Book picks similar to
The Trouble with Love by Christina C. Jones


romance
author-of-color
african-american-romance
black-joy

Should've Been


Alexandria House - 2019
    Now he's determined to make her what she should've always been--his.

Lay Your Head On My Pillow


Tanzania Glover - 2020
    "If the love doesn't feel like '90s R&B, I don't want it!"To avoid being let down Toni Riley doesn’t ever make birthday plans, but a once in a lifetime private lesson with famed artist Arlan Parks just might be worth breaking the rules for.‘90s Kinda Love is an R&B inspired, erotic romance novella series that takes some of our favorite songs from our favorite decade and gives a whole new meaning to going “behind the music”.Lay Your Head On My Pillow - Tanzania GloverPretty Brown Eyes - Tia LoveLet’s Chill - Elle JayeIf I Ever Fall In Love - Sam StrahanFreak Me - Black Cherrie

Replacement: A Building 402 Novella


Alexandra Warren - 2018
    At least, she thought she was taking a serious break from dating until she comes face-to-face with the finest man she’s ever seen who also happens to be the new maintenance man in her building. Angie knows what she wants in a man. And outside of his good looks, his natural charm, and his ability to make all of her apartment woes go away, Lawson isn’t that. But that doesn’t mean she can’t get to know him, right? Lawson Hill is completely focused on rebuilding his life now that he’s a free man. That rebuild doesn’t include getting involved with anyone, especially not the bougie girl at his job who always needs something in her apartment fixed. From her high-maintenance appeal alone, he can already tell she’d be nothing but a headache to deal with. But when Angie proves there’s a lot more to her than what meets the eye, Law quickly learns he’ll be doing a lot more than just replacing air filters and light bulbs in Building 402… Note: While this book tells a complete story, it is a novella meaning it is shorter in length by design. If you prefer your stories longer, I’d highly recommend checking out another Alexandra Warren project.

Blue Skies


Adrianne Byrd - 2007
    Noother thrill came close enough to shake her--until she met Captain James Colton and found a reckless passion thatled to fifty-five hours together as husband and wife.When they went their separate ways, Sydney's heartunderstood what her pride refused to admit--that someday, somehow, fate would reunite them.But no one imagined that it would be a matter oflife and death....When Sydney's plane was shot down over enemy territoryon a routine reconnaissance flight, James and his crewwere deployed on a dangerous search-and-rescue operationwhere every second counted. But James was not onlygoing in after one of the military's finest pilots--he wasalso racing to save the womanhe loved.

Deliver Me


Farrah Rochon - 2007
    The broken-hearted St. Louis native has nothing left at home any longer: her future is being an ER doctor at a New Orleans hospital. Her first day makes for a bumpy start as she continually runs into handsome but irascible Dr. Elijah Holmes—a man who could make her change her mind about finding true love.FOR NEW EXPECTATIONSFor years, Dr. Eli Holmes has been living up to his own high expectations—and is burning himself out in the process. The only time this “Super Doc” ob-gyn slows down is to notice the beautiful eyes of a newcomer, Dr. Gardner. He’s pleased to know that she’s more than just a pretty face, she’s also an ace physician. When they work together, sparks fly. But with both Monica and Eli trying to hard not to fall in love, they realize they can’t resist this affair of the heart.

Through the Storm


Beverly Jenkins - 1998
    Brought together again by fate and an arranged marriage, she must try and win the trust of LeVeq--the man she truly loves.

Conflicted Heart


Kay Shanee - 2021
    

Big Girls Don't Cry


Donna Hill - 2005
    From the acclaimed bestselling authors of Living Large and A Whole Lotta Love come four romantic and sexy stories celebrating big, bold, and beautiful women.

Beach Thing


D.L. White - 2018
    But the day he meets Ameenah, he becomes consumed by an entirely different and more attractive distraction--his bold, beautiful, sexy neighbor with the "glorious hips" and a penchant for ice cream. Ameenah Porter, daughter of successful New York restaurateurs, moves to the beach town of Black Diamond to fulfill her dream of opening a smoothie shop. She doesn't need the distraction of a new man but the tall, dark and handsome Wade, who's staying in the giant sized home at the end of her block, is irresistible. Ameenah's days at Tikis & Cream are spent cooling off her customers with her gourmet smoothie blends. Her nights on the shores of Black Diamond Bay are enchanting and romantic, and soon Wade and Ameenah find themselves in the middle of a Beach Thing... a fun, meaningless tryst that will end when the summer is over. Or will it? Wade is returning to Brooklyn at the end of the summer. Ameenah lives on Black Diamond. Neither want this Beach Thing to end... so is this fling really a fling or is it the beginning of something real... and will they realize it in time?Indulge in a fun, steamy #beachyblackromance and join me on Black Diamond.

A Lowcountry Bride


Preslaysa Williams - 2021
    She has the talent; she just needs a chance to showcase her unique style. Due to an illness, she’s always prioritized her career over her personal life until her father fractures his hip and Maya returns to Charleston, South Carolina. While home for only a few months, she’s thrilled to find an opportunity at the local bridal gown boutique, never expecting sparks to fly with its owner...A military veteran and widowed father, Derek Sullivan hopes to save Always a Bride from bankruptcy in order to preserve the legacy of his mother. He also wants to reconnect with his estranged, twelve-year-old daughter, who is still recovering from the loss of her mother. The last thing he needs is a relationship with a beautiful, smart, complicated woman who will be leaving soon.When Derek begins to fall for the lovely Maya, he knows there’s no future. But destiny has its own plans, and these two lonely people with big hearts discover that coming home to love is the best gift life can give.

Cheaters


Eric Jerome Dickey - 1999
    Cheaters takes on a larger canvas and cast of characters, and fearlessly explores how bad even good people can sometimes behave in the game of love. It has earned Dickey even more loyal readers, and was chosen as Blackboard’s Best Book of the Year.In Cheaters, Stephan loves em and leaves em, just like his daddy. Chanté thinks she’s found her dream man—until his wife and kids come banging on her door. Jake is a player—left with bad dreams he just can’t shake. Darnell is true to his wife...but the temptation’s getting tougher every day. Tammy is caught between the man she loves, and the woman he’s promised to. And while Karen lectures her friends about fooling around, she may not live up to her own high standards...This is the world of Eric Jerome Dickey. It’s heart-wrenching and hilarious, smart and soulful, and as honest and recognizable as your own—and that of everyone who never loved you back.

Dream Lover


Té Russ - 2012
    Liz is content for things to stay just the way they are. But John's feelings for Liz begin to grow beyond a platonic friendship.Can he convince Liz to open her eyes and her heart to the beauty of what could be?

Della's House of Style


Rochelle Alers - 2000
    . . and Passion. Rochelle Alers' Sweet SurrenderManicurist Maria Parker can't help but notice when a hunky financial planner brings his niece into Della's for a manicure. And when he starts to frequent the salon himself for manicures from Maria, she's pretty sure he has more than cuticles on his mind...Donna Hill's It Could Happen to YouWhen Della turned Rosie's Curl and Weave into Della's House of Style, a few things managed to slip through the cracks-and now she's is under fire by the IRS. When a by-the-book IRS agent comes to investigate, Della is infuriated by his presence in the salon-and reluctant to admit that she's growing more than a little used to it...Felicia Mason's Truly, HonestlyHigh-maintenance investment banker Sheila [last name] needs some serious pampering. On a whim, she decides to get a shoulder-length weave at Della's House of Style, and afterwards, visits and salon's lounge, where a sexy D.J. has a song in mind for her...Francis Ray's A Matter of TrustSingle mother Hope Lassiter, once a critically acclaimed actress, is now a cosmetologist at Della's House of Style. When a handsome director tries to woo her back to the stage, Hope has to wonder if his intentions are more than professional. . .

Feud


Phyllis Bourne - 2018
     The man has a body that makes Alex want to make love, not war. But there is an additional quarter million-dollar inheritance at stake. She’ll have to run him out of the neighborhood to become the legendary feud’s sole survivor – if he doesn’t run her out first.

Road to Love


Nicole Falls - 2018
    Still reeling from the untimely demise of a relationship that she thought would last forever, work strain, & longstanding family drama, she is in dire need of respite. A freak occurrence coupled with a little bit of desperation to get away from it all leads her on an adventure—a cross-country road trip back to her hometown of Ragston, MI. At the end of the long road home, Emerson hopes to find peace in more ways than one. Roosevelt Ashe is in desperate need of a new start. Still reeling from the loss of his grandmother, he heads back home to Chicago to settle her affairs and jumpstart his life. The only problem? Home is where the heart of his drama lies. A chance meeting between these two strangers as they traverse the country with similar missions sparks an undeniable connection. ***AUTHOR'S NOTE*** Books Two and Three in this series are forthcoming, but not written by me. Book two will follow Roxanne and will be written by Te Russ. Book Three will follow Charlene and will be written by Bailey West.