Book picks similar to
Some Down South Thug Luvin' by Shelli Marie


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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?

Lil Mama Been Real From The Start


Nikqua - 2017
    But when popularity turns you away from your friend and things go downhill, the person you expect to be by your side is gone. A'Million Harris never thought Micah Jones would turn his back on her the way that he did. She thought she would never move past the way he treated her. But one day changed everything when Micah got locked up. Years later, that one person he turned away from was still by his side even from a distance. Milli may have held on to hurt, but her love for him never left. How would Micah prove to Milli that he was sorry for all the hurt he caused her in the past? Would Milli give into Micah's apologetic ways and give him another shot? Or will Micah lose the one girl who'd always had his back?

Baby You're Worthy: Marcus & Nikki


Shantaé - 2017
    But what do you do when the object of your affection refuses to love and want you the same way you want them? Not because they don’t feel the same but because in their eyes you don’t quite measure up? Even after you’ve done everything in your power to prove your worth to this person, they continue to purposely withhold the love that you so desperately crave. Walking away may seem like the most logical and healthy route to take but when it comes to that authentic, consuming, deep down in your soul type of love, doing so is easier said than done. Considered an unlikely pair, Marcus, the reformed dope boy and Nikki, the pampered princess, have undeniable chemistry. Problems arise when only one of them is willing to be honest and acknowledge the obvious attraction. Because she doesn’t feel that he fits into her world or the plan she has mapped out for her life, Nikki curves Marcus without hesitation from their first encounter. Unable to see past her fears, she doesn’t realize that rejecting him just may cost her the man she was meant to spend her life with. With the street life in his rearview, Marcus is now a proud uncle and the owner of a thriving business. He’s hoping to add the title of being the man in Nikki‘s life to the growing list of blessings in this new chapter but she’s not on board with that plan. Although he’s fed up with trying to convince her that he is enough, does Marcus have it in him to throw in the towel for good? Ride shotgun with Marcus, Nikki, and a few other couples, as they navigate through this crazy, drama filled game of life and love.

Shawty Fell in Love With A Rude Boy


P. Dotson - 2017
    Fresh on the dating scene, she wasn’t looking for anything serious, just a night of fun with no strings attached. Love was not supposed to be in the cards, but she got more than she bargained for when she crossed paths with Dogada Harris. Dogada, president of the famous biker club ‘Rude Boys’ has never had a problem with the ladies until he met his match in Erica James. Not one to be impressed with his status as a Rude Boy, Dogada found himself in a position that he’s never been in, chasing after a woman. While Erica is running away from love, Dogada has finally found it. Will Erica open up her heart to giving love a second try or will Dogada lose a love he never had

Crossing Lines: A St. Louis Love Story


Coco Shawnde - 2017
    Havok and Shannon met on a glimpse. Although the chemistry was deeper than tree roots, Shannon’s attraction is flipped into fear when she becomes an unintended target. When the smoke clears, can she put her trust in the man who gunned her down? These two lives are tainted from the beginning. In the long haul, it may not work out, but maybe the journey will result in the best love that can’t be replaced. Shannon Mitchell didn’t set out to be a single mother. Nevertheless, she has a backbone of steel and a heart of gold. Losing her job, which forced her to relocate back to her hometown of Saint Louis was never in her plans. Shannon made the choice any real mother would. Picking up the late night shift at a strip joint in East Saint Louis, she is quickly pulled in by the fast money. Staying on her grind leads her to many late nights and early mornings. The one morning she sets out to go home to her son, Teon, she ends up being rocked to the ground by a stray bullet. Profusely bleeding, she lays eyes on the shooter. The compromising situation leaves her to lean on Havok to get her medical attention before she bleeds out. When she thinks he is taking her to the hospital, she is sadly mistaken when her heavy eyes roam on a poverty-stricken Clinton Peabody project building. Shontez “Havok” O’Neal went from being broke as hell and sleeping on his Grandma Uma’s couch, to flipping bricks. With a fast come up, the hate is heavy on him. Watching his back and not giving anybody a chance to knock him, Havok is placed between a brick and a hard place when Shannon falls victim to his chaotic lifestyle. Nursing her back to health is the least he can do for this single mother. Even when she pushes him away, he goes the extra mile for this woman. Shannon becomes his weakness, and with time, Shannon’s weakness is him. What should have placed these two far apart, glued them together for a ride they didn’t see coming. The right thing to do becomes the last thing to do when your heart is on the line. Find out what happens when you cross lines with a thug named, Havok.

Kwame & Kyhanna: A Youngstown Love Story


Chante Amor - 2016
    With her older brother incarcerated, a drug addicted mother and a little brother who depends on her for everything Kyhanna had to grow up faster than she imagined.After an unexpected event takes place, the life that Kyhanna had grown accustomed in surviving in is literally thrown upside down and she is left to pick up the pieces alone. From the minute Kwame Patterson first laid eyes on the young bombshell Kyhanna he’d been determined to make her his. Even if he’s never been the knight in shining armor type, Kyhanna is that type of chick to make a young boss like him switch his whole style up. He’s decided to give up his player ways in order to embark on the love of a lifetime. But just because one decides to put their past behind them doesn’t mean that their past won’t come back to haunt them and soon Kwame finds himself in the middle of two crazy ass women who refuse to let him go.In Kwame and Kyhanna a true bond between two hearts are revealed along with every possible scenario designed to break them up…will true love prevail?

Rule and Camryn: A Memphis Love Story


B. Love - 2016
    She closed her heart and vowed to never let love in. Her philosophy – you can’t be hurt by someone you aren’t attached to. So, she lived her life without romantic love. And she was just fine with her lifestyle… until she met Rule.It was no secret… Rule loved the life he was living. He was the King of Memphis. There was one problem – he didn’t have a Queen or an Heir to his throne. His legal throne that is. If there was one thing that he could change about his life that would be it. Rule had had his fair share of women in his short life because of his passion for love and acceptance… but he had yet to find a woman who could truly hold his interest… until Camryn. Even with their first phone conversation he knew there was something different about her. There was something in the tone of her voice as she spoke to him that let him know that she was someone he needed to keep around.When these two head to Vegas for a weeklong trip together Camryn is determined to prove she can live without love, and Rule is determined to prove that she can’t.Who will win? Will Camryn fold and submit to love; or will she end up doing what she’s spent her life avoiding to Rule – lusting and letting go?Read part one of Rule and Camryn’s love story to find out!

Something New


Janie De Coster - 2018
    Tobias Benton- a handsome, white rich and successful businessman who is soon to inherit his father's billion dollar company. Tobias has been dating Sharon English, a beautiful and wealthy lady who owns several Art Galleries. From the world point of view, they are the Barbie and Ken couple who are destined to marry and have a wonderful life together that is until..... Brylane Robinson- a beautiful, bright and intelligent black sister who lives in the housing projects on the South side of Chicago, steps into the picture. Brylane fights for survival and a better life for herself in the hood. One morning on her way to work, a handsome man literally runs into her. When their eyes met so did their hearts. Will Brylane and Tobias venture into Something New?

King of the Hood


Kendra Sumter - 2019
    Many men want to take their spot, while women want to be in their spot. Life moves fast, as time waits for no one. Out of all the things they deal with, love and relationships have never been on their radar. What happens when a shift in the atmosphere causes their needs, to turn into wants? Will the men who control many, be able to conquer the one thing that alludes them, while maintaining being the Kings of the Hood? ​Preshus, Aquaneesha, and Kimmy, know what it feels like to be underestimated. Going through trials and tribulations has shaped each one into the women that they are. Not everyone agrees with how they live their lives. As they maneuver through life conquering their careers, and the bag, personal relationships escape them. One is afraid to love, the other doesn’t know how, and one just don’t have the time for a relationship. Things happen that causes change in their lives. How will they handle it? Will they finally see there’s something more important than what they have been believing in? Take a ride with characters that are unlike any others you have ever came across. ‘King of the Hood’ hammers in on the realism of what’s really important. Read and find out what that actually is.

Shawty Let Me Be What You've Been Missing


Cherice Harris - 2017
    She is enjoying life and everything it has to offers with no worries. When she runs into someone unexpected, temptation rises leaving her a little hot & bothered. Royal Delgado, is an uprising boss in the new black Hollywood better known as Atlanta. Being a man of few words but always ready for action gives you a reputation one that Royal embraces. When Valencia stumbles into his life that same reputation starts to crumble as he becomes a new man. Unforeseen circumstances brings them together & you know what they say; what God brings together no man can tear apart. Loso is the right hand to Royal, it’s very unlikely you see one without the other. They live by the code what belongs to one belongs to the other expect when it comes to drama. Loso’s personal life isn’t as picture perfect as he puts on. When an enemy becomes his lover he finds himself stuck in a tangled web. Being in love with a boss comes with unmarked territory. But when the boss of all bosses approaches you, you might have no choice but to let him be what you’ve been missing.

Tempted by a Boss: The Rome & Jelcie


Mandee - 2016
    Her husband, Kelton, was quite the opposite of her; he is unmotivated and needs someone to hold his hand down the trail to success. Blinded by love, she disregarded her mom’s warning to not marry him, and boy was she paying for it now that Kelton’s business went under. Kelton’s real estate development company goes under after mismanagement of funds and terrible business decisions. Desperate to prove his worth as a man, he begins to dabble in the dangers of street life and quickly realizes that he has bitten off way more than he can chew. While down on his luck, his wife finds evidence that he could possibly have been unfaithful in their almost five year marriage. Laylah Rice, the rising hair slayer herself. With the boom of the Slay Haven Hair Company, she is content with running a successful business and being a mom to her beautiful four year old, Lark. More than just a best friend to Jelcie, they were like sisters. Laylah’s world became a whirlwind when her ex-lover Rocky comes back in the picture. Dark chocolate and sexy best describes Rome Bennett. With a need for help with branding his new night club, Surge, he seeks out the expertise of The Mathews Branding Agency. Not only would helping the dark chocolate god with his branding be good for Jelcie’s business, but the money that she would make from his account alone was enough to seal the deal. Rome’s sexy appearance and his business savvy demeanor tempts her in ways she never thought possible. Always the good wholesome girl who plays by the rules, will Jelcie submit to Rome’s unwavering appeal?

