Cover Image: Faking Forever

Faking Forever

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Member Reviews

This was a wonderful book, full of fun and interesting characters (and some nutcases too). A wedding photographer clashes with the groom, the bride to be is not happy, the bride's mother is a nightmare and it keeps going from there. Drama, romance, more drama, and misunderstandings all come together to make one great story.

I got this book from NetGalley for an honest review

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A biological clock ticking, a cancelled wedding, and two main characters discovering what and who they want in the future creates an excellent conclusion of Catherine Bybee’s First Wives series with Shannon and Victor’s story. Catherine Bybee excels at drawing the reader in with her multifaceted characters and complex elements of conflict. This novel is a perfect ending to a well-loved series. Readers will not be able to put this book down.

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Catherine Bybee saved the best for last - Shannon Wentworth’s story. The former first lady of California is hired to photograph a wedding in Mexico and she decides to find a baby daddy during the trip.

Of course, nothing goes as planned and after lots of fun, quirks and laughter; we have a dreamy ending.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Montlake Romance for the advance copy.

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I received an Advanced Reader Copy from Montlake Romance and Netgalley for my unbiased opinion of the book. This story is about Shannon Wentworth the last one in the First Wives Club. She is a wedding photographer and works to have something to do but not a passion. Her true passion is taking pictures of life and her surroundings. Trying to figure it out takes time and with her biological clock screaming in her ear it sidetracks her. While working on a tropical destination wedding and looking for a possible sperm donor for her first child. After the wedding that she comes down there for doesn't happen, she starts on her baby mission and runs into Victor Brooks who is on his un-honeymoon. Sparks fly but decide since she doesn't want a relationship and he is just getting out of one to cool it for a few months... You must read what happens next! What a great story! Catherine hit it out of the park again! I am sad to see this series end. I can't wait to see what is coming next!!!

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This book will run you through all of your emotions. Shannon's clock is ticking and she has baby fever so bad. Victor is getting married to a girl who is much younger than him and is so immature. Shannon and Victor are actually on the same flight to Victor's wedding. These two can't stand each other and are working each others nerves on the fight. The mother-in-law and future bride need to be throat punched several times throughout the book. As you read in the book pre-view you can see that Victor doesn't get married.....thank god! Victor and Shannon actually figure out that they have more in common than what Shannon thought. Victor is a caring business owner who she actually changes into a more caring man, This book can be read as a standalone or you can read the rest of the series. I have read the other books but you won't be lost if you just read this one. You will however want to probably read the rest of the series. Thank you Catherine for the way you wrapped up this book. I loved that Shannon & Victor worked it out.

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Faking Forever by Catherine Bybee is a sweet love story full of surprises and unexpected twists.
I love that it's a story that makes you happy as you read. Shannon is part of four very close friends who call themselves the First Wives Club because they were all previously married and divorced.
She is a professional photographer who accepts a job taking photos for a destination wedding in Mexico. The bride and groom are a unlikely match, which starts a series of events that changes the lives of Shannon as well as the bride and groom. A fun book and an absolute Must Read...

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I LOVE a Catherine Bybee romance. Her heros and heroines are so fleshed out, I feel like they could be people I meet at the gym or my daughter’s school. We’re all just doing the best we can, trying to rise above to overcome exterior influences and find someone who loves and appreciates us for our true selves.

Shannon, the heroine in Faking Forever, manages to evoke my sympathies, but no pity. She’s a strong woman who has been playing a part for so long — first as the daughter her parent’s expected and most recently as the wife of a man angling to become governor. There was a marriage contract and the split was a forgone conclusion, but she fell in love and thought he had too. She’s six million richer, but also bruised and doesn’t want to delay her dreams of becoming a mother any longer. She hatches a plan, that not all of her friends support, and decides to find a baby daddy. What she didn’t plan on was Victor.

Victor is a very successful businessman. Honestly, business seems to be his 1st, 2nd and 3rd priorities. Yet, he’s always wanted to have a family and decides to find a wife to get the ball rolling. A quick wedding with no expenses spared, Dutch the honeymoon early to make an important business meeting and he’ll sort the rest out later. Not really sure if he thought that one through, but that was his plan. What he didn’t plan on was meeting a woman on a flight who calls him on all of his jerkitude and leaves him thinking of her constantly.

Witnessing Shannon and Victor fight, flirt, and fall head over heels provides hours of reading pleasure. Enjoy!

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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I've been looking forward to Shannon's book and Catherine Bybee didn't disappoint! Faking Forever provides insight into the past, while also providing friendships, family, romance, conflict, and an engaging story. Of all the First Wives, Shannon has struggled the most with moving on from her divorce. It didn't help that the public and paparazzi were so invested in her marriage, divorce, and life post-divorce. She's back to her true love of photography and takes on enough weddings to stay busy. She's smart, talented, wary, and now determined to make her dream of being a mom come true. She's not entirely looking forward to shooting the upcoming destination wedding, even before it turns into a disaster. Victor is sexy, charming, loyal, and an absolute workaholic. He didn't expect his fiancée to leave him and he's knocked off course by his own wedding photographer. Shannon and Victor unexpectedly bond over his honeymoon. They have chemistry and banter and they challenge each other.

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Go Shannon! It’s about time she stopped being a pushover. Victor & Shannon definitely discover more about themselves throughout the book and what personal changes needed to be made in their lives to pave the way for a happier future in general.

Great read! I always look forward to Catherine’s books!!

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Wonderful writing. Unique storyline. I was entirely engrossed in the story from the start to the finish. All the characters were well-developed.

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This is my 2nd book of this series. It is not necessary to have read the others. This is is 4th book( i believe there is a 5th and final one coming). Shannon is the last first wives who is still single. She has decided to become a single mother by having sex with a random man. While being hired for a wedding to take their pictures in Mexico she decides after wedding she will find a man. The wedding she was hired to photograph never happened, the bride to be runs off and leaves the groom. Unsurprisingly Shannon somewhat befriend the groom Victor. There's a scene where they first met before wedding which is hilarious. As time goes by they realize there is some attraction between the two of them. They promise to meet three months later. Shannon felt it would be enough time passed after his fail wedding. We catch up with the other three ladies and gets an epilogue that any first wive reader would love. Review on goodreads and eventually amazon.

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This is the fourth book in the First Wives series. I have read all the books in the series (I think I’ve read all the contemporary books by this author!) and though this book can be read as a stand alone, I think you would definitely feel the other characters under-developed if you hadn’t read any others in the series. I was looking forward to reading Shannon’s story and though I was surprised by the storyline I did enjoy it. It wasn’t my favourite by this author but her books are an automatic read for me and I like the style of her writing. The conversation and characters are believable and realistic and i’ll definitely be reading the next book by Catherine Bybee.

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Wow.
Have read books by this author before, the writing style with side narrative never disappoints.

Girlfriends who look out for each other, emotional romantic feelings that bud, grow and thrive from the unlikely circumstances of a groom left at the alter and an attraction that can't be ignored.
This is such a good read.
Enjoy!

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This was the first book I have read from this series, but I will definitely be going back to read the others. When a woman feels she is running out of time and creates a plan to start a family, alone, she gets exactly what she wasn't looking for. Honestly at the start of the book I felt that this was not going to be the book for me, but when the characters started to develop and the relationship was more of a slow burn than a rapid flame, I fell for this book hook, line and sinker. This book felt so real, I could completely imagine this situation in real life. The ending was abrupt for my taste, and would have liked a little more development at then end of the book, but it left me wanting more!

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Catherine Bybee is always a must read for me and this book proves no different.

Finally in Faking Forever we get Shannon’s story – she has always been the quiet, calm, refined and graceful one. The one who was so in love with her ex-husband that she has been unable and maybe a little unwilling to move on. However, she has decided that she is done and is moving on with her life and what better way to do that, than to have a baby! With a little bit of careful planning, she is going to make sure that her desires come true – she just needs the baby daddy, oh and she wants him to be a stranger! But she didn’t plan on a jilted groom capturing her attention and throwing her plans off course!

I loved getting to know sassy Shannon – she was a delight to watch grow and come out of her shell as she navigates the crazy situation she has inadvertently found herself in! Victor, underneath his tough exterior, falls so hard and fast for her, its pretty hilarious to watch him try and win her over after their disastrous initial meeting!

I am so very sad to see this series come to an end I have enjoyed every book and have loved reading books that have such a strong group of women who love and support each other in everything. These books will definitely be added to my reread pile!

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I really enjoyed the first 3 books in this series. Catherine's character development grows immensely from story to story as we become more invested in these characters.

Shannon and Victor's story is my favourite of the four couples, something about their struggles spoke to me.

My petition for a follow up book starring all the characters and set at least 5 years in the future will be making the rounds shortly....

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If I could give this story more stars I would!

I've read all of the stories in the First Wives Series and each one has gotten better. It's not necessary to read the others, but I would really recommend it as the relationships between the characters are fantastic. Catherine Bybee excels at writing friendships that have strong bonds. We can all hope to have friends as good as her characters.

I wasn't sure what to expect from the lead in this story. Shannon seems very reserved. She also has been hung up on her ex-husband for a long time. I'm happy to say, I loved her! Shannon finally is finding herself and becoming more comfortable with showing it to others. Her lack of restraint in her first meeting with Victor had me laughing out loud. I did laugh a lot with this book as I just loved Shannon and Victor. Victor was a surprise too. He changed from a self absorbed workaholic to a devoted hero. The path these two take together is such a fun journey. I hated for the story to end! I received an advance copy for an honest review.

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Bybee is back on top again! Not that she ever really fell, but... this book is just another bit of proof of her exceptional gift for telling stories that are real, believable and completely sigh-worthy!

I have been waiting for Samantha's story every since the very first First Wives book published. She is such a sympathetic heroine and the situation of making a business-like agreement in marriage but then falling in love with her husband anyway is one that every reader can understand. Yet three years after the divorce, she is finally tired of yearning for what she will never have and wants to find happiness in her life. She thinks that happiness will come if she has a child.

Of course, the best laid plans....! What follows is both a creative and unique twist to the genre of contemporary romance! It is incredibly fun to read, surprisingly tender in it's handling of her heart and completely worth every second to see what happens with her ex!!

Yep, total heaven for anyone who needs a great escape for an afternoon or anyone who want their faith restored in love!

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What a gorgeous end to the first wives club, well i assume it is the end as all members of the first wives club find partners that they can have a life with.
Shannon's story was far more than i anticipated and i loved the way she discovered herself through Victor's upcoming marriage then abandonment.
A story full of heat and sass, (the banter and attraction between Shannon and victor screams throughout every interaction), full of fun and friendship and the twists that life throws.
Romance fans will adore this as a stand alone and fans of Catherine Bybee will not be disappointed.

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Oh my heavens! THIS book ya'll! Do you ever dive into a book and can't pinpoint a particular scene or thing that made you love it, you just loved it all? Yeah, that was me and this book! I ADORED Shannon! I loved her sassiness, her confidence and how she was ready to go after what she wanted. She wasn't going to let a stinkin' guy stop her! (Get 'em, girl!) lol. Shannon has always seemed to be the quieter one of the First Wives, but she was not one to sit quietly. I enjoyed how she met Victor and the emotions he invoked in her. Victor wasn't prepared for this woman who dropped into his life and she was a breath of fresh air to him. I liked the slow burn this book had. Whew! The chemistry between this couple was palpable and SO PERFECT! The circumstances of their meeting was unique, but they also didn't let it stop them from getting to know each other. I couldn't devour this book fast enough and I certainly didn't want things to end. I thought this was a GREAT ending to the series. I'm looking forward to what Catherine is going to bring next to her readers. Don't miss this fantastic book!

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