Book picks similar to
Taken, But I Want You by Krystal Armstead


recommended
street-lit
5-star-reads
african-american

Fallin' For A Boss's Love


Misha - 2018
    Unlike most her age, all she does is go to school and work, to help her mother pay bills, and take care of her younger sister, Khadijah. On her 23rd birthday, her friend Priya persuades her to go to the club for the first time. Yani encounters a man who seems like all the others, but she’ll find out that may not be the case. Handsome, aspiring rapper, Ramello, is a no-nonsense kind of man. He takes his love of music serious, and refuses to let a woman stand in the way of his career. Meeting Yani, he finds a woman that is not all about being with him for what he can do for her. They hit it off, but his past starts to interfere with what they can be. After shutting Ramello down at the club, he runs into her while she’s at work and shoots his shot again. This time Yani notices that he’s a sight for sore eyes, and finally agrees to go out with him. Mello has this cool, calm, and collected demeanor that wins her heart over, but women from his single life start to stand in the way. They’re popping up at shows and wanting to fight inside of clubs. Yani is a hard woman to crack, but will Ramello be able to open her heart? Will he be able to show her that all men aren’t the same, or will he end up proving her theory correct?

Rise of a Kingpin's Wife


Vivian Blue - 2015
    Also known as Andrea Johnson, inmate number 194340. Shade was just released from a federal penitentiary, and headed back to St. Louis. She only has two things on her mind, getting back on top of the game. And, getting back the person who put her in that cage. There’s fire in her soul, because her ex-boyfriend Jefferson was the one who put her there since she wouldn’t tell on her best friend Mike. Shade’s loyalty to the code of the streets, and the love of her friend didn’t give her any other option, but to go to prison. Now faced with putting her life back together, and reconnecting with friends, Shade quickly sees that her best friend Tia, which happens to be Mike’s fiancée, doesn’t share the same sentiment, which was evident when Shade was locked up. And, her other two best friends Cali and Renee know that there’s an underlined envy that Tia carries around against Shade. But, when the truth comes out about why Shade went to jail, Mike’s lust for Shade begins to surface. And, Tia sees it from a mile away. While out celebrating Shade’s release, she meets a handsome Jamaican man named Kingston. He’s captivated by Shade’s beauty, but when he finds out she’s just released from jail, his intrigue and obsession begins. They exchange numbers with the possibility of hooking up later. The only interest Shade has in a man right now, is to use him for what’s in between his legs. Because, she’s on a mission, and a man would only complicate things. But what she doesn’t know is that her life is about to change forever.

Flexin' On My Ex with A Boss


Jenica Johnson - 2018
    While she’s holdin’ it down, is her man really grindin’ or cheatin’? Yahria aka Yah-Yah was a hood chick that didn’t mind fighting for what she loved. Growing up without both of her parents, she was a product her environment. She was raised by her grandmother and was the girlfriend to the newest up and coming dopeboy. Putting her life on hold, Yahria made sure her man’s needs came first while she lagged behind with his promises to make sure she was straight. After one drunken night, she discovers her intuition was right all along. Subashtian aka Bash isn’t your average dude. He dresses different, he acts different, and he spends his money different. To the human eye, he’s not a boss but the people close to him know what and who he is. Bash took a big loss, and it made him hide in a shell. He promised to never open up to anyone else besides his family. He thought he had everything planned out until destiny linked him with his opposite. Bash likes his women calm and lady-like until he meets Yah-Yah. Can opposites attract or will they clash because they are from two different worlds?

Lil Mama From The Projects 2: Love In The Ghetto


Mz. Toni - 2015
    She's pregnant by the man of her dreams and is surrounded by true friends and family. Things couldn't be better, but in Cherish's world all good things come to an end. Will she and Mega stand the test of time? Or, will Cherish's world continue down a road of turmoil?

The King Brothers: Rise Of An Empire


Dream - 2017
    They were known around the slums of Chicago as The King Brothers. Love and loyalty was the foundation they stood on top of. The King Brothers raised each other while watching their mother finesse the streets. Vice, the oldest brother only valued two things out of life, his family and his money. As he grew older he realized that there was more to life than hustling, kicking it with his trigger finger soldiers and training his pit bulls. He now desired something of substance…a woman… that could become his wife. Boosie was what you would refer to as “more than what meets the eye”. It wasn’t a secret that he loved the streets and the streets loved him back. But once his daughter is born he’s ready to wrap up the fast life for the sake of being around to see his baby girl grow older. Coming home from a five year bid Angelo only had one thing on his mind and that was money. Money ruled everything in his small world even while he was locked down. Whereas the other brothers are itching for retirement, Angelo is just getting started with rebuilding the King’s empire. Vidal, the baby of the bunch is also the troubled child. Picking up his first gun at eight years old everyone around him saw that he was headed for self-destruction…except his brothers. New-comer author, Dream is hitting the ground running with this explosive, mind-blowing page turning series that is guaranteed to grasp your attention. The King’s Brothers are a group of hustlers like no other. When the blood is no longer thick and loyalty is being tested what do they do? Their mother’s past comes back to haunt them and leaves the lives of the ones closest to them in jeopardy. Will the King brothers ever be able to look at their precious mother the same? Will Vidal take heed to his brothers advice and slow down in the fast lane? Will Angelo fall in line and stay out of trouble? Boosie’s only concern is his daughter so will he be able to balance business and being a father? Vice is who makes the decisions but with someone new in his life he’s ready to be done with the game.

In Love with a Dope Boy 3


Treasure Bee - 2015
    Let's see if they can finally get it together or if they will call it quits once and for all. Skye had to learn the hard way that revenge ain't always sweet! Her secret relationship with Rell has left her pregnant with a child and she has no idea who the father is. Zyir wants nothing to do with her and she's feeling more alone than ever. Will her and Zy work on their relationship or will Rell come back in the picture to claim what he feels is rightfully his? Murder, Lies, Secrets and Love! You don't want to miss the emotional roller coaster part 3 is sure to have you on.

Lay My Heart On The Line For You


Kellz Kimberly - 2016
    For Lux, her father was her world and anything he said was law as far as she was concerned. When her father got sent away to prison she put her dreams of being a doctor on hold to run her father's casino. What she thought was going to be a short term career turned into her new lifestyle.Unfortunately, it also turned her into someone she no longer recognizes. For Sevyn, her father was her first love, but the only problem was that he didn't love her back. The lack of love and affection his displayed caused Sevyn to turn cold & compete with her sister. In her eyes, the only way to her father's heart was to show him that he was better than Lux in all aspects of the business. Both of these ladies are lacking something that isn't brought to the light until a hostile encounter with Eyce & Quincy occurs. From the beginning, Eyce see's Lux for what she really is & does everything in his power to show her that it's okay to put her happiness first. Lux is reluctant about dealing with Eyce because she knows her father won't approve. Unbeknownst to Quincy and Sevyn, they are a match made in heaven. Whereas Sevyn is certifiable crazy, Quincy is calm, cool and collected. With these two it is nothing more than a physical thing until Quincy discovers something about Sevyn that no other person has.

Addicted to a Dirty South Thug 3


Shan - 2016
    After her fairytale proposal and saying yes to the man she loved, Cuba was hit with the bitter and jealous filled rage of Brianna. Cuba's first thought is to run, but Khi isn't going to let that happen. He does everything in his power to show Cuba that she is his queen and he her king and ensures nothing ever happens to her again. Showering Cuba with love, affection, and gifts send these two right down the aisle of matrimony, but what happens just as the two are united? Life and betrayal has sent Khi back to the man that he had so long tried to escape. After everything that happened to his Cuba, Khi becomes the ultimate gentleman at home, but more ruthless than ever in the streets. He and his brothers are determined to reign supreme in the streets and with the new deal that's been handed to them, they plan to take it all while suffering no losses. The money begins to roll in effortlessly and the Prince name is own its way to being a legacy, but while things seem to be going great for them, someone isn't with it, and they're coming for Khi with all they have. KaeDee and Detective Destiny Henson's love story was written before KaeDee had even known. After Deonna's past was revealed and finding out the sacrifices that Destiny has made for him, KaeDee has decided to take things easy and get away for a while. Knowing he's no good for his brothers right now, he and Destiny embark on a journey to see if there a such thing as true happiness. Cassidy tried his best to be a good man to Tangie but one simple mistake causes him to lose his relationship with her. Feeling resentful and as stubborn as ever, Cassidy refuses to beg for forgiveness again and puts his all into the Prince legacy. He no longer wants to love, but when Jourdin the mother of his child walks back into his life and shows him unconditional love and Tangie finally confesses that she no longer wants to live without him, Cassidy finds himself in love with two women unsure of which one deserves his heart the most. Dae awakes from his coma feeling colder than ever. A character you all know pushes Tamar to forgive Dae and his wrongdoings against Taylana for the sake of their child. And now that things seem to be back on the right path, Dae no longer wants what he is now able to have and seeks to win back the heart of the one woman that he cost the most pain to. He wants Amber back and to build the relationship that he coldly tore apart, but she won't make it easy for him and nor will Taylana. Now that Khian, Cassidy, and Daelan are all together, the Prince legacy is in the midst of being written. These brothers have a point to prove and will stop at nothing to do so. You've never seen them so ruthless before especially when the biggest blow to come their way yet involves the last piece to the Prince brother puzzle...Emon. The Prince brothers love hard this round, but gun harder showing you just why everyone is Addicted to A Dirty South Thug.

Bad Boys Love Good Girls 2: The Return of the Outlaw


Porscha Sterling - 2019
    Although Outlaw knows that things often happen beyond his control, he can’t help but to think that he’s partly to blame for putting Chloe in a situation that has led to Isaiah fighting for his life. With a wife and child of his own, his outlook has greatly changed and it’s affecting him in ways that he’s never experienced before. When he finds himself in a situation that he never intended and takes things with Chloe beyond a simple platonic relationship, he realizes that the only woman he should be worried about is the one whom he gave his last name. But by then, will he have lost everything? From the looks of things, Janelle is a shoe-in to become the next District Attorney of New York City but the level of scrutiny and criticism of the decisions she’s made in her personal life have her wondering if this new career path is one that she really wants to take. All of her life, she’s followed in the footsteps of her father, the man she has looked up to since she was a little girl, but a series of events turns her life upside down and she’s left confused. Are the career choices she’s made really part of her dream or someone else’s? In this final chapter of the Bad Boys series, tragedy strikes in multiple ways forcing Janelle and Outlaw to come to terms with who they really are. With infidelity in the mix, Janelle’s bitterness becomes her best friend and she’s consumed with her need to take revenge on everyone who played a part in destroying her picture-perfect life. Will vengeance be enough or will it only lead to more misery in the end?

Hooked On A Dope Boys Love


Kaylyn Kiara - 2019
    Sexy, established, and worth millions both of them can have any woman they want. While Ryan’s is calculated and introverted Romelo is the wild child, enjoying life without a care in the world that is until a past business associate resurfaces with an opportunity that may be too good to be true. The youngest member of the Santone family, Zanae has everything she could ever want except the freedom to live life on her own terms. Crippled by her families wealth and control her determination for freedom has led her into the arms of the enemy. Is it really love or an opportunity for the Massey Clan to one up their rival? Moriah has relocated for a second chance to start fresh. Searching for peace to heal the bruises unseen by the naked eye she’s not looking for love or anything that resembles it. When a night out ends in gunfire she meets the unforgettable Romelo Massey and from there her life is never the same. An age old beef has separated these two families for generations but what happens when the enemy finds a way to capture your heart? Love knows no boundaries and puts all four of them in an awkward position none of them are ready for. Who would’ve known being loyal to your heart could be the wrong move in this game of love & war.

Savior & Sycret 2: A Forbidden Love


Jade Royal - 2019
    It almost seemed as if Savior only pretended to have feelings for her to hide the truth behind their past. Burned by that truth, Sycret refused to be scarred. The Banks wouldn’t be able to lie to her or control her any long. Out from under Fox, and with Savior dead she was committing herself to do exactly what she wanted to train to do in the first place. Avenge her parents. With complications rising up, Sycret decides to team up with Jackson Keen, the man her parents had mentored themselves. For Jackson, it made perfect sense that he and Sycret become a couple, but Sycret wasn’t into falling in love. Not again. Amidst all the things going around her, Sycret’s heart was just as broken as any woman’s would be at finding out the man they loved was deceiving them. No matter what lay in front of her, she couldn’t stop thinking about Savior Banks. Her dreams were filled of his memories, and awake her mind crossed him each time she had idle time. How was Sycret going to keep up with avenging her parents when she was haunted by what she did to the man she loved? Could she move on with Jackson or did killing Savior murder her only chance at being in love?

A Hood Boy's Love is Forever


Taniece - 2019
    Her mother Net leaves her on her grandmother’s doorstep and never looks back. As she gets older, Bambi gets to the point where she pushes everyone away to keep them from leaving her, except her boyfriend Doc and best friend Hershey; that is until Doc breaks her heart and she severs ties. She finds herself in a situation with the sexy, hood boy, Ari XL. The more Bambi finds herself pushing him away, the more she craves him and eventually gives in. Ari XL is the oldest out of three brothers. After his parents died, he took on the duty of making sure that his brothers, Nick and MoneyBagg were straight by any means necessary. He gets distracted by the beautiful slick mouth Bambi and immediately feels a connection to her, but she turns out to be more trouble than he bargained for. Hershey and her boyfriend Surge nears their one year anniversary with thoughts of his infidelities on her mind. Finally getting proof that he’s been cheating on her, she ends their relationship and finds herself in the arms of the handsome, gentle, and kind Nick. She finds out that Nick isn’t who he says he is and it leaves her at a crossroads. Bambi and Hershey both are broken and in need of that unconditional love. Will XL and Nick be able to give them just that? Or will their hearts end up shattered even more?

You Got Me Feeling 2


Kelly Marie - 2020
    He is Kemarli's father but is there more to the story? Will Deasha be able to fix what he broke? Dove tried so hard to run from her feelings for Ariyon but she wasn't able to. And just as she finally gives in, he lets her down. He feels like he's doing the right thing but he has no idea who Zadora really is and that it's all a lie. But will they find out or has Zadora finally won something she's been putting into motion for years? And lastly, we have our love triangle - Ro, Exodus and Constance. Things were a little shaky between Ro and Exodus but they were able to put it all behind them and that led to feelings. Feelings that Ro was so certain would lead to her being with the man she cannot help to love, but Constance is back. Ro is hit with the truth - Exodus chose Constance - and now it's pushed her on a war path. But does she go through with it? Did Exodus pick the right person? And will this love triangle ever end? Find out as we take one last ride with our couples who definitely had us in our feelings!

Q And Harlem: Blindsided By A Love Affair


Shaytrece - 2015
    His boys Preston and Presley, who were identical twin brothers, held him down as well as his big brother Martell. Q had his chick Skylar in his corner as well, or at least, that’s what he thought. When Q swore he was coming home to focus on getting his paper back up and nothing else, he was reunited with the chick he felt was meant to be his in the beginning. He’d wanted her before he got locked up, but he wasn’t letting her get away that easily this time.Meanwhile, Harlem ‘Lem’ Santana was living in hell with her boyfriend Dreon until he went beyond too far and had Harlem in the hospital and distanced from her friends and family. Harlem found the strength to leave Dre and relocating was her first move. She vowed to herself to stay away from men for a while because she’d gone through a lot with Dre and wasn’t looking forward to Dre part two. However, one of her friends, Shayn asked her to attend the welcome home party of the man Harlem had been interested in when she met him in college right before she met Dre. When Harlem, Shayn and their other two best friends, Rena and Renae, who were also identical twins, made it to the club that night, everything in her life changed. Some for the good and some for the worst, but there is only so much Harlem can take once she realizes she is not only facing demons of her own past; she has to face everyone else’s as well.Once skeletons begin to fall out the closet, there are all sorts of chaos that leads to a domino effect. There are fights, cheating, beatings and deep, dark family secrets that could possibly lead to some incest. Everyone has a past and it’s only a matter of time before it come back to bite you. Let’s just see who can survive a thing of the past.

Cookie and Meeko 2: A B-Town Luv Story


La'Tonya West - 2015
    She’s been scheming nonstop in hopes of getting that old thing back but nothing seems to be working in her favor. Shy isn’t the only one who’s not happy about Meeko and Cookie’s relationship. Kelsey, Meeko’s jump-off, is now pregnant with his baby and willing to do whatever it takes to get him to see that with her and their baby is where he needs to be. The only problem is…Meeko is already where he wants to be, which is with Cookie. After ripping and running the streets for years and doing all types of dirt, Meeko is finally ready to put that lifestyle behind him and build something permanent with Cookie– but between his baby mama’s and family drama on both ends, it’s looking like a real bumpy road ahead. As the level of drama continues to rise and their love is continuously tested, the question still remains… can love really conquer all?