~Mailbox Monday~
Hosted this month by
my good friend Staci of:
my good friend Staci of:
I am so happy that she is hosting this month! Make sure you check out her blog! She is the person who got me into blogging in the first place!
We share what books that we found in our mailboxes last week.
Here is what I got:
Bought:
Pandora's Box
Ambition, desperation, and redemption abound in nationally bestselling author Allison Hobbs’s unforgettable novel about a woman forced to sink to the darkest depths of morality . . . and her quest to fight her way back.Victoria Carlton invested everything into her dream of becoming a singer—her hopes, her time, her life savings—only to fall victim to the harsh realities of the recording industry. Devastated, broke, and faced with the choice between committing herself and her young son to a world of homeless shelters or entering the seedy world of prostitution, she applies for a job at Pandora’s Box, a downtown Philadelphia brothel that bills itself as a “massage salon.” Her lifestyle quickly improves, and the gratification of instant cash replaces her willingness to find a low-paying, legitimate occupation.One day, an unlikely customer appears at Pandora’s Box. Young, handsome, and well dressed, he is immediately drawn to Victoria. The two begin a love affair fraught with complications, leaving Victoria plagued by guilt and insecurities until a botched robbery and the murder of a coworker compel her to look beyond the fast money and reclaim her morals—and her life.
Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages
Published April 26th 2011 by Strebor Books(first published August 2002
(from Goodreads)
Bought:
From the bestselling author of Double Dippin’ and Big Juicy Lips—a story about three friends with three different paths to the same goal: a husband, despite the dismal odds.Desperate to be married, Vangie, Nivea, and Harlow are all on a quest to get to the altar. Dumped by her economically challenged fiancé, Nivea begins a destructive course of action, as she begins to self medicate with excessive amounts of liquor.When Vangie’s deadbeat baby daddy resurfaces and begins courting her with unrestrained zeal and spending quality time with their young son, she thinks that they have finally healed their troubled relationship.
After a horrifying childhood, Harlow believes she has finally found true love when she becomes engaged to savvy businessman, Drake Morgan. But Drake may have a secret that will destroy Harlow’s only chance at happiness.
Though holding distinct views and relying on diverse strategies, will any of these women find love, happiness, and commitment or will they discover that happily ever after is an unattainable dream?
Paperback:368 pagesAfter a horrifying childhood, Harlow believes she has finally found true love when she becomes engaged to savvy businessman, Drake Morgan. But Drake may have a secret that will destroy Harlow’s only chance at happiness.
Though holding distinct views and relying on diverse strategies, will any of these women find love, happiness, and commitment or will they discover that happily ever after is an unattainable dream?
Publisher: Strebor Books; Original edition (July 12, 2011)
(from Amazon)
Bought:
All Up In My Business
Lutishia Lovely serves up a sizzling behind-the-scenes tale of rivalry and scandal in a family's booming soul food dynasty. . .
With brothers Malcolm and Toussaint Livingston at the helm, business at Taste of Soul is thriving and the family seems to have it all. But jealousy and competition threaten to tarnish their picture-perfect image.
Toussaint is a risk-taker, determined to expand the restaurant chain at a record pace, but levelheaded Malcolm insists on challenging Toussaint's goals. And at home, there's more heating up than grits and collard greens. Malcolm is growing weary of his marriage and his ever-expanding brood of children. His brother's Casanova lifestyle looks more and more appealing. But Toussaint's playboy days aren't as carefree as Malcolm thinks. Toussaint's met his match in interior designer Alexis St. Clair, a woman who refuses to become just another dish on this player's mating menu. But if Toussaint has his way, the happenings in both the boardroom and the bedroom are all about to change. . .
"Lovely once again expertly illuminates the wacky world of the devout and devoutly devilish." --Publishers Weekly on Reverend Feelgood
"Vibrant characters, artful storytelling, and an original voice make Lutishia Lovely worth every moment." --Donna Hill
"A great new taste in the literary world." --Carl Weber
Paperback, 336 pages
Published March 1st 2011 by Dafina(first published February 8th 2011)
Won from: loveahappyending.com Launch competition:
Open House on Love
by Lavada Dee
After nineteen years, Aimee is back in town. The morning started like any other, but after walking into her real estate agency with long time friend, Sharon Phillips, she finds her office in turmoil. After a frantic search for one of their agents, they find her... dead. Detective Quin Martina has always been a take charge kind of guy, so why can't he get his life under con...moreAfter nineteen years, Aimee is back in town. The morning started like any other, but after walking into her real estate agency with long time friend, Sharon Phillips, she finds her office in turmoil. After a frantic search for one of their agents, they find her... dead. Detective Quin Martina has always been a take charge kind of guy, so why can't he get his life under control? He longed for Aimee every morning and night for the last nineteen years but still tried to avoid Aimee at all costs. It worked until he was called in to a murder scene and walked straight into Aimee.(less)
Paperback, 184 pages
Published May 6th 2010 by Siren Publishing(first published January 5th 2010)
Dear Dee
by Sue Uden
John wants retribution for his daughter s broken life. And he wants to fix it. Nickii, his wife, wants for the pain of this quest to stop threatening his health. All Jackie wants is for a miracle rewind to take her back to being a young mother living with her husband and children. Well observed, intelligently expressed and a cracking good read are just a few of the comments which have been made about Dear Dee. Here the devastating impact of mental illness on family life is sensitively described. The reader will be left in no doubt as to the ongoing corrosive impact on the family and individual sufferer. The range of emotions, including guilt as well as a sense of helplessness felt by the family, vividly described in Dear Dee will strike a chord with readers with similar experience. An extremely well-rounded story of people struggling against life s vicissitudes, as well as a celebration of the good times and a family eventually finding a sense of peace after tragedy; the final, poignant, closing lines are at once sad but immensely inspiring and uplifting.
Paperback, 195 pages
Published March 31st 2011 by Olympia Publishers
Won from: loveahappyending.com Launch competition:
Knowing Me Knowing You
by Mandy Baggot (Goodreads Author)
KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU - BRING ON THE LOVE!
Recently single mother Kate is struggling. Clinging on to a career and bringing up her 2 year old daughter leads to nights alone drowning her sorrows in the cheapest white wine she can find.
Forced to employ Joel, a male escort, to accompany her to a professionals' dinner, Kate somehow ends up in the middle of a relationship contest, competing for a £100,000 prize alongside someone she barely knows.
With her boss, the Lady Dragon Miranda, desperate for Kate to flounder, her tarot card reading child-minder trying to match-make and her ex-husband making her life a misery, can Kate keep her life on an even keel? And more importantly can she put her trust in a serial dater who used to be an underwear model?
Paperback, 394 pages
Published February 11th 2011 by YouWriteOn.com
Won from: loveahappyending.com Launch competition:
Won from the author:
Sent to me by the author for review:
In this book, you'll discover:
* Three ways that Ritalin stimulates and arouses the brain, and how you can get the same results without swallowing pills.
* How to train your brain to restore its electro-chemical balance and produce a stable supply of neurotransmitters (such as dopamine and serotonin.)
* An audio-visual rhythm that has been clinically proven to reduce ADHD. It's used in brain training clinics through out the country, and may be the biggest breakthrough in noninvasive medicine in the last 50 years. Now you can practice and master this rhythm in the comfort of your own home, without ever stepping foot inside a clinic.
* Why your brain interprets ADHD as normal, and works to maintain bad habits like impulsivity, distraction and restless energy. Discover how you can interrupt your ADHD patterns, and create new neural pathways for peak performance.
As you read this book, you'll realize that you have every reason to be upbeat and optimistic about overcoming ADHD. It's time to train your brain and transform your life!
Paperback, 252 pages
Touched by the Light
This is a 'feel-good' story about psychic connections between people on different levels of existence and how the two worlds can become curiously entwined. Mya tries desperately to keep Laurel and Dan together, although she has no idea who they are or why she finds herself involved in their lives from 'other side'. Her efforts are often hilarious and misguided. It's all about life and love, the things that hold us back; the mistakes we make and the things we don't say but should. But when fate is involved anything can happen, although there are no guarantees that even soul mates can find their way through. The journey they take is filled with all of the emotions life has to offer and an insight into Mya's new reality beyond the 'light'.
Hardcover, 248 pages
Published February 24th 2011 by Book Guild Publishing
Won from the author:
Sellout
People who date interracially are often called traitors to their own kind. Self-haters. Sellouts.Loan Officer Tammy McDonald has just come out of another failed relationship with a wannabe thug. To break this destructive pattern, she leaves her home city of Dallas for San Diego. As she settles in rainbow California, fantasies of meeting an ebony prince fade, so she eyes Dale Bristol as a potential ivory replacement.Terrell Jackson is San Diego's only black optometrist. Women regularly drop in for more than just eye exams, but he stays true to his girl Tasha until a wet dream unleashes a ridiculous outburst. Fed up with her jealous fits, he denounces the common "dedramanators" in his life-black women.
Even though Penelope Miller was raised in the South by a racist father once affiliated with the KKK, she can't ignore her attraction to black men. But she never expected to fall in love with one...nor did she expect her "interracial felony" to threaten their lives.
SELLOUT follows these three individuals and the consequences of dating outside their race. In the quest to find what they think is missing in their lives, they encounter guilt, fear and mess they never anticipated...including murder.
Paperback, 290 pages
Even though Penelope Miller was raised in the South by a racist father once affiliated with the KKK, she can't ignore her attraction to black men. But she never expected to fall in love with one...nor did she expect her "interracial felony" to threaten their lives.
SELLOUT follows these three individuals and the consequences of dating outside their race. In the quest to find what they think is missing in their lives, they encounter guilt, fear and mess they never anticipated...including murder.
Paperback, 290 pages
Published June 7th 2010 by The Pantheon Collective (TPC)
Train Your Brain, Transform Your Life: Conquer Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In 60 Days, Without Ritalin
This book reveals five brain boosters that enable you to conquer Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 60 days, without Ritalin. It's a revolutionary brain training method that is safe, reliable, easy and effective. It's so easy, that you can do it while lying flat on your back, with your eyes closed. It's been described as the "lazy way to get rid of ADHD." However, it's also a brain training method that's based in neurotherapy, and is supported by an impressive review of literature.
In this book, you'll discover:
* Three ways that Ritalin stimulates and arouses the brain, and how you can get the same results without swallowing pills.
* How to train your brain to restore its electro-chemical balance and produce a stable supply of neurotransmitters (such as dopamine and serotonin.)
* An audio-visual rhythm that has been clinically proven to reduce ADHD. It's used in brain training clinics through out the country, and may be the biggest breakthrough in noninvasive medicine in the last 50 years. Now you can practice and master this rhythm in the comfort of your own home, without ever stepping foot inside a clinic.
* Why your brain interprets ADHD as normal, and works to maintain bad habits like impulsivity, distraction and restless energy. Discover how you can interrupt your ADHD patterns, and create new neural pathways for peak performance.
As you read this book, you'll realize that you have every reason to be upbeat and optimistic about overcoming ADHD. It's time to train your brain and transform your life!
Paperback, 252 pages
Published March 1st 2011 by 20 Minutes to Less Stress, LLC
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Hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books
We discuss the books that we've read and what we're planning to read for the week.
Book Reviews/Posts Last Week:
This Week:
1 - Book Review of Money Can't Buy Love by Connie Briscoe and Giveaway
Currently Reading:
Up Next to Read:
© 2011, Cheryl of Black Diamond's Book Reviews. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Black Diamond's Book Reviews, Urban Image Magazine, or Cheryl's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission
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