What a fun read, I could not put this one down. The slow love building between Sarah and Max was so exciting to follow them on the slow road to love. I loved this series and hope there is more to come. The lifestyle of the rich is always fun to follow along on their trips and lavish living. I believe karma does make it around and those do get what is coming to them but seems like the love will prevail and soften the blow.

I loved this story about family, love and life choices. Max has come from a childhood in the system and discovers he has a brother and sister and his unknown father has passed away leaving them all a hotel business worth billions. His reaction and the choices he makes come together to make a fascinating tale.

Reading the author’s note at the beginning of the book sets the tone and intention in exploring The Forgotten One – the abandoned or orphaned children that put into “the system,” often until they age out and are left with few resources to begin their adult lives.

Maximillian (Max) Smith was one of the fortunate ones. After a few brushes with the law as a teen, he was influenced by a wise, compassionate counselor and established himself with a steady job and a home. Then suddenly his world is turned upside down and he finds himself navigating through a whole new reality – including a family he never knew existed. It is through this twist of fate that he crosses paths with Sarah McNeilly, a journalist struggling to establish credibility to land a position at a large, legitimate news organization.

This was a well-paced, engaging novel that I read straight through. The characters are well developed and likeable. Max’s journey was heart-felt and his relationship with Sarah, while rocky at times, was understandable given his history. Perhaps his acceptance into his new family as a little bit too good to be true, but it was still enjoyable and uplifting. Overall, this was an interesting read and provided insight into the ramifications of childhood trauma through loss of a stable family environment.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Great 2nd book in the series. I love the theme about discovering a new family. The main character Max is down to earth and relatable and his friendship with Sarah is so natural. Their chemistry is awesome. Can’t wait for the 3rd book! Chase,Alex and Max bring out the best of each other. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

5 *****

The title intrigued me to read the blurb, and I was hooked. (I won’t repeat the plot; I assume you read the blurb before looking into reviews.). I’m always happy to discover a wildly popular, multi-published author who is new to me – because if I like the first I read of theirs, there’s a whole backlist for me to devour! And that was exactly the case with this book.
This was a nice twist on the “unknown heir / suddenly rich” trope and I appreciated the nuances the author added – a tabloid reporter with integrity! Unknown mother!
The plot flowed along nicely; the writing was good, the emotion and relationships described well. I was interested in how it would all play out, and it kept me reading.
I’m only mentioning this because it’s odd – there was no conflict. In every situation, everyone fully supported each other; and if anyone erred they sincerely apologized and were immediately forgiven. It made for a very peaceful read and was a great escape at a time filled with contentious “news”, but it isn’t what we normally find in traditional novel structure. There was no conflict.
As I said, it made for a very peaceful, pleasant, positive read. I enjoyed it and will definitely seek out this author’s backlist and future releases.
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Montlake for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To say I've been anticipating this second book is the understatement of the YEAR! And Bybee delivered the absolute perfection of a follow up, second book. She handled a few sticky plot lines with grace and a depth of understanding and it was MUCH appreciated.

Here's to this being my favorite Bybee series yet!

I have to say it took me a few chapters to really get back into the story since it has been quite a while, not including how many books I’ve read in between these two stories. So I did lose track in terms of what was going on at the end of the last book. Thankfully, the author also included enough hints and tips to keep that flow between the books going.

What I enjoyed so much about this particular story was the great character, Max, and the way he interacted with other people—especially his love interest.

He was so sweet and charming. A little bit grumpy but a kind, hard-working person. It was really refreshing to see him develop and grow in this story.

With the addition of a “brand new family“, some of his interactions with other characters could’ve been negative. However, the author kept him lighthearted and a sweetheart. There were times that he was wary and untrusting, but that’s to be expected.

Another great part of the story is the interaction between his new family members and his love interest. It was heartwarming to see him grow and it just made for an awesome story.

I love this series so much. I could keep gushing all day. Bybee writes with style and magic weaving through her words. You become one with the story and you won’t forget it.

If you’ve never read this author before, one, what are you waiting for? And two, start with this series. It’s a little fun, a little weird, and wacky because who inherits millions without any knowledge? But also you get to see the characters grow.

The Forgotten One is definitely a five-star read for me and I truly cannot wait to read the next installment.

I loved this story of Max and his new found family! I was hooked from the beginning and gobbled this story up! It's important to read the first in this series so that you have the background and the build up going into Max's story.

Max grew up in the foster system and without family so when he discovers that he's the long lost heir to a fortune with siblings, his life takes a drastic turn. His meet-cute with Sarah, who turns out to be a reporter, was swoony and funny. I loved how quickly Max and Sarah realized they had something special. The way that Max embraced his new relationship and family while trying to figure out how to navigate these new relationships and where he stood in the business made for some fantastic reading. I enjoyed reading about an emotionally mature couple who were able to discuss and resolve issues quickly. I'm definitely looking forward to the next in this series!

Oh, Ms. Catherine, this book. The Forgotten Ones. So much more than just a romance story. I honestly wanted another 200 pages of Max and Sarah, for their story and to hear more about the adoption system and what Sarah was going to write. Thank you.



Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for this book. And thank you Catherine Bybee for writing this wonderful book! ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

Bybee’s sharp prose and engaging dialogue keep the stakes high as Sarah and Max navigate not just the complexities of family secrets but also their undeniable attraction. Their relationship blossoms amidst the chaos, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way. The emotional depth and clever twists make this story a delightful read, perfect for anyone who loves a blend of romance and intrigue. A dazzling addition to The Heirs series that’s bound to leave you eager for more!

What a beautiful and heartfelt story. ❤️ I loved Max’s strong character—how he was able to move on in the midst of difficult circumstances was inspiring and remarkable. Even though I didn’t read the previous book in this series, I still really enjoyed The Forgotten One! 😊 I really hope we will soon get Alex’s book. ☺️

The Heirs is becoming my new favorite series by Catherine Bybee. Just like the first book, this one held me captive from start to finish. I stayed up way too late reading and immediately finished the book the next morning. I love these characters. I love reading the progression of their relationships as they find out about a half sibling they knew nothing about. I loved Max's story. His past really touched my heart and after reading about the author's experience with the 7 year old kid in the front of the book, it really made you look at Max differently as you read about his life. I rooted for him. I wanted him to learn to love and let people in. This is a family I would have loved to have known and become a part of. What more can you ask from a book? I'm even more excited for Alex's book next!

I have waited since I read book 1, All Our Tomorrows, and book 2 was just continuing the lives of Chase and Alex, finally meeting the brother they never knew they had, Max. Chase and Alex wasn't prepared for taking over their father's business, and Max, finds out his whole life is going to change a lot. At first, he didn't believe, Chase and Alex, but slowly he is learning. He doesn't trust people, has his guard up, but what is about to happen will take him on an unbelievable journey. I would love to tell you some exciting things I read, but I would have been upset if I had read spoilers because it would take away the feelings when I got to different parts of his journey. He does meet Sarah, who he discovers is a reporter, which really puts his guard out. But sometimes things happen for a reason, and this acquaintance happens for a reason. I would love to keep talking about book 2, but I will say, their journey's will take to low points and high points, and like any parts of the journey you just have to go through it.
I received an ARC from Montlake through NetGalley.

Who doesn’t love a billionaire themed romance? Sure as heck not me! Especially when said billionaires newly inherit their fortune, so they’re as humble as they come. The Heirs series takes you on a journey of three siblings who unexpectedly gain a hotel empire. There’s romance, work place drama, a thoughtful approach on the impact of foster/group homes, and a touch of suspense how it all plays out!!

In book two, The Forgotten Ones, we are reintroduced to Max. And let me tell ya, you will love Max! If you don’t, you have a heartless soul. At the end of book one he seems dark and broody, but you learn in this book it’s all facade. He’s protective of his people, incredibly loyal, and giving to those who need it. When Sarah the reporter enters his world in hopes of a story, she gets much more than that! Max makes it known from the beginning he’s into Sarah - and don’t we just love a man who is confident in his feelings for a girl!? Um YES! Sarah helps him track down his mom and navigate his new life of fame and funds.

I loved The Forgotten One by Catherine Bybee! She never disappoints! This book has so much heart, emotion, struggles, heartache, and love. It touches on important issues in today’s society without getting too political. It also brings to life the sorrows of children raised in foster care as Max experienced. His life changes overnight when he meets his half-siblings and discovers just how wealthy they are and now him. This is his story along with Sarah, a tabloid reporter assigned to discover the story of who he really is. As a reporter with integrity, she helps him learn to deal with the press, search for his mother long thought dead, and best of all, how to trust again. Although you can read this without the first book, I recommend both. It is a great way to meet Chase, Alex, and Piper, to truly get invested in all of the characters and their backstory. I couldn’t put either book down and didn’t want them to end! I cannot wait to read Alex’s story!

Thank you net galley and publisher for this ARC. This is such a great story and I enjoyed the character development throughout the book. I’ve read every book by Catherine Bybee and enjoyed this one too.

This is the story of a family and learning to trust. It is a book that will get you right from the first page. You won’t be able to stop rooting for the family. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I am always amazed by Cathrerine Bybee's books. She just completely outdid it with The Forgotten One. I was so drawn in from chapter one. It was fantastic! I loved it.

Max grew up with a difficult background and is not very good at relationships. He lives from paycheck to paycheck and was surprised by the turn of events in his life. Sarah is on his side, and their feelings for each other deepen. She is a down-to-earth and kind woman. While Max discovers a whole new world, which seems like a fairy tale, this story is deeply personal for both the author and the reader. It's a fantastic read, and I can't wait to learn more about Alex's story.

Good book with a lot of heart - a 4.5! I enjoyed the multiple story lines although the one with Max was front and center with a lot of laughs, romance, and just plain fun. I really like to re-visit characters from previous books and this book did that and more. The foster care arc of this book was spot on in it's honesty and toughness - the resilience of Max and his ability to overcome some of the tough situations made you cheer for every obstacle he overcame. A few times the book politicized some things that, in my opinion, didn't add to the story and were uncessesary. I received an ARC for my honest review - many thanks to the Author, publisher, and NetGalley. I look forward to more in this series!