Group Review: Undone (Country Roads #1) by Shannon Richard

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Undone

Country Roads #1

By:  Shannon Richard

Published:  July 2, 2013

Published By:  Forever Yours

Source:  Publisher

GR's Summary:

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?

Lindy's 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

Ro's Take on this Journey 

Undone, by Shannon Richard is a wonderful down home, kind of throw back love story.  Page Morrison is the heroine in the story. The story opens with Paige losing her job, and apartment. She moves in with her boyfriend of one year, Dylan.  She is suppose to stay briefly, but it turns into a couple of months. Dylan wants to talk to Paige, and quickly she jumps to the conclusion that he is going to ask for her hand in marriage. In reality, that is far from the truth.  Dylan tells her in so many words that he is never planning on marriage with her, she is not "the girl" for him, and she isn't worth the effort of working toward a relationship.  He is tired of pretending something that he doesn't and will never feel for her. Paige is floored, and completely devastated. 

Paige packs up and leaves Philadelphia, to move to Mirabelle, Florida to live with her parents, Trvor and Denise.  Her parents are such a wonderful couple, who still take walks and hold hands. Trevor loves his family and is so proud of Paige.  Paige is so miserable for a couple of months in this dinky dink backwards town, full of judgmental, gossipy, cynical people when it comes to outsiders. They are ruthless! Especially Bethelda, and Ms. Forms.  Two miserable human beings full of hatred, jealousy, and envy.  They were simpleminded to say the least.  

One day Paige gets a flat tire, and Brendon King, from Kings Auto, goes out on the call that will change both of their lives forever.  Brendon and his little sister have both been brought up by their mother's parents when she died young from cancer.  Neither child knew their father's.  Oliver and Lula Mae, (their grandparents) did a wonderful job raising them both and giving them each something to fall back on.  Brendon becomming a mechanic, and Grace working at the little cottage Inn baking.  Townspeople had made their life miserable, because they had different fathers, and were very mean and slanderous towards their mother.

This was a wonderful story about down home life, with real people. The good, the bad, and the ugly, inside out!  I loved the prose, and Ms. Richard made the fair, the events, the art, and the life feel so real!  I loved every minute of it. This was funny, sarcastic, loving, sad, nurturing, and heartbreaking. Paige stood out like a sore thumb, and I loved her strength and determination, even when she got turned down over and over again looking for jobs, being called a drugged out hippie having orgy's in her shed!  In actuality, she had her art and photography workshop in there.  Brendon gets her a job, and eventually her art starts selling.  You will come to love this small town, and their unforgettable kinship!  The attraction, laughter, playfulness, banter, and lust between Paige and Brendon is smoldering, and he is one hot mechanic that you'll want to get your hands on!!!

I give Undone, by Shannon Richard, 4.5 down home, country living, wonderfully light filled stars!

My Favorite Quotes:

"It took only one simple touch from her for him to completely lose his mind again.  "I knew I'd seen it somewhere." She looked up to the oak tree in front of them and then back down to his arm.  "Why do you have that tree tattooed on your arm?"  She asked, looking up at him.  "My mom loved that tree," he said, looking up at it for a second.  "She would bring me and Grace here all the time."  
(eARC Loc. 1055)

"God, Brendon, you had a girlfriend run off with another man, your dad abandoned you, and your mom she..." Paige trailed off.  You had to deal with a lot over a very short amount of time, and it didn't happen so long ago, "You make my problems look trivial."  It isn't trivial," He said, rubbing his thumb across her jaw.  "One day, you'll wake up and it won't hurt as bad.  You'll be able to move on." (eARC Loc 1068)

"He brought her mouth to his.  She parted her lips and when his tongue touched hers he lost himself.  She tasted like oranges, like the sweetest freaking oranges that he'd ever eaten."  (eARC Loc 1075)

Playlist:

*Courtesy of Ms. Richard's Website

• It Happens - Sugarland
• Dirt Road Anthem - Jason Aldean
• Find The Beat Again - Sugarland
• Barefoot Blue Jean Night – Jake Owen
• Country Boy’s World - Jason Aldean
• Drink In My Hand - Eric Church
• Rain Is A Good Thing - Luke Bryan
• Stuck Like Glue - Sugar land

• Just A Kiss - Lady Antebellum

• Country Girl (Shake It For Me) - Luke Bryan
• We Owned The Night - Lady Antebellum
• You Look Good In My Shirt - Keith Urban
• In Love With A Girl - Luke Bryan
• Every Girl Like Me - Sugarland

• Whatever It Is -  Zac Brown Band

• God Bless The Broken Road - Rascal Flatts
• Little Miss - Sugarland
• Just Give Me A Reason – Pink ft. Nate Ruess
• If I Didn’t Have You - Thompson Square

• We Run – Sugarland

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes

About the Author:

Shannon Richard grew up in the Panhandle of Florida as the baby sister of two overly protective but loving brothers. She was raised by a more than somewhat eccentric mother, a self-proclaimed vocabularist who showed her how to get lost in a book, and a father who passed on his love for coffee and really loud music. She graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s in English literature and still lives in Tallahassee, where she battles everyday life with writing, reading, and a rant every once in a while. Okay, so the rants might happen on a regular basis. She’s still waiting for her Southern, scruffy Mr. Darcy, and in the meantime writes love stories to indulge her overactive imagination. Oh, and she’s a pretty big fan of the whimsy.

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