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Untethered
Determined to help the war effort, Frankie Norris joins the US Air Force in 1943. Braving intimidating drill sergeants and unending marches, Frankie struggles to hide his secret—he’s queer. But having passed basic training, he’s not going to risk an undesirable discharge or any of his fellow recruits finding out. Then he receives word that he’s been granted a position flying the plane he loves, the P-51 Mustang. But as Frankie finds his wings in the sky, feelings of isolation may keep him grounded. Slowly making friends among his squadron, Frankie realizes he may not be as alone or as abnormal as he thinks. Other queer men have formed a community in the Armed Forces to offer support. Then Frankie meets his crew chief, Jim Morrow. Initially antagonistic, they slowly become friends and a mutual attraction develops as they join the Eighth Air Force in Britain. Confessing their feelings, snatching what time they can together, and wary of discovery, Frankie and Jim are there for each other through dangerous missions and the loss of friends. It’s a long war with enemies on both sides. All they can hope for is to survive long enough for a chance at something more.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2015
6 people are currently reading
318 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Thorn
3 books15 followersR.A. Thorn lives in northern California, although her heart remains in the Colorado mountains. She enjoys exploring the strange and varied paths of history and fantasy worlds. In her writing she seeks to capture the elusive feeling of a particular historical period. She is perhaps too fond of footnotes and dark chocolate and looks forward to lazy weekends watching anime.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 7, 2015
I'm a huge fan of historical M/M romance. It was my gateway drug into M/M eight years ago when the genre was still a baby. Since Historical M/M was even smaller a niche, I feel I've read most of the really good ones (and really bad ones). This one was definitely one of the better. I really really enjoy, and wish more people wrote in the WWII time period. This was well done, and I just adored everything about it.
March 18, 2015
'Untethered' is a beautiful, emotional story, firmly anchored in the times it's set in. It's a great example of Shown Their Work - the setting is vivid, fleshed out and utterly believable. The romantic plot, while lovely, is only a part of the story, with a lot of space sacrificed to Frankie's struggles with the reality of war and death clashing with his idealised visions of being a military pilot, and him getting to know and finding his place in the WW2 queer community (including a cameo of delightful and kickass queer pilot women), and negotiating his post-war Happily Ever After.
I'm eternally grateful to the author that while homophobia is a sad fact of life in American 1940s, the characters don't internalize it and don't struggle with subsequent self-hate, instead doing their best to derive pride and comfort from the camaraderie of others like them.
I'm eternally grateful to the author that while homophobia is a sad fact of life in American 1940s, the characters don't internalize it and don't struggle with subsequent self-hate, instead doing their best to derive pride and comfort from the camaraderie of others like them.
March 29, 2024
Original Read: Feb 2022
Re-Read: Mar 2024
I loved this! In fact, I loved it so much that I bumped up my rating from 4 to 5 stars after my re-read. I struggled with it during my initial read because things are slow during the first 30%. Frankie is portrayed as being a naïve 18 year old who doesn't know anything about himself, the war or the world when he decides to become a fighter pilot. For the first third of the book, we follow Frankie through the different stages of WW2 pilot training and we meet a group of other pilots who befriend Frankie and our naïve country boy learns a lot about all sorts of things, including the gay communities that exist within the military. When Jim (the love interest) shows up at 30%, Frankie has grown up a bit but he's still mostly a kid who Jim (who is 4 years older but is decades more mature) makes fun of because Frankie reacts to the teasing exactly the way a teenage boy would.
The first time I read the story, I found the first 30% slow and boring but once Frankie, Jim and the rest of Frankie's buddies are deployed and start fighting in the war, everything changed. Frankie being portrayed as an immature, overly emotional kid in the first part was extremely annoying to start with; however, I was thrilled to realize that the author wrote Frankie that way on purpose in order to give him an incredible character development arc.
I also adored Frankie's relationship with Jim. Their dynamic was very interesting with Frankie being the more naïve and young of the two and Jim being the slightly older and sarcastic/grumpy one, but having this be contrasted by Frankie being the fighter pilot who goes out and risks his life every single day and Jim being his crew chief/mechanic, who has the luxury of staying behind on base. Their developing romance was paced beautifully, with the author using their working relationship, shared jokes and shared personal details to bring them closer over time. My heart also ached for Jim as he got closer to Frankie. I can't imagine how terrifying it was for Jim to send Frankie off every single day, not knowing if he'll ever come back.
Everything that the author did in terms of Frankie's development and his relationship with Jim paid off in a huge way near the end when Frankie goes home. He continues struggling with anxiety and PTSD while also battling depression and being unhappy with the country lifestyle that he's grown up with, since it feels too restrictive after the many things he'd experienced during the war. Despite his family and acquaintances being kind, patient and understanding, it was so clear why Frankie felt uncomfortable and upset by everything. None of the people and surroundings were harmful to him but they were all alien, despite being familiar. It was really clear that the Frankie who had come home from war was completely different from the Frankie who had left and since that transition was done so well by the author, I felt for everybody involved - Frankie and his family and friends. When Jim shows up later, I felt just as relieved as Frankie and it was such a comfort to have him around. The author did such a stellar job portraying all of Frankie's emotions and thoughts during that entire arc.
Overall, this is another winner and it's joining my list of favorite WW2 books. If you're struggling in the first 30%, do yourself a favor and skim through it instead of stopping. I guarantee that you won't regret it!
Re-Read: Mar 2024
I loved this! In fact, I loved it so much that I bumped up my rating from 4 to 5 stars after my re-read. I struggled with it during my initial read because things are slow during the first 30%. Frankie is portrayed as being a naïve 18 year old who doesn't know anything about himself, the war or the world when he decides to become a fighter pilot. For the first third of the book, we follow Frankie through the different stages of WW2 pilot training and we meet a group of other pilots who befriend Frankie and our naïve country boy learns a lot about all sorts of things, including the gay communities that exist within the military. When Jim (the love interest) shows up at 30%, Frankie has grown up a bit but he's still mostly a kid who Jim (who is 4 years older but is decades more mature) makes fun of because Frankie reacts to the teasing exactly the way a teenage boy would.
