Promise Me This

Chicago Railers Hockey #4

by Jennifer Sucevic

Promise Me This is an age gap, nanny, single dad, brother’s teammate pro hockey romance featuring a pregnant heroine with trust issues and a slow burn marriage of convenience that just might heal them both.

Genres: Marriage Of Convenience, Sports Romance, Hockey, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Hockey Romance, Audiobook

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2026

About the author

Jennifer is the USA Today Bestselling Author of King of Campus. She currently resides in Michigan with her husband, kids, a dog named Rocky, and a kitten named Lily. After pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology also from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, she spent five years working as a high school counselor before moving out of state with her family. She enjoys reading, writing, and traveling. Please contact Jennifer at jmolitor6@hotmail.com. Connect with Jennifer on facebook- https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.suc... or check her out on Wattpad- https://www.wattpad.com/user/jsucevic. Jennifer can also be found on Tumblr at jsucevic (inspiration board).

Reviews

[Kayla | Kayla Reads Smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly don't know how many times I need to tell you that you need to read the Chicago Railers series. And since you still have NOT taken my recommendation side 👀 I'll just have to try harder to convince you. In all seriousness, what did Jennifer put in this series and why is it crack? The way that I can't stop, won't stop screaming at the top of my lungs about this series. This is seriously one of the most addicting hocking romance series that I have ever read. And if you are an audiobook girly, please for the love that is all things holy, listen to this series because the narrator line up is rock solid!

Ok so... I INHALED this audio! AGAIN. The way that I started listening to this book and simply couldn't put it down. When I thought I had enough, I was like nope just one more chapter. And that one more chapter turned into 5. And honestly, I'm not even made about it. The audio for this whole series is top tier with some of the most amazing narrators and the narration for Promise Me This is absolutely no exception! Promise Me This is DUET NARRATION by JF Harding and Savannah Peachwood. These two did an absolutely phenomenal job at bringing this story to life. Savannah narrated Kia with this very youthful and almost soft spoken narration which I felt perfectly suited Kia's character. These two brought the tension, pining and emotion to life in my earholes and it was glorious.

All I'm going to say is, I was looking forward to Laiken and Kia's story. I am a huge fan of the he's not the daddy pregnancy trope. So to say I was anxiously awaiting this book was an understatement of the century. And guess what? This book was everything that I wanted and more! The man that Laiken Lennox is, is the gold standard. He is by far one of the GREENEST green flag MMCs I have ever read. But with that being said, every single MMC in this series is a walking talking green flag down bad golden retriever. They are the standard! I said what I said.

All I'm going to say, may you all be blessed with a Laiken in your lives. Because this man 😮‍💨 is so loving, protective and has the best communication skills. And Kia, that woman was so sweet. The way she loved Laiken's daughter melted my heart.

So as a recap:
I straight inhaled this audio.
I will repeat myself for the millionth time this series is crack.
I will tell you til I’m blue in the face, you NEED to read this series.

You should most definitely read this book if you like:
- Hockey Romance
- Single Dad x Nanny
- Accidental Pregnancy but he is NOT the father
- Age Gap
- Teammate's Sister
- Marriage of Convenience

* I would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Jennifer Sucevic and Valentine PR for the ALC of Promise Me This in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions and review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ALC Book Review✨

I don’t often read books with pregnancy tropes, but this book was so good!

I really felt bad for Kia. She just found out she’s pregnant. She knows she wants to keep the baby, but keeps getting harassed by Colin, the baby daddy, to terminate the pregnancy. Colin was the absolute worst. Why did that man feel the need to be so aggressive with her when she just wanted to move on?

Kia meeting Laiken felt like the right person, right time. I loved how cautious Laiken was around Kia because he had a daughter and didn’t want her to be disappointed. Luckily, his daughter just bonded with Kia right off the bat and wanted her around all the time. It felt like the progression of their relationship made sense, as they both wanted a family.

Laiken was all man. He’s the type of man you want to support you and your family. Some things moved fast in this story, but I felt like he was always grounded.

The ending in this book was so satisfying. I loved the found family storyline so much!

This book was narrated by JF Harding and Savannah Peacewood. I felt they did a great job. Their voices were clear and projected the characters emotions perfectly.

[Paige (wingsandsmut) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been obsessed with the Chicago Railers series from the start and this book is no different! Kia & Laiken fit so perfectly together and it’s also so precious seeing Elody & Kia together too! This man loves his daughter so much and it had me swooning!! He’s protective over his family and when he does not hesitate one bit to help Kia after finding out she’s pregnant, instead claiming to help raise the baby as his own….I was done for. Absolute perfection! I love how Kia and Laiken are drawn together, but in such a sweet and gentle way, but that doesn’t mean those spicy scenes aren’t hot and heavy!

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
🩵single dad x nanny
🩵hockey player mmc
🩵she’s pregnant, but it’s not his baby
🩵marriage of convenience
🩵age gap
🩵teammate’s sister
🩵my wife moments
🩵protective mmc

Thank you to Jennifer Sucevic and Valentine PR for letting me read an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

[ReadWithPeaches · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ ALC Review✨
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️

This series gets better and better with each and every book. I loved this book so much. I have been waiting for Kia’s story for a while. Laiken and Kia are the definition of the right person at the right time.

Laiken just blew me away. I loved him so much. This man holds my heart and is completely so perfect! HIs complete unwarvering devotion to his daughter instantly made me fall for him. Watching him open his heart to Kia and then they created this sweet little family.

Kia needed Laiken not because she needed him but because he is perfect for her. This poor girl was felt a crap hand. You just want the best for her. She is so easy to love.

The audiobook made the experience so even better. JF Harding and Savannah Peachwood captured each and every emotion beautifully and brought these characters to life. II devoured this book in no time at all.

What to Expect:
🏒Forced Proximity
🏒Single Dad
🏒 Nanny
🏒Marriage of Convenience
🏒Pregnant Heroine (not his kid)
🏒Brother’s Teammate
🏒Off Limits

Thank you so much Jennifer and Valentine for allowing me to read this ARC. I loved Laiken and Kia!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had the single hockey dad trope, age gap, falling for the nanny, and brothers teammate.
And pregnancy trope I incase you hate that.

This book displays perfectly how being with someone who fills a need so deep can be healing. Like someone who has never felt wanted, and someone who has always showed love but then pushed and called clingy.. they can be a perfect match.

This is basically what the book has going for it. Although Laiken is protective and is loving with Kia there was very little relationship building. It felt like there was interest and then they were just together. They barely got to know each other through the book. It’s like the author tells you they love each other, and that they have this deep relationship… but there’s not much of it happening in the book. Yes there is big life events they support each other through but not a lot of other stuff to support the idea.

[Merrit Townsend (always1morebook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Promise Me This by Jennifer Sucevic is proof that sometimes the greenest flag in a romance isn't the billionaire, the bad boy, or the hockey star...it's the man who shows up when things get hard.

This is the fourth book in the Chicago Railers series, but it works perfectly as an interconnected standalone. And let me tell you, Laiken completely won me over. As a single dad and professional hockey goalie, he already had enough on his plate, but the way he stepped up for Kia when she needed someone most......Swoon-worthy doesn't even begin to cover it.

Kia is carrying a lot more than just a baby. She's dealing with fear, uncertainty, and a whole lot of stress thanks to Collin, the baby's father, who apparently woke up every day and chose to be the worst human ever. His threatening messages kept the tension high throughout the story, and my blood pressure definitely paid the price.

