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!

Forever Only Once

Carrie Ann Ryan is the Queen of spinoffs that keep on giving. It started with Montgomery Ink, Then we moved on to the Montgomery cousins of Colorado Springs, Then it was the Montgomery cousins of Boulder. From that we get the Promise Me series, all about Arden's brothers (Wrapped In Ink). I have been (not so) patiently waiting for this series from the moment they were introduced helping Arden at the hospital in her and Liam's book, before CAR had even announced them as an actual possibility. Let me say this one thing. CAR did not disappoint (not that she ever does). It was worth every single second of waiting. I loved how the girls decided to set each other up and get the blind dates started, I loved how Hazel & Cross actually meet without meaning to. Such a big start to this branch of the series I know that they will only get better and better.

The Narration by Emma Wilder and Jason Clarke fit perfectly with the book. Amazing job well done.

Accidental Date

Hazel and her three friends have made a blind date pact and Hazel drew the short straw so she is their focus first. When her blind date cancels and is sitting alone, Cross joins her thinking it's the client he is supposed to meet, who ultimately cancels as well. They decide to have a few drinks and get to know each other.

As they begin to date, Hazel confides in Cross about her horrible past and the fear her ex may find her. Cross has issues of his own with his business partner and once best friend. As they navigate their issues and their relationship begins to heat up, will her past destroy what they have or is their love strong enough to find what they both are looking for; a happily ever after.

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.