Overall I liked this book but was not as big a fan as I was of the previous three books in the series. There is a lot of dynamic play between the main characters Dustin and Wes, in work, personal and the bedroom. Most of the book focuses on this and if you enjoy a kinkier read I'd recommend it. Something about the fraternization element, which is BIG, left me feeling kind of meh. Well-written, the only thing that made me cringe repeatedly was the use of y'all as a singular when it is a plural. AKA 'you all.'

Not one of my favorite novels from Annabeth Albert, this was nevertheless cute. I don't regret reading it, but I'm not sure if I would have spent money on it.

Wheels Up is an amazing read that had me staying up into the wee hours of the morning trying to finish it. I just absolutely loved these two guys and wanted to see them get their happily ever after.

Wheels Up is actually the first time I’ve ever heard of this author and series. I came across it on NetGalley and was immediately drawn to the cover and synopsis. I loved the fact that these two meet anonymously through a dating app, have never swapped facial pictures, nor given their names, branch, or station location. However, when Dustin has to travel to the east coast for work, Wes propositions a meet up since that will be close enough for him to drive to. It was only supposed to be one night of fun. Except, when Wes gets transferred to a new unit out west, he soon realizes that his new commanding officer is none other than the guy he’s been chatting up online. Given how fraternization is heavily frowned upon and there are legal actions that take place when one occurs, these two try to curb their feelings for each other and stick to the job. Watching them both struggle with losing their best friend and yet having that reminder in their face every day at work was so heartbreaking to watch.

Even though their stolen moments were really stupid on their part, I silently cheered every time one of them reached out to the other for support or comfort. Mainly because I had seen how much their current situation was eating them both up. I also loved these stolen moments because even though Dustin is bisexual, this is his first time testing the waters with another guy. So the experience is totally new to him and seeing him so vulnerable and how much trust he gave Wes really sealed their bond in my eyes. While this is a romance and I loved their sexy times, I also liked that the author wrote in some field training and mission ops. We got to see the guys deploy out and do their job and it was great getting to see how they interacted with each other in the field versus in private.

While I loved this story, I did find that the lack of notification that these two are texting versus their inner dialog to be very annoying. There were no italics or quotations to clue the reader in that what they were reading was a text message. So, every time they'd talk via the app, I found myself having to decode what I was reading to decide what was inner dialog and what was the text.

Wheels Up is an emotionally raw love story that will leave you swooning. I loved both of these guys and it was heartbreaking to see them struggle with their new predicament but at the same time I squealed every time one would cave in and seek out the other. It was just so hard to come to terms with the fact that their relationship was putting all the other men on their team at risk and was really in everyone’s best interest if they took a step back and ended things. However, I’m so glad they didn’t because it would have broken my heart if these two didn’t get their happily ever after.

Dustin and Wes did video chat for six months but now they've decided to meet each other in person. Dustin did this online connection before but with Wes it was different, it was like a real friendship. But the thing is they both don’t know much about each other, like their jobs. Dustin thinks Wes’s job involved security and Wes thinks Dustin is marine. So anyway, they spent one night with each other and enjoy it so much. one month after that night Dustin’s LT announced they have a replacement and guess who is he? Yep, WES!

"No more late-night chats. No more…anything. From this moment forward, whatever he’d had with Wes in the past was dead."

First of all, such a hot cover! All the covers in this series are hot but this one… and it’s not just the cover! The story, itself, is really hot and beautiful! The thing that I loved so much about this book was their relationship. That at work, Dustin bossing Wes around but at home he lets Wes take charge. Wes helped Dustin know more about himself; that who he was, what he liked, what he needed. I liked both characters. They both were perfect with each other.

The story is well-paced and well-written. Characters were perfect and story-line was great. Told in dual POV, 3rd person. It’s the fourth installment in "Out of Uniform" series but it can be read as a stand-alone. Overall, I loved it and hope you enjoy it as well!

Thanks to Annabeth Albert, Netgalley and Carina Press for the advanced digital copy in exchange an honest review.

An ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ok, yes I gave this 2 stars. I know, I know, I know. I am a HUGE Annabeth Albert fan, and it kills me to say I didn't like this one. It just didn't work for me on so many levels.

Dustin and Wes "meet" in an online chat group Joe4Joe. Neither of them admit to being Seals, and allow the other to deliberately mistake their occupation in the military for something it really isn't. After months of online chats and video sex, they meet in person and it's soooo good. I loved the beginning of the book where they meet for the first time, get their kink on and talk. But things start to fall apart right after that.

When Wes gets transferred from the East Coast to the West Coast, he doesn't mention this to Dustin at all, and they each learn the truth about each other when Wes reports to his new Seal team, which of course is where Dustin is. Now, I love this kind of trope - really enjoy it. But this whole situation didn't work for me. First, they decide to keep their distance from each other - which I can understand. But then they cave and start chatting via text and then video and then in person, and eventually they have sex, which complicates things. But then they say "no, we shouldn't be doing this. This is the last time." Until it isn't. I was soooo tired to the back and forth. For crying out loud - make a decision and STICK WITH IT!

Ugh, the writing style just seems so different from the other books in this series and I don't understand why. The characters didn't seem to be as strong as previous books. They came across as very wishy-washy and unable to stand their ground with anybody or anything. For example, Dustin has yet to tell anybody that he is bisexual. He has known this about himself since before Dylan came out. And why hasn't he told anyone? Because Dylan decides to announce being gay just as Dustin was working up the courage. I can understand not wanting to announce at the same time, but once he sees his parents are good and accepting, he should have said something. At least to his brother!

I don't want to discourage people from reading this - you get to see Apollo and Dylan and the girls at the wedding and I enjoyed that.

Over all, maybe 2.5 stars. Just because these guys couldn't make up their mind, and it frustrated me to no end.

4.5 stars. What kept it from being a 5 star read for me was the reason behind why Dustin didn't tell his dad, brother or his best friend that he was bi. I just thought it was dumb. I loved watching these two try to hide from their feelings. They really had a hard go of it keeping their relationship secret so the military didn't find out about them. Curly pissed me off when he said something to their superior, that could have gotten both of them into some really hot water. My heart broke when Wes told Dustin what he said, he was only trying to make things easier for Dustin but it was still heartbreaking. I love Sam she is such a strong soul. I can't wait for the next book in the series. Maybe we can finally see them in an open relationship.

Wheels Up follows Justin and Wes as they try and fail to stay apart after online fun turned into real life romance. Though the weekend wasn’t expected to be repeated Wes very suddenly reappears in Dustin life after a transfer, however as Dustin ranks higher than Wes rules and regulations means that friendship is off the cards let alone a romantic relationship.

This was a hell of a lot sweeter than I was expecting, I absolutely loved the burgeoning relationship between the two. Both deal with struggles within their respective families as well. Wes’ sister has a heart defect that sees her in and out of hospital and in need of a transplant, meanwhile Dustin struggles with his father’s expectation.

Though it was frustrating at times where work relationship meant their personal one suffered it was realistic given the rules surrounding relationships in the military. However both Dustin and Wes eventually got their hard won happily ever after. It was somewhat bitter sweet given that a bit more time was required before they could truly be open about their relationship. I’m usually not a fan of bittersweet/HFN ending simply because I love ending where it’s irrefutable that everyone got their happily ever afters, but this one was down so well it actually bumped up my rating. Damn near had tears in my eyes, Wes and Dustin are made for each other.

I loved this book! Was waiting to find out Dustin's story and finally got it!! Love this series and all the amazing characters. Full review will be added via link as soon as I write it and blog it!!
5 amazing stars -- can't wait for the next book!!

Oh. P.S. the covers!! Sexy!! Love them!!

The forth book in the Out of Uniform series brings us Dustin (who we met in At Attention) and Wes. From an online sexy relationship to reality these two Seals steam up the pages. I enjoyed this story and will recommend it and the series to readers.

I thought this book was well-written and well-characterized. The romance was hot and sweet, and I really enjoyed the 2 main characters. I do wish the drama hadn't completely stemmed from a character wanting to stay in the closet, but I still enjoyed the book.

2 stars. Annabeth Albert writes well-developed relationships, and her books are reliably steamy, romantic, and engaging. The chemistry between the characters in this book was excellent. However, I found the characters to be less well-rounded than in previous books -- for example, their relationships with people outside of each other, apart from Wes' sister, were only sketchily included. Even she only had limited characterization. The character development therefore felt somewhat superficial.

I personally did not connect as much with the trope (both characters are Navy SEALs, and one is the direct commander over the other), though the rules against fraternization were a realistic obstacle to their HEA. However, the plot beats ended up being quite repetitive, as the characters regularly meet guiltily and clandestinely, each time vowing it to be the last time. Ultimately, not a favourite of Albert's for me.

This book is AWESOME!! Just like the rest on the series. I hope there's more.

Albert doesn't disappoint in the newest addition to the Out of Uniform series.

Hot and enough drama to force me to race through the book!

Wheels Up is the fourth instalment in the Off Base series by Annabeth Albert, following the lives and relationships of Navy SEALs. This particular story follows Lieutenant Dustin Strauss (old brother of Dylan, who was a main character in the previous book), a newly minted-XO with a few secrets: he’s kept his bisexual identity a secret for years, as well as his recent online relationship with a man he knows only as ‘Wes.'

Wes turns out to be Petty Office Wes Lowe, an enlisted officer and explosives specialist: both of which are revealed when he’s unknowingly transferred into Dustin’s unit, putting both their careers in jeopardy due to strict non-fraternisation rules within the Navy. Thus begins the push-pull relationship that spans 80% of Wheels Up.

First things first: I really enjoyed Dustin and Wes’ chemistry. They’re both very endearing characters. Dustin’s trying to figure out who he is and where he fits in his life with his secret side and that internal struggle is really interesting to read. Wes, on the other hand, is a very smart, confident, family driven guy who recognises his attraction to Dustin is more than just that but is caught up in the rules of their careers. There were plenty of very steamy scenes between Dustin and Wes, as well as some very touching scenes, particularly between Wes and his sister.

That said, the constant back-and-forth, no-we-can’t-yes-we-can moments between the two main characters seemed to drag out a little bit. They had every reason to put the breaks on their relationship and they constantly broke their own decisions, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but I felt it through the pacing of the story off a bit. I understand that it was a decision made to reflect the real rules that these characters might have to navigate in reality, but it didn’t feel as tightly written as previous books in the series.

Overall I gave Wheels Up 4 out of 5 stars: a good story, with great characters. This series continues to be a favourite.

This is a kicker to write. I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. I liked the characters and their interactions okay, but somehow... it didn't click. The core issue is understandable, although I would've liked to have it explained a bit better in military terms at some point. Because I don't think all readers know how strict the code of conduct is when it comes to fraternization and relationships with subordinates.

In any case, it was everything around it that didn't work for me. There was the friendship between Wes and one of the guys, Curly. I would've killed for seeing some of their interactions and what ultimatwly lead to a problem with the higher ups. Alas, I didn't get any of it. The whole friendship was pretty much off page and that saddened and annoyed me.

The book did hit all the high notes of actually loving someone to a point where the world can suck dirty toes, damnit. And yet... I didn't fully buy it with these two.

Plus, there was Dustin's bisexuality. I liked how it was portrayed including the part where he struggled so much with his coming out. That felt real. But also left me a bit unsure about Dustin’s issue there? I never understood why *nobody* knew. Not even his queer friends and brother. The issue with his dad was understandable to me – he did struggle with being a supportive dad – but on the other hand, for such an important topic and problem in Dustin's life? The resolution (and coming out off page) felt rushed and unsatisfying to me.

The kicker was the casual ableism though. Wes' sister has a heart condition and ultimately needs a transplant. And to see the worn out line of “You're such an inspiration– a “fighter” – and you make me want to get my love life on track” just made me angry. Just no. Plus, their parents worry over her is Wes' one reason he doesn't want kids. And not in the sense of “I helped raising that kid from a young age, one is enough” (which is a notion I do understand) but with the slap in the face of “Oh I wouldn't want to have a disabled kid and go through that again.”

There's a world of difference between the two and this one used here made me so *angry*. And pretty much ruined the rest of the book for me.

Dustin is a SEAL. Wes is and explosives expert. They meet on an online app and becomes close friends. They meet face to face but neither tells the other they are SEAL. Wes get transfer and Dustin become his XO. The friend cannot last but neither of them are able to walk away.
You will need to read the story to find out all the good parts and the ending. I will tell you this book has kinky sex.

Annabeth Albert rocks! I love this series, and this latest installment is no exception to the consistent quality of these books. Two hot alpha men in one story. What’s not to like? Well…maybe a bit too much angst and overthinking, but it added drama so I guess it was needed.

Lt. Dustin Strauss is deep in the closet—even from his younger brother, Dylan, who is marrying his lover, Dustin’s best friend, Apollo Floros. Formerly a SEAL team leader like Dustin, Apollo met Dylan and it was all over. Dustin is happy for the couple and a bit envious of their loving relationship and the way they just gel together. But when Dylan came out, the burden of bearing the future Strauss family line fell to Dustin and even though he’s bisexual, his attraction is more to men recently, and he knows his dad wouldn’t be able to accept him as he is. So he seeks out long-distance online hookups with apps such as Joe-4-Joe. His current ongoing hookup is with SaucerMan and the phone and video chat sex is pretty hot and heavy—no faces though. He can’t risk being identified. Yet when he heads to a conference in the DC area (Annapolis) and mentions DC to SaucerMan, they arrange to meet. Shocked at the reality of what this guy looks like, the two exchange real first names and have a hot and heavy night together. There’s no follow-up in the morning, though, because Wes, aka SaucerMan, receives a message he’s going “wheels up” so he just leaves a “had to go” note for Dustin. He doesn’t want to reveal that he’s a SEAL, so why give any hint of it?

Wes’s family is on the East Coast near his current base, and his sister has a chronic heart condition so he’s heartbroken when he receives orders to report to the base in San Diego not long after he gets back from his latest mission. He knows Dustin is from that general area and has assumed Dustin is a Marine so hopes to carry on an in-person clandestine relationship with him once he gets out there. Thinking he’d surprise Dustin, he doesn’t mention the transfer so imagine his surprise when the Lieutenant from his new team turns out to be none other than Dustin! This is his worst nightmare, because not only would it be inappropriate with Dustin as his commanding officer, any fraternization—even friendship—is against regulations and would result in immediate court martial for both men. (Stay tuned—that doesn’t stop them!)

But Dustin is under his skin and Wes is under Dustin’s and the two continue to text and communicate privately afterhours. It wasn’t just sex for them. At least, it wasn’t after the first few online chats and hookups. They had established common ground, a friendship, and that powerful attraction refuses to let go—even at the cost of their careers. Dustin supports Wes when Wes’s sister takes a turn for the worse, and Wes supports Dustin when life hands him a tough break. But people are noticing and it’s impacting both men’s jobs in the field so it has to end. The added stress of Wes’s sister’s ill health and need for a heart transplant and the stress on Dustin with being Dylan’s best man and wanting to—needing to—talk to Wes takes its toll.

To find out what happens, readers should definitely pick this one up. It’s full of angst, hot and sexy, with some amazing and explicit interludes, but with a wealth of emotional impact as well. If you follow the series, be sure to pick this up so you can attend Dylan and Apollo’s wedding and then you can find out what happens to Dustin and Wes and the relationship that should never have been. Can they escape the consequences of fraternization and still keep seeing one another? And will Wes’s sister survive? I highly recommend this (and the whole series) to all lovers of MM romance, and if you love guys in the military, specifically SEALS, this one is just the one to try. And although you should read the whole series, it would be at least beneficial to read At Attention, which features Dylan and Apollo, before reading this one.

Two SEALs

A forbidden love affair

Heartbreaking relationship angst

Danger (these guys put their lives on the line every fucking day)

One heard-earned HEA

All that and KINK galore!

Dustin is a badass SEAL. He's built like a tank. He's emotionally resilient. And he won't let his men down.

Wes is an explosives expert. He loves his family and is particularly close to his younger sister Sam, who has a life-threatening heart condition.

Dustin and Wes meet on a military-themed app and quickly become close friends who get off together virtually. Dustin, who has to be in charge everywhere but the bedroom, wants (NEEDS) to be bossed, and Wes gets off on being in control.

They have ridiculously sizzling chemistry and a strong emotional connection, both of which translate to real life.

But what happens when your soul mate is your commanding officer? Fraternization is not allowed and could cost both men their careers. Yet Wes and Dustin can't stay away from each other. Oh, they try, but they are drawn together like magnets.

I loved everything about this story:

✔ hot, kinky sex with mild D/s elements: bondage, some pain play, and plenty of dirty talk

✔ hurts-so-good relationship angst (Wes and Dustin know they need to end their affair, but their passionate chemistry proves too strong to resist.)

✔ interesting, well-sketched secondary characters, particularly Wes's awesome family and his brave little sister, although Bacon and Curly certainly made an impression

✔ Dustin's realistic struggles with his sexuality (Dustin doesn't want to let down his dad, who's always put so much pressure on Dustin to carry on the family name.)

✔ believable HEA (I had no idea how these guys were going to make it work, but their honesty and willingness to put their relationship first won the day.)

Although Dylan and Apollo, the MCs from book 2, play a minor role in this story, Wheels Up CAN be read as a standalone. The entire Out of Uniform series is amazeballs!

I feel like I waited forever between On Point and Wheels Up, and then I devoured this in only a couple of days. I can't believe how disappointed I am that this series is already over, but I'm hoping that Annabeth does have some additional scenes and short stories waiting for us.

We've seen Dustin before, of course, as Dylan's brother in At Attention, book 2 in this series. While everyone is quite sure that Dustin is straight, really, it's just that he hasn't had the opportunity to stretch out his flirting with members of his own sex. That changes when, after several months of flirting with someone online only, he happens to wander into the same city with him.

Wes is smaller built than Dustin, but he knows what he wants and is willing to go after and get it. And, right now, that person is Dustin. He loves the shy way that Dustin has about him, he loves the way he submits, and he definitely loves that the chemistry between them only heightens when they are suddenly in person with each other.

The only thing stopping them from rounding out a wonderful night together with breakfast the next morning is when work calls Wes away.

Work... where Dustin just happens to be his superior. Fraternisation is apparently a huge big deal in the military, and that is certainly not downplayed here just to give these boys a happy ending. Thus begins a whole shit ton of angsting as these guys realise that the feelings they have at being torn apart by the rules that guide their working lives may not just be about awesome sex and chemistry.

Maybe just a little bit too much angst in this one for me, but again I loved the side characters. Wes' family was beautiful, and I particularly loved the relationship between he and his sick sister Sam. I wish we'd heard a bit more about what happened to her at the end of the story. And, of course, it was fantastic to see both Dylan and Apollo again in various scenes throughout the book.