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 … 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.
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read twice 5*****
I loved everything about this book. It was my first time reading a book by this author but ever since have been plowing through book after book. The characters are lovable the story is sweet and the ending is happily ever after.
Probably the best book I have ever read. Absolutely hilarious and heartfelt. Am recommending it here on this platform and to all of my friends. Don’t go another day without buying this book. One decision you will never regret!
Wonderful writer! Can’t wait to read all her books!!
This was such a fun, witty, laugh out loud, romance! I’m also pretty sure I have a new book boyfriend!! The characters and storyline felt genuine. I occasionally wanted to knock some sense into the main character for not knowing her own self worth, but even then she felt real. Cam may be one of the best love interests I’ve ever read. Honestly, he’s what made the book. I can’t wait to read more by this author!
Oh.
My.
Goodness.
Can you hear that?
THAT is the sound of my heart exploding with LOVE. This book was everything!
I had tears of joy.
Tears of pain.
Tears of ecstasy…is that even a thing? Well, it should be.
Cameron McGregor has got to be one of the swooniest heroes EVER. HOLY SHITE!
The chemistry between Cam & Joellen was sizzling. Their banter was highly entertaining. The sexual tension was thick and delicious. This enemies-to-friends-to-lovers was outstanding.
And the important message throughout the entire book was powerful… LOVE. YOURSELF.
I rarely write reviews for every single book in a series. Usually I would pick my most favorite to share my thoughts. However, since I’ve enjoyed this 3-book series so much, I’ve decided to leave my comments for all of them. Each is a stand alone story, a modern adaptation of classic fairy tales. This second book was about Joellen, an editor with a low self esteem, and her short-term neighbor Cameron who happened to be the most famous athlete in the planet! Cam always saw a beautiful, smart and capable woman in Joellen, while she never saw it in herself. Through the process of helping her attract the attention of her 10-year crush, Cam always encouraged her, made her feel more confident in herself and helped her discover her true self underneath the ugly duckling cover. Meanwhile she also realized nobody really looked at her or accepted her for who she was the way Cam did. Their love story was so heart warming and sweet, I was still dreaming about their happy ever after 🙂 I love how the story ended where Joellen actually took the initiative to propose to Cam, which would be a total opposite of who she was in the beginning. Cam is one of my favorite heroes, devastatingly handsome, genuine and kind, someone with a tough childhood and a life constantly under scrutiny yet always remained his good heart and never judged Joellen for her self-loathing thoughts. The story was developed so well and beautifully written, you could see how Joellen gradually transformed herself into a strong and confident woman. The message from this story is just powerful and captivating, a good life lesson and an inspiration for many women. I highly recommend the whole series and this author!
This was my second read from this author, so my first opportunity to find out if I would have a fresh new story of the first on repeat. I’m happy to say it was a fresh new story. There are definitely a couple of characteristics she seems to like, but still very different and I really enjoyed it! So far her books have all inspired serious binge reading issues for me 🙂
My absolute favorite book of 2018.
You know when you have those books that were just so bloody good you almost hate yourself for reading it because you’ll never have a first time reading it again. This was that book for me. It’s one of those kind of romances that no matter what the subset of romance they might enjoy, i.e. Biker, billionaire, gritty, dark, light, paranormal, etc, they can and will love this book. The only readers that might be a little frustrated are the insta love types because it’s most definitely a slow burn. A very delicious slow burn.
Cameron and Joellen were absolutely pure perfection. The banter is just fall out of your chair funny. His shutting down of her negative body image, we all need someone like that in our lives that can make us feel beautiful just the way we are. It’s just so perfect.
I got this on KU but I’m gonna actually purchase it so I can keep it and never have to return it. I really can’t say enough about how this book made me feel on an emotional level. It wasn’t really angsty but it was sad at times. I felt that heartbreak she had with her mom saying she should be in her own weight class.
Gah! I just loved it so much I could babble on and on. You should most definitely give this book a go. It is pure enjoyment.
Actual Rating 4.5
Melt for You was a laugh out loud, slow burn romance between neighbors. The very hot Scottish Rugby player Cameron McGregor was such a lovable character. I liked how he came off as cocky and arrogant, but that was not him at all. I loved that he didn’t fit any of the stereotypes Joellen put on him. He was funny, charismatic, sexy as hell, and genuinely cared about Joellen. He did his best to help her get her boss at work whom she secretly had a crush on for like 10 years and make her see that she was a beautiful woman who didn’t need to change anything about herself. Especially not for a guy.
I really enjoyed the love/hate type of friendship they had. As much as Joellen tried to tell herself she didn’t like Cam, he slowly grew on her and had her so in love with him without even realizing it. I really enjoyed the way Cam tried to help her “get the guy” I guess you can say, while also helping her not be a pushover, and have more confidence in herself and her looks. The slow burn romance that is clearly brewing between the two was ok so good. The ending was so satisfying because the ache for these two just get together was so grueling.
My final thoughts are that I really loved this book. It was super funny. I loved both of these characters. I took a half point off because I was just a tiny bit annoyed about a few things about Joellen given her age. But read this book for no other reason than the fact that Cam McGregor is one sexy as hell book boyfriend and the highlight of reading this book. J.T. Geissinger never disappoints.
There are so many wonderful things about this book that I don’t know where to begin. The characters are fabulous, and getting inside their heads as the story unravels helps to add layers to them and show their growth. The dialogue is witty and entertaining. This is definitely one of my favorites by Geissinger.
I’m listening to the audiobook version, narrated by Pippa Jayne. Oh my goodness, this story is delightful, and her talented narration just magnifies the delight! Her Scot’s brogue and posh English accent are to die for. A charming tale of a funny, talented heroine with serious self-esteem issues. While such a tale could skew angsty or whiny, this one is delightful. Joellen is a heroine you’ll enjoy rooting for, and her neighbor, rugby superstar Cameron McGregor, is the perfect blend of dreamy and steamy and infuriating. Really well done, Ms. Geissinger! I look forward to reading more of your work.
This book was great! Loved the characters!!!
This book had all the qualities I LOVE! The storyline, the characters and the laugh out loud conversations were all unabashedly perfect. This is a must read!!!
Joellen doesn’t have much of a life. She’s worked for ten years for a publishing company and longs for a promotion that she never gets, although she deserves one. She is also hopelessly in love with the married CEO of her company, Michael. She lives alone with her cat and tells all her problems to Mrs. Dinwiddle, the elderly actress that lives down the hall from her. She meets Cam when he swaps apartments with her neighbor across the hall from her for the holidays. Cam is the ultimate mega famous, womanizing athlete with a penchant for wild parties and loud music. He also seems to have an aversion to wearing a shirt. Joellen has no idea who he is at first, but it doesn’t matter, she just wants him to turn the music down. And she wants her cat to not love him at first sight as well.
The banter in this book is my favorite part. Joellen is full of snark with witty comebacks like you wouldn’t believe. Every time Joellen gets in Cam’s face about his loud music or his latest sexcapades they end up in some of the funniest banter I have ever read. Laugh out loud stuff. When he finds out about her thing for her boss and that Michael’s getting a divorce, he decides he’s going to help get her healthy by taking her running every morning at 5 a.m. In return, she’s cooking for him. A friendship of sorts (reluctantly on Joellen’s part) starts happening.
I ended up loving both Joellen and Cam. It took awhile for me to care about Cam at all because he made me as mad as he made Joellen-in the beginning. It didn’t take me long to see he had a backstory that wasn’t that great and that he wasn’t the scoundrel Joellen initially thought he was. Joellen’s backstory included having a model for a mother, a beauty queen sister and a father that is a fashion photographer. She is constantly being told that’s she’s not pretty enough or good enough by her mother. So her mother was who I stayed mad at throughout the book.
There’s a reason that I can’t wait for this author’s new releases. I have loved her books since I found her Night Prowler books way back in the beginning of her writing career. To this day(fifteen books into her career), that series is still in my top ten favorite paranormal romance series that I’ve ever read. She flat out knows how to write and her banter, as I said before, is some of the best I’ve ever read. Her books are usually full of romance and she doesn’t use sex scenes in place of story. That’s not to say there’s not some(and sometimes more than some) erotica going on, but this book is a bit tamer than some others by her. She’s also very responsive to her readers and that’s a plus for me as well.
