Customer Reviews

Coming Undone (Center Point Platinum Romance (Large Print))

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

On my trip to Nashville last fall I thought someone should write a novel about a country music start, I guess Susan read my mind. Priscilla Jayne Morgan's is up and coming country artist and finds herself saddled with hunky body guard Jared Hamilton. Now Jared and Jayne have a history and when thing heats up with crazed fan things get very interesting. I liked the secondary romance story as well. This is fun quick contemporary romance. Enjoy!

If you enjoy this genre check out ; Falling For Gracie by Susan Mallery, Have Glass Slippers, Will Travel' by Lisa Cach, Almost Perfect by Julie Ortolon, Saving Allegheny Green by Lori Wilde and Spirited Away by Cindy Miles.

My first introduction to Susan Andersen's writing was the Marine series. I read and enjoyed Head Over Heels (Marine, Book 1)and Getting Lucky (Marine, Book 2), but it was PJ and Jared that hooked me in the book Hot & Bothered (Marine, Book 3). They were sensitive intelligent teenagers who got in a little trouble and then found each other. Their relationship was innocent yet deep and they stole the spotlight in the book for me; I couldn't wait to hear their story.

At the beginning of this book Ms. Andersen writes a little letter to the reader and mentions the numerous fans who contacted her wanting to know when she would write PJ and Jared's story; I admit to being one of those fans.

Coming Undone takes place 15 years after their special bond was formed. PJ and Jared haven't seen each other since they were kids, but neither has forgotten the other. PJ is a rising Country star and Jared has been hired by her record label to handle some issues with her tour.

The story was fantastic and I found myself repeatedly racing to get to the end; I had to really concentrate on not rushing through the book. It was fun watching them reconnect as adults and watching their puppy love turn to passion. My only issue with the story was the extra cheesy epilogue; the situation seemed forced and insincere; completely unnecessary. I am hoping we will get a Marine book #5 with a story starring Esme or Grayson. I am glad she listened to her fans and wrote this book; she delighted this reader.

Priscilla Jayne Morgan is a rising star in country music and is about to embark on her first major tour. P.J. has recently fired her overbearing manager, "Mama" (her mother), and is getting a lot of bad publicity for it. The media doesn't know the real reason why she fired her mother (she embezzled from her), and she doesn't want to air all her dirty laundry to the public. Her mother (never mother-of the-year material) is telling tales about P.J. to get back at her (saying how she likes to run away) and

even her record company is starting to get nervous. So they hire a "watch-dog" to make sure she shows up for her concerts.

The watch-dog is former Marine Jared Hamilton, a personal security specialist from Semper Fi Investigations and a man who shares a past with P.J.

Fifteen years ago, they were homeless kids on the streets of Denver. P.J., who was just 13, was kicked out of the house by her mother. Jared, then 17, was running from the law, wrongly believing that he had killed his father. Both Jared and P.J. came from very different backgrounds financially: P.J. lived in trailer parks with her mother and lived a hand-to-mouth existence; Jared's father was very wealthy, he lived in a mansion, and had the best education. But they had one thing in common: emotionally abusive parents. So when they met on the streets of Denver, they had an instant connection and looked out for each other; they formed an emotional bond.

Now it's 15 years later, and while P.J. insists she doesn't need a watchdog and tries to fight it,she is secretly glad to have Jared back in her life again. He had always been a hero to her, and she is wildly attracted to him.

Jared is happy to see PJ too. Although he hasn't seen her in 15 years, he still remembers what a good friend she was to him, and since she's grown up now he is very attracted to her also. But Jared has a very difficult time letting people in. Because of his difficulties with his father while growing up, he never likes to lose control of his emotions. P.J. gets under his skin, and he doesn't like it. His mantra is "I am a glacier, impregnable and remote." His instinct is to back off when he feels he's getting too emotionally involved.

