Our impending vows were supposed to be fake…
Moving home to Kither Springs to help my sister with her baby wasn’t a hardship. I love being with my family, but a few months of sleeping on the couch really takes a toll on you. I desperately needed to move out, but while I was away, my hometown became ‘viral famous.’
A rush of people had clamored to our town, looking for a taste of small-town life, which means less housing. When an apartment finally becomes available, I’m not the only one interested in it, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing…
Ryker is all muscles, adorable frowns, and gooey brown eyes I want to melt into. I know better than to hit on a straight guy, so I offer to be roommates instead. It’ll be just like college.
But then the old landlady insists she only rents to couples, which leads me to blurting out that Ryker and I are engaged… future husbands-to-be. To my utter surprise, my former classmate goes along with the not-so-little white lie.
Now we’re pretending to be in love while I try not to fall in love for real.
Promised Vow is book 1 of the Promises, Promises series set in a small town with meddling neighbors and a tight community of friends and family. This book has size difference, opposites attract, and a very clingy cat.
MeadowsLovesBooks –
**Audiobook Review**
Cute start to a new series! When Sam moves back to Kither Springs to help his family out he didn’t think the towns recent popularity would make it so hard to find his own place. Desperate, Sam claims his high school acquaintance, Ryker, is his fiance to score an apartment from a landlady who insists she’ll only rent to couples.
Queue the tropes:
💖 Fake fiance’s
💖 Only 2 beds 😂
💖 Roommates to lovers
💖 Size difference
💖 Nosy townsfolk
I like Rye’s low angst, gooey love stories a lot and this audiobook did not disappoint. She does cinnamon roll MC’s very well. Highly recommend!
Mandywreads –
AudioBook Review
Promised Vow by Rye Cox is an adorable, heartfelt take on the fake fiancé trope, filled with genuine emotion, humour, and the perfect amount of slow-burn romance.
Who knew that a desperate search for an apartment would lead to a fake engagement—and a real happily ever after? Ryker and Sam’s chemistry is instant and effortless, making it easy to want them to get together from the very beginning. Ryker, despite experiencing a bi-awakening, embraces it with openness and care, ensuring that their journey is one of mutual respect and emotional growth. Meanwhile, Sam is determined to support his family, making sacrifices wherever he can, and his kind heart makes him impossible not to love.
What sets this story apart is its emotional depth. The vulnerability both characters show as they navigate friendship, attraction, and growing love makes their connection feel authentic and deeply rewarding. Rye Cox takes the classic fake-dating setup and infuses it with so much warmth and sincerity that it becomes more than just a trope—it’s a story about trust, self-discovery, and finding home in another person.
If you love fake fiancé romances with supportive partners, emotional depth, and a bi-awakening done right, this one is a must-read!
Read.me.romance –
Sweet and steamy with awakening, size difference, and forced proximity! Great performance and great book!
Nichole Reeder –
Always nervous when experiencing a new-to-me author and having no expectations of what is to come. This was a cute, low-angst story. A mix of genres, from friends-to-lovers, force proximity, and fake relationship, it offers some things to overcome… and then add in small town noisy neighbors on top of it. Lots of side characters that lead to potential of many more stories. Zachary Zaba does a great job narrating this story and bringing the characters to life.
Karen Neeper –
I love me sweet stories especially when of the guys is a big ole cinnamon roll! Ryker gets pulled into Sam’s idea of being a relationship so they can have the apartment they both need. I enjoyed the simplicity of the story. It was a quick and easy listen about two regular but very genuine and likable guys finding each other due to close proximity. Zachary Zaba has the perfect narrating voice for this gentle guys. We get to live everyday life with them as they fall in love. Great family and friends too.