What I loved most was that this wasn't an insta-love romance. Kia and Laiken's relationship developed gradually, built on trust, friendship, and showing up for each other day after day. Their marriage may have started as a practical solution, but watching those feelings grow into something real was incredibly satisfying.

And can we talk about Elody, I absolutely adored the relationship between Kia and Laiken's daughter. Kia loved that little girl fiercely and treated her as if she were her own. Some of the sweetest moments in the book came from their bond.

Of course, Jennifer Sucevic wasn't content to give these characters one source of stress. Between Collin's threats and Laiken's ex's parents trying to take Elody from him, there was plenty of drama keeping the pages turning. I may not have seen much of Laiken's ex, but she still managed to earn a spot on my list of characters I'd happily launch into the sun.

One of my favorite parts of the story was Kia's support system. The girl crew was exactly the kind of friendship circle every woman deserves, and I loved seeing Kia surrounded by people who genuinely cared about her. And then there's Oliver. Protective brother characters can sometimes be over the top, but Oliver was fantastic. Once he learned what Kia had been dealing with, he stepped up in all the right ways and became exactly the brother she needed.

I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook, which was performed in duet narration by JF Harding and Savannah Peachwood. Their voices were absolutely perfect for Laiken and Kia. They captured the emotion, chemistry, and vulnerability of these characters beautifully, making an already enjoyable story even better. I cannot recommend this book and series enough....A perfect mix of romance and angst...add in the hockey players and you have winner!

[✨Crystal✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ALC provided by Valentine PR for an honest review✨

Promise Me This is a single dad, surprise pregnancy (not his), age gap, marriage of convenience, friends to lovers, off limits romance between Laken and his teammate’s little sister Kia. Laken has been taking care of his sweet 4 yr old daughter Elodie for over a year now after his wife left them. His ex-in-laws believe with his hockey schedule that he is not the right choice to parent their grandchild and are fighting for custody. He’s been the best single dad and is completely focused on the wellbeing of his daughter having everything covered between his fatherly duties and his career, until his nanny has a family emergency leaving him without the childcare he needs. Kia is his teammate’s little sister that has recently dropped out of college, and is staying with her brother for a while. What they don’t know is Kia is pregnant and is currently trying to figure out how she’s going to manage all this alone. With Laken needing a nanny and Kia needing a job, she accepts the position and moves in with Laken and Elodie. And with Kia secretly pregnant and avoiding her ex since he wants her to get rid of the baby and Laken trying to fight for custody of his daughter, lots of drama ensues 💁‍♀️

I really appreciated how Laken was completely devoted to his little girl, even to the point where he doesn’t date and spends all his free time with her. And Kia was so lost and in a place in her life where she needed the stability which Laken and Elodie gave her. What starts out as a convenient arrangement ends up being what everyone was missing, and the little family they make gives you all the feels 🥰 Everyone needs someone like Laken in their lives 😍😂

The audiobook was duet narrated by JF Harding and Savannah Peachwood and both did a fantastic job with these characters. This book had a little bit of spice, but mostly focused more on the connection between the characters which to me was more mature and fit the story perfectly. This book was a sweet listen and I really enjoyed it! I definitely recommend this book and the others in this series ❤️

[Camryn Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

۶ৎ 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙈𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝙅𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙪𝙘𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙘

#arcreview

ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★


Tropes- single dad x pregnant nanny, marriage of convenience, teammate’s sister, found family, age gap, forced proximity, hockey romance, “MY WIFE” moments

—

Did I expect little Kia to have a book!? Definitely not she’s so grown up now and is definitely going through it so dropped out of college and she ran away to her brother but it’s okay daddy laiken is otw who’s also in need of an babysitter because people keep flaking and his ex in-laws want custody of his daughter who’s just the sweetest little girl everrrr

Kia is pregnant with her ex boyfriend baby who also wants her to get rid of it so she leaves college and move to her brother’s place until she can earn some money and she’s just in luck that laiken needs a babysitter and she moves in with him to help him out. I freaking love Kia she’s everything and more I just wanted to hug her so bad

Kia and Laiken can both benefit from getting married to each other but it’s so much more than that they like each other so badly and just want to be a family. Their chemistry with each other is so perfect and Kia’s relationship with Elody it is everything Kia was just made for that family and the girls group! I love how they just welcomed her.

Laiken is a divorced single dad who’s trying his best to raise his four year old daughter Elody who’s literally just perfect. Laiken is also the goalie for the Chicago Raiders hockey team, he’s quiet and so sexy I just love him and get him in so many different ways. Laiken in laws is trying to take away Elody from him because they say he’s not fit because he’s always on the road so he asks Kia to marry him to help him out and he’ll help her out by putting his name on her baby’s birth certificate

I was waiting for this book because it has half of my favorite tropes and I just knew I was going to eat it up and I definitely did. I read this book in one sitting and do not regret it one bit! And I love the little chapter of Hugh and Evelyn in every book!



Thank You So Much for giving me this incredible arc !💐🖤

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

As if I couldn’t ask for anything more perfect in this series, in comes Kia and Liken. And of course Jennifer doesn’t disappoint with teammates best friend Kia and Daddy Liken.

Kia is realizing her life is about to change. Like dropping out of school, lying to her family, and moving in with the goalie, wasn’t life changing enough. Kia has gotten attached to Elody quickly, she never expected to also get attached to the girls’ father. But she never stood a chance when it comes to the guy that sees everything, when she’s stressed, when she needs someone to stand behind her, and when she needs someone to support her in her darkest times without knowing what caused it all. When Liken steps up, when he definitely doesn’t need to, honestly the last person Kia thought would, makes it all the more appealing to how Kia is feeling about the new man that has been a pillar in her life as she navigates all this newness.

Liken my strong, sensitive, sturdy dad of a man. A goalie on the ice and Elody’s dad off the ice, just trying to catch a break a year after his wife left him. When he realizes how quickly his daughter has gotten attached to Kia, it was an easy decision to ask if she’ll jump in to help watch his daughter and provide a stable environment for her while her grandparents try and take her away from his house. While the bond between his daughter and Kia becomes stronger, allowing Kia to stay in his home was also a step he was willing to take, even if the attraction between them is becoming a little too intense for Liken to ignore. Even if she is the last person he should be attracted to, her brother being his teammate and all. When Liken uncovers her secret and realizes it absolutely changes nothing, besides a stronger bond between them, and he realizes how absolutely screwed he is when it comes to staying away from Kia and he’s tired of fighting it.

Could never get tired of this series, hit after hit when it comes to Jennifer giving us the best of the Chicago Railers hockey team. Knox and Cheyenne up next and we know it’s going to be realllll good.

[Jess - Reader of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Promise Me This by Jennifer Sucevic
🎧Narrated by JF Harding and Savannah Peachwood
📚Chicago Railers Hockey, Book 4
🌸Interconnected Standalone

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
♾️Jun. Favorite
Adult • Sports Romance
📖340 Pages / 8h 26m
🗓️Jun. 25

🖤hockey romance
🌸teammate’s sister
🖤single dad / nanny
🌸surprise pregnancy (not his baby)
🖤forced proximity
🌸marriage of convenience
🖤slow burn
🌸age gap
🖤no 3rd act breakup

Two of my favorite narrators teamed up to bring Promise Me This to my ears, and my heart will never stop thanking them. They were the perfect Laiken and Kia 🖤

That Jennifer Sucevic writes the best sports romance is nothing new. The part that might be new is my current obsession with surprise pregnancy where it’s not his baby. I don’t question, I just accept it. Or maybe what I’m obsessed with is Jennifer Sucevic’s books. Yeah, that sounds about right.

This book took my soul by storm and held me in its orbit, going in circles with hearts in my eyes. I loved their “brokenness” and their steadiness nonetheless. I loved how their love bloomed and how they showed each other the kindness they craved. I loved the points of conflict outside Laiken and Kia that threatened everything they work so fiercely for. And most of all, I loved how well they fit together and in my heart too.

Jennifer Sucevic is the queen of pacing, and this one was again chef’s kiss.

The little breadcrumbs of something-something continue in this book, and I’m ready to follow them to the very end of the world.

[Jennifer Wycech · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brother's teammate
Single dad
Marriage of convenience
Not his baby
Age gap
Dual POV - 1st person

Duet narration - JF Harding & Savannah Peachwood
Great pairing with these two performing together.

Book #4 Chicago Railers Hockey series

I can not say enough about this series, truly a heartwarming and lovely hockey romance series, and this book is a beautiful addition to the series.

Kia has dropped out of school and moved in with her brother Oliver (Book #3 Show me forever MMC) and she is pregnant but not telling anyone...yet. She is scared and trying to figure out her future. Being tossed into the hockey family that Oliver has found she can't help but feel drawn to his teammate Laiken. A sexy, single Dad goalie. He is a little broody, protective, and oh so swoon worthy. Struggling with nanny care for his daughter and juggling single parenthood with his career. Kia becomes the live in nanny. The sexual tension and sweetness between Laiken and Kia is so steamy and heartwarming I just love them so much.
Laiken is supportive of Kia and helps her navigate the pregnancy all while falling in love with each other.

Overall, a beautifully written book. Kia and Laiken are the cutest. I do recommend reading these books in order just to avoid any spoilers no matter how small. A wonderful hockey series for any hockey romance lover or someone looking to dip their toe into the world that is hockey romance!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kia moves in with her brother after finding out she's pregnant and baby daddy doesn't want anything to do with the baby. She's keeping it a secret from everybody. When Laiken finds himself in need of a new nanny, Kia took on the role. I love the connection that Laiken and Kia have. I love that once he figured out her secret, he stepped up and said he will be her baby's daddy, no matter what happens. He is protective of those he loves and Kia is brought into that very quickly. Not only that, he's the absolute best dad to his baby girl, Elody. Kia & Laiken really made the best team. Kia and Elody had the most genuine connection too. The 3 of them seriously created the absolute sweetest little family.

🎧Audio:🎧
This is a duet narration by J.F. Harding & Savannah Peachwood. They completely sucked me into this story. The chemistry & the emotions were perfectly executed by both of them. If you're considering the audiobook, you absolutely listen to it!

What to expect:
💕Age Gap
💍 Marriage of Convenience
🏒Teammates Sister
👨‍👧Single Dad x Nanny
🤰Pregnant - but it's not his

Thank you to Must Love Audio for this ALC. All opinions are my own.

[Jens_Book_Cubby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Promise Me This is book four in the Chicago Railers Hockey Series. It is a single dad, marriage of convenience, nanny, hockey romance with "not his baby", close proximity, found family, and teammates little sister. The story is told in first person with dual pov.

This was such a great story. I absolutely adored Laiken and Kia. Kia is such a sweetheart and I loved the bond that she forms with Laiken's daughter, Elody. Laiken was an absolute gem of a man. His understanding, kindness, and nonjudgmental ways, as well as his caretaking and protective nature was fabulous. Kia and Laiken together had sizzling tension and chemistry. The way their relationship developed was so natural and just felt right.

The story was terrifically written with amazing plot, flow, pace, characters, character development, relationship development, storyline, storytelling, and world building. I am definitely addicted to this series and will be excitedly awaiting the next book.

Thank you so very much to Jennifer Sucevic for the ARC; all thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved! It's part of a series, but I read it as a standalone. It's a little instalovey, but I didn't mind that at all.

Kia never planned to end up pregnant, alone, and starting over. The only thing that matters is protecting her baby.

So when Laiken Lennox needs a temporary live-in nanny, she takes this as a chance for a fresh start.

Her new boss, Laiken, is her brother's teammate, a single dad going through a custody battle, and ridiculously good-looking.

But she's pregnant with another man's baby, and she loves working with his daughter; he's the last person she should fall for.

But when he learns her secret, he offers her a marriage of convenience, but they won't be able to keep their hands to themselves.

Thanks so much to the author and VPR for this ARC to review.

[BookMarkedbyNicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Hockey Romance series is so underrated. Don’t know why it doesn’t get more hype! The Chicago Railers men are chef kiss.

We are getting Kia and Laiken’s story. Single dad, age gap, teammates sister, marriage of convenience, she’s pregnant but it’s not his baby, she’s the nanny for his sweet daughter Elody.

Thank you Valentine PR and Jennifer Sucevic for the Advance Readers Copy for a honest review

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is incredible. Jennifer makes these book feel so realistic, has you hooked to every longing, every doubt, every emotion. Just everything overall.

Laiken is so protective, single dad. Swore off all emotions and love for the sake of protective and keeping his precious little girl.

Once Kia (Oliver’s little sister) leaves college and comes to live with Oliver, keeping a huge secret from everyone. She connects with Laiken’s precious little girl, and becomes her nanny.

That turns into a live in-nanny dynamic- and the chemistry between them. How Laiken protects Kia and takes her to appts and accepts her thoroughly… ugh obsessed! Loved this story.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was SO cute!! The only thing playing in my head while reading this book was “a man, a man, a maaaaaaan” because Laiken was a MAN omg. The way that man stepped up & took care of Kia & her unborn baby (that wasn’t even his)👏🏼👏🏼 from the moment he found out she was pregnant, he took charge and I loved every second of it of seeing their journey unfold. He also didn’t shy away from being with her and taking what he wanted just because her brother was his teammate which was refreshing.

Kia was also so good with Laiken’s daughter, Elody. Elody took to Kia so quick and their relationship was just so sweet 🥹

Thank you to Jennifer for the early copy 🖤

- Hockey Romance
- Single Dad x Nanny
- Brother’s Teammate
- Marriage of Convenience
- Age Gap (She’s 22, He’s 33)
- She’s Pregnant (but it’s not his)
- He washes her hair for her



A few of my favorite quotes:

𝑨𝒔 𝑲𝒊𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒂𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕, 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑰 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒇.


𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒉𝒆𝒓.


𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒄. 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jennifer Sucevic has done it again. Promise Me This was everything I wanted from a single dad hockey romance and more, and it's easily one of my favorite books in the Chicago Railers series so far.

Tropes & Microtropes:
🏒 Hockey Romance
🤰 Secret Pregnancy (But It's Not His)
👨‍👧 Single Dad x Nanny
🏒 Brother's Teammate
📏 Age Gap (22 & 33)
🚫 Off Limits
🏠 Forced Proximity
💍 Marriage of Convenience
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family
💖 My Wife Energy
🛁 He Washes Her Hair
🤷‍♂️ "Fuck It" Moment
🐱 He Calls Her Kitten
🥅 Protective Goalie Hero
👶 I'll Raise Your Baby as My Own
🌙 She Comforts Him After a Nightmare
🔥 My Pleasure Comes From Yours Energy

The thing I loved most about this book was the family dynamic that developed between Laken, Kia, and Elody.

Laiken's devotion to his daughter was evident from the very beginning, and I appreciated that Jennifer Sucevic never treated parenthood as an inconvenience for him. His entire life revolved around making sure Elody was loved, safe, and cared for. He wasn't interested in dating or looking for someone to take over parenting duties—he was fully committed to being the best father he could be. His love for her came through in every interaction, making him impossible not to adore.

Kia was equally easy to connect with. She finds herself at a point in her life where she's feeling lost and uncertain about what comes next, and that vulnerability made her incredibly relatable. What I loved most was watching her find stability and belonging with Laken and Elody. The relationship that developed between the three of them felt natural and authentic, and it quickly became clear how perfectly they fit into each other's lives.

Speaking of Elody, she completely stole my heart. Children can sometimes feel awkward or unrealistic in romance books, but Jennifer Sucevic absolutely nailed her character. Elody was adorable, kind, and genuinely acted like a child. She wasn't there simply to move the plot forward—she felt like a fully realized little person. Every scene with her made me smile, and she was easily one of my favorite parts of the entire book.

As much as I adored Elody, Laiken was the true standout for me. Honestly, he was perfect. He was gentle, thoughtful, protective, patient, respectful, and endlessly caring. The way he loved not only Elody but also Kia and her unborn baby made my heart melt. His willingness to step up and love a child that wasn't biologically his without hesitation spoke volumes about the kind of man he is. Every action showed how deeply he cared about the people around him, and I found myself falling for him more with every chapter.

Kia and Laiken also had fantastic chemistry. The attraction was there, but the emotional connection developed gradually as they navigated responsibilities and hurtfull pasts. Their romance felt earned, and I especially enjoyed those early moments when they were both still a little shy around each other. I enjoyed watching them slowly let their walls down and realize that what they had was becoming something much deeper.

The friendships continue to be one of my favorite aspects of this series. The friendships are so wholesome and supportive, and I love the way these characters consistently show up for one another. Kia's relationship with Oliver was especially touching, and I loved seeing how protective and supportive he was of his little sister.

One quote that perfectly captures Laiken and Kia's relationship is: "As Kia falls asleep against my heart, I know with an aching certainty that I didn't just find her. I found my other half." 😭❤️

There were a couple of things I would have liked to see handled differently. Given the emotional trauma Elody experienced from her mother's abandonment, I would have liked to see professional support, such as therapy, incorporated into her healing journey. I also felt that Kia moved into a new romantic relationship fairly quickly given everything she had recently been through with her ex-boyfriend.

A few character decisions also left me with questions. Oliver's reaction to certain events wasn't quite what I expected, and I struggled to understand why Rina chose to keep such a significant secret from her husband (or why Kia would put her in that position in the first place). I also found myself wishing Kia had opened up to her family more often rather than carrying so much on her own.

Even with those minor frustrations, this was still an easy five-star read for me. The romance was swoony, the family dynamic was heartwarming, and the emotional connections between the characters kept me fully invested from beginning to end.

I've loved this entire series, and Promise Me This only reinforced why. I'm already looking forward to Knox and Cheyenne's story, and after that, Jax and Sloan's. Jennifer Sucevic has done an amazing job building this world, and I can't wait to see where she takes these characters next.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC received from Jennifer Sucevic in exchange for honest review.

⚡BLURB⚡
I never planned to end up pregnant, alone, and starting over. But life unraveled faster than I could hold it together, and now the only thing that matters is protecting my baby… even if I have no idea what comes next.
Taking a live-in nanny job for Laiken Lennox is supposed to be temporary. A fresh start. A safe place to land while I rebuild my life. It's not supposed to be dangerous.
Laiken is my brother’s teammate.
My new boss.
A guarded NHL goalie and devoted single dad already fighting a custody battle.
I tell myself I can handle the proximity.
The late nights.
The way he looks at me like I’m something worth saving.
But living under his roof blurs every line I swore I wouldn’t cross.
Especially when he starts caring for me in ways no one else ever has.
I’m carrying another man’s baby.
He’s the last person I should fall for.
But the more time we spend together, the more Laiken feels like the one thing I can’t lose.
And when the truth comes out, it could cost me everything.

⚡REVIEW⚡
I am a huge Jennifer Sucevic fan, particularly when it comes to the Chicago Railers series. She writes romance that is so compelling, you can't help but give them a little piece of your heart as they exchange theirs. I was so excited to see Laiken and Kia's story, and I was not disappointed in the slightest. Their love story is one of protection, trust and safety, and it took my breath away.

Pregnant, scared and being intimidated by the baby daddy, Kia is lost. A babysitting session sees her introduced to Laiken and his daughter Elody, and she is drawn to Laiken in a way she's never been drawn to a man before. A request for a playdate from Elody leads to a live in Nanny position for Kia, and she finally feels a level of security she never thought she would get to feel. But there's a spark with Laiken that won't go away. A connection that transcends physical intimacy. As their story progresses, and a curveball is thrown at her, she takes a huge step, knowing that trust and safety go hand in hand with Laiken, and that by taking that step, she is showing him that she also brings security to his life. She may be young in age, but she has a wise head on her shoulders, a maturity that nobody expects from someone of that age.

Laiken freaking Lennox. Holy MOLY. Jennifer Sucevic has stated that she is very much in her Golden Retriever era, and Laiken Lennox is the most adorable of them so far. Since his wife walked out on them, Elody has been his world. When she forms a bond with Kia, he sees something he thought he would never find - someone who has the potential to love his daughter as much as he does. He also has the most overwhelming urge to take care of her and protect her from anything the world could possibly throw at her. The looming spectre of Elody's grandparents attempting wrest custody of her leads him to make a snap decision, but it is made from a point of wanting to provide security for not just him and Elody, but also Kia and her unborn baby. He is the absolute definition of a white knight. And in the bedroom? Wow.

Many of the supporting cast we've gotten to know in the other books of the Chicago Railers series, and it is a joy to see the girls connect with Kia like she's always been one of them. The team are so solid, and they always turn up for their goalie. The Oscar for best supporting character without doubt though, goes to Elody. That child is adorable. Her innocence leads to moments that are pivotal to the story, and the worry that she may be taken away from Laiken is almost as big a hook for the reader as the development of Laiken and Kia's relationship.

I absolutely adored this story. I'm not a maternal person, so usually stories with pregnancy don't hit as hard for me as those without, but this one had me feverishly turning those pages, desperate to know how the story turned out for Laiken, Kia, Elody and the unborn baby. It was a joy to read, and yet again, Jennifer Sucevic has given me an impossible standard for a man to live up to. I want that protector, that safety, that trust. And I want it instantly, ala Laiken and Kia! (Not asking for much, I know!) If you love a hockey romance (and yes, it met my threshold for sporting content *winks*), with a love story that will leave you speechless repeatedly, you need to read this novel. In fact, start at the beginning of the Chicago Railers series, if you haven't already. You won't regret it!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this book!

[Sophie Sosweetysocrazy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,75

Tout d’abord merci à Valentine PR pour l’envoi de ce service presse que j’ai reçu pour mon plus grand plaisir.

Si vous lisez mes chroniques, vous connaissez mon amour inconditionnel pour les romances sportives et surtout quand ça tourne autour du hockey.

Jennifer Sucevic est une autrice qui sait écrire des histoires autour du sport et je suis fan de sa plume depuis le début. Elle sort un livre et il finit d’office dans ma bibliothèque, elle fait partie de mes autrices chouchous et je ne suis jamais déçue en la lisant. Ceci étant dit, cette review ne sera donc pas du tout objective, et en plus chaque tome de cette série est un coup de cœur ❤️ et avec ce tome 4, elle a encore envoyé du lourd.

