Book picks similar to
Use Your Heart and Not Your Eyes by Natavia


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Addicted to the Hustle: A Carolina Love Thing


Zaii Renae - 2016
    With an absentee mother and alcoholic father Logan has the weight of the world on her shoulders. All Logan can really count on are her crazy ass friends Margo, April and her secret crush Ameer Sanchez to keep her sane. Ameer Sanchez is a young rich, and in demand. With a small circle that consists of his best friends Jacob and Daniel, he doesn’t need much else to hold him down, well except for that special someone. He's fine as hell and on his way to living out his dreams. He also has everything he wants and can have any girl he wants but ever since he laid eyes on Logan he knew that he had to have her. Unfortunately, for this bunch, life isn’t always as simple as it should be. Ameer is struggling to keep his head right, and do right by Logan but life keeps getting in the way. Keeping his past in the past is not working out as simple as he thought it would be. Friendships and relationships are challenged, and some may not survive. Not to mention that the streets are invading their circle with a vengeance. Roman is the plug that Jacob and Daniel work for and he has an offer that they can’t refuse, even if they should be running from it. With Roman about to step down will the guys step up and take his place or will unforeseen circumstances make it impossible. Will Ameer be able to handle a relationship and running the streets? Will Logan be understanding of his constant demanding schedule? Will outside forces as well as, the ones closest to them try to tear them apart? And ultimately, is being Addicted to the Hustle really worth it?

Lil Mama Fell in Love with a Hitta


Saja Jay - 2017
    Blood couldn't make these women more of a family. When they are taken in by the infamous Big Red, she provides them with the skills needed in order to survive the streets. But only Gia can see Big Red for who she really is. Will the other two continue to be blinded by Big Red's thirst for money, or will they soon see what Gia's been saying from the beginning? Bilal, Zohran, and Waseem are three powerful brothers who filled their father's big shoes, making them the kings of the streets. But real men know when it's time to bow out gracefully and hang their guns up. The only problem is that Bilal doesn't have the same vision that his brothers have. Could they convince him that the best way to survive the streets is to get in and get out, or will the streets teach Bilal a lesson he'll never forget? Find out what happens when three brothers cross paths with three beautiful sisters. Will they collide head on, or will these lil mamas fall in love with some hittas?

The Signal: The Signal Series Book 1


Toby Neighbors - 2021
    

Send Me (Joaquin & Nayeli Book 1)


B. Love - 2017
    In fact, even though she craves the all-consuming empty fullness only love can bring, her plan is to stay clear of it and men. She has one goal – to work and gamble her way into her dream business by any mean’s necessary – and love will simply get in the way. As an empath, Joaquin Wallace is forced on a daily basis to feel the emotions and energies of others. Because of his ability to feel deeply, understand greatly and fall in love quickly, Joaquin has closed himself off to love and committed to a life of singleness. He has one goal – to help his city heal as much as he can then leave for a life of solitude. Neither Joaquin or Nayeli want anything to do with love, but it seems to be magnetically pulling them towards each other from the day she steps foot in Memphis. Drawing them together and binding them like the invisible strings of a soul tie. Will they surrender to become one, or spend the rest of their days ignoring their bond and trying to unravel a tie that refuses to become undone?

HOW TO KILL: ..a mocking bird..


James Boss - 2019
    Some humor about the Democracy and Feudal State of Tonga....and the centuries old struggle between the commoners, trying to be free....with the Feudal System keeping them under its control.

Lil Baby Ridin' For A Hitta: A Standalone Novel


Myia White - 2017
    For reasons beyond her Blue can’t seem to get his life together and love her the right way. She has hope for her relationship until Blue becomes more of a hassle instead of her man. Blue’s inconsiderate ways drives her into the arms of a friend. Blue secretly sees this friend as competition cause Blue knows he can’t compete where he doesn’t compare. Trench is a hustler that has life figured out but not without a couple of war wounds. He focuses on his money and finding ways to improve himself. Out of the blue his life is turned upside down when his friend needs his help. Knowing better than to get his heart involved he’s left wondering how does he get his peace of mind back. With Anika finding a new love interest in her friend Trench, Blue is left on the outside and he’s not feeling it. He has a plan and if Anika doesn’t get with the program he will do everything in his power to make Anika Suffer the consequences. Lil Baby Ridin’ For a Hitta is about finding the right person to ride for and showering them with your love. Don’t get it twisted though because anyone who stands in the way of Lil Baby Ridin’ for her man will meet the Hitta himself and be left breathless.

