Book picks similar to
Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless by Kiki Swinson
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Home Again
Kristin Hannah - 1996
Her personal life is far less successful. A loving but overworked single mom, she is constantly at odds with her teenage daughter. At sixteen, Lina is confused, angry, and fast becoming a stranger to her mother—a rebel desperate to find the father who walked away before she was born. Complicating matters for Madelaine are the vastly different DeMarco brothers: While priest Francis DeMarco is always ready to lend a helping hand, his brother, Angel, long ago took on the role of bad boy. Years earlier Angel abandoned Madelaine—and fatherhood—to go in search of fame and fortune. His departure left Madelaine devastated, but now he reappears and seeks help from the very people he betrayed—as a patient in dire need. With Home Again, New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah has written a moving, powerful novel about the fragile threads that bind together our lives and the astonishing possibility of second chances.
Looking for Trouble
Trice Hickman - 2013
John wants to open Nedine’s first black-owned bank. But big dreams can bring big problems—and John’s uppity New York City girlfriend is just the beginning. He’s about to learn some hard truths about money, power, love, and loyalty. And when his future and his family's legacy are in danger, help will come from where he least expects it... Alexandria Thornton is a hard-working corporate attorney by day, but she’s passionately pursuing her dream as a spoken word artist by night. Frustrated with her career and her lackluster love life, Alexandria’s ready to give up on both—until a man from her past reappears and changes everything. But her newfound happiness is short-lived when old lovers, lingering secrets, and hidden desires threaten to end it all…"I can't wait to see what Trice Hickman does next!" —Mary Monroe"Trice Hickman is an amazing writer and storyteller!" —Kimberla Lawson Roby
Bad Girlz 4 Life
Shannon Holmes - 2008
Tonya Morris a.k.a. "Tender" is back and this time the ride is wilder than ever.Coming of age in the Badlands of north Philadelphia--one of the toughest and poorest communities in the country--Tonya Morris has had to make some desperate and, at times, ruthless moves in her bid to survive. When Tonya stepped into the unforgiving business of stripping, she found herself caught up in a world of sex-filled nights, dirty money, backstabbing cohorts, and murder.She left that world behind to become a hairstylist. However, after she is blacklisted from salons across Philadelphia and is evicted by her shady landlord, Tonya finds herself back in the stripping business. Except this time, she promises herself, things are going to end differently.Tonya teams up with her best friend, Na'eema, to organize underground sex parties, and it's not long before they have a team of beautiful girls and are rubbing elbows with athletes, rappers, and celebrities.Then Tonya's ex-lover and now music industry superstar, Q, steps onto the scene, and everything takes a dramatic new twist. Because it's not just Q who is back in her life. His murderous baby mama, Niecey, is fresh out of jail and ready to raise hell. And she's got Tonya in her sights. In the meantime, Tonya's past has risen like a beast, threatening to tear away all her newfound success. But Tonya isn't going down without a fight.
Flippin' the Hustle
Trae Macklin - 2012
In the years that follow, he works tirelessly at accomplishing his goal of becoming an agent with the Bureau. Upon graduating from college, he is inducted into the organization and excels at infiltrating and bringing down the drug crews and dealers that he hates with a passion! It is Derick's skill for fitting in with the street element that brings him to the attention of his superiors, who quickly transfer him from Charlotte, North Carolina to New York City, where his new assignment is to enter one of the largest and most deadly criminal organizations ever. However, when Derick takes the assignment to bring down the Black Tar Boyz, neither he nor the FBI will know just how deep he goes undercover and how e
It's a Thin Line
Kimberla Lawson Roby - 2001
Responsible eldest sister Sydney has a sexy husband, an adorable daughter, and fulfilling work. But, little by little, the demands of her writing career have mounted, leaving her little time or energy for family life. Meanwhile proud middle sister Gina is struggling to raise her eight-year-old twins--and protect them from the increasing fury of their volatile father. Impulsive brother Rick, the baby of the family, is living the high life--dodging commitment with his longtime girlfriend and wondering if the grass is greener somewhere else.When their beloved mother Delores suffers a debilitating stroke, all three suddenly find the tenuous threads of their individual lives at a breaking point. A dark childhood secret threatens Sydney's secure world; Gina is swept into a maelstrom of domestic violence; and Rick comes to a dramatic crossroads in his relationship. Worst of all, the burden of caring for a parent is tearing the siblings apart, shattering their faith in one another. Now as Sydney, Gina, and Rick struggle to overcome daunting obstacles and rebuild their lives, they will discover something they've never let themselves believe: that their most stable--and most cherished--relationships have always been with each other.
The Wives We Play
Briana Cole - 2018
It's easier that way. Her needs are taken care of and she doesn't have to give more of herself than she wants to. No messy feelings involved. But when the man she's seeing poses an unexpected question, Kimera quickly realizes that she's not the only woman pulled in by his charm.Their new arrangement doesn't require much from Kimera, but she soon discovers that someone else is pulling the strings. She's not looking for complications, yet she can't help feeling that there's something devious at play.And the truth is more complicated than she could ever imagine . . .
Jezebel
Jacquelin Thomas - 2008
Now it’s time to really put her talent to work. Her ticket out of Mayville is Traynor Deveraux. A trusting pastor with a brilliant career ahead, Traynor doesn’t realize that his cunning new bride isn’t just dreaming of a new life, but running from an old one—and from an irredeemable reputation that could destroy their futures.Seduced by the material possessions that come with position and power, Jessie soon uses her wiles to move her unwitting husband to the forefront of the country’s leading ministry. She’s prepared to do it by any means possible—including sex, lives, betrayal, and blackmail—all the while building nothing more secure than her own private hell. And when the walls come tumbling down, Jessie Belle will pay a price she never imagined, and discover one last chance at redemption and forgiveness she never expected.
Sold on a Monday
Kristina McMorris - 2018
It’s an era of breadlines, bank runs, and impossible choices. For struggling reporter Ellis Reed, the gut-wrenching scene evokes memories of his family’s dark past. He snaps a photograph of the children, not meant for publication. But when the image leads to his big break, the consequences are devastating in ways he never imagined.Haunted by secrets of her own, secretary Lillian Palmer sees more in the picture than a good story and is soon drawn into the fray. Together, the two set out to right a wrongdoing and mend a fractured family, at the risk of everything they value. Inspired by an actual newspaper photo that stunned readers across the nation, this touching novel explores the tale within the frame and behind the lens—a journey of ambition, love, and the far-reaching effects of our actions.
The Ugly Side of Me
Nikita Lynnette Nichols - 2015
It was lust at first sight, and Rhapsody isn't going to let young Malcolm leave her presence without a promise to fulfill her fantasy.Malcolm had no idea when he accepted Rhapsody's invitation to her bedroom that he was selling his soul to the devil. Malcolm thinks he can bed Rhapsody and simply walk away, but she is not one to settle for a one night stand. Rhapsody goes to desperate measures to keep her cub extremely close to her. Gifting Malcolm a very expensive SUV, filling his belly with home cooked meals and funding a trip to Cancun are just a few of the tactics that Rhapsody uses to ensure that Malcolm spends his nights in her bed and no one else's. However, when Rhapsody finds a mysterious package on her doorstep containing proof of Malcolm's betrayal and deception, she seeks revenge and seals her own fate.
Redbone
T. Styles - 2011
One look at the lush apartment in Washington, D.C., and every fly girl around wants a chance to call Platinum Lofts her new home.The moment Farah lays eyes on Lesa Carmine, a pretty young woman with an active lifestyle and a sunny disposition, she knows she's found the perfect girl for her ultimate plan. The two become fast friends--until Farah becomes intrusive and then her siblings move in, violating Lesa's privacy. Farah seems dangerous when she's around them, and Lesa attempts to sever ties without paying rent.Feeling overcome with blinding rage, Farah finds all kinds of ways to seek revenge. From poisoning to spreading vicious lies, she makes it known that she doesn't take Lesa's brush-off lightly.When Lesa snoops around in Farah's past and discovers who she really is, she makes a grave mistake, one that could jeopardize her life. Brace yourselves, because just when you think you have it figured out, you'll realize you don't.
