Synopses & Reviews
Fan favorite Etta Mae Wiggins takes center stage in the latest novel in the New York Times bestselling Miss Julia series Bestselling author Ann B. Ross is back with another lively adventure set in Miss Julias Abbotsville. For the first time, though, she writes from the perspective of another resident: the hardscrabble, heart-of-gold Etta Mae Wiggins. Etta Mae is frustrated with her trailer-park life and her no-good family, and she has big dreams for something better. Working as the home nurse for the elderly but wealthy Howard Connard, Senior, she finally sees her chancewith her sexy curves and infectious charm, Etta Mae is determined to become his wife. Unfortunately, Connards scheming, money-hungry son and stuck-up daughter-in-law are equally determined to make sure she doesnt. To make matters worse, Etta Mes exhusband Skip (her first ex, that is) has shown up with a winning lottery ticket in his hand and local thugs hot on his heels. Plus, her dreamy former flame, officer Bobby Lee, keeps popping up to remind her that shes not over him yet. In the middle of all this mayhem, Etta Mae has to get that marriage licensebefore its too late!
A hilarious wild goose chase that takes us from the mansions of Abbotsville to the trailer park that Etta Mae calls home, this book is filled with familiar faces (including Miss Julia, who narrates the first chapter), features Ann Rosss signature wit and southern charm, and will appeal to fans of the beloved series and newcomers alike.
Review
Praise for Etta Mae's Worst Bad-Luck Day:
“Ross, author of the well-received Miss Julia series, steps away from her main character to tell a story from the perspective of one of the towns most colorful residents. Filled with familiar faces and southern charm, Ross [novel] . . . is the satisfying story of one woman who refuses to give up her dreams.” —Booklist
“Fans of Ann B. Ross will love this book! Etta Mae Wiggins is the funniest character to come down the pike since Miss Julia showed up to speak her mind. I laughed all the way through it. Hooray for Etta Mae!”
— Fannie Flagg, author of The All-Girl Filling Stations Last Reunion
"Ann B. Ross has given us an irresistible heroine. Spirited, sassy, and thoroughly charming, Etta Mae Wiggins manages to turn a day of misfortune and mishaps into an endlessly entertaining adventure, with the perfect dose of wit and romance. Etta Mae sashayed off the page and straight into my heart—I adored her and rooted for her from the start."
— Erika Marks, author of It Comes in Waves
"Smart and sweet, bold and brash, and, above all, determined to better herself, Etta Mae Wiggins will win your heart. Ann B. Ross's wit and ear for dialogue are at their best in this delightful romp from a low-rent trailer park to the upper crust of Abbot County, North Carolina."
—Vicki Lane, author of the Elizabeth Goodweather Appalachian Mysteries
“Any book by the beloved creator of the Miss Julia series is a cause to celebrate. Etta Mae is one of the South's pluckiest, most endearing characters, and readers will love her fun, fast-paced adventures.”
— Michael Lee West, author of A Teeny Bit of Trouble
“The curvaceous spitfire Etta Mae Wiggins will swing through the streets of Abbotsville and straight into your heart. What a most excellent bad-luck-day ride!”
— Charlene Baumbich, author of the Dearest Dorothy novels
“Ann B. Ross's Miss Julia books are always a delight, and Etta Mae's Worst Bad-Luck Day is no exception.”
—J.A. Jance, author of Moving Target
“Once again the author has blended her Southern wit and charm with a fast paced story that will have you laughing and crying. . . . This is a priceless close-up look at the lovable Etta Mae. This book can be read on its own, but dont be surprised to find yourself curious about Miss Julia and other adventures Etta Mae has assisted her with. Etta Maes Worst Bad-Luck Day is an entertaining, hilarious and lively adventure you dont want to miss.” —Thoughts In Progress
[A] wonderful blend of snort-out-loud funny, heartstring-tugging and social commentary.” — Hendersonville Times-News
“Miss Julia exhibits all the primness and properness of a well-bred southern lady of means, with a whole lot of spice, initiative and sense of adventure thrown in, appealing to women of all ages and to lovers of humorous southern fiction. . . . Etta Mae's Worst Bad-Luck Day stars another character from the series, Etta Mae Wiggins, the home-care nurse and sometime manager of the Hillandale Trailer Park . . . Fans of the Miss Julia series will have plenty of the usual comedy.” — Wilmington Star-News
“Etta Maes Worst Bad-Luck Day is a very special, one-time-only publishing event for Ann B. Ross and her legions of fans as they await the next Miss Julia novel.” —Socrates Book Reviews
Praise for Miss Julia Stirs Up Trouble:
“A delightful read that will have you smiling from the opening page to the last paragraph.”
—Thoughts in Progress Blog
“Miss Julia of course, steps right in to solve Hazel Marie's problem. Her solution is to teach Hazel Marie to cook. Her help results in a collection of cooking lessons and recipes that are right out of the Southern Cooking hall of fame. However, as in any Miss Julia story, the fun doesn't stop (or start) there.”
—Tutus Two Cents Blog
“The 14th installment of the Miss Julia series offers . . . some meddling, a light mystery, and a reliable set of down-home Southerners.”
—Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Miss Julia to the Rescue:
“This latest in the Miss Julia series has punch. . . . Theres plenty here to satisfy fans.”
—Booklist
“Delightful . . . Those who like smiles with their crimes will be satisfied by the latest in the popular Miss Julia series.”
