An awesome second book. Not quite as good as the first but very close. I loved the characters and stories heck i love anything Roan writes. I look forward to the next book.

This book. THIS. BOOK!

I loved Riven, and I love Roan Parrish's work, so I was pretty sure I'd like Rend. Well, I more than like it. I love it. It's up there with In the Middle of Somewhere for my favorite RP couple.

Don't expect this to be an easy ride. It's rough, and painful, and wrenching in all the best ways. Matt is damaged, and Rhys is, in some important respects, oblivious or at least naive when it comes to dealing with Matt's baggage.

One intriguing detail (and I don't think it's a spoiler since it's at the beginning of the book): This is a story of how an established couple--already committed to each other in some important ways--finds out just how much growth is required to make the relationship work. The prologue surprised me, as did chapter one and where the story really starts. I was interested and impressed with that facet.

Another good outing for Roan Parrish. And thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Another enjoyable story in the Riven world. Rye intrigued me when I read him in Riven. He surprised me in this story. It is rare to read about any man having the depth of emotion that this man had. Perhaps I am stereotyping but Rye came across as this almost hard, rocker type but I found his emotional, cuddly side endearing. Mark was a harder nut to crack for me...he seemed so broken...to the point that he did everything he could to break the beautiful relationship he had. In the end, this story showed me that there is life after immense heartbreak and pain in childhood and there is hope after you feel someone you love has let you down. Learning to let others love you completely despite your faults is probably the hardest thing we as humans face and Roan did a great job of showing that even the hardest of people can finally come to that point in their lives.

This is a love story with so much depth. It addresses so many issues that society never does. Rhys and Matt grew up on different sides of the track. They embodied different socio-economic stratus, and lifestyles but they were each seeking love and acceptance. These are things that matter across all boundaries. Learning to trust and to give your heart into someone’s keeping takes a lot. The author does a beautiful job of guiding the reader through the travails of their story. It is sometimes haunting and painful but in the end they rise from the ashes and find true happiness.

Holy Moly! Roan Parrish doesn't just tug at the heartstrings, she gives them a good, solid yank and twists until it hurts. Rend is emotional, raw, and at times, absolutely heartbreaking. The writing style combined with the character development make it impossible to not become invested in this couple, which makes the emotional aspect that much more of a roller coaster ride. The good news is the author also gives us a light at the end of that dark tunnel by way of hope, love, friendship, and family. The romance is a bit different than what we usually see. Matt and Rhys are into the second year of their marriage at the start of the book, so while we don't get that new relationship angst, there's still a whole lot of getting to know each other. Especially for Matt, who has grown up in a world where everyone leaves. His feelings of abandonment and the surety that everyone is going to disappoint him are well-founded, but that doesn't make his feelings of being unlovable any easier to read. Combine that with Rhys' determination to be Matt's protector only to find out that he doesn't always see the signs of a problem, and we have plenty of angst for this couple. In spite of that angst, or maybe because of it, there are some truly beautiful moments between Matt and Rhys as they figure out what each needs from the relationship. We also get to catch up a bit with Theo and Caleb from the first book in the series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but it's always nice to revisit past favorites. To sum it up, if you're a crier, expect tears - both the happy kind and the not so happy. But it's also a wonderful story of finding that special someone who can help lead you through the maze of this difficult life. All in all, a great addition to the series.

Hard to read at times but so BLOODY GOOD. The writing was amazing, the characters intriguing and endearing, it sucked me right in from the very start. Unafraid to shy away from the angst, it hit the reader earlier on just how bad things can get for Matt and Rhys... but I never gave up hope such was my connection to them and their plight. I really and thoroughly enjoyed this book.
4.5 Stars

My first from this author but definitely not my last! Rend is well-written and features two very likable characters in Rhys and Matt. These two have a whirlwind romance and find themselves husband and husband after just a few months. I liked that we were privy to their steamy love affair from the very start and the way they seemed to find the right man at the right time, albeit quite fast. But I sensed their true love for one another and was anxious to see how their very different lives would mesh going forward.

The book takes an unusual turn as Matt and Rhys continue to find out about one another with less than great results. Meaning that their fast romance, even though it was real, kept Matt's difficult past buried as they fell head over heels for one another. And that truly is the crux of this story: Matt's journey into finding himself and being the partner Rhys both needs and wants.

I felt for Matt. That man was abandoned more than once in his young life and his struggles to let the past stay in the past was a wedge between him and his doting husband. Rhys is a gem. Wanting nothing more than to fix whatever troubled Matt but not realizing that he wasn't letting his man find his way by himself. There is a ton of miscommunication and feelings held back as these two try to navigate the life they want together.

My one complaint was that the book kept circling back on itself with me getting a bit frustrated that Caleb (almost 80 percent in) had to finally be the one to tell Rhys that Matt needed more than just his love. The man needed therapy!! I was shouting that over and over again as Matt continued to flounder in all aspects of his life.

I will say, however, that the author beautifully described Matt's fears and the ways he tried to handle them. He has a ton of baggage that was left unattended and his decisions especially when it came to his patient husband seemed to be spot-on. I guess I just wanted the 'a-ha' moment to come a bit sooner.

Caleb and Theo are a great addition and I would love to go back and read their story in Riven. As a foursome, these two couples are easy to be with and they truly have each other's backs.

In the end, I did enjoy Rend and will not hesitate to read more from this author when I need my M/M fix.

4 solid stars!

I really enjoyed reading "Riven" and so when I saw this one go up...I, of course, had to read it too... But...let me start off by saying that these books are nothing alike. This one was actually much darker/emotional than I expected.

This book is about an already established couple Rhys and Matt. I've got to be honest here and say that I don't remember much about these two from the first book, just that Rhys is Caleb's ex. That said...I read a lot of books, so it's hard to remember every single detail. Plus I'm getting older

This book is told from Matt's pov and let me tell you...it wasn't always the easiest to read. Matt is dealing with some very heavy issues and when Rhys goes on tour with his band...those issues become ever larger...

This book definitely brought on the waterworks for me !!!

These two don't give up though. They keep fighting, especially Rhys...he won't give up on Matt and I really loved him for that.

This book was a very sweet, lovable, sexy and hot emotional rollercoaster ride... I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us next !!

An ARC was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

This review has been posted on WendysWyckedWords

Rend is a very unconventional, very powerful romance, and I absolutely loved it.

In telling Rhys and Matt’s story, Parrish deliberately works against the traditional structure of most romance novels. At one point, Rhys says that he saw his marriage to Matt as an ending, like most of us who read romances waiting for the happily ever after of a wedding or some other commitment. However, Matt notes that he saw it as a beginning, which of course is also true. And that’s what the author is exploring here by opening with Rhys and Matt as a relatively newly married couple and showing how their relationship almost immediately begins to unravel.

Also unlike most romances, the love Matt and Rhys share is never in question; it’s their ability to understand and be open with each other in other ways that’s the source of their troubled relationship. Matt was abandoned by his mother and grew up in foster homes and a group home, so he’s unable to fully trust that Rhys won’t someday disappear from his life. Those fears are worsened when Rhys goes on tour, which feels too much like the other times Matt’s found himself alone. Meanwhile, Rhys wants to protect Matt, but Rhys can’t fix Matt’s past or take away its pain or the doubts in causes, which frustrates him. Both men must work through their issues to find a way to save their marriage.

The book does have Gothic elements, which readers who enjoy very realistic stories might not like. Rhys and Matt live in Sleepy Hollow, and Matt experiences a premonition of death, feelings of being followed, fears that their house is haunted, and more. Truthfully, I’m not sure all of those things are necessary to the plot, but they do illustrate just how off kilter Matt is mentally as he struggles with his sense of being abandoned by Rhys. In a very real way, he’s being haunted by his past.

I’ve read a lot of romances, and it’s rare to find one that really feels fresh and different like this novel does. It’s easily one of the best books I’ve read this year. VERY highly recommended.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this book. The writing was beautiful and the characters were incredibly real. The description of Matt's anxiety was amazing. I loved how there was no "bad guy" in the story, the entire cast was real people who were doing their best.

