Stories in the Anchor Point universe can be enjoyed in any order
Second-class petty officers Dalton Taylor and Chris Ingram have been best friends since coxswain’s school. Now they’re stationed together in the Harbor Patrol Unit of NAS Adams. They’re content as friends, but secretly, they both ache for more. Neither makes a move, though; while Dalton is out and proud, Chris is closeted—even from his best friend.
Then another coxswain’s negligence nearly drowns Dalton. After a taste of how easily they could lose each other, neither man can keep his feelings hidden anymore, and it turns out love and sex come easy when you’re falling for your best friend.
Things aren’t just heating up between the friends-turned-lovers, though. The Navy is investigating the accident, and the Harbor Patrol chief isn’t going to let his star coxswain go down for dereliction of duty, even if saving him means throwing Dalton under the bus.
As the threats and gaslighting pile up, Chris and Dalton need each other more than ever—as shipmates, friends, and lovers. But if their chief prevails, the only way they can save their careers is to let each other go.
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.
I'm totally the minority with this one so feel free to ignore me. The Anchor Point series is a mixed bag for me. I absolutely loved the first book, and the others were hit or miss. Going Overboard was sadly a miss.
In a few words, the military storyline was very well thought and perfectly executed, but the romance felt choppy and seriously lacking any depth.
Witt is always on point about the military stuff. The details of Dalton's accident and the wheels that were set in motion, the rankings, the hierarchy and the insides of a naval base were very much on point. I had no problem following through despite not even being a US citizen.
It's the romance that fell totally flat for me. I love the "friends-to-lovers" trope, but I didn't get the friends feeling at all here. Chris and Dalton were supposed to be friends before but I didn't see it. I never understood why Chris didn't come out to Dalton before, and we never actually see them interacting as friends before Dalton's accident. When they came together, it felt somewhat inconsequential.
The characters seemed to exist in a vacuum. Towards the end, we learn a little bit more about Dalton's family but that's about it. No background whatsoever.
As for the resolution, although I was very satisfied with the way the bad guys went down, I really didn't appreciate Chris's stance, the way he chose to deal with it, or to be precise, not deal with it.
The sex scenes were hot, sure, but not enough to make me feel a connection between the protagonists. In the end, I was bored.
Again, this could just be me. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this kind of story.
After Dalton almost drowned by a stupid 'accident' on board, Chris knows his feelings are only getting stronger. Only no one can know. Homophobic colleagues and superiors make this impossible.
A lot of story, and I just wanted Dalton and Chris being together. At 40% they finally made a move... a kiss. And they end up in bed together and have a steamy sexy night...and after that...the heat is on!! But sadly they have to keep their relationship on the down-low
An extended story... a lot going on between colleagues and M1, M2 and M3. Dalton has to prove it wasn't his stupid mistake he almost drowned but Anderson's fault. His own chief wants to bite his head off...telling him what to say to the investigators. Corruption playing high. But his chief is more rotten than they expected.... he even got Chris and Dalton on the edge.. Chris makes a decision... and both lovers are miserable about it. They didn't only lost their love but also their best friends in each other.
Dalton isn't the strongest at the moment but he's the one who makes the right choice at the right moment.
I must say at the beginning of this story I was afraid i wouldn't liked it at all. It was a lot to digest and I didn't got into the story. I did go on and I was glad I did because it was getting better and better. I must also confess I'm not the biggest fan of (for me not native) navy stories... sorry. There are too many, work details... oops sorry again ... but two great personalities put in a difficult situation I do like and two people who love each other hard I do like... so after I got better in the whole navy scene... I loved it more and more. The writing style was good, the plot was well done, the environments totally depending on the fact if you like navy, overall a solid good written story.
Kindly received an arc from the publisher through NetGalley
First, I need to say that I could NEVER have been in the military. Well, obviously, for more than one reason that are completely irrelevant here... But that Lasby guy... Yeah. I would have told him to fuck off and some and then been fired on day 3...
I was raging to my kindle during all my reading against that Chief Lasby! God. I love a good vilain!!
