Promised Secret

Promises, Promises #3

by Rye Cox

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.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, M M Romance, Friends To Lovers

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2025

About the author

Be sure to follow to stay updated on latest release: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rye-cox

Rye is an M/M Romance author who is a romantic at heart. She believes that love conquers all, and that's why her stories are guaranteed to always have an HEA. When she's not writing, she escapes to the world of books or daydreams about becoming a future cat lady.

Reviews

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed]

Step brothers are my jam... and this one has simmered for years, making it sweet and wonderful as the long time best friends finally get the chance to be more. I loved reading this low angst second chance story that gives us oblivious bestie vibes and the chance for a truly delightful HEA.

[Siân PJsAndBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Promised Secret by @ryecoxauthor

🚓 Thoughts 🩺
Thank you, for both my eArc & audiobook copies of Promised Secret narrated by @zacharyzaba . Promised Secret is book 3 in Promises Promises series and features stepbrothers Dan & Clay. This book can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the previous books including the prequel. I started by reading the eArc and then listened to the audiobook version of Promised Secret, as always Zachary does an amazing job in this Dual POV stepbrothers to lovers MM romance. Whenever I read a book with secrets, I am constantly looking for the secret to be found out! But due to reading the Promises, Promises series I knew people knew things!

The prologue actual was two formative events 5 years apart, each one told from a different POV. I felt the prologue cast the whole book into a different light and I was beyond rooting for Clay & Dan.

🚓 MM Romance
🩺 Doctor
🚓 Police Officer
🩺 Stepbrother
🚓 Pining
🩺 Playboy
🚓 Small Town
🩺 Kisses
🚓 Awakening
🩺 Prologue
🚓 Dual POV
🩺 Epilogue
🚓 Bonus Content

Rye, I am happy Atlas is getting a book. But, I need Frederick's story, too.

[Molly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

audio update: 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.

[Showarst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Promised Secret by Rye Cox is book 3 in the Promises, Promises series. I have been anxiously waiting for Clay and Dan’s story and it was definitely my favorite of the series. The chemistry between these two was hot and I loved how possessive and jealous Clay got whenever anyone showed Dan attention, it was sorta annoying how Clay didn’t realize that he was attracted to Dan but would kiss and touch him. No wonder Dan was so confused. However, Clay certainly made up for it by the end, I’m glad the secret didn’t cause too many issues. These two were made for each other. I’m looking forward to Atlas’s story. The setup was nice here and I cannot wait to read it.

I received an ARC from the author and Neon Rainbow ARC Reviews for my honest review.

[lori ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book and highly recommend it to read

[Fernanda Parente · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was easily drawn into Dan and Clay’s story, best friends since they were young, still spending as much time together as possible as adults, stepbrothers through their parent’s marriage, and both holding special feelings for the other. They have been kissing and hugging for years, Clay kissing Dan to comfort him as he went through various breakups over the years, and Dan cherishing every kiss and hug, holding the memories close to his heart. There is a lot of angst in the story, especially from Dan who keenly feels that loving his stepbrother isn’t right and may break up the family, even though Dan loved Clay long before their parents got together. Clay knows he has special feelings for Dan, but hasn’t had any interest in other men, so doesn’t realize how strong his feelings are for Dan, even though there have been physical reactions at times that he wasn’t sure what it meant, and he gets very jealous when another man touches Dan. As the feelings and tension build, Dan is finally led to confess his feelings, to find out that Clay reciprocates them. Now they must face their parents and the possible aftermath of their love. Will their happy family be ruined or will their love for each other be accepted and embraced?

The main characters are realistically portrayed with all the angst that could be expected in the situation, especially since the importance of family has been drilled into Dan from a young age. Both are supported by their close circle of friends, many as the MCs in previous books in the series, as they navigate this love which has been hidden for so long but has now been acknowledged by Clay and Dan.
There are spicy scenes as Dan and Clay push the perceived boundaries of their newly accepted relationship, and Dan seems to be pretty creative in that arena with Clay a very willing and submissive partner. The story flowed easily as the two confronted their own feelings and that of their partner, then worked to find what the future might look like for them. The whole story and the character’s interactions and responses felt very believable to me. I had a feeling of satisfaction at the end, these two have gotten to where they were meant to be. I look forward to Atlas’s story next.

