Southern Girls Always Survive ~ A Book Review
Southern Girls Always Survive was sent to me to read and provide my honest review. Thank you to Self-Publishing Services for entrusting me with this opportunity. I enjoyed this debut novel by Rocky and Mary Kennedy Yost and am providing my book review below.
CHARACTERS IN SOUTHERN GRILS ALWAYS SURVIVE~
- Cecelia “Hilly” Garland – protagonist, part of lthe “12th Floor Girls”
- Mary Frances Garland – Hilly’s mother
- Mr. Allard Aiken – Attorney/running for State Senate
- Rolle Gilchrest – fellow classmate of Hilly
- Andrew Gilchrest – Congressman and Uncle of Rolle
- Julia Larson – College friend of Hilly – part of the “12th Floor Girls”, works at Capitol Cafe
- Kate McGowan – College friend of Hilly – part of the “12th Floor Girls”
- Bebe Bevan – College friend of Hilly – part of the “12th Floor Girls”
- Kathleen Conrad – President of Columbia Hall – part of the “12th Floor Girls”
- Dina Matthews – College friend of Hilly – part of the “12th Floor Girls”
- Marlee “Easy” Phillips – College friend of Hilly – part of the “12th Floor Girls”
- Eadie Mansfield – College dorm housemother
- Mona Derrick – College dorm housemother
- Douglas Nash – Senator & Hilly’s part-time boss at college
- Elona Nash – Wife of Senator Nash
- John Mitchell – Attorney General
- Martha Mitchell – wife of John Mitchell
- Cole P Harrison, III – Lawyer, on staff for Attorney General, Ex Green Beret
- Annie – a “seer”
- Wilford Haskins – retiring Senator
- Skyler Tillman “Tilly” – Cole’s coworker – counselor
- Jessie Laborde – drug dealer
- Martee – Hilly’s best friend in Aspen
- Max Verdell – Aspen Mayor
- Mamie Ingram – Gift shop owner
- Douglas Tremayne – Pro-Growth group Captain
- Jack Stolman – No-growth group Captain
- Stanfield Connors – DEA Agent
- Saint John – Ex Green Beret – Cole’s employee
- Zeno Reese – works for DA
- Liz Stine – Investigator
- Zelda – Rolle’s girlfriend – daughter of a NY Congressman
- Jude Prosser – Attorney
- Zeno Reese – Fake Assistant DA
- Viva Vickers – high school friend to Hilly – Real Estate agent
SYNOPSIS ~
Hilly Garland is a Southern Belle headed out to the University of South Carolina. A horriffic experience with a fellow classmate in the summer leading up to college leaves her hurt and a bit scared. The “12th Floor Girls” enter her life at just the right time, helping her to regain her life back. As she creates new Relationships in love and friendship, she learns to navigate new trials and successes through her college career and beyond.
BEFORE COLLEGE ~
Finishing high school with excitement, Hilly is still somewhat sad about leaving her mother behind. Her dad has been gone for three years and it has just been the two of them. Being from the “poor side of the tracks,” she somehow managed to escape the advances of the privileged Rolle Gilchrest…well almost!
THE 12TH FLOOR GIRLS ~
Julia Larson was the first to discover the hell that Hilly had gone through prior to getting to University. She took her under her wing and a strong friendship was immediately formed. Next to join the group was Kate McGowan from Jersey and the California Barbie doll, Bebe Bevan. Kathleen Conrad was one of the few sophomores on the 12th floor, so she was quickly elected to the office of president in the dorm. Rounding up the group was Marlee “Easy” Phillips from New Jersey and Dina Matthews, a preacher’s daughter.
POST GRADUATION ~
Before beginning their new careers, most of the girls decided to vacation in Colorado for ten days. This also became the beginning of Cole Harrison and Hilly’s whirlwind romance. Despite Hilly’s frightful past, Cole helps her to get over her demons as they fall completely for each other. Hilly learns to trust completely in Cole, in spite of his job. Hilly decides to stay in Aspen, Colorado for good!
RETURN TO VIRGINIA ~
After many years of bliss for Hilly, tragedy finds her once again. Once she gathers her wits about her, a return to Virginia is needed. Tilly purchases and old inn and renovates it with visions of the new Cafe Virginia. The 12th floor girls reappear in true fashion in support of their long time friend. All are proud of her as she carves out a new life in her old hometown, even amongst the one who had brought her so much pain in her earlier years.
Kate started wondering if there were others that went through the same pain as Hilly? Is the life of the privileged covered up to save disgrace against the familly…especially if politics are involved? The group of girls decide to investigate this further in hopes of protecting Hilly and any other victims. However, as stated in the book, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. They quickly discover there is much more to the privileged political family they all knew.
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Southern Girls Always Survive
$14.99
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ~
- Do you believe how Hilly handled her situation with Rolle was the best way to handle it?
- Taking into account both Hilly and Rolle’s lifestyles, do you think she had a chance to get justice?
- Do you think she would have a better chance of getting justice in today’s times vs. in the 1970’s?
- If your political party choice differed from your partner’s, could you stay with this person for life?
- Would you be able to look over Cole’s way of making Money as Hilly did?
- Hilly started noticing an issue between Connors and Cole…how long did it take you to realize what the issue was between them?
- Were you surprised to discover Cole’s hidden profession?
- Do you consider it a different crime to be involved in Watergate vs. being a drug dealer?
- After experiencing such a traumatic experience as Hilly did, do you believe it is possible to ever totally get past it?
- Would you like to be a juror in a case such as Ted Bundy’s? Would you attend as a spectator as Martee did?
- How do you feel you would react if you ran into Ted Bundy on the street?
- Saint John placed Voodoo Annie’s talisman in Hilly’s palm and continually chanted, “Eita-ko-sah-nug-ma.” What do you think this meant?
- What did Saint John mean when he told Hilly he was going hunting?
- Is it justifiable that money made the wrong way goes to the right places?
- How would you react if asked to sit down and dine with Jackie O?
OTHER GREAT READS ~
Do you need some other great reading ideas???? Below are reviews of some that I have loved…Just click the green links to read my reviews!
Winter Garden by Krisin Hannah
SOUTHERN GIRL GIFTS ~
Did this Southern Girls Always Survive book hit home with you? Are you a Southern Girl….or do you know a real Southern Girl? Here are some fun gift ideas with the southern girl theme:
Western Cowgirl Hat Cup
$10.99
Western Romance Bookmark Set
$9.99
CLOSING ~
Have you read Southern Girls Always Survive by Rocky Yost and Mary Kennedy Yost? I would love to hear your thoughts and discuss the questions above! Drop a message in the comments below!
Happy Reading My Friends ~
Mimi
The post Southern Girls Always Survive ~ A Book Review appeared first on MiMi-a great name for grandma.
Originally Published on https://mimiblog.org/blog/
