The Southern Belles (The Brighton Belles Book 1) = Free On Request!!

It was a great read from the start, one I looked forward to picking up when I had time. About 3 sisters who’s lives were turned upside down and life’s challenges, judgements from others and over riding these. And most importantly love is more important than money. It was also really nice to relate to the story being Brighton born and bred.

I quickly became engrossed in this romantic, heartwarming and emotional story of three young ladies who fall from grace. The sisters are all engaging with their own and unique personalities and the friends, enemies and acquaintances they make are also believable, lovable and in at least one case damn horrible.
Well who is you Belle of The Ball? Mine would be Georgia a fiery but hugely lovable character. Well written and I look forward to the next book in the series.

A great holiday read, makes you laugh and cry. This book shows you that money isn't everything but love is

I enjoyed The Southern Belles more than I thought I would. I was expecting the sisters to be stuck up little madams but I loved that they were quite down to earth with very different personalities. I loved how the story was told and how it all came together at the end ... very clever and quite moving!

I Absolutely loved this book. I was hooked after the first chapter. It is a wonderful read I took the book away with me on holiday. My mother and grandmother is now reading. We all enjoyed every minute. Whilst your reading you can imagine yourself there watching every move. Would definitely recommend reading!

✨MY THOUGHTS ✨
I received a signed gifted copy from Duncan a while back, so, when the chance to be on a blog tour for The Southern Belles came up I knew I had to take part. Thank you to Emma for organising this tour.

This is a light hearted easy read of a story. A modem take on those fall from grace stories. Here we have three sisters who are used to the high life and rolling in the money. So, when their daddy dies and they are told that life isn't going to be so sweet for them anymore. Apparently, their daddy wasn't so great with money as they first thought. They are forced to leave behind their huge mansion and endless supply of money, and hot foot it to live in a simple bed sit, with only what they can fit into a suitcase for belongings.

What follows is a tale of how the three sisters cope with having to fend for themselves and actually earn a wage to live. There are dramas, mishaps, fights and tension along the way. But, romance is on the cards for all three. Not so plain sailing for either of them but it's nice to see their different takes on relationships.

I love the bond that the sisters have, it just goes to show that no matter if you have all the money in the world, or if you don't know when your next pay packet is coming in. To be happy all you need is the love of your family and friends.

There is one character I truly despised in this story, and I'd be shocked to discover if anyone does actually take a liking to the vile and selfish Felicity, nicknamed Flick (personally I'd have flicked her as far away as I could) She is hell bent on causing as much trouble as possible for the Southern Belles.

I enjoyed the quirky element that this story was told by a Nana to her granddaughter, and we find out that there are plenty more tales of the Belles to come.

If you enjoy a cosy read then you'll enjoy The Southern Belles. It has plenty of drama, humour and romance to keep you entertained.

The Southern Belles is an intriguing story. The Belles are likeable, loveable characters that prove their resilience along their journey of emotion and discovery. Keep your weekend free as this book is a warm, cosy, relishing read that you won’t want to put down. Highly recommended!!

What a fabulous highly recommended read. The book had me within the first chapter and I couldn’t put it down. Love the fact it is based in my home town of Brighton and all the characters. Looking forward to the next instalment.

You won't be able to put this book down once you've started reading it! Actually didn't want it to end. Would have loved to see how they got on with the future ventures (shelter etc).

Just read this book on holiday, it is a lovely heart warming read. Once started I couldn't put it down!
Would totally recommend.

Wonderfully paced story, perfect for reading on the beach. Loved the twists, turns, and surprises contained within the story. Looking forward to the next.

Brilliant summer holiday read.
My friend and I were hooked.
Makes you realise money doesn’t mean everything. Such a great read. Enjoy 😊

Excellent book. Well written. Would definitely recommend

An enjoyable and intriguing read about sisterhood and the ties that bind, The Southern Belles is a wonderful tale about three heiresses who find themselves having to fend for themselves after their father’s tragic and unexpected death.

Evelyn, Georgia and Olivia Belle – nicknamed The Southern Belles by the press – are three girls with the world at their feet. Having been born with a silver spoon in their mouths, their every need and desire is catered for and indulged in and these three sisters do not want for anything. They lead a life most people would envy and have everything they could ever possibly want. Money is no object and nothing is out of their price range – until things go awry when their father dies suddenly in a traffic accident. As the girls find themselves having to cope with their grief, the shocks looks set to keep on coming when they realise that the family finances weren’t as stable as they thought and that the houses, cars and assets all need to be sold leaving the girls penniless, shunned by their so-called friends and with a very uncertain future.

The girls have no money, no prospects and no idea how to fend for themselves. But they need to learn – fast! – because they do not have daddy’s credit card to turn to. Eldest daughter Evelyn, knowing just how dire the situation is, asks the family solicitor for help and, after pulling some strings, comes through with an offer to stay for two months in a flat in Brighton. It looks like the Belle sisters need to leave their five star luxury behind because their new home is a rat-infested hovel, but with no other options available, they find themselves moving in to a flat they would never have looked at in their previous lives.

With their lawyer looking into their father’s death, the girls must do whatever it takes to make ends meet. But getting a job isn’t as bad as they initially thought – especially as it leads to romance and to learning that money can buy many things, but happiness isn’t one of them.

Katie Simpkins has written a terrific page-turner that is warm, witty and impossible to stop reading. The Southern Belles is a captivating tale about standing on your own two feet, taking charge of your destiny and triumphing over adversity featuring three wonderful heroines readers will cheer for and grow to love.

A stirring and enjoyable read written with plenty of heart, The Southern Belles is a compulsively readable tale readers will not be able to stop reading.

We all know the storyline from rags to riches, but what happens when the opposite is true?

Welcome to the world of 'The Southern Belles' where three privileged sisters suddenly find themselves in dire straits when their father is killed in an accident and his billion-pound empire crumbles at their feet. Suddenly living in a grotty flat with no money and no job skills, Evelyn, Georgia, and Olivia have the eyes of the world on them as they struggle to make ends meet, and most people are relishing their fall from grace.
​As they enter the world of barista, data-entry clerk, and pot-washer, these three women are determined to change their fortune and with the support of each other and some new friendships, they might just make it. But someone from the past is determined to ruin them completely, and when the sisters uncover their father's secret it may just change everything for them forever.

​Entertaining, witty, and with plenty of drama to sink your teeth into, THE SOUTHERN BELLES by Katie Simpkins is an enjoyable read. Evelyn is the controlled sister, the one who looks after them all and thinks of the little details but as she works hard to make something for herself and her sisters, it was great to see her open up and find something for herself too. Georgia is a great character who often acts before she thinks, but I loved her loyalty and determination to protect her family and wanted her to find her own happily-ever-after. And then there is Olivia, the sweetest, kindest sister who grows up more than any other character and discovers her own strength in going after what she wants. Together, these characters realise that in having each other, they have the chance to be happy and carve a new life, which isn't always possible for so many who find themselves one paycheck away from losing everything, and the issue of homelessness and loss is sensitively handled throughout. There were a couple of little things that niggled me in this novel but overall I found THE SOUTHERN BELLES by Katie Simpkins well worth reading, and I look forward to more from this author.

The story follows the lives of three sisters who have a huge fall from grace going from riches to rags after their high society father dies following a tragic road accident.

Their lives start to quickly unravel as things speedily go from bad to worse. Everything they have taken for granted has to be sold leaving them penniless and homeless.

With just one suitcase each they reluctantly leave their family home behind and take up residence at a rundown bedsit which the family solicitor had kindly paid two months' rent for them.

But that's it - the Belle sisters are on their own and have to start their lives over.

With most of their friends abandoning them and their father's reputation being dragged through the mud the girls have to learn to fend for themselves and get jobs for the very first time.

They each take a different path but very much so stick together.

For all three sisters romance is very much the centre of the story but the path to true love never does run smoothly.

Just as they start to settle into their new lives a shocking revelation from their father's past almost tears them apart.
I really liked how the girls got their lives together. They had to really suck it up and start over.

This is of course a fairy story side of life more than a real harsh reality gritty story but with this comes a lot of charm and feel good moments.

