Review: Coming Undone by Lauren Dane

COMING UNDONE
Berkley Heat
ISBN: 978-0425232705
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance: Related to Laid Bare
Length: Novel

KEEPING IT TOGETHER

Brody Brown has always been responsible for others. After his parents’ death, he gave up a promising artistic career to care for his younger brother and sister. Now, with his siblings grown, Brody owns his own business, has a nice house, makes a nice living, and for the first time in years he’s on his own.

Elise Sorenson has come to Seattle with her young daughter to find peace. After years as a world-famous ballerina—(and just as many years in a marriage-gone-bad)—she’s looking for neither love nor attention. But she finds both in the handsome, honest man who befriends her with no strings attached.

More than friends, Brody and Elise discover in each other what they need—wild, physical passion without commitment. But it’ll take a shadow from Elise’s past to make them look beyond what they need—to what they truly desire.

I obtained the above information from Ms. Dane's website... here.

My first Lauren Dane book was Laid Bare and I did a joint review with Elaing8 here at my place (see the bottom for the link to re-read it). That book absolutely blew me away. It was amazing. I kinda went into Coming Undone with the same expectations. I have to say though that I was a little let down. I went back and read the comments other people had from the Laid Bare review and someone mentioned that Coming Undone was more of a traditional erotic romance story. Now keep in mind that I read those comments after I read the book. And that truly describes Coming Undone. It is not an explosive, non stop, hot sex, whoa back up, let me re-read it again kinda book. Coming Undone is an amazing love story of two people who were not looking for love but by Coming Undone... found it.

Now with that said, let me get underway of telling you about this amazing book. I do not want you to think any less of this story... No, please don't. Like I said, it is an amazing journey in the life of one woman who is hell bent on making her life better and the life of her daughter even better. The journey of one man who thought love was a little over-rated. This is book is how the forces of love come together to complete two people and make a family stronger.

Elise Sonrenson and her daughter Rennie move to Seattle to get a fresh start on life. Their life. They left New York behind with some horrible nightmares. Let's just say that when you find out what is in Elise's closet, you might want to sleep with one eye open next to her. But then once you hear her story, see the courage, the strength, the preservation, the dedication and the love to her daughter, you will understand what kind of woman Elise is. A woman that I will stand up and admire any given day. Hell, I would make damn sure she was a woman that had my back. She may be petite and look fragile ~ but dig deep down inside of her... and there is a living, breathing dragon.. or as Brody will make us see a Phoenix deep down inside of her. She is the best damn mother there could possibly be. A protector against all things evil and vile, no matter who they are. She is a person who will not break under stress and have her daughter think things are wrong with the world. She keeps her shit together to protect her daughter and the world that surrounds her. She will and does look evil in the eye (and laugh... okay, maybe not ~ but still) and tell it where to go.

Brody Brown, where do I start with this man. He has raised his younger siblings - Erin and Adrian when he was still a teenager himself. Both of their parents were taking from them in a tragic accident. He gave up everything, his dreams, his life, his career.. his everything to be their everything. And for that, he was one proud man. You would not know that about him if you just looked at the outside of his tatted up- hot body. You would think he is a bad-ass to the core, didn't give a shit kinda man. But to know Brody deep down is to know that he is a soft, squishy kinda teddy bear, lol. Now don't get me wrong about him... mess with his people and he will want to jack you up. He is loyal to the core and fierce when it comes to loving those close to him. What person would not want this man in their life.

Now I was very glad to see that Ms. Dane did bring back the gang: Raven, Erin, Todd, Ben, Adrian. But I have to warn you.. Ms. Dane did an awesome job at keeping their stories at bay.. but making them more powerful this time! There is a scene in here where Erin, Todd and Ben have some fun.. and OMG.... hot! Okay, that is all I can say about that... because this is Elise and Brody's story. But Raven brings the drama and Adrian brings the world to a little princess. Oh and there is a surprise in there about Erin and the boys, lol! You will want to read that!

Ms. Dane did another awesome job at delivering a story that will make you want the next one just as bad as a crack addict. She gives us yet another story in the Brown family that will melt you to the bone with absolute joy and love to watch how bonded this family is. Which is nice to see in a world filled with not so nice people.

There are two things that kinda got to me in this story. The first is the jumping POV's and the time lapses between events. It kinda got a little frustrating trying to gather who was talking/thinking and then the next paragraph it would change. The time lapses, I kinda felt like I was missing something. Like if I would have been there, I would have been the clueless one. In my opinion, I felt that details were kinda left out. That will lead into my second thing. I felt like something was missing. I am not sure what... maybe the explosion between characters. I am not sure if it would be between the main characters - Elise and Brody, or the side characters. But I felt something amidst. The love is very evident, the chemistry is definitely there, the drama is high, the past - very raw... but something was just not there. It was not character lacking or story lacking... but something.. I am not sure.

If you are interested in my review of Laid Bare, please go here. It is a co-review with Elaing8.

And remember... Keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy!