Twelve strangers. Six marriages. One year in Esperance.
Amryn has many reasons to hate the empire. Her latest is her forced marriage to General Carver Vincetti, better known as the Butcher. If he learns even one of her secrets, he will kill her. And Amryn has many secrets. Not only is she an empath with forbidden magic, she’s also a newly recruited rebel intent on destroying the empire—starting at Esperance.
Carver knows the rebels have infiltrated the remote temple of Esperance. His job is to hunt them down before they can wreck the emperor’s new peace. Despite the demons that haunt him, Carver is intent on his mission—but he’s not prepared for Amryn. From her fiery red hair to her surprising wit, his new wife has captured his attention. The attraction that flares between them is undeniable. Now he just has to determine if she’s the enemy.
When the newly married couples become targets in a violent game, Esperance becomes more dangerous than anyone anticipated. Carver and Amryn are about to discover that no one is exactly who they appear to be—especially each other.
Esperance is book one in a New Adult fantasy romance series by Amazon bestselling author Heather Frost. If you love enemies-to-lovers romance, surprising twists, and an action-packed story you can’t put down, you’ll love Esperance!
Heather Frost is a #1 Amazon bestselling YA author who loves epic stories with breath-stealing romance. She is the author of the Seers trilogy and the Fate of Eyrinthia series. Her books have been Whitney Award Finalists and Swoony Award Finalists. She has a BS in Creative Writing and a minor in Folklore, which means she got to read fairy tales and call it homework. When she’s not writing, Heather likes to read, travel, and re-watch Lord of the Rings. She lives in a beautiful valley surrounded by towering mountains in northern Utah. To learn more about Heather and her books, visit her website: http://www.HeatherFrost.com
Interview With Carter
Hello Carver, thanks for stopping by! Would you mind telling us a little about yourself?
Hello, I’m Carver Vincetti. I’m a general in the Craethen Empire’s military, and I’ve recently returned from the front in our war with Harvari. You may have heard that I was wounded, but I’m fine now. Completely. I’m ready to serve the emperor in this new capacity at Esperance.
That’s right—you’re about to get married to a stranger. Can you tell us a little about that?
Of course. The emperor decided that peace in the empire could be strengthened by arranging marriages between the eligible elite in all the kingdoms. Each kingdom offered a candidate, and the emperor paired everyone up. Now we’ve all come to the remote temple of Esperance to get married and live for a year, without distractions or outside biases.
And you really don’t know who you will be marrying? Even though you are a favorite of the emperor’s?
Well . . . can you keep a secret? The emperor learned that some rebels may have infiltrated the temple—they might even be some of the candidates that were sent here to be married. So, the emperor asked me to investigate everyone at Esperance, and make sure this venture succeeds. As part of that, I asked the emperor if I could marry Amryn Lukis. I’ve never met her, and I don’t know anything about her, but she’s from Ferradin, and that was one of the last kingdoms to be brought into the empire. There are some lingering anti-empire sentiments there, which means Amryn might very well be an enemy to watch.
“Keep your friends close but your enemies closer”, then?
Yeah, something like that.
How did you feel when you learned about your impending arranged marriage?
Honestly? I was a little wary. Hesitant, even. I always wanted to get married and have a family, but I’ve been fighting a war for years, and marriage has been the last thing on my mind. But I’m happy to serve the emperor however I can, so I will marry Amryn Lukis.
Where did you grow up?
In Westmont, near the coast. I may be biased, but I think it’s the most beautiful place in the empire.
You’re from a large family. Do you enjoy having so many siblings?
Saints, yes. I was lucky enough to grow up in a home filled with family, laughter, and love. I’m the oldest brother, though I do have an older sister. And I’m by far the favorite uncle to my niece and nephew, though some of my brothers might disagree.
Did you always want to be a general?
Going into the military was always my dream; it’s a family tradition that I’m very proud of. My father is High General of Craethen, and I’ve always admired him and wanted to be like him.
Who is your best friend?
Argent Vayne. He’s the future emperor, but he’ll always be the boy who told me it would be a great idea to jump off the royal stables roof when we were little. All jokes aside, I think he’ll make an incredible emperor one day, and I’m honored to have him as my friend.
What is most important to you?
My family. I would do anything for them.
What quality do you most value?
Loyalty.
If your mother had to describe you in three words, what would they be?
Oh no. *Chuckles* Well, as a child, she probably would have labeled me as reckless, irreverent, and vexing. Today . . . well, she might actually say the same. But I’d like to think I’ve grown over the years. I calculate risks before I take them. I joke, but I can be serious. As for being vexing . . . I’m definitely still that.
My Review:
I will have a more detailed review later, but I can’t help but to tell you how much I loved this book. I knew going into it that I would love it though. This author is so talented. She has a way with words that just draw you in and keep you hooked. If you haven’t already read them, I’d also recommend her Fate of Eyrinthi series. It’s so beautiful. I can’t wait to read more of it. I’ve read all three and the two novellas. I’m not going to lie. This book is different than that series. That’s not a bad thing though. I loved it and can’t wait to read it again. I can’t wait to read more books in this series. I’ll be buying a physical copy when I can.
Stars Books & Tea 