Diva's Bookcase

The Diva Is Back...

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:17:00 +0000

Bet ya'll have been wondering what in the world happened to me, huh? Well, it has truly been a minute since I have updated the blog. It doesn't mean that I've lost my love for books, or that I've gotten tired of blogging. All I can say is that when life happens, it really happens and there's absolutely nothing that you can do but roll with it.

I recently experienced two personal tragedies that I'm still dealing with. I lost my mother and about two weeks later, I lost my uncle-my mom's other brother. Both deaths were sudden and so unexpected that I think I'm still in denial...

Anyhoo, I just wanted to let you guys know that I'm still around and I plan-but can't promise when- to get back to the blog. Thanks so much to everyone that has continued to stop by the blog, mention me on Twitter, or interact with me on Goodreads and Shelfari. My apologies for not responding to friend requests and letting emails go unanswered. I just checked my email account-which I haven't done in a minute and was blown away. I have so many emails to sift through that it might take me a week or two to get through them all. So, wish me luck and keep my family in your prayers.

Giveaway: Blogfest 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 04:21:00 +0000

Woohoo! It's that time of year again. This is my second year participating in Blogfest. What is Blogfest you ask? Only one of the biggest blog parties evah! There are tons of blogs participating and lots of prizes just waiting to be won. This event is hosted by Cinnamon @ A Journey For Books. The party runs from July 15 to July 17. Make sure that you stop by each blog to see what bookish prizes are up for grabs.

I have two prizes to give away.

Prize One is for YA lovers

The Darling Rebels by Siobhan Nichols

Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut

Shades Of Atlantis by Carol Oats

Prize Two is for Romance lovers

Musing Journal

Pursuit Of Pleasure by Elizabeth Essex

The Way That You Play It by B J Thornton

To enter my giveaway, you must be a Google Friend Connect Follower of this blog (this will be checked) and you must make a comment to the post stating which prize you would prefer. There will be two winners. Giveaway is only open to US residents (sorry international friends!) Winners will be announced on the blog later next week and will need to email me their mailing address.

Once you've entered my giveaway, here are the next six blogs participating in this event. Remember to keep track of all the blogs that you visit by using Cinnamon's convenient tracking site

Music Monday: Super Bass by Nicki Minaj

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Okay, don't ask why or when, but I guess I'm finally a Nicki fan. I still can't stand her outrageous hair and clothes, but this video is crazy, colorful,and I love it. I still can not get this hook out of my head. Thanx, Nicki!

Review: The Games People Play by C J Domino

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Genre: Fiction

Release Date: August 2010

Publisher: Shero Productions

Author Website: C J Domino

Pages: 230

Source: Author

Rating: Four flowers of love

Back Cover Blurb

When people look at my life this is what they see, a picture perfect couple living fabulously. But behind closed door it’s another story as I struggle to maintain this status quo glory. With bitches on my left and ho’s on my right, it’s a constant fight trying to remain a glamorous trophy wife. Sex, lies and alibis keep us together, but what’s done in the dark will never last forever.

Meet Mercedes Barone, the beautiful wife of a former NBA All-Star. To the world she has it made, living high off of life, but as you read along you’ll soon learn that walking in her three-inch heels is no easy task. From her backstabbing relatives to her husband’s baby mama’s, what really happens when a ride or die vixen is fed up with the drama?

My Thoughts

I have to say that this book did surprise me. At first I dismissed it as another hood tale with weak characters and an even weaker storyline. Once I started reading, I couldn’t get enough of the characters.

The Games People Play has more drama than a Lifetime movie. The story is mostly told through Mercedes, the main character. I had mixed feelings about her. On one hand I felt sorry for her because she put up with so much from her husband Terrance. He lied, cheated, and became physical with her all because she knew what he was about. On the other hand, I felt like she was a little too crazy and needed to think things through before she acted.

Terrance in a word was a scumbag. He already had one child outside the marriage but had another on the way. And he had the audacity to go ballistic when he found out Mercedes had a friend on the side. In the end, I felt like he got exactly what he deserved.

Bishop, what a sexy MF. ,He was also married and had no business hooking up with Mercedes, but there was old love between the two so I really wanted them to work out. I was so glad when he got rid of his wife. I didn’t feel sorry for her because she had secrets of her own and didn’t deserve him.

My favorite characters were Mercedes's siblings, Shelby and Bentley. Shelby’s motherly advice laced with her twisted Christian beliefs mixed with Bentley’s blunt, but honest statements had me rolling. They both loved their sister and didn’t want to see her suffering, but sometimes it takes family to talk about you before you really listen.

Overall, the history between the three main characters really kept me interested. Some parts were a little too ghetto for me, but the author made it work and I enjoyed it.

