Book picks similar to
Play For Your Love by AshleyNicole


romance
african-american
athlete
cw-domestic-violence

The Love Deluxe Mixtape


Alexandria House - 2020
    If erotic content and short stories are not your cup of tea, then this experience is not for you.

Shots Not Taken


Nicole Falls - 2019
    After personal setbacks placed barriers in his path to professional basketball superstardom, he took to approaching life with the motto “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. Following his passions leads him to an opportunity of a lifetime, but he is in need of a slight bit of assistance to achieve his goal. Enter Jayde Turner, a smart-mouthed, straight shooter who is grappling with her own set of roadblocks that are in her path as she tries to achieve her childhood dream of becoming a popular country singer. Moving from her tiny hometown in rural Tennessee to Nashville was supposed to be the major key to her success, but instead she consistently faces narrow-minded individuals and stereotyping based on her appearance. A common interest and shared goal eventually causes Nikolas and Jayde’s paths to converge. Both of them are operating with a single-minded focus that is consistently detoured by the underlying current of…undeniable chemistry between them. The further along the road they travel, the more their individual goals morph into a singular focus—maintaining their sanity and connection in a world that constantly threatens both. Set in “The Athens of the South” Nashville, Tennessee, The “Nymphs & Trojans” series is a sports romance collaboration by Nicole Falls and Alexandra Warren that follows two fictional professional basketball franchises - the Nashville Nymphs Women’s Team and the Tennessee Trojans Men’s Team.

Grounded for Christmas


Té Russ - 2020
    The weather outside is frightful...But for Porscha and Donovan, being stranded at the airport during Christmastime is about to be so delightful...

Rookie Move


Sarina Bowen - 2016
    But on the first day he’s called up to the newly franchised Brooklyn Bruisers, Leo gets checked on both sides, first by the team’s coach—who has a long simmering grudge, and then by the Bruisers’ sexy, icy publicist—his former girlfriend Georgia Worthington.Saying goodbye to Leo was one of the hardest things Georgia ever had to do—and saying hello again isn’t much easier. Georgia is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional, but when a press conference microphone catches Leo declaring his feelings for her, things get really personal, really fast....

Not So Silent Night


C. Monet - 2019
    A sexy fling wasn’t on her Christmas list this year, but Santa has a trick up his sleeve for the hard-working business owner – and his name is Tobin Looney. A missed flight and a few shots of Fireball later, a silent night is the last thing on their minds. Sinclair and Tobin find themselves in a spicy, sweet, and sticky situation. Will the serious Sinclair throw caution to the wind for the very sexy and wild Tobin Looney? Find out in Not So Silent Night.

In Name Only


Vivian Rose Lee - 2011
    Now she was in a name only marriage with a man that hates her. USN Commander Benjamin Smith was floored when he see the beautiful dressmaker sitting at the family table at his sister wedding. He was instantly drawn to her in a way he had never experienced. He wants her to be his at least for a little while. After a night of unbridled passion Ben wasn't sure he could let her go. Until he thinks Sky has betrayed him, forcing him to do something he never wanted, and Benjamin is never forced to do anything he did not want. Now he is married Sky making it clear it the marriage will be in name only. As he and Sky begin to share a home, he begins to wonder was he wrong about her?

Put That On Everything


K.C. Mills - 2018
    

If You Ever Change Your Mind


B. Love - 2017
    Even when he considers it, life throws him a curveball that causes him to take an entirely different path. The last curveball, a pregnant friend with benefits, caused Lucas to make an illegal move that led to his sister, Luana, being bound to Jaxon Jeffries. At first meeting Jaxon, Lucas considers him to be a man that will never be worthy of his respect and admiration, but there is one thing that Jaxon shares with Lucas that changes his life forever – the importance of choosing a wife instead of letting something as reckless and irrational as love choose one for you. Hali Davison has never been the type to step out of the traditional route with anything in her life. Even when she considers it, life throws her a curveball that causes her to return to the safe, predictable path she grew up on. The last curveball, finding out the man she’s loved all of her life practically was getting married to a woman that wasn’t her, has Hali reconsidering her safe and predictable lifestyle. If her last chance at letting Lucas know how she really feels for him is at his wedding… so be it. Lucas is stuck between doing the right thing and following his heart. His childhood has made it difficult for him to believe that true love exists, which is a great deal of the reason why he’s fought his feelings for Hali over the years. With his natural hair product line reaching heights he never thought were possible, Lucas is determined to secure his life mate now before his money, power and status make it impossible to choose a woman who wants him for him and not who he is and what he has. There’s just one question he’s faced with on the day of his wedding; is that woman Shanice, the woman responsible for giving him his first child, or Hali, the woman responsible for giving him his first taste of love – no matter how much he thought he didn’t want it. *Please note, Lucas and Hali first appear in “Just Say You Love Me”. While their story can be read on its own, it is suggested that you read about their backgrounds in “Just Say You Love Me” first.

