What do you think?
Rate this book
A-List Security #1
Tough Luck
My best friend’s little brother needs a bodyguard. Now I’m the one in danger…
I’m a SEAL. Or rather, I was. Retired at the grand old age of thirty-eight, I’m at loose ends. My best friend wants me to join his security team. I’m not sure I’m bodyguard material, but he needs someone to protect his kid brother. How hard can spoiled brat duty be?
Somehow, I missed the part where former child star Danny Love went from dorky TV darling to all grown up and disturbingly attractive. All the gossip about his wild ways fails to mention that he’s trying hard to clean up his act. But now he’s got a stalker.
Hiding out together in a remote mountain cabin, alone, the temptation keeps building. I’m feeling things I never have before. Secrets I’ve kept even from myself bubble to the surface every time Danny looks my way with those puppy dog eyes.
I’m a SEAL. We leap into danger. So why is it so terrifying when that danger comes with the softest pair of lips I’ve ever known? At some point we’re going to have to return to Hollywood and our vastly different lives. Will Danny still want me around when he doesn’t need me for protection? Can I be brave enough to give him a reason to?
TOUGH LUCK is book one in a brand-new SEAL bodyguard series. It features an age gap, steamy first times, and all the high heat, big emotions, and found family feels readers expect from this fan-favorite military romance author. Join A-List security for this lower-angst series featuring former SEALs and the celebrity clients who win their hearts. Happy endings and no cliffhangers guaranteed!
I’m a SEAL. Or rather, I was. Retired at the grand old age of thirty-eight, I’m at loose ends. My best friend wants me to join his security team. I’m not sure I’m bodyguard material, but he needs someone to protect his kid brother. How hard can spoiled brat duty be?
Somehow, I missed the part where former child star Danny Love went from dorky TV darling to all grown up and disturbingly attractive. All the gossip about his wild ways fails to mention that he’s trying hard to clean up his act. But now he’s got a stalker.
Hiding out together in a remote mountain cabin, alone, the temptation keeps building. I’m feeling things I never have before. Secrets I’ve kept even from myself bubble to the surface every time Danny looks my way with those puppy dog eyes.
I’m a SEAL. We leap into danger. So why is it so terrifying when that danger comes with the softest pair of lips I’ve ever known? At some point we’re going to have to return to Hollywood and our vastly different lives. Will Danny still want me around when he doesn’t need me for protection? Can I be brave enough to give him a reason to?
TOUGH LUCK is book one in a brand-new SEAL bodyguard series. It features an age gap, steamy first times, and all the high heat, big emotions, and found family feels readers expect from this fan-favorite military romance author. Join A-List security for this lower-angst series featuring former SEALs and the celebrity clients who win their hearts. Happy endings and no cliffhangers guaranteed!
Audible Audio
First published March 24, 2022
773 people are currently reading
1414 people want to read
About the author
Annabeth Albert
110 books3,758 followersFrequent 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 353 reviews
![Profile Image for Carol [Goodreads Addict].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1626057011i%2F10717098._UX200_CR0%2C33%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
May 3, 2022
Tough Luck is Annabeth Albert’s first book in her brand new series, A-List Security. I fell in love with the cover of this book! I mean, just look at that face!
Cash Erwin is thirty eight years old and has just retired from the Navy Seals. The military is all he’s ever really known and his Seal brothers have all stayed close as they retired. His friend, Duncan, has started a security business and wants Cash to join him but he’s not sure if being a body guard is for him. But Duncan needs help, someone he can trust to help out his younger brother who it seems has a stalker. Cash can do this, not for money, but just as a favor to Duncan, while he figures out his life.
Danny Love is twenty five years old and is a former child star. His time as a Hollywood star was not the best. And as a result, he led a wild life, trying to escape. Now, post-rehab, Danny is living a good life, staying sober and healthy. He’s always had fans wanting to get closer to him but recently, things have gotten worse than usual. It seems he has a stalker but he’s not convinced it’s really something to worry about. His brother sees things differently and when he sends Cash over, Danny decides he might just be okay with Cash hanging around.
There is a thirteen year age difference but Danny is older than his years. These two just saw each other in a way no one else ever had. Cash saw how strong Danny really was, even though most others still saw him as the wild child from years before. And Danny saw that Cash was struggling to find his true self post military. Both were lonely and both were struggling to find a new direction in life.
As the danger for Danny increases, they are forced to leave Hollywood and hide out for awhile. The forced proximity is the perfect setting to get to know each other better and they definitely do!
This was such a sweet, sexy story. I couldn’t help but to love these two but mostly, I loved the way they saw each other. They made each other better, stronger, and more confident. They were each other’s home!
The next book in the series will be Duncan’s book, Hard Job. I can’t wait!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Cash Erwin is thirty eight years old and has just retired from the Navy Seals. The military is all he’s ever really known and his Seal brothers have all stayed close as they retired. His friend, Duncan, has started a security business and wants Cash to join him but he’s not sure if being a body guard is for him. But Duncan needs help, someone he can trust to help out his younger brother who it seems has a stalker. Cash can do this, not for money, but just as a favor to Duncan, while he figures out his life.
Danny Love is twenty five years old and is a former child star. His time as a Hollywood star was not the best. And as a result, he led a wild life, trying to escape. Now, post-rehab, Danny is living a good life, staying sober and healthy. He’s always had fans wanting to get closer to him but recently, things have gotten worse than usual. It seems he has a stalker but he’s not convinced it’s really something to worry about. His brother sees things differently and when he sends Cash over, Danny decides he might just be okay with Cash hanging around.
There is a thirteen year age difference but Danny is older than his years. These two just saw each other in a way no one else ever had. Cash saw how strong Danny really was, even though most others still saw him as the wild child from years before. And Danny saw that Cash was struggling to find his true self post military. Both were lonely and both were struggling to find a new direction in life.
As the danger for Danny increases, they are forced to leave Hollywood and hide out for awhile. The forced proximity is the perfect setting to get to know each other better and they definitely do!
This was such a sweet, sexy story. I couldn’t help but to love these two but mostly, I loved the way they saw each other. They made each other better, stronger, and more confident. They were each other’s home!
The next book in the series will be Duncan’s book, Hard Job. I can’t wait!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
April 6, 2022
*2.5 stars*
Look, I love Annabeth Albert, but I fell asleep reading this book three times last week. Falling asleep while reading an Annabeth Albert military romance?? SHOCKING
I feel a little badly rounding down to two stars for this story because it wasn't bad, just surprisingly underwhelming. Historically, I've adored all of this author's military romances, but this was just... bland.
