This series has been a mixed bag for me so far and Ache for You falls right in line with that. This story itself was actually a mixed bag. I struggled to connect with the storyline and most of the characters, and yet there was something that held me there.

Well, someone.

I was fascinated and completely drawn to Matteo. While I struggled to stay engaged with much of the story, every time Matteo showed up, my attention focused in and I read his scenes voraciously. I was utterly charmed by him, completely taken with how he handled Kimber, who was a bit more of a tough nut for me to crack.

Kimber was intended to be a difficult heroine - and she was. I really struggled to connect with her (which is not unusual - I am far harder on heroines than I am on heroes). Part of the reward for sticking with the book through the parts that didn't really move me was that I did wind up with a hefty appreciation for her character evolution and the relationships she formed not only with Matteo, but with some other secondary characters as well.

In the end, I grew to appreciate Kimber and the interesting and sometimes emotional story surrounding her.
Her chemistry with Matteo didn't grip me right out the gate, but I did love them as a couple in the end. This is a light and campy take on Cinderella and while I am a sucker for a good fairytale retelling, I have grown a bit weary of the romcom genre in general. Thus, though I am happy that I stuck with it, it was a mixed bag experience for me.

Okay, uncle. I'm DNFing this one at 51%, but I'm counting it as read because, you know... majority. I can't tell you how disappointed I am in this book. I loved the first two in the series and this one is a major flop. The characters are annoying, their dialogue is unrealistic and felt very over the top. It just felt like things that were said and done weren't actually things people would say or do in real life. I didn't connect with either of the main characters, and the circumstances they found themselves in were just so farfetched. I know it's fiction, but to enjoy a story, at least for me, there has to be some believability. I'm really disappointed that this one didn't work for me because I was really looking forward to it. But given how much I loved the previous books, I will give the author another chance. This one was just a miss.

Ache for You is Book 3 in J.T. Geissinger's Slow Burn series and stands entirely on its own. I ADORED the first 2 books in this series and while I certainly enjoyed this one as well, I found the heroine a bit too rude and ornery at times. I realize she had been through a lot but dang woman, tone it down some.

The story drew me in right from the start with Kimber being dumped at the altar and kept me engaged throughout. The author certainly has the liberty to write the story as she feels it but the ending just didn't do it for me. I don't want to spoil it but I envision an alternate ending packing more of a swoon-worthy punch, at least for me.

J.T. Geissinger's stories are always filled with emotions, sassy spitfire banter and sexy chemistry. I have enjoyed this slow burn series quite a bit and thought that while this book had a slow start for me, it was a great Cinderella retelling with a fiery connection between the hero and heroine. 

When Kimber's life is turned upside down with a cancelled wedding and the untimely death of her father, she finds herself at her wits end in Italy as she is trying to save her late father's design business. But when she constantly buts heads with ruthless business rival Matteo Moretti, she could never have expected the level of fireworks they have between them.

I liked this story a lot. But I won't lie: this third book had a slow start for me as I couldn't quite feel an attachment to Kimber. But after a few interactions with Matteo I was all in! I enjoyed their passionate relationship and their sexual chemistry and banter. I liked the extended characters and ultimately enjoyed this author's take on this "Kimberella" story. 4 stars! ~Ratula

Huh. Well, that happened.

"<I>You know what they say. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.</I>"
"<b>They also say you don't have to be a cactus expert to know a prick when you see one.</b>"

Despite my serious love for this series (fours & fives people! from me, the stingy witch with a b), ACHE FOR YOU just felt like a straight up departure from the realm of great -- nay, fantastic -- romances that came before it. Both BURN FOR YOU and MELT FOR YOU have interesting and complex characters that feature in stories that manage to be sexy and funny and real. Book three bypassed all of that and went into straight-up ridiculous territory.

"<I>I don't want to talk to you.</I>"
"<b>Ah. You are a lesbian.</b>"

The hate to love felt over the top and not actually based in believable chemistry, the circumstances get increasingly dramatic as the story goes on, and neither character felt fully fleshed out. I think the best parts might have involved the few scenes with the dogs (okay, I'm sorta kidding, I liked the gay bestie, Jenner, too). But for real. I made a comment to a buddy that at least Geissinger can't be accused of using previous couples as a cookie cutter shape for each book and yet somehow this story still felt cookie cutter. Because even with, or despite?, the OTT aspects it didn't do anything new, didn't hit up my feels, it just felt.. phoned in. I don't know if the author had to rush this one out or what but if you're looking to get another MELT FOR YOU, I'd recommend just rereading.

"<I>You've been watching too many crime shows.</I>"
"<b>Oh right. You can't tell me. Plausible deniability. That's smart.</b>"
"<I>There's no hitman, Danielle.</I>"
"<b>Sure there isn't. Do you think the line is tapped?</b>"

This doesn't quite reach one-star lows for me because not only were there were a few funny lines found amongst all the not-funny stuff but also my love for this series won't let me go there. Fingers crossed for better results with book four.

1.75 "I take compliments about as comfortably as enemas" stars

To say that Kimber DiSanto has had a shitty week is an understatement. She got dumped at the altar and consequently was made a laughingstock in the tabloids. Next her father passed away and she found out that she has a new stepmother whose gaze is frostier than the North Pole as well as two canine stepsisters who have free reign over her father's house. Furthermore, her boutique store in San Francisco has burnt down to a cinder, which is just as well as her complete spring collection has been appropriated by an Italian Stallion who, not content with being as anatomically impressive as the Statue of David, is also successful and wealthy and wait for it, a marchese with his own 800 year old Florence-based castle. It's no small wonder that Kimber is in a rage against the world and handsome, suave men especially, and she's not shy to tell Matteo Moretti to take his designer suits and sexy Italian endearments and shove them where the sun doesn't shine - even as her eggs scream to be fertilised by his seeds.

I highly enjoyed the humour in the first two books - this one, not so much. Kimber's gorgeous male model BFF was a hoot, but otherwise the rest of the dialogue was less funny and especially disappointing were the interactions between Kimber and Matteo. Kimber came across as uncouth, highly judgmental and lacked restraint and class. We didn't get Matteo's POV as much, which was a pity because I could use a little less time in Kimber's head. Their instant sexual attraction to one another was anything but slow-burn and same for the loving feelings that quickly followed. The plot was really quite unrealistic, but I can overlook that and just enjoy the fairytale ride - if the ride was more thrilling, the company better, the scenery more enjoyable.

I loved this book so much! I liked the h, loved her craziness. They had a really good chemistry and it was fast paced, which is my preference in books.
Can't wait for the next J. T Geissinger book.

I could not imagine the horror of being left at the altar, this beginning of the story and it was so enthralling that I felt Kimberley's pain and then her stress as she tries to get a flight to Italy. In steps the stunningly handsome Euro-hunk Matteo who makes her an offer she cannot refuse. Trade her dress designs for his first class ticket to Italy.

I loved this story, it is so painful in some parts and Kimberley has to deal with what awaits her in Italy. It is also hilarious as Kimberley deals with her former husband to be Brad and the real reason why he left her at the altar. The dialogue between Kimberley and her gay model best friend Jenner is priceless. On top of all this Kimberley has regain her confidence and prove that she is an amazingly talented designer while dealing with Matteo who holds her life in his hands in more ways than one..

There really is a lot going on in this story and it is very entertaining and one I could not put down. Cheers to Ms
Geissinger for another great read.

I absolutely loved the first two books in the Slow Burn series and had no idea that there would be a new book out. When I found out that Ache For You was a Cinderella retelling, I was even more pumped. I don't think I have ever read a Cinderella romance retelling so I was looking forward to Ache For You. It makes me sad to say this but unfortunately, this book didn't entirely work for me.

Kimber, the heroine, is having a bit of a rough time. She has recently been dumped at the altar by her fiancee and her dad who she hadn't seen in years is on his deathbed. She flies off to Italy to see her father one last time, but she finds out that the flight is overbooked and she is kicked off. A sexy Italian man comes to her rescue by offering her his seat in exchange for her sketchbook, which contains her clothing design ideas. She reluctantly gives it to him only to cross paths with him again in Italy when she finds out that he is her father's new wife's son. I'll get to the positives first. I really liked Matteo, the hero, in the book. He was confident, sexy and charming. He was quite the swoony addition to this book. Unfortunately, the heroine Kimber left much to be desired. She was constantly rude and whiny, and I just didn't understand where her anger towards Matteo came from. At first, it was kind of fun watching her bicker with him, but then it got really old, especially because she really had no reason to be that mean to him. And honestly, he gave up his first class seat for her, why was she being rude to him in the first place! So yeah, Kimber grated on my nerves quite a bit. I also failed to really sense the chemistry between Kimber and Matteo. Something about their lust for each other felt extremely forced to me. Perhaps it was because I disliked Kimber? I'll say that Kimber's stepmom's dogs were hilarious inclusions in the book. I also really liked her best friend.

But other than that, Ache For You wasn't quite working for me. While I didn't care for this latest installment all that much, I still recommend the first two books!

5 out of the galaxy stars ⭐️⭐️
Night Owl 🦉🦉 Award

ARC received from Netgalley- the following review is my own honest opinion of Ache for You ( Slow Burn series ) by JT Geissinger !!

❤️❤️ this book & it ticked a # of my boxes for a great romantic read!!

Awesome characters / secondary characters
Great story line
Sizzling chemistry 🔥🔥
Snarky / funny dialogue
Angst 👍
Swoon worthy HEA

Kimber & Matteo have a chance meeting @ the airport and as fate would have it have a crash landing in Italy where come to find out they are step siblings - kind of crazy right & far fetched ?? Not really ...you will be page turning quickly to see what happens next ...

Kimber is down on her luck having been jilted at the alter by her fiancé. She flees to Italy where her father is gravely ill. Upon his death she learns her father had kept the news a secret that he had remarried 2 months prior - & she has a step mother & step brother ( that being Matteo )

Kimber must make the decision to stay in Italy to take over her father’s fashion business - she is a talented designer. Matteo is the head of one the most well known fashion houses in Italy - Kimber doesn’t trust him & thinks he is only after her family’s business.

This is my second read by this author & I’ve added her to my TBR list for a few reasons. When you love an authors writing style it comes thru not only in the characters but a well written plot - I also felt some of the heartbreak especially the sudden loss of a parent & how that can change your perception of happiness.


Although this is the third book in a series - easily reads as a stand alone !!

Highly recommend this book & author great read !!!

This is the story of Kimber and Matteo. Kimber is struggling with the worst week of her life, her business is failing, she's broke, her fiancé says "I Can't" at the alter, then she has to rush to Italy because her father is dying. She is blindsided to learn that she has a new cold and distant stepmother and an arrogant and egotistical stepbrother. Matteo is a gorgeous, wealthy successful clothing designer, same as Kimber (minus the wealthy and successful). Kimber and Matteo go through a lot of back and forth arguing over her haute couture designs, her fathers legacy and sexual angst. It's a pretty good read but not J T Geissinger's best writing.

Another good story by J.T. Geissinger. I liked the plot and the characters. I found the story to be written quite well.

"I bet he could make me orgasm just by whispering the phone book in my ear."

I've been a J.T. Geissinger fan for years. I never know what voices are pitching ideas into her head, but I always enjoy them once I'm introduced. Matteo & Kimber must have kept her up many nights with their bickering. When I was first exposed to their heated verbal barbs I knew that when they finally gave in to their attraction it was going to be epic. So much fire and passion before the first touch...sigh. 🔥

I can't blame Kimber for being jaded after what she's endured. I'd be reluctant to open myself up to a man after being dumped at the altar in front of everyone and then blessed with the replay by the media later. We all know that once something is on the internet it's there forever, right?

When she first sees Matteo at the airport as she's waiting to fly to Florence she is struck by his stunning looks. Being a fashion designer, she can appreciate beauty. And then he speaks. "God, his voice. My panties erupt into flames. As rich and buttery soft as his shoes, his voice also has a slight Italian accent that manages to sound suave and sexual at the same time."

