The Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes

A Novel

By: Cathy Holton

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Cotillion: A formal gathering of bright young women on the verge of entering adulthood, the society pages, and prospective high-tax-bracket marriages. Think a Civil War reenactment with crisp, clean white dresses.

Catfight: An impromptu gathering of not-so-young women on the verge of losing their cool. Think a cotillion with hair-pulling.

It's been more than a year since the Kudzu Debutantes exacted sweet, merciless revenge on their cheating husbands, but the repercussions are still palpable throughout Ithaca, Georgia: Nita is anxiously preparing herself for marriage to Jimmy Lee, a man 13 years her junior; Lavonne, despite having dropped her husband - and 80 pounds - and having launched her own business, longs for love; and while Eadie remains married to Trevor, she feels more neglected than ever.

So the occasion of Nita's second wedding seems like just the ticket to cheer up the disconsolate Debs. But they've made a formidable enemy in Virginia Broadwell, first lady of Ithaca and the bride's ex-mother-in-law. Hell-bent on vengeance and determined to restore old-school social mores, Virginia hatches a plan so devious it makes her pedicured toes curl in anticipation.

Soon enough, the women are knocked for a loop, but you can't keep a Kudzu Debutante down for long. The one thing stronger than Virginia's wrath is the bond between the three friends, who soon learn that one of Virginia's Jimmy Choos contains an irresistible Achilles' heel. With spirit, wit, and down-home gumption, the take-no-prisoners trio decides it's time to ditch their cotillion manners as they rally to save Nita's marriage, Lavonne's business, Eadie's sanity, and the honor of Kudzu Debs the world over.

Packed with authentic Southern flavor and characters as colorful as an azalea in full bloom, The Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes serves up stinging one-liners and earthy wisdom in equal measure.

©2007 Cathy Holton (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A comic vengeance fantasy that....goes down as easily as sweet tea." ( Boston Globe)
"Holton's headstrong heroines deliver homespun wisdom and hearty laughs in this uproarious sequel." ( Booklist)

Could have been much better...

This audio book has all the earmarks of what COULD HAVE BEEN a great book: terrific characters, humorous situations, and an interesting plot. I didn't expect great literature, but it should have been much more enjoyable. I think I might have been rolling on the the floor, at times, if someone like Judith Ivey, Isabel Keating, Renee Raudman, or Lorelei King had narrated it.

Marguerite Gavin's narration of the story wasn't bad, but it wasn't good, either. Most of her sentences came out as statements, and there was too little differentiation between character voices. As with any book set in the South (as those whom have lived, or do live there, or even visit often know) the possibilities of pitch, intonation, and accent - even within the same small town - are almost endless. Unfortunately, Ms. Gavin's reading was pedestrian when it could have been interesting and certainly more engrossing.

In addition, pronunciations could have used a little more research, i.e., bunco should have been pronounced like "bunk-o," not "Bun Co." It seems her pronunciation of New Orleans should have been closer to "Nawlins" than "New Orlins" - but perhaps I'm being too too picky. The real shame is that lines that should have been laugh-out-loud funny are performed as throw-aways. Some of the well-written (if sometimes slightly cliche) characters could have been more endearing in their eccentricity if more individuality had been given to voices and intonation.

To be fair, Ms. Gavin's narration is better in Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series, but as I recall, it's not set in the south, and her character voices are better varied. Even there, though, she also has a tendency to make statements out of sentences. All-in-all she's not one of my favorite narrrators, but I've heard MUCH worse.

Just ok.

This was just ok, nothing exciting or too special for me. It was easy to listen too and the story was fine just kind of bland.

Wonderful!

I loved this book. It is funny and very enjoyable to listen too. I will definitely listen to it again and recommend it to other people.

Entertaining but not amazing.

This book wasn't a bad listen, but it didn't make me want to come back for more. The characters are neat, but the story isn't that intriguing. I wasn't blown away.

Fun Read

Loved this book. The characters were well developed and the narration was the best I have heard.