Forever Only Once

Promise Me, Book 1

By: Carrie Ann Ryan

Narrated by: Emma Wilder, Jason Clarke

From New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Carrie Ann Ryan comes a sexy new contemporary stand-alone series.

Hazel Noble has survived horrors she wouldn’t inflict on her worst enemy. Since then, she’s healed, found herself, and connected with a group of women she’s proud to call her friends. However, when they make a pact to start looking for love, Hazel finds herself not only up first but also forced to face a past she thought she'd escaped.

Cross Brady has no need for a relationship. As the oldest of five, he’s always been the one his family can rely on. Now, all he wants is to work in peace and live his life. His priorities shift dramatically, though, when Cross finds himself in Hazel's path.

Though the two initially fight their connection, they soon learn that it’s safer to fall for each other than keep running from what’s holding them back - not to mention, who wants them dead.

Includes a bonus epilogue.

©2020 Carrie Ann Ryan (P)2020 Carrie Ann Ryan

Exciting New Series!!

Completely loving this new series!! This is Cross and Hazel’s story. Hazel is a math teacher that makes a pact with her friends to start dating again but things don’t go as planned exactly. Cross is a furniture builder that has his own business with his friend Chris but something has been off lately at work. Cross loves creating his designs for the furniture but Chris seems to have other ideas how things should go. Hazel has a past one she can’t let go of and doesn’t believe she will ever be able too because somethings you just can’t forget and leave you fearful at every turn. Overall I truly enjoyed their story, loved watching it unfold, it’s page turning and another amazing creation from the author. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Narrators were amazing and added to the story they brought the words to life!

Great story!!

This was a great book to start off this new spin off series with. Cross, who we met in the Boulder Montgomery books from his sister Arden, was a great character to start this series with. He was the perfect combination of Alpha and gentle for Hazel's character who was damaged from the events that took place in her past. The couple meet in a chance meeting that makes for the perfect meet-cute to then have it develop into a relationship. At first, I was concerned that Hazel's character was a little too meek for Cross given her past but I enjoyed watching her blossom into the stronger character that she became. Add in the supporting characters - Cross's family that we met in Arden's book and the new characters of Hazel's friend circle and this was a great story that makes me look forward to the future books of the series. In the audio version of this book, read by Emma Wilde and Jason Clarke, the performance of the two narrators made for an enjoyable listening experience. Overall, I would recommend this book and this new series to others.

I Almost Checked Out….But!

I got a little impatient at the beginning because it felt like there was too much in head conversation going on, making the story move very slowly, so I almost stopped listening, but I’m so glad that I stuck with it! I really enjoyed Eva & Cross.

So good!

Carrie Ann hits this new series out of the ballpark and into the next state!!

I couldn't stop listening and or reading this book until I finished it. The entire premise of the series intrigued me, and I cannot wait to see how the rest of the series goes.

It is so nice to see some old favorites too, like Liam and Arden. I love those two.

Back to the couple. Cross and that beard. I'm a sucker for a beard and add in a growly man and I'm all over it. Jason Clarke is perfect for the narrating the Brady men. He gives each one a distinct voice, you can really tell which brother is talking. Big points. I can say same for Emma Wilder. She nails giving each of Hazel's friends their own voice that really comes through.

I love Hazel, her kindness, strength really stuck with me. Her friends are a total hoot and I cannot wait to see them find their HEAs.

The suspense element of it all was really good, it kept me guessing. How would it all end. Can't wait for more!

Forever Only Once

This story takes you through several emotions with these great characters, we need more bearded unicorns.

The narrators did a great job bringing the emotions out in this story.