Book picks similar to
Trickin' by Brandi Johnson


african-american-fiction
urban
brandi
childrens-ya

Baby You're Worthy: Marcus & Nikki


Shantaé - 2017
    But what do you do when the object of your affection refuses to love and want you the same way you want them? Not because they don’t feel the same but because in their eyes you don’t quite measure up? Even after you’ve done everything in your power to prove your worth to this person, they continue to purposely withhold the love that you so desperately crave. Walking away may seem like the most logical and healthy route to take but when it comes to that authentic, consuming, deep down in your soul type of love, doing so is easier said than done. Considered an unlikely pair, Marcus, the reformed dope boy and Nikki, the pampered princess, have undeniable chemistry. Problems arise when only one of them is willing to be honest and acknowledge the obvious attraction. Because she doesn’t feel that he fits into her world or the plan she has mapped out for her life, Nikki curves Marcus without hesitation from their first encounter. Unable to see past her fears, she doesn’t realize that rejecting him just may cost her the man she was meant to spend her life with. With the street life in his rearview, Marcus is now a proud uncle and the owner of a thriving business. He’s hoping to add the title of being the man in Nikki‘s life to the growing list of blessings in this new chapter but she’s not on board with that plan. Although he’s fed up with trying to convince her that he is enough, does Marcus have it in him to throw in the towel for good? Ride shotgun with Marcus, Nikki, and a few other couples, as they navigate through this crazy, drama filled game of life and love.

Baller Dreams


Tasha Macklin - 2012
    He is forced to make a number of decisions that will change his life. Choosing school over the mean Detroit's Eastside streets, the sudden reality of his poor circumstances make him painfully aware of the fortunes that can be made if he embarks on the career path of a hustler. Deciding that he wants to be a baller, Dre meets and forms an alliance with an older, very beautiful female named Destiny. Unbeknownst to him, she had a secret and motive that draws her to him, which causes her to assist him in making all of his plans reality. Dre and his closest friends will create a clique called the Eastside Syndicate and set a hustle in motion like Detroit has never seen. No one else in the city will be able to compete with the murder and muscle game that they release upon the streets. However, when he falls in love with another and finds himself at odds with Destiny, the beautiful temptress who helped to make his dreams come true will stop at nothing to bring Dre and the organization that he created to its knees. Dre has everything that a hustler could ever want. Only when the tide turns, he will quickly realize that the dream life he once lived was no more than a nightmare in disguise.

Exposed:: When Good Wives Go Bad


Anna J. - 2013
    When the other 20 percent is too tempting to turn down, do you decide to go with your family life, or do you take advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity? Simone, Te'Nae and Shay are picture perfect wives and career women. All three juggle prestigious jobs, motherhood and wifely duties with ease, but they share a dark secret that, if exposed, could ruin everything they've worked hard to maintain. They only get one chance to decide if their marriages are worth more than the risks they take.

Twisted Seduction


N'tyse - 2012
    While seemingly having it all, Denise still feels incomplete. Her nine years of marriage to Jeff have been nothing more for her than a marriage of convenience to raise Deandra in a stable two-parent home. She pretends to be happily married, but allows her husband and best friend to carry on an affair, giving Denise time to get better acquainted with her multimillionaire client, Greg Adams. But when Denise’s husband discovers he isn’t Deandra’s father after all, her carefully built lies come tumbling down. Twisted Seduction lures readers into an orchestrated web of raw emotion, deceit, infidelity, and sex that makes for an exhilarating read.

His Dirty Secret: Charmaine's Story (Side Chick Secrets Book 1)


Mia Black - 2016
    But for all the good in her life, she can’t seem to get her relationship status in order. Finding the right man is impossible in her world. With late night parties, people to see, and a penchant for men with money, how is Charmaine ever going to find the man of her dreams? Jayla loves her friend, but she knows Charmaine’s partying ways aren’t doing her any favors. When she tries to convince her to think about settling down and getting herself right for a relationship, Charmaine runs into a whole new set of problems! Find out what happens in part one of His Dirty Secrets: Charmaine’s story!

