Southern Heartbreaker Release Blitz & Review

He was the bad boy I fell for in college. Now he’s a sexy single dad and Charleston’s most successful venture capitalist. Dominant and decisive, Ford Montgomery is used to getting what he wants. And he just set his sights on me...

Southern Heartbreaker, an all-new standalone contemporary romance in the Charleston Heat series by Jessica Peterson, is LIVE!

Ford Montgomery was my first everything.

First love.

First guy I slept with.

First heartbreak when he dumped me without explanation.

A decade later, it’s just my luck he’s the first guy I run into after moving back to my hometown of Charleston. Three piece suit, tie, and a watch worth more than my car--being a mogul looks good on Ford. So does being a doting dad to his adorable four-year-old daughter.

I tell myself I can resist him. But one impulsive, ill-advised kiss later, and Ford is in hot pursuit. He’s determined to make up for his past mistakes, and convinces me to give him a second chance.

What started out as fun between the sheets gets really serious, really fast. Problem is, I swore I’d never give up the dreams I worked so hard for to settle down and do the family thing.

But seeing Ford light up around his daughter--seeing how he’s chasing his ambitions while rocking fatherhood--is making me rethink what I want out of life.

It doesn’t help that behind his corporate veneer is the bad boy I fell in love with. And bad boys aren’t afraid to play dirty...or break hearts.

Southern Heartbreaker is part of the Charleston Heat Series, which is a series of interconnected standalone novels set in the steamy southern town of Charleston, South Carolina.

Download your copy today or read free in Kindle Unlimited!

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About Jessica:

Jessica Peterson writes smart, sexy romance set in her favorite cities around the world. She grew up on a steady diet of Mr. Darcy, Jamie Frasier, and Edward Cullen, and it wasn’t long before she started creating irresistible heroes of her own. She loves strong coffee, stronger heroines, and heroes with hot accents.

She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband Ben and her smelly Goldendoodle Martha Bean.

Connect with Jessica:

Website     I     The City Girls, Jessica’s Facebook Reader Group 

Author Page     I     Instagram     I     Email 

Review:

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Southern Heartbreaker is a second-chance romance for Ford and Eva who we were introduced to us in book 3 (Southern Gentleman). These two college sweethearts who went heavy and strong throughout those years broke up when Ford decided to break things off upon their graduation. Eva always felt slighted by the breakup and how he did it. He said some condescending and hurtful things about how her dreams not aligning or being ambitious enough and went on his way. Ford admits that he was stupid and didn't know what he was doing back then. Who hasn't done stupid things in their youth? Now he's older, wiser, a widow and a dad. Life has taught him a lot since then. Eva in the meantime pursued her own dreams despite what Ford said and achieved success as a food blogger and then with her first cook book. Feeling the pressure of writing her second book and afflicted with the lack of inspiration, she hopes a return visit home will spark something in her. Turns out Ford is that spark. They reconnect and relive the better moments from their high school years while also dealing with the reality of what they have going on now. They both have full plates but rekindling their previous magic seems to jump-start their creative juices and shift their perspectives on life.

What can I say? It's another hit for Peterson!  Each book has featured a special set of circumstances and in Southern Heartbreaker it's about two people trying to bend and mold their passions to fit nicely side by side with their responsibilities. Their reunion does come with complications. Ford, who has never before prioritized personal time over his devotion to his kid or his career has to learn that it's okay to take a break every once in a while. Eva has to accept that Ford and his daughter, Bryce are a package, and it's an overwhelming commitment for someone who's never considered having children. I did think she overreacted under stress at times but then, who doesn't? Ford and Eva get their sexy on quite a bit and these are the scenes we've come to expect from Peterson. There's one moment that I absolutely adored and it's when Eva remarks about how his tattoos are perfectly covered up by his name brand shirts but she knows what's under there. I just liked that bit of info because it felt so personal and intimate. Ford is so professional and put together for so much of his adult life these days and then he's with Eva and all of a sudden they're the naughtiest, kinkiest couple around. It's just good to see them happy.

