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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Wow, what a brilliant story. I couldn’t put it down once started. I had to know if their agreement ten years ago would work or ruin them.
I loved Bristol and Marcus together, they have known each other for years and been best friends all those years. They had a great structure to start a relationship.
I can’t wait for more of this series.
Embraced in Ink begins with everyone attending Bristol Montgomery’s 20th birthday party. She is preparing to move away to pursue her music education and career. Her best friend, Marcus Stearn is in attendance as well. Neither of them can imagine their lives without the other in it. As the party winds down, the two of them vow to stay close even though they will be miles apart. Then, Bristol comes up with a plan for their future: if neither are married in ten years, they will marry each other. Marcus is a little taken aback but decides to make the pact. After all, what could go wrong?
Flash forward ten years and the two of them are at another family get together. Both are still single and a little uneasy about the pact that was made. When they are leaving the party, the conversation about said pact is brought up and when Bristol is overheard saying they were engaged, the family hears and to say everyone is excited is an understatement. Not wanting to discuss it in front of everyone, they let them believe it’s true and leave.
Now, if either of them were to admit to the other that they were starting to have feelings of more than friendship, things would have gone smoothly. But they don’t. Instead they discuss it and for some really jacked up reasons, they decide to actually be engaged.
Of course, Marcus is questioned by the Montgomerys at a guys’ get together and Bristol is questioned by her girlfriends, but neither gives away their secret pact. Once things start playing out between Bristol and Marcus, a former boyfriend (and fellow performer) shows up just in time to stir up a little trouble….at first. The ex is not happy about Marcus and Marcus is not happy that this guy shows up and seems a little too interested in Bristol. Add to that the fact that Bristol doesn’t see what the problem is and Marcus ends it and storms out.
Bristol is heartbroken and is afraid to tell Marcus her true feelings, just as Marcus is afraid to do the same with her. What follows leaves Marcus reeling and Bristol’s life in danger.
Embraced in Ink is a nicely written story of friends to lovers. Bristol is a great character, albeit a little naïve in my humble opinion. Marcus is a great character as well. Once things start spinning out of control, neither one of them steps up to set things right until it’s almost too late. I love the protectiveness of the Montgomerys. However, the Stearns support of both Marcus and Bristol tugged at my heart. If you’re a fan of friends to lovers, you’ll certainly enjoy this one. Well done, Carrie Ann Ryan!
This is the 3rd book in this awesome series and is Bristol and Marcus’ story. These two have been best friend since childhood, and they made a pact that if they were both single when they were 30, they would get married. Now that this time has approached will they take the next step in their relationship and move from fiends/ lovers? This is a beautifully written story which is a fun and entertaining story and I was totally hooked throughout this addictive page turner. I recommend for all readers.
Marcus and Bristol’s story is a friends to lovers romance that will hold your heart captive to the pages. A story built on a promise but if you can’t express what’s in your heart is the promise enough to make it last. Embraced in Ink is one of a love that is tied to a lifetime friendship, one where not only that is at risk but your heart and soul. Their story is emotional , steamy, heartfelt and overflowing with drama. It will have you holding your breath as two friends discover that they always held each other’s heart and sometimes the risk is worth everything.
What happens when two lifelong best friends make a pact at twenty to get married if both are still single at 30? Well with Marcus and Bristol you get engaged when your family accidentally finds out. Thing is some real feels start to surface and despite being afraid of losing the friendship they go for it and in the end they get their HEA!
**I was provided with a free advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review**
Embraced in Ink is a feel good friends to lovers tale that will leave you with a smile on your face. Bristol and Marcus are adorable together. I loved this story. This is such a great pairing I couldn’t help but root for them. This book will have you believing in happily ever after.
Sighhhhhhhhh memories, this story brings back so many memories of my old best friend. We started out as possible then turned to the bestest friends to a drunk moments (cough cough) but decided not to jeopardize our friendship. Fast forward we’re both married to others and not as close anymore. After reading this story makes me wonder the what if we took a chance? Absolutely love this cult..I mean family lol.
I am so excited that Bristol and Marcus finally get their story. They have been best friends since they were 6 and are usually inseparable. Even if the thought crossed their minds, they have never been anything more than best friends, even after a tipsy Bristol decides they need to make a marriage pact on her birthday. It’s now her 30th birthday and they each wonder if the other remembers. Now they finally must deal with the unspoken feelings and the fall out from their decision. They handle it in typical Bristol/Marcus fashion, until her obsessive ex comes back into the picture. This has all the feels….friendship, lust, love, guilt….it’s just so good!!!
This was such a great read that was all about the feels. Marcus and Bristol’s friends to lovers story is filled with rich emotions, drama, tension, strong family ties, angst, sweetness, heat and boatloads of heart. A simply stellar romance that packs a powerful emotional punch that will have you swooning. I am of my own volition posting a impartial review.
Bristol and Marcus are best friends that never want to lose each other. So a promise one day has them engaged years later. They need to work on navigating their new found relationship without ruining what they have always had—their friendship. Yet another enjoyable Montgomery story. This family always brings out all the feelings. Who doesn’t want to be a Montgomery, Iris ink and all. Loved this story. Cannot wait for Aaron’s.
They seem so different yet compliment each other as best friends usually do. However they made a promise, a promise neither was sure they could keep. Bristol and Marcus both afraid the ruin the friendship but both so in love and terrified to say it. To watch these two try to navigate the hard parts while walking on eggs shells was so hard, yet you could help root for them to come out victorious on the other side. I loved the siblings interplay and how protective they are. We say hello to old friends and meet some new ones. This is a great friends to loves to soul mates story!
I loved this best friends to lovers story of Marcus and Bristol. They loved each other, but seriously lacked communication! Watching them figure out that their love was real was awesome, through all the ups and downs that came with it.
Received an advance copy from the author.
This is a great friends to lovers romance that is really sweet. I love that Bristol and Marcus have been friends since they were six and that their families are also friends. The mother’s are so great about the engagement. This story has lots of emotions and great characters, but Colin deserves to be beaten. It is always fun to visit with the Montgomerys and catch up with what the family is doing.
The Montgomerys are always a One Click for me…
Bristol’s story brings us into the life of a concert cellist. Of course we all think celebrities of any kind have a wonderful life, but I think his tale probably doesn’t show how lonely and isolated they could be. At least Bristol has her family and especially Marcus. This is a beautiful example of a best friend to lovers trope. These characters really come to life and we get to know them intimately. The angst is rampant, the sexy times are smoking hot, and the HEA makes your heart happy. PS, don’t forget the bonus epilogue, it is just the sweetest!
Bristol and Marcus. One of my favorite books in the series. If you love best friends to lovers then Embraced in Ink is for you! I loved it!
Bristol Montgomery is falling in love with her best friend Marcus. When Bristol had her 20th birthday, her & Marcus made a promise. That if they where both single they would marry each other. Now it Bristol’s 30th & they have to find out what they feel for each other!
One of the best of the series. Bristol and Marcus had been friends since they were 6 years old. At 20, she sort of jokingly said if they were not married at 30, they should marry each other. At 30, they got engaged when his sister over heard them talking about it. They loved each other as friends and loved each other more but were having trouble expressing it to each other. And then there was Colin who payed piano for her at times and was trying to interfere. The story had ups and downs and problems that needed to be talked out. I loved that the Montgomeries just did not know how to not interfere. It just makes you love them more. You have to read the extra epilogue too. It is perfect.
Kudos to Carrie Ann for writing such a wonderful book
Friends to lovers, a tried and true trope that shows us that love makes you do the wacky! Why you ask? Well, our characters forget everything about being friends, concentrate on the lovers, and then are confused when things start to fall apart. Luckily Marcus and Bristol wouldn’t do that, right? NO, they’ve being doing it for a decade *smh* The greatest thing to help them though is that they have been friends for so long, and the Montgomery’s aren’t really known to be a sideline family, and actually neither are the Stearn’s, Marcus’ family, so they have a whole lot of people who care for them, and about them, as a couple. Now, if at some point we could have a Montgomery family HEA where the hospital is not involved, that’d be great
On a side note, I have become conditioned to always want cheese when reading a Montgomery Ink book now, and I think the books should come with a trigger warning for the lactose intolerant, or maybe we need a lactose intolerant Montgomery, and how they handle the cults, um, family’s cheese obsession!!!