While at times emotional for various reasons, Off Base was not a super heavy, angst filled story; it was a story of personal growth, of finding your way, facing your fears, and most of all figuring out that having love in your life makes all the difference in the world. I loved this book! ~ Slick, Guilty Pleasures
Description:
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.
Review copy provided with no expectation
I’m such a sucker for series and when an author takes secondary characters out of one series to
begin a new series, that’s just icing on the cake. Off Base features two characters that were secondary characters in Annabeth Albert’s #gaymers series and starts off her new Out of Uniform series with a bang. Two men; both gay, one closeted and one out wind up roommates and more after navigating some very choppy water.
Zack hoped that once he made it through his Navy SEAL training he’d finally be done with bullying, but one slip during BUD/s it continues within his team. Zack was brought up in a very religious household where his brother’s bullying and even his substance abuse was swept under the carpet. When one of his fellow SEALS sees him checking out another man’s a$$, life becomes another level of bullying hell as he works to keep his secret safe. When a friend of a friend needs a place to stay in Coronado Zack agrees to let him despite the fact that Pike is out and gay, but the more time they spend together the more Zack realizes that he not only wants Pike in his life, he needs him.
This was a complex story with a lot of layers and a whole lot of threads running through it, but the ongoing friendship and then relationship between these two men was front and center along with all of the issues that arise when one man is closeted. I loved watching Zack accept his sexual orientation and exploring everything with the very patient and understanding Pike, but more than that the way these two grew to really get to know one another, enjoy each other’s company, come to rely on each other was beautiful to watch. There were some moments of uncertainty and most definitely some big issues that arise, but they were great about communicating and when push came to shove they were there for one another if every way.
While at times emotional for various reasons, Off Base was not a super heavy, angst filled story; it was a story of personal growth, of finding your way, facing your fears, and most of all figuring out that having love in your life makes all the difference in the world. I loved this book!
Thanks Slick for the review