When I got this from NG, I decided to read Riven first and I am glad I did because a) it was a really good nook and b) I had a little background on Matt and Rhys now before starting Rend. I loved both of these books but i think I liked Rend a little bit more. It was SO SO emotional and I cried while reading it. Poor Matty has all these ghosts in his mind and huge fears of abandonment and loneliness. When Rhys was on tour he literally fell apart. I loved that he and Theo became friends and hung out a bit too. Rhys loved Matt so much that he seems a little blinded to Matt's issued from his past. Not on purpose though and when Matt finally really talks to him and tells him the truth it nearly kills Rhys to find all this stuff out about Matt, his own husband. They are an amazing couple and once they start to really talk, their love for each other comes out in spades. Definitely do not miss this and read Riven too (first)! Both worth your time! Looking forward to #3!! THANKS to NG for the ARC! LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

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.When I started reading I couldn't put it down. Roan Parrish is magnifysent and amazing writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.Can't wait for the next book.

I have mixed feelings on this book in that I dont think that the therapy should have come so late into the last third of the book. I realize that they had to build up to them falling apart and seeking help but at the same time I wanted them coming back together to have been given more time.

This is kind of a different start to a book. A short “how they met” introduction. Then a fast forward to them being married a year and a half. Matt is sure that they won’t last because nobody ever has stayed for him.. Rhys means everything to him, so when Rhys leaves on tour, Matt falls apart. Being on his own only makes his issues worse. When Rhys comes home Matt’s self doubts and lies sabotages the relationship.

This was not a feel good read, very sad actually. The middle of the book seemed slow and depressing but it did get better. They had to work hard to get to their happy ending. Ultimately is was a satisfying story.

I’d have to double check for sure but I bet all my reviews for Roan Parrish’s books start out pretty much the same.

WOW.

I find myself wordless and faced with the task of writing a coherent review of a beautiful, amazing, brilliant book. I’d have better luck climbing a mountain. Wordless.

Just wow.

If you’d have told me a year ago some of my most favorite books of this year would deal with subjects I would normally run from I would not have believed you. Too much real life in my romance has never been my thing. It seems more and more I am open to it and it shocks me at every turn. Slowly it seems I really have a thing for mental illness or phobias or, in this case mental trauma. It sounds sick when I type that but it is true.

This moved me, so very much. Matty’s story hurts and shows just how horrible people can be, how horrible people <i>are</i>. His story also fills me with an overwhelming want to do better. To be better. To not take anything for granted.

What can I say about Rhys? He, more than anything, makes me want to be better. We already knew that he was a kind and strong man. No, actually, what we learned about him in Riven is not even a blip as to what kind of man he really is. He is truly a super hero. He is so alive and just shines so bright. Gah. I love him.

So yeah, I don’t know, I thought I was doing pretty good, keeping it together. Feeling but not falling and then there was a dog. I think Matt thought he was keeping it together too.

I don’t know. I’m stopping here. The words are getting all jumbled in my head and really I just want to tell you guys to read this series. Read Roan Parrish. She is truly one of my favorites.

Beautiful.

Oh boy. I'm not going to lie, I really hoped that Rend would tear me up with its honesty and emotional realities like Riven did. Happily, Rend delivered everything that Theo and Caleb gave us and so so much more.

Roan did a fabulous job of telling Matt and Rhys' story without slowing down the pace. We start in the past and quickly, like chapter one, jump to the future and through the book (told from Matt's pov) we get snaps and memories of when Matt and Rhys first meet, dated and subsequently got married.

I think... I feel like there are a lot of people who can relate to Matt and what he feels are his emotional shortcomings. Even though I got frustrated with him, I could understand the panic at not being good enough or being lacking or him holding Rhys back. And Rhys... Boy he had a small pair of rose tinted glassss on. He wanted to fix Matt and he wanted Matt just the way he was. But when he couldn't make it all better... Well like Caleb told him... It sounds a bit like entitled privilege. Assuming you CAN fix it.
No matter how you spin this review, Rend is fabulous. It's emotional and honest. It's real - though my husband isn't quite as loosey-goosey with the "get what you want/like" from the grocery store like Rhys is with Matt.

Beautifully done. Phenomenal read.

Rend is the second book in the Riven Series written by Roan Parrish. This is the first book I have read by this author and it will certainly not be my last. Although I am new to this author I have the feeling that she writes from the heart. No one could write a book this heartbreakingly beautiful without putting their entire soul into it. I also love how creative Ms. Parrish was with the title of this book, sheer perfection.
This book celebrates the deep love that two people share, with one of them coming into the relationship a very broken man. Matt was abandoned by his mother, ended up in the foster system and then an orphanage. Matt’s life was not an easy one. I had many heavy-hearted moments while reading about this character, to the point, at times I wanted to reach into the book and hold Matty and tell him that he is worthy of love. This book is written from Matt point of view, at times you feel like you are in his head.
Rhys is the complete opposite of Matt. He grew up in a wonderful, supportive and loving family. He is a successful musician but has always been in the background. Now, he is at the inception of going out on his own and has the potential to be a star.
What came through for me in this book was the journey these two men took. Matt was so broken, but Rhys didn't care, he loves everything about Matty. The angst comes when Matty struggles with his horrific past and the beauty comes in reading how the love that these two men have for each other heals them both. I also thought the author did an exceptional job in exploring and illustrating the feelings of isolation, rejection, and loneliness that can be a part of life in the foster system. Yes, this book was somewhat dark at times, but I felt it add a certain depth. This book was so well written and the characters were painstakingly developed and stayed true to themselves. I thoroughly enjoyed Rend and plan to back and read Riven. And of course, I would love another story about Huey or maybe Noe…..please.
***I kindly received an ARC of this book by way of NetGalley/publisher/author. I was not contacted, asked or required to leave a review in order to read this book. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. This is my honest review.***

Abandoned as a child, Matt is used to being alone. He has formed no lasting relationships with anyone other than his best friends, Grin and Sid. But that changes when Matt meets Rhys at a bar one night. Looking for a casual hookup, Matt finds himself heads over heels in love with Rhys. Rhys makes him feel safe and secure. Something that was missing when he was a child. But that is soon tested when Rhys, a talented musician, goes on tour. Doubt if Rhys’s will come home takes over Matt’s life. Matt’s life starts to spiral out of control during the last weeks of Rhys’s tour. Which worries friends and Rhys. Matt finally comes clean with his fears and his awful childhood. Can Rhys convince Matt that he is there forever? Can Matt overcome his past? Can Rhys convince Matt that his love is forever?

I was pretty excited to read Rend. I was wondering what the story was behind Matt and Rhys’s relationship. So when I saw that this book was about that, I didn’t even hesitate to request it. I will warn you all. This book gets off to a slow start. It creeps the first couple of chapters. Normally, I would be complaining about slow starts to books. But, in this case, it works. It lays the groundwork for Matt and Rhys’s relationship. It also showed that how Matt’s childhood affected him as an adult.

I didn’t exactly like Matt when I started reading the book. Without knowing his background, he came across as needy and insecure. But, as I read the book and as I started to learn more about his background, I realized that he was a damaged person. What clued me in was how he acted when Rhys was on tour. His mental state, which was not great when Rhys was there, disintegrated to the point where he couldn’t even function. When he finally told Rhys about his childhood, my heart broke. It broke for the child he was and the damaged man that he became. What I liked is that the author didn’t have Matt’s issues go away when he told Rhys. Instead, it showed Matt working on getting mentally better with Rhys’s help.

I liked Rhys. He was so devoted to Matt. His confusion over Matt’s breakdown was sad. I do think that he should have pushed for more answers about Matt’s past. Especially since they had known each other for only 2-3 months before getting married. I didn’t agree with his reaction when Matt broke down and told him about his childhood. Leaving was the worst thing that he could have done. I did understand why he left. He needed to get his thoughts in order. I would have done the same thing. The talk that Caleb had with Rhys was blunt but true. Rhys couldn’t save everyone from themselves.

Rhys and Matt had their ups and downs in this book. There were points in the book where I wondered if their relationship was going to make it. It showed that while love is great, it is work. I loved it. It wasn’t showing a happily ever after where everything is fine. Matt had some major issues that needed work. While all was fine at the end of the book, I couldn’t help but wonder if they would stay together.

