Sailor Proof
Sailor Proof (Shore Leave #1)
The sexy Navy chief and his best friend’s adorkable little brother…
It’s petty, but Naval Chief Derrick Fox wishes he could exact a little revenge on his ex by showing off a rebound fling. His submarine is due to return to its Bremerton, Washington, home base soon and Derrick knows all too well there won't be anyone waiting with a big, showy welcome.
Enter one ill-advised plan…
Arthur Euler is the guy you go to in a pinch—he's excellent at out-of-the-box solutions. It's what the genius music-slash-computer nerd is known for. So when he finds out Derrick needs a favor, he’s happy to help. He can muster the sort of welcome a Naval Chief deserves, no problem at all.
Except it is a problem. A very big problem.
When Arthur’s homecoming welcome is a little too convincing, when a video of their gangplank smooch goes enormously viral, they're caught between a dock and a hard place. Neither of them ever expected a temporary fake relationship to look—or feel—so real. And Arthur certainly never considered he'd be fighting for a very much not-fake forever with a military man.
NERDY THOUGHTS
Annabeth Albert's "Sailor Proof" hits several favorite themes and tropes so perfectly that every word was a pleasure to devour. From fake to real boyfriends, opposites attract, and brother's best friend, the author captured each one to perfection.
Derrick and Arthur are relatable characters as well as well-adjusted. Even more than that, while there were a few miscommunication moments along the way, the author managed to successfully ensure the characters were adults and clearly communicated. Oh, how I love it when authors don't fall into the trap of the main conflict being a frustrating misunderstanding.
I'm super keen to discover what's next in this series.
Bottom line: A low-angst M/M military romance that hits all the feels.