Queen Bee Goes Home Again

Queen Bee #2

by Haywood Smith

In Queen Bee Goes Home Again by bestselling author Haywood Smith, it's been ten years since Linwood Scott had to move back home to Mimosa Branch, Georgia the first time. Now, with her work in real estate at a stand-still because of the economy, and her ex-husband and his alimony payments (and his former stripper-current wife) nowhere to be seen, Linwood finds herself back in the place she'd never thought she'd the garage apartment next to her mother Mamie's mansion. But this time around things are different. It's not just Linwood that's ten years older. Her uncle and father are living in a home, and Mamie is working hard to take care of everything on her own (while still bossing around her nearest and dearest). Linwood's brother has cleaned up his act and turned over a new leaf. And there's a new Baptist preacher in town...who also happens to be handsome and divorced. While Linwood reconnects with Mimosa Branch and works to figure out what her next step will be, its family, love, and a sense of humor that will help guide her through the unpredictable turns her life has taken.

Genres: Fiction, Christian, Christian Fiction, Southern

358 pages, Hardcover

First published September 16, 2014

Reviews

[Fran · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was excited to read & review this book generously provided to me by the Reading Room & St. Martin's Press. It is very hard to describe this book. Full of religious reference...including pages of sermons, yet more than one reference to dildos. While I enjoy a quirky heroine, in this book she was simply neurotic & thoroughly unlikeable.

[Lin Stepp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flipped through this book - and started reading the first chapter of it - while waiting to start a Book Signing of one of my own books at a Barnes & Noble store. I snickered through the first pages and hated to put the book down to begin to talk to my fans ….So naturally I had to find and read the entire book later. And I laughed, sighed, and was delighted with every minute of it. This was the first book I've read by Haywood Smith and will not be my last! She really has a great understanding of Southern women, customs, and the ways of family. It was easy to identify, commiserate, and laugh with Linwood Scott - who due to a life fiasco - is forced to move back home to her mama's home in small town Georgia. Mixed with the warmth and humor of this great story … I also enjoyed the aspects of faith that Haywood Smith slips in. This is the sort of book you'd like to read again.

[Josefa Wann · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is full of platitudes, and Bible quotes. He's a holier than thou middle aged Baptist minister that wants to "court" her (with her mother as a chaperone?!), she's a 60 year old airhead that is constantly asking God for advice on even the most inane things. What boring and annoying characters.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a few of Haywood Smith's books before and have typically enjoyed the humor in them. This was the first of the Queen Bee series I read, and I would have to say that I've enjoyed the other novels and characters better. The story focuses on Lin, a 60-something lady who is forced to move back to her family home after unfortunate circumstances pile on. She reinvents herself over the course of the book, both professionally and romantically. The main characters, Lin's brother, mother, and the new preacher next door, rally around her to help her on her way.

I enjoyed Lin's outspoken humor, but found that some of the storyline comments were borderline offensive in their prejudice. The religious bent of the book didn't bother me, and built upon the type of character that Lin was supposed to be. However, it IS a novel with religious leanings, so be forewarned if you choose to read it. All in all, not my favorite Haywood Smith book-- I'd recommend that new readers start with a different novel!

Thanks to GoodReads for providing me with a copy of this book!

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel begins with Lin, the 60 year old main character and narrator, forced to sell her home and move back in with her 90 year old mother, Miss Mamie, in the little GA town of Mimosa Branch. Lin's career as a real estate agent has been smacked by the housing depression in Atlanta; she's looking to start over again and does that by enrolling in college, to finish a degree abandoned 40 years before for marriage. Plus she falls in love with the new Baptist minister (divorced, as is Lin)and helps deal with her father and uncle, who are in the local nursing home with Alzeheimer's. Lots of potential for comedy and commentary here. All ends reasonably happily, of course.
Miss Mamie is a wonderful fantasy character. At 90, she constantly prepares full course delicious meals, makes homemade peach ice cream at the drop of the hat, cleans house, etc. Lin confesses at the beginning of the book that she makes it through life with the help of estrogen, Welburtin and a couple of other prescriptions but I want to know Miss Mamie's secret.

