His Reason to Stay

Jennifer Hoopes

Dec 2019 · The Ellis Family Saga Book 1 · Sold by Entangled: Bliss

About this ebook

Award-winning wildlife photographer, Elijah Ellis, has come back home due to the tragic accident that killed members of both his and his best friend Tabitha Brodie’s family. Despite their grief, Eli hopes that he and Tabby can pick up their familiar friendship. He’s never forgotten the way Tabby makes him feel—full of hope and a sense of home—but she seems determined to keep him at arm’s length.

Tabby has always loved Eli. He’s everything she wants in a man. But he left Gatlinburg to make a name for himself outside of his famous family. Even though there’s no one better to help her through this time, she refuses to be an anchor to a life he never wanted. Not to mention Tabby’s hiding a secret that will change all of their lives.

As Eli and Tabby spend more time together, he’s determined to show her they could be perfect together. Too bad she’s spent years building her walls against him...

Ratings and reviews

This was a good solid read for me. I loved both of the main characters that were well developed throughout the story and the plot. Along with a full cast of side characters, Eli's family who completed the picture. Elijah leaves his small town and family behind determined not to be involved with the family business and make his own way in life. He is a famous photographer who takes assignments that leave him traveling the world and almost always isolated and out of touch with his family. While he is completing an assignment he gets word from home albeit late, far too late that there is a family emergency and needs to come home pronto, there has been an accident. When he does arrive, he's too late, misses the funeral, dealing with his grieving and angry family and also Tabby, his longtime close friend who is part of his family as well. Tabitha has long seriously crushed on Eli, but knows him all too well. Knows that he will never stay in their small town and her keeping him at arms length not unusual but definitely more complicated now. She has a secret she's keeping from his family, grieving her own loss and doing the best she can to keep things up and running. Eli's just determined to figure out what's going on. While focusing on her, his relationship with his family is more than strained, dealing with his brothers who resent him for a variety of reasons. Watching Eli's awareness of just how distant he has become was eye opening. And his decision to try and mend those relationships. But things certainly are tenuous at best. His family's overprotectiveness of Tabby leaves him even more unbalanced. What I really loved was Eli's family and how they always shared a meal, that they had family meetings where things were discussed and worked out. That included Tabby always, her sister was married to one of the brothers who were both killed in that tragic accident. Tabby is one stubborn and determined woman. I really liked her and while the secret she kept and her ruminating thoughts on that little piece of information got a little much for me at one point, I understood her need in that situation. I got that she was waiting for the right time and when the right time came, it was a turning point in the story. Loved it. Watching Eli and Tabby trying to work through their issues and Eli's working through his family issues was a great storyline. The dialogue was on point and real. I think that's why I liked this book so much is because it was realistic and gives you a slice of what happens in life when things are totally upended and how you handle that. Great story Jennifer! Can't wait to see more of this family! 4 shining stars arc from NetGalley and Entangled for an honest review

Another winner! I loved this book and quickly found myself totally immersed in the characters' lives. From Tabby, the sweet girl with a secret, to Eli, the sexy photographer who travels endlessly, their tale kept me hooked. This contemporary romance with a twist was a wonderful read. If you enjoy the genre, you will love this book. Put this one at the top of your TBR list. The author is on my must read authors' list.

About the author

Contemporary romance author, Jennifer Hoopes, lives in a small town in Pennsylvania with her husband, and two daughters. Stories have been in her head for as long as she recognized every person had one and figuring out how two people meet and fall in love makes for a rewarding dream job. When not writing she wears the many mom hats of PTO, dance, and music, all while driving a mean, mom-taxi. She loves caramel and roller coasters, plays a solo version of Carpool Karaoke, and cannot live without coffee and Jane Austen adaptations.