Book picks similar to
Bella and Braxton: A Hood Love Story by Jan'a Sullivan


urban
urban-romance
african-american-author
book-challenge

Covered In Your Love


Nique Luarks - 2017
    She's been through some of the darkest times, but has always managed to tough it out and come out on top. Despite the sadness of her tainted past, Ryan finds happiness in Quan...even though their relationship may seem dysfunctional to others. Not only is he the love of her life, but he's the best friend she's ever had and the only family she has left. When Quan's selfish ways puts him in a position to je opardize everything they've built and how far they've come, Ryan must decide if their love is worth fighting for or if she should just throw the towel in. To Jaime, love is just another four letter word she avoids at all cost. For her, putting up emotional barriers is a sure way to protect her heart and keep her sanity. Though resiliency is the foundation of her life, hurt still runs deep in her soul. Meeting Nas, however, knocks her off her square, and before she can catch herself, she falls for his charm, wit, and undeniably good looks. Stuck in between following her heart and trusting her gut instinct, Jaime finds herself trapped in a web of uncertainty.

Tell Me You Still Care: James and Liz


Tynessa - 2018
    Although the chemistry is still there, they both try to overlook it, thinking it will eventually fade away. Now in a ten-month relationship with the beautiful Delilah, James feels in his heart that she will be the one to replace the love he has for Liz. However, it’s not as easy as James thought it would be. For some reason, he can’t seem to get over Liz, and he struggles with telling her that he’s moved on. Will Delilah be able to handle keeping her relationship a secret from someone who James claims to not have feelings for? Dating outside her race wasn’t at all on Liz’s agenda until she meets the irresistible Rodrigo Santiago. Yet, there’s one question. How will James feel about her possibly moving on with another man? Will he be okay with the mother of his child entertaining another man, or will James let his fear of Liz loving someone else cause him to ruin his own relationship? Sometimes, it’s better to say what’s on your heart instead of trying to show it through actions. The words, I still care, may need to be spoken, especially in the case of James and Liz, who are so stubborn that they can’t seem to see what’s right in their faces.

The Trillest Love Story Ever Told: Phyre and Supreme


Kellz Kimberly - 2018
    Private schools, designer clothes and rarely hearing the word ‘no’ is how she was raised. With her best friend by her side, she’s out in the NYC living her best life or what she thinks is her best life. With an old relationship coming to an end, a new flame gets ignited. Phyre is ultimately caught off guard by the new flame until she realizes it’s exactly what she been waiting for to set her soul on fire. Having both a mother and father growing up is a luxury most kids from the hood don’t have. Supreme Young was lucky in someways to have both his parents but when it came to those not so lucky ways, Supreme had to step up and be the responsible adult. With both of his parents addicted to drugs, Supreme did what needed to be done for his sister. His parents failed to give his sister the world, so he made it his mission to do pick up the slack. Hustling, providing a future for Mirage and running through hoes was his life and not once did he think there was anything wrong. A few run ins with Phyre, has Supreme ready to add her as another notch on his belt. Not one to take no as an answer he continues to pursue her & eventually finds himself trying to change his doggish ways. Old habits seem to die hard when it comes to Preme & from he outside looking in, it doesn’t seem like love is a new trick to teach an old dog. Everyone knows love is an indescribable feeling that tingles between your toes, gives you butterflies in your stomach, makes your heart beat double time, and causes you to lose all common sense when it comes to the one who owns your heart. If all of that happens when you simply love someone, what do you think happens when you add a trill a** hood n***a to the equation?

In Love with A DC Thug


Natisha Raynor - 2017
    Being the daughter of an ex-pro football player, Anisa grew up spoiled, but family life behind closed doors was anything but okay. Anisa decided to move from North Carolina to DC to intern at a radio station with her aunt. Fascinated by the possibility of change, Anisa is excited and focused. Unlike most young girls, she doesn't yearn for love. After watching her parents fight for years, Anisa is afraid to love, and she sure isn't trying to get caught up with a fast talking, game running, slick, arrogant guy from up north. Anisa wants no parts of any man walking DC's streets. Ishmel Young is wise beyond his years, handsome, and charming. He's determined to beat the odds and graduate from high school despite living a fast-paced life and having grown man responsibilities. Ishmel is young and fly and doesn't really care about anything other than money, his friends, and family. Even his girlfriend is just something to do. Someone on his arm to match his fly. But when he meets Anisa, things change. Ishmel finally experiences what it's like to genuinely like someone, but there's one problem; she is determined not to like him back. Ishmel's life begins to spiral out of control as he experiences the chaos that comes with the streets. He's trying to hang in there, but street life may be more than he bargained for. Add in a feisty chick from the south, and Ishmel doesn't know if he's coming or going, but he refuses to lose.

Kano & Montana: A Hood Love Story


Genesis - 2019
    He had to grow up at an early age and take on the role of becoming an adult way before his time. Starting off as a dope boy, he soon rises up the ranks before becoming the right-hand man inside of his uncle's drug empire. Kank has it all; money and the women, yet still he feels like his life is not fulfilled. That is until his best friends twin sister Montana comes back into town shaking up his life. Montana Mason has been through a lot in her life. After leaving Dallas for school, she finds herself head over heels for Isaac Thompson and soon she gives him the greatest gift a woman can give a man, her heart and a beautiful daughter. But everything that glitters aint gold and Montana soon realizes that Isaac isn’t all he made himself out to be. Now, Montana finds herself escaping an abusive relationship and ends up back home around the people she loves most. She finds love in the form of a child-hood crush. Kano and Montana are both trying to navigate their newfound relationship while still dealing with the upsides of life. Will they ever get it together or is their love not meant to be?

Tru Love


Bree - 2016
    When Tru’s parents are murdered they become closer than ever. What happens when Tru and Sincere fall for the two people who they don’t want to love? Each other. Sincere is about to be the King of New York and has plans on taking over Miami. With family secrets surfacing and jealousy rising will he succeed or will someone he trusted his life with be his downfall? True love is hard, but it’s even harder when you’re running from it.

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.

Love And The Game 2


Johnni Sherri - 2018
    While she ultimately decides to let Derrick sweep her off her feet, Plus’ feelings for her never seem to waver. However, when Derrick gets drafted into the NBA and has to relocate hundreds of miles away, Perri is faced with the decision to either stay in Maryland or leave with her fiancé for good. Now that Plus has completely stepped up as a father, the mere mention of Perri taking Camille away leaves him emotionally shattered. But after everything he’s put Perri through is this now his karma? In addition to this love triangle, Tez and Myesha’s relationship goes through its own struggle of sorts. Both of their pasts come back to haunt them, leaving a huge question mark over the survival of their union. While Jorell and Nika make such a cute couple; him with his ‘bama’ ways and her with her quick-witted nature, will the secrets he has buried tear them apart? Find out how what happens when people really do love hard but aren’t fair when playing the game.

Boss'd Up With A Billionaire


Jade Jones - 2020
    

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?

Gunplay & LeTavia : Shawty Want a Thug


Leo Sullivan - 2017
     Raised in the heart of the hoods of Brooklyn, 18-year-old LeTavia was the oldest of two children looked after by their grandmother after their mother ran out on them. Built with a strong sense of responsibility, it was this trait that pushed her to protect Deshaun Banks, aka Gunplay, the very first time she laid eyes on him. Gunplay, a born hustler, ducked into a local food spot, hoping to dodge the police that were searching for him but what he found inside ended up being more than he expected. When LeTavia immediately assisted him by attempting to hide him from the cops, he not only avoided being placed in prison for the rest of his life but he found the one woman who he would learn is loyal to him from Day 1. Or is she really? Five years later, Gunplay is released from prison and runs into the person whom he owes his freedom to. Now 23 years old, LeTavia is a full grown woman and just as desirable to him as she was the day they'd first met. Immediately, Gunplay sets his mind on making her his but Quisha, the chick who held him down for five years of lock up, isn't having that. Cutta was the king of the Harlem streets before Gunplay was locked up and, after his release, he's even more powerful. When he hears that Gunplay has been released, he has one goal in mind and that's to end Gunplay's life for a betrayal he blamed Gunplay for years ago. But when fate brings him into contact with LeTavia, his plans take a turn that even he didn't expect and the result threatens to tear down everything that LeTavia and Gunplay have built. Is real love always loyal love? When the rules of the streets are mired by the desires of the heart, the results can be treacherous and, oftentimes, deadly.

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?

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?

In True Thug Fashion: The Freedom Brothers


Jessica N. Watkins - 2020