Obedience
Ties That Bind, #1
by Liza Snow
Date of Publication: April 4th 2023
Cover Artist: MiblArt
Genre: Romantic Suspense
ASIN: B0BXJZFW6S
Number of pages: 617 pages
Word Count: 155000
Tagline: He’d searched a lifetime for the perfect student. She’d always dreamed he'd be her teacher. Together they’ll soar in the silks.
BLURB
Cassandra
Growing up, I was mesmerized by a man soaring the skies.
The greatest silk aerialist in the world, Chandler Moreau.
He was once my lifeline, the dream I clung to after my parents died. I’ve always believed he was my destiny. To join him at the Dreamers Academy. To perform for him.
To soar with him.
He’s more than I ever imagined. Far more than a mentor. When I am high in the silks, turning, flying, falling, he’s my lifeline once again. Twisting my heart and my body into knots like the knots of his beloved Japanese rope bondage, Shibari.
I don’t want to live without him. With each lesson, each touch, I crave more. Only he can satisfy me. And only he can destroy me…
But I must keep him safe from the past that relentlessly follows me.
Chandler
She is my protégé, the student I’ve been waiting to take under my wing for my entire career. Someone with whom I could share my lifelong journey in my family’s circus, Cirque du Lys.
I never intended to fall in love with the student I was supposed to protect—from myself and the demons that lurk in my shadows. But sometimes fate has other plans.
Cassandra, my beautiful butterfly. I know she’s off limits. Forbidden. Still, I want her in my life. My heart. My bed.
My grandfather's taunting words still linger.
Mieux vaut plier que rompre.
Adapt and survive.
It’s what we must do. Cassandra and I share a history that entwines us more than the silks we’ve spent our lives mastering ever could.
There are secrets from the past that must never be told. And truths that could destroy what we’ve just begun…
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/6oKPIEIwyAk
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JBCeaA
More to Love
In addition to the paperback, Obedience is also available in a full-cast narrated audiobook, starring Daniel Zbel and Rapunzaroo, along with a cast of additional voiceover actresses.
Brought to life in the way the story is meant to be told, and it will be the best audiobook you listen to this year—possibly for a very long time.
You’ll love listening to the two voices of these iconic characters. And don’t forget to read along with them and enjoy a fantastic, immersive experience. You’ll need the paperback copy to fan yourself off from some of the narration!
Listen to An Audio Excerpt Here:
Excerpt:
I hadn’t needed to prompt her. She began, pulling herself upward, drawing those silks around her small frame as she went. Climbing high into the air as the two women began their duet. The French lyrics pulled me in every time. It was perhaps one of the reasons that while I simply tolerated most opera songs I’d heard, I adored this song.
Every time I heard it, every time I got lost in those little nuances of the language, it brought me back to summertime in Melun, France. Playing on the hills overlooking the city, lost in the grasses filled with wildflowers. Climbing into Meme’s apple trees. Perhaps the time in my life when it had felt so simple. All there were, were the memories of when I’d been happy.
And if there was any place I wanted to be, as I watched Cassandra ascending above me, knowing in seconds I would be right beside her, it was in those memories again. Bringing her with me.
The first stanza finished, and my mind immediately centered. My hands had already been wrapped in the silks without having to think about it. She paused, and I saw her attention drift downward. We fell captive to one another, and it was all I needed to see. I knew it was my turn to go to her. She was waiting for me.
In the same fashion she had moments earlier, I began my way up the silks beside hers, which had been a deep royal purple color. The entire time I made my way high into the room, I immersed myself in the French lyrics, the strings complimenting every rise and fall of the two women’s voices. Some moments, I’d lose myself in what I was doing, taking careful note of all the little adjustments my body was making. Other times, my attention drifted upward. Until finally, I was just beneath Cassandra.
When I paused again, I took a few deep breaths, steadying myself. Focused entirely on the beautiful woman above me, who was just as attentive to me. I nodded to her, signaling I was ready, prepared to follow her in whatever she had thought to do next.
At the precise moment when I had met her, she had already begun moving herself into a sailor pose above me, legs splitting, and much to my satisfaction, every single part of her in perfect position. All the small details I’d shown her the first lesson we’d had together were as pristine as when I’d helped her myself.
I would have taken more time to truly enjoy how proud of her I felt if she hadn’t twisted downward, dropping her torso straight toward me in a graceful fall. Before she’d completed it, I knew what she’d done. A Rainbow Marchenko. A famous move of Jeanne’s for many years. But watching her as she settled into it, I would have thought it was hers alone.
Cassandra’s hands dropped, releasing the silks. Dangling inches away. The only thing holding her in the air was the precise folds of those green fabrics wrapped around her legs.
Looking into her eyes as she hung there, waiting for me to act, all I could do was smile. She’d been focused, lost in her own world, but she’d come back to me. We were together again in the very place I had wanted to be with her ever since I’d seen her flying through the silks at her audition. I had dreamt about it every time since, every lesson we had, every time I’d watched her from the shadows of the theater while she practiced.
I had taken her to those fields in Melun with me, high in the trees. Trapped us both in those treasured memories, made all the better knowing she was there.
“I’ve got you, Cassandra,” I called out to her, gently. Steadying myself, my body locked in place. Breathing slow and rhythmic and calm. I watched her take the same breath as I had, waiting for the little drop in the lyrics before the next few lines began.
The moment their voices bellowed into the theater again, she let herself drop in a salto. In a gentle sweep of my body, I caught her gracefully into my arms. Twisted us together, letting the silks take hold of the two of us as we swung across the room, dozens of feet above the stage below us. Falling like two feathers locked together, dancing into the wind.
When the fabrics released us, I swung us outward. Our bodies drifted apart again as she spun around me, both of us still descending toward the floor. As beautiful as she looked, circling outward away from me, the moment she had, I wanted her back. I used my legs to give myself enough momentum to swing forward, latching on again once she’d appeared.
Cassandra had been so close I’d felt her breath against my face while we dangled above the stage. I got lost in the way it felt to be tangled up with her, a mess of bodies and fabric. Consumed by it. Convinced I might never let go of her again.
As we’d traversed the rest of the way back to the stage, I didn’t. The two of us descended together as a singular unit, just her and I and the fabrics. Improvising the graceful fall we were doing, finding little tricks and motions to carry out, all the while never leaving her side.
We’d both reached the floor, perfectly in sync with one another. I heard a gentle thump as we landed. Followed by the sound of both of our light, audible breaths. Steadying ourselves back on the ground.
Even having left the air, the silks still wrapped around us. Neither of us had freed ourselves. Cassandra was still in my arms, something I realized, when I hadn’t been so caught up in what we were doing all those feet above us, was happening for the very first time.
The sweet smell of oranges overwhelmed me. Her beautiful hazel eyes, those captivating flecks of grays and greens and browns, drowned out the world around us. I watched her breathing softly, holding her to me and those silks holding me to her.
And in those next few moments, every single solitary thing keeping me from her since the day we had met no longer existed in the little reality we were trapped in. Every fear I had, every reservation, disappeared. I tightened her to me, my hands capturing the sides of her face in a gentle sweep, as elegant as every other thing we’d done those last few minutes.
Our mouths fell together, and I lost myself in her. Trapped in those profound and so unbelievably relieving seconds in which the things that had stood in our way no longer mattered.
I hadn’t thought anything could have surpassed the experience the two of us just shared.
Undeniably, it had been the best minutes I had ever spent in those silks in my entire career. As simple as it had been. And we had barely started. This was only the beginning.
But this moment now was just as wonderful. As perfect as I could have hoped.
Author Info
A bestselling independent author from Florida, Liza has been putting romance books into her readers hands for over a half decade and has loved every minute of it.
Liza lives with her husband, her two dogs and her cat, ten minutes from the beach. When she isn't writing, you can often find her walking and enjoying outside, with a coffee and a book in hand.
The Book Junkie Reads . . .Reckless Dreams Interview with . . . Liza Snow . . .
How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?
If someone were to ask me to describe my style of writing, I would say that it is adaptable and focused on simplicity. I believe that a good writer should be able to adapt their writing style to fit the story they are trying to tell. So, my style changes depending on the book I am working on. If I am writing a mystery, my style might be more suspenseful and tense. If I am writing a romance, my style might be more descriptive and focused on the emotions of the characters.
While my style changes depending on the book, there are a few things that remain consistent. I try to tell the story as simply as possible. I don't believe in making writing overly complex or convoluted. Instead, I try to focus on telling the story in a way that is easy to understand and follow. This allows readers to become fully immersed in the story without getting bogged down by unnecessary details or confusing language.
Finally, I would say that my style is very character-driven. I believe that the characters are the heart of the story and that they should be the driving force behind everything that happens. I like to let my characters take the reins and tell their story in their own way. By doing this, I can create characters that feel real and relatable, which in turn helps to bring the story to life.
Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally for you?
In my experience, writing can be both an ingrained process and something that flows naturally. There are times when I sit down to write, and the words seem to flow effortlessly from my mind to the page. I feel like I am in the zone, and the writing comes almost instinctively. However, there are also times when writing feels like a more deliberate and structured process. It's during these times that I rely on the habits and routines that I've developed over time.
I believe that making writing an ingrained process through consistent practice and repetition is what allows it to flow naturally. When I write consistently, my mind becomes more attuned to the process of writing, and it becomes easier to get into the flow state. The more I practice, the more natural writing feels to me. However, I also think that there will always be moments where writing feels like more of a conscious effort. Whether it's due to writer's block or simply feeling creatively drained, there will be times when writing requires more deliberate effort.
What mindset or routine do you feel the need to set when preparing to write (in general whether you are working on a project or just free writing)?
When preparing to write, I find it important to set a specific mindset and routine in order to be most effective. For me, this means finding a quiet and distraction-free space where I can focus on my writing. I also like to take a few deep breaths and clear my mind before beginning, which helps me to feel more centered and focused on the task at hand.
Another important aspect of my writing routine is setting goals and timelines for myself. Whether I am working on a specific project or simply doing some free writing, I find that having clear goals and deadlines helps to keep me on track and motivated. This could mean setting a word count goal for the day or simply committing to writing for a certain amount of time each day. By setting specific goals and timelines, I am able to hold myself accountable and ensure that I am making progress towards my writing goals. Overall, I think that finding a quiet and focused space, clearing my mind, and setting specific goals are all important parts of my writing routine that help me to be most productive and effective in my writing.
Do you take character prep to heart? Do you nurture the growth of each character all the way through to the page? Do you people watch to help you with development? Or do you build upon your character during story creation?
When it comes to character development, I tend to build upon my characters during the story creation process. I find that as I begin to write the story, my characters take on a life of their own, and their personalities and motivations start to become clearer to me. This is not to say that I don't do any character prep at all, but rather that I prefer to let the characters grow and develop naturally as I write the story.
That being said, I do think that it's important to have a basic understanding of each character before beginning to write. This might include knowing their backstory, their motivations, and their personality traits. However, I don't like to overplan my characters before beginning to write, as I find that this can stifle their growth and make them feel less authentic.
While I don't specifically watch people to help with character development, I do think that observing the world around me can be a helpful tool in creating well-rounded characters. By paying attention to how people behave and interact with each other, I am able to create characters that feel more realistic and relatable. Ultimately, I believe that the key to effective character development is to be open to the process and to allow the characters to grow and develop naturally throughout the story.
Where would you spend one full year if you could go ANYWHERE, money is not a concern? What would you do with this time?
If I could go anywhere for a full year, I would choose to spend it at a Buddhist monastery to study meditation. Monasteries are known for being peaceful and serene environments that offer the perfect setting for spiritual contemplation and growth. By spending a year in a monastery, I would be able to fully immerse myself in the study of meditation and Buddhist teachings, which I believe would be immensely beneficial for my personal growth and development.
In addition to providing a peaceful setting for meditation, monasteries offer a sense of community and support that can be difficult to find in the outside world. Many monasteries have a tight-knit community of individuals who are all working towards the same spiritual goals, which can be incredibly motivating and inspiring. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals who are also focused on self-improvement and personal growth could help to facilitate my own growth and development.
Finally, I believe that studying at a monastery would allow me to disconnect from the distractions of everyday life and focus fully on my spiritual growth. In our modern world, we are constantly bombarded with distractions and responsibilities, which can make it difficult to find the time and energy for spiritual contemplation and growth. By spending a year in a monastery, I would be able to disconnect from these distractions and focus solely on my spiritual journey, which I believe would be an incredibly enriching and fulfilling experience.
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