I tend to be very picky when it comes to M/M because it is my coveted genre. The go to when I need a break from other genres. It is a go to genre to break a book funk so I was a bit wary of this book. I have read off base by the same author which was good but not as engaging as I would have hoped however I gave this book a chance to surprise me on its own merits.

Apollo; I loved him from the first page but oh boy oh boy does he make some silly schoolboy errors throughout this book. I think it’s an unwritten rule that when things start to go good people mess it up. He works on a base so he has to leave at any given time when he is called. This proves problematic when he has two children.

He brings in Dylan to help. Oh my heart though, Dylan is sweet and so perfect for Apollo. They’re opposites but so right for each other at the same time. Theree is a lot of back and forth which usually annoys me but it was right for this book because there was more at stake.

This book worked a lot better for me, so I’m glad I gave it a chance.

I thought At Attention was a almost perfect romance .

The storyline isn't anything new, as I just read a similar story, but I found this to be the perfect blend of remembering past loves and finding new ones.
Apollo was still trying to mend his broken heart and continue his dailey activities when Dylan reappears back into his life. I didn't feel that he loved his dead husband more, a ghost perhaps but not wallowing in the sadness of his past life.
I liked that they had a connection and knew each other from their past. I think it helped with their easy rapport once they become more than friends.
The author was able to bring out several emotions in me while reading. Sadness, happiness, jealousy and love.

While I enjoyed this I think it could have used a bit more heat form Apollo and Dylan

A beautiful story of how love overcomes all of life's sorrows and woes. Then there is the added dash of hot sizzling love. This was a good read.

I absolutely loved this book. It was exactly what I needed after a very long day. It's a quick read, the characters are enjoyable. This is a sequel so reading the first book would be helpful if you want more backstory on Zack & Pike, but it is not necessary to enjoy this story. I adored Dylan and I loved and felt for Apollo (which didn't stop me from wanting to wring his neck at times).

I look forward to the next book in this series (which might I dare hope is Maddox & Ben, or possibly Dustin's turn in the spotlight?).

I was granted an e-arc for Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.

4.75 stars. This book really hit the spot. I didn't want to set it down. When I did finish it, I seriously considered immediately restarting it. I'm not sure that I can really express why this book worked so well for me, but I'm going to try my best.

Apollo Floros is a windowed father of twins. His husband died unexpectedly and he's been trying to hold his family and career together since then. He hasn't allowed himself to really grieve, busying himself in routines to keep his daughters and his life running smoothly. His mother usually helps him with the girls, but she's going on a trip for most of the summer. Apollo's best friend suggests that his younger brother, Dylan, could stay with him and help. Apollo needs the help, but doesn't want Dylan around especially after he realizes that he was checking Dylan out at the store earlier in the day.

Dylan, on the other hand, had a crush on Apollo years ago and is determined not to repeat that mistake. Apollo is still attractive, but Dylan sees that Apollo is very lonely. He's determined to help Apollo have more fun and just be a good friend. What neither of them count on is the fierce attraction that just won't go away and the way that they mesh together so well. They were made for each other.

The dual POV in this book really helps the reader to understand Apollo, otherwise he would really look like a jerk with his hot and cold routine. He is lonely, he's desperately trying to take care of his daughters and his career, and he thinks that he has had his one chance at love. I never once felt that Apollo, even as he would push Dylan away, was doing it to be mean. He just wasn't in the right place to meet someone that could be so important to him and deal with the feelings that were swirling around him. Dylan pushes a little too hard and eventually realizes it. They both would have been better off communicating a little more, but Apollo was so guilt-ridden that he couldn't even voice what was going on. Eventually, Dylan makes a mistake, but it allows them to clear the air a bit and start moving forward. The scene where Apollo finally confronts his grief and his ghosts was amazing and made me cry.

I loved both of these characters. Both men are flawed, but they both want what is best for the other even when it hurts. I loved watching Apollo have fun and eventually heal and accept the help he needed. I loved Dylan's interactions with pretty much everyone in this book. He's quite the character and was easy to love. The girls were a lot of fun and were portrayed well. I am really looking forward to the next book in this series...I'm really hoping that it's going to be Maddox and Ben.

Two things that stopped this from being 5 stars are: Apollo's whole you are too young and kept calling him a kid but really wanted him. I just have an issue with the older MC keeps calling the younger MC a "kid", don't know why but it's just something I don't like. And the so called "secret" that Dylan kept from him that drove Apollo off the rails was just stupid.

Apollo was Dylan's teenage crush & was crushed when Apollo got married. But years later, Apollo is now a widower with twin daughters (who were so damn cute I wanted to just pinch their cheeks :D). His Mom is planning on going away for a couple of mths on vacation & Apollo needs someone to help him take care of the girls. And that is where Dylan comes in. We do get to watch how much Dylan gets along w/the girls & again how cute they are. We also watch Dylan break down Apollo's walls and show him that yes he can love again. There were times that Apollo wasn't very nice to him & did say some mean things but since this was alternating POV, we got to see where Apollo was coming from. I didn't realize this was book two of a series, and never read the first one but will be rectifying that situation.

