Beta Test is the second book in the @gaymers series but you don’t need to have read the first one as Beta Test stands alone just fine.Tristan and Ravi begin their employment with CEI on the same day and their first meeting was less than auspicious. Tristan thinks Ravi is a bit too “out there” and Ravi thinks that Tristan is homophobic – if only he knew the truth.

Tristan is the ultimate organized person. He loves spreadsheets, markers and lists. Ravi is artistic and tends to fly more by the seat of his pants. They pretty much try to ignore each other at work until they have to step in and take a road trip when someone gets sick. With hours alone in the truck they actually begin to talk to each other.

I loved seeing the relationship between Tristan and Ravi go from tolerating each other to loving each other. Their road wasn’t an easy one but Annabeth Albert gave us just enough, but not too much, angst mixed in with the fabulous sexy time. I also enjoyed reading about Ravi’s family and their culture.

I wanted to throw something at both Tristan and Ravi’s parents. Although Tristan’s seemed worse than Ravi’s I don’t think I’d really want to be a child in either family. While the story has a few nearly heartbreaking scenes much of the mood is not so somber and there were many things that made me smile as well as swoon.

I might love you.
No sacrifice is too much for you.
I want a future together. I want you to be my family. I saw that clearly, and I can’t tell you yet, but I can kiss you and kiss you and kiss you and hope you feel it too, this strange scary big feeling.

I’ve now read several books by Ms. Albert covering 3 different series (Portland Heat, #gaymers and Perfect Harmony) as well as a few not in a series. While each book/series offers something different the voice she uses is distinctive and I can’t wait to read more!

Reviews for Annabeth Albert

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A sexy first kiss excerpt from Beta Test by Annabeth Albert

*****

Knock. Knock. A knock came from the connecting door, startling Ravi into hopping off the bed.

“Tristan?” he called before unlocking the door.

“Yeah,” came the muffled reply.

“What’s up?” As he opened the door, he realized that he didn’t even have a shirt on. After his shower, he’d pulled on a pair of Star Wars lounge pants that Avani had given him on his last birthday. He wasn’t a modest guy, but this was a bit…exposed for a late-night encounter.

“Um. Not much.” Tristan stood there in ridiculous blue plaid pajamas and bare feet, hair still damp and sticking up at weird angles. The overall effect should have been one of Tristan escaping from whatever retirement compound Elmer called home, but instead Ravi found it endearing.

You’re so screwed, man.

“Not much?” Ravi raised an eyebrow. “But you knocked?”

“Um. Yeah.” Tristan scratched his neck and shuffled one foot. “My room stinks.”

“Your room stinks?” Ravi had to stop himself from laughing. As far as pretexts went, that was pretty darn lame, high-school-campout-worthy stuff.

“It really does.” Tristan gestured, and Ravi followed him in and took a deep sniff. Yeah, the room did smell pretty funky.

“O-kay.” Ravi drew the word out. “Why don’t you call the front desk? This is a pretty big place, and it’s the middle of the week. I’m sure they can find you a different room.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you.” Tristan did the shuffle thing with his foot again. “Never mind.”

“Tris.” Ravi grabbed Tristan’s shoulders when he tried to turn away, forced him to look at him. “What’s really up?”

“Nothing. I was thinking we could watch a movie in your room, but you’re right, I should call for a new room.”

“That’s what you want? To hang out with me?” Ravi took a step forward, not dropping his hands from Tristan’s shoulders. He could feel his warmth even through the soft blue cotton. Their bodies were mere inches apart now. Tristan’s gaze went straight to Ravi’s mouth before he licked his own lips.

Oh fuck. Killing me, Tris, you really are.

“I’ve got a movie on,” Ravi said softly, making no move toward his room or to step away from Tristan. There were a thousand reasons why he needed to step away, get Tristan to call for a new room, and stop the energy arcing between them, yet he couldn’t seem to find the one that would get his feet to move.

“Yeah.” Tristan’s exhale ghosted across Ravi’s face. His eyes continued to look as though they had a tractor beam on Ravi’s mouth. “That’s good.”

“I’ve got no clue what the movie is.” Ravi laughed shakily.

“That’s okay.” Tristan moved, subtly leaning forward before retreating a millimeter, like he wasn’t quite sure how to close the gap between them.

Ravi knew, but there were a whole host of reasons why he should retreat and lock the door behind him, put a hotel’s worth of distance between himself and temptation. But he didn’t move back, instead doing what Tristan was shuffling toward and closed the distance between them, claiming Tristan’s mouth like he’d been obsessing about for two days now.

Okay, okay, perhaps a bit longer than that, if he were honest with himself. Tristan was fussy and prissy and so not Ravi’s type, except he was cute and endearing and eager to please and…

Oh fuck it. They were so doing this thing.

Ravi’s lips slid softly over Tristan’s, hands coming up to cup Tristan’s face. His skin was smooth and slightly slippery, as if he’d shaved earlier. Tristan gave a little sigh as their lips collided, a happy noise that went straight to Ravi’s dick. Tristan tasted like a minty memory from Ravi’s teen years, a simple, classic taste that totally fit with the rest of Tristan’s persona.

And the way they fit together felt like a different kind of memory—like they’d done this before and yet never before in the same instant. Brand-new and achingly familiar. And far, far too sweet for Ravi’s blood.

 

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Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter.  In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children.

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