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kaity_b's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
as much as i hate the back and forth and secret relationships, this one had something in there that really had me hooked from page one.
Apollo's two girls were adorable, and how Dylan was with them was everything.
i think that there was a little too much indecision from Apollo that is why i lowered it to 4 stars. but also the Audiobook made up for the issues that i really hated. Cooper North did a great job!
I am excited about Ben and Maddox's story hopefully its every bit as cute as the last two books!
as much as i hate the back and forth and secret relationships, this one had something in there that really had me hooked from page one.
Apollo's two girls were adorable, and how Dylan was with them was everything.
i think that there was a little too much indecision from Apollo that is why i lowered it to 4 stars. but also the Audiobook made up for the issues that i really hated. Cooper North did a great job!
I am excited about Ben and Maddox's story hopefully its every bit as cute as the last two books!
heabooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
I loved Dylan in AT ATTENTION and he may be one of my favorite Annabeth Albert characters. Dylan was so sweet, understanding, great with Apollo's twin daughters, but also fun and charming. He was confident in himself and what he could offer Apollo and he never backed down from calling Apollo out when needed. His playful side was great for the girls but also great for bringing Apollo out of his moody lifestyle. Dylan was very mature and it was wonderful to read a character in their early 20's who has their shit together; as someone who is the same way, it's nice to relate. I have a lot of respect for Dylan and his treatment of Apollo as they worked through Apollo's guilt over moving on from Neal. It's a hard situation and Dylan never made Apollo feel bad about his struggle.
Apollo is such a steadfast character and I loved that he's a big softie for his girls. But Apollo does spend a lot of the book trying to push Dylan away because he's so conflicted over his feelings. All things considered Apollo's hot and cold routine wasn't too bad, compared to other books I've read, so I mostly felt like just giving him a hug and telling him it would all work out. I felt that Apollo's transition in thought was very natural and didn't feel forced.
Overall, I'm just not a big fan of reading widower stories because the characters are so bogged down in the grief of losing their loved one and the grief from moving on.
Content Warning: Apollo is still grieving the death of his husband
Apollo is such a steadfast character and I loved that he's a big softie for his girls. But Apollo does spend a lot of the book trying to push Dylan away because he's so conflicted over his feelings. All things considered Apollo's hot and cold routine wasn't too bad, compared to other books I've read, so I mostly felt like just giving him a hug and telling him it would all work out. I felt that Apollo's transition in thought was very natural and didn't feel forced.
Overall, I'm just not a big fan of reading widower stories because the characters are so bogged down in the grief of losing their loved one and the grief from moving on.
Content Warning: Apollo is still grieving the death of his husband
sabrina7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.5
just kind of an ok book for me. a good read during my downtime but i was not super invested in these characters and their story. lots of back and forth which is warranted with apollo’s background but the lack of clear communication was still annoying
zaza_bdp's review against another edition
3.0
Cet été, j'ai écouté 2 audiobooks pour me tenir compagnie durant quelques trajets en voiture et celui-ci en fait partie. C'est un exercice assez complexe quand l'anglais n'est pas notre langue maternelle, et qu'on n'a pas les sous-titres comme devant des séries/films, mais je m'en suis bien sortie, et je ne me suis même pas retrouvée dans le fossé, même si, durant certaines séquences caliente, je devais faire un effort de concentration supplémentaire sur la route, parce que le narrateur .. donne de sa personne dans ces moments-là ! (même s'il n'atteint vraiment pas le niveau épique de Shannon Gunn, le mec qui a fait toute la série 'Temptation', de Ella Frank).
Pour en revenir au sujet qui nous intéresse, voilà donc un M/M plutôt classique, moins bon que ceux qui suivent (sachant que le 3, sur Ben & Maddox, est franchement excellent). Si j'ai été charmée par Dylan, j'ai été nettement plus refroidie avec Apollo, que je n'avais déjà pas beaucoup aimé dans le tome 1, si ma mémoire ne me fait pas défaut. Apollo est un mec qui tire des conclusions hâtives, qui a des idées bien arrêtées, et qui au final, ne m'est pas très sympathique. Au contraire, Dylan est plein de fraîcheur, c'est un mec gentil et attentionné, une vraie crème. Cela dit, j'ai quand même apprécié cette histoire, les pépettes d'Apollo sont super mignonnes et plutôt bien croquées, elles ressemblent à de "vrais" enfants de cet âge.
Un moment sympa dans l'ensemble donc, qui m'aura bien tenu compagnie, et qui m'aura donné l'impression que les kilomètres défilaient plus vite !
Pour en revenir au sujet qui nous intéresse, voilà donc un M/M plutôt classique, moins bon que ceux qui suivent (sachant que le 3, sur Ben & Maddox, est franchement excellent). Si j'ai été charmée par Dylan, j'ai été nettement plus refroidie avec Apollo, que je n'avais déjà pas beaucoup aimé dans le tome 1, si ma mémoire ne me fait pas défaut. Apollo est un mec qui tire des conclusions hâtives, qui a des idées bien arrêtées, et qui au final, ne m'est pas très sympathique. Au contraire, Dylan est plein de fraîcheur, c'est un mec gentil et attentionné, une vraie crème. Cela dit, j'ai quand même apprécié cette histoire, les pépettes d'Apollo sont super mignonnes et plutôt bien croquées, elles ressemblent à de "vrais" enfants de cet âge.
Un moment sympa dans l'ensemble donc, qui m'aura bien tenu compagnie, et qui m'aura donné l'impression que les kilomètres défilaient plus vite !
rellimreads's review against another edition
5.0
This is book 2 in Annabeth Albert’s Out of Uniform series. While each book covers a different couple - there are characters and events that appear throughout the series making these best enjoyed in order.
Not only is this my favorite of the series - it’s also one of my favorite books ever.
All my beloved tropes: brother’s best friend/best friend’s brother, age gap, grumpy/sunshine, & nanny. Widower Apollo needs help with his twin girls while his mom is on an extended vacation. Dylan is interning for the Summer and is willing to move in to help.
From the opening grocery store scene to the epilogue, I love the way Albert brought this story to life. Balancing loss, love, humor, and day to day life. While the relationship and finding their HEA is somewhat angsty, it felt true to the emotions Apollo is dealing with since his husband’s death two years ago. Dylan’s crush has grown from a teen infatuation to mature love. Apollo finding a way to honor his past and embrace his future was so well done.
I also love Chloe & Sophia - how integral they are to the story and how much they are connected with Apollo & Dylan. The guys compliment each other well and it’s easy to see what an amazing family they’ll be. Perfect HEA & epilogue.
Ready for Ben & Maddox’s story next.
Narration:
I loved Cooper North’s narration. He did a great job giving Apollo and Dylan distinct voices as well as all the secondary characters. He brought through all the emotions - grief, pain, playfulness, and most of all the love. Perfect listen all around.
Not only is this my favorite of the series - it’s also one of my favorite books ever.
All my beloved tropes: brother’s best friend/best friend’s brother, age gap, grumpy/sunshine, & nanny. Widower Apollo needs help with his twin girls while his mom is on an extended vacation. Dylan is interning for the Summer and is willing to move in to help.
From the opening grocery store scene to the epilogue, I love the way Albert brought this story to life. Balancing loss, love, humor, and day to day life. While the relationship and finding their HEA is somewhat angsty, it felt true to the emotions Apollo is dealing with since his husband’s death two years ago. Dylan’s crush has grown from a teen infatuation to mature love. Apollo finding a way to honor his past and embrace his future was so well done.
I also love Chloe & Sophia - how integral they are to the story and how much they are connected with Apollo & Dylan. The guys compliment each other well and it’s easy to see what an amazing family they’ll be. Perfect HEA & epilogue.
Ready for Ben & Maddox’s story next.
Narration:
I loved Cooper North’s narration. He did a great job giving Apollo and Dylan distinct voices as well as all the secondary characters. He brought through all the emotions - grief, pain, playfulness, and most of all the love. Perfect listen all around.
a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
I kinda see a theme emerging regarding this particular series, where there’s definitely things I liked, with unfortunately, a few things I didn’t. It basically boils down to being uber frustrated about one of the MC's reluctance to fall in love, while at the same time, totally understanding and sympathizing with why they’re having such difficulties, making it that much harder to really be all that disgruntled.
Poor Apollo. He’s loved and lost, and because of grief and guilt too, he has resigned himself to never having someone special in his life again. He’s set on focusing on his job and his two girls; he just doesn’t have the capacity or the interest in wanting more. That is, until his libido is reluctantly piqued by the unlikeliest person.
Enter Dylan, the younger brother of Apollo’s best friend. Apollo finds himselfsaddled somehow the benefactor of Dylan’s services. He’s running the summer program that Apollo’s girls are attending, and he needs a place to stay and is the perfect answer to helping Apollo out. Dylan’s crushed hard on Apollo since he was a teen, and though he knows he’ll probably end up getting hurt, he can’t help but want more from the grumpy, grieving guy.
So yes, Apollo is the most stubborn man alive, and although he’s definitely interested, his torturous internal battle, which is wholly understandable, was quite tiresome as well. He resists and resists and resists some more, which drove me bonkers and made me hurt so much for Dylan. Dylan in turn, fabulously handles Apollo just right, never a doormat, not ever pushing too hard - just seamlessly fitting perfectly into Apollo’s life and slowly unraveling the walls he’s put up against ever moving on.
I did enjoy this a bit more than its predecessor. Toppy, tough military alphas and falling for your best friend’s brother check my box every time. However… it didn’t click with me 100% for the above reasons and despite the hot smex. I think many will (and already have) love this recent addition. Rest assured, I will still read Albert, and I will still read the next in series.
I kinda see a theme emerging regarding this particular series, where there’s definitely things I liked, with unfortunately, a few things I didn’t. It basically boils down to being uber frustrated about one of the MC's reluctance to fall in love, while at the same time, totally understanding and sympathizing with why they’re having such difficulties, making it that much harder to really be all that disgruntled.
Poor Apollo. He’s loved and lost, and because of grief and guilt too, he has resigned himself to never having someone special in his life again. He’s set on focusing on his job and his two girls; he just doesn’t have the capacity or the interest in wanting more. That is, until his libido is reluctantly piqued by the unlikeliest person.
Enter Dylan, the younger brother of Apollo’s best friend. Apollo finds himself
So yes, Apollo is the most stubborn man alive, and although he’s definitely interested, his torturous internal battle, which is wholly understandable, was quite tiresome as well. He resists and resists and resists some more, which drove me bonkers and made me hurt so much for Dylan. Dylan in turn, fabulously handles Apollo just right, never a doormat, not ever pushing too hard - just seamlessly fitting perfectly into Apollo’s life and slowly unraveling the walls he’s put up against ever moving on.
I did enjoy this a bit more than its predecessor. Toppy, tough military alphas and falling for your best friend’s brother check my box every time. However… it didn’t click with me 100% for the above reasons and despite the hot smex. I think many will (and already have) love this recent addition. Rest assured, I will still read Albert, and I will still read the next in series.
evethingiread's review against another edition
3.0
I adore Dylan. He was so sweet and mature for his age. He was so good to Apollo and his kids.
Apollo was a shithead. He treated Dylan so badly for a long time.
I don’t like this thing they do in stories where one of the mc’s is a widower and they keep referencing how their marriage wasn’t was amazing as it was. In this case, the reference was how his late husband wasn’t as fun as Dylan. I don’t see the point. You make the new guy awesome without shitting on the other guy. I get that it’s a plot point, but I don’t like it!
I did like the chemistry they had and of course they worked it out in the end. The kids were so adorable
Apollo was a shithead. He treated Dylan so badly for a long time.
I don’t like this thing they do in stories where one of the mc’s is a widower and they keep referencing how their marriage wasn’t was amazing as it was. In this case, the reference was how his late husband wasn’t as fun as Dylan. I don’t see the point. You make the new guy awesome without shitting on the other guy. I get that it’s a plot point, but I don’t like it!
I did like the chemistry they had and of course they worked it out in the end. The kids were so adorable
kirbyj_'s review against another edition
4.0
oh, man, did i want to punch apollo in the face sometimes but in the end grief isn't linear and he hadn't really dealt with his original grief, so i'm a little forgiving for him.
calebmbuys's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0