I love this series, tho Raze is not my favorite of the series, I loved the first one the best so far, I still loved it. Dane was so sweet & he is battling his demons & is still in recovery. Felix has been taking care of his family & has basically putting his life on hold. I understand when his sister, who he lives with and has been taking care of, up & gets the dream job & goes on tour and doesn't have time him, he is hurt. But there was a point where he came off as whinny 12 yr old who like, "oh poor me, no one to pay attention to me, etc" . He does the same with Dane, who he is a sponsor for a lot of people & is on call 24/7 & if all that is needed is for him to sit & watch TV with, he does. Felix gets all out of sorts every time someone calls & takes Dane away from him. What was he supposed to do, just drop all of them?? Felix finally grows when he goes to see his sister & has a grownup conversation with her. I just would have liked Felix to have come along a little faster.

<i>For everyone who sometimes needs permission to be a person.</i>

<i>Raze</i> had a different feel to it from the past two installments. It was a quieter story, but still packed an emotional punch. Huey is a absolute gem, and I related with his feeling of overloading, and of not doing and being enough, so very much. It was so uplifting to see him open up to love, and to give himself room to just breathe.
And, I absolutely loved the Dune references.

I really liked it, and I highly recommend it.

<i>ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This was my first read by RP and I am definitely going to be reading more. This was a very good story about two people with some issues that they have to work through to find their true selves and be what each other needs. I actually am having a hard time with the star rating. There were parts that topped at 5 stars but then others that I just couldn't get into. Felix was a little too over the top needy for my liking and because he was the rock in his family for so long I felt the two parts of him really didn't mesh well and he said "like" way too much. Huey was a very good, well rounded character but sometimes his character as well was a little too over the top with trying to be strong for not only himself but everyone else but then being totally detached.

Now this had some very hot, hot, hot sex/love scenes that I absolutely loved!!! When I say hot I really mean it.

ARC received through NetGalley. Reviewed voluntarily**

Thanks to NetGalley and Loveswept for this free eARC.

Roan Parrish is such a talented romance writer. Her books are lovely studies of flawed characters trying to be better and trying to grow together. This one, about Huey (a minor character in the past books of this series) and Felix, is no exception. We see these characters work through their life and intimacy issues together and come out happier and healthier. The barriers they face are realistic and relatable, and it feels cathartic to see them go on their journey together. If you like a steamy & emotion in your romances (plus queer stories), Roan Parrish may be the author for you!

Also, I have read the previous books in the series, both of which I would recommend, but you don't have to read them first to get this companion.

While I enjoyed Raze for the most part, I felt disconnected to the story. I can’t pinpoint why that is, just that that’s how I felt.

Both characters were likable and showed tremendous character growth. While this can be read as a stand alone I did feel at times like there was a book I was missing. I’m unsure if Raze is part of a series, but I really wouldn’t be surprised to find out it is.

I was really excited about this novel as I love Roan Parrish, her middle of somewhere series caught my heart so I decided to request this as well as the other books in the series. Raze can be read as a standalone although it adds a bit more of background to the character of Huey if you've read the previous two books. Raze is a character driven books (if you're familiar with Roan Parrish you;ll recognise this from her books) with two individuals who are a bit damaged, have various issues but when together help and make each other better. It;s not a novel about fixing each other but about character growth and healing. Although I have to admit this wasn't my favorite of the series, as a standalone I think it's very engaging with amazing family and friend dynamics. The character of Huey specially I felt fully invested in, his fears, his hopes, his lack of communication in moments where words are needed. Felix as well was insecure and impulsive and resteless but beautiful. I loved both the character, the storyline and the sidecharacters too. As usual I'm not disappointed at all when reading a Roan Parrish novel. A solid 4.5

Felix Rainey is a caretaker. The eldest of five children, he’s been caring for his siblings, cooking and assisting his mother with household tasks, and working to put in money to support his single-parent family since he was a child. He and his sister Sofia are besties. Closest in age, the duo are now living together while Sofia gets her degree and Felix works to support her. When they walk into a bar to sing a duet on karaoke night, they have no idea their lives are about to change.

