Book picks similar to
Enjoying Mr. Hardwood by Christine Gray


interracial-romance
bwwm
urban
contemporary-romance

A Love Like This (A Love Like This, #1)


Kimberly Lane - 2012
     She leaves her crazy family and heads off to college with dreams of becoming an architect. However, as her mother Dana always says, "Love has a way of changing your plans."   Handsome Caucasian student teacher Tucker Bradley walks into Leila's life and turns it upside down.  He is exactly what Leila needs but not at all what she's looking for.  Leila has to deal with a steady stream of Tucker's ex-girlfriends.  She struggles to hold on to her dreams without letting go of her first love. (Edited 07/04/2012)

With A Kiss, I Die (Flashback, #1)


Elle Alexander - 2019
    Her hair glittered under the dark sky. Both billowed behind her in the wind. She stood at the edge of the cliff where he’d nearly dove and ended his life, following the notes of her voice. She was holding his notebook. His tattered five-cent notebook from Woolworth’s. And reading his words. With tears catching on each syllable.“I still plan to finish that,” he said, approaching her carefully with a sudden need to clear his throat. “It’s not my best writing, really.”She faced him. “It’s like poetry, when you write.”Ben clutched his heart, attempted to feign embarrassment, but the real thing flushed through him. “That means the world…coming from you.”She closed the notebook, but she didn’t hand it to him. Instead, she clasped it to her chest. “Are you here to stop me?”“Yes.”“Because you can’t live without me.”“Yes.”Her gaze fell. “Even if you’ll die...” * * * * * A BWWM Romance about a girl who spends her entire life thinking she is cursed, and the man who never expected to fall for her.

Bossed Up By A Billionaire Thug


Khadijah J. - 2019
     In Cuffed by a Black Billionaire, you were introduced to Kenzo. In this standalone, you get to familiarize yourself with La’Kenzo Rogers. Kenzo may seem like the average hustla, handsome, charming, and loaded pockets. But there was so much more to La’Kenzo Rogers. As normal as he seemed, he was everything but normal. Suffering tragedy, after tragedy, Kenzo became numb, and decided to continue on life without addressing and healing from the pain in the past. But when he meets a woman that makes him feel a forbidden emotion, he realizes that he’s incapable of loving her because of what happened in the past. Niatia Bridge was very familiar with heartbreak. She was young, stunning, and ambitious, until she ran into the wrong man. Her light, that used to shine so bright, was being dimmed by the darkness that she was wrapped in. Losing herself in a man was never her plan. Can she escape the darkness so that she can soar like she was supposed to? Or will she succumb to that dark cloud hanging over her life? E’mauri “Lucci” Lewis, was a young, reckless, handsome hustla. Lucci was lost in this cold world, with no one to guide him. Being abandoned at such a young age, has caused him to be somewhat rebellious. He begins to get it by any means, and eventually, is forced to sit down and listen. Linking up with someone who he looked up to in the past, he’s able to see life in a different light, and move differently. But the thing about the past is, it always catches up to you. Is it too late for Lucci, or will he be able to right his wrongs? Au’Brielle Scott was practically born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Before she could decide what she wanted to do with her life, her family had already laid it out for her. Going through the motions in life, she finally cracks, and realizes she’s not living, she’s merely existing. She has an option of following her dream, or continuing to be a puppet. Will Au’Brielle make it out the miserable life she’s existing in and finally take a leap of faith? Or will she be too afraid of finally standing on her own?

Private Lover


Zinzi - 2017
    Now, everything off,” he commanded. I really don't know how I got here. I was now a kept woman, the secret affair, the one thing I had told myself I would never be. How could I ever leave when just one look from Stavaros made me weak in the knees? Italian billionaire Stavaros Caponie was ruthless and fearless when it came to business. He only had one weakness; his caramel, chocolate beauty, Kayla Drummond. He could never let her know how much power she had over him, not to mention, he had an image to uphold. He would only be seen with tall, blonde, picture perfect women in public to please his father. His private life well, that was his private life, and no one else's business. However, what will Rossi do to keep his Bella when she’s determined to no longer remain in the shadows and steps into the light?

