An Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestseller.Falling in love can come with the most unexpected risks in this First Wives novel from New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee.Avery Grant doesn’t date. Her first marriage was a mutually beneficial contract that gave her the financial freedom she needed to step away from her controlling parents. Wealthy and single, the last thing she’s … parents. Wealthy and single, the last thing she’s looking for is love sneaking in to mess up her life plans. And after a brutal attack, she’s determined to never be vulnerable again, even if the new man in her life helps her feel safe.
Mesmerized from the moment he sets his eyes on Avery, Liam is driven to learn everything about this tough, sexy, challenging woman. Breaking down her defenses won’t be easy, but Liam refuses to be pushed away. All he needs is a tiny crack in Avery’s armor to wiggle his way into her heart.
But when a terrifying lie about her attacker’s fate comes to light, Avery’s past returns to haunt her. Now she’s willing to put herself in danger to get the answers she needs. That means jeopardizing the best thing that’s ever happened to her: Liam.
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CHASING SHADOWS (First Wives #3) by Catherine Bybee is a contemporary romance that had me on an emotional roller-coaster from the very first chapter. This is the third book in the series and Avery’s story. This book can be read as a standalone, but all of the women in the First Wives Club appear and interact in this book because of Trina’s wedding.
Avery Grant finally has the financial freedom to live life on her own terms. Her divorce contract left her financially well off and she is now working a job she loves. Avery is a one-night-stand kind of girl who avoids commitment since her divorce. This works well for her until a brutal attack (which occurs in book #2). After a long recovery, Avery starts taking Krav Maga classes vowing to never be a victim again.
Liam Holt sees Avery after a class in a local bar and is immediately intrigued. Liam wants to be the man in Avery’s life. He is charming, sexy and willing to put up with all of Avery’s arguments against dating. She tells him she is a bad bet, but he will not be put off.
When Avery starts having flashbacks of her attack, new clues come to light. Avery is determined to find the man who nearly killed her no matter the consequences to herself or her relationship with Liam.
I could not put this book down! Avery is such a strong and complex heroine. I cried and laughed with her. She goes from carefree to victim to survivor to warrior in such an amazing character story arc. The author shows how Avery allows Liam into her heart step by step with love and laughter. Liam is the perfect book boyfriend in every way for Avery. This is a beautiful step-by-step romance that just hits all of the right notes. How the author handled Avery’s reaction to the discovery of her attacker was unique and had me in tears.
This is a great addition to the First Wives series that I highly recommend!
Catherine Bybee is a must-read author. She writes about strong women characters that hold their own in every situation yet they know how to be women. They are willing to open their lives and their hearts to the right men and build friendships with other women that are more like sisterhoods than friendships.
Chasing Shadows is the third book in the First Wives club. The women in these books are best friends. They each have their own history, their own reason for joining the First Wives Club but are in need of more, whether they know they need more or not. Avery Grant is a strong, wealthy woman. She doesn’t need any man nor does she want any man. Until she runs into Liam and can’t get him off her mind, he shows up at the club where she is learning to defend herself, she finds him intriguing, and takes a risk at getting to know him better.
There were times that I thought Liam was stalkerish but I soon learned that he just felt the same attraction that Avery felt. He couldn’t forget her but knew he couldn’t push her. He wanted her, he needed her, and he had to find a way to win her over to make her his and him hers. I love how respectful he is of her past. He knows there is something there her back but he doesn’t push, he gives her the space she needs, he crowds her when she doesn’t even know she needs to be crowded, and he offers her his heart without expecting anything in return.
Chasing Shadows is another amazing winner by Catherine Bybee. I am entirely hooked on the First Wives club series.
Another AWESOME book by Ms. Bybee. This is the third book in the First Wives series and the main character is Avery. If you didn’t read the previous book you wouldn’t be aware of what traumatic incident happened to Avery in book 2. Liam likes Avery from the moment he first saw her but Avery is very choosy now as to what men she lets into her life and she tries valiantly to keep Liam out. This is an awesome book that delves into the subject women who become walking targets for violent men. The First Wives club is a great set of stories about strong women who become supportive friends based on their marriages. Those marriages were based on platonic relationships for monetary gain and to fulfill a need for their spouses. Hopefully there will be several other books on the women in their group as well as their friends. I received a complementary copy of this book via Net Galley and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by Ms. Bybee especially in this series.
