What do you think?
Rate this book
Slow Burn #2
Melt for You
A wallflower gets seduction tips from a playboy athlete—until love changes the rules.
Socially awkward Joellen Bixby has a date every Saturday—with her cat, a pint of ice cream, and fantasies of the way-too-handsome Michael Maddox. She’d give anything to win over the unattainable CEO of her firm, but how can she when she blends in so well with her cubicle? The answer may be closer than she thinks.
Cameron McGregor is a cocky, tattooed Scottish rugby captain who just moved in next door. He’s not Jo’s type—at all—but the notorious playboy is offering to teach the wallflower everything he knows about inspiring desire. Though a lot of women have rumpled Cam’s kilt, Jo is special. Far from the ugly duckling she thinks she is, in Cam’s eyes she’s sharp, funny, and effortlessly sexy. Now, thanks to him, Jo is blooming with confidence and has the man of her dreams within reach.
Unfortunately for Cam, he’s just helped to push the woman of his dreams into the arms of another man—and now he’s in the fight of his life to keep this beauty from getting away.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2018
About the author
J.T. Geissinger
36 books17.1k followersJ.T. Geissinger is a USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author of thirty-two novels. Ranging from funny, feisty romcoms to intense erotic thrillers, her books have sold over fifteen million copies and been translated into more than twenty languages.
She is a three-time nominee in both contemporary and paranormal romance for the RITA® Award, the highest distinction in romance fiction from the Romance Writers of America®. She is also a recipient of the Prism Award for Best First Book, the Golden Quill Award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, and the HOLT Medallion for Best Erotic Romance.
Newsletter ➡️ http://bit.ly/1IbgZZI
Reader group ➡️ http://bit.ly/2xbtnY3
Amazon ➡️ http://amzn.to/1xQN4za
She is a three-time nominee in both contemporary and paranormal romance for the RITA® Award, the highest distinction in romance fiction from the Romance Writers of America®. She is also a recipient of the Prism Award for Best First Book, the Golden Quill Award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, and the HOLT Medallion for Best Erotic Romance.
Newsletter ➡️ http://bit.ly/1IbgZZI
Reader group ➡️ http://bit.ly/2xbtnY3
Amazon ➡️ http://amzn.to/1xQN4za
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,860 reviews
February 12, 2020
JTG has excelled herself! I loved the evolution of Cam's and Joellen's relationship; from enemies to friends to lovers. Not only is this story extremely funny, it is also quite emotional.
*Arc provided by Netgalley*
![Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1626057011i/10717098._UX200_CR0,33,200,200_.jpg)
April 21, 2018
Melt For You is book two in the Slow Burn series by J.T. Geissinger. This book! I loved the first book in this series, Burn For You, so much. Sometimes when you love a first book that much, the second just can’t live up to your expectations. That is NOT the case here. Cameron McGregor managed to have me reduced to a puddle of goo in no time. If I had one little tiny complaint with this it’s that the entire book is told from the heroine’s point of view. I would give just about anything to have gotten in to Cam’s head.
Cameron McGregor is the captain of his Rugby team, the Red Devils, in Scotland. He is a huge celebrity in Scotland and along with that celebrity comes all the pitfalls of being famous. Cam’s public relations team thought it might be good for him to get out of town for a bit. He has traded apartments for a month with his cousin in Manhattan for a sort of forced vacation.
Joellen Bixby has spent her life feeling like she is less than everyone else. She thinks she is overweight, clumsy, gets tongue tied easily. Joellen works for Maddox Publishing. She loves books and it’s a dream job. She’s been there for ten years. She’s also been in love with her boss, Michael Maddox, for the entire ten years. He’s perfect in every way but she only worships him from afar.
Cameron’s love of rap music played so loud it rattles the walls of the apartment building is what brings Joellen to his door the first time. She is greeted by a mountain of a man with an aversion to wearing shirts and a love for wearing kilts. To say that their relationship had a rocky start would be an understatement. But somehow Cam was able to whittle away at Joellen’s resolve and win her over. She eventually admitted her love for her boss and Cam vows to help her win him by teaching her about healthy eating, exercise, and the art of seduction.
I feel like I should stop there because the rest you pretty much need to experience on your own. When I was reading this, I heard all of Cam’s lines in my head with his Scottish accent. He was hilarious and sweet and flawed and sexy and, well, you get the picture. I loved him. He did not tolerate Joellen’s self disgust and helped her to see herself in a different way, perhaps through his eyes. The things this man said!
And Joellen! I don’t know how any family could be so unaware of the impact of their words on their own daughter. Meeting Cameron was the best thing that could have ever happened to her. I loved watching their relationship build, and the impact he had on her self confidence. He became the voice in her head, reminding her of her self worth. It was a beautiful thing.
This book is laugh out loud funny (always at inopportune times I might add.) It is sweet and sexy and I loved every word of every page. I believe this is the third book I’ve read of J.T. Geissinger’s and I now consider myself a devoted fan. You can definitely read this if you haven’t read the first book. I do highly recommend them both, though.
Cameron McGregor is the captain of his Rugby team, the Red Devils, in Scotland. He is a huge celebrity in Scotland and along with that celebrity comes all the pitfalls of being famous. Cam’s public relations team thought it might be good for him to get out of town for a bit. He has traded apartments for a month with his cousin in Manhattan for a sort of forced vacation.
Joellen Bixby has spent her life feeling like she is less than everyone else. She thinks she is overweight, clumsy, gets tongue tied easily. Joellen works for Maddox Publishing. She loves books and it’s a dream job. She’s been there for ten years. She’s also been in love with her boss, Michael Maddox, for the entire ten years. He’s perfect in every way but she only worships him from afar.
Cameron’s love of rap music played so loud it rattles the walls of the apartment building is what brings Joellen to his door the first time. She is greeted by a mountain of a man with an aversion to wearing shirts and a love for wearing kilts. To say that their relationship had a rocky start would be an understatement. But somehow Cam was able to whittle away at Joellen’s resolve and win her over. She eventually admitted her love for her boss and Cam vows to help her win him by teaching her about healthy eating, exercise, and the art of seduction.
I feel like I should stop there because the rest you pretty much need to experience on your own. When I was reading this, I heard all of Cam’s lines in my head with his Scottish accent. He was hilarious and sweet and flawed and sexy and, well, you get the picture. I loved him. He did not tolerate Joellen’s self disgust and helped her to see herself in a different way, perhaps through his eyes. The things this man said!
And Joellen! I don’t know how any family could be so unaware of the impact of their words on their own daughter. Meeting Cameron was the best thing that could have ever happened to her. I loved watching their relationship build, and the impact he had on her self confidence. He became the voice in her head, reminding her of her self worth. It was a beautiful thing.
This book is laugh out loud funny (always at inopportune times I might add.) It is sweet and sexy and I loved every word of every page. I believe this is the third book I’ve read of J.T. Geissinger’s and I now consider myself a devoted fan. You can definitely read this if you haven’t read the first book. I do highly recommend them both, though.
June 28, 2018
Update 11/5/18
Safety: NOT safe. Hero has ONS with a stranger he picked up at a bar. Heroine hears them having monkey sex against the door (for a change this one was mortified rather than aroused by it).
He then comes to heroine’s flat, almost naked, to confront her about being a “peeping Tom”, dismisses the OW absolutely callously in front of heroine while having a conversation with her (my guess, by now his interest is piqued by heroine, ONS no longer required).
I dunno HOW this piece of vital info was missing.
However manwhore hero vs spineless self loathing doormat heroine?
Heroine STILL takes the cake.
1.5 star rounded up. I once rounded down but that seemed unfair because the writing is excellent.
Update: 7/5/18
This was one of those reformed playboy teaching wallflower heroine how to be a seductress trope. Which is an overly exhausted trope. And frankly speaking a disturbing one at that.
The player, in both figurative and literal sense, as hero is a rugby player, has controversy following him, therefore the change of scenario. To say he was cocky and arrogant would be an understatement.
However despite my blatant double standards and an obvious bias towards female protagonist, and my blatant disrespect for manwhores, reformed or otherwise, I still warmed up to the hero. I was ok with accepting his reformed character if not entirely happy about it.
However, the female protagonist in this novel, has taken the cake as far as doucheness and stupidity goes when she wasn’t too busy wallowing in self pity and self hatred, she was lusting after her boss, who for the entire length of her career has been married. I have once said that this author’s characters are never strictly moral, if not completely immoral. Exhibit A. If she could get a little break between the self loathing and unrequited lusting, she was too busy being a doormat to her other boss/colleague.
I have read very few books where the heroine is as completely spineless as this particular one. Her collective rage is only directed towards hero, who’s sin isn’t really that significant (one can hardly be chastised for their terrible taste in music, and as for the volume, even I AM capable of asking my neighbors in a civil way). The amount of body shaming done by this heroine to herself gave ME complex and I’m a narcissist!
Now to the best part, why I feel she was irredeemable? Well, she’s getting “coached” by the hero, has deeper feelings for the hero, but at 80% of the book, she’s still not capable of adulting and decision making? She seemed to be the only one who bought her sleazy boss’s sob divorce story. And at the end she turned to the H, why? Not because she discovered her love for him, but because she was rebounding. Her idol seemed to have feet of clay and then, only then did she turn to the H.
H, despite being a rake, was actually dead set on commitment from the beginning. The push from heroine at the end was not only unnecessary but was downright insulting. Yes, he was younger than her, yes he lived continents apart, yes she’d have to leave her life (which isn’t really worth much) behind if she took a chance at him, however when exactly has this guy given her any indication that he wasn’t all in?
The comeuppance of the bad guy? Not even remotely satisfactory.
However despite the whole HEA, I couldn’t help thinking that for all his sins, hero was the better person here, he was the bigger person here and he really was shortchanged. He deserved better, but I guess he was happy with h, and shared custody of Mr Bingley the cat, so we’ll have to be happy too.
=======
I hated, HATED the female character and I didn't find her redeemable whatsoever.
Review pending.
#ARC #MeltForYou #NetGalley
Safety: NOT safe. Hero has ONS with a stranger he picked up at a bar. Heroine hears them having monkey sex against the door (for a change this one was mortified rather than aroused by it).
He then comes to heroine’s flat, almost naked, to confront her about being a “peeping Tom”, dismisses the OW absolutely callously in front of heroine while having a conversation with her (my guess, by now his interest is piqued by heroine, ONS no longer required).
I dunno HOW this piece of vital info was missing.
However manwhore hero vs spineless self loathing doormat heroine?
Heroine STILL takes the cake.
1.5 star rounded up. I once rounded down but that seemed unfair because the writing is excellent.
Update: 7/5/18
This was one of those reformed playboy teaching wallflower heroine how to be a seductress trope. Which is an overly exhausted trope. And frankly speaking a disturbing one at that.
The player, in both figurative and literal sense, as hero is a rugby player, has controversy following him, therefore the change of scenario. To say he was cocky and arrogant would be an understatement.
However despite my blatant double standards and an obvious bias towards female protagonist, and my blatant disrespect for manwhores, reformed or otherwise, I still warmed up to the hero. I was ok with accepting his reformed character if not entirely happy about it.
However, the female protagonist in this novel, has taken the cake as far as doucheness and stupidity goes when she wasn’t too busy wallowing in self pity and self hatred, she was lusting after her boss, who for the entire length of her career has been married. I have once said that this author’s characters are never strictly moral, if not completely immoral. Exhibit A. If she could get a little break between the self loathing and unrequited lusting, she was too busy being a doormat to her other boss/colleague.
I have read very few books where the heroine is as completely spineless as this particular one. Her collective rage is only directed towards hero, who’s sin isn’t really that significant (one can hardly be chastised for their terrible taste in music, and as for the volume, even I AM capable of asking my neighbors in a civil way). The amount of body shaming done by this heroine to herself gave ME complex and I’m a narcissist!
Now to the best part, why I feel she was irredeemable? Well, she’s getting “coached” by the hero, has deeper feelings for the hero, but at 80% of the book, she’s still not capable of adulting and decision making? She seemed to be the only one who bought her sleazy boss’s sob divorce story. And at the end she turned to the H, why? Not because she discovered her love for him, but because she was rebounding. Her idol seemed to have feet of clay and then, only then did she turn to the H.
H, despite being a rake, was actually dead set on commitment from the beginning. The push from heroine at the end was not only unnecessary but was downright insulting. Yes, he was younger than her, yes he lived continents apart, yes she’d have to leave her life (which isn’t really worth much) behind if she took a chance at him, however when exactly has this guy given her any indication that he wasn’t all in?
The comeuppance of the bad guy? Not even remotely satisfactory.
However despite the whole HEA, I couldn’t help thinking that for all his sins, hero was the better person here, he was the bigger person here and he really was shortchanged. He deserved better, but I guess he was happy with h, and shared custody of Mr Bingley the cat, so we’ll have to be happy too.
=======
I hated, HATED the female character and I didn't find her redeemable whatsoever.
Review pending.
#ARC #MeltForYou #NetGalley
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2018
Available Now
This book was awesome. I really enjoyed it. I laughed a lot through this one, I swooned, man did I swoon for Cameron McGregor.
JoEllen has been secretly crushing on her married boss CEO for the last 10 years, yes you read this right. She’s 36, single, her best friend is her cat, she talks to her elderly neighbors friends, this poor girl has no life. Until her neighbors cousin (who swapped flats for a month over the holidays) comes over from Scotland to get away from his troubles. He is everything that drives JoEllen crazy.
JoEllen finally knocks on his door to ask him to turn down his filthy music she can’t stand. Cameron opening his door starts this crazy journey.
JoEllen is putting in a lot of extra time at the office to avoid seeing her new temporary neighbor, over a weekend she comes face to face with her dream guy, her crush of a decade, her married boss, Michael Maddox. Her day is made when Michael tells her he’s getting a divorce. Ohhhhh let the games begin 😁
JoEllen needs some help, she's inexperienced and she definitely doesn't want to mess up an opportunity to make her dreams come true. So why not enlist the help of one of the hottest guys, that is living across from you, help?? And of course, remember, don't fall in love with his humor, his kindness, his passion, his boldness, and most of all his handsomeness. After all, you have the chance to get the man of your dreams from the past 10 years....... So in the end, does JoEllen find herself loving her dream man, Michael, or her crazy obnoxious neighbor, Cameron?
I don’t want to say much more, don’t want to give away all that transpired during this great read. It’s a journey indeed, a slow burning, face palming journey. I enjoyed it, could have strangled JoEllen several times, but in the end, I was smiling and still wanting more ❤️
I definitely recommend this one to you slow burning lovers, that love a read full of humor and love. There is no love triangle, no cheating, just simply love, humor, and growth!!
My favorite quote :
“Your body isn’t a thing to be looked at and judged against some standard of perfection that doesn’t even really exist. It’s the vessel that takes you through life, allowin you to experience all the beautiful things life has to offer. Food. Sex. Sunsets. Music. Hugs. Laughter. A healthy body is a gift. Don’t take it for granted. Don’t treat it like some cheap one-night stand. Treat it like the love of your life. Treat it with respect and tenderness, but most of all, gratitude.”