Karen Neeper –
I love me sweet stories especially when of the guys is a big ole cinnamon roll! Ryker gets pulled into Sam’s idea of being a relationship so they can have the apartment they both need. I enjoyed the simplicity of the story. It was a quick and easy listen about two regular but very genuine and likable guys finding each other due to close proximity. Zachary Zaba has the perfect narrating voice for these gentle guys. We get to live everyday life with them as they fall in love. Great family and friends too.
ButtonsMom2003 –
Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 4
Story – 5
Promised Vow is the first book I’ve read/listened to by Rye Cox and I really enjoyed it. Zachary Zaba did a good job performing the audiobook. I always enjoy fake relationship stories and this one was really good and I loved Ryker’s bisexual awakening.
Ryker was happy to pretend to be engaged to Sam so that they could share an apartment but he didn’t expect to catch feelings for him. Promised Vow is a sweet, low-angst story that tugged at my heart. I’ll be checking out more books by Rye Cox.
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.
KR Phoenix –
Sweet, romantic and sunny romance
There’s just something about this book that’s happiness and joyful. The love story between Ryker and Sam is so sweet and endearing with an unconventional fake engagement to finding your forever person in the end.
I loved all the vivid characters and cameos and I really hope we get to see more of Ryker’s friends find love.
The writing, and story style just made me smile the hope way through and I thoroughly enjoyed every sweet moment, every touch, tease and all that stuff. It’s low angst, full of communication and wonderful, swoon-worthy moments.
Fantastic and dynamic narration by Zachary Zabba. Both mcs have their own distinct voices and even the extra characters are distinguishable from each other. Very easy to listen to and get lost in. I hope he can narrate Jones story too and very much look forward to his much deserved HEA!
Deanna –
Tropes:
💜M/M
💜Small town
💜Fake relationship
💜Size difference
💜Opposites attract
💜Aloe obsession
“Is that what you want? A love so loud you nauseate everyone around you?”
Sam and Ryker, looking for a place to rent, find themselves engaged. This is such a light-hearted story and narrator Zachary Zaba does a beautiful job giving each character a unique voice!
Claire Louisa Holderness –
This was a lovely, sweet no-angst story that I really enjoyed listening to. The narrator did a good job of bringing the characters to life.
Fake relationships are one of my favourite tropes as I enjoy seeing them fall in love for real. I liked that both men took everything in their stride and that Sam wasn’t phased by his attraction to Ryker and went with his feelings. These two made such a cute couple.
I enjoyed Sam’s family; his grandpa, sister, and baby nephew, who, along with Ryker’s cat, all added to my enjoyment of the story.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
tnrvrking –
What a fun read! Love the way Rye Cox writes!
Low angst and an adorable love story that develops from a unique way of ending up as “fiances”. The narrator does an amazing job of breathing life into the characters. I loved the supporting characters as they added value to the story.
The love story between Sam and Ryker blossoms into true love along the way coming from two different perspectives. Sam already having feelings for Ryker while Ryker comes from a path of self-discovery to realize his love for Sam.
Excellent book that you’ll definitely want to listen/read!
cathybrockmanromance –
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Promised Vow by Rye Cox
Promised Vow (Promises, Promises #1)
by Rye Cox (Goodreads Author)
Read
Audio update. I just listened in audio. I loved it even more and 5 meows to narration. It really added life to an already very good story. I loved the difference in voices as well as the feels!I highly recommend the audio!
This is a sweet slow burn. There’s so much I loved about it
Fake fiance, friends to lovers, small town, slow burn, bi awakening.
I loved both Sam and Ryker but I love Sam’s sister,gramps and baby nephew too. On Rykers side I loved his friends and cat.
It’s a great story with good plots and a happy ever after.
