Friday, October 9, 2015

Tour-5-star Review, Excerpt and Giveaway: Signs of Life by Melanie Hansen



Signs of Life
Resilient Love #2
By: Melanie Hansen 
Releasing September 28, 2015
Dreamspinner Press


Blurb
Successful lawyer Jeremy Speer has it all—a loving husband, a beautiful home, and a cherished dream that’s about to become reality. He’s learned not to take happiness for granted, meeting the challenges of life and love head-on with unwavering commitment and fierce devotion. A series of tragic events leave Jeremy shattered, adrift on a sea of unimaginable pain. He’s able to piece his life back together, but instead of embracing it, he merely exists, using isolation and punishing physical exertion to keep the world at bay.

 High school teacher Kai Daniels has a heart for at-risk kids—he was one himself, and a teenage brush with the law and some troubled years behind bars left him scarred inside and out. With courage, hard work, and the support of friends, he’s built a fulfilling life that leaves no time for a relationship.

An intense encounter with Kai at a gay club ignites a spark in Jeremy that he thought was extinguished forever, but he’s unwilling to destroy the fragile peace he’s managed to create, and he leaves Kai humiliated and disappointed. Things should have ended there, but a bizarre occurrence brings the two together in a way neither of them expected.

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**Naughty excerpt**

Jeremy stopped trying to pull away, dropping his gaze to the man’s lips, which were moist and slightly parted, the hoop through the full bottom one gleaming in the club lights.

“Have a drink with me, Sexy, and tell me your name.” The man leaned away and gestured for the bartender, the motion causing his T-shirt to pull even tighter across his chest, outlining what looked like a bar through his left nipple… oh sweet Jesus. Jeremy had never found piercings sexy before, but now all he could think about was that lip ring teasing the tip of his aching c*ck, feeling that hard silver bar in his own mouth while he tugged at it with his teeth and bit down….

Jeremy groaned under his breath, and the man gave him a knowing look as he started to hand Jeremy an ice-cold bottle of beer. Jeremy hesitated once again, and the man set the beer on the bar top and then gripped Jeremy’s hand, pulling it between his legs, pressing the palm against a steel-hard erection. Jeremy squeezed, and it was the man’s turn to groan.

“You wouldn’t leave me like this, would you?” he asked hoarsely. In answer Jeremy cupped him a little more firmly and squeezed again, enjoying the way the man closed his eyes, tipping his head back.

Jeremy took his hand away from the man’s c*ck and reached for his beer, taking a few gulps while watching the man do the same with his own drink.

“My name’s Jeremy.”

The man said something in return, but the music suddenly seemed to ramp up several more decibels and he couldn’t hear. He leaned closer. “What?”

The man gripped the back of Jeremy’s neck and put his lips directly to his ear, his hot breath making goose bumps pebble Jeremy’s skin. “My name’s Kai.” Kai licked the lobe of Jeremy’s ear and then bit it, and Jeremy groaned. He cupped Kai’s chin in his hand, stroking his thumb along his bottom lip.

“I’m going to f*ck you so hard, Kai,” he breathed, leaning closer. Kai parted his lips in anticipation but Jeremy barely brushed their lips together before pulling away.

“Teasing me ain’t gonna make my c*ck any harder, dude,” Kai gasped on a laugh. “In fact I’m about to come in my goddamn pants.”

Jeremy reached between Kai’s legs again and palmed him, exulting in the feel of Kai lifting his hips into the touch. “If you do, I’ll lick you clean and start all over again.”

When Kai arched his neck back once more in helpless pleasure, Jeremy leaned in and dragged his parted lips up the length of that corded flesh and back down before sucking lightly on the hollow of Kai’s throat, tasting his skin.

“Jesus Christ, let’s get out of here,” Kai moaned, his accented voice husky with arousal. “I’ve got a room right down the street.”


Well after reading this, I now have a new author to add to my list of favorites.  Signs of Life was FANTASTIC.  From the rip-your-heart out beginning that had me grabbing the closest box of tissues until the pure bliss of the ending, I could not put this book down.  A riveting story, compelling characters with amazing depth, and so much emotion packed into every page had Signs of Life immediately earning a place on my top recommendations list for the M/M romance genre.

Through the entire beginning of the book, my heart was breaking for Jeremy.  Everything that happened is packed with overwhelming emotion, and had me in tears and wanting to just scoop him up in my arms to offer my support and consolation.  When he first meets Kai, everything between them is intense and blazing, creating an emotional overload for Jeremy that demonstrates how broken he really is.

The circumstances that bring the two of them back together again provide them an opportunity neither expected, and from there everything between them goes from blazing to absolutely, scorchingly nuclear.  But things between them are not limited to their astronomical chemistry, there is so much more and watching things between them develop is so satisfying.  Their relationship thrives on emotion, and both men get to see how truly selfless, compassionate and giving they both are not only with each other but with other characters in the story.

Those other characters?  They make up an amazing supporting cast, making me want to know more about them and their own stories.  In particular, Jase and Loren--these men are phenomenal at supporting their friends and are loyal (in Jase's case, even when he has a right not to be), and are characters I admired quite a bit.

The intimate scenes between them are positively sizzling, and will have you reaching for an ice-cold drink, a fan...or maybe just finding a walk-in freezer.  Believe me, you'll need it.  Those scenes are equally matched by the intensely emotional interactions between them, and also between Kai and his best friend Loren's shared scenes.  And watching as Jeremy slowly comes back to life, opening up and letting Kai in...it makes you feel like your own heart is being healed.

Signs of Life was an achingly good story brimming with emotion and love, and as you can probably already tell, it was a 5-star read for me.  If you are a fan of M/M romance--especially if you love an abundance of intense emotion in your stories--you do NOT want to miss out on this amazing story.  Recommended strictly for 18+ due to adult coarse language and adult M/M sex scenes of the blistering hot variety, as well as some other mature topics.  This is definitely one I'll be re-reading again and again, and I can't wait to read the next in the series...and to go back and read the first one too ;-)

First in Resilient Love Series
EVERYTHING CHANGES

Author Info
Melanie Hansen has spent time in Texas and Florida prisons…for work.   She’s been in a room with a 17-year-old mass murderer who was also one of the most soft-spoken and polite teenagers she’s ever met.  After a 13-year career as a court reporter, she can tell many stories both hilarious and heartbreaking.

She grew up with an Air Force dad, and ended up marrying a Navy man.  After living and working all over the country, she hopes to bring these rich and varied life experiences to her stories about people finding love amidst real-life struggles.

Melanie left the stressful world of the courtroom behind and now enjoys a rewarding career transcribing for a deaf student.  She currently lives in Arizona with her husband and two sons.

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