Cold: Daughter of Gaea


E.L. King - 2017
    Twenty-one-year-old Olive Trenton doesn't have much happening in her life aside from a temperamental friend who spends her free time antagonizing werewolf's, and another friend who when distracted may cause the second world flood. Given the job of managing these two trouble makers, she spends her time preventing near disasters and completing her homework. Despite the pressures of making sure her races identity remains a secrete on a campus filled with paranormal beings, she's managing just find, until a cold eyed Lycan by the name of Lucian Siriano enters her life claiming she is his mate. She may be more special then she knows... The minute Lucian Siriano lays his eyes on Olive, he knows she's the one for him. She is the key to giving him the power to compete against others for the title of Alpha in his pack. The only problem is, she insists she isn't the one and that they could never be. Lucian will not allow her to run from him, and has no choice but to show her that there is no other that could bring the same cold hit. In the eyes of the domineering and terrifying a Lucian Siriano, Olive will find her life thrown on its head, as she is dragged into a world she wasn't groomed for and forced to experience the coldest passion at the hands of the Lycan Heir. Will she break or will she fight the cold?

Dorian (The Watchful Eye Series Book 1)


Phoenix Rizen - 2021
    

THE PATTELS: HAWK & RAVEN II: Absolute loyalty, Unbreakable trust


S.K Hardy - 2019
    However, she didn’t count on falling for the youngest of the clan, Hawk Pattel. Hawk is wealthy, handsome, intelligent and charming. Raven tries to resist him, but when a Pattel wants something, nothing will stand in his way. Just when Hawk is on the verge of convincing Raven that the two of them could have something special, something real, all of his skeletons start falling out of the closet, one ugly bone at a time. Self-preservation takes over for Raven, and the only thing she can do is run. But Hawk is determined not to give up. He’ll break down the walls she’s had time to rebuild one brick at a time if he has to. However, old hurts and secrets are revealed that will test Hawk and Raven beyond anything they’ve come up against. Will they be strong enough to withstand a storm a second time? The Pattels: Hawk and Raven II is the continuation of the first book in the hot new series by National Best Selling author S.K. Hardy. It’s sexy, thrilling, and intriguing, all of the elements that S.K. is known for. This exciting saga is a story that will engage every one of your emotions: anger, happiness, laughter, and fear. The Pattels is a spin off of S.K.’s previous bestseller, The Sin City Heat Series. However, it is not necessary to have read Sin City Heat in order to start this new series. **Warning: This book is an erotic romance novel. It contains strong sexual language and themes that is not appropriate for anyone under the age of 18.

A Tryst At Midnight (The Alesi Men)


Serenity King - 2012
    The title, some content, and publisher have changed. Piero Alesi is back in the states after being away in Italy for two years. At a family get-together he’s decided that Adanna Washington will be his. Piero is known for getting what he wants both in business and his personal life. He's never envisioned himself in competition with his own cousin, Nicco for Adanna’s attention. Nicco believes he has the upper hand—Adanna’s his sister’s best friend, and he’s been in contact with Adanna far longer than Piero. However, Piero is willing to chance that the love he has for Adanna will far outweigh Nicco’s lust. He only has to convince her. Adanna Washington writes about love but doesn’t have the time for romance in her life. She is far too busy. Adanna is late on a deadline with her editor — attending her best friend, Carina’s Alesi’s family outing is the last place she should be. Imagine her surprise when at the outing she attracts the attention of not only Carina’s brother, Nicco, but also of Carina’s elusive cousin, Piero. Not wanting to be a pawn in this game the Alesi men seem to want to play—she rebuffs them both, or so she thought.

Ebony Angel


Deatri King-Bey - 2007
    The future looks even brighter when she meets and falls for Richard Pacini. But Ebony's meddling friends and her ex, Trae, aren't happy about her dating a white man, and Trae will draw the line at nothing to make Ebony his again.

Chad: A Rockstar's Redemption


Shani Greene-Dowdell - 2018
    Ladies love him and men envy him. A wealthy rock star, he is known for his magical fingers on his guitar strings and his melodious voice. Linked to several sex scandals, Chad has sworn several times on TV never to settle down even ‘til his last breath. He has said it so many times, his life as a single man is as much as one of his trademarks as his guitar. Tiana Hendricks, Chad’s best friend, is the only woman he ever loved. She walked away with his heart after graduation. She, however, had a reason, a secret. Her father is one of the most hated men in the USA. Getting involved with Chad would only bring her past back into the tabloids, and she dreads the exposure. But when Chad walks into their class reunion, just one look and she knows she can’t resist their connection. Chad and Tiana secretly want to be together. However, Tiana is not willing to let all he has worked for go down the drain. They can be together, but no one can know. Once a nosy journalist exposes their new love affair, and Chad reverts to his old media tactics, their world is turned upside down, once again. Will Tiana walk out of his life for good this time? Or will their love prove stronger than any obstacle they may face?

