I am completely enthralled with this series and I cannot get enough. This book and the Stone children is packed with so much love and family for Max. In the beginning it was entertaining to watch his unbelievable acceptance of what was happening plus experiencing all this new life has to offer. I loved how humble Max, Sarah, and the rest of the Stone/Morrison crew was. That's truly why I enjoy this series so much. It packs an emotional punch and will have you all in your feelings. There were moments that had me teary eyed. There was just so much love and adoration! There were twists you don't see coming. I'm extremely curious as to how the new board member will disrupt things *wink wink*. I can't wait for Alex's story with the conclusion, for her to find her person and HEA!

Arc provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

f you love a juicy mystery wrapped in a swoony romance, The Forgotten One by Catherine Bybee is here to serve you all the feels with a side of scandal, minus the gossip.

Sarah McNeilly, a reporter who doesn’t do tabloid trash, is tasked with digging up dirt on the elusive "Maximillian Smith" and his mysterious connection to the ultra rich Stone family. But instead of a salacious exposé, she stumbles onto something even more dangerous... her own feelings.

Max? Well, Max was just your average guy, until yesterday, when his life got flipped upside down. Suddenly, he’s a billionaire, part of a family he didn’t even know existed, and has Sarah, the dogged reporter, sniffing around for answers. But Max has no intention of letting the press ruin his newly discovered life, so why not work with Sarah to control the narrative and find his long lost mother in the process? Seems like a solid plan... until sparks fly, and peeling back the layers of Max’s past becomes far more complicated (and a whole lot sexier) than either of them expected.

This isn’t just another billionaire romance. The Forgotten One mixes heartfelt family drama, a suspenseful search for answers, and that oh-so-perfect slow-burn chemistry that keeps you turning pages well past your bedtime. Max is not your typical brooding billionaire; he’s a relatable, down to earth guy who just happened to hit the familial jackpot, and Sarah is the sharp, no nonsense reporter who can see past the tabloid headlines straight into his heart.

As Max and Sarah team up to uncover the truth behind his newfound fortune, you’ll be rooting for them to figure out the biggest mystery of all: how to trust each other when it matters most.

With Bybee’s signature blend of humour, heart, and a touch of intrigue, this book is perfect for anyone who loves a romance where the stakes are high, the banter is sharp, and the chemistry is off the charts.

There are few books that can reach the highest level of excellence. I just finished reading one. I read this in three nights, couldn't put it down. As with all Ms. Bybee's books, the characters are interesting with a great plot line. But, this book just pulls on your emotions making you laugh and cry. Truly one of the best books I have read this year. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review. I want to thank NetGalley and Ms. Bybee for allowing me to read this book.

This is book 2 of the story of the Stone children. Catherine Bybee writes stories that draw you in and make you feel like you are watching a movie. This is a great story that continues the next steps in the lives of Alex, Chase, Piper and Max. Her series are always great reads and this was no different. I hope there will be more in The Heirs series.

Book 2 out of 3 but can be read as a standalone without spoiling anything.
Long lost family with tons of money. A very determined journalist. Can either of them be trusted? Life changing revelations and money. Building a family relationship and trust. Not everyone is the same.

I have read most if not all of Catherine Bybee's books and this one is one of the best. I had forgotten about the Stone siblings looking for Max so now I have to reread that book. Max had a tough upbringing in many group and foster homes. When Alex and Chase first came up to Max and told him they were 1/2 siblings, he thought they were nuts and went after them with a baseball bat. Eventually, he came around and when he saw the balance in his new saving and checking accounts, he just laughed. He met Sarah (who was a reporter for a trash magazine) when she was charged with finding out who he was or else she would be fired. She prided herself on only reporting the truth regardless of what her boss wanted. Max and Sarah had several interactions and then they gave her an exclusive when his identity came out. That gave her some brownie points with her boss, but not many.
The story had alot going for it. A new family when there was none before, a new relationship, finding and losing someone within a very short time and a new beginning for forgotten ones.

It's a great story that I will reread more than once

I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Catherine Bybee hit it out of the park with his book. In fact, as much as I enjoyed the first book in the series- I enjoyed this one more. This book focuses on Max Smith, an ordinary guy who has had some hard knocks . Max finds out that he is the lost heir to the estate of Aaron Stone which is worth billions when two unknow siblings seek him out. This book is not only about finding love but also about building bonds and making a family. I definitely recommend this book. If you enjoyed the first book in the series- this book will make you really happy!

This is book 2 in The Heirs series. It is a free-standing book.
Max is a hard-working construction worker. One day he is visited by a man & 2 women and his life is changed forever after that.
Sarah is a gossip magazine reporter who only writes the truth.
I love the dynamics of the characters and how they all learn about each other and become friends and family even though they all grew up differently.
Thank you to the author and publisher for my advanced copy for my honest review.

A rags to riches story of one person who I felt really deserved it. Abandoned not only by his father, his mother also left Max to grow up in foster care. Literally overnight, Max discovered he not only has a half brother and sister, but is now wealthy beyond his dreams. Sarah is the reporter who goes after his story. As they work together, Max finding out what it is to have a family and Sarah striving to tell the truth about his life, they find more than just a common goal, they find love. Truly a heartwarming story from a fantastic author.

This is the second novel in Catherine Bybee’s he Heirs series. This is one I recommend reading it as part of a series. While you can figure it out, it certainly helps knowing exactly why finding Max was so important to both Chase and Alex. Waking up to find out you are to find out the father you never knew has left you as one of three heirs to his billion-dollar estate is certainly a surprise to Max. But this is more than just a rags to riches story. But given the circumstances of Max's inheritance, it's absolutely amazing that he ends up getting involved with of all people a reporter. But Sarah and Max are great together.
Bybee has a knack for drawing you into the story and making you really root for the characters to get their happy ending. And I am looking forward to what she has in store for Alex, I’m sure that will be quite the story!
Readers should definitely make sure to read the author's note before the start of the book.

I can honestly say that this was my most favorite book of 2024. I swear that the last 10 chapters had me hooked. Max had such an unfortunate childhood and it took him forever to realize he could trust others and actually allow himself to love and be loved. His reaction to the Uncle Max shirt had me crying. This story was so good, I am actually looking forward to reading it again - something I never do! Thank you Montlake Publishing and Catherine Bybee for this wonderful opportunity!

I absolutely loved Sarah and Max's story!

Max being the forgotten child and the sibling they knew nothing about. He had a rough life that just changed at the swab of the cheek.

Sarah being the gossip magazine reporter who wouldn't write a lie (hard to find these days)!

Their story is like a roller coaster ride with all the right things at the right times!

I read this book to return to the story of The Heirs series by Catherine Bybee. This is a solid entry to that series, and I enjoyed it a bit more than the first one as the cast of characters expanded. It is a light read, but enjoyable, just what I need sometimes to reset from all the doomsday information that one has to read to remain informed these days. The author is skilled at telling a romantic story without being overly saccharine or overly graphic, and the characters are well developed as well as the storyline. When I am in need of a bit of reading comfort and happiness, I will be looking for one of Ms. Bybee's books. My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

I received an ARC copy from Netgalley for an honest review. I liked Max very much even before I read his story, just hearing about him in #AllOurTomorrows. I read the note from Catherine Bybee and I knew I was in for a heart squizzing journey of reading. It was and I did have to breathe deeply a pretty number of times.
I stopped my reading in the middle of the book because I had a lot of work and things to do. In fact I had kind of lost interest of knowing what would be Max’s next move and what he would do of his life after his world changed. But as always Catherine Bybee delivered her narrator charm and the real Max appeared. I can’t wait for the next book.

~~~ I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley ~~~
Catherine Bybee is one of my favorite authors and I am loving this new "The Heirs" series. I read the first book and loved it. The Forgotten One is the second book in the series. This book is the story of Sarah and Max who develop a relationship after Sarah, a journalist is assigned to follow the new found billionaire heir Max Stone. This is a book that follows the family story of Stone Enterprises. It is full of drama and family secrets with some romance thrown in. I'm hooked and can't wait to read the next book in "The Heirs" series. Good read! Highly recommend.

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.