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This is the second book in a series and is likely BEST enjoyed after reading AFRAID TO FLY (book 2), but can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Anthony only came to Anchor Point as moral support to his sister, who's ex-husband wants to spend time with their children. Travis (from AtF) has been sober for three years, and is rebuilding his life with his new partner, Clint, but Anthony doesn't trust Travis as far as her could toss him. Still, if Anthony's sister is happy, then Anthony will accept her judgment. Even if he's sure that Travis is still a lousy drunk...

Frustrated by the tension of the experience, he goes trolling for some prime Navy "seamen" at a bar in the small town. That's where he meets Noah, and it's a hawt time in the bunks. Noah hasn't ever had a long term relationship, though he's nearing forty, and Anthony's captivated by him. Their tryst turns in to a weekend, and then travel between his home in Denver and Anchor Point. Each time Noah and Anthony get together it's better than the last time, but there's a situation developing between them: Noah drinks. Anthony can't fathom how much, because they only spend a few days together every few weeks, but it's starting to creep into their phone calls and video chats.

Noah doesn't believe he has a problem, but it's becoming clearer each day that his heavy drinking affects his work and relationships. Especially when Anthony is (emotionally) hurt bad due to Noah's own (drunken) negligence. The alcoholism issue between Anthony and Noah took a long time to develop, and that felt realistic. Lots of people can be functional alcoholics, especially in isolation. Noah's few friends didn't necessarily see his problems, and they worked with him daily. That said, Anthony reached out for help regarding his own prejudices with alcohol, and it helped bring healing for him, too. I liked how Travis and Clint proved to be great guys and important parts of both Noah and Anthony's story, in the resolution. The story started out with dirty, dirty sexytimes, and I liked how this transitioned into a more tender romance. Anthony and Noah both showed a lot of vulnerability, and that really made them endearing, although Anthony came off as a jerk initially.

I've loved this series from the beginning, and I Look forward to more sexy Navy men, and all their military issues, finding love in the future. I read a review copy provided by NetGalley.

I was a little worried that the alcoholism in the book was going to be over dramatic, but I actually really enjoyed this depiction. It was a cute story with just the right amount of angst, and I'm glad I picked it up. Once again, L.A. Witt doesn't disappoint.

Raise your hand if you read the previous book and found yourself disappointed that there little to no sex. Cheer up, Chief's Mess makes up for it and then some. If you want a book with sex you got it. Yup, plenty of sex. The MC could give bunnies lessons on having a lot of sex. Have I mentioned that was a lot of sex? Okay, I'm done beating the dead horse - for now - but I can't guarantee I won't bring it up again.

Here is the plot of the story. Anthony travels with his sister to meet up with her ex. The ex-hubs had a few issues (Read the previous book Afraid to Fly to find out what) and now she wants to make sure their kids will be okay to stay with their dad. Anthony has had enough and escapes out a local gay bar where he meets Noah. They hook up, have hot and heavy sex. Lots of it. Anthony has to head back home but they agree to get together again and in the meantime, there is plenty of phone sex, sexting, webcams. Between the hot weekend trips and equally hot long-distance convos, a real relationship begins to grow between Anthony and Noah. Unfortunately, Anthony begins to suspect Noah has a drinking problem. So bad stuff goes down, Anthony calls him out on it, deny deny, break-up and then.... I think you get the picture.

Despite the excessive amount of sex that goes on, Chief's Mess actually was a good read. The progression from bumping uglies to something more was pretty good. Anthony suspecting Noah has a drinking problem and the process he went through to come to the point was well thought out and presented in a way you couldn't help but feel you are part of the story. Was he imagining it? What should he do? Yes, we are able to see it from Anthony's POV very well. Noah's side was good but really I feel this story goes to Anthony. The ending did get a bit predictable, however, the HEA was a nice one.

Big bonus points to the secondary characters of Clint and Will. Clint is part of the series' past. I just love getting updates of previous characters. Will get his own story in the next title. Both equally interesting characters that just when you think they are in it to help the plot move along, they are vital to the story.

The first book in the series was stellar and had a good balance to it. The second was emotion-heavy, the third sex-heavy. I'm really hoping the fourth will find that balance that I enjoyed when I first started the Anchor Point series. Knowing what I do now, I still would read the book, and I may yet recommend it. Just with a cautionary note of the content.

reviewed by Jac

Out for a bit of booze and relaxing, Chief Noah Jackson nearly drops his beer when the tall, lanky redhead shows up. But his libido takes over as soon as he asks if he can buy the guy a beer and the man responds with “Yes, you can. Or tell me you bottom, and we can skip all that and get out of here.”

And that pretty much sets the stage for this story, which had three main elements: sex and more sex; travel between Anchor Point, where Chief Jackson is stationed, and Denver, where Anthony works; and alcoholic drinking. About three quarters of the story is the sex; the travel, primarily by air, is necessary to be able to have the sex, and the booze is necessary for Noah to get through the days between the sex. Anthony has an ex-brother-in-law whose alcoholic drinking became daily and rageful and resulted in divorce. We met this man, Clint, in book two, Afraid to Fly, and he becomes important to both Anthony and Noah near the end of this story when the alcoholic drinking becomes the focus.
The two men, who originally only wanted to hook up for a night, become long-distance friends-with-benefits until it becomes evident to both that they are much more involved than they originally thought possible. Along the way, Anthony notices signs of alcohol abuse and addresses some of the symptoms with Noah, who immediately agrees that he won’t drink while with Anthony, and yet he continues to drink to excess to the point where his good friend and boss, Senior Chief Will Curtis, calls him on his behaviors and warns him that he won’t cover for him if he gets in trouble. But like any good alcoholic, Noah becomes more adept at hiding it—even from himself. Until the weekend he forgets about Anthony coming to visit…

This was a good story, with engaging characters, and it was nice to see Clint and his lover, Travis. However, though I never thought I’d say this, there were too many pages devoted to sex in this story. Granted it was highly detailed, hot, and heavy, and I’m sure many readers will enjoy the body-ravaging, biting, marking, dick-pounding scenes. I did. But after a while, I wanted more to this story. More depth of emotion, especially from Noah. More gritty self-analysis for Noah. More research into why his reactions were so painful for Anthony. Each character could have sought and benefitted from outside help.

I was disappointed by the portrayal of Noah’s alcoholic behaviors. I’m intimately familiar with this disease, and it is a disease, not a disorder or a “behavioral problem,” and I kept waiting for that acknowledgement—either from Noah or from Anthony or from Clint. But the impression I’m left with is that Noah’s behaviors got out of control and somewhere along the way he lost the willpower to stop drinking. Unfortunately, all the willpower in the world won’t stop alcoholism. And almost all alcoholics I’ve known and worked with admit that they knew their drinking was out of the norm long before others started to notice. They also tend to suffer from low self-esteem and guilt about being unable to control their drinking. I would have appreciated a deeper exploration of that emotional side when the alternating POV came back around to Noah.

Without going further on this topic, all I can add is that my own beliefs and life experiences obviously influence how much or how little I enjoy any story—this one or others. And I acknowledge that it may just be my own perspectives that kept me from rating this any higher than 3 stars, but that’s the beauty of being human—we are not all the same. Thank heavens.

Now, if you into hot alpha naval officers; sweaty, sheet-pounding sex; web sex; or versatile partners, this one will likely hit the spot for you.

Chief's Mess is a good read about second chances and redemption. Noah is high ranking in the military and willing to risk his career and his love for his addiction.

Anthony is a sweet guy who happens to fall for Noah. He realizes that there is an issue but doesn't want to see it.

I thought that this couple had amazing chemistry. I like that they took turns topping each other. As much as I enjoyed it I thought it could use another element. They dealt with Noah's drinking and stayed either in the bedrooms most times. I was hoping for another element.
I was able to read an ARC for a honest review

Anthony and Noah...

This story has two parts the one before and the one after....
The one before is 77% of the story the one after the other 23...

I found it difficult to read. Not in complicated but the content... I knew what was coming and every time I was waiting for the train to crash... so it distracted me...I saw the signs and when it finally crashed, I could concentrate more, on the story, the dealing, the healing...luckily it was good and close to reality....because if it wasn't....i would quit this one...
It was (for me) a mild version of how it can go....

So the parts where I could concentrate :) were hot as hell! Smoking hot. Damn they were eager and hungry for each other. It was really fun to read. The were a passionate couple every time they were together....even online with cam...

Like I said... the figurative train..... it was hard, harsh, ugly and embarrassing. Sweet lovely Anthony i was proud of him how he stands up for his principles. I really want to bow for him....
It's so difficult to make choices in such a situation...
The part of Noah was fortunately mild put down...it could be very ugly and it wasn't....it was hard already but there was light at the end of the tunnel.

“For fuck’s sake,” he snapped. “Your drinking doesn’t become a problem the day it makes your life fall apart. Maybe you could stop before that point?”

I was proud of both men because it could be so so bad and they chose the right thing in life.
The things that matters....in healthy circumstances, happiness and love...

Good written story with a lot of steamy hungry encounters. Their personalities were convincing and mostly pleasant... Absolute worth reading.

I'm a big fan of this author, but this book fell a little flat for me.
There wasn't a lot plot or character development. It was implied that the characters, who are in long distance relationship, had phone/text/skype conversations to get to know each other better, but the reader never got to see that part. What we did see was sex. Lots and lots of sex. At every opportunity.
A Sailor and an Engineer walk into a bar.... The Sailor is a closet alcoholic, the Engineer doesn't like alcoholics. They fall into bed and stay there for the duration of the book. The Engineer finally takes his blinders off and realizes what's really going on(which is where the story gets good)
The ending of this book was outstanding and earned the third star of my review.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. The love story between Noah and Anthony involves the dangers of alcoholism when one party does not realize their dependence. It was well written and makes you hope Noah can come to gripes with his alcohol problem and get help before it destroys his life and those that love him. I enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it. Also, the sex between the two of them was super hot.

This is the third book in LA Witt’s Anchor Point series. Hot barely describes it. Scorching comes closer. The sex is the main plot and character of the book. That’s not a complaint. It’s just an invitation for those who really like a lot of sex in their erotic romance stories.
Noah is an alcoholic, and like a lot of people with bottle problems, he is very good at disguising his addiction until he forms a close relationship with someone. That someone is Anthony in this story, and Anthony knows what is going on with Noah before he is willing to admit it to himself or Noah. He’s been around an alcoholic before and actually seeks out the advice of that person, his sister’s ex, when it’s time to confront the issue.
While Chief’s Mess is the third book in this series, it can be read as a stand alone. I read the first book, Just Drive, but missed the second one, Afraid to Fly. Yes, you will miss out on some of the back stories, but not so much that you can’t keep up with the characters here. There really isn’t much of a plot, so no worries there. I enjoyed this book and now want to read the second book in the series.
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L.A. Witt is quickly becoming one of my favorite MM authors with this series in particular.

I love the character's of Anchor Point. I love that they are not all young, perfect guys with no issues or problems they are dealing with. Noah...well, he's got some problems. He drinks. A LOT. But, he thinks he's hiding it. And when he meet's Anthony one night in the bar, one night turns to tow then more until they are in a relationship, and what he thought he could hide from him, he is not so good at hiding from those who are with him day in and day out. Because Anthony lives in another town, they are not together every day. But Anthony see's the tell tale signs, but, Noah, tries to hide it. But then he hits rock bottom and almost looses everything. Will he pull his head out of his butt and change his life? Well, you will have to read it to find out, but the story itself is definitely worth the heart ache and tears you feel for these two character's.

Chief's Mess is book #3 in L.A. Witt's Anchor Point series. Set primarily in the fictional town of Anchor Point, Oregon, with the only real industry being a naval based, it's a dream for fans of m/m military romance.

Anthony Talbot goes along with his sister and her kids to visit with her ex-husband, Clint, who in the recent past was alcoholic and abusive after something happened as a result of his job as a drone pilot. His story is in book #2, “Afraid to Fly”, which I haven't read, but the author gave enough info to make this a standalone in a shared universe. Anthony still hasn't forgiven Clint for what happened with his sister, and finally decides to get out of the uncomfortable “Meet the boyfriend and his daughter in hopes the other kids can visit on the regular” situation by heading out to one of the few gay bars in the area.

There he meets Chief Noah Jackson, and the chemistry is off the charts. It starts out as a one-night stand morphing into a one week stand, then a long distance relationship with sexting, Skype sex, and flights between Colorado and Oregon as the two try to figure out exactly what they have going.

The only real fly in the ointment, besides the distance, is Noah is a high-functioning alcoholic. He doesn't just drink to wind down or get shit-faced after a bad day, he drinks constantly, often hiding the severity of his drinking from others. He's also in deep denial, because as long as he can maintain himself at work, doesn't drink and drive, etc., he doesn't see his drinking as a problem.

Anthony is wary of Noah's level of alcohol use, but first writes it off as a side-effect of seeing what happened with his sister and her ex-husband, then the stereotype about sailors and excessive drinking. As he keeps seeing the signs, he does talk to Noah about it, and Noah claims it's not a big deal and begins not obviously drinking during their times together, but does sneak drinks. That's typical behavior for a high-functioning alcoholic, who can set certain boundaries about drinking, but can't quit completely.

I was interested in a story dealing with a high-functioning alcoholic, along with smoking sex scenes, but I felt the alcoholism aspect was given short shrift. Other than Anthony's suspicions and Noah's denial repeating several times, it's not really dealt with much until the latter third of the book, when Noah starts to do things like driving home drunk, but he simply says to himself he's never going to do it again, then does something else while he's stupid drunk. He does have a fellow Chief and friend, Will, who will be featured in the next book, who has been aware of Noah drinking to excess, but has been covering the “little things” such as keeping people out of Noah's office when he's hungover, ignoring when he's a little late, etc.

After he does a massive screw up right as Anthony's about to arrive for a long weekend, he ends up on a bender that also puts Will on the spot to never cover for him again or risk his own career, and Noah finally realizes just how badly he's screwing up his career and life in general.

If this had been fan fiction, it would probably fall more into the PWP (plot, what plot?) category. That's not necessarily a bad thing. If you're in the mood for some smoking sex scenes with only minimal plot, this can be a very good thing.

I got my hopes up for a story dealing at least halfway realistically with an alcoholic character, but instead it was treated more along the lines of a Big Misunderstanding that's mostly taken care of by finally talking about it. There's a tag chapter at the end to show that several months later Noah's stopped drinking, is so much more healthy mentally and physically as a result, but it didn't feel quite earned as none of it really happened on the page. If you'd rather skip the attempt at angst and just focus on a couple who have fantastic sex, it's pretty easy to do, that's not a wrong way to go with this one. I like a little angst, and would bump this up another star if there had been more details about how they dealt with the issue. The phrase “high-functioning alcoholic” isn't even used in the book, and I think it could have been helpful for readers who might recognize Noah's traits in someone they know.

Since the characters in this series can reappear in other books, I'm curious to see if Noah and Anthony will show up in Will's book and maybe get an update to their story.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Too much sex - got bored with it. Too little story - not much other than the sex and drinking. Skipped the sex scenes
Book 3 is the weakest instalment in this series, which can be read as standalones. We're also clearly being introduced to one of the leads from book 4 in here, who's going through a bit of a crisis of his own, and is drawn into the crisis here.

The tale is pretty much along the lines of a long distance relationship between two guys who see each other every second Fri-Sun, most of which is spent in bed. I mean, the sex scenes in here were so numerous that I skipped them, because frankly, they got repetitive.

I did like the premise of the tale, but it was drawn out despite Anthony having his suspicions about Noah being an alcoholic, and tbh, it might have worked a little better as a slightly shorter tale. We readers could see the very visible physical signs, that clearly Anthony could, but still he kept dismissing his concerns.

It's an OK read, but I'd recommend the others in the series above this.

Chiefs mess is another m/m romance , second in the anchor point series and it was good to see Clint and Travis back if only briefly to catch up, although you don't need to read Afraid to Fly to enjoy this book. I didn't enjoy this as much, but that said still a good read. The characters are Noah a naval policeman from anchor point and Anthony who lives in Denver, each chapter is told from their individual points of view but I kept getting them mixed up, not sure why. As usual from this author lots and lots of sex, but for once I felt a little too much and would of liked a little more depth and perhaps a few more characters.
That said, it deals well with the problem of alcoholism particularly in the military and for all my little niggles it wasn't a disappointing read so I recommend it.
Thanks to net galley and publisher for opportunity to review this book honestly.

