Back in my fanfic days we had a trope I loved, and had a reputation for writing, called whumping. Another name for it is hurt/comfort.

I still love the trope for several reasons. I think it says a lot for the depth of love between a couple when one sees the other at his worst, in pain, and not only sticks around but does what he can to help. Nursing someone means all the nasty things like cleaning up vomit and blood, and feeling your own heart break seeing the person you love helpless.

I also enjoy MCs having to work for their HEA. Being hurt and/or worried can not only break down barriers, but result in people saying things they wouldn’t normally because their usual filters aren’t working. Or mumble things completely out of context which can lead to misunderstandings.

Plenty of fun things to work with!

The other thing I’ll stress is that with the comfort needs to be there alongside the hurt as part of this trope. I’m not a fan of gratuitous torture. It has to progress the plot, or it quickly slides into something else entirely.

Shadowboxing, book 1 of my WWII Echoes Rising series, is on sale as part of the hurt comfort promotion which runs from 19 – 19th August.

48 authors have come together to give you fabulous reads.

A.D. Ellis, Ali Ryecart, Annabelle Jacobs, Anne Barwell, Avery Cockburn, BA Tortuga, Becca Seymour, Beth Bolden, Beth Laycock, Brina Brady, C F White, Cara Dee, Charley Descoteaux, Charlie Cochrane, Elizabeth Noble, Elle Keaton, Elouise East, Emma Jaye, Felicia Davin, G.R. Lyons, Gabbi Grey, Garrett Leigh, Jackie North, Jamie Lynn Miller, Jay Hogan, Jay Northcote, Jodi Payne & BA Tortuga, Kaje Harper, Kasia Bacon, Kris Jacen, Lane Hayes, Leta Blake, Lillian Francis, Marie Sinclair, Miski Harris, Nic Starr, Nora Phoenix, R.M. Neill, Rebecca Cohen, Reese Knightley, RJ Scott, Roan Parrish, Skye Kilaen, Stella Shaw, Suki Fleet, Susan Scott Shelley and Chantal Mer, and TL Travis

#WWII #action #drama #spies #diversecharacters #enemiestolovers #friendstolovers #hurtcomfort #mmromance #seriesstarter #gayromance #MMWarRomance #MMHistoricalRomance #EchoesRising #AnneBarwell #KU #kindleunlimited

You can find all the books here.

Meantime I’d love to see some of you in my readers group and/or signing up for my newsletter. Elizabeth Noble and I also have a shared Facebook group for our shared world, The Sleepless City.