Squared Away (Out of Uniform #5) [Mark & Isaiah] by Annabeth Albert

This is absolutely my FAVORITE in the series. I LOVED both Mark and Isaiah, and though they seem so different, they have many things in common. So it's not wonder they worked PERFECTLY together. In the end it's  just about trust, but it's never that simple, isn't it?

Mark Whitley and Isaiah James met at a family wedding, when Danielle (Mark's sister) was marrying Cal (Isaiah cousin, though they are more like brothers). Mark was already a big hot SEAL when Isaiah was a 18 years old who wanted to swallow the world (or just get into Mark's pants..). Mark seemed interested yet he rejected Isaiah and from there they mostly ignored one another..



Ignoring stopped being an option when Mark is rushed home from a mission after Danielle and Cal were killed in a car accident leaving 3 little kids with no clear guardian. Since Isaiah helped quite a lot with the kids and considering his past (being raised by his loving aunt after his mother's death) it was obvious to him to try for custody of the kids. Yet Isaiah is a 24 years old, with too many degrees and yet no real job and a reputation of enjoying partying with a different guy each night. If you remember his short interaction with Ben Tovey (from "On Point", the 3th installment) - His assessment of Isaiah was totally different, which is why he invited Dylan to play interference and that's how Dylan became Isaiah's best friend. So though Isaiah truly believes he is the right guy for the job, no one else believes that and that's without mentioning the Whitley family is LOADED, and so giving Isaiah custody of the kids might also mean being in charge of a HUGE amount of money and that's not something the Whitley's are excited about.. While Mark believes HE should be the one to take care of his sister's kids, it's a novel idea for him. He didn't interact much with the kids before, and isn't sure how to do it now. He is willing to try, but watching Isaiah with the kids it's obvious to him that he is a better candidate, well, if he could TRUST that Isaiah would actually STAY. Mark is willing to do a lot, help a lot that is, but he is still a SEAL so he'll have to have A LOT of help if he wants to make it work.

This was a total mess without the attraction between them doing a comeback. It really confuses Mark, the feelings he has for Isaiah. His biggest secret isn't his attraction to men per say, it's his lack of attraction to most people in general. He never actually succeeded in enjoying a sexual encounter before. He expected to live his life alone and he was totally fine with it, so his reaction to Isaiah really confuses him. From Isaiah point, once he realizes Mark is Asexual or rather Demisexual, he just takes a few steps back and lets Mark lead the way which in turn makes Mark, for the first time, feel comfortable enough to explore in his own pace. It was utterly BEAUTIFUL to read. I LOVED LOVED LOVED their interaction, yep it was hot! But it was also extremely tender (even when Mark took charge). Mark couldn't have asked for a more attentive partner but on the other hand, Isaiah couldn't have imagined having such a caring and invested partner who keeps surprising Isaiah with how romantic he actually is.

Yet while playing "house" together is going great, taking care of the kids, little by little becoming more attached to one another there are too many things they DON'T talk about, like a future, together, with the kids and time is running short, they have both their own appeals and those don't work together - mostly one against the other. It's time for both men to take a step and ACT to have what they want most, and for that they need to take a leap of faith, not only towards each other but towards their family and friends. For Isaiah it means once and for all having a TALK with his father, asking for help from his friends and for Mark it's coming to terms with his sexuality and his choice of having Isaiah as more than a convenience.

I loved both Isaiah and Mark, together and each on his own. They both had quite a lot to figure out but they did it in the end. This book really affected me. Made me realize things about myself I haven't really thought about. I really love it when a book takes me out of my "observer" place and makes me look at myself as well, my choices, my decisions. It's not about dealing with "the exact thing", it's the special connection we can make to the things that ARE similar no matter how insignificant (or significant) they are to the story itself and makes the whole ride different, and even a bit personal.

A MUST READ! HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENCED! 

Rating: ★★★★★

E-Book Edition

336 pages

Read on: 17-18 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) ★★★★★