Showing posts with label Mailbox Monday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mailbox Monday. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday What Are You Reading - August 17, 2011

~Mailbox Monday~
Hosted this month by

my good friend Staci of:
Life In the Thumb

We share what books that we found in our mailboxes last week.

READ MORE!
Read more »
Posted by Cheryl at 8/17/2011 2 comments
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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday What Are You Reading - August 8, 2011

~Mailbox Monday~
Hosted this month by

my good friend Staci of:





We share what books that we found in our mailboxes last week.


Here is what I got:
For Review
from the Pump Up Your Book Tour:
For Review from the Author:






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We discuss the books that we've read and what we're planning to read for the week.
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
Posted by Cheryl at 8/10/2011 0 comments
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Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday, What Are You Reading - August 1, 2011

~Mailbox Monday~
Hosted this month by
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:

Put a Ring on It: A Novel (Zane Presents) [Paperback]

Allison Hobbs

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 pages
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

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)


 Won from:    loveahappyending.com Launch competition:

Dear Dee

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:

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

Published June 7th 2010 by The Pantheon Collective (TPC)


Sent to me by the author for review:


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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We discuss the books that we've read and what we're planning to read for the 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
Posted by Cheryl at 8/02/2011 2 comments
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Monday, June 27, 2011

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday, What Are You Reading


~Mailbox Monday~
Hosted this month by

We share what books that we found in our mailboxes last week.

Here is what I got

Paperback, 264 pages
Published May 27th 2011 by Life Changing Books (first published May 2011)
Won from the author!

Soul, satisfying sex is usually the ultimate weapon. For Diamond Robinson, it may turn out to be a serious problem. On the surface, she appears to be your average beauty, living next door. But Diamond is full of deceit, mischief, and seduction. She loves good loving so much that she's willing to do anything, including sleep with someone who you'd least expect. When her sexcapades spiral out of control, one thing leads to another, and her lover ends up dead; leaving everyone she's ever loved, against her. Unknowingly, both she and her nymphonic road dogs gets themselves mixed up with secrets and lies that lead to unstoppable turmoil.(
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Paperback, 304 pages
Published April 25th 2011 by Balboa Press
Received from the Author for Review

ONE DAY. THAT'S ALL IT TAKES TO CHANGE A LIFE...

A YOUNG COUPLE. A NEW BABY. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. As a wife, new mom and successful career woman, Kristen Brown thinks her life is set. Until one morning, her husband doesn't wake up.

In this bittersweet memoir, we experience Brown's new life as a young widow mom grappling with the shock, pain and regret following her husband's unexpected death while managing a stressful work situation amidst the downfall of the economy. But not wanting to be a "sad mom," she instead harnesses her emotions into a positive force in her life. Through a process of life-changing experiences like surfing, getting "inked" and starting her own company that takes her to Hollywood, she discovers her life's purpose to be the role model for her daughter she longs to be-and becomes a role model for others in the process.

Kristen Brown captivates us with her story of transformation that is filled with the universal elements of loss, love, hope, humor and our ongoing search for answers that changes our perspective on the meaning of life and how we should live it. Kristen Brown bares her soul and shows us that loss can color our experiences and empower us to do more, be more and hope for more than we ever thought possible.


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The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Hardcover, 336 pages
Expected publication: August 23rd 2011 by Ballantine Books (first published 2011)
Received from the Publisher for Review

The Victorian language of flowers was used to express emotions: honeysuckle for devotion, azaleas for passion, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it has been more useful in communicating feelings like grief, mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen, Victoria has nowhere to go, and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. When her talent is discovered by a local florist, she discovers her gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But it takes meeting a mysterious vendor at the flower market for her to realise what's been missing in her own life, and as she starts to fall for him, she's forced to confront a painful secret from her past, and decide whether it's worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness. "The Language of Flowers" is a heartbreaking and redemptive novel about the meaning of flowers, the meaning of family, and the meaning of love.



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We discuss the books that we've read and what we're planning to read for the week.

This Week:

Mon., 27        Differences by Brian W. Smith 
Mon., 27        Pussy Whispers by Dean Anthony Jean-Pierre
Tues., 28       Wikked by L.M. Blakely 
                    (challenge book 9 of 13)
Tues., 28       Scarred for Life by Fredric A. Almond 
                    (challenge book 10 of 13)
Wed., 29       Sensuous Dragon by Deep Rivers 
                    (challenge book 11 of 13)
Wed., 29       Shawna Hill Book Tour - Guest Post and Giveaway!
Thurs., 30      Homefires by Emily Sue Harvey Pump Up Your Book Tour
Fri., 1            The Frog Pond by Otis Randolf (Tentative-) 
                     (challenge book 12 of 13)
Fri., 1            Nan: The Trifling Times of Nathan Jones by Moses Miller 
                     (challenge book 13 of 13) -last day for challenge

Currently Reading:

Up Next to Read:


These are the rest of my 13 Week Challenge reviews


© 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
Posted by Cheryl at 6/27/2011 9 comments
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Sunday, June 12, 2011

Mailbox Monday and It's Monday, What Are You Reading


~Mailbox Monday~
Hosted this month by

We share what books that we found in our mailboxes last week.

Here is what I got
It's Simple
It's Simple by Michelle Richardson

The general consensus is that relationships are easy to start but challenging to maintain. Although we may not think so, our choices ultimately determine the types of relationships we have. It's truly funny how after we've contributed to the chaotic state of the relationship, we hire therapists to fix us, to tell us it's not our fault when it typically is. The truth? Therapists don't fix us; they provide tools that guide us. Ultimately, we find the solutions ourselves and, for the most part, we really need to forget what we've heard. Relationships can be complicated, littered with challenges and that preventable thing called drama. Just ask Tia and Chase. 

They met as teenagers. Upon graduation from college, things got complicated. Chase was drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers; Tia was offered a position in the Obama administration. Despite the geographical distance, Tia and Chase stayed together. 

But how easy is it to make love last? It's simple--if we can be honest, forgiving, and patient with each other. Here's a unique look at a progressive couple and how their choices impact their journey; providing a truthful and sometimes painful look at real life scenarios and how two fiercely driven and stubborn lovers choose to handle them. Experience life from a different perspective

Sent to me by the author for Review

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I Want To Know My Future
I Want To Know My Future by Linda Dipman

What Happens when God fights for you!

What do you do when your family, friends and church turn against you?   What happens when everything you were taught by your church and family about God is suddenly turned upside down and has to change in order for you to survive? This is a true life story! Every chapter keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next! “I want to know my Future?” Elizabeth pleaded as she was thrown in jail, denied justice and deprived of her children by an unjust Judge. She was attacked by members of her own church. Her life became a living hell and her only hope of reprieve came from the supernatural intervention of the Almighty God. “My Ways are not human ways. Trust in Me, God has Spoken!” Elizabeth studied the words that were at the end of every written message. She read her Bible and sought scriptures to understand what it all meant. She prayed and within the chaos of her life she found an unbreakable faith in God. She held the hand of God and He took her life and preformed miracles. He gave her supernatural strength, confidence and a determination to stand up to everyone who rose up to fight against her.

Sent to me by the author for review

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Baby, Put That Gun Down
Baby, Put That Gun Down by Leander Jackie Grogan

Put That Gun Down introduces the greatest legal mind to ever come out of the know-all, show-all state of Missouri. He's been shot, cut and scaled with hot grits, and is tired of getting beat up by women. If producing his own iconic version of Joe Millionaire will free him from the grips of the the double-dealing, gun-running, pot-peddling, throat-slashing Honey Ho motorcycle gang, then lights, camera, action ... let the show begin. Baby, Put That Gun Down is a wacky, quick-humored roller coaster ride over the Georgia Pines, through the Louisiana Cajun-infested swamps, and into the awaiting arms of ill-tempered female gang members who might mow you down with an AK-47 or even worse, choke you to death with a yard of tongue. Of course, no hapless, Harley Davis scatter-brains are going to keep the manly duo of Attorney Frazier (Shaft’s daddy) and Dr. Hadley Peabody III (Shaft’s white step-daddy) from their shameless rendezvous with the A-list gold diggers awaiting them in New York and LA; that is, unless somebody does something stupid and falls in love; which brings us to the true essence of this hilarious journey. In the end, the story is about the awkward quest for companionship in a contemporary world of disappointing relationships, and the ultimate reward of finding love in the eye of the storm. Every reader that has loved and lost and even won in the eHarmony, Match.com crapshoot called dating will see the flickering light of hope beckoning them to open their heart and climb aboard the old romance bus one more time.

Purchased

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The Deal, the Dance, and the Devil: A Novel
The Deal, the Dance, and the Devil: A Novel by Victoria Christopher Murray

What would you do for five million dollars? Adam and Evia Langston have lived in their own little garden of Eden since the two married at the age of seventeen. Working their way up from the humblest of beginnings, the Langstons have thrived beyond anything they could have ever imagined. Now they live in the finest home, drive the best cars, and indulge in all the trimmings that signify their massive success.  

But then the recession hits and rips apart the family’s financial stability. Unable to support their three children and other relatives, Adam and Evia find themselves drowning in financial trouble and teetering on the brink of complete disaster. With nowhere to turn, the Langstons have no idea what to do. 


Until Shay-Shaunté, Evia’s multimillionaire boss, comes to the Langstons with a five-million-dollar offer that seems so hard to refuse. Will the Langstons make this deal? Or will they recognize that the glitter of five million dollars may be far from gold?

Purchased - I will be meeting her in July and getting her autograph in it!!!!!  I already read and reviewed this one!


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Derailed
Derailed by D. Skies

Ever have dreams that took your mind to places reality couldn't? Kristle wanted it all, money, power, and lavish possessions. But being a poor girl from the South side of Chicago, she had no idea how she was going to get it all. She busts her butt to get her finances to a generous amount using her dope girl skills when it is all whisked away on a whim. Kristle is left without a pot to piss in and has to regain her life back by fending for herself anyway she can. She finds a way to make some money and learns to live off civil means. But as things are starting to look up again they come tumbling back down with a house fire. Just as Kristle is about to give up she encounters a man that gives her a strange note. The note introduces her to an opportunity of a lifetime with a few stipulations. It's a game that needs to be played in a timely fashion or Kristle is a dead girl. If she successfully completes her task she gets more money than she's ever seen before in her life. What she doesn't know is that the tasks are not ordinary and the person making her play the game is someone she least expects.

Purchased

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Differences: Sibling Rivalry is Bad... But it's Worse When There's Money Involved

A wealthy man dies and leaves his dysfunctional kids $100,000 each. But in order to get their inheritance, they have to team up and go on a scavenger hunt to find the money. They have forty-eight hours to find the money or it will be donated to charity. Can these six malcontents deal with their differences long enough to find the money?

Purchased


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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:

Mon., 13      The MPire: Death Cometh (Book 2) by T.L. James –NURTURE Book Tour
Tues., 14      Revelations (Jane Perry #3)  by Laurel Dewey Pump Up Your Book Virtual Tour

Wed., 15      Flesh and Bones" by Paul Levine Review  pumpupyourbook.com 

Thurs., 16     Paul Levine Interview

Fri.,    17      N.H.I. (No Humans Involved) by Ray Ellis (Pump Up Your Book Tour)


Currently Reading:
N.H.I. (No Humans Involved) (A Nate Richards Novel)


Up Next to Read This Week:
Wikked
Growing Pains;Kendras Diaries
Upcoming review will be on 
Week With An Author - K.P. Smith (6/20-6/24)



© 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.
Posted by Cheryl at 6/12/2011 4 comments
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