Customer Reviews

Too Much Drama

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

 

 

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

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.

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

I bought this book in a desperate search for something new to read and I just could not make it through! It was filled with simple, unrealistic characters! The mother was just unbelieveable (paying $100 for a parking space?...her own room at the church?..ridiculous) and the youngest daughter continued to her mom, "mommy" and act so immature; it got on my nerves! I was just so annoyed with the characters that I could not get into the story line, which was weak in itself. I just did not enjoy this book at all, there was no drama to speak of, just poorly written characters.

Overall the book was good, but the characters got on my nerves. How in the world do you have a snob ghetto-mother? Doneeka's character was too immature as was the youngest sister.

The underlying issues were good points. Being a domineering mother trying to run your children's lives is never a good thing. Once your kids leave you have to let them lead their own lives. Standing up for yourself is always important because only you can live your life.

In an exclusive part of Los Angeles, Adeena LeBeau decides that she needs her daughters married starting with the oldest, Donneeka. Adeena shows up unannounced at Neeka's home with successful trucking company owner Braxton Dupree. He may be a handsome thriving player but she remembers him as "Yuck Boy" when they lived two doors down as kids in Compton.

Though attracted to Braxton, Neeka rejects him because she is weary of her mother interfering in her life. Braxton pursues Neeka and soon they begin an affair that he wants public, but she demands kept in the shadows so her mother will not know. As they fall in love, Braxton wants more from their relationship, but Neeka insists they remain hidden as anything with him means a loss of freedom since he is tied to her mother. Neeka plans to declare her independence by humiliating her magnolia steel mother at a church banquet honoring Adeena although that will cost her Braxton and perhaps even a hurt mother.

TOO MUCH DRAMA is an amusing contemporary romance starring a male protagonist everyone would want and a self-centered selfish woman who seems superficial especially because she uses Braxton as a tool to declare her independence at any cost. The story line is well written with a strong support cast especially her mother and to a lesser degree her siblings. However, readers will not like the "me-me" Neeka as she uses the likable Braxton (in comedic scenarios) and is unappreciative of her mother's efforts to improve the life of her children though admittedly Adeena can be a terror. Contemporary fans will enjoy this humorous tale hoping that Neeka will learn THE HIGH PRICE OF A GOOD MAN.

Harriet Klausner

Writer dragged on the good part way too long. I was three-fourths the way finished before it really got good. No mother should have that much control over her children.

I think Adeena was a force to be reckon with she was to controlling over the daughters and Neeka did not have a backbone to do anything about it. And the younger sister I think was just to nieve for her own good to be that old and so not with life was so funny to me. And Mom with the picture taking and all her religious hangups when she was not the perfect person was good because when the daughters found out about what she had done they saw that mother was not perfect and they then could deal with what she was doing to there lives..

I think the author put out a good book if had you thinking but it also gave light to when parents try to control their childrens lives and it does not work when you try to find the perfect husband for your daughters what actually could happen and the drama that it will entail..Good work Debra....

Well this family is full of drama
Mother, self made millionaire, interfering,control freak who seems to own her church, gives Christianity a bad name she has her own room at her church due to her big bank account.
Neeka 24 the oldest of 3 sisters, who loves the lifestyle her mothers money affords but can't cut the apron strings cos it comes attached with mum's money. Annoying at first the way she handled Braxton but understandable with the above mother.
Mercy 24 , second daughter with a drink problem apart from Braxton, Quamee the only likeable characters in the book, Plus she has some funny lines.
The third girl 22 her name escapes me, skinny with an eating disorder that is alluded but not admitted to. Very annoying little girl in a womans body.
Braxton/Quamme - the love interests, the good guys, good looking, decent black guys who get their neurotic women in the end.
So is this book worth buying? I'd say yes cos you'll spend as much time laughing as well as rolling your eyes.