Light and sweet.
Insta-love trope which isn't my thing and I didn't know before picking up the book but it was still a cute story.

2.5/5 stars

The Nashville Bet  is an adult contemporary romance standalone and is the third book in the Girls Weekend Away by Shana Gray. When I picked this book up, I was really looking for a fun romantic romp, so I was super excited to find a book that features so many things that I love...girls trips, romance and country music. In fact, The Nashville Bet is a romance between our main character and a country music star. How fun is that? I know there re probably a bunch of books out there centering around the same trope, but I have not read too many of them. And unfortunately, this book was just ok for me. I didn't hate it...but I certainly didn't love it. I will say, you do not need to read the books in this series in order. They really do act as standalones, so if any of the summaries really grab your attention, read them in any order that you want. This was the first book I have read in this series, and I am not too keen on picking up another one.

In The Nashville Bet we meet Ava who is looking to get away with some of her girlfriends to Nashville to enjoy the CMA fest. Almost immediately upon arriving, she meets Chase Hudson, up and coming country music star. There are immediate fireworks and the rest of the book seems to be about Chase dropping everything to woo Ava. I like the concept, but the whole thing felt too rushed for my liking. Honestly, when I was done and I saw that this book clocks in at 306 pages, I was floored. Because that is enough time to really flesh out the characters and make me feel something for the romance, and I just...didn't. I liked the characters ok and the romance was nice, but I never felt invested in any of it. I think because the whole book felt like I was rushing from one thing to another on a giant tourist trip to Nashville.

if you like whirlwind romances with a fast pace throughout, this might be a book that you enjoyed more than I did. It was an ok read for me, but unfortunately it didn't knock my socks off. This one was just ok, but I do hope if this is your trope that you check it out. It might be just what you are looking for this summer.

When Ava's boss can't use his tickets to the Country Music Association (CMA) Fest, he offers them to her, along with his luxury suite at a fancy hotel. Ava jumps at the chance to invite her three best friends--Fredi, Celia and Bonnie-- to join her in Nashville for a weekend of country music, bar hopping on Broadway, good food and good times. They start their long weekend with line dancing at Wildhorse Corral, where Ava, in her new sparkly red cowboy boots, struggles to learn the dance steps. A man behind her mis-stepped and she landed, with her friends, heaped in a pile on the floor. He helped them all up off the floor, but felt an instant attraction to "Sparkly Boots" -- the nickname he had given Ava. Looking at her, he felt like his breath had been knocked out of him. It was a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time. Ava and her friends just stared at him because he was "drop-dead gorgeous.'

When they introduced themselves, Ava discovered the man--Chase Hudson--was the person Ava was supposed to meet to pick up the CMA tickets for her friends.

As they sat down on one of the bar stools, Ava discovered something else about the man. A swarm of women surrounded him and asked for his autograph. Realizing he must be famous, she does a quick search on her phone while he signs autographs. Turns out that he was more than just gorgeous. He was also an up and coming country music star. She discovered that although he was single, he had a bit of a bad boy reputation. She thought about the fact that many musicians cheated--and he was obviously at the Wildhorse with another woman. Besides, he lived in Nashville and she lived in another city. So, despite her attraction to him, she decided that he wasn't relationship material -- it would never work out. So she thanked him for the tickets and left to join her friends on the dance floor.

Chase was disappointed -- he thought that she seemed interested in him, but perhaps she didn't like country music? At the same time, he was intrigued. Women didn't usually walk away from him when they realized who he was. When he discovers that one of his friends is having a dance tomorrow night, he decides to invite Ava and her friends. He wasn't about to give up on her yet; she just needed to experience some of his southern country boy charm!

Does Ava accept Chase's invitation to the dance? Do they act on their attraction to each other? Does it lead to something more than just attraction?

And what is the "Nashville Bet" that occurs during the story? I guess you'll just need to read the book to find out!

I enjoyed reading this book. It's the second one that I've read by Shana Gray. She has a series of four books, each one highlighting one of the four friends and how each one discovers love. All are set in different cities. It's fun to get acquainted with each of the four women and learn about their unique personalities. The stories draw you in--you feel like you're one of the group as you experience the up's and down's of each woman's new relationship.

I'll definitely be reading more of Gray's books!

The plot seemed interesting enough for me to request this NetGally arc.
This is my first read by this author, even though this is book three in a series.

I couldn’t get into the story at all. The writing style didn’t pull me in and Ava sounded immature for her age. I couldn’t finish this book, so my only review will be here in NetGalley.

Cute fun romance. Witty characters that keep you interested in their story. will definitely look for more books by this author ! loved it !

Shana Gray is a great author and this is the first book that I have read of hers and she is now my one click. This was fun, fast paced, and fantastic. I love the plot, I love the characters.

Free tickets to the CMA Fest? A weekend getaway to Nashville with her besties? You get your bootie Ava is taking that offer. And maybe she can multitask, find her soulmate while she's there. Heck, she could trip right over him. Oh wait, she really does kind of land right at his feet. Hmm...

Chase, a rapidly rising singer, is having a problem with that fame. Not the part where he gets to do what he loves, that part is awesome, no, it's the not knowing if those he meets are interested in Chase the man, or Chase the superstar. And then he runs into a woman who doesn't recognize him and he's intrigued by that fact, among others.

But she's a city girl, right? Which means she couldn't handle his real life in the country. However, Chase doesn't realize how wrong he is...Ava hasn't always loved in the city, where she was born and raised is far from it.

What happens when these two just can't seem to stay away from each other? How will Ava react when she learns who he is? Will their lives merge easily or must they go their separate ways?

One-click now and follow along as two people meet unexpectedly and find something beyond their wildest dreams.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**

This is my first time reading this authors work and I will definitely read more! This is a very tasteful, seductive work of art. I enjoyed the storyline and the focus on being positive. I would Highly recommend this book.

Ava and her three best friends are on their way to Nashville courtesy of her boss, David. They have the chance to stay in a fancy hotel and watch the CMA Fest in style. On their first evening there they go line-dancing and to meet with the person who has their tickets. This turned out to be Chase Hudson, the newest star on the Nashville country music scene. Ava and Chase form an instant connection and the rest of the story takes off from here.

The beginning of Ava and Chase’s relationship was very exciting and I loved reading about their first date. It was fun reading about their time together getting to know each other. Ava is full of energy and Chase is a bit quieter, but a strong character. They fit well together.

It all just happened a bit fast to be completely believable for me. I had no doubt about their feelings for each other, but I would have liked it if they had a bit more time to grow together. At the end they had to make the decision to stay together while each fulfilling their current commitments to their careers apart from each other. It would have been great if the story had included that time that they spent apart and then showed them when they were able to be together all the time.

Just before Chase and Ava met there is a bit of a story with Chase talking and dancing with an old school friend, Daisy. Daisy would like more from Chase, but he isn’t interested in her romantically. I didn’t see the point of putting her in the story. It didn’t really add anything to the story and I kept waiting for her to pop back in the story and cause trouble, but she never appeared again.

Ava’s friends are great characters, and I would like to read their stories too.

This was a quick, fun read.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for a review.

This is an exciting story which gripped me from the beginning, it is a well written story with wonderful characters, this is the first time I have read this author

A fun romp between a mega country superstar to be and an ordinary citified girl who once grew up in the country. Ava gets some tickets to go to a country music festival from her boss and she somehow ends up meeting Chase Hudson, rising new country mega star. It was quick, had humor and fun and you liked all the situations, (even if some were a bit quick!)
Her Friends were a hoot, so when you get the chance pick up a copy and enjoy.

Ava and her girls are heading to the CMA Fest in Nashville as her boss was unable to go. Their first evening they head to the Wildhorse Corral to meet up with person who had their tickets. While there they have a few drinks and try line dancing with humorous results.

Chase is a rising country star who is tasked with meeting Ava to give her the tickets. He was expecting an uptight socialite but he is enchanted with fun loving, easy going girl he meets.

They have a fun filled weekend together but is it just a fling or the start of something more?

This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it and now I need to read her friend’s stories. Fun and flirty I liked now only the chemistry and banter between Ava and Chase but between the friends as well. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Ava loved to fly because it took her places but she preferred the skies to be calm. Everything had been last minute. David who was Ava’s boss had booked a suite for the CMA Fest at nissan Stadium but there was a family emergency so he offered the suite to Ava and said he could get extra tickets for her friends as a thank you for her work on their latest project. Ava loved all kinds if music and her friends celia, Bonnie, and fredi also loved country music so they were all excited. Celia and Bonnie took over planning the itinerary. Tonight they were going line dancing and meeting up with the guy with the extra tickets. The CMA Fest ran into Saturday with three days of concerts in many different locations. Bonni and Celia had found their happy ever afters that just left her and Fredi.to find theirs. Ava knew that man of her dreams was out there. Fredi and Ava were the most opposite of the four woman. Ava chose to give people the benefit of the doubt and to see good in them whereas Fredi took a more cynical view of life. Ava was all about passion, togetherness, love at first sight , being swept off her feet . Fredi designed wedding dresses for a living but was the Romance Scrooge. Chase looked at the picture on his phone Of Ava so he knew who he had to give the tickets to. Ava wasn’t his type but Chase was slightly intrigued by the mystery in her eyes. Chase was a country music star on the rise and already had some fame. Chase was huge into privacy . he came from old family wealth in an even older family. Chase had a bad experience with a woman who even spread lies about him. With the help of his publicist and his label the lies all blew over. Chase now knew to keep his life private and to be careful of who he allowed in it. He swore off women until the right one walked in his life if she ever did. Now he was about to medicate the void in his heart. Chase was determined to stick to his own style of writing songs and performing them. He was told that’s what made him stand out from the rest. He just did what his heart told him to. Chase was the last male heir to carry on his family name. Chase’s friend daisy got him to get up and line dance at the bar he was to find Ava in to give her the tickets. The women in front of him were having a great time and appeared to be drunk, the next thing Chase knew the girls were on the floor. He helped everyone up and went to check on the last woman who didn’t seem to know how to line dance. He helped that last lady up . she was soft but lean and the warmth of her body scolded his fingers, sending flames racing up his arms and down his spine to settle low in his hips. Chase had a strange urge to pull her in his arms and kiss her until she was limp. Than he thought what to hell was wrong with him. Ava had never felt such an instant attraction to a man before. Ava thought of how stupid she sounded. He was throwing her world off kilter. Than Ava gave her name and Chase gave his and he mentioned they were destined to meet. Than ava realized he was the one to give her the extra tickets. Her friends came up to her and Ava explained about Chase and he was the one with the extra tickets. She could already see celia thinking about matchmaking. After fans came up to Chase Ava googled him and found out he was country’s latest crooner and desired by women across the country. Ava decided she needed to find her friends and left Chase to look for them. Chase went to say hi to his friends that he’d grown up with. One told him there was a dance at harpers tomorrow and invited Chase to go. As he was leaving he thought of taking Ava. he liked the idea and and he could always invite her friends if they wanted to go. He finally found Ava again and made his way to her. For the first time in his life Chase was speechless. He didn’t know what to say and words were his living. Ava made a bet with Chase that she could adapt to country living better than he could ever imagine. Ava and chase become lovers for a weekend fling . It wouldn’t hurt anyone. But Ava knows her romantic self and has to be careful she doesn’t get hurt.
I loved this book. The only thing that irritate some was how fast Ava and Chase both felt they had fallen in love with the other. But as long as you believe in love at first sight or soulmates it’s fine. I am a romantic at heart so once in a while…. I loved Ava’s friends and how loyal and loving they were with each other. I loved the nicknames Chase and Ava came up with almost immediately for each other. I loved the pace and plot. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend it.