Breaking Barriers to Your Heart


Monica Walters - 2019
    After being hurt countless times by men, she shut her innermost feelings and desires off from men. Focusing on being happy with herself was her main agenda. Having a great job at the federal prison and owning her independence, Shana has everything. However, when she meets Red Anderson at the Houston Livestock Show, everything changes. Life has finally become worth living for Craig 'Red' Anderson. Having a horrible childhood, then growing up a ward of the state wasn't exactly a cake walk. After a chance encounter with a cowboy, his life is changed forever. Channeling his energy into learning to be the best steer wrestler in the world, Red Anderson is able to push out all the negativity in his life. Honing his skills and learning from the best, Legend Semien, Red becomes a force to deal with in the rodeo arena, but in life, another force brings him to his knees. Shana Albert comes in Red's life like a whirlwind and swallows him whole. Fighting demons of their past, it seems that Red and Shana face drama at every turn and difficulties of that drama threaten to tear them apart. Both being stubborn, opinionated individuals, causes unnecessary rifts that put their relationship on the line. Will Red and Shana finally figure out what loving one another is all about? Or will they decide to cut their losses and chalk it up as a lesson learned?

Body By Night


Zuri Day - 2009
    She's tired of being overweight, she's had it with her overbearing family, and she's fed up with settling for any guy who'll have her--especially since she caught her boyfriend cheating with her best friend.  But working out and avoiding delicious food is easy compared to resisting the charms of Los Angeles' hottest personal trainer, JaJuan "Night" Simmons. Six feet of chiseled muscle and fine chocolate, he's challenging her body in all the right ways--and proving there's a sensitive, caring guy under the good looks. Their shared career goals of promoting health and fitness bring them even closer together. But D'Andra feels it may be too much of a good thing. After succeeding in taking command of her life, can she risk losing control of her heart?

To Buy a Vow


Chencia C. Higgins - 2018
    Her marriage to her college sweetheart has begun to fizzle out, with conversations dwindling down to nothing and intimacy becoming sporadic at best. Unwilling to endure the stigma of being a 30-something divorcee, she does everything in her power to hold onto her marriage, but Chris isn't just on a different page, he's in a whole other book entirely. Despite their disconnect, her vows meant something to her and marriage is supposed to be forever. When all seems lost, she makes a last-ditch effort in hopes of generating results, but what exactly does a Hail Mary look like between friends and lovers?Jermaine Hawkins is nearing the end of a prominent career playing professional basketball and is ready to put his retirement plan into action. That plan includes many things but most important on the list is putting an end to his status as a hermit and starting a family. A chance encounter with a firecracker of a woman makes him think he's found his capital F. But whether that F is for "future" or "frustrating" is to be determined. Can Jermaine convince Nedra that everything happens for a reason while also getting her to give him a chance at something real?

Ain't None of Your Friends Business


DeeAnn - 2020
    

Love Is What You Make It


BriAnn Danae - 2020
    She never wanted to get married and was terrified of giving her heart away. Shunning the idea of settling down by her thirtieth birthday, Isis gives up on her pursuit.That’s until she meets handsome, multi-talented design artist Ramelo King.He came into her life on a pedestal, literally. He was determined to change her flawed view on love and make her his… for good. But at what cost? In his mind, loving her was worth the heartache, but for how long?

#Blessed By Malakai


Sherelle Green - 2018
    For prominent painter and sculptor Malakai Madden, that weakness has always been women. Now, he’s finally ready to settle down and shower one woman with his love. There’s just one major problem. Overnight, he’s gained thousands of Twitter followers after his obsessive ex decides to leak some private information. To make matters worse, a well-known media source retweets them! Suddenly, every woman wants a piece of Malakai. And when the #BlessedByMalakai hashtag starts trending, he’s dodging women left and right, and blocking his crotch like he’s secret service securing the president. If he’s ever going to get his life back and find his future wife, he needs to solve this problem and he needs to solve it fast! Image consultant Avery Nightingale can’t believe she’s landed a meeting with a huge potential client. She knows all about the #BlessedByMalakai hashtag and she’s ready to pitch her ideas. However, when she meets the man behind the Twitter legend, she’s rendered speechless and Mr. Make You Moan is not impressed. He agrees to hire her on one condition. Avery must promise not to feed into the social media craze as others have failed to accomplish before her. She agrees. After all, it’s just one rule, right?

The Heart Of A Champion


Donnia Marie - 2019
    Without a doubt, Zafirah is a daddy’s girl and in her eyes has the perfect role model as a father which makes it hard for any man to compare. Is her heart even capable of allowing another being to direct her steps? Does she even want to be handled? Her passion for designing clothes and opening a boutique is all she’s worried about until her heart takes a turn when she realizes the chemistry that she and Troy share. Mr. Champion, Zafirah’s father regards Troy as his son. Will the close-knit relationship they share be a stumbling block for Troy and Zafirah? Is Troy what Mr. Champion envisions for his daughter? Will Zafirah and Troy go against the grain to be with one another? Troy Cunningham is an example of a man that can overcome any obstacle and still succeed despite the statistics. He went from dealing in the streets to owning a successful business and his growth as an evolving individual shows daily. However, hardships later plague him and his heart is on the line. Will he continue to win in the game of life? “Please… When you have me all to yourself, you don’t know what to do.” ~Zafirah~ “I missed you too Zee, so stop flexin’ all the time.” ~Troy~ The Champion Sisters is a series spotlighting four sisters with very different personalities that are conquering their own world, in their own way, at their own pace. Join them on their journey as they navigate through family, careers, and life. Discover how they all end up coming out as champions.