C’est donc le tome 4 de la série Chicago Railers Hockey, on va suivre Laiken & Kia.
Laiken est le goal de l’équipe, il a une petite fille Elody et il galère à trouver quelqu’un pour s’occuper d’elle et lorsqu’il a trouvé quelqu’un, elle doit l’abandonner. Donc il se retrouve à devoir chercher une baby-sitter pour sa fille et Kia qui est la sœur d’Oliver (tome 3), lui propose de s’occuper de sa petite, le temps qu’il trouve quelqu’un d’autre. Il faut savoir que Kia a déjà gardé Elody lors d’une soirée avec ses coéquipiers et elles ont de suite eu une connexion, elles s’adorent.

Kia a abandonné ses études et se retrouve enceinte et hébergée chez son frère Oliver et Rina (le couple du tome 3). Elle ne sait pas trop ce qu’elle va faire de sa vie et surtout avec son bébé parce que son ex arrête pas de la harceler et lui impose de se débarrasser du bébé et pour elle, c’est hors de question, du coup elle le ghoste en espérant qu’il lâche l’affaire.

Garder Elody va lui permettre d’oublier ses soucis et tout va bien se passer avec Elody et Laiken. Il va alors lui proposer d’aménager chez eux par commodité, et leur collocation s’impose naturellement. Cela devient d’une simplicité hallucinante qui fait que tout le monde s’entend super bien.

Sauf que Laiken avait quand même déjà un coup de cœur pour Kia, mais malheureusement elle est beaucoup beaucoup plus jeune que lui et puis c’est la sœur de son coéquipier donc forcément, il sait qu’elle lui est interdite.

Le coup de cœur est réciproque puisque Kia ressent aussi des choses pour lui mais sa situation est trop complexe pour qu’elle se laisse aller à ses sentiments.

Ils vont alors jouer la carte des amis, amitié qui coule de source dès le départ mais quand l’amour s’en mêle…
Laiken a lui aussi ses propres problèmes avec les parents de son ex femme. Ils lui font la misère pour récupérer la garde de la petite, donc il va tout faire pour mettre le plus de stabilité dans la vie d’Elody pour ne pas la perturber.

Il va alors proposer à Kia de se marier, un mariage arrangé d’entrée qui va pas être arrangé du tout du tout. Bien évidemment tous les deux ont une superbe alchimie donc leur mariage arrangé va vite devenir réel pour notre plus grand bonheur.

J’ai beaucoup aimé la relation entre nos trois protagonistes car oui on peut dire trois puisque Elody est omniprésente et leur dynamique est vraiment mignonne.

Kia est une jeune femme forte, elle sait ce qu’elle veut pour son bébé. En tout cas, elle veut le garder et elle veut lui trouver une vie stable. Elle ne sait pas comment mais voilà elle a un caractère bien trempé à ce niveau-là. L’embauche de Laiken va lui permettre d’avoir un environnement sain, un emploi stable et elle sait qu’elle pourra subvenir aux besoins de son bébé.

Quant à Laiken, c’est un homme qui est méfiant au premier abord qui est très mystérieux, un peu bourru même et qui ne laisse personne l’approcher ni lui ni sa fille. Donc son cercle est assez restreint et Kia s’impose comme une évidence dans son cercle comme si elle avait fait partie depuis toujours de ce groupe d’amis, sa famille, et malgré ces airs taciturnes et bourrus c’est un papa en or. Il vit sa vie pour le hockey et sa fille, c’est tout son univers. Il n’a pas eu de relation depuis son ex donc autant dire qu’il a été assez échaudé niveau relation amoureuse.

Nos 2 protagonistes se retrouvent ainsi à un carrefour de leur vie amoureuse, qui fait que leur relation devient une évidence.

J’avoue je ne suis pas une grande fan des héroïnes enceintes mais le tome précédent j’ai adoré donc pour cette histoire-là c’est le même style. Comme c’est mon autrice chouchou qui l’a écrit et bien on est à nouveau sur un excellent moment de lecture. Seul petit bémol, le hockey est moins présent dans ce tome, j’aurais aimé en voir davantage.
Cette série est meilleure à chaque tome et je vous la recommande chaudement. Le found Family est toujours autant présent des 2 côtés et c’est un plaisir de retrouver tous les personnages des livres précédents.

La plume addictive de l’autrice joue beaucoup. C’est une histoire qui se lit vite très vite, tellement elle est bien, tellement on se régale. Je ne peux que vous recommander de la découvrir.

#bookstagram #instabook #sportsromance #valentineprlm #arcreview

[Audio book lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

💙🏒 A protective single dad, a pregnant nanny, and a house full of secrets that slowly turns into a home. 🏒💙

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Spice-meter: 🌶️🌶️☆☆☆ (2/5)
Audiobook: 🎧 Duet
Series: Chicago Railers Hockey, Book 4 (interconnected standalone)
HEA: Yes

Promise Me This is everything I want from a single dad hockey romance: heartfelt, emotional, full of tenderness, and centered around two people who find safety and healing in each other when they need it most. Jennifer Sucevic once again delivers an addictive installment in the Chicago Railers world, blending forbidden attraction, family dynamics, and slow-burn romance into a story that is impossible not to root for.

Laiken and Kia’s relationship isn’t built on instant passion or dramatic declarations. It’s built on quiet moments, trust, protection, and the feeling of finally finding a place where you belong. Watching their connection grow while they both carry the weight of their own struggles made this one especially rewarding.

And that epilogue? I cannot wait to see where this series goes next.

The Story

Kia never imagined she would end up pregnant, alone, and desperately trying to rebuild her life. Taking a temporary live-in nanny position for NHL goalie Laiken Lennox seems like the perfect solution. It gives her a roof over her head, a chance to save money, and somewhere safe to prepare for the future.

The problem is that Laiken is her brother’s teammate. Her boss. A fiercely protective single dad already fighting his own custody battle. Falling for him is completely off-limits.

But the longer they live under the same roof, the harder it becomes to ignore the quiet moments, the late-night conversations, and the way Laiken looks after both her and his daughter with so much care. As feelings deepen and old wounds begin to heal, one life-changing secret threatens to destroy everything they’ve built together.

What I Loved

✔️ Protective single dad who completely stole my heart
✔️ A genuinely sweet and caring nanny FMC
✔️ Slow-burn romance with emotional payoff
✔️ Marriage of convenience elements done right
✔️ Found family and beautiful domestic moments
✔️ Adorable father-daughter scenes with Elody
✔️ A love story built on trust, safety, and unconditional support

🎧 Narration

Performed in duet by Savannah Peachwood and J.F. Harding, and this audiobook was an absolute joy to listen to.

Savannah Peachwood is phenomenal as Kia, capturing every layer of her vulnerability, uncertainty, strength, and resilience. You can hear all of her fears and hopes woven into the performance, making her impossible not to connect with. She also does a wonderful job bringing young Elody to life.

J.F. Harding is equally fantastic as Laiken. His deep, warm voice perfectly embodies the protective, devoted, and quietly possessive single dad energy that makes Laiken such a lovable hero. Every soft moment, every “my wife” vibe, and every scene where he simply shows up for Kia landed exactly as it should.

Together, they deliver a duet narration full of heart, emotion, and chemistry that elevates an already touching story.

Tropes & Vibes

✔️ Single Dad x Nanny
✔️ Hockey Romance
✔️ Brother’s Teammate
✔️ Live-In Nanny
✔️ Marriage of Convenience
✔️ She’s Pregnant (but it’s not his baby)
✔️ Age Gap Romance
✔️ Protective MMC
✔️ Slow Burn
✔️ Found Family
✔️ Emotional Healing
✔️ “My Wife” Energy
✔️ He Washes Her Hair 🥹
✔️ HEA

Final Thoughts

Promise Me This is a beautiful, heartwarming romance that reminds you love is not always about grand gestures. Sometimes it’s about feeling safe. Being chosen. Having someone stand beside you when life falls apart and quietly promising they’re not going anywhere.

Laiken and Kia’s journey is filled with tenderness, emotional healing, and the kind of found family moments that make this series so easy to fall in love with. While the story leans more into emotional connection than high drama, that’s exactly what makes it work so well.

If you love protective single dads, forbidden nanny romances, pregnancy tropes, and hockey heroes who would do absolutely anything for the people they love, this one deserves a spot on your TBR. And after that epilogue? I’m more than ready for the next trip back to the Chicago Railers world.

[Rondi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve said this time and time again: there is truly nothing that Jennifer Sucevic could write that I wouldn’t read.

I’ve told people in countless reviews that I started with the Western Wildcats series and then worked my way through her entire backlist. I’ve been a huge fangirl ever since. While I’ve always loved her books, there’s something special about the Chicago Raiders series. Maybe it’s because of the interconnected relationships, or because we get to watch these characters grow into who they’re meant to be. I absolutely love realizing that some of these key players appeared in previous series. It makes my reader heart ridiculously happy.

While this was technically an ARC read, the book and audiobook went live on Jennifer’s website before ARCs were released, and I’m a direct-from-author buyer whenever possible. As always, these opinions are entirely my own and have no reflection on Jen or her team.

And, as with every Jennifer Sucevic book I’ve read, this one is a five-star read.

Laiken is our adorable single dad goalie who is currently locked in a custody battle with his ex-wife’s parents over his daughter. For those who think situations like that don’t happen - unfortunately, they absolutely do.

Then we have Kia, Oliver’s sister (yes, from Show Me Forever). Kia is pregnant, struggling with some major life changes, and desperately needs somewhere to stay after accidentally interrupting Oliver and Rina during a private moment. Enter Laken, who offers up his home.

If you’re thinking they move in together and fall in love, you’d be right - but the journey there is what makes this story so special.

Kia is incredibly intelligent but dropped out of college after finding herself pregnant by a truly awful man. Instead of supporting her, he spends his time sending messages pressuring her to get rid of the baby. Kia knows what she wants, and she’s determined to make the best life possible for her child.

And then there’s Laiken.

He’s all in.

He falls for Kia, Kia falls for him, and before long they’re spending time together as a family unit. What I loved most was the maturity throughout the story. When their relationship comes to light, there aren’t dramatic blowups or over-the-top confrontations. Instead, we get mature conversations and protective family members recognizing that if anyone is worthy of Kia, it’s Laiken. Because he truly embodies what it means to be a good man.

The spice is perfect, okay? The chemistry is chemistrying. The romance is romancing.

But I need to discuss the real issue here:

EVELYN AND HUGH.

Jennifer gives us the tiniest crumbs in every single book, and while I completely understand what she’s doing, I am officially obsessed. I need answers. I need their story. I will continue to riot until it happens.

As for favorites? I think Book 5 (Keep Me Close) might actually be my favorite of the series. It hasn’t released, and I’m unfortunately feral for it.

Maybe.

The problem is that Steele Sanderson exists, and Steele will probably always be my number one. That man is perfection.

This book, however, is an absolute banger.

Five stars across the board.

Please listen to the audiobook if you can. The duet narration is beautifully done, and Jennifer’s ability to create characters and relationships that keep readers invested book after book is unmatched.

I’ve never been more invested in a future couple than I am in Evelyn and Hugh.

Promise Me This delivers everything I love about this series, and I already cannot wait for what’s next

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laiken Lennox. That’s it. That’s the review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Okay, fine. I’ll say more, but this man set the bar so high I’m not entirely sure it’s fair to every hockey hero who comes after him.

Promise Me This gave me so many of the things I love in a romance: a protective single dad, found family, emotional healing, a pregnancy trope that actually worked for me, and a hero who somehow manages to be possessive, protective, and completely devoted without ever crossing the line into overbearing territory.

Kia is trying to rebuild her life while pregnant, scared, and carrying far more uncertainty than anyone should have to face alone. Watching her slowly find her footing and start believing she deserves safety and happiness made her incredibly easy to root for. She’s mature beyond her years, resilient when life keeps throwing obstacles in her path, and determined to create a better future for herself and her baby.

And then there’s Laiken.

This man is the definition of “if he wanted to, he would.”

As a single dad already fighting a custody battle for his daughter, he has every reason to keep his walls up. Instead, from the moment Kia enters his life, he seems physically incapable of not taking care of her. Not because he thinks she’s helpless, but because caring for the people he loves is simply who he is. Every action, every decision, every protective instinct comes from a place of love.

What really got me wasn’t even the chemistry between them, although trust me, it’s there. It was the emotional connection they built. The trust. The security. The way they became each other’s safe place when life felt uncertain. And when Laiken claimed Kia’s unborn baby as his own? My heart absolutely melted.

The physical side of their relationship worked so well because it felt like a natural extension of everything else Jennifer Sucevic built between them. Laiken’s protective, caretaking nature doesn’t disappear once the bedroom door closes. He’s just as attentive, devoted, and focused on Kia’s happiness there as he is everywhere else, and it made their intimate moments feel meaningful rather than existing solely for the spice.

Another standout was the relationship between Kia and Elody. Laiken’s daughter completely stole my heart. Watching Kia become such an important person in her life felt natural and genuine, and their bond added so much warmth to the story. Laiken initially tries to protect Elody from getting attached, but those two are drawn to each other from the beginning. Their relationship became one of my favorite parts of the entire book.

I also loved how mature this story felt. When challenges arise, we don’t get endless miscommunication or dramatic confrontations that could be solved with a simple conversation. People actually talk to each other. They recognize what’s right in front of them. They support each other. It was refreshing and made me love these characters even more.

The custody battle, Kia’s pregnancy, the found-family dynamic, and the healing journey both characters experience gave the story plenty of emotional depth without ever making it feel heavy. I was completely invested in all of it.

At its heart, Promise Me This is a story about trust, protection, and finding family where you least expect it. It’s about two people who have both been hurt finding someone who makes them feel safe enough to believe in forever again.

And Laiken Lennox? Jennifer Sucevic may be in her golden retriever era, but I think she saved the best boy for this one.

[Maddie (Bookaholic_Dreamer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

Author Jennifer Sucevic is back with another release from her Chicago Railers Hockey series.
Promise Me This is book 4 in the interconnected series that is a Brother’s Teammate, Off Limits, Age Gap, Marriage of Convenience, Single Dad, Nanny, Hockey Romance.
It follows the story of Hockey goalie Laiken Lennox and Elody Van Doren little sister of Oliver Van Doren from book 3 Show Me Forever through their dual POVs.

One of my favourite parts of the story came from Laiken and Elody’s father-daughter relationship.
Despite all that he was juggling with his career and the custody battle with his ex-in laws, he truly was an amazing single father, by giving his all in raising his daughter.
The fact that he always made sure to be there for Elody in every way, shape and form, giving her both the love and care of a mother and father, after his ex-wife left them a year ago, proved as much.
It truly was so sweet and heartwarming to see this giant, tall and tough hockey player transform into a soft and gentle teddy bear when with his daughter Elody.
And reading about it was all the more heartfelt, cute and adorable.

It was fun and entertaining when it came to the scenes that author Jennifer included that involved the secondary characters made up of friends and teammates who had become a found family.
The camaraderie between them was enjoyable to see, considering how they all continued to be there for one another. Particularly Laiken and Kia in this case.

