If Annabeth writes it I will read it. This one was filled with angst but that is understandable considering what happens in the immediate before of this story. I loved the representation and the asexual rep in the book and enjoyed both of these characters. Made my heart ache in all the best ways.

4 - 4.5 Stars

I really love this series, and this book is a great addition! This was an emotional and complex story and I really enjoyed it! Mark and Isaiah have a history and their reconnecting isn't under the best of circumstances, but it brings them back together.

I loved the mix of angst and emotion in this book as these two sort through their feelings and their situations. Mark definitely struggles, used to being in control, my heart really hurt for him at times. Isaiah really shows his strength and goes after what he wants. This story really does pack an emotional punch! It's really character-focused and I liked that, I felt like I really got to know them. Another great read to just fall in love with!

Navy SEAL Mark Whitley is deployed when he gets word that his sister and her husband have died in a car accident. He returns home, prepared to take over as guardian of their three kids, only to find the children being cared for by their other uncle, Isaiah James. As a military medic, Mark is used to assessing the situation and taking control, so he isn’t quite sure how to react to the fact that Isaiah has been caring for the kids and wants to become their guardian.

Isaiah may have had a crush on Mark when they met six years ago, but now his sole focus is on the kids. He has been an active part of their lives since they were born and he wants to take on responsibility for their care now that Danielle and Cal are gone. But when competing wills and financial issues get in the way, the guys find that things are more complicated than they hoped. Even though Isaiah is filing for guardianship, while the will and estate are sorted out, both men need to care for the kids together.

As the guys spend more time together taking care of the kids, the attraction that was sparked years ago comes back to life. Mark even opens up to Isaiah about being demisexual, and the two build an emotional relationship, while slowly exploring a physical one as well. Both Mark and Isaiah find they make a good team, taking care of the children, being there to support one another, and forming a family. But Mark worries that Isaiah’s history of lots of hookups means he won’t be happy with Mark for long. And Isaiah isn’t quite sure how Mark feels about him, especially since Mark seems very wary about revealing his interest in men to his friends and family. Not to mention that court hearings loom over the guys and they aren’t sure how the custody situation will resolve. Both Mark and Isaiah are dreaming of the family they could have together, but they will need to share their feelings and trust in one other if they are going to be able to keep what they have built.

Squared Away is the fifth book in Annabeth Albert’s excellent Out of Uniform series. I have been really enjoying this series and am impressed how Albert is able to make all the books in the set feel fresh and different from one another, even as they all deal with Navy SEALS. While there is often cross over between the characters in the books, I feel like these stories will mostly stand alone. In this case, we met Isaiah as a side character in a couple of the other books, and there are cameos from some other folks here, like Dylan from At Attention.

Albert sets up an interesting conflict here with the custody of the children and the future of estate being so up in the air that the guys are forced to work (and live) together while it gets all sorted. Honestly, this could have felt very contrived and like a forced set up to get these guys together, and to Albert’s credit, it never comes across that way. I enjoyed watching the men move from a bit resentful of the other’s presence and wanting to take on all the responsibilities themselves, to forming a real partnership and working together to care for the kids. They both have to learn to rely on one another, to trust and communicate, and it gives them a chance to grow individually as the story goes on.

I also like how Albert addresses Mark coming to terms with his asexuality. He has always struggled with his lack of interest in sex, never quite knowing why things that seemed to work for others didn’t for him. And he felt a sense of pressure that he should fit the mold everyone expects of him. Isaiah not only helps Mark start to identify the fact that he is somewhere on the asexual spectrum, but also makes it clear that he likes Mark exactly how he is. Isaiah lets Mark lead the pace, is happy with whatever Mark wants to give, and, in turn, this gives Mark the confidence and the comfort to explore his interests and what works for him without pressure. It is nicely handled and I enjoyed seeing the tenderness with which the guys treat one another.

