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bookschaosnart's review against another edition
4.0
I adore this story. It maybe because I closely identify with characteristics of both main characters but it is truly a well written and wonderful story.
**first reading**
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.
**first reading**
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.
bescobar30's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
notguilty's review against another edition
4.5
“Rituals are kinda their own magic, aren’t they?” Felix said. “Maybe they don’t do anything, but they remind you what you want.”
Ah man, Huey was such a beautiful and emotional depiction of someone who’s in recovery from addiction but is stuck in the loop of it. Following his rituals and putting all his energy into helping others. Until Felix.
Felix who is younger and a carer. He’s spent his life caring for his family, being their rock. They have that in common. But Felix also helps Huey see that he can dream again.
This story is tender and warm, and you’ll want to wrap them both up in a blanket. The characters are honest and very real.
I also love that this was dual-narrated. It feels so natural to have two distinct people narrate the story. Helps they are both super talented. Definitely recommend the audiobook.
cherryblossomreads's review against another edition
4.0
Virkelig god historie igen, men mange gode og vigtige pointer. Jeg har det så svært med den ene lydbogsindlæser - det rammer bare helt skævt for mig - og det går desværre udover min oplevelse af bogen og tør, at jeg har svært ved at vurdere den.... Så.. ja. Vi lander på 4, selv om jeg var ved at gå til 3,5.
jackiehorne's review against another edition
4.0
Parrish continues to write deeply moving, beautifully crafted romances centered not around melodramatic misunderstandings, but the everyday differences between actual human beings who are struggling with their own hefty baggage as they try to love not just each other, but also themselves. Bar-owner and former drug addict Huey, who readers of earlier books in the series will remember as Caleb's straight-talking sobriety sponsor, has spent the years since kicking his habit working to quietly take care of others. He's got a routine down that keeps him in control (grocery shopping/gym/bartend/listen to podcast); he's always on call for any sponsee who's feeling unsteady; and he's got all his emotions locked down tight. Until a much younger guy at the bar on karaoke night opens his mouth and Huey finds himself looking, and listening, and looking again.
Felix, like Huey, is a caretaker; the eldest of five, he's spent all his life looking after his younger siblings, putting them and their needs before anything else. But now that his sister and roommate is on the verge of realizing her dreams to join a rock band, and his younger siblings are all well on their way to adulthood, Felix is feeling panicked. What is a caretaker to do when there's no one left to care for?
What's so fascinating here is that despite both having caretaker personalities, Huey and Felix couldn't be more different. Huey (whose actual name is Dane Hughes, something he confides in no one but Felix) is a big, burly guy, shaved head, tough, quiet, self-contained, prone to one-word answers to anyone daring enough to ask him a question. He's effective as an NA sponsor because, as Caleb says, "you didn't let your sponsees' feelings touch you. I'm not saying you don't have feelings. Just because you don't show them doesn't mean I think you don't have them. But you were a wall, man. All the slimy, grimy, twisty shit we vomited up in front of you just slide to the ground and slithered away. It worked so well because it meant I never had to feel guilty for burdening you, because it didn't stick to you." But now that he's met Felix, Dane's starting to feel a lot. And that's not just amazing; it's terrifying.
In contrast, slight, short, pretty Felix is a sweet, burbling word-stream, unable to hide any of his thoughts or feelings. He's far from stoic, and is prone to the occasional pity party and hissy fit. And he's all about touching—a hug, a hand on a leg, a quick kiss, an earth-shattering fuck. And he asks questions, so many questions, when Dane is the one used to doing the asking, not the answering...
There's some disagreements and misunderstandings as Dane and Felix's relationship unfolds, which stem not from plot contrivance but from the characters' own insecurities and fears of being unworthy, a theme that Parrish has explored in the previous books in this series. Yet approaching this theme from the point of view of the caretakers, rather than the ones who seem most in need of care, gives that theme a freshness and relevancy that makes it well worth revisiting. Because sometimes caretakers care too much, and have to learn to take a step back and think about how best to care for themselves.
Felix, like Huey, is a caretaker; the eldest of five, he's spent all his life looking after his younger siblings, putting them and their needs before anything else. But now that his sister and roommate is on the verge of realizing her dreams to join a rock band, and his younger siblings are all well on their way to adulthood, Felix is feeling panicked. What is a caretaker to do when there's no one left to care for?
What's so fascinating here is that despite both having caretaker personalities, Huey and Felix couldn't be more different. Huey (whose actual name is Dane Hughes, something he confides in no one but Felix) is a big, burly guy, shaved head, tough, quiet, self-contained, prone to one-word answers to anyone daring enough to ask him a question. He's effective as an NA sponsor because, as Caleb says, "you didn't let your sponsees' feelings touch you. I'm not saying you don't have feelings. Just because you don't show them doesn't mean I think you don't have them. But you were a wall, man. All the slimy, grimy, twisty shit we vomited up in front of you just slide to the ground and slithered away. It worked so well because it meant I never had to feel guilty for burdening you, because it didn't stick to you." But now that he's met Felix, Dane's starting to feel a lot. And that's not just amazing; it's terrifying.
In contrast, slight, short, pretty Felix is a sweet, burbling word-stream, unable to hide any of his thoughts or feelings. He's far from stoic, and is prone to the occasional pity party and hissy fit. And he's all about touching—a hug, a hand on a leg, a quick kiss, an earth-shattering fuck. And he asks questions, so many questions, when Dane is the one used to doing the asking, not the answering...
There's some disagreements and misunderstandings as Dane and Felix's relationship unfolds, which stem not from plot contrivance but from the characters' own insecurities and fears of being unworthy, a theme that Parrish has explored in the previous books in this series. Yet approaching this theme from the point of view of the caretakers, rather than the ones who seem most in need of care, gives that theme a freshness and relevancy that makes it well worth revisiting. Because sometimes caretakers care too much, and have to learn to take a step back and think about how best to care for themselves.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
5.0
It took me far to long to get through the series and everytime I started with a new book in the series, that one became a new favorite. The romance between the two love interest was so cute, beautiful and swoony. Definitely need to see if my book app has more series from this author. Loved the way the characters where formed as well as the relationships. Kinda sad I've got no more books in the series to go through
jen286's review against another edition
5.0
Man, Roan Parrish is like my kryptonite. But in a good way. I love her stories! Like love love love them. Like cannot put them down and it doesn't matter what is happening around me I am reading and don't see the outside world love. Like feel all the feels and cannot get enough of them love. Seriously, her books are amazing. I only just found her earlier this year and so many of her books are now all time favorites. So many. She writes such amazing characters, people that feel so real and struggle as a lot of people do and they find love. They find their happy. They make me feel everything and I never want the stories to end. But they do and then I am tasked with trying to find a next book to read that will be even half as good as one of hers. It is a fantastic problem to have, especially since I can just go back and re-read these stories again and again and again.
Raze is the third book in the Riven series, but you don't have to have read the prior books to read this one. You should read them because they are amazing, but if you haven't you could just jump right into Felix and Huey's story. I loved these two so so much. They are so freakin cute together I can't stand it. I love their relationship and how they are when they are together. Gah! This story was amazing!
Huey is a recovering addict and he is pretty set in his ways. He doesn't really get involved with people, be it romantically or otherwise. He is very strict with himself, with what he does day in and day out, because that fear is still there. What happened and how he used to be is still there even though he has been sober a long time. But he is fine. He is paying it back tenfold and doing everything he can to help others.
Felix is such a giving person. He helps take care of everyone, and has for so long, but no one really takes care of him. He doesn't want to complain about anything or be vulnerable because the thinks that is such a baby thing to do. Like why can't he just be strong and fine by himself?
Oh my goodness Felix is so freakin adorable I couldn't stand him! I love love loved how he would be so nervous and ramble and just generally be adorable with Huey. How he could be himself and show Huey his vulnerable side. How he says what he thinks and doesn't really filter himself all that much. He was so cute. I loved him so much.
