Signs of Life by Melanie Hansen

SOL_CoverTitle: Signs of Life

Series: Resilient Love #2

Author: Melanie Hansen

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (234 pages)

ISBN: 1634761782 (ISBN13: 9781634761789)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (September 28, 2015)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 4.5 Hearts

Reviewer: Zane

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.

Product Link: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Review: “Resilient Love” is Melanie Hansen’s first series; “Everything Changes” is her debut novel. You do not need to read it prior to “Signs of Life”, but I recommend you do. I loved Jase and Casey, and the bit of information I did glean about Jeremy piqued my interest for his story, which I dove into immediately following Jase and Casey’s HEA.

In “Signs of Life” we meet the briefly mentioned Jeremy. He and Kai are from completely different walks of life with seemingly little in common, and yet they are explosive together in the best way. With an instant attraction and sizzling heat, there was such electricity between the two every time their paths crossed – these guys were hot, hot, hot! They engaged in rough play and had a power kink that I really couldn’t get enough of; I absolutely loved their sexy scenes.

Though Jeremy and Kai each had their own demons to battle and neither was in the market for anything serious, the progression of their relationship from physical to emotional was extremely believable, yet not predictable. I was invested from the beginning, falling for them as they fell for each other.

A well written and impressive sophomore effort, I was captivated from start to finish. This is not an easy read – there is sadness and angst, but Kai and Jeremy are well worth your time. I was drawn in by the dialogue; there were words spoken by the two MCs I found to be equally beautiful and painful with so much rawness, laying one another’s hearts and souls bare.

Even with the emotional turbulence and requisite conflict, not only do Jeremy and Kai get their HEA, but we are left with a clear glimpse into their future. Not so clear is the future of Kai’s best friend Loren, whom we are given just enough of a background to want more, and to hope that there will be a Resilient Love 3, and that he will be one of the MCs. I find myself clamoring for this book (that I don’t even know for sure will be written) already!

I easily recommend this author and this book (as well as the first). Melanie Hansen is now on my radar, and I’m sure as soon as you read her, she’ll be on yours, too!