Distilled Heat

Bourbon Springs #6

by Jennifer Bramseth

Welcome to the Land of Bourbon and Bluegrass...Welcome to Bourbon Springs, Kentucky...

Pepper Montrose has only known bad luck for most of her life. But when incredible good luck finally strikes, her life is irrevocably changed by unexpected good fortune—as well as an unexpected encounter with Jon Buckler, her lifelong best friend.

Yet after finding each other, Pepper discovers something that opens old wounds and strikes at the heart of her fears about their new relationship. Jon doesn’t give up and is there for Pepper as she faces new challenges in her new life. His instincts emerge to protect her, but those same instincts end up threatening the future he desperately wants to claim with his best friend....the love of his life.

DISTILLED HEAT is the sixth book in the Bourbon Springs Series. The next book, BOTTLED BLUEGRASS, will be released in 2016.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Romance

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 23, 2016

About the author

Jennifer Bramseth is the author of the Bourbon Springs Series and Bourbonland Series of contemporary romances, and the Devil Springs Cozy Mysteries. She is a Kentucky native and lifelong resident who lives next to a horse farm and within minutes of several bourbon distilleries.

Reviews

[Coco.V]

🎁 The complete Bourbon Springs Series (9 Book Series) in a bow set or individually are FREE on iBooks today and most of them are free on Amazon too(4/1/2020)! 🎁

[Mary Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pepper feels like a new friend. Her life hasn’t been easy but she’s always persevered and made the best of what has happened to her. Then her luck changes and she wins the lottery! This sets all kinds of wheels in motion as she can finally take care of her mother’s health needs and invest in the ranch she has always wanted to purchase, GarnetBrooke. When she enlists her best friend Jon’s help, he laughs believing she is lying. Boy, does he regret that move. Jon is shocked to realize Pepper really did win the lottery and now needs to eat crow to get back in her good graces. They have been best friends for years but recently, he started to see Pepper in a new light and doesn’t know what to do with these new feelings. Will Pepper accept his love? Or will she turn him away? Pepper’s father hurt her deeply so trust is hard for her to give, realizing Jon feels something more for her, well, can she allow herself to realize she is lovable? Will she open herself to love and maybe loss? Once again we get to spend time with the entire community of Bourbon Springs allowing us to interact with couples from the other books to see how their lives are moving forward and impacting this new story. I love this “family” of characters. Their lives feel real while I get sexy romances to devour!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Bramseth has a pretty typical romance formula, boy and girl meet, boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl have a situation that pulls them apart, boy and girl resolve issue and find true love and their happily ever after. Usually, I'm not a fan of these books, so why the 5 star rating?

Ms. Bramseth has hit my sweet spot because this is a series. For a kid who grew up in a small town and understands how they work, this series is like coming home. There are interwoven families, and secrets. You invest in the characters and how they grow up and change, that life has it's ups and downs, it's secrets, and twists and turns. And through it all she builds a family, some are by blood and some are by choice...just like real life, only better, because the girl always finds her Prince Charming. Add in the fact that I'm a southern girl, and she's talking bluegrass and bourbon and I'm hooked. Real life in a small town isn't nearly so interesting so I'll just keep on reading about the folks in Bourbon Springs.

[Paganalexandria]

Currently free in this bundle
https://www.amazon.com/Bourbon-Spring...

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so enjoying this series

[Roslynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the best of friends finally find eachother......what more can you say....
When arrogant and boring finally proves himself to be romantic...The best friend who knows how to love you best.

[Jean Pimental · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I loved this book. Great story about Jon and Pepper. Good idea about saving the horses in a retirement farm.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story between best friends. I agree with Pepper's decision after her luck turns to the better.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read ❤️❤️

[Kina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book 4 hearts

This is the 6th book in the Bourbon springs series. Thought they are all part of the series they can also be read as stand alone books.
Pepper has never had it easy, until the day she wins the lottery, her luck changes and so does her life as she decides to start on a new path. She buys the local thoroughbred farm to turn into a horse rescue but nothing is the same when feelings for her best friend turns into a steamy romance.
Jon was married but his wife left him when it was clear he was in love with his best friend Pepper. That was five years ago and nothing has changed but now that Pepper is finally happy with where her life is taking her and he has his best friend in the way he's always wanted. Now a secret comes along that can tear them apart. Will they be able to get past it to their happily ever after.
Sometimes true love needs a second chance and a lot of understanding.

