4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. It hit all the marks for me. I read it in one sitting. I just couldn’t get enough of Arthur & Derrick. The push & pull of them getting together was really doing it for me!

Arthur has always had a little crush on Derrick. So when his big brother called in a favor to help Derrick out, Arthur agreed. Not thinking anything more would come of this one kiss.

Derrick needed and wanted to show his ex-boyfriend that he didn’t break him when he left him for another sailor on his submarine. So his good friend Calder (Arthur’s big brother) talked him into kissing someone right when they pulled in. That person being his younger brother Arthur.

Once their lips touched… it was explosive! It took both of them by surprise. That kiss steamed rolled into something bigger. Arthur’s family thinking he was in a relationship with Derrick, invited Derrick to the family vacation.

Derrick and Arthur alone in their own cabin for a week was pretty hot! Lots of first going on in there! And I loved it!!!

“Something was happening here, something big, something I couldn’t name, and I was powerless to look away."

I love how everyone took to Derrick. He fit right in. And went with the flow with Arthur’s family.

This book was good! And I can’t wait to read Calder’s book next!!! Not a lot was said about him. Just that he liked to take bets. He was super competitive with everyone. So we’ll see how his book turns out.

*ARC provided by HARLEQUIN - Carina Press via NetGalley*

Set on making his ex jealous, Naval Chief Derrick Fox accepts help from his best friend’s younger brother, Arthur Euler. But the kiss that quickly goes viral does more than just get revenge - it also ignites a fire neither man expected.

Before they know it, the two men are locked in a temporary fake relationship at a family retreat, and it doesn’t take long for them to take full advantage of their private cabin.

Right off the bat, the setup was delicious. Opposites attract, best friend’s younger brother, and a fake relationship? Yes please!

From their first “fake” kiss, these two light some fireworks! And it only gets better. 10/10 for making the most of their unplanned proximity.

It also doesn’t hurt that Arthur and Derrick have a genuine emotional connection to go along with the physical from the get-go. They make the best of their awkward situation, and they do it with mutual respect and some laughs.

It was sweet how Derrick took all of Arthur’s concerns seriously, and that Arthur felt comfortable sharing how he felt about his family’s competitiveness. Even better, how both of them naturally began looking out for each other.

In just a few days, each private moment and shared confession leads to the “fake” relationship beginning to feel more and more real. It was adorable!

Did things move a bit quickly? Sure, but this is one of those romances where it makes complete sense, and where the main characters just click from the start.

This isn’t a particularly angsty romance. The big stumbling block is Derrick’s job, which takes him away from the US for long periods of time, and makes Arthur wary of a long-term relationship.

It takes some serious thought and a bit of time for both men to decide if what they have is worth the fight. And not surprisingly - it totally is!

The HEA was perfect in every way! Arthur and Derrick more than deserved their happy ending.

This was a great start to a new series from Annabeth Albert. If you’re looking for a sweet romance, some heat, and lots of good feels, give Sailor Proof a try!

4 “I’m always going to want you.” stars

I really loved most Annabeth Albert books I have read and her style really works for me so I was super excited to read this book. I will admit that this book wasn’t anything revolutionnary and I have read many books similar to this one but this take on the subject really worked for me. As I mentioned before, Annabeth Albert style of books really works for me and this one wasn’t an exception. It really worked for me and I loved reading it, I had a wonderful time.

<u>Brief summary</u>
Derrick is in the navy and there is a guy in his group that really pisses him off because he’s dating Derrick’s ex and talking about it a lot. Derrick’s friend comes up with a plan to set up Derrick and his other brother, Arthur so that they can start fake dating and get the other guys off Derrick’s back. They start fake dating and experimenting what it would to be boyfriends, but in a totally fake way, and surprise surprise, they go on a vacation with Arthur’s family and turns out that there is only one bed. Which is when they realize that they like each other and want to date for real.

First, I really enjoyed how even if they were in a fake relationship, the second they meet up for the first time in the book, they were attracted to the other and starting pining for each other right away. I prefer my fake romances when the two main characters are attracted to each other from the start so that really worked for me. I liked that the only thing that felt fake about their relationship was the name they put to it, because they were super attracted to each other and it always felt like a very real start of a relationship.

Second, I really enjoyed the relationship progression in the book. I really liked how it went from fake dating, to them being attracted to each other, to being friends and communicating really well, and finally to them dating, it all flowed really well for me.

Third, I really liked Derrick and Arthur together, they were so damn sweet. They were really good to each other and always thought about the other’s feelings before they acted. I liked how they always talked to each other and always trusted each other.

Fourth, Derrick is a quiet dude who doesn’t have many friends and who doesn’t know how to relax and take time for himself and I just loved that about it because I could relate to him a little bit too him. It was fun for me to read about him because he reminded me of myself a lot.

Side note, Arthur wanted to make music video game for a living and thats such a cool choice of career I just had to mention it.

Fifth, I absolutely adored how good these guy’s communication was. They were always talking about everything and making sure that they decided things together, as an unite. It was so lovely to me how they had issues and then they just talked about it and apologized to each other. I just absolutely adored that part of the book.

Sixth, I just want to mention the sex scenes because hot damn. They were hot and really good. I liked how there was plenty of them and how they were all different from each other, it really worked for me.

Seventh, I loved how relalistic their relationship felt. They were good together, they had good communication and they clearly loved each other. I liked how the navy was an issue because it separated them for long periods of time, but they made it work and still were there for each other. The entire relationship between these two just really worked for me.

Eight, while this book was absolutely lovely and so damn sweet, a lot of the book was just them being sweet and spending time with each other. And while I really enjoyed that I did wish that was a little more happening in the book because it starting a little stale after a while. It was still super sweet but it was always the same sweet couple stuff happening and I just wanted a little more action to happen. While I would have liked a little more action, I will say that that part didn’t bother me that much because it felt like a very realistic relationship and I appreciated it for it, a lot.

Ninth, they both had a couple of issues and Derrick was gone often because of his jobs and Arthur didn’t want to date someone in the navy at first. So I really liked how the book didn’t end with one of them sacrifing their life or what makes them happy to be together, I liked that they talked and came to a compromise that made both of them happy in the relationship. It was definitely a really mature way to handle the situation and I absolutely loved it.

I really enjoyed the time I spend reading this book and it was so damn sweet.

I received a copy of this book, and this is my honest review.

Derrick needs a fake boyfriend, and Arthur is happy enough to fill that role. After an innocent invitation to a family reunion leads to Derrick and Arthur spending more time togehter than they expected, these fake feelings may lead to something more.

This was an absolutely delightful MM romance. Heartfelt, fun, and relaxing. There is not much conflict in the book which is honestly what you need sometimes. Derrick and Arthur are both endearing and well-written characters. I loved their interactions and banter especially. Another thing that stood out to me was the setting. I am not normally one who pays too much attention to setting, but the camp environment is a really nice background for all of the romance. Definitely give this one a read if you're in the mood for a lighthearted, fun, and a lil bit spicy time.

Sonar Chief Derrick Fox wants revenge on his ex by showing off a rebound fling. But since Derrick’s been deployed on a submarine, he hasn’t had a chance to find that rebound. Enter his best friend’s younger brother. Arthur Euler is willing to put on a show when the sub docks to make Derrick’s ex jealous. The only thing is, the show is too good. Both Derrick and Arthur are attracted to each other, and the kiss between them has everyone thinking they’ve been dating for a while.

Arthur simply says they’ll stage a breakup in a week or so, and Derrick is on board. But Arthur’s mom railroads them into both attending the family reunion. Derrick has time he needs to take, and he hasn’t had a vacation in years. He also has no contact with his own family, and he’s always been welcomed by the Eulers. Arthur gets the benefit of having a “boyfriend” on the trip. Since Arthur is the only one in his family that’s not military or has a career that super successful, he’s definitely the odd man out. And though the family is loving and wonderful, they often tease Arthur for his differences. Derrick doesn’t want to lie to the Eulers, but he goes along with it for Arthur’s sake.

For the week the family is ensconced at the wooded retreat, things go well. Neither Arthur or Derrick have much experience in relationships and agree to practice on each other. But the more time they spend together, the closer they get. Soon, their mutual attraction won’t be denied. When the reunion ends, Arthur and Derrick agree to keep seeing each other. But both have reasons for not wanting a relationship. Arthur has seen what military relationships can do to a person, and Derrick is off on a submarine often, so he doesn’t have enough time to devote to a partner. But they want to see what can come of their relationship, and they have time.

That is, until, Derrick is sent out on a sub again, much quicker than either man thought would happen. Being apart when the relationship is so new is hard on them both. But it also makes them evaluate their feelings and what they want from each other. Derrick knows he wants a future with Arthur, he just has to make sure that Arthur wants that too.

Annabeth Albert has a new military series, and I am here for it. I am a fan of this author, and love the characters she creates. The two MCs here are no exception. I loved both Arthur and Derrick, the way they interacted with each other, and the way their relationship evolved.

Told in alternating first person POV, we really get to delve into both characters, where they are coming from, and their journeys. And Albert does a good job here balancing both MCs. They both have their baggage, and their own growth, and I really liked the way that not only did we get both, but that they worked well with each other. These guys are becoming individually stronger as they grow in their relationship with each other.

A good portion of the story takes place while they are at the family reunion, and my heart broke for Arthur. He’s a composer and makes a good living, he’s not outdoorsy or competitive, and all of this is at a complete opposite of what the rest of his family is like. He does his best to get them to hear him, but they just don’t see it. At the same time, they are very kind and loving, so you can’t hate them for it. They just don’t understand. I really loved how much Derrick was simply there for Arthur, backing him up and supporting him. This was the biggest moment for the growth in their relationship. As each day went by, they grew closer and closer, until they finally give in to their attraction.

And these guys together are the definition of sweet plus heat. The chemistry sparks and sizzles from the very first kiss and keeps growing throughout the story. The progression of their feelings is real and believable, and makes total sense for who these guys are. I was on board and rooting for them completely. I also really appreciated that their “black moment” was really sort of gray, didn’t last too long, and was about their individual feelings more so than a problem in their relationship or an outside force. Because of that, the ending was wholly satisfying.

Overall, I really liked this book. It was an easy read in that the story flowed effortlessly and the characters were well drawn and endearing. It’s a great start to a series, and I’m looking forward to the next one, especially since we know who it’s going to be about. This is an easy recommendation if you’re a fan of this author, like military romances, and/or are a fan of sweet with heat.

4.5 stars

Fake dating, best friend's little brother, only one bed... Listen, you can't throw all these tropes at me, and have them be written by Annabeth Albert, and think I'm not going to just complete fall in love with it. I adored this book. It's incredibly sweet and fun. I just adored the lightness in the relationship. I loved the way they were both very tentative of scaring the other away. I just loved them so much and can't wait to see what comes next from this series!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆☆
Fake boyfriend books can go one of two ways for me. Really good or horrible. This one was good. It was low angst, lots of steam, and one dreamy kiss started it all. This author is hit or miss with me, but this book was a hit for me. I loved both the main characters and how things progressed. I'm interested to read the next book in the series as well.

What a sweet start to a new series. ❤

I adored both Arthur and Derrick from the time they were introduced. Arthur was adorable. He was also smart, loyal and caring. He was also the black sheep of his over achieving, service oriented family, at least in their eyes.

Arthur was not what Derrick expected. He wasn’t the geeky little brother of his best friend that he remembered and it became way too easy and comfortable to fall into the pretend boyfriend role. Both Arthur and Derrick saw things in each other that no one else did and it didn’t take long for them both to wish that their relationship didn’t have a self-imposed expiration date.

I’ve read several series by Annabeth Albert and I think what I like most about them is not only the connection between the main characters, but that the depth and interactions with the supporting characters is just as important. It looks like Shore Leave is going to be no exception and I can’t wait to get to know some of these characters (especially a certain best friend and older brother) even better. 😉

If you’re looking for a fluffy romance, that’s steamy and fun without a lot of angst or subplot: this is for you.
I’ve had a real good time reading this and while this story wasn’t groundbreaking I enjoyed it.
Fake dating turns Practice Boyfriend turns real feelings. You can’t go wrong with this!
It was a sweet story mostly taking place during a week of family holiday camp and I love reading about huge families.
I’ve never read a book about someone who’s in the army, navi or military of any kind before.
I can’t imagine how hard it must be to have a relative or partner who could be send anywhere anytime for whatever period of time. While I’m absolutely no fan of the institution itself it was definitely interesting to read about a relationship like that.
There aren’t a lot of details or even scenes with Derrick actually in the job. What I really loved though was that Derrick and Arthur’s brother were openly out man in the military. Derricks ex boyfriend too. And nobody batted an eye.
I love book world like that. Where being queer is just normal and heteronormative environments like the military don’t care about it at all.

For me personally they fell a little too quickly and too hard. The whole story takes place during a few days and they almost instantly decided it was „love“, when really most of it was lust and falling for the other.
Arthur was mostly turned on by everything and wanted to jump Derrick at any time.
Don’t get me wrong, I rooted for them and they were really cute together! It was just all a bit quick for me.
They actually talked things through and had real conversations about the future. I liked that a lot. No unnecessary drama here.
I’m looking forward for book 2 in the series!

Sailor Proof by Annabeth Albert is a contemporary romance, and the start of a new series. 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.

Sailor Proof is a contemporary romance that uses some of my favorite tropes to great effect. The friend's sibling romance, the kind of friends to lovers, fake romance turned real, and my favorite twist- there's only one bed! Derrick and Arthur were each great characters with their own personal issues to work out. I empathized with Arthur as he struggled with family dynamics and his perceptions of the past and his place in the present. I felt for Derrick as he noticed Arthur's discomfort and his gifts even as he had to come understand some of those dynamics and what he wanted from life at the same time. Seeing them both struggle and then find their way hit just the spot I needed it to. I absolutely love Arthur and Derrick together, they hit the perfect blend of communication, chemistry, and charm that had me rooting for them right from the beginning.

Sailor Proof is another great read from this author. I cannot wait to see what they write next.

Sometimes the best laid plans are bound to backfire!
The first book in Shore Leave, Sailor Proof finds Naval Chief Derrick Fox wishing for one thing but finding something else. A sweet, low angst story, I like the story overall but wasn’t totally sold on the connection. In saying that, would I recommend ‘yes’ will I read more ‘yes’, this is just one book of the many this fabulous books written by this author and although I didn’t connect with the couple I really enjoyed the story.

The first book in the new Shore Leave series from Annabeth Albert has set my heart to sail!

From the fake relationship, best friends’ brother, single bed action , to the age gap and career difference- this book was an absolute splash!

Derrick and Arthur were absolutely adorable and I can’t wait for the next instalment of this series!

As always, Carina Press delivers the happily ever after I crave! A cute read that I could not put down and totally recommend!

Sailor Proof by Annabeth Albert was released September 28th, 2021.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin and the Harlequin Publicity Team. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#SailorProof #AnnabethAlbert #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

4.5 Stars

Navy chief Derrick Fox is jealous as hell. His ex was messing around on him with an officer on his submarine--and now that officer has won the coveted First Kiss raffle, which means he'll be one of the first shore-side men when they dock at Bremerton in days. And, then he'll have to watch his cheating ex smooch it up all over the place. If only he had someone he could meet up with--not that he has any family to speak of, which is also why he's so glad to be good friends with Calder Euler, a fellow chief. Calder's youngest brother Arthur is 25, out and reportedly attractive. Derrick has known him for a decade, but he'd always been young and spindly. With Calder's assurance that Arthur would not only show up and be a great first-kiss option to try and make his ex and the crappy officer jealous, but he won't make a fuss about it. Because Arthur has no intentions falling for a navy man.

Arthur's ready to do a good deed, helping out Derrick. He'd always had a low-key attraction for the man, who is gorgeous. But, neither Arthur nor Calder expected their parents to show up and welcome Calder home. Catching Derrick and Arthur in an intense lip-lock--one that goes viral and does incense the cheating ex--means the world to the folks. They had thought Arthur would remain single a lot longer, and Derrick, to them, is a huge catch. So, now that they think Derrick and Arthur are an item, they want him to join the Euler family retreat.

Ugh. Complication! So, Arthur convinces Derrick to act as his fake boyfriend for the week because then he can get a separate cabin, and not stay with all the nephews and nieces. The Euler family is incredibly competitive, and Derrick is a little taken aback at how they seem to belittle Arthur for not being as physically agile as the rest of his fit military family. They push Arthur into planning the annual kiddos talent show, and he runs with it, with Derrick's great support, to build every child's esteem. It's an almost radical departure from their business-as-usual winner-take-all mentality, and it really makes a big impression on Derrick, who is already pretty enamored with Arthur. The stunning man who met him at Bremerton is not the young, gangly band nerd he'd met years ago while hanging with Calder. No, he's an accomplished musician with a thriving composing career. Derrick marvels at Arthur's skill coddling self-conscious kiddos and helping them find their happy places. And Arthur himself thrives on Derrick's admiration. In fact, well, both men are falling into love while playing out this close-quarters fake boyfriend scheme. So, yeah, they get to have some fun while sharing that tiny cabin with it's sweet bathtub.


It's a sweet and sexy story, with the added family drama creating a crucible that melts Arthur and Derrick together. The Eulers are a fun bunch, if a little tribal and low-key toxic. I was so glad to see both Derrick and Arthur call out their competitiveness, and change their viewpoint to some degree. It was so fun watching Derrick, who's so loving and so isolated, fall so hard for Arthur. Though Arthur's aversion to being a military partner is strong, his impressions of what it means to be a partner were based on his youthful experience watching his mom put her life on hold for his dad's career. As an adult, he's now having real conversations to discover what it would look like to have an enlisted partner. Because, he's falling just as hard for Derrick, and he wants to support him while also honoring his own needs. 

There is an unexpected separation, but it's good because that break allows for true reflection and the space to plan for a brighter future, together. I'm eager to see what happens in the next book--because I think Calder's going to find his true love.

4.5 stars

Okay. Let's start with the cover! Wow! Hot, hot, hot!! I was totally sucked into this book right from the moment I saw this cover. And I'm a huge fan of Annabeth Alberts military themed M-M stories, so reading this one was a definite yes for me.

Sailor Proof starts out with what Derrick thinks is going to be a little white lie -- and a bit of revenge on his former lover who everyone knows cheated on him. When Derrick agrees to a very public homecoming kiss to let his ex know he isn't pining for him anymore, he had no idea that the fake kiss was going to escalate into fake dating... and something more! It turns out that the "fake kiss" goes viral, thanks for the recipient, Arthur. He's not the "little brother" anymore!

Thanks to that kiss, Derrick and Arthur are goaded into a fake relationship when Arthur's mom takes an interest in the relationship and invites Derrick to join them at a family reunion. Lying and deceiving doesn't come easy to Derrick, but he goes along with it.

There aren't any real surprises in this story but that was okay with me. It's a classic fake dating / younger brother all grown up M-M romance and it had me smiling from the start to finish, from Derrick's by-the-book personality to Arthur's fun-loving style, these two were meant for each other -- it just takes a while for them to figure it out. This low-conflict romance is just pure fun and left me excited for more in this series from Annabeth Albert.

A complementary copy was provided by the publisher. This is my honest review.

Annabeth Albert kicks off her new Shore Leave series of military-themed contemporary romances with Sailor Proof, a cute, sexy, low-angst, veritable trope-fest of a love story. We’ve got best friend’s little brother, only one bed, first times and a fake relationship, all thoroughly mixed and cooked to perfection to produce the equivalent of a soufflé in book form!

When a ship comes home to port, it’s tradition for the crew to vie for the privilege of being the first to disembark and greet their loved ones. Naval Chief Derrick Fox has seen more than one marriage proposal come as a result of the First Kiss, and usually, he’s happy for whoever wins that honour. This time however, he’s more than a little bit pissed off that one of the junior officers has won the raffle and is taking great delight in taunting Derrick about the fact that he will be disembarking first and getting to plant one on his new squeeze – who happens to be Derrick’s cheating ex. Derrick’s best friend Calder suggests that what Derrick needs is a hottie in the crowd he can make a beeline for and kiss the hell out of in full view of his ex – but unlike Calder, whose large, loving family is bound to be waiting for him, Derrick doesn’t have anyone. He’s not opposed to the idea in principle, but being deployed on the sub for another two weeks isn’t exactly conducive to meeting said hottie and fixing a dockside smooching session.

But logistics expert Calder isn’t about to let a problem go unsolved. His brother Arthur owes him a favour and he’d be up for being the kissee – but Derrick doesn’t see how kissing Calder’s red-haired, spindly, “too nerdy for band camp” little brother is going to make anyone jealous.

Arthur Euler is the only member of his family who isn’t involved with public service in some way. He’s a super talented musician and award-winning composer who makes his living writing scores for video games, and has always felt somewhat out of step with everyone around him, who seem to think that music is just a phase and that he’ll settle to a real job one day soon. He loves his family dearly, but is tired of never quite being enough in their eyes, of feeling like he’s a disappointment, no matter his achievements. Seeing the toll taken on his mother and their family by his father’s deployments, Arthur has a strict rule against dating anyone in the military – but he really does owe Calder and has no problem with his plan to help Derrick out. After all, Derrick is all but part of the family; he’s Calder’s best friend and they’ve all known each other for years, so it’s no biggie.

Except… when Derrick and Arthur – who haven’t seen each other for a good few years – finally meet up again, sparks fly. Derrick realises Calder was right when he said his little brother wasn’t so little any more and Arthur, who even as a teen knew better than to develop a crush on a military man, can’t believe he’d forgotten how gorgeous Derrick is. Their kiss is electric, leaving them both slightly befuddled – but before either of them can bring the charade to an end, Arthur’s mother Jane arrives on the scene and, delighted to see Derrick and Arthur together, immediately invites Derrick to join them for a family dinner. Reluctantly, Derrick accepts – Jane was like a mother to him when he was growing up and he doesn’t want to disappoint her – and is trying to come up with a way to make a quiet exit when she invites him to join them for their regular week-long family get-together; Arthur will be going so it makes sense for his boyfriend to come along, too, right? Put on the spot, Arthur and Derrick find themselves agreeing to be fake-boyfriends for the duration, but the more time they spend together and get to know each other, they more they realise that they don’t want to be ‘fake’ boyfriends any more. But Derrick knows Arthur’s stance on dating guys in the military – is there any way they can be together without his career coming between them?

Sailor Proof is an easy, light-hearted read featuring likeable characters, a strong secondary cast and a cute, sexy romance that is mostly drama-free. If you’re in the mood for well-written fluff that isn’t going to put you into a sugar coma, then this is your book; the tropes are well integrated and the characters have enough depth that the low-level conflicts that do arise make sense in context. I loved the way Derrick and Arthur decide to make the best of an awkward situation, and do it with so much humour, affection and mutual respect. I really liked their ease with one another and how they so quickly begin to look out for each other, how Arthur is comfortable enough to open up to Derrick about his family’s competitiveness and how it makes him feel, and how he begins to remind Derrick it’s not all about work and that he needs to get out and ‘people’ now and again.

These two balance each other out really well and Ms. Albert does a great job building a genuine emotional connection alongside the physical attraction that hums between them from the start. Their romance does develop quickly, but she makes it work.

The military angle really only comes into play in a big way towards the end of the book, but the ups and downs, the waiting and the uncertainty experienced by so many military families is expertly captured, and it adds a subtle element of realism to the story.

I likened this book to a soufflé at the beginning of this review, and while that’s a delicious thing, it can also be a fairly insubstantial one – and that’s my main criticism of this story. And it’s not really a criticism as such, it’s more of one of those things about which YMMV – this is well-written fluff of the highest order, but I generally prefer something with a bit more heft to it.

That isn’t going to stop me from recommending Sailor Proof however, because it’s a charming and extremely well-crafted character-driven story told with a great deal of warmth and humour, and I had a lot of fun reading it.

grade - B / 4 stars

When Annabeth Albert writes a military romance (or let's face it...all her books) you need to plan to read it, and maybe even read it in one sitting. Yes, to both of these for this reader. :)There's a lot of fun in this book, fake homecoming kiss, and a weeklong family reunion that allows Arthur to finally break away from the little kids table. But some serious issues as well, because family almost always can make things that may not have been an issue otherwise feel like the weight of the world. On top of it, Arthur's brother, Derrick's buddy, doesn't make it any easier. Seeing how Derrick stood up for Arthur, and his passion, while still doing the little things to help him, so sweet. Even as Arthur states multiple times that he would never date a military man, having seen the issues with his parents, he can't help the feelings. These two start out as a fake romance, but quickly start to respect and like each other, before it goes any further. Albert's ability to take real life difficulties, infuse romantic gestures and sweetness, all while bringing the heat, is something few other authors can manage. I enjoy each and every moment of it.One thing that I appreciated was Arthur having an important conversation with his mother, finding out what it really meant to be a military spouse from her perspective. It brought it back to a real world issue that military families must have to deal with every day.These two were sweet and fluffy (also, Arthur's BFF was bad ass!), but still heartfelt and sexy. Everything I love about Albert's books. :)4.5 pieces of eye candy

I have a thing for military men that Annabeth Albert writes. I don't know why, but I just love them. And this is the start of a brand new series! Yay!

You like tropes? Which is your favorite? Because this book has a bunch, but at the same time it feels a bit fresher. We've got fake boyfriend, best friend's brother, forced proximity and virgin. Whew.

