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I live in Northern Virginia with my amazing husband, Joe, and our feisty chihuahua, Demitria (also known as Dee Dee, The Puppy, and Killer).
In the second grade, I announced to my parents that I wanted to be a “Paperback Writer,” just like in the Beatles song.
I'm a sucker for romance and reality TV and have been known to turn off my phone's ringer when watching "The Bachelor." My favorite flower is the daisy, my favorite food is chocolate, and my favorite song is "Amazing Grace."
Reviewed by Cheryl Schopen for Readers' Favorite
In The Funeral Singer by Linda Budzinski, Melanie Martin has always been that weird girl who sings at her parents’ funeral home. After an unplanned but amazing performance of “Amazing Grace” at a rock star’s funeral, she is suddenly thrust into the spotlight and is YouTube’s latest hit star. Not only does she have her own fans who are constantly asking for autographs, but she also has a new boyfriend, Zed, bass player for The Grime, who she has always had a thing for. Her life has become a dream come true. But, fame may be changing her more than she realizes, and how can she be falling for someone else when she has her dream guy?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book for so many reasons. First of all, I really liked the main character. Mel definitely has her flaws, which make her frustrating at times but also completely genuine. Even though I wanted to strangle her sometimes, I realized how realistic her actions, thoughts, and behavior were. I also enjoyed the plot. It wasn’t just your typical young adult romance where girl meets boy and falls in love. This book showed how complicated love can be, especially when fame and reaching for your dreams are involved. It was absolutely a unique storyline, one unlike anything I have read lately. What this story showed is that we have all these dreams and goals in life, but sometimes we end up wanting something a little different, and I think this concept is a reality that a lot of us experience. It was refreshing to read something so believable and authentic. With a perfect cast of characters, an entertaining yet touching plot, and incredible writing by the author, The Funeral Singer is a must-read. Linda Budzinski has certainly gained a new fan.
