This is the seventh book in the Out of Uniform series. It is a MM contemporary romance. This was an excellent book, it grabbed my attention from the very first page. The characters are developed and the pace is perfect. The main characters both have their flaws, yet they learn to love each other. Even though this is the seventh book in the series it can be read as a stand-alone.

Every time I think Annabeth Albert can't possibly come up with another couple that challenge while also complimenting each other, she proves me wrong. On the surface, Renzo and Canaan seem like they're a case of opposites attract. Once they start getting to know each other, though, the similarities in what they want out of life are so similar.

I developed a soft spot for Renzo right away, with his confidence as a SEAL coupled with his shaky self-image. I love that Albert is able to write characters who are strong and confident while also showing that they have real insecurities and doubts. As always, the conversations about consent were a highlight of the book for me. Completely in-character, appropriate and endearing without being heavy-handed.

The fake-boyfriend trope is one of my least favorites, but I did enjoy it here. Canaan's bandmates are kind of tools, so I didn't enjoy the parts with them as much. Canaan's grandfather is a joy, though.

Overall, as sad as I am to see the series end, I'm very happy with the connection between Renzo and Canaan. It was a fitting send-off.

Rough Terrain is the final book in the Out of Uniform series, though I understand there will still be occasional shorts and novellas within the universe. The great thing about this series is it’s easy to jump around and out of order as I’ve done. Although characters from previous books often make appearances, their roles are such that each book is a true standalone. While I have yet to read the series in full, it has yet to disappoint and Rough Terrain proved to be another enjoyable and entertaining story featuring great characters.

It was impossible not to like Renzo and Canaan from the start. Their opposites attract romance was cute and I liked how Canaan’s boldness steadily pulled the quieter Renzo from the background. I also loved how the author worked the fake boyfriend trope into Rough Terrain. It made for an interesting and entertaining story while pushing the romance along at a faster, but still believable, pace. Though Canaan and Renzo were certainly different in many respects, Miss Albert also highlighted their similarities, such as their admirable devotion to their families, making it easy to see just how well these two fit. Between the trouble Renzo and Canaan got into on the camping trip, the flirty and often sexy banter, and characters you couldn’t help but love, this sweet, fun romance easily kept my attention and made for a very enjoyable read I’d recommend.

Annabeth Albert’s “Rough Terrain” exposes two newly dating men to a life-threatening circumstance. On their return home, however, they realize what we all know too well. Everyday problems can be far worse. It’s not the elephant in the bedroom that kills you, it’s the ants in the kitchen!

SEAL Renzo Bianchi has been his family’s hero since his brother’s teenaged mishap. He adores his family, but it’s exhausting to be the best at everything. Unfortunately, this man, who is terrified to harm anyone needlessly, falsely believes his (ahem) largess is a flaw.
Just before his band hit it big, drummer Canaan Finley gave up touring to help his grandmother fight (and lose to) cancer. Now in nursing school, he helps care for his grandpa, and doesn’t regret his choice, not when he has SEALs to ogle while he works part-time at a smoothie shop. He’s carefree, the perfect foil to an intense SEAL – until pressure to bring a boyfriend on his ex-bandmates camping trip puts him and his new crush in danger’s way.

This standalone from Ms. Albert’s “Out of Uniform” series perked me up while I was sick. She has a knack for presenting complex thoughts and characters so simply they penetrated a fevered brain. For example, when Canaan realizes his band friendships aren’t what they once were, Renzo simply sits with him, not speaking. “It was almost…humbling, him staying here with Canaan. Holding space or whatever Canaan’s friends back at school would call it.”

There is simply lovely byplay between Canaan, the easy-going flirt and Renzo, the intense perfectionist. We know people like these guys, and might wonder how two men with very different characters could blend. But Ms. Albert makes us believe in them. We root as we are shown how they make their differences enhance one another.

Ms. Albert also offers an excellent exploration of life for those who love a member of the armed services. Their sacrifices impact families in every manner, and I had my heart in my throat wondering if, and how, these two could make it. And what about Grandpa? We’re rooting for him as well!

Want average Joes engaged in the not so average journey called life? Want romance with your heated bedroom scenes? Want to see what sacrifice really looks like? “Rough Terrain” is the book for you!

3.5 of 5 Stars

This is the final book in the series and while good it wasn’t my favorite. I liked both characters but there were a few things about this book I didn’t understand or that didn’t work for me.
- The need for the fake boyfriend for the ‘reunion’ camping trip made no sense to me at all. Canaan didn’t want to get back with Damian (thank God because he’s a jerk and I have no idea why he ever wanted to go out with him in the first place) and Canaan and Renzo spent most of their time avoiding Damian and Eric on the trip because they were so unbearably awful. The band ended up in Southern California later any way so I’m not sure why Canaan didn’t just meet with the people from the band he wanted to see then instead of going on the wasted trip. I honestly didn’t understand the whole Damian dynamic at all. Canaan and Renzo never really acted like fake boyfriends and all this did was feed Renzo’s insecurities about whether Canaan really wanted to be together.
- Breaking up with someone because it’s what’s best for him/her/them without letting that person decide what he/she/they want NEVER works for me. It drove me nuts that Renzo wouldn’t even consider any other options with Canaan at first. Renzo just decided that Canaan couldn’t possibly handle a military relationship, so he sacrificed himself for the betterment of Canaan’s life. Just no.
- Renzo’s mom was too much for me.

What I did like was Canaan and Renzo working through Renzo’s insecurities together. Renzo’s past lovers did a number on him and his insecurities ran deep. I loved seeing Canaan help him get past that…and their sexual chemistry was off the charts!

The book is a bit predictable, but it is a good story...one I’m glad I read. There is of course an HEA and fans of the series shouldn’t miss this final chapter.

Navy Seal Renzo isn't really looking for a hookup or a relationship with smoothie-maker Canaan even though there's a mutual attraction there. But when Renzo is encouraged to take a few days off, he agrees to a go on a camping trip arranged by Canaan's old band. There's a lot of history there for Canaan and showing up with Renzo will do a lot for letting his friends know he's moved on.

A surprise rain storm strikes the camping trip, putting Renzo and Canaan in harm's way, but Renzo is completely prepared and averts disaster. Facing the situation together puts their relationship in the spotlight and they decide to give the relationship a try, but there's only one thing in the way -- Renzo's request for a transfer back east.

Like all the books in this series, the story moves along quite nicely and I was invested in what would happen to these two men early on in the story. There was just enough conflict to make things interesting and enough feelings that this reader wanted Renzo and Canaan to at least have a chance at happiness together.

I enjoyed Rough Terrain, especially the exciting drama on the camping trip. It's a good addition to a great series.

An ARC was provided for review.

OMG Y'ALL! Albert immerses the reader in charactery goodness right from the first chapter as her two heroes work to build their attraction into a friendship and from there to potential HEA territory. Add in multiple layers of tension in every other part of their lives, skillfully interwoven with their romance, and I couldn't tear myself away. 4.5 stars.

It's a great series starting point, too, though you WILL want the other Out of Uniform books.

I loved this book! It was the final book in the Out of Uniform series and it may wind up being my favorite (at least until I do another re-read of the other books!). I really fell for Renzo and Canaan and the challenges they faced together. Renzo’s realization of what he wanted in his relationship with Canaan was just everything for me. This book gave me all the feels and I laughed, and I cried. I really tried to keep myself from ugly crying at my desk at one point but just gave in! I just had to see where Renzo and Canaan’s story was going to go before I could start my day at work! I loved how Renzo and Canaan worked out the inevitable military life unknowns. I’m truly going to miss reading about these wonderful characters, but this last story will stay with me for a long time!

This series meant a lot to me, one of my initial introductions into MM Romance with the first book, Off Base. While each book could be read stand-alone, be sure to check out each book as some of the characters overlap, and story each is wonderful in its own way.

I hate to see this series end.

Well, someone once said "all good things must come to an end" but that doesn't mean we have to be happy about it. 😊 I have loved the Out of Uniform series so much! Each book in this series can easily be read as a standalone story and each one has been special in its own way.

Rough Terrain is now tied for first place as my favorite in the series; my other favorite was On Point. I think there must be something about two guys getting stranded together with no one else around that really works for me. Canaan and Renzo's relationship starts out pretty slow but Renzo is as attracted to Canaan as Canaan is to Renzo – Canaan just doesn't know it.

Canaan Finley has a bit of a reputation for lusting after Navy SEALs and Renzo Bianchi sure caught his attention when he and his fellow SEALs came into the smoothie shop where Canaan works. Renzo's attracted to Canaan but doesn't intend to lose his heart or get burned again. His last relationship ended badly when his now ex-boyfriend used him to make *his* ex jealous.

I always enjoy a good fake-relationship story and this one is really great. Canaan's former bandmates are going on a camping trip and insist that Canaan bring his current boyfriend. Canaan might have made up a Navy SEAL boyfriend just to get his ex-boyfriend/ex-bandmate off of his back. So Canaan is happily shocked when Renzo agrees to pretend to be his boyfriend for the weekend.

