Series: Riven #3
Author: Roan Parrish
Genre: M/M Romance
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: July 2, 2019
Purchase Link:Amazon
My Rating: 4 Intimate Hearts
*With many thanks to the publisher for an arc of this book via Netgalley
Synopsis:
Sometimes the walls we build to save ourselves have to come tumbling down.
For the last ten years, Huey has built his life around his sobriety. If that means he doesn't give a damn about finding love or companionship for himself, well, it's probably better that way. After all, the last thing he wants is to hurt anyone else. Until Felix Rainey walks into his bar, fresh-faced, unbearably sweet--and, for some reason Huey can't fathom, interested in him.
As the eldest of five kids, Felix Rainey spent his childhood cooking dinner, checking homework, and working after-school jobs. Now in his twenties, he's still scrambling to make ends meet and wondering what the hell he's doing with his life. When he meets Huey, he's intimidated . . . and enamored. Huey's strong and confident, he owns his own business--hell, he's friends with rock stars. What could he ever see in Felix?
As Huey and Felix get closer, the spark catches and soon they can't get enough of each other. But Huey's worked hard to avoid intimacy, and Felix threatens his carefully constructed defenses. Huey realizes he needs to change if he wants to truly put his past behind him--and build a future with Felix.
Review:
Readers can always count on Roan Parrish to deliver authentic characters toting excessive baggage while battling personal demons - be it addiction, ghosts, and/or their own insecurities. They're usually their own worse enemy, heavily laden with firm beliefs about their own fate in life along with the certainty they dare not deviate from their designated course. Until something . . . or someone crashes into their world, sending it spinning out of control. As in previous books in the Riven series, Raze relies heavily on a character-driven plotline that seduces readers with different points of view while encouraging them to become intimate with each character.
Huey is big, strong, and always in control with a rigidly structured daily routine that serves as a defense mechanism keeping him on the straight and narrow path of sobriety. His size and demeanor make him appear intimidating, uncaring, and quite stoic as he continually shores up the carefully constructed walls around his heart. And then, on karaoke night at his bar, a very young, timid, long-haired man steps up to the mic and rocks Huey's world sending sensuous vibes sparking between them like shooting stars. While he's tempted, there are so many reasons Huey knows he can't open that door.
Felix is a sweet, innocent twenty-five year old guy who's an outstanding singer, but an even better caregiver - of everyone but himself. An endearing aura of purity and innocence surrounds him, making him appear even younger than he is. And yet, Felix summons the courage to step out of his box and awkardly ask Huey out . . . on a date. I'm not sure who was more stunned - Huey or Felix. As the story unfolds, these two very different men in two different phases of their life come together as the proverbial "odd couple" - one an older, gentle giant fearful of letting his guard down and allowing another to invade his personal space, and the other a youthful man full of hope and wonder, needing to find his place and purpose in life before fully committing to another.
As always, Parrish's writing flows with a lyrical and fluent ease that lures readers in. With simple gestures like hand holding, hugs, and kisses, she paints a beautiful picture of two men falling helplessly in love - one reluctantly, one eagerly. While the sexual energy is off the chart with several spicy 5-Alarm scenes, I appreciate that Parrish dials it back a wee bit in Raze by trusting the character and relationship development to carry the story without the overabundance of fully loaded sex scenes. Likewise with the high angst as it's definitely lower than in previous books. I suspect some readers may find the plotline a little too low-key as there aren't any over-the-top explosive scenes in Raze, but rather a series of smaller yet no less intimate moments and "firsts" in these characters' lives which I greatly enjoyed. I know series' readers will be as delighted as I was to find Theo & Caleb, along with Rhys & Matt, appearing in support roles in this book. All in all, while Riven remains my favorite of the series, Raze is an emotional, heart-touching Must Read!
My Rating: 4 Intimate Hearts . . . And that's the truth!
Readers can always count on Roan Parrish to deliver authentic characters toting excessive baggage while battling personal demons - be it addiction, ghosts, and/or their own insecurities. They're usually their own worse enemy, heavily laden with firm beliefs about their own fate in life along with the certainty they dare not deviate from their designated course. Until something . . . or someone crashes into their world, sending it spinning out of control. As in previous books in the Riven series, Raze relies heavily on a character-driven plotline that seduces readers with different points of view while encouraging them to become intimate with each character.
Huey is big, strong, and always in control with a rigidly structured daily routine that serves as a defense mechanism keeping him on the straight and narrow path of sobriety. His size and demeanor make him appear intimidating, uncaring, and quite stoic as he continually shores up the carefully constructed walls around his heart. And then, on karaoke night at his bar, a very young, timid, long-haired man steps up to the mic and rocks Huey's world sending sensuous vibes sparking between them like shooting stars. While he's tempted, there are so many reasons Huey knows he can't open that door.
Felix is a sweet, innocent twenty-five year old guy who's an outstanding singer, but an even better caregiver - of everyone but himself. An endearing aura of purity and innocence surrounds him, making him appear even younger than he is. And yet, Felix summons the courage to step out of his box and awkardly ask Huey out . . . on a date. I'm not sure who was more stunned - Huey or Felix. As the story unfolds, these two very different men in two different phases of their life come together as the proverbial "odd couple" - one an older, gentle giant fearful of letting his guard down and allowing another to invade his personal space, and the other a youthful man full of hope and wonder, needing to find his place and purpose in life before fully committing to another.
As always, Parrish's writing flows with a lyrical and fluent ease that lures readers in. With simple gestures like hand holding, hugs, and kisses, she paints a beautiful picture of two men falling helplessly in love - one reluctantly, one eagerly. While the sexual energy is off the chart with several spicy 5-Alarm scenes, I appreciate that Parrish dials it back a wee bit in Raze by trusting the character and relationship development to carry the story without the overabundance of fully loaded sex scenes. Likewise with the high angst as it's definitely lower than in previous books. I suspect some readers may find the plotline a little too low-key as there aren't any over-the-top explosive scenes in Raze, but rather a series of smaller yet no less intimate moments and "firsts" in these characters' lives which I greatly enjoyed. I know series' readers will be as delighted as I was to find Theo & Caleb, along with Rhys & Matt, appearing in support roles in this book. All in all, while Riven remains my favorite of the series, Raze is an emotional, heart-touching Must Read!
My Rating: 4 Intimate Hearts . . . And that's the truth!
Cross My
Heart . . . xxx
Sandra
No comments:
Post a Comment