A Bittersweet Beginning: A Montgomery Ink Legacy Prequel

Montgomery Ink Legacy #0.5

by Carrie Ann Ryan

What happened in Paris?
That’s the question readers have been asking ever since the growly, yet golden retriever Leif Montgomery stepped onto the page with the fierce single mom, Brooke Alder.

Now you can finally read their first meeting in Paris and get a taste of one of the best summers of their lives.

~

Leif Montgomery is on a journey of his own. He’s embracing art school, Paris, freedom, and now…the woman of his dreams.

With one accidental meeting, his world collides with Brooke’s and there is no turning back.

Until it’s time to return home and there’s only one question to

What happens next?

Genres: Romance

Kindle Edition

First published December 15, 2025

About the author

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Talon Pack, Promise Me, and Elements of Five series, which have sold millions of books worldwide. She's the winner of a RT Book of the Year and a Prism Award in her genres. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over seventy-five novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.

The Montgomery Ink World contains the following series, though each series is a stand alone and can be read in any order. Feel free to hop around:

The Montgomery Ink Series
The Gallagher Brothers Series
The Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs Series
The Whiskey and Lies Series
The Fractured Connections Series
The Montgomery Ink: Boulder Series
The Less Than Series
The Promise Me Series

Her Elements of Five Series is her Young Adult Romance series while her other series are all adult.

Her Talon Pack series is set in the same world as the Redwood Pack series, only 30 years later.

The Dante's Circle, Holiday, Montana, and Branded Packs series are all individual series as well.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Bittersweet Beginning was short, sweet, and everything I wanted from a Montgomery Ink Legacy novella. Carrie Ann Ryan’s writing continues to be such a comfort read for me—she has a way of creating emotional connection so quickly, even in a smaller page count.

Getting to see Leif and Brooke’s first meeting was incredibly satisfying, and I’m officially obsessed with them. Their dynamic immediately drew me in, and despite this being a novella, their fling felt meaningful and emotionally charged. The dual POV added depth to their connection, and I definitely made a few reader noises…and may have sobbed a bit too.

This story felt like the perfect teaser—just enough romance, emotion, and longing to leave me desperate for more. I already can’t wait to dive into their full story in Bittersweet Promises. If you’re a fan of the Montgomery Ink world or love a heartfelt, romantic novella that leaves a lasting impression, this one is absolutely worth picking up. 💙

[Jennifer Leigh (jenjenbookfan) · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐀 𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 is an aptly named prequel for the Montgomery Ink Legacy series by Carrie Ann Ryan, featuring the must-read beginning of Leif and Brooke’s story! Have you ever wondered what actually happened when Leif and Brooke first met in Paris? Now is your chance to experience the meet-cute, the Parisian romance and passion, as well as the heartbreak that set the stage for 𝘉𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴, which is already available! It’s fast-paced, but it packs a punch and provides so much context that just adds to an already amazing story!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

[ChristiLovesBooks_smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Bittersweet Beginning, book 0.5 the Montgomery Ink Legacy series by Carrie Ann Ryan @carrieannryanauthor. Carrie Ann is a fantastic author! I am reading the Montgomery world in chronological order from Carrie Ann’s website.

This was a super sweet yet sad novella about Leif & Brooke! Tropes: Contemporary, Male/Female, Prequel, No HFN/HEA (please read Bittersweet Promises which is Leif & Brooke’s full-length book).

[Phuong · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad we finally get to read what happened in Paris between Leif and Brooke in Bittersweet Beginning by Carrie Ann Ryan. Leif has always been one of my favorite next generation Montgomery after he appeared in Austin and Sierra’s book so it was great to see the beginning of his and Brooke’s love story before they got their HEA as adults.

[NanaX8 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a grab your heart and squeeze short to lead you into Leif and Brooke’s journey. An all of the feels romance that will take you down the road of the all time highs of new beginnings to the bittersweet pain of losing what you’re not sure you ever had!! Loved it!!

[Michele Del Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, this is the beginning of Leif and Brooke's relationship. I could not put it down, this book was filled with so much emotion. This is the beginning of something great and I am here for it. These characters pulled me in with their story and their chemistry.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is short and quick. Nice to see how Leif and Brooke met, how happy they were in Paris. But sad with how it ended and how Leif kept waiting for her. Glad to know things didn't just end there for them.

[Dar · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was sweet to see how Brooke and Leif met and spent their time in Paris

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this short story about Leif and Brooke! They meet in Paris and are from the same town back home. They agree to meet when they get back home, but things don't go as planned.

[Laura Cozicar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just love this little sneak peak into the beginning of Leif and Brook’s story. Adds that little extra punch you didn’t know you needed.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful preview the book Bittersweet Promises. Enjoyed getting to know the backstory of the main characters Leif Montgomery and Brooke Alder.

[Wendy Crossley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Segway to the complete story. I loved this prequel and currently reading the rest.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!!

I loved this beginning story of Leif and Brooke! It's so good to go back to the beginning, to learn what happened in Paris when they met. The attraction was instantaneous, but they were wary of where things were going because they both had plans after the Paris trip. I love this bittersweet beginning! I highly recommend!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

We finally get to see how Leif and Brooke meet in Paris years ago. If you have read Bittersweet Promises I highly recommend this quick read. It gives us a look into the relationship Leif and Brooke had in Paris before the years that separated them.

[Sharon Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

It's so great to read about Leif & Brooke. The way they met in Paris. If you have picked this book up, read it before Bittersweet Promises, the story will read better!

[Laura Cozicar · Rating 5 out of 5]

How It All Began

Just love this little sneak peak into the beginning of Leif and Brook’s story. Adds that little extra punch you didn’t know you needed!

[Sarah Nielsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic prequel

This was a fantastic prequel novella. Leif and Brooke have a special place in my heart because their book was my first ever book by Carrie Ann Ryan and now she’s one of my favorite authors of all time. So this was an extra special treat for me, seeing their beginning and it definitely made me want to reread Bittersweet Promises.

[Judi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet smoking lunchtime read

I’m not one for prequels but I loved Bittersweet Promises so much I had to get the rest of the story. Brooke and Lief have an instant connection and of course the sexy vibes that are indicative of a Montgomery, I just would have loved more.