Avanel's bookshelf: all en-US Thu, 04 Jan 2024 16:25:14 -0800 60 Avanel's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor]]> 59750264 here.

In 2005, Dana Canedy's fiancé, First Sergeant Charles Monroe King, began to write what would become a two-hundred-page journal for his son in case he did not make it home from the war in Iraq. He was killed by a roadside bomb on October 14, 2006. His son, Jordan, was seven months old.

Inspired by his example, Dana was determined to preserve his memory for their son. A Journal for Jordan is a mother's fiercely honest letter to her child about the parent he lost before he could even speak. It is also a father's advice and prayers for the son he will never know.

A father figure to the soldiers under his command, Charles moved naturally into writing to his son. In neat block letters, he counseled him on everything from how to withstand disappointment and deal with adversaries to how to behave on a date. And he also wrote, from his tent, of recovering a young soldier's body, piece by piece, from a tank--and the importance of honoring that young man's life. He finished the journal two months before his death while home on a two-week leave, so intoxicated with love for his infant son that he barely slept.

This is also the story of Dana and Charles together--two seemingly mismatched souls who loved each other deeply and lost each other too soon. A Journal for Jordan is a tender introduction, a loving good-bye, a reporter's inquiry into her soldier's life, and a heartrending reminder of the human cost of war.]]> 280 Dana Canedy Avanel 0 currently-reading 4.69 2008 A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor
author: Dana Canedy
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.69
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/01/04
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Obsessive Love: When It Hurts Too Much to Let Go]]> 327661
� Do you yearn for someone who is not physically or emotionally available to you?
� Do you believe that if you love him enough he will have to love you?
� When you feel insecure, does it drive you only to want her more?
� Do you find yourself phoning repeatedly or waiting long hours for the phone to ring?

Do you wish someone would let go of you?

� Does an ex-lover or ex-spouse refuse to believe that it’s over?
� Do you receive unwanted phone calls, letters, presents, or visits?
� Is this pursuit of you creating so much anxiety that it affects your physical or emotional well-being?

In this invaluable self-help guide, Dr. Susan Forward presents vivid case histories as well as the real-life voices of men and women caught in the grip of obsessive passion.

Whether you’re an obsessive lover or the target of such an obsession, here is a proven, step-by-step program that shows you how to recognize the “connection compulsion,� what causes it, and how to break its hold on your life so that you can go on to build healthy, lasting, and pain-free relationships.]]> 278 Susan Forward 0553381423 Avanel 0 to-read 4.01 1991 Obsessive Love: When It Hurts Too Much to Let Go
author: Susan Forward
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.01
book published: 1991
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/07/28
shelves: to-read
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]]> Women & Money 38799787 Achieve financial peace of mind with the million-copy #1 New York Times bestseller, now revised and updated for 2018, featuring an entirely new Financial Empowerment Plan and a bonus chapter on investing.

The time has never been more right for women to take control of their finances. The lessons, revelations, and shocks of the past few years have made it clear that standing in our truth is the only way to care for ourselves, our families, and our finances.

With her signature mix of insight, compassion, and practical advice, Suze equips women with the financial knowledge and emotional awareness to overcome the blocks that have kept them from acting in the best interest of their money--and themselves. Whether you are single or in a committed relationship, a successful professional, a worker struggling to make ends meet, a stay-at-home parent, or a creative soul, Suze offers the possibility of living a life of true wealth, a life in which you own the power to control your destiny.

At the center of this fully revised and updated edition, Suze presents an all-new Financial Empowerment Plan, designed to get you to a place of emotional and financial security as quickly as possible--because the most precious commodity women have is time. Divided into four essential components, the plan will teach you how to

- Protect yourself
- Spend smart
- Build your future
- Give to others

Also included is a bonus chapter on investing--for those who are living by Suze's unbreakable financial ground rules and ready to learn how to invest with confidence.

Women & Money speaks to every mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, and wife. It gives readers the opportunity to tap into Suze's unique spirit, people-first wisdom, and unparalleled appreciation that for women, money itself is not the end goal. It's the means to living a full and meaningful life.]]> 206 Suze Orman 0812987616 Avanel 0 to-read 3.97 2005 Women & Money
author: Suze Orman
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2005
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/08/14
shelves: to-read
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]]> I've Loved You Since Forever 40042133
I’ve Loved You Since ForeverĚýis a celebratory and poetic testament to the timeless love felt between parent and child. This beautiful picture book is inspired byĚýToday show co-anchor Hoda Kotb’s heartwarming adoption of her baby girl, Haley Joy.

With Kotb’s lyrical text and stunning pictures by Suzie Mason, young ones and parents will want to snuggle up and read the pages of this book together, over and over again.

In the universe,

there was you and

there was me,

waiting for the day our

stars would meet. . .

Makes a lovely gift for baby showers, Mother's Day, and more. Plus don't miss Hoda Kotb and Suzie Mason's beautiful follow-up picture book, You Are My Happy.]]> 32 Hoda Kotb 0062881892 Avanel 1 4.56 2018 I've Loved You Since Forever
author: Hoda Kotb
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2018
rating: 1
read at: 2022/03/17
date added: 2022/03/17
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]]> <![CDATA[I Prayed for You (I Pray for You)]]> 55595932
The heartwarming story follows a mother bear who prayed for her child's arrival, then cherished and prayed for each of her baby's firsts--from first step to first boo-boo to first day of school.

I Prayed for You is just as meaningful to parents as to children. Inside you'll find

10 rhyming prayers that show children how loved they areadorable heartwarming artThis book is perfect for

boys and girls, ages 0 to 4parents who dreamed of having children, who struggled with infertility, or who became parents through surrogacy, IVF, adoption, fostering, or other meansMother's Day, baby showers, baptisms, or adoption parties]]> 20 Jean Fischer 1400229928 Avanel 5 4.76 2015 I Prayed for You (I Pray for You)
author: Jean Fischer
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.76
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2022/03/17
date added: 2022/03/17
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]]> <![CDATA[The Diary of a Side Chick 2 (Side Chick Diaries)]]> 27877884 106 Tamicka Higgins Avanel 4 4.27 The Diary of a Side Chick 2 (Side Chick Diaries)
author: Tamicka Higgins
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2021/08/07
date added: 2021/08/07
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]]> <![CDATA[HOW TO GROW YOUR NATURAL BLACK HAIR LONG!: A natural hair care guide for growing long & healthy kinky hair]]> 25243116 50 Colleen Deardon Avanel 0 currently-reading 4.21 2015 HOW TO GROW YOUR NATURAL BLACK HAIR LONG!: A natural hair care guide for growing long & healthy kinky hair
author: Colleen Deardon
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/05/07
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The DO'S AND DON'TS OF MONEY: Easy Solutions for Everyday Problems]]> 24409348 171 Suze Orman 1401946011 Avanel 0 currently-reading 3.87 The DO'S AND DON'TS OF MONEY: Easy Solutions for Everyday Problems
author: Suze Orman
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.87
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/04/13
shelves: currently-reading
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]]> Crackhead 1167214 Lisa Lennox's debut novel transports us to the heart of the crack era - The South Bronx, New York, 1989.
In the late `80s and early `90s, the crack epidemic swept through inner city communities like the plague. Mothers abandoned their children and took to the street for a hit. Fathers sold everything they owned to get a taste. The crackhead was rampant. Some neighborhoods were never the same.
Enter Laci Johnson, a privileged, smart, beautiful teenage girl from across town, who teams up with The South Bronx Bitches - an infamous girl group known for chasing men and money. When the SBB becomes envious of Laci they devise a plan to destroy her life.
Finding love in the most unexpected of places, Laci turns to a local drug dealer to help save her and heal the wounds of her new addiction.]]> 222 Lisa Lennox 0974789534 Avanel 5 4.42 2005 Crackhead
author: Lisa Lennox
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2021/03/19
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]]> In My Father's House 7477652 Only the world’s most beautiful models make the roster of Picture Perfect Modeling agency and they only do shoots for the most elite photographers and magazines. They are fashionista royalty—and the owners, Bentley L. Dean and his beautiful partner Alexandra, know it. But even Picture Perfect isn’t immune from hard times, so when Sterling Sneed, a rich, celebrity party planner promises to pay a ludicrously high fee for some models, Bentley finds he can’t refuse. Even though the job is not exactly a photo shoot, Bentley agrees to supply fifteen gorgeous models as eye candy for an “A� list party—to look good, be charming and, well, entertain the guests. They don’t have to do anything they don’t want to, but... His models are pros and he figures they can handle the pressure, until one drops out and Bentley asks his protégé Jah, a beautiful kid who Bentley treats as if he were his own son, to substitute. Suddenly, the stakes are much higher, particularly when Jah falls in love with the hottest African American movie star in America. Seth Sinclair is very handsome, very famous, and very married—and his closeted gay life makes him very dangerous as well. Can Bentley’s fatherly guidance save Jah from making a fatal mistake?]]> 304 E. Lynn Harris 0312541910 Avanel 0 to-read 4.01 2010 In My Father's House
author: E. Lynn Harris
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/03/13
shelves: to-read
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]]> No One in the World 8962981
The untimely passing of the beloved New York Times bestselling author E. Lynn Harris has left fans pining for more. With this collaboration, fans are given the book they’ve been clamoring to read—and the book that Harris and Essence bestselling author RM Johnson long wanted to write.

Cobi Winslow, a handsome, well-educated district attorney, knows nothing about the life of his estranged twin brother, Eric Reed, a career criminal raised in the foster care system. Following their parents� death, Cobi searches for and finds his brother, hoping to regain lost years.

Meanwhile, Cobi navigates the pressures of society as he lives life in the closet. The stress comes to a head when he learns that in order to inherit the wealth of his father’s estate and save the struggling family business, he must marry a woman before he turns thirty-five. The task becomes more convoluted when Cobi’s sister proposes to pay Austen Greer, a once-successful and wealthy businesswoman who lost everything in the recession, to be Cobi’s wife.

Eric discovers Cobi is gay and promises to keep it a secret. Instead, he entrusts the information to his former prison cellmate, Blac, who endears himself to Cobi in hopes of securing a $150,000 loan from him to pay back a debt racked up by cocaine sales. As the clock runs down both on Blac’s efforts to pay his deadly creditor and on Cobi’s attempts to save the family company, rash moves are executed, family and friendship bonds are tested, and life-altering sacrifices are made.]]> 320 E. Lynn Harris 1439178097 Avanel 0 to-read 4.00 2011 No One in the World
author: E. Lynn Harris
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/03/13
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[After the Rain: Gentle Reminders for Healing, Courage, and Self-Love]]> 50999390
Part memoir and part guide, Elle shares stirring stories from her own remarkable journey from self-doubt to self-love.

This soulful collection is filled with illuminating reflections on loss, fear, bravery, healing, love, acceptance, and more.

Readers follow along her journey as she transforms challenging experiences—a difficult childhood, painful romantic relationships, and single parenting as a young mom—into fuel for her career as a successful entrepreneur and author driven by purpose and passion.

SELF LOVE Filled with Elle's signature candor and warmth, After the Rain is a soulful guide to help you embrace all the beauty, love, and opportunity life has to offer. It includes empowering affirmations and meditations to practice in your own life.

MEANINGFUL Presented in a luminous package with foil and gold accents on the cover, this is a beautiful gift for anyone on the path to self-discovery, and an uplifting reminder that there is always sunshine after the rain.

MORE FROM ALEXANDRA Discover more wisdom and guidance in Elle's companion works In Courage A Daily Practice for Self-Discovery and How We Uncover Your Power and Set Yourself Free , about which New York Times bestselling author Jay Shetty says, "We are all healing from something. Elle takes our hands and shows us the way to repairing our hearts so that we can make peace with our past and joyfully experience the present."

Perfect ]]> 208 Alexandra Elle 1797200100 Avanel 0 to-read 4.17 After the Rain: Gentle Reminders for Healing, Courage, and Self-Love
author: Alexandra Elle
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2021/03/12
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[The Diary of a Side Chick (Side Chick Diaries Book 1)]]> 27828006 152 Tamicka Higgins Avanel 4 4.25 2015 The Diary of a Side Chick (Side Chick Diaries Book 1)
author: Tamicka Higgins
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2021/03/07
date added: 2021/03/07
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People]]> 44441845 240 Gary L. Thomas 0310346762 Avanel 0 to-read 4.46 When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People
author: Gary L. Thomas
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.46
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/02/28
shelves: to-read
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]]> Goodnight Moon 32912999
In this classic of children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.]]> 32 Margaret Wise Brown 0062662899 Avanel 0 4.58 1947 Goodnight Moon
author: Margaret Wise Brown
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.58
book published: 1947
rating: 0
read at: 2021/02/24
date added: 2021/02/24
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]]> <![CDATA[Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Book of Miracles: 101 True Stories of Healing, Faith, Divine Intervention, and Answered Prayers]]> 7803670
These 101 amazing stories prove that God is actively involved in our daily lives, working miracles on our behalf. You will be awed and gratified by miraculous true accounts of healing, faith, divine intervention, and answered prayers. You’ll read tales of signs from above, the healing power of prayer, extraordinary connections with loved ones who have passed on, angels, divine appointments, and the everyday miracles we too often overlook. Among the 101 miracles, you’ll share the joy and inspiration of:
Warren Holland, who prayed intensely as his US Air flight landed safely in the Hudson River Kimberly McLagan, who put herself in God’s hands after seven years of infertility and then had four children Kathleen Kardon, whose children were miraculously rescued from her submerged car by a mysterious man who immediately disappeared Herchel Newman, the firefighter trapped in a deathly blaze who prayed to Jesus and was told how to escape Heidi Krumenauer, whose mother’s inoperable terminal cancer disappeared after she prayed and recited Psalm 23 over and over]]> 384 Jack Canfield 1935096516 Avanel 5 4.32 Chicken Soup for the Soul: A Book of Miracles: 101 True Stories of Healing, Faith, Divine Intervention, and Answered Prayers
author: Jack Canfield
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2017/04/23
date added: 2020/11/12
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]]> <![CDATA[Mijito Doesn't Live Here Anymore]]> 24836929 595 Jaime MartĂ­nez Avanel 0 currently-reading 3.00 2012 Mijito Doesn't Live Here Anymore
author: Jaime MartĂ­nez
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2020/09/24
shelves: currently-reading
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]]> A Beautiful Mess: My Story 54388612 101 Althea Heart Avanel 3 4.25 A Beautiful Mess: My Story
author: Althea Heart
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2020/09/08
date added: 2020/09/08
shelves:
review:
The book was okay. It was a quick read, I felt like she was boasting and making herself bigger than she actual is. The book didn’t have much substance. She just write a book because she can.
]]> Single Is Not A Curse 19846353 92 Tony A. Gaskins Jr. 1483512835 Avanel 4 4.38 2013 Single Is Not A Curse
author: Tony A. Gaskins Jr.
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2016/07/06
date added: 2018/12/04
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]]> Purple Panties 2628960 Zane, the New York Times bestselling author and Queen of Erotic Fiction, brings a new collection of lesbian erotica that will blow the sheets off beds everywhere.

What happens when "The Finest Man" you have ever laid eyes on is a woman? What happens when a woman comes home to her man after a hard day's work with "Lipstick on Her Collar?" What happens when a married woman runs across the love of her life -- another woman -- who insists that "It's All or Nothing?" Is there such a thing as playing too "Hard to Get?" What happens when "Mom's Night Out" turns into group sex? What happens when you discover your true sexuality "At Last?" All of these questions and more are answered within the pages of Purple Panties.

Written by women from all over the world, here is a new level of lesbian erotica, compiled by Zane, that promises the most exciting and steamy reading experience possible. These stories move beyond race, age, and all walks of life, including long-hidden passions, secret rendezvous with strangers, and May-December romances.

With Zane's ever-growing popularity, and the need for increasingly quality erotica, Purple Panties will satisfy a long-standing demand for African-American lesbian literature.

In the tradition of such successful erotica anthologies as Chocolate Flava and Caramel Flava, Purple Panties uncovers a new world of evocative risk-taking that has never been explored before from a lesbian perspective. The adventures in these stories are beyond everyone's wildest imaginations.

]]> 306 Zane 1593091656 Avanel 0 currently-reading 4.11 2008 Purple Panties
author: Zane
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/12/31
shelves: currently-reading
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]]> Convict's Candy 294801 CONVICT'S CANDY deals with sexual identity, prostitution and homosexuality within the prison system, the interactions and relationships between the inmates and officers, infidelity and most importantly, explains how the HIV virus spreads rampantly within the prison. It also reveals how the dangerous and deadly disease is transmitted within society, when infected inmates are released to go home.]]> 304 Damon "Amin" Meadows 0974298220 Avanel 5 currently-reading 4.38 2006 Convict's Candy
author: Damon "Amin" Meadows
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2017/12/09
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[When God Doesn't Fix It: Lessons You Never Wanted to Learn, Truths You Can't Live Without]]> 23217086 Is It Possible That Good Things Can Come Out Of Our Broken Dreams?

Worship leader and recording artist Laura Story’s life took an unexpected turn when her husband, Martin, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Their lives would never be the same. Yes, with God all things are possible. But the devastating news was that no cure existed to restore Martin’s short-term memory, eyesight, and other complications. The fairy-tale life Laura had dreamed of was no longer possible. And yet in struggling with God about how to live with broken dreams, Laura has found joy and a deeper intimacy with Jesus.

Laura helps us understand we aren’t the only ones whose lives have taken unexpected turns. She examines the brokenness of some of the heroes of our faith, and shows how despite their flaws and flawed stories, God was able to use them in extraordinary ways. And it was not because of their faith, but because of the faithfulness of their God. God may not fix everything. In fact, although your situation might not ever change or get better, with Jesus you can.]]> 304 Laura Story 0718036972 Avanel 5 4.47 2015 When God Doesn't Fix It: Lessons You Never Wanted to Learn, Truths You Can't Live Without
author: Laura Story
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2017/12/09
date added: 2017/12/09
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]]> Flyy Girl 9906100 512 Omar Tyree 0613921879 Avanel 4 4.34 1993 Flyy Girl
author: Omar Tyree
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.34
book published: 1993
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2017/06/15
shelves:
review:

]]> Loving The Wrong Man 29488344
Find out what happens in part one of Loving The Wrong Man!
]]> 97 Mia Black Avanel 0 4.28 2016 Loving The Wrong Man
author: Mia Black
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at: 2017/05/31
date added: 2017/05/31
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]]> Special Delivery 59839
Amanda Robbins knew Jack Watson only as her daughter's father-in-law, an incurable playboy whom she dislikes intensely. Theirs had been a relationship based solely upon the marriage of her daughter to his son. And Amanda wants no other relationship with him. But when she becomes a widow unexpectedly, twenty-six years after she retired from Hollywood stardom to become a wife and mother, Amanda finds herself on unfamiliar ground, and is surprised to find herself both befriended by, and attracted to, Jack Watson.ĚýĚýWorse yet, she likes him. There is a lot more to him than she previously suspected.

