Book Tour for Should've Known Better by Cassandra Carr (Review & GIVEAWAY)

Cassandra Carr is bbbbaaaacccckkkk with her newest release, Should've Known Better, a sexy sports-themed story that I hope is the start to a new series.  So keep reading to learn more about Ms. Carr through our interview along with reading my impressions of this book.  To learn even more, visit the other blogs hosting this tour listed here.  Before leaving make sure to fill out the form for the chance to win a great prize.....

TSP:  Knowing what you do now about the publishing business, would you have done anything different career-wise?

CC:  Probably done more research about the querying process. I think some of my MSs were rejected due to the query letter alone. If I had understood that a query letter is basically a back-of-book blurb I might’ve caught an editor’s attention sooner.

TSP:  What does your writing space look like and do you surround yourself with any particularly inspirational items?

CC:  I don’t have a “writing space” per se. My desk is in the corner of the living room. Sometimes, like now, I’m sitting on my couch. I also write at places like Panera and a café that’s attached to a grocery store in my area. I don’t have anything inspirational – I’m not really the type who needs to psych myself up that way.

TSP:  The majority of your books are erotica in nature, what draws you to that genre?

CC:  Honestly, because I’m good at writing sex and I enjoy it. I wish there was a cooler answer than that, but it is what it is.

TSP:  Beyond its synopsis, what do you want us to know about Should've Known Better?

CC:  Should’ve Known Better was the first book I ever wrote, and it’s the book of my heart. I positively ADORE Sebastian and so badly wanted the readers to know him. This book went through countless rewrites and I was very lucky to have an excellent editor, Michele Jensen, who took a chance on the book.

TSP:  Which of your books would you like to see made into a movie and who would play the main couple?

CC:  Oh gosh. Ummmm, I’m going to say Collision, book 2 in the Buckin’ Bull Riders series. Taylor Kinney would be Brady and Eliza Dushku would be Leah.

TSP:  Of all the heroes you've written, who's the most heroic in your opinion?

CC:  Sebastian, I think, from Should’ve Known Better. He does not give up. Ever.

TSP:  How has the digital revolution affected your career and how you market yourself?  Do you have an eReader yourself?

CC:  The digital revolutions hasn’t affected my career, per se, because from the beginning I was with a digital-first publisher. I’ve been marketing myself online the entire time I’ve been published. I own a Kindle Fire. I have an original Nook too, which I really need to give away.

TSP:  My site's all about favorite things, so what are your favorite things/the things you can't live without?

CC:  Sabres, Kindle, Phone, Chocolate, Pizza, Pepsi, Sushi, TV so my Sabres are life-sized ;-)

Sara Jenkins, a math geek and hockey fanatic, is thrilled when the NHL hires her as an advisor for the Buffalo Storm. She gets to marry her two loves in this perfect job.

Sebastian St. Amant is a young hockey player looking to make the jump from the minors to the big leagues. His lifelong dream is within reach, but he needs to convince the Storm's management and coaches he's ready.

When Sara and Sebastian meet, sparks immediately fly. Both want to succeed, but neither can ignore the growing attraction and a relationship is out of the question—Sara’s an influential staff member and Sebastian’s a player, not to mention over ten years her junior.

But the impossible becomes the necessary when they can no longer fight their attraction. As everything crashes around them, the strength of their relationship is tested. Will it weather the storm, or should they have known better?

EXCERPT:

His gaze dropped to her mouth. “I have to touch you.” Lifting his thumb, Sebastian then traced it over her bottom lip before dipping it into her mouth.
She couldn’t help herself. She needed to taste him again. Swiping her tongue over the tip, she sampled his hot skin and arousal roared through her.
Pulling his thumb out, he brought their bodies flush then kissed her hard. It was a kiss filled with fire, his lips hot and restless. He pushed his tongue into her mouth, exploring and spreading a warm blanket of lust over her. Sebastian kissed her as if he was establishing possession, and a heavy wave of ecstasy flooded her.
“Tu es ma femme.”
Her own breath came in short pants as she forced oxygen into her starving lungs. She didn’t need that phrase translated—she knew what it meant—“you’re my woman.” If their circumstances were different, she’d like nothing more than that, but it could never be.

BUY LINKS:   AMAZON   |   BN   |   SMASHWORDS

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

As a fan of sports-themed books I'm happy to see another author creating a series featuring some sexy athletes.  Should've Known Better has a lot going on amongst the pages, both physical and emotional, and becomes a journey full of highs and lows by the time we reach the end.  The romance doesn't fit the usual mold as the h/h don't get together until the latter half of the story.  Before that is a long drawn-out sexually tension filled debate of should they or shouldn't they.  It ultimately takes a tragic event to bring them completely together.

Sara's afraid to open her heart again after being hurt by someone she considered a friend.  She now devotes herself to her job completely and doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize her position with the Storm hockey team.  It's hard to keep to herself though with the sexy and charming rookie Sebastian constantly trying to win her over. There were times I didn't like her very much as she treated Seb as her dirty little secret.  This was after stringing him along through over half the book, going so far as to date another in an attempt to wipe him from her mind.  I liked that she was a smart woman navigating a predominantly male field, but when it came to emotions she was a coward.

Sebastian was absolutely delightful with his boyish and charming nature.  Speaking in a sexy mix of French and English made him even more drool-worthy.  He's younger than Sara by ten years but seemed the more mature of the two when it came to their relationship. Whereas she constantly came up with reasons they shouldn't be together, he had many more reasons why they should.  An over-the-top incident that befalls him late in the story throws him for a loop but finally forces Sara to admit her true feelings and ultimately leads them to a HEA.

Ms. Carr puts her main couple through the wringer.  From Sara having to deal with sexual harassment to Seb being harmed on a date for charity, these two undergo a tumultuous journey to their HEA which ultimately brings them closer together but is hard to read at times. Thankfully, there's a wonderfully supportive cast of secondary characters, particularly Seb's best friend Rob who brings some much needed comic relief to a story that at times almost goes too far into the deep end.  Along with entertaining characters, a realistic feel for and interpretation of the game of hockey, and an emotionally draining relationship between the h/h all combine to form a memorable story that is easy to immerse yourself in.  With brief but tantalizing glimpses of other hockey players I'm left with bated breath for their stories to be told.

My rating for this is a B.

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Cassandra Carr is a multi-award winning erotic romance writer with Ellora's Cave, Siren Publishing, Sybarite Seductions, Decadent Publishing, and Loose Id. She lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out online. Cassandra is the co-founder of two successful group blogs, Romancing the Jock and Dirty Birdies, and participates in several others as a contributor. Recently she was re-elected president of Western New York Romance Writers.

Website:  http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr
Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr

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