A Fighting Chance


K. Alex Walker - 2016
     “Syd…Are you in trouble?” Joel Lattimore knows everything about Sydney Donovan, not only because of the former boxing champion’s notoriety, but because over a decade ago, she’d almost been his wife. The Sydney he knows doesn’t take crap from anybody, so when he moves back to the DMV area where they both grew up, he’s surprised to find out that she’s in a relationship with a man who regularly leaves her battered and bruised. He immediately knows something’s wrong and vows to get the revenge she can’t get for herself. Unfortunately, the Serbian mafia tosses a wrench in his efforts, but he’s determined to not only dismantle the crime organization, but get his woman to finally say, “I do.”

Gutter - Part 1: The Rise


Tiana Laveen - 2021
    Considered one of the most unique and gifted artists in the entertainment industry, he is a hot commodity and has taken the music world by storm for over a decade with his distinctive musical style and talent. With back-to-back, sold-out tours, cash to burn, number one songs on the billboard charts and Grammy nominations, his wildest dreams have come true tenfold. However, behind all the money, women, and paparazzi is a life full of strife and struggle. Dark secrets, too. His back against the wall, he must return to his roots to unravel the truth. While in his hometown of Red Hook, Brooklyn, Gutter unearths a Pandora’s box of epic proportions. The past has returned to collect its due, and it all centers around his estranged mother, and himself.Promise Bradford is Assistant Funeral Director of Horizons Funeral Home, Mortuary and Chapel. As of late, the families of the deceased aren’t the only ones that feel as if they’ve run out of time. Promise is determined to get her mojo back after a difficult past year full of ups and downs. Starting over is the hardest thing she’s ever had to do, but she is determined to get her life on track. One fateful day, she meets the musical superstar and just like that, an amazing chance encounter turns into something much more. Gutter and Promise are touched by the poignant finger of fate, and chemistry ignites. However, Promise harbors a secret, one that can destroy the newfound love she’s found.Can a man consumed by darkness ever find happiness outside of the limelight?

Sweet Like Rosé


TaugJaye Crawford - 2019
    Louis ho. Yet no matter how powerful his status was throughout the city, when a situation comes up and he needs someone the most, his assistant, Hunter, or his “Rosé” as he likes to call her, is the only one who could possibly hold it down for him. Hunter Rosé Twenty-five year old plus sized beauty. Israel Bennett’s right hand. Yet with that same hand held up to God, she solemnly swears that she can’t stand her boss’ rude ass. Her man is convinced that she and Israel are sleeping together, but will one “business proposition” prove that analogy to be true? In this short, romantic novella, TaugJaye puts a different twist on urban fiction with the execution of this whimsical love affair. Hunter brings something to the table that Israel has been missing all of his life, but will she give into his charm, or play the game better than her boss does, and decide to walk away from him as if nothing between them had ever happened?

Secrets, Lies & Family Ties


Sylvia Hubbard - 2007
    Reluctantly, he is convinced to go to his high school reunion, but upon meeting the mysterious woman, Ezekiel forgets what he wants and focuses on what he desires. Too bad he won't be able to keep her. When Grae is given the opportunity to sleep with the man of her dreams since high school without him knowing her identity, this shy reclusive young woman steps outside of her shell and transforms herself into the woman of his dreams. From the author that brought readers the steamy sensual noir, MISTAKEN IDENTITY, other books by Sylvia Hubbard can be purchased or downloaded at her website: www.sylviahubbard.com

His Private Dancer


Karyn Langhorne - 2021
    On the run from that disastrous relationship, the last thing Sahara needs is another billionaire bad boy... but Fate has other plans. When an anonymous fling with a quirky stranger turns into something more, Sahara is shattered to learn that her mystery man is none other than Hugh Lindsay the eccentric tech billionaire—a man, even richer and more powerful than the last one.Can Hugh convince her to look past all that money and love him for himself, or will Sahara’s fears about the power of billions keep her from the joys of performing for an audience of one?