Forever Only Once

Promise Me, Book 1

By: Carrie Ann Ryan

Narrated by: Emma Wilder, Jason Clarke

Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

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!

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.

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.

An amazing start to a new series! Loved it!

4.5-stars!

I loved Forever Only Once by Carrie Ann Ryan when I first read it, so when I had the chance to listen to the audiobook, I jumped at the chance. Narrated by Emma Wilder and Jason Clarke, they brought Cross and Hazel’s story to life for me in new ways. Hazel was so strong in so many ways and yet vulnerable. She has gone through so much, but is it time to move forward? With strong friends beside her, can she open her heart to love? Cross is the oldest of five siblings. He is their protector and that is his priority. He has no time for relationships. Then he meets Hazel and everything changes. They feel an instant connection and chemistry, even if they try to deny it at first.

I loved the characters so much and just loved their journey. It was not an easy one, but I devoured it. Cross’ siblings and Hazel’s friends were great secondary characters and I have a feeling we are in for a lot more of all of them! Forever Only Once by Carrie Ann Ryan is a story about second chances, love, family and suspenseful. Carrie Ann Ryan has quickly become a one-click author to me. Her writing, characters and stories are captivating start to finish. This is a must-read and/or listen!

Happy listening!

A cute meet leads to more 🥰

In this spinoff, we find a group of girlfriends helping each other to find their one. Hazel gets the short straw literally but in the end it’s the best one. She has a rough past, that might still follow her but she still wants a chance at love. Bearded and gorgeous, Cross is there to sweep her off her feet. I liked the drama, the suspense, the heat and finally a hea. Great narration from both Wilder and Clark too. Awesome series starter.

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.

Cross and Hazel

Forever Only Once is the first book in the new Promise Me series. Cross is an artist/furniture maker and Hazel is a math teacher. They accidentally meet while she is waiting for her blind date at an upscale bar and he arrives for a business meeting with a client. I really appreciated that although cross is a manly man and tough, he is also a really good man. He's an alpha without being a complete a-hole. His genuine love and care for his family makes him even more sexy. There are some twist and turns in their story and also a little danger.

Emma Wilder was fantastic as Hazel. She portrayed a strong but somewhat damaged woman. I honestly could listen to her read pretty much anything but she was particularly perfect as Hazel. Jason Clarke was great too, as usual.

For me this is worth a credit and I will be happy to use credits for the next books in the series based on how much I loved this one.

Cross and Hazel are awesome!

I loved getting to know Cross and Hazel. I fell for Cross in Arden and Liam's book and he was everything and more in this one. Hazel is charming, vulnerable and with an inner strength that shines.

Jason Clarke and Emma Wilder do an amazing job with the narration. I knew what both characters were feeling and going through while listening/reading this book. 😘😘😘😘

Another winner from Carrie Ann Ryan!