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Troublemaker Series #1

I Knew You Were Trouble

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All I want to do is fall in love.

I’ve heard it’s great. Lots of kissing and cuddling, and the whole “my lover is my best friend!” deal sounds right up my alley.

Only problem is the guy I want to fall in love with is 100% bad boy, and I’m a goody-two-shoes with her daddy’s Amex. Luckily, I’ve got a tattooed motorcycle-riding slacker co-worker willing to teach me all about being bad.

My instincts say the whole deal will be nothing but trouble, but my heart says it’s time to fall and fall hard.

I Knew You Were Trouble is the first in a classic Cassie Mae quirk series, with as many awkward moments as there are sweet ones.

Hold on tight for this modern twist on Grease! Candace and Pete will have you laughing and sighing in the same breath.

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 22, 2020

4 people are currently reading
140 people want to read

About the author

Cassie Mae

46 books1,148 followers
CASSIE MAE is the author of a few hundred—okay, maybe not that many—books, some of which became popular for their quirky titles, characters, and stories. She likes writing about nerds, geeks, the awkward, the fluffy, the short, the shy, the loud, the fun.

Since publishing her bestselling debut, Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend, she’s signed several Romance titles with Random House Loveswept, and founded CookieLynn Publishing Services. She is represented by Sharon Pelletier at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

Along with writing, Cassie likes to binge-watch Once Upon a Time and The Flash. She can quote Harry Potter lines quick as a whip. And she likes kissing her hubby, but only if his facial hair is trimmed. She also likes cheesecake to a very obsessive degree.

You can stalk, talk, or send pictures of Luke Bryan to her on her Facebook page.

cassiemaeauthor.com
Facebook.com/cassiemaeauthor

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5 stars
40 (43%)
4 stars
33 (35%)
3 stars
14 (15%)
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6 (6%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Profile Image for Keri .
743 reviews19 followers
September 14, 2020
I was SO excited to receive an ARC for Cassie Mae's latest book! Cassie Mae has a wonderful sense of humor which is one of the things I LOVE about her books. This one had me giggling within the first few pages, which is very unusual for me. Candace is just unbelievably cute. I was a little worried that since she is such a goody two shoes that she would be annoying but she is just adorable. She has lived such a sheltered by the book life and she decides she needs to change in order to impress a guy. In steps her co-worker Pete to give her rebel lessons. More hilarity ensues. Candace and Pete build a beautiful friendship filled with caring banter that leads to amazing chemistry. I've been waiting patiently for another book from Cassie Mae and this one definitely did not disappoint! She will remain one of my favorite authors to recommend to other readers!
Profile Image for Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen.
1,692 reviews634 followers
November 8, 2020
4.5 Stars

Candace and Pete were so adorable in this story and I found myself with a smile plastered to my face throughout the whole book. Even after the last pages was read, I'm still feeling giddy about Candace overcoming her fears and finding love!
Profile Image for Natalie Hughes.
717 reviews8 followers
September 22, 2020
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
To infinity. Guys if you read my reviews you will know that I LOVE THIS AMAZING AUTHOR. Cassie Mae doesn't write the the model character (physically or mentally). She writes people with problems or insecurities that allow you to relate to them.

Candace and Pete are cute together. Both are going through things and are from different worlds but they just fit. Pete knows and love Candace for all her faults because they are joy faults but who she is. The story is developed really well along with the characters and I really look forward to seeing who is next in this group.
Profile Image for Jennifer Wilson.
800 reviews9 followers
September 23, 2020
Candace is the rich girl. The follow all the rules, everything has to be perfect girl. Her coworker Pete is the ‘bad boy’. He rides a motorcycle, ignored the rules at work. But Candace is ready to fall in love and she wants that with Zach, the model for her art class. But he’s also a bad boy, and would never go for someone like her. So she hires Pete to teach her how to be a bad girl. But in working so closely together, they learn that there is more to each other than what they first thought.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters are wonderful and quirky. Candace is sweet and funny. And Pete is all tough on the outside, but a totally sweet and caring person. This story was written well, and held my interest from page one. It had me laughing out loud at points. I definitely recommend this book.
Profile Image for Christina Rod.
449 reviews2 followers
September 12, 2020
First of all, thank you to Cassie for an ARC of this book.

Okay, so if a book has me staying up to the wee hours of the night it was a great read. I was excited to jump into a new Cassie Mae book and she didn't disappoint. Her characters are sweet, fun, but most of all, hilarious. I can always guarantee a laugh when reading her books. Candace and Pete are wonderfully hilarious and well rounded characters! The opposites attract theme is one I enjoy and one that Cassie does well.

I can't wait for the next in the series.

Pick this book up and get ready for a great read with moments that will have you laughing out loud and swooning!
Profile Image for Jenn.
1,463 reviews26 followers
September 27, 2020
If you're looking for hot and spicy this isn't the title for you. But it was fairly adorable.

Candace was a bit naive and not so much immature in the irresponsible sense, but immature in her view of the world for the age of 20.

I might be willing to believe that there are people in their early 20s not ready for sex. But literally afraid to see a penis is pushing it.

Also I can't see Candace's parents being all gung-ho about a high school dropout once that is introduced and I feel like that should have been addressed.

But overall the story was fairly adorable and I liked it.
Profile Image for Love-Leigh Book Reviews.
320 reviews4 followers
September 22, 2020
Ok.. This book was PHENOMENAL!! I didn’t want it to end! I’m a new reader of Cassie Mae and let me just say I will FOREVER be a fan of her after reading this. Everything about this book and it’s characters was absolutely amazing. Aah, I wish I was still reading it!

Candace and Pete! *excited squeal* I. LOVED. THESE. TWO. The way they played off of each other and also came together was just so hysterical and fantastic! Candace is a neurotic, perfectionist who diligently follows rules and is living in somewhat of a cocoon. As I got to know her and her thought processing I couldn’t help but share an affinity towards her. A lot of what she felt was not far off from what I, and what others I’m sure, have felt at some point in our young lives, it was hard not to get choked up. She also had me laughing at some of her absolutely bizarre quirks, rules and just overall Candace-isms. An absolute beautiful character that was such a pleasure to watch develop throughout this book. Now onto that smooth talking, seriously swoon worthy Pete. He’s what Candace thinks is a “bad boy” but as we see the story go on he has layers and depth. Just goes to show judging a book by its cover, or tattoos in this case, isn’t the way to go. One of the most heartwarming things about him were his love for his sisters and the way he is with Candace. Even with his teasing, you could still see it was never malicious. I think what I loved most about Pete was that I found him to be perfectly imperfect. I also found myself relating to him in such a way that he seemed to put on a mask for others while carrying such heavy burdens. Each of these characters have flaws, fears and things they wish to hide but I believe that’s what made them so relatable and realistic for me.

The story overall was brilliant, I loved every second from start to finish. The little quirks and fears were so clever, the way the chapter titles are done are so unique, the chemistry and back and forth of the characters was perfection and the characters themselves well I’ve gushed about them so I think we all know how I feel in that respect. The humor had me laughing so hard and the emotional aspects had a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. It was a perfect combination of both and so much more. Cassie Mae really hit this outta the park for me, I truly didn’t want this book to finish. I could read an entire series on just these two characters and love every second of it. If I could I would give it so many more stars than just 5. Everyone should read this book, I can not recommend it enough!

Received an advanced copy and am voluntarily giving my honest review.
Profile Image for Lenore Kosinski.
2,389 reviews64 followers
September 22, 2020
https://celebrityreaders.com/2020/09/...

I received a free copy through the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

4.5 stars — I wasn’t going to write an official official review, b/c I find it harder to do with beta reads. But then I went to write at least a little something, and a whole bunch came out, so here it is…

I beta read this one, and all I can say is SHE’S BACK BABY!!!! It was like meeting up with an old friend that you haven’t seen in a long time, and when you do, you remember all the things you love about them and why you’re so glad they’re in your life.

If you’ve been a fan of Cassie Mae from early on, then prepare for some strong Switched/Friday Night Alibi vibes. If this is your first foray, then I hope you love real, because that’s what you’re going to get. Candace and Pete are quirky, hilarious, sassy, and struggling with things that I think many people will relate to. It’s a lot of laughs, but it’s also a lot of heart too.

I adored Candace, with her list of fears and her desire to expand her horizons. She grows SO MUCH over this book, and it’s so satisfying. She’s incredibly innocent and naive, but in a completely non-judgemental way. That’s not easy to achieve, but I could totally get who she was.

Pete is book boyfriend central. He’s not at all what you would expect (not at all what Candace expected), but that just makes him even better. He made me laugh, he made me swoon, he made my heart ache. I loved the way he was with his sisters. I loved the way he was with Candace. I just loved him.

They were so unbelievably cute together, I can’t even. Like seriously, I can’t even. I think my absolute favourite part was Christmas. It was the perfect marriage of humour and heart.

