Book picks similar to
Human Rights and the Image of God by Roger Ruston


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Every Bad Boy Needs A Rider


Kellz Kimberly - 2017
     Zion is the regular girl who never does anything besides what is expected of her. Plain Jane is what she sees herself as. Never one to party or do anything fun, she sticks to the things she knows; working at her father’s auto shop and attending school. A brief accident with her car throws her into a budding friendship with a bad boy who she has nothing in common with other than cars. Growing up, Jasheem wasn't into the street life that consisted of selling drugs. He planned to walk the straight and narrow, but nothing really goes as planned. An unfortunate event leads him to turn his love for cars into an illegal six figure business. With a girl at home whom he doesn't love, Jasheem realizes he wants something more out of a relationship. Once he lays eyes on Zion, he deems her as the perfect candidate. The innocence Jasheem sees within Zion is what attracts him to her, but her knowledge and love for cars is what gave him the push to pursue her. Living in two different worlds, Zion and Jasheem both find something in each other they never saw in anyone else. Will these two be able to turn their love for cars into a loving relationship? Or will an untold truth tear these two apart?

Shawty Fell in Love With A Rude Boy


P. Dotson - 2017
    Fresh on the dating scene, she wasn’t looking for anything serious, just a night of fun with no strings attached. Love was not supposed to be in the cards, but she got more than she bargained for when she crossed paths with Dogada Harris. Dogada, president of the famous biker club ‘Rude Boys’ has never had a problem with the ladies until he met his match in Erica James. Not one to be impressed with his status as a Rude Boy, Dogada found himself in a position that he’s never been in, chasing after a woman. While Erica is running away from love, Dogada has finally found it. Will Erica open up her heart to giving love a second try or will Dogada lose a love he never had

SHOULD’VE CHOSE ME


OCTAVIA GRANT - 2017
    As the old cliche goes, "If I can't have you know one will". This couldn't be more true as Kelli attempts to rid her best friend Symone of everything she loves, just to settle an old debt that Symone is not even aware exist. Kelli made it her business to become Symone's best friend as teenagers, simply because she knew a secret that no one, except the original parties involved, knew about. Now nearly 20 years later, "Operation Destroy Symone", is well under way. Will Kelli succeed in destroying Symone, or will her hard work backfire?

BITTER TOO: (BITTER 2)


Shakela James - 2017
    Long before I was a baby mama, I was a woman in a so-called man’s-world. My bitterness started long before I gave birth. The odds were against me since the day I was born and falling in love only made it worse. Sometimes as women, we wear our strength so well that we forget to take it off at night. We fall asleep with the weight of the world on our backs and wake up feeling the marks that are left on our souls. Still, we get up each day to face a world that doesn't love or respect us. Sometimes, we give our all knowing that we’ll receive nothing in return. I think that's enough to make anyone bitter. I sacrificed my life, my body, my sanity, and my heart only to be disrespected, mistreated, and overlooked. If you walked a mile in my shoes, you'd probably be bitter too.

Urban Tales (The Mercers #1)


Mercy B. - 2017
    But to the Mercer's, it's known as home. Urban Tales is a series created by Mercy B that depicts the lives of four brothers - Nieem, Navee, Nylam, and Lodie - who reigns supreme from corner to corner of their poverty infested projects. Southside is where they sold their first piece of stolen goods, hit their first piece of pussy, and even caught their first body. No deed goes undone, no stone unturned, and not a thing is deemed off limits when the Mercer's are involved -with the exception of their most beautiful treasure, Laitleigh. Laitleigh is the younger sister of four overbearing brothers who are set on her success. While she's grateful for their leadership and protection, she yearns to seek the benefits and misfortunes of Southside with her own eyes. Determined to spread her wings, she embarks on a life of independency and sworn secrecy. Laitleigh breaks the barriers of involuntary confinement and uncovers a life of sex, drugs, and money that she's too enthralled with to return to the fairytale life that was designed for her at the hands of her brothers. Urban Tales is a riveting yet comforting story based in the mid-90s that will touch the depths of your soul and keep the brim of your brain buzzing.

