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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Say It Again is the 5th book in the First Wives series. This is the first book in the series that I’ve read and look forward to reading the rest. Sasha Budanov leads a lonely life as a protector for hire. She returns to the extremely strict boarding school she attended in Germany called Richter. Sasha is looking for clues to her past and becomes entangled in a mystery. Several girls from the school have been found murdered recently and she wants to know why. A lot of twists and turns and very well written characters held my attention. I enjoyed the book and highly recommend it!
SAY IT AGAIN (First Wives Club Book 5) by Catherine Bybee is the last romantic suspense in this series and features the mysterious Sasha, who has made intriguing appearances since book 1. This is a well written series of books that have unique suspense and relationship plots that can be read as standalones, but the relationships between all of the “First Wives” evolve and change, so in my opinion it is best to read the series in order.
Sasha Budanov has grown up learning to only ever depend on herself. She was raised and hidden in a boarding school in Germany. Richter is bastion of secrets. From a young age the students are trained in languages, stealth, firearms and militarized survival through high school and college. When she finds herself discontent and not knowing what direction to take in her life, she decides to return to her old school.
AJ Hofmann has travelled all the way from Florida to Germany searching for answers. His sister was killed and he believes when he discovers her roommate from Richter was also killed that the answers to the murders lie in her old boarding school. He wants answers and he needs Sasha’s help.
Sasha always works alone, but something about AJ just keeps pulling her to help and keep him close. As the two work to uncover secrets the danger escalates and they become the hunted. It will take all the training Sasha has and the help of some old friends to unmask a killer.
I love that Ms. Bybee gave Sasha a full story. She has always been so mysterious and isolated. AJ is not the type of character I would have thought could bring out Sasha’s softer side, but he did and it worked. The dialogue between Sasha and AJ was entertaining and at times very emotional. The romance builds right along with the suspense. I was surprised by the climax, which followed a page-turning read. I read this book in one sitting and it was worth the time spent. The sex scenes are explicit, but not gratuitous.
There is a wrap up with all the couples from the previous books at a Christmas get together which ends the series nicely. This is an exciting read and another great addition to this series.
If you like a tough heroine that can really kick tale, Sasha is the one for you. She was trained as a child to fight and learned on her own how to hack into computer systems. There’s nothing this woman can’t do, except stay in one place and develop relationships.
When A.J. signals her out to help him find clues to his sister’s murder, Sasha is hesitant. But soon she’s leading the way and A.J. willingly follows. With the help of Reed and Neil as well as their team of experts, they find connections to Richter, the boarding school she grew up in that is more than it appears to be on the surface.
While the romance is rather light, the action and mystery is constantly unraveling. From Europe to the U.S., this story takes us on a high octane journey to find solutions to more than the murderer. It’s a tangled web that requires everyone’s expertise to untangle and I loved watching it happen.
Sasha isn’t the type of heroine I like to hunt out. I enjoy a tough female character, but Sasha was so cold and rarely showed any emotion. However, there was no doubt that she wanted something more but didn’t have a clue what it was or how it would look if she ever came across it. It’s safe to say that she grew on me the more I got to know her.
Likewise, A.J. isn’t all alpha. He tends to be the underdog and follows Sasha lead. But I did love his ability to smile and be lighthearted, bringing some of that into her life.
With all the action and constant changes of scenery, this felt like a fast read. I never skimmed because I wasn’t sure if I’d miss a clue or a vital piece of character revelation. The chemistry between Sasha and A.J. was always evident and I felt this was more about the mysteries than the romance. Nevertheless, it was a really interesting read and one I’d highly recommend if thrillers with a touch of romance are your thing.
I was so excited when I found out that we were getting Sasha’s story even though she isn’t a First Wife. She has been in this series from the very first book and has been this mysterious woman. She never let anyone close or disclosed anything about herself, but she was always there when anyone needed her. You just knew there was so much to learn about her character.
Sometimes with an anticipated character like hers, the background just can’t compare once you learn it. Boy is that not the case here. The author did Sasha justice. When I think of Sasha, I reminded of an older tv show called the Alias with Jennifer Garner, but more badass. I just love a heroine who can can outsmart and take down a person before they even know what’s coming. That’s Sasha. I loved her!
AJ was nothing like I expected for Sasha, and yet he seemed to fit her perfectly. She needed someone that wouldn’t feel threatened by all that she is. He also still needed to be a strong character himself, as well as be patient to be able to breakdown all those walls she had. It was a tall order, but he fit it seamlessly.
There was an unexpected side character that really added a lot to this book. I think that was such a brilliant move of the author. It brought more heart to Sasha and was another piece to broke down those walls she had. I would love to say more but I liked that I wasn’t expecting that character, so I’m going to leave it.
I loved seeing all the gang from all the previous books again. This is one of my favorite series and I’m completely satisfied with how the author concluded it. I highly recommend this series and I know I will be re-reading it again and again.
Fantastic
A brilliant ending to the first wife series. I am so happy that Sasha got her happy ending, she really deserve it after all she has been through.
Just what the conclusion to this amazing series needed not one, not two but three kick-ass women!
I didn’t think Sasha could meet her match but when she returns to the school where she was trained and moulded she comes across another orphan, Claire, who is as bright and strong as she is, and only 18.
Sasha, bored of her drama-free life, heads to Richter to find answers and a new direction but what she stumbles across finds her wanting to help the students there avoid the trappings of their destinies. When Sasha is approached by AJ Hofmann in a bar she presumes he is just hitting on her until she realises he is the brother of her old and now dead classmate, Amelia Hofmann. Seeking answers to why Amelia was killed, AJ asks Sasha for her help and before long they are investigating numerous deaths and one missing person.
Knowing that she can’t investigate Amelia from inside the secure fortress that is Richter, Sasha asks Reed for his assistance and before long the whole security team is involved. AJ is stunned to find himself being flown around the world on private jets and staying at luxury mansions but he soon comes to realise that Sasha and her friends wield a lot of financial power.
This story takes readers across Europe and back to the US as Sasha tries to reveal just who is recruiting the students from Richter. With AJ at her side though, she finds herself becoming too comfortable with having a man supporting her emotionally and the tough egg starts to crack as her outer shell starts to weaken thanks to the attention AJ bestows upon her. AJ is the perfect man for Sasha. I really had no idea who would be able to tame her wild and independent ways but AJ knows just how to handle her emotionally and physically.
I really enjoyed the sexual tension between Cooper and Claire and would love to see how their working relationship pans out. Olivia was also a force of nature and a real challenge to Sasha’s skills. Poor Lars experienced her strength first hand with a really funny but brief scene and show of dominance.
I’m sorry to see this series end and I can’t wait to dive into new stories from this author. That said, I’m sure there could be more First Wives stories yet to be written and I’d love to read Claire and Olivia’s stories!!!
Say It Again is the final book in the First Wives Series and was I sad to see this series come to end of course but what a great way to end a very successful series that’s loved by many. This book can certainly be read as a stand-alone but I think you would get so much more from it if you have read the previous books. Are you ready for Sasha Budanov and AJ Hoffman’s Story because they certainly have a tale to tell !!!!
Sasha is used to spending time on her own, it’s goes with her chosen profession but when she finds herself at a crossroads in her life she needs to finds answers and that means going back to her boarding school in Germany.
AJ is also looking for answers and when they meet at the school they find all sorts of mysteries and secrets from their pasts that bring them together and put them both in danger……
This book ticked all my boxes, it’s romantic, it’s mysterious and it has a plot that captivated me, add in a seriously swoon worthy male and you get a great entertaining read. I loved catching up with the couples from the previous books and for me this was the perfect ending to a great series.
This book is more intense than the others in this series. The storyline centers around mystery and the romance is secondary. Sasha is still mysterious,a loner, and tough as nails. Sasha isn’t anything like the others ladies in the First Wives club, but that’s makes sense since Sasha isn’t part of the Club, nor has she ever been a wife.
Even though the book doesn’t center around the relationship between Sasha and A.J., these two have chemistry. Of course the thought of Sasha letting a man into her life doesn’t seem possible. Lucky for her, A. J. is a very patient man.
The old Security Gang and Trina have active roles in this story which I liked. Over-all a fine way to end this entertaining Series.
Sasha and AJ’s story is the 5th book in the First Wive’s Club series and can be read as a standalone. That said, I believe it is more enjoyable if you have read the other books as there are characters from them that have a recurring role in this book and it will mean more if you know those characters.
Sasha is amazing with all of the skills we have seen her demonstrate in some of the other books. What we learn in this book is how she came to be the person she is, how she ended up working for Alice and her feelings about her history and the way her life is now. AJ is no dummy but he does not have Sasha’s skills. This slight role reversal is very interesting and I enjoyed reading as AJ figured out how to crack Sasha’s tough protective shell and make their relationship more than physical chemistry.
This book has mystery, action, steam, humor, and a some irony. I will say there were a couple of twists I never saw coming; and I loved that. I really enjoyed the way Sasha’s character blossomed and how she was surprised to realize that she was capable of some of the feelings she was having.
As always, I loved this Bybee book and I am sure it will be a reread for me in the future.
This series has been great and I’ve enjoyed everyone. It has a little bit of everything it and have enjoyed that each books concentrates on one of the main characters yet they are threaded throughout the entire series.
Oh, what a way to end this series! Sasha is restless and decides to return to the school in Germany where she ends up meeting A.J. who is looking into his sister’s death. His sister was also a graduate of the school. Twists and turns and intrigue and soon they are chasing leads back in the states and enlisting the team with Neil and Reid and back 0n the ranch with Trina and Wade. So much fun to catch up with the women of the First Wives Club and watch Sasha take the fall at the end! I really enjoyed this entire series and recommend it.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie –
This is the fifth (and sadly, final) book in the series. If you have not read any of them yet, then I would recommend that you do, as they are really good. You will meet characters from the previous books here, but actually Sasha’s story is quite separate, so you could read this first and then go back. Each story is wonderfully unique and this one certainly is too! Sasha was never a first wife, however, she has been an important side character in helping earlier leads get their happily ever afters. She has always been a mystery… and some of that is peeled away here, but more importantly, she finds someone who wants her, for her, no matter her past.
We find Sasha returning to her German boarding school, which is more like a fortress training soldiers for life. As we get to understand how she was educated, and the lengths that she went to to subvert the system, I think she becomes an even more appealing person. She is given access to information which reveals more about her past, and possibly has an impact on what her future could hold. She also meets AJ, a man in search of answers about his sister’s death. He is convinced that it is due to her also being a student at the same school. And thus, the purpose for her visit expands, as well as her finding AJ may be of interest himself… a thought she normally would not allow herself. This leads to them becoming embroiled in a political school battle. I loved all this intrigue, passion, and hope.
A very different story from the previous ones, yet ardent fans will be delighted that we do still meet up with the first wives, and get to celebrate with them what family and love really mean.
Thank you, Catherine Bybee, for a lovely series, one which has found its place on my Must Reread List.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
kept me reading until i finished it.
5 Star Review Say It Again (First Wives #5) by Catherine Bybee
Reading this book was bittersweet, knowing that it is the final book in the series. There is something about Catherine Bybee’s style of writing that resonates with me. She weaves a story that has me totally immersed from the first to the last page.
Although a stand alone I would probably be inclined to read the previous books in the series before reading Say It Again as the books provide the back story for this book.
This is Sasha Budanov and AJ Hofmann’s story. Sasha is used to being alone thanks to her chosen profession, however she has been unsettled and finds herself at a crossroad in her life. Determined to get answers to her mysterious past, she returns to her old boarding school in Germany.
The sparks soon fly when Sasha meets AJ at the boarding school where he is seeking his own answers. The chemistry sizzles between them with an intensity that surprises them both. As they become more involved, the secrets from the past and the present bring danger to them both.
I was intrigued by Sasha from the first time she appeared in the series and I knew that her story was going to be something special. It was every thing I hoped for and so much more.
AJ was the perfect man for Sasha, strong, determined and swoon worthy.
Ms.Bybee creates characters that are strong, yet vulnerable and you know that there will be plenty of romance and some rather steamy scenes.
It was also great to catch up with the other couples. A fitting conclusion to a great series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Say It Again by Catherine Bybee is book 5 in the First Wives Series. This is the story of Sasha Budanov and AJ Hofmann. I have read the previous books, but feel you could make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Sasha has a somewhat mystery past childhood which now is making her start to want to know what her past holds. This leads her to her childhood school which along the way she meets AJ. Aj wants Sasha help in finding out who killed his sister. This brings AJ and Sasha to start working together which leads to them to start having of course feelings for each other. Enjoyed their story.
Oh, Catherine Bybee you have brought a character that I loved reading about in past books of yours and made her a true hero. Sasha had a history that was very much a secret. She kept to herself, didn’t let anyone get close but was always around, somewhere. She was only a phone call away and she’d be there to lend a hand.
I love that Sasha was kept as a secret, she kept her secrets close, she didn’t open her heart up, and she stayed alone. She lived her life by her rules and held herself accountable for what was happening around her. She was strong, she was tough but as the story continued, I got glimpses into her heart. I saw that she cared and that she wanted to find love. AJ is the perfect person for her. He respects her boundaries and quirks but doesn’t let her settle for less than the best. He pushes her to let him in but understands that there are something he may never know about her. Together they worked perfectly.
This is the last book in the First Wives series and it was the perfect ending. Each book can be read alone but the characters do crossover into each other’s books.
Sasha Buanov is one badass woman. Not someone you would mess with on a good day. The Richter School has shaped and molded her. Thinking she was orphan, she is unleashed on the world. Now she is back at The Richter School looking for purpose. AJ Hoffman has a purpose. Find out who killed his sister. AJ has no idea what he is getting into but Sasha does. It’s a race to see who is pulling the levers and keeping her friends safe. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, a curve ball is thrown. In the end, Sasha has found the perfect mate. AJ loves her for who she is, not what she is.
This is the last book in the First Wives series and I’m a little depressed about that. I really enjoyed reading this series and all of the tie ins from previous books and characters. Even though our main character Sasha is not really a first wife she is a major character that has been in this series. We get to see a little behind the scenes with Sasha and what drives her.
The other main character, AJ, meets Sasha and I love how he holds his own with Sasha. He is a good match for Sasha and pushes her out of her comfort zone.
I received an advance copy from Net Galley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Bonnie and Clyde ain’t got nothing on these two! Restless and mysterious, Sasha meets AJ, a man out to find his sister’s murderer. In the midst of the search for answers, will Sasha find that one thing she never thought she’d have? Sasha works alone, or so she thinks.
The final book in the First Wives series is the one I was waiting for. The first time Sasha appeared, I knew there was more to her story. Femme fatale and more. As always, Catherine Bybee didn’t disappoint Sasha!
Say It Again was the fitting conclusion to the First Wives series. Catherine Bybee knocked it out of the park with this sexy and suspenseful story featuring the elusive Sasha. Sasha is a total badass. She grew up in a strict military boarding academy and she has all the skills to show for it. She’s always been a loner and she’s uncomfortable with the ties she does have to Lori, Avery, Trina, Shannon, and their spouses and security teams. Going back to her former school gives her clues to her past and opens the door to secrets no one wants revealed. AJ is a sexy stranger determined to figure out who killed his sister. He needs Sasha more than she needs him, but he works his way past some of her walls. With suspense, danger, banter, heat, and surprises along the way, I didn’t want to put this down. Catherine Bybee gave me all that I wanted and more in Sasha’s book.