Sink or Swim is the second book in the Shore Leave series by author Annabeth Albert. This story is told in dual POV. This is also the first time I have read this series; I was not lost at all.

I liked the emotion in this book, the character connections are amazing and make me want to keep reading.

Calder loves to win big. He was a Navy Chef. He is at a remote cabin and injures his leg.

I liked that he is a strong person. He is kind, and very much his own person.

Felix is already living in the cabin. He says the cabin is his. He doesn’t know his ex-husband had bet the cabin away.

They might be trapped together, but the more they learn about each other the more they connect and truly are what the other needs. I loved this story and cannot wait for more from this series in the future.

Five Shooting Stars

This was my third book I’ve read by Annabeth and the second from this series. I didn’t love this as much as the first book, but it was still enjoyable. With the military factor especially submarines was a huge bonus for me in the previous book, it was really dialed down in Sink or Swim. And that might be a winner for some..

This was very much a lighthearted read, they almost felt like friends to me. So I didn’t quite connect when they were together. And with the attraction and how they kept referring to his concussion, using that as the reason for maybe why, which I was kind of meh about.

Not entirely sure if I’ll pickup the next one or not, but maybe.

3.5/5

The second book in Annabeth Albert's standalone Shore Leave series, Sink or Swim is a fun, sweet, and sexy forced proximity romance.

I love Albert's stories with macho military men, and I loved Calder! Talk about finding his perfect place, this guy really blooms when he gets together with Felix. And the careful, caring way Felix addresses Calder's issues totally melted my heart.

The slower pacing works great for this pair, and the way Calder bonds with the kids is the icing on the cake. Marvelous!

The first book in this new series by Albert was called Sailor Proof, and in that, you meet Calder Euler. Now this is Calder’s story and romance. You can read the books in order to get to know characters a bit better, but they are all essentially stand-alone novels in the same world. Calder ends up “winning” a cabin in a poker tournament, and then finding out that he probably doesn’t have any rights to it. That would be Felix, who is raising his two nieces.

I really enjoyed Sink or Swim. It was a bit slow to start, but then it picked up more. I appreciated that Calder and Felix had a slow-moving relationship. It’s never mentioned that Calder is demisexual in the book, but that’s the feeling that I got, and while I wish it was named if that’s the case, it’s still nice to see the sexuality “represented” a bit more. Both men have reservations about relationships in the beginning, but it’s clear that it doesn’t take long for them to really start to like each other. Calder is ready to jump in more fully, but it takes Felix longer. I loved the open communication the two had. They always tried to be courteous to one another, as well as open and honest, and that’s wonderful!

I’m definitely curious to see who the next book will be about. I enjoy most of Annabeth Albert’s novels, so I highly recommend the author – along with the book!

Wow, what a fantastic read by Annabel Albert. Book two of the Shore Leave series was absolutely fantastic. I did not read book one but feel this could be read as a standalone. I promptly purchased the 1st book in the series after I finished this. I fell in love with the main characters almost immediately and the relationship felt so solid and real, all you could do is root for the men. There was no insta love here, instead a slow gentle understanding of each person's fears, likes, and yearnings.

Felix is a doctor who is reeling from his recent divorce. Add to the mix that he is the sole guardian of his two nieces and he is definitely overwhelmed. His ex did not want to be a parent and bailed ship. There is no love lost and the man continues to try to milk Felix of every cent he can get. The two nieces are absolutely precious and you will fall in love with the girls that stole their uncle's heart.

Calder loves to gamble and win big. His latest win is pretty exciting to him. He won a vacation property and is really jazzed to share this with his friends from work. He's in the military and has been based on submarine duty for quite a while. Calder is now adjusting to to doing some landwork and is really aching to be back in the action on a sub.. While checking out his new property he runs into Felix and the two nieces that are the actual owners of the property. The horrible ex husband lied about being the owner of the cabin and this causes an awkward introduction between Felix and Calder.

I absolutely adored this slowburn romance the two men developed. Calder does not believe in relationships and wants to get back on his sub and Felix has been burnt badly by love. These are good guys and it takes a little while to realize that what they have seems pretty real, But are they willing to take a chance at hurt? A very recommendable book that I enjoyed intensely and will definitely read again. Happy reading and I hope you enjoyed the tale as much as I did.

Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher foe a copy of this book for my reading pleasure.

Book two in Shore Leave, Sink or Swim is a great follow on from Sailor Proof. Calder Euler is a Navy Chief and Felix Sigurd is a single parent to his two adorable nieces. These two are engaging characters and you feel their connection for each other through the authors words. A great read and one I will recommend as I wait to read more.

Book 2 in Albert's Shore Leave series was a lovely read. Calder was not what I expected based on the glimpses I got of him in Sailor Proof. He felt very one-dimensional and not very deep, so I went into this story not expecting the complex character that he was.

I loved loved LOVED all the cuddling Calder and Felix get up to. It was nice to have love interests not immediately jump to penetrative sex; rather, these two slowly get to know each other in all kinds of ways. The demi rep was lovely.

Felix's nieces were a delight and added that extra piece to the story. Without them, I don't think we'd get the same kind of connection between Felix and Calder, and it made Felix's hesitation to let Calder in feel very real. I also loved how Calder was like a big kid with the girls while still being a responsible adult, even if he didn't have the confidence that he could be a parent figure.

I would have liked to have seen them at the family summer camp. I really enjoyed those scenes in Sailor Proof.

***Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.***

Sink or Swim is the second book in the Shore Leave series by Annabeth Albert. You do not need to read the series in order to fully enjoy each read.

Navy chief Calder Euler loves to win big. His latest score? A remote mountain cabin. Checking it out is supposed to be a quick trip, but Calder’s luck abruptly turns when a freak injury and a freakier snowstorm leave him stranded. Oh, and the cabin isn’t empty. A silver fox caring for two young girls claims that the property is his, but Calder’s paperwork says otherwise. Felix Sigurd is on a losing streak, and his ex-husband risking the cabin in a reckless bet is only the latest in a series of misfortunes. He’ll tolerate the handsome stranger for a couple nights--even care for his injuries—but that’s it. Calder doesn’t know a damn thing about kids, but making pancakes for Felix’s girls is a surprising delight. Trapped in the cabin, the four of them slip easily into the rhythms of a family. But when the ice melts, they’ll have to decide if a future together is in the cards.

Sink or Swim is another romance with complex characters that grow in the process of unexpectedly finding love from Albert. I thought Calder and Felix each had their hang up, but were great guys from the beginning, and I enjoyed being along for the ride as they each made self realizations about who they were and what they wanted, and how to get there. I really loved Felix's nieces, and thought the quirky comments, personalities, and worries were very realistic. I loved the open and honest discussions between Calder and Felix, in and out of the bedroom, and that the amount of care and concern for each other and the bigger picture with the girls was always considered and often reevaluated to stay on top of issues and concerns. As always, I loved the secondary characters and how the author makes the support systems of friends and family an important part of the story. I would love to see more from many of the secondary characters and get a kick out of them in every book from Albert. I really enjoyed this read and think other fans of the author will as well.

Sink or Swim is an emotional and rewarding romance.

Sink or Swim was marvelous!! It really reminded me of the Annabeth Albert books I first fell in love with. I was admittedly a little hesitant about Calder being a MC after Sailor Proof, but wow was I wrong. His character growth in this book was fantastic and so believable. I ADORED him and Felix together and how their relationship progressed in such a natural way with no contrived drama. They were both adults who not only complimented one another but helped each other grow and find what was lacking in their own lives. Calder finding his way with this family felt easy and pure and it really rang true that both of the girls didn't immediately love him and that it took time for him to be accepted by them. The conflicts and struggles were easily relatable and something that felt right and they handle it like mature adults. But I think my favorite thing about this book was the masterclass it showcased when it comes to a healthy sexual relationship and exploring different types of sexuality. This absolutely nailed what it means to be supportive without shaming your partners needs and being in tandem to ensure everyone is enjoying themselves. I absolutely freaking loved it! And I am not so secretly hoping that Max meets his match soon....

Fun fact, I am always going to simp for a book that bucks the heteronormative concept of sex.

Do I love a good erotic book? Absolutely. But, I think many of us can attest, sex and intimacy are two different things, and both are vital to a relationship.

Calder is great. He struggles with being the “good time guy” and so many of his past physical relationships were lacking. But, with Felix he’s able to drop the pretenses and say “hey, this doesn’t work for me” and they work together to find what does work. And sometimes, it’s just a snuggle, which is honestly the best thing.

Felix is very relatable in his parenting. I find myself really connecting with his need to prove he could do it all, and guilt of asking for help. It was a great representation of the constant push-pull parents feel.

Atypical MM Romance. This is at least a somewhat atypical MM romance in that we get two guys who neither one is a big fan of penetration (and yet, it *does* happen - a couple of times, at least) and who are both fairly well fleshed out in their motivations and who they are, and both ring fairly true. One is the Navy guy that finds himself at a career crossroad, the other is a single uncle/dad going through a messy divorce. Being at a bit of a career crossroad myself and having a few nieces and a nephew and having to at least consider what happens here... yeah. Both of the situations here hit hard. The steam... not so much. I think I've seen coffee with thicker steam, but I actually *like* that about this tale - it is part of its atypicality, in very good ways. If you're into radioactive heat and steam you can't see your hand in front of your face through... this isn't for you. If you're more into *real* without being *too real* (ie, "real", but still escapist)... this is going to be more your thing. Overall a strong continuation of this series, and I'm looking forward to seeing where Albert takes this next. Very much recommended.

4.5 stars

I will be honest here, this book felt personal for me, in a way that it won’t be for most readers. MM books about main characters taking care of kids can be triggering for me because I had a kind of absent father when I was growing up and it just reminds me of all the moments that I missed out on while I was growing up. And this book is mostly about two main characters who take care of two young girls, and while this topic really got to me while I was reading the book, it’s also the reason why I read this book in the first place, I wanted to read a book about a close and caring family taking care of kids and this is exactly what I got. All of this to say that this book emotionally impacted me on a level that it probably won’t impact most people, because I could relate to the characters of this book, and it made me feel all the feels. So, my enjoyment of this book is deeply connected to my life experiences and that’s mostly why I loved this book so much.

Calder wins a cabin in the mountains. He goes to visit it and when he arrives there, he finds Felix and the two young girls he’s the uncle to living there and Felix says that the propriety is his. Calder sprains his foot, and he cannot drive to go back to his house, so he stays with them for a few days, but then a snowstorm hits and they have to spend time together and Calder and Felix fall in love.

First, I just adored both Calder and Felix. They were both very nicely fleshed out characters and I just enjoyed their persona so much, they both seemed like people I’d love to meet in real life. I just loved both guys, as characters and as a couple. They fit each other well and were just such a strong couple.

Seconds, Calder didn’t know he wanted kids and wasn’t really a fan of them, he also wasn’t a big relationship guy, but his caretaker side really came out with Calder and the girls and he kept doing everything to take care of them and to make sure that they had everything that they want and desire. I just loved how dedicated to taking care of the kids Calder was, he was such a good father figure.

Third, Calder doesn’t always enjoy having sex, he prefers cuddling and physical touch to having sex, he preferred just kissing Felix and holding him to having sex most times. And they did have sex, but it wasn’t really a priority for them. Because of that, I liked how sensual the sex scenes felt in this book, they were more about making each other feel good than about rushing to get off and that really worked for me. I loved how much please they both took into exploring each other’s body, that was just so lovely to read to me.

Fourth, if there is one thing that I feel like isn’t present enough in books, it’s smaller gestures of affections, I love reading about anything that has physical touch as a love language and I always want to see more hand holding, more cuddles, more kissing and I loved how this book put such a bit emphasis on those. Every small gesture and them just touching each other was greatly described and they both loved every second of it and that really worked for me. The kissing scenes in this book were described in so many details and they were so vivid that I couldn’t help but just adore all of them. They were just perfect to me.

Fifth, I absolutely adored how many small moments of Calder and Felix playing with the kids there was in this book. Reading this book felt like I was talking to my good friends, and they were telling me in detail what they did with their kids that week and that vibe really worked for me. I just loved seeing all the family moments in this book.

Sixth, if there is two people who are amazing at communicating and telling each other what they want, it’s these guys. I loved how they talked about everything and talked everything over before they did something. These guys had some of the best communication I have ever read in a book, and I just loved it.

Seventh, Felix didn’t really want to be in a relationship because his last one hadn’t gone down very well, and I understood all his reasons and worries but it just made me a little sad how he kept telling Calder no when all Calder wanted was to date him. Calder kept showing how committed he was, and Felix kept being wary of Calder. In fact, Calder kept showing Felix that he was here to stay and how much he cares about Felix and the kids and Felix kept thinking that Calder would leave them when Calder never made indication that he would, and that just made me a little sad to read. Sometimes it felt like Calder was a little more committed to making the relationship work than Felix and I just wanted everything to be a little more equal.

I really enjoyed reading this one and it was such an experience for me, one I’m really glad I experienced.

Incredible! Somehow I liked this one even more than the first! Such a blast! Annabeth fans will surely enjoy this - or I would definitely recommend it to new-to-her readers, as well!

This was perfectly fine. It had most of the stuff I expect from an Annabeth Albert book. It was sweet, domestic, with well-developed characters. Something was just missing for me, and I've noticed that with a couple of recent books. I love the domesticity, but there isn't a lot of tension and messiness to offset that, so it ended up falling a little flat for me.

Sink or Swim is the second book in the Shore Leave series by Annabeth Albert. I am really enjoying this series and I was thrilled when I found out Calder was next! Calder and Felix meet in the funniest way. A cabin in the woods where Calder plans to spend time and Felix and his nieces decide to visit for the weekend. Strangers stranded in a snow storm. Calder and Felix don't get off on the right foot, but as the weekend goes on, they actually start to have fun. Then when it's over they realize they want to see each other again. Calder is on shore on base and wants to get back on a sub. Felix has to work and take care of the girls. But they seem to find the time. The more Calder talks to Felix, the more his thoughts about his future change. He wants what his brother and best friend have. Can he convince Felix to take a chance on him? I loved these two! They are sexy and sweet and I love the way Calder is with the girls. Swoon! Hoping there's more in the series!

I just couldn't get into this one and think it may be due to my reading slump more than the book. I liked the characters, I liked the setup, I just couldn't really ever get into it. After almost two weeks of reading I'm only 30% in and decided to call it that it isn't working for me right now. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy.

When I read the blurb for Sink or Swim, I thought this would be a book that I would enjoy. It had all the makings of an enjoyable read but it totally missed the mark. This book follows Calder, who is on the navy and has a rep for all thing fun, but the quick kind. he wins a cabin in a bet and it lands him in a mix up with recent divorce dad felix. the end up being forced together due to weather and they hit it off. this book dragged and is very boring. I didnt really care for felix and his wishy washy attitude so I was irritated the while book. the only thing that saved this book for me was the relationship that calden developed with the kids. hopefully the other book in the series will move a little faster

Navy Chief Calder Euler loves to win, so when a high stakes poker game nets him a cabin in the woods, he’s stoked to have a place to head off to with his friends. Especially since an accident on his last deployment on a sub resulted in an injury, and Calder’s currently stationed on land behind a desk until he gets cleared. The last thing he expects while checking out the cabin, though, is Felix Sigurd and his two nieces. Or for Felix to claim he owns the cabin. Calder isn’t willing to give it up without making sure that’s true, but a new injury and a snowstorm has Calder trapped at the cabin with Felix and the girls for a few days.

Felix’s life has been one struggle after another lately. After gaining custody of his nieces, his husband left. And apparently put Felix’s family’s cabin up in a poker game. Felix doesn’t want to like Calder, but he’s not about to throw the man out into a snowstorm. Though he wants to, because he’s attracted to Calder, and Felix does not want to pursue any sort of relationship.

But Calder likes Felix and wants to see where things go. Calder isn’t looking for a relationship either, but he does want to be Felix’s friend. Once the whole situation with the cabin ownership gets worked out, Calder and Felix go out to dinner and a friendship ensues. But there’s no denying the attraction between them, and when they make it to the bedroom, it turns out they are more than compatible there. Calder has valid concerns about certain things, and Felix not only understands, but embraces everything about the way Calder likes intimacy. Calder sees how compatible they are, and genuinely likes Felix, so he pushes for friends with benefits. He never goes too far, but he gives Felix the motivation he needs.

As their friendship continues, Calder comes to realize he wants more. More time with Felix and more time with the girls. And he also learns things about himself and his career that he never considered before. He knows Felix isn’t looking for a romantic relationship, and he understands why. But he’s made it his mission to get Felix to realize that falling in love doesn’t mean he has to negate the rest of his responsibilities.

Ever since the end of Sailor Proof, the first book in this duology, I’ve been looking forward to Calder’s story. In the first book, I’ll admit that at first I didn’t really like Calder all that much. He’s competitive, always needs to win, and picks on Arthur, his brother. But by the end, I began to see there was more to Calder and was excited to see he’d been getting his own story. And Albert didn’t disappoint. Calder has layers most people don’t see, a huge heart, and he’s an organizational whiz who loves, beyond all else, solving problems and fixing issues. He really endeared himself to me, and I was rooting for him on every page.

This book is told in alternating first person, and so we really get to know both MCs well. Felix too, has a big heart. He’s a geriatric psychiatrist who truly cares about his patients. And his nieces are his entire world. He doesn’t resent for a minute that he’s become their guardian, and does his absolute best to be the best father he can be to the two young girls. But he’s also stubborn and insists he can’t rely on anyone else. Part of this story is Felix learning to accept help in different ways, but especially from Calder. I really liked watching their relationship grow, though I will admit to a bit of frustration with him as well. Felix’s main reason for not pursuing any sort of relationship is both because of the way his ex-husband burned him, but perhaps more so because he thinks he has to put the girls first to the detriment of all else. Particularly his own love life. I was over this argument long before Felix was, and then when he did change his mind, it seemed rather quick for how long he hung on. So this part didn’t work as well for me.

But these characters had chemistry from their first meeting, and it only grew as the story went on. One thing that really stood out to me was their intimacy and the way they approached sex. Though it’s never said in as many words, part of the way Calder explained and thought about his experiences with sex felt very much like demisexuality, which I really loved seeing. And each sex scene here was loaded with connection and understanding, as well as plenty of listening and give and take. Don’t get me wrong, there was plenty of heat too. But there was something a lot deeper going on here that was beautiful to see.

I really liked this one, and maybe even more so having been looking forward to it. Albert delivered another winner here, with sweet plus heat, some precocious children, and two men reevaluating their lives to be the best versions of themselves. This one is an easy recommendation from me.

SINK OR SWIM is the second book in the SHORE LEAVE SERIES but can be read as a standalone, for those that have read the first book you won't want to miss this one!

Calder loves to play cards when he's on leave and one win scored him a cabin but shortly after he arrives at the cabin he finds out that Felix's ex had no rights to the cabin that he lost in the bet. But that wasn't the worst part of the encounter, Calder actually gets hurt in a fall and with the bad snow storm heading their way and roads closing he is forced to stay at the cabin for a few days with the good looking silver fox and his two nieces that he's raising....okay so maybe falling wasn't so bad after all. 😉

I don't know who was more charming in this story Navy chief Calder Euler, whom I really liked in his brothers book SAILOR PROOF and couldn't wait until he had his own HEA, or Uncle turned single parent Felix Sigurd, who is raising his half-sisters two daughters after she passed, both men had such great qualities that you can't help but hope that they get everything their hearts desire.

Oh, and lets us not forget about the adorable girls that Felix is raising, Madeline and Charlotte, they are so cute and Charlotte Oh My the things that she would say had me rolling.

One of the things I love most about Annabeth Albert's books is that I never know what she is going to gift us with as far as where her characters fall on the sexual spectrum, while Felix is Gay I would say that Calder is Graysexual. So there is a lot of kissing and cuddling going on between the two men, there are a couple of steamy scenes but it's the more intimate ones that resonate and build their relationship.

If you enjoy MM Romances, Single Dad Romances, Military Romances, or Forced Proximity Romances I would recommend this book to you.

Happy Reading!!!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series. Whilst you could read this as a standalone, as it involves a new couple, it would be better to have the context of the very good first book, SAILOR PROOF, which involves Calder's best friend and younger brother.

After a head injury which has sidelined Calder from active duty, he is incredibly frustrated. He is a master organiser and knows that he needs to be on board to keep everything working well – and shore duty just doesn't feel so important. To get away from his woes, he decides to go and visit the cabin he won in a poker game. Little can he have realised how that would change his life forever!

His time at the cabin with actual owner Felix, due to a snowstorm, gives him a chance to see just what is possible if he reevaluates how he lives. I really enjoyed him coming to terms with how he has been behaving, and how different his life could be. It is such fun watching him spending time with Felix and his nieces, viewing the world from a very different place. I like that he connects with his mum and recognises what she did to make their home work when his father was away on duty.

This is a great read on many levels, and I enjoyed it very much, thank you, Annabeth Albert.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
Second book in the series, which could be read as a standalone in my opinion. This was an easy read for me. No drama, lots of communication, building of a relationship, and some good sex. I loved Calder and Felix, they just worked for me. When I read the blurb, I just imagined the entire book would be based at the cabin, but it wasn't which threw me off because that's just what normally happens and then bam, book over. Nope, this book had so much more. Great addition to the series.