Burn for You

Slow Burn #1

by J.T. Geissinger

Le mariage est une imposture. Mais pour une chef cuisinière impertinente et un milliardaire arrogant, l’étincelle, elle, est bien réelle.

Jackson « La Bête » Boudreaux est riche, sexy, et incroyablement grossier envers le personnel du restaurant de la Chef Bianca Hardwick, situé à La Nouvelle-Orléans. Bianca préférerait se recouvrir de sauce piquante plutôt que de cuisiner une fois de plus pour Jackson. Mais lorsqu’il lui propose d’assurer le service traiteur pour son gala de bienfaisance, Bianca ne peut se permettre de refuser, car elle sait que l’argent l’aidera à payer les factures d’hôpital de sa mère. Puis Jackson émet une autre requête scandaleuse : Épouse-moi. La proposition peu orthodoxe comprend une belle contrepartie – de l’argent dont Bianca a désespérément besoin, bien qu’il nécessite un contrat – ainsi qu’une magnifique alliance.

Héritier de la dynastie d’une famille ayant fait fortune dans le bourbon, Jackson a conscience des rumeurs qui circulent à son sujet. La vérité est bien pire encore. Néanmoins, il a besoin de se marier pour asseoir son héritage, et Bianca, désinvolte et anticonformiste, jouera le rôle de la fiancée à la perfection. Cependant, leur marché laisse bientôt place à une intimité émotionnelle dont il a toujours cherché à se protéger.

Alors que la passion devient plus forte entre eux, Bianca et Jackson ont du mal à savoir quels sentiments sont réels, et lesquels relèvent de la comédie. Tomber amoureuse de son faux fiancé la mènera-t-il à une fin heureuse... ou à la catastrophe ?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, Marriage Of Convenience, Slow Burn, Audiobook

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2017

About the author

J.T. Geissinger is a New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author of thirty-five novels and novellas. Ranging from funny, feisty romcoms to intense erotic thrillers, her books have sold over twenty million copies and been translated into more than two dozen 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.

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Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burn For You is book one in the Slow Burn series by J.T. Geissinger. J.T. is a new to me author. I won this book in a give-a-way. This is one of those times when I am smacking myself in the forehead and asking myself why in the world I haven’t read anything by this author before! This book gets all the stars! I was attracted by the blurb and the cover but was barely a couple of chapters in when I was completely in love with both Jackson Boudreaux and Bianca Hardwick.



I think Jackson is my favorite kind of hero. He’s all rough and tough on the outside but inside, he’s all mush with a heart as big as Texas. And that describes Jax to a “T.” Jackson is heir to the Boudreaux Bourbon empire. Except he left his parents behind four years ago and fled his family home in Kentucky for New Orleans. Jackson has secrets, a pain filled past he keeps buried deep inside. He has made a life for himself in New Orleans with his long time butler as his only real friend. Jackson is also father to an adorable adopted son, Cody. It’s with Cody that we see glimpses of the man Jackson really is. We see all the love he has to give.



Bianca Hardwick always knew she loved to cook. Her mother ran a restaurant but is now retired. Bianca has opened her very first restaurant, a lifelong dream. She has focused her entire menu around Boudreaux Bourbon. Her restaurant is flourishing but she is still barely making ends meet. Then, one night, the rudest man but probably the most beautiful man she has ever known pushes his way into her restaurant and her life insisting on tasting the food bearing his family’s name.

“Don’t tell me you don’t think he’s handsome.”
“Handsome? How could I tell? It’s impossible to see past the forked tongue and the horns!”



These two get off to a rough start. Jax has so much trouble expressing himself except when it comes to anger. He’s great expressing that! From the start he’s mesmerized with Bianca. Her body, her sass, the way he doesn’t intimidate her. At times, though, he also broke my heart. He was so insecure and was constantly second guessing his own words or her words or actions. But then life kind of intervened and gave Jax a reason to tie himself to her. By his upcoming birthday, if he wasn’t either married or working for his father’s business, he would lose his entire inheritance. He would be penniless. Moving back to the family home was out of the question. But the idea of marriage to one particular woman wasn’t bad at all.



Bianca also has her life turned upside down when she finds out her beloved mother is sick. Neither of them have money or health insurance. So Jackson’s proposal of sorts isn’t a bad idea. He wants to save his inheritance and she wants to save her mother. They both get what they want.

“When her lips curved up at the corners, I felt like I’d been living my life up to then at the bottom of a dark well filled with trash and slimy water, and someone had just lifted the lid and lowered me a ladder.”

These two together were magic. Bianca stood toe to toe with Jackson and held her own. The more she got to know him, the more she liked him. She made him feel things he hadn’t felt in a very long time.

“I stared at his profile and wondered how many more layers I’d have to peel back before I uncovered the true heart of the walking contradiction that was Jackson Walker Boudreaux.”



I am just in love with this book. It was so much fun, the banter between them, they were both so slow to realize their feelings. If I had one little complaint, it is I wished for an epilogue. I would have loved a little glimpse into their future. Maybe it was just that I didn’t want it to be over. I hope I have been able to say something to help to convince you to give this book a try. I most definitely will be waiting for book two in this series, Melt For You. I don’t know who it is about yet but I can’t wait to see.

“With my slow exhalation, my final, futile shreds of resistance slipped away. My lips said, I’m an idiot. Please forgive me.” But my heart said, I’m yours.”

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars



Awesome. I had so much fun.

A perfect example how an overused plot can still be enjoyable and original when it's done right.
NOT ONE mistake according to my own personal romance rule book.

- Enemies-to-lovers romance

- Marriage of convenience trope

- A beauty and the beast theme

- A strong, sassy and intelligent heroine. No annoying traits, habits, actions or uttered words. Everything that comes out her mouth is hilarious.

- A grumpy, reclusive, scary and asshole-ish but sexy as hell hero with a heart of a saint

- Witty and hot as hell banter

This is my fortieth(ish) fake relationship book and you’d think I’ve had enough by now. Nope.

Oh, and Lučka?



QUICK REVIEW:

Enjoyment: 4.25/5
Writing style: 4/5
Storyline: 3.5/5
Hero: 4/5
Heroine: 5/5
Secondary characters: 4/5
Hotness/steam: 3/5
Romance: 4/5
Angst: 3/5
Darkness level: 1/5
Humor: 4/5
Depth of the book: 3.5/5
POV: dual, 1st person
Triggers: cancer, death of a parent (on page), death of a sibling (off page)

[Bibi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks JTG is an auto-buy favourite, as she's one of only a few authors who can write smart and intelligent prose across all genres. Without a doubt Burn for You wasn't mediocre, though it lacked the intensity that I attribute to her books.

Still, it was a fun way to pass three lazy hours on a Saturday.

[Nissa | Of Pens and Pages Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

Review and Book Buddy Giveaway at Of Pens and Pages.



Wow. I can't believe I didn't read this until today! This Beauty and the Beast-inspired romance had everything I want in a book—Enemies to Lovers, Marriage of Convenience, Slow burn, a reclusive, arrogant billionaire hero and a sweet and sassy heroine chef. Plus, it's set in New Orleans and features recipes of food in between chapters. Yum.

It wasn't love at first sight for chef Bianca Hardwick and bourbon billionaire Jackson "The Beast" Boudreaux. He was rude to her and her staff the first time they meet, plus he kind of threatened to sue her for using his family's bourbon as a key ingredient in her menu. Bianca will not stand for it, and she gives him a tongue lashing no one's ever had the guts to do before.

Bianca swears she'll never cook for the man again, but she still ends up catering an event for him when he offers to pay her generously. Beggars can't be choosers, and Bianca can really use the money to help her mother. And when he proposes another opportunity that will give her more than enough to help her mother, she doesn't have it in her to say no.

Jackson left Kentucky and moved to New Orleans to run away from his past. But he's reached a dead end when his father reminds him that he might lose his trust if he doesn't take over the business or get married by his birthday, which is only a few weeks away. There's no way he'll return to Kentucky and take over his business, so a marriage of convenience will have to do. He has no romantic prospects except for the sharp-tongued beauty he can't get off his head, so he'll have to offer for her or risk losing his inheritance. And he can't afford to lose it now.

It was nice to see the story highlight New Orleans without overdoing or overshadowing the romance between Bianca and Jackson and the multiple plot points related to their story arcs. I've always wanted to visit New Orleans, so books like this never fail to give me a major case of the wanderlust.

I love the pacing, the main and secondary characters, and the adaptation of Beauty and the Beast (BATB) into modern times. I love that the author didn't stick to the step-by-step progress of the classic, but still managed to get the essence of BATB while becoming a story of its own. For example, a marriage of convenience can be considered a prison sentence to someone who originally has no romantic feelings for the person she'll be marrying, and there is a loss of freedom there, too.

I adore Bianca! She is strong and sassy, but like Belle, she is kind-hearted and will do anything for her loved one—in this case, her ailing mother. She's a great character with flaws and strengths just like anyone else, and it makes her real. Three dimensional.

Jackson is my kind of hero. When I meet someone like him in real life, I'd probably hate his guts, but there's just something about a surly and brooding hero in romance books that makes my heart flutter. Despite the reputation, this man has a heart of gold. He's a gentleman, a selfless man, all hidden beneath a rough exterior because of a past that left him scarred. I give you my word that you'll fall for him, too.

The chemistry was brewing between them from the very start, and I enjoyed every encounter they had! Bianca never lets him get away with his rude attitude, and it was really funny to see her set him straight. There's some fantastic banter here that will make you smile and laugh. And the feels when he was 'wooing' her. I can't, you guys. Jackson is the sweetest. I love him so much!

This is my first J.T. Geissinger read, but it definitely won't be my last. I can't wait to read Melt For You , the next story in this series because it sounds just as good as this one!

I'd recommend this to anyone who prefers slow burn romance with fantastic female leads and grumpy heroes who are actually total marshmallows. I'm a complete sucker for 'em, and Jackson Boudreaux fits the bill.

Shout out to the cabbie, the trope master, the me in this book. I loved his short appearance!

Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Hate to Love
POV: First Person, Dual POV
Standalone: Yes

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[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

She was my religion. My north and south, my heaven and earth, the axis of rightness around which everything had suddenly aligned. For the first time in my life, all my polarized parts worked as one, humming happily along in harmony with the universe, finally understanding their place.

Looking for a perfectly paced slow burn romance? Well, I've got your fix right here! This series is so appropriately titled, and for this slow burn lover? I gobbled it right up.

Bianca Hardwick is a talented chef that's determined to get her restaurant off the ground and make her mother proud. Her signature menu created around her favorite bourbon is keeping her restaurant packed, but it also brings the attention of a particular brute apply known throughout Louisiana as "The Beast". And after being on the receiving end of his attitude, Bianca can see that title is more than earned.

The first time I laid eyes on the man known throughout the state of Louisiana as “the Beast,” I thought he couldn’t possibly be as bad as his reputation. As it turned out, I was wrong. He was worse.

Jackson is the name behind the Boudreaux bourbon that is his family's legacy. But what starts as a look at a woman that's using his family's bourbon to get guests in her restaurant, actually turns into something else. At first it's an offer to cater his fundraiser dinner. Next? A proposal of marriage.

Jackson needs to be married by the time he's 35 in order to receive the rest of his trust. The problem is? His birthday is quite literary right around the corner. Knowing he'll never trust a woman with his heart ever again, he knows the best alternative is Bianca. She needs money for her ailing mother's medical care and he needs a wife in name only. What's a mutually beneficial arrangement between two people that can barely stand to be in the same room together?

But the more you get to know Jax, the more you see beyond the grumpy and brusque personality to a very broken and vulnerable man beneath. The more time he and Bianca spend together, the more he yearns for what could be but likely never would. Bianca goes from hating him to tolerating him to something so much deeper. This is a slow burn in every sense of the word. It takes these two a while to finally see beyond their assumptions of each other. It takes a while for Jax to really open up and let Bianca in to the dark crevices of his heart and memories. But when she gets in there? There's no turning back.

No one calls me Jax. No one but you.” When her lips curved up at the corners, I felt like I’d been living my life up to then at the bottom of a dark well filled with trash and slimy water, and someone had just lifted the lid and lowered me a ladder.

With a colorful cast of secondary characters, a sweet and sassy romance, plenty of emotions, and an enemies to lovers trope unlike many I've read lately, Burn For You was one fantastic read.

ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review

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[Dilek VT · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 stars, actually

***********************************************

How can you create wonders with the common trope of “enemies-to-lovers” and “fake relationship”?

This book has a popular romance trope: Enemies to lovers! And as main characters, we have a grumpy and arrogant billionaire and a sweet and sassy Southern belle. Then, a fake engagement!

Everything sounds cliché, right?
It sounds like this book is no different from the many other similar romance books, right?

Well, surprisingly, this book is a perfect example of how a writer can use very common tropes of romance books such as “enemies-to-lovers” and “fake relationship” and still can make it exceptional.

***********************************************

When I saw 99 % of my friends loved this book, I thought there was something special about it and there really is!



This is totally a very sweet, fun, hot and emotional love story with a lot of character depth and a well-constructed background story.

The chemistry between the characters is burning the pages and it is heart-throbbingly steamy.

I loved every minute of mine with this book. It put a constant goofy smile on my face with its LOL moments and I was all hearts in the eyes with my love for the characters. I sucked their sweetness into my soul and it made my day!


Characters:

Well, our hero, Jackson, is a grumpy and arrogant billionaire. He is rude and he has a temper. He is dark and brooding. At first sight, he is the classical alpha but with each layer peeled, we see his insecurity about his self-worth. He is, in fact, unloved and insecure; therefore, brooding, sulky and temperamental.

Although Jackson is a rich as*hole on the surface, he is not the cliché player or man-whore. On the contrary, after experiencing tragedies and heartbreak one after the other, he has become a reclusive, who is embittered. He doesn’t have any social life, friends or one-night stands. He doesn’t trust anyone because he has been stabbed in the back so many times. He is so alone in his bitter life.

Jackson’s damaged soul and brokenness is my kryptonite. I love broken and damaged heroes. And with every new information about his sad past, my heart broke more and more for him.

The fact that he has adopted his now-dead best friend’s child, who is mildly autistic, and the way he loves and takes great care of him, shows he is, in fact, capable of love if he believes it is unconditional.

Jax is indeed, as the book says, a total "creme brulée.”, hard on the outside, soft and sweet on the inside.



Our heroine, Bianca, is the chef and the owner of a New Orleans' restaurant. (You will find some surprise recipes from her in the book 😊) She is very successful at her job.

She also has lots of friends and her relationship with her mother is endearing.

Bianca is totally my type of heroine. She is sassy and smart with a golden heart. She is feisty, hilarious and great fun.

***********************************************

Bianca is the sunlight whereas Jackson is the dark sky.
Total opposites!

And when these two meet, the air is full of tension and sparks fly. Their bickering and bantering is definitely the best part of the book – it is awesome!

They fight each other but at the same time they are crazy about each other. It is great fun to be in the minds of both characters.



A very cute and delightful book

This book has depth and it has sad moments that include tragedies, illness and even death but it is not a depressing and angsty book.

Despite the sad and bitter moments, the overall mood of the book is sunny, sweet and tender. It is most of the time funny, hilarious even. It is deeply emotional and scorching hot.

