Find out the latest indie author news. For FREE.

ADVERTISEMENT

Formats
Kindle Edition Digital Ebook Purchas Details
  • B0CTTCRR32
  • pages
  • $
Under His Sheets
Indie rock star Randall Sutter is hard at work creating a new life for himself in Spain after his band was robbed and decided to break up. The inspiration for his reinvention? The passionate night he spent with a Spaniard who encouraged him to consider spending more time in his country. So Randall 2.0 decides to dust off his credentials and take a job teaching music at an international school in a suburb of Barcelona. But questions soon arise when the stranger Randall can’t stop thinking about appears at the school—as Alonso the Custodian. And pretends not to recognize him. And claims to not speak English. Randall then discovers his new community—like the rest of Catalonia—is experiencing political turmoil, and Randall isn’t sure who he can trust. When Alonso reveals the truth about the night they met and just what he was doing there, Randall will have to have faith that Alonso’s feelings for him are real and not just part of his mission, or they may both end up victims of a centuries-long dispute playing out in modern Spain. Under His Sheets is part of the Accidentally Undercover shared romantic suspense series.
Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 9 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 9 out of 10
Overall: 8.50 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot/Idea: With relatable moments this addition to the Accidentally Undercover series travels to Spain and includes plenty of culture and language. The pace of the plot coupled with a mix of romance and mystery will keep the reader engaged and guessing who is truly sincere.

Prose: Merrill's prose is smoothly crafted and nicely evocative. The author has worked overtime to ensure readers can decode the native language of the characters. Details and descriptions between the sheets are succinct yet engrossing and tasteful.

Originality: Being part of a series, this addition allows the reader to travel and experience the culture of Spain through setting and language. Well-researched, the author has created an authentic setting and included real-world situations creating a valuable addition to any adult LGBTQ collection.

Character/Execution: Randall Sutter is an effective protagonist as he sets out for a second act following the demise of his band. Throughout, the individuals Randall encounters and becomes embroiled with, are relatable yet enigmatic; readers will eagerly turn the pages to learn who they can truly trust. 

 

Date Submitted: April 01, 2024

Reviews
A talented guitarist embarking on a new career after the breakup of his band discovers love amid the danger of a separatists’ revolt in this romance blending rock and international intrigue from Merrill (author of the Forces of Nature series, among others). After his band, MoonCraft, breaks up, Randall Sutter finds a job as a music teacher at an elite school for international students in Castelldefels, near Barcelona, arranged by his former teacher, Cecilia Galván. But Randall is jolted to discover that Alonso, the custodian at the school, is the man who rescued Randall during a protest for Catalonian independence, and said to him, in a moment of tenderness, “I definitely don’t make it a habit of kissing American musicians in trouble, but sometimes…”

This polished entry in the multi-author Accidentally Undercover series is powered by both romance and suspense as Randall begins to feel a deep attraction to Alonso while trying to understand why separatists are arguing in the school parking lot. The tense, well-described milieu ups the stakes as Randall soon learns that Alonso is a soldier working undercover as a custodian and also the brother of Cecilia’s fiance, whose family owns a winery in Catalonia. As the attraction builds, Randall learns that Alonso is working to identify potential terrorists with connections to the school seeking Catalonian independence. The romance pulses with both levity and intrigue, providing a respite from the danger from those involved in the quest for Catalonian independence while leaving Randall wondering whom he can trust in a country where he is still learning the language.

As the pace intensifies along with the peril to both Alonso and Randall, Randall’s authenticity shines through as he becomes immersed in Catalonian culture, made inviting and fascinating by Merrill, and thrives in his role as a music teacher. Readers will be cheering for Randall to find his happily ever after with Alonso, especially when Randall risks his life for one of his students who was kidnapped, leading to a satisfying conclusion.

Takeaway: A rocker-turned-teacher in Spain gets caught up in romance and tense political unrest.

Comparable Titles: Sarina Bowen’s Roommate, Elle Keaton’s Conspiracy Theory.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Formats
Kindle Edition Digital Ebook Purchas Details
  • B0CTTCRR32
  • pages
  • $
ADVERTISEMENT

Loading...