Chasing Shadows by Catherine Bybee is book Three in the First Wives Series. This is the story of Liam and Avery. I have not yet read the previous books, so for me this was a standalone book.
Avery once was the life of the party but we learn that a issue happened to her that changed her outgoing personality. Liam knows he wants to get closer to Avery but her past has left her skittish so he has to slowly work his way into her comfort zone. Liam was a great ‘book boyfriend’ for sure.
A brilliant read. likeable characters and entertaining story. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
Poor Avery but what a find in the lovely Liam.
Avery has been chasing her shadows or ghosts since her attack but so far her memory has failed her. Now, with her memory returning, she starts to remember bits and pieces about her attacker and is determined to seek revenge.
With Avery’s confidence in tatters, she joins a Krav Maga class in the hope that she will never be a helpless victim again. Despite her training, she is unable to fight one-on-one with a man in the fear that it will trigger flashbacks. That is until her path crosses Liam’s.
When Liam sees Avery almost flooring the unwanted attractions of a man in a bar he is determined to find out who this mystery woman is. Tracking her to her Krav Maga class, under the pretence of doing work for the owner, Brenda, Liam unexpectedly finds himself actively participating in Avery’s class and her “target” for the night. Knowing she does not fear Liam and goaded by Brenda, the Krav Maga class instructor, Avery agrees to spar with Liam and before long, the duo are having drinks and dinner together after each session.
Liam falls fast and hard for Avery but with Avery’s past, she finds it difficult to accept Liam into her life. Liam is determined to show Avery that she can have a relationship and fall in love but when he finds out about her attack he knows he must tread gently with her feelings and emotions.
Avery is once again supported through her troubles by her loyal friends and “First Wives”. Also in the mix, much to my delight is Sasha. There’s something about that woman that fascinates me.
As expected, the Audible narration is spot on with these characters. I don’t know how Emma Wilder manages to pull off so many seemingly flawless foreign accents.
Catherine Bybee has managed to write so many amazing stories to date and I can’t wait to read on. I fear, however, that I have almost cleared her back catalogue and the dreaded reading slump may await me!
Not like anything I’ve read before. A storyline that many could relate to; see themselves in, surprised with the ending.
A believable ending, and would recommend this book to others.
I loved Avery and Liam’s story in Chasing Shadows by author Catherine Bybee. This author is a fantastic storyteller and I always find myself devouring her books. There is great character development, witty dialogue and some sexy times that have me wanting more. I love this series and the friendship between all the “first wives”; they have each others’ back no matter what. Another winner by Catherine Bybee!
I listened to the Audible version of this book and I think Avery and Liam are my new favorite couple. As always, Catherine does an amazing job of drawing you in and you don’t want to stop reading (or listening). You don’t have to read the previous books to enjoy this, but the background information the first two books give you definitely helps with this one. Love seeing and hearing about the updated lives of the other first wives and can’t wait to see what is in store for Shannon in the final story.
This series is growing on me! Avery is the wild child in this group of girlfriends. Born to wealth and socially pretentious parents, she’s the classic daughter who is sent to boarding schools, who rebels at the lack of attention from her parents, and instead of conforming to the social strictures of her parents, engages in serial one-night stands or very short passionate flings, has no real purpose in life but to spend money shopping and partying. She’s one of the First Wives, marrying to get financial independence from her parents. She’s the fun friend, but she’s also a good, supportive one.
In the last book, Trina’s story, Avery is brutally assaulted to the extent that she spent a week in ICU, got a nose job, several broken bones, and spent weeks recovering. One year later, she’s still affected by her experience. In an effort to take control over her fears, she’s taking Krav Maga classes, but when she’s thrown face up to the mat, she still freezes.
Liam watched Avery using her Krav skills in a bar, and from then on he was fixated on her. He was relentless in his pursuit and courting of Avery. I totally loved Liam. He was a perfect book boyfriend: passionate, sexy, attentive, ripped, sex god, and fun to be with. Avery fought hard not to fall in love but she really had no choice. Avery had a lot of issues, mostly from her childhood and upbringing, but Liam was so loving and relentless, he had Avery fighting for her freedom. It was a lovely read, mostly because we see how Liam deals with a flighty, complex and difficult woman, and gets her to accept she’s awesome and lovable. It was another great read with some action but not as much as the previous book. As always, we visit again with the fantastic group of friends and family, we get a couple great funny scenes, and meet Brenda, Avery’s fitness manager.
The part where Avery goes to New York to face her assailant was a little boring (for me) and I think she was silly to think she could find a faceless guy in New York. Maybe she needed the catharsis. The author dealt brilliantly with the aftermath of this section of the book and then proceeded to a brilliant finale.
I love all the books written by Catherine Bybee.
Another great book in the First Wives series! With lots of emotion and strong characters, this one was hard to put down.
After watching Avery try to recover from her attack in the last book, I couldn’t wait to see how her story would play out. She’s not the same person she was prior to the attack and she’s determined to never be a victim again – or at least not go down again without fighting back.
Avery doesn’t do relationships. Her upbringing has her running from any type of commitment and her attack has left her feeling even more vulnerable. Liam was just what Avery needed. He pretty much works his way into her life and is willing to do whatever it takes to show her that he can be trusted and that she can trust herself. And once he teams up with Avery’s friends, there was no question that Avery would have the support system she needed to help her find her strength and slay her demons, especially as new truths are revealed.
One of my favorite parts about this book is the friend group that has been created from the First Wives club. Each of these women have very different stories, but somehow, they have formed a bond that transcends any blood relationship. And as the group grows with the addition of new partners, the bond only becomes strengthened. I loved how Liam was easily accepted into the group – especially when he was basically thrown into a high-profile celebrity wedding event with no warning from Avery. And watching them all come together to help Avery in the end was just perfect.
Although this was an emotional read, there really wasn’t much angst, which only made this book that much better. Catherine Bybee has such an ability to make her characters step off the page and take you with them on their journey. She’s a master at crafting a plot that pulls you in and has you looking forward to every twist and turn that the story takes and using dialogue and words to have you feeling right along with her characters.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading a Catherine Bybee book I would highly recommend you get her on – and move her to the top of – your TBR!
Wonderful book you will not want to put it down. But I haven’t read a bad book by this author yet.
4.5 stars
The things Avery has been through in this series are brutal. I loved reading about her finding her inner (and outer) strength in this story. She was always a bit prickly and closed off compared to the other First Wives, but her experience in the story Half Empty has made her even more on edge with people…especially those she doesn’t know.
Liam is amazing. He’s the definition of Regular Joe. Strong, sweet, sexy, down to earth, caring, protective, nurturing. All things almost anyone would be looking for in a mate. He thinks nothing of helping out his sister and niece, has no problem with Avery’s need to be in charge and set the pace of their friendship, is a true gentleman who know when to let a woman fight her own battles and when to step in. Like I said, a real Regular Joe salt of the earth type of guy who happens to be amazing all around.
It really broke my heart that Avery felt the need to fight her demons on her own. She has such an unbelievable circle of friends but doesn’t really know what that means. While she’s the most protective of the bunch and would do absolutely anything for any one of them, Avery has had enough disappointment in her life via her parents that she doesn’t trust that they would do the same for her. Of course they would and they never back down from letting her know that.
This story went in a direction I didn’t quite see it going at the end. I must say, I appreciate the author taking the chance to give her readers something a little different. Her risk paid off. I was in awe of the way Avery got her closure. Not what I expected, but the perfect way for it all to play out.
I’ve made no secret of my love of this author’s work. She seems to be getting better and better.
This review can also be found at https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2018/11/26/chasing-shadows-book-review/
This is one of those series that each book seems to be better than the last and once again Catherine Bybee has another hit on her hands, this is book 3 in the First Wives Club but each book can be read as a stand-alone although I’m sure once you pick one up you will want to read the others. We met Avery is the previous books and to be honest I wasn’t sure how her story would pan out because at the start of Chasing Shadows she wouldn’t have been a favourite character of mine but as the book progressed so did my love of her and what can I say about Liam well he has got to be one of my all time favourite hero’s, he charmed me he swooned me and I love him so big….
Avery Grant like all the other first wives is left financially secure after her divorce, she has a job she loves, no money worries, some great friends and is loving her Krav Maga Classes which she is taking because one mistake left her battered and bruised and that is something she vowed would never happen again. Avery may seem like she has it all but she is skittish and nervous especially around men she doesn’t know.
