When I read the book I was really intrigued by the boyfriend/fake-boyfriend scheme. It had my heart beating faster more than once. The main characters Renzo and Canaan are just such amazing characters.
I’ve really been in love with Renzo (aka Rooster). He’s such a sweet person and has a great personality, and I loved his flaws and insecurities about certain things. He’s a real man and yet there’s so much more underneath. Also he’s a little bit of a control freak, which I loved haha. And Canaan, he’s such an open and adventurous character, and he’s very funny and easy going. It was really sweet and funny to read Renzo and Canaan’s interactions with each other, both so different, yet on the same level. And their conversation in the car… ohmygod! And everything that happened on their trip. God this book is really amazing!!

“He leaned into Renzo, letting himself pretend for just a moment that everything between them was real, that the joy in Renzo’s smile really had been because he’s happy to see him and not because he was playing a role. If only…”

This book just has it all. I just fell in love with Renzo and Canaan. There both such great characters and their love story is just beautiful to read. Rough Terrain is definitely a great “final” book in this series.

The Out of Uniform series is one of my absolute favorite romance series. I loved this latest addition. The MC’s are downright wonderful, genuine, complex and incredibly right for each other.

Canaan is easy-going and has an amazing capacity for love. It was very heartwarming to see him care for his grandfather and likewise to see his grandfather support Canaan. Renzo is so surprisingly vulnerable and insecure behind his perfect looks and Italian swagger. I loved seeing him grow more comfortable with Canaan and start trusting enough to take the plunge together.
Freefall.

Renzo’s being a SEAL is an important part of his identity both in how he came to be one and what it means to him now. He has a heartbreaking “origin story” so to speak and I can totally see how he’s become his mom’s hero. It’s not a perfect family, but it is very much a loving one and they stick together when it counts.

The story starts off with Renzo posing as Canaan’s fake boyfriend, but gradually turns into more as they fight a losing battle against their mutual attraction and the simple fact that they like each other so much. No enemies to lovers here, they are very much in like from the first. Renzo and Canaan are thrown into a life-threatening situation, with Renzo showing what he’s made of, making difficult & courageous choices. After that, how can Canaan do anything but fall head over heels for this amazing guy? And vice versa. Though they still have obstacles to overcome and some heartbreak to endure. I loved that the challenges that come with being in a relationship with someone in the military aren’t trivialized or made light off to get to an easy HEA.

M/M fake boyfriend to lovers with some very erotic M on M bedroom play
Canaan has a crush on one of the Navy SEALs who comes to his Smoothie Palace in Coronado. He feels that nothing can come of it until one day he overhears something that may mean a date with “Rooster” is attainable. Canaan lives in a little cottage behind his grandpa’s house to be near if needed. After the death of his grandma, he began studying to become a nurse and he’s almost finished. Significant part of story occurs when he meets up with his former musical band mates to go hiking.
Rooster, alias Renzo is Bi and has noticed the good-looking blond guy behind the counter who appears to flirt with everyone who comes in. What nobody knows is that Renzo is holding a lot of self-imposed angst about a childhood event that left his brother mentally handicapped. Can he overcome his doubts of self-worth to let Canaan in? Will Renzo’s mother be so accepting of his sexuality if he “brings home” a man instead of a woman when she wants grandchildren?
This was a very sensual and sensitive story, allowing Renzo to evolve and the reader to be along on his journey. There is so much more I could say but I want you to discover this story as I did. If you like M/M with explicit scenes and a real love story too, get this book. You will enjoy it. I volunteered to review an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

I caught this series just now so believe me, this can be read as a standalone.

Canaan and Renzo share mutual attraction but not that much in common, one is a seal trying to move closer to his family and the other has always lived there and needs to take care of his elderly grandfather, after giving up being part of a band. When Canaan needs a boyfriend to go on a trip with his former band mates, it becomes the perfect excuse to get closer to Ren.

To be honest, I expected more from the reviews. I liked how real some conflicts were, you did feel the problems they had and I was even a bit sad that maybe they really wouldn't work things out in a credible way in the end, so that's a great positive. Still, the book dragged too much for me. Some of it also resulted not as sexy as intended.

So while the development of the characters was much more well thought of than would be the norm for this genre, the rhythm made me lose interest halfway. I surely liked the characters, but not the story wasn't enough to keep me entertained. It all came up to a book that received more effort than many but turned out average good as others.

Still, I will be reading more from the author. I could see why people like her so much.



Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Canaan Finley works at a smoothie shop that Renzo Bianchi (aka Rooster) and other SEALs like to frequent. He doesn’t only have a weakness for men in uniform, there’s more to him. He takes care of his grandfather and he’s studying to be the nurse and he sometimes fills in as a drummer for his former band when needed. When he is invited on a camping trip with those former bandmates, they don’t want him coming alone. He makes up a story saying his SEAL boyfriend may not be able to make it, duty calls at any time. The problem is, he doesn’t have a SEAL boyfriend. After spending an evening with Renzo he broaches the topic to see if may Renzo wouldn’t mind pretending for the weekend. When disaster strikes, they both acknowledge that there may be something more there. But can Canaan handle being with someone in the military, who moves around when it’s needed and is deployed at moment’s notice?

Oh, ya’ll, fake boyfriend trope? Sign me up every freaking time. Add in lots of kissing? Annabeth Albert can write some intense kissing scenes. Like when I become a super amazing author, I want to write kissing scenes like hers, kind of intense. There was an intimacy Renzo and Canaan’s kisses that I feel like a lot of authors over look between their characters. That level of intimacy shows a level of trust, understanding and caring between Renzo and Canaan. I’m a sucker for it and I have no shame.

Renzo, no matter how much pride he takes in his body, he’s still insecure. It hurt knowing that there were parts of his romantic life he had been denying himself. He tried so hard to be the perfect SEAL, son, brother and I think that quest for perfection caused a rift in himself. I could relate entirely on that part (except my body is NOT a temple lol). Canaan was so gentle with Renzo and showed him bits and pieces of his life. I think Renzo needed the balance that Canaan offered him and because of that balance he bloomed.

Of course there were parts that you wanted to shake Renzo and be like, “Why are you doing this to yourself?!” But it took someone at work, which everyone should have a boss like that, who kind of woke him up to what was happening and why he was feeling the way he was.

I absolutely loved this installment of the Out of Uniform Series and I’m looking forward to Annabeth’s new series that is to be set in Alaska!! She is definitely one of my favorite authors that I recommend to everyone who reads, or is interested in reading M/M.

Another one in out of uniform series that I absolutely loved. I loved seeing Renzo and Canaan grow together as couple and individually. I loved Canaan and his grandfather is simply amazing. Renzo is under a lot of pressure especially by his parents expectations. Honestly I didn't like his mother that much.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I'm a bit sad that this is the last in the series. Annabeth albert has always written stories that I don't want to put down and this one is not anydifferent.
*ARC kindly provided by a NovelTake PR via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review

3.25 Stars

Somehow, this latest entry to Annabeth Albert’s “Out of Uniform” series didn’t work as well as the the previous ones. Despite some really substantial issues the hero of the story had - such as youth blunder and family obligation - I wasn’t exactly drawn to Canaan and Renzo. The earliest portion of the story painted the men to be a bit on the shallow side, with such fixation on “perfect figure” and the endless lustful thought one or the other felt. Then again, I had to salute Albert and her penchant for creating varied characters with their complex background and personalities. It just so happened the heroes she put on the spotlight didn’t strike my fancy this time. After all, Rooster didn’t exactly fall among my favorite SEAL characters on this series to begin with.

As it was, between Canaan salivating over Renzo and Renzo’s assent to pose as Canaan’s boyfriend for a trip, the sparks between the pair didn’t strike me as convincing. I generally don’t have issue with any pace of the story, yet the unhurried one applied here got under my skin. Also, having nay-saying committed relationship repeatedly, Renzo’s change of heart seemed happening overnight - well, blame it on the almost tragedy that ignited things. But both men grew on me with how close and affectionate they were to their family. I guess overall “Rough Terrain” didn’t left as great impression as the previous books in the series. I liked it enough and glad things working out for our heroes, but it wasn’t that memorable enough for me.


Advanced copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love Annabeth Albert, and each installment of her Out of Uniform series fails to disappoint. Rough Terrain focuses on Canaan and Renzo, a nursing student and SEAL, respectively. Their relationship develops so nicely and is based on both physical and internal qualities; I really liked everyone, and I really enjoyed how they were able to use their words.

I also appreciated how Albert portrayed their relationships with friends and family; it wasn't just a novel focused on two people, because these two people were deeply committed to their communities.

ROUGH TERRAIN is another recent read that is slow to boil but with a satisfying end.

I have definitely struggled with the <I>Out of Uniform</I> series as it progressed, and never knew if it was the stories themselves that failed to measure up to the earlier ones or if I was just outgrowing the series, but I feel like this was a really sweet note to end things on. It had a rough (hah) start where things just felt kind of.. young, or less polished, with twenty-six year olds (and older) acting kind of simplistically but it did even out as the story progressed. Of course, it wasn't without moments of frustration (Renzo's mum was a sore point for me and the Damian nonsense was a little OTT) but I was totally delighted that, in waiting for the shoe to drop to send things into another angsty spiral near the end, instead we have.. no angst. Just happiness.

I actually found this couple to be very well-suited and, overall, found the whole plot to be a little fluffier than I'm used to for this series. And as a wrap-up I'm good with those warm and fuzzies. We don't get too many cameos but one in particular did make me laugh (Ben and Maddox, haha).

While it's certainly not my favourite, I'm happy with the ending, and also happy to see the end of this series. I'm looking forward to different things from this author and hopeful we'll be returning to <I>Rainbow Cove</I> soon (easily my favourite of Albert's last string of releases). Excited to see where she goes next.

This is the last book in this series and I hate to see it end. Like all the books in this series, this one didn't disappoint either. Renzo and Canaan are great together. The book was funny, sexy, and romantic. Love the way he took of Canaan when they were stranded after the rainstorm. I have read all of Annabeth Albert's books and I'm looking forward to the next one. The military ones are really my favorite.

Renzo is a SEAL, he loves his job and can’t believe his life could be any better. Till he meets a teasing, flirty, oh so memorable man. Going out with him will either be the best or worse thing he’s ever done. He’s went out with men before but his luck just hasn’t been good.

Canaan is an ex drummer in a band, going to nursing school and currently working in a smoothie shop. He doesn’t love the job but he does love the eye candy in the form of the navy SEALs that frequent the shop.

I loved these guys, (I do know they aren’t real but wow)! Good story, enough drama to make it interesting, some of the hottest sexy times I’ve read. Renzo’s problem probably shouldn’t be funny but the way it was written was perfect, (have to read the book cause my lips are SEALed). When a book makes me giggle and then makes me get that tight feeling in my chest, I know this one is going in the favorites folder.

This is the first and only Annabeth Albert book that I have not liked. I love every other book in this series, so it was sad that this one was not as good in my opinion. I did not feel that Rooster and Cannan had much chemistry, it felt forced and unfolded quite quickly. I did not feel much tension between the two of them and I did not enjoy any parts of Cannan's former band. I did love the story of Cannan's grandfather, he was a hoot.

The final book in this series is very enjoyable. The fake boyfriend trope didn't feel forced like I normally feel it does in similar story lines. There was a lot of character development and learning about each other as the Renzo and Canaan move from acquaintances, to friends, to more that I greatly appreciated. I don't believe that you have to read the full series to enjoy this story although there are a few cameos from previous books in the series. While it is a book about a SEAL, the out of uniform aspect takes the forefront here with a lot of the interaction coming with civilian Canaan's friend group. It was an enjoyable read and one I'd return to again.

This is #7 in the awesome Out of Uniform series. I haven't missed a single one. In fact, I'm a little early with my review of this one, but I couldn't resist diving in.

BTW, that cover looks a lot like our MCs. :-)

Navy SEAL Renzo Bianchi (Rooster to his team because he's very image conscious) has been enlisted for a decade and is nearing some well deserved training and promotion. The Navy changed Rooster's life in many ways. Not only did it give him a purpose and satisfaction in life, it also changed a chubby kid into a body conscious, healthy eating and healthy lifestyle man. In his spare time he films and vlogs fitness videos. Rather on the down-low from the Navy which ignores the hobby as long as it doesn't interfere with Renzo's duties. In spite of him being a little reserved, his image does catch more than one eye.

Smoothie barista, Canaan always enjoys the SEAL eye candy that regularly comes into his store. He's had a special eye on Renzo for a while. When he accidentally learns that Renzo bats for his team, Canaan gets his courage up and makes a move. It's just an outing as friends since Renzo is so reserved. Easy going, fun loving Canaan has no problem with that. In fact, he enjoys the company so much that he asks for a favor. Will Renzo pretend to be his boyfriend for a weekend of hiking with Canaan's old bandmates? It turns out that Renzo is great boyfriend material. :-)))

I adored Canaan. What a wonderful, caring, easy-going character. He would be my favorite friend. I wasn't as enamored of Renzo. He was more difficult for me to like. He was quite self-absorbed and a hard body isn't the end-all be-all for me. How does an Italian boy love Asian food so much? LOL, that kept throwing me off. I also did not like his family (particularly his mother) - at all. On the other hand, I adored Canaan's grandpa.

Overall, it was very one-sided for me in this particular story. Surprisingly enough, I didn't fall on the SEAL side as I usually do. As always, I did enjoy the romance and the sex scenes were smokin' hot. More in this series please. :-)

I absolutely loved this final book in the Out of Uniform series and thought it was a perfect ending to the series. I love seeing Canaan and Rooster again.

I loved getting to read Canaan and Renzo's story! They're an excellent pair of opposites attract and I'm so happy with their HEA!

This was a good addition to this series that I am so sorry to see end. Canaan and Renzo's story was not drama filled but the characters had different issues. Both had personal issues with security, trust, familial guilt and intimacy issues to name a few. Their story progresses along well for them and I enjoyed watching both characters work through their issues and come together. When either character was not fighting their inner demons, I found both of them to be thoughtful and sweet as a couple despite their whole relationship having an almost insta love feel to it which obviously worked for them. I liked that both characters had a strong sense of family and good relationships with both even though I felt that Renzo's mother put a lot of pressure on him with her hero worship making her not a favorite character for me. I also enjoyed the return of characters from previous books even if brief as well. I enjoyed this book as all of the other books of this series and I would recommend it to others.

5 star

What can I say Annabeth Albery never disappoints with her books. She has a way of making you fall in love with her characters and Renzo and Canaan are no different.

Strong minded Seal who wants to please his family. And a man who gave up everything to be closer to his. This book is filled with adventure, freak storms an jerks of ex best friends. But can these two go from being fake boyfriends to the real thing? Read to find out!

I absolutely loved this book. The way Annabeth went about evolving not only the relationship but the characters in their own personal issues and battles was so realistic. It made me want to believe that anyone can have that soul deep love that can overcome all fears. Thank you so much for letting me be a part of the journey. Gotta go get the rest of the books. I'm giving this 5*

I felt like this book skipped a lot of the more interesting stages of the relationship, so the "we're in love" kind of came out of nowhere and didn't feel that believable for a while. Overall, this book was definitely more PWP-y than I expected.