Finalllllly Maddox and Ben!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guys, literally....I have been waiting for their story for so long and I was a teeny bit afraid that they beautiful men would not get their HEA with each other. BUT Annabeth Albert would NEVER do that to me, right??!!

I have loved Maddox for what seem's lie an eternity. To finally get his story...to see what he has had to contend with in his personal life from his family was truly heartbreaking. And, like a momma bear, I did not want Ben to hurt him! I didn't have much faith in Ben's ability to be an actual real boyfriend. I mean, sure he can play the part, but can he really mean it? Is he selfless enough to truly understand and give Maddox what he wants and needs in his life? Oh, it's a rough go of it towards the end, but the ending was so totally swoon-worthy and worth all the tense moment's before.

All in all, another excellent addition to this series and WOOHOO I can't wait for the next one :):):):):)

I have read the others in this series, and I could not wait to read this one. I already knew Maddox was in love with his best-friend, Ben, but he thought he doesn't stand a chance. When he talked to Dylan about Ben, he revealed his feelings and how hopelessly he felt and well, I couldn't wait to see how these two will end up together. But never would I have guess it was on a mission that Ben would learn how much he need Maddox. How there is more in this series.

What a wonderful story! This one was not only one of the most exciting stories I’ve read by this author, it was also the hottest—and the one that I am putting at the top of my list of favorites.

The author sprinkles in back story as she sets best friends, Ben Tovey (who we met in At Attention) and Maddox Horvat, off on a SEAL mission that fails spectacularly. But Ben, almost at the cost of his own life, manages to rescue Maddox after he’s injured, dragging him to the secondary pickup point. For Ben, it’s more than “SEALS never leave anyone behind.” He loves Maddox and has for years, though no one knows—including Maddox.

As it turns out, both are rescued and both are sent to emergency surgery and later recuperation, but neither knows the other’s condition, and it drives Ben crazy once he’s awake and aware. It also turns out to be the impetus he needs to finally reveal his feelings to Maddox once they are on the road to recovery and back to rooming together.

I totally adored their discovery of each other’s sexual kinks and preferences. Honestly, one needs a personal fan to read these scenes. And it’s not just the sex act—it’s the chemistry, the emotion, the joy of being together. Both men are sexually experienced, but never together, and giving in to their hearts’ deepest desires played out even better, IMHO, than many first-time-with-a-man scenes.

Naturally, there’s a problem looming on the horizon—Maddox decides not to “re-up” but fails to tell Ben and Ben hears about it while on duty. Heartbroken that Maddox didn’t trust him, Ben pulls away and moves in with his family. But Maddox didn’t tell him because he knew Ben would talk him out of it, and the one thing Maddox wants as much as he wants Ben is to own his own bakery. With the help of his friends, that dream may come true—but at the cost of losing Ben forever.

It wouldn’t be an Annabeth Albert story without a happy ending, so have no fear. But the joy is in watching it unfold and sharing in the happiness that is this couple’s final destination. Highly recommended!

This book warmed my heart. I have a fondness for these characters, Sometimes whilst reading this book I forgot these characters were fictional! I'll have a full review nearer to release date! <3

On Point, Annabeth Albert

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  LGBTQIA

I didn't realise this was a series, with two previous books, nor that it was a spin off from another series which I haven't read. So many books, so little time and Annabeth is an author whose books I've only just begun to touch. Each of these are stand alone reads though, so I was abe to follow easily, though I'd have known more about all the characters if I'd read earlier books.

You know when you're reading how some authors manage to describe a character and you can mentally "see" them? Well, here I had very clear pictures of Mad and Ben, not from physical descriptions so much as Annabeth's way of describing what type of person they are. I need that, need to feel I know – and like – characters to get really engrossed in their stories.

Friends to lovers, always a fun read, and of course as always the potential for losing your best friend gets wrapped up in that. Who looks at logics though when the heart is involved?
Mad's been in love with Ben for a long time now, but kept his feeling locked so tight inside Ben has no idea about them. Now serious injury to them both, re-enlistment time and relationship gaps coincide, and somehow they end up in a possibly-only-for-now relationship.
No end date put on, but one they agree to keep low key around others, and which if things don't work out won't spoil their friendship. Hah! As if!

Mad can't quite believe whats happened, Ben is kind of shocked at how his feelings for Mad have become more than just good mates.
And while they're both recuperating and hot, steamy sex is out there's plenty more they can and do try.

Things look to be going well, Ben is determined to make Mad enjoy the dates he arranges, and he's finding the change form his usual hook-ups only stance novel.
Still, even though on the surface he's going all in he still denies Love is real, he's been burned by that in his personal life when his last long term lover left him, and of course by seeing how devastated his dad was and how let down he felt when his mum left him at a young age.
He's all about enjoy the moment, look forward to things but Love? He's a real cynic about its existence.

Mad though takes the opposite view, even though his past hasn't delivered he's still got his parents happy marriage as a role model and he wants that for himself.
Tough though making a romance work when one wants a solid HEA and the other is convinced that HFN is as good as it gets.
Throw in a secret that affects them both and ...can their romance survive? Are Mad's dreams possible or destined to stay just a fantasy? 
 
Stars: four, a really fun read, great characters and some very real situations between them.  

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

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

Ben and Maddox are housemates and serve together on the same Seal team. Maddox has always felt some attraction between them but lately he has wanted more. Neither Ben or Maddox want to ruin their friendship so should they try being f*ck buddies to get this chemistry worked out of their system? Or will this experiment go totally wrong?

"Ben was playful in a way he hadn't expected, and it made Maddox smile, same as he had in the kitchen. Couldn't help it. This was fun, something he totally should have anticipated but hadn't. He'd always thought it would be almost painful - so much wanting and longing and unexpressed feelings clouding what should be pleasurable. But he hadn't accounted for how his pulse would race and adrenaline jangle and how damn turned-on it would make him"

I've been waiting for Ben and Maddox's book. Squeeeeee! Ben....that man about drove me crazy. I wanted so many times to throttle him and get him out of his twisted narcissistic thinking. Quit being a scaredy cat and it's not all about you! Maddox is my sweetheart. Ok...yes, I'm showing favoritism but he truly is adorable. When these two start "experimenting", fireworks go off...smoke alarms beep....lol! I just really enjoyed the roller coaster they had my emotions on. Now that I see the next book I'm like what? Dustin? What? Need this now!

On Point is the third book in the Out of Uniform series by Annabeth Albert and focuses on the relationship between Maddox and Ben, two Navy SEALS who we have previously met in earlier books. It uses familiar and popular tropes - best friends-to-lovers and hurt/comfort - to flesh out the complicated relationship between these two men with different outlooks on life and love.

The story begins in the midst of a mission that soon goes awry, leaving Maddox and Ben - their friendship strained by a few choice decisions in recent months - seriously injured and at the mercy of the elements as they make their way back to their teammates for extraction. The reasons for the strain on their friendship is explained through flash backs and character thoughts as we switch perspectives between both main leads throughout the story.

Maddox has decided that he needs to reevaluate what he wants out of life. He’s accomplished a lot in the 10 years he’s been in the Navy, but he wants more. He wants a life outside of all that, and he wants Ben, his best friend who’s been by his side for the last decade. Ben, on the other hand, is reluctant to mess up the friendship that means so much to him. Still recovering from a relationship that ended badly - of which we as readers find out a little of throughout the story - Ben plays the field and as a result, causes more friction than before.

This story had a distinctly more military feel to it, given that it’s the first book in this series where the two protagonists are in the same SEAL team. It was great to read about the mission aspect of the story, while also reading about the harrowing experience Maddox and Ben have and the repercussions of their serious injuries and how it affects both of them mentally and physically in different ways.

As always, I love the inclusion of characters we’ve previously met, including Dylan, Apollo, Pike and Zac. It’s such a simple thing and yet it builds this world up for all of the books in the series.

For a book that deals with missions-gone-wrong and injury-recovery, there’s not a huge amount of angst in the book - which for me is a bonus, because I wasn’t looking for that in a read - but be aware of it when going in. If you like stories with HEA then definitely give this one a shot.

I gave On Point 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Steamy and heartwrenching! Loved the characters and the story!

I. LOVED. This. Book!

First, I love the series and it’s original spinoff. Though each book is absolutely a stand alone, you get a little bit “more” if you read them in order – first the #gaymers series then the Out of Uniform series.

Ben, we’ve met before, and he isn’t as loveable as some of the other characters. He sleeps around a lot and doesn’t seem to catch a clue that Maddox is so obviously in love with him.

(Little warning, there is a ménage scene in this that involves Maddox and Ben and someone else who doesn’t seem to mean anything later – just in case you hate that stuff.)

Maddox is so, so, so wonderful. He’s sweet, sensitive, caring – and built like a linebacker! I love that! I loved how torn he was between doing what was right for himself versus what was right for his family or for Ben.

The smexy times are – as always- smokin’. Annabeth can seriously write some hot chemistry and these two sizzle! Maddox opens up and Ben gets downright naughty with the dirty talk!

I was almost near tears when our two MCs are injured – and that is what finally drew them together, I think. So, most of the story is really these two guys learning how to really be in a relationship together after years of friendship. There is still relationship angst and other issues to overcome, but a lot of this is these two guys – being adults – and dealing with a new “reality”.

This is hands down my favorite in the Out of Uniform series – these two guys just really touched me, Maddox especially. I can’t wait for the next one!
(6 of 5 for the covers too!)

I can’t recommend the series or this book enough – highly recommended! 6 of 5 stars

4.75 stars!

"I've got your back. Leap with me, Maddox's gaze urged. And same as Ben had followed him on their first dive, out their first HALO jump, he made a choice to believe in that. To leap. Together."


Knowing that I'm addicted to a good friend-to-lovers romance, I knew I had to get my hands on it and read this book asap when I saw it. For anyone who loves the friends-to-lovers trope, this book will be right up your alley. It was sexy, yet sweet with the right amount of romance.

Ben and Maddox are the two men I've been waiting to get my hands on. They've been friends for over a decade when they met in the Military. Since then they've done everything together and can't imagine a life without each other.

''Love doesn’t keep people together. I wish it did, but it doesn’t. Someday you’ll move on. Someday I won’t be enough-"
"You will always be enough."


Their chemistry is off the charts, I adored their relationship and how they grew up and realized that yes, there is a life after the military. Maddox going for his dreams despite all the pressure from people was inspiring. This book had everything I was looking for in a good M/M story.

Knowing this book releases in June(?) I will probably change up my review a bit to reflect the final copy of the story.

Loved it! A great read, I highly recommend the entire series. Can't wait to read the next one!

I really enjoyed watching Maddox & Ben move from friends to lovers to more. There were issues that both of them had to work out. What stopped me from giving this story 5 stars is the unnecessary blow-up, misunderstanding & wallowing in a bottle that Ben did. I can understand that he would be upset but the way he went about handling it was uncalled for. And his assuming that just because he was wanting a career in the SEALs that Maddox wanted it as well. But beyond that it really was a really good addition to this series. Can't wait for the next book in this series.

On Point is for those who love best-friends-to-lovers!

This book isn’t without angst. Ben doesn’t trust love. He’s been burned , by his mother, later by his ex-husband. Maddox has been his one constant. When Maddox tells Ben he doesn’t want to reenlist, Ben freaks.

Good story, I would recommend to all!

Annabeth Albert writes well fleshed-out characters with interesting dynamics and develops sexual and emotional chemistry in her romances. Military romances are not my cup of tea, so I find this series less compelling than her other work. In the other books in the series, the Navy SEALelement was pretty limited, as the stories focused on their life outside of the military; however, this book attempts to depict military plot lines alongside their developing romantic relationship, and not always successfully. The resolution of conflict also seemed too easy, considering the depth of history these two had with each other. Overall, a well-written, fast-paced romance, though not my favourite by this author.

It isn't often that you read a romance where both characters are just as fully fleshed out, both of their sets of concerns as reasonable as the other's--even at the same time as they are miscommunicating and hurting themselves and each other--leading into a Happily For Now that is quite so satisfying as it is in this novel.

Maddox is a sweetheart who we have seen in the background of the other books in this series so far, Off Base and At Attention. He lives with Ben and, maybe predictably, has had the world's biggest crush on the guy for the past 12 years. However, he doesn't really believe that Ben is the sort to want to settle down with him, which is what Maddox really wants with someone he's in a relationship with.

Ben has insecurities the size of the world where it comes to people abandoning him. His mum did it, and his ex did it, complete with stealing all his money and his dogs. This is something he's carried around for years since the break up, and since childhood really, creating a barrier between himself and the rest of the world where buries himself in meaningless shags and doesn't notice his feelings for Maddox are more than those he should have with a friend.

Then the two of them are in the middle of a SEAL op and almost die together. It's sweet, if a little bit long winded between the present with their near death experience, and the flashbacks towards the first time they actually acknowledged that the two of them were attracted to each other six months ago.

After their stay in hospital for recuperation, though, that's where the book gets really good for me. Having laid all this ground work with both characters, Annabeth then proceeds to milk it for all its worth. We don't get the predictable plot line of Ben running away because dating is actually too hard. No, it's the opposite, where he goes in 110% despite his fears because if he's going to make a go of this with Maddox, he's really going to make a go of this.

Ben is obviously a really strong personality. Which is why Maddox doesn't feel he can share everything with him. Which is all I am going to say without spoiling the rest. It's fantastic, the resolution and the character growth that these two go through. Easily my favourite in an already fantastic series thus far.

This is the 3rd book in the Out of Uniform Series, and we get some thrilling military action! I absolutely loved that about this installment. Maddox and Ben have been in the outskirts of the previous 2 books and I just KNEW they would get their day. A heart warming friends to lovers romance, but also so much more. The author did a fantastic job with the descriptiveness of the rain forest/jungle scenes as well as all the military lingo. I was transported right along with them and rooting for them to get their HEA. The slow burn between these two was enough to keep me hooked, and flipping the pages rapidly!

BEN AND MADDOX, YOU GUYS. In my review for At Attention, I mentioned that I so wanted to read a book for Ben and Maddox and here we are! This is my favorite of the three Out of Uniform books so far. I’m just drowning in all the happy feels after reading this book. We’re introduced to Ben and Maddox in the last book (these are all standalone HEA romances, but reading them in order is so much more fun). Ben and Maddox are just roommates and best friends, but everyone seems to think there’s something going on between them because they are very entertaining company. Or at least, everyone thinks Maddox has a one-sided crush on Ben.

Maddox loves baking in his spare time and Ben likes hooking up with any and every attractive guy he comes across. WELL. These two are Navy SEALs and have trained, been on the same team, and been best friends for the past twelve years. When Ben comes out of a relationship that ended badly and started rooming with Maddox, they’re both in denial about their feelings for one another, scared that admitting anything will ruin their friendship.

Ben and Maddox are out on a mission to rescue a hostage with their team and things go badly. They get separated from their team and have to survive by relying on one another, even when they’re on awkward terms. There are some flashback scenes to show what caused the awkwardness to wedge between Ben and Maddox. This part of the book is actually pretty intense. Because 1) I didn’t know how long they were going to be stuck in this scenario and 2) the characters could get seriously injured and possibly die. Okay, maybe not quite that dire, since this is a promised HEA after all. But, still. It made me nervous.

To avoid spoiling anything, I won’t say anything more about that. This is just one of the best friends-to-lovers books I’ve read and these Ben and Maddox are seriously one of my favorite couples now. The book is told from both Ben and Maddox’s POV. I wouldn’t say it’s an angsty book, especially compared to At Attention. We do get a lot of cameos from the couples in the previous two books – Zack, Pike, Apollo, and Dylan. Ben and Maddox have some really steamy scenes, in case the book cover doesn’t convince you or if you’ve never read an Annabeth Albert book.

What I am super excited about is that the next book is about Dustin (Dylan’s brother and Apollo’s best friend) and I need this now. It’s not going to be out until November, so I guess I’ll just re-read all three of the Out of Uniform books until then!

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

On Point is a fabulous addition to the Out of Uniform series. I really enjoyed Maddox and Ben’s story, from being best friends since their BUD(S) training to where their friendship takes them.

This story begins in Borneo with Maddox and Ben on a mission to rescue the kidnapped sons of two senators.

The mission doesn’t go as planned; the men are separated from their team and trapped in enemy territory. With a dislocated shoulder and cracked ribs, Ben half carries his best friend through the jungle. Maddox is pale and disoriented, with his leg twisted at an odd angle. Both men are injured, but Ben won’t leave Maddox behind.

Intense and sexy, On Point is a feast for those who love best-friends-to-lovers and hurt/comfort tropes. Ben wants to take care of Maddox. These new feelings he has for his friend are . . . inconvenient. He tempts Maddox, but the more he pushes, the more their friendship suffers.

Ben and Maddox play a sexy, dangerous game, but the more they play, the more they fall.

Maddox isn’t like Ben. He’s not the life of the party. He doesn’t have a supportive dad and stepmom; his own parents wrote him off when he came out.

Ben lives and breathes the military, but Maddox wants more: commitment, someone to care for, and his own little bakery where he can create sweet masterpieces.

This book isn’t without angst. Ben doesn’t trust love. He’s been burned over and over, first by his mother, later by his ex-husband. Maddox has been his one constant. When Maddox tells Ben he doesn’t want to reenlist, Ben panics.

“Love doesn’t keep people together. I wish it did, but it doesn’t. Someday you’ll move on. Someday I won’t be enough—”

“You will always be enough.”

While I loved briefly visiting with the couples from the first two books, On Point can be read as a standalone.

If you love men in uniform (and who doesn’t?); scorching chemistry (Maddox, usually such a good boy, can talk dirty with the best of ‘em); fully realized, likable characters with quirks and insecurities; and endings that make you feel like all is right with the world, you must read this book.

The third book in the Out of Uniform series by Annabeth Albert fits perfectly into the series. One thing Ms. Albert does is give the reader brief glances at characters from other books but she doesn’t cause an information dump that would bore the readers who are reading the series in order. That said, this can be read as a stand-alone but enjoyed much more when read as part of a beautifully written series.
We’ve seen Maddox and Ben throughout the series, as friends and housemates, but not as lovers. They’ve been friends for 10 years! That’s a long time for two men who are gay but not lovers to stay friends. This book starts with a BANG! as both men are part of a SEAL team that is tasked with rescuing some hostages and things go badly leaving both Maddox and Ben with near fatal wounds but both are determined to save each other. It is hard to imagine what they had to go through, the pain, fear, and deadly agony before being rescued.
As both men are suffering on the island they realize how much each means to the other. Ben has always been a man who needs sex. A lot of it. Maddox needs love. Can both men find what they need in each other or will the changes they have to make in themselves be more than they can stand? It’s time to reup and Ben does so quickly, knowing his life as a SEAL is all he needs, or so he thinks. Maddox wants something else and when he is near death on the island promises himself that if/when he gets home he’s going to go for what he needs, not what someone else needs from him. What Maddox really wants is a surprise and it takes a while for Ben to wrap his head around it or decide to move on without Maddox. Great story.