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
I beyond words loved The Harder You Fall! Asher is my favorite, and I just knew his story would put my heart through the ringer. I loved the whole Rixon Raiders series, but this one is by far the best. L.A. Cotton delivered a perfectly amazing, heartachingly, beautiful story that had me captivated from beginning to end.
Asher Bennett is a Rixon Raider and son of one of the wealthiest families in town. He is a jokester and always the life of the party. On the outside looking in, it seems as if he has the picture perfect life, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. He is very good at keeping his secrets hidden behind a façade. And Maya Hernandez? She is a strong and brave heroine with quite the troubled past. In order to escape her ex and the gang life, she heads to Rixon for a fresh new start. There she moves in with her aunt and quickly makes a group of new friends.
Asher doesn’t exactly hide his feelings for Maya, but she is insistent that they can only be friends. She wants to trust him with her heart, but her last relationship hurt her, and she doesn’t want to go there again. But over time, Asher is able to wear her down and the friendship turns into so much more. But their relationship isn’t without its bumps and bruises. Being a Latina in a town lacking diversity and plenty of racism, doesn’t make it easy for them. There is always a watchful eye quick to judge their relationship. And when her past comes knocking, then the chaos quickly ensues.
The conflict, drama and angst kept me furiously flipping the pages. I devoured each and every word as quickly but as slowly as I could, never wanting it to end. The Harder You Fall was an epic conclusion to this phenomenal series. I’m sad to see these characters go, but I’m happy to have met them and lived in their world for a while. If you do nothing else, please give this series a go. Read it and witness the magic that L.A. Cotton never fails to deliver. Five stars and more for Asher, Maya and the Rixon Raiders!
Asher Bennet is my favorite and he is MINE!!! The Harder You Fall is absolutely my favorite! I knew he was going to be amazing! This book was an emotional roller coaster that gave me all the feels and destroyed me in the best way.
Asher Bennet is a Rixon Raider, his family is like town royalty. He’s hiding all kinds of dark under that fun exterior. It’s always the ones who smile who are hiding the most. Asher has secrets he’s not ready to face.
Mya Hernandez ran from her hometown. She liked in a bad neighborhood where it’s easier to be in a gang and make bad decisions than be a good person. Mya moves to Rixon to build a better future for herself.
Asher and Mya’s chemistry and attraction is off the pages hot. The push pull of their relationship is so much fun to read. Asher doesn’t hide he likes her, and Mya’s afraid to admit and submit to her feelings for him. She wants to finish her senior year and go to college. When Mya realizes her past is in the past, her past decides he doesn’t want to be left.
When Mya’s past and present run into each other people are hurt and things happen that can’t be undone. My heart broke for Asher and Mya. Asher was scared of losing his mother pushes Mya away, and Mya letting guilt overpower her lets him. But during this time they both come to some major realization that changes both of their lives. Asher realizes that he loves her and doesn’t want to lose her and nothing that happened was her fault. Mya realizes she needs to do somethings for herself, and put herself first for once in her life. Even Mr. Bennet realizes somethings and it allows Asher to follow his heart.
The Harder You Fall is absolutely perfect and my favorite book of the series! I could not ask for a better conclusion to this series. LA Cotton definitely saved the best for last. Asher Bennet is my absolute favorite!
Ughh!! I knew this book was going to hit me in the feels.. I just knew it.
I am not okay after finishing this book. Like, my soul is so happy but I am not ready to leave these characters. I already miss them!
Asher and Mya were everything I didn’t know I needed. I always fall for the possessive jerk in the story.. but Asher just stole my heart. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not a pushover, innocent man. He definitely goes Alpha.. but it’s not JASE alpha. He fights for what he wants.. man does he fight.
Mya was so perfect. She’s imperfectly perfect. Her flaws are what make her one of my favorites.
Lianne skated with this book.. heck.. this SERIES! I never wanted to put it down. I even made dinner with my right hand and read with my left. It was unputdownable!!
ASHER is EVERYTHING! Seriously, ALLLL THE FEEEELS!!!!
Hands down….my favorite Raiders book. I find that hard to admit seeing that I’ve been head over heels for Cam since this crazy ride begun and Jason’s book was pretty dang amazing too….BUT Cotton hit me straight in the gut with this one! I was in lust, love, tears and pain before it was all said and done.
Mya Hernandez moves to Rixon to get away from her past, a past that’s not only dangerous to her but also stifles her ability to accomplish life goals that she has for herself. Not long after arriving, she’s taken under the wing of Felicity Giles and shown what living in Rixon is all about. Part of being friends with Felicity is she’s a package deal… along with Felicity comes her best friend Hailee and a group of sexy and cocky football players.
One of these football players has set his sights on Mya. Asher Bennet hides behind this mask of who he is expected to be by his parents, the community, his peers and even his friends. Mya is the first person to see past his facade. What starts out as just attraction quickly morphs into something far more serious for both of them. Asher & Mya’s relationship is a whirlwind yet so exhilirating; seeing how quickly these two tie themselves together. As Mya tries to let go of her past so she can embrace her future; a future she’s learning she wants more than anything…her past won’t let go. That combined with the cons of living in a small town where people are used to things a certain way and almost refuse change is just one thing that makes things difficult for these two.
Mya is my kind of heroine; sassy, caring, determined and most of all a fighter. Her learning what she has to do for herself…. I’ll just say I was applauding her loudly from my own living room while reading. LOVED IT!!!
I have loved every bit of the Rixon Raiders series, sad to see it come to a close but I think Cotton did an amazing job with this. I have loved seeing these characters evolve from book 1!
Rate: 4.5 / 5 stars
Oooh I have been not so patiently waiting for Asher’s book! I just knew he’d be my favorite Raider and he totally is!!
He was just so much more than anything I thought. I knew there was a big part of him and his life that he was hiding and although it was awful and it made me so mad for him, I loved getting to know him and his struggles. He is always so cheery and fun, an outstanding best friend but there’s a whole other side of him he tries to hide.
Mya sees him, the real him and although she tries to fight him all the way through, even just his friendship, that part of him calls to her and she can’t resist the boy with the beautiful blue eyes that hold his pain.
I love Mya. She was so strong and I felt so much for her. I understood why she fought Asher but I also saw how much these two were really the best for each other from the very beginning. I loved watching them fall in love and defeat all prejudice against them in order to be together.
The Harder You Fall was an emotional book on many fronts. It deals with family and race issues that will pull on your emotions and reel you in to this story. These two knew from the start that they were up against a lot and that their journey would be anyhting but easy. They fought, they lost but in the end they both won so big. They overcame everything to be together, both made mistakes but in the end watching Asher gets his girl back was everything. I just love him so much.
This book was an amazing conclusion to a more than amazing series. It really bought everything full circle. We now got to see how much Cam and Jase really care about Asher and not just the other way around. Brothers for life. Always a Raider.
I’m sad to say goodbye to the Raiders but I’m also so happy to have met them and hung out with them for a while.
I have absolutely loved this series from the start and I have been dying to get my hands on Asher’s story since we first met him. Well let me tell you Cotton did not disappoint.
I was hooked from the start. From the little we learned about her in previous books, I knew Mya’s story would be full of healing. But I did not see Asher’s story coming at all. I was completely blown away by these two. I fell head over heals for this sweet, cocky, misunderstood boy.
I couldn’t put this one down and read it in one sitting, and was so sad to see this one end. I can’t wait to see what Cotton brings us next!
4.5 Stars Chasing Their Dreams Together
She’s the girl trying to find her way and start a new life so that she can have a future. He’s the guy whose future is already mapped out for him, too bad it’s nothing that he wants. She doesn’t want a relationship. He wants the love that his friends have already found. They seem like an unlikely match but when they come together everything finally feels right.
