Undone

Country Roads #1

by Shannon Richard

Things Paige Morrison will never understand about Mirabelle, Florida:

Why wearing red shoes makes a girl a harlot
Why a shop would ever sell something called "buck urine"
Why everywhere she goes, she runs into sexy—and infuriating—Brendan King

After losing her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend, Paige has no choice but to leave Philadelphia and move in with her retired parents. For an artsy outsider like Paige, finding her place in the tightly knit town isn't easy—until she meets Brendan, the hot mechanic who's interested in much more than Paige's car. In no time at all, Brendan helps Paige find a new job, new friends, and a happiness she wasn't sure she'd ever feel again. With Brendan by her side, Paige finally feels like she can call Mirabelle home. But when a new bombshell drops, will the couple survive, or will their love come undone?

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Adult, Chick Lit

368 pages, Paperback

First published July 2, 2013

About the author

Shannon Richard lives in Tallahassee, FL with her adorable rescue dog Teddy—not that she’s biased or anything. She enjoys experimenting with a new recipe in the kitchen or perfecting an old one, typically done with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in hand. She has no shame for the amount of reality T.V. she indulges in, listens to entirely too many podcasts, and is now a plant lady.

Reviews

[sraxe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Originally, because there were things in this book that I both liked and disliked, I was going to do an even breakdown (detailed review, like how I usually tend to do). There was the instalove, which I'm absolutely not a fan of, but then there was the tall heroine who has had boyfriends and experience. So. Good and bad things. BUT, the further I read, the more aggravated I became with one particular thing.

And what is that thing?



It's Brendan, the male protagonist, and his tendency to centre himself in every moment. This guy is unbelievably self-centred. (And it's no help when the characters and the narrative push this BS along, as well.) It pretty much becomes the BRENDAN KING SHOW with how he'd centre himself on every moment of trauma.

(Because some on my f-list have this on their to-read, fair warning that there are spoilers below.)

Partway through the book, a male character (Chad) is introduced solely for the reason of sexually intimidating Paige, the female protagonist. He taunts her multiple times before finally just molesting her at one point. Paige rushes home and waits for Brendan to get back. She tells him what happened, shaking and stuttering the entire way through. And then what...?

“Paige, what’s going on?” Brendan asked, grabbing the blanket from the back of the couch and wrapping it around her. He chaffed his hands against her shoulders and Paige pressed herself into his chest, seeking his warmth.

“Don’t tell me nothing, because I know something’s up,” he said, rubbing his hands up and down her back. “Sydney won’t leave your side. She only does this when she’s protecting people. What’s she protecting you from, Paige?”

“Something happened,” she whispered into his shoulder.

Brendan’s hands stilled. “Something where?”

“At work.”

Brendan pulled back and grabbed her hand, leading her over to the couch.

“Start at the beginning.”

*  *  *

Brendan watched as Paige closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Everything in his body was on high alert. It had been from the moment Paige had jumped out of his arms and screamed. And the way that Sydney was acting was putting him even more on edge.

Paige opened her eyes. “Promise me you won’t freak out,” she said, grabbing his hands.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “Tell me what happened, Paige.”

“Before I left work tonight, I was measuring one of the windows. I—I had to stand on a chair to reach it. When I stretched up to measure, I almost fell off.” She swallowed hard. “Chad was there.”

“What did he do?” Brendan asked through clenched teeth.

“He touched me,” Paige whispered.

Brendan let go of Paige’s hands and stood up, pacing the floor.

“Where?”

She didn’t answer. He stopped pacing and turned to her.

“Where did he touch you, Paige?”

“My chest, my behind, and the inside of my thigh.”

He stopped breathing. “How far up?”

“Brendan, it’s—”

“How far up?” he repeated loudly.

“As far up as he could go,” she said, closing her eyes and turning away.

“What else? Did he say anything to you?”

“Yes,” she said, still not looking at him.

“What did he say, Paige?”

When she repeated the words Chad had said to her, Brendan lost it.

“He threatened you?” Brendan asked so loudly that Sydney stood up and put herself in between Paige and Brendan.

“I don’t know,” Paige said, looking up at him confused. “I was so freaked out. I—I could be wrong.”

“Did you feel like he was threatening you?”

“Yes,” she said softly.

Brendan walked out of the room and headed for the front door. Paige called after him but he didn’t even hesitate as he ran down the steps and got into his truck. It was past five on a Friday night. Brendan knew exactly where Chad was going to be, and he was going to show the little shit what a real threat was.

He made HER ASSAULT all about himself.

He doesn't comfort her for even a SECOND. He forces it out her, raising his voice and pretty much shouting for her to tell him where/how she was touched and what was said. Meanwhile, she's confused, relaying the assault that happened TO HER because he's angrily forcing her to say it. Honestly, I wasn't even sure if he was angry here because Paige, as a person, was assaulted or because it was his girl who'd been assaulted. With him making it completely about himself, it felt like the latter.

And then he rushed off to go confront her assailant. And you know where he was? In the busiest place in this entire sleepy town of theirs. And he grabs this guy and tells him Paige told him what happened and threatens him. Inside a completely full bar. Because the women who was sexually assaulted said it was okay that you go and reveal this to everyone else, right? Oh wait, she didn't. Because you couldn't take your head out of your ass for two seconds to not only ask if she's okay and comfort her, but also if she even wants you spreading around the entire town that she was sexually assaulted.



And okay, he's angry in the moment so maybe he'll comfort her after, right? NOPE.

“Tell me you wouldn’t have done it?” Brendan asked, taking a step toward Jax. “Tell me you wouldn’t have done the exact same thing I did if someone threatened the woman you’re in love with?” ...

“You’re right. I would lose my mind,” Jax said and nodded. “But for right now, we have to do this my way. Paige,” he said, turning to her. “I’m going to need a full statement starting from the beginning.”

“I can’t listen to this again,” Brendan said, shaking his head and walking out the back door.

He claims to love Paige, but in the moment that she needs him—while she has to recount/relive her assault for the second time—he walks out because he can't listen to it. Because her assault is about him, right?

God, what a selfish fucking bastard.

But of course, no one brings this up. They all think he's suuuuper great because he went off and "fought for her honor" (including her). Ugh.



Another thing is when Brendan finds out Paige's father, Trevor, has cancer. In the moment that it's revealed, Trevor is literally in agony and Brendan is sitting there and reflecting on his own childhood.

Halfway through the game Trevor got up to go to the bathroom, and before he made it out of the room he grabbed onto the wall, gasping in pain.

“Trevor?” Brendan said, standing up and going over to him.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he said, waving him off.

Trevor straightened and went to take a step but fell. Brendan lunged, catching him before he hit the ground. Brendan helped him sit on the floor and lean back against the wall. His face was pale and clammy and he was short of breath.

“It’s this new medicine,” Trevor said. “It’s making me sick.”

“Medicine?” Brendan asked.

“I need to see my doctor.”

“Okay, let me call the hospital,” Brendan said, pulling out his phone. “Who am I asking for?”

Trevor just looked at him for a second, something in his eyes that Brendan hadn’t seen before. Pain beyond all reason. “Dr. Kendrick.”

Brendan froze. He just stared at Trevor, unable to move. Dr. Kendrick was the oncologist at the county hospital. He’d been Brendan’s mother’s doctor.

Trevor had cancer.

Brendan leaned back against the wall and slid down, sitting next to Trevor.

He turned and looked at Trevor. “What kind?” he asked, surprised he’d gotten a sound out of his dry throat.

Trevor blinked a couple of times, tears falling down his face.

“Pancreatic.”

“Fuck,” Brendan said, unable to think of anything else to say.

...

Brendan nodded, still looking straight ahead. He knew that he needed to get up and take Trevor to the hospital, but that involved standing up and he had no idea how to do that. The world had been ripped out from underneath him.

Again.