First of all, the stalker storyline felt weirdly underdeveloped. All of that buildup and then everything sort of fizzled out? I wasn't sure if the book would have action or a predicament romance-storyline, but we got a sort of quasi-trapped together romance (without even real danger! or snow! and with more than one bad- whyyyyyy) that didn't even feel exciting. I liked the set up of best friend's brother and former childhood star, but it lacked intensity for me. Even the age gap and the sexual awakening felt undercooked.
I think a big part of my issue is with expectations. I ADORE sexual awakenings, and I adore age/gap, military men, and forced proximity. I also usually adore Annabeth albert! So I think I wanted a home run but I got a soft bunt (oooo, look at me being sporty!). I'm hopeful for the rest in the series but I'll wait on some reviews before I commit to reading them all.
goodreads|instagram|twitter|tiktok
Look, I love Annabeth Albert, but I fell asleep reading this book three times last week. Falling asleep while reading an Annabeth Albert military romance?? SHOCKING
I feel a little badly rounding down to two stars for this story because it wasn't bad, just surprisingly underwhelming. Historically, I've adored all of this author's military romances, but this was just... bland.
First of all, the stalker storyline felt weirdly underdeveloped. All of that buildup and then everything sort of fizzled out? I wasn't sure if the book would have action or a predicament romance-storyline, but we got a sort of quasi-trapped together romance (without even real danger! or snow! and with more than one bad- whyyyyyy) that didn't even feel exciting. I liked the set up of best friend's brother and former childhood star, but it lacked intensity for me. Even the age gap and the sexual awakening felt undercooked.
I think a big part of my issue is with expectations. I ADORE sexual awakenings, and I adore age/gap, military men, and forced proximity. I also usually adore Annabeth albert! So I think I wanted a home run but I got a soft bunt (oooo, look at me being sporty!). I'm hopeful for the rest in the series but I'll wait on some reviews before I commit to reading them all.
goodreads|instagram|twitter|tiktok
March 29, 2022
4 “I’ve never felt more watched in my life. You see me.” stars
I love Annabeth Albert’s writing and I always devour her books, I love bodyguard romances and I love it when main characters get with their friend’s siblings, so safe to say that this book was a match made in haven for me. And it worked so well for me, I was so into, which is saying a lot considering that I have been in a reading slump for the past month and that my slump only ended a couple of days ago, so I’m still finding it a little hard for me to get into books, but I was just so into this book I could not stop reading it.
Annabeth Albert books are always like a big hug to me. I always keep her books for periods where i’m super stressed and overwhelmed and I need a good book to read to relax and they all work wonder for me. And it was the case for this one too, so thank you book for offering me some relaxing time, I really appreciated it.
Brief summary
Cash is 38 and he just quit the navy. His best friend ropes him into a bodyguard job where he has to protect Danny (who’s 25), his best friend’s brother and a former tv star who has a stalker after him. They fall in love in between that.
I really enjoyed everything about this book. I enjoyed how it discussed topics like addiction and PTSD and how they were shown as parts of the characters lives and how they were so integrated in their personalities. I loved all of the interactions that Cash and Danny had together, they were such fun to read and I loved all of the time they spent together. I loved how sweet this book was, I just loved all of the small moments of Danny and Cash falling in love with each other. I really liked how the stalker side plot was important to the story but it never took over the romance. I loved how these two communicated so well and how they always cheered each other on through it all. I adore a good sexual discovery in books and Cash had never been with a guy before, so there was a lot of sexual discoveries and all of it worked for me. I just adored that part of the book so much and I loved seeing Cash’s reactions as he was trying new things.
And mostly I loved how sweet and low ansgt this book was, I loved how the book mostly was just a series of small moments that lead to Cash and Danny bounding and falling in love, that just really worked for me.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
I love Annabeth Albert’s writing and I always devour her books, I love bodyguard romances and I love it when main characters get with their friend’s siblings, so safe to say that this book was a match made in haven for me. And it worked so well for me, I was so into, which is saying a lot considering that I have been in a reading slump for the past month and that my slump only ended a couple of days ago, so I’m still finding it a little hard for me to get into books, but I was just so into this book I could not stop reading it.
Annabeth Albert books are always like a big hug to me. I always keep her books for periods where i’m super stressed and overwhelmed and I need a good book to read to relax and they all work wonder for me. And it was the case for this one too, so thank you book for offering me some relaxing time, I really appreciated it.
Brief summary
Cash is 38 and he just quit the navy. His best friend ropes him into a bodyguard job where he has to protect Danny (who’s 25), his best friend’s brother and a former tv star who has a stalker after him. They fall in love in between that.
I really enjoyed everything about this book. I enjoyed how it discussed topics like addiction and PTSD and how they were shown as parts of the characters lives and how they were so integrated in their personalities. I loved all of the interactions that Cash and Danny had together, they were such fun to read and I loved all of the time they spent together. I loved how sweet this book was, I just loved all of the small moments of Danny and Cash falling in love with each other. I really liked how the stalker side plot was important to the story but it never took over the romance. I loved how these two communicated so well and how they always cheered each other on through it all. I adore a good sexual discovery in books and Cash had never been with a guy before, so there was a lot of sexual discoveries and all of it worked for me. I just adored that part of the book so much and I loved seeing Cash’s reactions as he was trying new things.
And mostly I loved how sweet and low ansgt this book was, I loved how the book mostly was just a series of small moments that lead to Cash and Danny bounding and falling in love, that just really worked for me.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
March 29, 2022
~3.5~
The Tough Luck storyline focuses on Danny, a child television star, having a stalker. Cash, Danny's older brother's close friend, is assigned to protect Danny and upgrade the security system in Danny's house.
When the stalker strikes again, Danny and Cash hole up in a cabin in the woods where they go on a picnic, do nighttime yoga, and discover a fiery passion burning between them.
Cash has never had a male lover but can't deny his attraction to Danny. By his own admittance, Cash doesn't have a wild imagination, so he never envisioned sex could be this good. I read Cash as gay-demi because it was specifically Danny who cranked him up.
The story toddles along, with various common themes explored: forced proximity, age gap, grumpy/sunshine, client/bodyguard, sexual discovery/awakening.
Danny and Cash are interesting MCs, and the connection between them felt real.
The ending is a tentative HEA and features dogs, which is always a good thing.
However, I was expecting more to happen with the stalking plot. The resolution was, for lack of a better word, lame.
I also wanted to read more about Danny's addiction; there was no tension around this at all. We all knows addicts are never "cured," but Danny didn't seem to struggle at all with his sobriety.
