Gabe (Boys of Brighton #1) by M. Tasia

Amazon Link 
Goodreads Link

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.

My Rating - 3.5 Stars!

Gabe, the first book in the Boys of Brighton series by M Tasia, is a nice fluff read. 

Both men are bigger than life characters who go above and beyond. Gabe saves Johnny from a fire; a fire in which Johnny is a self-sacrificing hero. 

After taking an instant liking to Johnny, Gabe is forceful in his claiming of the man. Honestly, it's extremely unrealistic, but it's sweet. This story includes an injury, a crazy ex, and a fabulous, large family. It's sweet with some humor and danger. And I adore Gabe's family and their immediate desire to take Johnny into their family.

The writing is good, with an easy style. Although there's danger and action involved, there's never a worry for the reader, leading to a nice, fluff read. 

Basically, Gabe is as insta-love as a book can get. Definitely pick it up next time you're in the mood for insta-love, or a large, fun family. 

BLOG TOUR & REVIEW - Burn Zone (Hotshots #1) by Annabeth Albert

Title: Burn Zone

Author: Annabeth Albert

Series: Hotshots, #1

Length: approx. 90,000 words

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Imprint: Carina Press

eBook On-Sale: April 27, 2020

eBook ISBN:9781488057045, Price: $4.99 USD

Goodreads Link

Introducing Annabeth Albert’s Hotshots series—the emotions and intensity of Chicago Fire with the raw, natural elements of Man vs. Wild.

Danger lurks everywhere for Central Oregon’s fire crews, but the biggest risk of all might be
losing their hearts…
Smoke jumper Lincoln Reid is speechless to see Jacob Hartman among his squad’s new recruits. Linc had promised his late best friend he’d stay away from his little brother. And yet here Jacob is…and almost instantly, the same temptation Linc has always felt around him is causing way too many problems.

Jacob gets everyone’s concerns, but he’s waited years for his shot at joining the elite smoke
jumping team, hoping to honor his brother’s memory. He’s ready to tackle any challenge Linc throws his way, and senses the chemistry between them—chemistry Linc insists on ignoring—is still alive and kicking. This time, Jacob’s determined to get what he wants.
Close quarters and high stakes make it difficult for Linc to keep his resolve, never mind do so while also making sure the rookie’s safe. But the closer they get, the more Linc’s plan to leave at the end of the season risks him breaking another promise: the one his heart wants to make to Jacob.

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Annabeth Albert's Burn Zone is the start of what looks to be a thrilling Hotshots series.

I always freak out about fires, so I knew there would be some tough moments in this story. A story of two men, both fire jumpers, falling in love, the reader has to anticipate some danger and action. 

As for the fire jumping aspect, everything is well explored. The training, the action, the danger, all of it is extremely well written, fully bringing the reader into these situations along with the characters. 

Jacob and Linc. Oh how I love these men together! Their history is great, as Jacob and Linc are connected through the years. Jacob's a rookie for the team, back home after years away, and butting heads with Linc, who was his brother's best friend. Linc is too lost to his fears, unable to take a chance on love. He's weighed down by his past promises and can't fully let Jacob into his life. As well, he's still grieving the loss of his best friend.

This is a story that includes best friend's brothers' romance and years of resentment. Their story includes stubbornness and obligations. It's a story of old promises and an age gap. These are two men struggling to make things work, and every moment is riveting. It's a story about grabbing onto happiness in life, instead of just living. And I love it all. 

The writing is fantastic, and the plot is fascinating. The characters are great, both individually and together. And damn, they know how to bring the heat.

Burn Zone is another great read by Annabeth Albert. This story is beautiful and tender. It's a long, hard fought journey towards self-acceptance and self-worth and it's well worth a read. I look forward to seeing what happens next in this series.

Buy Links

Amazon  *  B&N  *  Itunes  *  Kobo  *  Google

About Annabeth Albert

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write.
Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights
supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job
and wrangles two children.

Connect with Annabeth Albert

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Goodreads

Amazon

Realize (Men of Hidden Creek - Season 4, #2) by Susan Hawke

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

“What we have can’t be faked.”

Max Jackson’s life is pretty close to perfect—except that he’s secretly in love with his straight best friend and roommate. He’s got his dream job and a family he secretly pretends are his own. But they aren’t… no matter how much he might wish it were true.

After the tragic death of his wife, Parker Wilson didn’t have time to wallow in grief—not when he had two young children to raise. He’s not looking for romance or a new partner. He doesn’t need one anyway… he has his life-long buddy Max to help him through every struggle.

When Parker loses his job and can’t afford his daughter’s pricey insulin, Max suggests fake marriage for insurance coverage. Since he’s already a second parent to Parker’s cute kids, it should be easy… until the marriage becomes a little too real.

Welcome to Hidden Creek, Texas, where the heart knows what it wants, and where true love lives happily ever after. Every Men of Hidden Creek novel can be read on its own, but keep an eye out for familiar faces around town! This book contains dad jokes, a pair of kids that will steal your heart, and more heat than a Texas summer.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

I'm at a loss for how to explain how much I love Susan Hawke's Realize. It's one of those books that magically drew me in immediately, and had me hooked on every single word. The writing is fantastic, the characters wonderful, and the storyline is heart-warming.

Although the story starts with a fire and Parker losing his wife, after that, the story is all about healing and figuring out that your soulmate is right in front of you.   

The kids are so damn adorable. They made me cry, made me smile, and made me laugh.

And Max. Just wow. Max's love for Parker and his kids is never in question. But this is not his story. This is Parker's story of realizing that he loves his best friend. Their story may include a fake marriage, but from the first moment, it's never a doubt that they're going to end up together.

I loved every single moment of Parker and Max's story. Full of charm, wit, and heart, this is a beautiful exploration and illustration of demisexuality. 

I shouldn't be surprised, as this is a Susan Hawke story, but I continue to be wowed by her with every book. She is a master in her genre. 

And omg, "donkey sticks" had me laughing out loud. So funny!

Realize is amazing. I will definitely be re-reading this often. It's a beautiful feel-good romance. It's a heart-felt friends to lovers story.  I can't recommend this story enough. It's everything I look for in a sweet romance, including an amazing ending!

GRL 2019 AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - The Scoop by Louisa Keller

In my attempt to cover some of the attending authors for this year's GRL,

I am reviewing 

Louisa Keller's

The Scoop!

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

BLURB

“I don’t normally open up to anyone like this…”

Neil: Until I met Easton Devereux, I had no idea that a single night could change my life. One minute our eyes were meeting in a hotel bar, and the next I was falling hard for him. Instead of holding back like I normally do, I found myself wanting to share every part of myself with Easton—my deepest secrets, my darkest fears, and every inch of my body. Saying goodbye in the morning was the hardest thing I’d had to do in years, and I drove up to Maine lamenting the fact that we only had one night together. Or so I thought…

When Monday morning rolls around, I find myself standing in my brand-new classroom, where I will spend the next year teaching philosophy to the students at an elite private high school. And who is sitting there, drumming his fingers on his desk? None other than my life-changing one-night stand.

“There are things you don’t know about me. Big things.”

Easton: At twenty-three years old, I’m well on my way to achieving my goal of becoming an award-winning journalist. When my boss sends me to the exclusive Laurelhurst Academy to go undercover as a student, I’m over the moon. This is my chance to break a huge story. But everything starts to crumble around me when I find myself face-to-face with the man I slept with—and started falling for—right before arriving at Laurelhurst.

I desperately want to tell Neil the truth about who I am, but blowing my cover is not an option. For one thing, I can’t do anything that might jeopardize the story I’m breaking. But the bigger issue is Neil’s safety, because I was sent to Laurelhurst to uncover the principal’s homophobic hiring and firing practices, and the more Neil knows, the more likely his job will be in jeopardy.

The Scoop is a contemporary romance with student/teacher, hurt/comfort, and hidden relationship themes, plus a very happy ending.

REVIEW

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Louisa Keller's The Scoop is a great teacher/student romance. 

This is the story of Easton and Neil, who meet and have a hook up that feels meaningful. Ends up they're in class together, as student/teacher. Taboo, right? Well, Neil doesn't know that Easton's actually an undercover reporter posing as a student. 

The heart of their story revolves around the fact that Neil's a closeted professor working for a homophobic university administration. With this being the administration Easton's investigating, the secrets and lies are all they have. Neil's hiding his relationship with Easton from everyone, and Easton's hiding his undercover status from Neil, as well as everyone else. Yikes! 

Having a relationship based on lies, their romance is more than just a taboo one. Their story involves PTSD, a fire, and trauma. Their story is one of learning to live with pain. It's a story of learning to trust and take chances. 

The author's writing is fantastic, with loveable characters, a great storyline, and a wonderful pace. 

Louisa Keller's The Scoop sucked me in from the start, leaving me reading late into the night. I couldn't put his superb romance down. 

Louisa Keller

Louisa Keller is a queer adventuress who has spent most of her life living in New England and the Pacific Northwest. While her academic background revolves mainly around French Studies and Philosophy, she has strayed from these considerably in her professional pursuits. Over the years Louisa has been a tutor, goat farmer, concierge, and freelance copywriter. She has also hiked hundreds of miles across northern Spain, volunteered at a medical clinic in Honduras, and spent many a summer living in small cabins and platform tents. When she's not off gallivanting, Louisa can be found with a whiskey-ginger ale in one hand and a Philip Pullman book in the other.

Chasing Heat by Jason Collins

Amazon Link
Goodreads Link


BLURB


CHASE:Yes, he’s straight. But who can blame me for lusting after a hunky firefighter?

I never meant to set fire to my bar, I swear. Lucky for me, it meant I got to meet Jackson. As far as rugged firemen go, this one is a mystery. He’s got a level head on his shoulders, and those shoulders are the kind I want to drape my legs around and never let go.

Except I can't fall for Jackson, no matter how sexy, brooding, and ripped he is. Not because I don't like firefighters (as if). Because I'm sure Jackson is straight.

I mean, I'm pretty sure.

But where there’s smoke, there’s sometimes fire. And if I didn’t know better, I’d think Jackson is burning white-hot for me. But that doesn’t change the fact that he’s not into guys. He probably has a gorgeous girlfriend and zero interest in clumsy gay bartenders.

Right?

JACKSON:

I carry plenty of guys out of fires, but Chase is the first one I don’t want to put down.

Nonetheless, I have to stay focused. It takes hard work and relentless dedication to keep myself at the level of physical fitness required to do my job. I don’t have time for a hot fling, and I definitely don’t have time to question my attraction to another man.

Still, I can’t stop thinking about him. I can’t help myself.

Adorably clumsy and sexy as hell, Chase is a mystery.

He says he wants to thank me for rescuing him from the fire. I know how he can thank me alright. His lips on mine, our bodies pressed together… That’s what I want from Chase.

It doesn’t help that my boss at the firehouse seems to think I’m perfect for his daughter. She’s friendly, but the spark just isn’t there.

She's not my type. Chase is.

This is the first time I don’t want to put out the fire…I want to let the flames grow.

Note to readers: This is an extra spicy MM romance. Readers can expect two red-hot men and several steamy scenes that will leave you gasping.


REVIEW
My Rating - 5 Stars!

Chasing Heat, by Jason Collins, is a wonderful romance!

When Jackson and Chase meet, the sparks fly, both literally and figuratively. What follows is a wonderful romance between the bartender and the fireman, as they navigate their way. 

There are some fun, entertaining, and serious issues that are in their way as their relationship progresses. They face their own hesitancy, an alcoholic mother, and more.

The plot is well written, the characters well developed, and the romance is passionate as well as tender. These two men perfectly support each other, as they may be different but their differences work.

I am impressed with the way that alcoholism was handled, with knowledge, care and compassion. It wasn't an easy thing to read, but it was perfectly handled.

Jason Collins has once again impressed me. Chasing Heat will definitely be on my re-read list.