A Wall Street Journal bestseller.In the final First Wives novel by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee, falling in love could become the most dangerous dare of one woman’s life.Protector-for-hire Sasha Budanov is accustomed to life as a loner. Always on the move, she’s now reached a crossroad. Looking for answers about her shadowy youth, she’s returned to the strict boarding school … she’s returned to the strict boarding school in Germany where she was raised. It’s also where she was trained in the stealthy, militarized art of survival. But behind its gleaming gates, Richter is a fortress of secrets, including those buried in Sasha’s mysterious past. To uncover them, she’s clinging to her first rule of defense: stay guarded.
If anyone can challenge Sasha’s rules, it’s devilishly sexy stranger AJ Hofmann. He wants answers, too. And he needs Sasha’s help. The recent deaths of several of Richter’s former students—including AJ’s own sister—have aroused his suspicions. He’s arousing something more in Sasha. Never one to surrender to her emotions, she senses something tempting in AJ. She trusts him. He’s fearless. And he kisses like a demon. Sasha’s found her match.
But treading Richter’s dark halls—and following their hearts—has its risks. As the decades-old secrets of the past are mined, Sasha and AJ are falling deeper in love…and into danger.
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Sasha Badenov, the enigmatic protector of the quartet of First Wives, finally gets her story! After showing up in all the previous books, I was so hoping we’d learn a bit more about her background. It happened and I’m ecstatic!
Sasha returns to her ‘roots’, the school in Germany where she was a student. She is drifting and bored. Perhaps she wants to find meaning to her existence and why she was targeted to get the ‘special’ education, or not. She’s drawn there but can’t explain it.
A.J. Hofman, a grieving brother, heads to the school his sister attended to try to find out why she was killed. He’s stumbled upon some links that point to something rotten at the school but can’t quite put them together.
Together Sasha and A.J. must tackle the stonewalling by the headmistress to find out exactly what happened. This leads to the discovery of years of targeted grooming of students for less than honorable employment.
Say It Again has everything! Suspense, sex, female empowerment, twists and turns, family dynamics, and finally a fabulous resolution. I loved it. I also loved Claire!! I want to see where she is in 10 years! Perhaps a short story? Please?
I’m sad to see this series end, but it’s been a great series to follow and enjoy over and over!
Sasha was always the intriguing one in the First Wives books. She comes in, briefly but there was never any hint as to who she actually was and beyond her connection with Trina via her half-brother there wasn’t anything to tie her to the other women. In Say It Again, you find out that there is a good reason for that and one that I didn’t really expect.
While each of the Wives books has action and danger, Say It Again takes that action and cranks it to 15 on the 1-10 scale. Sasha is a spy, assassin, a skilled and unmatched warrior. Having no family to call her own, Sasha ended up at the Richter School in post-cold-war Germany learning the 3 R’s ~ rifles, reconnaissance, and resistance ~ everything else the well-armed spy would need. What Sasha didn’t get and doesn’t know how to find is a human connection. Sasha is a woman with immense knowledge and fortitude but is lonely and out of step with the people around her. Enter AJ. AJ is on the hunt for his sister’s killer and his steps lead him to Richter and Sasha becomes his “in”. AJ is the rebel who kind of grew up. From a wealthy political family, he went his own (criminal) way, snubbing his nose at his father until his sister’s death. AJ becomes a man determined to do the right thing, no matter the cost to himself.
The writing and story are crisp and fast-paced, never allowing the reader a lull as suspects, good guys and bad enter the scenes. Ms. Bybee’s characters are interesting and over-the-top but with heartbreaks and doubts that are relatable. Say It Again has a depth of feelings inside a roller coaster ride of a spy novel. I highly recommend this, as well as the other First Wives stories.
Oh my heavens! I loooooved Sasha’s story. And man, Catherine brought ALL. THE. FEELS, action, friendships and love in this book! I was completely consumed and didn’t want to put this book down. I tried to savor all the words, knowing this book was the last one in the series. I’m sad to say goodbye but I thought this was a fantastic ending to the series! I now have a lovely book hangover.
Say it Again is the fifth book in the First Wives series by the talented Catherine Bybee. I love this series and these women and I was so excited to hear that Sasha was getting her own story! This is the last of the series and I’m going to miss these women and the men who love them! We’ve known Sasha since the beginning. She’s a protector for hire and always there when they need her. Now, something hits close to home and she teams up with sexy AJ, a professional car thief, and Reed and the boys to help find answers. Along the way, Sasha finds more answers inside herself and starts to let her friends in. Into her life and her heart. I loved watching Sasha make the choice to care. To want to be around her friends. It’s the perfect way to end the series (although, I wouldn’t mind a little something from Claire). Sasha is so fantastic with her cat suits and smarts. And I loved AJ and his humor and determination! Overall, I laughed, teared up, got mad, swooned and enjoyed every word.
Phenomenal whirlwind of suspense, passion, laughter and espionage rolled into one! This is what you call intelligent writing! The characters are perfect. I couldn’t put the book down and finished it in one sitting!
I don’t think I have the words to possibly convey my love for this series and for Sasha! In all of romanceland I highly doubt that there is a more badass heroine than Sasha. This book is everything I hoped it would be….mystery, suspension, steamy scenes, the whole gang reunited and of course a HEA. I always worried that Sasha would forever be the lone wolf so I couldn’t be happier for the way this series end. I can only hope we get to see more of these characters in the future….hopefully in Claire’s book!
I received an ARC of Say It Again by Catherine Bybee for an honest review. I loved the book and was so happy that Sasha got her book and her happily ever after. Once again Catherine Bybee has delivered another amazing book. I could not put it down. Say It Again, helped remind me how blessed I am to have had loving parents. Say It Again is Sasha Budanov Petrov’s story. Sasha is the jack of all trades, kick ass heroine who’s been in all the First Wives series silently protecting Trina and her friends. Sasha returns to Richter, the German military school, boarding school, prison where she was raised. She returns to Richter looking for new direction in her life. Sasha meets A.J. Hofmann in a local bar. A.J. is a bad boy, who gets his kicks stealing high end cars. He is in Berlin searching for answers as to who murdered his sister Amelia in Washington, D.C., a Richter alumni. A.J. is convinced that Amelia’s death is somehow linked to Richter and wants Sasha’s help to solve her murder. Geoff Pohl offers Sasha a job where she can use her skill set as a paid assassin. She turns down the job offer and puts her life in jeopardy. With the help of Reed and Neil, Sasha tries to figure out who murdered Amelia, along with the help of Claire, a Richter runaway. As Sasha and A.J. get closer to finding who murdered Amelia, they also get romantically closer. It was a beautifully written story for Sasha, filled with all of Catherine Bybee’s normal bittersweet moments, plot twists and surprises. I really enjoyed seeing the softer, gentler side of Sasha. Say It Again is even more bittersweet since it is the last book in the First Wives Series. I loved catching up with all the other first wives members and of course Neil McBain. My favorite part were the names that Lori and Reed picked for their twins. Also, loved how the cover picture and the book title get incorporated into the book . Loved the book, so sad for the series end.
Awesome romantic suspense. This is Sasha’s book. If you’ve read the First Wives Books then you’ll recognize many of the characters. Sasha has mostly worked from the shadows and helped the people she calls friends, which are few. The story has detailed, in-depth information about her life. AJ is a trust fund guy who likes adrenaline rushes. He’s trying to find out who killed his sister and asks Sasha for help. The characters are strong, intelligent and most are well equipped to protect others and themselves. I love how Ms. Bybee gave Sasha a book even tho she wasn’t one of the First Wives. If you haven’t read those books your missing out. I received a complementary copy of this book and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by Ms. Bybee and to see what her next series is about.
3.5 stars
I wasn’t sure if the author was going to give Sasha her own story, and I’m glad she did. I still find Sasha somewhat intriguing and mysterious, but I understand her so much better now.
AJ is the perfect mate for Sasha. He’s strong and compassionate while somewhat clueless. Yet he understands when to push her and when to back off. Then there’s Claire, a teenager who reminds Sasha a lot of herself at that age. Who would have realized there was a mama bear inside of Sasha? She’s not quite sure what to do with the emotions these two people bring into her life. And she’s surprised to realize she doesn’t hate the feelings she’s having.
Throw in a lot of Reed and Neil and their team, some babies, and the women Sasha has so far been able to avoid on any deep level, and Sasha is very far out of her element. But it’s a lot of fun for the reader…and she’s still got her butt kicking instincts, which is good because she’s going to need them.
The mystery, so to speak, of this story is a bit of a long and winding road. It’s not that anything shocked me, but there were some curves I didn’t necessary expect. That really kept me engaged with the book. The best part, by far, was the growth Sasha has throughout the story. The connections she’s made throughout the years have strengthened and she’s learned she doesn’t always have to be a lone wolf.
Since this story pretty much wraps up this series, I’m hoping there will be another spin off series with Claire and some of the younger guys on Reed’s security team. It could happen! After all, this series was a spin off of the Weekday Brides series.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
OMG! I loved this book! Sasha has been a mysterious character in other stories in this series. I had wondered about her and was really looking forward to her story. It didn’t disappoint for a moment. She’s a little lost now that her father no longer poses a threat to her. She is a lone wolf. Her story uncovers details of how she grew up and explains so much. I couldn’t have imagined a better match for her than AJ.
The story starts when AJ approaches Sasha to get some answers about his sister’s death. It’s a roller coaster ride from there! There were lots of twists and turns. The book was so much fun! It reintroduced a few characters from previous books and introduced a few newer ones. I’m really hoping that some of them get future stories!
The book was fabulous – great characters with a lot of chemistry and a lot of excitement. I look forward to reading more from Catherine Bybee!
I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
ARC for honest review with no compensation received from NetGalley
Say It Again is #5 and the final book in the First Wives series by Catherine Bybee and what a way to end it!!
Sasha has been in all the prior books but has been mysterious about her past. Now we find out more of her past, why she keeps everyone at arms length and that she has a heart hidden underneath many layers…
AJ is determined to find out who killed his sister, goes to Germany to the school she attended while their parents were diplomats there and approaches Sasha for some answers and help..
What happened next will keep you on the edge of your seat, finding some answers but even more questions arise, hot sizzling romance, mystery, opposites make for an intense read!
Wow!!! I devoured this book in one day, could not put it down. I was so excited to get Sasha’s story and this did not disappoint. Protector for Hire, Sasha has returned to her boarding school in Germany to gather information on her past when she meets AJ, also looking for answers on the death of his sister. They will join forces to get to the bottom of her death and along the way find many secrets about Richter.
This is a compelling story with many twists and turns and falling in love when you least expect it. Loved the epilogue, a great way to tie in the previous stories. Always hard to say good bye. This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.
With a heavy dose of suspense and mystery, this book is about much more than our couple finding love. It’s well written and moves quickly, with some great tender moments (that I honestly wish there were more of), and plenty of action. Fans of the series find this satisfying, but this can also easily be read as a standalone.
The story follows Sasha, who is definitely not the typical heroine in a romance novel. She wears black almost exclusively, rides a motorcycle, oozes sex appeal and has casual sex whenever the mood strikes. As an orphan, she’s never known what it feels like to have a true family and much prefers to be a lone wolf than to seek help from others. When she begins feeling aimless, she returns to the school that shaped her (a military-style boarding school in Germany), and she seeks refuge there as well as direction as to what she should do next. While in Germany, she meets an American looking for answers about his sister’s death, which he believes to be related to the school. AJ intrigues Sasha, and though he looks like a clean cut guy, he is also a car thief who understands more about Sasha than she would’ve predicted. As the two try to figure out the mystery surrounding the death of AJ’s sister, they can’t ignore the chemistry that has ignited between them.
There’s a lot to like about the book, from the solid writing to the likeable characters and combustible chemistry. Personally, I thought that the suspense overtook the book. It is not in any way a short book, but the interactions between Sasha and AJ were so spaced out that it felt like their romance was rushed. Perhaps if you go into this anticipating a suspense with a side of romance, you’ll be more pleased with the book as a whole but it took me a while to wrap my head around just how much the suspense was featured. I did love every part of the romance; AJ is the perfect match for Sasha. He understands her in a way that most don’t, and he’s willing to put in the effort to break through her walls. That was absolutely great to read. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC. I am voluntarily leaving a review of this suspenseful and sexy read.
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**
While I’m sad that Catherine Bybee’s First Wives series is coming to an end, I can’t think of a better way for it to go out than for us to finally get the book that so many of us have hoped we would for so long. Throughout the entire series, Sasha Budanov has been the enigma. While not actually a member of the First Wives Club, she was always dropping in to help her friends when necessary. We quickly learned she was a loner and that she was as capable as anyone, but that was about all we knew. In this book we finally get to know what makes the elusive Sasha tick.
When Sasha returns to the military-type boarding school that she attended in search of answers about her childhood and even more about what direction she needed to go next in her life, she unknowingly set off a chain of events that was even more far reaching than she could have imagined.
AJ Hoffmann is searching for answers of his own and he believes that Sasha is just the person to help him. He’s discovered that several students from Richter, the school Sasha attended, have ended up dead, his sister included, and he believes they are connected. At first Sasha is incredibly guarded and wary of this sinful stranger, but she quickly realizes that he may be on to something and he also may be just the person she needs in her own life.
As Sasha and AJ delve deeper into what happened with the former students, they are also discovering that there are feelings developing between the two of them, something that is completely foreign to Sasha. Will she be able to trust AJ and all of her friends to help her figure out the secrets that the walls of Richter hold? And will she finally be able to hear the three words that have alluded her for all of her life?
I enjoyed this book so much. I was on the edge of my seat just waiting for the next thing to happen and I loved how the usually unflappable Sasha was riled up by AJ and how he was able to see through her right to the heart of who she is. Like I said, I’m sad this series is over, but it’s been an amazing run and I have no doubt that whatever Catherine Bybee has for us next will be equally as entertaining!
Sasha is a protector for hire and a loner. Never stays in one place. She goes back to the boarding school she went to to try to find out what she wants next. A.J is looking for the person that killed his sister. She went to the same school as Sasha and he’s hoping she’ll help him. The closer they get, the more secrets are revealed.
I know this is short but I didn’t want to give away anything. This is the first book I read by this author and I loved it. It was a little confusing at first but I couldn’t put it down. Secrets, killers, and action.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *