She's in a Better Place

Fairlawn #3

by Angela Elwell Hunt

Jennifer Graham is struggling to make ends meet while running the Fairlawn Funeral Home, raising two children, and studying for her national board exam. Her work takes on a new dimension when Gerald Huffman, her assistant and mentor, reveals that he has a serious illness. When she learns that he and his daughter haven't spoken in years, Jen decides to help them reconcile . . . but things don't go exactly as she planned. Jennifer is longing for stability in her life . . . but she soon discovers that life isn't stagnant; it's always changing. Once again, the mortuary is a setting for lessons of laughter, love, and life.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Adult

337 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected in novels from this versatile author. With nearly six million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 165 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to novels.

Now that her two children are grown, Angie and her husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Turner and Hooch and Sandlot too many times). This affinity for mastiffs has not been without its rewards--one of their dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest canine in America. Their dog received this dubious honor after an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan for the dog and the Hunts, complete with VIP air travel and a stretch limo in which they toured New York City.

Afterward, the dog gave out pawtographs at the airport.

Angela admits to being fascinated by animals, medicine, psychology, unexplained phenomena, and “just about everything” except sports. Books, she says, have always shaped her life— in the fifth grade she learned how to flirt from reading Gone with the Wind.

Her books have won the coveted Christy Award, several Angel Awards from Excellence in Media, and the Gold and Silver Medallions from Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. In 2007, her novel The Note was featured as a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel. Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, and American Christian Fiction Writers bestowed the same award in 2019.

In 2006, Angela completed her Master of Biblical Studies in Theology degree and completed her second doctorate in 2015. When she’s not home reading or writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers’ conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course.

Reviews

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fitting end to the series set in a funeral home. Great characters and good writing.

[Joleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It delights me when an author can take a bizarre and seemingly somber subject as a funeral home and make it funny, touching and romantic all in the same book. Actually this whole series was like this.

Number two in the series was so incredibly thought provoking. This one was hysterical in several parts and choked me up in others. I loved it. I can’t recommend it enough.

[Kari J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, except for the Leticia storyline, which was so outlandish it was weird and not funny to me.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read.....kept me aware of how important family really is.

[Susan McCully · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series of books. This is the third and ties everything together

[Wendy Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Angela Hunt’s books. But have put off reading this series for so long! Because a mortuary ? I thought every time I looked at it. And I have to admit it may have been partly the cover art that made me think it was about a dead person. This book was so great. I laughed and laughed and cried! The author has lived up to everything I love about her books. My only regret is that it is actually a three book series and I read book three first! Maybe in 10 years I can go and read the whole three in the right order. But right now knowing the outcome of the finale I am afraid it would take some of the enjoyment out of the story in books 1and 2

[Pamela Saylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third book I've read from Mrs Hunt and I have lived all three of her Fairlawn books. Finish in just a few days because I couldn't put the books down. Her characters are well fleshed out (pardon the pun), in her story lines and you care about what happens to them. I also found it interesting to hear about what happens in a funeral home behind the scenes without being ill, done with respect and humor.

[Janet Friesner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third and last book in Angela Hunt's Fairlawn series. In the first book Jennifer inherits this funeral home in Mt. Dora, Florida and the next two books show the growth of a single mom who becomes a funeral director and all she went through. It was really well written, not morbid but good reading. I did enjoy the three book series.

[Mrs. Bridget Wiltshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, gruesome and very funny

The subject matter of this novel is fascinatingly gruesome but it’s a brilliant read. Hilarious, heart rending, and surprisingly enjoyable. Angela’s characters are life like, believable and authentic. Profound truth comes to the fore in their life journeys.

[eleisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series so much. At first, I thought I would be turned off by a funeral home and what it represents. This series has made me really appreciate what goes on behind the scenes. I loved this family and watching them grow closer together. I hope someday another book will be written that let's us see if the boys follow in their moms' footsteps.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series could have gone on and on. A fourth book would have improved this one, as it did feel like the last as characters were not so well fleshed out as previous. However, as always, Angela Hunt delivers a warm story of family with a message of faith.

[Cat Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am sad to finish the funeral home trilogy. I learned so much about being a mortician that I never thought I would want to know, but tempered with a gentle and loving viewpoint of the main character, it was a pleasure. I wish there were more books in this series.

[Lisa Waite · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of this series!

It’s bittersweet to complete this series as I’ve grown to love Jennifer and her family. It was tearful in some parts and widely humorous in others. Thank you for teaching me about a profession I knew little of but now greatly admire.

[Corinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series by Angela Hunt is so wonderful! Her treatment of relationships, why people are behaving a certain way, and how God works through ALL situations is truly uplifting!

[John Tomczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring

Great ending to the trilogy. A beautiful story that kept my attention until the end. I highly recommend the entire series

[Louise E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story.

[Annie Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected, uplifting, with some hilarious moments. An excellent light read.

[Karen Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was her best of the three in the series!

[Teresa Merriman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series! A wonderful wrap up of the series! These books had me laughing and crying and I learned about behind the scenes of a funeral home. It was really good!

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes me laugh and cry at the same time.
I love the feeling that after finishing a book I gain life lessons.

[vanessa davenport · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!

[Julie Palmer Teets · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't want the series to end! This book was a great wrap up! I will be missing these characters!

[Antonette Sanone · Rating 5 out of 5]

bought this on a book sale. such a great book this book made me cry a lot.

[isaac daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeing the title I speculated the death of someone....just predicted the wrong person. The storyline was amazing. Expect the unexpected!!

[Deedee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars... Such a great series...

[Heidi Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely end to the Fairlawn series. Provides much food for thought.

[Kristal Holtzclaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

Loved the whole series. Cried the most and laughed the most in this last book. So many great lines and great characters.

[Ellen Keyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series slaps..

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny