New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan continues her sexy new contemporary stand-alone series with a broken heart and the shattered soul that can heal them both.Macon Brady remembers every moment he lay on the ground, a bullet in his chest, his life bleeding out with each pulse. Yet his nightmares aren’t the only thing keeping him up at night.Dakota Bristol left her ex … Bristol left her ex with nothing but the clothes on her back and her child in her arms. She’s been hurt before and wants nothing to do with the shadows in Macon’s eyes. The problem? Her son loves him, and the more time she spends with the man, the more she’s afraid she’ll come to love him just as much.
Danger always comes back to haunt those who run. It was a lesson Dakota learned before. Now, it might be the man she refuses to fall for who makes the greatest sacrifice of all.
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FAR FROM DESTINED by Carrie Ann Ryan. This was a great story of two damaged souls that struggle to find love and happiness. Both Macon and Dakota have been through, shall we say, some rough spots. Dakota, especially is a bit leery of venturing into a relationship. Macon comes across as broody and grumpy but underneath all that, he has a gentle and caring soul. Ms. Ryan certainly brings the reader along for the ride – feeling all the feels that these two go through. Throw in some danger and, well, you have yourself an intriguing story. This is part of a series, and while I think it could be read as a stand alone, there is reference to previous events and previous characters, so reading the other books would probably be best (and those, too, were quite the stories!). (received ARC for honest review)
The Promise Me Series follows the Brady brothers whom we met in Wrapped In Ink (Arden Brady and Liam Montgomery’s story) In Far from Destined (Book 3) we meet Macon Brady who was strongly urged by his brothers, their significant others and friends to take Dakota Bristol out for the evening so that they can discover why they hate each other. They really don’t hate each other…they are just trying to fight their attraction to each other because neither of them want’s to hurt the other or get hurt themselves.
Dakota doesn’t want her son Joshua to get too attached and then have Macon disappear on them but in the meantime her past comes back to haunt her and she discovers that having Macon in their lives helps sooth her soul. Macon is trying to fight his demons literally and figuratively but realizes that all he needs is Dakota and Joshua to calm him down. This book is a great read, fast paced and wonderful characters. I loved it and can’t wait for From Our First (Book 4)
Loving this series. This is book 3 & we get Dakota, a single mom who owns her own coffee shop and Macon, who is a veterinarian. Love how their friends just threw them together to go out. Both are use to dealing with things from their past by themselves. But, once they start going out, their walls come down and wowza!! They have a few things to navigate to get to their HEA!! And, man, Carrie Ann Ryan that ending!!! Can’t wait for book 4!!! You have done such a wonderful job with pairing the Brady brothers with the pact sisters!!!
Just WOW! I had a feeling Macon and Dakota’s story would be great, but Carrie knocked this out of the park! Macon hasn’t been the same since the shooting, but Dakota and her son are the one things that keeps him going – whether she wants him around or not! Dakota left her ex and took her son and has made a new life for herself. The last thing she wants is man, regardless of the dating pact. Everyone else can see their chemistry and when she has her blind date she begins to give in to it. They both have demons to deal with and pushing past them will take everything they have, if they are willing to take a chance. I loved this one so much!!!
A pact and a promise……
Macon almost lost his life helping a friend and would do it again in a heartbeat. Yet the aftermath of being shot has very much messed with his head. He finds an unconventional way of dealing with his stress. It may not be the best choice but he is trying to work out his head. Dakota left her past with the clothes on her body and her baby on her hip, never to look back. Hard work and perseverance have allowed her to become a small business owner and provide for herself and her son. Unfortunately the past doesn’t always stay in the past and came knocking right on Dakota’s front door.
Dakota and Macon have had this like to hate, can’t figure out what their feelings are for one another dance going on for awhile. Macon has even won over the heart of her precious baby boy. Yet Dakota’s past keeps her so guarded towards men, she doesn’t want to hurt herself or her son. Were they really looking for a relationship, no not at all but some way they were able to find something meaningful and deep and let the dance they have been avoiding begin.
Far From Destined is an emotional and heart hitting story in the Promise Me series. Macon and Dakota work so well together. I enjoyed their slow burn romance. Turning something deemed as fake into something very real. They were a team before they even realized it. The brooding veterinarian and the coffee shop momma make one emotionally entertaining read.
Another amazing book from Carrie Ann Ryan. Macon was just trying to get through day to day after his terror he went through. Always having a thing for Dakota. Dakota wanted Macon but not with him fighting. She want that far away from her son, Joshua. This book has so much to offer. Right friendships, protective brothers, a super cute 6 year old, some cute kittens and mama cat, little bit of mystery, and a whole lot of love! I love the way Carrie Ann just sucks you in and doesn’t let go until the end of the book! Amazing book by an amazing author!
I loved this story. The depth of emotion and pure realism was so good. Dakota has a past mistake that shows up for revenge. The story is so well written it’s hard to put down. The ending is simply stunning. I received an advanced copy of this book and freely leave this honest review.
So much emotion, so much real life so much enjoyed this book. I love the way that Dakota and Macon are determined they won’t end up together, they know they won’t. Yeah no one took into account the fact that they cannot deny themselves when pushed into prolonged close contact.
This book and this series is so real, I expect to be able to smell the coffee in the Boulder Bean, smell the blood from the fights and feel the heat when they burn the house down between them. Loved it. Thank you for a brilliant read x
Amazing! Far From Destined has everything you want in a book. Great storyline and wonderful characters. It is very well written and I would highly recommend this book or any of the books in this series. Carrie Ann Ryan is an amazing author
My heart hurt for both Dakota and Macon. I love that she is a single mom and did what she needed to do for herself and her son. She is strong and the pull she has towards Macon is electric. I couldn’t stop smiling with their interactions and how he was with her son. But it’s not all easy with their not wanting to give in but also the suspense and danger lurking. I was on edge but I couldn’t put this down.
Wow! What a great book! Macon and Dakota have all the feels in this roller coaster of a story!
I’m going to start off by saying that I really think you should read the first two books in the series before this one, or at least the first one. Not only because it follows four brothers and a group of four girlfriends, aka the pact sisters, which would mean some of the prior couples stories will be spoiled for you but there is a major even that happens in the first book Forever Only Once that has a big impact on Macon and how his story unfolds.
Macon Brady has had a tough go of things lately and that’s putting it mildly. My heart broke for him and to be honest I didn’t know where all the hostility from Dakota came from for a while but I slowly began to understand where she was coming from. Being a single mom of Joshua, Dakota had to run a tight ship so she didn’t fall behind on anything, but things seem to be falling apart all around her. Macon and Dakota aren’t friends but they aren’t enemies either, they are kinda thrown together because two of Macon’s brothers are in a relationship with Dakota’s friends.
I have been curious about Dakota and her son Joshua from the very beginning and I wasn’t terribly surprised by her back story which I will say gives her a good reason to be wary around Macon. But thankfully their attraction for one another and their undeniable chemistry won out.
This story is filled with suspense but over all its filled with friendship and love. I would definitely recommend this book to those that enjoy romantic suspense as well as contemporary romances.
Happy Reading!!!
Far from destined was a great read, and I really enjoyed reading it. Macon and Dakota’s Story really hit homefor me. Meaning, l understood and could relate to them and what happened to them. As a person with PTSD I could feel Macon’s frustration and his feelings about his nightmares. I too have them, and this book helped me cope with them. I am so happy to get to read far from destined.
Far From Destined is the third installment of the Promise Me series. The Promise Me series is part of the Montgomery Ink universe. This series is about 4 single friends who decide to set each other up on blind dates, really what could go wrong! As we read, we see that each of the women have difficult pasts which makes us root harder for them to get their HEA!
In Far From Destined it is “Pact Sister” Dakota’s turn for the blind date treatment. The first two members of the pact are happily involved with two of the Brady brothers. With the friend group growing, Macon Brady is already spending time with Dakota and her son, Joshua. Joshua is already enamored with Macon, his mother…not so much. The other “Pact Sisters” send Macon to meet with Dakota so they can work out the reason they have friction. Dakota’s ugly past comes back with a vengeance and pulls Macon into her life even more. The more time the couple spends together, the more they realize that there HEA is with each other despite the fact that it was far from destined.
Carrie Ann Ryan is a master at world building. Her characters are relatable and become people you want to root for to find their HEA.
Dakota and Macon both have emotional pasts that come back to haunt them. But as they get to know each other and with help of the other Brady brothers as well as Dakota’s son Josh, they don’t stand a chance in becoming a couple.
