ARC REVIEW: Combust (The Wellingtons #1) - Tessa Teevan

 

5 Combustible Stars! 

ARC very kindly received from the author for an honest review 

Release Date: August 18, 2014

If you see a Tessa Teevan book, you can bet your ass I’m all over that one! This lady must have a huge sack of magic dust with her when she writes her stories because they always make me giddy and swoon like a teenage girl who’s experiencing her first love. She can write about injured soldiers, hot teachers, and college students and still have that spark in each of them. 

Combust is a little different than the first books she has written but it is as equally, if not a tad bit more, as sexy as the Explosive series books. But even though this is a story of 2 college students which would fall under New Adult, this is still all Contemporary Romance. Fun, charming and sexy, Cohen and Andi rocked my world in that hours I spent my nose buried on my Kindle reading! I did sort of send some of my silly feedback while she’s writing Combust. 

What I absolutely loved more about this book is the significance of music into Cohen and Andi’s story. Being a music lover myself, I appreciate how Tessa incorporated songs and artists into scenes and conversations of the two characters. It made Combust that more enjoyable for me! I loved seeing songs and Cohen and Andi relate to the music that they love. They were so geeky when they talk music and so carefree, it’s hard not to fall in love with them. 

Timing, misunderstanding and a teenage way of handling things got in the way of what could’ve been a good start of a friendship, or relationship, or just whatever between those two. But we know that the world moves in mysterious ways and everything has its own time, right? I’m glad about that because Cohen and Andi just got another shot years after that awkward night. 

For most part of their story, I was cheering on Cohen. He’s such a charming dude and Tessa easily made me picture an adorable 18-year old boy turn into one sexy, confident 21-year old young man. Gone was the innocent-like vibe that that teenage Cohen has, he’s now turned into one young man who oozes confidence. He was already sexy in my eyes when he was being a music nerd that first night but adding up the new Cohen? Combustible. I think Tessa was up to something with the title! 

“I know what I want, and I’m not going to waste my time.” 

“And what do you want, Andi?” 

“You, Cohen.” 

Andi is another heroine to love. I don’t think I’ve hated any heroine that Tessa wrote. They’re all strong, self-reliant, endearing and Andi’s an addition to Tessa Teevan’s awesome heroines! Andi Kane, at first she was funny, then she became more likeable because she’s as much a music nut as Cohen is, then I started feeling like wanting to kick her ass until she sees some sense, and finally she made me love her with her fiery personality. She admits the mistake that she’s done before but instead of wallowing in the what-ifs and could-have-beens, she surprised me by now being upfront and honest in what she wants and these characteristics of hers made her and Cohen’s relationship drama-free and easy for the most parts. 

For me, this is one of Tessa’s “lighter” books but this didn’t lessen the enjoyment I’ve had while reading Combust. If any, this just goes to show how diverse Tessa Teevan’s writing skill can get. Now, I’m excited for more of the spin-off books as much as I am with the Explosive series! 

Stars: 5 stars! 
Recommended to: Readers who want lighter, (almost) drama-free love story. This is an amazing one! POV: First person. Dual POV. 
Series: Yes. 
Cliffhanger: No. 
Extra Comment: There’s entertaining appearances by my most loved Knox Wellington and the rest of the family. Knox gives good advice and he’s as funny as I remember.

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