Authors: Michelle Kemper Brownlow
Above the Noise
Above the Noise
Copyright © 2014 Michelle Kemper Brownlow
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior permission of the publisher.
The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Names, characters, places, and plots are a product of the author’s imagination. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9914691-1-6 (ebook)
Cover Design: Michelle Kemper Brownlow
Cover Image: Captblack76
Cover Model: Lorenzo C
Editing: Book Peddler’s Editing
https://www.facebook.com/BookPeddlersEditing
Formatting: Fictional Formats
https://www.facebook.com/FictionalFormats
Original lyrics: Michelle Kemper Brownlow ©
http://michellekemperbrownlow.blogspot.com
One of the greatest talents Michelle has is getting the reader to feel and experience her storytelling and Above the Noise is a perfect example of that. I could feel the music, the atmosphere, the emotions
…
all of it. Never has music and reading gone better hand-in-hand than with this book and Michelle continues to shine with Above the Noise.
~Jillian Stein, Read-Love-Blog
A beautiful story that will leave you emotionally attached to the characters and fanning yourself with some incredibly sexy scenes. Calon made it very hard to stay faithful to Jake!
~Jenee Gibbs, Jenee’s Book Blog
Calon and Becki’s story is one filled with emotion, passion, and absolutely scorching hot chemistry. Yet another must read from the very talented Michelle Kemper Brownlow.
~Holly Baker, Holly’s Hot Reads
This is a series that will stay with you for quite some time. I love how this group of characters’ lives intertwine.
~Heather Davenport, Naughty and Nice Book Blog
To everyone who makes music.
From those who play alone to those who play for tens of thousands, you’re speaking a universal language that has the power to heal the broken.
Don’t. Ever. Stop.
The Keeper
by Chris Cornell
Skeletons
by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Lie in the Sound
by Trespassers William
American Music
by Violent Femmes
Lump
by The Presidents of the United States
Tsunami
by Dvvbs & Borgeous
Crazy Train
by Ozzy Osbourne
All of Me
by John Legend
Suds in the Bucket
by Sara Evans
Eat for Two
by 10,000 Maniacs
Drive all Night
by Glen Hansard and Eddie Vedder
Laid
by James
Counting Stars
by OneRepublic
Lips Like Sugar
by Echo and the Bunnymen
What if
by Five for Fighting
State of Love and Trust
by Pearl Jam
Crash
by Sum 41
Criminal
by Fiona Apple
The One
by Static Cycle
Wings
by Birdy
Paralyzer
by Finger Eleven
Accident
by Emily Wolfe
Arms Wide Open
by Creed
Find Michelle Kemper Brownlow on
Spotify.com
for this and her other novels’ playlists
“CHANGE OUR IMAGE?
Are you fucking kidding me? This is ridiculous! Guys, Becki, we’re out!” Calon’s voice was sharp, and his stance was on the verge of threatening. It was unusual to see him that way. He’d been nothing but sweet, sensitive, passionate, and gentle since we’d first met. I’d heard him get loud with Gracie when they practiced new songs at Mitchell’s, but that was usually because she held back what he tried to pull from her.
That
kind of passion was a cool thing to see. The clenched fist thing in Greystar Management’s conference room teetered between passionate and dangerous, which was a first for me.
Mr. Barnes sat with his eyes fixed on Calon but seemingly unshaken by my new boyfriend’s outburst. I sat with the band on an eccentric couch across the room from Mr. Barnes. I looked around at the other guys to see if they were as thrown by Calon’s booming voice as I was. They didn’t seem fazed. Spider leaned back into the couch with his arm up over the back behind Manny, whose elbows were on his knees. Manny rubbed his forehead then turned his head away from Mr. Barnes, looked passed me, and grinned at Bones. Bones nodded, straight-faced, then looked back at Calon. Since it seemed I was the only uncomfortable one in the room, I was the odd man out. I felt like I should stand up to leave, as per Calon’s directive, but no one else budged.
“Mr. Ridge, listen. It’s common practice in this industry for management to help you create an image. Your image is what sells your music, that’s no secret.”
“Funny! I like to think it’s our talent.” Calon wasn’t about to let this go. It was incredibly sexy to watch him take charge and stand his ground, but I would have rather had toothpicks shoved under my fingernails than spend any more time in that meeting.
“Calon, think of the bands you know off the top of your head. You can picture the band members, right?”
“Of course, I can, but that’s not what sells a record, Mr. Barnes. The passion for the craft, the investment in the art of taking an emotion and slinging words around it then folding in just the right beat and melody is what sells, not my hair or the style of my clothes. I don’t even think about that stuff before I go on stage. All I think of is how I’m gonna move my fans. And I sure as hell think they’re longing to be moved… by my voice—not my image.” Calon added air quotes at the end of his rant.