Second Chance Archives

The latest book in the author’s “North Carolina Highlands” series is something you should have on your end-of-summer reading list.

It has everything you could want in a book, plus the cutest two-year-old imaginable.

But honestly, as this is book four, you should start at the beginning with Southern Seducer -I promise, you will absolutely fall in love with the Beauregard family. And you’ll get all of the juicy backgrounds on the other brothers!

Here is my Goodreads review of this book.

Southern Playboy by Jessica Peterson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Every time I read a new entry in this series, I feel like the Beaumont family is welcoming me back home. At the very least, a consistent reader is an old friend of the family who is privy to all of the drama…and love. This time, the author has outdone herself, covering familiar tropes of single dad, second chance, hot boss/nanny, athlete hero…it may sound like a lot, but it all works together to make for an engaging and sexy read. I liked that Rhett and Amelia had a history as teens; the slow burn of what would happen between them as adults was just that much sweeter. I thought that the conflict facing Rhett, while realistic within the plot, could have been fleshed out a little more – maybe by Miguel being just a little bit more annoying or pestering. But that is a minor complaint. Liam is by far one of the cutest kids ever and I loved how the author built the family, allowing each member to realize it on their own time. And the truck scene is one of the hottest in recent memory. But the author writes more in-depth; I especially enjoy the big family scenes. I also sincerely hope that Millie gets her story told next – if only so we can see Liam and Maisie interact more. I think those two will become thick as thieves. Great book, fun read.

View all my reviews

After quite a few psych thrillers, I was in the mood for a change of pace, and this book fit the bill nicely. It took a little while to get into, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down.

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I had a difficult time understanding Mitchell at first, as he was a little bit of an enigma. I couldn’t get a grasp on his character, because at times he seemed old and doddery, but I knew from the description (and his daughter) that he wasn’t as old as he came across. As his backstory became clear, so did his character. I loved the symbolism of how he enjoyed his job cutting locks (and how that related to his own broken heart).

I enjoyed the way the plot unfolded. A few different things were going on, but they all sort of related to each other, or at least influenced other events. It was an effective way to illustrate how easy it is to touch others’ lives and how one small event can set off a ripple effect for many people.

Back to Mitchell for a minute – I was satisfied to see his character grow throughout the story as he learned the importance of personal connections. It would have been easy to keep him uptight, but showing him reawaken was heartfelt and moving.

I also liked the secondary characters and how Yvette’s part of the action wove them all into the story. I was drawn in by Mitchell’s heroics, captivated by the letters he received, and eager to unravel the mystery that connected it all.

Do yourself a favor, take some time, and read this uplifting book about second chances.

Phaedra Patrick is the author of The Library of Lost and Found, Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone and The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, which has been published in over twenty countries around the world. She studied art and marketing, and has worked as a stained-glass artist, film festival organizer and communications manager. An award-winning short story writer, she now writes full-time. She lives in Saddleworth, UK, with her husband and son.

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