One Less Stiff At The Funeral (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
The premise behind this series is pretty cute. Chance is some sort of magical man/being and he has a chocolate confectionery called Sweets for the Sweet and seems to be some sort of mystical matchmaker. Jason works at a funeral parlor as a bereavement counselor and is setting up a funeral service. Initially forced to work with Adele, the deceased's daughter, thinks look up when she hands him off to her nephew Fred to finish the planning. Chance has some of his special chocolate at the service and all hell breaks loose. This was an okay story but it didn't really capture me at all. Jason and Fred were just two characters, but I didn't really connect with either of them in any way. This author is new to the Petit Morts family and I have to say, he has hit a home run. (*wink wink* See the author’s interview.) It was not only a pleasure to see a story set outside of North America, but I was totally in love with the characters from the start.Jason doesn’t love his job, but he knows he’s lucky to have one even if dealing with his current difficult client is making his life miserable. However the change in contacts may be just what he needs. Both Fred and Jason are very distinct personalities, it’s not one of those books where you can’t quite remember which guy is which. I loved Fred’s easygoing personality and seeing Jason attempt to be professional in the face of Fred’s irreverent humour about his dead Grandmother was very amusing.The setting at the funeral home was very vivid for me. I’ve only been to a funeral home once in my life *knock on wood* but I could smell it and imagine what it was like based on the author’s descriptions, along with the contrasting delicious scent of the chocolate shop. The minor characters have their own full personalities and are a joy to read, even if they are annoying stuffy old spinsters. I also thought Chance was an interesting character in this one, a bit more sarcastic and flirty perhaps than in the past, but I liked it.I have to confess what probably tipped this into the A+ category from an A for me was the author’s use of humour. It wasn’t overdone or forced, but I actually was caught snorting with laughter three times (and others were stifled) while reading this in a room of total strangers during my daughter’s lessons. When an author can make me laugh out loud in public, it endears me to the story forever. Of course my sense of humour might make others wince.If I had any complaint, it is that I would love to know what went on during the funeral while Jason and Fred were busy in the cleaning cupboard. It seems like it would have been the story that funeral legends are made of. This was a wonderful humorous, sweet outing for Sean’s first addition to the series.
What do You think about One Less Stiff At The Funeral (2010)?
a really funny short story and a great addition to Petit Morts Series. Please more...
—Gamel
Is it just me or does Chance seem to get grumpier as these books go on?
—kitkat1863
My favorite of the series so far...
—kaylovesyewx3
