Robin (Birds of a Feather, #1) Contemporary M/M Romance by Rain Carrington ➱ Book Tour with Giveaway

BLOG TOUR

Book Title: Robin (Birds of a Feather 1)

Author: Rain Carrington

Publisher: Self-Published

Cover Artist: Rain Carrington

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope/s: Forbidden love

Themes: Poor little rich boy falls in love with his “brother”

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 70 000 words

Book 2 pre-order will be available on release day.

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Will Robin ever find the love he’s been denied his entire life?

Blurb

Coming from wealth but neglected emotionally, Robin Pavasaris flies to Connecticut, in search

of what he’d missed all his life. The love of a parent.

What he got, however, was a wicked stepmother that would rival those in fairy tales and a father succumbed to guilt, silent as he watches his son hurt by another mother figure. Filip Pavasaris is helpless to act. In fact, Robin fears he’ll have no ally in the huge, cold manor.

That’s until his half-brother, Alex, comes home from graduate school. The first time they see one another, it was like Robin had found every dream he hadn’t known he had. Then, he learns their relation and his heart is sore once again.

It doesn’t matter, however, as Alex takes Robin under his wing, teaching him how to survive in the home. The more time they spend together, the more Robin fears he’s falling for his own brother. On top of that, he can never let anyone at Dove’s Landing know he’s gay. Their religion wouldn’t allow a gay son, and he’d lose the millions his mother coveted from his trust fund.

A confession and a kiss breaks everything apart, and Robin runs for his life, and from his heartbreak.

This is an ongoing series, with temporary resolutions at the end of each, along with a few cliffhangers.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: dubcon/noncon, drug use, and more! Please read the warning inside the book.

Excerpt

Robin Pavasaris was hurrying to the den near his room where Troy waited, ready to give him his lessons for the day and something else. Troy was tall and handsome, in a geeky way, but still, Robin thought he was perfect. Not to mention he loved the guy.

Their affair had started months previous, right around his eighteenth birthday. Troy and he had flirted for the last couple years of Troy’s employment as his tutor, but he told Robin he could do nothing about it, since Robin was underage. Once Robin hit that magic, invisible marker, they’d kissed, made love, and since then, the lessons had been cut short in favor of spending hours in bed instead.

When he got into the room, there he was, his boyfriend. Well, technically he wasn’t allowed to call Troy that. Officially, he was Robin’s tutor, but he could have his secret.

“Hey,” he purred.

“Shh. Close the door,” Troy chided. After Robin did just that, he rushed to the table in the middle of the room, the big glass and chrome desk pushed to the back of the room near the oversized windows and sat close to Troy.

After a fast kiss on Troy’s succulent lips, Robin whispered, “I missed you.”

Troy was light skinned and marked with a thousand freckles, and Robin was in love with every single one of them. “Stop horsing around, Robin. You have three finals coming up and if you fail, your mother will kill me. She has to show your grades to your father.”

“I know, but I concentrate so much better after we…you know.”

Robin was terribly shy, but with Troy, he felt he could let his hair down a little. Not that his actual hair could be let down, as short as it was, never growing over the tops of his ears, like his mother liked it. The sandy blond color came from his father, as Chelsea’s was strict black, but he did inherit her cat-green eyes.

“Not now,” Troy told him, impatient. “Work first, and if we have time…then we’ll fuck.”

“Don’t say it like that,” Robin pleaded, his romantic sensibilities unable to see anything they were doing as less than the purest form of adoration.

“Fine. We can make love. Get that book open. I already have your assignments lined out from the website.”

After a long sigh of disappointment, Robin set his mind to task, wanting to do what he had to, to make Troy happy.

He didn’t care much if his grades suffered. He’d always been a straight-A student, so if his grades flagged some, it wouldn’t hurt him much. He’d been accepted into a top college, several, in fact, all far from home so he’d never have to visit if he didn’t want to.

The pages of the book were a blur as he read fast, taking in at least most of the information. He studied in his room at night, and thought he was likely ready for his finals, but he’d never disappoint Troy.

“Okay, finish up with that, study those last four pages, they’re big on the exam, then let’s get to trig.”

“Ugh. I hate trig. I have to think too much.”

He finally got laughter from Troy. “I used to say the same thing. It’ll all come in handy once you get to college.” He softened more and asked, “Are you excited? To go?”

“Yes. Very. I still hope you can come with me.”

“I live here, Robin. You need to go, start your life.”

Like every time he said things like that, Robin’s heart squeezed painfully, and he felt tears springing to his eyes, that he quickly blinked away. “You’re…you’re part of my life, Troy.”

“Right now, I am. Robin, I said we’ll talk about this stuff later. Okay?”

Time felt like it was ticking louder and louder in his head, his heart beating right along with it, faster and faster, until he felt like he couldn’t breathe. “It’s always later, Troy, and this is it! There is no more later! I’m going away after the summer and we’ll… we might never see each other again!”

Troy took his face into both hands and stopped Robin’s tirade with a kiss. At first, Robin tried to pull back from the kiss, but like always, Troy’s warmth, the most warmth he’d gotten from another human in his life, won over his pain. He let himself be kissed, tilting his head and letting his breathing finally slow.

When the kiss ended, Troy’s saliva drying on Robin’s lips, he was again lulled into a sense of love and need. “Let’s get back to work, and I promise, Robin, we’ll talk soon.”

Author Interview

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer? I’ve been a reader forever, but it didn’t hit me to try writing until I was a young mother, and stories kept going through my head. I had three energetic kids, however, so it took me a few years to get the time and headspace to finally do it, and I’ve loved it since.

How many books have you written? I’m inching toward thirty that I’ve put out, but I’ve actually written many, many more. Some are in progress for years, but haven’t quite gotten there for me, and others, well, they may never see the light of day, but there in a folder, because I don’t have the heart to delete them! Haha!

How long does it usually take you to write a book? If I have the time and can sit down and write without my other job or responsibilities getting in the way, about a month. If not, anywhere from three to five months.

How did you come up with the idea for your book? I was a fan of the early works of V.C. Andrews, and I watched Flowers in the Attic one day this past year and thought, hey, what if I try my hand at doing a gay male character that goes through all the abuse/neglect/trauma like her female characters? How would be fare in a story like that? So far, I’m having a blast. I may be a little sadistic….hahaha!

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? It’s all a challenge. I challenge myself to get better, get deeper in the characters with each book, find all the flaws and draw them out, make them grow as humans.

Where is your favorite place to write? My favorite is my old recliner in my living room. It’s comfortable and I’m surrounded by my cats and plants, my pictures, and I feel relaxed to let my ideas flow.

When you develop characters do you already know who they are before you begin writing or do you let them develop as you go? I have a general idea, but like any real person, they grow as I write, and sometimes they surprise me. I love watching them find their own voice, their own flaws and try to fix them.

Do you aim for a set number of words/pages per day? No, I can’t do that, I would feel like it was a chore instead of a gift. I let it come when it comes.

What is the hardest thing about writing? Finding the time and headspace in a crowded home, including three needy cats and a very needy dog, and a job that works me a lot! lol

What is the easiest thing about writing? Realizing how much joy it truly brings to me.

Do you use images to develop your character’s looks? Yes, I mostly have their general appearance in my mind, but I like to match up models or actors that come close to study their hair, nose, eyes, etc.

Are your characters based on people you know? Not exactly, ever. Bits and pieces, oh yes, all the time. I craft people from pieces of others, you know, like Dr. Frankenstein! Hahaha!!!!

Do you use your experiences in your books? Yes, of course, it’s so nice to pick a memory of a place or event and use that when I write. It brings to the page something I think the reader knows is real into a fictional portrayal.

Do you ever get writer’s block? Oh, yes. I had it for nearly two years once, and it was just awful!

What do you think makes a good story? The growth of a character. A character that doesn’t have quirks or flaws is dull, and there is little room to let them grow and try to be better versions of themselves.

Does writing energize or exhaust you? Depends on the day, the scene and the circumstances. I find it mostly energizes me.

What has been one of your most rewarding experiences as an author? Having the amazing friends I have made during this adventure! Readers, other authors, editors, my PA, so many wonderful people! It’s been a joy!

What do your friends and family think about you being a writer? They love it and encourage me. My daughters were the ones that actually pushed me to start writing again, which is when I started writing fulltime and began to publish my books.

What do you do when you’re not writing? I’m a caregiver at an assisted living facility. And a mom, wife, cat mom, dog mom, amateur botanist, TV enthusiast! lol

Do you like music or silence when your write? Do you outline or do you just write? I like silence or TV actually. Music puts me in strange moods that sometimes do not fit my story. Plus, with TV, if I can’t think of a name for a character, I pull them off of the shows I’m watching. For example, you’ll read the name of a clinic in Gilded Cage, Birds of a Feather Book Two, called Forbes-Michaelson Retreat and Recovery. I got those last names from Vampire Diaries. Hahaha!!! As for outlines, only if the storyline is complicated and I have to keep track.

Do you prefer pen and paper or computer? Computer

Do you write as routine or do you write when you feel like it? A little of both. I can’t have a real routine, but I do write when I have time.

What do you love best about your current book? The suspense of Robin’s life. Will he get the guy? Will his parents ever really love him and give him the affection he’s always craved from them? Will his enemies crush his hopes and dreams?

What is your next project? I’m keeping to writing the rest of Birds of a Feather and my other series in progress, Bear Lake Chronicles.

Our Book Thoughts:

This was a slow build angsty drama taboo romance

This is a new author for me and I will admit a few times, in the beginning, I wasn't sure about the plot/pace - but as the story progressed it was like the author found her groove, or I mine, and I from then on I was on the edge of my seat right to the closing

Robin seemed a bit too innocent(?)in the beginning but things make sense as the pieces fall into place

His mom and stepmom both need white jackets with those little buckles

And his dad needs a spinal surgeon to install a rod - give him the ability to stand up for himself

The brothers? That's for you to decide

When you blend all the vivid characters with the slow build plot then

Add-in

The twists?

The cliffhangers?

Thank goodness the next in series is literally a couple of weeks away

1 like

About the Author

I love writing, it's been my dream for many years, and in October of 2013, when my first book went live on Amazon, that dream came true.

Writing love stories that are centered on flawed but lovable characters is my passion. Finding love between people isn't easy, nor should it be. Even in a book, there have to be obstacles for the story to feel real.

I am a mother of three amazing people, and three adorable fur babies. I live in Colorado but love many other places besides my home. One state in particular is New Mexico, the state where I was born has always held a place in my heart.

People and places make my stories what they are. Each character I've written is a part of me in some way. Each place I write is as well. Adventures come in many ways, and each of my stories has taken me on an adventure that I treasure.

Come with me on my adventures and fall in love with my characters, as I have. I promise, you will love the ride.

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