Of course, the sex was insanely hot in this book. Matt and Rhys didn’t lack sexual attraction or chemistry. Put it this way, I had to fan myself after reading some of those scenes. I will warn that some of the sex scenes are explicit.

I loved that Theo and Caleb were in this book. I was wondering if they were going to be. Theo was just as adorable in Rend as he was in Riven. I loved that he took a liking to Matt and looked out for him. I loved that Caleb was able to talk to Rhys about what was happening with Matt. The advice he gave to Rhys was blunt but true.

The end of the book was a tear-jerker. I won’t say exactly what happened but it was amazing. I felt the love!! Besides making me cry, it did make me smile too.

I gave Rend a 4-star rating. I enjoyed reading this romance. This was a gritty, darker romance that resonated with me. I came to care about the main characters. The plotlines were engaging. I did get irritated with Rhys and Matt during separate parts of the book. But, it was nothing that affected my rating of the book.

I would give Rend an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is language. There is violence. There are triggers. They would be an abandonment of a child. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Rend. I would also recommend this book to family and friends. I would include a warning about triggers.

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group, Loveswept, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Rend.

All opinions stated in this review of Rend are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

I loved being back in Theo and Caleb's world. Parrish writes incredibly sympathetic and likable characters. It's always a pleasure to revisit them in other books. This felt like a really accurate portrayal of anxiety and PTSD, That being said, this felt like a sadder and more anguished story than some of her other novels. With the romance being told out of order, I felt like I missed out on the good courtship part, and just got hit with the difficult marriage part. I was rooting for Matt and Rhy to work it all out, but I also really wanted Matt to get some serious help and worried he'd made a mistake by marrying so very young. The emotional ending did feel rewarding and earned, and I always look forward to her next book.

I'm not going to lie to you...I wasn't really prepared for the emotional roller-coaster that was Rend. I immediately requested an arc after reading Riven based solely on the love I'd had for Riven (one of my few 5-stars-for-real reads this year), and I didn't even read the blurb for Rend, I just thought, "It must be mine!" Luckily it all worked out in the end.

We first met Rhys in Riven as an already married man, and Caleb's ex, who's still his best friend. Rend is told entirely from Rhys's husband, Matt's, point of view and begins with the night Matt meets Rhys, a larger-than-life gorgeous Viking of a man who's incredibly, and mind-boggingly, into Matt. But Matt grew up in the system and his past is what shapes him and the relationship he has with Rhys.

**This was a love letter. A fucking love letter from a man I'd only met five times. A love letter saying things I'd never imagined anyone would say, seeing me in a way I'd never seen myself. As I read it again a room opened inside me, turning emptiness to possibility, solitude to potential. A room opened inside me, and I wanted to fill it with Rhys. I wanted to choose. I wanted, for the first time in my grungy fucking life, to choose someone and make them mine. And it terrified me. "Oh fuck," I said to no one. "Oh fuck, fuck, fuck me."**

We're all works in progress, some more than others. Matt and Rhys love each other madly, and would do anything for the other. Which leads to a minor relationship miscommunication that happens so often: One partner assuring the other that it's fine, I'm fine so they don't impede the other's dream - even to their own detriment.

**...it was like I had to break apart the universe and remake it as one where I could love you more...I know I did a lot of damage. When I was breaking it apart. I know I hurt you. I was clumsy with it. But I wouldn't ever want to go back there. To that other world where I didn't know how to love you. I wouldn't want to live there.**

While it was gut-wrenching at times, what Matt and Rhys go through together to make sure their happily ever after continues is heartbreaking and heartwarming and has made me all gooey love eyes at this. I LOVE LOVE LOVE RHYS...and Matt's wonderful too.

The only thing that would have made this better, for me, would have been having Rhys's POV. This needed Rhys's POV, IMO. Regardless, I absolutely loved reading this and would heartily recommend. Best if read after Riven, because even though it could probably standalone, it's better for having read Caleb and Theo's story.

Established relationship romance with a single first-person POV, medium angst, vigorous and super hot sex scenes, dirty talk, emotional growth, an enduring love that just needed a little work, and a very, very happy ending.

4.75 stars