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Happiness Ever After #3
The Forgotten Billionaire
From Amazon best-selling author Avery Maxwell comes a heart-warming, friends-to-lovers, small-town billionaire romance about the girl who ran, the boy who stayed behind, and the memories that refused to fade. When tragedy stole his past, she became his only link to it—and the one person he was never meant to forget.
She survived the past. He doesn’t remember it.
Clover
I don’t believe in miracles—I believe in deadbolts, breathing exercises, and the found family I’ve created in my cozy small town of Happiness, Georgia.
But somehow, the man who broke me more than my childhood is standing in the middle of the town fair, looking at me as though I’m a stranger.
He looks older, harder, built from shadows and clothed in expensive suits…but those eyes, they hold the real secrets I can’t begin to decode—even if I want to.
Valen
My first memory is of a hospital ceiling. Everything before that—the boy I was, the girl I loved—is gone as though it never existed.
But then I saw her. Felt her. Experienced her.
She personifies innocence and strength, and the instant we touch, my body remembers what my mind forgot.
Clover Danforth owns my heart and just might be the answer to every question I have.
Now there’s a stalker in this chaotic small town who’s circling both our pasts. Together we’ll have to decide—
Is love something you remember or something you choose?
The Forgotten Billionaire is a steamy, small-town, second chance romance with an amnesiac billionaire hero, a heroine who’s made of hope and steel, a found family who will fight for them even when they can’t, and a love story that survived everything—except the truth.
She survived the past. He doesn’t remember it.
Clover
I don’t believe in miracles—I believe in deadbolts, breathing exercises, and the found family I’ve created in my cozy small town of Happiness, Georgia.
But somehow, the man who broke me more than my childhood is standing in the middle of the town fair, looking at me as though I’m a stranger.
He looks older, harder, built from shadows and clothed in expensive suits…but those eyes, they hold the real secrets I can’t begin to decode—even if I want to.
Valen
My first memory is of a hospital ceiling. Everything before that—the boy I was, the girl I loved—is gone as though it never existed.
But then I saw her. Felt her. Experienced her.
She personifies innocence and strength, and the instant we touch, my body remembers what my mind forgot.
Clover Danforth owns my heart and just might be the answer to every question I have.
Now there’s a stalker in this chaotic small town who’s circling both our pasts. Together we’ll have to decide—
Is love something you remember or something you choose?
The Forgotten Billionaire is a steamy, small-town, second chance romance with an amnesiac billionaire hero, a heroine who’s made of hope and steel, a found family who will fight for them even when they can’t, and a love story that survived everything—except the truth.
524 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2026
352 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Avery Maxwell
25 books1,049 followersHi, I’m Avery!
I write steamy small towns with big found families—the kind of romances that make your heart race and your soul sigh.
My books, like The Westbrooks, Single Dad Hotline, and Happiness Ever After series, are filled with swoon-worthy heroes, messy but lovable heroines, and small towns you’ll want to call home.
When I'm not writing, I live in joyful chaos with my husband and four kids. You can usually find me cheering on the sidelines at their sporting events, sneaking in writing sprints, or slipping into coffee shops for my daily caffeine fix.
I luv connecting with readers, so join me in The Luv Club (my reader group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/Avery...
Or through my weekly newsletter, The Luv Notes—because in my world, there’s always room at the table for one more luv story: https://geni.us/TheLuvNotes
You can also find me on Instagram and TikTok:
https://www.instagram.com/averymaxwel...
https://www.tiktok.com/@averymaxwell_...
I write steamy small towns with big found families—the kind of romances that make your heart race and your soul sigh.
My books, like The Westbrooks, Single Dad Hotline, and Happiness Ever After series, are filled with swoon-worthy heroes, messy but lovable heroines, and small towns you’ll want to call home.
When I'm not writing, I live in joyful chaos with my husband and four kids. You can usually find me cheering on the sidelines at their sporting events, sneaking in writing sprints, or slipping into coffee shops for my daily caffeine fix.
I luv connecting with readers, so join me in The Luv Club (my reader group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/Avery...
Or through my weekly newsletter, The Luv Notes—because in my world, there’s always room at the table for one more luv story: https://geni.us/TheLuvNotes
You can also find me on Instagram and TikTok:
https://www.instagram.com/averymaxwel...
https://www.tiktok.com/@averymaxwell_...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
April 10, 2026
Clover had a very traumatic childhood and is still suffering with constant fear & anxiety because of it. Valen was the boy who stood by her side the entire time but one day disappeared. When he resurfaced at the town's fair 14 years later, she was shocked to see him and even more shocked to see he has no idea who she is. Even though he doesn't remember her, the connection is still there and it's strong. Threats from the past emerge and he becomes her bodyguard so he can protect her. This is another case where forced proximity works its magic and boyyyy, was it magic!!!! 😍
This one had me on the edge of my seat. I was so invested and dying to know what happens. It's full of twists and turns, love and healing. Also, I love all of Valen's cousins. Like seriously can we get their books next?!
Thank you to Avery Maxwell & team for this ARC! All thoughts are my own.
This one had me on the edge of my seat. I was so invested and dying to know what happens. It's full of twists and turns, love and healing. Also, I love all of Valen's cousins. Like seriously can we get their books next?!
Thank you to Avery Maxwell & team for this ARC! All thoughts are my own.
April 20, 2026
The Forgotten Billionaire Maybe the title of this book but it is definitely "Unforgettable"! This book had me on such an emotional roller coaster but there was no way I was asking for the ride to stop!
Clover is a thriller author that is afraid of her own shadow due to an incredibly tragic past. She has been clinging to the love that got away or abandoned her for 14 years constantly writing him into her stories as the hero.
Valen is an owner of a security business as well as a bodyguard. He has no memory of his life before 14 years ago. He just has a journal that he cannot decipher, a name he knows is important to him but I'm sure why, and a deep rooted feeling he is supposed to protect someone.
After 14 years of being apart Clover and Valen find themselves face to face for the first time Clover knows he's the one she's been waiting for but valid only knows in his gut that she's someone important to him and could be the key to unlocking his memories and his past. With a dangerous threat trying to tear them apart can they unravel their past and find their way back to each other?
Thank you Avery Maxwell and Hambright PR for the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of this truly remarkable book!
Clover is a thriller author that is afraid of her own shadow due to an incredibly tragic past. She has been clinging to the love that got away or abandoned her for 14 years constantly writing him into her stories as the hero.
Valen is an owner of a security business as well as a bodyguard. He has no memory of his life before 14 years ago. He just has a journal that he cannot decipher, a name he knows is important to him but I'm sure why, and a deep rooted feeling he is supposed to protect someone.
After 14 years of being apart Clover and Valen find themselves face to face for the first time Clover knows he's the one she's been waiting for but valid only knows in his gut that she's someone important to him and could be the key to unlocking his memories and his past. With a dangerous threat trying to tear them apart can they unravel their past and find their way back to each other?
Thank you Avery Maxwell and Hambright PR for the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of this truly remarkable book!
April 17, 2026
This was an amazing and emotional story. Clover and Valen have a lot of trauma to unpack that reveals so many revelations and secrets. I loved the amnesia trope and it was done so well. There was so much action and suspense mixed in with romance and a beautiful (lost) love story. The amount of twists and turns kept me reading and guessing what was going to happen next. I loved that Valen, even without his memories, knew that Clover was for him and she was his safe place. He helped her feel safe and gain confidence during her anxiety which was really sweet. I loved how packed full of emotion and love this story was and I’m definitely enjoying this series!
4.5 stars
Thank you Avery and HambrightPR for this arc! All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars
Thank you Avery and HambrightPR for this arc! All opinions are my own.
April 22, 2026
⚠️ FULL SPOILERS AHEAD — from page one to the epilogue. Do not read if you want to experience the twists yourself. ⚠️
⭐☆☆☆☆ — I wanted to love this, but it collapsed under the weight of its own plot.
I’ve been anticipating Clover and Valen’s story for ages, and I knew it was going to be heartbreaking — but the more I read, the worse it got. Not because the emotions weren’t real, but because the plot kept piling on twist after twist until the tragedy stopped feeling organic and started feeling… engineered.
At its core, this is the story of two kids who grew up in an abusive cult that was supposed to be a sanctuary. Terra, the cult leader, twists everything — her childhood wounds, her jealousy, her obsession with being “chosen” — into a decades‑long cycle of manipulation and violence. Her fixation on Brooks, her hatred of Dahlia, her resentment of Vivian, her use of Valen as a weapon, her theft of Clover… it’s a lot. More than enough for an entire series, honestly.
But this author doesn’t stop at “a lot.” They go for everything.
The backstory becomes so convoluted that it strains logic. Terra manipulates her eight‑year‑old son (Valen) into cutting the brake lines of Brooks and Dahlia’s car — a double murder that somehow no one investigates. Clover survives, Terra steals her, and apparently no one with immense wealth, resources, and influence thinks to check whether the child lived. Vivian gains custody of Valen after her brother’s (his father’s) death but still lets him see Terra because she’s afraid of what Terra might reveal… even though Valen was a child and the truth could have been handled. And that same fear is used to justify keeping Valen and Clover apart for fourteen years.
Fourteen years they could have spent healing together. Fourteen years stolen because other people decided they “knew best.”
And that’s where the book lost me.
Because the romance itself? Beautiful. Painful. Magnetic. Clover never stops writing to Valen. Valen reads all her books without knowing why they resonate. When they finally meet again — because Terra is stalking Clover and Valen steps in to protect her — they fall for each other instantly, even before his memories return. Their pull is undeniable. Their chemistry is real. Their road trip with Chief and Wrecks is charming. Valen helping Clover check off her bucket list is swoony. The proposal with the whole town and the honeybees? Adorable.
But none of that erases the fact that they could have had all of this years earlier if the adults around them had made even one reasonable decision.
The book tries to frame this as fate, or trauma, or necessary secrecy — but it reads like manufactured angst. And when the entire emotional arc hinges on choices that make no sense for wealthy, powerful, supposedly intelligent characters, it’s hard not to feel cheated.
I loved seeing the other couples again. I loved the epilogues. I loved that Terra finally faced justice. I even loved the title twist — that Clover, not Valen, is the true forgotten billionaire.
But the sheer excess of tragedy, the preventable separation, and the constant plot gymnastics overshadowed everything good.
So yes, I’m giving it one star. Not because the writing is bad, or the characters aren’t compelling, but because the story kept choosing melodrama over logic, and that made the heartbreak feel hollow instead of earned.
⭐☆☆☆☆ — I wanted to love this, but it collapsed under the weight of its own plot.
I’ve been anticipating Clover and Valen’s story for ages, and I knew it was going to be heartbreaking — but the more I read, the worse it got. Not because the emotions weren’t real, but because the plot kept piling on twist after twist until the tragedy stopped feeling organic and started feeling… engineered.
At its core, this is the story of two kids who grew up in an abusive cult that was supposed to be a sanctuary. Terra, the cult leader, twists everything — her childhood wounds, her jealousy, her obsession with being “chosen” — into a decades‑long cycle of manipulation and violence. Her fixation on Brooks, her hatred of Dahlia, her resentment of Vivian, her use of Valen as a weapon, her theft of Clover… it’s a lot. More than enough for an entire series, honestly.
But this author doesn’t stop at “a lot.” They go for everything.
The backstory becomes so convoluted that it strains logic. Terra manipulates her eight‑year‑old son (Valen) into cutting the brake lines of Brooks and Dahlia’s car — a double murder that somehow no one investigates. Clover survives, Terra steals her, and apparently no one with immense wealth, resources, and influence thinks to check whether the child lived. Vivian gains custody of Valen after her brother’s (his father’s) death but still lets him see Terra because she’s afraid of what Terra might reveal… even though Valen was a child and the truth could have been handled. And that same fear is used to justify keeping Valen and Clover apart for fourteen years.
Fourteen years they could have spent healing together. Fourteen years stolen because other people decided they “knew best.”
And that’s where the book lost me.
Because the romance itself? Beautiful. Painful. Magnetic. Clover never stops writing to Valen. Valen reads all her books without knowing why they resonate. When they finally meet again — because Terra is stalking Clover and Valen steps in to protect her — they fall for each other instantly, even before his memories return. Their pull is undeniable. Their chemistry is real. Their road trip with Chief and Wrecks is charming. Valen helping Clover check off her bucket list is swoony. The proposal with the whole town and the honeybees? Adorable.
But none of that erases the fact that they could have had all of this years earlier if the adults around them had made even one reasonable decision.
The book tries to frame this as fate, or trauma, or necessary secrecy — but it reads like manufactured angst. And when the entire emotional arc hinges on choices that make no sense for wealthy, powerful, supposedly intelligent characters, it’s hard not to feel cheated.
I loved seeing the other couples again. I loved the epilogues. I loved that Terra finally faced justice. I even loved the title twist — that Clover, not Valen, is the true forgotten billionaire.
But the sheer excess of tragedy, the preventable separation, and the constant plot gymnastics overshadowed everything good.
So yes, I’m giving it one star. Not because the writing is bad, or the characters aren’t compelling, but because the story kept choosing melodrama over logic, and that made the heartbreak feel hollow instead of earned.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2026
Who starts a series from book 3?
Meeee 😭
But honestly… nothing was lost because this worked perfectly fine as a standalone.
This follows Clover and Valen…. who share a past from years ago that only she remembers. Valen lost his memory the same night he helped her escape something traumatic, so when they meet again, she knows him… but he doesn’t know her.
Now add in the fact that Clover has a stalker and Valen ends up being part of the team protecting her, and everything starts to spiral from there.
I liked the whole “he doesn’t remember but still feels drawn to her” thing. That part actually kept me reading because you could tell there was something deeper there even if he couldn’t place it.
I wasn’t obsessed, but I was definitely invested enough to keep going and see how it all played out.
I think what worked most for me was their connection. Even with the memory loss and everything going on, it still felt like they kept finding their way back to each other.
I also really liked the found family. The small town, the friendships, the way everyone showed up for Clover… that part added a lot.
That said, it did feel a bit long in some places and some parts dragged for me… p.s uhm I finished it in one sitting so 😉🌚
Overall though, still a solid read — especially if you like romance mixed with suspense and a bit of mystery.
Thank you to the author and @hambright_pr for the gifted eARC 🤍
Available now on Amazon & Kindle.
Tropes:
• Amnesia
• Childhood Connection
• Second Chance
• Protector MMC
• Stalker / Suspense
• Small Town
• Found Family
Meeee 😭
But honestly… nothing was lost because this worked perfectly fine as a standalone.
This follows Clover and Valen…. who share a past from years ago that only she remembers. Valen lost his memory the same night he helped her escape something traumatic, so when they meet again, she knows him… but he doesn’t know her.
Now add in the fact that Clover has a stalker and Valen ends up being part of the team protecting her, and everything starts to spiral from there.
I liked the whole “he doesn’t remember but still feels drawn to her” thing. That part actually kept me reading because you could tell there was something deeper there even if he couldn’t place it.
I wasn’t obsessed, but I was definitely invested enough to keep going and see how it all played out.
I think what worked most for me was their connection. Even with the memory loss and everything going on, it still felt like they kept finding their way back to each other.
I also really liked the found family. The small town, the friendships, the way everyone showed up for Clover… that part added a lot.
That said, it did feel a bit long in some places and some parts dragged for me… p.s uhm I finished it in one sitting so 😉🌚
Overall though, still a solid read — especially if you like romance mixed with suspense and a bit of mystery.
Thank you to the author and @hambright_pr for the gifted eARC 🤍
Available now on Amazon & Kindle.
Tropes:
• Amnesia
• Childhood Connection
• Second Chance
• Protector MMC
• Stalker / Suspense
• Small Town
• Found Family
April 20, 2026
Stunning!
I love a good romantic suspense novel, and this one was so much fun!
Clover and Valen have the most incredibly unique love story I’ve ever read. It’s full of joy and wonder, but also courage in the face of tragedy.
This book is a masterclass in balancing heavy themes with small-town shenanigans and a circle of found family and friends that will take your breath away. It’s perfect, I never wanted this book to end.
I love a good romantic suspense novel, and this one was so much fun!
Clover and Valen have the most incredibly unique love story I’ve ever read. It’s full of joy and wonder, but also courage in the face of tragedy.
This book is a masterclass in balancing heavy themes with small-town shenanigans and a circle of found family and friends that will take your breath away. It’s perfect, I never wanted this book to end.
April 16, 2026
The words heartwrenching, inspiring and amazing all describe this book. So do twisty, intense and unputdownable. Clover is a familar character if you have read the first two books in this series. She is the anxious and rather paranoid friend who writes thrillers for a living. She is also the woman the small town of Happiness has adopted as one of their own, accepting her quirks, idiosyncrasies and fears, while offering her unconditional support. Her past is a mystery until the security company hired to keep her best friend safe from a dangerous man brings someone from Clover’s own past to town. Valen owns the security company with his cousins and is stunned when Clover faints at the sight of him. The name Honeybee automatically comes out of his mouth when he catches her in his arms. He and Clover share a past that he has no memory of thanks to a brutal attack he barely survived fourteen years ago.
Though he has no memory of her or anything of his life before he awoke in the hospital, Clover has vivid memories of their shared childhood. To her, he is Valen, her friend, protector and keeper of her heart. He helped her escape a horrific life in a cult the same night he was attacked. He was supposed to come for her, but she hasn’t seen or heard from him in fourteen years, and now she knows why. Their reunion is awkward and littered with guilt and regrets, but they have no time to dwell on it because Clover has a stalker who is escalating. The past that haunts Clover and that Valen has forgotten is being resurrected by a maniacal and cunning enemy. Trying to unmask and neutralize this enemy takes them on a road trip into the past, one they may not survive. Fortunately, they have good friends and family (both biological and found) who rally to protect and support them.
I couldn’t help but love and admire Valen and Clover. Both have suffered so much, but have found the strength and resilience to keep moving forward. Clover has never felt brave, but Valen gives her the courage to try new things, be bold and move beyond the things that scare her. She gives him a home, a safe haven and he finally feels that he is the person he is supposed to be …he feels whole. Not only has she given back his memories, she has brought light and meaning to his world. She is why he survived the brutal beating, why he chose a career in security and protection, and why no relationship with another woman was possible. His heart has always belonged to her. These two finally get their well-deserved happily ever after.
