On April 4th, 2023, take to the skies on the stage of the ever-fantastical Cirque du Lys, as you soar in the silks with Chandler Moreau and Cassandra Blackstone. Obedience, Book One in the Ties That Bind Series, is a breathtaking and unique romantic suspense novel and full-cast narrated audiobook, unlike anything you've read or heard before.
Want to get to know some of the characters before the book releases? I'd love for you to meet some of the cast of Cirque du Lys and Obedience so you can start to understand what a unique experience the book and the audiobook truly are!
Our Hero, Chandler Moreau
Our story wouldn't have come to fruition without the ever charming and dashingly handsome Frenchman, Chandler Moreau. Chandler is a forty-something silk aerialist for his grandmother's circus, Cirque du Lys. He's been performing for two decades, and his entire life revolves around his work. That, and keeping dangerous demons of his past at bay.
When a beautiful young student auditions for his families academy, The Dreamers Academy, for the aerial silk program, all of that changes. Chandler finds himself completely infatuated by the brilliant and beautiful Cassandra Blackstone. He tries desperately to fight his feelings, despite his every desire not to.
Chandler is voiced by debut narrator Daniel Zbel in the audiobook, and there is absolutely no one on the planet who would have been able to do him justice. You'll have to listen to get what I mean!
Some fun facts about Chandler:
✨ Don't mention his age.
✨ He avoids bread and sweets like the plague.
✨ He owns and operates a popular nightclub within the city, when he isn't practicing with the circus.
✨ When he does eat sweets, they are usually of the lemon variety, because his mother made them when he was a kid.
✨ He has a strange obsession and is quite the alchemist in regards to taking baths (don't tell anyone).
Our Heroine, Cassandra Blackstone
Where would a good romance be without a beautiful and feisty heroine, who challenges our hero's every step? Enter Cassandra Blackstone, the silk aerialist student that has arrived at the Moreau's Dreamers Academy, and into the eyes (and heart) of her childhood idol, Chandler Moreau.
Cassandra is a sweet-natured young woman, with a mysterious past that slowly unravels throughout the course of the book. Having followed Chandler since she was a young child, it's clear that Cassandra is immediately devoted to her mentor from the start, despite their sometimes very agonizing push-and-pull that Chandler always seems to create.
Cassandra is voiced by Rapunzaroo (Roo) a debut narrator who, I promise you, is the most beautiful romance narrator voice you'll ever listen to, hands down!
Some fun facts about Cassandra:
✨ She loves Hawaiian pizza, but it must have jalapenos!
✨ She carries around some mysterious ratty sling bag with her 24/7, much to everyone's curiosity.
✨ Her best friend Alex also attends the Dreamers Academy with her. They've been friends since middle school and are attached at the hip.
✨ She probably knows more about Chandler Moreau than even he does, having been following his every move for over a decade.
✨ She's sometimes too nosey for her own good!
The Loyal and Lovable Best Friend, Thomas Little
Thomas Hugo Little is the loveable best friend of Chandler Moreau, and adopted Uncle to Cassandra Blackstone. He's one of the funniest characters of the book, constantly at Chandler about one thing or another. He's been married to his beautiful southern charm of a wife Abigail for two decades, and they work together in a fire and danger act for Cirque du Lys!
Some fun facts about Thomas:
✨ His "meet cute" with Abigail was seeing her perform at a little circus show in Las Vegas, and she accidentally caught him on fire. Luckily no one was harmed! But they've been aflame ever since!
✨ He loves cooking dishes from his hometown in Spain.
✨ Thomas' favorite thing to do is tease Chandler about his age. Or his grumpy attitude. Relentlessly.
✨ He's been letting his beard grow out, which Chandler constantly warns him is "becoming a fire hazard."
The Sweet Voice of Reason, Abigail Little
Abigail Little is the charming southern gal and best friend of Chandler Moreau, and adopted Aunt to Cassandra Blackstone. She's the soft, gentle voice of reason in the book, especially with Chandler. She's been married to her quirky and charming husband Thomas for two decades, and they work together in a fire and danger act for Cirque du Lys!
Some fun facts about Abby:
✨ Her "meet cute" with Thomas was seeing him at her performance at a little circus show in Las Vegas, and she accidentally caught him on fire. Luckily no one was harmed! But they've been aflame ever since!
✨ She was great friends with Oliver and Catherine Blackstone, Cassandra's parents.
✨ Abby likes to pretend she's the motherly figure that Chandler needs about every situation, but always nags him in a gentle way.
The Ultimate Ride-or-Die, Alex Ledger
Alexandra "Alex" Ledger is the "ride or die" BFF of Cassandra Blackstone, and at times, a much needed comic relief from the intensity of the story. A fiercely loyal and loving queer character. She had a rough time coming out to her parents, but her long-term relationship with Dana Thorpe, who she met in Acrefort while attending the Dreamers Academy, has made it all worth it in the end.
Some fun facts about Alex:
✨ She met her long-term girlfriend Dana for the first time in Acrefort, when she broke her arm and had to go to the hospital. Dana was her nurse.
✨ She has an appetite that can compete with Chandler Moreau's, which is DEFINITELY saying something.
✨ She's a year ahead of Cassandra at the Dreamers Academy, so the book starts at her last semester there.
✨ Her cousin owns a circus in France called Cirque du Lune, which she plans to attend after graduating.
✨ She openly admits to having had "inappropriate" dreams about Chandler (to be fair she didn't realize who he was), and admits she's a disappointment to gays everywhere. But she hopes they understand if they read the book!
The Adorable Almost Love-Interest, Henry Thorpe
Story Time: Meet Henry Thorpe! The adorable sophomore at the Dreamers Academy that has a little bit of a crush on our heroine Cassandra Blackstone.
In the original draft of Obedience, I had so many people writing telling me how adorable Henry was, I got paranoid because it was detracting from the sexy Frenchman I'd been working so hard on! So, I tried to tone him down a bit in the second book, while still keeping his adorable quirkiness.
Anyway, Daniel sent me a trial of his audio and I immediately replied "Okay, we can't have people liking Henry more than Chandler again!!!!" I was so surprised (though I shouldn't have been) how well Danny pulled off the very Spiderman-esque twenty year old kid voice.
Some fun facts about Henry:
✨ He wants to be a circus veterinarian, which is a kind of niche and weird profession nowadays, but we support him! He'll get the opportunity too! Don't worry!
✨ He loves a little diner across the street from Dreamers and is a frequent customer
✨ He lost his mom to ovarian cancer a few years ago
✨ His sister MAY be somehow related to someone that Alex Ledger knows???
The Beautiful and Charming Bartender, Stella Flores
Stella spent her young childhood in a small city in Spain with her family, but they moved early to the states. She's always been a very eccentric and open-minded person, and super kind. She started working at Chandler's bar on her thirtieth birthday, when she was at the bar and Chandler saw it was her birthday. He made her a drink, to which she replied "you made it wrong." Chandler promised her a job if she could do it better, and lo and behold, she's been there ever since.
Some fun facts about Stella:
✨ She's known Chandler Moreau for a decade since she started working at his nightclub in Acrefort, New York, and she's seen EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HIS SHOWS. Loyal fan.
✨ She's never once yelled at Chandler about anything, she's as kind as they come.
✨ She's the fastest and most efficient bartender you've ever met.
✨ She's from a city in Spain only ten minutes away from where Thomas Little spent his very early childhood, and both are about the same age but never met one another until Acrefort.
The Ever Eccentric and Fabulous, Sebastian Taylor
Some fun facts about Sebastian:
✨ Sebastian has been a ringmaster for Lily Moreau's Cirque du Lys for as long as Chandler has been a performer, which is over two decades now.
✨ He was pretty good friends with Lily and has a few fun stories about her.
✨ He enjoys psychological dramas and thrillers, especially The Twilight Zone.
✨ His other passion is designing the costumes for all of the Cirque du Lys performances, which, is much to Chandler's displeasure, but he always humors him anyway.
The Badass Thorn in the Side, Jeanne Tremblay
Some fun facts about Thomas:
✨ His "meet cute" with Abigail was seeing her perform at a little circus show in Las Vegas, and she accidentally caught him on fire. Luckily no one was harmed! But they've been aflame ever since!
✨ He loves cooking dishes from his hometown in Spain.
✨ Thomas' favorite thing to do is tease Chandler about his age. Or his grumpy attitude. Relentlessly.
✨ He's been letting his beard grow out, which Chandler constantly warns him is "becoming a fire hazard."
The Puppet Master and Enigma, Gabriel Moreau
Some fun facts about Thomas:
✨ His "meet cute" with Abigail was seeing her perform at a little circus show in Las Vegas, and she accidentally caught him on fire. Luckily no one was harmed! But they've been aflame ever since!
✨ He loves cooking dishes from his hometown in Spain.
✨ Thomas' favorite thing to do is tease Chandler about his age. Or his grumpy attitude. Relentlessly.
✨ He's been letting his beard grow out, which Chandler constantly warns him is "becoming a fire hazard."
Obedience, Book One in the Ties That Bind Series is a dual perspective, slow-burn, student-teacher romantic suspense, that will take you soaring into the silks. Available in ebook, paperback and full-cast narrated audiobook featuring the voices you heard above!
Go buy yourself a copy today and see what all the fuss is about...
Comentários