At Attention takes a couple of my favorite tropes-military, May/December romance, best friend’s brother, single gay father-and puts them all together to create a really great story that fits perfectly in the author’s Out of Uniform series. We met Apollo in Off Base, and now we get to hear his story-one that tugged at my heart, frustrated me a bit, and still gave me hope.

Annabeth Albert always does a fantastic job with the characters she creates, giving readers people they can truly care about and bond with. I already really liked Apollo after his appearance in Off Base, and now here in this story, I was able to see his sadness, his devotion to his daughters, and the struggle he goes through trying to reconcile the past he doesn’t want to let go with the present and future he longs to have now. Dylan is smart, thoughtful, and a really well-rounded person in general. Since he was a teenager, he’s been crushing on Apollo—but now Dylan’s all grown up…even if Apollo doesn’t quite see him that way.

Apollo and Dylan’s relationship evolves slowly from friends, with both of them always putting Apollo’s daughters first. Apollo does he’s best to resist, but some things are just too overpowering to deny. The heat between the two of them is palpable, and when they finally give in (well, Apollo gives in—Dylan was always ready!), their chemistry fairly leaps off the pages. It’s intense and scorching hot, and when emotions come into play then it’s overwhelming for Apollo.

Apollo did frustrate me at times after he and Dylan had started their relationship, then Apollo just couldn’t let go of the past. But I understood how hard it was for him, and I just kept holding on for him to be able to move on.

At Attention is just one more reason Annabeth Albert is an auto-buy author for me, and this story was one of those that had me wanting to give big, reassuring hugs to both Apollo and Dylan. This was a 4.5-star read for me, and I do highly recommend this story to any M/M romance fan. It is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and M/M sexual content.

Apollo, tough military guy having lost his husband two years ago, swears never to fall for anyone new. He acts as if he's over the hill, not worthy of love, and his systems for coping with two active children might seem too much, too controlling, too off-putting.

Dylan had always had a hankering for the tattooed greek god, and now has the opportunity to help him out. The attraction is still there, and while Apollo fights it with every once of control, Dylan recognises how lonely and sad Apollo is. The slow burn is fitting because there is an age difference and the fact that Apollo needs to accept that Dylan is all grown up.

Meanwhile we get to know the backstories, the obstacles, and see how hectic life is with the Sophie and Chloe, Apollo's highly classified work, and it's no surprise how much Dylan fits in and adapts. I like the family elements. I also liked that we spent time with Ben and Maddox, and that Dylan walks away to give Apollo space and time.

It's not rushed, and the smex is a blend of hot and emotional. I know Apollo will drive some people crazy with his mixed messages and his inability to commit, but it worked for me.

Love this author's work, and look forward to the next one. Copy provided by Netgalley and read with thanks. Out April 10.

4 Stars!

Apollo Floros has been raising his twin daughters on his own since his husband died with help from his mother and his in-laws. Now that his mother is going away on a cruise for the summer, though, he's left in a bind. One that his best friend Dustin knows how to solve. His little brother Dylan needs a place to live while he is in San Diego working at a summer camp. It would be a good plan, if Apollo didn't feel so attracted to Dylan and if he was actually ready to move on from his grief.

I loved Dylan, he was such a sweetheart, mature, responsible, great with kids. He was amazing with Apollo and with the girls and really seemed to be perfect for them, even accepting all of Apollo's eccentricities without any fuss. Now, while I liked Apollo, I was absolutely frustrated with him. Yes, he was still grieving the loss of his husband, but his hot and cold routine was kind of infuriating. It was like he'd decided to stop living, just going through the motions, but then he got a jumpstart due to his attraction to Dylan before he remembered he should be grieving and shut him out again. No matter how good Dylan was, it was never enough for Apollo, and by the time he realized what he was doing, I almost didn't care. I actually would've liked Dylan to have moved on by then, which seeing as it took up to nearly 90% of the book is not that difficult to understand. It really is a pity, because when Apollo wasn't being a jacka** to Dylan, they had sizzling chemistry and their scenes together were hot, hot, hot!

The twins were absolutely adorable and it was lovely catching up with Pike and Ryan from book 1 in the series.

As always, I love Annabeth's writing, it was enthralling and emotional, and despite my misgivings regarding Apollo, I know there are a lot of readers that will love this book. Recommendable!!!

*** Copy provided to the reviewer via NetGalley for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

Apollo is a widower whose husband passed two years ago. He's left raising their twin daughters by himself. Grief stricken, he hasn't been able to move on with his life. He's merely existing day to day.

When Apollo's mom is leaving for a trip of a lifetime, Apollo knows he's going to need help while she is gone. This is where Dylan comes in. Dylan is his best friend's little brother and ten years younger than Apollo. He's taken a job at the local youth camp, and needs somewhere to stay. He has a degree in early education, so he is the perfect candidate to help Apollo for the summer. Should it matter that he's had a crush on Apollo since his teen years??

I loved Dylan and his fun and carefree nature! He was so good with the girls and they took to him quickly. Apollo is very OCD and instead of Dylan knocking down all his organization, he gives him kudos for the ability to plan so well. Dylan is quick to see that Apollo is nearly drowning in his grief though, and sets to help take some of his load away. There is quite a difference between the two, but Dylan seems to have a knack of calming Apollo down-grounding him when things go awry. Soon, Apollo is looking beyond what he is doing with the girls, and sees the man he has become. It's something that he likes. But should he like it?? He tells himself NO-I won't ever go there again. He's been so distraught since Neal died, that he never wants to open himself up to the possibility of hurt again. And Love? Just not in the cards for him. But fate has other plans and lust boils over. They start a friends with benefits type arrangement-no strings attached.


The chemistry and passion between these two is downright nuclear! The drugging kisses, nipping, and suckling....just wow! sigh. As their liaisons continue, both are interested in both sides of the action-giving and receiving. Truly hot! And Annabeth Albert's sex scenes are some of the best I have read around! They were every bit as dirty, gritty, and fun-yes fun-as these two need them to be. Their dynamic called for it. Dylan was the light that Apollo's dark needed to be around. They balanced each other out. It just takes a lot of head work for Apollo to see it that way.

Now, Apollo did seriously need a therapist! He was so unfair to himself as well as Dylan. He needed to talk through Neal's death and work through all the anger and anguish he has been feeling. Dylan tried to help him by saying that what they were doing was like a summer fling-although he himself knew he would get burned. He just wanted Apollo to finally feel good. I really liked having both POV's in this story so I could see where Apollo was coming from. Being a Navy SEAL comes with it's own stressors, but when you add a death of a spouse to that mix-it's a colossal mess.


I am glad that Dylan decided that what they had was worth waiting for Apollo to figure out his crap. He stood up for himself and told Apollo what he wanted. Leaving it in his hands, Apollo has to face some hard facts. I truly could feel his struggle and felt sorry for the crap hand he was dealt.

Now an added dynamic to this story is Apollo's twin girls! I usually am not a fan of kids in my romances but in this story it worked- and worked well! Totally unexpected!! They were completely adorable and Ms. Albert wrote them very realistically. They acted like five year old girls who have abominable amounts of energy. Zinging from one activity to the next! They weren't kids who acted like adults-which you see often. I liked them and they were integral to the overall storyline.

All in all this was an astounding read! I have read other works by Annabeth Albert and if I wasn't already a fan, this would SEAL the deal!! At Attention is everything you need in a romance period. Grab it today and settle in. You won't be stopping once you start!

reviewed by Deb

At Attention is the second book in the Out of Uniform series. I'm loving this series so much! There's just something about strong, sexy, capable, vulnerable SEALS that gets my blood pumping. Add in their sexy love interests and it's a recipe for damn goodness. I love Annabeth's writing. Once I discovered Status Update, I stalked her on social media swearing to never miss another book. We met Apollo in Off Base and I was so excited for his story. He's a widowed SEAL and a single father to twin girls. It's been two years since the death of his husband and he's still not living. When his best friend's little brother needs a place to stay for the summer and he wants to help Apollo with the girls, it's a win-win. Except that Dylan isn't the skinny little kid he remembers from years ago. He's all man now with a sexy body and a head full of curls. Apollo's not sure he can resist Dylan and not just because he's physically attracted to him. He's fun and silly and great with his daughters. Dylan had the biggest crush on Apollo when he was little. He always fantasied about being with him, never imagining it would ever be a possibility. When one night of flirting turns into kissing and more, Apollo is filled with guilt, but he can't stop thinking about Dylan. He wants more. Can Apollo finally let himself live again? Will Dylan be able to protect his heart? I loved Apollo and Dylan! Dylan breathed life back into Apollo and showed him how to laugh again. I laughed, cried, got hot and bothered and laughed some more. I felt for Apollo and his broken heart and I knew Dylan was the man to show him to love again! I can't wait for the next one!

