Rich Widows of Savannah Valley by Mitzi Perdue
At first blush, Mitzi Perdue’s Rich Widows of Savannah Valley (Mark Victor Hansen Library) appears to be a tale reminiscent of The Golden Girls, albeit far wealthier girls to be sure. Four women, whose ages span four decades, become fast friends over such gastronomies as bluefin tuna, organic zebra tomatoes, champagne and homemade peach pie as they settle into their spacious and ostentatious abodes in the Savannah Valley retirement community.
One-by-one, we hear about how Edith, Darcy, Glenda, and Sharon snagged their partners and ultimately became rich and sometimes famous. But so what? Does that make a story? But that can’t be all there is behind that fine-looking book cover and the delightful and colorful internal graphics, can it?
MORE THAN A STORY OF THE GLORY DAYS
The story shifts when the quality of the life they were promised at Savannah Valley starts to fray at more than just the edges. The wealthy have problems, too, even if on a different scale than we simple folks do. Suddenly the restaurants announce they’re closing at nine due to being short-staffed, the wide variety of activities offered each day shrinks to merely card games, and their favorite young, handsome server is summarily dismissed. This can’t be happening! Be still my heart!
Certainly, this is not the life of Riley these four women of privilege expected when they invested their inheritance in Savannah Valley. Something consequential must be done.
Let the real games begin!
Once this determined and spirited team uncovers the source of the problem, they utilize their individual skills and apply their greatest gift — their money — and right the ship before it sinks for good. Problem solved. At least this one.
AN IMPORTANT UNDERLYING MESSAGE
In all honesty, having pulled my own life out of poverty, I couldn’t help having a little smirk on my face and my eyebrows raised as I read much of the Rich Widows of Savannah Valley. So this is how the rich and famous live?
But it’s just a peek inside. As the story unfolds, the author reveals the true meaning of this delightful tale in the Epilogue: to help raise awareness of social justice issues through the eyes of these four well-meaning ladies. In her message to us, author Mitzi Perdue — herself an activist with special interests in the environment and in human trafficking — invites the reader to contact her directly about serious issues that have an impact on our own lives.
Bottom line: Mitzi Perdue is putting her money and influence where her fingertips are. And to that, I say Brava, dear lady!
After you read Rich Widows of Savannah, check out the other six books in The Savannah Valley Series, also published by Mark Victor Hansen Library.
See our review of Mitzi Perdue’s recent publication before the Rich Widows of Savannah Valley: Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless, also available in the Mark Victor Hansen Library.
About Mitzi Perdue:
Mitzi Perdue is a businesswoman and author passionate about sharing fascinating information to support people everywhere on their journey to self-actualization. As the widow of the poultry guy, Frank Perdue, Mitzi likes to say, “The chicken man’s wife is writing about the chicken soup man” in Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless, which is the winner of the Literary Titan Award for Nonfiction, 2022.
She has degrees from both Harvard University and George Washington University. Additionally, she is past president of the 40,000-member American Agri-Women coalition, as well as a former U.S. delegate to the United Nations Conference on Women in Nairobi.
She writes for Psychology Today and serves as a member of the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents. Before writing Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless, she authored Tough Man, Tender Chicken: Business and Life Lessons from Frank Perdue. This book reached #5 on Amazon’s list of business biographies. She is also the author of I Didn’t Bargain for This, her story of growing up as a hotel heiress; her father was president and co-founder of the Sheraton Hotel Chain. Visit MitziPerdue.com.
