Post goes live 30 JUNE

Amazing! I did not read the first two books in this series, but I still immensely enjoy book three.

The feelings that this book brought out in me was entirely overwhelming, Maddox (Mad) is a very deep person who always brings calm and brings a sense of purpose. When he meets up with circumstances that he can't handle on his own, his only option is to depend on his best friend and roommate. With both of them left to help each other, their bond is all that keeps them going.

Ben is a conceited and arrogant man, he is a Navy SEAL. But he is very dedicated man who lives for his team and his family, Mad falls into both categories. They have been friends since buds and Ben has been living with him for two years. Ben is solid in their friendship but when what brought them together no longer holds them that way he goes off the deep end.

This is a story of how true friendship can turn to true love, but it is never easy. Life has a way of blending the good and the bad into making us who we are as a person, the past never really goes away. So when these two try to have a life together as more than just friends, life and history come back to make them struggle and fight for what they want. I loved the realism that this story portrayed, how the road to happiness is not smooth but bumpy with the personal feelings to overcome.

5+ Stars!!!

Maddox has been in love with his best friend, fellow SEAL and roommate, Ben, for years, but now he's ready for more in life than pining for his friend and being a SEAL. Ben is attracted to Maddox, but is afraid of anything ruining their friendship.

When a mission goes awry, they're thrown closer together and depending on each other to survive. Will this be the push they need to give a relationship between them a go?

I loved both Maddox and Ben. They were amazing both individually and together, be it as friends or lovers. I have to admit that it took me a bit longer to warm up to Ben, but he really proved himself in the end. They had great chemistry and were uber hot together, but above that, the bond they shared was awesome and transcended the pages. While the two of them had a lot of issues they had to work on, Ben with his trust and abandonment issues and Maddox with his trust issues, they worked through it all in a very realistic manner and without going overboard with the angst.

I loved seeing these two in action and that we finally got to see what goes on during the training and missions these men have to go through. I think Annabeth Albert did a fantastic job with this, making the scenarios very believable.

Overall, On Point is definitely my favorite of the series so far. I loved everything about it, the writing, the pacing, the action, the romance and the progression from friends to lovers. Maddox and Ben were just awesome and I hope to see more of them in the future book(s) in the series. <3

Highly recommendable!!!

*** Copy provided to the reviewer by Carina Press via NetGalley for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

Heartfelt, engrossing, and red-hot!

This is a friends-to-more romance that is told from two different points of view. Maddox, a sweet, handsome Seal who prefers the simple life outside the military, including spending quality time with friends and baking yummy treats. And Ben, a fun, flirty Seal who loves nothing more than the adrenaline and action of the Navy and hooking up as much as possible. But like most of Albert's characters there's a lot more to these men than meets the eye and something deliciously scorching is definitely smouldering below the surface.

The writing is impassioned and intense. The characters are multi-faceted, flawed and sexy. And the plot starts off with a bang and then continues steadily building, peeling back layer-by-layer all the history, feelings and emotions to create a steamy, passionate story about life, love, friendship, undeniable chemistry, and self-discovery.

I have to admit this is my favourite book in the "Out of Uniform" series so far. I couldn't wait to read about these two characters and I wasn't disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley, especially Carina Press, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5*

This is my current favorite Out of Uniform book. Why you ask?? Because finally, FINALLY, we get some actual military action!! Yes, I'm all for the romantic aspects, but if I'm going to read a series about SEALS, I want an actual story with them doing real SEAL missions.

Aside from that, Ben and Maddox were great. Ben has a little bit of separation issues, thanks to his mother and "ex-husband" (we're using the term lightly here) and Maddox has some small town Conservative family issues as well, so they're kind of a mess. After a mission ending bot-so-great, Ben kind of has an epiphany and starts to think what his life would be like without his friend of over a decade, and he decides to take action.

I thought it was adorable how Ben brought forth his intentions to Maddox, and his date ideas and wanting to make Maddox happy. It was also frustrating to see him be so insecure in it as well. Ben has himself convinced he doesn't believe in love and the idea of marriage is BS to him. This throws a pretty large wrench in things, on top of abandonment issues. Ben overreacts and you want to hug him and smack him all at the same time.

Let's take a moment to visualize a large, buff, Navy SEAL in a bakery ((I am also imagining an apron, because, c'mon!?))
It's endearing and totally hot, right?? That's Maddox for you!! I love that he's finally letting go of the family that won't be proud of him no matter how hard he tries and starts his pursuit of happiness. I didn't like that he put of telling Ben for so long,but alas, that's where our angst comes in.

I felt bad for both these guys. I could feel both their pain from each perspective, and neither of them were wrong in their own way. It did give us a great make up session though (can we say dirty talkers?) and an ultimate HEA!!

I loved this book! On Point is book three of Annabeth Albert's Out of Uniform series and it's a doozy! The story starts with Maddox and Ben on a mission to rescue two senators sons that got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The rescue was successful, but it doesn't go as scripted and they are left behind having been separated from their team. In enemy territory, time is crucial. Both men suffer heavy injuries, but they know they have to get to the next rendezvous point. Maddox is worse off then Ben, and Ben won't leave Maddox behind. He is in dire straits. He strives then and there to get Maddox out any way possible.

This is a friends to lovers romance. Ben realizes he has different feelings for Maddox while in the jungle. He has been tamping down his feelings for years-pushing Maddox at the cost of their friendship. Maddox isn't the life of the party type like Ben is. He is more subtle. He enjoys life outside the military, while Ben lives for the military. His dream is to run a bakery and make sweet treats for the masses. Maddox just wants more in his life. He has feelings for Ben that will not go away, but he wants commitment and someone to care for, things Ben doesn't seem interested in. He's been burned before. Can Ben be Maddox's dream man??

This story is my favorite of the series so far! Way more intense than the previous two, plus there is a fair amount of angstyness to boot! When these two finally decide to give their "thing" a try, it's super hot! I loved both men. Two hot men, friends for over a decade, and both with their own insecurities. I also loved seeing characters from the previous books rounding out their story. The ending is spectacular and it's just how I wanted it to be! You need to read this book! Each book can be read as a standalone, but I think you will love this series and have to read them all!

reviewed by Deb

This series is the first one I've ever read by this author and I've been so pleasantly surprised by each book. I've sometimes struggled to connect with the butterflies and emotions in M/M books lately. They're very hit or miss for me, so when I find one that is not only blazing hot but also deeply emotional and...swoony? God, what a treat! And this book? Yeah. This one got everything just right. Hands down my favorite of the series so far.

It starts off with a bang and I was pulled right in with a racing heart and fascinated mind. I loved the thrill and suspense of it all, twisted around flashbacks that offered glimpses into the relationship between Maddox and Ben up to that point. It was interesting to read - keeping my brain engaged while simultaneously tugging at my heartstrings. It was crystal clear that the feelings between these two men ran deep, the only question was whether or not they'd ever let each other in enough to share those feelings.

My heart dipped and fluttered so many times over the course of this book. I laughed. I cringed. I hurt for these normally confident and nearly unbearably sexy men as they fumbled through their feelings for each other. It was beautiful, and sometimes painful. It was *scorching* hot, but never sexy for the sake of being sexy. I felt like it was all tied up in these much deeper emotions between Maddox and Ben - just one layer of their multi-layered relationship -and the whole package was just so satisfying to read.

Like I said, On Point is my favorite of the series so far. I am so glad I picked it up, and am so crazy hooked on the perfect balance of emotion and sexiness Ms. Albert seems to have perfected. It works as a standalone (though I honestly have loved, and highly recommend, the entire series so far) and if you're looking for a M/M read that delivers on all levels, do not hesitate to grab this one! ~ 4.5 Stars

I loved this book! On Point is book three of Annabeth Albert's Out of Uniform series and it's a doozy! The story starts with Maddox and Ben on a mission to rescue two senators sons that got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

The rescue was successful, but it doesn't go as scripted and they are left behind having been separated from their team. In enemy territory, time is crucial. Both men suffer heavy injuries, but they know they have to get to the next rendezvous point. Maddox is worse off then Ben, and Ben won't leave Maddox behind. He is in dire straits. He strives then and there to get Maddox out any way possible.

This is a friends to lovers romance. Ben realizes he has different feelings for Maddox while in the jungle. He has been tamping down his feelings for years-pushing Maddox at the cost of their friendship. Maddox isn't the life of the party type like Ben is. He is more subtle. He enjoys life outside the military, while Ben lives for the military. His dream is to run a bakery and make sweet treats for the masses. Maddox just wants more in his life. He has feelings for Ben that will not go away, but he wants commitment and someone to care for, things Ben doesn't seem interested in. He's been burned before. Can Ben be Maddox's dream man?? 

This story is my favorite of the series so far! Way more intense than the previous two, plus there is a fair amount of angstyness to boot! When these two finally decide to give their "thing" a try, it's super hot! I loved both men. Two hot men, friends for over a decade, and both with their own insecurities. I also loved seeing characters from the previous books rounding out their story. The ending is spectacular and it's just how I wanted it to be! You need to read this book! Each book can be read as a standalone, but I think you will love this series and have to read them all!

5 Stars/4 Flames

This book was gifted to me for an honest review.  The review and ratings are solely my opinions.

I love Ben and Maddox. I love all their insecurities and their protectiveness of each other. I was glad to spend all that time in the jungle with them--it gives them perspective and it gives us knowledge.

Their healing is a slow process. But while their physical injuries can be overcome, and they can adjust their lives around them, emotional scarring is more deeply entrenched and that might take a little longer to heal, especially for Ben.

While his final resistance might seem, to some, like a silly reason to reject Maddox, it makes sense to me in the scheme of things--his family's rejection, his self-worth, and his perception of himself in relation to Maddox--these elements need time to figure out.

Anyway, this is a good book. Lots of loving detail, and a fine resolution to a couple who have been part of the background for so long now. I truly loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for advanced copy. Book released on June 5. If you read the other 'out of uniform' books, you are totally going to want to nab this one.

*4.5 stars*

Annabeth Albert is one of my favorite authors, and she kills it again with another excellent book in the Out of Uniform series!

There are very few authors who get auto-buy status from me, but Annabeth Albert is one of them. She simply writes the kinds of books that I like to read, and though military men aren't my usual fare, I just can't get enough of this series.

On Point is a best-friends-to-lovers story. Now, while I like friends-to-lovers in theory sometimes there isn't enough tension for me because the intimacy is already there, even if it isn't sexual intimacy. Not so with this story. There was a lot of build-up, a lot of tension, and I loved every second of it.

The book starts off with the first few chapters being very intense. We are talking life or death here, and though I don't like romantic suspense, I liked the heightened sense of urgency and closeness that our two guys had in those moments.

One thing I also hate... flashbacks. There are a number of flashbacks in this story. Flashbacks are usually a big no-no for me, but I didn't mind them much here (notice a trend? Annabeth Albert can make me like things I usually hate!)

Lots of hurt/comfort and a fair amount of angst and back and forth, but it all came together to make a ridiculously romantic and compelling story. Plus, a perfect epilogue to cap off all the feels.

Another Annabeth Albert win!

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

It was so classic Maddox to support him when he needed it most but to also call him on his behavior.




I’ve been looking forward to Ben and Maddox’s story since book 1. And while overall I really enjoyed On Point, I’m not going to lie: I was a bit disappointed, too. A solid read, but definitely not my favorite from Albert, and it didn’t hit as high on my list as I had expected while waiting for the book. Then again, sometimes that happens: the anticipation is so high that it’s inevitable there’s some letdown when you finally read it.



I really enjoyed the first 30% or so; Ben and Maddox are on a mission, but things go south and they get separated from the rest of their team. Seriously injured after a fall, they must try and make it through the jungle, avoid the enemy out to get them, and make it to the second ravenous point. Those chapters were not at all easy, as these two are literally fighting for their lives, each wanting to save the other, even if the only way to do so is for Maddox, who was more critically injured, to sacrifice himself and let Ben go ahead and find the team. Of course they’re both stubborn and Ben refuses to do this, literally dragging his best friend out of the jungle when he hears his team up ahead. They do get out, and while things are iffy for a bit while both men are rushed to get medical attention, everything is okay in the end (duh, romance!). Still, I fully admit my heart was in my throat through all of this, worried that something could happen to one or both, and hurting at the thought of it. So props to Albert for the writing here, for the high-octane feel and the deep worry over these two men.



During those chapters, both men had flashbacks about various memories of their years as friends – and their one time of pushing the boundary of friends into the territory of lovers (in the form of a super hot voyeuristic/threesome scene – Ben had brought home a man, and Maddox mostly watched as the two fooled around, before the other man blew Maddox while Ben watched). All these memories helped to add more depth and backstory (…duh, sorry) to their friendship and relationship, to show just how close they are, how much they mean to one another. Like I said, I very much enjoyed this part of the book.



Once they’re home safe and starting the long healing journey, they must also continue to dance around the fact that they’re both tempted by wanting more but afraid to ruin their friendship to reach for it. And dance around they do, for much of the book. Which was a bit frustrating, though they did have some fantastic chemistry, and that at least comes into play long before they finally settle on relationship labels/status. On the one hand, I can understand why they were both fearful of starting anything; on the other hand, the push-pull-push got a bit annoying after a bit.





"Being the best at something doesn't mean you're happy doing it."




But, push-pull bits aside, a good majority of their story was still quite enjoyable. But then I started getting pissed at Ben and his constant single-minded focus that Maddox MUST want to still be a SEAL, not caring to talk to his friend or hell, even really listen to his friend and what he actually wanted from life. Yes, in the final chapter or so, Ben does apologize and grovel for things he did, including the fact that he was an ass to make Maddox feel bad for wanting to go after his own dreams rather than stay in the Navy and keep Ben company until they retired into the sunset. But it was too little, too late for me because by the time the grovel came, I’d had to sit through a large portion of this book with Ben thinking only of himself and what he wanted, pushing his own “dream” onto Maddox rather than listening to what Maddox wanted for himself – even as Maddox was making it so clear that everyone else could see how he felt about re-uping, just not Ben. All of this also made it harder for me to really connect and love Ben, though I admit I also felt a bit disconnected from Maddox’s character, too, though I can’t quite pinpoint why.



So, yes, there were bits that frustrated me, and let me down a bit from what I expected leading up to their story. But it’s clear why I was so excited to get their story; I mean, who can resist friends-to-lovers, especially with two SEAL buddies AND one hero who’s just as kickass of a SEAL as he is a baker? Yes, please! And, for the most part, that was all good, don’t get me wrong! But I was left wanting more, while also wanting a bit less of Ben’s selfish pushing.




"Feels so good. Perfect," Maddox murmured, hands stroking Ben's thighs and ass.

"Yeah, it is." Ben looked down at him, tenderness making his voice rough.

"Why do we keep getting in our own way?" Maddox looked up at him, eyes dark pools. "Hate arguing with you. Hate fighting. Just want to make you happy."

"You do." Ben was far less capable of stringing together words than Maddox right then, so he bent forward, claiming Maddox's mouth in a bruising kiss, trying to tell him with his lips how much he cared, how happy Maddox made him, how crappy it had been not to get to claim him all evening, how much he'd needed this all damn day. All his damn life, if he were being truly honest. Couldn't remember ever not needing Maddox like this.




As I said, their chemistry was off the charts. In true Albert fashion, their sex life doesn’t revolve around anal. And this isn’t JUST because the two were battling healing injuries for so long. I always appreciate the hot sex outside of PIA – though those scenes are just as sexy and satisfying as the BJs, handjobs, etc. I believed their chemistry, believed their friendship, and generally really liked these two together. But something in the execution of the romance and story was off just enough for my rating to slip down to a (still very respectable!) 4 stars, rather than the higher rating that many of Albert’s previous books have received from me.




While this one wasn’t my favorite from Albert, it definitely wasn’t my least favorite either, falling in the middle at a solid “good”. I had some minor complaints, sure, but I still did enjoy reading their story. Although this one isn’t the one I’d rec first to a newbie reader (I’d go with one of my top favorites from her), I would still recommend On Point to readers who want a friends-to-lovers romance between two SEALs. There’s a glimpse of the next book at the end of this one, and I’m definitely curious to see how it turns out – sounds like the two men meet IRL only after they had been anonymously chatting online (hook up app, I think?). Regardless, I’m very much looking forward to whatever Albert has lined up next.




4 STARS!

By far my favorite book by Annabeth!! This has it all. Love, unrequited love, action, passion, going for your dreams, facing your fears, healing new and old wounds, family, friend, and peace. My emotions went on the journey that Maddox and Ben went through.

A phenominal book that I just could not put down.

I wish I could give this one 10 stars.

I sound like a broken record. When I reviewed At Attention (book 2 in this series) I said I didn't think the books in the Out of Uniform series could get any better. I think I was wrong. OK maybe not wrong exactly. It's just that every book in this series has been so perfect for me. On Point was so emotionally satisfying, including bringing on the tears by the time I reached chapter #4. I just don't really know how this story could have been any better.

Best friends to lovers – oh yeah, one of my favorite tropes – and not one, but two, hot SEALs. Ben and Maddox have been best buddies since they went through BUD/S training together, over 10 years ago. Along the way they've each had relationships, both good and bad. Ben was married shortly and it was a spectacular, and trust-breaking, failure. Now he will never again give that much trust to anyone.

Maddox has secretly had a crush on Ben going all the way back to BUD/S training even though he had a boyfriend at the time. Now that Ben is living with him it's getting harder and harder for him to push his feelings back.

I wish this review could do justice to Annabeth's writing in On Point. OMG – what she puts these guys through in this book! This one was gut-wrenching in places but I wouldn't have missed it for anything. I won't say more except that there is definitely an HEA.

If you like M/M books with hot guys, especially ones in Uniform, you really need to get this book.

A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.

This review will be posted to Xtreme-Delusions dot com on or soon after release date.

DNF @ 68%

Started great (hence the 2 stars) and I thought we were heading towards a romance with some real depth but alas, it was not to be. Not feeling any particularly chemistry between these guys as I'd expect considering it's a best-friends-to-lovers story, the dirty talk sounds forced and unnatural and all-in-all I'm just a bit...meh. Shame as I really liked these characters and the authors writing in the previous books in the series.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5



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.

Really, it's so hard to have favorites among Annabeth Albert's series. Worse even to try and chose among her myriad of stories within those series. I love her Out of Uniform series, which gets better with each book. On Point, the third installment, is now my favorite to date. In On Point Albert takes secondary characters Ben and Maddox, makes them complex individuals with a relationship dynamic fraught with challenges and the potential for pain and growth if only one of them will make a move.

Ben especially has a lot of emotional growing to do and the reader follows him along every painful step in this journey. Maddox too has some memorable moments here and the two men together, as friends and as potential lovers are narrative magic. Albert writes real people with problems we can relate to and understand. It happens here, even if some of the most drama scenes are ones we may never experience. It's the emotions that telegraph through the vivid descriptions and dialog that grip you and won't let you go.

If you love friends to lovers, this is an excellent example of why that trope is so popular. You understand Ben and Maddox as friends, your heart wants them to be more as much as they want each other. You absolutely believe in their love and that they can have a HEA if only they reach for it and each other. Powerful stuff but I expect nothing less from this author.

I highly recommend this story and this author. This series too!

Cover art works for the couple and for branding the series. I like it.

On Point by Annabeth Albert
Book #3: Out of Uniform Series
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 5/5 stars
My Review:

Maddox Horvat has proudly and willingly served his country for a lot of years. As a SEAL sniper, Maddox has earned a reputation as one of the best in the business and if you asked his teammate and best friend, Ben Tovey, re-upping for another tour is a foregone conclusion. There’s a whole host of things Ben thinks he knows about Maddox . . . . .

As far as Maddox is concerned, another tour just isn’t in the cards. He’s nearly thirty years old and there is so much beyond the military Maddox would like to do with his life. He wants to open a small bakery, he wants to get married and have a family, and he desperately wants all this with his best friend. All it took was one night of seeing Ben with another man for Maddox to know, in his bones, that Ben is the man for him. Unfortunately, admitting his feelings for Ben on top of ending his service would likely send Ben over the edge and Maddox isn’t willing to lose his best friend. Some sort of relationship is better than none, right?

Ben Tovey is a career SEAL and that’s a foregone conclusion! Since the beginning, he and Maddox have served together and as far as Ben is concerned they will continue to serve until it’s time to retire. As a bonus, Maddox will be by his side and he can continue to nurse his intense lust(?)/love(?) for Maddox. Ben isn’t interested in examining his feelings for Maddox too closely until they both barely survive a mission that went ugly sideways. Ben is not only forced to acknowledge his feelings for Maddox, but to examine why it is he’s so resistant to the idea of settling down and beginning a proper life with Maddox. For a time, Ben is certain everything is right and good between he and Maddox and then, it all blows up leaving both men heartbroken and certain they have each lost absolutely everything!

The Bottom Line: This series just keeps getting better. Maddox and Ben are so fundamentally different that they shouldn’t work, but in the end, they most certainly work. The tension in this read is prevalent and fluctuates throughout depending on the situation. The tension doesn’t let up until the very end and it really makes the read so much better. Some reads, some characters just beg for tension and this is absolutely one of those reads! As always, I appreciate the fact the author populates her novels with characters from past reads. There truly is a sense of community in this series and it’s one of the things I like the best about the Out of Uniform world.

On Point is the third book in the Out of Uniform series by Annabeth Albert, and while you'll definitely want to read the entire series, I think this book could easily be read as a stand-alone.

Ben and Maddox have been friends since they met during Hell Week of SEAL training, and over a decade later, their friendship remains solid and reliable. The story starts with a mission that goes wrong, leaving Ben and Maddox stranded and gravely injured in the jungles of Indonesia and struggling to reach the Plan B pick-up zone. I read the first third of On Point in one fell swoop, not really breathing until they were finally rescued. This plot is the most gripping and engaging of the series in my opinion.

And then Albert gives us a truly wonderful second act as Ben and Maddox move from friends to lusting after one another with heaps and heaps of steamy UST, and eventually to lovers in a way that just feels right.

"... some things just defied explanation. Like how he and Ben fit so well together. Like how Ben kissed him like they’d been doing it for years and also like it was Maddox’s first kiss ever. And good lord, the man could teach a graduate-level chemistry class in how to ignite a spark ..."

We get both POVs and I love how these complex and flawed men battle their issues. Maddox has to decide if he remains a SEAL or if he dares starting a new career. Ben goes from the "High Prince of Group Escapades and Kink" to really struggling with trust and commitment and although there was a point in the book when I wanted to repeatedly hit him with a big "get a clue" stick, the resolution is sweet and worth the wait.

“And I know it’s hard to trust. I’m struggling with that too. But maybe it’s a leap of faith we have to make together. Like a jump. We’ve got to trust that the landing’s not going to kill us.”

This is my favorite book of the Out of Uniform series. FYI, there are a few brief scenes with Pike and Zeke as well as Apollo and Dylan, and there is another book coming out in November about Dylan's brother, Dustin. I highly recommend On Point and give it 5 stars!

"But what makes me happy is you. What makes me strong is you. You in my life, in whatever capacity I can get. Much as it terrifies me, I want that life together."

On Point by Annabeth Albert is the third book in the Out of Uniform series. I found this is a series that has to be read in order. You will have a hard time with this book, if you don't understand the dynamics of the group. Really powerfully written story. I loved the connection of the two characters in this one. Really felt a part of this story.
This is a story of best friends becoming more. I like stories like that. Friends make the best lovers if you ask me.
Maddox navy seal. Tough guy. He really loves Ben with all of his heart and soul. He doesn't want to lose Ben by telling him at first.
Ben he also is a navy seal. He has had a lot of relationships go bad, so he is scared to be in one, but he deeply loves Maddox.
One jungle mission they cannot deny their love any more. I loved how life and death made these two really see what they could lose if they didn't take more chances.
Both men are strong and very alpha. Love makes them even better friends. This is one I keep re reading. I cannot wait for more from this series. I hope it comes soon! I will be in line for the next seal to find love.

Five Shooting Stars

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…<cough, cough>…..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

Another fantastic book from Annabeth Albert, this series is high up there with one of my favourites and I can't wait to see where Annabeth takes us next.

4.25 stars

Maddox and Ben have been best friends ever since they were still in SEAL training. While they always have each other's back, personality wise especially when dealing with love and relationship cannot be more different.

Maddox is a great sniper, but his passion is not the military. He loves baking, he wants to open a bakery, he strives in church activities. Basically, Maddox wants a life outside of the military, and he longs for a committed relationship, preferably with Ben, whom Maddox has been nurturing crush over for years.

Ben, on the other hand, avoid love and long-term relationship. It probably stems from the fact that Ben thinks people change their mind and leave -- like his mother, like his ex-husband. So Ben embraces one night stands, sex with a lot of people, wild nights ... anything but commitment. His only commitment is the military; and Ben thinks Maddox will always be with him in this case.

Until one mission gone awry, they almost die, and Maddox starts thinking of leaving...

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I have been wanting to read about best-friends Maddox and Ben so much, especially after getting a glimpse of Maddox's feeling towards Ben in the previous book, At Attention. What can I say ... friends-to-lovers, people! I don't think I will EVER get tired of this particular trope. It has been one of my favorites since I read romance two decades ago.

It just evoked ALL THE FEELINGS inside me!



I loved all the tension that happened between the two men, how they approached the change from friends to lovers, how Ben trying to keep Maddox from leaving, how Maddox contemplating between wanting to live but at the same time not hurt Ben in process, I loved reading both Maddox and Ben's perspectives.

I cannot really say much because that will spoil the whole story. Let's just say that there was progress happening, characters growth, that wasn't just because of or due to sexy times. THAT I always appreciate so much in romance. I guess it also helped that while Ben leaned a lot to physical sex, Maddox didn't :). Plus that epilogue was GOLD.

The only reason why I couldn't rate it a bit higher was because the beginning was a little muddled with flashbacks and military action. But in overall, On Point is definitely my favorite of the series so far.