Although wealthy housewife Marti is only vaguely worried because her husband works such long hours that he mainly communicates through sticky notes, she's frantic when she hears that her lover has brought back a new wife from his business trip to Prague. A venture capitalist intent on reviving downtown Cleveland, John Harding has come back to the exclusive Hunting Hills gated community at the request of his ex-wife, who needs help reining in her teenage daughter. His new bride, Claire Stark, has worked the last 20 years establishing herself as a newspaper reporter, most recently writing about international terrorism and refugees in Eastern Europe. She accompanies John to Ohio and is overwhelmed by the novelty of being a wife and by her own lack of style in comparison to the fortunate wives around her. When the women of Hunting Hill offer a mixed blessing of welcome, Claire isn't sure if she should run away in fear or submit to the Hunting Hills Triathlon (manicure, yoga class and therapy appointments back-to-back).

Boots, John's ex-wife, is known for destroying relationships, so she begins undermining Claire's self esteem and adding strain to the marriage at their first meeting. Her pointed questions lead Claire to admit that she'd like to work for the big newspaper in Cleveland but that her husband won't allow it because they previously smeared his family's reputation. Claire also lets slip that her ex-boyfriend is now the executive editor. Soon Claire discovers that the smarmy man wants her back, as more than just a staff writer.

Marti tries to check out her competition by taking Claire shopping for Chanel suits and copper kitchenware, all the while pumping Claire for information about John. Claire's other choices for female companionship include Karen, a quasi-activist whose long dark hair is artfully and artificially streaked with gray, and Lisa, who's thin and peppy due to her ADD medication, which is one of several drugs she uses to keep her husband interested and faithful. And of course John's outspoken mother, a tiny and terrifying society matron, has arrived for an extended visit from her home in Palm Springs, hoping to catch up on news and manipulate her new daughter-in-law.

What are the secrets of these fortunate wives? Hunting Hills has a history of salacious affairs and the residents are not fond of outsiders. As the saying goes -- with friends like these, who needs enemies? -- and the gossip of Claire's arrival is soon surpassed by a series of scandals that will change Hunting Hills forever.

With a major nod toward the popular television show Desperate Housewives, author Sarah Strohmeyer offers us a tale of delicious gossip, racy affairs, completely selfish women who take themselves very seriously and a hint of the absurdity that made Strohmeyer's five Bubbles novels so fun. This examination of the wealthy housewife is a humorous lark with serious undertones, and fans of Strohmeyer's other work should enjoy the Midwest setting and scintillating characters. Just think of me as your personal shopper and have your bookstore deliver this new novel to your door, then you should indulge yourself in THE SECRET LIVES OF FORTUNATE WIVES.