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The Fitzgeralds #3
Just Until You Love Me
Not yet published
Expected 4 Aug 26West Abbott is everything I stand against. Older, richer, and morally murky. And he's also completely annoying. Not to mention unfairly attractive.
So when I wake up with his ring on my finger, I make a simple plan. Annul the marriage and never, ever speak of it again. Except West needs a wife to smooth out his next business deal, and our accidental Vegas wedding suddenly makes perfect sense on paper. To him, at least.
He thinks a fake marriage will be easy. He's used to control, confidence, and getting his own way. What he didn't account for is me. His best friend's stubborn little sister. A woman who refuses to follow his rules or believe his way is the right one.
Now we're sharing a house, dodging my nosy family, and pretending the chemistry between us doesn't sizzle every time we're alone. It does. And it burns.
I was only supposed to play wife long enough to keep his deal intact. I never meant to fall for the man who stands on the opposite side of everything I believe in.
But loving West Abbott doesn't just risk my heart.
It risks my family. And there may be no way to choose him without losing them.
So when I wake up with his ring on my finger, I make a simple plan. Annul the marriage and never, ever speak of it again. Except West needs a wife to smooth out his next business deal, and our accidental Vegas wedding suddenly makes perfect sense on paper. To him, at least.
He thinks a fake marriage will be easy. He's used to control, confidence, and getting his own way. What he didn't account for is me. His best friend's stubborn little sister. A woman who refuses to follow his rules or believe his way is the right one.
Now we're sharing a house, dodging my nosy family, and pretending the chemistry between us doesn't sizzle every time we're alone. It does. And it burns.
I was only supposed to play wife long enough to keep his deal intact. I never meant to fall for the man who stands on the opposite side of everything I believe in.
But loving West Abbott doesn't just risk my heart.
It risks my family. And there may be no way to choose him without losing them.
Audible Audio
First published February 22, 2026
About the author
Carrie Elks
79 books2,332 followersCarrie Elks is an international bestselling author of traditionally-published and self-published novels. Her books are sweet yet sexy contemporary small town romance stories. You can find her in all these places:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
Did Not Finish
April 28, 2026DNF at 15%
I realized it’s a small-town romance, and I rarely enjoy those, especially not right now. I also don’t like when the characters already have a physical connection so early, it just doesn’t feel believable when we’ve only just met them, even if they’ve known each other for a while.
But honestly, that’s not even the main issue. I just don’t like how the story is written. It feels a bit cheap and not very well executed.
I realized it’s a small-town romance, and I rarely enjoy those, especially not right now. I also don’t like when the characters already have a physical connection so early, it just doesn’t feel believable when we’ve only just met them, even if they’ve known each other for a while.
But honestly, that’s not even the main issue. I just don’t like how the story is written. It feels a bit cheap and not very well executed.
March 5, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Once again Carrie has blown me away with how she brought West and Eden's story together!! I've become so fond of the quirky Fitzgerald family and the series that follows the siblings on the island of Liberty.
I was so curious about these two, after the small glimpses we saw of them in Asher's book, and I LOOOOVE me a brother's best friend romance, too, so I knew this was going to be right up my street, and they were both hiding their marriage from their loved ones, but were secretly and mutually pining for each other, I LOVED IT!!
Also, West, he really surprised me, I was not expecting for him to be so broody, and thorough, and he was very attentive when it came to Eden. That man had me blushing harddd, multiple times lmaoo.
Of course, I absolutely loved Eden, she was so much fun, I really loved getting to know her more, after learning about her through her siblings.
Bennett deserves his own shout, too, I really liked how he seamlessly fit with the dynamic of West and Eden, he really was like their adoptive son haha, and the how he just fit within the overall dynamic of the Fitzgerald crew.
I'm so curious about Zach and Sadie, Zach is another sibling who has been away from Liberty Island, so very intrigued to see what's brought him back now, and I just know Sadie is going to give him hell lmao; i'm thinking either art enemies to lovers, or rivals to lovers at least!
tropes
age gap
marriage of convenience
forced proximity
brother's best friend
small town romance
Pre-read October 2025: all my favourite tropes; age gap, marriage of convenience and brother’s best friend/ or childhood friends to lovers?! And I know West has feelings towards Eden, omg I can’t wait!!
Once again Carrie has blown me away with how she brought West and Eden's story together!! I've become so fond of the quirky Fitzgerald family and the series that follows the siblings on the island of Liberty.
I was so curious about these two, after the small glimpses we saw of them in Asher's book, and I LOOOOVE me a brother's best friend romance, too, so I knew this was going to be right up my street, and they were both hiding their marriage from their loved ones, but were secretly and mutually pining for each other, I LOVED IT!!
Also, West, he really surprised me, I was not expecting for him to be so broody, and thorough, and he was very attentive when it came to Eden. That man had me blushing harddd, multiple times lmaoo.
Of course, I absolutely loved Eden, she was so much fun, I really loved getting to know her more, after learning about her through her siblings.
Bennett deserves his own shout, too, I really liked how he seamlessly fit with the dynamic of West and Eden, he really was like their adoptive son haha, and the how he just fit within the overall dynamic of the Fitzgerald crew.
I'm so curious about Zach and Sadie, Zach is another sibling who has been away from Liberty Island, so very intrigued to see what's brought him back now, and I just know Sadie is going to give him hell lmao; i'm thinking either art enemies to lovers, or rivals to lovers at least!
tropes
age gap
marriage of convenience
forced proximity
brother's best friend
small town romance
Pre-read October 2025: all my favourite tropes; age gap, marriage of convenience and brother’s best friend/ or childhood friends to lovers?! And I know West has feelings towards Eden, omg I can’t wait!!
July 29, 2026
Thank you for my ALC from RBmedia and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't even planning on starting this audiobook yet. It accidentally started playing while another download was finishing, and before I knew it, I was a few chapters in and completely invested. Safe to say my original listening plans changed.
This was my first book by Carrie Elks, and it definitely won't be my last. West and Eden were so easy to root for. I love a good marriage-of-convenience story, and adding the accidental Vegas wedding and best friend's little sister dynamic made it even more fun. There was just the right mix of banter, family drama, chemistry, and heartfelt moments to keep me listening.
Wyeth Watts and Vivienne Page were both fantastic. They brought so much personality to the characters and made the story even more enjoyable.
I'm officially adding the first two books in The Fitzgeralds series to my TBR because this one completely sold me on Carrie Elks.
Series: The Fitzgeralds #3
Author: Carrie Elks
Narrators: Wyeth Watts & Vivienne Page
Audiobook Length: 10 hours 30 minutes listening at x1.25 speed.
🩷 Tropes: 💍 Accidental Vegas wedding
💍 Marriage of convenience
💕 Best friend's little sister
🏡 Forced proximity
❤️ Opposites attract
🌴 Small-town romance
👨👩👧 Family dynamics
This worked perfectly as an interconnected standalone, but it definitely made me want to go back and read Books 1 and 2
I wasn't even planning on starting this audiobook yet. It accidentally started playing while another download was finishing, and before I knew it, I was a few chapters in and completely invested. Safe to say my original listening plans changed.
This was my first book by Carrie Elks, and it definitely won't be my last. West and Eden were so easy to root for. I love a good marriage-of-convenience story, and adding the accidental Vegas wedding and best friend's little sister dynamic made it even more fun. There was just the right mix of banter, family drama, chemistry, and heartfelt moments to keep me listening.
Wyeth Watts and Vivienne Page were both fantastic. They brought so much personality to the characters and made the story even more enjoyable.
I'm officially adding the first two books in The Fitzgeralds series to my TBR because this one completely sold me on Carrie Elks.
Series: The Fitzgeralds #3
Author: Carrie Elks
Narrators: Wyeth Watts & Vivienne Page
Audiobook Length: 10 hours 30 minutes listening at x1.25 speed.
🩷 Tropes: 💍 Accidental Vegas wedding
💍 Marriage of convenience
💕 Best friend's little sister
🏡 Forced proximity
❤️ Opposites attract
🌴 Small-town romance
👨👩👧 Family dynamics
This worked perfectly as an interconnected standalone, but it definitely made me want to go back and read Books 1 and 2
April 18, 2026
Eden and West were absolutely fiery together — I could not put this book down!
Carrie Elks nailed every element of this age gap, marriage of convenience, found family romance. She brought the emotion, the humor, and the heat in equal measure, and it all felt completely earned. What I loved most about Eden is that she stayed true to herself throughout — and West never once tried to change her. He just loved her exactly as she was. And West? Ultimate “touch her and die” energy. Swoon.
The friendship between West and Bennett was such a lovely surprise — genuinely heartwarming and one of my favorite parts of the book. And the Fitzgerald family continues to be everything. The warmth, the chaos, the banter — I love them all so much.
This might actually be my favorite of the Fitzgeralds series, which is saying something. Carrie Elks just keeps delivering.
Carrie Elks nailed every element of this age gap, marriage of convenience, found family romance. She brought the emotion, the humor, and the heat in equal measure, and it all felt completely earned. What I loved most about Eden is that she stayed true to herself throughout — and West never once tried to change her. He just loved her exactly as she was. And West? Ultimate “touch her and die” energy. Swoon.
The friendship between West and Bennett was such a lovely surprise — genuinely heartwarming and one of my favorite parts of the book. And the Fitzgerald family continues to be everything. The warmth, the chaos, the banter — I love them all so much.
This might actually be my favorite of the Fitzgeralds series, which is saying something. Carrie Elks just keeps delivering.
February 16, 2026
Love, love, loved it 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
This is the third book in the Fitzgerald series. An interlocked series of stand-alone. This book is a brilliant addition to an already amazing series.
In my opinion the series just keeps getting better & better, for now may just be my favourite.
Eden is a conservationist, she wants to save the world. She fights for the underdog, always championing & rescuing people who are being taken advantage of or animals in danger.
She travels the world for one cause after another that is important to her.
Taking her away from her family & home. Although she believes it’s easier to stay away than face them as she carries some unfounded secret guilt, something that was never her responsibility to carry.
When she gets into trouble in Vegas her sister Autumn sends their brother’s best friend West to her rescue.
A mutually beneficial agreement is made between them ~ Eden will marry West until his financial situation is resolved . They’ve known each other years & trust one another implicitly, so no one needs to know (famous last words!)
West is smooth, sophisticated, normally laid back, easy going. He’s had a very lonely childhood, his nanny was more of a parent to him than his own family were. He once believed in fairytales, that love was real & something that could be given to him easily. The older he grew, he realised that love was just for fairytales ~ He met the Fitzgerald’s in college, and for years after, he spent every summer on Liberty with Hudson and his family. Every Thanksgiving stuffing himself with turkey at the Fitzgeralds, feeling like he finally had a family to call his own, that he belonged somewhere for the first time in forever.
They offer him friendship that’s more like family, who’s there for you without question, nothing wanted in return but to give you peace.
However he has a bit of a reputation, he definitely doesn’t do relationships.
The more time he spends with Eden, the closer they become. Lines blur & the attraction between them is becoming more apparent that they are both in way deeper than they ever imagined & no longer surface level. They become very protective of each other. The banter between them is hilarious at times. The romance is tumultuous and steamy.
He threatens to burn the world down when someone threatens his future. He’ll protect Eden & the Fitzgerald family with his life.
The chemistry. The angst.The banter. The spice.
It was all on point! I loved every minute of reading.
Eden & West’s journey to HEA.
It was full of spicy twists and gripping turns that kept me captivated from start to finish.
Let me tell you that it's a MUST read!!
This is the third book in the Fitzgerald series. An interlocked series of stand-alone. This book is a brilliant addition to an already amazing series.
In my opinion the series just keeps getting better & better, for now may just be my favourite.
Eden is a conservationist, she wants to save the world. She fights for the underdog, always championing & rescuing people who are being taken advantage of or animals in danger.
She travels the world for one cause after another that is important to her.
Taking her away from her family & home. Although she believes it’s easier to stay away than face them as she carries some unfounded secret guilt, something that was never her responsibility to carry.
When she gets into trouble in Vegas her sister Autumn sends their brother’s best friend West to her rescue.
A mutually beneficial agreement is made between them ~ Eden will marry West until his financial situation is resolved . They’ve known each other years & trust one another implicitly, so no one needs to know (famous last words!)
West is smooth, sophisticated, normally laid back, easy going. He’s had a very lonely childhood, his nanny was more of a parent to him than his own family were. He once believed in fairytales, that love was real & something that could be given to him easily. The older he grew, he realised that love was just for fairytales ~ He met the Fitzgerald’s in college, and for years after, he spent every summer on Liberty with Hudson and his family. Every Thanksgiving stuffing himself with turkey at the Fitzgeralds, feeling like he finally had a family to call his own, that he belonged somewhere for the first time in forever.
They offer him friendship that’s more like family, who’s there for you without question, nothing wanted in return but to give you peace.
However he has a bit of a reputation, he definitely doesn’t do relationships.
The more time he spends with Eden, the closer they become. Lines blur & the attraction between them is becoming more apparent that they are both in way deeper than they ever imagined & no longer surface level. They become very protective of each other. The banter between them is hilarious at times. The romance is tumultuous and steamy.
He threatens to burn the world down when someone threatens his future. He’ll protect Eden & the Fitzgerald family with his life.
The chemistry. The angst.The banter. The spice.
It was all on point! I loved every minute of reading.
Eden & West’s journey to HEA.
It was full of spicy twists and gripping turns that kept me captivated from start to finish.
Let me tell you that it's a MUST read!!
April 5, 2026
no solamente estoy enojada porque justo terminé este libro después de que los islanders hayan perdido AGAIN sino que aparte lo empecé con tanta ilusión i was giggling so hard in the beginning estaba segura que iba a ser un 5 estrellas y pensando encontré otra autora que me va a hacer leer todos sus libros HASTA QUE PASÓ LA ESCENA DE LA BIBLIOTECA Y DIJE POR FAVOR SE PUEDE SER TAN EXAGERADO?????? o sea el libro es un poco instalove pero my god la reacción de eden al enterarse lo de la nanny y la forma en la que se lo echó en cara a West???? un nene tiene más tacto que ella! toda esa escena fue muy cringe y todo lo que siguió me dio vergüenza ajena
terminé poniéndole 3 estrellas porque hasta la mitad del libro me estaba encantando y me hicieron reír bastante incluso en el final
por otra parte, BENNETT NO PUEDE SER TAN ESTÚPIDO TENES 20 AÑOS DE APORTES GROW UP mira si no vas a poder mantener un secreto que es tan importante podes ser tan mogólico ????
dios hace rato no escribía una review tan larga ESTOY INSPIRADA POR LOS MUERTOS DE LOS ISLANDERS! en algún lado tenía que destilar todo el odio que siento!
igualmente le voy a dar otra oportunidad a los libros de esta mujer
AH Y ME OLVIDABA ASHER VOS TAMBIEN SOS UN CORNUDO
terminé poniéndole 3 estrellas porque hasta la mitad del libro me estaba encantando y me hicieron reír bastante incluso en el final
por otra parte, BENNETT NO PUEDE SER TAN ESTÚPIDO TENES 20 AÑOS DE APORTES GROW UP mira si no vas a poder mantener un secreto que es tan importante podes ser tan mogólico ????
dios hace rato no escribía una review tan larga ESTOY INSPIRADA POR LOS MUERTOS DE LOS ISLANDERS! en algún lado tenía que destilar todo el odio que siento!
igualmente le voy a dar otra oportunidad a los libros de esta mujer
AH Y ME OLVIDABA ASHER VOS TAMBIEN SOS UN CORNUDO
April 3, 2026
I really enjoyed this book and found this to be a great addition to this interconnected series of standalones.
Both Eden and West are interesting characters with backstories that bring a bit of depth to this romance. The tropes are classic but done so well. The banter and dynamic is great and kept me smiling pretty much from the start.
I especially enjoyed learning more about West and his backstory and heart - awww just wanted to love on him. Eden and West just fit so well together.
I also just love the family vibe/aspect to this book (and the series), it adds another enjoyable layer.
Overall, this was a really fun romance read - nothing particularly special but just *good* and that’s just what I needed.
Carrie just has such a great, solid writing style for romance that lights me up every time.
Definitely recommend if you like a marriage of convenience, best friend’s sister romance story with humour, spice, and heart.
I received an advance copy of the book and have left my honest, influence-free review
Both Eden and West are interesting characters with backstories that bring a bit of depth to this romance. The tropes are classic but done so well. The banter and dynamic is great and kept me smiling pretty much from the start.
I especially enjoyed learning more about West and his backstory and heart - awww just wanted to love on him. Eden and West just fit so well together.
