Squared Away

All of the books in the Out of Uniform series are good, although really you can say that about all of AA’s books, some are great but then some, like Squared Away, reach a whole new level of amazing. This is an angsty, character driven plot, where all of the story and conflict is about the main characters and the situation they’ve been thrust into. Without giving anything away it’s just a very emotional journey through difficult personal hardships, and learning about themselves. I love Mark, what he comes to realize about himself touched me in a deeply personal way and him growing as a person. I love Isaiah even more for how he accepted Mark and they overcame the conflicts. Due to Mark’s revelation the heat level on this is lower than your typical AA book, but accurate. But oh the romance, I’m not sure I’ve read such a romantic book recently. It’s very focused on their connection , and you can feel it jumping off the page. It’s probably not perfect, I can see where some things might not work for other readers, but it was so perfect for me. I highly recommend this whole series. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy.

DEEPLY EMOTIONAL ~ MARK IS MY PEOPLE! ~*~*~ HEC's SECOND #5STAR REVIEW OF 2018! ~*~*~ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ 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. . Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.525 ~ Stars: 5 ========================== ⭐ ⭐ **** 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 was a very emotional story for me; I loved it. I'm not sure what else I can say about Annabeth Albert's Out of Uniform series that hasn't already been said. It's a fantastic series and most of the books have been very emotional reads for me. Squared Away features Mark who's confused about his sexuality, specifically his lack of sexual desire; he's never felt sexual desire for anyone, male or female. He's read up on asexuality but he's not really sure where he fits in the spectrum and he hates labels. Isaiah is gay and out. Six years ago, he made a pass at Mark and there was a spark, but Mark wouldn't act on it because Isaiah was only 18. A horrible tragedy brings these two back together again and memories of all the unresolved feelings they both had come flooding back. Man, this book really got to me. Both Mark and Isaiah want to take care of the children left behind when Mark's sister and her husband (Isaiah's cousin) died. Isaiah is close to the three kids but Mark is a SEAL, and frequently deployed, so he hasn't spent much time around them. They both want what is best for the children but they are at odds as to what that really is. While they are waiting for the courts to make a decision about custody of the children Mark and Isaiah grow closer. Isaiah is no longer the randy teenager he once was but he has trouble getting Mark to believe that. After Isaiah learns of Mark's fears about his lack of sexual desire he is quick to reassure him that he is content to take things as slow as Mark wants. He has to work hard to convince Mark that there are many different ways to make each other feel good and that he loves just making out with him. It takes a lot of groveling on Mark's part to get Isaiah to give him another chance after he screws things up but Annabeth Albert always delivers an HEA, no matter how hard it might be for her guys to get there. I am so happy that there will be more stories in this series. BTW - each book in this series can easily be read as a standalone story. A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book. ***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions***