From Booklist
If you think all Red Hat Club members are sweet old ladies with a penchant for purple frocks and crimson chapeaus, think again. Smith's bunch of Buckhead babes--Georgia, Diane, Linda, SuSu, and Teeny--may all be women of a "certain age," but that doesn't mean they have to act like it. They're feisty, and sexy, and loyal to a fault, so when there's trouble within the group, they rally like the Three Musketeers on steroids. Of course, it helps when one of the members is a multimillionaire, able to spare no expense when it comes to problem solving. And if that means firing up the corporate jet to launch a drug intervention in Vegas, or booking an ocean liner for a monthlong plastic surgery cruise, then that's what the Red Hats do. If you're willing to suspend disbelief and go along for the joy ride, then hitting the road with Smith's lovable ladies is a riotous, raucous, roller-coaster adventure. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Review
"Engaging flashbacks help tell this charming story. Readers who enjoy friendship-themed books … will definitely go for this, too."
--Library Journal

“Smith fans know that when 50-something females don red hats for lunch at Atlanta’s Swan Coach House tearoom, mayhem ensues.”
--Publishers Weekly
"A spicy ... engaging ode to the lasting bonds of southern sisterhood and life-begins-at-50 optimism … will melt the most cynical of Yankee hearts."
--Kirkus Reviews



Book Description
Put on your red hats and plenty of attitude, and spend a hilarious, heartwarming read with five fabulous women. . . .

The Red Hat Club is back, in rare form. When Pru Bonner, black sheep of the group, falls off the wagon so hard it shakes Diane, Linda, SuSu, Teeny, and Georgia's world, "the girls" stage a hilarious kidnapping in Vegas to help their childhood friend clean up her act.

As the women confront their pasts along with their hazardous adventure, they discover surprising strength in themselves and their friendships. Laughter is spiced with secrets, surprises, and pitfalls aplenty, including a midlife pregnancy test, a fight for life, the perils of Internet dating, an all-expense-paid plastic surgery cruise, and a surprise celebration that proves it's never too late for love.

As in The Red Hat Club, these irrepressible heroines face the challenges of friendship in sickness and in health, with heart and indomitable humor. So join the Red Hat Club and remember that age is all in your head, calories should always be in chewable form (Diet Coke with chocolate éclairs!), and that when all else fails, your Red Hat Club will see you through.


(This novel has not been authorized or endorsed by the Red Hat Society.)



From the Inside Flap
Applause for Haywood Smith's The Red Hat Club

"A tribute to women who emerged victorious through divorce, menopause, spreading waistlines, and other tribulations."
- Chicago Tribune

"The Red Hat Club is a valuable life lesson for women of all ages. . . . A spunky, sexy, intriguing, lickety-split romp."
- Times (Roanoke, Virginia)

"A gossipy, engaging read, full of witty Southern characters readers will be unable to resist the urge to cheer on."
- The Florida Times-Union

"Smith's celebration of comradeship is a loving tribute to those lifelong relationships that may defy logic. . . . A joyous, joyful ode."
- Booklist

"Rowdy Southern feminist fantasy."
- Kirkus Reviews

"The Red Hat Club ladies are just Bridget, older, wiser, and with husbands who may or may not be faithful."
- Toronto Sun

"A fine, confiding . . . voice, which makes for a fast, easy read. Her dialogue is true to life. She has a wicked sense of humor."
- Bookreporter.com

"Inspiring . . . fun to read."
- Romantic Times

"A humorous, cathartic coming-of-middle-age story of six feisty women who refuse to throw in the towel---or the hat."
- The Tennessean
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"A hoot . . . A delightful read that shows that even 'mature' women can be full of surprises to themselves and others."
- Chattanooga Times

"A great story with many fond memories for anyone who had a group of ladies in their high school."
- Book Review Cafe



About the Author
Baby-boomer Haywood Smith (born Anne Haywood Pritchett) grew up as one of five children in North Atlanta, Georgia. Inspired by Jenny Joseph's free-spirited poem "Warning," Haywood writes lighthearted coming-of-middle-age tributes to the Jilted Generation of women who, like she, have emerged victorious through divorce, teenaged children, menopause, the Internet, tennis elbow, spreading waistlines, nothing but tacky clothes in the stores, and countless other modern tribulations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Georgia, SuSu, Teeny, Diane, and Linda are back in a new celebration of life and women's friendships from the New York Times bestselling author of The Red Hat Club
The Red Hats are back, in rare form. When childhood friend Pru Bonner—black sheep of the group—falls off the wagon so hard it shakes the Red Hats' world, "the girls" rally to get her into rehab with a hilarious kidnapping in Vegas, and act as her family for group therapy whether Pru wants it or not. Then Teeny celebrates Pru's successful release with a one-month, carte blanche plastic surgery cruise for all six of them, after which Diane explores the unpredictable world of Internet dating. As always, laughter and heart are spiced with secrets, surprises, and pitfalls aplenty, including a pregnancy test for a fiftysomething, a fight for life for one of them, a gold-digging romeo, and a surprise wedding that proves it's never too late for love.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

For three decades, no matter what, the Red Hat Club has met for their monthly luncheon. They religiously adhere to the Twelve Traditions, but each of these fiftysomething Southern belles is delightfully unique. In this sequel to The Red Hat Club, Smith's intrepid ladies are a bit older, but even drug addiction, alcoholism, cancer, and a pregnancy scare hasn't destroyed Georgia, Teeny, SuSu, Linda, Diane, and Pru's spirit. Now they're ready for their next group project: a mock kidnapping in Las Vegas, where they check Pru into drug rehab. Engaging flashbacks help tell this charming story. Readers who enjoy friendship-themed books, such as Rebecca Wells's Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, will definitely go for this, too. A welcome addition to libraries of all sizes. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/04.]-Shelley Mosley, Glendale Community Coll. Lib. Media Ctr., AZ Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews