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!

Annabeth Albert has delivered an amazing book touching on so many topics it might make your head spin. But hold on tight, because Annabeth does it with style. This book deals with a main character, whose a SEAL, trying to figure out his sexuality while in a relationship with an openly gay male, all the while taking over guardianship of three very young kids after a tragic family accident occurs. Even one of those items can be daunting, but all of them??? Kudos for getting it all in and not overwhelming the reader with too many details.

Although this book was very angsty for me, I wholeheartedly loved reading it! Annabeth gives us a peak into a demisexual/gray-ACE sexuality. Mark is the SEAL and he is trying to figure out what he is sexually, and it baffles him. He wants to label it, but he's still confused. He has tried some varied things in the past with both men and women, and knows what he doesn't get into. I liked finding out what makes him excited. And how Isaiah seems to be that person that excites him is intriguing.

Isaiah propositioned Mark many years ago, and although he was turned down, he never forgot a kiss they shared. When they are forced into a situation of cohabitating while legal details are sorted, things take a turn. Attraction is there and as time goes, there is a mutual respect gained.

This is a slow building story, so if you are looking for a lot of SEAL drama and action, this is not that book. There are very little sex scenes involved as well. This is a relationship building type book and it deals with feelings-so many feelings! We get dual POV so we get to see how the other is feeling-right or wrong. I love that in a book.

Overall, this is a heartfelt, caring, and loving book. Both men have to come to terms with so many things, and all at once. It was overwhelming and demanding, but very enlightening. They made the best choices they could, and little by little, made changes. Both grew as a person from these experiences and it was a pleasure to see it happen.

Once again, Albert delivers a sweet, sexy romance with a nice punch of feels/conflict. Squared Away tells the story of a Navy SEAL medic (Mark), who is working on his identity – demi? Gray ace? Either way, probably bi? – and the slightly younger bi-racial man (Isaiah) that he falls for. Isaiah is seen as a bit flighty because he can’t pick a degree or a career path. Really it’s mostly because his father expects one thing while he wants to do landscape designing (and does, eventually, start up his own company to do just that). These two first met at a wedding – Mark’s sister was the bride, Isaiah’s cousin the groom – and have been connected since then but haven’t spent any time together. Now that the sister and cousin have passed away, leaving their 3 kids behind, Mark and Isaiah find themselves thrown together as they try to figure out the best plan for the kids they love – all while figuring out their feelings for one another.


This one is a slow burn, and I loved that the focus on their intimacy and relationship wasn’t so much on the sex. And that sex was not the narrow (cishet) view society often has. (Note: This fits with Mark’s identity, yes, but this is also something common with all of Albert’s books, and it’s one reason why I love them so much.) These two got just as hot from making out as they did when having orgasms and/or intercourse together – and they were content with their time together, whether it ended at heavy kissing or went further. I was happy with both options, too, because Albert does an amazing job at writing tension, chemistry, and intimacy into these scenes.


My only complaint was their lack of communication, regarding each of their interest in becoming the kids’ legal guardian, and how that, of course, eventually blew up in their faces in the last few chapters. I get it, it added some of the conflict and lead to the break up / black moment before the HEA, but it was annoying nonetheless. Communication is key, people. (And seriously, who wouldn’t be talking about this from the very beginning? For the kids’ sake? Why would you just ignore it and hope it would work out in the end? Even if you weren’t also trying to have a relationship together?)


Otherwise, this was a treat to read and I look forward to whatever Albert has in store for us next.

4 1/2 STARS!

SEAL Mark must rush home after his sister and brother in law pass away from a car accident. Once he arrives he finds that Isaiah, Mark's brother in laws brother is there and already taking care of the kids. Isaiah and Mark have a past, though not a very exciting one. There is definitely chemistry there, but Mark isn't sure what he's interested in. Good story with the right amount of tension and passion at the same time. Will read more of this author's books.

•*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`Second chance love.

Trusting Isaiah when it came to sex was easy. Trusting him with his heart and his future was a whole different matter.

When love attracts, no matter how hard you fight it, something is always going to bring truths and joy. Mark and Isaiah had a rough time coming together despite knowing inwardly that life was made just for them.

I almost cried when Mark finally was able to be true to himself and Isaiah was able to show him that no matter what the past threw their way, he was able to go as slowly as Mark wanted to make it right.

I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the publisher through Netgalley.

Annabeth Albert is always a one-click author to me, and with this book, she once again proved why I love her so much. It is a story of a second chance at love. This is a well-known trope, but this author makes it into so much more. First of all with her writing. That is so catching, flowing and funny. I flew through the pages. Then her characters. They are real. Real-life persons from the main characters Isaiah and Marc to the little ones, Daphne, Zoe, and Liam. I became so engrossed in their lives and kept rooting for them. And as always, she had me feeling so much. Laughter, sadness, grief, anger, all these emotions were circling through me.
Then Annabeth Albert adds two welcome elements to the mix. That is that Marc is demisexual, gray ace, and Isaiah, as well as the children, is biracial. Both topics are, sadly, still rare in this genre. Isaiah’s background is not mentioned often. Marc’s sexuality and his acceptance of it are at the core of this book.
Isaiah is easy to love. He is a fun-loving, sunny man who has grown a lot since his attempt at seducing Marc at eighteen years old. Although the people around him still have trouble seeing him as a mature man, good enough to care for the children. It is a constant battle to convince everyone he is not the flighty man he once was, but stable and reliable. Even Marc has a hard time believing it.
I wouldn’t say I didn’t fell in love with Marc. It only took me a while longer. He is used to taking charge, help others, and make split-second decisions in his military life, but when it comes to his personal life, he is as indecisive as he comes. It is no wonder really. He is struggling with his sexuality, the death of his sister, the care of his nieces and nephew. There is a lot going on. And it is easier to give others advice and decide for them than it is to do it for yourself. He has to go through a lot of introspection and soul-searching to come to the point he knows what he is and what he wants. Their journey is slow, and I have to be honest here, sometimes a bit too slow. But maybe that is partly due to the fact I wanted so much for them to get together.
It was enlightening to read about his demisexuality. I learned a lot. And I loved how acceptant Isaiah was. It shows that love comes in many forms and varieties. Love without a lot of sex is still love.
The fun part of a series is that characters from the previous books make an appearance. It is nice catching up with their lives.
This book is the fifth in the Out of Uniform series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Mark and Isaiah are thrown together when they become parents to their nieces and nephews. They had a moment back when Isaiah was just eighteen, but have kept their distance from each other since then. Now they have to work together to do the best thing for the 3 kids while figuring out their relationship, their careers, and lives.

What I loved most was how Mark's sexuality was explained and handled. Mark has never liked labels, but he has realized that if there has to be a label for himself it would be grey ace or maybe demi. Love that we get a character within this sexual spectrum, as it's not something you see very often. And I loved even more that Isaiah was completely respectful and supportive when he learned that. I love that he wanted to make sure that Mark enjoyed whatever they did, or didn't do, together. Simply making out was something so sensual for them both, and I thought that that came through very well through in the writing of this story.

And I loved Isaiah. How he was so ready to do whatever he had to do for these kids, to give them a good life, and I kinda had this feeling that Mark was going to do something to kinda throw things off course. I wish that Mark had been just a bit more open about what he was doing and why he was trying to do it. I was glad that they were finally communicating before things got too un-fixable.

In the end, they are totally the one for each other, and each other's person. The ending was super sweet, and I'm so happy that this family of 5 got the HEA that they deserve.

4-4.5 stars for me. While I adore this series, and I enjoyed this one, for whatever reason it just didn't resonate with me quite the same way that some of the other stories in the series have. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy it, or that I wouldn't recommend this series (because I did, and I definitely would!), and I can't wait for the next one!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mark to Isaiah:

“I want to tell the world you’re my person”
“I felt...broken. Like I was missing something that all other men had. Like I was on the outside of the best inside secret ever.”


Isaiah and Mark’s story was intense and engaging, the author has a way of creating worlds that grabs my heart and pulls me in. I can’t put the book down when I’ve started reading.

Some of the things I liked:
* Intense connection between the characters and their slow build up to a more sexual relationship.
* No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
* Lots of dialogues, and very intriguing dialogues with a lot of emotions, I did swipe away some tears from time to time.
* All the care Mark was giving Isaiah was so sweet described (yes, I’m a softie)

If you want a truly emotional story with a HEA this author delivers again and again.

5 golden stars 🌟

It’s no secret that I adore the Out of Uniform series by Annabeth Albert. They’re romance books with wonderful stories at the core, and Squared Away is no exception.

The core of this story follows Isaiah and Mark as they become parents overnight after the death of their siblings in a tragic car accident. Isaiah is determined to become the full-time guardian of his nieces and nephew, and Mark is used to being the person in control. The strongest point of this book is the way that both men’s concern for the well-being of the children they find in their care is front and centre all the time. Kids don’t go away just because adults want to have alone time; they’re there and they’re a priority, which is fantastic.

I also love the representation in this book (as with the rest in the series). Isaiah is out and proud of the fact. Mark, on the other, hand, is a lot less secure in his understanding of his sexuality and really struggles with that. It’s the first time I’ve read a protagonist that’s gray ace and it was well done, and highlights the emotional state of Mark constantly, which is a great contrast to Isaiah.

There are steamy scenes in here, but the focus is less on smut and more on a sensual and romantic connection between the two characters and that was refreshing.

This is a book that will put you through an emotional wringer, but it’s well worth it. I gave Squared Away 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Annabeth Albert does it again with another emotional, compelling, AMAZING installment in her Out of Uniform series!

I could seriously read Annabeth Albert and only Annabeth Albert and be a happy camper. She just gets me and my taste, you know? *happy sigh*

We get a very character-focused story here, folks. It's really all about these two men and their feelings and journey through some extremely tumultuous personal times. We get a dual POV so we get to see inside both MCs' heads, and I loved that so much.

This isn't a book with a ton of crazy action or a fast-plot, so if you want something suspenseful you won't find it here. I prefer my stories to be about the relationship and the emotional journey, so I was a happy camper.

*Now, I'm going to get into some minor spoilers that are hinted at in the blurb.*

Going into this book, I really didn't know what to expect. I skimmed the blurb but didn't really read reviews, so I assumed that one of the MCs "exploring his sexuality" was going to be same-sex attraction... I was wrong.

I actively seek out stories featuring characters all over the sexuality spectrum, and I was excited to find out that one of the characters is demisexual and gray-ACE. I thought it was some exciting, meaningful, and much-needed representation, and it felt very authentic.

Smut-lovers might not be pleased by this one as the sex-scenes are few and far between, but though there isn't a lot of X-rated action, there is a lot of sensual, romantic kissing and touching, and I didn't feel like I was missing anything at all.

The story is fairly angsty, but it isn't a book that will leave you sobbing or feeling depressed. It's a story about two men recovering from great losses and growing and changing as individuals and as a couple. Squared Away is a moving and powerful story, but, above all, it's a romance-y romance that will give you all the feels, especially at the end.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

This is book #5, in the Out Of Uniform series. This book can be read as a standalone novel. For reader understanding, and to avoid spoilers, I recommend reading these in order.

Mark is a SEAL and not much shakes him up, usually. With tragic news, he rushes to home to find Isaiah has things in hand. The very man he has been avoiding since his sister's wedding six years ago. Now they must find a compromise for the future.

Isaiah has been doing just fine with the kids in his care. Mark coming home is not going to change that. With a little luck, and maybe a miracle, they can come together for the kids and make is better.

Sizzle and pop are what you hear when these men look at one another. This great addition to an already stellar series, brings back some series favorites with cameos too. I loved the very real feelings that were between the characters. I also loved that the pace was not rushed.


***This ARC was given by Netgalley and its publishers, in exchange for an honest review.

The Out of Uniform series is one of my favorites and this is yet another strong installment. Squared Away was almost too angsty for me, but Albert has a gift for taking flawed or complicated characters to the edge and then showing how they learn and grow as individuals before coming together as a couple.

Mark and Isaiah have a lot to work through – a battle over the guardianship of 3 children after the death of Mark’s sister/Isaiah’s cousin, an age difference, Mark's demi sexual/grey ace sexuality (which Isaiah is awesome about), and enormous life changes but they learn to work as a team and overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Isaiah made a pass at Mark at the wedding of Isaiah’s brother and Mark’s sister. Mark soundly rebuffed him. Isaiah was hurt, and continued to be hurt at every family gathering when Mark ignored him. He eventually thought he had let his feelings go.

Five years later, after a tragic car accident the brother and sister were killed. Each giving guardianship of their children to their sibling. Mark is a SEAL, deployed, when he gets news of the deaths. Getting home as fast as he can, he is surprised to see Isaiah already living in the home with the three children. Isaiah has a reputation as a party boy and Mark isn't sure about him being involved in the situation. The guardianship issue come as a surprise to both. Each deciding they would take the responsibility of the children.

Lawyers, judges, family service, and family all come into play, creating conflict and misery. When the men start discovering they might have feelings for each other it becomes even more difficult. Their futures not at all certain. Trying to do best for the family.

This is a very slow burn. Another well done story in the series, I liked it.

✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ FIVE-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩

> > Judging a Book by it's Cover < <
Two men, one on the other, both shirtless. Not many other details are seen. Solid, bold title and author name. The synopsis sounds endearing and entertaining.

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

SQUARED AWAY is the first book I've read that contained a Demi or Ace character so I had nothing to compare it to but trust that Annabeth Albert did him justice. I was not sure how I'd feel reading it but I was surprised by how much I, personally, identified with Mark... like he's of my people.
Isaiah and Mark had so many hurdles to overcome with meddling family, friends, neighbors, grieving, the courts, past experiences, lack of experience, kids, schedules, work/school, and personal identity awareness that it was emotionally exhausting to read them endure it all. I can only imagine how much harder it was to write it.
They made a believable insta-family, learning by trial and error, and not all days were perfect. There was a mishap, leading to an ER trip and subsequent fallout that validated the learning process of parenting and the struggle of balancing it with another person just as new. The kids were enjoyable and felt age appropriate.
I loved Mark's character, though sometimes "Stubborn SEAL" would not have been my choice of words for him. Isaiah was amazingly compassionate and did an outstanding job at becoming a mature and responsible "parent" the moment he was needed to step in. Their chemistry was magnetic but denied and ignored for a length of time, so this was a slow build but, again, it felt RIGHT for Mark's character.
Secondaries were strong and varied in supportive or opposing nature. Dialogue was smart, their interactions were natural. The plot was heartfelt, dynamic, and entertaining. Flow was easy and smooth.
Some of the conflicts could have been avoided with better communication and a more direct approach - and especially with the matters of great importance that needed to be addressed but kept getting pushed back. Other obstacles were tripped and fallen over, flat on one's face. But they got up and continued on "one step at a time, one foot in front of the other". It seemed to be a running theme and, really, it was all they could do with what they were given. Predictability was lower than expected, especially having read numerous books by this author previously. It went places I did not expect and did not go places I figured it might. I was quite pleased with that.
The conclusion was solid, satisfying, and sweet. (They needed a dog though! LOL)
I've enjoyed this series all the way through, but I think this one really stands above the rest. It was deeper on an emotional level and that really spoke to me.
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Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.525 ~ Stars: 5
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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". ***** ⭐ ⭐

this story that have stayed with me and this shows the depth of emotion Annabeth Albert can reach. Readers are guaranteed to live through tough times with these characters--they suffer through grief and obligation, and then attempts to remove the children from their care.

It's all very messy, as is true of real life. Mark is often seen as hostile towards Isaiah's attempts to protect and care for the children who have lost their parents. We might find him annoying and judgemental but he is still grappling with this own intimacy issues, and this has impacts.

Isaiah is still young, and his determination to keep the kids is commendable. I had the most sympathy for his situation, but he is depicted as hopeful and always compassionate. I really wanted him to get the protection and care he deserved.

I do like this author's work. She's an auto-read for me, and this out of uniform series has been very consistent and strong. Thanks Netgalley for advanced copy. I am a bit confused about release date as Netgalley says April 1st, and GR says April 16th. Anyway, whenever it comes out, be sure to track it down.

Isaiah and Mark build a romance that comes from seeing each other as equal partners. But to do that, each hero has to come to new levels of self awareness.

Both heroes make mistakes. They both need to trust and communicate more but they learn to do so.

I like a love story with kids in it so I enjoyed this aspect of the book as well as the presentation of Mark's sexuality as well as Isaiah's.

The secondary relationships were all well done and Albert's writing as usual was engaging. A good addition to the series!

I was given this book for my honest review. So, there you have it.

This book was a very well-done exploration of grief. The way the two main characters connected and supported each other through their heartbreak and life-upheaval was my favorite part of the book, but it never felt like they were just falling together to ignore their pain. They really connected on a very level. My favorite part of this novel was that one of the characters was gray ace which I've never actually seen in a romance novel. Loved it.

While not my favorite book in the series it was still a good read. I loved how both men wanted what was best for the kids even coming from different directions on their care. The slow burn between the two men was a little long but the outcome was great.
I am looking forward to Bacon's book!!

The entire Out of Uniform series has been a strong 4- to 5-star read for me, and Squared Away was no different.

I'm not even usually a big fan of kids in my romance but just as in Book 2 of the series, At Attention, the children felt real and present and not just a silent prop or plot element. The book contained a lot of legalities relating to estate and guardianship but as with any book by this author, I thought everything was well researched. Most importantly, I thought everything was written with a lot of heart and at no point did I feel bogged down with technicalities.

I was happy to see that the book featured Mark who was still figuring out his demisexuality/gray-aceness. It was in fact an Annabeth book, All Note Long, that had helped me identify my own demisexuality several years ago. For the most part, I enjoyed Mark's journey with Isaiah, but I do wish they were more physically comfortable - at whatever level of intimacy - with each other towards to end.

Overall, I appreciated the fact that the happy couple had quite a ways to go for their HEA and I finished the book quite convinced of their future together. I would easily rec this book, along with the rest of this outstanding series.

Thank you for the chance to review this book! A full review will be posted closer to release day.