Super fun and sexy

This book, the second in Jessica Peterson's North Carolina Highland Series is not quite as heavy as its predecessor. While I loved the first one, which dealt with themes like postpartum depression and CTE, I appreciate she made this one a little lighter, if just to give a reader an emotional break. After reading about two people finding love while dealing with serious issues it's good to have a little enemies-to-lover fun and banter.

Peterson is one of the few romance authors out there who actually knows how to write millennials in their 30s. Like I get it romance authors, people in their 30s are SUPPOSED to sound put together and serious and powerful, but the truth is right now we talk like idiots and Peterson has a way of conveying that in her dialog without it being too much and keeps the characters likeable and still sexy. She is also one of the few authors that gets that millennials are in fact 30 and not 12 like some authors seem to think they are (a huge pet peeve).

She is also amazing at writing about and describing food. She clearly has a passion for food and shows it on the page and I for one love it. I'm always starving when reading one of her books. And this one included lots of wine as well!
The only complaint I have is I wish there was a little more exploration of the bedroom power dynamic. We rarely see a sexually dominate female/submissive male dynamic in romance and I was super excited to see it in this book, I just wish played out more in their real sex scenes like it did in their virtual ones.

Virginia Rose and Jason Clarke were fantastic. I have nothing to say about the narration other than they were amazing as always.

1 person found this helpful

Hard to put into good enough words!!

I code this rating because this book is a can’t stop listening kind of book. The author writes these stories in the most amazing ways. And the way She describes the intimate scenes between the two main characters …damn!!! It makes you want to go do the same thing with your own partner. But also being born and raised in North Carolina myself and my two favorite places being Asheville and Charleston, South Carolina these books really hit home and Jessica Peterson does it right and hits the ball out of the park every time she writes one of her books whether it’s the Southern Heat collection or the Blue Mountain collection. But God I would love to see these become movies even if they were just on Netflix or something that shit would be awesome. ~Jessica from North Carolina~

Oh and the Narrator’s are spot on. I would love to be one of them!!! And I have a real southern accent not a learned one…just saying!

Wonderful Characters in an amazing setting!

I am in love with the blue mountain farm! The Saries has such wonderful characters. I loved seeing the transformation of Samuel as he fell in love with Emma. The little plot twist at the end was crazy but I’m so ready to listen to the next book!

Not what I was expecting

Jason Clarke and Virginia Rose did an amazing job narrating this book. They really brought the characters to life. I was enjoying the story until a conflict arose with the main character's brother. That took the story in a direction I hadn't anticipated and felt kind of icky about. I'm not saying you shouldn't listen to this book. The narration alone is fantastic. I might read it again to see if my second experience is different from the first.

Fantastic!

This is a brilliantly written, captivating, emotion-provoking, sexy, funny enemies to lovers story. The Beauregard family are very close-knit, it reminds me of my family in South Carolina. They bicker, joke, gang up against each other like siblings do, yet they are always there for each other when needed. Emma & Samuel have a magnetic pull and chemistry that is off the charts when they put their differences aside. I LOVED everything about this book; the banter amongst all the characters, family drama, and the sweet swoon-worthy moments. However, those food innuendos were PRICELESS!! Emma & Samuel have a magnetic pull and chemistry that is off the charts when they put their differences aside. Characters from the Charleston Heat series make an appearance in Southern Hotshot which is a pretty damn awesome bonus! 💕 Virginia Rose & Jason Clarke are fabulous narrators and voice artists. They do an amazing job portraying the characters, bringing them to life and humanizing them with their emotions, attitude and personality.

This is a good story but not my fav of the series

This one is good but not my favorite of the series. I did enjoy the story of these two. The internet “chats” between V and Blu were a bit much for me. The rest of the story was perfect. Samuel was such a stick in the mud. Angry but at the wrong person and for the wrong reason. Emma has the cool job as a sommelier. She butts heads with Samuel upon first meeting but wants to work thing out. The connection is easily “felt” through the story.

We get to see just a little bit of the family. Hank comes off nice and heartbroken in here so I am glad I read his book first to see how he recovers. Some of this story happens at the same time as book one so that made it kinda fun seeing Beau with Maisie again.

I did listen to this on audio. Jason Clarke and Virginia Rose did a good job narrating. While this is a good story its mot my fav of the series.

North Carolina Romance

Loved Emma and Samuel! Emma is starting as a wine sommelier at a family resort. Samuel looks at her as competition. Can these two work out their differences and find a path to true love even if it is a little messy? 5 stars

Holy HOTNESS!!!

Samuel and Emma burn up the sheets in this story! It was really HOT!!! Emma likes to take the lead in the bedroom and to Samuel's surprise he loves it!

Samuel is bound and determined not to like Emma when she comes to work for his family's resort. Emma is bound and determined to make something of herself and prove she can be just as successful as the rest of her family. These two butt heads until they don't. The connect on a work level, but on an emotional level as well and Samuel realizes he NEEDS Emma to stay.

It was great to see this family again and watch more connections through the story. This band of brothers is a fun one! Great story!

The narrators did a great job bringing this story to life.

I’m conflicted.

This is not my first Jessica Peterson book. She writes hot sex and cinnamon roll heroes. My issue lies with how she writes the women.

Emma actually starts off as a great strong character, but midway she loses it. Putting weight on some weird imposter syndrome stuff and the perfect life her sister seems to have.

Samuel is described as a former football player (with physical stats that made no sense whatsoever) who found his new calling with his family business. He also harbors some weird enemy energy with Emma as she starts working with him as the new sommelier.

Also, they unknowingly have cybersex in a chat room. This is also a weird sort of aspect. Like, is the keyboard dirty? Or do they type well one handed? My brain couldn’t comprehend the logistics with a cyber chat.

Eventually they give in to their attraction. It’s hot. Whew. But Emma was in this weird zone. And then Samuel’s brother comes in like a weird wrecking ball. I had a hard time believing a family that works together, has Sunday meals together and enjoys each other, ended up like this.

So yeah, I just wasn’t into the story like I wanted to be. The narration was amazing. Jason Clarke with a slight southern accent - swoon! Virginia Rose with her voice - adore!

Overall 3.5 stars, but I rounded up because of the audio.

Great story and narration

Ms.Peterson wove a story with characters you couldn’t help but fall for and I found myself riveted to Samuel and Emma’s story. The fact that they start out disliking one another was entertaining, as everyone around them could see the attraction and chemistry that sizzled between them.

This is a story of love and family and I loved how invested The Beauregard family is in one another’s love life. I fell hard and fast for Samuel whilst Emma is one of those women that I could easily see as a friend; she is feisty, sassy, and knows what she wants.

This was a steamy read that ticked the boxes for me. There were times I laughed, times I cried but at the end of the book, I was left with a smile on my face. Southern Hotshot was a great addition to this series; it is a little gem and one I recommend.

Having loved the book I couldn’t wait to listen to it on audio and I was not disappointed. The performances by the narrators Jason Clarke and Virginia Rose, did justice to an entertaining book and added to my enjoyment overall.