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The Moore Family #2
Carried Away
A woman struggling to make ends meet…
Ellie Charles will do anything for anybody, although her honest streak will totally embarrass the hell out of her while she does it. Just because she’s quick to offer help, doesn’t mean she’s quick to ask for it. And right now? With the bills piling up and the disconnect notices rolling in, she could really use some help. When James Moore—the guy she’s had a crush on for as long as she can remember—asks her to pretend to be his girlfriend, Ellie tells him just where he can put that idea. Sure, hanging out with James would be fun, with his trust-fund money, MMA muscles, and arms covered in swirling tattoos. But Ellie is worth way more than a fake relationship.
A bad boy with a heart of gold…
James Moore fully intends to drink himself into oblivion so it doesn’t hurt when he crawls into his empty bed in his equally empty house each night. Between drinks with the guys and nights with the women, James meets Ellie Charles. While most people are busy telling James exactly what he wants to hear, Ellie calls it like she sees it. James may not like what she has to say, but it sure is refreshing to hear the truth for a change. When his friends suggest he find a fake girlfriend to get his family off his back, Ellie—with her wild hair and curvy body—is the only woman he even considers asking.
A small town with a large community…
When Ellie finally agrees to pretend to be James’s girlfriend, she realizes she’s in for more than she bargained for. Wrapped up in the safety of his strong arms, she opens up to him in a way she never has with anyone else. The more they’re together, the more Ellie realizes she’s in danger of losing her heart to him. And the more time James spends with Ellie, the more he realizes that he may have finally met his match. That just when he turned his back on love, it showed up in his life whether he was ready for it or not.
Neither of them believe in love, at least not the kind that lasts. They can try to ignore it all they want, but when James and Ellie come together, they just get CARRIED AWAY.
Ellie Charles will do anything for anybody, although her honest streak will totally embarrass the hell out of her while she does it. Just because she’s quick to offer help, doesn’t mean she’s quick to ask for it. And right now? With the bills piling up and the disconnect notices rolling in, she could really use some help. When James Moore—the guy she’s had a crush on for as long as she can remember—asks her to pretend to be his girlfriend, Ellie tells him just where he can put that idea. Sure, hanging out with James would be fun, with his trust-fund money, MMA muscles, and arms covered in swirling tattoos. But Ellie is worth way more than a fake relationship.
A bad boy with a heart of gold…
James Moore fully intends to drink himself into oblivion so it doesn’t hurt when he crawls into his empty bed in his equally empty house each night. Between drinks with the guys and nights with the women, James meets Ellie Charles. While most people are busy telling James exactly what he wants to hear, Ellie calls it like she sees it. James may not like what she has to say, but it sure is refreshing to hear the truth for a change. When his friends suggest he find a fake girlfriend to get his family off his back, Ellie—with her wild hair and curvy body—is the only woman he even considers asking.
A small town with a large community…
When Ellie finally agrees to pretend to be James’s girlfriend, she realizes she’s in for more than she bargained for. Wrapped up in the safety of his strong arms, she opens up to him in a way she never has with anyone else. The more they’re together, the more Ellie realizes she’s in danger of losing her heart to him. And the more time James spends with Ellie, the more he realizes that he may have finally met his match. That just when he turned his back on love, it showed up in his life whether he was ready for it or not.
Neither of them believe in love, at least not the kind that lasts. They can try to ignore it all they want, but when James and Ellie come together, they just get CARRIED AWAY.
183 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2016
441 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Abby Brooks
54 books906 followersAbby Brooks writes heartfelt contemporary romance with small-town charm, found family, and happily-ever-afters that feel earned. Her stories feature relatable characters, emotional depth, and just the right balance of humor and heat—perfect for readers who love cozy communities, strong connections, and hope-filled love stories.
A lifelong storyteller raised in the Midwest, Abby draws inspiration from close-knit towns and the beauty of everyday moments. She lives in Ohio with her husband and their three cats and believes the best love stories are the ones that feel like coming home.
A lifelong storyteller raised in the Midwest, Abby draws inspiration from close-knit towns and the beauty of everyday moments. She lives in Ohio with her husband and their three cats and believes the best love stories are the ones that feel like coming home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 13, 2016
After his girlfriend for 10 years left him, James is on the edge. He is drunk and at the bar with his friends. Not a good combination. Ellie is there, too, and he basically bodyshames her. James fell to pieces after the ending of his relationship. Now, he is awful and destructive.
Not a good start for a book.
Can’t believe this guy does this. I mean, gosh, four pages in and I dislike him.
I mean, yeah, sure, he’s lost all sense of empathy when the supposed love of his life left but come on, thinking about having a fake girlfriend just to keep your family off you?? How about thinking what this might do to that fake girlfriend?
