Cocky football players, school rivalry, and the girls who get in their way. Get ready … The Raiders are back for one final play!Mya Hernandez has scars.The kind that run deep and leave marks.Rixon is only supposed to be a temporary place to hide, but it’s quickly becoming something more. She’s almost certain it has nothing to do with the blond-haired, blue-eyed football player who makes her … blue-eyed football player who makes her laugh. Who makes her believe in fairy tales again.
Even if she knows her life is destined to be nothing more than a tragedy.
Asher Bennet has secrets.
Not the scandalous kind, but the ones that fester, slowly eating away at your soul.
On the face of it, he’s Mr Popular, always down for a party and causing a little mayhem.
But on the inside, he just wants someone to see him. Really see him. Too bad the one girl who sees past his facade has already friend-zoned him.
It’s probably for the best though.
She’s different.
A fighter.
She’s everything he wants but can never have.
Until Mya’s past and Asher’s present collide in ways neither of them saw coming.
And suddenly the thing you need most is the very thing you’re supposed to hate.
The Harder You Fall is the third book in The Rixon Raiders series. All books in this series can be read as standalones!
The Trouble With You
The Game You Play
The Harder You Fall
more
ANGSTY, EDGY, GUT WRENCHING, and OHHH SOOOO ROMANTIC!!!!!
It’s so bittersweet, the ending of the Rixon Raiders series. Each book just made me love it more and more. The characters are written with such depth, I loved to love them and loved to hate them!!
The Harder You Fall is the perfect ending to a phenomenal series!!! OMG, this book!!! Asher and Mya are my favorite love story!! It’s so real, so raw and just sooo beautiful!! Two totally different kinds of people whose souls were exactly the same. Soulmates through and through!!!
LA, as long as you keep writing these amazing stories, I will keep buying and reading them!!! I’m looking forward to more of Black Hearts Still Beat!!!
“Two people who were completely wrong for one another. But as I was quickly learning, sometimes wrong felt perfectly right.”
“Attraction didn’t discriminate based on color or background or life experience. It wasn’t black or white but various shades of gray; prisms of color.”
The Harder You Fall is the final book in this trilogy and it’s with heavy heart that I say goodbye to the series and its characters. As you all well know, this is the story of Asher; the jokester of the group. But, of course, this guy hides his demons behind the mask so well that he fooled everyone around him, except Mya.
The chemistry between the main characters is palpable though Mya did try to resist, and in her point of view, was valid enough. Their love story is full of angst as they fight against the norm despite their vast differences. I thought that there would be no hope at all for these two. They certainly give that you-and-me-against-the-world vibe, but fight these two did.
Overall, a great, angsty sports romance and an amazing series! Looking forward to more of this world (hopefully!). I highly recommend to fans of this series.
If you’ve read the Rixon Riaders series you already know that Asher holds a special place in Raider fans hearts and to say I was anticipating his story is an understatement. I already knew he was going to be my favourite and you guys Lianne did not disappoint.
I LOVED EVERY SINGLE SECOND of Mya and Ashers story. This book brought all the angst, feels and raw emotions we are used to in this series and it was perfect. Mya was such a beautiful, strong, independent and fierce character who did not allow the way people treated her or viewed her to to dull her shine, and boy did she shine. I loved her so much and there were times my heart truly broke for her. Asher was struggling with inner demons of wanting to be his own person, enjoy his last year of high school and be free before being pushed into life path he didn’t necessary want
This story made me laugh, cry, smile, cry some more but ultimately left my heart feeling so warm and full. Im going to miss the raiders so much and I already know ill be rereading this series for the rest of my life
Ever since I first discovered L.A. Cotton and her awesome work, I have been a huge fan. I am still trying to catch up with all the books she has written and I am not quite there yet. I have already finished the “Wicked Bay” series though, which has become a favorite of mine, same as this great series “Rixon Raiders”… I mean YA/NA with cocky football players count me in!
This is the third book in the series and I don’t advise reading it as a stand-alone. These books are about three best friends and they play a huge part in each other’s lives and each other’s books. The storyline continues and so it is best to start with book 1, The Trouble With You, Cam and Hailee’s story.
Those of you who have already read the previous book, need no introduction when it comes to Mya and Asher. The two out of their group of friends who are still single… We all knew they wouldn’t stay that way long, the sexual tension between them was pretty palpable. We also know that they are dealing with some inner demons and in this book we find out exactly what those demons are
Mya is kind of the odd fish out at Rixon High, being pretty much the only colored girl there. People are so narrow-minded and High School kids can be the worst!! Mya has never had it easy, which is how she developed her tough skin and snarky attitude. Sticks and stones and all that shit. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. Especially when people start questioning her relationship with Asher… the king of the school, deeming her not worthy.
Asher has his own demons to struggle with and he doesn’t intend on sharing them with anyone…well anyone but Mya that is. He feels he can tell her everything. But how will they be able to be together, when almost everyone wants to see them apart… Especially Mya’s past and Asher’s future…
I was really enjoying this one, and even though parts did piss me off a bit, I was still pretty relaxed and mellow… Until this book changed its tune that is and I was on the edge of my seat…chewing my nails of. I did not see any of it coming.
Now I am gonna be honest and say there were some parts that were resolved a bit too easily, which is why I am not going for the full 5 stars. I am not gonna go into it though, because that would be a major spoiler. That said, I did really enjoy reading this one and even though Mya did annoy me at times, Asher really blew me away!! So 4,5 stars it is.
I highly recommend this series!!
5 Stars
Review by Lisa
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
The Harder you Fall by L. A. Cotton is the third and final play for the Rixon Raiders series and what a way to end a series. Ms. Cotton held nothing back with this one. Drama, love, hate and moments I didn’t see coming. This story is so well written that I was pulled in and sped right through the story.
In this installment, we get Asher and Mya’s story. Asher is the happy go lucky party guy that everyone can count on for having a good time. But what’s on the inside, behind all those walls, can’t stay there forever. We met Mya in the previous books but don’t know too much about her. Well, let me tell you that Mya has seen the ugly side of life and is trying to move on, (I hope it’s ok to say that without giving spoilers). When Asher and Mya’s worlds collide in the best possible ways, it also brings the darker side. Just from Ms. Cotton’s synopsis of the book:
And suddenly the thing you need most is the very thing you’re supposed to hate.
I Love it!!! Amazing story. It can be read as a standalone but SOO much more enjoyable reading this series in order. I highly recommend it.
“… her touch was like kryptonite. Hitting me right where it hurts most – my heart.”
I really don’t know what happened here. I was so excited for this book, because I love each of those Rixon Raiders. But somehow this book left me with mixed emotions. It was like a hot and cold shower.
One time I had hearts in my eyes and only some time later I felt nothing at all. I have no idea how to makes sense of it.
No matter what, with her writing skills and her talent to breath life into her characters, Lianne Cotton managed to draw me into the world of the Raiders so easily.
“This didn’t feel like going slow. It felt like falling recklessly and hopelessly into each other, giving no thought to how hard we might crash.”
The thing with Mya and Asher is, I expected more. I expected to see more of Asher.
Sometimes I felt him, but didn’t really see him. And Sometimes I really saw him (but that were only quick glimpse of the top of the iceberg) but I didn’t feel him.
Maybe it was because through the whole book I felt something was missing. Some backstory I couldn’t quite grab.
IMO it didn’t quite help that we were thrown right into the story from the beginning. There was no easing in or some background story (some sort of prologue). Seeing that this book can be read as a standalone in a series, and expecting that readers might pick this one before the others, I would have been confused lots of times if I haven’t had read the two books before.
And I had similar problems with Mya. I would have loved to get a deeper insight of her life before Rixon. What really did happen to her and how did it change her? How did she slowly open up to the girls and finding her way into this tight knitted group?
Where was all the fun banter, the flirting, the getting to know each other before Mya and Asher decided to go for it?
“Our past and present had collided in a way neither of us saw coming, but the future? The future was ours.”
I know it’s hard to read (and believe me, it’s also hard to write) but The Harder You Fall is for me the weakest book in this series. I’m brutally honest here.
I had a great time reading it, no matter what because I love Rixon and their Raiders. And I love the girls with all my heart.
But this book, the story of Asher and Mya held so much potential, which in my eyes, only reached half of it.
“Asher had taught me that what people saw didn’t define us. It was what was on the inside that counted. And our souls were the same.”
The Harder You Fall is a lovely conclusion to the Rixon Raider series, that closes it with a big bang.
Asher is man with hidden depths as he appears like he doesn’t have a care in the world but in reality that couldn’t be farther from the truth. He doesn’t want other people to know what his life is really like. He is a good football player, a great friend and wants a relationship with Maya but convincing her is much more difficult than he expected.
Mya has recently relocated to Rixon not by choice but by necessity. She may have been accepted by Asher and his crew but to everyone else she is an outcast who would never be good enough for Asher. She is determined that friends is all they will ever be but Asher is more than up to the challenge.
Full of emotion, hot chemistry and emotion this is a story about two people who refuse to let their pasts decide their future. Watching Mya and Asher’s relationship unfold was at times heartbreaking and at times inspiring and as a bonus we get to catch up with the other characters that we know and love.
Oh my… WOW… It is not often that I am left without words; but The Harder You Fall…. Just WOW. I loved the entire Rixon Raiders series; but The Harder You Fall is my hands down fave! I knew that we were in for quite a ride with Asher and Mya’s story; but I had no idea how wild the ride really would be. This story has so many unexpected twists and turns and soooooo many emotions. I was drawn in from the beginning and couldn’t put the book down. I love love love Asher and Mya; but I love the rest of the gang just as much. They truly show that you don’t have to share blood to be family. As much as I loved this series is as sad I am that it is over.
L.A. Cotton is a brilliant storyteller. She never disappoints and always leaves you wanting more.
5 AMAZING STARS
The Harder You Fall (Rixon Raiders #3) by L.A. Cotton
5 STARS
The Harder You Fall is my first read of the year 2020, and holy mother of God, this book was so beautiful and hot.
The Harder You Fall is the third book in Rixon Raiders series by author L.A. Cotton , it is told in dual POV, and tells the story of Asher and Mya.
Being part of a series, I highly recommend that you first read the first two books, The Trouble With You book 1 and The Game You Play book 2 first.
Mya Hernandez is the new girl in town and in Rixon High (well, not so new, because we meet her pretty good in The Game You Play. book 2) and now we are getting her full story. Being latina in Rixon High isn’t that good. She wanted to escape her life at home, away from gangs and drug cartels, she wanted a better life for herself, a better future, a career, a family, a chance at a normal life, so she comes to live with her aunt, in Rixon. She becomes friends with Flick and Hailee and gets bonus Cam, Jason and Asher. She and Asher were the single ones in their group. She thought she can escape her past, but she was wrong.
Mya was a very strong heroine, she was a fighter, she was fierce, she was sassy, she was natural and simple, she was honest, always speak her mind, and that’s why Asher loved her, and me too.
Asher, I loved him from the first book. He was always the fun one, the happy one, the soul of the party, but only reading The Harder You Fall, I found out, that all was a facade, a mask, he had demons and struggles. I loved Ash, but they were moments where I really hated him, he was stupid. He loved Mya, I knew it from the start that he loved her, only he was stupid. They are guys, and guys are stupid shit like that.
They loved each other, but it seems that everyone was against them and their love, only but their friends.
Usually, from a series, I always love more the first book, From The Rixon Raiders series I cannot pick only one book as my favorite. I love all three of them, and all the boys, because, every book tells a different story, of a different boy/character. I love them all.
The writing was very good, the action, the story, the characters were AMAZING. I really recommend this book, and I really hope that L.A. Cotton will not end The Rixon Raiders stories here, with Ash and Mya. I just fell that The Rixon Raiders have not said all their stories yet.
I was waiting so impatiently for Ash and Mya’s book. I devoured it in one sitting and wasn’t disappointed a moment.
Love, lust, heartbreaking, everything you want and expect from a perfect interracial love story.
It’s the brightest souls that carry the darkest secrets and Ashers slayed me! Behind his smile, his jokes and his positive outlook Asher carried the world on his shoulders and all he wanted was someone to understand the pain he hid!
Maya and Ashers story was one that totally blindsided me and I loved every second of it! I can say with complete conviction that Asher is my favorite Raider and Maya is my favorite heroine! She was so strong and fierce! I love how deeply she loved those around her and her loyalty to her friends and to herself! She was exactly the person Ash needed and hopefully he will be everything she needs and more!
What I have loved about this series of standalones is how close these 6 are! They are more than friends they are family and they have each other’s back! You see that in this book and I hope for more later down the road maybe a novella on how they are because this group of friends will definitely be in my heart forever! Cotton did an amazing job creating such beautiful characters and very emotional stories that you won’t soon forget!
Lianne has done it again – she never fails to deliver. I loved Asher from the beginning and waited patiently (sort of!) for his story. He never let us down either! Loved it but sad that the series is complete.
Wow what amazing series. The love and emotions are felt throughout this story and you will love this amazing series. The author has done it again with her free flowing words that make you feel like you are right their in the story.
This is the third and final installment of the Rixon Raiders Series. I’m sorry this series is over, I’ve enjoyed it so much. This is Asher and Mya’s story.
Mya escaped her life to start over and to get away from the element that could drag her down. She ends up in Rixon living with her Aunt. As a minority in Rixon she doesn’t have an easy time. She is befriended by a group that includes the football team.
Asher is the happy go lucky always smiling party boy. He is popular, on the football team and is always ready with his quick wit. But as you come to know there is so much more to him. I loved him in the first two books and couldn’t wait to get his story and I was definitely not disappointed.
Asher and Mya both have their secrets that come back to threaten their future. These two have off the charts chemistry and Mya tries very hard to ignore it. Asher is so sweet and very magnetic and charming. You can’t help to fall in love with him.
I definitely did not see the twist coming and the heartbreak that follows. I love a good twist that takes you by surprise. I definitely recommend reading the whole series in order and you absolutely won’t be disappointed.
The only reason why I hate to write this review is because this means I have to say goodbye to Rixon and three of my favorite couples. This series, as a whole, took a chunk of my heart forever. I LOVE this series.
Asher had me smiling from book one! His fun and flirty exterior were present from Cam and Hailee’s book, and after his heartbreak in Flick and Jason’s book, I was ready for him to heal. His wounds ran much deeper than I thought as we saw him open up, and his tenacity to get through his dilemma(s) was inspiring. I don’t believe a male character has broken my heart as he did in a long time. His passion for Mya despite his demons had me cheering him on the whole time.
Mya. The toughest girl around yet still fragile in the matters of the heart. She brought all sorts of things to Rixon, but most importantly, she brought something to each of the characters’ lives and completed their circle of friendship. Her conflicts also had me feeling for her.
And because only a quote will do when describing their relationship:
“On paper we were complete opposites but when you stripped away our exteriors, you were left with two people betrayed by the people they were supposed to be able to trust. Two people who were completely wrong for one another. But as I was quickly learning, sometimes wrong felt perfectly right.“
This book was quite the “goodbye” to Rixon, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
The third and final book in the Rixon Raiders series, you must read the first two books as they flow into each other. After his best friends found their HEA, Asher finds himself a bit left out. The girl he wants, well she has made it clear that she is not interested in anything more than just friends. But Asher has a feeling, if he can just get Mya to give them a chance, they could have something big.
Being the new girl in school has not made Mya popular, in fact she is a bit of an outsider, as it was pointed out to her. Having run to the small town of Rixon to stay with her aunt to ensure that she does have a future, Mya just wants to graduate and go to college. When Asher wants to try for something more with her, Mya has to stay strong and on point, she knows what will happen if she lets another guy distract her from her plans, but what happens when Asher’s point is valid? When Mya decides that life is short and that maybe she can do both.. have Asher and her future? What happens when the past comes back to haunt her?
So, for a final book in a series, I actually was hoping for a bit more; like maybe a glimpse into the future to see where they all land. As far as Asher and Mya go, this was such a good story. Drama, danger, violence, naughty times; this story was super entertaining, and even for a long book, I inhaled it. I give this 4.5 stars.
The Harder You Fall is the third and final installment of LA Cotton’s Rixon Raiders series. It’s poignant and angsty, but unfortunately relies too heavily on ethnic and cultural stereotypes for me to rate this higher.
Mya and Asher both bear the weight of trauma and secrets. While they might seem like polar opposites, they are nevertheless drawn to each other. But can their connection withstand exterior forces?
First off, let me say that I admire Cotton’s willingness to not shy away from issues involving racism and prejudice. I just don’t know if a white women is the right person to tell a character like Mya’s story. Unfortunately, in the case of this novel, various stereotypes were upheld rather than were dismantled. I think that more diverse stories need to be told, not only in romance, but across the board, but I think that white authors need to cede space to writers of color to tell these stories. Or, at the very least, include sensitivity readers in the beta reading process that will help add perspective.
All of those concerns aside, I did enjoy the push-pull dynamic between Mya and Asher, as well as their chemistry. It was a fitting end to the series, but left me feeling a little disappointed.
I Knew Asher Was Always My Favourite For A Reason, Explosive!!
The Harder You Fall (Rixon Raiders Book 3)
The conclusion to the Rixon Raiders series did not disappoint!
Asher & Mya are both in pain. They both need a friend, because their group is all loved up, but Mya is fearful that he’ll take the offer of friendship between them the wrong way! Let’s be honest, Ash is a consummate flirt, has the looks & charm to back it up too, so she’s also fearful she’ll take the closeness of friendship & misinterpret it too!!
He can’t believe that people notice and react about the fact that she’s a Latino. He honestly thought that she was paranoid and exaggerating until he sees it, again & again, with his own eyes. He’s furious and hurts on her behalf! He’s shocked to discover that the prejudice goes both ways too! He really didn’t think people thought like that in this day age! He refuses to let it stop him from pursuing her though, especially once he realises they have a very real connection & explosive chemistry!
As they dip their toes into a new relationship, they open up to each other about the darkness that they hide from everyone else. Mya is horrified by what she learns & although she agrees to keep it to herself, she encourages him to tell his friends the truth! She’s tells him about her ex & why she moved to Rixon. They’re falling fast & hard for each other.
When their pasts & other peoples prejudices all collide in a perfect storm & tragedy, will these two young lovers make it through as they’ve promised each other? Or will outside pressures finally prove to be too much to keep fighting against??
I really loved Ash 98% of the time! I hated what he’d been put through & had to hear regularly. Mya was so strong but strength only lasts so long before you start to crumble & begin to hear then believe all of the nasty, abusive & vile things bigots spew at you constantly!!
This was a romance with real conflict, heart, heat, love & friendships within in it. Ultimately it was about forgiveness, hope and love!
Debbie, 1970, UK
The Harder you Fall is the final story in the Rixon Raiders series. This story drew my in from the beginning, and I couldn’t put it down. I always had a soft spot for bad boy Asher, he’s loyal, a joker, and he plays hard, but that’s his way of hiding what’s really going on in his life. Mya is starting over in a new town, new school, and all she wants is to get her education so she can go somewhere in life. But Asher and Mya are thrown together alot, because their best friends are couples. Asher likes Mya, and he’s determind to win her over. Will she to give him a chance? I can’t express to you how much I liked Asher and Mya. I also liked that the characters from previous books were in eachother’s stories. Boy am I ever going to miss this group of friends!
What can I say about Asher and Mya’s story, just incredible. Who knew the funny player was the most romantic. Even though Asher was still a little broken after Fee Baby chose to be with Jason he still felt that connection with Mya. Mya wasn’t looking for anyone. She just wanted a chance to start over so she can make it to college. But with chemistry like these two they couldn’t deny each other. This book had my stomach in knots and my emotions all over the place. I loved the diversity of the story and how the author portrayed both sides of the characters. Two strong characters that are battling some deep personal issues but find each other. This story is nothing short of amazing and I am so sad that the series is over. I fell in love with Cameron in book, I liked Jason in book 2 and swooned with Asher in book 3. The Rixon Raiders is definitely a favorite of my series and will reread many times over.