Jared soon realizes that P.J. is nothing if not professional, and that she would never wreck the career that she worked so hard for , so he convinces her record company that she doesn't need a babysitter. This will also give him an opportunity to back away, because things start to heat up with P.J. Jared is too afraid to trust his heart to anyone, and closes up emotionally before he can get hurt.

But when packages start to arrive from a religious fanatic stalker, and it looks like P.J.'s life could be in danger, Jared can't bring himself to leave. And he must come to face the feelings that he has for PJ, and confront the fears he's had all his life.

This is a sequel of sorts from a previous book (Hot & Bothered) from 3 years ago although the timeline is 15 years later. (Many of those characters make an appearance in this book). Although it's not necessary to have read that one, because the author does a good job of filling in the blanks on P.J.'s and Jared's past, I found myself wishing that I had reread that one before I read this one, if only to refresh my memory about their emotional connection.

There are many things I liked about this book: I was never bored, it moved along at a pretty good pace. I liked the whole "getting started in country music" premise: the behind the scences stuff was pretty interesting. The supporting characters were fleshed out; there was even a sweet romance between P.J.'s songwriting friend and one of her band members.

But mainly the H/H were terrific!(P.J. especially) She is a brave, big-hearted, larger than life character, with a lot of love to give. She is upfront about her feelings(usually), and you always know what she's thinking. Jared is opposite in many ways: very guarded with his feelings, always wanting to do the right thing. But ultimately very protective of P.J.; she is very good for his soul. She helps him to break free and finally lose control emotionally, and eventually, trust his heart. They also have many passionate and steamy encounters! This was a great little romance, easy to read and very satisfying! I highly recommend it!

It's been 15 years since Jared Hamilton has seen the scrawny runaway tomboy who spent a summer with him when he was on the lam, accused of murdering his father. PJ had been tossed out of her mom's home at 13 and had the street smarts that Jared needed to survive after his pampered existence (their adventure was a secondary storyline in 2004's "Hot & Bothered"). Now a country singer with her star on the rise, Jared is hired to insure that she makes it to her gigs on time since she had a falling out with her mama manager, who embezzled money then turned to the media to make PJ out to be an ungrateful daughter. PJ's real family is her band, and Jared manages to weasel his way onto their tour bus to keep a close watch on her, particularly when a deranged fan starts sending her frightening gifts. Jared tries his darnedest to keep professional distance from her, and when he caves, he attempts to get further from her, only to find that where PJ is concerned, his heart is engaged; but is he ready to give up the control he has maintained for nearly 2 decades?

I fell in love with Jared and PJ when they were bit characters in "Hot & Bothered" and couldn't wait until they got their own story. They have tons of chemistry and their romance was endearing. But Andersen has a knack for annoying colloquialisms and accents and peppers so many of her stories with them. PJ spent her life all over and yet sounds like a character from Hee Haw; Esme has not been in England since she was 6, yet constantly utters British nuggets like "smashing" and "brilliant." I was disappointed with the epilogue - so many authors use them to catch us up on other characters and it's so not necessary. I prefer to imagine their futures myself instead of the awkwardness of forcing characters that were not in the first 375 pages suddenly making an appearance just for the heck of it. Even with the flaws, it's still a good story. While you don't have to read its predecessor first, I highly recommend it so that you can get the full story.

I absolutely adore this book. The characters are well thought out and delightfully human. The hero, Jared, is the sort of man that I would expect to actually see doing security at a concert (large, handsome, and stoic) and P.J. is the very epitome of a down to earth country music star. (Or at least what I would imagine a country music star to be...if I actually knew any.)

I don't believe in giving spoilers, because I don't want to ruin the experience for anyone else, but I can say that this is a delightful no-brainer read.