Ellie is the owner of the café in town, the first person Juliet met when she came to town. I totally loved her from the beginning. She’s brave, she has her own business, she’s strong-willed. So I don’t get why she kept up with Steve for that long. I mean, gosh, he nearly ruined her. Three years and she wouldn’t get rid of him. Why?? This just doesn’t make any sense – at all!!!
And then there is this whole Juliet and Ellie thingy. Why don't they do something together? I mean, Juliet basically knows Ian and his family in this small town and that's it. Yet, we only get hints at a friendship between Julz and Ellie...
Anyways, those remarks aside, I liked the book :D
When I finally made peace with the fact that James really was broken, I got to like him more and more. He is a good guy after all those layers he has built up. He is really caring and sweet and wants to help her with all that he has.
What I do not like about Ellie? I can’t believe what she’s talking about with this whole pill thing and contraception stuff. Ahm, you can’t just take the pill and think it will work from this day onwards. Nothing is easy. So, yeah, can’t believe the author never put this right or at least remarked on it. That was disappointing.
But all in all, I still liked the book so here you have my four stars :D
Writing style: good (there were just a lot of mistakes such as words that were in the wrong order… annoying)
Plot: very good
Characters: great
Not a good start for a book.
Can’t believe this guy does this. I mean, gosh, four pages in and I dislike him.
I mean, yeah, sure, he’s lost all sense of empathy when the supposed love of his life left but come on, thinking about having a fake girlfriend just to keep your family off you?? How about thinking what this might do to that fake girlfriend?
Ellie is the owner of the café in town, the first person Juliet met when she came to town. I totally loved her from the beginning. She’s brave, she has her own business, she’s strong-willed. So I don’t get why she kept up with Steve for that long. I mean, gosh, he nearly ruined her. Three years and she wouldn’t get rid of him. Why?? This just doesn’t make any sense – at all!!!
And then there is this whole Juliet and Ellie thingy. Why don't they do something together? I mean, Juliet basically knows Ian and his family in this small town and that's it. Yet, we only get hints at a friendship between Julz and Ellie...
Anyways, those remarks aside, I liked the book :D
When I finally made peace with the fact that James really was broken, I got to like him more and more. He is a good guy after all those layers he has built up. He is really caring and sweet and wants to help her with all that he has.
What I do not like about Ellie? I can’t believe what she’s talking about with this whole pill thing and contraception stuff. Ahm, you can’t just take the pill and think it will work from this day onwards. Nothing is easy. So, yeah, can’t believe the author never put this right or at least remarked on it. That was disappointing.
But all in all, I still liked the book so here you have my four stars :D
Writing style: good (there were just a lot of mistakes such as words that were in the wrong order… annoying)
Plot: very good
Characters: great
May 25, 2020
Finding the love of his life with another man has left James Moore drinking to excess and on the road to more harm than good. To keep his family off his back, James decides to embark on in a fake relationship with Ellie - the one woman who has had a crush on him forever. But when she starts to mean more to him than he realized will happiness be in their future? Or will the power of the bottle be more important to get him through his day? Another fabulous read in the Moore Family Series. With each addition in the series the family dynamic becomes the one thing the reader can understand and appreciate. Abby Brooks once again did not disappoint!!
April 10, 2016
I had high hopes after book 1, but James and Ellie's story felt incomplete. It felt like the author left out huge chunks of what would have been a good story just to keep it short.
With one exception, James is NOTHING like Ian. He's not at all romantic; in fact he's a d-bag most of the time and I kept wondering why this chick continually chooses to be a doormat for people. He still has the Moore protective streak in him, however.
I found Ellie's character to be quite sad and weak... she makes poor decisions, is not the best business owner, and the issues with Ben were so predictable. And the pinnacle of her poor decisionmaking: lying to James about her birth control situation. It makes no sense. He didn't ask before the deed was done, so there was no reason to lie... oh right. SHE MAKES POOR DECISIONS.
After Ellie's accident, we're left hanging, but I'm not sure it was intentional, since the last book wasn't really a cliffhanger (ends with an engagement and that's usually sufficient). Will James continue to fight? Lose the d-bag friends? Will she have a healthy baby? How will she manage a failing business with two broken arms?
And, there are major writing mistakes which contributed to this low rating.
With one exception, James is NOTHING like Ian. He's not at all romantic; in fact he's a d-bag most of the time and I kept wondering why this chick continually chooses to be a doormat for people. He still has the Moore protective streak in him, however.
I found Ellie's character to be quite sad and weak... she makes poor decisions, is not the best business owner, and the issues with Ben were so predictable. And the pinnacle of her poor decisionmaking: lying to James about her birth control situation. It makes no sense. He didn't ask before the deed was done, so there was no reason to lie... oh right. SHE MAKES POOR DECISIONS.
After Ellie's accident, we're left hanging, but I'm not sure it was intentional, since the last book wasn't really a cliffhanger (ends with an engagement and that's usually sufficient). Will James continue to fight? Lose the d-bag friends? Will she have a healthy baby? How will she manage a failing business with two broken arms?
And, there are major writing mistakes which contributed to this low rating.
June 3, 2020
I already knew I loved this series but re-reading them has made me fall further!! They are sweet perfection! Faking Bliss was the second book in Abby’s Moore Family series; it was originally called Carried Away. This was the book I remembered most out of the series, it was sweet and sexy, with a hint of suspense!
James was sinking in to a downward spiral after his fiancé left him. He was drinking, fighting and hanging out with the wrong crowd. His family was worried about what he would do at his brother’s upcoming wedding. To get them off his back, he enlisted Ellie to be his “fake” girlfriend. Only now, the lines between fake and real were getting blurred.
Since Ellie had a crush on James since they were kids, would being his “fake” girlfriend a good idea? Could she simply walk away when their time was up? Or would more be on the line to loose?
Abby’s books are always amazing! They are so beautiful and uplifting. Faking Bliss fit right in! I can’t wait to continue to re-read the series.
James was sinking in to a downward spiral after his fiancé left him. He was drinking, fighting and hanging out with the wrong crowd. His family was worried about what he would do at his brother’s upcoming wedding. To get them off his back, he enlisted Ellie to be his “fake” girlfriend. Only now, the lines between fake and real were getting blurred.
Since Ellie had a crush on James since they were kids, would being his “fake” girlfriend a good idea? Could she simply walk away when their time was up? Or would more be on the line to loose?
Abby’s books are always amazing! They are so beautiful and uplifting. Faking Bliss fit right in! I can’t wait to continue to re-read the series.
July 11, 2016
I didn't care for James' description of Ellie. He basically said he preferred a skinny girl which she was not. I didn't care for his reaction when she mentions being pregnant. The pill is not 100% safe but the deed had been done before he asked her anyway. Maybe discuss birth control prior to sleeping with someone. The last thing I didn't like was he often mentioned living in his and Erin's house and how he didn't really care for it. He had enough money to put that house on the market and buy another one especially once he and Ellie got together at the end. I wouldn't want to see touches of an ex in my home.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2020
Fantastic!! A little bit of bad boy and a little bit of angst give this sweet, sexy romance just a touch of sass. Perfect!
Ellie has had a crush on James for as long as she can remember. James just lost all his dreams when his ex shattered his heart. When James proposes a fake relationship, Ellie’s fairytale begins. But, is it real or not??
Loved these characters. So easy to relate to them both. The story is easy to read and pulls every emotion out of your heart. Totally worth five fabulous stars.
Ellie has had a crush on James for as long as she can remember. James just lost all his dreams when his ex shattered his heart. When James proposes a fake relationship, Ellie’s fairytale begins. But, is it real or not??
Loved these characters. So easy to relate to them both. The story is easy to read and pulls every emotion out of your heart. Totally worth five fabulous stars.
May 23, 2020
Absolutely amazing! We all have a little Ellie in us and James is just the right amount of naughty and nice. A story that shows love really can heal all.
July 27, 2021
In Finding Bliss the first book in the Moore Family series James the younger brother of that book’s male lead Ian gets engaged to Erin the girl he’s been with since middle school and later breaks the engagement. Turns out that in the ensuing ten years (James is now 23) James and Erin have grown apart as they’ve grown up but neither knew how to end the relationship. James discovers Erin has cheated on him multiple times which leads him to end their relationship. As this story opens James is in a downward spiral of self-destruction, drinking himself into oblivion and hooking up every night. I thought his reaction was over the top considering he admitted in the earlier book that he and Erin were no longer in love. Much later in the story the author provides a plausible if unflattering explanation for James’s behavior.
Our female lead is Ellie Charles whom we also met in Finding Bliss as the friendly owner/operator of New Beginnings the town of Bliss’s only privately owned coffee shop. Ellie is working seven days a week and barely keeping her financial head above water. A big part of the reason is she’s paying off multiple credit card debts that her former live in boyfriend Steve left her by maxing out several credit cards he took out in her name. Ellie has had a thing for James since middle school herself. But he’s the town’s handsome, trust fund rich kid committed to Erin while she’s a poor kid, a curvy girl, growing up in the foster care system .Now I thought one of the few weak plot points of this story was the idea that in a small town where everyone seems to know everything about everyone, nobody seems to know Ellie’s sad back story.
