Southern Charmer (Charleston Heat #1)

Not long ago I read a book set in Charleston, written by a well known author, and was disappointed that she never made the charm, quaintness and vitality of the city come alive. She might get some tips from this author, because Peterson is spot on with her vivid descriptions of sights, sounds, smells and the vibe of the city, which made the setting unfold in living color in my mind. Peterson has definitely taken her writing to the next level, and the authentic, life-like portrayal of this city and its culture is just one small way. Ive read all of her Flings With Kings series and enjoyed them, but the early copy I read of this book blew me away!

Take a buttoned up, always proper, living her life for others Yankee girl and drop her in the path of a laid back, cigar smoking, shirtless, successful southern chef. Then throw in some guinea fowl, a dog named Billy, reality show references, and a couple of existential crises and youve got the perfect recipe for a terrific read. I loved everything about this book. The setting, the storyline, the secondary characters and, of course, Eli and Olivia. They each absconded with my heart in their own way.

Eli and Olivia both have a lot of soul searching to do as they seek to find their authentic selves while dealing with their growing feelings for each other. Their path to forever is rutted and strewn with rocks and brush, but I enjoyed every dip and bump and snap of twigs. Olivia’s character as a budding romance novelist gives fascinating insight into the writing process, and Elis skill as a chef turns food preparation into an act of love and meals into an event of the heart that feeds the soul. Their story is poignant and heartfelt, and humorous and hot. Their chemistry was so intense Im pretty sure I saw steam coming out of my Kindle at one point. But its the bravery of self-discovery, the characters’ vulnerability, and the heartfelt emotion of their story that really makes this book. Dont miss this fantastic, evocative, satisfying read, and your chance to fall in love with Eli and Olivia.

*I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.

You lost me at yoga and endless introspection. Yes men do yoga, but it’s boring to read through the descriptions of the classes. And way too much emotional nattering on. In real life, men just don’t engage in lengthy introspection . They certainly never have long emotional conversations with their buddies . The guy was too bland. His passion was cooking which is a great career, but what’s the point of bland guy in a hot body? You still need to deal with him outside of the bedroom .

I know that the characters are meant to be more contemporary , but that didn’t work for me. The hero was a woman in a hairy suit.

In my experience men usually look for a solution to a problem. Women love to vent and rehash. I’ve been married for 37 years and my husband still needs to be reminded that I sometimes just need to rant. I joke that it’s a guy thing. Not in a bad way. Just acknowledging that he doesn’t function the exact way I do.

I appreciate the author’s desire to create a kind of woke hero, but who wants a beta male? He would be boring pretty quick. I couldn’t even read the entire book because it did get boring pretty quick . Men can be kind, gentle, and sensitive without the emotional behavior of women. Men are different than women and express themselves differently even when their emotions are similar.

3.5 Stars
This was my first book by this author.
It was not a bad book, per se, but definitely left me scratching my head in spots in utter confusion.
I had a really hard time getting into Eli and Olivias story. Its described as a slow burn romance, but the first few chapters just didnt grab me. I had no problem putting the book down and not picking it back up.
Once I got farther into the book, I loved both Eli and Olivia.
Eli was charming, fun, an incredible chef, a great boss, brother and friend. Has the whole good ol southern boy thing working for him. Plus he reads romance novels and does yoga, he likes to dance and rarely wears a shirt.
Olivia was a bit harder to understand. She kept herself so bottled up, afraid to let her real feelings show. But Eli was patient and kind with her, as she tries to figure out who she is and what she wants out of life.
I loved watching Olivia wake up. Let loose a bit. Go with the flow. Start seeing all the ways a person can be creative. That having the perfect life does not always equal being happy. The comparison between her trying to write her first novel, and watching Eli create inventive new recipes was great.
I was confused by Olivia and her boyfriend. How strong could their relationship have been to begin with if they both agree to her time away and to seeing other people while separated. They agree to no communication, no contact. I didnt get it.
And Eli. He comes across as so strong and confident, I really didnt understand his breakdown toward the end of the book. He was a jerk and a complete mess. Then expected Olivia to make the first move to reconcile? No.
Overall not a terrible book. It was well written, no huge editing issues.
There was no cheating, a bit of angsty drama but not too over the top. And it does have a happy ending.

Stonk

This was the first book I read from Jessica Peterson, only finding out on this re-read that I had lost my initial review (aah, to be computer literate, But, at least I can read eh !?!?)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the storyline was a really excellent prep for the delicious stories to come after.
So very glad I’d decided on a full reread of all this talented author’s work.
Heartily recommended.

I’ve never read a friends to lovers book before, but I’m so pleased I took a chance on this one. Jessica Peterson is anew author to me. I loved how Olivia and Eli’s story drew you in right from the start. I found it difficult to put down. Beautifully written, showing the characters’ weaknesses and strengths. A beautiful love story with engaging characters. I cannot wait to read the next one in this series.

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