In the second book of The Heirs series, bestselling author Catherine Bybee presents a captivating story filled with long-lost relatives, unexpected wealth, and romance.

Sarah McNeilly is a unique journalist in the tabloid industry who prioritizes truth over sensationalism. Faced with the threat of losing her job, she is assigned to uncover the identity of “Maximillian Smith” and his connection to the wealthy Stone family.

Max Smith, an ordinary workingman, finds his life dramatically altered when he discovers he has a family and immense wealth. As he grapples with this new reality, he becomes entangled with Sarah, who is determined to tell his story accurately.

The narrative follows Sarah as she investigates Max’s background while trying to maintain her integrity in a world that often prioritizes gossip. Max’s sudden transition from a blue-collar worker to a billionaire heir puts him under scrutiny from the press. To protect his newfound life and uncover his past, Max collaborates with Sarah.

As they work together to navigate the complexities of Max’s history and family dynamics, their professional relationship evolves into a romantic one. However, their growing attraction complicates matters as they face challenges that threaten their trust and future together.

“The Forgotten One” explores themes of identity, trust, and love against the backdrop of unexpected familial connections and societal expectations.

Book two of the Stone family.

Max Smith was unacknowledged by his father, deserted by his mother and brought up in the welfare system. On his death, his multimillionaire father leaves his considerable wealth equally to his son, daughter and Max. One day Max is a blue collar worker driving an old truck, the next he's gained a brother and sister and travels in private jets.

Sarah McNeilly, a journalist working for a sensationalist magazine, discovers the identity of the unknown son and to ensure the truth is written about him, Max agrees to give her exclusive rights reveal his story. Of course, the fact that Max is attracted to Sarah sways his decision over other journalists..

An entertaining read, now should I download book one or wait for book three to be published?

With thanks to Montlake Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ my favorite of the series thus far. After hearing and then briefly meeting Max in All Our Tomorrow’s I knew his story would tug at my heart. Boy did it ever. What I loved about the story was that while Max had walls up in the beginning, he slowly lowered them, letting Chase and Alex in. We experience their family come together and deal with the aftermath of Aaron’s death, as well as rally around Piper at a very pivotal moment.

Max and Sarah were a perfect pairing and I enjoyed seeing their romance progress as they work together.

Can’t wait for Alex’s story!

I really enjoyed this story, another step in the Heirs saga, where the forgotten, lost brother, max was found. Inherently, a fantastic relatable character, I rooted for Max from the beginning and Sarah was col too. As with many Bybee stories, black and white, good and bad is clear. There is a clear good guy and bad guy and I loved that simplicity when I read it for the low angst aspect. Hoping for the next one soon

Max and Sarah

This is book 2 in The Heirs series. Book 1, All Our Tomorrows, definitely needs to be read first. That being said, if you haven’t read, there might be spoilers so you’ve been warned.

The non spoiler part is, this and book 1 are fantastic reads! They are so captivating and you will want to read straight through. I highly recommend!

Now..
Sarah is a writer for a tabloid magazine. She loves to write but doesn’t love the gossip part. She vows to tell the truth in her stories and hopes to get a real writing job soon. Her boss on the other hand, is a snake. The more gossip the better, as long as he isn’t sued. So when he gets a tip about a certain Max Smith, he puts Sarah on the story.

Max is a blue collar worker and works hard everyday for his paycheck. His life hasn’t been easy, mainly during his childhood years, but he makes it work. Then he receives a knock on his door that will change his life forever.

Max never thought he would be sought out and the center of attention. This is how he meets Sarah..her looking for a story on his life. But there is a lot at stake and lots of things to unravel about Max, his past, and now his future.

Ahh..such a good read. I want to give details so bad, but won’t. Like stated, read book 1 first and then dive right into this one. I look forward to the next ones and hope we don’t have to wait too long. So good!