Best Friends to Lovers doesn't always work for me because... Well, I'm not really sure why. But here, Dalton and Chris were so adorable. We could feel the love from the start and their friendship remained the same from page 1 to the end. I think this is why I, sometimes, have trouble with this kind of story. The fact that it's either Lovers or Friends but once they have sex. The friendship part is often dulled out. Well not here. This was angst free. Except the bullshit happening with the chief.
I loved how everything went smoothly between them. I loved the part in the office with Jackson and Curtis from the previous books. I was like "OH FUCK. FINALLY!!!!"
Man, this was annoying. I mean, I wanted to read until all the injustice was solved, but that was the only reason. Nothing in the story was done well. I did not notice any character features in both MCs. I did not pick up why they liked each other. I did not understand why Chris was in the closet even to his best gay friend. I thought the homophobia and bullying unnecessarily aggravating. I did not get why these two wanted to be in the navy. And I hoped for some drama in the friendship, instead of all the injustice caused by others. Did not finish at 40%. The narration was good.
This isn’t my first time reading a L.A. Witt book, but this is the first in this series that I am reading. I didn’t have any issues falling into this book. As it’s written in first person POV, it felt very natural and engaging.
Dalton and Chris’s story does start off a little slow. There’s a lot of extra terminology in this book, which makes the series far more authentic. However, I think it can create a lag in pacing, especially when there’s a lot in the beginning of the book. Nevertheless, I do like an author who clearly does her research and knows her stuff.
When it comes to M/M Romance, I usually enjoy stories with a bit of Romantic Suspense in it, so this series fit into my style perfectly. Highly detailed and fast-paced, this is a great read to get your heart pumping. I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
The plot of this book felt more serious than previous stories have, adding more layers to the complex Navy politics the author weaves into these romances. Dalton, an out gay man and Chris, who’s black, have had a harder time gaining promotions and rank than most of their peers, for some valid reasons but also subtle bigotry. It’s made them distrustful of fair treatment by higher-ups. After the terrifying incident that hurts Dalton, he and the woman who saved him are being pressured about the investigation and their testimony. Their chief is twisting details about their actions during the accident caused by the bad decision of the other coxswain, the Chief’s golden boy. It was very interesting to learn various ins and outs of Naval procedure, the sharp divides between enlisted and officers and lack of trust in the chain of command.
Romance did seem to get overwhelmed by the focus on Dalton’s problems though, so when Chris and Dalton finally got together, I didn’t get much sense of the UST they should have been drowning in (pun not intended!). There’s no drama when Chris finally comes out to Dalton, and I liked their little beach retreats but wanted more togetherness outside of their jobs and bedroom. The dialogue revolved almost entirely around Dalton, his stress over his difficult recovery which could hurt his career, the pressure of exams and the uncertainty about the investigation. Chris was so resigned to worrying, without much effort in finding constructive solutions, he was hard to like much at some points. The sex scenes were still pretty hot but didn’t add a lot of romantic elements. However, I was fully invested in how Dalton would save himself and his career, and how he and Chris could be together.
The epilogue provides satisfying closure for all the characters, as well as the reader. I also liked the way Chiefs Jackson and Curtis, from the last two books, were drawn into the narrative. I read any and every book L.A. Witt writes about the military, as well as the majority of her other works in MM romance. She’s a skilled, prolific writer of well-researched tales but her personal experience as a Navy spouse lifts these books above the norm. I’m very much looking forward to the next book and Diego’s story!
*An ARC was provided by the author, publisher or promotional service via NetGalley and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review for Jessie G Books Reviews blog*
I enjoy the stories in this series. After all, who wouldn’t like hot, built Navy men? But each book carries its own unique flavor and this one was one of my favorites.
I think it’s because the author treated the two MCs as a couple right from the beginning, even though they didn’t become lovers until later. They were best friends; they shared a career and a love of the sea; they had integrity; and they had a good sense of humor and enjoyed being in each other’s company. And most of all, they had each other’s back. They are the kind of guys who I think of as a duo—one is never far from the other. Instead of setting up each man individually, telling his back story and having their lives run parallel before making them intertwine, somehow the author made this couple so strong—even when they were just friends—that readers couldn’t possibly doubt their coupledom.
