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Safe Harbor #1
Bring Me Home
Help!
I’ve inherited my aunt’s historic house in small-town Oregon, and I need to fix it up and sell it fast before I move on to my big-city dreams. I’m one of the navy’s best investigators, but twenty years of living in base housing means DIY isn’t part of my extensive skill set.
Luckily, my best friend has the solution: his twenty-three-year-old son. Knox recently graduated from college, needs a room for the summer, and comes with a giant cat and years of remodeling experience.
Not only is Knox all grown up and hot as sin, but I recognize him. He’s the bossy, bearded guy I shared the hottest kiss of my life with. No way can my buddy find out I’ve got it bad for his son. But with all the stripping, hammering, and drilling, my defenses crumble one dance break at a time.
As our sexy secret summer fling continues, Knox also proves himself handy at fixing my grumpy mood and wounded heart. Now I can’t imagine a future without him. I can solve any problem the navy throws at me, but I have no clue what to do about loving Knox or the damage this could do to my decades-long friendship.
Can we build a forever together, or are we destined to go our separate ways?
BRING ME HOME is a small-town Dad’s-best-friend MM romance. It features a forty-something grumpy former naval investigator, a much younger ray of sunshine, a matchmaking cat, sexy times in unusual locations, enough heat to burn the neighborhood, and a warm fuzzy hug’s worth of found-family feels. Dual point-of-view and big fluffy HEA guaranteed!
BRING ME HOME launches the brand-new Safe Harbor series from acclaimed author Annabeth Albert. Knox, Monroe, and the rest of Safe Harbor, Oregon, welcome readers to a historic town with a tight friend group, memorable secondary characters, quirky businesses, and long-held secrets. Each book stands alone with a fresh couple, but the background mystery of the town’s secrets ties the series together.
I’ve inherited my aunt’s historic house in small-town Oregon, and I need to fix it up and sell it fast before I move on to my big-city dreams. I’m one of the navy’s best investigators, but twenty years of living in base housing means DIY isn’t part of my extensive skill set.
Luckily, my best friend has the solution: his twenty-three-year-old son. Knox recently graduated from college, needs a room for the summer, and comes with a giant cat and years of remodeling experience.
Not only is Knox all grown up and hot as sin, but I recognize him. He’s the bossy, bearded guy I shared the hottest kiss of my life with. No way can my buddy find out I’ve got it bad for his son. But with all the stripping, hammering, and drilling, my defenses crumble one dance break at a time.
As our sexy secret summer fling continues, Knox also proves himself handy at fixing my grumpy mood and wounded heart. Now I can’t imagine a future without him. I can solve any problem the navy throws at me, but I have no clue what to do about loving Knox or the damage this could do to my decades-long friendship.
Can we build a forever together, or are we destined to go our separate ways?
BRING ME HOME is a small-town Dad’s-best-friend MM romance. It features a forty-something grumpy former naval investigator, a much younger ray of sunshine, a matchmaking cat, sexy times in unusual locations, enough heat to burn the neighborhood, and a warm fuzzy hug’s worth of found-family feels. Dual point-of-view and big fluffy HEA guaranteed!
BRING ME HOME launches the brand-new Safe Harbor series from acclaimed author Annabeth Albert. Knox, Monroe, and the rest of Safe Harbor, Oregon, welcome readers to a historic town with a tight friend group, memorable secondary characters, quirky businesses, and long-held secrets. Each book stands alone with a fresh couple, but the background mystery of the town’s secrets ties the series together.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2023
579 people are currently reading
1067 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
April 29, 2023
Bring Me Home is a satisfying read:
- Age gap (Monroe is 41 to Knox's 23) without a power imbalance.
- A bit of angst, but no drama (both MCs are at a crossroads and need to make difficult decisions about their future careers/plans and their relationship).
- Two men who actually communicate like adults about said difficult decisions.
- Well-paced relationship development (the way Knox and Monroe go from nearly lovers to roommates to something tender and lasting really worked for me).
- Sweet and spicy in equal measure; I'd even throw umami in there because this book has so much depth.
- Coming home & found family (two of my favorite tropes).
- Strong sense of place and community without OTT descriptions of gossipmongering busybodies sticking their noses in everyone's business and playing too big a role in the story.
- Complex secondary characters, including Monroe's group of friends and Knox's family.
- A secondary plotline involving a cold case that is integral to but doesn't take over the story.
- Excellent writing, with believable dialogue (something I've come to expect from this author).
- So many feels: nostalgia, yearning, frustration, fear, and love - definitely love.
But, and this is a big BUT:
The epilogue is from a secondary character's (one of the future MCs) POV.
Nooo! Et tu, Annabeth Albert? This terrible trend has to stop! I don't want the beginning of the next book; I want the end of this one.
And, yes, we still see Monroe and Knox's HEA from Holden's perspective, but, damn it, it's not nearly as satisfying.
Authors, please STOP with this bullshit and write a proper epilogue.
- Age gap (Monroe is 41 to Knox's 23) without a power imbalance.
- A bit of angst, but no drama (both MCs are at a crossroads and need to make difficult decisions about their future careers/plans and their relationship).
- Two men who actually communicate like adults about said difficult decisions.
- Well-paced relationship development (the way Knox and Monroe go from nearly lovers to roommates to something tender and lasting really worked for me).
- Sweet and spicy in equal measure; I'd even throw umami in there because this book has so much depth.
- Coming home & found family (two of my favorite tropes).
- Strong sense of place and community without OTT descriptions of gossipmongering busybodies sticking their noses in everyone's business and playing too big a role in the story.
- Complex secondary characters, including Monroe's group of friends and Knox's family.
- A secondary plotline involving a cold case that is integral to but doesn't take over the story.
- Excellent writing, with believable dialogue (something I've come to expect from this author).
- So many feels: nostalgia, yearning, frustration, fear, and love - definitely love.
But, and this is a big BUT:
The epilogue is from a secondary character's (one of the future MCs) POV.
Nooo! Et tu, Annabeth Albert? This terrible trend has to stop! I don't want the beginning of the next book; I want the end of this one.
And, yes, we still see Monroe and Knox's HEA from Holden's perspective, but, damn it, it's not nearly as satisfying.
Authors, please STOP with this bullshit and write a proper epilogue.
Read
April 28, 2023Dnf pretty early . This is so…..benign and average that I fell asleep while reading it .
July 2, 2023
SMALL TOWN VIBES GIVE A WARMTH TO THIS AGE GAP ROMANCE
EDIT 2/7/23: Just noticed half of this review is missing! So I'm gonna add what I can remember.
***
Age gap romance is a favourite of mine, especially when there's a mature younger man who isn't afraid to stand up for himself.
Monroe's not long been out of the Navy and is floundering a bit when his path crosses again with Knox.
Back to the original rest!
*****
Monroe is investigating as part of his cold case work for Knox’s dad Rob, who is the Chief of Police.
Overall this was another hit from Annabeth and I’m very much looking forward to the rest of the series.
Holden, a former police officer who was injured on duty and is now a wheelchair user, is up next. He’s now a Professor and runs a podcast looking at mysteries and true crime.
He’s going to be butting heads with a former Navy SEAL rescue diver as the investigations into the disappearance of their friend’s mother continues.
EDIT 2/7/23: Just noticed half of this review is missing! So I'm gonna add what I can remember.
***
Age gap romance is a favourite of mine, especially when there's a mature younger man who isn't afraid to stand up for himself.
Monroe's not long been out of the Navy and is floundering a bit when his path crosses again with Knox.
Back to the original rest!
*****
Monroe is investigating as part of his cold case work for Knox’s dad Rob, who is the Chief of Police.
Overall this was another hit from Annabeth and I’m very much looking forward to the rest of the series.
Holden, a former police officer who was injured on duty and is now a wheelchair user, is up next. He’s now a Professor and runs a podcast looking at mysteries and true crime.
He’s going to be butting heads with a former Navy SEAL rescue diver as the investigations into the disappearance of their friend’s mother continues.
April 28, 2023
DNF ~33%
I felt like we were dropped right in the middle of a story with no real context or information--I actually kept checking to see if I missed a chapter. This must be a spin-off because the start of the book just screams "this is context from a previous book/series" which was incredibly frustrating. I also didn't find the characters or their dynamic together at all compelling, and I thought Knox's dismissal of Monroe's valid concerns was off-putting. Not what I was hoping this would be :/
I felt like we were dropped right in the middle of a story with no real context or information--I actually kept checking to see if I missed a chapter. This must be a spin-off because the start of the book just screams "this is context from a previous book/series" which was incredibly frustrating. I also didn't find the characters or their dynamic together at all compelling, and I thought Knox's dismissal of Monroe's valid concerns was off-putting. Not what I was hoping this would be :/
April 16, 2023
Annabeth Albert is starting a new series! One good news down, more to come. First, the book was great. Monroe and Knox have a lovely, complex relationship where they nudge each other to be a better, more settled version of themselves. While I usually can side eye age gap relationships with suspicions, this one didn't have the kind of power imbalances that usually make me uncomfortable (if anything, Knox holds the reins) so nothing to worry about there.
And, cherry to the sundae, we also get a cozy mystery as a subplot to the story! And it seems like that mystery will be the line that joins the stories together. Outside of them being friends and from the same town, that is. And maybe will push the plot forward. But while the mystery is a force in the story, first and foremost we have a relationship. Which I appreciate.
And, cherry to the sundae, we also get a cozy mystery as a subplot to the story! And it seems like that mystery will be the line that joins the stories together. Outside of them being friends and from the same town, that is. And maybe will push the plot forward. But while the mystery is a force in the story, first and foremost we have a relationship. Which I appreciate.
June 11, 2023
I've given this a B at AAR
Book one in the new Safe Harbour series, Annabeth Albert’s Bring Me Home is a sexy, tender and thoughful age-gap romance about finding what, who and where you’re meant to be, being open to possibilities and counfounding expectations. The set-up reminded me a bit of At Attention – not a bad thing as it’s one of my favourite Annabeth Albert books – the two leads are relateable and three-dimensional, there’s a well-characterised secondary cast, a strong sense of place and community, and a bit of mystery thrown in – which all adds up to an emotionally satisfying read and a very promising series opener.
Retired Navy Lieutenant Monroe has decided to get the old house he’s inherited from his great aunt fixed up and ready to sell over the summer. Having been an investigator in NCIS, he’s currently helping out the local – understaffed – police department with some cold cases, thinking about a career in law enforcement or maybe with the FBI, and has his sights set on moving to a nice condo somewhere in the San Francisco Bay area in the fall.
His best friend Rob is Safe Harbor’s chief of police, and it’s he who suggests that Monroe should get himself a roommate to help with the house – and of course, he’s got the perfect candidate in mind. His oldest son, Knox, is studying to be an architect and has come back to town for the summer before heading off to a prestigious grad school program on the East Coast, and he’s a dab hand at DIY projects of all sorts. Rob and his wife Jessica (Knox’s stepmother) are expecting another baby very soon (they have triplets under five) and Jessica’s sister, visiting from Australia, is currently occupying the guest room, so there’s nowhere, other than a small and dingy basement, for Knox to stay – and Rob feels bad. So he asks if Knox can stay with Monroe and help him with the remodelling in return for bed and board. Monroe isn’t keen on the idea, but asks if he can think about it. He’s driving to Portland to a friend’s bachelor party that evening, which should give him time to think of a good enough reason to say no.
At the party, Monroe spies a gorgeous guy – late twenties, striking and sinuous – and can’t look away. It seems his interest is reciprocated when the man approaches him and strikes up a conversation. It’s light, flirtatious and fun, and the dancing that follows leads to passionate kissing and an invitation back to Monroe’s room – when they’re interrupted and the guy has to leave in a hurry. There’s no time for Monroe to get his number.
Back homethe next day, Monroe arrives at Rob’s – having decided he might as well tell him Knox can stay at the house and help with the reno – and is stunned when the door is opened by… yep. You guessed it. The hot guy he made out with the night before is, of course, Knox. Rob will kill him if he finds out.
Knox is delighted to see Monroe again, but that delight is short-lived when he sees how uncomfortable the other man is, and when Monroe says that what happened between them was a mistake, Knox guesses his summer gig is off. So he’s surprised when Monroe starts talking about clearing out a room for him and Wallace (his cat), and pleased when Monroe quietly apologises for saying what he said… although not quite so pleased when he makes it clear that there won’t be any repeats of what happened between them the night before.
Well, we all know how that’s going to turn out, but I really liked Knox’s chill about it all; he’s very strongly attracted to Monroe and would like to pick up where they left off and see where it goes, but he doesn’t push, and tells Monroe he isn’t going to. They can work on the house together and be friends and roomies and it doesn’t have to be any more than that.
Monroe is… relieved. (Because that sinking feeling isn’t disappointment, oh, no.) Becoming involved with the twenty-three-year-old son (Monroe is forty-one) of his best friend is a huge no-no, so friendship is for the best. There’s no question he’s strongly attracted to Knox – not just to his looks, but to his confidence, his cheery disposition and his sincerity – but he can’t risk ruining a twenty-year-old friendship for something that can only be temporary.
But the more time the two of them spend together working on the house, sharing space, sharing meals and even sharing thoughts and dreams they’ve never shared with anyone else, Monroe finally has to admit he’s falling fast and hard for the younger man, and that he can’t fight the attraction any more. They agree to a summer fling on the down-low, even though they both know that what’s happening between them has already progressed far beyond anything casual. But that’s all it can be – apart from the likely problems with Rob, both men have plans that are incompatible with a future together.
I know large age gaps are a dealbreaker for some, but I generally like the May/December trope, especially when it’s as well done as it is here. There may be eighteen years separating Monroe and Knox, but the author does a wonderful job of showing readers exactly why they’re a perfect fit for each other, depicting their growing trust and how they make each other feel safe to communicate their wants and needs. Despite the age gap, there’s no sense of power imbalance here; Knox and Monroe are givers, people who are prone to putting the needs of others before their own, so they have to learn that it’s not selfish to let themselves be taken care of, to let themselves be vulnerable to another person. This is a relatively low-conflict story, and while some of that does come from Monroe’s concern that Rob will react badly to finding out he and Knox are together, most of the conflict is internal. Both men are at crossroads in their lives, facing tough decisions about their futures and finding it hard to let go of expectations – their own and other people’s.
The mystery element relates to one of the cold cases Monroe is working on, a woman who disappeared some twenty years earlier and whose husband was suspected of her murder – although without a body, nothing could be proven. This woman was the mother of one of Monroe’s high-school friends, and it’s already clear to him that the investigation was not handled properly, so he decides to take a closer look. This plotline doesn’t conclude here, so I imagine it will run through all three books in the series.
My main criticism of the book is that the romance does move rather quickly – ILYs happen long before the end – although that does allow plenty of time for the author to explore the ‘what’s next’ element of the story, and how Monroe and Knox work out what their HEA is going to look like. A minor niggle is the switch, in the final chapter, to the PoV of a different character – clearly a protagonist of the next in the series. I suppose it’s a way of hooking the reader in for the next book, but an Epilogue is supposed to be a conclusion of what has gone before, not the set up for another story.
All in all though, Bring Me Home is an solidly enjoyable start to this new series from a favourite author that more than earns its recommendation.
Book one in the new Safe Harbour series, Annabeth Albert’s Bring Me Home is a sexy, tender and thoughful age-gap romance about finding what, who and where you’re meant to be, being open to possibilities and counfounding expectations. The set-up reminded me a bit of At Attention – not a bad thing as it’s one of my favourite Annabeth Albert books – the two leads are relateable and three-dimensional, there’s a well-characterised secondary cast, a strong sense of place and community, and a bit of mystery thrown in – which all adds up to an emotionally satisfying read and a very promising series opener.
Retired Navy Lieutenant Monroe has decided to get the old house he’s inherited from his great aunt fixed up and ready to sell over the summer. Having been an investigator in NCIS, he’s currently helping out the local – understaffed – police department with some cold cases, thinking about a career in law enforcement or maybe with the FBI, and has his sights set on moving to a nice condo somewhere in the San Francisco Bay area in the fall.
His best friend Rob is Safe Harbor’s chief of police, and it’s he who suggests that Monroe should get himself a roommate to help with the house – and of course, he’s got the perfect candidate in mind. His oldest son, Knox, is studying to be an architect and has come back to town for the summer before heading off to a prestigious grad school program on the East Coast, and he’s a dab hand at DIY projects of all sorts. Rob and his wife Jessica (Knox’s stepmother) are expecting another baby very soon (they have triplets under five) and Jessica’s sister, visiting from Australia, is currently occupying the guest room, so there’s nowhere, other than a small and dingy basement, for Knox to stay – and Rob feels bad. So he asks if Knox can stay with Monroe and help him with the remodelling in return for bed and board. Monroe isn’t keen on the idea, but asks if he can think about it. He’s driving to Portland to a friend’s bachelor party that evening, which should give him time to think of a good enough reason to say no.
