4 Stars

Ok, so no one is going to be surprised that this is an intense look at grief, not only from a parent’s perspective but that of a best friend. Hansen seems to specialize and thrive on these sorts of tough topics, and I’ve always appreciated her well thought out, sensitive handling of such.

Upon hearing of his son’s death, Trevor is absolutely undone by the what if's and the what could never be’s. Trevor had plans and hopes for the future with newly adult Riley on his return from the front lines in Afghanistan. When that is taken away from him, Trevor’s paralyzed with anguish, thinking he never truly knew the man that Riley had become in the short nine months of being a soldier.

Jesse in turn, is not only coping with the loss of his best friend but his own issues of coming home to civilian life. Through fraught, deadly situations, he had formed a unique bond with Riley, each relying on the other for support, each becoming an integral and necessary part for survival. It’s that shared past that Jesse brings to Trevor that allows both these men to slowly heal.

Again, Hansen deftly puts the reader through their paces. She handles every situation, every setback, and every small minute win with thoughtfulness and grace. It’s only inevitable that as these two grieving men comfort one another, that they would naturally fall in love, eventually embracing life again to honor Riley’s memory.

An affecting very difficult read, but well worth the effort.
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I
AM
AN
EMOTIONAL
WRECK ( )

Wow this was a gorgeous and tough read. I don’t know if I’ve read a book where the person others are grieving is so much on the page before he dies, but this was beautifully and heartbreakingly rendered. The love these two men find with each other is amazing; definite smile through my tears at the end. ( )

4.5 emotional stars. ( )

I openly admit that I do not normally read romance novels. A story about falling in love with a handsome highlander/cowboy/billionaire does not appeal to me. This novel does not follow the normal romance novel plot conventions or themes. “Point of Contact” is about the loss of a beloved son and how that loss brings two people together.

Trevor’s only son Riley joins the military after high school and is sent over seas to Afghanistan. While his father waits and worries at home, Riley bonds with his fellow soldiers and becomes close to Jesse, a strong carrying soldier. When tragedy happens, Jesse vows to be there for Trevor and for the rest of the soldiers in his platoon.

The author has done thorough research into what it is like to serve in the Middle East and the emotional and mental cost to soldiers when they return. She also understands the process a family goes through when a loved one dies while deployed. I learned a lot about the plane that brings the soldier home and the people who care for the family members. I also learned about the organizations that help grieving families and returning veterans.

Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of sex, mostly at the end. I’m not into heavy sex scenes and I admit I skipped most of the hot and heavy stuff. The author is “the queen of the slow burn” and I found the budding romance better than the sex. The father’s grief and the best friend’s comfort and support, that eventually turns into genuine love, is the best part of this novel.

This novel was nominated for the 2019 LAMBDA Award for Gay Romance novel. It did not win. A conventional billionaire romance won. Too bad, this is such a well written novel. Don’t miss out on reading it. ( )