Amanda's shock at her attraction to Jack is equaled only by her children's. Then suddenly, a startling announcement stuns both families, as Jack and Amanda are faced with an unexpected gift that neither thought possible, and with a choice that provides them both considerable challenge. But at a time in their lives when they least expect to feel that way, they not only feel young again, but are blissfully happy, in spite of the confusion, opposition, and obstacles all around them. Special Delivery is about what two people do when life gives them everything they wanted, twenty years after they expected to find it. In her 40th bestselling novel, Danielle Steel makes us laugh and cry as she touches the heart with tenderness and accuracy.]]> 229 Danielle Steel 0440224810 Avanel 0 currently-reading 3.72 1997 Special Delivery
author: Danielle Steel
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.72
book published: 1997
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/05/14
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Souls Revealed: A Souls of My Sisters Book of Revelations and Tools for Healing Your Life, Soul, and Spirit]]> 2890737 Souls of My Sisters have composed another collection of uplifting stories about real women who overcame adversity. Souls Revealed offers solace and cure for sisters struggling to cope with the challenges of serious illness, depression, relationship breakup, unemployment, and debt. An inspiring road map to peace and harmony.]]> 320 Dawn Marie Daniels 0758227051 Avanel 0 to-read 3.75 2008 Souls Revealed: A Souls of My Sisters Book of Revelations and Tools for Healing Your Life, Soul, and Spirit
author: Dawn Marie Daniels
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/05/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Boundaries: When to Say Yes, When to Say No-To Take Control of Your Life [Miniature Edition] (RP Minis)]]> 241908 160 Henry Cloud 0762421029 Avanel 0 to-read 4.19 1992 Boundaries: When to Say Yes, When to Say No-To Take Control of Your Life [Miniature Edition] (RP Minis)
author: Henry Cloud
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.19
book published: 1992
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/03/21
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Chicken Soup for the Soul: Find Your Happiness: 101 Inspirational Stories about Finding Your Purpose, Passion, and Joy (Chicken Soup for the Soul (Quality Paper))]]> 11954978 Chicken Soup for the Soul: Find Your Happiness will encourage readers to pursue their dreams, find their passion and seek joy in their life with its 101 personal and inspiring stories. This book continues Chicken Soup for the Soul’s focus on inspiration and hope, reminding us that we all can find our own happiness.]]> 400 Jack Canfield 193509677X Avanel 0 to-read 3.84 2011 Chicken Soup for the Soul: Find Your Happiness: 101 Inspirational Stories about Finding Your Purpose, Passion, and Joy (Chicken Soup for the Soul (Quality Paper))
author: Jack Canfield
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/03/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Chicken Soup for the Soul: From Lemons to Lemonade: 101 Positive, Practical, and Powerful Stories about Making the Best of a Bad Situation]]> 16130414
You’ll meet 101 inspiring people in these pages, role models who share revealing personal stories about improving their lives despite hardship. These people figured out how to find the positive, no matter their situations, and they share how they did it.

You’ll be struck by the resilience of the human spirit, as men and women successfully fight health, financial, career, or relationship battles. You’ll feel energized and encouraged every time you pick up this book. There are lessons in these pages for all of us.]]> 400 Jack Canfield 1611599148 Avanel 0 to-read 3.89 2001 Chicken Soup for the Soul: From Lemons to Lemonade: 101 Positive, Practical, and Powerful Stories about Making the Best of a Bad Situation
author: Jack Canfield
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2001
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/03/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Chicken Soup for the Soul: Answered Prayers: 101 Stories of Hope, Miracles, Faith, Divine Intervention, and the Power of Prayer]]> 11224114
These fascinating stories prove that God is actively involved in our lives, listening to our heartfelt hopes and needs. You will be awed by miraculous true accounts of healing, divine appointments, angels among us, signs from above, timely gifts, and other answered prayers, ]]> 384 Jack Canfield 1935096761 Avanel 5 4.25 2011 Chicken Soup for the Soul: Answered Prayers: 101 Stories of Hope, Miracles, Faith, Divine Intervention, and the Power of Prayer
author: Jack Canfield
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2017/03/05
date added: 2017/03/05
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[All Falls Down (White Lines #3)]]> 25500861 338 Tracy Brown Avanel 0 to-read 4.48 2015 All Falls Down (White Lines #3)
author: Tracy Brown
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/02/22
shelves: to-read
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]]> The Women of Brewster Place 765811 In her heralded first novel, Gloria Naylor weaves together the stories of seven women living in Brewster Place, a bleak inner-city sanctuary, creating a powerful, moving portrait of the strengths, struggles, and hopes of black women in America. Vulnerable and resilient, openhanded and open-hearted, these women forge their lives in a place that in turn threatens and protects—a common prison and a shared home. Naylor renders both loving and painful human experiences with simple eloquence and uncommon intuition. Her remarkable sense of community and history makes The Women of Brewster Place a contemporary classic—and a touching and unforgettable read.

]]> 192 Gloria Naylor Avanel 0 to-read 4.20 1982 The Women of Brewster Place
author: Gloria Naylor
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.20
book published: 1982
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2017/01/30
shelves: to-read
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]]> Criminal Minded 1159640
Then, Lamin falls hard for a beautiful girl named Lucky. Lucky makes Lamin realize that there is more to life than cash and more cash. When Lamin goes legit with a career in the entertainment industry, Zion tries to keep their business going on both the street and the boardroom. It's not long before Zion becomes the target of a corruption scandal involving murder, extortion and money laundering. Once the dirt is exposed, will Lamin and Zion be able to remain one step ahead, or will their paper chasing days haunt them forever?]]> 304 Tracy Brown 0312336462 Avanel 4 4.38 2005 Criminal Minded
author: Tracy Brown
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at: 2016/12/17
date added: 2016/12/17
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison]]> 30201878 In life, it's not how you start that matters. It's how you finish.
Shaka Senghor was raised in a middle class neighborhood on Detroit s east side during the height of the 1980s crack epidemic. An honor roll student and a natural leader, he dreamed of becoming a doctor but at age 11, his parents' marriage began to unravel, and the beatings from his mother worsened, sending him on a downward spiral that saw him run away from home, turn to drug dealing to survive, and end up in prison for murder at the age of 19, fuming with anger and despair.
"Writing My Wrongs" is the story of what came next. During his nineteen-year incarceration, seven of which were spent in solitary confinement, Senghor discovered literature, meditation, self-examination, and the kindness of others tools he used to confront the demons of his past, forgive the people who hurt him, and begin atoning for the wrongs he had committed. Upon his release at age thirty-eight, Senghor became an activist and mentor to young men and women facing circumstances like his. His work in the community and the courage to share his story led him to fellowships at the MIT Media Lab and the Kellogg Foundation and invitations to speak at events like TED and the Aspen Ideas Festival.
In equal turns, "Writing My Wrongs" is a page-turning portrait of life in the shadow of poverty, violence, and fear; an unforgettable story of redemption, reminding us that our worst deeds don t define us; and a compelling witness to our country s need for rethinking its approach to crime, prison, and the men and women sent there.

"From the Hardcover edition."]]> 288 Shaka Senghor 1101907312 Avanel 0 to-read 4.27 2013 Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison
author: Shaka Senghor
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2013
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]]> <![CDATA[Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer]]> 25245760 Ěý
So this book is your chance to strike back. With prayer. With a weapon that really works. Each chapter will guide you in crafting prayer strategies that hit the enemy where it hurts, letting him know you’re on to him and that you won’t back down. Because with every new strategy you build, you’re turning the fiercest battles of life into precise strikes against him and his handiwork, each one infused with the power of God’s Spirit.
Ěý
New York Times bestselling author Priscilla Shirer, widely known for her international speaking, teaching, and writing ministries, brings her new role from the 2015 film War Room into the real lives of today’s women, addressing the topics that affect them most: renewing their passion , refocusing their identity , negotiating family strife, dealing with relentless regrets , navigating impossible schedules , succeeding against temptation , weathering their worst fears , uprooting bitterness , and more. Each chapter exposes the enemy’s cruel, crafty intentions in all kinds of these areas, then equips and encourages you to write out your own personalized prayer strategies on tear-out sheets you can post and pray over yourself and your loved ones on a regular basis.
Ěý
Fervent is a hands-on, knees-down, don’t-give-up action guide to practical, purposeful praying.
]]> 190 Priscilla Shirer 1433688670 Avanel 0 currently-reading 4.43 2015 Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer
author: Priscilla Shirer
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2015
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/10/16
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]]> <![CDATA[The Wait: A Powerful Practice for Finding the Love of Your Life and the Life You Love]]> 23492536
President/CEO of Franklin Entertainment and former Sony Pictures executive DeVon Franklin and award-winning actress Meagan Good have learned sometimes all we can do is wait for “the one� to come into our lives. They spent years crossing paths but it wasn’t until they were thrown together while working on the film Jumping the Broom that their storybook romance began.

Faced with starting a new relationship and wanting to avoid potentially devastating relationship pitfalls, DeVon and Meagan chose to do something almost unheard of in today’s society—abstain from sex until they were married.

In The Wait , DeVon and Meagan share the life-changing message that waiting—rather than rushing a relationship—can help you find the person you’re meant to be with. Filled with candid his-and-hers accounts of the most important moments of their relationship, and practical advice on how waiting for everything—from dating to sex—can transform relationships, allowing you to find a deep connection based on patience, trust, and faith.]]> 243 DeVon Franklin 1501105299 Avanel 5 4.14 2015 The Wait: A Powerful Practice for Finding the Love of Your Life and the Life You Love
author: DeVon Franklin
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2015
rating: 5
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date added: 2016/10/15
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]]> Friends: A Love Story 73972

They ran for years as friends in the same small circles. They had some hits, but mostly misses with other partners, and they shared one spectacularly dreadful first date together. And then, Courtney and Angela connected.

Experience the up-close-and-personal, real-life love story of this inspirational African-American celebrity couple. Learn how they navigate the fickle tides of fame, while keeping their relationship fresh and true. See how they've carved a meaningful life together in spite of humble beginnings, family tragedy and the ups and downs of stardom with love, faith and determination.

]]> 404 Angela Bassett 0373830580 Avanel 0 to-read 4.26 2007 Friends: A Love Story
author: Angela Bassett
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2007
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/07/17
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]]> <![CDATA[The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful, and (HIV) Positive]]> 3618634
At nineteen years of age, Marvelyn Brown was lying in a stark white hospital bed at Tennessee Christian Medical Center, feeling hopeless. A former top track and basketball athlete, she was in the best shape of her life, but she was battling a sudden illness in the intensive care unit. Doctors had no idea what was going on. It never occurred to Brown that she might be HIV positive.

Having unprotected sex with her Prince Charming had set into swift motion a set of circumstances that not only landed her in the fight of her life, but also alienated her from her community. Rather than give up, however, Brown found a reason to fight and a reason to live.

The Naked Truth is an inspirational memoir that shares how an everyday teen refused to give up on herself, even as others would forsake her. More, it's a cautionary tale that every parent, guidance counselor, and young adult should read.]]> 233 Marvelyn Brown 0061562394 Avanel 0 to-read 3.95 2008 The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful, and (HIV) Positive
author: Marvelyn Brown
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2008
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/07/09
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]]> <![CDATA[The Monkey on My Back: A Memoir]]> 22609274
Raised in the South Bronx and beloved for the diverse and captivating characters she’s played, Debbi Morgan enjoyed a thirty-year tenure on All My Children before joining the cast of The Young and the Restless and later appearing opposite Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson in several films. But this book is not about her career, and it’s not about Hollywood. It’s not even about her rise to stardom. Charting her family history as well as her own life from childhood to the present in this compelling memoir, Debbi reveals the fear, doubt, and insecurities she’s struggled with for much of her life—and how she escaped a vicious cycle of pain to find self-confidence, happiness, and success.

Early on in her family history, an ugly pattern of abuse developed into fear, insecurity, self-doubt, and emotional trauma, which passed down from one generation to the next. From her maternal grandmother, who was beaten by her husband as they struggled through the Great Depression, to Debbi’s mother, who became pregnant as a young teen and suffered the same abuse as her mother, down to Debbi, who internalized the physical abuse she watched her mother endure, a deep-rooted fear plagued all three generations of women. But through it all, Debbi endured, and with a good dose of humor and self-compassion, she emerged with the deepest love of herself—and her mojo quite intact!

Told with intense emotion, candor, and a barrage of belly laughs, Debbi shares a deeply moving, explosive, yet inspirational journey about what it took to break the cycle and emerge as a confident, fearless woman.]]> 440 Debbi Morgan 1593096429 Avanel 0 currently-reading 4.24 2015 The Monkey on My Back: A Memoir
author: Debbi Morgan
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2015
rating: 0
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]]> Who Asked You? 17572866
Who Asked You? casts an intimate look at the burdens and blessings of family and speaks to trusting your own judgment even when others don’t agree. McMillan’s signature voice and unforgettable characters bring universal issues to brilliant, vivid life]]> 383 Terry McMillan 0670785695 Avanel 0 to-read 3.96 2013 Who Asked You?
author: Terry McMillan
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2013
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/07/06
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]]> <![CDATA[Love is a Verb: Stories of What Happens When Love Comes Alive]]> 6404984 224 Gary Chapman 0764206745 Avanel 0 to-read 3.79 2009 Love is a Verb: Stories of What Happens When Love Comes Alive
author: Gary Chapman
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2009
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/07/06
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]]> <![CDATA[Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment]]> 6023056 �Philadelphia Inquirer

“Women should listen to Steve Harvey when it comes to what a good man is about. Steve Harvey dispenses a lot of fabulous information about men.�
—Aretha Franklin

The #1 New York Times bestseller from the new guru of relationship advice, Steve Harvey’s Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man is an invaluable self-help book that can empower women everywhere to take control of their relationships. The host of a top-rated radio show listened to by millions daily—and of cable TV’s The Steve Harvey Project—Harvey knows what men really think about love, intimacy, and commitment. In Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, the author, media personality, and stand-up comedian gets serious, sharing his wealth of knowledge, insight, and no-nonsense advice for every good woman who wants to find a good man or make her current love last.
]]> 232 Steve Harvey 0061728977 Avanel 0 to-read 3.78 2009 Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment
author: Steve Harvey
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2009
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/07/01
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]]> <![CDATA[Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find, Keep, and Understand a Man]]> 8658967 Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, Steve Harvey gave millions of women around the globe insight into what men really think about love, intimacy, and commitment. In his new book he zeros in on what motivates men and provides tips on how women can use that knowledge to get more of what they need out of their relationships, whether it's more help around the house, more of the right kind of attention in the bedroom, more money in the joint bank account, or more truth when it comes to the hard questions, such as: Are you committed to building a future together? Does my success intimidate you? Have you cheated on me? In Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find, Keep, and Understand a Man, Steve Harvey shares information on: How to Get the Truth Out of Your Man Tired of answers that are deceptive? Harvey lays out a three-tier, CIA-style of questioning that will leave your man no choice but to cut to the chase and deliver the truth. Dating Tips, Decade by Decade Whether you're in your twenties and just starting to date seriously, in your thirties and feeling the tick of the biological clock, or in your forties and beyond, Steve provides insight into what a man, in each decade of his life, is looking for in a mate. How to Minimize Nagging and Maximize Harmony at Home He said he'd cut the lawn on Saturday, and you may have been within reason to think that that meant Saturday before ten in the evening, but exploding at him is only going to ruin the mood for everyone, which means no romance. Steve shows you how to talk to your man in a way that moves him to action and keeps the peace. And there's much more, including Steve's candid answers to questions you've always wanted to ask men. Drawing on a lifetime of experience and the feedback women have shared with him in reaction to Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, Harvey offers wisdom on a wealth of topics relevant to both sexes today. He also gets more personal, sharing anecdotes from his own family history. Always direct, often funny, and incredibly perceptive, media personality, comedian, philanthropist, and (finally) happily married husband, Steve Harvey proves once again that he is the king of relationships.]]> 237 Steve Harvey 0061728993 Avanel 0 to-read 3.90 2010 Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find, Keep, and Understand a Man
author: Steve Harvey
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2010
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success]]> 20262403
In his new book, Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success, Steve explains this as a “Pushback, Pushforward� moment. He believes we all have these kinds of situations in life when we have to make a conscious decision to move forward with our dream or walk away. He also believes that anyone aspiring for a better life should be prepared for accidents. This means that one should constantly work on developing their gift, the gift that God has given each of us, so that when opportunities arise we will be ready. Steve addresses discipline-sleeping a maximum of five hours a night. Anyone who sleeps more is not serious about getting the rewards life has to offer. He also discusses concepts of work versus effort and rich versus success. He focuses on taking the lid off the jar. In other words, remove messages from yourself and others that will limit dreams.

Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success is a book about success that is rich with anecdotes from Steve’s life—from sleeping in his car to becoming the $40 million dollar man! This invaluable guide is written for everyone, whether you are just beginning your career or are well situated in the c-suite.]]> 240 Steve Harvey 0062220322 Avanel 0 to-read 4.09 2014 Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success
author: Steve Harvey
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2014
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples]]> 46188 336 Harville Hendrix 0743495926 Avanel 0 to-read 4.04 2005 Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples
author: Harville Hendrix
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2005
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/07/01
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]]> The 48 Laws of Power 1303 Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this multi-million-copy New York Times bestseller is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control � from the author of The Laws of Human Nature.

In the book that People magazine proclaimed “beguiling� and “fascinating,� Robert Greene and Joost Elffers have distilled three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws by drawing from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz and also from the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. Barnum.

Some laws teach the need for prudence (“Law 1: Never Outshine the Master�), others teach the value of confidence (“Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness�), and many recommend absolute self-preservation (“Law 15: Crush Your Enemy Totally�). Every law, though, has one thing in common: an interest in total domination. In a bold and arresting two-color package, The 48 Laws of Power is ideal whether your aim is conquest, self-defense, or simply to understand the rules of the game.]]> 452 Robert Greene 0140280197 Avanel 0 to-read 4.11 1998 The 48 Laws of Power
author: Robert Greene
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.11
book published: 1998
rating: 0
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]]> Who Says You Can’t? YOU DO 21019831 392 Daniel Chidiac Avanel 0 to-read 4.25 2013 Who Says You Can’t? YOU DO
author: Daniel Chidiac
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2013
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/06/20
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]]> <![CDATA[Second Chances: Finding Healing for Your Pain, Regaining Your Strength, Celebrating Your New Life]]> 27066695
You have a destiny . You may have lost sight of it, opened a wrong door, taken a misleading path, but it's there--you haven't missed your chance! Yet it can be hard to see, hard to find, when the only things in front of you are challenging circumstances, lost opportunities, or overwhelming obstacles. But there is hope!

With warmth and insight, Pat Smith shares the truths she and other women have learned on their own journeys from heartache to hope. She encourages and empowers you to recommit to the destiny God has for you in life, love, work, and faith. She also shows how to let go of what's holding you back, reinvent yourself, and rediscover your purpose and joy. There is a second chance waiting for you--it's time to celebrate your new life!]]> 192 Pat Smith 0764212842 Avanel 5 4.10 Second Chances: Finding Healing for Your Pain, Regaining Your Strength, Celebrating Your New Life
author: Pat Smith
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.10
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2016/06/15
date added: 2016/06/15
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Lovely Book, and packed with a lot of motivation and inspiration. I feel blessed to have read it.
]]> <![CDATA[The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment]]> 6708 Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9781577314806.

