On Point by Annabeth Albert | Out of Uniform #3
Military/Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA
Publication Date | June 5th, 2017
ARC from the author
Book Blurb:
Never fall for your best friend…
Pushing thirty, with his reenlistment looming, decorated navy sniper Maddox Horvat is taking a long look at what he really wants in life. And what he wants is Ben Tovey. It isn’t smart, falling for his best friend and fellow SEAL, but ten years with Ben has forged a bond so intimate Maddox can’t ignore it. He needs Ben by his side forever—heart and soul.
Ben admits he likes what he’s seen—his friend’s full lower lip and the perfect muscles of his ass have proved distracting more than once. But Ben’s still reeling from a relationship gone to hell, and he’s not about to screw up his friendship with Maddox, too.
Until their next mission throws Ben and Maddox closer together than ever before, with only each other to depend on.
Now, in the lonely, desperate hours awaiting rescue, the real challenge—confronting themselves, their future and their desires—begins. Man to man, friend to friend, lover to lover.
| Book Review |
This review contains slight spoilers.
I always get excited when a release date for an Annabeth Albert is near, and On Point was no exception. We met Maddox and Ben earlier in the Out of Uniform series, and tensions were already running high between these two men. Ben and Maddox are SEALS who have been together since BUD/S training, and unbeknownst to the other, they’re each carrying a torch. Living together is further complicating things, and when their team leaves for a mission, things are still rocky with Ben and Maddox. When things go awry with their mission, Ben and Maddox are left behind to fend for themselves, and neither are in great shape. Ben and Maddox’s time in the jungle was the highlight of this book for me. I wasn’t a huge fan of the flashbacks (they made the story feel a bit disjointed for me,) but I loved Maddox’s attempt to try and resolve things with Ben, and I loved how they were both agonizing over how the other man was in such bad shape. The friendship between these men (with their whole team, not just each other,) was enough to bring tears to my eyes. These men are trusting each other with their lives, and the thought of letting each other down is unthinkable to them. But after they get back from the jungle and rehabilitation kicks in, this story went a bit downhill for me.
First of all, I thought it was so sad that Maddox essentially lost his family once they found out he was gay, but I love that he didn’t let it shake his faith in God. He didn’t stop believing, and it was his faith that helped him hang on when he was in the jungle. But Ben’s family was more than willing to step up to the plate for both men, and I love that Ben’s family was able to give Maddox that. My issues lie mostly with Ben and the way his troubles were so in my face. There was no subtlety here, and I’m a huge fan of layers. I love seeing the different layers of a character being pulled back, but that just didn’t happen here. Because of that, this story felt more drawn out than it needed to be, and Ben and Maddox’s happy time was too long with no real drama before things completely fell apart. And for me, the separation at the end before one of them came to their senses was way too long.
Despite my issues with this book, it was an enjoyable read. You get to see the previous couples from this series, and since this is Annabeth Albert, there are some very sweet moments between the main characters. If you’re a fan of previous books, I recommend reading On Point.
| Rating |
Series: Off Base
I’ve had my eye on this series since the first one came out. Good to know that this one has some pacing issues and the conflict uneven. Sounds like a good one, though.
Thanks, Angie! 🙂
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It was still a good read! I do recommend this series. It’s such a great insight into military couples and their challenges as well.
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I had been a while since I read a mm book
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Let me know if you want to remedy that. I have lots of recommendations! 🙂
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I’m glad that it continues to be good.
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Thanks, Melliane! 🙂
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I really need to read Annabeth Albert!! I always see her books around and they are always well liked. Great review!
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She is very good, and most of the time her character development is spot on for me.
Thanks, Grace! 🙂
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I like layers as well so too bad it didn’t quite live up to that, but it still sounds like a good read. Like the complexity of the relationship made up for it. I might have to try this series.
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It was still a good read, and I’m excited for more of the series.
Another series of hers I really love is #gaymers. Either of these would be a great place to start!
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Despite the issues with passing and the flashbacks this sounds heartwarming
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It really was. I love the sweetness this author brings to her stories.
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I have read a couple of Annabeth Albert books and enjoyed them but that was ages ago. This one sounds like it was worth picking up despite a few issues.
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I really did enjoy this one. The whole series has been wonderful to read.
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To be honest, I haven’t read an M/M book yet. But this one sounds sweet. Great review. 🙂
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It was, Aleen. Let me know if you’re looking for some recommendations. 🙂
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I’m really going to have to buckle down and read this series. Not only do I like the covers, but I feel like this is a world that I’d really like.
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I think you would, too. 🙂
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I haven’t had a chance to read too many MM romances but this author is definitely at the top of my list to try out and SOON. I like so many things about this book, these two sound like quite a pair. Very complex and exciting.
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Oh, yes. Annabeth Albert is a great author. I love her characters.
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