Review: Better than Ignite.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 1, 2014
While I enjoyed Ignite, the first book in the Explosive series, I liked Incinerate even more. I could tell that Tessa Teevan's writing skills really improved from one book to the next. Each book in this series can be read as a standalone, though there are overlapping characters in each one, as well as an overlap in the timeline.Incinerate starts up where Knox's story exploded in Ignite - where he and Jace are caught up in a roadside bomb. Knox is faced with multiple injuries and his recovery requires more assistance than his independent self wants. Enter Charlie, the fiery volunteer sent to help Knox during his initial recovery. From the start, these two are rubbing each other the wrong way, while at the same time heating up the room with their chemistry. What ensues is two souls, burned by people in their pasts, finding that they may just be the ones to heal each other - that is, if they can figure out how to get along first.This story grabbed me from the start. I loved how Knox and Charlie met and how they interpret their first impressions of each other. It really set the stage for how their personalities would connect and evolve through conflict and passion. I enjoyed their progression to friends and then more, and I loved getting to know them both individually as well as a couple. Knox is certainly rough around the edges, but I loved the way his softer side came out as his walls fell down. Charlie is a tough chick with a stubborn side that could hold her own, but also just wanted to be loved. While the story did slow down at certain points, the author was able to mix in new plot elements that helped pick things back up again, pulling me back into the story. There are also some super sexy, steamy scenes to look forward to. All-in-all, Knox and Charlie are really great together - when they're not being stupid and stubborn.Overall, I liked Knox and Charlie's story, getting to know them, seeing their walls come down, and seeing two people open up to love again. The pacing was better than Ignite, though still slow at times, and not too high on the angst side. There are many lovely moments between not only Knox and Charlie, but also their family members and friends, as they start to heal their pasts and look forward to their future. Plus, we get more Jace and Alexa from Ignite, and a really beautiful moment between them, that fans of the first book won't want to miss. We're also introduced to the characters in the next novel, and you can already tell they'll have an interesting story to tell.