Genre: MM Romance
Steamy?: Yes
Cliffhanger?: No
Can be read as Standalone?: Yes
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

As expected, Roan delivers another captivating story with lovable damaged characters who find healing in and with another. I liked this one but didn’t love it, unfortunately. Roan is no less talented in this effort by any means - it just felt like things tried to be a bit too deep, to the point where I couldn’t get a solid grasp of what the true internal struggles were. Don’t get me wrong – I understand the surface struggles of addition and codependency but their effects on the characters didn’t feel clearly articulated.

But this was definitely a heartfelt enjoyable read that fans of Roan won’t want to miss.

I didn't know what to think going into this book because the first one was just ok but the second blew me out of the park. This one falls sort of in the middle, a solid four stars because it kept me engaged the entire time and I really wanted their story to work out well. The characters were flawed and they knew it. The ending was sweet and I'm glad they got their HEA.

A solid addition to the series! Each character’s background and history were so well thought out and every action they took in the present could be traced back to them. I felt that I really understood Felix and Dane so I was really rooting for them.

Such a gorgeous story.

I haven't read Roan Parrish before and it looks like I'm going to go and look up a few books after this.
An author whose writing makes you want to devour more is an excellent sign.

Reading 'Raze' was no chore. The words were effortless, lovely, and made me feel like I was being included in something precious, secret even.

We're in the heads and thoughts of Felix and Huey. Both very smart, very caring, very giving characters, and use to putting other people first.
Huey carries a lot of hurt, and seeing him deal with that pulls at your heart. Seeing as I haven't read the previous books in the series I know nothing about him, but it didn't take me long to figure out that he's just a good guy who needs his own happiness.
Felix is someone use to putting others first and with circumstances drastically changing in his life he needs to figure out how to want and dream for himself. He's also quite adorable as he navigates his pursuit of Huey and attempts to build a relationship.
Both of these characters are achingly sweet. Seeing them work out how to be together, learn to let go of constantly giving to others and be a little selfish for themselves, and build on their lives is really special. This book feels a little more intimate than others.

Huey's friends are cute. Their love and support for Huey is apparent. And their want for him to be happy definitely helps Huey, even if he won't admit it at first. I'll definitely need to read up on them.

The elements of this story are all rather unobtrusive but together they just captured me completely. Just a brilliant read.

Raze is the third book in the Riven series. The story of Felix and Huey was such a journey of love and fighting hardships that made their story amazing! It was great to see such growth and change with these characters.

I would definitely recommend this book and series to others. I can't wait for more from this author

I wanted to love this,I really did but something just wasn't pulling me into this.It started off promising enough but I just got bored and felt disconnected to the story.


Huey and Felix both had issues and I honestly got them,especially Felix.Yes,he might have been a tad needy and insecure but that's the kind of character I love.I really admired the way he sacrificed his own life and put his family first.


Huey just infuriated me.Period.I hated the way he treat Felix at times.Again,he had demons he was dealing with but I kind of became indifferent to them.


Have to mention the covers for this series.Honestly some of the most stylish book covers ever.


Overall,just ok for me.

This third book fits in perfectly with the rest of the series, both in tone and character, while at the same time bringing something entirely new. Huey has been around since the beginning, but discovering the details of his life was a joy. Felix steps into this series as compelling as any of the other main characters we have grown to know and love.

This review will be posted on my blog Jun 18, 2019 @ 06:47
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The descriptive bit: Raze is the third book in the River series by Roan Parrish. Huey is a recovering addict who runs a bar and has scheduled his life down to the most minute details. When he’s not working or working out, he’s sponsoring other folks from NA.

My thoughts bit: I absolutely loved this book and I haven’t even read the first two in the series. Let me tell you, I have just purchased the first two books in the series! That being said, don’t worry if you haven’t already plunged into the series, I didn’t have any trouble keeping up with the story. I would recommend starting the series from the beginning just so that you get to enjoy the story from the very beginning.

This book was a delicious tangle of love, angst, hurt, and passion. When Huey is working in his bar one night and sees Felix Rainey onstage singing karaoke, his curiosity is piqued. But the thing is, Huey has spent his sober life building walls and protecting himself from anything different, challenging or new. He lives his life as routinely as he can.

Huey is shocked when he finds out that Felix is interested in him. Felix is everything Huey isn’t. He’s open and emotional, young and vivacious and … spontaneous. Felix is the oldest in his family and has helped to raise his brothers and sisters. He’s a nervous wreck when he asks Huey out… and is stunned when Huey says yes. And thus it begins!

The romance between Huey and Felix was adorable and heartbreaking and I loved every moment of it. There was something very infectious about Felix. I loved the way that he struggled to say the things he needed to but was completely open at the same time. He was sweet and adorable and if Huey hadn’t wanted him, then I certainly would have willingly brought him home.

Huey is a complex character and I really appreciate the way that Parrish wrote him. I had a friend who was in NA and the realness of some of Huey’s thought patterns really worked for me. There’s been a lot of pain in his life and the way he found to deal with it was to cut off intimacy. So where does that leave Felix? It leaves Felix not knowing quite where he stands with Huey and wondering if he’s even being realistic about their feelings. For all his sweetness and loving nature, he’s realizing that he’s lost himself over the years because he’s been so busy taking care of everyone in his family.

The relationship between these two men is beautiful. It’s real and flawed and full of mistakes and fuck-ups and it’s so well-written.

An NA sponsor and bar owner falls for a man he sees singing karaoke in his bar one evening. Together they end up falling in love and helping each other solve their poor coping mechanisms. I adored this story and I really think the author handles potentially triggering plot lines excellently. While both characters are flawed their growth and humility were excellently navigated through the this well written story. Overall it's a warm yet heart wrenching story that is wonderfully done.

This is easily my favorite book in the Riven trilogy, which is now probably my favorite series by this author. Unlike the first two books, the focus isn't on famous rock stars and the music industry, but instead on two lonely people who are lucky enough to find each other.

We met Dane "Huey" Hughes in Riven as Caleb's NA sponsor, the taciturn no-nonsense bar owner who is always there for his sponsees. But when Dane falls for small but fierce Felix Rainey he slowly realizes that he has closed himself off from his emotions so he can be there for everyone else - and it's no longer working for him. For his part, Felix has also been a caretaker as the oldest child in the family, sacrificing everything while his mother worked two jobs so his younger siblings could have a stable home life. Now there's something, or rather someone, that he wants, and he's determined to be with Dane, despite a not insignificant age difference and Dane's somewhat off-putting tough guy demeanor.

When I was young, I loved the song "Lonely People" by America that started, "This is for all the lonely people, thinking that love has passed them by..." (yes, I had a happy childhood, why do you ask?). Parrish just melts my heart showing through dual POV how Felix and Dane fall for each other, and their early courtship especially is extremely sweet and occasionally awkward. Equally poignant is their personal growth. Felix realizes for the first time that he can plan for a future that doesn't involve working long hours in a coffee shop to support himself and his sister Sophia, but doesn't have a clue what he wants to how to make it happen. And Dane has been a slave to routine and ritual for so long in an effort to stay sober that the explosion of Felix into his life makes him question his future as well. The two have issues to work out, but I appreciate the way Parrish doesn't feel like she has to include any Big Misunderstandings or miserable, drawn-out breakup scenes. They take steps forward and back, like all relationships do, and even after the "I love yous" they realize they still have a ways to go.

I like a lot of characters in the books I read, but I don't always actively find myself rooting for them. Dane and Felix touched my heart because they were ordinary people who never thought they would find love and had to fight to believe they deserved it. Theo & Caleb, and Matt & Rhys from the previous books make a few appearances (Caleb dispensing the wise counsel to Dane this time) but really, I just wanted to spend time with Dane and Felix and watch them try to get it right. Thanks Ms Parrish. The lonely 13 year old me who thought that love had passed me by (fortunately I was proven wrong) thanks you too.

P.S. Adorable kitten alert, because there's nothing like a gentle giant with a tiny kitty to make the reader go "awwwwww."

ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for honest review.

I loved this story. Flawed and damaged characters are my weakness so I quickly fell for Dane! I found the parts dealing with his recovery journey to be so compelling. I feel like I actually learned a lot about how some people deal with addiction recovery that I never really considered before. Felix was sweet and sincere and I thought these two characters truly complimented each other in a way that made each character more compelling when we had the chance to see each of them through the others eyes.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It’s probably somewhere between 3.5 and 4.

This book is quite in the same vein as the previous books in the series - emotional, sexy, sweet and heartfelt. Huey and Felix are wonderful characters who have to fight their own issues and open their hearts to finally get to be together. It’s a lovely journey, but I somehow didn’t feel invested enough. It’s probably my fault that I kept comparing it to Riven, and I don’t think it’s every going to be easy to match that brilliant love story. This was still a beautiful read and I would definitely recommend it.

I've loved every one of these stories, each for different reasons and with varying intensities, and recommend them all without reservation. Just, pay attention to the rep and plot in case anything's a problem for you.

Huey, for instance is an addict ten years clean, but pretty severely messed up - and it's his own doing. Felix stepped up to help his mom raise his siblings and was so good at it that he fears even thinking about his own dreams. I liked every aspect of family represented in this book - the chaotic-happy, the found family of brothers, and the one that's broken. The epilogue is beautiful.

Really, read all three. Thank me later.

I was given an ARC, this is my honest (grateful, happy) review.

4.5 S T A R S

I leaned in and kissed him, because he was beautiful and alive and today I was a person.

Roan Parrish… is my girl. She’s built herself a cozy little home in my heart, and there she has stayed – writing M/Ms that feel like they have been perfectly tailored to me (Except for Rend, but we won’t talk about that). There’s affection and love, baggage and giggles, swoons and small moments of tenderness, and such a profound respect and grace when it comes to mental health struggles. I honestly do not know how she does it, but I hope that she never stops.

There is just something so special about reading a Parrish novel. Her stories are little pieces of lives that feel so real. I see myself in her characters, I see people in them. Her characters jump off the pages, their emotions and struggles overflow and spill into my hands and my eyes until they become mine, and I am so invested. That’s exactly how I felt while reading Raze. I was so caught up in Felix and Dane’s story. I felt them so deeply and I devoured the pages of this book.

I loved Felix so much. I loved that he wore pastels, shirts buttoned to the collar, and makeup. I loved that he cried and snotted, and was unashamed of his feelings and unapologetic of who he was. In a genre that is full of carbon copies of big, muscled, super alpha male characters, this is so refreshing. He was so sweet and caring, and I just really, absolutely loved him. Can you tell? And I loved Dane, with his quiet calm, need to be in control and his fears. I loved them so much, but what I loved even more was that I've read multiple Parrish novels and I've never seen two characters that are copies of one another. While this book also tackled addiction, the characters, with different life experiences and outlooks, brought different perspectives and ways of processing -- which gave a completely different feel and journey to a situation that is shared with other characters in this series.

Another thing Parrish does exceedingly well is relationship development. Parrish’s characters slide so easily into relationships and yet it doesn’t feel rushed or insta-lovey, but instead like the natural progression of things. And although this is a romance, with sweet characters and completely swoon-worthy moments, in true Parrish fashion it’s so much more than that. It’s an exploration of what happens when two people: with all their little life hurts, their successes and failures, their joys and fears and sorrows, come together and try to build a life together. How they need to learn to exist in a partnership, to be vulnerable and compassionate and learn how to fight with each other, and for their relationship, in a healthy and constructive way. I loved the life lessons and messages that were written in this one, they really spoke to me.

With how much I loved this, I did have one little niggle. At the end, I wish I felt more like Felix had changed his life for himself. Or I guess... gave himself more credit. I mean, I know that he wanted to change his situation throughout the whole book, quit his job, get a career, start building a life for himself. And he did this, I just felt like he gave a lot of the credit to Dane.. Who did support him but in the end it was Felix who put in the time, volunteered, etc. So, that's my one niggle.

Raze is full of quirks and laughs, heartache and struggles -- so many small touches of affection and tenderness that I don’t find in other romances. There is a level of psychological understanding that Parrish waves through her stories that blow my mind. She is seriously gifted and brilliant.

"Rituals are kinda their own magic, aren't they?" Felix said. "Maybe they don't do anything but them remind you what you want."

**Received ARC from Netgalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

Raze by Roan Parrish (out 2nd of July 2019)

I was a huge fan of Parrish’s first novel in this series, Riven, so I was incredibly excited to have the opportunity to read the third instalment before its official release. I wasn’t disappointed either.

Raze tells the story of Hugh and Felix. I feel like that’s all you need to know.
We met Hugh in Riven and I really enjoyed getting to know his character and more about his life as a former drug addict and now sponsor. Felix was, in my opinion, the weaker of the two characters, in terms of personality, motivation and honestly, he was a little frustrating for me at times.

Overall the central plot was not what I expected. It threw me for a few twists more than what an MM romance usually does and it was incredibly refreshing. I originally thought this would have a heavy music focus, but I found that I actually enjoyed the fact that it was only a small portion of the book.

This book just made me…happy. It defiantly follows a general structure, or formula, that a lot, if not all, queer adult romances follow but I don’t think this detracted from the overall enjoyable experience of the book and the romance of these two characters. I was also pleased to see cameos of the characters from the previous books, where they didn’t overshadow the current MCs.

As usual Parrish’s writing was solid overall and really drew me into the drama, not to mention the steamy sex scenes.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a somewhat unexpected romance.

I received an ARC from Netgalley.

<b>Absolutely adored this!</b>

I've been enjoying this series so much, and I will definitely say this was my favorite of this series so far - or favorite of the whole series if this is the last book of the series. The last two have been really good and I've enjoyed them so much but have been <i>so</i> angsty that this one feels like a breath of fresh air. That is not to say that this doesn't have angst and that it's a fluff fest, because that is <i>so</i> not the case. But it wasn't as much angst as the past two and it didn't have these two completely blow up their relationship before ultimately fixing it. It was a nice change.

Plus, I just absolutely adored Dane (Huey) and Felix.

Huey is the bartender from the first two books and Caleb's friend and past NA sponsor who is a past addict himself. His real name is Dane Hughes but he doesn't tell anyone that until he meets Felix. Before that for so long he was just known as Huey. Felix calls him Dane though once he learns of his first name.

<b>Huey</b> seems strong and self assured in the previous two books, but then we get to learn more about him in this book and see his POV and learn that's now quite the case. Huey, for the past ten years of being clean, has got a routine down pat and leaves behind an almost steel wall to hide his emotions and feelings behind so he doesn't lose control. He's been able to stay sober with all this routine and control, but he hasn't really been living, at all. He tried to have a relationship 7 years ago, but it didn't work out and he's been by himself ever since.

But then <b>Felix</b> walks into his bar, and into his life, and everything changes. Felix is 25 years old, at least ten years younger than Huey - we never get Huey's exact age in this - and he's the most beautiful person Huey has ever seen.

Felix is 5'8" with no muscles to Huey's 6'4" musclebound body, but Felix likes how big Huey is. And Felix is so sweet and so kind that it draws Huey in.

One thing out of several I loved about this? Felix asks Huey out. As in, neither of them pine away until they give in and kiss and maybe have sex as well, but he actually asks him out, in the most adorable way possible. I feel like not enough mm romance books have the two MC's just <i>asking each other out</i> and this was <i>so</i> refreshing to see. Gimme more MC's asking each other out on a date, just taking the plunge and not just pining away for weeks or months.

The angst was still present in this story, and it centered around, not exactly Huey's struggle with addiction, but how he could actually <i>live</i> his life post-addiction, not just acting almost robotic with the same routine ever single day to keep the addiction in check. For Felix, he's the oldest of 4 siblings and his best friend is his sister, the second oldest, but he always been taking care of them for as long as he could remember, what with their single mom working such long days in order to support everyone. Then when he and Sofia (his sister) were old enough, they got jobs to support the family and then it was just Felix while Sofia tried and got into college.

So Felix has never really done anything for himself, and in his own way he's not really living either, even if it doesn't have anything to do with any addiction, he still is afraid to live his life for himself because he's afraid he'll fail and not be good at anything. He's afraid of no one needing him and being lonely and invisible, but at the same time he doesn't want to seem needy. He's insecure, and that plays a factor in the angst these two share.

But there is no big break up in this, even if there is a few days spent apart at one point and have things to work on, after a few talks with friends and family and whatnot, these two are able to come to each other try to work on it.

I loved Felix and Dane's chemistry, from their first scene together. Dane is just a soft teddybear underneath his hard looking exterior, and Felix is the sweetest, kindest guy and they just worked together, and their sex scenes were phenomenal. They had such passion for each other and such love for each other and I could feel it coming off the page as I read their sex scenes.

They supported each other no matter what, no matter what they wanted to do, and after a hiccup a time or two, they were able to communicate well and learn more about each other and when to give space or not give space and what to do when the other was down or needed comfort. They worked so amazingly well together.

