<i>The world is made up of people and ideas and desires and roaches and, like, hunks of plastic, and puppies.</i>

This is the kind of line that makes me love Roan Parrish’s stories. They are everyday relationships, depicted beautifully. People who are vulnerable but not weak. To quote <a href=https://twitter.com/RoanParrish/status/1119280091303940097 target="blank">her recent tweet</a>, her protagonists’ enemies are themselves. The conflicts in her books aren’t corny, contrived drama that you’ve read umpteen times — they are real issues that arise between people due to the baggage that they bring into a new relationship.

<i>I leaned in and kissed him, then, because he was beautiful and alive and today I was a person.</i>

I loved reading this story of Huey and Felix. At first I was concerned that it would feel like a knock-off of [book:Riven|36135552] due to some parallels with addiction issues, but the Raze characters distinguished themselves. And I alternated between feeling frustrated with and protective of both of them, which I appreciate because it feels <i>real.</i>

<i>His smile was small and sweet, and I was dangerously aware that I’d go to great lengths to be able to put it on his face again.</i>

Sigh. I have to add… This is the first time I’m feeling fewer than 5 stars from Roan. (I haven’t read them all, this is just my fourth, but I’ve felt the previous ones were damn near perfect.) And I’m torn on how much to dwell on the “imperfections” of this one, because they aren’t so much flaws as elements that weren’t <i>quite</i> as masterful as the others. I’m going to put these notes behind a spoiler tag, although I’ll do my best to avoid actual spoilers.

<spoiler>I felt like Huey and Felix kept a little closely to the “boxes” that they were in, for lack of a better way to describe it. They didn’t <i>surprise</i> me, and I am really spoiled with Roan’s characters usually being so dimensional that I can’t always predict what they’ll do.

Also, as brilliant as the psychological insight was, a lot of it was laid down flatter than she usually writes it — borderline telling. I think this was definitely a case of me comparing the book against her previous ones, not against most of what’s out there. But I can’t help it; she’s set the bar really high and there’s a reason I do shit like sign up for NetGalley just to get one of her books early.

Lastly, although I didn't deduct anything for this, I <b>loathe</b> the model chosen for the cover. That does NOT look like Felix to me and it's not working for me on any level. 😂</spoiler>

None of this keeps this book from being a solid recommend! I will await her next release with bated breath.

<i>**ARC requested and received from NetGalley and the publisher.</i>

3* I only enjoyed this tale in the last 15 pages or so. Until then, it felt too inorganic to me to be believable.

I've only read book 2 in this series, and it was one of my few 5* reads for last year. This one, unfortunately, doesn't come close. Sorry.

I read the book blurb-blind, as I saw the author's name and immediately asked for an ARC. I was so excited about getting it, but within about 10 pages, Felix had done something well-intentioned, but completely arrogant, deceitful and underhand and had taken advantage of some people's time, openness, honesty and hopes, and whilst yes, it worked out, it didn't endear me to him.

I think, though, what hit me most was how whiny and whingy and immature Felix was. In his head, it was all about 'me, myself, I' and it made me like him even less, despite by then me knowing how much he'd done for his family. And that same trait was present in Sofia, his sister, who pretty much dumped him alone in their apartment whilst she went off to be a rock star. Yes, she might have dumped a load of money in their joint bank account, and yes, it was a given that she'd be leaving on tour with her new band, but we were told how close the siblings were, and yet there was barely any conversation between them. This clearly contributed to Felix's neediness.

I definitely liked the almost-silent, huge bear of a guy, Huey/Dane, far more. He was a decent guy so scared of falling off the wagon - I won't spoil the tale and tell you which one/s, that he basically became utterly OCD about life. I hoped that Felix would be his Eureka! moment, but tbh it felt like Felix forced himself into H/D's life and his neediness simply appealed to H/D's addiction, because, yes, he might have conquered some demons, but he was still an addict. And he had several addictions that at first you might think are healthy, but the OCD became apparent. At least, though, his rational brain was beginning to realise that, and he sought help from friends and later on, from a NA sponsor and listened, and made changes.

I didn't like the emotional blackmail that caused the angst in this tale, though something needed to happen to force a proper, honest conversation between the guys. I thought Felix was far too needy, incredibly selfish and immature, and it made me like him even less.

I also did a few eye rolls at the number of LGBT characters in this. Yes, I expected the guys from books 1 and 2 to be around, but for Felix's sister to be a lesbian (excuse me if she's that and more) and for her new bandmate to be one, too, and for a security guard who befriends Felix to be one, too, just got a bit tiring. I half expected Padmini to be revealed as one, too, which actually would have been interesting, as Asian (in the British sense of the word) people tend to be of the 'if we don't talk about it, don't ack it, it's not happening' mentality. And yes, I have personal knowledge of that, believe me.

