Once again Annabeth Albert has taken me on a journey to find a happy ending. This time we go back to and connect two characters that made previous appearances in her Out of Uniform series. Renzo and Cannan were a bit of a slow simmer to me, but one I totally enjoyed. It was obvious they both had an attraction to the other, but I think Renzo was totally surprised by what he found in Cannan. There was for sure an awkwardness initially, with them both not sure what to do or say that I found endearing and sweet. Their passion was off the charts, and I loved the dirty talk that sometimes caused Renzo to blush; but when he finally let go and did his own talking it was hot, hot, hot! Their building friendship and respect made me love them as much as their beautiful love story.

4.5 Stars!

This one was my favorite book of the series.

What this book had going for it that none of the others did was the fact that these two men were in an actual relationship. There was no closets to come out of. There was no hiding of the relationship. I loved that. Usually in this series we have to wait until almost the very end for one of the men to get it together enough to admit to their feelings. So this book was quite the relief from all that. Plus it helped that I really loved Canaan and Renzo together.

Canaan use to be a drummer in a band that was getting some notice when his grandma turned ill. Putting his family first he left the band and took a different path from the rock and roll one. Now he's studying to be a nurse and working at a smoothie shop while also taking care of his grandpa. He's quite fond of his smoothie job because it gives him a perfect excuse to ogle his little obsession. The men of SEALS. He's got a thang for them and especially for one SEAL in particular.
Renzo (A.K.A. Rooster to his SEAL team) likes to flirt and especially likes to flirt with Canaan. It's all innocent until Canaan offers him a bit fun and trouble. When Renzo decides to take Canaan up on his offer a sweet romance blossoms between the two. It starts off as a fake relationship to shut up Canaan's ex band mates about showing up alone while on a camping trip from hell. But when Canaan proves he can handle Renzo's "big" problem, which by the way is no problem for Canaan, it makes Renzo feel more comfortable pursuing this relationship with Canaan.
Both men are pretty family oriented. Renzo's family is pretty intense. Well I should say his mother is. Still not sure if I like her. When Ren's not drowning in guilt from a past accident he's trying to be the perfect son and brother. His mom doesn't help with that pressure when she loads him down with her hero worship talk and letting him know how much his family needs and misses him. Canaan just wants to take care of the person who has always been there for him and taken care of him when his mother wasn't in the picture. He adores his grandpa and so did I.
Both men stole my heart and I rooted hard for their HEA and was thrilled with their ending.

Happy reading dolls! xx

The Out of Uniform series sort of crept up on me. Through seven novels and a bunch of short stories, I’ve had a blast reading about these men in uniform and the people they love.

I’ll be sad to see the series go, but ‘Rough Terrain’ ends it on a really good note!

I think what I enjoyed most about Canaan and Renzo’s relationship was just how much fun they had together. There weren’t necessarily any swoon-filled emotional moments (at least not at first), but instead there was a lot of laughter and playful competitiveness.

Plus, I loved how family meant so much to both men. Canaan’s grandfather was just precious.

And the sexual tension. These two were hot while fake boyfriends, and even hotter when it became something real.

But of course, not everything was sunshine-and-roses. There was a life-and-death situation that brought the men closer together.

And then there was relationship drama. The book dragged a bit for me at this point, simply because Renzo was being deliberately obtuse. Things didn’t have to get as complicated as they did.

Luckily, Canaan’s made of sturdier stuff, and Renzo gets his head out of his ass pretty quickly. The happy ever after was perfect.

If you’re looking for an MM series about soldiers in love, give the Out of Uniforms series a try!

rough terrain is the seventh book in the out of uniform series, and really just another winner. navy seal renzo and smoothie-maker canaan have the best meet-cute. both have been burned, but both are really interested in seeing if that spark between them is real.

when canaan asks renzo to be his plus one on a camping trip, he knows that the fake boyfriend thing might be a little much. but he's already interested in more, and when it turns out that having a navy seal with you happens to be a life-saving idea, canaan doesn't regret it.

renzo has some serious hang ups about relationships, but together he and canaan work through them. what makes these books so meaningful is that these characters have to make hard choices to get to their happy ending, but when they do, it's all that more meaningful.

**rough terrain will publish january 14, 2019. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/carina press in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 - 5 -> this one turned out to be one of my favorites.

