Blog Tour: Above the Noise by Michelle Kemper Brownlow {Review+Giveaway}

Welcome to my stop on the Above the Noise blog tour hosted by Book Plug Promotions!

Today I am excited to share my review as well as a giveaway with you all!

Above the Noise (In Too Deep #3)
   by: Michelle Kemper Brownlow

Publication Date: June 10, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by Book Plug Promos in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 355 pages
Order Links: Amazon | Kobo | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Becki Mowry’s journalism expertise keeps her busy as she spends her waking hours filling a calendar with gigs and public appearances for up and coming band, Alternate Tragedy. Radio interviews and TV spots result in sold out concerts and rowdy groupies hot for her lead singer boyfriend, Calon Ridge. But, as fame would have it, their time in the limelight also brings ulterior motives and false accusations. The rug is pulled out from under the band when they must make a decision 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 intense relationship while living amid the rock world’s nocturnal chaos. When life’s unexpected obstacles come out of nowhere, they focus on finding their own private solace Above the Noise.

 

 

 

 

Upon finishing On Solid Ground and seeing that the next book would be Becki and Calon's, I was ecstatic! Becki has been such a great side character in the first two novels- one of the best friends anyone could possibly have- and I fell for Calon the minute I met him (well after I realized he wasn't going after Gracie!).

 

Pacing: I felt the pacing was pretty good overall, but I did feel this book took a bit to pick up speed. Brownlow has written a very character driven novel and one that really focuses on the every day life  of these characters. I did feel Calon and Becki's relationship seemed a bit like insta-love, even with the flashbacks Brownlow has provided in the beginning of them becoming more. Even though I would have liked to see a bit more build up in their relationship, I do still feel it is genuine and after a while it really wasn't even an issue for me.

 

Storyline: Calon Ridge and his band Alternate Tragedy are ready to work at making a name for themselves. They have performed numerous gigs in their hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee and are now ready to take the next step. This novel follows the band as they make that transition from small town favorite to a band generating more and more buzz. Calon is not one of those attention seeking, cocky, arrogant musicians out to own the world. Instead, he's a really great guy who wants to make music, but still remain grounded and true to himself. He has known loss and pain in his life and really thinks things through before acting on them.

 

Becki Mowry is joining Alternate Tragedy on tour as their manager, as well as Calon's girlfriend. The two are starting their relationship off slow, as both of them know it has the potential to be so much more and don't want to rush things.

 

We get to see the two form and solidify their relationship while navigating the demands of being an up and coming band, girls that would do anything for a chance with a rockstar, as well as some unexpected surprises that they must face.

 

Characters: I liked both Becki and Calon. They are really great characters individually and together. Becki is more outspoken than her best friend Gracie and isn't afraid to say what's on her mind or how she feels. I like her tough as nails attitude and the fact that she isn't one of those jealous, insecure girlfriends. Becki has a lot thrown at her in this book, but she really is so much stronger and better because of those instances. Calon was wonderful to Becki and I loved how faithful and devoted he was to her. We don't get much in the way of Calon's past, but what we do get is very poignant and really showed us just how much he himself has had to overcome throughout his life.

 

We do get to see Gracie and Jake again for those who have read the previous two books in the series and they are great friends to both Calon and Becki. I love seeing friendships play such an important role in books! Calon's band members are also in the background and they provide some great comedic relief, as they are guys and don't always have filters. Danny is also a character that I ended up liking- she steps in to help Becki in her managerial duties, but you can tell she has a past of her own and I would love to find out more about her.

 

Final Thoughts: I did enjoy this novel, despite a few issues: I would have liked to see Calon and Becki's relationship develop a little slower and there were times I felt some of their language was a bit overkill. I like that they are vocal in their feelings for one another, but at times I just felt some of it was a bit much.

 

Brownlow has done an amazing job at tackling some really sensitive topics in this book. Becki and Calon handle their obstacles with grace and acceptance and I think that really made the book that much more special. She also addressed their fears, offering a more realistic feel to the story.

 

I would love to see another book in the series devoted to Danny, as I think she still has a story to tell...

 

 

 

 

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.

 

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