Miss Julia Takes Over [Hardcover]

Ann B. Ross (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 19, 2001

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?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

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.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult; First Edition edition (July 19, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670910260
• ISBN-13: 978-0670910267
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,026,225 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ann is the mother of two daughters and one son, and the grandmother of four grandsons (including twin boys) and two granddaughters, both of whom are her namesakes. When her children were in college, she decided to complete her own education, enrolling in the University of North Carolina at Asheville where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Literature. Reluctant to return to an empty nest, she continued her education by enrolling in the English Department of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned both the Master's and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Afterwards, she taught Literature and the Humanities at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.

Ann's writing career began in the early eighties when two mysteries were published as original paperbacks: THE MURDER CURE and THE MURDER STROKE. A few years later, her first hardcover book was published: THE PILGRIMAGE, an adventure story set in the nineteenth century. All three books are now out of print, but occasionally a used copy of THE PILGRIMAGE appears on Amazon.com for sale.

The publication of the first Miss Julia book, MISS JULIA SPEAKS HER MIND in 1999, set Ann on a full-time writing career. This book went through six reprintings in less than a year, and was ranked #9 on the Independent Booksellers' seventy-six most highly recommended books for 1999. In addition, the book was named to the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers list. The paperback edition of the same book was listed in The Best Books of the First Five Years by BookSense, as one of the titles independent booksellers most enjoyed handselling. The book was also published by Readers Digest Condensed Books, appearing in twelve foreign languages.

MISS JULIA TAKES OVER was one of seven nominees for the Book of the Year Award (2001) by the Southeastern Booksellers Association.

All of the books in the series are available on audiotape and in large-print editions, and are also available through The Literary Guild/Doubleday Book Club. All of the books, except the newest one each year, can be found in paperback editions.

MISS JULIA THROWS A WEDDING, MISS JULIA HITS THE ROAD, MISS JULIA MEETS HER MATCH, and MISS JULIA'S SCHOOL OF BEAUTY have all appeared on the New York Times Extended Bestseller List.

All of the books in the series will be published in German, Japanese, and Croatian editions, as well as on audiotape (in English) and in large print editions.

Inspiration for the escapades of Ann's much-loved character, Miss Julia, comes in all manner of ways -- a chance remark by a friend or family member, an incident she happens to see, in a dream, or by being reminded of something in her past experiences. It is always deeply satisfying to her when scenes in the book she is working on suddenly seem to fit together to make a good story. She does not outline or make detailed plans before starting a story. She does, however, have a general plot in mind before beginning to write, but this usually entails only the conflict and the final resolution, with few ideas of how they will be worked out. So, with just the beginning and the end of a book decided on, Ann relies on the characters themselves to fill in the middle with first one subplot after another. This, she says, is the joy of writing -- when a character suddenly does or says something unexpectedly, leading her to funny and surprising 'mini-scenes' that seem to delight readers.

Ann was once asked by an interviewer how she knew when something she'd written was good. She replied, "I know it's good when I fall off my chair laughing." From that response, we can be sure that she enjoys writing about her characters as much as we enjoy reading about them.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More Miss Julia Please!, August 21, 2003

By 

TJ's Mommy (El Dorado Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miss Julia Takes Over (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed the first book, Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind, so I was looking forward to reading this one. Ann Ross has hit the nail on the head again with a great follow-up. In this story, Hazel Marie and Little Lloyd have moved in with Miss Julia, and they have formed quite the family unit...much to the chagrin of the community and the church. The story has much of the same hijinks as the first one...Pastor Ledbetter trying to get Miss Julia's money for the building fund, Brother Vern trying to get hold of Lloyd and his inheritance, and gossip, gossip, gossip.

This story sends Miss Julia off on a search for Hazel Marie when she's been kidnapped by the crooked church fund raiser hired to make more money for the building fund. She hires a private investigator and demands to be part of the search. Mr. Pickens, the PI, can't stand to have her and Little Lloyd with him, but of course it makes for hilarious situations...one after the other.

Ann Ross has a way with words, and she's just as sharp with her tongue in this book. I just can't describe how hilarious she is. Miss Julia is a hit!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Obviously a Sequel, December 28, 2001

By 

Mamalinde "mamalinde" (Dallas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miss Julia Takes Over (Hardcover)

Obviously a sequel, this book should have just been called Miss Julia II. And I find that it lacks the charm and the "AHA!" moments of the earlier book, when Miss Julia was figuring it all out and learning to do things her way. This story was really more a Miss Julia meets the Keystone Cops kind of foolishness, and really found nothing especially interesting this round. The new family unit of Miss Julia, Hazel Marie & Little Lloyd is interesting, but descended into slapstick this go round. If you just loved the first Miss Julia, and really need another fix, go for it. But otherwise, I'd recommend waiting for the paperback.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A quick and funny read., June 14, 2002

By 

Beverley Strong (Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Miss Julia Takes Over (Paperback)

This second book in the Miss Julia series is an amusing,quick read.Miss Julia is a fairly recent widow,who is quietly glorying in the freedoms that widowhood has brought. In defiance of her stuffy neighbours in a small Southern town, she has refused to be bullied into handing over the control of her quite substantial fortune to the elders of her church and also horrifed them by taking in her late husbands mistress,Hazel Marie and her son, Little Lloyd.Under her care, they have both blossomed and the three of them have formed a close family unit. When Hazel Marie's scheming uncle plots to have Little Lloyd given into his care,the better to gain control of the childs inheritance, Hazel Marie is kidnapped,forcing Miss Julia to hire a private detective to find her.It does tend to become a touch farcical at this point with plots littered with crooked racing car drivers,shonky church fund raisers and Miss Julia driving around a Nascar circuit and out- driving the professionals.I didn't think that this book was as good as the first,but hopefully, M/S Ross will be back to form with book 3.