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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This Summer's Beach Read, June 15, 2005
This review is from: Too Much Drama (Paperback)
Adeena LaBeau had a vivid dream of a December wedding. While she could not see the bride in the dream, she knows she has three eligible daughters, so one of them has to be the bride. She makes it her business to marry off one of her daughters in Debra Phillips newest novel, Too Much Drama.
Donneeka (Neeka) LaBeau is the oldest of Adeena's daughters; therefore it would make the most sense for Adeena to find her a husband. The intended groom to be is an old neighbor, Braxton Dupree. Neeka is outraged at her mother's audacity in planning her life. However, Neeka and her sisters, Princess and Mercedes are powerless when it comes to their mother. They all work for her in the family business Diva Four Cosmetic Company. The condos they live in and the cars they drive are all purchased and paid for by their mother. In an effort to bring Braxton and Neeka together, Adeena arranges for Neeka to go on a business trip to Texas and hires Braxton to drive her from California to Austin, Texas in a RV. One thing that Adeena did not count on was Braxton encouraging Neeka to take back control of her life. Neeka did not count on was being attracted to Braxton. Upon her return to California, Neeka is a new person, determined to take control over her life and in her quest to do so, reveals a painful secret of her mother's and has to suffer the consequences.
Too Much Drama was just that, much drama, however, funny drama that was easy to read and had quite a few laugh out loud moments. It also showed young ladies trying to empower themselves against strong obstacles. I thought Adeena LaBeau was a little over the top with her strong religious convictions, picture taking and controlling temperament, but her actions really shaped her daughters' thoughts and behaviors. I really enjoyed this book. It's a summertime read. Take it to the beach, or save it for a rainy day, like I did.
Jeanette
APOOO BookClub
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of drama as promised - not enough substance., May 22, 2005
This review is from: Too Much Drama (Paperback)
Their mother Adeena has spoiled Donneeka, Mercedes and Princess rotten. The price they pay for all of the luxuries that come with working in the company Adeena started is that she meddles endlessly in each of their lives. She holds the key to each of the condos they are living in and that she is paying for and doesn't hesitate to use the keys freely. After one of her vivid dreams that one of the girls will marry in December - a mere few months away - she sets about trying to set the oldest Donneeka up with Braxton.
Braxton is a guy from their old neighborhood, who was a nerd but has grown up into a handsome man that knows what he wants and isn't afraid to go after it. Though it's clear that Braxton has a serious interest in Donneeka, she fights any attempts on his part or on her mother's part to push them into a relationship. She has become fed up with her mother and won't fall for her mother choosing her future husband. The relationship between Donneeka and her mothers and sisters is the consummate love/hate relationship. Though the girls all clearly love their mother, her meddling is incessant. Many of the interactions between them are downright laugh-out loud humorous at times. At other times, they are too over the top. This is very evident in the revealing of family secrets some of them are harboring.
My major complaint with "Too Much Drama" is that each of the daughters is too one-dimensional. Donneeka is the good girl that shows independence, Mercedes is the brat that can't agree with anything her Mother says and Princess is the antithesis of Mercedes and goes along with everything Mother says.
The part of the story that draws you in is the relationship between Donneeka and Braxton. Though her spoiled side comes out in full force in her initial interactions with him as she pulls every childish prank in the book to ward off her growing affections for him, over time she relishes her feelings for him. Watching her fight off her feelings for Braxton so that her mother doesn't "win" once again started out fun, but dragged on a bit too long.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Family Drama, April 17, 2005
This review is from: Too Much Drama (Paperback)
TOO MUCH DRAMA by Debra Phillips is steeped in family drama that captures your
attention from the first page. Donneeka LeBeau is a twenty-four year old
executive at her family-owned business, Diva Four Cosmetics, who is determined
to live her own peaceful life. This would be fine if it weren't for her
controlling mother, Adeena LeBeau, and her two prying sisters, Mercy and
Princess. Adeena is a woman who has worked hard for success and refuses to
settle for anything less for her daughters. She controls everything from
their work lives to their housing, and if she has her way, their love lives.
Donneeka has decided that enough is enough as she plans ways to assert her
independence.
Written in a light-hearted and hilarious manner, TOO MUCH DRAMA is a quick
read filled with enjoyable characters that draw you into their web. I enjoyed
the connection between the family members as well as Adeena's determination
for her daughters to live rich, full lives. I would like to have
learned more about the family's background and what drove Adeena to push her
daughters and herself in the way that she did. Despite that, TOO MUCH DRAMA
was a satisfying read filled with laughter, drama, and love.
Reviewed by Diane Marbury
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers
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