This extraordinary book has my full, heartfelt recommendation. Please do check the trigger warnings before reading.
Though he has no memory of her or anything of his life before he awoke in the hospital, Clover has vivid memories of their shared childhood. To her, he is Valen, her friend, protector and keeper of her heart. He helped her escape a horrific life in a cult the same night he was attacked. He was supposed to come for her, but she hasn’t seen or heard from him in fourteen years, and now she knows why. Their reunion is awkward and littered with guilt and regrets, but they have no time to dwell on it because Clover has a stalker who is escalating. The past that haunts Clover and that Valen has forgotten is being resurrected by a maniacal and cunning enemy. Trying to unmask and neutralize this enemy takes them on a road trip into the past, one they may not survive. Fortunately, they have good friends and family (both biological and found) who rally to protect and support them.
I couldn’t help but love and admire Valen and Clover. Both have suffered so much, but have found the strength and resilience to keep moving forward. Clover has never felt brave, but Valen gives her the courage to try new things, be bold and move beyond the things that scare her. She gives him a home, a safe haven and he finally feels that he is the person he is supposed to be …he feels whole. Not only has she given back his memories, she has brought light and meaning to his world. She is why he survived the brutal beating, why he chose a career in security and protection, and why no relationship with another woman was possible. His heart has always belonged to her. These two finally get their well-deserved happily ever after.
This extraordinary book has my full, heartfelt recommendation. Please do check the trigger warnings before reading.
April 20, 2026
2.5 / 3 stars
I was pretty excited to finally fill in the blanks about Clover in The Forgotten Billionaire. She’s been this anxious, nervous side character for two books now, and I really wanted her story. So while I was glad to finally get some context, I still walked away a little disappointed with how it was laid out.
It felt like there were missing pieces, and the attempt to frame this as a mystery thriller to match Clover’s professional persona didn’t add much for me. Mostly because it just wasn’t a very strong thriller. I was never on the edge of my seat, and I kept wishing it would either fully commit to that angle or just stick with being a small-town romance instead of hovering in between. I liked the beginning a lot more than the end, and I think that had more to do with my investment in the series than my investment in Clover and Valen as a couple. Their relationship didn’t quite carry the weight I wanted it to.
A few things in particular didn’t work for me. The whole Honeybee situation was frustratingly vague. There’s a lot of buildup and hints that it ties back to something important from childhood, but it’s never clearly explained. It ends up feeling less like intrigue and more like something missing. I also couldn’t buy the villain. I’m still not clear on how they managed to gain that level of power, especially when they’re somehow getting around a military-grade security firm over and over again. It felt ridiculous rather than threatening.
I was still invested enough to care about the outcome, but Valen’s woe-is-me tantrum at the end of the book was too much. Clover standing up for herself and calling him out was one of my favorite moments, which made it even more frustrating when she immediately turns around and chases after him. The fact that this was framed as growth didn’t work for me at all.
Finally, I think Clover being an author could have been handled better. At one point someone literally tells her this is real life, not fiction, but she still filters everything through plot points and tropes. Instead of explaining her thinking with actual research she had done or logic, it keeps coming back to “this is how I’d write it.” It would have landed better if she’d grounded her reasoning in real-world details like statistics or investigative methods instead of leaning so hard on the author angle.
I was pretty excited to finally fill in the blanks about Clover in The Forgotten Billionaire. She’s been this anxious, nervous side character for two books now, and I really wanted her story. So while I was glad to finally get some context, I still walked away a little disappointed with how it was laid out.
It felt like there were missing pieces, and the attempt to frame this as a mystery thriller to match Clover’s professional persona didn’t add much for me. Mostly because it just wasn’t a very strong thriller. I was never on the edge of my seat, and I kept wishing it would either fully commit to that angle or just stick with being a small-town romance instead of hovering in between. I liked the beginning a lot more than the end, and I think that had more to do with my investment in the series than my investment in Clover and Valen as a couple. Their relationship didn’t quite carry the weight I wanted it to.
A few things in particular didn’t work for me. The whole Honeybee situation was frustratingly vague. There’s a lot of buildup and hints that it ties back to something important from childhood, but it’s never clearly explained. It ends up feeling less like intrigue and more like something missing. I also couldn’t buy the villain. I’m still not clear on how they managed to gain that level of power, especially when they’re somehow getting around a military-grade security firm over and over again. It felt ridiculous rather than threatening.
I was still invested enough to care about the outcome, but Valen’s woe-is-me tantrum at the end of the book was too much. Clover standing up for herself and calling him out was one of my favorite moments, which made it even more frustrating when she immediately turns around and chases after him. The fact that this was framed as growth didn’t work for me at all.
Finally, I think Clover being an author could have been handled better. At one point someone literally tells her this is real life, not fiction, but she still filters everything through plot points and tropes. Instead of explaining her thinking with actual research she had done or logic, it keeps coming back to “this is how I’d write it.” It would have landed better if she’d grounded her reasoning in real-world details like statistics or investigative methods instead of leaning so hard on the author angle.
Review of advance copy
Thank you so much Hambright PR for sending me this ARC!
The Forgotten Billionaire is the third book in a series of standalone Contemporary Romance books and I think it’s my new favorite book from Avery, I loved Clover and Valen’s story so much!
While dealing with her anxiety from traumatic past and a stalker sending her panic-inducing packages, the last thing Clover expects is to see Valen, her first love who she thought abandoned her 14 years ago but now it turns out he lost his memory. Valen might not remember a big part of his past, but he instantly feels the connection he and Clover share, but with terrors from their past finding them again, they need to find out what is going on and whether they can find their love again.
This book was a perfect mix of suspense, heartbreak and beautiful love story, I was so excited to read it after the glimpse of Clover and Valen we got in the previous book and it was everything I hoped for and more, it was a truly emotional read and I loved every page. Both Clover and Valen have gone through so much in their lives and my heart was breaking so many times for them, they were really strong and resilient and I loved how they were finding their strength in each other. Their relationship was beautiful and I loved seeing them finding their way back to each other, it was heartbreaking at times, especially seeing how much Valen’s lost memories hurt them both, but they were perfect for each other and I loved seeing them slowly realise that, heal together and claim their love again. I also loved the found family, all residents of the small town Happiness and Valen’s cousins made such a beautiful big family and I was laughing at their antics and just loved seeing them all together and how they were willing to do anything for each other.
The Forgotten Billionaire is an amazing book that I absolutely loved and recommend it and the whole series to everyone, Avery’s books are incredible and I already can’t wait for what she writes next.
The Forgotten Billionaire is the third book in a series of standalone Contemporary Romance books and I think it’s my new favorite book from Avery, I loved Clover and Valen’s story so much!
While dealing with her anxiety from traumatic past and a stalker sending her panic-inducing packages, the last thing Clover expects is to see Valen, her first love who she thought abandoned her 14 years ago but now it turns out he lost his memory. Valen might not remember a big part of his past, but he instantly feels the connection he and Clover share, but with terrors from their past finding them again, they need to find out what is going on and whether they can find their love again.
This book was a perfect mix of suspense, heartbreak and beautiful love story, I was so excited to read it after the glimpse of Clover and Valen we got in the previous book and it was everything I hoped for and more, it was a truly emotional read and I loved every page. Both Clover and Valen have gone through so much in their lives and my heart was breaking so many times for them, they were really strong and resilient and I loved how they were finding their strength in each other. Their relationship was beautiful and I loved seeing them finding their way back to each other, it was heartbreaking at times, especially seeing how much Valen’s lost memories hurt them both, but they were perfect for each other and I loved seeing them slowly realise that, heal together and claim their love again. I also loved the found family, all residents of the small town Happiness and Valen’s cousins made such a beautiful big family and I was laughing at their antics and just loved seeing them all together and how they were willing to do anything for each other.
The Forgotten Billionaire is an amazing book that I absolutely loved and recommend it and the whole series to everyone, Avery’s books are incredible and I already can’t wait for what she writes next.
April 27, 2026
🇫🇷French & English reviews🇬🇧
📖Genre & Tropes📖 : romance contempo x suspense plot x evil family x trauma past x childhood friends to lovers x second chance romance x small town x found family x amnesia plot x spicy
Une romance sympa mais sans plus
Je commencerais déjà par dire qu’il faut avoir lu les deux précédents tomes parce que sinon ça fait bizarre d’arriver au milieu de la fin de l’intrigue du précédent livre × (erreur de ma part vu que j’avais lu que le premier tome et pas le deuxième !)
En soi, l’intrigue et ma romance étaient agréables à lire (j’adore les histoires d’amnésie !) mais j’ai trouvé qu’il y avait des longueurs, que pour des milliardaires spécialisés dans la sécurité, les frères de Valen et Valen ont mis bien trop longtemps à s’occuper de la méchante et j’ai trouvé les personnages très durs avec Valen (on a l’impression que Clover a le droit d’être traumatisé mais que ce n’est pas le cas pour Valen à qui on reproche de mal gérer « la grosse révélation » ...)
Bref, une romance contempo pleine de drama agréable à lire mais sans plus ...
⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐
A nice romance, but nothing more
I'd start by saying that you need to have read the two previous books because otherwise it feels strange to arrive in the middle of the end of the previous book's plot (my mistake, since I had only read the first book and not the second !).
The plot and the romance itself were enjoyable to read (I love amnesia stories !), but I found it the pace was too slow, for billionaires specializing in security, Valen and Valen's brothers took far too long to deal with the villain, and I found the characters very harsh on Valen (it seems like Clover is allowed to be traumatized, but Valen isn't, especially wen he’s criticized for handling "the big revelation" poorly ...).
In short, a contempo romance full of drama, enjoyable to read, but nothing special
📖Genre & Tropes📖 : romance contempo x suspense plot x evil family x trauma past x childhood friends to lovers x second chance romance x small town x found family x amnesia plot x spicy
Une romance sympa mais sans plus
Je commencerais déjà par dire qu’il faut avoir lu les deux précédents tomes parce que sinon ça fait bizarre d’arriver au milieu de la fin de l’intrigue du précédent livre × (erreur de ma part vu que j’avais lu que le premier tome et pas le deuxième !)
En soi, l’intrigue et ma romance étaient agréables à lire (j’adore les histoires d’amnésie !) mais j’ai trouvé qu’il y avait des longueurs, que pour des milliardaires spécialisés dans la sécurité, les frères de Valen et Valen ont mis bien trop longtemps à s’occuper de la méchante et j’ai trouvé les personnages très durs avec Valen (on a l’impression que Clover a le droit d’être traumatisé mais que ce n’est pas le cas pour Valen à qui on reproche de mal gérer « la grosse révélation » ...)
Bref, une romance contempo pleine de drama agréable à lire mais sans plus ...
⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐
A nice romance, but nothing more
I'd start by saying that you need to have read the two previous books because otherwise it feels strange to arrive in the middle of the end of the previous book's plot (my mistake, since I had only read the first book and not the second !).
The plot and the romance itself were enjoyable to read (I love amnesia stories !), but I found it the pace was too slow, for billionaires specializing in security, Valen and Valen's brothers took far too long to deal with the villain, and I found the characters very harsh on Valen (it seems like Clover is allowed to be traumatized, but Valen isn't, especially wen he’s criticized for handling "the big revelation" poorly ...).
In short, a contempo romance full of drama, enjoyable to read, but nothing special
April 23, 2026
Amnesiac billionaire and the girl that never stopped loving him.
Oh my heart!! I didn’t think anyone could take the top book boyfriend spot from Braxton, then Valen came in driving an RV turned tank and said, “hold my beer.” I could not get enough of Valen and Clover.
Clover is a successful thriller author, but afraid of her own shadow after literally escaping a traumatic childhood. Valen was her first everything, the boy that saved her life, and then ghosted her for 14 years. He shows up as security when people close to her are threatened. However, he has no memory prior to their separation, and it rocks Clover’s world. This is all in the first chapters. It takes off from there, and what a ride it is.
As mysterious packages and threats are discovered by Clover’s friends, Valen steps in as her bodyguard. He may not remember, but he feels deeply and can’t explain his pull to Clover but just knows this is where he needs to be. Before she realizes it, Clover is surrounded by the best security detail you will ever see. The town’s retired police chief who still carries his badge and isn’t afraid to wield it. Valen’s brother and cousins that mix in hilariously with the locals. Her best friends who will bury the body with no questions asked.
I loved watching Clover and Valen reconnect. They balanced and supported each other beautifully. As Valen’s history is revealed, it will break your heart. Clover blossomed as the story progressed with Valen being the first to lift her up.
This book had everything I’ve come to expect from this series. Including banter, humor, a crazy cast of characters you will love, and a ton of heart. As a bonus, there is a terrific suspense element and the found family vibe of Happiness, Georgia is strong. This is one of my favorite series and I can’t recommend it enough.
Oh my heart!! I didn’t think anyone could take the top book boyfriend spot from Braxton, then Valen came in driving an RV turned tank and said, “hold my beer.” I could not get enough of Valen and Clover.
Clover is a successful thriller author, but afraid of her own shadow after literally escaping a traumatic childhood. Valen was her first everything, the boy that saved her life, and then ghosted her for 14 years. He shows up as security when people close to her are threatened. However, he has no memory prior to their separation, and it rocks Clover’s world. This is all in the first chapters. It takes off from there, and what a ride it is.
As mysterious packages and threats are discovered by Clover’s friends, Valen steps in as her bodyguard. He may not remember, but he feels deeply and can’t explain his pull to Clover but just knows this is where he needs to be. Before she realizes it, Clover is surrounded by the best security detail you will ever see. The town’s retired police chief who still carries his badge and isn’t afraid to wield it. Valen’s brother and cousins that mix in hilariously with the locals. Her best friends who will bury the body with no questions asked.
I loved watching Clover and Valen reconnect. They balanced and supported each other beautifully. As Valen’s history is revealed, it will break your heart. Clover blossomed as the story progressed with Valen being the first to lift her up.
This book had everything I’ve come to expect from this series. Including banter, humor, a crazy cast of characters you will love, and a ton of heart. As a bonus, there is a terrific suspense element and the found family vibe of Happiness, Georgia is strong. This is one of my favorite series and I can’t recommend it enough.
April 15, 2026
The Forgotten Billionaire is book three In the Happiness Ever After Series. It is a small town, forced proximity, stalker, found family, second chance romance with a strong, but paranoid FMC in danger and her bodyguard MMC. The story is told in first person, dual POV.
Clover has had a horrific past that she thought was dead and buried, until she starts receiving mysterious and threatening packages. When Valen is hired to protect Clover, she comes face to face with her childhood sweetheart who she thought to be lost. Valen has his own awful past, but he remembers none of it, including Clover.
This was a terrific story that I truly enjoyed. The story is complex, witty, spicy, intriguing, mysterious, and suspenseful. The twists and turns were amazing and the emotion was palpable. Clover and Valen have this amazingly strong pull to each other that can't be denied, no matter what stands in the way. Their chemistry was electric and when they come together it is HOT!
The town of Happiness is definitely where I want to live. The incredible people have a wonderful sense of community and togetherness. The way they all took Clover in and provided her with the acceptance and friendships that she really needed, simply warmed my heart. I loved how they were all so protective of her as well.
This book was terrifically written with amazing pace, flow, plot, characters, storytelling, storyline, character development, relationship development, and world building. If you are in the mood for an adventurous, and danger filled romance with plenty of twists and turns, then this is definitely the book for you.
Thank you so very much to Avery Maxwell and Hambright PR for the ARC; all thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
Clover has had a horrific past that she thought was dead and buried, until she starts receiving mysterious and threatening packages. When Valen is hired to protect Clover, she comes face to face with her childhood sweetheart who she thought to be lost. Valen has his own awful past, but he remembers none of it, including Clover.
This was a terrific story that I truly enjoyed. The story is complex, witty, spicy, intriguing, mysterious, and suspenseful. The twists and turns were amazing and the emotion was palpable. Clover and Valen have this amazingly strong pull to each other that can't be denied, no matter what stands in the way. Their chemistry was electric and when they come together it is HOT!
The town of Happiness is definitely where I want to live. The incredible people have a wonderful sense of community and togetherness. The way they all took Clover in and provided her with the acceptance and friendships that she really needed, simply warmed my heart. I loved how they were all so protective of her as well.
This book was terrifically written with amazing pace, flow, plot, characters, storytelling, storyline, character development, relationship development, and world building. If you are in the mood for an adventurous, and danger filled romance with plenty of twists and turns, then this is definitely the book for you.
Thank you so very much to Avery Maxwell and Hambright PR for the ARC; all thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
April 15, 2026
Clover Danforth is an anxious, nervous, bestselling author who survived the unimaginable and now has a stalker. Valen Stone is in town on a protection detail for Clover's friend. She recognizes him, but Valen has no memory of her. Except her old nickname, Honeybee, escapes his lips, so something within him sparks in recognition.
As danger mounts, Valen's memories begin to return, but keeping Clover safe is the priority. When they come face to face with someone from their childhood, secrets unravel, memories flood in, and any potential future they thought they might have is threatened.
One thing bears mentioning. With an anxious character, it's a challenge to get it right so it reads authentically and evokes empathy. Truthfully, most storytellers miss the mark. But with Clover? The reader feels to her bones that Clover has earned every moment of her angst, and her gradual, glorious transformation into a fearless warrior woman is blinding in its brilliance. In fact, Clover was so beautifully, perfectly crafted that the next similar heroine I encountered made me DNF.
And Valen is every bit the hero, with demons of his own to conquer, which he does in the midst of peril and danger, fighting for crumbs of the past which will explain his present. And when the secrets are disrobed their devastation is brutal and unforgiving. Then, finally, healing can begin and the phoenix of Valen rises from the ashes.
Truly, this one is a masterclass in complete ruination of two characters tied together with a thin, gossamer thread of hope, and it's glorious in its construction from beginning to end. Add in the small-town community and colorful characters of Happinees, GA, and found family aspect, and it's an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime read.
As danger mounts, Valen's memories begin to return, but keeping Clover safe is the priority. When they come face to face with someone from their childhood, secrets unravel, memories flood in, and any potential future they thought they might have is threatened.
One thing bears mentioning. With an anxious character, it's a challenge to get it right so it reads authentically and evokes empathy. Truthfully, most storytellers miss the mark. But with Clover? The reader feels to her bones that Clover has earned every moment of her angst, and her gradual, glorious transformation into a fearless warrior woman is blinding in its brilliance. In fact, Clover was so beautifully, perfectly crafted that the next similar heroine I encountered made me DNF.
And Valen is every bit the hero, with demons of his own to conquer, which he does in the midst of peril and danger, fighting for crumbs of the past which will explain his present. And when the secrets are disrobed their devastation is brutal and unforgiving. Then, finally, healing can begin and the phoenix of Valen rises from the ashes.
Truly, this one is a masterclass in complete ruination of two characters tied together with a thin, gossamer thread of hope, and it's glorious in its construction from beginning to end. Add in the small-town community and colorful characters of Happinees, GA, and found family aspect, and it's an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime read.
April 16, 2026
The Forgotten Billionaire ( Happiness Ever After Book 3 ) 💚Friends to Lovers 💚Small Town 💚Billionaire 💚First Loves 💚Heartbreak 💚Second Chances 💚and all the feels Well Avery has once again wrecked me , just wrecked me in all the best ways and by the end all the shattered pieces of my heart were somehow put right back together again . I only have one question, how do you not fall in love with this absolutely amazing , Steamy and addictive series/ world that she has so brilliantly created? . We’re only on book 3 and I’m just utterly obsessed and equally in love with each couple / Harrington Brother and their journey !! . That being said, something about Clover and Calen really had my heart , I just felt such a connection to both . I loved the chemistry between them but it was so much more than that . The things they went through both together and separately, just resonated with me in the most unexpected of ways. I loved how different they were yet how perfectly they complemented each other so perfectly. The progression of their relationship, all the different layers and complexities, the angst and the humor and the witty banter , the intrigue and suspense, the family and friendships. I genuinely could not devour it fast enough, I literally felt like I was on a emotional rollercoaster the whole way through. Smiling and laughing out loud one second then crying ugly tears and yelling so so hard the next . What never ever wavered though was how utterly invested I found myself in these two and how hard I cheered for them to find the happy ending they so desperately wanted wanted and clearly deserved. Because of there were ever two people who were fated to me together it was most definitely them .
April 15, 2026
Emotional, heartbreaking, and healing.
Wow. The Forgotten Billionaire had me completely wrapped up in Valen and Clover’s past, and their fight to heal in the present. Clover remembers her childhood trauma all too well, and it has shaped every aspect of her life: how she sleeps, eats, and trusts. She’s learned to mask her struggles around the friends she’s found in Happiness, GA, but everything begins to unravel when she comes face-to-face with the boy who left her behind.
Valen, on the other hand, remembers nothing of his childhood. He knows something terrible happened, but he’s spent his adult life protecting others as a kind of penance for a past he can’t recall. When he sees Clover for the first time and calls her “honeybee,” the emotional impact is immediate… and unforgettable.
Avery Maxwell masterfully blends suspense, action, and deep emotion into a beautifully woven story of love, forgiveness, and healing. I fell completely in love with Clover and Valen and was deeply invested in their journey, both into their past and toward their future. The unconditional love and support they receive from their friends and family is quintessential Maxwell. She creates found families better than anyone, and I’m always drawn into their imperfections and unwavering acceptance of one another.
I found myself laughing out loud at the friends’ antics one moment, and clutching my heart during the more poignant scenes the next.
This story is a beautiful reminder that no matter what we believe our failings to be, the right people will love us through anything. I’m so excited to see Valen’s brothers get their own stories. I hope they’re on the horizon.
Wow. The Forgotten Billionaire had me completely wrapped up in Valen and Clover’s past, and their fight to heal in the present. Clover remembers her childhood trauma all too well, and it has shaped every aspect of her life: how she sleeps, eats, and trusts. She’s learned to mask her struggles around the friends she’s found in Happiness, GA, but everything begins to unravel when she comes face-to-face with the boy who left her behind.
Valen, on the other hand, remembers nothing of his childhood. He knows something terrible happened, but he’s spent his adult life protecting others as a kind of penance for a past he can’t recall. When he sees Clover for the first time and calls her “honeybee,” the emotional impact is immediate… and unforgettable.
Avery Maxwell masterfully blends suspense, action, and deep emotion into a beautifully woven story of love, forgiveness, and healing. I fell completely in love with Clover and Valen and was deeply invested in their journey, both into their past and toward their future. The unconditional love and support they receive from their friends and family is quintessential Maxwell. She creates found families better than anyone, and I’m always drawn into their imperfections and unwavering acceptance of one another.
I found myself laughing out loud at the friends’ antics one moment, and clutching my heart during the more poignant scenes the next.
This story is a beautiful reminder that no matter what we believe our failings to be, the right people will love us through anything. I’m so excited to see Valen’s brothers get their own stories. I hope they’re on the horizon.
April 19, 2026
This emotional roller coaster of an adventure checks all the boxes in the feels department! Many years ago, Valen and Clover were each other's everything, until the night that changed everything. As they were escaping from the cult they were brought up in, Clover manages to get away, but Valen is caught and beaten so severely he remembers nothing before that night. For years, Clover has written to Valen without receiving a response, but everyday she hopes that she will see him again. Now Valen is in the town of Happiness to protect Clover's friend but it turns out that it is Clover who needs protecting from a stalker who is terrorizing her, bringing up all the old anxieties and trauma from her time in the cult. Valen doesn't recognize Clover, but does feel the connection he had with her, and knows that she was someone important in his life.
This book had suspense, love and emotional turmoil that brought out the best in both these characters and really made you want them to make this work. The book is beautifully written, with Valen and Clover hitting all the marks in their development, working through their trauma and finding their way back to each other. These two are opposites, Valen is tall and broad, Clover tries to make herself small to that she can be inconspicuous, but their hearts complement each other. This is the story of love, trust, found family, with the addition of suspense and intrigue. The Harrington brothers are just the funniest brothers, and their banter brings such levity to some very anxious and emotional scenes. This third book is amazing and another fabulous trip to Happiness, Georgia.
This book had suspense, love and emotional turmoil that brought out the best in both these characters and really made you want them to make this work. The book is beautifully written, with Valen and Clover hitting all the marks in their development, working through their trauma and finding their way back to each other. These two are opposites, Valen is tall and broad, Clover tries to make herself small to that she can be inconspicuous, but their hearts complement each other. This is the story of love, trust, found family, with the addition of suspense and intrigue. The Harrington brothers are just the funniest brothers, and their banter brings such levity to some very anxious and emotional scenes. This third book is amazing and another fabulous trip to Happiness, Georgia.
April 26, 2026
I have mixed feelings about this one. This book has been on my TBR for a while now.
Note: Please read TWs/Content Warnings before reading the book. The author makes it clear at the start that most of the books in this series deal with triggering or hard topics.
I must say the book indeed was a lot to take in - it hurt to read what the FMC had been through and is continuing to go through, and the pain of the MMC is also understandable. Please note that I read this book as a standalone, so I had a vague context of a lot of the characters, but with the help of the chart at the start, I could kind of get through understanding or figuring out the characters. The book is over 300+ pages long, and I kind of felt that for the length of the book, I didn't effectively get its worth of storyline, depth, context, and content. I felt a lot of things were quite vague: questions that I had, context that I needed more of, understanding that I needed more of. Some of the "mystery or suspense" that the storyline had was too predictable, and this would be more of a mystery/suspense book than romance - the romance barely took much part, and even that which was discussed was not strong enough or justified enough. I did see more of protectiveness, caring, and love, but it isn't the romantic kind of love or connection that I felt between the MCs because their romantic past was not elaborated enough. I also felt that the third act was looking like it was starting strong (and sad), but ended up being too rushed and not as strong enough for all the buildup that we saw throughout the book.
This could have been a better read, but it does tug your heartstrings quite a bit.
Note: Please read TWs/Content Warnings before reading the book. The author makes it clear at the start that most of the books in this series deal with triggering or hard topics.
I must say the book indeed was a lot to take in - it hurt to read what the FMC had been through and is continuing to go through, and the pain of the MMC is also understandable. Please note that I read this book as a standalone, so I had a vague context of a lot of the characters, but with the help of the chart at the start, I could kind of get through understanding or figuring out the characters. The book is over 300+ pages long, and I kind of felt that for the length of the book, I didn't effectively get its worth of storyline, depth, context, and content. I felt a lot of things were quite vague: questions that I had, context that I needed more of, understanding that I needed more of. Some of the "mystery or suspense" that the storyline had was too predictable, and this would be more of a mystery/suspense book than romance - the romance barely took much part, and even that which was discussed was not strong enough or justified enough. I did see more of protectiveness, caring, and love, but it isn't the romantic kind of love or connection that I felt between the MCs because their romantic past was not elaborated enough. I also felt that the third act was looking like it was starting strong (and sad), but ended up being too rushed and not as strong enough for all the buildup that we saw throughout the book.
This could have been a better read, but it does tug your heartstrings quite a bit.
May 8, 2026
One of those romances that completely consumes you from the very first chapter. 💔✨ Avery Maxwell perfectly blends emotional romance, suspense, trauma and second-chance vibes into a story that feels impossible to put down.
Clover and Valen are both deeply scarred by their pasts, carrying years of pain, guilt and unresolved trauma. What I loved most was the amnesia trope and how naturally it was handled throughout the story. Even without his memories, Valen still feels drawn to Clover, instinctively knowing she’s his safe place and honestly, that completely broke me. 🥹
Their relationship is filled with emotional tension, vulnerability and so many tender moments. Valen’s protective side without ever becoming overbearing made him incredibly lovable, while Clover’s anxiety, fear and emotional healing felt raw and believable. Watching them slowly reconnect while uncovering secrets from the past had me fully emotionally invested.
The suspense element also keeps the pacing super addictive: there are constant revelations, danger, twists and emotional punches that make it impossible to stop reading. 🔥 I especially loved the strong found-family vibes and the way the story balances heavier emotional moments with softer, comforting ones.
This honestly felt so much more emotional and layered than a typical billionaire romance. If you love amnesia tropes, romantic suspense, protective MMCs, emotional healing and couples that somehow find each other again despite everything… this book absolutely delivers. ❤️🔥
Thank you to @hambright_pr for the opportunity to read it in advance. 💚
⭐️ 5/5 - 🌶️ 3.5/5
Clover and Valen are both deeply scarred by their pasts, carrying years of pain, guilt and unresolved trauma. What I loved most was the amnesia trope and how naturally it was handled throughout the story. Even without his memories, Valen still feels drawn to Clover, instinctively knowing she’s his safe place and honestly, that completely broke me. 🥹
Their relationship is filled with emotional tension, vulnerability and so many tender moments. Valen’s protective side without ever becoming overbearing made him incredibly lovable, while Clover’s anxiety, fear and emotional healing felt raw and believable. Watching them slowly reconnect while uncovering secrets from the past had me fully emotionally invested.
The suspense element also keeps the pacing super addictive: there are constant revelations, danger, twists and emotional punches that make it impossible to stop reading. 🔥 I especially loved the strong found-family vibes and the way the story balances heavier emotional moments with softer, comforting ones.
This honestly felt so much more emotional and layered than a typical billionaire romance. If you love amnesia tropes, romantic suspense, protective MMCs, emotional healing and couples that somehow find each other again despite everything… this book absolutely delivers. ❤️🔥
Thank you to @hambright_pr for the opportunity to read it in advance. 💚
⭐️ 5/5 - 🌶️ 3.5/5
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is surprisingly heartbreaking. I mean, all of Avery’s books have some cracking before the healing can truly begin, but this one really hurts. The twists and worries. The finding out WHY someone appears to have protected a truly horrid person. The fear that love isn’t enough. It hurts. So much.
Valen and Clover have a hard road to travel, but even when he seems not to remember, it’s clear that deep down, he does. The glimpses Valen gets, the deliberate care he takes with Clover and those she loves, and the lengths his family will go to in order to protect or save both of them all show just who he truly is at his core. No cruel games will change that. They can’t. And when he doesn’t believe it, everyone else does for him.
As for Clover, her growth is nothing short of spectacular. Sort of like a butterfly realizing that the cocoon might be safe-feeling, but it’s really stifling and needs to be broken free of. That’s the best way to describe Clover finding her way to who she truly is, and she finds her way faster with Valen at her back. She also finds her way through fear to confront the one person who thinks they’re doing the right thing when it all falls apart. It also helps that Agnes doesn’t have to say she had an aura of a storm cloud with something nobody wants.
Between the mystery, the drama, the somewhat cornball stunts, and the hilarity of siblings, this is a ride I’m so glad I took with Clover and I can only hope to see the rest of Valen’s family as they find their own forevers also!
Valen and Clover have a hard road to travel, but even when he seems not to remember, it’s clear that deep down, he does. The glimpses Valen gets, the deliberate care he takes with Clover and those she loves, and the lengths his family will go to in order to protect or save both of them all show just who he truly is at his core. No cruel games will change that. They can’t. And when he doesn’t believe it, everyone else does for him.
As for Clover, her growth is nothing short of spectacular. Sort of like a butterfly realizing that the cocoon might be safe-feeling, but it’s really stifling and needs to be broken free of. That’s the best way to describe Clover finding her way to who she truly is, and she finds her way faster with Valen at her back. She also finds her way through fear to confront the one person who thinks they’re doing the right thing when it all falls apart. It also helps that Agnes doesn’t have to say she had an aura of a storm cloud with something nobody wants.
Between the mystery, the drama, the somewhat cornball stunts, and the hilarity of siblings, this is a ride I’m so glad I took with Clover and I can only hope to see the rest of Valen’s family as they find their own forevers also!
April 7, 2026
Review of Advanced Copy received from Author
This book didn’t just tug on my heartstrings—it tied them into a knot, whispered secrets to them, and then gently unraveled them one breathtaking chapter at a time.
Avery Maxwell delivers a romance that feels like standing in the middle of a summer storm: warm rain, distant thunder, and the electric certainty that something life-changing is happening.
Clover is the kind of heroine you feel before you fully understand—guarded but soft in the places that matter, stitched together with resilience and quiet courage. She doesn’t wait to be saved. She builds herself anew. And then Valen walks back into her life… except he doesn’t remember ever leaving it.
Valen? He’s not your typical billionaire fantasy. He’s fractured, searching, and achingly human beneath the tailored suits and shadowed past. Watching him fall for Clover twice—once in memory, once in instinct—feels like witnessing fate try again with trembling hands.
The chemistry simmers, then burns. Not rushed, not forced—earned. Every touch feels like a question. Every glance, a memory trying to claw its way back to the surface.
And just when you think this is a soft, nostalgic second-chance romance… the tension tightens. The stalker subplot threads through the story like a quiet menace, adding sharp edges to an otherwise tender love story.
But the real magic?
This book asks a dangerous little question:
Is love something you remember… or something you choose?
And then it answers it in a way that lingers long after the final page.
This book didn’t just tug on my heartstrings—it tied them into a knot, whispered secrets to them, and then gently unraveled them one breathtaking chapter at a time.
Avery Maxwell delivers a romance that feels like standing in the middle of a summer storm: warm rain, distant thunder, and the electric certainty that something life-changing is happening.
Clover is the kind of heroine you feel before you fully understand—guarded but soft in the places that matter, stitched together with resilience and quiet courage. She doesn’t wait to be saved. She builds herself anew. And then Valen walks back into her life… except he doesn’t remember ever leaving it.
Valen? He’s not your typical billionaire fantasy. He’s fractured, searching, and achingly human beneath the tailored suits and shadowed past. Watching him fall for Clover twice—once in memory, once in instinct—feels like witnessing fate try again with trembling hands.
The chemistry simmers, then burns. Not rushed, not forced—earned. Every touch feels like a question. Every glance, a memory trying to claw its way back to the surface.
And just when you think this is a soft, nostalgic second-chance romance… the tension tightens. The stalker subplot threads through the story like a quiet menace, adding sharp edges to an otherwise tender love story.
But the real magic?
This book asks a dangerous little question:
Is love something you remember… or something you choose?
And then it answers it in a way that lingers long after the final page.
April 15, 2026
Don’t let the cute cover and sweet blurb fool you, because this book is so angsty it should come with some sort of sadness and tears warning so you can prepare tissues. I feel in love with the characters the second this book started, and the chemistry between them just shone through. The amnesia plot isn’t my biggest love, but when done well it can be soo magical (as was the case here). I love how even if he mentally doesn’t remember, his unconscious was finding ways to grow closer to her and he was actually finding his way back to her without even knowing. The plot is pretty dark though, there are themes of child @buse and horrifying cults so please proceed with discretion. On a lighter note I love the yearning between the characters, especially when Valen fell in love with her for the second time. And clover was such a strong and resilient fmc that went through so much yet came out so much stronger. The only thing I would have wanted more from this book, is a full scene from their pasts, we only get a couple lines of memories from when he remembers things out of nowhere but no full scene. I however did love the letters, any book with angsty love letters that make me cry is an immediate 5/5 for me. But despite this, everything about this book was pure perfection. The characters were amazing, I love how they were not perfect but real. The plot was perfectly paced, which you don’t actually see very often anymore, but this book was intense throughout, with some completely DEVASTATING, and I MEAN DEVASTATING plot twists, that my head still hasn’t wrapped itself around.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book throws you straight into the trauma of the main characters' lives. There is no gentle easing in or warming up with this story. Clover and Valen are traumatized by their childhoods and each has their own coping skills. But they both know there is more out there for them.
Clover hides from the world, writing her murder mysteries, counting, breathing, keeping one foot on the floor, ready to run at a moment's notice. The terror she lives with every day is haunting. She needs to find her best friend, Valen. He promised he would always be there for her. She has found family in Happiness, GA and they are her people, but she needs Valen.
Valen is pushing through life with no memories of his childhood, always knowing he was born to protect, but doesn't know who is waiting for him. He has his family, cousins who are like brothers, trying to keep him living, but he knows there is someone who needs him.
Their story is so much more than a beautiful love story. This is a thriller, a mystery, a revealing of truths. All of Avery Maxwell's books are great, but this one is in a different league. I love every single word, sentence, paragraph, page and chapter! You will love it too!!
- Friends-to-lovers
- He fall first (and hard)
- Steamy small town
- Close proximity
- Grumpy billionaire
- Guarded heroine/protective hero
- Found family
Grab this book and thank me later!!!
Clover hides from the world, writing her murder mysteries, counting, breathing, keeping one foot on the floor, ready to run at a moment's notice. The terror she lives with every day is haunting. She needs to find her best friend, Valen. He promised he would always be there for her. She has found family in Happiness, GA and they are her people, but she needs Valen.
Valen is pushing through life with no memories of his childhood, always knowing he was born to protect, but doesn't know who is waiting for him. He has his family, cousins who are like brothers, trying to keep him living, but he knows there is someone who needs him.
Their story is so much more than a beautiful love story. This is a thriller, a mystery, a revealing of truths. All of Avery Maxwell's books are great, but this one is in a different league. I love every single word, sentence, paragraph, page and chapter! You will love it too!!
- Friends-to-lovers
- He fall first (and hard)
- Steamy small town
- Close proximity
- Grumpy billionaire
- Guarded heroine/protective hero
- Found family
Grab this book and thank me later!!!
Review of advance copy
While a decent read, I felt it was a bit drawn out. I also didn't think that some of what the main characters went through would bother me as much as it did.
Clover was surprised to find the man she had been searching for for the past fourteen years pop up at the fair she was at with her friends as security. She was more surprised to find that Valen didn't recognize her at all. Come to find out, Valen had lost his memories on the same day they escaped from the cult Clover lived in, and Valen was forced to live there for the summers, and while his mind doesn't remember Clover, his body does. But this begs the question, if it wasn't him writing back lately, who was it? And who is after Clover with threatening packages? For this mystery to unravel, Valen and Clover both need to revisit the past, something painful for both of them. But the more they discover, the more it seems like they were meant to be, but also some secrets may best be kept in the dark.
Clover and Valen get their happy ending in this standalone book in a series.
Please check warnings before diving into this book. Your mental health matters.
There are very few things that bother me in books, and when looking into this one, I didn't think I would be as bothered by what they went through as both Valen and Clover were adults for the entire book, but something about what they went through really bothered me. I do love that the love they shared, even as kids, was so ingrained in them that Valen's subconscious knew her. I do wonder if Valen's aunt did know where Clover was and what she was doing, but claimed she didn't know just to keep Valen safe from what she knew. Especially if Clover was as famous as she seemed with her works. It would be interesting to know more about how Valen's aunt and family lost track of her in the first place, especially if she hadn't changed her name.
I received an advance review copy from Hambright PR, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Clover was surprised to find the man she had been searching for for the past fourteen years pop up at the fair she was at with her friends as security. She was more surprised to find that Valen didn't recognize her at all. Come to find out, Valen had lost his memories on the same day they escaped from the cult Clover lived in, and Valen was forced to live there for the summers, and while his mind doesn't remember Clover, his body does. But this begs the question, if it wasn't him writing back lately, who was it? And who is after Clover with threatening packages? For this mystery to unravel, Valen and Clover both need to revisit the past, something painful for both of them. But the more they discover, the more it seems like they were meant to be, but also some secrets may best be kept in the dark.
Clover and Valen get their happy ending in this standalone book in a series.
Please check warnings before diving into this book. Your mental health matters.
There are very few things that bother me in books, and when looking into this one, I didn't think I would be as bothered by what they went through as both Valen and Clover were adults for the entire book, but something about what they went through really bothered me. I do love that the love they shared, even as kids, was so ingrained in them that Valen's subconscious knew her. I do wonder if Valen's aunt did know where Clover was and what she was doing, but claimed she didn't know just to keep Valen safe from what she knew. Especially if Clover was as famous as she seemed with her works. It would be interesting to know more about how Valen's aunt and family lost track of her in the first place, especially if she hadn't changed her name.
I received an advance review copy from Hambright PR, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
In The Forgotten Billionaire, Clover finally tracks down the boy she never stopped loving only for him to show up with no memory of her. Now he’s back in her life as her bodyguard while someone from their past is targeting her, and the only way forward is digging into everything they tried to survive the first time.
Clover’s anxiety and trauma are written really well. She’s built her whole life around feeling safe through her routines, her space, and her people, and you can tell how hard she’s worked to get there. So throwing Valen back into her world, especially like that, completely shook everything. The amnesia trope didn’t feel like it was dragging things out. It actually made their connection stronger. Even without his memories, Valen was still drawn to her in a way he couldn’t explain, and watching him fall for her again without understanding why was incredible.
The suspense of the story kept things moving too. The stalking and the pieces of their past coming back all added tension. There were a couple twists that caught me off guard. I also really liked the found family. The town and Valen’s cousins all play a role, and it makes the story feel realistic even when things get intense.
This one is emotional and really shows the idea that love isn’t just about memory, it’s about choosing someone again. I highly recommend it!
Clover’s anxiety and trauma are written really well. She’s built her whole life around feeling safe through her routines, her space, and her people, and you can tell how hard she’s worked to get there. So throwing Valen back into her world, especially like that, completely shook everything. The amnesia trope didn’t feel like it was dragging things out. It actually made their connection stronger. Even without his memories, Valen was still drawn to her in a way he couldn’t explain, and watching him fall for her again without understanding why was incredible.
The suspense of the story kept things moving too. The stalking and the pieces of their past coming back all added tension. There were a couple twists that caught me off guard. I also really liked the found family. The town and Valen’s cousins all play a role, and it makes the story feel realistic even when things get intense.
This one is emotional and really shows the idea that love isn’t just about memory, it’s about choosing someone again. I highly recommend it!
April 24, 2026
4.75⭐ (rounded up to 5⭐)
I knew going into this story that Clover and Valen's story was going to hurt, but I wasn't prepared for how truly heartbreaking and healing their story would be.
From the first time that Clover and Valen reunite and Clover realises that Valen doesn't remember her, to the realisation setting in for Valen that Clover used to be a very important part and somewhat of a focal point of his childhood up until the point that he lost his memory. And my god, the story of how he lost all his memories in itself is heartbreaking. Then there is the fact that Clover has been writing letters to Valen for the past 14 years without ever getting a response from him, while at one point it transformed from heartbreak for Clover into a kind of therapeutic instrument, the fact for her was still that Valen purposefully ignored her for 14 years despite everything that they had been through and the promise that they would run away together and have a better life. And when Valen finds out about this and finally gets all the letters, because he did in fact not get any of the letters over the years, they were never passed along to him and ended up in the hands of someone from both of their pasts that hurt them and that they ran away from, it was so heartbreaking to see him realising that Clover never gave up on him and he couldn't remember her and be there for her when she needed him.
I think that was truly one of the most heartbreaking things about this book: the duality of the pain and the fact that Clover had all of her memories but still never gave up on Valen, even though she thought that he had abandoned her, and that Valen always felt like something was missing in his life and having to come to terms that he forgot one of the most important people in his life and that he wasn't there for Clover when she needed him. We were both watching Clover relive her pain, but also slowly healing from it with the reappearance of Valen, and for Valen we were watching his heart break for himself and Clover for everything that was stolen from them when he lost his memory, as well as experiencing the pains and traumas from his childhood again every time he starts to remember bits and pieces from his childhood.
Their story is one of heartbreak and healing, of finding a family in a small town that helps you heal and protects you when your childhood trauma comes back to haunt you, of cults that come back after 14 years to bring you back where you belong, of lost loves and friendships, of rediscovering yourself and your freedom, of childhood trauma and finding your person in all of that, and of a love that survives and blossoms in unlikely places and that isn't able to be broken despite lost memories and 14 years apart.
What else you can expect from Valen and Clover's story:
✨ Second Chance
✨ Friends to Lovers
✨ Small Town
✨ Found Family
✨ Amnesiac Billionaire Hero
✨ Author Heroine
✨ Finding love again despite years apart, trauma, and the hero not remembering the heroine
I knew going into this story that Clover and Valen's story was going to hurt, but I wasn't prepared for how truly heartbreaking and healing their story would be.
From the first time that Clover and Valen reunite and Clover realises that Valen doesn't remember her, to the realisation setting in for Valen that Clover used to be a very important part and somewhat of a focal point of his childhood up until the point that he lost his memory. And my god, the story of how he lost all his memories in itself is heartbreaking. Then there is the fact that Clover has been writing letters to Valen for the past 14 years without ever getting a response from him, while at one point it transformed from heartbreak for Clover into a kind of therapeutic instrument, the fact for her was still that Valen purposefully ignored her for 14 years despite everything that they had been through and the promise that they would run away together and have a better life. And when Valen finds out about this and finally gets all the letters, because he did in fact not get any of the letters over the years, they were never passed along to him and ended up in the hands of someone from both of their pasts that hurt them and that they ran away from, it was so heartbreaking to see him realising that Clover never gave up on him and he couldn't remember her and be there for her when she needed him.
I think that was truly one of the most heartbreaking things about this book: the duality of the pain and the fact that Clover had all of her memories but still never gave up on Valen, even though she thought that he had abandoned her, and that Valen always felt like something was missing in his life and having to come to terms that he forgot one of the most important people in his life and that he wasn't there for Clover when she needed him. We were both watching Clover relive her pain, but also slowly healing from it with the reappearance of Valen, and for Valen we were watching his heart break for himself and Clover for everything that was stolen from them when he lost his memory, as well as experiencing the pains and traumas from his childhood again every time he starts to remember bits and pieces from his childhood.
