What does love sound like? If you hear it, will you heed its call?
Police officer Jordan Waters is recovering from a shooting by moving to a new apartment in a new town and taking a new job. In other words, he’s lonely. His first instinct is to relieve his anxiety through uncomplicated sex—until he meets a man so far out of his league and experience that he stumbles for the first time.
Police volunteer Sebastian Sumner may be deaf, but his spirit, openness, and sense of humor give him the strength to get through anything—even the emotional defenses of Jordan Waters. But it’s his own family history that poses the biggest challenge. Can he learn to trust Jordan with his heart, or will his upbringing blind him to the sounds of love?
Professional Reviews
Sounds of Love - 5 Kisses
Sounds of Love is the first book I’ve read by Susan Laine and it definitely won’t be my last! I loved the fast-paced storyline and the strong emotional bond between the two main heroes. When I started this book last night, I had intentions of reading a few chapters and finishing it the next morning. Wrong! Once I started Sounds of Love I was immediately drawn into the lives of these very interesting and likeable characters, and I wasn’t able to put the book down until I finished the last word.
When police officer, Jordan Waters, was injured during the line of duty, he knew he wanted a fresh start. He moved to a new city, has a new partner and is determined to make a new life for himself. One night, Jordan’s partner invites him to play some poker with some friends. Thinking it would be a night just like any other, he’s stunned when he meets, Sebastian Sumner, a police volunteer who at first glance, immediately takes Jordan’s breath away. In the past, Jordan has had the love ‘em and leave ‘em attitude when it comes to hooking up with men, so he feels off balance, and off of his game when he meets the gorgeous and very intriguing Sebastian. Even when he realizes that Sebastian is deaf, but he can read lips and speak quite clearly, Jordan becomes even more mystified and captivated by the slightly younger man. Jordan tries to steady his emotions and attraction for Sebastian by deliberately becoming flirtatious with him, and the two men start a cat and mouse banter between them. But, there is something about Sebastian that steadily chips away at the wall that Jordan has around his heart, and Jordan begins to stop being the slick one-liner player he’s used to being, to the vulnerable and lonely man he really is. Once he shows this side to the sweet but cautious Sebastian, the men start forming a deep emotional bond between them that Jordan never thought he’d have with another. Will Jordan be able to work through his fears and finally have a chance to achieve a happy life with Sebastian?
I really loved this book! Jordan is such a complex and interesting character, I couldn’t keep from becoming captivated with his story and with his lover, Sebastian. I admit I wasn’t sure if I was going to like him at first. He’s arrogant and sexy and has kept everyone he knew at arm’s length most of the time. But, as the story progressed, and I got to know his vulnerable and caring side, I really began to like him. I loved how enthralled Jordan became with Sebastian and how Sebastian made him leave his comfort zone of pushing people away, to wanting to be part of a family with Sebastian. His character really evolves throughout the book, but he still keeps some of that naughty arrogance that I came to love. I absolutely adored Sebastian too! His determination to survive in a hearing world and his inner sweetness captivated me as much as it did Jordan! I understood why Jordan fell so hard for him and I also loved the relationship he had with his younger brother.
All of the characters in this book are well written and likeable people. I hope that Ms. Laine takes pity on his reader and writes a sequel featuring more of these characters because I’m definitely pining on reading more about them. Sounds of Love has a firm place on my keeper shelf, and I know any time I’m hankering for a sweet, sexy and emotionally charged read, I’ll reach for it time and time again.
5 Stars to Sounds of Love
There's something so rewarding about stories highlighting that people are different and others may perceive them in different ways. SOUNDS OF LOVE is both powerful and rich in this regard. This is the story of Jordan Waters, a detective in the police department in Washington DC, and Sebastian Sumner, a police volunteer in the same department. Jordan is recovering from a work related shooting and is trying to start over with a new job and a new home. When he meets Sebastian for the first time at a poker game, he just knows this man is something special. And when Sebastian speaks for the first time, Jordan is completely smitten. Sebastian is deaf and his voice is like nothing Jordan has heard before. He decides there and then he wants to make this man his. And so begins a game of give and take, flirtation and seduction with both men deciding they like the way it's playing out. I enjoyed Susan Laine's writing, her way of making the characters so believable and human. Her dialogue flows smoothly, there's humour in certain parts and a definite wickedness in Jordan's pursuit of a man who can certainly hold his own against him. The chemistry between Jordan and Sebastian is immense, their attraction to each other pure scorching heat and I found the relationship and the way it develops tender, extremely sexy and downright beautiful. I also loved Jordan's partner, Kevin Thompson. In Jordan's words, Kevin was a 'good guy'. Kevin knows Jordan's reputation as a player and he doesn't want to see his young work colleague, Sebastian, get hurt. And in this view lies one of the major strengths of this book. Susan Laine makes sure we understand that while Sebastian is deaf, he's still strong, capable of making his own decisions and by no means disabled or different in his own eyes. There's conflict in the way Sebastian's family treat him like spun sugar, something that aggravates Jordan no end. Jordan sees Sebastian as an equal and this is all Sebastian has ever wanted. The plot is rich with different facets--family, friendship, the discovery of sexuality, heartbreak and love, delight and pleasure, and Jordan and Sebastian coming to terms with each other. I loved this book and would recommend it as a great, heart warming, tender, sexy read.
ManOhMan's Review - 5 Stars
** spoiler alert ** Reviewed by Stacey Jo: What a great story! It was nearly impossible to put it down. The characters in the story were all very lovable and engaging, and the story was well developed and well written.
Jordan Waters is a police officer who has transferred into the D.C. police department from out of state after recovering from being shot. He's left his family behind though and he's lonely. But his reputation as a player precedes him.
Sebastian Sumner is a police volunteer working at the station who is deaf. Despite, or more like because of his deafness, he is extremely courageous and has wicked sense of humor.
Jordan and Sebastian first meet at a poker game and they are instantly attracted, or at least Jordan thinks they are, but instead of charging ahead and conquering Sebastian like he would any other guy, Jordan senses that there is something different about Sebastian. They have their first opportunity to get to know each other on a long car ride home and it's at that point that Jordan knows he's crazy about Sebastian, but Sebastian has him totally off his game.
They take their time in getting to know each other. At least there is no instantly hopping into the bed. And it's a really nice, steady, hot, slow build. They both have the art of the tease down really well and it's good fun to watch them both in action. And once they do get together... Wow! You'll be fanning yourself! They are smoking hot together. They don't just get right to it either. They know how to enjoy each other's bodies and work up to the good stuff. If you enjoy good foreplay and smoldering love scenes, then you've found your book.
The dialogue is sharp and well paced. Sebastian is quick witted and humorous. Jordan does a lot of introspection but what I found interesting is that he analysed himself a lot which most people either can't or aren't willing to do. He seems to know what his demons are and understand then. It doesn't mean he handles them well but Sebastian, being deaf most of his life is capable of reading people very well and he knows exactly how to handles Jordan when he isn't saying what the problem is.
Being that these are cops we do get some excitement with a shooting scene which lends a little bit of predictability to the book. The other characters have some minor issues that add some interest to the story as well.
Speaking of the other characters, Bro and Jack, Sebastian and Jordan's little brothers, respectively, made wonderful supporting characters and nearly stole the show themselves. I actually looked up Ms. Laine's website to see if there was another book that followed this one in hopes that there as another book that would involve one of these characters. The story is certainly written so that a sequel could be possible with a number of the secondary characters. Several of Jordan's police buddies turn out to be gay but that's nothing unusual seeing as how gay officers would naturally gravitate to each other and hang out together.
I really hope Ms. Laine writes a sequel to this because I'll definitely be there to read it.
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