This guy is in pain, he's asked Brendan to call his doctor, Brendan even acknowledge that maybe he SHOULD get up and call his doctor...instead, he continues to sit there. Those ellipses are there because that's an entire section dedicated to Brendan reflecting on how he felt in his childhood. Why are you thinking about yourself?! GET UP AND HELP THE MAN.



Near the end, it's revealed that Brendan had lied to Paige through a chunk of their relationship. The lie was the above, that he'd known her father was dying of cancer and didn't tell her about it. They were engaged and were planning their wedding and even got to the alter and were married and went on their honeymoon...and he kept this a secret from her the entire time. When she gets angry with him and leaves him, he's hits her with the “you promised you would never leave” business.

Afterwards, Brendan is cast as the sympathetic character while Paige is pretty much railroaded back into the relationship. (Well, she pretty much pushes herself back because she lasts a whopping 2-3 pages before she regrets her actions and castigates herself.) The author just looks at how Brendan had listened to Paige's father's wishes and not told anyone, but she doesn't explore the betrayal of Brendan LYING the last few months of their engagement and into the first little while into their marriage. Even after she finds out her father's diagnosis, Brendan STILL doesn't reveal that he'd known ahead of time. He lies, and lies, and lies, comforting her and having sex with her (etc) the entire time. There's no mention of guilt on his part even ONCE. He keeps the secret for MONTHS even after Trevor's diagnosis is revealed to everyone else. It's only revealed when someone else outs it to Paige.



While she's off thinking about how she'd hurt him, he's off thinking about how lonely he is and how bad things are for him. He doesn't think about how he'd LIED to her. He doesn't think about how he may have been the wrong one in the situation. NOPE. He complains to his friend:

“Paige. I want Paige. She’s all I’ll ever want. So it fits that I can’t have her doesn’t it.”

“Wow,” Shep said, leaning back in his seat. “This pity party you got going for yourself is really something.”

“Look, I love her. I love her more than I’ve ever loved anyone. But she walked away.”

“So you’ve said. But that doesn’t mean she won’t come back,” Shep tried to reason.

“I can’t do it, alright. I can’t be with someone who I’m constantly scared is going to leave me. We got married, something that was supposed to be for forever, but she left. She just left,” Brendan said still a little too loud. But he could give a shit if people heard him. He just didn’t care anymore.

I love how the author made him the victim in a situation in which he'd chosen to lie. You can sympathize with him for being in a hard place because he's asked to keep a secret, but like I said, she doesn't even explore the fact that Brendan lied and how that's a betrayal AT ALL. Paige doesn't think about it, neither her nor his friends or family do, and Brendan most certainly doesn't.

“I shouldn’t have left,” she said, shaking her head. “I was stupid. You didn’t do anything wrong. You did everything right and I punished you for it. I’m so sorry, Brendan. So, so sorry.”

“Please don’t ever leave me again,” he said, bringing his mouth to hers and hovering above her lips.

It's alllll Paige's fault and how dare she walk out on him when she said she never would even though he lied to her and went behind her back for months. That selfish harpy, Paige! How dare she!



And then when it comes to them getting back together, she gets into an accident and nearly dies. And, of course, Brendan centres himself in that moment, too. She's the one in a car that's about to be swept downriver following a giant storm, and he's the one thinking about how things are "pure agony" for him, that "his life was flashing before his eye." When it came to them being in private post-accident and Paige nearly dying, he AGAIN makes it about himself.

“Brendan?” she whispered, putting her hands on his head.

He looked up at her, tears streaming down his face. “I almost lost you,” he said, his voice cracking. “I almost lost everything,” he said, shaking his head. ... “I couldn’t do it without you, you know,” he said, brushing her hair back. “If I’d lost you, I would’ve never made it through. ... I wouldn’t have been able to survive without these arms of yours, ... Without these eyes, ... Without these lips,” he said, pressing his mouth to hers. “Without you,” he said ...

You notice all those I-statements? It's all I-this, I-that. He doesn't ask her ONCE how she felt in that moment...you know, in the traumatic event in which SHE ALMOST DIED. Instead, it's how he felt, how he almost lost everything, how he wouldn't have been able to go on. It's ALL ABOUT HIM. He doesn't ask how she felt, pregnant and almost about to die, he just tells her how he felt.

It's always about him—Paige's assault, Trevor's cancer, Brendan's lies about said cancer, Paige's near death experience. It's always the Brendan King show. When the going gets tough, things become all about Brendan.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.

I just loved this book! I have had this book for years but failed to take the time to read it until now and I must that I am a little mad at myself for not picking it up sooner. Once I started reading this story, I was hooked and did not want to put it down and found myself reaching for it every chance I had. I am so glad that I finally decided to give this one a try.

Things have not been going great for Paige. She has lost her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend in short order. As a result, she was forced to move back in with her parents who now live in the small town of Mirabelle, Florida. It has not been an easy transition and she feels like most of the town is against her. Her vehicle breaks down after a horrible interview and the town's handsome mechanic comes to her rescue.

Brendan has lived in Mirabelle all of his life and knows how hard some of the residents can be on new residents like Paige. He hasn't had things easy in his life but he has a great support system including his grandparents, his sister, and a great group of friends. He decides to help Paige out just a bit and he also plans to spend a little more time getting to know her.

I really liked Paige and Brendan. I thought that both of these characters felt very real, like someone I wouldn't be surprised to meet. They were fun together and I loved the chemistry between the pair. This was a pretty low drama story for much of the book and I really enjoyed just spending time with these two as they fell in love. There is some excitement before the book is over but I must say that I liked the parts of the book that just focused on these two getting to know each other. Paige and Brendan were not perfect and they made some mistakes but I think that helped them to feel more authentic. The secondary characters were very well developed and I appreciated what they brought to the story.

I would recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. I thought that this was a really well-done romance filled with wonderful characters and a lot of sparks. I would not hesitate to read more of this author's work in the future.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley.

Initial Thoughts
I just loved this book and I am kind of mad at myself for not reading it sooner. Paige and Brendan were fantastic characters and they were so good together. The bulk of the story is rather drama free and I really enjoyed stepping back and watching Paige and Brendan fall for each other. Some drama does show up before the story draws to a close but I had a pretty good feeling that these two would find their happily ever after at that point.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC kindly provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley for an honest review.

What a wonderful feel-good book!



I finished this book with a big ol' goofy grin on my face and a renewed belief in love. This is a great novel to read when you need a break from erotic/YA/or darker themes. I loved all of the characters in the book and fell in love with the small town.

So, what's it about? A lost city-girl adjusting to country life. A sexy- chivalrous mechanic who has survived monumental loss. And the love story made of fairytales. Don't worry, it's not all rainbows and sunshine, there are a lot of dragons (named Missy and Chad) this couple has to overcome. It's a mild on steam but full throttle on romance.


I can't wait to read the rest of the series and learn more about the pesky town gossips.

[caren · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had potential, it really did. I think I could have liked it, because I enjoyed the characters (especially Brendan). I even didn't mind the story (although there wasn't much conflict) But the complete lack of editing made it nearly unreadable. Here are just a few examples:

He pulled out a couple of disks to see whom she listened to

he flipped a page and peaked over at Brendan.

"Hey," Oliver said as he flipped a page and peaked over at Brendan.

She pulled the yellow curtains to the side and peaked out the window

a pair of baby-blue pajama shorts that just peaked out underneath it.

I fell off my bike and scrapped my knees.

"So you're present, you can't exactly unwrap," he said, standing up.

A fresh does of anger flared up in Brendon.

Brendon pulled Paige to her feet and they walked over to where Grace and Jax where.

And it wasn't just the committing of every grammar law there is, there was also the fact that almost every single line of dialogue had a tag! Authors, you don't need a tag for every line of dialogue. You just don't, okay? It was so bad here that I just started skimming to get through it. It's interesting to look at the numbers, though:

he/she said: 692
Paige said: 166
Brendan said: 127

The word 'said' appears 1,427 times!!!! That's just... I can't even comprehend how that slips past an editor. Ever. Oh, and there's also these:

He/she whispered: 59
He/she asked: 440

. . .

With several rounds of editing, this book could probably make it on my recommendation list, but in its current state...that won't be happening.

[Ally.Always.Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

June 2017: this will forever be one of my favorite books.

July 2019: I will never tire of this book.
Brendan and Paige have glued themselves to my heart and I don’t want them to ever leave.

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

you guys well this is awkward but I guess it happens..
when I joined GoodReads in 2016 I marked all books that I could remember as read but some I obviously forgot..

sooooo....
after a couple of chapters, I was ....




but then around 30% I was sure...



I HAVE READ THIS BOOK BEFORE..

when you reread a book without knowing...



this was an okay read & kind of want to read the next book in the series
here is to hoping I haven't read that one

tw: cancer, loss of a parent

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

To sum up this book:
Cute. Fun. Charming. Funny. Sexy. Sweet.

I enjoyed Paige and Brendan a lot. I loved Paige's father; I wish he were my dad. Brendan and Paige were so funny, hot and perfect together. I loved them a lot. I really liked that this story was told in both points of view at times as well.

Paige's family, Brendan's friends and the whole town added to this story quite nicely.

I liked that this was a good paced story and that it wraps up in one book. It definitely has a happy ending.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take a beautiful, free-spirited city girl, down on her luck and a sexy small town mechanic who has his own demons crawling around his past, add a nightmarish twist, good intentions gone wrong, and a lot of self-pity and mistrust, what you come up with is a conflicted love story that will punch you in the solar plexus one minute, then have you panting the next. Undone by Shannon Richard is a good way to escape into a warm, funny and sometimes heart breaking contemporary romance that alternates between making you smile, and making you cry.

Forced to move back home with her parents, who have moved to a small Florida town, Paige sticks out like a sore thumb between her manner of dress, her beauty and her height, not to mention her free-spirited “conversational skills!” Of course, things get worse and her car decides to break down. Enter handsome, yet irritating Brendan who seems to know just what to say or how to look at Paige that brings out the snark in her. Can he break her walls down and prove that he is the guy for her or will his attempts to help her be seen with suspicion? I guess he does a pretty good job of burrowing into her heart, because they marry and life should be perfect, right? Except tragedy strikes and Brendan has been keeping secrets from Paige, an absolute deal breaker for her. Can Paige see beyond her grief long enough to see why Brendan kept things from her?

Undone by Shannon Richard is true romance, the ups the downs, the misunderstandings and the lesson learned in life. Her characters are just so beautifully created, they come to live and I could hear them talking, feel their tension and emotion. Brendan is one of those guys that is protective, but has a side that loves to tease. Paige is more sensitive than her façade would show. A wonderful story of love, loss, and starting over, maybe more than once.


I received an ARC edition from Forever (Grand Central Publishing)in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Country Roads, Book 1
Publication Date: July 2, 2013 Mass Market Paperback Pub Date: February 25, 2014
Publisher: Forever
ISBN: 9781455544691
Genre: Adult Romance
Number of Pages: 416
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

[Deniz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was quite sure this was going to be my cute and fluffy fix for the week.
But I discovered very early on that I might be wrong.

My biggest issue is the writing style. I really didn't enjoy the way Richard writes. It felt at times to simplistic and at other times to wound-about.
As example:

If only it were as easy as thinking about her to always make her appear.

I know I am being tedious, but this is just one of many examples where I was stopped in my tracks and instead of reading was trying to formulate a different way of putting this. Well, clearly I am not a writer- no, no I am totally useless at the author business- so don't worry I won't even bother trying to suggest something. In fact half the time I couldn't come up with a better sentence- I just kept thinking, this surely could have done more elegantly.
SO this is the biggest issue I got with the book, in fact if this woudn't have been an ARC I would have probably given up after 15%. Yes, I know. Terrible. I usually give a book at least 20% and a couple of tries.
But see I have a few more things I didn't like about Undone besides the writing style.
I really didn't like Page. She was snarky and whiny- and just seriously annoying.
Then I found that the different POV were so identical that I had to back read if I took a break from reading, to make sure who's POV this was.

The story line was your usual romance kinda thing, not many surprise the usual twists and dramas thrown in for good measure. You know, quite enjoyable.

The character building is alright- if you don't expect much beyond your usual cliche romance crew. They were all there: the bestie, the hottie, the damsel in distress and the fabulous grandfather/ father figure
But did they go through much growth or change? Nope. See I didn't expect that. This was after supposed to be cute and fluffy.
And here is the crux for my rating. I am totally happy to in fact read something that is predictable, has rather a cliche cast and all that - IF I enjoy it. You know like you blockbuster movie- we all know what's coming but it's entertaining. And see this wasn't. Naturally being miss-i-need-to-like-the-writing-style is not exactly the best condition, when you don't enjoy said writing style. But for me books like Undone have to be just fun, I need to like the characters or love to hate them at least and it should never feel like a chore to read them. Sadly this did.
Saying ALL this- I have to say, I know there are many people who will disagree with me. They will love the writing style - or not be a fusspot about it.
So I guess if you like Romances, don't mind the mistress in distress give this a try- You possibly will be one of those people who disagree with me!

[Lynsey is Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was pure bliss. I enjoyed every single page of it.

Do you ever feel like some contemporary romances are just too angsty and painful to be enjoyable? I mean, don't get me wrong, I love me a bit of drama, but on the other hand, I don't like to feel bogged down by my romances. I want to ultimately close the book and feel uplifted and happy. This book did that for me and then some. It was delightful. I particularly enjoyed how, although circumstances in both Paige and Brendan's pasts certainly shaped events, they weren't dwelt upon too much. The focus was on what was happening in the now, and that, my friends, was the forming of a beautiful, sweet and deeply romantic relationship.

Another thing I really enjoyed were the ups and downs of small town life. There were the closed-minded busy bodies that I just wanted to drop kick, but also, I was introduced to some of the sweetest characters, both male and female, that I cannot wait to revisit in future books to see who ends up with whom. I think one of them is pretty obvious, and they're next so that should be fun!

Brendan and Paige's characters were both portrayed really well, and they felt real and natural. I loved how supportive Brendan was, and how lively Paige was. They both complemented each other perfectly and are a couple you could easily imagine staying together forever.

I'm not sure what else to tell you other than go and get this book. So...go and get it!

5 Stars ★★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Tanya (Girl Plus Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Paige has left Philadelphia after losing her job, her apartment and her boyfriend. Settling in with her parents in Mirabelle, Florida proves to be a less-than-smooth transition. Three months in and she has no job prospects and no social life, apparently shut-out for daring to be a city girl who wears high heels and colorful clothes and speaks her mind. Things do an abrupt about-face when she meets sexy local mechanic Brendan who helps her find a job and makes no secret of his interest in her.

Richard's writing style is clean and simple, sometimes overly so, but very readable. The pacing is good and the story never lagged nor felt rushed. For the first several chapters I was uncertain I could be swayed to like Paige. While understanding her circumstances, I still felt she came across as prickly, judgmental and ungrateful. Thankfully the prickly demeanor softened once Brendan came into the picture. And speaking of Brendan, what a guy. Just shy of too-good-to-be-true, Brendan is a man who has had his own share of hardship and heartache. He is hard-working, loyal and protective - qualities that do it for me every time. His willingness to help Paige and open his life (home, family, friends) to her was heartwarming.

There is not much in the way of conflict in Undone. Some small-minded small town gossips and a sleazy guy who oversteps the bounds with Paige. But not every romance novel needs high drama and angst. There are plenty of those to go around so readers who prefer more drama-free romance will be pleased. My only quibble with what conflict did exist lies with the town gossip/blogger who posts blind items that are so detailed, so vicious and just so over-the-top that it stretched believability.

I enjoyed watching Paige and Brendan's relationship unfold and it was impossible not to pull for their happily ever after. There was also a pleasing cast of supporting characters including Paige's parents and Brendan's family and friends.

Undone is the first in a series but can be read as a stand-alone novel.

