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Audiobooks > Fiction >  Contemporary Women > The Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes: A Novel

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Extended Audio Sample The Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes: A Novel Audiobook, by Cathy Holton Click for printable size audiobook cover
3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 3.00 (223 ratings) (rate this audio book) Author: Cathy Holton Narrator: Marguerite Gavin Publisher: Blackstone Audio Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download Audio Length: Release Date: March 2010 ISBN: 9781455190522
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Cotillion (n): 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 (n): 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 thirteen years her junior; Lavonne, despite having dropped her husband—and eighty 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. 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.

Download and start listening now!

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Quotes & Awards

  • “It’s great fun reading about these women as they trade their tea for tequila and get smart, get out, and get even.”

    Nancy Thayer, author of the Hot Flash Club series

  • “A broadly comic vengeance fantasy that rips along energetically…light and funny…Holton has a lively, fluid style that shifts easily among the viewpoints of several characters and goes down as easily as sweet tea.”

    Boston Globe 

  • “Irresistibly entertaining, hilarious, a cunning, rollicking addition to the popular Southern ‘steel magnolias’ genre…Not since the Ya-Ya Sisterhood has there been a group of good ol’ gals to rival Holton’s trio of scorned Southern women.”

    Booklist

  • “Holton shines in this farce, proving once again a Kudzu Deb is antisociety, game for almost anything and as indestructible as the eponymous vine.”

    Publishers Weekly

Listener Opinions

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Donna | 1/13/2014

    " three friends learn that one's ex-mother in law is a revengeful woman plotting to take away the teenage daughter. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Kim | 1/1/2014

    " Both of these books were great! Funny and entertaining. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Christina Simons | 12/22/2013

    " This one is also very, very funny. Read it when you need a good laugh. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Margarita | 12/10/2013

    " Very cute book! I didn't read the first one, but this one was pretty funny. It was a southern "comedy of manners" with some humorous creative use of curse words. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Janice | 12/9/2013

    " I LOVED this book! About mid-way through I found out it's actually the second book of the series, the first being Revenge of the Kudzu Debutantes, which I've ordered and can't wait to start reading! This book made me proud to be woman raised in the South! "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Kt. | 11/27/2013

    " Read "Revenge of..." first. Great, fun books. Well enough written, great characters. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Vicky | 11/15/2013

    " I absolutely love all of Cathy Holton's books. These characters remind me of the southern women in my life. KEEP ON WRITING CATHY!! "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Lynn | 10/1/2013

    " This book was great fun to read, and inspired me to want to find more by Cathy Holton. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Denice Hogan | 8/25/2013

    " a really cute book.Picked it out because I liked the title but thoroughly enjoyed it. It was very entertaining. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Sherry Beth Preston | 11/28/2012

    " I chose this book based on its excellent name. I am just barely into it, but it apears to be book two or book three of a series. We will see if it stands alone. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Carolyn | 11/27/2012

    " Book club pick again - not worth the time. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Sue | 8/20/2012

    " A fun easy read. Certainly not heavy literary fiction, but a great read. I often read just for entertainment and this does the job well. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Sybil | 6/26/2012

    " Funny, great attitude and fun take on the South. Love the Southern Culture on the Skids lyrics! "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Kesha | 6/23/2012

    " This book was good. Pretty witty, but I had a feeling the plot would have a strange twist. I figured out the twist, but kept reading anyway. I liked the first one much better. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Patti | 6/23/2012

    " I really like Cathy HOltons's style of writing. Her characters were very interesting. Anxious to read more "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Sandra | 5/26/2012

    " This was a fun book with kooki characters. Maybe it's because I'm from the South, but I totally understood them. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Katherine | 1/28/2012

    " Reads like a "chick flick" in a book, to be enjoyed primarily by women of a certain age who have experience growing up in the south, living in the south, or being related to anyone from the south. Some really hilarious scenes with great characters. Fun to read. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Mary-Ann Muffoletto | 12/31/2011

    " Fun to read but characters were cliched and predictable. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Misty | 10/6/2011

    " This is one of the wittiest and most fun books I've read. It's full of sarcasm, conniving southern belles, loyal friendships and tough and sweet romance. All in all, a recipe for an incredibly enjoyable novel. I highly recommend this one! I loved it! "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Robin | 8/11/2011

    " fun, if you like the south, poking fun of the south, books about women finding their way at different stages of life. some good secrets that don't reveal themselves until the end. also has some hilarious conversations and events. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Kathy | 6/25/2011

    " A laugh a page- enjoy this for the simple read it is with passages that will have you laughing out loud "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Deb | 3/30/2011

    " Sequel to The revenge of the kudzu debutantes. The four friends, all former wives of lawyers, continue their adventures in Ithaca, GA. Funny. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Joann | 1/29/2011

    " Better read than I thought it would be. A little like a soap opera but funnier. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Lynn | 12/28/2010

    " This book was great fun to read, and inspired me to want to find more by Cathy Holton. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Patti | 10/26/2010

    " I really like Cathy HOltons's style of writing. Her characters were very interesting. Anxious to read more "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Mary-Ann | 8/27/2010

    " Fun to read but characters were cliched and predictable. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Vicky | 2/1/2010

    " I absolutely love all of Cathy Holton's books. These characters remind me of the southern women in my life. KEEP ON WRITING CATHY!! "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Joann | 1/23/2010

    " Better read than I thought it would be. A little like a soap opera but funnier. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Sherry | 12/11/2009

    " I chose this book based on its excellent name. I am just barely into it, but it apears to be book two or book three of a series. We will see if it stands alone. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Sybil | 10/24/2009

    " Funny, great attitude and fun take on the South. Love the Southern Culture on the Skids lyrics! "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Robin | 6/25/2009

    " fun, if you like the south, poking fun of the south, books about women finding their way at different stages of life. some good secrets that don't reveal themselves until the end. also has some hilarious conversations and events. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Misty | 4/2/2009

    " This is one of the wittiest and most fun books I've read. It's full of sarcasm, conniving southern belles, loyal friendships and tough and sweet romance. All in all, a recipe for an incredibly enjoyable novel. I highly recommend this one! I loved it! "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Carolyn | 8/19/2008

    " Book club pick again - not worth the time. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Margarita | 1/9/2008

    " Very cute book! I didn't read the first one, but this one was pretty funny. It was a southern "comedy of manners" with some humorous creative use of curse words. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Deb | 1/3/2008

    " Sequel to The revenge of the kudzu debutantes. The four friends, all former wives of lawyers, continue their adventures in Ithaca, GA. Funny. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Donna | 8/23/2007

    " three friends learn that one's ex-mother in law is a revengeful woman plotting to take away the teenage daughter. "

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About the Author
Author Cathy Holton

Cathy Holton was born in Lakeland, Florida, and grew up in college towns in the South and the Midwest. She attended Oklahoma State University and Michigan State University and worked for a number of years in Atlanta before settling in the mountains of Tennessee with her husband and their three children.

About the Narrator

Marguerite Gavin is a seasoned theater veteran, a five-time nominee for the prestigious Audie Award, and the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones and Publishers Weekly awards. Marguerite has been an actor, director, and audiobook narrator for her entire professional career. With over four hundred titles to her credit, her narration spans nearly every genre, from nonfiction to mystery, science fiction, fantasy, romance, and children’s fiction. AudioFile magazine says, “Marguerite Gavin…has a sonorous voice, rich and full of emotion.”

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