Rating: 
Summary: Love that Miss Julia!
Review: Ann B. Ross has written another masterpiece about Miss Julia. Bringing back some familiar characters from Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind and introducing us to some new ones, we are once again caught up in an adventure that quickly spirals out of control as the scheming Brother Vern tries to get his hands on Miss Julia's money, and Hazel Marie is quickly bamboozled by the man in her life. Miss Julia comes to the rescue with the help of J.D. Pickens, the private investigator hired to help rescue Hazel Marie. Miss Julia has her hands full, keeping the womanizing Mr. Pickens in line and focused on her case as well as keeping everybody else attuned to proper behavior.
I love Miss Julia, mainly because it's like romping through my mother's mind. I'm sure she has the same thoughts of propriety and decorum, and gets her feathers ruffled when people don't see things quite her way. Miss Julia is a joy as she valiantly tries to keep everybody on the straight and narrow while straying a bit from the path herself. Her manner of speaking and explaining things had me laughing out loud more than once, as I thoroughly enjoyed this page-turner.
A sequel to any book is never as good as the original, as the delightful surprise of discovering Miss Julia isn't in this book (unless you missed the first one), but Ann B. Ross's talent for creating a rip-roaring adventure and preserving the personalities of her characters hasn't diminished a bit. In addition to the fun of reading the story, there's a lot to think about, such as how colorful and dramatic women of the South can be, what gossip can do to a person's reputation, and how people can justify telling tales and not calling it gossip. I particularly enjoy the fact that it's still possible to write a ripping good tale with no sex and precious few cuss words.
Rating: 
Summary: Judge Julia
Review: Building on the characters that you met in "Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind", you will not be surpised that Miss Julia acts out the principle that if you want to do something right you have to do it yourself. When Hazel Marie disappears and is clearly in distress, Miss Julia has to take charge of the situation because the sheriff won't. Enter the first of a new series of characters, a private detective. Judge Julia can't let go and let the pro. However, amazingly enough, time and again she outshines the pro. Miss Julia fans won't want to miss this installment, but it can be hoped that this will be the weak link in the Miss Julia chain. The characters are the strength of the Miss Julia books. And Miss Julia is the self appointed judge of all the characters. The plot in the book is somewhat underdeveloped. All in all it is an enjoyable read for admirers of southern fiction. If it is outstanding you want. Look else where.
Rating:
Summary: A Little Too Much Miss Julia
Review: By the time I finished this book, I was really fed up with Miss Julia. Her personality actually started to annoy me. However, the book itself is a good one. Miss Julia is determined to do everything it takes to find Hazel Marie who turns up missing after a date with a crooked church fund raiser organizer. When the police refuse to help, Miss Julia hires a private investigator and forces him to stay on the case by essentially "taking over". Even if Miss Julia rubs you the wrong way, you won't be able to put down this suspenseful book. But I don't think I can stand any more of her in the sequal.
Rating:
Summary: I hope that this is the beginning of a series....
Review: I had enjoyed reading "Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind" and didn't really know what to expect with the sequel "Miss Julia Takes Over". I was very pleasantly surprised. I truly enjoyed the characters. I hope that Ms. Ross will continue the "Miss Julia" series. I can see some real possibilities for the next book...Miss Julia teams up w/the detective to solve mysteries....we watch Little Lloyd grow up....there are many possibilities.
Rating:
Summary: Laugh Out Loud
Review: I just love this character. I have read Lee Smith and other southern writers but this is so clean and simple, it goes down like sweet tea!
Rating:
Summary: I love Miss Julia!!
Review: I love this book. It has one of my fav characters and NASCAR mixed in!!! I would have loved to take a lap with her! The situation with Sam and the nurse made me a little nervous, but I enjoyed this book immensely and you won't be sorry either!
Rating: 
Summary: More Miss Julia Please!
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: More Miss Julia Please!
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: If Miss Julia doesn't do it, who will?
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed "Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind", probably because I was raised in a rural area and could relate to some of the characters and their situations. I was really expecting to enjoy this book as much, but it was a bit disappointing. When Hazel Marie doesn't come home from a date, Miss Julia begins to panic and sets out to find her. With some help from Little Lloyd (who has grown up quite a bit from the first book) Hazel Marie is located and returned home. This happens about halfway through the book, so I was forced to wonder what the rest of the book would be about. Just as I suspected, it seemed to be mostly filler. The first half of the book is great-- the characters from the first book return in all their splendor and we meet a few new characters. However, the second half of the book was disappointing and on several occasions I wondered where it was going or even why some of the plot was included. All in all, I have enjoyed the Miss Julia books and intend to read the third one. I just hope it's more like the first one than the second one.
Rating:
Summary: If Miss Julia doesn't do it, who will?
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed "Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind", probably because I was raised in a rural area and could relate to some of the characters and their situations. I was really expecting to enjoy this book as much, but it was a bit disappointing. When Hazel Marie doesn't come home from a date, Miss Julia begins to panic and sets out to find her. With some help from Little Lloyd (who has grown up quite a bit from the first book) Hazel Marie is located and returned home. This happens about halfway through the book, so I was forced to wonder what the rest of the book would be about. Just as I suspected, it seemed to be mostly filler. The first half of the book is great-- the characters from the first book return in all their splendor and we meet a few new characters. However, the second half of the book was disappointing and on several occasions I wondered where it was going or even why some of the plot was included. All in all, I have enjoyed the Miss Julia books and intend to read the third one. I just hope it's more like the first one than the second one.
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