While sitting in the town’s only nightspot Hurricane’s after being again stood up by a blind date she set up on line Ellie witnesses a drunken James making a fool of himself insulting all of womankind with his crude jokes while his erstwhile drunken hangers on cheer him on. Wanting to protect James from continuing to make a fool of himself she convinces him to allow her to give him a ride home. There as she tries to pour a drunken James into bed he kisses and gropes her. Which even given the circumstances Ellie sort of enjoys. James gets the idea of using Ellie as a shield from his family’s concerns about how he’s reacting to his breakup with Erin by faking a relationship with Ellie until after his brother’s wedding in three months. The benefits to Ellie seemed sort of sketchy to me so I wasn’t shocked when she rejected his proposal out of hand. But given some time to think it over and urged on by her BFF Tessa she decides to agree to the arrangement. James gets to pretend to his family that’s he’s recovered from his break up with Erin and Ellie gets to go out and around town on James arm while he pays for everything. IMHO I thought this was the weakest plot point of the story. Of course for Ellie the opportunity to spend some time with the handsome James is an added incentive to agree to his proposal.
After Erin cheating on him James is convinced there is no such thing as true love. After everyone in her life that she lets in abandons her Ellie doesn’t let anyone but Tessa get close to her. And even with Tessa she holds back some secrets of her childhood. Even though Ellie has always had a thing for James and James has discovered he’s very attracted to Ellie, neither sees this fake relationship going anywhere. Of course the nicer James is to Ellie the more she has to remind herself that its all for show. Even after she’s had the most mind blowing sex of her life with him and he keeps doing nice things for her, even when nobody is watching them. Slowly as James becomes more and more enamored with the kind, hard working woman who is the only person outside of his family who will tell him what they’re thinking instead of what he wants to hear, James finds the walls he’s built around his heart cracking and crumbling for Ellie. As James provides the care and support Ellie has never known she can't help falling completely in love with him. Of course this being a contemporary romance both for different reasons are afraid to share their deepening feelings with the other. Ellie is living her Cinderella dream until something happens that could end that dream and leave her alone and worse off than she was when she started fake dating James.
Even though I sort of hated the James character at the start of this story Brooks allows him to redeem himself in a big way as a true Prince Charming should. And as a side note, I kept asking myself what happens with Ellie’s BFF Tessa, who is too much a secondary character and too nice a woman in this book for her character to just disappear. At the end of this story I discovered that I’d already met Tessa as the lead in the fourth book in Brook’s Brookside series, Along Comes Trouble. Even Ellie has a small role in that book as Tessa’s long distance BFF. One of the hazards of a steady diet of reading CR stories I guess.
Our female lead is Ellie Charles whom we also met in Finding Bliss as the friendly owner/operator of New Beginnings the town of Bliss’s only privately owned coffee shop. Ellie is working seven days a week and barely keeping her financial head above water. A big part of the reason is she’s paying off multiple credit card debts that her former live in boyfriend Steve left her by maxing out several credit cards he took out in her name. Ellie has had a thing for James since middle school herself. But he’s the town’s handsome, trust fund rich kid committed to Erin while she’s a poor kid, a curvy girl, growing up in the foster care system .Now I thought one of the few weak plot points of this story was the idea that in a small town where everyone seems to know everything about everyone, nobody seems to know Ellie’s sad back story.
While sitting in the town’s only nightspot Hurricane’s after being again stood up by a blind date she set up on line Ellie witnesses a drunken James making a fool of himself insulting all of womankind with his crude jokes while his erstwhile drunken hangers on cheer him on. Wanting to protect James from continuing to make a fool of himself she convinces him to allow her to give him a ride home. There as she tries to pour a drunken James into bed he kisses and gropes her. Which even given the circumstances Ellie sort of enjoys. James gets the idea of using Ellie as a shield from his family’s concerns about how he’s reacting to his breakup with Erin by faking a relationship with Ellie until after his brother’s wedding in three months. The benefits to Ellie seemed sort of sketchy to me so I wasn’t shocked when she rejected his proposal out of hand. But given some time to think it over and urged on by her BFF Tessa she decides to agree to the arrangement. James gets to pretend to his family that’s he’s recovered from his break up with Erin and Ellie gets to go out and around town on James arm while he pays for everything. IMHO I thought this was the weakest plot point of the story. Of course for Ellie the opportunity to spend some time with the handsome James is an added incentive to agree to his proposal.
After Erin cheating on him James is convinced there is no such thing as true love. After everyone in her life that she lets in abandons her Ellie doesn’t let anyone but Tessa get close to her. And even with Tessa she holds back some secrets of her childhood. Even though Ellie has always had a thing for James and James has discovered he’s very attracted to Ellie, neither sees this fake relationship going anywhere. Of course the nicer James is to Ellie the more she has to remind herself that its all for show. Even after she’s had the most mind blowing sex of her life with him and he keeps doing nice things for her, even when nobody is watching them. Slowly as James becomes more and more enamored with the kind, hard working woman who is the only person outside of his family who will tell him what they’re thinking instead of what he wants to hear, James finds the walls he’s built around his heart cracking and crumbling for Ellie. As James provides the care and support Ellie has never known she can't help falling completely in love with him. Of course this being a contemporary romance both for different reasons are afraid to share their deepening feelings with the other. Ellie is living her Cinderella dream until something happens that could end that dream and leave her alone and worse off than she was when she started fake dating James.
Even though I sort of hated the James character at the start of this story Brooks allows him to redeem himself in a big way as a true Prince Charming should. And as a side note, I kept asking myself what happens with Ellie’s BFF Tessa, who is too much a secondary character and too nice a woman in this book for her character to just disappear. At the end of this story I discovered that I’d already met Tessa as the lead in the fourth book in Brook’s Brookside series, Along Comes Trouble. Even Ellie has a small role in that book as Tessa’s long distance BFF. One of the hazards of a steady diet of reading CR stories I guess.
June 3, 2018
James was soon to be married to his high school sweetheart and he thought he had the world by it's tail; but he couldn't have been more wrong. When James finds out that his fiancé is cheating on him, his life as he knows it begins to spiral out of control. He begins to withdraw from his family and turns to alcohol to numb the pain. When that wasn't enough, he starts MMA fighting in an attempt to focus his anger in a different direction but his downward spiral continued. Ellie hasn't had much luck in the love department either. Her last boyfriend was a deadbeat who racked up a large amount of debt in her name and on top of that she is struggling to keep her coffee shop open. She is drowning in debt and can't see a way out...her life just hasn't gone the way she had hoped.
The Moore's are all very worried about James and so he decides to ask Ellie to be his fake girlfriend to get his family off of his back. Ellie has had a crush on James since high school so she decides to take him up on his offer. She will get to spend some time with her handsome, hot, sexy crush and have some harmless fun...no strings attached! She needs some levity in her life right now and this seems like it could just do the trick. She has nothing to lose, right? She couldn't have been more wrong......
I loved this book and I couldn't put it down. James & Ellie get their HEA and the reader gets a great story with just the right amount of sexy scenes to light the pages on fire!!! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review and originally posted this on another website on September 13, 2016.
The Moore's are all very worried about James and so he decides to ask Ellie to be his fake girlfriend to get his family off of his back. Ellie has had a crush on James since high school so she decides to take him up on his offer. She will get to spend some time with her handsome, hot, sexy crush and have some harmless fun...no strings attached! She needs some levity in her life right now and this seems like it could just do the trick. She has nothing to lose, right? She couldn't have been more wrong......
I loved this book and I couldn't put it down. James & Ellie get their HEA and the reader gets a great story with just the right amount of sexy scenes to light the pages on fire!!! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review and originally posted this on another website on September 13, 2016.
November 20, 2017
Well James wasn't portrayed as the nicest guy and when he propositions Elle he can't seem any worse. But as you get the back story on how James became who he is you kinda change your impression of him as he becomes more human and the sweet side comes out. They are the perfect pair and although I am not a fan quick to bed stories I did enjoy this the second book in the series better than the first.
While these stories are interlinked because duh they are family you can read the as a standalone book. This author writes a great love story and having the group makes it better.
While these stories are interlinked because duh they are family you can read the as a standalone book. This author writes a great love story and having the group makes it better.
September 10, 2020
Great book!
Loved this book! I always say, when a book can make me laugh and cry, it's great! This book had it in spades. I liked how they got together, the ups and downs of their lives. They were perfect together. I also have to say, I was wrong about who damaged her cafe. I thought it was from James side of the story. Don't want to say too much in case someone reads this review, keep the suspense a live. Thanks for such a good book. Written by Cindy :)
Loved this book! I always say, when a book can make me laugh and cry, it's great! This book had it in spades. I liked how they got together, the ups and downs of their lives. They were perfect together. I also have to say, I was wrong about who damaged her cafe. I thought it was from James side of the story. Don't want to say too much in case someone reads this review, keep the suspense a live. Thanks for such a good book. Written by Cindy :)
July 3, 2017
Good /but ending week
I enjoyed the book, sometimes it did not hold my attention as much as I would have liked. I also felt the end was a bit anticlimactic, they found out who the stalker was and it wasn't a big deal. Come on, that should have been made into somewhat of a suspenseful chapter or two.
I enjoyed the book, sometimes it did not hold my attention as much as I would have liked. I also felt the end was a bit anticlimactic, they found out who the stalker was and it wasn't a big deal. Come on, that should have been made into somewhat of a suspenseful chapter or two.
May 17, 2018
I felt the ending was rushed, and I wanted more.
Really enjoyed watching these two connect.
You could tell James was not in love with his ex-fiance and they were just a habit.
So watching him fall in love and see what love really is was great.
Every girl needs her knight in shining armor.
Really enjoyed watching these two connect.
You could tell James was not in love with his ex-fiance and they were just a habit.
So watching him fall in love and see what love really is was great.
Every girl needs her knight in shining armor.
July 25, 2021
Review
Great story line and of course HEA from Abby Brooks. To recover from a broken heart, James Moore decides that drinking feelings away was the way to go. Enter Ellie, hometown barista and sparks fly and challenge thrown down and accepted.
Enjoy
Great story line and of course HEA from Abby Brooks. To recover from a broken heart, James Moore decides that drinking feelings away was the way to go. Enter Ellie, hometown barista and sparks fly and challenge thrown down and accepted.
Enjoy
January 23, 2023
The Moore brothers!
James Moore’s broken heart was all because of the wrong woman. When Ellie takes over he becomes a different person. Alpha male but so soft hearted too. Such an awesome story.
James Moore’s broken heart was all because of the wrong woman. When Ellie takes over he becomes a different person. Alpha male but so soft hearted too. Such an awesome story.
October 2, 2019
Good read
This book is a good read. It is part of a series but can be read alone. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
This book is a good read. It is part of a series but can be read alone. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
October 1, 2020
Abby Brooks has updated the book titles and the new title is Finding Bliss. Good thing I had both written down. Have a feeling book 3 will be the same way.
February 19, 2021
2nd was just as good as the first. Love Ellie and James!!!
August 9, 2020
Sweet read
Real love has a way of repairing even the worst of broken hearts. This is a sweet tale of Ellie and James. James is reeling from the loss of his childhood sweetheart who ended up cheating on him. With a little help from Ellie, he learns what real love is all about. A great romance.
Real love has a way of repairing even the worst of broken hearts. This is a sweet tale of Ellie and James. James is reeling from the loss of his childhood sweetheart who ended up cheating on him. With a little help from Ellie, he learns what real love is all about. A great romance.
March 6, 2016
James Moore learns the hard way that money can’t buy you everything, especially happiness.
James had it all: a trust fund, his childhood sweetheart and their upcoming wedding. Yet his world is shattered in one night when he finds out his fiancée has cheated on him. Left reeling from the revelation, James is on a downward spiral of booze, women and MMA fighting to release his anger.
Ellie Charles is struggling to keep her café and coffee shop afloat thanks to being saddled with debts run up by her ex. Honest to a fault, she tells it like it is!! Coming to a drunken James’ aide one night she’s quick to tell him what she thinks. It’s hard to watch the guy she’s crushed on since eighth grade hit the self-destruct button.
In an attempt to get his loved ones off his back, James gets either the amazingly genius, or amazingly stupid idea to ask Ellie to be his fake girlfriend. Ellie’s first reaction is to tell James where to go, but on closer consideration she has a change of heart.
Getting to spend time with her #crush, having fun could just be the distraction Ellie needs from her problems. Added to which is the fact James has grown up mighty fine with all his tattoos, new found muscles and motorbike. Throw in a few kisses in public to keep up the ruse; what could possibly go wrong?! Emmm, just about everything I’d say…..
Someone is not happy James is in Ellie’s life, fake relationship or not and makes their displeasure known. I’m hesitant to say anymore here as I honestly don’t want to ruin your reading experience. Suffice it to say, it was one heck of a ride and I loved every minute of it.
I laughed, cried, shouted and had a hot flush or two while reading this book. *Psst!!* There is this one scene in Ellie’s office in the coffee shop ~ seriously panty melting stuff but shush!! I never said a thing, right?! ;)
One line stood out for me which pretty much summed up James and Ellie for me:
“True love, when you found it, it knocked you off your feet and redefined you.”
I can’t wait for the next in the series. Prepare to be carried away!
Note: Copy kindly received from author in exchange for an honest review.
James had it all: a trust fund, his childhood sweetheart and their upcoming wedding. Yet his world is shattered in one night when he finds out his fiancée has cheated on him. Left reeling from the revelation, James is on a downward spiral of booze, women and MMA fighting to release his anger.
