The Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes: A Novel [Kindle Edition]

Cathy Holton (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ithaca, Georgia's Eadie Boone, the soon-to-be-former Nita Broadwell and Lavonne Zibolsky—the Kudzu Debutantes of Holton's 2006 debut—are back to turn the tables on a scheming society matron in Holton's second peachy-fine farce. Nita's ex-mother-in-law, Virginia Broadwell, is a dominatrix dressed in Anne Taylor who wants revenge for Nita's divorcing her son, Charles, and, she thinks, destroying the family law firm. (That divorce was fallout from bad boy behavior at the firm, which also ended Lavonne's marriage and disrupted Eadie's in the first Kudzu Debs adventure.) At 65, Virginia marries wealthy redneck Bob Redmon in order to stay afloat, but she's bent on bankrupting Nita, who is set to marry hot carpenter Jimmy Lee Motes, and—knowing the couple can't afford a court battle—to then gain custody of her granddaughter, Whitney. Lavonne's work-aholic single life (happily disrupted by romance) and Eadie's up and down marriage to lawyer-turned-novelist Trevor are nicely detailed. Holton shines in this farce, proving once again a Kudzu Deb is antisociety, game for most anything and as indestructible as the eponymous vine. (Aug.)
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From Booklist

Revenge is a dish best served cold, which should be hard to do in the heat of the deep South, but if anyone's equal to the task, it's the Kudzu Debutantes. They've met their match, however, when Nita's ex-mother-in-law, Virginia, decides it's time to pay Nita and her fellow Debs, Eadie and Lavonne, back for the domestic destruction wreaked in Holton's debut novel (Revenge of the Kudzu Debutantes, 2006). Furious that her son's marriage and career, not to mention her own social and financial standing, were devastated when Nita et al. discovered the debauchery that went on during their husbands' annual hunting trip, Virginia schemes to destroy Nita by bankrupting her and her new husband and suing for custody of Nita's sullen teenage daughter, Whitney. Virginia almost gets away with it, too, until the Debs don their detective caps and expose Virginia's most deeply held secret while the TV cameras from Gracious Southern Living whir on. Holton's headstrong heroines deliver homespun wisdom and hearty laughs in this uproarious sequel. Haggas, Carol

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 809 KB
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (December 10, 2008)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B001NJMBA4
• Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,077 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

The daughter of a college professor, Cathy Holton grew up in college towns in the American South and Midwest. She has worked as a dude ranch hand, a university seminar coordinator, a paralegal, and an assistant in a fire investigation firm. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee with her husband, three brilliant children, and a wall-eyed dog named Yoshi. She is the author of "Revenge of the Kudzu Debutantes", "Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes", and "Beach Trip", all published through Random House/Ballantine Books. Her fourth novel, "Summer in the South", about a Chicago writer who stumbles upon love, redemption, and a sixty-year-old murder mystery in a small Southern town, is due out in the spring of 2011.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Winner!!, July 18, 2008

By 

Mercedes L. Johnmeyer "The Most Happy" (Summerville, SC) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes: A Novel (Paperback)

Ok...just to let you know right off, if you're interested in reading this book, you MUST read 'Revenge of the Kudzu Debutantes' first. There are many references and comments that could seem dead-end if you haven't read the first book.

That said...what a FABULOUS sequel! I loved it just as much as the first. Virginia Redmon is out to seek revenge on her ex daughter-in-law Nita for ruining her sons life (deservidly) and causing him to lose his law practice, which happened to be Virginia's main source of income. Virginia is the type of character you just LOVE to hate. While you're always rooting for Nita to stick-it-to-her, you can't help but look forward to whatever evil plan Virginia will come up with next.

Now, while there were some things that may have seemed a bit far-fetched (like the whole adoption thing, it was quite a stretch for me to believe how Nita figured everything out) the ending was very satisfying. I just love Nita, Lavonne, and Eadie, and I can't wait for Ms. Holton's next novel. Hopefully it'll center around these three fun, martini-loving women again!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Even better than her first novel, August 22, 2007

By 

Robin H. Townsend "mid-life reader" (Chattanooga, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes: A Novel (Hardcover)

In Secrets of the Kudzu Debutantes, the triumvirate of Nita, Eadie and Lavonne return in true form with high spirits, scheming minds and great fun. All three women seem lonely and confused with their male relationships: a neglected marriage, a potentially disastrous marriage to a young carpenter and the solo life of a bright workaholic. Despite their men, these three women know how to work together, bond and indulge in shakers of martinis as they once again plot with delight. While on the one hand, they are a sorry lot, on the other they are smart, lovable and laughable.

While focused on Ithaca, this novel slips to New Orleans, Amelia Island, New York and more where we get a glimpse of worlds larger, but perhaps no different from their small hometown. Regardless of whether we share these women's lives, we can see glimpses of our ourselves not only in too small Ithaca but also at nursing home,tennis courts, bars and hotels.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cathy Holton does it again, September 7, 2007

By 

JerseyGirl "Bookworm" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes: A Novel (Hardcover)

The author has done it again with a witty and laugh out loud funny novel! I could not put down her first novel and this one is just as good. If you want a great read and to laugh from cover to cover then read the latest goings on with Nita, Lavonne, and Eadie! Cathy Holton's novels should not be missed.