[Rose Klix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't often give 5 stars, either because the story/message or the writing lacked star quality. Haywood Smith skillfully wrote this book. The story had enough interest and humanity to engage me throughout. The religion aspects were not sentimental rot, but heartfelt. I cheered her on in her journey towards healing and hoped she wouldn't be duped by others. I didn't want her to give up on love. Linwood Scott is a very human character and not a cardboard cutout. Her family are equally fleshed out characters. I watched for them to fail her - given their own imperfections. I'm often surprised by book club picks. This one was a pleasant surprise.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, it was humorous, a love story and decidedly a Christian book. Lin has returned to Mimosa Branch, Georgia and is trying to start her new life. The new Baptist preacher, Connor, the next door neighbor, is trying to woo her back to the Baptist church and is constantly catching her in embarrassing situations. Both are older with grown children, divorced and starting over. As Lin starts college and fights off her ex-husband the story has you laughing and crying. I liked the writing by Haywood Smith and will look for other titles.

[Suka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I had just finished reading a couple of page-turners and, to tell the truth, I found myself annoyed during the first few chapters at how slow-paced the book was. Be forewarned, this is a Southern novel and one needs to enjoy it as such. Once I relaxed and got into the story, I couldn't put it down. It is a very good story and the ending is worth the time spent reading it.

[Ellen Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book although it was not exactly what I expected since I had not read this author before. It was an easy read and had a lot going on in the plot. The book had romance, the struggles of someone going back to college at an older age and deciding what to do with their life, complicated family problems and relationships, as well as religious beliefs and humor. This was a first reads book won by my daughter and loaned to me.

[Ane Mulligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Smith is delightfully irreverent without going over the line. I found the character's faith (wrapped in the author's hilarious sense of humor) to be an honest portrayal of many Christians' faith - an imperfect woman trying to work it all out. Yet honest truths are revealed in this story, too; one being forgiveness. One of Haywood Smith's best! It's memorable and deserves a place on my "keeper shelf".

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a lucky winner of this book, which was my first Haywood Smith book. If her others are as good as this I can look forward to more great books and catching up with Ms. Smith. Ms. Smith brings the characters to life and draws you into the story with them. You will feel as if you know each character personally. You won't want to put it down because you have to know what's next.

[Sybyl.Stringer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because of the fact that The main characters were devoted to their faith. It was nice to read about people living their lives through faith while dealing with human issues such as lust and doubt. The author built these characters with lots of humor and Southern charm and I very much enjoyed this book!

[Jean Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written but unexpectedly a religious read. Not what I'd expected. Nice Southern characters with a Yankee sister-in-law added for fairness.

If you like reading scripture and having it applied to real life, I suspect you would rate this higher.

[Barbara Benton]

It takes a lot for me to abandon a book. But I decided that retirement allows me to read what I like and not read something just because I read the book that came before it. Too much religion and not enough plot. Disappointing book.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love Haywood Smith and this book doesn't disappoint. She writes a southern novel that I just want to crawl into and hang out - enjoying lots of peaches and sweet tea!

[Regina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this book up at my library's book sale because, after reading the cover flap, it sounded like a fun, interesting light read. Nowhere did it mention being especially Christian and it wasn't from a Christian publisher so I definitely wasn't expecting a book so packed with religious platitudes. Though I'm not a religious person myself, I've got no problem reading about people different from myself so that wasn't the problem, but the overt religiousness was certainly surprising, given the blurb.

I didn't find many likeable characters in this story. Most were judgmental, wishy-washy, unrealistic or downright racist, often all four of those things. The main character, Lin, is 60 years old, as we're continually reminded, but for some reason she and her younger brother act like children around their mother, whom they both live with and whom takes care of them like little kids.

Lin is super judgmental, and bizarrely prudish while also talking a lot about sex and dildos, etc. She calls two women sluts for having torn jeans and looking at their cell phones in a waiting room. She claims she's not racist but delivers some pretty common racist tropes- her college history course teaches 'PC' history designed only "to make white people feel guilty"? (I had to double check that this book was written in 2014 because this is such a common christian nationalist theme now). She claims her biology teacher is impossible to understand because she's from Nigeria so she can't communicate with her. (Nigeria's official language is English!) Their mother is a 90+ year old woman who does all the work in the house and seemingly has no issue with her husband's white supremacy beliefs. The minister isn't too bad initially although he's unrealistic. He also grabs Lin for a passionate kiss the 2nd time they meet and declares his undying love for her. How did that happen? Who knows? There's no consent here, she's just powerless against him, I guess.

The whole relationship with her and Connor is totally unbelievable. How could they have fallen so madly in love from just a brief real estate transaction? Lust, I can understand, but love- nope. And then he just automatically expects they'll marry before they ever go on a single date? And they don't want to bother to get to know each other because the temptation would be too much? Am I missing something? How is that supposed to represent a good or even a godly marriage? They're strangers who've only eaten dinner together (chaperoned!) a few times! They seem to get married only so they can have sex. Yeah, like that's a good foundation.

The thing that kept me reading was the hope, you might even say, certainty, that Lin was going to learn something in the end. That she'd change her judgmental, holier-than-thou ways and learn that she could be alright on her own, that she didn't need a man just because that was how she'd been raised to think. And it really did seem, at almost the very end, that she was coming to that realization. But then, nope. She married the guy she'd just been mad at, right after she told herself that she could be strong on her own. There's even a thinly disguised cameo by Joel Osteen at the end.

Yes, it took til the very end to realize that this story was every bit as vapid as it seemed. No lessons learned. I'm just glad I bought it used. Do not recommend.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the author’s Red Hat series, but I struggled with many components of this book. Lin seemed very scattered and while she’s positioned as strong and independent, she couldn’t seem to make any decisions - she was on the fence on so many things and ended up marrying a man she didn’t really know (and thanks to a scandalous dress?).

Some of the detailed descriptions dragged on and took away from the plot, such as the meals and her first day at college. I don’t mind religious references, but these went overboard. And I felt like a lot of stories were left hanging.

Overall a light and easy read but a struggle to motivate myself to finish it.

[Arnetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a very interesting book with great characters. A few twists and turns to surprise the reader throughout. Was a bit of a contrast as some parts strong Christian beliefs presented mixed in with a lot of lust, etc.... Seeing how one person completely turned their life around was inspiring. Showed other characters who learned to forgive someone they had basically shunned was also good. Lots of good parts, lots of fun parts, a few kinda 'this doesn't really fit in here' moments. Overall, good book.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say "you can't go home again," but they lie. In Lin's case, they lied TWICE! She boomeranged back into the madness that is her family not once, but twice! And each time, she grew a little, learned a little, laughed a little, hurt a little. But this time, things are looking up! However, Lin being Lin, her inner Puritan is not going to take this lying down!

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read...seemingly fluffy and lighthearted, but actually a very good story about life. Funny, sad, poignant, tense, it keeps you interested and you really cheer for some characters and pump your fist when others get their due.

[Millicent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to read about all these quirky Southern characters!!

[Tiffany E-P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too god heavy and in a way that felt like a personal journal. But there were good lessons about being wary of a new man and not jumping into sexual relationships

[Sally Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haywood Smith deals out a hefty dish of laughter and a whole lot of Jesus. I love her books!

[Belinda Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!

This was a fun and enjoyable read, my first by this author. I will definitely read more of her works when I am in the mood for something light and Southern!

[Stephanie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovecthis book. Love this authors books. They're funny and light hearted. Really hit home fir us southerners. 🇺🇸

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great southern family saga book 2

[Tonya Mathis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. I'll probably be buying this book. T hope there's more books with these characters.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute read with lots of southern charm

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faith filled Southern humor. Lin (60) returns home to her 90 something mother and AA brother broke after her divorce. She decides to go back to school since her real estate career is not doing well in the down-turned market. On her last house sale, she meets the new Baptist preacher and sparks fly. She wants to concentrate on school, but lust keeps getting the way. Her family is a zany mix of characters and the story is entertaining.

[Casey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointing. I love the author's "Red Hat Society" series. This book however never fully bridges the gap in making unbelievable characters believable. A fun-spirited, stand up for yourself, take life with gusto, 60 year old woman, who happens to be quoting scripture all the time. Perhaps someone could make this character believable, but Haywood Smith definitely missed the boat. A former alcoholic no-good brother, who suddenly has turned the corner and is on the right path. Partially believable but what happened to get him on the straight and narrow? Sure he goes to AA meetings, but that is not enough to make him believable in this book. And,just when I am ready to forgive everything because the main character seems content to live her own life and realize she can do better than either man who claims he wants to marry her, but is sorely lacking in proving it, she goes and forgives one and gets married again. So much more powerful if she would have turned them both down. Once again, Haywood did nothing to convince us that this man was worthy of her love, merely the opposite, and bam, she just decides he's "good enough". After all, "all men are frogs, but this one's a pretty good frog". After everything Lin went through in the book she settles for a "pretty good frog". What a waste of my reading time!!!!!