One Under

I have come to accept the fact that J.L. Merrow uses a lot of Big Misunderstandings to keep her MCs apart. It's not my favorite trope, but at least she uses it more sparingly in One Under than in her first Porthkennack book, [b:Wake Up Call 34093960 Wake Up Call (Porthkennack, #1) J.L. Merrow https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487206286s/34093960.jpg 55111104], and it makes for a much more enjoyable M/M romance. Faithful Porthkennack readers will recognize Jory and Mal, who both made brief appearances in [b:Wake Up Call 34093960 Wake Up Call (Porthkennack, #1) J.L. Merrow https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487206286s/34093960.jpg 55111104]. Jory is a smart, sweet, giant of a man who doesn't fit in with his rich, snooty siblings. Mal is cheeky, irrepressible, loyal – and traumatized by a work-related tragedy. Both aren't sure that their stay in Porthkennack will be permanent, and although they're attracted to each other they are reluctant to admit it for numerous reasons. So there's a lot of stopping and starting, along with those dreaded Big Misunderstandings. This can get frustrating, but the upside is that the two spend a lot of time together as friends (who can't admit they want more) so you can really feel them getting to know each other as they secretly fall in love.Merrow is so very British and so very funny. Here's a description when Jory and Mal visit an older woman who helps them after a car incident: “At Helen's direction, they sat down on a surprisingly modern sofa. This was probably just as well, as what Jory at first took to be a fluffy, if slightly tatty black cushion on one of the armchairs turned out, on closer inspection, to be a cat. At any rate, that was his best guess, given that he could see it breathing.” Gotta love that dry British sense of humor!Many of the book's lighter moments come from the interplay among the characters. Tasha (foster sister to Dev from Wake Up Call) is now staying in Porthkennack, and she and Mal have a great time ragging on each other with equal parts exasperation and affection. (Also, those who have been complaining that this series lacks queer diversity, there's the possibility of a romance between Tasha and another Porthkennack local, Ceri, if Merrow or someone else wants to follow up on it). The laconic pub owner Jago, gets in a few good wisecracks himself, but the star of the show is definitely Mal (not short for Malcolm, thank you), who despite having extremely bad judgement at certain points is so charming and lively that once he and Jory finally get together, all is forgiven. I'm a big fan of Merrow when she's on her game, and One Under is one of her better recent efforts. ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for honest review.