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ARC Review: Incinerate by Tessa Teevan

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Title: Incinerate

Series: Explosive #2

Author: Tessa Teevan

Published: 18th Feb 2014

Age Group: Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: eARC provided by author for fair & honest review

Rating: 4.5/5

Goodreads | Amazon

BLURB:

When Knox Wellington opens the door to Charlie Davenport, he's not expecting the fiery brunette with whiskey colored eyes and a feisty personality. Sparks fly immediately, even though their initial meeting is nothing but hostile. Their chemistry is undeniable, but the chip on Knox's shoulder threatens to destroy any hope of him wooing the sweet, southern volunteer sent to help with his rehabilitation.

Little does he know she's no Southern Belle, as she gives as good as she can take. As unexpected circumstances push them closer together, heads butt, patience is tested, and flames ignite as they dance around their mutual attraction, both of them jaded from broken pasts.

They've both been burned before, so when their feelings of lust, desire, and wanting are inflamed in the heat of the moment, will they finally be able to get over the pain of the past or will their relationship be reduced to ashes before it can ever really begin?

REVIEW:

The story:

After being injured in the military, Knox has to go through some major rehab to recover from his injuries. Used to being the a tough independent man, it's not easy for him to adjust to needing help with everyday tasks like getting dressed. Especially not when that help comes in the form of a feisty woman named Charlie! She's assigned to Knox by the volunteer agency, but the two of them don't get off on the best of starts. After a failed attempt and chatting him up in a bar the night before, Knox is the last person on earth she expected to see again. They clash heads, numerous times but attraction between them is undeniable.

While spending so much time together, they start to realise they have more in common than they thought; football, kick-boxing and a broken heart from an ex. Charlie caught her fiancé cheating on her and is left with an untrusting heart. While Knox was hurt by his girlfriend cheating with Knox's own brother, who are now married. And because of this Knox doesn't speak to his anyone in his family, apart from a younger brother Cohen. Knox doesn't want a relationship, afraid he'll only get hurt gain, but with sparks flying in every direction, it's only a matter of time before things EXPLODE!!

The characters:

Charlie is pretty much every guy's dream girl, she's a sexy, confident, drinks beer, and loves to watch football and kick-box with the boys. However after her fiancé cheated on her, she's not exactly the most trusting person. But she has a feisty kick ass personality and doesn't take crap from anyone, especially not from Knox! She speaks her mind and always stands up for herself - the perfect kind of heroine!

Knox is one sexy Rugged piece of eye candy, but he has a major chip on his shoulder when we first meet him. He resents having to have people help him with his injuries and is still bitter about his ex girlfriend cheating on him with his brother. But Charlie is the best thing to ever happen to him - not only does she teach him to love again, but her strong relationship with her father inspires him to reconnect with his own family after their falling out years earlier.

The romance:

Knox and Charlie are absolutely perfect for each other! As Jace so wonderfully put it, Knox needs a girl with balls of steel, and Charlie certainly fits that description!! They challenge each other in every way possible. They both have major trust issues after having been cheated on in the past, it makes them reluctant to start anything new. But the sexual tension between them was off the charts!! With two big personalities in one relationship there are lots of tifs and misunderstandings. But that just allowed for some yummy make up time...and oh my was it yummy *fans self*. They make each other better people and I loved that!

The Writing:

This book was a little different than Ignite, which dealt with the heavy topic of grief. Incinerate is a little sexier and also has more humour in it, which I really enjoyed! My favourite thing about Tessa's writing is her use of dialogue - her character's personalities shine through, and each character has a different voice - rather than them all blending together. I especially loved Charlie's dialogue, because it shows her feisty kick ass personality that I loved!

FINAL WORD:

Incinerate is fun and sexy little romance, with flirty verbal foreplay, a fiery heroine and a rugged hero to swoon over!! This is one awesome read, and I can't wait for the next book in the series, Inflame, that follows Kale & Lucy's story!!

CONTENT:

Sexuality: medium-strong / several sex scenes

Violence: very mild / passing references to war scenes (no descriptions)

Language: medium-strong / frequent f words, p*ssy etc

Drugs & alcohol: mild

Swoon Thursday #28

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Swoon Thursday is a weekly event hosted by YA Bound.This is how it works:

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog.

This week, I’m SWOONING over:

Title: Ignite

Series: Explosive #1

Author: Tessa Teevan

Published: 30th Oct 2013

Age Group: Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: eARC provided by author for honest review

Rating: 4.5/5

Goodreads | Amazon | Review

“I need to know that you’re sure about this. I’m leaving and I don’t know when I’ll be back. But I do know that when I can come back, it’ll be for you. You’re it for me. I want you so bad, but I need to know that you’ll be okay with this. That when I leave you won’t hate me; that this night will be enough for you, at least for now. I promise you, I’ll come back for you, but that has to be enough.”

My heart warmed and melted at the same time at his words. I think I could never see him again and I’d still want to give my virginity to him, even though part of me was beginning to feel anxious and apprehensive.

“Jace, I fell for you a long time ago, so it only makes sense that it’s you. I’m terrified that I won’t see you after tomorrow, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting you tonight. If nothing else, I want to have the memories of this night. Please, I need it to be you.”

Looking down at me, he pressed his lips to mine.

This story was so beautiful, and I absolutely adored Jace & Alexa. They've both been through so much is their lives that the deserve some happiness again. And I loved this sweet flashback scene of where it all started with them back in high school.

So what's making you swoon this week?

{ARC Review} Ignite by Tessa Teevan

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Title: Ignite

Series: Explosive #1

Author: Tessa Teevan

Published: 30th Oct 2013

Age Group: Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: eARC provided by author for honest review

Rating: 5/5

Goodreads | Amazon

BLURB:

After nearly a year and a half of grieving the loss of her husband, twenty-seven year old Alexa Sullivan Tate is headed back to her hometown after a decade of being away. She has no idea her high school crush, Jace McAllister, the guy who stole her heart the same night that he broke it, is more than ready to pick up the pieces.

Jace has spent the last ten years in the Army defusing bomb after bomb, trying to forget the girl who ignited all his passions. Little does he know that the spark still exists.

Ten years ago they had smoldering chemistry, but the spark between them now might light a fuse that leads to an explosion even Jace can't stop. Not that he wants to. If only Alexa can get past her guilt and trust her heart again.

But how do you put it all on the line when you've already lost everything once before?

REVIEW:

The story:

From the very beginning I knew this was going to play with my heart and oh boy was I right. The prologue alone made me cry, with such a tragic and heartbreaking scene, and it didn't stop there. There was plenty of crying and not just a few stray tears but that awful hot-ball-of-lava-in-your-throat type of crying.

After loosing her husband Ty is a car accident Alexa struggles to move on with her life. Her sister Sierra is there for her as is her new friend from work, Brady (who I adored!). They both encourage her to attend the high school reunion and meet up with her old best friend and first love Jace. Alexa is very hesitant at first, worried that it will awkward to see him after he broke eyer heart 10 years ago. But their connection is as strong as ever and watching them rekindle their relationship was so beautiful and sometimes quite hilarious. But the question is can their love overcome their past mistakes and Jace's life in the army?

The characters:

Jace, oh who wouldn't fall in love with that man *sigh*. Yes he's a hot muscly soldier, but he's also so much more. He is sweet and caring and so devoted to Alexa that I just wanted to squeeze his cheeks! (on his face of course! *cough*)

Alexa was such a real character, and after all that she's gone through she's still a very strong character. Like anyone she struggles with her emotions - grief from loosing Ty, happiness and a second chance with Jace and guilt at feeling happy again. I found her so relatable as a character and very likeable.

I have say I was really impressed with how Alexa's husband Ty was represented in the story. He so easily could have been written as a 'bad' character - uncaring, abusive, cold etc. But their love was honest and real, which only made the loss all the more tragic and heartbreaking. Reading some of the flashbacks scenes, broke my heart and made the pain of loosing him more real for me - I could really empathise for feelings of grief.

And there are also lots of great secondary characters with Lexi's hilarious & pushy sister Sierra and her husband Jeremy and of course their adorably hyperactive 4 year old Ava. I am also delighted that the next book in the series will be Jace's mate Knox's story - oh I can't wait to get to know that brooding soldier a little better!

The romance:

A romance that can survive ten years apart can only be described as epic, and that's exactly what it is. When they first see each other again it's like they've never been apart, the connection is still there and the sexual tension is electric! Seriously, there are some hot & spicy scenes these two share - and I have to say I am positive that Jace is not longer the Blue-Clit-Master (most hilarious scene I have read in a loooong time!!)

The Writing:

Tessa's writing was so full of emotion, it I felt like I was living through this alongside of Alexa and Jace. The feelings of grief, sadness, guilt, love, passion and hope where woven so beautifully into the story - I laughed and cried my way through the entire story.

I also felt the timeline was handled very effectively. After their reunion things don't just happen in a matter of weeks, but over a year, and this made their relationship so much more realistic and believable.

FINAL WORD:

The emotions in this book are so real and tangle, you won't be able to put it down. I felt everything Alexa went through and couldn't stop thinking about her story days after I'd finished reading it. Ignite is a tragic, heartbreaking and ultimately an uplifting story of love and second chances.

CONTENT:

Sexuality: strong / several sex scenes

Violence: mild

Language: medium-strong / several f words

Drugs & alcohol: mild-medium

Staking The Shelves #7

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Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves.

These are all the beautiful books I got over the past fortnight! Yay for signed books!

Gifted:

Off Course by Sawyer Bennett
A huge thank you to Sawyer for sending me a signed copy of her awesome book!! ❤ I truly appreciate when authors & bloggers send things all the way to Australia (postage can be astronomical!)