I also just love the family vibe/aspect to this book (and the series), it adds another enjoyable layer.
Overall, this was a really fun romance read - nothing particularly special but just *good* and that’s just what I needed.
Carrie just has such a great, solid writing style for romance that lights me up every time.
Definitely recommend if you like a marriage of convenience, best friend’s sister romance story with humour, spice, and heart.
I received an advance copy of the book and have left my honest, influence-free review
March 3, 2026
This had me laughing out loud from the start and a little teary by the end and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment in between.
West and Eden make a great couple. Their marriage occurs as a series of lies and cover ups escalate and continues in secret until coming out to her family and suffering the fallout is inevitable and unavoidable.
Along the way we learn more about them both, their pasts, their insecurities and deeply held hurts as they learn to open up and put it all on the line for their love.
Yes, there is a third act breakup, but it works to get them over the final hurdle in their relationship even though the external threats have already been vanquished.
Ms Elks writing is extremely approachable and this was easy reading and such great story telling I devoured it. Loved it from start to finish, and was left feeling a little sorry it was over but looking forward to YOU MAKE ME FEEL, the fourth book in the Fitzgerald family series coming up next.
West and Eden make a great couple. Their marriage occurs as a series of lies and cover ups escalate and continues in secret until coming out to her family and suffering the fallout is inevitable and unavoidable.
Along the way we learn more about them both, their pasts, their insecurities and deeply held hurts as they learn to open up and put it all on the line for their love.
Yes, there is a third act breakup, but it works to get them over the final hurdle in their relationship even though the external threats have already been vanquished.
Ms Elks writing is extremely approachable and this was easy reading and such great story telling I devoured it. Loved it from start to finish, and was left feeling a little sorry it was over but looking forward to YOU MAKE ME FEEL, the fourth book in the Fitzgerald family series coming up next.
March 5, 2026
Liked it
I enjoyed reading this more than I thought. Eden and West don't match on paper but everything clicks when they see each others years later. West receives a call from Eden's sister Autumn to please bail her out of jail. When he bails her out in Vegas, they're basically forced to get married in order to keep an investor happy. They plan to get an annulment but things get complicated when someone shows up unexpectedly. The longer they are around one another, the more they fall for each other. This book made me laugh and made me cry. There are certain characters that I want to see what happens to them.
I enjoyed reading this more than I thought. Eden and West don't match on paper but everything clicks when they see each others years later. West receives a call from Eden's sister Autumn to please bail her out of jail. When he bails her out in Vegas, they're basically forced to get married in order to keep an investor happy. They plan to get an annulment but things get complicated when someone shows up unexpectedly. The longer they are around one another, the more they fall for each other. This book made me laugh and made me cry. There are certain characters that I want to see what happens to them.
July 29, 2026
I received and ALC of this from NetGalley. This was okay, it wasn’t my favorite but it still had good heart and humor and good character growth. There were a few plot holes that took me out of it, and normally I try not to review on that but some of the story was just missing a little more connection and the big conflict of the story was a little laughable. But if you’re looking for a cute, age-gap, sort of enemies to lovers, I’d still recommend giving it a chance! The narrators did a fantastic job which always helps too!
August 2, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley and Tantor Audio for the ALC of this title.
I really enjoyed this audiobook. It was full of tropes that I enjoy, brothers best friend, age gap, fake marriage and forbidden romance.
Eden gets herself into some trouble and West is sent ti save her when they find themselves married in Vegas. Their relationship formed organically even though it was forced. There was also a bit of suspense and family drama. I listened to this one is less than 24 hours. 4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this audiobook. It was full of tropes that I enjoy, brothers best friend, age gap, fake marriage and forbidden romance.
Eden gets herself into some trouble and West is sent ti save her when they find themselves married in Vegas. Their relationship formed organically even though it was forced. There was also a bit of suspense and family drama. I listened to this one is less than 24 hours. 4.5 stars
March 13, 2026
West and Eden, absolutely adored these two
This series is one of my favourites and I cannot wait for Zach and Sadie's story next.
This is high chemistry with slow burn written with amazing banter.
So many lol moments
Carrie has me wanting to binge read at the same time as never wanting the book to end.
Kerry Kennedy Author
This series is one of my favourites and I cannot wait for Zach and Sadie's story next.
This is high chemistry with slow burn written with amazing banter.
So many lol moments
Carrie has me wanting to binge read at the same time as never wanting the book to end.
Kerry Kennedy Author
Review of advance copy received from Author
holy. I feel like I need a smoke and a cold shower. that book was 🔥. I absolutely loved Eden and her quick wit. West is fantastic as well and I adore that we get so much of the Fitzgerald siblings as well.
February 27, 2026
I LOOOOOVE a marriage of convenience and Carrie did SUCH a good job with this one!
I already love all the Fitzgeralds so I knew this was going to be a top tier romance for me and I wasn’t wrong. I love all of them so much and the way they are together is perfect.
The little island as always is the perfect location and we’ve added new people to it with this book (so wholesome by the way).
Now the romance in this one was 🥵 so good.
🖤Best friends little sister
🖤Age gap (12 years)
🖤Marriage of convenience/Fake Marriage
🖤Black cat x Sunshine
I need the next book in the series STAT
I already love all the Fitzgeralds so I knew this was going to be a top tier romance for me and I wasn’t wrong. I love all of them so much and the way they are together is perfect.
The little island as always is the perfect location and we’ve added new people to it with this book (so wholesome by the way).
Now the romance in this one was 🥵 so good.
🖤Best friends little sister
🖤Age gap (12 years)
🖤Marriage of convenience/Fake Marriage
🖤Black cat x Sunshine
I need the next book in the series STAT
March 9, 2026
Just Until You Love Me is a fun, sexy, romance and I couldn't put it down. I really enjoy the marriage of convenience trope, and West and Edens story had me hooked. I'm loving this series and can't wait for the next book!
April 9, 2026
this book was cutie, the couple was cute and west got better as the book went on
February 27, 2026
3.5⭐️ the series is fun - I love a good interconnected series and a family that all finds their HEA as they band together to get over the hardships that come their way. Some of this was super cheesy, but it was still enjoyable and I appreciated both MCs.
March 5, 2026
Eh. The premise is fine. I felt like the whole reason they got together was eh. Eden makes her own decisions and got her in to the mess. And West...what did you think was going to happen by inviting Vin into your business? There seems to be so much more backstory to each of these characters that we don't ever get. So much is attached to West but we don't get it. What horrible things has he done? Is there every any follow up with his parents? You're telling me Vin held on to this issue for 25 years??? Probably not. He would have struck sooner. There is no way he's staying with the long game.
This was not my favorite of the series. I liked book 1 so much better.
This was not my favorite of the series. I liked book 1 so much better.
March 5, 2026
Eden just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. A protest was beginning right in front of a casino in Las Vegas, and guess who got splattered with red paint? Yup! You got it, Eden. So when the police started rounding up people guess who they took in because she had a great deal of the evidence on her, right again, Eden. When she tried to explain they didn't even want to listen. But what I found interesting they didn't pick up any other protesters, but her. Seriously? Anyway, once she was processed, she was able to make her one phone call, and she took the least of all the evils, as one might say. It’s not that they didn’t get along, it’s that she hadn’t seen them all in such a long time. All by herself, her choice. Being the youngest it's always felt like she couldn’t do anything right. It was too easy for all of them to forget that she has a college degree, has a brain, and at twenty-five can make her own life choices. However, starting in jail is not the way to get off on the right foot.
Especially, when they don’t know her secrets. So she called Autumn her oldest and only sister. She appealed to her maternal pregnant side not to tell her older brothers in the family chat. That if she wanted Eden to still come and visit her. However, she didn't say that a little blackmail wouldn’t be an incentive to motivate her. Who does her sister call to help? The man who gets them all out of trouble, and he is a good lawyer, West. She thought that, at the very least it would be Parker, Autumn’s husband. Alas, it’s West the one man who has always managed to actually make her feel like a woman, and a little kid, all at once. He is her eldest brother Hudson’s best friend, and a man with many
A-lister clients, and not-so-A-lister clients. So why would he even bother taking time out of his busy schedule to deal with her? She was pissed at her sister. Thinking she ratted her out, so asked did Hudson send you? In a panic because the thought of Hudson knowing she’s in jail makes her want to hurl then bolt as far away as she can.