Contemporary romance readers who yearn for offerings without a lot of drama and enjoy small-town settings will delight in Paige and Brendan's story in Undone.

Note: ARC provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an honest review.

[Neeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ding Ding Ding we have another winner folks!!!! In fact a whole series of winners!!!

Love, love, love this one. The humor was really funny, and I loved the whole funeral parlour environment, not something you see often. I sincerely hope Bethelda-Bitchfingers gets hers!! (can't call her bitch-face since we don't see her, we just see the results of allowing her hands near a keyboard). Oh and see my review on bk 7 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... for my thoughts on the whole series.

Working my through the Shannon Richard Country Roads series - starts with Undone (Country Roads #1) by Shannon Richard and I'm currently halfway through book 3. Loving them!!! Big time!! Though they are totally third person, they have quite a surprising KA feel to them... small town setting with solid friendship groups, plenty of support characters - friends, family, co-workers - to really flesh out her world, good solid decently LONG stories (350 -400 pages), convincing HEAs, lots of emotion, etc. Think I've found a new fave/autobuy author!! So yeah, Shannon really did give me a KA vibe (the character connections/friendships/lives/backstories and thorough world-building set-up, albeit with fewer grammar/spelling issues, and no first person perspective) with maybe a touch of Marysol James (3rd person writing style and emotional "feels") and KC Lynn thrown in (the "coupley angst" - though without the KCL cheating heroes and editing issues). So if you like any of those authors, you'd probably like Shannon Richard.

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so amazing! There were some errors in the book but it is worth reading passed. I was dying laughing just reading the first chapter. It hits on ever emotion. I loved the sarcasm, love, passion, and feeling that Shannon put into this book. I felt at time that I was actually watching this book pan out in real life. I cannot wait to read about Jax, Grace, Shep, and Bennett. There better be more books! I recommend reading it for yourself!!!

[Tina "IRead2Escape" · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Hotness Rating 3 out of 5

Undone is the first book of the Country Roads series by Shannon Richard. This book was an adventure from the very first page. I have never felt so much emotion and feeling towards peripheral characters in my life. The people that live in this small town of Mirabelle, Florida are nothing short of mean and crazy. Well, in all fairness not all of them, but the ones that are cause quite a stir. I seriously found myself forming the perfect tell-off to these fictional characters. Kudos to Ms. Richards for sucking me in so efficiently.

I fell in love with the primary and secondary characters, however. Brendan King was the best! I loved his wit and laid-back attitude. Not to mention his sexy and hot-as-sin self. He knows right away that Paige is the girl for him and he goes for it in a big way. His life hasn't been easy and he's been at the mercy of the mean folks of Mirabelle, so he knows how it feels to be their target. He knows the chances of Paige sticking around if things stay the way they are are slim to none and he's not sure the risk to his heart is worth it no matter how much he wants her.

Paige Morrison's life keeps getting worse and worse lately. She's lost her job and her boyfriend luckily she has fantastic parents that she can count on. The only hitch is they now live in Florida which is quite a distance from her Philadelphia home. Moving to Florida is more than just a change of scenery it's like a different planet. I don't even know where to begin. There's the nosy neighbor that is convinced Paige is doing drugs and worse just because she's painting in the shed at her parents house at night. There's the crazy co-workers at her new job that hate her because she wears red heals. I mean what more evidence do you need that she's nothing more than a whore out to steal husbands and corrupt their lovely little town? Thank goodness she meets Brendan and his friends. Brendan is sexy, smart and not out to lynch her by reputation and assumption alone. She makes real friends through Brendan and sees a future with him and Mirabelle. Now, she just has to convince Brendan that she's in it for the long haul before fate steps in.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this series and can't wait to see what Shannon Richard does from here on.

This book was provided to me by NetGalley.com in exchange for my honest review.

You can find this review and others at www.riverinaromantics.com

[Kerri (Book Hoarder) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. A fluffy book that tries to be a bit more than the average romance but doesn't quite get there.

Paige is down on her luck when she moves back down south from Philadelphia, bruised from losing her job and the man she thought was the love of her life. Quick to anger and prickly, she finds it hard to fit in now that her parents are living in a small town where life moves a little slower.

Then she meets Brendan, who infuriates her but makes something kindle inside her, and of course, sparks fly.

I get the idea that Richard didn't want to write just the typical boy meets girl, angst happens, they end up together sort of romance. I respect that, but the book felt a little haphazard in ways, with several underlying plot lines being brought up as ongoing obstacles for Paige, but not necessarily resolved by the end of the story. Not everyone is as welcoming to Paige as Brendan, and small towns aren't without their creeps, either.


Some of the conflict actually happens after Paige and Brendan are happily engaged and even married, which I don't really mind - not all romance novels need to have these milestones be the reward at the end! However, this book fell victim to what I refer to as the whirlwind-romance, and it would have been nice if there had been a little bit more depth to the interaction at the beginning of the book, instead of the feeling that the relationship is developing mostly because of chemistry.

The tragedy in the book felt a bit shoehorned in, almost, a way to insert the conflict that almost separates the couple at the end of the story. It still touched me, though - pancreatic cancer is nasty, and it's taken two of my family members. Seeing Trevor and his family members struggle with its reality made me sad, though the time spent on the progress was not what he deserved, in my opinion.


I do feel that some more time spent on fleshing out this book and really developing it could have been so worthwhile. The outlines are there already, they just need some editing and work - the book could have been a really solid story if it hadn't clung so much to the romantic outline, and instead put more meat into the plot. Some of the conflict felt a bit repetitive as the book went on.

Enjoyable as a light fluffy piece to read for pure entertainment, but don't look for the depth that some great romance books can bring.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[Laurynne Gouws · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning! loved it so much... I'm kind of getting that obsessed feeling about this book. full review to come!

blurb:

Things Paige Morrison will never understand about Mirabelle, Florida:

Why wearing red shoes makes a girl a harlot
Why a shop would ever sell something called "buck urine"
Why everywhere she goes, she runs into sexy-and infuriating-Brendan King

After losing her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend, Paige has no choice but to leave Philadelphia and move in with her retired parents. For an artsy outsider like Paige, finding her place in the tightly knit town isn't easy-until she meets Brendan, the hot mechanic who's interested in much more than Paige's car. In no time at all, Brendan helps Paige find a new job, new friends, and a happiness she wasn't sure she'd ever feel again. With Brendan by her side, Paige finally feels like she can call Mirabelle home. But when a new bombshell drops, will the couple survive, or will their love come undone?

[Elle aka Leftie aka Shoebelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5★

You know how sometimes there's nothing interesting showing on TV then you come across a Hallmark movie on the W Channel that sorta' caught your attention then before you know it, you've watched the whole thing? No? It's just me? Well, this is how the book felt like to me. And out of all seriousness, I mean that in the most complimentary way. A nice surprise read.

It's a typical small-town romance with the H&h going thru normal relationship stuff. Their story progressed steadily with a bit of arc towards the end. Yup, that's about it, slow and steady, but in the end, an enjoyable read. The H's friends are an interesting bunch and each one gets his story in the rest of the series. When I'm in the mood for a nice easy romance read, I may just look those fellas up...

*Courtesy, via Netgalley*

[Lady Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

"An arc has kindly been provided by Forever Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review."


I really enjoyed reading this story!
The characters, writing, and story were really good.
I loved Paige!
She was smart, sassy, compassionate, and funny. These are all the characteristics I look for in a contemporary romance and in a lead female character.
Brendan was a wonderful lead male. He was funny, protective, sensitive, and smart. He didn't let Paige get away with everything, but knew when to step in and help (such as defending her honor) or step back and let her think things through (selling her art).

The ending was amazing, and I absolutely adored the epilogue.
(I LOVE when author's include an epilogue in their stories)

[Sandra Berglund · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can a city girl fit in a small town world?

Everything about Paige Morrison is loud. Her voice, her manner of dress, her manner. Even being an artist is too wild for the sleepy community in which she finds herself.

UNDONE is a newly released contemporary romance by Shannon Richard.

