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…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 … 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 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 a full-length, STANDALONE romance. It 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. The books can be read in any order.
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3.5 stars
Jessica Peterson takes readers back to Charleston with the fourth book in her Charleston Heat series with Southern Heartbreaker.
Eva and Ford have both appeared in previous books, and her best friend, Julia, and Ford’s brother, Greyson, were the couple in Southern Gentleman. They were also a couple while in college together, but Ford broke Eva’s heart right around the time they graduated.
Ford’s dedication and love for his daughter Bryce was so sweet. It was understandable, too, why Eva did not want kids as part of her future. I enjoyed this second chance romance, especially as it didn’t shy away from the differences between them and how, despite the lasting attraction they shared, they might make being together currently difficult.
I do wish there had been a bit more time or interaction before Ford was able to start to win over Eva. She mentioned how heartbroken she was, but things started heating up between them pretty quickly.
Southern Heartbreaker is definitely my favorite of the series and can be read as a standalone.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
Ahh, Eva and Ford might be my favorites so far in Jessica Peterson’s Charleston Heat series. I am a sucker for a good 2nd chance romance, and these former college sweathearts certainly did not disappoint.
As always, Ms. Peterson provides scorching heat. You may never look at a boat the same way again! Food is also an integral part of the story as cookbook writer and blogger Eva explores the recipes of her family’s women, and those recipes’ connection to love and nurturing. At the same time, her rekindling of her relationship with single dad Ford and his adorable daughter forces her to examine her own attitudes towards love and parenthood.
If you are someone who verbally processes, the writing style will feel familiar. The characters talk thoroughly, intelligently and thoughtfully about feelings and issues, and the internal dialogue is extensive. Problems are solved in large part with words.
I loved this latest visit to Jessica Peterson’s foodie Charleston world!
Ford is quite the stamina filled man, “His foot finds mine underneath the countertop. “I’d like to rub up on you again.” Girl knows whats important, “she steps back and pulls a couple pizza boxes out of the bag in question. “Frozen pizzas. I had time to make the cocktails, but not the pizza. Because priorities.” I liked this book, I loved Ford
This is the forth book in this series as like the others totally enjoyable. Once college lovers Eva and Ford are pushed back together after a decade apart when friends and family join as one. Fearful of the past Eva warns herself away from the magnetic pull her and Ford always had. Ford’s own past has changed his opinion on life, making him realise the mistakes he made were wrong. He tried to right those wrongs, but both struggle with what their idea of perfection is. Great read. Loved the interaction of Eva and female family members. Hope to see Alex’s story next.
5 Star Review Southern Heartbreaker (Charleston Heat #4) by Jessica Peterson
Jessica Petersen is a new author to me and I have no idea why that is. I enjoyed her style of writing and when time permits I will be looking at her other books. Southern Heartbreaker is a second chance at love story with characters I found easy to fall for.
Not having read the other books in the series I was a tad concerned that I might be a little lost since this is book four but there was no need to worry.
Ford Montgomery broke Eva Lang’s heart and she has never really gotten over him. When she runs into him again it is obvious that the attraction still burns bright between Ford and Eva.
After has sworn off having children Eva is shocked when she sees how great a single dad Ford is to his 4 year old daughter Bryce and she begins to question her decision.
I fell hard and fast for Ford whilst Eva is one of those women that I could easily see as a friend. She is feisty, sassie, independent and focused and I loved her. I was also intrigued by the recipes and meals mentioned throughout the story and will be searching them out, they sound delicious.
Southern Heartbreaker is a little gem, one click on release, I don’t think you will be disappointed.
This is the 4th book in this series. I have to say this is probably my favorite. Each book tops the others. How I have no clue.
Eva and Ford were a couple ten years ago. He dumped her on graduation. She moves back to Charleston to write her book. She sees Ford. Boy do the sparks still fly or burn.
She finds out he has a daughter. She somehow has to decide if she wants to be all in with Ford and Bryce.
Both Ford and Eva struggle on making everything perfect and working. In do so, they burn out fight etc.
The author really takes you on a ride with Eva’s fears and emotions about becoming a mother. She showed the depth of the struggles Eva had between her heart and mind.
I really enjoyed the characters especially Bryce. She was so cute. It was great to see characters from the previous books in here.
Though I would I have liked to know why Eva’s parent became distant with each other. Will Alex and Mason get a story? The recipes alone sound really good.
If I could give this book ten stars I would. I keep telling people to read this book near a fan it’s so HOT! Single Dad Ford Montgomery was doing life the best he knew how with his daughter and ten years after breaking the heart of Eva he sees her and finds a way to bring her back into his life. She is keeping him at arms length because she has never wanted kids and she knows how unfair that would be to Bryce his little girl. She wants to be with the man she loves but at what cost. The way these two navigate the difficulties is a tribute to Jessica’s writing, there’s not a lot of angst, but there’s a lot of hot steam love scenes!
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And honestly if you’ve read the first three of Charleston Heat book 4 will NOT disappoint
Southern Hearbreaker is the 4th book in the Charleston Heat series from Jessica Peterson, and it definitely lives up to the prior 3 books in the series, as well as my expectations as a Jessica Peterson fan.
Southern Heartbreaker is a second-chance romance. We got to know Ford in Southern Gentleman – he’s Grey’s brother. During Southern Gentleman, Ford was taking a leave of absence from his family’s company to be a a single dad to his young daughter, Bryce. Now, he’s stepped back into the business world as Grey takes a step back to become a father himself. Ford is honest, loyal, and devoted, but in the past he broke Eva’s heart when he broke up with her in college.
Eva is back in Charleston seeking inspiration to write a follow-up novel to her best-selling first novel. This now gives Ford the chance to get to know her again, and he’s not willing to let the opportunity pass him by. But Bryce is a big sticking point for Eva, not because she doesn’t love the little girl, but because she believes that motherhood means sacrificing your career and your dreams.
Some authors would have trouble writing a female character that has such a cynical view of motherhood and making her real and relateable, but not Jessica Peterson. Eva was written in a somewhat raw, honest way that makes the reader really appreciate her self-reflection. Eva’s been working so long and so hard to develop her career and put heartbreak on the sidelines and now she has some trouble opening herself back up, but she does, and it is a very well written path. Even Ford, who could have been written as driven and pushy and begging is written in a way that shows that he is supporting, and he wants Eva to choose them on her terms, not on anyone else’s.
Aside from great character and relationship development, this book the classic Jessica Peterson ingredients of heat, heart and some humor. Ford is not what you expect from a sensitive single dad, but he is what you expect from a Jessica Peterson male lead – hot-blooded, dirty-talking and sexy AF. But as with all Jessica Peterson books, there is just the right amount of heat and sexy times to enhance the story, rather than distract from the character and plot development.
Definitely recommend this swoony, sexy southern love story.