The Red Hat Society(R)'s Queens of Woodlawn Avenue (A Red Hat Society Romance, 2)

Ellie is told after many years of marriage that her husband has found someone else. A waitress from Hooter's who is years younger. So nine months later she has a house on Woodlawn Avenue. A far cry from her old life. But one day she receives a knock at the door; a lady with pound cake proclaiming she has to come to tonight's bridge game, because she is Queen #4, Queen of Hearts, because she has the heart arch in her house. Where the other members have the spade, diamond and club. She reluctantly goes, and soon finds out the bridge rules are paralleling her own life. I gave this book 4 stars because all the bridge talk confused me a bit, as well as a tad bit boring. I am really not a card player. However, I do want to read the other books, so this was indeed a good read!

Reviewed by Kristina Patton for Reader Views 06/2006 Tea parties and endless chatter about the weather and men is what comes to mind when I think of a Red Hat Society get-together. Boy, did I have the wrong idea. Regina Hale Sutherland shows us that these get-togethers are all but boring. With mystery, blossoming friendships, heartache, and life lessons through a game of cards, "The Red Hat Society's Queens of Woodlawn Avenue" is a fun, heartwarming read. Now, personally, I've never sat down to a bridge game, or even watched anyone play. But, by the end of this book, I learned that the rules of bridge and the rules of life are almost one in the same. Sutherland's elegant writing had me looking for a double meaning around every corner. For example, all of Ellie's lessons are the titles of the chapters. My favorite of those lessons is called "Becoming a Captain". Jane, the Queen of Diamonds, tells Ellie that "now that he's revealed his hand, you can become the captain." So, this quote refers to 1) the point in bridge where your partner makes her bid, which limits her hand, and you can take the lead, or become the captain with your hand, and 2) when someone you know reveals a secret that you can use to your advantage. Yes, even the Queens resort to blackmail when they feel it necessary. Sutherland's cozy characters became my best friends for the weekend. This storyline shows the way that I would want my life to turn out if I were in the same situation as Ellie. Because in the end all the good things were definitely worth all the bad. I found myself hoping for the best and wondering what would happen next. I will definitely be a frequent reader of Sutherland's upcoming Red Hat Society books. Whether it's mystery, romance, or friendship that you are seeking, I would recommend this cozy read to anyone who needs comfort food for the soul.

Without ever knowing it, Ellie Johnson became one of the Queens of Woodlawn Society when she moved into a house on Woodlawn Ave. By moving there she automatically became a member of the bridge club along with Grace, Jane, and Linda. Each of the foursome have an arch in their home designed in the shape of a card suit with Ellie being the queen of hearts. The others take the recently divorced Ellie under their wing. Grace teaches her how to repair her garden; Linda helps her regain her place in Nashville society; and Jane assists her with a new business start-up. Ellie remains bitter over her marital break-up due to her husband playing with a Double D bimbo after twenty fives years together. She soon learns that she is considered attractive by men when her first client, a suave Frenchman pursues her and a police officer wants to date her. Her former spouse keeps calling and over time their contacts become less acrimonious. However, Ellie remains uncertain as to what she wants especially from him and whether she can forgive him. He becomes her rock when she wants to host a society event and when one of regal peers is jailed. Ellie knows she still loves the rat, but doubts she can ever trust him again. The members of the QUEENS OF WOODLAWN SOCIETY belong to the Red Hat Society, a women's group that is a combination social club and helping hand to one another. Ellie learns to accept what happened and to move on with her life applying the rules of bridge to making decisions. Readers will adore Ellie and her friends as this deep character study is an amusing poignant read. Harriet Klausner