It's Monday, What Are You Reading (6)

It's Monday, What are you Reading is hosted by The Book Journey.

Last week: I finished reading Promises in Death, Natural Born Hustler, and Big Girls Don't Die (I didn't review that one because it was a short story--only about 45 pages--and it was mostly all smut. I didn't like it much at all.)

This week: I'm currently reading Confessions by Sasha Campbell which started off slow, but is now really good. Should be finished within the next day or so.

Review-Natural Born Hustler

Natural Born Hustler by Nikki Turner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Natural Born Hustler is the story of 18-year-old Desember, who is, as the title says, a Natural Born Hustler. She will sell anything-aside from her body-legal or illegal, to make some money. After leaving her mother's house because she can't stand her stepfather, Desember goes to live with her boyfriend Fame, who is a hustler in his own right. The book begins with him getting shot and ending up in the hospital, seemingly as payback for him having hustled the wrong guy.
The story started off kinda slow, and I didn't really like any of the characters, but once Nikki Turner got into the back story on how Desember and Fame ended up where they were at the beginning, it quickly picked up and got interesting. This was a short read (only 114 pages) and I would've liked to get more into Desember's head to find out a bit more about her. I liked the whole Bonnie and Clyde vibe she and Fame had and I would've liked to see that explored more.
The book ended with a To Be Continued so I will definitely be picking up the next one to see what happens next.



View all my reviews

Source: Library
Challenges: 100 Books in a Year

Mini-Review: Promises in Death

Promises in Death by J.D. Robb

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Loved it! Definitely one of my favorite Eve Dallas books.



View all my reviews

Source: Library
Challenges: 100 Books in 2011, Mystery and Suspense Challenge

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (5)

It's time for It's Monday, What are You Reading? hosted by Sheila at The Book Journey.

Currently Reading: I'm still finishing up Promises in Death by JD Robb, should be done with it tonight.

Next Up: Confessions by Sasha Campbell and Natural Born Hustler by Nikki Turner

In My Mailbox (2)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

I didn't buy, borrow, or receive any books this week. I did, however, download these freebies from B&N for Strawberry (that's my Nook Color):

Big Girls Don't Die by Crystal Jordan

Catch of a Lifetime by Judi Fennell

Summer at Willow Lake by Susan Wigg

What did you receive this week?

Review-Work What You Got

Work What You Got by Stephanie Perry Moore

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book is about a college sophomore named Hayden who is excited about starting her sophomore year at Western Smith College with her 3 best friends, Myra, Bridget, and Chandra.



The one thing Hayden wants most of all is to join the sorority Beta Gamma Pi and all of her friends had decided to join, too, until they finally get on campus and all of a sudden, none of her friends want to join BGP anymore.



This book was ok. There was a lot going on, some of which just seemed like too much. First there was all the hazing when Hayden was on line. I've never joined a sorority or wanted to, so maybe I just didn't understand, but why would she and all the girls want to put up with all of that? And then I think the character of Big Keisha Mean Machine was just way over the top, especially with the whole choking incident and then the peanut butter.



I thought some things were kinda unbelieveable, like how after making the sorority and the current sorority girls becoming suspended, Hayden automatically becomes the chapter president. Again, I don't really know how sororities work, but I don't think a new sophomore could just automatically be thrust into that kind of leadership role. I guess I'm too assume this is just a small-town based sorority. Then the whole thing with Trisha stealing the money and Bea was another over the top character.



As for Hayden and her crush, Creed, I really didn't feel any connection between them either. At the beginning of the story we're told they met each other last year and already liked each other. I would've liked to see their friendship/courtship progress a but before they were suddenly all bf/gf.



All in all, I give this a generous three stars as it did keep me mildly entertained and I do kinda want to read the next book in the series, which is about a character not even mentioned in this book, but that's a good thing because I didn't really like many of the characters. It was just a bit too all over the place with characters that didn't really seem true to life.



View all my reviews

Source: Library
Challenges: 100 Books in 2011, 2011 YA Reading Challenge

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (4)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by The Book Journey.

Finished: Be Careful What You Pray For and Married on Mondays

Abandoned: Danger in the Shadows

Currently reading:

From Goodreads:
Between moving off campus, gearing up to pledge a sorority, and trying to keep her faith first, Hayden Grant is about to become one very busy Beta.
College sophomore Hayden Grant and her three roommates can't wait to join Beta Gamma Pi sorority. At least that's the plan-until Myra, Bridget, and Chandra announce they're each pledging a different sorority. Can Hayden and her girls hold onto their friendship as they pursue different organizations? And speaking of pursuit, Hayden's caught the eye of Creed, a hottie she met her first year. There's just one complication: Hayden's ex-boyfriend heads the fraternity Creed's pledging. It looks like it's going to be one crazy year of trials, tribulations, and unexpected lessons-in leadership and love.

