Thrilled to welcome Laura Carter, one of my author gal pals, to Off the Beaten Track today, celebrating the release of her latest novel Out of Bounds.
LOVE this cover – the chemistry! Let’s find out more…
Welcome Laura and happy publication day! Tell us what inspired you to write Out of Bounds
Thank you! So, Out of Bounds, though a standalone novel, is set in the same world as my previous sports romance book, A Rookie Mistake. I was desperate to return to the world of Sunshine Ranch (the not-for-profit carer respite owned by the Quinn family), as well as the San Antonio Bears American football team. In A Rookie Mistake, we are introduced to a show pony, cinnamon roll, Tanner Pace, and I knew as soon as I met him (without meaning to sound entirely unhinged about my fictional friend) that I wanted to write his story. We also met Annie Quinn in A Rookie Mistake – young, single mom and little sister of Tanner’s teammate, Colton. It was already set to be the perfect storm, and I couldn’t wait to weather it with these characters. What surprised me, and I hadn’t realized about the book until it was complete, was how the book also became a story of a young woman’s strength and the influence of good men as fathers and father figures. How sometimes families can be unexpectedly found and unconventional. Ultimately, love of all kinds is the inspiration behind Out of Bounds.
I love that you’re writing in the same world and giving Tanner and Annie their own story. What do you hope readers take away from Out of Bounds?
I hope readers are left feeling light and fluffy by the end of Out of Bounds. It has depth and heart but is ultimately intended to be a feel-good and swoon worthy sports romance, with incredible but fallible main characters we can all love and respect. As well as some pretty funny driving lesson and animal excrement disasters!
I know you’re an avid reader as well as an author. What’s your most recent read that you’d like to recommend?
Swept Away by Beth O’Leary. It’s a slight pivot on Beth’s usual romcoms (which I adore), with a suspense element. After a one-night-stand on a houseboat, the characters are swept out to sea. It’s full of love, comedy and a fight for survival. Pure escapism. I loved it!
Beth is brilliant. I think The Switch is my fave of hers. I’ll have to check out Swept Away.
What would you say has been your biggest author highlight over the last year?
My young children finally realising what Mummy does as a job. They’ve started proudly telling their teachers and friends that Mummy is an author. It’s incredible to think they’re growing up seeing a hardworking mum but also learning that life is their oyster. Their dreams and passions can become their work. It has been a real life moment for me.
That’s awesome – and I totally agree about instilling that belief in the next generation. My niece is a budding author and I love that she sees it as a career option.
Can you tell us what you’re working on now, or is it a secret?
I’ve recently finished writing the third book in the Wild Card series – another standalone sports romance to follow A Rookie Mistake and Out of Bounds. This time, we’re going to New York and the world of professional ice hockey, though we’ve already briefly met the characters 😉. The Game Plan releases in November. It’s fun and high energy. It was a blast to write and I hope readers will love it! And there will absolutely be cameos from A Rookie Mistake and Out of Bounds.
Brilliant. Well, thank you for telling us about the series and I just know this one will fly!
More about Out of Bounds
A BRAND NEW spicy sports romance ❣️🏈🌶️perfect for fans of Elle Kennedy, Chelsea Curto and Tessa Bailey! ✨
Every book in the Wild Card series can be read as a standalone.
Tropes: 🏈 football romance 💕 friends to lovers 🤠 cowboys 👶 single mother 📚 working for a better life 🌶 spice
She knows better than to fall for another football player – especially her brother’s best friend…
As a single mother, Annie Quinn knows she should steer clear of football players, if her son’s absent father is anything to go by. Determined to prove she can raise Nelson on her own, she’s decided to go back to school. There’s just one problem: she refuses to rely on her brother Colton for rides into the city.
Tanner Pace has always known Annie Quinn is strictly off limits. Colton is his teammate and best friend, so she’s more like a sister. When he offers to teach her to drive, it’s just to help out a friend. At least, that’s what he tells himself. Because these days, Annie has transformed into a strong and independent woman – one he can’t seem to stay away from.
Somewhere between unpredictable drives and slow Texas sunsets, sparks fly and Annie forgets why she decided never to trust a sports star again.
As much as Tanner wants something to happen, he knows it can’t. Annie is his best friend’s sister. Completely, undeniably out of bounds… but are some rules meant to be broken?
Buy Out of Bounds
More about Laura
Laura carter is an Amazon top 10 and internationally bestselling author of romcoms and sports romance, translated into multiple languages. Exploring relationships and getting under the skin of her characters is Laura’s passion. She takes inspiration from everything she loves from sports to law, from music and books to on screen romances, and from her own friends and family (shhhhhh, don’t tell them!). Laura lives in Jersey and loves nothing more than being active outdoors.
Sandy Barker | Author 
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