Be Your Everything is the second stand-alone story in the D’Angelo family series. Chloe is the youngest girl in a wonderful, loving family even if her brothers are a bit over protective and overbearing.

Chloe has always had a serious crush on her brothers best friend Dante Manciso but he hardly even seemed to notice her. Little did she know that he more than noticed her but kept his distance because of those overprotective brothers.

“I could have lived with a fling.” In two steps she was up and in his space. Lifted her chin and nearly touched his. “A fling I’ve wanted with you from the day boys stopped being icky.”

The story is sweet and romantic. The kind of book that you just want to kick back and settle into. For most of the story the pace is almost leisurely, encouraging letting your guard down and just enjoying. Until the big twist shakes things up! Love this book and love this big loving family!!
-5 Stars-

Be Your Everything is the second book in the series about the tight-knit D’Angelo family. This book is about Chloe, the “little” sister to two overprotective brothers. It’s a brother’s best friend story, and even though I really liked the first book, I appreciated the lighter tone of this one.

Chloe has always had a crush on Dante. He has a well-earned reputation as a ladies man, but nobody believes he has changed his ways. Dante’s best friend is Chloe’s older brother, and Chloe is absolutely off limits. Bro code is broken big time when a bachelor/bachelorette trip to Vegas ends with Dante and Chloe drunkenly saying, “I do.” Do they chalk it up to a mistake, or do they try to commit to a real marriage?

Dante goes all in once he stops fighting attraction to Chloe, and he won my heart because of it. Chloe takes a little longer to stand up to her big Italian family, who have very firm opinions about how she should live her life. They are well-meaning but their meddlesome nature seems extreme for a woman Chloe’s age. Fortunately, her sister-in-law, Brooke, is back to bring some welcome reasoning to the hot-tempered brothers. Chloe’s best friend is entertaining. I wish I had a ride or die friend like her.

Be Your Everything is a sweet forbidden romance with just a little heat. It’s an enjoyable addition to the series.

Recommended for fans of:
Brothers best friend tropes
Forbidden romance
Italian families
Yoga

Be Your Everything is the second book in the D'Angelos series by Catherine Bybee. I really enjoyed When It Falls Apart and have been looking forward to Chloe and Dante's story! This is a brother's best friend secret wedding romance and I am here for it! Chloe has had a crush on Dante since she was young. He's only ever seen her as his best friend's little sister. He's been living in Italy for years and now they are all together and doing a bachelor/bachelorette party in Vegas. She didn't wear the red dress for him. She didn't have too much to drink and find herself in a wedding chapel and marrying her crush. Wait. She totally did. Now they have to keep it a secret until they can figure out what to do. Dante can't keep his eyes off Chloe. She's gorgeous and smart and funny and very off-limits. He knows her brothers would kill him if he touched her, but what if they were married. He didn't plan it, but when the situation arises, he jumps at his chance. Now he just has to convince her to take a chance on him. Chloe doesn't want to face Dante. She has real feelings for him but it can never work. She's already planning a trip to Bali so she'll just go early and get away. Dante isn't going to let her run from him. Not anymore. She's his wife and he wants to make her his for real. Oh boy! I freaking love Dante! He's swoony and funny and sexy and not the player everyone thinks he is. He's willing to fight for Chloe, literally! I loved their connection. They have known each other for a long time, to they have a history. The attraction has always been there and now they can act on it. What happens when their families find out? Totally chaos! Makes me miss my grandparents and my family. I loved the way Dante didn't give up on Chloe. He went after what he wanted. It was great seeing their families again. Oh Giovanni! I'm waiting for you!

Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️

Tropes: Vegas wedding; brother’s best friend; little sister; forbidden relationship; heroine seeking more than familial expectations; love from afar

“‘Regrets are made in the things in life you don’t do, not in the things you do. Everything leads you to who you are meant to be. Doing nothing is not a life lived.’”


