Book Review: Sailor Proof by Annabeth Albert

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.