Customer Reviews

Diva NashVegas

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Exactly what, I asked myself, is a Diva?

Well, according to most dictionaries I checked, Diva is a noun, and it describes a "distinguished female operatic singer; a female operatic star." Synonym: prima donna

Hmmm. I've noticed in today's usage, Diva seems to be applied to anyone who is at the pinnacle of their career, or knowledge, or special in some other way. Let's find out if it applies here.

Our Diva in this book is one Aubrey James, the reigning Queen of Country, residing at the top of the charts for over ten years. We meet Aubrey onstage at a CMA special. She's exhausted. Her boyfriend pops out onstage and publicly proposes. The ring is thrust on her finger. He leaves, she steps up into the spotlight - and the Diva takes a dive. Total wipe-out.

As she recuperates, she learns she has been cruelly betrayed by a former band member. Her "story" has been sold to a major tabloid. Up to this point, Aubrey has kept her very public life separate from her private life. Now, she realizes she's going to have to open up and talk about the real Aubrey James.

She chooses the venue for her interview, but they change her scheduled interviewer. A person from her past she'd rather forget. Now she faces her past--her personal life--on more than one front.

Aubrey James refuses to become a victim. She is strong. She faces everything head-on. No hiding, no prevaricating. Brought up by Christian parents, at their death, Aubrey moves away from her faith. Yet, though she doesn't realize it, her 'faith' never left her. When things happen to her, accusations thrown at her, she handles them with grace, though she doesn't realize that. Some of those things made ME angry. I wanted Aubrey to lash out in anger, throw something, do something--anything. But she didn't.

And she remains a Diva.

I loved this book. I highly recommend this title, even if you don't reach much Chick-Lit.I believe this is Rachel's strongest book to date It is not a "girlie" book - it is full of depth and rich with symbolism. Get it!

extremely well written. the characters dont feel like they were pushed and forced into being and the conversations and story feels natural. extremely good book and i would recommend it to everyone. i enjoyed the storyline in that it could be read by anyone, man or woman. its a chick lit thats not too romancey.

Diva NashVegas is the touching story of a country music superstar trying to get back in touch with herself, her faith, and her love for music. In the first few pages of the book, the main character, Aubrey James, bursts forth as a glitzy, glamorous star of the stage who has everything that anyone could ask for - love, money, success. But it doesn't take long for the reader to get to know the inner turmoil of Aubrey's life as she has learned to deal with the loss of her parents, the betrayals by lovers, and the duplicity of former band members, all while under the bright spotlight of the public eye. Now, recognizing that there is nowhere left to run and hide from the mistakes and misfortunes of her past, Aubrey decides to face them head on by doing a one on one interview with Scott Vaughn, one of the co-anchors of Inside NashVegas. Rachel Hauck does an amazing job of bringing to life the complex character of Aubrey James whose larger-than-life, diva persona is balanced perfectly with that girl-next-door, down to earth quality that makes Aubrey irresistibly relatable despite her status as a country singing legend. Aubrey's encounters with Scott span the gamut of emotions from embarrassing and nerve racking, to compassionate and even comedic. The moments where Aubrey dreams of her mother will touch the heartstrings of anyone who has ever felt sad and alone and wanted nothing more than to crawl inside a warm, motherly embrace. Turning the pages on the growth of a woman on the brink of a breakdown as she turns into someone enjoying the process of regaining her faith is a joy to witness!
--Amey Libman, Author of Heart of Blue

I loved this book. I read it during down time at work but had to be very careful... due to the fact that I busted out laughing at the antics between Aubrey and Scott. Singed eye-brows, the driving lesson, teaching Aubrey to cook.

I found Hauck's writing to be down to earth, weaved with love and humor. Aubrey was so well-rounded that I could relate to bits and pieces of her personality. Scott was such an easy character to love. He would be a lot of fun to hang with. When I neared the end of the book, I found myself procratinating to finish it. I didn't want the story to end.

I am going to buy this book for my 12 year old niece. I know she will love it.

Diva NashVegas was a fun, adventurous read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The humor was delightful and the antics between Aubrey and Scott were hilarious at times. I enjoyed hanging out with Aubrey and getting a feel for who she really was inside. How she learned to conquer her fears and make better decisions for herself, including returning to her childhood faith. Aubrey was a tough, but lovable diva, and when people treated her like a normal person it not only touched her heart, but it moved mine as well. Fame definitely comes with a price and her story is a wonderful illustration of that truth. Overall, Aubrey seemed more like a friend to me than a character in a novel. She was that real. And the way the author brought her character out through a variety of interviews was pure genius.

Scott grabbed my heart from the beginning. Though I didn't despise Car, I definitely wanted to see her with Scott, who was less pretentious. However, the scene with Car in the restaurant was truly touching. And her discovery of her feelings toward Scott gave me delicious shivers. Scott was just an all-around nice guy and a true hero in every sense regarding Aubrey. I loved watching their friendship grow. I think of all the novels Rachel has written (that I've read) this is my favorite. I highly recommend it.

Diva NashVegas by Rachel Hauck is the fabulous story of country music star Aubrey James. Aubrey (think Carrie Underwood with a hint of scandal) is on the top of the charts, in all the tabloids, and about to breakdown. Her fiance proposed in front of millions of people, and she's not sure that's she's ready to marry him. She's still recovering from the death of her gospel music star parents, and her brother's been missing for years. One of her colleagues has turned on her and is telling Aubrey's secrets to the whole world for cold, hard cash. To defuse the controversy, Aubrey agrees to do her first sit-down interview with Nashville show Inside NashVegas. But the regular host is out on maternity leave, and sports host Scott has to take her place, but Scott and Aubrey have a secret of their own that may make this interview uncomfortable for everyone. I read a LOT of books, and this is one of the few I can say I genuinely loved. The switching first person narration from Aubrey to Scott with transcripts of their interviews really move the story along and keep the reader from feeling lost in Aubrey's tangled backstory. Hauck has a way of creating very sympathetic characters, and she's not afraid to portray them engaging in unGodly behavior. I was surprised to find Aubrey and her fiance sleeping together, but Hauck never goes into detail or condemns them for it. She also uses a theme that is unusual, but a good one: If you compromise to avoid confrontation, eventually you will find that you are far away from not only yourself but God as well. Aubrey isn't afraid to stand up for herself in her career, but in her life, she takes the easy road, until Scott shows her the life she's missed. Scott and Aubrey's relationship is a joy to watch, and I was very glad that Hauck didn't make Car a complete creep in a way that would have destroyed the realism of the story. Robin, the protagonist from the previous book, Lost in NashVegas makes an appearance as well.

I was so into this book. Aubrey James came alive off the pages and I could just see her singing on stage. Scott Vaughn, the hero, was a perfect balance of humour and seriousness.

This was a story of redemption. Aubrey James faced some tough life situations and made some bad choices along the way. She realized one day that her life could be different. God had a bigger plan than what she could comprehend. I found this to be an easy story to relate to and appreciate the author's insight into God's heart.

Rachel Hauck is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I have read and enjoyed each of her books and this one definitely delivers. You will laugh, cry and give a sigh of relief at this book. Great read!

Great book! Really enjoyed the plot, charachters, and the writing. Can't wait to read the other books by this author.

Christian fiction + country music = LOVE. This is the second book that Rachel Hauck has written about the country music industry, this time picking up with the character after she's already made it big.

Ever read a tabloid magazine story about a celebrity complaining about their lack of privacy or their inability to really trust anyone with their secrets? Ever think to yourself, "Hey, that's the price of fame?" Diva NashVegas gives you the celebrity's perspective on life in the spotlight - both the good and the bad.

This story is written in true Rachel Hauck style - likeable characters, uncomplicated story lines and a message of faith and hope. Like all of Rachel's books, I highly recommend it.

Let me first start out by saying I am NOT a fan of country music. I'm sorry to all those that are but it is a genre that has just never appealed to me. Not even the pop-country crossovers are enough to sway me over. That being said, I really enjoyed this book even though country music was all it was about!

I was really pleased without how Aubrey's celebrity status is handled throughout the book. I've read other books where it was so obvious no research was done at all in regard to what goes on with an actor or musician. This book however made me really feel like I was there in Aubrey's shoes and being able to see everything from her eyes. It really felt like she was a true star and even little details like what's in a gift basket back in the green room made the story seem refreshingly realistic while having that fun touch of glamour.

Aubrey is not your typical Christian fiction heroine. She has a live in boyfriend (gasp!) which while conservative readers will frown upon adds a layer to her character you don't see in many Christian books. Nothing graphic is told or even really implied so it's not a huge factor in the book. Her faith does strengthen towards the end of the book to the point where she truly begins to believe what she is actually singing. It's not preachy though by any means. While it is a factor of the book, never does it feel as if anything is being pushed at you.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. Like I said, I'm not a fan of country music but this book just could convert me into a fan of Aubrey's music. I had a blast learning about the country music world as well as what it's like to be a music superstar. If you are a fan of singers like Carrie Underwood or Taylor Swift, you will love reading this book.