I did like the last 15 pages of the book, as people stopped being selfish and made an effort, but by then, I wasn't anywhere close to liking the tale any more. I think it's the first RP novel that's been less than a 4* read for me. Oh, but I liked little Skeleton very much and that she took to H/D as her person.

ARC courtesy of Random House Publishing Group, Loveswept, and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.Random House Publishing

Raze was such a great read. I enjoyed all of the characters and the storyline was one that kept me entertained from beginning to end. There were a lot of moments that had me laughing out loud. Huey and Felix's story is one that has struggles, demons, and many more problems but its also loving, supportive and steamy. It's full of great family and friends that love and support each other in the best ways. However, I do wish that Felix was a little stronger of a character. His character was feeling down throughout most of the story when it came to his sister Sofia. I wished he was able to not really move on, but go on in a positive way instead of being so dependent. This is not my first book from this author so I really loved that Theo & Whit, and Rhys and Matty was in this story. I enjoyed having my favorite characters from the previous books in this one. I look forward to reading more books from this author in the future. I hope we get a book with Sofia and Coco's story.

No chill was had in the waiting-to-read-this-closer-to-pub-date when this ARC landed on my kindle. I was done within a day. Also, forever sending apologies to my sorta buddy-readers. Again. Whoops?

"<I>I forgot you're not supposed to bring up masturbation at the dinner table on the first date.</I>"
"<b>Yeah, that's strictly second-date dinner convo.</b>"

Right off the bat, I have to say, this cover does not do Felix justice. I wasn't really a fan of it to begin with but after seeing how the character was not only described but acted? There's no match-up here whatsoever. But, having said that, at the end of the day it's about the content, not the window dressing.

<I>Felix seemed like a map folded up small and perfect that would sprawl when unfurled, and show you everything. And I.. <b>fuck</b>, I wanted to see it.</I>

This is easily my favourite series by Parrish and while RAZE didn't match my love for RIVEN, and nor did REND, each book has been emotional, lovely, heart wrenching, beautiful, tough, real, all the things. Oh and swoony and sexy af. The author devastates with the simplest of things, like a hug, and exposes very real insecurities in her characters that I think everyone can immediately connect with. No matter their size or strength, no matter their fame or success, no matter what they've overcome or shouldered, each individual is struggling or hiding or avoiding something. Just like every day humans. And it's this connection that makes these books, even set as they are around rockstars and the music industry, even only peripherally (at least since book one), so so easy to love. Just as it's impossible not to love these imminently precious characters who, in some form or another, feel they aren't worthy or deserving of love; or are just overlooked, maybe even just held back.. by outside forces or themselves. Never seen or pursued by the right person.

<I>The problem with feeling so much pleasure, so much joy, so much contentment -- with feeling <b>so much</b>, period -- after so long spent feeling very little, was that I instantly craved more of it.</I>

If you're looking for sweetness and sexiness, with a solid foundation of grit and realness, I would definitely recommend this series.

This is the third in a series of two already amazing books and RAZE does NOT disappoint one bit! I LOVED the first two and I LOVE RAZE too. Huey is the bar owner/sponsor from the first two books and in this book, he is one of the MC's. Huey (whose real name is DANE--great name!!) has been a recovering drug addict for over 10 years. His life is a routine that he is afraid to veer from for fear that he will go back to his old ways and start using again. Dane is stronger than he thinks he is though and he just needs someone or something to help him realize that he is a PERSON and he has a life to live and he can be happy in spite of his past. That someone is Felix who Dane meets when Felix sings Karaoke in his bar one night. Felix is so good that Dane tells Theo (ex-lead Riven singer) and Theo sets him up with a Riven interview because they still need to replace Theo. Felix does not want the job but his sister does. Instead Felix wants to ask Dane out and somehow manages to get over his fear and does it. They have dinner and really like each other. It is really hard for Dane to open up but slowly slowly he does and they start to spend more and more time together. The slow bond they build together is so sweet. Dane is not used to having anyone around or changing his routine and it is really hard for him to let Felix in. Felix is so lonely, on the other hand without his sister around, that he is practically begging Dane to let him hang out with him. They hit some rough patches the closer they get but it is so worth it for both of them to finally get together that I was in TEARS for them. Dane, who is so closed off and afraid, and Felix, who is so loving and sweet, were so amazingly beautiful together. I loved this book SO much! The characters, the writing, the story, everything about this book lives up to the first two in the series and then some! Can not wait for the fourth one! Thanks so much to NG for the ARC!!!