Street Love


Keisha Ervin - 2007
    Keisha Ervin's After the Storm- Mo and Quan have been together for eight years and they've survived it all. But a storm is approaching and all of the secrets they've kept are about to be revealed. This time, will Mo and Quan be able to weather the storm? Danielle Santiago's Allure of the Game- Arnessa is on the come-up, making moves and moving weight, attracting the unwanted attention of Suef, whose blocks are hit hard due to Arnessa's success. When Suef threatens Cenise, Arnessa's little sister, Arnessa focuses all her energy on eliminating the threat. Preoccupied with Suef, will the Allure of the Game claim Cenise when Arnessa least expects it? Quentin Carter's The Fink- When Phelix Mitchell is released from prison 25 years early after testifying against his best friend, he finds out something that he was told as a child Nobody likes a tattle tale is more than just a saying. Consumed by guilt, Phelix makes the ultimate sacrifice to try to right a wrong. T. Styles' Cold as Ice- Pepper Thomas is a straight A student living in a rough part of Southeast Washington DC., who manages to stay away from drugs, violence and crime. That is, until next door neighbor and drug dealer Ice's home is robbed. With newfound evidence that can be held for ransom, can Pepper be as Cold as Ice? Leo Sullivan's B-More Love- Ashley is an innocent high school senior about to enter college. Jamal is a young thug, born and bred in Baltimore's West Port Projects. Ashley dislikes the thug, refusing his desire to help when Ashley's mother becomes ill. However, a tragic event brings the two together and in order for Ashley's mother to have a chance at living- someone must die!

From Harlem With Love


K'wan - 2010
    all is fair in love and war!

FeMALE TRAITS "The Trilogy"


Lurea C. McFadden - 2011
    She is married to a successful, loving husband but somehow she requires more attention than this fine upstanding man can offer. She plays hard; in fact she is a playa in her own right. But Grace forgets that Game recognizes Game when she runs into Sonia, her husband’s best friend. This is the tale of Grace’s extra-marital love affair, love and support of good friends, and lessons learned along the way.

For the love of ATL


Desiree M. Granger - 2014
    All combining to make one full series. When you take the Urban life of Atlanta, and combine it with the drama filled life of students on HBCU (Historically black colleges, and Universities," anything can happen. Black Greek probates, parties, love, heartbreak, cheating, and men on the down low. All goes down in this 4 part series. No other words to describe this book. Better than Reality TV.

Entangled


K. Elliott - 2003
    Entangled is a love story between a major drug trafficker and a history teacher. The subplots include a black DEA agent with divided loyalty. He wants to do his job and rid the streets of drugs but on the other hand he knows that the system is corrupt and it targets minorities, this story has all the elements of a major motion picture.

Heartless


Cachet - 2013
    At the tender age of eight, her mother sold her to men in order to supply her drug habit. After her mother overdosed, Brandy was sent to live with the father she never knew, who promised to give her the world, only to rape her and put her out on the track.While working one night, she meets a gentleman who changes her life and makes her believe that someone finally has her best interest at heart. Soon after falling in love with her savior, she finds out that he’s not the man she thought he was. Fed up with being lied to and used, Brandy vows to never again let another person get close enough to hurt her. Revenge leading to a stacked bank account isn’t enough—she wants more.Coming up with scheme after scheme, Brandy steps on quite a few toes. While doing that, she begins to make enemies along the way; some chalking up their losses, while others want payback in blood. Take this journey filled with drama, sex and lies with Brandy, and see if being Heartless brings her a life of wealth or death.

Reigning Starr


Shan - 2012
    Doctors believed that Starr would only be a waste in society and behind in everything she did. After losing the love of her life Keylan; Starr loses all compassion and want to have a better life. She returns to Atlanta from Miami and immediately begins to play hard in the streets.Finding love once again in her ex Quad, Starr begins to contemplate doing right again but suddenly truths are revealed, friends becomes foes, and lives are lost. Starr’s ways finally start to catch up to her and someone wants to send her to an early grave. Will they succeed or will she become the Reigning Starr that no one believed she could be?Gun play, lies, and murder isn’t supposed to be a part of a girl’s everyday life. But Starr isn’t your ordinary girl. Walk with Starr as she takes you on a journey where the girls go just as hard as the boys.

Caught In The Middle


Jennifer Luckett - 2009
    Michelle reunites with her ex-boyfriend, Antonio “Tony” Dixon, and realizes that Tony’s addictive lifestyle is no longer the life she wants to live and gets involved with Officer John Shelby. Will Michelle allow her demons to interfere with her newfound love and happiness? Lakeeysha meets and falls in love with Antwaine Greene, a notorious drug dealer whose mind is set on two things: money and women. Lakeeysha tries to find her place in Antwaine’s life, but her quest for his heart is cut short when he is mysteriously killed, leaving Keeysha in suspense and anxious to find his murderer. As she pieces together this deadly puzzle, she is confronted with a bare truth that explodes her world into a million tiny pieces. Keeysha’s search for truth endangers her life and those she cherishes the most. As the body count rises it is only a matter of time before death comes knocking at Keeysha’s front door. With Antwaine dead, who will rescue her from this deadly and cruel world?Enliven your senses and awaken a new thirst for adventure as Jennifer Luckett tells a no-hold bars tale of the gritty side of Jackson, Mississippi, and gives new meaning to the City with Soul.

The Last Chance


Darrien Lee - 2007
    From Essence] bestselling author Lee comes a riveting new novel about a LosAngeles casino-owning family determined to protect its dynasty.

Lights Out


George Sherman Hudson - 2012