Release Blitz: The Tex Hex: Raquel Riley
(Bitches with Stitches #3)
Expected September 30, 2025
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.
I have been awaiting Mandy‘s book since the beginning of the Proof of Life series and all through the Bitches With Stitches spin-off series...and it did not disappoint. Mandy has been through hell and back so many times and has the scars and self-worth issues to prove it. He is big, burly, scarred, and his tough outer armor hides a damaged heart, fear, and pain.
Tex is also ex-military, but also an ex addict and current Hooters boy who lights up the room and also lights up Mandy‘s heart and world. He’s smaller, fabulous, fashionable, bold, flirty, and sassy. He has his own walls up and his own past trauma.
Mandy can see the pain in his eyes that Tex tries to hide. And Tex can see beyond Mandy's scars to the man who just wants to love and be loved.
These two dance around each other for so long, with both of them afraid to push the other or cause damage to their fragile friendship and connection. They’re both afraid of showing their biggest, darkest hidden pain and secrets, and afraid of rejection and losing the fragile hope that there could ever be something more. The tension, push and pull, and intensity of their crushes had my heart invested throughout. I just loved them together.
I enjoyed seeing these two gradually begin to show their deepest vulnerabilities and receive the care, understanding, and support they were never sure was even possible. I loved seeing their connection deepen, both emotionally and eventually physically. This is an emotional, heartfelt, and inspirational hurt-comfort and slow-burn-into-sweet-and-passionate-lovers story. They both felt like they were broken and unworthy, but in each other‘s eyes, they were strong, brave, survivors, and imperfectly perfect. They are such a wonderful match even though they seem like such opposites, but I loved their grumpy-sunshine, Big-little contrast.
Mandy can see the pain in his eyes that Tex tries to hide. And Tex can see beyond Mandy's scars to the man who just wants to love and be loved.
These two dance around each other for so long, with both of them afraid to push the other or cause damage to their fragile friendship and connection. They’re both afraid of showing their biggest, darkest hidden pain and secrets, and afraid of rejection and losing the fragile hope that there could ever be something more. The tension, push and pull, and intensity of their crushes had my heart invested throughout. I just loved them together.
I enjoyed seeing these two gradually begin to show their deepest vulnerabilities and receive the care, understanding, and support they were never sure was even possible. I loved seeing their connection deepen, both emotionally and eventually physically. This is an emotional, heartfelt, and inspirational hurt-comfort and slow-burn-into-sweet-and-passionate-lovers story. They both felt like they were broken and unworthy, but in each other‘s eyes, they were strong, brave, survivors, and imperfectly perfect. They are such a wonderful match even though they seem like such opposites, but I loved their grumpy-sunshine, Big-little contrast.
Ultimately, these two linked series have been about friendship, brotherhood, and found family. Their support system became life-changing and life-saving to this group of ex miltary men and I have loved seeing them find their partners and learn to live and thrive rather than just survive. I am going to miss this group of guys so much.
It’s funny how you can wake up one day and realize that everything you’ve ever wanted has been right in front of your face all along.
McCormick
I’ve had some dark days.
The day I lost my leg.
The day I took a handful of innocent lives.
The day I watched my buddy take his life because he couldn’t live with the consequences of our actions.
They haunt me late at night. I hear them cry out for help.
The only things that quiet the voices; My motorcycle, knitting, and my buddies—Stiles in particular. He’s always there when I need him, and when I don’t.
But the loneliness lingers, and it hurts sometimes.
Stiles
I gave seven years to the Army, and in return, they took my memories. I got caught in the backlash of a land mine that caused a loss of my short-term memory function. I forget little things like appointments, and whether or not I forgot to turn off the stove or lock the door. But kissing my best friend? That’s a huge thing, something I’m not likely to forget.
Another huge thing I can’t forget? That I’m a straight man who doesn’t kiss men.
It’s too bad I’m not attracted to guys because we would be perfect together. In fact, I think we could make it work, as long as he doesn’t make it weird. But… Fuck, McCormick makes everything weird.
Hot Doggin’ is the first Bitches with Stitches novel and is a continuation of the Scars and Stripes
Trilogy. Best friends to lovers | Past trauma/hurt comfort | PTSD/disability/amputee | Motorcycle club | Double bi awakening | Found family | Bad ass men who knit | Stupid hot dog jokes
Bitches With Stitches were introduced in the Scars and Stripes series.
Coming in Hot
(Bitches With Stitches #2)
Amazon
Kim's 4.5 star review
Kim's 4.5 star review
When a friendship sours and tempers flare, everything heats up.
Pharo-
Responsibility for human lives is the heaviest burden to bear, and it’s not something I ever want to shoulder again.
Jax used to respect me when he was under my command. Now, I can’t even pay him to breathe the same air as me. His hatred runs deep, but it’s misplaced—and frankly, I’m tired of being the target of his scorn.
Enough is enough. It’s time to show him how wrong he is—by reason or force. I shouldn’t be looking forward to this so much.
Jax-
If you can’t lead... don’t. But Pharo did. He took command of a team he never should have been responsible for, and I lost my best friend because of his bad judgment. I’ve spent years making sure he never forgets the pain he caused, and he’s spent years avoiding responsibility.
But Pharo isn’t running anymore. And I’m learning the only thing sweeter than revenge is the taste of his mouth.
Coming In Hot is the second book in the Bitches With Stitches series. A connected work of the Scars and Stripes Trilogy. Enemies to lovers, found family, action, hurt comfort, and badass men who knit.
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Bitches with Stitches series is a spin off of Scars and Stripes seriesGraphic from author's Facebook group
Proof Of Life
The Darkness Within
Warriors Walk
Raquel Riley is a native of South Florida but now calls North Carolina home. She is an avid reader and loves to travel. Most often, she writes gay romance stories with an HEA but characters of all types can be found in her books. Raquel weaves pieces of herself, her family, and her travels into every story she writes.
Stop by her author page on Facebook for the exclusive updates, new releases, and excerpts of her current work in progress. You can also visit Raquel and her characters from Cooper’s Cove in her Facebook reader group Raquel Riley’s Romantics.
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