Oh Canaan and Renzo… as sorry as I was that Rough Terrain marked the end of the Out of Uniform series, I don’t think it could have ended with a more perfect couple.

On the surface, Canaan and Renzo weren’t even close to a perfect match. Renzo was totally focused on his military career and he had reasons for that focus. Canaan was just as focused. He was working his way through nursing school. He was also “nursing” a broken heart, but that didn’t stop him from being attracted to Renzo – and the feeling was mutual.

Attraction isn’t always enough and it took them almost losing each other to make them realize that their “pretend” romance was a little more real than they realized.

There was so much to love about this final installment. Like a few cameos from previous characters that I always enjoy. A glimpse at military life that’s pretty close to accurate (or as close to accurate as fiction can get.) Then there was the connection between Renzo and Canaan. The supporting characters were both great and aggravating at times – the perfect balance. Although I’m still sad that Out of Uniform has come to an end, I can’t wait to see what Annabeth Albert has in store for readers next. 😉

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/M Military Romance

Canaan is working hard to earn his degree in nursing. He was able to live the life of a traveling drummer for a while, but when his grandpa gets sick, Canaan knows that his priorities need to change. While attending his classes, Canaan also has a hobby of staring at the local SEALs that come in to buy protein smoothies. Despite his overactive imagination and fantasies, Canaan doesn't really think that he'll have a chance with anyone. I really enjoyed Canaan's character. He was thoughtful, sweet, flirty, and when it mattered, very honest and serious.

Renzo is a tough SEAL, but underneath it all, he is also just a son who is trying his hardest to please his family. Despite loving his job, Renzo lives with this constant guilt. While I liked his character enough, I did think that he was a little too whiny and insecure. Yes, he had some issues with his family expecting a lot from him, but he also never really talked about it either.

Renzo and Canaan have great chemistry. They are fun and sexy together. When push comes to shove, both Renzo and Canaan will have to decide if what they are starting is worth the fight or if they had their fun and now they can each get back to their own lives. I enjoyed this story a lot and think that it fit well with the previous books in this series.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the last book in the series and it was different than the rest. This book was a little more light, fluffy, and sweet. Canaan and Renzo worked well together even though I thought their first date was more like something teenagers would do than grown men. It wasn't my favorite book in the series, but it also wasn't my least. It was a good ending to a good series. I wish we would have seen more characters from previous books since this was the last book, but oh well.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
In Rough Terrain, author Annabeth Albert has given us another strong m/m romance with a hot Navy SEAL. I loved the relationship between Navy SEAL Renzo and nursing student/drummer/shop assistant Canaan. Here is Renzo, this totally buff, hot guy you’d expect to be confident with dating and sex, but he had some heavy insecurities and they really were kind of sweet. It is Canaan who had the confidence to flirt and lead in that department. Even thinking about them now makes me smile. I also loved that both men are close with and love their families and that their careers were important to them. Despite the fact that Canaan was once a member of a semi-famous band and Renzo is an elite member of the armed forces, I felt like these were just two everyday guys and I really did love them.

I highly recommend Rough Terrain. It is book #7 in the Out of Uniform series but could easily be read as a standalone.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is the story of the SEAL who falls for the cute guy at his local smoothie shop. Renzo and Canaan are an unlikely match on almost every level, but I love how they work together.

A few books ago, I was worried that this series was becoming a little bit formulaic and predictable. Thankfully, the last couple have been fresh and this story feels really original.

As a rock drummer turned nursing student, Canaan is a more complicated character than we first realise. Like Renzo and Canaan’s ex-boyfriend, I was initially wary of Canaan’s slightly obsessive interest in SEALs in general – and it took a while before I was convinced Canaan saw Renzo before he saw the SEAL. I love Canaan’s relationship with his grandfather, it's wonderful and I was plotting my own revenge scenarios for his ex from the moment he opened his mouth.

I really like it when the author adds action scenes into these books and I love that the hiking trip at the start of this one completely took me by surprise. Unfortunately, while I really liked the hiking adventure, the hiking trip probably established Renzo and Canaan as a couple too early and the men spend a little bit too much of the rest of the book in relationship limbo. I didn’t enjoy the time spent with Renzo and Canaan running around in circles, scared to commit to each other or plan for their future. Another consequence of coupling too early is that the romantic tension fades too quickly and much of the end feels like hard work as they hammer out practical solutions for a life together.

