Kay’s Reading List

Salve Lectores (Hi Readers)! After a high demand for my reading list, it is finally here! Click on the picture of the books to access the link to their respective amazon page. The genres of these books range from Romance, Christianity, History, African (especially Nigerian) Novels.  The books I put on here are ones that I have read, I will try to add more as I continue to whiz through my Kindle Library. You will find that once I am hooked on an author, I tend to read all of their books and sequels. I’ve written some reviews too! Happy Reading!!!

She That Findeth by Kim Brooks Sister Kim Brooks has done it again with this book. Very few authors can write in such a way that grips the reader and allows us to take part in the protagonist, Shenita Love’s journey and relate to the other key characters in the book. I loved every part of this book as it sure taught me a few lessons that I needed! I suspect that there will be a sequel… Christian Dating Doesn’t Suck by Sofia Carta, is an AMAZING BOOK! Literally spoke my life on my life on so many levels. You would have seen me tweet a few excerpts from the book…simply eye-opening and encouraging for us young Christians!

• Rapture by Liz Jensen
• Wow, you look gorgeous by Edward Agyeman
• Marriage: It pays to wait by Edward Agyeman
• We need new names by NoViolet Bulawayo
• Independence by Sarah Ladipo Manyika
• Loved back to life by Seyi Jenyo
• The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena (Fiction) 
• All that was ever ours by Elisabeth Elliot
• Let the healing begin by Jeanie Morgan
• The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
• The Lucifer Effect by Philip Zimbardo (Psychology)
• Kemi’s Journal by Abidemi Sanusi
• The delivery room by Kika Ashanike
• Inferno by Dan Brown
• Understanding the Purpose and Power of a Woman by Myles Munroe – This book BLEW my mind! Must READ for both men and women!!!!
• Understanding the Purpose and Power of Men by Myles Munroe – Likewise for the above!
• Still by Eniola Prentice (Read my review here)
• Loving Mr. Wright by Brenda Barrett
• The fall of Lucifer by Wendy Alec (3 part series)
• Always Yours by Somi Ekhasomhi
• Hidden Currents by Somi Ekhasomhi 

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is filled with such jubilant grace and charm. A majestically crafted word sculpture. I love how daring Chimamanda was with her writing. She opened up and touched on the ‘unspoken’ when it came to race. It is so refreshing to have read a book that I can personally relate to on many facets. Not many books make me miss my stop on the train…but this one certainly did…multiple times. I want to be friends with the protagonists Ifemelu & Obinize lol. Here’s a quote from the book that will stick with me forever. ‘Race is not biology; race is sociology. Race is not genotype; race is phenotype.’

Impunity and Waiting by Dami Adebayo.

Two books from the Grace series written by Dami, follow the stories of protagonists and best friends, Vivian and Beatrice. Both books are easy reads with simple yet relatable storylines. Any young woman would be able to identify with the moments of over-infatuation that we’ve had with guys and how it can impede on our relationship with God and others around us as it did for Beatrice. Not to give too much of the storyline away; most of us would be able to relate to the family drama experienced by Vivian. Betrayal, secrecy, and envy are all too common in our day, but it was refreshing to see the message of forgiveness and grace being subtly shared in the midst of a hard situation. I yearned for a greater build up to the hook, but given that these are Dami’s first published books/novellas; she did a fantastic job for her inaugural authorship.

They are definitely worth purchasing via Amazon (and via her blog for those outside of the U.K.) especially if you are into books that follow a character diary layout and soliloquy write-up. Any minor syntax errors in the texts do not take away from the overall story and I have no doubt that these two books will serve as a great foundation for Dami to build on for future Christian novels.

 

 

• The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu
• The V Woman by Christiane Cardosos
• Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
• Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers
• The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

Absolutely loved reading the ‘Beauty for Ashes‘ series by Dayo Benson. Following Lexi on her journey to beauty was both liberating and sobering. The characters were relevant and relate-able on so many levels.  Definitely a recommended few reads! You won’t be disappointed!

• Raw Deal by Dayo Benson (Beauty for Ashes Series: Book One)
• Red Carpet by Dayo Benson (Beauty for Ashes Series: Book Two)
• Refiner’s Fire by Dayo Benson (Beauty for Ashes Series: Book Three)

The Shawneda Marks Collection:

• Embracing myself now by Shawneda Marks
• Beyond my status by Shawneda Marks
• It’s in my blood by Shawneda Marks
• Love Is…by Shawneda Marks
• My Crowning Glory by Shawneda Marks
• I am not my hair by Shawneda Marks

Boaz Brown by Michelle Stimpson. I love how real this book was. A lot of black females struggle with the concept of loving a man of a different race – it was nice to see LaShondra overcome her prejudice and enjoy the love that God always wanted her to have for others beyond colour. Very encouraging. Few typos here and there, but it didn’t take away much focus from the actual book. Stepping Down by Michelle Stimpson. I love how real Michelle was about the struggles of being in ministry and shepherding your family. A conflict that many ministers experience but they usually let one slide. I love her use of the characters to portray this and the solution which was and IS Christ! Challenges all the prosperity preachers and tells us to go back to the drawing board and really focus on God…everything else will fall into place. The Brenda Barrett Collection:

• If it ain’t broke by Brenda Barrett
• Unholy Matrimony by Brenda Barrett
• Saving Face by Brenda Barrett
• Tattered Tiara by Brenda Barrett
• Private Dancer by Brenda Barrett
• Goodbye Lonely by Brenda Barrett
• Practice Run by Brenda Barrett

• Christian Women, No-Church Men by Lydia Paul
• Deceived In The Outer Court by Paul Anthony Clarke
• In Search of the Proverbs 31 Man by Michelle McKinney Hammond
• A Place Called Here by Cecelia Ahern

Private Sins by Brenda Barrett. Loved this book! It deals with the ‘worst-case’ scenario for a Pastor…Adultery in the leadership of a church. This is something that is unspoken of, so it was nice to have this book tell a story which almost reflected the relationship Hosea had with his wife Gomer. In this case Kelly was a toned-down, remorseful Gomer – and Theo was a ‘wannabe’ Hosea; He got there in the end! Go ahead and read the sequel in the Three Rivers Series!

• He’s fine but is he saved? by Kim Brooks
• He’s saved but is he for real? by Kim Brooks
• Imagine This by Sade Aderinan
• Fatal Attraction by Carol Smith
• If you could see me now by Cecelia Ahern
• P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

EYO by Abidemi Sanusi. Many have made that all desiring journey from Nigeria to the UK. Some by their own will with good intentions and others like Eyo, forced and clueless of what awaited her in the UK. Embarked on a journey to a land filled with ‘opportunities’ and ‘opportunists’; people were jealous but “In the UK (uukayy) she had water at her finger tips but she never felt more unclean in her life”.  This story was an emotional journey from Nigeria to the UK uncovering the raw reality of child sex trafficking.Something that society doesn’t wink at but blatantly turn our heads to ignore it as if it isn’t happening. At times this book was unbearable to read, yet those tugs on my heart refused to allow me to put the book down. Eyo’s story is one of many other young girls, despite this being a fictional novel, there is a kernal of truth on every page! It’s time we break the chain. Break the cycle of abuse. Speak out. The Kiru Taye Collection

• A Valentine Challenge by Kiru Taye
• An Engagement Challenge by Kiru Taye
• Island Bound by Kiru Taye
• His Strength (Men of Valor Series) Book One
• His Treasure (Men of Valor Series) Book Two
• His Princess (Men of Valor Series) Book Three

GOD HAS DAUGHTERS TOO by Abidemi Sanusi. I absolutely loved it! Well written insight into the lives of some key women in the Old Testament of The Bible. I particularly enjoyed how Abidemi relayed the story of these women in a way that is relevant for the present day with hints of light humor, causing me look at these women in the Bible in a different light. Definitely a must read for all ladies!  ‘There are no perfect families, only families that are being perfected’ ,’God turns those seasons of ashes into coverings of beauty’.

• The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin
• On Black Sisters’ Street by Chika Unigwe
• Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
• I do not come to you by chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwabuni
• When broken chords sing by Abimbola Dare (My Review Here)

The Small Print by Abimbola Dare – I’m a psychology undergraduate, but i can honestly say that it was a bessing for me to take time out, drop my textbooks and journal articles to read this book. It captured me from the very start, with the characters gradually coming to life after each chapter. To crown it all, the underlying Christian message in the whole book, was well embedded, whilst retaining the african culture. The book was very very funny, I even had to share a few passages with my housemates.I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone!!!!