Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: A Daddy for Christmas: Brighton
SERIES: A Daddy for Christmas Multi-Author series
AUTHOR: TL Travis
PUBLISHER: Sapphire Publishing
LENGTH: 196 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 15, 2023
BLURB:
Brighton Stanley lived under the control of his strict parents until he finished college. After toughing it out another year and saving every dime he made, he was all too happy to be in his first apartment away from their meddling. But that didn’t matter to them, and they kept his room just as he’d left it, awaiting his return. But Brighton knew there was nothing that would make him ever go back.
Finally free, and with a place of his own, he spun around the vacant space, and was far too happy to care that he’d be sleeping on the floor. A knock on the door—his door—made him smile as he swung it open. There on the other side stood the most handsome man he’d ever seen with a gift in hand. Was he dreaming?
Edward Fulton hadn’t seen his boy in weeks and was tired of the too few and too far-between calls they’d exchanged. The need to see his Stevie had led him here, and the present he held in his hands was a good excuse for the unscheduled visit. But when he met the surprised face of a different resident at the place his boy had lived, all he could do was shove the gift he’d brought at the curious stranger, and hurry away to lick his wounds.
Brighton is part of A Daddy for Christmas, a multi-author series. All the books are standalones, but each Daddy has a unique gift for his wonderful boy (or boys). Except all boys know that sometimes Santa gets it wrong, and it’s going to take a very special Daddy to make it right. So why not stay and read them all?
REVIEW:
I will admit. I was kinda burned out on the whole daddy genre and thought it just wasn’t my thing any more. But sweet Brighton changed my mind. I really enjoyed this sweet young man. I loved watching him come into his own and experience all his firsts with Edward. And I really enjoyed the twist of him being
a boy but not knowing he was one and then embracing it once it settled in his mind with him. Edward had had such a bad track record but it’s because he wasn’t finding the right kind of boy for himself. He needed a forever boy. One he could love unconditionally. Brighton was that. He wanted a Daddy to love him for him. Not a Daddy that could buy him things because he didn’t need that. But he did need a Daddy that respected him and let him move at his pace. Edward was all that. And Edward allowed Brighton to experience everything his neglectful parents never did. Simple things like Christmas trees and wrapped presents, hot cocoa and festive lights. I love that Edward didn’t just give Brighton his sexual firsts but life’s fun first too. With Edward, Brighton was allowed to grow, experiment and blossom. He was finally able to discover the real him besides being a dull, friendless number’s guy.
Deep down I think Brighton may have leaned towards being demisexual. He didn’t date. He wasn’t huge on self gratification even. But when he met and got to know Edward something inside him flipped a switch. He longed to be with him and yearned for physical intimacy for the first time in his life. With his Daddy he was all in. And all in for life. Thankfully Edward felt the exact same way about his treasured boy.
I loved that both Laura, Edward’s Mom and Suzette, her chef and housekeeper (but I think she was also a dear friend to the lonely Laura) embraced sweet Brighton and made him a part of their family. They showed him what a real mom was and real love felt like from a found family. Brighton’s obnoxious and drool parents were a miserable excuse for parenting. They were beyond boring and actually probably stunted Brighton’s emotional growth and acceptance for love. Edward was the perfect Daddy to allow him to bloom and grow. I also loved the pet rescue center owner Miss Kitty. She had a sense about her that just new the right match for an adoptee animal and their human.
Brighton’s book brightened my day and made me realize that I still loved the Daddy dynamic but have to carefully choose what type of book in this genre I choose. I am so thankful I took a chance on this sweet book bout growth, self discovery and love.
RATING: 
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