Category Archives: Weekday Bride Series

Review: Treasured by Thursday by Catherine Bybee

treasured thursdayTitle: Treasured by Thursday by Catherine Bybee
Weekday Brides Series Book Seven
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The seventh and final tale in the dazzling, heartwarming, and pulse-racing Weekday Brides series.

Gabriella Masini: She’s a woman haunted by her past, with the scars to prove it. She believes that fairy tales are for other people. An elite matchmaker at Alliance, she’s great at crunching numbers, but something doesn’t add up with her latest prospective client: a billionaire bad boy with his own secrets. When Gabi refuses to be his temporary wife, Hunter forces her hand with an offer she can’t refuse. But marriage to a man like that could never last…or could it?

Hunter Blackwell: Only his bank account is bigger than his ruthless ability to obtain anything he wants. These days, he has a secret reason to settle down, at least for a while—and he thinks the sensual and sassy Gabi will fit the bill perfectly. But when their marriage of convenience becomes downright dangerous, Hunter must decide how far to take his vow to honor and protect Gabi forever.

Review:

Treasured by Thursday, the final installment in Catherine Bybee’s Weekday Brides series, is another marvelous romance with a few suspense elements. This delightful novel pairs up Gabriella “Gabi” Masini, a matchmaker at Alliance, and Hunter Blackwell, a billionaire in desperate need of a wife. After Gabi deems him an unsuitable candidate for Alliance, the ruthless businessman does a little digging into her background and coerces her into a marriage of convenience. The sparks fly between them, but will trust issues and baggage from their respective pasts keep them from acting on their growing attraction for one another?

Beginning about eighteen months after the events of the previous book, Gabi is settled into her new life in CA and her career with Alliance. Although she has made new friends and is happy with her life, she is still a little traumatized by the abuse she suffered at the hands of her deceased first husband, drug smuggler Alonzo Picano. Her personal life still might be a bit of a mess, but professionally, she is on top of her game and Hunter’s background sets off enough alarm bells to disqualify him as a client for Alliance. Unfortunately, Gabi underestimates Hunter and she is quite alarmed by the information he finds after his investigation into her past. Realizing she has been outmaneuvered, Gabi agrees to marry him, but only if he agrees to her somewhat outrageous conditions.

Hunter is sexy and charming, but he is also a little unscrupulous when it comes to forcing Gabi to marry him. He is a loner, estranged from his family and he is all business, all the time. He is a brilliant businessman, always thinking ahead to his next venture but he is rather cold and calculating. When it comes to Gabi, Hunter does not think past what he needs and he will do whatever it takes to achieve his goal of finding a wife. His surprisingly sweet side is revealed soon after they marry and it does not take long before he is infatuated with Gabi.

Unfortunately, Hunter left out a few pertinent details about his personal life and his past eventually collides with Gabi’s with disastrous results. Despite the extra security measures, danger comes at them from all sides and Gabi inadvertently puts herself in harm’s way when she reacts without thinking things through.  This part of the storyline is a little predictable but there are enough twists and turns to keep the story moving at a brisk pace.

Treasured by Thursday is an entertaining, action-packed novel with a wonderful cast of appealing characters. Catherine Bybee puts another unique spin on the marriage of convenience plot device and the resulting love story between Gabi and Hunter is quite captivating. Old and new fans are sure to love this magnificent final installment of the Weekday Brides series.

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Filed under Catherine Bybee, Contemporary, Montlake Romance, Rated B, Review, Romance, Treasured by Thursday, Weekday Bride Series

Review: Seduced by Sunday by Catherine Bybee

seduced sundayTitle: Seduced by Sunday by Catherine Bybee
Weekday Brides Series Book Six
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

She swore off love forever…but he just might change her mind.

The sixth sweet, thrilling book in the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling Weekday Brides series from Catherine Bybee.

Meg Rosenthal: Matchmaker by day, realist by night, Meg is not about to get swept away by a charming, darkly handsome businessman in a designer suit. She’s come to a beautiful secluded resort to evaluate the private island’s potential for her agency, not to ogle its owner. But there’s something about the magnetic man that’s hard to resist, even for a woman who refuses to fall in love.

Valentino Masini: A successful and drop-dead sexy businessman, Valentino is used to having the finer things in life. Yet he’s never wanted someone the way he wants Meg, who’s stirring up a hurricane of trouble in his heart. But just as he decides to convince her to stay, someone else decides it might be time to get Meg off the island…permanently.

Review:

Seduced by Sunday is the sixth installment in Catherine Bybee’s enchanting Weekday Brides series. A lush tropical setting is the beginning of the romance for Meg Rosenthal and Valentino Masini but an intriguing mystery also takes the pair to the vineyards of Italy.

When Meg learns about a secluded location that could be a perfect fit for the clientele of the company she works for, she knows she has to investigate to see if it lives up to its stellar reputation. She, along with good friend (and über famous) Michael Wolfe, make plans to spend a week checking out the resort. Valentino (Val) is dead serious about protecting the privacy of his guests so he and Meg get off on the wrong foot when he is slow to grant her access to the island.  Meg’s anger quickly turns to attraction when she finally meets the very handsome and sexy Val, but she is not looking for love. He is also drawn to Meg, but since she is there with Michael, Val keeps his distance from the sultry beauty. But it soon becomes clear that someone is violating the guests’ privacy and in order to protect Michael’s privacy, Meg and Val team up to get to the bottom of the mystery and things begin to heat up between the couple.

Meg is extremely loyal to her friends and the company she works for. She is also feisty and quite fierce about protecting the people she cares about. She is a bit suspicious that the island is not quite as safe from prying eyes as everyone believes but when things appear to be on the up and up, she begins to relax her guard. She is quickly charmed by Val’s sister Gabriella (Gabi) and his mother and she is thrilled to meet blues legend, Jim Lewis. Meg is a little dazzled by Val but she has absolutely no intention of beginning a romance with him.

Val is a shrewd businessman and the success of his island retreat hinges on providing complete and total privacy for his guests. They, along with his employees, are thoroughly vetted and he has yet to have a breach in security. But soon after Meg and Michael arrive, he begins receiving seemingly innocuous photos of him, Meg and Michael. When all remains quiet in the media, Val cannot fathom the motive for the pictures, but he quietly begins an investigation. However when Meg learns about the pictures, she jumps into action to keep Michael out of the limelight.

After Michael and Meg return to their regular lives, puzzling information about Gabi’s fiancé, Alonzo, takes Meg, Michael and eventually, Val to Italy. Things do not quite add up about Alonzo’s winery and Michael is determined to uncover the truth about his business. As the three of them are looking into the winery, Gabi finds herself in a precarious situation and soon everyone is in a race against time to rescue her before it is too late.

Seduced by Sunday is another captivating installment in Catherine Bybee’s Weekday Brides series. Meg and Val are superbly developed characters and there is no denying the chemistry between them. The storyline is a fantastic mix of romance and mystery and the novel’s conclusion is suspenseful and action-packed.   All of the loose ends are wrapped up in a sweet and very romantic epilogue.

Although Seduced by Sunday can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend the previous novels in the Weekday Brides series as well.

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Filed under Catherine Bybee, Contemporary, Montlake Romance, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Romance, Weekday Bride Series

Review: Taken by Tuesday by Catherine Bybee

Title: Taken by Tuesday by Catherine Bybee
Weekdays Bride Series Book Five
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Mystery/Suspense
Length: 309 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

He’ll do anything to keep her safe…for the rest of their lives.

Romance and excitement tie the knot in Taken by Tuesday, the fifth book in Catherine Bybee’s bestselling Weekday Brides series.

Judy Gardner: College graduate Judy stands ready to conquer the world…if she can get a job. Hoping to transition from aspiring architect to famous architect as quickly as possible, the dark-haired beauty moves to LA, staying in the home of her celebrity brother, Michael Wolfe. But it’s hard for Judy to focus on work when the sexy bodyguard she fell for last summer keeps showing up in her life and leaving her breathless.

Rick Evans: With his hard body, green eyes, and easy smile, Rick could have any woman he wants. But the Marine-turned-bodyguard only has eyes for Judy and her spitfire attitude. When a faceless villain attacks Judy, Rick will stop at nothing to protect the woman who opened his heart from the monster hunting her.

The Review:

Taken by Tuesday is the fifth installment in Catherine Bybee’s delightfully entertaining Weekday Brides series. In this outing, Judy Gardner and Rick Evans finally get the opportunity to explore the attraction that sparked between them when they were introduced in the previous book in the series, Single by Saturday.

Judy and Rick are a wonderful pairing and while it takes a while for their romance to get going, there is plenty of heat between them. Judy is not adverse to flirting with the hot bodyguard, but she easily deflects his efforts to take their relationship beyond friendship. She finally agrees to go out on a date with him, but their romance is quickly derailed by a vicious attack on Judy. The police investigation takes a very surprising turn and after an unexpected complication arises, Judy comes up with an ingenious scheme that will change the course of the investigation, but will Rick go along with her crazy plan?

The first part of Taken by Tuesday is fun, flirty and lighthearted. There is plenty of teasing banter between Rick and Judy and their scenes crackle with sexual tension. Judy is focused on jumpstarting her career while Rick lingers on the periphery of her life as he tries to convince her to give their relationship a chance.

Taken by Tuesday turns much darker when Judy is attacked. This part of the storyline is the catalyst for the change in their relationship from friends to lovers.  Rick and Judy team up to uncover the stalker’s identity and their investigation is soon interspersed with scorching hot love scenes. Before they can figure out what is next for them as a couple, the stalker makes his move and Judy’s life hangs in the balance.

Taken by Tuesday is  a marvelous addition to the Weekday Brides series.  Catherine Bybee perfectly blends romance and suspense into a fast-paced and engaging novel. The story races to a pulse pounding and dramatic conclusion but a sweet epilogue puts the finishing touches on Judy and Rick’s romance.

Although Taken by Tuesday can be read as a standalone, it is worth mentioning that many of the characters from previous novels make guest appearances and it can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out the various connections.

Read my reviews of the other novels in the series HERE.

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Filed under Catherine Bybee, Contemporary, Montlake Romance, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Romance, Suspense, Taken by Tuesday, Weekday Bride Series

Review: Single by Saturday by Catherine Bybee

singleTitle: Single by Saturday by Catherine Bybee
Weekday Brides Series Book Four
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 315 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

She enjoyed her fake marriage…until she fell in love with her brother-in-law.

Catherine Bybee serves up excitement and dizzying romance in Single by Saturday, the sequel to Fiancé by Friday and the latest entry in her bestselling Weekday Brides series.

Karen Jones: The petite blonde married a Hollywood star, yet she’s the one who spends every day playing a part: the part of a happy wife. A year ago, she agreed to wed a famous actor to diffuse rumors about his personal life. Now, her divorce sits just around the corner, along with a five million dollar payout. However, as she prepares to exit her fake marriage gracefully, her drop-dead-gorgeous brother-in-law walks through the door…and into her heart.

Zach Gardner: Dark-haired, blue-eyed hunk Zach crashes Michael and Karen’s fancy one-year anniversary party, determined to meet the wife his brother hid from their family. But sparks fly the moment he and Karen see each other. When the famous couple decides to visit the whole Gardner clan, Karen must keep Michael’s secret under wraps in front of his questioning relatives…including Zach, the man who could be the real love of her life.

The Review:

Single by Saturday, the newest addition to Catherine Bybee’s fabulously awesome Weekday Brides series, is my absolutely favorite novel in the series so far. With a very unique spin on the marriage of convenience plot device, this enchanting love story is a refreshing change of pace from typical contemporary romances.

Single by Saturday opens with Karen Jones and movie heartthrob Michael Wolfe celebrating their one year anniversary. This marriage of convenience is not your ordinary marriage-Karen and Michael wed to dispel rumors about Michael’s private life and while they do love one another, there is no chance of them falling IN love. They have kept their distance from Michael’s family from day one but that is about to change when Michael’s brother Zach Gardener crashes their extravagant anniversary party. Unable to avoid his family, Michael and Karen head back to Michael’s small hometown where Michael reconnects with his family and Karen and Zach fight their unexpected attraction.

Although Karen is going to receive a big payout for her marriage to Michael, her reason for needing the money is not for personal gain. Instead she plans to use the money to help set up a refuge for disadvantaged teens. She spends most of her days volunteering at the local Boys and Girls Club and she uses her marriage to the kids’ advantage. Karen has a big heart, a good head on her shoulders and an uncanny ability to size people up within minutes. She can hold her own against just about anyone and she does not mince words when protecting her loved ones. Karen and Michal have a strong friendship and she is very worried about what effect her growing feelings for his brother are going to have on him. Karen agonizes over her attraction to Zach and this part of the storyline is brilliantly executed.

Zach is a dutiful son who has always been content with his life’s choices. His father’s expectations for him to take over the family hardware business have kept him in town, but he chose a different career path. His construction business is quite successful but on his return from Michael’s, he begins to rethink his decisions. Having no idea what the truth is about his brother’s marriage, Zach is horribly conflicted about his attraction to Karen. But he begins to notice that things are a bit off between the couple, and he quietly observes them trying to figure out the truth about their relationship.

One of the things I liked best about Single by Saturday is how down to earth Michael’s family and Karen are. While she might enjoy some of the financial benefits of her marriage, she really does not like being in the limelight. Michael might have his reasons for staying away his family, but they remain untouched by his fame and his trip home reminds how much he loves them. Of course it also dredges up some of his unpleasant past and emphasizes how much he has to lose if his secrets come out. The interactions between Karen, Michael and his family are sometimes poignant, humorous and ultimately, loving.

The relationship between Zach and Karen is tastefully portrayed and slowly evolves over the course of the novel. It is a push/pull of emotions as they struggle to keep from hurting Michael while remaining true to their own desires. They also keep the extended family’s reactions in mind but they are fully aware some family members are going to have a difficult time understanding their romance.

Single by Saturday is a captivating love story that kept me glued to the pages to see how Catherine Bybee was going to resolve what seems to be an impossible pairing between two unlikely lovers. I should not have worried because she not only manages to effortlessly pull off Karen and Zach’s romance, she also preserves all of the tricky family relationships as well.

Single by Saturday is an enchanting addition to the Weekday Brides series that old and new fans are sure to enjoy. It can be read as a standalone story, but don’t be surprised if you end up purchasing the first three books in the series. Yep, it is THAT good!

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Filed under Catherine Bybee, Contemporary, Montlake Romance, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Single by Saturday, Weekday Bride Series

Blog Tour Stop, Contest, Excerpt & Review: Fiance by Friday by Catherine Bybee

Title: Fiancé by Friday by Catherine Bybee
Weekday Brides Series Book Three
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Contemporary, Romantic Suspense
Length: 339 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publicist

Summary:

GWEN HARRISON:
The beautiful high-born daughter of an English duke came to America to take over her sister-in-law’s matchmaking business. But just because she’s the boss doesn’t mean she can’t fantasize about making her own perfect match with bodyguard Neil MacBain. Will the enigmatic man who haunts her dreams cost her more than she bargained for?

NEIL MACBAIN:
The retired Marine can’t deny the effect blue-blooded Gwen has on his troubled soul or his battle-hardened body. Bus as a client, Gwen is off-limits—until a threat from Neil’s past returns… and Gwen is caught in the crossfire. Now to keep her safe he will risk it all: his career, his life… and his heart.

Purchase Links: Amazon * Barnes & Noble * BAM * Book Depository

The Review:

Fiancé by Friday is a fast-paced and engaging romance that is also quite suspenseful. Although it is the third installment in Catherine Bybee’s Weekday Brides series, it can be read as a standalone story.

Gwen Harrison may be a British royalty, but she is very down to earth, sensible and likable. She has been attracted to bodyguard Neil MacBain for quite some time, but theirs is strictly a platonic relationship. Tired of waiting for Neil to make a move, Gwen works up the courage to confront him about their attraction and challenges him to make the next move.

Gwen is the model of grace under pressure while she and Neil track down the person who has been stalking her. Life on the run is way out of her comfort zone, but this privileged and level-headed woman is more than up for the challenge. While she does not blindly follow Neil’s orders, Gwen is definitely not a too stupid to live heroine whose ridiculous actions put her in danger. She keeps her wits about her and calmly comes up with a pretty ingenious plan when she finds herself in a dangerous situation.

Neil is the epitome of the strong, silent type. A quintessential loner, he is quite mysterious and close mouthed about his past. Neil is plagued by (misplaced) guilt over his disastrous last mission while on active duty. When a fellow Marine tracks him down following the death of one of their friends, Neil realizes Gwen’s stalker and his past are inexplicably linked. Fearing for Gwen’s safety, Neil seeks help from the person he trusts most and he then attempts to lure the killer out of hiding.

The mystery element of Fiancé by Friday is quite compelling and keeps the story moving at a brisk pace. It is an effective plot device that brings Neil and Gwen together and takes their relationship in a very surprising direction. I was pretty stymied for good deal of the novel about who was behind the stalking, but once the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place, I was able to discern who was behind the plot fairly easily.

