Book Blurb:
A war bond tour full of eager young women. A sunny town with a dark underbelly. When the Florida Girls start shooting back, will anyone survive?
St. Petersburg, Florida, 1944. Thelma Miles can’t stomach injustice. Broke and orphaned near the close of WWII, the 18-year-old joins a troupe of touring swimsuit models hoping for a fresh start, only to discover she's stepped into the mafia's lair.
Kathleen Young, desperate to save her business and ailing husband, organizes the tour. But her single-minded focus blinds her to the dangers lurking beneath the surface.L.L. Kirchner's twisty debut novel Florida Girls weaves a rich tapestry of:
Real-life characters and meticulous historical detail
Resilient women fighting to reclaim their place in post-war America
A gripping blend of glamor, crime, and unexpected alliances
NYT-bestselling author Jane Heller raves: "Florida Girls is a rollicking debut novel brimming with colorful characters, twists and turns and, at its heart, women who overcome different backgrounds to form an unbreakable bond."
With its strong female characters, suspenseful plot, and meticulously researched historical setting, Florida Girls will appeal to fans of Beatriz Williams’s immersive historical worlds, Kate Quinn’s complex heroines, and Elizabeth Gilbert’s vivid narratives. Perfect for fans of:
Complex, multi-layered narratives
Coming-of-age stories set against historical backdrops
Vivid period details that transport you to 1940s Florida
Florida Girls is the first explosive entry in The Queenpin Chronicles series. Follow Thelma and Kathleen as they navigate a rapidly changing world, discovering untapped reserves of strength, brutality, and love.
Dive into this world of crime and glamour. Buy Florida Girls today and start your journey with The Queenpin Chronicles!
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/iFu8sG
Author Bio:
L.L. Kirchner is an award-winning screenwriter and Pushcart-nominated author whose work explores feminist narratives drawing on her eclectic background as a religion editor, dating columnist, and bridal editor. Kirchner's superpower? Inhabiting various perspectives and pushing boundaries like a boss.
In 2024, Kirchner will unleash her highly anticipated trilogy, the Queenpin Chronicles, starting with her debut novel, FLORIDA GIRLS. Set in 1940s Florida, this multi-POV suspense story follows an unconventional heroine navigating the criminal underworld and fighting for independence in a male-dominated society. With vivid prose and richly drawn characters, Kirchner shines a light on the patriarchal and self-imposed boundaries women face while celebrating the strength of those who dare to break free.
Check out her blog and podcast, Ill-Behaved Women on Substack and wherever you listen to podcasts.
Editorial Review:
“Thelma Miles squinted through the window as the Greyhound pulled to a stop in front of a massive store. Shading her eyes with a gloved hand, she took in the all-caps sign lining the flat roof of the three-story building—SUN CITY EMPORIUM—and spanned the entire block. Underneath, in cursive, it read World’s Most Unusual Drugstore.
“All right, ladies and gents,” announced the bus driver. “This is our St. Petersburg stop. We’ve reached Sun City right on time. Noon on the dot. This is your thirty-minute lunch break. Don’t be late because we never are! We leave for Miami at twelve thirty sharp whether you’re on board or not.””
“Florida Girls” by LL Kirchner is a novel that immediately transports the reader to 1940s Florida, with references to Americana symbols replete throughout the narrative, from Greyhound to emporiums, to Coca-Cola. The story is told from a range of female perspectives, all of them looking for a better life, until they realise the truth about the opportunity they have been offered. This is Book One, which functions well as a standalone, although some readers may find the ending incomplete.
Kirchner’s narrative revolves around a travelling swimsuit/show troupe, and those that join the tour. The organiser is Kathleen, with financial troubles. Orphaned Thelma is one of the participants, and each of them (and other characters, including Peggy, Hattie May and Millie) bring a diverse mix of personal problems to the story which necessitate their involvement in the tour. Thelma, at the ripe old age of 18 years, has already lived a lifetime. More than anything, the cast of characters illustrate the life lottery that many face in their childhood that makes chronological age only a number, and have such a stark influence on adult life. In such stark social times, the luxury of personal choice is in short supply, and this also means that when the truth becomes clear, leaving the tour is not an obvious option. Florida in the 1940s is full of superficial glamor and intrigue, but also holds dangerous secrets that threaten the women’s safety. Kirchner skilfully weaves together the social realities of the time, the grittiness of post-war communities, and the personal challenges that the women must face and overcome.
“Florida Girls” includes realistic dialogue, and a complex web of relationships. There are also medical scenes that may be confronting for some readers. The highlight of “Florida Girls” are the female friendships and the convincing sense of place that Kirchner has created through setting the book in Florida, and other places around the United States of America as the tour progresses. Kirchner has also included representations of historical material and letters/documents within the text. Some readers may find this adds additional context to the story, while others may feel that it takes them away from the substantive narrative.
The pacing of the story clearly shows the reader the progression of the character arcs, particularly those of Kathleen and Thelma. Those readers who go on to read Book 2 will find more of a resolution to the continuing story.
“Maeve took in a new baby grand that had appeared since her last visit. Somehow, the Youngs had found a piano in an ivory lacquer that matched the tables and upholstery. How on earth did anyone raise two boys in that environment? Maeve tried not to cluck as she fanned herself with her shirt. Her standard uniform, white balloon-sleeved blouse and Navy dirndl skirt, had failed to keep her cool on the sticky cab ride from the airport. She looked out the south-facing balcony, a study in green laden with vines, palms, and even a rubber tree. If she lived here, that’s where she’d spend all her time. The window in her Lower East Side tenement looked directly into the building’s so-called air shaft.”
“Florida Girls” by LL Kirchner is an entertaining read with a gritty backdrop, taking the reader “behind the scenes” as a troupe of women travel on a swimsuit/show tour. The highlight of the narrative is the focus on authentic female friendships, and the author has created a compelling cast of characters and a sinister and believable external challenge. The characters’ respective strengths and weaknesses are intertwined in their personal relationships to create both tension and also times of triumph. Thelma in particular is a strong, complex character that illustrates the author’s strong knowledge of social issues and the realities of life in 1940s Florida (and wider America). A fascinating read with some unexpected twists.
*****
"Florida Girls” by LL Kirchner receives 4 stars from The Historical Fiction Company
To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year contest, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission
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