Off the Clock

Mount Hope #2

by Annabeth Albert

Starting over after retiring as an Army Ranger shouldn’t be this hard...

For twenty years, I traveled the world as a special operations warrior. Newly retired at forty-two, I’m back in my hometown of Mount Hope, pursuing a second career as a small-town firefighter. My meddling sisters and best friends all have opinions about my life, but the only person who seems to truly understand me is Caleb, the younger firefighter tasked with my training.

After a lifetime of denying my attraction to other men, Caleb reminds me of everything I’ve missed out on. I’ve never even kissed a guy.

Until now.
Until Caleb.
Until I push our growing friendship to the next level. While sneaking around like a pair of teens, trying not to get caught by our coworkers, friends, and family, our sexy connection leads us to some...interesting places.

And it turns out that I like taking risks. I’ve never wanted a relationship, and neither of us should be fooling around with a coworker, but we keep courting danger.

The more time I spend with Caleb off and on the clock, the more I like him and the less certain I am about everything else in my life. The one thing I know for sure is that I can’t afford to lose this intense bond we share. Can we find our way from super secret to super real before the clock runs down on this fling?

OFF THE CLOCK features two coworkers with an age gap finding out that opposites really do attract and that first impressions aren’t always accurate. All the big emotions, small-town feels, and hot romance readers expect from this acclaimed author. While certain subplot threads continue throughout the series, each guaranteed happily ever after stands alone!

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Friends To Lovers, Firefighters, Contemporary Romance

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 25, 2024

About the author

Frequent tweeter, professional grammar nerd, and obsessive reader, Annabeth Albert is also a Pacific Northwest romance writer in a variety of subgenres.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.

Reviews

[~ Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ & semicolons ~]

NO RATING

I made it to 40% then skimmed the rest.

This book is about:

- Caleb struggling with raising his 17-year-old brother

- High school football

- Tony adjusting to civilian life after 20 years in the military

I have teenagers, and they don't occupy 100% of my time and energy the way the teens in this book do. It's wild to me how everyone catered to them.

The MCs felt pretty generic. I wasn't all that interested in their romance, which mostly consisted of fumbling sexual attempts in odd places (in keeping with the teen theme apparently) and a hell of a lot we should/we shouldn't back and forth.

I have five starred a dozen or more books by Annabeth Albert, but sadly the Mount Hope series isn't working for me.

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I spent half my time reading this utterly frustrated with both MCs at one time or another - but that's what made it such a compelling narrative.

Both Caleb and Tony have utterly valid reasons for the way they behave - and feel - at times throughout this story, which means the frustration is tempered by a complete understanding of why their relationship develops as it does.

There's not so much angst here as there is a lot of introspective musings, both men have grown up with absent parents, although for very different reasons, and both have had to be a big brother/parent for younger siblings.

So it makes a lot of sense that they're guarded and have lots of other pressures weighing them down outside of the fact they shouldn't be getting involved as they're not only co-workers, but Caleb is technically in a position of authority over Tony.

The secret element of the plotline works within the situational setting, but OMG it was annoying at times to see both of them falling head over heels but still not thinking there could possibly be a way for them to be together.

Tony had so much inner repression of his bisexuality to come to terms with, it's not unexpected, and the way he deals with it fits his character perfectly, so it's hard to be annoyed with him because of the huge feelings of sympathy he creates.

Caleb is out and proud, but a lot of that is also down to him having to deal with bullying and other negativity surrounding him being gay and getting crushes which he's had a lot of teasing about.

Other than brief appearances from Sean in his role as acting Fire Chief, Eric because Tony is living in his house, and the teenagers, because Caleb's younger brother Scotty has arrived and is the same age as John, I also didn't get the same small town friendships vibe as with book one until much later in the story.

Even with these niggles though, this story keeps your attention hooked from start to finish with the various different threads being run through the main narrative. There's plenty to root for and both Tony and Caleb are the perfect match for the other.

Their chemistry is off the charts and the sexual exploration as Tony learns what he does, and doesn't, enjoy is really well done.

Also well done is the mental health representation, as well as the discussions both men have about how damaging it's been to keep things repressed, which never feels like it's going into public announcement territory.

I was engaged from start to finish with this story, even with my niggles, and I very much appreciated the Epilogue which rounded off the massive progress both men had made both together and as a couple.

I'm also very much intrigued by book three's pairing!

#ARC kindly received from the author, I am voluntarily leaving a review

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're back in the small town, of Mount Hope, Oregon with firefighters, Tony and Caleb. One of the main characters, Tony knows that he's bi but has never really openly acknowledged it and has never had much opportunity to act on any possible attraction he may have had with another man.

This second installment that takes place in the small, quaint town of Mount Hope, Oregon finds forty-two-year-old Tony Capo starting the next chapter of his life after his discharge from the military. With the support of his best friends, he pursues a career as a fire fighter. On his first day, he's finds himself working with Caleb, a firefighter about ten years his junior but experienced enough to handle Tony's training.

As much as Tony tries, there is just something he can't seem to resist about the younger man who has more than piqued his curiosity. Tony isn't looking for a relationship and knows that Caleb's got a lot of responsibility not only in his work life but also in his personal life. However, the more they're together on the job, the more they want to be together in their off duty lives. Can "friends with benefits"...and even that may blow up in their faces as there is a clause in their contracts with the fire department about not dating co-workers, so are stolen moments all they can have...or could they actually have more?

I liked that these two guys... a lot! They were an interesting mix of personalities because there was so much more to them than just their being firefighters. In Tony's case, he was an Army Ranger prior to being in Mount Hope. Calab has a family of a brother and a niece and nephew, that think Uncle Calab is pretty darn special. What they had and continued to nurture was more than just a romance; it was also a friendship, an extended family, and a community that accepted them for who they were not who they loved. I can't wait for book three!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good. I enjoyed it quite a lot. Even if I'm too sleepy to actually express it with words

[caffeinated.crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story!!!

OFF THE CLOCK is a firefighter/retired Army Ranger, small town, age gap romance. There's mental health rep, found family, and a sugary sweet HEA.

Off the Clock takes place in the small town of Mount Hope. These love stories are around a group of fri3nds finding their loves, and they're all first responders in some way.

Caleb was such a sweetheart. The references to "his crushes" was heartbreaking. And his back story. 😭😭😭 He just wanted LOVE, and he was such a good guy. I was so so thrilled when Tony got his act together.

Tony is coming out of 20 years as a Ranger, moving into his second act, and... well, 20 years of hiding being bisexual on top of Army related PTSD isn't gonna be a walk in the park.

We get so much of their back stories, their feelings, their sneaking around. We get the looks, the meet-ups, and the tapping on windows. But we also get friends that are closer than family. We get small town big moments.

Annabeth does great big moments.

I'm not gonna lie... there were a couple of places in the book where I cried buckets. This is a great series - especially if you're looking for a small town romance with "older MCs".

Don't sleep on this series!

The next book is going to be off the rails, I even slid into Annabeths DMs to freak out. There were lots of emojis and me SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say, this series is surprisingly working for me! I enjoyed the characters and their connection, and I appreciated that the conflict felt believable and had stakes. Way too many kids/teenagers/other characters to the point of confusion and clutter, but on the whole I had fun with this one.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful instalment in the series with the usual minimal angst small town romance this dependable author is known for.
Tony and Caleb are very likeable characters who try to keep their romance under wraps but are so into each other that it’s only a matter of time before rumours abound and decisions need to be made.
Tony was steadfast in his belief that he didn’t want or need a relationship but the outwardly full of sunshine Caleb slowly makes him reassess that, and other notions about himself. With much more than just their combustible chemistry in common I couldn’t help cheerleading for them as they made their way to a heartwarming HEA that left the biggest smile on my face. I enjoyed every moment of this engaging read and look forward to the next story in the series.

[Kristel (hungryandhappy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this story, how simple it appeared yet it touched various deeper themes; we have two very different men who literally crashed into each other and they find themselves being coworkers. With Tony insisting he doesn’t believe in relationships and being finally able to be his true bi-self, and Caleb not wanting to risk their jobs, they agree on being all sneaky sneaky and have a very steamy beneficial friendship summer. But feelings are around the corner, as they love to do, and trying to reconcile what the heart wants with reality, and with a very stubborn Tony, brings a bit of heartache. To them but also to me!! I am fragile, my heart suffers! I wanted them to be happy from the very beginning. I really liked how straightforward Caleb was and how understanding he was with Tony. Tony was closeted for all his life, he doesn't only have intimate things to learn, but he also needs to learn how to exist as himself in the open. And it's not easy, we know that, even more when you spent your teens trying to be straight and 20 years in the military looking at everything but other guys. Caleb is very understanding but he also gets frustrated by the situation, justifiably so, but he's never pushy no matter how much his heart is breaking. Seeing them overcome the obstacles and turn their friendship with benefits into a full relationship was all kinds of sweet.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this a B- at AAR, 3.5 stars rounded up.

Off the Clock is the second book in Annabeth Albert’s latest series about a group of first responder friends who live in the fictional Oregon town of Mount Hope. A low-angst, age gap romance, it isn’t going to win any prizes for originality, but it’s an entertaining, character-driven story that underlines the importance of taking care of yourself as well as others, of learning to be open to possibilities, and finding that one person with whom you can be completely yourself.

When the story begins, newly retired Army Ranger Tony Capo is making his way to his friend Eric’s place, where he’s going to be staying for a bit while he works out what his post-military life is going to look like. The military wasn’t his first career choice; he’d been pursuing EMT and firefighter training at community college but wasn’t making enough money to be able to support his mother and sisters, so he joined the army instead. Now, aged forty-two and having served for twenty years, he’s back in Mount Hope, has decided to dust off his old first responder training and has signed on with the local fire department, where another friend, Sean Murphy ( Up All Night ) is acting chief.

Sean assigns Caleb, a younger firefighter who was recently a probationer himself, to show Tony the ropes. The two men literally bump into each other on the afternoon of Tony’s arrival, when Caleb fumbles a catch during the friendly football game going on, barrels into him and takes them both down into the mud. Staring into Caleb’s blue eyes and inhaling his lemony scent sets Tony’s alarm bells ringing; he’s made not noticing other men into an art form over the decades, and isn’t about to cross any of his self-imposed boundaries now, no matter how cute the guy is.

When Tony shows up for his first day at the station – all delicious, lean muscle, chiselled features and silver-streaked dark hair – Caleb can feel one of his hopeless crushes brewing and determines to squash it. They’re going to be colleagues, there are anti-fraternisation regulations he doesn’t want to come up against and he certainly can’t afford to get a reputation for drooling over his co-workers. Plus, his life is about to get more complicated, as his younger brother, Scotty, is coming to live with him for the summer and the next school year. After Scotty got in with a bad crowd, their mum figured he needed a fresh start away from home, and Caleb is determined to focus on doing the best he can for the surly seventeen-year-old brother he hasn’t seen in a while.

Working closely with Caleb is putting more temptation in Tony’s way than he’s had to deal with in a very long time – and as the days and weeks pass, those internal alarm bells start ringing louder and louder, because not only is he attracted to Caleb, he likes him. He enjoys his company, likes talking to him and getting to know him better, and he finds himself telling Caleb things about his personal life he hasn’t spoken about in ages. But Tony isn’t out and doesn’t want to be; life is hard enough as it is without adding being openly queer into the mix, plus hiding the part of him that likes men has become so ingrained that it’s become part of who he is. And in any case, he’s long since decided that relationships aren’t for him, and Caleb has ‘boyfriend material’ written all over him.

But the pull of the attraction simmering between them soon becomes too strong to ignore, and furtive kisses lead to secret make-out sessions that become a full-flown fling both men agree has to remain hidden. Tony not being out is part of the reason, but what with Caleb trying to be both parent and sibling to Scotty, and Tony trying to work out if he really wants to be a first responder as well as face up to certain mental health issues he was encouraged to bury while in the military, both men have a lot going on in their lives. In any case, Tony has made his feelings on relationships very clear – no matter how hard Caleb is falling for the man, Tony isn’t interested in anything long-term, and even if he were, Caleb isn’t going back into the closet for anyone. On top of all that, the fraternisation issue – and the fact that Caleb is technically Tony’s superior - could cost both of them their jobs. It makes sense that they’d both be guarded and want to keep things on the down-low, but they both know they won’t be able to keep it a secret forever and that there’s an expiry date in the not too distant future.

Caleb and Tony are good, decent men who, despite their age gap and different life experiences, have some similarities in their backgrounds – growing up with absent parents and having to parent younger siblings - that allow them to find a very real connection. Tony is a little harder to like than Caleb because he spends so much time in denial and holding himself back, but Caleb is a total sweetheart; he’s wonderfully patient and understanding with Tony, slowly helping him to learn to be more open and accepting of himself, and allows him the freedom to explore his sexuality in a way he’s never been able to before. And Tony offers Caleb the kind of support he so badly needs at just the right time; he sees Caleb in a way nobody else does, sees the capable, reslilient man behind the sunny smile and ready jokes. There’s no question that these two are meant to be – but Tony is going to have to come clean with himself, take some risks, and make some big decisions if they’re going to make things work.