Fiancé by Friday is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining novel with genuinely likable and realistic characters. The overall plot is well-developed and quite engrossing. The longstanding history Gwen and Neil creates amazing sexual tension and lends credibility to their romance. It is a delightful addition to Catherine Bybee’s wonderfully unique Weekday Brides series and I am eagerly anticipating the next book.


Excerpt

Eliza flagged down a waitress and ordered a martini. “I see not a lot has changed,” she said after the waitress left.

“What do you mean?” Gwen asked.

“We’re sitting in a bar and your giant shadow is lurking in the back of the building.” Eliza tossed a peanut in her mouth.

“My shadow?”

Eliza looked o the right of the bar. “Yeah. The man who acts like you’re a job but can’t seem to leave you alone. If it was anyone other than Neil I’d be afraid he was a stalker.”

Gwen twisted around in her chair. Sure enough, perched at the edge of a seat on the far side of the bar, sat Neil.

“What’s he doing here?”

His eyes found hers for a brief moment before she looked away.

“I think that’s obvious.”

Her back teeth started to grind. “I don’t’ need a babysitter.”

“I don’t know, Gwen. The last time we sat in a bar I remember a certain someone getting drunk and a couple of other someones getting into a fight.”

She’d never live that down. Gwen and Eliza went to blow off steam in a Texas bar. The cowboys ewre full of “yes, ma’am” and “howdy, darlin’.” They danced and carried on…and yes, she drank a little too much. When one of the cowboys mistakenly took her smile as an invitation for intimacy, Neil erupted form the bar to teach the cowboy the meaning of the word no.

It was the first time Neil had defended her honor, and though she hated to admit it, she got a kick out of how ticked off he became when another man looked at her. “That was last year.”

“What’s changed since then?”

Nothing! It didn’t matter how much she flirted with the man, or how obvious she was about her attraction Neil didn’t bite.

“Everything.” Gwen stood, ready to put Neil I his place. “If you’ll both excuse me for a minute.”

She pushed her way through the crowd as if on a collision course with Neil. He kept his lips in a thin line as she approached and gripped the longneck bottle at his side. Slipping between the woman on the stool next to him and Neil’s massive frame, Gwen slapped a hand on her hip and growled. “What are you doing here?”

He blinked, once and picked up his beer. “Having a drink.”

She wanted to scream. “Having a drink,” she repeated.

He tilted the bottle back, took a swig.

“I know what you’re doing, Neil. And I don’t like it. I don’t want or need a bodyguard.”

“That’s debatable.”

If stomping her foot would knock some sense into him, she’d stomp better than a farm girl in a vineyard.

Poking a finger into his chest, she moved closer. “Do you have any idea how difficult it is to have a love life with a tow-hundred-thirty-pound bodybuilder standing in my way?”

A muscle in his jaw tightened. “Two hundred and fifty.”

“Ahhh!” She did scream now.

He lifted his beer again, but before he could take a swig, Gwen grabbed it from his fingers and tilted it back herself.

In a move that would make Eliza and Karen proud, she pushed the empty beer bottle back into his hand and slid between his thighs.

His jaw twitched again.

The strong musky scent that was pure Neil invaded her senses. She dropped one hand to his thigh and left it there. “This is how I see it, Neil. You have two choices. Either back off or step up.”

Gwen squeezed his thigh before vacating his personal space and marching back to the girls. A satisfied smile stretched over her face.


PRAISE FOR FIANCE BY FRIDAY

“The hero and heroine come to life with each flip of the page
and will linger long after readers cross the finish line.”

–RT BOOK REVIEWS, TOP PICK, 4 ½ STARS

“Bybee takes an elegant titled lady, a dark emotionally guarded hero, a menacing stalker,
and a cast of distinctive characters mixing it all up into an unusual courtship tale
full of danger an sexual tension.”

–PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“The hottest love on mainstream paper…
Ms. Bybee does not disappoint.”

—TJ MACKAY, IND’TALE MAGAZINE, 5 STARS


Author Bio

New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating high school, she moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned novels Wife by Wednesday, Married by Monday, and Not Quite Dating. Bybee lives with her husband and two teenage sons in Southern California.

Contact Links: Website * Email * Blog * Twitter


Contest

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Filed under Blog Tour, Catherine Bybee, Contemporary, Contest, Excerpt, Fiance by Friday, Montlake Romance, Rated B, Romantic Suspense, Weekday Bride Series