Book picks similar to
Onyx and Starr by Lady Lissa


cliffhanger
reading-challenge
urban

Second to No One


Keysha - 2015
    After learning that the two people she trusted with her life were snakes in the grass, Jazzy decided to move on. Rayshawn a boss in his own right always get what he wants and he always wanted Jazzy. The only thing stopping him was that nigga Jaylin, but things changed. Jaylin has messed up and Rayshawn is gonna do everything in his power to make Jazzy his... Even if he has to hurt a few people in the process.

Bella and Braxton: A Hood Love Story


Jan'a Sullivan - 2016
    Hattie and Tommy done had babies again." Growing up in the hood of Covington, KY wasn't so great for sixteen year old Labella Jones. Living in a world where you have to teach your self how to be a woman because your mother's minimum wage job takes all of her time isn't so easy. Fighting everyday to overcome teenage jealousy and bullying because you don't fit in with the "it" crowd was a ritual for young Bella. When a harsh situation brings Bella and Choc, one of the most popular girls in school together, Bella learns how to love herself for who she is even with dirty clothes, nappy hair and all. Waking up everyday knowing that to the world you're nothing but to him you're everything made a big change in Bella's life. Meet Braxton " B", struggling to make it out of the hood but falling victim to the only resource available in the hood "drugs" to survive. B makes it a priority to teach Bella the true meaning of "Love your self first or no one will" while still trying to find himself. Being a black man coming from poverty they expect you to fail and thats exactly what the police is doing even if they have to play dirty to keep there statistics going. When feelings get involved, rumors are spread will Bella and Braxton be able to survive to tell their "hood love story?"

My Baby Is a West Coast King 2


Shvonne Latrice - 2017
    Feeling like maybe she moved way too fast with him, Laine decides to free herself and have a little fun, hoping it will alleviate the heartbreak she'd just endured. What she must remember though, is that the sexy, brash, and downright crazy Mischief isn't too keen on being apart from her, and refuses take no for an answer. Dealing with trying to get his woman back, his career, and the rumors of a baby surrounding him, Mischief begins to struggle with some childhood memories again, forcing out a deep revelation. Along with Mischief and Laine, the other couples are also compelled to face the secrets they've kept, heartbreaking news, and brewing temptations that are finally coming to a boil. Will the secrets and lies tear this gang apart? Or will they find some way to persevere?

Tampering with A Thug's Heart 2


Coco Shawnde - 2018
    Louis with heavy news. He has to make a decision that possibly could cost him. It seems his past has come back to haunt him after years of maturing into a new man. Tiphani has been through a lot as it is, but the intruder that robbed Israel home is set on making her life more miserable than ever before. Being hospitalized isn't her only setback, and it's a family effort to assure she has a full recovery. Depression sinks in under her new circumstances that may be permanent, and it drives a wedge between her and Israel. Israel has to accept all the new changes and stand tall through it all. Nothing between the two feels like it used to, and they both can attest to it. Tiphani learns soon that with change, she has to make adjustments. The question is, will she be able to? Israel wants nothing but the best for Tiphani, even if he has to let the love of his life go free. But, then again, he knows he can't allow her to go too far. When the tension grows unbearable, Tiphani does the unthinkable that pushes Israel over the edge. Indulge in the turning events and see how problems are resolved as more fall through.

Because I Love You


A'zayler - 2019
    After losing his mother and every sense of belonging that he’d ever had, Egypt has become a lover of the streets and nothing more. Outside of his best friend, Auto, and respected gang leader BB, Egypt has love for nothing and no one. If it wasn’t about his sister, his gang, or his money, Egypt didn’t have time to entertain the joys of life, with women being one of his biggest casualties. He was young and on the come up. The last thing he had time for was falling in love. Unfortunately, hood prostitute, Dream, had other things in mind. She may have been around the block a few times too many, but not even that could deter her from the love she had for Egypt. Sure, they’d hated each other for years, but even he knew that was all a façade to cover up how she made him feel. With a made up mind, and a spitfire attitude, Dream allowed Egypt to do everything in his power to avoid her until one day he finally allowed his truest feelings to be revealed. If there’s ever been a love story that should have never been told, it was theirs. At least that was what they thought until giving their hearts a chance to stitch together in the most imperfect way.

A Kingpin's Dynasty


Tina J. - 2018
    All she wants to do is move on from her past and start over. Unfortunately, there are people who feel she hasn’t paid for her sins and will stop at nothing to make sure she does. The battle never ends and the one she considered her best friend reveals a secret she’s kept hidden for years. Menace is the man in the streets and like always, women want him. However; he loves Quana and has done any and everything to keep her happy. Unfortunately; she isn’t the woman he fell in love with and he begins to distance himself from her. He crosses paths with a woman he’s never seen before and instead of exchanging numbers, they go their separate ways. They do meet again, and things don’t go as planned. Joakim and Taylor have been doing well keeping their relationship under wraps. That is until he falls victim to another woman and she claims he fathered her child. Not wanting a kid with her, not only causes turmoil with Taylor but drives her straight into the arms of someone else. A person who will have a few surprises of his own.

When the Heart Says Yes


Kelly Marie - 2017
    He is the sexiest man walking with dazzling gray eyes that have the women ready to drop their panties for him, which he never turns down. After being played by a past lover, Q is adamant to never fall in love again, so he spends his time dicking down every woman in New York who crosses his path. He makes up his own rules to protect himself and lives by his self-made motto Thugs never change. He’s single and staying that way regardless of women, including his fuck buddy, Nikita, trying to change that. The single life for him is all he knows until a family friend returns home! Angel, a girl he has known since she was five years old, returns to New York but she’s not the skinny little girl that he once knew. And before long, Q finds himself in trouble and breaking his own rules over Angel as his body says no but his heart says yes! Angel has loved Q since she was five years old, but the young happy boy that she knew is now a sexy ass thug who breaks women’s hearts. She knows he doesn’t want a relationship and tries to stay away from him but she can’t fight what her heart wants. Unable to fight their feelings anymore, the two become one, but Nikita had plans to be with Q and she won’t give him up without a fight. Q is sure that Angel is who he wants and pushes aside his fear of being hurt. But is Angel who she really claims to be? Will Nikita succeed in her plans to keep Angel away? And can Q really walk away from his single life? Find out as we see if the heart is stronger than the body!

Flexin' On My Ex with A Boss 2


Jenica Johnson - 2018
    She finally feels that she’s able to move on from her past and fully focus on being with Bash. Her rocky relationship with her mother-in-law is still being tested but, for the sake of her relationship with Bash, Yah-Yah continues to turn the other cheek. With a little help, she’s able to start up her own business and that keeps her occupied so she couldn’t see the obvious. When she finds out what’s been happening in front of her eyes, will she return to the old her or will she remain the woman she worked hard to become? Bash is in love and he can no longer hide the fact that Yahria is going to be his wife. He thought he finally found the right woman after the death of his child’s mother. Yah-Yah helped him get his life back in order but he seems to battle with keeping his woman happy and his mother too. Bash is forced to make some major decisions as it pertains to his personal and love life. Will he choose correctly or will he play it safe? When you fall in fast, it will either crumble or stand strong during a test. Which will it be with this couple?

A New Jersey Love Story 2: I Got Yours, You Got Mine


Myiesha - 2015
    They continue to make enemy after enemy, when all they really want to do is be completely in love with each other. Being with Troy has caused Camilla to step out of her reserved personality and show all other females that she’s about that life and she plays no games when it comes to her man. Camilla has learned that everyone that smiles in your face isn’t your friend. Supreme’s secret obsession with Camilla has stirred up some jealousy within Kitty. After Supreme’s vicious attack on Camilla, she’s determined to get revenge. Once Supreme goes missing, Kitty already knows who had something to do with it and she will not stop until those who are responsible pay. Troy, completely in love with both sides of his sunshine, is willing to jump through all hoops for her and be by her side when shit goes down. He’s the first to pick up on Kitty’s deceitful vibes and does his best to warn Camilla to be careful around her. When Kitty starts to feel that Camilla and her gang are on to her ulterior motives, she expedites her plan that may get her revenge for Supreme once and for all. After Kitty and Keyonna’s sneak attack on Troy and Camilla, lives are left hanging in the balance. Who will survive this unforeseen attack? Will G-Ma have to dust off her gat for her BooBoo?

Cuffed By a Trap God


Nikki Nicole - 2018
    She’s been in a committed relationship, with her first love Crim for six years. On the outside, looking in you would think Malone had at it all. The love of her life and two beautiful children, a nice house and fancy cars. Picture perfect huh? Numerous of late nights and early mornings, the love of her life stayed away from home and catered to the streets. Demanding her respect and putting her foot down, who knew the one time you wanted to be heard and stand up for yourself. Your life changes drastically for better and for worse. Sphinx born and raised in the slums of East Atlanta, Zone 6. He’s the Trap God, nothing moves in his hood unless he signs off on it. He’s arrogant and rude. He thinks he’s God gift women and every broke hoe dream. He’s every niggas worst nightmare. His motto is fuck em, feed em, spoil em, and leave them. He refuses to be in a committed relationship. His main focus is his children and his paper. Sphinx and Malone are from the same hood, but they don’t know each other. They run into each other on a few occasions. Malone is against dating any man that’s in the streets due to past experiences. Sphinx isn’t the average man in the streets. He can have any woman he wants, that’s a fact. He’s never been turned down by any female before, until he meets Malone. Every man wants something that they can’t have. The thrill itself is a natural high. The two of them become curious about each other, and decide to do a little exploring. Take a wild ride with these two as they play Russian Roulette..

N.O.L.A: Noel & Tamia


Cion Lee - 2019
    Being 1/4 of the popular R&B group , N.O.L.A, means he can pretty much have whatever he wants. Despite having a girl back in New Orleans, he's not trying to settle down anytime soon. He just wants to have fun. Tamia Bellamy is the definition of fun. She's young,funny, gorgeous, free-spirited, and and an exotic dancer. What he thinks is going to be a one night stand with a freak ends up being way more than he bargained for. He tries to fight it, but the heart wants what the heart wants. He just can't understand why his heart would want someone as flawed and damaged as Tamia. Join Noel and Tamia on this bumpy ride! *THIS IS THE FIRST PART TO A TWO PART SERIES!"

Karma and Myles: Downside of a Thug's Love


Traci B - 2018
    After her father dies, Karma inherits a fortune from him. As a college student loaded with lots of money, Karma doesn’t fit the description of a typical college student. She doesn’t care for anything that comes with the college lifestyle – the parties and people included. Best friends with Tiffani, her older cousin by seven years, Karma is introduced to a much more adult lifestyle. Karma spends her weekends in 21+ clubs alongside her big cousin. There, she meets Myles Kensington, the son of a well-known drug lord. Myles, having always been the type to create his own lane, became a billionaire from packaging and distributing heavy artillery in the streets and overseas. Sometimes exhausted from being a successful business owner at the age of 28, he likes to unwind at the same club Karma frequents. The two cross paths after an apparent mix-up in the VIP section. Exchanging heated words, in the beginning, turns into the two exchanging numbers in the end. Myles immediately finds himself drawn to Karma and doesn’t think twice about pursuing her. There’s just one issue. Myles has some extra baggage that proves hard to get rid of. Tiffani inadvertently forces Karma to be “grown,” but is Karma actually ready for what all comes with being grown, especially when it comes to dating? What would you do if you found out the man you’re physically tied to is emotionally tied to someone else?

Rain's Theory


K.C. Mills - 2015
    She was the only thing he loved more than the streets that controlled him, so when Rain disappeared from his life he did the only thing he could and just survived. The streets became his priority and women became his past time.Now she's back, and things are as they should be, but will the choices that Theory made affect their chance to finally get it right?

Shadow of A Gangsta


Latoya Nicole - 2018
     Shadow Hoover, tired of living in the background of his brothers, decides to be trained by Lucifer his self. Wanting to make a name for himself, he decides to come out of retirement without his brothers. Gangsta has never been one to back down from a challenge... With Shadow looking to him for guidance, G looks at it as an opportunity to get back in the game... Shadow is now ready to take on his new job as a hit man, but the first job he takes jeopardizes the entire Hoover family. With his wife ready to leave, and his brother’s lives on the line, Shadow May have bitten off more than he could chew. All hell has broken loose, and an old enemy is back to destroy the Hoovers once and for all. Who will come out on top as the Hoovers are forced into one last hoorah.

Falling For A Real One 3


K. Renee - 2019
    For years, Shanice has lived with the heartbreak of her father’s death. When he shows up and reveals that her future is responsible for past pain, Shanice is unsure of what’s next for her and Truth’s relationship. What she does know is that, someone is now depending on her, so she has to make her next move her best move. Gia and Gabe are excited about welcoming their new baby but Tommy, the father of Gia’s daughter just can’t let go! With Truth and Shanice fighting for love and life and Gabe and Gia trying to focus on the future, trouble finds them once again. Truth and Gabe will have to do whatever is necessary to protect their legacies even if it’s the ultimate sacrifice. This finale will be a roller coaster ride of drama and pain but what else can Shanice and Gia expect after Falling for the Love of a Real One.