Rend

By: Roan Parrish

Narrated by: Greg Boudreaux

Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

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.

Contains mature themes.

©2018 Roan Parrish (P)2019 Tantor

Not for Me

I have two problems with this book:
#1...gay men just don't talk the way the main characters do. "Baby" again and again is ridiculous.

#2...the main character (Matty) whines and whines and whines...and then whines some more. I had about 3.5 hours left when I pulled out my earbuds and gave up. I could care less how the story ended; I totally lost interest. Even the sex scenes became repetitive...and, of course, were usually introduced by, you guessed it, some whiny story.

The author definitely has talent, but this story was just meh!

Another Gem From Roan Parrish

The concept of writing a love story about a couple that’s already married is unique, but challenging. When I first heard that Rend would be about Rhys and Matt, a couple that is already established in Riven, I wondered if perhaps Roan Parrish was backtracking and telling the story of how they met and fell in love. Then, as I began reading Rend, I realized there were some flashbacks to their beginning, but this is a story of a couple almost two years into their relationship. So I wondered where Roan was taking them in this story. How do you make a love story interesting when the couple is already together? I was a little worried that outside influences might emerge to cause trouble for Matt and Rhys, but I should’ve known better where Roan Parrish is concerned. Inner conflict. The inner conflict that Roan Parrish writes so beautifully was enough to turn Matt and Rhys’s world on its axis. She’s so damn good at taking you into a character’s psyche and making you ache right along with them though their struggle. Rend is a story about two souls so deeply in love that they want to spare the other from sadness and pain.

Greg Boudreaux’s narration is superb! I like how he changed his voice to suit each character. He tells the story so beautifully and captures every emotion from joy to pain so fluidly. The ache in his voice during some of Matt’s more painful moments brought tears to my eyes.

I'll be short about this, in the best possible way

The book is great. Greg Boudreaux did a stellar job in narrating it. He is one of the few narrators who really add a dimension to a story, who makes the characters come alive. Five stars, all around.

endless emo

fan of roan parrish, but very disappointed in this story. it's endless, plotless whining about the same thing for hours and hours without end. yes he was in foster care, but it is not explored with any depth, just presented as repetitive angst regardless of the setting with the same lines and same examples. yes, we know! you eat cold chef boyarde out of the can even in you 20s, even though your husband for years offers you other food, even when you've had a full time job for years. How many times can you hear about the stinking cold chef boyardee before you say, "enough! you're a grown man. buy some other food or put it in the dang microwave."
i'm ashamed to say i listened to this for hours before trying to skip forward and realizing the story went nowhere.

Tragically beautiful

My God! It was just so tragically BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Roan Parrish, new favorite author!!! Like, EFF!!!! Greg Boudreaux, new narrator for me, excellent acting my dude!!!! Loved every minute of this amazing story!!!!

Deep story, AMAZING performance

This story is very heavy on depression, anxiety, abandonment, and other mental health issues. If you're not in a good mind space for that, wait on listening to this one.

That being said, this book was SO good. Matt's demons sounded so familiar to mine and it was gut wrenching to see him go through his pain. It was like the author reached into my brain and plucked out the heart of the feelings of my depression and put them all into Matt so I could know exactly what he was feeling. As hard as it was to watch him struggle, it was cathartic to see someone else feel things I've always struggled with. I know if I hadn't been in a good space right now this could have really broke me with its familiarity.

And as good as the story was, it was made so perfect by the narration. Boudreaux didn't just narrate this book, he ACTED it. Honestly it was one of the best performances I've ever heard. He was completely Matt and portrayed him so perfectly as the broken and hopeful man. You could hear how he felt it. There was emotion and laughter and it all sounded so natural and genuine... it was amazing. After hearing a book acted out like this I don't think I will look at narration the same.

What a disappointment!

I usually enjoy books by Roan Parrish - but I honestly couldn't get past the whiny nature of the character of Matt. I tried three times to get into the story but finally had to give up and move on to her next book.

All the stars!!

I have to admit that I delayed reading this story because I was afraid it would turn me into a blubbering mess. Now I really wish I hadn't waited. I found this story to be very moving. And while it didn't turn into the blubber-fest it easily could have been, I am grateful that the author took a bit of pity on us and kept the angst levels right on the edge. I already knew that the narrator, Greg Boudreaux, is exceptionally talented, but his ability to draw me into the psyche of each character (including the dog), of making me experience the ups and downs that each character experiences (including the dog), took this story beyond the next level. He handled the emotions of the characters, and of the story like a maestro. I don't believe any other narrator could have delivered this story so skillfully, beautifully, or as real.

Greg brings this to life

I read this beautiful book but listening to it was such an emotional experience. Well done Greg!

So many feels

This book is seriously freaking awesome, the writing, the narration - totally kick**s. My emotions were all over the place, but in the best way. I laughed, I had to hold back from crying, and then I laughed again. It was funny, witting, emotionally wrought, and so sexy. I loved Rhys & Matt and seeing Theo & Caleb from the first book in their eyes, hanging out with them, was so sweet. Roan Parrish & Greg Boudreaux brought these guys and the other people in their lives to life.
I really enjoyed the first book, Riven, and this one was even better. I can't wait to hear Raze when that comes out. (And I'm totally going to go back & re-listen to Riven, I want to revisit Rhys & Matt from Theo & Caleb's perspective, now that I know everyone better).
Seriously, get this book.