Ava gives Chase a run for his money!



Ava Trent has been given tickets and use of a suite at CMA Fest with her three friends in Nashville since he couldn’t go. Ava and her friends needed to pick up extra tickets from some guy at a bar. Singer Chase Hudson is at Wildhorse Corral dancing with an old friend when he notices some dancers laughing and having a lot of fun when they fall down. Little did Chase know that of them was the lady he needed to give the tickets to who didn’t look like the picture that he had been given. Chase came from old money but he wanted someone who enjoyed the same stuff he did and not debutantes that he grew up with. He thought Ava was a city girl because how she looked in the picture and Ava was out to surprise him when he made a bet on her wearing a shirt at the concert he was performing at.


The Nashville Bet is the third book in the Girls Weekend Away and it definitely is standalone story that you can enjoy without reading the first two in the series. I totally enjoyed The Nashville Bet and I’m looking forward to Fredi’s story because she is a definite firecracker.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Awesome book. Loved the setting and the story. The characters were truly amazing. Being that I was just in Nashville not too long ago, I could relate to the places. Would love to get to CMA Fest some day. Thank you Shana Gray for this lovely book.

This was a fun lighthearted sexy read that I devoured in a day. No angst, no drama, no deep soul searching. Just two people enjoying Nashville, the CMA's, and each other's company. There's great fun sexy banter between Chase and Ava keeping the story light and fun while their chemistry jumps from the pages. It was fun watching them as they figure out what comes next. This is a great relaxing read and a book I definitely recommend.

I have been waiting on this book with bated breath and it did not disappoint. Shana Gray has made this such a fun and outgoing series. The girlfriend bonding and chatter is hilarity personified. Ava, lovingly called “Boots” by Chase is the dreamy, rainbows and butterflies girl of the group. She meets Chase, a country music star who becomes her prince, by literally falling at his feet. From that moment they are inseparable. The girlfriends intervene to ensure that nothing prevents Ava from getting her happy ending and the it becomes a rollicking good time from start to finish. Only one friend is left single, Fredie, and I know her story will be epic.

I was looking forward to reading The Nashville Bet. Unfortunately, it did not really live up to what I hoped for.
Ava and her girlfriends felt a little immature and I had a hard time liking the characters. I don't know - it just felt a little slow to me. it was difficult to get into and stay interested.

this is the third in a series about three friends finding love in unlikely places. the nashville bet has the friends coming together for the cma fest, and while they're there they meet up and coming country star chase hudson. when ava trent runs into him (literally) on the dance floor there's a spark that neither of them are ready to let extinguish.

instead they have a whirlwind of a weekend, spending time every chance they get. because this is a vacation romance, you have to rely on instalust and instalove, but the author handles the way these characters open up to each other in a very deft manner. you see the speed with which their emotions develop but you also understand why they fall as hard as they do.

in the end this is a fun read, and you don't have to read the previous books in the series to enjoy it.

**the nashville bet will publish on december 18, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (amara) in exchange for my honest review.

Sadly, this book just wasn't for me.

I requested this one because the idea of a CMA Fest centered story was too good to pass up, but I couldn't get into it from the start. I put it aside and went back to it twice but in the end, I couldn't force myself to finish it. When I have downtime and I choose doing dishes over reading, that's a sign that the book just isn't doing it for me. The writing style was choppy and hard to get into, and the characters were really hard to connect to. Ava was so naive and immature that I felt like I was reading a new adult book rather than a book about a grown woman. Her friends weren't much better, none of them were the kind of characters I wanted to read about. If the hero had been likable I might have forced myself to finish this, but Chase was flat and boring and I honestly just didn't care how their story ended.

2 stars because the plot had a lot of potential. While I appreciate the opportunity to read this book, I will not be reviewing this one anywhere but on NetGalley.