Ache for You by J.T. Geissinger

In this fairy tale with a sexy twist, she’s a penniless San Francisco seamstress. He’s the king of Italian couture. Who’s got designs on whom?

Boutique owner Kimber DiSanto has seen better days. She’s been dumped at the altar by Prince Charmless, her business went up in flames (literally), and now she’s stuck in Florence, Italy, with an ice-queen stepmother, to try to save her late father’s failing dress shop. Only one thing could make it worse: another man in her life. The arrogant Italian fashion tycoon offering to buy her father’s shop is as rich as he is sexy, and their attraction is off the charts. But Kimber’s not about to get burned again.

Women don’t say no to Matteo Moretti—and certainly not with Kimber’s stinging precision. With all the heat and fury sparking between them, Matteo can’t resist baiting the gorgeous American. His plan? Win her over one scorching kiss at a time.

Kimber tells herself it’s all just a game. That her broken heart isn’t in danger, and that Matteo’s touch does not make her Lady Land dance with joy. But sometimes it takes the fieriest of enemies to turn a fantasy into a real-life romance.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/F Romance

This is the third book in this series and I loved the previous books. This one, however, just didn't mesh well for me.

Matteo is a bit of a mystery in this story. He's somewhat arrogant, pushy, and I just didn't like how he handled Kimber or the situation they were in. He seemed incredibly self-centered and was kind of an A-hole for most of the story. Despite his background of being a strict designer, he had this strange way of conducting business with Kimber.

Kimber is flighty and ditzy for most of this story. I hated that she was so attracted to Matteo, but fought the attraction with sarcasm, judgments, and anger. While she was having a hard week, it still doesn't really excuse her behavior. It was strange to watch her justify her behavior – but it all boiled down to the fact that I found her incredibly unlikeable.

Overall, this just missed the mark. It didn't mesh well and there was a lack of development and background. Hopefully if more are to come, they will be more like the first two.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series – each deals with separate romances, but with a common theme, and all are very enjoyable reads.

There are some lovely touches of fairy tale in this book, which are fun and romantic – as well as forewarning us of potential disaster ahead. It is never too much, but just enough to raise a smile and render the story familiar. The fact that it is set in a backdrop of the Florentine hills, speckled with aristocracy and new money, and in the world of haute couture fashion just adds to the drama and the fantasy.

Kimber is, however, a modern woman with a not insignificant temper, and she has recently been pushed to the edge. She now finds herself the owner of a large house inhabited by an unknown step-mother, and a failing business. So when faced with Matteo's visual perfection, she really doesn't know how to balance the incredible chemistry between them with the intense desire she has, not to make another mistake falling for a handsome man. I love the lengths she will go to in her head to justify and then simultaneously deny herself the opportunity to get close to him.

Matteo, too, is battling with his feelings, and how to show her he is sincere, in spite of the way he is behaving. It is a lot of fun being a spectator and definitely intense when they just cave into their desires!

There are some fabulous side characters who add a lot to the plot; Jenner, obviously, and Brad, unexpectedly, to mention just two. I did have a few issues with a few plot devices, as they didn't quite ring true – it seems unbelievable that Kimber had never picked up any Italian, she left aged three, when most children speak, and she had visited every year as a child... no child can avoid picking up conversational language when surrounded by it. And secondly, I was confused by the driving on the wrong side comment about? Italians drive on the same side as in the States. But these are minor things in the scheme of things, and just caused me a momentary blip in what is otherwise an entertaining and romantic tale.


Lee’Anne – ☆☆☆☆☆
I have such weird feelings about this book – I wanted to hate the hero, Matteo, so badly because he’s such an ass through 95% of this book but somehow, the author had me loving him. And this entire story.

Kimber DiSanto is having a terrible week, she’s dumped in the middle of her wedding, her father just died, her dress shop burned to the ground, she’s just learned she has a new “wicked” stepmother she had no idea about, and now, Matteo. Kimber and Matteo meet in the airport where Kimber believes he’s paparazzi, but quickly learns otherwise when he offers her his seat on a flight she HAS to be on… in exchange for her sketch pad that has all of her dress designs. Thinking she’ll never see Matteo again, she’s in for the surprise of a lifetime when she runs into him at her father’s estate and he’s determined to buy her father’s clothing shop. Kimber plans to not only keep her father’s shop as her own but is also determined to win her sketch pad back from Matteo, one kiss at a time.

The sexual tension between these two literally jumped off the pages, the author does a phenomenal job with bringing this story to life. The banter between the two main characters had me cracking up laughing at times and cringing at other times – it’s quite entertaining. I’ve been a huge fan of this series from book one and that momentum is definitely still going in book three. Already excited for more!

Also Available in the Slow Burn Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our Burn for You post.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our Melt for You post.

J.T. Geissinger is an award-winning author of paranormal and contemporary romance featuring dark and twisted plots, kick-ass heroines, and alpha heroes whose hearts are even bigger than their muscles. Her debut fantasy romance Shadow's Edge was a #1 bestseller on Amazon US and UK and won the Prism award for Best First Book. Her follow-up novel, Edge of Oblivion, was a RITA Award finalist for Paranormal Romance from the Romance Writers of America, and she has been nominated for numerous awards for her work.

She resides in Los Angeles with her husband.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Ache for You (Slow Burn #3) by J.T. Geissinger to read and review.