I am completely enthralled with this series and I cannot get enough. This book and the Stone children is packed with so much love and family for Max. In the beginning it was entertaining to watch his unbelievable acceptance of what was happening plus experiencing all this new life has to offer. I loved how humble Max, Sarah, and the rest of the Stone/Morrison crew was. That's truly why I enjoy this series so much. It packs an emotional punch and will have you all in your feelings. There were moments that had me teary eyed. There was just so much love and adoration! There were twists you don't see coming. I'm extremely curious as to how the new board member will disrupt things *wink wink*. I can't wait for Alex's story with the conclusion, for her to find her person and HEA!

Arc provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

f you love a juicy mystery wrapped in a swoony romance, The Forgotten One by Catherine Bybee is here to serve you all the feels with a side of scandal, minus the gossip.

Sarah McNeilly, a reporter who doesn’t do tabloid trash, is tasked with digging up dirt on the elusive "Maximillian Smith" and his mysterious connection to the ultra rich Stone family. But instead of a salacious exposé, she stumbles onto something even more dangerous... her own feelings.

Max? Well, Max was just your average guy, until yesterday, when his life got flipped upside down. Suddenly, he’s a billionaire, part of a family he didn’t even know existed, and has Sarah, the dogged reporter, sniffing around for answers. But Max has no intention of letting the press ruin his newly discovered life, so why not work with Sarah to control the narrative and find his long lost mother in the process? Seems like a solid plan... until sparks fly, and peeling back the layers of Max’s past becomes far more complicated (and a whole lot sexier) than either of them expected.

This isn’t just another billionaire romance. The Forgotten One mixes heartfelt family drama, a suspenseful search for answers, and that oh-so-perfect slow-burn chemistry that keeps you turning pages well past your bedtime. Max is not your typical brooding billionaire; he’s a relatable, down to earth guy who just happened to hit the familial jackpot, and Sarah is the sharp, no nonsense reporter who can see past the tabloid headlines straight into his heart.

As Max and Sarah team up to uncover the truth behind his newfound fortune, you’ll be rooting for them to figure out the biggest mystery of all: how to trust each other when it matters most.

With Bybee’s signature blend of humour, heart, and a touch of intrigue, this book is perfect for anyone who loves a romance where the stakes are high, the banter is sharp, and the chemistry is off the charts.

There are few books that can reach the highest level of excellence. I just finished reading one. I read this in three nights, couldn't put it down. As with all Ms. Bybee's books, the characters are interesting with a great plot line. But, this book just pulls on your emotions making you laugh and cry. Truly one of the best books I have read this year. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review. I want to thank NetGalley and Ms. Bybee for allowing me to read this book.

This is book 2 of the story of the Stone children. Catherine Bybee writes stories that draw you in and make you feel like you are watching a movie. This is a great story that continues the next steps in the lives of Alex, Chase, Piper and Max. Her series are always great reads and this was no different. I hope there will be more in The Heirs series.

Book 2 out of 3 but can be read as a standalone without spoiling anything.
Long lost family with tons of money. A very determined journalist. Can either of them be trusted? Life changing revelations and money. Building a family relationship and trust. Not everyone is the same.

I have read most if not all of Catherine Bybee's books and this one is one of the best. I had forgotten about the Stone siblings looking for Max so now I have to reread that book. Max had a tough upbringing in many group and foster homes. When Alex and Chase first came up to Max and told him they were 1/2 siblings, he thought they were nuts and went after them with a baseball bat. Eventually, he came around and when he saw the balance in his new saving and checking accounts, he just laughed. He met Sarah (who was a reporter for a trash magazine) when she was charged with finding out who he was or else she would be fired. She prided herself on only reporting the truth regardless of what her boss wanted. Max and Sarah had several interactions and then they gave her an exclusive when his identity came out. That gave her some brownie points with her boss, but not many.
The story had alot going for it. A new family when there was none before, a new relationship, finding and losing someone within a very short time and a new beginning for forgotten ones.

It's a great story that I will reread more than once

I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Catherine Bybee hit it out of the park with his book. In fact, as much as I enjoyed the first book in the series- I enjoyed this one more. This book focuses on Max Smith, an ordinary guy who has had some hard knocks . Max finds out that he is the lost heir to the estate of Aaron Stone which is worth billions when two unknow siblings seek him out. This book is not only about finding love but also about building bonds and making a family. I definitely recommend this book. If you enjoyed the first book in the series- this book will make you really happy!

This is book 2 in The Heirs series. It is a free-standing book.
Max is a hard-working construction worker. One day he is visited by a man & 2 women and his life is changed forever after that.
Sarah is a gossip magazine reporter who only writes the truth.
I love the dynamics of the characters and how they all learn about each other and become friends and family even though they all grew up differently.
Thank you to the author and publisher for my advanced copy for my honest review.

A rags to riches story of one person who I felt really deserved it. Abandoned not only by his father, his mother also left Max to grow up in foster care. Literally overnight, Max discovered he not only has a half brother and sister, but is now wealthy beyond his dreams. Sarah is the reporter who goes after his story. As they work together, Max finding out what it is to have a family and Sarah striving to tell the truth about his life, they find more than just a common goal, they find love. Truly a heartwarming story from a fantastic author.

This is the second novel in Catherine Bybee’s he Heirs series. This is one I recommend reading it as part of a series. While you can figure it out, it certainly helps knowing exactly why finding Max was so important to both Chase and Alex. Waking up to find out you are to find out the father you never knew has left you as one of three heirs to his billion-dollar estate is certainly a surprise to Max. But this is more than just a rags to riches story. But given the circumstances of Max's inheritance, it's absolutely amazing that he ends up getting involved with of all people a reporter. But Sarah and Max are great together.
Bybee has a knack for drawing you into the story and making you really root for the characters to get their happy ending. And I am looking forward to what she has in store for Alex, I’m sure that will be quite the story!
Readers should definitely make sure to read the author's note before the start of the book.

I can honestly say that this was my most favorite book of 2024. I swear that the last 10 chapters had me hooked. Max had such an unfortunate childhood and it took him forever to realize he could trust others and actually allow himself to love and be loved. His reaction to the Uncle Max shirt had me crying. This story was so good, I am actually looking forward to reading it again - something I never do! Thank you Montlake Publishing and Catherine Bybee for this wonderful opportunity!

I absolutely loved Sarah and Max's story!

Max being the forgotten child and the sibling they knew nothing about. He had a rough life that just changed at the swab of the cheek.

Sarah being the gossip magazine reporter who wouldn't write a lie (hard to find these days)!

Their story is like a roller coaster ride with all the right things at the right times!

I read this book to return to the story of The Heirs series by Catherine Bybee. This is a solid entry to that series, and I enjoyed it a bit more than the first one as the cast of characters expanded. It is a light read, but enjoyable, just what I need sometimes to reset from all the doomsday information that one has to read to remain informed these days. The author is skilled at telling a romantic story without being overly saccharine or overly graphic, and the characters are well developed as well as the storyline. When I am in need of a bit of reading comfort and happiness, I will be looking for one of Ms. Bybee's books. My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

I received an ARC copy from Netgalley for an honest review. I liked Max very much even before I read his story, just hearing about him in #AllOurTomorrows. I read the note from Catherine Bybee and I knew I was in for a heart squizzing journey of reading. It was and I did have to breathe deeply a pretty number of times.
I stopped my reading in the middle of the book because I had a lot of work and things to do. In fact I had kind of lost interest of knowing what would be Max’s next move and what he would do of his life after his world changed. But as always Catherine Bybee delivered her narrator charm and the real Max appeared. I can’t wait for the next book.

~~~ I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley ~~~
Catherine Bybee is one of my favorite authors and I am loving this new "The Heirs" series. I read the first book and loved it. The Forgotten One is the second book in the series. This book is the story of Sarah and Max who develop a relationship after Sarah, a journalist is assigned to follow the new found billionaire heir Max Stone. This is a book that follows the family story of Stone Enterprises. It is full of drama and family secrets with some romance thrown in. I'm hooked and can't wait to read the next book in "The Heirs" series. Good read! Highly recommend.