Great book, but I have to give you a warning. If you didn't read the first, 'Hot & Bothered' then this follow up might leave you feeling a little left out of the loop. The main characters met as teenagers and most of their strong bond formed in the previous book, which was worth the read. So get that first one and then you'll be dying to continue with the story of P.J. and Jared.'Hot & Bothered' is book three of Anderson's Marine series but it stands alone enough that you don't have to read the first two unless you just feel like. I have to say though that P.J. and Jared was the best thing that came out of the whole series.

Susan Andersen's Coming Undone will touch your heart.

Jared Hamilton of Semper Fi Investigations has received a blast from his past. His next assignment is to find and then make sure country star Priscilla Morgan fulfills her current tour. PJ played an important part of his life fifteen years ago and then they lost touch. Jared is convinced that he can handle this job without old feelings getting in the way.

PJ Morgan has finally wised up and fired her no good momma as her manager. She needed some R & R before the tour started up so she took off on a little road trip. Imagine her two-fold shock that her label hired a baby sitter for her and that the sitter is her old friend Jared. PJ leads Jared in the dust and he is not happy to be ditched. After seeing that she doesn't need a watchdog he is prepared to leave. But when it looks like she has gotten a stalker he knows he can't leave her.

PJ and Jared rekindle their old friendship but now as adults its gone onto a whole new level of awareness. Can these two-scarred souls let go of their pasts?

I can't begin to describe how much I loved this book. The wait for PJ and Jared's story had haunted me since they were first mentioned as teenagers in Hot & Bothered. Coming Undone is an absolute treasure. PJ and Jared's past plays a deep part of who they are today. Their chemistry sizzles on every page. I really enjoyed seeing old friends and family from previous books make their appearance. This is one book you must read this year.

When Priscilla Jayne Morgan was thirteen her mother tossed out of her home forcing the frightened teen to live on Denver's mean streets. However, the child survived and fifteen years later Pricilla Jayne became a musical star. She even let her mother become her manager. When her mom abused her trust and money, she finally fired her.

Her mom worked the media to make it seem like Priscilla Jayne was an ingrate ironically tossing her loving kind mom on to the streets after she did so much for her. Even her record label believes Priscilla Jayne is an untrustworthy maniac who will skip out of the upcoming concerts, as that is the image mom painted of her. The Semper Fi Investigations is hired to keep an eye on her; agent Jared Hamilton is sent to insure Priscilla Jayne shows up when she is supposed too over the next six weeks. They know each other from their teen nights on the Denver streets when she as a thirteen year old girl mentored him as a newcomer seventeen year old at a time he was accused of killing his father (see HOT AND BOTHERED). When they meet for the first time in several years, each knows they want the other.

The sequel to HOT AND BOTHERED is a fabulous contemporary romance starring two adults who met as teens living on the streets; thus the story line is a sort of second chance at love. Jared and PJ are superb lead characters and their relationship as passionate and heated as the fall in love. Although mom is over the top with not one redeeming quality, COMING UNDONE is an enjoyable character driven tale that will elate fans of Susan Anderson, who will recognize the prime pair.

Harriet Klausner

You know how, when you read a really good book, you wish it would go on and on and you imagine how the story might continue? I finished the last page of Coming Undone, closed the book and promptly forgot all about the story. It's as if Andersen knew she had a built-in audience for the next installment of the Marine series, went on auto pilot and churned this one out with barely a thought. It is dull and lifeless.

I didn't care for either of the characters. The stalker mystery was pointless and seemed to be included only to throw Jared and P.J. into a dangerous situation, but had no real connection to the story. A disappointing ending to a wonderful series. Really, I was a bit annoyed that I had wasted my time reading it. Don't bother.

I didn't like the main character. Also, half way through the book I still couldn't picture what she looked like. The author did a poor job describing her, and I'm disappointed she didn't make the lead character into someone likeable. A surprise sex scene (I say surprised because I didn't sense the sexual tension building up between the two main characters) was too graphic for my tastes. Plus, they had a full-fledged coversation going on during sex. That's when I put the book down. I usually hate not finishing a book when I start it, but I have no desire to go back to this one.