For 27 years, Julia Pettigrew avoided being a hussy. It is an unusal mandate but since her maternal grandmother was a hussy of some repute, the taint was always hanging overhead. That and the fact that her grandfather (who was once wedded to the hussy) was a minister of some repute made the mandate a matter of pride. Under the vigilant eye of her family, Julia had managed to stay well (her friend Corene would say too well) within the bounds of respectability, that is, until a scorching hot dog day in July; when a red dress, a lottery ticket and a barely black man put all her efforts in jeopardy.

Recommended to book clubs by 1 of 1 members.