Other Reviews Of This Book:
Goodreads
Shelfari

Review: Suspicions by Sasha Campbell

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0000

Genre: Fiction

Release Date: May 2011

Series: None

Publisher: Dafina Books/Kensington Publishing

Author Website: Sasha Campbell

Format Read: Hardcover

Pages: 320

Source: Purchased

Rating: Five stars

Book Blurb

Three women are about to learn more than they ever wanted to know about secrets--and the men who keep them. . .

As the owner of Situations, the hottest beauty salon on the south side of Chicago, Noelle Gordon has a direct line to the private lives of her clients. But when an abandoned baby girl appears on her doorstep, Noelle finds herself at the center of a personal drama. Could the baby be her husband's? Or maybe her grown son's? Both men deny it--but Noelle is sure one of them is lying. . .

Meanwhile, Noelle's employees are discovering that their own romantic relationships harbor a secret or two. The truth isn't always pretty. But can they find the strength to live with it--and with the men they love?

Luv It Lines:

I had to walk over to my husband and sniff him, because I swore he shit his pants the way he was staring at her. He had gotten caught and was stunned to silence.

Smiling, I brought a hand to my waist. “Your date? Isn’t that her peeling out of the parking lot?” Sure enough she was burning rubber. “I wonder why?” I then swung around and addressed the customers. “Hey everybody! We got herpes in the house!”

My Thoughts

While this book had over three hundred pages, I read it in one setting. There was so much going on that I couldn’t tear myself from the pages. I gasped, I laughed and I cried with the characters as their lives got turned upside down.

The author introduced a host of characters that you could easily love and hate. That to me deserved the five flower rating because the book kept me turning pages trying to see who and what was going to blow up next. While I am one to turn down a book that’s filled with too much hood BS, I do enjoy the ones that don’t always focus on drugs and coming up in the game.

I loved Noelle’s drama the most. Her problems had her wanting to kick ass and take names later. Someone left, yes left a baby on her doorstep. Now the average women would be like WTF, but since Noelle really wanted another baby (which her husband promptly said hell no to), she’s thrilled to look after this one. She’s sure that the baby is family, but she just can’t decide if it’s her grandchild or her stepchild.

And then her best friend’s bombshell really took the cake. WOW. I wanted to reach through the pages and beat her senseless for what she did. There are invisible lines that no friend should ever cross and this was one of them. While searching for her stepchild/grandchild’s mother, Noelle accidently finds out whom her friend has been creeping around with and it’s not a happy revelation.

Tiffany, another one of the main characters, was a simple hot mess. She’s one of those friends that you really want to get a clue. How does a woman that’s saving herself for marriage give up the goodies DAYS before the wedding hoping to keep him committed and faithful? Really how does that work? Only to be made a fool of and dumped on the eve of the wedding? Common sense should have told her that if she already had doubts in her mind, he wasn’t worth it. Especially after the news she got from Tiffany. But I guess a fool in love accepts all her man’s flaws even if it’s a long ass list of them.

Candy’s life wasn’t as dramatic as the other ladies, but she did have her baby daddy issues. After trying to do the right thing by giving out confidential info, she did lose her job. But whatever the circumstances, it opened the door to finding a better one. And as far as her relationship with Chauncey, I thought he was a keeper. And not because he could do the hell out of a pedicure, but because he really was a nice guy. Although he didn’t lie to her, he wasn’t honest with her either. He had all opportunities to tell her the truth about himself before everything blew up. In the end, everything worked out.

Overall let me just say that the book kept my attention until the last page. I loved the story and Sasha Campbell is an author that I will look forward to reading more of.

Other Reviews Of This Book:

Goodreads

Shelfari

Music Monday: Cupid by Lloyd

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0000

It's Monday, peeps. Here's one of my fav songs by one of my fav artists. I love his voice and his smile. I miss the hair, but he's cute with or without. Anyhoo, happy Monday!

Review: Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 01:09:00 +0000

Genre: Paranormal

Release Date: May 2011

Series: Sookie Stackhouse, Southern Vampire, Book #11

Publisher: Ace Books/Penguin Group

Author Website: Charlaine Harris

Format Read: Ebook

Pages: 336

Source: Borrowed

Rating: Three Flowers Of Love

Read an excerpt

Back Cover Blurb

There are some problems Sookie Stackhouse can't ignore; for example, the firebombing that she witnessed at Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Of course, true to form, our favorite telepath also has other dangerous things on her mind; for example, her Significant Other Eric Northman and his "child" Pam seem intent on killing their vampire master. As usual, things quickly become absorbingly complicated. Sometimes it just doesn't pay to have special gifts.

My Thoughts

Is it just me or does anyone else share the feeling that the Sookie novels have long lost their spark or flair to truly entertain. I know that the series only has about a few books left, but dang, can’t I get some of that ole kick ass action? Please?

Not to say that the book was straight up bad, because it wasn’t. I’ll always find the time to read the latest because there is always something crazy going on in Bon Temps but it’s just not as lively as it use to be. I was just not wowed by the latest developments especially the attitudes of my favorite characters-Eric and Pam. I really miss the comic relief that these two always bring. In this book they are both sad because they are about to lose the love of their lives and there’s nothing either can do to prevent it. To me, they are the reason that I keep reading the series so hopefully the next book will have them back to their old tricks.

I enjoyed catching up with the other main characters. Sam’s still…well Sam. I’ve never really noticed if Sam was there or not. He just didn’t appeal to me, but I’m glad that Sookie has at least one true friend that she can count on. And speaking of friends, I was glad to see Amelia and Bob if only for a short time. Loved the way Sookie ripped her a new one for messing with her love life.

Alcide is always a welcomed familiar, just hate that he wasn’t around but for a few minutes. Would love to see him get together with Sookie. Sorry, Eric, but I’ve said this before. You guys sizzled with the sexual tension, but once you got together, you guys bore me! Give Alcide a chance, minus the Pack crap.

Dermot and Claude are growing on me. How nice for Sookie to have some family living with her to help around the house, and keep her protected at the same time. But the sleeping in the same bed deal like a big ole slumber party (so called fairy nearness thing) was just plain creepy. Hot or not, they are relatives and that was not an image I wanted to fixate on while I read the story.

Now for the biggest waste of pages. I really wish that someone would just stake Bill and end his boring existence. He actually has no place (in my opinion) in the books anymore since he’s lost Sookie’s love, his bitch of a maker Lorena is dead, and there’s no more hidden drama with Sophia Anne because she’s dead too. So why I ask is Bill still getting page time? And why is he still pining for Sookie believing that he really still has a chance with her. Sorry, but after Eric, who would want to go back to that? He really has no purpose outside of being a neighbor willing to kill for her and a place to hide when she’s running for her life.

Overall, I did like the book and it’s a must read for Sookie fans. I just hope that the next book will be jam packed with the action that I so desperately want. Until then I’ll just have to get my fix when the fourth season of True Blood premieres on June 26^th. I can’t wait! And there's a sneak peak of the new season below!

Other Books In This Series:

Dead Until Dark, Book #1

Living Dead In Dallas, Book #2

Club Dead, Book #3

Dead To The World, Book #4

Dead As A Doornail, Book #5

Definitely Dead, Book #6

All Together Dead, Book #7

From Dead To Worse, Book #8

Dead And Gone, Book #9

Dead In The Family, Book #10

Other Reviews Of This Book:

Goodreads

Shelfari

Music Monday: Sure Thing by Miguel

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Hey! It's Monday and time for another song that I 've got stuck in my head. I don't really care for this video because I just don't get it or his wardrobe, but I love the hell out of this song.

Waiting On Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Here are the lastest books I’m ready to get my hands on.

Summer Crossing (Novella)

By Julie Kagawa

Released June 1, 2011

A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence—and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts.

Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help—into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice—betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist.

Escape

by Barbara Delinsky

Releases July 5, 2011

Emily Aulenbach is thirty, a lawyer married to a lawyer, working in Manhattan. An idealist, she had once dreamed of representing victims of corporate abuse, but she spends her days in a cubicle talking on the phone with victims of tainted bottled water—and she is on the bottler’s side.

And it isn’t only work. It’s her sister, her friends, even her husband, Tim, with whom she doesn’t connect the way she used to. She doesn’t connect to much in her life, period, with the exception of three things—her computer, her BlackBerry, and her watch.

Acting on impulse, Emily leaves work early one day, goes home, packs her bag, and takes off. Groping toward the future, uncharacteristically following her gut rather than her mind, she heads north toward a New Hampshire town tucked between mountains. She knows this town. During her college years, she spent a watershed summer here. Painful as it is to return, she knows that if she is to right her life, she has to start here.

The Power Of Six

by Pittacus Lore

Releases August 23, 2011

I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.

Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.

I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.

And I'm ready to fight.

To Be Read Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Here's what I will be reading this week and I am ready for all the drama!

Mistress No More

Niobia Bryant

Jessa Bell shocked the hell out of her three best friends when she announced she was having an affair with one of their husbands—then refused to say which one. She has been reveling in watching her friends self-destruct while trying to figure out which dog of a husband has been getting some on the side.

But now, caught between an ex-lover who won't let her go, and a new lover who's more than happy to, Jessa's ready to confront the ladies, reveal the truth, and move on. Maybe her stunt will even send her latest married man back into her waiting arms for good. But she'll soon find out that revenge isn't just sweet—it can be deadly. Because nothing will ever be the same once Jessa Bell decides that she's a mistress no more. . .

Dead Reckoning

Charlaine Harris

With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. But Sookie suspects otherwise and she and Sam work together to uncover the culprit - and the twisted motive for the attack. But her attention is divided. Though she can't 'read' vampires, Sookie knows her lover Eric Northman and his 'child' Pam well - and she realises that they are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, she is drawn into the plot -which is much more complicated than she knows. Caught up in the politics of the vampire world, Sookie will learn that she is as much of a pawn as any ordinary human - and that there is a new Queen on the board . . .

Music Monday: If It Isn't Love by New Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Remember this video ya'll? Of course you do. This is one of my fav New Edition songs and I just had to post it for my Music Monday this week.

Love me some NE, but I am really cracking up at Ralph's stirrups and their manager looks like Jamie Foxx back in the day! LOL!

Now this was real music and the dance moves were on point! Bobby Brown, where were U? Enjoy the flashback.

Waiting On Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:35:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Here are a few books I’m waiting to get my hands on.

Mistress No More

by Niobia Bryant

Released May 31, 2011

No One In The World

by E Lynn Harris

Releases June 6, 2011

Criminal defense attorney Cobi Aiden Winslow is the son of Cyrus Winslow, the owner of Winslow Products, a popular black hair care line. Cobi believes his father is ashamed of him and hates him because he’s gay—and then his parents are killed in a car accident before Cobi can resolve things with him. The will says that Cobi and his sister (“Sissy”) will share the inheritance…with a brother they didn’t even know they had: Cobi’s twin, Eric, has been raised in foster care his entire life. The will also stipulates that Cobi only gets his share of the fortune if he marries—a woman—by his thirty-fifth birthday and stays married for two years. When the siblings are reunited, Eric freaks out when he discovers Cobi’s gay because he was molested by an older man as a child, and Sissy fears he’ll blow Cobi’s cover. As they navigate through their trials and tribulations, getting blackmailed repeatedly along the way, someone’s going to have to stand up and take a fall. But which of the brothers will rise to the occasion?

Forgotten

by Cat Patrick

Releases June 7, 2011

Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come.

When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

Hereafter

by Tara Hudson

Releases June 7, 2011

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Music Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Mon, 30 May 2011 18:09:00 +0000

Hi, bookish peeps and happy Memorial Day. Again I have been MIA on the blog. Sorry but I can't help it. Work has been kicking my ass. I've been too tired to blog or tweet, but I have continued reading and will update the blog with some reviews this week. I'm currently enjoying my three days off work and just thought I'd share some music with you. Love this song and my lil boyfriend can dance his ass off. Enjoy!

To Be Read Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Here is what I will be reading this week. I think I'm ready for some real good drama and this book looks like it's going to give me that and then some.

Suspicions by Sasha Campbell

Three women are about to learn more than they ever wanted to know about secrets—and the men who keep them. . .

As the owner of Situations, the hottest beauty salon on the south side of Chicago, Noelle Gordon has a direct line to the private lives of her clients. But when an abandoned baby girl appears on her doorstep, Noelle finds herself at the center of a personal drama. Could the baby be her husband's? Or maybe her grown son's? Both men deny it—but Noelle is sure one of them is lying. . .

Meanwhile, Noelle's employees are discovering that their own romantic relationships harbor a secret or two. The truth isn't always pretty. But can they find the strength to live with it—and with the men they love?

Armchair BEA: Romance Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Tue, 24 May 2011 06:06:00 +0000

It's day two of my armchairing. Today is giveaway day at Armchair BEA (not sure what this is, click HERE). For my giveaway, I have two romance books up for grabs. Both books are ARCs that I have read and reviewed on the blog. If you'd like to read my reviews just click on each book title. One winner will receive both books and some surprise swag.

The Devil In Disguise by Stefanie Sloane

A Little Bit Of Passion by Beate Boeker

Giveaway is only open to US residents and will end on June 3. Please read the two rules below so that your entries are not deleted from my spreadsheet. All duplicate entries will also be deleted. Here are the simple rules:

Must be a follower through Goggle Friend Connect (this will be verified)
Must fill out the entry form AND make a comment to this post

Winner will be announced on the blog. Winner will have three days to CONTACT ME by email @ thedivasbookcase@gmail.com with their mailing address to claim their prize. If I have not received an email from winner, another winner will be chosen to claim the prize.

Armchair BEA: Who R U and How Do U Armchair

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Mon, 23 May 2011 17:02:00 +0000

Welcome to Diva's Bookcase and my first day of armchairing! Armchair BEA is an online conference for bloggers that wanted to go to Book Expo America in NYC but for some reason couldn't.

To find out more about this event, visit Armchair Central HERE

To find out all the blogs participating, go HERE

To find the week's agenda, go HERE

Now that you know what Armchair BEA is, let me introduce myself. My name is Yvonne. I'm from Memphis, TN and I am addicted to books! At times I read more than I blog, but I have been blogging since August 2009. Reading has been my passion since grade school. I mainly read romance books, but to be honest I pretty much read anything that has an interesting book blurb and a captivating book cover. I'm still in a learning stage with my blogging so I tinker with my blog often by changing up my background or trying a new review style.

I first heard about BEA last year after it happened and really had plans to go this year but life got in the way. I started a new job a month ago so taking time off was out of the question so Armchair BEA is the next best thing.

I have heard so much about how much fun is had at BEA and really hate that I'm missing it. I've never been to NY so I know I would have had a great time and met a lot of wonderful bloggers, authors, and publishers. But since I can't be there, I'll be armchairing with a very large margarita!

Review: Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later by Francine Pascal

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Genre: YA

Release Date: March 2011

Series: Sweet Valley

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Author Website: http://www.sweetvalleytenyearslater.com

Format Read: ebook

Pages: 304

Source: Borrowed, but will put a copy on my bookshelf

Rating: Three stars

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb

Ten years after graduating from Sweet Valley High, the Wakefield twins have had a falling-out of epic proportions. When Jessica commits a complete and utter betrayal, Elizabeth flees to New York to escape the pain and immerse herself in her lifelong dream of becoming a journalist.

Jessica remains in California, dealing with the fallout of her heart-wrenching choices. She has a career she loves and lots of old friends, but misses her sister, her oldest friend. With Jessica as her enemy, Sweet Valley is no longer the idyllic town of their youth.

Jessica longs for forgiveness, but Elizabeth can't forget her twin's duplicity. She decides the only way to heal her broken heart is to get revenge. Always the "good" twin, Elizabeth is now about to turn the tables....

My Thoughts

My sister read this one before I did and assured me that it was a crappy read. No, those weren’t her exact words, but that’s the clean version of what she meant. So, I started reading without high expectations, but found that I actually liked it. Sure it could have been better, but I haven't read a SV book in about fifteen years so it was good to catch up with the good folks of Sweet Valley.

This review may contain spoilers and way to much WTF so if you don't like those type of reviews, you might want to skip this one.

I think it’s safe to say that at one point in time, every tween has read a Sweet Valley book and loved the drama the twins always seemed to get themselves into. In this new book, we catch up with the twins and they aren't as tight as they use to be.

Jessica is once again groveling for her sister’s forgiveness, but what she wants to be forgiven for is what made me not able to put the book down. Okay, back in the day (and yeah I had to do some googling to confirm this because I missed this book and could not believe what I was reading) Jessica slept with Elizabeth’s boyfriend Todd…while they were still together… several times…and never confessed…and is currently engaged to him.

The book did start out kind of slow and I had to piece together what was happening because the author kept switching from the present to the past in order to explain how the drama started and how each character was dealing with the aftermath. There was so much packed into this book, I hardly know where to start breaking down the juicy tidbits.

First, the Elizabeth/Todd/Jessica drama was soo unexpected. Elizabeth wasn’t the same understanding person that she once was. I actually liked the new Elizabeth because for once she moved away and stepped out of Jessica’s shadow. I loved her with attitude and getting a little sex in the city. I was all for her romance in the end, never would have thought Bruce would be there to pick up the pieces. More on that story please!

I didn’t like Jessica. She was just too whiny and acted like the Todd thing was really no biggie. I also couldn’t believe what a hypocrite she was when it came to their brother, Steven; she really had no room to judge and should have minded her own business.

Todd. Wow, the balls of this guy. I really wanted him to be kicked to the curb by both sisters. For some reason, I’ve never liked him and through the flashbacks, I realized why. He’s a selfish ass. I hope there’s another book where Jessica cheats on him. *Fingers crossed*

The deal with Steven was a total shocker. Who would have thought? First of all, everyone knew that he wasn’t faithful to his wife, but with who was another WTF. And boy did I want Steven to go in on Jessica for being in his business. She really deserved to hear the truth about herself from someone that's been dealing with her BS over the years.

There were also mentions of other well know characters and an epilogue at the end that gets you caught up on what everyone’s been up to. So, overall I was very entertained by this book. I felt like it could have been better, but it was fun to catch up and now I want more!

Other Books In This Series:

Too many to list!!!

Other Reviews Of This Book:

Goodreads

Shelfari

Review: Sex And The City by Candace Bushnell

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Wed, 11 May 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Genre: Fiction

Release Date: September 1997

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Author Website: http://www.candacebushnell.com

Format Read: Paperback

Pages: 304

Source: Purchased

Rating: One flower of love-did not finish this one

Book Blurb

In this chronicle of the mating habits of New York's cultural elite, Bushnell infiltrates celebrity affairs, sex clubs, and posh suburbs to introduce us to "bicycle boys," "modelizers," and "toxic bachelors" — powerful and successful men who bed single and married women as if it were a contest. Often funny and occasionally bleak, this is an inside account of the quintessential '90s romance and the never-ending search for the perfect marriage partner in high society.

My Thoughts

This was the first book that I’ve read by Candace Bushnell and I did not love it. I can’t say that the book was a total waste of time because some parts were funny and it included some very interesting opinions on sex and relationships.

Although the story started out promising, somewhere along the way, I got lost in the randomness and just lost interest. Thus the one flower rating.

I had all intentions of getting into the original story without comparing it to the show, but it just didn’t happen. I guess I just kept looking for Carrie’s point of view and all the craziness of her three besties. I was not prepared for the “real” Carrie, who turned out to be very forgettable because she was a drunken hot mess. Big was not all that grand either so there was no epic love to get engrossed in. The other characters were just as forgettable because they changed every other paragraph. I tried my best to latch onto a character or two, but it just didn’t work for me.

Overall, it wasn’t that bad. Like I said, I loved the in your face dialogue from the characters, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough. Perhaps if I had read the book before seeing the show, my review would have been more favorable. Despite my less than fabulous review, I still have a few of the author’s books on my TBR and can’t wait to read them.

Other Reviews Of This Book:

Goodreads

Shelfari

New Winners: The Pastor's Wife and Showers 2 Flowers Book Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Tue, 10 May 2011 00:19:00 +0000

Well, I posted the winners for these two giveaways last week and only one winner responded (thanx, Martha) so let's try this again. The new winners are

The Pastor's Wife by Reshonda Tate Billingsley is ...

Last Nerve

Showers 2 Flowers Book Hop Giveaway is...

Judy Cox

Ladies, please contact me by Friday @ thedivasbookcase@gmail.com with your mailing addresses.

Winner: The Pastor's Wife and Showers 2 Flowers Book Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Winners revised, click HERE for new winners

Thanks to all of my lovely followers that stop by and enter my giveaways. Also thanx to Renee at Simon and Schuster for providing the two copies of The Pastor's Wife for giveaway. The winners of that giveaway are

~~Blissfulrains~~ and Martha Lawson

And the winner of the Showers to Flowers Book Hop is

~~Amanda M~~

Congrats to all three ladies. You have until Saturday 5/7 to email me your addresses or another winner will be chosen. Please email your mailing addys to thedivasbookcase@gmail.com.

Rants and Raves: Review Funk

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Mon, 02 May 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Rants And Raves is just something that I'll be doing whenever the mood strikes me. Either I'll be ranting about something that I don't like or I'll be raving about something that I thought was just too great for me to shut up about.

My first post is definitely a rant, so allow me to have a meltdown.

*Warning: I am not a writer, but I love to ramble. A lot.*

I've seriously been going through the motions with my blogging lately. At one point in time, blogging was fun for me, but over the last few months it has been less fun and more like work. Don't get me wrong, I like blogging, but what started out as just something fun to do in my spare time has morphed into a hobby that I was quickly losing interest in.

Okay, let me explain. I've been in love with reading since I can remember. In grade school I used to live for Weekly Readers and Book Fairs. So a while ago, I ran across a couple of blogs and I liked them. It seemed like fun so I thought it would be cool to have my own.

Now I've been blogging for over a year. I've gone through some changes, but I love my books so I've tried my best to keep it simple and fun. I blogged whenever I felt the need to talk about a new book I'd recently read or one that I was looking forward to reading. It felt good to gush about a good read, or nitpick one I just couldn't finish. I didn't feel the need to do everything that other bloggers were doing because I was just having fun seeing what worked and didn't work for me.

Somewhere along the way, I started to care more about those unofficial blogging rules and etiquette than what was really on my mind. I got caught up in the "how to be a better blogger", "when to give nice reviews", "how to gain more followers" blah, blah, blah and lost my review mojo.

I found myself reading an excess amount of books. Some were not my preferred reads and were harder to review than others. Half the time I couldn't even start the review or I'd start it but couldn't finish it. And rather than be stuck trying to hammer out a review, I just picked up another book and started reading. Crazy, right? Before I knew it, I may have read five to six books without writing a single review. Half the time, the books I chose had such similar plots and characters that I felt like I was reading the same book over and over. Oh and the dreaded love at first site books (stay tuned for a rant on that)-noooooooooooooo!

While I've had my share of not so great books, I've also had my share of awesome reads that I had no problem reviewing. In fact the book had me so interested that the review practically wrote itself. That's when I realized that I just have to remember that reading is a chore only if I make it. Of course there will be books that I think I might like, but once I start reading them, I won't like them. But if I spend less time on the ones that I don't like and more time on the ones that I do like, I think I'll be able to pull myself out of my funk and start having fun again. And blog more.

Showers 2 Flowers Book Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 04:30:00 +0000

Thanks for stopping by for the Showers 2 Flowers Book Hop. The hop starts on April 29th at 12:01am and ends on May 1st at 11:59pm. There are only a few blogs participating but there are still some awesome prizes to be won. Once you enter my giveaway, just click on each blog in the link below to find out what the other blogs are giving away.

