If I were to make an assumption on how a book written by Dolly Parton, the Queen of Country would look like, I am sure it would be very much like “Run Rose Run”. Having said that, when throwing James Patterson in the mix, I was expecting something a little more gripping from the mystery perspective of things. Regardless, this was a good story of a star on the rise, with a mysterious past that won’t let her forget where she came from.

Dolly Parton really does an amazing job infusing country music, stardom and the music industry into this book. And I absolutely love the idea of accompanying a book with an album (as I write this I am listening to Big Dreams and Faded Jeans). This could be the start of something. Why wait for a movie to have a Soundtrack…..

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for a Review Copy

A young wannabee country singer, running from home with secrets. She is talented and makes some influential friends but this also brings her to the attention of those she left behind.
Can she escape from her past and make a music career? Enjoy the glimpses in to the business of the music industry and its dynamics.
A twist right up to the end.

A book collaboration between Dolly Parton and James Patterson was an intriguing prospect. The story was of a woman, AnnieLee Keyes, trying to make it as a country music star, but with a past that was never far behind her - and getting closer by the moment.

Overall, this was a good read. The story moved at a pace and had a mix of plotlines and intrigue that kept me reading. But I did wonder if the balance of the book was quite right. A lot of the book was about AnnieLee's attempt to make it in country music. The thriller element felt like much more of a sub-plot and the 'reveal' was very much saved until the end of the book and the story might have benefitted a bit from some of it being revealed slightly earlier.

The book is very readable and a good distraction for a few hours - and as I read the book I found it very hard not to hear Dolly Parton's voice guiding me onwards. Enjoy.

If you are a country music fan or Dolly Parton fan you will love this book.

Gripping at the beginning although I did find it get a little slow in the middle.

The characters were great.
A very easy read but not really a thriller

Go Rose Go is a delight for country music fans and those interested in the Nashville scene. Dolly portrays strong characters with Annielee starring as the talented but troubled heroine. The pace is brisk and the atmosphere exciting whilst the reader is taken on a gripping and satisfying journey. You will be with Annielee all the way and routing for her success and happiness. .

Book provided by Netgalley

I really like James Patterson books and this was no exception. Teaming up with Dolly Parton, gave you an insight into the world of Nashville and Country singers.

AnnieLee turns up in Nashville and begged her way up on to a stage to sing, but who is this fiesty songbird, and where has she come from. Ethan Blake is the first to be entranced by her voice and convinces his boss Ruthanna Ryder (huge Retired Country star) to come to the bar to listen to her.

Ruthanna sees something in AnnieLee and wants to help her succeed, but what is AnnieLee hiding and how will her secrets affect everyone around her ?

With songs obviously written by Dolly and the fabulous twists and turns from James, made this an enjoyable read.

This was my first James Patterson book I was drawn by the collaboration with Dolly. A great book could feel dolly influence and would definitely be tempted to pick up one James’s books again. I raced through this book and throughly enjoyed it

The book begins with Annielee Keyes hitchhiking her way to Nashville to make her name on the Country circuit.

She's pawned her guitar to buy a knapsack and sleeping bag.

She attracts the attention of Ruthanna Ryder , the retired "Queen of Country" who takes her under her wing.

She has a head full of songs and the spirit to succeed. But she also has a dark secret that will follow her from Texas...

I don't normally read James Patterson collaborations but was intrigued by the fact that Dolly Parton was the collaborator.

I found that book a little smaltzy but easy to read.

If you are a Country music fan you will enjoy it, but hard hitting drama it is not!

I thought this book was good & I will be recommending it to other. Thanks for the opportunity to read & review this book.

This is an enthralling story about Annie Lee – a young songwriter/singer, and Ruthanna, a famous country singer. A collaboration between Dolly Parton and James Patterson, the story explores the dark side of Nashville and is enriched by Dolly Parton’s insight, who knows the area well.
Annie Lee has escaped from a dark, secretive past, hoping to make her name as a singer. Starting in clubs, she eventually gets to meet Ruthanna, who wants to help her. The book consists of short chapters, written mainly from Annie Lee or Ruthanna’s perspective, giving insight into the two womens’ character and keeping up the pace.
Though Annie Lee is running from her past it keeps catching up with her, and at times the story is brutal. But there is also courage, warmth and humour, with the feisty young singer determined to succeed.
A great Dolly Parton fan, I felt this gripping story was filled with heart and spirit, and a real page turner filled with believable, likeable characters. You wonder how much of the story relates to Ms Parton’s own background and experiences,
A real page turner, I found it difficult to put down. Highly recommended.

What starts off as a country singer about to hit the big time in Nashville quickly develops into a story of someone’s past catching up with them. It’s a great fast paced storyline full of country music charm - exactly what you would expect from such a famous partnership.

This was always going to be a winning combination for me from the outset. I am a fan of james Patterson, Dolly Parton and country music so the boom immediately held appeal, including the cover and title.

I was not disappointed when I started to read it, as James Patterson's style of writing is so easy to read, and I was drawn into the story immediately. The Prologue did leave me with the thought that there would only be one possible ending to the book, but I was happy to be proved wrong.

The main characters were both believable and likeable , and the storyline, although pretty much as expected, held my interest all the way through. It follows the journey of a young singer/writer as she arrives in Nashville seeking her fortune, with a past she would rather forget, but which eventually catches up with her. I finished the book in 2 sittings, as I didn't want to put it down.

This is the story of a young woman with the voice of an angel, the "heart of a hellcat and tongue of a serpent" - and a dark past that won't let her go - seeking to fulfil her dreams in Nashville. It is also the story of the people who help and hinder her in achieving those dreams.

I loved AnnieLee, a wonderfully strong female lead, "fierce and furious," but I loved the supporting cast just as much. As we discover, they all have their own demons, but they also all have unique personalities which are expertly crafted by the author duo. I haven't read anything else by James Patterson, but it is fairly easy to see Dolly Parton's input shining through with its charm, wit and (presumably) realistic insight into the music industry. The plot was well paced and a true page-turner, and the dialogue was believable. All in all, a very enjoyable reading experience.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century for the arc.

I had seen that James Patterson has teamed up with other 'celebrity' authors in the past and I had kept away from them. This one with Dolly Parton piqued my interest. However I wish that it hadn't. I only managed to read a quarter of the book as I found the writing style lacked finesse and the story line was one that you had heard so many times before. It is advertised as being a thriller, for the first 25% of the book, it isn't. Sorry, but this was not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the advance copy of this book.

A great writing combination of Dolly Parton and James Patterson . Dolly's influence shone through and I hope she has more books to write.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

I really enjoyed this. Annie Lee Keyes arrives in Nashville with literally nothing but the clothes on her back and a sleeping bag. We know she's running but we don't know what/who from. She's tired, hungry alone and sleeping under a bush when she plays for free using a borrowed guitar at the Cats Paw Club - owned by famous country star Ruthann Ryder. The crowds love her - and so does Ruthann and a friendship starts and offers a chance at success. But, AnnieLee's past is creeping up on her and she can't stay hidden on the stage.

I really loved so much about this book. It feels so authentic. If there is an audio version if this book i hope Dolly Parton reads it as it's her 'voice' you hear all the way through. I'm not sure whether Ruthann or AnnieLee is modelled on Dolly - or maybe they both are at different times in her life. Ruthann is a lovely character and so is Ethan. There is a lot of hardship in here - Ethan, AnnieLee and Ruthann all have their own stories and their own songs. I can't wait to listen to the soundtrack that is being released to accompany the book. I didn't realise till I finished reading that there is a 'songbook' at the back with the full songs rather than just the few lines we get throughout the book.

So why only 4 stars?? Well, its AnnieLee. She's a difficult character to like at times - I could just about accept her because we know whatever is following her is serious and she is really troubled. But at times she is so rude and ungrateful and her confidence about her music was so at odds with her circumstances and self belief in other areas. Also the end seemed to happen very quickly and, unless I missed it, we don't find out all the details of Ethan's story. I'm not sure I'd describe this as a thriller - AnnieLee's story has elements but the majority of the book is about her journey to becoming a professional musician. However, these things were minor for me because overall I loved this book!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley with no promise of a favourable review.

Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton & James Patterson


A great book with interesting characters in AnnieLee , Ruthanna , and Nathan, I feel Dolly would have come up with the premise of these characters , and maybe there is even a little of them in her.
Not a massively complex read , as you can see some things coming but nether the less still a great story.
I can see this being picked up and made into a film , the entertaining characters and story cry out for it.

Run Rose Run has AnnieLee a young singer running away from her previous life. She turns up broke and destitute at a bar and asks the manager if she can sing there for her supper. After much debate he gives her a chance and she goes down a storm. In the Audience is Ethan a singer and musician who works for retired top country star Ruthanna Ryder he persuades her to listen to AnnieLee. We then have AnnieLee’s progress to stardom.
Although classed as a suspense there wasn’t that much to be honest, it was obvious that AnnieLee had had a difficult time but why she didn’t tell anyone was beyond me especially when all was finally revealed, it was rather a let down if I’m honest.
Although an fairly enjoyable read, Ethan was the only character I felt had depth. The background about country music management and the tours etc was well written so I can see where Dolly Parton collaboration played a part. But if I was to describe this book I would say romance definitely not suspense or thriller.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

Run Rose Run, Dolly Parton, James Patterson

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers, Romance

I love Dolly Parton's music, and of course she has such an interesting history. I've read many of James Patterson's books too, so the collaboration was one I really wanted to read.
An unlikely duo on the surface but makes for a fantastic read, with JP's talent for creating a gripping mystery and dolly's background in music shining through and giving the story a very real feel. I could imagine myself there with AnnieLee when she was playing that first time, borrowed guitar, grumbling stomach, nerves...I was so rooting for her, knowing she clearly had some dark secrets but a burning fire to escape her background by way of her music.
Ruthann was a fabulous character too. Of course her long time manager/friend Jack, helps her when she takes on AnnieLee as a protegee, and then there's Ethan. Oh Ethan, his heart was lost at first sight, though he takes a long while to realise that.
Its a great read, fabulous characters, short sharp chapters, the mystery of AnnieLee's past being very dark at times, and yet she toughs and bluffs her way through, always hiding her feelings and pushing forward with wit and a smile.

Stars: 4.5. A terrific collaboration, bringing together the best of both talents. The suspense is more mystery than JP's trademark intense thriller, the songwriting and struggle of AnnieLee to make it was pure Dolly and together it made for a fantastic read

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and authors for this ARC.

I had high expectations with this book after enjoying several books that James Patterson had wrote with other authors. I really liked the main character, AnnieLee who arrives in Nashville wanting to break into the music business as a singer/songwriter. She is determined, feisty, tenacious and strong willed. She is ‘noticed’ by Ruthanna Ryder, a retired singer who helps AnnieLee establish a footing in the music business. I thought the first 3/4 of the book was a very engaging read which I thoroughly enjoyed. The ins and outs of the music industry were described in great detail and very realistic. Dolly’s writing shone through based on her own experiences and career. I liked the other two main characters Ruthanna and Ethan who both had good back histories and I felt gave the story more depth. AnnieLee has secrets though and is running from them and has to confront her past before she can go forward. For me, the last part of the book felt rushed and I was a little underwhelmed by it. I wouldn’t have called this a thriller - yes there was a small thriller element to the story although I would have liked to see more more being made of it. Overall, this was a good read, I liked the writing style and thought it was nicely paced - it just didn’t wow me or have me desperate to know more. I prefer books with more of a crime/thriller element and felt this was lacking here.