Book picks similar to
The Velvet Rope by BRENDA L THOMAS
urban-fiction
african-american-fiction
brenda-l-thomas
romance
Don't Blame the Devil
Pat G'Orge-Walker - 2010
So after hearing of her daughter-in-law's sudden death, Delilah decides that coming to the rescue of her long-estranged son, Jessie, and her granddaughter, Tamara, would be a good look. . .though Lord knows she'll have to dig hard to find her maternal instincts.But Delilah quickly discovers Jessie wants nothing to do with her. And Tamara, who's following in Delilah's musical footsteps, isn't interested in her career advice, especially since Delilah got ahead using the singing couch. And Delilah's old flame, Deacon Pillar, an ex-convict who's traded in his gangster ways for a Bible, is stirring up a past that's sure to shock..."Hilarious faith-based romp. . .Walker shines a little light on a wacky family reunion with her usual inspirational, knee-slapping style." --Publishers Weekly "A comic novel about mistakes and second chances." --Library Journal
Roadrunner
Trisha R. Thomas - 2002
He’s married to his college sweetheart, Leah, and they have two children and a dream home in Los Angeles. But an injury has sidelined his hot career, and prescription medication and depression are pulling him into a downward spiral, leaving Leah feeling emotionally distanced and lonely. Their fighting escalates, and one night Dell commits an act of violence that changes the course of their lives forever. But Angel Lopez, the cop who arrests Dell, decides to take the law into his own hands. Determined to teach the famous athlete a lesson, he drives Dell to the worst part of town and tries to kick him out of the car. The men struggle and the car crashes. When Angel comes to, Dell is gone and no one knows if he’s dead or alive.Leah is grateful when a guilt-stricken Angel offers to chase the media away from her home and help out around the house, “just until Dell comes home.” She and her family grow to trust him, and Angel falls in love with the Roadrunner’s lovely, grieving wife. Will Dell find his way home? Will Angel replace him? And what really happened that dark night the Roadrunner disappeared?
N.A.S (Niggas Ain't Shit)
Jessica N. Watkins - 2014
As women, we've all experienced that. Yet, some men cause hurt beyond infidelity. Some men are so ruthless, conniving, and reckless with love that they selfishly destroy the lives of every woman that is unfortunate enough to cross their path. Some women haven’t experienced this level of deception. Those women should consider themselves lucky. However, the unfortunate that fall victim to these magicians of trickery and manipulation aren't so lucky. To these women, unfaithfulness is a cake walk. Aaliyah, Tabitha and Jaleesa are examples of these women. Sometimes you can see a man’s games from a mile away. Unfortunately, Nas and Moses put much effort in disguising their deception as unconditional love. There is no question that love is presumed to exist somewhere in these relationships. Yet, the drama that comes along with Nas and Moses’ love is life damaging, and Aaliyah, Tabitha, and Jaleesa eventually learn that bad men love love too. Fall into this gritty tale of deception, that goes far beyond petty unfaithfulness and lies, that will leave you realizing that some men simply ain’t sh*t.
The Flip Side of Sin
Rosalyn McMillan - 2000
"The Flip Side of Sin" takes readers on a journey through the lives of a group of unforgettable characters who must overcome life's toughest challenges to find true happiness. It is a book in which worlds collide and people are forever transformed by the tumultuous changes that occur in one man's life. The story begins with Isaac Coleman, a man whose tragic mistakes cost him years away from everyone and everything that mattered to him -- especially his wife and son. Alone, confused, and bitter, Isaac can only become whole by learning to love again. But when he re-enters the world he left and attempts to get reacquainted with his now teenage son, Peyton, he finds heartbreaking rejection.As Isaac struggles to understand and change his plight, his only form of self-expression is found in the keys of his saxophone. When he later meets up with Miracall Lake, a woman with whom he shares a painful past, she surprisingly helps him to face his fears and reach for his dreams. In this case, love indeed conquers all -- or so it tries to in this tale of good versus evil and love versus hate. "The Flip Side of Sin" is a poignant and memorable work from a writer of immense talent.
Downsized
Ms. Downlow - 2011
Kaylani Reynolds is a sexy female architect who's been laid off, but not laid in a while. She tries to keep the peace with her delicious, but annoying neighbor Ryan Stevens without becoming his next piece of ass. Kaylani lives in a huge house that she designed herself, right next door to Ryan's much smaller home. He thinks she's doing too much with her pricey pad. She thinks he's doing too much, too, with his barking pit bull, and constant complaints about her cat, and her design choices. He seems determined to set her off at every turn. It's no wonder that when she loses her job, she doesn't want his judgmental ass to know. Then again, she doesn't want anyone to know that she's chosen a job that doesn't require a degree. To make matters worse, she's seen what Ryan is packing. Will she be able to resist riding his long black limo?Cover Image: Model Kami2Hot, Photo by Jeremy Jennings aka MrFStop
Shades of Jade (Strivers Row)
Gloria Mallette - 2000
Louis. Wayne. Eric. Marissa had been warned: One of these days you're gonna mess with the wrong woman's husband. But she doesn't care. Aside from an occasional bout of guilt, she feels no shame, because after all, if their wives were doing what they were supposed to, then their husbands would not be seeking her company. Marissa dates married men - four of them concurrently because it's easier. She gets all of the trappings of a relationship - love, wining and dining, physical pleasure - without any of the pain - cooking, laundry, and the day-to-day maintenance of a relationship. But when it appears that one of the wives of the men she is dating is out to get her - wants her dead, in fact - Marissa begins to reexamine the choices she's made. Her selfishness gives way to vulnerability and fear, and she comes to the conclusion that she deserves a man all her own. But will she survive long enough to find Mr. Right?From the Trade Paperback edition.
Other Men's Wives
Freddie Lee Johnson III - 2005
The good life wasn't handed to him on a silver platter, though. Growing up in the Cleveland ghetto, his father was shot by a drug addict, he worked the streets to help his sister through college, and he made his fair share of enemies along the way.Yet not even his tough upbringing prepared him for the mysterious DVD that showed up on his doorstep, its contents revealing an explicit sexual encounter between his wife and another man, whose face was purposely blurred. Sierra's betrayal is heart wrenching, and Denmark's on the warpath to find out the identity of the man behind it. One thing's sure: It's someone close to him.Suddenly everyone is suspect, especially his two best buddies, and he'll stop at nothing to exact his revenge-even if it means sleeping with their wives to get it. But when Denmark takes justice into his own hands, he discovers a truth even more shocking than his wife's infidelity. . . .In this gritty revenge tale, Freddie Lee Johnson III takes us into the mind of a man consumed with grief and rage. Full of jump-off-the-page characters and fast-paced drama, Other Men's Wives is an explosive ride fueled by love, lust, and deceit.
Always True to You in My Fashion
Valerie Wilson Wesley - 2002
Randall is rich, handsome, and charming -- the true-to-life dream lover of these smart, independent women who all find themselves passionately involved with him during the same seven-month period.There's Medora Jackson, an artist who has loved Randall since college and is now desperately trying to cut him loose. But turning Randall Hollis out of her life will end up being far more difficult than she thinks. There's Ana Reese-Mitchell, a wealthy widow and art collector who is haunted by the death of her best friend and the specter of her cruel late husband. She hopes Randall Hollis will be her second chance at love. And there's ambitious Taylor Benedict, a graduate student in art history who is coming to terms with her parents' divorce and problems from her childhood that she can't chase away. She's sure that Randall Hollis will be the first rung on her ladder to success.Randall Hollis is a man for all seasons, representing a different fantasy for each of the women who love him. As the novel unfolds, each woman will discover more about herself than she bargained for. And each, along with the errant Randall himself, will finally know the true meaning of love and the peace that comes with forgiveness.
My Married Boyfriend (Love & Revenge Book 2)
Cydney Rax - 2016
An unexpected temptation. And stakes so high no one will walk away unscathed… Gorgeous Nicole is about to get everything she's hustled for. She's having her rich, married lover Rashad's baby. And a lucky break has made her a media heroine—and the perfect new wife material. With one more deception here, a couple more little seductions there, she'll finally push Rashad's wife, Kiara, completely out of his life. With her formidable competition gone, Nicole will lock down Rashad's ever-wandering interest, and be the next Mrs. Eason for sure… But there are some temptations even this sexy schemer finds tough to pass up. Especially her first love, ex-con Ajalon, who's just walked back into her life. His intense hunger, chiseled body, and mind-blowing endurance are throwing Nicole off her game and reigniting emotions way too hot to control—or resist. But he’s also handed Kiara, and another interested ex, the perfect ammo to expose Nicole and blow her world apart once and for all. Now the only guarantee for all involved is shattering scandal—and mutually assured destruction…Praise for the novels of Cydney Rax “The book we can’t put down.”--Essence® on My Husband’s Girlfriend “Fascinating, witty, and thought-provoking.” –Zane on My Daughter’s Boyfriend “Filled with family drama.”--APOOO Book Club on My Sister’s Ex
Forever an Ex
Victoria Christopher Murray - 2014
Now eight years later, their exes are back, wreaking havoc on the lives they’ve worked so hard to rebuild. Sheridan has found love again after her ex-husband left her for a man, but her old wounds are reopened when her daughter tells her she’s gay and Sheridan blames her ex. Kendall is forced to reunite with her former husband, who left her for her own sister, when her father wass diagnosed with cancer. And Asia must reevaluate her life when her L.A. Laker ex-boyfriend reminds her that her lavish lifestyle will end when their son turns eighteen next year. With her trademark writing that “has the kind of momentum that prompts you to elbow disbelief aside and flip the pages in horrified enjoyment” (The Washington Post), Forever an Ex is Murray’s best novel yet.
A Down Chic
Mallori McNeal - 2005
For a 17-year-old, Amina has a decent life. But after meeting her father and 23-year-old brother for the first time, things take a turn for the worse. Amina ends up alone, trying to fend for herself and save her boyfriend, Kayne, from 3 years in jail. Amina must prove her loyalty to Kayne, but can you be a Down Chick without being locked down yourself? This is a question that never crosses Amina’s mind, leading her to make the ultimate mistake of her life. Author Mallori McNeal began writing Down Chick at age 14, during the summer before she began her first year in high school. She completed Down Chick and was accepted for publishing at age 16. Mallori currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Unspoken Lies
Darrien Lee - 2010
From four-time "Essence"-bestselling author Lee comes the compelling tale of a marriage that is tested when infidelity--and tragedy--come into play.
Legal Heirs - Box Set Edition: Books 5-8
Kimball Lee - 2014
The tortured triangle between Charlotte, Bly and Finn is put to the test. Can Maddie stand the heat of being a billionaire’s wife? The love affairs and loyalties of JP and Amanda, West and Evangeline, and even Jude, are in jeopardy. What would the Legal series be without a few jaw-dropping surprises? Who are these new additions, and are they all welcome bundles of joy? Everything happens as it’s meant to, as Charlotte and company play out their dramas and set the stage for their legal heirs! LEGAL HEIRS 2: Who committed the original sin, Charlotte, Finn, or Bly? Does it really matter if a new act of betrayal has the power to ruin them all? Desire and deceit go hand in hand and come in unexpected forms, the two together will unleash a chain of events that will alter lives forever. Charlotte will feel the sting of deception that sends her careening down a forbidden path. In the end one little boy’s future hangs in the balance. The heirs have grown up in the prequel to Legal Heirs 3, Hearts of Fire, and their lives will be wilder and more fascinating than anything that has come before! LEGAL HEIRS 3: HERE WE GO! Another wild ride with Charlotte, Bly, Finn, and the gang from LEGAL ACTION!!! Answers from the past and action for the present!!! Did Finn forgive Charlotte? Who ended up with her love? Also, a few surprising new developments are always part of the story! By the way, is Atticus a Bly or a Hale? What happened in the 13 years when the heirs were growing up, AND, what are they up to now that they’re free to run the world?!!! The past, the present, and all the thrilling details that keep the LEGAL SERIES going strong, while keeping readers on the edge of their seats and wanting more!!! LEGAL HEIRS 4: The Ghost has Charlotte, Angus has Skyler… so many lives hang in the balance! Bly and Finn will have to strike a serious bargain and come to terms over Charlotte’s love… more than once. Holden and Hadley find their bliss, but Hadley’s career is about to sky-rocket, and… there’s a new bad-boy in town. Atticus has some serious soul searching to do, is he truly “a child of luck and fortune”? Big changes are in store in this final book of the Legal Heirs series, paving the way for the final four books to come in Legal Legacy!!! GET ALL 4 BOOKS NOW, THIS SPECIAL PRICE WON"T LAST!! SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE OF ONLY $7.95 FOR ALL 4 NOVELLAS! (Regular price $11.96 when buying all 4 novellas separately) If you haven't already, read BOOK ONE of this series entitled, LEGAL ACTION, it's FREE on Amazon!!
If I Can't Have You
Mary B. Morrison - 2012
Morrison delivers a seductive, mesmerizing tale of "love" gone dangerously wrong. . .No matter how direct Loretta is, Granville doesn't get it. He was fine when it came to burning up the sheets, but that's where their connection ends--or so she thinks. When he begins stalking her, Loretta's gorgeous girlfriend, Madison, claims she can tame any man...so Loretta dares Madison to prove she can tame Granville. But sexing Granville while she's engaged to the most eligible bachelor in Houston may cost Madison more than Loretta's bet is worth. . .Praise for Mary B. Morrison's I'd Rather Be With You "Drenched in jealousy, cheating. . .will leave readers gasping in shock." --Library Journal "The sequel to If I Can't Have You has just as much drama, fighting and lying as its predecessor." --RT Book Reviews
A Good Girl and a Hood Millionaire
Khadijah J. - 2020
Being the good girl that she was, she had never smoked, drank, or done any drugs a day in her life. She had never even had a boyfriend, nor a first kiss. Pilar never found anyone worthy until one eventful night where she ran into one of the most sought-after men in her town. Legacy Powers came from an unstable household and had to practically raise himself and the adults around him. Known for his striking looks and charming demeanor, he kept three women in rotation and ran from commitment. That was until he ran into a rare beauty that set a fire in his once cold heart. Despite these two being total opposites, they find themselves incredibly drawn to each other like a magnet. After the first mishap on the first night they met, time quickly passes as they try to forget each other. However, what’s meant to be will be, despite what the journey throws at them. Could Pilar handle Legacy’s lifestyle and was Legacy ready to let his past life go? Will these two figure it out together or end up going their separate ways after the chaos ceases?