I felt so bad for Renzo that his few sexual relationships didn't really go well (you'll find out why when you read the book). He likes to cuddle and kiss but doing much more hasn't really worked for him in the past. Canaan is determined to show Renzo that there is nothing wrong with him and that he just hasn't met the right person yet (Renzo is bi).

This story has lots of feels in it. Canaan left the band he was in to be there for his Grandpa when his Grandma got sick. After Grandma died, he's continued to stay in the small apartment in back of Grandpa's house so he can keep an eye on him. Renzo lives across the country from his parents and brother but has requested a change of duty station in order to be closer to them. Family relationships are complicated but important in this book.

I could go on and on about this story but you really just need to read it for yourself. If you are a fan of this series you won't want to miss it. If you haven't started the series yet don't be intimidated by the fact that this is book 7. While I almost always like to read a series in order, I can tell you that you won't feel lost or like you're missing anything if you start with this book. Characters from previous books do make an appearance but they are very brief and not really integral to Canaan and Renzo's story.

While this series is now complete, don't despair; Annabeth has a new one coming up soon called Frozen Hearts and I'm really looking forward to reading it.

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

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions***

FYI, I've read three books in Annabeth Albert's "Out of Uniform" series and enjoyed them immensely, but after reading more than a few SEAL-related books lately I was a bit burned out with the general theme. But, holy cow, hold the presses ... I loved the everlasting heck out of "Rough Terrain."

The author has a way of taking various plot devices (fake boyfriend and two MCs in peril that brings them closer) that could be overdone in lesser hands and makes them fresh and insightful. Canaan is an admitted "SEAL chaser" and is fascinated by gorgeous Renzo who, with his SEAL friends, weekly drops by the smoothie place where Canaan works (in addition to finishing up his classes to become a nurse).

Renzo looks like the typical buff SEAL but he's got some issues. He's relatively shy, doesn't like hook-ups, prefers long slow gentle kisses and is uncomfortable with sex. ("Canaan was beginning to suspect that Renzo had a hidden romantic side that really valued the emotional part of sex.") He's also got a huge hero complex and a strong bend towards perfectionism. "He had this ... need to be perfect. [...] To be the best son. Best brother."

Canaan, on the other hand, is very comfortable in his freewheeling existence and his sexuality:

"Ah. There you go. It's a perfectionist control-freak thing with you. No one's great at sex - that's part of the fun. Weird parts knock together. Things get tangled. People fall off beds. Lube runs out. But then you get lucky, and everything works, and it's ... Nothing like it."

But Canaan also knows that "he wasn't the kind of guy people planned futures with." He's still a college student at 26 and basically lives with his grandpa.

Yet, these two dissimilar personalities work so well together, and for the most part because they honestly communicate with one another. They work together to survive a perilous situation and work together for their happy ending. Yes, the sex scenes are pretty darn hot, but it's their basic understanding and appreciation and love for each other that really really works so well in this book. (Personally, I could have done without the subplot about Canaan's evil-ex but that's a small niggle.) 4.5 stars and a Recommended Read.

~4.5 Stars

I'm not a fan of " The Fake Boyfriend Trope" but the author + man in uniform is hard to pass up so I gave it a chance and it worked for me in Rough Terrain. Renzo & Canaan were so sweet together and they actually communicated like grown ass man. Great ending to a great series!!

Rough Terrain is the seventh book in the Out of Uniform series and I believe it's the last! I'm a huge fan of Annabeth's and I have read this entire series and really do love them all. I'm sad that this is the end, but knowing Annabeth, we'll see them again somewhere! Renzo is a SEAL and he's Italian (total bonus!). He's into fitness and he takes his job very seriously. He's a by the book kinda guy and he has a few hang ups about relationships and sex. Canaan works at the smoothie place on base and has always had a thing for Renzo. He's fun and flirty, but he's working to put himself through nursing school. He used to play drums in a band, but left that life behind to take care of his grandparents. He can't help but flirt with Renzo and after a fun and exciting date he has a proposition for him. Be his fake boyfriend for a camping weekend with his old bandmates. They have obstacles to overcome. They both have separate dreams to fulfill. Can they find a way to get everything they want including each other? I loved this story! I loved watching them get to know each other. It was sexy, funny and so sweet! Renzo's seriousness balances out Canaan's freeness and that makes them the perfect couple. I'm sad that the series is over, but these SEALs and their men will forever be in my heart!

ARC from the publisher

Rough Terrain is the seventh and final installment in Annabeth Albert’s Out of Uniform series, and let me tell you - I am not ready to say goodbye. Rarely do I start a series and stick with it promptly enough to be there for every release, but I was waiting on tenterhooks for every installment of this one. I have loved each and every one of these men (to varying degrees,) and been so happy to see them work for their happily ever afters. After all, this series, at its core, is about love, compromise and good-hearted men.

Canaan and Renzo meet when Renzo and his team come into the smoothie shop where Canaan works. Sparks fly, but it’s a while before things really take off for these two. After a childhood tragedy, Renzo’s been carrying the burden of being a hero to his family, which they’ve perpetuated ever since. But it’s clear that they love him. Canaan is much more easygoing, living with a grandfather who adores him and who he adores in return. Renzo (also known as Rooster in previous installments, which he is not a fan of,) and Canaan’s relationship was fun from the get go. So easygoing and sweet. But Canaan throws a wrench in things when he asks Renzo to pose as his boyfriend, and things take a turn from there. Renzo’s insecurities kick in and Canaan is quick to realize that sometimes the past is better left in the past. At first, Renzo’s insecurities reared their ugly heads so often it was getting to be too much, but after pieces of his past were revealed, it makes sense that they’d be constantly plaguing him; it would have been odd if they hadn’t been at the forefront of his mind. And all it takes is one trip with his past friends and bandmates for Canaan to realize he’s better off looking toward the future. As for the camping trip and getting stranded together, I did think this would be a bigger part of the story, but it was the aftermath of the events that dominated the plot, while also highlighting how well Canaan and Renzo worked together. I felt like there were more steamy scenes in this one than I’m used to (and that’s not a complaint,) and they well written - sexy while also being sweet and conveying both men’s personalities perfectly. Canann and Renzo’s road to happy ever after was filled with hurdles and angst, and I loved every moment. It was everything I’ve come to expect from an Annabeth Albert book. Another thing I appreciated was that we weren’t hit over the head with previous characters from this series, as some authors are inclined to do when wrapping things up. The ones that did show up made appearances because it suited the plot.

I think it’s clear I adored everything about these characters and this story. Rough Terrain was a perfect series ender, embodying everything I love about Annabeth Albert’s writing. The only thing I didn’t like about this is that it’s the end. And that’s, of course, for selfish reasons; I’m just not ready to let go. The upside is that now I have something new to look forward to from this author. And I can’t wait!

This review was originally posted on Books & Beauty Are My Bag.

I truly enjoyed this contemporary M/M story. I found both Renzo and Canaan extremely interesting and watching their story unfold was a real treat. Everyone knows that Canaan has a thing for a man in uniform and Renzo Bianchi fills his out better than most. Too bad relationships aren't for Renzo so friends it is. That is until Renzo needs a fake boyfriend to meet the parents and put their worries to rest. On a crazy trip home there is lots of fun, flirting and even a near death experience. Will Renzo finally let his heart go?

Great read and one I highly recommend.

I'm a huge, huge Annabeth Albert, but Rough Terrain wasn't my favorite in the series.

I love military men and I love bisexual men, so it's a little puzzling to me why this story didn't click for me like others have. I think the use of the fake boyfriend trope was a little strange here, and, really, not necessary. I actually enjoyed the forced intimacy from the dire situation that happens in the book (no spoilers so no further details), but I think if it wasn't for that, I would have struggled with the chemistry as well.

Canaan's ex-boyfriend was a total asshole, and I didn't like him even having any page time in the story. I also thought Renzo was way too influenced by his family, and they bothered me also. However, my least favorite thing was the "I'm breaking up with you because it's 'for the best'" trope that reared its ugly head near the end. One of my huge pet peeves.

Now that I'm done with my complaining, I can get onto the good aspects. I thought the sex was SUPER hot, and I loved them getting to know each other and their bodies. Smoking. The pair overcoming Renzo's sexual hang ups was pretty enjoyable to read about. More of that, please!

I also could feel the beginnings of something wonderful between them, though I didn't quite get there in buying the intense emotions. It was almost really great, but stopped short. I also really loved Canaan's relationship with his grandfather. It was very, very sweet and make me like Canaan even more.

While not a stand-out in the series, I think Annabeth Albert fans and fans of the series should still give this one a go.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

So sweet and a bit of a tear jerker too!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There’s nothing like a topic devoted to hot men when it comes to an exciting new book and this one had all of the earmarks of being just that.

Combining military men and romance is something I can certainly sink my teeth into. The author did not disappoint when it came to crafting this book.

I love the fact she took two a-typical male characters and created a relationship that balanced the strengths and weaknesses of each of them. I also love the fact that our strong and tough military man had a lot of vulnerability with issues we don’t expect from someone like that.

