Diary Of A Blues Goddess

Rating:
Summary: Pleasantly non-formulaic...
Review: Diary of a Blues Goddess is a quick, satisfying read. Where most "Chick Lit" books have the same formula (suddenly single girl in NY or LA, works for publishing house or magazine or is currently unemployed, has colorful friends, hilarity ensues), this book strayed away from many of these conventions, much to my delight.

The main character, Georgia Ray, is a wedding singer with dreams of becoming a blues goddess. The supporting characters are fantastic, and you can't help but root for Georgia. A few plot points were somewhat cheesy (I don't want to give anything away), but overall, it's a thoroughly enjoyable book, and perfect brain candy for the summer.

Rating:
Summary: Pleasantly non-formulaic...
Review: Diary of a Blues Goddess is a quick, satisfying read. Where most "Chick Lit" books have the same formula (suddenly single girl in NY or LA, works for publishing house or magazine or is currently unemployed, has colorful friends, hilarity ensues), this book strayed away from many of these conventions, much to my delight.

The main character, Georgia Ray, is a wedding singer with dreams of becoming a blues goddess. The supporting characters are fantastic, and you can't help but root for Georgia. A few plot points were somewhat cheesy (I don't want to give anything away), but overall, it's a thoroughly enjoyable book, and perfect brain candy for the summer.

Rating:
Summary: Try the "edgier" side of Red Dress Ink
Review: If you found Erica Orloff's last book, Spanish Disco, to be a fun addition to the Red Dress Ink series, then her latest book, Diary of a Blues Goddess, will certainly not dissapoint.

Georgia Ray is a singer in a wedding band who lives with drag queen roommates, her grandmother, and many other broken hearted wanderers, in a former brothel in New Orleans. The characters and plot are as colorful as the city itself. We see Georgia blossom not only as a blues singer but also as a woman in love. The subplots are interesting, and though the ending is somewhat predictable, the action and dialogue will keep you reading and wanting more. I found this to be a nice change from the NYC set, girls in publishing routine. Orloff's writing, style, and characters definitely have an edge and make for fun summer reading, as well as a fabulous addition to the RDI series. Read and enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, best RDI book to date!
Review: Spanish Disco is one my favorite Red Dress Ink books to date. I think Erica Orloff is a wonderful and creative writer. Her work isn't formulaic like most chick novels. Hers is a voice filled with wit, insight and humanity. And she's outdone herself with Diary of a Blues Goddess.

Set in New Orleans, Georgia Ray Miller, a multi-racial exotica, dreams of becoming the best blues singer of her time. However, she is stuck in a rut working as a wedding singer. But with the help of her grandmother and friends - an eccentric assortment of drag queens, protective band members, an old mentor and, believe it or not, ghosts that reside in Georgia's grandmother's old brothel - Georgia could well make her dream come true. But will heartbreak get in the way of her dream, or will it help convert her into the proverbial Blues Goddess? There are quite a few surprises throughout the novel.

I love the colorful characters in the story - especially Dominique, Tony, Red and Nan. The story development is excellent. New Orleans, with its quirks and unique history, makes a great backdrop. Diary of a Blues Goddess is far more creative and profound than RDI's previous installments. I marvel at the aforementioned publishing house's collection of impressive authors. Their books, with the exception of a few disappointments, too little to mention, give a whole new meaning to "Chick Lit." I for one shall continue to purchase RDI books - especially if they're from Ms. Orloff.

Rating:
Summary: A fun read
Review: The Heartbreak Hotel in New Orleans has a colorful past and an even brighter present. It used to be a bordello until one of the working girls was murdered there and the madam closed it down. Now it is a refuge for the drag queens and the broken hearted who have no place else to go or need a haven. The ghost of a woman who was murdered there haunts the jaunt, but to Georgia Ray Miller it is simply home.

She was brought up there by her grandmother Nan and Georgia makes her living singing at weddings and other events but whose dream is to be a blues singer. The only thing holding Georgia Ray back is herself because she is afraid she doesn't have what it takes to make it in this world and she doesn't want to leave the security of friends and family. It will take a very special man to enable her to leave her nest.

Erica Orloff captures the essence of New Orleans from fun craziness of the French Quarter to the racism of other sections. There is a lot of racy, bawdy humor in DIARY OF A BLUES GODDESS but it is done in good taste, especially the scenes with the drag queens. The heroine grows and changes as the book progresses so that the reader sees her metamorphosis from a scared girl to a bold woman. Her Prince Charming is a man who loves her praying in the background that she will recognize him.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: A fun read
Review: The Heartbreak Hotel in New Orleans has a colorful past and an even brighter present. It used to be a bordello until one of the working girls was murdered there and the madam closed it down. Now it is a refuge for the drag queens and the broken hearted who have no place else to go or need a haven. The ghost of a woman who was murdered there haunts the jaunt, but to Georgia Ray Miller it is simply home.

She was brought up there by her grandmother Nan and Georgia makes her living singing at weddings and other events but whose dream is to be a blues singer. The only thing holding Georgia Ray back is herself because she is afraid she doesn't have what it takes to make it in this world and she doesn't want to leave the security of friends and family. It will take a very special man to enable her to leave her nest.

Erica Orloff captures the essence of New Orleans from fun craziness of the French Quarter to the racism of other sections. There is a lot of racy, bawdy humor in DIARY OF A BLUES GODDESS but it is done in good taste, especially the scenes with the drag queens. The heroine grows and changes as the book progresses so that the reader sees her metamorphosis from a scared girl to a bold woman. Her Prince Charming is a man who loves her praying in the background that she will recognize him.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read!
Review: Very quick and easy read, but, oh, so much fun! In how many other novels is the main character a mixed-race wedding singer with 6'2 drag queen as her best friend?? This and many other characteristics make this novel stand out in the world of cookie cutter chick lit where all of the women seem to either work in television or publishing. The story is both hilarious and serious and allows the characters to grow as individuals throughout the story (even the secondary characters). It leaves you with a very satisfied feeling in the end and you know that everyone will be okay with the way that their lives have changed. Very worthwhile read and wonderful Red Dress Ink book!!

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read!
Review: Very quick and easy read, but, oh, so much fun! In how many other novels is the main character a mixed-race wedding singer with 6'2 drag queen as her best friend?? This and many other characteristics make this novel stand out in the world of cookie cutter chick lit where all of the women seem to either work in television or publishing. The story is both hilarious and serious and allows the characters to grow as individuals throughout the story (even the secondary characters). It leaves you with a very satisfied feeling in the end and you know that everyone will be okay with the way that their lives have changed. Very worthwhile read and wonderful Red Dress Ink book!!

Rating:
Summary: I Will Never Forget This Wonderful Book
Review: Whenever I cry at the end of a book, I know I will remember it forever. Diary of A Blues Goddess is one of those books. The end is so wonderful and so right that I cried with happiness for Georgia Ray. But I also cried because I didn't want to leave the Heartbreak Hotel and its wonderful residents, especially Nan and Red, Dominique and sweet, sweet Tony. We all should be lucky enough to have a place like the Heartbreak Hotel in our lives, where we could be surrounded by loving friends as our broken hearts mend.

I want to buy a copy of Diary of a Blues Goddess to lend to my family and friends. This story is too good not to be shared.

Rating:
Summary: Steam Heat
Review: Without a doubt Orloff's best book yet! You can smell the jasmine and New Orleans heat on every page; hear the music in every word. Her writing is crisp and evocative, and the characters are alive and real. I loved it!!!! Any night you feel like singin' the blues, this book more than fits the bill.