And the dimples. God save him from the dimples.

Yup. I am the God of Stammering SEALS. Behold my powers.

"Sorry to break it to you, Toppy McToppy SEAL, but not all gay SEALs are alpha freaks like you."

4* Another decent outing in this series, with glimpses of the leads from Book 1 living their HEA.

This book can be read as a standalone, as there's only a tiny mention of the leads in book 1 living their HEA. It's a little bit of an unusual tale due to the host of characters in it - no Spoilers - and it's very well done, very believable, even though one lead does need to let up and relax a lot, lol!

I liked that both leads were confident in different ways - the younger, Dylan, was upfront and open about wanting Apollo and a future with him and his kids, and that he was prepared for their relationship to be on Apollo's terms, at least in the short-term. Apollo was confident professionally, but if I'm honest, was portrayed as protective to an almost OTT-degree; it kind of did and didn't mesh with the father/widower and tough professional that he was, though as the tale progressed, his...way of doing things became clearer. Not sure I could have lived in his house, though, lol!

I liked all the characters, especially Apollo's twin girls, and once again, AA has done her research on things Greek and portrayed Apollo, his mother and mention of his family, pretty authentically (believe me, I have some experience).

The tale ends in the leads at the start of their HEA, and that continues in the background to the next tale in the series, which I've also had the pleasure of reading. Book 1 so far remains the best in the series, as the two leads were so, so not suited and yet AA did so well with them, but this is a close...second.

ARC courtesy of Carina Publishing and NetGalley, in return for my reading pleasure.

3.5 stars.

Older brother's best friend ✔️
Age gap ✔️
Single dad ✔️

All tropes I am a lover of.

"He’d waited eight years for Apollo to see him as more than Dustin’s pesky little brother."

I like an more angsty read and when you have a grieving widower in the mix you can be sure of some of that. And whilst there were many parts of At Attention I did indeed love, they were somewhat over shadowed by the fact that Apollo, grieving widower, single dad and overworked lieutenant, was still very much grieving the death of his husband and his inner torment and running hot and cold throughout became a little wearisome.

"I just don’t want to lead you on—"

Dylan, child whisperer and much younger brother of his best-friend was what saved this story for me. For me, he was the hero with his confidence, his wonderful relationship with Apollo's daughters, his honesty and patience yet self-care. Did he deserve better? I think so and don't get me wrong, I didn't dislike Apollo; he's hurting, juggling work with raising his girls, and you can't deny in the moments when he does run with his heart as opposed to his head, he and Dylan were lovely together creating moments that were tender and those that bring some heat.

"You can watch in the mirror."

It wasn't a difficult read and there were many enjoyable moments amongst those that frustrated so it's definitely one I'd say read and decide for yourself. For me it was simply a case of frustration and Apollo's moment of realisation coming too late on in the day for me to rate this any higher: [after all his inner wranglings, this couple deserved a little more than matters being resolved so quickly and easily than in the last couple of chapters. (hide spoiler)] I am however looking forward to Maddox and Ben's journey from best-friends to lovers in On Point.

Saying At Attention was packed with emotion would be a huge understatement. Readers were introduced to Apollo in Off Base, the first book in Albert's Out of Uniform series. He didn't have a huge role in the first book, but from just that little page time, I knew I wanted to get to know him better. Be careful what you ask for? Not really, but I did get more frustrated with him in At Attention than I expected.

Dylan, on the other hand, I loved from the moment he was introduced. He was younger than Apollo, but not by too much. He had a firm grasp on what he wanted to do with his life and had definite goals. That aspect of his personality lessened the age gap between them even more. I loved his determination to keep things professional, but it was a losing battle for both of them.

As much as I liked Apollo, the way he treated Dylan was what frustrated me. His grief over what he had lost was understandable, as well as his fear of losing again. That's the only thing that allowed me to forgive him for almost breaking Dylan's heart. There were a lot of emotional twists and turns, some great supporting characters and a couple of adorable kids who didn't take over the story, but added to it. The perfect mix.

There's more to come in the Out of Uniform series and On Point should prove to be interesting. I can't wait to see what Annabeth Albert has in store for Maddox and Ben.

A single dad who loves his twins? Oh yeah!

At Attention is the second book in Annabeth Albert's Out of Uniform series. After reading book one, Off Base, I wasn't sure the stories could get any better but At Attention blew me away. I love second chance romance tropes, as well as falling for a best friend's sibling stories, and At Attention couldn't be any better at delivering on both counts.

Apollo's husband, Neal, died a few years ago and he was left to raise their young twin daughters by himself. He has a great support system with his mother and his in-laws helping but it's still hard; he misses Neal.

Dylan had a huge crush on Apollo eight years ago when he was just a teenager. Now he's all grown up, with lots of experience, and knows what he wants and that's Apollo.

This book couldn't have hit my emotions any better. I've said many times that I tend to judge a book by how many tears it makes me shed (happy or sad) and At Attention hit me in all the right places. I wanted to strangle Apollo when he couldn't seem to accept the happiness he could have with Dylan. I wanted to hug Dylan hard when Apollo kept hurting him. And the twin girls and Dylan's relationship with them while he cared for them? Absolutely wonderful! These two guys go through some rough times together but it was so satisfying when they finally got their HEA.

Annabeth Albert has been a favorite of mine for some time now and At Attention has kept her firmly on my list of much-loved authors. I can't wait to read the next book in this series, On Point, which is coming in June.

A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.

*Copy provided to the reviewer via NetGalley for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
At Attention is Book 2 in Annabeth Albert's Out of Uniform series. You could probably read this book without reading Book 1, but characters do appear in both books so I think it'd be more enjoyable to read the series in the appropriate order. In Book 1, Off Base, we met Lieutenant Apollo Floros and from that brief introduction, I could not wait to get his story! But, Apollo is not an easy man! He's very set in his ways, has a very structured life and is unwilling to bend or consider doing things differently. I wavered between finding Apollo ridiculously frustrating to being sympathetic to the man trying to find a way to live again. At many times, I wanted Dylan to just move on and leave Apollo to his schedules.

Apollo and Dylan were complete opposites. Though Apollo was only in his 30's, he acted like an elderly man throughout most of the book and seemed to think of himself that way. Apollo had been married and lost his husband in an accident, resulting in Apollo raising their daughters alone and being fearful for everyone he loved. Dylan is only 23 and seemed pretty typical for his age group. He had never had a serious relationship and has had a crush on Apollo since his teen years. He's easy going and able to fit into Apollo's life with no struggle. He handles Apollo's moodiness and brooding really well.

I did find it disappointing that almost all the book was spent on Apollo's hot and cold routine, and that he didn't finally get it together until the last 10% of the book. That's probably when I went from sympathetic to frustrated with him and wanted Dylan to just move on. Once Apollo got his act together, we only got 5% of a story with them as a couple. I would have loved more of them having a relationship and less of the constant back and forth. Regardless of Apollo's annoying behavior, I really did enjoy this story! If you enjoy opposites attract, age gap, single fathers, adorable twins, a sweet main character, and lots of military supporting characters, this is a series you need to check out!

Rating: 4 stars

4 Stars

I really enjoyed this installment of the Out of Uniform Series. I’m not always a fan of books with characters who have children — mostly because kids are often written as caricatures. Alberts did a great job — not only with Sophia and Chloe, Apollo’s children, but with the way both Apollo and Dylan interacted with the kids.

Both Dylan’s confidence and competence stole my heart. There’s a special sort of person in this world who can work with 5 year old children, well and willingly, and Dylan is that all and more. I appreciate that for all that he is amazing with the girls, he has moments when he gets frazzled (though really not often in the book). Dylan seems so human to me. His willingness to put himself out there for Apollo, even knowing he might get hurt was hard to read, if only because as a reader we could see Apollo’s struggle so clearly. Dylan’s stand at the end of the book made me want to cheer — because he had so much self-respect, tempered with love, and his unwillingness to compromise the first OR give up on the second made me so proud.

Apollo was lovely and frustrating. The weight of his grief and then later guilt over the relationship he’s building with Dylan is crushing; his capacity for deep love might be — something he tries to hold back in regards to Dylan — is evident in his relationship and care for his girls, as well as the love he shared with his late husband Neal. His internal dialogue, a mix of falling in love, wonder, guilt and denial was at times frustrating, because as readers we could so clearly see how perfect he and Dylan could be together. Apollo’s loss is very real, and I appreciated that it wasn’t glossed over, that the author didn’t make it a cheap plot device for him to “get over” quick and easy once he fell in love with someone else.

The pacing of the book became a tiny bit slow in the latter third — perhaps because Apollo becomes so stuck in his head it feels like we’ve read the same thoughts over and over again? Really, the reason this book lost a star was because there was something that felt missing at times, particularly in the sex scenes. They were very hot (particularly one… mmmm), but occasionally felt rote. The writing didn’t draw me in and it felt mechanical in a few scenes.

The characterization was done so well and the love story really grabbed me. I definitely recommend this book, and am very excited to read the third book in the Out of Uniform series.

“Puzzle piece, remember? You make everything else make sense.”

SERIOUSLY, I THINK THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK IN THIS SERIES!

Wow, am so blown away by this one. My heart is full of love for these characters. Apollo, and Dylan's story is so emotional, & heartwarming. This book will have you teary eyed, and so full of love. The depth that Annabeth Albert put into Apollo and Dylan's story just blew me away. I can't recommend this series/book enough. If you are a fan of M/M and Military books, you will love At Attention!

**ARC RECEIVED IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW**

Emotional, passionate and incredibly steamy!

This is a hot military romance that combines a young, flirty, charming childhood educator with an older, tough, sexy, grieving widower of twins in an intriguing story filled with angst, tension, smoking chemistry, guilt, heartache and love.

The writing is smooth and clear. The characters are genuine, consumed and strong. And the plot uses different points of view and a slow sultry build to captivate and intrigue until the very last page and the desired happy-ever-after ending.

This really is an enjoyable novel by Albert and once again she's proven she can write racy banter and erotic sex scenes with the best of them.

Thank you to NetGalley, especially Carina Press, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I knew when we were getting a story about Apollo that it wasn't going to be an easy one. One can't expect losing their significant other is easy, especially when children are involved.

I think Annabeth did a FANtastic job portraying all of those conflicts and emotions. I also loved how Dylan never lost his patience. Not in Apollo or the girls or the situation. He was a very strong and vibrant character. It was a great balance to Apollo's dark and stoic ways.

The girls were completely adorable and I melted every time they called him "baba".

This was a fantastic follow up in the series with a great ending and I can't wait for Ben and Maddox.

✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ FOUR & 1/2 - STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩

> > Judging a Book by it's Cover < <
TOPPY IS A HOTTIE! I've been looking forward to reading Apollo's story since reading OFF BASE. Strong cover fonts. Synopsis sounds good.
> > Looking Deeper < <
POV ~> Third person
Oh, this series is so much hotter and sexier than the Portland Heat series, which is undoubtedly sweeter. Apollo Floros is one HAWT as hell SEAL.
Widowed not long after becoming dads to twins, Apollo merely existed day to day while trying to hide his grief and many guilts. Dylan is his best buddy's younger brother, in town for a summer job, right as Dustin was shipped out of the country on a mission. Reluctantly and slightly manipulated by friends, Apollo agreed to allow Dylan to stay with him in exchange for help with the girls while his mother was, conveniently, going to be gone on a trip to Greece.
While Dylan had always had a crush on Apollo, Apollo had only ever seen Dylan as a kid. Add to that, any stray sexual thoughts triggered an avalanche of guilt and feelings of betrayal against Neal, Apollo's deceased husband. Regardless, a slow and sexy relationship of sorts began to develop.
Secondary cast was enjoyable and consisted of some old faces from OFF BASE as well as other SEALs or base personnel, Dylan's coworkers, and family from all sides. All interactions felt natural and believable. The plot was full and dynamic and the writing style was smooth. There were conflicts, most all were resolved in a timely manner. The conclusion is solid and satisfying.
Although the book is just over 200 pages, it had the feel of a longer book, possibly because of the degree of content packed into the story. While this book can stand on it's own, I suggest reading the first book in the series prior to this.
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Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.30 ~ Stars: 4 (4.5, if I were able)
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⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the Author/Publisher with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐

My 4.5 star review is posted on GR and will be posted on blog and social media on release tour and links will be updated at that time.

4.5 stars
I was intrigued by the stoic, strong, widower, Apollo Floros when he was introduced in Off Base. But as we delve more into his life, we see that Apollo has merely been existing. He is still mourning the loss of his husband, his career has changed to a more supervisory role, and he is now a single father to young twin girls. He works, he cares for his kids, and has good friends. But he closed off his heart and just lives day by day. He thrives on control, structure, and routine.

Dylan is the little brother of Apollo's best friend, Dustin. There is a ten year age difference, and Dylan crushed hard on Apollo when he was in his teens. But now Dylan is grown up and in town for the summer. Dustin is determined to convince Apollo that his little brother should stay with them and he would make a great summer helper with the girls. It's a win-win for everyone...except Apollo can't seem to shake off the attraction to this off-limits, younger guy. And Dylan does not want him to.

Apollo has been living under a cloud of loss, anger, hopelessness, and now his reactions to Dylan make him feel more guilt and confusion too. He is protective of the girls, of his heart, and of his past. Dylan is outspoken, charming, funny, and flirty. Little by little Dylan begins to bring more life and happiness to their lives. The girls adore him and it is mutual. Apollo and Dylan have a slow burn towards friendship, companionship, sexual tension, and eventually passion, and release.

What could go wrong with having a little fun since there is a time limit?

But the closer they get, the more their "sex only" arrangement scares them both. Apollo is not ready to move on, and is worried about hurting Dylan and what others might think. And Dylan is concerned that his heart will get broken and he will never be enough for Apollo.

The push and pull is intense. I loved their ever changing dynamics and seeing glimpses of Apollo without his shields. From small touches to passionate scenes, they are pulled together and have great chemistry. But Apollo is truly battling his own heart and head. And Dylan is getting in deeper with both Apollo and the girls, but still feels like a substitute. It is a hard, but realistic situation with many ups and downs. The age difference, the shared friends, the children and families, and the fact it is only supposed to be for the summer adds complications. But by far the biggest hurdle is Apollo himself, and him not being able to let go of this past and see hope in the future.

All Dylan wants is to be really seen, valued, and asked to stay--not for what he does for them, but for himself. He may be fun, but he also longs to be respected and truly cared for. Dylan has the ability to ground Apollo and helps him relieve stress and breathe. But it also adds more anxiety and fear because Dylan makes him smile more, brings passion, and loves his girls...and begins to make him feel again. But Apollo is so stuck in the past and focused on what could go wrong, that he can't see all that is right. And it puts them both in situations where they disappoint and hurt each other and make them afraid to hope.

I really felt for these guys even when I wanted to smack sense into them. Apollo especially has a lot of issues to work through to have any chance of moving forward and truly living again. And Dylan is vibrant, strong, and aware of his own needs, so would not be willing to settle for any less than he deserved.

This brings back Zack and Pike from Off Base, but can be read as a stand alone. We spend more time with their friends, Ben and Maddox who will be the heroes in On Point. Their families including Dustin also have important roles.

This one was emotional, sexy, heartwarming, and realistic best-friend's-brother M/M love story with an age difference. The addition of the twins just made it sweeter, while Apollo's grief added more emotional depth. The dual points of view were critical especially in understanding Apollo's internal battles. The story line was realistic and current. I felt like the characters were fleshed out well and had conflicting emotions and fears. I was pulled in story and suffered through the good and the bad with them, and it was all worth it by the end.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest

I have been looking forward to this story since the moment I met Apollo in Off Base and I'm so thrilled that his story did not disappoint. Is there anything in the world sexier than a dad who is in love with his kids? And it's magnified a thousand fold when that dad is a gruff and grizzled military man and those kids are adorably spirited twin girls. I knew Apollo was going to be a sure thing for me before I even opened the book.