Catherine Bybee is a new author to me. I was intrigued by her blurb for Be Your Everything. What’s not to love about a “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” situation, which boils over into everyday life, the antics of two Italian Catholic families, and a forbidden relationship? This story is fraught with tension from the beginning to the end, and Bybee creates two characters in Chloe and Dante, who ingratiate themselves into your feelings. You cannot help but love their story even when you want to scream at them for their choices. It takes a clever author to create those feelings in her reader.

Let me start by saying that I’m not a huge fan of the brother’s best friend/little sister trope. Inevitably, authors draw the protective older brother(s) as the villain of the story, and they create complications where, I think, they are warranted. Bybee has done this with Be Your Everything. To be fair, we are talking about an Italian family without a father, so it’s believable that Chloe’s older brothers, Luca and Gio, could struggle with her attraction and eventual coupleship with Dante. I get it; I just don’t care for it. Bybee handles it well, crafting a backstory for Dante that explains why Gio, his best friend, would be reticent to approve of his relationship with Chloe. But here’s my issue with this trope: It’s not Gio’s decision, and he shouldn’t have a say in it. Again, I understand the fun of this trope, the tension that squeezes through a story, but I’m not sure Bybee has done anything different with it in her newest book.

That being said, Chloe and Dante’s journeys are compelling. Chloe is looking to forge her own path, seeking independence from the family. Dante is ready to make changes in his life to be closer in proximity to Chloe and his family. They both worry about regretting their decisions, but Bybee’s romance suggests that the only regret is never making a choice.

Bybee treats her readers with a burgeoning love affair that blooms in Bali. When Chloe and Dante finally accept their feelings for each other and stop fighting them, Bybee builds hope in her readers that they will find their happy ending. Some miscommunications seek to upend this, but Chloe and Dante eventually trust the other to do what they say they will do.

There are additional points of view in Be Your Everything beyond Chloe and Dante, namely Chloe’s brother, Gio. I see this as Bybee’s launching pad for Gio…and possibly Salena’s story. Given the easy read and emotional connection to Bybee’s recent story, I will be downloading and reading the next of this series of standalones. If you love loving Italian families with a ton of character, you should read this one.

Chloe and Dante have crushed on each other from afar for years. Chloe had no idea Dante was attracted to her, and she’s been off limits to Dante since she’s his best friend’s younger sister. However, all these feelings come to a head when they’re off in Las Vegas celebrating her brother’s pending nuptials. After a night of drinking, they wind up married. Can they have a future starting everything backwards or should they undo their hasty decision?

I’m a fan of the unrequited love trope, because after longing for someone so long it’s satisfying to see them happy together. I thought Chloe would be happy to be married to Dante, but there were other things at play, such as the reactions of her family. Being Catholic she worried about disappointing her family, mother mostly, by not having a big church wedding, and then Dante was worried Chloe’s brothers would be seriously ticked after warning him off of her for years. Dante had a reputation of being a player, so I get that. Also, there was some questions in Chloe’s mind about Dante’s true feelings for her, so some insecurities had to be dealt with.

I enjoyed seeing them gradually open up and settle in together. The family was another issue, and I was happy they presented a united front while smoothing ruffled feathers.

There was also an element of danger to Chloe as some unusual things started happening to her as soon as she got back from her trip. It was easy to guess the culprit, but there were some tense moments when I worried for her!

I’m enjoying the D’Angelo series! The big Italian family, the setting, both in the US and out, and the romances. Chloe and Dante’s romance steamed up the pages, but also felt like a real relationship, not just something based in fantasy and wish fulfillment. I look forward to the next one!

She did it again!!! Chloe and Dante’s romance was sudden. The struggle to get where they wanted to be was wonderful. The strength of their love is amazing and the crazy guy so intent of destroying Chloe. I don’t see how each book in the DrAngelo family gets better and better. I received a complimentary copy of the book and chose to write a review. Thank you Ms Bybee!!

