Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

I don't know why but I didn't love this one as much as the first 3 books in the series. As hot as they were, I do wish a lot of things were differently written. The major factor was I couldn't connect to them. I felt like I was looking at them from an outside perspective. Again, that's my opinion. I still love the author and this series and can't wait to see what Annabeth has up her sleeve for the rest of the series.

4* Another not-bad addition to this series, though due to the storyline, the leads don't spend a ton of time together.

This book can be read as a standalone, though if you have read the others in the story, you'll enjoy small glimpses of Dustin's brother, who is the co-lead of book 1, and his husband and kids.

It's a tale of two 'military' guys if I can use that term very loosely, because tbh, there's no point rehashing the reasons for which they cannot have a relationship whilst serving; just be satisfied that it's not allowed and that this forms the angst in their relationship, for the most.

It is well-written and with a couple of decent leads, but, for me, the series is getting the tiniest bit tired with the same-old, same-old 'world', which yes, is my fault for picking up a military-themed novel. There is a storyline to it, but the added...catalyst that might have provided some more angst, some actual 'OMG, WTF do we do?' moments, didn't come off. The reason for that was that the author semi-went-there, but didn't pull it off and stuff got brushed under the carpet. Still, I think she tried to keep this realistic and her author's notes state that she's consulted senior military persons and military lawyers, but, to me as a reader, it felt the tiniest bit a cop-out.

I am not sure that I'll read more in the series, and yes, there are hints that another connected character is open to being fluid about sexuality/gender/relationships. What'd be really, really interesting, is if the author introduced a trans character as a lead, especially with all that's happening in the US currently with the military and trans servicemen and women.

ARC courtesy of Carina Press and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

Wheels Up is Albert at her absolute storytelling best, with a richly fleshed out pair settling into this already greatly expanded world.. Dustin is Dylan's (from At Attention) older brother, best friend to Lt Apollo Floros, neither of whom know he is bisexual.

Wes, an explosives expert, is the guy he's been hooking up with online, neither man has revealed their military origins as SEALs so when Wes is transferred to the team Dustin is the XO of, both men are put into an untenable position.

Fraternisation with enlisted men is a court martial offence depending on the circumstances and the angst both Dustin and Wes go through because they managed to fall in love over a hook up app is carefully and considerately explored throughout this romance.

This is a beautifully crafted tale of two military men who weren't looking for love but who found it and the struggles they have to go through because of Naval regulations about who they can and cannot be friends with.

It is also Annabeth Albert's sexiest one yet in the Out of Uniform series and the kink factor she introduces bucks the stereotypes to give the reader a richly detailed relationship between two men who should - according to the rules - be running away from each other as fast as they can because their careers are on the line.

This series continues to be so good! Both Dustin and Wes were fleshed out characters, and the conflict between them was believable. The forbidden romance element was great, and the resolution was satisfying. An amazing series! Highly recommended!

I'm a huge fan of Annabeth Albert's "Out of Uniform" series, so I absolutely had to read this. And it is my favourite of the four novels there are as of yet - this was just perfect.

Readers of the series already know Dustin, Dylan's older brother and Apollo's best friend. While none of the people in his life know it, Dustin is bisexual and has been chatting regularly with a guy online. When he has to travel to D.C., he and the guy - Wes - meet up and spend an amazing night together. They don't make any plans to see each other again, but then work unexpectedly reunites them. Since they both turn out to be Navy SEALs, regulation actually makes it impossible for them to be together, and they struggle with sticking to the rules while being unable to deny that there's something between them that would make breaking them worth it..

The "sleeping together without knowing each other's true identity" trope is one of my very favourite things, so I knew I would like this. But everything is handled so well - especially how it is clear that fraternization actually would have bad consequences rather than just being a vague threat used as a plot device - that I completely fell in love with this book. Dustin and Wes are wonderful characters, and they have an amazing chemistry together. When it comes to sex scenes, I'm usually more of a "take it or leave it" attitude, but the ones here were *hot*. And the emotional build-up was perfect, and there was just the right amount of heartache to make it extra good.

I honestly cannot think of anything to complain about here. I love this book, this world and its characters, and I'm so happy this won't be the last.

Annabeth Albert is a wonderful author, and every new book is better than the last. This is the fourth in a series about Navy SEALs, Dustin and Wes first make a connection online, and have a one-time-only in-person encounter. Then Wes gets transferred to the team where Dustin in the XO. Wes is enlisted, so even a friendship is risky for their careers. It's directly against regs and could lead to court martial for both of them. They hold each other at arm's length for a while, but they both need the emotional support and physical contact of a relationship.

In a previous book, Albert has explored the conflicts that come up in a relationship between members of the same SEAL team, but here she dives deeper into the tensions it creates. Both Wes and Dustin know their situation is unambiguously wrong, but they are using each other as relief from added family and career issues. Albert expresses their conundrum beautifully. They have uncertainty and tension in every aspect of their lives, not just around their relationship. The only thing that gets them through is each other, but each time they meet they know they are breaking regs. Their sexual chemistry is lit up by their emotional bod every time.

The complex, interlocking conflicts build on each other, both in terms of the plot and Wes and Dustin's emotions. Albert constructs every piece of this carefully and lovingly. Dustin and Wes have very different pressures from their families and careers. Nothing gets resolved quickly or easily. But in Albert's expert care, their stories are satisfying on every level.

Dustin is Dylan’s big brother and Apollo’s best friend. You may recall we met and fell in love with Dylan and Apollo in At Attention, the second book in the Out of Uniform series. Everyone thinks that Dustin is straight but in fact he is bisexual. Since he has been playing online games and then chatting with his gaming friend Wes, he has developed strong feelings for Wes. Dustin is the XO of his SEAL team. This is one of many heavy secrets that Dustin is keeping. He hasn’t even told Wes that he is a Navy SEAL, allowing Wes to assume, based on Dustin’s game avatar, that Dustin is a marine. Wes also hasn’t told Dustin that he is a Navy SEAL. Dustin assumes Wes is in some branch of the military since they met on a Joe4Joe chat room. Each assumes it doesn’t matter. That is, until Wes is transferred from the east coast to the west coast where he lands as a petty officer right into Dustin’s SEAL team. Fraternization between officers and enlisted men is forbidden so now they’ve got a serious problem which requires that they not only don’t be friends, they certainly can’t carry on the sexual encounters they’ve been enjoying.
Wes’s problems go beyond the fact that he’s his XO’s lover. He’s also got a beloved sister who needs a heart transplant. His sister and his very close family are back on the east coast. Every time Wes and Dustin decide to end things they are drawn back together like a magnet and piece of iron.
This is one hot book. Sizzling hot. There is not only the general attraction Dustin and Wes feel for each other, but also the fact that Wes is a Dominant and Dustin is discovering that he craves being submissive. It’s pretty mild kink, just some silky tying up and orgasm denial. This is casting against type for sure, and it works so well in this book.
There is terrible angst as Dustin and Wes try to either keep their relationship secret, call it off, or figure out what else they can do. Both men are committed to their service as SEALs and also to their families. Is there room in their lives for another commitment, to each other? And will that devotion mean they have to give up one or more of their other obligations? This book ends with a strong HFN, and a promise that things are only going to get better for our heroes. No cliffhangers.
All of the Out of Uniform books are favorites, and this one slides right into the series. I love this series, all of the characters, and this book in particular. You can read this one as a stand alone but I promise that if you haven’t read the others you will feel compelled to go back to read them all. Plus, there are more stories to come.