Southern Sinner

North Carolina Highlands Series, Book 3

By: Jessica Peterson

Narrated by: Jason Clarke, Virginia Rose

Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's Summary

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Until I brought my fake girlfriend home.

When I took a seat next to the gorgeous brunette at the blackjack table, I had no idea it would be the start of the hottest weekend of my life. By day, Stevie and I dominate the casinos of Sin City. By night, I dominate her in my penthouse suite.

Then my brother Samuel ruins it by asking me to come home for his engagement party. Because he’s not just getting married. This isn’t a normal celebration for me. His future bride is my "one who got away". The girl I may or may not still be in love with.

The catch? He wants me to prove I’m over his fiancée before they set a date. So I ask Stevie to double down on our chemistry and pretend to be my girlfriend.

We set our ground rules: lots of sex, plenty of pretend smiles, and no strings.

But we’re not only gambling with the truth. We’re gambling with our hearts.

They say every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future. But Stevie’s past may force us to fold on our future before it’s even begun.

Southern Sinner is a full-length stand-alone novel in the North Carolina Highlands series.

©2021 Peterson Paperbacks, LLC (P)2021 Peterson Paperbacks, LLC

Another excellent book

I only recently found Jessica Peterson, but o have quickly become a huge fan. I love that she writes mature, thoughtful, flawed, loving characters who have real problems that are difficult to solve. The realness and thoughtfulness of her writing is a joy.

Lady Luck is a winner!

Hank & Stevie both thought they’d swore away love until a weekend in Vegas catches them both off guard. This fake relationship quickly turns into the real thing & it’s up to them to figure out how to incorporate their 2 individual lives into 1 together. And convince the rest of the Blue Mountain crew that they really bare in love!!!

Awesome narration

The narration of this book sealed the deal for me. I can’t lie… Jason Clarke as Hank had me swooning. Lol! That aside, I truly enjoyed the story.

Fantastic

The sexual tension between Stevie & Hank was off the charts HOT! They were attracted to each other and THE HEAT JUST KEPT RISING!! Stevie & Hank, while total opposites in what they want in life, devise a plan to pretend date. Why? Well, I won’t tell you because it will spoil the story, but they do, and it turns into something neither of them were expecting. There are lots of twists and turns as lies create more lies and things get a little testy at times as the guilt at deceiving Hank’s family mounts. And then everything they built during their fake relationship comes tumbling down at their feet. Just like with raising children, it sometimes “takes a village” to help a couple find their way back to each other and share their true feelings. Scoot on over to the 1-Click and start reading Southern Sinner today. 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.

Absolutely Charming 💯

***** AUDIOBOOK REVIEW *****

Southern Sinner was just fabulous! I loved Stevie. She has such a strong personality that you can’t help but love her. She was able to be vulnerable and open while still being strong. It was exactly what Hank needed in a woman. Hank might have been my favorite hero lately. He was charming, oh so charming. But he wasn’t afraid to speak his thoughts and he did. I love a man that is a gentleman and good to women. He treated Stevie like gold. I feel like I’ve read a ton of fake romance a lot lately but this one seemed original. I also loved getting to meet up with all the other characters. I think it’s why I love series so much, I get so invested in their stories.

The narration was amazing in Southern Sinner. Jason Clarke and Virginia Rose are pure perfection together. I really liked the way they brought Hank and Stevie to life. Clarke has a voice that was made for Hank. He took that southern charm and just brought it to life right before my ears. He added this other layer that made him seem even more charming than just the words. Rose also seemed to just channel Stevie’s personality. Rose was captivating and pulled me in. I love these two narrators together.

Entertaining and captivating

Jason Clarke and Virginia Rose did a wonderful job bringing this story and the characters to life.

Southern Sinner is Hank and Stevie’s story and I believe can read and enjoy their romance as a stand-alone although I’m sure if this is your first read in this series you will certainly want to play catch-up with the previous books.
An instant attraction formed over a blackjack table leads to a night of passion, it’s was only meant to be one night, what happens in Vegas should stay in Vegas but none of those rules seem to apply for Hank and Stevie. Hank is in Vegas trying to put his work and love life behind him but he ends up meeting the woman he didn’t even know he was looking for because what starts as lust soon turns to love. Stevie has her own problems and baggage so why is the man she met at a blackjack table haunting her dreams. I fell hook, line and sinker for this couple, I loved the swoon worthy Hank and I adored the strong, sassy Stevie, the chemistry is intense and watching this couple come to grips with their feelings was wonderful.
The narration was captivating and easy to listen to . Southern Sinner is a gem that will appeal to a wide range of audiences.

Hank and Stevie are HOT!

