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Virginia Gray
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Caught Up In Me: A Laugh-out-loud Love Story! (Susan Wade Saga Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Virginia Gray (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 357 ratings

What's good for the head isn't always good for the heart...

Susan’s only thinking of a promotion when she takes a shortcut transfer. But she should have read the fine print. The sleepy beach town of Havelock, NC, is not ready for the likes of Susan, and she quickly learns that her brusque Philadelphia attitude is not welcome down South.

Susan's never had trouble making enemies, and Pete Walsh, Havelock's version of The Bachelor, is no exception. When they lock horns on her first day, Susan discovers this handsome good ol' boy is a worthy adversary. And while Pete's pranks and fake gentleman routine drive her nuts, Susan is shocked by his uncanny ability to see through to the insecure girl hiding behind her carefully constructed mask. And she's not the only one with something to hide...

When Susan’s world falls apart and Pete is there to pick up the pieces, she’s left wondering if love is what she might have needed all along.

★★★★★ “Grabs at a woman’s heart and soul.” –Award-winning Author AJ Lape

★★★★★ “There are no words to describe how I feel about this book. Well, no - that's not quite true. Superlative, stupendous, sensational.” --Bella’s Books

★★★★★ “Witty, sharply observed, rich with numerous little passages that transform an enjoyable read into something really quite special.” –Readers Favorite

★★★★★ “I’m hopelessly hooked. I can't recommend it highly enough.” –Goodreads


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  1. Book 2 of 3
    Susan Wade Saga
  2. Print length
    816 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    July 9, 2014
  5. File size
    1.8 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A heart-warming story from an exceptionally talented writer." --Bob Atkinson, #1 Bestselling Author of The Last Sunset"A smart, gloriously funny, fast-paced story." --Lori Lesko, Author of Copyright "The quality of Gray's writing makes this a truly remarkable book." --Matthew Peters, Author of Conversations among Ruins "A beautifully complex, and completely mesmerizing story." Danube Adele, Author of Quicksilver Dreams

From the Author

 If nothing else, my home state of North Carolina has given be two things: a strong sense of pride and a ridiculous sense of humor.  As a writer, I've poured both attributes into my work to create books that I hope will stir your emotions and make you laugh. 

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00LNRWZPW
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 9, 2014
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 816 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0990523604
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 2 of 3 ‏ : ‎ Susan Wade Saga
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 357 ratings

About the author

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Virginia Gray

Virginia Gray

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Bestselling Author Virginia Gray looks for humor in every situation. A graduate of Wake Forest University, she spent part one of her career as a college professor. But after years of research, eighty-hour work weeks, and generally trying to take over the world, she stepped away from academics to pursue her love of writing. And because no task is more daunting than making sense of the senseless male psyche, her stories always explode from the glorious mouth of chaos. (You're welcome.) Until she packs her bags and moves to the beach, she lives in the Midwest with her wonderful family and far too many pets.

To leave a personal message or sign up for her newsletter, drop by virginiagray.com

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
357 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a wonderful read with a beautifully complex love story and a hilarious narrative voice. Moreover, the writing is beautifully executed, and one customer notes how everyone has a purpose in the story. However, the pacing receives mixed reviews, with several customers noting that the plot moves slowly at first. Additionally, several customers mention that the book is a bit long.

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40 customers mention "Readability"40 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable and entertaining, describing it as a wonderful romp of a novel, with one customer noting it's a page turner.

"...It was a pleasure to read, pure ambrosia, even if Susan was messed up and the plot crawling at glacial speed...." Read more

"...Thank you Ms. Gray for a delightful read. Oh, by the way, you're a lucky man, Pete--you dog!" Read more

"Caught Up In Me by Virginia Gray is a marvelous book. it is best to read Suddenly Susan first...." Read more

"This was a great book, and I should have written my review sooner...." Read more

28 customers mention "Character development"27 positive1 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the witty banter and humorous narrative voice.

"...It was touching and I really connected with the characters. The corporate gymnastics and dog eat dog environment were well-characterized as well...." Read more

"There is much laughter and love in this novel and the author's love for the locale seeps from every pore😋...." Read more

"...storytelling with a unique blend of carefully crafted words, banter, humor, and mild sarcasm such that she achieves "in-between moments"..." Read more

"...Each chapter ends on a perfect, lyrical note that propels the reader forward. It is difficult to say enough good things about this book...." Read more

23 customers mention "Story quality"23 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as an engaging tale with a beautifully complex love story, and one customer notes that everyone has a purpose in the narrative.

"...This was an outstanding story that was beautifully written. It has numerous life lessons within that astute readers can learn vicariously...." Read more

"There is much laughter and love in this novel and the author's love for the locale seeps from every pore😋...." Read more

""The Carrot" is a delightful continuation of the journey of Susan Wade and her struggle to rise in the number one computer company in the..." Read more

"...It is truly a treat to read the work of such a gifted storyteller. Remarkably, this is Gray’s first book...." Read more

20 customers mention "Writing quality"17 positive3 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as beautifully and expertly crafted, with one customer noting its creative descriptions.

"...This was an outstanding story that was beautifully written. It has numerous life lessons within that astute readers can learn vicariously...." Read more

"...she achieves "in-between moments" full of atmosphere, nuance, subtlety, and emotion that establishes a rich prose pregnant with anticipation..." Read more

"...And she maps not only physical terrain with great skill and precision, but emotional territory as well...." Read more

"...The characters are well developed and quite likeable. They are so well done that I recognized a lot of southern personalities I have known...." Read more

9 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with several noting that the plot moves slowly at first.

"...This book had character and sass and the pace was very steady, and not hurried along. I loved the descriptive of the places they went!..." Read more

"...But the best thing about this was the feel it had. I felt the south...." Read more

"...It takes a while to get moving, but all that background is essential and what draws you in until you're hopelessly hooked...." Read more

"Loved the book, the characters, the pace and the humor! It was hard to put it down. Great read! I'll read it again and again...." Read more

4 customers mention "Length"0 positive4 negative

Customers find the book's length negative.

"...This story has such wonderful depth to it. It is horrendously long but worth it...." Read more

"...Was a bit long and i found myself skipping over some of the narrative because it was repetitive...." Read more

"...Loved the banter and the development of characters. A bit lengthy but the story flowed well...." Read more

"Much too long - too much unnecessary detail for a simple, much used and common plot." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • 5X Space Cadet
    5.0 out of 5 stars Be Careful What You Wish For!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Quite frankly, I never dreamed that I would eventually give this book a five-star rating. I started reading it almost two years ago, 21 months, to be exact. It took me that long for a couple reasons, mainly because at first I couldn't stand the protagonist, Susan Wade, whom I found horrifically irritating. I thought she was a dysfunctional, self-centered, obsessive, hot mess. Her warped views of the world made me want to slap her upside the head. She hated her roots, the small town where she'd grown up, and was willing to do anything to get ahead in the world. Her priorities were horrible. The plot moved very slowly at first, also, which tried my patience as well. I would set it aside, read something else (or two or three), yet inevitably pick it up again between other reads.

    Why? Because it was so exceptionally well written. The fact the author had developed a character so completely that she got on my last nerve made me feel I owed it to her to keep reading, to see where it was going. Her prose was fantastic, at times poetic, the imagery beautifully drawn. It was a pleasure to read, pure ambrosia, even if Susan was messed up and the plot crawling at glacial speed.

    As I plodded through, page by page, gradually things started to make sense. I began to appreciate the fact that the slow pace was allowing me to get drawn deeply into the story and its characters. The sense of place was amazing. I love it when a book takes you someplace new; by the time I finished, I felt as if I'd spent several months in coastal North Carolina.

    When it started to come out why the protagonist was the way she was, I began to be more sympathetic. Maybe Susan put me off at first because there were things about her that reminded me of myself. As her motives and life experiences became more clear, it was easier to care about her, then eventually start cheering her on. Some people are slow to come around such that it takes numerous hard knocks before they learn.

    From about halfway in, the story started to move and by the time I was 75% through, it was hard to put down. It was touching and I really connected with the characters. The corporate gymnastics and dog eat dog environment were well-characterized as well. Having spent over 20 years in the world of NASA contracting, I could definitely relate to some of the games people play.

    Probably the underlying theme of this story is "Be careful what you wish for." Another candidate would be "What you're trying to escape is exactly where you belong."

    This was an outstanding story that was beautifully written. It has numerous life lessons within that astute readers can learn vicariously. It takes a while to get moving, but all that background is essential and what draws you in until you're hopelessly hooked. If you love well-developed characters, outstanding imagery, and a rather common situation regarding the balance of career ambitions with relationships, I can't recommend it highly enough.
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  • Rita
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fun read
    Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    There is much laughter and love in this novel and the author's love for the locale seeps from every pore😋. For some reason, I found it took me much longer to read than normal-- it seemed to drag on and on.
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  • Robert Grant Wealleans
    5.0 out of 5 stars Virginia Gray is Brilliant in The Carrot
    Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    "The Carrot" is a delightful continuation of the journey of Susan Wade and her struggle to rise in the number one computer company in the country while experiencing love, or re-booting calls, rivalries, partial success, the stigma of potential failure, rediscovered and possibly true love, and other surprises that are entirely North Carolina related. Virginia Gray can certainly write "moments" of descriptive dialogue, but she transcends common storytelling with a unique blend of carefully crafted words, banter, humor, and mild sarcasm such that she achieves "in-between moments" full of atmosphere, nuance, subtlety, and emotion that establishes a rich prose pregnant with anticipation and emotion. The beauty salon scene is but one of hundreds of these brilliant, creative descriptions, and is most memorable. If you enjoyed "The Interview" which is Book One of this saga, then you are in for a wonderful treat indeed. I confess that I'm in love with Susan Wade even though I've no idea what she looks like, but then I don't mind simply because Susan is a delightful woman whom I would love to hang out with, and I do in page after page of prose that reveals her lovable character, her hopes, dreams, hates, wants, and hilarious musings. Thank you Ms. Gray for a delightful read. Oh, by the way, you're a lucky man, Pete--you dog!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Peter Volpe
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Find
    Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Once in a great while a book comes along that stays in your mind long after the last page. Virginia Gray’s The Carrot is one of those books, and let me tell you why.

    First, the narrative voice is crisp and fresh. Susan Wade, the twenty-nine year old protagonist and narrator is not just your average power-hungry career woman, hell-bent on climbing to the top of the ladder in her cutthroat computer company. She is someone who is incredibly funny, snarky, and flawed. For despite the wall that she’s constructed between herself and the world, this young woman soon captures the readers’ heart from her unique, yet skewed conception of the world.

    Admittedly, Susan is not a completely likeable character at the beginning. She seems cold, ruthless, and incapable of human feelings and emotions. But we soon discover that is simply the front she shows to the world. Beneath her brash exterior is someone who has been hurt and is seeking to find meaning in the heartless world of her hi-tech company. We soon start to care for Susan, and we become willing to follow her life as she goes through the various travails of being sent back to her home state of North Carolina, from which she desperately sought escape several years earlier, after having her heart broken by a southern boy.

    What makes this book truly remarkable is the quality of Gray’s writing. The reader is treated to gorgeous lyrical descriptions seldom seen in genre fiction. Here is one of my favorites:

    Without the least warning, the heavens breached wide and the sun exploded, streaming fantastical ribbons of color in all directions. The clouds bloomed amazing shades of orange and fiery pink, and I gawked in wonder as if I’d never seen such a sight before. As quickly as it appeared, the sunset in all its magnificent perfection was gone, the light eclipsed as if a Cyclops, disturbed from slumber, closed its droopy lid once more.

    This is merely one example of dozens that demonstrate Gray’s literary abilities. And she maps not only physical terrain with great skill and precision, but emotional territory as well.

    Beyond the beautiful writing is a story that grabs us and won’t let go. The characters jump off the page, and we follow them willingly and whole-heartedly through a tale that is truly epic in proportions. Despite the length of this book, one keeps plowing through it as if caught up in a whirlwind romance. Each chapter ends on a perfect, lyrical note that propels the reader forward.

    It is difficult to say enough good things about this book. It is truly a treat to read the work of such a gifted storyteller. Remarkably, this is Gray’s first book. One can only imagine what she has in store for the future.
    11 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • KateLiz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story
    Reviewed in Australia on May 22, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I couldn't put this book down. Virginia tells her stories and you feel as if you're sitting listening to her voice. I love the detail in this book. Not being from America, I now have a picture in my head of North Carolina, as if I've been there. Just loved this story.
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  • Abrach
    5.0 out of 5 stars A heart-warming story from an exceptionally talented writer.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 19, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I read this book while I was on holiday, but it is so much more than a holiday read. The story is very much a tale of our time - Having learnt early in life that the world can be a heartless place, Susan Wade has retreated behind a protective shell and moved North to Philadelphia, there to pursue a career in a cut-throat corporation. Cynical and ambitious, Susan is obliged to return to her roots to resolve problems in the North Carolina office. But what about those North Carolina boys; the ones who broke her heart all those years ago?
    What sets this book above others of its kind is the writing of Virginia Gray. Her prose is a delight to read. Witty, sharply observed, rich with numerous little passages that transform an enjoyable read into something really quite special.
    Here's one such gem:- "Hovering above the ranks of fallen relatives, several flies were unsuccessfully convincing the glass to dissolve and set them free."
    Her characters are satisfyingly flawed, her dialogue rich and authentic - as is her description of the area. I've never been to North Carolina, but I could identify with the people and the places in this book, and that is the mark of a truly accomplished writer.
    I also enjoyed seeing the lead character gradually evolve from an ambitious hard-bitten career woman into ... Well, you'll just have to read this excellent novel to find out. Believe me, you will not be disappointed.
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  • M A Logan
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Carrot - An Excellent Read Which I Heartily Recommend.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Virginia Gray is an excellent writer. I enjoyed The Carrot immensely even thought it's not my typical genre. The story, the characters and the composition are the result of huge effort and diligence. There are patches of pure light and joy along with darkness and anguish. As a male reader, I read this with initial scepticism about the genre of "romance" and then with delight.

    There are aspects of the story which challenge me as a male and share helpful insights. I laughed aloud a few times and want to visit North Carolina. The contrast between hard-nosed corporate life and an idyllic world are beautifully drawn. Anyone who uses Twitter may have seen my odd approving comment as I read – not typical of me.

    I heartily commend Virginia Gray to you. And why, you may ask, the four stars? Ms Gray is an excellent writer and most worthy of your readership. And, I believe, there are opportunities to move this story beyond excellence. Try it. Buy it. And form your view.

    I'm glad I read The Carrot.
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