3.75 ( )

Gahhhhh I loved this so much!!!

These two are the cutest fake boyfriends ever!!! ( )

2.5 stars.

This is cute but very... Deliberate. Measured. (Slow.) I wish Albert had a much stricter editor. The story itself is good, despite her habit of writing first person as if it's third person, bloating the prose. I started skimming in self-defense before I was 50% in. It's been awhile since Albert offered me characters I liked well enough to tolerate her prose. But also, she manages to deliver these little emotional hits that for me, with good characters, make it worth the effort.

I just got the ARC of book 2. We'll see how that one goes... ( )

Annabeth Albert is one of those authors who I will always deliver. I loved her Out of Uniform series and I was excited when I found out she had started a new series with military characters. And she didn't disappoint, lol.

I'll admit I'm rather partial to the fake-boyfriend trope at the best of times, but even so, Derrick and Arthur seem to leap of the page and truly take on a life of their own. Such is the talent of the author that I feel I could run into them (and their extended family) one day on a visit to the US. That is what makes a book a fantastic read for me. Characters who come to life. Who draw me in to their story. Who make me root for them and their HEA.

I can't wait to read more in this series! ( )

I was ready to like this because it is narrated by Greg Boudreaux. The partner narrator is Joel Leslie. His voice is a turn-off! Are they reading Sailor Proof or Sailor Spoof??!! I'm not far into the audiobook but a spoof is not what I'm looking for: A romantic comedy. A spoof is disparaging to the romance genre.

(Later) I listened to a little more of this and I think it could reward if I pushed through but my library loan ran out. ( )

This was just the fluff I needed right now. Arthur and Derrick were adorable together and also were just right for each other. They made their biggest obstacle work, and all around this was a great low-key read for me. ( )

I have read SO MANY series and standalones by this wonderful author and loved every last one of them...so I was...to say the least... excited to see a new book and a new series by Annabeth Albert. SAILOR PROOF sets the tone for another great character driven military romance series. The two main characters are really cute and sweet together. Though they start out as a fake relationship it quickly moves into a secret fling. They work through family and distance with lots of love and a new chance at happiness for both of them... but when Derrick is called away it will be a new test of their growing relationship. I really liked how the author allowed Derrick and Arthur to find their “happily ever after”. I can't wait for more books in this series. My two friends that supply me with these books are now letting me read them FIRST. Good guys...think I’ll keep them. ( )

Sailor Proof by Annabeth Albert
Shore Leave #1

What fun this book proved to be! I fell in love with Derrick and Arthur but also with Arthur’s family and the look into what it must be like to be involved with someone in the Navy. I knew that the men on the LST that evacuated us from Lebanon were missing their families, appreciated the effort they made to keep us safe, and thought of them again today while reading this book and realized even more the sacrifices they and their families make every day to do the jobs they do.

What I liked:
* Derrick Fox: Petty Naval Chief working with sonar in a submarine, orphaned as a youth, raised by his grandmother, the Navy is his career, and he is focused, sweet, kind, gentle, confident, and perfect for Arthur.
* Arthur Euler: musician, different from other family members, fun loving, lives for himself, kind, generous, interesting, perfect for Derrick.
* The Euler family: large, loving, boisterous, competitive, do-gooders, there for on another.
* The look into part of what it might be like to be in the Navy and/or to fall for someone in the Navy.
* The growth of the relationship between Arthur and Derrick
* That the obstacles to overcome were dealt with honestly
* The communication between the couple
* The support of Arthur’s mother
* That the relationship between Derrick and Arthur was healthy and normal and believable
* The family reunion and the activities and situations that occurred there
* All of it really!

What I didn’t like:
* Can’t think of anything except maybe the undervaluing of Arthur by some of his family.

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

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

5 Stars ( )