Doesn't She Look Natural? by Angela Hunt

Politically savvy and career driven Jennifer Graham loses everything when her husband falls into a midlife crisis and the arms of their sons' nanny.

Unemployed, rejected yet hopeful of reconciliation Jennifer moves in with her mother with her energetic sons, Clay and Bugs, both struggling with their father's choices. An unexpected inheritance finds Jennifer the not so proud owner of a dilapidated funeral home in Florida, Fairlawn, which comes complete with a live in embalmer, Gerald.

Horrified by the thought of living in a home with dead people, Jennifer aims to quickly restore the building, sell up and move back to her beloved Virginia and reunite with her husband when he comes to his senses!

Angela Elwell Hunt continues to surprise with a unique storyline and characters you want to reach out to. Jennifer's heartache and desperation to be independent all the while pinning her hopes on her wayward husband is so real. While the bulk of the story is written in her voice, scattered chapters highlight the thoughts of her frustrated mother and a bemused Gerald, adding a wonderful dimension to the novel. Jennifer's journey is poignant and challenging but Angela's greatest triumph in this book is her ability to open the reader's eyes to the importance of celebrating life even in death and the dignity and compassion that is essential and so meaningful in what is a misunderstood and often thankless job. Angela writes with humour, tenderness and creates such emotional tension that I had to remind myself to take a breath!

I can't wait to see where Angela takes her Fairlawn series series - Doesn't She Look Natural? is highly recommended!