Book picks similar to
Mama Don't Like Ugly by Rekaya Gibson


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Hood Rich: A Dope A** Love Story (A Standalone Novel)


Lucinda John - 2018
    With dope boy ambitions, Rocky eats, sleeps, and breathes just to hug the corner of the block clutching on to kingpin dreams. Wish, the young ghetto princess, is a normal middle class teen born into a family filled with secrets. With her two best friends by her side she takes on life like a storm making the mistakes normal teenage girls make. Everything in her life is stable until young, handsome, Rocky swoops in stirring up a world wind of drama. From the moment Rocky laid eyes on Wish he knew he would make her his wife, but with him trying hard to create a name for himself in the game and the swarm of girls demanding his attention things between them become complicated. Fast forward ten years later things between Rocky and Wish are better than ever. The once adolescent couple that couldn’t seem to get it together are now considered hood royalty, the “IT” couple, relationship goals. Rocky has finally accumulated the amount of clout in the game that has him sitting high on his throne with Wish by his side. With the perfect woman, children, money, and all the finer things in life at his disposal Rocky consider himself hood rich, a person who started from the bottom of the barrel and has made it to the top. Jealous becomes an issue when women tries their hardest to push Wish out of her spot. When temptation hits, Rocky finds himself losing his family. Sick and tired of the infidelity Wish finds herself in the arms of another arms. What was once a solid foundation starts to wither away slowly. In this draw dropping stand-alone you will shadow the life of two young love birds through the beginning, middle, and current stage of their relationship. You will first hand experience the hard work, sweat, and tears it takes to be committed to someone. This dope ass love story will take you through the motions, you will either root for the couple to stay together or beg for them to stay apart.

Turned Out by a Thug


Shameka Jones - 2015
    Getting ready to graduate valedictorian, she took pride in her smarts and still holding on to her virginity. She is the oldest of seven children and she was determined not to end up like her mother, whom she hated. When her best friend's brother comes to town for the graduation, she starts rethinking her decision to remain a virgin until she is married. One major factor is their nine year age difference. With only a summer in front of her she tries to get close to him. Will she be able to make him look past her age and let her in? Or will he string her along all summer?

The Activist and The Capitalist: An Unlikely Love Story


Vibha Batra - 2015
    When they meet again however, they discover that Jai is the crass capitalist developing Rasa Vihar, the heritage building that Anusha and her NGO are fighting to protect. Inevitably they clash, with neither willing to concede to the other. The problem is that although publicly they are enemies, in private, they are wildly attracted to each other. – but when secrets and betrayals enter the equation – things really begin to get out of control. Will the Activist and the Capitalist ever be able to find common ground?An exciting love story, set in Chennai from the best-selling author of Sweet Sixteen.

They Don't Know Me


Nicole Jackson - 2015
    When reality is faced not everyone will have that happy ending with a picture perfect life. Tyra’s story is the prime example of this. Sometimes women get so caught up on what they want things to be that they lose sight of what it really is. Not every man is for every woman. Jahrein is several girls’ dream, but is Raven’s reality. Tyra desperately wants Raven’s reality to somehow become hers, but soon discovers that in life you can’t always get what you want. Take a ride with a sassy, sexy, persistent Tyra. Love seems to be the element in her life that proves ever eluding. Still, she pursues love at all cost, and is willing to wager it all just to feel a fleeting moment of its embraces. Loving the wrong man can have detrimental effects on a girl with an already internally damaged heart. They Don’t Know Me gives you a new perspective on the novel Hold It Down Like Sister and Brother. Told in first person, this tale will give you a front row seat to all the juicy details you’ve wondered about with Jahrein and Raven’s infamous relationship. Sometimes you may think you know, but you truly have no clue.

You Were the Love of My Life: A Hood Love Story


Dominique Thomas - 2015
    He has his woman, his position as head of his family lucrative drug business and he still has rapping. Life is going good until it isn’t. Secrets that his mother kept hidden from him while she was alive comes out while a family enemy hell bent on revenge surfaces to take Kasam and his brothers down. Erin is in college pursing her dreams while being with the man that she loves. Life is almost fairytale like until things come out to show her that Kasam is no Prince Charming. Erin has to decide if she can deal with groupies and infidelity while trying to manage her own life’s issues. A storm is brewing. Danger is headed Kasam and Erin’s way as people are out to tear them apart. For two people who are so much better together than they are apart will they crumble under pressure or will they prove to the world that they are indeed meant to be together? Erin and Kasam first appeared in Hold You Down

The Fist That Bound Me: A Stand Alone Novel


Trinity Dekane - 2017
    When Greg's abuse damn near kills Jade her sisters Corrina and Telissa step in and remove her from the home. As Jade deals with her hurtful past and her current abusive relationship she is introduced to a new way of life and new friends. She seems to adjust well to her new environment, but when the past starts to reel its ugly head Jade fights to stand her ground. Will she follow her heart and move forward or will she be snatched back into the depths of hell!