If you enjoy reading about a huge hunk of a man with a Scottish brogue that sometimes wears a kilt, then this might just be your next read. Or if you like a heroine with self esteem issues that finally realizes that she really is good enough for anything or anyone, then this also could be a good read for you. I loved the whole thing. Highly recommended!
“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.”
Witty, charming, and humorous Melt for You is a feel good romance I didn’t see coming.
Joellen is rather relatable: single, homebody, cat companion, and rather clueless when it comes to love. Cameron is this thoughtful, insightful, protective, and kindhearted Scotsman wrapped in the armor of a smarmy rogue rugby captain. Their interactions were surprisingly emotional, heartwarming, inspirational and empowering.
Fantastic slow-burn romance of two people who find themselves going from enemy neighbors to close friends to so much more. Great humor, great dialogue Melt for You will surprise you with its sexy, witty, charming, empowering storyline and inspiring characters.
4.5 stars
Recommended Similar Reads: Dear Dwayne, With Love by Eliza Gordon
Literally the best narrated book I have ever listened to. I have listened to it 20+ times and am still not sick of it. If you don’t have it on audiobook, you’re missing out!!!
Loving this series on Audiobook!! I am really enjoying these with FREE audio!! These are well written story and characters! I like the narrators voices…they match the characters which can make a HUGE difference!! On to Ache for you!!
I still have the Scottish flair ringing in my ears after this fun book. Less Sean Conner, more Gerard Butler.
The hero makes this book as he is a foul-mouthed, kilt wearing, bared chest hunk of Scottish fun.
Then there’s the heroine who, while quite proficient in banter with the H only, turns into a poor-pitiful-me-go-into-the-garden-and-eat-worms pill. She’s either voluptuous or fat depending on whose POV you want to consider. Plus she’s had a ten year crush on her married boss. Shades of Love Actually hung in the air. She grows up a little bit, but I felt like Geissinger was a little too inconsistent with the heroine. She refers to herself as Fiona from Shrek, is a mouse at work with no friends, but she’s a tiger in standing up for herself with the H? Points off for that and her yucky, thin, and all too believably insensitive family that needed a tiny bit more comeuppance.
All in all fun to read due to the hunky H, his nice big muscles and charming Scottish accent.
Joellen has had a crush on the CEO of her firm since she started working there 10 years ago. When Michael Maddox’s marriage is breaking up that far away dream becomes attainable. Can she catch the eye of her perfect CEO? Cameron MacGregor is subleasing the apartment across the hall from Joellen. He is brash, scruffy, and the captain of a pro British Rugby team. Cam is also a big ladies man with a reputation for trouble. He offers to help “coach” Jo into catching her CEO, but quickly realizes that she is the woman he wants and starts to play dirty to keep her.
Finally, a Geissinger hero who is not fighting a darkness in his soul that only his heroine can shine a light on! Don’t get me wrong, Cam has his problems. He didn’t have a great childhood and fought to attain the status he currently has as a pro Rugby player, but he is charming and laughs easily. NOT like other characters in her novels. It was so refreshing and unexpected! Jo, also is unlike her other heroines. She is self described as somewhat plump and average looking, although both Cam and Michael see her very differently. It’s been awhile since Jo has practiced her feminine wiles, so when Cam offers to be her test subject the sparks fly. She spends most of the book being charmingly confused over who she really wants, Cam or Michael. Since this is an HEA we know going in who she’s going to pick, but that journey was really a lot of fun to read! I loved both Jo and Cam! They each had their own insecurities that they helped each other overcome. Their relationship was fresh, sassy and filled with humor. In comparison, Michael seemed to be a dolt. No competition in my eyes!
This Slow Burn series seems to be a stand alone novel as there was no relationship between the characters from book to book. Feel free to pick this up and enjoy! The Slow Burn comes from the build up in their relationship from friends to lovers. I was sitting on the edge of my seat in anticipation of the conclusion to this novel. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!