Gruffly, West tells her to sit in her panic she does. He is pacing in front of her. “What the hell were you thinking?” he asks, his voice low and sharp. “Do you have any idea what a mess this is?” Underneath the annoyance, she can hear the worry. Which of course makes her want to sass him even more. “I didn’t plan on this,” I say, lifting my chin, because I already have four brothers. I don’t need another. He arches one perfect brow. “You threw paint at a casino in the middle of the Strip.” “It was just a little bit of paint,” I say instead. “And it was from Pottery Barn. Only the best.” His lips twitch, but he doesn’t reply. I’ll take it. “Why are you in Vegas?” he asks. “You’re supposed to be in Peru.” “I’m heading home. Autumn asked me to visit.” “You’re about two thousand miles in the wrong direction,” West murmurs. “Yeah, well I got a ride here from the Mexican border. I was planning on catching a Greyhound or two.” I clear my throat. “But then I heard the International Fur Convention was here.”
“And you couldn’t resist, could you?” he asks. “Little Eden. Champion of the poor and weak.” “That’s almost a compliment coming from the man who cleans Hollywood’s cesspits,” I reply. “What are you doing in Vegas?” I ask him. “Not that I’m not grateful. Did Hudson call you and ask you to come?” I make a mental note to kill Autumn for telling our brother. She promised not to say anything. “No,” he says, his tone clipped. “I was in L.A., working. Autumn called me and asked for my help. So here I am. And your brother has no idea you’re even in Vegas, let alone in jail.” “You didn’t need to rush. I could have waited until morning.” “In a cell in Vegas? I don’t think so.” “Come on,” he says, clearing his throat. “Let’s go.” “Back to the cell?” I ask him. “No. We’re leaving. I got you released.” She blinks. “I’m sorry?” “They dropped the charges. You won’t have a record. You’re free to go.” “Wait… what? There are no charges?” Her voice rises. “How did you manage that?”
“You don’t want to know.” Her personal effects are already waiting in a clear plastic bag. Her backpack, shoe laces, and an old battered iPhone that is always losing power. And — oh joy — her menstrual cup. Wonderful. West glances over her shoulder as she discreetly shoves it into her bag. “Want me to explain how it works?” she deadpans, already walking toward the door. She’s not sure, but she thinks she heard him chuckle. He owes Vin big time. When he told him he had an emergency in Las Vegas, he offered his helicopter without hesitation, calling in the pilot, so they were ready to go in no time. She fell asleep as soon as her bottom hit the cushioned seats. Now he’s the guy who bails out his best friend’s kid sister in the middle of the night. Not that she looks like a kid right now. With her long legs and tumbling curls, she looks like a sexy Jackson Pollock painting. And yeah, he knows she’s an adult, but he’s twelve years older than her at thirty-seven, and he really shouldn’t be looking. Let’s just say they find that harder to do. Especially, when they find themselves married in Vegas after an outburst Eden makes.
This causes an unsavory owner of the casino to find out that she’s West's fiancée, who is there to meet with him, so they can decide whether to marry or not, behind her brother’s back. So the owner being a sucker for love, arranges a wedding that he and his wife attend. Eden and West planned on annulment the next day, until he found out about the cousin of the casino owner, who is Vin. He now knows about the wedding. So they need to fake it for a couple of months.
This was such a fast-paced story that kept me engaged. The banter and slow-burning romance between West and Eden was fun to see grow. And it was fun to see that a woman was the one who was the teaser. But oh man, it was West that did like control in the bedroom, but gave Eden her time to explore her fantasies too. Yet, some very emotional moments hit me hard in the feels for them both. I loved how they both took Benny under their wings.
Especially, when they don’t know her secrets. So she called Autumn her oldest and only sister. She appealed to her maternal pregnant side not to tell her older brothers in the family chat. That if she wanted Eden to still come and visit her. However, she didn't say that a little blackmail wouldn’t be an incentive to motivate her. Who does her sister call to help? The man who gets them all out of trouble, and he is a good lawyer, West. She thought that, at the very least it would be Parker, Autumn’s husband. Alas, it’s West the one man who has always managed to actually make her feel like a woman, and a little kid, all at once. He is her eldest brother Hudson’s best friend, and a man with many
A-lister clients, and not-so-A-lister clients. So why would he even bother taking time out of his busy schedule to deal with her? She was pissed at her sister. Thinking she ratted her out, so asked did Hudson send you? In a panic because the thought of Hudson knowing she’s in jail makes her want to hurl then bolt as far away as she can.
Gruffly, West tells her to sit in her panic she does. He is pacing in front of her. “What the hell were you thinking?” he asks, his voice low and sharp. “Do you have any idea what a mess this is?” Underneath the annoyance, she can hear the worry. Which of course makes her want to sass him even more. “I didn’t plan on this,” I say, lifting my chin, because I already have four brothers. I don’t need another. He arches one perfect brow. “You threw paint at a casino in the middle of the Strip.” “It was just a little bit of paint,” I say instead. “And it was from Pottery Barn. Only the best.” His lips twitch, but he doesn’t reply. I’ll take it. “Why are you in Vegas?” he asks. “You’re supposed to be in Peru.” “I’m heading home. Autumn asked me to visit.” “You’re about two thousand miles in the wrong direction,” West murmurs. “Yeah, well I got a ride here from the Mexican border. I was planning on catching a Greyhound or two.” I clear my throat. “But then I heard the International Fur Convention was here.”
“And you couldn’t resist, could you?” he asks. “Little Eden. Champion of the poor and weak.” “That’s almost a compliment coming from the man who cleans Hollywood’s cesspits,” I reply. “What are you doing in Vegas?” I ask him. “Not that I’m not grateful. Did Hudson call you and ask you to come?” I make a mental note to kill Autumn for telling our brother. She promised not to say anything. “No,” he says, his tone clipped. “I was in L.A., working. Autumn called me and asked for my help. So here I am. And your brother has no idea you’re even in Vegas, let alone in jail.” “You didn’t need to rush. I could have waited until morning.” “In a cell in Vegas? I don’t think so.” “Come on,” he says, clearing his throat. “Let’s go.” “Back to the cell?” I ask him. “No. We’re leaving. I got you released.” She blinks. “I’m sorry?” “They dropped the charges. You won’t have a record. You’re free to go.” “Wait… what? There are no charges?” Her voice rises. “How did you manage that?”
“You don’t want to know.” Her personal effects are already waiting in a clear plastic bag. Her backpack, shoe laces, and an old battered iPhone that is always losing power. And — oh joy — her menstrual cup. Wonderful. West glances over her shoulder as she discreetly shoves it into her bag. “Want me to explain how it works?” she deadpans, already walking toward the door. She’s not sure, but she thinks she heard him chuckle. He owes Vin big time. When he told him he had an emergency in Las Vegas, he offered his helicopter without hesitation, calling in the pilot, so they were ready to go in no time. She fell asleep as soon as her bottom hit the cushioned seats. Now he’s the guy who bails out his best friend’s kid sister in the middle of the night. Not that she looks like a kid right now. With her long legs and tumbling curls, she looks like a sexy Jackson Pollock painting. And yeah, he knows she’s an adult, but he’s twelve years older than her at thirty-seven, and he really shouldn’t be looking. Let’s just say they find that harder to do. Especially, when they find themselves married in Vegas after an outburst Eden makes.
This causes an unsavory owner of the casino to find out that she’s West's fiancée, who is there to meet with him, so they can decide whether to marry or not, behind her brother’s back. So the owner being a sucker for love, arranges a wedding that he and his wife attend. Eden and West planned on annulment the next day, until he found out about the cousin of the casino owner, who is Vin. He now knows about the wedding. So they need to fake it for a couple of months.
This was such a fast-paced story that kept me engaged. The banter and slow-burning romance between West and Eden was fun to see grow. And it was fun to see that a woman was the one who was the teaser. But oh man, it was West that did like control in the bedroom, but gave Eden her time to explore her fantasies too. Yet, some very emotional moments hit me hard in the feels for them both. I loved how they both took Benny under their wings.
Review of advance copy received from Author
‘Just until you love me’ is the third book in ‘The Fitzgeralds’ series by Carrie Elks. The main characters in this book are Eden Fitzgerald, she’s the youngest sister, and West Abbott, her older brother’s best friend. If you’re new to this series, I recommend starting at the beginning.