Mya considers herself the girl from the wrong side of town. She had to get away from the toxicity of her home town before it destroyed her. She left everything behind including some great friends and a troubled boyfriend. Not all trouble stays gone.
Asher is the life of the party. He seems top have it all. He’s gorgeous, comes from money and his future is all set. The only problem is, that’s not at all what he wants. Leaving football behind and going to the school his father chose, isn’t the way he saw his life going.
Asher sets his sights on Mya but she is not going to make it easy. However, he is not at all deterred.
He pulls out all the stops to win her over. This man knows how to make a girl swoon.
A story that brings both heat and drama. The author handles sensitive topics that are all too relevant today. Mya is a strong young woman that has faced adversity but keeps fighting. Her life is not easy but you also see the other side. Asher struggled as well, just in a different way. A well-rounded story with the cast of characters from books one and two that we were able to catch up with and heart stopping drama that will leave you floored. I loved all the characters, and their story’s in this series and I will definitely be missing the Rixon Raiders.
This is so bittersweet. The Harder You Fall snuck in and stole the favorite spot for me with this series, but I also never wanted this series to end. That said I don’t think there could have been a better note to end on than with Asher and Mya’s story. Just as filled with sweet as it is drama their story is one that immediately grabs you and keeps you hooked all the way to the end.
While the previous books have leaned more towards the bully end of heroes, Asher is quite different from his friends. He may appear to be a fun loving, goofball, wealthy football star but hiding behind that is a young man with a huge heart and the weight of the world on his shoulders. While seeming drastically different Mya has a lot in common with him in regards to carrying so much on her shoulders too.
These two not only have chemistry that is outstanding they also have a true connection that is more powerful than the worst the world can throw at them. Growing from tentative friends into a couple who’s love will steal your breath their story is a true roller coaster of emotion that will stick with you long after you’ve finished reading.
I was dying for Asher’s story. I knew he would be all swoon and charm and the amount of swooness that rolled off the pages just had my heart from the beginning. I fell hard for him in book one but boy his story just got me so good.
His charm, playfulness and cheekiness just made me love him even more.
Mya was done right amazing and I freaking loved her she was tough, sweet and just so likeable.
Asher was hot AF and there is no way Mya could resist his charms. He was all alpha and boy was it hot to read.
Asher and Mya were the cutest couple I smiled so much reading this book. I felt their pain, I felt their happiness and I felt the sexiness coming from the pages.
I loved how much Asher fought for Mya and how he proved what she meant to him. An epic romance full of charm, sexiness and love.
Go Raiders because these boys are all so hot its hard not to fall and fall hard for each one of them.
The third and final book in this series is not one to be missed! This story rounded everything off perfectly, and boy, am I sad to see the end of the Rixon Raiders.
Right from book 1, Asher has been a mystery and I always knew his story was going to have far more to it than meets the eye. Asher comes across as one character, but underneath there is so much going on, and in The Harder You Fall, everything is revealed, all of his layers are peeled off, and we discover everything there is to know about him.
Mya and Asher’s story made my heart beat faster, made me swoon, laugh and cry in all the best possible ways. It was emotional and heart-breaking, touching on some really very real yet sensitive aspects. It wrecked me, yet LA Cotton managed to piece my heart back together again.
Mya’s character herself was brilliant. She was strong, fierce, sassy, yet had that element of being scared due to her past and the situation she had escaped from. When Asher sets his sights on Mya, he isn’t going to give up easily, yet can Mya really let herself move on and drag Asher down with her when they are such different people, two worlds apart.
The storyline worked perfectly, and from the very first page I was hooked right to the very last. You can’t help but be drawn into the emotions of this story, yet it still contains the perfect amount of fun and humour within the pages too.
This series is a must-read!
“One day, Mya Hernandez would be mine. She just didn’t know it yet.
The Rixon Raiders series has been one of my all time favourites by LA Cotton and I’m so sad that it’s over.
”You are so fucking beautiful it hurts.”
Harder you Fall is Asher and Mya’s story. From the very first book in this series I knew that Asher would be my favourite. I love the cocky playboys that use humour to hide their insecurities and that was Ash all over. He stole my heart!
Mya Hernandez was a fighter.”
Mya was complicated. She has a bad past, and she had moved to Rixon for a better life. But what happens when your past and present collide and you have Rixon Raiders in the middle? You have a shit show my friends. An epic one at that! The conflict, the drama and the angst in this book kept me flipping pages and reading every single word LA Cotton would give me until the very end. I want to live in this world, I want a Raider of my own and I want to be friends with the heroines.
Love wasn’t always enough to save somebody. Two people could love one another with everything that they were and it might still not be enough to make their relationship work.
The Rixon Raiders stole my heart, I want the ability to read them again for the first time and witness the magic that LA Cotton makes us experience.
If you haven’t picked up this series, then do it. Let it consume you, steal your heart and heal your soul.
Mya was running and just trying to make it through senior year, Asher was everything and persistent, he didn’t understand the struggles she had or the fight she was fighting. Mya new she would never fit in no matter how much Asher wanted her to.
Asher knew that Mya was running, he knew she was hurt in the past, she thought no one saw but he saw that her scars she hid were her real strength and he was determined that she wasn’t going to run anymore.
‘Because he let you run. And if you were mine, I’d chase you to the ends of the Earth before I ever gave you up.’
Asher gets Mya to realise it doesn’t matter about her past or what anyone else thinks, that what they have is real. But when Mya’s past catches up with her, and Mya runs, Asher told her he wouldn’t let her run, but will he stop her.
Darling, I’m here to share good and bad news with you. I’ll start with the bad.
The Harder You Fall marks the end of the Rixon Raiders. I have loved these boys and added them to my growing list of book boyfriends.
I have been obsessed with them for at least a few hours. They have made me laugh, swoon and made me cry.
So, if you haven’t met these boys then I suggest you start ASAP. Your life will be forever changed. Mark my words.
Now, the good news: The Harder you Fall by L.A. Cotton is a book I will never forget. It’s a book that feels custom-made just for every romance lover. A five star read that I can’t stop thinking about.
The Harder You Fall left me utterly speechless. The storyline these characters carry is downright amazing and made me feel everything they went through. I wasn’t spared from their pain, love nor from their sadness. It’s an in-depth storyline. One that takes you off this earth and into the world of fictional characters.
These fictional characters are Mya Hernandez and Asher Bennet. Both have secrets and both couldn’t be more interesting. And when they were together it was pure fire on my screen. I could feel the heat, the attraction and the growing love between them. And let’s not forget that Asher Bennet is doing everything in his power to get the girl.
Oh…Asher. Love of my life. This football player can knock on my door any day. I cried with the pain he carried. How secret the life of a friend can be is highlighted clearly in his storyline. He might be the jokester, the charmer and the optimist, but they also learn that life sometimes has a dark side. He hid it just as well as Mya did her secrets.
It’s gorgeous when two broken souls meet in the middle and break down those walls that keep them apart. It’s utterly beautiful as well as emotional.
Mya Hernandez is indeed a fighter. A warrior. A strong, young woman that holds secrets and a sheltered heart. It isn’t until Asher comes knocking on her door that her heart skips a beat again. But still, she doesn’t want to give in for good reasons. But we all know the heart demands and gets what it wants in romance books.
And thank god for that!
I couldn’t have fallen in love with this story if it wasn’t written so good. L.A. Cotton is talented, an artist and a great storyteller. She brings words to life. Only a great author can bring me to tears. Well done L.A. Cotton, you once again wrote a story I will not forget.
The Harder You Fall is a story about love that grows even when you try to stop it. It shows the attraction between two souls and the connection they have. Asher and Mya are characters so real and worthy of your time. I truly hope you give them a chance. You don’t want to miss L.A. Cotton’s writing. The Rixon Raiders will change your book reading experience forever!
