When southern artist, Judith Lafferty, loses her long-time, prestigious museum job to a much younger man, she finds herself devastated, alone in her sixties, and on the brink of financial disaster. Enter the incomparable Gumbeaux Sistahs, who deliver day-old coffee to her front door as a ploy, then go on to kidnap her, feed her excellent gumbo, and come up with outrageous solutions to her problems. Their motives are just good excuses to drink wine, have a great time, argue over whose mother makes the best gumbo, and, most of all, help a sister out. Ageism, dangerous boyfriends, deep loneliness, and any other challenges that can face the over fifty crowd don't stand a chance against these five resourceful ladies. The Gumbeaux Sistahs is a heart-warming, smart story of friendship and unexpected shenanigans that you do not want to miss.
At 3 p.m., she found herself in the living room, feet-up on the coffee table, sweaty, dirty and exhausted. Then the doorbell rang. In her mind she could hear her kids saying to her, “Don’t kill whoever it is, Mom, it’s probably just the mail lady delivering the mail as she does every day. You need the mail, Mom. Please don’t hurt the nice lady.”
She chuckled in spite of herself, and went to greet the mail lady, who had seen Judith looking this bad a time or two before from doing chores around the house. So Judith was not worried about her appearance when she swung open the front door. Before she could get it completely open, a hand carrying a coffee cup appeared around the corner, and came dangerously close to poking her in the eye.
“Hello, dear,” came a cheerful voice from the other side of the door. “You forgot your coffee yesterday, so we decided to bring it to you.”
Judith peered around the coffee cup and the door, and was completely shocked to find the four women from the coffee house yesterday, standing on her front steps. Stunned, she sputtered, “What the . . . ?”
“Special delivery!” yelled Lola, with a huge grin on her freckled face.
“You followed me home?” said a stunned Judith, in shock and embarrassment over her appearance. She did not want to be rude, but this was above and beyond weird. She thought, “Have they been stalking me? That’s so creepy!” She deeply regretted opening the door.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” said Dawn sarcastically, checking her phone as she talked. “Nobody has time for stalking anymore. Now we just follow people around. That’s different, right?”
“What?” thought Judith. She found herself wondering who the heck these women really were. They looked harmless enough, but she was suddenly filled with doubt, and a little bit of fear.
Helen gave Dawn an exasperated look and explained, “Don’t mind her, Judith. She’s teasing. We didn’t follow you. We know where you live. Lola lives right across the street, remember?”
Lola added with a smirk, “Don’t tell me you forgot that already.”
“No, I didn’t — sorry.” Judith took hold of the cup, and was surprised to find that it was cold and kind of used-looking. A thought occurred to her and she asked, astonished, “Wait — is this actually the same coffee from yesterday?”
“Yes, dear,” said Bea, smiling brightly, “We took good care of it for you.”
She chuckled in spite of herself, and went to greet the mail lady, who had seen Judith looking this bad a time or two before from doing chores around the house. So Judith was not worried about her appearance when she swung open the front door. Before she could get it completely open, a hand carrying a coffee cup appeared around the corner, and came dangerously close to poking her in the eye.
“Hello, dear,” came a cheerful voice from the other side of the door. “You forgot your coffee yesterday, so we decided to bring it to you.”
Judith peered around the coffee cup and the door, and was completely shocked to find the four women from the coffee house yesterday, standing on her front steps. Stunned, she sputtered, “What the . . . ?”
“Special delivery!” yelled Lola, with a huge grin on her freckled face.
“You followed me home?” said a stunned Judith, in shock and embarrassment over her appearance. She did not want to be rude, but this was above and beyond weird. She thought, “Have they been stalking me? That’s so creepy!” She deeply regretted opening the door.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” said Dawn sarcastically, checking her phone as she talked. “Nobody has time for stalking anymore. Now we just follow people around. That’s different, right?”
“What?” thought Judith. She found herself wondering who the heck these women really were. They looked harmless enough, but she was suddenly filled with doubt, and a little bit of fear.
Helen gave Dawn an exasperated look and explained, “Don’t mind her, Judith. She’s teasing. We didn’t follow you. We know where you live. Lola lives right across the street, remember?”
Lola added with a smirk, “Don’t tell me you forgot that already.”
“No, I didn’t — sorry.” Judith took hold of the cup, and was surprised to find that it was cold and kind of used-looking. A thought occurred to her and she asked, astonished, “Wait — is this actually the same coffee from yesterday?”
“Yes, dear,” said Bea, smiling brightly, “We took good care of it for you.”
"Gumbeaux Sistas is a fun romp through a small southern town filled with heartache and the healing salve of friendship. Author Jax Frey has created the most colorful southern women who will make you laugh, cry and keep you yearning for more."
Peggy Sweeney McDonald
Author of Meanwhile Back at Cafe Du Monde
_______________
“From the first paragraph, Gumbeaux Sistahs had me hooked! I could certainly relate to Judith’s plight, her feelings and her pride in wanting to keep them to herself and deal with them alone. I also love the group of jovial women who observe Judith, empathize with her, and push their way in to help her. This book may be about Southern women, but big applause to Jax Frey for writing this warm and humorous story that all women can relate to.”
Lena Prima, Singer
_______________
"A true New Orleans soul, Jax Frey has carved another piece of the universe in her new book, The Gumbeaux Sistahs.” Frey’s creative whimsy and attention to detail shines in a tale of love, life and getting even. Her signature, “Sistahs” come to life in a healing circle of gumbo gab stocked with a heavy dose of sassy drama and comedic flair."
Deborah Burst, freelance writer and photographer, author of five books, including Louisiana's Sacred Places
__________________
“Congratulations Jax, on your debut novel! “Gumbeaux Sistahs” is a delightful read and engaging story. Sista-hood at its finest."
Jenny B Tilbury, author, Welcome to the Garden Club”
__________________
"The improbable friendship of five Southern women battling ageism with comedic effect is a gift to lovers of literature and wit. This hilarious story of friendship and unexpected shenanigans is one you do not want to miss, but be careful reading it in public because you WILL laugh out loud. With an artist's eye, Jax Frey deftly captures the passion, culture, and unparalleled uniqueness of Southeast Louisiana. I'm fortunate to call Jax a friend -- and to call myself a feminist -- but it's not necessary to be either to relish this book. You don't have to know Jax to appreciate her work, but after experiencing it, you'll wish you did."
James Hartman
Peggy Sweeney McDonald
Author of Meanwhile Back at Cafe Du Monde
_______________
“From the first paragraph, Gumbeaux Sistahs had me hooked! I could certainly relate to Judith’s plight, her feelings and her pride in wanting to keep them to herself and deal with them alone. I also love the group of jovial women who observe Judith, empathize with her, and push their way in to help her. This book may be about Southern women, but big applause to Jax Frey for writing this warm and humorous story that all women can relate to.”
Lena Prima, Singer
_______________
"A true New Orleans soul, Jax Frey has carved another piece of the universe in her new book, The Gumbeaux Sistahs.” Frey’s creative whimsy and attention to detail shines in a tale of love, life and getting even. Her signature, “Sistahs” come to life in a healing circle of gumbo gab stocked with a heavy dose of sassy drama and comedic flair."
Deborah Burst, freelance writer and photographer, author of five books, including Louisiana's Sacred Places
__________________
“Congratulations Jax, on your debut novel! “Gumbeaux Sistahs” is a delightful read and engaging story. Sista-hood at its finest."
Jenny B Tilbury, author, Welcome to the Garden Club”
__________________
"The improbable friendship of five Southern women battling ageism with comedic effect is a gift to lovers of literature and wit. This hilarious story of friendship and unexpected shenanigans is one you do not want to miss, but be careful reading it in public because you WILL laugh out loud. With an artist's eye, Jax Frey deftly captures the passion, culture, and unparalleled uniqueness of Southeast Louisiana. I'm fortunate to call Jax a friend -- and to call myself a feminist -- but it's not necessary to be either to relish this book. You don't have to know Jax to appreciate her work, but after experiencing it, you'll wish you did."
James Hartman
The Gumbeaux's are all about FUN, LOVE and NEW ORLEANS! This group of women love their city, respect and support each other and know how to have more fun than anyone else - period! If this sounds like you and your friends, then you are official Gumbeaux Sistahs too!
Enjoy and share these FUN Gumbeaux Sistahs products with all your Gumbeaux friends - Pins, Flasks, Coasters, Trivets, totes, purses and
more to come!
Jax is also the co-founder of the Women of Infinite Possibilities, an empowering women’s organization started in Covington, LA, where Jax lives today with her loveable, tornado-of-a-pug named Lucy. The Gumbeaux Sistahs is her debut novel.
(Watch for the pop-up window to appear on Jax's website)
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ReplyDeleteThis sounds entertaining!
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteI am new to Jax Frey and her work. Thank you, Romance Novel Giveaways, for the intro to her and her work.
ReplyDeleteThe Gumbeaux sisters sound like a lot of fun. Thank you
ReplyDeleteHow long did it take you to write your book? Congrats on the release.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so good!
ReplyDeleteI love the cover and think the book sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the excerpt!
ReplyDeleteI love the cover. The colors and graphics are amazing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cover!
ReplyDelete