And it is totally safe!

My only criticism about the book:

Normally, I can do without an epilogue. Some books end without an epilogue and I am totally OK with them.

However, the sad and tragic events came towards the very end of this book and it was only on the last few pages that the hero and the heroine came back together so this story definitely needed a good and long epilogue.

Although we have a HEA in the end, I just needed more happy time with them after what they have suffered through.

That's why it is 4,5 stars but not 5 for me; otherwise it would be 5 stars easily...

Still, I can recommend this book whole-heartedly, do read it, you won’t regret!

***********************************************

Here are some quotes from the book, enjoy!

“Miss Hardwick,” he said, the edge in his voice rougher, his eyes burning blue fire, “You. Are being. Unreasonable.” Boy, did he like to punctuate his words with a hammer!

A laugh escaped me. “And you, Mr. Boudreaux, are the reason the gene pool needs a lifeguard. Have yourself a nice evening.”

***

As soon as we pulled to a stop, Jackson yanked my door open. He stood peering in at me with narrowed eyes, his head cocked. He snapped, “Why are you sitting in front?”

Heat crawled up my neck and suffused my cheeks. Lord, grant me the serenity not to take off my shoe and hurl it at his balls.

“And a fine good morning to you, too, Mr. Boudreaux,” I said sweetly. “I see you’re in your usual sunshine-and-rainbows mood. Did you misplace your human pills again?”

***

“Remind me never to get on your bad side.”
“I don’t know about a bad side, but I do know that a man has to choose me or lose me. I’m not a backup plan.”

Jackson was silent. When I glanced at him, he was giving me that burning look again, the one that made me feel like I might ignite.

He murmured, “He’s an idiot. But he’s a lucky idiot.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because for a while, he had you.”

***

“You’re so fucking beautiful it sometimes hurts to look at you, like I’m gazing into the sun and could go blind if I stare too long.”



“It’s different with us,” he said more gently, guessing why I couldn’t speak.
“How, exactly?”
His voice turned vulnerable, almost boyish. “This time I know.”

Shot through the heart.
Bullet to the brain.
Fall from a forty-story building.
With that one sentence, he killed me in a dozen different ways.

“Jax,” I breathed, trembling. “Oh God.”
“It’s ancient history, Bianca. I’m over it.



Mama was right about him. The man was crème brûlée. Tough on the outside, but on the inside all soft and gooey sweet. It made me feel good to know that secret, and also surprisingly protective.

***

I broke away and cuffed her wrists over her head on the pillow. We were both panting. I was practically vibrating with frustration. “Fuck. Fuck, Bianca!”

She wasn’t done torturing me. She lifted her head, put her mouth against my throat, and bit me. Gently, but enough to sting. Against my skin she murmured, “Yes. That’s exactly what you should do, Jax. Fuck Bianca.”

I groaned. What the hell was going on? Hearing those words from that normally chaste mouth made it all the more carnal.

***

He knew exactly how to take me to the edge and keep me there, teasing and gentling when I got too close, chuckling at my delirious implorings of “More. Hurry. I’ll kill you if you stop.” He took his time, though I knew he felt the same unbearable urgency I did. His fingers digging into my skin were just shy of painful. Every once in a while, he would catch his breath and curse.



I felt like I was riding a wave. A wave of heat and emotion, expanding from my body to fill the room, the house, the entire state. I wanted to laugh and cry and scream, I wanted to break apart and let him put me back together. I was sinking into the bed at the same time as I was floating over it…

***

She was my religion. My north and south, my heaven and earth, the axis of rightness around which everything had suddenly aligned. For the first time in my life, all my polarized parts worked as one, humming happily along in harmony with the universe, finally understanding their place.

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 60% before they even banged, that’s how bad this was.

This book is why you shouldn’t go into an author’s backlist. This hasn’t aged well, the FMC is a one-dimensional stereotype and the MMC is just rich and broody. Geissinger’s style as an author has improved a lot but this one was hard to read. Since this was released in 2017, I’m not going to elaborate much on my thoughts but let’s just say I concur with the following observations by other reviewers:

1. The FMC is a biracial woman, the cover does not depict this.

2. The FMC was written as a New Orleans stereotype and as I listened to the audio, this was exacerbated x 100 with the female narrator who hit the ‘foghorn leghorn’ ‘woo chil’ southern elements way too hard. I had trouble listening to it, it felt like a cartoon.

3. The villain of the story was a cheating black man, the saviour of the story a rich white one, both competing for Bianca��s affection. Was this necessary?

4. What was the point of having the special needs child Jackson adopted in this book? He was there twice, followed by a harried nanny and was only used to prop up the MMC.

5. A white woman narrated for the woman of colour character… I feel like this is along the lines of other white washing being done by the book cover.

6. The hero was kind of a brooding loser. He was just rich, from a wealthy family. His whole personality was that. He had no job or business of his own and was DESPERATE to marry to keep his trust fund because without it he’d be poor… uh boo fucking hoo, get a job. Or he could work for his family company but he doesn’t want that. JT can and has written way better heroes than him.

7. I think overall more beta readers of colour needed to review this book before it went to market, it was just stereotype after stereotype. If white writers want to write diverse characters, and they should, they should go into it thinking they know little and getting help from the community they are trying to represent. Even co-writing with someone who knows better. Don’t send this garbage into the world and propagate stereotypes just to check off diversity boxes.

8. I cringed a lot in this one. I know it’s older and has aged badly. I also know this author has done worse before in terms of trans and gay people being butts of jokes but her newer stuff seems better. We all grow and learn so I’m not trying to cancel her for this book, but gah it was racist and not a good example of diversity in romance. Don’t read this and think you've read a diverse book, you haven’t. You read a book filled with stereotypes and inaccurate depictions of people of colour.
I’m disappointed in this book, but I’m not disappointed in all the reviewers who have since called out this book!
It gets two stars because the banter was funny.

[Alex ♈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

For whatever reason I shelved this book as no-thanks-but-no.
???
As my buddy Sigmund Freud said:
"The great question that has never been answered and which I have not yet been able to answer, despite my 30 years of research into the feminine soul, is: ‘What does a woman want?’"

Well, I made a mistake, see, I'm that honest and self-critical.
It's the second mistake I acknowledged making last year: not reading this book and singing 'U + Ur Hand' by Pink in karaoke at a party with many kids *blaming my 2nd best buddy booze'.
Otherwise I'm perfect!

Such a cool heroine. Loved her.
Strong, sassy, but also kind.

This woman made my day by saying these lines about her cheating ex:

“Just because trash can be recycled doesn’t mean you deserve another chance.”


I may borrow it for my next (so popular in CR) second chance romance *eye roll*

The story itself was a bit predictable, I hoped her mother would survive *sad* and I wanted to have a freaking epilogue!!!

I wasn’t a big fan of the hero. He was rude, but somewhere deep down he was a good man, I wished for less depth in this case *lol*

WHERE IS THE EPILOGUE?!?

[Maria✦❋Steamy Reads Blog❋✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this fake engagement romance! The beginning was a bit slow but I didn't mind it. I loved it while I was reading it but it's been a couple of weeks since I've finished it and I'm really hazy on the details. :S

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Beastly Stars

“This is a business deal, Bianca. A good one for both of us. We’re not doing favors for each other. No one is getting taken advantage of here. We’re going into it with our eyes open, fully informed and consenting, with an exit strategy that’s painless and precise. Which is a hell of a lot more than most people can say about their marriages.”

