Such a good book!! Brick is a retired Navy Seal fixing up his late aunt’s lake house and trying to get the real estate agent pressuring him to sell to back off. Roman is CEO of his grandfather’s company, trying to turn things around after his father has run the company into the ground. When Brick and Roman’s paths cross things quickly get intense for both of them. I loved Roman, Brick, and all of Brick’s friends and I cannot wait to read the rest of their stories in the series!!

This is the first book I have read by this author and I enjoyed the overall story.
Alpha male to the core Brick is very protective man and when the life of his new love is threatened, he can't help but try to protect him. The journey the author takes our MCs on is entertaining and sexy!

3 stars

Maybe it's cause I read a lot of MM romance that this felt more like a MF romance to me. It just seemed like the characters were shoved into a heteronormative mold. The premise was good but also seemed like too much was happening. I also wanted Roman to be a stronger character. He was just kinda there for me but didn't really give much as the LI. I might pick up the second one in the future for a quick read.

I enjoyed this M/M romance story with the two main characters that were Brick Matthews and Roman Furrow. And also the rest of the characters to.

Brick Matthews is a retired Navy Seals that has inherited his great aunt lake home. That has become rundown with the years after her death since he could not return to take care of it. Now that he retired from the Navy he might have time to fix the place up. But first there is a few things stopping him from doing this.

Roman Furrow is a CEO to the family business. He also doesn't get along with his father that well. So when his father wants more money from the company he goes to see him. What he finds out is quite a shocking.

This was a fun read with its mystery and suspense. It also had a few laughs through out it that I did enjoyed. This is the first book in the  series I hope there more to come.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinion.

Normally I love a romance with the uptight x daredevil trope, but in this instance I was very disappointed. The premise was good but the book tried too hard to deliver a romance and suspense at the same time. Brick's background as a SEAL was dropped at every turn, no matter if it was fitting or not while Roman seemed to be completely clueless. At first I was excited for Roman because he appeared like the stressed but assertive CEO I was hoping for. That didn't last long though. Pretty much after one chapter he does not contribute to anything at all and feels like a damsel in distress, which is a big issue I have with the book overall. It's a gay romance but it is glaringly obvious that the main characters where shoved into the mold of a hetero normative storyline. We have Brick the big bad protector and Roman, who is supposed to be the uptight clueless type, which is normally the female character. This felt like the author wrote a romance with a hetero couple and then turned the woman into a guy.
Besides that the romance went from 0 to 100 in no time. There was no build up and suddenly they were declaring love. It felt super rushed and just very corny.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

M. Tasia writes the most romantic M/M romance books out there. I adore how her characters are unabashedly in love with each other and truly turn on the romance. I thought for sure Brick and Roman's story was going to be an enemies to lovers story - but it really wasn't. Roman is such a sweet sweet guy - and he fires up every protective instinct Brick has.

This is the kickoff to a spinoff of M. Tasia's Gates Series. I cannot WAIT to see where it goes - because the concept is great and the characters seem just as wonderful as that series. In this book, I particularly loved Brick - of course - but Roman was an exceptional character all on his own. He does difficult things - even though he isn't a physical as Brick and his team - he still stands up for what he feels is right even when it means standing up to his father.

Overall - I can't wait to see where this series goes and I definitely encourage you to check it out.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

I absolutely loved this MM romance.

Such a great book with a solid storyline and great characters.

I eagerly look forward to reading more from this author.

A definite recommend!

Very good M/M romance, characters were interesting and real and their love story was interesting and engaging!

Brick is retired from the military, and to occupy himself he begins to renovate a home that was left to him. A developer is intent on buying the home out from under him. Brick fights back, and during this meets the developer's son, Roman. There is a bit of everything in this story, mystery, love, secrets. A quick read, but well laid out and the characters are charming.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for my unpaid, honest review.

Brick Matthews has inherited a run down lake house that he is rehabbing after he retires from the Navy Seals. He recruits some of his fellow Seals to help him with the rehab. One of the first things he has to do is get rid of the seedy real estate agent that has been trying to buy the property for years. This agent even sent in a young attractive women to try to convince him to sell by seducing him. This does not work as he has strong ethics and the fact that he prefers men. He actually ends up hiring the young woman to assist him. The real estate agent's client that wants the house already owns most of the property around the lake and needs Brick's property to own it all. That man is a wealthy man that spends his time partying with lots of women that are much younger than himself. The wealthy mans son, Roman Furrow, is a buttoned down CEO that comes to check on what his father is doing. He has instant chemistry with Brick. A lot of unexpected events occur which result in the Seals being called on to get involved to save lives and uncover unexpected illegal activity.

Brick Matthews has returned to Fire Lake, Texas to retire and pay homage to his Great Aunt Sophia–by rehabbing the house she bequeathed him when she died two years before. As a Navy SEAL out on missions, he hadn’t been able to return that often, but he loved Sophia deeply, as she was one of the few people who’d cared about, or for, him as a child.

He’s not pleased when a young woman enters his crumbling home, posing as a realtor, and ready to service any of his “needs” in order to get him to sell. First, he’s gay, and second, he’s not going to sell–not even if a woman’s trying to (poorly) seduce him into it. Turns out, she’s a broke single mom working for the realtor as a secretary, and he’d threatened to fire her and blacklist her through town if she didn’t get Brick to agree to the sale–one the scumbag was trying to arrange for years now. Brick’s lakefront property is highly coveted by his neighbor on the other side of the lake, a deplorable human by the name of Stephan Furrow, former CEO of Furrow and Son Investments.

It seems that Stephan is all about strippers, coke and riding around in his cabin cruiser on Fire Lake. His son, Roman, has him on an allowance, ever since he’d gotten the shares needed to wrest control of their company from his father’s mismanaging hands. Roman is a decent man, and has worked tirelessly, and thanklessly, for the past few years to restore the portfolios of their investment holdings after his lust-hungry father nearly bankrupted them. Some of daddy-dearest’s minions still work for the company, though, and they make trouble happen to see if they can destabilize Roman’s operations. When Brick comes after Furrow and Son for their shady tactics to take over his property, well, Roman is ashamed. He had no knowledge of Stephan’s involvement in coercing the secretary–who Brick has hired to help manage his construction projects.

Meanwhile, a few members of Brick’s old unit need some place to stay and something to do, so he puts them on renovation duty. Soon his house is a bustling place. Well, maybe not exactly bustling, but the bedrooms are filling up. Even has some room for Roman when his car breaks down near the property during a storm. The forced proximity of hiding in a storm shelter breaks open some raw feelings for both Roman and Brick–because they each see the deeply good core of the other during mutual rescue attempts. Beyond that, well, Roman and Brick get to talking. Seems Roman has had an inordinate number of “accidents” that coulda-shoulda incapacitated him. Were these just coincidences? Or, is there a plot to take out Roman, returning power and money into Stephan’s greedy paws.

This was a new-to-me author experience. I’ve read a lot of SEAL romance, and veteran romance, so I thought I’d really enjoy it. I kinda felt as though there was a lot of coincidence that overwhelmed me, giving me the sense that I already knew–or could reasonably anticipate–exactly what was coming next. All the bad guys were too sinister, and all the good guys were too heroic, making them all feel a little one dimensional, and the plot gimmicky. The pace of the romance felt too quick, as well, without sufficient time for Brick and Roman to really develop a lot of chemistry. It seemed like Roman was outstandingly naive, and his father cartoonishly malevolent. This book is a clear set up for the cadre of former SEALs that come to Brick’s aid to later find their own romances. I’m usually okay with that, but I think it was a little heavy-handed in this story. I might try another book in this series, just to see if I got a bad vibe on this one.

I was intrigued by the plot because duh military but this book left me wanting. It's written in third person which is unusual for romance books and the relationship seems to happen overnight and suddenly they're in love but also someone is trying to kill one of the MC! I just couldn't get into it.

Brick is a moderately interesting novel about a retired Navy Seal and his military buddies who help out a businessman who is under attack by unknown persons. The action centers around the Lake House and some admirable things occur. Brick falls in love with the businessman and they have lots of sex, all well-choreographed and maybe a bit much.
Everyone learns whom they can trust, and the ending pages come up with a great idea for a sequel.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Bottom Line: Brilliantly blended mystery, action, and romance.

A great start to a new series featuring Brick, a retired Seal, and CEO, Roman, who needs protection. With themes of PTSD and hurt/comfort, "Brick" balances a strong mystery plot with the developing romance between the two MCs.

There's a well-developed and at times palpable chemistry between the two MCs, with their relationship evolving at a believable pace. This is successfully weaved together alongside the plot, ensuring the mystery remains at the forefront of the narrative.

There's also a strong cast of secondary characters, opening up this new series superbly. I'm eager to read more.

I really enjoyed this book. Character development was good. The plot was very interesting. Not a lot of typos.

A steamy romance about finding yourself after you’ve been away and letting go of the past. Pretty interesting premise with solid characters

One of the most intriguing stories I've read for a while.Well written a great storyline from start to finish.Would recommend this book and author to anyone who likes mystery novels.Would like to read more from this author.A most excellent read.

I wanted to love this book so bad. All the pieces to a great story were there. An ex navy seal repairing his deceased aunts lake house falls for the uptight CEO of the company that’s been making attempts to buy the house for years. The disused I had with this book tho: the writing was very cringe. Once the pair get together (in remarkable speed by the way-It goes from loathing to “I love yous” in what feels like a week (because no time line is laid out thoroughly enough to follow) it’s “my man” this and “lover” that which…cringe. This is easily on the corniest romances I’ve read, but it also has a bit of an identity crisis. Instead of being a solid romance novel, it tries wayyy to hard to also me a mystery/thriller and it just doesn’t work. I’m still unsure how we got to where we did with the multiple bad guys if the book, cuz neither one of them have any prominence in the book leading up to Except passing mentions. Also like…legit everyone is gay? Like the whole town? And all his navy friends? Would I of liked this better without the muster part? Most likely. I feel like this story had a real chance of thriving on that merit alone, but unfortunately the plot became too muddled with pointless storylines that just felt forced.

This is a new author for me, and I'm looking forward to reading more. This is the first in a new series so I'm in luck. As the first in a series it's a great set up and introduction to the characters. A strong plot and sense of place.

This story is an M/M romance about a retired Navy Seal Brick and Roman a CEO of a business. They meet due to Roman’s father's continual harassment of Brick’s late aunt on selling her property. Brick’s sense of honor and justice It is during this meeting which the story progresses as Brick and Roman are attracted to each other. As they come into more contact with each other, Brick realizes Roman is in danger and protects him. I liked it. It hits my HEA romance list which includes a mystery story. The author incorporation of military PTSD-related storyline. The relationship and support of Brick's military friends added to the story flow. I enjoy all types of military romances and Brick teammate/friend Fletcher was funny. This is a light book to read. This book seems to be a good start for the Fire Lake Book series. I will look forward to reading more about the group of brothers in arms.

****I received an ARC of this book by Netgalley***