Book picks similar to
The Shirt off His Back by Parry Ebonysatin Brown


romance
african-american-fiction
african-american-contemporary-ficti
repeat-reads

My Married Boyfriend (Love & Revenge Book 2)


Cydney Rax - 2016
    An unexpected temptation. And stakes so high no one will walk away unscathed…   Gorgeous Nicole is about to get everything she's hustled for. She's having her rich, married lover Rashad's baby. And a lucky break has made her a media heroine—and the perfect new wife material. With one more deception here, a couple more little seductions there, she'll finally push Rashad's wife, Kiara, completely out of his life. With her formidable competition gone, Nicole will lock down Rashad's ever-wandering interest, and be the next Mrs. Eason for sure… But there are some temptations even this sexy schemer finds tough to pass up. Especially her first love, ex-con Ajalon, who's just walked back into her life. His intense hunger, chiseled body, and mind-blowing endurance are throwing Nicole off her game and reigniting emotions way too hot to control—or resist. But he’s also handed Kiara, and another interested ex, the perfect ammo to expose Nicole and blow her world apart once and for all. Now the only guarantee for all involved is shattering scandal—and mutually assured destruction…Praise for the novels of Cydney Rax   “The book we can’t put down.”--Essence® on My Husband’s Girlfriend   “Fascinating, witty, and thought-provoking.” –Zane on My Daughter’s Boyfriend   “Filled with family drama.”--APOOO Book Club on My Sister’s Ex

I Do Love You Still


Mary B. Morrison - 2019
    Morrison comes the seductive, no-holds-barred novel of a dazzling power couple who play their scandalous love-hate affair one game too far . . .   Between their skyrocketing careers and insatiable passion for each other, Xena Trinity and Memphis Brown seem to be the perfect potential power couple. Sure, they break up constantly—their love and sexual chemistry is unbalanced, yet undeniable. Since their ultimate goal is to marry and start a family after Memphis fulfills his dreams, they believe they can one day have it all. Until Xena gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take her fashion brand global—just as track star Memphis is this close to an Olympic slot . . .   Feeling neglected by Xena, Memphis crosses a new line: he looks elsewhere to fill the void of her abandonment and betrayal. Fed up, Xena moves on to a new man who supports her dream of building her brand . . . until his selfish demands make her yearn once more for a life with Memphis. With her career and love life hanging in the balance, Xena is forced to re-evaluate her priorities. Every man she meets seems like the one, but all of them have their faults. Who can she trust with her health and happiness? Will she choose the young, vibrant man who loves but also wants to control her? Or the man offering wisdom and stability? Will turning to her business partner or her best friend for support give her answers or more complications?   Just when Xena has hope everything will turn out fine, a scandalous fallout puts lives and careers on blast—and breaks more than hearts. And getting real enough to manage this damage could cost Xena and Memphis more than they ever imagined . . .

The Sisters of Theta Phi Kappa


Kayla Perrin - 2001
    Now, ten years later, they seem to have it all. Jessica is in the limelight, a TV personality whose star is on the rise. Ellie is an optimist, happily engaged in the quest for love. Shereen is a stunning and powerful executive, and Yolanda, the strong-willed leader of the group, has defied her roots to capture her vision of the American dream. But years before, these four women banded together to keep a devastating secret-and now, ten years later, someone will do anything to see the secret brought to light. None of them anticipated the consequences of keeping the secret-and now, someone is trying to shatter all their lives. Intense, powerful, page-turning, and emotional, The Sisters of Theta Phi Kappa will keep you guessing and will make you think about the depths of friendship, the price of loyalty, and the bonds of sisterhood.

Getting to the Good Part


Lolita Files - 1999
    Misty's work life is thriving & she has found Mr. Right at last. Although Reesy's trying to be happy for her friend, she is troubled by this intrusion into the one friendship that has always come first for both women. Nonetheless, Reesy's dreams of a dance career have become reality & she is also seeing a man who might be a keeper. Unfortunately, her self-destructive tendencies threaten to destroy her, until true love & friendship save the day.

Breathing Room


Patricia Elam - 2001
    But now they're at a crossroads where understanding may not be enough -- a place where they must risk it all to rediscover what they cherish most. Photographer Norma Simmons-Greer has a loving husband, a lively young son, and an upper-middle-class lifestyle. Probation officer Moxie Dilliard is as dedicated to her ideals as she is to her talented teenage daughter, Zadi. Best friends after meeting in college, Norma and Moxie are each other's reality check and reassurance. But suddenly the bond between them begins to unravel in unexpected ways. Anguished over the loss of her second child and her husband's recent withdrawal, Norma takes refuge in a complex love affair that puts her at odds with Moxie -- and with herself. Haunted by her beloved mother's inspiring yet disturbing emotional legacy, Moxie struggles to understand her friend, while her own refusal to compromise threatens to shatter her relationship with Zadi. And a devastating crisis will challenge both women to face the hardest of truths. With insight, humor, and heartbreaking immediacy, Patricia Elam presents a beautifully written portrait of two unforgettable women, and the teenager they both cherish, as they negotiate the ever-shifting terrain of friendship and identity. A wise, tender novel of what love can and cannot survive, Breathing Room is also an exploration of how the past can at once inspire and limit us, and of the pain -- and promise -- that accompany us on the journey we all share.

If I Was Your Woman: A BBW Camden Love Story


Mz. Toni - 2015
    However, when Shante is reunited with her sisters, on top of finally meeting the perfect guy, Kasan, she starts to feel like everything is looking up for her. Will things stay that way or will lies, deceit, and secrets ruin her new found happiness? Camille is Shante's best friend. She lives with an over protective mother and is in love with Mark, the love of her life. However, Mark just can't seem to get it right. Camille finds herself in a difficult situation. Will she forgive Mark and go against her mother's wishes or will she wash her hands of him and his shady ways?

Thick Girls Need Love


David Weaver - 2015
    Then is patience still a virtue? Avion is married to who he believes will absolutely without a doubt be there forever. He's friends with who he knows for sure will ride for him whenever. When he crosses paths with his high school crush, he had so much he could tell her- but she had been hurt so many times that she was overly careful. In matters of the heart, physical attraction only serves as a daily introduction. Once introduced to the person, you must then deal with them, their spirits, their personalities, them as a person. Oftentimes, the person hates the person they're dealing with. Avion learns the true value of the word "love," and just why it can't be tossed around lightly. Sharo learns that even though she had been hurt in the past and felt like she would never need another man, that it was ok, and always going to be ok. No matter how angry or upset, or how much of an independent woman she was, no matter how thick of a shell she had wrapped around her heart, she still had to realize that in a world full of hatred... Thick Girls Need Love.

Over and Over Again


Ni'cola Mitchell - 2009
    Until]. Dionni has found the love of her life once again in a compromising situation. For Dionni, this is the final heart break. With the love and support of her family and friends, she concentrates on her business, and its there she meets new client, Xavier Zay Grey, an investment banker that hires her to plan a surprise graduation party for his baby sister. Timidly, Dionni begins to think she might have found the one for her, but a devastating secret finds her world once again shaken. It also finds her back in the arms of an unlikely man, and even more pain than even she could imagine. Over and Over Again is a funny and sensual tale that weaves between lies and love, deceit and truth, teaching Dionni the ultimate meaning of what is honesty, passion, and friendship.

Liar's Game


Eric Jerome Dickey - 2000
    Vincent is living in Los Angeles, trying to forget his own shattered marriage. They want to plan a future together—but first they have to stop running from their pasts. Eric Jerome Dickey, a rising star on the bestseller lists, delivers a boldly honest novel—about love that starts with a lie.

When Love Calls, You Better Answer


Bertice Berry - 2005
    Now she turns her eye to matters of the heart, with an endearing main character who can’t seem to keep bad men out of her life. Bernita Brown is a quick-thinking, tireless social worker who is good at practically everything—except love. Her first marriage ends in divorce, a painful experience Bernita refuses to think about. Instead, she dives into a series of sad relationships and overwhelming commitments to community and church. But not even church can keep her from being courted by dogs; Bernita’s married pastor begins making passes at her, then blames her for his backsliding. Along the way, the ghost of Bernita’s aunt Babe weighs in with plenty of advice (after all, Aunt Babe says, “You don’t need to be alive to tell folks how to live”). When a marvelous man finally enters Bernita’s life, only time can tell whether she will be able to trust him. Written with Berry’s signature warmth and reliance on African-American ancestors who deliver homespun healing, When Love Calls, You Better Answer addresses a host of powerful topics, from abusive relationships to corrupt church leaders. Ultimately, Bernita’s story will inspire readers to find the love they need, especially the love that can only come from within.

The Ideal Wife


Jacquelin Thomas - 2009
    But what if love isn’t enough?Marrying a handsome, wealthy lawyer and living in a Hollywood Hills mansion…it’s a dream come true for twenty-four-year-old Jana, from the moment Lawrence Collins swept her off her feet and into his luxurious world. True, she put her studies at a local Bible college on hold in order tow ed after a six-month whirlwind romance. Beautiful and vivacious, with a stunning body, Jana knows men like Lawrence don’t come along every day, and she vows to be a perfect companion—the ideal wife—to this sexy, powerful man. But at what price?From her wardrobe and hairstyle to her friends and her choice of church, Lawrence seems to want Jana to change into someone she’s not…and soon, the man Jana thought she knew will test her values and her faith with a shocking revelation that goes against everything she believes. How far will Jana be willing to go to keep the man she loves? With her “ideal” marriage falling apart, Jana—the real, modest, smart, and strong girl who knows what she stands for—must put her trust in God, and follow His guiding light out of the darkness of a broken relationship.

Female Hustler: All I See Is The Money


Deja King - 2014
    Instead of inheriting a life of luxury, she lived hers in poverty. But being the child of a notorious Kingpin, Angel has the spirit of a hustler running through her blood. She uses those skills to change her destiny. Because all Angel sees, is the money.

All I Want is Everything


Daaimah S. Poole - 2007
    Poole took readers on a wild, sexy ride with her novel Ex-Girl to the Next Girl. Now in All I Want is Everything we meet a young woman with a hot voice and superstar dreams... Talented Kendra Michelle Thomas always dreamed of becoming a singing sensation. At high school talent shows, she moved people to tears. Everyone thought she'd be the next Mariah Carey. But between Kendra's father abandoning her mother, her mother's alcoholism, and a tragedy that lands Kendra and her siblings in foster care, there's not much opportunity for making dreams come true. Before Kendra knows it, she's twenty-five-years-old, working as a bartender, and trapped in a relationship of convenience. She knows something's gotta give... Determined to break into the industry, Kendra takes her small savings and makes a demo. Her gift and personality soon get her a manager, a series of gigs, and finally a recording contract- plus a check fat enough to move her family into a house, and then some. But when a turn of events lands her right back where she started from, she'll have to make a choice: sink back into obscurity- or discover what she's really made of...

Caught in the Mix


Candice Dow - 2005
    The smart sister from Baltimore City has looks, brains, a promising job offer, and now, it looks like she's met her dream guy in handsome law student, Devin Patterson. Though their backgrounds couldn't be more different, wealthy, sheltered Devin falls hard for savvy, inner-city Clark. They're more than lovers; they're soul mates, and their storybook romance is the envy of the campus. Caught Up In Love - But out in the real world, their bond will be tested again and again. From the strain of long-distance love and the pull of two high-powered careers to the well-meaning-but-misdirected advice of friends, the prejudices of family, and the strong allure of new passion and players, Clark and Devin are in for a ride that could tear them apart for good. Caught In The Mix Now - for two people caught in the mix of secrets, family drama, lies, career struggles, and the hard truths of growing up and moving on, love is anything but easy- and doing the right thing by yourself is the hardest lesson of all.