Book picks similar to
Hold You Down: A Matin Novel by Dominique Thomas


surviving
urban-fiction
urbane
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Royal


Tina Martin - 2017
    Claire was drawn to Gemma Jacobsen from the start. It was an instant connection that he’d never had with another woman. When she was on her sickbed, he stayed by her side, helped to nurse her back to health and the two became the best of friends. Then that friendship grew into something deeper. Something Royal, the picky bachelor, couldn’t deny. Something he didn’t want to deny. It evolved into LOVE. Doubts about the relationship and herself plague Gemma’s thoughts. She tries to force the negativity away but Royal’s a great guy, so the thoughts linger at forefront of her mind. A hard life and a caring sister has taught her what true love is – when you love someone more than you love yourself. It’s how she feels for Royal – how she thinks Royal feels for her, but how can he when, in her eyes, he’s the personification of male perfection while she’s just – well – the lighthearted, short-haired sick girl. Their worlds are blended, but their hearts collide in this friends to lovers story. When there are no limits to a man’s love, is there anything a woman can do to convince him that she’s not his ONE? * * * -ROYAL is a standalone novel that tells the story of Royal St. Claire and Gemma Jacobsen. -This story is a spinoff from The Boardwalk Bakery Series (Baked With Love)

Lula Mae


Bianca Cuie - 2013
    She was born and raised in a Creole community that is still mending from a past which caused rifts between loved ones, who are forced to redefine their identities as a consequence of their collective history. A rare and educated young woman of promise with a heart of gold, oppressed by untold dysfunction within her own family, Lula Mae rebels and courageously carves out a life on her own with the help of her faith and with the one whom she trusts the most. Lula Mae seeks to find her purpose and embarks on a new life for herself in pursuit of her dreams to be a blessing to her children and family. However, Lula Mae is unknowingly being undermined every step of the way by the one closest to her heart. When confronted with the truth, Lula Mae must decide a way forward for her life, and must decide whether or not she should let go of the one nearest to her heart - and at what cost.

Complacent: A Building 402 Novella


Alexandra Warren - 2021
    But when things don’t go exactly as planned, and accidents turn into arguments, she can’t help but wonder if the three-year itch has snuck its way into their marriage.While thoughts of becoming too complacent may be looming for Shayne, Danny Reynolds knows his anniversary gift to his wife is bound to shake things up. But when he also finds himself on the receiving end of a huge surprise, it doesn’t take long for the couple to realize it may be time to say goodbye… to Building 402.

All I'll Ever Ask


Genevieve D. Woods - 2015
    Do you believe in love at first sight? If you believe the bible, then your answer is yes. When Adam awoke from the sleep, he beheld Eve and claimed her. The rest is history. In the first installment of The Greatest Love Series, witness Christian Romance between Benjamin G. Adams and Camille James. Benjamin has spent the last year mourning the untimely death of his girlfriend Lauren. He is ready to start fresh and this time he is ready to do it the Lord’s way. Will Camille, an entrepreneur, who works around the clock and makes little time for fun, let down her guards and open her heart to Benjamin? Will destiny answer that question for her? Witness a relationship that begins with a catastrophe. Watch the domino effect it causes as reunions, revelations, tragedies, and triumphs take place for those who are connected to Benjamin and Camille. They will need a great and perfect love to stand the forces that are headed their way.

A New Year With You


D. Rose - 2020
    But when her former co-worker, and crush, Cyan crashed the party, spending the evening with coworkers didn’t seem like a bad idea after all.

The Setup


Pamela Samuels Young - 2011
    is on the verge of a racial explosion. Enter a lawyer who comes to the cop's defense . . . but a desire for justice has nothing to do with it.

Loving Sydnee Jones


A.C. Taylor - 2020
     He’s been hooked on her since he caught her singing in her garage. She felt their souls intertwine the moment they touched. But their love goes deeper than a chance encounter. Just how far will one of them have to go to prove it?

The Prison


Joe Edd Morris - 2019
    Cal must rely on his grandfather to uncover the suspicious circumstances of the blaze, as clues unfold to establish his innocence. Compelling revelations link the fire and Cal’s innocence with domestic terrorism. From plots to blow up Mississippi River bridges to threats on their lives, grandfather and grandson take a series of risks, including Cal’s daring prison escape, to save the remnants of their family and southern community so disturbingly infiltrated. A surprise addition to their efforts is Cal’s six-year-old daughter (thought to have died in the fire), who was kidnapped by the terrorists and escaped from their camp. The trio, in a race against time, help the FBI and Coast Guard thwart the nefarious plot.

Sleeping with Strangers


Eric Jerome Dickey - 2007
    With a supporting cast of grifters and killers, broken-hearted squares and streetwalkers and three very different women who each want to become bad-boy Gideon's leading lady, this is a world that thrives on the darker passions of revenge and desire.

This Game Has No Loyalty


Brooklyn June - 2010
    It quickly became the most sought out employment for street kids who learned how to distribute, package and sell it for a profit. What no one anticipated was the havoc and destruction it would bring to their hood because of the unlimited potential of stacks of money they stood to make. Murder, betrayal and disloyalty surfaced without prejudice and took young lives almost immediately. Welcome to Bushwick and Bed-Stuy Brooklyn where Junior catapults you into life in the drug dealer game and takes you on an up close and personal voyage that will have you smelling gun smoke and running for your life. Being a kingpin in a hood you're not from is usually unheard of but for Junior it wasn't. He's the boss of Baptiste projects and believes there are two reasons he's avoided drama from the locals. For one, he hired dudes from Baptiste to help him and the second was because his girl Shondra was born and raised in Baptiste and had mad love and respect in her hood. Junior enjoyed getting money relatively with no consequences but nothing remains the same for long. He gets his first taste of disloyalty from within his camp and that compromises his once solidly run drug empire. Junior's first instinct is impulsive and he rushes to deal with the betrayal with lethal intentions, but his premeditated move proves to be the wrong move and he finds himself in a deadly gun battle with KB and his crew. He barely escapes and flees Baptiste to Bed-Stuy to plan his next strategic move. He turns to Shondra to give him inside information on what is happening in Baptiste in his absence while he temporarily turns over the reins of his business to one of his trusted workers who was with him during his gunfight with KB's crew. Shondra finds out some information that will help him eliminate his enemies but it jeopardizes her relationship with her best friend Gloria. While Junior is plotting his revenge he runs into Muffin, a girlfriend from his past. He decides to use her as a part of his team but their emotions cause romantic turmoil that eventually leads to a love triangle although he tells Muffin he's in a relationship with Shondra. Muffin plays as if she respects the boundaries placed in front of her but has her own plans on taking Shondra out of the picture so she can claim her place as Junior's main girl. Junior's goal is to change the way the drug game is played but after being set up he's on a mission to stay alive and make everyone involved pay for their disloyalty. He also tries to find a balance between his love for Shondra and his business/love relationship he developed with Muffin. When Shondra finds out about Junior's affair with Muffin her anger is temporarily derailed when they find themselves in the middle of a deadly shootout. The massacre affects everyone's life in a dramatic way, spilling all secrets out in the open. Junior and Muffin's infidelity is revealed, Gloria discovers Shondra's disloyalty to her and KB's life hangs in the balance. Junior's empire, life and relationship are at stake as he executes his deadly plan of revenge. One Brooklyn neighborhood tells a gangster love story that is fueled by murder, betrayal, unfaithfulness, revenge and remarkably, love. To live the so called drug life, don;t try to find loyalty in something you believe in if you are not willing to commit to it completely.

Expect The Unexpected


Tiffany Stephens - 2014
    Marriages are on the line, and the possibility of new love coming into play will alter everything that they have. Dive into this story of infidelity, secret lives, and murder. Remember to Expect the Unexpected.

Glass Houses


Brian W. Smith - 2016
    She manages to escape Chris' wrath and hides out at a neighbors house. While in hiding, Tammy contacts her three older brothers and ask them to come and rescue her. The brothers quickly run to her rescue, but in doing so, they overlook their own flaws: one of the brothers physically abuses his own wife; a second other brother is a deadbeat dad who is supposed to see his kids the day they leave to get Tammy; and the last brother is a minister - the ultimate conflict of interest. The three men are forced to face their own demons and eventually learn that people who live in "glass houses" have no right to throw stones.

BLACKBONE


Caryn Lee - 2014
    Growing up for seventeen year old Ciara was hard. Dealing with a alcoholic Mother who physically, mentally, and verbally abused her. Being sent to live in a group home was only the beginning of another nightmare. That is until she meets Eric aka Smooth and he turns her life from shit to sugar. It's all good until the sweet turns bitter. Growing up to fast and living in the streets was fine with Jasmine. She didn't want to listen to anyone and loved to break rules. She later found out in life that all rules aren't meant to be broken. Stick and stones don't break her bones. Kelly was a small girl from the block who wasn't to be played with. She did what she had to do to survive. She meets Ant and he chills her heart. Things get hot and heavy when she has to deal with the consequences that comes with the lifestyle.

The Men Who Sleep With My Husband


Alicia Coston - 2008
    Conspire with a hitwoman to murder my husband’s lovers.2. Frame my husband for their murders.3. Tell no one and to hell with the church.This is just the beginning of a vengeful to-do list for beautiful pastor’s wife and successful salon owner Lavender Wallace. After all, it’s not every night she finds her husband of almost twenty years, Pastor Quincy Wallace, with a prominent deacon kneeling before him in the pulpit—if only it were in prayer. With God taking entirely too long, Lavender satisfies her growing contempt by teaching her husband a malicious lesson that his faith never could. But trying not to fall for the detective investigating the case of her husband’s disappearing lovers proves difficult for a lonely and scorned wife. Shielding a doting teenaged son from his father’s secrets is even harder. As old lies are exposed and a deadly plot backfires threatening to destroy those she loves most, Lavender is forced to make a life-altering decision—the bible or the bullet?

My Heart Is Your Secret


Chelsea Maria - 2020
    With each passing day that went by without touching her… kissing her… I became more ill.Atlas fell in love with me when he thought it was impossible… I fell in love with him knowing it was guaranteed.I wanted Keatyn to be so in love with me that I became a second pair of skin to her. So engraved in her that she was unable to breathe unless I exhaled first… But I had secrets. And she had silent insecurities. With everything combined, we were a disaster waiting to explode…