Raze

This is easily my favorite book in the [b:Riven 36135552 Riven (Riven, #1) Roan Parrish https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1504270186s/36135552.jpg 57734745] 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 ordinary, 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 the 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.

It's probably somewhere around 3.5.

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 ever going to be easy to match that brilliant love story. This was still a beautiful read and I would definitely recommend it.