We already know West from the previous stories. In them, we got to know him as a charming person who was great in solving problems, which was also his job. Famous people called him when they were in trouble and West solved their problems. But after years of solving other people's problems, he was tired of it. He wanted a fresh start on Liberty Island, close to his best friends and the only family he had ever had. But before he could do that, he had to make the new resort on the Island a success. Building it was expensive and came with financial problems. But West was a problem solver, so he was confident he could make it work. But one phone call changed everything.
Eden was a world savior, she traveled from one place to another but she was also a woman running from her past. Her passion for a better world and the climate occasionally landed her in trouble. This time, she’s in jail in Las Vegas, and to her surprise, she’s rescued by West. But the night goes from bad to worse when another situation forces them to marry and stay married for a few months. But every new lie leads to another and in the end, West and Eden live together in West’s house on Liberty Island. They keep their marriage a secret from Eden’s family. But what began as a fake marriage, soon begins to feel real. Can West open his heart to love and will Eden stay on the island? And what about her family, her brothers? Will they accept their marriage? And what about the resort?
I was very excited about getting to know Eden better, just like her older brothers Zach and Wyatt, was Eden a mysterious character, a name in the family chat group. I was pleasantly surprised by her character. Yes, she was very concerned about the climate, but she never made other people feel bad about it. She was a young, gentle woman. Theoretically, a relationship between Eden and West would never work, they have completely different personalities and completely different perspectives on life. And then there’s the age difference. Eden is 25 and West is 37. Eden followed her heart, she didn’t care about fashion or luxury and was chaotic. West was refined, loved luxury, wore suits, worked with celebrities and was very neat. But both were also lonely, they felt guilty about things that happened in their childhood and that also left scars, both thought people wouldn’t love them if they knew the real ‘person’ behind the mask. The passion between Eden and West was strong and just like in his work, West also liked to be in control in the bedroom.
Even though they were very different, Eden and West were a great couple. They really loved each other. I enjoyed the banter between them. How caring they were for the people around them. It was sweet to see how they practically adopted Bennett, a young man sent by his uncle to spend the summer with West and Eden. They were both very kind to him and treated him like a younger brother.
It was nice to see so many familiar faces again and to see how the couples were doing. We also got to know a new character a little better, Sadie, who runs the bookstore on the island. I wonder if she’ll be a main character in a future book. Only time will tell.
This was a nice story.
We already know West from the previous stories. In them, we got to know him as a charming person who was great in solving problems, which was also his job. Famous people called him when they were in trouble and West solved their problems. But after years of solving other people's problems, he was tired of it. He wanted a fresh start on Liberty Island, close to his best friends and the only family he had ever had. But before he could do that, he had to make the new resort on the Island a success. Building it was expensive and came with financial problems. But West was a problem solver, so he was confident he could make it work. But one phone call changed everything.
Eden was a world savior, she traveled from one place to another but she was also a woman running from her past. Her passion for a better world and the climate occasionally landed her in trouble. This time, she’s in jail in Las Vegas, and to her surprise, she’s rescued by West. But the night goes from bad to worse when another situation forces them to marry and stay married for a few months. But every new lie leads to another and in the end, West and Eden live together in West’s house on Liberty Island. They keep their marriage a secret from Eden’s family. But what began as a fake marriage, soon begins to feel real. Can West open his heart to love and will Eden stay on the island? And what about her family, her brothers? Will they accept their marriage? And what about the resort?
I was very excited about getting to know Eden better, just like her older brothers Zach and Wyatt, was Eden a mysterious character, a name in the family chat group. I was pleasantly surprised by her character. Yes, she was very concerned about the climate, but she never made other people feel bad about it. She was a young, gentle woman. Theoretically, a relationship between Eden and West would never work, they have completely different personalities and completely different perspectives on life. And then there’s the age difference. Eden is 25 and West is 37. Eden followed her heart, she didn’t care about fashion or luxury and was chaotic. West was refined, loved luxury, wore suits, worked with celebrities and was very neat. But both were also lonely, they felt guilty about things that happened in their childhood and that also left scars, both thought people wouldn’t love them if they knew the real ‘person’ behind the mask. The passion between Eden and West was strong and just like in his work, West also liked to be in control in the bedroom.
Even though they were very different, Eden and West were a great couple. They really loved each other. I enjoyed the banter between them. How caring they were for the people around them. It was sweet to see how they practically adopted Bennett, a young man sent by his uncle to spend the summer with West and Eden. They were both very kind to him and treated him like a younger brother.
It was nice to see so many familiar faces again and to see how the couples were doing. We also got to know a new character a little better, Sadie, who runs the bookstore on the island. I wonder if she’ll be a main character in a future book. Only time will tell.
This was a nice story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
JUST UNTIL YOU LOVE ME by CARRIE ELKS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just Until You Love Me is the third (#3) book in the ‘THE FITZGERALDS’ series.
When West Abbot receives a call to bail his best friend’s little sister out of jail he’s not expecting to wake up the next morning married to her!
He needs the marriage to smooth out an important business deal, but once the deal goes through they can get an annulment and go on with their separate lives. Easy right?
However, the more time he spends with Eden Fitzgerald the closer they grow, until West realises that he’d burn the world down for a chance at a future with this infuriating, feisty and opinionated woman.
——————————
Carrie Elks can do no wrong!! Once again she has hit the nail on the head with this third instalment of the Fitzgeralds series. It has everything you could look for in a romance book - tension, passion, angst, humour, vile protagonists, alpha males, and feisty women.
Carrie has an awesome ability to get into the heart of her characters and to deal with dark subject matters in a compassionate and understandable manner whilst injecting just the right amount of humour into every situation. Carrie’s writing draws you in, lifts you up and the pages simply seem like they are turning themselves. It’s addictive.
West Abbot has had a rough life but he’s working hard to get over his childhood and dubious past actions. He’s desperate to move forward, to be a better man, to do something good for his friends and found family….. If only he could get past his inclination to keep his issues locked down and let himself be vulnerable and open up his heart.
Eden Fitzgerald is opinionated, feisty and stubborn, she has a tendency to jump in feet first without thinking through the consequence of her actions. Although unfounded guilt has kept her isolated from her loved ones she knows her own mind and won’t let anyone tell her what to do. When she wants something she’ll go all out to get it.
This story runs at the perfect pace and you can’t help but cheer the MCs on, even when you want to bang their heads together. There are appearances by all the Fitzgerald siblings that we’ve come to know and love in previous books and also some great new characters like Bennett, the adorable, if innocent golden retriever.
There are open door spicy scenes in this book.
I read an ebook cover of this excellent read, with around 380 pages, great editing and a gorgeous cover I highly recommend this book and series!
With thanks to Carrie Elks for the chance to read an early copy of this book. All comments are my own, honest and unbiased opinion.
♦️ Marriage Of Convenience
♥️ Brother’s Best Friend
♠️ Small Town Romance
♣️ Spicy 🔥🔥🔥
♦️ Alpha Hero
♥️ Feisty MFC
♠️ Protective Brothers
♣️ Age Gap Romance
Just Until You Love Me is the third (#3) book in the ‘THE FITZGERALDS’ series.
When West Abbot receives a call to bail his best friend’s little sister out of jail he’s not expecting to wake up the next morning married to her!
He needs the marriage to smooth out an important business deal, but once the deal goes through they can get an annulment and go on with their separate lives. Easy right?
However, the more time he spends with Eden Fitzgerald the closer they grow, until West realises that he’d burn the world down for a chance at a future with this infuriating, feisty and opinionated woman.
——————————
Carrie Elks can do no wrong!! Once again she has hit the nail on the head with this third instalment of the Fitzgeralds series. It has everything you could look for in a romance book - tension, passion, angst, humour, vile protagonists, alpha males, and feisty women.
Carrie has an awesome ability to get into the heart of her characters and to deal with dark subject matters in a compassionate and understandable manner whilst injecting just the right amount of humour into every situation. Carrie’s writing draws you in, lifts you up and the pages simply seem like they are turning themselves. It’s addictive.
West Abbot has had a rough life but he’s working hard to get over his childhood and dubious past actions. He’s desperate to move forward, to be a better man, to do something good for his friends and found family….. If only he could get past his inclination to keep his issues locked down and let himself be vulnerable and open up his heart.
Eden Fitzgerald is opinionated, feisty and stubborn, she has a tendency to jump in feet first without thinking through the consequence of her actions. Although unfounded guilt has kept her isolated from her loved ones she knows her own mind and won’t let anyone tell her what to do. When she wants something she’ll go all out to get it.
This story runs at the perfect pace and you can’t help but cheer the MCs on, even when you want to bang their heads together. There are appearances by all the Fitzgerald siblings that we’ve come to know and love in previous books and also some great new characters like Bennett, the adorable, if innocent golden retriever.
There are open door spicy scenes in this book.
I read an ebook cover of this excellent read, with around 380 pages, great editing and a gorgeous cover I highly recommend this book and series!
With thanks to Carrie Elks for the chance to read an early copy of this book. All comments are my own, honest and unbiased opinion.
♦️ Marriage Of Convenience
♥️ Brother’s Best Friend
♠️ Small Town Romance
♣️ Spicy 🔥🔥🔥
♦️ Alpha Hero
♥️ Feisty MFC
♠️ Protective Brothers
♣️ Age Gap Romance
July 30, 2026
Just Until You Love Me
by Carrie Elks
with Wyeth Watts (Narrator); Vivienne Page (Narrator)
I received an ARC of this audiobook from Netgalley.
Trigger Warnings: Older Man/Younger Woman, sexual dominance, mafia vibes
Tropes: Fake Marriage, Have to stay in same bed, Older Man/Younger Woman, Damsel in Distress, Vegas Marriage, Mafia Ties
Narrators: *****
Plot: ***
Romance: **
Believability: **
Swoon-worthiness: **
Character Development: **
Secondary Characters: ***
All other characters: ***
My take on the plot:
Man saves woman unnecessarily, man saves woman for no valid reason, man and wife stay married for no valid reason, they have to stay in the same bed for no valid reason, the romance is barely there, them falling in love is the best part
To be fair, these plot points are incredibly difficult to write in 2026. especially since so many believable situations have already been written about, and also because writers love their characters and it’s difficult to condemn them to harsh circumstances
It’s also a difficult thing to write long enough to entice others, but short enough for a publisher to pick up.
I think this book has all of the ability to become five stars if given more time. With a few edits the circumstances could be believable. The characters as a whole could have been so much further developed. The romance could have been deeper.
I liked this book and I do recommend it. I really love the way Carrie Elks does world development, conversations, witty banter, fun, familial bonds, characters growing as people, pranks, passion, and knowledge. It is clear that Carrie did a lot of research.
I think 95% of this book is great, and if given the ability to edit that this book could be five stars.
The writer talent is 100% there. Carrie Elks is absolutely a writer worth your time and to keep an eye out for in future books.
The character development that is already written is 95% great. I just think the characters have room to be developed further.
Please don’t take my 3 stars and critique to mean this book isn’t worthy. It is absolutely worth your time to listen to.
by Carrie Elks
with Wyeth Watts (Narrator); Vivienne Page (Narrator)
I received an ARC of this audiobook from Netgalley.
Trigger Warnings: Older Man/Younger Woman, sexual dominance, mafia vibes
Tropes: Fake Marriage, Have to stay in same bed, Older Man/Younger Woman, Damsel in Distress, Vegas Marriage, Mafia Ties
Narrators: *****
Plot: ***
Romance: **
Believability: **
Swoon-worthiness: **
Character Development: **
Secondary Characters: ***
All other characters: ***
My take on the plot:
Man saves woman unnecessarily, man saves woman for no valid reason, man and wife stay married for no valid reason, they have to stay in the same bed for no valid reason, the romance is barely there, them falling in love is the best part
To be fair, these plot points are incredibly difficult to write in 2026. especially since so many believable situations have already been written about, and also because writers love their characters and it’s difficult to condemn them to harsh circumstances
It’s also a difficult thing to write long enough to entice others, but short enough for a publisher to pick up.
I think this book has all of the ability to become five stars if given more time. With a few edits the circumstances could be believable. The characters as a whole could have been so much further developed. The romance could have been deeper.
I liked this book and I do recommend it. I really love the way Carrie Elks does world development, conversations, witty banter, fun, familial bonds, characters growing as people, pranks, passion, and knowledge. It is clear that Carrie did a lot of research.
I think 95% of this book is great, and if given the ability to edit that this book could be five stars.
The writer talent is 100% there. Carrie Elks is absolutely a writer worth your time and to keep an eye out for in future books.
The character development that is already written is 95% great. I just think the characters have room to be developed further.
Please don’t take my 3 stars and critique to mean this book isn’t worthy. It is absolutely worth your time to listen to.
July 29, 2026
This book had me convinced it was heading for a solid 4.5 or even 5 stars… and then the last 15% happened.
West? Absolutely obsessed. This man wanted to be the one Eden cried to. He got on his knees in a library to beg for her forgiveness. He was honest, vulnerable, and completely gone for her. Say less. 🫠
I also really liked Eden. She isn’t one of those heroines who constantly makes terrible decisions just to move the plot along. She’s intelligent, understands what’s at stake for West’s business, and is more than capable of matching him. Their chemistry was fantastic, and somehow Carrie Elks made me completely buy into a relationship that turned physical much faster than I usually prefer. Plus, the running jokes about adopting Bennett had me smiling every time.
…And then the book decided everyone needed to temporarily forget how to communicate.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
The entire relationship is built on honesty, yet suddenly we’re keeping secrets, making bizarre decisions, and creating a third-act breakup that honestly didn’t need to exist. West spends the whole book wanting Eden to know the real him, but then hides the truth. Eden literally outsmarts the villain in a poker game, saves the day… and *then* leaves West because he didn’t tell her himself. Girl. You were so close.
Everything is eventually resolved exactly the way I expected it would be: by telling the truth. Which made me wonder why we took the scenic route through Miscommunication Mountain in the first place.
It’s frustrating because I genuinely adored these characters for most of the book. The chemistry was there. The emotional moments absolutely landed. West is the kind of romance hero I eat up every single time. I just wish the ending had trusted the relationship enough to let the conflict come from something other than an unnecessary breakup.
Still worth reading for West alone… but I’m pretending the last few chapters happened in an alternate universe.
A special thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!
West? Absolutely obsessed. This man wanted to be the one Eden cried to. He got on his knees in a library to beg for her forgiveness. He was honest, vulnerable, and completely gone for her. Say less. 🫠
I also really liked Eden. She isn’t one of those heroines who constantly makes terrible decisions just to move the plot along. She’s intelligent, understands what’s at stake for West’s business, and is more than capable of matching him. Their chemistry was fantastic, and somehow Carrie Elks made me completely buy into a relationship that turned physical much faster than I usually prefer. Plus, the running jokes about adopting Bennett had me smiling every time.
…And then the book decided everyone needed to temporarily forget how to communicate.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
The entire relationship is built on honesty, yet suddenly we’re keeping secrets, making bizarre decisions, and creating a third-act breakup that honestly didn’t need to exist. West spends the whole book wanting Eden to know the real him, but then hides the truth. Eden literally outsmarts the villain in a poker game, saves the day… and *then* leaves West because he didn’t tell her himself. Girl. You were so close.
Everything is eventually resolved exactly the way I expected it would be: by telling the truth. Which made me wonder why we took the scenic route through Miscommunication Mountain in the first place.
It’s frustrating because I genuinely adored these characters for most of the book. The chemistry was there. The emotional moments absolutely landed. West is the kind of romance hero I eat up every single time. I just wish the ending had trusted the relationship enough to let the conflict come from something other than an unnecessary breakup.
Still worth reading for West alone… but I’m pretending the last few chapters happened in an alternate universe.
A special thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!
July 30, 2026
Thank you Tantor Media, NetGalley and Carrie Elks for this ALC. This is my first book by Carrie Elks and it won’t be my last! This is book three in the series called: The Fitzgeralds. Being book three I didn’t feel lost at all. This could be read as a standalone. I will be going back to listen to those books though.
This was a great book; it drew me in right away. It was brothers’ best friend, age gap and marriage of convivence.
Eden feels like she’s always been a bit of a screw up. She always lets her passion for saving the world take her places and feels like her family is exhausted by her. She hasn’t been home in a long time because she carries a lot of guilt when it comes to her family. However, her sister is having a baby, and she’s asked her to come home to see her for a bit. The only problem is on her way home she stops in Vegas and finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and gets thrown in jail.
West is a lawyer (well known playboy) and the best friend to Eden’s big brother. As well they are business partners opening a small town a resort. He’s played on the grey side of the law over the years getting people out of tricky situations. He’s in LA trying to secure some extra money to help with payments for the resort and dealing with a bit of a mobster when he gets the call that Eden’s in jail and gets there right away to help.
