Stevie‘s review of Undertaking Love by Kat French
Contemporary Romantic Comedy published by Avon 17 Feb 15
One of the great things about e-first publishing is that it gives readers more than one chance to spot new books that may be of interest. I missed this one’s initial release, but managed to catch up with it when it made the jump to print, and was generally delighted by the interactions of US-born Marla and Irish-born Gabriel as they both try to bring their seemingly opposed services to rural Shropshire.
Marla got there first and is firmly of the belief that nothing should upset the brides and grooms using her US-style wedding chapel – especially not the new funeral parlour that’s taken over the shop next door. She moved to the village precisely because the chapel was for sale, and she wants to provide perfect big days for those getting married, even though she doesn’t believe there’s a happy ever after waiting for her – both her parents have been married and divorced multiple times and that’s put her right off the idea.
Gabriel, meanwhile, comes from a big family of funeral directors and wants to set up in business for himself rather than work for or with his father and brothers. Having recently witnessed the lack of provision for dealing with deaths in Marla’s village – after the death of his best friend’s grandmother – Gabriel is convinced that his new business can only benefit the villagers. And on the surface, I have to say that he might be right: both weddings and funerals will require the services of the same local florists, caterers, and cleaners, and Marla’s services tend to appeal more to outsiders wanting quirky weddings than to people living in the village, many of whom are already married. So Marla declares war, and while her friends – and a reporter from the local paper – seem to be on her side, many of them also continue to do business with Gabriel as well.
I love that all the characters are really well developed and most have romances of their own going on – whether due to changes within a long-term relationship or through meeting someone new in the course of the story. I also love that everyone has an agenda and that even the villains of the piece have motivations that make sense.
Sensitive readers should be aware that in a story featuring a funeral director, there are going to be some major deaths, but there are also some wonderfully funny moments mostly based around the weird and wonderful ideas people have for their weddings. Not a perfect book (I did wonder how the change of planned use from a bakery to a funeral parlour was completely overlooked by the village gossip network until the signs went up for a start), but a lovely one none the less.
Grade: B
Summary:
“Try not to wheel any dead bodies across the pavement when the bride’s outside, OK?”
When Marla Jacobs discovers that the vacant shop next to her Little White Wedding Chapel is to become a funeral parlour, she declares all-out war on the new proprietor Gabriel Ryan.
With an army of loyal supporters, she embarks on a campaign to sabotage his reputation and livelihood.
But when she finally meets Gabriel, she realises just how much trouble she’s in. With his effortless charm and Celtic good looks, Gabriel begins to form alliances with her so called ‘loyal’ army and, reluctantly, she finds herself falling under his spell. And destroying him becomes the last thing on her mind…
Read an excerpt.