And Huey? Oh, kill me now. I love the strong, silent types. The big gruff guys who are super sweet teddy bears inside. Huey isn't used to talking, isn't used to emotions and being connected to someone else. He isn't used to a lot of things anymore, but Felix makes him want to try. Makes him do things he wouldn't normally do. Breaks him out of his shell and gets him back into the world. These two were amazing together. I loved reading both of them and how they think about things. My heart hurt for them, but then was so so full once they figure things out. I adored how they talk things out. How Felix understands Huey and Huey Felix. How they talk about what they need when certain things happen. How they love each other. This book was amazing. These characters were so sweet and kind and everything. I loved them, I loved this story.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book for voluntary review consideration
Raze is the third book in the Riven series, but you don't have to have read the prior books to read this one. You should read them because they are amazing, but if you haven't you could just jump right into Felix and Huey's story. I loved these two so so much. They are so freakin cute together I can't stand it. I love their relationship and how they are when they are together. Gah! This story was amazing!
Huey is a recovering addict and he is pretty set in his ways. He doesn't really get involved with people, be it romantically or otherwise. He is very strict with himself, with what he does day in and day out, because that fear is still there. What happened and how he used to be is still there even though he has been sober a long time. But he is fine. He is paying it back tenfold and doing everything he can to help others.
Felix is such a giving person. He helps take care of everyone, and has for so long, but no one really takes care of him. He doesn't want to complain about anything or be vulnerable because the thinks that is such a baby thing to do. Like why can't he just be strong and fine by himself?
Oh my goodness Felix is so freakin adorable I couldn't stand him! I love love loved how he would be so nervous and ramble and just generally be adorable with Huey. How he could be himself and show Huey his vulnerable side. How he says what he thinks and doesn't really filter himself all that much. He was so cute. I loved him so much.
And Huey? Oh, kill me now. I love the strong, silent types. The big gruff guys who are super sweet teddy bears inside. Huey isn't used to talking, isn't used to emotions and being connected to someone else. He isn't used to a lot of things anymore, but Felix makes him want to try. Makes him do things he wouldn't normally do. Breaks him out of his shell and gets him back into the world. These two were amazing together. I loved reading both of them and how they think about things. My heart hurt for them, but then was so so full once they figure things out. I adored how they talk things out. How Felix understands Huey and Huey Felix. How they talk about what they need when certain things happen. How they love each other. This book was amazing. These characters were so sweet and kind and everything. I loved them, I loved this story.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book for voluntary review consideration
alexisisreading's review against another edition
4.0
It's the end of an era :( I will miss this universe and all the characters!
I know people had some mixed feelings about this one but I didn't mind it! I though Huey and Felix were good together. I looove when characters have a nickname that everyone calls them except their lover calls them their real name. All of Huey's friends being like "Wait, your name is Dane?" was so funny. I liked Felix a lot. I thought he had a good personality that worked well with Dane's stoicness. Dane is a recovering addict as well and he used to be Caleb's sponsor. Dane plans his days down to the minute as sticking to his routine is vital for him to keep his sobriety. He is also a sponsor for about 3 sponsees and often has to cancel plans with Felix in order to respond to crises. This causes a lot of frustration with Felix who does a lot on his own and feels abandoned by his sister who recently got an opportunity to join the band Riven.
He makes me feel alive. Like I’ve been asleep this whole time. Frozen. Just marking time. He makes me feel like I could have more.
Felix messes up Dane's routine but I mean it in a good way. Dane was surviving but he wasn't living and I really liked getting to read his journey of "unfreezing". I definitely felt like the couples in the previous two books had a bit of a stronger connection but I think Dane and Felix worked well in their own way.
I was living. We were together. We were home.
I know people had some mixed feelings about this one but I didn't mind it! I though Huey and Felix were good together. I looove when characters have a nickname that everyone calls them except their lover calls them their real name. All of Huey's friends being like "Wait, your name is Dane?" was so funny. I liked Felix a lot. I thought he had a good personality that worked well with Dane's stoicness. Dane is a recovering addict as well and he used to be Caleb's sponsor. Dane plans his days down to the minute as sticking to his routine is vital for him to keep his sobriety. He is also a sponsor for about 3 sponsees and often has to cancel plans with Felix in order to respond to crises. This causes a lot of frustration with Felix who does a lot on his own and feels abandoned by his sister who recently got an opportunity to join the band Riven.
He makes me feel alive. Like I’ve been asleep this whole time. Frozen. Just marking time. He makes me feel like I could have more.
Felix messes up Dane's routine but I mean it in a good way. Dane was surviving but he wasn't living and I really liked getting to read his journey of "unfreezing". I definitely felt like the couples in the previous two books had a bit of a stronger connection but I think Dane and Felix worked well in their own way.
I was living. We were together. We were home.
joyousreads132's review against another edition
4.0
I can always count of Roan Parrish to deliver stories with a lot of heat and plenty of heart. Raze, the third installment to her Riven series, is yet another testament to this fact.
Here, we get the story of Huey, the AA sponsor extraordinaire who owns and runs a bar of all places. Not only is he a former addict himself, but he managed to become an anchor for a few who continues to fight their demons day in and day out. Though at some days, he too, has his demons to fight. But through a rigorous routine and living a life free from emotional entanglements, Huey has managed the life of sobriety for the last ten years. Albeit, a lonely one at that.
Along come Felix; a guy who is about to shatter Huey’s carefully created world. Huey was not ready for Felix’ sunny disposition, but he couldn’t help but be drawn in regardless. These two souls didn’t know it at first, but they — in their own ways, needed each other’s help to break free from the doldrums of their existence.
I love how different they are. Huey’s quiet but imposing personality matches well with Felix’ happy-go-lucky friendliness. However, they have being nurturers in common. Felix has been the caretaker of his family – his mom and his sister. While Huey has taken care of anyone who needed the support during their weakest moments. Unfortunately, the years of being everyone’s pillar and support, and his predisposition to help others becomes yet another weakness he had to overcome.
Felix had so much insecurities that held him back. He just didn’t think he has a lot to offer to anyone. Once he was freed from his family responsibilities he was able to step back and reassess what he wants to do with his life. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as easy. The usual insecurities plagued him.
I’ve been enjoying this series a whole lot. I’m not always aware when they come out, but when I see it, it’s an instant download. I guess you can say that Roan Parrish is my go-to author for M/M romance.
Here, we get the story of Huey, the AA sponsor extraordinaire who owns and runs a bar of all places. Not only is he a former addict himself, but he managed to become an anchor for a few who continues to fight their demons day in and day out. Though at some days, he too, has his demons to fight. But through a rigorous routine and living a life free from emotional entanglements, Huey has managed the life of sobriety for the last ten years. Albeit, a lonely one at that.
Along come Felix; a guy who is about to shatter Huey’s carefully created world. Huey was not ready for Felix’ sunny disposition, but he couldn’t help but be drawn in regardless. These two souls didn’t know it at first, but they — in their own ways, needed each other’s help to break free from the doldrums of their existence.
I love how different they are. Huey’s quiet but imposing personality matches well with Felix’ happy-go-lucky friendliness. However, they have being nurturers in common. Felix has been the caretaker of his family – his mom and his sister. While Huey has taken care of anyone who needed the support during their weakest moments. Unfortunately, the years of being everyone’s pillar and support, and his predisposition to help others becomes yet another weakness he had to overcome.
Felix had so much insecurities that held him back. He just didn’t think he has a lot to offer to anyone. Once he was freed from his family responsibilities he was able to step back and reassess what he wants to do with his life. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as easy. The usual insecurities plagued him.
I’ve been enjoying this series a whole lot. I’m not always aware when they come out, but when I see it, it’s an instant download. I guess you can say that Roan Parrish is my go-to author for M/M romance.
scorpisoph's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars! will I ever read a roan parrish book that I won’t like? I don’t think so