Book picks similar to
Ninth Ward Blues by Janelle Smith Toussant
tbr-romance
y-01january
black-stories-matter
destination-reads
Family Pieces
Misa Rush - 2010
Away at college, even the necklace she wears serves as a constant connection home - a family tradition created when her grandfather handmade each immediate relative an interlinking charm. Each piece crafted in the shape of a puzzle piece, each one interlinking perfectly together. But when the unexpected death of her mother turns her world upside down, she discovers there is a missing piece of her treasured family tradition and her life as she once knew it may never be the same. Addison Reynolds resides in her posh Manhattan condominium and wraps her personal identity around running Urbane, the magazine empire built by her father. In a moment of haste, Addison divulges her deepest secret to her closest friend Emily - a secret she never intended to disclose. Could one choice, one secret, bond two unlikely women forever?
Going Solo (New Song Series: Book 1)
Brenda Barrett - 2014
He was single handedly bringing up his daughter, Mia, because his wife, Alice, abandoned them when Mia was just a baby.Alice decided to come back after ten years as part of her therapy. She had some things that she had to do: she would offer Carson a divorce so that he could move on with his life, and she would reconcile with those who had hurt her so she too could move on as well.What Alice hadn't banked on was how much she still loved Carson. Moving on would not be as easy as she thought.
Team Seven
Marcus Burke - 2014
Into that near-vacuum steps Marcus Burke and his first novel, Team Seven—a literarily accomplished, autobiographically tinged coming-of-age family drama with an undeniably authentic feel for place, language, and character.As Andre Battel, a native of Milton, a town south of Boston, ages from age eight through his teenage years, he grows away from his Jamaican family, discovers genuine prowess on the basketball court, and eventually falls into dealing drugs for the local street gang, Team Seven. But when Andre and his crew fall behind on payments, dire and violent consequences await. The story is told primarily through Andre's voice, but we also see the point of view of his mother, Ruby, a hardworking medical secretary; his older sister, Nina; his mostly-not-there and typically drunk-and-high father, Eddy, a halfhearted reggae musician; and Reggie and Smoke, the kingpin of competing drug crews.What emerges is a rich portrait of a black family, a black community, and one young man poised between youthful innocence and ambiguous experience.
The Grace Painter
Mark Romang - 2012
But then a bungled hostage scene destroyed his career. Now all London wants is to be left alone to lick his wounds. He thought he left his past far behind him when he fled New York City for the backwaters of Louisiana. But eight years later a young girl from a nearby parish is kidnapped, and London steps out from the shadows. Recruited to help find the missing girl by a down-on-her-luck FBI agent, London quickly finds himself thrust into the starring role of a daring rescue attempt. But before London can rescue the child from her kidnappers, he first must find a way to forgive himself for a past misstep, a blunder that forever altered his once promising life.Her partner killed, and cut off from her superiors by a Category 5 hurricane, FBI Special Agent Annie Crawford is at the end of her rope. She has only hours left to find a little girl before the unthinkable happens. And the only person she can find to help her is a mysterious stranger who paints murals inside his plantation house by candlelight. Worse, in order to rescue the child, Annie must revisit a place that terrifies her, a dilapidated fishing shack with a morbid history of crime and violence. The clock is ticking for Annie, Matthew London, and most importantly…the kidnapped child.
Titus Ray Thrillers: Books 1 & 2:
Luana Ehrlich - 2017
Compelled by their unwavering faith, the battle-hardened agent becomes a believer shortly before they smuggle him out of Iran to freedom in Turkey.Returning to the States, he discovers his Iranian mission failed because of political infighting within the Agency. After delivering a scathing indictment against the Deputy Director of Operations, he's forced to take a year's medical leave in Oklahoma.Before leaving Langley, however, he discovers a Hezbollah hit man has targeted him for assassination. Now, while trying to figure out what it means to be a follower of Christ, he must decide if the Iranian couple he meets in Oklahoma has ties to the man who's trying to kill him, and if Nikki Saxon, a beautiful local detective, can be trusted with his secrets.Book II, Two Days in Caracas
On the hunt for an assassin, Titus Ray faces a threat he never imagined. Can he overcome the obstacles and capture Ahmed Al-Amin before it's too late?
In this pulse-racing Christian thriller, CIA intelligence officer, Titus Ray, travels from Costa Rica to Venezuela in an effort to stop Ahmed Al-Amin, a Hezbollah assassin, from murdering a high-profile government official. Along the way, a family crisis jeopardizes his mission, and an Agency division head threatens to destroy his career. As the danger mounts, he's forced to partner with an untested operative to complete the mission and bring Ahmed to justice. Will he make it in time?
Purchase Books I & II in the Titus Ray Thrillers Series for the price of one!
