*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by NetGalley for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

Wheels Up is the fourth book in Annabeth Albert’s Out of Uniform series. Though there are scenes with previous characters and couples, I think this book could be read as a standalone. Will you get more enjoyment from reading in the appropriate order? Of course you will!

I really struggled with this book and it probably took me more than 60% of it to get engaged with the characters. I liked Wes, for the most part. Minus the interaction and behaviors with Dustin, I liked Wes. Wes managed to do his job and not be hidden in a closet reaching middle earth. Anyone important in his life knew he was gay. He hid nothing. I loved Wes’ interactions with his sister and family. I think that’s what endeared him to me and made me engage with the characters, eventually.

Side note: I think too many times in books there’s such a big deal made about being “out”, that we forget that millions of people go to work, do their jobs and make no reference to being hetero or not. Because it’s work, not the club, not a family reunion, not a lunch with friends. And many people are just there doing their jobs. They’re not in or out of the closet.

I didn’t like Dustin through most of the book. He has been working out to understand what he wants in life. I get that, it takes time to be comfortable. But his bisexual self was hidden in the middle earth closet. I mean, come on, he freaked out about being seen in a public museum with Wes. When he himself acknowledged he went to bars with his friends, even gay bars. And his best friend is gay and marrying Dustin’s brother. I thought his behavior was over the top ridiculous. And that’s how the book starts, with Dustin waffling on whether he should meet Wes in person and whether he can be seen in public. He knew Wes was in some branch of the military. What was the likelihood that he was going to be wearing a rainbow sign proudly declaring he was gay? This kind of behavior made me really not enjoy the first part of the book.

When Dustin and Wes first talked and met, they didn’t know what the other did or where they did it. Eventually, they ended up being on the same Seal team where the issues came in because Dustin was a higher rank. Dustin rightfully ended any communication. Or attempted to. What I didn’t like about Wes was his constant engaging of Dustin, outside of work. He refused to let the pseudo-relationship end. I thought it was really disrespectful of him to put Dustin in that position, especially when Dustin faced severe consequences if anyone found out. I felt zero sympathy for both men regarding all of this. They know the rules. The rules are there for a reason. They knew what they needed to do so they could have a relationship.

Eventually, Dustin gets it together and makes the journey from his closet in middle earth to tell his gay brother and his gay best friend that he’s bisexual. And the earth still existed. They were appropriately hurt by his silence but they loved him and didn’t make a big deal about it. He used the time to figure out what he wanted when he wasn’t trying to meet his father’s expectations and went about making the necessary changes in his life. Wes also decided what he wanted and made the changes necessary to get it. This story ends with a strong HFN ending, with the HEA believable.

One item I didn’t mention above was the dynamic in Dustin and Wes’ bedroom time. Dustin liked to be tied and controlled and Wes liked to tie and control him. So, for those that enjoy light BDSM, you’ll want to check out this book! And for the many others who enjoy strong men, military stories and self-discovery. This book is for you!

Rating: 4 stars

Sweet, spicy, and stirring!

Wheels Up is an emotional, steamy read that highlights just how much harder it is to find that someone special, the one who makes you feel wanted, needed and cared for when your life revolves around the military and things like rank, impropriety, and fraternization come into play.

The writing is titillating and tender. The characters are well-crafted, appealing, and genuine. And the plot told from two different points of view, is filled to the brim with longing, lust, desire, angst, palpable chemistry, and a swoon-worthy happy-ever-after ending.

Wheels Up is hands down a sexy, sultry tale with a nice side of kink. And I have to admit that when it comes to M/M romance novels Albert is a star and the "Out of Uniform" series is one of the best.

The Out of Uniform Series is fantastic - lots of wonderful, hot men in uniform falling in love and getting in their own way. In this installment we have Dustin (brother to Dylan and best friend of Apollo, of At Attention fame and my favorite couple of the Out of Uniform universe!) and Wes. In a weird twist of fate, Dustin's sext-buddy turns out to be the new subordinate on his SEAL Team. A relationship with Wes could lead to a court marshal. And this is what kills me about this book, He. Does. It. Anyway.



Predictably, the boys who think they are oh so smooth and sneaky - aren't. Conflict ensues. But, since this is a romance novel, our heroes work things out. What I loved about Wheel's Up is that our heroes actually take a practical and rational approach to resolving their issues and protecting themselves instead of something irrational and unbelievable. All that, and we get to see Dylan and Apollo again!

I adore this series so much, and have been waiting on Dustin's story for some time. Dust and Wes meet online, and forge a connection-both sexually and intellectually, this way before they ever meet in person. They never divulge the their military standing to each other, they just know that the other is in the military. Their connection is explosive, but loving on separate sides of the country-how can anything really beyond internet ever work out? They meet up one time in person, and whoa, the connection that exists online definitely extends into reality.

But then reality and fate, being the evil bitch that she is, throws a major curveball into the mix, when Wes is reassigned to Dustin's unit and is totally off limits due to their ranks.

But these two just can't stop. They have so much in common, and with so much at stake, these two know they are risking their career's to be together, but they are willing to do whatever it takes.

Annabeth really knocked it out of the park with Wes and Dustin's story. Even though it was extra angsty, I loved every minute of this one!

4.5 Stars!!!

Dustin and Wes have been chatting on Joe4Joe for almost 6 months when Wes suggests they meet while Dustin is in DC. While Dustin is not too sure about meeting up in person, he agrees and he and Wes hit it off and have a great night together, even if neither of them knows who the other really is or what they do in the military.

The last thing either of them expected was for the other being a SEAL or that they'd end up on the same team or that Dustin is lieutenant and Wes is enlisted, which means that a relationship between them is impossible. Never mind that Wes is out and Dustin couldn't be further inside the closet.

I loved Wes. He was such a good man and brother and son, I felt bad that he was having such a hard time adapting to his new team, especially with all that was happening to his sister. I liked Dustin, even if I was a bit annoyed at his reasons for not coming out. I guess they were understandable reasons, but even if he couldn't come out to his parents (or rather, his father), I didn't quite get why he couldn't tell Apollo, seeing as he was his best friend.

I loved Dustin and Wes as a couple, they actually came very close to Ben and Maddox as my favorite OoU couple. I adored how Dustin supported Wes as much as he could with everything that was going on with Wes' sister, even knowing that he was risking his own career. They were sweet and hot together and I really see them working great in the future, even away from the military. There's a bit of D/s (tying, edging, power play) in the book, but it wasn't anything major and was actually very hot.

It was great catching up with Dylan and Apollo and the girls and seeing them doing so well!

Overall, this was a fantastic addition to the story and I enjoyed it a lot, it was hot and passionate and angsty, and had a bit of the SEAL action that I loved from the previous book. Highly recommendable!

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

Really enjoyed these two men together -- hot, kinky (but not in a hardcore way, if that's your worry) and sweet.

I do wish their early chats and cyber scenes had been included (in the beginning) and some of the constant drag of "we can't! Okay but just this one more fuck....ONE MORE....Wait, seriously ONE MORE" cut out. That would have made the pacing and story a bit smoother and more complete, IMO. That being said, I think Albert handled the (very real) trouble of their relationship pretty well, I was just a bit tired of the back-and-forth from it after a while and wanted something more.

I also talk about this one on my podcast, Whatcha Reading (11/04/17 episode).

A really hot book! With some deep emotions too.

From our first introduction to Dustin and Wes’ online chats we can’t wait for them to meet and to see the sparks fly. And they don’t disappoint!

They have a long road ahead of them with their military positions getting in the way of them having a relationship. But their chemistry and mutual attraction can’t be denied and seeing them work towards a solution is very rewarding.

I loved both Dustin and Wes and they were the perfect compliment to one another. They both had their moments of supporting the other, and while they did some D/s stuff in the bedroom it didn’t define their relationship.

A great addition to the Out of Uniform series.

Annabeth Albert's Out of Uniform series is turning out to be one of my favorites by her. Wheels Up is about Dustin Strauss (older brother of Dylan from At Attention) and Wes Lowe. Dustin is an officer and Wes an enlisted man. They meet using a hook-up app and then once in person figuring that they'd never see each other again except when chatting online. Imagine their shock when Wes turns out to be the new person on Dustin's SEAL team. Fraternization between officers and enlisted men is totally forbidden.

This is sort of a coming-out story. Thirty-two-year-old Dustin just now coming to terms with his bi-sexuality. Since his brother came out as gay Dustin has felt a lot of pressure from his father to settle down with a nice girl and carry on the family name; he doesn't know how to tell him he's interested in a man.

Wes is gay and out to his close friends. He is transferred away from his family just when they need him most. His sister is sick and he hates that he can't be there to provide support for his mom and dad. He misses the comradery he had with his former SEAL team.

Wheels Up has some mild kink elements. Dustin likes a little pain and he likes to submit (not that he'd ever admit that to anyone but Wes). Wes loves to give Dustin what he wants and needs; these two are made for each other.

I didn't have as much of an emotional reaction to this book as I've had with most of Annabeth's but the story was great anyway. In fact, once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. That will teach me to start one of her books in the late evening. I stayed up to 5 a.m. reading Wheels Up. Thank goodness I'm retired. 😊

I felt the deep connection between these two guys; their need for each other really made my heart ache when it seemed like they would have to sacrifice their relationship. I know that Annabeth Albert always delivers an HEA, though, so I was never really worried.

I am so happy that there will be several more stories in this series. I love hot guys in uniform!

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

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions***

This was a cute book. It starts out with these guys chatting and they have apparently been doing some pretty sexy things via chat or webcam I guess. Then they are going to be in the same place so decide to meet. Both are a bit anxious but excited and a sexy as heck night happens. Skip forward and there are some major problems that come about sue to the nature of their relationship but they try to work through them. I for one am not good with secrets, so I knew it had to be hard lol. Then the drama happens. The ending was sweet and overall it was a really good story.

I love this pairing of secretive heroes. Their initial encounter is both hot and sweet. Wes's reassurance and patience are clear indicators of his personality. Dustin's hungry yet hesitant actions also reflect his capability and his caution.

The obstacles they face in developing a relationship are real. The story benefits from the slow reach to a happy ending--lots of tiny pieces have to fall into place for it to even be a possibility, and this is amplified by Dustin's extreme reluctance to come out.

As a side plot Wes is dealing with a sick younger sister. Plenty of pathos there. We also see the other boys from the previous Out of Uniform books, and that is always a great part of any series. I love catching up with Apollo and Dylan, & Maddox and Ben. I did read this a while ago so I don't think we had much to do with Zack and Pike. But that's ok.

The military field components are acceptable because I know nothing about this sort of thing, and as long as it sounds plausible, I am happy to go along with the tension and action and enjoy the ride. They break up the angsty romantic sexy chatty times just at the right moments, and if there's one thing this author has learned, it's about how to pace and balance the elements of a story.

I am uncertain if there will be any more of these books, but I will continue to read anything she writes. Copy advanced through Netgalley and read with thanks. Wheels Up will be released on November 7.

As always, Albert's protagonists are complex and likeable, and the weight of their predicament is handled respectfully. Fans of m/m military romance will adore this series.

2.5 Stars

Wheels Up was my least favorite of the Out of Uniform series thus far. Considering what a great series this has been, that probably isn't saying much but here are some of the things that didn't work for me this time around.

A big reason why I didn't enjoy the book as much was the high level of risk involved in Dustin and Wes' relationship (due to strict anti-fraternization rules in the Navy). Quite simply, I was unable to let go and enjoy the ride because I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop (which of course it eventually did). Now the plus side of this is how realistic the tension is portrayed between the heroes and in the book overall - something those of you who are less uh, uptight than me would probably appreciate.

Speaking of tension, I wish there were more scenes of the MCs just being happy and relaxed together. Everything was so stressful - their jobs, stuff going on in their lives, the absolute necessity for secrecy - that their time together literally felt like stress-relieving kink sessions instead of stolen moments of a more romantic nature. I'm not saying they couldn't have both, but the D/s element just didn't work for me and got a bit tired and repetitive. I know the author is more than capable of writing a wonderful balance of kink and tender, and I would have loved to have seen a deeper connection here between the MCs.

Then there was the angst. Besides the two MCs going round and round in circles with their "no we can't, yes we can" relationship, Dustin had a lot of angst bottled up. While it was difficult to see him struggle with being in the closet, it was even harder seeing the way he had held himself back all this time because of one missed chance decades ago. At the very least, I felt he could have come out to his gay brother and bisexual best friend (if not his entire team) with little to no adverse affects some time back. His entire outlook on life was so grim that I was looking forward to seeing Wes' more positive nature rub off on him, but as I mentioned above there was very little time for them to just be together.

Also worth mentioning (although this doesn't affect my star rating) is that my ARC had formatting issues throughout which made for difficult reading, especially during the chat/texting parts. Overall, I was not sold on Dustin and Wes as a couple and needed to see more chemistry and connection between them. The stressful and angsty elements in Wheels Up made it tough read for me with little reward.

The Out of Uniform series has been one of my top favorite M/M series this year. I’ve loved getting to know these men and following their emotional (and sexy) journeys. Wheel’s Up was another smartly written, emotionally charged, and sizzling hot addition to this fantastic series.

I was pulled in to Wes and Dustin’s story immediately. Ms. Albert is a masterful storyteller so even during a time when I had trouble settling my mind enough to focus on any one thing for more than a few minutes at a time, her storytelling and writing drew me right in and hooked me on this story right away.

Unfortunately, it was a bit of an uneven ride for me after that. I was sometimes completely spellbound, reading greedily as these men fumbled their way through their situations and towards each other. Other times I found myself skimming passages, a little bored, waiting to be sucked back in. I didn’t always connect with this story. I wasn’t always patient with it. I can’t completely pinpoint my issue with it, which leads me to believe that at least a part of the problem was just me and my own state of mind. Trust me when I tell you this is not a bad book. It just didn’t connect with me the way I wanted it to.

That said, it’s definitely one of the hottest books of this series. The kink was something I wasn’t sure I would respond well to initially, but in the end I felt like it added some dimension to the relationship that I really appreciated. And I loved these guys – they really were wonderful. I loved the attention to detail that went into the story and the ending was just perfect for them. In the end, Wheels Up was not my favorite of the series, but still a satisfying and rewarding read. ~ 3.5 stars

Dustin is no longer the hell raiser he used to be, but he has kept a secret from everyone he knows, Wes is a take charge, blow things up kind of guy. When they meet on a hookup website, they have some great encounters, but then things go off kilter when they meet in person for the first time. Neither knows that the other is also a Navy Seal or their respective ranks, they have kept all talk of work out of their chats. When Wes is given transfer orders and meets his new XO, Dustin, things good from looking great to a possibility of ending their careers if they are found out.

This was a good book, both Wes and Dustin were great character who each tried their hardest to follow the rules but sometimes the heart over rules the brain. Which is exactly what happened to these two.

> > Judging a Book by it's Cover < <
This series' covers are just getting hotter and hotter! Holy Cow! This synopsis sounds great and promises to be another sweet yet hot read! Can't wait!

> > Looking Deeper < <
POV ~> Third-person.

It's not only the covers that are getting hotter.
The chemistry between Dustin and Wes was electric, magnetic, and molten! They started out as cross-country cyber chat friends that graduated to adding a bit of cybersex into the "relationship". Then Dustin was called to the east coast for meetings and Wes made the trip northward to coax a face-to-face meeting into their mix. Both assumed the others' branch, rank, or station but neither required validation for various reasons. It's not until Wes was transferred to the west coast that they surprising learned they were both SEALs and Dustin was now Wes's Commanding Officer.

There are rules against them associating, even as friends.
Both were already too deep into their attractions, needs, and emotions with each other to be able to deny the pull, so what were they going to do? Add to the complications Wes's ailing sister and the fact that nobody knew Dustin was bisexual.

The cast was well-rounded with a good variety of characters. Dialogue is smart and strong. Interactions were believable, for the most part. The conflict was realistic, the resolution was predictable. But the lead-up was well plotted out. The conclusion was solid enough with an implied HEA that felt a little loose, but I am hoping that only means we'll see more of them in any following books, or even possibly, a spin-off series.
I adore this series and Annabeth Albert's SEALs are getting hotter and hotter as the series progresses. This book can stand alone, but a few of the secondary cast were the featured couple of previous books. One may better enjoy the story and it's cast if the books are read in order but it is not necessary.
.
Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.25 ~ Stars: 4
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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". ***** ⭐ ⭐

SEXY, EMOTIONAL, & THE CHEMISTRY IS OFF THE CHARTS!

Honestly, I LOVE each book in this series. Annabeth Albert's Out of Uniform Series has it all, and Wheels Up is an amazing addition! Dustin and Wes's chemistry is awe-inspiring. The angst, and heart-wrenching forbidden moments, had me feeling all the feels. I couldn't put this book down, and I am really looking forward to many more books in this addictive series! If you love M/M story's that are well written, with captivating story-lines and you haven't already picked any of these books up, I highly recommend them! LOVED IT!

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

I generally enjoy Albert's work, and while this was by no means awful, it was certainly my least favourite of the series. My primary problem was that I didn't buy the relationship between Dustin and Wes, and the kink elements didn't connect for me. Certainly won't stop me picking up Albert's work again in the future, but this one was a miss.

I never thought I would've used this one word to explain an Annabeth Albert's book. But I found Wheels Up , the fourth book in her Out of Uniform to be BORING.

The basic is this ... Dustin and Wes first meet online, they don't really share a lot of personal information when they decide to have face-to-face encounter. But after that one night, Wes finds out after being transferred that Dustin is his new XO. Which means they cannot pursue further relationship since fraternization among officers and enlisted officers ends up with serious ramifications. Of course it's easier said that done...

I think THAT is my problem. I know that the author is trying to portray this type of relationship as realistically as possible, unfortunately as a story, personally I think Wheels Up is nothing but rinse and repeat. The conflict is stretched pretty thin to fill in the pages. As in ... Dustin and Wes try to stay away from one another but they can't, then comes the guilt, then they try to stay away (again), but they can't ... and so on.

I also found it hard to connect with these two men because I didn't feel like I knew or understood them in the end. Wes having a very sick sister but I didn't feel like his emotional turmoil was explored enough -- especially since his sister was sort of kept off page for the most part. Then there was Dustin ... he has been hiding his bisexuality ALL of his life... considering that his younger BROTHER is gay, his best friend too, and his brother actually MARRIED to his best friend, I struggled to understand why Dustin never said anything. Yeah, sure, maybe not immediately to his parents... but to Dylan, or Apollo?

I figure the sex scenes are probably good for most readers. But I'm always one who enjoy sex MORE when I'm invested enough with the characters. Since I didn't, well I ended up SKIPPING most of them (yes, I got bored).

I'm rounding this slightly to my "just okay" category because there were still moments that hit me the right way, like when Dustin consoles Wes when Wes receives news about his sister. And of course I like reading about Apollo and Dylan again, even if it's just a short update.

I LOVED the last three Albert's books that I read. I hit bump with this one but hopefully her next book will be better for me.

RATING: 3 out of 5

3.5 stars

This is the first book in this series I've read, though it's the fourth one written, and it does well as a stand-alone book. That said, after reading this, I really want to go back and read the rest. One of my colleagues at Binge on Books said this was his least favorite in the series...which can only mean the others are wonderful.

On the plus side -- the military aspects of the book felt both appropriate and spot on. This is true from the training to the different attitudes to the requirement of being wherever they want you whenever they want you. And then there's the fraternization. Rather the serious consequences of getting caught fraternizing. The risk of the partnering as it happens is real: court-martial. So the forbidden nature of this relationship isn't contrived and the tension associated with career-ending behavior is fraught. As is the post DADT approach to being out in the military. More people are open but that doesn't mean everyone. Which brings me to...

On the minus side -- closets, closets, and more closets. I get it. I really do. But, good story or not, I'm a little tired of reading about people being punished for finding themselves in a loving, queer relationship, which is happening here. Or the disappointment from others for 'not coming out sooner.' Granted, almost everyone had a supportive response--even the guy who was directly responsible for outing our lovely couple (in error?), almost ending their relationship and/or careers.

The sex was emotionally satisfying but the kink...well...I'd be interested to hear what other kinksters think. Dustin's response was very different to my own relationship. In his experience, he submits instantly and the pain opens some doorway. This is way too automatic for me (though if you have this experience, rock on, you know?) For me (and why I'm sharing this, I have no freaking idea but here you go), pain, submission are things I struggle with. Ultimately, it takes me a lot of emotional processing during the act itself to get to a place where I can let go. So, the insta-response during the power exchange doesn't necessarily ring true FOR ME. There are a million ways to respond to someone else and just because I don't have this response doesn't mean it won't ring true for others.

That said, I'm so glad it was bi-friendly, kink-friendly, showed diversity within the military, showed different support structures within the family, and included a dude with chest hair (cause that's rarer than I'd expect).

All in all, I liked it.

Such a forbidden affair but these two could not stay away from each not matter the consequences. I adored Wes, being such a young guy he still knew what he wanted and went about making his life his own and doing things his way. No matter their ages or ranks I felt that with Wes being more open, he was more mature in life than Dustin, not that Dustin wasn't mature enough. Dustin was a character that did for others instead of himself. I liked the dynamic of their home life to work life reversal.
The push and pull of their love was so well written, they felt it, they showed it, they just didn't know how to say it until it was absolutely needed and it was perfect.