Middle-aged representation - THANK YOU!!

A grumpy, middle-aged man, Frank has a best friend he's secretly loved from afar. His partner in the Tanrian Marshals, Twyla, has been his next door neighbor for years, and the risk of losing her as friend when he has her in his life, and in his future isn't worth his confession. Then, she starts to date a visiting professor and he can't watch her fall for someone else when he wants it to be him.

Dragons, hilarious banter and a friends to lover story is simply perfection. The cast of characters add such fun elements to this book as we get to visit with many from The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy.

Can I please visit the Tanrian Dragon Preserve to visit the Dragon's Teeth Range?

Highly recommend this romantasy series!

Thank you, Orbit Books | Orbit

A welcome return to the world of Tanria - without the heavy reliance on another piece of media (Hart and Mercy was clearly influenced by "You've Got Mail"...and "influenced" may be too light a term). This one involves dragons, old friends, Hart and Mercy's wedding, and people in love in their FIFTIES - what a concept! More books about older love PLEASE! I can't be the only one who needs to believe that love doesn't stop at 35.

I found that the story dragged a bit for the first half, but once the plot picked it, it was full of wit and charm and love. While some say it could be a standalone, I personally think it requires al of the worldbuilding found in Hart & Mercy - you're going to feel lost in the wilds of Tanria without it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this cozy spaghetti western fantasy romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Oh, Twyla and Frank. I think I love them more than Hart and Mercy!

Best friends in their 50s, divorced and widowed, they work together, live next door to each other, and don't know what they'd do without each other. When a mission brings them face to face with a literal baby dragon, they have a mystery to solve about why there are suddenly dragons in Tanria. There's also something about their close proximity...

We love older MCs who know how to be adults and still go after the things that make them happy!!!! Megan Bannen absolutely nailed this one. If you don't mind a bit of non-fae fantasy in your romance, this is a great choice!

CW: sexual content, mentions of death

The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen was a fun and entertaining read. I enjoyed the first book in this series more but I still liked this. I think it was a quirky and unique romance read and I can kind of see the When Harry Met Sally similarities but I would say it's still a little different. I will definitely be recommending this to romance readers looking for something a little different.

This romantasy series is an absolute delight and I could read about Eternity and Tanria all day. I can't believe more people don't rave about these books, they are amazing.

Super cute and cozy little romcom and it has pinky cuddly dragons so it’s a win win. Twyla and Frank were fun and cute together and I loved seeing Ducki and his man together again( their end was a long time coming) it was also supe fun to see Hart and Mercy and see their story continue. the plot twist of the villains reasons was also fun a quirky. Overall just a fun light hearted story.

4.5 stars

I absolutely adored Hart and Mercy’s story so I was all in for another adventure in the mist. The only thing keeping this story from being a 5⭐️ read was a slow start drawing me in and a bit of repetition. Otherwise I was HOOKED and dear salt sea - FRANK?!? Like the absolute sweetest! He is the tenderness that we need with our heat.

And hallelujah that Bassareus made a teeny tiny cameo so I didn’t have to go causing a riot 😉

CW/TW: violence, kidnapping, death, bomb, divorce

Free eARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher!

The short of it: cute and cozy but I didn't enjoy it as much as the first in the series.

The longer of it: I was really excited to get approved for this book, because I thought the first book (The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy) was so sweet and enjoyable and set in such a unique universe. I love love love the worldbuilding and the setting of this series, in both books. Unfortunately, I did not find myself as invested in this story. So many times, I just wanted the main two to communicate! with! each! other! (Actually, I vaguely remember that bothering me about the first book as well so maybe there's a pattern here). There's a small mystery and some antics with dragons, but let's be real, this book is all about the love story. I see other reviewers mention that there's too much in the story about Twyla being menopausal- this didn't bother me so much. What did bother me was that she spent so much of the narrative coming to terms with being a mother and wife and having gotten married so young, and how her husband only saw her a certain way, but then we don't get a whole lot of her life or personality outside that identity. Frank, too, seems kind of underdeveloped as a character. And because they've been partners for so many years before the book starts, I think the reader misses out on a lot of their relationship and character development that the author probably had in mind when she was writing. Overall, not a bad way to spend some time, but it didn't live up to my expectations and I don't know if I'd come back for more of this series unless it was less love story-ish and more focused on the fascinating world it takes place in.

It was so fun to be back in Tanria and the Hart and Mercy world. This is book 2 in the series, but it can be enjoyed as a standalone. Characters from the previous book do appear though and there will be some spoilers (but I think everyone already knows that Hart and Mercy end up together lol)

I really loved that Twyla and Frank were older and more settled in their lives. They’ve loved, been married, faced loss and hardship, and have come out stronger on the other side. It’s a slow burn friends to idiots to lovers between these two years in the making. The dragon subplot was intriguing and interesting, but it’s Twyla’s growth and character arc that are the focus of this book. I appreciated the message that putting yourself and your needs first isn’t necessarily a bad thing/selfish.

Unfortunately, the pacing of the book was on the slower side and I felt it meandered quite a bit. This made the book feel too long. The OM/OW drama also was not my favorite. I personally don’t want to read about the MC’s dating and having sex with anyone except each other. The final conflict and overall lack of communication for two characters in their 50’s also frustrated me. Nicol Zanzarella narrated the book wonderfully though and I loved all the accents and different voices she used to bring the story to life.

Overall, this was an entertaining read with an unconventional (but perfect for these two) HEA. Sadly I didn’t love it as much as the previous book.

Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 3-3.5 stars

CW: death of spouse (past), divorce/abandoned by spouse (past), kidnapping, death and violence, attempted murder, bombs

*I voluntarily read and listened to advance review copy of this book*

Review posted to Goodreads and StoryGraph on 6/12/24. Review will posted to Amazon on release date.

Let this book be a lesson to me that Megan Bannen will have me crying every single time! It was just a joy to return back to the world we were introduced to in The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy. Twyla and Frank have been neighbors, friends, and partners for a very long time. When they encounter a mystery and potential danger in Tarnia, will it change everything?

I don’t want to spoil this book because I need everyone to enjoy this wacky, spaghetti western featuring two folks in their 50’s falling in love or we’ll finally admitting their in love with each other. I appreciated getting to see two people who have lived life that has left them with very big and real scars try to navigate growing and changing no matter how old they are. Twyla is now my sassy aunt who would definitely buy me donuts and sing off tune country songs with me after a few beers. Frank is the grumpiest big teddy bear that we should all be so lucky to have in our lives. Oh and the supporting cast just keeps making these books utter delights. I’m looking at you Duckers my sweet, sparkly baby. I can’t wait to see what Megan Bannen comes up with next. Where she leads I will follow.

What fun to be back with our old crew of marshalls in Eternity!! This book is precious - slow burn, friends to lovers, plot-heavy, and full of humor. I was on the fence about the addition of an alternate love interest (I hate love triangles), but this was less of a triangle and more of another person being a catalyst to the MC finding out what they wanted in truth.

Same crew of sillies (looking at you, Duckers!) and this one has DRAGONS! Seriously though, they were awesome. And the other best part? She saves him in this one!

If you loved the first, this likely won’t top it but is VERY worthy of reading! I had fun and can’t wait to see what Megan Bannen is up to next.

Ahhh this was SO GREAT. A delightful slow burn romance of actual grown-ups in their 50s with past marriages and adult children and all kinds of messiness. I loved learning more about the world of Tanria and the Gods, Hope's hilarious encouragement of Twyla's dating life, the banter and all the clever nicknames, and getting to see our old friends Hart and Mercy and the rest of the cast from book 1. I enjoyed seeing inside Twyla's mind and cheering her on as she slowly learned more about herself and woke up to realize what she wanted in life.

There were an awful lot of pink sparkles for story that's not at all for kids ("LANGUAGE!"), and I loved every page of it. I desperately want to be friends with these characters. Megan Bannen has a brilliant mind, and I want more.

Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

I read The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy back in 2022, so when I saw that this was being released I knew I needed to read it.

And I was not disappointed at all.

Twyla and Frank are a widow and a divorcee (respectively). They're marshalls and they're best friends. While they're out on tour, they come across a murder that brings on a big ol' mystery. In the midst of all of this, they both have to navigate their relationships with their adult children, romance, and the chaotic investigation they've found themselves in.

I love the universe that Megan Bannen has created with these novels. The mythos and the magic system are so interesting. The stories are serious, but the tone is also really lighthearted. There's a lot of discussion about spending your life always making sure everyone around you is taken care of instead of taking care of yourself, and finally realizing that you're allowed to choose what makes you happy.

Enjoy a second romantasy set in Megan Bannen's fascinating world of Tanria. This gentle, warm, low-stakes read gives a cozy, small-town feel with the occasional explosion as Twyla and Frank, long-time friends, neighbors, and partners in the Tanrian Marshals investigate potential crime and discover dragons. Not the fierce, flaming battle dragons of the past but adorable pink dragons who shoot...glitter. They also discover what everyone around them has known for years - they love each other.

I adored that the leads were middle-aged with previous marriages and bodies that weren't quite what they used to be. The friends-to-lovers storyline complete with meddling neighbors and nosy offspring caused me to lol several times.

Rating: 5 stars, Absolutely Loved It

I LOVED this one so much! Right now, this world is exactly the cozy fantasy romance that I need. There are some stakes, but overall it is just cozy and delightful.

I feel like this one really delved more into the world and gave us a better understanding of what things look like and how they function. I appreciated the greater insight into things like marriage ceremonies and the gods, both old and new. I just really loved following Twyla and Frank. They are a delightful partner duo on the Tanrian marshals that we got a glimpse of in Hart & Mercy. I loved their banter back and forth and loved seeing them team up with Duckers. I feel like Duckers personality really started to shine in this one. And just everything felt super cozy.

This is a friends to lovers romance, but there are delightful poodle dragons, a smuggling plot, and family drama. Both Frank and Twyla are older protagonists in their 50s. So that was fun because in some ways they felt like they were much more wise and were able to communicate better, but also they still were complete idiots about some things and sucked at communicating. So that was sort of funny to see, both with each other and with their families. The one thing that I was sort of frustrated with was that this book really, REALLY harped on their ages. The author really wanted you to know that Twyla was "a woman of a certain age" and that both characters' bodies had gone "soft" with their aging. There was a lot more emphasis on weight in this one that I was a little bit irritated by. Not enough to diminish my enjoyment of the book, but it was getting annoying.

The dragons are the absolute highlight of this book though. A baby dragon imprints on Frank, and I loved learning more about the dragons along with the team and the development of some of their personalities. I loved the mom-dragon friend that Twyla makes because they bonded over their 'mom-ness" as Duckers puts it!

One of my favorite parts was seeing Hart and Mercy's wedding. I did cry during this book, and that was the spot. It just filled my heart with so much joy to see that wedding! I am very curious to see if we get any more books in this world. I definitely want to know what happens with Duckers, and I wouldn't mind getting more of Rosie Fox's story either!

Overall, this was so much fun and such a fun world to be back in. I am hopeful that we will get to see more and continue to build on what has been established over the last two books! Highly recommend this series if you are looking for a cozy, speculative romance with a really fun world and endearing characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for an eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The Undermining of Twyla and Frank releases July 2, 2024.

I really wanted to enjoy this book but there isn't much of a plot and the villain's reasoning is a bit ridiculous. The dragons would be a cool addition to this world if they weren't so silly.. It is a friend's to lovers romance and I do love that. I also loved the representation of older characters. But the story just fell flat for me.

The town of Eternity is surprised when Twyla Banneker, a widowed middle-aged woman, teams up with her neighbor and best friend, Frank Ellis, to become Tanrian Marshals. Eight years later, they stumble upon a mysterious murder and a baby dragon, which leads them into a dangerous conspiracy and makes Twyla realize she might have deeper feelings for Frank.

I enjoyed The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, so I was really excited to read the second book in the series, The Undermining of Twyla and Frank. This was an action-packed and unique rom-com fantasy and it was refreshing to see both main characters in their 50s. The marketing describes it as When Harry Met Sally but with dragons, which I’m not sure I completely agree with, but it definitely follows a best friends-to-lovers trope. The world-building, revisiting old characters, and being introduced to new side characters were a few highlights. However, I wasn’t a big fan of how the romantic plot played out and the “mystery” was rather flat and uninteresting. The author’s writing style was entertaining, but it didn’t feel as impactful as her previous book. I was also expecting both main characters to have an equal amount of depth. Twyla’s character was well-thought-out and felt like it was mostly told from her perspective in the third person. Frank was a great love interest, but overall, fell a bit flat. This was a fun read, but it just wasn’t for me.

DNF at 60% So I will count it as Read!

Thanks to ORBIT and Netgallery for the ARC of The Undermining of Twyla and Frank in exchanged of an honest review. I typically never DNF books, and even more so ARCS, BUT I just can't take it anymore. I am always so grateful to receive them but it was just not the book for me. While it had a great premise, and also an interesting world, the problem are the main characters and the plot, even at 60% DID NOT MOVE. Apart from the pace, lack of chemistry and just unlikable main characters, the chapters are EXTREMELY long, something I don't typically like.

To be honest, I was so excited to read this one. I adored the idea to read about friends to lovers, and older characters. But as much as I tried I was bored, the characters were so unlikable and quite frankly it was painful to read about a women that hated herself so much. One second Twyla was "why women should be afraid to be old" and the next she was acting like growing old was just the worst thing that has happened to her. I understand sometimes feeling self conscious, but her internal monologue was just painful and contradicting at times. Frank on the other hand...yeah no personality AT ALL. NO chemistry AT ALL between them!!!!!!!!!!


This was not for me. Not one bit.

First I want to say I devoured the first book. The second book was no different. While these characters Twyla and Frank are definitely characters that are not your typical characters in age range it was refreshing and something I would like to see more of.
“The Undermining of Twyla and Frank” is a store of Twyla and Frank. Both in their Fifties they have either come about finding themselves single. Whether it be from divorce or being a widow they both are Tanrian Marshals and have grown up children. The events of this book take place after Hart and Mercy. The Marshals job has become a lot more safer…or so they thought. When one of the marshals turns up dead they now hav ea case on their hands that they need to figure out. And a huge print next to the body have them all thinking one thing…DRAGONS! But as we have been told from the previous books there’s are no way it could be dragons. They are extinct, basically a myth now! Until one hatches right in front of their faces.

This made me laugh and tear up a little. I feel that the thoughts that Twyla had in regard to her previous marriage are some that a lot of women now a days might even feel or have felt in the past. I really empathize with her character as someone who is terrified to really get into relationships anymore. I really hope that Megan Bannen continues to write in this world becuase it is a Fantasy world that I really can’t get enough of and the way she writes characters has me always 100% invested in them.

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book. It was kind of slow moving in the beginning but the paced picked up towards the middle to end of book. Twyla and Frank’s relationship was so precious and I love the banter they have with each other. I also love their
Individual character development and growth. The mystery/plot twist was alittle predictable and kind of silly for but overall I did enjoy the plot movement. The character’s were well connected and the ending was perfect and well conclusive.