I enjoyed the characters in this story and I really like Renzo and Canaan together. I love that this feels like a fresh and original addition to the series. I just wish the structure and pacing had allowed the chemistry between these two to build for a bit longer.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the seventh book in the series, and definitely has links to previous books, but you could definitely enjoy it as a standalone too. Series readers will remember Canaan for sure, and will see the change as a clear indication of his change in interest levels now he has met Renzo.

This is a really enjoyable story, as in addition to the obvious attraction of sexy SEAL Renzo, we also get ex-drummer of successful band Canaan, who left it behind to care for his sick grandpa. After a slow start, and a strange mix of attraction, but caution, the two men agree to play boyfriends for a band reunion. When they all go on a trip into the wilds, little did they expect the drama that ensued. It certainly puts their feelings front and centre, but still doesn't make a future simple.

I love the pacing of this book, as we go from family, to adventure, to slow thoughtful resolutions, and some very fun and sexy private times. A really good addition to the series, thank you, Annabeth Albert.

4.25 Stars

Canaan has been flirting with Navy Seal Renzo for a while. One day Canaan pushes a little more to see if Renzo will go out with him. Renzo is reluctant, but gives Canaan a chance. Finding out how well they get along complicates things; neither feels they are in the right place for a relationship. Do they fight for the chance to be together or walk away?

I liked Canaan. While his life is busy and unsettled, he knows what is important to him. He takes care of his grandfather and is studying hard to become a nurse. He never really expected Renzo to take him up on spending time together, but can't ignore what he finds with Renzo. I was glad that Canaan realized that missing his old life was different than wanting to go back to it.

I felt for Renzo. He has a lot on his plate and doesn't really know how to handle everything without compartmentalizing it all. He wears a lot of masks, never really getting a chance to be himself. I liked that he opened up to Canaan so easily and that Canaan was nonjudgmental and willing to help. I liked that Renzo felt that he could be himself with Canaan and find some peace.

They were great together as a couple. While I was initially disappointed in Renzo for walking away and making decisions for them both, it was tempered by knowing Renzo's personality and how much he was hurting too. I was happy when he listened to the people around him and talked to Canaan again. The trust that he gave Canaan was hard fought, but well worth it. I was happy to see them find the compromise that would allow them both to move forward with their dreams together.

I enjoyed this story in the Out of Uniform series. If you're a fan of the author or the series, I think you'll enjoy this one as well.

Renzo is a SEAL that has been down on his luck when it comes to guys and his own insecurities about his body until he meets Canaan, the flirtatious and smooth talking employee that works at the Smoothie Palace that Renzo frequently visits. I liked how the author addressed and flushed out both characters into making them realistic and unlike a fantasy. Renzo confides in Canaan about his size and it was amazing how Canaan met that fear with patience and understanding instead of pushing it away like Renzo's previous boyfriends. It helps that Canaan and Renzo are adventurous and open minded about things and they communicate like a real couple should. This book showed a healthy representation of how to handle bumps in a relationship. The story was great. It had a decent amount of conflict and all loose ends were tied. The dialogue was pretty fun to read too. Canaan and Renzo's back and forth banter left me chuckling to myself many times. I must admit, Renzo's insecurity is an uncommon one that I've never heard of and the author did a great job of educating the reader and Cannan about this issue.

Anothe great story from Annabeth Albert. It’s sexy, romantic and a great fun love story. Well written characters pull together a romance and Albert does this so well.

This is the 7th book in the Out of Uniform series, and the last. I’ve really enjoyed all of these books, though of course some more than others. However, with the series now over, at least I can say that we’ve focused on all the main players throughout. The last one who needed a love story was Navy SEAL Renzo. He’s often referred to as Rooster by his Navy brothers, but he’d much rather go by his real name, and Canaan is happy to oblige.

I really felt for Renzo. He seems like someone who is confident all the time and has it all together, but he had insecurities too and they were things he had to work through in the book if he wanted to make a real go of it with Canaan. And yes, I really liked Canaan too! I think him and Renzo made a good couple.

Since this is the final book, I just have to say that I think you should start at the beginning if you’re curious about the Out of Uniform series. Each book focuses on a different couple, though previous characters show up in subsequent books. Rough Terrain wasn’t my favorite in the whole series, but I still really enjoyed it.

Rough Terrain is, sadly for me, the last book in the Out of Uniform series by Annabeth Albert and just like she started strong with the sweet and at times painful coming together of Zach and Pike, she finished strong with the pairing of Renzo and Canaan. We met Canaan before in On Point, when he and Ben and Maddox hook up but like so often in her books, Ms. Albert writes a character that is not to be summed up by one encounter. Canaan and Renzo though on the surface different, are similar in their devotion to family and in the way they have both sacrificed in order to care for the family they love. Both have a journey to make to realize that going for their own happiness, taking care of themselves by being with one another, is allowed and needs to be embraced. They also need to see themselves for the depth of character they display in their actions instead of via the caricatures that Canaan's former band mates/friends and Renzo's needy family have convinced them that they are. Their story was so well done. Even though there is not a lot of time from the time they start to see each other as partner to their realization of the depth of their connection, they experience a lot together in a way that allows for a strong connection that is based on who they really are, vulnerabilities and all. I was so happy at the end but sad that the series is at a conclusion. I have enjoyed every story and I have read them all.

FR- Alors alors…. alors je pense que je n’ai plus besoin de vous présenter cette série ni de vous dire que j’adore cette série. Je suis à peu près sûre que vous avez compris à quel point j’aime cette série et je dois bien dire que j’ai eu un petit pincement au coeur à l’idée qu’il s’agissait du dernier tome de la série.

Mais toutes les bonnes choses ont une fin et ce tome 7 est une fin parfaite. Il s’agit de l’histoire de Rooster et j’avais vraiment hâte de lire son histoire. Et j’ai énormément aimé. De toute façon j’ai beaucoup aimé tous les tomes de cette série et je savais d’avance que celui ci ne ferai pas exception à la règle.

J’ai beaucoup aimé le thème de ce roman et j’ai adoré le personnage de Canaan . Je l’ai trouvé vraiment intéressant et j’ai adoré le voir évoluer tout au long du roman. J’ai beaucoup aimé Renzo aussi (oui , le vrai nom de Rooster) et j’ai adoré ses interactions avec sa famille. J’avoue que plus d’une fois j’ai versé ma petite larme. Et j’ai énormément aimé que l’auteure explore cette piste.

La relation entre Canaan et Renzo est tout simplement génial. Il y a des thèmes que j’aime en romance MM et le « fake boyfriend » en est un. Et celui ci est particulièrement bon. J’ai adoré les rapprochements entre les deux personnages et j’ai aimé chaque petit moment entre eux, chaque hésitation, chaque tension et chaque moment de bonheur. J’ai adoré retrouver les personnages des autres tomes même si c’est brièvement et comme je vous le disais je n’ai pas pu m’empêcher d’avoir en tête qu’il s’agissait du dernier tome et de savourer plus intensément chaque ligne.

Il est difficile de parler du tome 7 d’une série mais je vais juste profiter du fait que ce soit le dernier tome pour vous dire que cette série est à mon sens un incontournable dans le genre, que je suis à la fois triste de quitter cet univers et super excitée pour la prochaine série à venir, Frozen Hearts qui est annoncée pour début avril.

Alors si vous n’avez pas encore découvert cette série, ni cette auteure… vous savez ce qu’il vous reste à faire!





ENG- So well well well… well I think I do not need to introduce you to this series anymore or to tell you that I love this series. I’m pretty sure you understand how much I like this series and I must say that I had a little pang in my heart at the thought that this was the last volume of the series.

But all good things have an end and this volume 7 is a perfect ending. This is Rooster’s story and I was really looking forward to reading his story. And I loved it a lot. Anyway I liked all the volumes of this series and I knew in advance that this one will be no exception to the rule.

I really liked the theme of this novel and I loved the character of Canaan. I found it really interesting and I loved seeing it evolve throughout the novel. I loved Renzo too (yes, Rooster’s real name) and I loved his interactions with his family. I admit that more than once I shed my little tear. And I really liked that the author explores this track.