The first time I read the story, I found the first 30% slow and boring but once Frankie, Jim and the rest of Frankie's buddies are deployed and start fighting in the war, everything changed. Frankie being portrayed as an immature, overly emotional kid in the first part was extremely annoying to start with; however, I was thrilled to realize that the author wrote Frankie that way on purpose in order to give him an incredible character development arc.
I also adored Frankie's relationship with Jim. Their dynamic was very interesting with Frankie being the more naïve and young of the two and Jim being the slightly older and sarcastic/grumpy one, but having this be contrasted by Frankie being the fighter pilot who goes out and risks his life every single day and Jim being his crew chief/mechanic, who has the luxury of staying behind on base. Their developing romance was paced beautifully, with the author using their working relationship, shared jokes and shared personal details to bring them closer over time. My heart also ached for Jim as he got closer to Frankie. I can't imagine how terrifying it was for Jim to send Frankie off every single day, not knowing if he'll ever come back.
Everything that the author did in terms of Frankie's development and his relationship with Jim paid off in a huge way near the end when Frankie goes home. He continues struggling with anxiety and PTSD while also battling depression and being unhappy with the country lifestyle that he's grown up with, since it feels too restrictive after the many things he'd experienced during the war. Despite his family and acquaintances being kind, patient and understanding, it was so clear why Frankie felt uncomfortable and upset by everything. None of the people and surroundings were harmful to him but they were all alien, despite being familiar. It was really clear that the Frankie who had come home from war was completely different from the Frankie who had left and since that transition was done so well by the author, I felt for everybody involved - Frankie and his family and friends. When Jim shows up later, I felt just as relieved as Frankie and it was such a comfort to have him around. The author did such a stellar job portraying all of Frankie's emotions and thoughts during that entire arc.
Overall, this is another winner and it's joining my list of favorite WW2 books. If you're struggling in the first 30%, do yourself a favor and skim through it instead of stopping. I guarantee that you won't regret it!
April 17, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this one!!
Untethered is Frankie's story. In 1943, he's 18 and joining up to be a pilot in the Air Forces. As training starts, he discovers a huge passion for flying and for flying fast. The story follows Frankie as he navigates his way through training, and part of that is hiding that he is queer. He has come from a small town in Idaho and thinks he is all alone, but soon realizes that there are others like him in the Air Force.
In the latter part of his training (at about 25% of the book), he meets his crew chief Jim. Jim is the head mechanic for Frankie's plane. There is a passionate spark between them immediately, but it's more akin to passionate dislike - they continually antagonize each other. However, their verbal sparring gradually turns into teasing and eventually they become friends. It's when they are shipped off to England and Frankie starts flying missions that they realize the attraction between them is mutual. The development of their romance from "enemies" to friends to lovers was done so perfectly.
"And then Jim glanced his way, and the corner of his mouth twitched into a smile. Relieved, Frankie grinned back - and promptly stumbled into a pothole because he wasn't watching where he was going. Jim started laughing at him, the bastard, and Frankie gave him the finger. But he didn't stop smiling, either."
I loved the tender feel of all of their firsts. These guys are both mostly inexperienced and it shows. This is a good thing, because everything felt very natural to me. But there's more to this than just a romance. This is also a novel about WW II and about Frankie's very real struggles and fears each time he flies into combat and the lasting effect of those fears.
Overall, a highly recommended WWII historical with a tender romance.
ps. I really loved the cover too!
Untethered is Frankie's story. In 1943, he's 18 and joining up to be a pilot in the Air Forces. As training starts, he discovers a huge passion for flying and for flying fast. The story follows Frankie as he navigates his way through training, and part of that is hiding that he is queer. He has come from a small town in Idaho and thinks he is all alone, but soon realizes that there are others like him in the Air Force.
In the latter part of his training (at about 25% of the book), he meets his crew chief Jim. Jim is the head mechanic for Frankie's plane. There is a passionate spark between them immediately, but it's more akin to passionate dislike - they continually antagonize each other. However, their verbal sparring gradually turns into teasing and eventually they become friends. It's when they are shipped off to England and Frankie starts flying missions that they realize the attraction between them is mutual. The development of their romance from "enemies" to friends to lovers was done so perfectly.
"And then Jim glanced his way, and the corner of his mouth twitched into a smile. Relieved, Frankie grinned back - and promptly stumbled into a pothole because he wasn't watching where he was going. Jim started laughing at him, the bastard, and Frankie gave him the finger. But he didn't stop smiling, either."
I loved the tender feel of all of their firsts. These guys are both mostly inexperienced and it shows. This is a good thing, because everything felt very natural to me. But there's more to this than just a romance. This is also a novel about WW II and about Frankie's very real struggles and fears each time he flies into combat and the lasting effect of those fears.
Overall, a highly recommended WWII historical with a tender romance.
ps. I really loved the cover too!
October 5, 2021
2.5 stars
The almost NA tone in a WWII story threw me off at first, but the MC has just turned 18 as he enters basic training, so I guess it's appropriate if you think about it that way. I thought perhaps the author was going to gradually mature the voice of the POV character as he matured throughout his training and the war, but I don't think that was the plan.
The pilot training program and action details were well-developed, but the development of the romance didn't get much play. All the individual beats were there -- a scene where they meet and get off on the wrong foot, a scene where they try to get off to a better start, a scene where they get off... -- but I didn't feel much of the connection between them beyond the physical.
The author really had a hard time landing the emotions all around. We spent tons of time in the training program, but once the secondary characters started dying, I barely felt anything at all, mostly because the MC seems to immediately push it out of his mind. I think that was just his coping mechanism, and the book makes it clear that he is not handling the realities of war very well, but then that all just kind of gets swept away and the book ends.
I don't regret reading it -- in fact, I own another book by this author (with older MCs, luckily) that I will definitely still read; the jury's still out on this NTM author -- but I'm also not totally sure what I got out of it. A look at the Air Force pilot training program during WWII, a glimpse at what this experience could be like from a few different queer perspectives across a few different bases, the strange holding pattern alternating with long flights with brief snatches of high-intensity gun fights at this particular posting...but that's really it. The war stuff is the setting for a romance that just didn't land for me.
The almost NA tone in a WWII story threw me off at first, but the MC has just turned 18 as he enters basic training, so I guess it's appropriate if you think about it that way. I thought perhaps the author was going to gradually mature the voice of the POV character as he matured throughout his training and the war, but I don't think that was the plan.
The pilot training program and action details were well-developed, but the development of the romance didn't get much play. All the individual beats were there -- a scene where they meet and get off on the wrong foot, a scene where they try to get off to a better start, a scene where they get off... -- but I didn't feel much of the connection between them beyond the physical.
The author really had a hard time landing the emotions all around. We spent tons of time in the training program, but once the secondary characters started dying, I barely felt anything at all, mostly because the MC seems to immediately push it out of his mind. I think that was just his coping mechanism, and the book makes it clear that he is not handling the realities of war very well, but then that all just kind of gets swept away and the book ends.
I don't regret reading it -- in fact, I own another book by this author (with older MCs, luckily) that I will definitely still read; the jury's still out on this NTM author -- but I'm also not totally sure what I got out of it. A look at the Air Force pilot training program during WWII, a glimpse at what this experience could be like from a few different queer perspectives across a few different bases, the strange holding pattern alternating with long flights with brief snatches of high-intensity gun fights at this particular posting...but that's really it. The war stuff is the setting for a romance that just didn't land for me.
do-not-read
April 2, 2022Unfortunately, I bought this right before I found out about Dreamspinner's little embezzlement habit of breaking contracts and not paying their content creators - which they are still doing today, even while actively recruiting new authors, cover artists and narrators to steal from. I kept hoping this would get republished, but it sadly hasn't yet, so onto the Do Not Read it goes. :(
April 2, 2015
Untethered is wonderful and had me hooked immediately. I particularly loved the honesty in Frankie's initial joy and passion for flying turning into fear and despair because of the deaths surrounding him. I loved the glimpses of wartime queer subculture and was very pleased that the writer avoided a lot of the tired pitfalls of queer historical fiction (especially internalized gay panic).
While Jim and Frankie had me rooting for them from their first argument, I loved that the difficulties Frankie in particular was experiencing regarding the reality of war was not overshadowed or abandoned in favor of their romance. The characters stayed with me after I'd finished, and this is definitely a book I see myself rereading over and over.
While Jim and Frankie had me rooting for them from their first argument, I loved that the difficulties Frankie in particular was experiencing regarding the reality of war was not overshadowed or abandoned in favor of their romance. The characters stayed with me after I'd finished, and this is definitely a book I see myself rereading over and over.
April 25, 2015
Such a realistic look into the emotions Frankie feels as he enters the Air Force during WW2
I can feel his excitement during training and flight school and then once he becomes a pilot you get a sense that it isn't really what Frankie thought it would be. The paralyzing fear and doubt was really well written. I felt every emotion that Frankie felt. I love the prickly relationship between Frankie and Jim...I can't imagine how hard it was to deny a part of yourself and for Frankie able to meet people like him was great. Couldn't help but sympathize with Frankie as he goes home and tries to deal with life after flying...So glad they were able to get their HEA
I can feel his excitement during training and flight school and then once he becomes a pilot you get a sense that it isn't really what Frankie thought it would be. The paralyzing fear and doubt was really well written. I felt every emotion that Frankie felt. I love the prickly relationship between Frankie and Jim...I can't imagine how hard it was to deny a part of yourself and for Frankie able to meet people like him was great. Couldn't help but sympathize with Frankie as he goes home and tries to deal with life after flying...So glad they were able to get their HEA
May 7, 2015
A beautiful and painful romance with depth and accuracy, Untethered, managed to anchor its pages to my heart. A poignant view into the lives of gay men and women in service during WWII. Frankie Norris has a secret he's going to hide, and a heart he knows he needs to protect during the most trying moments of his life. If the stress of preparing to complete flight school and ship over seas isn't enough, hiding his growing attraction to a fellow soldier only adds to Frankie's distress. Turns out he isn't hiding his wandering eye so well, at least not to other like minded men in the forces. Finding an oasis of other gay men on base, Frankie explores his desires while allowing his attraction for his bunk mate do die along with his heart.
With new understanding about his own sexuality, his fellow service members giving him confidence, he takes his broken heart and his newly earned wings and heads to the next level of training. This is not only where he gets to fly his dream plane, but Frankie meets a new team member, his crew chief, and the mechanic that will keep him flying safe as they fly over the Atlantic to join in the live action in the war effort.
This is the part that really gets me hooked, the introduction of new characters into Frankie's world, the abrasiveness of his mechanic, the new hardened heart Frankie has developed, and the fear and excitement of flying missions over Germany and occupied France. It's thrilling, sexually tense, and heart throbbing sweet when Frankie finally realizes his snarky crew chief has his heart invested in Frankie's welfare, as well as his plane. That moment when the light bulb goes off and Frankie sees Jim through clear eyes, sees the attraction, the concern for more than a team member, is golden!
Here the author's research shows, the lingo, the psychological impact, the aeronautical terminology, all combine to put me right in the action, I nearly felt the nerves of both Frankie and the men on the ground waiting to see if the other half of their team will return to base. So thrilling!
Of course this is war, scary things happen, people die, people are injured, injuries are more than skin deep and those who do recover and get sent home with injuries carry scars on their minds. So many very realistic psychological aspects are woven into this beautifully written story I can't express it with my paltry command of words. Grab this book! I hate to compare authors, but as a reader looking at new writers sometimes it's helpful to know...I put R.A. Thorn right up there with some of my favorites who have written similar material, Thorn easily compares to the quality of Amy Lane and Josh Lanyon, a new author to add to my must read list!
Oh, I love the inclusion of the WASPS!!!!
With new understanding about his own sexuality, his fellow service members giving him confidence, he takes his broken heart and his newly earned wings and heads to the next level of training. This is not only where he gets to fly his dream plane, but Frankie meets a new team member, his crew chief, and the mechanic that will keep him flying safe as they fly over the Atlantic to join in the live action in the war effort.
This is the part that really gets me hooked, the introduction of new characters into Frankie's world, the abrasiveness of his mechanic, the new hardened heart Frankie has developed, and the fear and excitement of flying missions over Germany and occupied France. It's thrilling, sexually tense, and heart throbbing sweet when Frankie finally realizes his snarky crew chief has his heart invested in Frankie's welfare, as well as his plane. That moment when the light bulb goes off and Frankie sees Jim through clear eyes, sees the attraction, the concern for more than a team member, is golden!
Here the author's research shows, the lingo, the psychological impact, the aeronautical terminology, all combine to put me right in the action, I nearly felt the nerves of both Frankie and the men on the ground waiting to see if the other half of their team will return to base. So thrilling!
Of course this is war, scary things happen, people die, people are injured, injuries are more than skin deep and those who do recover and get sent home with injuries carry scars on their minds. So many very realistic psychological aspects are woven into this beautifully written story I can't express it with my paltry command of words. Grab this book! I hate to compare authors, but as a reader looking at new writers sometimes it's helpful to know...I put R.A. Thorn right up there with some of my favorites who have written similar material, Thorn easily compares to the quality of Amy Lane and Josh Lanyon, a new author to add to my must read list!
Oh, I love the inclusion of the WASPS!!!!
April 12, 2015
Hiistoricals from Dreamspinner Press totally changed my mind about the genre from dislike to like and Untethered by R.A. Thorn just reinforced that. Thorn did an excellent job of not putting two contemporary men into a WWII setting and that made the story stand out in my mind. Both the MCs are relatively inexperienced, yet aware of the dangers of their mutual attraction. It felt very natural for them to go from being antagonistic to being friends to being lovers. It also was realistic for some of the good guys to die in the war. Thorn also did a good job of mingling the seriousness of war with lighter elements. I especially enjoyed the upbeat ending to the story. Having served in the USAF, I like stories of the early days of the Air Force. R.A. Thorn is now a writer to watch for me.
June 12, 2015
I read this with our reviewer Sally. So have a look at what we both have to say about this book.
Mark: Frankie joins the US Air Force as flying is everything to him. Although he has a secret and that secret could land him in hot water. Reading about Frankie’s fear of being discovered starting with the medical check up and then through his training brought all those fears back to me when I was in the RAF. Frankie has to hide his true identity from everyone as this would only lead to a whole heap of trouble. I loved the way that R.A. Thorn portrays this, the crush he has on his first best friend he makes but can’t tell anyone the way he feels. He almost gives up on the fact that he will be able to find what he craves and therefore has to live a clandestine life. However, there are also others like himself and through coded language finds the friends he needs to make his existence in the USAF more bearable. Again I found this was expertly written,all those little codes, looks and nuances. Giving away what is necessary but never stating the obvious just in case you have judged the situation wrongly. What did you think to Frankie’s situation, Sally?
Sally: I was very impressed with that whole section. I found it very interesting historically, and although there was a lot of information I never felt that it was being dumped on me. The author uses Frankie’s unfamiliarity with the situation as a way of informing the reader. We discovered everything along with him, both as he moved from place to place within the military system and as his awareness increases of himself and his place in the little gay microcosm within his unit. The thing that came through very strongly for me was the claustrophobia of having to be continually on guard, the constant monitoring of one’s own behaviour, the nervousness and uncertainty. I also loved that moment of freedom Frankie feels when he meets Ed and realises that he’s not alone. I really enjoyed Ed’s function as a mentor to open Frankie’s eyes to the options without actually pushing him toward any of them. He’s not a predator, which was refreshing, and set Frankie up nicely for the next step in his romantic story.
Mark: When Frankie meets Jim his crew chief then there is definitely no love at first sight. I loved the way that Jim was rather indifferent to Frankie as the pilot, the most important thing being the plane that he so lovingly cares for. Here R.A. Thorn sets the tone perfectly with all the usual ribbing and banter that goes on, although under all this mockery there is a deep respect and camaraderie that in Frankie’s and Jim’s case soons develops into something a lot deeper. I loved reading the dialogues between these two. I was kept holding my breath on who would make the first move and admit the attraction they had for each other. Again not an easy thing to do, but once that step was made then a love developed that was deeper than anything else.
Sally: I liked Jim a lot. I prefer stories where the characters have to get to know and appreciate each other’s good qualities before falling desperately in love and Jim really did test Frankie’s patience. I loved his confidence and competence - I could see he had really earned his position. Pilots get all the glamour but it’s men like Jim who keep them flying and his devotion to the plane really struck a chord with me. However, I found that the story hit a flat patch. I think this is just me. Up to this point I’d really enjoyed the balance between the two stories - the war time plot and Frankie’s journey as a gay man - but here the seesaw fell very heavily in Jim’s direction. For several pages all that seemed to be happening was Frankie angsting about Jim. I was just beginning to find it tedious when I recalled that Frankie was a teenager and remembered weeks when my own teens could think and talk about nothing but their current crush, and I smiled and nodded and said “Oh I see what you did there”. But I was very glad when the story picked up again.
Mark: Once Frankie and Jim admit their feelings to each other the hardest part is keeping something like this under wraps from everyone. This was excruciating to read the effort this takes, but Jim is the more experienced as it turns out and Frankie falls for Jim hard. This book is not packed with huge amounts of sex. That I also found realistic as they are in the middle of fighting a war, living together with others in barracks in close quarters, there wouldn’t have been much time for any hanky-panky believe you me, let alone when you need to find time so others would not see what was going on. However, when they are together it is all the more sweeter and poignant due to it.
Sally: I think it was the single weekend they managed to spend together - two short days in a run down hotel in London - that broke my heart the most. Snatched time that they both knew could be all they’d ever have, because on the next mission it could be all over. Not that they were safe in the hotel. By this time in 1944 London was under constant attack from V-1 doodlebugs, possibly V-2s as well if the visit was after September. Maybe you can put me right on that, Mark? I’m not quite sure of the date in the book but I got the impression that it was autumn. Oh and just a word about the sex - I loved that it wasn’t all blinding orgasms and the bestest thing ever. I actually gave a little cheer about one particular thing. No spoilers :) Realistic and well-balanced describes this book throughout.
Mark: You’re absolutely right Sally, London was well under attack from the V2s by that time. The first V2 attack on London was actually September 7th 1944. The whole historical part of this book was brilliantly researched and written. What I also liked tremendously was that Frankie is not your typical hero who is afraid of nothing. Frankie is your average guy doing very extraordinary things due to the war. You feel his fear of getting in the cockpit for each mission, experience his nightmares of getting shot out of the air, sense his questioning about the whole point of it, his anguish when losing his comrades. This I found to be so well done and added for me a real feel to the book that had me hoping upon hope that Frankie and Jim would make it, survive and be able to have their HEA in some form that this time would allow for.
Sally: The detailing of how the constant pressure wears away Frankie’s confidence was beautifully done. In those days PTSD was not acknowledged. It was called shell shock or neurasthenia and sufferers were treated shamefully by their units, considering them cowards. This just increases Frankie’s anxiety. I fail to see how any young man - he’s barely out of childhood, poor dab - could continue to function normally with constant broken nights, the stresses of combat, seeing things that nobody should ever have to see, the terror of letting his unit down, on top of the very real knowledge of the awful things that could happen to him, both in combat or if he gives in to his fears and collapses on the base. Frankie can visualise the consequences of failure so clearly that it’s as real to him as what is actually happening. That he continues to fly is a testament to his courage and to that of all those other young men who went up night after night, knowing what they would be facing. I also liked that there was no quick fix for his problems. Again, a very realistic and sensible portrayal of Frankie’s situation. This has to be one of the best WW2 books I’ve read in this genre. In fact, I’d put it up there with some of H E Bates work and there’s no higher praise than that.
Mark: All in all a superb M/M story set in WWII and portrays the love, anguish and fears of the men and women who did so many brave things without considering themselves as courageous at all. But just doing what needed to be done and at a time when finding love was even more important I guess then it ever was or has been.
Mark: Frankie joins the US Air Force as flying is everything to him. Although he has a secret and that secret could land him in hot water. Reading about Frankie’s fear of being discovered starting with the medical check up and then through his training brought all those fears back to me when I was in the RAF. Frankie has to hide his true identity from everyone as this would only lead to a whole heap of trouble. I loved the way that R.A. Thorn portrays this, the crush he has on his first best friend he makes but can’t tell anyone the way he feels. He almost gives up on the fact that he will be able to find what he craves and therefore has to live a clandestine life. However, there are also others like himself and through coded language finds the friends he needs to make his existence in the USAF more bearable. Again I found this was expertly written,all those little codes, looks and nuances. Giving away what is necessary but never stating the obvious just in case you have judged the situation wrongly. What did you think to Frankie’s situation, Sally?
Sally: I was very impressed with that whole section. I found it very interesting historically, and although there was a lot of information I never felt that it was being dumped on me. The author uses Frankie’s unfamiliarity with the situation as a way of informing the reader. We discovered everything along with him, both as he moved from place to place within the military system and as his awareness increases of himself and his place in the little gay microcosm within his unit. The thing that came through very strongly for me was the claustrophobia of having to be continually on guard, the constant monitoring of one’s own behaviour, the nervousness and uncertainty. I also loved that moment of freedom Frankie feels when he meets Ed and realises that he’s not alone. I really enjoyed Ed’s function as a mentor to open Frankie’s eyes to the options without actually pushing him toward any of them. He’s not a predator, which was refreshing, and set Frankie up nicely for the next step in his romantic story.
Mark: When Frankie meets Jim his crew chief then there is definitely no love at first sight. I loved the way that Jim was rather indifferent to Frankie as the pilot, the most important thing being the plane that he so lovingly cares for. Here R.A. Thorn sets the tone perfectly with all the usual ribbing and banter that goes on, although under all this mockery there is a deep respect and camaraderie that in Frankie’s and Jim’s case soons develops into something a lot deeper. I loved reading the dialogues between these two. I was kept holding my breath on who would make the first move and admit the attraction they had for each other. Again not an easy thing to do, but once that step was made then a love developed that was deeper than anything else.
Sally: I liked Jim a lot. I prefer stories where the characters have to get to know and appreciate each other’s good qualities before falling desperately in love and Jim really did test Frankie’s patience. I loved his confidence and competence - I could see he had really earned his position. Pilots get all the glamour but it’s men like Jim who keep them flying and his devotion to the plane really struck a chord with me. However, I found that the story hit a flat patch. I think this is just me. Up to this point I’d really enjoyed the balance between the two stories - the war time plot and Frankie’s journey as a gay man - but here the seesaw fell very heavily in Jim’s direction. For several pages all that seemed to be happening was Frankie angsting about Jim. I was just beginning to find it tedious when I recalled that Frankie was a teenager and remembered weeks when my own teens could think and talk about nothing but their current crush, and I smiled and nodded and said “Oh I see what you did there”. But I was very glad when the story picked up again.
Mark: Once Frankie and Jim admit their feelings to each other the hardest part is keeping something like this under wraps from everyone. This was excruciating to read the effort this takes, but Jim is the more experienced as it turns out and Frankie falls for Jim hard. This book is not packed with huge amounts of sex. That I also found realistic as they are in the middle of fighting a war, living together with others in barracks in close quarters, there wouldn’t have been much time for any hanky-panky believe you me, let alone when you need to find time so others would not see what was going on. However, when they are together it is all the more sweeter and poignant due to it.
Sally: I think it was the single weekend they managed to spend together - two short days in a run down hotel in London - that broke my heart the most. Snatched time that they both knew could be all they’d ever have, because on the next mission it could be all over. Not that they were safe in the hotel. By this time in 1944 London was under constant attack from V-1 doodlebugs, possibly V-2s as well if the visit was after September. Maybe you can put me right on that, Mark? I’m not quite sure of the date in the book but I got the impression that it was autumn. Oh and just a word about the sex - I loved that it wasn’t all blinding orgasms and the bestest thing ever. I actually gave a little cheer about one particular thing. No spoilers :) Realistic and well-balanced describes this book throughout.
Mark: You’re absolutely right Sally, London was well under attack from the V2s by that time. The first V2 attack on London was actually September 7th 1944. The whole historical part of this book was brilliantly researched and written. What I also liked tremendously was that Frankie is not your typical hero who is afraid of nothing. Frankie is your average guy doing very extraordinary things due to the war. You feel his fear of getting in the cockpit for each mission, experience his nightmares of getting shot out of the air, sense his questioning about the whole point of it, his anguish when losing his comrades. This I found to be so well done and added for me a real feel to the book that had me hoping upon hope that Frankie and Jim would make it, survive and be able to have their HEA in some form that this time would allow for.
Sally: The detailing of how the constant pressure wears away Frankie’s confidence was beautifully done. In those days PTSD was not acknowledged. It was called shell shock or neurasthenia and sufferers were treated shamefully by their units, considering them cowards. This just increases Frankie’s anxiety. I fail to see how any young man - he’s barely out of childhood, poor dab - could continue to function normally with constant broken nights, the stresses of combat, seeing things that nobody should ever have to see, the terror of letting his unit down, on top of the very real knowledge of the awful things that could happen to him, both in combat or if he gives in to his fears and collapses on the base. Frankie can visualise the consequences of failure so clearly that it’s as real to him as what is actually happening. That he continues to fly is a testament to his courage and to that of all those other young men who went up night after night, knowing what they would be facing. I also liked that there was no quick fix for his problems. Again, a very realistic and sensible portrayal of Frankie’s situation. This has to be one of the best WW2 books I’ve read in this genre. In fact, I’d put it up there with some of H E Bates work and there’s no higher praise than that.
Mark: All in all a superb M/M story set in WWII and portrays the love, anguish and fears of the men and women who did so many brave things without considering themselves as courageous at all. But just doing what needed to be done and at a time when finding love was even more important I guess then it ever was or has been.
April 5, 2024
This is such a soft and sweet romance, against a clearly and carefully delineated background of war and its trauma. A serious, thoughtful book.
April 7, 2015
This is a lovely m/m WW2 romance. I have to second the other reviewers -- there's not a lot of queer historical romance out there to start with, but this is one of the really good ones. The author has clearly done her research, writes about the setting with a lot of affection, and knows how to use just enough detail to make it evocative but not an infodump. This book would be worth reading for that alone.
And that doesn't even begin to touch on the characters -- our hero Frankie the P-51 pilot, and his intially-antagonistic romance with his crew chief Jim. They are excellent and well-drawn, and the relationship between them is believable and very sweet. (While homophobia is an element of the setting, the book doesn't linger in it.) The plot isn't entirely about their relationship, of course -- it's a tale of Frankie's personal journey, and that's compelling as well.
Overall, highly recommended.
And that doesn't even begin to touch on the characters -- our hero Frankie the P-51 pilot, and his intially-antagonistic romance with his crew chief Jim. They are excellent and well-drawn, and the relationship between them is believable and very sweet. (While homophobia is an element of the setting, the book doesn't linger in it.) The plot isn't entirely about their relationship, of course -- it's a tale of Frankie's personal journey, and that's compelling as well.
Overall, highly recommended.
April 9, 2015
Outstanding book. I loved the realism, the attention to details of the World War II setting, and the characters. Frankie was such a multi-faceted character and I loved watching him struggle as he goes from a teenager from rural Idaho to a man who discovers that he is not the only man who dreams about sex with another man. Frankie finds love in the least likely place, but at just the right time to help him deal with some of the roughest things he's ever had to face in his young life. World War II could be either a great time for gay folks or it could be disastrous. This is a story of one of the good outcomes and I loved it.
May 10, 2015
4-1/2 stars
You can't help but love Frankie, between his moments of naivete, his love of planes and the freedom that comes with flying, and his overall character, he's just so darn beautiful. Of course, Jim isn't exactly unlikable, he has a knack of getting under Frankie's skin long before he finds his way into his heart or bed. For those who love historical settings than this is definitely one for your list and frankly for those who just love a well written tale of discovery, than I highly recommend checking this WW2 tale by RA Thorn out.
You can't help but love Frankie, between his moments of naivete, his love of planes and the freedom that comes with flying, and his overall character, he's just so darn beautiful. Of course, Jim isn't exactly unlikable, he has a knack of getting under Frankie's skin long before he finds his way into his heart or bed. For those who love historical settings than this is definitely one for your list and frankly for those who just love a well written tale of discovery, than I highly recommend checking this WW2 tale by RA Thorn out.
April 17, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
I’m rarely so conflicted by a book as I was by Untethered. It drew me in and left me bored by equal measure. Once I finished the novel, I felt conflicted and several days of reflection have failed to resolve that feeling. Let’s start with the good stuff. I have a degree in history, so when an author makes even a casual attempt to incorporate actual history into their work, I’m always appreciative. R.A. Thorn has given more than a casual attempt (there is even a bibliography – insert squeal of joy) and the historical details are smoothly incorporated into the wider narrative. There are no big info dumps and the essence of the era is so well captured, the reader is drawn in almost without realizing it. Additionally, Frankie’s love of flying and his emotional connection to it are wonderfully portrayed. Untethered allows the reader to fully experience his joy once he finally climbs into the cockpit and the dogfight scenes have a thrilling tension to them that let me feel connected to the action.
