By invitation only : a novel /

Meet Diane English Stiftel -- Meet Susan Kennedy Cambria -- Diane's Souther soiree -- Really? Pig Pickin'? -- Irma is served -- Moonshine and make-believe -- Shelby has a word or two -- Party's over -- Cocktails in Chicago -- All about beige -- Lowcountry Thanksgiving -- Chicago Thanksgiving -- Shelby -- Burying pop -- Susan's Chicago Christmas -- Lowcounty Christmas -- Chicago fire -- Onions make you cry -- Shelby takes a lowcountry position -- The best gift ever -- Diane -- on the way -- Party on! -- The wedding -- Susan -- Jailbird blues -- Susan -- You never know -- Diane -- No forgiveness -- Diane is awesome -- Susan's reflection -- Diane on the farm -- OMG! -- Road trip.

In the Lowcountry of South Carolina, Diane English Stiftel, her brother Floyd, and her parents are throwing a barbecue to celebrate her son's engagement. On this gorgeous, magical night, the bride's father, Alejandro Cambria, a wealthy power broker and one of Chicago's celebrated elite, discovers the limits and possibilities of cell phone range. Meanwhile, mother of the bride, Susan Kennedy Cambria, who dabbles in public relations and believes herself deserving of every square inch of her multimillion-dollar penthouse and imaginary Carrara marble pedestal, learns about moonshine and dangerous liaisons. Soon, and nearly a thousand miles away from her comfortable, familiar world, Diane feels the antithesis of the bright lights and super-sophisticated guests attending her son Fred's second engagement party. Why a second party? Maybe it had been assumed that the first one wouldn't be up to snuff? Fred is marrying Shelby Cambria, also an only child. The Cambrias' dearest wish is for their daughter to be happy. If Shelby wants to marry Frederick, aka Fred, they will not stand in her way -- although Susan does hope her friends won't think her daughter is marrying more than a few degrees beneath her socially. At the same time, Diane worries that her son will be lost to her forever. These two very different worlds -- of limousines and pickup trucks, caviars and pigs, skyscrapers and ocean spray -- feature a cast of characters who all have something to hide and a lot to learn. A difference in legal opinions, a headlong dive from grace, and an abrupt twist will reveal the truth of who they are, and demonstrate what kind of grit they have. Are they living the life they want? What regrets do they hold? And how would they remake their lives if they were given the invitation to do so?