What starts out as a fake welcome home kiss to make an ex jealous, to then being fake boyfriends at a weeklong family reunion, Derrick and Arthur are adorable. Arthur being Derrick's best friend's little brother. But, yanno, they are just faking it right?

Until Derrick sticks up for Arthur who is a musician in a family of military men. Arthur already had a crush on Derrick, but then Derrick starts to have a crush on Arthur.

Most of the book is spent at the weeklong family reunion. Where they really get to know each other and start falling for each other. It was sweet and a bit romantic (finding Arthur good coffee....swoon) and definitely sexy.

After the reunion, life gets in the way a bit, but at the same time it's a true test for them.

I really liked this story, although it did take me a little bit to become invested in them as a couple. Partly because there was almost no background story on either of them. We just jumped right in to the homecoming and pretend boyfriend welcome home kiss. But once I was in, I was in and I devoured their story.

There's very little angst at all, but there is some...stress shall we say. It isn't over the top fluffy either. Just a good story that I could actually see happening in real life. I guess that's what I like about Ms Albert's books- they are very "real life" to me.

Brother's best friend, Geek/Competitive, fake relationship, annd there's only one bed, plus Albert's excellent characterization make this a fun read. Derrick not wanting to watch his cheating ex boyfriend kiss one of his shipmates with first kiss back from a long deployment leads to Arthur's brother suggesting that Arthur could stand in as a fake boyfriend and help Derrick out. Of course, Arthur's parents find out and invite Derrick to the family vacation and we're off and running. I really loved that a lot of the conflict stemmed more from Derrick and Arthur having to evaluate their own assumptions about not just the world but also their own assumptions about themselvers as indivudals. Charming as well as introspective, this is a great read.

4.5
Sailor Proof is the first book in the Shore Leave series by Annabeth Albert. I love when my favorite authors start a new series. New characters to love, new places to want to visit. This is a best friend's brother, fake relationship story that was fun, sexy, emotional and heartwarming. Derrick wants to make his ex jealous and he needs the perfect welcome home kiss when he gets off his sub after a deployment. His best friend enlists his brother to help out, but neither Derrick or Arthur expect the kiss to be off the charts. It's very believable, so much so that Derrick is invited to Arthur's family vacation for a week. In a cabin with one bed. It doesn't take long for their attraction to take over and it's not pretending anymore. When they get back to real life, Derrick being deployed and then having to deal with a new relationship and now long-distance. They both have to decide if it's worth it. I loved how open and honest they were. They communicated their feelings and wanted to pursue their relationship and be a team. I'm also here for the navy dress uniform and the sexiness.

From reading other reviews on Goodreads, it looks like Albert has quite the following, especially for her military romances, and I’ve got to say that I can see why. Her writing is enjoyable and her characters are likable. Throw in a story-line that handles some of romance’s most popular tropes well and she delivers a satisfying read.

My favorite part is the support that solid, oh-so-serious Derrick gives Arthur and the enjoyment of life that the more laid back Arthur teaches him in return. They appreciate each other for who they are and prop each other up whenever they need it, balancing each other out. And, unlike a lot of romances, they talk! There is honesty between them as they face their concerns about themselves, their fake-becoming-not-so-fake relationship, and their future. It’s refreshing to not have a lot of miscommunication and drama or a third act that blows everything up before we finally get where we want to go.

Sailor Proof isn’t quite perfect though. While Derrick does a fantastic job of helping Arthur feel more comfortable within his family, I think there was an opportunity for them to really understand him and embrace him for who he is. For there to be a bit more of an adult relationship to develop between them all. Arthur does let go of some of his hurts and gets a better understanding of how things work in the other relationships in his family but I felt like there was a chance for more for this odd man out.

I also am not sure why Derrick didn’t feel like he was good enough for Arthur. I get that he’d been on his own for a long time, most of that spent in the military separated from people, and his last (and only real) relationship went belly up but it seems like there was more going on there. He’s a good, strong man and I was so happy for him that he found someone that fit him as well as Arthur. I’m just not sure why he didn’t get it sooner 🙂

Overall, though, these are somewhat minor complaints. I consider it a win if I finish a book feeling good for the characters and I definitely did that here. Sweet but hot, low angst but sexy, Sailor Proof is a slow burn that left me satisfied that Arthur and Derrick found their way to a happy ever after.