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.
Calder’s lucky win quickly evaporates when the real owner of the cabin walks in with his two nieces in tow. His luck continues downward when he injures himself and gets snowed in with strangers.
But on the upside, Felix is a very attractive man and seems to cautiously return Calder’s interest.
The snowed-in trope is one of my favourites. You’d think I’ve read enough by now to be bored of it, but you’d be wrong. Give me all of the cliché!
In Shore Leave, the storm forces Felix and Calder to make the best of the situation. That includes playing in the snow with the girls, reading stories, and cooking together.
The close quarters also set off feelings that neither man had expected. And it isn’t just the physical attraction - it’s easy to share space and their thoughts with each other.
When the storm ends and they have to return to the real world, Calder convinces Felix to have dinner with him - not a date, just for fun. It sets a pattern - hangouts, long phone calls, and thinking about each other when they’re not together.
This isn’t a particularly angsty book, and actually quite slow. I really liked the cozy feeling.
The big hurdle is how different the two men are. Calder lives in the moment and likes to have fun. Felix is cautious and has to put the girls first.
I loved how they balanced each other - Calder brings Felix out of his shell, and Felix gives Calder a taste of the slower life. They’re both equally protective and caring.
The two have to adjust and eventually figure out how to mesh their lives together. It was sweet how Calder set out to convince Felix that he was all-in for a serious relationship and the kids.
Speaking of the kids - very much so present in the book, and adorable. Madeleine and Charlotte were just kids being kids.
Felix and Calder eventually reach a tipping point, and make decisions for their future. Their happy ending is sweet, and left me with warm fuzzy feels.
If you’re looking for a drama-free family-focused MM romance, give ‘Shore Leave’ a read!
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
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