Tag Archives: Annabeth Albert

At Attention

Review of At Attention, by Annabeth Albert

I received a copy at Annabeth Albert‘s At Attention through Netgalley.

Description from Goodreads:
Lieutenant Apollo Floros can ace tactical training missions, but being a single dad to his twin daughters is more than he can handle. He needs live-in help, and he’s lucky a friend’s younger brother needs a place to stay. He’s surprised to see Dylan all grown up with a college degree…and a college athlete’s body. Apollo’s widowed heart may still be broken, but Dylan has his blood heating up. 

It’s been eight years since the teenage Dylan followed Apollo around like a lovesick puppy, and it’s time he showed Lieutenant Hard-to-Please that he’s all man now—an adult who’s fully capable of choosing responsibility over lust. He can handle Apollo’s muscular sex appeal, but Apollo the caring father? Dylan can’t afford to fall for that guy. He’s determined to hold out for someone who’s able to love him back, not someone who only sees him as a kid brother. 

Apollo is shocked by the intensity of his attraction to Dylan. Maybe some no-strings summer fun will bring this former SEAL back to life. But the combination of scorching desire and warm affection is more than he’d expected, and the emotion between them scares him senseless. No fling lasts forever, and Apollo will need to decide what’s more important—his past or his future—if he wants to keep Dylan in his life.

Review.
Meh, I keep trying to love contemporary romances and I just find myself bored by them. In this particular case, I found the story predictable and trite. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Apollo and Dylan but I didn’t love them.

I also liked the twins, but I don’t think they were accurate representations of small children. Not once did they throw a tantrum or be anything other than docile and adorable. Similarly, the two men’s perfect parenting just felt saccharine and unbelievable. We’re all failing at the parent thing by comparison and how am I supposed to relate to that? Honestly, this is my main complaint in most instances in which toddlers are included in romance.

The sex was hot, but there were no surprises (in the sex or the plot). The writing was mostly fine, but there was too much exposition at the end. As if, once the author decided it was time for the happily every after, she had to explain everything. The ending was sweet, but also completely pat. Does every m/m book have to end with a ****? So, all in all, it wasn’t bad, but I didn’t love it either.

Off Base

Book Review of Off Base (Out of Uniform #1), by Annabeth Albert

Off BaseI received a copy of Annabeth Albert‘s Off Base from Netgalley.

Description from Goodreads:
After trading the barracks for a fixer-upper rental, navy SEAL Zack Nelson wants peace, not a roommate—especially not Pike, who sees things about Zack he most wants to hide. Pike’s flirting puts virgin Zack on edge. And the questions Pike’s arrival would spark from Zack’s teammates about his own sexuality? Nope. Not going there. But Zack can’t refuse.

Pike Reynolds knows there won’t be a warm welcome in his new home. What can he say? He’s an acquired taste. But he needs this chance to get his life together. Also, teasing the uptight SEAL will be hella fun. Still, Pike has to tread carefully; he’s had his fill of tourists in the past, and he can’t risk his heart on another, not even one as hot, as built—and, okay, yeah, as adorable—as Zack.

Living with Pike crumbles Zack’s restraint and fuels his curiosity. He discovers how well they fit together in bed…in the shower…in the hallway… He needs Pike more than he could have imagined, yet he doesn’t know how to be the man Pike deserves.

Review:
This was a pretty sweet little romance. I liked the way Albert played with the roles a bit and made the big bad Navy SEAL the vulnerable, confused character. Pike was almost a saint for putting up with Zack as long as he did.

I was a little squinked out with Pike’s insistence that Zack come out of the closet. In a lot of ways that’s the primary plot of the book, Zack coming out, be it for Pike or himself. But he was very clearly in a situation that wasn’t safe to come out in, so the whole inferred, ‘prove your love by coming out’ was uncomfortable for me.

The writing is smooth and easy to read, though the book did feel a little on the overly long side. Lastly, I did not realize until I was done with the book that it is a spin-off of another series (Gaymers). So, for those like myself, who are wary of spin-offs, this one stands on its own just fine. All in all, worth reading.

Served Hot

Book Review of Served Hot (Portland Heat #1), by Annabeth Albert

Served HotI received a copy of Served Hot, by Annabeth Albert from Netgalley.

Description from Goodreads:
In Portland, Oregon, the only thing hotter than the coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries are the hard-working men who serve it up—hot, fresh, and ready to go—with no reservations…

Robby is a self-employed barista with a busy coffee cart, a warm smile, and a major crush on one of his customers. David is a handsome finance director who works nearby, eats lunch by himself, and expects nothing but “the usual”—small vanilla latte—from the cute guy in the cart. But when David shows up for his first Portland Pride festival, Robby works up the nerve to take their slow-brewing relationship to the next level.

David, however, is newly out and single, still grieving the loss of his longtime lover, and unsure if he’s ready to date again. Yet with every fresh latte, sweet exchange—and near hook-up—David and Robby go from simmering to steaming to piping hot. The question is: Will someone get burned?

Review:
While the writing here was fine, the story was only OK for me. I thought the romance was very sweet, but the book is basically just Robby over-analysing and agonising over every little detail of his budding relationship with David. Large chunks of time were skipped over, making all that agonising seem rushed and pointless. He always seemed to be wanting more than David was ready to give and it felt needy and selfish.

I did appreciate that Robbie was half-Korean. It’s nice to find a POC as a main character. I was disappointed to see him fulfilling most of the trite ‘gay Asian ‘ stereotypes though, even as the author acknowledged them.

All in all, not a bad book and an easy read. But it’s not particularly deep or moving in any manner.