The fabulous Frederick Mercedes Hildebrand Ware, Frede to her friends, has it all, including, but not limited to looks, money, status, a mansion, a good-looking, doting husband, Gordon, an art gallery, and she is a member in excellent standing in the prestigious Junior League of Willow Creek, Texas. If Frede hadn't skipped the usual luncheon after the League's New Projects Committee meeting to go home and take a pregnancy test, she would not have walked in on Gordon and his girlfriend. In the blink of an eye, Frede's fabulous life begins a downward spiral. Her lying, cheating husband has depleted her bank accounts and safety deposit boxes, and has left the country with his sleazy girlfriend. There isn't a lawyer in Willow Creek that will represent Frede, as most of them are involved with Gordon. Out of sheer desperation, Frede makes an appointment with the one lawyer in town that dislikes Gordon as much as she does -- the tasteless, nouveau riche Howard Grout.

Howard assures Frede he can recover her money and ruin Gordon Ware in the process. He is also willing to waive his fee since she has no money, but he does have a price. Frede will get his wife a membership in the Willow Creek Junior League. Nikki Grout is a loud, spandex and stiletto heel wearing, ball of fire and definitely not an acceptable candidate for the WCJL. But, she is also a childhood friend of Frede's who had a rough life. It will take a miracle to transform Nikki into WCJL material, but if anyone can do it, it's Frede, so she accepts Howard's conditions. Surprisingly, it is through the Grouts that Frede meets artist Sawyer Jackson, a man who can save her floundering art gallery.

Every now and then a book comes along that makes you glad you are a reader. THE DEVIL IN THE JUNIOR LEAGUE is that book for me. This is a wickedly funny and sexy story featuring top of the line characters -- except for the loathsome Gordon, of course and his skanky girlfriend -- and a narrative and story line that is totally pure gold. Kudos to Linda Francis Lee for one of the best books of 2006!