I liked this book well enough, but I was expecting more ooomph from Annabeth Albert, who's one of my favorite authors in this genre.
The Tough Luck storyline focuses on Danny, a child television star, having a stalker. Cash, Danny's older brother's close friend, is assigned to protect Danny and upgrade the security system in Danny's house.
When the stalker strikes again, Danny and Cash hole up in a cabin in the woods where they go on a picnic, do nighttime yoga, and discover a fiery passion burning between them.
Cash has never had a male lover but can't deny his attraction to Danny. By his own admittance, Cash doesn't have a wild imagination, so he never envisioned sex could be this good. I read Cash as gay-demi because it was specifically Danny who cranked him up.
The story toddles along, with various common themes explored: forced proximity, age gap, grumpy/sunshine, client/bodyguard, sexual discovery/awakening.
Danny and Cash are interesting MCs, and the connection between them felt real.
The ending is a tentative HEA and features dogs, which is always a good thing.
However, I was expecting more to happen with the stalking plot. The resolution was, for lack of a better word, lame.
I also wanted to read more about Danny's addiction; there was no tension around this at all. We all knows addicts are never "cured," but Danny didn't seem to struggle at all with his sobriety.
I liked this book well enough, but I was expecting more ooomph from Annabeth Albert, who's one of my favorite authors in this genre.
December 7, 2022
I liked the basic premise of this book. Best friend's brother. Bodyguard/famous person. Forced proximity. I enjoyed all of that, I enjoyed the characters and overall pacing of the book.
However, this book was at times challenging to read because I could not at all tell the two POVs apart. I couldn't tell whose POV I was reading because they sounded the exact same. The characters are quite different so their internal voices should not sound the same.
Not only that, but also there was so much dialogue with no dialogue tags and at times I had to reread several times to figure out who was speaking. One person would do something, then there would be a random quote from someone else- but without dialogue tags I would think it was the first person speaking and it would take me a bit to figure out.
So imagine me reading this book barely knowing whose POV I was in and who was speaking 😂. It was confusing at times and made some parts hard to read. (I didn't see other reviews mention this so maybe its just me - I tend to read pretty quickly so I know I overlook things at times)
Overall not bad but could have been better. I'll still give book two a try eventually.
However, this book was at times challenging to read because I could not at all tell the two POVs apart. I couldn't tell whose POV I was reading because they sounded the exact same. The characters are quite different so their internal voices should not sound the same.
Not only that, but also there was so much dialogue with no dialogue tags and at times I had to reread several times to figure out who was speaking. One person would do something, then there would be a random quote from someone else- but without dialogue tags I would think it was the first person speaking and it would take me a bit to figure out.
So imagine me reading this book barely knowing whose POV I was in and who was speaking 😂. It was confusing at times and made some parts hard to read. (I didn't see other reviews mention this so maybe its just me - I tend to read pretty quickly so I know I overlook things at times)
Overall not bad but could have been better. I'll still give book two a try eventually.
Read
March 28, 2022dnf @ 51%
this shit was... fucking boring. a yawnfest. it lacks this gag factor for me. i'm not saying that a book needs to be dramatic or what but if you're going to reuse the same old rusty tropes, make sure your story will own it. otherwise, don't bother at all. my first half-finished story (girl, i tried 4 books) from miss albert and definitely my last. her books are soooo unmemorable for me. like whats cooking down there? nothing. years 2022 and boring stories like this are still getting published.
this shit was... fucking boring. a yawnfest. it lacks this gag factor for me. i'm not saying that a book needs to be dramatic or what but if you're going to reuse the same old rusty tropes, make sure your story will own it. otherwise, don't bother at all. my first half-finished story (girl, i tried 4 books) from miss albert and definitely my last. her books are soooo unmemorable for me. like whats cooking down there? nothing. years 2022 and boring stories like this are still getting published.
July 9, 2024
This is a very simple story, without depth or excitement. Some might say it is a boring book. I chose it for that very reason, it was all I wanted to read. Just the babbling of a love story with the stringing together of beautiful scenes.
This is also a completely typical muscular bodyguard- protects- delicately built famous person. Really nothing surprising here.
“You really want to fool around with me again?”
“Uh-huh. Badly.” His gaze swept over me, and he sighed like I was a big slice of chocolate cake he wasn’t allowed to have.
“Say the word, and I’ll be on you like the moss on those rocks.” 😂🌸😂
“You give me space to find myself. I thought I needed miles of open road. Turns out I simply needed you.” 🫠💞🫠
However, I love how the inner strength of Danny is portrayed, even though he is very needy. And I love how Cash rediscovers his sexuality. Really well done and yes it's all super cheesy, but my head is soooo tired, I couldn't have handled more right now.
Tiny point of criticism, towards the end there are too many sex scenes, this wouldn't have been necessary at all ...
This is also a completely typical muscular bodyguard- protects- delicately built famous person. Really nothing surprising here.
“You really want to fool around with me again?”
“Uh-huh. Badly.” His gaze swept over me, and he sighed like I was a big slice of chocolate cake he wasn’t allowed to have.
“Say the word, and I’ll be on you like the moss on those rocks.” 😂🌸😂
“You give me space to find myself. I thought I needed miles of open road. Turns out I simply needed you.” 🫠💞🫠
However, I love how the inner strength of Danny is portrayed, even though he is very needy. And I love how Cash rediscovers his sexuality. Really well done and yes it's all super cheesy, but my head is soooo tired, I couldn't have handled more right now.
Tiny point of criticism, towards the end there are too many sex scenes, this wouldn't have been necessary at all ...
March 24, 2022
Another great ex military-based romance
I love it when Annabeth goes into the military or ex-military worlds for her inspiration.
While this is much lighter on that side of things, there are no active-duty SEALs here, it's still an entertaining read.
Cash and Danny couldn't be more different but they're both lost and searching for something undefined when they meet.
The stalker plot isn't a new one but it's given a lighter hand here with an 'escape to a cabin', forced proximity vibe that couples well with Cash's own journey of sexual awakening.
Danny's vulnerability is also highlighted well, he's a former Hollywood child and teen star who's never been put first by anyone who matters.
Together they find solace, each bringing out an inner strength in the other which has positive consequences.
The sex is both sweet and steamy, with an emotional sensitivity as the connection grows.
It's a fairly stress-free read, there's no unnecessary drama and it has a gentle warm-hearted feeling throughout.
I love it when Annabeth goes into the military or ex-military worlds for her inspiration.
While this is much lighter on that side of things, there are no active-duty SEALs here, it's still an entertaining read.
