The Montgomery Ink saga from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan continues with a steamy new series.

Years ago, Annabelle Montgomery married not for love but for a promise of hope. When she lost him weeks later, she told herself she never needed those sentiments again. Only when she discovers years later that her new neighbor is her late husband’s brother, Annabelle finds she can’t quite shake the emotions she’s long since buried. 

Jacob Queen vowed he’d never set eyes on Annabelle again. When they’re forced into each other’s lives once more, they realize that no matter how far they run, no distance can keep them apart forever. More than ghosts lay between them, and when they finally give in to temptation, walking away whole may no longer be an option.

Annabelle Montgomery married her best friend and lost him within a matter of weeks. But theirs wasn’t a marriage of love, but of hope. She was young, and after his death she was forced into a media spotlight she didn’t want. She is the architect at her family’s construction business and is working with her siblings to build a future for the company her father started.

Jacob Queen was determined he would never see Annabelle again. He was left with disgust towards what he saw as her attention seeking after his brother’s death. Now that he has returned to his hometown to help his parents, imagine his surprise to find he moved in right next door to Annabelle. 

These two have a lot of listening to do. From the beginning there is a current of attraction running under the hurt between them. But before they can address the attraction, they also have to address the hurt, grief, and anger that has simmered between them since Annabelle married Jacob’s brother so soon before his death.

I loved Annabelle’s connection both to her own family and to the Queens. Despite Jacob’s judgement of her, she is a genuine person who cares for those around her. She has stayed close with the Queens, meeting for a weekly dinner that keeps her close to her second family. Her own family is dealing with tensions at work and though she agrees with her siblings, she doesn’t like the way it makes her feel to have arguments within the family. 

Jacob seemed stubborn and hardheaded when he was first introduced. But he is also juggling his mom’s health, opening a new law practice while shorthanded, and settling back into Fort Collins after years avoiding it. It was great to watch as he learned the truth about what Annabelle faced after his brother died.

This branch of the Montgomery family is just as connected as the Denver or Colorado Springs branches, but has the added layer of a bit of jealousy from their father. He is also a Montgomery, but from an unrelated family. Their father feels some kind of animosity towards his brothers-in-law and that negative energy impacts the family business his kids are trying to take over. I always enjoy these Montgomery books - the family dynamics, the connection between the main characters, and the easy rolling plots keep me coming back for more. Even though I hadn’t read the entire backlist, I feel like I can pick and choose and not miss a thing if it’s been a while since I’ve been in this world. 

COMING SOON IN THE SERIES