The Southern Charmer is a delightful romance about second chances and navigating the complexities of past mistakes. Gabby Nolan is faced with a dilemma when she runs into Jason Brightman, the man who left her best friend at the altar. Despite their history, Gabby can’t deny the chemistry that still exists between them. Jason has clearly grown into a more mature, self-aware man, and as he works his way back into her life, Gabby must decide if she can trust him—and herself—enough to give him a chance. The book beautifully explores themes of forgiveness, personal growth, and the possibility of love after betrayal. With humor, heart, and steamy moments, this is a captivating read that keeps you rooting for the couple until the very end.

What happens when you run into the man who left your best friend at the altar? Gabby runs into the only man she ever cared for, Jason. Jason was engaged to her best friend but he called the wedding off. Everyone is so upset with him. Gabby realizes that her best friend has moved on and is now married. Jason hopes that gabby will forgive him. He cares the guilt, embarrassment and has been depressed. Is time to move on. He always found gabby smart and beautiful. Gabby still thinks he's handsome but surely her crush is long gine. Try end up spending time together. What will her best friend think of that? Will she be upset with Gabby? What can Jason so to make Gabby care for him? He did ask her out before he ended up dating her best friend. Maybe now is the right time for them. Can the both move forward and lead the past behind? Its hard for Gabby because she was born on the right side of the tracks, while Jason is very wealthy. Can she let that go? Gabby doesn't think she's worthy? What will everyone think about the two of them dating? Will his family be upset with her? The characters are wonderful. Try both need to learn to forgive, accept that its their turn to be happy and accept love. I was rooting for this couple. They deserve happiness.

A visit to Blossom Branch is always a delight! Maynard is quick to have her readers invested in the story as we are reminded of Cate's earlier book when she was jilted by Jason but found love with Harry and now Jason is back and her BFF Gabby is finding him hard to resist. The backstory makes this book compelling right from the start even if you haven't been following the series but if you have, you're going to love watching Jason be redeemed right before your eyes. I loved him with Gabby and I really enjoyed their story. The characters are refreshingly down-to-earth and face real life issues with grace and healing. I occasionally wanted to shake Gabby and tell her to get it together when she gave him the run around one too many times, but I loved how they overcame it all in the end. Well developed and heartwarming!

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a tight-knit small town where love finds a way no matter what the roadblocks it might face.

THE SOUTHERN CHARMER
JANICE MAYNARD
ON SALE JANUARY 28, 2025

Gabby grew up in poverty, raised by her single mother after her father died in a motorcycle accident. Now she has a great paying job, but uses most of her pay helping her mother who has her own problems.

Jason grew up an only child to two people in a loveless marriage, but very well off. Fifteen months prior he called off a wedding to a lovely lady whom he loved, but almost as a sister. Gabby happens to have been the bride to be’s best friend.

Now Jason runs into Gabby in a coffee shop and is mesmerized by her. Can Gabby forgive him? Can Jason forgive himself and possibly move on with a life with Gabby?

Gabby Nolan has a very good job working in Atlanta. In college she became good friends with Cate and Leah. They have remained close. It was when Cate and Jason Brightman were to be married that Gabby was secretly sad because she had always had a crush on Jason. But she decided to put those feeling aside and be happy for her friend. However, Jason stood Cate up at the altar breaking her heart. Now, 18 months later, Cate has met and married Harry and they are very happy.

When Gabby is having coffee in a cafe one day, Jason stops in and asks to talk to her. He wants to apologize for what happened and hopes they can be friends. He explains that he and Cate were very good friends but did not want to get married. Gabby is leery of him at first but he asks her out.

When he learns about Gabby’s upbringing from a single mother and being quite poor, he realizes how lucky he is to be from a very wealthy family. He accompanies her home one weekend meeting her mother and charming the woman. Now, Gabby is slowly willing to open herself to letting the man into her life. However, she is reluctant to do so as they are from such different backgrounds, how could she ever feel equal to him?

This story is totally heart-wrenching yet so compelling that I couldn’t put it down. Gabby’s insecurity is something I can understand as my childhood was difficult as well. That feeling of not being equal with others is hard for many to understand. I admired Gabby’s determination to take care of her mother in every way she could. There are some tear-jerking moments in this book, but there are definitely hopeful and rewarding times as well. This is the first book I have read by this author and I now count myself as a huge fan and look forward to reading more of her books.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a delightful fit for readers who adore sweet, second-chance romance stories with a touch of small-town charm, self-discovery, and the promise of a happily-ever-after, set against the picturesque backdrop of a close-knit community.

I enjoyed reading The Southern Charmer by Janice Maynard. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

THE SOUTHERN CHARMER – Janice Maynard
Blossom Branch, Book 3
Canary Street Press
ISBN: 978-1-335-52310-5
January 28, 2025
Contemporary Romance

Atlanta & Blossom Branch, Georgia – Present Day

One day, Gabby Nolan happens to run into an old friend, Jason Brightman. She hadn’t seen him since he broke up with her best friend on their wedding day. Since then, Jason has pretty much been a non-gratia person in her circle of friends. But he now seems quiet and is quite insistent to Gabby that they get together as “old friends.” She is in a high-powered job in Atlanta but occasionally returns to Blossom Branch to check on her mother. She agrees to have Jason accompany her back to Blossom Branch for the weekend. However, she is acutely aware that they come from different classes. She was raised in a poor household by her single mother, while his parents are rich and live in a mansion. How can they have anything in common, or be anything between them? But despite her misgivings, the attraction is there. A fling to scratch the itch?

