Thursday, January 3, 2019

Book Tour: Boys of Brighton Series by M. Tasia (Reviews + Giveaway)


Gabe
Boys of Brighton Book 1
by M. Tasia
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance

Fifth-generation firefighter Gabe Mason saves Johnny from the flames of an office building fire, and Johnny will save Gabe from himself.




UNQUENCHABLE


Gabe Mason is a fifth-generation firefighter unable to move forward with his life after a devastating betrayal two years earlier. Graphic designer Johnny Jeffrey relocated to Brighton, Texas, to flee persecution and fear, and to begin living again on his own terms. The two meet amidst fire and smoke, and soon Johnny is in Gabe’s arms, right where he should be. The connection is palpable, undeniable, and hot, and healing from the past is within reach of both men. And yet, the office-building blaze that brought them together is only the beginning of their struggles. Not family, not faith, not a lunatic’s rage. It took a fire to bring Gabe and Johnny together. Nothing will tear them apart.




Sam's Soldiers
Boys of Brighton Book 2

Emergency room nurse Samuel Mason is offered a ménage relationship with two ex-military men and discovers a love more dangerous—and more exquisite—than he anticipated.




Welcome back to Brighton, Texas. Where any man can find home.


THE POWER OF THREE

As an emergency room nurse at Brighton General, Samuel Mason spends most of his days caring for the sick and injured, and his nights alone. Until now.

Jack “ Spider” Forrester and Dante Snow have arrived. Retired from the Army, they provide protection to those in need. They’ve come to Brighton to guard Sam’s cousin from a dire threat, but it’s Sam’s world they turn inside out. Jack wears his heart on his sleeve but is no pushover, and Dante is scarred from a past he’d sooner forget. They two are partners in all things, from the bedroom to the office to the street, and they want Sam to join them...for as long as they’re in town. But there is danger ahead, and not just from the type of men these skilled, muscled heroes have sworn to take down. The danger of falling in love.




Rick's Bear
Boys of Brighton Book 3

Welcome back to Brighton, Texas. Where any man can find home.




A DEN OF THEIR OWN


Clem “Bear” Mitchell owns the only diner in Brighton and prefers to be left alone. After growing up in—and barely escaping—one of the toughest motorcycle gangs out of Chicago, he just wants peace. Librarian Rick Johansson is the same. Due to his anxiety, he has always lived on the outskirts of society, finding it far safer to stay in the stacks. But no man is an island, and when the two are thrust together by dangerous events playing out around them, they see that life is better together. The tattooed, bear of a biker and the quiet, unassuming librarian will soon show the residents of Brighton that the local bookworm can teach an old bear new tricks.




Jesse
Boys of Brighton Book 4

Welcome back to Brighton, Texas. Where any man can find home.




HEATING UP


Royce Evans has worked as a paramedic in Brighton since graduating college. After the accident, though, his life seemed over. His husband died. Then he met Jesse. Handsome, brave, loving—the short-order cook is everything Royce desires. Everything he’d thought forever gone. Now Jesse’s tan, muscled body has brought him back to life, and nothing is going to shut that down. Not his own fears of heartbreak. Not Jesse’s past, or the fact that he ran from it. And definitely not Jesse’s crazy violent family, the Redemption Squad.





Coop
Boys of Brighton Book 5

Running from parents who didn’t know how to love him and a past he’d sooner forget, private security contractor “Coop” Stenson must protect from danger the unexpected happiness he finds with beautiful but accident-prone Matthew Whitton.

CATCH ME WHEN I FALL

King of the one-night stand, Coop Stenson knows his warped upbringing and chosen profession with the Sentinels, a private security team, has conditioned him to avoid romantic attachments. Yet when accident-prone Matthew Whitton literally falls into his life, one thing is abundantly clear: Matt deserves more than a man-slut. 

Matthew’s love is overpowering, and just as Coop is ready to take the plunge, having fought its inevitable pull for as long as he could, an old nemesis targets the partners of the Sentinels. So keeping Matt safe is about more than just another job or set of logistics. It’s about the rest of his life.




Travis
Boys of Brighton Book 6

BEAUTY...


After living on the streets and in his car, Travis has found a home in Brighton, Texas. His job as a cook at the local diner pays enough for him to afford a small apartment, and, for the first time in years, he's able to feed his passion, buying a few art supplies so he can sketch. He's safe, and, oddly enough, feels accepted in this small town. And, for reasons he cannot fathom, Bo Mason, a gorgeous cop, seems interested. While flattered, Travis knows if his secrets are revealed, Bo won't want to have a damn thing to do with the likes of Travis Boone.


IS MORE THAN SKIN DEEP

From the moment he saw the new blue-eyed cook at Brighton's diner, Bo Mason fell. Hard. And while getting close to Travis Boone has been like gentling a terrified animal, Bo knows there's a special person hiding behind those small smiles and closely guarded secrets. Slowly, Bo starts to peel back the layers cocooning Travis and learns the heart of an angel beats inside the most beautiful man Bo has ever known.





Grady
Boys of Brighton Book 7

WATCH OUT FOR


After coming out, Grady Reynolds is disowned by his family, and is forced to leave his job in the Dallas PD. Becoming an officer in the small town of Brighton, Grady has to start over while feeling adrift and alone. When he meets firefighter Ben Mason, life takes a sudden, happy turn until Ben tells Grady they have to keep their relationship on the DL. After months of loving a man who thinks of him as no more than a booty call, Grady has had enough and wants out.


THE WRECKING BALL

Ben Mason loves Grady Reynolds like crazy. But Ben can't tell his lover how he feels. He can't acknowledge him in public. He can't claim him as his own. Ben wants to tell Grady the truth, but the danger in that is deadly, and Ben won't risk it. But peril and menace find Grady anyway, and Ben's lies and deception come crashing down around him. Just when he thinks he's lost everything, he learns that a love as deep as theirs can survive anything.






Vincent
Boys of Brighton Book 8

ONLY THE STRONG


When he moved to Brighton, novelist Tristan Michaels was thrilled to leave his past behind. Trauma and danger had shattered his world and almost ruined his life. When everything finally seems to be settling down, he becomes embroiled in his best friend’s drama, which leads to more danger and…Vincent. And while love at first sight had been the stuff of Tristan’s books, when he meets Vincent fantasy became reality.


SURVIVE

Vincent Greyson has spent his life fighting for what’s right, first as a Navy Seal, and now as a member of the elite team known as the Sentinels. When he meets Tristan Michaels, Vincent knows his heart will always belong to this magnetic, special man. But love and patience is tested when horrible fates keep befalling Tristan, and Vincent vows that he’d do anything for his love, even leave the Sentinels.





Shadow
Boys of Brighton Book 9

THE MOST DIFFICULT THING TO DO…




Imagine knowing your family hates you and has no problem sending you away to be abused – to die alone. Randy Reynolds was living that reality until he was saved by a man called Shadow. What Randy learned about himself and the people who were supposed to love him was nothing short of horrific. What he found with the Sentinels and Shadow was everything miraculous.


IS FACE THE TRUTH

Jake Kennedy’s past haunts him. Ghosts drove him into the shadows until he became Shadow. Unseen and not really there, he lived his life without any connections but for the Sentinels, the team that saved him from oblivion. Then a mission changed his life and forced him to shed the shroud that kept his heart from feeling. Now, for Randy Reynolds, Jake will come out of the shadows, he’ll be present and whole instead of the man who had kept himself hidden for twenty years.





**New Release!!**
The Holidays
Boys of Brighton Book 10



It’s the holiday season in Brighton, Texas, and there’s a wedding too – everyone is invited to share in the love all these men have found.

'Tis The Season

Some had waited years to find "the one," while others had given up on love and had closed themselves off from feeling anything. But each of these men have found the person that makes them whole, gives them hope and strength to face whatever life throws at them, and to show them what love really means. Welcome to the holidays in Brighton, Texas. Sit down and stay a spell. We invite you to soak up the joy of the season with your favorite lovers.

Gabe (Boys of Brighton #1):

3.25 Stars!

This series is probably best read in order, but since most of what happens with each couple is contained in their book, you could read those that appeal to you as standalone stories. That being said, the series is set in a town with lots of accepting people, a set of grandmas who help everyone out, plots with some danger, alpha men, and in some cases, insta-love. 

Gabe Mason is a firefighter and hasn't moved on since his ex betrayed him. When he and his team respond to a fire, he sees a man save his cousin and is intrigued by him. Johnny is new in town and tried his best to save the women trapped with him in the fire. He was severely injured, but refused to quit. When he awakens in the hospital, he finds his life will never be the same. 

I liked Johnny a lot. Gabe is a good guy, but I felt he contradicted himself sometimes when it came to his supposed need for control. The speed at which he decides that Johnny is the guy for him was a bit quick for me. The insta-love is strong in this one. Johnny, at least, takes a while to catch up with Gabe on the emotions front, probably because he ends up in a whirlwind of new family and friends. I loved that the Mason family was so close and accepting of Johnny, but I really couldn't see how Johnny could feel comfortable with calling Gabe's parents ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ within minutes of meeting them. I did like seeing Johnny get more confident and stand up for himself, though. It was fun watching Johnny fit in and become one of the family. 

If you like plots that get a bit over the top, containing insta-love with alpha men, this story is for you. 


Sam's Soldiers (Boys of Brighton #2):

3 Stars!


While Sam and his men are mentioned in book 1, I don't think you need to read it to understand book 2. Sam is a cousin of Gabe's and was injured while with Johnny in book 1. This book picks up five weeks after that event.

Dante and Spider (or Jack, as Sam and Dante call him), are the owners of The Sentinels, a group that came in to protect Johnny in the last book. Dante and Spider are also lovers. They proposed an arrangement with Sam for as long as they were in town. This book starts with them nearing the time limit on their arrangement. 

I liked Sam; he is a great guy. He knows that he doesn't want to let Jack and Dante go, but feels like he needs to stick to the agreement. Initially, I really didn't understand why Dante felt that they needed to go, but as I found out more about his past, I was a bit more sympathetic. I liked that Jack stood up to Dante eventually and made him reflect on himself. 

I found the danger plot in this one over the top. I felt that as an elite team, The Sentinels were caught really flat-footed at the end when they should have had the home field advantage. I liked that Sam, Dante and Jack worked through their issues and talked about their feelings. I was happy when they worked out how their lives would be going forward. 


Rick's Bear (Boys of Brighton #3):

3 Stars!


This third book in the series could easily be read as a standalone. Bear owns the only diner in Brighton; we briefly see him in book 1 when his worker, Jesse, is injured while walking with Johnny. 

Bear has been bringing gifts for Rick, the librarian, for a while. It’s clear to everyone but Rick that Bear wants to date him. After a misunderstanding, Bear finally puts his feelings on the table and is rewarded with Rick's agreement to date him.

I liked Bear; he is a mountain of a man, but so patient and gentle with Rick. He understands Rick's anxiety and likes all the quirks that Rick is afraid no one will accept. I liked that their relationship moved at their pace. Rick is a sweetheart. He needed someone to help him see just how strong he really was. How anyone could have done so much damage to a man as gentle as him is beyond me. 

At times I was confused with how Bear managed to survive in an MC for years when he is a gentle giant for the most part. I also felt that the author didn't need to add the sudden crazy danger portion of the plot. The subplot with Bear's sister and son would have been plenty for a new couple to deal with without the extra drama and mystery. That portion of the plot just bothered me the more it inflated. I loved Rick and Bear, the added danger not so much.


Jesse (Boys of Brighton #4):

3 Stars!


Royce is a paramedic who lost his husband several years ago and has no interest in finding love again. In book one, it was clear there was something between Royce and Jesse when Jesse was injured. This story picks up with their relationship pretty well established and after the events of the last book. I don't think you would have a problem reading this one as a standalone.

Royce is still recovering after being hurt while protecting Rick. Meanwhile, Jesse is being harassed by his family members and Royce feels powerless to protect him. He calls in The Sentinels and the police as much as possible to help. 

I liked Royce from the moment he was introduced. He and Gabe are good friends and I liked their honest conversations with each other. I felt for him losing his husband and was happy to see him finding happiness again with Jesse. I liked Jesse too. I can't imagine growing up in his family and coming out the good man that he is. Jesse's family was crazy and I'm glad he was able to break away from them. I liked these two men and was happy that they eventually worked out their future together. 

What I didn't like was that Jesse left Royce for a while in a misguided effort to lead the danger away. I thought their conversation after Jesse got back was off. While I liked Matthew and want to read about him and Coop, I found it a little too hard to swallow everything else about him. 

This story was over the top in some ways, but I liked the relationship and the men involved. I also liked that the town pulls together and pitches in where needed. I will probably read more of this series at some point, but I need a break from the sometimes surreal subplots. 

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***   





Boys of Brighton series


Gabe (4 Stars) The characters in this story were so great - from Gabe and his protectiveness over Johnny, to his crazy huge family who take Johnny in as if he was blood. This town is great with its acceptance of LGBTQ+, and even better when everyone rallies together when one of their own is hurt.

Sam’s Soldiers (4 Stars) I adored Sam and his men; they were so good together and the fact that it was MMM made me happy. The action and characters really drive these books.

Rick’s Bear (4 Stars) Rick having such bad anxiety was such a heart-wrenching thing but Bear’s ability to calm him and worm his way into Rick’s heart had my heartwarming.

Jesse (4 Stars) I love books where one man is the bigger one physically but is more vulnerable, and the smaller man is the alpha lover, and yet when forced to, the bigger man finds the strength to stand up for himself.

Coop (4 Stars) Coop and Matthew were so different that it made them great together. A big alpha soldier and a klutzy hacker had me so invested I couldn't stop till I had the book finished.

Travis (4 Stars) Travis had such a hard life before coming to Brighton that when something good happened he almost didn't let it, and that had my heart breaking for him. But Bo? Bo had a confidence about him that was wonderful. He knew what he wanted and without scaring Travis, he worked to get it. It was just so good!

Grady (4 Stars) Grady had such a bad coming out, what with his parents turning from him. That made me want to just hug him and tell him it was OK. Ben was such a tormented man and while that was sad, it made him so much stronger and made the two together stronger than they thought.

Vincent (4 Stars) I love Tristan; his bright clothes and love of writing romance novels made him awesome and everything Vincent wanted in a partner. Vincent had me giddy from the moment he locked eyes on Tristan. It was sweet and hot and I loved their whole dynamic.

Shadow (4 Stars) I have been not so patiently waiting for Shadow's story since we first met him, then we meet Randy who is so brave and kind even when he believed everyone had turned away from him. These two make me giddy and like I need to reread the whole series all over again.

(4 stars for overall series.)

This series was so good and the characters will touch your heart, from the White Haired Crew to each and every First Responders (Ranging from EMTs and Police to the Sentinels).

I love all the Sentinels. They are strong men who aren't ashamed to admit that they love someone and Brighton makes me wish more places could be like it, where they don't care who you love as long as you're a good person.

The writing in this series was so good - great descriptions that suck you right in and keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end.

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement.
***



    M. Tasia, is an author who lives in Ontario, Canada. She's a member of the Romance Writers of America and its chapter, the Toronto Romance Writers. Michelle is a dedicated people watcher, lover of romance novels, 80's rock, and happy endings, who grew up with a love of reading. Mother of three wonderful children, wife to one understanding husband and servant to two spoiled furry children who don't seem to realize, that they're actually cats.
    Michelle writes both contemporary and paranormal romance and believes love should be celebrated. After all, we deserve to have romance, excitement, intrigue and passion in our lives.




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3 comments:

  1. I love The Holidays and the man on the cover! (Audrey Stewart / jozywails@gmail.com)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the covers. I like the cover for Rick's Bear the most, there's just something about all that sexy fur.

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  3. Thank you for the post. The books all look great.

    ReplyDelete