My review will also be cross-posted on MyFictionNook.com when a slot is available.

I didn't realize this book is the 2nd in a series and that I not only read the first book but enjoyed it too. This book is well written and one that you will not want to put down until the very end.

Storyline: 5
Angst: 3
Tissue: 0
Value: 5
Panty Scorching: 5
Over All Rating: 4.5 Stars
Kindle eArc provided by Netgalley

I really enjoyed the way this series continued with Apollo, a widowed SEAL, and Dylan, the younger brother of his best friend. Some parts were hard to read regarding Apollo moving on from his grief from losing his partner. Dylan seemed to bring in a fresh breath of life to the family feeling under water with his work, raising twin girls on his own and getting past his loneliness. I love the family and friend atmosphere that these series have. They always provide such support for one another. This is just such a heartwarming story about getting a second chance at love.

We first met Apollo Floros near the end of Off Base - the tattooed bad-ass warrior ... with a minivan and twin daughters. In At Attention we get his story and oooh, it's a great read packed with hot dirty mirrored sex (as in “I want to watch you come.” Apollo turned them so that Dylan was sitting facing the mirrored closet doors. “Fuck, you are hot.”) as well as deep emotion as Apollo finally coming to terms with his grief over the death of his husband, Neal.

When Apollo's mother / live-in babysitter goes on a two-month trip to Greece, Apollo's BF Dustin suggests his brother Dylan as the perfect solution to Apollo's child-care problem. Apollo remembers Dylan as a teenager, but is awestruck to meet the adult Dylan (and his awesome ass) in the so-very-attractive flesh: "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's got issues - his desire to organize and control, his protectiveness for Sophia and Chloe ("he’d probably still be cutting up his girls’ food when they were fifteen"), his fear of letting go of the past - but Dylan is the perfect person to support Apollo as he finally learns to grieve for Neal and begin constructing his future with Dylan.

I gotta admit that I really liked the dynamic between Zack and Pike in Off Base (the first book in the Out of Uniform series) and didn't feel quite the same connection between Apollo and Dylan, but I realize I'm probably in the minority with that opinion. Also I felt there was a lag in the middle of the book, but I liked how the ending pulls everything together. 4 solid stars for At Attention.

I went into this with a preconceived idea of what Apollo would be like. From his parts of the previous books I expected him to be a fiery, hot, alpha type. He was nothing like I expected and honestly I wasn't digging him at all for the first part of the story. He was super dad like and boring. His conversations revolved about menu planning, cutting up hot dogs so the kids don't choke, safety ratings on SUV's etc, etc. A groaned every time he opened his mouth. Apollo's real life was a little too close to my real life so I was not digging this book at all for the first 25% or so. (I pick up books to get as far away from meal planning and schedules and kid puke as possible.)

What kept me engaged was Dylan. I adored him and watching him slowly get Apollo to open up and accept help was touching. As the story went on I realized that it was a more serious story than some of the author's previous books and I liked that she took a realistic look at grief and the struggles people go through as they work their way through it. I seriously appreciated that there was no magical fixing of the problem just because Apollo cared for Dylan. By half way through I was much more invested in Apollo's journey and I was interested in seeing how things worked out for these two. These two had some ups and some downs and there was a lot of feelz in this story.

The last 25% or so was my favorite part of the book and there were some very emotional scenes. I loved the epilogue and it was so darn romantic I might have gotten a bit teary-eyed. Maybe. Just a bit. I ended up really liking the book and I think it's a great addition to this series.

*ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Annabeth Albert is one of my favorite authors, and she delivers again with a great military man, age-gap romance.

I have a love/hate relationship with stories involving second chances at love after a previous partner has passed away. When they work, they blow me away, but sometimes having the ghost of a former lover hanging over a new relationship can be a bit... heavy. This book felt heavy, but I really liked it anyway.

I'm a big fan of an age gap, and the age gap here was just to my liking. I actually think Annabeth Albert could have made Apollo even older and given a bigger age gap (10 years isn't a huge difference), but I enjoyed the tension and contrasts a good deal. Dylan was young, take-charge, tenacious, and resilient, which was good contrast to Apollo's more broody persona.

Sometimes kids in romance work for me and sometimes they don't. Here, I was pretty meh about the twins part of the story, but it didn't detract from the couple at all, IMO. What the kids did was give this book a more serious feel than I was expecting. The book felt weightier than the previous in the series, which isn't good or bad, just a fact.

I think where Annabeth Albert really shines in this book is with the sex scenes. I liked when Apollo got toppy and verbal, and I could have used even MORE of it, to be honest. I enjoyed the chemistry of the two guys together, and I thought that they made a fabulous couple.

My one complaint is that I thought Apollo dicked Dylan around too much for my liking. He was too hot and cold, and I got annoyed with Apollo near the end. However, I easily would buy and read this book again, and I think this series is pure gold! Though I liked the first in the series more (Off Base), Annabeth Albert is really bringing it with her military men, and I hope she never stops!

*Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Bless Apollo's broken heart. He's so torn. Torn that he is not honoring his husbands memory, thinks he does not deserve to be happy again, does not want to lead anyone on.....but he can't help himself when he is reconnected with his best friend's younger brother Dylan.....

Dylan has always had a crush on Apollo, but now he's all grown up and just as quirky as ever. He's determined to be a friend to Apollo for the summer while he is helping him out with his two young daughter's. But of course, he cannot help himself around this sexy man, and of course....he falls for him.

But can these two men find their way towards what they each so desperately want and need if one does not think he is worthy?

I am so in love with this series! And Annabeth Albert did another excellent job in writing tow MC's that you can't help but both love and hurt for!!

Another good read from Annabeth Albert, who always delivers sexy and interesting dynamics in her romances. This one features a slow-burn age-gap relationship that involves grief, love, family, and hope. The emotional journey of the characters could have been more fully developed (the ending felt rushed), but this was very engaging and well-written.

Loved it! These two guys were perfect for each other. To be honest, I wasn't a fan of book one but this book was fantastic. The second chance stories are always a favorite for me and reading about Apollo getting his HEA after such a great loss was such a great read. Dylan never giving up on what he wanted just proves that there are people that know what they want in their lives and know there are things that are worth fighting for. Strength, resilience to never give up, and true love are worth fighting for.

I loved it.

Ms. Albert is a fairly new to me author. I read the first book ( Off Base ) in the Out of Uniform series, and though I liked it, I wasn't crazy about the principals and/or the story arc. I'm so glad I listened to friends & fans of Ms. Albert & decided to request At Attention on Netgalley because I enjoyed it so much. I finally get the Annabeth Albert hype & I'm singing her praises now too. Lucky me - so many books in her back catalog.

At Attention is Apollo's story. We met him & liked him in the first book - but weren't given much of his back story. And it's heartbreaking. After finding and losing the love of his life two years ago (hmmm), he's raising twin 5 year old girls with some help from his mom & in-laws. He runs his family/home life like he ran his SEAL teams - organization, discipline & a well defined routine/plan define each day. Weighed down by his grief over Neal's death two years ago, consumed with his professional and personal responsibilities, and convinced he'll never love again, Apollo is an automaton just getting by day-to-day.

That is, until Apollo spots a hottie in the grocery aisle and can't force himself to look away.

Dylan is in San Diego to spend the summer with his brother (and Apollo's best friend), and work at the local Boys & Girls club when he spots Apollo checking him out in the grocery aisle. He recognizes the older man right away - because he had a massive crush on him as a fifteen year old. He makes every effort to catch Apollo ogling him - but Apollo refuses to give him any opening to approach. He likes the attention and knows he'll get his chance with Apollo soon enough. After all, he's just picking up beer for the cookout he's been invited to at Apollo's house later that afternoon. Wink, wink.

When Apollo realizes who Dylan is, he's relieved (sort of). Dylan is his friends kid brother & therefor, even if he wanted to hook up with him (he does), that makes him off limits. He feels guilty about his attraction to Dylan, and disloyal to Neal. Events & circumstances conspire to bring them together anyway. Apollo needs help with the girls during the summer (his mother is taking a trip) and Dylan is great with kids. Before he really knows what's happening, Dylan is moving in and Apollo is facing a day-to-day struggle to keep his intense attraction to Dylan under wraps. It's just too bad for him that Dylan has a completely different agenda for their summer relationship.

Lucky for us, Dylan is a babe. He's also great with children and Apollo. Attraction leads to flirting and flirting leads to sexy times. And when I say sexy, I mean it. Ms. Albert more than makes up for the not-so-hot Off Base hook-ups between Zack & Pike with some terrific sex scenes between Apollo and Dylan. Both men know what they're doing in the sack (though Apollo has some new skillz to teach Dylan) and the sex is hot. I loved their dirty talk in bed & how Ms. Albert ramped up the anticipation between Apollo and Dylan & then gave us supremely satisfying (and romantic) sex scenes. The relationship, the sex, the feelings - it's all intense and unfortunately, ripe for one or both men to screw up.

The fling/relationship goes off the rails when a secret Dylan's kept from Apollo is abruptly revealed when both men are still struggling to figure out what they mean to each other. Though they both know in their hearts the relationship is more than a fling, only one of them is willing or emotionally able to admit it. Guess who?

