Faking Forever (First Wives, 4)

Catherine Bybee knows how to grab your attention and hold it in her latest book Faking Forever. Shannon Wentworth's biological clock is ticking and she has decided she wants to become a single mother. She doesn't want invitro; she wants to conceive the natural way. She is a photographer and will be doing a destination wedding in Tulum, Mexico. She is hoping for a one night stand while there. When she arrives and sees the groom she realizes he is the clueless person who sat beside her on the plane down. Where things go from here you can only imagine. You know Catherine Bybee only writes great books so you will not be disappointed. I loved every minute of this book and was sorry when I turned the last page.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to leave an honest review. I have read this entire First Wives series and have thoroughly enjoyed them all. It was great to finally read Shannon's story. I have always enjoyed Catherine Bybee's writing style and the engagement of all of the characters in the series that she uses.

This book follows Shannon, a former Governor's wife and current photographer, and Victor, a serious workaholic. Victor is actually the groom for a destination wedding that Shannon is hired to shoot. She meets him on the plane and has an instant dislike to him because he is rude and inconsiderate. Turns out his bride to be is quite young and very unsure about getting married; she ends up leaving him at the altar. Instead of going back to working, as would be his norm, Victor is convinced to stay and enjoy his honeymoon.

At the same time, Shannon is staying in Tulum to implement her own plan of trying to have a child. She has it all mapped out but with Victor staying at the same hotel, things don't go as planned. She ends up actually starting to like and understand him as they interact more and more. At the end of their time together, they both agree to wait 3 months before seeing each other again to make sure this isn't a rebound for Victor. Needless to say, they can't stay away from each other once back to the real world.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy with both of their pasts coming back to cause doubts. Shannon's ex wants her back to help him with his next election and Victor's ex-fiancé starts to cause trouble once she realizes Victor has moved on. Can the two learn to trust each other and overcome these obstacles?

This is a very well written book and I would recommend it and the whole series. It is fun to still engage with the characters from the previous books. This book does not have the same amount of suspense as the first three books in the series but it is a good wrap up.

“Faking Forever,” the final book in the First Wives series. I’ve been waiting for Shannon’s story. Why? Because, unlike her Alliance divorcée friends (Avery and Trina), also members of the First Wives group, Shannon was the only one who lost her heart to her ex-husband, Paul. That wasn’t supposed to happen, but midway through their contract she and Paul changed the rules. They agreed as consenting adults that satisfying their physical needs would be harmless. Unfortunately, Shannon fell in love, Paul didn’t. Her heart shattered when he handed her divorce papers as stipulated in their contract.
Fast forward, three years later, Shannon decides she’s tired of faking. Faking smiles for friends, faking happiness for her parents, but most of all, waiting for Paul to wake up and realize she was the best thing that ever happened to him. No more faking it! But one thing she realized wasn’t fake in her life, her relationship with her three friends of the First Wives group. Over the years the women became very close and protective of one another. They’re like sisters. And since Shannon is the youngest in the group, the others make it their mission to protect her most of all.
Within the group, three of the four women remarried, finding that special someone who showed them the second time around was so much better. Shannon is happy for them, but at the age of thirty, she feels her biological clock ticking. Feeling time slip away from her, Shannon does something out of character at the next monthly meeting. She surprises her friends with an announcement, “I’m going to have a baby.” Three sets of eyes stare at her. Mouths fall open. Wait, this is Shannon. She has been in mourning for three-years, after her divorce. She doesn’t date. She’s quiet, shy, not flirty. What did we miss? How could she be having a baby?
Yes, the reader sees a new Shannon. It’s time she goes after what she wants. She’s tired of waiting. Shannon wants to have a baby and she’s not going to let tradition stand in her way. She’s going to find a father for the baby, have a one-night stand, and get on with her life. She doesn’t want a relationship, nor a husband. She doesn’t want to put her heart out there, to have it trampled on, once again. However, there’s just one problem. He’s tall, handsome, and he brings out the worst in her. And, he’s on the rebound. Meet Victor Brooks. Both main characters come with baggage, but they can’t ignore the buzz that goes off when they are around each other.
This book is my favorite in the series, by far. Both Shannon and Victor are trying to break out of a cocoon of sorts. Both from different worlds, but both seeking the next step that will put them on the right path toward their future. But both have people in their past determined to sabotage their efforts at all cost. I was quite impressed with this book. Catherine wrote the perfect closing to this series. A good read!

In Faking Forever, we revisit The First Wives. Shannon agreed to a marriage of convenience to a man running for governor. He won & they divorced. Now she’s trying to decide what to do with the rest of her life. She wants children but is tired of trying to find someone. She’s decided to spend six months looking for & having s one night stand for the sole purpose of getting pregnant. If that doesn’t work, she’ll look at artificial insemination or adoption. The women try to talk her out of it but at least get her to agree that someone needs to be there to look out for her. Wouldn’t you know it? The first time out she finds a man she’s interested in & he’s the groom in the wedding she’s photographer for. When the bride runs out on the wedding, Victor & Shannon start seeing each other. Has she found her happy ever after?

