down. Sarah is positive and tries to make the best of everything.

It was really nIce watching their attraction grew in to so much more. She calmed him and he gave her the confidence to do what she really wanted.

The characters from the previous book bring a lot to the story and I loved how their relationship with Max grew.

This was an enjoyable read with a nice heat level.

An engaging, heartwarming, and heartbreaking story. I did not read the first one in this series. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their backgrounds. The intimate scenes were skipped. Not a fan of the "f" word either, but that did not stop me from continuing. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Max is living his ordinary life when out of know where he gets to know that he is an heir to multibillion fortune and has siblings he didn’t know of.
As if that wasn’t enough an adorable and sexy woman is after him to write his story. Sarah works in tabloid but her career is in jeopardy because she refuses to write anything else besides the truth.
Together Sarah and Max uncover his story and how his mother abandoned him. Though working together their attraction builds and we get a beautiful love story.

Sarah and Max are not your typical reporter trying to get the scoop on the previously unknown heir to a fortune. Max knew almost immediately who and what Sarah was and that provided a sort of balance to the relationship they started. They made a great team that developed into something more, which was beautifully developed. Having his siblings appear as a substantial part of this book instead of being relegated to the background, was also refreshing and added to the continuity of their overall saga. I can't wait for Alex's story to bring it all together. Highly recommended.
#netgalley

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Max had a rough life and learns some news that has him reeling. He finds he does have a family but due to his background he isn’t too thrilled by them and feels like they are intruding.

Sarah is told to write a story about the Stones and their new found brother but she gets more than just a story after meeting Max and spending more time with him.

Lots of conflict and scenes of Max finding his family and learning to love in that capacity. Nice read.
3.5 stars

Amazing story. The characters are realistic as is the storyline. Max a boy who went through the Foster Care system is an honorable man. Sarah is a reporter at a tabloid newspaper but refuses to lie to get a story. There is drama, angst, family ties, and romance. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I look forward to reading future books by Ms Bybee.

The Forgotten One by Catherine Bybee is an emotional romance centered on Maximilian “Max” Smith, a rugged, self-made man from a foster background who discovers he’s the heir to a billionaire business empire. Max’s strong, alpha personality and rough edges make him a memorable and complex character, while his protective and occasionally vulnerable sides add depth to his appeal. Sarah, a journalist with a warm, sassy personality, enters his life by chance and quickly becomes his steady support amid media chaos and corporate intrigue.

When Max’s half-siblings reveal his true parentage, he struggles to reconcile his past as a foster child with his newfound identity as a wealthy heir. Though initially skeptical, Max leans on Sarah, who is both his confidante and emotional anchor as he navigates the pressures of wealth and family. Their chemistry is electric, and Sarah’s kindness and moral integrity balance Max’s intense nature, creating a touching connection. Through love, trust, and resilience, Max and his new family find healing together in this heartfelt and beautifully written romance.

I loved book one in this series and couldn’t wait for this book. Siblings, Chase and Alex Stone’s father, Aaron, dies and leaves his multibillion dollar business to his children. One catch—there’s a sibling they didn’t know about…Max Smith.

This is his story.

When Max learns and finally accepts that Aaron Stone was his father, it didn’t change him at all. He wants to find his mother that took Aaron’s child support, but abandoned him.

Sarah McNeilly is a reporter working at a tabloid. She is told by her boss to get the story on Max Smith and Aaron Stone or lose her job. I love her integrity. She won’t tell lies to get the story. Max and Sarah’s meet was memorable and their banter was so fun. And boy did they have chemistry!

I can’t wait for Alex’s story next!

Thank you to Montlake Romance and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.