Everyone from Louisiana to Florida knows Mama Rubya small-town girl who became one of the Souths most notorious and volatile women. In this beautiful reissue,New York Timesbestselling author Mary Monroe reveals how the indomitable heroine of her acclaimed classicThe Upper Roomcontinues to vex the family shes left behind.

Mama Ruby has died and Maureen Montgomery is finally taking charge of her own life. With her beautiful teenage daughter, Loretta, by her side, she returns to Florida and settles into a routine any other woman would consider bland. But for Maureen and her brother, Virgil, after Mama Rubys hair-trigger temper and murderous ways, bland is good. Yet Loretta has other ideas . . .

Set on becoming rich and famous, Loretta convinces Maureen to let her start a modeling career with the help of a Miami photographer. But even as they move in promising new directions, they cant escape Mama Rubyincluding Virgil, whos concealed one of her most shocking acts for most of his life. To make a future thats truly hers, Maureen will have to take on a bit of Mama Rubys strength, forge new bondsand face down the past.