I enjoyed this second visit with the Mount Hope crew – Annabeth Albert writes such engaging characters and recognisable, real-life situations, and I like watching her protagonists find love, companionship and acceptance among their wider network of friends, family, and community. But I can’t deny that – for me – the story is too low-stakes; I like a bit more conflict and drama in my romance, so I’m offering a qualified recommendation. Off the Clock is a solid, entertaining read that is sure to appeal to fans of steamy, low-angst romance.

[Drew H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annabeth is so good at relationship growth arcs, and this time I think she actually nailed both of their individual development arcs, which is not the energy I always get from her. Oftentimes it feels like she'll have an idea for a trope she'll want to use and a main character's journey of growth, and she'll shoehorn another guy in there to be the other romantic lead, but he'll be kind of a too perfect stand-in character, but both Tony and Caleb had some necessary growth to do, neither of which was rooted in the relationship itself. Tony had a lot of discovery and acceptance of himself to do, both with his sexuality and with his time in the Army and re-entry into a civilian life and where he belongs in that, if his old dreams and goals still apply or not. Caleb had his guardian journey with his little brother, and find the right balance of being more than a big brother but less than a parent.

Also loving that one of the main characters in the next book is Sean's marginally homophobic son Declan, I said after the first book that that felt very out of place and I was confused by it because there was no reason to ever bring him back, but I'd trust Annabeth to get me there, and she definitely seems to be doing that.

[The Secret Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 1st person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Tropes / tags: co-workers, age gap, small town

Tons of chemistry and a little bit of a forbidden workplace romance in this second book in the Mount Hope series!

There's something about romances where the MC returns back to their home towns after years away - and I really liked seeing Tony getting back to Mount Hope, trying to settle into civilian life after spending most of his life in the army. He quickly found a connection with Caleb, his younger co-worker and also the one responsible for showing Tony the ropes.

Caleb and Tony's romance was quite frustrating at times, but it was also kind of what kept it intriguing. Tony hadn't had a chance to explore his bisexuality until now, and while he was pretty sure he wasn't looking for something serious, he hadn't been expecting the way Caleb made him feel. Caleb was known for having unrequited crushes on people, and seeing how he felt kind of defeated about his crush on Tony made my heart ache. He was such a sweetheart and just wanted to find someone to love, and it was sad to see how he'd been let down in the past.

I liked the self discovering that Tony did here, and while it might be hard, sometimes you just have to realise that old dreams aren't always meant to be your future. I was happy that Tony had the sense to reconsider what he wanted to do for his civilian career, to me it was clear from the start that the fire station wasn't the right place for him, but I can understand him feeling lost after spending that many years in the army and wanting to give his old dream an honest chance.

Off the Clock was a story that kept me intrigued until the end, and even if Caleb and Tony was frustrating at times, it was also a sweet read and I loved how explosive their attraction was. If you're looking for a cosy small town romance with minimum angst and a little bit of forbidden and secret romance, I recommend giving this one a chance!

-
Thanks to Abbie Nicole for the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Rach Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annabeth Albert has done it again with let another amazing, heart warming story. I just love her characters, always perfect and yet not perfect at the same time. I loved both Caleb and Tony, the mental health rep and of course the wonderful secondary characters and friendships that are always the pillars of Annabeth’s writing style.

I’ve been in a slump and struggling to really enjoy anything, and this was just the perfect easy, feel good read that I needed. Can’t wait for the next one!

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

***2.5 stars***

[Lindsay Hardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony and Caleb make quite the pair. There is plenty to love about these guys. They work together, have to see one another on the down low, bi-awakening, found family are just a few of the tropes offered up in this book. Two strong alpha males that should butt heads and have nothing in common, yet they fit one another. There is plenty of steam, enough action to keep things interesting and a few schmoopy parts thrown in for maximal reading pleasure. There are plenty of cameo appearances by Sean and characters from books to come. This one is another classic comfort read.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony is moving home to Mount Hope after a twenty-year stent as an Army Ranger. He’s starting over, living with his friends, and beginning a new career as a firefighter rookie. His life has been structured and he’s lived in environments where he always had to worry about his reputation, therefore he’s kept a lid on his sexuality and has ust taken the easy way out and dated women. But he’s not a relationship guy either because of how he grew up.

But there’s just something about Caleb, his younger trainer at the fire station that draws him in. It’s not just a physical attraction, he actually likes talking to him and spending time. Caleb is barely out of his probie stage at the firehouse himself and he’s got a reputation for developing inappropriate crushes and being the clumsy comedian. But he wants to be taken more seriously. And his life is changing too as he’s now become the guardian for his teen brother. Their family dynamics also have shaped how he sees relationships and he doesn’t feel like he really has time for one either.

So when stolen kisses lead to more sneaky interludes and an entire secret affair, they know it’s a bad idea but they have a hard time stopping. Despite their personal issues the potential work repercussions due to their positions and fraternization rules and the fact they live in a nosy town where everybody wants to gossip and know each other’s business.

It will come down to priorities and what they’re willing to take a risk for. This is an age gap, opposites-attract, small town, forbidden, coworkers,bi-awakening, secret affair turned unexpected romance about trust, companionship, passion, purpose, and found family. I really liked both Tony and Caleb and I thought they were a really good match. I liked seeing Caleb help Tony be more free and open and be able to explore things that he never had a chance to because of his past. And Tony gives Caleb honesty, appreciation, and sees him for who he really is. I loved seeing them be vulnerable with each other and honestly talk about things that have affected them that they’ve been hesitant to share with others. I’m enjoying the series and I am looking forward to Jonah‘s book next.

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[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[ I received a digital arc for an honest review]

Off The Clock is the second standalone in the Mount Hope series by Annabeth Albert. A low angst , high steam mm romance between a retired Army Ranger training to be a fire fighter and the firefighter showing him the ropes. Coworkers adds risk to the secret fling the two decide they cant resist which notches up the steam between them. With two men who aren't looking for a relationship, found family, mental health rep, learning to communicate, crushes, first times, stolen kisses, and a not so hidden secret fling, Off The Clock is a great addition to the Mount Hope series.

[Aki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hat mir wirklich gut gefallen. Es wurde sogar Therapie erwähnt, statt immer nur über die Probleme drüber zu spielen.

[Zee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things happened....idk what 😊

Istg I'm gonna focus soon 😭

[Olivia Reimhagen · Rating 3 out of 5]

an okay and quick, fun read, but i think i'll stop this series here, lol. cute town, but too much sex and too little plot and character development for me.

[Christina]

1.5 Stars

[Nile Princess]

I don't know what it is about this series but I can't get into it at all. Annabeth albert is an automatic buy for me; I have loved and re-read so many of her books, but I couldn't get into Book 1 of this series and this one is the same. DNF @ 20%

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book that has some issues with the romance

Rating: 4🌈

“What happens when a group of forty-something first responders come together to support their recently widowed best friend? The result is the MOUNT HOPE series”

That’s the overall theme for the stories grouped under this Mount Hope series and it’s an emotional, heartwarming concept. It hits home on so many levels, especially when Albert adds in her own familiar, well written elements. Readers of her many series aren’t surprised by returning military or veterans characters that carry their own issues, foster care children with special histories, or just threads that are layered with mental health, commitment issues and recognition of bi-sexuality. In other words, a lot of subjects areas are part of character’s development and histories.

Albert writes all that with amazing sensitivity and awareness. Especially veterans who have served overseas and returned home with internalized trauma, PTSD, or other mental health issues.

In Off the Clock, the veteran is freshly retired Army Ranger Tony Capo, 42, recovering from his injuries, returning home to Mount Hope to figure out his next step forward. In his case, he’s opted to hire on as a firefighter for the Mount Hope Fire Department. It’s a job he has wanted since he was a child and where he has old friends. But he’s also starting over as a much older man with younger colleagues, with all that encompasses mentally and emotionally.

One of those is Caleb, a young firefighter who appeared in the first book. Congenial, somewhat clumsy, he’s recently been named guardian of his troubled teenage brother. That brother has brought him an entire set of new issues to face as well as the new hire, Tony, he’s training.

Albert’s book is an age gap, mental health, multiple issues storyline. There’s much I admire about this book. It’s begins with the characters. Each are well written, beautifully defined, by their respective histories, their life experiences, and their personalities. They are believable and flawed.

The relationship dynamics between Tony and Caleb are among my favorite and least favorite things about the story. Their ability to communicate about each other’s feelings, their experiences with emotionally charged situations that have left each traumatized, whether it’s fires, missions, or childhood damage brought about by parental loss. Loss by death in Caleb’s family or in Tony’s case by his parents drug addiction and abandonment. As Albert powerfully describes it, “matching wounded kid emotions “ bonds them but is also keeping them from being together.

Tony and Caleb’s friendship and the surrounding support from friends and community is the best part about the narrative for me. My issues are with the romance. That part where Albert has two grown men hiding a sexual/romantic connection (one the town easily guesses at and is gossiping about) but that causes Caleb great emotional distress. Tony’s fears about being openly bisexual which directly pushes any relationship between them back into the closet does harm in multiple ways. Yes, the author repairs this to a degree when Tony works through his own personal issues, but it’s striking that even when they are in a committed relationship, it’s Caleb who has insecurities about where he stands with Tony. That shows an inequality that should have been understood by Tony given their backgrounds.

It’s a miss by the author and an unsatisfactory note for the romance and storyline.

The next novel in this series is yet another age gap, mental health issues storyline and I wish that Albert had used the promise found in the series arc to at least give us some more depth and variety among this interesting group of older men. A romantic story between men of the same age would be a great addition.

Off the Clock (Mount Hope Book 2) by Annabeth Albert is a good book, a nice addition to the series with some heartfelt moments and lovely characters.

Mount Hope series:
- [x] Up All Night #1
- [x] Off The Clock #2
- [ ] On The Edge #3 - Oct 31, 2024

[Samantha Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

FR- Alors alors.... alors  j'ai adoré ce roman.

J'avais déjà beaucoup aimé le précédent tome et j'avais hâte de lire celui là. On avait découvert Caleb et (brièvement) Tony dans le tome précédent et je ne savais pas du tout à quoi m'attendre. Annabeth Albert nous livre dans Off the Clock, une histoire touchante et douce.

J'ai adoré retrouver l'univers de Mount Hope et tous ses personnages.

Cette série nous propose une grande diversité de personnage, que ce soit les adultes mais aussi les enfants. Je dois dire que j'adorerai une série sur la deuxième génération parce que l'auteure nous laisse plusieurs petits indices en ce sens.

Off the Clock  nous entraine dans le quotidien de Tony et Caleb et la naissance de leur relation. J'ai beaucoup aimé la façon dont l'auteure va les faire se rapprocher. J'ai aimé en apprendre plus sur eux et la façon dont leurs expériences de vie se complètent.

La romance est tout aussi importante que les relations avec le reste des protagonistes et principalement les enfants.

Je me suis énormément attachée à Caleb et Tony que j'ai trouvé vraiment touchants. Leur histoire, leur relation avec leurs et leurs amis..on a qu'une envie en lisant ce roman, c'est de rester auprès d'eux.

Comme souvent avec Annabeth Albert, on retrouve l'ambiance petite ville et famille de coeur, deux éléments qui nous promettent une romance sans grand drama et pleine de bons sentiments.

Off The Clock est une histoire super mignonne, assez simple et sans drama mais qui m'a fait passer un excellent moment de lecture.




ENG-So well well well...well I loved this novel.

I already really liked the previous volume and I couldn't wait to read this one. We had discovered Caleb and (briefly) Tony in the previous volume and I had no idea what to expect. Annabeth Albert gives us a touching and sweet story in Off the Clock.

I loved returning to the world of Mount Hope and all its characters.

This series offers us a great diversity of characters, both adults and children. I must say that I would love a series on the second generation because the author leaves us several little clues in this direction.

Off the Clock takes us into the daily lives of Tony and Caleb and the birth of their relationship. I really liked the way the author brought them together. I enjoyed learning more about them and how their life experiences complement each other.

The romance is just as important as the relationships with the rest of the protagonists and mainly the children.

I became extremely attached to Caleb and Tony who I found really touching. Their story, their relationship with their friends...we only want to stay with them when reading this novel.

As is often the case with Annabeth Albert, we find the small town and family atmosphere, two elements which promise us a romance without much drama and full of good feelings.

Off The Clock is a super cute story, quite simple and without drama but which gave me a great time reading.

[Ashley Carrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Albert book that stole my heart!

Ah, another great book from Annabeth! The fact that she wrote this book at a challenging time in her life yet was able to do Tony and Caleb the justice and give them the HEA that they deserved, makes it all the more special. Tony is a part of the friend group that started this series, and he comes back to Mount Hope after his 20-year stint as an Army ranger. Now he's back home trying to find his next path now that he's living a civilian life. This new path happens to be a training firefighter in the same place his friend Sean is acting captain and where he also gets to know Caleb. We also know Caleb from book one as a good dude and firefighter who also has a knack for crushes. And when he collides (literally) with Tony and finds out it's his duty to train him he knows from past experience that he needs to be careful and protect his heart and career despite the attraction that develops between him and the older man. But that attraction gives way to an emotional connection between the two. Even with their age gap, they're both like kindred spirits who understand each other in a way they've never gotten from others ever. And that emotional connection is just as dangerous as the physical chemistry they share because of the fraternazation rules of their job and the fact that Tony has never been with a man before or come out as bisexual. But the more time they spend together, the more they build each other up and create a strong friendship. But friendship doesn't feel like enough, and they take a risk by crossing that line into friends with secret benefits. But as we all know, secrets don't stay that way forever, and the two must navigate what to do next. They don't have it easy or have all the answers but being together just feels right and together they tackle the obstacles they need to face and become even stronger and in turn they get so much more than they ever hoped to wish for. They also have the best support system. I swear I'd LOVE to read a book about some of the other side characters, mainly Eric's boys and Caleb's brother. There's so much more to this world that I'd love to explore more of, so fingers crossed. This series keeps getting better, and I can't wait for more to come!

[MNHockeymomreads (Heather) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how Annabeth Albert writes about a small town and the found families that she creates, so I knew when book 2 in this series was released I needed to hurry and get my hands on it! Tony is fresh out of the military, and into his Veteran Era (IYKYK!) and in his hometown of Mount Hope where he is planning to start fresh. He is living with buddies in a huge house after a friend lost his husband and helping to care for a raised teens. Tony is just an all around great guy, but it seems like he never really had direction, so he went where the military took him. Now, for really the first time in a long time he gets to make decisions on his own, where he wants to live and what job he wants to have. Tony also has always been attracted to men, but that was never something he could explore given the military so when he starts to feel an attraction to a guy at work…who is younger than him it makes life real interesting for Tony. As a character Tony really grew a lot and really found himself. As a self proclaimed bachelor he certainly fell head over heels.
Caleb seems to be the fire station's resident golden retriever, but he is really so much more than that. He really is mature and has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. Recently taking guardianship of his younger brother he works so hard to provide his brother a stable home and have boundaries for him…..not matter how much he might push back! Caleb is just so sweet and kind and really just wants to love, be loved, and have a partnership. He might be young but he is wise beyond his years and had to grow up fast!
The chemistry and tension between Caleb and Tony is pretty instantaneous and they really start to build a friendship where they confide in one another things they haven't shared with others. Their chemistry and tension was palpable. While Tony has a large friend group and the fire station has a lot of characters this book could have been crowded on the page but it was not. This book was really focused on Tony and Caleb and them building a relationship. When others were clued in it was so obvious that these two had a strong relationship that is based on a lot more than sex.

[S.M. Harshell · Rating 4 out of 5]

OFF THE CLOCK is the second book in the Mount Hope series. It can be read as a stand alone without any issues, BUT it does read better if you have read the first book in the series.

Tony Capo is a recently retired Army Ranger wondering what he is going to do next in his life. Moving back to his home town and starting a life as a fire fighter seems like the next steps. He moves in with one of his best friends to help with him and his kids. He was lost his husband recently so the group of college friends were going to do what they needed to help out. When he is instantly attracted to the younger man who is supposed to be training him Tony can't help but wonder what if. He has denied this part of himself for all of his forty two years. Can he finally find out what it would be like to live openly? But will the no fraternization rules between coworkers stop this before it even starts?

Caleb is known to have crushes on his coworkers and things never going any further but something about Tony calls to Caleb in a way no one ever has. When Caleb finds out Tony is inexperienced but oh so curious Caleb doesn't quite care about the rules. Sneaking around can be fun in itself but when casual is starting to turn into more sneaking around just gets harder and harder to hide the feelings between them. Caleb has his own baggage with his brother coming to live with him and have a fresh start Caleb can't risk his job by being with a coworker. When rumors start flying around can Tony and Caleb make it work? Or will they throw away something that could be amazing?

