Genre: Contemporary, Rock ‘n’ Roll
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
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.
The Review
Randall Sutter, at twenty-seven, had big dreams as a member of the band MoonCraft. He even thought he found a connection with one of the band members. Now, MoonCraft has broken up. They were robbed of their clothes, equipment and passports, and Randall has an appointment at the embassy to find a way home. For now he’s stranded in Catalonia, Spain where there’s protests for independence and justice for separatists. All Randall wants to do is to find a bar to drown his sorrows.
Somehow, he’s saved by a mysterious man, who takes him back to his apartment. They spend the night together, but even though Randall leaves a note, he doesn’t hear back from the man.
A few weeks later, after his embassy, meeting he contacts his former teacher Cecilia Galvan and explains the entire, well almost entire, story. He doesn’t have to leave Spain as long as he has employment, and he decides it would be a good start for a new life.
Cecilia is more than happy to see him, and to put his education to good use, and so she connects him with some important people. He gets an interview that leads him to Castelldefels, and takes a tour of the Frederick Douglass International School.
They are overjoyed to have a musical talent and person of notoriety teaching in their music department, and Randall is excited to meet Principal Lara Trujillo-Perez to go over his new schedule. He also gets invited to the Friday after-school social for instructors, making a new group of friends.
On his first day, he has a slight accident right in front of the Principal. Lucky for Randall, hes helped out of the bushes by the custodian, Alonso, who also rescues his damaged bike. There’s something about Alonso that was very familiar – Randall soon realizes Alonso is his mystery man. The few times they bump into each other, the man avoids him. Now, with his bike fixed, he wanted to do something nice for Alonso.
Randall’s new life will surely hold many surprises, danger and a question of trust, when he gets caught up in a political uprising.
Randall is self-conscious about his body, and needs to get work on his relationship with his family, especially his father. He’s a very ambitious person who loves music, whether he’s entertaining, teaching or just listening. Alonso is very secretive. As much as Randall likes him, he has many doubts about him.
There’s a host of interesting characters, too, including: Cecilia Galvan, Felip Segura and the Segura family. The French trio of Sasha, Camille and Josette. Besides the students that Randall loves teaching, there’s also Lara Trujillo-Perez and Madame Lahlou.
Merrill has written a suspenseful and eye-opening tale as part of the multi-author “Accidentally Undercover” series.
Before getting into “Under His Sheets” I highly suggest reading the author’s “A Note About Language.” Merrill enlightens her readers on the use of Catalan, English and Spanish throughout the story. The other highlight is “Author’s Note” where R.L. Merrill expresses her love for Spain, and the colorful descriptions that add texture and depth to this story.
I highly recommend Under His Sheets, just one of six stand-alone stories from the “Accidentally Undercover” series. You’ll be entertained with the dramatic tension, surprises, romance and love of music while being immersed in Spanish culture.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
