The Montgomery Ink series continues with the so-called sensible sister and the one man she never should have fallen for.For Thea Montgomery, baking isn’t only therapeutic, it’s also her dream job. She’s worked countless hours keeping her bakery afloat, and now that it’s where she wants it to be, she’s ready to expand and take the next step. When it comes to work and her family, she’s on top of … top of her game. Her personal life, however, is a different story.
When Dimitri Carr isn’t teaching and hiding his ink under long sleeves to keep the bosses happy, he’s trying to be the best brother and friend he can be. After his divorce, he’d thought he would lose Thea from his life forever because she’s his ex-wife’s best friend. But now that he’s free, and the two of them realize they want to keep their friendship. Then he finally sees what he’s been missing all this time.
But there are more problems than the fact that Dimitri is Thea’s best friend’s ex. And when accidental touches and flirtations aren’t enough for either of them, and they’re finally ready to take the next step, they’ll find out exactly what that cost is for crossing that line. And will need to find the strength to face it.
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I really enjoyed this book. Honestly, the premise made me a little wary. The heroine ends up with her best friend’s ex-husband? The best friend’s ex-boyfriend is far more common but ex-husband pushes it a little. However, Carrie Ann Ryan, and her characters, tackles the issues openly. And it helps that Thea and Dimitri already had a friendship in place before their relationship progressed.
I love this spin-off Montgomery series so far. It’s nice revisit with familiar characters but not have them overwhelm the plot of the new main characters. The Montgomery sisters are great and I can’t wait for the last book. Thea and Dimitri have a great relationship and made this book a very enjoyable read.
Restless Ink is Carrie Ann Ryan’s newest book in the Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs Series. Carrie Ann started with the Montgomery Ink Series based in Denver and it has spread to Colorado Springs and Boulder (coming out September 2019). The Montgomerys are a HUGE, close-knit family! If you are having a hard time keeping up with the characters and how they are related, check out Carrie Ann’s website for the family tree as well as the reading order. She also has photographs of each character as well as their character profiles. If you are like me, you might not like the photographs because they don’t match the characters that I’ve created in my brain. I will be completely honest and tell you that I have not read all 20+ books in the series but I’ve read several and keep going back for more. I’m telling you….it’s the INKED men!
Thea Montgomery owns Colorado Icing, an up –and-coming bakery in Colorado Springs. She’s beautiful, responsible, and a little boring considering that she thirty and doesn’t have a life outside of the bakery and her family. Molly, Thea’s “best friend”, is a divorced socialite who has shared custody of an aging golden retriever, Captain, with her handsome, inked ex-husband, Dimitri Carr. Dimitri is a high school math teacher who is struggling with his failed marriage, the friends that he lost in the divorce, and the fact that his dog still lives at Molly’s house. Thea and Dimitri, who were friends before there was even a Molly and Dimitri, have a chance run in at the grocery store after a Thea’s very disappointing night with a dud of a date – Roger. Let’s talk about Molly for a minute. I don’t like her. She’s underhandedly hateful to Thea, who is supposed to be her best friend and she uses Dimitri, who is just too nice for his own good. I won’t say anymore as to not spoil anything for you. Thea and Dimitri have serious chemistry but try to deny it out of respect for Molly but somethings just cannot be denied. I caught myself wondering why Thea set them up in the first place.
Although I enjoyed Restless Ink very much, I don’t think that it is the most well-developed book in the series. It has sweet characters, action, suspense, HOT love scenes, and the tight-knit Montgomery family but I felt like something was missing. I still can’t put my finger on it and I really wanted to love it which is why it gets 4 out of 5 propellers
I was intrigued by Thea and Dimitri when we met them before and I was so excited to know their story was next. Thea is a baker who owns a little cute shop in Colorado Springs. Her family is all around her again and they have the best bond. Dimitri is a hot teacher and recently divorced. The catch is that Thea is best friends with Mollie (Dimitri’s ex and Dimitri) and she never thought of Dimitri other than a friend until recently. Their chemistry is smoldering, and the anticipation is worth it.
This author brings us series that have us falling in love with families. I have always loved the Montgomery’s and I can’t wait to see who’s next and what struggles and mountains they will climb. I highly recommend Restless Ink and join in on following on all the family fun.
Book 2 in the Montgomery Ink: Colorado Ink series
I enjoyed this one better than the 1st book in the series.
This is a great friends to lovers story. Thea and Dimitri have great chemistry, you could feel their connection throughout the book, but Thea is hesitant to act on her feelings because Dimitri is her bff’s ex-husband. Good romance and drama. Also love the family support from both sides.
These characters will have you rooting for their HEA.
I loved Dimitri and Thea. I love stories that are friends that realize they could be something more. The small bump in this for the two is that Dimitri is divorced from Thea’s best friend. You watch as the two navigate this new dynamic and how Thea feels she needs to make sure her friend is ok with the situation as she doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. She runs a bakery that she is hoping to expand and she has a lot going on in her life that she isn’t sure she has time for someone else. Dimitri is sure that he wants to have this relationship with Thea. He is all about doing what he has to to see where it is going to go. I don’t want to spoil anything but there are some great twists at the end and a lead in to the next family members book. Great read as always.
5 Crossing the Friendship Line Stars!!!
This is book two in this crossover series and Thea and Dimitri are the focus of this book although we get a good dose of the Montgomery’s for game night..which is so much fun!!!
So Dimitri and Thea have been friends for a long time, in fact Thea introduced Dimitri to her bestie Molly and when they divorce a few years later, Thea feels like she has to choose which person to stay friends with and while she tries to lay low, things are taken out of her hands when she runs into Dimitri one night after a truly awful date.
These two decide to stay friends even though there’s an obvious mutual attraction and before we know it, their touches turn to so much more. Because Thea is the woman she is, she comes clean to Molly about her feelings for Dimitri and she seemingly gets the green light to proceed.
Well, things don’t go as smoothly as we’d like them to and the slow burn leading up to our H/h finally taking the ultimate step definitely has some intrigue and suspense working in the background which just adds an entirely other layer to this story.
Dimitri is a man every woman would love to have in their life, especially me. He’s so charming, in a good way, has ink, which is HAF and he cares so much about those around him. How could they not ultimately have the HEA they both are looking for?
Well, if you know Ms. Ryan’s stories, you know she doesn’t make it easy for our H/h and I for one was along for the ride from beginning to end. I loved these two together and cannot wait for the next book in this series!!
This is the second of the Colorado Spring Series. It’s Thea and Dimitri’s story, they have been friends for a long time but it has been strained a bit since Molly and Dimitri divorced because Thea is not sure how to be both of their friends without hurting the other. However, she decides she needs to try and make it work somehow, she doesn’t want to lose either of them.
This story has it all there are ups and downs, it’s emotional and amazing and there is twists and turns that you won’t see coming but it’s a great story!! I loved the chemistry between the characters, getting to know them better and rooting for them to succeed when they face uphill battles. I’d definitely recommend it to others.
What a fantastic book by Carrie Ann Ryan! Thea Montgomery is the owner and head baker of Colorado Icing. Thea has devoted all her time to making her business a success. Too bad the same can’t be said of her personal life. Thea runs into her best friend’s ex, Dimitri, at an all night grocery store after one of her disastrous dates and hook up. Seeing Dimitri brings feelings to the surface for Thea, but she vows not to cross the line of hooking up with Molly’s ex. Dimitri Carr is a tattooed, alpha male who teaches high school math. The divorce has weighed heavily on Dimitri and the only bright spot is Captain, the golden retriever he adopted while married to Molly. Dimitri is forced to leave Captain with Molly until he can find a place he can afford that will allow pets. Ater seeing Thea at the grocery story, Dimitri begins to feel things he thought were long dead inside of him. Dimitri and Thea try to deny their feelings for each other but eventually give in after an intense game of twister. As Dimitri and Thea spend time together reconnecting, they want to be sensitive to Molly’s feelings. Molly gives her blessing to Dimitri and Thea’s relationship. Is Molly really okay with Dimitri and Thea’s relationship? I love the interaction between Thea, Dimitri, and their families. The Montgomerys and Carrs believe in family and always having each other’s backs through thick and thin. Restless Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan is a fantastic story full of twists, turns, and unexpected events. The chemistry between Dimitri and Thea is pantie melting HOT! Will Dimitri and Thea realize there is more to their relationship than friendship? Restless Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan is an amazing story that this reader couldn’t put down. Restless Ink is full of love, passion, friendship, family loayalty, and some danger that will keep the reader engaged from the beginning to the end. Carrie Ann Ryan is a MUST read author! Highly recommend getting Restless Ink. I received an ARC of this book, and I am leaving my honest review.
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RESTLESS INK is book 2 in the Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs series and although the characters interconnect, it is a friends to lovers standalone.
Dimitri Carr is a newly divorced math teacher (with ink hidden under his button ups!). He’s not really looking for any kind of relationship but that changes when he runs into his ex wife’s best friend. Thea Montgomery has been friends with Dimitri for a long time but she hasn’t seen him since his divorce from her best friend, Molly. Something clicks for them when they run into each other but they can’t act on it…can they?
Let me just say that Carrie Ann Ryan is the QUEEN of SWEXY («– swoony + sexy)! Her characters are always sweet but sexy too and Dimitri and Thea are no exception. Dimitri and his ex, Molly, didn’t have kids but they did have a cute dog, Captain. And WOW, who would’ve thought that a man who adored his dog so much would make my ovaries melt? You just know that when he has kids, he’ll be a great dad! Thea was a hard working, family loving, loyal woman. She was completely torn between her two friends, Dimitri and Molly. In the beginning, Thea seemed a little naive, too soft when it came to Molly. As the story progressed, she realized that she belonged to Dimitri, that they complimented each other as a couple and she began to see Molly’s true self.
Not only is this a SWEXY romance but there’s also just a touch of suspense, a bit of drama that keeps the story rolling. Overall, this was a solid 4 stars for me! Told from dual POVs with a happy ending. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
This book is the ultimate in forbidden romance! It’s an unwritten girl rule, never date your friend’s ex. Never, ever! But what happens when what you thought was true, isn’t really?!? That’s what happens in this story, another amazing Montgomery Ink story, the second about the Colorado Springs Montgomery sisters.
Thea is tired of being alone. She is ready to settle down, move on with her life. But she just can’t seem to find the one that fits. Then she runs into Dimitri (in a totally embarrassing scenario!) Dimitri is a friend, but also her best friend’s ex husband. Thea is seeing him in a different way, which is a total no-no! She tries to ignore the thoughts and feelings, but her friend’s reaction is completely unexpected. Dimitri is one of the good ones. But with a failed marriage behind him, he’s not really sure of who he is. He wants Thea, but doesn’t know if he should go there. The connection to his ex really throws a curve ball to them both.
This book was an amazing read. There are twists and turns, curves I never saw coming! I was rooting for Thea and Dimitri, but their situation was a bit odd. I’m so glad they got their HEA, and I enjoyed reading about the other Montgomerys. I especially loved getting an update on Shep and Shea, the ones that started it all!
Another home run for this author. Every book in her series is different, there is no cookie cutter formula. Thea is strong, smart, and cares deeply about her family. Dimitri is dedicated and loyal. How could they not fall for each other? I love that I am easily able to identify with the characters in a way that makes me feel like I could not only relate but be friends with them. I love each twist and turn, even the ones that were unexpected. Another excellent book. Can’t wait for more!!!!
Thea Montgomery is the sister of Shep from Delicate Ink. Dimitri is divorced from her best friend Molly. She has a game night and invites him, after everyone leaves they kiss. They also have sex, but almost immediately after, Thea has regrets on her face. Then he gets a phone call and leaves, Thea says they are done, but Dimitri says they are not. Thea talks to Molly and she says she supports a relationship between them, but then things start happening. Her bakery is damaged, she and her brother in law are injured, a flour order is wrong, she feeds Dimitri shrimp and he is allergic. Thea thinks its Molly doing all these things, and she’s right.
They admit they love each other, and they get his dog back from Molly, he couldn’t have him at his apartment. Everything is cleared up at the end of the book. I hope the next book is about the Brother in law who is married to Thea’s sister Roxie.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ok..this might be a bit of a leap but try to follow my logic. I’m a Marvel girl. I LOVE the Marvel movies. Iron Man, THOR, Captain America…LOVE THEM ALL. But what I love even BETTER is the Avengers movies. Where they all come together. For me, The Montgomery Family is kinda like that. We get these fabulous books about wonderful characters but you still get to see them ALL TOGETHER. Carrie Ann Ryan has created a WHOLE WORLD with this family and I am happy to get to visit it often!
Restless Ink is Thea & Dimitri’s story. And gah! It was a story I LOVED. Thea Montgomery is over men. Done. Finito. After her latest dating fiasco, she decides to concentrate on her bakery. That is until she runs into an old friend and realizes that maybe giving up on dating might be a bit too hasty. Dimitri Carr is thrilled to run into Thea Montgomery. Considering Thea was his ex-wife’s best friend, he is happy to discover that he hasn’t lost Thea’s friendship in the divorce. As they begin to spend time reconnecting…they also discover that they may have something more than friendship. Will these two be willing to take a leap?
Carrie Ann Ryan has captured us again in her Montgomery web. I for one am happy to be here. I absolutely adore this family and love catching up with old characters as well as falling in love with new. With superb writing, the story flows well from beginning to end. Ms. Ryan has a wonderful talent for making her characters real. If you’ve never read about the Montgomery’s you will want to pick them up. This fun-loving, supportive boisterous family is AMAZING. You will want to add them to your library!
Thea and Dimitri’s story was fantastic! They had a complicated connection because Dimitri is Thea’s best friend’s ex-husband and their relationship grew from a reconnecting of their friendship. Dimitri’s ex was an interesting woman and her reaction to the relationship wasn’t what you’d expect at first, but then you get to understand it better. Some may have a problem with these two getting together, but I found their love fantastic and believable. The second Colorado Springs story was just as fantastic as the rest of the Montgomery Ink series. I loved this story and am eagerly anticipating the next.
Sexy, sweet fun in a swoony romance about the terrific Montgomery family that’s wonderfully written. In a carryover from a previous story this one has Thea’s best friend Molly and her husband Dimitri divorced. He’s a hottie that Thea can’t ignore and he wants to keep Thea in his life regardless of her friendship with Molly. Can we say awkward. Sexual tension abounds as these two try to figure out what they want from each other. They can’t deny their feelings and the sizzling chemistry. The author does a great job of making us care about these characters and their budding romance while trying to keep a friendship intact. A fantastic read with a tattooed hunk and a Montgomery sweetie. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
5 Stars All Around!
Oh My Goodness! If I could give this book more than 5 Stars I would! Carrie Ann Ryan has written a book that I just can’t even describe properly! As usual we get that sense of family all her books contain, especially any involving the Montgomery family. Thea is a perfect mix of smart, talented, independent, sweet and just a tad insecure. Dimitri is caring and considerate with a side of sexy as all get out dominant underneath those proper “teacher” clothes. The suspense and storyline of this book will keep you on the edge, unable to put the book down until you finish! Of course we see all our favorite characters and get a lead in on Roxie and Carter’s story, which is sure to be intense and heartbreaking, with plenty of love and happily ever after a thrown in I am sure! So another amazing addition to the Montgomery Ink family…now to impatiently wait for Jagged Ink. LOL!
Cara – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
Restless Ink is the second book the Colorado Springs Montgomery clan and I lost count in the whole Montgomery Ink series. Carrie Ann Ryan is one of my favorite contemporary romance writers; she is all about the HEAs. I love that every book has a big family aspect, strong female heroine and always has a dirty talking alpha male. This book had a little different trope than other books in this series – Best Friend’s Ex-Husband, but is she really a best friend? I loved that no matter what came Dimitri and Thea way, they still fought to make their relationship work. I won’t be able to look at a Twister game the same after this book. I’m hoping that we see a spin-off series about Carr family sometime in the future.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Thea Montgomery seems to be disappointed. Dimitri Carr is willing to lend a helping hand. They show how hard it is to keep things the same. The word “friends” seems to come out quite a bit here – as if someone is trying to convince themselves or us.
Our author is very good at setting up her scenes because they get you ready for something good. And sometimes that something is hot and sticky. Tattoos have become more acceptable than they once were – you were labeled a certain type of person if you were sporting any type of ink. There are still some today that still find it offensive. Should that affect what you do for a living?
Ms. Ryan is very creative. She put in the perfect twist to keep me glued to my seat. But you’ll have to be patient because it’s something that builds over time. And I don’t mind that because I know she’ll give me what I want in the end – a perfectly romantic ending. Plus she lets me know that there is another book coming around the corner.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Every time I think this family cannot get any better more family arrives and says if you thought they were something wait until you read about us. I have read every book surrounding this family the spin-offs with brothers and friends and I have to say this I love this family no matter what branch of the family tree you fall on you are going to be in for a wild ride. This particular ride was about Thea and Dimitri who I have to say brought a whole new meaning to twister. I loved reading about this couple they were both hot and innocent and I loved every minute of it, I cannot wait to see what the last sister’s story is about.
Thea and Dimitri had chemistry galor that blossomed to so much more when she steps out of her comfort zone and embarks on a chance at love. I loved the characters in this newest release that didn’t disappoint. They are perfect together and just compliments each other with their sizzling relationship and hot loving. I enjoyed how the author took their relationship to a whole new level and added in a side of surprise that kept me invested in the story. You need to one click this story today for a wonderful romance story about finding love again. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Readers Cooy of this book.