At the party, Monroe spies a gorgeous guy – late twenties, striking and sinuous – and can’t look away. It seems his interest is reciprocated when the man approaches him and strikes up a conversation. It’s light, flirtatious and fun, and the dancing that follows leads to passionate kissing and an invitation back to Monroe’s room – when they’re interrupted and the guy has to leave in a hurry. There’s no time for Monroe to get his number.
Back homethe next day, Monroe arrives at Rob’s – having decided he might as well tell him Knox can stay at the house and help with the reno – and is stunned when the door is opened by… yep. You guessed it. The hot guy he made out with the night before is, of course, Knox. Rob will kill him if he finds out.
Knox is delighted to see Monroe again, but that delight is short-lived when he sees how uncomfortable the other man is, and when Monroe says that what happened between them was a mistake, Knox guesses his summer gig is off. So he’s surprised when Monroe starts talking about clearing out a room for him and Wallace (his cat), and pleased when Monroe quietly apologises for saying what he said… although not quite so pleased when he makes it clear that there won’t be any repeats of what happened between them the night before.
Well, we all know how that’s going to turn out, but I really liked Knox’s chill about it all; he’s very strongly attracted to Monroe and would like to pick up where they left off and see where it goes, but he doesn’t push, and tells Monroe he isn’t going to. They can work on the house together and be friends and roomies and it doesn’t have to be any more than that.
Monroe is… relieved. (Because that sinking feeling isn’t disappointment, oh, no.) Becoming involved with the twenty-three-year-old son (Monroe is forty-one) of his best friend is a huge no-no, so friendship is for the best. There’s no question he’s strongly attracted to Knox – not just to his looks, but to his confidence, his cheery disposition and his sincerity – but he can’t risk ruining a twenty-year-old friendship for something that can only be temporary.
But the more time the two of them spend together working on the house, sharing space, sharing meals and even sharing thoughts and dreams they’ve never shared with anyone else, Monroe finally has to admit he’s falling fast and hard for the younger man, and that he can’t fight the attraction any more. They agree to a summer fling on the down-low, even though they both know that what’s happening between them has already progressed far beyond anything casual. But that’s all it can be – apart from the likely problems with Rob, both men have plans that are incompatible with a future together.
I know large age gaps are a dealbreaker for some, but I generally like the May/December trope, especially when it’s as well done as it is here. There may be eighteen years separating Monroe and Knox, but the author does a wonderful job of showing readers exactly why they’re a perfect fit for each other, depicting their growing trust and how they make each other feel safe to communicate their wants and needs. Despite the age gap, there’s no sense of power imbalance here; Knox and Monroe are givers, people who are prone to putting the needs of others before their own, so they have to learn that it’s not selfish to let themselves be taken care of, to let themselves be vulnerable to another person. This is a relatively low-conflict story, and while some of that does come from Monroe’s concern that Rob will react badly to finding out he and Knox are together, most of the conflict is internal. Both men are at crossroads in their lives, facing tough decisions about their futures and finding it hard to let go of expectations – their own and other people’s.
The mystery element relates to one of the cold cases Monroe is working on, a woman who disappeared some twenty years earlier and whose husband was suspected of her murder – although without a body, nothing could be proven. This woman was the mother of one of Monroe’s high-school friends, and it’s already clear to him that the investigation was not handled properly, so he decides to take a closer look. This plotline doesn’t conclude here, so I imagine it will run through all three books in the series.
My main criticism of the book is that the romance does move rather quickly – ILYs happen long before the end – although that does allow plenty of time for the author to explore the ‘what’s next’ element of the story, and how Monroe and Knox work out what their HEA is going to look like. A minor niggle is the switch, in the final chapter, to the PoV of a different character – clearly a protagonist of the next in the series. I suppose it’s a way of hooking the reader in for the next book, but an Epilogue is supposed to be a conclusion of what has gone before, not the set up for another story.
All in all though, Bring Me Home is an solidly enjoyable start to this new series from a favourite author that more than earns its recommendation.
November 25, 2023
Monroe recently retired from the Navy’s NCIS unit and returned to Safe Harbor, Oregon to renovate and put up for sale the large Victorian home that his Great-Aunt Henri has left to him. He spent his final years of high school living with her and has a close group of friends that have welcomed him home. Included in that group was his best friend, Rob, who is now Chief of Police and using his skills to look over some of the town’s cold cases, especially the one that involves the death of his good friend, Worth’s parents, the Stapleton’s. Something always felt a bit off that it was Worth’s dad that it was always thought to have caused the disappearance of his mom...and his own death of a massive heart attack had raised some questions also. Rob's son, Knox, is back in town but with Rob's 3-year-old triplet daughters and a new baby expected very soon, there wasn't room for Knox to stay with them. The obvious solution was that since Monroe needed major help fixing up his Aunt Henri's house and Knox needed a place to stay...plus Knox was experienced in renovating... a win/win in Rob’s mind. So, it turns out that the very sexy younger man that Monroe had danced with and kissed at the bachelor party in Portland...who called himself "Rebound", became his new roommate and was his friend Rob's son... Knox. They were both incredibly attracted to one another, and it didn't take long for them to begin to act on it and fall in love...but when and what were they going to tell Rob? I guess I don't understand why a 23-year-old adult would need to worry so much about this. Rob already had Knox's life way too planned out without consulting him. Monroe and Knox didn't need anyone to second guess how they felt for one another, and age certainly wasn’t a factor for them...love had already snuck into their hearts and firmly stuck. Annabeth Albert was one of the authors that aided in advancing my love for the M/M Romance genera. I am always eager for a new Annabeth Albert book because she is such an incredibly talented author. I hope that there is soon going to be more of this series. I know that each story will revolve around a different couple, but I hope that Monroe and Knox, as well as Holden and Sam, will always have a major role in what happens.
Read
July 31, 2023DNF @ 23%
No rating
This is on me. I didn't know there was an , which is not my favorite. Plus, I just couldn't get into it.
On to the next.
No rating
This is on me. I didn't know there was an , which is not my favorite. Plus, I just couldn't get into it.
On to the next.
April 29, 2023
3.5
My rating is probably not quite fair because Bring Me Home is a good age-gap romance and I liked it most of the time (could have more of the mystery and less repeats of how bossy Knox is, though) but in the end I have to agree with Holden when in the epilogue he can't help it and is seeing too much Hallmark perfection.
My rating is probably not quite fair because Bring Me Home is a good age-gap romance and I liked it most of the time (could have more of the mystery and less repeats of how bossy Knox is, though) but in the end I have to agree with Holden when in the epilogue he can't help it and is seeing too much Hallmark perfection.
January 22, 2025
best friend's son
age gap
audio
age gap
audio
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2023
Have you ever read a blurb and gotten super excited about a book but then got nervous it wouldn't live up to the build-up in your head? I experienced this with Bring Me Home by Annabeth Albert.
Happy to report it lived up to the hype in my head.
Knox ✔️
Monroe ✔️
Small town ✔️
Family ✔️
Chemistry ✔️
Age gap ✔️
Dad's friend ✔️
Feels ✔️
Crossroads ✔️
I fell in love with Knox & Monroe's story from their first meeting. It all just clicked for me.
I adored this book; it will be one of my top reads for the year.
Highly recommend.
