Erth's Reviews > Tight Quarters

Once again, Annabeth Albert delivers a wonderful addition to her OUT OF UNIFORM series–with everyone’s favorite sniper, Bacon, and a journalist who is embedded with Bacon’s SEAL team.

As with all the other books in this series, TIGHT QUARTERS was a delight to read. The characters continue to be amazingly dynamic and full of unforeseen depth. Bacon, as I mentioned, has been a favorite, and I was super excited to learn this book was about him. From his first appearance, I loved him and the way he supported his brothers in arms. He’s such a good guy, willing to help out however he can, and I’ve been eager to see him finally get his happy ending and someone who can help take care of him in the way he cares for others. And with this book, he finally finds that in Spencer Bryant, a journalist 20 years his senior, who’s been embedded with the SEAL in order to do in depth research for a story.

I enjoyed the fact that there was a bit of enemies to lovers happening with Bacon and Spencer, even as they were attracted to each other from the first. It was so interesting to watch their relationship progress from journalist and Navy liaison to friends and lovers who’re secure in just how much they need and rely on each other. The progression of their relationship was so fun and sweet and tender, and the breakup scene was almost as crushing for me as it was for them. I couldn’t stop reading, waiting for them to finally achieve their happy ending, and the way they get there is just perfect.

In addition to the characters and overall plot, I was also a fan of the pansexual rep we find on page here through Bacon. We learn that he’s pan in the previous book (SQUARED AWAY), so I was curious about how Albert was going to portray it, and I think she did a good job. Bacon was just pan–forthcoming with using the term and correcting anyone who mislabeled him–and there was none of the weird “validation” involving past sexual partners that books with bisexual and/or pansexual character tend to feature. He talks about having past partners, and talks about his teenage enbyfriend Jamie, whose story is relevant to how it’s affected Bacon’s life, without using them as part of Bacon’s “pan cred,” but that’s it. As I said, he’s just allowed to be and exist as pansexual, which I loved.

Also, as always, I loved seeing familiar faces from the previous books in the series, as well as meeting new character, such as Rooster (who’s one of the heroes of the next book!).

I look forward to more from this series, and Annabeth Albert in general, in the months and years to come!