The Life and Times of Jamie Lee Coleman is a lovely rags to riches novel about the meteoric rise of Jamie Lee Coleman from his dirt poor and abusive beginnings to his incredible success as a country singer. This third installment in Michael E. Glasscock III's series set in Round Rock, TN can be read as a standalone, but fans will be delighted with a few guest appearances by characters from previous books in the series.

Written as an autobiography in first person from Jamie Lee's perspective, the novel begins in 1962 when Jamie Lee is ten years and follows him as he escapes his poverty stricken and abusive childhood through his wildly successful career. It is a wonderfully heartwarming story about Jamie Lee making the most of the opportunities he has been given and his gratitude for the people who have helped him along the way. While his success comes relatively easily, Jamie Lee also has his share of heartache and loss and this is when the seeds sown in his dysfunctional past come back to haunt him.

Jamie Lee is an only child whose alcoholic father regularly abuses him and his poor downtrodden mother. Following a particularly bad beating, Jamie Lee crosses paths with Miss Frances Washington and she quickly becomes his legal guardian. Miss Frances is strict but loving and Jamie Lee flourishes both academically and musically under her careful guidance. With a few notable exceptions, Jamie Lee's life is mostly carefree until he is sixteen, and a series of unfortunate events forces him to strike out on his own. In New Orleans, a fortuitous encounter sets him on his path to stardom, but a personal loss and a serious accident threaten his burgeoning career. He returns to Nashville where he meets the love of his life and with her by his side, he finds unimaginable success as a country music star, but he also suffers his share of heartbreak as well.

Jamie Lee is a wonderful character who never forgets his humble beginning or those who helped him on his road to stardom. He has seen the devastating effects of alcohol and he refuses to let it ruin the career he has carefully nurtured. Jamie Lee loves deeply but his habit of making major decisions on his own is one of his biggest downfalls in his romantic relationships. He does manage to avoid many of the pitfalls that befall many musicians (drugs, alcohol, infidelity & overspending) and his financial acumen provides him with an incredible fortune. Jamie Lee makes wise business decisions and he eventually gives back to the local community where he was born and raised.

While there is little external conflict in the overall storyline, Jamie Lee faces his internal demons when facing personal tragedy. Jamie Lee overcomes many obstacles throughout his lifetime and by his autobiography's conclusion in 2003, he has weathered the losses of many of his family members, friends and mentors. Just as he has recovered from a dark period in his life, Jamie Lee faces his biggest challenge and while his decision is unexpected, it fits his character.

The Life and Times of Jamie Lee Coleman is an engaging novel with a wonderful cast of characters. The behind the scenes look at the music industry is quite interesting and never overpowers the unfolding storyline. A surprising plot twist late in the story takes the novel to a shocking and poignant conclusion.

The Life and Times of Jamie Lee Coleman is a superb addition to Michael E. Glasscock III's Round Rock series that old and new fans do not want to miss. I am very much looking forward to the next novel in this incredible series.
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I received a free copy from Netgalley for review and an honest opinion.

This novel starts out with a burst of interest in the life of a poverty stricken family and an abused child. The writing draws you into the lives of Jamie and his mother. You desperately want to free them from the mistreatment of his alcoholic father and improve their living conditions. You applaud his courage to runaway, although, if it were reality, it could not be assured he would find so many wealthy saviors willing to sponsor his future.

I felt the story started to fall apart when Jamie runs away a second time after his mother's murder.

Jamie seeks out friends that are willing to be totally self-sacrificing and in need of his attention and "love"; although they don't know anything about him except his superb musical talents and his horrible childhood story. Time after time they appear and disappear but Jamie just aims higher toward a life as "star". Tragedy flashes all around Jamie, he drops into a depression, and is saved time and again by another nurturing soul willing to support his emotionally and physically. The descriptive scenes of his horny crotch did little to endear me to the "star".

This story could have continued with the quality writing that was seen in the beginning of the novel but I felt that the author was more interested in adding another book in the series that putting effort into truly developing Jamie's character.

Sorry. This wasn't the best book I read in a long time.
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This is the third of (a projected) four-book series about Round Rock, Tennessee (a fictional location); it is the only book in the series I am likely to read - and that only because I received a free advance copy.

The story is about - not surprisingly, given the title - a 10-year-old boy, Jamie Lee Coleman, who escapes from a poverty-ridden, abusive, home to go on to become a rich and famous musician and businessman.

When he leaves home he is taken in by an elderly school teacher who makes a habit of taking in young, poor, homeless children (one at a time, I suppose). Within hours of meeting the old woman, Jamie is playing a piano for the first time, where he discovers that he can play - apparently flawlessly - without ever having touched a piano before. He has this same fantastic luck with the guitar.

At the age of 16, young Jamie runs away from home again, ending up in New Orleans, where he is "discovered," ultimately leading him to become a successful musician. He forms a band which he rules with an iron fist, starts his own music company, and becomes fabulously wealthy.

Clearly, Glasscock's true calling is as an otolaryngologist, and writing is a pastime that gives him a chance to unwind. The writing is rudimentary, consisting of a series of leaps from one idea to another. We are treated to episodes created simply for the dramatic effect they can produce; the dialogue is stilted and unnatural; reflections are about as deep as a wading pool.

In general, the novel is completely unrealistic. That may be permissible for fantasy and science fiction, but for a dramatic novel about "real life" it is the kiss of death. I cannot recommend this book. ( )