A review by shelleyrae
Undertaking Love by Kat French

3.0

Undertaking Love is enjoyable contemporary fiction from debut UK author, Kat French. Marla Jacobs is the owner of a popular wedding chapel in a Shropshire countryside village. She has worked hard to build the success of her business and is horrified when she learns that a vacant neighboring store has been purchased to house a funeral home. Incensed, Marla insists that the business be relocated before it ruins her livelihood and her supporters begin to plan ways in which to chase the funeral director out of town, but Gabriel Ryan is not going anywhere, no matter how much he wants to make Marla happy.

The catalyst for the plot of Undertaking Love is the conflict between the business of a wedding chapel and a funeral parlour, for what bride wishes to be confronted by a hearse and a grieving widow on her wedding day, and vice versa. Marla is determined to force Gabriel to relocate but her friends, including her ardent admirer, journalist Rupert, allows the campaign to get out of hand. Complicating the matter is the sizzling attraction between Gabe and Marla, something that Rupert, and Gabe's scheming secretary, Melanie, is determined to dampen.

I really enjoyed the romance between Marla and Gabe even though, like most genre relationships, it is beset by misunderstandings and self sabotage. Marla, despite spruiking happy ever after, doesn't really believe in marriage given her parent's example and with the introduction of her mother it is easy to see why. Gabe deserves kudos for his persistence in the face of Marla's determined scorn.

Populated by a cast of quirky villagers which includes a camp wedding officiator, an over eager, over sized dog, Blue, and an opinionated housekeeper the story is a lot of fun yet there is some real heartache amongst the absurd events. Marla's best friend, Emily, is struggling with fertility and her marriage is crumbling under the strain and two significant characters are lost in sad circumstances.

Undertaking Love is a heartwarming and witty tale of life, death, love and marriage. A great debut from an author with promise.