Wheel's Up by Annabeth Albert Release Blitz, Review, and Giveaway

Happy Release Day Annabeth!

Today we are celebrating men in uniform!  Annabeth's Out of Uniform Series showcases men in uniform falling in love and acting ridiculous.  We've got an excerpt, review, and don't forget to scroll ot the bottom for the giveaway!

                                    Title: Wheels Up

Series: Out of Uniform  #4

Publisher: Carina Press

Release Date (Print & Ebook): November 6th, 2017

Subgenre: M/M Contemporary Military Romance

Links: Amazon | Apple | B&N | Kobo

Their love is forbidden, but their hearts aren’t listening to rules and regulations…

Lieutenant Dustin Strauss is a reformed man. No longer a twentysomething hell-raiser, he’s his SEAL team’s new XO—and a man with a secret. Or seven. He's kept his bisexual identity under wraps for years, along with his kinky side and a fondness for the military-themed semi-anonymous hookup website Joe4Joe. His latest chat buddy is more than a sexy online distraction—they're taking their very not-safe-for-work relationship into real time.

Petty Officer Wes Lowe has a smart mouth, a take-charge attitude and an uncanny ability for making things go boom. The life of an enlisted man isn't always enough to satisfy him, but one wild, no-questions-asked weekend with his online love comes close. When a transfer order comes in, Wes feels ready and centered. He'll make a good impression on his new SEAL team and keep his growing feelings for Dustin on the down low.

But as they log more time online and some very real emotions surface, Dustin and Wes struggle to pretend they're just a harmless fling. And when his commander introduces Dustin to his team's newest member, they're in for the shock of a lifetime…and a crushing disappointment: their difference in ranks means even a friendship without sexual contact could end their navy careers for good. 

With their hearts on the line, Dustin and Wes may not survive their next mission, let alone find a way toward a future together.

Review:  

The Out of Uniform Series is fantastic - lots of wonderful, hot men in uniform falling in love and getting in their own way.  In this installment we have Dustin (brother to Dylan and best friend of Apollo, of At Attention fame and my favorite couple of the Out of Uniform universe!) and Wes.  In a weird twist of fate, Dustin's sext-buddy turns out to be the new subordinate on his SEAL Team.  A relationship with Wes could lead to a court marshal.  And this is what kills me about this book, He. Does. It. Anyway.  

Predictably, the boys who think they are oh so smooth and sneaky - aren't.  Conflict ensues.  But, since this is a romance novel, our heroes work things out.  What I loved about Wheel's Up is that our heroes actually take a practical and rational approach to resolving their issues and protecting themselves instead of something irrational and unbelievable.  All that, and we get to see Dylan and Apollo again!  

Excerpt:

“So?” Wes prompted after she’d left again. “You don’t want me to hook you up with someone, even hypothetically, but what would you like tonight? Burger and watch the game? Or…”

“Or?” Dustin sounded more curious than off-put, which was good.

“Or…and I’m just throwing this out there…I’ve got a hotel room close to here. We could go hang there after we eat. Just talk. And stuff.”

“Define stuff.” Dustin fiddled with his paper napkin, but he hadn’t said no. And he was cautious, which was a good thing, smart. Another trait all the marines Wes knew had—they were wary, always ready for the next threat.

“Talk. Like how we usually do on Saturday nights.” Wes raised his eyebrows and nodded, telegraphing that he knew perfectly well how those nights usually ended, both of them drenched in sweat and spunk, yawning goodnight into the phone.

Dustin hissed in a breath. “And you’d be good with that? Just our usual?”

“Oh trust me—” taking a risk, Wes leaned across the table, putting his lips against Dustin’s ear “—there’s nothing usual about what I want to do to you. And absolutely nothing boring about a live-action version of our regular game.”

He sat back down in time to watch Dustin’s eyes light up at the mention of game. Yeah, Wes knew how to get him going. And the equal measure of trepidation and anticipation in his eyes made Wes’s pulse speed up. He wanted this, far more than he was willing to let on.

“I…” Dustin glanced around again. “I’m not…”

“Shh. You don’t have to give me an answer yet. We can enjoy our food. And the game. Hopefully UVA loses spectacularly so I can gloat about that when I call home tomorrow, and my dad will be in a better mood.”

“Okay.” Dustin sighed, and Wes knew he wasn’t imagining the relief on his features. Darn it. “How’s your sister doing?”

Wes had told Dustin a little about Sam’s heart condition on a night a few months back when he was feeling particularly down. Dustin remembering how close he was to Sam made warmth spread through his chest. “She’s good. Always got to be on the lookout for infection though. Hopefully this year’s cold and flu season isn’t too rough. She made me a new playlist today. I’ll forward you the link.”

“More of that alternative-country?” Dustin made a face. They might share a taste in movies and TV, but in music they differed, almost comically so.

“Yup. Be glad you’re not riding back with me.” His insides gave a little twinge at the reminder that all he had with Dustin was this one night. And that’s why he needs to say yes. If all they had was tonight, then Wes was going to make it one they both remembered for a long, long time.

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.  The #OutOfUniform series joins her critically acclaimed and fan-favorite LGBTQ  romance #Gaymers, #PortlandHeat and #PerfectHarmony series.

To find out what she’s working on next and other fun extras, check out her website: www.annabethalbert.com or connect with Annabeth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify! Also, be sure to sign up for her newsletter for free ficlets, bonus reads, and contests. The fan group, Annabeth’s Angels, on Facebook is also a great place for bonus content and exclusive contests.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter.  In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two active children.

Connect with Annabeth: Twitter | Facebook  | Facebook Group | Newsletter | Instagram | Website

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chief's Mess by L.A. Witt

***

From Riptide:

Anthony Talbot is in Anchor Point to visit family, but after two days of strife, he needs a break. A local gay bar is calling his name.

When Chief Noah Jackson sees that red head stroll into the club, he immediately wants him. They’re perfectly matched, and before long, they’re burning up the sheets. Noah can’t get enough. Anthony can’t stay in Oregon for long, but as soon as he leaves, he’s counting down the days until he can fly back for more. And between his increasingly frequent visits, there’s always phone sex, sexting, webcams . . . anything they can get.

But Noah’s got a carefully crafted façade, and Anthony can’t help noticing the slowly forming cracks. The scent of alcohol in the middle of the day. The extra drinks at dinner. The hint of red in his eyes. Anthony knows what it means. He doesn’t want to believe it, but he’s seen this before, and there’s no denying it. If Noah doesn’t get his downward spiral under control, he’s going to lose both his career and the first man he’s ever really loved.

Source:  Advance electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.  

When the story starts, you think Anthony is going to be the one to bring the angst, but once he gets over his anger at Clint (yes!  You get to visit with Clint and Travis from Afraid to Fly!), it's Noah and his addiction that makes you feel all the feelings - the whole emotional spectrum.  

L.A. Witt writes amazing stories of addicts and recovery.  They are often difficult to read, but amazing stories.  In Afraid to Fly, Witt dealt with Clint's recovery as an alcoholic, in Chief's Mess, she writes Noah's life as a functioning alcoholic and his path to acknowledging his problem and seeking help.  Despite Anthony's problems with Clint, he goes to Clint for help and advice on how to help Noah.  It's touch and go for a while, but I promise, you will be smiling by the end of the book.  

Don't worry, you only have to wait until September for Book 4, Rank & File!  

~Shel

On Point by Annabeth Albert (Out of Uniform #3)

*****

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.

Review:

Ben and Maddox stood out in At Attention.   Best friends and roommates?  Also, both openly gay SEALs.  Yep, we all wanted a story shipping these two.  Fortunately, we got it!

The first chapter sets us up with the knowledge that SOMETHING happened to strain Ben and Maddox’s relationship.   When they end up on a mission that goes terribly wrong, we slowly get their back story and find out what caused their current drama.   But the story doesn’t start and end on their mission.  SPOILER ALERT…..they do make it home.  They both come home with the knowledge of how much the other means to them and what they are and are not willing to do to hold onto each other.  Unfortunately, those things don’t necessarily match up.  Ben is excited to re-up with the Navy and continue to work and live with his BFF.  But Maddox is seriously considering retiring and doing something new.  Yeah, their plans aren’t matching up and Ben has a real issue with it.  What he doesn’t understand is that Maddox has a real issue with unrequited love he’s experiencing right now. 

Friends-to-lovers stories are my absolute favorites.  I know I’ve mentioned it before but that love started with Emma by Jane Austen and it hasn’t waned in the 20 some years since I first read it.  That existing bond that grows even bigger and grander than anything they could have ever imagined?  The fear of losing what they have if they ask for more?  Yeah, total catnip for me.  And the cherry on top of this delicious sundae of a story is that Maddox is a……..total beta hero!  Yep, a SEAL that isn’t an alpha character.  I loved Ben but Maddox made my heart melt.

This story is full of push and pull and the angst that goes with it.  But never so much that I needed to take a break.  On the contrary, I couldn’t put the damn thing down.   I haven’t given five stars in a REALLY long time but this book earned it.  I was instantly immersed in Ben and Maddox’s story.  To the extent that the book hangover I had after this one was epic.   

Do yourself a favor and read this, and while you are at it, read the first two in the series, Off Base and At Attention.

Nat

Afraid to Fly by L.A. Witt

***

Once a fearless fighter pilot, Commander Travis Wilson is now confined to a desk. It’s been eight years since the near-fatal crash that grounded him, and it still rules his life thanks to relentless back pain.

Lieutenant Commander Clint Fraser almost drowned in a bottle after a highly classified catastrophe while piloting a drone. His downward spiral cost him his marriage and kids, but he’s sober now and getting his life back on track. He’s traded drones for a desk, and he’s determined to reconcile with his kids and navigate the choppy waters of PTSD.

Clint has been on Travis’s radar ever since he transferred to Anchor Point. When Clint comes out to his colleagues, it’s a disaster, but there’s a silver lining: now that Travis knows Clint is into men, the chemistry between them explodes.

It’s all fun and games until emotions get involved. Clint’s never been in love with a man before. Travis has, and a decade later, that tragic ending still haunts him. Clint needs to coax him past his fear of crashing and burning again, or their love will be grounded before takeoff.

Source:  Advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Clint and Travis have each been through a lot.  Both are struggling.  Struggling through each day to make it to the next.  When each finds out the other bi-sexual their appreciation for the other turns into something more.  But neither really thinks the relationship can be more than sex given their respective issues. 

What Afraid to Fly really comes down to is two messed up guys who struggle a little less together, but who are afraid to make the leap, and end up getting in their own way.  This one has a lot of angst and feels y'all, so read at your own risk.  If you dig the angsty feels, you will love Clint and Travis.

~ Shel

Off Base (Out of Uniform #1) by Annabeth Albert

* * * *

After trading the barracks for a fixer-upper rental, navy SEAL Zack Nelson wants peace, not a roommate—especially not Pike, who sees things about Zack he most wants to hide. Pike's flirting puts virgin Zack on edge. And the questions Pike's arrival would spark from Zack's teammates about his own sexuality? Nope. Not going there. But Zack can't refuse.

Pike Reynolds knows there won't be a warm welcome in his new home. What can he say? He's an acquired taste. But he needs this chance to get his life together. Also, teasing the uptight SEAL will be hella fun. Still, Pike has to tread carefully; he's had his fill of tourists in the past, and he can't risk his heart on another, not even one as hot, as built—and, okay, yeah, as adorable—as Zack.

Living with Pike crumbles Zack's restraint and fuels his curiosity. He discovers how well they fit together in bed…in the shower…in the hallway… He needs Pike more than he could have imagined, yet he doesn't know how to be the man Pike deserves.

Review:

If you’ve read Albert’s Connection Error, you are probably familiar with Zack Nelson.  The kid with the broken leg that Ryan met in the hospital.  We knew Zack had a story the minute he reacted to Ryan’s relationship with Josiah.  In Off Base, we see exactly why Zack reacted the way he did and why he lives life the way he does. 

Zack has fast tracked his way into becoming a SEAL.  He is uber focused and determined to be successful. But success may not be possible with the continued harassment he has experienced from one of the guys on his team.  Determined to remove himself from the situation without causing any waves, Zack moves off base.  Which is awesome until his gay best friend’s gay friend needles his way into a roommate situation.    

Reading Zack’s struggles with his teammate was heartbreaking.  Here is a young guy who can’t even see the door to the closet he’s hiding in and he has one of the people that he’s supposed to depend upon in literal life and death situations secretly harassing and blackmailing him.   To top it off he’s falling hard and fast for his roommate.  An out roommate that deserves way more than a guy who is unwilling to be honest about who he is.  

Pike was one of those characters that is always fun to read.  He is irreverent on the outside but a pretty complicated guy on the inside.  One of those people that is so much more than what they choose to let the world see.   People’s initial reaction to Pike is that he doesn’t have much in the way of empathy or feelings of his own.  But nothing could be further from the truth.

Yes, there is some definite angst.  Your heart will likely break for these guys a couple times while reading their story.  But, as in all Annabeth Albert’s books, the angst is never so heavy that you can’t recover after the promised happy ever after.  Don’t hesitate to jump into the Out of Uniform series. Not only will you love it, you won’t have to wait long to read more.  Book two is already out and book three is due out next month!

Toward the Sound of Chaos by Carmen Jenner Release week Blitz

A heart-wrenching new military romance from USA 

TODAY bestselling author Carmen Jenner.

Available exclusively on Amazon and KU

Amazon US     I     Amazon UK     I     Amazon CA     I     Amazon AU     

Blurb

Jake Tucker is broken. At twenty-two, he went into the Marine Corps a naïve, troubled youth. Nine years and four tours later, Jake finds himself back on US soil, though his mind remains firmly planted in the sands of Afghanistan with the men he left behind.

Wounded, chewed up and spat out by war, Jake has only his dog, Nuke, PTSD, and survivor’s guilt to keep him company. He’s lived every day for nine years wondering when it will be his last, but there’s little comfort in the fact that he’s still standing when his platoon isn’t.

Ellie Mason doesn’t have time for broken. She’s too busy trying to put food on the table. And keeping up with the demands of her autistic son, Spencer, is sometimes like fighting behind enemy lines. As if navigating the minefields of single parenthood isn’t enough, Ellie finds herself drawn to the quiet Marine who’s just as lonely as she is. But she’s loved damaged men before, and it left her wounded.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of Fairhope, Alabama, Ellie and Jake find themselves running toward the sound of chaos.

Love is war.

Only the strong survive, and surrender is inevitable.

Excerpt

“You been drinkin’, Jake?” Obviously, I already know the answer, but I ask anyway because I need to get him talkin’. I don’t like the way his eyes seem to look right through me.

The corners of his mouth turn up in a bitter grin. “Yeah, I been drinkin’.”

I pick up the bottles of pills strewn all over the floor and set them on the counter. “How many of these did you take?” I snap.

“None.”

I discard the pills in the trash because they wouldn’t do no good after they’ve been rollin’ around in glass. “You shouldn’t drink when you’re on meds.”

“It don’t fuckin’ matter anymore.”

I snap my gaze back to his and grit my teeth. “It matters to me.”

“Why?”

“Because I care about you,” I say. “We care about you.”

His eyes get all squinty and he slurs, “You don’t even know me.”

“Is that what you think?” I snap, losing all patience with him. “That I don’t know the man I’ve been letting into my house? I know you, and the Jake Tucker I know—the Jake Spencer knows—is not this Jake.”

He smiles that twisted grin again, and so help me, I’ve never wanted to put my hands on a person in anger so much in my life. I want to slap that smirk right off his beautiful face.

“Maybe this is the real Jake; maybe I’m just another asshole you hardly know tryin’ to get in your panties.”

I stare at him in shock, and I won’t lie, it takes a moment to recover, but like any southern woman worth her salt, I’m a master in the art of backhanded compliments and southern charm. “Then you clearly ain’t as smart as I thought you were, ’cause this Jake? He don’t stand a chance of getting anywhere near my panties, but the other may have. Looks like now we’ll never know.” His cocky smile falters. “Now, stop feeling sorry for yourself and get up.”

He laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “What do you know about it? You can’t even see what’s right in front of you.”

“Oh I see it,” I huff. “I’m real familiar with how mean a bottle of Johnnie Walker can make a man.”

“That the reason you never talk about why Spencer’s daddy ain’t around?”

“Yeah, that’s the reason,” I say folding my arms over my chest. “Because, it’s a long painful road that I walked away from and one that I don’t wanna have to revisit. And considering where you been, Jake Tucker, I thought you might know something about that.”

“What’s his name?”

“It don’t matter.”

“It matters,” he says through his teeth. “Believe me, it matters.”

“Why? You gonna go to Charleston, find him, and beat the crap outta him for hurtin’ me? The best thing you can do for me is to not become him.” I take a deep breath and wonder why we’re talkin’ about me at all when there’s clearly more important things going on right here. “Why didn’t you show up at my house yesterday? And why are you drinking in the middle of the day?”

“Day, night, it don’t matter. The nightmares don’t stop unless I’m three fuckin’ sheets to the wind.”

I sigh and grab the washcloth from a rack. Running warm water over it, I wring out the excess and crouch down to his level. “Give me your hand.” He shakes his head. “Give me your goddamn hand, Jake.”

He doesn’t extend it out to me, but he doesn’t pull away either when I grab his forearm. I get a good glimpse of the damage he’s done. He don’t need stitches, far as I can tell.

I gently start wiping at the mess and get to my feet a few times to rinse out the washcloth. As the blood is washed away, his scars become more pronounced. This is the first time I’m seeing him in a shirt that doesn’t have long sleeves. It makes me want to cry because his skin is a patchwork of pain. It tells a story of hate and unimaginable cruelty, but there is splendor in it, too. There’s a tale of courage, survival, immeasurable strength, and beauty in the face of such ugliness. They tried to destroy him, and they failed.

I trace my finger over the deepest scar on his forearm and blink back tears. Jake’s whole body stiffens. I decide it’s best not to push him any further by touching him again, but that don’t mean I’m going to go easy on him either. “So, you got any rubbing alcohol? Or did you drink that too?”

About the Author

Carmen Jenner is a thirty-something, USA TODAY and international bestselling author.

Her dark romance, KICK (Savage Saints MC #1), won Best Dark Romance Read in the Reader’s Choice Awards at RWDU 2015.

A tattoo enthusiast, hardcore lipstick addict and zombie fangirl, Carmen lives on the sunny north coast of New South Wales, Australia, where she spends her time indoors wrangling her two wildling children, a dog named Pikelet, and her very own man-child.

A romantic at heart, Carmen strives to give her characters the HEA they deserve, but not before ruining their lives completely first … because what’s a happily ever after without a little torture?

Stalk Her: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Published titles to date:

Welcome to Sugartown (Sugartown Series #1)

Enjoy Your Stay (Sugartown Series #2)

Greetings from Sugartown (Sugartown Series #3)

Now Leaving Sugartown (Sugartown Series #4)

REVELRY (Taint #1)

KICK (Savage Saints MC #1)

TANK (Savage Saints MC #2)

Finding North

Toward the Sound of Chaos By Carmen Jenner Cover Reveal

RELEASE DATE: May 18th, 2016

A heart-wrenching new military romance, coming soon from USA TODAY bestselling author Carmen Jenner. 

Add to your TBR 

**Cover by Hang Le**

Blurb

Jake Tucker is broken. At twenty-two, he went into the Marine Corps a naïve, troubled youth. Nine years and four tours later, Jake finds himself back on US soil, though his mind remains firmly planted in the sands of Afghanistan with the men he left behind.

Wounded, chewed up and spat out by war, Jake has only his dog, Nuke, PTSD, and survivor’s guilt to keep him company. He’s lived every day for nine years wondering when it will be his last, but there’s little comfort in the fact that he’s still standing when his platoon isn’t.

Ellie Mason doesn’t have time for broken. She’s too busy trying to put food on the table. And keeping up with the demands of her autistic son, Spencer, is sometimes like fighting behind enemy lines. As if navigating the minefields of single parenthood isn’t enough, Ellie finds herself drawn to the quiet Marine who’s just as lonely as she is. But she’s loved damaged men before, and it left her wounded.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of Fairhope, Alabama, Ellie and Jake find themselves running toward the sound of chaos.

Love is war.

Only the strong survive, and surrender is inevitable.

About the Author

Carmen Jenner is a thirty-something, USA TODAY and international bestselling author of the Sugartown, Savage Saints, and Taint series.

Her dark romance, KICK (Savage Saints MC #1), won Best Dark Romance Read in the Reader’s Choice Awards at RWDU 2015.

A tattoo enthusiast, hardcore MAC addict and zombie fangirl, Carmen lives on the sunny north coast of New South Wales, Australia, where she spends her time indoors wrangling her two wildling children, a dog named Pikelet, and her very own man-child.

A romantic at heart, Carmen strives to give her characters the HEA they deserve, but not before ruining their lives completely first … because what’s a happily ever after without a little torture?

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Additional books by this author

Welcome to Sugartown (Sugartown #1) 

Amazon     I     Barnes & Noble     I     iTunes

Enjoy Your Stay (Sugartown #2)

Amazon     I     Barnes & Noble     I     iBooks

Greetings from Sugartown (Sugartown #3)

Amazon     I     Barnes & Noble     I     iBooks

Now Leaving Sugartown (Sugartown #4)

Amazon     I     Barnes & Noble     I     iBooks

Welcome to Sugartown Website

Revelery (Taint #1)

Available on Amazon and in KU:\ 

Finding North

Available on Amazon and in KU

Kick (Savage Saints MC #1)

Amazon     I     Barnes & Noble

Tank (Savage Saints MC #2)

Amazon     I     Barnes & Noble

THANK YOU!