June 25, 2023
Nie wstrzymywałam oddechu, kiedy brałam się za ten tytuł. Miałam po prostu nadzieję, że będzie lepszy od ostatniej serii, czyli A-List Security, która była po prostu marna 😕
I książka rzeczywiście była lepsza - miła, sympatyczna i... nijaka 🤷♀️. Daleko jej do historii z serii Out of Uniform - tam, jeżeli nawet mi się coś nie podobało (któremuś tytułowi dałam nawet 2 gwiazdki), to jednak do dzisiaj każdą jedną pamiętam, bo wzbudzały emocje - nieważne, czy dobre, czy złe. Bo bohaterowie byli zdecydowanie bardziej charakterni i prawdziwi. Były po prostu zapadające w pamięć. Ale ten tytuł to nie jest ten przypadek - pewnie za chwilę, jeżeli nie przeczytam blurbu, to nie będę za diabła pamiętać, o czym był... 🤷♀️
I książka rzeczywiście była lepsza - miła, sympatyczna i... nijaka 🤷♀️. Daleko jej do historii z serii Out of Uniform - tam, jeżeli nawet mi się coś nie podobało (któremuś tytułowi dałam nawet 2 gwiazdki), to jednak do dzisiaj każdą jedną pamiętam, bo wzbudzały emocje - nieważne, czy dobre, czy złe. Bo bohaterowie byli zdecydowanie bardziej charakterni i prawdziwi. Były po prostu zapadające w pamięć. Ale ten tytuł to nie jest ten przypadek - pewnie za chwilę, jeżeli nie przeczytam blurbu, to nie będę za diabła pamiętać, o czym był... 🤷♀️
June 20, 2023
Przyjemne, chociaż zbyt idealne postaci, duża różnica wieku, trochę za dużo nudnych wątków dziecięcych. Bardzo dużo scen seksu.
Skończyłam to wczoraj, dzisiaj połowy nie pamiętam. Dajcie mi jeszcze dwa dni i zapomnę wszystko.
Skończyłam to wczoraj, dzisiaj połowy nie pamiętam. Dajcie mi jeszcze dwa dni i zapomnę wszystko.
dnf
August 22, 2023DNF, even when skimming
It’s official, I’m in a bad slump if even this author can’t bring me out of it 😵💫
It’s official, I’m in a bad slump if even this author can’t bring me out of it 😵💫
April 25, 2023
This book is the first book of a new series called "Safe Harbor" by Annabeth Albert and I think it's a great start for the series.
Monroe goes back to Safe Harbor after he leaves the Navy because he's inherited his aunt's historic house. He just wants to fix it up and sell it. Then his best friend asks him to take his son as roommate and as a helper with the renovations of the house. But they had already met before, in a club where they exchanged a heated kiss that has stayed in Monroe's mind ever since.
I loved this book so much for several reasons. First, the age gap trope is one of my favourites, then there is the small town vibe all book through which makes the story feel cozy, homey and touching.
The chemistry between Monroe and Knox is undeniable and they make such a wonderful couple. I loved that Knox was kind of the alpha in the relationship, even though he was the youngest one. I found it interesting and wonderful that this couple was pictured in a realistic way and with a twist in their roles, as it's always to be expected the oldest guy to be the dominant one in the relationship.
Their love story is beautiful and so sweet, I could feel their love through the pages. Their bedtimes were hot, but so romantic at the same time. It could be considered as insta-love but it also felt like slow burn as they get to know each other during the summer and while they are fixing Monroe's house.
I've enjoyed this novel very much and I recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming romance with a little bit of a mystery as background plot, and a great small town feeling.
Monroe goes back to Safe Harbor after he leaves the Navy because he's inherited his aunt's historic house. He just wants to fix it up and sell it. Then his best friend asks him to take his son as roommate and as a helper with the renovations of the house. But they had already met before, in a club where they exchanged a heated kiss that has stayed in Monroe's mind ever since.
I loved this book so much for several reasons. First, the age gap trope is one of my favourites, then there is the small town vibe all book through which makes the story feel cozy, homey and touching.
The chemistry between Monroe and Knox is undeniable and they make such a wonderful couple. I loved that Knox was kind of the alpha in the relationship, even though he was the youngest one. I found it interesting and wonderful that this couple was pictured in a realistic way and with a twist in their roles, as it's always to be expected the oldest guy to be the dominant one in the relationship.
Their love story is beautiful and so sweet, I could feel their love through the pages. Their bedtimes were hot, but so romantic at the same time. It could be considered as insta-love but it also felt like slow burn as they get to know each other during the summer and while they are fixing Monroe's house.
I've enjoyed this novel very much and I recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming romance with a little bit of a mystery as background plot, and a great small town feeling.
May 2, 2023
3 1/2 stars rounded up.
While this went a fairly predictable route for dad’s best friend age gap romance, the characters and situations made it stand out. I really liked these two, and enjoyed their story.
The 1 1/2 stars taken off is first for the really awkward sex scenes. There was cheesy banter and one liners that made me cringe and they pretty much chatted all through sex. It was just… awkward and not in an endearing way. I ended up skimming the last couple sex scenes. And the second reason for 3 1/2 is doing the epilogue from a side character’s perspective. I don’t care if the next book is about him… the epilogue should be from the characters we just spent hours invested in. Then, do a bonus epilogue from the side character.
Regardless of all that, this family and their stories already has me invested and I will continue the series. Which is saying something for my 2023 track record lol.
While this went a fairly predictable route for dad’s best friend age gap romance, the characters and situations made it stand out. I really liked these two, and enjoyed their story.
The 1 1/2 stars taken off is first for the really awkward sex scenes. There was cheesy banter and one liners that made me cringe and they pretty much chatted all through sex. It was just… awkward and not in an endearing way. I ended up skimming the last couple sex scenes. And the second reason for 3 1/2 is doing the epilogue from a side character’s perspective. I don’t care if the next book is about him… the epilogue should be from the characters we just spent hours invested in. Then, do a bonus epilogue from the side character.
Regardless of all that, this family and their stories already has me invested and I will continue the series. Which is saying something for my 2023 track record lol.
July 22, 2023
Skim read to get to book 2. It wasn’t bad but I couldn’t get into this one, I hate to call a book boring but I just really wasn’t feeling it.
I don’t normally care about how versatile the characters are in bed but I was hoping to find a redeeming quality in that both MC’s stated they were tops and wouldn’t bottom, so I thought, ‘ooh maybe we will get some inventive non-penetrative sex scenes here’ but alas, within a few scenes these guys were happily bottoming for each other and their sex scenes read like a million others.
If this had been an early m/m read I probably would have liked it but I’ve become spoilt from finding so many brilliant reads. I’ve enjoyed a lot from this author but this felt like a rinse and repeat of so many other m/m romance books. We
I don’t normally care about how versatile the characters are in bed but I was hoping to find a redeeming quality in that both MC’s stated they were tops and wouldn’t bottom, so I thought, ‘ooh maybe we will get some inventive non-penetrative sex scenes here’ but alas, within a few scenes these guys were happily bottoming for each other and their sex scenes read like a million others.
If this had been an early m/m read I probably would have liked it but I’ve become spoilt from finding so many brilliant reads. I’ve enjoyed a lot from this author but this felt like a rinse and repeat of so many other m/m romance books. We
February 10, 2024
This was one of the very rare times I DNF'd a review copy, because the narration was so poor. I gave Lance West a B- and David Lee Garver a D at AudioGals. I gave the book a B in print.
Annabeth Albert’s books have been narrated by some of the very best m/m romance narrators out there – Greg Boudreaux, Iggy Toma, Cooper North, Kirt Graves, Sean Crisden among them – but unfortunately, that winning streak comes to a crashing halt with Bring Me Home, the first book in her Safe Harbor series. I’d normally begin an audiobook review by talking about the story, but the narration for this one is so awful that it’s my strongest memory of the listen. Although I should clarify – Lance West’s performance is fine, but David Lee Garver sounds bored and as though he’d rather be doing anything other than narrating a romance novel. I listened to about a third of the audiobook, and then switched to listening to Knox’s chapters and (re)reading Monroe’s because the latter were so painful to listen to. I made it about half-way through that way, but switching from one to the other was too inconvenient for me to continue (I can’t read when I’m driving!) so I have to put this down as one of my very rare audiobook DNFs.
The story itself is an enjoyable one, though. Monroe, a retired Navy lieutenant and NCIS investigator, returns to his home town of Safe Harbor in order to get the house he’s inherited from his great aunt fixed up so he can sell it before he moves to San Francisco to take up a job offer. His friend, Rob, (Safe Harbor’s chief of police) asks if Monroe can house his son, Knox, in return for his help on the remodelling; Rob and his wife already have triplets and are expecting again, and there just isn’t room for him at their place. It’ll only be for the summer anyway, as Knox will be off to grad school in the autumn.
Monroe is at a friend’s bachelor party in Portland when he notices a gorgeous guy across the room and can’t look away. It seems his interest is returned; the man – who is somewhat younger than Monroe normally goes for – approaches him and they strike up a flirty, fun conversation that leads to dancing in a dark corner, some passionate kissing and an invitation back to Monroe’s hotel room. Unfortunately, they’re interrupted and the guy has to leave – there’s no time to exchange numbers.
