Book picks similar to
A Good Dude by Keith Thomas Walker


young-adult
romance-with-baby
good-dude
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If You're Willing


Ivy Symone - 2018
    Hoping that things would evolve, Cassie gives longtime friend Rock a try. Dealing with baby mama drama, his constant lying, and her own hangups with love have proven to be a challenge. Cassie loses her patience and is ready to give up. Throw in the dysfunction of her family, Cassie needs an outlet as she shuffled through her shitty life. This release she seeks just might be what’s needed to escape her reality, even if it’s just for a minute. However, this situation can make things worse for her emotionally or it can help her face those things about herself she wanted to ignore. Sit back, buckle up and enjoy the ride as Cassie tries to figure out her life with the support of her friends and family—the ones she actually can stand. Will she finally confront the tumultuous relationship she has with her mother? Will Rock prove to be the man she needs? Or will the sticky, but oh so very erotic, quandary she finds herself in ruin her journey to love?

Capone and Capri: A Bad Boy Romance


Jessica N. Watkins - 2017
    In Capone & Capri, his bad boy swag is tested when death falls at his doorstep, along with the possibilities of love. He had been juggling women all of his life; never a one woman man, with no interest in finding “the one.” But a real man doesn't hesitate when he finds the right woman, even if he wasn't even looking for her, and Capone did not hesitate the moment that he laid his eyes on Capri, a coal-colored beauty, who owned a voluptuous body; the best curve being her smile. Yet, when DBD, Death Before Dishonor, an infamous drug organization in Chicago, which Capone heads, has madness brought to its doorstep, love is placed on the back burner. As Capone avenges the death of one of the most important members of DBD, his focus has to turn to revenge, but he finds peace in the arms of his “Black Beauty.” However, as sweet and kind as Capri is, the black beauty is battling demons of her own. As she is being pursued by Capone, while still being involved with another man and dealing with family drama, her plate is full. From the national bestselling author of the Secrets of a Side Bitch series, Jessica Watkins is back with yet another explosive and suspenseful saga that is guaranteed to leave you wanting more! In Capone & Capri, follow these two love birds’ romance of lust, love, drama and turmoil. If Capri leaves her man, is being with Capone what she really wants? Or is she ready to finally live life as a single woman? And will Capone think that Capri is worth setting aside his player ways for once he finds out that he has been sleeping with the enemy?

Elevate Me


AshleyNicole - 2016
    Raised with a silver spoon in her mouth, she’s not used to not getting what she wants, and she for sure isn’t used to people speaking to her the way this rude furniture designer just did. Shai Jacobs is both proud and prejudice, against everything that Nyah stands for. But then again, she’s cute and she intrigues him. She’s also willing to admit her faults and take a step in the right direction. Is love enough to elevate them to common ground?

Ashes


Taisha S. Ryan - 2015
    Her best friend, Trish, was killed in a drunk driving accident. And it’s all her fault. Burdened by guilt, Zara lived a life of drugs, sex, and destruction. Now 5 years later, she is sober, free and on probation. Ready to turn her life around, she calls up the one person she could trust, her sister, Reyna, who offers her a place to stay until she gets back on her feet. There’s only one thing. Trish’s older brother, Vance, who is also the best friend of Reyna’s fiancé, is staying there as well, after a house fire renders him homeless. It’s been years since the accident and he still hasn't gotten over his sister’s death. He is full of rage. And will do anything in his power to make Zara’s life a living hell. Just her luck. Now she has to endure months under the same roof as the man who hates her with every piece of his soul. Not to mention, the same man she’s loved since her teenage years. Will Zara ever find a way to make him forgive her for his sister’s death? Will she ever learn to forgive herself? Or will the demons of the past destroy them beyond repair?

Another Chance to Love


D. Rose - 2018
    While avoiding love and relationships she finds comfort in an unlikely place. Her new work assignment may put a wrench in her plans to avoid love.Career driven and workaholic Grant has been under his dad wings since high school preparing to take over the family business. Now that he has become CEO he is determined to expand the company to every major city. His new contract has him focusing less on work and more on love. Never one to shy away from a challenge Grant is instantly attracted to Ivy and will stop at nothing to be with her. Will Ivy open her heart and take a chance on love again or will she continue to keep her heart closed off?

Fortunate


Nikki Blaire - 2017
    She is convinced that she has it all - money, a blossoming career in marketing, and a last name that opens every door in Washington, D.C. Is it good looks and charm... Tremaine Henley is a former playboy, turned single father, who seems to have everyone hanging onto his every word. He wants to be seen as more than just a handsome face, but can’t seem to get anyone take him seriously. At first meeting, both Ayda and Tremaine believe the other has everything. Tremaine sees Ayda as the woman of his dreams because she’s beautiful and high-powered. At the same time, Ayda sees Tremaine and automatically determines that he’s a heartbreaker who can have any woman that he wants. Their attraction is strong, but so are their insecurities, which threaten to keep them from ever seeing that their truly fortunate for having found each other.

Blind Expectations


Jacinta Howard
    Or was that Confucius? Whatever. People are fluid—they come into your life for a while, and when it’s time for them to float on, Leah has no qualms waving goodbye. The only exception is her neighbor and best friend, Trevor. When all else fails in her crazy world, Trevor is always there, reliable, steady… real. But what happens when friendship blossoms into something more? Can Leah and Trevor's relationship survive the change? Or will the weight of blind expectations cause them to lose the one thing they love—each other?

The Takedown


Nia Forrester - 2017
    And to sweeten the triumph, he has Makayla Hughes at his side—a woman whose wide-eyed wonder at their good fortune keeps his feet firmly planted on solid ground. In a profession that thrives on artifice, Makayla is the realest and most meaningful thing in his life. Jamal’s biggest problem—and the only conflict in his relationship—is finding time to keep his commitment to participate in planning their wedding. Well … that’s almost their only conflict. The other, is Devin Parks, Makayla’s omnipresent best friend whose demands on her time and heart keep pulling her back when Jamal needs her to move forward. But those may not be their only issues. Devin’s career-rise has attracted some unwanted attention, and unbeknownst to them both, maybe so too has Jamal and Makayla’s almost-too-perfect relationship. Someone, somewhere, is looking for the chance at a takedown.

Love in the Streets


Ashley Nicole - 2017
    You fall head over heels in love with him. Dr. Sienna Jameson grew up with a crime boss as a father and is not looking for a man with the same occupation. But Streets is cute… and sweet… and everything in between. How is she supposed to resist his charms while craving everything about him? Streets is just trying to do his job. Hooking up with the boss’s daughter is not in the job description, but after spending some time with Dr. Jameson, he’s not so sure he can stay away; however, the circumstances dictate that he must. What to do?

In Name Only


Vivian Rose Lee - 2011
    Now she was in a name only marriage with a man that hates her. USN Commander Benjamin Smith was floored when he see the beautiful dressmaker sitting at the family table at his sister wedding. He was instantly drawn to her in a way he had never experienced. He wants her to be his at least for a little while. After a night of unbridled passion Ben wasn't sure he could let her go. Until he thinks Sky has betrayed him, forcing him to do something he never wanted, and Benjamin is never forced to do anything he did not want. Now he is married Sky making it clear it the marriage will be in name only. As he and Sky begin to share a home, he begins to wonder was he wrong about her?

Allow Me To Love You


Asia Monique' - 2018
    Like some of the most beautiful music ever written, Riley lives her life to the rhythm of no regret. Blessed with everything she could ever ask for—a loving and supportive family, and a fulfilling career—the only song Riley hasn’t been able to complete is one about love, which has yet to come her way. Being married with children is high on Riley’s priority list, and at the age of twenty-eight, she's starting to wonder if the family she’s always pictured isn’t in the cards for her. Just when she's ready to put down the pen, Riley meets Zaire, the father of a pair of precocious twins she teaches. With his uptight and serious demeanor, Zaire is the polar opposite of Riley, which proves to be a turn off at first. However, Riley becomes intrigued by the solemn Zaire, and is determined to find out why. The more time she spends with him, the more she realizes that he could possess the love she’s always wanted.

 Zaire Holland is a revered graphic designer who has spent his entire life working hard to have it all, and at the age of thirty, his efforts prove to be successful. He has a beautiful wife, a set of beautiful twins, and is at the top of his field. Of course, no love story can prevail without tragedy, and Zaire is at the receiving end of it, losing his wife in a fatal car accident. Left to raise his one-year-old twins by himself, Zaire throws himself into taking care of them and making his job the spouse he sorely missed. His mother and brother attempt to make him slow down and heal properly, maybe even put himself out here, but Zaire refuses and spends the next four years of his life on autopilot. He doesn’t see himself dating or marrying ever again because he's already lost the love of his life. She was it for him. Then he meets Riley.

 Will Zaire allow Riley to break down that wall and love him like only she can? Or will he succeed in pushing her away for good?

When Worlds Collide


Millie Belizaire - 2018
    With a law professor for a mother, and a state attorney for a father, she has been raised to understand the law down to its most fundamental form. She's what they call, in every sense of the term, a Good Girl. As her father prepares to take on the biggest case of his career--going against Miami's most notorious kingpin, Silas Montgomery--tensions begin to rise, and our Good Girl becomes Silas Montgomery's newest target. Now on the radar of the most dangerous man in Miami, Lauren's perfect world goes up in flames. Everyday becomes a constant battle to stay alive.Kain is about as close to Silas Montgomery as most people can get. Unlike Lauren's world of sheltered ease, his world is dark and dangerous. He's been raised by the code of the streets, hardened by life's harshest lessons. Not many people are out here doing Kain any favors. Especially not the kind of favor he extends to Lauren. Protection--that's what he offers her. Protection from the most dangerous man in Miami.Lauren and Kain's story is tale of love crossing over to the different side of the tracks. Their's is a tale of what happens when worlds collide.Book one is told entirely in Lauren's point of view.

Mine Tonight


Christina C. Jones - 2015
    This is three sexy stories, about three women, with a focus on how one night of mind-blowing intimacy can change it all. If you’re looking for a sweet, tender love story… this ain’t it. (But I still think you’ll enjoy it! <3 )

If You Ever Change Your Mind


B. Love - 2017
    Even when he considers it, life throws him a curveball that causes him to take an entirely different path. The last curveball, a pregnant friend with benefits, caused Lucas to make an illegal move that led to his sister, Luana, being bound to Jaxon Jeffries. At first meeting Jaxon, Lucas considers him to be a man that will never be worthy of his respect and admiration, but there is one thing that Jaxon shares with Lucas that changes his life forever – the importance of choosing a wife instead of letting something as reckless and irrational as love choose one for you. Hali Davison has never been the type to step out of the traditional route with anything in her life. Even when she considers it, life throws her a curveball that causes her to return to the safe, predictable path she grew up on. The last curveball, finding out the man she’s loved all of her life practically was getting married to a woman that wasn’t her, has Hali reconsidering her safe and predictable lifestyle. If her last chance at letting Lucas know how she really feels for him is at his wedding… so be it. Lucas is stuck between doing the right thing and following his heart. His childhood has made it difficult for him to believe that true love exists, which is a great deal of the reason why he’s fought his feelings for Hali over the years. With his natural hair product line reaching heights he never thought were possible, Lucas is determined to secure his life mate now before his money, power and status make it impossible to choose a woman who wants him for him and not who he is and what he has. There’s just one question he’s faced with on the day of his wedding; is that woman Shanice, the woman responsible for giving him his first child, or Hali, the woman responsible for giving him his first taste of love – no matter how much he thought he didn’t want it. *Please note, Lucas and Hali first appear in “Just Say You Love Me”. While their story can be read on its own, it is suggested that you read about their backgrounds in “Just Say You Love Me” first.

Body By Night


Zuri Day - 2009
    She's tired of being overweight, she's had it with her overbearing family, and she's fed up with settling for any guy who'll have her--especially since she caught her boyfriend cheating with her best friend.  But working out and avoiding delicious food is easy compared to resisting the charms of Los Angeles' hottest personal trainer, JaJuan "Night" Simmons. Six feet of chiseled muscle and fine chocolate, he's challenging her body in all the right ways--and proving there's a sensitive, caring guy under the good looks. Their shared career goals of promoting health and fitness bring them even closer together. But D'Andra feels it may be too much of a good thing. After succeeding in taking command of her life, can she risk losing control of her heart?