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 pretentious as his sharply cut … pretentious 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?
SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN is a STANDALONE, full length, accidental pregnancy/enemies-to-lovers romance.
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Jessica Peterson combined two of my favorite tropes in this new installment of the Charleston Heat series; enemies to lovers and accidental pregnancy, and she did a phenomenal job! The Charleston Heat series gets better and better with every book. This book is my favorite of the series so far. It is raw, real, honest, and it moves something in you. The connection between Grey and Julia; sexual and otherwise, is off the charts! These two are intense in everything they do. Be prepared to fall in love with these characters and fall even more in love with previous characters from the series.
4 Stars
Southern Gentleman is the third book in the Charleston Heat series. I was so happy to get back to this series. And I was even more excited for Greyson and Julia.
Julia was such a breath of fresh air. She is an accomplished woman. She’s independent, thoughtful, fearless and knows how to get things done. She’s a free sprit and I thoroughly enjoyed that about her. I equally enjoyed her quick wit and sass. There’s also this vulnerable side to Julia that showed just how real and relatable she is.
Greyson is successful, ruthless, wealthy, sexy and smart. There’s this growly side to Greyson that I liked a lot, but it’s his vulnerable side that spoke volumes. The way he cares and loves, oh boy he had me swooning.
When Julia and Greyson meet, sparks fly automatically and there’s no denying their attraction. There’s so much to these two individuals. And at a crucial time, a guarded and closed off Greyson will have to evaluate his life and working on letting someone back into his heart. Through this process Julia and Greyson learn more about each other and ultimately begin to fall deeper and deeper into their feelings. These two were just amazing together and I couldn’t get enough.
Jessica did an outstanding job with these characters and their story. It was true and raw and more importantly, real. There’s a lot for Julia and Greyson to overcome, and their journey is one of true honestly. I loved these two and just wanted more.
I need more of this series ASAP. And I can’t wait for Southern Heartbreaker and return to Charleston.
Realistic, romantic, heartfelt and sensual, this story feels whole and touching in ways I hadn’t envisioned.
This accidental pregnancy novel starts with witty banter, scorching-hot intimacy at the backseat of a car, and a growly boss who’s isolated from all feelings. I liked the intensity of it, the fun of it. Not romantic at all at first, but when the pregnancy jumps on the face of these two opposite characters, they start orbiting towards each other in very sweet, realistic ways amid first trimester nausea, real-life doubts, and open-hearted conversations that really warm you inside out.
The pregnancy itself is shown in detail, not only the good but the ugly too. I loved to know about Julia’s thoughts and feelings about the big changes it brought about, insightful and tender. Her job is amazing too!
The connection between the characters is raw, emotional, infinitely intimate. It’s full of hard moments, too, as they adjust to changes and expectations, and a kind of love that’s beautiful yet demanding. It’s very romantic in the end, yet also deals with struggles, imperfections, and pays homage to all the support needed from family and friends in this situation.
Very heartwarming all throughout, inspiring even. And hot, let’s not forget that 😀
I enjoyed my first experience with this author’s honest writing.
Greyson + Julia = funny, hot, amazing
This is the third book in the Charleston Heat series by Jessica Peterson, and it is a great addition to a hot, steamy series.
Greyson and Julia are immediately at odds the second they meet, each getting under the other’s skin from the get-go. And they turn that friction into molten lava when they finally decide to make their relationship physical to get it out of their systems. But oh, my, that does not work the way they wanted it to. Julia is a spitfire. She’s confident, secure, knows that she wants and works to get it, and makes sure that her expectations are known. She doesn’t need much, doesn’t value money and riches, and values living a life full of love and experience. Greyson is a provider. And his imperfect definition of what that means is what drives the conflict between him and Julia. He feels like he already let his family down horribly, and he doesn’t want to let anyone else down, but as a result his priorities don’t mesh with Julia’s, and the poor guy doesn’t realize it. Luckily for them they have a connection that gets them through the miscommunications, and supporting characters that navigate them through to find the right balance for them.
Jessica Peterson has written a fun, spunky, beautiful novel with a great balance of heat, humor and heart. Her writing really puts you in the characters’ shoes, and you feel their emotions, both high and low. You feel the lust, the love, the happiness, the frustration, the helplessness – you feel it all.
I love this series. Southern Charmer hooked me and I have been a fan of Jessica’s ever since. Southern Gentleman is the 3rd book in her Charleston Heat series. Definitely can be read as a stand-alone but I love it when you get glimpses of characters from previous books, keeping their stories moving forward too.
Julia and Greyson, the main characters of this book, have amazing chemistry right from the start. Jessica brought them to life so vividly. I felt like I was watching their verbal tennis match, sparks flying, when they first meet. You can feel it, these two will either kill each other or end up having sex.
Spoilers . . . Sex definitely happens which leads to a surprise baby on the way. This is where the story really gets started.
Julia is amazing as she goes through pregnancy. It feels so real, the struggles, the highs and the lows. Do I want this baby? Can I do this? The tribe you surround yourself with. Grey is equally as amazing as he struggles to support Julia and figure out his place in their lives.
Loved this book, kept telling myself, just one more chapter but I couldn’t put it down.
Southern Gentleman by Jessica Peterson is an opposites attract romance with all kinds of feels. Greyson and Julia do not necessarily hit it off when they first meet, but the attraction and chemistry between them is undeniable. And though they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other, they knew it would go nowhere, until an unexpected surprise changes everything.
Though Greyson came off as rude and arrogant at first, he was hiding so much of himself except to those very close to him. Punishing himself for something in his past, he never thought he would be happy again. Julia is a free spirit, feisty and independent. On paper they do not seem to work, but when they begin to truly spend time together and get to know each other, they are both drawn to the other. But can they find a way to balance what they want and believe to need before it is too late?
Southern Gentleman by Jessica Peterson was a sweet and charming opposite attracts romance. Though in the beginning they were like oil and water, they brought so much good out on the other. I loved the characters, including the secondary ones, and their journey and am excited to see what is next.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
Talk about some southern heat! Y’all. You need this book in your lives. It has everything you could want in a romance novel: witty banter, sexual chemistry, hot, growly alpha-male who doesn’t think he deserves to be loved, and a feisty heroine who sees the deeper parts of our Growly Greyson (Totally just gave him a nickname) and a surprise pregnancy! Plus plenty of swoon worthy and steamy moments! Let’s dig in!
When Julia and Greyson first meet, not only do the sparks fly, but so do the insults. Greyson is very particular in his business, and he’s the money that’s helping rejuvenate Luke’s barn, while Julia is the interior designer who fully believes in making this spot the best in the area, and because she’s friends with both Luke and Gracie, she wants to do it justice and doesn’t back down when Greyson growls(!!) Demands at her. This eventually leads them to having a hate-sex filled romp in the backseat of his car (very hot, btw). The only rules? No feelings and no kissing on the mouth. Cue Pretty Woman music!!
Fast forward three months, and the two are still having hate sex as much as they can, until one morning when Julia, who’s been feeling off for the last few weeks, finds out she’s pregnant. She experiences varying emotions, which not only is very refreshing to readers, but incredibly honest about what a woman feels like when she finds out she’s pregnant, but doesn’t want her entire life to change. She eventually comes to the conclusion that she wants this baby, and of course she will tell Greyson, but she has two conditions: either he’s in this all the way with her as a co-parent, or not at all. When she tells Greyson the news, he of course is all in on raising this baby with Julia, and as much as he wants more with this beautiful, crazily infuriating woman, he feels like he’ll ruin her if he lets her too close, so he doesn’t let his emotions show, but promises to be there for her for whatever she needs.
As the days and weeks continues through her pregnancy, Julia’s internal dialogue is amazing through all her feelings: she wants this baby, but pregnancy is not all rainbows and butterflies. She’s sick most of her first trimester, she’s depressed, and as much as she wants herself to be happy, she can’t let herself feel that way. And that’s totally ok. In our society, women are pressured into feeling exactly one way about pregnancy: insanely happy at all times. And that’s just not the case. As a personal note, I’ve had two hard pregnancies, and as much as I love my children, I didn’t love being pregnant. Plus all the health issues that went with it, plus a hard delivery with my second baby, it was so damn amazing to find our heroine experiencing all these feelings that most women experience at some point, but are always told that we shouldn’t. So this made me love Jessica Peterson even more. (Both as an author and as a person.)
Anyway, Greyson is doing his best to be there for her, but when he goes to tell his brother the news (helllo Ford!!) We are given the insight on why Greyson doesn’t feel like he should have the happily ever after: he was married once before, and as much as he tried to make it work, he simply fell out of love with his wife. And after some soul searching he realized that he wasn’t in love with her at all, but more in love with the comfort and stability that he thought he should want. So in his mind, he’s a monster who destroyed a woman, and feels like he shouldn’t get close to Julia in fear that he will do the same. However, Ford tells him that he is a good man, who goes above and beyond for his family (making sure his mom and dad have everything they need, to helping Ford himself when his wife died, leaving him to raise their daughter by himself.) Greyson still doesn’t believe it, but he vows to always be there for his child and Julia.
