It’s been my pleasure to meet lovely Julie Stock a couple of times in real life. Firstly at  Deepings Literary Festival a couple of years ago when we had tea with Erica James, and again at last year’s festival when Julie was one of our speakers. Julie spoke so eloquently about her novel The Bistro by Watersmeet Bridge that I was delighted to read and review it here.

Today, I’m reviewing another of Julie’s books, From Here to Nashville and I’d like to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in this book birthday blitz.

As well as my review, there’s a lovely From Here to Nashville birthday giveaway for you at the bottom of this blog post.

From Here to Nashville

Two worlds, 4,000 miles apart. Is their love strong enough to keep them together?

Rachel Hardy dreams of being a successful country music singer in Nashville’s Music City, four thousand miles away from her lonely life in Dorset. When Jackson Phillips, an independent record label owner, encourages her band to audition for a nationwide ‘Open Mic’ competition, she decides they have nothing to lose.

But when she starts to fall in love with Jackson, the stakes suddenly get higher and she finds herself with a great big dilemma on her hands. Should she abandon her dream and take the easy way out or should she leave the life she has always known behind and take a gamble on a man who has personal demons of his own?

Follow Rachel and Jackson as they learn to trust in love again to see whether their music really can unite them.

My Review of From Here to Nashville

Singer song writer Rachel is looking for her big break.

From Here to Nashville is a lovely music infused romantic story that I really enjoyed, particularly because of the authenticity brought by the references to music I’m familiar with. Julie Stock knows exactly how to write romantic fiction and does so with aplomb. All the elements I expect from this kind of fiction are here in an engaging story that is entertaining and uplifting, but what I most appreciated was the exploration of conflict. There’s conflict of emotion, action, interest, friendship and love so that From here to Nashville has just that added extra in the narrative.

Rachel’s story is one of ups and downs that are completely believable. The path of true love and that towards fame and fortune never run smoothly and I found myself championing her from the very first moment. One of the great strengths of From Here to Nashville is that Rachel finds herself wavering in her beliefs and struggling to define her feelings and desires in a way so many can relate to. However, it was Sam who engendered the strongest reaction in me. He so frustrated me that I wanted to shake him but was also desperate for him to be happy too. You’ll have to read From Here to Nashville to see if I got my wish! I really didn’t like Jackson at all to begin with. He seemed far too good to be true and the book’s structure, switching from Rachel’s first person account to Jackson’s half way through took me by surprise, but afforded a development of character I found so rewarding.

I love the sense of place Julie Stock creates. Both Dorset and America felt very real in the book because of the little details included. With the themes woven through this romance such as addiction, wealth and power too, I think From Here to Nashville would make an excellent film.

From Here to Nashville is a lovely example of romantic fiction and I very much enjoyed it.

About Julie Stock

Julie Stock writes contemporary feel-good romance from around the world: novels, novellas and short stories. She published her debut novel, From Here to Nashville, in February 2015 and her second novel, The Vineyard in Alsace in March 2017. Over You (Sam’s Story) and Finding You (Jenna’s Story), her follow-up novellas to From Here to Nashville were published in 2018, making the From Here to You series complete. She has also published a boxed set of the From Here to You trilogy of books. Julie’s latest novel, The Bistro by Watersmeet Bridge, is out now.

You can find out more about Julie via her website , by finding her on Facebook or following her on Twitter @wood_beez48. Julie is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and The Society of Authors.

If you’d like to sign up to Julie’s newsletter list, you can do so here.

When she is not writing, she works in communications. She is married and lives with her family in Bedfordshire in the UK.

Giveaway

For your chance to win a signed paperback copy of From Here to Nashville, a bookmark and a guitar magnet (Open to UK Only) click here.

Please note that this giveaway is run independently of Linda’s Book Bag and  I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.