Jake Undone

By: Penelope Ward

Narrated by: Felicity Munroe, Brian Pallino

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

Nina Kennedy is alive...but not living...until she meets him. Planes, trains, heights...you name it, Nina is afraid of it and leads a sheltered life ruled by irrational fears and phobias. When she moves to Brooklyn for nursing school, that life is turned upside down as she develops an intense but unwanted attraction to her gorgeous roommate, who's pierced and tattooed and just happens to be the smartest person she's ever met. Behind Jake Green's rough exterior and devilish smile lies a heart of gold. He makes it his mission to change Nina's outlook on life. When he agrees to tutor her, they forge a bet, and the stakes are high as Jake forces Nina to face her demons. He just wasn't expecting to fall hard for her in the process. What Nina doesn't realize is that Jake has been living his own private hell. Once he drops a bombshell, will their love survive it? Told in two parts from both Nina and Jake's points of view, Jake Undone is a standalone story and a companion to the novel Gemini.

©2013 Penelope Ward (P)2015 Audible Inc.

THE STORY & ITS CHARACTERS WILL SUCK YOU RIGHT IN

Oh boy this book hooks you right in with the shy and nervous Nina and her infatuation, lust and ever growing feelings for her gorgeous, tattooed, pierced and very smart roommate Jake. Jake is so supportive and caring towards Nina and he picks up on all her insecurities and helps her as any good friend would do. But the more time they spend together the closer they become but Jake is giving off mixed messages and won't take their relationship to the next level. Every weekend he goes home to Boston and nobody knows why - there's a huge secret he's frightened to tell Nina about because it could ruin everything so when he eventually decides to share his secret with her he is one day too late..... one day that poisons their newly found happiness and joy leaving only despair, longing, heartache, regrets and pain.

What a captivating story because you so desperately want Nina and Jake to work things out but before you know it there's even more heartache, drama, angst, temptations and misunderstandings standing in their way before finally they get their Fairytale HEA ending. It was very touching and romantic at times and it also had it's share of sexy times too and eventually, when you thought their bitter-sweet love story was wrapping up, the author took you just a little further with them which was so perfect, loving, tender and a lovely ending.

Worth a credit? Dual POV's, two really good narrators and a highly emotional, sometimes funny, sometimes sexy, romantic and touching plot made this a very creditworthy listen. And one that had me saying "Oh just one more chapter"...... right through the night.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Nose dived by 50-60%

I rarely provide review comments and I have purchased over 1300 contemporary romance novels from audible in only 10 months. This book started off strong like it would be a quality plot. At about 50-60% it nose dived hard with ridiculous surprise spoilers ...and too many mis-communications causing rifts for one story. While wrapping up the ending many holes were left (I went back wards multiple times as I thought I had skipped a chapter ..but not). I also don't buy the HEA.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great In-Depth Story

I enjoy Penelope Ward's great story telling. This book kept me hooked from the beginning. The detailed personality of each character is quality work by the author. You feel like you know each of the characters. The author gives you such detail and has developed the characters to be relatable and the story to be believable. Nina has anxiety issues and Jake is hiding a secret. You become so involved in their lives that it is difficult to stop reading/listening. The narrators did a great job as well.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Loved it

Great story line and excellent narrators! Worth the credit for sure!! I love this author and hope more audio books will come in the future.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

What a great story!

Loved this book, the author and narrators. Emotional..cried. Want every man to communicate like Jake.

So-So Story

This was a so-so book with horrible girl narration. It was a chore to finish. The storyline was too much drama. One drama after the other. It was heavy and not really in a good feeling way. I struggled to finish it I loved the Gemini book hence I bought this but after this book I’m done with the series. I’m sorry I wasted the credit.

Heartbreaking wonderful

While Jake really ticked me off sometimes and this book just made my heart ache, it was a really food book and I am glad that I listened to it. I think some places kind of dragged out, but the story was deep and the narration was perfect. Ryan aggravated me. Although he was trying to look out for his friend, he just should have let her make her own decisions and not try to get in the way. I would have liked to see Nina’s friendships with others develop more. I’m looking forward to the next book, but I may need to listen to another book before coming back to it. I need something more easygoing and upbeat first.

I loved Jake's origami bats & funny notes!

I collected this one in e-book and eventually audiobook formats a while back and finally got to it. I love the roommate-to-lovers trope, so that element got a big thumbs up. I enjoyed Jake's sense of humor as well. But we learn what a tough situation these two are in and that made this overall a heavier kind of read than I wanted.

I have to credit both Felicity Munroe's and Brian Pallino's engaging performances for keeping me invested in this story. I'm not sure I would have read it as quickly in e-book format. Luckily, I already own Jake Understood (Jake #2) in both formats and didn't wait too long (had to read a library audiobook loan I'd been waiting ages for in between) before diving back into their continuing drama.

Emotionally charged story

It can take one small moment in time to change the entire course of your life and Jake Green has felt the impact of his moment for the past 5-6 years. He studied engineering at college and is a highly intelligent guy but he looks nothing like a stereo-typical student. Jake’s skinned is mapped in tattoos and piercings, to an outsider he looks dangerous and unapproachable but to the people who know him he is quite opposite.

The first time that Nina meets him is the night she moves into her new flat. Well actually, she doesn’t physically meet him, her ears do when she hears him having very loud, vocal sex with a one night stand. I guess that is one way to make a first impression right? The second time is the next morning when she actually lays eyes on him and holy guacamole, this guy is gorgeous.

Nina is studying to be a nurse and the only subject that she really stuggles with is maths. Aside from that, she also has bad anxiety and quite a few phobias. Jake recognises a few of these and comes to an arrangement with her. He will help tutor her to pass her maths paper and in return he wants her to trust him to help her work through some fears.

There is definitely something there between them, it has been there from the first time they met and the attraction just keep growing. I loved the slow burn between them and the anguish as Jake battles with his own thoughts to resist what is happening between them.

The thing is, Jake has other things going on in his life. Every weekend he goes home to Boston, no one really knows why he does but it is just something that he needs to do. His feelings for Nina are now getting to a point where he needs to come clean and explain why he has such a pull to Boston. He knows that in doing so he risks losing her as this secret he has been holding in is so big that the happiness he has found with Nina could come to an explosive end.

This was a very emotionally charged story about sacrifice, loyalty and love.

Jake Undone Me

Would you listen to Jake Undone again? Why?

Yes, the story was moving and funny. Jake's character is the kind of man every woman wants.

What did you like best about this story?

As the story unfolded you just kept falling more and more in love with Jake.

What about Felicity Munroe and Brian Pallino ’s performance did you like?

The narration was great. I binged listened.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Jake's devotion to his mental ill wife.

Terrible and rather insulting.

I didn't like this book at all. The characters are annoying, and the authors attitude to mental health is just insulting. I seriously doubt all it takes to overcome deeply ingrained phobias is a hot guy you want to sleep with.

I also didn't like the female narrator. Her voice was rather annoying, and the way she voiced the main male character was terrible.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

YA romance with strong storyline...

...a sensitive tattooed and pierced male lead and a decent female lead. What's not to like!
For me the storyline and the chemistry between the two characters were the highlights.Lots of twists and ups and downs.
The female narrators intonation was very annoying and difficult to get used to - I definitely would not want to listen to any other book narrated by her. It almost put me off continuing with this book but credit to the author I kept going to the end!
If you can overlook a) factual inaccuracy about phobias/ panic attacks being cured so quick and with the method suggested and b) how stupid several characters behave towards the end - you will like it!

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

I Adored it!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I was a great fan of the book, but hearing the Audio version brought it to life for me.

What did you like best about this story?

The Empire State building with A J

Have you listened to any of Felicity Munroe and Brian Pallino ’s other performances? How does this one compare?

This is first time I listened to Felicity Munroe and Brian Pallino,they brought the characters to life for me.I would definitely listen to any other Audio books they narrate.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I was up near all night as I wanted to listen to it all in one sitting.

Any additional comments?

I can't wait until Jake Understood is out on Audio.