Our summers were everlasting… until he broke his promise.
Many seasons have passed since I last saw Ryan. He used to visit Kither Springs in the summer, and though we only had those couple months together every year, he was my best friend… until the day we shared the most earth-shattering kiss over the fields we’d claimed as ours. Then he stopped answering my calls and never returned to town again.
Now, a decade later, he’s back and looking even more breathtaking than in my memories. Feelings I thought I’d gotten over come rushing back.
But Ryan didn’t come back alone.
Karla’s the sweetest little girl I’ve ever met, with beautiful, bright blue eyes, just like her daddy. It wasn’t hard for her to capture my heart, but spending more time with her and her daddy is a bad idea.
I just got out of a relationship, and I’m not looking for a new one, but how do I keep myself from falling for someone who’s already captured my heart once before?
Promised Summer is book 2 of the Promises, Promises series set in a small town with meddling neighbors and a tight-knit community of friends and family. It can be read standalone, but is better read in a series. This book features friends-to-lovers, a single dad, second chances, and playful doggos.
Content Warning:
Death of an off-screen character. Trauma related to an accident and loss. Grief and healing. A cheating ex. (There is no cheating between the two MCs)
Cathy Brockman –
This is book 2 of Promises Promises series.
It can stand alone ok but much more fun read in order.
This is Jones’s story and he so deserves a happy ever after. Jones ex just took over, invited himself to move in and pushed away his friends. So when Jones caught him cheating he wasn’t to broken up. But when he finds a little girl crying in the woods her eyes bring back crushing memories.
Is Ryan back to stay or will hd break Jones heart again.
This is a beautiful second chance, single dad, small town romance with a touch of humor and heat.
And if super kid cuteness isn’t enough let’s toss in a sweet dog.
I listened to audio and loved it. . The pacing is good, its soothing and engaging.
molly S Otto –
Zachary Zaba does the audiobook for this book and does a beautiful job in differentiating the different cast members and whose speaking. He adds that the right amount of humor and compassion into his work, making a good book better with his work.
Jones, having recently caught his now ex-boyfriend cheating on him, has decided to once and for all relationships are not for him. Jones heart has belonged to the boy he spent his summers with until he poofed and disappeared until one day, he ended up finding his daughter Karla at their spot of the hiking trails of Kither Springs. Ryan always loved his summers in Kither Springs with Jones, yet when all the bad hit him at once and he lost the courage to talk to Jones again, hasn’t returned since, but now he was a single parent and needed to return to family to help raise his daughter.
When these two meet up again, Jones can’t help but fall hard and fast once again for this man and his daughter. Too bad their past, along with the town gossips, makes letting him back in hard. These two take their time in building their relationship before going for more. I loved that Karla was the center focus of not only Ryan but Jones as well. Together, they showed this little girl she is important, and her well-being mattered most. The town and its lovely gossip mill lead to both frustration and humorous times. There was a beautiful balance throughout. I can’t wait to see if who I want to be next is our next couple.
Jeanette Waters –
Promised Summer is book two in the Promises, Promises series. It can be read as a standalone, but it’s worth reading book 0.5, Promised Adventure, and book one, Promised Vow. Book 0.5 references the Corio Heights series, and Summer has a throwaway comment referencing the Christmas Falls (multiauthor) series. So, get reading folks!
Summer is a sweet love story between, Jones, co-owner of a construction company with his brother Jordan (book 0.5) and Ryan, a former summer resident in Kither Springs. The summer ten years prior, ended with a heartfelt kiss, and then Ryan ghosted Jones.
This is a second chance story mostly joyful, but a tad angstier than the prior books. The loss of a parent due to a car accident, selective mutism, and both men having abandonment issues. Jones is a cinnamon roll and Ryan and his daughter, Karla, are absolutely adorable. The residents of Kither Springs are as nosy as ever, with Jones’ mom in the lead. His friend group is supportive, and full of advice. Jones and Karla share the custody and love of puppy, Lily. Jones panics over becoming a “grandfather” and both he and Ryan are helicopter parents.
What a wonderful story and town. Can’t get enough. Luckily, Rye Cox has set the stage for the next book. Much to my disgust, though the epilogue is five years into the future, she manages to not give away any, any, hints.
I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my review.
7/30/2025
I listened to the audio a day or two after I finished the ebook. Zachary Zaba did an excellent job with it. The ebook was good, but Zaba certainly brought the story to a new, fun level. He did a great job with Karla going from all whispery “Daddy” to shouting “Puppy” and “Papa”. The audio does bring up one question, does Karla manage to convince to convince her dads to get her a cat? She certainly seemed to like Grey.
Zaba’s relaxing voice is so easy to listen to. The perfect voice for this light and sweet story.
I received an advanced audio of this story from the author and this is my review.
Megan McGrath –
Ryan & Jones
Super sweet second chance romance between two friends who haven’t seen each other in over a decade.
Jones’ bit in the story starts out like way too many other stories with his horrid boyfriend. Especially since all his friends already knew Jones deserved so much better. Ryker was also super protective of Jones once Ryan reappears as well. It’s wonderful to see how this great group of friends supports one another and is easily there for each other.
When we get to hear and understand Ryan’s story and how he made his return to Kither Springs, he shows how much he shines. He knows that his shared past with Jones was unfair and badly handled, but he works hard to redeem himself. And little Karla just makes every scene better with her affection and attention. As a side character all her own, she helped bring Jones & Ryan together with their shared love and protection of her, and she deserved the happiness she brought as well.
I don’t know what it is about these guys, but they’re all so much fun to read. It was great also seeing Wren & Jordan pop into the story a few short times too, since we were introduced to their prequel novella after book #1 of the series.
Audiobook Update:
Narrated by Zachary Zaba
As is always the case, Zachary gives us another enjoyable listen and really brings Rye’s characters to life. Characters in this shared universe are really fun to explore, and it’s great that we’re given the opportunity to have a worthy narrator for their romances. I love the vibrancy and emotion that Zachary brings to the characters and how easy he makes it to really feel and experience what everyone is feeling and going through. At a listen of just about 5 and a half hours, it’s an absolutely wonderful adventure.
I received an authorized copy of this story/audiobook and am volunteering my honest review.