Ellie Charles is struggling to keep her café and coffee shop afloat thanks to being saddled with debts run up by her ex. Honest to a fault, she tells it like it is!! Coming to a drunken James’ aide one night she’s quick to tell him what she thinks. It’s hard to watch the guy she’s crushed on since eighth grade hit the self-destruct button.
In an attempt to get his loved ones off his back, James gets either the amazingly genius, or amazingly stupid idea to ask Ellie to be his fake girlfriend. Ellie’s first reaction is to tell James where to go, but on closer consideration she has a change of heart.
Getting to spend time with her #crush, having fun could just be the distraction Ellie needs from her problems. Added to which is the fact James has grown up mighty fine with all his tattoos, new found muscles and motorbike. Throw in a few kisses in public to keep up the ruse; what could possibly go wrong?! Emmm, just about everything I’d say…..
Someone is not happy James is in Ellie’s life, fake relationship or not and makes their displeasure known. I’m hesitant to say anymore here as I honestly don’t want to ruin your reading experience. Suffice it to say, it was one heck of a ride and I loved every minute of it.
I laughed, cried, shouted and had a hot flush or two while reading this book. *Psst!!* There is this one scene in Ellie’s office in the coffee shop ~ seriously panty melting stuff but shush!! I never said a thing, right?! ;)
One line stood out for me which pretty much summed up James and Ellie for me:
“True love, when you found it, it knocked you off your feet and redefined you.”
I can’t wait for the next in the series. Prepare to be carried away!
Note: Copy kindly received from author in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2020
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.
The Moore Family is back. James had his heart broken in ways he wasn’t ready for. Ellie has always depended on herself for everything. When these two come together, it’s fireworks!
I absolutely adore James and Ellie. I connected with them in such a profound way that I couldn’t stop reading them. I put off everything I was doing, everything I had planned and I read this book in a single sitting. There was no life outside of James and Ellie.
Abby took these characters and brought them to life. Every single emotion and feeling you could have about them is right there, so tangible that you can feel it with every single turn of the page. James and Ellie captivated me and held me so tightly that I wasn’t ready to let them go when the book was all said and done.
I am really excited for the next installment of the Moore family! I cannot wait to see what happens when Harry meets his match!
Four stars for this fake relationship that takes you for the ride of your life as you watch it all unfold right in front of you.
The Moore Family is back. James had his heart broken in ways he wasn’t ready for. Ellie has always depended on herself for everything. When these two come together, it’s fireworks!
I absolutely adore James and Ellie. I connected with them in such a profound way that I couldn’t stop reading them. I put off everything I was doing, everything I had planned and I read this book in a single sitting. There was no life outside of James and Ellie.
Abby took these characters and brought them to life. Every single emotion and feeling you could have about them is right there, so tangible that you can feel it with every single turn of the page. James and Ellie captivated me and held me so tightly that I wasn’t ready to let them go when the book was all said and done.
I am really excited for the next installment of the Moore family! I cannot wait to see what happens when Harry meets his match!
Four stars for this fake relationship that takes you for the ride of your life as you watch it all unfold right in front of you.
June 14, 2020
ARC for honest review with no compensation
Faking Bliss is book 2 in the Moore Family series by Abby Brooks. This is a republished and expanded version of Carried Away. Read this before and loved it but this is even better!
After his engagement is called off James Moore has decided love isn’t for him so decided to drink himself to oblivion and not worry about the consequences. Family has tried to talk with him about his spiral downward but he want no parts of it..that is until Ellie Charles comes to his rescue and is totally honest with him. So he decides to ask Ellie to be in a fake relationship to get his family off his back and have a “friend” be his date for his brother’s wedding coming up soon.
Ellie Charles has had a crush on James for a long time and now watching him spiral out of control she wants to help but what he is asking...she is to honest to “fake” but goes along hoping for “real”.
What happens next is lots of heat, laughter, family, opening up and finding love when you least expect it!
Faking Bliss is book 2 in the Moore Family series by Abby Brooks. This is a republished and expanded version of Carried Away. Read this before and loved it but this is even better!
After his engagement is called off James Moore has decided love isn’t for him so decided to drink himself to oblivion and not worry about the consequences. Family has tried to talk with him about his spiral downward but he want no parts of it..that is until Ellie Charles comes to his rescue and is totally honest with him. So he decides to ask Ellie to be in a fake relationship to get his family off his back and have a “friend” be his date for his brother’s wedding coming up soon.
Ellie Charles has had a crush on James for a long time and now watching him spiral out of control she wants to help but what he is asking...she is to honest to “fake” but goes along hoping for “real”.
What happens next is lots of heat, laughter, family, opening up and finding love when you least expect it!
March 13, 2016
it started out okay..i couldnt accept some of the things the h did which made this 1 a 2 star.
After the how she tells him she is pregnant.He is justifiably angry.
To wrap up the scene and not prolong it ,she met with the accident and then giving us no options other than to accept her lying and just asking forgiveness as she nearly died. I felt she was conveniently blaming her emotional state for not confessing about the pill.
The H has no option, it would make the H look like an A** if he didnt forgive her.
After the how she tells him she is pregnant.He is justifiably angry.
To wrap up the scene and not prolong it ,she met with the accident and then giving us no options other than to accept her lying and just asking forgiveness as she nearly died. I felt she was conveniently blaming her emotional state for not confessing about the pill.
The H has no option, it would make the H look like an A** if he didnt forgive her. May 24, 2020
I wish I had the words to give this book the review it deserves. I'll give it my best.
Abby Brooks has the ability to write characters that are so real you actually feel them. They aren't perfect people. They are flawed and broken and human. James is horribly broken at the beginning of this book and I actually felt his pain. Seeing his changes and his healing as the book goes on, I found myself loving this character even more. As Ellie opens up, you realize her past is really affecting her present, as all of ours does. Watching them both fall in love made me remember my own journey to love. They are human characters with human problems and human loves. I can not wait for the next book in this series!
Abby Brooks has the ability to write characters that are so real you actually feel them. They aren't perfect people. They are flawed and broken and human. James is horribly broken at the beginning of this book and I actually felt his pain. Seeing his changes and his healing as the book goes on, I found myself loving this character even more. As Ellie opens up, you realize her past is really affecting her present, as all of ours does. Watching them both fall in love made me remember my own journey to love. They are human characters with human problems and human loves. I can not wait for the next book in this series!
June 2, 2020
I will be honest I didn't remember how freaking hawt James was so was very happy when he was described to me! Your heart does break for him after everything he has been through but ugh the baboons he hangs out with annoy me at times and I just love Ellie but want to shake her and say "Girl you know are just asking for trouble making a pact with the delicious man!!!" But you know what I would jump at the chance to pretend to be his girlfriend too! This is a roller coast of feelings where you get annoyed with both James and Ellie as well as laugh and feel sorry for them and want to give them a big old hug. And then when Ellie is pulled into the Moore family and sees what a family is meant to be like, well you want to be right there with her.
June 3, 2020
There is nothing fake about the feelings you get while embarking on this romantic journey! Faking Bliss is captivating! You can’t stop reading and feeling the pain that James and Ellie go through. Each of them have their own demons they are fighting on their own. James is drinking his fair share to numb his pain. Ellie is fighting to stay afloat each day.
They embark on a fake a relationship to help each other. They face romantic feelings and struggles try to decide what to do next. Fun, romantic and painful scenes are packed into this book.
I really love Abby’s writing. Her magical words get your attention and makes you always want for more. Love, love, love this series! The older and current versions are both awesome!
Nanedsmomba- reviewer and blogger for Life Reads With Friends
They embark on a fake a relationship to help each other. They face romantic feelings and struggles try to decide what to do next. Fun, romantic and painful scenes are packed into this book.
I really love Abby’s writing. Her magical words get your attention and makes you always want for more. Love, love, love this series! The older and current versions are both awesome!
Nanedsmomba- reviewer and blogger for Life Reads With Friends
May 23, 2020
Abby Brooks just continues to get better and better in this series. Every book she writes you actually feel the emotions that the characters are going through. With each page I found myself relating on one level or another to either character and in some cases both. I laughed with them. Cheered for them, and even cried with them at one point. This story has all the emotions in it, and you find yourself rooting for both James and Ellie. Both a bit broken, but together they were able to love again, and to be whole again with each other. Ellie said it perfectly when she told James that he gave her hope again to love!! I am excited to read the next book in this series.
February 21, 2016
I got this in exchange for an honest review, I am a fan of this author and enjoy her work a lot
I loved Ellie and James a lot they are so captivating I loved how things are in this one how emotions are so real raw there was a lot of fun laughter and much more that will keep you glued to this one till the end I was sad that I had reached the end because I want more of this couple and not just them but of all the other characters as well this family is amazing hope to see more of each one and I recommend this to everyone
I loved Ellie and James a lot they are so captivating I loved how things are in this one how emotions are so real raw there was a lot of fun laughter and much more that will keep you glued to this one till the end I was sad that I had reached the end because I want more of this couple and not just them but of all the other characters as well this family is amazing hope to see more of each one and I recommend this to everyone
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