Cash and Danny couldn't be more different but they're both lost and searching for something undefined when they meet.
The stalker plot isn't a new one but it's given a lighter hand here with an 'escape to a cabin', forced proximity vibe that couples well with Cash's own journey of sexual awakening.
Danny's vulnerability is also highlighted well, he's a former Hollywood child and teen star who's never been put first by anyone who matters.
Together they find solace, each bringing out an inner strength in the other which has positive consequences.
The sex is both sweet and steamy, with an emotional sensitivity as the connection grows.
It's a fairly stress-free read, there's no unnecessary drama and it has a gentle warm-hearted feeling throughout.
Read
March 29, 2022DNF ~ 55%
*yawn* Bored now.
This wasn't *bad*, it was just utterly formulaic and lackluster. These are some reeeeeaaaallly well-worn tropes here, so I expect authors to bring their A-game so it doesn't feel like the exact same story I've already read a thousand times. I could have finished this, but why bother?
*yawn* Bored now.
This wasn't *bad*, it was just utterly formulaic and lackluster. These are some reeeeeaaaallly well-worn tropes here, so I expect authors to bring their A-game so it doesn't feel like the exact same story I've already read a thousand times. I could have finished this, but why bother?
April 8, 2022
DNF at 47%
When I started this I thought it was better than I expected. It felt sweet and uncomplicated
But somehow I seemed to lose all interest along the way. And when it became a chore to pick it up again I decided to call it quits.
This isn't a bad book, really. It just dragged in the middle and I couldn't seem to get past that.
When I started this I thought it was better than I expected. It felt sweet and uncomplicated
But somehow I seemed to lose all interest along the way. And when it became a chore to pick it up again I decided to call it quits.
This isn't a bad book, really. It just dragged in the middle and I couldn't seem to get past that.
October 14, 2022
Danny, who had ADHA, has chosen to step away from acting which he had done most of his 25-years on Earth and bought an old mansion in a ritzy neighborhood. He never wanted to go back to his old life which included drugs. His old life has brought a stalker into his new life. Danny's half-brother runs a security service that employees some of his former Naval buddies...all who happen to also be former SEALS. Cash recently retired and needs a job, so he allows himself to agree to look out for Danny. What they thought was a mere over enthusiastic fan, turns out to be a stalker that seems to not stop at anything including leaving dead rats and pictures that he should never had a way of getting and knowing where Danny will be almost all the time. Cash and Danny were attracted to one another from the start, but it took a while for them to admit it or to act on it...using to excuse of the 15-year age difference. Why is that ALWAYS the excuse? I really liked that Cash didn't have to put on his "white knight" persona but had the room to help Danny see that he was plenty strong and capable on his own. That level of support is worth several dozen red roses. It's a sweet story that dwells more on the prospects of a future and worries less about the past, with two beautifully portrayed characters.
April 11, 2022
2.5 meh 😒 stars!! So this may be just me and not the book, but it took me 10 days to finish this book. 🙄🙄 (and it’s not because I was busy) I typically can’t wait to get done with work, study, chores to escape to my kindle.. but this story was so boring and bland that I tried to escape from the book.. 🤪 Cash and Danny; what can I say about them? A more boring, predictable pair I have yet to meet.. 🙄 Even their intimate scenes seemed choreographed and insipid. I skipped a lot of those actually just to get to the end.
I think my disappointment comes from the expectations or promise that the plot had. I really like AA, but I think she sleep-walked through this one. I will say this however, that this is not the book to judge her on. She has written some exceptional stories.. so feel free to skip this one. It’s not worth it. 👎🏻
I think my disappointment comes from the expectations or promise that the plot had. I really like AA, but I think she sleep-walked through this one. I will say this however, that this is not the book to judge her on. She has written some exceptional stories.. so feel free to skip this one. It’s not worth it. 👎🏻
April 20, 2022
Cash has just retired from active duty. He is trying to figure out his next move in life. His former Lieutenant, Duncan, has offered him a job with his new security firm. Cash is not interested. However, when Duncan has to go out of town and his brother, Danny, is in need of some assistance Cash reluctantly agrees to check in on him.
Danny is a former child star and half-brother to Duncan. Danny is also a recovering addict who is trying to leave the Hollywood lifestyle behind. However, he finds himself with a stalker. Which is where Cash comes in.
Due to Danny's stalker issue the two of them go into hiding at a cabin.
There is force proximity
A sexual awakening (Cash has never been with a man.)
Age Gap
Overall, an ok read. It was a bit of a slow start. I did like how Cash never saw Danny as weak. They both wanted each other to think better of themselves. Their family history is to blame for that. I do look forward to seeing where the rest of this series goes.
Danny is a former child star and half-brother to Duncan. Danny is also a recovering addict who is trying to leave the Hollywood lifestyle behind. However, he finds himself with a stalker. Which is where Cash comes in.
Due to Danny's stalker issue the two of them go into hiding at a cabin.
There is force proximity
A sexual awakening (Cash has never been with a man.)
Age Gap
Overall, an ok read. It was a bit of a slow start. I did like how Cash never saw Danny as weak. They both wanted each other to think better of themselves. Their family history is to blame for that. I do look forward to seeing where the rest of this series goes.
July 19, 2022
Sooooooo booooring!
There is a 13 year age gap here, which I already don’t love, but Danny seems 25 going on 12 and it made me uncomfortable enough that I skimmed the sex scenes. Also skimmed everything else from 50% onward. I’m honestly not even sure why I finished this. All I can say is getting covid fucked with my brain and that’s why I forced myself through this.
There is a 13 year age gap here, which I already don’t love, but Danny seems 25 going on 12 and it made me uncomfortable enough that I skimmed the sex scenes. Also skimmed everything else from 50% onward. I’m honestly not even sure why I finished this. All I can say is getting covid fucked with my brain and that’s why I forced myself through this.
May 7, 2025
This needed a bit of something more✨💫
July 16, 2022
ugh. just… ugh. this is so imbalanced, I’m surprised the cover isn’t askew. everything is on cash’s terms. danny wants to be an equal, wants to be trusted, and yet all the way up to the end, cash is deciding what he can and can’t share with him based on what HE think danny can handle. danny wants to be seen as more than the fuck up kid brother and at no time does duncan spare him even a smidgen of attention. I’m not quite sure what the point of duncan’s existence was tbh. every time he’s on page, he’s got somewhere more important to be. he’s just positively bedevilled by meetings etc but he sure af isn’t a friend or brother who gives af about the people in his life as anything other than problems to be dealt with. I guess the message here is that big strong manly men are the only ones capable of making decisions—not because they care, just because they know better—and wow is that just a fucking MASSIVE y i k e s.
