Better Late Than Never

by L.A. Witt

Lieutenant Commander Connor Marks is starting over. His kids are grown up. His divorce is final. He’s settled into his new command and a beautiful house in Spain. Nothing left to do but move forward.

And maybe explore his bisexuality after all this time.

Unfortunately, his options are limited. He doesn’t speak enough Spanish to connect with the locals, and getting involved with other service members can get… complicated.

When HM1 Alex Barlow stumbles across a hot guy on a hookup app, of course it’s that gorgeous new physician Alex sees all the time at the hospital. Of course he’s looking to hook up with a guy. Of course he’s exactly Alex’s type.

The only problem is that Connor is an officer while Alex is enlisted. The fraternization regs are crystal clear—they can’t even be friends, never mind hook up.

Never mind be more than hookups.

But the Navy’s regs can’t cool the chemistry sizzling between Alex and Connor.

And nothing—not even their own stubbornness or Alex’s toxic, persistent ex—can stop them from falling in love.


Discussion of past abuse, brief on-page violence; combat-related PTSD.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Military Fiction, LGBT, Amazon, Queer, Gay

472 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2025

About the author

L.A. Witt and her husband have been exiled from Spain and sent to live in Maine because rhymes are fun. She now divides her time between writing, assuring people she is aware that Maine is cold, wondering where to put her next tattoo, and trying to reason with a surly Maine coon. Rumor has it her arch nemesis, Lauren Gallagher, is also somewhere in the wilds of New England, which is why L.A. is also spending a portion of her time training a team of spec ops lobsters.

Authors Ann Gallagher and Lori A. Witt have been asked to assist in lobster training, but they "have books to write" and "need to focus on our careers" and "don't you think this rivalry has gotten a little out of hand?" They're probably just helping Lauren raise her army of squirrels trained to ride moose into battle.

Visit her website at http://www.gallagherwitt.com/.

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF ~15%

Just felt very phoned in, and the hook to get the MCs talking initially strained credulity too much for me.

[Jax]

472 pages of this? No. Not good enough. DNF @10%.

[Reid Turing · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rounding down from 1.5 stars. I've really enjoyed some of Whitt's military romances in the past, especially those set at foreign bases, but this one just fell flat (imo) in many ways. These books are becoming very formulaic: two guys meet and are immediately drooling over how hot the other guy is. There's some reason they shouldn't be together, but neither of them cares enough so it's in for a penny, in for a pound. Speaking of poundtown, they sex is always hard and fast (usually with somebody begging for it that way) or drawn out and slow (reserved for emotional occasions such as immediately after a love confession). The characters have one (1) personality trait (Alex's anxiety about his family and past relationship, Connor's kids and ex wife) and beyond that their comparability seems to be determined by how much they like to bang each other (and say some very awkward dialogue while they're at it). I finished it mostly because I was in an airport and it was the most redily available thing on my phone.

[Crisana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read about military men abroad, this time in the south of Spain. I say keep them coming as there's something really nice about these books. And I was very happy that unlike Leave, this one did not have the MCs go back to the US for a lengthy period of time.
I loved both MCs and their interactions and their travels were also great to read. I am familiar with the areas they visited and it made me want to go back. But not in August haha

[Wilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these two.

Great book. As a veteran, an enlisted soldier who married an officer, I completely understand. We did the sneaking around doe 2 years. 39 years later and 3 children, it was certainly worth it.

[TresCameron · Rating 2 out of 5]

good story but horrible editing

Good story but, due to the poor editing, not as enjoyable as it could be. Author wrote in passive voice way too much and a lot of typos, poor word choice all detracts from the story.

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, another internal monologue angst fest! 1/3 travelogue, 1/3 internal monologue and sex, and 1/3 plot: not a combination that worked for me

[Tris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes a book that just flows and happens is a good book. There’s no reason to fill it with complications and misunderstandings.

Alex and Connor are both in the Navy and due to this they can’t “fraternalise”. Both men are stationed in Spain and the story goes on to describe their growing feelings as well as the struggles to make things work when it is against regulations.

I enjoyed the descriptions of Spain and places that they went throughout the book. I’ve always enjoyed when food is described and there is a lot of that too. Maybe the author has travelled to these places or done a lot of research but there is a big chunk of descriptions of places and tourist-y stuff which I found interesting. To me a book doesn’t have to keep “happening”; sometimes just enjoying the development is enough.

Both MCs were great. It missed some “slow burn” factor to give it more emotional pull. But overall it was intense when needed and I would read this again.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is mostly an emotional, angsty, and thoughtful high-heat journey of discovery and healing for two men. Connor is a doctor, newly divorced and stationed in Spain, who is ready to explore the male side of his bisexuality. He's not sure where to start, thinking of using apps, when he connects with Alex. Due to military non-fraternization policies, the two men cannot have any kind of relationship, even friendship, so they move to the DL.

As time goes by, their friendship turns to something more, but both men suffer from untreated PTSD and Connor is still finding out about himself. Alex's lack of self-confidence and a stalking ex make him doubt his own worth. Still, they decide to continue to meet secretly and take trips together, mostly in Spain.

The journey to love feels realistic, not rushed, and genuine. The color details about military life and touristy activities make the reader feel like they're on vacation. I really enjoyed this story.

[Didi Ps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lieutenant Commander Connor Marks is ready to start over a new life after his divorce. He’s settling into a new home, in a new country… where he decides that maybe it’s time he explores his bisexuality after all this time. But without speaking the language, trying to avoid other service members, things could get complicated.

HM1 Alex Barlow ends up matching up with Connor, but as he’s trying to navigate this, it’s clear that whatever they may have is just not allowed by the regs. Despite this, and despite Alex’s annoying ex, it seems that even if they’re not allowed, maybe they might be exactly what the other needs.

Near the end of the book, I felt so sad when it became clear how low Alex’s self esteem was...

Still, it was worth reading on to see them get to their HEA.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how good is this? Both have spent their entire adult lives in the military. There are strict rules and expectations, so what happens when 2 people meet, fall in love and have to hide underneath all the rules, or risk it all. Connor and Alex, 2 men searching but hindered by the rules that bind them. One night only - that was the deal. There is too much at stake. Throw in some family neglect, new exploration, beautiful scenery and locations, a bit of drama with an ex and it has all the ingrediants for a successful story.

[Terri · Rating 1 out of 5]

Excruciating. I hoped we might step it up a bit, but it is remaining tediously every little thought spelled out every time, high-school angsty, when these are older men, and I can't. DNF at 14%. Should've stopped sooner.

[Sarah☀️ Somerville · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet, but not super eventful given the page count.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

pros: rly sweet realistic love story, older mmcs

cons: got kinda boring, not a whole lot of plot

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stereotypical Gay story.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fact that I keep not returning to this book tells me that it isn't working for me. I think it's probably the tension around a secret relationship.

[MiChElLe]

KINDLE FREEBIE 8/20/2025

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Andalusian setting was lovely, but this was too long & repetitive. I would have enjoyed it if it were edited down.

[Elise H · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75⭐️

Good story but too much smut