One thing leads to another when Eden can’t help herself and they have no choice but to get married. However, they will just have it annulled and no one will ever need to know. But again.... one thing leads to another, and they need to keep the act going till it’s not such an act, it’s becoming real. At least behind closed doors and not in front of her family. Her brothers can’t find out!
This book has some good surprises in it and makes you want to route for the couple!
Both narrators were new to me and I really enjoyed them both - Wyeth Watts and Vivienne Page. I’m excited to see they narrated both book one and two as well!
This was a great book; it drew me in right away. It was brothers’ best friend, age gap and marriage of convivence.
Eden feels like she’s always been a bit of a screw up. She always lets her passion for saving the world take her places and feels like her family is exhausted by her. She hasn’t been home in a long time because she carries a lot of guilt when it comes to her family. However, her sister is having a baby, and she’s asked her to come home to see her for a bit. The only problem is on her way home she stops in Vegas and finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and gets thrown in jail.
West is a lawyer (well known playboy) and the best friend to Eden’s big brother. As well they are business partners opening a small town a resort. He’s played on the grey side of the law over the years getting people out of tricky situations. He’s in LA trying to secure some extra money to help with payments for the resort and dealing with a bit of a mobster when he gets the call that Eden’s in jail and gets there right away to help.
One thing leads to another when Eden can’t help herself and they have no choice but to get married. However, they will just have it annulled and no one will ever need to know. But again.... one thing leads to another, and they need to keep the act going till it’s not such an act, it’s becoming real. At least behind closed doors and not in front of her family. Her brothers can’t find out!
This book has some good surprises in it and makes you want to route for the couple!
Both narrators were new to me and I really enjoyed them both - Wyeth Watts and Vivienne Page. I’m excited to see they narrated both book one and two as well!
July 28, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💜📚
I love an age-gap romance and a good fake marriage trope, so this book was right up my alley! ❤️💍 I had such a fun time reading it.
The story follows Maddie, who gets arrested in Los Angeles during a protest. Her brother’s best friend, West Abbott, comes to bail her out, but their night takes an unexpected turn when they end up at a casino. After Maddie causes another scene by exposing a poker cheat, West impulsively claims that she is his fiancée to smooth things over. The casino owner, who happens to be the brother of West’s new investor, insists on celebrating the engagement immediately—and before they know it, Maddie and West are married! 💍✨
The next morning, they plan to get an annulment, but West’s business deal depends on keeping up the appearance of a happy marriage. They agree to stay married until the new resort project is completed and the financial issues are settled. What starts as a convenient arrangement soon becomes much more complicated as real feelings begin to grow. ❤️🔥
I loved the chemistry between West and Maddie. Their constant banter, opposite personalities, and stubbornness made them so entertaining to read. The age-gap, brother's best friend, and fake marriage tropes blended together perfectly, making it impossible not to root for them. 🥰
I also enjoyed the emotional side of the story. It wasn't just about romance—the conflict between love, family expectations, and personal beliefs gave the relationship more depth and made the characters feel real.
Overall, this was a sweet, funny, and heartwarming romance with great chemistry, lovable characters, and all the fake marriage chaos I could ask for. If you enjoy fake marriages, age-gap romance, brother's best friend, and lots of romantic tension, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up! 💕✨📖
I love an age-gap romance and a good fake marriage trope, so this book was right up my alley! ❤️💍 I had such a fun time reading it.
The story follows Maddie, who gets arrested in Los Angeles during a protest. Her brother’s best friend, West Abbott, comes to bail her out, but their night takes an unexpected turn when they end up at a casino. After Maddie causes another scene by exposing a poker cheat, West impulsively claims that she is his fiancée to smooth things over. The casino owner, who happens to be the brother of West’s new investor, insists on celebrating the engagement immediately—and before they know it, Maddie and West are married! 💍✨
The next morning, they plan to get an annulment, but West’s business deal depends on keeping up the appearance of a happy marriage. They agree to stay married until the new resort project is completed and the financial issues are settled. What starts as a convenient arrangement soon becomes much more complicated as real feelings begin to grow. ❤️🔥
I loved the chemistry between West and Maddie. Their constant banter, opposite personalities, and stubbornness made them so entertaining to read. The age-gap, brother's best friend, and fake marriage tropes blended together perfectly, making it impossible not to root for them. 🥰
I also enjoyed the emotional side of the story. It wasn't just about romance—the conflict between love, family expectations, and personal beliefs gave the relationship more depth and made the characters feel real.
Overall, this was a sweet, funny, and heartwarming romance with great chemistry, lovable characters, and all the fake marriage chaos I could ask for. If you enjoy fake marriages, age-gap romance, brother's best friend, and lots of romantic tension, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up! 💕✨📖
June 2, 2026
West and Eden's story was a good one--Filled with good banter, excitement, a bit of drama and spice.
West is BFF's with Eden brothers and Parker, Eden's BIL. He's the "playboy" of the group and the legal man. He's also heading the resort project along with Hudson and Parker on Liberty island.
Eden is the do-gooder baby sister who is off saving the world on all her adventures. More like hiding from family.
Eden ends up arrested in Vegas during a protest. She was innocent but her one phone call goes to Autumn (her sister) who calls West to bail her out. West does this but he trusts her to stay put at their hotel while he grabs a call. She notices a high stakes poker game going on and there is cheating and she calls them on it. To save her from trouble West claims her to be his fiancé. The owner of the hotel is related to Vin, a bad guy, who West needs to invest in his resort project. He arranges for the immediate marriage for West and Eden, to be nice and help them out. West swears to annul the marriage as soon as possible so Eden will agree and cooperate, all while they will keep it secret from her family. All goes well until things take on a more physical and then emotional turn for this couple. But when one doesn't truly open up about things that are sure to come up in the course of their relationship, the other feels left out and that can really do damage in the long run.
This was fun to read. There were funny parts, good banter and the list of characters always willing to help out--even a couple of additions to the cast. Characters who never saw that they fit in anywhere, who were lonely and felt left out of things, find their place. It was a nice read. I know Zach's story is next but I do hope to read about Jesse and now Bennett somewhere--they need stories too.
West is BFF's with Eden brothers and Parker, Eden's BIL. He's the "playboy" of the group and the legal man. He's also heading the resort project along with Hudson and Parker on Liberty island.
Eden is the do-gooder baby sister who is off saving the world on all her adventures. More like hiding from family.
Eden ends up arrested in Vegas during a protest. She was innocent but her one phone call goes to Autumn (her sister) who calls West to bail her out. West does this but he trusts her to stay put at their hotel while he grabs a call. She notices a high stakes poker game going on and there is cheating and she calls them on it. To save her from trouble West claims her to be his fiancé. The owner of the hotel is related to Vin, a bad guy, who West needs to invest in his resort project. He arranges for the immediate marriage for West and Eden, to be nice and help them out. West swears to annul the marriage as soon as possible so Eden will agree and cooperate, all while they will keep it secret from her family. All goes well until things take on a more physical and then emotional turn for this couple. But when one doesn't truly open up about things that are sure to come up in the course of their relationship, the other feels left out and that can really do damage in the long run.
This was fun to read. There were funny parts, good banter and the list of characters always willing to help out--even a couple of additions to the cast. Characters who never saw that they fit in anywhere, who were lonely and felt left out of things, find their place. It was a nice read. I know Zach's story is next but I do hope to read about Jesse and now Bennett somewhere--they need stories too.
July 29, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this amazing audiobook!! 🏨👨⚖️💸 x 🗣️✊🌍
Now this was an enemies-to-lovers that I do enjoy! That, paired with how long they have known each other, makes this more of a brothers' best friend type of thing + the marriage in Vegas, and you have a killer combo.
Let's start with the basics! I havent heard/ read any of the previous books in the series, and honestly, I felt like this didn't take anything from this book and its development; if anything, it made me want to read them from the beginning to see more of the characters.
West and Eden, despite them both starting with the wrong impression of one another - Eden hero-worshiped West a little in the beginning when he first went to pick her up from the jail, and West thought of her as this aimless activist.
But the more the lie of their marriage grew - with Vince, the mafia stakeholder of West's upcoming hotel, coming into the picture and sending his nephew (aka the CUTEST dude ever that they basically adopted), they grew closer and closer throughout the book, making this marriage into a real partnership.
- I LOVED the parts of him being all mooshy and sending kisses through text and then pouting when she didn't do the same!
