What Happens in Nashville

Nashville Connections #2

by Angela Britnell

Escape to the world of cowboys and line dancing in this uplifting second-chance romance.

Claire Buchan has her entire life planned out. It didn’t include flying halfway around the world for her sister’s hen party in the USA.

But soon she finds herself in Nashville for a week of karaoke and cowboys. What could go wrong?

Enter Rafe Cavanna — their rugged hotel manager with irresistible Southern charm and smouldering good looks. Sparks immediately fly, but not the good kind. Rafe easily pushes Claire’s buttons.

Despite the tension between them, the chemistry with Rafe is undeniable. Even his smirk sets her heart racing. But Claire will not settle for anything less than true love . . . even if he does look gorgeous in cowboy boots!

Will Claire keep to the holiday mantra of ‘what happens in Nashville, stays in Nashville’ or will she finally follow her heart?

Genres: Romance, Fiction

129 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 14, 2014

About the author

Find me on Facebook.

I was born in the beautiful county of Cornwall in southwestern England and grew up in a small village there. I return frequently to visit family and friends but especially to savor the cool rainy weather and hot tea. After school I joined the Royal Navy and served for nearly six years. I held varying jobs from being the only woman in the staff of a sports center to arranging social engagements for the Captain of the base. My last assignment was to Denmark where I thought I would spend a wild two years in Copenhagen only to discover I was being sent to a NATO Headquarters in a quiet town on the Jutland Peninsula. I was only disappointed for a while as I met my own tall, dark, handsome stranger there - a US Naval Officer named Richard who became my husband.

That was the beginning of an itinerant life as from Denmark we went to Sicily where we had our first son. Then it was on to Monterey, California and the birth of our second son. From there we headed to Patuxent River, Maryland where we had our third son. Richard's last assignment was to London where we spent a wonderful three years. Retiring from the Navy he took a job in Brentwood, Tennessee near where he grew up. Now he's retired for the 2nd time and I'm still writing!

I have always been a voracious reader, even at 5 years old my school reports show a keen interest in English and very little in math - some things never change! Although I enjoyed writing in school it wasn't until 2001 that I was tempted to take a creative writing class at a local recreation center which has sparked my new career.

I hope you enjoy reading my work as much as I enjoy writing it so sit back, make yourself a cup of tea and enjoy a break from everyday life.

Reviews

[Cora Tea Party Princess · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 Words: Attraction, family, commitment, fun, holiday.

This was a sweet little read that was pretty much perfect for a day lounging about in the sun. It's very, nothing too serious really happens, but at the same time it's not overly fluffy.

Now, I do have to issue an insta-love warning, because it does creep in - but the characters themselves seem to acknowledge it and their refusal to admit it to each other and this kinda redeems it a lot.

I loved the setting. It felt as though the season and the hotel reflected what has happening in the book itself. In this way it was wonderfully written.

I wasn't so sure about the whole dark/shady/I-don't-want-to-talk-about-it past of one of the characters, or the complete u-turn in the behavior of another. That said, these things did contribute to the fun factor when I was reading this.

I will absolutely read more by this author, especially on sunny days. Fun and feel-good in one.

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and enjoyable story. Cute and spicy with enough emotional depth to keep me turning pages. A good solid read.

[Kerry Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet romantic choc lit

When Claire goes to Nashville she meets the dashing and gorgeous Rafe. She doesn't expect to be attracted to him since she's with Phillip whose waiting back home for her.
Yet Rafe and Claire quickly find themselves passionate about each other.
A cute, chic lit fast burn romanc.
A short novella and super quick read.
I loved the hea ending.
Cute, romantic and best enjoyed with chocolate
Kerry Kennedy Author

[Amy aka Books, Bakes and Belle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, easy, fun read, great for when you’re lounging around in the sun!

Claire, an uptight lawyer, is in Nashville for her sister’s hen do. There she meets the hotel manager, Rafe, where they quickly get off on the wrong foot, despite their instant attraction to each other. As they spend more time together they start to realise there may be more than lust at play.

I loved the setting of this story - I’ve always wanted to go to Nashville, so seeing the landmarks and tourist traps the characters visited was so fun!

I did feel the story moved way too quickly though, it was very short and didn’t take the time to properly explore the characters, their backstories and the various tropes it featured. I think it would have been a much better book if it had been longer and really built up the tension first, so the payoff would have been more rewarding. Maybe insta-love just isn’t the trope for me though!

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short but cute.

This book was definitely a novella. I wish there had been more to it in order to build the relationships a little more. I think the author made things happen too fast and so it became a lot unrealistic, but if you just read it for fun, it was a cute story. I would have liked more of the bride’s story too, as even her story seemed like an afterthought. I would like to read more from this author as long as it was a full book next time!

[Sarah Gerring · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short easy read. Second chance, older couple. Grumpy MMC and over planner FMC
There is good banter and the spice is good.
What I would call a fluffy read, nothing much happens and not overly memorable.

[Merrie Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did the audiobook and although I liked the females British accent I did not like it when she tried to do the American male accent.
It was an ok story but nothing real great

[Cindy Boesl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tried but couldn’t finish.

[Tiffany Preston · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had two of my least favorite tropes in it so maybe it’s why it didn’t work for me.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️
Very different to the first book in the series, struggled to see the point of it. The chemistry between the two MCs was a but

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire Buchan, a barrister from Exeter finds herself in an environment she hasn’t experienced before. Having flown to the United States, she has the pleasure of organizing her sister Heathers bridal bash. It’s not embarrassing enough that Heather insisted they take partake in the Down and Dirty in Nashville package, but the gorgeous hunk of a man sunning himself, when she arrives, is obnoxiously rude!

Rafe Cavanna thought that working in emergency medicine was hard work until he agreed to help his brother and wife out running their bed and breakfast so they could take a vacation. Not only were his talents of cooking breakfast to order for the guests, and various tasks but the most rude, sarcastic and beautiful woman he has set eyes on has just arrived to make his life even more crazy. It had been years since Rafe had the thoughts he was having now about a woman and she was seriously a handful!

Claire has led a fairly straight forward life. She is somewhat of a perfectionist, perhaps compensating for her mother’s leaving the family. Her relationship with her boyfriend Philip seems a bit stiff as does Claire, until she begins to open up to the idea of ‘what happens in Nashville stays in Nashville’!

There is no question about the attraction between Claire and Rafe but both are hesitant about pursuing one another because of past and present relationships. Their constant run ins, sarcastic and sometimes flirtatious banter and eventual caring for one another is entertaining.

I thought this was a fun read. The characters were well written and the story was addictive. I read this in one sitting. I always find it amusing when characters of totally different backgrounds are thrown at one another. The sparks did fly here!

[Maven_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

What Happens in Nashville by Angela Britnell is a lighthearted, transatlantic romance about Claire Buchan, a sensible UK lawyer who flies to Nashville, Tennessee for her sister’s hen party and finds herself face to face with a handsome, roguish cowboy named Rafe Cavanna, forcing her to question the mantra ‘what happens in Nashville, stays in Nashville’ when sparks start to fly in unexpected ways.

Before I even reached the halfway point, I felt like I had been swept into a fun holiday I never took, laughing at karaoke mishaps, line dancing scenes and the almost tangible Tennessee heat. Claire’s initial discomfort from honky-tonks to cowboys made her so relatable, and her gradual loosening up was quietly joyful to read. Rafe, beneath his rugged hotel-manager charm, surprised me with depth and kindness, giving what could have been a predictable romance some sweet emotional grounding. The chemistry between them was warm and fuzzy, even if the pace felt like a novella that raced through some emotional beats a little too quickly. For a story that only spreads its wings across about 133 pages, it still managed to make me care about Claire’s journey from uncertainty to self-realization and about whether she could embrace the unexpected.

What stayed with me most was how the setting of Nashville itself becomes a kind of character, full of music, laughter, awkward highs and tender moments that made me smile long after closing the book. It’s not a deep or weighty novel, but its light warmth and fun spirit left me feeling uplifted.

I rate What Happens in Nashville 3 out of 5 stars: a breezy, feel-good romance perfect for a cozy afternoon, especially if you love a bit of Southern charm and unexpected love in faraway places.

[Grass monster · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Happens in Nashville, follows Claire, who has flown to the US to be part of her sister Heather's Hen party. Having bought the Down and Dirty in Nashville package, Claire checks in just before the group arrive and is faced with Rafe Cavanna. Rafe has agreed to help his brother and wife out running their bed and breakfast so they could go on holiday themselves. At first Claire finds him rude and annoying. As they begin to grow on one another and Claire dumps her boyfriend back in the UK as she hasnt been happy for a whille. We learn a little about them and their past lives, will they give into temptation? Or will it be a case of What Happens in Nashville, stays in Nashville.
I actually really enjoyed this story. I find when the story is not a full length book, it can be rushed but this just flowed and i found myself rooting for Claire and Rafe. It is your typical feel good romance story with just that bit of edge to it. I loved the setting, and hearing about the places in Nashville. I felt at times i was on the Hen party with the girls. They had a great time and such a laugh. This is a great read with a touch of the US and the UK thrown in.

[Robyn Koshel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable romantic comedy that will bring some sunshine into your day.

Claire goes to Nashville as part of her sister's hen party. While she is there she finds herself. Promptly ending her long term relationship with Philip because she realized it can no longer be resuscitated.

Claire and Rafe start off on the wrong foot but she can not help but be attracted to him. I doubt anyone us could. A romance ensues born out of mutual electricity and it soon gets as steamy as the Tennessee humidity.

Rafe is full of surprises. He is a complex character and not just the local eye candy. He is everything a romantic hero should be.

This was a good old Southern fried love story. Being American myself, I could recognize all the locations and wonderful descriptions of all that delicious southern cooking. I came away feeling like I had been to Nashville, that is how vivid the book was.

What happens in Nashville was an effortless read. Put on some country music, sit back with an American style sweet tea and enjoy this wonderful read.

[JEDKEN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends/enimises to lovers, One.

Tjejen är besatt av att allt ska vara perfekt men efter allt hon lämnat England för en stund kommer hon till Nashville, med en Texas dialet snubbe( kan vara bara snubbe som läste in fatta inte helt).

En resa för sin syrras bröllop, som hon springer ish i från efter en stund i boken (känns lite för snabbt/ kort och lite intryckt i boken).
Ett litet hotell, snubben åker runt med gruppen(syrras kompisar) hela tiden. Lite random. Hon tycker att han är irriterande och inte pratar sanningen hela tiden(samma som hon själv, att de har haft andra relationer, lite random).
🌺🌺

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 3.5 star's for me. Sweet story of a hen party from England going to Nashville.

[Jeanette montgomery · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book.

I liked the characters.

I didn't like the ending of this book, felt short- changed like their was a big chunk of the book missing.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun novella with a great southern hero!

[Nella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Male lead's name is incorrect in the blurb. Very light and very predictable