Every Breath
Nicholas Sparks - 2018
At thirty-six, she's been dating her boyfriend, an orthopedic surgeon, for six years. With no wedding plans in sight, and her father recently diagnosed with ALS, she decides to use a week at her family's cottage in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, to ready the house for sale and mull over some difficult decisions about her future.Tru Walls has never visited North Carolina but is summoned to Sunset Beach by a letter from a man claiming to be his father. A safari guide, born and raised in Zimbabwe, Tru hopes to unravel some of the mysteries surrounding his mother's early life and recapture memories lost with her death. When the two strangers cross paths, their connection is as electric as it is unfathomable . . . but in the immersive days that follow, their feelings for each other will give way to choices that pit family duty against personal happiness in devastating ways.Illuminating life's heartbreaking regrets and enduring hope, Every Breath explores the many facets of love that lay claim to our deepest loyalties -- and asks the question, How long can a dream survive?
Dirty Little Secrets
Joy King - 2004
A small-town girl from Georgia, she quickly gets caught up in the glamorous entertainment industry. While pursuing her dream of becoming an actress, Tyler continually gets sidetracked by men who promise to help her and finds herself going from one dysfunctional relationship to another. Just when Tyler finally believes she has found her ideal man, in hip-hop producer Brian McCall, everything begins to go horribly wrong. Trapped in a nightmarish relationship, Tyler is determined not to go down without a fight."Passion, deception, heartbreak, love and a delicious read...what more do you need!" -- B. Lawson Thornton, Essence bestselling author of Misery Loves Company
The Real Hoodwives of Detroit
India - 2012
Sometimes referred to as the Murder Capital for the huge murder rate that never ceases to surprise us, The Murder Mitten, or The Dirty Glove for the state’s shape on the U.S. map. Detroit is home to many; scholars, rappers, athletes, parents, and concerned citizens, but the streets belong to those in the underworld; addicts, dealers, and the women who help run the show from behind the scenes…The Real Hoodwives of Detroit! No! You won’t see these ladies on any television show, but you will see them make appearances in court for their mans’ hearing, or at the county jail on visiting day. You might even catch them riding shotgun, with a nine tucked in their Fendi bag…waiting to pop off and protect their men at any cost. And of course, they make appearances in the hood, twenty-four seven…three hundred and sixty-five days of the year! Follow Nikki, Tonya, Chloe, Mina, and Gucci as they ride you through Detroit, one city-block at a time. Watch as the tales of the black and dangerous unfold right before your eyes. In Detroit, only the raw and real survive - living to see another day. These streets are known for breaking the weak and leaving them helpless, they aren’t made for everybody! Scared? You should be….WELCOME TO DETROIT!
Carnegie's Maid
Marie Benedict - 2018
She's not the experienced Irish maid who was hired to work in one of Pittsburgh's grandest households. She's a poor farmer's daughter with nowhere to go and nothing in her pockets. But the other woman with the same name has vanished, and pretending to be her just might get Clara some money to send back home.If she can keep up the ruse, that is. Serving as a lady's maid in the household of Andrew Carnegie requires skills he doesn't have, answering to an icy mistress who rules her sons and her domain with an iron fist. What Clara does have is a resolve as strong as the steel Pittsburgh is becoming famous for, coupled with an uncanny understanding of business, and Andrew begins to rely on her. But Clara can't let her guard down, not even when Andrew becomes something more than an employer. Revealing her past might ruin her future -- and her family's.With captivating insight and heart, Carnegie's Maid tells the story of one brilliant woman who may have spurred Andrew Carnegie's transformation from ruthless industrialist into the world's first true philanthropist..
Exposed
Naomi Chase - 2011
. .On the brink of a major promotion, Tamia Luke is within reach of the glitzy life she's always dreamed of--until her client, Dominic "Nico" Archer, blackmails her into becoming his mistress, threatening to reveal her scandalous past. Tamia has no choice but to submit to his demands. But the tables turn when her hostility towards Nico is replaced with insatiable lust. No man--including her boyfriend--has ever satisfied her the way he does. And as her infatuation grows, the closer she comes to losing everything--including her life.