Ms. Mae is one of my favourite authors, and she just proves why again in this book. She gives me unconventional characters, unconventional circumstances, and even if I don’t have anything in common with her characters, reading about such real heroes and heroines just makes me feel seen — like I deserve a love story too.
Profile Image for Christine Rains.
Author 57 books245 followers
November 4, 2021
Candace is a follow the rules, nothing gets messy ever type of girl. Even as a painter, she doesn't splatter a drop. Yet when she sets her sights on impressing a bad boy, she needs to loosen up and face her fears to become a bad girl herself. She asks her motorcycle riding co-worker, Pete to help and give her lessons. He might be unorthodox when it comes to teaching her, but as she grows more bold, she starts to fall for the guy she never knew she wanted.

This is a light and fun NA contemporary romance. The uptight good girl learns to let loose, but is this what she really wants for herself in the end? Candace is adorable, and as an artist, she has her own unique take on colors. She works at a place called Troublemakers where she's met Pete. He seems like a regular bad boy on the surface, but there are a lot of layers underneath. While Candace did seem too young for her age, Pete's characterization was fantastic. The romance is clean and sweet. This is a wonderful escape if you want an easy and warm fuzzy read.
Profile Image for Doodle.
787 reviews1 follower
October 1, 2020
This book had me hooked from the first chapter. I read it in one sitting because I could not wait to find out how Candace and Pete get their HEA. This sweet romance focuses on the developing connection between Candace and Pete. I enjoyed their journey from co-workers to romance and appreciate that the author fully developed their connection. So many times, romance books skimp on the emotional connection and go straight to sex. It was refreshing to read a well-written love story with likeable characters and an interesting plot that focused on showing how these two discovered their love for one another. This book is definitely in my top 10 of my favorite romances I've read this year, which is saying a lot considering I do not usually prefer books written in first person and there are no sex scenes. I will definitely check out more from this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Melanie.
227 reviews
September 18, 2020
Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down! Candace is a girl who has everything, except the courage to talk to the guy she likes. She enlists help from bad boy Pete to try and be brave. Candace and Pete have a sweet relationship and Candace soon learns there is more to Pete than she knows.
Profile Image for J.M..
Author 18 books30 followers
November 4, 2020
Bing read it! Anyone who has kids with lots of phobias should read this book it’s fantastic read
Profile Image for Regina.
1,098 reviews
August 23, 2022
So. Dang. Cute!

This story is totally my kind of quirky, funny, swoony jam! I love this story so much, I can't even say what my favorite chapter is. The one with the "girls" is surely a strong contender for that title (I am a horse geek, so there's that), but the one with Gertrude is just... perfect. *le sigh*
So, SO many happy sighs!

By the final chapter, I was grinning like a fool - and solidly in love with Candace and Pete myself. (Don't tell my FC!)

I love that neither Pete nor Candace are perfect, but they are perfect for each other - baby hyena, laminated lists, and all... And their friends and family make for a fun and entertaining supporting cast - I can't wait to read Maddie's story (which is hopefully next)!
Profile Image for Andrea.
533 reviews
October 1, 2020
4.5 stars! I received this as an ARC and was lured in right away. I love Cassie’s “easy” writing style. Her characters are well developed, believable, and likable. Loved how Cassie combined the main characters love of art into “fear colors” at the beginning of each chapter.

Candace and Pete couldn’t be more different. She is an only child of two well meaning, but physical CD ally absent parents. She lives in their guest house rent free, attends art school, and is a manager at Troublemakers (a carnival game amusement place). She seems borderline OCD! She doesn’t go to bed one minute past her bedtime (10:30) and when she stays up until 10:31, she considers herself rebelling. She falls for a “bad boy” even though she’s only spoken to him less than a handful of times. Wanting to get him to like her, Candace goes on a mission to become more “rebellious.” Enter Pete.

Pete is the middle child and has 2 sisters. His parents deal with addiction and irresponsibility. He is funny, loud, and doesn’t always follow the rules. The perfect person to give Candace “lessons” in how to be “bad.” Through their lessons, Pete and Candace find what they need in each other and learn that can lead to things neither realized they were searching for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
599 reviews7 followers
September 13, 2021
I've read other Cassie Mae books in the past and they've always fell in the 3-to-4-star range. This one was only 2-stars. It was okay...I liked it for the most part, but it was lacking. What? There might have been a few things, but I know a big part of it was the main female character for sure...she wasn't all that believable. She seemed too young for her age, overly repressed. The way she was written just didn't work. It had some good parts to it, some definite 4-star scenes, but overall it fell flat. The main male character was good, a lot more well-rounded and had more depth to him.
2,161 reviews14 followers
September 18, 2020
Peter Owens is struggling to make ends meet, so when his pretty goody two shoes coworker Candace wants to hire him to teach her how to be bad, he accepts. Candy is in love with bad boy Zach, who thinks Candy isn't his type, but she hopes to change that. What happens when Pete realises he has feelings for Candy?

I Knew You Were Trouble is a funny, angsty and sweet story that will have you cheering for the hero and heroine to get together. I can't wait to read Double Trouble, Book 2 of the Troublemaker Series.
2,710 reviews33 followers
September 24, 2020
Candace and Pete are just so loveable. They are so drawn to each other and that shows in the writing. I love quirky characters and oddball themed books and this was like no other but familiar all the same. I found it sweet how tough and loveable Pete was and that just made me love this character more. This was a great story. Fun, quirky, charged up and hot In places. Definitely a new favorite author and one I'll be looking to read more from in future.
This was an ARC and this is my honest review.
36 reviews
September 21, 2020
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was a great romantic comedy and a hard to put down book. Cassie Mae did a great job of pulling me in and had me laughing out loud. There were a few parts that were a little immature and seemed to be for a younger demographic, but overall this was a great book that is just what you need to lighten the mood in stressful times. Would definitely read more from her.
Profile Image for Sam C.
537 reviews12 followers
February 17, 2021
Cassie Mae never falls to put a smile on my face, I just adore her work and how lighthearted I feel whenever I finish one of her novels.

I knew you were trouble was a sweet funny story about a girl who believed she needed to change in order to chase love but who realized love isn’t chased and that when someone loves you he will do it for who you are and not who you think you should be.

It was a delightful read: short, fast paced, swoon worthy and incredibly funny. Definitely a five stars.
Profile Image for Emma Ashley.
1,375 reviews49 followers
August 26, 2023
I knew you were trouble is a cute and easy to read romance novel by Cassie Moe.
This was a very enjoyable read, with a easy to follow storyline and a great cast of characters. I kept rooting for the main characters to get together as their chemistry was off the charts. A really enjoyable read that I highly recommend.
❤️ Thank you to the author for my ebook copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
9,376 reviews140 followers
September 26, 2020
This is a well written romantic comedy with strong characters in Candace and Peter. The author takes them on a sweet ,fun and hilarious ride. The story moves quickly and smoothly and is an entertaining read. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
4,629 reviews
October 3, 2020
This was an easy rom-com read that was cute, fun, and angsty about Candance and Peter.
She's a good girl who falls for a bad-boy but needs lessons on how to be a bad-girl, so enters Peter her co-worker and who she ask to coach her.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Annette Alex.
Author 8 books12 followers
November 27, 2020
I made the mistake of starting this book at night. I had to force myself to put it down because it was 4:00 in the morning and I got a maximum of 3hrs of sleep before I picked it up and continued. I fell in love with the characters and the their story. Cassie Mae had me laughing and snickering the whole time. Loved this book.
Profile Image for ★Ruth★.
1,461 reviews
December 28, 2020
Not my favourite but this author

I usually really like Cassie’s characters but something just didn’t work here for me.
Maybe it’s too similar to another book I read where the guy teaches the girl to be different for another guy.
Whatever it was I just didn’t get the spark I need from this couple.
Profile Image for BB.
526 reviews7 followers
February 16, 2021
Definite NA/YA. Candace was a truly awkward. Like someone home schooled whose parents idea of "socialization" was Sunday school at a super strict church. Uptight, judgy and naive. Maybe neurotic is a better word...or just another one. Pairing her with Pete, who got hit with the struggle branch, conceptually cute but I dunno. It seems like a first love, not lasting love. But it's NA, so. Eh.
Profile Image for Theresa.
Author 59 books859 followers
September 21, 2020
This book had everything that originally made me fall in love with Cassie Mae's writing. It was sweet and funny with quirky characters I wanted to be friends with. A super cute story that will have you smiling as you say just one more chapter.
Profile Image for Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon).
16.4k reviews217 followers
September 23, 2020
Absolutely Awesome Read, well written, great characters, Awesome story line, easy read to hold you on their journey, this genre might not be for everyone but its a really wonderful story cannot wait for more from this Author.
4,012 reviews34 followers
September 26, 2020
The book is a good romantic comedy read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. The story is an enjoyable funny romance read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Kathy Mccalmon.
3,721 reviews28 followers
October 1, 2020
This is the 1st book in the troublemaker series. Will these 2 opposites be able to find what they are looking for in each other?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Helena Mendes.
1,370 reviews16 followers
October 3, 2020
This is a very funny, romantic and original twist of the classical good girl in love with the bad boy. I realy loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews

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