[Dabney · Rating 1 out of 5]

this review was originally published at Dear Author

Dear Ms. Richard: 



I confess I am not a great fan of Florida. My family moved there, from the Bay Area, when I was 15 and, to this day, the charms of the Sunshine State escape me. Your book, Undone, is set in the Floridian town Mirabelle. Mirabelle is my idea of Florida at its worst. It's hot, sticky, buggy, small-minded, dull, and hostile to new ideas and new people. It's a mean Mayberry without the cute kid. 



As a romance reader, I'm on the fence about small town sagas. They aren't my favorite setting, especially in contemporaries, but I don't shun them either. Done well, the small town setting can give a novel's characters an understandable framework and, in the best of small town narratives, can be both realistic and endearing. 



In Undone, Mirabelle isn't the least bit endearing and, as a context, it makes your leads harder to like.

Paige Morrison's life has fallen apart in the very big city of Philadelphia. In short order, she loses her job, her boyfriend, and her apartment. Bereft of any other options, she does what Gen-Xers everywhere do and moves back in with Mom and Dad. Sadly, for Paige and for the reader, the Morrisons have relocated to the small stifling town of Mirabelle. 



Page arrives in Mirabelle and, at first, her streak of bad luck holds. You see, Paige is a modern woman. (Yes. I know. Modern women are often better prepared for disaster, but that's one more quibble and I've enough for one review.) And, modern women, with their big earrings, high-heeled red shoes and smart mouths, aren't welcome in Mirabelle. Mirabelle, population 5000, is, the sort of place where any woman having more than two piercings--and they, must of course, be in the ear lobes--is labeled "an outsider." And by "outsider," the townsfolk mean freak. 



Paige has been in Mirabelle for three months and no one has been willing to give her the time of day, let alone a job. Her parents' neighbor thinks she's a pot smoker prone to orgies. A nasty little old lady crashed into her at the Piggly Wiggly and caused an unpleasant scene for which Paige was blamed. Paige has no friends, no love life, and, no future. And then, after yet another horrendous job interview, her orange jeep breaks down and must be towed. 



Spongeworthy mechanic Brendan King gets the call. He's stoked to finally meet Paige--somehow, in a town of 5000, despite being in the same age group, they've never met--whom he's seen jogging around town in "in a wide variety of the brightest and shortest shorts he’d ever seen in his life."  Brendan arrives and despite his hotness, he pisses Paige off.

He stopped behind the back of her Jeep for a moment, studying the half a dozen stickers that covered her bumper and part of her back window. 

She had one that said MAKE ART NOT WAR in big blue letters, another said LOVE with a peace sign in theO. There was also a sea turtle, an owl with reading glasses, the Cat in the Hat, and her favorite that said I LOVE BIG BOOKS AND I CANNOT LIE. 

He shook his head and laughed, walking to the front of the Jeep. 

“What’s so funny?” she asked, catching up to his long stride and standing next to him.... 

“Just that you’re clearly not from around here.” He smiled, closing his hand over hers. 

....“I am so sick of everyone saying that,” she said, ripping her hand out of his. “Is it such a bad thing to not be from around here?” 

“No,” he said, his mouth quirking. “It’s just very obvious that you’re not.” 

“Would I fit in more if I had a bumper sticker that said MY OTHER CAR IS A TRACTOR OR ONE THAT SAID IF YOU’RE NOT CONSERVATIVE YOU JUST AREN’T WORTH IT, or what about WHO NEEDS LITERACY WHEN YOU CAN SHOOT THINGS? What if I had a gun rack mounted on the back window or if I used buck piss as perfume to attract a husband? Would those things make me fit in?” she finished, folding her arms across her chest. 

“No, I’d say you could start with not being so judgmental though,” he said with a sarcastic smirk. 

“Excuse me?” 

“Ma’am, you just called everyone around here gun-toting, illiterate rednecks who like to participate in bestiality. Insulting people really isn’t a way to fit in,” he said, shaking his head. “I would also refrain from spreading your liberal views to the masses, as politics are a bit of a hot-button topic around here. And if you want to attract a husband, you should stick with wearing doe urine, because that attracts only males. The buck urine attracts both males and females.” He stopped and looked her up and down with a slow smile. “But maybe you’re into that sort of thing.” 

“Yeah, well, everyone in this town thinks that I’m an amoral, promiscuous pothead. And you,” she said, shoving her finger into his chest, “aren’t any better. People make snap judgments about me before I even open my mouth. And just so you know, I’m not even a liberal,” she screamed as she jabbed her finger into his chest a couple of times. She took a deep breath and stepped back, composing herself. “So maybe I would be nice if people would be just a little bit nice to me.” 

“I’m quite capable of being nice to people who deserve it. Can I look at your car now, or would you like to yell at me some more?” 

“Be my guest,” she said, glaring at him as she moved out of his way.

I didn't like Brendan or Paige after reading the above scene. However, it seemed unfair to quit without even making it to the second chapter, so I read on. 



Brendan is, of course, nice to Paige. He's so nice to her that he finds her a job, repairs her car, introduces her to friends, shows her the joys to be found in Mirabelle, and makes her love life again. And they live happily ever after. 



OK, I skimmed. I do remember Paige and Brendan spend a lot of time necking but not going "all the way" because Paige is the kind of girl who waits. Brendan is also besmirched in Mirabelle because his mom--she died of breast cancer years ago--had two children out-of-wedlock. The funeral home where Paige goes to work has horrible carpeting Paige rips up. Paige, Brendan, and their friends spend lots of time eating at an adorable cafe Brendan's grandmother runs which is on the beach and also offers take out whenever Brendan needs it. Paige and Brendan have a big misunderstanding that almost but not quite causes Paige to leave Mirabelle. Brendan's sister has the hots for his best friend (next book!). At one point, Brendan gets drunk. 



Undone is a debut novel. I hope in Ms. Richard's next book, her writing becomes less awkward and better edited. This version, which was an ARC, was riddled with errors and filled with unnecessary exposition. 



Between the nastiness of Mirabelle's mainstream population, the wandering plot, the snarky heroine, and the iffy writing, I struggled to find anything to like in this novel. I suppose that if you feel the small towns portrayed in contemporary romance are too tolerant and could use more guns and fewer neighborly senior citizens, you might like Mirabelle and its inhabitants. I did not. I give the book a D. 



Dabney

[Lindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts:


Undone, by Shannon Richard was such a cute love story. It revolved around themes such as friendship, family, community, new beginnings, healing, and love. I enjoyed the dual narrative of the two main characters Paige, and Brendan. When the story started out, Paige reflected back to when she had lived in Philadelphia. Her best friend Abby, who she had shared an apartment with for seven years, moved to Washington DC when she got offered a new job. Shortly after, Paige had lost her job, and unable to find one quickly enough, needed to move in with her boyfriend of one year, Dylan. After two months of living together, Dylan broke up with Paige, and told her that he was tired of pretending with her, she wasn't "The One," and he wasn't in love with her. Jobless, homeless, and brokenhearted, Paige is forced to move to Florida, and live with her retired parents Trevor and Denise. While living there, Paige is miserable. She doesn't fit in with the locals. She likes to wear high shoes, colorful clothes, and long skirts. Her annoying, and nosey neighbor Ms. Forns, gossips and tells everyone that Paige is a hippy, who does drugs, and has orgy's, in the backyard. None of this is true. However, the locals tend to look down on "outsiders." So, Paige goes on countless job interviews, and nobody will hire her.


Brendan, has gone through a lot of obstacles, and sadness in his life. His father took off before he was born, and his mother had his younger sister Grace with another man. Both Brendan and Grace have gone through ridicule, and been the center of gossip, as their mother was referred to as a whore, and they were referred to as bastards, by many in their small town. Then, to top it off, their mother got diagnosed with Breast Cancer at a young age and died. Brendan and Grace were raised by their wise, loving, and wonderful grandparents, Oliver, and Lula Mae. Their grandparents became more like surrogate parents and were warm-hearted, fun, and very likable characters. Oliver was a mechanic, and taught Brendan everything he knew. They co-owned an auto repair shop. Lula Mae taught Grace how to cook, and bake. Together, they ran their little restaurant business, out of a cute, cozy, and colorful cottage.


One day, when Paige is driving, her car breaks down. Brendan is sent to pick her up, and tow her jeep. When he see's her, he recognizes her from when she goes running. He is excited to see her, because he thinks that she's beautiful, enjoys her style, and he comes to enjoy her outspoken honesty. These two were fun, and sassy with one another the first time they met. As a reader, I knew instantly that Paige, and Brendan had a great attraction, and chemistry. It was exciting to see where the story would take them.


This story unfolded at a medium pace for me. It felt like it took a little while for the character's to get together, and I was feeling impatient. However, it was fun getting to see the way Paige, and Brendan interacted with one another. Once the romance picked up, the book flew by. I loved the secondary character's in this story so much. Paige, and Brendan's families were wonderful. Brendan's best friends Jax and Shep had distinguished personalities, and felt like real people to me. I could tell that Grace and Jax liked one another, and I'm excited that their story is going to be next in this series. Ms. Richards depictions of small town life made me feel like I was a part of the community. It made me see, and understand the gifts, and curses of living in such a small town. Most of this book was light, and not filled with major issues, or angst. However, near the end of the story, there was a major plot twist that had me crying my eyes out. If you're looking for a playful romance, Undone, would be perfect for a vacation, beach, or pool read!


My Rating:


I give Undone, by Shannon Richard 4 Country Lovin', New Life, Beautiful Love, and Sexy-Steamy Stars! You will connect to all of the characters, both primary, and secondary! Even though there is a large cast full of characters, you will get to know each individual. Paige and Brendan, along with Abby, Tara, Trevor, Denise, Oliver, Lula Mae, Grace, Jax, Shep, Pinky, Panky, Melanie, and Harper, will all feel like a part of your close knit circle of family, and friends. They will each make a lasting impression on you, and touch your heart. Undone, was a beautiful love story, and Brendan was perfect in every way. He had me swooning, and I believe many a reader will be wanting "Paige's Hot Mechanic," to be there next book boyfriend. I loved the country feel of the story, were everybody knew each other, and had grown up together since childhood, (with the exception of Paige.) The negatives were also well represented, with the horrible, and malicious Bethelda, Mrs. Forns, Verna, and Missy. These women were in the middle of everyone's business, gossiped, and slandered Paige, Brendan, and his family, every chance they got! Undone, was a fun, feel good story, and perfect for a quick, entertaining escape!


My Favorite Quotes:


"That's the funny thing about sparks. They're just these teeny, tiny, little embers that come out of the simplest of things and then out of nowhere you get this giant inferno." (eARC, Loc. 377)

~Denise


"Until I found you, I was missing something, he said softly. I just didn't know it. I didn't know that my life was half full. Didn't know I was barely getting by without you." (eARC, Loc. 3032)

~Brendan


"Paige, you're it for me, with your kisses that taste like oranges. You're the warm sheets next to me every morning, and the bright colors in the dryer when we do laundry. You're the toothbrush next to mine on the sink. Your the first sip of coffee in the morning, and the last sip of wine at night. You're it. You're the one." (eARC, Loc. 3042)

~Brendan



For more book reviews, visit A Bookish Escape at http://www.abookishescape.com

[Vania Nunes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A contemporary novel with all the items that many women want:

*A troubled heroine who needs to return to live with her parents (or return to the little town she vowed never to return to);
*Insta-love;
*An alpha hero who takes care of the woman he loves - and that means REALLY taking care.

When you put these items on a plot, the story can work... or goes very wrong.
In the case of this book here there are errors and hits.
Brendan King is a man who does not hesitate to roll up his sleeves to work or protect who he loves. But he is also a human, and that means he can - and has the right - to make a mistake. Nobody said that because he was an alpha male he had to be perfect.
So when he takes some attitudes for being hotheaded, the character seems to lose 10 ranking points. But, hey! Paige let him take care of her life, didn't she?

I liked his character much more than hers; he was authentic, with his faults and imperfections.
4 stars

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: Funny contemporary read filled with lots of drama, steamy romance, and loveable characters.

Opening Sentence: Bethelda Grimshaw was a snot-nosed wench. She was an evil, meanspirited, vindictive, horrible human being.

The Review:

Paige’s life has just gone from bad to worse. She lost her job, her boyfriend dumped her, and her best friend moved away. Now she has no choice but to move back in with her parents who have relocated to a small town in Florida. Everyone in Mirabelle has been rude and not accepting of Paige since she is a little unconventional, and has a feisty attitude. She hasn’t been able to find a job or any friends since she moved there 3 months ago. She hates this town and at the moment she hates her life. Then one day after another failed interview Paige’s car breaks down and the hottest mechanic she has ever seen comes to her rescue.

Brendan King has lived his whole life in the small town of Mirabelle, Florida, and he could never imagine ever living anywhere else. He is part owner of his grandfather’s car shop and he loves it. Even though he loves his home he knows that it has its faults. Like every town, Mirabelle has town gossips and Brendan’s family has been the topic on more than one occasion. His father left his mother when he was just a kid and no one knows who the father of his baby sister is. Than his mother died of breast cancer 12 years ago and Brendan has never quite been the same since. Then he meets the beautiful, infuriating Paige Morgan. From the first time she opens her sassy mouth Brendan starts falling and he can’t seem to stop himself. Together they have a whirlwind romance filled with laughter, heartache, and an unforgettable love story.

The story is told from a dual point of view between Paige and Brendan. I loved Paige, she was a very strong female character that was easy to connect with. She has a lot of insecurities especially when it comes to love, but she gains courage throughout the book. She has a fun spunky attitude and it was fun to be inside her head. Brendan is a really sweet guy who has a lot of heartache in his life. It doesn’t hurt that he is also very easy on the eyes. He is a genuine person and it was easy to fall for him. There is also a great cast of secondary characters. They all play an integral part in the lives of Paige and Brendan. Some of my favorite moments in the book involved the secondary characters.

This was a really great read for me. I loved the setting, it was fun and entertaining. It was actually a pretty funny book, I found myself laughing out loud at quite a few moments throughout the book. I also loved the romance, it developed slowly and you watched it grow through the pages. I also love the cover, I thought it was very eye catching. My one complaint was the last 50 pages or so of the book. I thought that it was really rushed and the drama was way too predictable. I felt that if it had been left out I would have actually enjoyed the book a little more. But besides that, I really enjoyed this book. The next book is going to be some of the secondary characters story and I am very excited to read it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a sweet romantic story with some great steamy moments.

Notable Scene:

I want to hear more about your hot mechanic.”

“Abby, I already told you, he’s not my hot mechanic. He’s just a hot mechanic,” Paige said as she fidgeted with the pillow in her lap.

Paige had called Abby pretty much the second she’d gotten back to her parents’ house. She needed to get some perspective, and who better to help her get it than her best friend? They’d met on the first day of kindergarten almost twenty years ago, bonding over a love for puffy

Cheetos and their Little Mermaid lunch boxes.

“Hmm, but I think you want him to be your hot mechanic.”

“Can we stop calling him that?” Paige asked, flopping back onto her bed. “His name is Brendan.”

Brendan the beautiful.

That was an apt description of him. Paige had known he was hot, but when she’d gotten a full-on look at his face without his sunglasses, she’d about melted to the floor. He had the clearest, brightest blue eyes she’d ever seen on a man. And damn, when they’d been intently focused on her she’d about lost all reason, like the fact that she couldn’t possibly like him already.

It was a problem. He was a problem. She couldn’t have feelings for him. She’d just met him, and he’d been an ass. But he’d also been really nice. And God, that smile. She’d been right—it did reach all the way up to his eyes.

“So you’re not denying it?” Paige could hear the smile in Abby’s voice. “You do want him to be yours.”

“I don’t even know him. I spent a total of an hour with the man and he drove me crazy for half of it.”

“What about the other half?”

For the other half he’d still driven her crazy. Just in a completely different way. There’d been that moment in his truck when he’d turned to her and apologized. It had taken Paige so off guard she’d forgotten how to speak…and how to breathe. He was lethal when he was sincere. Who was she kidding? He was lethal just existing.

“For the other half I tolerated him.”

“Liar,” Abby said, laughing through the phone. “Just admit it, you want him.”

FTC Advisory: Forever/Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group provided me with a copy of Undone. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Christi Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A- rating...really good book. I need to read more in the series.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the start of this book you will be laughing and the laughter never stops. You have humor, power strangle, kind of a love hate relationship with the town, beginnings, passion, heartbreaks, love lost, love found, and love lost, gossip, neighbors who can’t mind their own business, healing just to name a few. This is truly a heat stopping rearing to go book. What does this add up to a wonderful, lovely, laughing, tear jerking read. You will laugh and you will cry, you will want to slap a few people and hugs the rest. I know you can’t read this book without laughing and most likely you will have tears in your eyes before you done. Paige and Brendan have so many struggles they must go through if they want to find a happy ending. They have it all but could so easily loose it all over one choice.

Paige is a sassy, outspoken, sarcasm wonderful lady who can’t get a break. She moves back home after losing her job, and breaking up with her boyfriend. She isn't looking for love all she wants is to find her place in the world a place she fits. She has a very hard time, she isn't moving back to her own town for her parents have moved to a small town. We all know how small towns work, the gossiping, the know it all’s who has to sick their nose in. Oh the rumors fly, from her choice of clothes, to what she is doing out in that shed.

Brendan is a sexy HOT mechanic, who is cocky, arrogant, and a little bit of a bad boy, who has his own struggle with small town gossip. Brendan has lost so much in life, his father who left, and his mother who died of cancer. He had his own struggles with this nosing small town to outlive. He is a caring, gentle man with a bad tempter. Who has the most wonderful family.

Paige can’t get a break, she can’t get a job, and no one likes her. She is an artist who different and different just doesn't do well in a small town. She finds that living in a small town everyone knows everyone’s business and what they do not know they will make up. She tries so hard to fit but that tempter of hers gets her into mess after mess. In walks Brendan when her jeep breaks down and the humor never stops.

For me a book must have conflict, struggles, love, and passion, if you throw in HUMOR you have me hooked. I was hooked from the very start and could not put this book down. I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish it. There are so many wonderful points in this book it is hard to pick just a few. From breaking the doe urine (lord if you know anything about this you know a few drops is all you need but to break a whole bottle is an ungodly smell) to her loving father who will make you laugh. Not to mention the neighbor who gets things started with her over reacting imagination. Brendan isn't much help since he can’t keep his hands off her and lord the town goes wild. Then you have friends and family who just have to have their say. This book just keeps on rolling.

One of the things that has stuck in my mind throughout the whole book is when the neighbor tells her mother that she is keeping an eye on Paige. She knows she is up to no good and if she sees anything funny growing plants she is calling the cops. Oh Paige has her come back which will make you laugh but father had me rolling. Trevor (her father) “You should grow oregano in pots on the window sill and then throw little dime bags into her yard” I lost it on that. I could just picture the neighbor finding this and going nuts. The laughs do not stop there.

There are so many wonderful characters in this book, some so sweet and loving, some you think OH JUST LET ME GET MY HANDS ON THEM. When I read this book I felt like I was right there with them in the small town. This author has a lovely style with a wonderful sense of humor. Her style that will not only hold your attention but you do not want this book to end. She puts so much into it and a lot going on but the flow is easy and you won’t have any trouble keeping up with this nosing neighboring town.

Grab this book set back and enjoy the read why the author takes you on a loving, heartbreaking enjoyable ride. I not only bet you can’t put this down but I am sure you will do as I will and go and buy her other books Undeniable (A Country Roads Novel), Unstoppable (A Country Roads Novel) where the story continues in this small gossiping, nosy town.

[Christal · Rating 4 out of 5]

See this review and others like it at Badass Book Reviews!

I am not the most prolific of romance readers, but I do like to pick one up from time to time. I don't want anything too schmaltzy but I also hate when there is too much drama. Shannon Richard's first novel in Country Roads, Undone, struck a perfect balance for me and began a series that I see myself compulsively following.

Country Roads has been published as a e-series previously, but it is now receiving a paperback re-release with new publicity. I found it on Netgalley and I thought the cover was cute plus I lived in Florida for quite a few years of my life. I thought it would be a typical romance with main characters that just needed to get over themselves so they could be together, but Undone turned out to be so much more.

Paige moved to the small Florida town of Mirabelle to stay with her parents after losing her job and breaking up with her long-time boyfriend. Paige was "big city" where most of Mirabelle's residents were "small town." She hadn't really met anyone her own age and the older residents thought she was a troublemaker. Undone might have been a little heavy on the small-town gossip and judgement, but let's just say it was an embellishment on the truth. Hailing from a very small southern town, I can tell you that wariness of "outsiders" and "blessing" their little hearts really does happen. It can be hard for some people to find their place. Luckily for Paige, she meets Brendan, her hot mechanic, and he helps get her a job interview.

The copy for Undone exaggerates Brendan's role in helping Paige fit in a little bit. While he does get her the interview, it's Paige that actually lands the job. She makes friends with a co-worker that introduces her to other like-minded women, one of whom just happens to be Brendan's sister. Though getting the job was a turning point for Paige, it wasn't like Brendan swooped in and took over - no "man makes everything better" trope here.

Brendan did make Paige feel loved and adored and I thought their relationship was so sweet. They were a good balance for one another and supported what was important to the other. Paige is a very artistic person and Brendan encouraged her in all aspects. Brendan had lost his mom at an early age and never knew his dad; Paige helped him to work through a lot of the grief and anger he still felt. Though their courtship was a bit of a whirlwind, it didn't feel like it was a stretch for them to be thinking marriage after only a few months.

A little bit of drama did come between Paige and Brendan in the end, but I think it really was less about them and more about Paige being hit with confusing news while she was going through a very difficult family situation. I always felt like Paige and Brendan were right for each other in Undone and I never doubted that they would fix everything once Paige worked her way out of her grief.

If Paige and Brendan were the sun and the moon, the secondary characters in Undone were the stars twinkling around them. Everyone was a winner and I'm happy that the Country Roads series follows the trend of focusing on a different pair each time. First up is Brendan's sister Grace, who is just as sweet and supportive as her namesake, and his best friend Jaxson, the hunky town sheriff. Grace was one of my favorite characters and I am very eager to see her get a happy ending. The other characters that round out this novel were all excellent and I liked that even the parental figures had time and attention devoted to fleshing out their characters.

Undone is a perfect read for when you just want to feel good. Brendan and Paige's sweet courtship will warm your heart and a couple steamy moments will also warm your bed sheets. This book is like the best sugary treat -- you know you'll make yourself sick if you eat too many, but one or two to savor is just perfect. Shannon Richard's Country Roads definitely hits all the right romance notes for me and I know I will be picking up the other installments as soon as they are re-released!

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for providing an ARC copy of this book!

[Sharrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paige Morrison thought she had everything she could ever want when she moved in with her boyfriend after her roommate bailed. That is until he broke up with her. Now she’s living with her parents in the middle of nowhere Carabelle, Florida where everyone judges her for being a city girl. After another failed attempt at a job her luck seems to have gotten worse when her car breaks down. That is until the repair man steps out of his car. Brendan is smitten as soon as he meets the feisty Paige Morrison and he begins to help her out by fixing her car and helping her find a job. But that’s not enough because he wants Paige and Paige wants him. Throughout the story they begin their life together with dating, and moving in when tragedy strikes and Paige isn’t sure what to do anymore. The lies that have been told may be too much to come back from.