Next day, Knox arrives at Rob’s and is stunned when the door is opened by none other than the guy with whom he’d shared the hottest kisses of his life. Well, shit. Rob will kill him if he finds out, and worrying about that causes Monroe to put his foot firmly in his mouth when he tells Knox what they did was a mistake. Knox had been delighted to see last night’s mystery hottie – but his delight is short-lived when he sees how uncomfortable Monroe is, and he guesses his summer gig is off. Fortunately, Monroe manages not to be a complete dick – he starts talking about clearing out a room for Knox (and his cat) and quietly apologises for saying what he said. But he makes it clear that roomies is it – there will be no more kissing or making out or anything else.
Knox is disappointed, but he’s chill – he isn’t going to push Monroe into anything he doesn’t want to do, and tells him so; he’s strongly attracted to the older man and would love to pick up where they left off and see where things go, but sure, they can work on the house together and be friends and housemates and have that be that.
Monroe is relieved. (Not disappointed, of course, no way!) Becoming involved with the twenty-three-year-old son of one of his oldest friends (Monroe is forty-one) is a no-no, so this is for the best. No matter how attractive he finds Knox – and he’s strongly attracted to him; not just for his looks but for his confidence, his thoughtfulness and his sunny disposition – it’s not worth ruining a twenty-year friendship for something that can only be temporary.
We all know how things are going to turn out, but it’s all about the journey. Spending time together, discussing projects, doing the work, sharing space and sharing meals brings about a new closeness, and they both find themselves talking about their hopes and plans and telling each other things they haven’t told anyone else. Monroe realises he can’t fight the attraction any more, and the pair agrees to a secret summer fling; there’s an inbuilt expiry date because both of them have plans that don’t include staying in Safe Harbor.
I realise that large age gaps are a dealbreaker for some, but I like them when they’re handled well, and Annabeth Albert is an author I trust to do that. Despite the eighteen years between Monroe and Knox, there’s never any sense of a power imbalance; they’re both givers, people who are used to putting the needs of others before their own, and both of them need to learn that it’s okay to put themselves first sometimes, to let themselves be taken care of and be vulnerable to another person. The author develops their growing trust really well, clearly showing why they’re such a good fit for each other and how they each provide a safe space for the other to communicate their wants and needs.
There’s a plot thread that runs through all three books in the series, relating to the disappearance of a woman some two decades earlier. While in town, Monroe has been helping Rob with some cold cases, and this is one; the woman – the mother of one of their oldest friends – is presumed to have been murdered by her husband, although without a body, nothing could be proven. Monroe quickly realises the investigation was bungled and decides to look into it – no conclusions are reached here, but information is found which leads to an important discovery, and this plotline continues in Make Me Stay, the next book in the series.
Bring Me Home is a sexy, low-angst story in which the conflict – Monroe’s worry about Rob’s reaction aside – is internal. Both he and Knox have plans for their futures which aren’t compatible with a future together – so they both have a lot of thinking to do. I liked them both a lot – they’re good people who are natural caretakers, their chemistry crackles, and they’re a perfect fit. The ILYs do happen quite fast, but this gives the author plenty of time for Monroe and Knox to work out what they really want and what their HEA is going to look like.
I began this review by talking about the narration, and I’m going to end it that way. First, the positives. Lance West’s performance is well-paced and expressive, with some good character voices and clear differentiation between the leads and the secondary characters. He portrays Knox well, using a higher pitch for him than for Monroe, and does a good job of conveying his good humour, his kindness and upbeat nature. Unfortunately however, the much lower pitch he adopts for Monroe sounds a bit fake. One thing that does work well is that both narrators do a pretty good job of sounding like the ‘other’ character – Monroe sounds like Monroe in Knox’s (Lance West) chapters, and Knox sounds like Knox in Monroe’s (David Lee Garver). But the good isn’t enough to outweigh the bad, which is so bad that it made most of this audiobook impossible to listen to. (The dual narration was completely unnecessary – Lance West could easily have carried the book alone.) I was going to say that David Lee Garver sounds like he’s channeling Eeyore, but that would be unkind to Eeyore; his narration is slow, monotonous, and almost entirely lacking in expression, and the same is true of Monroe’s dialogue. Yet he has a good variety of character voices, and when he’s performing other characters, he’s much more animated, which was odd. The sex scenes in Monroe’s chapters are excruciatingly bad – there’s no sense of excitement, no passion… he could have been reading a shopping list or a bus timetable. I pretty much gave up after the scene in which he refers to Monroe’s “prostrate” – did this audiobook actually have a proofer?
I’m leaving it there. Listening to Bring Me Home was not only a disappointment it was a chore, and if the same narrators are used, I won’t be listening to the other books in the series.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
Annabeth Albert’s books have been narrated by some of the very best m/m romance narrators out there – Greg Boudreaux, Iggy Toma, Cooper North, Kirt Graves, Sean Crisden among them – but unfortunately, that winning streak comes to a crashing halt with Bring Me Home, the first book in her Safe Harbor series. I’d normally begin an audiobook review by talking about the story, but the narration for this one is so awful that it’s my strongest memory of the listen. Although I should clarify – Lance West’s performance is fine, but David Lee Garver sounds bored and as though he’d rather be doing anything other than narrating a romance novel. I listened to about a third of the audiobook, and then switched to listening to Knox’s chapters and (re)reading Monroe’s because the latter were so painful to listen to. I made it about half-way through that way, but switching from one to the other was too inconvenient for me to continue (I can’t read when I’m driving!) so I have to put this down as one of my very rare audiobook DNFs.
The story itself is an enjoyable one, though. Monroe, a retired Navy lieutenant and NCIS investigator, returns to his home town of Safe Harbor in order to get the house he’s inherited from his great aunt fixed up so he can sell it before he moves to San Francisco to take up a job offer. His friend, Rob, (Safe Harbor’s chief of police) asks if Monroe can house his son, Knox, in return for his help on the remodelling; Rob and his wife already have triplets and are expecting again, and there just isn’t room for him at their place. It’ll only be for the summer anyway, as Knox will be off to grad school in the autumn.
Monroe is at a friend’s bachelor party in Portland when he notices a gorgeous guy across the room and can’t look away. It seems his interest is returned; the man – who is somewhat younger than Monroe normally goes for – approaches him and they strike up a flirty, fun conversation that leads to dancing in a dark corner, some passionate kissing and an invitation back to Monroe’s hotel room. Unfortunately, they’re interrupted and the guy has to leave – there’s no time to exchange numbers.
Next day, Knox arrives at Rob’s and is stunned when the door is opened by none other than the guy with whom he’d shared the hottest kisses of his life. Well, shit. Rob will kill him if he finds out, and worrying about that causes Monroe to put his foot firmly in his mouth when he tells Knox what they did was a mistake. Knox had been delighted to see last night’s mystery hottie – but his delight is short-lived when he sees how uncomfortable Monroe is, and he guesses his summer gig is off. Fortunately, Monroe manages not to be a complete dick – he starts talking about clearing out a room for Knox (and his cat) and quietly apologises for saying what he said. But he makes it clear that roomies is it – there will be no more kissing or making out or anything else.
Knox is disappointed, but he’s chill – he isn’t going to push Monroe into anything he doesn’t want to do, and tells him so; he’s strongly attracted to the older man and would love to pick up where they left off and see where things go, but sure, they can work on the house together and be friends and housemates and have that be that.
Monroe is relieved. (Not disappointed, of course, no way!) Becoming involved with the twenty-three-year-old son of one of his oldest friends (Monroe is forty-one) is a no-no, so this is for the best. No matter how attractive he finds Knox – and he’s strongly attracted to him; not just for his looks but for his confidence, his thoughtfulness and his sunny disposition – it’s not worth ruining a twenty-year friendship for something that can only be temporary.
We all know how things are going to turn out, but it’s all about the journey. Spending time together, discussing projects, doing the work, sharing space and sharing meals brings about a new closeness, and they both find themselves talking about their hopes and plans and telling each other things they haven’t told anyone else. Monroe realises he can’t fight the attraction any more, and the pair agrees to a secret summer fling; there’s an inbuilt expiry date because both of them have plans that don’t include staying in Safe Harbor.
I realise that large age gaps are a dealbreaker for some, but I like them when they’re handled well, and Annabeth Albert is an author I trust to do that. Despite the eighteen years between Monroe and Knox, there’s never any sense of a power imbalance; they’re both givers, people who are used to putting the needs of others before their own, and both of them need to learn that it’s okay to put themselves first sometimes, to let themselves be taken care of and be vulnerable to another person. The author develops their growing trust really well, clearly showing why they’re such a good fit for each other and how they each provide a safe space for the other to communicate their wants and needs.
There’s a plot thread that runs through all three books in the series, relating to the disappearance of a woman some two decades earlier. While in town, Monroe has been helping Rob with some cold cases, and this is one; the woman – the mother of one of their oldest friends – is presumed to have been murdered by her husband, although without a body, nothing could be proven. Monroe quickly realises the investigation was bungled and decides to look into it – no conclusions are reached here, but information is found which leads to an important discovery, and this plotline continues in Make Me Stay, the next book in the series.
Bring Me Home is a sexy, low-angst story in which the conflict – Monroe’s worry about Rob’s reaction aside – is internal. Both he and Knox have plans for their futures which aren’t compatible with a future together – so they both have a lot of thinking to do. I liked them both a lot – they’re good people who are natural caretakers, their chemistry crackles, and they’re a perfect fit. The ILYs do happen quite fast, but this gives the author plenty of time for Monroe and Knox to work out what they really want and what their HEA is going to look like.
I began this review by talking about the narration, and I’m going to end it that way. First, the positives. Lance West’s performance is well-paced and expressive, with some good character voices and clear differentiation between the leads and the secondary characters. He portrays Knox well, using a higher pitch for him than for Monroe, and does a good job of conveying his good humour, his kindness and upbeat nature. Unfortunately however, the much lower pitch he adopts for Monroe sounds a bit fake. One thing that does work well is that both narrators do a pretty good job of sounding like the ‘other’ character – Monroe sounds like Monroe in Knox’s (Lance West) chapters, and Knox sounds like Knox in Monroe’s (David Lee Garver). But the good isn’t enough to outweigh the bad, which is so bad that it made most of this audiobook impossible to listen to. (The dual narration was completely unnecessary – Lance West could easily have carried the book alone.) I was going to say that David Lee Garver sounds like he’s channeling Eeyore, but that would be unkind to Eeyore; his narration is slow, monotonous, and almost entirely lacking in expression, and the same is true of Monroe’s dialogue. Yet he has a good variety of character voices, and when he’s performing other characters, he’s much more animated, which was odd. The sex scenes in Monroe’s chapters are excruciatingly bad – there’s no sense of excitement, no passion… he could have been reading a shopping list or a bus timetable. I pretty much gave up after the scene in which he refers to Monroe’s “prostrate” – did this audiobook actually have a proofer?
I’m leaving it there. Listening to Bring Me Home was not only a disappointment it was a chore, and if the same narrators are used, I won’t be listening to the other books in the series.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
August 31, 2023
3.5 stars
The whole falling for your dad's best friend romance is done well here. Likable characters, with plenty of steamy sexy times, good dialogue, and plenty of tension brought in by keeping their relationship on the down low. The side mystery of the missing Stapleton wife was really interesting and I wish that plot had gotten more on page time. The romance has a happy ending, but the mystery's left on a cliffhanger presumably to be picked up in book two.
The whole falling for your dad's best friend romance is done well here. Likable characters, with plenty of steamy sexy times, good dialogue, and plenty of tension brought in by keeping their relationship on the down low. The side mystery of the missing Stapleton wife was really interesting and I wish that plot had gotten more on page time. The romance has a happy ending, but the mystery's left on a cliffhanger presumably to be picked up in book two.
April 15, 2023
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Bring Me Home is the start of a new small town romance by author Annabeth Albert. A romance between a retired Navy Lieutenant and his best friend's son that checked so many of my boxes!
Need. Pure, combustible lust and need sparking, making us kiss like ravenous beasts. Like we'd never had it and never would again, so we needed to gorge on each other.
Oh goodness, I really loved Knox and Monroe together. They had sexual chemistry and were light-hearted and sometimes cheesy with one another. Knox had the biggest heart ever, and his love for his siblings and town was simply precious. Monroe seems to have a game plan with his retirement from the Navy, but the longer he spends in his Safe Harbor, the more he questions those plans. Even with their 18 year age gap, they were both struggling with uncertainty about their futures. From the moment Knox moves in, the two leaned each other physical and emotional support. They both fall hard and fast for each other, and it broke my heart when they both thought that a future for them wasn't possible no matter how much they wanted it. The intimate scenes with them are charged and steamy. I loved that younger Knox was the one who took charge in the bedroom, and Monroe went with it willingly. Knox is a total care taker , in and out of the bedroom, and Monroe trusted him completely.
"Damn, I love reducing you to babble, Lieutenant."
"Monroe. Say my name again. Please." I shuddered [...]
"Mmm. Monroe, you taste so damn good."
The story focus' primarily on Knox and Monroe's progress as Monroe tries to fight his attraction to Knox, and then they turn into roommate's with a summer fling to so much more. There is also a little bit of drama with Knox's dad and a dash of mystery with the cold case Monroe is trying to get reopened.
"Maybe I'd rather have the hurt than never had you."
Bring Me Home in the end was a wonderful small town romance with an age gap, a roommates to lovers situation, delicious steam, spontaneous dancing, family, figuring out your future, home renovations, a weekend getaway, fighting for your future and a happy ever after. Annabeth Albert never fails to always get me completely hyped up for the next book in the series, I can't wait for Holden's book!
Bring Me Home is the start of a new small town romance by author Annabeth Albert. A romance between a retired Navy Lieutenant and his best friend's son that checked so many of my boxes!
Need. Pure, combustible lust and need sparking, making us kiss like ravenous beasts. Like we'd never had it and never would again, so we needed to gorge on each other.
Oh goodness, I really loved Knox and Monroe together. They had sexual chemistry and were light-hearted and sometimes cheesy with one another. Knox had the biggest heart ever, and his love for his siblings and town was simply precious. Monroe seems to have a game plan with his retirement from the Navy, but the longer he spends in his Safe Harbor, the more he questions those plans. Even with their 18 year age gap, they were both struggling with uncertainty about their futures. From the moment Knox moves in, the two leaned each other physical and emotional support. They both fall hard and fast for each other, and it broke my heart when they both thought that a future for them wasn't possible no matter how much they wanted it. The intimate scenes with them are charged and steamy. I loved that younger Knox was the one who took charge in the bedroom, and Monroe went with it willingly. Knox is a total care taker , in and out of the bedroom, and Monroe trusted him completely.
"Damn, I love reducing you to babble, Lieutenant."
"Monroe. Say my name again. Please." I shuddered [...]
"Mmm. Monroe, you taste so damn good."
The story focus' primarily on Knox and Monroe's progress as Monroe tries to fight his attraction to Knox, and then they turn into roommate's with a summer fling to so much more. There is also a little bit of drama with Knox's dad and a dash of mystery with the cold case Monroe is trying to get reopened.
"Maybe I'd rather have the hurt than never had you."
Bring Me Home in the end was a wonderful small town romance with an age gap, a roommates to lovers situation, delicious steam, spontaneous dancing, family, figuring out your future, home renovations, a weekend getaway, fighting for your future and a happy ever after. Annabeth Albert never fails to always get me completely hyped up for the next book in the series, I can't wait for Holden's book!
Read
June 4, 2023Dnf
May 4, 2023
This is the first book in the Safe harbour series and I really enjoyed it.
We have Monroe a 40+ navy investigator who has come back to the town he lived in as a boy, his aunt passed away and has left him her very large house that needs so much repair work. He just wants to fix up the house, sell it and move to the city where he’s hoping to get his dream job, only problem is he’s not very good at DIY!! His friend has come up with a solution, if Monroe can house his 23 year old son for the summer then his son will fix up the house in return.
Knox loves his home town, his dad is still growing his family and often uses knox when he’s home from college to help care for the triplets In between working at the local building company. Knox loves his family and don’t mind helping them out, but being stuck in the basement of his dads every growing family is not the best situation. So when his dad friend trades work for a room for him and his cat he can’t really say no, all he needs to do is try not fall for his dads best friend!
I loved the bond these two had, they had banter and chemistry, they knew that being together may cause problems with Knox’s dad but the feelings they had towards each other was to strong to ignore. I loved the power exchange between them, I like a younger boss in the bedroom! Monroe was used to giving orders but when it come to knox he was happy to hand over control!