Their story is one of heartbreak and healing, of finding a family in a small town that helps you heal and protects you when your childhood trauma comes back to haunt you, of cults that come back after 14 years to bring you back where you belong, of lost loves and friendships, of rediscovering yourself and your freedom, of childhood trauma and finding your person in all of that, and of a love that survives and blossoms in unlikely places and that isn't able to be broken despite lost memories and 14 years apart.
What else you can expect from Valen and Clover's story:
✨ Second Chance
✨ Friends to Lovers
✨ Small Town
✨ Found Family
✨ Amnesiac Billionaire Hero
✨ Author Heroine
✨ Finding love again despite years apart, trauma, and the hero not remembering the heroine
Review of advance copy received from Author
Clover is a unique person who clearly has a dark past and lives a quirky life surrounded by her chosen family in Happiness, Georgia. She is a bit eccentric and filled with fear and anxiety.
Valen doesn’t remember Clover from their joint past and childhood, but it’s clear from the beginning that even if his mind doesn’t remember her, deep down the memories are still there. It shows in the way he treats her and reacts to her. He quickly becomes her safe place.
They go on a joint mission to discover who might be stalking Clover, knowing it must be someone from their joint past, with the help of his cousins and their family security firm. They also bring along Chief, who’s the closest thing to a father figure Clover has and he brings with him his matchmaking skills.
The twists and turns of this story will break your heart and then slowly thread it back together, but Clover and Valen’s sweet moments will make your heart sing.
Ms. Maxwell does an amazing job of leading us through this story with surprises around each corner guiding us to Clover and Valen’s HEA!
I would definitely recommend you read The Elusive Billionaire before reading this as this book starts near the end of the previous book in the series.
Valen doesn’t remember Clover from their joint past and childhood, but it’s clear from the beginning that even if his mind doesn’t remember her, deep down the memories are still there. It shows in the way he treats her and reacts to her. He quickly becomes her safe place.
They go on a joint mission to discover who might be stalking Clover, knowing it must be someone from their joint past, with the help of his cousins and their family security firm. They also bring along Chief, who’s the closest thing to a father figure Clover has and he brings with him his matchmaking skills.
The twists and turns of this story will break your heart and then slowly thread it back together, but Clover and Valen’s sweet moments will make your heart sing.
Ms. Maxwell does an amazing job of leading us through this story with surprises around each corner guiding us to Clover and Valen’s HEA!
I would definitely recommend you read The Elusive Billionaire before reading this as this book starts near the end of the previous book in the series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Clover & Valen’s story unfolds in such a surprising way, I couldn’t put it down. As the clues kept coming my pages kept turning.
If you have read the first two books in the Happiness Ever After series you knew that Clover had some trauma from her past however there were very few clues as to what they could be. With the arrival of Valen, having no memory of Clover, we go on a journey of discovery to uncover who has been threatening Clover and why Valen had no memory.
Clovers determination and strength is a
key theme of her story. I was so proud watching her fighting to claim her life back and also being willing to let Valen in.
I loved the way these two worked together and trusted their connection.
Avery has a very special talent for writing characters with traumatic pasts and giving them deeply satisfying stories without sugar coating the challenges they go through to get there.
As with all Avery Maxwell stories the town and secondary characters are just as delightful and important to the story. There seems to be a very big set up for a spin off series with Valen’s cousins that I’d love to read when the time is right.
Overall a great story and series featuring what the author does best, charming small towns, found families and characters who have to overcome adversity to get their HEA!
If you have read the first two books in the Happiness Ever After series you knew that Clover had some trauma from her past however there were very few clues as to what they could be. With the arrival of Valen, having no memory of Clover, we go on a journey of discovery to uncover who has been threatening Clover and why Valen had no memory.
Clovers determination and strength is a
key theme of her story. I was so proud watching her fighting to claim her life back and also being willing to let Valen in.
I loved the way these two worked together and trusted their connection.
Avery has a very special talent for writing characters with traumatic pasts and giving them deeply satisfying stories without sugar coating the challenges they go through to get there.
As with all Avery Maxwell stories the town and secondary characters are just as delightful and important to the story. There seems to be a very big set up for a spin off series with Valen’s cousins that I’d love to read when the time is right.
Overall a great story and series featuring what the author does best, charming small towns, found families and characters who have to overcome adversity to get their HEA!
April 16, 2026
This story sucked me in right away and I couldn’t put it down! It starts right at the Happiness town fair where we first read about Valen and Clover seeing each other for the first time in years in The Elusive Billionaire. I really liked that we jumped right into the story and that there was no time jump so we get to really take this journey with them from the start. I loved that we still got to read about all the side characters from Happiness, Georgia that I fell in love with in previous books and they brought their loving chaos with them! There are definitely some heart wrenching moments and it was a whirlwind of a ride, that kept me guessing until the end! I thought I figured out everything before the end but there was a twist I didn’t see coming!
The friendships in this book are amazing! I love the banter between them!
This story does end with happiness and family, found and blood related. My favorite kind of happily ever after!
I can’t wait to see what Avery writes next!
This is a great story if you’re looking for a contemporary romance with a small town, a billionaire bodyguard who has amnesia but slowly remembers his past when he’s around the FMC, solving a mystery that’s targeting the FMC, great friendships and found family. I highly recommend this book!
The friendships in this book are amazing! I love the banter between them!
This story does end with happiness and family, found and blood related. My favorite kind of happily ever after!
I can’t wait to see what Avery writes next!
This is a great story if you’re looking for a contemporary romance with a small town, a billionaire bodyguard who has amnesia but slowly remembers his past when he’s around the FMC, solving a mystery that’s targeting the FMC, great friendships and found family. I highly recommend this book!
Review of advance copy
Thanks to Hambright PR and Avery Maxwell for my advance copy of this book.
Well I didn't know what to expect going into this book as I have never read anything by this author before. This is also book 3 in a series but it seems they can be read as standalones and I plan to read the other 2.
We follow Clover who is passed out in the very beginning of the book as if she had seen a ghost. Valen, who was her first and only love has been missing out of her life for 14 years and he is back. He helps her when she faints and he accidentally calls her his old nickname for her. The trouble is, Valen lost his memory 14 years ago and doesn't remember her, yet he is drawn to her immediately. He owns a security business and him and some family members and friends all are protecting Clover as she has mysteriously started receiving packages from a stalker. This story covers alot, as both Clover and Valen were involved with a cult. Is she the key to helping him unlock his memories from before he was attacked? And is he the key to her healing? Let's not forget the very overly friendly neighbors and friends in this small town of Happiness, GA! It was a great read!
Well I didn't know what to expect going into this book as I have never read anything by this author before. This is also book 3 in a series but it seems they can be read as standalones and I plan to read the other 2.
We follow Clover who is passed out in the very beginning of the book as if she had seen a ghost. Valen, who was her first and only love has been missing out of her life for 14 years and he is back. He helps her when she faints and he accidentally calls her his old nickname for her. The trouble is, Valen lost his memory 14 years ago and doesn't remember her, yet he is drawn to her immediately. He owns a security business and him and some family members and friends all are protecting Clover as she has mysteriously started receiving packages from a stalker. This story covers alot, as both Clover and Valen were involved with a cult. Is she the key to helping him unlock his memories from before he was attacked? And is he the key to her healing? Let's not forget the very overly friendly neighbors and friends in this small town of Happiness, GA! It was a great read!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I just loved how Avery Maxwell brought the character Clover to life. When we first met Clover Danforth, she was portrayed as a quirky, shy girl who was scared of her own shadow. However, somehow, she fit in seamlessly with her friends and neighbors. Clover was loved by all! Watching her come into her person was truly spectacular!
A series of escalating occurrences led Clover's friends to rally around her, offering her protection. Vallen had always been a bit of a mystery in Clover's life, until he suddenly appeared in Happiness, Georgia, as none other than her new bodyguard. Surprise! Vallen's family hoped that seeing Clover again might help him, help them both heal from the trauma of their past. The reunion was nothing short of explosive.
As Clover and Vallen work together to heal, the journey becomes a rollercoaster of twists and turns you won't see coming.
Avery's character development is truly top-notch. Her storyline is imaginative and richly crafted. Even though the story's theme is sensitive, it is handled with care and depth, making the story both touching and beautiful.
This truly is my favorite yet of all her books. Well done, Avery Maxwell!
A series of escalating occurrences led Clover's friends to rally around her, offering her protection. Vallen had always been a bit of a mystery in Clover's life, until he suddenly appeared in Happiness, Georgia, as none other than her new bodyguard. Surprise! Vallen's family hoped that seeing Clover again might help him, help them both heal from the trauma of their past. The reunion was nothing short of explosive.
As Clover and Vallen work together to heal, the journey becomes a rollercoaster of twists and turns you won't see coming.
Avery's character development is truly top-notch. Her storyline is imaginative and richly crafted. Even though the story's theme is sensitive, it is handled with care and depth, making the story both touching and beautiful.
This truly is my favorite yet of all her books. Well done, Avery Maxwell!
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