As soon as I opened Off the Clock, from chapter one you can't help but want to hope for a HEA for Tony and Caleb. Their chemistry is explosive and add in taking the risk to be together they are perfect for each other. I really enjoyed seeing Tony's sexual exploration. Not many books handle the not liking something when they are trying it for the first time and I think this is a realistic look at finding what works and what doesn't.

I love this little town and can't wait for what's next!

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Since Tony was still in the military when the previous book took place, we didn’t get to know him even a fraction of the getting to know the other people in this friend group. Now Tony is back, out of the military, and ready to help a recently widowed friend with anything he needs. But Tony also needs a job, so he’s diving into the first responder community where his friends all seem to reside.

Caleb is a young buck at the fire department, but he’s good at his job and friendly to all. His reaction to Tony is visceral from the start, as is Tony’s to him, but he’s been put in charge of showing Tony the ropes and helping him to prepare for his firefighter test. This all means these two do everything they can to fight their attraction. Another wrench in their attraction is Tony not being out. He’s never explored his sexuality due to being in the military and it being easier not to rock the boat. He wasn’t unhappy with his life, but he was lonely. Caleb is not one to live in the shadows or to be someone’s secret, so sneaking around is often emotionally hard for him.

This story deals with more than the relationship between Tony and Caleb. Although I love their connection and chemistry, I also enjoyed the other stories that shaped these two. Caleb’s teen nephew just came to live with him after some trouble back home and it’s a lot for him to deal with. He doesn’t want to screw things up on that front, yet has no idea how to be a parent. Tony is floundering in his post-military life. Not sure he wants to be a first responder, yet not having any other direction. The way Caleb and Tony support each other is beautiful.

The characters in this series are phenomenal. I loved getting to know the kids even more in this book. They didn’t just go up to their rooms one day and disappear, they are fleshed-out characters with their own personalities that help move the stories along.

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love older MCs, coworkers who become more, first times, and forbidden romance, you’re in the right place. Annabeth Albert delivers all of this and more in the second installment of her Mount Hope series, a series featuring a found family of first responders who support each other as they navigate life’s challenges. While the overall tone of the series is warm and caring, it does touch on serious topics like PTSD, family trauma, grief and loss, homophobia, and coming out.

A major theme that came through loud and clear for me in this story was trust. It’s partly about finding the one — the person who makes it all worthwhile —and trusting them enough to take the risk with your feelings and your heart. Caleb and Tony both come from traumatic pasts which influence their outlook on life, and trust is hard. But despite that, they recognize something in each other that lets them relax enough to grab onto what makes them happy and never let go.

It’s also about trusting yourself. Both of these guys have so much vulnerability, and at times, it could almost be debilitating. It’s the kind that makes you second guess everything you’re doing, even when you know you’re trying your best, and wonder if you’ll ever be enough. It’s not an easy journey for either of them to get to a place where they trust their instincts or emotions, but watching them support each other as they get there is everything.

But as much as it’s about trust, it’s also about change. Everything in Mount Hope is changing - the team, the kids, the families, their jobs…and you can either roll with it or get stuck clinging to the past. If I learned anything from Tony’s coming out and personal journey, it’s just how easy it is to forget it’s okay to close the door on an old dream to open another door to a new one.

*I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book*

[Kara Hildebrand (Two Book Pushers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Off the Clock is the second book in the Mount Hope series by Annabeth Albert. I'm really enjoying this series, these characters and this town! Annabeth's books always make me smile, entertain me, make me have to fan myself and only cause me a little angst. Just the way I like my romances. We met Caleb in the first book and I loved him so much! He's a firefighter and he's sweet and adorable and has taken in his seventeen-year old brother. He doesn’t expect to literally run into Tony, a friend of Sean and Eric's. And then find out he's going to be training him at the firehouse. Tony is back home after twenty years away as an Army Ranger. His next chapter in his life is become a firefighter. His friends are supportive and glad to have him home. He doesn't expect to have to work with Caleb, the handsome man he ran over in the park. And he doesn't expect to be attracted to him. All those years in the military taught him to suppress any feelings for men. But he's not there anymore and he's just going to act on his feelings. One kiss changes his whole life. Caleb and Tony are working together and sneaking around and that just adds to the hotness. Until rumors start flying and Tony can't let his impulses ruin Caleb's career. Tony does have some choices to make and when he decides to put Caleb and their happiness first it just all falls into place! I loved this story. Caleb and Tony are so much fun together! And they also sit and talk and share their lives and feelings. I love all the side characters and can't wait for the rest of the books in the series!