Whilst I am not a huge fan of romances involving any aspects of the military, I found Albert's book did not focus too much on that environment, which made the reading a pleasant experience.
"Sink or Swim" was able to truly make me care about the characters' journey and development, albeit I sometimes felt that the relationship was moving way quicker than expected. Calder and Felix's personalities were well developed and distinguished, which is not always the case in books so focused on romance. I particularly enjoyed how Albert was able to balance Calder's personality to Felix's life and commitments without completely destroying Calder's character.
If anyone is looking for a sweet, relatively short novel about romance, this is definitely an option for you.

Kissing, kissing, lots of kissing! Loved this! I’m so sick of couples having sex within the first 25% of a story and then every few pages after that. Not here, though. This book is a beautifully poignant love story between two men. One is Calder, whom we met in book one, Sailor Proof, when his brother Arthur fell in love with Calder’s bestie, Derrick. Now, due to a concussion, Calder is confined to shore and is missing his whole sub crew and (im)patiently waiting for the all-clear to return to his previous position.

Felix is a divorcee, still working on the property settlement between he and his ex—a property the man gambled and lost to Calder in a card game. Felix is the guardian for his two nieces (one of whom is adorably precocious) and is shocked when he opens the door to his getaway cabin to find Arthur lying at the foot of the stairs, where he landed when he twisted his ankle.

Talk about a slow-build romance! I couldn’t have asked for better. Calder’s sexuality is not labeled, per se, but he’s likely asexual or demi-romantic, though he doesn’t really need a label. He’s simply attracted to Felix, both physically and emotionally, and Felix returns those feelings, even as both men deny any need to date and they keep qualifying their friendship as a non-relationship. Kissing is their favorite thing to do. From the moment Calder first kisses Felix, his senses short circuit. (“Kissing Felix was like a mission critical task on the sub…”) And Felix is on board with the no sex, only kissing “friendship” and, in fact, is happy to keep it simple.

I rooted for these men as I watched each slowly change in their thinking and followed Calder’s struggles as he came to terms with his new choices and shore responsibilities and with his feelings for Felix and his girls. Later in the story as Felix reflects on Calder’s changes, he notes that it didn’t matter what others saw. “What really mattered was that he knew his truth.”

One of the things I like best about Annabeth Albert’s characters is how “normal” they are. They are not superheroes or buff athletes or assassins or other villainous creatures. These guys could be my family or friends or neighbors. I can relate to them, feel their feelings, identify with their hardships, and most certainly root for their happiness.

There were so many amazing descriptive phrases in this story that I’d need to apply for a copyright exclusion to quote them all, but it’s certainly worth noting that when an author can use a few expressive words to paint a vivid visual readers will get an enriching experience. Annabeth Albert does that and does it well.

Those who loved book one will get a bonus with this as Calder and Felix attend the wedding of Sailor Proof’s couple. I’m invested in the future of all the characters we’ve met so far, and I hope we get to meet many more in subsequent stories. This one can be read as a standalone, however it will be much more pleasurable if you’ve already met Calder’s brother Arthur, his family, and of course, Derrick. Don’t miss the chance to pick this up!

It’s not necessary to have read Sailor Proof to enjoy this follow-up novel, but I kind of wish I had. I think it would have made for a richer reading experience by providing context for the changes that one of the characters goes through as the story unfolds.

That character is Calder, and I enjoyed how his attitude toward relationships altered as he fell in love for the first time. When the book opens, Calder is a confirmed bachelor whose idea of fun is a night of high-stakes gambling. He can’t imagine ever giving up the single life to commit to the responsibility of having a partner or a family. However, that goes by the wayside when Calder meets Felix and the nieces he’s raising. Felix catches Calder’s interest almost immediately, but it’s spending time with him and his kids that helps Calder understand how rewarding it is to be part of a family unit where he supports and cares for others and is cared for in return.

Even though Calder’s attitude toward getting involved changes fairly quickly, it’s a bit of an uphill battle for Calder to convince Felix that he’s in it for the long haul. Felix was burned by a bad divorce, and he’s not willing to put his heart or his nieces’ security on the line again. Calder wins him over by proving that Felix and the girls can rely on him; he’s not just in it for a good time but is committed to being there whenever Felix needs his help. I appreciated how the author showed Calder having to really work to gain Felix’s trust even after Calder proves that he’s a good guy. That felt very realistic to the situation Felix finds himself in.

In addition to the romance between Felix and Calder, one thing I enjoyed about the book was the way Calder’s sexuality was handled. It’s established early on that he’s bisexual, but it becomes apparent that Calder is also somewhere on the asexual spectrum. No emphasis is placed on defining his sexual identity, though. Instead, the focus is on finding all the ways Felix and Calder can bring each other pleasure, whether that’s through simply cuddling and kissing or something more heated. That’s such a healthy approach to intimacy, and it was nice to see it on the page.

I really liked this romance about two good men overcoming their hesitations to find love and make a family. Now I need to go back and read the first book!

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

This is the second book in the Shore Leave series. This was such a great book, I enjoyed the fact that the MC grew up so much as he found his happy ending. I loved the characters, which were so complicated and fun. The pace was fabulous. I also enjoyed getting to see characters from the first book. I do feel this could be read as a stand-alone book but would recommend you read the first book in the series. Can’t wait for the next installment.

This book is exactly what I needed. Sweet, low angst, funny kids, two guys navigating whatever it is their relationship is, etc.
Calder and Felix are both of the "no thanks" camp on relationships. Felix is fairly newly divorced and is now raising his two nieces so his focus is elsewhere and Calder just never really believed in happily ever after. 
But a mishap leaves them stranded in a cabin because of snow. Calder seems to get right into the groove of dealing with the girls, etc. He comes from a big family so it makes sense, even though he doesn't think so. And who wouldn't be enchanted by those 2 girls? I loved them from the start.
It is utterly adorable that Calder makes flimsy excuses for he and Felix to see each other again once they are back home. And it isn't even for hooking up per se because they do way more kissing and cuddling than anything else. Which I really kind of loved. It wasn't a sex driven romance at all.
Felix has to realize that he has room in his life for a partner and Calder does everything he can to prove that. I definitely think Calder worked a lot harder at establishing a relationship than Felix did, but he was a bit salty still from his divorce that happened because his husband had no intentions of being a parent.
Even though I really appreciated that it was low angst, the girls didn't seem very affected by the fact that their mother died and Uncle Felix's husband left. There as a comment or two, but nothing like that you normally see with similar situations. 
So yes, I did love it even though I wanted the girls to express a bit of their trauma and I wanted Felix to try a little harder and not be a martyr.

I have not yet read the first book in the Shore Leave series, and I don't think I missed out on anything within Sink or Swim - it was a self contained story.

I love a good forced proximity story and Sink or Swim opens with Calder and Felix being stuck in a remote cabin, along with Felix's quirky daughters sets the stage for the rest of the story. I really love Calder's dogged determination and Felix's hesitancy. The story has good flow and kept me engaged throughout.

I love that Calder has such an organized mind and his coordination skills shape how the relationship progresses. I also love that Felix is reluctant based on his history and overcomes these obstacles.

If you like a story with a little age gap, military precision and just a hint of angst and hurt/comfort, than you'll enjoy Sink or Swim.

Annabeth Albert’s Sink or Swim offers up some familiar favorite romantic tropes—a perfectly timed snow storm, forced proximity, and two MCs who vow nope, never, no way . . . because sure, that’s not the least bit of foreshadowing that they’re heading straight to yes, always, and absolutely forever. Added to this is the sort of Big Misunderstanding that involves a vindictive ex-husband, a family inheritance, and a guy who thinks he’s won a mountain cabin in a poker game. Friction ensues, but along with it comes something neither Felix Sigurd nor Calder Euler knew they needed until they realized they wanted it.

The story has an interesting and complicated start, and I liked the originality of the meet-not at all cute. Felix’s ex-husband uses property that’s been in the Sigurd family for decades—property that said ex has no legal claim to—as his ante in a high-stakes poker game. Calder comes away from the table believing he’s now the rightful owner of said property, fair and square. It’s not difficult to imagine his surprise, then, when he’s at the cabin checking out his new winnings, and Felix and his nieces show up to yuck Calder’s yum.

Calder is caught so off guard by their arrival, in fact, that he falls down the stairs and is then hobbled by a badly sprained ankle. The news that he is the interloper there doesn’t land any better than his trip down the stairs, which introduces the friction between him and Felix, but Calder’s bum ankle added to the snowstorm ensures that he isn’t going anywhere fast. He and Felix and the girls are stuck with each other, like it or not, and thus begins the building of the relationship. The close proximity with sexy benefits begins almost immediately, and while these two men were opposites in almost every way, they ended up being compatible in all the ways that mattered, including their feelings about intimacy and sex.

Calder is offered a lot more character development and growth than Felix, but he admittedly had further to go to mature and get to the point where he realized that winning at everything wasn’t as important as winning the one thing that would change his life for the better. When Calder starts behaving like a guy who sure would like to date Felix, Felix is understandably resistant. They were only supposed to be having temporary, no-strings-attached sex, not doing things like going out and having kid-free dinners together, or spending quality time together at all, even with the girls there.

Felix is a father in every way that matters, and he has already watched the effects of his contentious divorce on his daughters. Taking a chance on Calder means risking that Calder won’t have a change of heart, that when the going inevitably gets tough, Calder won’t bail, but there’s no other way for Calder to prove his commitment to Felix and the girls than for Felix to give Calder a chance. I understood Felix’s hesitancy, though his reticence sometimes made it difficult to warm up to him. When the pivotal moment finally does happen, it’s full of emotion and leads to a satisfying finish.

Readers who love a slow-paced, character driven comfort read with plenty of internal conflict will find that in Sink or Swim. The personal conundrums Felix and Calder faced needed to be navigated rather than brushed aside, and I appreciated their relationship not being forced for the simple sake of getting a quick HEA. This was important given how adamant Calder was that he was uninterested in anything like a relationship, and necessary given that Felix’s primary objective was prioritizing his nieces’ wellbeing and care. The story didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next, but I do like some good romantic tension and I liked Calder’s evolution.

Even better than the first book in this duet.

Greg Boudreaux and Joel Leslie did another fantastic job on this audiobook – the second in the Shore Leave duet. I love these two when they perform individually and now I love them performing together.

The first book in this duet was great but I loved this one even more. This story has a forced proximity beginning and also has a character who isn’t as interested in sexy time as he is in cuddling and just being with someone.

Caulder is the older brother of one of the MCs in Sailor Proof and he didn’t come off as a really great guy in that book. (BTW, Sink or Swim can easily be read as a standalone story.) Caulder totally redeems himself in Sink or Swim. In fact, I’d love to have someone with the organizational and fix-it skills that he has. Caulder has been removed from duty on a submarine due to a concussion and he’s not too happy about it. He’s been assigned to desk duty and even though he’s really good at it, he misses being deployed on a submarine.

Felix is a psychiatrist who became a single dad to his two nieces after their mother died. The two girls mean everything to him but he’s struggling a bit after his ex-husband left him because he didn’t want to be burdened with kids.

In the beginning Caulder is certain that he doesn’t want anything to do with a serious relationship, let alone one that involves kids. Of course, this changes as the story goes along and he ends up being a great and supportive partner; but Felix can’t seem to forget that Caulder didn’t want to be tied down and he has a hard time believing that has changed.

I really loved this story. Annabeth Albert remains firmly on my list of favorite MM authors.

A review copy of the ebook and audiobook was provided by the publisher but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***

I absolutely loved book 2 in the Shore Leave series, Sink or Swim was another winner for me, after Sailor Proof which I also loved, I was really looking forward to Calder's story.

Calder is a big gambler and when he wins a ski cabin in a poker game and heads up there to see what it's like, he finds out he's been taken for a ride in a divorce dispute with Felix's ex-husband.

Calder and Felix make a fabulous couple, and despite both not wanting anything at all when they first meet, that changes when they both realise what they've been missing and what could be. They both had lots of issues to work through, but I liked that they communicated and didn't get bogged down in misunderstandings. I loved that Calder was the braver one, willing to fight for what he wanted all the way through, realising that despite not looking for love or 'feelings', what he had found was worth keeping. Their intimate relationship builds and is different in the bedroom compared to many, I really appreciated that Felix and Calder were so on the same page and that they both understood each sexual relationship is unique to that couple. I could really feel the closeness and emotions that passed between these to MC's.

Felix's nieces, Madeline and Charlotte were both great additions to the story and added a lot to their relationship. I especially enjoyed Charlotte, she was such a wonderful character and I felt I got to know her better than her quieter sister.

I did like catching up with Derrick & Arthur and seeing how their relationship was going. This can easily be read as a standalone, but you'll be missing out if you don't read Sailor Proof too. I look forward to seeing what Annabeth Alberth brings us next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Carina Adores for a digital copy in return for an honest review.

Felix is father to his young nieces. Trying to recover from a contentious divorce. Definitely not ready for a relationship. Calder is a submariner, temporarily on shore duty, when he meets Felix and his daughters. Neither man was ready for the feelings that swamped them.

This was a slow burn story. Although during the slow time there were “benefits” to be had. This author handles military romance like a pro. As with all her books there enough backstory to create a complete foundation.

I really liked the complexity of Felix caring for his nieces and the way Calder was slotted into their lives. The girls were totally believable (if not a little precocious). Nicely done characters that I enjoyed.

Having really enjoyed book 1 in this new military series by Annabeth Albert, I was super ready for Calder's book. (If you haven't read book 1, Sailor Proof, I highly recommend. They are both stand alone, but you get a good little peek into what is ahead for Calder, as well.) This book did not disappoint.It was super sweet, but with such a different feel than what I would have gone in expecting for Calder, given what we knew of his personality. He's all about the win, coming out on top, etc. Yet, he is not only a big softie, but also not out for the quick score. He wasn't all about jumping into bed with Felix. Yes, there was sex, but it felt more like just a gradual step, not a big leap, and it worked for them both. It provided such a deep layer for Calder, one I certainly didn't expect. It was a different approach, and really allowed Calder to grow into the person he was, but didn't realize.In fact, based on other tropes, there might have even been the expectation that Felix would have done the chasing, and Calder didn't want to jump into a relationship. In reality, both of them realized they didn't want a relationship, until Calder finally realized, yes I do, and wanted to get Felix on the same page. No small feat. Felix had every reason in the world to be gun shy, and apprehensive of not just another relationship (what a d-bag his ex-husband was!!!), but one that could mean his nieces might have their hearts broken. Giving any sort of dating a chance was not what he was expecting, but one date, one night, one meal, one text at a time, Calder made Felix see that they had something worth continuing to work on.Such a sweet, fresh approach, showing a lot of depth of character in the MC's, and it was just a feel good book.4 pieces of eye candy

The second in Albert's "Shore Leave" series, "Sink or Swim" was an enjoyable read overall, for me. It wasn't without its problems though, particularly in the first part of the book. The premise of Calder's and Felix's meeting , a variation of the forced proximity trope as the two men are snowed in in a Washington cabin along with Felix's nieces, was unusual but I couldn't quite buy how quickly they worked their differences, particularly given the stakes involved for Felix. It just felt a little implausible to me.

However, once the story left the cabin after the first third or so, I felt the book gained its sea legs, so to speak. I found the book much more compelling after that point and got caught up in Calder's quest to pursue Felix. The plot lines at that point seemed much more realistic to me as the two men found themselves reluctant to pursue a relationship yet drawn to one another. Albert's gifted at writing believable characters and I enjoyed her examination of both men, particularly Calder as he starts to realize that he's missing out on some facets of his life that a relationship could provide. Her examination of Felix is compelling as well, with Felix's trust issues and savior complex that Calder does his best to puncture.

There were some other character points that I enjoyed quite a bit, as well. Calder, it turns out, is somewhere on the asexual to demisexual spectrum and not quite the player he was depicted as in the previous book. I know some may look at this development as "retconning" a character, but I found the situation believable as it wouldn't be unknown for men to let a wild reputation be taken to extremes, particularly in the military. And Felix's nieces were adorable, both quirky and believable. It's a nice touch that in addition to wooing Felix, Calder finds himself falling for the nieces and the idea of a family.

As with the first book, "Sink" has an incisive look at the realities of military members who face choices that can affect their families. Calder must decide whether to give up the long submarine deployments that he loves or if he can find fulfillment in other ways in the military as he undertakes a relationship. And Calder's family, particularly his force-of-nature mother, make an appearance at the wedding of Arthur and Derrick, who happen to be respectively, Calder's brother and best friend. At the wedding, Albert once again does a good job of showing how military families, including their extended families, support one another as Calder's family adopt Felix's nieces as their own.

So, all in all, quite an enjoyable read. It didn't have quite the emotional impact that the previous book in the series did for me, but was still a compelling read. I'm definitely interested in seeing if Albert continues the series and where she might go from here.

Sink or Swim by Annabeth Albert
Shore Leave #2

Truly liked both Calder and Felix and loved the way they found their happily ever after ~ Great addition to the series!

What I liked:
* Calder Euler: Navy Chief, submarine sailor on shore duty, brother of Arthur from book one, good with spreadsheets, likes to win, gambler, likes a sure thing, flummoxed by his feelings for Felix
* Dr. Felix Sigurd: Geriatric Psychiatrist, divorced, raising his nieces, good man in a difficult situation, has trust issues, conflicted, feels he should put nieces first, drawn to Calder
* Charlotte: younger sister, somewhat morbid interests, highly intelligent, outgoing, intriguing
* Madeline: older sister, quieter than Charlotte, protective of her Uncle Felix, tells it like it is
* The growth of Calder and Felix as they spent time together and faced some of their issues
* The communication between Calder and Felix
* That both men were giving, open, and caring with one another
* The times Calder spent with Felix, Charlotte and Madeline
* The wedding and getting to see Arthur and Derrick again
* The closeness of Calder with his family
* All of it really…

What I didn’t like:
* Tim: Felix’s greedy ex-husband…despicable man

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Adores-Harlequin for the ARC – this is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

I'm deducting two stars for how cringe the beginning is alone. It's awkward, its forced, and it feels way too much like instalove when I'm definitely a slow burn kind of person. But the second part of the story that takes place after the cabin is so much more of what I expect from Annabeth Albert.

Calder is stuck on desk duty after an injury at sea, and he's none too happy about it. When he wins a remote cabin in a poker game, he decides its the perfect opportunity to get off base. Whats supposed to be a quick trip turns into a multi-day marathon when he gets snowed in. With someone also claiming the cabin is his.

Life has turned upside down for Felix and he's on a losing streak it seems. HIs ex-husband gambled away the keys to Felix's family cabin, and now he's stuck with a stranger when all he wanted was some time with his nieces, who he took in, when a snowstorm rolls in.

The whole beginning had me rolling my eyes, I couldn't help it. Maybe its because Calder had such a brash attitude about the cabin and Felix's claim on it, but I really struggled to want to continue reading. Then, while they're trapped together, Calder, who doesn't trust easily, somehow magically feels at home with these three strangers, who have honestly given him exactly no reason to feel like that.

Stick with this book though, and it starts to feel like an entirely different book. They later meet in the city, and from there I get the heart warming romance that I expect from Albert, and it doesn't feel nearly as convoluted and forced as the beginning.

What I do love about this book is how Calder's sexuality is explored with so much more nuance then I typically see in romance, especially MM romance. He reads as demisexual and doesn't experience attraction so often, and I thought this was a refreshing change from romance books where the main characters lust for each other and sex is always explosive and amazing and always, always, the goal.
Calder and Felix have a much more emotionally intimate kind of story than that, where sex isn't the end game, and it doesn't play such a massive part the way it often does in other romances. Not that there isn't sex, but its not at the forefront of the narrative.

All in all, this was more or less what I expected from this title, being a Carina Adores book. I read and adored Albert's Conventionally yours, and Out of Character, and this didn't feel like it was all that similar to those, but I haven't read any of her other books.

Yessssssss . . . I'm so glad Calder got his book and that I was able to snag a review copy from NetGalley as soon as it was listed. I've been sitting on it FOR MONTHS—do you know how hard that is when it comes to an Annabeth Albert book!? I had to force myself to read soooooo many other books so I wouldn't push my response out too soon!!!!

Sink or Swim is a low-conflict simmering romance and Albert brings her character-driven humor to the story just like she does to all of her other works. Calder is Arthur's (from Sailor Proof) older brother who happens to be bisexual and thrives on competition and gambling. And after winning a house from a fellow SEAL, he has the best meet-cute ever with Felix, flustered and guarded single-parent taking care of his two nieces, at the house he thinks he owns.

Calder realizes pretty early on that he's not going to fight Felix for the cabin after finding out it's been in his family for a couple of generations, but he is going to pretend to fight for it so that he can see him again. 100% adorbs. Felix is justifiably guarded because the asshat who Calder "won" the house from is his ex-husband who left as soon as he had to take charge of his nieces.

Years. Forget all afternoon. I'd been waiting years for a kiss like this. I'd heard songs and movies joke about the earthmoving, never quite getting what the big fuss was. Kissing was fine and fun but not . . .
This. This was all-consuming. Maybe some kisses were about on par with deciding to play another hand of cards, but kissing Felix was like a mission-critical task on a sub, deadly serious, and no real choice about it. Heat gathered low in my gut, spread out my limbs, each pass of his lips a fresh log on the fire of my need for him.
Hell, the air itself seemed to sizzle a hissing—
'The pot!' panting, Felix pulled away from the kiss to point at the stove where the noodles were starting to boil over. (Chapter 9)

The best part of this story was the slow simmering build to the end of the novel. Albert does a great job of teasing and tormenting the reader with Calder's shifting attitude to dating and happy-go-lucky attitude and Felix's super cautious, protecting himself and his nieces' approach to dating and life.

It's funny because Calder provides so much structure and organization and that's the one thing that Felix and the girls really need more than anything else. Not only was the below seen hilariously adorkable (I love a good spreadsheet plan), but there's a scene when the younger of the two nieces asks Calder if he's going to be a good boyfriend for Felix and they talk about a chore chart and she reluctantly approves their tenuous relationship because of it.

'Should we start dinner or do we have time to start on my list?' I asked Felix once the last of the food was put away.
'Your list, huh?' Both of Felix's well-groomed eyebrows went up.
'Well, you sent it to me.' He'd sent me the list as a picture on the phone so that I could see what needed doing this weekend. The grainy image with its cluttered bullet points had practically screamed out for my talents. I retrieved a couple of printouts from my bag and handed one to him. 'I might have improved upon what the management company sent you. I organized it into subtasks and things that might be kid-appropriate. Their column is pink.'
Felix tilted his head like I'd grown a second nose. ' You made a spreadsheet for the weekend?'
'Overkill?' I rubbed the back of my neck. I was so used to organizing as part of my job that I forgot that not everyone shared my love of planning.
'No, I'm impressed.'
'Told you. I'm good at logistics.' I might have a fun-loving rep, but organizing spreadsheets and having clear tasks always made me happy. I could think on the fly, but I kept my sub running with my advance planning. 'And speaking of supplied, I picked up a few things to supplement the toolbox.' (Chapter 15)

Albert has such a way with her humor and toeing the line between absurdly saccharine. She takes it right to the edge of eye-roll with some of the scenes but somehow brings them back quickly enough to make you sigh and think damn I want that to happen in real life. The climax of the novel leading up to Arthur and Derrick was well written and honestly so low-angst because it was to be expected with Felix's hesitancy and Derrick's maturing and realizing the changes he needed to make to be successful in a different way and stay a part of Felix and the girls' lives.

There's no need to go into too much detail because Albert is a master at them, but the sex scenes were well-written, hot, and fun. I like that most of the time Albert walks the walk on verse characters and she likes to introduce something a little different about some of her characters whether it's kink or something that's just a little bit not-mainstream bringing her characters sex lives into the real world.

Recommendation: Another wonderful character-driven book by Albert. I was so happy to see Calder get his book. Felix and the girls were wonderful characters and the happily-ever-after we get to see with Arthur and Derrick from Sailor Proof just made this book that much better. My first instinct was that I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first in this new series, but my writing of this was delayed and I realized it was just a slow grow on me with a lot of the details sticking and the story still giving me the warm-fuzzies almost a week later. I can't wait to see who the protagonists are in book three, I legit have no guess because I just wanted to finish this one soooo fast!

*I received a copy of Sink or Swim via NetGalley in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.

Sink or Swim is the second book in the Shore Leave series by Annabeth Albert. While this is part of a series, you can definitely read this one without having read the first book, though. This is the perfect addition to this series. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Annabeth Albert has entertained me in the past with several of her m/m romances, and in Sink or Swim, the second book in her navy themed Shore Leave series, she's upped the ante with a charming, single dad meets playboy romance.

Felix Sigurd, doctor, parent to his two nieces Madeline and Charlotte who lost their mother two years prior, and newly divorced, just wants to enjoy some rest and relaxation with the girls at his family's remote mountain cabin. What he doesn't expect is to find it already occupied by a handsome, single sailor.

Calder Euler, navy chief, tired of desk duty brought on by a concussion on board his sub, lover of poker, has won what he thinks is a new vacation spot at a high stakes gambling party. Checking it out before inviting the guys for a weekend away, his solo adventure is interrupted by the arrival of Felix and the girls who startle him into taking a tumble down the stairs. With an injured leg and an approaching snowstorm, Calder isn't going anywhere, much to Felix's resignation. Never mind that Calder 'won' the cabin in a poker game with Felix's ex-husband Tim, who technically doesn't have any claim to the property as part of the divorce settlement and shouldn't have put it on the line in the first place. Legalities aside, Felix doesn't quite know what to make of his attractive, unattached houseguest but he does know that the mutual chemistry they feel upon spending some time together can't lead to anything permanent. After all, Calder is yearning to get back on a sub, making it clear he's not relationship material and Felix needs to keep his distance and focus on the girls. But the friendship they're developing and the feelings that come with it make both of them wonder – is it time to go all in?

This is a really sweet, heartwarming and sexy romance. The children in this story, Madeline who is 10 and Charlotte who is 7 are very likable and written age appropriately. I really appreciated that their reactions to Calder were quite different. Charlotte just takes him in stride whereas Madeline is more reserved and hesitant to accept his presence. Calder has never been around children before so watching him interact with the girls, learning their personalities, treating them as individuals and being genuine with them is really lovely to see.

Calder goes through a lot of transformation in this story, from the single devil-may-care playboy, the partying type, to a man who comes to envision a different future for himself that involves being a partner and a parent. It's conversations with Felix, started in their first encounter at the cabin but continued when their friendship goes beyond those boundaries and into their real day to day lives that make him re-assess his career, his ambitions, and what makes him happy. The author tackled this really well and makes it believable. Calder becomes a hero-in-pursuit (my favourite kind) going out of his way to include Felix in his life and introducing him and the girls to his large family, showing Felix that he doesn't have to do everything alone. The other interesting thing about Calder's character is that despite his external personality, he is very soft and tender in the bedroom. He likes kissing for example, and sex for him isn't always about getting to the finish line. With Felix he finds a partner who doesn't have any expectations of him and he's able to relax and really enjoy their lovemaking.

For Felix, coming off a divorce where his partner didn't want anything to do with his nieces, it's understandable that he's not thinking about another relationship or relying on anyone but himself (and occasionally his stepmother). He worries about the impact of a relationshp on the girls (mostly about causing them hurt with a breakup). The fact that he and Calder are in sync perfectly in the bedroom (in some very sexy and tender love scenes) will just make their eventual split harder. Calder had made his single priority of returning to shipboard duty clear and it will take some effort for Felix to believe that Calder could be happy with a change in focus. Fortunately, he's convincing in the end and the happy ending they get is well deserved.

The more I think about this story, the more I realize how well all the elements clicked together for me. The sexual relationship, the friendship, the character growth, the relationship each man has with the girls, the girls themselves who are quite delightfully unique and well characterized, the romance, it's really a complete package.

This review will be posted at All About Romance and feedback updated with the link.

I really enjoyed Calder's story, especially because he showed so much character growth. Initially he presented as a solitary, party-seeking free spirit, who gradually wants more. I liked how he was able to accept his changing priorities, and it was fun to watch him struggle when people who knew him refused to see him want to change.

Felix's vulnerabilities are east to understand. Badly hurt by Tim, his reluctance to trust Calder drives much of the narrative. And his determination to protect Madeleine and Charlotte was admirable.

I liked all the DYI, the submariners and the peak back into Derrick and Arthur's evolving life.

Happy to read all these books. As usual. Albert is an auto-seek-out for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Carina Press for advanced copy. Highly recommended for readers of this author. Due out on February 22nd.

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. Calder loved to win more than almost anything, so when he won a vacation cabin in a poker game, it was the highlight of his year. Therefore you can imagine his surprise when he drove up to inspect his new cabin, and discovered that it was already occupied by the rightful owner. Felix was a single father who went up to his cabin with his daughters for a long weekend, and was not thrilled to discover that not only had his ex-husband attempted to gamble away Felix's family's cabin, he was going to be stuck with Calder for the weekend during a snow storm. (There is, however, more than one bed.) They found something special in each other, but could they keep that spark alive when they had to return to real life?
Felix and Calder are such a sweet pair, and I loved watching them take care of each other. They both grow by huge leaps and bounds during the course of the book, and there is something so nice about two people who talk to each other like responsible adults. They each have baggage and issues to deal with, but their communication skills are on point. There is a relatively low amount of angst, and this book is like a cozy cuddle by the fire. If adults adulting and using their words (while also being hot) is something you love, then this book is definitely for you.

I read Sailor Proof, the first book in the “Shore Leave” series, so I had a preconceived idea of Calder’s character. Man was I wrong (chuckle).

Annabeth Albert steps away from the military base while at the same time keeping it front and center in Sink or Swim. Calder is funny and loving the single life when he gets snowed in with Felix. I love the forced proximity storyline. Albert makes this even better by adding Felix’s nieces. They make it easier for Calder to just be. I find this to be so true. You can dance around and act silly. Go down hills on a sled. Kids allow you to relive or live for the first time in your childhood. Albert brings this joy to life in Sink or Swim.

Felix is solid. I love his character. He’s a doctor who specializes in geriatrics and I find his dedication and reasoning to be wonderful. Then there is his relationship with the girls. My heart melted multiple times telling their story.

Albert also tackles a subject that isn’t discussed enough in romances. Not everyone is a horn-dog who aims for knocking it out of the park every time. The communication between Felix and Calder is awesome. Albert showcases how there are different levels of intimacy and how important it is that partners talk to each other. I absolutely love this. The only subject that wasn’t really brought up was safe sex. This would have been an awesome time to also discuss this important topic.

The character growth of Felix and Calder is great. I loved watching how love can make you better. Whether this love is between two partners or as a result of loving someone else (in Felix’s case). I was rooting for this couple throughout the story.

Sink or Swim is a great forced proximity military romance. I cannot wait to see who is next in this series. Annabeth Albert is a must read for military romances.