Customer Reviews

Miss Julia Stands Her Ground

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I declare! I've read all seven "Miss Julia" books produced thus far, and although at times the situations are a little too outlandish or I lean toward thinking perhaps the series has run out of steam, like any durable serial, the characters draw me back again for the next installment.

I'm glad I picked up the newest offering because author Ross gets back to the basics that attracted me in the beginning, e.g., Miss Julia's relationships with Hazel Marie, Little Lloyd, Lillian, Mr. Pickens, the church folk, Sam, and others. Among its finest charms, this book features a timely balance between the narration of the present-day situation starring a more "evolved" Miss Julia and some lovely mid-book chapters reminiscing about the first Christmas Little Lloyd and his mama roomed under Miss Julia's roof and how that contributed to Miss Julia's personal evolution. Typically, Miss Julia first tipped toward one extreme about Christmas giving and then in reformed-Scrooge fashion flipped to the other extreme.

These antics of extremes are amusing but they also point to some recurring tight-rope acts a reader faces regarding the way Miss Julia herself (the sole narrater) is portrayed within this series. Her opinions, even as a more evolved character, spill out at the reader in a way that make one wonders whether one would really like to know her because she tartly tends to give with one breath and takes back with another! Her tendency toward being judgmental is very much in evidence. It is as if author Ross is either consciously or unconsciously putting a two-edged sword in Miss Julia's mouth.

For that reason, I tend to feel more empathy with those who surround Miss Julia. I love sweet-souled Little Lloyd and wish he were more an actor than one-acted-upon in the stories. More development of the Pickens/Hazel Marie relationship would be welcome too. On another a high note, how glad I am that in this book, dear Sam, that enlightened man of Miss Julia's, is not a source of plot conflict but a genuine partner with her in diffusing the book's main problem. Her growing bond with Sam is such a fine juxtaposition to Miss Julia's disfunctional previous marriage.

"Miss Julia Stands Her Ground" is a definite high-note-addition to this series.

This is such a great series and this is a great addition to it. I really like how the author showed the character growth of Miss Julia through her relationships with Sam, Hazel Marie, and Little Lloyd. Latisha is always a hoot in it, Sam is caring and obviously adores his new bride, and Miss Julia takes on that mean ole' preacher man again. Miss Julia is my hero! :)

Things are going well for Miss Julia and her husband, Sam, when their world is again turned upside-down by Brother Vernon Puckett, Hazel Marie's crooked uncle. He claims that Hazel Marie's son, Little Lloyd, is not the progeny of Miss Julia's late husband, Wesley Lloyd, as everyone has been led to believe. Since finances and living arrangements would be upset if this news is true, Miss Julia sets out to prove that it's not. Their only recourse is finding whether there is a DNA match, but that may prove to be difficult with Wesley Lloyd long since dead and buried. The other problem that Miss Julia has is deciding whether to run for the Session of her church. The women of the church have all signed a petition in favor of such a move, but Pastor Ledbetter is dead set against it. In the middle of the book is a rather long look back at the first Christmas which Miss Julia spent with Hazel Marie and Little Lloyd. Although it is an interesting and touching account, it seems that this part of the book is out of place with the rest of the story. Also Brother Vernon is becoming a little shopworn as a villain, and this plot seems too similar to other stories in the series. Hopefully, some future plots will highlight some of the other delightful characters in the book, such as Lillian's granddaughter Latisha.

Miss Julia is a wonderful series--quite refreshing from the various other novels on the market that feel they have to include violence, sex, and inappropriate behavior. Miss Julia stands on my old-fashioned values!

MISS JULIA STANDS HER GROUND by Ann B. Ross (Penguin ISBN 978-0-14-303855-9) This is number seven in the series. I haven't read any of the others. I have been in cozy moods and liked this book taking place in the south. Maybe I should call it aged "southern comfort." Miss Julia may be a remarried widow and sixtyish senior citizen, but she is not one to sit around and twiddle her thumbs. She even has a policeman who rents a room from her.

Living in a small town did not stop Miss Julia from taking in Hazel Marie, her dead husband's mistress and their child Little Lloyd. Miss Julia is teaching Hazel a lot; however, some habits are hard to break. Miss Julia is a very wealthy widow, but is tight with her money which I gather is thanks to Wesley Lloyd Springer, her dead husband. Lillian works for Miss Julia and lets her know when she is not doing what she thinks is best, and she gets away with it. Another strong influence is lawyer Sam Murdoch, who is now Miss Julia's husband.

Things have been fine until Brother Vern Puckett, Hazel Marie's crooked "preacher" uncle, arrives in town. He is out to take control of Hazel Marie's money. He is out to prove Little Lloyd was not Wesley's child and even gets one guy to step forward and claim Little Lloyd as his own. Brother Vern is not the most upstanding person in any community. If he could prove that Wesley wasn't Little Lloyd's father, Miss Julia and Hazel would stand to lose quite a bit. If Brother Vern gets away with his claim, living arrangements and finances for Miss Julia and Hazel would be screwed up. Thanks goodness for DNA but how it is gotten to prove who Little Lloyd's father really is something else.

Then a number of Miss Julia's church have signed a petition to have Miss Julia become the first woman elder of the church. Pastor Ledbetter is totally against that. How Miss Julia deals with that is another little thing added to the book.

Some other shenanigans take place, like money lending.

When the Mitford series ended, I was at a loss, but Amazon recommended the Miss Julia Series. What a delight! If you're familiar with Father Tim and Cynthia from Mitford, NC, you will soon see how the antics and situations of Miss Julia compare. Page after page you will find yourself either laughing out loud or sniffling into your Kleenex. Miss Julia Stands Her Ground is only one of many excellent books about the loveable and sometimes unpredictable Miss Julia. I have read 4 or 5 of these books and have loved every one. So if you're up for a rollicking yet heart-warming story about a 60-ish year old whipper snapper of a lady, then pick up the first book in the series, "Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind." You'll fall in love with her and then work your way up to Miss Julia Stands Her Ground.

I absolutely adore the Miss Julia books. They are without a doubt the most wonderful, hilarious and touching books I have ever read. Ann Ross is a wonderful lady. I have met her 3 times now and plan on being at her next book signing. My dog even won her contest last year. The books are such a delightful ready, I want another one just as soon as I read the last word of the current book. I am from the South as is Miss Julia and Miss Ross speaks correctly in all things southern. Of course, she is from the South, also, so she knows from whereof she speaks. Don't miss the books. Start with the beginning and read on. I got an e mail from Miss Ross the other day and she has signed on to do 3 more books! Hooray!!!

I have to say that I throughly enjoyed the latest installment in the Miss Julia Series!

When Hazel Marie's troublemaking Uncle Vernon Puckette shows up unxpectly to say that Little Lloyd isn't the progeny of Miss Julia's wandering, long-dead husband, she has to figure out a way to prove that the child she loves so dearly is in fact his offspring.

In reading the dialogue of Brother Vernon, I could just hear the smarmy southern accent rolling off his tounge! The description of the party that Miss Julia has at her house is hilarious, and while the memory of her first Christmas with Hazel Marie and Little Lloyd is a bit repetative and long, I thought it was touching. I found myself feeing sorry for her as she described what life was like with her husband, and the transformation she goes through is nothing short of a christmas miracle!

If you have enjoyed the previous books in this series and like a soothing, gentle read, then this book is for you!

The Miss Julia series of books are the most delightful books you will ever read! I loved them so much, I'm going to go back and read them again! They are FEEL GOOD books! I can't recommend highly enough! Can't wait until the next one comes out!

Just when I thought the Miss Julia tale had run out of steam, Ann B. Moss rears up and writes one that has the enthusiasm and humor of the first books in the series. Don't miss this one...I hear she has another coming!