Bittersweet Promises

Montgomery Ink Legacy, Book 1

By: Carrie Ann Ryan

Narrated by: Emma Wilder, Tim Paige

With one look, Brooke knows that she cant fight the desire that pulled them together before, despite the skeletons in both their closets.

Leif Montgomery fell hard for Brooke Alder in Paris when they were young, and he thought their fling was just an early taste of what life had in store for him.

But life had other plans, and he didn't find that kind of love—or see Brookes face—for years.

Until he visits his cousins house and sees whos moved in next door.

They've both changed: she's a struggling single mom, he's running from a past he's trying to hide while opening up a new tattoo shop. Yet the moment he sees her again, he knows she's the one for him.

©2022 Carrie Ann Ryan (P)2022 Carrie Ann Ryan

A beautiful second chance

Timing is everything sometimes. Bittersweet Promises is a second chance romance that brings to you a couple that met and fell in lust when they were young and made plans to meet up but something happened and they didn't meet up. Now ten years later they run into each other unexpectedly and the sparks are still there. Leif may be all grown up but he still has his past that he struggles with and getting a second chance with Brooke is something he wasn't expecting but feels like the best gift. Brooke was becoming very set in her ways and focused on a career and raising her son, running into Leif forces her to take another look at her life.
I love how the focus was on regaining a friendship first, though Leif was very clear in what he wants he knows he can only push so far and fast with Brooke. This was a beautiful story of what allowing someone into your life can be like and opening up the curtains to allow someone to see past your strong walls.

Loved!

This is Leif’s book and it was perfection! I couldn’t wait for his book to see how things would play out for Austin and Sierra’s son. We meet Brooke a single mom who just moved back to Colorado and when moving into her new house with her little boy Luke, she crosses paths with the last person she ever expected to see Leif.

The story was so good and couldn’t get enough and can’t wait for the next one by the author.

Love Leif

I absolutely cannot get enough of the Montgomery Ink books. Really enjoyed reading about Brooke and Leif's story. I devoured this book so fast.

The Next Generation of Montgomerys

Leif all grown up has to be some kind of wrong. But, like all children, even fictional ones grow up. He's bearded and tatted, but still personable guy. The last person he expected to see moving next door to his cousin Lake was Brooke Adler...with a young son, Luke. They shared many great moments in Paris but miscommunication about dates had them missing each other stateside. This second chance romance was hot and steamy. The attraction and chemistry was still there between the two. Leif and Luke also had a connection. I loved how we got to see characters from the Montgomery Ink series. It was like visiting with old friends.

Leif and Brooke have their own sets of confict going on. Brooke's stems from her new position as a research professor and the resentful colleague. Leif has a lot of feelings of inadequacy being among his great and successful family. Since he didn't grow up Montgomery, he still had feelings of not belonging. Even though Leif and Brooke were lovers in the past, I liked how the author didn't rush them into a relationship. They reconnected as friends first, building trust and communicating.

Emma Wilder and Tim Paige are stellar narrators with the gift of telling these characters' stories and brining them to life.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this review.

Sweet and emotion second chance romance

**Audiobook Review**
I love the Montgomerys and I’m so happy that we’re back in their world with the next generation. I have been waiting for Leif’s story and I was not disappointed at all. “Bittersweet Promises” is a sweet, emotional story and Leif and Brooke pulled me in immediately.

Brooke has moved back to Colorado with her son, Luke, and has accepted a job as professor at the University in town. On her first day, she runs into her first Montgomery and also the one she knew from ten years ago, Leif. Leif and Brooke shared a deep connection in Paris and after a misunderstanding, the two lost touch. The spark they had is still there and as they navigate a relationship, someone from Leif’s past comes back to cause trouble.

I loved the instant chemistry between Brooke and Leif. I could feel it as I listened and loved how right these two were for each other. Even if Leif came into the Montgomery family later than he should have, he is one through and through. Leif is honest, genuine and wants to help his friends and family in any way that he can. Brooke is a classic mama bear wanting the best for her son and doing everything she needed to do to make sure he was healthy and happy. Brooke and Luke were pulled so seamlessly into the family and that’s one of my favorite things about the Montgomerys. The little teaser we get for the next book has me anxiously waiting for it and I can’t wait to listen to it.

Tim Paige and Emma Wilder narrated as Leif and Brooke and I loved listening to them. Tim was great as Leif and I loved that he brought all of the Montgomery magic alive. Emma was perfect as Brooke. Her narration was on point and she brought all of Brooke’s emotions and caring personality to life wonderfully.

Bittersweet Promises

And just like that I am hooked on the next generation of Montgomerys. Leif and Brooke have a past from their time together in Paris, but now she is moving back to Denver as a single mother. Leif is trying to live up to the Montgomery name, while also being himself. Of course there are things both have to over come, and I loved every moment of their journey. Luke is just the cutest as well! In normally Carrie Ann Ryan fashion, we got a pick into the next book… Let me just say that I do not want to wait for Lake’s book at all! I can’t wait to watch this new generation fall in love.

Exceptional launch to the next generation!!

Tim and Emma took this audio book to a whole new level. They embraced the youthfulness yet maturity of their characters, captured my heart and pulled me into their journey. This dream team knocked it out of the park.

Leif blew my mind. I loved his dedication to not letting the spark and connection with Brooke go unchecked. Further, his fierce protectiveness without the need to take control was so hot. I can’t not comment on how sweet and fun Leif’s relationship with Luke was.

Brooke is the epitome of the ultimate self sufficient, brilliant super mom!! But I felt every minute of her self doubt on if she was enough - a good enough mother to Luke or a focused enough professional at work. Her son Luke is hilarious and added the perfect level of levity to the story. But Brooke with Leif is simple undeniable and meant to be. The building tension between Nick and Lake left me anxious for the next installment in the series. Carrie Ann Ryan is just amazing!! She is an absolute must buy!

Bittersweet Promises

This is a sweet story about reconnecting with a lost love. When Brooke moves back to the one place she thinks of as home she never imagined finding Leif there. He is her past and she is looking for a future. The two never thought they would see each other again, especially when they both thought that the other left them. Leif and Brooke’s story will have you hoping and believing in love. As the two work on their own lives, they cannot fight the attraction that sizzles between two of them. It was nice to see Brooke and Leif work through everything. I loved seeing the love that the Montgomery family has for each other and how they embraced Brooke and her son. Narrators Emma Wilder and Tim Paige do a good job of bringing these characters to life.

Fantastic second chance romance

I received this as an arc from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving my honest review.

This was a fantastic second chance romance. It was the first time I’ve read a book by this author and I’m hooked already. She did such a wonderful job describing this whole Montgomery family that even though I hadn’t read any of other books about the family, I felt as though I knew them. Leif and Brooke had such amazing chemistry and I loved them both. Their story had steam, romance and some drama. I simply loved it and then came the last chapter and that just about did me in, I’m so incredibly thankful that I have the next book already and I can’t wait to dive in.

Audiobook review: Absolutely amazing narration by Emma Wilder and Tim Paige. They were perfect as Leif and Brooke and I was totally blown away by them.

...turns tempting heartache into enduring love.

A second chance story that creeps under the skin and takes aim at the heart. Ryan is the ultimate storyteller. Her gift for words stirs up a depth of emotion. Bittersweet Promises turns tempting heartache into enduring love. Brooke and Leif are a love ballad in need of a bit of fine tuning. Paige and Wilder breathe life into a love story of epic proportions.