At the end of Off Base, I was crossing all my fingers and toes that Lt. Apollo Floros was going to get his own book. I’m a sucker for the widower trope. Give said widower kids and double swoon. Fortunately, Annabeth Albert knows what the fans want and she didn’t hesitate to deliver.

At Attention starts out with Apollo getting caught checking out a young guy’s ass at the grocery store. What he doesn’t find out until later that day is that the young guy from the grocery store is his best friend’s little brother, Dylan. Yep, Dylan’s not so little anymore. And Dylan is finally old enough to hit on the guy he’s crushed on since he was a teenager. Yep, not only do we have the widower trope, we also have the age-gap and best friend’s younger brother tropes. Seriously. It’s like this book was written just for me.

As you can guess, there is some angst in this story. Apollo’s main hang up about dating anyone, let alone Dylan, is that he’s still grieving the loss of his husband. Not that he will admit that to himself or anyone else. On top of his grief, he has more than a bit of OCD (I’m envious of his orderly kitchen and weekly meal plans) and an old injury is making him a bit cranky. And then all of a sudden he has a super hot young guy living in his house and taking care of him and the kids. A hot guy that he considers completely off limits. He just cannot deal.

I’m surprised that I was so attracted to Apollo simply because Dylan is basically the beta hero of my dreams. This attests to Albert’s ability to write amazing characters. The fact that an Alpha former SEAL can compete with my adoration of the steady beta hero is pretty amazing. Don’t get me wrong. I loved Dylan too. His willingness/desire to be part of Apollo’s ready-made family and to insert himself in ways that Apollo didn’t know he needed was heartwarming. And his insistence on doing what was right for HIM was inspiring.

So yeah, another hit from Annabeth Albert. I’m fairly confident there isn’t anything she can’t write. If you love your Alpha heroes and your military romance then this book is definitely for you. And if you like your “forever boys” then At Attention is for you too.

Nat

This is the story of Apollo, a strict military man. After the loss of his spouse, he has been unable to move on. Taking care of his two daughters on his own is taking its toll. When his mother leaves town and he has no help, his best friends brother comes to the rescue. Dylan had a crush on Apollo when he was a kid but is no longer the geeky boy he once was. When he moves in to help care for Apollo's girls, they begin to develop a connection that might help Apollo open up and move on with his life.

I thought this was a very sweet story. The concept was nothing new but the characters were endearing and lovable. I liked Dylan's ability to remain mature and patient in the face in Apollo's grief and confusing behavior. However, I thought the ending was a bit contrived. Although Apollo was unable to move on and everyone suggested he get help, he decided on his own to totally move on. It was odd. Also, Dylan thought to himself throughout the book that there was no future with Apollo. Then when Apollo came to see him after he moved out, he immediately felt like Apollo was coming to propose a relationship. I didn't understand why he suddenly assumed that when he doubted everything throughout the entire book. Also, there was a lot of focus on Apollo's in laws but when he decides to be with Dylan, they pretty much left the story. I would have expected to read about a conversation with them. I also thought there may have been a conversation with his daughters.
It was a cute story but the ending seemed too quick.

At Attention was a beautiful, fun and sensual sexy, daring read. I love Apollo and Dylan. Apollo is a hard, protecting and driven widow father, caring for two precious girls Dylan is young, dedicated, and outstanding. He just perfect boyfriend material and just has a huge crush on Apollo. I think Apollo and dylan had a very deep connection but it was almost appollo was ashame and guilty to step out his way to meet other men to feel what he had with his husband or something new. Dylan takes on the role to help around the house, with the kids and friends Apollo. I like how frank Dylan is with Apollo. I love Annabeth novels and cannot wait for more.

A fantastic addition, bettering the first book. Really enjoyed the coupling and the May/December romance, and was happy with how Albert built up Apollo in this book. Recommended

At Attention is Book Two of the Out of Uniform series and a spinoff from the Gaymers series by this author. It can be read as a standalone book, however there is a lot of character crossover so you will understand who is who better if you read the first book in the series before this one. I am a huge fan of this author and honestly have loved everything I have read so far from her.

In At Attention, Lieutenant Apollo Floros has been widowed for 2 years but is still completely heartbroken. His husband Neal passed away suddenly but Apollo has not moved on. He is just wrapped in a shroud of grief that is almost palpable. He lives every day to take care of (and obsessively protect) his twin daughters. He is rigid, controlled, and not looking to ever fall in love again. However, he needs childcare help for the summer and Dylan is the perfect man for the job.

Dylan is Apollo’s best friend’s little brother but boy has he grown up. Dylan is no longer the pimpled little lovesick puppy that used to follow Apollo around and he is determined to make himself seen. Dylan is amazing…willing to follow Apollo’s strict schedule when he can but happier when he can just wing it and create a little bit of fun for the two girls he is growing to care for very quickly. He is falling even harder for their father. The buff military body is hot but what really gets Dylan going is the sweet fatherly moments he witnesses between Apollo and the girls.

Most of the story is a combination of Apollo struggling to resist Dylan and Dylan struggling to remind Apollo that he is a grown man capable of his own decisions. Apollo cannot get over the fact that Dylan is his best friend’s little brother. He is worried about the age difference and feels incredibly old compared to Dylan. He is still grieving and feels like he will never be ready to fall in love again. But the chemistry is hot between these guys and honestly, Apollo is falling for Dylan’ personality as well as his incredibly sexy body. The struggle is obvious as he moves from grieving widower to red blooded man with a serious crush.

Given Apollo’s situation, the story line is heavy on the angst. There are a lot of heavy emotions going through Apollo’s head and those all play out on page. As the older and (he thinks) wiser of the two, he often tries to put Dylan in his place, however, Dylan is actually a very strong character and doesn’t take much crap from Apollo, despite the age difference.

I didn’t feel like I got to know Dylan as well as I would have liked. While you find out all the important surface details, you really don’t get inside his head like you do with Apollo. I would have liked to dig a little bit deeper into his character. He does great caring for the girls and they each have a nice bit of character development going on as well. I really liked his confident, take charge attitude, despite the fact that he is much younger than Apollo.

I loved the ending. It was nice to see Apollo finally close the past chapters of his life and be open and accepting of the new book that he and Dylan will create together.

Overall, At Attention by Annabeth Albert is high on angst, incredibly hot, and gives the reader a wonderful second chance romance.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/M Military Romance
Triggers: Death

Apollo has been struggling since he lost his partner and love of his life. Despite having 2 amazing twin girls to live for, his mom helping him, and his squad surrounding him, he's at a loss. Existing isn't really living, but for Apollo, he can barely make it through the day. Avoiding things that remind him of his husband is hard but he's not sleeping in their old room, doesn't go to their favorite restaurants, and still has some difficulty seeing his in-laws.

Dylan is vibrant, charismatic, and funny. He loves kids and wants to work with them. When an opportunity comes up that would allow him to work as a summer camp director, he jumps at it. As a bonus, he is staying with Apollo while Apollo's mom goes on a long-deserved vacation. The catch, Dylan used to have the most gigantic of crushes on Apollo. Now, all grown up, Dylan hopes that Apollo can see him as more than a kid.

What follows is a story where compromises are made, miscommunications occur, and hearts are broken. This was a story more about learning to live again, loving yourself, and allowing yourself to lean on those around you.

It was sweet and somewhat frustrating at times, but overall, a really good story.


Erica – ☆☆☆☆
At Attention is the second installment in the Out of Uniform series by Annabeth Albert, but can easily be read as a standalone romance novel. If you're familiar with Annabeth Albert's writing style, then you won't be disappointed with At Attention. Easy flowing scenes, with an addictive quality to the romance, and fully developed characters.

Apollo is widower with two small, twin daughters. His mother is going on vacation during the summer months, and unexpectedly his best friend's brother is in need of a place to crash while he works at the same summer day camp the girls will be using. It's a win-win situation. The only issue is that Dylan has had a crush on Apollo since he hit puberty, and Apollo is still deep in mourning over the loss of his husband. Apollo sees Dylan as hands-off, as he's Dustin's kid brother and has vowed to never fall in love again.