Karmyn's Chance at Love


Bree - 2016
    Karmyn is a girl who doesn’t know love. She never had any friends and barely spoke a word. Her mom was an addict who never showed her love. She was sent to live with her dad when she was just fourteen years old and Karmyn was happy with that. She found out she had an older brother and was excited to know that she had a family. A family to love her, embrace her and treat her like she belonged somewhere. Things never turn out as planned. Karmyn’s dad is a ruthless pimp with a past and his only interest in Karmyn is to sell her to the highest bidder. Because of the people closest to her, Karmyn thought she would never find love. She felt like love was hiding from her…. until she met Chance. Chance is a survivor. With no parents and an evil aunt, Chance has to do whatever he can to survive in the streets of Brooklyn. He meets Karmyn and he finds a friend in her. One night, he discovers that his boss has been killed, and he meets a lady that would change his life forever, Tru. She took him under her wing and treated him like family. He finally has a steady place to lay his head and to call home but it came with a price, his friendship with Karmyn. Will Chance be able to balance his new family and his friendship with Karmyn? Will he be the one to show Karmyn what it’s like to be in love or will he break her heart like everyone else in her life? Can he be Karmyn’s Chance at Love?

Love Galore: When They Ask About Us


Juani - 2017
    Zayla has been in a relationship with Chauncey, the love of her life, for the last five years, and things couldn’t be better between the two. Or so she thinks. Chauncey, the perfect boyfriend. Hard-working, solid, stand-up guy. He runs one of eight of his family's car dealerships and has the perfect woman in Zayla. But is Chauncey hiding a few secrets that could shatter Zayla’s world and put her in the most dangerous situation leaving her fighting for her life? And then, there’s Chop - the leader of the Jacob’s clan. The businessman who only wants to expand his businesses and make sure his family is straight. Anything outside of that is considered a distraction to him. But what happens when these three lives intertwine in a way none of them could have ever imagined? Will Zayla live to see her dreams come true? Will Chauncey be able to get himself out the mess he’s made? And where does Chop fit into all of this chaos? More importantly, who is he?

Summer of '16: Dinero's Dilemma


Charae Lewis - 2016
    He’s rude and obnoxious, but Asia cant seem to shake her feelings for him. She was always apprehensive in revealing her love for him, but when they find themselves in an unusual situation, they decide to give their relationship a try. Dinero has never been a relationship type of guy, but when Asia enters his life, he begins to reconsider. She’s everything he’s never wanted but can’t seem to be without. Yet, when a blast from the past pops back onto the scene, he’s caught between a place of lust and love. After a series of events takes place, Asia finds herself on the losing end of the stick when a new man enters her circle. He comes in and rearranges everything in her life, including her relationship with Dinero. While she fights to prove that things are not what they seem, Asia is hit with a truth that sends her into a frenzy. Follow Dinero and Asia in this drama-filled romance as they try to work their way through the many obstacles that try to tear them apart.

Brokenhearted Girl 3: When Your Heart Hurts


Diamond D. Johnson - 2017
    The secret about Reese being Camryn’s biological father had gone on too long, and now it’s finally been revealed. How will something like that end? Sticks has been raising Camryn as his own for the past four years, so can he so easily just give her up? To his best friend at that. Then there’s Treasure. We are three books in to the broken-hearted girl series and baby girl still cannot catch a break. What’s going to be the final outcome of William and Treasure? Will William finally fess up to his wrong doings? Will Treasure’s mom, Terry finally believe her child after all of these years? In part 3 to the broken-hearted girl series, there are definitely going to be some broken hearts and Treasure took the biggest loss of everyone.

Baby, You're Messing With A Savage


Kelly Marie - 2017
    Unable to care for him any longer, and wanting to hide the fact that she was dying from cancer, his mama sent him away, hoping to save her son from a life of trouble. Determined to get back to his mother, Khaution deals with the abuse he faces in foster care, but when his mother dies before he can get back to her, he turns to a life of crime to survive. Not knowing who his father was, Khaution hits the streets as Savage, and it’s not long before he ends up in jail. During a ten-year bid, he is suddenly released early from jail by none other than his father! Things between the two start off strained after not having him around in his life, but eventually, the two create a bond. A bond that enables them to take over the city of New York. But it comes with a price that Khaution wasn’t ready to pay, nor did he know he had to pay! With a queen on his arm that he doesn’t want, Khaution meets the mysterious, Autumn Kennedy. Never being in love before, he wants nothing more than to smash and walk away. However, Autumn pulls him in a way he didn’t see, and he finds himself in love for the first time. But Sybil is not going to let the empire and her king go so easily, and she gives him an ultimatum that he agrees to in order to spare Autumn. But what Sybil failed to remember was they called him Savage for a reason! In the end, she pushes him into making a decision that sends him on a path of truth that he wasn’t expecting. Savage by name and savage by nature. Follow this man as he embarks on a world of love and lies; some more devastating than others!

Craving All His Love (Craving All His Love Book 1)


Tyrecka Liggons - 2017
    My job wasn’t quite done, yet. I still had to make Luchi and Luna something to eat before it was time for us to call it a night. I had worked a twelve-hour shift at Thornton’s. I was thankful when seven o’clock hit. Thanks to my sister and granny, I had a great support system for the twins. Their father hasn’t been much of any help since I got pregnant at seventeen. I wasn’t pressuring my kids’ father Lance to help too much with them, because anytime he came around, he was a huge pain in my ass. The only good thing that came out of me and Lance’s relationship were Luchi and Luna. I was a single mother, struggling, but by the grace of God, I always found a way to get by. I lived in a three-bedroom house, thanks to being on section 8, I got a decent amount in food stamps, although I worked like a slave at Thornton’s, and I’ve had the same Blue Toyota Camry since I was seventeen, but it was getting me and my babies where we needed to go, so I couldn’t complain. “Are you tired, mama?” Luna asked, climbing in my bed. My eyes were getting heavy, but I needed to make sure my babies were straight before I could close them. “Yes, my Luna, my feet are killing me, but it’s all worth it knowing, I can buy you everything you need.” I tickled Luna’s belly. “Mama, while you're in here playing with Luna, I’m in the other room hungry.” Luchi said, walking into my room. It was clear to me he had an attitude. “Luchi, your hot dogs are on the stove now.” I explained to my child, as if he was my parent and not the other way around. “Hot dogs? You’re not going to fry me some chicken?” “No, Luchi, I’ve been standing on my feet all day. I’m tired. I’m off tomorrow. I promise to make you a nice meal. Tonight, it’s chili dogs on the menu.” “Man, okay.” Luchi climbed into my bed with an attitude. “Mama, can we watch Home?” Luna asked, curling up under me, resting her head on my breasts. “Naw, man, I’m tired of watching that movie. That’s all you want to watch.” Luchi yawned, curling under me as well. “Sorry, Luna, I agree with your brother. Let’s give Home a rest tonight.” “Okay.” Luna pouted. Kissing her forehead, I took in my kids’ features, and my babies looked nothing like me. Everything about them screamed Lance. My skin was the color of a Hershey bar, but the twins inherited their daddy's light-skinned complexion. Luna had long curly hair that I often styled in a bun on the top of her head. My baby had the most beautiful smile that could melt even the coldest heart. My Luchi was the most handsome little boy I had ever laid eyes on. I knew he would break many of hearts one day. Although I struggled day-to-day, I made sure my kids never went without, and I made sure their wardrobe was the latest. At six, Luchi already thought he was a trendsetter. I kept his curly fro tapered on the side. My handsome baby rocked a big diamond in his ear. Luchi's vision wasn’t quite a hundred percent, so he wore glasses. At first, he hated the thought of wearing glasses until I bought him a pair of Ray Bans. I didn’t have much in this world, but my twins were everything to me. Watching the twins sleep peacefully under me, my eyes slowly closed. Sliding myself and the twins under my cover, I tried to get as comfortable as possible in my bed, the best way I could with my two little tiny monsters glued to me.

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.

Otherworlder (Epic Blade #1)


David J. VanBergen Jr. - 2022
    So real, you might wind up in another world. A LitRPG / GameLit adventure full of monsters, portals, loot, and leveling up. Tobias Martin is one of the best gamers in the world, playing the most advanced game ever created. When a mysterious portal in the game appears, he enters a new world of magic that's more real than he ever could have imagined. Forced to start from scratch, he must build himself back up to a top level adventurer if he ever wants to get home again. Along the way, he will explore a world full of wonder and danger, meet new friends, slay terrifying monsters, and level up like his life depends on it. Because it does. Can Tobias survive the most epic adventure he has ever encountered? Otherworlder is the first book in the Epic Blade series. If you like fast-paced fantasy adventures with RPG gaming elements, you are going to love Epic Blade.

The Protector (Brotherhood Series Book 3)


Vivian Rose Lee - 2017
    She lived to create and enjoy her carefree bohemian lifestyle. Life was good, until her father died leaving her to continue his legacy of Thornton Industries. She was an engineer, not some corporate shark. Therefore, she didn’t know where to begin, especially managing the day-to-day operations of retaining TI's successful multi-million dollar status. Before she could regroup to handle the inherited responsibilities, she started receiving personal threats against her life. When they escalated into life-threatening attacks, she had to accept around-the-clock protection from a man whose nearness was dangerous to her self-imposed celibacy. Olen Davidson was assigned to protect Zulayka. From the beginning, he made it known he was not happy with what he called "a babysitting assignment," but he went along "taking one for the team." He was even more disappointed when he met the woman in person. She was a twenty-first century hippie, with a high IQ, a smart mouth, and an eccentric personality. The easy assignment soon turned into international espionage with Zulayka’s company as the targeted prize. Olen’s cavalier attitude in protecting Zulayka almost caused her serious injuries. Now Olen is determined to put his life on the line to protect her. What he hadn’t asked for were the feelings he was starting to have for the unconventional nerd who wasn't his type. Hadn't watching her prevented him from a reunion with the woman who held his heart?