Review: Off the Clock by Annabeth Albert (Mount Hope #2)


Note: An advance reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author.

We're back in the picturesque Oregonian town of Mount Hope with the second book in the series by the same name. Annabeth Albert gives readers an age gap, small town, same working environment romance with some kinda-sorta-maybe bisexual awakening to it. Maybe the latter is more like bisexual exploration since one of the main characters knows he's bi but has never really openly acknowledged it nor had much of an opportunity to act on any possible attraction he may have had with someone of the same sex.

Off the Clock finds forty-two-year-old Tony Capo starting the next chapter of his life post-military in Mount Hope, Oregon. With the support of his best friends, he pursues a career in firefighting, On his first day, he's put under the watchful eye of Caleb (whose last name escapes me at the moment or maybe it wasn't mentioned), a firefighter about ten years his junior tasked to handle Tony's training. As much as Tony tries, he can't seem to resist the younger man who has more than piqued his curiosity. But Tony isn't looking for a relationship and Caleb's got a lot on his plate. Being firefighters (and friends) with benefits is all they can have...or could they actually have more?

Tony and Caleb's story was a treat! I enjoyed getting to know these two men better, especially with that teeny, tiny first interaction they had in the series starter. I liked that these main characters were an interesting mix of personalities because there was so much more to them than just their being firefighters, and in Tony's case, an Army Ranger prior to being in Mount Hope. This was a romance, but it was also about friendship, family, and community, and it was great to be back in this small town that I can't seem to get enough of. Off the Clock gets four stars, and I can't wait for book three!

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Read my reviews for the Mount Hope series:


Up All Night (book one) - four stars - My Review

Off the Clock (book two) - four stars - My Review (posted above)

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Release Date: 25 July 2024

Date Read: 24 July 2024

Learn more about Annabeth Albert.

Purchase Off the Clock on Amazon.

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