Jessica Peterson's Charleston Heat series is borne out of love for the city and its culture, and is enticing comfort food for the romance reader's soul. Southern Heartbreaker shows that Peterson always delivers heart and passion in her stories and is a must-read for anyone who wants to experience that sizzle and sweetness!

~ Bel

* Source: advance egalley provided in exchange for an honest review

Southern Gentleman (Charleston Heat #3) by Jessica Peterson

* * * * *

I know two things when I meet my new boss, Greyson Parker Montgomery III.
One, he’s an egomaniac.
And two, we’re going to get naked.

Something I didn’t know? That I’d end up pregnant.
No one is more surprised by our off-the-charts chemistry than me. I’m a free spirit with a passion for design and a taste for the bohemian. Greyson is a cocky venture capitalist who’s as soulless as his sharply cut power suits.

He owns half of Charleston, and has the other half at his beck and call. But the only place he owns me is in bed...or in the backseat of his car, boneless and begging for mercy. 

We argue over contracts and costs all day long. Behind closed doors, however, we engage in a different kind of business. The kind that has me surrendering to his unique brand of dominance.

Our no-strings attached arrangement suits me just fine. Until I wake up one morning with what I think is a wicked hangover.

Only it’s not a hangover.

I thought Greyson was a typical “greed is good” grump. But when he demands to be involved in the life we accidentally created, I start to see a different side of him. One that’s more gentleman than jerk.

Am I crazy to think we could be a family together? Or is making me fall for him just another one of his power plays?

Source: advance ebook provided by author in exchange for an honest review

If there's one thing I've come to rely on from Jessica Peterson is this: sweet sexy stories with a happily ever after that makes the world seem right for a few precious moments. 

Julia and Greyson are brought together through mutual friend, Eli to help him restore and renovate his farmhouse as part of his successfully growing farm-to-table business. Julia, who is a college professor by day and an interior designer whenever she can work it into schedule, relishes projects such as this. It allows her to connect with her creative side and relive those memories of working with her father who passed away. The only thing that could make this project a nightmare is Greyson who is for all intents and purposes, a stick in the mud. You could say that Greyson is simply misunderstood. He allows people to think of him as a serious, no time for nonsense businessman when in truth, it's his love of family that drives him to take on most of the responsibility of maintaining and growing the venture capitalist business he shares with his brother. The company's success means that everyone is provided for. His personal life may have taken a few hits but it's work that he can control to a certain extent and that is what drives him. Julia and Grey may butt heads about the project, but that does nothing to lessen the obvious sexual tension between them. They finally just give in to it thinking it'll just be a one time thing - of course it's not. Months later, Julia discovers she pregnant and everything changes.

I like that most of the book is Julia and Grey figuring out how to fit the pregnancy into their lives and also, how to fit into each other's lives. Grey, as nervous as he is, is on board with doing whatever Julia needs done. Julia, has all the up and down moments of pregnancy, and I swear I felt her pain and joy through each trimester. Pregnant women and their hormones - it's a fun ride, let me tell you! There's a lot to wade through between Julia's emotions including depression and Grey's constant fight with himself to be dependable despite feeling he's not worthy of happiness. Then there's also how their relationship has to evolve to include impending parenthood. I think this is a struggle that most expecting parents grapple with - learning how to read each other's needs and also to communicate those needs. So much is changing and at such speed, and Peterson addresses those challenges head on. 

I feel like each new book in the series becomes my new favourite. There's just something about this turn of events for Julia and Grey whose relationship could have gone in a far different direction were it not for the pregnancy. They could've gone on with their friends-with-benefits routine, and who knows, they could've fizzled out. But this pregnancy gives them both new life (pun intended). In a way, it's the redemption that Grey is looking for and the family that Julia has missed. Sometimes things happen for a reason and it just so happens that these two were in the right place and time of their lives to take this next step together. Southern Gentleman is that hot, sexy summer read you should add to your TBR right now!

~ Bel

Southern Player (Charleston Heat #2) by Jessica Peterson

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I’m looking for a hot hookup with no strings attached. And I want my older brother’s best friend to step up to the plate...

My dating history is lame. My experiences in bed? Even lamer. As the owner of a thriving business, I’m used to calling the shots. But one place I don’t always want to be in charge is in the bedroom.

Enter Luke Rodgers. My brother’s best friend. Former Major League baseball player. A guy who now hangs out on his farm, sweaty and shirtless, as he nurses a shoulder injury.

If the rumors are true, he also likes to work up a sweat behind closed doors. A total MVP in the sack.

Just the take charge guy I’m looking for.

With Luke and I, it’s game on. And it’s all good until Luke decides he wants forever, and he wants it with me.

I’m just not convinced I can trust Luke. Will he keep playing the field? Or is he really ready to hang up his cleats for good?

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review


Luke and Grace are old friends, he being her brother's best friend. They might have even had a fantasy or two about the other. Nothing ever happened because one, life took them in different directions in their twenties and two, you don't go for your best friend's little sister. But when the attraction is undeniable and they're both up for a bit of fun, what's to stop them?

On the surface, Grace has achieved so much to be proud. Her resourcefulness and smart business sense has resulted in her owning and running her own successful coffee shop. But something's been gnawing at her lately. While her work life is going great her love life has been non-existent since her breakup. To soothe herself she finds comfort in listening to the sizzling dialogue of her favourite romance novels. Listening to them makes her wish for the sexual potency that's she's never experienced and how stifled she felt in her previous relationships. Emboldened by this new self-awareness, she enlists Luke to help her. She has a bucket list of sexy things to accomplish and can only trust Luke whose rep around town is that of god-like status. He will be careful with her and treat their arrangement with discretion.

My first thought about Luke was, here finally is a hero who wants a "forever" with a woman. Up until the moment when he voices that, I didn't realize how weary I've become of the guys-who-don't-do-relationships trope. Luke was refreshing! My second thought was, good for Grace who's smart, sexy and caring, and finally taking her turn in the director's chair. She's not embarrassed about exploring this other side of herself and Luke is right there willing to give her want she wants. He gets something out of it as well but at no point is his experience used against her or does he make her feel ashamed of her asking for what she wants. And while she hopes to keep things physical, he encourages her to keep a open mind about having a relationship. This felt like a genuine give-and-take arrangement and I found that to be comforting. 

Luke and Grace are in their early thirties and are past a lot of the anguish and impulsiveness of their younger years. Instead, the hurdle these days is figuring out what the next step is after already having made some dreams come true. Now it's about whom to share those dreams with. Not only finding the right person but also being the right person for that special someone. I'm really digging these older characters who are on the precipice of the next stage in their lives. You'd think that we'll all stop being scared at some point but that hesitancy never goes away and that was something very relatable about Luke and Grace. 

I've enjoyed this Charleston Heat series so far and I feel like Peterson is really hitting her stride here. There's a smooth flow to the story that feels welcoming and makes you want to stay for the ride. I even looked up some of the places she mentions in the book and honestly, I hadn't ever thought much about Charleston as a destination but now I feel a visit is warranted. She makes it sound like a spectacular place to get lost in for a few days. Southern Charmer is a love letter to the city but it's also to the men and women out there with their own bucket lists waiting to turn them to reality. 

~ Bel

Southern Charmer Release Blitz

Blurb

He’s sexy. He’s southern. And he’s a superstar chef. Meet Elijah Jackson, my hot new neighbor...

From the outside looking in? I’ve got it all. Prestigious job. Pretty house. And a perfect boyfriend who proposed with the perfect ring.

But as beautiful as my life looks on the outside, I feel like something’s missing. So I hop in my car and head south. I’m hoping the thousand mile distance will clear my mind--and give me time to work on the romance novel I secretly want to write.

Charleston, South Carolina: home to stunning architecture, sultry accents, and--oh yeah--my new neighbor, Elijah Jackson. A chef at one of the city’s most renowned restaurants, he’s simultaneously intimidating and inviting. Especially when he shows up at my door, shirtless, offering me homemade biscuits.

As if his abs for days and inked up deliciousness aren’t enticing enough, he also encourages me to chase down my dreams, one chapter at a time. And the chemistry between us? Hotter than the kitchen at Eli’s restaurant.

But I still have a life a thousand miles away. One I’ve worked really hard to build. And I don’t know if I can just leave it all behind.

Romance novels always end in happily ever after. But is one possible for a southern charmer and this yankee girl?

SOUTHERN CHARMER is a slow burn, standalone romance. It’s the first book in the CHARLESTON HEAT series, set in Charleston, South Carolina.

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Purchase Links

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Author Bio

Jessica Peterson began reading romance to escape the decidedly unromantic awkwardness of her teenage years. Having found solace in the likes of Mr. Darcy, Jamie Fraser (OMG love the gingers!), and Edward Cullen, it wasn’t long before she began creating tall, dark and handsome heroes of her own.

She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband, Mr. Peterson, and her smelly Goldendoodle Martha Bean. She is the author of the super sexy STUDY ABROAD and FLINGS WITH KINGS series. Check her out at www.jessicapeterson.com

Author Links

WEBSITE     I     FACEBOOK     I     FACEBOOK GROUP     I     INSTAGRAM

Review

* * * * 1/2

I've been reading Jessica Peterson's books for over a year now and the one thing that's been consistent is how sexy her stories are. I think she outdid herself here though because not only did she create a sexy, talented southern chef, she made him one of the most sensitive and open-minded male characters I've ever had had the pleasure of reading!

After her boyfriend proposes to her and her not giving him an immediate emphatic "yes" in response, Olivia retreats to Charleston for a few weeks where in hopes of clearing her head and returning to him fully committed to their future. Taking the time off is exactly what she needs right now. She's worked so hard for most of her life having achieved a career to be proud of, a dream boyfriend, a picture perfect life. But once she's away from the hustle and bustle of New York and the slower less frenetic speed of Charleston is like a much-needed soothing balm for her soul. She has the space to think and can actually hear her thoughts and one of them is saying, "get that romance novel written!" 

Eli is the neighbour she meets who is so opposite of everything she is used to. He's confident, laid back, open. He doesn't sweat the small stuff too much. Oh, and he's shirtless. A lot. He instantly welcomes her and is shocked when he offers to help her with her writing. Not even her own boyfriend has offered to do that much less supported her dream. He thinks it's beneath her while Eli's thinks it's creative and is excited for her. Can he be real, please? This little thing they had going was charming.

Now I know the romance is a huge part of this story but let me tell you what I loved more than that: Olivia's awakening. After all this time of living up to everyone else's image of what she should be or want, she finally takes a breath to understand what she wants without all the naysayers cluttering her mind. So yes, she comes alive through her friendship with Eli, new friends she makes, but it's still all HER finally listening to HER voice and being unapologetic about it. Olivia, who defends the romance genre so fiercely and who argues for its merits, finds her own self-confidence bolstered through the process of writing her own novel. I was overjoyed for her! And just as Eli encourages her, she encourages him with his restaurant businesses. No romance goes smoothly so naturally there's a hiccup which anyone could see coming. It's just that I hoped the character's reaction wasn't quite what it was.

I enjoyed Southern Charmer a lot. The little glimpses into Olivia's writing experience I'm sure were inspired by Peterson's own and I like getting those behind-the-scenes insights. I could tell that this was a personal story for her since she chose Charleston, a city she loves, as the setting, and that she made Olivia an aspiring author and Eli a chef in what sounds like one of the most amazing foodie cities around. I think this Charleston Heat series is going to be one to keep an eye on, so get it on it now and let your soul experience a little Southern charm!

~ Bel