Reviewed by Ro

TITLE: Rhett

SERIES: The Swift Brothers #3

AUTHOR: Riley Hart

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 250 pages

RELEASE DATE:  April 9, 2025

BLURB:

I’m the eldest Swift brother, the one who should have taken care of my siblings and protected them, but I’ve never been the kind of brother they deserve.

Both Morgan and East had the courage to walk away from our abusive father before I did, but now that I have, there’s no turning back. With that comes the realization that my whole life has been spent trying to be exactly what my father wanted, what I hate.

My brothers are moving on with their lives, and that brings Tripp Cassidy and his daughter, Meadow, into my orbit. For a reason I can’t understand, they both seem to like me. Tripp asks me about my favorite things, pushes me to figure out my dreams, and at thirteen years old, Meadow knows herself better than I ever have.

REVIEW:

Oh boy, Rhett’s book! I was very worried about this one, because he is so intricately tied to the Swift brothers’ father, Gregory, who is an emotionally abusive POS. Gregory has done so much damage to Rhett, and despite Rhett finally standing up to him in the last book , Gregory continues to contact Rhett to spew hatred. So, yes, I was worried.

Seriously, I didn’t give Rhett enough credit. He may be 36 years old and just figuring out what he wants to do with life, but that man is trying and he’s trying hard. Even at nine, he was on the way to a rough path. “What is it about me that pushes people away?” It’s heart breaking, and it’s all on Gregory.  Rhett avoids fun things with Morgan and their mom, because he is so desperate for his father’s love. Love he will never get. “I must study to get better. If I get better, people will like me, respect me, and maybe, just maybe, it’ll make my dad love me.”

The book is told in alternating first person POV of Rhett and Tripp, and I appreciated that we get Rhett’s thoughts because he is so complicated. The book starts with a prologue from Rhett at age nine, then at 26, then present day. We get the night of the kiss with Dusty from Rhett’s point of view at the age 26 chapter and he’s honest with himself. “And I…want to feel some of the tings my brother does. Or maybe I really am the biggest asshole who ever lived and I’m only doing this to hurt my brother.”

Rhett starts seeing a desperately needed therapist and after his first visit he runs into Tripp, Easton’s boyfriend’s best friend, who Rhett knows slightly, and Tripp’s daughter, Meadow.  This starts a conversation, then a dinner, and then a friendship. Rhett is very kind and genuine with Meadow, and he can’t help but see the difference in Tripp and his own father.

In previous books you don’t really get to see how much of himself Rhett pushed away because of this father, but here we do. He has quit his job as a lawyer, resigned from the mayoral race, and now has a secret workshop full of things he’s built. Because working with his hands and making beautiful things has always been what he wanted and what his father scoffed at. But now, especially after Tripp offers him a job at his carpentry firm, he gets to do what he loves.

There are so many bittersweet moments here. When Morgan finds out something and gives Rhett a hug. Rhett asks, “Have Morgan and I ever hugged?” And they both realize that “This was stolen from us by the man who was supposed to love us.” Because Gregory pitted them against each other.  Or when Rhett is making baked ziti for Tripp and Meadow, and it is so sweet yet melancholy. Even more, when Rhett is facing memories of his mom, he realizes she was also a victim, yet is still angry that she didn’t do more to protect them.

For me, the best part was when Rhett has a serious talk with Meadow. “Maybe it’s silly to feel this way – me, a grown man, getting confirmation from a thirteen-year-old that I’m on the right track- but that’s how I feel.” Meadow knows a lot about being true to yourself, and she’s a very old soul.

The development of feelings between Tripp and Rhett isn’t super quick and I appreciated that so much. Rhett has a lot, and I mean a LOT, of baggage, and no magic is going to make it suddenly disappear. That didn’t happen here, it took and will continue to take work. The very idea of being late for work makes Rhett break out into hives! Things change slowly but again, he’s trying hard. Tripp is supportive as a father, a friend, and a boyfriend, so Rhett really is getting to a better place.  But the scene at Gracie’s was absolutely wonderful and made me happy for all of them.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon