I'm sorry - but I found this book able to bring back really bad memories of abuse I went thru. I think that River is abusive to Raphael, and not once does anyone let the other person know if they are loved - River "loves his ass" but that is all. If you are into that type of thing - then this is your book. But if you want to feel as if there is a loving relationship that don't bother with this book. There is no respect to Raphael at all, he is good to f**k - but obviously not to love. After I read this, I had nightmares of what I stupidly let myself be put thru, and I wish that Raphael had found a better person - someone who actually cared about him. These may just be characters in a book - but the abuse can be too real to someone who's lived it.