A scary almost-death adventure out on rough seas occurred early in the story, so nail biting began much sooner than I expected. The scene was dramatic, realistic, and downright frightening. And it proved to be the catalyst that led from friendship to romance for Dalton and Chris. It also proved to be the catalyst for the drama that forms the core of this story—drama that primarily occurs between each of the men individually and together—from their chief. Chief Lasby does everything in his power to shift the blame of the accident that nearly claimed Dalton’s life to Dalton himself. Otherwise, the blame would fall where it belongs—on the shoulders of the chief’s favorite coxswain.
There’s a ton of information about the Navy, the rank system, the official regulations and the unofficial reality of life in the service. I enjoyed every detail because it made the story more realistic, and I was impressed by the author’s ability to weave factual information in with her vivid imagination to bring us a heartwarming love story in the midst of a very realistic potential catastrophe.
This can be read as a standalone, though two characters from previous series play a significant role toward the end. It’s not necessary to know who they are to be able to enjoy the story, but those of us who have read the others books can appreciate the update on these two friends.
I highly recommend this one to those who enjoy slow burn, friends to lovers, military men, and just plain old romance.
A copy of this ARC was provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Another solid story in the Anchor Point series. This can be read on its own, though a few characters from previous books make appearances. Here, we have a few things going on that make it a bit different from the previous books. This story centers around two best friends and fellow coxswains, Dalton and Chris.
For starters, these guys are coxswains, or the guys who drive and patrol the harbor boats. For various reasons, they are both at a point where they must pass a test in order to move up in rank, something which Dalton must do this time around or his career is in jeopardy.
In the meantime, Dalton has trouble while on patrol when another coxswain who slightly outranks Dalton disregards Dalton’s arguments about the unsafe conditions. An accident causes Dalton to go overboard where he nearly drowns and collides with the boat. The quick thinking and bravery of his other fellow shipmate saves his life. However, it quickly becomes apparent that politics and bullying are going to play a big factor in who goes down as responsible for everything. The tables are turned on Dalton and his savior, and there seems to be little they can do about any of it.
Then, there is the issue of Dalton and Chris. They’ve been bffs for a long time, and though Dalton has harbored a crush on Chris, he believes him to be straight. At the same time, Chris actually has the same feelings for Dalton, but he has not yet told him he’s gay as well. Neither have wanted their friendship jeopardized, so they’ve kept quiet. After Dalton’s accident, things are more clear for each of them, and they end up on the same page. Unfortunately, the politics and bullying from before comes into play here as well.
I really enjoyed this installment about two younger guys whose love grows stronger as they tackle similar issues. I imagine this type of scenario happens all too often with men and women being abused by those in power, trying to keep their own careers on track and how quickly it can all come crashing down. In the end, they were able to figure a way out with the help of those previous characters I mentioned. I definitely recommend this entire series if you’re looking for some hot Navy action with characters facing issues a bit different than the military stories out there. Ms. Witt knows her stuff, makes it really easy to follow and dresses it up with love and hot sex. Can’t ask for much more than that!
Going Overboard is a steamy friends-to-more romance that takes you back to NAS Adams and introduces you to second-class petty officer Dalton Taylor, a confident, young sailor who finds himself on the cusp of losing his career, his life, and the one he adores, as well as fellow second-class petty officer Chris Ingram who may finally have to risk it all to have the one he secretly yearns.
The writing is lighthearted and provocative. The characters are devoted, driven, and supportive. And the plot, from start to finish, is filled to the brim with life, love, friendship, family, longing, angst, drama, military politics and tantalizing romance.
Going Overboard is the fifth novel in the Anchor Point series and is certainly another spicy, entertaining, enjoyable military romance by Witt that highlights her exceptional knowledge into the pressures, challenges, and expectations of Navy life.
Thank you to NetGalley and Riptide Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
If there was a petition out there asking L.A. Witt to continue this series for at least another 10 books, I’m pretty sure my signature would be right on top. I’ve liked, if not absolutely loved, every book so far, and this one is no exception. In this fifth installment we get the story of Chris and Dalton, long-time friends who have to finally find the courage to not only tell each other what they have long felt, but put all those years of friendship-turned-love to the test against a chief that will be more than willing to sink both their relationship and their careers to save his own ass as well as the ass of his favorite subordinate, MA1 Anderson.