Imagine her surprise when the sexy arrogant asshole pops up in Florence at the last place she expects him to be. Sparks fly and tempers rage and the sexual tension practically turns my Kindle into goo. And did I mention the colorful support characters? Well, get ready to laugh your ass off while reading this fabulous story. I giggled and snickered and blushed and sighed in enjoyment from cover to cover. I can't get enough of this incredible author. I don't know if Ache for You is the final installment in the Slow Burn series or not. But wherever she leads, I will follow. The line forms here...

I highly enjoyed this one. This isn't your typical stepbrother/stepsister romance. This is a wonderful story of Kimber trying to move on from being left at the alter and coming to terms with the death of her father. Kimber is thrown back into her family home in Italy and taking over her fathers fashion house. Little did Kimber know that the man that came to her rescue is also her stepbrother. Secrets come out and you feel for Kimber as she struggles with her heart just a little. I love Matteo. He may come off a little bit of a ladies man but you can tell once he meets Kimber everything changes. Ache for You is a fun sexy read that I couldn't put down. Just wait until you see everything that unravels around Kimber and Matteo.

Thank you to Montlake Publishing and #NetGalley for this ARC of #AcheForYou

This was a fun, easy read. The characters and the plot had that typical “push-pull” contrast that readers enjoy in this genre.

Up and coming fashion designer, Kimber Disanto, gets dumped at the altar by her fiancé, Brad. Brad being a Senator's son, Kimber's humiliation is broadcast across San Francisco for all to see. As if that’s not bad enough, Kimber gets a letter from Italy stating that her father has fallen ill. As she rushes to be by her father’s side, she meets Matteo. A gorgeous specimen of a man that she decides at first glance to hate as she has sworn off all men. Besides, she can only assume with his looks, he must have women fall all over him wherever he goes and is just another womanizer that cannot be trusted. After their brief encounter at the airport, Kimber thinks she has seen the last of Matteo but fate has other ideas for the two of them. Once Kimber arrives in Florence, she keeps running into Matteo and he infuriates her with his egotistical attitude and she does him with her uncensored comments. The two verbally spar every chance they get but neither one of them can deny the intense chemistry that is building. However, Kimber cannot trust her feelings or anyone else for that matter. And does Matteo truly have her best interests at heart?

This was a fun, witty, and entertaining book. The banter back and forth between the main characters was provocative. The storyline moved at a good pace and there was an alluring tone throughout. While the main character did have some trust issues that held her back, the angst was not as built up to such a point that it becomes over dramatic. This made the book quite enjoyable. Great weekend read. 4 stars.

Starters I have read other books by J.T. Geissinger and have enjoyed them.
2 1/5 Stars out of 5

From the first to last page this book didn't connect with readers. The writing style was choppy and flipped between the two main Characters who felt fake and uninterested in the world around them. The author took characters and made them the stereotype of everything you know about Italian woman (in this case) which turned this reader off. I hate when authors stereotype anyone because it makes readers as in me wonder if the author has a lack of creativity and they just need to get a book out.

It reads as a bad modern day Cinderella story and I couldn't get past the cheesy and badly written lines.
The book needs more work to really flush out certain characters or its just not for this readers.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher Montlake Romance for the advance copy J.T. Geissinger Ache For you

A J. T. Geissinger book makes me wish that I could time travel or erase my memory so I could experience it for the first time again. She writes the best characters. I want to know them in real life. Poor Kimber has her feet knocked out from under her over and over. While she does have her breakdowns, they are all laced with humor. Unfortunately for him, Matteo is one of the things that knocks her off balance. He is in for the fight of his life though. Kimber has some fresh trust issues and has so many emotions swirling around her from the current events in her life, she doesn't know which way is up. Her internal thought process to try to figure out people's motivations was so amusing and only outlined her struggle to find her normal again. I loved when she finally let down her guard and got to know Matteo. It was heartwarming to see him vulnerable and telling her that she needed time to come to terms with everything that had happened to her.
This story has it all! It's funny and sexy, has an engaging cast of characters, drama, love and a passing resemblance to Cinderella.