Next Up: Promises in Death by JD Robb

What are you reading this week?

Review-Married on Mondays

Married on Mondays by HoneyB

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book was written by HoneyB, which is the pseudonym of Mary B. Morrison.



The three main characters are sisters Foxy, Deja, and Victoria, who run a pastry shop called Creme by day, and then service clients sexually at Creme Fantasyland by night. All three sisters are married to three partners in a law firm: Foxy to Winton, who no longer pays any attention to her and is having fun on the side; Deja to Acer; and Victoria the "virgin" to a woman, Naomi. Foxy is still sleeping with her ex-fiance Dallas and Victoria has still been with her ex-boyfriend, Rain, who is the chief of police and threatens to rape Victoria if she doesn't give him her virginity.



This book was a quick read (started it last night and finished this morning) mostly because I kept reading to see if something would happen. This book basically had no plot. The characters, especially Deja, were not really fleshed out. I wondered if maybe this were the second book in a series because I kept feeling like I was missing something. I wanted to read more about the sisters' adventures at Creme Fantasyland than with their own spouses. I couldn't care less about Winton and mistresses Isis and Nova Scotia.



I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars because it did keep me mildly entertained, although I was close to giving it 2 stars.



View all my reviews

Source: Library
Challenges: 100 Books in a Year

In My Mailbox (1)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

In the mail:

A lot of R.L. Stine's Fear Street books that I won on ebay. The books are:
The Girlfriend
The Boyfriend
The Baby-sitter II
Blind Date
The Hitchhiker
Halloween Night
One Evil Summer
The Face
What Holly Heard
Broken Hearts
Silent Night
Silent Night II

Most of these I've read before, except maybe The Boyfriend (can't remember) and One Evil Summer. I absolutely LOVE the Silent Night books (Reva Dalby is such a great character), as well as Broken Hearts and Halloween Night.

From the library:

Diamond Playgirls-Daaimah S. Poole, et al
Work What You Got-Stephanie Perry Moore (YA Novel)
Natural Born Hustler-Nikki Turner
Promises in Death-JD Robb
Confessions-Sasha Campbell
Step Up-Monica McKayhan (YA Novel)
Married on Mondays-HoneyB
Rachael Ray's Book of 10-Rachael Ray
Biggest Loser Family Cookbook

What was in your mailbox this week?

Challenge-2011 YA Reading Challenge

This one is hosted by Jamie at For the Love of YA.

There are four levels:

--The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.

--The "Fun Size" YA Reading Challenge – Read 20 Young Adult novels.

--The Jumbo Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 40 Young Adult novels.

--The Mega size YA Reading Challenge – Read 50+ Young Adult novels.

3. Audio, eBooks, paper, re-reads all count.

4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

5. The Challenge starts on January 1, 2011 and goes until December 31, 2011.


I'm going for the "Fun Sized" level.

Books read:
1. Work What You Got-Stephanie Perry Moore
2. Step Up-Monica McKayhan
3. Broken Hearts (Fear Street Super Chiller)-R.L.Stine
4. Twilight-Stephenie Meyer
5. New Moon-Stephenie Meyer
6. All We Know of Heaven-Jacquelyn Mitchard
7. The DUFF-Kody Keplinger
8. Eclipse-Stephenie Meyer
9. Remember Me-Christopher Pike
10. So Much Closer-Susane Colasanti
11. Halloween Night-RL Stine
12. Halloween Party-RL Stine
13. Breaking Dawn-Stephenie Meyer
14. I Loved You First-Reena Jacobs
15. Silent Night 2-RL Stine

Review-Be Careful What You Pray For by Kimberla Lawson Roby

Be Careful What You Pray For by Kimberla Lawson Roby

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As usual, the fabulous Kimberla Lawson Roby did not disappoint with this latest installment in her Rev. Curtis Black series.

This one is the follow-up to The Best Everything. It stars Curtis' grown daughter, Alicia Black, who has set her sights on a new up-and-coming minster named TJ Valentine.

On the surface, TJ seems perfect--he cares about Alicia, but mostly he buys her anything she wants, which was her main problem during her first marriage to Phillip, he was too money-conscious.

Everyone loves TJ, with the exception of Alicia's father Curtis, who belives TJ is just a shady, shiesty, character. You would think this would tip Alicia off a bit, since her father had had numerous affairs of his own. Takes one to know one, right?

So TJ has been sleeping with two other women, Diana, a rich, older woman who gives his money whenever he asks, and Carmen, a girl who used to be friends with Alicia (although TJ doesn't know that.) TJ tries to break things off with Carmen after he finds a new mistress, Veda, but Carmen is having no parts of that and starts acting psycho and stalkerish, even re-introducing herself to Alicia and having them catch up on old times.

While all this is going on, TJ is trying his best to increase his church's membership, and he forges Curtis' signature on recommendation letters to other, bigger churches.

As I said, Ms. Roby never disappoints and while this one was slightly predictable and not much different than some of her older novels, it still kept me entertained and wanting to see what would happen next. I really like Alicia as a character, although she can be bratty and spoiled (like me) and I didn't like how she so easily cheated on her husband in her first book, she seems like a girl I'd definitely want to be friends with.

Challenge Used For: 100 Books in a Year



View all my reviews

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (3)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? was started by The Book Journey

This week I'm reading:

Be Careful What You Pray For by one of my favorite authors, Kimberla Lawson Roby.

Product Description
Her first marriage didn't work out, but that isn't going to stop Alicia Black, the privileged daughter of the charismatic Reverend Curtis Black, from getting what she wants.

Alicia can't believe her good fortune. God has heeded her prayers, blessing her with the perfect second husband, Pastor JT Valentine, a handsome, dynamic man of the cloth with his own large congregation, just like her father.

Unfortunately, Alicia doesn't understand how much like Curtis her new husband truly is. JT has been sneaking around town with other women—and he only married her to get close to her father's money and fame. But while Alicia is blinded by love, her dad certainly isn't. After all, it takes one to know one—and who better to see into the darkness of a sinner's heart than Curtis Black?

Only a miracle can save the day. But God acts in mysterious ways, and soon Alicia will have to face some very crucial and life-changing decisions. This time, she's got to be careful what she prays for. . . .

I know I said I was going to start those freebies from B&N, but my mother checked this out from the library so I need to read it so I can give it back to her and she can read it before it's due back. :)

2011 E-Book Challenge

I could've sworn I had already signed up for this, but I guess not. This is the 2011 E-Book Challenge, hosted by The Ladybug Reads.

The deets:

There are four levels:

-- Curious – Read 3 e-books.

-- Fascinated – Read 6 e-books.

-- Addicted – Read 12 e-books.

-- Obsessed – Read 20 e-books.

-- Possessed – Read 50 e-books.

-- Fanatical – Read 75 e-books.

-- Monomaniacal – Read 100 e-books.

3. Any genre counts.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1, 2011 and lasts until December 31, 2011.

I hope to fall somewhere in between the Obsessed/Possessed categories.

Books Read:
1. The First Lady-Carl Weber
2. Big Girls Don't Die-Crystal Jordan
3. Deadly Sanctuary-Sylvia Nobel
4. Sweet Valley Confidential-Francine Pascal
5. Summer at Willow Lake-Susan Wiggs
6. Fools Rush In-Janice Thompson
7. Something Borrowed-Emily Giffin
8. Last Night's Kiss-Shirley Hailstock
9. In Between Lies-Shawna Hill
10. I Loved You First-Reena Jacobs
11. The Bite Before Christmas-Heidi Betts

Review-The First Lady

The First Lady by Carl Weber

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book is about a church bishop, whose wife (the church's First Lady) has died. Prior to the First Lady's death, she and her friend (the church secretary) wrote a series of letters to be delivered after her death to 4 women of the church whom would be in the running to become the new First Lady after her death.

The four women are: Marlene, the bishop's first girlfriend, whom he has a child with and she is currently a recovering drug addict; Savannah, a younger woman whose father (a deacon in the church) wants to improve his status at the church so he is pushing for his daughter to become the next First Lady; Monique, the "harlot" of the bunch, who dresses provocatively and is gossiped about by the other women of the church; and Lisa May, the "perfect" one who would make a wonderful First Lady.

This book had its moments, but was kinda boring. I could pretty much figure out right away who the Bishop would end up with. None of the women or the Bishop were very interesting characters. I did like the story line of Marlene's struggles with her drug addiction. Certain events seemed like kind of a cop out (especially the outcome of Monique's predicament), and also the ending.

All in all, I give this a generous 3 stars, it did keep me mildly entertained, but it did drag a bit and the characters were boring.



View all my reviews

Challenges: 2011 e-book Challenge, 100 Books in a Year Challenge

It's Monday, What Are You Reading (2)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by The Book Journey

Last Week: I finished Irresistible Forces and Liar's Game.

This Week: I am currently reading The First Lady by Carl Weber.

Next Up: I downloaded two more freebies from B&N:

Deadly Sanctuary by Sylvia Nobel

and

Danger in the Shadows by Dee Henderson

Reading Goals for 2011

1. Complete all the challenges I've signed up for.
*100 books in 2011
*Mystery and Suspense Challenge
*Young Adult Challenge
*Free e-books Challenge
*Contemporary Romance Challenge

And any other challenges I sign up for during the year.

2. Read at least 3 nonfiction books this year. I'm not really a fan of nonfiction books and I usually just skim through them. I want to actually read them from start to finish.

3. Read and comment on other reading blogs at least once a week.

If you would like to see my personal goals for 2011, please read my other blog: Sweet Dream or Beautiful Nightmare