I received an ARC from the author, and this is my voluntary review.

[GreenwingReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Generally I really like the stepbrother trope, and ultimately I liked this one, but it wasn't quite what I'd hoped it would be. The writing was good and pretty on par with what I have seen from this author in the past. This series was my first time reading Rye Cox, and this book fits in well with the rest of the series and there are plenty of cameos from past characters.

I enjoyed seeing Dan and Clay together as children. They were so protective each other, it was really sweet. As adults, they didn't really seem to have much in common, but I think that was because we didn't really get to see much of them just hanging out together. I wish there had more scenes of them spending time together just the two of them to really see that chemistry. I also found myself frustrated with the behavior of every single character at some point and largely for the same reason: no one communicates with each other. It did not make any sense to me why Dan's dad and Clay's mom handled their relationship and sharing it with the kids in the way that they did. They just sprung it on them out of nowhere. They're both pretty good parents otherwise, so it didn't make sense to me why they'd be so oblivious and fumble that so badly. I really liked Clay, but he seemed so dumb sometimes. He definitely let his emotions rule him, especially with Dan, and he didn't seem to really have any self respect at all. Dan was also frustrating in that he did things he knew were hurting Clay rather than just being honest. I had a hard time believing he really loved Clay as much as he did and still do so many hurtful things in the name of self preservation. Clay's mom was also hard to like with what she did toward the end. That didn't really make sense to me either other than causing more drama. All around, if these characters just had honest conversations with each other, a lot would have been solved.

I liked how possessive the guys are of each other and their dynamics with their friends. I just felt like too much of the story relied on miscommunication or lack of communication. I appreciated that Clay was all in and didn't miss a beat over his self-discovery and that the parents were supportive of them very quickly once everyone actually talked to each other.

[Tara Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY OPINION: This was the first book by Rye Cox I’ve read, and I can say I like the style and will read other titles by this author. Reading book 3 in the series didn’t take away from the story, but did make me want to go back to learn more about the friends we see in the story.

This is a best friends to lovers story with the twist of these friends becoming step-brothers after they have the best friend connection. The fact that they are ‘brothers’ does come up, but this really feels more like a standard friends-to-lovers story.

Dan has been crushing on his friend since he was old enough to know what that was. He knew that his friend Clay was everything to him and wanted to be with him forever. The idea of a happily ever after with his friend was crushed when their parents got married.

Clay was thrilled to have Dan as a brother; it was perfect, he had the one person who was most important in his life with him all the time. They could be together forever as brothers, best friends, everything Clay wanted with Dan. Sure, there were a few confusing moments of the physical kind, but it's Dan, so of course.

These two figure out that there is more between them; Clay learns what those feelings he has mean, and Dan is no longer able to push down what he wants.

This is a lovely book with two guys that you get to know pretty well. Each POV provides us with plenty of insight into the men who are working through their own issues. There is some interaction with a friend group, but we mostly see the turmoil of the MCs as they work through the emotional aspects of their friendship.

A very sweet low-angst romance book with an HEA. I enjoyed reading this story. Both men are good men and simply want their families to be happy, willing to sacrifice their own hearts for the other. If you want something that feeds your soul, pick this up. It’s a lovely story that I am glad I read, and I will put the first two books on my TBR for sure.

[Jeanette Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Promised Secret is the third book in Rye Cox's Promises, Promises. Another couple from the Sunday brunch group get together. Clay met Dan when he was ten and Dan was nine. With the sharing of a toy police car, they became friends. And were soon best friends. Dan was about ready to tell Clay that he had feelings for him, his single father married Clay's single mother. Dan pushed his feelings down, trying to be a "good" brother.
Honestly, there were parts of this story that made me uncomfortable. Not the whole step dynamic. That has never been a trope I wasn't comfortable with. I was uncomfortable with the cuddling and kissing whenever Dan broke up with whoever he was dating. And then Clay told him that Dan could do "whatever he wanted" to him. Yeah, I skimmed that chapter.
Dan's interactions with his employees, Rosa and Frederick were homey and sweet. Rather than a stiff hierarchy, they were a team, a found family. And Captain and Hook were just the cutest things, Dan and Clay spoiled them rotten. The town is still the gossip capital of the world. The brunch group, characters and MCs from the earlier three books (I'm counting the prequel), were supportive and had their backs when the group discovered their secret.
The book was a quick read. Other than the scene that felt very dub-con (to me) and definitely not informed, I enjoyed Dan and Clay's story. One last book in the series and Rye Cox set it up for us in the later chapters.
I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my review.

10/9/2025
Just finished the audio book. Zachary Zaba did a wonderful job narrating, taking a very nice story to the next level. Dan's guilt, Clay's cluelessness, both done very well. As was the couple's protectiveness and jealousy. Getting the e and audio version was a pleasure to sit through
I received an advanced audio of this book and this is my review.

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Danny’s mom died in childbirth, and his dad, Victor, his Lao-ba, has raised him since then. Lao-ba is a doctor who owns a family clinic that focuses on both Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine and he raises Danny to study hard so he can take over the clinic. Even this young, Danny knows how much his Loa-ba cares for him. “We only had each other. He loved me and worried about me, and that was the reason I never fought him about my studies”. Throughout the book, the love and care of these two shines through. It is at the clinic that Danny and Clay meet when they are children, ages 9 and 10. Clay and his mother, Sandra, come in, and Loa-ba asks Danny to play with Clay while he examines mom. Danny, easy-going, happy, and playful, sees Clay “His entire body was stuff, and his shoulders hunched to make him look even smaller than he already was.” Danny immediately takes on a protector role. As they are playing, there is a trip, an almost-fall, and an accidental kiss. This is enough to show Danny, this is my person. (And I loved this, because I hear “kids don’t know” themselves, and that’s a blatant lie).
The two become best friends and they have a plan. Clay will be a police officer, Danny a doctor at the clinic. “You’ll do the ass-kicking, and I’ll sit back, wait for you and patch you up. If you really think about it, doesn’t that mean I’m the hero to the hero?” Yes, Danny, it does. Especially because of Clay’s (and his mom’s) past history of abuse. Danny and Clay become ever closer, and without them knowing, so do their parents. It is just bad timing that right when Danny, at 15, is going to tell Clay how he feels, Victor and Sandra announce they are getting married. My heart hurt for Danny, because now he can’t say anything. Clay, who has dreamed of calling Victor his Loa-ba, sees the devastation on Danny’s face and is crushed.
Fast forward to present day, Danny is pushing down his feelings, even as he and Clay share a house. Clay is, in fact, a police officer, and Danny is a doctor. Danny is a serial dater of both men and women, Clay just hangs out with Danny. It drove me crazy how oblivious to both Danny’s feelings and his own that Clay was! He is protective, possessive, jealous, and all up in Danny’s business and still doesn’t realize what is going on. “I was well aware Dan didn’t like being alone and wanted a partner in his life, but I didn’t understand why that partner couldn’t be me. We weren’t in love with each other, but surely, we did love each other.” Oh, Clay, seriously? “Was it so wrong to want to live your life with your stepbrother?” OH CLAY!!!
Danny is trying to distance himself, but Clay doesn’t allow it. He gets so jealous that it's comical. Frederick, Danny’s nurse, is such a fantastic character, and Clay glares and snarls and acts the fool about him. I adored Frederick, and I hope the next book is about him. He is the one who brings Danny Captain and Hook, the pet rats. Not going to lie, rats are not my thing, but these guys seem sweet. As long as they stay away from me.
From the pet fundraiser, to the scene at the club, to the daily life, Clay shows how invested he is in Danny without realizing what Danny is to him.
Danny and Clay have a great friend group who are supportive. We get to see Ryan and Jones from book 2, and Ryker and Sam from book 1. Sandra and Victor are wonderful parents and you understand why Danny is so fearful of upsetting the family by confessing his feelings. The only thing that kept this from being a 5-star for me was that, at about halfway, there is just too much sex. I know, I know, sex in a romance novel is expected, but I would rather have had more interaction, fewer long sex scenes.
On to the (hopefully) next book starring Frederick! Reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The moment Dan and Clay met as kids, they became best friends and never wanted to be without the other. But for Dan, he realized at fourteen that his feelings for Clay were beyond friends. He was in love with his best friend and was gathering the courage to tell him. Until their parents announced they had been secretly dating for a while and decided to get married. Dan’s heart broke realizing he was too late. Through the years, the two of them remained inseparable and while Dan thought he could move on, he never did. But lately, Dan has truly hit his limit on the pain of loving someone who doesn’t love him back. He has to move on. But doing so proves harder. Especially when Clay won’t let him go. Clay has never wanted to be without Dan. Dan is his person. His person to protect and care for and give him kisses when he is sad and… yeah Clay is starting to realize that feelings he has for Clay is anything but brotherly. Clay is starting to wake up to what Dan is to him but is it too late? What a rollercoaster! Poor Dan has been trying so hard to fight his feelings and Clay does not make it easy on him. I love that Clay was finally recognizing what his feelings for Dan were. He just needed that push to put the pieces together. It was so clear how much they loved one another and they just really needed to bring it out in the open.This has been a fun series so far and the way this one ended, it is clear who is up next and it’s definitely going to be a wild ride! I can’t wait!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Deb Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Promises, Promises series and each book is a standalone read. There is a carry over of the same characters from the Sunday Brunch Group throughout all the books. This is the story of Dan and Clay. Both met when they were young teenagers and became best friends. They wanted to spend all their time together. But when Dan read the age of fourteen, he realized that he loved Clay. While he was building up his nerved to tell Clay, a surprise came out of left field that changed everything. Their parents had been seeing each other in secret and decided to get married. They would become step brothers. Wanting his father happy above all else, Dan stuffed all his emotions and feeling in a box and shut it away. He and Clay still remained as tight as ever. Both returned to their home town; Dan as a doctor and Clay as a police officer. Each encounter becomes increasingly painful for Dan. He decides that he has to move on completely. Put his love for Clay behind him. When he begins to pull away, Clay experiences severe jealousy. It is that jealousy that forces him to take a step back and really analyze his feelings. This is their story. The book is written well and is easy to read. I received a complementary copy of this book from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review. I enjoyed this book. It is a low angst story with a happy ever after ending. I look forward to the next book by this author.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in the author’s Promises, Promises series and features stepbrothers and best friends, Dan and Clay.

Inseparable since children, when their parents (Dan’s dad and Clay’s mom) decided to marry when the boys were in their teens, it stole away Dan’s chance of telling Clay how he felt—had always felt—about him but how could he say anything now? His dad had always taught him that family was everything. Looked like he would just have to suck it up…only thing was, as much as he loved Clay, he wasn’t sure how he could remain close to him… For Clay’s part, even though he had always considered himself straight, he couldn’t understand what the feelings were that he felt for his best friend.

The way the author wrote, I could literally feel Dan’s hopelessness in ever getting over his feelings for Clay as well as Clay’s fear of Dan pulling away from him and my heart hurt for both of ‘em. It was incredibly sweet but also a little sad at times.

I’ve read all of the books in this series and loved each and every one but none more than this one, though I guess I can really say the same thing about each one, there’s just something about the little town of Kither Springs and their friend group that I can’t resist. You really need to read this book, you might find yourself feeling the same way. 5 stars

I received a copy of this book for free but am voluntarily leaving a review.

[S.M. Harshell · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROMISED SECRET is the third book in the Promises, Promises series. It can be read as a standalone without issue but does read better if you read in the order the author intended.

Dan and Clay have been best friends for years. Dan has been in love with Clay from the time he figured out what being in love was. Clay has always been straight but very protective of Dan. Dan knew falling for Clay was crazy but he couldn't help himself even if Clay could never love him. When Dan finally gathered the courage to tell Clay how he felt, he finds out their parents are in love and getting married making them step-brothers.

Clay can't seem to understand why he's so protective of Dan but he seems to find issue with everyone Dan tries to date. Dan is finally trying to find his happiness without Clay but somehow Clay keeps inserting himself. With some help of meddling friends Dan and Clay finally find their way to each other the way it was always meant to be.

I loved the chemistry between Clay and Dan. Being together romantically was the next step that was just so natural between them. I loved how this played out and no one was really surprised by the development of their relationship.

Zachery Zaba truly brought life to these characters and I couldn't get enough. I was invested in the way he told this story. I was searching for extra moments in my day to listen!

I was given a free copy of both this book and audio to read and review by Neon Rainbow.

[LC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh thank you Rye Cox for this series! I have loved each book, this entire group of friends makes me smile, and I know it isn’t over yet. Dan and Clay, though, I needed to know their story.

