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Summary
Summary
As soon as readers met Miss Julia in Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind, this Southern woman of a certain age and with an iron backbone and Steel Magnolia poise became an instant favorite. In that debut book, Miss Julia's proper existence was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a close "friend" of her deceased husband. Hazel Marie, with "heels too high, a dress too short, and hair too yellow," showed up on Miss Julia's doorstep, bringing scandal, adventure, and nine-year-old Little Lloyd into her life. Now, in Miss Julia Takes Over, she's Little Lloyd's guardian and fast friends with his mother. So she's frantic when Hazel Marie disappears after a dinner date with a church fund-raiser, who, in Miss Julia's opinion, wears his shorts too tight: "nobody can be that upright and pious without trouble going on underneath." Since the sheriff won't help her, Miss Julia takes matters into her own hands and, with Little Lloyd in tow, finds herself tracking Hazel Marie all across North Carolina. From a most ungenteel display of fisticuffs to a hair-raising car chase, Miss Julia stands strong and forges ahead. Because...if Miss Julia doesn't take care of things, who will?
Author Notes
Ann B. Ross, who has taught literature at the University of North Carolina, is the author of four novels that include "Miss Julia Speaks Out", one of the most popular Reader's Digest Condensed Books of 1999 & one of Book Sense's Top Ten Recommended Books. She lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
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Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Imagine Aunt Bee from the Andy Griffith Show with a lot more backbone and confidence, and drop her smack in the middle of a humorous, rollicking plot akin to that of the movie Smokey and the Bandit and you have the tone and pace of Ross's entertaining second novel (after Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind) starring the feisty Southern heroine. When the sheriff won't help Miss Julia find Hazel Marie, her deceased husband's former girlfriend who now lives with Miss Julia along with Hazel Marie's illegitimate son, Little Lloyd, she takes over, determined to rescue Hazel Marie from danger. Miss Julia quickly finds herself embroiled in scandals involving Brother Vernon Puckett, "a ranting and raving television and tent-revivalist," and Pastor Larry Ledbetter, a "silky smooth pulpiteer of the biggest church in town." A handsome private investigator and a famous NASCAR driver add to the exploits. Gallivanting all over North Carolina, Miss Julia "takes a hand in her own life" as she searches for Hazel Marie, running into unexpected trouble, car chases and illegal activities. At times, this teetotaling dowager full of ironic self-righteousness seems a bit contrived, and the scenes in which she helps Hazel Marie escape from the bad guys are far-fetched. Despite the simplistic spin, Miss Julia will continue to appeal to the many readers who enjoyed the first book, as well as fans of fiction by Southern writers like Bailey White, Anne George and Fannie Flagg. (July 23) Forecast: In the short term, national publicity and a 10-city author tour will help to get the word out. The film version of Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind, starring Shirley MacLaine and Dolly Parton, is in the works, which bodes well for the long term. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Library Journal Review
In Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind, proper Miss Julia got the shock of her life when tacky Hazel Marie landed on her doorstep with son Lloyd, fathered by Miss Julia's late husband. Here, Miss Julia is equally discomfited when new friend Hazel disappears and goes looking for her, little Lloyd in tow. The first book was one of Book Sense's Top Ten Recommended Books and will be made into a movie starring Shirley MacLaine and Dolly Parton. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.