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Southern Girls Always Survive
Set against the backdrop of the transformative 1970s, Southern Girls Always Survive is an empowering tale of a young woman's journey to reclaim her strength and define her own destiny. Hilly Garland's dream of leaving her small Virginia town for the promise of college life is overshadowed by a harrowing encounter with a privileged peer. Yet, this Southern belle's indomitable spirit is not so easily broken. As she steps into the halls of the University of South Carolina, a sisterhood of enduring friendships awaits—the "12th Floor Girls." Together, they weave a safety net that allows Hilly to heal and grow, rediscovering the confidence and self-respect that was once shaken.
Amidst the tapestry of college life, Hilly finds love in the arms of Cole Harrison, a relationship that blossoms into a decade of joy before tragedy strikes once more. In the face of loss, Hilly's resilience is tested again, but the legacy of love endows her with an unexpected fortune, providing a shield against the high-profile dangers of Martha Mitchell, the treachery of Ted Bundy, and the allure of Jackie Kennedy.
Her journey comes full circle when she returns to her pastoral roots, only to confront a chilling reality—evil has ascended to power, cloaked in the guise of Rolle Gilchrest, a congressman with a dark past. Standing on the soil of her ancestors, just a stone's throw from the nation's capital, Hilly Garland faces the ultimate test of to challenge the sinister force that has haunted her beginnings or to remain silent. Southern Girls Always Survive is not just a story of survival; it's a testament to the unyielding strength of a woman's heart.
Amidst the tapestry of college life, Hilly finds love in the arms of Cole Harrison, a relationship that blossoms into a decade of joy before tragedy strikes once more. In the face of loss, Hilly's resilience is tested again, but the legacy of love endows her with an unexpected fortune, providing a shield against the high-profile dangers of Martha Mitchell, the treachery of Ted Bundy, and the allure of Jackie Kennedy.
Her journey comes full circle when she returns to her pastoral roots, only to confront a chilling reality—evil has ascended to power, cloaked in the guise of Rolle Gilchrest, a congressman with a dark past. Standing on the soil of her ancestors, just a stone's throw from the nation's capital, Hilly Garland faces the ultimate test of to challenge the sinister force that has haunted her beginnings or to remain silent. Southern Girls Always Survive is not just a story of survival; it's a testament to the unyielding strength of a woman's heart.
493 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 29, 2024
17 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 7, 2024
I started reading this book, totally expecting to not like it. The opposite happened. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for the sequel!
May 17, 2024
Southern Girls Always Survive ~ A Book Review
MAY 14, 2024 / SHELLY LATINOVICH / 2 COMMENTS / EDIT
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.
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?
MAY 14, 2024 / SHELLY LATINOVICH / 2 COMMENTS / EDIT
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.
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?
June 7, 2024
I thoroughly enjoy this book! For me, it was a trip back to where I lived for many years, and in all the descriptions I was picturing every turn, highway, Inn along the way.The newsmakers of those times will not be forgotten,Martha Mitchell, Ted Bundy.......the Watergate Incident. We all knew people like those characters in our past lives, some much better forgotten. But this was a fun read for so many reasons. A good story, relatable characters, good 'scenery'......a good mystery and twist and we can all look forward to the sequel.......
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