The author created a story with a lot of interest between the steaming and sexy connections, the great character development, humor and emotion, and the precarious element of love.

There were many parts with written with raw emotion that she actually had me shedding a few tears. I can honestly say I think that’s the first time in a M/M story that’s ever happened.

Surprising and full of deep emotion you can completely connect with, this book is not a typical M/M read. Great story!

Renzo and Canaan are different characters, and I liked that they had diverse interests and yet found some common ground. I liked their cute/meet, and that the relationship progressed naturally from lusting after a type (Canaan liking SEALS), to him acknowledging strong feelings for THIS particular SEAL.

Renzo's hang ups were different, and interesting. Of course he's not a talker, so that's half the story right there, but it worked within the context of them unsure of how serious they wanted to get, and the other obstacles in their way.

The camping trip was a chance for them to cement trust, although I would have liked to see the connection between Canaan and his band mates a little more. We were told they were close since childhood, but I didn't really feel it.

Grandpa is awesome, and it was nice to connect with a couple of partners from the previous books. This is a strongly plotted, sexy addition to the Out of Uniform series, and if you like the others, I am certain you will want to read this one as well.

The first chapter of a new series was added to the end, and it sucked me straight in. Love this author's ability to develop fresh ideas and characters.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for early copy. It's out on Jan 14.

Rough Terrain was a bit of a mixed bag for me. There's some danger, and both Canaan and Renzo have their share of issues to work through, so the book does have the required angst. Nevertheless, it all felt a little too easy. Most issues are worked through quickly with the exception of Renzo's... umm, intimacy problems. There was quite a lot of time devoted to Canaan reassuring him, including during sexy times. Those times were certainly hot, but the continued mention of that one thing grew repetitive and tedious. For me, there were other things that should've been more of an obstacle in the relationship than that one, but they're almost glossed over. I did enjoy the wit and banter throughout the story, and Canaan's grandfather was one of my favorite characters, but for a lot of the book, it felt like this story couldn't decide what it wanted to be - fun and lighthearted or emotional and angsty. There's nothing wrong with a combination of both, but this one seems to go from one extreme to other and the result is somewhat choppy. In the end, there were things I liked and things I didn't, landing me somewhere in the middle.

In my opinion, the blurb for this book is not actually very reflective of the story. A lot of the development of the relationship between Canaan and Renzo happens before and after the two of them get in trouble hiking. That may be the most dramatic part of the plot, but I found all the rest of it just as important to their romance.

Take the beginning of the book. The blurb makes it sound like all Canaan wants from Renzo is a hot fake boyfriend. That’s not the case, though. Canaan very quickly comes to like and respect Renzo enough not to want to use him like that. He just genuinely wants to spend more time getting to know Renzo. (Now, if it also includes getting some action, well, Canaan’s not going to turn that down.)

Renzo has some hang ups related to sex that are not typical for a m/m romance, or at least I haven’t encountered it often in the ones I’ve read. I’m not going to give details, but that part of the plot added an interesting dimension to the story even before they go on that hike.

After their rescue, other obstacles affect their relationship. As in many military romances, Renzo’s career creates issues, because his life isn’t really his own—it’s Uncle Sam’s. Beyond that, though, Canaan and Renzo are very dedicated to their families, and their relatives’ needs exert pressures on both men that they must overcome.

So, there’s a lot more going on in this romance novel than a fake relationship plot. The author also has a gift for writing characters that are easy to care about and root for, and that’s the case in this book as well.

I’ve yet to read a book by Annabeth Albert that I didn’t like. Maybe I’ve just been lucky, or maybe she’s just that good—I don’t know for sure. I do know that based on the preview at the end, I’m going to be reading her next romance, too. (Mountain man and supermodel . . . I am intrigued!)

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

4 stars

Review title: Fake boyfriend with benefits

So first of all, I have not read all of the books in this series (in fact, I have only read Out of Uniform (Book 1) at this point, but I really loved it!), so I was not familiar with these characters assuming they had been introduced in earlier installments. I don't think it mattered in terms of my ability to enjoy the story; I didn't feel "lost" or that I was missing vital information, so I can say that this book could be read as a standalone.

I don't particularly care for the "fake relationship" angle because I feel that it is overused in the genre, but the author made it work better than in some of those who have used that plot line. I think part of why is the insane chemistry between the two main characters. You could feel the tension, and it made the steamy scenes all the more enjoyable! I didn't love the "friends" they went camping with, but I think it was intentional on the author's part. I can say that I am a bit of a sucker for the "stranded" plot line, so that part was equal parts fun, suspenseful, and hot! Overall, a recommended read if you enjoy likeable, hot men steamy goodness!