Book picks similar to
Welfare Grind by Kendall Banks


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Love, Lies and Obsessions


Demettrea - 2013
    She is in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend Raymone. Tired of being forced to deal with his baby mama drama and sidechicks, Mia finally decides that enough is enough! She decides to move on and turns to Harlem, who has always been there for her. However, Raymone won’t make it easy. His obsession and jealousy gets out of hand and leads to all sorts of conflict. Will Harlem and Mia be able to weather the storm and find true love, or will Raymone ruin their relationship? Love, Lies, and Obsessions is a tale filled with deceit, murder, and drama with an unbelievable ending!

The Lipstick Clique


David Weaver - 2012
    Treasure has caught a lot of bad breaks in life, but the one thing that keeps her level headed is her crime family, "The Lipstick Clique."

Gangster's Daughter Part 1


Leo Sullivan - 2013
    She is young and beautiful, and lives a lavish life with a wonderful family, and an adorable boyfriend. She is destined for success. She graduated from high school ahead of her class, with Valedictorian honors. She has been accepted to a prestigious college, her dream is to became a doctor. All the while, she was raised in the preeminence of her legendary father, the infamous gangster, Ike "Monster" Spencer. Ike has been retired from the goon life for years, living the legitimate lifestyle as a dedicated father and businessman who has amassed millions. However, the streets are not ready for his retirement, it wants his timely demise, plus his riches.Suddenly, Kadisha's pristine sheltered world is shattered as devastation strikes. Her father is abducted and presumed dead. She, along with her beloved family members are brutalized in the most vicious way. Kadisha finds herself near death, barely clinging to life. That's when she makes one solemn promise to herself as well as the deceased members of her family. If she can pull through this, her attacker will have to pay with their lives.A gangster's daughter is born.This is a fast paced urban tale of murder, sex, drugs, and betrayal.

Hood Love


Leondra LeRae - 2012
    The chance meeting of Capo turns things from upside down to good all around. Take a ride with Jonnae as she realizes your first love isn't always real love & that hood love can be a good love.

Torn Between a Goon and a Gangsta


Jade Jones - 2012
    Despite their shared past, when they’re pitched against each other in their battle to win Nikki’s heart, they find themselves tragically torn apart. Meanwhile, with Nikki herself conflicted and unable to choose between the two men, the situation finally begins to come to a head and they find themselves on the run as greed, betrayal, and heart ache pull the three of them in different directions.Will Dre and Hassan be able to resolve their differences? And will Nikki finally make her choice?Or will it end in catastrophe?With over 100 five-star reviews, “Torn Between a Goon and a Gangsta” brings all the best of urban fiction in a rollicking ride full of drama, betrayal, and unexpected twists!

Shoulda Woulda Coulda


La Jill Hunt - 2005
    She cannot forgive him for breaking her heart, but can she really learn to let go? More importantly, will he allow her go?

Ghetto Superstar


Nikki Turner - 2009
    She has a voice like honey and a body to match, but one heartbreaking setback after another threatens to derail her dreams of a recording deal. To make matters worse, it’s Christmastime, rent is past due, and the cops intend to kick her tight-knit family to the curb–until a small-town gangster comes to the rescue and offers them a place to stay.Years pass, and Fabiola continues to play gigs and travel around the country hoping for another shot at fame. She’s long forgotten the gangster named Casino who bailed out her family once upon a time. But when Casino is shot, Fabiola feels that she must help the man who helped her family during their lowest point. As Fabiola climbs the ladder of success, she is pulled between the spotlight and the street, trying to resist industry moguls who find the allure of fresh meat irresistible and the thugs from the shadowy side of the ghetto who threaten to keep her close.

Yo Yo Love


Daaimah S. Poole - 2000
    She's also babelicious, with ginger-colored skin and more curves than the Liberty Bell. But if Kayla's all that, how come she can't find the one thing she's gotta have: "The One. Someone jonezing for me… someone to chill with, lay up under, and be around."When Kayla sets off on a manhunt for Mr. Right, she finds herself hooking up with every hustler, nut, and fast-talking player in Philadelphia. There's Emar, the basketball hotshot who makes his best moves off-court; good-looking Terry, who gets downright scary during a weekend in Jersey; and Reese, who'd be da bomb if he'd only drop his white girlfriend. But it's Kayla's relationship with smooth and sexy Wil that really rocks her world and teaches her how to fight for a man—and for her own independence. For love doesn't get truly crazy until it's the real thing… and the only people who don't get played are the ones who stay out of the game.Featuring the frank and feisty viewpoint of a modern, streetwise young woman, Yo Yo Love is edgy, uncensored, and wildly entertaining. It's a tour de force that tells it like it is… and tells it all.

California Connection 3


Chunichi Knott - 2011
    From "Essence"]-bestselling author Chunichi comes the pulse-pounding, powerful tale of a street-savvy woman from the hood who is determined to create a better life for her unborn child.

