Southern housewife Linwood Breedlove Scott was happily content in her comfortable thirty-year marriage, but when her husband cleans out their bank accounts and runs off with a stripper, her life takes a hilarious, yet touching, right turn into reality. With no place to go but home, she's forced back to her eccentric family she escaped by marrying at nineteen. But despite her newly dependent situation, Lin begins to stand on her own two feet and wake up to the joys—and perils—of life as a single woman. And she also learns surprising lessons about her family: things aren't always what they seem, and the power of love governs even the most dysfunctional of relationships.
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"This was a book I had been moving around for 5 years - someone had given it to me... It was funny and light. I enjoyed the fact that it was situated near where I live, allowing me the aha moment of "I know where that is"."
— Candace (4 out of 5 stars)
“Girl power at its best.”
— Sandra Dallas, New York Times bestselling author“Don’t miss this fabulous feel-good book. It’s laugh-aloud funny, outrageous, deeply touching, but most of all, wonderfully uplifting.”
— Deborah Smith, New York Times bestselling author“Come and sit for a spell, laugh a bit, feel good again, and be delighted! Welcome to Mimosa Branch!”
— Lynne Hinton, New York Times bestselling author“Haywood Smith has created an original character with pathos and pluck, a real woman with heart.”
— Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author“Here’s a heroine you’ll root for and a wonderful book you’ll want to talk about!”
— Jill Conner Browne, New York Times bestselling author“Haywood Smith paints a portrait of lasting relationships between family and lifelong friends in the small-town South. Her colorful cast of characters is unforgettable.”
— Southern Living“Snapshots of Southern living will charm the hardest-hearted Yankee…[with] strong characters and Smith’s irrepressible wit.”
— Publishers Weekly“A veritable goldmine of Southern homespun homilies and hospitality, where the Ya-Ya sisterhood would feel right at home.”
— Booklist“Hilariously on the mark…the perfect combination of wit and touching sentiment.”
— RT Book Reviews" The main character is a 50-year old woman who must move in with her parents after a divorce. It was a good read especially for the over 40 woman. Laughs, tears and understanding are some of the emotions you will experience reading this book. Women 40+ will find emotions in common with the heroine. "
— Carol, 2/20/2014" Loved it! Not the best story, but amazing writing. Haywood Smith is really talented. "
— Sarah, 2/11/2014" This is a women's fiction novel about a 50-ish woman putting her life back together after a devastating divorce virtually identical to what happened to the author herself. (I heard Smith speak once, and she told the story. The basic facts are the same--husband sends them both into bankruptcy by spending hundreds of thousands of $$ on hookers, takes up with bimbo, etc. Beyond that, I believe there is little to no correspondence.) Heroine has to move back home because she can't afford anything better, reconnects with old friends (and enemies), learns to respect herself again, etc., etc. It's a good story with lots of that Southern feel and family dynamics and even some nice romance thrown in. But the main story is how the heroine recovers herself. Good read. "
— Gail, 2/9/2014" Characters are real people---a good read with typical Haywood Smith humor! "
— Merrill, 2/4/2014" Really super Southern book. Funny and wish there was a sequel. "
— Theresa, 1/30/2014" I know this author personally. (we sometimes have breakfast together) She is a HOOT! Love her. "
— Debra, 1/29/2014" I thought I had it all figured out -- but it threw in a few surprises. A good, light, enjoyable read. "
— Deb, 1/28/2014" Full of cliches and stereotypes. "
— Karla, 1/14/2014" This book was fun but I thought the end was kind of hokey and a little unnecessary. "
— Emily, 1/14/2014" If there was a negative rating I would choose it. This book was really pointless. The woman was bitter and witchy. My friend told me it was bad but I read it anyway, dumb. That's several hours of my life I will never get back. "
— Syndy, 1/1/2014" This book started off so funny! It then slowed down a bit but I still liked it alot. I realized the author lives near me so it was really neat to see our area described. I will def. check out some of her other books. "
— Shelby, 1/1/2014" Funny, touching, uplifting book about a woman who struggles to find out what really matters in life. Very good and well written book as usual by Haywood Smith. "
— Dawn, 12/4/2013" Very lovely tale about a woman forced to go home again & reinvent herself. Lovely. "
— Crystal, 10/16/2013" book about women starting over; about parent/adult child relationships; Alzheimer's; I enjoyed it. "
— Sandi, 10/2/2013" LOL funny! Literally. Especially if you are from or have lived in the South. "
— Gretchy, 9/25/2013" Good little southern-chick-lit. . .very colorful cast of characters and interesting little sub-plots. No major awards to be doled out, but a fun little read. "
— Angela, 9/20/2013" Sort of funny and definitely didn't put on any airs. Sort of felt like a sophisticated story of the sitcom "Mama's Family". "
— Breeze, 7/23/2013" Very quick very fun read. "
— Stephanie, 5/22/2013" I only read a little way into the book before I thought that it was too base to waste any more time on. After skimming a little farther, I realized I was more than right. Boo. "
— Malinda, 4/22/2013" Actually, I'm not sure if I finished this. I just know I don't want to try to read it again. Premise is good, but it was just too frothy. "
— Cheryl, 3/20/2013" Very cute book, but I LOVE everything she writes, can't put them down. "
— Sandy, 2/23/2013" This book made me feel good about my crazy family! lol! Full of southern charm, friends, and Prozac. After reading this one I had to see what else she had written. "
— Amy, 10/30/2012" Read a few years ago. It was pretty funny. The cover gave me the idea for my usual summer pedicure. "
— Jackie, 10/4/2012" now and again one needs to laugh out loud and this is a book that lets one do so at times. I don't remember much but that i found it funny -- laugh at loud funny. "
— Dottie, 3/31/2012" Just couldn't get into this book. "
— Sandy, 7/8/2011" Loved this story! It felt so much like my own experience growing up in the South! "
— Pamela, 5/22/2011" I had expected to be thrilled to find a witty southern belle of a certain age in this book, but instead found that all I had in common with her is a fondness for southern vernacular and a profound belief that all consumed calories must be chewable. "
— Laura, 5/20/2011" This was a great depiction of southern culture. I loved reading about Lin's travel back in time and her growth from that experience. I related to a lot in this book. I love anything set in Atlanta and the south. "
— Kissa, 5/16/2011Haywood Smith is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Red Hat Club and Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch, among other works. She lives in Buford, Georgia.
Anne Gartlan has extensive experience on stage and as a voice-over artist. She has been heard on hundreds of commercials, narrations, and audio books. Her voice is particularly recognizable for her work for the Today show on NBC and The Early Show on CBS.