Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Rend Review

Title:  Rend
Series:  Riven #2
Author:  Roan Parrish
Genre:  M/M Romance
Publisher:  Loveswept
Release Date:  Nov. 27, 2018
Purchase Link:  Amazon

My
Rating: 4 Emotionally Laden Hearts
Cover Rating:  5 Sensuous Hearts

*Many thanks to the author & publisher for a copy of this arc.


Synopsis:
After a whirlwind romance, a man with a painful past learns to trust the musician who makes him believe in happy endings.

Matt Argento knows what it feels like to be alone. After a childhood of abandonment, he never imagined someone might love him—much less someone like Rhys Nyland, who has the voice of an angel, the looks of a god, and the worship of his fans.

Matt and Rhys come from different worlds, but when they meet, their chemistry is incendiary. Their romance is unexpected, intense, and forever—at least, that’s what their vows promise. Suddenly, Matt finds himself living a life he never thought possible: safe and secure in the arms of a man who feels like home. But when Rhys leaves to go on tour for his new album, Matt finds himself haunted by the ghosts of his past.

When Rhys returns, he finds Matt twisted by doubt. But Rhys loves Matt fiercely, and he’ll go to hell and back to triumph over Matt’s fears. After secrets are revealed and desires are confessed, Rhys and Matt must learn to trust each other if they’re going to make it. That means they have to fall in love all over again—and this time, it really will be forever.


Review:
Reading a Roan Parrish book is always an emotional, gut-wrenching experience . . . one where you know going in you'll need tissues and enough alone time to finish the book in one sitting - and then recovery time before facing real life again.  Once you begin, there's no turning back.  Parrish runs her characters and readers threw the high angst wringer every single time.  Love it or hate it - there's no denying this author's gift for writing character relationships that are pushed to the limit . . . and then shoved over the edge.  No one does it better.

Two hearts, souls, and worlds collide in Rend.  Will anyone survive the fallout?  Matt Argento is a product of the foster system - a man haunted by his past, heavily laden with insecurities elevated by an unhealthy dose of trust and abandonment issues.  Rend is told from Matt's pov, putting readers at high risk of emotional overload.  I was giddy with joy when Matt was happy and lost in dark despair when he was low.  After a whirlwind romance (all in the Prologue), musician Rhys Nyland offers Matt forever when he asks for his hand in marriage.  Rhys is everything good - a rainbow on a stormy day, a safe harbor for a sinking ship (or man), a gorgeous man from a loving home and family.  Matt can't believe Rhys chose him to spend the rest of his life with . . . and therein lies part of the problem.  The issues escalate when Rhys leaves on a two month tour, and the ghosts of Matt's past move in - invading his nightmares and infiltrating the harsh light of day until Matt's no longer sure what's real and what's not and is in grave danger of crashing and burning.  His angst, pain, and depression are so realistically portrayed that I found it hard to breath at times.  Can Matt slay the ghosts of his past and build a true partnership with Rhys?  Or did Rhys make the biggest mistake of his life leaving Matt alone with his demons? 

D
arkness settles over this couple as they struggle to hold onto an illusive happy-ever-after based on dreams and ideals.  The overall plot line is not overly complicated, but the story is masterfully woven and beautifully delivered through complex, emotionally charged, well-developed characters.  As heartbreaking as this story is at times, the mood and heart are set aflame by sinfully sexy, passionate love scenes.  Fans will love the appearance of Theo and Caleb as they interact in strong, supportive roles.  The only reason this is a 4 instead of 5 star read for me is that I reached a saturation point and started feeling a little inundated with all the repetitive heavy scenes of angst as well as with the explosive, off-the-charts, heat-generating, fan-yourself sex scenes that I love.  Gasp!  I know, right?  What can I say?  They're fantastic, but sometimes less is more . . . if you know what I mean.  Having said that, readers will gobble this up and beg for more!  I know I am so stoked for the next one!  A Sinful, Sensuous Must Read!

My Rating:   4 Emotionally Laden Hearts

Cross My Heart . . . xxx


Sandra


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