Rend: A Novel (Riven Series book 2) by Roan Parrish: New Release Review

After a whirlwind romance, a man with a painful past learns to trust the musician who makes him believe in happy endings.

Matt Argento knows what it feels like to be alone. After a childhood of abandonment, he never imagined someone might love him—much less someone like Rhys Nyland, who has the voice of an angel, the looks of a god, and the worship of his fans.

Matt and Rhys come from different worlds, but when they meet, their chemistry is incendiary. Their romance is unexpected, intense, and forever—at least, that’s what their vows promise. Suddenly, Matt finds himself living a life he never thought possible: safe and secure in the arms of a man who feels like home. But when Rhys leaves to go on tour for his new album, Matt finds himself haunted by the ghosts of his past.

When Rhys returns, he finds Matt twisted by doubt. But Rhys loves Matt fiercely, and he’ll go to hell and back to triumph over Matt’s fears. After secrets are revealed and desires are confessed, Rhys and Matt must learn to trust each other if they’re going to make it. That means they have to fall in love all over again—and this time, it really will be forever.

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Wow, this book was different. Riven was book 1 and I loved it. So when I found out that Matt and Rhys would be the subject of book 2, I was a bit confused. Because weren’t they already together?

Because this book went back to the beginning of Matt and Rhys- before Theo and Caleb even met in Riven.

Matt and Rhys have a whirlwind romance that ends in marriage fairly quickly. What we normally get in an entire book we get in 1 chapter. Because the rest of the book deals with Matt and Rhys adjusting to married life and what it means to each of them.

Rhys has to go out on a 2 month tour to promote his new album. But Matt has literally never lived alone. He went from his mother and aunt, to his aunt, to the foster system, to various roommates who shared the rent. And now he is totally alone. That will mess with a guy.

Matt broke my heart. This guy needed love so badly. But when he truly got it, he thought it would disappear. Watching him spiral down and not asking for help or telling anyone how bad he was.

And while Rhys was unaware, I think he also had his head in the sand a bit. He didn’t want to think anything could be wrong, because he didn’t want to lose what he had.

I really enjoyed this different take on a love story. Instead of ending with a marriage, this book starts with it. Because isn’t that where life really changes?

As always, Ms. Parrish write beautiful prose. I could feel Matt’s despair. To me, Rhys wasn’t as fleshed out as a character, but I think that the author just writes broken men better.

If you are looking for something different, but really well written, pick up Rend. I highly recommend Riven as well.

4 Pieces of Candy