‘I set about the business of learning what being lonely felt like. Because being lonely was what being sober felt like. Trapped, forever, in the real world.’

A reluctant rock star and a recovering addict and former musician; Theo and Caleb. That’s who we met and fell in love with in Riven. Two very lost men finding each other by chance when they need someone the most and discovering the music that resides within them both. Roan Parish wrote two characters with such depth and detail we felt like we knew them, heard the lyrics of their soul and felt their bond and intense attraction.

‘Theo, who would never assume that people would think he was worth paying attention to because for most of his life, people hadn’t.’

Theo, the lead singer of Riven is lost. The frontman for a successful band with adoring fans he is amongst people every day but never feels part of a unity, lyrics swirling through his head; an extraordinary beat drumming in his veins. We wanted to protect this musical genius; this shy and sweet boy. Vulnerable, gifted and haunted he feels as if he fits in, well…nowhere. Until he meets Caleb. When someone sees through your layer of self-protection and encourages your inner strength it’s hard not to want to be around them. Add a passionate attraction to the mix and you have a boy hopelessly in love with a man he greatly admires.

“I hate being famous. Being…me.”
“What do you hate about it?”
“It’s too…loud. Not the music. That’s the part I love. The people. It’s like they’re too in my head. Their voices. Their opinions. Their grabby hands. They want something from me you know? I don’t like them looking at me, – or it’s like they make me into this puppet. A doll. A version of myself that isn’t real and they can control.”

Caleb is hiding. He’s a recovering addict trying to avoid anything to do with his former lifestyle as a famous musician, afraid to fall back into a life of dependency. The night he meets Theo he knows just what he’s letting himself into so he runs. Back to the countryside where temptation and flashing lights don’t exist and can’t lure him back. He can’t forget the man he met though such was the attraction and need to protect. It’s easy to let fear rule your life but when love rears its powerful head nothing can withstand it.

‘The hope on his face nearly tore me apart. Because it was all for me. This man, standing in front of me, was dreaming a dream for me, and it was humbling as fuck.’

Beautiful writing, a unique voice, such depth of character and vivid imagery made this a wonderful romance that had every human emotion depicted in such an emotional and passionate way. Caleb and Theo came across as real honest and flawed characters that truly crave nothing more than a human loving touch. Their love story was lyrically addictive and wore its heart on its sleeve. Sometimes we find our home in the heart of another, we find somewhere we belong.

“Strip away my desire/ dismantle the star/ I’ll drag this bare body wherever you are.”

Riven is an emotionally charged, character driven story that grabs hold and doesn't let go even after that last page is turned. Oddly enough, this isn't a book I would normally pick up. I rarely read rocker romances and if it looks angsty, I'll usually shy away. We get enough angst in every day life, right? But, something about the fabulous cover caught my eye. There's just something about it that is almost seductive, and the description hinted at something more than the norm for rocker romances. More is certainly what I found - in spades.

Occasionally, we find characters that are almost defined by their flaws and with some, those flaws are what draw the reader to them. That is case with Theo and Caleb. From struggling with sobriety to finding out that fame and fortune aren't what it's cracked up to be, both have their issues to deal with and often feel completely alone in their respective worlds. However, the way they deal with those issues is part of what makes them so great together, that and finding their solace in the music.

I particularly liked that neither our lovable guys was hiding on the relationship front. They're both out and proud and that isn't a source of contention as is so often relied on for the big obstacle to overcome in these stories.

In the end, Riven isn't so much about the glamorous life of rockstar, but what happens after the lights have gone down and the crowds are all gone - the loneliness that longs to be filled by that one person who can make us feel whole. So, while it is emotional and intense, underneath the angst lies hope. It's wonderfully written and passionate. These characters and their love story is one that will stay with you long after you've read that last page.

When I heard Miss Parrish was writing a rock star romance, I was intrigued. That intrigue only grew once I saw the gorgeous cover of Riven. Rock star romances were my first trope of choice when I began reading contemporary romances years ago, so I’ve read a lot of variations. I’ve also read many of this author’s works, and while I’m always in awe of her ability to weave words and bring a scene to life, I didn’t know quite what to expect going into Riven. I shouldn’t be surprised, but I was.

Riven had just enough colorful descriptions, palpable emotions, and unique characters to set it apart from the standard rock star romance, while managing to keep the characters accessible and the story believable. Both Theo and Caleb had a bit of the tortured musician vibe and, despite being in very different places in their lives and careers, they understood each other incredibly well from the start- especially when music was involved. I loved their chemistry- both the smoldering physical side and that strong, easy connection that felt “right”. It was woven into the dialogue, actions, touches, and their thoughts, and I never once questioned these two belonged together.

Though the characters were broody and dealt with serious issues, I’d consider Riven a relatively low angst book. The writing flowed beautifully and I didn’t want to put it down at all. To cap it off, the ending was perfect. I’m always a sucker when a book takes an unexpected direction, and the major resolution in Riven did just that. As a fan of this author, I shouldn’t have been surprised Riven was different than expected, but it was and I absolutely loved everything about it, so much so that I fully expect it to remain a top favorite for a very long while.

This was a great story. Theo finds Caleb while walking late one night. They both love music. Caleb is a recovering addicted who has shyed away from Love and his love of music. Theo is looking for someone to love him. Caleb pushes Theo away, a lot. I had some issues with him on how he treated Theo. But Caleb finally learns that Theo isn’t his trigger. He finally learns that he really loves Theo and Theo loves him. What I would have liked is to find out is what happens to Riven after Theo decided to move on. I also would have liked to see them a little further down the road.

This review will post on The Blogger Girls on May 28, 2018.

Well, this was a riveting, but somewhat depressing, read. The story of a reluctant rock star, and another singer who was on the climb up, then voluntarily lost it all. But, before I get into my review, let's look at the cover, shall we. That is a work of beauty, isn't it? Now, where was I? Oh yeah, Theo is living the rock star life but hates it...literally, he just wants to play music and be ignored otherwise. His relationship with his band mates is strained, he is socially awkward, and not a little bit affected by his past. Not your typical rocker.

Now Caleb took the music life to the extreme and came out of it an addict. He loves the music, but he was killing himself and so the only way he could "recover" was to leave that life behind. So what is an addict to do when he falls for a rock star? These two were like oil and water...they wanted to be together but life conspired against them.  I loved the musical connection between Theo and Caleb. Music is what brought them together, what keeps them apart, but what ultimately created a bond that was everlasting, and in the end, love finds a way.

This not an frou frou read, by an stretch of the imagination, so don't go in looking for starry eyes and smooth sailing to that happy ending. Many parts are downright heartbreaking, and sometimes you will want to smack both of these guys. Caleb's fear of falling of the wagon was palpable. You understand the strain that being with a rock star, not matter how much he wants to be there, scares him to death. And Theo with his need to be enough for someone. These two have the stakes piled up, but they are both really good guys and you can't help but cheer for them to figure it all out. And when they do, the closure was perfect. Simply, perfect.

This was a mixed bag. It started poorly for me because the purple prose was out in full force. This author loves her words and she loves to use all of them at the same time. What could be said in 4 words, she uses 20. It kept pulling me out of the story and by 15% I was thinking about dnf-ing this. I liked the overall plot enough to push through and by the mid way mark it either got better or I became numb to it.

This story is about Theo who is a huge rock star. But he hates it. He hates everything but the actual music itself. He hates touring, the business aspect, the attention, the lack of privacy, etc. He feels guilty for hating it though and tries to push himself to appreciate what he has. One night while he's walking around NYC trying to clear his head, he hears music that captivates him and he finds himself walking in to a hole in the wall bar. There he finds the source of the music is ex addict and ex jazz/blues musician Caleb. The two men have an instant connection both emotionally and sexually. What starts as a smoking hot one night stand, leads to a budding romance.

It is part a romance and part a story about them figuring out what they want to do with their lives. Theo needs to find a way to be happy and stop putting everyone but himself first. Caleb needs to find a way to stay sober but incorporate music back into his life.

Their story is told in alternating points of view. I adored Theo. I loved the chapters told by him and I connected with him immediately. He was a great MC. Caleb on the other hand was a struggle. I imagine his trials and his fears were probably very realistic but he exhausted me. And every time he made Theo cry (which was more than once) I wanted to punch him in his fictional face. Thank goodness the author chose to do alternating pov's because if I struggle with Caleb this much while reading how he felt, I probably would have hated him if I'd only gotten Theo's pov.

I had high expectations for this after seeing other reviews and having a few friends love it. Unfortunately it was just average for me. The overall plot and the MC's had potential to be great but I couldn't get past the flowery writing style. It's just not for me. I imagine this won't be an issue for a lot of others though.

**ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Whew... that cover - seriously, that cover alone gives me the chills... 

Not just the cover either, but Riven slayed me in every imaginable way possible. It gutted me from the inside out leaving me there to pick up the pieces of emotions I shed during this read. Honestly five stars isn't enough to gush over how much I truly loved reading this novel. It blew me away. 

So I am sure you are more than curious as to what the hell made this such a spectacular read for me? Because honestly I can tell you right now this is fighting for top read of 2018 as of right now for me...

First and foremost the characters were a HUGE impact on everything. There was this dynamic that both their personalities played on the plot that really made everything perfection even before the chemistry was established, which was established pretty much right at the first meeting. Told from both perspectives of Theo and Caleb, you really get a huge dive on what makes both men tick. Their fears, their pain, what makes them happy - it is a multitude of all blends with some spice. 

Theo on the one hand is currently the younger man, living the dream in the music world but he isn't happy. And not your typical, meh moody broody kind of guy, no he is legitimately unhappy with being famous in the band. Like most of his life, feeling out of place both in his educational world and in his home life, and now in his own band world he still feels like a third wheel - a burden to people. Theo's story literally brought tears to my eyes. Every moment he broke down or opened his shell of secrets, my heart broke more and more for him. The urge to reach out and just soothe him was my biggest issue, I needed him to find peace with himself that he was worthy because I know the feeling, I felt such a connection to his character it still jerks at my heart. On the other spectrum we have the delicious and mysterious Caleb. Caleb was somewhat in the same boat, keeping many people at arms length, even himself due to his troubling past when he was a famous rockstar. I liked his rugged personality, he was sweet, had this ability to make you swoon yet question every move he made, hell he double checked and second guessed his own moves... 

I think this is what their chemistry was this all consuming passion. It was mouth watering with this haunting depth. Not just because of their shared passion for music. They shared such a huge empathetic emotion for one another that it was both crippling and beautiful in one round. Both men were immediately captivated by the other, almost obsessively but they constantly hesitate or they would overcompensate the situation that their relationship really struggled. I think for me, reading their story I felt that they had this push and pull gravity towards one another, but at the same time they weren't sure how to evolve together because they had such trust issues not with just their surroundings and their circle of friends, but even themselves. Not only was their relationship about finding the passion and love between each other as healthy and beautiful, but also finding that in themselves. 

I know that sounds oh so cheesy, but it is the BEST way I can describe what their romance did for me. The emotions that balled themselves from my chest were absolutely heartrending. Their everything was perfection - I am still reeling from it. 

I said it before and I say it now, this book ripped me to shreds. It was effortlessly beautiful writing dynamics with characters that took my breath away. Theo and Caleb were just this powerful connection that left me sobbing like a child or smiling like a fool. The passion between them particularly seeped from the pages. I felt their anguish, pain, laughs, hell their sexual connection was beaver drool worthy; everything about Theo and Caleb just surpassed my every expectation when I read this book. It is a phenomenal read that I can promise will be a reread constantly.

So I made the mistake of reading a review prior to reading Riven, and for some reason I got the impression that this was bleak and hopeless, and the characters were cold, so I was hesitant to start. I am so glad that I did, because I was completely wrong. I loved the book and the characters, and for me, this book was all about hope. This was a beautiful story of two people who were struggling alone, but manage to find their happiness. Now I realize that this is totally not the the,point of the book, but my one complaint is the epilogue. I was so invested in both the characters and story that I wanted more! I wanted to know what happened further down the road with Riven, and with Caleb and Theo, both personally and professionally. In any case I am so glad I read Riven, and will be on the look out for other books by this author.

***4 ‘Dismantle the Star’ Stars***

The cover was the bait. It’s stark simplicity drew me in and after reading the blurb I decided to give it a go because I like M/M and I like rockstar romances, so why not? And I was pleasantly surprised by Riven. Not, that I had gone into it with any true expectations since this is my first book by the author. But it was more than I thought it would be. There was a flow to everything that captured my interest and had me needing to know how Theo and Caleb would tackle their demons and get their HEA and in the end it all worked for me.

Theo is a star, but doesn’t really see it. He’s not entirely naive. He knows he has talent and that people “know” him, but he’s the guy that’s about the process and creating the art and that’s what I loved about him. He just wanted to be. He is also that person that doesn’t want to let other down, so he pushes himself and goes against what his heart and mind are telling him he truly needs.

Caleb has a lot of demons to fight and though he’s stumbled in the past, he’s determined to stay on the straight and narrow, even if it means isolating himself from everything that once made him whole. I really liked Caleb, even when those internal conversations ~ which were more like spontaneous outbursts of random sounds ~ occurred in his head. He’s sweet, compassionate and a man who is trying hard to be a good man, even though he already is.

Theo and Caleb’s journey starts off hot and heavy, but isn’t insta-love ~ at least not as far as I was concerned. Insta-Lust. Insta-Interest. Yes, but love, No. The physical attraction is there, and they are HAWT together, but their connection through music was even more intense, and though much of it did go over my head, the mutual respect and awe they had for each other was obvious. What I found the most interesting was how the power balance between them shifted around a lot. Sometimes Caleb was the stronger of the two, while Theo was in others. The dynamic was fascinating and I loved watching as they both grew as their relationship progressed and thought they fit each other perfectly.
I’m very happy that I decided to give Riven a go. The writing was engaging, the pacing was good and I enjoyed the dual 1st person POV’s. As for the supporting cast of characters, Rhys and Huey were the hands down favs, but my feelings towards the Riven crew are a little...tepid. I understood why they felt, acted and reacted the way they did to things, but when I look at everything, I just wasn’t that impressed, though if I had to pick a favorite it would be Ethan because, in the end, at least he tried. So, if you are a fan of character driven romances and like M/M romances and music, then I’d say give this one a looksie.

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

Thanks Netgalley for a copy to read and review.

Thanks so much for a copy of this book... I love this cover. Absolutely amazing...

I started this book and I believe I was so amazed by the cover that I did not realize this was a m/m love story. Not really my type of read, with that being said I did try to get through it but it's just not my type of book. Theo and Caleb have a natural affinity for each other and the whole book surrounds there music and this affinity. I don't know why it makes me squeamish to read about two guys but it does. So I'm not going to review this book anywhere else because I don't feel like I could do it justice. Thanks for allowing me a copy.

**ARC received via NetGalley for an honest review**

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I hate when this happens. I try to stick it out and hope for the best but this time I just couldn’t.

Going into the book I had high hopes. Rockstar, M/M romance.. come on I mean really? The characters has sex the first time they met and I mean ok.. to each their own. I just had a problem getting to know the characters and connecting with them. I also found there was a lot of repetitive text.

I wanted this to be good I really did but I just couldn’t finish. I feel with some editing this could be an awesome book.