Apollo is afraid all the time, channeling that into a control-freak personality, scheduling a month's time at once. Dylan is a responsible guy, but he's spontaneously always finding the fun in any situation. There's an age-gap, but the pair balances each other out nicely.

At Attention is sure to hit all the right notes with romance lovers. Angst of unrequited love. The heart-tugging pain of loss. The sweetness of young children wanting their dad to be happy. Mixed with doubt, fear, guilt, and need, this novel is an emotional punch to the gut...

I want more – can't wait to get my hands on #3.

Recommended to MM romance fans.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆☆
It has been a few days since I read the book and I still have the feels for this one. I read the first book in this series, which you don’t need to read in order to enjoy this book. I am not sure what it was about this book but man, I just loved it and can’t stop thinking about how warm and fuzzy it made me feel. Apollo’s husband died and he is left to raise his two kids on his own with the help of his mother. Apollo’s mom is going on a vacation for the summer and he will need help with the kids. In enters Dylan, Apollo’s best friend Dustin’s brother. The chemistry is instant and you feel it through the entire book. Dylan isn’t the kid that Apollo remembers. Like I said, this book just gave me the feels and I know I will re-read it again and again when I need a pick me up. The chemistry is off the chart, the twins love Dylan, and the storyline is just good. We did see characters from the first book as well, briefly. I can’t wait to see what is in store for the next book in the series.

Characters: Well written
Sex: Yes
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: Yes
Genre: M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
From Apollo's point of view, this is the story of a widow raising twin daughters and learning to live again. From Dylan's point of view, it is the story of a guy living with his childhood crush and learning who he is as a man and falling in love with him all over again.

This is such a lovely and hot romance. Dylan is such a good guy, upbeat, great with kids, and crazy about Apollo. Dylan is also the younger brother of Apollo's best mate and that, combined with a nearly 10-year age difference, are some of the many hurdles this couple have to get over.

Dylan moves in with Apollo just as a friend to help him look after his girls. But once they are under the same roof, they are living in domestic bliss no matter how much they try to deny it.

At Attention was such a pleasure to read. A simple tale of two guys falling in love. I'd definitely recommend this for m/m fans.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is the story of a sweet and angsty romance between a widowed Marine and his much younger manny.

As a grieving widow and the father of young girls, Apollo is surly and miserable when we first meet him. His grief is intense and his self-imposed isolation is heartbreaking. His angst feels horribly real.

Dylan reads much older than 23. The early childhood education graduate is very sweet. He’s brilliant with kids, he’s gorgeous to look at, and he fits perfectly into Apollo’s complicated life. He is wonderful but he might be too perfect. It isn’t until late in the book that we see him start to develop a backbone and some character.

Apollo is a Marine, but unlike the last two books, the military is very much on the periphery of this novel. Apollo took a training role when his husband died and he struggles to balance his work commitments with his responsibility for his daughters. Characters from earlier books reappear briefly and a couple of new ones are introduced for future books.

This is the only family focused story I’ve read by this author. I’m not a huge fan of kids in romances, but both Apollo and Dylan are interesting characters beyond the girls. The kids add charm to this story and they humanise Apollo when he is at his most obstinate.

There is less heat in this book than I’ve come to expect from Annabeth Albert’s books – this is aimed at a slightly older audience. The connection between Apollo and Dylan is a slow burn as Apollo struggles to move past his husband’s death. There is chemistry from the start but the age gap, Apollo’s grief, and the kids make their relationship quite complicated.

As always, I love Annabeth Albert’s writing style and I enjoyed the complexity of her characters – but I’m probably not the target audience for this story. It is a great book, but it is just a little bit too cute and too domestic for me.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series – and as I had enjoyed Zack and Pike's story, I was delighted to read this latest installment. Although they did make an appearance, we have a new SEAL, Apollo's story this time.

Ms. Albert has a wonderful writing style which brings the names on the page to life, to the extent that you would know them if you met them. Apollo failed to recognise his best friend's younger brother when he saw him in the supermarket; something he realises later in the day when Dustin brings Dylan round with a proposal... and the course of his life is about to change – if only he can come to terms with his grief and associated guilt and anger.

The twins are delightful element of the story and their inclusion is done with great effect and humour. There are plenty of other good side characters who provide the light relief and a glimpse of who may feature in future books.

Get off the whole age thing. It wasn't that big a deal. Loved the story other than that.

I really liked the first book of this series, so I was really disappointed by how little I enjoyed this one. It had a lot of potential, but I honestly couldn't feel the attraction between Apollo and Dylan. It felt to forced in my opinion so his sudden change of heart towards the end when 20 pages before he's almost struggling to stare at Dylan while having sex is just not smooth or believable. I really liked the representation in the grandmothers and enjoyed the scenes with the kids.

Book review shared on Amazon, Goodreads, B & N and V's Reads blog: https://vsreads.com/2017/04/10/finding-love-at-attention-review-and-giveaway/

Lt Apollo Floros lost his beloved husband Neal two years ago. He’s grieved terribly, while putting up a strong front for his young twin daughters, Chloe and Sophia. His mother lives in his home, and helps with the childcare, but she’s leaving for a two month trip to Greece with her sisters–a lifelong dream she’s saved for years to experience–and Apollo needs help.

His best friend, Dustin, has arranged to get a suitable person to care for Apollo’s girls: his younger brother, Dylan. Dylan’s just graduated college with a degree in childhood education, and wants to manage recreation classes for kids. He’s got a gig teaching at the summer camp Apollo’s girls are attending, and will be an excellent caregiver, if only he can remember not to fall for Apollo. Again. See, Dylan met Apollo years and years ago, when he came to visit Dustin during a leave, and Apollo was the center of all Dylan’s teenaged (and not so teenaged) sexual fantasies. He’s attracted to Apollo the SEAL, but Apollo the Broken-Hearted? Apollo the Loving Father? #GoneBabyGone

Apollo wallows in his burgeoning attraction to Dylan, quelling his lust by reminding himself that Dylan is Dustin’s baby brother–and twelve years younger than himself. Thing is, Dylan is a strong, assertive man who appreciates Apollo’s micromanaging schedules, and does his darnedest to make Apollo’s life easier. Plus he’s fabulous with Chloe and Sophia. Living in Apollo’s home puts Dylan right in the eye of the storm–he hadn’t realized Apollo spent his nights in the guest room where Dylan sleeps–until Apollo confesses how he’s hardly slept in his own bed in the two years since Neal died. It’s a heart wrenching experience, watching Apollo deal–poorly–with his grief, and deny himself any thoughts of finding love again, out of loyalty to the memory of Neal.

Dylan is a great young man. He’s a partner, and a lover, when Apollo needs one desperately. Still, he’s not getting his needs met, not while Apollo insists on keeping Dylan firmly in the role of ‘babysitter’, and Dylan’s smart enough to stand up for himself, especially when Apollo is way out of line.

I loved how tender this was, and how authentically the love story developed. This isn’t an easy love, but it has the possibility of being a great one. Knowing people who never remarried after losing a spouse, I really connected with Apollo’s grief, and I was relieved when he finally connected to it, as well. There’s a lot of healing in the book–some of it sexual healing–and there’s going to be a break up to make up, but it’s really well handled and felt true. Raising twin girls can’t be easy, but they didn’t take over the story.

I loved these guys, and I loved how they found love together.

At Attention is the second in the Out of Uniform series and just as good as the first. In this book we have Apollo who lost his husband a couple years ago and is now raising their twin daughters on his own. He never saw himself as the settling down type until he met his husband, so he's not exactly looking for someone else to fill the role of companion or lover. However, when his best friend pushes his younger brother, Dylan, on him for the summer, things begin to change. Dylan is in town to help Apollo with the girls and to work at a summer camp. While Dylan has always had a crush on Apollo, he tries to get a handle on his feelings and just be the helpful person that Apollo obviously needs. Of course...this doesn't last that long.

Eventually, the two do start up a relationship of sorts, though it's not really defined as such and kept a secret from anyone. Dylan is only here for the summer, so Apollo can rationalize getting involved when he knows it's just physical and there's an end date. This is before feelings enter the equation and they definitely do! For one thing, Dylan has feelings from the start, even if he tells himself he's okay with just the summer. As for Apollo, he starts to realize how much he truly likes Dylan and it's obvious that Dylan fits well in the family, since the girls also adore him.

This is another great read by Annabeth Albert, and I highly recommend the whole series. The characters were realistic and well done, and I thought the evolving relationship between Apollo and Dylan was done very well. I can't wait for the third book, whose main characters appear in At Attention! Get to know them now!

As with all of Albert's books, I love the dual-POV here. I so enjoy the insight into both main characters, and I like how strongly she keeps them separate. I never struggled with voice; I always knew which character was narrating. Both men were realistically portrayed, and I liked their complex characterizations. The twins weren't as strong, but they were still cute. The overall story is a solid romance, for me, and I enjoyed it very much. It wasn't perfect, but I'll round up the 4+ stars to 5 simply because Albert is always so consistent in her writing. :) She held my attention from beginning to end, and I flew through the tale like I usually do.

I was so moved by this book that I will read it over and over.

Military men are not known for their emotions, more for how their mind works. Then add in a man who has rules for everything because it makes him feel in control. How do you fight a ghost? The answer is you don’t, life has a way of turning even a man dead set against living back to life.

My heart bleeds for Apollo, he is trying to be the best dad he can be. However he is overwhelmed by work, and trying to be a super dad. He has forgotten how to enjoy life. It’s just one think after another. Never taking the time to grieve for his lost love.

When Dylan comes to help out over the summer, he must overcome his past as a young guy crushing on Apollo. He is a man with feelings and ideas. He is battling his feelings that have only grown over the past years. But he will not just settle for part of Apollo’s life he wants to be partners in everything from baby care to everyday problems.

When life gets hard people must learn how to deal with the pain, it never easy. But the living must go on and the dead must be laid to rest. This story shows how hard it can be. True love is always worth it, but it doesn’t solve anything. That takes dedication and hard work.

I've seen this author's work, perused the blurbs and I didn't bite.

But this blurb was the prettiest show pony with SRAL approved buzz words and themes:

widower still grieving after partner's passing (bring on the pain)
widower has kidlets AND needs a manny
manny is the widower's best friend's little brother
best friend's brother has had a crush on widower since his teens
AGE GAP
NAVY SEAL

RING A DING DING!!! GUESS WHO IS COMING HOME WITH ME?

Of course, I lassoed the hell out of this book and gobbled all the words.

Being as it's my first Annabeth Albert read, I'm not sure how it rates on the Annabeth Albert scale. If this was very on her A-game or there's better? *shrugs*

I was entertained and had a great time reading At Attention.

23 year-old Dylan gets a chance of his lifetime when his unrequited crush hires and moves him in his San Diego home for the summer. Dylan's crush, 34 year old Apollo needs a nanny to take care of his adorable 4 year old twins whole Apollo works on a naval base. This book can be read as a standalone, I wasn't lost. And I'm curious about the previous and future pairings.

Dylan tries to tamp down his lusty feelings as Apollo works through his grief. Two years has passed but there is no time limit on grieving. And Apollo is a grumpy, more reserved bundle of emotions. He would take time to start to contemplate having feelings for another man. Luckily, Apollo's libido isn't broken. And try as he might, he can't deny the easiness he has with Dylan. The camaraderie and sharing his daily worries of being a single parent added more base to their friendship foundation formed with Dylan was just a teen.

The story is a good mix of nerdy, adorable, (lightly) angsty, sexy and sweet. Dylan can't stop his feelings from blooming once again. Apollo sees his friend's kid brother in a new light, an adult. They try going the friendship route on equal terms, but their bodies won't be denied.

The sex in this book?

The sex was...hot. If I had to give it a flavor, it's hot vanilla custard. Sweet, varied and with a hint of spice. (highlights: intercrural (yay!), frottage, light domination/ control a smidge of exhibition) There is mirror sex but, it could've been hotter in my opinion. I might have been spoiled by a hotter mirror scene in another NA series I've read.

The grieving and the time given for Apollo to work through his process was more important factor for me. Apollo plays hot and cold. The ghost of his lover is one he surrounds himself with daily and it's hard to break through. Dylan makes him crack through the shell. Plus, he's possessive and doesn't want any other guy getting Dylan's time. He wants it all to his self. That was bonus characteristics that I enjoy. The possessiveness and the control in the bedroom (of course).

The best bonus of all? Dylan wasn't a pushover. And he spoke his mind even if might hurt, be it himself or Apollo. I'm #teamDylan all day!

This story was really good. Not Earth shattering, or extremely memorable. For all themes it had going on, it worked. The writing is easy to read, all of the characters are likeable. All of them from kids to grandmas. I really liked how it ended, well maybe before the fluffed ending. It was added sugar I could have done without. But HEA lovers will totes lurve it.

This couple totally worked for me and I see them having a long loving future ahead of them.

Recommended for readers who enjoy contemporary, like the tropes I listed and wallow in second chance romance.

Come join me as I ride my pretty pony into the sunset.

#NoRegrets #teamDylan

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.

‘At Attention’ delivers what I’d expect from Annabeth Albert - complex characters, some hot sex, a good dose of angst, and a sweet happy ever after.

Apollo Floros, a SEALs lieutenant, is a complete grouch. Raising his two girls alone after the death of his husband, Apollo is very protective of his family and has a tough exterior. He only lets his guard down for his girls.

It took a while to get used to Apollo, given how standoffish he was and the way he treated Dylan.

Dylan is Apollo’s best friend’s younger brother. When Dylan was a teenager, he idolized Apollo. Fresh out of university, Dylan just wants to help Apollo over the summer with the girls while he looks for a permanent job.

Dylan doesn’t set out to woo Apollo, but he also wouldn’t say no if things went that direction.

Dylan and Apollo’s early interactions are a bit awkward, but charged with a sexual tension you could cut with a knife. Apollo can’t help but take a look at Dylan all grown up, but he rebuffs Dylan’s flirting.

Grief is a real thing in this book. Most of Apollo’s reluctance to give in to what he wants with Dylan comes from him still mourning his deceased husband, Neal. Apollo thought that Neal was it for him, so thinking about Dylan seems like a betrayal of what they had.

But slowly, Dylan works his way under Apollo’s walls. Not only is Dylan fantastic with the girls, but he reminds Apollo that there’s more to life than just existing.

When Apollo finally gives in, he and Dylan light up the sheets. They are hot. If you like rough sex in front of mirrors and a total alpha top, you won’t be disappointed.

But Apollo’s grief and guilt don’t quit. This is where I lost some of my patience with him. Apollo plays hot and cold throughout the book, hurting Dylan and his daughters in the process. I understood where Apollo was coming from, but the repetitive cycle made me lose some interest around two-thirds in.

However, I really liked the ending. The way Apollo made amends made me believe that he and Dylan really did have what it takes to make it in the long run, and that their emotional connection was just as strong as their physical connection.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. Recommended if you’re looking for a contemporary MM romance with a strong focus on family and healing.

This was my first book by Annabeth Albert and she has an instant fan in me! This book was wonderful. It was sexy. It was soulful. It was sweet and naughty. It was full of adorable kids, hot men in uniform, playful guys and enough dirty sex to perk me right up. It was a winner in my eyes.

My favorite part of this story was the character development. I felt as it I knew each of these men and they became real in my eyes. Apollo was the broody military man with a broken heart and a world of obligation on his shoulders. Dylan was the fun one, with the boyish charm and a surprisingly responsible outlook. He was Apollo’s opposite in almost every way. He was the light in the darkness of Apollo’s life and exactly what the man needed to help him live again. I fell in love with both of these men and wanted them to work out (read: wanted Apollo to get his head out of his ass).

My only issue with this story was that I felt it didn’t cover a lot of new ground from beginning to end. It was perfect, introducing us to the characters, telling their backstory and making the reader fall in love with Dylan and Apollo. But there was no true defining moment. No crisis that brought everything to a head. There was just a protracted internal struggle in Apollo’s mind, coming to grips with the age difference and his feeling of betrayal to his dead husband. I would have liked to see more than Apollo taking so long to realize that Dylan was exactly what he needed, AND accept the fact that he had a right to be happy.

But aside from the length of time it took Apollo to realize what he had in Dylan, this book was a winner for me. It introduced me to a new author, a new group of men, and a backlist of new books to lose myself in. This author certainly has my attention!

I was hoping Apollo was next up to get his HEA when I read Off Base so not only was I thrilled that he was, but, I also loved the fact that Dylan was Dustin's younger brother, Apollo's best friend, and there was a ten year age difference between the two.

As a teenager Dylan had a huge crush on Lieutenant Apollo Floros but not only was Apollo out of reach for him due to their age difference but Apollo never saw him as anything other than Dustin's little brother. How annoying is that! WELL, Dylan is now all grown up and very attractive in fact when Apollo first sees him after so many years he doesn't even recognize him but he finds himself staring at his nice backside.

Dylan needs a place to stay for the summer while he's working at a daycare center in San Diego and there is no better place for him to stay other than Apollo's guest room. ;)



This story had some angst as would expect with someone dealing with trying to move on with after the loss of a spouse, Apollo got into his own head at times and it made for a few difficult situations. I think this story was emotional but there was enough light moments so that it didn't completely engulf you with darkness.

I have been enjoying this series a lot and I cannot wait for "On Point" which will be Ben and Maddox's story, can these friends take it to the next step as lovers? Only time will tell.

This is definitely a hard read…I always have trouble with the ghost of a loved one and Apollo didn’t make this any easier. Pain of loss of his husband notwithstanding, I wasn’t fond of Apollo jerking Dylan around and making him feel like ‘just the babysitter’. Most folks probably sympathized with Apollo more than I did for his grief and guilt…I just felt like he was treating Dylan badly but being such a jerk and denying how he felt; being hot and cold with him; treating him like he was nothing and then being completely intimate with him. It made my ache for Dylan. I eventually came around on Apollo but honestly it was really late in the book. When Apollo did turn the corner he was incredibly sweet and good to Dylan.

I love Dylan and his fun, flirty, exuberant personality! He is definitely a great balance to Apollo’s reserved and rigid personality. He never backed down from Apollo when he was being a class-A jerk and gave back exactly what he got from the Seal. I was glad to see Dylan stand up for himself when he forced Apollo really think about what he wanted before even listening to him after their ‘fight’.

When all the pretenses are gone, these two are great together, emotionally and sexually. They are the perfect blend.

I’m really anxious to read Maddox and Ben’s story next – those sparks are going to burn the pages!

Unpopular Opinion Ahead. Please don't stone me.



If you had told me prior to reading this I'd be rating it anything less than 4 hearts I would've been all, 'the hell you say!' and maybe hit your face with my glove (lightly, because lady). Just reading the blurb had me all lightheaded with an overwhelming urge to spin around in a field of bluebonnets. I mean, age difference, size difference, second chance romance, possessive MC all reduce me to zombie arms and possible drooling. I just knew At Attention was going to be the turn-the-corner book betwixt me and this author.

Here’s the thing, though, for all of Albert’s devoted fans At Attention will likely work for you. My success with Albert is spotty at best. She seems to have her own romance algorithm that includes this push-pull thing between protagonists. The reasons vary and sometimes it works for me and sometimes it doesn’t. This time it didn’t.

