4.5 almost true love ★'s rounded all the way up!

I love Roan Parrish’s writing. Seriously. I’ve said it before but I am going to say it again. She is easily and I’ll also add quickly climbing to the top of my favorite list. She has a way of writing that I feel I can see it, hear it and feel it. It's like magic. This was no exception.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this one though, favorite author or not. Let’s get the disclaimers out of the way. First, I don’t normally even touch a book about addiction. It’s just not my thing. I don’t like that type of reality in my romance but, favorite author and all, so, chance given. Secondly, I don’t usually dig celebrity type/rock star stories. But, same, Roan Parrish. I don’t know why I was worried at all really.

If stories with addiction and fame were always handled this way I would probably change my tune. I wasn’t put off by either in this book. I can’t say I completely understand where either Caleb or Theo are coming from but I feel that these two subjects didn’t take over the story, they were part of who they were but not all they were. The normal formula was thrown out the window and I was able to just focus on the romance and read their story.

So, as I mentioned, it was just almost true love. I don’t really understand addiction, like I said, it just isn’t my thing and I like to live in my naïve bubble, so maybe with a bit more understanding I’d feel differently, but I feel like Caleb was just not in the right place for a relationship and Theo was continuously hurt by this but also too forgiving. It seemed to keep happening and it got on my nerves a bit. Naïve or not I mostly understand where Caleb’s fear was coming from but I’d have liked a little more of a backbone on Theo. Sorry does not always need to = sex. At least, in this case it shouldn’t. There needed to be a bit more groveling.

That is probably it truly. Everything else I think I loved. I especially loved Theo remembering a gig in Philly!

So, I’m just going to call it another win for me. I can’t wait for the next one!

I am a fairly unabashed fan of Roan Parrish. From her first book (that I honestly couldn’t believe was her first book) through and including Riven. She writes stories and characters that I just care about. That I want to know more about. I get immersed in their stories and don’t want to let go.

The dynamics between Theo- lead singer of Riven- and the rest of the band is like nothing I have read before. There’s the tension of Theo getting the most press being the lead singer, but there’s also the tension of him being the outsider. Riven was a band of three who needed a lead singer and song writer. He got hired. I think that this book really showed that even if you are in a rock band and famous, it is a job. And you don’t always get along with your coworkers for one reason or another.

Caleb knows what fame feels like. And the fall from it because of drugs. In recovery again, he basically hides out at his farm, venturing into the city once a month or so to play music in a dive bar without recognition. Until Theo sees him and feels his music deeply.

Oh I loved Theo. He is so broken, so lost, so innocent. He isn’t the angry guy who hates fame and is a total jerk about it. He hates fame but deals with it because it is part of the job. And because he needs music.

And Theo helps Caleb find his music again.

Their relationship started out as sex. And then grew into a really beautiful love. The way they supported each other without becoming a crutch was so sweet. No one was a whiny brat. No one did the whole “you can’t get past my walls!” thing. There was a bit of the you deserve better than me, but they worked through it.

Gah, I’m rambling.

I really loved this book.

Reluctant rock star Theo Decker just found out the tour he desperately wants over is going to be extended. Coming home for a few days, he's out walking about when he hears a tune that draws him in. He meets Caleb and they immediately connect through the music. I was so hooked on this book already by this point.

Caleb is on another try at recovery and occasional trips into the city are all he can take without risking his hard
fought sobriety. But when he meets Theo, he's enthralled with him and he too feels the connection that Theo feels.

There are lots and lots of feels here -- Theo's love of music and performing versus fame and everything that brings. And then there's Caleb -- he's afraid of so many different things, but he wants Theo and he's starting to trust his love of music again. They work together. I really loved this couple. I loved how they talked about music and how it was so important to both of them. Riven went so much deeper into the music than most of the rock star romances I have read.

I really enjoyed Riven, especially the portrayal of Caleb's addictions and his struggles with recovery. Theo is just adorable in his naivete and his love for Caleb. Not only are they smoking hot together, but they really talk to each other and I loved that about this book.

Nicely done!

An ARC was provided for review.

I chose not to finish this title. I read the majority of the novel however I found the writing to be very customary. There were many instances where the narrative felt as if it was lifted from any other ordinary romance. There was no chemistry between the protagonists and their romance feels overly manufactured. Add in the copious amounts of self loathing and I was completely uninterested.

Wow. This book was beautifully written and I’m feeling overwhelmed by the feelings it evoked in me.

Theo is a popular reluctant rockstar who doesn’t understand why he is so popular and can’t believe that he is deserving of being loved. Caleb is a former musician who is one year out of rehab, trying to get his life back together . When these two meet, sparks fly and from their first meeting, it’s so inevitable that they have to be together.

The character development is great in this book. The journey of Theo realizing what he wants from his life and Caleb trusting himself to dream of a future are amazingly written. Their internal struggles are very realistic and it was good to see them follow their own paths and find a way back to each other every time they separate. Their love story is absolutely beautiful and I was rooting for them from the get go. They also take time getting to know each other and it was wonderful watching them grow together.

The book is also full of musical terminology, aspects of creating music, the way Theo and Caleb visualize and feel their way through their writing process - it’s qll very enthralling and I wished I knew more about music. I think the author did a great job incorporating the intricacies of creating music as well as the negative affects the fame can have on a musician. Theo and Caleb’s struggles were very different and the author handled them each in a very individual way.

Overall, this book was a great experience and I would definitely reread it in the future.

I hadn’t read anything by Roan Parrish in a while and the cover of Riven really caught my eye. It’s a rock-star romance all about finding your way.

Even things that needed you could hurt you in the taking.

Theo Decker is the lead singer/songwriter for his rock band, Riven. But touring isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, he absolutely hates it. So, falling into Caleb—a man who loved it all too hard and lost it—leaves Theo floundering as much as it cements him in place.

I really enjoyed both of these characters, and right away, you could feel the chemistry. Caleb has some demons, battling with addiction, and his draw to Theo has Caleb wondering if he’s simply trading one addiction for another. That, and Theo is deep into the music scene. Something that left Caleb high and dry. I admired Caleb so hard. He has to think about each of his decisions and really dig into the why of it all. Heart. Throbs.

He was the most in-focus thing I’d ever seen.

Then there’s Theo who has this mega cute, awkward vibe. He pulls Caleb into risking again, but Theo has his own issues in the music world, too, and they’re pulled in different directions. My only complaint was that the latter half didn’t have that pull the first half did. I kept putting the book down because it fell into a pattern of break up, make up, break up, etc.

That tension was missing. However, this had some beautiful lines and wonderful imagery, and it just made me want to listen to music. Caleb and Theo are two characters who will pull you in.

4 stars!

In all honesty, as soon as I saw this gorgeous cover I knew I needed to read the blurb. Then when I read the blurb I knew I needed to read.

Blurb:
Theo Decker might be the lead singer of Riven, but he hates being a rock star. The paparazzi, the endless tours, being recognized everywhere he goes—it all makes him squirm. The only thing he doesn’t hate is the music. Feeling an audience’s energy as they lose themselves in Riven’s music is a rush unlike anything else . . . until he meets Caleb Blake Whitman. Caleb is rough and damaged, yet his fingers on his guitar are pure poetry. And his hands on Theo? They’re all he can think about. But Caleb’s no groupie—and one night with him won’t be enough.

Just when Caleb is accepting his new life as a loner, Theo Decker slinks into it and turns his world upside-down. Theo’s sexy and brilliant and addictively vulnerable, and all Caleb wants is another hit. And another. That’s how he knows Theo’s trouble. Caleb can’t even handle performing these days. How the hell is he going to survive an affair with a tabloid superstar? But after Caleb sees the man behind the rock star, he begins to wonder if Theo might be his chance at a future he thought he’d lost forever.


Riven is a rock star romance featuring two heroes. One is a reluctant rock star and the other a musician on the road to recovery from a heroin and booze addiction. They meet by chance one evening in a smoky bar and after a long walk and an easy conversation, share a sexy, sweaty night together. But when Theo wakes up, Caleb is gone. They reconnect several months later when Theo seeks Caleb out and surprises him at home. Neither have been able to get the other off their mind and they quickly pick up where they left off.
There were so many things I enjoyed about this romance. It’s angsty, but not so angsty that I felt like I needed to take a break in order to catch my breath. Told in alternating 1st person POVs, readers get to know each of them as they fall in love with each other and overcome their fears together. I think the portrayal of Caleb’s addiction and his anxiety about the future are realistically portrayed. Theo was easy to relate to with his love of music, but dislike of celebrity. Their chemistry is off the charts, and even though there are an abundance of love scenes, each one felt like they made sense within the story line.

There is so much going on with this couple. Caleb is a little older and has just left rehab for the fourth time. He is in a self-imposed exile on a family owned farm. He doesn’t have much to do with the music scene any longer because he can’t separate his addictions from his song writing and performing. For years they have been intertwined and he fears falling back into one will mean falling back into the other. He’s messed up everything good in his life, including a relationship with his family and a great career. He has two touchstones… his NA sponsor, Huey, and his once lover now turned best friend, Rhys. He and Theo have an instant attraction, but they are also able to communicate through music, which is really the lens each of them views the world through. Those things may bring them together, but as their relationship grows and evolves Caleb steps back repeatedly afraid to move forward with his new lover. And it all felt completely realistic to me.

Theo is looking for that connection, he’s always been looking for that connection. He didn’t have it with his family. He doesn’t have it with any of his band members. In fact, he really has no close friends and no one who really understands him. That is until Caleb comes into his life. They have chemistry, but there is a whole lot of complications to get through in order to connect on a stable and positive level. Fears to overcome, boundaries to set and respect, and an understanding of what kind of future they each envision. As vulnerable as Theo was at the beginning of the book, his character does develop into a man with a lot more confidence and determination by the end.

Roan Parrish is an author that has been on my radar for awhile. I’ve seen many a Twitter and Goodreads friend recommend her books, in fact I have some of her backlist sitting on my Kindle waiting for me to dive in. I’m not sure why I haven’t made the time before, because her writing is beautiful. I love her descriptions.

Here’s an example:

"There is this moment, before the first note left my mouth, when everything changed. There was the before and the after; the quiet and the noise; the off and the on. It was the moment when I felt like I appeared, pushing everything that I was out of myself like the notes I sang were a strong-currented river, able to disgorge me.

I could almost feel this moment with Theo as he took the stage and let the music over take his soul.

Here’s another quote that I loved. This is during an intimate moment where Caleb is watching and appreciating his lover.

"He moved like silk and water over me, creating a rhythm, then changing it. I lay there and watched him, marveling at how the fuck it was possible that I was here, right now, in this bed, with this man, when by all rights I should be dead. The gratitude welled up in my chest and I pulled Theo down to me, kissing his mouth desperately.

Happy sigh.

Seriously, this is such good stuff. Not only do I plan on putting the next book in this series on my TBR list, even though I have no idea what it is about, but I plan on making time to read this author’s backlist. Riven was an emotional, sweet, sexy, beautiful romance and I can’t recommend it enough. Final Grade-B+

Favorite Quote:

"I opened my arms, threw my head back, and shattered myself to pieces for them, until there was nothing left.

Oh wow, this book! 🙂 I loved Theo from probably about the second paragraph, and I have also loved Caleb so much.

Theo is a wonderful musician, enjoying in everything connected to music, but not so much enjoying the fame. The band is doing great, but it’s not exactly what Theo would want. He wants to create music, but he also wants to be free to go outside and live his life without being cornered by paparazzi, by people wanting to talk or photograph him.

Caleb, on the other hand, is a musician that has disappeared from the public eye because he is sure only total avoidance of the music and anything related to it would allow him to stay clean, to not relapse. He is living his life in fear of a relapse, so much so that you could barely call it living.

Both of them are dealing with problems. Theo keeps feeling isolated, not accepted by the others, not even in a band where he thought he’d find another family. But the others have been together from the beginning and Theo feels he’s on the outside. Caleb isolated himself, as said before, to stay clean after another stint in rehab. He doesn’t have a good opinion about himself, convinced he’ll screw up everything he’ll touch.

They do have instant connection, but they have to work through a lot of other things to actually get to the ‘in love’ thing, as well as the relationship thing. They do seem to belong together from very early on. As Theo said, Caleb can actually see him.

I have read some of Parrish’s books before and had a high expectations for this one. And it did not disappoint. The characters were realistic, in fact so much so that I just wanted to find them and hug them both!

The dual POV was a great thing as well. It was different than in the other books by Parrish I’ve read but I loved the fact that I could see things from both of their perspectives so much. It gave me chance to get to know both characters really well, their hopes, their fears, everything.

I think by now, Roan Parrish has totally become another of the one-click authors for me!

Riven is pretty much the antithesis of the rock star romances I’ve read all my life, and I absolutely fucking loved it.

Despite my growing admiration for the author’s evolving style, I still I found myself entirely unprepared for the raw and decadent treat that was Riven. Quite simply, never have I read a book so steeped in musicality as Theo and Caleb’s story. Parrish’s gritty yet lyrical style was pitch perfect not just in describing the music, but the creative process as well. Not only did I love the way the author brought both heroes to life through their mutual love for music (and later each other), I was also hugely impressed and frankly in awe of the way this book, like its heroes, lived and breathed music.

His tongue was an instrument, and he kissed me like he was playing a song, coming on strong, easing off, building to a crest, changing the rhythm.

Gorgeous writing aside, I found that their story hit all the right notes for me. Theo and Caleb not only made sense together, they were absolutely perfect together. The very idea of Caleb, the “gentleman brute” paired with Theo’s shy, slinky self was too delicious for words. I loved the heat between them, their passion for music and most of all, their quiet ribbing that evoked just as much intimacy for me as their lovemaking. Their back and forths, coming and goings, ups and downs, all felt realistic to me, and the magic when they came together – musically or otherwise – took my breath away.

“Sorry. I, uh, I kinda pulled a rock star moment and assumed it was about me, huh?”

“Yeah, ya did.” He grinned at me, then knocked my hat off into my lap and ruffled my hair. “Guess I’ll have to fuck the rock star right outta you.”

The book opens with a telling glimpse into Theo’s mindset and the dynamics that make up the band Riven. From the very first chapter, I was immediately struck by how lonely Theo was, how distant he felt from the rest of the band despite the magic they spun onstage every night. I was intrigued by the group dynamics, then captivated by our heroes’ first encounter, but the moment I got a proper look at Caleb’s life, I was an absolute goner.

The way he talked about his life as if it were over. The way he spoke about music as part of the past, wistfully, like a lover who had left him.

Caleb was an easy character to fall in love with. His story was both bleak and beautiful, much like the nothingness he surrounded himself with. Committed to staying clean once and for all, he lived a life of exile, deliberately, desperately removing himself from all the temptations of his previous life, even music. It made sense to me that he went to such extremes to get clean but my heart broke for him because he was afraid to trust himself or his desires because in his experience, they always always led him astray.

He was the most in-focus thing I’d ever seen. And I . . . I let him in. Opened the door and let him slip inside as sharp and sweet as a needle.

Despite the respite and quiet joy that Theo’s presence granted him, I really appreciated that Caleb struggled immensely every step of the way and that there was a lot of pushback over the course of their journey together. Some readers might find Caleb’s story tedious or even angsty, but to me his actions felt all too real, borne out of desperation and fear.

He stood before me, so clean and shiny, the world at his feet. And in that moment, I hated him.

And the end result was in my mind, so worth it. I’d noticed that the author favors big gestures to reconcile her lovers. This doesn’t always work for me but in this case I thought the gesture was so full of meaning. By the end of the epilogue, Riven had me floating on cloud nine – no mean feat for such a powerful, intense read. Highly recommended.

Riven
By: Roan Parrish

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

Can Love be more important than Fame?

Let me start off by saying I absolutely loved this book. This was my first Roan Parrish read but will not be the last. I’ve read quite a few LGBTQ books and have really only enjoyed the ones that have the intensity like this book. I fell in love with Caleb and Theo. Written to show how raw and real people’s hearts are. I also loved that the author showed how organically two people can fall for each other.

