An Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestseller.From New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes a dazzling series about newfound friendship, unexpected love, and second chances.Cynical divorce attorney Lori Cumberland lives by one motto: Love is grand, but divorce is a hundred grand. With one failed marriage under her own personal belt, Lori had fallen hard and early—and it isn’t … personal belt, Lori had fallen hard and early—and it isn’t something she plans on repeating. She’s content focusing on the temporary marriages of her rich and famous clients. When she joins some of her recent divorcées on a celebratory cruise, her only vow is fun, sun, and new friends. But Lori finds herself tempted by a jury of one.
For Reed Barlow, falling into the world of private investigation was easy. He knows the law and knows how to avoid breaking it—all while doing his job. His rule to live by? No emotion, no involvement…until Lori. His charming smile and cocky attitude distracts Lori and lowers her guard, which is exactly what Reed desires.
But what appears as a one-time-only flirtation may be a plot orchestrated by Reed. As he’s taking his investigation to a dangerous level, it’s Lori who could end up in jeopardy. Reed has only one shot for Lori to grant him a second chance. But if he comes clean with her, he blows his cover. And that just might cost him the opportunity for an alliance of family…and of love.
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A romance with one of the main characters being a divorce attorney involved in marriages for hire? This doesn’t sound like a premise that should work but Catherine Bybee has written another winner! The Alliance crafts marriages between two parties for a certain length of time & compensation. Lori writes the prenup, the contract & deals with the divorce. She also tries to comfort the women if things don’t go as planned. She takes three of the women on a cruise to relax & let go after two of them are divorced & the third ends up a widow. Trouble seems to find them onboard & follows them home.
Lori has met the perfect man & the chemistry is intense. Reed is hot enough to make her forget her decision not to get involved. However, Reed has his secrets & as events begin to unfold, he’s torn between keeping his secrets & protecting Lori. If he tells her he’s a private investigator, she’ll want to know more than he can tell her & he’ll lose her for keeping a lie. Can Reed walk the thin line? Can Lori protect herself & the three women? Can Reed & Lori find a way to make their relationship work?
Catherine Bybee has a way of writing romances with a twist that showcase the power & individuality of women. The characters are all believable & three dimensional. Lori comes across as bossy & jaded but as a reader, I was able to identify with her & become engaged in the story. Ms. Bybee was able to completely illustrate the corner that Reed had managed to work himself into & the way he was able to justify his actions in warning Lori’s partner in Alliance. I can’t wait for the next book!