Unfortunately the rest of Untethered failed to grab my interest. Despite feeling immersed in the historical aspects, I was often bored by the story itself. The first half of the book was slow going, with events taking place as a matter of rote rather than part of a fuller narrative. The second half picks up and has some strong moments, but the end is rushed and almost feels like an afterthought. I never really connected to either Frankie or Jim, with each of them feeling like a rough draft instead of a finished character. Aside from when he is in the air, Frankie seems emotionally distant and incapable of deeper introspection, like an unused marionette that is only occasionally brought to life. Jim is even less dimensional and when he and Frankie are together, their interactions, both in and out of the bedroom, are mechanical rather than feeling like the result of two men deeply in love. Because I never connected with the protagonists, I found myself occasionally struggling to finish the book.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
I’m rarely so conflicted by a book as I was by Untethered. It drew me in and left me bored by equal measure. Once I finished the novel, I felt conflicted and several days of reflection have failed to resolve that feeling. Let’s start with the good stuff. I have a degree in history, so when an author makes even a casual attempt to incorporate actual history into their work, I’m always appreciative. R.A. Thorn has given more than a casual attempt (there is even a bibliography – insert squeal of joy) and the historical details are smoothly incorporated into the wider narrative. There are no big info dumps and the essence of the era is so well captured, the reader is drawn in almost without realizing it. Additionally, Frankie’s love of flying and his emotional connection to it are wonderfully portrayed. Untethered allows the reader to fully experience his joy once he finally climbs into the cockpit and the dogfight scenes have a thrilling tension to them that let me feel connected to the action.
Unfortunately the rest of Untethered failed to grab my interest. Despite feeling immersed in the historical aspects, I was often bored by the story itself. The first half of the book was slow going, with events taking place as a matter of rote rather than part of a fuller narrative. The second half picks up and has some strong moments, but the end is rushed and almost feels like an afterthought. I never really connected to either Frankie or Jim, with each of them feeling like a rough draft instead of a finished character. Aside from when he is in the air, Frankie seems emotionally distant and incapable of deeper introspection, like an unused marionette that is only occasionally brought to life. Jim is even less dimensional and when he and Frankie are together, their interactions, both in and out of the bedroom, are mechanical rather than feeling like the result of two men deeply in love. Because I never connected with the protagonists, I found myself occasionally struggling to finish the book.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
May 31, 2015
After reading this book, my first thought was that the author was perhaps more focused on giving out history lessons than actually telling a story.
First, it feels like forever before we’re introduced to Frankie’s love interest. And when we finally meet Jim, we didn’t really get much from him. The romance was just lacking. There was no chemistry at all between them. It felt like Frankie’s friends Ed or Pete would’ve been better partners for him. I liked Jim but there’s just not enough of him in the story.
I would’ve been okay if the “lack of romance” in the story was sufficiently replaced by something more fulfilling like something that was heart tugging or thought-provoking or just something better! (Although I kinda felt like reliving some scenes from Band Of Brothers).
Even the subject of homosexuality in the war facing our main characters almost became too enclosed if not robotic - it was supposed to be one of the main topics but it kept on veering away to other things. There was no warmth in that part of the story – maybe when Frankie got together with Ed and the others like him – but I don’t think that one actually counted. The ending isn’t even hopeful at all. I usually loved these kinds of stories but this isn’t just one of them. Don't let me discourage you though, I think a lot of folks into historical mm romance will get a treat out of this debut!
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
First, it feels like forever before we’re introduced to Frankie’s love interest. And when we finally meet Jim, we didn’t really get much from him. The romance was just lacking. There was no chemistry at all between them. It felt like Frankie’s friends Ed or Pete would’ve been better partners for him. I liked Jim but there’s just not enough of him in the story.
I would’ve been okay if the “lack of romance” in the story was sufficiently replaced by something more fulfilling like something that was heart tugging or thought-provoking or just something better! (Although I kinda felt like reliving some scenes from Band Of Brothers).
Even the subject of homosexuality in the war facing our main characters almost became too enclosed if not robotic - it was supposed to be one of the main topics but it kept on veering away to other things. There was no warmth in that part of the story – maybe when Frankie got together with Ed and the others like him – but I don’t think that one actually counted. The ending isn’t even hopeful at all. I usually loved these kinds of stories but this isn’t just one of them. Don't let me discourage you though, I think a lot of folks into historical mm romance will get a treat out of this debut!
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
February 12, 2026
4.5 stars
Frankie signs up for the Air Force after his eighteenth birthday. He’s wanted to fly ever since he saw a airplane demonstration when he was a kid. He’s a little worried that he will be found out as queer, and discharged, but once he gets through basic with a core group of friends, he’s in the planes, which is everything he dreamed it would be. Unfortunately, he and his crew chief generally don’t get along. But as time and training goes on, they come to respect one another, and if Frankie and Jim generally don’t hang out together, they aren’t enemies, either. They are assigned to England, and Frankie starts flying missions over Germany. One day, Frankie realizes that Jim is like him, and their romance starts.
I really liked this. It felt like everything was spot on historically, and I liked the fact that it wasn’t everything that Frankie thought it would be. He loved planes, yes, and going fast, but war definitely wasn’t for him. The relationship between Frankie and Jim grew naturally and felt real and true. They really loved and cared for each other, and it was good to see. I would have liked a glimpse into their future. I mean a real glimpse, not just them discussing what their plans were. Other than that, I was completely satisfied with this book and story.
Frankie signs up for the Air Force after his eighteenth birthday. He’s wanted to fly ever since he saw a airplane demonstration when he was a kid. He’s a little worried that he will be found out as queer, and discharged, but once he gets through basic with a core group of friends, he’s in the planes, which is everything he dreamed it would be. Unfortunately, he and his crew chief generally don’t get along. But as time and training goes on, they come to respect one another, and if Frankie and Jim generally don’t hang out together, they aren’t enemies, either. They are assigned to England, and Frankie starts flying missions over Germany. One day, Frankie realizes that Jim is like him, and their romance starts.
