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, 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.
"From Polari to Polaris, it’s never been just the nice girls who love a sailor. Lillian Francis effortlessly evokes the claustrophobia and camaraderie of life—and forbidden love—aboard a WW2 submarine." – JL Merrow
Under the Radar is my first Lillian Francis story and I can safely and honestly say it won't be my last. I loved everything about this story, the characters, the setting, the drama, mostly I loved the heart.
When a person is forced into a situation they really don't want to be in, in Under that would be Zach the flyer having to serve in a limited spaced submarine, you don't expect to find easy acceptance, either from yourself for your surroundings or from your peers into the camaraderie that comes from working together. Some might find the situation hard to understand but a flyer who is use to the open sky being transferred to serving in a submarine with tight and cramped enclosures sounds like torture. I think the author handled both acceptance and wariness beautifully.
One thing I love about historicals in the LGBT genre is getting an eye-opening look at just how far society has come. Don't get me wrong, the world still has a ways to go but really it is stories like Under the Radar that show us how much progress towards equality society has achieved. I think it takes huge talent when an author shows the level of respect for the past that Lillian Francis has done without coming across as a morality tale or a school lesson to create an entertaining read, especially one with so much heart.
Under the Radar is definitely a win win in my historical shelf.
RATING:
Lillian Francis is a self-confessed geek who likes nothing more than settling down with a comic or a good book, except maybe writing. Given a notepad, pen, her Kindle, and an infinite supply of chocolate Hob Nobs and she can lose herself for weeks. Romance was never her reading matter of choice, so it came as a great surprise to all concerned, including herself, to discover a romance was exactly what she’d written, and not the rollicking spy adventure or cosy murder mystery she always assumed she’d write.
EMAIL: lillianfrancis@rocketmail.com
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