In the Navy, the chain of command is everything…even if the command in the chain is fucking stupid. Or bigoted. Or just lazy. So when MA2 Dalton Taylor is ordered to get on a harbor patrol ship that is questionable during the best of times–and no one would call the weather or the waters that night the “best” of anything–and man one of the heavy guns, well he does it. Because that is his job and he’d like to be able to keep it if at all possible. Doesn’t mean he didn’t try to talk Anderson into turning back. Not that he has any sucess. And not much luck, either.
In fact the only bit of luck he had was scraped together to save his ass from certain death. No thanks to the coxswain at the helm who almost killed him and his fellow patrol member.
But even if the “accident” didn’t kill him, that doesn’t mean that the whole mess is over. Even with Dalton at his side, it seems that the rest of the Navy is out to get him–or at the very least doesn’t care if Chief Lasby throws him under the nearest ship to save the coxswain who set the whole thing in motion.
Ugh. This book. So good. A good friends-to-lovers book is always a must have for me, but I must admit that with this series Witt could probably write a book about two rats on one of the ships in the harbor and I’d most likely go out of my way to read it. Well…maybe not rats.
But that is a topic for another time.
For now…let’s just say this book hit all my sweet spots when it comes to this kind of trope. The friendship was highly believable before the relationship took place–I kinda dislike friends-to-lovers books where it seems like the only thing they have in common is that they want to fuck each other, but they just haven’t got around to it yet–but with Chris and Dalton that wasn’t a problem. Yeah they are totally crushing on each other, but there seems to be genuine friendship between them as well. This also helps me buy the swiftness of the love declarations later in the book. They have spent decades getting to know each other, so I can totally get that adding a more physical aspect to their relationship wasn’t the beginning of something, just giving another layer into an already deep connection.
Also, you know, they are hot as fuck together.
My favorite part might be the way the book handled the whole issue with the accident and the resulting aftermath. Both on a personal and professional level. I liked that the story didn’t just shrug away the physical, mental, and psychological ramifications of the accident. And that it showed that not only Dalton being affected by that night. He might have been the one in the most peril, but the others there have issues to deal with as well. On the professional side of things, I really liked hating Chief Lasby. His subtle–and less than subtle–aggressions against Dalton and Chris made me want to toss the asshole off the nearest cliff. But it was also done in such a way that I kinda understood why no one up top was doing anything about his shady dealings. I would have liked a bit more about Anderson–despite his actions having huge ramifications on Chris, Dalton, and the entire plot, he is not in the book a whole lot. I think the story wanted to fix its gaze more on the real problem that is Lasby, but I think giving a bit more page time to Anderson wouldn’t have gone amiss.
But really, that is my one quibble. And it is not a big one. Overall this was a great story and when Lasby finally goes down I wanted to fucking cheer. If you have been enjoying this series, I can’t see you disliking this one. And luckily it can easily be read as a standalone if you have yet to pick up any of the other four books.
(On a side note, I don’t think I will ever understand the ranking system of the Navy. All these letters and numbers make me go a bit cross-eyed. Five books in and I’m still “nodding and smiling” while frantically googling shit on my phone.)
4.5 stars
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Audiobook Review Famous reader words, 'I was only going to read/listen to the first chapter... yeah, three hours later... It was a bit of wanting the strong military setting this author brings, a different romance situation with each book, and a favorite narrator. Needless to say, this book went quickly for me and left me well-pleased with the outcome.
Going Overboard is book five in the Anchor Point series. I can attest to the fact that these can be read/listened to as standalones or out of order. I suspect they do flow best when taken in order, but I seem to be bouncing around with the entries in this series and fortunately, it has worked.
The story opens with a horrific event when bad weather, high sea, and a negligent leader nearly get two petty officers almost killed. But, that's only the beginning for poor injured Dalton. His chief plans for Dalton to take the fall for the mishap so his golden boy favorite who is to blame doesn't get in trouble. There is pressure on Dalton and the one other witness to tell a different story than the truth for the inquiry. Meanwhile, the chief has another leverage to use against Dalton when his recent friends to lovers romance with fellow petty officer and best friend, Chris Ingram becomes known to him. Dalton and Chris' very jobs and more are on the line and their easiest bet is to give up their relationship.