I really liked this. It felt like everything was spot on historically, and I liked the fact that it wasn’t everything that Frankie thought it would be. He loved planes, yes, and going fast, but war definitely wasn’t for him. The relationship between Frankie and Jim grew naturally and felt real and true. They really loved and cared for each other, and it was good to see. I would have liked a glimpse into their future. I mean a real glimpse, not just them discussing what their plans were. Other than that, I was completely satisfied with this book and story.
January 5, 2024
War time is difficult, but even more so when you've got a secret to hide. Frankie joins the U.S. Air Force late in WWII and he's got a secret to hide. After training he finds himself in England where he meets his crew chief Jim. These two take a while to develop a friendship that soon becomes more as they find what time they can to be together and be part of a clandestine community. But through all of this these two need to survive to have something more.
August 25, 2021
Beautiful story set amid WW II. I loved the different characters and the way they all interacted. I remember my grandfather never talked about his time in the South Pacific and Frankie went through a lot. So many Men came home a mess from every war damaged and not knowing how to deal with it. Great ending that left me smiling.
December 15, 2025
4.3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Me gustó la forma de escribir de la autora, Jim, un personaje que me gustó como trataba a Frank, por otro lado, me hubiera gustado que tuviéramos mas de ellos en el escenario de cuando regresan de la guerra, como es la relación de ellos en ese aspecto, con los papás de Frank, el sueño de ir a la universidad, etc.
Pero en general un buen libro para pasar el rato.
Me gustó la forma de escribir de la autora, Jim, un personaje que me gustó como trataba a Frank, por otro lado, me hubiera gustado que tuviéramos mas de ellos en el escenario de cuando regresan de la guerra, como es la relación de ellos en ese aspecto, con los papás de Frank, el sueño de ir a la universidad, etc.
Pero en general un buen libro para pasar el rato.
October 20, 2020
A delightful book set during the 2nd world war about a young man coming to terms with his sexuality and the world around him. There's an assortment of interesting characters that Frankie comes across that helps with his journey.
March 13, 2025
what a nice surprise! I didn't have any expectations but I actually ended up really liking this one. the banter was exceptional and the way it described war and the traumatic events associated with it felt authentic
September 11, 2017
Totalement adoré cette histoire
September 24, 2024
I read this book and found myself incapable of putting it down.
Read
July 9, 2025i like planes
Read
January 2, 2016A lovely story that packs quite an emotional punch.
Two reasons you should read this book:
1) It is a historical romance that takes its history seriously, with details and slang beautifully interwoven into the story in just the right way. There's no "info dump" as one often sees in historical novels, just a subtle steeping of the story in choice details. As a reader, you are immediately immersed in this compelling world.
2) Its main character feels wonderfully real and complex. It's a poignant story of a young man's coming of age in the war. It's a great romance—a tale of innocence and longing—but more so, it's the tale of Frankie's development as a young soldier. The author captures the atmosphere of war—the exhilaration, the shame, the camaraderie—and depicts the trauma of war in a stark and heart-wrenching manner without being maudlin or overly wrought.
I feel like the author cut out a little slice of love and loss in the 1940s and handed it to me on a plate. I cannot recommend this novel enough.
Two reasons you should read this book:
1) It is a historical romance that takes its history seriously, with details and slang beautifully interwoven into the story in just the right way. There's no "info dump" as one often sees in historical novels, just a subtle steeping of the story in choice details. As a reader, you are immediately immersed in this compelling world.
2) Its main character feels wonderfully real and complex. It's a poignant story of a young man's coming of age in the war. It's a great romance—a tale of innocence and longing—but more so, it's the tale of Frankie's development as a young soldier. The author captures the atmosphere of war—the exhilaration, the shame, the camaraderie—and depicts the trauma of war in a stark and heart-wrenching manner without being maudlin or overly wrought.
I feel like the author cut out a little slice of love and loss in the 1940s and handed it to me on a plate. I cannot recommend this novel enough.
March 10, 2017
I don't feel the atmosphere of WWII here. Maybe because I'm too distracted with Frankie's attention to boys around him to notice any of it. I don't know, maybe it's just me.
I was hoping to see some heartwarming romance but it took place too fast, one moment the MCs hate (?!) each other and the next chapter they already feel "attracted".
Even though Frankie hadn't been in any relationship with boys before Jim, the author always let him feel something with boys around him, so it's frustrating. Like he was too obsessed for... I know it's normal thing but you don't need to repeat this attraction again and again.
Ok I admit that I gave two stars because the romance or Frankie's *naiveness* block my view for the atmosphere I need. I wanted to see men in war, but I only saw boys.
I was hoping to see some heartwarming romance but it took place too fast, one moment the MCs hate (?!) each other and the next chapter they already feel "attracted".
Even though Frankie hadn't been in any relationship with boys before Jim, the author always let him feel something with boys around him, so it's frustrating. Like he was too obsessed for... I know it's normal thing but you don't need to repeat this attraction again and again.
Ok I admit that I gave two stars because the romance or Frankie's *naiveness* block my view for the atmosphere I need. I wanted to see men in war, but I only saw boys.
June 20, 2015
This was okay...
+good historical information
+good atmosphere
...but...
-from the start I didn't connect with the characters because the scenes were often too short and just narrated with too much of a sense of detachment--and the action more told than shown to us--for me to be able to immerse myself in the times and their lives.
It was good, and so, so much could have been done with this setting--I ADORE WWI and WWII gay romances!--but it wasn't brought to fruition in this one. *very sad face*
+good historical information
+good atmosphere
...but...
-from the start I didn't connect with the characters because the scenes were often too short and just narrated with too much of a sense of detachment--and the action more told than shown to us--for me to be able to immerse myself in the times and their lives.
It was good, and so, so much could have been done with this setting--I ADORE WWI and WWII gay romances!--but it wasn't brought to fruition in this one. *very sad face*
September 3, 2018
This is a very sweet book, but Frankie is a little doe-eyed for my taste. The plot and characters are not super developed, but I really enjoyed how Jim was simultaneously confident and guileless. Despite being short, the tension was delicious.
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