There’s a detective story that also runs through the book which gave it an another twist, finding out secrets of the town was fun to read. I did think that Knox’s family took him a bit for granted which annoyed me! But overall great age gap, small town read, with a sneaky epilogue of the next characters for the next book in the series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book content-
🩶Dad's best friend
🩶Grumpy/Sunshine
🩶Age Cap
🩶Small Town
🩶Found Family.
🩶Slow Angst
🩶Matchmaking Cat
We have Monroe a 40+ navy investigator who has come back to the town he lived in as a boy, his aunt passed away and has left him her very large house that needs so much repair work. He just wants to fix up the house, sell it and move to the city where he’s hoping to get his dream job, only problem is he’s not very good at DIY!! His friend has come up with a solution, if Monroe can house his 23 year old son for the summer then his son will fix up the house in return.
Knox loves his home town, his dad is still growing his family and often uses knox when he’s home from college to help care for the triplets In between working at the local building company. Knox loves his family and don’t mind helping them out, but being stuck in the basement of his dads every growing family is not the best situation. So when his dad friend trades work for a room for him and his cat he can’t really say no, all he needs to do is try not fall for his dads best friend!
I loved the bond these two had, they had banter and chemistry, they knew that being together may cause problems with Knox’s dad but the feelings they had towards each other was to strong to ignore. I loved the power exchange between them, I like a younger boss in the bedroom! Monroe was used to giving orders but when it come to knox he was happy to hand over control!
There’s a detective story that also runs through the book which gave it an another twist, finding out secrets of the town was fun to read. I did think that Knox’s family took him a bit for granted which annoyed me! But overall great age gap, small town read, with a sneaky epilogue of the next characters for the next book in the series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book content-
🩶Dad's best friend
🩶Grumpy/Sunshine
🩶Age Cap
🩶Small Town
🩶Found Family.
🩶Slow Angst
🩶Matchmaking Cat
October 22, 2023
Monroe, with his ease of following directions, tender heart, and wounded soul, was catnip for my inner caretaker.
I didn't expect to love this book so much! I love a good dad's best friend / best friend's dad story... add a slight role reversal and I'm done for 💕 In Bring Me Home, Monroe is 41 and Knox is 23. They meet at the bar during their respective friends' bachelor parties, where they share a heated kiss. Little did they know, they would meet again soon when Monroe's friend, Rob, introduces him to his son Knox, who's supposed to live at Monroe's house for the summer and help him with renovations. This is a very tricky situation for the both of them. Monroe is hesitant to give in to their attraction, while Knox is so on board for a summer of fun.
I said I wouldn't beg, and I was going to stick to that. Either he'd come around, or he'd keep throwing up barriers. Regardless, he had to make his own choices.
While they do end up in bed together, Knox and Monroe's story is so much more than that. They fit together in many ways and they develop a special bond built upon mutual trust. Knox is younger than Monroe by 18 years, but it doesn't feel like a big age gap for them, because Knox knows exactly how to take care of Monroe and be there for him.
"Maybe I'd rather have the hurt than never have had you."
Because of the secret nature of their relationship, they have to face some challenges together, which makes their connection even stronger. There's the issue of Knox's dad, but also the gossip in the small town they live in. And what about their plans for the end of the summer? Knox has to make a difficult career choice that could bring him to the East Coast, far from their little town of Safe Harbor in Oregon, while Monroe was initially planning to sell the house and move to San Francisco... I liked how these issues were addressed in the book, and the great communication the main characters had since miscommunication is one of my biggest pet peeves.
Another thing I want to mention is the criminal investigation intrigue that's going on in the series: it was a nice addition to the story, and I'm excited to read books #2 and #3 to know more about the Stapleton case.
I didn't expect to love this book so much! I love a good dad's best friend / best friend's dad story... add a slight role reversal and I'm done for 💕 In Bring Me Home, Monroe is 41 and Knox is 23. They meet at the bar during their respective friends' bachelor parties, where they share a heated kiss. Little did they know, they would meet again soon when Monroe's friend, Rob, introduces him to his son Knox, who's supposed to live at Monroe's house for the summer and help him with renovations. This is a very tricky situation for the both of them. Monroe is hesitant to give in to their attraction, while Knox is so on board for a summer of fun.
I said I wouldn't beg, and I was going to stick to that. Either he'd come around, or he'd keep throwing up barriers. Regardless, he had to make his own choices.
While they do end up in bed together, Knox and Monroe's story is so much more than that. They fit together in many ways and they develop a special bond built upon mutual trust. Knox is younger than Monroe by 18 years, but it doesn't feel like a big age gap for them, because Knox knows exactly how to take care of Monroe and be there for him.
"Maybe I'd rather have the hurt than never have had you."
Because of the secret nature of their relationship, they have to face some challenges together, which makes their connection even stronger. There's the issue of Knox's dad, but also the gossip in the small town they live in. And what about their plans for the end of the summer? Knox has to make a difficult career choice that could bring him to the East Coast, far from their little town of Safe Harbor in Oregon, while Monroe was initially planning to sell the house and move to San Francisco... I liked how these issues were addressed in the book, and the great communication the main characters had since miscommunication is one of my biggest pet peeves.
Another thing I want to mention is the criminal investigation intrigue that's going on in the series: it was a nice addition to the story, and I'm excited to read books #2 and #3 to know more about the Stapleton case.
April 28, 2023
This author really has a way of pulling you into her stories and this one is no different.
Knox and Monroe were great – I really liked how they took the time to get to know each other.
Their love story was sweet, it kept me invested throughout and they had really great chemistry together.
I didn’t like Knox’s dad, Rob though... 🙈
I mean, yes, it was obvious that Knox loved taking care of his little step-sisters but it just felt as though Knox’s dad took advantage of Knox because he loved it so much.
The author does mention that the criminal case within takes a back seat to the love story but I found that mystery really intriguing.
Definitely sticking to the rest of this series... 💙🥰💙
Knox and Monroe were great – I really liked how they took the time to get to know each other.
Their love story was sweet, it kept me invested throughout and they had really great chemistry together.
I didn’t like Knox’s dad, Rob though... 🙈
I mean, yes, it was obvious that Knox loved taking care of his little step-sisters but it just felt as though Knox’s dad took advantage of Knox because he loved it so much.
The author does mention that the criminal case within takes a back seat to the love story but I found that mystery really intriguing.
Definitely sticking to the rest of this series... 💙🥰💙
Read
May 28, 2023DNF @ 10%. Just burning through the contemporary romances on my tbr I guess. This one is the exact Annabeth Albert formula, absolutely no originality or spark.
April 26, 2023
Monroe and Knox Heinrich share a heated few moments on the dance floor but get separated before they can act on it. When they discover that they’re now summer roommates, they recognize it will be the best and worst thing, ever.
BRING ME HOME is the first in Annabeth Albert’s Safe Harbor series, set in a little fictional town in Oregon. When ex-military Monroe returns to Safe Harbor, his plan is to clean up the rambling house he inherited from his great aunt and sell it. His longtime friend offers up his son, Knox, who happens to need a place to stay for the summer and also happens to know the business end of a hammer and paint brush…
Annabeth Albert writes Monroe and Knox beautifully, revealing their building connections and emotions as they get to know each other while trying to resist the almost palpable feelings growing between them. While they struggle not to act on their scorching chemistry, it’s also clear they have plenty of other substantive matters blossoming.
While almost two decades separate them, much of what readers can see is what makes each the other’s inescapable “other half”. And along the way, they wrestle with their own expectations, and those the people that love them have for them.
A lovely read, and I look forward to the series to come.
Small-town, m/m, age gap, reluctant roommates to lovers, dad’s best friend…
BRING ME HOME is the first in Annabeth Albert’s Safe Harbor series, set in a little fictional town in Oregon. When ex-military Monroe returns to Safe Harbor, his plan is to clean up the rambling house he inherited from his great aunt and sell it. His longtime friend offers up his son, Knox, who happens to need a place to stay for the summer and also happens to know the business end of a hammer and paint brush…
Annabeth Albert writes Monroe and Knox beautifully, revealing their building connections and emotions as they get to know each other while trying to resist the almost palpable feelings growing between them. While they struggle not to act on their scorching chemistry, it’s also clear they have plenty of other substantive matters blossoming.
While almost two decades separate them, much of what readers can see is what makes each the other’s inescapable “other half”. And along the way, they wrestle with their own expectations, and those the people that love them have for them.
A lovely read, and I look forward to the series to come.