THE SOUTHERN CHARMER is the third and final book in the Blossom Branch series about three best friends. After Cate was jilted by Jason at the altar, she found love with Harry. Their other best friend, Leah, has also found love. Is it Gabby’s turn? She once had a crush on Jason but squelched her feelings after he started dating Cate. Now he’s free but she can’t forget what he did to her best friend. However, Jason claims he has changed, and jilting Cate was actually a good thing he did because they weren’t meant for each other. He keeps insisting that he wants to take Gabby out to dinner, but she tries to push him away. She is too busy, or her mother needs her. Deep down, she doesn’t see how they are a good fit. Can he convince her otherwise?

Readers will sense right away that Gabby lacks confidence in being in a relationship with a man because of how she was raised, plus seeing her mother suffer from mental illness. She gets grumpy with Jason even as he tries to make her smile. He proves to be helpful when it comes to her mother, who happens to like Jason a lot. Everyone around them wants to put them together, except Gabby isn’t amenable. The other part of not wanting to be with Jason has to do with Cate. Would she be betraying her best friend by dating her ex? Jason appears to be a man unsure of what to do next in his life. He is currently remodeling a house intending to flip it. He has the money to do and buy anything he wants but he wants to put his hand into building something. Will he finally decide in this tale what his future holds? Can Gabby accept that fate is giving her a hand in bringing Jason back into her life? Will they find love?

While not a reunited couple romance, THE SOUTHERN CHARMER does bring together a couple who knew each other in the past. Will they get a second chance to find love and happiness together? Find out the answer by grabbing a copy today.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

Gabby Nolan runs into her BFF’s ex, Jason Brightman. Eighteen months ago, Jason left her BFF's at the altar. Gabby finds that Jason has really changed in that time. He has grown into a great guy. She doesn't want to let him into her life. In college she had a crush on Jason and put it aside when he started dating her friend.

I missed the first books in this series but this was just fine as a standalone. Am I the only one who thought Gabby was breaking the girlfriend code? Seriously, Jason left her BFF at the altar and no matter how much she sparked for him,, isn't he supposed to be off limits? Well, he's not and these two do a dance to get over themselves and to accept that they are meant to be. It's not really enemies to lovers but it is a second chance romance. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Good storytelling.

The Southern Charmer by Janice Maynard is a delightful blend of sweetness and spice, making it a truly captivating read!

I didn’t necessarily realize that this was a part of a series until I got the book and researched more on it. I did enjoy the premises and plot of the story however the MMc was not one of my favorites and I really struggled getting through this one. I know that plenty of people will love this one but it was not necessarily for me.

The plot was fun with aspects of a the forbidden romance between Gabby and Jason. However, Jason was not my favorite person. He made too many comments that turned me off of him.

I thought this book was ok. It was the first book I have read by the author. On one hand I thought Gabby was really annoying. At first it seemed like she couldn't pick up her mind until the end. On the other hand, I can understand where her insecurities came from. All in all it had a really good ending. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Ahh this book is the perfect mix of sweet and spicy! Gabby and Jason’s story is an enemies-to-lovers delight, with plenty of tension to keep things interesting. I mean, when a guy leaves your best friend at the altar, he’s pretty much public enemy number one, right? But Gabby’s secret crush on Jason complicates things in the best way.

Their chemistry is off the charts, and watching them work through all that history is both steamy and heartfelt. If you love a Southern setting, fiery romance, and some juicy drama, this book is a fun ride!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to receive the ARC.

Jason and Gabby rekindle their acquaintance after Jason walked away from marrying Gabbys best friend. Their crushes are long-standing. Their relationship seems forbidden, but they both need to get over their pasts to create a hea for themselves. Decent read.

#netgalley #TheSouthernCharmer

Really enjoyed this book! I thought I'd hate the male main character but Janice made you fall in love with him. He's humble, believable, and kind. Everything you'd want a male lead of a romance novel to be. This was the first novel I've read of Janice Maynard's and it won't be my last!

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I liked this sweet story of second chance romance.
However; I didn't like our heroines name as it didn't seem to fit her in my opinion.
Even despite her name I still liked her. Everyone has trust issues.
I liked Jason from the get go. He knew what he wanted and went after it including Gabby.
I loved those two. They were quite well rounded out.
I enjoyed reading and watching their journey through life and becoming the people I knew they could be.
The writing was superb. It flowed nice and smooth and drew me into the story immediately.
I couldn't put the book down it was so good!
These characters grabbed my heart from the beginning and didn't let go. Still haven't let go lol.
I'm looking forward to the next one.
5 stars for a well written story. I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

I really couldn’t stand the MMC 😭 He was so arrogant and made so many comments that gave me the ick. I liked the plot and the FMC was fun to read, but I just couldn’t handle him.