3.5 Stars Chief's Mess is the third book in L.A. Witt's Anchor Point series. It was a bit of a hit and miss for me. I really liked Noah and Anthony but just felt the story was missing something in parts in saying that I did enjoy the book overall and would still recommend this book and series to readers.

When it comes to steamy storytelling Ms. Witt's clearly a master at bringing a blush to my cheeks courtesy of the numerous bedroom scenes, sexting, and naughty Skyping seen in this third installment in the Anchor Point series. This story is erotically-charged from the first page to the last and quickly caught me in its sensual haze while keeping its character's HEA in doubt under the shadow of alcoholism. It all made for a romance that I found intense, but not my favorite in the series.

Anthony's visiting Anchor Point in support of his sister's finding peace with her ex for the sake of their children, but it's clear he's becoming antsy and angry with the situation. Never a fan of his ex brother-in-law Clint (one of the leads in the previous book in this series) because of his alcoholism he's desperate to get some fresh air before his constantly-simmering anger bubbles over. Needing to get away takes him to a local bar that leads to an unforgettable encounter with a man who's hiding his own issues. It's a combustible first meeting, palpable in its sensuality, that leads to one scorching encounter after another that doesn't end even after he leaves town. The majority of his interactions with Noah are of an erotic nature which doesn't leave a lot of room for anything else. There's not a lot of time spent just talking and it's not until very late in the story that he even acknowledges Noah's alcoholism. Once he does, he's forced into going to Clint for help in a quickly put together ending that diminished what should've been a powerful moment. From the start I had trouble warming up to Anthony as he was judgmental and a bit sanctimonious. He was unsympathetic when it came to Clint's PTSD and seemed to be betting against Clint's sobriety, waiting in anticipation, and that further alienated me in my attempts to like him. When it comes to sex though he's the Energizer Bunny as can be seen by the over-abundance of erotic encounters. He and Noah definitely clicked and in those moments they were a perfect match. Outside of their sexual haven though there were problems too-often ignored that frustrated me and dimmed my overall enjoyment of this story.

It's clear from the very start, from the previous series installment too, that Noah's an alcoholic. But if you ask him, he doesn't see it. Just like with Anthony readers don't get to learn too much about Noah except his constant planning for when he can have another drink. Readers also get to be a part of his combustible connection to Anthony that's more than apparent from their first meeting in a bar. In person, and over the internet, they go from one scorching encounter to the next at the expense of everything else. It's not until the very end of the story that Noah's forced into dealing with his addiction and I wish more time had been given to this moment as it was sensitively handled and was a moment to cheer for him. Throughout the story I never felt a deep connection to Noah either as his secrecy over his alcoholism seemed all-consuming, along with his erotic relationship with Anthony excluding all else. He never became a distinctive character for me, never really set himself apart, which lessened my enjoyment of this story overall.

When it came to the erotic side of this story Ms. Witt crafted it nicely. These scenes were scorching, exhilarating, and left me parched. Too many of these moments though took away from these two men bonding on a deeper level and left me less invested in their HEA. Though this wasn't my favorite installment in the series readers will still want to experience all the decadent delights it offers as they await the next book in this series full of steam and personal conflicts.

What's great about this series is that each story is unique and delicately deals with realistic issues that couples face. There's no stupid angst, and the relationships that are depicted as well as the family around the main characters are supportive. This was a really great read about an under the radar alcoholic and a man with a lot of unresolved anger. Normally, alcoholics are shown as being over the top drinkers, and the way that Noah was written shows that that is not always the case. Excellent read!

While he was happy to provide some moral support during his sister’s peace-making visit with her ex-husband and his new boyfriend, what Anthony Talbot really wants is a night of no-strings sex with a hot stranger. Luckily, the sexy chief master-at-arms who takes him home clearly agrees. Noah Jackson quickly gets under Anthony’s skin, however, and their increasingly frequent hookups soon turn into a long-distance relationship that leaves both men hungry for more. But, Noah’s hiding a problem he doesn’t even realize he has, and it’s the one thing that Anthony may not be able to forgive.

While the previous story in the series, Afraid to Fly, also dealt with alcoholism, Chief’s Mess is an examination of the denial and consequences of the situation as they’re happening, rather than the aftermath. Here, the reader is witness to the chain of events as Noah’s life begins to fall apart around him. The dual perspectives also cast Anthony’s own feelings in a stark light as they shift from happiness and optimism to fear and pain as the narrative evolves.

One thing I especially liked about Chief’s Mess is that it’s not a hearts and flowers kind of romance out of the gate. Noah and Anthony’s story begins with a hookup and grows into something more over time. The initial attraction is purely physical, and I thought the uncomplicated necessity of that beginning worked really well. Their sexual compatibility is evident from the start, the long-distance relationship they slip into providing ample opportunity for the anticipation between them with to build. Sadly, it is precisely that distance, both emotionally and geographically, that allowed the truth to be ignored and hidden so easily.

At its heart, Chief’s Mess is about honesty and forgiveness—good lessons to keep in mind regardless of the specifics involved. That Anthony and Noah are a good match for one another is evident from their earliest meeting, and wish I could have seen even more of their interactions outside of the bedroom as the story progressed. Watching their connection falter was hard at times, some of the worst moments being downright painful, especially knowing that things would become more difficult before they could get better. Even though I missed the first of the Anchor Point stories, I’ve enjoyed the two I have read a great deal, and would recommend the series to any fan of the genre.

Chief's Mess, L.A. Witt

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  Romance, LGBTQIA

I loved the first book in this series, but the second did nothing for me.
Still,  LA Witt is one of my favourite m/m authors so I thought I'd try book three. 

It wasn't a great read for me, I just didn't feel I Knew the characters, just a surface opinion of them, and I really want to feel book characters can be people I know. I need them to feel real for me to get invested in what happens to them.
Here I just didn't, they were just two anonymous guying hooking up for hot sex.

They were very alike in many way, and TBH I kept getting confused, right up to the end, about which was which.
Not a good thing, and when characters are well fleshed and distinct not something that happens. I think maybe there could have been - for me, not for everyone of course, a little less sex in the first half and a bit more character and plot building.

I mention the plot, and that really is pretty simple, Noah ( and see? I almost wrote Anthony there - had to check it) is a functioning alcoholic, and like many others doesn't recognise he has a problem.
Of course for Anthony that's a bigger trigger than it maybe would be for others, his ex brother-in-law was an alcoholic, and that caused great distress for his sister and their kids.
I liked the build up, though it was pretty muted and did make Noah come over as judgmental rather than sympathetic, but the way things played out felt very simplistic, and its rarely as easy as that.
I guess there wasn't space to go into any depth, but in reality it would have been far, far harder. 

Stars: three, it was just an OK read for me, and maybe I need to look carefully before accepting any more Anchor Point novels. 

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

Chief’s Mess is the third book in the Anchor Point series, which features a bunch of Navy men falling in love. I’d suggest reading the books in order, or at least the second one before you start Chief’s Mess since the couple in the 2nd book appears a few times in this one. At any rate, I really love Witt and her novels so I’d suggest reading all these books just because of that!

Anyway, back to Chief’s Mess. I will say that this is probably my least favorite of the three books out so far, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it. I think my main – and really only – issue is that there is so much of their physical relationship throughout the book and sometimes I wanted a bit more. Now, I think the book is written well and you definitely get to know the two guys – Anthony and Noah – but every now and then I just wanted a bit more of the everyday, emotional side of their relationship. Besides that, this was a good one.

Anthony meets Noah in a bar while in Anchor Point with his sister. It’s supposed to be a one night stand – and that turns into a week-long thing while Anthony is still in town. However, once Anthony leaves, they both realize they want more and that begins their long-distance relationship. Because they are able to see each other fairly regularly, it works. They get closer and it soon becomes more than the sex for both of them. They are genuinely falling for each other. However, Anthony is starting to notice that Noah drinks…a lot. He’s not sure if it’s really a problem or if he’s projecting his sister’s ex onto Noah.

All in all, I love the Anchor Point series. While I might have wished for a little less physical and a little more emotional, I feel like you still get enough of the emotional to make you fall for these guys. I definitely rooted them on! I can’t wait for the fourth novel!