We do get to see Caleb and Theo as well as so Rhys and Matt sprinkled throughout this, so it was great to see them and see them doing so well.

This book was just so solid overall, and I loved all the emotions and the love and the relationships, and I loved Felix and Dane's relationship so much, they were perfect for each other.

Two massive thumbs up from me! Highly recommend, especially if you've been enjoying this series so far <3

I have never requested an ARC so fast in my life. Waking up the next morning to see the approval in my inbox was like Adult Christmas.

So, how did it live up to my huge expectations? It was good. Really good because, as we know, Roan Parrish's books are my fucking catnip. Well crafted, messy characters that I always really root for, very readable, (often beautiful) prose, a focus on the we're-together-now-how-do-we-make-this-work, intimate, unique connections.

Was it my favorite of hers? Nah. It's a little extra heteronormative, a little info dumpy, and every character gives the kind of really good, reasoned advice that sounds like they've been through years of therapy even if they haven't. The inner cogs of the writing show sometimes in ways that they haven't quite since her first book.

It's also all a little.. easier? than I'm used to with her books. But the plot never felt like it was stretched too thin, so that's good. And despite its minor flaws it's still a really solid read! If this had been another author they would definitely be added to the "read more by this person" pile.

I am a big fan of the author and of this series, and I was thrilled to get an advance copy of this one. Once again, she has not disappointed.

Both characters were strong, kind, funny in their own way. I really, really liked that Felix's strong emotions were not described as weak, not criticized, not portrayed as girly or feminine or disparaged. This particular gender stereotype, that men's emotional needs are unmasculine, is widespread in any kind of media in our society, but particularly in romance novels. Sure, Felix was uncomfortable with being emotionally needy, but not because he thought it made him less masculine or weak. Rather, he was concerned about being more emotionally invested than Huey, but that is an understandable, and less gendered, concern when risking one's heart

I did get frustrated that the two men seemed to get emotionally intimate without very much actual conversation. The reader was privy to Huey's extensive and insightful inner dialogue. That guy, sure, I'd fall in love with him too. However, Huey's character is terse and laconic, especially at first, so Felix wasn't hearing or seeing much. Thus I found it strange that he became so attached so quickly. I am all for two characters feeling a connection that can't be logically explained. However, this one didn't seem founded on enough actual interaction.

Other than that, though, I really enjoyed the window into both of these men's inner lives. I appreciated learning more about Huey's journey through recovery and the way that his coping needs changed over time. Similarly, I enjoyed watching Felix's journey as his relationship with his sister changed. When the "rules" of that relationship changed, it forced him to think about his own identity and his own emotional needs in a very realistic and compelling way.

I strongly recommend this book.

This unbiased review was provided in exchange for an advanced readers copy through NetGalley.

I was delighted to get an advance copy of Raze, and I think it may be my favorite book in this marvelous series. (That said, I haven't reread the first two recently, so perhaps I should remedy that.)

It's difficult for me to describe what's so compelling-heartwarming-satisfying about Parrish's books. I think perhaps it's that people in them care so deeply. They don't always take good care of themselves, and of course they make mistakes, but that passion (sexual and otherwise) underlies everything.

It was lovely to get updates on the characters from the earlier books and get glimpses of how they and their relationships have grown. Basically, reading this book felt like being wrapped up in a reassuring hug that went on for hours. I never wanted it to end.

4.5 stars; highly recommended

Felix and Dane just mesh okay? I am not sure how well I can explain this in a review. Usually the older and larger man that is attracted to the younger, smaller man (Felix) usually don't seem realistic to me. Where is the attraction and how can it work? With these two you forget these differences because the characters are so well fleshed you see them as people with strong and intense personalities and those factors become secondary. This duo really were perfect for each other but there is a bit of a journey before Dane realizes this fact.
Dane who goes by his nickname Huey owns a bar and has been sober from his life destroying addictions (drugs) for many years by owning the bar and not being tempted and keeping his life under strict control he feels he is able to exist. Meeting Felix during a karaoke night at his bar puts his ordered life in tail spin. I won't go over the details of the how and why they got together as it will be fun for you to discover this on your own.
The bottom line is what is more important just merely existing or taking a chance and truly living? This is the second book I have had the distinct pleasure of reading from this talented writer and I am waiting for more. Excellent story line and very down to earth and amazing characters. Happy reading! Shared this review to Goodreads.