Charleston Heat

by Samantha Garman

THIS BOOK IS NO LONGER IN PRINT

Unknown Binding

First published June 1, 2014

About the author

Samantha Garman writes stories of love, laughter, and life. She is a lover of all things romance, a full-time puppy mama, and a bonafide klutz.

When she's not busy spilling things, she can be found reading a book or taking photos of the wee beastie and posting them on Instagram.


WRITING MAFIA ROMANCE AS EMMA SLATE:

The SINS Series
Wreck & Ruin (Blue Angels MC Romance)

Reviews

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really lovely read. I do love a good rocker romance and this certainly didn't disappoint me.

Shays got trust issues. She throws herself into working and time with her friend. Brodie is the delicious drummer in a band. This great story is Shay and Brodie's story.

If your looking for a good rocker story then I really do recommend this little gem.

[Margreet Asselbergs · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating: 4.5 of 5 ⭐️

Working two jobs already, Shay Mahone has just started her third job, intended to finance the renovations required to finalize the yoga studio she and her roommate are hoping to open in the near future. No time or inclination for dating, let alone a relationship, she swiftly sidesteps any and all attempts at setups orchestrated by Charlie, who is afraid that one bad experience will cause his bestie, Shay to let her life pass her by. But instead, bumping into a gorgeous and famous drummer of a popular rockband while working a charity event, stops Shay dead in her tracks.

Typical bad-boy rocker and ladies' man, Brodie Davidson is immediately intrigued by the distinctly unimpressed Shay. Not accustomed to outright rejection, he finds himself more and more attracted as opposed to turned off by the feisty and independent woman. Never one for complicated or lengthy entanglements, Brodie can't help but pursue Shay with everything in his arsenal, but none of his usual plays seem to work on her. It isn't until he reveals a more genuine side of himself that he finally sees a response. Although their mutual chemistry was evident from the start.

For both Shay and Brodie to be swept into something so unexpected and outside of their comfort zone, gives them a sense of freedom neither have experienced before. And as they start exploring each other, they have an opportunity to learn themselves again in a new way. It isn't until the reality of Brodie's life in the spotlight touches their relationship that the intensity and seriousness of their connection is truly tested. Is what they have real enough to survive the intense scrutiny?

******

Very refreshing and unexpected!!! Insightful and introspective from both viewpoints.

Not a story with an extreme arc, but instead a steady development and growth, with distinct learning curves for the main characters, both about the other and themselves. Strong characters to begin with, who already had a set pattern and path in life and needed to find a way to make their relationship work without one or both of them losing their way. Something that we see all too often in romance stories; the sacrifices that apparently are deemed to be necessary in order to achieve love. This story feels very different in that there is equal respect for the life the other has built, regardless of fame and fortune.

Brodie is a distinct Alpha male, however, one with a healthy respect for boundaries.......most of the time. As most men, he has some issues with sharing of himself, but just like a good woman, Shay won't let him get away with that. Just as Brodie won't let Shay get away with hiding and running scared of putting herself out there. She was hurt and although not a wallflower by any means, simply doesn't seem to have the energy right now to take that leap of faith without a good shove. She has a good head on her shoulders and although taking on someone with Brodie's extensive history is not easy, she recognizes his genuine efforts to prove his changed ways.

Great dialogue between the two mains, as well as great interaction with Shay's best friend Charlie, who is a strong third character in this book. He brings in a touch of lighthearted humour that breezes through the story like a fresh wind.

The heat level is most definitely up there and although not over the top, it is quite delicious!

Great writing with a fantastic flow and mature feel. This is my first book by Samantha Garman and I am happy to say I've found another writer to keep a close eye on!

✨A rousing, potent and straight-forward seduction!✨

**Copy provided in return for an honest review**

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick

Charleston Heat is a short and enjoyable read by Samantha Garman. This is the first book of hers that I have read, so I really didn't have any idea what I was in for. I love rockstar romance stories, and I was excited to read about Brodie. I will say that while this one was a good read and I thought it was cute, I did have some mixed feelings. This one just fell a bit flat for me, and wasn't all I had been hoping for.

Having been left by her father and estranged from her mother, Shay isn't close to anyone besides her gay best friend and roommate Charlie. Her college boyfriend tried to use her for her connections, and ever since she has focused on her work. She has three jobs and is working on opening up a yoga studio with Charlie. She ends up meeting drummer Brodie Davidson at a charity event that she is working at, and Brodie instantly starts pursuing her. Shay tries to keep Brodie at arms length but Brodie isn't giving up easily and is determined to get Shay to give them a chance. But can Shay give a relationship a chance, or will his high profile career be more than she can handle?

I liked Brodie and Shay. Brodie was sweet and consistent and I really liked how he was with Shay. He didn't act like your stereotypical rockstar and I really liked that. He did have a past and had been used to lots of women and casual, but he didn't have any problems giving that up for Shay. He knew he wanted her and wasn't afraid to put it all out there. Shay was hard for me to warm up to at first. There wasn't anything wrong with her character, but she was just a bit prickly with even her best friend. She was pretty judgmental also and it annoyed me a bit. I did think that Brodie and Shay had good chemistry and they were great together, but I also thought that their relationship and connection seemed to happen a bit quick. I thought it seemed a bit too insta-love for my taste.

I also felt like this book while good and enjoyable was a bit predictable. There wasn't anything really new or different about this one, and it was easy to put down for me. While I liked the story, I just didn't have to know what would happen next and I did find my mind wandering a few times. I think my main problem is that it just seemed too rushed to me, so it was hard for me to really buy into the relationship and find it to be real and believable. I just didn't think that Brodie would have changed so completely as quick as he did and that he would change Shay's mind as fast as he did. This was a girl who wouldn't even say that she was dating him at first or call him her boyfriend, and then she is moving in with him after a month. I do think that this book is one that contemporary fans will enjoy, but if you are looking for a deeper connection this one might not be for you. I would read more from Garman in the future though, and would be interested to see what else she comes up with.

**ARC Provided by Book Plug Promotions**

[Lustful Literature · Rating 3 out of 5]

** DEBBIE'S 3.5 STAR REVIEW **

The story is based around Shay. Her father abounded her after birth and her mother left her in her grandmother’s care to travel around the world with her new wealthy husband. Shay and her grandmother had a wonderful relationship, the problem was after being left by her mom Shay was angry and had a deep down dislike towards wealthy people.



Shay lives with her gay roommate Charlie who she met her freshman year of college. They have a great relationship and I had many laugh out loud moments reading the things these two said to each other. Shay works three jobs and Shay and her roommate are in the process of opening a Yoga business together. She will manage the books and he is the yoga master.



Shay has kept herself guarded after her one and only relationship with her college sweetheart Dean. That relationship went south after Shay realized Dean only was in the relationship because of her family connections. She dumped him and focused all her energy into her work. She no longer trusted men and basically wanted nothing to do with them anymore.



“I can’t be the girl that changes her entire life because she met a guy.”



Sometimes you can’t predict who you will fall for no matter how hard you try to put walls up and protect yourself. Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and this is what Shay learns when she meets Brodie.



“You’re always wearing your running shoes, getting ready to bolt.”



Brodie is the drummer from a famous rock band who walks into her life and turns it upside down. He will not give up on what he wants and he wants Shay. The chemistry and humor between these two was fantastic. I loved how he didn’t let her get away with anything and no matter how hard she tried to push him away he would not give up. Lets not even get me started with the sex between these two because that was off the charts HOT!!!!



“I’m tired of having to overcome your relationship with Dean, and I’m tired of being punished because of him.”



The book flowed but a few times it seemed a little to rushed. Overall it was a good story that had me smiling and laughing several times.



*received a copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shay Mahone has 100% focus on her goal of owning a yoga studio with her best friend; he’s the yogi, she’s the business mind. To attain her objective, she’s willing to do whatever it takes including work three jobs. With a huge loan to repay for the restoration of their studio, she’s a bookkeeper, cater waitress, and nude model for art school. On the emotional front she happens to despise people of wealth and entitlement, which mainly goes back to abandonment by her mother for a rich stepfather. She also allows this and a failed college relationship to taint her view on men entirely.

As a famous drummer, Brodie Davidson can’t be less of what Shay loathes. He’s affluent and cocky celebrity with woman falling all over him. At a closer look, he is all of those things but also just wants to return home to Charleston because he does not always enjoy the limelight. He hasn’t had a true relationship in forever because he realizes women only want him for his fame and money. He has a softer side which becomes apparent throughout.

Initially Shay comes across as an indisputable self-reliant person who lets know one break through her exterior or come between her and her goals. She’s quite spunky and feisty, having no trouble telling people her thoughts. It’s this behavior coupled with instant physical magnetism that causes Brodie to approach her at a charity function where she’s working. I was a little vexed by how contradictory she was towards him from the get go. I suppose it’s part of the allure of their enchantment with one another but in some ways took away from the projected angst. The relationship moved very quickly from its inception but that still made sense given the characters’ backstories. I found it interesting how Brodie demanded her to open up while he still kept parts of his past hidden, fortunately he did finally give her every part of him. I truly love the secondary characters, her best friend and her grandma. They are quirky, dynamic, and add to the Shay’s growth. Overall, this is a fun and entertaining which allows us to see their entire journey.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

~Complimentary copy received in exchange for honest review.~

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5


Shay Mahone is guarded against love after her ex-boyfriend used her to get her family connections. Understandably, she stays away from dating until she can heal her heartache.

She lives with her best friend Charlie who's also her business partner. Shay has majored in business and she's opening a yoga place with Charlie. In the meantime, she is working 3 jobs. One of those is as a waiter and on a gala night she meets Brodie.

Brodie Davidson is the famous drummer of The Disclaimers. Despite being in the spotlight he's very private. When he meets Shay he really can't keep away. Convincing her to have dinner with him turns out to be more difficult than he thought.

“What? Am I wrong? We’ve spent a weekend together, Brodie. What are you? My insta-boyfriend?”

Suddenly, he smiled. “Just add water.”

Little by little, the more time Shay spends with Brodie the more walls he brings down. Shay learns to open up and discovers that not every guy is like her ex-douchebag boyfriend.

This book have good characters. Shay was guarded and I understood her reasons for being that way. She did push Brodie away several times and I wanted to scream at her for doing it. Don't despair. She sees the light.

Brodie was a winner. He was sweet and didn't play any games. He didn't fight his attraction or stray. He was determined to get the girl. He was funny too.

Now put my toothbrush back in the bathroom—right next to yours—because we aren’t going anywhere.”
“We?”
“Me and the toothbrush.”

There is no cliffhanger.

“God, no. Have you been there? I’d be blinded by all the capped teeth and then smothered to death by a pair of implants. I’m a southern boy at heart. "

3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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[Anny hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provided a copy of the book by the Author for an honest review.

WOW I just finish reading this book, and I love it, love the characters, and love how the book turn out to be, have to say that this book made me angry at some part, but I love every single minute of it, I am gone keep this short since I don't want to give anything away.

The story begin with Shay, after breaking up with her ex boyfriend, she stay clear away from man, and dating, she has three job and she's in the process of opening her yoga studio, with her best friend/roommate, her best friend Charlie had tried to hook her up, but that always fell, one morning while getting ready for her first job, Charlie mention that the drummer from his favorite rock band, just move to Charleston Shay really didn't care about it, since she don't listen to their music, but all that changes when she gets a voicemail from her waitress job, letting her know that she gone be working on a charity party, that's when one of her co-worker tell her you know who is hear, she say no when they say the drummer that his name is Brodie, that's when she sees him, and start to have feelings that she has had in a while, when she start serving champagne, and pass by him she over heard what his date say, and made a notice that was not supposed to be loud, that night Brodie ask her out, what they both where not expecting was that was the night that their life was about to change.

Brodie is everything that Shay don't want and tried to stay away, Shay is everything that Brodie wants, and he always get what he wants, will Shay cave in to her feeling for him, will Brodie fight to keep her by his side.

I really love and enjoy reading this book, I love the way Brodie and Shay banter with each other, I love how they bring out the best in each other, Author Samantha Garman THANK YOU for introducing me to this awesome characters and this amazing book love it.

[Scandalous Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

~*~*~3.5 Stars~*~*~

The first page is this book kicked is a**, my dirty mind immediately went to something naughty but it was all innocent and Kosher I had to laugh out loud went I realized exactly what the scene is. That defiantly caught my attention and made me want to get to know more about the characters Charlie and Shay better.
Shay is an over worked boring individual (Some call it independent) her idea of fun is drinking tea (no kidding) she works three job and is about to open a yoga studio with her fabulous best Friend Charlie who is fun flirty gay and proud. Together they are an interesting duo that's for sure.

Charlie refers to Shay as a ball buster and trust me he is spot on, after her first and only boyfriend Dean broke her heart she has lived a very solitude life staying away from men......that is until Brodie Davidson a famous drummer spot her and sets his sight on claiming her.
For a good portion of the story Shay is her usual miserable self; refusing to go out with him but Brodie, however is used to getting who or whatever he desires. He perseveres fighting the good fight not give up but pressured her until her resolved was worn down.
Brodi's hard work pays off with a little help from the sizzling chemistry between the two. After the stars align for the pair, their relationship progressed pretty fast.
Their connection cannot be denied but this is where I kind of lost interest in the book not because of the writing because the writing is pretty good but the story no longer excited me, I had to force myself to finish but I'm glad that I did.
overall this is a decent well written story. The story is told from Shay's POV.
Both Brodie & Shay had past that impacted on their relationship, will they be able to let goof the past in order to have a future together or will the past take away any chance they have at a future together.
One way to find out.....get the book!!!!
3.5 Stars From Natasha xoxo

[Christina Racich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE a good sexy rocker romance, and this one was no exception. However, I did feel it fell just a bit flat for me, but overall it was enjoyable and entertaining.

Shay has serious issues when it comes to trusting anyone and especially has an issue with anyone with money. The one time she was in love she was used, and the one person she should have been able to rely on the most in her life, chose a life of money over her. She just wants to focus on her new business, and spend time with her best friend and roommate. working multiple jobs and starting a business keeps her distracted from problems.

Brodie is the sexy drummer from a famous band. Shay runs into him at a charity event that she is working at. She is immediately irritated by his choice of women and the fact he is rich and famous. Brodie is immediately interested in Shay and her lack of obvious interest in him. He convinces her to go out and so the story of Shay and Brodie begins.

Brodie has a reputation of being a manwhore. However, Shay makes him want more. Brodie easily slips into the boyfriends role with Shay and proves he is more than what she has been assuming all along. I LOVED seeing a soft, sweet, caring, loving drummer and not just the bad boy persona. However, it was implied that he was a bad boy so I would have liked to see more of that. There was mainly this amazing sweet guy and no hint of bad boy cocky drummer. I also would have liked to see more interaction with the band. I get why they aren't in it, but it was hard to see him as a drummer of a famous band when it didn't seem like the book went there a whole lot. With that said I rate this book 4 stars. Brodie is excellent book boyfriend material, and their story did touch my heart. I just would have liked a little more of the band aspect of the book.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shay is a woman that was scorned by an ex boyfriend who just want to get fame by using her wealthy step father. She is a workaholic and does very little for herself. She has certain things that turn her off about men.

Brodie is a wealthy famous drummer for a band. He is use to getting what he wants without having to ask. He does not flaunt his wealth around like a typical musician usually does.

When Shay is working at an event that the cater she works for is catering she runs into Brodie as she is passing around drinks. Brodie is immediately attracted to her. He asked her to dinner but she refuses or does she? At first seeing Brodie she is making assumptions about he is and what he stands for.

As thing slowly progress between Brodie and Shay things from the past and Brodie's fame come to ahead. Shay gets scared and doesn't know what to think. She wants to run but Brodie is a determined man. The more things happen between them the less scared she gets. But will Shay stay and be able to handle the fame? Will Brodie get tired of trying to chase Shay? How will Shay handle Brodie's past and current fame?

I would recommend this to my friends.

~Lisa The Book Nuts.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Charleston Heat was a fast paced story about Shay Mahone who is independent and hard working. She works 3 jobs to get her new yoga studio up and running with her gay BFF (whom I absolutely loved). She meets the famous Brodie Davidson. He is a drummer for a hot band. He is hot and in demand. And he in drawn immediately to Shay.

Shay hates rich people. Her mom dumped her when she met her rich new husband and now Shay is guarded and skeptical of all rich people. Brodie meets Shay and instantly falls in love. He loves that she doesn't fall for him for who he is. Shay gives him as much lip and she can dish out. Even though she doesn't see Brodie's as a good fit for her, she can't seem to say no to him.

This story follows their relationship and how they both need to work on themselves to make them as a couple work.

[Kylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welllll....ain't this just the spicy little book! I love a good drummer and all their sexiness, and Brodie DEFINITELY fits the part. I love Shay's independent attitude and her drive to get what she wants, not letting a man bring her down! Enter Brodie...and her whole world is blown apart. The man oozes sexiness and independence, yet has that soft side of him that craves a one on one relationship...something he thought he would never want.
If you like the rocker books, this one is fabulous without getting too much into the music scene. This is more of a behind the scenes type, the band finding the one thing that anchors them. First book I have read by Samantha Garman and it's a hit!!

[Renee at Book Happiness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for an honest review. This was such a good read that I had a hard time putting it down. I found it to be hot, sexy and funny.
First you have Shay who is gun-shy to say the least because of past relationships and then you have Brodie who is a famous drummer who see's Shay and falls instantly in lust..Then you have Charlie, Shays roommate and best friend who is the best comic relief.
This was just a very enjoyable read. Once I picked it up I had a hard time putting it down..
This is the first book I have read by this author and will say that it definitely will NOT be my last.

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads."

This lovely romance, which heats up very nicely is a great read. It turns on its head the usual preconceptions of rock star books, and gives us a different view of life as a star. The heat between the two characters is evident, and cannot be denied.

Find a quiet spot and indulge - I recommend it.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this may be one of my favorite Romance books I've read in a while. I loved that the characters were humanly flawed & believably so. Brodie was all kinds of hot - rock star swagger mixed with genuine nice guy-ness. I very much hope that Charlie gets his own story. :)

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book as a first reads giveaway. I was a little hesitant about a "rocker" romance but the book did not disappoint. Characters were well rounded and the story line was thoroughly engrossing. Thank you for a fun read.

[Paige Whitecotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!!