To make the journey into the Now we will need to leave our analytical mind and its false created self, the ego, behind. From the very first page of Eckhart Tolle's extraordinary book, we move rapidly into a significantly higher altitude where we breathe a lighter air. We become connected to the indestructible essence of our Being, “The eternal, ever present One Life beyond the myriad forms of life that are subject to birth and death.� Although the journey is challenging, Eckhart Tolle uses simple language and an easy question-and-answer format to guide us.

A word-of-mouth phenomenon since its first publication, The Power of Now is one of those rare books with the power to create an experience in readers, one that can radically change their lives for the better.]]> 229 Eckhart Tolle Avanel 5 4.16 1997 The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
author: Eckhart Tolle
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.16
book published: 1997
rating: 5
read at: 2016/05/21
date added: 2016/05/21
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]]> The Dirty Divorce Part 4 18695801 260 Miss K.P. Avanel 5 4.29 2013 The Dirty Divorce Part 4
author: Miss K.P.
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2016/05/19
date added: 2016/05/19
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]]> <![CDATA[Dirty Divorce part 3 (The Dirty Divorce Series)]]> 10433947 240 Miss K.P. 1934230308 Avanel 5 4.38 2011 Dirty Divorce part 3 (The Dirty Divorce Series)
author: Miss K.P.
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2016/05/18
date added: 2016/05/18
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]]> <![CDATA[Dirty Divorce part 2 (The Dirty Divorce Series)]]> 8356053 240 Miss K.P. 1934230774 Avanel 5 4.47 2010 Dirty Divorce part 2 (The Dirty Divorce Series)
author: Miss K.P.
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at: 2016/05/16
date added: 2016/05/16
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These books are so juicy, I enjoy the fictional drama.
]]> <![CDATA[Dirty Divorce part 1 (Dirty Divorce Series)]]> 8063110 248 Miss K.P. 193423074X Avanel 5 4.51 2010 Dirty Divorce part 1 (Dirty Divorce Series)
author: Miss K.P.
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.51
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at: 2016/05/15
date added: 2016/05/15
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]]> Bigger Than Me 29568564
If you're heartbroken from a relationship, going through a struggle in life, or just desiring to live a more fulfilling life, this book is for you. Take your life to the next level.]]> 64 Monyetta Shaw 1483565904 Avanel 0 to-read 4.22 Bigger Than Me
author: Monyetta Shaw
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.22
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]]> <![CDATA[Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect, And Inhumane Treatment Inside the U.S. Meat Industry]]> 31474
Slaughterhouse is the first book of its kind to explore the impact that unprecedented changes in the meatpacking industry over the last twenty-five years—particularly industry consolidation, increased line speeds, and deregulation—have had on workers, animals, and consumers. It is also the first time ever that workers have spoken publicly about what’s really taking place behind the closed doors of America’s slaughterhouses.

In this new paperback edition, author Gail A. Eisnitz brings the story up to date since the book’s original publication. She describes the ongoing efforts by the Humane Farming Association to improve conditions in the meatpacking industry, media exposés that have prompted reforms resulting in multimillion dollar appropriations by Congress to try to enforce federal inspection laws, and a favorable decision by the Supreme Court to block construction of what was slated to be one of the largest hog factory farms in the country. Nonetheless, Eisnitz makes it clear that abuses continue and much work still needs to be done.]]> 328 Gail A. Eisnitz 1591024501 Avanel 0 to-read 4.36 1997 Slaughterhouse: The Shocking Story of Greed, Neglect, And Inhumane Treatment Inside the U.S. Meat Industry
author: Gail A. Eisnitz
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.36
book published: 1997
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/30
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]]> <![CDATA[Chicken Soup for the Soul Love Stories: Stories of First Dates, Soul Mates, and Everlasting Love]]> 2041783
Who can forget what it feels like to walk on air, share private jokes, and ponder over intimate moments? This collection of stories is sure to rouse the inner romantic in your heart, with stories of long-lost love rekindled in the twilight of life, young love discovered, and love that truly lasts forever. But this book will also remind you of the everlasting love between friends, family, and parents and children.Ěý

Stories peppered throughout celebrate the vastness of love in all its many forms, including the story of one woman who is able to endure a painful illness because of the unconditional love and affection she receives from her cat, and the story about the love shared between father and daughter when he returns from overseas, as well as stories about love found in surprising ways by women and men who thought their time for romantic love had passed.

Chicken Soup for the Soul® Love Stories will take you back to your most cherished memories and inspire you to create a few more.]]> 288 Jack Canfield 0757306632 Avanel 0 to-read 3.94 2007 Chicken Soup for the Soul Love Stories: Stories of First Dates, Soul Mates, and Everlasting Love
author: Jack Canfield
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2007
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/27
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]]> <![CDATA[Second Firsts: Live, Laugh, and Love Again]]> 18717033 Using the knowledge she gained while wading through her own grief and reading hundreds of neuroscience books, Rasmussen began to look at experiences in a new way. She realized that grief plunges you into a gap between worlds—the world before loss and the world after loss. She also realized how easy it is to become lost in this gap.
In Second Firsts, Rasmussen walks you through her Life Reentry process to help you break grief’s spiral of pain, so you can stop simply surviving and begin to live again. She shows you that loss can actually be a powerful catalyst to creating a life that is in alignment with your true passions and values. The resilience, strength, and determination that have gotten you through this difficult time are the same characteristics that will help you craft your wonderful new life.
Her method, which she has used successfully with thousands of clients, is based on the science of neuroplasticity and focuses on consciously releasing pain in ways that both honor suffering and rewire the brain to change your perception of the world and yourself. Using practical exercises and stories drawn from her own life and those of her clients, Rasmussen guides you through five stages of healing that help you open up to new possibilities. From acknowledging your fear, to recognizing where you stand now, to taking active steps toward a new life, Rasmussen helps you move past the pain and shows that it’s never too late to step out of the gap and experience life again—as if for the first time.]]> 216 Christina Rasmussen Avanel 0 to-read 3.94 2013 Second Firsts: Live, Laugh, and Love Again
author: Christina Rasmussen
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2013
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/27
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]]> <![CDATA[The Naked Truth: About Sex, Love and Relationships]]> 681816 175 Lakita Garth 0830743286 Avanel 0 to-read 3.86 2007 The Naked Truth: About Sex, Love and Relationships
author: Lakita Garth
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2007
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/23
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]]> <![CDATA[Chicken Soup for the Soul: Time to Thrive: 101 Inspiring Stories about Growth, Wisdom, and Dreams]]> 22609581
It’s your time to thrive—and these stories show you how! You’ll learn how to take charge of your life, make time for what’s important, and do what’s right for you! These stories, from regular people who have taken control of their lives, show you how to do it yourself. Find new purpose, try new things, and take care of yourself, all while improving your relationships with family, friends, and co-workers.

You’ll read chapters ]]> 416 Amy Newmark 1611599474 Avanel 0 to-read 4.09 2015 Chicken Soup for the Soul: Time to Thrive: 101 Inspiring Stories about Growth, Wisdom, and Dreams
author: Amy Newmark
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2015
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/22
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]]> <![CDATA[Men Don't Love Women Like You!: The Brutal Truth About Dating, Relationships, and How to Go from Placeholder to Game Changer]]> 29154966 330 G.L. Lambert 0692594353 Avanel 0 to-read 4.36 Men Don't Love Women Like You!: The Brutal Truth About Dating, Relationships, and How to Go from Placeholder to Game Changer
author: G.L. Lambert
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.36
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rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/21
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]]> <![CDATA[16 Lighthouse Road (Cedar Cove, #1)]]> 16116268 Cedar Cove, Washington

Dear Reader,

You don't know me yet, but in a few hours that's going to change. You see, I'm inviting you to my home and my town of Cedar Cove because I want you to meet my family, friends and neighbors. Come and hear their stories—maybe even their secrets!

I have to admit that my own secrets are pretty open. My marriage failed some years ago, and I have a rather…difficult relationship with my daughter, Justine. Then there's my mother, Charlotte, who has plenty of opinions and is always willing to share them.

Here's an example. I'm a family court judge and she likes to drop in on my courtroom. Recently I was hearing a divorce petition. In my mother's view, young Cecilia and Ian Randall hadn't tried hard enough to make their marriage work—and I actually agreed. So I rendered my judgment: Divorce Denied.

Well, you wouldn't believe the reaction! Thanks to an article by Jack Griffin, the editor of our local paper (and a man I wouldn't mind seeing more of), everyone's talking.

Cedar Cove—people love it and sometimes they leave it, but they never forget it!

See you soon�.
Olivia]]> 368 Debbie Macomber 0778315614 Avanel 1 4.10 2001 16 Lighthouse Road (Cedar Cove, #1)
author: Debbie Macomber
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2001
rating: 1
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date added: 2016/04/18
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]]> <![CDATA[Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life]]> 9762
In the midst of a normal life, Katie became increasingly depressed, and over a ten-year period sank further into rage, despair, and thoughts of suicide. Then one morning, she woke up in a state of absolute joy, filled with the realization of how her own suffering had ended. The freedom of that realization has never left her, and now in Loving What Is you can discover the same freedom through The Work.

The Work is simply four questions that, when applied to a specific problem, enable you to see what is troubling you in an entirely different light. As Katie says, “It’s not the problem that causes our suffering; it’s our thinking about the problem.� Contrary to popular belief, trying to let go of a painful thought never works; instead, once we have done The Work, the thought lets go of us. At that point, we can truly love what is, just as it is.

Loving What Is will show you step-by-step, through clear and vivid examples, exactly how to use this revolutionary process for yourself. You’ll see people do The Work with Katie on a broad range of human problems, from a wife ready to leave her husband because he wants more sex, to a Manhattan worker paralyzed by fear of terrorism, to a woman suffering over a death in her family. Many people have discovered The Work’s power to solve problems; in addition, they say that through The Work they experience a sense of lasting peace and find the clarity and energy to act, even in situations that had previously seemed impossible.

If you continue to do The Work, you may discover, as many people have, that the questioning flows into every aspect of your life, effortlessly undoing the stressful thoughts that keep you from experiencing peace. Loving What Is offers everything you need to learn and live this remarkable process, and to find happiness as what Katie calls “a lover of reality.”]]> 321 Byron Katie 1400045371 Avanel 0 to-read 4.07 2002 Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life
author: Byron Katie
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2002
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/18
shelves: to-read
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]]> My Brother Charlie 6989916
In this story, told from a sister's point of view, we meet a family whose oldest son teaches them important lessons about togetherness, hope, tolerance, and love.]]> 40 Holly Robinson Peete 0545094666 Avanel 5 4.31 2010 My Brother Charlie
author: Holly Robinson Peete
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2016/04/17
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]]> Love 11326
“A marvelous work, which enlarges our conception not only of love but of racial politics.� � Los Angeles Times Book Review

In life, Bill Cosey enjoyed the affections of many women, who would do almost anything to gain his favor. In death his hold on them may be even stronger. Wife, daughter, granddaughter, employee, As Morrison’s protagonists stake their furious claim on Cosey’s memory and estate, using everything from intrigue to outright violence, she creates a work that is shrewd, funny, erotic, and heartwrenching.]]> 224 Toni Morrison 1400078474 Avanel 0 to-read 3.82 2003 Love
author: Toni Morrison
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2003
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/04/16
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It]]> 15704926
Afterwards, people came up individually and told me how much what I'd shared meant to them. This book is based on the truth I spoke about.

It's something I learned from within myself, something I believed saved me. And more than that, the way I set about to do it.

This is a collection of thoughts on what I learned, what worked, what didn't. Where I succeed and importantly, where I fail daily.

The truth is to love yourself with the same intensity you would use to pull yourself up if you were hanging off a cliff with your fingers. As if your life depended upon it. Once you get going, it's not hard to do. Just takes commitment and I'll share how I did it.

It's been transformative for me. I know it will be transformative for you as well.]]> 59 Kamal Ravikant 1478121734 Avanel 5 3.77 2012 Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It
author: Kamal Ravikant
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2012
rating: 5
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date added: 2016/04/16
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]]> Stillness Speaks 67864 144 Eckhart Tolle Avanel 5 4.25 2003 Stillness Speaks
author: Eckhart Tolle
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2003
rating: 5
read at: 2016/04/15
date added: 2016/04/15
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]]> <![CDATA[Chicken Soup for the Soul: Touched by an Angel: 101 Miraculous Stories of Faith, Divine Intervention, and Answered Prayers]]> 21412397
You only have to look to find the angels, guardians, and guides in your life. In this inspiring collection you’ll be awed by stories from people touched by their own angels, ]]> 400 Amy Newmark 1611599415 Avanel 0 to-read 4.21 2014 Chicken Soup for the Soul: Touched by an Angel: 101 Miraculous Stories of Faith, Divine Intervention, and Answered Prayers
author: Amy Newmark
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/04/13
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[Getting Past Your Breakup: How to Turn a Devastating Loss into the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You]]> 4811949
It's over--and it really hurts. But as unbelievable as it may seem when you are in the throes of heartache, you can move past your breakup. Forget about trying to win your ex back. Forget about losing yourself and trying to make this person love you. Starting today, this breakup is the best time to change your life for the better, inside and out. Through her workshops and popular blog, Susan Elliott has helped thousands of people transform their love lives. Now in Getting Past Your Breakup , she'll help you put your energy back where it belongs--on you. Her plan ]]> 272 Susan J. Elliott 0738213284 Avanel 0 to-read 4.16 2009 Getting Past Your Breakup: How to Turn a Devastating Loss into the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You
author: Susan J. Elliott
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/04/12
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You]]> 534092
In Emotional Blackmail, bestselling author Susan Forward dissects the anatomy of a relationship damaged by manipulation to give blackmail targets the tools they need to fight back. In a clear, no-nonsense style, she outlines the specific steps readers can take, offering checklists, practice scenarios, and concrete communications techniques that will strengthen relationships and break the blackmail cycle for good.]]> 272 Susan Forward 0060928972 Avanel 0 to-read 4.09 1997 Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You
author: Susan Forward
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.09
book published: 1997
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/12
shelves: to-read
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]]> Every Day I Fight 23281694
The fearless, intimate, and inspiring story behind ESPN anchor Stuart Scott’s unrelenting fight against cancer, with a foreword by Robin Roberts.

Shortly before he passed away, on January 4, 2015, Stuart Scott completed work on this memoir. It was both a labor of love and a love letter to life itself. Not only did Stuart relate his personal story—his childhood in North Carolina, his supportive family, his athletic escapades, his on-the-job training as a fledgling sportscaster, his being hired and eventual triumphs at ESPN—he shared his intimate struggles to keep his story going. Struck by appendiceal cancer in 2007, Stuart battled this rare disease with an unimaginable tenacity and vigor. Countless surgeries, enervating chemotherapies, endless shuttling from home to hospital to office and back—Stuart continued defying fate, pushing himself through exercises and workout routines that kept him strong. He wanted to be there for his teenage daughters, Sydni and Taelor, not simply as their dad, but as an immutable example of determination and courage.

Every Day I Fight is a saga of love, an inspiration to us all.]]> 298 Stuart Scott 0399174060 Avanel 0 to-read 4.39 2015 Every Day I Fight
author: Stuart Scott
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2015
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/11
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]]> <![CDATA[The Power of I Am: Two Words That Will Change Your Life Today]]> 24820022 Can two words give you the power to change your life? Yes they can! In the pages of his new book, bestselling author Joel Osteen shares a profound principle based on a simple truth.

Whatever follows the words "I am" will always come looking for you.
So, when you go through the day saying:
"I am blessed"...blessings pursue you.
"I am talented"...talent follows you.
"I am healthy"...health heads your way.
"I am strong"...strength tracks you down.
Joel Osteen reveals how THE POWER OF I AM can help you discover your unique abilities and advantages to lead a more productive and happier life. His insights and encouragement are illustrated with many amazing stories of people who turned their lives around by focusing on the positive power of this principle. You can choose to rise to a new level and invite God's goodness by focusing on these two words: I AM!]]> 288 Joel Osteen 0892969962 Avanel 0 to-read 4.24 2015 The Power of I Am: Two Words That Will Change Your Life Today
author: Joel Osteen
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2015
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/11
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]]> <![CDATA[The Gift of Past Relationships]]> 13483434
If you are single, the chapters and exercises will give you a better idea of who you are and what you need in order to be happy in a relationship. Being aware of who you are enables you to choose relationship partners who are better suited for you and means you are less likely to overstay your welcome in a stale relationship.

If you are currently in a relationship, this book will provide you with ways to use your past to strengthen your relationship. It will enable you to understand more about how you operate as a couple. Whether you choose to complete the exercises alone or as a couple, you will be able to identify aspects of your relationship that you would like to improve.]]> 124 Kristen Crockett 0984691413 Avanel 0 to-read 4.29 2012 The Gift of Past Relationships
author: Kristen Crockett
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2012
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/11
shelves: to-read
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]]> Love in my Language 22730707 198 Alexandra Elle Avanel 4 4.21 2014 Love in my Language
author: Alexandra Elle
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2016/04/08
date added: 2016/04/08
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]]> Yesterday, I Cried 30458
What is the lesson in abuse, neglect, abandonment, rejection? What is the lesson when you lose someone you really love? Just what are the lessons of life's hard times?

Bestselling author Iyanla Vanzant has had an amazing and difficult life—one of great challenges that unmasked her wonderful gifts and led to wisdom gained. In this simple book, she uses her own personal experiences to show how life's hardships can be re-languaged and revisioned to become lessons that teach us as we grow, heal, and learn to love. The pain of the past does not have to be today's reality. Iyanla Vanzant is an example of how yesterday's tears become the seeds of today's hope, renewal, and strength.]]> 304 Iyanla Vanzant 0684867486 Avanel 0 to-read 4.26 1998 Yesterday, I Cried
author: Iyanla Vanzant
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.26
book published: 1998
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[The Value in the Valley: A Black Woman's Guide Through Life's Dilemmas]]> 851156
Is it the job you hate but need in order to pay the rent? Is it that relationship that you gave your all to only to end up with a broken heart...again? Perhaps it's your children, a family member, or a life-long friend doing you in, dragging you down, pushing you to the brink. If you are an honorary member of the Black Woman's Suffering Society, you have probably been told that it's all your fault. Or that struggling and suffering is your lot in life. Iyanla Vanzant says, No! Life is an Act of Faith and suffering is optional! Those everyday challenges, obstacles, and dilemmas are what Iyanla calls "valleys." As bad as they may seem, there is a purpose or, as Iyanla says, "There is so much value in the valley."

If you've ever been disappointed, betrayed, rejected, abandoned, or just plain old scared to let go, then you've been or may still be in a valley. Iyanla knows—she's been there and on a bad day she's still there, but now she shares the way out with you.]]> 320 Iyanla Vanzant 0684824752 Avanel 0 to-read 4.42 1995 The Value in the Valley: A Black Woman's Guide Through Life's Dilemmas
author: Iyanla Vanzant
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.42
book published: 1995
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/08
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]]> <![CDATA[The Body Book: The Law of Hunger, the Science of Strength, and Other Ways to Love Your Amazing Body - Cameron Diaz]]> 17349247 1ĚýNew York TimesĚýbestseller.

Throughout her career, Cameron Diaz has been a role model for millions of women. By her own candid admission, though, this fit, glamorous, but down-to-earth star was not always health-conscious. Learning about the inseparable link between nutrition and the body was just one of the life-changing lessons that has fed Cameron’s hunger to educate herself about the best ways to feed, move, and care for her body. In The Body Book, she shares what she has learned and continues to discover about nutrition, exercise, and the mind/body connection.

Grounded in science and informed by real life, The Body Book offers a comprehensive overview of the human body and mind, from the cellular level up. From demystifying and debunking the hype around food groups to explaining the value of vitamins and minerals, readers will discover why it’s so important to embrace the instinct of hunger and to satisfy it with whole, nutrient-dense foods. Cameron also explains the essential role of movement, the importance of muscle and bone strength and why we need to sweat a little every day.

The Body Book does not set goals to reach in seven days or thirty days or a year. It offers a holistic, long-term approach to making consistent choices and reaching the ultimate goal: a long, strong, happy, healthy life.]]> 288 Cameron DĂ­az 0062252747 Avanel 0 to-read 3.74 2013 The Body Book: The Law of Hunger, the Science of Strength, and Other Ways to Love Your Amazing Body - Cameron Diaz
author: Cameron DĂ­az
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2013
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/05
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]]> Words from a Wanderer 18047980 58 Alexandra Elle 1484886984 Avanel 5 3.93 2013 Words from a Wanderer
author: Alexandra Elle
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2016/04/03
date added: 2016/04/03
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]]> The Grudge: Sex as a Weapon 47857 226 Caroline McGill 0975298011 Avanel 5 4.53 2006 The Grudge: Sex as a Weapon
author: Caroline McGill
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at: 2016/04/03
date added: 2016/04/03
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]]> <![CDATA[The Way of Serenity: Finding Peace and Happiness in the Serenity Prayer]]> 19501655 The Promise and God Wants You Happy reveals how the Serenity Prayer offers the secret to peace and fulfillment for everyone, not just those in recovery programs.

Through his books and media appearances, Father Jonathan Morris has inspired countless souls across the United States and the world to achieve a better understanding of God’s great work, and the hope, healing, and happiness he brings us if we open our hearts. Now, in The Way of Serenity, Father Morris focuses on a powerful meditation that is too often overlooked by those outside of the recovery community: The Serenity Prayer.

Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Exploring the prayer phrase by phrase, he reveals the hope that can be found by gaining a deeper spiritual understanding of its words and by practicing its message. Enlightening and profound, The Way of Serenity includes moving narratives, illuminating historical anecdotes, and biblical passages which demonstrate the healing power of the Serenity Prayer to help us find enlightenment, contentment, and peace in our daily lives.]]> 240 Jonathan Morris 0062119133 Avanel 0 to-read 4.29 2014 The Way of Serenity: Finding Peace and Happiness in the Serenity Prayer
author: Jonathan Morris
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2014
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/03
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]]> <![CDATA[The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-Create Your World Your Way]]> 19793 Dr. Wayne W. Dyer has researched intention as a force in the universe that allows the act of creation to take place. This book explores intention—not as something you do—but as an energy you’re a part of. We’re all intended here through the invisible power of intention. This is the first book to look at intention as a field of energy that you can access to begin co-creating your life with the power of intention.
Ěý
Part I deals with the principles of intention, offering true stories and examples on ways to make the connection. Dr. Dyer identifies the attributes of the all-creating universal mind of intention as creative, kind, loving, beautiful, expanding, endlessly abundant, and receptive, explaining the importance of emulating this source of creativity. In Part II, Dr. Dyer offers an intention guide with specific ways to apply the co-creating principles in daily life. Part III is an exhilarating description of Dr. Dyer’s vision of a world in harmony with the universal mind of intention.
Ěý]]> 272 Wayne W. Dyer 1401902162 Avanel 0 to-read 4.19 2004 The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-Create Your World Your Way
author: Wayne W. Dyer
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2004
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/03
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]]> <![CDATA[Chicken Soup for the Soul: True Love: 101 Heartwarming and Humorous Stories about Dating, Romance, Love, and Marriage]]> 6383933
You won’t be able to put down these stories about dating and romance, proposals and weddings, and keeping your marriage fresh. Read ]]> 416 Jack Canfield 1935096435 Avanel 0 to-read 3.98 2009 Chicken Soup for the Soul: True Love: 101 Heartwarming and Humorous Stories about Dating, Romance, Love, and Marriage
author: Jack Canfield
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2009
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/03
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]]> <![CDATA[Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reboot Your Life: 101 Stories about Finding a New Path to Happiness]]> 18775161
Are you stuck in a rut? Looking for purpose and meaning in your life? Ready for a new job, a new hobby, or new relationships? Do you want to get back on the path to happiness? These stories will motivate and encourage you to take chances, follow your dreams, go with your gut feelings, and take better care of yourself.

You’ll find the tools and the advice you need to overcome adversity, use positive thinking, find your purpose, and start over. And super important—you’ll learn how to take time to do what’s important to you, and to do it now. So carve out some “me time� and get reading� as you reboot your life!]]> 400 Amy Newmark 1611599407 Avanel 0 to-read 3.59 2014 Chicken Soup for the Soul: Reboot Your Life: 101 Stories about Finding a New Path to Happiness
author: Amy Newmark
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2014
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/03
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]]> <![CDATA[Drinking and Tweeting and Other Brandi Blunders]]> 16146228
She’s the brutally honest breath of fresh air on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, known for her dramatic divorce, her barely-there clothing, and her inability to keep her mouth shut. So why should she change now? Brandi Glanville tells all in this hilarious, no-holds-barred memoir.

Fans have been waiting for Brandi’s scoop on one of the biggest divorces of the decade, since her husband of eight years abandoned her and their two sons to marry country singer LeAnn Rimes. Not only does Brandi spill the beans about her side of the split, the lovable housewife shares the incredible wild ride that took her from a life in the ghetto to Hollywood’s most elite circles. For the first time, Brandi talks about how she escaped a rough neighborhood on the outskirts of Sacramento and stumbled into a successful modeling career that swept her into a world of Paris Fashion Weeks, private jets, and uncircumcised penises. Before she knew it, Brandi was the perfect Hollywood trophy wife—at least until her marriage exploded.

Today, the refreshingly filter-free housewife and unapologetic mom is the newest full-time cast member of Bravo’s juggernaut franchise, where she often elicits raised eyebrows and gossip from her costars for her refusal to be the scorned ex-wife, to be bullied, to change her sarcastic sense of humor, or—on most occasions—to wear a bra. Sassy, raunchy, and compulsively readable, Drinking and Tweeting perfectly captures Brandi’s open-book attitude, as she dishes about everything from her DUI, her cheating ex, her one-night stands, and the secret plastic surgery that made her “seventeen� again. You’re sure to enjoy every page of this funny, upbeat, honest tale. Clear your schedule for an afternoon and grab your favorite cocktail, a comfy seat . . . and maybe a Xanax. But that’s for later.]]> 256 Brandi Glanville 1476707626 Avanel 0 to-read 3.46 2013 Drinking and Tweeting and Other Brandi Blunders
author: Brandi Glanville
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.46
book published: 2013
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/03
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]]> What I Know for Sure 21531503 O, The Oprah Magazine's widely popular "What I Know For Sure" column, a monthly source of inspiration and revelation.

Now, for the first time, these thoughtful gems have been revised, updated, and collected in What I Know For Sure, a beautiful cloth bound book with a ribbon marker, packed with insight and revelation from Oprah Winfrey. Organized by theme—joy, resilience, connection, gratitude, possibility, awe, clarity, and power—these essays offer a rare, powerful and intimate glimpse into the heart and mind of one of the world's most extraordinary women—while providing readers a guide to becoming their best selves. Candid, moving, exhilarating, uplifting, and frequently humorous, the words Oprah shares in What I Know For Sure shimmer with the sort of truth that readers will turn to again and again.]]> 228 Oprah Winfrey 1250054052 Avanel 0 to-read 4.13 2014 What I Know for Sure
author: Oprah Winfrey
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/04/02
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[In the Spirit: The Inspirational Writings]]> 1675926 Susan L. Taylor 0060976454 Avanel 0 to-read 4.56 1994 In the Spirit: The Inspirational Writings
author: Susan L. Taylor
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.56
book published: 1994
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/02
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]]> <![CDATA[All About Love: Favorite Selections from In The Spirit on Living Fearlessly]]> 2636936 Ěý
All About Love draws from the breadth of writings Susan Taylor has shared with her millions of readers since her column first appeared in Essence® . In this collection, she has gathered personal favorites and those of Essence® Ěýreaders. Many are expanded. Shedding the old, dead skin of anger, bitterness and regret, forgiving ourselves and others, opening our hearts fully to love, and striving to live in harmony with the whole of life are just a few of the themes explored in these inspirational writings.
Ěý
All About Love is all about relationships, about active caring and our commitment to personal transformation and social change, to strengthening our families and communities, to wealth building, and the commitment to justice and sustaining all God’s children. This long-awaited treasury of writings is about keeping strong our faith in God in the face of all challenges.]]> 212 Susan L. Taylor 1601621140 Avanel 0 to-read 4.40 2008 All About Love: Favorite Selections from In The Spirit on Living Fearlessly
author: Susan L. Taylor
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2008
rating: 0
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]]> Lessons in Living 1675925
Revealing the spiritual lessons Susan has learned first-hand from grappling with the challenges and difficulties in her own life, Lessons in Living is a celebration of the journey of life that has already become a classic. Written in the anecdotal style that has made Susan's "In the Spirit" column the most popular feature of Essence magazine, Lessons in Living addresses the themes that have been her unique territory for over a self empowerment, the exploration of love and self-worth, and issues of faith and commitment.]]> 176 Susan L. Taylor 0385483791 Avanel 0 to-read 4.48 1995 Lessons in Living
author: Susan L. Taylor
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.48
book published: 1995
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/02
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]]> Small Sacrifices 231585 Ann Rule's shocking and powerful account of the destructive forces that drove Diane Downs, a beautiful young mother, to shoot her three young children in cold blood.]]> 496 Ann Rule 0451166604 Avanel 0 to-read 4.23 1987 Small Sacrifices
author: Ann Rule
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.23
book published: 1987
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/02
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]]> Game Over 339582 Only knowing the life of gold diggin', hustling men and rejecting love, Vera has suddenly found herself in a world where her game has "flipped... and slipped through her fingertips."
While trying to retrace her footsteps in search of where her game could be, Vera discovers that the love she has for Dr. Taj Bennett won't let her go, the hatred that she has for her drug addicted mother is not easy to live with, and ghosts from her past won't seem to die.
Get ready, get set, and run with Vera as Tu-Shonda Whitaker spins a plot explosive, passionate and humorous tale that is destined to be an urban classic!]]> 316 Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker 0976234920 Avanel 0 4.48 2001 Game Over
author: Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2001
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/01
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]]> <![CDATA[Tiny Buddha's Guide to Loving Yourself: 40 Ways to Transform Your Inner Critic and Your Life (For readers of Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice)]]> 17864237 288 Lori Deschene 1573246271 Avanel 0 to-read 4.05 2013 Tiny Buddha's Guide to Loving Yourself: 40 Ways to Transform Your Inner Critic and Your Life (For readers of Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice)
author: Lori Deschene
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2013
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/01
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]]> <![CDATA[Tiny Buddha: Simple Wisdom for Life's Hard Questions]]> 12366064 310 Lori Deschene 1573245062 Avanel 0 to-read 4.09 2011 Tiny Buddha: Simple Wisdom for Life's Hard Questions
author: Lori Deschene
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2011
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/01
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]]> Congratulations 1911158 196 Darrin Lowery 0979805104 Avanel 4 4.34 2007 Congratulations
author: Darrin Lowery
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2016/04/01
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]]> <![CDATA[On the Up and Up: A Survival Guide for Women Living with Men on the Down Low]]> 861580 180 Brenda Stone Browder 0758210752 Avanel 4 3.38 2005 On the Up and Up: A Survival Guide for Women Living with Men on the Down Low
author: Brenda Stone Browder
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.38
book published: 2005
rating: 4
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date added: 2016/04/01
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]]> <![CDATA[Too Much of a Good Thing Ain't Bad]]> 6370935
Johnny and James survived the tough streets of New Orleans, but when Hurricane Katrina lays waste to their beloved Ninth Ward, they are forced to begin a new chapter in Washington DC. For Johnny, this means finally pursuing his dream of a becoming a student at the historic Wheatley College. James soon joins Johnny in the Nation’s Capitol but the strong connection that brought them together in prison is strained by the pressures of their new lives. Then Johnny’s brother Carl and his wife, Tiffany, introduce Johnny to the beautiful, sexy, and smart, Sheila Doggett with the intent of steering Johnny in a different direction. The entire family rallies around Johnny and Shelia’s budding friendship and Johnny prepares to join the frat that is a legacy in his family.

But once James gets wind of what Johnny’s family is up to, he decides that he’ll stop at nothing to save his relationship. Meanwhile, Johnny is struggling to keep the peace with everyone and keeping a potentially deadly secret that could stand in the way of his dreams. Everyone is soon confronted with the truth that the havoc in their lives has only just begun�

How far will you go for love?

Our heroes and sheroes wrestle with this question as they struggle to do right by themselves and those they love and the result is a fast-paced, thought-provoking roller coaster of a read.]]> 256 Clarence Nero 0767929721 Avanel 0 to-read 3.71 2009 Too Much of a Good Thing Ain't Bad
author: Clarence Nero
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2009
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[Three Sides to Every Story: A Novel]]> 856979
Depressed and deflated in jail, Johnny comes back to life thanks to the help of Pandora, the prison’s “den mother,� and James, who helps Johnny study for his GED. What starts as a platonic friendship between the sexually repressed Johnny and the openly gay James soon develops into a tender love that’s put on hold when James is released on parole. A year later, Johnny is freed as well, haunted by his feelings.

Meanwhile, Tonya, no longer with the rapper, has a new dream of reuniting with Johnny. And James, who wows crowds as a legendary drag queen performer, is furious that Johnny hasn’t reached out to him.

Their lives soon become a twisting roller coaster—secrets are revealed and assumptions are shattered in ways never imagined. Inviting comparison to E. Lynn Harris, Clarence Nero has created a compelling story about the social and sexual challenges black people face today.]]> 352 Clarence Nero 0767921364 Avanel 5 3.80 2006 Three Sides to Every Story: A Novel
author: Clarence Nero
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2006
rating: 5
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date added: 2016/04/01
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]]> Mad Shambles 227153 140 Kiki Swinson 1930211090 Avanel 0 to-read 4.32 2005 Mad Shambles
author: Kiki Swinson
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2005
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/01
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]]> The Man in 3B 15018642
Connie, an unhappy wife, turns to Daryl for help losing weight, hoping to fix her marriage. But when Daryl starts making Connie feel beautiful again, she questions whether her marriage is worth saving. Benny, a spoiled teenager raised by a single father, looks up to Daryl. When an unexpected event occurs, Benny is left questioning everything he's ever known to be true. Krystal, Daryl's first love, wants to make things work with her current boyfriend. Yet having Daryl back in her life sends her happy home spiraling out of control. And Avery, Connie's husband, doesn't care about anything or anyone when a financial opportunity comes his way-that is, until he notices how much time his wife is spending with their new neighbor.

Everything seems to be going well, until someone is murdered, and everyone becomes a prime suspect.

"Weber packs his latest urban soap opera with all seven deadly sins . . . [To] err is not only human, but a whole lot more fun to read." -- Publishers Weekly

"Contains lots of the drama and tight writing style that has made him a New York Times bestselling author, and more importantly, all the surprises and shocks readers won't see coming." -- Examiner.com]]> 318 Carl Weber 1455505269 Avanel 0 to-read 4.37 2013 The Man in 3B
author: Carl Weber
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2013
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/01
shelves: to-read
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]]> Cheaters 181411
Stephan loves ’em and leaves ’em, just like his dad. Chanté thinks she’s found her dream man—until his wife and kids come banging on her door. Jake is a player—left with bad dreams he just can’t shake. Darnell is true to his wife...but the temptation’s getting tougher every day. Tammy is caught between the man she loves, and the woman he’s promised to. And while Karen lectures her friends about fooling around, she may not live up to her own high standards....

This is the world of Eric Jerome Dickey. It’s heart-wrenching and hilarious, smart and soulful, and as honest and recognizable as your own—and that of everyone who never loved you back.]]> 368 Eric Jerome Dickey 0451203003 Avanel 0 4.26 1999 Cheaters
author: Eric Jerome Dickey
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.26
book published: 1999
rating: 0
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date added: 2016/04/01
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]]> <![CDATA[Faith Under Fire: Betrayed by a Thing Called Love]]> 2103434 272 Lajoyce Brookshire 1416566457 Avanel 5 4.14 2006 Faith Under Fire: Betrayed by a Thing Called Love
author: Lajoyce Brookshire
name: Avanel
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2006
rating: 5
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date added: 2016/04/01
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[Why You're Not Married . . . Yet: The Straight Talk You Need to Get the Relationship You Deserve]]> 12584100 Ěý
You start with this book.
Ěý
Based on her wildly popular Huffington Post article—one of the site’s most-viewed of all time�Why You’re Not Married . . . Yet dishes out straightforward, no-holds-barred practical and proven advice for women hoping to head down the aisle or just have a great relationship. With sisterly insight, razor-sharp wit, and refreshing candor, McMillan points out the things that might be in your blind spot: unhelpful attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs so easy to identify in others, much more difficult to see in yourself. Then she shows you how to adjust them to get the relationship you deserve. Like a no-nonsense but loving best friend, McMillan meets you right where you are to help you get where you’re going—with clarity and honesty. And she’ll make you laugh out loud along the way. More than just a relationship manual, Why You’re Not Married . . . Yet will help you diagnose what’s preventing you from getting what you want. Do any of these chapter headings sound familiar?
Ěý
� You’re a Bitch: How defensiveness and anger can hide behind a tough, take-charge exterior, and why being nice is never a sign of weakness.
� You’re a Liar: How to stop lying to men—and get honest with yourself—about the kind of relationship you really want. It’s the only way.
� You’re Shallow: Being a woman who insists on a tall guy is no different from being a man who demands big boobs. Learn why you should let go of trying to get what you think you should have and focus on getting what you need.
� You’re Selfish: The big secret about marriage: It’s about giving something, not getting it. The other big secret: You will have to go first.
Ěý
Why You’re Not Married . . . Yet isn’t so much about getting a husband as it is about shifting your perspective on being a wife. Here’s a funny, insightful guide to becoming a more loving woman and creating a more loving marriage—even if you’re already partnered. It’s a book that will change your life and the way you think about relationships, and it may very well lead you down the aisle.]]> 224 Tracy McMillan 0345532929 Avanel 0 to-read 3.72 2012 Why You're Not Married . . . Yet: The Straight Talk You Need to Get the Relationship You Deserve
author: Tracy McMillan
name: Avanel
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/04/01
shelves: to-read
review:

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