Her Heart, His Karma: A Thug's True Love


Vaneecia - 2016
    Or so she thought. She has her own money, her own crib, and she has overcome things that most people couldn’t. Even with all of that she can’t seem to get her boyfriend, Derek, to act right. Her final straw is him cheating on her for the umpteenth time and she’s done and lets him out of her life. It’s time for a change and her and her best friend, Ryanne, are going to make it happen. Cato is THAT nigga. The nigga that every woman wants and every nigga envies. He is used to getting what he wants and he doesn’t expect that to change anytime soon. Not even after serving time in jail. He comes into contact with Karma once and just has to have her. The only thing is...she’s not like most women. She challenges him to make her feel special and be his one and only. The two are being tugged at by their crazy exes and the people in their friends' lives. Will the two wind up together? Or will their past keep them from happiness?

Bobby Sinatra: In All the Wrong Places


Mallory Monroe - 2019
    All she wants is a job, a roof over her and her son’s heads, and peace. Finally, peace. But can she find all of that, and more, in Jericho? Heartthrob Robert “Bobby” Sinatra, the bad boy of the Big Daddy Sinatra big clan, isn’t looking for love either. As the mayor of Jericho, he has his hands full and has no interest in putting those hands, or his heart, anywhere else. But when he lays eyes on Rain, everything changes. He wants her. Badly. And what Bobby wants, Bobby gets. Their relationship is a whirlwind, as Bobby goes from a stranger to her rescuer to her lover in no time flat. Rain goes from hands off, to hands all over Bobby, just as fast. But Bobby has a past. And Rain has a lot of pain. And when his past and her pain collide, will their blooming, earnest love survive? Bobby Sinatra: In All The Wrong Places is the first explosive installment in the Rags to Romance series.

Forbidden Love with a Thug


Shvonne Latrice - 2020
    With no way to make ends meet, she turns to the world of stripping in order to keep herself afloat. Jersey feels that she is simply existing, and finds nothing interesting about her life, until she meets Tommy Brownson. Tommy is cute, sweet, persistent, and patient. Jersey finds herself smitten with him, but soon after becomes just short of infatuated with his frenemy Kilexis Camren. Conflicted, Jersey is having a hard time figuring out if she wants the kind and gentle Tommy, after all he did approach her first, or the mysterious, rugged, and frank Kilexis. Not able to decide right away, Jersey dabbles with both, showing a much more favortism to the latter. Will she be able to pick in enough time to preserve the losing man's feelings? Or will fate choose for her, causing a heightened rivalry between the men? Cheyla Austin is a pill popping stripper, who has no idea where she wants to go in life, and to honest she's perfectly okay with that. Living life one day at a time, and having to answer to no one, has proved to be Cheyla's method for achieving contentment. She has no interest in dating anyone who may disrupt her easy going and detached life, until she meets the sexy, ambitious, and clever Kantwan Camren. Kantwan is a no nonsense guy, and refuses to be with a woman who will cower when met with true love or hardwork. Will Cheyla be able to mature into the woman Kantwan needs? Or will she continue to live life as a disconnected and afraid little girl, causing her to lose out on the man of every girl's dreams? Ivy Horne, hasn't had it easy for the past few years. With her child's father being thrown in jail for reckless petty robberies, she is forced to make sure her son has everything he needs. In order to put food into her son Donovan's mouth, she joins best friends Jersey and Cheyla, by dancing every night for cash. Her plan is to focus on making money, while looking for a new job to obtain before her man Portland comes home. In addition to that, there are no ifs, ands, or buts about her being faithful to Portland while put away. That all changes upon meeting the intelligent, handsome, and aggressive Elijah Camren, who tries to show Ivy that she is way too good to hold a man down that has been so disloyal to her in the past. When Ivy falls for Elijah's charm, just a teeny bit, she is stuck with having feelings for him even when Portland returns. Will she dibble and dabble like Jersey? Or will fate have to pick for her as well? Everyone seems to be in a love that's forbidden, frowned upon, or just downright wrong. Follow Jersey, Cheyla, and Ivy, as they all share forbidden love with a thug.

Something Bout That Gangsta Love


Stormy - 2021
    Unfortunately, Davina isn’t one of them. With an unloving and dysfunctional mother her only choice is to take on the responsibility and fend for her little brother. Thinking that her life couldn’t get any worse she loses her job and her mother kicks her and her brother out on the grimey streets of Houston all in the same day. She runs into her longtime crush Nigel and he ends up helping her get back on her feet. Nigel is fresh out of the county jail scheming and scamming his way to the top and Davina can’t seem to resist him. Their chemistry is undeniable but to her he’s out of her league and to him; she’s just too average. They’re both on the come up but will they let their guards down and let love lead the way to the money and a relationship?