Wednesday, July 31, 2013

News: ON SOLID GROUND sets date for COVER REVEAL

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If you've read IN TOO DEEP, you are well-acquainted with Gracie, Noah and Jake. Well, their stories aren't over when you reach the last page... ON SOLID GROUND is the sequel due out in December.

The cover reveal for ON SOLID GROUND will take place on numerous book blogs on August 20th!

So, for now, I leave you with the synopsis and a quick (previously posted) glimpse into the pages of of ON SOLID GROUND...

Synopsis:

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 recovery as she discovers new interests, reaches out for help, deals with the return of unexpected exes, struggles through setbacks and reacquaints herself with a sensual and talented soul from her past all in hopes of finding herself on solid ground.


Excerpt:

Calon: Yaz wants to do your guitar lesson at Mitchell’s tonight. 7:00 instead of 6:30.

That was odd. Why in the world would Yaz have Calon text me?
           I walked through the door of Mitchell's and could hear voices. I got to the bottom of the stairs and realized it was Alternate Tragedy but just the band, no Calon. I looked over at the bar just as Jake looked up. He smiled at what he thought was a surprise visit just as his instructor told them to practice something on their own while he took an important phone call.

            “What are you doing here? I thought you had a lesson.”
           “Calon texted me to meet Yaz here.”

             “Oh. He’s in the back booth.” He motioned with his chin toward the back of the bar and then smiled.
               I turned to go see Yaz who’d just leaned out into the aisle and caught a glimpse of me. He held up a finger to whoever he was talking to. That was the only bad thing about the basement of Mitchell’s; the high back booths. You couldn’t see into a booth unless someone was leaning out of it or you were directly next to it. I didn’t know how the wait staff kept track of their customers when they couldn’t even see if anyone was occupying the booths in their section.            

“Gracie, you ready?” Calon came out of nowhere.
            “Huh?” Panic seized my chest and I stared at Yaz like a deer in the headlights waiting for an explanation.

                “You’re practicing with AT tonight. Wednesdays are rehearsals for the weekend bands. You’re going to rehearse with them in place of your regular guitar lesson.”
               “Oh, I can’t—”

                “Oh but you can. Grab your guitar and follow me.”
               I could barely breathe. This was ridiculous. I searched behind the bar for Jake but his bartending class must have gone to the back room. The dimly lit room was empty except for us. Me, the guys of Alternate Tragedy and Yaz.

                “Guys, this is Gracie. Gracie, this is Spider, Manny, Bones and Phil.” All the guys said “hi” in unison. They smiled as though they were trying to comfort me. I was positive there was no way I could hide how terrified I was.
               “Can’t I just watch tonight? I’m not sure I’m ready—”

                “Gracie,” Calon took me by the shoulders and spun me so I faced him. He tilted his head down to catch my gaze. “have you ever seen the videos of the people who put babies in pools and they instinctively swim?”
                “I nodded.”

                “What’s the reason for that?”
                 “Because if …oh, wait, I know what you’re doing! Come on, guys!” I wiggled away from Calon and hugged my guitar case close to me.”

                “Finish what you were going to say.” Calon smirked.
              “You are infuriating.” I tried to look my angriest.

                “Baby, you’re not the first person to tell me that. Now finish.”
                 I sighed with a frustrated growl and spoke quickly, “They throw them in so it’s a sink or swim kind of thing. Anyone can be taught through lessons but the sink or swim technique makes swimming instinctive.”

                “Right on, G!” Spider called from his stool at the drums. I should have assumed a band made up mostly of men with nicknames would grant me my very own nickname. G? It could be worse.
                I saw the group of bartenders move out from the back room and take their spots behind the bar. Jake looked up and smiled and winked but I wondered if he was still bothered by my artistic connection with Calon.

                Calon ushered me to a stool at center stage with a mic stand directly in front of it. He took Josephine out of her case and helped me under the strap Jake got for me.
             “Now, if you decide you want to be our opening act, you will be playing acoustic. Just you and Josephine on the stage” I was stunned he remembered what I’d named my guitar. ”But if you want to mix it up a bit tonight, the guys have offered to be back up for you for a couple songs. They’re going to play along tonight just to take the pressure off a little.”

                “Calon. I didn’t prepare anything. I can’t—”
             “Sink or swim, Gracie.” 

                And with that he stepped down off the stage and sat down in a chair directly in front of me. He leaned back in the chair and started tapping one of his boots loud enough for the band to hear. On cue, Bones came in with the bass guitar, then Manny and Spider joined him with drums and Phil slammed a tambourine against his palm. “Rearview Mirror.”
               I closed my eyes and took some deep breaths. I took so many deep breaths that the guys had to do the whole eight measure intro three times before I was ready to sing.


If you are a book blogger and would like to join us on August 20th for the COVER REVEAL...please email me at michellebrownlow@yahoo.com



If you haven't already, you can check out IN TOO DEEP here!

Friday, July 19, 2013

Sneak Peek of ON SOLID GROUND

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Sneak peek of
ON SOLID GROUND
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Today, in celebration for the LAST day of the IN TOO DEEP Blog Hop I am releasing a sneak peek from the sequel, ON SOLID GROUND.

After some positive feedback from a mini-peek yesterday on my facebook page, I decided I could let the rest of that scene slip out because it's probably NOT the male character your expecting to...but the one you want her with is close by, he's not out of the picture (go ahead, wipe your brow and say, "WHEW!")...this scene just introduces someone who takes on a much bigger role in this book!

Enjoy Gracie as she steps out of her comfort zone:


Calon: Yaz wants to do your guitar lesson at Mitchell’s tonight. 7:00 instead of 6:30.
           That was odd. Why in the world would Yaz have Calon text me?

I walked through the door of Mitchell's and could hear voices. I got to the bottom of the stairs and realized it was Alternate Tragedy but just the band, no Calon. I looked over at the bar just as Jake looked up. He smiled at what he thought was a surprise visit just as his instructor told them to practice something on their own while he took an important phone call.
“What are you doing here? I thought you had a lesson.”
“Calon texted me to meet Yaz here.”
“Oh. He’s in the back booth.” He motioned with his chin toward the back of the bar and then smiled.
I turned to go see Yaz who’d just leaned out into the aisle and caught a glimpse of me.  He held up a finger to whoever he was talking to. That was the only bad thing about the basement of Mitchell’s; the high back booths. You couldn’t see into a booth unless someone was leaning out of it or you were directly next to it. I didn’t know how the wait staff kept track of their customers when they couldn’t even see if anyone was occupying the booths in their section. “Gracie, you ready?” Calon came out of nowhere.
            “Huh?” Panic seized my chest and I stared at Yaz like a deer in  the headlights waiting for an explanation.
            “You’re practicing with AT tonight. Wednesdays are rehearsals for the weekend bands. You’re going to rehearse with them in place of your regular guitar lesson.”
            “Oh, I can’t—”
            “Oh but you can. Grab your guitar and follow me.”
            I could barely breathe. This was ridiculous. I searched behind the bar for Jake but his bartending class must have gone to the back room. The dimly lit room was empty except for us. Me, the guys of Alternate Tragedy and Yaz.
            “Guys, this is Gracie. Gracie, this is Spider, Manny, Bones and Phil.” All the guys said “hi” in unison. They smiled as though they were trying to comfort me. I was positive there was no way I could hide how terrified I was.
            “Can’t I just watch tonight? I’m not sure I’m ready—”
            “Gracie,” Calon took me by the shoulders and spun me so I faced him. He tilted his head down to catch my gaze. “have you ever seen the videos of the people who put babies in pools and they instinctively swim?”
            “I nodded.”
            “What’s the reason for that?”
            “Because if …oh, wait, I know what you’re doing! Come on, guys!” I wiggled away from Calon and hugged my guitar case close to me.”
            “Finish what you were going to say.” Calon smirked.
            “You are infuriating.” I tried to look my angriest.
            “Baby, you’re not the first person to tell me that. Now finish.”
            I sighed with a frustrated growl and spoke quickly, “They throw them in so it’s a sink or swim kind of thing. Anyone can be taught through lessons but the sink or swim technique makes swimming instinctive.”
            “Right on, G!” Spider called from  his stool at the drums. I should have assumed a band made up mostly of men with nicknames would grant me my very own nickname. G? It could be worse.
            I saw the group of bartenders move out from the back room and take their spots behind the bar. Jake looked up and smiled and winked but I wondered if he was still bothered by my artistic connection with Calon.
            Calon ushered me to a stool at center stage with a mic stand directly in front of it. He took Josephine out of her case and helped me under the strap Jake got for me.
            “Now, if you decide you want to be our opening act, you will be playing acoustic. Just you and Josephine on the stage. But if you want to mix it up a bit tonight, the guys have offered to be back up for you for a couple songs. They’re going to play along tonight just to take the pressure off a little.”
            “Calon. I didn’t prepare anything. I can’t—”
           “Sink or swim, Gracie.”      
          And with that he stepped down off the stage and sat down in a chair directly in front of me. He leaned back in the chair and started tapping one of his boots loud enough for the band to hear. On cue, Bones came in with the bass guitar, then Manny and Spider joined him with drums and Phil slammed a tambourine against his palm. “Rearview Mirror.”
          I closed my eyes and took some deep breaths. I took so many deep breaths that the guys had to do the whole eight measure intro three times before I was ready to sing.

Sooooo, not who you expected?
There may just be TWO HOTTER THAN HOT guys in ON SOLID GROUND!
You're welcome.

:)

To see the last stops on the BLOG HOP, check out the previous post...there are links to all this week's stops!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

IN TOO DEEP JULY BLOG HOP

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I am thrilled to introduce you to the amazing bloggers who will be featuring and reviewing IN TOO DEEP on their blogs during our BLOG HOP during the week of July 15-19!

IN TOO DEEP was on three genre-specific Amazon best seller lists the day BEFORE its release and has been getting rave reviews ever since!

**In Too Deep chronicles the life of college Junior, Gracie Jordan who finds herself in a dysfunctional relationship and struggles to find her way out. IN TOO DEEP is a story of love, loss and finding the most genuine man you've ever known.**

"I truly can't believe this was Michelle's debut! One word WOW! It was captivating, emotional, heart racing and a truly heart wrenching story!" ~Leanne Gillings

"Oh my god...this book...I need a minute or a decade to write a goo enough review for this book..."
~Alba, BookPics

"This was a story that pulled me in and didn’t let go….and I loved it!" ~Jillian, Read-Love-Blog

"Okay here it goes..... This book is F^&*%$# INCREDIBLE! Lord I have never ever been so heart broken in my life." ~Tee Loves Kyle Jacobson

"OK everyone, we have a new book boyfriend! IN TOO DEEP, get it now! You will not be disappointed!" ~BookBoyfriend

ON SOLlD GROUND is the sequel to IN TOO DEEP and will be released in DECEMBER 2013

Here are Gracie's stops during the BLOG HOP!

MONDAY 7/15
SBookLover Reviews
The Book Bellas
Ashley's Book Corner
Holly's Hot Reads

TUESDAY 7/16
The Bookish Panda
Talk Supe
Jenee's Book Blog

WEDNESDAY 7/17
Reading is  My Time Out
Cover Bound Bookie
Read-Love-Blog
Library at the End of the Universe

THURSDAY 7/18
Bianca 2b
Naughty & Nice Book Blog
Wine, Books 'n Fringe
Sub Club Books
Gutter Girls Book Reviews
Rude Girl Book Blog

FRIDAY 7/19
Smitten's Book Blog
Romance Addict Book Blog
Books, Coffee & Wine
HEA Bookshelf
Christine Locke Books
SMI Book Club

I am blessed to have so many bloggers excited to share Gracie's story with their readers!

I LOVE COMMENTS so, please feel free to leave your comments during the week of the BLOG HOP - don't forget to tell me which BLOG HOP STOP you came from! :)