I am giving away a cute little goodie bag to one lucky winner. Here's what you will get

What Every Woman Should Do Once-mini book with nice and naughty things to do
Musings journal
Pink Little Book Holder-works like a bookmark, only cuter!
Black book light

To enter the giveaway, you must be a follower of this blog and complete these two easy steps. Giveaway is only open to US residents.

Must make a comment to the blog
Must fill out the Entry Form

Winner will be announced on the blog and will have three days to contact me to claim their prize. If winner does not contact me, another winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

Showers 2 Flowers Book Hop Update

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:10:00 +0000

Sign Ups are still open for the Showers 2 Flowers Book Hop. The hop will start on April 29 at 12:01am (central time) and will end on May 1 at 11:59pm (central time). The hop is being hosted by Diva's Bookcase and Notorious Spinks. Submission to the link will close on Saturday April 30.

UPDATED 4/27/11!!!

I had a problem with the previous linky, so the new linky list and code is below. The old linky will expire on tomorrow (4/28). This new linky will need to appear on your hop post so that readers can access the other participatings blogs. As always if you have any questions, please email me at thedivasbookcase@gmail.com.

Click Here For New Code To Use On Your Blog Post

Here is a sneak peak of what I will be giving away here on Diva's Bookcase.

Review: Lover Unleashed by J R Ward

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:00:00 +0000

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date: March 2011

Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book #9

Publisher: NAL

Author Website: http://www.jrward.com

Format Read: Ebook

Pages: 512

Source: Borrowed but feel I must buy for my collection

Reading Challenge: Kick Ass Heroine

Rating: 4 flowers of love-really liked it and would recommend it

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb

Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, seductive cloth as her brother. Imprisoned for eons by their mother, the Scribe Virgin, she finally frees herself-only to face a devastating injury. Manuel Manello, M.D., is drafted by the Brotherhood to save her as only he can-but when the human surgeon and the vampire warrior meet, their two worlds collide in the face of their undeniable passion. With so much working against them, can love prove stronger than the birthright and the biology that separates them?

My Thoughts

I have really been on the fence about reading this one, so I waited before getting my hands on a copy. I have had a love/hate relationship with this series because some books are better than others. But just when I feel that the Brotherhood has lost its appeal, I get sucked back in and have to get caught up on the latest drama.

Lover Unleashed picks up right where Lover Mine left off. I’ve read a lot of reviews where readers were not happy about the story focusing more on V and Jane rather than on Payne and Manny. I didn’t feel that way because to me all of the BDB books have about four or five different stories happening simultaneously. And that’s what I love about them. There’s so much going on it keeps me glued to the pages trying to guess what’s going to happen next.

But back to the shift in focus. I am glad that the book wasn’t totally focused on Payne and Manny. While I liked both characters, they were kind of boring on the romance front. I liked Payne but I was disappointed that she embraced her Chosen side more than the kick ass side she inherited from her crackpot parents. Most of the time she was soft spoken and polite, but she did let it be known that it was in your best interest not to piss her off.

I liked Manny in the beginning because he wasn’t intimated by V or the Brotherhood. I gotta respect his balls because each time V got in his face, he was right back at him. Toward the end of the story, Manny lost his shine, though. The sexual healing method or whatever it was was just corny. And I didn’t like his growling and teeth bearing. What, did his inner vamp demand to come out or something? And why in the world does everyone have to be connected to somebody? His connection to Butch was sooo convenient. Couldn’t he just be a regular ole human like Mary and still fit in? I’m pretty sure he still would have been okay without that little revelation. But maybe that’s some foreshadowing for a later storyline…hmmm.

Now to the V drama. I knew Payne’s appearance was going to take a toll on V’s mental state, but it turned out to be an even worse WTF. If vampires have breakdowns, I’m guessing V should have been bouncing around in a padded cell with a straight jacket and all. He just fell apart. I always thought he was by far the craziest brother with his jacked up past. I never bought him finding his inner peace by hooking up with Jane either. I always thought there was more to his drama than Lover Revealed (which I wasn’t crazy about) could handle. I guess having to deal with Manny first wanting Jane, then finding him cozying up to his sis just made him click. I was totally disappointed in the way he handled himself, but in the end, he finally opened up to Jane and their relationship became unbreakable.

What I did not understand was the foolishness that happened with Butch. I have never been on Team “Vutch”, so I skimmed over their “therapy session”. I thought it was wrong on V and Jane’s part to ask him to do that. And I think Marisa should have shouted hell no. She should have long told V to stop fantasizing about her man. There should be no loaning him out for V’s messed up sexual whatevers.

Jane, I've never really liked or disliked. For some reason I just didn't care that she was there, but I actually liked her in this book. She's put up with some serious shit from V since day one and it was about time he stopped acting like an ass towards her. At several points in the story, I was rooting for her to leave his ass so he could stew and finally realize how much she meant to him. But in the end, she believed in their love and everything turned out as it should.

Oh, oh and back to the subject of sexual whatevers, the Qhuinn/Blay/Saxton situation is getting old. They need to just do the damn thang or shut the hell up. Qhuinn calling Saxton a slut made me laugh because it takes one to know one. Qhuinn is just mad that his slutty cousin is Blay’s booty call. It serves him right to know that Blay is getting his freak on with or without him.

And on a side note, Layla has done her Chosen duty so I think she deserves some rewards…as in a man…of her own and not some hand me downs from Qhuinn. I'm totally disregarding Qhuinn's premonition because it just wouldn't be fair to her. I vote Tohr. I just think they'd make an awesome pairing. Crickets? Yeah, okay. Just a thought.

As for the band of bastards, I have to admit that I skipped over most of their storyline (like I do with the lessors) but I did read about their interaction with Payne and Xcor's plans for Wrath. I have the feeling that they are going to have some interesting roles in the future and Payne will play a major role in keeping the peace.

The only real complaint I have about this series is that once each brother gets his HEA, the couple fade into the background like furniture and only show up briefly. I miss my brothers and wish they could play more active roles in the new stories besides the fighting scenes and having dinner. I’d love an update on Rhage (my Boo) and Mary, JM (my other Boo) and Xhex, and Z and Bella. I digress on Phury and Cormia because they were the most boring couple evah! And I still wish that Butch and Marisa would just go away because as long as Butch is around, V will always keep “what if” alive.

Overall, Lover Unleashed was a wild ride. Some parts I loved and others not so much. I can say that this is one series that I will never get tired of. Love it or hate it, when the next book comes out it will find its way on my TBR.

Other Books In This Series:

Dark Lover, Book #1 (September 2005)
Lover Eternal, Book #2 (March 2006)
Lover Awakened, Book #3 (September 2006)
Lover Revealed, Book #4 (March 2007)
Lover Unbound, Book #5 (September 2007)
Lover Enshrined, Book #6 (June 2008)
Father Mine, Book #6.5 Black Dagger Brotherhood Insider Guide (October 2008)
Lover Avenged, Book #7 (April 2009)
Lover Mine, Book #8 (April 2010)

Other Reviews Of This Book:

Goodreads

Shelfari

To Be Read Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:00:00 +0000

It's been awhile since I've done a TBR post. Now that I'm back, here is what I will be reading this week.

Queen Takes King by Gigi Levangie Grazer
Jackson Power. A name like the man himself: aggressive, ambitious, bullish. The prodigal son, heir to millions, built his own Manhattan real estate empire and revels in seeing his moniker — Power! — on glittering skyscrapers around the city that never sleeps. Beneath his desk in the towering Power headquarters, Jacks has a stack of newspapers and photographs of himself, shaking hands with the most famous men and women of his generation. Here's a man who's always loved to see his name in ink. Until now.

Cynthia Hunsaker Power. She is the epitome of elegance and society. The perfect foil for a man of Jacks's stature — his first and only wife, he'd proudly tell any of his Master of the Universe (read: Gargoyle) friends. The former prima ballerina arrived in New York at eighteen, off the bus from Missouri, brimming with talent, beauty, and drive. She met a struggling painter, fell in love, and only later learned she'd won the Power lottery. Now she sits on the New York Ballet Theater board, effortlessly outdoing herself with one gala after another. But the press coverage of the Power silver anniversary party at the Waldorf takes the cake.

Jacks Power appears twice in the New York Post the next morning — once gallantly dancing with his wife of twenty-five years, Cynthia; and once hand in hand with Lara Sizemore, morning television star, exiting her Upper West Side apartment building that very same night.

To Jackson Power, Lara is everything his wife Cynthia is not — wild, voluptuous, mysterious, and selfsustaining. A new passion has swept Jacks off his well-shod feet — and she is Lara Sizemore. He is ready for the divorce, ready to marry his mistress, America's Sweetheart. But Cynthia isn't ready to be swept out of the picture quite so easily.

Let the Divorce Games begin.

Whether they're changing the locks on each other in their Park Avenue triplex or sabotaging each other's dinner parties, it's The People's Billionaire vs. The Ballerina, in a split-up that will trump the most scandalous divorces known to polite New York society. Cynthia's got their twenty-five-year-old artist daughter, Vivienne, in her camp; Jacks has the young bartending playwright Adrian, whom he intends to pay to seduce Cynthia into an easy split. But Cynthia might have a few tricks up her well-tailored Chanel sleeve, and she — like Jacks — is prepared to use every weapon in her divorce arsenal to win the game. It's a battle of wits, of charm, of two of the biggest egos — and personalities and bank accounts — in Manhattan, and neither side will go down without a fight.