Undone was a great story. I read it in one sitting and the characters were completely amazing. The overall story wasn’t overly original story in any way but the way it was written and the characters really made the story. So if you’re looking for a plot that will WOW you with its creativity than you are looking for the wrong book. That being said I really enjoyed this book.

Paige is a feisty female character who doesn’t put up with a lot of the b.s. that comes with living in a small town like endless gossip at people who don’t think she belongs because she’s not from there. There is a gossip column that has code names for some of the people in the town that the author deems unfit to be in the town. Paige fights back by just being her and getting the people in the town to like her and know her.

Brendan is a total hottie and is completely sweet and protective to everyone he cares about. As soon as he sees Paige for the first time he knows he wants to get to know her in every way. He takes Paige on romantic and cute dates and he’s honestly the sweetest guy ever. Definitely book boyfriend material and from his first appearance you will love him.

There are a lot of sexy swoony parts and humor in this book. While the couple waits to have the sex they have a truly hilarious scene where they’re in Brendan’s car making out like teenagers and they get the cops called on them by the neighbors and Paige has to go inside her parents’ house with no bra on. It’s completely funny. The sex scenes are hot but sweet. Definitely not lacking in the steam factor I must say.

Overall while the story lacked a certain twist of creativity I truly did enjoy this story. The characters, the humor, the sexy good times, everything was just pure enjoyable. I laughed, I cried when tragedy struck and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

Teaser:
"Paige wasn't one to take thingslying down covered in cans of creamed corn, so she'd calmly explained to Betty that she had been watching where she was going. "Calmly" being that Paige had started yelling and the store manager had to get involved to quiet everyone down."

Swoon:
"Brendan was standing there wearing a pair of green athletic shirts and sneakers, Seat dripped down his face and bare chest. He had a light dusting of blond hair across his tanned chest; the trail narrowed as it traveled down his flat stomach and disappeared into shorts that hung low on his hips.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words can't even begin to describe how much I fell in love with this book. I read the entire book in one day and am dying to get my hands on the next book in the series. How can one couple be so gosh darn cute and absolutely perfect for each other?

Things can't get worse for Paige Morrison. Losing her job, apartment, and boyfriend all within a matter of months, Paige finds herself moving in with her parents in the little town of Mirabelle, Florida. Paige is definitely not a small town girl, and the people of Mirabelle aren't afraid to point that out. When her car breaks down, though, Paige might just find the answer she needs to surviving life in the small town: the hot mechanic Brendan who's more than willing to give her a helping hand. Paige finds herself finally finding a place in Mirabelle and picking up the pieces to her broken down life. What Paige doesn't know, though, is that she might just be what Brendan needs to fix his own life too.

Seriously. This book. I loved how Brendan was Paige's "hot mechanic" and how there was so much chemistry between Paige and Brendan. The best part, though, was how their relationship grew throughout the book before they finally gave into each other. Brendan proved to Paige that he really wanted to help her out and they partook in some innocent flirting and playful banter as they got to know each other. It seemed like as soon as Paige met Brendan, everything in her life wasn't as bad as she thought it was. I guess the right guy can make everything okay again, and Brendan was definitely that right guy. I mean, a hot mechanic who plays baseball and will pretty much do anything for the woman he loves? Where can I get one?

The relationship between Brendan and Paige is so sweet and I loved how they were acting like two teenagers dating, even though they were in their mid-twenties. And the fact that they made fun of themselves for acting so giddy and obsessed with each other was just too cute. There was some serious chemistry between those two, which in the beginning made the happy moments of the story fun and lighter, balancing the darker, more serious moments of the book that came later. Both of the characters grew throughout this book and their relationship was definitely put to the test as life threw various trials their way. I feel like their relationship was so realistic in both how it progresses and has to face the harsh realities of the real world.

What more can I possible say about this book? It was perfect. The cover is gorgeous, the couple is adorable, the man is irresistible, and the journey of the relationship is faced with both the good and the bad parts of life. Not only that, but the secondary characters were all lovable in their own ways and I can't wait to hear their stories in the next books in this series. I knew right away that Jax and Grace were going to be the main couple of the next novel, and I'm dying to read their story. If it's anything like Undone, I know I'm going to absolutely love it.

[♥ Rebecca ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found on my blog: A Match Made in Heaven

This book was super sweet! It was almost an HEA from start to finish. When Paige, a 25 year-old Phillie girl loses her job and her boyfriend in a matter of months, she decides to move to small town Florida where her parents have retired. She has trouble fitting in until she meets 28 year-old Brendan, hot mechanic and shop owner. Things start looking up. Brendan helps get her a new job that she loves, she meets a lot of new friends, after only a few months they move in together, and at 75% they even get married! Which is usually in an epilogue, not so early in the book! It was just smooth sailing for these love birds. I have said it a thousand times, but I hate unnecessary conflict in contemporary romances, so this book was really a dream come true for me.



“You're the most incredible everything.”

Brendan and Paige had great banter and I really enjoyed both of their POVs. But I think the dialogue was sometimes a bit cheesy. And the fact that they are mature characters made it much more obvious than if this were a YA. But it wasn't enough to disrupt my reading experience. Brendan is the usual, absolutely perfect boyfriend. He never does anything wrong. Paige did get mad at him twice though, but both times were a major overreaction in my opinion. Paige was fun too. Pretty artsy and free-spirited. She was enjoyable but definitely more an a handful than Brendan.

Tragedy does strike the happy couple eventually and it put me in a bit of a rut. I don't like tragedy either. It made me kind of depressed for the rest of the day. It wasn't nearly the saddest thing I have read lately, but I am overly empathetic and sometimes more rubs off on me than I intend to allow. I seem to only have this problem with contemps because it feels more real.

The book ends on a very hopeful note and I am very glad that the series continues with other characters from the small town getting their own HEAs. I look forward to continuing the series.

"You're the first sip of coffee in the morning, and the last sip of win at night. You're the one."

ARC provided by NetGalley on behalf of Grand Central Publishing, in exchange for an honest review

[Veronica of V's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can a city girl fit in a small town world?

Everything about Paige Morrison is loud. Her voice, her manner of dress, her manner. Even being an artist is too wild for the sleepy community in which she finds herself.

UNDONE is a newly released contemporary romance by Shannon Richard.

Like many twenty-somethings, Paige is recently unemployed. She has relocated from Philadelphia to tiny Mirabelle, Florida a sleepy gulf coast town to move in with her retired parents now that her boyfriend has decided she isn't The One. Deep down, Paige knew this--but it's still hard to accept. Even harder to accept is the stodginess of the neighbors and the general lack of friendliness she finds in her new locale.

At least, until Brendan King rides in on his blazing tow truck. [Did I mention Paige's Jeep has decided to crap out as well? That girl has some rotten luck!]

Brendan King is no stranger to being on the outs in Mirabelle. His mother was a single teen, and she later had a second child out-of-wedlock, the shameless hussy! Of course, she also died young of breast cancer, so some of her chief critics silenced out of respect for the dead. That doesn't mean Brendan's forgotten how it feels to be a pariah. Seeing a kindred spirit--and a damn sexy lady--riding shotgun in his wrecker, well, he decides to pay it forward.

He seeks our a job for Paige, and they continue to encounter each other--in the most delicious ways. It's hard for Paige to get over her insecurities--especially when an "anonymous" gossip blogger begins spreading rumors about Paige's wantonness in Mirabelle's e-community--but Brendan wears her down.

It seems that life is picking up for these two--they do move in together and plan a wedding when we get some further family drama. Brendan is called upon to hide a big secret--one that may tear their relationship apart. In the end, Paige learns that peace is within one's self to find--and holding the people she loves close will always ensure that she fits in her world.

As far as a romance, this is on the breezy side. Not too smexy. The majority of the conflict lay in emotional insecurity, which is natural and not melodramatic. I had some problem with how long Paige held a grudge against Brendan for something outside his control--but the resolution was adequate--and acceptable. The locale and main players are clearly outlined--with an obvious plan to build more stories centering on this group of characters. It a solid read. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.