There'd forever been a thread running through Trevor Estes's life—his son Riley, strong and constant like heartbeat. But when Riley is killed in combat, everything in Trevor's life unravels into a mess he doesn't know how to mourn.
Until Jesse Byrne, Riley's friend and platoon mate, arrives on his doorstep with a box of Riley's things. Jesse's all-too-familiar grief provides an unlikely source of comfort for Trevor; knowing he's not alone is exactly what he needs. Trevor never imagined he'd find someone who fills his heart with hope again. As the pair celebrate Riley's memory, their unique bond deepens into something irreplaceable—and something neither man can live without.
But diving into a relationship can't be so simple. Being together means Trevor risking the last link he has to his son...leaving Jesse to wonder if he'll ever be enough, or if Trevor will always be haunted by the past.
5+++ Stars!
I’m going to have to go ahead and say Point of Contact is the best book I’ve read in 2018. I’ve mentioned book hangovers before and generally, I suffer one or two maybe three serious ones a year. The kind that have a story sitting with you for days maybe weeks after finishing. POC will definitely be one of these books. I can not stop thinking about Trevor, Jesse and, of course, Riley. Their story broke my heart many times over and then even as I read the beautifully happy ending, I sobbed because it broke my heart in a completely different way.
What is it that I loved so much about this story? It’s such a realistic look at the grief a parent feels after the death of their child. Trevor was completely devastated, his entire life started to unravel and the grief consumed him. This wasn’t sugar coated or brushed over. We got to see it, we got to feel it. And let me say that as a parent I empathized with what he was experiencing. I couldn’t imagine and honestly, don’t want to imagine his pain.
I really loved the romance in this story. It seemed to happen so naturally and developed over time. They had great chemistry and attraction built up as did the sexual tension until it was palpable. However, things didn’t happen between Trevor and Jesse until the time was right. It made the story that much more captivating. In the end, it was very much worth the wait.
I adored Trevor and Jesse so much. Both men were well written and easy to connect to. Trevor stole my heart from the absolute beginning because he was such an incredible father and person. Jesse took a tad bit longer to fall head over heels for but I soon realized he was perfectly suited for Trevor. While there is an age gap, it’s not huge and Jesse’s maturity and caring personality actually leveled things out. Honestly, these two men have become a favorite couple of mine.
Overall, I have to say I highly recommend this book. It’s well written and beautifully heartbreaking but has such a sweet ending. You can’t help falling in love with Jesse and Trevor.
***Copy provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.***
About the Author:
Melanie Hansen likes to consider herself a cynic, but at heart she’s a hopeless romantic. Every morning she gets up before dawn to spend time with her characters, creating stories that are deeply emotional, sometimes heartbreaking, but in the end where love always wins. Melanie’s proud of the fact that two of her books have been named as RT Book Reviews Top Picks. She grew up with an Air Force dad, ended up marrying a Navy man, and has lived and worked all over the country. Melanie hopes to bring these rich and varied life experiences to her stories about people finding love amidst real-life struggles.
Website: https://melaniehansenbooks.com
I read this book twice, and I loved it even more the second time. Melanie Hansen created characters that stay with you long after you've read the last word. I can't praise this book enough.
ReplyDelete