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, … 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.
Roan Parrish’s pitch-perfect Riven novels can be read together or separately:
RIVEN • REND • RAZE
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Truthfully, this book straight-up RUINED ME. It dealt with the themes of addiction and recovery so beautifully (Huey and his Sharpie made me cry because REAL). Felix’s feelings about his sister, his family, and the direction of his own life were so honest and relatable. I highlighted almost the entire book because the language and characterisation were stunning. This will probably be like the third time I’ve called a Roan Parrish book a masterpiece but I’M SERIOUS, OKAY.
If you enjoy books that emotionally gut you and wrap you up in a warm, fluffy blanket of love and support all at the same time, you will live and die for Raze.
FAVE QUOTES
“You want to hang out with me.” He didn’t say it like a question, but like he was double-checking an order.
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Felix seemed like a map folded up small and perfect that would sprawl when unfurled, and show you everything.
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His words pulsed through me, hot sweetness stealing through my veins. My name on his lips left me reeling.
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“Rituals are kinda their own magic, aren’t they?” Felix said. “Maybe they don’t do anything, but they remind you what you want.”
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Was there something about me that made me so easy to forget? To push aside? To put last?
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Just because people have opinions doesn’t mean their opinions matter. You have to not let them matter.
4.5 stars
In this third installment of the Riven series by Roan Parrish, readers get Huey’s story, a character that was introduced early in the series and has been a solid friend and “go-to” guy throughout this series. I was excited for his story.
One fateful night during karaoke at the bar, Felix and his sister Sofia end up singing a Riven song, Huey records then, and the world changes for all three of them in short order.
Sofia ends up with a singing gig and Felix is alone with no one to take care of for the first time in his life. It unsettles him greatly and has him reaching out to Huey. They’d connected on some level in the few shorts times spent together. Felix really is adorable — he’s a natural-born caretaker and super sweet — but he’s really having a personal crisis. This is where Roan Parrish shines for me — I could feel Felix’s pain so well in her words.
Huey has lived the years in recovery in a very regimented way and while he’s attracted to Felix and wants to let him in, he’s not exactly all-in on having a relationship. He’s much more comfortable helping his sponsees instead of exploring what he could have with Felix. Of course, this becomes a source of insecurity for Felix and eventually everything blows up between them.
They both get help from Theo, Caleb, Rhys and Matty, previously introduced characters in the series.
Raze is really a story of two people at major crossroads in their lives. Even though I found Felix a little needy and whiney at times, I did love them together, especially how Felix smoothed Huey’s rough edges. They complemented each other perfectly.
Roan Parrish’s words just have a way a sliding across my mind in the easiest way and I find it easy to connect with how she describes some of the most basic of emotions in a very beautiful way. The complexities of recovering from addiction are also explored in Raze.
If you are looking for a highly introspective and emotional M/M romance, Raze and the Riven series might be for you.
An ARC was provided for review.
Where to even start on this review. I started reading this story and could not put it down. It grabbed me because I’ve never felt two characters so unmatched to each other and yet so drawn to each other. These two have such hang ups and the author does a great job explaining why. Felix, who has basically given up his life to care for the other members of his family, now can’t find where he fits nor where he wants to be. He doesn’t even know what dreams he might have had. He and his sister Sofia have been each other’s support since they were small children and that change adds to Felix’s issues. Felix could have been the rock star but just doesn’t feel it’s him.
Dane who lost his mother when he was twelve and lost his father to grief over the loss of his wife. He and his father have been strangers since then. He is recovering from an addiction and is so set on recovering that he gets addicted to his schedule and activities. He has learned to shut out everything and try and keep his feelings to himself.
After these two meet the interaction or lack of almost causes them to not be together. Their personalities are so opposite that they can’t seem to communicate.
The secondary characters add so much to this story. Sophia and Coco Swift rock start guitarist and their relationship. The other guys who all seem so happy in the relationships they are involved in. Even the places they work and go to are so well described that I could picture them in my mind. I love the way the author also pointed out how the two could lean on each other and deal with their differences.
Raze is a wonderful M/M contemporary romance that features Felix and Huey (aka Dane). I really enjoy this author’s writing style. Her characters feel so real and their troubles true. Most have flaws but they handle the angst in a loving mature way. Felix is younger but having help raise is younger siblings makes him feel like an old soul. Huey has had a rough time in life. He’s dealt with the demons of addiction in his own special way. He doesn’t think he has room in his life for a relationship but his draw to Felix can’t be denied. Watching these two try to mesh their very different lives together was fun and emotional. I recommend this book to everyone.
Loved this book!
I just adore this series. Felix and Dane were so sweetly awkward on their first date and I loved watching them find their footing.
Dane was so dependent on his routines and rituals. He’s there for his sponsees but there were no boundaries. He didn’t question what he can take on and it no longer served him well. Watching him figure out how to make peace with his recovery as he is now was quite moving.
Felix, on the other hand, has to figure out what his hopes and dreams are, as his whole life has revolved around taking care of his family. He has a rather co-dependent relationship with them but that gets upended when his sister joins Riven. He latches on to Dane during this process and while they’re good together, it’s not necessarily healthy in that state. He has to learn to stand on his own and trust he’ll be enough.
My heart was in my throat while I watched them navigate what they each needed. Their struggles and joys felt so true to life and I was just in their corner every step of the way.
Felix’s love of audiobooks made me so happy. Also: I could not get enough of the kitten loving Dane. I get weak in the knees for big tough men falling for their pets.
CW: past substance abuse, recovery, childhood poverty
Heuy is a bar owner and has his share of problems. He doesn’t let anyone get close to him. He’s trying to keep his sobriety. Felix has been taking care of his family and doesn’t know what to do with himself. He walks in to Huey’s bar and instantly finds him attractive and wants to get to know him better. I didn’t like the way Huey treated Felix at times but I understood both characters had their issues. All in all I liked this story and would recommend it.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and am leaving a review.
4.5 Stars for Raze by Roan Parrish
This is my read by this author and I’m really not sure why she hasn’t crossed my radar before now but after reading Raze that’s about to change because I really enjoyed everything about this book.
Raze is book 3 in the Riven Series but it can certainly be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone.
Huey and Felix are amazing characters who have many issues to overcome before they can open their hearts to each other and this is their love story. I say love story but for this was more of a journey and it was a journey I was happy to be on because this book has all the feels, it’s romantic, it has the perfect mix of passion and angst, it has characters you can’t help loving and it has a HEA, what more can you ask for. I’m looking forward to catching up on the previous books in this series as well as what’s next in the Riven series.
I really enjoyed reading the story of Huey and Felix. Both of them had their own issues to overcome. And with the help of each other, they did just that. This was another emotional story as both Huey and Felix worked through their past. I loved how all the other characters from the first two books made appearances. I love reading Roan Parrish books. They bring out all the right feelings of a great romance.
I found Felix to be selfless to the point of being self detrimental and self sacrificing, needy and insecure. Huey was brusque, closed off, compartmentalized feelings/emotions, and a heart of gold. I liked that Theo and Caleb were supportive and protective of their friend Huey. It was good to see Huey grow and not need all the crutches in his life ( he over extended himself to keep from temptations). Now he had better outlets. The ah ha moment for Huey was like a door opening and giving him its’ secrets. I loved the self healing and support Huey took on. Great ending.
We finally get Huey’s story and I loved it!
This is the third book in the Riven series but it can be read as a standalone if you want. If you don’t read the first two books, though, you’ll really be missing out on a couple of great stories.
Huey is the owner of a bar and he appeared in both of the first two books. He’s also Caleb’s best friend (book 1, Riven). I’ve been dying to read his story and I wasn’t disappointed at all when I read Raze.
Huey is a former addict and he now spends a lot of his time sponsoring and helping other N/A members. He has structured his days so that almost everything he does is scheduled because he’s afraid if he deviates from his schedule that he will relapse.
Felix and his sister come to karaoke night at Huey’s bar and Felix is attracted to Huey but Huey has been “frozen” for so long he doesn’t really know how to interact or respond to Felix’s obvious attraction.
Raze has a complex storyline involving Felix, his sister Sofia, members of the band Riven and Huey. This story really kept me captivated and glued to my e-reader until I finished it. Felix has been taking care of his siblings for so long that he hasn’t made time for himself.
Now his sister is getting a chance at the career she’s always wanted and it’s left him feeling a bit left out even though he’s really happy for her. When his relationship with Huey (Felix calls him by his given name Dane) starts heating up he’s left feeling lonely and adrift when Huey seems to always put everyone else’s needs ahead of Felix’s.
Huey needs to learn to live outside of the structure he’s been using and Felix needs to learn what he wants to do for himself. It’s not an easy path but they end up with a wonderful HEA.
A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Sarah –
3.5 stars
This is a sweet and angsty romance. A recovering addict, Dane has spent years creating a life full of structure and routines that keep him safe. He takes care of his sponsees, but he doesn’t let anyone get close. Felix is almost Dane’s opposite. For as long as he can remember, he’s been inseparable from his younger sister. So when she lands her dream job, Felix feels abandoned and lonely. Felix and Dane meet by chance and their improbable connection is awkward, frustrating, and kinda beautiful.
I really enjoyed Dane and Felix. Both are interesting, complex characters and they are both very loveable. I found their relationship as frustrating as they did – neither man has any communication skills and there were too many moments where I wanted to bang their heads together. Both Dane and Felix are prone to moping and overanalysing everything, so much of the book is spent in the characters’ heads – very little actually happens in this story. The result is a story that feels slow and there’s probably a little bit too much snowflake angst at times for me.
There is an age gap between Dane and Felix, but they are so well matched in other areas that it didn’t feel like a thing. Felix’ existential angst feels real and familiar as does his minimum wage job and his desire for meaningful work. This isn’t my favourite book by this author and I probably preferred the first two books in the series. I’m not sure I’m quite the right demographic for this series and I’m pretty sure urban millennials will relate to Felix and Dane’s relationship better than I did.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Raze (Riven #3) by Roan Parrish to read and review.
Where to start !
I loved loved, loved this book.
I adore Roane Parrish’s writing as for me its truth , love and learning to love , great friends from the two previous book and well just everything beautiful.
Huey has always considered himself last he is kindness to the core maybe an obsession !
He always gives never takes … He needs love. …
In the bar walks Felix one look at Huey and he has melted , he does like who he sees.
Their closeness continues it is written in such a beautiful way that I didn’t put the book down until early hours of the morning then I kept the last few percent to read in quietness and alone.. I savored it.
Felix is cute and his own person and so incredibly strong with his love , he cares he shows it and I adored that in him.
Huey is perfect ..
Together on their journey they learnt much about each other and themselves ..
The ending was gorgeous I am sure I melted ……….. I will miss these guys.
Wonderfully written with so many stunning characters this was a beautiful book that I will start to re-read.
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.
I was excited to see that there was another book in the Riven series. I had enjoyed the previous two books and was hoping that I would like Raze. For the most part, I did like it. But the parts that I didn’t like did affect my rating.
Raze’s plotline was enjoyable to read. It was well written, and the author didn’t let anything lag. She also didn’t drop storylines. The plotline was also a fast moving one. Put it this way; I was able to sit down and read Raze within 2 hours.
I liked Felix, but man, he annoyed me. He was too whiny and too clingy. He didn’t know how to talk to people. He was immature. But, when he wasn’t being any of those traits that I mentioned, he was a good guy. He was a good son and a great sibling. He cared about Huey. But those good traits were buried beneath the stuff that I didn’t like. I wish they were showcased more.
I didn’t know what to make of Huey. Getting his backstory was like pulling teeth. It was leaked a little at a time. It drove me nuts. I didn’t like that I couldn’t pinpoint what his feelings were for Felix. Again, drove me nuts. I liked seeing a different Huey appear by the end of the book. He was grounded and happy. Loved it!!
Like I stated in the paragraph above, I couldn’t get a handle on Huey’s feelings for Felix. Because of that, the romance between them seemed forced.
The sex scenes were hot. What Felix and Huey lacked in the romance department, they made up for with sex. Those scenes were so hot that I was expecting my screen to implode. The only scene that didn’t do it for me was the ass eating scene towards the end of the book. I am open-minded about everything but I just couldn’t with this. As I was reading that scene, I kept thinking, “What if he didn’t wipe good.” Which then led my thoughts too well, you know where I am going with that.
The end of Raze was heartwarming. I was left wondering if there was going to be a book 4 or if this is that last book in the series. There were some characters (Grin, Morgan, Jhoi stand out the most in my mind) that I would love to see get their happily ever after.
In a series where each of the characters has touched me so deeply, I have to say Roan Parrish has outdone herself with Raze. Parrish gets into the very essence of these incredible men, building a story for each of them and exploring what makes them tick. Whether it’s overcoming addiction or finding what sparks your passion, for the couples from the Riven series, simply surviving isn’t enough.
My favorite part of a Roan Parrish novel is how thoroughly she explores her characters. Parish gets deep into the very psyche of these men, and finds the things that make them real. Defeating obstacles, healing past wounds, and finding a way to move forward in a positive way are some issues that apply to all of us. Being able to actually relate to these guys makes a Roan Parrish novel so special.
Huey’s story is heartbreaking, but empowering as well. Coming off a life completely ruled by drug use, every moment for an addict is about just surviving. Huey has created coping mechanisms as well a complex schedule to fill his days and avoid relapse. He’s taken back control, unfortunately there’s no time or space left for having a meaningful life.
Freed from the responsibilities of caring for his family, Felix is finally in a position to make a life for himself. Acting on his initial attraction to Huey, Felix actively pursues the older man. The scene where he’s asking Huey on a date is completely adorable, and is a glimpse at some of the fire that’s inside him. It’s clear that with a bit of attention and encouragement, Felix will flourish.
I fell in love with these two remarkable guys and it’s extremely satisfying to watch them work it all out. Although they’ve got some serious baggage, the angst isn’t overwhelming. I found the positive message Ms. Parrish’s continually weaves throughout Raze to be very uplifting, and the romance between Huey and Felix is toe-curlingly delicious.
Looking ahead, I’d love to get Riven guitarist Coco Swift’s story. Between her romance with Felix’s sister Sophie and the challenge of keeping the band together after Theo’s retirement, this is one strong woman! Whatever story Roan Parrish chooses to tell next in this standalone series, I know it’s going to be a good one.
Ratings aside, I truly liked Raze, and as I’ve come to expect from Parrish, the writing is great with those terrific lines that jump out at you. Raze gives us a May/December romance, which is one of my favorite tropes, and we get those wonderfully flawed characters that Roan Parrish does so well. That said, I just couldn’t help but feel like something was missing in this one. Maybe it’s because the author has set the bar so high with this series, but I didn’t feel like Huey and Felix’s story sucked me in the way the first two in the series did. Part of that could be my feelings about Huey for a lot of this one. I waffled back and forth with him from the beginning. He would do something so completely sweet one minute, and check out of the relationship the next. I get the reasons why, but Felix is just so darn lovable that I couldn’t help but want to shake the stuffing out of Huey at times – no matter his size. I also feel like he’s a little too closed off, so much so that I had a hard time getting to know Huey. Whatever the reasons for my feelings about this third book in the series, I would still recommend it. The whole series is full of fantastic writing and wonderful characters with real problems. The romances bring out all the feels and while they are angsty, it’s angst that we can understand and empathize with.
This is the third book in the Riven series. It is a wonderfully written MM contemporary romance that was more that I expected. Having read the first two books in the series and loved them, I thought I knew what this installment would be like. I was wrong, it was so much more. The characters are complex and complicated, the pace is great, the story-line is original and well developed. Though it is the third in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone book. This was truly a great addition to the Riven Series.
Raze started off really strong. I loved reading the first chapter about Huey and I could tell that he had a wall built up. Addiction was something he was still dealing with and his routines were making it so he wouldn’t slip. Felix is a person with such a kind heart, maybe too kind, and his family always came first.
Felix has always taken care of everyone, because he was the oldest and his mother worked a lot to keep the family going. He’s not really sure what he wants, because his needs are never on top. When his sister gets a break, Felix is alone more and needs to figure out. I thought he was really sweet and funny. I can’t imagine how hard it is putting everyone’s needs in front of your own. That made it totally understandable he was a bit lost. I would’ve liked to have seen him discover more, because this part of his journey didn’t start until near the end of this book.
My heart wanted to break for Huey as well. After losing his mother, his father has a hard time and he’s kind of left on his own. When he hit rock bottom, the climb back to the top was hard, but he did it. He devotes his life to routine and his sponsees, but who takes care of him? I thought Huey was really interesting! I loved watching him starting to let himself feel more and even maybe being happy.
This story didn’t completely keep my attention though. I think it may have been just a bit too long and sometimes too descriptive. That made it harder for me to connect with the characters at time, because it distracted me. Even with that being the case, the romance was very heartfelt and definitely very steamy at times. I think my favorite was the kitten near the end, haha.
The last thing I expected when I started reading Raze, the third book in the Riven series was the tears and the total emotional upheaval I felt when reading this. I expected Steam….and there was plenty of it believe me. I expected quirky and yes I found that too. What I didn’t expect was that Huey, the man of so very few words would hold me so completely enthralled waiting for his words of wisdom, not only when talking about recovery (which we saw alot of in Riven, the first book), but when talking about life. He may not have said much, but everything he said was imbued with such passion and fear. Felix held me in his own thrall when he talked about HIS feelings. The dedication says it all. We all just want to be a person….not only to ourselves, but to others. We don’t want to be an obligation, a stop gap or one that can easily be dismissed when it seems convenient. The tears were worth every moment.