Bittersweet Promises

Montgomery Ink Legacy, Book 1

By: Carrie Ann Ryan

Narrated by: Joe Arden, Maxine Mitchell

Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling Author Carrie Ann Ryan returns with the next generation of Montgomerys and a second-chance romance bound in memory and heat.

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 Brooke’s face—for years.

Until he visits his cousin’s house and sees who’s 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.

And with one look, Brooke knows that she can’t fight the desire that pulled them together before, despite the skeletons in both their closets.

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

The Next Gen of the Montgomerys

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.

Love the narrators, they did amazing on this one.

The next generation of Montgomery's begins

So another generation of Montgomery's begins. As the first book, it starts with a bang. And Liam is such a sweet man now. When his past comes back to haunt him, will he be able to protect Brooke. And don't forget how the Montgomery's circle the wagons when one is in trouble. Watching Brooke and Liam rekindle their love, as we watch the next generation come into their own, is sweet. It's a second chance that was meant to be.

Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell kill it as usual. I mean, how can you go wrong with that combination?

Leif and Brooke

"𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙚, 𝘽𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙚."
"𝙏𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣," 𝙄 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙.
"𝙄'𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝘽𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙚. 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙙."

Bittersweet Promises by Carrie Ann Ryan is the first book in the Montgomery Ink Legacy series which is Leif and Brooke’s story.

Leif and Brook had a tryst in Paris, fell in love and made plans to meet back in Denver but neither showed up. Years later, Brooke and her son are in Denver and when she comes face-to-face with Leif, they both wonder if they can move past the past and move forward together.

Leif and Brooke did not lose any chemistry between when they were in Paris and her return to Denver. I fell in love with Luke (Brooke's son) as he was so adorable. They make a great family together.

I have not read a lot of the Montgomery books so I did not know a lot of the characters in the story but this was a good start to a new series with the next generation.

Audio... Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell did a great job as always with the narration.

4 Maple Leafs for Bittersweet Promises which contains… artist (tattoo), single mom, second chance, romantic suspense, dual first-person point of view.

Excellent read

I absolutely enjoyed reading Leif and Brooke's story. I was hooked from page one. I loved the way the story flowed and the plot kept me reading. Narrators are amazing. I loved listening to the performance of them.

Such a great love story

Many times we run in fear thinking it'll help those we love. Running is never the answer.

Wonderful!

A wonderful story of two people who met many years ago only to have a miscommunication keep them apart for 10 years. A chance meeting and the sparks fly once again. Leif and Brooke's journey back to a HEA is heartwarming with a few twists to their story.

A great start to the next generation of Montgomery's. Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell were awesome!

Great story! Super excited for another generation!

I absolutely loved this story! I loved finally getting Leif's story but this can definitely be a new place to pick up in the world of the Montgomery's but lots of extra goodies if you have read any of the Montgomery world before. I loved watching Leif and Brooke reconnect and work things out. They had a miscommunication that gets cleared up here that had them separated for 10 years. I loved how they looked at it as well. Luke, Brooke's son, is absolutely adorable!!!! I loved so many aspects of this story as it pulled me in from beginning to end. I just adored this story. Brooke and Leif both have things that they need to deal with and while things aren't exactly the easiest time to make things work for a serious relationship, they can't not give it a try either and I loved watching them work through the obstacles and build their relationship. I loved getting to see our older generation of Montgomery's as well as getting to know this generation as they are adults/becoming adults. I loved watching that sense of family that they cultivate come through again with a new set of characters. I am soooo excited for Lake's and Nick's story next!

OMG! Leif all grown up!

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.

Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden 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.

Much Awaited…Leif’s Story!

I have been reading the Montgomery Ink Series since the beginning and I am a huge fan of Carrie Ann Ryan! It’s so exciting to now be able to follow the next generation! When I tell you I have been waiting anxiously for Leif’s story I mean it. Brooke is such a likeable character and her and Leif’s story is a unique one you would’ve never expected. There is nothing like a good old second chance love story and Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell did a fantastic job narrating their love story. If you love Carrie Ann Ryan and you love the Montgomery’s, this book is for you!

great story!

Bittersweet Promises is the first book in the next generation series of Montgomery Ink. This book revolves around Leif Montgomery and Brooke Alder. These characters have a history from years ago in Paris, but after a misunderstanding found themselves apart for nine years. During this time Brooke became a single mother (not a secret baby story). Brooke moves back to Colorado to find herself surrounded by Montogomery's. She thought it was a coincidence until she finds out Leif is her neighbor's cousin and best friend. after that no matter where she went, she would bump into him, and he would make it clear that he wanted her.
Brooke is super smart and works as a professor at a university. She has her priorities in order and that's her son. but that does not make everyone she works with happy, especially when they wanted her job. Leif has his past that is coming back to haunt him as well.
I love that this book had little drama and lots of swoon. I also loved that going into this without reading the first-generation books I still was not lost and feel like I didn't lose out by jumping into this series first.
The voice actors for this book did an amazing job bringing these characters to life!
ARC exchanged for honest review