So, the US Navy is like any other large bureaucratic organization. Mini-tyrants, preferment, distinction of officer from the rank and file and other issues are prevalent. The author painted an authentic setting and situation. I like how each book explores a different aspect of life on the Adams Naval Base and in the surrounding community, a different injustice that must be addressed, and a romance that comes with complications.
In truth this pair slid easily from friendship into more though it took some time because Chris wasn't out that he is gay while Dalton was. The romance was not the most prevalent element and was evenly balanced with the situation caused by the incident at sea. It was slow burn in the sense that it took nearly half the book before they had their ducks in a row and shared a kiss. But once they did? Boy howdy did they scorch things up. Dalton got stuck in his head a lot about his situation and Chris want to do something noble.
I was really rooting for them both against that villainous chief. I so wanted a heavy military transport to flatten that guy and his crony. There was more going on as the truth came out and he was worse than I thought.
As I said, I experience this story on audio and I was thrilled to do so because I really enjoy Nick J. Russo's narration work. He had several different voices to distinguish all the characters and, simply put, he's a splendid story teller. I get caught up and the time just flies by.
All in all, this was a fantastic entry in the series (enjoyed the encounters with previous series characters) and I look forward to more visits at Anchor Point. Those who enjoy spicy m/m military romances should give this series a go.
My thanks to Riptide Publishing for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've been dipping in and out of this series in audio and have enjoyed the instalments I've listened to, but this is my favourite so far. The friends-to-lovers romance is perhaps a little overshadowed by the plot, which is full of Navy politics as a higher-up with an agenda gaslights a subortinate (one of the leads) who was almost killed in an on-the-water accident.
But I didn't mind -I was so engrossed in that part of the story that I was hard pressed to stop listening when I had to, so it's whatever the audio equivalent of a page-turner is ;) The relationship between the leads is nicely done - they're already best friends when they get together and they're pretty solid, so the conflict is all external; and I especially liked the author's insight into the way the accident affects Dalton mentally as well as physically, and the bullying by the senior officer was so insidious and rang - sadly - true.
Nick J. Russo is a favourite narrator and delivers an excellent performance - all the characters are clearly differentiated and he somehow manages to convey the sheer nastiness of the Chief without making him sound like a cartoon villain. The two leads are easy to tell apart and NJR hits all the right emotional notes - this one's definitely going on the "relisten before too long" pile.
This is the 5th book I've read in this series and there hasn't been a single one under 4 stars. It's that good!
L.A. Witt provides an intense amount of detail about Navy life. I find it fascinating at the same time as I cringe at the regimented lifestyle. I'm not one to appreciate orders (or to follow them), so I'm entranced with these men who make the Navy their lives.
Our MCs are best of friends when the story begins. A near fatal accident is the catalyst for them to become a couple. As a mixed race gay couple they not only have to deal with a superior gaslighting them over the accident. They also have to deal with his poorly concealed homophobia. Going Overboard focuses more on the ins and outs of Navy regulation and abuse of power than it does on the MCs romance.
I became so invested in the story that I was fuming over the MCs treatment. I got pretty damn emotional over the whole thing. :-/ So, I can only repeat, "it's that good!".
4.5 stars !!!
Review ARC graciously provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley
If I hadn't of already listened to the next book in this series...
I'd probably be saying that this one is my favorite so far but because I'm ahead of the game and have actually taken a break to catch up on the reviews I know that this one was close but it's not 'the one' for me but still a really, really good listen and the first one in the audio series that I did't read the book before listening to the audio.
So once again we have Nick J. Russo as the narrator and can I just say that he did a really superb job on the narration of this story...I would have to say that while it didn't end up being my favorite story so far when it comes to the narration this one tops the list.
'Going Overboard' has it's own bit of uniqueness as far in comparison to the other stories in this series...we haven't met either of the MCs prior to this story and they have no connection to any of the MCs in previous stories, this is also the first biracial couple in the series, compared to the other stories there's not really an age gap or an issue with their rank and both men work in the same section. So all in all a number of small details that help to give this pairing their own unique place in this series.