To say that the first meeting between Bianca Hardwick and Jackson Boudreaux was a rocky one would be a huge understatement. Who cares if he’s the heir to a billion dollar Liquor Empire? That doesn’t give him the right to barge into her restaurant, demand an unavailable table and threaten her staff. He may be used to getting what he wants from everyone else around him but if life’s taught Bianca anything, it’s not to bow to any man, no matter how much power he thinks he has.

Jackson’s not nicknamed “The Beast” for nothing. He’s earned his reputation as a wealthy, hard to please recluse and he has no plans of changing that. When he sets out to investigate an up and coming restaurant that happens to be using his family’s liquor as a menu theme, he isn’t expecting gorgeous and fiery Bianca to verbally kick his ass while feeding him some of the most delicious food he’s ever eaten. An expensive family medical emergency for Bianca and Jackson’s need for a caterer coincide and before you can say “jambalaya” the relationship’s off and running.

Who was the real Jackson Boudreaux? The Beast that snarled and snapped? The suave sophisticate at ease in front of crowds? Or the sad, lonely man with a mysterious tattoo and eyes full of bad memories?

Right off the bat, I fell in love with Bianca. She’s smart, determined and most of all REAL. She realized a long time ago that no man was going to carry her off into the sunset and make her dreams come true. She knows she has to be the one to make her life what she envisioned so she’s automatically skeptical of Jackson’s continued interest in her, even though that interest is disguised as professional in the beginning.

Did Jackson make the best first impression on me as a reader? Not so much, but you know there’s a gooey center beneath all of that douchebag exterior. Luckily Bianca realizes that as time passes and it was such a treat seeing these two warm up to each other.

“I think sometimes it’s easier for a man to be the worst version of himself than to let the world keep breaking his heart.”



I can’t write this review without mentioning what I consider the third main character, New Orleans. I’ve read so many books where the culture and colloquialisms of New Orleans end up reading like something gimmicky to me, sometimes to cartoonish results. Bianca’s restaurant, neighborhood and the cast of characters that came along for the ride helped set the scene without interfering in Bianca and Jackson’s story. It most definitely made me want a beignet.

My only real issue was with the pacing. I hit the 85% mark and thought the story might actually be a cliffy because I had no idea how it was all going to be wrapped up when, to me, it felt like it was just getting started. I was happy with the ending but I’ll admit to being slightly jarred by the last 25% of the book or so and how quickly things FINALLY started moving.

This is my first J.T. Geissinger book and I can definitely say it won’t be my last. It looks like Burn for You is part of a series and I’m already anxious to see what this author has planned next.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[NMmomof4 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

Overall Opinion: This is a rough one for me to rate, tbh. This had me engaged, but I wasn't really wowed by it. I never fully felt the connection between the h and H, but I did feel connected with the characters individually (which is kind of weird as it's usually no connection to any of it for me). I liked their back stories, but I feel like their futures were left hanging in a way that it didn't help me feel that connection. I also felt like some things felt unfinished. There was things like the h's career and the H's adopted son that felt like they were focused on for a little bit but then forgotten...which I thought was weird too. Overall, an okay read but not going on my favorites shelf or probably won't be all that memorable in the long run.

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Bianca and Jackson's story. They meet when Jackson shows up at Bianca's restaurant demanding a table so he can taste all of her menu that is inspired by his family's bourbon. They clash at first, but can't stop thinking about one another. Jackson is in a predicament, and has to get married soon. Bianca's mom is having health issues and as much as she dislikes Jackson she cannot turn down the big paycheck he is offering her to marry him. There are some big secrets revealed, some family and ex drama, some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.

POV: This alternated between Bianca and Jackson's POV.

Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end (see closure section below). I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.

Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.

H rating: 4 stars. Jackson. I liked him. I felt bad for his past, and I appreciated how he cared for the h.

h rating: 3.5 stars. Bianca. I liked her, but I also wanted to shake her with her preconceived notions about the H.

Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed

Push/Pull: Yes The h pushes away a good bit. I would say that they both pursue the relationship at times, but the H is the main pursuer.

Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. Definitely a "slow burn" as they are not intimate until around 80% (just a few kisses up until that point).

Descriptive sex: Yes

OW/OM drama: Yes The H's ex shows up and wants her back and causes some drama. The H also carries some baggage from the mess his ex left behind.

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: Not between mcs The h and H were both cheated on by their exes.

Separation: Yes They are separated shortly (few days or week?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time.

Possible Triggers: Yes Loss of a friend and sibling (off page), H has adopted a child of a dead friend with Down syndrome (on page, but minimal interactions), loss of parent to cancer (on page), the H was engaged to OW before h (off page), and parent with stroke (on page).

Closure: This had a really abrupt ending that I didn't feel worked well at all. It left too many unanswered questions for me, and we didn't get any concrete commitments made or any glimpse into their future. I would call it a HFN ending.

Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers

- Does Not have cheating
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have the h pushing the H away
- Does have a separation between the h and H
- Does Not have abuse
- Does Not have OTT sad parts
- Does Not have a HEA ending

[Isabella. R · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Slap, Slap, Kiss Stars ⭐

Burn for You was simply heartwarming and romantic.  A feisty woman with the world on her shoulders, still capable of taming the beast with kindness. This story was filled with salty characters, wonderful banter and humor just to create the perfect balance.  

Bianca Hardwicks is a breath away from poverty while juggling a thriving restaurant and her beloved mother that now needs her more than ever.  What she doesn’t require is the Bourbon King, Jackson Boudreaux to storm into her life to create more upheaval. But one night in her restaurant, he manages to do just the thing.

Jackson is a morose human being.  From first impressions there is nothing likable about him, apart from his looks and money. And he wouldn’t disagree with you. Except from his first interaction with the stunning Bianca, she has managed to do the one thing many have failed to do; intrigue him.  

When Jackson offers Bianca a catering gig impossible for her to say no to, an unlikely alliance ensues. Bianca needs money, and Jackson needs a wife. What an inconceivable trope to pull off in modern day times.  But JT Geissinger did, and exceptionally well…

"You don’t care about my money, and you’re kind, and responsible, and you’re not afraid to call me on my shit, and you’re so fucking beautiful it sometimes hurts to look at you."

Although not ultra steamy, this story still managed to keep me enthralled with all the sexual energy simmering below the surface. The fact that Jackson was enraptured from their first meeting, and Bianca had an endearing way of calming the beast, them getting together for real was heavenly.

"All right, Bianca, since you asked—no, you don’t look wifely."

I stared at him, strangely hurt.

His voice softer, he said, "I’ve never seen anyone’s wife who looks as good as you do. You’re a fucking wet dream."

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I love a good fake marriage/marriage of convenience story and Burn for You hit the spot for me. This was my first J.T. Geissinger book but I’ll definitely read more from this author. It had a great beauty and the beast vibe and that slow burn that I love. When these two finally got together… my goodness. It was fantastic. I loved both Jackson and Bianca. This one was emotional, steamy, sweet, and fun.

Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Sebastian York & Diana Luke
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance (slow burn, marriage of convenience)
Length: 10h 37m

[TJ ☾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jackson wasn't hot, I don't understand why there's a white girl on the cover when the h is a POC, and this book was boring as hell. So in a word: no 🤗✨

[R.K. Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual my reviews will contain spoilers so if that bothers you stop reading here.

Okay, I am incredibly new to the romance genre so I am rating these differently than I rate other books. A four star here means I was thoroughly entertained by the book, but I'm no entirely sure about what my baseline 3 star in this genre is.

As for the book itself it did a good job engaging my imagination. I plan on finishing the series. I just downloaded the second book and saw the third comes out this fall. I'm still digesting the whole thing. I've read books with romance in it, but never read one where romance was the plot. The restaurant, Bianca's dreams, her history with her family, her mother's illness, and just about everything else felt secondary to her feelings for Jackson “The Beast” Boudreaux.