Small-town, m/m, age gap, reluctant roommates to lovers, dad’s best friend…
August 2, 2023
2.5 Stars
July 6, 2023
This book definitely grew on me but I still have mixed feelings about it.
What I liked/loved
--> Both MCs were fleshed out and at a crossroads in life for different reasons: one was weighing going to grad school away from his hometown and the other had just inherited his aunt's house and is pondering his future now that he is a retired NCIS agent.
--> They really fit in well together, they truly belong together and the little angst we got was earned, they were facing real problems, communicated well which I always love. You could feel their love for each other and its growth. They also both grew in the book as individuals which is always a plus in my book. They fit together because they come from similar family background that made them understanding of each other.
--> The community at Safe Harbor was nice and felt like a found family. (kind of, it could have been more fleshed out).
--> I liked the way the age gap was handled (41 and 23 years old).
--> I was really hooked on the book after 40% for some reason.
What I liked less
--> Showing AND telling: some things were spoon fed to me: Knox being bossy was shown (kind of) but also repeatedly said, their conversation described as "banter" which always grates me because we can obviously see that!
--> Some scenes that I wanted to see happened off page: like their first real date and most of the investigation. That part of the book (the mystery) definitely needed more page time for me to be invested. I'm not even really sure what it's about. We are told that the two MCs discussed the case at length but don't see that, one MC conducts an interview with a suspect we don't see that, then he transcribes said interview and we don't see that either.
--> it's a father's best friend book but we don't see Monroe being friends (let alone very close to) with Knox's dad.
--> Too much sex and not the best kind, they talked a LOT during sex and not always dirty talk, just talk. This took page time away from all the other plot points I wanted to know more about: Knox feels like a third wheel in his own family, he is always helping his dad's family to the point of exhaustion I wanted to see more of that. He is also very atached to his hometown but we dont really see why. I wanted more of the investigation, Monroe enjoying his friends, Monroe's relationship with his own family.... .
What I liked/loved
--> Both MCs were fleshed out and at a crossroads in life for different reasons: one was weighing going to grad school away from his hometown and the other had just inherited his aunt's house and is pondering his future now that he is a retired NCIS agent.
--> They really fit in well together, they truly belong together and the little angst we got was earned, they were facing real problems, communicated well which I always love. You could feel their love for each other and its growth. They also both grew in the book as individuals which is always a plus in my book. They fit together because they come from similar family background that made them understanding of each other.
--> The community at Safe Harbor was nice and felt like a found family. (kind of, it could have been more fleshed out).
--> I liked the way the age gap was handled (41 and 23 years old).
--> I was really hooked on the book after 40% for some reason.
What I liked less
--> Showing AND telling: some things were spoon fed to me: Knox being bossy was shown (kind of) but also repeatedly said, their conversation described as "banter" which always grates me because we can obviously see that!
--> Some scenes that I wanted to see happened off page: like their first real date and most of the investigation. That part of the book (the mystery) definitely needed more page time for me to be invested. I'm not even really sure what it's about. We are told that the two MCs discussed the case at length but don't see that, one MC conducts an interview with a suspect we don't see that, then he transcribes said interview and we don't see that either.
--> it's a father's best friend book but we don't see Monroe being friends (let alone very close to) with Knox's dad.
--> Too much sex and not the best kind, they talked a LOT during sex and not always dirty talk, just talk. This took page time away from all the other plot points I wanted to know more about: Knox feels like a third wheel in his own family, he is always helping his dad's family to the point of exhaustion I wanted to see more of that. He is also very atached to his hometown but we dont really see why. I wanted more of the investigation, Monroe enjoying his friends, Monroe's relationship with his own family.... .
November 27, 2023
4.5 stars.
I love a good age gap story. There are 18 years between Monroe and Knox.
I love a good small town book. Safe Harbor is your typical small town.
I also love a good mystery, and it looks like this series will have that before it's over.
I adored Knox right off. He may have been young, but he was very mature for his age. He had to be because he's grown up between his mom's place and his dad's. Throw in that his dad has a new wife, triplets, and another on the way, and he's all over the place. I say that because Knox'sbastard dad used the hell out of him. He was always asked to watch the triplets, run an errand, fix something that's broken... the list goes on and on. Even with all those responsibilities, his father still treated him like a small child.
I liked Monroe for the most part, but he was kind of stiff early on. Understandable, I suppose, especially considering he has the hots for his best friend's son. ;)
This starts off with a bang but then slows down a little as Knox and Monroe try their damnedest to not fall in love and into bed with each other. Knox's dad's a jerk. No way would he ever accept his best friend and his son being in any type of relationship.
I HATED Rob, Knox's dad, with a passion. That didn't change as the story played out.
Overall, this is a good book, but I couldn't give it 5 stars for a couple of reasons. One, I felt like I was dropped into a world that I should've known about but didn't. There seemed to be a few inside jokes between some of the characters that went over my head. And, two, Rob. I was constantly waiting on the other shoe to drop with him.
Even so, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. I'll be reading the others in the series.
Full review can be found at -
I love a good age gap story. There are 18 years between Monroe and Knox.
I love a good small town book. Safe Harbor is your typical small town.
I also love a good mystery, and it looks like this series will have that before it's over.
I adored Knox right off. He may have been young, but he was very mature for his age. He had to be because he's grown up between his mom's place and his dad's. Throw in that his dad has a new wife, triplets, and another on the way, and he's all over the place. I say that because Knox's
I liked Monroe for the most part, but he was kind of stiff early on. Understandable, I suppose, especially considering he has the hots for his best friend's son. ;)
This starts off with a bang but then slows down a little as Knox and Monroe try their damnedest to not fall in love and into bed with each other. Knox's dad's a jerk. No way would he ever accept his best friend and his son being in any type of relationship.
I HATED Rob, Knox's dad, with a passion. That didn't change as the story played out.
Overall, this is a good book, but I couldn't give it 5 stars for a couple of reasons. One, I felt like I was dropped into a world that I should've known about but didn't. There seemed to be a few inside jokes between some of the characters that went over my head. And, two, Rob. I was constantly waiting on the other shoe to drop with him.
Even so, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. I'll be reading the others in the series.
Full review can be found at -
April 27, 2023
Oh, this book was all kinds of sweet perfection, and truly what I've come to expect from Annabeth. It hit the spot, I'm telling you.
Monroe inherits his great aunt's house in Safe Harbor. He's retired from the Navy and plans to spend the summer fixing it up to sell it.
Knox is home after finishing college and starting grad school in the fall. His father's house is overrun [redacted] and through [redacted] Knox ends up staying with Monroe.
But they've met before.
The chemistry is instant. These two are absolutely perfect together.
There's so much going on, and I don't want to spoil ANY OF IT. But if you like best friend's son or Dad's best friend stories, romances with an agegap or navigating being in a small town with everything that may entail... then this is for you! There is also a great mystery involved! But honestly it's so much more than that too. It's about finding your person. [ I really want to tell you more but it's redacted]
There's something else in this story too, that I hope doesn't get overlooked. Queer erasure. It happened more back in the day, when "they were roommates" or "he is a confirmed bachelor" or "they're just best friends" - so many of our queer elders were made out to be crazy or weird or spinsters. So many couldn't live out and happy with their partners or their solitude. This story touches on this and its done in such a thoughtful beautiful way.
Can't recommend this story enough. Book one of what I know will be a very enjoyable series
Monroe inherits his great aunt's house in Safe Harbor. He's retired from the Navy and plans to spend the summer fixing it up to sell it.
Knox is home after finishing college and starting grad school in the fall. His father's house is overrun [redacted] and through [redacted] Knox ends up staying with Monroe.
But they've met before.
The chemistry is instant. These two are absolutely perfect together.
There's so much going on, and I don't want to spoil ANY OF IT. But if you like best friend's son or Dad's best friend stories, romances with an agegap or navigating being in a small town with everything that may entail... then this is for you! There is also a great mystery involved! But honestly it's so much more than that too. It's about finding your person. [ I really want to tell you more but it's redacted]
There's something else in this story too, that I hope doesn't get overlooked. Queer erasure. It happened more back in the day, when "they were roommates" or "he is a confirmed bachelor" or "they're just best friends" - so many of our queer elders were made out to be crazy or weird or spinsters. So many couldn't live out and happy with their partners or their solitude. This story touches on this and its done in such a thoughtful beautiful way.
Can't recommend this story enough. Book one of what I know will be a very enjoyable series
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