It's crazy when you realize your dreams are right in front of you
This book was awesome. I really enjoyed it. I laughed a lot through this one, I swooned, man did I swoon for Cameron McGregor.
JoEllen has been secretly crushing on her married boss CEO for the last 10 years, yes you read this right. She’s 36, single, her best friend is her cat, she talks to her elderly neighbors friends, this poor girl has no life. Until her neighbors cousin (who swapped flats for a month over the holidays) comes over from Scotland to get away from his troubles. He is everything that drives JoEllen crazy.
JoEllen finally knocks on his door to ask him to turn down his filthy music she can’t stand. Cameron opening his door starts this crazy journey.
JoEllen is putting in a lot of extra time at the office to avoid seeing her new temporary neighbor, over a weekend she comes face to face with her dream guy, her crush of a decade, her married boss, Michael Maddox. Her day is made when Michael tells her he’s getting a divorce. Ohhhhh let the games begin 😁
JoEllen needs some help, she's inexperienced and she definitely doesn't want to mess up an opportunity to make her dreams come true. So why not enlist the help of one of the hottest guys, that is living across from you, help?? And of course, remember, don't fall in love with his humor, his kindness, his passion, his boldness, and most of all his handsomeness. After all, you have the chance to get the man of your dreams from the past 10 years....... So in the end, does JoEllen find herself loving her dream man, Michael, or her crazy obnoxious neighbor, Cameron?
I don’t want to say much more, don’t want to give away all that transpired during this great read. It’s a journey indeed, a slow burning, face palming journey. I enjoyed it, could have strangled JoEllen several times, but in the end, I was smiling and still wanting more ❤️
I definitely recommend this one to you slow burning lovers, that love a read full of humor and love. There is no love triangle, no cheating, just simply love, humor, and growth!!
My favorite quote :
“Your body isn’t a thing to be looked at and judged against some standard of perfection that doesn’t even really exist. It’s the vessel that takes you through life, allowin you to experience all the beautiful things life has to offer. Food. Sex. Sunsets. Music. Hugs. Laughter. A healthy body is a gift. Don’t take it for granted. Don’t treat it like some cheap one-night stand. Treat it like the love of your life. Treat it with respect and tenderness, but most of all, gratitude.”
It's crazy when you realize your dreams are right in front of you
July 14, 2021
5 Prince Pantydropper Stars ⭐
My sexual dry spell has been going on so long it’s less of a drought and more of a biblical pestilence.
Our frumpy heroine Joellen has been in love with her unattainable boss for the better part of 10 years. Good news is that he's getting a divorce which technically makes him available. However what chance does a dishevelled women wearing clothing covered in cat hair and no self esteem have? Surprisingly a good one.
With a new tenant across the hall, as first encounters go, this was a doozy. Joellen is unimpressed to interrupt an orgy held by none other than Scotland's rugby champion Cameron McGregor. What begins as a battle of wills, somehow ends with Joellen preparing meals for the big lug in exchange for peace and quiet. And she quickly acknowledges that Cam is growing on her like some kind of fungus...
“You thought I was all beauty and no brains, darlin’?”
I produce an unladylike snort. “More like all ego and no manners.”
He glances up at me from under his lashes and sends me a lazy smile. “So you’re not denyin’ you think I’m beautiful.”
My eye roll is extravagant. “You’re depriving some poor village of its idiot.”
As Cam gets to know Joellen, he realises that her confidence needs a serious boost and he's the right man for the job. But while Cam is pulling out all the stops, Joellen can't see what's right in front of her. Because she's in love with her boss, isn't she?
“Tch. Just admit it. You’re in love with me.” He bumps me with his elbow, and I send him a look designed to melt his face.
“Love? Hardly. If you were on a life support machine, I’d unplug it to charge my phone.”
Sometimes you just need a book to soothe your soul. Melt For You did that for me. A gorgeous Scot in a kilt and an Ugly Duckling that just needed her time to shine. Once her blinkers were removed, Joellen finally realised that what she always needed was right on her doorstep. I smiled, I laughed and I swooned. I also floved Cam McGregor. This was a fantastic heartwarming romance. 💘
My sexual dry spell has been going on so long it’s less of a drought and more of a biblical pestilence.
Our frumpy heroine Joellen has been in love with her unattainable boss for the better part of 10 years. Good news is that he's getting a divorce which technically makes him available. However what chance does a dishevelled women wearing clothing covered in cat hair and no self esteem have? Surprisingly a good one.
With a new tenant across the hall, as first encounters go, this was a doozy. Joellen is unimpressed to interrupt an orgy held by none other than Scotland's rugby champion Cameron McGregor. What begins as a battle of wills, somehow ends with Joellen preparing meals for the big lug in exchange for peace and quiet. And she quickly acknowledges that Cam is growing on her like some kind of fungus...
“You thought I was all beauty and no brains, darlin’?”
I produce an unladylike snort. “More like all ego and no manners.”
He glances up at me from under his lashes and sends me a lazy smile. “So you’re not denyin’ you think I’m beautiful.”
My eye roll is extravagant. “You’re depriving some poor village of its idiot.”
As Cam gets to know Joellen, he realises that her confidence needs a serious boost and he's the right man for the job. But while Cam is pulling out all the stops, Joellen can't see what's right in front of her. Because she's in love with her boss, isn't she?
“Tch. Just admit it. You’re in love with me.” He bumps me with his elbow, and I send him a look designed to melt his face.
“Love? Hardly. If you were on a life support machine, I’d unplug it to charge my phone.”
Sometimes you just need a book to soothe your soul. Melt For You did that for me. A gorgeous Scot in a kilt and an Ugly Duckling that just needed her time to shine. Once her blinkers were removed, Joellen finally realised that what she always needed was right on her doorstep. I smiled, I laughed and I swooned. I also floved Cam McGregor. This was a fantastic heartwarming romance. 💘
August 2, 2020
4 Stars
November 21, 2018
I loved Book 1 in this series very much and I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone.
Usually, Ms Geissinger's books are a hit for me and I really wanted to love this book, too but it really got on my nerves on many levels.
It is too hard to rate this book because it had its fun & sweet moments but the frustrating ones outweighed the good ones as far as I was concerned.
***********************************************
Characters: Joellen, Cam & Michael
(Kind of a love triangle - a silly one, though)
1. The hero, Cam, is a world*famous rugby player. He is 29 years old. He is a bad boy & a man-whore…. Until he meets her.
Then he stops f*king around and he is all good. He quickly starts to redeem himself and the more I read, the more I liked him. Despite his childish acts and his big ego, he was a sweetheart and a keeper.
Also, he says, "Aye" and "Lass"... What else do you need? He is a charming Scottish man who has a sexy as hell accent... :)
2. The heroine is a self-loathing person who thinks she is fat, ugly and undeserving of anyone or anything good. Her self-hatred is beyond bearable levels. She is 36 years old and she still hasn't lived much in her life. She dedicated herself to her job only and she has a cat and and old lady as friends.
I hated her first, but then, when she explained how her family made her think and feel so, I kind of pitied her and my heart ached for her. The more I got to learn about her past and childhood, the more I understood why she was socially awkward with a low self-esteem.
Joellen has been in unrequited love & lust for her married boss Michael for the past 10 years and she wasted that much of her life fantasizing about him. Now, he announces that he is divorcing his wife and although Joellen cannot hope he would be his, she still enjoys the news.
It is during this time that Cam comes into her life. He exchanged houses with his cousin and thus, he became Joellen's neighbor for the holiday season.
The banter and friendship between Cam and Joellen is sweet and fun. Cam is really intuitive and slowly, he makes her feel comfortable in her own skin.
Cam pretends as if he is helping her to look and feel better so that she can now seduce her boss Michael, who is going to be single soon. However, it is so clear that Cam wants Joellen for himself. Meanwhile, Michael also shows his interest in Joellen, which surprises her immensely.
The thing is I still don’t know what Cam loved about Joellen other than the meals he made her cook for him. She was a pathetic person with her on-going self-hatred and up until %80 of the book, she was obsessed with this Michael character.
***********************************************
Despite being a doormat to everyone else, not being able to defend herself to anyone, Joellen was able to come up with all those smart and funny remarks when Cam was involved.
For this reason, her character didn’t make sense to me.
- She is a doormat to the people at work or to the people in her private life, even to her family.
- She is pathetic in her own mind.
- She can’t even take a compliment properly. She thinks the worst about herself.
Then, this pathetic person makes the smartest jokes when she is with Cam or sometimes in her own mind.
I liked the banter between Joellen & Cam but a woman who can make such good banter with a hot guy who is world-famous shouldn’t be that tongue-tied at work when her superior insults her or treats her in an unfair way.
She was a walking talking contradiction.
If she were also a doormat and pathetic in the presence of Cam, that would have made sense but she was all sass when she was with him and then she was pathetic and tongue-tied with others.
Also, she was unbelievably stupid. Only an idiot or a blind person would not understand how Cam felt for her but she refused to see or understand it. She assumed other things all the time.
***********************************************
What bothered me most in this book was that she was in some kind of stupid love with her boss till %80 percent of the book while also lusting for Cam at the same time. It was only when she saw that her boss Michael was not the person she had been idealizing and romanticizing for years but an as*hole, she turned to Cam. It felt like Cam was her second choice.
Poor Cam, he even reads their sexting to give her some love advice... Oh, I don't believe she deserved Cam...
Only when Michael shows his ugly face, then... only then, Cam it is! That's why, I couldn't feel her love for Cam as strongly as I felt Cam's love for her.
What she did felt like, "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe... Oh, Cam it is!"
Why would the writer make Michael a very very bad person for Joellen to realize Cam was a better option?
I would have appreciated it more if both Michael and Cam were good but the more she got to know both of them, the more she fell out of love with Michael and fell in love with Cam. The way she discovered how awful a person Michael was seemed to be the main reason she turned to Cam and I didn’t like it.
Also, the way Michael slowly turns into this horrible person didn’t feel convincing to me, either. I didn't see it coming.
***********************************************
I like books with good banter. I like stories that make me laugh. I like it when the characters involve in hot and fun banter but in this book, it was EXAGGERATED.
How can every thought in her mind be phrased in such complex and funny sentences?
The best stand-up comedians would fall short of doing this but Joellen is somehow a “too funny stand up comedian” in her mind and when she is with Cam.
I just stopped laughing at her antiques after a while, thinking that her character was not convincing. Sometimes less is more and in this book, I needed less funny statements so that I can appreciate the good banter and funny jokes when they come at appropriate times, but not always as in this book.
Well, this is me, I am usually too picky. I believe this is a book most readers will have a good time with and end up loving it because it really has its good moments, I cannot deny it. If you are not as critical as me, you may enjoy it more so I can still recommend the book if you don't bother the things that got on my nerves...
***********************************************
Some quotes from the book that will show you that, despite my criticisms, the book has its good moments...
“Oh!” I cover my mouth with my hand. “Michael, I’m so sorry!”
I am not sorry, not one tiny bit, and have probably just damned myself to hell for that flat-out lie and how jubilant I feel hearing this poor man’s awful news. His marriage is falling apart, and meanwhile I could light up ten city blocks with my joyous glow. I’m incandescent with bliss and have to restrain myself from doing a happy dance around my cubicle.
I’m a terrible, terrible person.
***
“What?” says Cam to me, not looking up from the cat. “You thought I was all beauty and no brains, darlin’?”
I produce an unladylike snort. “More like all ego and no manners.”
He glances up at me from under his lashes and sends me a lazy smile. “So you’re not denyin’ you think I’m beautiful.”
My eye roll is extravagant. “You’re depriving some poor village of its idiot!”
***
“The heart wants what it wants,” Cam says, watching me steadily. “But sometimes what you think is love is just a beautiful form of self-destruction. The worst thing in life is to give yourself away in exchange for nothing.”
***
“My God, that Scottish brogue.” Her shiver of delight is audible. “And a sense of humor, too!”
“What did he say that was funny?”
“That you two were in love!”
“Oh, that. Yeah, he’s a real laugh a minute,” I say drily, shaking my head. Then something strikes me. “Why was that funny?”
My mother laughs. “Oh, honey! As if a man like that could fall in love with you!”
***
Over the line comes a blistering silence, then Cameron’s voice, hard as stone. “I don’t ever wanna hear you put yourself down again, Joellen. Don’t do it out loud, and don’t do it in your head, either. Show yourself some damn respect, woman, or no one else will.”
***
“I admit that I’ve seen people like you before, but I’ve had to pay an entry fee at the circus to do so.”
He purses his lips and looks me up and down. “Just make it easier on yourself, darlin’, and admit you’re wild for me and are dyin’ to bring a few dozen little McGregors into the world.”
“You’re delusional.”
“You’re massively in love with me.”
“I’m massively in dislike with you.”
“You’ve finally figured out I’m the real man of your dreams.”
“I’ve finally figured out how you got here. Someone left your cage door open.”
***
“You were kicked out of Scotland because you’re so annoying, right? Everyone got together and agreed to throw you out for the greater good of the country?”
He’s trying not to laugh, pressing his lips together. “You’d know if you googled me.”
“I am not googling you, egosaurus.”
***
Sounding miserable, Michael sighs again. “I’m sorry. I’m putting you in a terrible position. I’m being an idiot. I never should have opened my mouth.”
Too late. He’s opened Pandora’s box now, and all the devilish little creatures are running amok, screaming in glee throughout my reproductive organs. “You were going to kiss me, weren’t you.”
...
I start laughing and can’t stop. Michael Maddox was going to kiss me. I can’t wait to get home to tell Cam.
***
Heat begins to creep up my neck. “You know exactly how you look, McGregor.”
“Beauty’s in the eye of the beholder, lass. I dunno how I look to you.”
Looking into his eyes, I say quietly, “To me you look like a man everyone underestimates, objectifies, and misjudges because of his appearance. To me you look like a man who’s thoughtful, insightful, and kind, but hopes no one will notice because it will be mistaken for weakness. To me you look like a man who hides his pain behind smiles and buries it in women and tries everything he can to forget whatever’s hurting him but can’t because he’s got a soft heart that scars easily, but no one has ever looked close enough to see.”
***
He’s deadly serious, all traces of teasing gone. I’m not sure how to respond to this sudden change of mood, but he’s not finished talking. “And another thing. Learn to stop saying ‘Sorry,’ and say ‘Don’t interrupt me.’ Learn to say ‘No’ and ‘None of your business.’ Learn to be unapologetic for who you are and what you like and the opinions you hold. I know you think that if other people considered you beautiful, all your problems would be solved, but you’d just have different problems. And they’d all still revolve around the fact that deep down, you don’t think you’re good enough. That’s a lie you learned, and you can unlearn it, but it has to start with you. You have to decide to accept yourself. It’s cliché, but you really do have to love yourself before you can love anyone else.”
***
All I see is Cam’s face. All I hear is his voice telling me I’m perfect. Well, I also hear the critical voice that’s always with me telling me that Cam has obviously ingested a lot of drugs if he thinks I’m anywhere close to perfect, but I force that voice to a dark corner of my mind and allow myself to accept that maybe I don’t have to be perfect. Maybe having one person who thinks I am is enough. Maybe his belief in me can be the seed that takes root in the stubborn, self-loathing dirt of my mind and grows into a garden of self-acceptance. Or maybe I’m nuts.
***
Cam instantly pronounces, “As soon as you want.” I laugh, delighted as always by the ease at which he’ll agree to anything I ask if he gets some attention in return. The man is a love sponge. He can’t soak up enough.
Usually, Ms Geissinger's books are a hit for me and I really wanted to love this book, too but it really got on my nerves on many levels.
It is too hard to rate this book because it had its fun & sweet moments but the frustrating ones outweighed the good ones as far as I was concerned.
***********************************************
Characters: Joellen, Cam & Michael
(Kind of a love triangle - a silly one, though)
1. The hero, Cam, is a world*famous rugby player. He is 29 years old. He is a bad boy & a man-whore…. Until he meets her.
Then he stops f*king around and he is all good. He quickly starts to redeem himself and the more I read, the more I liked him. Despite his childish acts and his big ego, he was a sweetheart and a keeper.
Also, he says, "Aye" and "Lass"... What else do you need? He is a charming Scottish man who has a sexy as hell accent... :)
2. The heroine is a self-loathing person who thinks she is fat, ugly and undeserving of anyone or anything good. Her self-hatred is beyond bearable levels. She is 36 years old and she still hasn't lived much in her life. She dedicated herself to her job only and she has a cat and and old lady as friends.
I hated her first, but then, when she explained how her family made her think and feel so, I kind of pitied her and my heart ached for her. The more I got to learn about her past and childhood, the more I understood why she was socially awkward with a low self-esteem.
Joellen has been in unrequited love & lust for her married boss Michael for the past 10 years and she wasted that much of her life fantasizing about him. Now, he announces that he is divorcing his wife and although Joellen cannot hope he would be his, she still enjoys the news.
It is during this time that Cam comes into her life. He exchanged houses with his cousin and thus, he became Joellen's neighbor for the holiday season.
The banter and friendship between Cam and Joellen is sweet and fun. Cam is really intuitive and slowly, he makes her feel comfortable in her own skin.
Cam pretends as if he is helping her to look and feel better so that she can now seduce her boss Michael, who is going to be single soon. However, it is so clear that Cam wants Joellen for himself. Meanwhile, Michael also shows his interest in Joellen, which surprises her immensely.
The thing is I still don’t know what Cam loved about Joellen other than the meals he made her cook for him. She was a pathetic person with her on-going self-hatred and up until %80 of the book, she was obsessed with this Michael character.
***********************************************
Despite being a doormat to everyone else, not being able to defend herself to anyone, Joellen was able to come up with all those smart and funny remarks when Cam was involved.
For this reason, her character didn’t make sense to me.
- She is a doormat to the people at work or to the people in her private life, even to her family.
- She is pathetic in her own mind.
- She can’t even take a compliment properly. She thinks the worst about herself.
Then, this pathetic person makes the smartest jokes when she is with Cam or sometimes in her own mind.
I liked the banter between Joellen & Cam but a woman who can make such good banter with a hot guy who is world-famous shouldn’t be that tongue-tied at work when her superior insults her or treats her in an unfair way.
She was a walking talking contradiction.
If she were also a doormat and pathetic in the presence of Cam, that would have made sense but she was all sass when she was with him and then she was pathetic and tongue-tied with others.
Also, she was unbelievably stupid. Only an idiot or a blind person would not understand how Cam felt for her but she refused to see or understand it. She assumed other things all the time.
***********************************************
What bothered me most in this book was that she was in some kind of stupid love with her boss till %80 percent of the book while also lusting for Cam at the same time. It was only when she saw that her boss Michael was not the person she had been idealizing and romanticizing for years but an as*hole, she turned to Cam. It felt like Cam was her second choice.
Poor Cam, he even reads their sexting to give her some love advice... Oh, I don't believe she deserved Cam...
Only when Michael shows his ugly face, then... only then, Cam it is! That's why, I couldn't feel her love for Cam as strongly as I felt Cam's love for her.
What she did felt like, "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe... Oh, Cam it is!"
Why would the writer make Michael a very very bad person for Joellen to realize Cam was a better option?
I would have appreciated it more if both Michael and Cam were good but the more she got to know both of them, the more she fell out of love with Michael and fell in love with Cam. The way she discovered how awful a person Michael was seemed to be the main reason she turned to Cam and I didn’t like it.
Also, the way Michael slowly turns into this horrible person didn’t feel convincing to me, either. I didn't see it coming.
***********************************************
I like books with good banter. I like stories that make me laugh. I like it when the characters involve in hot and fun banter but in this book, it was EXAGGERATED.
How can every thought in her mind be phrased in such complex and funny sentences?
The best stand-up comedians would fall short of doing this but Joellen is somehow a “too funny stand up comedian” in her mind and when she is with Cam.
I just stopped laughing at her antiques after a while, thinking that her character was not convincing. Sometimes less is more and in this book, I needed less funny statements so that I can appreciate the good banter and funny jokes when they come at appropriate times, but not always as in this book.
Well, this is me, I am usually too picky. I believe this is a book most readers will have a good time with and end up loving it because it really has its good moments, I cannot deny it. If you are not as critical as me, you may enjoy it more so I can still recommend the book if you don't bother the things that got on my nerves...
***********************************************
Some quotes from the book that will show you that, despite my criticisms, the book has its good moments...
“Oh!” I cover my mouth with my hand. “Michael, I’m so sorry!”
I am not sorry, not one tiny bit, and have probably just damned myself to hell for that flat-out lie and how jubilant I feel hearing this poor man’s awful news. His marriage is falling apart, and meanwhile I could light up ten city blocks with my joyous glow. I’m incandescent with bliss and have to restrain myself from doing a happy dance around my cubicle.
I’m a terrible, terrible person.
***
“What?” says Cam to me, not looking up from the cat. “You thought I was all beauty and no brains, darlin’?”
I produce an unladylike snort. “More like all ego and no manners.”
He glances up at me from under his lashes and sends me a lazy smile. “So you’re not denyin’ you think I’m beautiful.”
My eye roll is extravagant. “You’re depriving some poor village of its idiot!”
***
“The heart wants what it wants,” Cam says, watching me steadily. “But sometimes what you think is love is just a beautiful form of self-destruction. The worst thing in life is to give yourself away in exchange for nothing.”
***
“My God, that Scottish brogue.” Her shiver of delight is audible. “And a sense of humor, too!”
“What did he say that was funny?”
“That you two were in love!”
“Oh, that. Yeah, he’s a real laugh a minute,” I say drily, shaking my head. Then something strikes me. “Why was that funny?”
My mother laughs. “Oh, honey! As if a man like that could fall in love with you!”
***
Over the line comes a blistering silence, then Cameron’s voice, hard as stone. “I don’t ever wanna hear you put yourself down again, Joellen. Don’t do it out loud, and don’t do it in your head, either. Show yourself some damn respect, woman, or no one else will.”
***
“I admit that I’ve seen people like you before, but I’ve had to pay an entry fee at the circus to do so.”
He purses his lips and looks me up and down. “Just make it easier on yourself, darlin’, and admit you’re wild for me and are dyin’ to bring a few dozen little McGregors into the world.”
“You’re delusional.”
“You’re massively in love with me.”
“I’m massively in dislike with you.”
“You’ve finally figured out I’m the real man of your dreams.”
“I’ve finally figured out how you got here. Someone left your cage door open.”
***
“You were kicked out of Scotland because you’re so annoying, right? Everyone got together and agreed to throw you out for the greater good of the country?”
He’s trying not to laugh, pressing his lips together. “You’d know if you googled me.”
“I am not googling you, egosaurus.”
***
Sounding miserable, Michael sighs again. “I’m sorry. I’m putting you in a terrible position. I’m being an idiot. I never should have opened my mouth.”
Too late. He’s opened Pandora’s box now, and all the devilish little creatures are running amok, screaming in glee throughout my reproductive organs. “You were going to kiss me, weren’t you.”
...
I start laughing and can’t stop. Michael Maddox was going to kiss me. I can’t wait to get home to tell Cam.
***
Heat begins to creep up my neck. “You know exactly how you look, McGregor.”
“Beauty’s in the eye of the beholder, lass. I dunno how I look to you.”
Looking into his eyes, I say quietly, “To me you look like a man everyone underestimates, objectifies, and misjudges because of his appearance. To me you look like a man who’s thoughtful, insightful, and kind, but hopes no one will notice because it will be mistaken for weakness. To me you look like a man who hides his pain behind smiles and buries it in women and tries everything he can to forget whatever’s hurting him but can’t because he’s got a soft heart that scars easily, but no one has ever looked close enough to see.”
***
He’s deadly serious, all traces of teasing gone. I’m not sure how to respond to this sudden change of mood, but he’s not finished talking. “And another thing. Learn to stop saying ‘Sorry,’ and say ‘Don’t interrupt me.’ Learn to say ‘No’ and ‘None of your business.’ Learn to be unapologetic for who you are and what you like and the opinions you hold. I know you think that if other people considered you beautiful, all your problems would be solved, but you’d just have different problems. And they’d all still revolve around the fact that deep down, you don’t think you’re good enough. That’s a lie you learned, and you can unlearn it, but it has to start with you. You have to decide to accept yourself. It’s cliché, but you really do have to love yourself before you can love anyone else.”
***
All I see is Cam’s face. All I hear is his voice telling me I’m perfect. Well, I also hear the critical voice that’s always with me telling me that Cam has obviously ingested a lot of drugs if he thinks I’m anywhere close to perfect, but I force that voice to a dark corner of my mind and allow myself to accept that maybe I don’t have to be perfect. Maybe having one person who thinks I am is enough. Maybe his belief in me can be the seed that takes root in the stubborn, self-loathing dirt of my mind and grows into a garden of self-acceptance. Or maybe I’m nuts.
***
Cam instantly pronounces, “As soon as you want.” I laugh, delighted as always by the ease at which he’ll agree to anything I ask if he gets some attention in return. The man is a love sponge. He can’t soak up enough.
November 25, 2018
What an adorable, witty, and delightful romance.
May 18, 2018
4 stars!
Review at Of Pens and Pages.
Melt for You is a sweet and funny slow-burn romance between a wallflower ready to bloom and the infuriatingly charming Scotsman next door.
After ten years of pining for her boss, thirty-six-year-old copyeditor Joellen Bixby might finally have her chance at winning his heart. She's going to need all the help she can get to lose weight and become an expert seducer by the time the office Christmas party comes, and who better to teach her the art of fitness and seduction than her temporary neighbor with a penchant for playing incredibly loud music—twenty-nine-year-old Scottish rugby player and Casanova, Cameron McGregor.
Cam offers to help her win her boss's heart and stop playing his music in exchange for dinner at her place every night. As infuriating as he is, Joellen can't say no. They fall into a routine—early morning runs, forty-five-minute dinners, and countless bickering and bantering. While Cameron's efforts seem to be effective and her boss's attention is on her, Joellen can't seem to stop thinking about the Scotsman instead. And Cameron doesn't seem all that happy about his success either.
I have to admit it took me a while to get into it, but soon enough, Joellen and Cameron—and Mr. Bingley the cat—completely won me over. Their dynamic, in general, is hilarious, but their surprisingly emotional moments of opening up touched my heart. It was fun to watch them hang out at night, to see Cameron become Joellen's biggest cheerleader, and to see that underlying sexual tension brew into something too hot to handle. They transition from neighbors to reluctant friends (mostly in Joellen's side; Cameron looked ready to become her best friend from the start, which I adored!), to each other's closest confidantes.
Thanks to years of off-handed insults and put-downs by her family, Joellen's self-esteem is non-existent. She's a funny girl with a big heart and generous soul, but she tends to put herself down, usually in the form of self-deprecating jokes. With that, I found a kindred soul in her. I wanted her to see her value on her own, but to also have a champion who would help her see her value. The best thing about this story is it didn't go down the path where she realizes her beauty because a man like Cameron told her she was beautiful; Cameron did so much more than that. He helped her see her beauty with her very own eyes. And in turn, Joellen saw past Cameron's exterior and realized what an amazing man he really is. They became each other's champions.
Cameron will make you swoon, I swear. He's sweet, hilarious, incredibly sexy, and loyal to the core. He's the type of person you'd want to have in your life. He will defend you with his every being and cheer you on in whatever endeavor you choose to do. I love him so much!
Romance lovers and fans of the Bridget Jones world will enjoy this hilarious book filled with laughs, sexual tension, and heart.
Tropes: Age Gap, Hate to Love, Neighbors, Sports—Rugby, Wallflower
POV: First Person, Female POV
Standalone: Yes
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Review at Of Pens and Pages.
Melt for You is a sweet and funny slow-burn romance between a wallflower ready to bloom and the infuriatingly charming Scotsman next door.
After ten years of pining for her boss, thirty-six-year-old copyeditor Joellen Bixby might finally have her chance at winning his heart. She's going to need all the help she can get to lose weight and become an expert seducer by the time the office Christmas party comes, and who better to teach her the art of fitness and seduction than her temporary neighbor with a penchant for playing incredibly loud music—twenty-nine-year-old Scottish rugby player and Casanova, Cameron McGregor.
Cam offers to help her win her boss's heart and stop playing his music in exchange for dinner at her place every night. As infuriating as he is, Joellen can't say no. They fall into a routine—early morning runs, forty-five-minute dinners, and countless bickering and bantering. While Cameron's efforts seem to be effective and her boss's attention is on her, Joellen can't seem to stop thinking about the Scotsman instead. And Cameron doesn't seem all that happy about his success either.
I have to admit it took me a while to get into it, but soon enough, Joellen and Cameron—and Mr. Bingley the cat—completely won me over. Their dynamic, in general, is hilarious, but their surprisingly emotional moments of opening up touched my heart. It was fun to watch them hang out at night, to see Cameron become Joellen's biggest cheerleader, and to see that underlying sexual tension brew into something too hot to handle. They transition from neighbors to reluctant friends (mostly in Joellen's side; Cameron looked ready to become her best friend from the start, which I adored!), to each other's closest confidantes.
Thanks to years of off-handed insults and put-downs by her family, Joellen's self-esteem is non-existent. She's a funny girl with a big heart and generous soul, but she tends to put herself down, usually in the form of self-deprecating jokes. With that, I found a kindred soul in her. I wanted her to see her value on her own, but to also have a champion who would help her see her value. The best thing about this story is it didn't go down the path where she realizes her beauty because a man like Cameron told her she was beautiful; Cameron did so much more than that. He helped her see her beauty with her very own eyes. And in turn, Joellen saw past Cameron's exterior and realized what an amazing man he really is. They became each other's champions.
Cameron will make you swoon, I swear. He's sweet, hilarious, incredibly sexy, and loyal to the core. He's the type of person you'd want to have in your life. He will defend you with his every being and cheer you on in whatever endeavor you choose to do. I love him so much!
Romance lovers and fans of the Bridget Jones world will enjoy this hilarious book filled with laughs, sexual tension, and heart.
Tropes: Age Gap, Hate to Love, Neighbors, Sports—Rugby, Wallflower
POV: First Person, Female POV
Standalone: Yes
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
May 25, 2018
4.5 stars
J.T. Geissinger, where have you been all my life?! I now need to go find everything this author has ever written and binge read it. This book is a beautiful slow burn gem! I loved how the author took a tired cliche and not only gave it a breath of fresh air but made me feel like I never encountered the trope before. She did the same with the first book of this series which I also loved. It comes pretty close to getting the slow burn crown from The Wall of Winnipeg And Me.
I wasn't planning on doing a review for this and I'm sorely running out of time today so for now I'll just say read it! A lovely, touching story of not only two people finding each other but also of a heroine realising she was always a swan, never an ugly duckling no matter what family and society says.
“This majestic display of manhood didn’t just happen. Cameron McGregor wasn’t carved by Michelangelo’s hand like the David. He was carved by his own. I’m sure you’ll agree, the results are even more spectacular.”
“Sorry, I think I just vomited a little in my mouth. What were you saying?”
“If you’re about to follow that little speech with somethin’ derogatory about your looks, I’ll kick your arse six ways to Sunday, lassie.”
“Toned is good. Skinny is better.”
“Wrong! Strong is the goal, lass, not skinny. A man doesn’t wanna grab onto a sack of rattlin’ bones when he’s in the mood. He wants a nice, thick, juicy woman with buttery curves, sizzlin’ hot and tasty.”
“You literally just described my perfect steak.”
“I can take my shirt off if you like. I’ll even let you pet my biceps, but that’s as far as it’s goin’ because I’m not just a beautiful, sonnet-worthy Mountain Man, you know. I’m a human being. I’ve got feelings.”
P.S . The sexy times might have been slow to come but boy, were they worth the wait!
P.P.S. I claim Cameron McGregor!
J.T. Geissinger, where have you been all my life?! I now need to go find everything this author has ever written and binge read it. This book is a beautiful slow burn gem! I loved how the author took a tired cliche and not only gave it a breath of fresh air but made me feel like I never encountered the trope before. She did the same with the first book of this series which I also loved. It comes pretty close to getting the slow burn crown from The Wall of Winnipeg And Me.
I wasn't planning on doing a review for this and I'm sorely running out of time today so for now I'll just say read it! A lovely, touching story of not only two people finding each other but also of a heroine realising she was always a swan, never an ugly duckling no matter what family and society says.
“This majestic display of manhood didn’t just happen. Cameron McGregor wasn’t carved by Michelangelo’s hand like the David. He was carved by his own. I’m sure you’ll agree, the results are even more spectacular.”
“Sorry, I think I just vomited a little in my mouth. What were you saying?”
“If you’re about to follow that little speech with somethin’ derogatory about your looks, I’ll kick your arse six ways to Sunday, lassie.”
“Toned is good. Skinny is better.”
“Wrong! Strong is the goal, lass, not skinny. A man doesn’t wanna grab onto a sack of rattlin’ bones when he’s in the mood. He wants a nice, thick, juicy woman with buttery curves, sizzlin’ hot and tasty.”
“You literally just described my perfect steak.”
“I can take my shirt off if you like. I’ll even let you pet my biceps, but that’s as far as it’s goin’ because I’m not just a beautiful, sonnet-worthy Mountain Man, you know. I’m a human being. I’ve got feelings.”
P.S . The sexy times might have been slow to come but boy, were they worth the wait!
P.P.S. I claim Cameron McGregor!
April 30, 2018
5 Miss Snufflebottom and Prancer Stars
Melt For You is book 2 in the Slow Burn series by J. T. Geissinger, and I should warn you, it put me through the ringer. I went through every emotion, from laughing at the sexy fun banter between the Joellen and Cameron, to wanting to punch something. By the epilogue, I was crying happy tears.
Joellen Bixby has been in love with her boss, Michael, for 10 years, and it looks like things are looking up. He tells Joellen he is getting a divorce and starts showing Joellen some attention. Joellen’s temporary neighbor and new friend, Cameron, volunteers to help her catch Michael’s eye. But Cameron is a force to be reckoned with, he is absolutely gorgeous and Joellen doesn’t have a clue he is a world famous rugby player.
I absolutely adored Cameron. He was not only hot as hell, he was so very sweet and determined to make Joellen believe she’s beautiful.
I did like Joellen, but at times I was really frustrated with her because she was so clueless. She was trying to create a fairy tale with her boss, but I had an idea what was going to happen. I think for a 36 year old woman, she should have a better clue of what was going on. Hence me wanting to punch something.
The epilogue was super sweet, but I also recommend you read the acknowledgments. I usually skip them, but I read in another review that it was definitely worth reading, and I agree. There is an underlying message that I think is very important for everyone.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review
Melt For You is book 2 in the Slow Burn series by J. T. Geissinger, and I should warn you, it put me through the ringer. I went through every emotion, from laughing at the sexy fun banter between the Joellen and Cameron, to wanting to punch something. By the epilogue, I was crying happy tears.
Joellen Bixby has been in love with her boss, Michael, for 10 years, and it looks like things are looking up. He tells Joellen he is getting a divorce and starts showing Joellen some attention. Joellen’s temporary neighbor and new friend, Cameron, volunteers to help her catch Michael’s eye. But Cameron is a force to be reckoned with, he is absolutely gorgeous and Joellen doesn’t have a clue he is a world famous rugby player.
I absolutely adored Cameron. He was not only hot as hell, he was so very sweet and determined to make Joellen believe she’s beautiful.
“The number of f*cks you should give about what men think of how you look is zero, lass. Every choice you make about your appearance should be about what makes you feel good, not what makes some random lad, or your mother-think you’re cute. Don’t set aside your preference for anyone”
I did like Joellen, but at times I was really frustrated with her because she was so clueless. She was trying to create a fairy tale with her boss, but I had an idea what was going to happen. I think for a 36 year old woman, she should have a better clue of what was going on. Hence me wanting to punch something.
The epilogue was super sweet, but I also recommend you read the acknowledgments. I usually skip them, but I read in another review that it was definitely worth reading, and I agree. There is an underlying message that I think is very important for everyone.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review
July 4, 2020
Still bloody brilliant...but
I still really enjoyed listening to Melt for You but I have to admit that the second time around was a different experience. The first time I listened, I didn't know who was good, who was a douchewaffle, and who was capable of recovering from manwhoreitis. This time, I was infuriated every time Joellen was being negative about herself. My blood was boiling with every smarmy comment out of the douchewaffles mouth. I tutt-tutted the manwhore for his immature antics...until he woke up to himself. I was a wee bit frustrated that so much time was wasted before the couple got together. I knew how good he could be...why couldn't she? I loved the journey, it just gave me a very different experience from my first listen.
Seriously, Pippa Jayne, the narrator, was awesome. Again, I was overwhelmed with admiration for her skills. Her accents were amazing and brought each of the characters to life for me.
Melt for You is an awesome story, and while I enjoyed it, I'm not sure it was as good as my first listen. So, if you haven't listened to this one yet, do it, you won't regret it.
***********************************
Bloody Brilliant!!
Sometimes, a book comes into your life that at the end of the journey, you are thankful you got the chance to experience it. I absolutely loved my journey listening to Melt for You. It has the perfect mix of humour, sexiness, emotion and a smidge of angst to keep things interesting. This is the kind of book that makes me glad to be a romance reader and is going on my Best-of-the-Bestest shelf.
The narrator does a fabulous job with multiple characters and different accents. I had no problems knowing when the characters changed and I recognised their voice/accents straight away to identify who was talking. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this one and think that the experience was enjoyed more because of the talents of the narrator. There is no way I would/could do it justice if I had read it myself.
Melt for You is my favourite kind of contemporary romance. It was paced perfectly and I never felt like it was drawn out or dragged. The characters came alive for me and I loved that the heroine was someone I could relate to and live vicariously through. The hero is definitely the kind of guy that gets my heart pumping. He’s the naughty boy who comes good when he realises the perfect woman is in front of him. Cameron will do anything to make sure he’s in Joellen’s orbit…even help her attract another man.
A slight vulnerability in both characters made them even more lovable. Joellen doesn't see her beauty because she's always felt ugly around her beautiful family. Cameron makes her believe in the beauty he sees. It doesn't take long for Joellen to realise that Cameron is more than just a party boy. She shows him friendship when most people only want him for his good looks, fame and fortune. I loved that they brought out the best in each other.
Again, I fell into the trap of falling in love with my audiobook which means it was over and done with too quickly. I couldn’t help myself, and in some ways, I don’t regret it. It’s kind of weird to think I got a little swoony over listening to a woman who does...performs...puts on, a man’s voice. But, it may have a wee bit to do with the Scottish accent.
If you’re a reader, you will love Melt for You. If you’re an audio listener you will love Melt for You. Either way, you can’t go wrong…AND…the audio was only a couple of dollars in you’ve bought the Kindle version. BARGAIN!!!
Now that I’ve found J.T. Geissinger there’s a pretty good chance that this is the start of a new and beautiful friendship…in a non-stalkerish, book-nerdy love, kind of way.
I still really enjoyed listening to Melt for You but I have to admit that the second time around was a different experience. The first time I listened, I didn't know who was good, who was a douchewaffle, and who was capable of recovering from manwhoreitis. This time, I was infuriated every time Joellen was being negative about herself. My blood was boiling with every smarmy comment out of the douchewaffles mouth. I tutt-tutted the manwhore for his immature antics...until he woke up to himself. I was a wee bit frustrated that so much time was wasted before the couple got together. I knew how good he could be...why couldn't she? I loved the journey, it just gave me a very different experience from my first listen.
Seriously, Pippa Jayne, the narrator, was awesome. Again, I was overwhelmed with admiration for her skills. Her accents were amazing and brought each of the characters to life for me.
Melt for You is an awesome story, and while I enjoyed it, I'm not sure it was as good as my first listen. So, if you haven't listened to this one yet, do it, you won't regret it.
***********************************
Bloody Brilliant!!
Sometimes, a book comes into your life that at the end of the journey, you are thankful you got the chance to experience it. I absolutely loved my journey listening to Melt for You. It has the perfect mix of humour, sexiness, emotion and a smidge of angst to keep things interesting. This is the kind of book that makes me glad to be a romance reader and is going on my Best-of-the-Bestest shelf.
The narrator does a fabulous job with multiple characters and different accents. I had no problems knowing when the characters changed and I recognised their voice/accents straight away to identify who was talking. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this one and think that the experience was enjoyed more because of the talents of the narrator. There is no way I would/could do it justice if I had read it myself.
Melt for You is my favourite kind of contemporary romance. It was paced perfectly and I never felt like it was drawn out or dragged. The characters came alive for me and I loved that the heroine was someone I could relate to and live vicariously through. The hero is definitely the kind of guy that gets my heart pumping. He’s the naughty boy who comes good when he realises the perfect woman is in front of him. Cameron will do anything to make sure he’s in Joellen’s orbit…even help her attract another man.
A slight vulnerability in both characters made them even more lovable. Joellen doesn't see her beauty because she's always felt ugly around her beautiful family. Cameron makes her believe in the beauty he sees. It doesn't take long for Joellen to realise that Cameron is more than just a party boy. She shows him friendship when most people only want him for his good looks, fame and fortune. I loved that they brought out the best in each other.
Again, I fell into the trap of falling in love with my audiobook which means it was over and done with too quickly. I couldn’t help myself, and in some ways, I don’t regret it. It’s kind of weird to think I got a little swoony over listening to a woman who does...performs...puts on, a man’s voice. But, it may have a wee bit to do with the Scottish accent.
If you’re a reader, you will love Melt for You. If you’re an audio listener you will love Melt for You. Either way, you can’t go wrong…AND…the audio was only a couple of dollars in you’ve bought the Kindle version. BARGAIN!!!
Now that I’ve found J.T. Geissinger there’s a pretty good chance that this is the start of a new and beautiful friendship…in a non-stalkerish, book-nerdy love, kind of way.
November 26, 2021
4.5s
My last book before my mini hiatus is sadly beautiful. Love you cam 💗
Once upon a time,
in a land not so far away,
A duckling born to a family of swans
Was mistakenly led astray.
It took a prince of beauty and brawn
With a brogue like rich brown sugar
To show the duckling
the way back home
So she could grow bigger, better, surer
Of herself so she no longer had to roam
Through the dark forest of lost hearts.
But along the way
she fell under his spell
From the prince
she never wanted to part,
In the circle of his arms
she longed to dwell.
So the duckling
said to her princely valentine
“For all time I’ll be yours, and forever you’ll be mine.”
My last book before my mini hiatus is sadly beautiful. Love you cam 💗
May 21, 2018
I love this author's work...so, actually, It would have been a 1-click book for me, if I hadn't gotten the ARC in between ;)
Oh, sweet baby Jesus...
*sigh*
I FREAKING LOVED THIS STORY!
Shouting it out loud makes me sound crazy and unhinged BUT in fact, it's just a burst of emotional insighful fulfillment after reading the story that started out as a romantic comedy and ended up providing such a profound message of the importance of grooming one's self-esteem and self-worth from early years, when you are a child soaking up every little thing of importance spoken or shown by the elders around them....
Gah...I'm actually deeply touched by the underlined notion...
Indeed...
But I m much more immersed in practicing the old sayin:
First you have to learn to love yoursef, so you could be loved and love the other
Or something around those lines...lol
But you get what I mean...
So, the heroine in this story, Joellen is working in the publishing company for a decade, of which she actually spent in pinning over the company's CEO Michael, a well groomed, polished rich businessman, who also happens to be married. So yeah, she's been wasting her time winning and day dreaming of this unattainable man and of all the "could have been" possibilities...
BUT then one day, he announces that he's getting a divorce...and suddenly the chance appears open and clear for Joellen...but then, all her inner insecurities aout her own body burst out that kinda delinquish the possibility in its root...
Simultaneously, her neighbour Kellen has swapped his appartment with his cousin - a famous athlete, a rugby superstar Cameron McGregor, who happens to be taken by Joellen from the first moment he saw her, when she came bashing on his door telling him to turn the excessive music down...
there was something of an instant appeal between them BUT all the self-loathing andf self-depricating notions Joellen has about herself and her body which she covers up with a sarcastic and intelligent witty remarks, she sparks the allure in this mountain of a man...as they form an unlikely frienship while they construct a deal - she would make him her famous Sheperd's pie and in return he will train her and prepare her body to be healthy and strong...so she could win over the man she's been in love for 10 years.
