Heat It Up

Spoiler-Free Review:

I finally wrapped up the last book in the Out of Uniform series, and I loved it so much. The two novellas books have been such fun reads. You meet all the characters briefly throughout the other books in the series, but getting a short glimpse into how their relationships started has been a treat. Hot and Heavy follows Becker, Ryan, and Matt, and once again my only complaint is that these aren't full length novels. I have loved the the men of this series, and it is right up there with the Off-Campus series for me. This book is an Adult Romance, 18+ for sexual content

3.5Here comes a dissenting opinion and for reasons that are entirely my own. Overall I liked the story and I think it works pretty well in the Out of Uniform universe. [a:Greg Boudreaux 15087355 Greg Boudreaux https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] a.k.a. [a:Greg Tremblay 8108759 Greg Tremblay https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1484561919p2/8108759.jpg] does his usual fantastic job and was a good choice for these two men. Dustin is a sweet Thor and Wes is a prickly pear. They fit. Wes and Dustin are well matched as a couple and overall I liked their dynamics, how they flip the expected roles, however this is where my personal BS kicks in (but this is my review/opinion/or note to self about my reading experience). When it comes to the bedroom this couple has a BDSM relationship, a lite one for sure, some nipple play, a touch of restraints, talk of orgasm denial, and a bit of begging. That's fine. I have no problem with it at all. My issues are I read BDSM usually as a challenge to myself. While, intellectually, I understand the power exchanges, roles, and what each party gets out of it, my public defender self is always looking out for the s in a D/s relationship and here I wasn't fully convinced that Wes had earned the right to boss Dustin around, no matter how much that cranked Dustin up. Perhaps the problem was that the trust earning/getting to know you phase happened off-page. The book opens with these two meeting in person after a spell of having an on-line relationship via an app and maybe that would've assuaged my conscience. and probably the fact that almost every encounter, perhaps out of necessity, is sex related. Some out-of-the-bedroom breathing room would've been welcome. I hope the two ensuing shorts remedy that. I enjoyed the rest of the story, visiting briefly with previous couples, the bureaucracy of the Army etc. and as usual, at the heart of this series, are loving caring families. Btw are there really people as nosy as Curly? Damn.