It’s 1942 and after a sexual indiscretion, US Navy pilot Zachary MacKenzie is sent to serve in the Royal Navy’s submarine service—a shockingly harsh punishment for a man who loves to fly. The submarine is oppressive and frustrating for him, and he’s marked out from his peers, publicly by being American, and privately by his attraction to men.The only bright spot is the company of his steward, … steward, sonar operator Gethin Llewelyn. Despite the differences of rank and background, they’re drawn to each other. Gethin’s integrity complements Zach’s casual joie de vivre, and soon the friendship develops into something much more.
As the threats of war increase, the submarine is plagued by potentially hostile vessels, and circumstances lead them to suspect there’s a spy amongst their own crew. Being forced even closer together as they work for the greater good reveals a new awareness, and Zach doesn’t know what is in more danger, the vessel under his charge or his heart.
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A while ago I beseeched Book Twitter to find me a submarine romance, and they found me this book quite amazingly quickly! I enjoyed both of the adorable main characters and of course the intense, forced-proximity setting. The sexual tension and character arcs kept me hooked! I was also really impressed by how much research the author must have done. 😮 I just wish there were books about the side characters!
A cocky flyboy who always got his way forced to serve on a new British submarine. Now a hot steward is in his sights as a new conquest. This is a WW II suspense novel at its best. A traitor, a growing love relationship in the sexually restrictive world of WW II. The author Lillian Francis to keeps us glued to our book. A rewarding read that holds your attention.
I absolutely adored this book. It was a great mix of romance and a spy story all rolled into one. Each scene is described so well and it really makes you feel part of the story.
Zach was a great character. I know many didn’t like him, but I think he was amazing. When we first meet him he is cocky and full of himself. But he was just like that to hide who he truly is. To cover up that he’s gay he sleeps with women even though he doesn’t even want to really. Due to that it has got him in trouble a time or two. I feel so sad for him that he is so lonely and will take comfort for whoever offers it. When he first meets Gethian he wants to seduce him, but he ends up deciding to just stay friends so that he isn’t alone. He really grows up as the story goes on and his feeling grow from lust, to really having feelings for Gethian. He loves his job and takes it very seriously. His father had a clue he was gay, so when he dies he left him in the capable hands of his gay godfather who really helps him a lot.
Gethian is such a sweetheart. I felt so sorry for him when we find out how his father treated him. Like Zach’s father, his father had a clue he was gay and tried to either beat it out of him or keep all the men away from him. Due to that he repressed it and it took him meeting Zach to reawaken those feelings. He is so worried to begin with but as time goes on he begins to accept who he is with the help of those around him.
When Zach and Gethian finally explore their feelings it’s like a bomb going off. The feelings they have for each other explode. I like that Zach doesn’t push Gethian, but let’s him go at his own pace. It was lovely to see them catching all the hidden moments they could together.
Johnny and Dipesh are just amazing friends to Gethian. They help him when he’s down and help him when he finally realised his feelings for men. I so want to read all about Johnny and Thomas love! The spy story was really well woven in to the story and it kept you on your toes. I had one off the spies right as he really never say well with me. But that’s for me to know and you to find out! The ending was really well done as well as I really wanted these two to get together finally. Let’s hope we get to hear from these guys again.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
US Navy Pilot Zachary MacKenzie is sent to serve on a Royal Navy submarine after an indiscretion. Going from the air to the sea was definitely a punishment. Also factor in being attracted to men and being American.
Sonar operator, Gethin Llewellyn is assigned as Zachary’s steward. He is drawn to the pilot and keeping things professional will prove to be difficult.
Its 1942, WW2 is increasing, and they have to protect the vessel, potentially ferret out a spy, and explore their love.
A wonderfully written slow burn romance between two men who are in different ranks on a submarine, but are as one in matters of the heart. This author does wonders for men who are on a self discovery of being true to themselves and coming to terms with their sexuality. Gethin had a bit of a struggle but Zachary was the perfect balance for their connection. Both characters growing and learning as the war and danger progresses around them.
**I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.**
“Under the Radar” is a story about life aboard the Royal Navy submarine Taranis and two men who are distinctly different.
Zachary MacKenzie is thirty-three and a US Lieutenant Commander, who loves being a flyboy for the Navy. Unfortunately his proclivity has gotten him in hot water. A certain Major want’s Zachary to be punished for his lack of judgement. The worst punishment ever is Zachary loosing his love of being a flyboy and having to take a step down to (British) Royal Navy lieutenant on the Taranis a submarine. Zachary comes from a well-off family and has had a good life, but nothing can buy his way out of this punishment. Or is it a punishment?
He meets the crew on board: Lieutenants Moore, Grace, Ginger and Carter. Captain Franks, leading seaman Johnny Vincent, radio operator Dipesh Chopra, and ASDIC operator, Acting Leading Seaman Gethin Llewelyn.
Captain Franks calls several of the ratings to meet with him privately. He feels his officers deserve to have a steward. Gethin Llewelyn is willing to volunteer and earn extra money to send home to his mother. Gethin’s life has been vastly different from Zachary’s. His father was abusive and Gethin had to help in the fields herding the sheep and helping with household chores which his father harassed him about. He left school at fifteen but he loves to read every chance he get’s. He also isn’t sure how to deal with his sexuality. He becomes steward to Zachary. Captain Franks stresses to Gethin to keep a close watch on the new lieutenant and only Yank, Zachary.
Zachary has no problem with Gethin at all. In fact, he’s very interested in him and believes he saw him before. As they get to know one another, Zachary finds that Gethin has many skills and potential to become more than his current rating on board the submarine. Their relationship of steward and lieutenant grows deeper as time goes on.
When Gethin starts to notice strange readings on the ASDIC. He and Zach privately start to investigate before telling anyone what they’ve discovered. When their investigation becomes serious they take their findings to Captain Franks. Under a guise Zachary and Gethin are off to the British Embassy/ Consulate. As their mission becomes more involved they are held over and have the most perfect accommodations and something special develops between them.
As Zachary and Gethin become closer they still have a dangerous mission to complete. As the mission becomes more chaotic, will it end in success or will it destroy what Zachary and Gethin have found between them?
Lillian Francis creates an historical novel of war, secret codes, Polari, sexuality, romance and heartbreaking moments. This is a solid story that flows easily and held my interest from page one. It’s a story of war time, suspense, espionage, and spies. It’s very obvious that she did her research with the workings of the submarine and what life is like for its crew.
It’s very much a slow burn with Gethin and Zachary as they learn about each other and understanding themselves. There’s so many secondary, interesting characters and the parts that they played were never boring.
“Under the Radar” was a first time read and a page-turner for me by Lillian Francis and she did not disappoint!
This is a deeply satisfying read on a number of levels. The slow burn of a relationship between exiled American officer Zachary and Welsh enlisted Gethin is a thing of beauty, as the author manages to weave both Gethin’s realization of his sexuality and Zachary’s discovery of his own conscience as intricate, integral threads within their evolving connection. Zachary’s intense desire for a man under his command initially feels predatory, but softens into a real emotional as well as physical bond. The setting is interesting, and there’s plenty of intrigue: submarines, spies, secret codes, and more. There are also a number of awesome supporting characters: I don’t always love Johnny’s choices, but I admire how protective he is of Gethin, and I would absolutely love to read his and Thomas’s story. I liked, to, the way the novel brings not just the setting but the historical moment to life: I admit to knowing virtually nothing about British military culture or technology, circa WW II, but I definitely felt immersed in it, without being too lost to understand what was going on. As a bonus, I’ve learned what “boffin” means.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
I am a sucker for a good historical. This book taught me a lot about submarine life and drew me right into their world. The story was well paced and engaging. A must read.
Under the Radar is a wonderful story about two opposites – An American playboy and a Welsh innocent. They are opposite in other ways too, but that just makes them fit together perfectly. Zachary has been ‘expelled’ from the US Air Force after an indiscretion, and his punishment is to become a Submariner. A harsh punishment indeed for someone who loves the sky. Gethin is from a farm in Wales, and happy to be on the submarine. These two shouldn’t really fit, but they do.
I loved how this story came about. There is an incredible amount of research that has gone into it, and the descriptions are compelling. I literally found myself having to straighten my shoulders after hunching them over as I was reading! This is a slow-burn romance, with some funny parts in there as Gethin’s innocence stops him from reading Zachary’s overtures.
This was exceptionally written, with no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed. The characters are all magnificent, especially the supporting cast. I’m so glad I got one of the ‘bad guys’ right, but I won’t say who or when. Everything about this book ticked my boxes – from the descriptions of war-time rations, to how some of them spoke Polari (LOVED that inclusion!). I really hope this isn’t the last we see of Zachary and Gethin. I’m sure they could have some amazing adventures together.
Highly recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!
This book was a rich and multi-layered read, with a palette of tension, drama and romance. Really something to get my reading teeth into! Ms Francis writes a great adventure and a slow-building, unexpected romance, in a time when homosexuality was illegal, when cheerful and confident gay men like the charismatic Zach had to seek fun and comfort where they could, while balancing it with their strong commitment to duty and loyalty in wartime. Gethin was a great counterpoint to him, less experienced by far, but just as determined and principled. This isn’t a heavy history book! it’s an entertaining read, and paced well enough to connect deeply with the characters, though I did learn a lot about the services in wartime, about the varied men who worked together, about Polari! and how human nature is very much the same whatever the period. There’s fun and humour and heartwarming relationships throughout, despite the underlying threat from the wartime enemy.
Not usually my thing, but I found this NC17 male-male love story with WWII submarine espionage quite enjoyable. It starts in September 1941 when Lieutenant Commander Zachary MacKenzie, age 33, US Navy Air Corps, is transferred, due to a sexual indiscretion, as a Lieutenant to the Royal Navy ending up on the submarine *Taranis*, where he finds himself attracted to Acting Lead Seaman Gethin Llewelyn, age 24.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Realistic historical setting forms a backdrop for a lovely, quiet mm romance. The spy story adds an extra layer. Wonderfully written and very engrossing with finely drawn characters. A riveting read and highly recommended.