I think my only real issue here is the conflict centered on Mark’s concern that Isaiah wouldn’t be interested in him for the long haul. While Mark does have some confidence issues surround his asexuality, his fear seems largely stemming around the perception that Isaiah is a party boy who will want to go back to his wild life of hook ups. The problem is that by the time we meet Isaiah here, he is a guy who is pretty domestic, taking care of the kids and settled totally into a parental role. We never see him going out, hooking up, or living any kind of wild life. So it was hard to see Mark’s concern as anything legitimate because Isaiah never feels like anything other than a young guy struggling to suddenly parent three kids. I think if this is going to be the big conflict between them, we had to get more of a sense of Isaiah as this wild guy to justify all of Mark’s concerns.

That aside, I think this one works really well. I really liked both Mark and Isaiah, and while I think they needed to talk to one another way earlier than they did, I think they both have some nice growth over the story. I enjoyed watching them build their family and find that they really worked together as a team. So Squared Away is another nice installment in this series and I am looking forward to more.

I loved this book so freaking much. I loved how patient Isaiah was with Mark. I loved watching them figure out their relationship and their family and those kids were just absolutely precious.

Mark kind of has a one track mind that he has hard time adjusting. He's so used to being the big tough SEAL that his team can 1000% depend on and he doesn't quite know how to ask for help or how to take the back seat.

Isaiah has a bit of a reputation but he wants nothing more than to keep the kids happy and together and it's so hard watching people constantly overlook him throughout this book. You root for him so hard to find happiness for himself, but also for the kids.

Mark has a hard time with labels and with how he identifies and I love how Isaiah doesn't make him feel like anything he does or thinks or feels is wrong. He talks to him through what his label could be but in the end lets him know it's ok not to pick one, not to be sure. He's patient to the point where you kinda wanna sit Mark down and tell him to figure it out cause Isaiah is probably too good for him.

I'm glad he does have that moment where he sees that what he wants is within his reach and all he has to do is just be willing to be happy.

Everything does wrap up pretty nicely at the end. Some might say too nicely. But, honestly, I'm not here to complain about sugary sweet happy endings. Give me all of them.

Every book in this series has been a win for me, and Squared Away is just another fantastic addition to a fabulous M/M series full of sexy SEALs and the men they love.

Here we get Isaiah’s story, the immature but fun-loving friend we met previously. Although now, Isaiah is not the same promiscuous partier we briefly saw. He has responsibilities and it is so heart-warming to see how he has selflessly stepped up to the plate to take over the duties of raising his cousin’s three children. I loved that there was never an adjustment period for him or any indecision or slipping back into his old ways. That would have caused me a lot of unnecessary angst while reading it! Instead, he knew what needed to be done and he did everything he could to accomplish his goals. And that included convincing the big bad SEAL medic, who also had a claim to the children, that they were meant to be together.

Mark was an interesting one for me. I have to admit, I wasn’t sure how erotic an “erotic novel” could be when one of the characters was asexual, but this one really worked. I had no idea what to expect, and perhaps my understanding of asexuality was incorrect, but Annabeth Albert showed a more romantic, loving side to Mark, where physical sexuality was not the key to the attraction between him and Isaiah, but rather trust and honesty and affection was what attracted him. Their romance was a slow burn that may not have been as explosive as some of the other relationships, but in light of the day to day struggles that Mark and Isaiah faced in raising children and building careers, it was a warm glow at the end of the day and a comfortable embrace that worked for these men.

To me, Squared Away fits perfectly as another Out of Uniform hit. Just like the others in the series, it was sexy and sweet, but most importantly, it focused on love and mutual respect. It showed enviable relationships full of passion and companionship, and a circle of friends and family that were understanding and exemplified what everyone is looking for: trust and acceptance.

I couldn’t have enjoyed myself more, and look forward to reading more about this group of friends. Bacon needs his book Annabeth!

