REVIEW: Ignite (Explosive #1) - Tessa Teevan

★★★★★
5 Why-did-I-just-read-this-now Stars!!!

I am a sucker for second chance romance, especially when they started young and/or as friends, and HEAs. I am. So when I read about Ignite from my friends here on GR and on Twitter (ehem, Michelle and Bianca!), I read the synopsis and added it on my TBR. I don't even know why I haven't gotten to reading it immediately but I'm so glad that I already did!

"I'm not a complete idiot. Just an overly dramatic one at times. I know my husband loved me. He'd loved for more than seven years, and that didn't change."

Wow wow wow! I am always so happy when the writing gets to me after just the first page, in this case, the Prologue. It was intriguing and then heartbreaking and it made me want to know more of the story. How did it happen? Why did it happen? What will happen next?

I adored the characters! All of them, even their old high school classmates. Don't forget Mallory. And of course, I loved Jace.

Jace McAllister

A year older than Alexa/Lexi, he's always been the best friend, the hot, good-looking baseball player, also the one who kept his feelings hidden for fear that Alexa might not feel the same and he'll ruin their close-knit friendship. Which includes, hanging out at each other's houses, studying together, hanging out together, watching baseball together, you catch the drift.

"You really have no clue. At first I thought you were just playing hard to get or that you didn't want to mess up our friendship, but I'm seeing now that you really have no idea how crazy about you I am."

He kept his feelings hidden until one night he couldn't anymore. Only the timing sucked because he'll be leaving the next day. I admired Alexa during this part of the book. She was strong and determined and although she got frustrated about Jace's timing, she was willing to try and work things out with him.

Jace is also the guy who serves in the US Army and has been in love with one girl his entire life. I felt Jace as loyal, not just because he's been in love with the same girl for over a decade and that he hasn't had any serious relationship with anyone, he's loyal to his team. He's protective, yet I can see him being a cool, funny, and very lovable guy, even for a soldier. After a decade of not seeing Alexa, not having any sort of communication with her, they would finally get to see each other again in his high school reunion.

Alexa Sullivan Tate

"He was just Jace. My confidant. My shoulder. My best friend. And the first guy I ever loved."

Alexa or Lexi as what she's called by her friends and family, is a widow at 26. She's one of those heroines who you would want to give a hug and give hugs and words of support and encouragement. But she's also strong. Being a widow at such a young age and having been married for 7 years, I can only imagine as depressing. But she still came out on top and didn't play around with going after her feelings and living life again after Tyler, her husband died. It took some time but I loved how Tessa Teevan wrote it in such a way that we won't get too bothered or bored about how long and what happened during Alexa's down-moments. We were given glimpses and backgrounds but the emotions were still there.

She has been in love with Jace since they were in high school. That night Jace admitted his feelings for her, she gave him her virginity, and hoped that Jace would keep his promise and keep in touch. Which as far as she knows, he didn't.

"I wanted him to seek me out. Stupid, but that's the mind of a seventeen-year-old girl. And he never did, so I'm sure he's over it by now."

I get that thinking but I just didn't get why she (or even he) never made contact in social media. Ugh! The what-ifs.

During the first few chapters leading to Alexa and Jace's own reunion, I felt sympathy and a sisterly annoyance (you know, annoyed but in a loving way) with her. It's almost cute that she seemed like a teenage girl again when she found out Jace is attending and after hearing his voice over the phone. I half-expected her to be the all confused and undecided widow heroine, after that. Boy am I glad I was wrong!

Their reunion -- and well, their story --- was enjoyable to read. I don't even remember any part of the book where I feel dragged or frustrated that I would want to pause reading (except when it was already 3am and I couldn't keep my eye open any longer).

"Alexa, I've never forgotten about you. I've never had a connection with any other woman like the one you and I had - that I know we still have. You were my only. You were it for me. My homerun. My grand slam. My perfect game. I've never, I will never, ever want anyone but you."

Jace and Alexa's reunion feels so much like this:

I want to give kudos to Tessa Teevan…

…for pulling off present-to-past-to-present scenes, flashbacks, without being confusing or "why is s/he having this flashback during this part, it doesn't make sense". Kudos also for the fast-paced story without feeling it was rushed. I appreciated how Jace and Alexa went about their newly-found-again relationship. No more unnecessary drama between them. I'm sure all the years past is enough already. Also, the supporting, secondary characters were all so adorable! I've always wanted a Brady in my life.

"Please tell me that you're naked, breathless, and you've just had the most powerful orgasm of all womankind."

It's like a touch of rainbow and butterflies and a solid support system all-rolled in an awesome Brady package.

Stars: 5 heartbreaking-heartwarming-hopeful stars!
Recommended to: Everyone who's been in love before, wants to fall in love again, and those who enjoy reading second chance love stories with funny, supportive second characters.
POV: First person. Dual POV. (I love dual povs!)
Series: Yes, BUT standalone.
Cliffhanger: No. Although I'm now really excited and intrigued to know Knox's story!
EXTRA COMMENT: There were a few typos, nothing too distracting but it caught my attention.

PURCHASE