James Patterson was one of the firsts to introduce me to the mystery/thriller genre and there used to be a time I used to read every single one as I found them. Lindsay Boxer, Alex Cross…. But then there just became so many and I lost interest. My interest was piqued when my absolute idol Dolly Parton said she was writing a book with him! Love just love Dolly Parton! This was a good book a popcorn chiller I would say. It had grit and was an easy quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the authors for the opportunity to read Run Rose Run. I hope we get a comeback of the two collaborating.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

James Patterson is one of my favourite authors, his books usually have twists that I don't see coming and keep me on the edge of my seat. That was not the case with this book, although I enjoyed the storyline, I found the story;ine easy to figure out and that the book jut left me wanting more. I could definitely feel Dolly's vibe when I read the book, I loved that part. Definitely worth a read, just not up to what I expect from James Patterson.

America has a tried and true love for both James Patterson and Dolly Parton. Partnering the two of them together is a sure-fired monetary success, but also proves to be creatively successful as well. This Nashville-set thriller follows a young singer as she finds success in the country music scene while hiding from a dangerous past. The backdrop of the music industry serves to make the story more interesting and waiting for an original Dolly track keeps the reader invested.

Run Rose Run
By James Patterson and Dolly Parton

Rose is running for a reason, but we don’t know why.
A story about just how fast fame can take hold and the demons from the past can easily find you.
If you love Dolly and James Patterson like I do, you’re bound to enjoy this story. I enjoyed reading it and also listening to it. I loved that Dolly narrated in the audiobook. It made the story that much better as Dolly always has a way of putting a smile on your face!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this one via both audiobook and on my kindle app. Dolly Parton narrated as one of the characters named Ruthanna, and it was just fun to hear her voice. It is about AnnieLee who is and up and coming star/singer, but is a nobody when something happens and she runs away from her hometown and goes to Nashville where she meets several people who help her get her start, including Ruthanna. But she also has a couple thugs who are after her but none of her friends know why since she hasn't told them the truth about who she is. I thought it was really good but the mystery aspect wasn't like James Patterson's other books so I missed more of a mystery to the story.

How can Dolly Parton disappoint? She can’t! What a great read, and how great that we got an unique flavor of voice/style in this Patterson read. James Patterson’s book are for me when I want to do a quick read, not too complicated, and just entertaining, but Run, Rose, Run did more than that for me. It was a great read that kept me thrilled. This is a duo that I hope to see more of!

This was a fun read. Totally enjoyed it. The characters were spot on and had me invested in the story. This one had all the feels. Well done with lots of tension.
Thank you NetGalley, Dolly Parton, James Patterson and Little, Brown and Company for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was a surprise for me. Run Rose Run is a wonderfully entertaining story of a young, promising, talented singer-songwriter trying to escape an abusive past and make it in Nashville. This is a perfect read for lovers of the Nashville TV drama series. I expected the book to be "cheesy", but it was a well written and executed story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book for an honest review of the book.

This is a captivating story with wonderful characters! They each have their own situations to work through, but find ways to help each other grow and face challenges. The story also provides an interesting look at the music industry from a perspective I had not considered.

Looooooooong overdue review. As someone who is obsessed with country music, Dolly Parton, and the good ole' state of Tennessee....I was in LOVE with this book. It filled all the hopes and more of it.

James Patterson and Dolly Parton really make it work as a kick-ass writing team. The characters in Run, Rose, Run and the plot are both absolutely engrossing. A thrilling story about a woman with a mysterious and dark past who finds herself at a crossroads between continuing to run and hide or start a new life. Readers will not be able to put this book down.

The one thing that I love about a James Patterson book is the ease with which it reads. Its a quick easy to follow mindless enjoyment. This one may very well be my favorite though, can't go wrong with anything including Dolly!

Run, Rose, Run is an electrifying thriller crafted by the masterful storytelling of James Patterson, following a rising singer-songwriter on the run, fighting to survive and claim her destiny. Set in the world of Nashville's glitz and danger, this novel weaves a gripping tale of passion and peril, showcasing the unparalleled talent of America's favorite entertainer and #1 bestselling author.

I found this to be a really interesting story. It focuses mostly on AnnieLee Keyes trying to make it in Nashville as a country singer, and the interesting people she meets along the way that help her out. Lots of nights playing in bars, writing songs, and hustling.
I wouldn't truly refer to this as a "thriller" - the prologue hints at her past catching up to her and leaves lots of wonder as the book rewinds 11 months. There are a few scattered occurrences of trouble, and then some chapters near the end of the book that have more suspense as things come to a head.
I liked the story and how determined AnnieLee was to make it.

Run, Rose, Run

by Dolly Parton and James Patterson

What do you get when a country music legend collaborates with the world’s best selling author? If the pair is comprised of Dolly Parton and James Patterson, then the creation is Run, Rose, Run. The two authors draw on each other’s strengths to write a fascinating thriller about a young singer-songwriter with the talent and drive to make it to the top. AnnieLee Keyes, unfortunately, has a past that haunts her present as she desperately tries to outrun some evil men. Her secrets are so painful that she can not bear to share them with anyone.

AnnieLee gradually goes from homeless to having a peek at what life could look like if she were successful in the tough music industry. She had the good fortune to meet Ethan who is also struggling financially and emotionally, but who is immediately attracted to this beautiful, talented “firecracker.” He introduces her to his famous boss Ruthanna Ryder who has retired from public singing and releasing new works, but continues to write songs and sing them in her private studio.

Run, Rose, Run moves from focusing on AnnieLee’s survival to her career development and back to survival again as she is physically attacked several times. She conceals on each occasion who is attacking her and why increasing the suspense for the reader.

Patterson brings storytelling skills and experience as an author to the book, and Parton contributes knowledge of how the music industry works. The reader gets glimpses of what success looks like, what is involved in attaining it, and how fame affects people. Quite unfamiliar with the music industry, I found myself looking up a few terms and was surprised by the difficult life endured by those at the bottom of the ladder. Without a doubt, parts of Ruthanna’s character are based on Dolly Parton’s life, especially her efforts to get books in the hands of children. Also Dolly Parton and the characters Ruthanna and AnnieLee have in common a love of song writing. I picture Ruthanna as a fictional Dolly Parton from her folksy, direct Southern expressions to her adherence to expensive clothes, full makeup, and glitzy stage costumes. Run, Rose, Run is a fun trip behind the scenes to learn how country music stars are made, told via a dramatic mystery that kept me turning pages and, at times, holding my breath.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery and Thriller

Notes: 1. Contains lots of swearing.
2. Dolly produced an accompanying album. You can listen to the music composed by the characters in the book if you seek it out on YouTube.

Publication: March 7, 2022—Little, Brown, & Co.

Memorable Lines:

“If time is money, my friends,” she said in conclusion, “just think of all I’ve saved you by not rambling on and on. So be generous tonight, please, and help us give books to kids who need them. Who crave them. And whose lives will be forever changed by them. Because books, my friends, are true magic bound between two covers. Thank you.”

Ethan was funny, though, and Ruthanna had quickly developed a soft spot for him, partly because he thought he was so tough. One of these days she was going to tell him that a bullet wound and a Purple Heart didn’t make him hard as nails. They made him just like everyone else. Sometimes you could see the scars and sometimes you couldn’t. But everybody had them.

But Ethan had seen AnnieLee in her kitchen, and as far as he could tell, she barely knew a colander from a cantaloupe, Left to her own devices, she’d probably survive on canned beans, Pringles, and the occasional multivitamin at best.

Childhood memories to traveling the world. From one perspective to another will fill us with an exciting adventure.

I enjoyed reading this book though I felt it lacked a “thriller” feeling.
Just not a memorable read for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I had to DNF this at a quarter of the way through. I knew going into it that music would be a big focus, but there is no thriller/mystery at all which is what I was hoping for. It is just too slow paced for my liking.

This was so good! Great plot, fast paced. Enjoyed the storyline, didn't want to put this one down til I was finished

An awful past..., a bright future..., which one will win? Parton and Patterson are superb together!