In the wake of tragedy, SEAL Mark Whitley rushed stateside to act as guardian to his sister’s three young children. But a conflicting will could give custody to someone else—someone Mark remembers as a too young, too hot, wild party boy. Even after six years, Mark can’t shake the memory of his close encounter with Isaiah James, or face up to what it says about his own sexuality.

Isaiah’s totally over the crush that made him proposition Mark all those years ago. In fact, he’s done with crushing on the wrong men altogether. For now, he’s throwing himself into proving he’s the best person to care for his cousin’s kids. But there’s no denying there’s something sexy about a big, tough military man with a baby in his arms.

As the legal details get sorted out, their long-buried attraction resurfaces, leading to intimate evenings after the kids are tucked in. A forever future is within reach for all of them, if only Mark can find the courage he needs to trust Isaiah with his secrets—and his heart.

<strong>My Review:</strong>
Navy SEAL medic Mark Whitley's older sister and her husband died in a car wreck, leaving behind three young kids. He's rushed home from his latest mission, fully expecting to assume care for the kids. He's their closest blood relative, even if he has hardly seen the kids in their lives. He isn't ready to be challenged for custody by Isaiah James, cousin of the children's father. Isaiah and Mark met several times over the years--notably in the run-up to the wedding, when a barely-legal Isaiah kissed Mark at the reception.

Isaiah has been a part-time caregiver to his cousin's children since their birth. He even has his own room in the home Mark grew up in--where Mark's sister's family lived since their parents died in a plane crash a few years back. Isaiah wants nothing more than to care for the kiddos--as thanks for the years his aunt cared for him while his widowed father traveled. Isaiah may not be able to settle on a career his father approves of, but he's clearly a great caregiver to the children, who adore him. And he could manage on the generous life insurance and estate that's left behind, not that it's his motivation.

Mark doesn't trust Isaiah--he's 24, outrageous and well, he gets around the men. Not there's a real problem with Isaiah's sexuality, except for Mark's bigoted uncle who will counter-sue for the estate if Isaiah is granted guardianship. And, well, Mark isn't sure Isaiah won't hare off to find himself a man...he's so young and surely wants to party. On the other hand, Mark can't take full custody and still maintain his commission. Being a SEAL means weeks-long missions and months-long deployments. Plus, he has zero skills with kids, unlike Isaiah.

While the legalities play out, Mark and Isaiah share Mark's childhood home, and the care of the kiddos. Mark gains first-hand knowledge of Isaiah's capabilities, and he can't deny the attraction building between them. But, Mark's barely had any attraction in his life, and the discussions that ensue help Mark to recognize he's someplace on the asexual spectrum--demisexual, or gray ace, they think. Which is cool with Isaiah, as it turns out. He loves what intimacy they can share, and their emotional connection is far more valuable to Isaiah at this point in his life; he'd begun adulthood with a crush on Mark, and his feelings are only stoked by their closeness and camaraderie.

There's so much emotion going on here, with grief filling the first half of the book. Excitement and exhilaration do pick up in the second half, and Isaiah may be young, but he's not afraid to stand up for the kiddos, who are sweet!, and finally for himself. Expect a super-sweet happy ending that brings this broken family together for good.

Squared Away by author Annabeth Albert is the fifth book in the Men out of Uniform series. This story can be read and understood just fine even if you have not read the rest of the series. I have read the entire series so far, and I loved this one. So much heart and soul in this book.
Mark, he is a Navy Seal and guardian now to this sister’s three children. Well go, guardian, he is sharing the title with Isaiah.
Isaiah has sworn off the wrong kind of men. He wants commitment and love. No more one-night stands.
I liked watching both men grow in this book. They learn a ton about themselves and what they could be together as a family. They have to sort through their respective pasts to see the future they could have together.
I loved this story of family and love. I cannot wait for more from this series in the future.


five shooting Stars

Mark will do anything to take care of his sister's kids after a tragedy strikes what he doesn't expect is a conflicting will that could give someone else custody. Isaiah had a crush on Mark, once long ago but he is over that crush, instead he is going to do everything he can to show he is the best person to take care of his cousin's kids. When the two are forced to worked together to watch over the three children sparks fly, but these two very different men have to learn to work together.