—Publishers Weekly
Praise for Miss Julia Rocks the Cradle:
“Steel magnolias kick butt.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Charming [and] engrossing.”
—BookPage
Praise for Miss Julia Renews Her Vows:
“Ann B. Ross develops characters so expertly, through quirks, names, and mannerisms, that they easily feel familiar as the reader is gently immersed into the world Miss Ross has created in the Miss Julia stories. . . . A delightful read.”
—Winston-Salem Journal
“Fast-paced, hilarious, and thoroughly fun.”
—Salisbury Post
Praise for Miss Julia Delivers the Goods:
“Its still early yet for beach reading, but a near-perfect candidate has already arrived: The real appeal of Miss Julia Delivers the Goods lies in the comedy of manners. Short of a return to Mayberry, Rosss version of small-town Tar Heels is hard to beat.”
—Wilmington Star News
“A light-hearted page-turner to slip into the beach bag or to carry with us to a lawn chair in the garden when the sun is buzzing away high in the sky. . . . Just grab this and devour it.”
—Charleston City Paper
Praise for Miss Julia Paints the Town:
“A fun confection where Miss Julia, in letting go of some of her own hidebound ideas and social prejudices, learns that her worst enemy may well be the guy she helped elect . . . and her best ally may be one shes always thought beneath her contempt. Yes, Miss Julia is back, and I, for one, am one happy camper.”
—J. A. Jance
“Miss Julias feisty attitude has won the hearts of so many fans.”
—BookPage
Praise for Miss Julia Strikes Back:
“Fans will enjoy the change of pace and appreciate all the familiar elements that have made the series so popular.”
—Booklist
Praise for Miss Julia Stands Her Ground:
“Funny, feisty, frothy.”
—Lexington Herald-Leader
“Fans will not want to miss Miss Julias latest round of dramas.”
—The State (Columbia, South Carolina)
Praise for Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind:
“I absolutely loved this book! What a joy to read! Miss Julia is one of the most delightful characters to come along in years. Ann B. ross has created what is sure to become a classic Southern comic nove. Horray for Miss Julia, I could not have liked it more.”
—Fannie Flagg
Synopsis
- Miss Julia Hits the Road appeared on The New York Times extended bestseller list, was a Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club selection, and will be published simultaneously by Penguin- Visit www.missjulia.com
Synopsis
Sharp as a tack and proper as afternoon tea, Miss Julia has won a devoted and ever-growing legion of fans. But are Miss Julia's single days numbered? In "Miss Julia Meets Her Match," her longtime beau, Sam Murdoch, wants to tie the knot. But Miss Julia isn't about to give up her independence so easily.
Synopsis
With devoted fans across the country, Miss Julia—that endearingly sharp-tongued southern belle of a certain age—has no shortage of admirers. But in Miss Julia Meets Her Match, our feisty heroine must come to terms with her most ardent admirer of all: longtime beau Sam Murdoch, who wants to tie the knot. While it’s hard to resist Sam’s charm, Miss Julia isn’t about to give up her independence so easily. After all, there are plenty of other matters that require her attention, including a Holy Land theme park to be built on her property, a possible affair between the mayor and the preacher’s secretary, and the arrival of her housekeeper Lillian’s five-year-old pistol of a great-granddaughter. In the midst of all the commotion, can her cool-as-a-cucumber head help her heart make the decision of a lifetime?
On the web: http://www.missjulia.com
Synopsis
Bestselling author Ann B. Ross cooks up a batch of fun in this latest novel in her popular series With a crisp bite in the air, Miss Julia is enjoying a well-earned respite by her new fireplace. But autumn leaves aren’t the only things falling: James, Hazel Marie’s housekeeper, has had a nasty tumble down some stairs. How can Hazel Marie feed and take care of him—not to mention a husband and two babies—when she barely knows how to boil water?
Miss Julia jumps in to help by convincing the ladies of Abbotsville to put on their aprons and give cooking lessons. With success so close she can taste it, Miss Julia isn’t thrilled when an unexpected visitor shows up. Brother Vern Puckett, Hazel Marie’s no-good uncle, started life on the wrong foot and stayed there. What could he possibly want from his frazzled niece this time?
With a delightful helping of madcap antics, Miss Julia Stirs Up Trouble is a perfect next course in this charming series.
Synopsis
Miss Julia masterminds a makeover in New York Times bestselling author Ann B. Rosss latest installment in her popular series Its summer in Abbotsville, and Miss Julia has visions of enjoying a life of leisure. But before she can even sip some iced tea on her front porch, a letter from her long-lost cousin Elsie informs her that Elsies granddaughter is on a bus headed to Abbotsville that very day. Reminding Miss Julia of an old family debt, Elsie proclaims that she is sending Trixie to Miss Julias to learn to become a lady. The nerve of some people! When the rude and unkempt Trixie arrives, even Sam and Lloyd agree that Miss Julia faces quite a challenge.
Meanwhile, Sam has decided to run for state senate. But when he has a fainting spell and has to go into the hospital for tests, who will run his campaign? Is his no-good rival going to cakewalk into office? No sir, not if Miss Julia has anything to say about itand indeed she does, including up on the stump.
In this marvelous addition to the popular series, Miss Julia is sure to have a summer that sheand Abbotsvillewill never forget!
About the Author
Ann B. Ross is the bestselling author of fifteen novels featuring the popular southern heroine Miss Julia, including, most recently, Miss Julias Marvelous Makeover. She holds a PhD in English from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and has taught literature at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. She lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina.