He stole my first kiss when he was ten, then my heart at fifteen.
My crush was destined to lead to nowhere when our parents announced they’ve been dating and plan on marrying.
Now they expect me to act like a family with the man I’ve been crushing on—my new stepbrother—and I can’t imagine a worst hell. But for them, I’ll do it. Even if every one of his smiles makes me fall in love a little more while also killing me inside.
It doesn’t help that Clay is too nice for his own good. I mean, who kisses their stepbrother even if it is to comfort them? Much less offer up his body when I’m pretending to be depressed from a breakup I really couldn’t have cared less about.
I know I’m taking advantage of his kindness, but how can I stop when it means I can possess him, even if it is for a short while? Maybe once I get him out of my system, I can finally put this stupid crush to rest. We can return to playing the happy family, and I won’t have to disappoint my father or break our family apart.
If only it’s that easy to stop loving someone…
Promised Secret is book 3 of the Promises, Promises series set in a small town with meddling neighbors and a tight community of friends and family. It can be read standalone but is better read in a series. This book features stepbrothers, pining, situationship-to-lovers, and adorable and super smart pet rats.
Yvonne M –
Wonderful love story that took some time to be accepted by the guys themselves. Dan and Clay first met and had a great connection, Dan fell in love with Clay at the start and then his dad and Clay’s mom came to fall for each other to. Dan was never really happy about it because he thought he couldn’t have Clay because of their parents being married now. I really did enjoy the way these two were able to be together and work together to make their relationship work and eventually were able to get married. The rats were really a good thing that pulled them together and had them taking care of along the way. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves mm romances with heartfelt love and wonderful people.
Ashley Niewiera –
Best friends to lovers but also step brothers! Yes please. Those are some of my absolute favorite tropes. This was such a good read. The relationship between these two develops in such an authentic way going from friends to more. I loved the parents as well. Not always do stepbrother romances have understanding parents but this one does. This was honestly just a really happy read and I loved it.
Megan –
I tandem read/listened to this book and enjoyed the heck out of it. I have been so eager to read this since reading the prequel and two prior novels. I could just tell Dan and Clay were going to be so good together once they finally got out of their own ways, and I was right. The book itself is written well; it kept me invested and eager to read on the entire time. Zachary Zaba does a phenomenal job of narrating. The characters had distinct voices, and the inflection and pacing were well done.
Karen Neeper –
OH, my I adored these two and their entire family. Dan has been in love with Clay forever. Clay is just realizing the extent of his feelings. I loved when the extent of those feelings kept popping out as jealousy. I know I just get happy with that strong emotion. They have their issues, but the romance was genuine, and the family support was heartwarming. Can I just say Zachary narrating the sweet emotions in this one was a great good feel too.
Emilie Martin –
I’ve been waiting for Dan and Clay’s story and I wasn’t disappointed. The tension between Dan and Clay has been evident since Book 1, and in this book it is both sweet and painful. Dan’s angst was truly justified, and I don’t know who could blame him for his confusion, his heartbreak or his confused hope.
That said, I couldn’t stand how oblivious Clay was to his own feelings. He gets jealous, possessive, and desperate to touch or kiss Dan, but doesn’t realize he is attracted to him? I’ve never wanted to smack a fictional character upside the head before now. But still, I was invested in him finally figuring it out.
Overall, this book captures that messy mix of desire and restraint perfectly. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and the family drama is angsty enough to add the right touch of drama. In the end, there’s the expected HEA, and anyone who loves the slightly taboo genre of stepbrothers to lovers will enjoy this one.
Deborah Kelly –
I loved the fact that just when Dan was ready to tell Clay how he felt, their parents announced they were getting married!!! Of course this now means Dan’s long-standing crush is now forbidden and he is expected to play happy family with the one person he’s secretly in love with, breaking his heart every time Clay smiles at him.
Clay is too kind for his own good—offering comfort, affection, even his body to help Dan through a fake breakup. Dan tells himself it’s just temporary. A way to get Clay out of his system. But the more time they spend together, the more impossible it becomes to ignore the truth: some feelings don’t fade… even when they really, really should.
Promised Secret is the emotional, pining-filled third book in Rye Cox’s Promises, Promises series. With stepbrothers-to-lovers tension, found family warmth, and possibly the smartest pet rats in small-town romance, this story hits all the right notes. I’ve loved every book in this world, and Dan and Clay’s journey was everything I hoped for and more.
Rye’s ability to weave multiple storylines across a shared timeline is so satisfying. Watching this story unfold behind the scenes of Promised Summer made me want to reread the whole series to catch every breadcrumb. It’s soft, tender, and full of heart—with just enough heat and heartache to keep you turning the pages.
Low angst, high emotion, and characters who make you feel. Another winner in a series that keeps getting better.
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review
.Fernanda –
OMG I love these two and their entire family. Dan has been in love with Clay almost since they met. Clay is just realizing that the love the feels is not because they are stepbrothers or friends, it’s so much more deeper than that.
They way they end up kissing is so funny and hot.
Love the support from family and friends.
Can’t wait for the next book
molly S Otto –
Zachary Zaba has paired with Rye once again and shows why they make such a great pairing. He makes an already enjoyable read a fantastic listen. He draws you in from the beginning and keeps you enthralled with each page.
Rye has proven you can write a low angst step brothers romance and oh boy am I here for it. Dan has loved Clay for years and when he was ready to confess his dad fell in love with his best friends mother. Now years later still in love he tries to move on and Clay now keeps drawing him in more. Two men who were meant to love each other no matter what anyone says allow themselves for once to be together. With their core friend group meddling and not realizing what they are truly doing you cannot help but smile the whole ride through.
what makes this story so dang good for me they remain best friends throughout. Even with some longing Dan stays steady in his friendship. Clay may not realize his true feelings but always protects Dan and watches over his best friends. A truly unique take on this trope that I hope more authors take note of.
Janet –
Low angst stepbrother romance
Waiting for Dan and Clay eagerly since the first book, they didn’t disappoint. Theirs is an easy to read love story, having been friends since the moment they met at ages nine and ten.
Dan is an absolute sweetheart, a bit of a people pleaser, especially where it comes to his family. Trouble is he’s been in love with his best friend, Clay, since before they became stepbrothers. Unwilling to upset their parents, he keeps his secret while pining for Clay over the years.
Clay, on the other hand, is completely oblivious that his best friend, stepbrother, roommate and favourite person in the whole wide world loves him. It also never occured to him that his jealousy and possessive behaviour indicated distinctly un-brotherly feelings for Dan.
With his growing unease at Dan’s seeming withdrawal from him and a subtle push from one of their friends, Clay begins to realise his happiness has been right in front of him since the moment they met.
This really is a low angst, sweet romance where all the characters are lovely. The parents were good people as were their friend group, who we’ve already met in the previous books.
Atlas is up next and his story is foreshadowed here. Can’t wait to see his HEA.
Jo Atkins –
This story had me hooked from the very beginning. Dan and Clay’s connection is so strong, and you can feel it in every interaction. Dan’s quiet heartbreak over loving his best friend was just gut-wrenching, and I couldn’t help but root for him the whole way through. He’s tried so hard to let go, but Clay makes that nearly impossible.
Clay’s slow realization of his true feelings was both frustrating (in the best way) and so satisfying to finally see. Watching him piece it together and recognize that Dan has always been his person was incredibly sweet and emotional. Their bond is so natural, and when the love finally comes to the surface, it feels absolutely worth the wait.
This book is a great friends-to-lovers story, and the ending perfectly set things up for what’s coming next which I can’t wait for.
Benedicte –
Very cute and nice, low angst book. I’ve been loving this series and I was looking forward to Dan and Clay’s story and was not disappointed! I loved their chemistry and the possessiveness of Clay, even if maybe I would have liked that Clay realised his feelings sooner and that Dan admitted his sonner. It’s easy and entertaining, and I recommend it.
Regarding the audio
Zachary Zaba does an amazing job, I really enjoyed listenning to the story after reading the book, and I wonder if I didn’t even enjoy it more 😉
Dawn B –
Dan & Clay
I have been waiting for Dan and Clay’s story and i was not disappointed. I am so glad we finally learn what was really going on with them. I absolutely loved their happily ever after. Listening as Zachary Zaba narrated this also brought the story to life.
Debbie Bar –
A stepbrothers ‘pining to lovers’ story between the characters Dan and Clay. They’ve known each other since childhood. There is some angst, but only a smidgeon, I loved that the strong sense of community carries on from previous books in the series.
Dan loves Clay, but the situation becomes complicated when the guy’s parents decide to get married. The story follows Dan’s struggle to move on from loving Clay, and letting go of his feelings. For those who have followed the series, there’s a lot of unresolved romantic tension between Dan and Clay, who suddenly become stepbrothers.
I really enjoyed the small town atmosphere of the story, and meeting up with the cast of supporting characters, some from previous books. Also, the inclusion of super smart and cute pet rats added a unique and sweet element to the story. It’s such an emotional story, well written, with good character development, and an adorable ending.
Having listened to the audible version of this, I have to say that Zachary Zaba does a tremendous job in bringing the story to life. The characters of Dan and Clay shine. Zachary captures Dan’s yearning, and Clay’s kindness perfectly. Thoroughly enjoyed both the ebook and the audible, recommend both.
Saskia Veldhuis –
Audiobook – always an excellent narrator who never disappoints.
Story – a very believable story, with Dan having pined after stepbrother Clay for years. Clay himself had really big feelings for Dan, although he was clueless in recognising which feelings. This cluelessness was really painful to experience, especially as it hurt Dan so much. The family dynamics and their complications were shown well from everyone’s perspective. The rats were adorable, and it was such a relief to finally read some that are treated as rats should be in real life.
Traci S –
3.5⭐️This was a relaxing listen and I enjoyed the performance by the narrator, it a good weekend low angst option. I think I enjoyed the audiobook a bit more than the book as the slow pace was less noticeable while listening versus reading. Dan nd Clay started of a little frustrating, lots of clueless behavior from Clay and desperate avoidance from poor Dan. I did also appreciate this more gentle take on a stepbrother romance, no uber angry drama here. These two also have amazing chemistry and the author delivers some fun spice.