I loved almost everything about this story, especially Dylan. He's so much more in touch with his emotions than Apollo - and despite his age, he shows great emotional maturity as he deals with all of Apollo's hangups and anxieties. I wasn't as crazy about Apollo, perhaps because I was raised by a type-A military dad & well, let's just say I think Ms. Albert does an excellent job selling those things as positives (when they aren't!). And in case it isn't clear, I loved the sexual relationship between Apollo and Dylan. No fumbling, no awkwardness. Dirty, naughty & intense - no wonder they couldn't keep their hands off each other.

At Attention deserves your attention - it's so good.

I called it. This book is filled with angst, and I loved it. At Attention is a slow burn, sexy, age gap romance, and it delivers.

We met Apollo Floros in Off Base as a Lieutenant, 34, with the SEALs and we had learned that his husband had passed away sometime before the series began. In this book, from Apollo’s POV, we get a better sense just how deep his despair is. With his husband’s death, Apollo probably would have spiraled into depression. He’s never gotten grief counseling, but the one thing that keeps him going is his twin girls, Chloe and Sophia. Apollo’s mother usually looks after them, but for this one summer, she’s booked a vacation to Europe and will be away for two months. Apollo’s work schedule keeps him busy and he needs someone to relive him of some every day work and to look after the girls when he’s gone.

Apollo’s best friend’s younger brother, Dylan, has had a crush on Apollo ever since he met him at 15. It’s a cute little crush, but now Dylan is out of college, 23, and in need of a place to stay over the summer while he works as a children’s day camp counselor. He gets hired on to help Apollo out around the house, and woah, the sparks start flying. It’s definitely more lust and physical attraction rather than love that overtakes the two and Apollo and Dylan are hot.

Apollo is constantly feeling guilty about his conflicted feelings toward Dylan. The man still keeps his wedding ring on, but goodness sakes. He has a very regimented system in place, not only at work, but around the house as well that, luckily, Dylan adapts to pretty well. Dylan’s had lovers in high school and college, but he has to remind Apollo that he’s not a kid anymore. Dylan is an adult with responsibilities and I like that he knows when to set his foot down in order to make Apollo make up his mind and stop being so wishy-washy.

I love the alternating POV, so that we can get a sense of how Apollo and Dylan feel about each other. If it were just from Apollo’s POV, we would never be able to know that Dylan is struggling between accepting their relationship as a hot summer fling with an end date or wanting it to be something more. If this were just in Dylan’s POV, we would never know that Apollo’s is terrified of letting go of his ex and also starting to realize that Dylan might mean something more to him than just a kid brother of his best friend. There’s a definite age-gap between Apollo and Dylan, but I’m just dying whenever Apollo makes himself out to be one step away from a hospice. He’s only 34. And Apollo’s tattoo. It’s so cliché and cringe worthy, but it is meaningful.

Apollo’s twin girls are 5-years-old, but they never feel intrusive. They’re absolutely adorable and I loved reading about them. Kids in romance storylines can often feel like they’re just in the way of the main couple getting together, but the author manages to work Chloe and Sophia into the storyline and actually makes me love them.

The secondary characters are very enjoyable to read. Apollo’s friends, Ben and Maddox, are entertaining as hell and has the potential to be very interesting. I’m hoping we get a story with these two, so they can get a HEA. At the moment, it seems very much a one-sided romance and I AM HERE FOR THIS. Isaiah is introduced late in the story, but I think his story would be enjoyable to read since we hardly know anything about him. Zack and Pike from Off Base appear in this story a few times and are still totally adorable.

Apollo and Dylan are just heart-wrenchingly angsty, but I can understand why. Sex is not a problem for these two (*coughmirrorsexcough*), but everything else is a hurdle they need to overcome. I was audibly gasping out loud in the last two chapters at some very <333 moments and I simply can’t wait to see what else Annabeth Albert has in store for the Out of Uniform universe!!!

***Thanks to Carina Press for providing me an ARC through NetGalley***

Annabeth Albert just keeps getting better and better! Not only is this book sexy, it hits you right in the feels over and over again! 5/5 stars.

*This novel is the military equivalent to a GRAND SLAM!*

I can't get over how well Annabeth can weave a story of love, hope, broken hearts, keep me tangled up in knots, staying up all night, and eagerly flipping the pages in search of that HEA.

The second book in the Out of Uniform series was one I was highly anticipated and jumped at the chance to review. Off base having been the first M/M and not knowing what to expect, this novel gave me everything that one didn't. (in only the best ways) Two experienced men.(not fumbling first timers, though I did love that) and smoking hot heat to go along with it!

I loved the dynamic the children and families brought to the table as this made it seem like something out of real life, which i highly enjoy.

this book is a definite re-read for me, and I am hoping there is more Brewing for Maddox, Ben, Isiah and the rest of the gang!