The relationship between Canaan and Renzo is just great. There are themes that I love in MM romance and the « fake boyfriend » is one of them. And this one is particularly good. I loved the connections between the two characters and I loved each little moment between them, each hesitation, each tension and each moment of happiness. I loved to find the characters of the other volumes even if it is briefly and as I told you I could not help but have in mind that it was the last volume and enjoy more intensely each line.

It’s hard to talk about Volume 7 of a series but I’m just going to take advantage of the fact that this is the last volume to tell you that this series is in my opinion a must in the genre, that I am both sad to leave this universe and super excited for the upcoming upcoming series, Frozen Hearts which is announced for early April.

So if you have not yet discovered this series, or this author … you know what you have to do!

If you have been following my reviews you'll know I am a fan of Annabeth Albert's work, and with stories like this one it's no surprise. But I did something different this time, I didn't read the ARC given to me right away because I knew that I had a few days after the release before I would be posting this Blog Tour Promo Post so I waited and purchased the kindle book along with the audio version, and I am sooooo glad I did. WOW! Greg Boudreaux did a phenomenal job with the narration of this book. I enjoy audio books, the way they envelop you into the story, it really adds another layer to the enjoyment I get from reading and this is why I am so glad I decided to go this route with Rooster and Canaan's story.

I'm not a huge fan of the Fake Relationship trope but I don't shy away from it either, I will say that I am glad the "Fake" part didn't last to long and both men realized what they had was something worth exploring. We've met both Rooster and Canaan in previous books but don't worry if you haven't read them yet this book can be read as a standalone. I will say that once you meet the men that make up the Out Of Uniform series though you will want to read each and every story!

Rooster (Renzo has some hangups about sex and rightfully so, I won't tell you what they are you'll have to read the book to find out, but Canaan is just the person to help him out with any issues he may have. But not only is Canaan good for Renzo but Renzo is good for Canaan as well. I really enjoyed how these two men were compatible there was just enough differences to keep things interesting but they weren't total opposites.

This book is easy to recommend, heck the entire series is. I honestly don't think any of them rated less than four stars for me. I am so sad that this is the last book in the series but I am looking forward to Annabeth's new series, Frozen Hearts. I hope you start at the beginning and work your way through the series because each of these men were great and it's always nice to see how things play out for the couples in future books. Happy Reading!!!

Renzo...loved him. He frustrated the hell out of me with his holding back, but he's so giving and kind. He fights against falling for Cannan so hard I wanted to just shake the crap out of him. I was disappointed that he kept passing Cannan off as "all right" in his attempt to keep his feelings at bay. Cannan, was just, WOW! That man just laid it out there; what he wanted, what he was offering, what he liked. It attracted and repelled Renzo at the same time. It was impressive that Cannan saw that the choices he made for his life were the best ones for him. There was no longing for returning to 'life with the band' other than missing his friends. How he treated others made him wonderful. I loved his declaration that his grandfather was part of his future life. His kindness to Renzo's brother and parents made me smile. His stubborn determination to keep Renzo no matter what made me cheer. Loved the ending.

I’m in love with this series and the author. Military stories or any type of law enforcement stories are my weakness and this has been a wonderful ride to be on. I highly recommend this series and hope that you enjoy it as much as I have. Looking forward towards anything this author writes.

3.75

While not my favorite in the series, Rough Terrain is an enjoyable finale. Three years after his grandmother’s death from cancer, 26-year-old Canaan Finley’s life is a lot different from when he was the drummer for the up-and-coming band, Kirby’s Revenge. Instead of traveling through Europe with his high school friends/bandmates, he’s studying to be a nurse and working at a smoothie shop on the base where he gets all the SEAL eye candy he could hope for, including his favorite Renzo “Rooster” Bianchi. When he makes an offer to help Renzo find “trouble”, he’s surprised when the guy he sees as way out of his league takes him up on it, and even more surprised that he enjoys hanging out so much that asking Renzo to be his fake boyfriend for the camping trip with his former bandmates slips out.

While Renzo finds Canaan fun, easy to be around and sexy, he’s wary of getting too close and getting hurt again when the guy he’s into is only using him to make someone else jealous, but the urge to spend time with Canaan is too hard to resist, and he says yes against his better judgement. When he and Canaan find themselves in a life or death situation, the tentative bond they had started to form grows and each man decides they want to try a relationship when they return home. Unfortunately, communicating what they want from one another is daunting and neither wants to admit to the depth of their feelings, particularly Renzo who has a hard time talking about his emotions and trusting so when their fledgling relationship is put to the test, Renzo has to decide if trusting Canaan and putting in the work to make a relationship last is scarier than losing Canaan completely.

Although Renzo and Canaan are in their mid to late twenties, their relationship issues came across as decidedly NA, as this is Renzo’s first relationship and Canaan’s first relationship since he broke up with his best friend turned boyfriend three years ago. Thus, there is a lot of insecurity and inner hemming and hawing Canaan and Renzo go through when it comes to wanting more from the other than friendship or a causal relationship but being too afraid to admit it, and in Renzo’s case, continually doubting Canaan’s interest, seriousness and feelings.

Naturally, there is also the last act "break-up" to get our MC to re-evaluate what he wants, which between some of the "am I what he wants" back and forth issues during the story made it feel a bit longer than necessary. However, Annabeth Albert’s ability to create engaging MCs with interesting relationship growth and development saves the story from feeling too high school-“does he really like me” angsty. Both Canaan and Renzo have relatable and strong connections to their family, although Renzo’s ties are a bit more fraught as they are tangled up in his perfectionist nature (fed by guilt after a childhood accident), the burden he feels at being his family’s “hero” and worrying he’s not living up to their expectations. If you like a story with a smart, fun, flirty and loyal RN-in-training loosening up a perfectionist, stoic WELL hung SEAL with trust and intimacy issues, you’ll enjoy Rough Terrain.


I received an advanced reader copy from A Novel Take PR.

Well, this is awkward...
There are a few things we need to talk about before I get started with this review.

This book is number 7 in Annabeth Albert's Out of Uniform series. Every book in this series can be read as a stand-alone, but you do meet some of your old favorite characters in each new book and get a bit of an introduction to the main characters in future books. While it's doable, I certainly recommend you start from the beginning because they are amazing books.

Now the next thing we need to talk about is a little bit more awkward. You see, I adored Ms. Alberts #gaymers series. It's one my favorite MM series ever. But I happily avoided these books for nearly far too long because the covers didn't do much for me.

This book features Rooster our resident Instagram celebrity and Navy SEAL. We met him a couple books ago and learned enough about the guy to be intrigued. Although he has left many hints in previous books, the last book ended with us being told in no uncertain terms that Rooster is bisexual.

Rooster (or Renzo, as you will soon know him) meets Caanan at the smoothie shop where he worked. It was a fun meeting, who doesn't love a good smoothie? Although Caanan doesn't seem to appreciate the perks of his job, I totally contemplated changing careers and opening a healthy smoothie type business near a military base - eye candy, anyone?

Although I absolutely enjoyed this book, as well as the previous 6 books in the series (I may or may not have binged all of them over the last two weeks), this book was nearly a DNF. You see, anyone who has played the hookup game knows that when a man feels the need to warn you about his <em>size</em> you're either in for a world of disappointment or a really good night. Most often though it leads to disappointment, unfulfilled expectations and a most unsatisfying walk of shame.

So when Renzo mentions that he's well endowed it was a red flag and I nearly gave up before I could be disappointed. The only reason I kept reading was that I didn't know how to write a DNF review saying I had such little trust in my book-boyfriend that I didn't think he would deliver on his promise. Relationships are all about trust, right? So I trusted Renzo and he did not disappoint!!!

Anyway, this is a wonderful story of two people getting past their hangups from the failed relationships of their past, learning to trust each other and finding true love.

Overall, Rough Terrain was a super relatable story with well-developed characters and a plot that had my heart racing in more than one way. I recommend it for anyone who loves a good MM Military Romance.

ROUGH TERRAIN is the seventh book in the Out of Uniform series, and this time we meet up with Renzo (Rooster) Bianchi and part-time barista, Canaan. Canaan has been watching Renzo come into the shop for the past few months and has admired him from afar. When the opportunity arises to flirt, he takes it! Renzo is interested in Canaan, but doesn't want to be used again. He has been the guy to make the boyfriend jealous, and doesn't want to be that person again.

These two are so sweet together! Seriously!!! Their relationship is a slow-burner, which just made the story so much better. The attraction is there, but until Renzo can be sure of Canaan's feelings, he is not prepared to move forward.

As with all Annabeth Albert books, this was exceedingly well-written, with no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading. The story flowed, and the characters are all well-rounded out.

With a strong relationship built on friendship and trust, this is a fantastic addition to the Out of Uniform series, although it can be read as a standalone. Absolutely recommended by me.

Rough Terrain is the 7th and final book in the Out of Uniform series by Annabeth Albert. This book followed Lorenzo "Renzo" "Rooster" Bianchi and Canaan Finley.

Renzo grew up as a glasses-wearing chubby kid but that all changed after his older brother had an accident. His brother wanted to be a SEAL, so out of a sense of guilt, Renzo decided to follow his brother’s dream, enlisting and becoming a SEAL.

Canaan is a student working at a smoothie restaurant while going to school part time to be a nurse. He used to play drums in a band with his ex but came home after his grandmother got sick. After she passed away he stayed on to take care of his grandfather.

Renzo stays away from relationships because of a problem. What starts out as a fake relationship turns into hero worship of sorts turns to a relationship. Will it last?

I liked Renzo. He was interesting, and genuinely a nice character: an amazing big brother, a good son, a good SEAL and a bit of a fitness/workout Instagram icon. Canaan is a drummer, a good grandson and he is going to be a great nurse.

I really liked this book and I am so sad it is the last in the series. Drumming and being an Instagram fitness/workout model were important aspects to each character, but I found both got brushed over a lot in all the drama that was their relationship. However, I will reread this book and the entire series, while I try and curb my excitement for the next upcoming series.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

The camping trip from hell may be the first stop on the road to happily-ever-after.

Navy SEAL Renzo Bianchi has a soft spot for Canaan Finley, and not only because the man makes a mean smoothie. He’s the first guy to get Renzo’s motor revving in a long time. But when he agrees to Canaan’s insane charade—one all-access fake boyfriend, coming right up—he never expects more than a fling.

Creating a hot Italian SEAL boyfriend to save face seemed like a good idea…until his friends called Canaan’s bluff. Now he’s setting off into the woods with the very man who inspired his deception, and Canaan is not the outdoorsy type. The sparks are already flying when a flash flood separates them from their group, leaving Renzo and Canaan very much trapped…very much alone in the wilderness.

Working together to come up with a plan for survival is sexier than either of them expects. But back in the real world, being a couple is bringing its own set of hazards…

Everytime I think I have a favorite series by this author narrowed down, then Annabeth Albert goes ahead and releases a new story. In this case its Rough Terrain (Out of Uniform #7) and, sure enough my heart and attention is switched back to the Out of Uniform series from #gaymers or whatever series it happened to have landed on from the last Annabeth Albert novel I last finished reading.

It works like that with this author.

She has to ability to imbue her stories and characters with such vitality, such heart that they live beyond whatever electronic device you happen to be reading the novel on.  From the moment you meet them, dive into their lives and whatever messy situations they happen to be in, you are completely sunk!  Hooked by the fact that Albert has connected you heart to heart, thought to thought, emotion to emotion to these men and whatever she and this story has in store for them.

Rough Terrain has so much in store for us as readers and for its main characters!  From meeting Canaan Finley making smoothies and waiting for the SEALs to arrive, especially the one he's crushing on to finding out about the upcoming weekend where Canaan desperately needs to appear with a date, the reader's anticipation starts to rise.  We know who    he will take but how will Albert bring it about?  And what will happen.  Then we meet Navy SEAL Renzo Bianchi and oh my!

This is a series filled with complicated men and rough roads to coupledom. But never have I so eagerly awaited the path these two took together and was so rewarded with the story that followed.

The dynamics between them in various situations from normal daily routines to some of the most traumatic, life threatening scenes imaginable were extraordinary.  From the dialog, to the action I felt every moment, clung to the horror, and almost cried with relief with all the events that take place in the wilderness.  It's truly amazing in every respect.  And that and the romance will make you want to read this story  over and over.  It's really one of the highlights of the series.

If you love contemporary stories, here is a novel and a series you won't want to miss.  If you are a fan of Annabeth Albert, you are probably, like me, already for the next one.

I highly recommend the story, series, and author.  I'm a huge fan of all three.

Cover art by Carina Press art department does a great job in continuing to brand the series with the color tone and overall design.  The figures do well by the main characters and storyline.