He's My Favorite Mistake


Tamika Newhouse - 2012
    To her surprise, she gets a taste of her own evil ways when, eye-stealing Simone oversteps her bounds with the one she wants, JL. A smooth talking entertainer, JL has always had many women, Joyclyn is no different. But as soon as things start to heat up in the bedroom things take an unsuspecting twist. JL is left trying to place back the pieces and keep his secrets a secret before it ruins not only his career but the innocent ones involved. Tasha has always loved Malik, problem is he was never available to begin with. Vowing to finally leave him alone forever, he resurfaces announcing his love and that he would finally leave his wife. But when Trey comes along and gives her the desires of her heart... she had no idea she would be committing the same mistake twice. A story of betrayal, scandalous sex, revenge, lies, and more grace the pages of this tale. One thing these women can t seem to make happen is letting their mistakes go. Or can they?

Salty: A Ghetto Soap Opera ( Episodes 1-3)


Aleta Williams - 2012
    At the end, you may even feel "Salty" yourself!To some, the city of Los Angeles is the home of the "Angels"; "that's bull crap", says the characters in this ghetto soap opera. Los Angeles for them, is the home of the "Scandalous" and only those that's down for and ready for whatever will last...Jazz is a seventeen year old, sassy, diva who strives to carry herself with class and dignity. Thanks to her ego struck boyfriend, and envious cousin,she soon finds out that classiness will get you nowhere, but humiliated and heartbroken. Peter went from a nobody to a somebody: money, cars, and big butt light skin girls now make up his worth. Peter isn't blind to the fact that he is being used; he just doesn't care. It's not until he steps on the toes of a known grimy gangster from Compton, that he realizes how dangerous these females really are. Pam can tell you first hand that "love don't love nobody", and that you have to love yourself first. After all, love is the reason she contracted the incurable.Follow the drama as it takes you on a world wind of events that will leave your mouth open and have you lusting for more.facebook.com/SaltyAGhettoSoapOpera

However. Forever.: A Christmas Novella


Ivy Laika - 2019
     That’s Rein Deerfield’s policy. A small white lie that brings Nick Colas into her life will prove just how true it is. Christmas is when miracles are said to happen. Will a chance encounter of two kindred souls be a miracle that grows into love? Or will the lie cause everything to spiral out of control?

Daughter of the Game


Kai - 2010
    Her poem, Pre-Destiny was featured in the April 2008 issue of Essence Magazine and she was a Featured Poet in A Place Of Our Own (APOOO) national tribute in April 2008 and RAWSISTAZ Author Showcase, April 2007. She is a contributing poet in Step Up to the Mic: A Poetry Explosion, by Poetic Press (Xpress Yourself Publishing). A winner of the No Candles Infinity Contest, hosted by Osbey Books, Kai is credited for writing emotionally raw and thought provoking works. Her short story featured in If It Ain't One Thing..., by Diva Books, Inc., received praise for its originality and realism. Similarly, her tribute to mothers, entitled Soften My Soul, featured in APOOO's Mother's Day Tribute, has resulted in an outpouring of praise and personal testimonies. Additionally, Kai's poem My Baby Girl, was featured in the Fall 2008 issue of The Write Vibe, and her poem The Other Women is featured at Tribute to Black Women. Kai also serves as a Guest Reviewer for RAWSISTAWZ Reviewers. An alumni of Hampton University, SUNY Brockport and Georgetown University Law Center, she is a licensed attorney and proud parent.

Torn Between The Plug And A Savage


Karma Monae - 2017
     Imagine waking up in your once beautiful mansion, being pampered by housekeepers, and maids, surrounded by people who literally worshipped the ground you walked on...all simply because you were considered 'Hood Royalty.' That had been the life for twenty four year old,Sanai, until it was all suddenly snatched away from her when her fiancé was sentenced to 25 years, leaving her with absolutely nothing but pain and heartache. Sanai had two kids and one on the way, and just with that pressure alone she finds herself at rock bottom, forcing her to move back to the low income section 8 projects where she was born and raised. It doesn't take long for Sanai to see that being a pretty kept chick can only get you so far, especially in a world full of savages, thugs and drug dealers. Growing up in Newark's Southward, life hadn't always been easy for Saint. From birth, he had been thrown into the gang banging lifestyle, following in his mothers footsteps as one of the most vicious Crips throughout New Jersey. Saint and his left hand, Cuz, only have two things on their twenty year old minds: getting money and sleeping with multiple women that loved their lifestyle. Above all things they plan to one day take over the legacy and run things just like their parents. That is, until Saint runs across the sexy single mother that moved into his projects. Kayla and John have been together for eight years. Their relationship transformed from two happy people, into strangers who coexist fearing the idea of being alone. At wits end, Kayla agrees to give their a relationship one last shot by allowing another woman into their bedroom. Just when things start looking up, Kayla meets the rough, straight forward, Havoc, who shows her that real men don't need much in this world to be satisfied. But is Kayla ready to leave a 'grown boy', or is she too focused on the longevity to get her happy ending. Sit back and enjoy the ride as the gang experiences the wins and losses that come along with the game they love. Sometimes you have to lose people in order to make room for those worthy of being in your life... loving the Plug is cool, but it's that Savage that your heart desires.

When A Savage Falls for A Good Girl 2: A Crazy Hood Love


Tina J. - 2018
    He was the piece to her puzzle and the perfect match in her eyes. However; the perfect relationship came with problems stemming from Kruz’s past. They moved forward after the storm Zahra brought but is it over? Kruz has a lot to deal with now that his relationship seems to be on track. Unfortunately, things go terribly wrong, and Sasha is caught in the middle. His mother is still on board with his ex for some reason. Will the truth ever come out on why she’s riding hard for Zahra or will it remain hidden? Kalila and Jamaica are riding high in their relationship, or so they thought. Kandy doesn’t want to see him happy and has done any and everything to make him fail. When nothing works, she goes about it a different way, and all hell breaks loose in the last place anyone expects. Someone gets caught in the crossfire and not sure if the person will survive Jamaica and Kruz go harder than ever to find the person in charge.

A Trap King's Wife


Jahquel J. - 2015
    She's trying to hold everything down while her baby daddy serves a ten year bid for drug trafficking. The last thing she's looking for is love. Between working and taking care of her daughters she's stretched thin. One night by chance she meets Jaeshawn, a thug in his own right. Jaeshawn aka Larry Bird runs everything from New York to Virginia and everything in between. All he wants is a woman to call his own, but that woman isn't his baby mother, Kaysha, who wants to make her family work. Kaysha and Jaeshawn have a one year old son, Keyshawn who Kaysha uses as a pawn against Jaeshawn. Maddie is in a hateful relationship with her man, Jared. Jared is mentally and physical abusive, and has a terrible jealousy problem. He forbids Maddie to hang with her best friend, Tiara, and keeps tabs on everything she does. When Tiara introduces Maddie to John, an Arabic God , who is also Jaeshawn's right hand, she doesn't think it will go far, but boy is she wrong. Jared, Dyron and Jamal are all friends and have one thing in common: Dread. Dread runs Queens and has an beef with Larry Bird. But when Jared , Dyron and Jamal start landing in trouble, and Dread is the common denominator, things go haywire. When Tiara enters Jaeshawn's world one cold winter night, his entire worlds changes. He sees her right to take the throne beside him as the trap king's wife.

The Other Side of the Bed


Bhavya Kaushik - 2013
    Nakul, who lost his beloved wife after only a month of their marriage in a serial bombing attack, found it impossible to continue with his life.He takes a journey in which he interacts with people like him, who have also lost their loved ones in those blasts and decides to help them. Though he didn't realize that in the process of helping them, he was helping himself. This is his journey through the five stages of grief - DENIAL, ANGER, BARGAINING, DEPRESSION and ACCEPTANCE, and how he comes out of them with the help of his family and his "Grief-Mates".He thought that he had forever of togetherness with his wife, but he didn't, none of us does. And before it is too late, we should better go out there to our loved ones and tell them how much we love them. Have any of you said it lately to your wife, your husband, your children, your brother, sister or your parents, that "You mean the world to me. You have changed my life. I cannot live without you. I love you..."

Cuffed


Taisha S. Ryan - 2014
    After serving a 3 year bid, Marquez swore to himself that he would never step foot in another prison. Determined to turn his life around, Marquez occupies his days working at a local car shop. Despite the low pay and endless hours, Marquez does not let that deter him. His world is then shaken up the moment he meets Breanna, a cute, around the way girl, whose main focus in life is attaining her degree and escaping the gritty projects of Brownsville, Brooklyn, for good. Both from troubled pasts, they find themselves drawn to each other in ways they would’ve never fathomed. Breanna becomes the light to Marquez’s life as she opens his heart to something foreign to him. Love. Marquez then begins to realize the possibilities of obtaining a better life outside of the hood. It is until he is faced with an unexpected tragedy that shatters his world for the worst. His dark past now becomes a reality as the grim streets claw at every ounce of his sanity. Now, Marquez must decide whether to continue on the right path he vowed to take or succumb to the dangerous lifestyle he has always known. The streets.