Interview and Review: Shameless (Nashville Nights #1) by Cheryl Douglas

Today I am welcoming Cheryl Douglas.  She is the author of the Nashville Night series.  Be sure to check out my review of Book 1 Shameless after my interview.

1.     What is the Nashville Nights Series?

Nashville Nights is a contemporary romance series that begins with the first book, Shameless. This book is about country music singer, Trey Turner, and his former wife, Sierra. Trey has battled addiction and tragedy while building a successful music career. He is finally ready to face the fact that his career has cost him everything, including the love of his life. This story is about redemption, the journey back from the brink of despair, and making amends for past mistakes.

2.     How many books are there in the series?

There are eight books in total.

3.     How did this evolve into an eight book series?

Shameless was a book I’d had in the back of my mind for years. When I finally sat down to write it, the book took on a life of its own. The secondary characters became so strong that it became obvious they each deserved their own story.

4.     Who was your favorite character to write and why?

I fell in love with all of the characters, but I was probably was most intrigued with Luc Spencer, the hero in book three, Ruthless. By the time I had finished writing the book, his character was nothing like the character I had outlined. As I wrote him, I realized there was more depth to him than I first realized, and there were more underlying issues than I ever would have expected.

5.     Is it important for readers to read these books in order?

I introduce all of the characters in previous books, so I think readers will gain better insight into the characters if they read the books in order.

6.     What is the most difficult part of writing a series?

It would have to be staying true to the voice of the characters throughout the series. A time or two my editor has said to me, that doesn’t sound like something the so and so we met back in book number two or three would say. The other thing is accepting that once a character is written a certain way in a previous book, it’s a done deal. You can’t change facts to suit the current story you’re working on, as much as you might like to.

7.     Would you have to be a fan of country music to enjoy this series?

No, the series isn’t about music. It’s about the trials and tribulations of couples who are falling in and out of love. The focus of every book is always the couple’s relationship. In fact, in several of the books, the characters are not even musicians. They are just on the periphery of the music scene, whether it be as a bodyguard, publicist, or stylist.

8.      What inspired you to write this series?

I love country music, and I love to read about cowboys, though I wasn’t necessarily interested in writing an entire series about either. Writing a series with an underlying country music theme that takes place in Nashville seemed like a great way to combine two of my passions while mixing it up, so I could introduce a variety of characters with different interests and backgrounds.

9.     Have you finished all of the books in this series?

I am currently working on the last book in this series, Careless.

10.  When will all of the books in the series be released?

The final book will be available October of this year.

11.  What’s next, after Nashville Nights?

I often say this series took on a life of it’s own, but it really did! Book eight is not the last readers will see of these characters. Fast forward a decade or more. It’s time for their children to begin finding their HEA in Nashville Nights, Next Generation! This is another eight book series, and the first book will be released November 2012.

12.  Where can people go to learn more about the Nashville Nights series?

People can visit www.cheryldouglasbooks.com to read about all of the books in this series,  find specific release dates, and read about the upcoming series.

Readers can also visit me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cheryldouglasbooks.com

Shameless

Book One

Nashville Nights Series

By Cheryl Douglas

Trey Turner may be topping the country music charts but his life has been going downhill since his wife left him five years ago. He’s desperate to make amends for the mistakes he’s made and convince Sierra their love deserves a second chance.

Sierra Brooks is happy for the first time since her divorce. She has a career she loves and a fiancé who loves her.

Unfortunately, her fiancé isn’t the only man professing his love. He may be able to offer her safety and security but will she decide to risk everything for another chance with the man who broke her heart?

 

Review:

I really enjoyed this book.  This is a wonderful contemporary romance.  Trey is sexy and Sierra is spunky.  You really root for them to get back together.  Being that this was the first book in Cheryl Douglas’ series she starts off with such a strong story and the supporting characters give you a taste of what’s to come.  I loved the setting and the drama of Shameless.  Cheryl Douglas’s talent as a story-teller is really illustrated in this book.  It will drive you to want to pick up the rest of the series.  I know the rest of the series has been put directly onto my TBR list.  I can’t wait to meet more of these sexy Nashville men and the women that get to tame/wrangle them into and out of bed.

I’d like to thank Cheryl Douglas for stopping by today and Bewitching Book Tours for letting me host this stop on the blog tour. For more information about Cheryl Douglas you can click on the links below.  For more information about the Nashville Nights series and Shameless you can go to Barnes and Noble, Amazon and any other book retailer.

About the Author

Cheryl began her professional career as a nutritionist, but her love of books started at an early age. She studied writing for many years before she decided to pursue her passion as a full-time career. After receiving constructive criticism from several well-known authors, Cheryl finally had the confidence to write her first romance novel.

The first book in the Nashville Nights series, Shameless, was a book that had been dwelling in Cheryl’s subconscious for years. For her, the surprise came when the manuscript began taking on a life of it’s own. Characters came to life, secondary characters became more prominent, outlines were forgotten, and a single title evolved into an eight book series, and another eight book spin-off series entitled Nashville Nights, Next Generation.

One word would aptly describe Cheryl: workaholic. She lives and breathes her writing, when she’s sleeping, watching TV, driving, reading… it’s always in the periphery of her mind. Her imagination rarely takes a holiday, even when she escapes to a sandy beach with her husband and son, she’s planning, plotting, outlining, and daydreaming.

Cheryl feels blessed to be able to get up every day and do something she loves. The thousands of fans who have embraced the Nashville Nights have made that possible. She writes for the readers who ask for more, she writes to satisfy the muse residing inside of her, but most of all, she writes because she couldn’t imagine doing anything else with her life. It took her thirty-seven years to decide what she wanted to be when she grew up, but now that she knows, she’s convinced she’s found her purpose.

Website: www.cheryldouglasbooks.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cheryldouglasbooks

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5761770.Cheryl_Douglas

Blog: http://www.cheryldouglasbooks.com/updates.html