** reviewer for romance authors that rock

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

You know how the only luck some people seem to have is bad luck? Well, that’s pretty much been Pepper’s life. If it weren’t for bad luck she’d have none at all… to borrow a lyric. Until that day when she took a chance, made a gamble and it paid off so much more than she’d ever dreamed of.

Now she could make those dreams that were hovering around the ends of her wishful thinking imaginings… reality. A horse farm for retired Thoroughbreds, where they could live out their lives in comfort, love and the freedom to just be themselves no longer slave to jockey or race dates.

To set things in motion she needed a lawyer, a very good lawyer that she knew she could trust – her best friend forever, Jon. Except instead of backing her, being happy for her good fortune and future dreams… Jon laughed at her. He thought the whole thing was a fine joke she was playing on an old friend. Wrong move, mister. For a man who should have had some idea of Pepper’s past and her insecurities, and then you laugh when she’s asking for your help. Yeah, very very wrong move.

Pepper found herself another lawyer – and it didn’t hurt one bit that her new legal representative was Jon’s rival attorney in Bourbon Springs. How do you like that joke now Jon?

Of course, Jon has some serious groveling to do once he realized his mistake. Pepper’s temper matches her name and her hair perfectly and she’s not about to let him off the hook easily.

They have a past but Jon is hoping that they also have a future, see he’s been in love with his best friend for a while now. They may have lost touch for a bit, but now Jon knows what he wants and it’s a future with a very spicy lady. Suddenly getting Pepper to understand, believe and accept that fact is vitally important. Because along with good fortune, other things usually crawl out of the woods to try to take the good stuff for themselves. Pepper is going to need Jon, but she is also going to have to get past more than that laugh – their romance is not going to move smoothly but if at the end Jon has Pepper for life it was worth the risks and the trouble.

I enjoyed Distilled Heat, very much. Pepper was a character that I could relate to – having a temper of my own and having to eat crow often because of it, that kinda endeared both Pepper and Jon to me right off the bat. Watching Pepper take on the journey of making her dreams a reality was enjoyable, even when the road was rocky. Encountering old friends from the series and finding perhaps new ones as well is always a treat in a long ongoing series like Bourbon Springs. Knowing that the series was expected to be 9 stories long – I’m hoping Ms Bramseth has something else in store for us once Bourbon Springs wraps up. (hint, hint, *smile*)

If you adore a really good love story, with banter, mistakes, discovery of truth and a happy ending then Distilled Heat should be on your radar. I would have no hesitation is recommending this story or this series to anyone who enjoys a good romance with a strong community feel to it.

*I received an e-ARC of Distilled Heat from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

[Sharon Moritz-rosenthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this entire series from the beginning and I really think the first book is the very best(Featuring Rachel and Brady, two judges and its FREE on Kindle). That said this series is terrific. Every book does stand alone but every book also includes characters from the previous books so if you read the series in order you will know who everyone is and the story will be richer. I especially loved seeing Brady and Rachel again and the fun surprises with their baby.

This story features Pepper who has just won the lottery. She is a new character. She is a schoolteacher who works with Lila but she doesn't know anyone else well. Her best friend is this attorney Jon and the have been BFFs forever. However they have been very platonic.

Pepper who has had very bad luck since she was a teen and her father was convicted of embezzlement and fraud. The one light in her life has been Jon, but when Jon's wife left him, rumors circulated that it was because of Pepper and so they grew apart. However, Pepper does not know but recently Jon wants more with her. One day Peppers luck changes and she wins the lottery. Its also the day Jon is a jerk to her and so she hires another attorney.

Pepper decides to open a horse farm for retiring race horses and she gets a property right across from Old Garnet. However there are problems wih escrow and so she is homeless for a few weeks. Jon trying to make up with his BFF, offers her a room at Hannah and Kyles and helps her move in. That is when the book gets started as Pepper and Jon finally start communicating.

I did enjoy the book and I really liked Jon. This is my favorite excerpt from the book, "“You know who else I am, Pepper Montrose?” he asked in strained voice. He gave her no chance to answer as he put his hands on her face and drew her close. “I’m the man who’s in love with his best friend. How’s that for honesty?”"

Jennifer Bramseth. Distilled Heat: The Bourbon Springs Series, Book 6 (Kindle Locations 1496-1498). Woodford Press.

Pepper has had a hard life and she was much harder to like. She has a hard time with forgiving and forgiving Jon. I felt at times she took things too personally. I loved seeing her get to know the Garnet gang and I loved seeing her horse farm grow to be successful. But at times I felt she was very mean to Jon when she got angry and unforgiving with him.

Together I really loved Jon and Pepper and I loved seeing all the characters from previous books grow and change and have families. I really hope Nina (Walkers sister, gets a book).

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pepper Montrose has had a rough life. She has just won the lottery and can quit her job as an elementary school teacher and take care of her ailing mother. Pepper calls her lifelong best friend, Jon Buckler, who is a local attorney to help her. Jon doesn't believe that she actually won the lottery so Pepper contacts another lawyer. Jon attempts to make amends with Pepper and they fall into a hot affair. When Pepper finds out Jon omitted a truth, she breaks things off with him and focuses on her new home and thoroughbred sanctuary.

Jon does not want to give up on Pepper and their life-long friendship. Will he be able to succeed and win the woman he loves?


I love this series and anxiously await the next book. I was delighted to get "Distilled Heat" as an ARC and didn't put it down until I was done.

Each book had memorable characters and builds where the previous books left off. The books are so well written that you feel like you are part of the town. I wish I could apply to be a tour guide at Old Garnett.

I enjoyed this life-long friend to lovers romance. Pepper and Jon were wonderful characters. I felt sorry for Jon because he took so long to figure out what was right in front of him then he kept messing things up. I loved how Pepper contributed to her community after she had won the lottery.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

[Bernadette Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great to return to Bourbon Springs and catch up with old friends from previous stories. This is the story of Pepper Montrose and Jon Buckler who have been friends since their school days. It is possible to read this story without reading the previous ones, but the experience will be richer by knowing their background.

Pepper has just won the lottery and is looking at a future without financial worries, but when she calls to share the news with Jon, he doesn't believe her story! She is not going to let that betrayal stop her from hiring another lawyer and going forward with her dreams. Jon has only recently discovered that his feelings for Pepper have gone beyond friendship so she tells him to show her how he feels, and their relationship changes into a romantic one.

There will be challenges from Pepper's past and from Jon's law partnership to overcome before these two best friends can move forward, but the author has once again written a wonderful tale of improved relationships and Kentucky bourbon.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Becky Burciaga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms Bramseth's Bourbon Springs series just keeps getting better with each book released. Jon and Pepper's story really touched something within my heart that is hard to explain. I'm sure it is not only that their love story is so moving, but the retired Thoroughbred farm topic set a whole different tone to this story. I sensed this book was more about giving of one's self then any of the others. I was so moved by the retired Thoroughbred story, that I changed my Shop at Amazon designation to Old Friends, a Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Lexington, KY.

Jon and Pepper's story was just so right, I can't think of a better word. Seeing them come together even over mistakes made, really pulled at my heartstrings. And how Jon always kept his promises to Pepper even to the most important one he made, just made him one of the best book boyfriends ever!

This book was provided by the Author for my honest review.

[Janet Overstreet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book.

Jon Buckler and Pepper Montrose had been best friends since they were young. They both married someone else and are now both divorced, but still best friends. Jon is an attorney and Pepper is a financially struggling school teacher. As luck would have it, Pepper won the lottery (a big one). She called Jon because she now needed a legal advisor. Jon didn't take her seriously and laughed because he thought she was joking. That made Pepper angry, so she got one of his rival attorneys to represent her. That, in itself, caused several issues. And somewhere during this time, Jon had the realization that he wanted to be more than friends with Pepper. However, Pepper (with good reason) has trust issues from a family history and it seems over-sensitive to anything Jon does that appears to be untruthful. There's plenty of drama, but everyone has some good learning experiences.

I am still loving this series, more and more with each book.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jon Buckler and Pepper Montrose, after many years as friends, find themselves finally at a place in their lives where friendship may move on to something more. Pepper carries baggage from the past and Jon has been busy dealing with his law practice but then…things change…at least for a while. They do not have smooth sailing with death, family, legal and other issues cropping up to be dealt with. Pepper’s redheaded temper, in my opinion, leads her into acting without thinking things through from time to time and I kept thinking, “Pepper, act instead or reacting.” It was fun seeing some of the characters from previous books in the series and also being introduced to characters that will show up in future books. This was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to learning more about whiskey, horses and perhaps music as the series moves forward.

Thank you to the NetGalley and the author for the copy of this book to read and review.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope this series doesn't end anytime soon. Jennifer Bramseth has cemented herself irrevocably in my favorite author collection. Her stories are such a joy to read that I am always looking ahead to what subject matter she will tackle next and what characters she will use. I received an ARC of Distilled Heat in exchange for an honest review. As always there is a history between the two main characters. Jon and Pepper have been the best of friends for years. As with every relationship there are issues with trust and emotional turmoil but it is so obvious that these two are meant to be. I am so thankful to NetGalley for introducing me to Jennifer Bramseth. She is an author that has a prolific understanding of what is appealing to her audience. I am glad she is finally being discovered by more than just Amazon readers.

[Book Lover · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of this book by NetGalley for an honest review.

This is my first book by this author. While this can be read as a stand alone, some parts of the book would have more sense if read in order. This is a small town, USA book. Everyone knows everyone else or is related.

I had a hard time with Jon and Pepper’s relationship. Jon is a lawyer, and comes off as a bit of a whiner. Pepper is a teacher, lottery winner, turned Race Horse retirement home owner. She gets mad at Jon when he doesn’t break client privilege to tell her what she felt she should have been told.

I did like the proposal and the significance of the engagement ring.

It was an ok read, but not enough to make me want to go back to read the previous books in the series.

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow....it's a good thing I had a vacation day today. I was hooked from the beginning. I'm already planning my trip to Kentucky to see all of the Bourbon distilleries and all of the "horse" farms. I have very vivid pictures in my mind based on Jennifer's character descriptions as well as the outstanding descriptions of the land surrounding Bourbon Springs. I truly felt for Pepper. If there was anyone worthy of winning the lottery and Jon it was her. Although her luck did not immediately turn for the better - she was truly a survivor and overcame many obstacles that many of us face on a daily basis.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do when this series is done. I'm almost feeling like Bourbon Springs is home in my mind! Thank you again Jennifer!

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story!!! As with all of Ms. Bramseth's Bourbon Springs books, this can be read as a stand alone, but flows much easier if you have some background on all of the characters in the book. This is the story of Pepper and Jon, a once poor girl who won the lottery and her best friend, the attorney. Secrets are kept and try to come between them, but determination wins. I absolutely love this series and it is so well written!! Once you start reading you feel like you have been transported to Bourbon Springs and know all of the players. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I promise you will not be disappointed in ANY of the books in this series!!

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from the author. This is another great story from the small town of Bourbon Springs. Distilled Heat is about Jon and Pepper, with Pepper's fiery spirit and Jon's determination, it made for a wonderful love story. I love this series and how the author includes characters from previous books. I recommend starting with book one, which will pull you into the lives of the people of Bourbon Springs. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Thank you Jennifer Bramseth for this wonderful series.

[Antonette Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hit for Jennifer Bramseth!!! One of the things I liked most was that this story wasn't a "far fetched" story. The people,the story plots were real. The plot between Pepper and her father-it happens, the dilemma that Jon goes thru and his internal angst is clearly played out. I just loved how the many different facets of the puzzle all seemed to work out; and of course end up with a HEA ending.

[Kelsey Sooter-walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how well this novel flowed. The trust and honesty along with the lies and betrayals just kept the story going. I did not care for Walt Montrose but fell in love with Pepper and Jon. They both hard hard lives but over came that when a certain lady had enormous luck come her way. I would love to live on a huge horse retirement farm across from a bourbon distillery. Thoroughbreds and bourbon a very lovely combination.

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jon has a great imagination when it comes to his woman and alone time, “because I’m thinking about all the things I want to do to you when we get inside and they’re pretty damned naughty,” he said as he picked up his keys and finally opened the door." I liked this book I fell in love with Jon.

[Brandi Sartin lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book draws you in. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. I love that not only did you get to read about Pepper and Jon's story but the people from the other books are also in each story, so you still know what they are up too.

[Sue Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter what life throws at you, there's always the chance to win the lottery of life. This story is definitely a dream come true in so many ways...though there are twists and turns and adversity to get there!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

[Debra Johnson]

Prch Amz April 7, 2020

[Kate Sokley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series is good but this book was only ok.