The same goes for Jackson, since this book was written in dual first person POVs we saw his feelings for Bianca take over his life, of course his arc was less about discovering the feelings and more about containing them. He had a long troubled past, which was secondary to the love plot arc and was ultimately given to the reader and resolved in the same chapter.

This didn't bug me. This is what I mean by I need to figure out how I rate romance books because if this was any other genre I'd be annoyed by this, but I rather enjoyed that this book didn't have any moments of severe stress. It had moments of emotion, sure, but the stakes weren't the end of the world or anything-the stakes were directly linked to love and the stress stemmed from that.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this book and I plan on finishing the series.

[h o l l i s · Rating 4 out of 5]

The man gave the term resting bitch face a whole new meaning. He looked like his face had caught on fire and someone had tried to put it out with a fork.

Do you love BEAUTY AND THE BEAST retellings? Need I even say more at this point? Probably not. But I will. This isn't your standard homage but there's enough similarities to tickle your fancy and enough differences to delight you. In addition we have a hate-to-love slowburn and a fake-marriage trope. Throw in some New Orleans flavour (like, a lot) and a cheeky, quirky, memorable cast of characters, and BURN FOR YOU is a winner for me. And, well, hopefully you.

"Miss Hardwick. You. Are being. Unreasonable."
"And you, Mr. Boudreaux, are the reason the gene pool needs a lifeguard."

This is my first read by Geissinger but I'm no stranger to seeing her in my feed. She's an author I've meant to try for a while and I loved having the ARC as an excuse to finally get around to doing so. That being said I had no idea what to expect as far as quality of writing but am pleased to report this was not only well done but was also fucking hilarious. I could not stop laughing. I also cried once or twice so, I mean, it's all not silly shenanigans.

"I think sometimes it's easier for a man to be the worst version of himself than to let the world keep breaking his heart."

As the series implies, this is a slow burn. For a moment I thought we were nearing MZ levels of slow but thankfully it wasn't quite that bad (by which I mean good. but this was also good. arg, you know what I mean). And it was worth the wait. Between the outlandish Southern-isms and the cracklin' hate-snark banter, the back and forth between the moody bourbon-royalty-beast and the fiery belle-chef was as delicious as the food woven throughout the story.

"That kiss was hotter than the sidewalk in July."
"Your metaphors need work."
"Excuse me. Hotter than a billy goat with a blowtorch."
"That doesn't even make sense. And comparing a lady's kiss to anything to do with a goat is just bad manners."

While Jackson's darker more mellow moments swung him from highs (welll, bit of a stretch to call them a high) to lows as a result of his past, Bianca had more present-day fires to put out. It was a good balance not only for the story but worked to complement their (respectively) stubborn and relentless natures.

If he was trying to get me to feel sorry for him.. it was working a little.

It wasn't all perfect moments of hilarity or sparks, though. Sometimes I did find the dialogue a little reliant on !'s and some reactions felt a little overblown or drama-llama-ish. But every time a little bit of it irked me, I would be distracted by something wonderful or the characters would simmer back down. It was definitely not a consistent thing and really I think that's the only thing I have to complain about or make note of to explain why this isn't a perfect ten (or, rather, five).

Dear Lord. I was sexually attracted to my fake fiancé.

Book one in Geissinger's Slow Burn series was a hell of a good time (seriously, I lost track of my lol moments), it made me feel all of the things, cleverly strung together all different elements and tropes without feeling tropey, was packed full of heat when said heat finally kicked in, and.. I just had fun reading it. Truly. If you want something fresh and flavourful, pick this one up. It's delicious -- and this is one order you definitely won't be sending back to the kitchen unfinished.

4.25 "whatever conversation you're having with yourself, I'd love to join in. it looks fascinating" stars


** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **

[Leo (Queen of the Rants and Spoilers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved, loved, loved the heroine. Omg wow this woman was amazing!!! She was a strong sassy woman who didn't take crap from the hero.

I liked the hero although I have a tiny complain about him. I like my heroes to work for their money and this one didn't but that didn't stop me from liking him and I don't mind a hero who's an asshole and this one may have been one but he sure redeemed himself.

She was my religion. My north and south, my heaven and earth, the axis of rightness around which everything had suddenly aligned.

I absolutely LOVED IT but I can't rated higher than 4 stars because there's no epilogue and I needed. #wherestheepilogue. #epiloguewhorehere.

[Ⓐlleskelle - That ranting lady ッ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️3.5 STARS⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Amazingly entertaining, packing heat, passion and banter! If you like your heroes on the growly side, your heroines fiery with a smart mouth, a push and pull potent with animosity and a healthy dose of steam, you don’t want to miss Burn For You! This is your next afternoon escape!

I discovered J.T. Geissinger recently over the past summer and fell in love with her sexy and suspenseful stories propelled combustible thanks to a perfect mix of strong alphas with a gentle streak and independent heroines with a strong bite. (Her Wicked series is a must!!!)

With that promise in mind, I was already salivating about meeting a beastly Bourbon king meeting his downfall in the person of a sassy restaurant owner in Burn For You.
Enemies to Lovers. Marriage of Convenience. Tortured Hero. Beauty and The Beast retelling… Oh the last one got your attention? Well, you’ll love to read about all the parallels and references to the tale as old as time… and enjoy every minute of it!



Jackson Boudreaux, impersonates oh so perfectly the growly and grouchy beast in this modern southern retelling. More beast than man, I loved how the author chose to characterize our tortured and complex hero with a bestial and almost feral behavior. He snarled a lot and he growled even more and I loved it!

Growl count in this book : 27
Yes, I’m well aware a few readers don’t like growling heroes, humans don’t growl I was told by a few… Well guess what? This very reader likes it a whole lot. I find it super hot to witness the hero reach such a level of frustration he calls to his carnal and bestial side by growling and snarling. In this slow burn and hate to love you setting it was more than called for and a great parallel with the Beauty and The Beast references.

Rude, grumpy and surly—every nuance applies— he’s used to get what he wants —or more aptly, what he orders.Unfortunately for him, our heroine, Bianca, has a no nonsense strict policy and Bourbon King or not, Jackson will just have to learn some manners!



Bianca Hardwick, the heroine would easily feature on my favorite heroine’s shelf—if I had one—, she’s smart, packs enough sass to spare an army of cheeky ladies and gives as good as she gets, with witty come-backs and exquisite audacity. Especially when she dares setting straight the man everyone even fears looking in the eyes.

Chef in her own restaurant specializing in southern cuisine—inherited from her mother—she’s dealing with family issues impending a need for immediate funds. Conveniently enough, our prickly beast needs someone to fulfill the role of his wife for a marriage of convenience. Considering both can’t stand each other—but can’t help to lust after one another—it’s off with this promise hate to love you trope that the book really starts.



Another thing worth mentioning, is the immersion in Deep South, Louisiana! I voraciously devoured every bits of Southern slang and idioms! Everything about the setting and secondary characters felt so genuine, I could almost see, hear, taste and smell everything. J.T. Geissinger did a fantastic job at setting the New Orleans’ scene and made me travel the time of a book. I also loved the inclusion of Bianca’s typical recipes throughout the book, opening a few chapters.

Now about the much expected slow burn… I just adored every minute of it! The author did a fine job developing the tension between both heroes, none of them willing to yield on anything, yet, both unintentionally attracted to each other.



The push and pull was a delight to read about, making any small gesture or thought met with high expectations for the reader. I was ready for them to become an item after one chapter! I just knew their pending chemistry and lustful thoughts would lead to some explosive and playful scenes later on.
The building of their relationship was really nicely done, the author skillfully increased the anticipation, gradually dropping hints and clues about Jackson’s past making him a multi layered and complex character you had no choice but to get attached to. Generously sprinkled with a nice dose of humor and banter, Burn For You have everything to set you up for a good time!



This author definitely has a knack for creating sizzling dynamic between her characters! Stretching the tension to the culminating point, she makes the reader antsy to jump off the cliff along with the MCs and just give in to their desire. And I was right there with Bianca and Jackson! The passion between them was eruptive, J.T. Geissinger knows a thing or two about heating up a bedroom! So good! Gosh but I love a good slow burn!

So why not a full 5 stars rating?
The last quart of the book unraveled rather… unexpectedly and so fast it left me a little disappointed. With so much care given to carve such a delectable tortured hero, I was regrettably disconcerted by the quickness the author chose to tie any loose ends and felt robbed of a part of his story. In this case a simple sentence was delivered to excuse and explain years of self-hatred, hurt and misconceptions. One would think over fifteen years of psychological issues, family drama and exile should have easily deserved a little more depth but I do however understand the necessity to keep this book under wraps to meet an —imposed?—length. I personally think this particular side of him was central to the story and should have been explored a bit further and not brushed under the carpet.

I also regret the quickness it took to deal with another issue on the heroine’s side, especially considering it was another initial setup for the main plot. It felt all contrived to me, to draw an issue out for 80% of the book and just dealing with it from what I personally perceived rather… offhandedly.

To conclude, J.T. Geissinger cleverly dishes-up every romance reader’s dream with a clever blend of well loved tropes, a tingling slow burn, a prickling hero with a soft heart and a heroine you can’t help but love and wish you had a tenth of her witiness, all tastefully seared with sexiness, wrapped in quality banter and served with with a well merited HFN!



Arc received in exchange for a review.

More reviews and book talk at :

You can find me here too ☞

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We come and go.
We live and die.
If we’re lucky, we love and are loved.”



The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙
Romance: 💜💙💚🖤
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 🥺🤭🤫😕😎

The heroine(s): Bianca Hardwick - owner and chef of a restaurant in the French Quarter of New Orleans. She recently came up with a new menu revolving around Boudreaux Bourbon which has been well received by patrons and food critics alike. She is caring for he sick mother who has mounting medical bills.

The Hero: Jackson Boudreaux - heir to an international Bourbon Dynasty. He is tall, dark and handsome, but also growly, grouchy and mysterious. He looks like he hasn’t seen a comb or a razor in quite a while.

The Story: Jackson shows up at Bianca’s packed restaurant without a reservation and behaves like a rich jerk, including making threats about the fact that his family name is all over their menu. He came to make sure the food meets his high standards in order to be touting the Boudreaux Bourbon brand.

The narration was dual POV and dual narration by Sebastian York and Diana Luke. Sebastian York is one of my favorite narrators and did a great job as Jackson. I wasn’t too fond of Diana Luke as Bianca though. She does a great Louisiana accent, but her voice was a bit harsh and grating in my opinion. She certainly didn’t sound like a Bianca, who at the beginning described herself as having a sunny disposition.

Bianca was sassy as the blurb proclaims. This was the first time I heard the saying, “Kiss my grits” since I last watched that old TV Show called Alice when I was a kid. I love the enemies to lovers and marriage of convenience tropes and they were done well here. If I had the book and not just the audiobook, I think I would have switched over, because I just couldn’t get in to the narration by Diana Luke.

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[Aisling Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

1/2 cup of Slap,Slap,Kiss,
1/3 cup of marriage of convenience,
a dash of cliches,
add a pinch of dirty talk and voila the perfect book for me!!




P.S. Jackson Boudreaux is mine!!!

[Sara ➽ Ink Is My Sword · Rating 4 out of 5]

✪✪✪1/2

“I always thought love was a pair of shackles, but I was wrong. Love was the opened door of a cage.”

➽ FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED
You can also find it on my blog, Ink Is My Sword🌼

All images were found in pinterest, I do not own any of them.

Has the addicting quality that makes you invested in the story and the romance even if isn’t perfect.

💬
When I picked burn for you I was expecting a fake marriage storyline, where the marriage of the main characters is a charade and after a while fall in love, but I was wrong, this was nothing like that. Burn for you follows our hero and heroine arrangement towards a fake marriage, but we do not see an actual fake marriage. A story of opposites attract a romantic retelling of the beauty and the Beast fairytale. Incredibly addicting, funny and endearing, I was captured. A book where I didn’t necessarily agree with everything but I could still appreciate it as the author’s ideas.

It took me a few chapters to really get into the writing. It’s more of a light comedic voice but I still came across wonderful quotes. My only complaint was the huge amount of beast references, it was just a bit unnatural for a person to growl that much if someone did in real life I would think they have a lung problem. I also appreciated the unique format of the author including recipes, I personally couldn’t really invest in them because is not my type of easy cooking I like, I know I am cheap that way lol but I am pretty sure some readers tried them.

As I mentioned before I was a bit disappointed we didn’t follow a fake marriage but rather the prior building to that. I personally I am addicted to the whole developing the feelings after a while into the fake relationship, but I still would love the course. I really loved that our characters were like oil and water, creating a wonderful witty dialogue, comebacks, and tension. Something I wasn’t a huge fan of though, was the reason why Jackson decided to pursue the marriage option, it just felt too cheap for me. I truly couldn’t buy the whole “I have been rich all my life I can’t do anything on my own”. It just pretty much killed my fervent love for the beast. On the other hand, I really liked the way Bianca’s mother storyline developed, the unexpected factor certainly made an impact on me. What didn’t make as a huge impact as I would have hoped was Jackson’s tragic past, seriously it felt too over dramatic and out of nowhere. But overall it was a fun ride.

Now let’s talk about our hero and heroine. Jackson “the beast” Boudreaux, was a broody, dark, handsome man I really loved until his rich side showed, ups. I mean I really loved his creambrule side, he was so precious in the inside, and how he let himself have feelings for Bianca. But I couldn’t get over his attitude of being incapable of working and sustaining himself. It was kind of mentioned he had a disability but we never really discussed it, which was seriously a bummer. Although the moment he started talking or thinking about his feelings I was melted butter. Our heroine Bianca Hardwick was awesome, I loved her so much. Biracial, which yes is important to mention, because the romance genre needs more representation other than white there I said it, sue me but is true. She was a strong, independent woman, who knows what she wants of life. I loved how selfless she became for her mom, it was touching.

I loved how the relationship develops and it was pretty clear at the start Bianca and Jackson were annoyed with each other, and I liked how she didn’t see him as handsome and irresistible until a while. I really liked how slowly alongside with Bianca we are able to see the different layers the beast has, his kindness and loneliness. One of the most touching scenes is when he explains to her his semicolon tattoo. I overall enjoyed Bianca’s headstrong personality and her no-bullshit attitude. The chemistry was palpable and the aspect that made me keep reading to know how their story would unfold. I also appreciated how the guys are the first one showing signs of falling in love, I just personally hate when the girl falls and suddenly becomes all weakness and hearts.

😻Bianca’s personality. Jackson’s sweet moments. Wonderful quotes.
😾Jackson’s rich spoiled attitude.

Overall a book I will probably re-read when I need banter, sexy brooding bearded guys and strong female characters in my life.

“You remind me an awful lot of her daddy. Crème brûlée, I always called him. Hard as nails on the outside, but inside all soft and gooey sweet.”

📢
Recommendation. If you like connecting with the characters and rooting for them to get together, comedic writing, millionaires falling in love, and the fake dating troop then you will enjoy this book.

I want to know: Did you love Jackson and his growls? Do you agree the romance genre needs more representation of all ethnicities?

💭Pre-reading thoughts:

Hate to Love✔️
Fake Marriage ✔️
New Orleans✔️
And if I am not wrong a biracial heroine✔️

Emmm... YAS.

[Gio Listmaker · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Reaction To This Book



The Cover Does Not Fit The Couple (WHY?????)

Interacial Couple Deserves A Interacial Cover



At 40% The Heroine Slaps The Hero
IMO Not For A Good Reason



It Went Downhill From The Slap

The Heroine Uses The Phrase "Sweet Baby Jesus"
Not Once
Not Twice But A Total Of 15 Times
And Then Once During Sex
All I Could Think About Is Will Ferrell In Talladega Nights



MISCOMMUNICATION (Which I Hate)



After Reading Several Books By This Author

I Noticed This Review And Have Since Decided This Is Not The Author For Me

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bella - · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Because of all the marvelous and terrible things we can experience in this life, love is the only one that will last beyond it.”

CHARACTERS

Bianca Hardwick: 31, blackish-brown eyes, dark hair; hard-working, talented, kind, confident, book lover, bit geekish, at peace with herself.
Jackson Boudreaux: 34, blue eyes, dark hair; distanced, cold, arrogant in the outside vulnerable softie inside, book lover.

“Jackson. I’m in your bed. I’m wearing your ring. We’re hot as two jalapeños for each other. Do me, dammit, and hurry up about it!”

PROS

*Loveable main characters + great couple + great chemistry
*Loveable side characters
*FOODY BOOK
*Bianca is a chef, and there are recipes in this book actual recipes between new chapters. GOD!!! I actually searched for a book like this, and here it was without me expecting it.
*Fake Fiancess + Haters to Lovers
*Slow burn + but don’t worry; their chemistry is carrying the story
*Jax’s mansion’s name is Rivendell after LOTR
*Bianca’s cocktails named after classic books
*I really like it when the couple make this honesty policy and apply it; less drama, more clarification

SMALL APPRECIATION FOR

*Great dialogues (especially some with Bianca’s trashy ex)

“Just because trash can be recycled doesn’t mean you deserve another chance.”

“I know I was an idiot, but I swear I’ve changed.”
My brows lifted. “Really? Got a brain transplant, did you?”

*Bianca’s geekish + food-related compliments and comments

Savor me, bite by bite. Hold my flavor on his tongue and enjoy it, like one would with bourbon or a fine wine.

“If you ever look at me like that again,” she said, seething, “you won’t be a nice, tasty filet anymore, Jackson Boudreaux, you’ll be ground beef!”

FOOTNOTES

*I always manage to love heroines, but some I love more than the others, for example, Bianca here, she is totally admirable, I loved this woman. No one can hold this woman down!

*It is hard for me to like the heroes, yet here with all his arrogance and cave-man behaviors, I also loved Jax. Seriously tho when was the last time I heard about Hs insecurities? I don't even remember. But here, behind his mask, Jax was reachable, his vulnerability, his lack of self-confidence... So how can I not relate to him and not like him? Also, he wasn't a suit-man; actually, the opposite; he was an uber-rich who disliked suits. How rare is it to find?

OVERALL

*I truly loved this book. It is an easy and fast read. It is so funny, entertaining, romantic, and sexy, but that doesn't mean my heart wasn't broken several times.

*This is my second time reading J.T. Geissinger and my second time loving it. There’s only one book I haven’t read in this series, so I guess I just go on and read the second book.

Also, I just want to say that Miss J.T. Geissinger should definitely write a Christmas book, her books are magically fun and beautiful, and they just have this miraculous power of the Christmas spirit.



This book was on my radar for so long but thank you so much for making me actually want to read it, Isabella R.

[TJ *Book Twins Reviews* · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's like Beauty and the Beast meets Princess Tiana. Jackson and Bianca are so much fun to read. He's overbearing, high-handed, and demanding....beastly.
She's hard-working, feisty, and doesn't take any crap.
The two of them generate sparks that ignite all of New Orleans!

What I loved: Mainly the characters. It's a super cute take on the Beauty and Beast story. Jackson is misunderstood, but also doesn't help the situation by barking orders and demands at everyone he comes into contact with. His backstory is heartbreaking. I loved seeing how his character developed and evolved over the course of the novel.

The secondary characters were a hoot. The humor spread throughout is well done. I laughed my ass off. While this isn't at all what I expected when I grabbed this book, it was just what I needed at the time.

Recommended!

Audiobook review: The audiobook alone, is worth the price of admission. The book is over the top. but funny. I laughed out loud several times. It was a great performance!






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[Denisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Well now...


Some spoilers, so be warned!

It wasn't awful or anything, I just couldn't get over one thing: this guy is 35ish (can't remember exactly) yet he does nothing all day? I mean, he is suppose to inherit his family's money but only if he gets married or works (oh no! anything but that!) ; he's rich just because his family is rich, not because he deserves it or can do anything worthwhile. What is this?!

So, let me explain. He's 35. He has no money and he has no skills. He has never worked a day in his life (he himself says he'd be homeless if not for his inheritance because he doesn't know how to do anything). And he's ok with that?! What kind of a person is ok with just sitting home and waiting for money from his parents? Ok, don't answer that, I know there are a lot of those out there but I don't have to like them and I definitely don't want that from my romance characters.


Because of this I wanted to DNF the book so many times. Yet it kept me hooked somehow (that's why it deserves more than 1 star).

it's probably magic

The heroine was pretty cool, I liked her (how she could fall for such an idiot is uncanny). And the writing was good.
And well... those are the only things I actually liked about this read.

Would I recommend it? Definitely not. I hate idiots who love to sit in their own idiocy and I don't want that in my reads

not the best gif for the end but I loved it, so here

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! Jackson Boudreaux!

I could leave my review right there because really, who doesn’t love a big, burly, scowling hero? Dig a little deeper and you’ll find that Bianca’s mama was right. Crème brulee. “Hard as nails on the outside, but inside all soft and gooey sweet.”





So yeah, I’m absolutely heart over heels in love with Ms. Geissinger’s latest hero. I have to say he’s one of the most interesting male characters I’ve ever read. Absolutely alpha on the surface but with so much insecurity about his worthiness on the inside. During his points of view we are given a chance to really feel his uncertainties regarding his comments and actions with Bianca, and definitely his feelings toward her.

Jackson is not your rich playboy/manwhore. You won’t find his castoffs loitering on the edges of this story. A player he is not. What you will find is a man who’s afraid to believe anyone could ever want him just for him. So damaged from layer after layer of hurt it’s a miracle he could even conceive the idea of a semicolon tattoo. When all of his heartache was revealed I cried for the injustice of a life filled with so much pain and misunderstanding. I cried for Jackson Boudreaux. An imaginary character. On the pages of a book. On my kindle. If that doesn’t speak of the talent this author expended in developing his character, nothing will.

So, okay, I get it. This review has been all about Jax. To me, he was the heart of the story. And because of his history perhaps you’re thinking this was one heavy, angsty read. Nope. Not at all. This was one of the cutest, quirkiest reads I’ve read in some time. I started smiling from chapter one and continued throughout. Yeah, there were definitely scenes when things are heavy, and not all of them revolve around the hero. But in the end I was smiling again. Happy with these characters. Happy with their decisions. Happy with where this story took me.





This is an honest review of an advanced copy provided by NetGalley and Montlake Romance.

Dual POV
Safe
No apparent triggers

[Bookphenomena (Micky) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I’ve heard of JT Geissenger in my book feeds but now I realise what I’ve been missing out by not reading her work. BURN FOR YOU delighted my literary senses from start to finish. The two main characters were both hugely likeable in their reality, completely lacking perfection, both stubborn and fun to observe clashing. This book is a piece of wonderful hate to love with great story substance.

Jackson is like a grisly bear, a pathetic communicator, preferring to shout or grunt. He met his match in Bianca because he didn’t intimidate her. Bianca was a newly successful chef-owner of her restaurant in New Orleans.

”The man gave the term resting bitch face a whole new meaning.”

The context of restaurateur with food and bourbon gave depth and something I could enjoy identifying with. These two characters clash with anger and chemistry, the burn was slow but steady, building to the most delicious heat.

When this book comes to love, there were so many lines that had me highlighting the text. I thought the way JT Geissinger wrote the connections of the heart was refreshing and made me pause, there were no cliches, only tangible feeling. I have a book buddy that has read an advanced copy too so I highlighted and screenshotted through the last 40%.

“I always thought love was a pair of shackles, but I was wrong. Love was the opened door of a cage.”

I am a new and enthusiastic fan of this author, I’m grateful to my buddy for the recommendation and I hope I can, in turn, lead a few friends in this direction. I’m excited at the back catalogue I have to peruse for Geissinger and I’m placing this particular book on my favourites shelf. Slainte!

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through netgalley, in return for a honest review.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

[Kimberly / Love Notes Book Blog · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 stars. I know I'm in the minority on this book. All I have seen are gushing reviews about this book, but this was not a good book for me. I had high hopes because I have enjoyed books by this author in the past, but this was very different. This book was as if Disney's Princess and the Frog and Beauty and the Beast had a baby. It has the Beauty and the Beast trope, but it's set in New Orleans.

This is Bianca and Jackson's story. Bianca is a biracial chef who owns her own restaurant in New Orleans. Jackson is a grumpy recluse and the heir of a whiskey company family fortune. Bianca creates a menu using the whiskey as an ingredient in all of her dishes. So Jackson comes in to try the dishes. He is pretty much a jerk about it, which makes Bianca hate him, but he is secretly intrigued by Bianca. In the meanwhile, Bianca gets bad news about her mother's health and needs money to help her out. So when Jackson comes to Bianca to cater a fundraiser for him, she begrudgingly accepts. Then something happens to cause Jackson to need a wife in order to gain his inheritance and Bianca is the only person he can imagine marrying. He offers her money to marry him and stay married for a period of time. Bianca desperately needs the money for her mother's treatment so she agrees. There are several problems and complications but they eventually fall in love.

The story premise and the fact that it was set in New Orleans made me look forward to reading this one. But the overly hokey, trying too hard to sound Southern language was a huge turn off. I am not from New Orleans, but I have visited there and I do live in the South. The cutesy Cajunisms were so fake sounding, cheesy and unrealistic. It didn't sound like this author had ever set foot in the South, maybe watched a movie as research or something, because people in New Orleans do not sound like that in real life. It was a terrible, stereotypical, cheeseball version of Southern people. Not only that, some words were so decidedly wrong. New Orleanians do not say nappy, they say diaper. Ya'll is plural for you. You can't say ya'll meaning a singular you. Hoohas are not boobs. Men normally don't say "lady bits". Things like that.

Also the book suffered from over simile-ation. Way too many sentences with "like a..." or "as _ as a".
For example:

"Hotter than a billy goat with a blow torch"
"who looked like a sexless nun"
"he's like a crossbred dog"
"the sugar dissolves like a relationship over summer break"
"Looks like you've been et by a wolf and shit over a cliff, dawlin'."

And that barely scratches the surface. I think it was supposed to be funny, but it did not work for me at all. The language was such a huge turn-off that I almost dnfed numerous times.

Bianca was so plucky and country bumpkin. Everyone she met loved her. I did not connect with her at all, or Jackson either for that matter. They both got on my nerves. I did not feel any of the emotions I was supposed to. There were several parts that were meant to be sad, but I was not connected enough to the couple to feel it. Plus, the characters were very OTT and melodramatic. The beginning of the story was so long and drawn out but the end was too quick. The ending was disappointing. At 78% the couple was still pretending not to like each other. At the end, there was a love declaration on the next to the last page and no epilogue or plan for the future. A maybe someday marriage. What a let down.

Overall, this book was way too cheesy for me. The story was interesting, but that was basically the only part that worked for me. But, like I said, most people who read this book are crazy in love with it. So give it a try and judge for yourself!

*arc provided in exchange for an honest review*

[Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The old romance trope where two total opposites fight like cats and dogs until they suddenly realize they're crazy about each other

well, that's how the first encounter starts between a grumpy, broody, rude billionaire Jackson Boudreaux and Bianca Hardwick, Chef/owner of a New Orleans' restaurant.
It's not even pretty but each of them hold their own, yet the sparks fly, even though they fight it, through out the relentless pent up bickering...

Who was the real Jackson Boudreaux? The Beast that snarled and snapped? The suave sophisticate at ease in front of crowds? Or the sad, lonely man with a mysterious tattoo and eyes full of bad memories.

So when he proposes to Bianca an offer to cater his raise-fund dinner with a large compensation in tow, Bianca hesitates at first, but due to her personal problems and a huge medical bills for her mother's hospital treatment hovering over her, she accepts and gets the chance of seeing a different side of this man that so suddenly crashed into her life...
Without unmistakable attraction between them, their personalities are so different yet there's a hidden link that pulls them towards each other...

There were so many layers to this man-compassionate, complex layers beneath that thorny exterior. He was quick to snap and snarl, but just as quick to get his feelings hurt.

on the other hand, Jackson's inheritance/trust fund comes into a question cause of the clause stating he has to be married until his next birthday, which is due in a month time...

Jackson's a man who's a recluse at heart, he's a man deeply hurt and betrayed in his past and he doesn't engage in relationships with people nor women BUT he needs a quick solution and the only available person who comes to his mind is Bianca.

Bianca's mother grows heavily ill and the financial situation to cover the medical treatment exceeds the current financial status she's in, so when Jackson comes with this marriage arrangement, after she's considered every possible option, and having to admit she's backed into a corner, she accepts.

This is a business deal, Bianca. A good one for both of us. We're not doing favors for each other. No one is getting taken advantage of here. We're going into it with out eyes open, fully informed and consenting, with an exit strategy that's painless and precise. Which is a hell of a lot more than most people can say about their marriages.

well, the time is on their side for once, and as they get to know each other, it's hard to believe how difficult is to let go, and when the lines get blurred and passion prevails, emotions are impossible to avoid but will they be able to admit them out loud...



I absolutely dig this story, it had every segment needed for me to fully enjoy in this enemies to lovers/slow burn romance drama filled with anticipation and intelligent humor vivid in banter and bickering of these lovable characters. Especially Bianca, I simply LOVED her.

[Mindy Lou's Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Slap Slap kiss Stars!

Heir to the Boudreaux Bourbon empire, Jackson Boudreaux was a beast of a man that had a perpetual scowl on his face and would just as soon growl at you than not.

Bianca is a beautiful Creole woman who has just opened a restaurant and based her menu off her recipes paired with Boudreaux Bourbon. When Jackson shows up at her restaurant demanding a table, the sparks flew.

Oh man, Jackson is one of my favorite types of Hero’s. He’s got the whole wounded beast thing going on and despite how much everyone has failed him, he never fails everyone else. He’s just such a good man. He’s rock solid and supportive. I was rooting for him from the very beginning.

Bianca was pure sass. I loved that she doesn’t bow down to status or money. All she cares about is doing her mama proud. She’s one of those woman that if you win her over, she’ll be loyal to the day she dies.

Together, Jackson and Bianca were spitting fire right from the start. I enjoyed every bit of their banter and the chemistry was intense. These two had me constantly laughing as well as all the great side characters.

J.T. Geissinger really could just write anything and I’ll read it. She never fails to draw me in so completely in to the lives of these characters. Burn for You was a great start to a new series and I can’t wait to see what comes next!