Catherine is a #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and Indie Reader bestselling author. In addition, her books have also graced The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. In total, she has written thirty-nine beloved books that have collectively sold more than 10 million copies and have been translated into more than twenty languages.
Q: You still have some suspense in your novels. In this one, it was with the Muslim Bakshai?
Catherine: Through him I was able to bring in suspense. I cannot just do emotional stuff—I must have some tension. I put suspense in my books or I’d go crazy as a writer. Bakshai tries to intimidate her in many ways; he’s a bad person. His role was to make readers question if the father did what he did for the right reasons. Because of him, Hawk and her brothers had concerns for her safety, especially after the bomb threats. His actions early on—where Hawk came to her rescue—made it clear Hawk should be hired as her bodyguard.
Q: Alex finally gets her story. How would you describe her?
Catherine: Alex struggles to find romance and love while excelling at her job. She feels she has something to prove and battles inner demons. She can be strong but vulnerable. To some, she comes off as aggressive and assertive. She’s dedicated to the company and is a workaholic.
Q: Does she have a daddy complex?
Catherine: Yes. All the children have a daddy complex. Deep down, she always wanted the love and respect of her father, but concludes it will never happen. Now that he’s dead, there’s no hope of uncovering anything to prove he respected the children. She’s more like him—especially as the CEO. Her whole life has been a big f— you to her father. And now, she has to step into his shoes.
Q: How would you describe Hawk?
Catherine: He’s trying to manage his PTSD. He’s resilient, protective, and caring.
Q: What about the relationship?
Catherine: Alex is a little flawed in relationships—except for those with her siblings and best friend. Hawk must overcome his own obstacles to love her. He’s not intimidated by her at all. He accepts her as she is. Alex can be defensive—it’s a survival mechanism. She knows she can be sarcastic with Hawk just like she is with her brothers and best friend because she feels “safe” with all of them. Hawk is cautious moving forward. She has trust issues and wonders if she’ll ever find someone, which she talks about a lot in the first two books.
Q: Can you explain the scene where Hawk and Alex have a snowball fight, a la the movie Beauty and the Beast?
Catherine: I didn’t even know there was a scene like that in the movie! I just thought it was a great way to get them out of the house—to stop talking and start playing. I like relationship scenes that include laughter. There’s also a similar scene by the pool. I want things to happen organically.
Q: Why puzzles?
Catherine: I enjoy puzzles. Working on them clears my mind—it’s like meditation. Alex needs something that allows her to just “be.” As a writer, I like to include everyday little things readers can connect with. That’s why I showed her bouncing up and down, excited to find where the puzzle pieces fit. It helps her release brain energy—something I do too.
Q: What’s next?
Catherine: The next book is about the D’Angelo family matriarch, Mari. I enjoy writing older romance stories. Life isn’t over just because someone’s in their fifties. Mari’s children are her world, but now it’s her turn. The title is Maybe One Day and it comes out in November.
I’m also writing the first book in a new series set in a Seattle house with three siblings who will be dealing with mommy issues. It will be published in June next year.
No More Yesterdays by Catherine Bybee once again shows why she is a must-read author. This is a romance with suspense that has intrigue, mystery, and action-packed scenes.
Alexandra (Alex) Stone is the CEO at Stone Enterprises. She is a high-powered billionaire woman, a workaholic with little time for romance. She works relentlessly to ensure the success of her inherited hotel empire. She does have daddy issues with her late father being a much better businessman than a dad.
Because she is the face of the company, Alex is convinced by one of the VPs to accept an invitation for a reception by Sheik Ashraf Bakshai. Once there she realizes that she was set up by the VP because Bakshai wants nothing more than to get her in his bed. She decides to leave the reception and is accosted by one of Bakshai’s men. Enter Hawk Bronson, a paid security operative for the event. He helps her get out of a dicey situation.
But things go from bad to worse when Alex receives threats. There is her attempted kidnapping, a bomb threat, and other threats. Her brothers decide to hire Hawk for her protection and to upgrade their security system. Through the investigation they discover a lot of deeply held secrets concerning her father that include many fake passports, cash, and guns.
The romance is a slow burn since Alex is used to running her own life and resents having someone shadow her. Even though sparks start to fly between her and Hawk, she believes that there is no time in her life for a romance. But things change when she decides to go on a vacation to Aspen and he goes to protect her.
There are multiple twists that make for a page turner. The character development was off the charts, and the mystery was captivating.