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Miss Julia #4
Miss Julia Hits the Road
Miss Julia—that Southern spitfire of a certain age who is never less than charming, even when she’s at her most opinionated—has been praised by Fannie Flagg as “one of the most delightful characters to come along in years.” Don't miss Ann Ross's newest, Miss Julia Raises the Roof , coming April 2018 from Viking.
In Miss Julia Hits the Road , she is becoming increasingly concerned about her gentleman friend, Sam, who has suddenly started wearing cowboy boots, sending her flowers, and writing bad poetry. And when he shows up on a Harley-Davidson Road King and asks her to hop on, she’s convinced he’s lost his mind. Meanwhile, her invaluable housekeeper, Lillian, has been evicted from her home by her greedy landlord. Deciding that Lillian’s need is greater than her own fear (not to mention loss of dignity), Miss Julia takes Sam up on his offer and sets off on a motorcycle Poker Run to raise some fast cash. She’s ready to risk life and limb in Sam’s sidecar to save Lillian’s home from the bulldozer, but will Miss Julia’s scheme work?
In Miss Julia Hits the Road , she is becoming increasingly concerned about her gentleman friend, Sam, who has suddenly started wearing cowboy boots, sending her flowers, and writing bad poetry. And when he shows up on a Harley-Davidson Road King and asks her to hop on, she’s convinced he’s lost his mind. Meanwhile, her invaluable housekeeper, Lillian, has been evicted from her home by her greedy landlord. Deciding that Lillian’s need is greater than her own fear (not to mention loss of dignity), Miss Julia takes Sam up on his offer and sets off on a motorcycle Poker Run to raise some fast cash. She’s ready to risk life and limb in Sam’s sidecar to save Lillian’s home from the bulldozer, but will Miss Julia’s scheme work?
339 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2003
314 people are currently reading
1376 people want to read
About the author
Ann B. Ross
61 books937 followersAnn B. Ross, who taught literature at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, is the author of Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind, one of the most popular Southern debut novels in years, Miss Julia Takes Over, Miss Julia Throws a Wedding, and Miss Julia Hits the Road. She lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews
June 3, 2012
Miss Julia cracks me up. These books are not great literary works of fiction. They are wonderfully entertaining and a quick, fun read.
January 16, 2025
Another delightful episode with Miss Julia and the crew! Miss Julia spearheads fundraising to save her friend/housekeeper Lillian’s home.
When a ruthless landlord evicts all the life-time renters on Lillian’s street to bulldoze the homes for profit, the whole town of Abbotsville, North Carolina comes to the rescue. Among various fundraising events, they hold a motorcycle poker run. This ridiculous comedy of manners was so amusing because of the predicament Miss Julia finds herself in. Can you imagine her riding on the back of a motorcycle wearing a borrowed pair of leather pants?
Of course, as I’ve done with this entire series thus far, I listened to the audio format with Cynthia Darlow narrating. She brings out the Southern charm of these characters.
Each book in the series builds the overall story arc of Miss Julia and associates. I would recommend reading in order, but they would work as a standalone also.
This was a heartwarming story that speaks about loyalty and helping others.
When a ruthless landlord evicts all the life-time renters on Lillian’s street to bulldoze the homes for profit, the whole town of Abbotsville, North Carolina comes to the rescue. Among various fundraising events, they hold a motorcycle poker run. This ridiculous comedy of manners was so amusing because of the predicament Miss Julia finds herself in. Can you imagine her riding on the back of a motorcycle wearing a borrowed pair of leather pants?
Of course, as I’ve done with this entire series thus far, I listened to the audio format with Cynthia Darlow narrating. She brings out the Southern charm of these characters.
Each book in the series builds the overall story arc of Miss Julia and associates. I would recommend reading in order, but they would work as a standalone also.
This was a heartwarming story that speaks about loyalty and helping others.
January 5, 2024
Funny, in an I Love Lucy or Blondie & Dagwood kind of humor, Ann B. Ross has created a charming protagonist who’s supported by an entire town full of quirky cohorts.
MISS JULIA HITS THE ROAD is book 4 is this series that has 25 total volumes. Altho’ there is continuity from volume to volume, Ross provides enough back story that the book can easily be read as a standalone. Character development gets better as the series moves forward, especially if you’ve read more than one book.
If you’re a fan of lighthearted, southern fiction that’s clean and humorous, this is a series that can entertain for a good many days. Its good fun for all readers ages 12 and up📚
MISS JULIA HITS THE ROAD is book 4 is this series that has 25 total volumes. Altho’ there is continuity from volume to volume, Ross provides enough back story that the book can easily be read as a standalone. Character development gets better as the series moves forward, especially if you’ve read more than one book.
If you’re a fan of lighthearted, southern fiction that’s clean and humorous, this is a series that can entertain for a good many days. Its good fun for all readers ages 12 and up📚
November 12, 2017
Book number four in the popular series starring Miss Julia, a widow of a certain age. This time she gets her hackles up when she learns that a local slumlord is evicting all the poor African-American tenants, so he can demolish the homes and build a water bottling plant on the land. Miss Julia’s housekeeper, Lillian, is one of those tenants and she decides she will find a way to save the properties.
I just love Miss Julia, who frequently gets embroiled in one scandal / scheme or another when she jumps to conclusions and/or fails to fully understand the implications of what she’s been told. But her heart is always in the right place. This time the big fund-raising effort centers on a motorcycle race, and one donor challenges Miss Julia and “other refined, quality women over age fifty” to ride along as a condition of a major donation. What’s a lady to do?!
Miss Julia is just a hoot, and I was laughing aloud at several scenes.
There are two subplots involving Hazel Marie and Mr Pickens, and Binkie and Deputy Coleman. I think the books can be enjoyed as stand-alone novels, but readers probably should start from the beginning to fully appreciate the relationships between the full cast of recurring characters.
NOTE This is a re-read for me, but I first read it long before I joined Goodreads or Shelfari, so I don’t have the date recorded. I’m guessing it was shortly after this book was published. As I recall, I read the first book (Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind) and pretty quickly picked up the next two or three in the series.
I just love Miss Julia, who frequently gets embroiled in one scandal / scheme or another when she jumps to conclusions and/or fails to fully understand the implications of what she’s been told. But her heart is always in the right place. This time the big fund-raising effort centers on a motorcycle race, and one donor challenges Miss Julia and “other refined, quality women over age fifty” to ride along as a condition of a major donation. What’s a lady to do?!
Miss Julia is just a hoot, and I was laughing aloud at several scenes.
There are two subplots involving Hazel Marie and Mr Pickens, and Binkie and Deputy Coleman. I think the books can be enjoyed as stand-alone novels, but readers probably should start from the beginning to fully appreciate the relationships between the full cast of recurring characters.
NOTE This is a re-read for me, but I first read it long before I joined Goodreads or Shelfari, so I don’t have the date recorded. I’m guessing it was shortly after this book was published. As I recall, I read the first book (Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind) and pretty quickly picked up the next two or three in the series.
October 9, 2011
How hard can you laugh when reading a book?
If it's the Miss Julia series the answer is hard enough to cry and get a headache.
Miss Julia needs to raise money to save Miss Lillian's neighborhood from being bulldozed. A very large donation has been offered if she rides in a poker run. To say that the whole situation was comical is an understatement.
A quote from Miss Julia Takes A Ride:
"Hazel Marie finished by tucking the sides of my coat under each leg, where I hoped it would stay, else everybody was going to get glimpse of Christmas from the new opening she'd cut in her prized leather pants."
I'm still laughing about this book. On to the next one!
If it's the Miss Julia series the answer is hard enough to cry and get a headache.
Miss Julia needs to raise money to save Miss Lillian's neighborhood from being bulldozed. A very large donation has been offered if she rides in a poker run. To say that the whole situation was comical is an understatement.
A quote from Miss Julia Takes A Ride:
"Hazel Marie finished by tucking the sides of my coat under each leg, where I hoped it would stay, else everybody was going to get glimpse of Christmas from the new opening she'd cut in her prized leather pants."
I'm still laughing about this book. On to the next one!
May 23, 2011
Miss Julia on a motorcycle? No way! But all for a good cause... Miss Julia's long-time housekeeper Lillian has been evicted from her home along with all of her neighbors. The owner of the property wants to bulldoze all the houses and put up a water bottling plant using the spring water on the hill, rumored to do wonderful things for a man. Miss Julia intercedes to buy the houses and land but the scoundrel who owns it will only talk if Miss Julia puts her own home on the line. So where to come up with $200,000 fast? How about a motorcycle Poker Run? A "dirty old man", but rich as King Midas, will donate a large sum if Miss Julia rides..... I love this series with the prim and proper southern Miss Julia who is naive but not.
September 15, 2016
A good book for a teenager, who's trying to get started reading. Language is very basic.
November 12, 2017
Initially, this didn't start out well. I was confused with all the characters. It is after all, number 4 in the series and this was my beginning. It got much better, it was kinda funny and I had to admire Miss Julia for her fortitude, smarts and her love of the downtrodden. She is willing to do the unthinkable to best the worst landlord ever and maybe something more will happen romantically with Sam. I bought another book in this series and the other novel will be read soon.
January 4, 2021
5 star PLUS!!! A new favorite!
Oh my goodness! I feel in love with this book within the first few minutes I started listening to it. A combination of Designing Women, Driving Miss Daisy and Golden Girls all mixed up into one! Even though this was book 4 of this series I was in no way lost within the story. All the characters are easy to understand who they are and who they are to each other. Their community etc. You can't help but fall in love with them!
And for those of you not used to us "Southern folk" using your first and middle name all the time is 'the norm' not because you're in trouble it's just a given that 1 out of 3 children will be called by their first and middle names... :)
I now have to find book 1 and start reading this from the start! So glad there are 10 + in this series. If you have the opportunity to listen to it I would recommend that too; as the lady that reads it to us uses such wonderful tones and emotion that you can't help but laugh out loud and say "Oh Lordy" right along with the story! This is a new favorite series of mine and have added it to my wishlist for Christmas to be added to my home collection!
Oh my goodness! I feel in love with this book within the first few minutes I started listening to it. A combination of Designing Women, Driving Miss Daisy and Golden Girls all mixed up into one! Even though this was book 4 of this series I was in no way lost within the story. All the characters are easy to understand who they are and who they are to each other. Their community etc. You can't help but fall in love with them!
And for those of you not used to us "Southern folk" using your first and middle name all the time is 'the norm' not because you're in trouble it's just a given that 1 out of 3 children will be called by their first and middle names... :)
I now have to find book 1 and start reading this from the start! So glad there are 10 + in this series. If you have the opportunity to listen to it I would recommend that too; as the lady that reads it to us uses such wonderful tones and emotion that you can't help but laugh out loud and say "Oh Lordy" right along with the story! This is a new favorite series of mine and have added it to my wishlist for Christmas to be added to my home collection!
September 5, 2013
This book held my interest from the start to the end. I can just imagine what Julia is thinking, doing, and causing in her efforts to be a lady. Riding on a motorcycle for a good cause was the icing on the cake. Goes to show you what can happen when people of all kinds rally behind a good deed. There is a lesson here and I hope we have learned that it is indeed possible that when it is worth it, 'Go For It'! Enjoy!
July 19, 2018
Doing research on cozy serieses(?) and this book was recommended. Characters were terrible. Plot was barely there. The only reason not a 1-star rating is because the writing wasn't awful.
October 18, 2021
Delightful as always
April 10, 2023
As usual, laugh out loud funny!
December 6, 2023
Enjoyable, as usual. Nice to see Miss Julia out of her comfort zone in order to help those less fortunate. I can honestly say I never expected her to go on a poker run. LOL
March 13, 2024
4 1/2 stars actually. I love the Miss Julia series!
Her antics are always funny and entertaining.
Her antics are always funny and entertaining.
May 18, 2024
This was a funny book. Julia is trying to help her neighbors and cook. She gets herself in a fund raiser motorcycle race. She is so prime and proper. Being on a motor cycle is a huge stretch.
December 22, 2020
Another enjoyable Miss Julia story. Miss Julia needs to start learning from her experiences and growing a little as a character. But still a charming story.
February 5, 2019
enjoyed very much, as usual
January 23, 2025
4th in the series and my favorite so far!
Miss Julia is a force to be reckoned with and when she sets her mind to something, by golly, she gets it done! As only a loyal and true Southern lady can.
She swallows her pride and straddles a Harley to help her dear friend Lillian and her neighbors to reclaim their homes from a heartlesss landowner.
The other characters are developing nicely especially potential love interest Sam and her accidental family Hazel Marie and Little Lloyd.
Miss Julia is a force to be reckoned with and when she sets her mind to something, by golly, she gets it done! As only a loyal and true Southern lady can.
She swallows her pride and straddles a Harley to help her dear friend Lillian and her neighbors to reclaim their homes from a heartlesss landowner.
The other characters are developing nicely especially potential love interest Sam and her accidental family Hazel Marie and Little Lloyd.
April 18, 2014
I have read several of the Miss Julia books and will read them all before I'm through. They are light, and funny, and thought provoking, and fun. I would love to live with Miss Julia, or at least have her for a friend. She is witty, funny, strong, down to earth, kind and sensible. It's just a fun place to be, especially when things aren't going so well in my own life. It's nice to escape into a more relaxed, easy environment.
November 5, 2016
I already had this audiobook on hold at the library, otherwise I wouldn't have listened to it so soon after reading a previous Miss Julia book. But, as expected this is a light-hearted story with a bit of drama and Miss Julia right in the middle of things. She come to the aid of Lillian, her friend and housekeeper, who along with neighbors is losing their homes. Definitely better in audio IMHO.
August 20, 2009
The Miss Julia series of books is very enjoyable. Occasionally there may be a slow spot in a book, but read through. You will find yourself wanting the next one to see just what she is up to.
May 31, 2011
Hilarious as usual!
July 3, 2014
If you love- " I Love Lucy" then Miss Julia Books are for you! Hilarious hi-jinks!
January 31, 2024
I love Miss Julia!
May 9, 2018
I'm working my way through the older titles of this series, and hope to catch up soon. Miss Julia and her antics crack me up!
June 28, 2023
Miss Julia finds herself in another pickle.
November 24, 2019
I love the belly laughs that this series gives me, and I liked this one better than "Miss Julia Throws a Wedding." She's still just as cranky as ever. My mom, who has read the series before me, calls her "spunky," as well as "funny," and she's right on both counts. I also love that the series makes my mom laugh - that's like an extra bonus.
There's not too many sensible things I can say about this.
I haven't been on a motorcycle in years, although I've had more than one cousin owning them, and I have ridden behind one of my mom's cousins on one as a teen. I could hardly believe she let me, and I could hardly believe she took a turn herself, like these "quality women" in this book's motorcycle game to raise money to keep a neighborhood from evicting people. Most of the time when I think of motorcycles, I think of the danger, and that they never did find all the pieces of one friend's son's leg in an accident... But this book focused more on the fun of riding.
I am not gonna comment on the quarrel between the pastor and his wife. And I would've stayed out of it in real life, too. It makes me think of what my husband would've said on the topic, though - that the husband was not loving his wife as Christ loved the church, and that's a tall order ...
My ladies group was talking about this topic this week, and several of them said it had to do with respect. I said that it also had to do with trust, that we couldn't follow someone we couldn't trust, either because they were leading into danger or because they were leading into something immoral. At that point, Peter's quote came to mind, "We must obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)
One of the other reviewers said that Miss Julia must have a mental disorder. I don't think so, although I'm no expert. She's just funny.
Another reviewer noted how the African Americans in this book seem too childlike and simple. Lillian's not usually that way if you consider her throughout the series; she'd had a shock in being evicted from her home. And Reverend Abernathy often has a gentle wisdom. But I can certainly understand that criticism of this book. There's some truth in it. To an extent all the characters are stereotypes, Miss Julia herself included.
One of the characters initially refused to join in on the fundraiser, saying, "I am totally dedicated to Christian work alone. I just can't spread myself too thin, you know. This sort of thing, even if it is for a good cause, would take time and effort away from spreading the Gospel."
I know that the author, Ann Ross, was poking fun at those Christians who don't help as much with humanitarian needs, but give their money instead to organizations that teach the tenets of the faith. But there are still some truths in it the concept.
1) People can't hear the gospel very well if their stomachs are hurting from malnutrition. Certainly showing God's love to people includes caring for their immediate needs.
2) The opposite is also a danger. Giving a homeless person a meal doesn't give him a job or teach him to work. It doesn't feed him long term. Doing those things is better. But it's even better to not only do that, but give him a joy and a hope that's even longer, outlasting his own earthly lifetime, connecting him to God. There are some precious, priceless truths there that shouldn't be discarded. We can't be completely short-sighted focusing solely on the pragmatic here and now, or we have lost our best treasures. We need food for our souls as well.
3) There really are so many good causes and organizations that a person does need to prioritize what causes they support. We can't do it all and give to everything.
4) There really are some organizations that do both, and do it much more tactfully than Emma Sue. Samaritan's Purse comes to mind, and I know the Salvation Army has its roots in that kind of work, but I don't know how they're currently doing. And thousands of other little local charities.
Favorite quotes:
"Cookin' help me rest, Miss Julia. It take my mind off all them troubles." I don't think of cooking as very restful. I can get as tired of it as I can anything else. But I find the scents of cooking soothing and satisfying. Somehow, the smell of certain dishes, and knowing that my family will be well fed, makes me feel that all's right in the world.
"One thing I've learned in my years of volunteer work, if you want something done and done right, give it to a group of women to do."
"I 'spect that baby not worriet 'bout what you need."
There's not too many sensible things I can say about this.
I haven't been on a motorcycle in years, although I've had more than one cousin owning them, and I have ridden behind one of my mom's cousins on one as a teen. I could hardly believe she let me, and I could hardly believe she took a turn herself, like these "quality women" in this book's motorcycle game to raise money to keep a neighborhood from evicting people. Most of the time when I think of motorcycles, I think of the danger, and that they never did find all the pieces of one friend's son's leg in an accident... But this book focused more on the fun of riding.
I am not gonna comment on the quarrel between the pastor and his wife. And I would've stayed out of it in real life, too. It makes me think of what my husband would've said on the topic, though - that the husband was not loving his wife as Christ loved the church, and that's a tall order ...
My ladies group was talking about this topic this week, and several of them said it had to do with respect. I said that it also had to do with trust, that we couldn't follow someone we couldn't trust, either because they were leading into danger or because they were leading into something immoral. At that point, Peter's quote came to mind, "We must obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)
One of the other reviewers said that Miss Julia must have a mental disorder. I don't think so, although I'm no expert. She's just funny.
Another reviewer noted how the African Americans in this book seem too childlike and simple. Lillian's not usually that way if you consider her throughout the series; she'd had a shock in being evicted from her home. And Reverend Abernathy often has a gentle wisdom. But I can certainly understand that criticism of this book. There's some truth in it. To an extent all the characters are stereotypes, Miss Julia herself included.
One of the characters initially refused to join in on the fundraiser, saying, "I am totally dedicated to Christian work alone. I just can't spread myself too thin, you know. This sort of thing, even if it is for a good cause, would take time and effort away from spreading the Gospel."
I know that the author, Ann Ross, was poking fun at those Christians who don't help as much with humanitarian needs, but give their money instead to organizations that teach the tenets of the faith. But there are still some truths in it the concept.
1) People can't hear the gospel very well if their stomachs are hurting from malnutrition. Certainly showing God's love to people includes caring for their immediate needs.
2) The opposite is also a danger. Giving a homeless person a meal doesn't give him a job or teach him to work. It doesn't feed him long term. Doing those things is better. But it's even better to not only do that, but give him a joy and a hope that's even longer, outlasting his own earthly lifetime, connecting him to God. There are some precious, priceless truths there that shouldn't be discarded. We can't be completely short-sighted focusing solely on the pragmatic here and now, or we have lost our best treasures. We need food for our souls as well.
3) There really are so many good causes and organizations that a person does need to prioritize what causes they support. We can't do it all and give to everything.
4) There really are some organizations that do both, and do it much more tactfully than Emma Sue. Samaritan's Purse comes to mind, and I know the Salvation Army has its roots in that kind of work, but I don't know how they're currently doing. And thousands of other little local charities.
Favorite quotes:
"Cookin' help me rest, Miss Julia. It take my mind off all them troubles." I don't think of cooking as very restful. I can get as tired of it as I can anything else. But I find the scents of cooking soothing and satisfying. Somehow, the smell of certain dishes, and knowing that my family will be well fed, makes me feel that all's right in the world.
"One thing I've learned in my years of volunteer work, if you want something done and done right, give it to a group of women to do."
"I 'spect that baby not worriet 'bout what you need."
May 27, 2019
After giving the 1st three books in the series three stars, I had to give this one four; because the author is finally hitting her stride. The was a light, warm-hearted and funny, funny read. The character of Miss Julia Springer is finally maturing into something besides a cantankerous, opinionated, and pretentious matron. She is still traditionally proper and opinionated but also has developed a warm heart and generous attitude and turning into a likeable person.
A greedy local slumlord and "bidness man" named Clarence Gibbs is evicting all his tenants on Willow Lane and plans to bulldoze the houses and build a water bottling plant. It so happens that Miss Julia's treasured black housekeeper and friend, Lillian, lives in one of those houses. Miss Julia is determined to raise money to buy the land, refurbish the houses, and bring back the tenants. When she approaches Gibbs about buying the land, he doubles the price to $250,000 expecting she will never raise that kind of money. He also wants her to put up her house as security in case she doesn't raise the money on time. She comes up with several plans and schemes to raise it; but the most lucrative one, suggested by Sam and J.D. Pickens, will be a motorcycle "Poker Run".
When seeking donations to the cause, Miss Julia approaches the town's "crazy", eccentric inhabitant named Thurlow Jones who has enough money to make a sizeable donation. He agrees to make one only if Miss Julia will ride on a motorcycle in the Poker Run. She is aghast because she has vowed never to get on or near a motorcycle. But Lillian is more important that her own dignity and what people will think of her. To sweeten the pot, he also says he will give another $10,000 for every woman of quality over 50 who will ride in the Run behind a seasoned biker. Miss Julia uses J.D. Pickens to convince these proper ladies to participate. The hardest nut to crack is Emma Sue Ledbetter, the pastor's wife. The description of the race is a romp, and you can't help but laugh out loud.
Subplots include:
- Miss Julia is deeply concerned and jumps to the wrong conclusion when her ex-lawyer friend, Sam, showers her with flowers and bad poetry. She thinks senility is setting in, especially when he buys a motorcycle and leathers. She will never risk life and limb getting on one. Think of the loss of dignity!!!
- Hazel Marie and Little Lloyd have been living with J.D. Pickens, but she moves back in with Miss Julia when J.D.'s second ex-wife shows up on their doorstep. Hazel Marie saves the day when Miss Julia, who is riding on Sam's motorcycle in a side car with a dress on, has to switch bikes and ride behind J.D. to make the finish line on time.
- Binkie, Miss Julia's current lawyer, and Deputy Coleman are expecting the arrival of their baby any day now. Miss Julia hopes Binkie will hold out until they have raised the money and she can sign the papers to get Gibbs out of her hair. Even though Deputy Coleman is preoccupied, he and his fellow police officers arrive in the nick of time to help Miss Julia accomplish her mission.
- It turns out there is some special quality in the water from the spring on Willow Lane that can enhance a man's performance. Check out the hilarious situation that occurs when Miss Julia throws some of the water on a snowball bush and Thurlow drinks a glass full.
This series is growing on me, and I would recommend it now where I was dubious in the 1st three books. Maybe I just hadn't figured out what a Southern lady with proper attitudes is all about, but am beginning to as the character changes. You might have to suspend belief in the plot and just enjoy the story. This was a delightful read.
A greedy local slumlord and "bidness man" named Clarence Gibbs is evicting all his tenants on Willow Lane and plans to bulldoze the houses and build a water bottling plant. It so happens that Miss Julia's treasured black housekeeper and friend, Lillian, lives in one of those houses. Miss Julia is determined to raise money to buy the land, refurbish the houses, and bring back the tenants. When she approaches Gibbs about buying the land, he doubles the price to $250,000 expecting she will never raise that kind of money. He also wants her to put up her house as security in case she doesn't raise the money on time. She comes up with several plans and schemes to raise it; but the most lucrative one, suggested by Sam and J.D. Pickens, will be a motorcycle "Poker Run".
When seeking donations to the cause, Miss Julia approaches the town's "crazy", eccentric inhabitant named Thurlow Jones who has enough money to make a sizeable donation. He agrees to make one only if Miss Julia will ride on a motorcycle in the Poker Run. She is aghast because she has vowed never to get on or near a motorcycle. But Lillian is more important that her own dignity and what people will think of her. To sweeten the pot, he also says he will give another $10,000 for every woman of quality over 50 who will ride in the Run behind a seasoned biker. Miss Julia uses J.D. Pickens to convince these proper ladies to participate. The hardest nut to crack is Emma Sue Ledbetter, the pastor's wife. The description of the race is a romp, and you can't help but laugh out loud.
Subplots include:
- Miss Julia is deeply concerned and jumps to the wrong conclusion when her ex-lawyer friend, Sam, showers her with flowers and bad poetry. She thinks senility is setting in, especially when he buys a motorcycle and leathers. She will never risk life and limb getting on one. Think of the loss of dignity!!!
- Hazel Marie and Little Lloyd have been living with J.D. Pickens, but she moves back in with Miss Julia when J.D.'s second ex-wife shows up on their doorstep. Hazel Marie saves the day when Miss Julia, who is riding on Sam's motorcycle in a side car with a dress on, has to switch bikes and ride behind J.D. to make the finish line on time.
- Binkie, Miss Julia's current lawyer, and Deputy Coleman are expecting the arrival of their baby any day now. Miss Julia hopes Binkie will hold out until they have raised the money and she can sign the papers to get Gibbs out of her hair. Even though Deputy Coleman is preoccupied, he and his fellow police officers arrive in the nick of time to help Miss Julia accomplish her mission.
- It turns out there is some special quality in the water from the spring on Willow Lane that can enhance a man's performance. Check out the hilarious situation that occurs when Miss Julia throws some of the water on a snowball bush and Thurlow drinks a glass full.
This series is growing on me, and I would recommend it now where I was dubious in the 1st three books. Maybe I just hadn't figured out what a Southern lady with proper attitudes is all about, but am beginning to as the character changes. You might have to suspend belief in the plot and just enjoy the story. This was a delightful read.
November 11, 2023
I have loved the Miss Julia series since I read the first book. This year – a very bad year for me so far – I enjoyed reading about Miss Julia’s adventures even when I found many other books too serious or disturbing or just plain boring to get into.
In this book, Miss Julia is worried about Sam Murdoch, her long-time friend and sort-of boyfriend when he starts sending her flowers and poetry and buys a motorcycle. Hazel Marie Puckett, former love-interest of Miss Julia’s late husband has moved in with her new boyfriend, J.D. Pickett, a private eye Miss Julia hired on a previous adventure, taking her son, Little Lloyd, with her. A bombshell is dropped into Miss Julia’s life when her cook, Lillian, reports that she and her neighbors are being evicted from the houses where they have lived all their lives. Miss Julia of course says Lillian can come and live with her. But what about the other people on her street?
A meeting with the people on the street provides temporary housing solutions for them, but it is agreed that some sort of fund-raising operation is in order. Meanwhile, Miss Julia goes to meet with Clarence Gibbs, the evil landlord to see if she can buy him out and stop the eviction. He won’t even agree to wait for the fund-raising to begin, and he sets such a high price on the property that even Miss Julia can’t meet his price by herself. He does, however, agree to give the fund-raisers a couple of weeks, provided Miss Julia offers her own house as well if they can’t meet his price in that time.
Miss Julia is now highly motivated to raise the funds.
There are myriad fund-raising ideas, but the one that turns out to be most lucrative is something called a Poker Run. This involves getting a group of motorcyclists to line up sponsors (like charity marathons and 10K runs) and then ride around to different places drawing a card at each one. The winner is the one with the best hand at the end. There’s more, but you get the idea.
While Sam is calling the town’s movers and shakers for traditional donations and Little Lloyd and his scout troop are planning car washes and raking leaves, Miss Julia visits some people to get donations too. She goes to see a certain Mr. Thurlow Jones, a man with more money than sense apparently, who suddenly develops an unsettling interest in Miss Julia. When she mentions the Poker Run as part of the fund-raising activities, he offers to donate a hundred thousand dollars if she rides in the run. He further offers to kick in an extra ten thousand for every woman over fifty she can get to sign up too. Though Miss Julia didn’t want any part of any motorcycle ride, she agreed to do it for so much of the needed funds.
There is another exciting mini-adventure when Miss Julia, Lillian, and Little Lloyd make a late-night trip to check out the famous spring that seems to be the source of Clarence Gibbs’ interest in the property. And then, there’s the whole Poker Run thing itself – which unexpectedly turns out to be a little dangerous.
In this book, Miss Julia is worried about Sam Murdoch, her long-time friend and sort-of boyfriend when he starts sending her flowers and poetry and buys a motorcycle. Hazel Marie Puckett, former love-interest of Miss Julia’s late husband has moved in with her new boyfriend, J.D. Pickett, a private eye Miss Julia hired on a previous adventure, taking her son, Little Lloyd, with her. A bombshell is dropped into Miss Julia’s life when her cook, Lillian, reports that she and her neighbors are being evicted from the houses where they have lived all their lives. Miss Julia of course says Lillian can come and live with her. But what about the other people on her street?
A meeting with the people on the street provides temporary housing solutions for them, but it is agreed that some sort of fund-raising operation is in order. Meanwhile, Miss Julia goes to meet with Clarence Gibbs, the evil landlord to see if she can buy him out and stop the eviction. He won’t even agree to wait for the fund-raising to begin, and he sets such a high price on the property that even Miss Julia can’t meet his price by herself. He does, however, agree to give the fund-raisers a couple of weeks, provided Miss Julia offers her own house as well if they can’t meet his price in that time.
Miss Julia is now highly motivated to raise the funds.
There are myriad fund-raising ideas, but the one that turns out to be most lucrative is something called a Poker Run. This involves getting a group of motorcyclists to line up sponsors (like charity marathons and 10K runs) and then ride around to different places drawing a card at each one. The winner is the one with the best hand at the end. There’s more, but you get the idea.
While Sam is calling the town’s movers and shakers for traditional donations and Little Lloyd and his scout troop are planning car washes and raking leaves, Miss Julia visits some people to get donations too. She goes to see a certain Mr. Thurlow Jones, a man with more money than sense apparently, who suddenly develops an unsettling interest in Miss Julia. When she mentions the Poker Run as part of the fund-raising activities, he offers to donate a hundred thousand dollars if she rides in the run. He further offers to kick in an extra ten thousand for every woman over fifty she can get to sign up too. Though Miss Julia didn’t want any part of any motorcycle ride, she agreed to do it for so much of the needed funds.
There is another exciting mini-adventure when Miss Julia, Lillian, and Little Lloyd make a late-night trip to check out the famous spring that seems to be the source of Clarence Gibbs’ interest in the property. And then, there’s the whole Poker Run thing itself – which unexpectedly turns out to be a little dangerous.
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