The undercutting of Rosie and Adam

The portals in Tanria that act as a doorway into the Mist are malfunctioning. Rosie Fox, an immortal demigod, attempts to assist and ends up dying from electrocution. Again. Due to the damage Rosie inflicted on the portal, the portal creator himself, Dr. Adam Lee, has been called in to help repair it. On discovering that all the portals are at risk of malfunctioning, Rosie and Adam become trapped while investigating why the portals and the rest of the Mist are becoming ensnared with a thorny twining plant. Bannen works her magic and develops her main characters as seamlessly as she has in her previous Hart and Mercy novels (The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, 2022). Adam and Rosie might seem like opposites, but the bond they form is unbreakable. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the romantic scenes carry just enough spice. Readers learn about their past, their present, and can envision their promising future. The third and possibly best visit to Tanria is enchanting, heartwarming, full of adventure, and includes Bannen's signature charm.

Rosie Fox has been alive for over a century as an immortal demigod. She has spent the last several decades in the Tanria Marshal Service, where she has died more times than any of her partners have thought were necessary. When her most recent death fries the West Station's portal leading into Tanria, she is assigned the duty of watching over their eccentric inventor, Adam Lee. Rosie is certain there is more to the impeccably dressed and attractive Adam than he is willing to let on. When all the portals begin to jam, Rosie, her partner Duckers, and Adam become trapped inside the Mist while investigating. With a god as a father whom she doesn't want anyone to know about and the growing tangle between her and Adam, she begins to wonder if his mysteries will solve more than their current problem. VERDICT In the third heartfelt entry of the delightful "Hart and Mercy" series (following The Undermining of Twyla and Frank), Bannen brings readers back to Eternity a decade after the events in the last installment to dive deeper into the mythology surrounding the old and new gods. Hand this romance/fantasy to readers who enjoy unconventional main characters, opposites-attract romances, and novels that explore complicated family relationships.--Morgan Lockard