REVIEW: Burning Love by Cassandra Carr

Burning Love
Calendar Men – Mr. August
Cassandra Carr

Firefighter Jude Mason is hurt on the job and placed on disability. While he rehabs his injuries, doubts start creeping in. What if he never heals? Worse than that, is the question he barely dares to contemplate—what will he do for work if he can never go back to the station? Firefighting is all he knows.
Michaela owns a café and lives her life with the constant threat of her business failing. She works long hours making her restaurant a success, leaving little time for romance. And who would want her anyway? She’s far from model-thin, for one thing. Sure, she’d like to have someone to share the good times and bad with, but her prospects are few, so she concentrates on her job rather than bemoaning her complete lack of a love life.
A collision at a photo shoot brings Jude and Michaela together. They both feel the pull, but with Jude’s uncertain future and Michaela’s nonstop job, can they find common ground? If they’re lucky, Jude and Michaela might discover a future that burns brighter with true love.

Genre: Contemporary, erotic romance, rubenesque, foodie romance
Heat level: 3 Word count – 20k
Cover art by Mina Carter
 

 ~Excerpt~
They walked to his truck and shared an easy silence on the way home. Michaela couldn’t remember a time she’d been more at ease with someone she didn’t know well.

At her door, he pulled her to him. “Thanks for coming out with me. This was the most fun I’ve had in weeks. I’ll call you, and we’ll do it again soon.”

“I had a great time, too.”

“I’m glad.”

Jude lowered his head and kissed her, capturing her chin in his large palm and turning her mouth to more fully meet his. His other arm remained around her waist, tightening and bringing their bodies fully flush from chest to hip. He ran his tongue along her lips, and she opened to him with a moan. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew they were taking things really fast, but try as she might, she couldn’t think of a good reason to slow down. Their tongues tangled in an intimate dance before he retreated to his own mouth and she chased him, moaning again when he briefly sucked on her tongue.

His hand moved lower on her back, cupping her ample ass and pushing his groin into hers, making his erection obvious. They battled for control of the kiss, but Jude eventually won out, pushing the hand that had cupped her chin around to the back of her head to tilt her to his liking. Finally they broke apart, both breathing hard.

Jude gasped for air. “Holy hell.”

“Uh-huh.”

“We need to stop, or I’m gonna start begging to take you right here.”

“Okay.” At Jude’s expression of surprise, she realized what she’d said and had to resist the urge to roll her eyes at herself. “I meant, yes, we should stop.” Very witty commentary. “So you’re going to call me?”

Jude held up the phone containing her number. “Count on it.” He waited for her to open her door before backing away.

“See you soon, I hope.”

Famous last words.

Author Bio:
Cassandra Carr is a multi-award winning erotic romance writer with Ellora's Cave, Siren Publishing, Sybarite Seductions/Twenty or Less Press, 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.
Sarah's Review:
Thank you to Cassandra Carr and Decadent Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this hot story!  There is something about a man in uniform that is attractive.  Firefighters, cops, military, any uniform really.  
Right from the beginning I was hooked!  I love how Cassandra Carr portrayed a strong Alpha male firefighter going through rehab after a serious knee injury.  She didn't glorify the rehab and made it realistic.  I love how she found a way to keep Jude involved with the fire department, even though Jude wasn't happy about it.  *giggles* Sneaky friends make things better!  

I love the way Jude and Michaela meet and I laughed because that is probably how I will meet someone!  I am not spilling the beans on this one!  I have enough embarrassing moments!  

Michaela is a woman who is passionate about her job as a chef and she is not afraid to show it.  I love that she is portrayed as a normal woman with insecurities about how she looks but is still able to be herself.   I love that she was able to be a source of strength and encouragement for Jude.