Mark and Isaiah were probably my favorite couple so far in this series, there was just something about them that pulled at me and made me want to root for them from beginning to end.

Each book in this series, seems to deal with a different thing in the LGBT world. This time its focused on Asexuality or the scale of with demisexual/gray ace and bi-racial relationship.

We first meet Isaiah in At Attention when he has a thing with Ben and befriends Dylan. And we meet Mark Whitley (Wizard) in On Point.

These two men are brought together by the death of Cal (Isiah's cousin) and Danielle (Mark's sister). As Cal and Mark try and navigate their new reality with being the caregivers of Cal and Danielle's kids, they also start to need each other in more ways then co-parenting.

I never knew much about Asexuality but I felt this was a good step into that knowledge of sexuality. I loved Mark's evolution of finding love and happiness.

I always find I learn something when I read Annabeth's stories. Which for that I'm very thankful.

Super sweet story and I loved Mark and Isaiah together.

DNF at 15%

I've tried so hard to read this throughout last year but it just wasn't working for me, so since it's already January on a brand new year, I'm officially giving up.

This is a case of it's not you it's me.

I love this series and the characters that inhibit Ms. Alberts world. This was my least favorite in the series - I'm just not into kids in my romantic fiction. Entertaining, enjoyable but there are better books in the series.

I liked this so much! Probably my only real complaint would be the lenghth of time it took for Mark and Isaiah to finally communicate all the things... like, they should have been talking about a lot of stuff long before it came to a point where it got as bad as it did. BUT, it worked.

I really loved the way Isaiah made himself so vulnerable, as well as Mark. I loved how open and comfortable they were with each other, even if they didn't open up enough at first. And I don't know what it is about books with kids, but I love them. I don't even like kids, like at all, yet books with them melt my heart.

I'm sorry it took me so long to read and review this one. I wish I'd known how much I was going to enjoy it.
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Amazing story from Annabeth Alberts -- these characters have become like family & I never want the series to end...

This is 100% now a favorite book of the year for me. Spectacularly written, AMAZING representation, and one of the cutest book couples.

It took me a while to finish this book. I actually started it back in April. And let me assure you that there are few authors I trust more than Ms. Albert with my emotions, but this book scared me when I started it. She’s not kidding when she uses the word ‘tragedy’ in the synopsis. That tragedy is compounded with a dozen family issues. Throw in an unrequited crush that doesn’t go away for years, a closeted seal that not only discovered his sexuality late in life but carries around guilt and has a complex about it and that doesn’t make for an easy read.

There is a lot packed into this story and I couldn’t touch on all of it in my review without basically restating and ruining the entire book. Mark comes to terms with his sexuality (which after the opening scene surprised me and made perfect sense for him). He faces what his sister did. He deals with the grief of his parents’ death again. He learns that sharing the burden and giving up control is sometimes necessary and doesn’t make you weak but stronger. He learns the meaning of unconditional love. Isaiah discovers he wants more out of relationships – every type of them – than he’s been getting. He learns to stand up for himself and what’s important to him. He realizes that needing and asking for help and sharing the burden doesn’t make you weak but stronger. He finally understands that doing what’s necessary isn’t always enjoyable but usually rewarding in ways that mean the most. He finds his prince charming.

As with the rest of this series, I highly recommend this book. I think it could definitely be read as a standalone (although I highly recommend reading the rest of the series as well) even though there is mention of a few previous characters.

