Virtual Blog Tour: M/M ~ Signs of Life by Melanie Hansen ~ (ARC Review, Author Interview, Excerpt + Giveaway)

Virtual Blog Tour: M/M ~ Signs of Life by Melanie Hansen ~ (ARC Review, Author Interview, Excerpt + Giveaway)

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SIGNS OF LIFE

Resilient Love #2

Melanie Hansen

Releasing Sept 28th, 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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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 cock, 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 cock 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 fuck 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 cock 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.”

Author Interview:

Thanks so much to Bayou Book Club for hosting me today!  I’ve recently released my second novel, Signs of Life, through Dreamspinner Press, and I sat down to answer a few questions:

1.     What inspired this story?  

Actually, this story was inspired by a local newspaper article I read about a man whose wife was killed in a car accident.  She was pregnant and they were able to deliver the baby, but sadly he died a few days later.  I couldn’t imagine what this husband and father was feeling:  One day his family was alive and well and the next they were just…gone.  How did he cope?  How did he go on?  I felt that would make a compelling story and character study, and Signs of Life was born.

2.     Is there a message in this book you would like readers to grasp?  

Even though the themes of grief and loss permeate this story, my ultimate intention was for it to be a celebration of the resiliency of the human spirit, gratitude for the gift of second chances and our capacity for discovering renewed happiness and joy in unexpected places.  

3.   What is your favorite genre to read?  

Pretty much all I read anymore is non-fiction, especially autobiographies.  The last few I’ve read and loved are Soldier of Change, by Steve Snyder-Hill, War by Sebastian Junger and It’s What I Do by Lynsey Addario.  I can highly recommend each and every one of these books.

4. Can you share the project(s) you are currently working on?

Right now I’m working on a May/December m/m romance featuring an Afghanistan war veteran and the father of the veteran’s teammate, whose son was killed in action.  They are brought together in sadness by the son’s death, but they become close friends and finally fall in love, finding healing in each other.

5. Besides writing what else do you enjoy doing?

I love reading, of course, and spending time with my 5th and 6th grade boys, who definitely keep me on my toes!

Tracy and Mari's Review

Tracy: The first thing I'll say is, it's gonna be a tough read when the author has you sobbing in the first chapter! OMG!! Attorney, Jeremy Speer's story starts off so heart wrenchingly sad. After he suffers a major loss, he packs up and takes off. We next see Jeremy two years later. He has relocated from California to Oregon. He meets high school teacher, Kai Daniels at a gay bar. After an anonymous hook-up in a back alley, Jeremy takes off, without even a word. These two men are thrown back together by extenuating circumstances. What happens next? You'll have to read to find out!

Mari: So true, Tracy! I was almost afraid to keep on reading after that first chapter wrecked me so badly! It was so sad, everything Jeremy had to go through after the death of his family would have wrecked anyone and yet, he pulled through everything. It wasn't easy and up until the moment when he meets Kai, he's barely living, more like going through the motions. Kai reawakens him, and even if he feels guilty at first, he can't stay away from Kai. 

Tracy: I loved "Everything Changes". After reading it I was devastated to check out goodreads only to discover this was debut novel, so when I saw the book had a sequel, I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into it! Melanie didn't disappoint. This was an amazing story. Sad, but amazing. It was also HOT!! Hello!! Melanie can write a hot and dirty sex scene.

 This is a story of growth, for both men. They both learn to say goodbye to the past, so they can move on to the future. Their characters were well developed. I loved them and I felt like I knew them. The chemistry between them was amazing. The book moved along at a nice pace and held my attention from the first to last page.

Loved both books in the series and highly recommend them!

Mari: I haven't read Everything Changes, but I plan to as soon as possible. And I agree about this being an amazing, heart-wrenching story. Jeremy and Kai are awesome together, the sex scenes were sizzling hot, but above all I adored that they both were willing to do just about everything for each other. They wanted to protect, cherish and just be there for the other, and even when it sort of blew on their faces, they managed to overcome it all. I started this book crying and ended up crying, just for a different motive. Definitely recommendable!

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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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Check out the first in the Resilient Love Series

EVERYTHING CHANGES

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Book Blog Tour: Embrace the Fire by Felice Stevens ~ (5 Star ARC Review, Excerpt + Giveaway)

Book Blog Tour: Embrace the Fire by Felice Stevens ~ (5 Star ARC Review, Excerpt + Giveaway)

Embrace the Fire
Through Hell and Back # 3

By: Felice Stevens  

Releasing May 26th, 2015

Loose ID

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Blurb

Brandon Gilbert has spent years in hiding, but finally he’s accomplished his dream of working as a public school teacher. When offered the chance to help bullied children, there was no way he could say no. Not to mention that meeting Dr. Tash Weber, the psychiatrist who helps them, a sad yet sexy older man, ignited a spark inside Brandon he’d never had before.

Though five years have passed since the death of his lover, Dr. Sebastian "Tash" Weber has no interest in relationships or love. But young, enigmatic Brandon awakens his heart and his desire. Despite Tash’s best efforts to push him away, Brandon unlocks the passion for life Tash thought he’d lost forever.

Falling in love wasn’t part of the plan for either Brandon or Tash, but neither family disapproval nor self-doubts can stop them from embracing the fire that burns between them. And when Brandon returns home to fight for a future he never imagined possible, he and Tash discover that the one thing worth fighting for has been with them all along.

Excerpt

“Maybe we should get started? I’m, ah, kind of interested in seeing what you want me to do.” Beneath lowered lashes he shot a glance at Tash, who, thank God, had turned his attention to talk to the other men in the room. 

Though he couldn’t remember their names, Brandon recognized the husky blond-haired man, hovering protectively next to a dark-haired young woman, from the picture hanging outside on the wall. 

“That’s Mike, Dr. Levin, the dentist. He and Drew’s sister, Rachel, are dating,” Gage murmured in between sips of coffee. “She’s got a PhD in child psychology and set up the suicide prevention hotline here at the clinic. They really thought of everything here.” 

Once again, regret slammed into Brandon. What dreams could Ash, Luke, and he have accomplished if someone had cared about them? Ash might not have run away, and Luke might’ve had someone to talk to instead of becoming so sad and withdrawn. 

“Hey, Randy, where’d you go?” 

Brandon blinked and found Gage’s sympathetic gaze trained on him. He swallowed hard and averted his eyes. “Nowhere.” 

Gage shot him a sharp look but returned to sipping his coffee. As Drew approached, Brandon braced himself for the inevitable onslaught of getting-to-know-you questions. It didn’t matter as he had his whole pretend history well rehearsed. 

“So, Randy, we’ve already heard from Gage before today. What do you think we need to do, to reach and help as many kids as possible?” Drew sat in the chair next to him. 

Brandon instantly sensed Drew was a person who rarely passed judgment on people; he was the person you wanted to come home and tell all your problems to. 

“I think you need to make sure the kids know first this is a place of trust and security. Also if they come here to talk, or we talk to them anywhere, we’re there to help them work out their own solutions safely.” 

Rachel’s friendly smile encouraged Brandon and increased his confidence. “The most important thing to teach these kids is that they have a chance to break free and be what they want to be.” 

Drew rubbed his chin, and his eyes clouded. “One thing from the beginning I have to make clear. If we hear of any abuse, we go straight to the police. If there’s any bullying, the school and the parents have to know.” The smile he wore so easily faded, replaced by an almost trembling frown. “We lost someone very dear to all of us because we held back, and I made the mistake of trying to handle the problem on my own.” 

Rachel whispered in Mike’s ear, and he came over to place a hand on Drew’s shoulder. Drew smiled tremulously at him but continued. “The consequences are too enormous and dangerous if we don’t bring in the authorities when we know a person is at risk.” 

The police? Shit. He couldn’t be a part of this. For years Brandon had evaded them, deliberately taking every precaution to keep as far away from them as possible. Now with this project, he’d be putting himself practically in their pockets. Though the mission sounded amazing, he knew he’d have to decline. He couldn’t afford the risk. 

“Um, I’m not sure if I’m the right person for this.” Brandon’s fingers shook as he reached for his jacket. The room fell silent as he fumbled and stuttered over his words. “I mean, I’m so new; you really need a person who’s more experienced.” 

He stood and grabbed his backpack. “Uh, I have to go, but I’ll let you know if I can do it. Thanks.” 

“Wait, Randy, please.” Tash put himself in between Brandon and the door, but Brandon couldn’t let the disappointment and confusion in Tash’s handsome face dissuade him from leaving. He circled Tash and wrenched open the door. 

“I’m sorry. I gotta go.” Cheeks burning, Brandon put his head down and raced through the hallway toward the front of the building. He’d just reached the door, when it burst open, and a tall, dark-haired man stood facing the street, shaking out his wet umbrella. 

“Excuse me,” muttered Brandon, brushing by him, not waiting for a response. He plunged headlong into the foggy drizzle that had begun again, uncaring if he got wet. His long strides ate up the block as he pushed himself farther and farther away from the clinic. It hurt, walking out so abruptly, but once he got home, he’d call Gage and make up some excuse. 

At the intersection he spotted a cab with its light on, and even though he could barely afford the fare for his monthly subway pass, he hailed it, asking it to drop him off at the nearest subway station in Carroll Gardens. He’d find a way to get home to Flatbush somehow. 

The farther away he got from the clinic, the better, yet as he sat back in the cab, he couldn’t help recalling the disappointment in Tash’s face. But Brandon knew if he stayed he’d do more than disappoint everyone, and that wasn’t a chance he was willing or able to take. 

Copyright © Felice Stevens

Tracy's Review:

5 Firey Stars

*copy provided by author/publisher via A Tasty Read Book Reviews in exchange for an honest review*


Instalove. Big age difference. These are two things that I loathe in books, yet Felice made me not care about these things. It never once bothered me.

The chemistry, sexual tension and love between Brandon and Tash rolled off the pages of this book. Tash and Brandon's story takes us full circle and finally reunites all three brothers.

I loved this story. Felice writes so beautifully. She draws you in from the first page and holds you captivated with her story telling. This book did have instalove, but it wasn't a sickly sweet instalove, there were obstacles and struggles. Tash and Brandon had to fight hard to make this work, and it wasn't just their insecurities and fears they had to fight against. It was the doubts of their families/loved ones they had to fight against as well.

Felice wove a beautiful story, filled with doubts, fears, secrets, mystery, heartbreak, sadness but most of all family, togetherness, sweetness, healing, heat and love.

This was the perfect ending to this series. I've read every one of Felice's books, and I haven't read one yet that I haven't loved. I look forward to so much more from her in the future!

Author Info

I have always been a romantic at heart. I believe that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending just around the corner. I started reading traditional historical romances when I was a teenager, then life and law school got in the way. It wasn’t until I picked up a copy of Bertrice Small and became swept away to Queen Elizabeth’s court that my interest in romance novels became renewed.

But somewhere along the way, my tastes shifted. While I still enjoys a juicy Historical romance, I began experimenting with newer, more cutting edge genres and discovered the world of Male/Male romance. Once I picked up her first, I became so enamored of the authors, the character-driven stories and the overwhelming emotion of the books, I knew I wanted to write my own.

I live in New York City with my husband and two children and hopefully soon a cat of my own. My day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass or two of red wine. I practice law but daydream of a time when I can sit by a beach somewhere and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. Although there is bound to be angst along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.

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