4.5 stars

Well, this was a pleasant surprise! I had read a lot of negative reviews, so I wasn’t expecting to love it, but I enjoyed almost every second of it! Ache For You was a funny and sexy love story. It was also surprisingly angsty, but it was not too overwhelming. This was not 100% a slow burn because the characters kiss early on, but the chemistry was still sizzling. I will address some of the concerns that other reviewers have pointed out and hope to clarify a few things for those who are wary of reading this book.

Ache For You starts off with a blast – Kimber gets jilted at the altar in a most public and humiliating fashion. It was a little disorienting because it felt as if you got thrust into the middle of the book, when in actuality, Kimber’s story was just getting started. Kimber is down on her luck in all aspects of her life – it’s like the universe is against her. Getting jilted at the altar starts a chain reaction of bad things that happen to Kimber in the space of a couple of days. The girl is understandably hurt, frustrated, and most of all, she is absolutely furious at the world. She’s hurt and angry for valid reasons. The girl can’t catch a break! Some readers could not stand Kimber because she was extremely judgemental and rude to everyone she didn’t know, including the hero. She has a fierce temper and is extremely stubborn. And you know what? She is rude and judgemental and I don’t excuse her behaviour whatsoever, but I couldn’t hate her because I understood her. I knew where she was coming from. Context here is very important. There’s a lot more going on in the background that explains her behaviour.

Kimber has major trust issues after the shitstorm that turns her life upside down. Those issues run deep enough that she can’t fully trust her own judgement, let alone the hero. That’s how messed up her life is. Like I said earlier, I don’t excuse her behaviour (neither does she, by the way), but I get her. The beautiful thing about this book is that the hero gets her too. He knows that he’s a convenient target for her frustration and he wants to be a target because he cares for her that much. Was he perfect? Nope. His means of getting her to notice him and fall in love with him was flawed for many reasons that I won’t get into because I don’t want to spoil anyone. But…it ultimately worked out because those actions led to substantial character and relationship development.

I love difficult heroines. love watching them be angry at the world and fight to get all this anger, hurt, and frustration out of their system. Most importantly, I love watching them grow. The best heroines are the ones that are unlikable, but go through a journey of self-growth and learn from their past behaviour and mistakes. Kimber is one of those heroines. She learns to trust the hero and her stepmother. She apologizes for her behaviour, learns to forgive and ultimately grows as a person. And the next time her paranoia acts up again, she doesn’t throw a temper tantrum like she would have at the beginning of the book. Instead, she decides to trust the people around her and talk to them before making any hasty assumptions. Character growth, my friends! This is why I love difficult heroines!

About the couple – the love/hate dynamic here is SO good. Matteo and Kimber are always at each other’s throats, angrily eye-fucking each other, having no concern whatsoever for personal space – and it was the best thing ever. What was even more incredible is how they call each other out for their crappy behaviour. He calls her out for being rude and judgemental and she calls him out for being manipulative (which to a certain extent he was). I’m usually not a fan of insta-love/lust, which is partly why I didn’t think I would love this book. But it worked out wonderfully for me because of Matteo. Contrary to most heroes in romances, he was not a playboy and so it was easy to understand how he fell for Kimber so fast.

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. So far it seems as if I’m in the minority, but I loved Ache For You! Kimber, you deserve all the happiness after the hell that you’ve been through!

My favourite quote:
"True love is when you can look at someone and say, 'I know you will hurt me and disappoint me and fail me in a thousand different ways, and I accept that because you make me a better person. Because with you, I become whole. Because I'd rather die than live a single day without you, come what may.'"

Kimberly, dress designer, is left at the alter in the most public way. Kimber faces obstacle after obstacle which leads her to Italy and Matteo. Matteo is the current prince of the fashion world. I love this slow burn series. Matteo and Kimber share such passion and angst. Perfection! I hope the author continues this series. Highly recommend 4.5 stars! Thanks Montlake Romance and NetGalley for the ARC of this title.

Ache for You is probably my least favorite of the series. It was very difficult to connect to the characters or to find any truth in their chemistry/relationship. The plot felt second-hand, never really convincing me of any validity especially when scenes felt ill timed or out of place. And why so many references to the uterus? I thought it was overused and disruptive. After loving book 2 in this series so much, I'm quite disappointed.