It was such a hard thing to see, they were both struggling not looking for a relationship and lo and behold it was right there in front of them, person that could help them with their struggles, the person that they could trust with their heart.
Such a great story of finding love when you least expect it. I also love the side characters from the coffee place, they made the story so much more enjoyable.
I am inlove with this series and this family and friends. And even though I know the last book is coming up I don’t want it to end
I knew that Macon’s story would be my favorite. From the first book I loved this quiet man. And I knew he would be perfect for Dakota and Joshua.
Macon wasn’t having a good time right now. He was still getting over being shot and almost dying and the only way he could cope with this was deciding to do some boxing. And being what Dakota went through she was not good with being around him when he was fighting. But both of them couldn’t hide their mutual attraction. So when their friends set them up on a ‘friend date’ that was it.
But unfortunately Dakota’s past wasn’t going to go away anytime soon. And because she is such a strong independent women taking care of her son and running her coffee shop it took a lot from her to lean on her friends and most importantly to lean on Macon.
Like I said I knew Macon would be my favorite and seeing him coping with his trauma and then being there for Dakota even though he was struggling himself I loved it. I loved how he interacted with Joshua as well and he knew Dakota was struggling so he took it slow and on her time. Dakota was amazing. She was strong and independent and also an amazing fierce mother.
Boy oh boy I can’t wait for Nate and Myra’s book especially with that ending I cant wait…
This is book 3 in the Promise Me series and I would absolutely read the previous books before reading this one as they not only introduce these characters but some of the things spoken about happened in the previous books. In this one we get Macon Brady and Dakota Bristol’s story. Macon is dealing with the aftermath of being shot and almost dying. But it’s not only his nightmares about that moment that keep him up at night. Dakota left her ex with nothing but her child. She has been hurt and wants nothing to do with a man again. Let alone one with shadows in his eyes like Macon has. The only problem with that is that her son loves Macon. And loves spending time with him. And the more time she spends with him, the more she could find herself falling for him as well. But what happens when the past won’t stay in the past?
I have been wanting Macon’s story since he was shot and OMG, this in no way disappointed!! Macon is broody and moody but he also has this sweet side with a heart of gold that you can’t help but fall in love with. His interactions with Dakota’s son Joshua were heartwarming. The fact that he never treated him any different than if that were truly his child, I loved that! These two have this chemistry that is incendiary. But they also have their own histories to battle against in their own heads. My only drawback-I didn’t like the snipping back and forth between them. But honestly, it did fit the story and the way their relationship progressed. It was more a preference of mine more than anything else. All in all, another great read in this series and I would definitely re-read it again!
So far, the best of this series! Hands down!
Macon is suffering from having almost getting killed in the first book (you will have to read it! It is a very good book) and deals with his feelings in therapy and boxing. Dakota is a young single mom and entrepreneur, she is a survivor from an abused relationship.
They are lonely and long for each other, but at the same time their own individual baggage prevents them for being together.
The book is beautifully written and is so romantic. The Pact Sisters and the Brady brothers are a fun bunch to get to know and specially this couple, they are so lovely and delicate. Dakota is a strong woman and Macon is longing for her strength.
A lovely book and I loved it!
This is the 3rd book in this amazing series and is Macon and Dakota’s journey. Macon is a veterinarian who is struggling with PTSD after being shot, while Dakota is a single mom and coffee shop owner. These two have mutual friends so they are often in each other’s company. All the girls made a pact about blind dating and now it is Dakota’s turn and they set her up with Macon. When Dakota’s past comes back to haunt her will Macon be able to keep her and her son safe? This is a beautifully written story which is sweet, with a tad suspense, and is an emotional roller coaster throughout, as well as having family, friendship, and is a steamy read. I was totally enthralled throughout, and I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend for all.
Macon and Dakota are always fighting with each other; both hiding their feelings for one another. Macon has nightmares about the night he was shot trying to save Hazel. Dakota owns her own coffee shop and is raising her son as a single mother. When the time comes for her friends to set her up on a blind date due to a pact they made, Macon is their choice. They are tired of the bickering and want Macon and Dakota to settle whatever beef they have with each other. As they become friends, their hidden feelings begin to come to the surface. Will Dakota’s past keep them from finding their HEA?