April 9, 2022
5/5. Highlights may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.
Content Warnings for book: Reference to drug addiction and rehab, reference to homophobia, stalking, guns, violence
Kink: N/A
Tough Luck by Annabeth Albert is a bodyguard/charge, brother’s best friend romance featuring a retired Navy SEAL and a retired child actor, who discover new things about themselves as they form an unlikely bond.
Daniel and Cash were a very sweet couple together. Daniel is a recovered drug addict, who was recently diagnosed with ADHD and learning how to orient his life again without falling into old habits. However, this has really limited his social life and lead to a lot of loneliness, especially because it feels like those around him just want to “handle” him more than see him for who he really is. Cash is a veteran who is feeling directionless after not having a purpose anymore, and is crashing on his friend’s couch until he figured out what his next move is — all he knows is he definitely won’t be a bodyguard. These two both have strengths and differences that play to each other’s desires.
Cash learns his attraction to men that he hadn’t realized before, even if there were moments in hindsight that pointed to his sexuality. I loved how this awakening didn’t make it seem like Daniel was the only man he had felt attraction for, but how repression in his youth along with the homophobic messaging of his environment, even when he felt unfulfilled in past relationships and sexual experiences. I liked that Daniel never tried to force a label and was careful about not placing too many expectations on cash, even if it felt like leaving his own heart in limbo for awhile. The way Cash was fulfilled through taking care of Daniel in different ways… ah! It was just so great.
These two were swoony, hot, and so sweet. Daniel needed praise and to be given someone who helped foster the confidence he deserved. When he felt vulnerable, Cash helped him learn how to feel strengthened within himself and teach him skills no one had bothered showing him before. Their age gap showed but it wasn’t in some creepy way, for sure, it was instead how their different life experiences both in class and age brought them to have different wisdom for each other. I was often touched emotionally by the narrative Albert weaved.
I felt the ADHD rep, while not a focus or constantly present, was well done. There’s a specific scene when Daniel is talking to the police that clicked with me specifically. Plot wise, a stalker is pretty typical in these types of stories — but I didn’t mind it. It wasn’t the most action-y or anything, but I preferred the focus on their developing relationship anyway.
I seriously recommend this book if you enjoy these tropes!
Content Warnings for book: Reference to drug addiction and rehab, reference to homophobia, stalking, guns, violence
Kink: N/A
Tough Luck by Annabeth Albert is a bodyguard/charge, brother’s best friend romance featuring a retired Navy SEAL and a retired child actor, who discover new things about themselves as they form an unlikely bond.
Daniel and Cash were a very sweet couple together. Daniel is a recovered drug addict, who was recently diagnosed with ADHD and learning how to orient his life again without falling into old habits. However, this has really limited his social life and lead to a lot of loneliness, especially because it feels like those around him just want to “handle” him more than see him for who he really is. Cash is a veteran who is feeling directionless after not having a purpose anymore, and is crashing on his friend’s couch until he figured out what his next move is — all he knows is he definitely won’t be a bodyguard. These two both have strengths and differences that play to each other’s desires.
Cash learns his attraction to men that he hadn’t realized before, even if there were moments in hindsight that pointed to his sexuality. I loved how this awakening didn’t make it seem like Daniel was the only man he had felt attraction for, but how repression in his youth along with the homophobic messaging of his environment, even when he felt unfulfilled in past relationships and sexual experiences. I liked that Daniel never tried to force a label and was careful about not placing too many expectations on cash, even if it felt like leaving his own heart in limbo for awhile. The way Cash was fulfilled through taking care of Daniel in different ways… ah! It was just so great.
These two were swoony, hot, and so sweet. Daniel needed praise and to be given someone who helped foster the confidence he deserved. When he felt vulnerable, Cash helped him learn how to feel strengthened within himself and teach him skills no one had bothered showing him before. Their age gap showed but it wasn’t in some creepy way, for sure, it was instead how their different life experiences both in class and age brought them to have different wisdom for each other. I was often touched emotionally by the narrative Albert weaved.
I felt the ADHD rep, while not a focus or constantly present, was well done. There’s a specific scene when Daniel is talking to the police that clicked with me specifically. Plot wise, a stalker is pretty typical in these types of stories — but I didn’t mind it. It wasn’t the most action-y or anything, but I preferred the focus on their developing relationship anyway.
I seriously recommend this book if you enjoy these tropes!
March 30, 2022
2.5 rounded down. Another lukewarm/disappointing 2022 release I'm afraid. I usually like this author I really LOVED The Geek Who Saved Christmas but this one did not work for me. Danny is portrayed like a needy child (this is not kinky) who is so desperate for validation that he beams when a stranger compliments him. For a former child star that seems far fetched but ok. At first Cash treats him like a kid, calling him "the kid" and patting his head/knee to reassure him. I was not a fan of that. Then we have Cash who had a difficult childhood but I'm not sure we (or Danny for that matter) got the details (maybe I zoned out). The whole thing felt a bit one sided: Cash protecting/helping Danny. We were told that Danny saved Cash but I didn't see it. The whole thing is way too fast in story time.
We had the bones of good tropes that were not explored enough for me: the age gap , it is seen because Danny is treated like a kid, not the way I like my age gaps (it's not my favorite trope), the bodyguard aspect not that well developed either. Cash is never really Danny's bodyguard. the best friend's brother again not my favorite trope but I was not a fan of how it was "resolved" or presented. For me, for a best friend's brother to be good, you need to see how different the relationship between the best friends and the couple, the author also needs to convince that there is a real difference between the 2 relationships to explain why the 2 best friends are not a couple but the 2 MCs are. We don't get that here and I've only read 1 good best friend's brother. The sexual discovery again not a fan of how it was dealt with, they talked about it a lot before doing anything and I'm all for communication but in this case it was not the best. There is a LOT of sex, too much IMHO.
Another point, there is no miscommunication per se but there is lack of com, I was yelling at my kindle "talk to each other, and author stop delaying the conversation for no good reason".
I'll still read book 2 because Duncan is intriguing (and hopefully paired with Ezra, we'll see).