As for Kia, she did have me feeling sympathy for her given her situation. And I did have to give her major props for all that she did for Laiken and Elody, particularly in how she treated and cared for Elody, despite only being her babysitter. It was sweet and kind to see her go the distance for them.

But with that said, this book ended up being one of the rare ones where I just wasn’t the biggest fan of the FMC at times.
The fact that she so easily allowed Laiken to take on her responsibilities without even truly thinking about the potential issues it could cause has me annoyed with her. Especially seeing as Laiken was in the middle of currently fighting his own battles that involved his daughter Elody.

I just didn’t like how weak she made herself to be and come across, instead of attempting to grow a backbone and be strong. More so when it came to her past, knowing that the past doesn't always stay in the past, considering the threats she kept getting.
And for that, not only did it make me dislike Kia even more, but IMO it made her unworthy of Laiken in my eyes, with him being too good for her and deserving so much better.

The narrative did have me expecting a little more drama than what was delivered.
On top of that it did have me expecting said drama to be more explosive and drawn out, allowing for more development to be built upon.
This way when it did play out, it would be more explosive from the results of it.
Instead, IMO it seemed to be over and fizzle out quite quickly, despite what the storyline has built up.

There was also the case of not enough development showcased when it came to Laiken and Kia’s relationship for me personally.
Most of what we learnt was them expressing their feelings for the other, but mostly voiced in their inner monologue instead.
And when they finally did get together, there no real blossoming or flourishing to showcase the buildup and growth of their relationship.
It felt more like they just got together and admitted their feelings and that was it IMO.

Despite my issues, Promise Me This still made for a good read considering the moments that were enjoyable.
More so when it came to father-daughter Laiken and Elody, as well as the camaraderie between Laiken, Kia and their found family within their friends and teammates circle. Bringing the laughter and entertainment.



*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenna Lundberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

💚 The Greenest Flag in Hockey Romance 💚
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Some book boyfriends make your heart race. Laiken Lennox made mine feel safe.

Jennifer Sucevic has written some incredible heroes over the years, and Laiken is easily one of my favorites. As a single dad, NHL goalie, and fiercely protective father, he already had so much to balance before Kia unexpectedly entered his life. What I loved most wasn't that he tried to rescue her. He simply showed up, day after day, offering kindness, support, and a safe place for her to land when her world was falling apart. His quiet strength and unwavering devotion made him one of those rare heroes who proves that love is often found in the smallest, most meaningful moments.

Kia's journey completely captured my heart. Pregnant, scared, and trying to rebuild her life after an unhealthy relationship, she accepts a temporary live-in nanny position caring for Laiken's daughter, Elody. What begins as a practical arrangement slowly becomes something so much more. Watching Kia find hope again while building a beautiful little family with Laiken and Elody was one of my favorite parts of the entire story.

Elody absolutely stole every scene she was in. The bond she formed with Kia felt so natural and genuine that it was impossible not to smile every time they were together. Those quiet family moments added so much warmth to the story and made their growing relationship feel even more authentic.

One of my favorite things about this romance was its pacing. Nothing felt rushed or forced. Every conversation, every small gesture, and every step forward strengthened the foundation between Laiken and Kia. Their relationship wasn't built on instant passion. It was built on trust, friendship, and choosing each other over and over again. By the time their love story fully blossomed, it felt completely earned.

Jennifer also balanced the romance beautifully with the outside conflict. Between Kia's controlling ex continuing to threaten her and Laiken's custody battle over Elody, there was enough tension to keep the pages turning without ever overshadowing the emotional heart of the story. Both characters faced difficult challenges, but they always approached them as partners instead of letting those obstacles pull them apart.

The supporting cast was another highlight. Kia quickly found herself surrounded by an incredible group of friends who welcomed her without hesitation, while Oliver stepped into the protective big brother role exactly when she needed him most. Seeing everyone rally around Laiken, Kia, and Elody reinforced one of my favorite themes throughout this series: family isn't always the one you're born into. Sometimes it's the people who choose to stand beside you.

Promise Me This is a beautiful reminder that love isn't always about grand declarations or dramatic gestures. Sometimes it's about finding the person who quietly chooses you every single day. The one who makes you feel safe, seen, and completely accepted exactly as you are. That's exactly why Laiken and Kia's story will stay with me long after I turned the final page.

Thank you to Jennifer Sucevic and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read and review Promise Me This. It was an absolute joy to spend time with Laiken, Kia, and Elody, and I already can't wait to return to the Chicago Railers world.

[Cigi cini · Rating 5 out of 5]

🏒 Hockey Romance
❤️ Forbidden Romance
👨‍👧 Single Dad
🏠 Live-In Nanny
🔥 Slow Burn
💕 Brother's Teammate
🤫 Secret Pregnancy
🛡️ Protective Hero
🏡 Found Family
⚖️ Custody Battle
💞 Close Proximity
🌶️ Spicy Romance
🥹 Emotional Romance
✨ Happily Ever After

Star: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Narrator: JF Harding | Savannah Peachwood

Promise Me This is another emotional and addictive installment in Jennifer Sucevic's Chicago Railers Hockey series. Filled with forbidden romance, slow-burn chemistry, and heartfelt family moments, this story delivers plenty of angst while reminding readers that sometimes love finds you when you least expect it.

Alana never imagined she would find herself pregnant, alone, and desperately trying to rebuild her life. Taking a temporary position as a live-in nanny for NHL goalie Laiken Lennox seems like the perfect opportunity to get back on her feet. What she doesn't expect is the instant sense of safety and comfort she feels in his home or the growing connection between them that becomes impossible to ignore.

Laiken was easily one of the highlights of this book. Beneath his reputation as a talented professional hockey player is a devoted single father willing to do anything for his daughter. Watching him balance the pressures of his career with a difficult custody battle showcased his loving and protective nature. His relationship with his daughter brought so much warmth to the story and made him an even more lovable hero.

Alana's journey was equally compelling. She is dealing with uncertainty, heartbreak, and the challenges of an unexpected pregnancy, yet she remains strong and determined to create a better future for herself and her baby. It was easy to root for her and admire the way she handled everything life continued to throw at her.

The chemistry between Alana and Laiken develops gradually, allowing their friendship and trust to grow before evolving into something deeper. Their relationship felt authentic and emotional, with plenty of tender moments that made their connection believable. The forbidden aspect of the romance added just the right amount of tension, especially with Laiken being her brother's teammate and technically her employer.

Jennifer Sucevic does a wonderful job blending romance with emotional depth. The story explores themes of family, second chances, trust, and healing while delivering plenty of swoony moments and satisfying emotional payoffs. The supporting characters add another layer of charm, and fans of the series will enjoy catching up with familiar faces from previous books.

Promise Me This is a heartfelt hockey romance packed with slow-burn tension, lovable characters, and plenty of emotional moments. With a protective single dad hero, an off-limits nanny, and two people learning to trust and love again, this book offers a beautiful reminder that family is not always defined by blood and that sometimes the best things in life come from unexpected beginnings.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kia and Laiken seem so different but when they both need someone in their corner who won't judge and stand beside them with no questions asked they did it without hesitation. Laiken needed stability for his daughter and Kia stepped in and became his nanny and then his wife. Her presence calmed the storm and gave him what he needed both personally and professionally. When Kia was struggling to find her place and trying to adjust to her pregnancy and life as a single parent, Laiken became her rock and stepped into the father role without hesitation as well.

Laiken was facing a custody battle from his ex-wife's parents after she left him to raise their daughter. Her parents wanted control and didn't hesitate to cause problems, using his career and travel schedule as an excuse to seek custody. After raising a woman who would abandon her own child, I wouldn't want them near my own child. The way they acted like they were better than Laiken and how demanding they were are difinite red flags. Laiken needed to find someone his daughter trusted and wanted to spend time with while he was working. She needed a nanny as well as a confidante to help guide her through life. Laiken needed to find someone that would help him protect his family like he protected the net for his team.

Kia was running scared after finding out she was pregnant while in college. Her ex didn't want to be a dad so she turned to her brother for help but didn't tell him the full truth. She left out a lot of the story not wanting her brother to ruin his career over her bad choices. She enjoyed spending time with his fiancée and his teammates. She loved being the little sister but needed to find her own place outside of his shadow. She needed to make a life for herself and her child without relying on Oliver. She loved children and Laiken's daughter was a delight. She was drawn to him as well even though he was older than her by several years.

When Laiken needed help Kia offered to be the nanny for the season. It gave her purpose and paid well, she could save for her own place and everything her baby would need. The live in position also gave her the ability to hide her pregnancy longer from her family. It also gave Laiken the peace of mind, knowing his daughter was taken care of by someone who understood the demands of a professional hockey player. Someone his daughter loved from the beginning, even before she became the nanny. It wasn't long before Laiken discovered Kia's secret and offered to step up as "Dad". Facing more threats and the pregnancy Kia and Laiken decided to get married. It would benefit both of them abd their children.

Soon their arrangement started to feel more real and it became harder to fight the attraction. They began to explore each other and the feelings that were growing like the baby. Soon the marriage more than on paper and hearts were entwined. Laiken and Kia had never felt love like this before and they were willing to embrace it even if their extended families might not be as thrilled given all the obstacles and age difference. They were always putting each other first and stepping up to protect the other if needed without hesitation or without thinking of the potential consequences. They chose each other time and time again proving that their love was something that could last a lifetime. Sometimes the best things in life happen when you least expect them and that is what happened with Kia and Laiken.

I loved Laiken and Kia's story because they were deawn to each other and were willing to risk everything for the other before they fell in love. That alone proved to me that they were meant for each other. I can't wait to see what comes next fir this couple and the rest of the Railers. This series has been amazing and the goalies are usually my favorite MMC in the series. Laiken and the rest of his teammates have been amazing so far. Their ladies are strong and determined and just what these men need to keep them real! Another winner for Jennifer Sucevic!

Thank you Jennifer Sucevic for the ARC and the opportunity to review this outstanding book!

[Elif Hazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

ᴘʀᴏᴍɪꜱᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ || ᴀʀᴄ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ

𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓚𝓲𝓪 𝔀𝓪𝓵𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝔂 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓻𝓮𝔀𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓮 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓘 𝓴𝓷𝓮𝔀.

✨5/5
🌶️4/5

All my favourite tropes in one place. Kia can’t get one of her brother’s closest friends out of her head, and following a surprise pregnancy, she moves in with her brother—only to receive an unexpected welcome.

𝘏𝘦’𝘴 𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳.
𝘈 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘥.
𝘔𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦.

Kia and Elody’s relationship is so sweet. The moment she saw Kia again on Thanksgiving, she ran over and hugged her, saying, “Kia’s my best friend!” Kia’s love for Elody is so lovely too; they’re the sweetest pair in the world.

𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘒𝘪𝘢 𝘝𝘢𝘯 𝘋𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘯.

And so Kia becomes Elody’s carer—for good. Elody is the happiest person in the world because her Kia, her ‘sock twin’, will now stay with her whenever she wants, and of course Laiken can’t resist this sight either. Watching the two of them just feels so right to him. Although he tries to convince himself that Kia isn’t there to stay—so as not to upset his daughter—he finds himself watching them and daydreaming.

𝘌𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘒𝘪𝘢 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳,
𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴.

Vee and Kia decide to strike a deal so that Kia can give her baby a father, whilst Laiken can give his daughter a family and win the court case against his grandparents—a marriage that will benefit them both. Although it is said to be a sham, it is a marriage that has been expected to be genuine ever since they first met.

“𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭? 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘦?”
“𝘠𝘦𝘴.”

The way Elody welcomed the idea of marriage with such joy, and the fact that Kia is happy because she’s going to marry her father, makes me want to pinch her cheeks.

“𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘺.”

The way Laiken took care of both Kia and the baby moved me so much. The way he took the baby under his wing from the moment he first found out, being by her side at her first check-up, and saying he’d always be there for both of them – and accepting the role of father without a second thought.

“𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦.”

Kia has been so overlooked in their relationship that her wishes have never been a priority—so the fact that Laiken’s sole priority, both in everyday life and in bed, is Kia’s wishes and happiness moves her so deeply and makes her feel so special—oh, my Kia

“𝘒𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯.𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳.”

Kia and Oliver’s relationship is just as sweet – they’re my perfect siblings. Oliver is always there for his sister and is her biggest supporter

“𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘝𝘢𝘯 𝘋𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘴.𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥.𝘐’𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”

Laiken’s gratitude for finding fulfilment with Kia and for the family they’d built together, and his determination to fight for it. Kia was exactly what Elody and Laiken needed. And now they’re a family

𝘈𝘴 𝘒𝘪𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳.
𝘐 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧.

🌸 Accidental Pregnancy (Not His)
🍼 Single Dad × Nanny
✨ Age Gap
🏒Brother’s Teammate
💍 Marriage of Convenience
🤍 Found Family

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Promise Me This, the fourth book in the Chicago Railers series, delivers a sweet and emotional romance that perfectly balances family drama and a slow-burning love story between Laiken Rhodes and Kia Van Doren. Laiken is a single father fighting to keep custody of his daughter, Elody, while juggling the demands of his professional hockey career. When his ex-wife’s parents use the hectic schedule of his demanding career against him in court, he desperately needs someone he can rely on and more importantly trust to help care for his daughter. Enter Kia, his teammate’s younger sister, who is secretly pregnant and struggling to figure out her future after dropping out of college. Needing both stability and an income before her baby arrives, Kia accepts Laiken’s offer to become Elody’s nanny which provides a solution for both of them, but living under the same roof soon leads to a connection neither expected, setting the stage for a heartfelt romance.

There must be something special about the water in Chicago because, like many of his Chicago Railers teammates, Laiken is the epitome of a golden retriever hero - loyal, protective, endlessly supportive, caring, and impossible not to love. However, while he’s sweet and patient with Kia and Elody, he isn’t afraid to stand his ground and show his teeth when someone threatens the people he loves. That protective side is particularly welcome when Kia’s persistent ex-boyfriend continues to pressure and harass her about terminating her pregnancy despite her making it clear she intends to keep her baby and wants nothing to do with him. Kia’s fears about revealing her pregnancy felt understandable and realistic. Initially worried about disappointing her family, she later became anxious about how Laiken might react. Fortunately, her concerns prove unfounded as he steps up to help and support her. Rather than relying on instant attraction, their relationship unfolds gradually as they spend more time together under the same roof making their eventual romance feel authentic, meaningful, and deeply heartwarming. I also liked that the discovery of Kia’s relationship with her brother’s teammate didn’t lead to unnecessary drama or conflict with them. The mature handling of the situation and lack of forced drama allowed the story to remain focus on the central characters and their blossoming relationship rather than relying on the usual predictable angst over breaking the ‘bro’ code.

As much as I enjoyed Laiken and Kia’s story, the ongoing simmering tension between Hugh and Evelyn continues to steal the spotlight whenever they’re on the page. Their slow-burn, cat-and-mouse dynamic is becoming increasingly intriguing, and it’s clear their eventual story has all the ingredients to be something truly explosive.