Dylan was the wild card. He was the one I didn't know anything about before I dug into this story and the reality is that he's the one I loved most of all. He stole the show. He stole my heart. He stole, basically, everything. I freaking adored every single thing about him. And even when I was frustrated with him, it was because he was basically being too good. He's adorable, smart, funny, amazing with children, and the most patient, loyal man on the planet. As if that wasn't enough? His chemistry with Apollo? Off the freakin' charts. This book fairly sizzled in my hands. But it's more than heat - Apollo and Dylan's story hit me on every level.

There were moments I wanted to shake some sense into Apollo. I needed his character to move forward and show some growth - and he did, so I was rewarded in the end. But Lord almighty there were some frustrating moments in the middle. Angst. So much delicious angst. And I was hooked for every minute of it.

M/M books have been hit or miss for me lately - I'm not always connecting to them emotionally and so I'm struggling to feel enthusiastic about them. This one? This one I connected with instantly and completely and I am now a loyal fan. At Attention was smartly written and felt so authentic. It was emotional without being too heavy, and it left my heart happy and full. I am all in now, and I'm excited for so much more of this series!

Apollo and Dylan first met years ago, when Dylan was still a teen. Dylan is the younger brother to Dustin, one of Apollo’s friends and a fellow SEAL. At the time, Dylan had a crush on him, but he never returned it and within a few years of that, Apollo met Neal. They eventually married and had twin daughters (through a surrogate). But two years ago, Neal was killed in an accident, leaving Apollo lost and grieving.



When the story starts, Apollo is at the store and notices one man’s fine ass. He’s not happy that he noticed this, as he firmly believes that he will never have another relationship or hookup; he promised Neal forever, after all. So he quickly leaves before the other man can say anything to him. If only it were that easy, of course. At the party later that day, he realizes why the man looked vaguely familiar – it’s Dylan, all grown up (very nicely so). Of course this triggers another layer of “Shit, I shouldn’t have any of these thoughts” because now it’s not just thinking of another man besides Neal, it’s thinking about his best friend’s younger brother, and that’s a no-no.


Dylan is in town to work at a summer camp -- he likes to work with children at camps and after school programs. But since Apollo’s mother, and main support system, is going on vacation for the summer, Dustin decided that Dylan should help Apollo out with the girls while he’s in town. Apollo, who is no longer deployed on missions but does keep very busy with training exercises and whatnot at the base, doesn’t like asking for help -- from any one. And especially not from Dylan, who’s stirring up emotions and feelings that he thought died when he buried his husband. Apollo’s set to tell Dustin and Dylan hell no, but then he sees Dylan chatting with another friend of Apollo's, and a burst of jealousy changes his mind. Dylan can stay and help, but that’s all it’ll be . . . Until, of course, it’s so much more than that.



So we have an older widowed SEAL who’s a bit grouchy and a younger hero who also happens to be the brother to Apollo’s best friend, as well as the emotional angst of grief and starting over, and the sweetness of a friends to lovers type story? Um, HELL YES PLEASE AND THANK YOU! I loved these two men and their story was such a lovely treat, both sweet and steamy, which Albert always pulls off so well.


I loved watching these two together, their moments watching TV after the girls were in bed, their small conversations and the many ways that Dylan would try to help Apollo, even when he was a bit grumpy about the help. I have such a weakness for seeing the domestic side of a budding relationship, especially when the couple is still adamant that there’s nothing going on; it makes it, I don’t know, sweet and charming, so those parts weren’t at all boring to me, they were enjoyable. I loved seeing them slowly dance around each other, loved how Dylan realizes that the young man he once had a crush on is not the same as the strong father he’s falling for now. I was glad that Dylan’s old crush didn’t really factor in too much, because after all those years and life experiences, Apollo is a different man, and Dylan’s grown up from that point, too, so they really did need to see each other as they are right now, not who they first met nearly a decade ago. (By the way, the age difference is just under 10 years, if I recall correctly; Apollo is about 35 and Dylan is 23 or so.)




While I loved all the sweet parts to Apollo and Dylan’s story, you know me: I’m all about the dirty. And damn, but Albert never fails to bring the heat! It does take a bit for these two to start anything (remember: Apollo’s grief plus the “no touching my buddy’s brother” feels), but when they do . . . Oh, man, it’s sexy as hell


The scene with Dylan on top, and Apollo making him go teasingly slow for so long, all while watching him in the bedroom mirror, was deliciously dirty. As were all the other scenes. Stop me or I'll just start posting ALL THE SEXY BITS and that's not a very helpful review on its own, now is it?



