Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: The Tex Hex
SERIES: Bitches with Stitches #3
AUTHOR: Raquel Riley
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 288 Pages
RELEASE DATE: September 30, 2025
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.
REVIEW:
Armando, aka Mandy, was a military demolitions expert before being blown up. Also ex-military, Tex is a recovering addict whose carefree attitude masks vulnerability and a world of hurt. Both believe that the person under the mask is unlovable.
The Tex Hex is the third book in the Bitches With Stitches series. It is hard-hitting, graphic, and sometimes repetitive because it is human nature that, when we know something isn’t right, we revisit it repeatedly, allowing little revelations to occur until we’re ready to act or come to terms with what has happened.
The story is told in the first person from the viewpoints of Tex and Mandy. The prologue depicts Mandy being blown up and the accompanying sensations. These were traumatic to read, which immediately pulls the reader into the realm of reality over fantasy. Throughout, dry, sarcastic, and sassy humor is used to great effect, adding an element of levity that helps both the reader and characters navigate the journey. Cookouts and other social occasions are used to help the characters realize that they are not alone.
Compared to many, Tex had a very different experience of the army. His trauma isn’t as visual, yet no less real than Mandy’s or any of the other characters. However, his masks are less easily seen by others, while inside he falls to pieces. Just because people can’t see his damage doesn’t mean it’s not there.
Tex and Mandy love one another, but invisible obstacles block their path. Therapy and a sound support system help show them a way to deal with their individual trauma while finding their way to each other. Still, it is up to them to take the steps.
The Tex Hex is an emotional and raw experience. Tex and Mandy are afraid to love and be loved. The words felt very real to read, and I couldn’t help feeling for these men. The journey helps everyone within the sphere of this story come to terms with the fact that you don’t have to succeed; simply trying can be enough.
RATING: 
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