BUT of course, while doing that, their exchange is funny, their bickering filled with jabs and remarks and soon the friendship line is blurred while Cameron slowly but efficiently shows her the way to love herself inside and out just the way she is...just like she is to him...
and when she's faced with the disappointment and the illusion is shattered into a dust of lies and pretense, Joellen will have to make a decision in terms of what matters the most, and of the matters of the heart that belong to only one man - a man who showed her how to live her life to the fullest, how to grow, love and respect herself...the man who is leaving back for Scotland...and she has to acknowledge the feels before it's to late...
It's absolutely redundant to say that I LOVED Cameron, the rugby player, the Scotsman with the absolutely absurd and hilarious dressing combos, but also with such a big heart, smart, purity, simplicity and sharp witt and humor that he won me over in an instant, actually after a first glance, I was a goner...*wink*
I could understand Joellen's situation and I found the way to difuse the negativity and sometimes annoyance with her behavior BUT that's where her sarcastic witt comes through, even though it's a front to ccover up the low self-esteem it's actually a perfect insight into her intelligent mind and humor and her most important inner personality that most people overlook cause they base their perceived conceptions on the "looks" alone, discarding the person as a whole...and that's where Cameron steps in, and shows her that "superficial" notions can't and shouldn't be the "insight into one's persona" but when you accept yourself as you are, with all your imperfections and faults, you find the beauty in the simplicity of the complexity of who you are (see, what I did there?! ) as a person in the given frame, and you own it cause yeah, there a re more important things in life, duh?!
Anyway, enough of my drooling here, I simply loved the message implemented in the wholesome story and expressed through out the funny bickering between the characters...
5 stars from me!
***ARC provided by the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
Oh, sweet baby Jesus...
*sigh*
I FREAKING LOVED THIS STORY!
Shouting it out loud makes me sound crazy and unhinged BUT in fact, it's just a burst of emotional insighful fulfillment after reading the story that started out as a romantic comedy and ended up providing such a profound message of the importance of grooming one's self-esteem and self-worth from early years, when you are a child soaking up every little thing of importance spoken or shown by the elders around them....
Gah...I'm actually deeply touched by the underlined notion...
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Indeed...
But I m much more immersed in practicing the old sayin:
First you have to learn to love yoursef, so you could be loved and love the other
Or something around those lines...lol
But you get what I mean...
So, the heroine in this story, Joellen is working in the publishing company for a decade, of which she actually spent in pinning over the company's CEO Michael, a well groomed, polished rich businessman, who also happens to be married. So yeah, she's been wasting her time winning and day dreaming of this unattainable man and of all the "could have been" possibilities...
BUT then one day, he announces that he's getting a divorce...and suddenly the chance appears open and clear for Joellen...but then, all her inner insecurities aout her own body burst out that kinda delinquish the possibility in its root...
Simultaneously, her neighbour Kellen has swapped his appartment with his cousin - a famous athlete, a rugby superstar Cameron McGregor, who happens to be taken by Joellen from the first moment he saw her, when she came bashing on his door telling him to turn the excessive music down...
there was something of an instant appeal between them BUT all the self-loathing andf self-depricating notions Joellen has about herself and her body which she covers up with a sarcastic and intelligent witty remarks, she sparks the allure in this mountain of a man...as they form an unlikely frienship while they construct a deal - she would make him her famous Sheperd's pie and in return he will train her and prepare her body to be healthy and strong...so she could win over the man she's been in love for 10 years.
BUT of course, while doing that, their exchange is funny, their bickering filled with jabs and remarks and soon the friendship line is blurred while Cameron slowly but efficiently shows her the way to love herself inside and out just the way she is...just like she is to him...
Don't forget what you are...
And what am I?
Perfect.
and when she's faced with the disappointment and the illusion is shattered into a dust of lies and pretense, Joellen will have to make a decision in terms of what matters the most, and of the matters of the heart that belong to only one man - a man who showed her how to live her life to the fullest, how to grow, love and respect herself...the man who is leaving back for Scotland...and she has to acknowledge the feels before it's to late...
It's absolutely redundant to say that I LOVED Cameron, the rugby player, the Scotsman with the absolutely absurd and hilarious dressing combos, but also with such a big heart, smart, purity, simplicity and sharp witt and humor that he won me over in an instant, actually after a first glance, I was a goner...*wink*
I could understand Joellen's situation and I found the way to difuse the negativity and sometimes annoyance with her behavior BUT that's where her sarcastic witt comes through, even though it's a front to ccover up the low self-esteem it's actually a perfect insight into her intelligent mind and humor and her most important inner personality that most people overlook cause they base their perceived conceptions on the "looks" alone, discarding the person as a whole...and that's where Cameron steps in, and shows her that "superficial" notions can't and shouldn't be the "insight into one's persona" but when you accept yourself as you are, with all your imperfections and faults, you find the beauty in the simplicity of the complexity of who you are (see, what I did there?! ) as a person in the given frame, and you own it cause yeah, there a re more important things in life, duh?!
Anyway, enough of my drooling here, I simply loved the message implemented in the wholesome story and expressed through out the funny bickering between the characters...
5 stars from me!
***ARC provided by the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
March 30, 2018
***4.5 stars***
I found the relationship between Joellen and Cameron totally fascinating, and loved following their story. The author has a brilliant writing style that had me laughing aloud on a few occasions. The story was fun although a bit slow at times.
I did have a very significant problem with this book though; I missed Cameron’s POV. I’d love hearing both sides of the story and understand better his strong feelings for Joellen. Cameron is one of the most sexy characters I have ever read, Scottish, handsome, great body, funny but unfortunately I couldn’t get to see everything play out between these two through both of their eyes and to understand both of their feelings and doubts.
Joellen was a perfectly flawed character with a good heart. Cameron saw through her low self-esteem, helped her love herself and made her believe she is worthy of love. The sex scenes, which came toward the end of the book, were super hot steamy, the banter between the two was hilarious and the sexual tension was palpable.
Overall, this is a great book that will melt your heart and I would recommend people who love slow burn romance books to read it.
In short:
Hero 4/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 4/5 | Writing Style 5/5 | Steam 4/5 | Romance 4/5 | Angst-Suspense 3/5 | Darkness 0/5 | Humor 4/5 | Secondary Characters 4/5 | Drama-Conflict 4/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 4/5 | Pace Steady | Action 3/5
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
I found the relationship between Joellen and Cameron totally fascinating, and loved following their story. The author has a brilliant writing style that had me laughing aloud on a few occasions. The story was fun although a bit slow at times.
I did have a very significant problem with this book though; I missed Cameron’s POV. I’d love hearing both sides of the story and understand better his strong feelings for Joellen. Cameron is one of the most sexy characters I have ever read, Scottish, handsome, great body, funny but unfortunately I couldn’t get to see everything play out between these two through both of their eyes and to understand both of their feelings and doubts.
Joellen was a perfectly flawed character with a good heart. Cameron saw through her low self-esteem, helped her love herself and made her believe she is worthy of love. The sex scenes, which came toward the end of the book, were super hot steamy, the banter between the two was hilarious and the sexual tension was palpable.
Overall, this is a great book that will melt your heart and I would recommend people who love slow burn romance books to read it.
In short:
Hero 4/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 4/5 | Writing Style 5/5 | Steam 4/5 | Romance 4/5 | Angst-Suspense 3/5 | Darkness 0/5 | Humor 4/5 | Secondary Characters 4/5 | Drama-Conflict 4/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 4/5 | Pace Steady | Action 3/5
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2022
4.25✨
now that we’ve established the fact that that cam is perfect, let’s move on to joele
ngl she was frOOostatyng most of the times. hardheaded and BLIND af (usually I love situations with clueless mcs but not if they’re pining for ow/om). am still trying to figure out how a girl could pine over a racoon like that michael dude when there's cameron mcgregor in front of ya. but while she ain’t my fav girl, gotta admit she can be pretty damn hilarious
"Love is war, darlin’. Only thing in life worth sheddin’ blood over”
”Your body isn’t a thing to be looked at and judged against some standard of perfection that doesn’t even really exist. It’s the vessel that takes you through life, allowin’ you to experience all the beautiful things life has to offer. Food. Sex. Sunsets. Music. Hugs. Laughter. A healthy body is a gift. Don’t take it for granted. Don’t treat it like some cheap one-night stand. Treat it like the love of your life. Treat it with respect and tenderness, but most of all, gratitude.
And a healthy dose of awe, too. Your body is made of remnants of stars and massive explosions in the galaxies. Every few years, the bulk of your body is newly created by the regeneration of your cells, but you have things in you that are as old as the universe. We’re literally stardust. Every one of us is a little miracle. You’re a miracle, Joellen. Think about that the next time you’re standin’ naked in front of the mirror and want to focus on some stray dimple you don’t like.”
now that we’ve established the fact that that cam is perfect, let’s move on to joele
ngl she was frOOostatyng most of the times. hardheaded and BLIND af (usually I love situations with clueless mcs but not if they’re pining for ow/om). am still trying to figure out how a girl could pine over a racoon like that michael dude when there's cameron mcgregor in front of ya. but while she ain’t my fav girl, gotta admit she can be pretty damn hilarious
What I haven’t told him is that the last time I went on a date—eons ago—the good-night kiss was so disastrous I cried myself to sleep that night. The guy pushed me away by my shoulders, gasping for air, and said, “That was my lung you just licked!”
I guess I was being pretty aggressive. A long enough dry spell can make a girl desperate, and apparently I had my tongue so far down the poor guy’s throat I was examining his internal organs with it.
Needless to say, I never saw him again.
July 1, 2021
4.5 Stars
Lmaooo these two were so funny and perfect together. Cam was amazing and picturing this huge teddy bear of a man in neon tights, the occasional kilt, and never a shirt made me smile so hard every time Joelle described it. The man truly had an unflappable self-image. I loved how hard he hyped her up and how mad and protective he got over her family tearing her down and effecting her body image. I also loved that he called her out on her shit when the situation warranted it, but he was never not in her corner. Joelle cracked me up w how grouchy she was and I thought it was a pleasant change that there was no insta-love and it took Cam time to get Joelle to look at him how he wanted her to. I also found it so perfect how much she loved to roast him and how much Cam loved to be roasted by her 😂😭
“It’s too bad you got stuck in puberty, McGregor—you might’ve been a productive member of society one day.”
“Oh, I’m plenty productive, lass.”
“Name one way you’re productive that doesn’t involve the amount of sperm you produce. I’ll wait.”
This book made me realize I'm a hypocrite bc it had the whole thing I usually complain about where the guy is in love w the girl from the start but doesn't just come out and say it, but then eventually goes and says, 'we'll never be friends' which he means as 'bc I'm in love w you', but she takes it as him being mean and not seeing her as important. Usually that type of shit bothers me to no end but I was surprisingly fine with it here, though eventually Joelle's not putting the pieces together got pretty suspect. I didn't take off .5 stars for that tho, but for a couple other little things that came down to just personal taste, but honestly this was a really fantastic read and I def recommend it if you're in the mood for something light and funny
Lmaooo these two were so funny and perfect together. Cam was amazing and picturing this huge teddy bear of a man in neon tights, the occasional kilt, and never a shirt made me smile so hard every time Joelle described it. The man truly had an unflappable self-image. I loved how hard he hyped her up and how mad and protective he got over her family tearing her down and effecting her body image. I also loved that he called her out on her shit when the situation warranted it, but he was never not in her corner. Joelle cracked me up w how grouchy she was and I thought it was a pleasant change that there was no insta-love and it took Cam time to get Joelle to look at him how he wanted her to. I also found it so perfect how much she loved to roast him and how much Cam loved to be roasted by her 😂😭
“It’s too bad you got stuck in puberty, McGregor—you might’ve been a productive member of society one day.”
“Oh, I’m plenty productive, lass.”
“Name one way you’re productive that doesn’t involve the amount of sperm you produce. I’ll wait.”
This book made me realize I'm a hypocrite bc it had the whole thing I usually complain about where the guy is in love w the girl from the start but doesn't just come out and say it, but then eventually goes and says, 'we'll never be friends' which he means as 'bc I'm in love w you', but she takes it as him being mean and not seeing her as important. Usually that type of shit bothers me to no end but I was surprisingly fine with it here, though eventually Joelle's not putting the pieces together got pretty suspect. I didn't take off .5 stars for that tho, but for a couple other little things that came down to just personal taste, but honestly this was a really fantastic read and I def recommend it if you're in the mood for something light and funny
August 23, 2022
If The Hating Game and the movie The Ugly Truth had a baby, it would be this book.
Joellen the sharp-tongued homebody who has always looked at herself as less than
+
a famous Rugby player that offers her lessons on seduction so she can finally snag the attention of her long pined-over boss
=
hilarious situations and sexual tension GALORE.
Snarky banter is my kryptonite. And this baby was chock full of it:
I suddenly understand how otherwise rational people can lose their minds and commit murder in a fit of rage. “It’s been real, McGregor.” I swing the door closed. It slams shut in his face with a loud, satisfying thud.
Through the door, he says, “I’ll make you a deal, Joellen.”
“If it involves you swallowing a vial of poison, you’re on.”
Seriously, a smile never left my face while reading this:
“Just make it easier on yourself, darlin’, and admit you’re wild for me and are dyin’ to bring a few dozen little McGregors into the world.”
“You’re delusional.”
“You’re massively in love with me.”
“I’m massively in dislike with you.”
“You’ve finally figured out I’m the real man of your dreams.”
“I’ve finally figured out how you got here. Someone left your cage door open.”
We grin at each other while the stupid rap music blares into the hallway, eroding my hearing another few percent.
“You look awful cheery, lass. Did your lingerie store have a sale on beige granny panties?”
But put aside all the hilarity, there were some jewels and beautiful moments of writing that really stood out to me:
“But sometimes what you think is love is just a beautiful form of self-destruction. The worst thing in life is to give yourself away in exchange for nothing.”
BITCH, YesSSsSs. ^
And this next passage is a little long but shut up and just read it because I promise it’s so good and if it doesn’t convince you to read this book, idk what to tell ya.
A kiss again, dangerous, like standing at the edge of a cliff and looking over, shifting dirt and rocks tumbling beneath your feet. My fingers twist in his hair. His hands move my head, left or right, however he wants it, a throbbing pulse like drumbeats in my ears. I’m so turned on I feel frantic, unstable, like I might break out of my own skin. Caterpillar becoming butterfly. Chrysalis shed, wings outstretched, wind beneath my belly. Caught on an updraft. Beating, beating, flying free.
He breaks the kiss, suddenly, shatteringly, the separation like breaking glass. Dizzy, I whimper at the loss of his mouth.
“Fuck. Joellen. Fuck.”
He’s panting, his voice a desperate rasp. He radiates heat like a furnace. Even his hands on my head are hot, burning right through my skull. With his scent in my nose and his heat wrapped around me and his heart pounding against mine, I’m somewhere else. I’m someone else. A gypsy, casting spells. A sloe-eyed singer in a smoky jazz club. A femme fatale in a film noir, all knowing smiles and long legs and a throaty voice with an edge like a purr.
“Don’t stop,” I say in my new voice. “You taste so good.”
He stares right at me, his eyes intensely aglow. Tiger eyes. Wolf eyes. The eyes of a predator about to pounce on his meal.
Me, after reading this ^ scene:
All in all, I adored this book and anyone who loves rom-coms needs to try this one out! Bless my book buddy Hollis for recommending this one! I can never get enough slow burn deliciousness in my life. Fans of Sally Thorne and Mariana Zapata will no doubt enjoy this gem.
Melt For You (can be read as a standalone) | https://amzn.to/2OzmMAk
Find Me On:
Instagram ❤ FB Page ❤ FB Blog ❤ Blog ❤ Twitter
May 17, 2018
This. Book. I'm so in love with this book. This started out as a funny romcom and I'm totally enjoying the heck out of it. The more I read, the more I just completely fell head over heals in love with it. By the end I wanted to just swoon! Swoon, I say! Not just from the hero, Cameron, although hello??? How can you not fall in love with this man. But everything about this book I fell in love.
This touched heavily on body image and I will be the first to say that I don't normally love when heroines have issues with their body. I mean I get enough of that in my own life, I just want to read for fun. The way this author approached it and how both Joellen and Cameron dealt with it was what made a dislike into one of the funniest and lovable books I've read in a long time. So much so that I want to immediately go back to the beginning and re-read it.
Cameron. Holy Cow, Cameron! There is no way you are not going to fall in love with this man. Seriously. Best Book Boyfriend EVER! He's going to start out on a bit of shaky ground with some in the very beginning but trust me, that last all of 2 seconds. Then you are going to melt into the ground for the rest of the book.
Joellen. Normally, I would be irritated with some of her issues and how clueless she was most of the time but dang did that girl make me laugh. And honestly the way her and Cameron interacted just had me loving every bit of the bad just as much as the good.
Is this book perfect? No. Did I care one bit about any of that when I finished? No. You know when you get a book that just makes you so happy you don't want it to end. This is that book. I savored this book all day yesterday and refused to read the last 20% until today. I just did not want it to end.
I know I'm totally gushing about this book but some books deserve to be gushed about. J.T. Geissinger, you are one heck of a writer and I am so thankful I found your books. Keep them coming!
P.S. Read the acknowledgements. It has a very important message.
P.S.S. I was so very lucky to win an arc of this book and I'm already plotting to buy the audio book just hear that sexy Scottish brogue of Camerons.
P.S.S.S. I just finished the audiobook. I am a little dissappointed it wasn't a duel narration but I still very much enjoyed listening to this again.
This touched heavily on body image and I will be the first to say that I don't normally love when heroines have issues with their body. I mean I get enough of that in my own life, I just want to read for fun. The way this author approached it and how both Joellen and Cameron dealt with it was what made a dislike into one of the funniest and lovable books I've read in a long time. So much so that I want to immediately go back to the beginning and re-read it.
Cameron. Holy Cow, Cameron! There is no way you are not going to fall in love with this man. Seriously. Best Book Boyfriend EVER! He's going to start out on a bit of shaky ground with some in the very beginning but trust me, that last all of 2 seconds. Then you are going to melt into the ground for the rest of the book.
Joellen. Normally, I would be irritated with some of her issues and how clueless she was most of the time but dang did that girl make me laugh. And honestly the way her and Cameron interacted just had me loving every bit of the bad just as much as the good.
Is this book perfect? No. Did I care one bit about any of that when I finished? No. You know when you get a book that just makes you so happy you don't want it to end. This is that book. I savored this book all day yesterday and refused to read the last 20% until today. I just did not want it to end.
I know I'm totally gushing about this book but some books deserve to be gushed about. J.T. Geissinger, you are one heck of a writer and I am so thankful I found your books. Keep them coming!
P.S. Read the acknowledgements. It has a very important message.
P.S.S. I was so very lucky to win an arc of this book and I'm already plotting to buy the audio book just hear that sexy Scottish brogue of Camerons.
P.S.S.S. I just finished the audiobook. I am a little dissappointed it wasn't a duel narration but I still very much enjoyed listening to this again.
December 8, 2020
Ahhhh what a wonderful and funny slow burn/enemies to lovers romance. I fell in love with the Scottish rugby player Cameron and his soul. He saw beauty in Joellen when she didn’t. Their bantering was amazing. No matter how sarcastic and annoyed Joellen was with Cameron he took it in strides. Never giving up. These two had delicious chemistry and the connection was what I enjoyed about Melt For You. Their slowly evolving friendship was terrific and I had so much fun with them. Cameron was the perfect mature hero and I couldn’t get enough.
It’s definitely a slow burn and I would’ve liked for something to have happened sooner cause I enjoyed Joellen and Cameron so much that it felt drought out when I reached the 75% mark. I just needed some action, wink wink, at that point.
A minor issue was Joellen and her body image issues. It became too much.
Thankfully the overall story and characters were strong that it didn’t effect my enjoyment.
I wish I had a neighbor like Cameron. A Sweet Scotsman wearing a kilt. A girl can dream.
4 Prancer Stars
It’s definitely a slow burn and I would’ve liked for something to have happened sooner cause I enjoyed Joellen and Cameron so much that it felt drought out when I reached the 75% mark. I just needed some action, wink wink, at that point.
A minor issue was Joellen and her body image issues. It became too much.
Thankfully the overall story and characters were strong that it didn’t effect my enjoyment.
I wish I had a neighbor like Cameron. A Sweet Scotsman wearing a kilt. A girl can dream.
4 Prancer Stars
April 1, 2024
( reread n. 6 )
“Because we’re friends.”
His laugh is short and bitter. “Your ability to lie to yourself is remarkable, lass.”
I’m hurt, defensive, and angered by his words and his tone, which indicate he thinks I’m a complete idiot. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He leans in closer, so close we’re nose to nose. He says with soft vehemence, “It means we’ll never be friends.”
for anyone reading this, i hope you meet someone that will love you as much as i love this book.
“Because we’re friends.”
His laugh is short and bitter. “Your ability to lie to yourself is remarkable, lass.”
I’m hurt, defensive, and angered by his words and his tone, which indicate he thinks I’m a complete idiot. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He leans in closer, so close we’re nose to nose. He says with soft vehemence, “It means we’ll never be friends.”
for anyone reading this, i hope you meet someone that will love you as much as i love this book.
January 7, 2020
4.5 Stars (Second Read 1/6/2020)
5 Stars (First Read 5/2/2018)
First... LOOK AT THAT COVER! I'm seriously obsessed with it. It's the reason I picked up the book to be honest, and I'm so glad I did because oh man, I LOVED this one!! 💜
I honestly didn't expect to be laughing as much as I was, but Joellen was hilarious.
5 Stars (First Read 5/2/2018)
First... LOOK AT THAT COVER! I'm seriously obsessed with it. It's the reason I picked up the book to be honest, and I'm so glad I did because oh man, I LOVED this one!! 💜
I honestly didn't expect to be laughing as much as I was, but Joellen was hilarious.
I suddenly understand how otherwise rational people can lose their minds and commit murder in a fit of rage.
"You're depriving some poor village of its idiot."
"If you were on a life support machine, I'd unplug it to charge my phone."And this line is PERFECT...
When a man orders food for me without asking what I want, I don't feel taken care of, I feel disrespected, and honestly a bit murderous.Joellen might not be the heroine for everyone. She is very insecure at times, but I didn't mind because I could really relate to her.
"No one, ever, told me it was okay to be me."And she's also a bit obtuse about how Cameron feels but I understood given her insecurities. Plus it's always easy for readers to think duh, of course he likes you, but in real life we'd probably be just as unsure. And in the end, I was very pleased with her development.
"Maybe I don't have to be perfect. Maybe having one person who thinks I am is enough."And Cameron... good God 😍😍😍😍😍 I'll be honest, I wasn't sure about him when I started. I held the same judgements as Joellen. But I loved getting to know him and once I did, I fell hard. He's so damn sweet and very passionate about Joellen.
He drags his gaze up and down my body, says faintly, "Holy shit," and sinks into a nearby chair.
"Your body is made of remnants of stars and massive explosions in the galaxies. Every few years, the bulk of your body is newly created by the regeneration of your cells, but you have things in you that are as old as the universe. We're literally stardust. Every one of us is a little miracle. You're a miracle, Joellen. Think about that the next time you're standin' naked in front of the mirror and want to focus on some stray dimple you don't like."
"Don't forget what you are, Joellen, not for anyone."This is definitely a slow burn, and it's SO worth it!!!! I couldn't put it down because I had to know what would happen next. I'm really looking forward to the continuation of this series 🤗
"What am I?" I whisper, terrified of the answer.
"Perfect." He bends his head and kisses me, the softest, sweetest brush of his lips against mine.
May 15, 2018
Oh gawd I love a Scottish hero!!! And Cameron McGregor is absolutely the best! I’m just so overrun with emotions after finishing this book! I want to laugh and cry and start reading it all over again because it..was..wonderful!
Joellen learns she has a new neighbor when the most horrendous music blares from behind the door across the hall. She never expected the mountain of a man, wearing nothing but a kilt and boots, to answer her knock. She never expected to find herself being blackmailed into cooking him dinner each night or to agree to kissing lessons. Least of all, she never expected to fall in love with the overgrown egomaniac. But she did. And the getting there is a thrilling ride of sarcastic wit, humorous banter and sexy smiles.
Nothing makes me happier than a heroine with snark and a hero who can appreciate it. Cameron not only appreciates it, he encourages it, and in doing so begins to show Joellen that she’s perfect just the way she is, despite years of believing otherwise. I absolutely LOVED him for this because I saw so much of myself in Joellen. Yet with all his egocentric mannerisms and dialogue, there was so much more to him and when he shared those deeper thoughts and philosophies…it was a game changer. Not just for the heroine, but for me. Thank you Ms. Geissinger for putting into words what every woman who has ever criticized herself needs to hear.
I also loved that this author would merrily trot me along with laugh out loud one liners and then suddenly, within one line, my heart would clinch and my eyes would well up with tears and I was feeling everything! That’s the kind of thing I long for when reading.
Okay, so I know this review is a bit disjointed and doesn’t flow but that’s because there’s just too much goodness here to put into words. This is a book you have to experience to appreciate. A mere description will never do it justice. So I’m just going to end this here by saying that one of THE most romantic and heartfelt, and yes, make-you-cry lines I’ve ever read is when Cameron McGregor claims to his woman in regards to ice cream, “I have all the flavors, lass.” Sigh.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Montlake. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I also purchased a copy of this book for my own library.
Heroine POV – would love to get a little novella about anything in Cameron’s POV! (Hint, hint Ms. G)
Safe
Triggers
Joellen learns she has a new neighbor when the most horrendous music blares from behind the door across the hall. She never expected the mountain of a man, wearing nothing but a kilt and boots, to answer her knock. She never expected to find herself being blackmailed into cooking him dinner each night or to agree to kissing lessons. Least of all, she never expected to fall in love with the overgrown egomaniac. But she did. And the getting there is a thrilling ride of sarcastic wit, humorous banter and sexy smiles.
Nothing makes me happier than a heroine with snark and a hero who can appreciate it. Cameron not only appreciates it, he encourages it, and in doing so begins to show Joellen that she’s perfect just the way she is, despite years of believing otherwise. I absolutely LOVED him for this because I saw so much of myself in Joellen. Yet with all his egocentric mannerisms and dialogue, there was so much more to him and when he shared those deeper thoughts and philosophies…it was a game changer. Not just for the heroine, but for me. Thank you Ms. Geissinger for putting into words what every woman who has ever criticized herself needs to hear.
I also loved that this author would merrily trot me along with laugh out loud one liners and then suddenly, within one line, my heart would clinch and my eyes would well up with tears and I was feeling everything! That’s the kind of thing I long for when reading.
Okay, so I know this review is a bit disjointed and doesn’t flow but that’s because there’s just too much goodness here to put into words. This is a book you have to experience to appreciate. A mere description will never do it justice. So I’m just going to end this here by saying that one of THE most romantic and heartfelt, and yes, make-you-cry lines I’ve ever read is when Cameron McGregor claims to his woman in regards to ice cream, “I have all the flavors, lass.” Sigh.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Montlake. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I also purchased a copy of this book for my own library.
Heroine POV – would love to get a little novella about anything in Cameron’s POV! (Hint, hint Ms. G)
Safe
Triggers
April 15, 2022
A Mountain “loose” Athlete/Shy-yet-Feisty Thick girl= LOL moments
The body positivity in this book had me buying it as soon as I finished. Yeah yeah. It’s not my favorite JT book, but I still fell in love by the time I finished. Also, this is free to read AND listen to through KU. It’s only one narrator but she is amazing (tons of accents and voice variations).
Joellen (36) has had a crush on the CEO of the publishing company she works for, Michael, for 10 years now. For 10 years, she’s been a dedicated, loyal, and amazing worker, all while pining for the married CEO. When she goes home, she encounters a really loud, half-naked huge Scottish rugby player across the hall in the middle of a strip poker party (with half naked men and women🙄). This neighbor is none other than the famous Cameron McGregor (29).
Cam’s escaping scandal, something he’s used to dealing with because he’s famous. He loves to listen to loud rap music, which annoys the F out of Joellen. In order for him to turn off his music, she has to make him dinner, for many days, or else he’ll increase the volume full blast 😂. When he finds out that she’s not eating so that she can lose weight before the holiday party in order to “pique” the interest of her about-to-get-divorced crush, he tells her he’ll get her to tone up AND teach her some seduction skills 😉👀.
First of all. The freaking BANTER was 🤌🏻. I highlighted so much! Lol. Joellen might be shy at work, but she’s FEISTY af with Cam 💁🏻♀️😂.
And the chemistry. Oh LAWD. Yes YES, I know. I KNOWWW this is slow burn. I get it. But man. The chemistry 🔥👀. He cheekily tells her to practice her kissing skills on him, and oh do they 😅 (40%). Even though it starts off a little rough since Joellen’s insecure, Cam ends up taking over 😉. Their first time happens at about 83% and Cam did not disappoint. Who knew biting could be so smexxxy🥵 (I did. I knew🔥. I just wanted to write about it lol). And the way he just moves her around is just so 🥵💦. He’s putting those huge muscles to good use 😉. Gawd. Even the primal/sensual way he just GETS her is so damn sexy 👀🔥.
❤️❤️❤️The biggest seller for me was the way that Cam always makes Joellen feel confident and good about herself🥺. Listen. I’m not a thin person. I FELT Joellen’s struggles, her questioning, her negative feelings. When she was feeling a certain way about her body, I felt the same. I ask myself those same questions all the time. I don’t have a thin/beautiful family like Joellen, but what my family and I have (with all the extra pounds/stretch marks) is genuine love for each other. Cam was her biggest supporter, her biggest cheerleader. When you have toxic people like that in your life, steer clear and stick with the ones that care for you. And Cam was that for Joellen.
SWOOOOOON!!!🥰🥰🥰
Gosh. I love Cam 🥺❤️❤️❤️❤️
What I didn’t like/wanted more of-
-the ow scene 🙄. With the way he was behaving after he started getting closer to Joellen, I’m wondering why it even happened, especially since it’s the only time. Maybe it’s to “prove” how much of a manhoooar he is? I don’t know. It felt unnecessary 😑. The good thing is that it happens before they really know each other.
-Portia’s reasoning for acting like she did
-closure on her family (maybe I missed it). Or maybe we can just assume they’ll never change?
Overall, I felt good and swoony by the end. I loved it.
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing
-H has a strip poker party and that’s how she meets him
-OW- H f*cks OW against his door (this is when they just met)
-OMD- the h wants OM and the OM just got divorced. They almost kiss on a date and flirt here and there. They also write emails to each other
-attempted SA-OM forces himself on h. They get interrupted before anything fully happens
-parental negative comments/h low self-esteem
-biting/spanking/hair pulling
-condoms
The body positivity in this book had me buying it as soon as I finished. Yeah yeah. It’s not my favorite JT book, but I still fell in love by the time I finished. Also, this is free to read AND listen to through KU. It’s only one narrator but she is amazing (tons of accents and voice variations).
Over the line comes a blistering silence, then Cameron’s voice, hard as stone. “I don’t ever wanna hear you put yourself down again, Joellen. Don’t do it out loud, and don’t do it in your head, either. Show yourself some damn respect, woman, or no one else will.”
🥺❤️
He enunciates each word slowly, as if he’s biting them off with his teeth. “Who. Told. You. You’re. Ugly.”
“Every mirror I’ve ever looked into.” Wrong answer. Wolverine goes full mutant mode. It’s lucky he’s not wearing a shirt, because it would be ripped to shreds by his sudden angry expansion. “Stop, McGregor. Just stop. I know how I look.”
“Maybe you need new glasses.”
Joellen (36) has had a crush on the CEO of the publishing company she works for, Michael, for 10 years now. For 10 years, she’s been a dedicated, loyal, and amazing worker, all while pining for the married CEO. When she goes home, she encounters a really loud, half-naked huge Scottish rugby player across the hall in the middle of a strip poker party (with half naked men and women🙄). This neighbor is none other than the famous Cameron McGregor (29).
“Just make it easier on yourself, darlin’, and admit you’re wild for me and are dyin’ to bring a few dozen little McGregors into the world.”
“You’re delusional.”
“You’re massively in love with me.”
“I’m massively in dislike with you.”
“You’ve finally figured out I’m the real man of your dreams.”
“I’ve finally figured out how you got here. Someone left your cage door open.”
Cam’s escaping scandal, something he’s used to dealing with because he’s famous. He loves to listen to loud rap music, which annoys the F out of Joellen. In order for him to turn off his music, she has to make him dinner, for many days, or else he’ll increase the volume full blast 😂. When he finds out that she’s not eating so that she can lose weight before the holiday party in order to “pique” the interest of her about-to-get-divorced crush, he tells her he’ll get her to tone up AND teach her some seduction skills 😉👀.
Pressing his big hand over mine, he says in a thick voice, “When it comes to the body, I know what I’m doin’, lass. Gimme a chance to show you what I mean. I promise you’ll be satisfied.”
First of all. The freaking BANTER was 🤌🏻. I highlighted so much! Lol. Joellen might be shy at work, but she’s FEISTY af with Cam 💁🏻♀️😂.
“It’s too bad you got stuck in puberty, McGregor—you might’ve been a productive member of society one day.”
“Oh, I’m plenty productive, lass.”
“Name one way you’re productive that doesn’t involve the amount of sperm you produce. I’ll wait.”
He dissolves into gales of laughter that seem to continue forever.
And the chemistry. Oh LAWD. Yes YES, I know. I KNOWWW this is slow burn. I get it. But man. The chemistry 🔥👀. He cheekily tells her to practice her kissing skills on him, and oh do they 😅 (40%). Even though it starts off a little rough since Joellen’s insecure, Cam ends up taking over 😉. Their first time happens at about 83% and Cam did not disappoint. Who knew biting could be so smexxxy🥵 (I did. I knew🔥. I just wanted to write about it lol). And the way he just moves her around is just so 🥵💦. He’s putting those huge muscles to good use 😉. Gawd. Even the primal/sensual way he just GETS her is so damn sexy 👀🔥.
He slightly shifts his weight, and things are clarified. I bite my lip so hard I might have drawn blood. My heart is a hummingbird beating frantically against a cage. I whisper, “You said you wouldn’t get aroused.”
He looks at my mouth like a warlord looking over a kingdom he’s just seized. “I lied.”
❤️❤️❤️The biggest seller for me was the way that Cam always makes Joellen feel confident and good about herself🥺. Listen. I’m not a thin person. I FELT Joellen’s struggles, her questioning, her negative feelings. When she was feeling a certain way about her body, I felt the same. I ask myself those same questions all the time. I don’t have a thin/beautiful family like Joellen, but what my family and I have (with all the extra pounds/stretch marks) is genuine love for each other. Cam was her biggest supporter, her biggest cheerleader. When you have toxic people like that in your life, steer clear and stick with the ones that care for you. And Cam was that for Joellen.
“Your body isn’t a thing to be looked at and judged against some standard of perfection that doesn’t even really exist. It’s the vessel that takes you through life, allowin’ you to experience all the beautiful things life has to offer. Food. Sex. Sunsets. Music. Hugs. Laughter. A healthy body is a gift. Don’t take it for granted. Don’t treat it like some cheap one-night stand. Treat it like the love of your life. Treat it with respect and tenderness, but most of all, gratitude.
“And a healthy dose of awe, too. Your body is made of remnants of stars and massive explosions in the galaxies. Every few years, the bulk of your body is newly created by the regeneration of your cells, but you have things in you that are as old as the universe. We’re literally stardust. Every one of us is a little miracle. You’re a miracle, Joellen. Think about that the next time you’re standin’ naked in front of the mirror and want to focus on some stray dimple you don’t like.”
SWOOOOOON!!!🥰🥰🥰
“It’s not bad. You want to please your man—I get it. Just don’t forget who you are. Don’t forget what you are, Joellen. Not for anyone.”
My heartbeat is now the wild, thundering gallop of a pack of stallions flying over the open plains. “What am I?” I whisper, terrified of the answer.
“Perfect.”
Gosh. I love Cam 🥺❤️❤️❤️❤️
What I didn’t like/wanted more of-
-the ow scene 🙄. With the way he was behaving after he started getting closer to Joellen, I’m wondering why it even happened, especially since it’s the only time. Maybe it’s to “prove” how much of a manhoooar he is? I don’t know. It felt unnecessary 😑. The good thing is that it happens before they really know each other.
-Portia’s reasoning for acting like she did
-closure on her family (maybe I missed it). Or maybe we can just assume they’ll never change?
Overall, I felt good and swoony by the end. I loved it.
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing
-H has a strip poker party and that’s how she meets him
-OW- H f*cks OW against his door (this is when they just met)
-OMD- the h wants OM and the OM just got divorced. They almost kiss on a date and flirt here and there. They also write emails to each other
-attempted SA-OM forces himself on h. They get interrupted before anything fully happens
-parental negative comments/h low self-esteem
-biting/spanking/hair pulling
-condoms
April 18, 2018
5+++ stars.
"Melt for You" had me in a pool of liquid !
This was one hell of a juicy read. The so very delicious and wickedly sexy banter between Joellen and Cameron is what pushed this rating up, off the charts for me.
I love snarky and biting humor and this book had it, I smiled and laughed my way through this fabulous read.
Perfect slow burn/rom-com. One of my favorite book-couples. The writing is wonderful and everything I could hope for-I read this book in one sitting.
************************************
Cameron McGregor is the cocky, tattooed Scottish rugby captain who just moved in next door to Joellen Bixby . Joellen Bixby is a socially awkward book editor that has a date every Saturday—with her cat, a pint of ice cream, and fantasies of the way-too-handsome Michael Maddox, the unattainable CEO of her firm. But she blends in so well with her cubicle, how is this going to happen? The answer may be closer than she thinks. Cameron's not Jo’s type—at all—but the notorious playboy is offering to teach the wallflower everything he knows about inspiring desire. Though a lot of women have rumpled Cam’s kilt, Jo is special. Far from the ugly duckling she thinks she is, in Cam’s eyes she’s sharp, funny, and effortlessly sexy. Now, thanks to him, Jo is blooming with confidence and has the man of her dreams within reach.
**************************************
Amazing series so far. I had previously read the equally wonderful "Burn for You" and was thrilled to receive an ARC for this book as it has long been on my radar for publication.
J.T. Geissinger, I also award you "5 stars" - you are officially one of my favorite authors.
"Melt for You" had me in a pool of liquid !
This was one hell of a juicy read. The so very delicious and wickedly sexy banter between Joellen and Cameron is what pushed this rating up, off the charts for me.
I love snarky and biting humor and this book had it, I smiled and laughed my way through this fabulous read.
Perfect slow burn/rom-com. One of my favorite book-couples. The writing is wonderful and everything I could hope for-I read this book in one sitting.
************************************
Cameron McGregor is the cocky, tattooed Scottish rugby captain who just moved in next door to Joellen Bixby . Joellen Bixby is a socially awkward book editor that has a date every Saturday—with her cat, a pint of ice cream, and fantasies of the way-too-handsome Michael Maddox, the unattainable CEO of her firm. But she blends in so well with her cubicle, how is this going to happen? The answer may be closer than she thinks. Cameron's not Jo’s type—at all—but the notorious playboy is offering to teach the wallflower everything he knows about inspiring desire. Though a lot of women have rumpled Cam’s kilt, Jo is special. Far from the ugly duckling she thinks she is, in Cam’s eyes she’s sharp, funny, and effortlessly sexy. Now, thanks to him, Jo is blooming with confidence and has the man of her dreams within reach.
**************************************
Amazing series so far. I had previously read the equally wonderful "Burn for You" and was thrilled to receive an ARC for this book as it has long been on my radar for publication.
J.T. Geissinger, I also award you "5 stars" - you are officially one of my favorite authors.
May 18, 2018
4 Melting With Laughter Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Fabulous romance with a huge side of humor... nothing like a hot guy, with a killer accent, who can make you laugh....Cam was all that and more... but he was not the man that JoEllen has been crushing on for the past 10 years.... A ten-year crush, can you imagine?
JoEllen really needs to find some confidence, and it does not help that she has been in love with her boss for the past 10 years... so when she finds out he is getting divorced, she is elated, this is her chance... but how? Cam is her obnoxious new neighbor, but he is a player and offers to help Jo win her man.... problem..... Cam starts developing feelings for Jo.... also his lessons are helping Jo out quite a bit... she has much more confidence and has caught the eye of the man of her dreams Michael....
Loved this slow burning romance.... so many laugh out loud moments, and I could just hear that Scottish accent in my head.... always wonder what people think of the American accent? Has nothing to do with the book, just a random thought.... anyways I digress.... Jo was such a fun and fabulous girl I just could not understand why she doubted her self so much... it was lovely to see her blossom in the capable hands of Cameron... Cam was such a fantastic guy, he just excepted people for what they are, flaws and all.... and Michael, well he is the dream guy, right? And no worries this is not a love triangle situation, it’s just a fun slow burning romance filled with humor and love....
Absolutely recommend to fans of slow burning romance with the fore mentioned humor😍😂
*** thank you so much to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this lovely book ***
Fabulous romance with a huge side of humor... nothing like a hot guy, with a killer accent, who can make you laugh....Cam was all that and more... but he was not the man that JoEllen has been crushing on for the past 10 years.... A ten-year crush, can you imagine?
JoEllen really needs to find some confidence, and it does not help that she has been in love with her boss for the past 10 years... so when she finds out he is getting divorced, she is elated, this is her chance... but how? Cam is her obnoxious new neighbor, but he is a player and offers to help Jo win her man.... problem..... Cam starts developing feelings for Jo.... also his lessons are helping Jo out quite a bit... she has much more confidence and has caught the eye of the man of her dreams Michael....
Loved this slow burning romance.... so many laugh out loud moments, and I could just hear that Scottish accent in my head.... always wonder what people think of the American accent? Has nothing to do with the book, just a random thought.... anyways I digress.... Jo was such a fun and fabulous girl I just could not understand why she doubted her self so much... it was lovely to see her blossom in the capable hands of Cameron... Cam was such a fantastic guy, he just excepted people for what they are, flaws and all.... and Michael, well he is the dream guy, right? And no worries this is not a love triangle situation, it’s just a fun slow burning romance filled with humor and love....
Absolutely recommend to fans of slow burning romance with the fore mentioned humor😍😂
*** thank you so much to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this lovely book ***
April 21, 2018
I write sonnets as a hobby. Classically structured, Shakespearean-style sonnets, because I am a pathetic human being with a nonexistent love life who will someday die alone surrounded by my cats.
MELT FOR YOU is book two in the Slow Burn series and once again I have more or less highlighted this entire story. Sweet lines, funny quips, hilarious banter, emotional af passages.. Geissinger serves it all up on a delicious platter, alongside all the slow-cooked homestyle meals that pepper the pages of this read. I'm sensing a food trend in these slow-burny romances and I am hungry for more.
"You were kicked out of Scotland because you're so annoying, right? Everyone got together and agreed to throw you out for the greater good of the country?"
"You'd know if you googled me."
"I am not googling you, egosaurus."
These characters made me melt. This book is so aptly titled. Instead of offering us a broody hero ala book one, this time my newest bookboyfriend is a charming behemoth who happens to be a super famous Scottish rugby player. He's gigantic, gorgeous, and has a totally (well deserved) overinflated ego. One that chubby, frumpy, nursing-a-decade-long-unrequired-crush-on-her-married-boss Joellen can't resist wanting to pop like a balloon. Unfortunately for her, Cameron loves it.
"I love that sharp tongue of yours. I love that you feel comfortable enough with me to give me a good dressin' down. I need that, y'know. Someone to stick a pin in my balloon when it gets too inflated."
"Your balloon must have a lot more pinpricks since you met me."
The meet cute between these two is born of loud rap music and the sounds of a wild party emanating from across the hall of her apartment, and Joellen wanting to deal with none of it after a long day at work. But the only way the unrepentant Scotsman is willing to tone down the tunes is if she agrees to cook for him. Seven days of quiet for seven nights of meals.. with a side order of helpful advice, and -- eventually -- workouts, when Joellen realizes her crush on her boss might not be so unrequited after he not only announces he's getting divorced but also expresses interest in her. But spending all this time with Cameron, means she has to.. well. Spend time with him.
"I'm jealous of everyone who hasn't met you."
"Oh, c'mon now, lass, meetin' me has gotta be the most excitin' thing to happen to you since your last Pap smear."
"Just admit it. You're in love with me."
"Love? Hardly. It you were on a life support machine, I'd unplug it to charge my phone."
Seriously, see above where I mention highlighting the shit out of this book? It's so fucking funny. But the best part of the hate-ish flirtiness were the revelations that unfold throughout the story. How neither had this kind of relationship with anyone, one where they could be their unfiltered selves, and how beautiful that was. And, yeah, to ease out of some of that heaviness, again, it was funny. I lol'd 4evah.
"It's too bad you got stuck in puberty, McGregor -- you might've been a productive member of society one day."
"Oh, I'm plenty productive, lass."
"Name one way you're productive that doesn't involve the amount of sperm you produce. I'll wait."
But speaking of heavy. It definitely had moments. Joellen is a wallflower, nursing her crush, living alone with her cat, and the chubby member of a family of beauty queens and parents who made a living being paid to be beautiful or maximize the beauty of others. There was a healthy peppering of dialogue regarding self-worth and image and dieting and all the toxic shit women (and men) deal with in the pursuit of perfection. How the value of beauty isn't currency, despite what some might believe, and how often it is more of a burden than a benefit.
"The human body is a complex machine. A temple, as they say. You have to treat it like one!"
"Yeah, well, my temple is more like an abandoned ruin the jungle has taken over and a herd of billy goats is living in."
Geissinger makes it obvious right from the get-go that this isn't going to be some She's All That scenario where the girl takes off the glasses and the hot jock falls in love. Nope. And actually there's a whole discussion about glasses vs contacts that I could quote, but it's a little on the nose; and anyway I can't reveal all the best parts in this review so you'll just have to trust me. But back to my point. This isn't that movie. This isn't even a 'big girls appreciation' story. Nope. This is a love who you are story. Respect yourself story. Be healthy, yes, but be whoever you are most comfortable being, too, as long as it doesn't include being down on yourself for who that person is.
"Toned is good. Skinny is better."
"Wrong! Strong is the goal, lass, not skinny."
But it's also not just a 'chubby girl gets the boy' book. It's a love story about real people. Those who look perfect but are more than just window dressing, who have been hurt and want nothing more than to be loved more for who they are inside instead of how they look on their outsides. The ones who aren't size two pretty but will cook for you, care for you, give it to you straight, embrace their weird and be unique, and be all the more beautiful for it.
[I] worry that if he can see me so clearly, everyone else must, too. But when I think about it, I realize he's the only one who's looking.
MELT FOR YOU was a delicious slowburn romance with a heroine I can totally empathize with, the best kind of good-guy hero who is cocky and self-assured but still longing for basic connection, so many passages filled with real-talk and real-life truths, simple confessions that are as powerful as billboard-sized declarations, a deaf cat, homecooked meals, and the best kind of banter money can buy.
I've spent so much of my adult life trying to not be unruly, to be smaller, more contained, more acceptable, but underneath it all I'm still myself. All the passions and desires and tempestuous needs, all the wants and hurts and sorrows, all the ugly and wonderful things. I am just unruly, peculiar me, and I'm so tired of pretending otherwise.
I am so in love with this Slow Burn series not just for the hate/reluctant-to-love storylines or all the lines that make me giggle, but for how fresh these romances feel. MELT FOR YOU is the best kind of investment in your time; you'll laugh, you'll swoon, you'll wind up socked in the gut with feels, you might even end up inspired to cook something hearty for dinner. Maybe even all of the above! But whatever you do, I would particularly recommend you read the author's note at the end of this story and then, if the book didn't already make you want to do so, go hug that friend who always gets down on themselves, who never thinks they are enough. Or if that's you, go put on that dress you haven't been brave enough to wear out of the house. Be kind to yourself.
Looking for another way to be kind to yourself and others? Read this book.
4.75 "stop pretending you're a mouse, dragon lady, and go after what you want" stars
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
MELT FOR YOU is book two in the Slow Burn series and once again I have more or less highlighted this entire story. Sweet lines, funny quips, hilarious banter, emotional af passages.. Geissinger serves it all up on a delicious platter, alongside all the slow-cooked homestyle meals that pepper the pages of this read. I'm sensing a food trend in these slow-burny romances and I am hungry for more.
"You were kicked out of Scotland because you're so annoying, right? Everyone got together and agreed to throw you out for the greater good of the country?"
"You'd know if you googled me."
"I am not googling you, egosaurus."
These characters made me melt. This book is so aptly titled. Instead of offering us a broody hero ala book one, this time my newest bookboyfriend is a charming behemoth who happens to be a super famous Scottish rugby player. He's gigantic, gorgeous, and has a totally (well deserved) overinflated ego. One that chubby, frumpy, nursing-a-decade-long-unrequired-crush-on-her-married-boss Joellen can't resist wanting to pop like a balloon. Unfortunately for her, Cameron loves it.
"I love that sharp tongue of yours. I love that you feel comfortable enough with me to give me a good dressin' down. I need that, y'know. Someone to stick a pin in my balloon when it gets too inflated."
"Your balloon must have a lot more pinpricks since you met me."
The meet cute between these two is born of loud rap music and the sounds of a wild party emanating from across the hall of her apartment, and Joellen wanting to deal with none of it after a long day at work. But the only way the unrepentant Scotsman is willing to tone down the tunes is if she agrees to cook for him. Seven days of quiet for seven nights of meals.. with a side order of helpful advice, and -- eventually -- workouts, when Joellen realizes her crush on her boss might not be so unrequited after he not only announces he's getting divorced but also expresses interest in her. But spending all this time with Cameron, means she has to.. well. Spend time with him.
"I'm jealous of everyone who hasn't met you."
"Oh, c'mon now, lass, meetin' me has gotta be the most excitin' thing to happen to you since your last Pap smear."
"Just admit it. You're in love with me."
"Love? Hardly. It you were on a life support machine, I'd unplug it to charge my phone."
Seriously, see above where I mention highlighting the shit out of this book? It's so fucking funny. But the best part of the hate-ish flirtiness were the revelations that unfold throughout the story. How neither had this kind of relationship with anyone, one where they could be their unfiltered selves, and how beautiful that was. And, yeah, to ease out of some of that heaviness, again, it was funny. I lol'd 4evah.
"It's too bad you got stuck in puberty, McGregor -- you might've been a productive member of society one day."
"Oh, I'm plenty productive, lass."
"Name one way you're productive that doesn't involve the amount of sperm you produce. I'll wait."
But speaking of heavy. It definitely had moments. Joellen is a wallflower, nursing her crush, living alone with her cat, and the chubby member of a family of beauty queens and parents who made a living being paid to be beautiful or maximize the beauty of others. There was a healthy peppering of dialogue regarding self-worth and image and dieting and all the toxic shit women (and men) deal with in the pursuit of perfection. How the value of beauty isn't currency, despite what some might believe, and how often it is more of a burden than a benefit.
"The human body is a complex machine. A temple, as they say. You have to treat it like one!"
"Yeah, well, my temple is more like an abandoned ruin the jungle has taken over and a herd of billy goats is living in."
Geissinger makes it obvious right from the get-go that this isn't going to be some She's All That scenario where the girl takes off the glasses and the hot jock falls in love. Nope. And actually there's a whole discussion about glasses vs contacts that I could quote, but it's a little on the nose; and anyway I can't reveal all the best parts in this review so you'll just have to trust me. But back to my point. This isn't that movie. This isn't even a 'big girls appreciation' story. Nope. This is a love who you are story. Respect yourself story. Be healthy, yes, but be whoever you are most comfortable being, too, as long as it doesn't include being down on yourself for who that person is.
"Toned is good. Skinny is better."
"Wrong! Strong is the goal, lass, not skinny."
But it's also not just a 'chubby girl gets the boy' book. It's a love story about real people. Those who look perfect but are more than just window dressing, who have been hurt and want nothing more than to be loved more for who they are inside instead of how they look on their outsides. The ones who aren't size two pretty but will cook for you, care for you, give it to you straight, embrace their weird and be unique, and be all the more beautiful for it.
[I] worry that if he can see me so clearly, everyone else must, too. But when I think about it, I realize he's the only one who's looking.
MELT FOR YOU was a delicious slowburn romance with a heroine I can totally empathize with, the best kind of good-guy hero who is cocky and self-assured but still longing for basic connection, so many passages filled with real-talk and real-life truths, simple confessions that are as powerful as billboard-sized declarations, a deaf cat, homecooked meals, and the best kind of banter money can buy.
I've spent so much of my adult life trying to not be unruly, to be smaller, more contained, more acceptable, but underneath it all I'm still myself. All the passions and desires and tempestuous needs, all the wants and hurts and sorrows, all the ugly and wonderful things. I am just unruly, peculiar me, and I'm so tired of pretending otherwise.
I am so in love with this Slow Burn series not just for the hate/reluctant-to-love storylines or all the lines that make me giggle, but for how fresh these romances feel. MELT FOR YOU is the best kind of investment in your time; you'll laugh, you'll swoon, you'll wind up socked in the gut with feels, you might even end up inspired to cook something hearty for dinner. Maybe even all of the above! But whatever you do, I would particularly recommend you read the author's note at the end of this story and then, if the book didn't already make you want to do so, go hug that friend who always gets down on themselves, who never thinks they are enough. Or if that's you, go put on that dress you haven't been brave enough to wear out of the house. Be kind to yourself.
Looking for another way to be kind to yourself and others? Read this book.
4.75 "stop pretending you're a mouse, dragon lady, and go after what you want" stars
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
September 3, 2018
★★★★★ 5 Stars ★★★★★
My kryptonite is a slow burn romance, add a heroine who thinks she is a plain jane when she clearly isn't, and a sexy arrogant athlete (who also happens to be Scottish), and I am in a place where I hear angels sing and I am laying on a fluffy cloud.
I absolutely adore a journey through the many changes of a new relationship. In this case, it's an enemies-to friends-to unrequited love-to lovers-to actual full-blown love. It was a fabulous ride to be on, and whilst it was funny, sweet, and sexy - it was also quite emotional.
Two perfectly imperfect main characters who find their way to each other through insecurities and a lack of real self-belief.
Cameron was the perfect champion - he saw the beauty in Joellen, as I the reader did, but most importantly he helped her see the beauty in herself that she couldn't see before and taught her that until she loved herself and stopped pleasing others to her own detriment, she would never be happy.
Joellen, on the other hand, saw through Cameron's confidence and saw the really kind and generous soul beneath his media persona and I felt so bad for him when she could only see him as a friend, it was pure angst.
A fabulous book that teaches us that being our true selves is the only way to be truly happy.
I need more, I adore this series, and the talent of Geissinger has impressed me completely.
Melt for You is a standalone contemporary romance, told from first person POV.
My kryptonite is a slow burn romance, add a heroine who thinks she is a plain jane when she clearly isn't, and a sexy arrogant athlete (who also happens to be Scottish), and I am in a place where I hear angels sing and I am laying on a fluffy cloud.
I absolutely adore a journey through the many changes of a new relationship. In this case, it's an enemies-to friends-to unrequited love-to lovers-to actual full-blown love. It was a fabulous ride to be on, and whilst it was funny, sweet, and sexy - it was also quite emotional.
Two perfectly imperfect main characters who find their way to each other through insecurities and a lack of real self-belief.
Cameron was the perfect champion - he saw the beauty in Joellen, as I the reader did, but most importantly he helped her see the beauty in herself that she couldn't see before and taught her that until she loved herself and stopped pleasing others to her own detriment, she would never be happy.
Joellen, on the other hand, saw through Cameron's confidence and saw the really kind and generous soul beneath his media persona and I felt so bad for him when she could only see him as a friend, it was pure angst.
A fabulous book that teaches us that being our true selves is the only way to be truly happy.
I need more, I adore this series, and the talent of Geissinger has impressed me completely.
Melt for You is a standalone contemporary romance, told from first person POV.
December 21, 2021
Delicious Well written favourite trope loved it
April 28, 2019
Sigh. I read half of MELT FOR YOU by JT Geissinger. It is available on KU. I picked it bc the plot--teach me to be sexy so I can seduce another guy-- is very appealing to me. What do we call this trope?
Anyways. Joellen is a 36 year old wallflower who has been pining for her boss for 10 years. He's going through a divorce, and all of a sudden seems to be noticing her. But Joellen's super handsome & infuriating new neighbor, Cameron McGregor offers to help her catch her boss. I fucking love this trope, so this should have been a slam dunk for me.
Pluses: Snappy dialogue. Cameron is a great guy, has that gruff super sexy Scottish thing. Wears a kilt. He's basically handcrafted to be loved by Romancelandia.
Minuses: Joellen has been taught by her family to equate beauty with worth. She hates herself & the non-stop way she denigrates herself is just exhausting. Cameron thinks she's beautiful, but it was hard to read. The first line of this book is "I'm fat" & it keeps going. God knows I am okay with characters having complicated feelings about themselves and their bodies because I certainly do. But I stopped at 50% when she compares herself to a baby elephant. I don't like my body a lot and I would never say that about myself.
Verdict: DNF because of all the fat-shaming. I am sure others will feel different. Her journey is one of self-discovery, and Cameron is great. But it just made me sad. Really fucking sad.
I'd like to say one more thing about this. I've tried carefully to frame this as my experience reading it, but I'd like to also state that this felt...mean. Twice in this book, TWICE, the heroine breaks a chair when she tries to sit down in it. Several people have said they were okay with Joellen's self-abnegation. To me, It was othering. I don't know the author, I just looked at her picture. But I kept thinking,"Is this how thin people THINK fat people feel about themselves? Are we chair breakers to them?"
Copied & Pasted from Twitter as part of a project where I'm reviewing the 2019 RITA finalists.
Anyways. Joellen is a 36 year old wallflower who has been pining for her boss for 10 years. He's going through a divorce, and all of a sudden seems to be noticing her. But Joellen's super handsome & infuriating new neighbor, Cameron McGregor offers to help her catch her boss. I fucking love this trope, so this should have been a slam dunk for me.
Pluses: Snappy dialogue. Cameron is a great guy, has that gruff super sexy Scottish thing. Wears a kilt. He's basically handcrafted to be loved by Romancelandia.
Minuses: Joellen has been taught by her family to equate beauty with worth. She hates herself & the non-stop way she denigrates herself is just exhausting. Cameron thinks she's beautiful, but it was hard to read. The first line of this book is "I'm fat" & it keeps going. God knows I am okay with characters having complicated feelings about themselves and their bodies because I certainly do. But I stopped at 50% when she compares herself to a baby elephant. I don't like my body a lot and I would never say that about myself.
Verdict: DNF because of all the fat-shaming. I am sure others will feel different. Her journey is one of self-discovery, and Cameron is great. But it just made me sad. Really fucking sad.
I'd like to say one more thing about this. I've tried carefully to frame this as my experience reading it, but I'd like to also state that this felt...mean. Twice in this book, TWICE, the heroine breaks a chair when she tries to sit down in it. Several people have said they were okay with Joellen's self-abnegation. To me, It was othering. I don't know the author, I just looked at her picture. But I kept thinking,"Is this how thin people THINK fat people feel about themselves? Are we chair breakers to them?"
Copied & Pasted from Twitter as part of a project where I'm reviewing the 2019 RITA finalists.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,860 reviews