Forbidden Fruit


Nika Michelle - 2009
    Her mom’s strung out on drugs and her dad is in prison for life without the chance of parole. At a young age she does what she has to do to take care of herself and her little sister Amaya. When her illegal actions get her arrested, the system steps in and puts her and her sister in foster care. She and her sister are reunited when a family member takes them in. At the age of fourteen she meets Diablo, the king of Atlanta’s drug trade. He is also the infamous leader of the Cue Boys, one of Atlanta’s toughest and deadliest street gangs. His powerful persona attracts the young Ayanna, who is seduced by the lure of the streets. As time goes on she develops a roller coaster relationship with Diablo. Women throw themselves at him, and he doesn’t do much to resist their advances. Ayanna gets fed up with his philandering ways and plots the ultimate revenge. Will her actions cause her world to spin out of control?Amaya has always wanted to be like her big sister Ayanna. After her first love Ju cheats on her she falls in love with Mel, who is a Cue Boy. After a brief love triangle with Ju and Mel she decides to call it quits with Ju. Then she finds out that she is pregnant. When she thinks she has her perfect family her past catches up with her. Will the bones in her closet become unburied? Princess, Ayanna’s cousin, is the epitome of voluptuous and seductive. She does not believe in committed relationships and is only involved with a man to get what she wants. She is a gold digger in every sense of the word and sees nothing wrong with it. Money is not her only agenda, but pleasure is also her gain. In Princess’s world no man is off limits.Will playing with fire cause her to get burned?Follow Ayanna, Amaya and Princess in this face paced street tale of love, lies, sex, crime and passion

Fly Betty


Treasure Blue - 2013
    All of these women are vying for one thing – an opportunity to live a luxurious, lavish lifestyle by snagging a rich and famous singer, rapper or athlete. But being drop-dead gorgeous and super fly are only pieces of what it takes to catch one of these wealthy and highly sought after young millionaires. Where luck, timing and persistence can be determining factors on the surface – deceit, lies and manipulation are what it really takes to have a chance at catching their men. Betty Blaise, or Fly Betty to those who truly know her, was not in it to be a wife or even the baby momma of a wealthy public figure – she had her sights set higher, much higher. While most of these women use sex as their weapon of choice, Betty, a senior majoring in psychology, has developed a weapon that proves much more powerful. Up until now Betty has lived her life according to her own strict rules and standards, refusing to compromise for anyone, even if it potentially meant shielding herself from true love. But when she encounters a man that she would never have anticipated falling for in a million years, soon, the very rules Betty once lived and died by are going to be put to the test. The very tools she used so effectively against wealthy men begin to turn against her – and deadly consequences are sure to follow.

Ghetto Girl Games


torica tymes - 2013
    She didn't give a fuck about men and she only cared about their money. She swore that the way that she lived was the only way, and often attempted to convince her close friend Samantha to give up on having a traditional love, and join in on her Ghetto Girl Games that she plays. Shockingly engaging, and filled with jaw dropping scenes that will leave you speechless. The lustful infatuation for money, and the unbelievable thirst for the shiny life will keep you shaking your head at these women. And in case you were wondering...if you sell your food stamps so that you can go to the club; then you are also playing Ghetto Girl Games. But that's just the game for beginners, so check out these pros and how they navigate through life in the projects.

Dear Drama


Braya Spice - 2012
    Right is leading her down a dark path and bringing her nothing but pain.

Devious Savages


Leila Jefferson - 2011
    She finds a boy toy and starts to realize she signed up for more than she can handle…Drama and Diva are Christina's daughters. Together, they are young, wild, and free, but when Diva wants to leave the wild life behind, Drama doesn't want to let her go…Chrisette is the middle Savage daughter, and and also the mother of Dymond. It's been the two of them forever and they are like best friends, but Chrisette finally thinks she wants to settle down and Dymond isn't so sure she can handle that...Christy is the youngest of the Savage women, and all her life she's been trying to belong. She’s younger than her sisters and older than her nieces, and chooses to tell all her secrets to Dymond since she's the only one that listens to her. At the end of the day, she just wants someone to love her.With a family full of women who have no loyalty, backstabbing, lies, and deceit is the norm for the Savage family, but how far is too far? The saying goes, 'Blood is thicker than water.' But, the question here is, What's thicker than blood?

City Lights


George Sherman Hudson - 2011
    Real and his lady, Constance, were living in the lap of luxury, with fancy cars, expensive clothes and a million dollar home until someone close to them alerted the feds to their illegal activity.At the blink of an eye their perfect life was turned upside down. Just as Real was sorting things out on the home front, the head of Miami's most powerful Cartel gave him an ultimatum that would eventually force him back into the life he had swore off forever. Knowing this lifestyle would surely put Constance in danger, he made plans to send her away until the score was settled but things spiraled out of control. Now Real and Constance are in a fight for survival where friends become enemies and murder is essential. Atlanta's underworld to Miami's most affluent community—no stone was left unturned as Real fought to keep Constance safe while attempting to regain control of the lifestyle he once would kill for.From the city of Atlanta to the cell block of Georgia's most dangerous prison, life under the City Lights would never be the same.