A few days later, Julia has her first ultrasound appointment and Greyson promises to be there with her, and after a hilarious scene them almost being late (and her being honest with him that she was disappointed that it was because of his work, and how she needs him to withhold his promises on being there when he says he will–which again, is so refreshing! There’s no fight, just them talking things through like adults!) They grow even closer when they see their baby via ultrasound, which leads Greyson to cook dinner for Julia. There is where things heat up between them, and they each feel such a strong pull towards the other, and all Julia wants is for Greyson to let her in, because she already believes he’s a great man who could possibly be the best thing for her. Through a power outage, an impromptu sleep over, and morning sexiness, there relationship officially take a a turn and Greyson accepts that he wants to be the one that Julia and this baby can count on. That he can provide a life for her that’s so amazing, and filled with love, because he is in love with her.
The progression of their relationship, (which is so swoon worthy, and their sext times that are so incredibly hot) they fall even more in love with each other, and Grey eventually confides into Julia about being married before, and how he felt like he was playing a role in his imperfect, perfect marriage and he just couldn’t do it anymore. Julia of course understands why he did what he did, and doesn’t think of him as a monster or someone who doesn’t deserve love, he was just stuck in the wrong fairy tale.
I won’t spoil the rest, but oh my goodness this book made me laugh so hard, and then made me cry just as much. Julia’s thoughts and feelings about her pregnancy, as well as trying to rely on someone whom she doesn’t really know, and then watching Greyson opening up and them falling in love was absolutely perfect. I say this everything Jessica Peterson writes, but I think Julia and Grey are my favorite couple!!! They are the complete opposite of each other, but they just work. And their love, it’s so honest and pure, and so damn good that I’m going to start rereading the series over again! Though this book is a standalone in this interconnected series, I strongly suggest reading the other two books before you start this one. I can’t gush enough about this book!!!
Also: I am so excited for Ford and Eva’s story that is coming next!! I love a good second chance romance! 🙂
**I I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
When you start a book review with a loss for words, it can either be a good thing or a bad thing. Let me tell you this is A Very Good Thing! This book stole my heart from page one. Going into this book I had a preconceived idea of how this story was going to play out. I was wrong. This book is everything you want but it is SO much more. It’s real! To know what I’m talking about you have to read it. You deserve to enjoy this story as much as I did. Believe me I want so much to discuss this book. The author took it to a whole other level. Don’t worry you get your laughs, your heat (excellent I might add. Turn on the A.C. You’re gonna need it!), the tearing up, all the swoons and probably be very hungry by the end! What you truly get is an in-depth look into real life with some twists you don’t see coming. You need to expect the unexpected.
Julia, is a kick butt designer, as well as a college professor, who knows how to get things done. She’s independent, fun and ready to take on challenges. She also has another more Bohemian side to her that really works. She’s a true renaissance woman. All that being said she has her own issues to deal with. Julia was probably one of the truest persons I’ve ever read.
Greyson, is woah…. he’s growly, grumpy, sexy, smart, wealthy and somewhat of an enigma. He’s also very delicious. However, just like every coin there’s two sides.
Together their sexual chemistry is off the charts, as for personally, in the beginning, totally different story. What I can tell you is, as they say, “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans”. Both of these individuals are true heroes trying to find their way. You will truly enjoy the journey as well as the destination.
The dialogue is honest and funny. The references to books, tv shows and authors I deeply appreciated. One of my favorite lines of Greyson’s was, “Now I’m one of Khaleesi’s dragons”….In the context of what it was referring to I laughed out loud. It’s just smart. As always we get an eduction about Charleston. The author paints stunningly vivid pictures. I’m going to get there.
Fortunately, we get reacquainted with many characters from previous books by this author. That makes the story so cohesive. They play vital roles to the story and we get to see that there is possibly more coming in the future. Yay!
Honestly, the best part of this book is it’s true, it’s real and doesn’t paint unrealistic pictures but shows actual life in all it’s dimensions, the good, the bad and the funny. The end alone is worth reading this book! I’ve loved the previous books but this book went to another level. I’m not a bonafide critic or reviewer. Im just someone who enjoys reading good stories and passing on my feelings to others. This will definitely be added to my re-read list. To the author I say, Bravo. To you reading this review I say, Read this book!
Southern Gentleman is book 3 in Jessica Peterson’s Charleston Heat series. Each book can be read as a stand-alone novel, but trust me, they are more fun when reading them in order.
I really enjoyed Greyson + Julia’s story.
Despite being incredibly successful, smart, grumpy & a total alpha in the sack, Greyson, shows a vulnerable side you typically don’t see with the usual rich, alpha heroes. He is constantly working hard to provide for his family and atone for past sins.
Julia is probably one of my favorite heroines written by Jessica. She independent, free-spirited, strong and surrounds her self with a group of friends who support and lift her up. She also has a real life conversation about keeping a baby from an accidental pregnancy. She owns her sexuality, her body and her choices.
Like the other Charleston Heat books, there is a snip from a historical romance novel written by Olivia (the heroine from book 1) that has a theme that coincides with the situations similar to those of the main characters.
I can’t wait to read more from Jessica. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She doesn’t give you the sunshine, rainbows and over the top love you find in a typical romance novel. She gives you the real – the vulnerability of the imperfect hero, the strong-willed and fierce heroine and the real life situations filled with real life conversations that a lot of people deal have to deal with. I find it incredible refreshing.
*I received an ARC of this book*
In the words of Britney – Oops she did it again!!!! Oh yes she did!!! Jessica Peterson has been a one click author for me for a while now, and her last book Southern Charmer was a six star read for me. But this one right here – Southern Gentleman has cemented her there FOREVER!!!
I binged this in one late night session & hubs says a HUGE THANK YOU for his 2am wake up call. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink…. seriously though – it’s heartfelt and hot and funny and filthy and EVERYTHING I love about smart romance.
Nobody writes Southern guys like Jessica – in Grey she gives you the heat you’re looking for along with some actual brains to go with his sexy brawn and her female characters are some of my favourite written. They have brains and jobs and hopes and baggage – in other words they’re real women! I always connect with them and Julia was no exception. Girl Crush Activated!
It’s book 3 in the Charleston Heat series but can absolutely be read as a standalone – I will say you’d be bonkers to miss out on the first two though… absolutely bonkers!
What a great book! I love a cranky male with a gooey center! This book handles real life issues in a real way…no candy coating it. Relationships are hard and communication is key….what we think we are saying and what the other person hears might not always match up. Pregnancy and raising kids is hard. Life is hard. This book is a good reminder that when are surrounded by our “tribe” of friends, family, and a partner we can breathe a little easier and know that if we stumble someone in our tribe will be there to pick us. A 5 star read for sure!
4.5 Stars
I really liked this book! It took me a couple of chapters to get hooked but man, once I did I could not put it down. Loved Greyson and Julia and the obstacles they overcome together. First impressions are not always accurate!0
OMG y’all, this book, I reckon it’s slap yo’ Momma good! For real, this book was so true and real and honest about love, in a way I haven’t seen captured in quite some time. I mean, lots of books paint love with colorful words and sweetness and they focus on the absolute best parts about love. On the opposite side, sometimes we get sucked into a book where the hero and heroine suffer unbearable (and often unrealistic) challenges, and because its a romance, true love wins, blah blah the end. This book was nothing like that. Tighta$$ed Greyson and wild child Julia don’t think they have much in common other than their animal attraction to each other. I really enjoyed traveling their journey with them as they discovered they were more alike than they knew. I loved how even when they didn’t LIKE each other, they didn’t really hate each other, and the book was more about them learning how to merge their lives. If the heart is there, the drive will find a way. I kind of saw it as if their love was a buried pebble, and they needed to move the dirt surrounding it to see how bright it shined. Love was there, buried deep, and they each had to work for it. I loved every dirty second of it!
Southern Gentleman is the third in the Charleston Heat series but can be read as a stand-alone. I highly recommend starting at the beginning to gain early insight to these two characters.
Greyson is arrogant and demanding and drives Julia CRAZY! From the moment they start working together on Luke’s farm the tension between is overwhelming….Julia being the empowered and self assured woman she is is going to tackle this problem head on.. in the backseat…of his car!!!??? Grey and Julz arrangement is working quite well for them.. that is until Charlie Brown shows up.
While neither Greyson or Julia were looking for a happily ever after at the moment – they find themselves in a position where neither wants to reject the idea of doing this together – but can they both flex to meet one another in the middle?
Love JP’s newest addition to the series; characters are likable and passionate – they face real life problems that are relatable – she depicts the journey of pregnancy (the highs and lows) perfectly!
Favorite character for me was Greyson’s Mom Eliza! I love her interaction with J at the cafe – very wise advice offered there. 5 stars
Pack my bags, I’m headed to Charleston STAT! this book was so steamy, I’m ready to move down south and find me a Southern Gentleman! I loved the growly Greyson and I thought Julia was the perfect match for him. Their story starts off with to alpha personalities who clash with how they work together but then crash into well a backseat! Forward a few weeks, throw in an accidental pregnancy and watch these two characters figure out life as adults, do it together, and all the while falling in love. This book should almost be a how to guide for people to get along! The maturity of the characters says so much about Jessica Peterson’s writing. This story had me crying, I was so invested in their lives! Most of those were happy tears, or because the sweet words really got me. Just like the previous two books in this series, they just keep getting better than the last one!
I received an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.
Where do I begin? This book was hot, but it also hit me personally having an oopsie. These characters are so well written. I loved their drive to be their best and their strong will. I loved their intimate scenes. It’s refreshing to read something different. Jessica nailed it!
P.S. yoga is hard, but it’s rewarding!