TEX HEX the latest story in Raquel Rileys Bitches With Stiches series is a beautiful hurt comfort story. What a terrific couple to end this amazing series, I'm sad to see these characters go but I am so happy these men got their hard won HEA's.
From the blurb:
The whole world is burning around me, and the only man who can put out the fire has me friend-zoned.
Tex
Twink. Flirt. Pushover. Shallow.
That’s what they see—a pretty face, a carefree smile.
Behind the crop tops and glitter lies a battered soul.
And there’s only one man whose touch can heal me.
But first, he has to heal himself.
Mandy
Pain is my constant companion—etched into my skin, buried in my heart, haunting my every breath. I survived the fire, but the scars run deeper than flesh.
Yet nothing hurts more than loving a man who only thinks of me as a friend.
Tex swears he doesn’t see my scars, but if that’s true… Why won’t he let me love him?
The Tex Hex is a hurt comfort MM romance between friends with a heavy dose of trauma, healing, and greasy chicken wings. A Hooters boy and an Army vet learn the only thing standing in the way of love is learning to love yourself. Book three in the Bitches with Stitches series. A continuation of the Scars and Stripes Trilogy.
Molly Otto's review:
This one hits differently from its predecessors is a beautifully poignant sort of way. From the previous installments we knew Manny had his self doubt from the scars he sustained serving. Tex for me was an enigma where you wondered what was beneath is sunshiney outside. Together when they take the next step you see both of the men grown in different and yet similar ways. Raquel did a beautiful job in showing not all scars are on the outside but hurt all the same. She has done another beautiful combination of humor, pain and heat when needed for the characters growth. These moments were added at the right time to enhance this story to be the best possible outcome.
Angel's review:
I've been patiently waiting for Mandy and Tex's story ever since their characters were mentioned in the previous books. Mandy has always been portrayed as this quiet guy who always shows up for his friends while also pining for a guy he hasn't gotten anywhere with... And while that portrayal in the previous books of him is technically true there is so much more to him that just that.
He IS quiet, supportive, and steadfast, but he's also struggling, he's worried about not being enough, about what people think of his scars, and some days he doesn't feel strong enough to keep going. He's been broken and wounded but with the help of his found family he's able to gain the strength to not only keep going but to thrive as well.
Tex in contrast is loud, bubbly, and full of lewd humor, he also has a killer fashion sense. He's also been through a lot just in different ways then what Mandy has been through. It hurt my heart reading about how much Tex has struggled and all of the demons he's trying to fight against. Even on the days when he feels like giving up he keeps pushing and trying. Both for himself, and for his family.
These two men make such a great couple together, they are different personality wise but they are also similar in some ways too. The differences and the similarities are what makes them work so well together, these two men just fit together. Their journey isn't an easy one by no means; it's hard work, trial and error, and its messing up but learning how to do better next time. Even through their hardships and their mistakes they continue to choose to keep fighting for each other, which I thought was quite beautiful.
My only critique is about the flow of the story, at times it felt as though there was quite a bit of back and forth. In one chapter there would be discussion on them focusing on their own mental health first before pursuing a relationship but then in the next chapter it was like that previous chapter never happened, And that occurrence didn't just happen once but several times. I'm not sure if that was an error? Maybe the chapters got mixed up somehow, I'm not sure, but those moments threw me out of the story.
All in all though I liked reading about Mandy and Tex's love story, and I loved seeing all of the last characters making appearances. My favorite part of this story is when Mandy and Tex go out to prank a certain couple... That scene just made me smile the whole time reading it and their mischievous nature was hilarious!
Tex Hex is currently available as an e-book, hardcover and paperback
Comments
Post a Comment