Going live 7.6.2018

It seems impossible to me that we are already five books deep into this series, because while the wait is excruciating between books, it also feels like it just started. Squared Away stands on its own, so you could start here. It’s my opinion, however, that this is not the strongest of the series. I’d go back to book one, start there and make your way up to this one. These men are brothers in arms so they do have close relationships and tend to show up in subsequent books. So like I said, while it’s definitely not necessary to read in order, I do think it enhances enjoyment of the series.
Mark and Isaiah met years ago when their two families joined at a wedding, but to say they’ve been carrying torches for each other would be an overstatement. In fact, when they meet up again after their family members have passed and someone needs to take care of the children, they’re both determined not to get involved. And I’ll be honest here. It got...old. And the sex was...meh. The highlights of this story were (but IMO, should not have been,) the children. They were the most entertaining part, but at the same time, they didn’t overwhelm the story and had I enjoyed it, it would have been a good balance. I also love that neither of the men wanted to split up the kids, and how much Isaiah adored them. I think, in them, Isaiah was looking for the family he never had, but he wasn’t just looking for something, he was also giving everything, and it made me love his character so much. Mark was a harder sell for me, because I was so over the back and forth with him and Isaiah, and Mark’s interest felt more like obligation than an actual desire. While I do understand this happens in real life, I don’t think you can run that motivation alongside Isaiah’s and expect readers to feel endearment towards Mark, especially if you don’t think that he alone is not in their best interest. Also, Mark made a decision in this book that was for the good of all of them, and had he presented it to Isaiah, it could have been fine. But because he didn’t and kept getting interrupted when he tried to, chaos ensued when Isaiah found out from someone else - thus causing him to question Mark when Mark hadn’t been up front about it, and I was totally on Isaiah’s side with this. It felt so contrived just to bring drama upon the characters, and it really lessened the credibility of the story. Lastly, and this really is just a pet peeve of mine, I am so over the ‘my person’ thing. It shows up in books and shows over and over and over and over again and...can we really not be more creative than this? I wish authors would stop piggybacking off Grey’s Anatomy for this. I can’t tell if this is a show of laziness or just no creativity.
In the grand scheme of this series, Squared Away was the weakest for me. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t good parts. It just means that as a whole, Isaiah and Mark didn’t feel like equal parts and the story suffered for it. If you’re interested in this series, do yourself a favor and start with book one, or my personal favorite book 4, Wheels Up. The author’s craft really shows through in that one. (Though I will say, I am reading book 6 now, and so far, it’s giving book 4 a run for its money!)

Stevie‘s review of Squared Away (Out of Uniform, Book 5) by Annabeth Albert
Contemporary Asexual and Gay Military Romance published by Carina Press 01 Apr 18

Out of Uniform is heading towards being Annabeth Albert’s longest running series, especially when you count in the shorter Gaymers series it spun off from, and yet it still manages to bring in new scenarios and new types of romantic pairings, even as it keeps us informed on how past books’ heroes are faring. This time around our would-be couple are a familiar face from previous books and a less familiar comrade of some of the other heroes.


Although we’ve met Isaiah before, we first see him in this book – and for the first time in conversation with Mark – some years before the series’ beginnings, at the wedding of Isaiah’s cousin to Mark’s sister. Isaiah sets out to woo Mark, but is turned down gently on account of his age and virginal status, and in spite of Mark’s obvious reciprocal interest. Fast forward six years, and Isaiah is a hard-partying perpetual student, while Mark is a hard-working SEAL medic. Their worlds collide once again when their mutually wed relatives die in a car crash, and Mark takes leave from active service to care for his nieces and nephew, only to find Isaiah already in place as their primary caregiver.

The situation is complicated further, when it is revealed that the parents’ wills – made separately several years apart – each name one of the men as potential legal guardian to the children. Although other relatives are prepared to help out, only those two are prepared to keep the children together in their current home. They agree to share responsibilities – at least until the courts decide who has the greater claim – and to live together in Mark’s old family home, which he now owns following his sister’s death.

Both the guys take steps towards being in a position to look after and financially support the children by themselves if necessary. Although Mark comes from a much wealthier background, Isaiah also has a potential family network, even if his academic father disapproves of his decision to set up in business as a landscape gardener. Meanwhile, their attraction to each other is rekindled – more strongly on Mark’s part, although he rarely experiences desire beyond random crushes – and alternately helped and hindered by people they meet all assuming that they must be a couple since they have one to three children with them much of the time. The looming legal guardianship case, however, threatens to create a rift between them, even before they’ve figured out what to do about their developing feelings.

I really enjoyed this book. The guys’ families were very believable in their keenness to help out – but only on their specific individual terms – and it was great to see real help coming to the newly blending family from heroes from the previous books (not to mention their kids in one particular case). I was a little frustrated at times by both our current heroes’ abilities to stick their heads in the sand where legal matters were concerned and to fail to talk to each other about how their family matters were going to be resolved. Some of that did tie in with their past failures to intervene in their relatives’ issues that led to the children being orphaned, so I suppose we can blame residual guilt for a lot of it. All in all, a great addition to a series that I still want to see plenty more from.

Grade: B

I LOVED THIS BOOK. All the stars, you guys. Is this my favorite Out of Uniform book? I want to say...maybe? I managed to read this book in one sitting, because I could not put it down. It's hard to beat At Attention and On Point, BUT this might have done just that.

The story starts out in the past, to the day Mark and Isaiah meet for the first time at Mark's sister's wedding. Back then, Mark definitely thinks Isaiah as being too wild and too young. The backstory is actually a sad one, marked by tragedy. Mark's sister, Dani, and brother-in-law, Cal, have been killed in a car accident and leaves behind three children. Cal is Isaiah's cousin. And while Mark was away in the military, Isaiah was the one who babysat and looked after the children. Mark knows next to nothing about raising kids, but will do anything within his power to make sure he gets custody.

Once upon a time, Isaiah was infatuated with Mark. But he wants custody of the kids and is not willing to give them up to a man who has rarely even been around them. The story is wrought with emotion. The two love interests are still reeling from the death of their beloved family members and having to find a way to push that aside for the children, and putting a strong front in front of one another.

I would say this book is definitely heavier than previous books in this series, but it never feels like it's too much or overwhelming.

We've met Mark before in On Point, as the SEAL medic known as Wizard. I loved reading this story and getting a chance to see him get his HEA. Isaiah was in both At Attention and Wheels Up, hitting on some of the love interests in those books. Isaiah has a bit of a reputation by the point Squared Away starts, of having slept with many men. This makes Mark feel insecure because he's worried about not being able to give Isaiah what Mark thinks he needs.

Mark's insecurity stems from Mark still trying to figure out his sexualtiy. I love that Mark is older and still doesn't quite know. He is ace, but doesn't know whether he identifies as demisexual or gray ace. And I love that while he's not sure, the book passes on the message that it's totally okay that he doesn't know.Isaiah is never judgmental about it, and him and Mark have a nice, honest conversation about it. This story is respectful and honest, and just overall really, REALLY lovely. <3

This is also the first of this series where we have a POC character as the main love interest. Isaiah is biracial (and so are the kids). It's nice to see an interracial relationship in MM romance.

Like, I said, I did read this story all in one sitting, but I did find the ending cute, even if it seemed a little bit rushed. It gives the characters the happy, perfect ending they deserve, so I can't begrudge them that.

I'm looking forward to reading Bacon's story next in Tight Quarters, because we might finally learn his real name!

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

Squared Away is the fifth book in the Out of Uniform series, but can be read as a standalone, as I did. However, I must say that now I have found out what an exceptional writer Annabeth Albert is, it won't be the last book of hers I read!

Isaiah is a bit of a 'flirt', and at eighteen he decides he is going to lose his V-card to a SEAL at his brother's wedding. However Mark, the SEAL, isn't interested in just being 'someone' to sleep with, and so tells Isaiah he isn't gay or interested. He then manages to avoid Isaiah for the next five years, although he still hears about Isaiah's exploits. Trust me, he is no longer a card-carrying member! These two get thrown together by tragedy, and are both left in charge of three children. This story revolves around the decisions they make, and how they learn to love and live together, whilst loving three mini-humans who demand so much time.

Squared Away is a complex love story that goes so slow it is completely and utterly scintillating. I wondered how it would work with Isaiah's reputation, but it was simply amazing. Yes, his reputation bites him in the ass, but with Mark, he goes slow - and it is beautiful. There are reasons for this as Mark is demisexual. We find out exactly what this means for Mark, and the struggles he has, both with it and with being scared to want more with Isaiah. Oh man, this is so good. I mean, seriously! The chemistry between these two melted my kindle, and I loved every word. It is heart-breaking, it is beautiful.

With no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed, Squared Away is an exceptional story, told by a brilliant author. Her style of writing is realistic, with plenty of complex emotions and situations. Life doesn't always go smoothly, but it can be worth the effort you put in to a difficult situation. Absolutely amazing, and I am now putting more books by this author on my T-B-R list! You'd be a fool not to read this one.

The Out of Uniform series is one of my favorites and so far, I’ve enjoyed every story I’ve read. Sadly, the fifth book didn’t quite hit the mark for me, but it wasn’t a total miss either. It landed somewhere in the middle.

Wizard (or Mark) and Isaiah have been present in previous books, but we never really got to know them. In this book we learn a lot about Mark and his sexuality, and we get to know Isaiah pretty well. Mark is reliable, calm under pressure, the teammate everyone depends on when things really go south during a mission. Isaiah is probably the opposite of him. He likes to party and have a good time, he is very social, has friends everywhere, and he has a strong sense of family, even if his father didn’t help him acquire it.

I was looking forward to reading this next installment in this series—as always—but, sadly, I wasn’t as engaged in it as I was in the previous ones. I didn’t feel a connection between the MCs, the miscommunication frustrated me, and there were way too many coincidences. The romance moved too fast, and everything fell into place too easily at the end. Also, Mark and Isaiah got too cheesy for me at times, and that’s a huge drawback where I’m concerned. I can’t say that I felt much of anything while reading this book and while on one hand that was a good thing, because I read it after an extremely emotional story and wanted the calm and quiet; on the other hand, when you read a book you want to feel some connection to it, you want to feel some of the characters’ feelings. It didn’t happen here even though there was supposed to be at least some emotion, as the whole story happened because of a deadly accident. Still, I didn’t think that the characters ever really mourned for their loved ones.

Also, the kids seemed like they were very easily handled. I think they were behaving according to their age and not appearing older but other than that, I don’t think the portrayal of the situation at home was very realistic. Except for a bit of a struggle with sleeping time, they were perfectly cooperative the rest of the time. They were easily placated and happy to go along with any plan. All three of them were supposed to be under the age of six, so I expected at least a little bit of a mess and partial destruction in the house. Maybe I’m wrong here, I don’t presume to be an expert on the topic, but from what I know, when the number of small kids in a room goes up, so does the chaos. Of course, it could be that, in the end, Wizard really did have magic powers and that’s why it was so easy to suddenly care for three kids with no problem and while having no experience at all.

On a positive note, I liked seeing Dylan, Apollo and their girls again! Even if they had very small parts, it was still nice to visit with them again. We also saw Ben and Maddox living happily together and raising their dogs. Cupcakes were, of course, present too.

I was a bit disappointed with this book, but that’s just me. It was still a great story and I liked reading it. It had scenes that I enjoyed a lot; it was just much less than what I got in the previous books. That doesn’t mean I’m giving up on the series. No way! This series is great, and I’m looking forward to the next book. It’s going to be Bacon’s story, and I can’t wait to see who the author is going to pair him up with!