With impeccable writing and a multi-layered story, Be Your Everything wows us with the story of Chloe D’Angelo and Dante Mancuso. In the first book, When It Falls Apart, we meet this wonderful Italian family and join Brooke as she meets and falls in love with Luca D’Angelo. Now they’re traveling to Las Vegas for their bachelor & bachelorette party with Luca’s siblings, Chloe and Gio, and friends. Dante is Luca and Gio’s best friend and Salena is Chloe’s best friend. Brooke’s friends Carmen and Mayson briefly join them in Las Vegas.

We learn that Chloe has always had a crush on Dante, but he’s been labelled off limits by her over-protective brothers. Plus, he’s a player and he’s been living in Italy for the past four years. Even so, the attraction sparks again in both, and during the party night, there’s a drunken decision and they wake up married. And of course, they decided to keep it a secret while they dealt with their feelings.

Chloe is conflicted and scared, she wants to dissolve the union, Dante not so much. He’s always had a thing for Chloe but he wants to please her.

During the story, we’re treated to Chloe’s doubts and insecurities as she worries whether Dante will be a good husband and not break her heart. I didn’t understand some of the decisions that Chloe made, and hated that she seemed to be putting Dante off. I always saw Dante as wanting to make a go of their marriage. I loved his devotion and respect, not just for her but for his mother and Chloe’s mother. The poor guy had to work hard to please all these women!

There are other layers in this story that were interesting to read, like the fact that Dante’s father abandoned them years ago, and his mother stays stubbornly married to a guy she hasn’t seen in years. Then there’s the brother code that Dante has broken and caused a rift with his friends. Chloe wants to sort not just her relation with Dante but also her future. As per Italian custom, she has to live with her mother until she marries and now she’s in a pickle, married in secret and living with her mother. And she’s wanting her independence!

I love how the author meshes all the different plot lines into a story that is not only a love story but a family story. There’s a lot of interaction between all the members of the family and also Salena, Chloe’s best friend, who can’t keep a secret to save her life and is the one who always gives out the information to move the plot forward. It truly felt like a romp, fun and entertaining!

With two protective older brothers and a traditional Catholic Italian mother, it’s surprising that Chloe D’Angelo can manage a date without someone in the family naysaying her romantic choice. And Dante Mancuso…oh, no. Her brother’s best friend is not a dating-app right swipe.

But when they are left unsupervised on a late night in Vegas, all of that changes. Add in a Vegas wedding chapel and a couple of “I dos” and Chloe wakes up with a ring on her finger and a hangover. Dating Dante was always a secret desire, but marriage? The rift that this news would cause in her family has both of them keeping their nuptials to themselves as they scramble to undo their Vegas mistake.

Dante knew the rules: Chloe was off-limits. Only, he can’t stop once his mind starts to believe she might be his forever. Just as their attraction deepens, Chloe flees to Bali, desperate to clear her head.

All Dante has to do is keep her brothers from killing him and convince Chloe that they are meant for each other. But first, Dante has to find her.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Chloe D'Angelo wakes up in a hotel room with a headache and a wedding ring. Can a girl really forget getting married and that too to the man of her dreams? What really happened that night and what is her family going to say when it comes to light? 
Chloe has loved Dante forever but knows that he's completely out of her reach.  She has finally decided to move on when Dante comes back to town for her brother's wedding. Now the entire wedding party is in Vegas celebrating and beautiful glamorous grown-up Chloe is keeping Dante guessing until she wakes up in a hotel room with a hangover and a wedding ring.
No, no, no, this could not be happening. Chloe is finally over Dante and is going to Bali for Yoga and meditation. Before Dante can make this relationship come to fruition, he needs to convince her brothers his best friends and then he has to find Chloe who has sneaked out of town.
A beautiful romantic sojourn in Bali goes a long way towards convincing Chloe of his intentions. Then, there's the stalker from the dating app and other hurdles that have to be crossed before the path to true love runs smooth again. I absolutely love this series. The characters just sweep you in and make them love you and the stories are fresh, sparkling and full of romance.

I’m a huge fan of the best friend of a sibling plotline and Bybee’s newest is a treat. Chloe has had a crush on her brothers’ best friend, Dante, for ages. And unbeknownst to her, he’s felt the same. A wild weekend in Vegas finds them married to each other … and then the fun begins - ignore their attraction, find a way to get out of their vows, and keep it all from their friends & family. 

While they handled a lot of this in a less than, well, mature way, I definitely enjoyed the two of them together. There’s plenty of heat and sass, leading to entertaining interactions and quite a few sizzling moments. Dante is a little bit alpha and, once he decides that he doesn’t want out of his relationship with Chloe, he shows himself to be quite the charmer and a good partner. She, on the other hand, doesn’t handle things quite as well but she’s written in a way that I found myself caught up in everything and engaged in them finding a HEA.

Be Your Everything by Catherine Bybee
The D’Angelo’s #2

The girl next door was the one Dante wanted and he’d wanted Chloe for years even though her brothers had explicitly stated that she was off limits. And she was until that one night in Las Vegas when a decision made managed to throw a monkey wrench into the lives of Dante and Chloe.

What I liked:
* Chloe: has dreams of owning her own yoga business, works hard in family restaurant, has had a crush on Dante since puberty, strong, knows what she wants, not a shrinking violet, conflicted after the decision made in Vegas
* Dante: owns a boat chartering business with a partner in Positano, good friends with Chloe’s brothers, told to stay away from Chloe and always has…until Vegas
* The small town feel of Little Italy and how close everyone was
* Catching up with the D’Angelo family with the wedding of Luca to Brooke, seeing how young Franny is doing, hearing of Gio’s dreams that could show up in the next book, and seeing the mother still going strong
* Learning about Dante’s father and the decision Dante’s mother finally makes to free herself
* The time in Bali and how it helped the two who spent time there together get to know one another better and make decisions about their future
* The conclusion of the story, wondering if Gio is next, and am curious to see if the matriarchs might have a romance of their own later in the series

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like – and there was at least one BAD character in the mix

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

I was first introduced to Catherine Bybee with her Richter series. Romantic suspense is my favorite genre, but I enjoyed her writing so much that I decided to try this new series. And what an emotional journey it has been.

This book is a brother's best friend, forbidden love, and friends-to-lovers romance. It’s emotional, dramatic (I mean, they ARE Italian, after all), fun, and frustrating all rolled into one entertaining tale centered around family, both blood-related and family of the heart.

This book did not disappoint. As usual, Catherine Bybee’s writing and storytelling ability kept me fully engaged and not wanting to put it down. I highly recommend this series and look forward to the next book.

Be Your Everything is the second book in The D'Angelos serie. The first book was the story of Luca and Brooke and in this book they are getting married. The engaged couple and their wedding party head off to Las Vegas for a bachelor/bachelorette weekend and the fun ensues. Chloe, Luca's sister is left at a strip club by the rest of the group and when she wants to leave, she realizes she doesn't have enough money to pay the bill. She calls Dante Mancuso, her brothers' best friend and the one person she knows will come to help her out. Both Dante and Chloe have had feelings for each other for years, but never acted upon it due to the family's friendship. One thing leads to another and after some gambling and drinking, they head to a wedding chapel and get married. They realize it was a mistake the next morning but it is too late to do anything except get an annulment as soon as they can. Keeping it a secret is not easy, and when you actually have feelings for your spouse, it definitely complicates things.

I loved this addition to the D'Angelo series. The D'Angelos are a typical Italian family with over protective older brothers and a strict Catholic mother who wants all her children happily married, as long as it is in the church by the priest. When Chloe realizes that she can't stay home without letting things slip, and that Dante has no intention of staying in San Diego, she flees to Bali with the intention of staying away until Dante leaves. I loved the feelings that Chloe and Dante had for each other, how they had been growing since they were children, until they finally acted upon them. The meddling of family and friends continues, until they both went off grid. Returning home to see if they could make their relationship work, there is another issue waiting for Chloe and she isn't sure what to do. Can her family and Dante sort things out and save her as well as their relationship? Chloe and Dante are well developed characters and their relationship is believable, There are some sex scenes, but they were used to develop the story. I loved all the characters in the book, except one, and found them very realistic. My son married into an Italian family, and I could recognize some of their actions and behaviours. I would love to head to San Diego to meet them all. This was a wonderful contemporary romance full of family and friendship. It also has a theme about obsessive behaviour and online dating that takes a serious turn, but it is the slow romance between Chloe and Dante that steals the show. I recommend both books in this series and although this can be read as a standalone story, you won't want to miss When It Falls Apart, the first book in this series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫What happens in Vegas, doesn’t always stay in Vegas.

Chloe has had a crush on Dante her whole life, but he’s the best friend of both her brothers and not interested in her. Or so she thinks. Dante has been interested in Chloe since high school but was told she was off limits and he honored the code. Until they got married one drunk night in Vegas. Their relationship starts backwards and they have to figure out if they can work as a couple. Which is pretty hard when Chloe runs away to a retreat in Bali. After he chases her down, they agree to take the time to figure themselves out before going back to the family.

While I liked the continuation of the series and more insight into the D’Angelo family, I wasn’t thrilled with how they both handled the situation. Between running away, lying to the family, and her brother being a jacka$$ about his best friend and his sister frustrated me. That being said, looking forward to the last D’Angelo finding his match.

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was just what I needed to read. It is a sweet contemporary romance with a little heat...and a little nail-biting action near the end.

Chloe and Dante have known each other their whole life, and Chloe has crushed on him for many years. However, her two older brothers are what have kept Dante from pursuing her any sooner than a fated trip to Vegas, where they end up in a chapel, married. What ensues is miscommunication between these two while they find their way back to one another.

I don't know if I could handle being in Chloe's shoes with two older brothers that have decided that no one is good enough for her. It doesn't matter that she isn't a gangly teenager anymore; they still take that responsibility seriously. It must be the Catholic and Italian in them. But I do like how their family is close-knit and watch out for each other.

Dante is Gio and Luca's best friend, making it even harder for him to try to have a relationship with Chloe since she was always forbidden. But sometimes, the heart wants what the heart wants.

I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow once they accepted that they were meant for each other. It took time and some grand gestures on Dante's part, but he never looked back from the moment they said their "I Do's" at the chapel in Vegas. 

There is some craziness near the end of the book, but when everything started, I had a strong feeling about who was behind it all. I won't say much more and will let you discover the details for yourself.

This book is the 2nd in the series, but it can be read on its own. I don't know what other books will come into play, but I am hoping that Salena gets a story. Now that is a woman that needs to find her center.

We give this book 5 paws up.

I enjoyed meeting the D’Angelo family so much, I couldn’t wait to pounce on the next in the series, Be Your Everything. In this story, we get to explore the heat simmering between Chloe D’Angelo and the mysterious Dante Mancuso who has been in Italy for several years. While this started out as a Vegas marriage, I really enjoyed the slow burn and reluctance these two had to accept the marriage as real.

Chloe has long harbored feelings for Dante, but his close ties to her family kept anything from happening between them. After they both get very drunk in Vegas at a bachelor and bachelorette weekend, they wake up to find themselves married. They race to undo the marriage only to hit roadblock after roadblock. Deciding to keep things secret until they can get an annulment, they attempt to go back to plans as usual. But they each have feelings for each other and are unable to resist for long. Giving in is so sweet, until Chloe makes a discovery and flees, leaving Dante to decide how hard he’s willing to fight for what could be their future.

I really enjoyed this sweet story. It’s a slow burn, so be prepared. Buckle up and enjoy the ride. Meddling siblings and intrusive family keep them on their toes. I really enjoyed Dante’s passion about life and it reminded me of an Italian guy I dated back when. This is a long book and while I wish it had moved a little faster, I really enjoyed the characters while waiting for the story to pick up. There were a number of plot threads written into this story, so the story needed time to get all the pieces together.

Another great addition to this series ‘The D’Angelos’ finds Chloe fighting her feelings for Dante Mancuso, her brother’s best friend. Chloe is always battling her two older brothers and a very traditional mother, when it comes to dating. So when, Dante returns from Italy to attend a trip to Vegas with her brothers, her soon to be sister-in-law and her friends, Chloe finds herself once again, drawn to Dante.
So when they are left unsupervised and drinks are involved, they wake up to find themselves married. The rift that this news would cause in her family has the both of them keeping their nuptials to themselves as they scramble to undo their Vegas mistake. Knowing Chloe to be off limits, Dante agrees to keep their marriage a secret, but when Chloe flees to Bali, he has to follow her.
Catherine Bybee has brought each of the D’Angelo family members to life. Coming from an Italian family, she has managed to highlight the love and dramas associated with siblings and protective parents. The attraction felt between these two characters of Chloe and Dante, fairly sizzles and I couldn’t stop myself from reading this in one day. Five stars!!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Title: Be Your Everything
Author: Catherine Bybee
Genre: Romance

My Review:
Regrets are made in the things in life you don't do, not in the things you do, not in the things you do. Everything leads you to who you are meant to be."
This above quote was my favorite in the book. This sums up this sweet, romantic and wonderful story.
Be Your Everything by Catherine Bybee is the second book of a series and though it can be read as a standalone, reading it after the first would be good.
Chloe and Dante have known each other for the longest time. When Dante comes home from Italy for Chloe's brother's wedding, the old spark is ignited and both of them end up taking a step. A right step or wrong step, read it to find out.
I liked reading this light, romance story with wonderful characters. The romance between Chloe and Dante is cute and sweet. There's some cheesy dialogue but that was ok for me. If you like stories of families, friendships and romance pick this book up.

3.5 Stars

This was a charming, sexy novel. However, I'm afraid that it just wasn't as good as the first book in this series [book:When It Falls Apart|59456986]. The plot line was on the unique side (not totally unique, but what book author can really say they have created something nobody else has!).

There is a near-rape scene, and that may be something that could turn you off. It doesn't happen until near the end, though. The sex is steamy. The portrayal of a first-generation Italian family is pretty faithful but might be a little old-fashioned for some younger readers.

All in all, I would recommend this book to those who like romance, mistaken marriages, hot men, and Italians!

If you have Kindle Unlimited, this and the first book in this series are free to borrow and inexpensive to purchase.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Montlake, the author, and NetGalley.

4.5 Stars

Another day, another Catherine Bybee book I plowed through entirely too fast, because I have absolutely zero chill once I start reading her books.

Chloe D’Angelo has had a thing for her older brother’s best friend since she was old enough to like boys. But Dante Mancuso was always out of reach, even more so now that he no longer lives in the US. Also, he’s a notorious playboy.

When Dante comes home for Luca D’Angelo’s wedding and their whole gang travels to Las Vegas for a bachelor/bachelorette weekend, he’s tormented by Chloe’s presence. When time alone and copious amounts of alcohol land Dante and Chloe at a wedding chapel, what happened in Vegas secretly follows them back to San Diego.

On paper, I shouldn’t have liked this story - older brother’s best friend/best friend’s little sister isn’t a trope I usually enjoy. But I don’t think there’s ever been a book by this author I didn’t like. Throw in a boisterous Italian American family with extended Italian framily, plus a swoony man who travels across the world to declare his love, and you have an utterly delightful story (even if I did think the pseudo-other-man drama at the end was unnecessary).

The thing about Catherine Bybee’s writing is that I’m seldom able to let the characters go. I frequently finish the book and jump back to reread my favorite parts. For a person with over 200 unread books on my Kindle, that says a lot about how much I love her stories! There’s just enough “escapism” so I can feel like I’m getting away from my everyday life (who wouldn’t want to read about an extended visit to Bali?!), but things are never so far-fetched that I can’t see myself in the heroine’s shoes. There’s no ridiculous drama. Just real people falling in love. And Be Your Everything was everything I was hoping it would be.

So once again, I find myself in the middle of a beloved Catherine Bybee series, anxiously awaiting the next book. I guess I’ll just have to reread the first two D’Angelo books if my patience runs short!

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