Book picks similar to
Hitta's Tea Maker by Edwina Fort


african-american
mc-tattooed-pierced-bad-boy
business-man
alpha-males

Chocolate Star


Sheila Copeland - 1997
    Then the way to fame was leading him toward a mistake that could send him straight to hell...She never looked back.Lies, drugs, too many men-- golden skinned singer Topaz Black would do anything to get a hit to the top of the charts, even walk away from her friends and family. But surrounded by greed and lust, the love the longed for seemed to be slipping away forever.He broke all the rules.Brought up in South Central L.A., movie producer Gunther Lawrence learned early how to get the wealth and women he wanted-- and to turn his back on his roots. Now, blinded by Hollywood's glitter, his illusions may shatter when he discovers who really controls his career.As their lives touch, ignite, and explode, three talented African-Americans pursue fame at any cost...and the price may be their happiness...or their lives..An alternate selection of the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club

Luxury Tax


T. Styles - 2013
    Her memory loss continues to hold her recollection hostage as she constantly deals with Child Protective Service, a distant boyfriend and a crush on her Stick Up Kid neighbor, Gerron. If someone does not clue Ginger in or her memory doesn't come back, Ginger will go down for reasons she doesn't have one clue on. To top it off, a local thug named Bodie, who use to "Run & Gun" with Gerron, has turned enemy and kidnapped a close family member for ransom. The only way Gerron can raise the money is by doing what he does best, by taxing other people. But because his name rings out in the DMV area, he has to take his talents elsewhere. Las Vegas is the perfect place to get paid. But time is not on his side.

Yo Yo Love


Daaimah S. Poole - 2000
    She's also babelicious, with ginger-colored skin and more curves than the Liberty Bell. But if Kayla's all that, how come she can't find the one thing she's gotta have: "The One. Someone jonezing for me… someone to chill with, lay up under, and be around."When Kayla sets off on a manhunt for Mr. Right, she finds herself hooking up with every hustler, nut, and fast-talking player in Philadelphia. There's Emar, the basketball hotshot who makes his best moves off-court; good-looking Terry, who gets downright scary during a weekend in Jersey; and Reese, who'd be da bomb if he'd only drop his white girlfriend. But it's Kayla's relationship with smooth and sexy Wil that really rocks her world and teaches her how to fight for a man—and for her own independence. For love doesn't get truly crazy until it's the real thing… and the only people who don't get played are the ones who stay out of the game.Featuring the frank and feisty viewpoint of a modern, streetwise young woman, Yo Yo Love is edgy, uncensored, and wildly entertaining. It's a tour de force that tells it like it is… and tells it all.

She Got It


Nicole Jackson - 2013
    The land in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Meet Falen. She’s grown up in the infamous Fifth Ward and life has never been easy. Her crack addicted mother left she and her sister years ago to fend for themselves. Now at nineteen Falen is left homeless and hopeless. Along with her best friend Toya the two try to climb out of the gutter. Tino is one of the biggest ballers in Fifth Ward. He’s pushing major weight. The ladies love him and he loves the ladies. He’s a sucker for a nice round rump accompanied with a pretty face. So, when he encounters a troubled Falen sparks ignite instantly. She’s everything he never knew he wanted and he’s everything she’s always been afraid of. Even as Tino tries to assist Falen she just can’t elude misfortune. Problems take on a new meaning until she stumbles across a drop being made. After consideration Falen and Toya make a brash decision to step in during a small window of opportunity and steal what they think is cash. To their complete and utter shock they ended up snatching ten kilos of cocaine. With their backs against the wall they have no choice but to get out in the streets and hustle. In this story of love, lust, and betrayal friendships will end and bonds will be broken. Money is the root of all evil and it can turn the most innocent person into a ruthless conniver. Taking ten kilos from a hustler can change lives forever, especially when no one seems to know who’s at fault. With an all-out war promising to rear its ugly head, will Tino be able to save Falen? Or will both their futures cease to exist?

A Down Chic


Mallori McNeal - 2005
    For a 17-year-old, Amina has a decent life. But after meeting her father and 23-year-old brother for the first time, things take a turn for the worse. Amina ends up alone, trying to fend for herself and save her boyfriend, Kayne, from 3 years in jail. Amina must prove her loyalty to Kayne, but can you be a Down Chick without being locked down yourself? This is a question that never crosses Amina’s mind, leading her to make the ultimate mistake of her life. Author Mallori McNeal began writing Down Chick at age 14, during the summer before she began her first year in high school. She completed Down Chick and was accepted for publishing at age 16. Mallori currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Collision


Evie Harper - 2015
     That day I learned cruelty wasn’t only within the walls we had just escaped. It hasn’t been easy growing up in the middle of a war. A struggle to find shelter. Fighting to protect our bodies against the corruption of the streets. Nobody cared about the street kids who had to beg and steal to eat. Now we are the Portland Street Kings – A family forged through loyalty not blood. To get through this life of broken dreams alive, we’ve become hard, uncaring and merciless. We do what must be done to keep our family safe, we will harm those who stand against us.  We have it all, feared and respected by those on the streets. Then she collided into my world, and with her came demons from my past, back to haunt us all.

Blue's Beauty


Bailey West - 2016
    Zanetta is a smart, non-traditional woman who believes that women rule the world. She also believes in love but it seems to elude her until he comes along. Blue’s Beauty is a journey of love lost, love found and redemption.

Damaged Locke


Victoria Ashley - 2017
    It’s the first time I’ve felt anything in a long time. But would she really be scared knowing the depth, the lengths I go with my brothers to make any fucker who crosses us pay? I need a woman who can accept me for who I am.For what I am.I’m hoping like hell it’s her because I want nothing more than to claim her as mine…Kadence KingI know Aston’s dangerous, know people fear him. But I want him. I’m drawn to him, just as he’s drawn to the darkness.I should be afraid of him, should turn the other way, but I can’t. I’ve gone mad and let him in my room, in my life, allowing him to consume me. He possesses me, dominates me. Aston Locke shows me what it means to want to be claimed by him and only him.And when he tells me I’M HIS, I have no doubt that’s the truth.Because in the end, it’s what I want too.No matter how dangerous he is…

Masque of Red Death


Kenya Wright - 2019
    He calls himself Poe, and he invites only the most corrupt to his game.The invitations arrive with masks made of human skin. Participants must dress for a masquerade ball and go to a specific nightclub where a riddle is given. Each hour, a guest will die, if the riddle isn’t solved. No one can contact the police.However, Poe makes a grave mistake by inviting two people—Shadow and Lyric.Shadow towers over most, wields power like the devil, and holds the city in his hands. Wanting to be steps ahead of this killer, Shadow joins forces with the one person he believes can discover Poe’s identity—Lyric Blue. Once, she was Shadow’s lover and the brain of his operations. But then Lyric chose her morality and pushed him away. Still, there’s an enduring attraction that weaves them together. United, they attend the ball, ready to beat the game.Secrets are revealed. Bodies pile up. Every death from an unsolved riddle comes with a clue. And a story unravels, exposing victims and betrayal that no one could have ever imagined.

The Replacement Bridesmaid


Laurie Ralston - 2012
    But she has no purpose, nothing to do. She is resigned to this safe and boring existence when she gets a chance to chuck it all for just a little while and run off to Ireland to be a replacement bridesmaid.Once in Ireland, her old dreams and aspirations come back to her, and so does love. Jill rediscovers herself and ends up finding herself having do choose between her old safe life, or her new risky life and the possibility of heartbreak - or love and fame.Authors note: The first edition of this book had a multitude of mistakes, but this version has been professionally proofread. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did dreaming it up.

Love's Touchdown


Mel Dau - 2021
    But the child of Delia and Justice from "Justice’s Rose", Liam knows exactly what love is supposed to look like; he won’t accept anything less. Since he assumes the only people interested in him are groupies looking for the next come up, Liam chooses not to date any particular woman; he just dips his feet in the pool never committing to the waves. All that changes when he meets Kree. But is his hidden baggage going to be the end of their love? Or even worse... will it cost them their lives?Kree is a young single mother who's just trying to raise her daughter; the last thing Kree is interested in is another meaningless relationship. Praying for a new beginning, she picks up her daughter and moves from Georgia to North Carolina. Because of her past, Kree’s perception on love is tainted. Will Liam be able to work past all of Kree’s insecurities to show her how he really feels?Find out what happens on the playing field of love.

Family Ties: Love has No Boundaries


Perri Forrest - 2016
    NO CLIFFHANGER*** Malina Everything I do is for my daughter. I only want the best for her life. So when her father finally decided that after three years he wanted to get to know her, I put my feelings aside and allowed him in. Not to be with me, but to be a daddy to her. Well, a few things came with him that I wasn’t prepared for—a crazy ass girlfriend who wanted to guard her territory at any cost, and a fine ass uncle that made it clear he wanted my attention. My best friend Laney is telling me to go for it, but my conscience is messing with me on a daily and telling me that it’s just too close for comfort. But the heart wants what the heart wants and before long, I start to feel that pull toward this man who makes me feel like no other man ever has. Zeke When I first saw Malina, I knew I had to have her. Yeah, there’s code that says if your family has touched the merchandise, then you don’t entertain it. But Malina isn’t just any woman. Because not one woman that I’ve ever encountered made me want to reach out and touch her on sight—but she did. From the way she carried herself, to the way she looked at me, I knew that if she let me in, she would know what it was like to be loved for real . . . and by a real man. Rocco I’m not perfect by any means. I’ve done my share of dirt. I can’t even say for sure that my dirty deeds are done. I love women . . . a lot of them. As a result, I’ve had a few babies along the way—babies that I haven’t always done right by; so I’m setting out to change that and do what a real father is supposed to do. Problem is the woman that I’m “with” doesn’t really grasp the concept of what it is I’m trying to do and her reaction to it all causes a whole lot of chaos. Kia I’m territorial. I don’t make excuses for it. It’s who I am. And when I feel that somebody is trying to step into my zone and steal what belongs to me, I react. This chick, Malina, who opened her legs to my man and had his child, thinks she’s going to come in with her daughter and claim a spot that never belonged to her. She’s dead wrong. If I have to show her what that means, that’s what it’ll be. But she won’t like it if it does come down to that, so if I was her, I’d tread carefully. “Family Ties” is a love story at its core, but inside of this love story, many other themes appear; the primary one being that love really has no boundaries when it comes to family… A FULL Excerpt can be found here: http://www.perriforrest.com/category/... ***Strong language content that some readers may find to be offensive.***

Connected to You


Endiya Carter - 2019
    With limited vision and assistance in the form of a walking stick, Keyara’s next step in adulthood isn’t the same as girls her age. Everything she once knew has been taken away from her, especially her independent spirit. In an effort to regain it, Keyara opts to attend Georgia Southern University, a prestigious university with a drive long enough to prevent her from having anyone to fall back on. Although he has reservations letting his daughter roam around a college campus with limited assistance, Keyara’s father relents under two conditions: one being that she must stay in an assisted living facility, and the other requiring her to employ a chauffeur. By chance, she’s paired with the handsome Marquez Richardson. Born to a superstar father, Marquez “Rich” Richardson has lived up to the hype surrounding his last name, using it to bend the rules and escape trouble. After his son was caught in another drag racing/drunk driving scandal, Marquez’s father has had enough of his son’s irresponsible ways. He revokes his driving privileges before the police can do so. To drill in the importance of safe driving, he piles on a lesson to pair with this punishment: acting as Keyara Henderson’s chauffeur. From the first day he begins walking her around, Marquez feels as if his social status is in jeopardy. The parties he once attended and the girls who would flock to him are put off by Keyara’s presence. Although this is a problem in the beginning Marquez warms up to the determined Keyara. The problem standing in his way, his girlfriend Cajua Taylor.

Stronger


Suzanne Jenkins - 2018
    Her handsome FBI Director ex lives in Manhattan. Then his fashion-model girlfriend is invited to walk in London Fashion Week, but it can only lead to trouble, right? A former marriage is tested to its limits when Michael's team puts a mobster behind bars and no one in his circle of colleagues or his family is safe.

Restraint


Adriana Locke - 2020
    She prides herself on her decision-making skills. It’s the one asset that has never let her down. But even the best thinkers have weaknesses. Hers is a delicious business mogul with a quick tongue.Unfortunately for her, that tongue is good for more than just talking. Holt Mason doesn’t need to justify anything to anyone. He wants Blaire. He pursues Blaire. And he gets Blaire because that’s how his life works. Until it doesn’t. What begins as a single night in a hotel room spirals into an unusual agreement. As late nights provide the space to trade secrets and walls come tumbling down, more is shared than just pillow talk. They both should’ve known better. They should’ve shown restraint. Because when guards are dropped, hearts get shattered.A one-night stand turns into something more in this heart-filled, steamy romance from USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke.