I adored the first book in this series & was so excited to find out there would be a second.. it did not let me down!

Think When Harry Met Sally but with dragons & fantasy aspects. I adored both MCs and their relationship. This is for all of those readers looking for characters that are over 30 years old.

It was very enjoyable and also has a few open door spicy scenes as well!

Highly recommend!

I really liked the first book, and liked that this one followed older characters. But this book was just kind of dull, and not really engaging. I liked the dragons, but the characters annoyed me.

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank was everything I've come to expect from Megan Bannen: witty, adventurous, sweet, and just so much fun. Loved being back in the world that was set up in The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, and getting to explore new parts as well. I also loved that our main characters were in their 50's - 1 feel like it's rare to see romances featuring older couples getting their love stories but love can be found at any age and it was so lovely to see that featured here. While i would still consider this cozy, there is also a bit of adventures and some stakes.
Also did I mention the glitter-breathing dragons?

Twyla and Frank are both 53 years old. They are solidly middle aged protagonists who look and act like people in their mid 50s. As a mid 50’s person myself, I loved this. Love, love, loved it! There were also other things I loved, but I really need you to know that a 53 year old woman is wooed by two men, befriends dragons and saves the day.

Life for the Tanrian Marshals has quieted down since Hart Ralston solved the drudge problem in The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. Budget cuts are looming and the Marshal leadership is trying to make a case for keeping the program around. Twyla and Frank, best friends, neighbors, and partners, are sticking around for a few more years until they can retire and open a seaside bed and breakfast together. Frank could retire now, but Twyla has two more years before she can retire with a pension. Things get a lot more exciting when an attempted dragon egg theft leads to a baby dragon attaching itself to Frank. First of all, dragons are real?!?! Secondly, dragon daddy Frank is adorable. Thirdly, the discovery of dragons adds enough stresses to Twyla and Frank’s friendship/partnership that they are jolted out of their comfort zone.

In Hart and Mercy, we spent time in Hart and Mercy’s heads. In Twyla and Frank, we only get Twyla’s point of view. Initially, I was a little disappointed, but it works for what Bannen is doing in this book. Twyla has some fixed ideas about herself and her life that she’s going to need to get past before she can get a happily ever after with Frank. It is very clear that she is the only thing standing in her own way. Within a few pages we know with certainty that Frank is in love with her. Everyone knows that Frank is in love with her and that she loves Frank. But it takes a baby dragon, a hoity-toity academic in short shorts and an ascot, a few near death experiences, and an open door spice scene with toys for Twyla to let go of the resentments from her marriage and her fear of change.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Orbit Books and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

For years, it's been Twyla and Frank, Frank and Twyla - neighbors, work partners, and most importantly, best friends. Just a couple years away from retirement, the two plan on buying and operating a ranch together in their golden years. Platonically, of course. But things shake up at their jobs as Tanrian Marshals when they accidentally make a miraculous discovery: dragons, the first anyone has seen in millennia. Except they're adorable, pink, spit glitter, and certainly not what anyone expected.

Now, Frank might have accidentally become a dragon daddy, a hot draconology professor is making moves on Twyla, and things are weird between Frank and Twyla. As they navigate a rapidly changing situation, Twyla is forced to reevaluate her feelings towards Frank and how they fit in with the independence she's suffered for years to gain.

This book had all the things about a great friends-to-lovers romance that I eat up - the pining! The angst! The tension! Frank and Twyla really and truly felt like best friends, and their transition to something more felt so natural. I was dying for Frank's POV, especially since Hart and Mercy was dual perspective, but I can also see why Bannen limited the scope to just Twyla. The heart of this story is ultimately the journey of a woman in her fifties reclaiming love and independence after decades of putting herself last, and jumping back and forth would have weakened that.

(Though maybe Megan Bannen could bless us with a bonus chapter at some point???)

I don't know if much can top The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy for me, but The Undermining of Twyla and Frank was a fantastic follow-up. I adored these two idiots and the delightfully weird Tanrian antics they found themselves in the middle of. Dragons are not the strangest subject for a fantasy novel, but Megan Bannen made them her own in all their pink and glittery glory. What a ride!

Also shout out to Duckers, the funniest character I've read about in a while. He was a delight in Hart and Mercy, but he truly blossomed in this one. If there's another sequel, I need it to be about him.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC!

I was sooo excited for this. And after two of my other highly anticipated reads really clunked I’m so happy to say this did not.

LOVED.

Can we please have more love stories with people in their 50s? Especially if they are written like this!

Twyla and Frank have been friends for years and Tanrian Marshal partners. Things have really slowed down for the Marshals after book 1 until they find a fellow Marshal dead on his patrol. The mystery includes DRAGONS who spit glitter, baby dragons imprinting, bombs and an adorable hedgehog mail god that pops in at the worst times.

The silliness and tenderness of this series really has me. I love being in this world and adding the sweet romances, makes for a very rereadable book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an eARC.

This comes out July 2

Firstly, this is not a bad book. In fact, I think most people would say it is a good book. Unfortunately, it was not a good to me book.

Twyla and Frank have known each other for years. They’ve both been working together as marshals for the last several years, and one night on patrol they discover another marshal’s body covered in a mysterious substance with even more mysterious bird-like footprints near it. Dragons haven’t been seen in Tanria for over a century, so surely this has nothing to do with them, right?

I’m not sure what I went into this expecting, but whatever I was expecting this is not it. Not to say that this isn’t perfectly enjoyable as a sequel/companion to An Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. It just isn’t what I expected or wanted.

There was a lot more world focus in this book than in the last. I really just wanted a cute fun Molly gruesome romance, and this definitely delivers at some points, but it just didn’t do enough for me. I liked getting to see characters from book one appear in this book, but honestly, seeing those characters made me wish I was reading that book instead of this one.

This is one hundred percent a me problem and it is probably made worse by the fact that I am a mood reader and this just did not satisfy what I was craving. I genuinely believe other people will enjoy it. Especially if you enjoyed the more unique fantasy aspects of book one.

2/5 stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. While it is immensely appreciated, it does not impact the content of my review.

This is such a beautiful story - I love that our main characters and love interests are in their 50s. It's very rare to see a fantasy romance story with older characters. This allows us to connect with what these characters have gone through in their lives and the friendships they've built.

I will say that Twyla's family enraged me in the beginning because they saw her as a chair and nothing of value outside of a helper.

I loved how some of my favorite characters from The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy especially Duckers - he was a highlight of book 1 and we got to see him even more.

The dragons were also a fantastic addition and the twist at the end made me gasp out loud.

Megan Bannen does not miss - this book was fantastic!

3.5 ⭐️

I may not have been the exact target age demographic for this book but I fell so hard for Twyla & Frank 🥹 best friends to lovers after DECADES is actually insane (couldn’t be me) but timing is everything, even in fiction. The couple were both “middle-aged” (early 50s), divorced/widowed, and parents to adult children. I resonated so much with Twyla being a hot-mess-momma (minus the menopause) 😂 i loved the Hart & Mercy crumbs, DUCKERS!!!, and even tweed-lovin Vanderlinden. The world Megan Bannen created was so much fun to come back to.

Thank you so much to netgalley and Orbit for an eARC!

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen 💜
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, Book 2
Interconnected Standalone

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Adult • Romance
ARC Review
416 pages
🗓️ July 2nd

💜 paranormal romance
🐉 friends to lovers
💜 second chance at love
🐉 older MCs (50s)
💜 love triangle
🐉 workplace romance
💜 dragons!!!

📌“I’ve spent most of my life being useful, and when a person has been useful for as long as I have, they come to believe that useful is all they are.”

It’s the cameos for me 😜

Joking aside, this was just a heartfelt story. Twyla and Frank were so perfect together, both as friends and more. And I loved how they leaned into each other when life got absolutely devastating.

And this world?! Oof. It just keeps getting more and more fun 🤩 the background story was so good and who doesn’t like a good dragon? 😜

Like with Mercy and Hart (love them to pieces!), all the supporting characters made this book that extra special, that extra fun, that extra exciting.

I loved the first book by Megan Bannen so I was thrilled when I got approval to read the second in the series. This time we focus on Frank and Twyla who were side characters in the first book. Though you’ll appreciate the interconnectedness if you read the first book, it’s not totally necessary (though the worldbuilding makes a lot more sense having read it)

Anyway! What a fun and quirky second chance romance! Also…there ARE dragons in this world and the duo finds themselves caring for one. Can’t wait to see what’s next

Twyla and Frank...You were kind of a slow starter for me. For chapters you weren't a couple...you even dated other people. But when it all came together it was sweet and a little swoony. Over the top? Yes. But great entertainment while taking a long road trip. Thanks for the fun ride.

I loved this author's first book and was so happy to be back in the world again. I was immediately excited this was a romance with two characters that were older in life and I loved it was a sloowwww burn friends to lovers. However I was bored in this book and I cant't believe I'm saying that because their was a cute dragon. I would reread in the future and would love for this series to continue.

Thank you, Orbit Books and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of The Undermining of Twyla and Frank.

If you loved Hart and Mercy's story, I'm sure you will fall for Twyla and Frank, too. That being said, this novel can stand alone, but do yourself a favor and cozy up with The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy also! This friends/co-workers to lovers romantasy is just wonderful! The main and side characters took my heart. The dragons added to the magic of Tanria. The nimkilim, life-sized animals who used to be messengers to the Gods but are now postal workers, went up a notch in their role in the series. My heart will always be with Bassareus! If you're looking for a fun, light fantasy, this series will not disappoint!!

Frank and Twyla have been partners with the Tanrian Marshals for eight years and friends for longer. Twyla was there when Frank got divorced, and Frank was there when Twyla's husband passed away. Since the drudges (zombie-like beings) have been disposed of, things in Tanria are pretty quiet until the night they discover the body of one of their marshals covered in.... glitter. Oh, and the egg that hatches a dragon which imprints on Frank. As the situation grows more dangerous, Frank and Twyla find that they may rely on the other one a little more than in a friendly way.

I was so surprised by Hart and Mercy last year. I was so excited to read more from this author.
This book was a little harder for me to get into. Maybe I wasn't in the right place to read it or maybe I was expecting something else. BBoth of those things are on me, not the author.
However, once I got to the big mystery of the book, I was hooked. I love a good friends to lovers and those are hard to come by. I loved Twyla and how she had blossomed after the loss of her spouse. I appreciated all of her internal dialogue about what can happen to a woman in a marriage. Frank is such a solid and steadfast friend. He's always there for Twyla and he does not expect her to fill any of the old school female roles in his life.
I loved the Dragons. I loved seeing growth with Duckers and watching him find what he needs.
I look forward to whatever this author writes next.

Thank you to Megan Bannen, Orbit, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of The Undermining of Twyla and Frank in exchange for my honest review.

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank follows Tanrian Marshalls Twyla and Frank, who have been partnered for over eight years. The two are the best of friends, and honestly, the entire town thinks they are together romantically (not that they realize that). When patrolling Tanria, which has gotten mighty boring since the events of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, they come across a dead Marshall. Through their investigation, they discover that dragons are not extinct. However, they learn that the hard way when one of those dragons imprints on Frank. Trying to make sense of their new reality, while also trying to stay alive, the two begin to slowly realize that there might be more to their friendship than they realized.

This book was SO CUTE. There is something so wholesome about friends-to-lovers. The development between them feels natural and does not contain this insta-love feeling to it. Their love story takes place while trying to solve a case and a mystery, giving the romance a more realistic feel. The story itself is not centered around them falling in love, but rather it occurs as they are trying to determine what is going on and figure out how they are going to approach the not-so-extinct dragon situation. Bannen does an outstanding job balancing what is arguably a slow-burn romance story with a fantasy plotline that runs alongside the romance. I highly recommend this book to all fantasy romance lovers. While you do not have to read The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy to understand what is happening in the story, it will greatly increase your enjoyment. However, if you were not a fan of the first book, I suggest trying out The Undermining of Twyla and Frank, as it is a companion novel that stands on its own. Give it a shot!

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for this ARC!

This was so incredible and unique - it was maybe a bit slow at first, but I ended up loving Twyla, Frank, and MARY GEORGINA so much.

This world is heartwarming and I can’t wait for another.

5/5. I loved this book so immensely, it already has made it to my top books of 2024 list, just the same way Hart and Mercy held that rank in 2022. I think I may have loved this one even more?

Twyla was so relatable and I loved seeing her story. We need more mid-fifties kickass heroines and all their complicated family dynamics and love lives. Mary Georgina had me crying from cuteness. Hermia had me gagging. This book is just too cute for words and I will absolutely be recommending it to everyone and it’s already made it on gifting lists for all of my favorite people.

Absolutely want more from this author and this fabulous universe she’s created. A++.

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank was an enjoyable read. Twyla Banneker is a 50-something widow with adult children. She’s a Tanrian Marshal and Frank Ellis is her partner, best friend, and next-door neighbor. Though both Twyla and Frank are featured in the title, this book is really centered on Twyla. I think that there are a lot of women out there who will identify with Twyla, a mom (and now grandmother) who puts everyone else first and never gets her needs met as a result. She’s so used to this way of being that she doesn’t even really know what she wants anymore. I enjoyed reading Twyla’s journey of self-discovery and self-love, and I think it will resonate with a lot of people.

I particularly enjoyed how Twyla was allowed to be middled aged (even if it played into stereotypes a bit…Twyla sure does make a lot of casseroles and her leaky bladder is noted more than once) while also having a badass, dangerous job as a Tanrian Marshal. Twyla repeatedly runs toward danger, not away, and even though it is noted she is not especially fit she doesn’t come across as a bumbling, female Barney Fife. Running toward danger is consistent with her character – she’s always putting other people’s needs ahead of hers – so the choice to make Twyla a marshal feels right but also fresh. A woman in law enforcement who isn’t a stone-cold bitch or Lara Croft-level fit, imagine that. It was super refreshing to read Twyla doing her badass job alongside grappling with things like body image and aging.

It took a while for the book to hook me, though, to the point where I considered DNFing it. Twyla comes across as very old-fashioned and I struggled to connect with her because of it. She’s constantly reprimanding her adult children for swearing, uncomfortable talking about sex, thinks of herself as frumpy, etc., etc. Nothing wrong with any of that, of course, but they’re not the hallmarks of characters I immediately gravitate toward. My biggest issue, though, was with some of Twyla’s thoughts about women and womanhood that I found to be alienating. For example, to comfort Frank when his wife left him “she did what any self-respecting woman would do: she set about assembling a tuna casserole.” And she thinks it’s “only natural” that her son’s children visit their maternal grandparents more than her.

I got invested in the story once we started to see some romantic tension between Twyla and Frank on page, but that’s not until about the 30% mark. I’m a romance reader primarily, and the amount and pacing of the romance aspect of this “romantasy” book was off for me personally. I needed more Frank and more moments of genuine connection between Frank and Twyla. This book is very different from The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy in this regard. To me, Hart and Mercy felt like a genre romance set in a fantasy world, whereas in Twyla and Frank the romance feels more like a subplot. Again, nothing wrong with romance taking a back seat to the rest of Twyla’s journey, but it’s just not what I was expecting so it took some time for me to recalibrate.

I definitely had a few stomach swoops as I read, especially when Twyla and Frank first kiss, and I really enjoyed their best friend dynamic. Where things started to fall apart for me a bit, though, is how once they got together Frank sort of turned into a pleasure-bot. We can all appreciate a person who wants to satisfy their sexual partner, but in this case it feels like a very one-sided encounter which, to me, is not very sexy. And, you know, I really liked Frank and I felt like he got shortchanged by being reduced to someone who was only there to serve. I think the author might have been trying to show how Frank was putting Twyla’s needs first (as opposed to literally everyone else in her life) but it just didn’t land that way for me. It landed more as Frank is a man and men don’t need anything more than a willing partner. I mean, it landed this way because Twyla says as much. (“Would he welcome her touch? Would he take pleasure in it? Yes, she thought that he would. Of course he would. He was a man, after all, and in her limited experience, it took next to nothing to rev up a man’s motor.”)

All in all, despite my qualms with the romance aspect I enjoyed this book. I read it in just a few days and found myself pulled to read when I could be doing other things. This may not have been as big of a hit for me as Hart and Mercy, but there is a lot to like here and I’ll definitely keep reading what Megan Bannen writes.

As with the first book in this series, it’s a little bonkers and a little weird, but very much fun.

The world building the author did for this series may take a moment to have the reader acclimate to, but once you’re deep into the story it’s just fantastic.

I really did enjoy that the characters are older, in their 50s, and have already been married (to other people). This is a friends to lovers, and definitely had a slow burn feel to it.

I loved being able to see the characters I fell in love with in The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. I do wish we would have gotten Frank’s POV or had the book from 3rd person. I just wanted to know him!