Book picks similar to
Building Commons and Community by Karl Linn


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In Love With The King Of Chicago 2


A.J. Dix - 2017
    When it feels like the universe is working against her, can Karter keep her head above water? Or, will her constant stress and worrying cost her and Dez the one thing they both so desire, a child? Dez’s first priority is always to protect his family, even when he’s not in the best position to do so. But, with a detective on his back with an ax to grind, can Dez stay a free man? Or, will he have to get his hands dirty one last time to show why he was the king to begin with? “You’ll never make it anywhere in life without a degree.” The words her father said to her still rang strong in Melodee’s ears, even eight years later. Setting out to prove her parents wrong, Melodee focuses on doing what she has to do to secure her future. But, will she allow Dame to step in help, or will her ‘I can do it myself’ attitude run him away? In this final installment, this crew is struggling to keep the family together. But, one thing about the Wright brothers, they always have some tricks up their sleeves, and for the women they love, they’ll paint the town red. Find out why Karter and Melodee are still in love with the King of Chicago.

Let A Real Gangsta Love You


Antoinette Sherell - 2017
    With each growing up on the infamous south side of Chicago without care or guidance from their family, they look to the streets for what they aren’t offered at home – mainly love. When they run into three wild boys with the same mentality and upbringings as them, it sets off a chain reaction of unexpected events that they may not exactly be ready for. The saying love will drive you insane rings true for the brothers Chase, Nature, and Banks. Growing up jumping from group home to group home caused these three boys to come together and claim one another as the only family that they have. Cold to the world and the obstacles that it brings, they simply do as they please and worry about the consequences later. When they run into three beautiful girls after moving into a new group home, they each find someone that they are willing to care about other than each other. The only issue is that the stubborn, self-sufficient girls that they want just won’t quite let them in so easily. What they all expected to be simply puppy love or good friendships grows into strong bonds and territorial behavior over the years. Some want more than the other can offer while others move on to new relationships all together. But when the men are fed up with the games, they decide to take what's rightfully theirs by giving the ladies the only thing they can offer them... love from a real gangsta.

Food Stamp Bitches


Teresa D. Patterson - 2012
    When Jocelyn throws the idea out there that they should start an exotic maid service, they jump on it. The business takes off with a boom and pretty soon, they’re no longer depending on the government for anything. Instead, they all have a new set of problems. Jewel’s fifteen year old son, Jamal, is smoking marijuana. How can she tell him to stop using drugs when she’s addicted to pain pills herself? Daphne’s sixteen year old daughter, Shirrel, may be a lesbian. What can she do to help her daughter when she’s in denial about her own sexuality? Serena’s seventeen year old son could be on his way to becoming a teenaged father. She doesn’t know how to connect with the three children she already has. Will having a grandbaby make her change her ways? Jocelyn’s twelve year old daughter, Breanna, is sexually active. Has her promiscuous ways rubbed off on her child? These four ladies learn being food stamp bitches is just a state of mind. What’s most valuable and precious are family and true friendships.

A Hood Nigga Fetish


Johnazia Gray - 2015
    Although she’s had her share of downfalls, she continues to be the very best that she can be. Being hurt in the past by her ex-lover only gives her a reason to never love again, until she meets up with Hennessey.After five long years locked behind bars, Hennessey knows that being a drug dealer isn’t something he wants to continue to pursue to get his money up. So, instead he turns his dirty money into opening up furniture businesses. Meeting Keice only motivates him to want to go harder and do better, but that's something that his ex-girlfriend, Camille will not let him do if she's not included.Keice is already scared to love again. However, Hennessey is ready minus the ex-girlfriend issues. With their closest friends sharing this wild journey with them, what will the inevitable bring this unpredictable couple?

Diary of a Triflin' Bitch


Platinum - 2013
    Brandy is a gold digger with a capital G! She doesn’t care whose man she sleeps with or goes after. Money was good and business was great until she decides to plot and scheme to set up the wrong person. Tip becomes pregnant, but by who? Her long time boyfriend or the Jamaican man who used to pimp her? Tracy is a good girl gone bad. She is head over heels in love with her first love. She doesn't know about his other life until its too late. Diamond is in love with her high school sweetheart and their relationship is great until she falls for someone else. When Brandy’s diary is found what will happen to their friendship? Will there friendship be able to stand through all the trials and tribulations life throws at them?

Diary of the Plug's Daughter 2


Sol - 2018
    Despite the bad cards life has dealt her, she’s trying to move on and live her best life while tackling college at the same time. Problem is, one of her lovers isn’t ready to let go. The king of Harlem, Carlos Mills aka Loso, is still the street’s finest. Now that everything on the block is running smoothly, he's finally ready to focus on his personal life and commit to his girlfriend, Amaya. He’s got it all figured out. They’re gonna get married, buy a new house and start a family. Everything is perfect until people start to show their true colors. After Remy’s boyfriend found out the truth about her and DC’s affair, she starts to uncover Sur’s secret life too. She wasn’t the only one with skeletons in her closet. But, as the old saying goes… Some lies can get you hurt. DC has now found himself in a love triangle that hits a lot closer to home than he thinks. Promise, his baby mother, isn’t the only woman who has gained a place in his heart. And if that’s not enough, imagine finding out that both of your women know each other almost better than they know you. As these couples embark on a journey of love, heartbreak, betrayal, and pain, they’ll find out that people and things are not always what they appear to be. The minute you think life is what it should be, those slithery snakes come out of hiding. Get ready to unfold all the drama in Diary of The Plug’s Daughter II.

City Comforts: How to Build an Urban Village


David Sucher - 1994
    Many of these small details are so obvious as to be invisible.

Securing the Heart of A Bully


Kennedy B. - 2020
    

Loving a Heartless Felon


Jade Jones - 2016
    Popping up at her crib uninvited, beating up on her little brother, and driving a car through her house were just a few of the things she experienced since their breakup. Life was miserable before Apollo came out of nowhere and rescued her. He's everything she ever wanted in a partner, and she loves him for building up her self-esteem and providing for her family. Life is perfect, but things suddenly take a turn for the worse after he's arrested for the murder of Trip. Further tension arises once Liberty discovers that Apollo is a contract killer. After he's released, she somehow finds herself trying to convince him not to kill his next target--who's ironically her little cousin's boyfriend. Shayla never thought she'd fall in love and marry the outlaw her mama warned her about. Regardless of their past differences, she's determined to make it work with Romeo. Can they overcome their many obstacles in spite of enemies lurking in the shadows? Kendall Rivers is a 23-year old good girl from the suburbs, who's always lived her life on the straight and narrow. However, everything changes the moment she meets head of a ruthless gang known worldwide as The Heartless Felons. Sexy, charming, and swag on a thousand, Quay is every female's dream and every father's worst nightmare. Despite his bad boy reputation, Kendall still finds herself falling head over heels in love. But there's only one problem... Quay is hiding a deep, dark secret that could potentially put their lives in jeopardy. Will this unlikely couple triumph? Or will Quay's reckless ways and dangerous lifestyle lead to their demise? SCROLL UP TO GRAB YOUR COPY OF THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FLAWLESS SPIN-OFF!

Azaan & Jayda: Fallin' For A Haitian Hitta


Natisha Raynor - 2019
    The love of her life is doing big things, and she’s almost done with law school. What is supposed to be the happiest night of Jayda’s life is cut short within a matter of seconds, and her world changes forever. Jayda becomes numb. She’s just walking through life existing, and she doesn’t think she’ll ever be the same again. It’s not until she meets Azaan that she realizes that she’s still capable of feeling something. Determined to use the situation for her own gain and nothing more, Jayda soon discovers that the handsome Haitian hitta from Miami, might not be as easy to get over on as she predicted. 
 Azaan Cezar is big on family, which is why he has no issues leaving Miami and heading to North Carolina to start a business for his younger brother. Beautiful, successful women come a dime a dozen in Miami, and a pretty face was never the thing to get Azaan riled up. Jayda is more than beautiful though. Her entire vibe is hypnotizing, and Azaan discovers that he just might not be ready for the emotionally scarred and obviously bitter Jayda.

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.

Can't Trust These Bitches: Amir and Zyrie


Nicole Jackson - 2015
    Zyrie finds herself starting over, after ending a bad relationship. She’s back at her mom’s, figuring out what direction she wants to take her life. All plans go awry when Mike enters the picture. Coming fully equipped with a slick tongue and a big bank roll, Zyrie’s mother feels that she’s snagged a winner. Zye entertains the notion, until she lays eyes on Amir, Mike’s cousin. Amir is everything Mike isn’t, but in Zyrie’s eyes he’s forbidden fruit. Still, temptation proves too much for Zyrie as she does the unthinkable.Sit back and take a ride with Zyrie, Amir, and Mike. Get an up-close and personal glimpse of just how down and dirty everyone can truly get. It’s a dog eat dog kind of world, and everyone knows that you just can’t trust these bitches.

Expecting The Plug's First Child


Timkeia - 2020
    

Kaine and Karma 2: Luvin' A Savage


Sha Jones - 2017
     That is until Kaine's ex fiancé Tameka crashes Karma's birthday party and announce that she's pregnant with his baby and has no plans of getting rid of it. After Tameka's pregnancy is confirmed Kaine makes it very clear to her that Karma still has his heart and he's only there to father their child. Tameka on the other hand isn't taking no for an answer so she kicks the baby mama drama up a notch and wreak havoc on Kaine and Karma's relationship by showing up announced, threatening Karma and just making her pregnancy an inconvenience for them. But with the past coming back to haunt both Kaine and Karma Tameka and her baby bump is the least of their worries. Kaine is hiding a deep, dark secret that he hasn't shared with Karma, and not only will it put the both of their lives in danger, it will change the entire course of their relationship. Karma soon realizes that loving Kaine comes with a serious price to pay......one that money can't buy. In this second installment of Kaine and Karma there will be wild turns, unexpected surprises and a plot twist that no one saw coming!

Make Me Beg


Allison Hobbs - 2014
    This unconventional couple was briefly introduced in the steamy bestseller, “No Boundaries” and they’ve returned in this sizzling novella that gives readers a behind the scenes look at their jaw-dropping, sexual adventures. Once a month, the couple departs from their normal marital routine and engages in a kinky threesome where Vanessa selects a hot-looking sex partner to indulge her fantasies while her husband sits back and watches. With a few rules in place, Vanessa and Spike’s open marriage has been a thrilling experience thus far. But when roguishly handsome, Quincy Langford enters the picture, he shakes things up and redefines the rules when he takes the sex game to new heights. If three's a crowd, will one of the men bow out gracefully...or is there always room for one more?