Coming September 15, 2026
Dr. M. David Ruiz is set to revolutionize chemistry. As the youngest tenured professor at his university, all people see when they look at him is possibility.
Everyone except his best friend and colleague Jamison.
On Ruiz’s 26th birthday, Jamison drags him to an off campus bar where Ruiz hears the laughter that will change his life forever.
Deri Owens is an MFA graduate student living paycheck to paycheck like most teaching assistants, but no matter how busy she is, she always makes time to go to open mic night at her favorite off campus bar. There she plays her parents’ favorite classic rock songs on a community guitar.
And the night she meets the feared M. David Ruiz, PhD, she suspects her life might change forever.
Together they learn how to navigate love, inter-departmental politics, marriage, children, and crushing professional expectations as they work not only to build a life together, but to hold on to that life no matter the cost.
Because loving through chaos is always worth the effort.
The first time Blackman Smith sees Maggie Rhymer standing with her friends in a bar she’s too young to be in, he knows she’s everything he’s ever wanted in life, and that terrifies him.
The first time Maggie Rhymer sees Blackman Smith sitting alone and drunk in a bar, she knows he’s trouble. Tall and handsome with moody good looks, he exudes a bone-deep loneliness, which she not only recognizes but understands.
Because Maggie knows what it’s like to be lonely.
After several years and several missed opportunities, Blackman and Maggie get their chance to live their happily ever after until a near tragedy exposes the cracks in their once happy lives.
Now unmoored and adrift, Blackman Smith desperately searches for a way back to his wife, the only woman he has ever loved, even if Maggie believes that letting him go would be best for all of them.
Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited
What are people saying about The Promises We Keep?
Hayden Evan’s debut novel will suck you in right from the beginning, keeping you hooked until the last sentence.
Maggie and Blackman have an instant connection when they first meet, but they have miles to go before they can truly be together. From inner demons to external battles, the two lovebirds have to fight hard for what they want. You are also going to fall in love with their family and friends who will make you laugh, cry and wish they could step out of the pages and be in your life too. The heart of Philadelphia where the author grew up is also on display here. From Broad Street to school campuses that seem familiar but never explicitly named, the novel is a celebration of the city too. There is so much to love about this story. Don’t miss your chance to step into Maggie and Blackman’s world.
Amazon Review
This book was a great read! It had me hooked from the first few pages, and I could not put it down. The author covered a lot of pertinent social topics in this book and it was well worth the time invested reading it.
Amazon Review
This is a captivating story that celebrates the power of love, resilience, and the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It is a stirring love story about the power of human connection and beautifully conveys how life’s unforeseen challenges can sow the seeds for love and growth - if one is willing to take the risk. A great mix of characters, excellent story lines, plenty of twists and turns, and the details that make you keep reading into the small hours, then immediately again upon waking! It is unputdownable!
Goodreads Review
Great read! The Promises We Keep is an amazing story with characters you can’t help but root for. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. This is a timeless love story. What a great debut novel by Hayden Evans.
Goodreads Review
There is romance, intrigue, drama, and suspense. This debut novel is impressive. It’s a fun read, and I recommend it.
Goodreads Review
Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
For one week in a lakeside town, John has a chance to become someone new.
When a beautiful redhead with blue-green eyes and an incandescent smile catches his attention, he knows two things. He’s too old for her, and he’ll reinvent himself for her if she gives him half a chance.
Tilly isn’t an easy woman and doesn't suffer fools gladly. She’s brilliant, ambitious, and stubborn. So, if John wants a shot at love, he better know what he’s doing. Grizzly bears don't frighten Tilly, so she’s not about to be afraid of a man with scars, unnerving tattoos, and a dark past.
If you enjoyed how John and Tilly stepped up to help Blackman and Maggie through their marital troubles in The Promises We Keep, come and discover how they met and fell in love in John and Tilly.
What are people saying about John and Tilly?
Amazing story!!!
Thus is such an incredible novella! There's are so many amazing lines, lots of great banter, and a beautiful love story despite the length . highly recommend for a short read!
Goodreads Review
This spin-off novella from The Promises We Keep by Hayden Evan’s is delightful. The reader gets an intimate look at how Maggie’s friend Tilly and her husband John met and fell in love. You will love Tilly’s feistiness and John’s adorable reaction to her.
Goodreads Review
Great read. So funny. Loved the opportunity to explore the origin story of two great characters gets in The Promises We Keep.
Amazon Review
Hayden Evans