I was really rallying for the sisters none of them had it easy and I think their fall from grace made each of them a much better person.

There's plenty of drama and fallout to keep you wanting to read on as well as some heartwarming moments and romance too!

This is a real good cosy read that offers a bit of escapism.
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4☆ A Heart Warming Must Read!

The Southern Belles is a light hearted, heartwarming story about family, Sisters, sticking together, moving on, finding love and growing up.

The story starts with Nanna reading the story of The Southern Belles to her sick grand daughter Grace.
Which I thought was a lovely touch and really set the tone for this fabulous book!

The Southern Belles is a story about 3 young ladies/Sisters who are incredibly wealthy, popular and want for nothing.

However all is not what it seems, when their Father dies leaving the girls with absolutely NOTHING, ZILCH!

Evelyn, Georgia and Oliva are suddenly facing the prospect that they have to get out of their beloved home and move into a temporary property and get jobs.
With only £2000 between them in which their Lawyer gives them... how will they cope?
Even there so called friends no longer want to associate with them! At least they have each other!

The story follows Evelyn, Georgia and Oliva as they move on, find jobs, make friends, find romance, and try to get back all they have lost by working out exactly how they ended up with nothing!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this Gorgeous Book, it was heart warming, endearing, witty, compelling and had a dash of Romance!
The characters were strong female leads and their bond and love they have together simply shines through, making them a force to be reckoned with!
I really liked the mystery, secrets and Drama that surrounded The Southern Belles and their Father's Fortune, I was eager to know the truth!

I really hope there will be more to come from The Southern Belles, as I can't wait to read more!

A modern day cosy read, about 3 sisters who loose everything, when their father dies leaving them with no option but to sell everything he owned to pay off debts. Distraught and leaving behind a life of pure luxury, they move out of a mansion to a tiny and somewhat disgusting sounding bedsit in Seven Dials Brighton.
With only £2000 to cover the 3 of them until they find jobs, something none of them have had before, their only possession are what they could each fit in a suitcase.
What follows is an enjoyable tale of how the 3 sisters cope with the problems of having to live a very different life and of how they each deal with the upsets and dramas they encounter. There are a number of 'old friends' who only seem pleased by the sister's fall from grace but equally other new friends to meet and help them realise that money, although useful, doesn't equal happiness. Each sister has a very different way of dealing with things but they are always pulling together each find romance and happiness somewhere along the way.
I enjoyed the character of Georgia the most as her reactions to some events are not what you'd may expect from a lady of wealth! The story isn't perhaps set in reality, but it is a warming and fun read to escape with for a couple of days.
Thank you to Emma and the publisher for my copy of the ebook.


An lovely, enjoyable, well written story of riches to rags story that had me hooked from the start. The three Belle girls are in for the shock of their lives. Three very different young ladies all trying to find their way in life, Evey who is trying to hold everything together for her younger sisters, Georgie a bit bad ass, a bit of a rebellion and will do things her way, then there is lovely timid fluffy Livvy. A story of life, love, loss and deception. I won’t write too much about the storyline as I feel that’s the job of a blurb but I will say your in for a great read.

The story follows the lives of three riches to rags sisters after their high society father dies only days after a tragic road accident he is involved in. Things go downhill from there as huge debts come to light and everything they have taken for granted has to be sold leaving them penniless. The family solicitor pays for the girls 2 months rent on a bedsit to give them a roof over their heads while they hunt for employment and find their own way in life.
The sisters learn to adapt the skills that they have and find work locally, bringing with them fresh ideas that could work for all concerned. They learn to be humble and that they may have felt that they had lost everything but there are still people worse off than them. Heartbreakingly they find out who their real friends were and which were just with them because they had been wealthy.
Romance is very much the centre of the story, for all three sisters, who are dealing with their change of lifestyle in very different ways as well as to disclosures about their father that that shock them to the core.
I really liked how the girls got their lives together, as this is a fairy story side of life more than a real harsh reality gritty story. It makes you feel good, makes you get behind them and feel that there will be a good ending. A real good cosy read to escape reality.