What happened here was Apollo’s incessant lying to himself and Dylan about his feelings got old. He strings him along. He advances and retreats again and again. Sometimes an author can make this push/pull thing work for me if they show me and make me believe there’s a valid and compelling reason for it. I need lots of exposition and character building so I can truly understand what motivates them to hurt their love interest again and again. I need to feel it and, more importantly, to sympathize with the character's action and that didn’t happen. Because Apollo.



He really is. No one loves a grump more than I but there’s a big difference between grump and asshat. He’s controlling, jealous, the possessiveness I had hoped would have my eyebrows waggling skidded sideways into 'whoa whoa, slow your roll there, craycraybenaynay' territory with a quickness. Add to that his mood changes on a dime and the next thing I knew we were back to…



It made my head spin and it made me feel sorry for poor Dylan. Apollo’s mercurial nature negatively impacts his self-image, making him feel unworthy, lesser which made me want to tell him to RUN FORRR-REST RUUUUNNNNN!!!!! and sapped all the good feels I had going into this book.

I need for my couples to be happy for a certain period of time in a narrative and not just at the end. There needs to be a balance so I understand what it is they’re fighting for beyond sexual chemistry. Why are they so invested in each other? The truth is Apollo and Dylan are hardly together. Sure, you can bet when they are they’re going to have some hot mirror sex with a side of dirty talk *grunts* but then you can bet the farm Apollo’s going to turn arctic afterwards, like right afterwards. Can I not enjoy a lil glow?

No. Because. For the cheap seats in the back.



He gives a myriad of excuses as to why they won’t work-their age difference, his mourning, Dylan’s future plans-but it all rang hollow; it felt like drama for drama’s sake. Especially when I had his POV which didn’t match his hateful and, at times, cruel words and actions. All the excuses and dramatics made Apollo look like a fickle teen when he’s the one that supposedly has all the life experience and wisdom. Dylan at 23 puts him to shame in both the communication and acting like an adult departments.

So, the sex is hot and I did like Dylan but those weren’t enough to save this read for me. Obviously, my opinions are my own and YMMV.

Review copies were provided by NetGalley.

Apollo Flores is still grieving the loss of his partner when a change in schedule has him looking for child-care assistance for his twin daughters. He has some reservations when his friend Dustin recommends his brother Dylan for the job. Apollo remembers a younger Dylan who crushed on him hard, but he isn't quite prepared for the all-grown-up Dylan.

Dylan has changed quite a bit from when Apollo last saw him. He's perfect for Apollo in many ways, one of those being his qualifications to provide child-care to his children. Even though Apollo is attracted to Dylan from the start, Apollo isn't ready to move forward with another relationship so they end up agreeing to a physical relationship with an expiration date. Only problem is that no one told Apollo's heart about their silly arrangement. The intimate moments between Apollo and Dylan are super steamy and they connect in a way that sometimes scares Apollo.

There is so much I like about At Attention and this series. Annabeth Albert does a superb job of allowing the men in this series to be vulnerable without being wimpy. Apollo's grief is palpable. At first, he fumbles with understanding how he moves on from his grief, believing he will never again experience what he had with his spouse. When Dylan comes along, he struggles with his attraction to Dylan. How he begins to embrace a new future he hadn't envisioned is really the story here and it is handled with much sensitivity and love. I found this to be a beautiful part of the story and I appreciated getting a character I don't see very often in romance, especially M/M romance.

Dylan is terrific too. He's patient and kind and Apollo's daughters love him. Really, everyone loves him, he's the sort of guy that just makes people comfortable. And while Dylan really cares about Apollo -- this is clear right from the start, but he isn't a pushover either. When Apollo acts like a jerk and pushes Dylan away, he's strong enough to understand that he needs space and gives it to him, even though his heart is breaking.

I devoured At Attention. It's an easy read with characters that immediately sucked me into their world. Apollo's daughters are adorable. While Apollo and Dylan's story is at time heart-wrenching and uplifting, it left me feeling good. I really do like everything about this series. At Attention works as a standalone, too.

Recommended for fans of M/M romance. You won't be sorry.

An ARC was provided for review.