Nashville Books In Order

Publication Order of Nashville Books

Nashville Series by Inglath Cooper are intriguing novels by one of the most popular romance novelists from the United States. Inglath Cooper is a Virginian that first fell in love with books as a little girl, where she read most of the novels in her elementary school library. She soon knew that writing romance fiction was what she wanted to do. Cooper has always loved character driven books that make one feel like they have known the characters for years and she incorporates this apsect in her many novels. She was drawn to romance fiction as it deals with all manner of relationships that a woman experiences. It is not only about the relationship with a man but also the relationships with best friends, a sister or mother. With so much room for exploration of the meaningful transitions and moments in a woman’s life, romances always make for a good love story.

Given that she started reading at a very young age, much of what she knows about writing comes from reading books. She has won the Romance Writers of America best long contemporary romance work at the RITA Awards. When she is not writing, she actively works with The Franklin County Humane Society in dog rescue and placement. She has worked in several capacities including photographing cats and dogs for adoption, fundraising, acting as temporary home, and even as a director on the board.

The Nashville series of novels are about Cece Mackenzie a nineteen year old girl from Virginia with dreams of making it big as a country music artist in Nashville. She is a determined girl with a gentle and almost naïve character. Unlike many aspiring people of her age, fame is not her mind as she has a genuine love for music and just wants to make a living from it. She is going to take a chance and move away from home to pursue her love for singing and songwriting. Her love interest Holden Ashford is a brooding man with magnetism and attitude to boot. From the cowboy boots to the cap that wears low over his head, he makes Cece’s heart miss a beat every time she sees him. He is also chasing a dream of making it big in Nashville alongside his friend Thomas Franklin. Thomas Franklin is something of a big teddy bear best friend, cousin, or teddy bear brother that makes everyone feel secure around them. He is the man that is not afraid of telling you the truth even if it hurts, though you can be sure that he will have your back when you need him. He often provides comfort rather than being the “I told you so” type. He also has dreams of making it big and is the man that has the smooth voice that brings to life the songs written by his friend Holden.

“Nashville – Part One – Ready to Reach” the first novel of the Nashville series introduces us to Cece Mackenzie, Thomas Franklin and Holden Ashford. Cece just left home alongside her dog in a beat-up car that she had been given by her grandmother. She is heading to Nashville, where she hopes to become a big country singer. The old beater car breaks down and even catches fire. She has all her belongings and her purse inside the car and hence when it catches fire, she is left stranded on the side of the road with no means of moving forward or backward. Luckily, two guys headed in the same direction drive past and seeing her on the side of the road stop to help her out. Holden Ashford and Thomas Franklin who happen to be aspiring musicians just like Cece offer her a ride and they soon become fast friends. She is taken under their wing and even moves in with them. Could the threesome find fortune and fame in Nashville? But beside the aspirations, could the fate have given a nod to serendipity and brought the three together?

“Nashville – Part Two – Hammer and a Song” the second novel of the series starts off from where the first novel of the series left off. Part 1 ended with Holden and Cece waiting to rescue Hank Junior, who had been taken by the pound. Back home, Thomas informs them that they had an unexpected visitor, which throws a damper on the new found romance between Holden and Cece. Sarah is Holden’s girlfriend and by coming to visit, has put Holden in a conundrum as he has developed feelings for Cece. Holden and Cece try to put their feelings for each other aside and continue to trudge on. Sarah can clearly see the sexual tension between the supposed friends and is hurt though Holden tells her that there is nothing between them. But then some misfortune happens to someone and places the musical trio at the right place at the right time. This may just be the break they needed to achieve all that they ever wanted when they came to Nashville. In the midst of all that is happening, Holden is torn between his new feelings for Cece and his old feelings for his girlfriend Sarah.

“In Nashville – Part Three – What We Feel” Holden leaves Nashville to be reunited with his girlfriend Sarah who is undergoing treatment for cancer. He is still writing songs but it is now just Cece and Thomas in Nashville playing in clubs and bars as “Barefoot Outlook”. They have experienced some growth and have even become fast friends that complement each other during their performances. They are hoping that at least one of them will at last catch a break and make it big, which they believed they were on the cusp of doing before Holden left. Things take a turn for the better when someone gets interested in one of Holden’s songs. But he is convinced that the right thing to do is to pursue his relationship with Sarah and leave his old life behind. But Sarah already moved on from him and encourages him to do the same. When he finally comes back, Cece is in another relationship and will not have him back. Can they live, practice and perform together while pretending that they feel nothing for each other, or will this break everything they have built together?