It was okay.
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Trey Turner, famous country music singer, is busy touring and drinking when his wife, Sierra, goes into early labor and loses her baby. Their marriage falls apart and Sierra files for divorce.

Fast forward five years, where we see that Trey has managed to once again descend into a downward spiral after witnessing a car accident that takes the life of a little girl who would be the same age as his daughter. He can't seem to recover, has writer's block, and longs for his former wife. Since Sierra has moved on with a successful songwriting career and a new fiance, Trey's sister calls her to help Trey. Unable to turn her back on the man she once loved, even if he did break her heart, she returns. Predictable misunderstandings ensue until they reach their "happily ever after" and all is forgiven. There was really nothing in this cliche of a romance that was enjoyable. ( )

Because of the country music setting this is not a book I would have bought, but when I came across it for free, I gave it a try. And thoroughly enjoyed it.
The characters are seriously flawed and it is an emotional read (like country music lyrics?). I would like to read more of this series and author.
Rating: 8/10 ( )

Country music star Trey Turner and his songwriter wife Sierra Brooks had it all ... fame, wealth, a loving marriage. But when tragedy strikes five years ago, it all came crashing down with the death of their newborn baby girl, and their marriage quickly fell apart. Trey's grief sent him into a downward tailspin, he turned to his music, touring, and drinking, while shutting out Sierra, who was also grieving, leaving her no other action but to file for a divorce. Fast forward five years, Trey has managed to pull himself together only to once again descend into a downward spiral when he witnesses a car accident that takes the life of a mother and daughter, only this time he can't seem to recover.

Sierra has moved on with her life, she has a successful songwriting career and a new fiance. When Trey's sister calls her to help Trey recover from his latest downward spiral, she can't turn her back on the man she once loved, even if he did break her heart.

Can Trey and Sierra rekindle the love that was lost five years ago? Can they let go of their painful past and get a second chance at love, or will the risk bring another heartbreak?

Shameless is the emotionally charged story of love, loss, hope and second chances. In the first book of the Nashville Nights series, author Cheryl Douglas weaves a heart wrenching tale of one couple's journey towards a second chance at love and redemption, it is an emotional story that will pull at your heartstrings. The reader is easily drawn into Trey and Sierra's story, it has a mixture of love, angst, and a depth of pain and loss that is so palpable, you can't help but feel for them and hope they get a second chance as their journey unfolds.

With a strong cast of characters who are realistic, have flaws and are easy to connect with; a richly descriptive setting of Nashville, the country music mecca also known as Music City; wonderful insertion of beautiful songs throughout the book; and a storyline that packs an emotionally powerful punch and a roller coaster ride of twists and turns; Shameless will make you believe in second chances and simply leave you breathless and wanting more.

Shameless is the first book in the Nashville Nights series.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2013/02/shameless-by-cheryl-douglas-au... ( )

I absolutely ended up loving this book, even though the beginning was hard to read personally as I grew up with a stepdad who abused alcohol, so it was still a raw nerve to chafe against but when Trey quit booze just to have a better chance at having Sierra back again it became an easier read - and then it became great!

The plot is fantastic! Trey's desperation to get his ex-wife back, all the unspoken past between them, the secrets, the hurt and the love. Even with a setting as dark as this Shameless was still great romance without being too angsty ( after you get through Chapter 1 ), it had lust, passion, broken hearts, hope and forgiveness that made it so worthwhile reading! Shameless is a story of hope, love and forgiveness in the greatest country town in the world, Nashville!

I was thoroughly invested in Sierra and Trey's relationship, after they met again in chapter two I was sold, there was so much passion there some visible, some hidden and some tried to be buried rising to the surface. Trey's alcoholic past screwed up everything, and it was so hard to read the parts where he regretted his actions with such soul twisting hurt that it was impossible to stop reading the book. Of course Sierra wasn't without blame either, but her secrets to why she let the marriage go are just as heart breaking as Trey's. But then there's the passion between them and the love and it makes up for all past wrongs! And that was beautiful to read! And I rooted for the Happy Ending the whole time - and was so happy to receive it - but it seems these two will have to work on their relationship as long as they stay together, and I loved that realistic note at the end.

Shameless is a sensual story packed full of passion, temptation and forbidden love – even though the story isn’t full of love scenes it’s the “I shouldn’t, almost giving into” temptation Sierra goes through around Trey even though she’s engaged to another man, and the desperate passion to have her in his bed again that Trey feels every time she’s close that make this book seriously HOT!

You'll love this if... you like your heroes broken but willing to fix themselves for their greatest love, if you like reading your heroes chasing after their girl, and if you like your country singers absolutely loyal and looking like a sexy linebacker with a killer smile.

With $0.99 this is an awesome find, I recommend it highly!

(4.5 Star Review) Come see Cheryl Douglas' guest blog What’s sexy about a hero who demands to have back his heroine? and take part in the Shameless e-book Giveaway! (open March 10th-16th 2012) ( )