Oooh my gosh what an ending to a fantastic series!!!
Asher and Mya’s story is sweet, funny, flirty, sexy, but also a lot of angst in it.
They both don’t have it easy in their life’s, but they try to make the best of it. You think Asher is having everything, growing up with the proverbial golden spoon, but you are oh so wrong!!!
Mya has her own battles to work with and is hesitant about being with Asher. And than her past catches up with her, and the book takes a turn you would not believe and had me speechless!!!
This is a great series and I absolutely enjoyed each and every book!!! I’m sad to see the Rixon Raiders go, but I am absolutely excited to see what the author has next in store for us!!!
The Rixon Raiders series is one of my favorite series by LA Cotton…I’m so sad it’s over.
I’m leaving this one kicking and screaming!
The Harder You Fall is Ash and Mya’s story.
Asher has been my favorite still the very first book.
Mya is such an incredible heroine.
Their story moved me to tears..
If you haven’t read this series, I bet you to give it a go.
You won’t be disappointed.
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 5/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 5/5
Secondary Characters~ 5/5
The Feels~ 5/5
Pacing~ 5/5
Addictiveness~5/5
Angst~ 5/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 5/5
Theme or Tone~ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 5/5
Originality~ 5/5
Ending~ 5/5
Book Cover~ Eyecatching
Series~ Rixon Raiders series
Source~ Kindle eBook – ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Hell yes
Would I recommend this book? Hell yes
***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***
Storyline: 5 stars
Characters: 5 stars
Heat Factor: 5 stars
Overall Rating: 5 stars
The Harder You Fall by L.A. Cotton is the third book in the Rixon Raiders Series and centers around Asher and Mya. Let me just say it’ll leave you even more enamored with Asher than you ever thought you could be.
ALL.THE.FEELS.
From the very beginning I knew there was something uniquely special about Asher Bennet and can now confirm with 100% certainty he is my favorite Rixon Raider. The friend and teammate of Cam and Jase, Asher was the funny one who hid behind his quick wit and handsome looks. He grew up privileged, seemingly having everything he could ever want… but there’s a gaping hole.
Mya Hernandez is one of the 4% in Rixon and by 4%, I mean individuals of color. Feeling at odds with the town she’s in after escaping her past, she feels fortunate to have been befriended by Hailee and Felicity. She’s also caught the attention of one of the hottest Raiders, Asher.
What happens when two people from opposite backgrounds, but similar hearts come together? A love story like no other.
This story rocked me to my core. There was typical Asher humor, banter between the main characters, but there was so much more. This story packs substance and tackles some tough topics. There were tears, so get some Kleenex handy. This story was everything and the perfect way to start 2020.
Phenomenal storyline. Well realized characters and development of their personas. Wonderfully written.
I hate to see the end to this series, but I’m holding out hope that L.A. will deliver a novella to show a “fast forward” to what becomes of the Rixon Boys we love and their leading ladies.
5 stars!
LA Cotton brought us the Rixon Raiders and this group of friends that you can’t help but be drawn in to there loyalty and friendship. This last book had all the great fun as the first two but also so much more.
Asher and Mya are two people from different worlds with scars. Their scars add to this story and makes them the perfect for each other. This book has a perfect mix of fun banter, angst and heart. Asher is a character that is lovable and definitely swoon worthy. Mya is strong fierce and everything Asher didn’t know he needed.
***4 “Fight for me!!!” stars***
“One day, Mya Hernandez would be mine.
She just didn’t know it yet.”
To be totally honest with you, i was expecting more of Asher!!!
I was waiting his turn like a hawk, cause i loved his carefree character so much!!!
But of course, he had his own issues to face and Mya was a lovely addition to the mix…
I just didn’t like how needy Asher was through out the half part of the book, but then… Bang!!! I loved how the things end up, even though it wasn’t a good turn of events!!! But the anticipation exited me very much!!!
“I promise I won’t fall in love with you, if that’s what you’re worried about… I know we’re heading in different directions. I know this is only temporary, but you make all the shit fade to the background.”
Well, Asher Bennet was more than you could see… He wasn’t just the peacemaker, the funny guy, the hot guy…
Unfortunately, behind closed door, Asher was baring his own cross… A burden that he was sharing with noone…
He just have to make the best of this last year… The last year that he could control his own life… The last year with his best friends… Those friends that now, they were having both girlfriends!!!
And Asher wanted a girl for himself too!!!
“Mya Hernandez was a fighter… But it wasn’t her strength that intrigued me. It was her scars. The ones she thought she kept hidden.”
Mya Hernandez was a new addition on school and this group of friends…
Felicity had taken her under her wings and she was close to the girls….
Mya was carrying her own burden… She had escaped her previous life and she was trying to make a new life away from her home and friends… She was heartbroken and she belong to 4% of Rixon…
She was a Latina girl from the wrong side of tracks and that was bothering her in a way…
And then, Asher Bennett came like a breath of life in her life… A blond, white, all-American boy and everything turned upside down…
“My heart had been shattered once.
I wasn’t sure it would survive another heartbreak.”
Well, even their differences, i loved Mya and Asher together very much…
Yep, both of them, had their plates full of shitty things, but they were balm for each other’s soul…
And let the people judge!!!
Unfortunately, they had many obstacles to overcome, but their love was the most powerful weapon. Or not???
“Love wasn’t always enough to save somebody. Two people could love one another with everything that they were and it might still not be enough to make their relationship work.”
“There were obstacles but nothing worth having came easy.
I was prepared to fight for her.
But I couldn’t be the only one willing to go all in.”
Well, i loved Asher from the first moment, but it was bothering me the fact that he seemed to me a little desperate to find a girl… It was like he was pressuring himself to do so and i didn’t like it! And then, he set his eyes upon Mya and he seemedd and sounded soooo needy… I wanted him not so soft in a way…
But literally, i loved his grand gesture in the end… *Sigh*
Mya from the other hand it was a tough girl, but she had so many hang-ups!!!
She was letting people treat her badly, cause she was prejudiced of herself…
And i think that she wasn’t fighting for Asher, as much as Asher was fighting for her…
“The way I feel about you scare me.”
“How do you feel about me?”
“Like I could lose myself.”
“Meet me at the place where young men who think they have it all figured out become Gods and Kings.
Because this King is ready to claim his Queen.”
I highly recommend the whole series…
I enjoyed every single one of them very much and in a way, i will miss these guys… and their girls!!!!
***ARC generously provided in the exchange of an honest review***
I think I loved Mya’s & Asher’s story the best out of the Rixon Raiders series.
I love that these two characters had to overcome so much more than what the other two couples had to. The chemistry between the two is undeniable.
LA Cotton had me hooked from the very first word to the very last. I have loved this entire series! I’m excited to start reading her other work!
This was the book I had been waiting for! Asher <3
For me this was my favourite of this series (and I flove this series) and I honestly think Lianne saved the best for Asher!! oh the emotions she poured into this one! she honestly had me in tears.
Asher and Mia are complete opposites. Asher has lived a privileged life compared to Mya, she has had it hard and moved to Rixon to start over but she has never let her past define her.
My heart broke for these two, not everything is as it seems and it seems that Mya is the only person that really sees the real Asher, the pain he hides.
Lianne has tackled some tough topics in this one brilliantly. She has written their story with such raw emotion, its intense and real. The chemistry between them is intense and undeniable with secrets and lies, twists and turns, is their love strong enough to endure. Can they over come the obstacles and prejudice to be together.
Once you start this you will be totally hooked so make sure you have uninterrupted time as I promise you, you will NOT want to put this down. I do recommend you have some tissues nearby as I seriously needed them at certain points
Well done Lianne you seriously outdid yourself with Asher's Story <3<3