Southern Player

Charleston Heat, Book 2

By: Jessica Peterson

Narrated by: Joe Arden, Emma Wilder

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

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 and break my heart? Or is he really ready to hang up his cleats for good? SOUTHERN PLAYER is a full length, STANDALONE romance.

The books in the Charleston Heat series are interconnected standalone romances, and can be listened to in any order.

• SOUTHERN CHARMER: Eli and Olivia's story
• SOUTHERN PLAYER: Luke and Gracie's story
• SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN: Greyson and Julia's story
• SOUTHERN HEARTBREAKER: Ford and Eva's story

©2019 Jessica Peterson (P)2024 Peterson Paperbacks, LLC

Luke and Gracie's story was fantastic!

There's a fantastic line in Southern Player, where Jessica Peterson pretty much wrote her own review for the book: "Five shooting stars. Or would it be exploding stars? Orgasmic ones, maybe?" And I totally agree- Luke and Gracie's story was fantastic.

I had been (im)patiently waiting to get to know Luke better since he was introduced in Southern Charmer- an ex-MLB baseball player? Yes please! (And the author confirmed for me on Instagram that he did in fact play for my favorite team- the Chicago Cubs!) Luke was just dreamy- a kind, genuine, caring man interesting in finding forever. He and Gracie were perfect together- the witty banter, super-steamy moments, and interactions were so refreshingly real. And just as she did with Southern Charmer, the author again teases us with snippets of historical fiction- it's a genre I've never read but am beginning to see that I am missing out. Narrators Joe Arden and Emma Wilder were fantastic- the casting was just perfect.

I am absolutely loving the Charleston Heat series and am excited for the audio for the next installment- Jessica Peterson never disappoints.

Friends with benefits...what can possibly go wrong?

Grace and Luke have been dancing around each other for years...but he’s her brother’s best friend and that friendship could be soured if things didn’t work out. Luke has a thing for Grace but she’s in a relationship...until she isn’t and proposes a friends with benefits arrangement. Grace wants to explore her sexual fantasies and she thinks that Luke will be perfect...after all, he doesn’t want a relationship. An agreement is made and the duo begin a hot and steamy fling...how long will this last before feelings get real? Another good story in this series. Looking forward to the next book.

Loved it

Jessica Petersen is a relatively new author to me and I have no idea why that is. Southern Player was an entertaining book to listen to as I found it easy to fall for the characters.

The narration by Joe Arden and Emma Wilder really brought the story to life for me. Not only is the book steamy, it is also sweet and romantic. I fell hard and fast for Luke and Gracie.

Southern Player is a little gem, one click, I don’t think you will be disappointed.

You can feel the heat and I don’t mean the weather

The audible version of Southern Player captures all the sexy and swoon that you want and need. However, it also brings the deeper feelings to life. You could feel the feelings and insecurities that many of us face everyday. When Luke says “Baby girl” you tingle. Joe Arden and Emma Wilder bring these two characters vividly to life. I’ve read the book and came up with my own interpretations at the time. This audio version met all my expectations and more.
Just like when I read the book I didn’t want the story to end. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time to come! I never thought I‘d say I might want to ride a tractor!

Feeling the steam!

I adored this book, but Joe and Emma -- wow! Do they bring Luke and Gracie to life! The southern drawl is incredible, and I could not have picked two better people to bring their story off the page. This story is steamy and has heart, and everyone should listen to their story! It's just incredible. Jessica has such a way with words, and I adore all her books!

Steamy and Heartfelt

Wow. Just...WOW! Mr Arden and Ms. Wilder nailed the narration of this story so hard, the board split. It's the first audiobook that had my emotions swinging so hard, I cried. I felt the word Jessica wrote through the narration. Kudos to them and Jessica for writing words so honest, they could be felt through my earbuds. Grace & Luke are amazing!

A different spin on Brother's Best Friend!

This story is 100% enjoyable and a Brother's best friend trope that is flipped on its head. It uses a faux regency romance authored by another character in the book (Olivia from Book 1 Southern Charmer #1) to foreshadow a relationship between two people who are perfect for each other but run in slightly different social circles. Luke is a real good man, wholesome former pro baseball player turned organic farmer who wants to do right by Gracie. He is head over heels for her and doesn't try to hide or avoid those feelings. Gracie has been infatuated with him for a while, but knows him as a playboy, and is still getting over rejection and heartbreak.

What I loved most about this book is that for 95% of the book the characters acted like adults. When they thought their minds were changing, something scared them, their emotions taking over they told the other person. It sounds like such a small thing but it is a huge pet peeve of mine when drama is forced because one character refused to have a conversation. Joe Arden and Emma Wilder both performed with southern drawls and Emma Wilder also did the Regency part of the narration with an English accent. I enjoyed both southern accents, and the English accent was also good, but I was glad it was only a portion of the book, because i think it would have bothered me if the whole book was done with that accent.

Overall a fantastic story with wonderful narration. Can be read as a standalone, but part of an interconnected series if reading in order is your thing.

All the feels

Holy Tractor!! Grace & Luke are 🔥🔥🔥. They will keep you on your toes with their burn you to the ground feels.. The sparks, the chemistry, the snark, the love, the lust and SO. MUCH. STEAM. There is no denying the physical connection between them but seeing the emotional connection and the way they opened their hearts to each other is what makes this couple and this series so special.

Listened to the audiobook on 8/19/21:
Emma Wilder & and Joe Arden are fabulous narrators. They do an amazing job portraying the characters, bringing them to life and humanizing them with their emotions, attitude and personality. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to.

This book is on Fire!!

The second installment of this series was on fire!!! I chose this series due to Emma Wilder’s narrative. She’s the best, along with Andi Arndt and Saskia. The story is great, steamy, and HOT. Looking forward to the last two installments, so far, in this series. The third installment is already in the cue. No spoilers, but worth the credit. No one reads a book like Emma.

Hot!

I loved every sexy minute of it!! Learned a bit about myself listening to this book...eh-hm. The Phone sex was my favorite part.. not gonna lie...
Any old hoodle... Gracie and Luke are my new fave of the Charleston Heat series! I don’t know how Jessica Peterson keeps each one fresher than the next, but she does!