This is a super sweet, sexy, and touching romance with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments as well as emotional ones too. It is also a very convincing depiction of a couple who transition from snarky banter to genuine friendship and finally deep and abiding love. Each stage is so worth taking the time to appreciate for its own merits.

Joellen is a reticent and lonely woman at the start of the novel with an absolutely stunning skill for self-abasement. Single and career-focused in Manhattan, Joellen's secret habit of thinking the very worst of herself is tough reading at first. Most people wouldn't speak of their worst enemies the way Joellen sometimes thinks and speaks of herself. Growing up as the perceived awkward sister of a beauty queen and the daughter of a mother who was a former model and a father who photographed beautiful women for a living, Joellen has absorbed many negative messages about gender expectations and come out the worst for it. The novel does such a nice job though of juxtaposing Joellen's negative self-perception with the reality of her kindness to others. And despite harsh self-recriminations, Joellen is great character who works hard and tries to live conscientiously. She's not full of pity for herself but instead has resolutely accepted that she simply lacks in life. It's all rather heartbreaking and I was ready for something big to shake up this staid life.

Enter new sexy neighbor, rugby star Cameron, who quickly becomes the perfect foil in the book for Joellen's low self-esteem. On the surface Cameron appears to be the complete opposite of Joellen in that he is an uber-confident party boy who devotes his nights to strip poker parties, loud rap music, and noisy one night stands. Whatever diffidence Joellen feels towards nearly every person in her life completely vanishes in the face of Cameron's obnoxiousness, and to his credit, he seems to know just how to push her buttons and get a rise out of her. And though the book is Joellen's first person narrative, the readers are left in no doubt that Cameron is smitten from their first meeting. All subsequent snarky encounters and negotiations over noise control provide the perfect way for them to transition slowly into friendship. I love romances that take the time to develop a foundation for the main characters, and this book does it better than just about any I've read. The friendship section of the book is so funny and gentle and sweet. I love that the novel spends most of the time here in this space, allowing Joellen and Cameron time to create very believable grounds for a lasting relationship while also contending with some serious and secret lust. Cameron, like Joellen, carries his own demons around, and it is through their friendship that he is able to understand with perfect clarity how superficial his life has been without a loving relationship with someone he can trust completely. Also, the plot of Cameron offering to be Joellen's lifestyle coach so that she can finally capture the eye of her boss is the best part of the book. It sustains all the tension of unrequited love, repressed lust, misleading assumptions, and angst that make the ultimate romance between them so fulfilling. Their workout scenes offer some really funny moments but are also persuasively motivating too. I still want to know what exactly is in the green smoothie Cameron makes Joellen drink every morning.

If I have any qualms about this book, it is perhaps that Joellen is surprisingly slow to realize her feelings given that she is a mature character in her thirties. Nevertheless, when she finally gets clarity, I was so rooting for her and for their future. I know by the end of the year this book will be high on my list of favorite romances of 2018.

Wow totally impressed by Melt for You (Slow Burn #2) by J.T. Geissiinger. I loved Joellen's snark, sass and spitfire attitude. The chemistry between the main characters was excellent with just the right amount of angst and tension in the story. A definite 4.5 stars

This book was fantastic. I loved the slow burn and once it heated up, Boom!! The chemistry in the bedroom was H.O.T. Cameron and Joellen were fighting against each other at first. Joellen is quiet, reserved, ok with the steadiness that is her life. Cameron is total opposite. Playboy, athlete, loud, obnoxious. They relied on each other way more than they thought. I love these two together, opposite but quite similar once their walls came down. I devoured this book in one sitting. Cameron was a mountain man but definitely a softy when it came to Joellen. I loved how he loved. I just couldn't put it down. Love it. I may have to read Burn for you like immediately. Would definitely recommend!!! I received this book in exchange for the honest opinion.

bookstagrammer--tweezyreads

This book was a very enjoyable read. Cam and Joellen have witty banter throughout the story as they move from adversaries, to friends, then to lovers. At times I found Joellen a bit annoying with her lack of self confidence, and general ability to read a situation, but it seems that that is how these meek, unsure characters are often written. Overall I recommend, it is a fun read that I kept looking forward to getting back to. #MeltForYou #NetGalley

Sweet, sexy and funny; this book will surely make you smile. Cameron is quite the hero!! I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to @netgalley and Montlake Romance for my #arc of #meltforyou book 2 in the slow burn series by @jtgeissingerauthor

Joellen Bixby isn’t the most confident person. She keeps to herself, is way too nice and is letting life pass her by, until sexy, tattooed, rugby superstar Cameron McGregor moves next door. Joellen has been pining over the CEO at her job and Cam offers to help her win him over but is her heart set on the wrong guy?