Dalton and Chris actual met for the first time off page and prior to this story as they became best friends when the attended coxswain's school which is to say driving school...for boats/ships, just a bit of extra info here but boats and ships are not the same thing. In really, really simple basic detail boats are little, ships are BIG! Anything with an overall length of 197 ft. is considered a ship. Ok, that's it for the added info portion of this review.
So back to Dalton and Chris who met at coxswain school and now find themselves stationed at NAS Adams. They're both working hard to gain their rank of MA1 (Master at Arms First Class) time is running out for both of these men as their nearing the end of their qualifying period. But they're studying hard and they're determined. Things are actually looking good until the night that Dalton goes out on patrol and through the negligence of the coxswain in charge that night during incredibly bad weather and rough waters Dalton is thrown overboard, it's only because of the heroic actions of the MA2 on board with him and the coxswain that he's saved...this is where everything goes to hell.
This is also where Dalton and Chris realize that they mean so much more to each other than just friends. This is also where li'l 'ole me starts to feel rage. You see Dalton and Chris have the misfortune of being under the command of the navy's prime example of "if you can't be a good example than you might as well be a horrible warning" Chief. I had rage so much freakin' rage for this man so much rage...I can't even begin to explain mainly because I don't want to spoil the story for anyone who hasn't read/listened to it yet.
The upside of this is that while I really despised this character he achieved two things... one he solidified my connection to the MCs and my desire to see them beat the obstacles and thank to him they had a few but a side benefit of this was that it also created a situation whereby characters from previous stories were required to be involved in the resolution of events and two while I very much enjoy Ms Witt's stories having a character such as this gave an added level of emotional involvement to the story for me. I seriously raged against this man...much to my husband's amusement.
Thankfully at the end of it all I was left satisfied with the outcome of most things with one exception and that was in regards to what happened to the coxswain who was driving the boat the night Dalton was injured but sometimes things just are what they are and for the most part things wrapped up in a fairly realistic manner. So, I'm going to take the win and move on to the next story...which by the way turns out to be my favorite one in this series...although I'm not done listening to the eighth and final book so there may be some wiggle room yet...only time will tell.
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An audio book of "Going Overboard" was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars- Loved the story, but the romance took a backseat
Going Overboard is the fifth in the Anchor Point series. I started this series a bit late, beginning with the audiobooks, and have ended up jumping around a little with the reading order. Luckily, even though there’s often some overlap of characters between books, the Anchor Point series can be read as standalones or out of order without issue. Going Overboard proved to be a bit harder for me to rate. I ended up liking the military story more than the romance, but still enjoyed Miss Witt’s energetic pacing and the detailed storyline that’s different from most military romances.
When I started this book, I was really excited Chris and Dalton were long-time friends. Friends to lovers is a favorite trope of mine because the chance for a strong, palpable connection is so high. While I definitely liked how well the men knew each other and felt that allowed their relationship to develop quicker without feeling rushed, I didn’t quite feel the chemistry radiating between them. That isn’t to say I didn’t like the characters. I did, and I enjoyed the overall story. I simply think the intensity of the military storyline following Dalton’s accident actually ended up overshadowing the romance in Going Overboard, and I was more caught up in what would happen with Chris and Dalton’s careers and the investigation than with them as a couple.
What I love about this series is that it’s different than many military romances I have read. Once again, I was impressed at how well the author details the military elements, keeping things realistic for those familiar with military life while explaining elements of a career in the armed forces clearly enough to ensure the characters and situations are relatable to all readers. Although Going Overboard wasn’t my favorite of the Anchor Point series, I did really enjoy it and will certainly continue with the series going forward.
My Review: While this wasn't my favorite book of the series, I still really, really enjoyed it. Honestly, I think the only reason I didn't like it as much was just because the guys felt so much younger.
In this book, we meet Dalton and Chris, best friends...one out as gay, the other not. In fact, Dalton doesn't even know that Chris is gay...that's how far in the closet he is. But Chris is black and is already dealing with enough bigotry with that. There's no reason (to him) to give anyone more ammunition against him. But then a reckless supervisor makes a bad choice and Dalton almost dies. Suddenly Chris realizes just how much he could have lost and his secrets don't seem as important anymore. At least not as important as being honest with Dalton about his attraction to him.
These two guys are dealing with a lot. The seaman who made the mistake is the commander's favorite so he's actively trying to protect that man's wrong decisions. If that means throwing Dalton under the bus, he's okay with that, despite the fact that Dalton almost died. So Dalton is dealing with that AND the lingering physical and mental deficits left by the accident that the commander is trying to brush off as minor and just a simple miscall.
Coming from a military background (Air Force, not Navy) I totally loved watching the political mechanisms of what was happening with the guys in this book. No matter what the regulations are, there are always jerks who wear the uniform and know how to abuse it. I hated this fact for these two guys, but it truly made the book a riveting read even while I internalized their conflict over what to do about what was happening to them.
I've enjoyed this entire series. I'm going to be sad when it ends, but I feel like I've learned a ton about the Navy along the way and have enjoyed some truly great military romances.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This isn’t my first time reading a L.A. Witt book, but this is the first in this series that I am reading. I didn’t have any issues falling into this book. As it’s written in first person POV, it felt very natural and engaging.
Dalton and Chris’s story does start off a little slow. There’s a lot of extra terminology in this book, which makes the series far more authentic. However, I think it can create a lag in pacing, especially when there’s a lot in the beginning of the book. Nevertheless, I do like an author who clearly does her research and knows her stuff.
When it comes to M/M Romance, I usually enjoy stories with a bit of Romantic Suspense in it, so this series fit into my style perfectly. Highly detailed and fast-paced, this is a great read to get your heart pumping. I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
*ARC provided by publisher Reviewed by Annie❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
This is definitely one of my favorite of the series so far!! I adore friends-to-lovers and hurt/comfort. But man, I was raging at the whole situation with the Senior and the entire investigation!!! I love how LA Witt writes military romance, because I know how she has lived the life for years and it just adds that extra-special layer. Then add in Nick J Russo's narration and I am in 7th heaven!!!!
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is an exciting story about the consequences of coverups and corrupt leadership in the US Navy. It’s also a wonderful friends to lovers romance between two men who have always had each others’ backs but who have always hidden their true feelings.
I have to admit that I hesitated before requesting this story because I really didn’t get on with the last few books in the series. Fortunately, this fifth story feels fresh and exciting. This is easily the most original story in the series and the plot is much more complicated and action packed than the last couple of books.
The story starts with Dalton’s harrowing near-death experiences and then follows him through the subsequent fallout and investigation. I found the internal Navy politics both fascinating and terrifying.
The romance in this story is fantastic - I love it when friends to lovers is done right and this is just about perfect. I’m really glad that I continued with this series or I might have missed my favourite book yet.
"All I knew was that somewhere in the chaos, I’d fallen in love with my best friend."
From the first book to this one, I have given Ms. Witt high praises for her continued fascinating navy tale. I cannot get enough of the camaraderie, the tension, the need to love in such an environment and the angst that swallows you whole.
Yes, I yelled and cussed throughout this book, I admit it. But it was for the injustice and the way these two men, Dalton and Chris, felt that there was no way out for them. It was for the way they were being stifled and the "ism" that was on their backs.
Love prevails and taking a step toward the unknown can be scary, but once you've crossed that path, you have to be willing to beat the odds.
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from Riptide Publishing, through Netgalley.
I'm a big fan of the friends to lovers trope and I really enjoyed it here. These two were great together. I like how this author presents military relationships. While I have no first hand knowledge, it always feels so authentic.
I really enjoyed this one.
**ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
4.5 Stars I loved Going Overboard. I found the interaction between Dalton & Chris and the storyline extremely enjoyable and will read more by this author. This is definitely one to add to your read list
This has been a good series. Life in the military is so hard and being gay is harder. Even though it's supposed to be easier now, there is of course still prejudiceness. But I love a story where love overcomes it all.
I received a copy to read and review for Wicked Reads
I have read all rhe books in this series and this by far is my least favorite. Honestly I was bored and found myself skimming and just wanting the book to be over. I usually love stories that are friends ro lovers but even that couldn't keep my interest in this book. I felt that there was so much detail about the job that the love story got lost in the mist. I am hoping this is just a one off for the series and the next one will be better. I'm sure others will love this installment but it juat missed the mark for me.