Summary
The sexy Navy chief and his best friend’s adorkable little brother…
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.
Review
I wasn’t sold on everything in this story, but I absolutely loved Arthur and Derrick as a couple. Cute, sexy, adorable, bringing a positive message about relationship, sacrifice and compromise, it was one of the best gay couples I’ve read recently.
What bothered me the most was how it all started. The reason behind the fake relationship, and how they justify giving it a real try just for the fun of it… it didn’t look quite as mature as two men in their mid- to late twenties would act. Even a virgin one, and one with only one serious boyfriend in his past. It’s true though, that they are inexperienced in relationships, and that they don’t have many friends–they aren’t people persons. Which makes the way they connect truly inspiring. They clearly found each other.
And they understand each other. Not at first, and not all the time, but they learn–trials and errors–until they get it right. That wasn’t exactly plausible, as their relationship doesn’t last long, and they’re supposed to just have a fling. But they obviously cared for each other.
Though the sexuality acceptance level was quite high–even with the extended family, there’s never even a tiny bit of homophobia–it wasn’t the same with Arthur’s special kind of nerdiness. The young man deserved all the hugs. It was nice to see how everyone grows up during the story. Arthur’s relationship with his family, the way Derrick sees his future and his career, it all shifted at one point. The scenes that changed everything, often honest conversations, had ‘life lesson’ written all over them. It wasn’t unpleasant though. The author clearly had something to say.
A beautiful romance, plus some inspiring and positive messages about life and love, isn’t it great?
Quickie
- Series: Shore leave #1 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #MM romance #best friend’s little brother #fake relationship #military man #nerd #virgin
- Triggers: past cheating
- Main couple: Arthur Euler & Derrick Fox
- Hotness: 4/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + I loved how attentive Derrick was with Arthur
- – that was a fast evolution of feelings!
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