Huey has worked to stay clean and sober for over ten years. Caleb’s sponsor, we first met Huey in Riven. His life revolves around his meetings, his sponsees, and the bar he owns. He’s also very rigid in the control he maintains over himself as he adheres to a strict schedule of gym activities, shopping, contact with those he sponsors, and more, including listening to podcasts on every topic known to man. He also uses a magic marker to write daily quotations on his abdomen to help reinforce the positives in his life. In a word, he’s rigid in his control. And then, in steps Felix with Sofia to sing a duet on karaoke night—a duet of one of Riven’s songs. And they nail it!

Huey’s world is turned upside down as the sweet, gorgeous young man seems more interested in him than in meeting Theo Decker, the famous rock musician and former lead singer with Riven. Nevertheless, Huey arranges a meeting, which ultimately turns out much different from what he envisions. The bottom line, however, is that he’s left with a crush on a young cutie and that cutie seems to be attracted to him. Now, what should he do about it?

Like others in this series, what happens along the way makes for a complex and beautiful love story. The author’s treatment of addiction, recovery, and triggers in this book is just as good as in the other stories, but with a difference. This time, the focus is on the sponsor, and along the way, we learn that Huey has lost sight of his own needs. The love and support he receives from Felix goes a long way toward helping him release some of his old fears and controlling behaviors and embrace a new way forward, even though the road to this revelation is fraught with ups and downs of heartache and pain.

I struggled a bit with this book, unlike the others in the series, because I had a hard time relating to Huey. The stern, quiet man was not an easy character to warm up to. However, later in the story, when I got to know the person behind the façadethe man whose real name is DaneI was sold.

Felix was the type of character I love, possibly because I can relate to being the oldest and taking on the role of family caretaker. He rarely lost his temper with Dane, mostly because he didn’t feel secure in their relationship and therefore felt unworthy, so why get angry. It’s not until Felix makes strides in his own personal growth that we see the two moving toward each other emotionally, and we can see a happy ending as their outcome.

So, in summary, both characters are different from the norm or what I expect to be the normand often difficult to like, never mind love. But by sticking to the story and being open to their emotional growth, readers will be rewarded with a very satisfying love story.

Roan Parrish is one of those rare authors who can create chemistry and tension between two lovers, in Raze she will wow readers again with the chemistry between Felix and Huey.

There is a pattern to all of Parrish's novels in that both characters are essentially isolated from the world around them; sometimes it's romantic as in Middle of Somewhere, or manic and harmful as in Out of Nowhere, it can also be homesick like in Where We Left Off. But Raze feels like an echoing chasm between the world and Felix and especially Huey. New York felt small, I would have liked to have seen a wider scope to their world. And while the sex scenes where detailed and lovely- they were not on the level of Middle of Somewhere or Out of Nowhere. With those two previous novels, the connection between the love interests was off the charts. Would love to see Parrish bring such passion and intensity to her next novels.

“Once you look a truth in the face, you can’t shove it away again. But change isn’t necessarily bad.”

GAH Felix and Dane deal with a lot of change and learning and growth in this book. I loved watching them navigate not only their relationship but their own lives.

This was uplifting and a joy to read.

Best book in the series! This story was so wonderful. Felix felt like a reflection of myself and my life, at this moment. It's an inspiration and hopefulness, to see to slightly broken people find their way to each other and find a healing. I couldn't put this book down. It was touching, heartbreaking, healing and had definite moments of total hotness!

This book is the perfect ending for a series that felt quite deeply personal and loving. Felix and Huey fit into my heart so well. It hurts to let go of them.

Ok so I love all book covers and this was a cover request for me. This is book 3 in a series and I’m curious about book 1 & 2. I really liked this book and I’m happy I got to read it.

Huey and Felix were cute and balanced each other out well and I like that they had their own things going on that were way different and I do like that they were able to have too very separate dynamics of lifestyles and were able to merge together. I liked that Felix didn’t judge Huey for having been an addict and he didn’t feel the need to bring it up like “oh what happens if you do relapse.”

I feel like sometimes Felix was immature and acted like a baby but then again this is his first relationship. I was happy to see them change and grow and be able to learn from one another. A great read and I’m glad I was able to get this from NetGalley and Roan Parrish. Raze is out July 2.

Raze is the third book in Roan Parrish’s Riven series. I have not read the first two, but when I saw Raze offered on NetGalley I remembered ctkat1’s very positive review and decided to request it anyway. I’m glad I did. Raze is out July 2.

This was in many ways a sweet book to read. There are times when I need a heavy dose of emotional angst in my falling in love story. Raze had some good angst. Felix and Huey are both messes who are trying so hard to keep it together and be good adults. Huey has been sober for many years, but owns and runs a bar. He spends a lot of his time sponsoring recovering addicts. Felix has been taking care of his mother and siblings since he was barely a teen. They find each other at a moment when both of their lives are changing.

One of Huey’s employees talks him into hosting karaoke nights at the bar. Felix and his sister Sofia attend and sing a Riven song together. Huey, impressed by how well Felix sings sends a video of his performance to Theo, former Riven lead singer. Things happen and suddenly Felix’s sister is singing with Riven and going off on a tour. For the first time, Felix is alone and having to think about what he wants for his life. Huey has maintained his sobriety with a strict schedule and sponsoring the newly sober.

I really appreciated that neither fixed the other. They created spaces that gave the other room to grow, but there was no magical love cure. At some point soon, I’ll go back and read the first two books.

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!

With each installment in the Riven series, my expectations have been completely obliterated every time. Roan Parrish has a way of taking the most mundane, daily elements of life and manages to make every moment special. None of these stories are anything like I thought they would be, and I've been blown away every time.

I loved the way they push and pull with each other, I was very happy the drama and angst weren't over-the-top, and that Felix and Dane, despite their age difference, fit so perfectly with each other.

"I loved him in a way that felt like it shattered me and held me together all at once."

I loved this. I loved Felix and Dane 😍, I loved the side characters, super loved the dual POV, and the way the words spoke to me on a different level. I love this series, and I'm almost ridiculously excited for more.

"Yes," he choked out. "Yes to everything with you always."

Dual POV, smoking hot sex, some angst, and a wonderful HEA ending. Absolutely recommended!

4.5 Stars

OMG! Huey's story was so worth the wait. This was a very character driven story and Huey and Felix were awesome characters. Felix has given his all for his siblings and Huey has focused all his energy on his sobriety, when they meet each is mystified that the other could be interested in them. I absolutely loved going with them on their journey to their happy ending.

While this can be read as a stand alone reading the first two books really rounds out the character's world.

I really liked this one. I can relate to wanting to have my world ordered, even though that is not always best. This one was great!

I received an e-ARC of Raze by Roan Parrish from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I loved the first two books in this series and I was excited to get the chance to read this one early.

I was really looking forward to Huey’s story and it did not disappoint! Roan Parrish writes emotions and personal growth so well. There was not a lot of “action” in this story, just a lovely tale of two people coming together to find their forever person and overcoming a lot of personal baggage that stands in the way of their relationship. Huey is a recovering addict who has overextended himself trying to give back, and Felix had to grow up fast and be responsible for his younger siblings from an early age. We get to see them learn to communicate their needs and wants in an open and honest way. This book comes alive in small moments, looks, and touches. It’s so beautifully written.

I give this book five stars. If you like Roan Parrish, you will love this book. If you like books that create emotional space, you will love this book. I highly recommend it.

3.25?

this book was really good. it hit too close to home at times and surprisingly was thought inducing. i feel like it's a type of book that would hit people differently, and can be enjoyed in different ways. saying this, this book was really hard for me to push through at the beginning. it was flat and there was a lot of details that i didn't care for. i was enjoying it but kept thinking about DNFing it because i felt like the genre isn't fit for me. like there's zero plot... it's just about the characters and usually i enjoy books like this but i have to REALLY like the character or for them to be at least interesting. the characters of these book weren't one dimensional but as people i just didn't care enough about them. also the relationship although cute at moments, and like solid at the end... some parts of it were a lil cringe or like just weird.

there's a lot of parts where this book redeemed itself. i found myself really emerged in the family dynamic and shit made me pause and think for a while. i liked the inner dialogue of the characters, sobriety after substance abuse/addiction was handled well, and i loved that aspect of the story.

i think if i had read this book at a different time i would've enjoyed it more, but oh well.

Everything about the story and characters felt realistic, genuine, and flowed nicely. I want to immediately pick up the first two so I can learn some more about the other characters!