In Too Deep (In Too
Deep #1)
Gracie has just finished her freshman year of college in
Memphis when she takes a job at a local pizza joint in her home town of
McKenzie, Tennessee. She is the epitome of innocence when she meets Noah. Noah
is unabashedly handsome, intriguingly reckless and just cocky enough to be
sexy. Gracie’s instincts tell her to stay far away from him and based on the
stories she hears from her co-workers he leaves broken hearts in his wake. But
still, she can’t explain her fascination with him.
Noah puts aside his bad boy ways when what he thought was a
summer crush has him unexpectedly falling in love. But soon after Gracie
transfers to UT Knoxville to be with Noah, their unexpected love becomes
riddled with anger, deceit and humiliation.
Jake, Noah’s former roommate and Gracie’s best friend, can
no longer be a bystander. Gracie’s world falls out from beneath her and when
she breaks she turns to Jake for strength. As Jake talks her through a decision
she’s not yet strong enough to make, together they uncover a truth so ugly
neither of them is prepared for its fallout. Will Jake pull her to the surface
or is Gracie Jordan finally In Too Deep?
IN TOO DEEP ~ EXCERPT
“Talk to me.” Jake scooted closer and tucked my hair
behind my ear. I rolled over onto my back and crossed my arms over my stomach.
“Jake. I hate that I am even going to say this out loud,
but…Noah makes me feel like an idiot sometimes. I mean, part of why he was so
taken by me in the beginning was because of how innocent I was. He liked that I
was so naïve and didn’t know about a lot of things. And now, it seems like he
isn’t happy unless I sacrifice that for him.”
“Hm. That’s messed up.”
“Do you think less of me for smoking pot, Jake?”
“Gracie, our mistakes don’t define us, they help us make
the choices that will one day be woven into who we become.”
“Wow.”
“What?”
“You’re deep at two a.m.”
“Gracie, you can’t let him steal who you are. You need to
make choices based on who you are…right here.” He poked his finger into my
chest. “Don’t make decisions because Noah is standing behind them convincing
you they are the right choices for you.”
“See, it makes so much sense when you say it. If I am thinking of someone else in the same situation,
I would give them that exact advice, although not as scholarly as you just
did.” I giggled and poked him in the bare chest that was peeking out above his
comforter.
“So, take your own advice, Gracie.”
“It’s not that easy. It’s like he’s got strings tied to my
emotions and my common sense. I can’t seem to think for myself when he wants me
to do something I’ve never done before.”
“Does he make you feel guilty if you don’t want to?”
“Sometimes, but mostly he just makes me feel stupid. Like
I’m too immature to make a sound decision. So, he makes it for me.”
“Gracie! Only you
should be controlling the things you are doing with your mind…and…your body.
Gracie, please don’t let him take things from you that you aren’t ready to
give. Promise me.”
“It’s not like that, Jake. It’s not like he knows he’s
making me feel that way. I just do. I guess maybe I am just reading into his
expressions and assuming what he’s thinking. Maybe I am just too insecure
around him to think straight sometimes.”
“I wouldn’t doubt that he knows exactly what he’s doing.
I’ve seen him in action.”
I had never been conscious of the things we spoke about in
Jake’s bed. It was like pieces came together when Jake and I spoke. My thoughts
flowed freely and they made sense. I never felt like I had to be anyone but me
when I talked to Jake. He was so comfortable. I rolled over on my side again so
I could see him as he spoke.
“You shouldn’t be with someone who makes you feel that
way, Gracie. Look, Noah is my friend but I have seen what he can do. He’s
crushed more than a few girls on this campus. I know we’ve all seen him make a
big change, but you still have to be careful.”
“I know, Jake. He wouldn’t hurt me on purpose. I know he
loves me. I think he just wants me to be a little more adventurous. I think he
gets sick of the goody-two-shoes-Gracie.”
“The Gracie I know,” he laid his hand on my cheek and
kissed me on the tip of my nose, “is one of the most incredible people I have
ever met. Her smile lights up a room and everyone feels her joy because, take
it or leave it, she comes with no pretenses. You get all of her. The second you
meet her, you’ve got her heart. And her security in her convictions is what
makes her shine.”
Tears flowed in a stream across my face and onto the
pillow under my head. Jake gently placed his hand on the side of my face and
wiped the tears away with his thumb.
“Oh, Jake.” I sobbed out his name and crumbled in his bed.
I didn’t know how he could still see me as the girl he just described. I wasn’t
sure I even remembered her.
“Come here, Gracie. Let me hold you.” He lifted the covers
so I could climb under. He enveloped me in all that was Jake—his strength, his
honesty and an indescribable level of friendship I never knew existed. I didn’t
know what was to come with Noah, but I knew Jake would never walk away from me.
I didn’t know how to do life without him.
On Solid Ground (In
Too Deep #2)
Gracie survived an emotionally abusive relationship that
wrecked her. Her ex, Noah, systematically chipped away at her self-esteem
through intimidation, humiliation and infidelity which left Gracie unable to
trust her own perception of his intentions. But after falling head over heels
for Jake, her best friend and the man who stood by her through it all, she is
ready to experience life in the way it was meant to be lived. However, Gracie
may find it impossible to simultaneously heal from the trauma of abuse while
navigating a relationship with Jake. Can she put her heart on hold in order to
heal her soul? The sequel to the five-star debut novel, In Too Deep, chronicles
Gracie's steps toward healing as she falls deeper in love, reaches out for
help, stands on her own, steps out of her comfort zone, faces her biggest
fears, and reconnects with a sensual, talented soul from her past all in hopes
of finding herself on solid ground.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19136447-on-solid-ground
Above the Noise (In
Too Deep #3)
Becki Mowry's journalism expertise keeps her busy as she
spends her waking hours filling a calendar with gigs and public appearances for
her boyfriend's up and coming band, Alternate Tragedy. Radio interviews and TV
spots result in sold out concerts and rowdy groupies hot for her guy; lead
singer, Calon Ridge. But, as fame would have it, their time in the limelight
also brings sabotage, rumors and false accusations. Becki and Calon try to stay
steadfast on a personal journey that takes them to the depths of fear and
uncertainty. And finally, the rug is pulled out from under the band when they
must make a transition they never dreamed they'd be faced with. In this third
book of the In Too Deep series, Becki and Calon struggle to find balance as
they navigate their new relationship while living amid the rock world's
nocturnal chaos. But when life's unexpected obstacles come out of nowhere, they
focus on finding their own private solace Above the Noise.
AUTHOR BIO:
Michelle
Kemper Brownlow has been a storyteller her entire life. Her debut was on
the high school cheerleading bus granting requests to re-tell her most
embarrassing moments for a gaggle of hysterical squadmates.Earning her Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in Art Education and then marrying her very own “Jake,” she moved to Binghamton, NY where she taught high school. After having two children she quit work and finished her Master’s degree in Elementary Education at Binghamton University.
The Brownlow family of four moved to Michelle’s hometown of Morgantown, PA while the children were still quite young. A few years after moving, her family grew by one when they welcomed a baby into their home through the gift of adoption. The family still resides in PA, just miles from where that high school cheer bus was parked.
Michelle has been an artist for as long as she can remember, always choosing pencils and crayons over toys and puzzles. As a freelance illustrator, her simple characters play the starring roles in numerous emergent reader books published by Reading Reading Books.
Stay connected with Michelle:
Visit
my Author blog: MICHELLE KEMPER BROWNLOW
Follow
me on Twitter: @MK_Brownlow
"Like" me
on facebook: Michelle Kemper Brownlow/
Author
No comments:
Post a Comment