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Combustion: First Love, Second Chance
Kaelen is the perfect boyfriend. Smart, athletic, attentive, and willing to keep their secret.Abigail is the only girl Kaelen's ever met who is smarter than him. With his 165 IQ, he can talk to her about anything; science, math, social issues… chemistry. He just can’t date her.Until the day he gives up trying to pretend he isn’t in love and the chemical equation that burns between them gets too hot to ignore. Kaelen learns the hard way what happens when you play with fire, and Abigail pays the price. But she isn’t the only victim that night.Devastated that he hurt the girl he loves, Kaelen pleads guilty and faces the punishment he feels he deserves. Five years and one prison sentence later, Kaelen and Abigail can’t ignore the evidence of that one tragic night, and they can’t ignore the fire that still threatens all their plans for a future together.
215 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2020
23 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 3, 2020
I may be biased, but I think this is one of the best books I've ever written!
April 7, 2024
Different Kind of Love Story.
I waffled about whether or not to leave this review. But I loved so many of the other books by this author, that had to write this one despite how MAD this novel made me!
The whole novel is well-written in the author’s usual style. Brevity takes the stage over a deeper POV. But the author has a gift for telling a gritty story with emotion nonetheless.
So why am I so mad? I didn’t like how things played out. Why didn’t the girl speak up? Why did the guy think so down on himself when he was not solely at fault? Why didn’t they have a conversation instead of not seeing each other? There were so many questions I had. So many other ways I would have worked everything out, but when it comes down to it, there wouldn't have been a story if everything had worked out in the beginning!
The author clearly has deeply personal feelings about this topic and chose a creative, gripping, and beautiful way to share them.
Despite the edgy title, I did not feel that this novel was to hot for the general audience. In fact, it’s fit for teens. It just might teach them a lesson or two.
I waffled about whether or not to leave this review. But I loved so many of the other books by this author, that had to write this one despite how MAD this novel made me!
The whole novel is well-written in the author’s usual style. Brevity takes the stage over a deeper POV. But the author has a gift for telling a gritty story with emotion nonetheless.
So why am I so mad? I didn’t like how things played out. Why didn’t the girl speak up? Why did the guy think so down on himself when he was not solely at fault? Why didn’t they have a conversation instead of not seeing each other? There were so many questions I had. So many other ways I would have worked everything out, but when it comes down to it, there wouldn't have been a story if everything had worked out in the beginning!
The author clearly has deeply personal feelings about this topic and chose a creative, gripping, and beautiful way to share them.
Despite the edgy title, I did not feel that this novel was to hot for the general audience. In fact, it’s fit for teens. It just might teach them a lesson or two.
November 1, 2020
This book deserves all 5 stars
This was a very gripping book. It was also extremely emotional, as in every single page was very emotional. This is a whole different perspective of a situation dealing with the charged topic of rape and the very grey areas that can be involved with teenage romance. This book was steamy but did not have detailed (and quite frankly gross) descriptions of sex but it was charged with emotions of the feelings a couple feels leading up to it. I believed every single teen should read this book. If it helps even one teen decide not to partake of alcohol or decide they should wait to give over the intense emotions and bonding that should come from a sexual relationship, this book has met its mark. It feels very realistic. It was also extremely frustrating. I know other reviewers thought it wasn’t realistic (situation that the victim isn’t allowed to testify their side) but I know it happens far too often. This is an excellent book. Read it. Read it with your teens. Have good conversations with them and use this as a tool to open that conversation. This book is also an excellent tool to discourage sneaking and lying and have a bridge to open up the uncomfortable conversations between an child and parent regarding sex and love.
This was a very gripping book. It was also extremely emotional, as in every single page was very emotional. This is a whole different perspective of a situation dealing with the charged topic of rape and the very grey areas that can be involved with teenage romance. This book was steamy but did not have detailed (and quite frankly gross) descriptions of sex but it was charged with emotions of the feelings a couple feels leading up to it. I believed every single teen should read this book. If it helps even one teen decide not to partake of alcohol or decide they should wait to give over the intense emotions and bonding that should come from a sexual relationship, this book has met its mark. It feels very realistic. It was also extremely frustrating. I know other reviewers thought it wasn’t realistic (situation that the victim isn’t allowed to testify their side) but I know it happens far too often. This is an excellent book. Read it. Read it with your teens. Have good conversations with them and use this as a tool to open that conversation. This book is also an excellent tool to discourage sneaking and lying and have a bridge to open up the uncomfortable conversations between an child and parent regarding sex and love.
January 23, 2021
I appreciated that in Combustion, author Julie Spencer has created wonderful characters in Kaelen and Abigail. Their love story is sweet, but ripped apart by tragedy. I appreciate the frankness that Spencer has taken in dealing with a very touchy subject. Teens, sex, and alcohol is a subject that needs to be discussed openly, and often together in context. I liked that Combustion took a closer look at some of this. While I would have liked some more development between time gaps, I feel that this story gave a good overall of the six years in which the story takes place. While I really enjoyed the outcome of Combustion, and I'm so glad that the main characters got their HEA, I'm not sure that that part of the story was super realistic. Emotions are complicated things, so is the law. For the sake of the story, I love that things worked out well. That being said, I'm not sure the ending was as realistic as the beginning. All considered, a very compelling story!
September 22, 2020
A must read
So many different feelings! All of them conflicting.
This book addresses so many angles of teens and alcohol and sex. It's a complicated area to navigate, to be sure. So many grey areas. I think the book covers it all.
I think everyone that reads this will interpret it differently. There were some parts that I just didn't agree with, but are hard to argue against. And what Ms Spencer did was address them. She did not shy away from the heavy topics at hand. Which was appreciated.
I would definitely recommend this book for young teens. Kaelen and Abigail got a happily ever after. But that's not how life works. This book can open communication channels for important talks about sex and alcohol and consent. I'd definitely put this book in my tool belt for those talks.
So many different feelings! All of them conflicting.
This book addresses so many angles of teens and alcohol and sex. It's a complicated area to navigate, to be sure. So many grey areas. I think the book covers it all.
I think everyone that reads this will interpret it differently. There were some parts that I just didn't agree with, but are hard to argue against. And what Ms Spencer did was address them. She did not shy away from the heavy topics at hand. Which was appreciated.
I would definitely recommend this book for young teens. Kaelen and Abigail got a happily ever after. But that's not how life works. This book can open communication channels for important talks about sex and alcohol and consent. I'd definitely put this book in my tool belt for those talks.
July 30, 2020
Tells it like it is
This was a hard book, I can’t lie. I had mixed feelings when I read the burb for it, but I was curious and decided to give it a try.
I was glad a did.
Both Kaelen and Abigail are super smart and feel a connection from the first time they meet. Some bad choices lead to bad consequences. At times I questioned if some of the story was believable, but the further I read the more I could see something like this happening. I really liked the message in the epilogue.
Definitely something kids need to hear!
This was a hard book, I can’t lie. I had mixed feelings when I read the burb for it, but I was curious and decided to give it a try.
I was glad a did.
Both Kaelen and Abigail are super smart and feel a connection from the first time they meet. Some bad choices lead to bad consequences. At times I questioned if some of the story was believable, but the further I read the more I could see something like this happening. I really liked the message in the epilogue.
Definitely something kids need to hear!
September 28, 2020
This is a well written straight up in your face reminder of the influence of alcohol and sex. It was a hard read and a bit different for those who do not consent nor wanted it. However, a powerful tool anyway. It was so well written that even though it came close to my no bedroom scene roll it never said anything explicit you just knew what was going on. It was so good reading a story from the other side of the story. I wanted to but it became non-fiction and I couldn't do it better than this story. Well done Julie.
July 3, 2020
This book tackles some serious issues, but it is done in a really respectful and appropriate way.
This book is a must read for older teens who are dating or thinking about dating. There are some powerful messages here for both genders about defining relationships and the perils of substance usage.
Add this to your TBR pile if you want a book that goes beyond the everyday. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is a must read for older teens who are dating or thinking about dating. There are some powerful messages here for both genders about defining relationships and the perils of substance usage.
Add this to your TBR pile if you want a book that goes beyond the everyday. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 25, 2020
I had a lot of conflicting emotions reading this book but it redeemed itself in the end.
That said, I think there should have been more details of the hardship during the time of incarceration. Also, I think it's misleading that you have to say "no" when "stop" should mean the same thing!
That said, I think there should have been more details of the hardship during the time of incarceration. Also, I think it's misleading that you have to say "no" when "stop" should mean the same thing!
March 29, 2021
This is a very emotional story. It deals with teen alcohol drinking and rape. It also shows there is redemption for those who try to make things right. Julie wrote this story so realistically that you would think you were reading a true story. So glad that it sanded with a happy ending.
November 10, 2021
This book addresses some really hard issues. Teenage drinking. Statutory rape vs rape. Forgiveness. Love. It was an interesting story. There were a couple things in the story that just didn’t sit quite right with me. With that said I think it is good to address these hard issues.
November 14, 2025
Combustion is a powerful, heartfelt second-chance romance that had me hooked. Kaelen and Abigail’s connection is intense, their struggles feel real, and the mix of love, guilt, and redemption hit hard. A gripping, emotional read that lingers long after the last page.
November 14, 2025
Combustion delivers a raw and emotional love story filled with passion and pain. Kaelen and Abigail’s journey is gripping, tender, and deeply human. Their second chance feels earned, and every moment pulls at your heart. A beautifully intense read.
January 8, 2021
3.5 stars
This book is a weird take (although interesting) of a pretty bad situation . It's was interesting to see this play out through a different point of view but it was also very weird.
All I have to say about it is weird with a dash of drinking even one beer is bad and you'll get I'll-forget-everything-when-I-wake-up drunk for having it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, when I asked her what this book was about.
This book is a weird take (although interesting) of a pretty bad situation . It's was interesting to see this play out through a different point of view but it was also very weird.
All I have to say about it is weird with a dash of drinking even one beer is bad and you'll get I'll-forget-everything-when-I-wake-up drunk for having it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, when I asked her what this book was about.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews