Rough Terrain (Out of Uniform #7) [Renzo & Canaan] by Annabeth Albert

A beautiful finish to the series. I'm going to miss all of these guys so much! Renzo and Canaan's story was in so many ways tender. You'd think Renzo is the "tough gay" but he isn't really. Canaan is the only one who actually SEES Renzo. The little we've read of Canaan before (in Ben and Maddox' book) he is mainly a big flirt, but there is so much more to him than what we've seen. Yeah, he is FUN and easy going, but he is also a great friend and lover to Renzo.

Lorenzo Bianchi is exactly the kind of HOT SEAL to dream about with the amazing body and the Instagram account which shows him at his best doing rigorous workouts. So on screen he might be a kind of a "Rooster" (like his teammates call him), but in real life especially in relationships he can be quite shy and insecure. The amount of pressure he is on daily is heart breaking. Renzo strives to be THE BEST all the time. His family might act like he is enough but the guilt he carries says otherwise. When Canaan offers they "get into trouble" together he goes for it. He needs the distraction. Especially after a talk to his LT about his request for transfer to the east coast (where his family lives). He wants to be closer to his family but it also means being close to the people who suppose to love him as he is but worship the hero they built in their minds.



Canaan Finley is fun-all-around. He loves to party, listen and play music and at times having meaningless sex with whomever he feels like it. His extreme days were mostly when he was a drummer in a band and a bit after he found himself back home when the band decided he should be replaced for everyone's benefit. It was difficult for him, but in the end, he focused on his family, and shortly after that on studying to become a nurse. He lives near his grandfather, mostly the only family he has and working at a smoothie bar on base which is where he admires Renzo from afar. Well, up until he builds the courage to ask him out.. sort of...

Canaan didn't expect Renzo to show up, he didn't expect they'll have such a good time without even exchanging a kiss but they did. He almost destroyed the magical evening when he asked Renzo the "big question", but after thinking it through Renzo agrees.. To what? A trip to the desert with Canaan's old band. He stayed in touch, with most of them, trying hard to ignore his ex (and his new boyfriend - the current drummer of the band) but coming single when everyone else comes plus one seems like the worst thing ever.

They play "boyfriends" well, so well no one suspects they aren't really, but after spending a very perilous night together, not knowing if they're going to be rescued on time, things change. I want to say it was all about trust, but it took a bit longer than that cold night for them to TRULY trust one another and believe in a future together, and yet it was the moment they realized they want the REAL thing and not just the pretend.

Things are going great, even though Renzo started out shy, he opened up to Canaan, even bringing him to meet his family when they come to visit yet it all crumbles to the ground once Renzo get's an answer from the military. Now they have to figure out if / how they can still stay together and what will be the price (for both) to pay.

I really enjoy this book. As I've mentioned I found it tender. Mostly because Renzo was so insecure in himself. His perfectionism was making it hard for him to settle for who HE is as enough. There was also a big issue (pun intended) with their sexual interactions. Canaan was THE sweetest. Basically he said sex is all about finding out what both partners enjoys and going with it and he is SO RIGHT. There are a lot of expectations and thoughts about what "should be", but in the end, it's such a subjective matter. It's more about being open, accepting and also trusting. Once that was established between them, it was beautiful seeing them becoming so much more, on their own but also together.

I'm sad to say goodbye. This was a SUPERB series. HIGHLY recommend it.

Rating: ★★★★★

E-Book Edition

384 pages

Read on: 24-27 March 2019

ABOUT THIS SERIES

 

Out of Uniform is a Contemporary MM Romance series by Annabeth Albert. It starts as a sort of spin-off to the #gaymers series with a few visits from their characters but in each one at least one is at guy is in uniform - and specifically a Navy SEAL.

The biggest problem I have with this series is the fact, once you grab one of them, it'e IMPOSSIBLE to put it down. Each story is absolutely unique and SO SO beautiful and heart felt even with "manly men" as you'd expect SEALs to be. There's emotional ride both MCs need to get through, on their own, together and though it's painful at times, it's SO satisfying once you get to the very end.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Books:
1. Off Base [Zack Nelson & Pike Reynolds] (Published 9 January 2017) ★★★★★
1.5 Homecoming [Zack Nelson & Pike Reynolds] (Published 5 June 2017) ★★★★★
1.6 Off Leash [Zack Nelson & Pike Reynolds] (Published 17 May 2018) ★★★★★
2. At Attention [Apollo Floros & Dylan Strauss] (Published 10 April 2017) ★★★★★

2.5 I Do [Apollo Floros & Dylan Strauss] (Published 4 November 2017) ★★★★★
3. On Point [Maddox Horvat & Ben Tovey] (Published 5 June 2017) ★★★★★
4. Wheels Up [Dustin Strauss & Wes Lowe] (Published 7 November 2017) ★★ (DNF 37%)
4.5 Homebodies [Dustin Strauss & Wes Lowe] (Published 10 July 2018) [Didn't Read]
5. Squared Away [Mark "Wizard" Whitley & Isaiah James] (Published 16 April 2018) ★★★★★
6. Tight Quarters [Delbert "Del" Lawrence Bacon & Spencer Bryant] (Published 9 July 2018) ★★★★
- New In Town [Alex & Marco] (Published 26 October 2018) ★★★★
7. Rough Terrain [Lorenzo "Rooster" Bianchi & Canaan Finley] (Published 14 January 2019) ★★★★★