We had the bones of good tropes that were not explored enough for me: the age gap , it is seen because Danny is treated like a kid, not the way I like my age gaps (it's not my favorite trope), the bodyguard aspect not that well developed either. Cash is never really Danny's bodyguard. the best friend's brother again not my favorite trope but I was not a fan of how it was "resolved" or presented. For me, for a best friend's brother to be good, you need to see how different the relationship between the best friends and the couple, the author also needs to convince that there is a real difference between the 2 relationships to explain why the 2 best friends are not a couple but the 2 MCs are. We don't get that here and I've only read 1 good best friend's brother. The sexual discovery again not a fan of how it was dealt with, they talked about it a lot before doing anything and I'm all for communication but in this case it was not the best. There is a LOT of sex, too much IMHO.
Another point, there is no miscommunication per se but there is lack of com, I was yelling at my kindle "talk to each other, and author stop delaying the conversation for no good reason".
I'll still read book 2 because Duncan is intriguing (and hopefully paired with Ezra, we'll see).
April 22, 2022
3.5 stars for the audio
Kirt Graves does a decent job with this story and the characters. I did like his voice choice for Cash more than Danny but at the same time, his voice was perfect for Danny. I did wish he would have emoted a bit more when reading Danny especially when it came to steamy scenes. He was a bit robotic for me 🤷🏽♀️
Kirt Graves does a decent job with this story and the characters. I did like his voice choice for Cash more than Danny but at the same time, his voice was perfect for Danny. I did wish he would have emoted a bit more when reading Danny especially when it came to steamy scenes. He was a bit robotic for me 🤷🏽♀️
September 5, 2022
3-3.5 stars
Cute but wished for more stalker action haha it was resolved too nicely. Wanted something more dramatic with that.
Kirt Graves did a great job narrating like he always does.
Cute but wished for more stalker action haha it was resolved too nicely. Wanted something more dramatic with that.
Kirt Graves did a great job narrating like he always does.
February 17, 2023
Round of applause for the emphasis on thick thighs in this one. Sure, there's a whole stalker plot, coming out, protector/bodyguard, naked yoga, cozy cabin retreat happening too, BUT so much priority was placed on the strength of our guy Cash's thighs. Magnificent, chefs kiss, highly enjoyed.
This was a fun ~almost romantic suspense but still contemporary and fluffy story. I wasn't too invested in who the stalker was, and rather liked them as a plot device to bring these two cuties together. Yes, you absolutely must go run away to a quiet cabin and be domestic together. For the safety of Daniel of course! I will continue to munch on my popcorn and watch the romance develop while I pretend to focus on the plot.
This was a fun ~almost romantic suspense but still contemporary and fluffy story. I wasn't too invested in who the stalker was, and rather liked them as a plot device to bring these two cuties together. Yes, you absolutely must go run away to a quiet cabin and be domestic together. For the safety of Daniel of course! I will continue to munch on my popcorn and watch the romance develop while I pretend to focus on the plot.
March 27, 2022
it wasn’t bad. it’s just your typical bodyguard book. i think i’m tired of the same formula, but mostly i couldn’t connect to the characters.
so yeah, it’s a good book, just not for me.
so yeah, it’s a good book, just not for me.
March 18, 2022
This new series has a lot of promise. We've seen plenty of active duty military men from Annabeth, but it's interesting to see them in retirement and dealing with getting used to civilian life. Danny's side of the story is interesting too, as even in celebrity books we don't often get to see the damage the hustle and pressure can do to a person, especially a child actor. I wish we knew more of his past though. It would be interesting to know more of his family relationships and why he sued his mom.
Seeing them find their footing together? Delightful
Seeing them find their footing together? Delightful
July 16, 2022
Where do I even start with this review, there was just so much I loved about this book it's hard to say without saying too much.
Lets start with Cash, he's fresh out of the Navy, Hot SEAL alert!, and he's not sure what his next steps are but when his buddy needs help with his brother that is in danger of course he can't say no even if being a body guard is the last thing he wants to do.
Danny Love, former child star and recovering addict, hasn't had an easy life and the media has made sure to show all of his mess ups for all of the world to see. But now Danny is taking control of his life and he's doing a pretty good job of it, only now he has a stalker and this person is getting bold. So he asks his brother for help, little did he know that his brother would send his HOT SEAL friend to be his personal bodyguard until this person was caught.
There is a lot going on in this story, yes we have the big question of who is Danny's stalker but we also have the budding romance between Cash and Danny. Cash who has never had an experience with a man before and Danny who has been out and proud for a while. I loved watching these two find their way together and work through things. They had amazing chemistry right from the start and it only got stronger the more they trusted one another.
I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys MM Romances, Best Friends Sibling Romances, Age Gap Romances, Military Romances, Siblings Best Friend Romances, or Bodyguard Romances.
Happy Reading!!!
Find out more here ➡ http://bit.ly/NBReviewTL
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books
**I also pre-ordered a kindle copy
You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
Lets start with Cash, he's fresh out of the Navy, Hot SEAL alert!, and he's not sure what his next steps are but when his buddy needs help with his brother that is in danger of course he can't say no even if being a body guard is the last thing he wants to do.
Danny Love, former child star and recovering addict, hasn't had an easy life and the media has made sure to show all of his mess ups for all of the world to see. But now Danny is taking control of his life and he's doing a pretty good job of it, only now he has a stalker and this person is getting bold. So he asks his brother for help, little did he know that his brother would send his HOT SEAL friend to be his personal bodyguard until this person was caught.
There is a lot going on in this story, yes we have the big question of who is Danny's stalker but we also have the budding romance between Cash and Danny. Cash who has never had an experience with a man before and Danny who has been out and proud for a while. I loved watching these two find their way together and work through things. They had amazing chemistry right from the start and it only got stronger the more they trusted one another.
I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys MM Romances, Best Friends Sibling Romances, Age Gap Romances, Military Romances, Siblings Best Friend Romances, or Bodyguard Romances.
Happy Reading!!!
Find out more here ➡ http://bit.ly/NBReviewTL
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**I also pre-ordered a kindle copy
You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
August 10, 2022
Any day I get to read a new Annabeth Albert book is a good day and TOUGH LUCK was a great start to a new series, especially because I love bodyguard romances! Cash is reluctant at first to play the role of bodyguard but he can't say no when his best friend asks for a favor. He just didn't expect his friend's younger brother and former child star to be so attractive.
Cash and Danny were so cute together and I adored the way they encouraged and supported each other. Even with fame and fortune Danny's road has been hard and he's finally getting it on track now that he's sober and away from the bad influences of Hollywood. He was so sweet and kind and my heart broke for all the ways his past and family had eaten away at his confidence and his self-respect. I loved seeing Danny experience new things and find himself after everything he's been through. Cash was wonderful at always boosting Danny's confidence and reminding him that he wasn't a screw-up and that he deserved happiness.