I was so curious who was going to mend Hank's heart and I was thrilled he found Stevie! This wonderful family of characters have been a joy to get to know. This book is a standalone, but we did see Hank get he heart broken in a previous book. Stevie is older and not looking for a relationship, but a fake relationship she can do, until it becomes too real. This story is emotional and raw as these two who want different things find their way. I loved watching them fall in love and I loved going back to Blue Mountain and getting to see all of these crazy people! Great story!

The narrators did a great job telling this story. They brought Stevie and Hank to life.

Great story and narration

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, or does it? Book three in the North Carolina Highlands series and I was hooked from the first to the last chapter. Ms.Peterson wove a story with characters who you couldn’t help but fall for and this was an entertaining read.

This is Hank and Stevie’s story and it was one that had me on the edge of my seat whilst reading. Having met in Vegas they embark on a sizzling hot relationship but have no plans to take it further once they leave. However all that changes when Hank’s brother Samuel refuses to set a wedding date until he is certain that Hank is over his ex who happens to now be Samuel’s fiancee.

Convincing Stevie to return home with him as his fake girlfriend, you just know that complications are going occur. I fell hard and fast for Hank whilst Stevie is one of those women that I could easily see as a friend; she is feisty, sassy and independent.

The chemistry between them is scorching and they were well suited to one another. I also loved how confident Stevie was in herself despite having come out of a marriage that has left her jaded. She is a savvy business women who is not afraid of hard work.

Jason Clarke and Virginia Rose did a fantastic job bringing this story to life. Their voices are so easy to listen to and they added an additional layer to my listening pleasure. Southern Sinner is a little gem, one click on release, I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Jessica Peterson's writing is so delightful

There's nothing I love more than a good redemption story, and by golly, Jessica Peterson totally redeemed Hank for me in this fantastic fake relationship tale. After Southern Sinner, he's totally my favorite Beauregard brother. Hank and Stevie's blackjack table meet-cute was fun and the Vegas backdrop was the perfect setting for their no-string-attached hookup. But of course who did Hank think of months later when he needed a volunteer girlfriend for his plan? It was fun seeing lines get blurred as fake turned into real- their chemistry was so real and so very hot. Jessica Peterson's writing is so delightful and I cannot wait for her next release. Jason Clarke and Virginia Rose were perfectly cast- they did a fantastic job performing as Hank and Stevie.

Aces and Eights

Loved this reverse age-gap romance set in the mountains outside of Asheville. I really liked the fact that Stevie knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to go for it. I was glad that Hank was able to find redemption, absolution, and regain the respect of his family after lying to them over and over while trying to find what made him feel whole.

The narrators for this entire series, Jason Clarke and Virginia Rose, have been perfectly cast to voice this close Southern family full of football players and strong women. They both bring the emotions and motivations of the characters to vivid reality.

I can't wait to hear the next book in the series, Southern Playboy.

Hank & Stevie

I have been waiting for Hank's story and it did not disappoint! I am loving these brothers, and Hank certainly had a sad ending in book 2. Falling in love with his brother's girlfriend definitely would not end on a happy note. So to alleviate his hurt, he takes off with his brother Rhett on a sabbatical, enjoying traveling and ending in Vegas. Here he meets Stevie. 10 years his senior, she is wise, knows what she wants and gorgeous. The chemistry is off the charts! And of course what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right? Wrong! Now he is called home for Sam's engagement party and needs to prove that he is over Emma. What better way then to have Stevie play his "real girlfriend"? Will it backfire in his face? Will they be able to keep their feelings casual? Does he still love Emma? I love this family! Every time I am with them, I just want to visit and hang out. The closeness of the brothers, the banter and welcoming of the women make the story feel like home. The love story is hot! Stevie is a little closed off, but I love how she blossomed. Hank is all that wonderful warm, romantic male. It's a wonderful story, great addition to the series and has me waiting on Rhett's!

Jason Clarke and Virginia Rose continue their portrayal of the North Carolina Highland characters. I love the continuity of narrators as these two professional keep the same voices for their characters. It makes the listen comfortable. Clarke is fantastic as the men, each their own voice. As Hank he rolls that unsure yet loving force into his voice as we fall in love. Rose is always amazing, and as Stevie, she brings out that emotional tug as she tries to hold back her feelings. Love these two together!

Hank and Stevie!

Story: 4 ⭐️
Steam: 5/6 🔥
Audio: 5 🎧

This book was my from this author and I was not disappointed! I was a little nervous at first since I don’t usually like books with older characters (our heroine is 40 and 10 years older than our hero) but I actually found myself really relating to her and liking her. Our hero was very sweet, we love a feminist hero 👌🏻

Overall I enjoyed the story. Very sweet southern romance though at times a bit cheesy lol