I really liked this book. It was funny, sweet and I liked the characters. Joellen has some major self esteem issues and I’m usually not the biggest fan of the ugly ducking trope but aside for my own biases on that I thought the characters were well developed. And Cam is 🔥, sweet, funny and caring the perfect swoon worthy man!

I’m just saying when I go to Scotland and there aren’t all these extra hot men I read about there I will be highly upset!

This is second book in this series but you do not have to read the first book. In this one In this book we meet Joellen who unfortunately has had a crudh on her boss who is married for 10 years and because of that has had no life. But that starts to change when Cameron moves down the hall from her and they get into it. When her boss tells her he is getting a divorce and shows interest she is thinking things will change and Camerin is going to help her land him.. this books, has laughs frustration and emotion.

On its face, this is a lighthearted, super fun rugby romance. I mean Cameron McGregor is literally everything I love about a romance hero: incorrigible, witty, smart, kind, dead sexy, and just a little wounded. The tone of this book is, for the most part, light and easy and there were moments where I felt my heart race in that way that I am completely unable to resist.

Unfortunately, it wasn't a perfect read for me. I have loved every single thing I have read by this author, so this felt like a rare misstep for me. It's not that the book isn't good, rather I suspect this is a case of "it's not you, it's me." There were moments that I loved, and lines that made me laugh so hard. However, I had a really hard time connecting with the heroine. I didn't like her. I mean, I did - at first. She came on fiery and fierce and while I found her a bit tightly wound, I appreciated her feisty spirit. However, that spirit quickly fizzled out and I didn't love how all-encompassing her low self-esteem was. And that's a tough thing to say because I have struggled with the same issues that she does - and I have for almost my entire life. However, she made me sad. She was like a version of me without pluck or humor or perspective. I didn't like how her vision of herself influenced her relationship with Cameron. I didn't like how his role was to prop her up, over and over again, while she kept trying to tear herself down. And, honestly, I wasn't crazy about the way she treated him.

I also struggled mightily with the fact that she kept pursuing/lusting after one man while falling slowly into a relationship with another. As if there was any competition, pfft. However, this is entirely my own fault. I know that these storylines don't usually work for me but I was so excited by a new release from an author I love (and a rugby player to boot!) that I overlooked this potential issue. And it was an issue for me. It kept me from attaching myself to the love story, and it caused repeated side-eye feelings toward the heroine, with whom I already had some issues.

So, in the end, not my favorite offering by this author, but also not a total loss. There were some fun, campy scenes with secondary characters (including an adorable deaf cat, and a hilariously dramatic eccentric landlord). It's a solid Ugly Duckling storyline and Cameron McGregor is charming as all get-out, protective and alpha growly just the way I like my heroes. It was impossible for me not to love him.

Oh my heart! I loved the first book in this series and this one did not disappoint!! A perfect slow burn for a Sunday afternoon.

I love all of J.T.’s books and this one was no exception . Another five star read by an author with much talent. I loved the Scottish hero, one of my favorites of all time!

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

This was fun. I read the first book in this series, [book:Burn for You|34879621] , and I absolutely loved it. This one didn't quite live up to it, but was still pretty enjoyable.

I never fall for the Scotsman trope, it's not something that works that great for me, and I think this book was really playing on that trope. Our hero is a Scottish rugby superstar, who wears kilts and has a heavy accent. If that's your jam, I am sure you'll love this. This also sort of has the fake dating trope, and has that whole noisy neighbor trope, and it was a bit too stale and overdone.
This was overtly cheesy and cringey at times, and since I wasn't that much into the characters, I found it annoying and couldn't ignore it like I usually do.
However, J.T. Geissinger is really good at writing dialogue and she can really make a scene work. So I would most definitely recommend this one, and especially would recommend the first book in the series.

Joellen and Cameron were off the charts an awesome couple, found them captivating. Watching Cameron bring out the more confident Joellen was very amusing. I loved his outfits or lack there of and his bond with the deaf cat, well it was adorable. Michael, Joellen's boss came across like a creeper from the beginning so it was very annoying that Joellen didn't figure it out sooner. We could have had more Joellen and Cam if she had. It would have been a cherry on top if her family could have gotten a little more comeuppance for their bad behavior. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend to others.

This book was just hilarious, I giggled from beginning to end, well almost the end anyway! JT is one of my favourite writers and in my opinion this is one of her best books.

Who would have thought that a rugby playing, kilt wearing, rap loving, no shirt, mountain size Scotsman and a geeky, single, cat loving book editor would fall in love. Well it happened between Cameron and Jocelyn. This is an enemies to friends/lovers romance with a twist!

Jocelyn has been in love with her boss Michael for ten years though she believes that he doesn't know that she exists. Cameron offers to give her lessons in how to make Michael fall in love with her, in return for her Shepherds Pie and other dinners every night.. Let the fun begin! and who knows what will happen in the end, be ready for the unexpected.

Another great story from JT, that I highly recommend this lighthearted romp and would give more than five stars if I could..

Cam and Joellen engage in a delightful battle of wit and the ultimate winner is the reader.

This is a perfect novel for any romance reader because every woman will empathize with Joellen Bixby, or more truthfully, everyone woman is Joellen Bixty. Like Joellen, we each see our own flaws like a glaring beacon (too fat, too scrawny, too busty, not curvy enough, too shy, too awkward, too intimidating) and those flaws are the reason we can’t ________ (find love, get that perfect job, lose weight, finish our education). Even the most “perfect” woman you know fights her own internal demons. And if we don’t notice them for ourselves, there is always someone there to point them out for you. In this story, Joellen has grown up with a Miss America runner-up sister, a former model mother and a fashion photographer father. No matter how pretty Joellen is, she is always the ugly duckling in the group, and she is reminded of it constantly, whether it is the off-hand “were you adopted?” comment or reminders from her own family of how she is a catastrophic failure.

Joellen has spent the last ten years pining for her perfect man, who unfortunately is her boss. Michael Maddox, the CEO of Maddox Publishing is Joellen’s Prince Charming, and even if he was not already married, she knows that someone like her would never have a chance with someone as special as Michael.

Enter bad-boy Scottish Rugby star Cameron McGregor who is taking some time off from the spotlight before the season begins and traded apartments with his cousin in New York. The only thing larger that Cameron’s muscles would be his ego. He turns heads whereever he goes and women follow him with only the crook of his finger.

Well, all women except one particular quick-witted, salty lass across the hall who has caught his attention. Cam delights in all barbs thrown by Joellen, except for the ones she throws at herself. It is Cam who forces Joellen to see herself for all her glorious traits rather than allowing her to wallow in what she sees as her failings.

And when Joellen announces that Michael’s marriage is doomed for divorce, it is Cameron who offers to show Joellen how to win her heart’s desire which he hopes she realizes isn’t a perfect Prince Charming, but a shaggy, rough Mountain man who can’t get enough of her. Just because he is always surrounded by people, doesn’t mean that Cameron isn’t as lonely as Joellen, and he is setting his heart on the smart-mouthed, kind-hearted beauty.

