Gravity by Shayne McClendon
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Synopsis
Life should keep you grounded...it should never keep you down.
JoEllen Astor grew up poor in one of the worst trailer parks in Oklahoma. A childhood spent taking care of her mother and working hard has made her world weary already.
One night, she meets Holden Mayes, a man who thinks she's far too young for a man like him but can't help but want her. He makes a mistake that almost derails their relationship before it ever starts and is determined to make it right...no matter how long it takes.
Their accidental friendship is the only thing that keeps her together when tragedy strikes that shakes the very foundation of Jo's world.
When a man is slow, steady, and determined in his pursuit...how long can you fight your feelings for him?
Start reading about overcoming anything and everything life throws at you so you can have your own happily ever after. Another hot, emotional read from Always the Good Girl, Shayne McClendon.
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http://alwaysthegoodgirl.com/free-excerpt-of-gravity-by-shayne-mcclendon/
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Review
Whole people can come from broken parents. JoEllen is a shining example of the type of person who can grow up in a broken home yet not grow up broken herself. She's stable. She's well-educated and self-made-woman in spite of her years. Her life -growing up in a trailer park with only a mother who turns tricks for fair trade- has been such that she's had little time for dreams or acting her age.
Someone had to be the adult in her life. There was no time for childhood when she was too busy playing mother to her mother.
Hell comes for Jo before she finds her Heaven and it's amazing to watch her come out of the darkness and into the light as she adapts to being happy. There is such innocence in her as a character in spite of the painful way she's lived. It is a joy to get to see her find out how even the simplest things like waking up to sunlight through a window or being given a gift by someone who loves her can feel. Her gratitude for everything is palpable, humbling, and beautiful to experience.
She is beautiful and that has nothing to do with her body and everything to do with her character. Jo is just such a good person. I fell apart a little watching her life getting better one good moment at a time, watching her store up one good memory after another, and I found myself hoping like Holden -Jo's HEA hero- did that maybe those memories would make up for all the others that Jo had from the time before he entered her life. He takes a photo of the closet where Jo slept to remind himself of where she came from and it's a poignant moment because everyone comes from somewhere and it does no one any good to go forgetting that place.
We can't rise above our lowest points if we don't remember how low we had gotten.
This wouldn't be a Shayne McClendon story without talking about the sex and yes, yes there's sex. It's erotic, funny, and touching all at the same time. I found myself swept away with Jo as she figures out how to love Holden; I remembered what it was like to be in that perpetual honeymoon stage where sex is all that's on the mind any time one's lover comes into view. It was magical and memorable and moving.
I can honestly say that the ending surprised me. I was prepared for her to get a happy ending, but this one? It made me smile all the way down to the marrow of my bones. It's that good.
I hope if you're reading this wondering whether or not you should get this story, that you decide to take a chance because it brought me a great deal of happiness. As a person who comes from broken people, I can tell you honestly that it's hard to stay whole when your entire world around seems to be made up of the pieces of other people's shattered dreams, but I did it and Jo does it and sometimes we whole children of broken parents do get happy-ever-afters and I think everyone should get to bask in the glow of that for at least a little while.
About the Author
Shayne McClendon is an indie author who has received rave reviews for her premiere novel "The Barter System." Other projects recently released are "In the Service of Women," "Yes to Everything," "Damaged," "Being Delightful," "The Hermit," "Hudson" - the second book set in "The Barter System" world, and many more.
Writer, mom, and hermit...Shayne listens to the voices in her head because their ideas are awesome. Those around her have learned not to question the crazy. Coffee consumption is too high, amount of sleep is too low, but the words always feel just right.
She currently lives in Oklahoma wrangling teenagers, opening doors for her pets, and running her content writing company. She dreams of peace, quiet, travel, and always having a viable internet connection.
You can contact her by email at shayne@alwaysthegoodgirl.com, stop by her Facebook page, or visit her website and subscribe for your free story!
Shayne McClendon's work is available at all major e-book retailers. Print editions of her work are available on her website.
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