In Too Deep

By: Kate Sherwood

Narrated by: K.C. Kelly

At first glance, Cade and Aiden hardly seem like a match made in heaven. Their worlds couldn't be further apart. Cade is quiet, serious, and determined to succeed; Aiden's a party-loving frat boy. Cade comes from a rough home and worked hard to get the scholarships that make it possible for him to attend college; Aiden's had it all thrown in his lap by supportive, kind, and wealthy parents. Cade wants nothing to do with Aiden, but from the moment they meet, Aiden is determined to find a way to bring their different worlds together.

Aiden manages to persuade Cade he's a decent guy, and a tentative friendship becomes much more. But a trip to Aiden's family cottage puts Cade in the path of a ghost from his past and a dark secret he never expected to face again. Cade did what he had to do to escape his dead-end life, but now he sees he didn't leave it as far behind him as he thought.

©2014 Kate Sherwood (P)2015 Dreamspinner Press

Checks all the boxes!

Sherwood really doesn't miss a beat here: characters, plotting, pace, dialogue, inner monologues, setting, and suspense. The skill of the narrator matches the material and the combination makes for an absolute winner. It's nothing less than a brilliant delineation of falling in love and overcoming the obstacles thrown in the way by the accidents of birth, upbringing, and personal circumstances. As we watch how the relentless drive of Aiden's tenderness is frustrated by Cade's fears and all too understandable anxieties about his studies, yet gradually triumphs, there are many moments of happiness to enjoy and sadness to endure, but we do so in the company of an authorial consciousness that privileges the positive and progressive over the dark and destructive. It's a perfect romance--needs no sequel, and yet, what a delight that would assuredly be.

Romantic, sexy, heartwarming and such a fun read.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, it's a fantastic story brought to life in a different way with narration.

What did you like best about this story?

How patient and stead fast Aiden was when it came to Cade.

Which scene was your favorite?

Aiden's huge bed... that scene.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, toward the end when Cade finally opens up and lets his guard completely down is one hundred percent honest with Aiden. "I hate fish!"

Any additional comments?

e-book review November 2014

At first glance, Cade is oblivious! He doesn’t give Aiden the time of day, though Aiden goes out of his way to ‘run into’ Cade at the library and eats more sandwiches than most college kids, probably because Cade works the sandwich station in the cafeteria. At first Cade thinks that Aiden and his friends are trying to play a cruel joke on him, then he thinks Aiden is just a pest, a guy that seems to show up a lot where Cade is at. When Cade needs a ride home to Chicago, Aiden is there opening his car door for him.

Where Cade has led a lonely life with alcoholic parents that are emotionally unavailable and constantly belittling him for his choices in life… being gay, going to college, trying to actually do something with his life… Aiden is polar opposite. His parents are wealthy and they spoil their son in excess. Aiden parties and spends $400 on coffee at Starbucks, he has popular friends and the golden boy could get any guy he wants, so why does he want Cade?

It takes a lot of perseverance and determination, but eventually Aiden breaks down the walls that Cade has built around himself. Then a summer trip to Canada with Aiden’s family brings someone back into Cade’s life that he thought he’d long ago eradicated. He shuts down, throws up the barriers he so carefully built over years of solitude, blocking out everyone, especially Aiden. Will their still fragile relationship be able to bear the strain of secrets and omissions? Or will Aiden leave Cade right where he feared he would end up all along if he gave his heart to this man, alone.

In Too Deep is at its heart, a love story about two complete opposites and one man’s determination to steal the heart of the guy he wants more than anything. Aiden wants Cade and he is patient and diligent in his endeavor to win Cade’s trust first, then his love. They form a bond through friendship and trust and when Cade is ready, they take it to the next level. The foundation for their relationship was built so slowly and accurately that when the explosion happened toward the end, I was not worried for one second that Aiden wouldn’t choose Cade. And while I’m usually turned off by angsty stories, the angst was a necessary character within this storyline and just made Cade’s hesitancy that much more believable and endearing.

Definitely a must read for my fellow hopeless romantics out there that love a good happy ending, even if there are a couple of road blocks along the journey to the town of happiness for this odd couple. Romantic, sexy, heartwarming and such a fun read. I will keep this one loaded on my kindle to revisit.

Audiobook review September 2016...

One of my favorite things to do is read and listen to the same book. Quite often, it turns out to be two different stories. The idea of the character in your head - the way they look or sound, is often different than the voice the narrator gives the characters. KC Kelly isn't a narrator that has dozens of tones in his arsenal, he makes his changes from one character to the next with subtle tones and nuances. Aiden sounded just the way I thought he would when I read the book, Cade... not so much. I thought at times he sounded too old for the character, the voice that is. Other than that I really enjoyed this audiobook. I could feel Cade's hesitation, the way he's been so guarded and standoffish his entire life and how difficult it was for him to allow Aiden in. Same with Aiden, he had the patience of a saint, but when he reaches his limit, you can totally hear it in his voice.

Cute little rich boy meets rough and tumble.

I enjoyed this very much. Story of a cute rich college boy who meets rough and tumble off the streets brainiac.

Just the right depth

Loved it!!! Most memorable moment was, the things "mom " said and did toward the end. I enjoyed the story because, it was about two people from very different backgrounds coming together through seemingly insurmountable obstacles. there were no stereotypical characterizations. just a story about love, life and what two people will do to protect and sustain that love. it was beautifully written and wonderfully narrated. I've never been so close to tears listening to and Audible Book. and I've been a member for 3 years. it was the most beautiful and touching story I've listened to in a very long time. a must read! :-)

Slow story and boring audio performance

This has got to be one of the slowest books I've ever listened to and the narrorator did not help. There was no difference in voices, including the female parts, no emotion, and no real connection between the MCs. I'll be avoiding books by Kate Sherwood and definitely not listen to books read by K.C Kelly again. So disappointing.

Really liked the narrator but the story just ok

There were parts of this story that I really liked, but it seemed to move very slowly. Cade was so hesitant throughout the book with not enough explanation for his behavior. I just really didn't like his character. Aidan was more appealing but also seemed very "storybook" nice guy.

K.C. Kelly does a great job with narration, which probably kept my attention more than if I had been reading the book.

Amazing college coming of age story

Aiden is the rich kid with all the advantages that life can provide, the golden boy, but really – he’s a great guy with a big heart. He sees Cade and finds the figure who skulks about on campus intriguing and sets about getting to know him better.

What he finds out, he likes. Cade doesn’t make it easy, though. He’s got some pretty big secrets (he paid for college turning tricks) that he doesn’t want to get out and it’s affected his view on life, love, sex and relationships.

Most of the book is the very slow build-up of Aiden earning Cade’s trust and breaking through to the real man behind the mystery. When Cade finally lets Aiden in the chemistry is powerful and the emotions are, too.

But… of course there is that moment when everything is looking wonderful when something has to come along and ruin it… in this case it’s a blast from the past and Cade is sent running, sure nobody would want him with his history.

Luckily, Aiden is made from sterner stuff than that, and after some soul searching he decides he won’t let the best thing to ever happen to him slip through his fingers.

**

These boys! Yum! They were so hot together but also really sweet and tender. They are very young, but Cade especially, has lived a life far more than his years would presume to define.

I was surprised by some of the twists in this story. Aiden’s family really surprised me. I was so proud of his mom!

The fact that there was this ugly history and Aiden’s gut reaction to it wasn’t glossed over or made to seem insignificant, but was really dealt with from both perspectives, Cade’s and Aiden’s.

(I just love the cover – don’t you want to just reach out and hug Cade?!)

Audio

KC Kelly did an amazing job with this. He really added to my overall enjoyment by giving such a nice voice to the emotions in the story. Though the two MCs didn’t really have much differentiation, it was easy to tell who was talking. I loved listening to the narration, especially when he does the dialog. He’s so good at making you feel like you are involved in a real conversation.

I highly recommend both the book and the narration.

Great Story and Narration

Story Review: I didn’t love In Too Deep from the start but I certainly did by the end. It has a bit of a slow start and it took me a bit to even like the main characters; Cade and Aiden. Cade seemed like an anti-social asshole while Aiden felt like an over eager stalker, but these were just the surface appearances. There was so much more to these two young men.Cade is very focused on his schooling and doesn’t have time to even date a guy, but Aiden is insistent. I wasn’t sure why Aiden didn’t give up on Cade after so many rejections, but he must’ve seen Cade had something to offer. Even Cade does give in, he doesn’t allow Aiden too close. There turns out to be a good reason for that, namely a painful past and beyond shitty parents. Cade allows Aiden to learn a little about his past, but doesn’t tell him everything, afraid Aiden will run. Cade falls for Aiden despite trying to keep him at arm’s length. The progress of the relationship was perfect with a natural push and pull between the two men. The drama involving Aiden’s wealthy, sophisticated family was extremely interesting and the ensuing conflict was engaging. The way Cade’s past and secrets comes back to bite him was a shocker to me. Aiden reacted the way a college age kid would most likely react even if he pissed me off a little with the way he talked to Cade. By the time the book was over I adored Cade and Aiden and loved their happy ending. Another great book by Sherwood. Narration Review: K.C. Kelly did a great job with the narration here. He nailed Cade’s reticence to open up as well as Aiden’s desire to get to know Cade. Their personalities were displayed well thanks to Kelly’s subtle voice changes. This is the first book I’ve listened to that was narrated by Kelly but it won’t be my last.

Wonderful story and excellent performance

This is a really sweet and thoughtful coming of age story. I really loved both Aiden and Cade for different reasons. This is a wonderful story of Cade, a damaged, driven young man, that is desperately trying to escape his past. He comes from a dysfunctional home and in order to pay for college, did things he was not proud of. In college, he meets Aiden, the golden haired, rich, frat boy. Aiden is also driven, but primarily driven to have Cade. Thus their story begins. I really liked that neither man is "in the closet" as is the case with stories including frat boys. Aiden is out and proud with his frat and his parents and show an amazing amount of determination in the face of Cade's stubbornness. So this somewhat of a slow burn. However, once Aiden finally overcomes all of Cade's walls, Cade's past rears its ugly head to threaten their future together. All the characters, including the parents, show depth and this is not a neat and tidy HEA. I look forward to their story continuing The narrator does a wonderful job bringing these men and the story to life. Highly recommend.

Outstanding introspection of a relationship

Loved this story and the narrators delivery. An excellent study of one's personal history affecting their adult life.