- Her family was so amazing! Yes, they did butt in to many things, and yeah, especially her brothers were a bit overprotective, but as a whole they were there for each other when it mattered, and especially when they figured out what Vin was holding over West's head.
- On the slight cons, the sex scenes were not the best for me... Especially in the beginning, it felt like she warmed up too fast for someone who was 90% of the time mean to her, and then he kicked her out of the room...
Now this was an enemies-to-lovers that I do enjoy! That, paired with how long they have known each other, makes this more of a brothers' best friend type of thing + the marriage in Vegas, and you have a killer combo.
Let's start with the basics! I havent heard/ read any of the previous books in the series, and honestly, I felt like this didn't take anything from this book and its development; if anything, it made me want to read them from the beginning to see more of the characters.
West and Eden, despite them both starting with the wrong impression of one another - Eden hero-worshiped West a little in the beginning when he first went to pick her up from the jail, and West thought of her as this aimless activist.
But the more the lie of their marriage grew - with Vince, the mafia stakeholder of West's upcoming hotel, coming into the picture and sending his nephew (aka the CUTEST dude ever that they basically adopted), they grew closer and closer throughout the book, making this marriage into a real partnership.
- I LOVED the parts of him being all mooshy and sending kisses through text and then pouting when she didn't do the same!
- Her family was so amazing! Yes, they did butt in to many things, and yeah, especially her brothers were a bit overprotective, but as a whole they were there for each other when it mattered, and especially when they figured out what Vin was holding over West's head.
- On the slight cons, the sex scenes were not the best for me... Especially in the beginning, it felt like she warmed up too fast for someone who was 90% of the time mean to her, and then he kicked her out of the room...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for providing the Advanced Reader Copy of Just Until You Love Me by Carrie Elkes in exchange for an honest review.
I had never read Carrie Elkes before listening to the audio of Just Until You Love Me, but after finishing I immediately opened my Audible App and bought the first two books in her Fitzgerald series. The narrators, Wyeth Watts and Vivienne Page, brought to life the humor, heart, and passion of all the characters to such an extent that I found myself laughing in places and wanting to champion characters in others.
Through a series of unfortunate events, West and Eden enter a marriage of convenience. They agree to keep the marriage a secret from her family. Even though West has been part of the family for years, he and Eden worry that her family will be furious with them because of the age difference and West’s playboy reputation.
As they get to know one another, they learn to trust each other and share with one another traumas they have been carrying around since childhood. For West, the by-product of his trauma has led to him not being able to commit due to the fear of being left; for Eden, the by-product of her trauma leads to the inability to stay home on the island where her siblings live due to guilt.
Though I love the humor Elkes breathes into the novel, the story is richer because of the serious issues each character needs to work through in order to trust one another. Much of the comical scenes in the book star the side characters…my favorites – Bennett and Autumn – though all of them bring a certain charm to the story.
Even though I did not have to read the first two novels in this series to enjoy it, I cannot wait to listen to them and get to know the family better.
I had never read Carrie Elkes before listening to the audio of Just Until You Love Me, but after finishing I immediately opened my Audible App and bought the first two books in her Fitzgerald series. The narrators, Wyeth Watts and Vivienne Page, brought to life the humor, heart, and passion of all the characters to such an extent that I found myself laughing in places and wanting to champion characters in others.
Through a series of unfortunate events, West and Eden enter a marriage of convenience. They agree to keep the marriage a secret from her family. Even though West has been part of the family for years, he and Eden worry that her family will be furious with them because of the age difference and West’s playboy reputation.
As they get to know one another, they learn to trust each other and share with one another traumas they have been carrying around since childhood. For West, the by-product of his trauma has led to him not being able to commit due to the fear of being left; for Eden, the by-product of her trauma leads to the inability to stay home on the island where her siblings live due to guilt.
Though I love the humor Elkes breathes into the novel, the story is richer because of the serious issues each character needs to work through in order to trust one another. Much of the comical scenes in the book star the side characters…my favorites – Bennett and Autumn – though all of them bring a certain charm to the story.
Even though I did not have to read the first two novels in this series to enjoy it, I cannot wait to listen to them and get to know the family better.
July 28, 2026
Just Until You Love Me is an age gap, marriage of convenience romance featuring West, a billionaire property developer with dubious morals, and Eden, an environmentalist and the little sister of West's best friend. I had high hopes for this one, but unfortunately it fell a bit short based on how the book is advertised. West is described as a morally gray business man and the opposite of everything Eden believes in. West is a billionaire, so a point for immorality there. Another point to West's immorality when he thinks about breaking Eden's wrist. A third point for getting an erection every single time he and Eden happen to touch, even if it's completely non-romantic, and saying "well can you blame me I'm a man with urges." So West is a immoral, but not in the way he's described in the blurb. When I heard morally gray business man, I was thinking it was going to be a Richard Gere in Pretty Woman kind of situation where he profits off of other people's unfortunate situations but is inspired by Vivian/Eden to change his ways, but West was always pretty receptive to Eden's beliefs and ideas about making the resort West was developing more environmentally friendly. Which is fine, it's just not the impression I got from the blurb.
I also feel like they were never really enemies, despite the book being tagged as enemies to lovers. They argued sometimes, but they hooked up really quickly. But it's weird because the hookup also kind of came from out of nowhere. It was more acquaintances-to-instalove in a very whiplashed sense.
Some parts were also pretty cringe worthy, like when West described himself as having a dark soul, or when Eden got mad at West for not telling her something about his childhood despite the fact they had only been married for like a month. Both characters seemed a bit immature at times. The book was fine, just suffered from some false-ish advertising.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the ALC.
I also feel like they were never really enemies, despite the book being tagged as enemies to lovers. They argued sometimes, but they hooked up really quickly. But it's weird because the hookup also kind of came from out of nowhere. It was more acquaintances-to-instalove in a very whiplashed sense.
Some parts were also pretty cringe worthy, like when West described himself as having a dark soul, or when Eden got mad at West for not telling her something about his childhood despite the fact they had only been married for like a month. Both characters seemed a bit immature at times. The book was fine, just suffered from some false-ish advertising.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the ALC.
March 5, 2026
Really enjoyed this book, but then again I love anything that Carrie Elks publishes.
I have in fact read it twice since it was published as I tend to rush my read to get it finished and then read at a more leisurely pace not to miss anything!!
This time we focus on Eden and West. West is Hudson’s best friend and Eden his younger sister. Although we haven’t met Eden before, she is mentioned in previous books as she is “off saving the world” and is a big environmentalist.
Eden gets herself into a bit of a situation and calls her sister Autumn, who then calls West, and as he is very good at fixing things manages to sort things out.
It is not spoiler to say they get married in Vegas and they then return to Liberty Island, where West is building a resort. Eden stays with him under the pretence that she is going to work with him and he has plenty of room.
Loved how their relationship developed and that Eden saw the real West, although he still stayed quite closed off to her. West realised that his feelings were changing but that Eden is the younger sister of his best friend.
Don’t want to spoil it but when West realises just who his investor is and how he wants to destroy West, we see how strong Eden can be. He realises that he needs to open up more.
Again, a lovely addition to the series. Younger brother Zach appears at the end and I think I had already guessed who his love interest will be so can’t wait for that. Also would be good to understand more about the other brother Whyatt, the Emoji king!!
I have in fact read it twice since it was published as I tend to rush my read to get it finished and then read at a more leisurely pace not to miss anything!!
This time we focus on Eden and West. West is Hudson’s best friend and Eden his younger sister. Although we haven’t met Eden before, she is mentioned in previous books as she is “off saving the world” and is a big environmentalist.
Eden gets herself into a bit of a situation and calls her sister Autumn, who then calls West, and as he is very good at fixing things manages to sort things out.
It is not spoiler to say they get married in Vegas and they then return to Liberty Island, where West is building a resort. Eden stays with him under the pretence that she is going to work with him and he has plenty of room.
Loved how their relationship developed and that Eden saw the real West, although he still stayed quite closed off to her. West realised that his feelings were changing but that Eden is the younger sister of his best friend.
Don’t want to spoil it but when West realises just who his investor is and how he wants to destroy West, we see how strong Eden can be. He realises that he needs to open up more.
Again, a lovely addition to the series. Younger brother Zach appears at the end and I think I had already guessed who his love interest will be so can’t wait for that. Also would be good to understand more about the other brother Whyatt, the Emoji king!!
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