Nyce


Shataya Simms - 2017
    Residing in a North Philly projects, James believes that basketball is his key to getting him and his family out of poverty. Dubbed “Nyce” due to his dominance on the court, he catches the eye of notorious drug lord Anthony “Tone” Middlebrooks who takes the young, impressionable boy under his wing. As their bond forms, Tone becomes like an older brother to Nyce who believes that he simply wants to look out for him. However, through Tone’s cunning ways, Nyce becomes entangled into the seductive world of drugs, money, and mayhem. Battling with his inner demons of a repeated cycle of good vs evil, Nyce hates that Tone has tricked him into this lifestyle by threatening to harm his family. Will Nyce bow down and submit; continuing to be one of Tone’s pawns, or will he manipulate the game and come out on top?

The Streets Raised Me


Deyona "Yona" Pearson - 2015
    Money and her daughter was all that mattered to her. She was tossed to the wolves in the mean streets of West Philadelphia by her own father, but she played the game and came back the leader of the pack. Once she realized the power of the gold between her legs, she used it to her advantage to survive. When the infamous Tre waltzes right into her life, he has her questioning everything. Her heart is screaming for her to let love fill it, but the life she lives keep calling her. Just when she decides to give in to happiness, the drama begins. Her dad is out to destroy her every hope and dream, while Tre may not be the man that she thought he was. Will Cherish be able to survive the drama, or will the streets eat her alive?

Royal Majesty: A Dope Boy Love Story


Chrissy J - 2016
    She gave up on love and the whole fairytale love story until Majesty walked into her life, showing her things no other man has done before... Will Royal let Majesty love her or will she push him away because she's afraid of being hurt a second time? Majesty Swore off love after his ex-girlfriend did the unthinkable and walked out of his life. Majesty threw himself into his businesses and stayed clear from any kind of relationship, until he crossed paths with Royal. With both of their exes trying to come back in the picture, will both Royal and Majesty make it through the lies, drama and deceit that the people that they once loved try to throw at their relationship? Or will they go their separate ways? Find out in Royal Majesty: A Dope Boy Love Story

Better Days


June Tate - 2000
    Life would be good if it wasn't for her mother, Eve, who likes more to drink than is good for her. And when Gemma's dad walks out and Eve starts bringing strange men home, Gemma doesn't know where to turn. Desperate to escape, she seizes the opportunity to be a stewardess on the Queen Mary, voyaging to and from New York. When she discovers that Nick is also on board, it seems an affirmation that she made the right decision. But a chance encounter with Vince Morelli, a gang boss in the New York docks, looks set to jeopardise her newfound happiness.

You Put A Move On My Heart


Diamond D. Johnson - 2016
    Jarvis Banks was sentenced to five years in prison, leaving behind his girl, Shonte Howard. What Shonte and Jarvis shared was that real, ghetto love, and everybody hoped for a relationship that the two of them shared. But everything that glitters isn’t gold. While from the outside looking in, the two may have had the best relationship, but boy if Jarvis wasn’t taking advantage of Shonte’s heart.So, what happens when Jarvis Banks is finally released from prison and comes home to see that the love of his life is now engaged? Jarvis is a man who is used to getting what he wants, so he will stop at nothing to get his girl back. While he’s fighting to get her, Shonte is holding back a secret from Jarvis that could be detrimental to both of them.Come take a ride with this Miami couple and find out if Mr. Banks is able to put that move on Shonte’s heart.

Conflict: Surviving The Zombie Apocalypse


Joshua Jared Scott - 2014
    Civilization is in ruins. Cities have fallen. Shambling corpses wander the back roads and highways of America. Places of safety grow ever more rare as bands of survivors find themselves under siege. Even so, a handful have managed to hang on. Among these is Jacob Thornton who, along with a small group of friends, has built a home in the wilderness. Isolated and protected by thick walls, they made it through the early, dreadful months and the harsh winter that followed. Wanting more, the group decides to seek out others in the hope of bolstering their numbers and creating a true community. Not all who have survived the change seek a return to normalcy. There are those who embrace the collapse and chaos. Most such men have since perished, but there exists a single unified force, an army crisscrossing the land attacking all they encounter, leaving nothing but battered, violated bodies in their wake. Guided by a shadowy prophet, these raiders have targeted those few settlements and outposts still standing.

Syn: Sex Is Syn, Love Is Pain


J. Peach - 2016
    With a junky for a mother who would sell her just for a quick fix and an absentee father, life was unbearable. At a young age, Angel learned to fend for herself to survive this cold, cruel world. With her less than perfect childhood, it's no surprise that her attempts at love failed; making her come to the realization men DON'T love, they only care about the pleasurable favors one could offer them. To endure heartbreak and the life that was forced upon her, she created an alter ego... SYN. Syn, unlike Angel, was built to deal with any situation. The only thing that mattered to her was sex and money. Growing up in an abusive home, Parker James became void of all feelings, which caused him to live reckless and not care whether he lived or died. Until one day he walked into a strip joint and his eyes landed on her. The pain and loneliness in her eyes pulled at the strings in Parker’s heart, giving it an unrecognizable double beat. She caused something to stir in him, and he knew he had to have her, and he was willing to do whatever it took to get her.

All The Things Money Can't Buy


Krystal Armstead - 2015
    She runs and owns a tattoo shop with her cousin, Kourtney. Kourtney is tired of seeing her cousin down and out. She convinces her cousin to get back into the dating scene again, forcing Nina to confront her hurtful past.Nina grew up on a naval base in San Diego, California. When Nina was fourteen, she met and fell for an older musician by the name of Ricque Cole. What started off as tutoring to get him caught up on his schoolwork turned into a beautiful relationship, but more than that, the two became best friends. They confided in one another and depended on each other to get through the tough times. Nina struggled with the feelings of neglect that her mother placed upon her; Ricque struggled with the life that his parents left him to deal with.Circumstances pull the young couple from one another, forcing Nina to keep a secret that should have never been kept. Heartbreaking decisions were made, and Nina’s conscience begins to weigh down on her. After a tragic event, Nina’s aunt invites her to come live with her in Goldsboro, North Carolina.After almost sixteen years of living with guilt and anguish, Nina meets a handsome club owner by the name of Santiago Dominguez. Feelings start to flourish, and Nina can’t seem to shake the fact that the new man in her life has similarities to the old one. Just when Nina decides that it’s time to move on, her past confronts her with open arms.

Saved By A Kingpin


Chase Sidora - 2016
    Not only that, she is strikingly gorgeous, witty, and smart. But she is also damaged. No matter how many great qualities she possesses; Riley has ended up scorned by love time and time again. This time though, when love leaves her with absolutely nothing and she is ready to call it quits once and for all, she finds refuge in an unlikely place. Mason Moore is handsome, wealthy, and noble. But for every positive attribute there is an even stronger, much more ruthless quality hidden underneath the surface. Growing up the son of a street legend in Passaic, New Jersey’s Aspen Place Projects, Mase has been groomed for the street life ever since he could remember. So when Mase inherited his title of Kingpin along with all the burdens that came along with it when his father was murdered in cold blood he was up for the challenge. Along with his childhood friend Steele, Mase has prided himself on his ability to continue to build and grow the organization that was handed to him with ease… that is until money turns up missing and a new flame threatens to knock him off of his square. Riley and Mase hit it off instantly and seem to be made for each other but can they really trust the fairytale their connection appears to be? Is it real or is their love circumstantial? Are they entertaining the idea of something that isn’t meant to last? With both their pasts hell bent on being a part of their futures, falling in love with each other could cost Mase and Riley not only their relationship but also their lives.

My Polished, Professional Thug: A Paranormal Romance


Pebbles Starr - 2017
    But what if he’s real? Mendesa is a young girl, with a good head on her shoulders and big dreams. Sometimes they’re too big. As she’s navigating through life, she soon finds out that sometimes our dreams are bigger than us for a reason. Skot is everything your mama warned you about, wrapped in an Armani suit. He’s heartless, and will stop at nothing to secure the bag. Even if means destroying the life of the person who saved his. His treacherous ways don’t necessarily make him a bad guy, more so just misunderstood. With more secrets than a closed FBI file, Skot might learn too late that money isn’t everything. There’s more than meets the eye to these two. Inexplicable dreams, chance encounters, and dark souls are working over time. But what does it mean? Will Mendesa’s naivety cloud her vision, or will she learn that some dreams are not meant to be reality? Can Skot spot the snakes in his midst, or will his greed cause him to pay the ultimate price? Emmanuel aka “Mann” is Mendesa’s twin brother and they share a bond, like most twins do. However, that may not always be a good thing. Drugs and alcohol don’t do anything but make the darkness in his heart darker. Manipulating the people around him and striking fear in their hearts is what he does best. Will his destructive nature swallow his loved ones whole, or can they avoid being dragged to hell with him? It’s not every day you read about some paranormal shit in the hood, but this polished, professional thug is no ordinary street nigga. Come along on this tale of love, sex, and sorcery. It’s as juicy as it is spell-binding!