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What's Your Mood? There's a Book for That!

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One of my earliest memories is going to my elementary school library and asking the librarian if I'd have to learn to read books without pictures. She said yes. I took a deep breath. Picked up my first book with no pictures. And, I've been reading ev...
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Black Love Stories That Gave Me the Fuzzie Wuzzies!

These are the stories that reminded me black girls can be Cinderella too and she comes in every shade, size, profession, well..you get it! 

 
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Marine Biologist Hope Evans reunites with all her true loves: the ocean, whales, and her forever heartthrob named Adrian!
Second Tide's the Charm - Blumberg, Chandra: Books
 
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Confidence comes in every size and so does love!
Curvy Girl Summer (Curve, #1) by Danielle Allen
 
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Fire Meets Fire! Sizzling!
Frenemy Fix-Up: Spicy Enemies to Lovers Romance
 
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Hip-Hop Royalty Meets English Royalty, Part 1
American Royalty #1 - Tracey Livesay
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U.S. Hip-Hop Royalty Meets English Royalty and fall in love! Part 2
The Duchess Effect (American Royalty, #2) by Tracey Livesay
 
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Think you're not fill-in-the-blank enough for the really cute guy?! Think again!
The Build Up: A Black Romance Novel by Tati Richardson
 
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Starts with an email exchange that ends in a real life love!
The Neighbor Favor (The Greene Sisters, #1) by Kristina Forest
 
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The present connects with the past to deliver a combustible love story that lingered long after I turned the last page!
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde
 
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When love comes to you in vanilla and chocolate flavors, it can be hard to decide which flavor to pick!
Between Friends & Lovers: A Novel
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True love…with a ghost?! An oldie but goodie by a pioneering author of contemporary black fiction!
The Hand I Fan With
 
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Cute story about Olympic athletes finding love halfway around the world!
Let the Games Begin: A Novel
 
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True love triumphs in this second chance love story!
Before I Let Go (Skyland Book 1)
 
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Ah! Young love! This is technically a kiddie book but to this day, I love the concept of a hot dog with buttered bread because of this book. Classic love story by an author who didn't get the recognition I think she deserved!
Quite possibly the first love story I ever loved!
 
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Sweet and full of hope that love might be as close as your own kitchen!
Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell: A Romance Novel
 
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I get it. Love stories and slavery definitely don't seem to go together. But that's because you haven't met Black yet. Joan Vassar's attention to historical detail along with the unadulterated love she weaves into her stories make you want a man like...
BLACK (The Black Series Book 1)

Dark & Twisty Tales That I Couldn't Put Down (Black Author Spotlight)

These were the books that I read every spare moment I could with endings that stopped me cold. 

 
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I'll never look at ashes the same! Trigger warning: Not for the squeamish!
King of Ashes: A Novel
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The dark side of gentrification!
When No One Is Watching: An Edgar Award Winner
 
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When a big corporation ends up with the valuable land of an elderly African-American woman, Deena Wood fights to find out how and why.
What You Leave Behind: A Novel
 
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What happens when a woman wants a little girl so badly that she pretends her son is female? I'll be honest. I didn't like this book. But it is dark (IMO), definitely twisty, and I couldn't put it down.
Perfect Peace: A Novel
 
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Some sisters kill with words. Others with glances. And some just kill….
My Sister, the Serial Killer: A Novel
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Books for When Georgia's on My Mind

I'm a peach at heart! So, when I need a reminder of home, these are some of the books I pick up.  

 
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A great series by Duffy Brown set in Savannah, Georgia. I have the paperback version of this series and I'm so glad to see that it's available in Kindle.
Consignment Shop Mysteries
 
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Gotta say this book broke my heart a little but it's still a must read, IMO. If you ever get a chance to meet the author, take it! Down-to-earth, friendly, and just a cool person to chat with for a few moments.
An American Marriage: A Novel (Oprah's 2018)
 
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Even meccas like Atlanta have a dark side! First in a series of (now) 7 books.
The Dangerous Edge of Things: Tai Randolph Mystery
 
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The titles alone made me want to pick up the books. The stories kept me intrigued. Anything by Miss Pearl is a must-read, IMO.
What Looks Like Crazy on An Ordinary Day / I Wish I Had a Red Dress - Pearl Cleage
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What do you do when you find out the other “woman” in your dad's life is your sister?
Silver Sparrow
 
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I loved my Big Mama but if I had to pick another grandma, I'd choose Granny Reid! No nonsense, smart as a whip, CEO of a whole bunch of grandkids, and a wonderful neighbor and community activist. Mix in her cooking skills and natural ability as a det...
Granny Reid Series by G.A. McKevett
 
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This oldie is also an incredible movie! A must read and a must watch too! Begs the question: Is the barbecue we eat from animal or human bodies????
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
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Every year, Stephanie Bond graces her readers with a new serial. I have loved almost all of them and this is one of my favs!
Temp Girl
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What happens when you end up in a coma and no one knows you can hear everything they say? Find out in the first 3 books of this serial! You'll laugh, feel a little claustrophobic, and cheer Marigold on…as she finds love…while she's in a coma, lol!
COMA GIRL: parts 1-3 of 6
 
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I couldn't just leave you hanging! Does Marigold wake up????? Hmmm…..
COMA GIRL: Parts 4-6 of 6
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Family Secrets. Nearly every family has them. the death of Lila and Henry's mom forces them to face theirs as they embrace new normals that forever change their lives.
The Sweet Taste of Muscadines: A Novel
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An ice storm, a statue, and a question about how well you really know the people around you.
When the Moon Turns Blue: A Novel
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You can't really go back in time, right? Or can you!???? Love the references to Atlanta history.
Elevator Girl
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Books That Helped Me Grow Spiritually

These are few of the books that I have used as part of my daily quiet time and Bible study. 

 
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It's never to late to start!
Jesus, Day by Day: One-Year Bible Devotional
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Learn to establish healthy relationship boundaries, one step at a time, God's way!
Healing from Codependency: Devotional & Prayers
 
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This helped me stronger spiritually and broaden my knowledge of the many names of God.
The Power of God's Names (The Names of God Series)
 
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Honestly, sometimes you don't know what to pray. Your words feel empty. These prayers help you feel stronger with each word. .
Praying God's Word: Breaking Free from Strongholds
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This book taught me that the only sure foundation for life is God and the security He provides.
The Promise of Security
 
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A great reminder to just pause for a moment and focus on the Most High.
Being Still With God Every Day
 
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A gem from a long-time man of God.
The Power of God's Love: 31 Day Devotional
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We all fall short but this book reminds us that God's grace empowers us to live in a way that pleases Him!
The Pursuit of Holiness
 
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Learn to let go of false beliefs that hinder your ability to live authentically and freely.
The Search for Significance: True Worth
 
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Dare to embrace your purpose!
Kingdom Woman Devotional: Daily Inspiration
 
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An old favorite that helped me learn to experience God in a real and practical way.
Experiencing God Bible Study Book + Video
 
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A treasured and practical classic!
The Practice of the Presence of God
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Not a book to be rushed. I read this over almost a whole year because I wanted to truly grasp its concepts.
Battlefield of the Mind: Winning the Battle
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So insightful, I have to do a page or two at a time but well worth the effort to go slowly and systematically to really grasp its truths.
Who Am I?: Identity in Christ
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A true life-changer! This book helped me learn that “no” is not a dirty word and it IS a complete sentence!
Boundaries Updated & Expanded: When to Say Yes, How to Say No

Book Budget Tight? Try these online sites for free and low-cost offers that feed your book addiction

Question (and be honest with your answer): is 7,882 (and counting) digital books too much? Easy answer, lol! Not to a true book lover like me! And, I want more! So, I turn to book lists like these to find out what's on sale and to discover new tales ...

 
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BOOKBUB.COM is my “go to” site for free and low-cost books across all genres, subjects, and prices. I've bought so many goodies through this site. Some days the email list I subscribe to has more freebies than others but the highest cost of most books is only $...
Ebooks Deals Up to 95% Off for Any Genre and Any Ereader
 
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Check out their daily offerings and find your next favorite author!
Freebooksy
 
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This publisher of religious books offers monthly freebies that help enhance your spiritual growth. One of my favorites this year has been lifeway.com/en/product/ebook-52-bible-verses-you-should-have-in-your-heart-P005788334. A great way to find theological books at an affordable price.
Logos | Logos Bible Study Platform
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Back in the day, this company would mail this dense listing of books available for sale at dirt cheap prices. So exciting, lol! I'd get something to drink and pore away (as in pore over the listings) and find all kinds of gems. I'd place my order the...
Books, DVDs and CDs - HamiltonBook.com
 
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Another site offering daily deals & steals!
eReaderIQ
 
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Another great source of Christian books on a variety of subjects and across the fiction and non-ficton genres!
Gospel eBooks | Free & Discount Christian e-Books

How many books have you read in 2025?

On January 1, 2025, I set a goal to read 75 books this year. This past week, I finally reached 76. Whether it's 1 or 200, whether you met your goal or didn't, tell me here what your goal and what you've actually read. JUDGEMENT-FREE ZONE, here. Here,...

 
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How many days in a row have you read in your Kindle or e-reader?
What's your longest Kindle reading streak?
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How many books do you plan to read in 2026?
What are your reading goals for the upcoming year?