From New York Times and USA Today bestselling 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 … 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.
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Wow! I absolutely loved everything about this book. Cross and Hazel were off the charts hot and their chemistry is explosive. I really enjoyed the friendship between the women in this story. They are so connected and always looking out for each other. Cross and his family have the best relationship, they are a unit and come as a package. I liked the suspense part of the story and it was a wonderfully written book about true love. You will not be disappointed. Cannot wait for the other books in this series!
I loved reading this book!
Hazel is a character that you root for from the beginning. She is a strong character and she doesn’t really know how strong she really is. Hazel knows that she needs to heal from an abusive marriage and when she meets Cross, she wants him but to stand beside her. She doesn’t want him to heal her but just be with her while she does that herself.
Cross knew that Hazel was different. In a world that was falling around him, she was a breath of fresh air and became his touch stone. Something to remind him that life is still good.
They just fit together and it was an amazing story to read and I would recommend it to anyone.
I loved Hazel and Cross’ story. I love how Carrie Ann Ryan writes stories that I can’t seem to put down. This book had all the things that make up a great story including chemistry, suspense, and close family connections. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next one in this series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It made me laugh and cry all at the same time. My Heart hurt for Hazel and the trauma that she had been through and I was angry with Cross’s business partner Chris and the shenanigans that he was pulling. However Hazels friends are a great group of women and Cross’s family is just fun as we learned when Arden met Liam. Their “meet cute” was just perfect for tow people who are struggling to trust other outside of their immediate circle. This is a read that I think you will love.
4.5***** stars. You never know when fate will intervene! Hazel is seated in the bar waiting for her blind date when Cross enters looking for a client he’s never met. She is alone so he thinks she’s the person he is supposed to meet and goes up to her. She thinks he’s the blind date. All is going well until they both get texts. Neither of them are the people that match. Since they are getting along so well, they make a sort of date out of the accidental meeting. Cross is having issues with his longtime business partner and friend. Something is just not right. She is a math professor with a busy schedule and they have to juggle to have dates together. He is the oldest of five and his siblings are all up in his business. His sister is married to a Colorado Montgomery so here is the connection to the other series. So can two lonely people get and stay together through all the trials and tribulations? Well written and totally enjoyable read!!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
This author gives us what I want in a series-that they can be a stand alone too while being in a series.
In this one we start with Hazel and Cross and their story. I find these very interesting when females form a group and make pacts because that is when things go into bizarre. When they did this Hazel also happens to be the first one. But she also has a shadow hanging over her that is or could be deadly. When her and Cross get done butting heads over their sparks we will see where and how this goes also giving us the chills at times along with the heat. Who survives and do we the reader even survive?
Hazel has a great group of friends that decide they need to start dating so they set each other up on blind dates. Hazel is first and and meets Cross by accident, mistaken identity and all that. What could have been disastrous is actually quite nice and Hazel and Cross become friends. They try to deny their feelings for each other due to Hazel’s past and Cross’s changing life but it may be safer if they stick together…someone is out for blood and they not survive on their own!!
Can’t wait to read more fro the series and see what happens with the rest of the group.
4 Stars
I love the concept of this series. Four friends who have not had the best of pasts, make a pact to give each other the push they need to jumpstart something just possibly amazing in their lives.
Hazel is a Survivor. A sweet and caring woman who has lived through some of the worst possible horrors. She lives very cautiously and is constantly looking over her shoulder. Hazel is a brave woman who has taken the correct steps to overcome the hurt of the past. Although it is never far from her thought. I love that She was able to find a group of women to bond with. So much so they made a pact. Hazel is the first up. When her blind date doesn’t go quite as planned and this unexpected and handsome man sits at her table little did she know what the true meaning of forever was.
Cross is an amazing artist. A man that knows how to use his hands. He’s Fiercely protective of those he loves, a bit grumpy and brooding yet as loyal as they come. What he projects of himself to the world is not what he truly is. He is so much more. Focused on his career and a person that many rely upon, the last thing Cross would even think about is a relationship. When meeting a client as a favor for his partner falls through,yet not knowing until he sits down a cross from a woman, little did he know his entire world was about to change.
Forever Only Once is an emotional, slow burn, romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. Cross and Hazel came together beautifully. From their accidental meeting, to the chemistry taking off, to the emotional depth this story holds. I loved it all. Hazel is honest about her issues and Cross is so gentle and supportive. Carrie Ann Ryan brought to light issues many women have had the unfortunate experience of having or are dealing with. Reminding them they are not alone and there is help in places you may not realize. Cross and Hazel will touch your heart, heat up the pages and leave you with a smile at the end.
Great start to a new series. Spin off of the Montgomery’s
This book is the start of a really great series! I love Hazel and Cross. Cross is growls, bearded and so, so swoony. Hazel is a strong and independent woman with a tragic background. The Montgomery’s are very loosely in the background. There is some suspense in this book. It had me sitting on the edge of my seat. I absolutely love this book and was riveted to every page. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What a wonderful story in so many ways! Out of tragedy, Hazel finds a beautiful friendship between four women who become more like sisters. As they decide to make a pact and move on and find love, Hazel is up first. Cross wasn’t looking for love but then he meets Hazel. I love how this story shows you how they fought it but also how they found true love together despite the trials they have to fight to get there! This is a story you won’t want to put down until you finish it!
Hit me with the love and suspense! Debra @janise’s Jivin’ Book Blog
What a powerful read. It has so many elements that kept you biting your nails and also just enjoying it for the pure serendipity of it. One accidental meeting and your life is changed forever.
Coming from the past that Hazel does makes it hard for her to feel secure and to trust. Even her close friends don’t totally know all there is. But they have made a pact with each other and that pact is what puts Hazel on the trajectory to meet Cross and light up her world.
Cross is dealing with a few issues of his own and as the oldest doesn’t always feel like he should burden everyone with the problems. Little does he know one of his problems is going to be the reason Hazel is about to rock his world. Not only in the moment but for the future events that are to come.
Well written, exciting, heated moments that begin with a nice slow burn, with an added touch of uh oh and why! Loved it so much!
A new series with some favorite brothers. Arden’s older brothers will be the stars here and I’m loving it. We start with Cross, the oldest, and his accidental chance “date” with Hazel, the first of her group of friends to go on a blind date set up by her friends. Both of their peoples cancelled and they ended up making the most of it. While both are going through some tough times, there is a connection that they try to build on. Hazel has a brutal past that she’s trying to move forward from and trusting is hard for her. But she lets her guard down little by little with Cross. He’s going through some issues with his business and his partner, but he just can’t get Hazel off his mind. When the world comes crashing down on both of them, will they be able to make it through together? I loved their story, Hazel’s strength, and the way Cross cared so much for her. I can’t wait to read more in this series!!
I really liked Forever Only Once. It was emotional without being overwhelming. Cross and Hazel (mostly Hazel) had their personal issues to work out while figuring out a relationship, which made for a fun yet emotionally charged story.
Loved this sexy, fun, emotional and action packed journey filled with intriguing charters, witty dialog, heart racing twists and thrilling passion. Was an edge of your seat holding on for dear life journey that kept me glued to my ereader from beginning to end.
Carrie Ann has once again brought out the feels. Noble is a woman hiding from her past while Cross is trying to make a future. With a chance meet cute, the two become more to each other than they intended. With good friends, unsuspecting brothers, and of course the Montgomery family surprises are in store. You need this book.
~5 Swooning Stars~
Hazel and Cross had me twisted in knots. Carrie Ann Ryan killed me slowly with this new story. I am excited that it is the first with a new series. I have loved her heartfelt, gut wrenching story. And this one was the icing on the cake. This story line pulled on all the right heart strings. I couldn’t get enough!! My friends, welcome to a series that you will beg for more!!!
Cross does not trust his business partner anymore and is thinking that it is time to dissolve their partnership and go his own way. Chris convinces Cross to meet one of his clients at the bar which only frustrates Cross even more. Upon arriving at the bar, he sits with the only single female in the entire place assuming she is the new client. Hazel has had a past that horror movies are based on and she is ready to move on and attempt to start a new life where she does not need to live in fear. She agrees to go on a blind date set up by one of her best friends. When a handsome man sits at her table she assumes he is her blind date. After introductions, they both realize that neither is the person they were meeting and once they both find out that the people they were meeting had cancelled they decide to enjoy dinner together. After a good, accidental blind date they both decide to keep their connection going and move forward from their solitary lives until the past comes back to haunt them.
Forever Only Once is an accidental blind date romantic suspense that had me back and forth throughout the whole story whether I was enjoying it or not. There were times that I laughed and was gripped by the book but there were also times where I was bored and felt like the story was kind of all over the place. The awkwardness between Cross and Hazel when they started communicating and texting was funny and when Hazel’s past comes back to haunt her that was suspenseful and had me glued to the pages. I struggled with Hazel and her constant “I am not good enough”. It will be interesting to see how the Promise Me series plays out as it follows Hazel, her group of friends and the Brady brothers.
*ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review*
This is the first book in the Promise Me Serie. This is a series of interconnected standalone stories, with characters intertwined. This series is part of The Montgomery World, that encompasses five series. The Promise Me Series is interconnected with Wrapped in Ink, Arden’s story (book 1 in the Montgomery Ink: Boulder Series). The world building is amazing! Hazel and Cross’s story is sweet and beautiful. Wow! I loved it! Hazel is a lovely woman, strong, and independent, with a mysterious past. Cross is handsome, caring, and very protective. They are perfect together. The storyline is captivating, filled with mystery, secrets, and suspense. I love the family spirit and the friendship in this story. The cast of supporting characters is impressive. Cross’s brothers (Prior, Macan and Nate), and Hazel’s best friends (Dakota, Paris and Myra) are all very supportive and caring. I can’t wait to read their story! Cross’s sister, and her husband, Liam, are also beautiful and supportive characters. I loved the book, and enjoyed every minute while reading it. Carrie Ann Ryan never disappoints. Looking forward to read the next book in the Series, From That Moment, Paris and Prior’s story! This is definitely one of my most anticipated Series of 2020! Carrie Ann Ryan’s World is addictive.
5 HAZEL AND CROSS STARS!! What a great start to a new series. This book has all the feels with friendship, heartache, sexiness and love. Hazel and Cross will take you on one of the most memorable ride ever. You must read this book and it will start you on this new series.