My only issue was it didn’t feel like a first in series I felt like I was missing something especially with Jordan and Wren but it feels like I read that… having said that it stands alone fine and is so good. Can’t wait for the next
Shana W –
This is a sweet, fluffy, low-angst romance with great characters, humour, and found family. I liked the writing and the book has tropes I generally enjoy, namely fake relationship and forced proximity tropes. Sam is a sweetheart who moves back home to help out his sister with her baby. It’s a small town so he has trouble finding an affordable place to rent. He ends up sharing with Ryker, someone he knew in school. As cute and muscular as Ryker is (who can resist him?), he is also straight, or thinks he is initially, but he finds out otherwise when he develops a crush on Sam. They are really so sweet together and Ryker is so thoughtful. I liked the meddling secondary characters as well, including Gramps, Sam’s sister and their landlady.
I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook, narrated by Zachary Zaba. I always enjoy his narration; he did a great job yet again with this book, making the story more entertaining with his expressive storytelling and different characters’ voices.
I received an audiobook copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Bene –
I loved the book and loved the audio, the story is sweet, low angst, heart warming. I loved how Ryker is unapologectically himself and honest with himself and with Sam. I loved how Sam is sweet and vulnerable, but so strong. I enjoyed the narration, I needed a couple chapters to get use to the voices used for Sam did not match the idea I had previously, mainly for Sam, but after that I really liked it.
I received an ALC and this is my honest review.
Janom –
I thought I was going to like this story but I unfortunately did not. I experienced the audio version and I’m thinking I may have enjoyed this a little more if I read it instead of listened. I found the narrator’s voice for Ryker to be very off-putting which caused me to not take Ryker as a character seriously. And my attention drifted too much that I honestly think it affected my enjoyment of the story. I felt there was no depth to the main characters and too much attention was given to the side characters. This was certainly a low angst story so I can see readers pursuing this for a quick light read but I would recommend the text format over the audio version.
***THANK YOU TO the author FOR MY COMPLIMENTARY REVIEW COPY. ALL OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS ARE MY OWN***
Megan McGrath –
Sam & Ryker
I absolutely love the way Rye writes slow burn romance. These two had eyes for one another immediately, even if neither considered that option when they were younger in school together. Ryker spends very little time coming to terms with his burgeoning sexuality status, and never once considers his feelings to be a problem. Having a loving, supportive community makes a huge difference, but the family and friends we’re met with in this book are also few and far between.
I love the relationship that Sam has with his Gramps, sister and nephew, and I loved watching Ryker be pulled into their happy little bubble. Gramps knew he could rely on Ryker to take care of Sam, and he proves it several times throughout the book, including helping out to protect Sam’s sister, Lana, too.
Promised Vow is a wonderful story to start off a new series from Rye Cox. I’m excited to see where the series takes us going forward.
Audiobook:
Narrated by Zachary Zaba
I always love the way Zachary interprets the characters he portrays. They fit the author’s viewpoint so well, even if you’re super familiar with the narrator’s voice. He’s so smooth and engaging with Sam & Ryker, and he makes the shorter audiobook a great pleasure to listen to. I’m already looking forward to listening to it again as I have other Zachary Zaba narrations (Black Cat Circus series).
I received an authorized copy of this audiobook and am volunteering my honest review.
Angel –
4.5 ⭐️
Promised Vow by Rye Cox is the first book in the Promises, Promises series.
IIt is such a cosy, feel-good story that totally pulled me in. Sam is back to his hometown to help his sister, who’s living with their grandpa, with her new-born baby. They have been raised by their Gramps after their parents died when they were young kids. Sam has been sleeping on the couch for the last months so he needs to move to his own apartment.
When Sam finds an affordable apartment and goes to the showing, he bumps into Ryker, and old high school classmate, who’s trying to rent the same apartment. The catch? The landlady only rents to couples, so they pretend to be engaged. Wild, right? But somehow, it works.
I liked how natural their connection felt. Ryker starts off thinking he’s straight, but as he spends more time with Sam, he realized that maybe he’s not so sure, and he handles it with a lot of care and honesty. Sam’s been burned before, especially by guys who weren’t really into him for the right reasons, so it’s sweet to see him open up and start to trust again.
Their relationship grows in such a real, heartwarming way, with a few funny and steamy moments mixed in.
The supportive characters were wonderful. Lana, Junior and Gramps were totally supportive. Sam and Ryker’s friends were also amazing. And Gray, Ryker’s cat, what a cutie! Sam was totally hooked after meeting him.
I loved Zachary Zaba’s narration, especially Ryker’s POV. It was really a pleasure listening to him.
Waiting for the other books of the series to read Jones, Clay, Dan and Atlas stories.
If you’re into fake dating, bi-awakening, slow-burn romance, small-town vibes and low angst, this one’s a winner.
I received an ARC from the author for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
Dawn B –
From Fake to Real
I’m rounding this up from 4.5 but I absolutely loved Sam and Ryker’s story. It was fun mixed with sweetness and very entertaining to read. I can’t wait for the next story in the series. I also appreciated the cameo by Jay and Ash.
Update: I loved listening to the audiobook just as much as reading this one. Zachary Zaba’s narration really brought the story to life.
S Veldhuis –
Reread as audiobook. A wonderful narrator who fits this story particularly well.
Story – 4 stars.Very sweet and low angst start to what promises to be a delightful new small town series. Everything just seemed to flow very smoothly, and the MCs and side characters were all really interesting without being overbearing. While there was a bit of gossip, there weren’t busybodies behind every bush, and there was no hatred. This could make a great comfort read.
Traci S –
4.5⭐️
A wonderful option for a low angst listen, with two lovely characters. The narrator does an excellent job of bringing Ryker and Sam to life with loads of charm. I loved the author’s spin on fake relationships, using the town housing shortage to bring them together. I absolutely loved the setting and there are some excellent side characters supporting Sam and Ryker. This was a fun listen and a lovely couple!
Belinda Zamora –
This is an audiobook review.
Sam needs to move out of his childhood home because it’s too cramped with his sister and her baby.
Ryker’s family moved for an opportunity for his youngest sibling and needs a new place to live.
They both get an opportunity to rent the same place and Sam blurts out they’re engaged in order to not lose the place.
Sam has no problem pretending and Ryker is thrown for a loop as he suddenly realizes that he’s crushing on Sam as well.
These two were absolutely adorable together and so sweet.
I loved the small town, found family aspect and the meddling was great with sweet intentions.
Zachary Zaba did an amazing job narrating and bringing these characters to life.
Caroline Griffith –
Zachary Zaba makes Rye’s work come to life. I adored this story, but listening to it was an amazing bonus. The story is sweet, spicy, and full of future book boyfriends. Sometimes the universe needs to give an extra push to try something you would not otherwise, and it can bring you a forever you never saw coming. I cannot wait for our next installment!
Becks.goes.bookish –
This was a very sweet & low angst small town romance that made for perfect listening via the audiobook while going on my daily walks this week!
*I received an ALC copy of this book, all opinions are my own*
This was my first Rye Cox book and I would definitely read & listen to more! In this story we have Sam, who recently returned to his home town to help out with his new nephew & be closer to his grandfather & sister. And then we have Ryker, the gentle giant who stayed in town after high school and has been working at his friends construction company the last ten years. Both find themselves in need of a place to live, but alas the apartment is only for couples!
After a bit of small town meddling, they embark on a fake fiance situationship, that leads to further real romance. Ryker & Sam’s ease with each other was wonderful to listen to, and overall the story is very light hearted.
Frances Nash –
This book was amazing already, but Zachary Zaba elevated to a whole other level. Absolutely loved it! The story between Sam and Ryker is full of heat, love, fun times and plenty of nosy townsfolk’s. I especially loved how this was a simple down to earth sweet story without all the drama. If you want a sweet, melt your heart funny story don’t miss out on this one!
Kristi –
Sam and Ryker’s story was fun. Ryker was just the absolute sweetest character, and I loved how giving he was. Sam was so good with his family, sacrificing so much to help them. The meddling landlord cracked me up. Low angst, medium heat, HEA.
Marylene Roy-Nadeau –
If you’re a fan of the fake-fiancé trope, slow-burn romance, and two men learning that home isn’t a place—it’s a person—you’ll want to move this one to the top of your TBR and listening list.
Promised vow follows Sam and Ryker who agree to pretend they’re engaged in order to move in together so that their future landlady agree to rent to them. However, what starts as an arrangement slowly unravels into something real for the both of them.
Zachary Zaba brings each character vividly to life, making the emotional beats hit harder and the flirtation feel delightfully
charged.
There’s humor, heart, and a beautiful sense of vulnerability woven throughout, making this more than just a fluffy romance, it’s about trust and the quiet magic of sharing your space (and eventually your heart) with someone.
Perfect for fans of roommates-to-lovers, and a perfect start to a new serie!
Highly recommend the audio version for a full emotional experience.
Terri –
Promised Vow is book one in the new Promises, Promises series. Sam and Ryker are both likable and caring men. Their fake relationship has real elements from the very beginning despite the fact that Ryker has believed himself to be straight until now. Their story makes me smile a lot, and I just love the way the feel about each other. The side characters are also well rounded and easy to care about. I look forward to more from this world.
The narrator does a good job with expressing the sincere emotions here. I am especially impressed with his portrayal of Sam; he makes Sam come alive for me more than Ryker or the other characters.
This was a sweet romance and a fun read.
Alix –
Very cute, low angst, small town romance that brings some heat to the table!
Ryker and Sam are both looking for an apartment in their hometown, a town that has become known as a really welcoming place to live. Alas, this has made rents skyrocket and when Ryker and Sam are each looking for an affordable place to live, they both end up looking at the same two bedroom apartment. Since they knew each other in high school, they quickly decide they could be roommates, but oh no! The landlady will only rent to committed couples! So are two desperate guys to do? They enter immediately into a fake engagement! They move in together and soon…it gets steamy! One of my fave things about this sweet book is just how surprisingly steamy it is! Love it! Both MCs are pretty sweet and kind. They’re also devoted to their families – Ryker to his found family/friend group and Sam to his Gramps, his sister, and her baby. I am eager to know more about the friend group and hope that some of them will get their own HEAs! While this isn’t a single dad book, there is a lot of the baby in this book, so if you are into babies/kids in books, you’ll enjoy that aspect. I look forward to reading more about future hijinks in this town!
Audiobook aspect: Zachary Zaba is the narrator and I love that he’s represents/Own Voices. His voice for each MC is distinct and I never had difficulty know who was speaking. Even the voices for the side characters were different. These gentle and sweet MCs were brought to life very well by him! The steamy moments were hot and I could feel the emotions during those parts too. Very much enjoyed.
I received a complimentary copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Erryn Barratt –
A cute story (an audio review)
I’m a Rye Cox fan and I was happy to grab this first book in her new series. No one does small town like Rye.
Sam is a ham, Ryker is sexy, the landlady is nosy, the family are fantastic, and the cat is a hoot.
I love fake dating stories. Sam was so damn adorable. Helping his sister, loving his grandfather, trying to convince his nephew to make ‘unky’ his first word. Go Junior Go! (I love what his first word turned out to be…) Sam’s been couch surfing to help his sister with the newborn, but the couch is killing his body
Ryker is just as sweet. His family has left town and now he’s struggling to find a place to live. He has friends but doesn’t want to impose.
Then Sam and Ryker see a lovely two-bedroom apartment. Roommates sounds great! Until the landlady says she’ll only rent to couples. Cue Sam suggesting he and Ryker are engaged. From there it’s shenanigans galore.
Of course I knew the guys would get together – but I was curious how that was going to work given that Ryker has never perceived himself as anything but gay. When he looks at Sam’s butt, though, he rethinks his assertion.
I enjoyed this novel and am so glad I picked it up. It made me smile so much.
Zachary Zaba is a fantastic narrator and he did a great job with this audio. His special touch makes me grin and I’m happier for having listened to the book.
Jeanette Waters –
4/27/25
I have just finished the audio version of Promised Vow. I must reiterate my opinion from the e book version. This story is perfect for cold nights with cocoa and cuddly blankets. Zachary Zaba’s reading is smooth and comforting. Ryker and Sam’s story is a sweet, fun ride. Gossipy townspeople, grandpa and baby Junior are even better when you listen rather than read. Gray, the kitten, makes Sam and Ryker’s love story complete.
Very enjoyable. A lovely story
I received an advanced copy and this is my review.
Jacqueleen Fonseca –
This was a very sweet fake-fiancé romance trope audiobook. I liked both Ryker and Sam as soon as we met them. Sam has a lot going on as he lives with his grandfather and sister, whom has a very young child whose father has run off. I totally get him wanting to get his own place. The problem is that it’s hard to find one he can afford in the area he wants. Ryker has had the same issue so when they view the available rental together, they decide to become roommates.
I thought it was funny how Sam just blurts out that him and Ryker are engaged after they view the apartment together and the landlady says she only likes to rent to committed couples. Poor Ryker was definitely out of his element, especially since he’s never dated men before. He’s good people though so he just quietly goes along with it.
Their romance had basically zero angst. Ryker didn’t spend much time worrying over him being attracted to Sam after he’d always identified as straight. It was just this fluffy story of the two of them falling in love. Nothing really too exciting happened, except for the fact that Ryker’s best friend is dating a real piece of work. I hated that Ryker and his buddies couldn’t make any headway in that situation with their friend. I’m guessing, well hoping, that means he is going to get his own book and ditch that boyfriend for someone new.
Siân AKA Pjsandbooks –
Thank you, Rye, for my audiobook copy of Promised Vow. This is the first book in the Promises, Promises series.
A great introduction to the small town of Kither Springs and I enjoyed trying to guess who might get a story in this new series. Sam is a tiny out and proud man and fierce uncle and Ryker is a gentle giant. They knew each other at school but where only acquaintances. They agree to be roommates after circumstances see them viewing a property together only to quickly become fake Fiancés to snag this rental. I loved seeing their relationship develop in a gentle way. I was rooting for their HEA.
Zachary Zaba is the narrator for both POVs, they have distinct voices for both Sam & Ryker which I particularly enjoyed.
Things I ❤️
🩵 Small Town
🩵 Size Difference
🩵 Opposites Attract
🩵 Found Family
🩵 Fake Fiancés
🩵 Awakening
🩵 One Bed
🩵 Fat Cat 🐾
🩵 Dual POV
🩵 Epilogue – 5 Years later
I’m excited to discovery where this series goes.
Brianne mccallum –
M/M
Roommates
Gay and out/straight????
Bi awakening
Previously high school friends
Close proximity
Fake engagement for a rental agreement
This was a very sweet and heart warming story. There was no angst which was nice. The story kept my interest from start to finish and I could have easily read it in one read had I had the time. Both of the main characters were very loveable and had wonderful chemistry together. Ryker was a big teddy bear and Sam was a sweet fun loving character despite losing his parents at a young age. That was definitely due to being raised by his grandpa who was a fun side character. Even the cat had a personality of its own which I loved.
I really enjoyed the world building in this book. I loved that it was a small town where everyone knows everybody and everything they do. Their gossiping and good intentioned medling was amusing. I loved how supportive the town was of lgbtq rights. I loved all the side characters and there were a few that especially stood out and I can’t wait to read more of this series.
The narrator did a great job. His voice was pleasant to listen to. He expressed all the emotions wonderfully. He gave all the characters including the side characters their own distinct voice that suited them all perfectly and made the story easy to follow. It was a pleasure to listen to.