Authors Blurb:Theo Decker might be the lead singer of Riven, but he hates being a rock star. The paparazzi, the endless tours, being recognized everywhere he goes—it all makes him squirm. The only thing he doesn’t hate is the music. Feeling an audience’s energy as they lose themselves in Riven’s music is a rush unlike anything else . . . until he meets Caleb Blake Whitman. Caleb is rough and damaged, yet his fingers on his guitar are pure poetry. And his hands on Theo? They’re all he can think about. But Caleb’s no groupie—and one night with him won’t be enough.
 
Just when Caleb is accepting his new life as a loner, Theo Decker slinks into it and turns his world upside-down. Theo’s sexy and brilliant and addictively vulnerable, and all Caleb wants is another hit. And another. That’s how he knows Theo’s trouble. Caleb can’t even handle performing these days. How the hell is he going to survive an affair with a tabloid superstar? But after Caleb sees the man behind the rock star, he begins to wonder if Theo might be his chance at a future he thought he’d lost forever.

I really enjoyed this book and it kept me engrossed throughout. I really loved the characters and the way they interacted with each other. This is a fun, hot, romantic must read book and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV my personal favorite this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕

Reluctant rockstar and the blues musician!

Theo Decker is a reluctant rockstar and hates the trappings of being the lead singer of a popular rock band even though he feels he should. Theo thinks all the members of the band are having the same problems with being recognized and not being able to go out in public without being hounded by fans. One night while Theo was wandering the city, he heard Caleb Blake Whitman playing in a bar and wandered in because the music was so different from what his band played. Caleb is a recovering addict and former musician that had crashed his career when he was more concerned with his addiction than playing his next concert.

Riven by Roan Parrish is a book that I will definitely read again because it shows the healing of two very damaged musicians by falling in love change each of them for the better. I hope I’m lucky enough to read the next book in the series.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

5 Stars

Theo is a “Reluctant Rock Star”, although he loves music, he is tired of being artistically controlled by bandmates and managers. He just wants to make his music, his way and while he appreciates the fans and what they’ve done for his career, the spotlight isn’t for Theo and he just wants the simple things in life, to be able to walk down the street and go out to dinner without being mobbed. Out one night walking the streets of NYC, between tour stops, he happens upon a bar with a guy and his guitar on the stage. He can’t turn away from the voice he hears, and when he catches sight of the face to go along with the voice, he’s hooked.

Caleb had it all: Love, great friends and family as well a successful music career, but drugs took it all away and now, after his fourth stint in rehab, he struggles to get by from day to day and stay sober. While he still loves music, he can’t deal with the lifestyle that comes along with it. He wants Theo, but he doesn’t want to be in the spotlight that comes with Theo’s career.

I absolutely loved this story. I adored both Theo and Caleb, although I kind of wanted to smack Caleb a few times. I’m torn with how I feel about him and his actions, because while I completely understand that being with Theo, no matter what Caleb’s feelings for him were, threatened his sobriety, my heart broke for Theo when Caleb pushed him away. But when they were together it was magical and they fit perfectly. The chemistry between them was out of his world and they were smoking hot together.

I loved that we got a good balance of their struggles, both as a couple, and individually. My heart broke for both of these men. They are both a bit lost, but together they find comfort, a home, harmony and it was a beautiful thing to watch develop.

The story was emotional to read, it was well-written and flowed well, and I couldn’t put it down. I was hooked from the first word and I can’t recommend it enough!

*copy provided by author/publisher via NetGalley for my reading pleasure, a review was not a requirement*

Wow...mad chemistry between Theo & Caleb! One thing about me is that I ❤❤ a good love story about rock stars!!!

This was my first time reading Roan Parrish & reading an LGBTQ novel. I have seen movies, but I have never read a love story about same sex characters falling in love! I must admit, I wasn't sure I would like it but I am so happy that I read it!

The instant attraction between Caleb & Theo was good. I mean, they both were musicians and HOT AS HELL (in the looks department)---what's not to like, right? I think the book did a fairly good job of explaining why "Theo was a reluctant Rockstar" but I wish the author would have have developed the dynamics between the band members more (Ven, Coco, and Ethan). I want to know more about what motivates them and how will they go on without Theo? Maybe, the author plans to start a series???

I also feel that Caleb was alittle one-dimensional, because I wanted to know more about his life (childhood, struggles with fame, addiction, and sexuality).

Overall, I felt the book was a solid read! I gave the book a 3.95. Just because of the things I mentioned. I would definitely suggest reading this if you ❤ rockstar's story like I do!!!

Caleb Blake Whitman is holding on. His music career ended abruptly when his addiction took over. Now he’s laying low, playing dive bars and trying to forget.

Until the night when a mysteriously gorgeous man reignites both his music and his soul.

“To open my grandfather’s door on Theo Decker had given me the blur like I hadn’t had in more than a year. All this time, I’d thought the house, the land, the trees, those ugly fucking sunflowers, had a clarity to them that my life before had lacked. But they all stood dimmed and fuzzy in comparison to the sharp edges of the man before me. He was the most in-focus thing I’d ever seen.

And I…I let him in. Opened the door and let him slip inside as sharp and sweet as a needle. I let him in because the idea of turning him away was more than I could bear. The quiet isolation of this place had been a necessary precaution; then a balm, when my every nerve was raw and each sensation felt like an amp turned to 10. It took Theo standing there, silver-snap eyes hopeful and sheepish, all sharp angles and messy hair and bitten lips, to let me feel. Really feel. And what I felt was a wave of longing so strong it nearly knocked me on my ass.

Longing like that isn’t born of lust, it’s born of loneliness. It’s born of lack. It’s born of knowing the depths inside yourself that can gape wide enough to lose yourself in forever. And it’s about the hope that maybe, somehow, something has come along that makes you want to turn away from the abyss and face the light.”

As the lead singer for band Riven, Theo Decker is known for his passionate performances. His androgynous beauty and emotive music skyrocketed them to fame in the blink of an eye. The world is his for the taking, but he can’t shake the feeling that there’s something missing.

In Caleb, he finds the intimate connection that he’s always longed for. It gives him the courage to spread his artistic wings and shine all on his own.

But his stardom and Caleb’s past may prove to be monsters that they are just unable to slay.

“With Riven, I’d had so much to hide behind. This…I wanted this to reveal something.

The track sounded different than the others, since it wasn’t produced. You could hear the bellows of the pedals as they were pressed and released, hear the slide of my fingers and the echo of the keys. As my voice came in, I saw Caleb’s eyes widen. I turned to him and watched him listen to the song I’d written for him. The song that had gathered inside me, that I’d held tight all these months and finally unspooled for him in the early morning light. The song that told him all the things he already knew, but in the language we both felt deeper than words.”

In Riven, Roan Parrish paints a haunting landscape of fame, addiction and love. Her characters are tragic in their weakness and stunning in their strength. It takes the story to an unexpected level and creates a kind of longing that becomes an actual ache in your chest.

Theo and Caleb’s story will break your heart and then restore your faith. And that alone is worth the price of admission…

I have read a number of books by this author that I really enjoyed and when I read the blurb for this one, I got really excited. I mean "rock stars" are a definitely a weakness of mine...Add the words "rough and damaged" and I am sold!! I couldn't wait to open this baby up.

Theo is the lead singer of the up and coming rock band "Riven". He really loves singing but being the focus of the band is not all it's cracked up to be. Theo is being hounded by the paparazzi and to make matters worse...his bandmates seem to actually resent him for it. To say they are close would be a big fat lie...

Theo knows he owes them all a lot, so he doesn't want to rock the boat, but he's so tired of touring and being famous...When he's out and about one night, he meets Caleb... at first not having the first clue who Caleb really is.

Caleb used to have his own spot in the world of music, but addiction got the better of him. He's been in and out of rehab multiple times ever since.

So far, the last time has stuck...and he intends to keep it that way.

These two have instant chemistry and even though Caleb knows he shouldn't he can't stop himself from responding to Theo. He should stay away from Theo though, because being around Theo and all that surrounds him, is a major trigger for Caleb. But how can he stay away from something that feels so right....

I really enjoyed reading this one, it was sweet and sexy and a bit emotional at times. Theo and Caleb really are lobsters ;)

An ARC was kindly provided to me via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

Theo and Caleb were endearingly complex characters and once I started reading Riven I couldn't stop reading until the last page. The storyline was both heartbreaking and hopeful, I couldn't get enough.

The well written storyline pulled me right in from the very first page and the well developed characters kept me hooked until the very last page! This was the first book that i have read from this author and it definitely will not be the last!

I received an ARC of Riven from NetGallery in exchange for an honest opinion. I requested this book based solely on the fact that Roan Parrish wrote it. I have been a huge fan since the first book I read by her, The Middle of Nowhere. And like the others, this does not disappoint.

Riven is the story of a reluctant rock star, Theo, who does not seek the spotlight. He absolutely hates his fame although he loves the music and songwriting. His wanderings lead him to an almost bar where he listens to a blues grass singer, Caleb, performing. He is a former musician who hit rock bottom through drugs; his current recovery involves hiding from the world while trying to stay sober.

The story is their interactions and building of a relationship. The writing is lyrical, almost like the music the characters are writing. My four stars, rather than five, are because of my taste in characters, not the story itself. I thought both were a little whiny at times. I know Caleb is recovering and trying to work on his own issues, but he was a little too selfish at times. And I did not like Theo's bandmates at all. They are minor characters but truly obnoxious.

Every single book by Roan Parrish is a lyrical experience and Riven is no different, so if you love books that read like poetry then this book is for you. This is the love story Theo and Caleb. Theo is the lead singer of the wildly popular rock band Riven but he’s not the big fan of the fame that comes with it. Caleb is a recovering addict but also a very talented musician in his own right. They meet and become each other’s muse. The music they make is amazing and the passion that they stir together is fiery. Unfortunately, their relationship beyond the bedroom and music is tumultous. Caleb feels that returning to the spotlight will affect his recovery, because the touring life is what caused his addiction in the first place. Theo, meanwhile, is just trying to juggle pleasing everyone: Caleb, his fans and his band. Ultimately, they realize that they are more happy being together than living the lives that others expect from them.

I really enjoyed this read, although that’s to be expected because all of Roan’s books are great. You’ll definitely want to cuddle Theo because he’s totally adorkable. I wonder if we will get to see more of him in other books because Roan’s books tend to cross over. I didn’t like Caleb quite as much, he was pretty grumpy, but that is understandable given the fact that he is in recovery and does not have a strong support system. I also wanted more backstory on the band, they were somewhat depicted as the villains but they weren’t bad at all, just selfish. I hope this series continues so we get to learn more. I’d definitely recommend this for anyone that wants a sexy rock star read.

Reading a book by Roan Parrish has become like "an experience". There is something in the way she weaves all the words together, making a sort of symphony in book form, and I can hear it's music all through my bones and deep into my heart and soul. I really can't tell you how much I love her writing. There is a lyrical way that her words flow, a way that while my heart is crushing with love and warmth, even in those difficult moments a character has to go through, I know that I'm safe and somehow held protected. I know that in the end I'll come out solid and whole, and so much better and changed for having read one of her books again.

With Riven, these feelings were tenfold. I connected with Theo and Caleb so deeply because of the music. The way they view music and how it fills their souls. I connected with them through their passion and how music made them, changed them, brought them closer to not only each other, but closer to their true selves. And I loved that.

I loved the give and take of Theo and Caleb. I loved the way that they spoke to each other through music, but also the way they spoke to each other with their looks, their touches, their bodies and minds. It felt as if the universe was holding them both just on the edge until they found each other and when that happened, it could let go and let them grow.

There are so many highlighted moments in this book. So many moments that I highlighted because they broke my heart, they spoke undeniable truths, or made my heart sing with joy. I'll never be able to adequately explain how this book made me feel, but I can start with this... it made me feel love. It's incredibly romantic, this story. Parrish has a way of weaving romance that feel effortless. The love I feel when reading these words had me so grateful. So happy. I love it. I loved it so much and can't recommend it enough.