Book Review: Off Base by Annabeth Albert

---

Off Base
Out of Uniform #1
Author: Annabeth Albert
Reading Level: New Adult | Adult Fiction
Genres: Military | M M Romance | LGBT
Release Date: January 9th 2017
Review Source: Carina Press

After trading the barracks for a fixer-upper rental, navy SEAL Zack Nelson wants peace, not a roommate—especially not Pike, who sees things about Zack he most wants to hide. Pike's flirting puts virgin Zack on edge. And the questions Pike's arrival would spark from Zack's teammates about his own sexuality? Nope. Not going there. But Zack can't refuse.

Pike Reynolds knows there won't be a warm welcome in his new home. What can he say? He's an acquired taste. But he needs this chance to get his life together. Also, teasing the uptight SEAL will be hella fun. Still, Pike has to tread carefully; he's had his fill of tourists in the past, and he can't risk his heart on another, not even one as hot, as built—and, okay, yeah, as adorable—as Zack.

Living with Pike crumbles Zack's restraint and fuels his curiosity. He discovers how well they fit together in bed…in the shower…in the hallway… He needs Pike more than he could have imagined, yet he doesn't know how to be the man Pike deserves.

Off Base was a surprise great romance, not your typical romance at that, but still great. If you have not read an M/M romance before, I think this would be a great starting point. And I say starting point, because it will not be your last. The author does a great job giving us everything we love about a romance that has to fight to stay together. And if you are thinking about the scenes that make you blush, they are written tastefully and will make your heart skip a beat. Nothing that will make you cringe or quit reading the book. I can only say great things about Off Base!

Off Base is the story of Zack, he is a Navy Seal and all full of sexy muscles. Zack has lived many years in doubt and sadness. He hasn't quite figured out his sexuality, he has tried but just can't grasp at it. Plus his family's very religious background scares him in his choices. He has a lot to live up too since his older brother is the black sheep in the family. He knows his mom and dad expect only greatness from him. So when Zack begins to realize that he has always known what he was really into, it freaks him out. He decides living off base will help with his mind. Getting bullied by another Seal is already a lot for his plate with all his training. And he is ready to move on and concentrate on his training.

So when he hits the jack pot and acquires a fixer-upper at no cost, he knows he is way in over his head. This brings on Pike, a friend of Zack's. Pike is the perfect roommate since he is very familiar with flipping homes, the thing is though, Pike is gay. And this is what scares Zack. Zack you can say is still fighting the doubts. But we are human and when your heart is involved, it will crumble any fence you might have up. Zack final accepts that he is gay and begins to fall for Pike. But this is all kept hidden from everyone. Zack is afraid of the repercussion since he is a Seal. 

So now the romance has blossomed and everything is perfect when they are inside their home, but anything outside is the complete opposite. Pike isn't OK with it anymore. Zack and Pike have a lot to figure out and many important choices to make in both their futures. I won't give more away, you'll just have to read Off Base to know what happens of course. 

So again I mentioned, this is a great love story. I recommend it and hope everyone reads it. Now comes the waiting game for the next book in the series. 

Upcoming LGBTQIA Book Releases!

Below you can check out these LGBTQIA upcoming releases:

GUYLINER

Written by: J. Leigh Bailey

Released: October 17, 2016

Seventeen-year-old Connor works his butt off to maintain the golden-boy persona he’s created. He has the grades, the extracurriculars, the athletics, and a part-time job at his dad’s shop… every detail specifically chosen to ensure the college scholarships he needs to get the hell out of the Podunk town where he lives. The last thing he needs is an unexpected attraction to Graham, an eyeliner-wearing soccer phenom from St. Louis, who makes him question his goals and his sexuality. Sure, he’s noticed good-looking boys before—that doesn’t have to mean anything, right?—but he’s got a girlfriend. There’s no room on the agenda for hooking up with Graham, but the heart doesn’t always follow the rules.

As he and Graham grow close, other aspects of Connor’s life fall apart. Family pressure, bad luck, and rumors threaten to derail his carefully laid plans. Suddenly the future he’s fighting for doesn’t seem quite as alluring, especially if he has to deny who he really is to achieve it.

GRAVITY

Written by: Juliann Rich

Releases: November 15, 2016

A shot at Olympic gold in ski jumping. It’s a dream that has been the exclusive property of male athletes. Until now.

For seventeen-year-old Ellie Engebretsen, the 2011 decision to include women’s ski jumping in the Olympics is a game changer. She’d love to bring home the gold for her father, a former Olympic competitor whose dreams were blown along with his knees on an ill-timed landing. But can she defy the pull of gravity that draws her to Kate Moreau, her biggest competition and the girl of her dreams?

How can Ellie soar through the air when all she feels like doing is falling hard?

OFF BASE

Written by: Annabeth Albert

Releases: January 9, 2017

After trading the barracks for a fixer-upper rental, navy SEAL Zack Nelson wants peace, not a roommate—especially not Pike, who sees things about Zack he most wants to hide. Pike's flirting puts virgin Zack on edge. And the questions Pike's arrival would spark from Zack's teammates about his own sexuality? Nope. Not going there. But Zack can't refuse.

Pike Reynolds knows there won't be a warm welcome in his new home. What can he say? He's an acquired taste. But he needs this chance to get his life together. Also, teasing the uptight SEAL will be hella fun. Still, Pike has to tread carefully; he's had his fill of tourists in the past, and he can't risk his heart on another, not even one as hot, as built—and, okay, yeah, as adorable—as Zack.

Living with Pike crumbles Zack's restraint and fuels his curiosity. He discovers how well they fit together in bed…in the shower…in the hallway… He needs Pike more than he could have imagined, yet he doesn't know how to be the man Pike deserves.

DREADNOUGHT

Written by: April Daniels

Releases: January 24, 2017

Danny Tozer has a problem: she just inherited the powers of the world's greatest superhero. Until Dreadnought fell out of the sky and died right in front of her, she was trying to keep people from finding out she's transgender. But then her second-hand superpowers transformed her body into what she's always thought it should be. Now there's no hiding that she's a girl.

It should be the happiest time of her life, but between her father's dangerous obsession with curing her girlhood, her best friend suddenly acting like he's entitled to date her, and the classmate who is secretly a masked vigilante, Danny's first weeks living in a body that fits her are more difficult and complicated than she could have imagined.

She doesn't have much time to adjust. Dreadnought's murderer, a cyborg named Utopia, still haunts the streets of New Port City. If Danny can't sort through the confusion of coming out, master her powers, and stop Utopia in time, humanity faces extinction.