Blog Tour - Knee Deep by Jolene Perry

Hi guys! Today is my stop for this wonderful tour. I hadn't read anything by Jolene Perry but after this, that will all change. I'm so glad that I was able to be part of this tour. (Don't you like the cover? I heart it <3) Now back to our regularly scheduled program...er...review.



Author - Jolene Perry
Publisher - Tribute Books
Release Date - May 1st, 2012, 176 Pages

Shawn is the guy Ronnie Bird promised her life to at the age of fourteen. He's her soul mate. He's more uptight every day, but it's not his fault. His family life is stressful, and she's adding to it. She just needs to be more understanding, and he'll start to be the boy she fell in love with. She won’t give up on someone she’s loved for so long.

Luke is her best friend, and the guy she hangs with to watch girlie movies in her large blanketopias. He's the guy she can confide in before she even goes to her girlfriends, and the guy who she's playing opposite in Romeo and Juliet. Now her chest flutters every time he gets too close. This is new. Is Ronnie falling for him? Or is Juliet? The lines are getting blurry, but leaving one guy for another is not something that a girl like Ronnie does.

Shawn’s outbursts are starting to give her bruises, and Luke’s heart breaks as Ronnie remains torn. While her thoughts and feelings swirl around the lines between friendship and forever, she’s about to lose them both.

                *A review copy was provided to be part of the blog tour for honest review*

Wow. Just wow. Jolene knows how to deliver a powerful message in Knee Deep. With so many people - teens and adults alike - being in abusive relationships, this touched my heart in more than one way. For me it was really easy to relate with Ronnie because I myself was in an abusive relationship when I was the same age. I know what Ronnie means, how she feels, why she defends him and how she blames herself.

Ronnie and Shawn have been together forever, she doesn't ever see herself with anyone else...ever. But things are changing in Shawn and not only does she notice it but so does their best friend Luke and Ronnie's other best friend Mindy. She thinks its just stress of everything that's going on at home, whatever that is since he's not talking about it.

With the way the story is told you want to tell Ronnie to run but you see the struggle she has within herself; thinking she could change him or do things differently to make his life easier which would result in a happy Shawn. As always in abusive relationships it doesn't start out full blown abuse its something that's "an accident" that an "I'm-so-sorry" should explain and take care of and the next thing you know you're in the hospital wondering exactly why you stayed and how to now fix your own life.

Ronnie has kept everything a secret, even from her two best friends but Luke can read her better than anyone, maybe even better than Shawn and after that first bruise shows up he knows whats really going on and is there in the background to protect her even though she says she "has it under control".

I loved the relationship that formed out of this mess of Ronnie's life. Not only does she have amazing friends who are there for her at any time she has an amazing family as well. This isn't something that everyone has. If you haven't been in a situation like this before you'll question Ronnie and want to slap the stupid out of her, but if you've been there then you know all too well what happens inside that messed up thing you call a relationship.

Knee Deep touches a subject that more people need to be aware of and what signs can look like in the beginning. Guess its easier to spot when your reading then it is in real life. I loved every part of this book, even the sad parts because I knew that ultimately Ronnie was growing and would eventually be okay. I devoured this in hours. I haven't been so consumed by a compemporary in so long so thank you Joleen writing your wonderful writing and bringing a wonderful message across without being too harsh or judgemental! So, what are you guys waiting for...go pick up a copy you won't regret it.

-Shellie