As I said, there’s angst as Apollo works through his grief before finally accepting that it’s okay for him to have another partner, that doing so doesn’t take away from what he had with Neal. I loved seeing Dylan taking care of the broody “I’m tough and don’t need a hand” SEAL when his old injuries flared up. I just loved these two together, period. All the happy sighs. (And all the face fanning – did I mention they’re hot as hell together?!) Their grand HEA moment at the end was so perfect and left me with a smile on my face.




Maddox and Ben’s story is next – YAY! – and I cannot wait. I actually have the ARC on my Kindle but since it’s a June release I’m trying SO HARD not to jump in this early. I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to hold out though, because A) MADDOX AND BEN, and B) Albert is a top favorite author, period, and I can’t get enough. I swear I need a hit every month; no pressure, Annabeth, but, well, write faster! If you’re not reading Albert yet, you must. She has a few different series going and I recommend all of them; I’ve yet to be disappointed by any of her titles, and most of them end up making it to my Royal Pick list for a reason.



4 1/2 STARS!

I swear this series just gets better and better! OK this is book 2 in this series but it stands on its own without help from the first book. Apollo is the older Lt. and former SEAL. And he is a bit of a control freak. Dylan is the younger man who has had a crush on him since he was 15. As with all of this writers work the characters are amazing and complex. They are so individual I feel as if I know them.
I absolutely fell in love with these characters. I mean hard core loved them. This has become my favorite book as of right now by this author. I'm fickle so it may change when I get to the next one of which I am SO excited to get to! Apollo is broken. He is covered in guilt and memories every time he turns around. This brings a lot of emotional turmoil to the book that makes it so so good. Dylan is the light of the book. He brings happiness to everyone.

Be prepared to melt when these two come together (pun intended). No joke, it is seriously hot. The book is full of story, romance, emotional turmoil and love. It also gives a hint to the next book and OMW I just can't wait! I highly recommend this book to all who love a set of sexy men falling in love.

I loved this book! 4.5 well deserved stars for book two in the Out of Uniform series. Slow burn, Navy SEAL and hot mirror sex - brilliant!

We first meet Apollo in book one of this series when he sticks up for Zack as an Out and proud Navy SEAL. This can be read as a standalone but book one is really good and I would definitely read it first.

Apollo is raising his twin four-year-old girls as a single Dad with help from his mother and mothers in law after the death of his husband Neal two years earlier. His mother is going on an extended trip over the summer and his best friend Dustin suggests his younger brother Dylan could help out with the girls over the summer as he is moving to San Diego to work at a summer camp for kids. Apollo is reluctant to try this plan as a brief encounter with Dylan at the local grocery shop involves an unfortunate incident where Apollo was caught ogling Dylan's tight firm ass and memories of Dylan having a teenage crush on Apollo back in the day has Apollo hesitating but eventually he agrees.

"High. Tight. Round. Attached to muscular legs poking out of board shorts, the kind of legs that suggested a serious investment in a sport or fitness"

Apollo is very lost and really struggling to cope with his grief and loss. Dylan is like a breath of fresh air in his life. He's brilliant with the girls, fun, sweet and rather than judge Apollo for his sometimes considered over the top approach to parenting Dylan embraces and respects it. Dylan is desperate for Apollo to see past the 10 year age gap and see him as more than his best friends little brother. Friendship inevitably leads to a sort of friends with benefits situation with complex feelings under the surface.

This is such a sweet, realistic story of grief, loss and the process of moving forward with life. Apollo's obsession with mirror sex in Dylan's room just made me chuckle and was really HOT. This story is written really well, all the characters have such depth and the chemistry between Apollo and Dylan is sweet and genuine. I thought the young girls were really well written and are a big part of this story (as they should be as this made it more realistic) it doesn't take away from the epic love story underneath. Such a lovely sweet HEA too.

I loved book one but I loved book two even more. The cover is amazing!!! - although not quite a true representation of the descriptions of the characters in the book. I cannot wait for more from this series!