Promises Promises Book 3: Promised Secret by Rye Cox

 

Promises Promises Book 3

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.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234012783-promised-secret

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

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.