The Undertaking Of Hart And Mercy by Megan Bannen

 

Two lonely people unfortunately can't stand each other.  Mercy is the person holding up Birdsall & Son Undertakers as her father ages out.  She thought it would be temporary but soon realizes that she loves the work.  Hart is a marshal assigned to the bordering land of Tanria where he kills monsters.  He has to go to Birdsall & Son periodically when he kills a person who was taken over by a monster to insure the person finally gets a decent burial.  He and Mercy hit it off wrong from the start and now they can't stand each other.

Or can they?  Lonely beyond belief, Hart writes an anonymous letter to 'A Friend'.  He is shocked to find that he gets a reply and a friendship starts.  When his friend suggests they meet in person, he is shocked to see Mercy sitting at the table in the restaurant they picked.  Could he like Mercy?  Even worse, could he love her?

This is a charming novel that introduced me to a new author I'll definitely be reading more of in the future.  Megan Bannen was a librarian before she starting writing in the fantasy genre.  I listened to this book and both the narrators did an excellent job.  The romance is slow starting but really heats up and I fell in love with all the Birdsall family along with Mercy and Hart.  There is intrigue and double-dealing and a satisfactory ending.  This book is recommended for fantasy readers.