Stripped Down

by J.C. Antonelli

Christine Dunlop is a victim of success. Specifically, her parents' success. As a child, she was thrust into the limelight as the subject of her parents' wildly successful book series "Building the Perfect Child." Really, there was nowhere to go but down after 18 years of perfection. Now an adult in her 30's, she is at the point of throwing off the chains. Unfortunately, this means leaving her husband, abandoning her practice, and taking the biggest risk of her life: pursuing the one man she really loved.

Complicating her journey is Rupert McTaggart, an imbalanced soul who believes his creations like the "Vicotini," a Vicodin Martini, are going to be his ticket to fame and fortune. Rupert is set on killing Christine before she can find her lost love.

Christine might just break free of her old life and find happiness with her lost love, if she can survive the trip.

Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

Writing is my passion. I love the idea of telling a story that immerses in the reader in a different world with characters that are new and familiar at the same time. To me, a good story is one that keeps surprising the reader as it unfolds. A great story is one that echoes through the reader's head weeks, months, or even years after it has been read.

There is a Buddhist ideal that in order to live, we must be present in the moment, and that it is the journey, not the destination that is important. I write with the hope that my books will be read with you enjoying the journey, curious about the end but not in a hurry to get there.

Feel free to email me at jcantonelli@ymail.com - I'd love to hear from you.

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed and there were a few passages that made me think. The story was entertaining, and I did not know where it was going, and it was refreshing to read a book that took me on an unexpected journey. One review had mentioned that it was a "beach read," which is accurate. Not heavy literature, not brainless. I think the biggest issue I had was that I enjoyed the parts of the book that focused on the people I'm supposed to hate, like her parents, her husband, and the guy who is trying to kill her, and I found myself laughing out loud during those passages. Definitely worth my time and money - I recommend it as a fun way to spend a weekend.

[Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was on a flight with one of my friends and I was reading this on my iPad and literally laughing out loud. It’s a fun story, something between a smart Harlequin-ish book and something that might have come out of Carl Hiassen. I liked the back story for Christine Dunlop, the main character, who was raised as the subject of her crazy parents’ self-help books on child rearing. I’m not sure how to put this without it sounding critical: it’s not a page turner like a great thriller where you are dying to get through it. It’s more like a fun place to visit. Funny, smart, and unpredictable.

[Patty Denham Travaglino · Rating 5 out of 5]

A smart protagonist marketed and exploited by her parents as "the perfect child" well into adulthood, a husband who screams of shady dealings, monstrous characters that rival Hiassen's for sheer malice, a best friend and first mate with hilarious yet spiritual insights, a quest, and The One That Got Away. What more do you need for a great summer read? Did I mention that it's set in Southern California? Download it for the beach and thank me later.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny beach read

Fun summer read. I laughed many times thru out the book. It is not a serious read and has numerous flaws (a man shot twice in the jungle and had a broken arm didn't die from infection and had no pain???). Still was funny and reminded me of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, good writing, but way too long. The story grips you but then when I was ready to have the story conclude I checked my iPad and I was only 54% done with the book. The end was unexpected so I was pleased I finished but I did almost give up and skip ahead to read the end.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't find out if there is going to be another book in this series. Anyone have any ideas?

[Kim Caron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off enjoying this book, then I couldn't wait for it to end.. M