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The Harder We Fall :MM Romance by Rebecca Raine ➱ Release Tour with Giveaway

 



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Book Title: The Harder We Fall

Author: Rebecca Raine

Cover Artist: Bec Rivers

Release Date:  March 29,  2021

Genre: MM Romance

Trope: Hurt/Comfort

Themes: Grief, Penance, Personal Growth

Heat Rating: 4 flames

 Length: 70,000 words

It is a standalone book.

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Buy Links

Amazon US  Author Page   |  Amazon UK Author Page 

For years, I’ve been bound by sleeplessness and sorrow. His voice threatens to set me free.

Blurb 

Insomnia. It’s part of the penance I pay for my greatest mistake. But when an ill-timed doze behind the wheel of my car nearly introduces me to a pole, I know something has to change.

Sleep with Me, a locally-made meditation app, promises a cure. I don’t expect it to work. Nor do I expect to become enthralled by the voice of its creator, Sam Stephenson. His ability to coax forth my nightly surrender is unnerving. I have to meet this man and learn the secret behind his techniques, so I can evict him from my head—and still get a good night’s sleep.

In person, the quiet and reclusive Sam is his own kind of complicated. He needs my business skills as much as I need his meditation skills and we forge an unlikely partnership. But the attraction between us soon flares into passion and, as we grow closer, I start to long for more than my guilty conscience will allow.

I have no right to love, not after the damage I’ve done. How can I give Sam all he deserves, when our chance at a happy ending was ruined before we even met?

Excerpt

“We’re running out of time.”

“So, we are,” I say with a false show of surprise. “It’s my fault, of course.” I pause, trying to figure out how to word the next part without making it obvious this was part of my plan all along. “I could always email you the questions. Then you can take as long as you like to answer them. After you send them back, I’ll write up a plan and we can meet again to discuss it.”

He looks aghast at the idea. “That’s a lot of work. I don’t want to take up too much of your time.”

“Actually, Sam, I’m the one asking for more of your time.” I brandish my most charming smile. It’s worked on men in the past, though I’m not usually trying this hard for the win. Desperation may have knocked the polish off.

Sam’s mouth drops open and somehow he manages to look panicked and thrilled at the same time. “You want to see me again?” he asks. “For the quid pro quo, I mean.”

“If you don’t mind.” I try to look calm, but my pulse is roaring like an express train. If he says no, I’m screwed. “I know this is all a bit odd, me coming to you the way I have. I suppose I hoped, once we met, you might be willing to give this whole process some more time.”

He shifts in his chair again, his gaze dropping. There’s no sign of his earlier trepidation, though, only a subtle wariness. “This was never going to be one hour, was it?”

“Not really, no,” I say, surprised at my honesty. “Not if we’re both going to get what we want from this.”

I can feel his attention all over me, even with his gaze glued to the table. “What exactly do you want from me, Tristan?”

It’s the voice. Right there in front of me. Coming from his mouth. Holy fuck.

Hearing that voice say my name, after all the ways I’ve used and abused his—in curses and moans and whispered pleas—is a goddamned fantasy come to life. Lust surges through my veins and I want to growl in frustration. This infatuation has to end. “I need to stop sleeping with you.”

His head snaps upright and we both gasp.

My right hand slaps over my mouth. “Fuck, I didn’t mean it like that.”

Looking away again, he releases a shaky breath. “It’s all right.” He runs absent hands along his arms, soothing a severe case of goosebumps. Sam is responding to my voice, my words, the same way I inevitably respond to his.

How would we respond to each other’s touch? Stifling a groan, I shift clenched fists into my lap. That’s not what this is about. I’m obsessed enough without learning the texture of his skin and the taste of his—

Sam starts to laugh, really laugh. “That stupid name,” he manages to say between breaths. “Sleep with Me. It wasn’t even my idea, but it certainly does get a reaction.” There’s another peel of laughter, as if he’s releasing all the tension from his body, and I find myself joining in. Every time we look at each other it gets worse and before I know it my stomach is sore from laughing. It feels good to laugh at myself. Weird, but good.

“Let me rephrase,” I say as we start to regain our composure. “What I mean is, now you’ve succeeded in getting me to sleep, I want to figure out how to do it on my own.”

“Should be easy enough. It’s probably something in the phrasing.”

Reality seeps back in, killing off the last of my amusement. “No, it’s something else.” Sam isn’t the first person to tell me to let go of my guilt. My mother used to say it constantly. It wasn’t your fault, Tristan. You shouldn’t blame yourself.She didn’t believe her words any more than I did, but she tried. “I don’t know what it is about you that’s different. I don’t think it’s necessarily something you can teach me, but whatever it is, I need to figure it out.”

“So, what’s the plan?” he asks with a baffled expression. “Are you going to hang around me until you get your answer through osmosis or something?”

“Maybe? I don’t know.” I drop my head into my hands. “Honestly, I’m making this up as I go along.”

“You and me both,” he says with a snort. “I don’t know if I can give you the answer you’re looking for, Tristan. But I’ll try.”

Slumping back in my chair, I release a sigh. “Thank you, Sam.”

He smiles that tiny smile and I try not to drool when his cheeks turn pink. “It’s my pleasure.”


About the Author 

Rebecca is a long-time lover of all things romance. Whether it’s a book, movie, or real life, she will always have more fun if there’s a love interest thrown into the mix. She lives in Queensland, Australia with her very own hero husband, two quirky kids and one big, black dog. Other than reading and writing books, her favourite things include loud music, enjoying a glass of wine on the patio, organising everything in existence, and spending too much time on the Internet.

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Interview 
How long have you been writing?
I first put pen to paper in the early 00s while commuting to and from work on the bus.
What made you decide you wanted to put yourself out there to be published?
When I realized I wanted this to be my career. Writing wasn’t a hobby anymore. It had become a major part of my life.
Before you started, had you written any fan fiction? If so, what fandom?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without fan fiction. My first stories were fan fiction, and it was only when I finished a 30,000 word fanfic that I decided I was ready to try writing a book that was all my own. My fandom of choice… Buffy: The Vampire Slayer. I was a Spuffy girl all the way. My Spuffy fanfics changed my life.
Are you in agreement that writing fan fiction is a great way to hone ones’ craft - why or why not?
Certainly, for me, fan fiction was the perfect place to make a start. It was only when I began writing that I realized how little I knew about what I was doing. I head-hopped all over the place. I had to relearn all sorts of grammar rules. How to use dialogue tags properly, and structure scenes. Fan fiction gave me the space to play and learn. All the while, I was cheered on by a generous and supportive community of fellow writers and readers. In particular, I’d love to give a shoutout to The Spuffy Realm for being forever awesome.
What was your first published book?
It was an MF Paranormal Romance called Splinter. It had explosive magick, dimension hopping, an insane vampire, a drool-worthy hero and a fiery redhead as the heroine. The heroine, Rachel, was actually based on an original character I wrote for a Spuffy fan fiction. Everyone loved Rachel, and eventually she took on a life of her own.
Do you have a favorite character from one of your books? Why?
One random day, a character popped up in my head, held out a hand and introduced himself as Jeremy. He had messy brown hair, eyeliner, and wore suspenders. His big, infectious smile came with a matching personality. He became a lead in two of my books (Everything We Need and All the Broken Pieces). It doesn’t matter how many characters I write, or how deeply I fall in love with them, whenever anyone asks if I have a favourite character, it’s Jeremy who leaps to mind.
What is your favorite sub-genre to write?
I’ve had a great time writing all my books. But if I had to choose, I’m going to come down on the side of MM Romance every time. For whatever reason, there always seems to be an extra element of magic involved in those stories. Something just clicks.
Would you ever write a hetero romance? Why or why not?
Of the ten books I’ve now published, three of the early ones are hetero romances. When I first started writing romance it never occurred to me that I would write anything other than MF books. Then I had an idea for an MMF book which wouldn’t leave me alone, so I wrote it. Then there was another MMF romance. Finally, I got up the courage to write an MM romance and I haven’t gone back to MF romances since then. MM Romance is where I feel most at home.
Name your favorite authors and some of their stories you’ve enjoyed? What do you like about the writing? 
My number one favourite author is Roan Parrish. She is an incredible writer and I’ll often find myself rereading paragraphs from her books just to enjoy her style. Riven is my favourite, but I also loved The Remaking of Corbin Wale and her more recent book, Better Than People. Some of the other writers I’ve been enjoying recently include May Archer, Anyta Sunday, Neve Wilder and Lily Morton.
What book are you reading at the moment? It’s okay to give a fellow author a plug!
Just last night I started Running Lines by newcomer Jeris Jean. The premise of two actors falling in love on-set is totally up my alley.
What are you currently working on?
I’ve just started working on my next book and I’m having a great time getting to know the characters and working on the storyline. Fans of The Experiment will recognize one of the leads. He loves bright, blue cocktails and has dimples for days. ‘Toni with an I’ is getting his own story. I’m so excited!

Fun questions
Your favorite gay TV show or movie?
TV Show: I’m a total SKAM addict (specifically season 3) and have watched not only the original Norwegian version but all of the remakes as well. That’s six different languages. Yikes! I was also a huge fan of Quentin and Eliot’s relationship on The Magicians. I was so sad to see it end.
Movie: That’s a tough one. I did really enjoy Alex Strangelove and Love, Simon. But also God’s Own Country and Freier Fall (German) are favourites.

Your favorite gay celeb? Is it possible to choose between Neil Patrick Harris and Jonathan Groff? I don’t think it is. 

Giveaway

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