Dan and Clay meet as young boys. Their friendship grows and flourishes as does their parents relationship. Just when Dan is going to tell Clay of his feelings, Clay’s mom announces their engagement to Dan’s lao-ba. Brothers! They’re going to be brothers. This makes Clay happy to get to keep Dan in his life forever, it makes Dan uncomfortable.

I have been waiting for this story ever since I started noticing the tension between them. With such a close group of friends, we get to know each character as the books progress. I love when authors manage to write multiple stories on a similar timeline. In Promised Secret, we see the behind the scenes portion that we saw in Promised Summer. I find this so fascinating because how do they manage to keep all the threads straight?! Now I even have to think, did I catch all the signs in previous books, did I really see Clay’s possessiveness? Goodness, it makes me want to reread the entire series. I want to catch anything I missed and enjoy it all over again. That is the power of Rye’s storytelling. It is low angst, joyful, and brings more smiles than tears.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Megan McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dan & Clay

"Privacy in Kither Springs? What's that?"

I was excited to jump into Dan & Clay's story as soon as it was hinted at early in this series. I love the Kither Springs crew, and I've really enjoyed diving into their romances. They all have something uniquely their own and a different take for each love story. I love the vibe that Rye creates in her small town stories. I also love how accepting these small towns are, and how their townspeople so supportive overall.
Dan & Clay have to overcome their own personal issues to move forward, but there really isn't a ton of conflict in their way, just confusion and misunderstanding. I do appreciate that there really is no villain in this story.
Promised Secret was a wonderful and sweet story of two men who never should have been stepbrothers finding their way out of that confusion and following their feelings toward happiness. I'm greatly looking forward to Atlas' story, although it sounds like his will definitely be a bit stressful from the hinted buildup we get in this story.

I received an authorized copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.

Audiobook Update:
Narrated by Zachary Zaba
Another fantastic rendition of a Rye Cox story by Zachary. I don't know what it is about his voice, but it draws me in and is so captivating to listen to. I've listened to a wide variety of stories with his voice, and each one is just as good as the last. I loved the personality he brought to Dan & Clay and the rest of the guys in Kither Springs. It's so much fun to experience his take on characters, whoever they may be.

I received an authorized copy of this audiobook and am volunteering my honest review.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Ana Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more I read this series, the more I love it. Each couple has been so beautiful.

Since reading the previous books, I’ve been waiting for Clay and Dan. Stepbrothers trope is one of my favorites and these two were so sweet from the moment they met.

Dan was so protective of Clay from day one. The way he took it upon himself to always be there for him melted me.

Their relationship was so beautiful. They were always there for each other even when Dan thought he couldn’t hide his feelings anymore.

Poor Clay was so oblivious to his feelings for Dan and Dan’s feelings for him. He couldn’t understand why he was always so possessive of Dan or why he felt jealous when he saw him with somebody else. Talk about loving someone so hard you can’t tell the difference between loving your best friend and being in love with the love of your life.

My heart hurt for Dan. Loving Clay for so long and not knowing if they would ever get together was so heartbreaking. I’m glad once they did there wasn’t any family drama.

I hope we get Atlas’s story next because I really need to know what’s the deal with him and Hector. The curiosity is killing me!😁

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

​Clay and Dan were best friends and already so close to one another, both emotionally and unafraid to have physical contact with one another. They are protective of one another and one wonders if they would have made the journey from friends to lovers if their respective parents had not decided to get married and bring blended family vibes into their relationship. Dan has known all along that he wants more from Clay. He has been crushing on him for a long time. Clay knew how important Dan was to him and embraced the connection through their parents' marriage because he felt it would make his favorite person that much more connected to him. But it was good when the lines started to blur in ways that made Clay realize that there was more to them than just stepbrother and bestie. It gave them time to start working towards the relationship that both of their feelings were guiding them towards. They still have some things to work through as there are other family members to consider but in the end the heart wants what it has been yearning for. This was such a nice story with two characters that really did belong together.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily sharing my review.

[Bluemoonchild · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[I received an advanced copy of this book. All reviews and ratings are my own.]

[Tanya Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

The moment Dan and Clay met as kids; they became best friends and never wanted to be without each other. Dan realized at fourteen that his feelings for Clay were beyond friends. He was in love with his best friend and was gathering the courage to tell him, until their parents announced they had been secretly dating for two years and had decided to get married, if it okay for Dan and Clay. Clay was ecstatic he would have lao-ba in his life, but Dan was devastated. Lao-ba was his everything, he deserved to be happy, but Dan's heart was shattered.
Fast forward both Dan and Clay are back in town. Dan is working at the clinic, and Clay is the policeman he always wanted to be. They are still living with each other, hanging with their friends, and bickering like an old married couple. Dan is still in love with Clay, and Clay is still totally clueless.
With nudges from their friend Jones, Clay finally recognizes the anger he felt when anyone flirted with Dan may be rooted in jealousy and what he feels toward Dan may be more than lifelong friendship.

[Traci S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for the book, here is my honest opinion:
3.5⭐️These two were pretty sweet once they stopped trying to run from their connection and attraction. I appreciate that the author mostly avoids the angst and drama that generally come with a stepbrother romance. I did find the pacing quite slow in the first half, Clay’s obliviousness is off the charts and a touch unbelievable to be honest. Clay and Dan are great together and I loved their mix of spicy chemistry and lovely sweetness.

Audiobook Update
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 and 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.

[Ingeborg Geib · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die Freundschaft zwischen Dan und Clay ist vom ersten Moment an magisch . Das die beiden nun Stiefgeschwister sind und es dadurch tabu ist sich dem anderen zu nähern macht die Lage prekär.

Erst beste Freunde ,dann Stiefgeschwister und dann zu heimlichen Geliebten . Dan und Clay sind an einem Punkt angekommen an dem es kein Zurück mehr gibt, denn ihre Gefühle können sie nicht abstellen. Sie schaffen es sich nach außen hin nichts anmerken zu lassen . Doch in ihrem Freundeskreis ahnt man etwas ,doch solange die beiden sich nicht geoutet haben sagt keiner etwas .

Mir hat dieser band besonders gut gefallen ,denn er war sehr einfühlsam geschrieben . Der Weg der beiden jungen Männer vom besten Freund zum Geliebten ist nicht einfach und doch ist es dem Autor hier gelungen es schön darzustellen.

Sich für einen anderen Menschen zu entscheiden ist eh kein leichtes Unterfangen ,aber wenn der Mensch ,den man liebt nun auch noch zur Familie gehört macht das die Sache nicht einfacher .Und doch findet die Liebe immer wieder einen Weg ins Glück.

[Meg Dibble · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read the other books in the series so I came into this story not knowing anything about Clay and Dan. I think that actually made it better. I love a good clueless awakening. Dan had been in love with Clay forever… literally since they met as kids. Clay loved Dan but had no idea in what way he actually loved him. It was cute the way they just kind of were together without actually being together.

I really liked the story and how everything came together. Although I will say that Clay just accepting that Dan had feelings for him seemed a bit too easy. Also I wanted more of Clay’s dating history… at times it seemed that he could’ve been celibate compared to Dan’s history.

My only reason for 4 stars: I know that Dan didn’t want to disappoint his father but the angst and guilt that he felt about his feelings were repetitive. But he still kept doing things that added to the guilt and angst.

All in all I really liked the story and will probably read the rest of the series!

[Belinda Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an audiobook review.

Dan and Clay were so sweet together.
Dan has always known Clay was it for him.
Initially it was just as best friends but then those feelings changed into something more.
Dan is on the verge of letting Clay know this new development when they're blindsided by their parents confession to secretly dating and plans to marry.
Heartbroken, Dan swallows his own confession in order to not cause problems.
Clay is a great big ball of obliviousness and I really wanted to smack him upside the head at times.
As they slowly become intimate he begins to slowly open his eyes to the fact that Dan is his person and that everything he's been feeling is more than step brotherly love.
I really appreciated the fact that their families and friends were so supportive and understanding of their relationship.
Zachary Zaba did an amazing job narrating and bringing these characters to life.

[Jo Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Heather Duff · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Come on boys! For two people so incredibly close, they suck at communication. LOL

They are a cute pair, but boy, their minds are dramatic places. I get it, becoming stepbrothers and worrying about how everyone would feel if they learned the truth throws a wrench into the mix.

Thankfully, they get a nudge toward finally figuring out their feelings and sharing them.

Truthfully, they are even cuter once they sort themselves out.

If you get a chance, you should check out the audiobook. Zachary Zaba is wonderful and really matches Rye Cox’s writing style well.

[Yvonne M · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.