Liam Holt sees Avery one night after her class when she is having a drink with a classmate, he is intrigued, the attraction is instant and he is determined to end up the man in her life. He is the perfect man for her because he can be patient , he can bide his time but most of all he can protect her and he is also willing to listen and argue the pros for every con Avery comes up with for not dating.
This book has it all, I laughed, I cried and I fell for Avery and Liam. A strong and complex heroine who we see open up bit by bit with a hot swoon worthy protective hero what more can you ask for. If you love romance with the perfect mix of passion and humour this is the book for you. I highly recommend Chasing Shadows and this series. Looking forward to more from the woman of the First Wives Club.
I truly loved reading this book!
Chasing Shadows is a captivating,
& emotional story. Great characters
& romance makes it the perfect read.
I was so excited to read Avery’s story!
I enjoyed everything about the book!
Avery & Liam steal your heart from the
very first pages to the last.
PAGE-TURNER
Book three in the First Wives Club is a solid showing in this series.
Life is grand. You are doing everything you’ve ever wanted. You’re making a difference and loving what you do. Then, you’re savagely beaten. How do you come back from that?
A year after her hospitalization, Avery is trying. Trying to get back to the ‘old’ Avery. Trying to feel safe again. She’s determined, and is learning martial arts, specifically Krav Maga, to get her life back. She’s not interested in finding a man, but sometimes things happen.
Liam is interested in Avery. Avery could care less. He has to ‘meet’ her, so is kind of stalkerish and finds the gym she attends. He’s a Mr. Fixit and figures a gym needs something fixed, right?
This story shows Avery’s vulnerability, Liam’s ‘stick to it’ attitude, and ultimately how much better they can be together.
I LOVED Liam’s sister and niece. You can tell he’s a good guy by how he treats his family. We also get caught up with the rest of the ‘First Wives’ and I can’t wait for Shannon’s story.
One caveat, you should probably read books 1 and 2 in the series for a better understanding of the whole ‘First Wives’ story line. It won’t be a hardship…they’re all fabulous!
Avery had alot of sass and spirit until someone took that from her. Now will she find the warrior deep down in her soul. Will Liam show her just how awesome she is? Another actioned packed romance from Ms. Bybee.
Each story gets better! I’ve really enjoyed this series. The friendship between the ladies that are part of the First Wives Club is fabulous! We all could use friends like these. Avery is a changed person. She is no longer the good time girl she was in the previous stories. The attack she experienced has truly changed her. She is reinventing herself from being the victim to being a warrior. Liam is so not who I would have expected her to be paired with. But they worked perfectly. Liam is a guy we all wish we had in our lives. He let her be herself, but was there when she needed someone. I enjoy every minute of Catherine Bybee books. They pull me into the story and won’t let me go until I get to the last page. I’m looking forward to the next and am hoping there are more to follow! I received an advance copy for an honest review.
If you follow my review, you probably know that Catherine Bybee is one of my all time favorite authors and I read her books religiously. So when I found out that there would be a spin off of my favorite series, Weekday Brides, I was super excited. And I wasn’t disappointed. The first two books in the series more than passed the high standards I have for Catherine Bybee’s books but this third book in the series is on a completely different level. It was emotional, a little bit heartbreaking, definitely romantic and super sexy. But in a way, it also felt cathartic.
Though there wasn’t that much suspense in the story, the plot line was still fast paced and intriguing. I literally couldn’t put the book down. Both Avery and Liam are intriguing characters. Even though I wasn’t a total Avery fan from the previous books in the series, she totally won me over. Living through the emotional and physical repercussions of her attack, definitely changed her but they also affected her ability to trust and depend on people. And though she would do anything for her friends, her past and recent trauma, made her even more closed off. But with his persistence and tender heart Liam manages to weave his way behind Avery’s walls and when she needs him to stand beside her when she confronts her emotional scars from the attack, he is right beside her and gives her the strength she needs to forget, to move on, to forgive.
For me, this is the best book in this spin-off series so far. It is just so emotional that there is no chance it won’t touch your heart. Avery and Liam are just perfect for each other their story definitely deserves to be read. So don’t waste any time and pick up your copy asap. As this is a standalone, you don’t need to read the previous books in the series, but if you decide to do it, that will just enhance your experience. I can guarantee you won’t regret it. As for me, I can’t wait to get my hands on Shannon’s story 🙂
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.