The Montgomery Ink saga continues with an unforgettable romance where two best friends make a bet that could change their lives forever.Bristol Montgomery and Marcus Stearn have been best friends for so long, they sometimes forget when they weren’t as close as they are now. While friends and family think there’s something beneath the surface of their friendship, the two have always been steadfast … steadfast in their stance on no heated looks or deeper feelings.
The problem? Years ago, they promised each other that if neither of them was married by the time Bristol turned thirty, they’d marry each other.
Even though both have long since decided never to force the other into an arranged marriage, circumstances and sheer stubbornness force them to refuse to back out of their deal.
Now, they’re determined to get married—even as dangerous exes and feelings they deny, block their path.
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This was truly a lovely story and one of the best kind. A pact that was made when younger between Marcus and Bristol comes to fruition when she turns 30 and they are determined to marry each other despite opposition, ex’s and doubts. I had no doubt that they loved each other and felt getting married was the right thing to do. A great love story and they were so suited to each other.
Embraced in Ink is Bristol and Marcus’ story. I was so excited to finally read their story. Best friends to lovers with a promise. Another great story in the Montgomery series.
Carrie Ann Ryan adds another wonderful book to her Montgomery Ink Series. Bristol Montgomery & Marcus Stearn are best friends and make a deal at Bristol’s 20th birthday party that when they turn 30, if they are still single, that they would get married. Fast forward 10 years and somehow suddenly they are engaged. They aren’t exactly sure what to do, how to handle it, and in the background who might not be happy about it? And with Carrie Ann Ryan, you know there is never a dull moment – there will lots going on, including laughter, tears and surprises; and at the end of the day, a great read and awesome book!!
Bristol Montgomery and Marcus Stearn have been best friends since they were 6 years old. On Bristol’s 20th birthday, Bristol and Marcus made a pact that if neither was married when Bristol turned 30 that they would get married. In ten years, Bristol has become a world class cellist who has traveled all over the world but always considers Boulder home. Marcus is a librarian who loves his job and loves his home in Boulder. Marcus is anxious about Bristol’s birthday and wonders if he should bring up their pact or not. Marcus knows his feelings have changed for Bristol but feels his isn’t good enough to be her husband. What happens when someone overhears Bristol talking to Marcus about being engaged? Will Marcus and Bristol go through with the marriage, or will they end up walking away from each other? Will Marcus and Bristol admit how they truly feel about one another? Will an ex from Bristol’s past cause problems for Bristol and Marcus? Will Marcus and Bristol realize they are meant to be before it is too late? I absolutely love Carrie Ann Ryan, and Embraced In Ink is another fantastic book by this author. I love Marcus and Bristol and getting to see other characters from the other books in the Montgomery Ink series. The chemistry between Bristol and Marcus is sizzling hot but the lack of communication could be very frustrating at times. I would highly recommend getting Embraced In Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan and any of her other books in the Montgomery series. I received an ARC of this book, and I am leaving my honest review.
** spoiler alert ** Just when i think I’ve found a new favorite, along comes another. I don’t know what it us but every time i read a book with a ‘Marcus’ i’m always rooting for him. Friends, to engaged, to lovers. I wasn’t sure how i was going to take this one as it was all backwards, but i loved it. I loved Bristol and Marcus together, and i loved the snippets we got of Zia (can’t wait for her book). I knew Colin was going to be a slimeball from the first page and couldn’t understand why Bristol kept letting him get away with it. If you read this then you need to read the bonus epilogue as if rounds the story off perfectly, the look on Marcus’ face
I loved this book! Bristol and Marcus are perfect together and this was a great friends to lovers story. I can’t wait for the next book!
Bristol and Marcus have been best friends for years. At her 20th birthday, she makes a deal with Marcus, when she turns 30 they will marry each other. Only if they are not already married to someone else of course. At her party as they are leaving, one of Marcus’s sisters hears Bristol say that they are engaged. Their entire families are very excited for them. Bristol is a concert cellist, gearing up for a new solo tour and album. Marcus is a librarian in Boulder. They navigate dating each other since they haven’t before. They hang out, start a sexual relationship, spend time with their families. Bristol is writing music, her ex and possible collaborator Colin helps her finish a song. He kisses her, she shoves him away, but Marcus catches them. She apologizes but he breaks it off. Colin shows back up, and hurts her. Colin is arrested sitting in her driveway after she calls 911. Marcus goes to the hospital, they talk and they get back together. The epilogue is her brother Aaron sells a painting, so they have a party.
Link to a bonus epilogue at the end of the book.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
I was so excited to read Embraced in Ink, Bristol and Marcus have a wonderful friendship. They have been best friends since they were kids, they supported eachother during happy and sad times. They have fun banter, and they know what the other is thinking without a word being spoken. Their families already love them as one of their own, and even when they were apart they made sure nothing came between their close relationship. Except for this one thing, they have had a easy time, but I wonder if this will be the end of their friendship? Will they go through with it? Or keep ignoring what has been brewing between them for awhile now? I love these characters, and wish I could be apart of this family.
Embraced in Ink is a Best Friends to Lovers romance. Bristol Montgomery and Marcus Stearn have been best friends since they were six years old. They made a pact that if neither of them were married by 30 they would get married. You go through a whirlwind of emotions as these two try to find a new way of showing their feelings, especially since they are still hiding behind a lot of the those true feelings for each other. I have been waiting for Bristol and Marcus since we met them and I am not disappointed. This may be my favorite book of the boulder series so far.
“In ten years, if neither of us is married, we get married.”
Such simple words that at the time neither gave much thought to but now here we are ten years later and both of them are both still single, so what do you do? Do you bring it up? Do you ignore it? What if, what if you really wanted it to happen but didn’t have the guts to tell the other person? So many questions and there are no right or wrong answers to any of them which is what made this such an enjoyable read.
Bristol and Marcus have been friends since they were six years old, the best of friends, they were always together and told each other just about everything so when Bristol’s thirtieth birthday arrives and neither one of them knows what to do about the elephant in the room Bristol just blurts it out and that is where the fun really begins.
I do love the friends to lovers trope I guess it’s because I am married to my best friend and I know that it’s a great base for a relationship but this one has the added bonus of an arraigned marriage to it, which brings it to a different level. I have been a fan of Carrie Ann Ryan’s for a while now and it’s because of her writing skills, no matter the subject she gives readers a story that we are able to sink out teeth into and this one is no different. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone but I believe you will want to get to know the entire Montgomery Family once you start so jump in where ever you want and enjoy.
Happy Reading!!!
I loved reading Bristol’s story. A friendship turned true love because of her big mouth is just great.
How often can you say that a relationship began with the phrase, :Well, I guess we’re engaged now?” It’s just funny and the Bristol and Marcus have known each other for so long that it’s cute to watch them bumble along trying to figure out if their love is true or they’re just really good friends.
I started it and never wanted to put it down, it had me hooked and it will hook you.
I love friends to lovers stories, Marcus and Bristol are one of the best couples that I’ve read in this genre.
Marcus and Bristol have been best friends for ages and as they grow older things start to change little by little, especially when Bristol turns 20, she makes him promise that they will marry each other if neither is married at that time. And they do end up getting engaged because of the family overhearing them talking about getting engaged. You gotta love the Montgomery’s and how they like to get in each other’s business, but they do it out of love.
Because of them afraid to express their feelings, things start going out of control in a very, very bad way. If they had just communicated, they would have avoided so much drama, but they had to learn life’s lesson on their own.
I love them as a couple and love the way they fell in love.
Bristol and Marcus have an agreement that they will marry when she is 30 if they are not with someone else and now they are going to do it and their hidden feelings come out and wow
In this installment of the Montgomery Ink: Boulder we get the story of Marcus and Bristol. This friends to lovers story brings the bet of getting married at a certain age if they weren’t married beforehand to life. Their story would have gone smoother if the pair had been honest all along with their feelings for each other then there would have been less misunderstanding and hurt feelings. Every relationship has its bumps and this pair showed us that with their story. Overall, I was hooked to this story as I wanted to see what happened next and where this pair would end up in the end.
I listened to the audio version of this story and the narration by Jason Clarke was done well. Mr. Clarke did a great job bringing their story to life and kept me interested throughout the entire book. Overall, I would recommend this book to others.
Bristol and Marcus’ pact comes back to haunt them in a major way and sparks fly in so many ways! With outside influences and internal questions of doubt, you’re constantly wanting them to figure out their stuff and get the HEA you know they deserve. Love that they feel real and flawed, like your own friend group. I want to marry into the Montgomerys too – Love them! <3
Bristol and Marcus have been best friends since they were 6 years old. At 20, they make a pact. When Bristol turns 30, if neither are married, they would get married. Fast forward to her 30th birthday, neither is married, they’re still best friends, but is there more? Do they keep the pact? What a great story! And you get touches of all the rest of the family woven in. I loved this!
I loved this book about two best friends becoming so much more. Bristol has loved Marcus since she was 6. They make a pack when they were 20. So they feel they have to honor that pack. But things change and really heat up between them. Then tragedy hits and those feeling are all reviled. I love these two together. They have so much history that just makes them the best couple. I always love catching up with the other Montgomery’s. I can’t wait to read Aaron’s book!
Embraced in Ink is Marcus and Bristol’s story. This is the one story that I have been waiting for in the Montgomery world. Marcus and Bristol have been in the background in the past few books so it was very exciting to see them in the forefront. The story starts off very quickly with their “engagement” and goes from there. Their chemistry is amazing and you find yourself rooting for theM as a couple. The development of their relationship is very real and what happens to Bristol is terrifying. This book had some crazy twists and turns and I could not put the book down. The ending was perfect and I am eagerly awaiting Aaron’s book!
Bristol is a world famous Cello player and a Montgomery. Marcus is her best friend and has been since they were six years old. He has always been there for her no matter what and she’s always returned the favor. However making a promise at the age of 20 to get married seemed like the perfect plan for them to stick together as best friends but once Bristol turns 30 it’s not something either are sure how they feel about. Should they or shouldn’t they?!?! Overall the book is well written keeps the reader intrigued and dying to find out what will happen to them. Is risking everything they’ve built worth a simple promise?
Bristol Montgomery has been best friends with Marcus Stearn for as long as she can remember and their friendship has always brought her strength and comfort. On her 20th birthdy she makes a deal with Marcus that they will marry if both are still single when she reaches her 30th birthday.
10 years later with both single will they still follow the deal they made or has time changed each of them too much? Will this destroy the friendship that means so much to them and what will happen when their families find out?
This was such a great book and there were some good twists to make it unique!
I liked Bristol and how she became a renowned cellist but still never forgot where she came from and what/who was most important to her. She is so close to her family and also super close to Marcus’s family. I was surprised a little when you find out she dated a famous pianist, Colin, who you first meet at her 20th birthday party.
Marcus was almost the opposite to Bristol in that he had no desire to travel and wanted to stay as close to home as he could. He was a librarian who loved his job and didn’t want for much more than that.
It was apparent right from the beginning of the whole story that there was underlying chemistry between Bristol and Marcus but both of them were afraid to lose their close friendship so neither did anything about it. Neither of them had forgotten about the agreement and I loved when and how things were talked about and how it just got so out of control so fast!
I hated how both Bristol and Marcus kept their true feelings inside for so long afraid of what the other would think or react and so we were constantly waiting for things to go wrong and have everything implode which you knew was going to happen as soon as Colin re-appeared.
Colin was a huge jerk and I hated him so much! He was only trying to use Bristol to further his own career and I was so mad when she listened to the things he said and questioned how she was feeling.
There was one scene that made me so upset and mad as I was shocked at how far someone went but at the same time I really wasn’t surprised. Then after I was sad at how Marcus reacted but I really understood where he was coming from and why he was distant. My heart really broke for him as I knew he blamed himself for parts of everything that had happened.
I was so happy when Marcus and Bristol were finally open and honest with each and realized what they had been missing for so many years!!
The epilogue made me do a huge happy dance and I can’t wait for more!!