I couldn’t get enough of the Cam and Joellen moments, but (and I hope to express this to you effectively), while their chemistry was off the charts, their sexual passion took way too long to show up. Each moment between Cameron and Joellen sparkled and I smiled and laughed with each encounter. But this was written as a first person POV from Joellen and Joellen was romantically focused on Michael with only an occasional pique of interest in Cameron and the romantic interest we know is supposed to be coming from Cam is muted through Joellen’s eyes because she isn’t catching it. Part of that is her Michael-blockage and part of that is still her inferiority complex. We only get our first whiff of sexual attraction between the two when Cameron convinces Joellen that she should practice kissing with Cam so she doesn’t mess it up when she finally gets to kiss Michael, and it is not Michael who fills her thoughts while doing it. I just would have liked to see more internal conflict in Joellen as she got to know Cameron better and as we see her esteem growing for Cam while wiping a little more shine off of Michael as she got to know him better as well. Cameron’s interest was there from the begining and Joellen’s realization of her feelings turned so sharply it was almost jarring. These two develop an incredible bond but the hot and sexy doesn’t show up until very late which is the only disappointment.

This was a stunning and entertaining story of two lonely people finding a love they never expected. Melt for You has definitely made a place for itself on my re-read shelf.

A fantastic slow burn read from a new to me author. I absolutely adore Cameron and his swoony, sexy and oh so flirtatious personality. A perfect fit for Joellen and this somewhat friends/neighbors to lovers trope. Filled with witty banter and scorching chemistry that hooks you until the end. Highly recommend this book.

Gah!! This story was just amazing!! I absolutely lovee Ugly Duckling/Swan stories and boy was this a hit. Combine it with RUGBY and OMG I am in swoony heaven. Cam and Joellen were so funny and sexy and their banter was just fantastic. I might actually have a small (READ: HUGE) crush on Cam and his honesty and passion for all things Joellen!

This novel hit me right up in the feels folks. I love that the author didn't give us a perfect heroine. She was REAL and human with doubts and securities and 1000% relatable. She had self confidence issues about her appearance and her worth to others. But Cam. Man do I love that Hot AF r
Rugby badboy. He was laugh out loud funny and just so goddamn sexy. He SAW the beauty that Joellen was inside and out and refused to let HER or anyone else belittle her. He is one of my favorite J.T. Geissinger heroes to date. 

While I loved this story and Cam and Joellen's banter and steamy moments, on a purely selfish level, l found that I missed the dual perspective narrative in the story. I would have done ANYTHING to get into that gorgeous Scotsman's head to see him tick and to see his emotions and feelings for Joellen. All in all however, this was amazing and highly enjoyable and another favorite of mine from this author. I can't wait for more!! Bravo! 4.5 stars! ~Ratula

Just too much…

This is the second book in the Slow Burn series that can be read as a stand-alone.

As a copyeditor for a publishing house in New York City for the past ten years, Joellen Bixby has been enamored of the company CEO who has never shown any interest in her and then strangely he does, after revealing he’s getting divorced. She’s not sure what to do about it being totally socially backwards, this woman is thirty-six years old and immature. She has no confidence, and is judgmental and envious of others. She doesn’t stand up for herself even when she should and has basically wasted ten years of her life pining for one man. That she knows nothing about the man outside of what’s in the company bio is of no importance for he’s the “perfect” man in her eyes. Joellen has also recently encountered a new neighbor, a gorgeous man in town for a month who drives her crazy with annoying noise levels and his arrogance is off the scales. She won’t admit to herself that she lusts after him or it could be that she’s too dense (clueless) to see it. The neighbor, being a womanizer, could help her learn to get that one man’s attention that she yearns so much to have.

Taking a break from his personal issues in Scotland, the rugby player Cameron McGregor is in town for a limited time. He has a massive ego that’s quite warranted, he’s also a serious playboy who takes pity on the pathetic heroine because she cooks a mean Shephard’s pie, she also intrigues him. For the man he appears to be he’s highly philosophical and more mature than his twenty-nine years would imply, he’s knowledgeable about humanity having studied/learned from the people met throughout his lifetime in contrast to the superficial heroine who has learned nothing and wasted so many years. Cameron knows how to enjoy life and will help transform the heroine for another man to claim. What the hero saw in the heroine was beyond this reader, she’s not likeable and he’s the adult while she’s the child.

Too much humor (the gross kind), too many metaphors, and an unlikable heroine from page one who has zero self-esteem in any area of her life which in this day and age is difficult to fathom. I found this story to be an over-exaggeration of the ugly duckling to swan theme. The heroine is such a frustrating, exasperating character that this reader just could not find anything about her to like even as the story progressed. She also lusted after two men and that’s not what this reader wants to see in a romance, neither is a heroine one constantly pities. The heroine exhibited little growth considering how much growth she needed. She’s so dense, it was amazing the amount of things that passed over her head which at her age is difficult to comprehend. The age/gender gap shown here doesn’t work for this reader, though usually it’s the immaturity of the male not the female in question. I liked this hero.

Humor is a good thing especially when it’s amusing, but this much of it and the type of it were not found to be so. Some will enjoy the humor in this book tremendously, others like me won’t; it depends on your sense of humor which as we all know is highly subjective. It pained me to write this review for I love this author’s works but not this one. The story, as always, is well-written.

An advanced reading copy was obtained from the publisher via NetGalley.

2.5 stars

The first book in this series was phenomenal had everything I could of loved in a book. When I saw there was another in the series I was intrigued to read it. As much as I loved the first one this one was not as good, to me at least. I am not saying I hated it, just that I didn’t love it and it was just OK. The blurb drew me in, I mean who doesn’t love a hot scot! Joellen with all her awkward and negative self depreciating comments were hard to like. Too much of the self bashing over and over again. She kind of was a “yes” man at her job and was taken advantage of repeatedly. The fact that she had a crush on her boss for 10 yrs seemed beyond believable. Then she meets Cameron. He is staying in the apartment across the hall and throws a wrench in her everyday life. He’s loud, obnoxious, cocky yet is really just a sweet hearted teddy bear. I really liked Cam and him and Joellen had some good bantering and arguments. He is way more invested in her and it took her forever to catch on and follow through with the chemistry that they had together. All in all it was a cute read and I would still recommend to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Montlake Romance, for giving me an ARC of this book. The review below is entirely my own opinion.

I really enjoyed this ugly-duckling-turns-into-a-swan romance. I loved that the transformation emphasized that it's more important to be happy with yourself and not because you want to please others or to conform to a certain standard of what is deemed to be beautiful. I loved that this story was a slow burn and uplifting story. I loved Cameron who is just a big sweetie. I want a Cameron of my own. I loved that JoEllen's thoughts and inner voice are funny and very relatable. And the epilogue ---- awww man, the feels.

I've been a fan of J.T. Geissingers since day one and while I've said it before, I'll say it again....J.T. Geissinger knows how to WRITE! From her brilliant mind comes this funny, sexy and modern take on Beauty and the Beast. It's a slow burn story that will make you fall head over heels for a hot Scottish Rugby Star while simultaneously making you want to shake some sense into the naive and awkward heroine who seriously lacks self confidence. It's fun and flirty and an absolutely delicious read! It may be book 2 in her slow burn series, but this book is a complete standalone.

Geissinger's characters are always fresh and unique and I really loved Cameron and Joellen. Cameron is a huge presence and I couldn't help but read his lines in my head with a Scottish brogue. He is larger than life and man, what I wouldn't give to come face to face with this hottie in real life! He reduced me to a puddle of mush every time he interacted with Joellen. Hard and rough on the outside, it was easy to see the softie on the inside even without Geissinger writing the words. She made me </>FEEL</i> the unspoken which is something I admire about her talent. Joellen is awkward and insecure despite her inner and outer beauty. She becomes a bumbling, shrinking violet at times and tries to stay out of the spotlight. No matter how hard she tries, she seems to always get in her own way. She and Cameron butt heads at every turn and I loved their hilariously snarky banter. I most definitely snorted out loud a time or two during a few of their funnier scenes. Cameron and Joellen have the kind of chemistry that sneaks up on you. They butt heads at first but then they slowly fall into a comfortable friendship that blossoms into the unexpected.

Melt For You is beautifully written and you will fall in love with all of the characters, right down to Joellen's cat, Mr. Bingley (and I am NOT a cat person people!). You will laugh, you will swoon, you will even white knuckle your Kindle wishing Cameron and Joellen would get together sooner but that's the absolute beauty of a slow burn story. The build is worth every second and Geissinger pulls it off perfectly. This is another 5 star stunner from one of my favorite go-to authors. One click this baby today!