This was freaking beautiful. An unexpected, emotional, gut-wrenching gem of a book, and by far, my favourite Roan Parrish novel, at least to date.

When I first read "In the Middle of Somewhere" I wasn't totally sure I'd be able to, or want to, read Colin's story: there were a few things about that book I wasn't keen on, and I was also 100% certain Roan Parrish couldn't actually make Colin likable, let alone make me root for him and his HEA. But yeah, colour me extremely shocked, but she did just that. Not only was I rooting for Colin from the very start, I was (and still am) ready to take up arms for him and fight anybody who's ever hurt him, Daniel and Rex and Ginger and his family included. Yes, I know, he's made a mess of things and he's been a horrible brother and human; no, I don't care, because he deserves all the happiness in the world, and no, I won't be taking questions. 
His redemption story was handled beautifully: seeing him start making amends and trying to be a better person, a better brother (and a better boyfriend) was absolutely pricelesss.

Colin Mulligan is precisely why I love reading romances so much. He's a total mess; a vicious, reckless, idiotic, self-loathing mess of a human and I still loved him so, so much, sharp edges, glaring flaws and all. Witnessing his journey ,from horrific self-loathing and boiling shame to a slow (and unsure) acceptance to finally being able to love and live freely, was absolutely priceless and if I think about it, I still feel my heart splintering for him.

Rafe was the perfect partner for Colin; in many, many ways, they're complete opposites, but Rafe also contains all the hurt and darkness and violence Colin is fighting against. He understood him completely, and he was so damn patient and protective, so respectful... just, the most swoonworthy person ever. I loved Rafe to bits, and their love story had me in a chokehold from the very, very start: their dynamic, the way Colin was so needy and desperate for Rafe, and the way Rafe actually reveled in that neediness, and in his own need to protect and shield Colin, everything about them was just excellent, perfect, lovely.

I'm actually sorely tempted to read book three straight away for the tiny hope both of them will appear in it: I doubt it, but ugh, I'm just heartbroken over the fact that theirs is only a standalone. I'm still excited to read book three, and the rest of the series, but I don't think any one of the other couples will be able to surpass the excellence of "Out of Nowhere".