Cash was also a great hero -- protective, genuine, and compassionate. Growing up in a small town with addict parents and then 20 years in the military have kept Cash from getting answers about his sexuality and what he really wants in a relationship. With Danny, Cash finds a safe place to explore his desires and discover his authentic self. With some forced proximity, age gap, and size difference, these two were a lot of fun to read about and I can't wait to read more in this new series!
**ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Content Warning: discussions about addiction (Danny is a recovered addict and Cash's parents are addicts); references to toxic parent/child relationships including Danny having to sue his own mom
Cash and Danny were so cute together and I adored the way they encouraged and supported each other. Even with fame and fortune Danny's road has been hard and he's finally getting it on track now that he's sober and away from the bad influences of Hollywood. He was so sweet and kind and my heart broke for all the ways his past and family had eaten away at his confidence and his self-respect. I loved seeing Danny experience new things and find himself after everything he's been through. Cash was wonderful at always boosting Danny's confidence and reminding him that he wasn't a screw-up and that he deserved happiness.
Cash was also a great hero -- protective, genuine, and compassionate. Growing up in a small town with addict parents and then 20 years in the military have kept Cash from getting answers about his sexuality and what he really wants in a relationship. With Danny, Cash finds a safe place to explore his desires and discover his authentic self. With some forced proximity, age gap, and size difference, these two were a lot of fun to read about and I can't wait to read more in this new series!
**ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Content Warning: discussions about addiction (Danny is a recovered addict and Cash's parents are addicts); references to toxic parent/child relationships including Danny having to sue his own mom
April 26, 2022
I've given this a B- at AAR, so that's 3.5 stars rounded up.
The first in her new A-List Security series, Annabeth Albert’s Tough Luck contains many of the elements I enjoy about her stories – well-crafted principals with depth and charm, steamy, well-written sex scenes ,and wonderful communication – yet despite all those things, the book and I didn’t quite ‘click’. It’s a quiet , low-angst story about two people figuring out who they are and who they want to be – and it’s superbly done – but I think I’ve read so many low-angst books over the last couple of years that I’m starting to feel kinda ‘fluffed out’. So YMMV. I remain a big fan of the author’s, I enjoyed the book and will continue with the series, but it’s not one of my favourites.
Thirty-eight-year-old former SEAL Cash Ewrin is at something of a loose end. After twenty years in the service, he’s still finding his feet in Civvy Street and is temporarily staying with his best friend and former lieutenant Duncan Lubov while he works out what he wants to do next. Cash is erring on the side of taking a long road-trip, although Duncan is trying to persuade him to work for A-List Security, the firm he founded with another buddy after leaving the military.
Duncan’s younger brother (half-brother) Danny Love is twenty-five and has spent most of his life in front of a camera in one way or another. In his teens and early-twenties, he was the star of a hugely popular TV show, and the years under the spotlight and rigid control of his parents took their toll and saw him eventually running with the wrong crowd and headlong into addiction. Now though, he’s sober and working hard to stay that way; he’s given up acting and is taking some time to breathe and to figure out who he really is and what he wants to do with the rest of his life.
But fame is never all it’s cracked up to be, and despite his ‘retirement’, Danny is being stalked. He’s trying to play it down as just some daft superfan, but Duncan isn’t about to let it go; he’s off to Toronto on a job though, and asks Cash if he’ll keep an eye on Danny while he’s gone. Of course, Cash agrees, although he makes it clear to Duncan that this doesn’t mean he’s ready to sign up for a regular gig as a bodyguard.
Cash arrives at Daniel’s house (to find him doing naked yoga in the back garden!) and is dismayed at the lack of security measures around the place. He’s also dismayed – or maybe confused – at his reaction to his best friend’s little brother – who isn’t so little any more. After finding a dead rat in a trap, with a note saying “Miss me?” on the front porch, Cash decides a trip to the home store to buy some basic home security equipment is a must – at least until Duncan’s guys can fix up something more state-of-the -art. But on returning home, Danny receives a DM full of photos taken inside the house while they were out – and that’s it. Cash needs to get Danny out of there while the police try to find whoever is responsible, so they make for the remote cabin belonging to Harley, another of Cash and Duncan’s SEAL buddies.
Spending time in close proximity gives Cash and Danny the opportunity to find out things about each other – and themselves – that they hadn’t known or had the chance to find out before. Following a difficult childhood where he never felt safe enough to do anything other than survive from day to day, Cash went straight into the Navy, where he made a point of never thinking about his sexuality – too difficult and too risky. But being around Danny 24/7 heightens the pull of attraction he’s been experiencing since they met, and Danny is only too pleased to help Cash to figure himself out; encouraging but giving him space when he needs it.
Even though Danny has always known he’s gay and has had plenty of sexual partners, being with Cash is new for him, too, that thing, that sense of connection he always felt was missing suddenly slotting into place when they’re together. I liked that he finally gets to experience so many of the mundane things we all learn to do as we grow up – cooking, laundry, learning to drive, going shopping; growing up as a child actor meant Danny never got to do all the ‘regular stuff’ and it’s fun watching him learning to adult. He’s only recently been diagnosed with ADHD and Cash struggles with insomnia; both of them work on finding healthy ways to deal with their conditions and the way they help and support each other – and especially how Cash helps Danny to see that he doesn’t need rescuing, that he’s strong enough on his own – is lovely.
One of the other things I always appreciate about Annabeth Albert’s books is that she often writes about characters who are discovering their sexuality at different times of life or adapting to significant life events and changes; couples who put in the effort to communicate and work out what intimacy means for them, and those elements of the story work very well.
But with all that said, I liked – but didn’t love – Tough Luck. As I said at the beginning, I’m sure there are readers for whom this insightful and well-executed blend of bodyguard/best friend’s little brother romance will work really well – I was just hoping for something with a little more grit. But that’s on me; if you’re looking for a low-conflict romance that’s both sweet and sexy, it’s worth checking out.
The first in her new A-List Security series, Annabeth Albert’s Tough Luck contains many of the elements I enjoy about her stories – well-crafted principals with depth and charm, steamy, well-written sex scenes ,and wonderful communication – yet despite all those things, the book and I didn’t quite ‘click’. It’s a quiet , low-angst story about two people figuring out who they are and who they want to be – and it’s superbly done – but I think I’ve read so many low-angst books over the last couple of years that I’m starting to feel kinda ‘fluffed out’. So YMMV. I remain a big fan of the author’s, I enjoyed the book and will continue with the series, but it’s not one of my favourites.