I really loved this book. Both Caleb and Theo are damaged in their own ways and struggle throughout the book but they also both grow in a realistic way that I thoroughly enjoyed. Music is a huge part of this book and a huge part of both characters lives and I really loved how the music helped give insight to both characters. Caleb is struggling with his addiction and he has become aware of his triggers so he has cut himself off from the life he led as a musician which went hand in hand with his addiction. He's living a very solitary existence until Theo comes along. I loved that the two guys had an instant connection and grew to love each other but that love wasn't used as an instant cure all. In fact, loving Theo terrified Caleb and he had several times where he panicked because his feelings were so strong and he was afraid of how that might effect his sobriety. Theo struggled with his self worth and unless he was performing his confidence was pretty low. He desperately wants to fit in somewhere or with someone but constantly feels like an outsider and sometimes these feelings even cause him to pull away making it all a self-fulfilling cycle. This of course causes the majority of the angst in this book and if I had one quibble it would be that Theo forgave Caleb's push/pull a little too easily considering it happened more than once. When Caleb would push Theo away it was even harder for him given his lack of self esteem and desire to be loved and I think more could have been done with the ramifications of Caleb doing this more than once.

I enjoyed the characters, the emotions, the secondary characters and the writing style. I enjoyed reading about Caleb's battle with addiction and how realistic it felt. It definitely made me wonder if there was a book about Rhys and I will have to go look because it felt like there might/should be one.

"Ghosts of the past and hopes for the future were a dangerous cocktail."

Yeah, you guessed it. I found another rockstar romance that led me to a new-to-me author. I've found some amazing rockers and some even more amazing authors this way, and Riven was indeed #AMAZING.

Look out Roan Parrish, you have a new fan, so prepare to be stalked. I can't describe the experience of reading this story more clearly than by saying that you made me feel your words. You put me in the heads and hearts of your characters and made me love them, flaws and all.

Theo has been tagged by the media as The Reluctant Rock Star. Nobody can deny he's extremely talented. His fans and his band members agree that his songwriting, vocal ability, and concert performances are outstanding. It's all the rest of it that sucks. Joining an established band as the lead singer is a daunting experience when the other band members have a longstanding relationship and can finish each other's sentences. Talent alone is not enough to make him fit in and he can't help feeling like he's on the outside of that relationship. The question is, are they making him feel that way or is it all in his head? And then there's photo shoots, album covers, videos, and interviews. While his bandmates are excited and thrilled at the process and attention, he'd rather be home alone writing songs. While they love being recognized and gushed over by fans, he'd rather remain anonymous. WTF?

When faced with all his blessings he feels ashamed of these feelings. He has so much to be grateful for. However, there's some truth in the statement, "If I learned anything in this business, it's that getting what you thought you wanted doesn't necessarily feel anything like what you thought it would." Fan acceptance doesn't replace previous rejection. Record sales don't equal love and support. Being in the spotlight doesn't erase those times he was ignored. He feels alone in spite of rarely being by himself.

He heard Caleb before he ever saw him. His music called to him as he walked by a bar, at night, wearing his hat to hide from his fans. He was drawn to the guitar playing but once he got a look at him he couldn't avoid his lustful thoughts. Their chemistry was immediate, both musically and physically. Would one night be enough? It would have to be because Theo was leaving on tour the next day...

Caleb knows that Theo is the last thing he needs at this stage in his life. He didn't let on that he recognized him, but he knows Theo is the lead singer of the successful band, Riven. He's made a point of isolating himself, living a loner lifestyle. He doesn't want the eyes that are constantly following Theo to find him. But he wants him...

Okay, I set it up for you. Two sexy, talented, very broken musicians who suck up all the oxygen in the room when they are in it. The irresistible force that pulls them toward each other and the many very good reasons why it's not a good idea. But let me tell you, for such a bad idea, it feels oh so good to both of them. And as for this virtual voyeur, I give their performance two thumbs up. And I'm not talking about their music (wink-wink).

I really enjoyed the music industry details in this story. The songwriting process, the concerts, the touring, and the recording. And I really loved the author's writing style. I will most definitely be looking forward to whatever she has for her readers next. The line forms here...

I got what you’d expect from Roan Parrish, a great story, great characters and great love scenes. Seriously, these sex scenes are so incredibly steamy. She never ever disappoints and Caleb and Theo are to excellent characters to add to her already stellar repertoire. I loved that they were both musicians and I love how the both brought out the best in each other. I really enjoyed this one.

Riven is a wonderful contemporary M/M romance told in dual 1st POV. We’ve got a famous lead singer who loves music – creating it, sharing it – but hates the attention of being a rock star. He falls for a slightly older former musician (jazz/blues?) who is a recovering addict trying to put his life together again in a quiet cabin, surrounded by all the vegetables he’s planting as a way to refocus and give him purpose. These two have amazing chemistry, cute moments, fun interactions, and yes, fucking hot as hell sex. I loved these two together, loved seeing them work things out for themselves as well as work things out as a couple. And the writing! How did I forget that Roan’s writing is so fucking beautiful? She has a way of describing things that’s just . . . gah, I can’t even explain it – hence why *I* am not a writer! Just trust me that once again Roan Parrish delivers with this emotional, sexy, and beautiful romance.

4 ½ Stars

RIVEN is a compelling look at a pair of wonderfully real characters trying to navigate separate situations not entirely of their making. It’s soft and layered and almost unbearably sexy, with an excellent side BFF (Rhys) and a nuanced understanding of addiction.

More simply put, this book is everything I want and nothing I don’t.

Riven follows reluctant rock star, Theo Decker. He is the lead singer of rock band, Riven, however the vast majority of the time.. he abhors it. He doesn't hate the music, but he hates everything that comes along with being famous. Until one night he meets recovering addict and "has-been" Caleb Blake Whitman. He plays this dark, haunting song that pulls at Theo and they share this one sexy, hot night together. Unbeknownst to either one, they can't stop thinking about the other. The story continues to follow both men as they try to turn this love affair into.. dare I say.. a relationship?

I liked Theo as a character. He was shy, anxious and a klutz, but when he was on stage.. he was pure magic. All that stuff that made him a regular guy, just melted away and he became this genius powerhouse. He actually kind of reminded me of Adam Lambert (lol).

Caleb on the other hand, I hate to say it.. but I found him kind of annoying. Yes, I understand that he was a recovering addict and wanted to do what ever it took to stay away from the situations that made him want to start using again. However, it felt like he was constantly using that as an excuse and ends up pushing Theo away. Several times.

The dual POV gave an insight into both characters equally and it just flowed, like the story wouldn't of made sense if it were only told from only one character. As that may be, my favourite part of this novel was the cover. It's a beautiful, captivating cover that just draws the reader in.

Regrettably, this book just didn't do it for me. I felt nothing pulling me in, nothing enticing me to keep reading. I am certain this is just my feelings toward the book and that many, many people will love this one. If you're someone who is into M/M romance novels, I'm positive you will enjoy this.

Rated 2.5/5 stars (rounded up to a 3).

When you open a book and you connect to the characters instantly and they touch you deeply, it's already a good sign. If the story speaks to you then you are on a good way to your next favorite. Roan Parrish is a new-to-me author and this is what happened to me when I started reading Riven.

Theo lives everybody else's dream. He is the lead singer one of the most popular bands, Riven. He and his bandmates sell buckets of records and make a ridiculous amount of money. The problem? Theo loves performing but hates hates the fame that comes with being a superstar. On a short stop at home while touring he meets Caleb and they connect instantly through 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.***

Caleb is a recovering drug addict and a former well known musician. These days he doesn't perform anymore - too big is the fear to fall back into old patterns. His one-night-stand with Theo suits him just right because the gorgeous man is drug-material and he just can't replace one addiction with another. But the rockstar is nothing if not tenacious and a couple of weeks later he shows up at Caleb's doorstep, temptation personified and a delicious dance of push and pull begins.

First let me gush a little about these two characters. How cute were they? Seriously? On-stage Theo is a charismatic frontman who wraps his audience around his fingers. He captivates people with his voice and words and talent.
Theo had a way about him that got people in the palm of his hand. He was human but glamorous; effortlessly cool but vulnerable.

Off-stage he is adorably shy and awkward. He's also extremely forgiving but I never felt that he was a doormat. There was something very refreshing about his honesty. Theo doesn't know how to not show his feelings. They just bubble out of him and it's what makes him so extremely lovable. I wanted to wrap him up in bubble wrap and keep him safe because he needed somebody to give him love and safety. There were so many thoughtful and sweet things he did for Caleb, he was incredible.

***Out of nowhere, I felt my chest tighten and my throat seize, suddenly close to tears. In all of this, somehow, Theo had managed to remind me of who I was. Who I wanted to be. Who I could be again.***

Caleb fears nothing more than a relapse but he lets this fear rule his life. He stays in his old farmhouse and takes up planting vegetables and basically goes through the motions. Theo rattles something inside of him and it scares the living daylights out of him. Caleb pushes Theo away, again and again, and faithful, sweet and forgiving Theo totally has Caleb's number so it's easy for him to forgive the man he's falling in love with. Usually I get really annoyed when there is too much pushing away going on - not with Caleb. It was so clear right from the start, so understandable why he did it. There just wasn't a reason to be mad at him. His fears were totally valid - a relapse was a possibility, but little by little he realized that Theo was his strength and not his weakness. These two were multi-layered characters who had a wonderful and easy connection, in tune with each other.

Theo has some issues too but he loved with an open heart and had an astonishingly positive outlook. I swear to God I choked up a couple of times because his loneliness really got to me. Caleb's need for distance was really hard on him.

***Caleb told himself the story that no one could depend on him because he’d break their trust.
And what stories had I told myself? That I was unlovable. That I had to earn the right to be cared for. That unless I made myself indispensable, I would be tossed away.***


I found myself utterly charmed by the whole cast of this book. Not only the two main characters were delightful, Caleb's best friend Rhys was amazing too. It was so good to see that Caleb had somebody who loved him with all his deficiencies and flaws and was just a rock for him when things got really hard.

Riven is a fast read and kept me invested throughout the whole story. I just couldn't stop - I was riveted and enthralled, I hurt and was sad, I laughed and smiled and I was happy when I closed the book leaving Theo and Caleb in a good place. Roan Parrish has a beautiful writing style. The dialogues are actually very close to how people really talk. If you're insecure or awkward there are lots of uh's and ah's and um's. I actually liked that. But her descriptions were beautiful and sometimes beautifully haunting.

***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.***

Ms Parrish has a new fan. I will now go forth and buy all of her backlist because this was one of the most beautiful MM stories I've read. This book is written with heart and feeling - it's a story this author can be proud of.

This new book by Roan Parrish carved its way into my head and my heart and won’t leave! Both main characters are extremely well-drawn, and you understand their motivations and passions very quickly—and then you keep getting to know them deeper and deeper. The author explores both the driving need of artists to create art, and to find their voice…and also very realistically describes the challenges of being an artist in today’s market driven economy and trying to stay true to yourself. The author expertly puts you in each character’s headspace and makes you FEEL their pain and struggles, as well as their hopes, fears and insecurities. This one broke my heart a couple of times, in different ways, for both characters. I fell in love with Theo pretty quickly and was so rooting for him to be loved and understood…and then Caleb…wow Caleb got to me even deeper than Theo. I’ve never been an addict, but the author made me believe Caleb’s struggles. They felt very real, and so understandable…and so frustrating! This was a very emotional read for me…and then there was also this layer of incredibly HOT HOT HOT… Kind of blew my mind, honestly. This book is steamy, romantic, and emotional—and believable. I believed in these characters, and I hurt for these characters. Thank you for the roller coaster, Roan Parrish. I’m looking forward to my next ride!

A very emotional book but not without some really charming amd funny moments. I finished it in one sitting so it's quite gripping too. Theo is completely endearing and I liked that he very unlike any other rockstar characters I have come across. I also liked how both Caleb and Theo discovered things about each other. And how sometimes Caleb's feelings for Theo mirror the readers'. Overall it is one of the best romances I have read.