I love this series! The First Wives is a group of women that always have each other’s back. They’ve come together with the strangest tie connecting them & have turned into real friends. They are witty, sarcastic, bitchy, funny & always supportive. Victor & Shannon end up being good for each other. Shannon forces him to stop being serious & leave his work at the office. Victor helps Shannon realize she isn’t content photographing society weddings & helps her see her potential in other photography that would uplift her.

Faking Forever is the fourth book in Catherine's First Wives series. This installment to the series is very well written and enjoyable. The friendship between the group of ladies is something to envy. I definitely recommend.

Cathering Bybee is hands down one of the best contemporary romance authors out there. I've read every one of her books and have never been disappointed. Her latest, Faking Forever (First Wives Book #4) features wedding photographer Shannon Wentworth and workaholic recycling mogul Victor Brooks. This is a well crafted story with likeable characters, a well thought out plot and loads of steam. A definite 5 star book.
#FakingForever #NetGalley

Faking Forever is definitely the story that Shannon deserved. Catherine Bybee has once again delivered a heartwarming story that is filled with bittersweet moments, I loved reading Faking Forever and was so sad when I finished the book. It is a great book, with amazing characters and settings. Could not put it down, had me staying up way too late reading. Faking Forever is Shannon's story, the former First Lady of California. Shannon, still in a fog over her divorce from Paul, has decided she wants to move on with her life. She decides that she wants to have a baby and is content with the idea of being a single mother. Shannon intends on staying in Tulum, Mexico after a destination wedding that she has to hired to photograph to accomplish this dream. Avery plans on joining her in Tulum to assist her in her search for a "baby daddy". Enter in Victor Brooks, the jilted groom of the destination wedding that Shannon was hired to photograph. The chemistry between them jumps off the pages and is so steamy. Shannon and Victor agree to wait three months once they return home, to make sure that this isn't a rebound romance between the two of them. Life and unexpected complications arise once they return home, trying to keep them apart. Of course there are the amazing plot twists that Catherine loves to throw in, once things are going too smoothly. Love the changes that were made to Shannon's life. She was a different person at the end of the book than she was at the beginning. It was a wonderful transformation! I am so happy that Shannon got everything she ever wanted and dreamed about in her story. I loved catching up with the other First Wives and all the exciting events in their lives. Cannot wait to read Sasha's story and hoping that maybe Angie will get her own story, too.

Yes! This was exactly what I hoped for and I read it in one sitting. Escaping a cold, rainy February day in New Jersey and being transported to the beaches of Tulum was perfect.

I loved reconnecting with all four women of the First Wives Club and getting to see Shannon’s story. I had an idea of what I thought hers would be but it was totally different than I expected.

I laughed out loud multiple times and couldn’t put the book down until I finished. Loved spending my evening with Shannon and the other ladies! I think this was my favorite of the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake Romance for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

A well written romance with a very good plot. I highly recommend this book.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Photographer Shannon Wentworth has always wanted a child, and given she's not getting any younger, decides now is the time to finally have a baby of her own. However, Shannon is single and avidly dislikes the idea of a sperm donor, citing the process as cold and unfeeling. So, despite her best friends' objections, she plans to hook up with someone while on her upcoming assignment, a destination wedding in Mexico, in order to become pregnant.

Much to her annoyance, Shannon's trip to Mexico is slightly ruined by her rude seatmate, and within hours of arriving in Mexico, she quickly discovers the bride-to-be has some serious second thoughts about marrying her workaholic fiance. After giving the bride advice to listen to her heart, Shannon is stunned to learn the bride has gone AWOL, leaving her fiance at the altar. To make matters worse, the fiance, Victor Brooks, is her rude seatmate from the plane ride over and, thanks to the barbed words exchanged between them, believes her to be the sole reason his fiance left him.

Victor is certain the smart-mouthed woman is to blame for his ruined wedding, and is definitely not afraid to tell her so. However, after the two share a night of drinks and reflection, he soon finds himself unexpectedly attracted to the frustrating woman. But little does he know, the reciprocated feelings between the two has created a complication in her pregnancy plan. And is Shannon really willing to give up her dreams of a child for a man who was just left at the altar?

Catherine Bybee is one of those authors that I've often wanted to read, but have never really gotten around to. After reading Faking Forever, I'm sort of kicking myself for that. I found Bybee's cast of characters delightful, and while the plot is full of some slightly overused tropes, I really enjoyed reading this novel. I LOVED the relationship between Victor and Shannon, as well as each character individually. I also found myself appreciating the low amount of angst within the novel, as is gave the novel a lighter feel.

Overall, Faking Forever was a fun read with a compelling cast of characters, and I would highly recommend it to any fans of contemporary romance, or even women's fiction. I genuinely look forward to checking out the rest of the author's works (they're even on kindle unlimited!).

4/5