Thirty-eight-year-old former SEAL Cash Ewrin is at something of a loose end. After twenty years in the service, he’s still finding his feet in Civvy Street and is temporarily staying with his best friend and former lieutenant Duncan Lubov while he works out what he wants to do next. Cash is erring on the side of taking a long road-trip, although Duncan is trying to persuade him to work for A-List Security, the firm he founded with another buddy after leaving the military.
Duncan’s younger brother (half-brother) Danny Love is twenty-five and has spent most of his life in front of a camera in one way or another. In his teens and early-twenties, he was the star of a hugely popular TV show, and the years under the spotlight and rigid control of his parents took their toll and saw him eventually running with the wrong crowd and headlong into addiction. Now though, he’s sober and working hard to stay that way; he’s given up acting and is taking some time to breathe and to figure out who he really is and what he wants to do with the rest of his life.
But fame is never all it’s cracked up to be, and despite his ‘retirement’, Danny is being stalked. He’s trying to play it down as just some daft superfan, but Duncan isn’t about to let it go; he’s off to Toronto on a job though, and asks Cash if he’ll keep an eye on Danny while he’s gone. Of course, Cash agrees, although he makes it clear to Duncan that this doesn’t mean he’s ready to sign up for a regular gig as a bodyguard.
Cash arrives at Daniel’s house (to find him doing naked yoga in the back garden!) and is dismayed at the lack of security measures around the place. He’s also dismayed – or maybe confused – at his reaction to his best friend’s little brother – who isn’t so little any more. After finding a dead rat in a trap, with a note saying “Miss me?” on the front porch, Cash decides a trip to the home store to buy some basic home security equipment is a must – at least until Duncan’s guys can fix up something more state-of-the -art. But on returning home, Danny receives a DM full of photos taken inside the house while they were out – and that’s it. Cash needs to get Danny out of there while the police try to find whoever is responsible, so they make for the remote cabin belonging to Harley, another of Cash and Duncan’s SEAL buddies.
Spending time in close proximity gives Cash and Danny the opportunity to find out things about each other – and themselves – that they hadn’t known or had the chance to find out before. Following a difficult childhood where he never felt safe enough to do anything other than survive from day to day, Cash went straight into the Navy, where he made a point of never thinking about his sexuality – too difficult and too risky. But being around Danny 24/7 heightens the pull of attraction he’s been experiencing since they met, and Danny is only too pleased to help Cash to figure himself out; encouraging but giving him space when he needs it.
Even though Danny has always known he’s gay and has had plenty of sexual partners, being with Cash is new for him, too, that thing, that sense of connection he always felt was missing suddenly slotting into place when they’re together. I liked that he finally gets to experience so many of the mundane things we all learn to do as we grow up – cooking, laundry, learning to drive, going shopping; growing up as a child actor meant Danny never got to do all the ‘regular stuff’ and it’s fun watching him learning to adult. He’s only recently been diagnosed with ADHD and Cash struggles with insomnia; both of them work on finding healthy ways to deal with their conditions and the way they help and support each other – and especially how Cash helps Danny to see that he doesn’t need rescuing, that he’s strong enough on his own – is lovely.
One of the other things I always appreciate about Annabeth Albert’s books is that she often writes about characters who are discovering their sexuality at different times of life or adapting to significant life events and changes; couples who put in the effort to communicate and work out what intimacy means for them, and those elements of the story work very well.
But with all that said, I liked – but didn’t love – Tough Luck. As I said at the beginning, I’m sure there are readers for whom this insightful and well-executed blend of bodyguard/best friend’s little brother romance will work really well – I was just hoping for something with a little more grit. But that’s on me; if you’re looking for a low-conflict romance that’s both sweet and sexy, it’s worth checking out.
March 27, 2025
Cute and fluffy, with hot sex and endearing characters. Loved the open communication and the support both MCs gave each other. I also liked the bi-exploration being more a discovery journey than an awakening.
September 26, 2022
meh.......i skimmed whole sections
weird, under developed plot
too much sex
insta love
March 25, 2022
Good but i am not completely involved in this. I think it's me though
March 24, 2022
Tough Luck is the first in a new series by Annabeth Albert in which a squad of newly retired Navy SEALs try to navigate life and romance in Southern California. As a big fan of Albert's military romances, I was very enthusiastic to see her dive (pun intended) into another military series. That being said, don't expect much of anything military-related here: everyone is retired and the most we see related to the military is a few mentions of friendship and scars, etc.
First, what I like: I have been ridiculously busy and stressed recently (yay graduate school) and I just want to read mindless, happy stories - and that is truly the definition of this book. There really isn't much drama or angst to speak of. I like the size difference (very big and average) and age gap of the characters (38 and 26). I like the premise of the book: a former child star is being stalked and his bodyguard (actually a friend of his brother's) comes to the rescue.
Now, what I dislike: there isn't much plot. Like, that stalking plot I just mentioned? It's present for 20% of the book, max. There are a lot of sex scenes, which I guess some people like, but more than fourish seems unnecessary honestly. Danny (the 26 year old) seems more like a child than an adult at times, which, I dunno, is kind of creepy but not really I guess. Finally, after the climax, the book sort of just kept going for far too long.
Overall, is this my favorite Annabeth Albert book? No. But does it hit the spot right now? Yeah, it does. I wanted a nice bit of popcorn fiction and I got it.
Recommended if you like age gaps (but realistic, and not in the kink way); size differences; forced proximity; military stories (kind of); cute dogs; bi or maybe pan or maybe ace representation; low levels of tension and angst.
First, what I like: I have been ridiculously busy and stressed recently (yay graduate school) and I just want to read mindless, happy stories - and that is truly the definition of this book. There really isn't much drama or angst to speak of. I like the size difference (very big and average) and age gap of the characters (38 and 26). I like the premise of the book: a former child star is being stalked and his bodyguard (actually a friend of his brother's) comes to the rescue.
Now, what I dislike: there isn't much plot. Like, that stalking plot I just mentioned? It's present for 20% of the book, max. There are a lot of sex scenes, which I guess some people like, but more than fourish seems unnecessary honestly. Danny (the 26 year old) seems more like a child than an adult at times, which, I dunno, is kind of creepy but not really I guess. Finally, after the climax, the book sort of just kept going for far too long.
Overall, is this my favorite Annabeth Albert book? No. But does it hit the spot right now? Yeah, it does. I wanted a nice bit of popcorn fiction and I got it.
Recommended if you like age gaps (but realistic, and not in the kink way); size differences; forced proximity; military stories (kind of); cute dogs; bi or maybe pan or maybe ace representation; low levels of tension and angst.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 353 reviews