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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Despite their protestations, Macon and Dakota have something between them, and their friends and family are determined to play Cupid! Suffering from PTSD, Macon has yet to get his feet back under himself and Dakota is fiercely protective of her precious boy, Joshua. This is not going to make life easy for our erstwhile romance fairies!
This is another lovely read from Carrie Ann and I loved spending time with this group of family and friends. As always this author extols the virtues and beauty of love and friendship, bringing her trademark warmth and affection to a cast of characters with whom we can relate, with their anxieties and insecurities. Lovely!
4.5 stars
Macon Brady almost lost his life, and carries both the scars and the nightmares as a result. He knows how precious life is, but he also can’t help but think his hangups now make him a dangerous partner.
Dakota Bristol has a very full schedule, between running her coffee shop and raising her son on her own, she works very hard for everything in her life. She has a tight knit group around her, her friends and employees, but doesn’t have family around her to help out. As part of the pact her friends made, she is to be set up on a blind date to give her a break from her hectic schedule. She is less than enthused though, so when Macon offers to be a practice date, she accepts hoping it will get her friends to move on.
I loved watching these two together. This was a sweet story, with a little bit of suspense involved. Macon wants to make these fake dates into the real thing and knows he wants to build a family with Dakota and her son. Dakota is wary of relationships because she has been burned hard, and her decisions from the past seem to be coming back to haunt her in ways she never imagined.
I always love diving back into the world of Carrie Ann Ryan’s familial series. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Montgomery’s, the Brady’s, or any branch of the family trees. While this series is ostensibly tied together by the women, the Brady siblings are at the core, with the second brother tied up in the Pact. The side characters not tied directly to the Bradley’s were some of my favorite additions of this book though. Dakota’s employees (and friends) gave the best pushes to get her out of her shell and offer support especially in the times she wasn’t willing to reach out herself.
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Two heart with scars that bring them nightmare, one more resent than the other. Two people thrown together by friends and family. Both fighting the attraction and connection. Both failing.
Going back to the world of the Promise Me series is like getting together with your girlfriends and telling sexy stories while consuming all the wine~ hot and tipsy.
Macon, a wounded soul that would literally give his life to save his family has fallen for Dakota the single mother who hates him.
A story of frenemies to lovers. A romance that you know straight from page one that will own you for the whole time your glues to the words that Carrie Ann Ryan has written. She takes you on this ride that is the courtship of Macon and Dakota and you fall right along with them. The love that pours out on the pages of this book are breath taking and addicting. So get ready to have your heart twisted in knots right along with Macon, Dakota and Joshua.
This is book 3 in the Promise Me series and boy was it a page-turner. I am so in love with the Brady’s and The Pact Sisters. This book shows you that your found-family bond can be just as strong as the bond of real family. I absolutely love Macon and the fact that he isn’t afraid to show his weaknesses and his emotions. It makes me adore him even more. Watching both Macon and Dakota struggling and coping with their past horrors, makes this story that much more realistic. The passion between these two is off the charts hot. And the bond that Macon has with Joshua just melts my heart into a puddle. So sweet. This is a must read, I can’t wait for Nate’s story next.
Kept me on the edge of my seat! Debra @janise’s Jivin’ Book Blog
This series just keeps the intrigue going! I love that there is so much excitement and suspense mixed with the love story!
Our characters are fierce and independent as well as caring and have a strong sense of family. They also have fears and weaknesses just like anyone else and it was beautiful to read how Macon and Dakota took the time to listen and be supportive with those feelings within themselves and each other.
It was a story that moved along at a nice pace and didn’t keep you hanging in any way. I found myself intrigued with the ending as it leads you to wanting the next book ASAP! A series that can keep you wanting more is definitely 5 stars all the way!
Far From Destined is a perfect addition to the Promise Me series. Just like the previous books, it is filled with wonderful characters made up of family and friends who are all intertwined in each other’s lives, so much so that they set up Macon and Dakota on a blind date. Even though these two already know each other, this date is where their friendship takes off and becomes so much more.
It was easy to fall in love with Macon and Dakota. They have a lot more in common than they even realize. Both of their pasts are playing a huge part in the pain they feel in their present and now they can have a chance to help each other heal and move on to finally find happiness.
This story is a wonderful, emotional story that grabbed me right from the beginning and I enjoyed every word.
Far From Destined is a story that will wind its way around your heart and hold tight right to the very end. Macon and Dakota are two damaged souls with the scars to prove the pain they have endured. As these two are drawn together, the chemistry and the intense feelings will have these two skipping some steps and racing for the finish line, however there will be hurdles in the way that will either tear them apart or entwine them forever. A truly heartfelt, passionate love story with raw emotion and enough suspense and drama to have you holding tight and enchanted by this couple and the loyal friends and family that surround them.
I haven’t read many books by this author and with each book I pick up I’m left thinking why haven’t I come across her before now and after reading Far From Destined ( Promise Me #3) I have made a promise to myself to read more of Carrie Ann Ryan’s work as soon as time permits.
Macon Brady and Dakota Bristol’s story intrigued me, it captivated me, it drew me in as I joined their emotional journey and I fell hard and fast for a couple who have become very special to me. Both needing to come to terms with the past before they move forward with the future but the road to happiness can sometimes be a bumpy one and when the past comes back to haunt them they need to unite and stay strong together.
This is one of those books where you find yourself wishing and hoping for a HEA, it’s emotional at times, it’s a heartfelt romance and it has an adorable little 6year old boy who delivers his own classic one liners. I can’t wait for more in this series and I will also be playing catch up with previous books I have missed. Loved everything about this gem of a read.
Veterinarian Macon Brady is broken. He’s survived being shot but it has changed him. Coffee house owner Dakota Bristol is broken too. Her ex did a number on her ego and her heart. These two may just be what the other needs.
This is an engaging and endearing tale that is sure to tug at your heartstrings.
I thoroughly enjoyed this heart tugging romance. This book is such a wonderful combination of heart, poignancy, emotion and genuineness. Mason and Dakota snuck right into my heart after giving it one epic workout. You had to feel for these two. They each had such heavy baggage they were carrying and painful histories that refused to stay in the past. It is a beautiful and moving story that will also have you feeling that you are perched right on the edge of a precipice, waiting anxiously to see what will happen if and when that fall comes. I am posting an unbiased, volitional review.
5 star review Far From Destined (Promise Me #3) by Carrie Ann Ryan
I know this is hard to believe but Carrie Ann Ryan is a relatively new author to me and I have no idea hwy that is. I was drawn in to Macon Brady and Dakota Bristol’s story and I had a hard time putting it down.
What an emotional roller coast of a read this one was. Both Macon and Dakota are trying to come to terms with their pasts and yet when it comes back to haunt them, they will both dig deep and come together to overcome what fate has put in their path.
The chemistry between them is intense and too hard to resist and when they come together it is explosive. Their road to happiness will be rocky, but they journey will bring them together and forge a strong bond. The strength, determination and courage that they need was huge and I was really cheering for these two to get the happily ever after they both deserve.
Far From Destined is the third book in The Promise Me series by the lovely Carrie Ann Ryan and what a tear jerker it is. Far From Destined can be read as a standalone, but I do think reading the first two in the series will help the reader understand the characters and also give them the back story so they may understand where the current book starts.
I have been loving this series, I love the sisterhood the pact sisters have and don’t even get me started on the Brady Brothers. We see more of previous characters from past books, which is always super interesting, seeing what they are up to. The more I read this series, the more I wanted from it.
Macon Brady.
Brooding veterinarian, survivor of bullet wounds and all-time alpha male with a soft spot for family and friends. Macon is troubled, dealing with the aftermath that comes with the scar on his chest, he takes to the one thing that helps; boxing.
Dakota Bristol, single mother and small business owner is trying to give her young son the best life she can. She has good friends that have become family, and now it’s her turn. The Blind date pact is upon her, and she won’t go back on her promise. Her pact sisters have found their partners in the Brady family, and they want her to find hers there as well. In Macon.
Macon the man that her son is clinging to, the man who looks good enough to eat and a lover of all thing’s animals. To bad all they seem to do is snip at each other whenever they are in ear reach. Both characters have been through so much, each has their own fears to work through as the story lines progresses. Macon gets under Dakota’s skins and it turns out, she likes him there. When Dakota’s past, in the form of her abusive ex makes an appearance, Macon will stop at nothing to keep his new family safe.
Wow! Carrie Ann Ryan out did herself in this one. Today’s generalizations of men teach them not to show emotion, to not let a weakness show, they must never be weak. Carrie Ann Ryan chucks that out the window with the Brady Brothers. You feel everything that Macon is going through, the nightmares and the fear. It’s a great story, with even better characters and story line I can’t wait to see fulfilled. I can’t wait to see Myra and Nate, and Pop, I LOVE her! Four and a half stars for this glorious read!
Far From Destined continues with Macon Brady and Dakota. They try to stay away from each other but it’s impossible since her friends are also friends/significant others with Macon’s brothers. I loved seeing the development of these characters along with the interactions with characters from the previous books. Dakota has been through so much and just wants what’s best for her son. Macon can’t deny his attraction to Dakota and vows to at least make things cordial with her. They learn how much they need each other.
Highly recommend this story. Even if you haven’t read the other books in the series, you still have enough information about the other characters that you don’t feel lost.
This is the third book in the Promise Me series, and it’s Macon and Dakota (and Joshua’s) story. Macon is still trying to deal with what happened in Forever Only Once, with being shot and almost dying. He’s dealing with it in a different kind of way that helps him, without sharing with his family. Dakota is very independent, single mom business woman, not wanting to rely on anyone for help. When babysitter issues come up, she has no choice but to need help from others. After a year of grumbling, her & Macon finally start getting closer, and in perfect time, because bad things start happening when the ex shows up. And they are much better together. This had a lot of emotions, sweetness and love, cuteness and crankiness, and some scary moments. And you’ll love it all! And just wait till you read that epilogue!
I’ve really been enjoying this Promise Me series by Carrie Ann Ryan, however I think this story, is one of my favorites and I’ve been waiting for this book. I’ve fallen in love with Macon, Dakota and of course, Joshua. This book did make me a little more anxious than the others with Macon and his nightmares and Dakota trying to figure out what to do next when she finds out news she wasn’t prepared to hear. I like how they’ve become their own little family with the pact sisters and the brady brothers and of course their extended family with the Montgomery’s and the family that Dakota has at Boulder Bean. I also enjoyed Pop, you definitely want her by your side if something comes up. Both of these characters have gone through hard times in their lives and I did enjoy watching their friendship forge into maybe something more and seeing what might happen. Really great story! I’m looking forward to the next book to see what happens with Nate and Myra, especially with Nate having some challenges in this book.
I think this is the best one yet from the Promise series. Macon was asked to have a date with Dakota, so they would be friends. Dakota is worried that being friends with Macon could hurt her & her son more, but she agrees to the date just to get her friends off her back. Mason has nightmares about when he was shot, but he will do anything for Dakota & her son!
This book was so good. I really loved that it wasn’t a true enemies to lovers because they were never really enemies but rather frenemies. Dakota didn’t trust her attraction to Macon because he wasn’t anything like the men she was used to. He seemed to care but when she found out that he was fighting all she could think of was that he was exactly like her ex. Well this book is because it’s her turn for the blind date pact and she doesn’t want to do it. In fact she is terrified by it so the ladies set her up with Macon so they can stop growling at each other. But of course things start to get heavy and when her ex shows back up again they need to rely on each other to get through it.
*I received an ARC for an honest review*
Oh my goodness, Far From Destined is a powerful emotional read. Dakota and Macon both have trauma filled pasts. Macon was nearly killed and Dakota had to run for her life with her son Joshua. Can two broken people find love. This is a true must read.
This series gets better with each book.
Hate to Love
Single Mom
A forced blind date
Tortured Hero
Ex bent on revenge
These things say so much about the book, but there is so much more. Dakota is a strong, single mom who doesn’t want to ask for help because she feels she won’t appear as strong if she does. Macon has been through so much and is trying to deal with it all and get his life back together.
I enjoyed watching them navigate the sparks between them, working together against a threat and finding their HEA.
I can’t wait to see where things go with Nate & Myra!
Far From Destined is definitely a book with all of the feels! ALL of them! This was a book that I could not put down. I loved Macon and Dakota and loved this book.