A Boss Chic
Shantay - 2014
From the moment he saw Jasmine he wanted nothing more than to be with her in every way that he could, but will it be that easy to win her love? A Boss Chic takes you on a journey with Jasmine you’ll see why she’s first place with her mouthpiece and even quicker on her toes. Will love conquer all or will this be another fail attempt at hood love? Will Jared still remain the same understanding, loving, and caring man that Jasmine first met?
Souls Set Free
Kimmie Easley - 2012
Actually, she’s not loving at all. Unable to move on from a tormented childhood of abuse she’s now at risk of losing her own family. Hopeless, she goes to bed every night secretly longing to not wake up the next morning. That all changes the day her mother is murdered while living on the streets. Emma must now face all of the pain she has spent years trying to numb with pills and alcohol when she is forced to travel back to her hometown to identify her mother’s body. If only it were that easy…Will reliving the abuse all over again help Emma forgive her mother or send her spiraling back into a world she fought so hard to survive?
Falling for the Best Man
Joanne Dannon
When he’s asked to be the best man at their wedding, should he speak up, or forever hold his peace? Lifestyle hacker Kaylah Westwood’s engagement brings her a step closer to the kind of life she’s dreamed of, full of love and family. Her fiancé is a good guy. It’s a shame it’s his brother who’s the one who makes her pulse rate skittle. Jonah would never betray the brother who’s always been there for him. With just two days to go before the wedding, can he let the woman he loves marry his brother? But when Jonah confesses his feelings to Kaylah, a mind-blowing kiss has her rethinking her commitment. She thought she’d fallen for the right man. But is he the best man for her?
Burning Uncle Tom's Cabin
Carl Waters - 2014
Unwilling to let her son be taken from her, Eliza chooses the danger of escape over the devastation of separation. When George hears that his wife and son have run away from their master, he must immediately escape from his if he has any hope of finding them before the slave hunters do. But the road to Canada is treacherous and long, and very few make it to the end. Will the runaway slave, George, be able to use the Underground Railroad to get his family there safely? Burning Uncle Tom's Cabin reimagines the world of Harriet Beecher Stowe's original novel, dropping the stereotypes and infusing the characters with strength and dignity that will inspire modern readers.
God Plays Favorites
Charlie Carillo - 2012
An Ivy League graduate who grew up on Park Avenue takes his first job at the most sensational tabloid newspaper in New York City - and soon finds himself writing promotional stories about a cash giveaway contest intended to keep the paper alive! Jack Stone is not your everyday reporter, and his real education doesn’t begin in earnest until he hooks up with streetwise photographer Vinnie Corcora to do stories about the contest winners - a cast of characters who bring new meaning to "your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” It’s a wild ride that defies expectations and stereotypes, and along the way Jack earns a Ph.D in the human condition - while learning the true meaning of love, loyalty and friendship.
Rescued By A Kiss
Colleen Mooney - 2014
Everything changes in one dramatic moment when she kisses a handsome stranger in a marching group. He whispers in her ear and asks her to meet him at the end of the parade. The kiss makes her realize she is in an unfulfilling relationship that seems to be going nowhere fast. She sees her life stuck in PARK waiting for a proposal, working at the phone company, and in conflict with her mother every time she brings home another rescued dog. The Wrong Place at the Wrong Time:Brandy’s decision to meet him puts her in the midst of a shooting. When he asks for her help, Brandy finds herself on an adventure to a Bourbon Street strip joint, Charity Hospital, a gay nightclub and reunites with a childhood pal she knew as Duck Man. She meets some quirky characters not out of the ordinary in a city that knows how to party. There’s no place like New Orleans to have a good crime.
Rosa's Castle
Deanna Edens - 2016
An investor in the growing railroad industry, he played host to US presidents. And when he fell in love, he fell hard. Rosa Pelham was almost two decades younger than Suit, who courted her unsuccessfully for five long years. Then, in 1883, he found the chink in Rosa’s romantic armor. She dreamed of living in a castle. Suit vowed to build her one if she accepted his proposal. He was as good as his word, and Berkeley Castle became part of West Virginian history. Some say the story of Rosa and her castle ended badly, with heartache, financial ruin, and insanity. Some darkly hint that vengeful ghosts now walk the halls of Berkeley Castle, tormented by secret misdeeds. Others tell a different tale—one of love and courage in the face of changing fortunes. Rosa’s Castle tells this tale—a dazzling “what if” based on one of America’s most striking love stories. As for ghosts…well, not all are vengeful shades. Some haunt out of love for those they left behind.
Bayou Bride
Jennifer Blake - 1979
Let him stand up to his arrogant older brother Lucien and refuse to marry the girl chosen for him! But that was before she received the late-night phone call from Lucien and heard his scathing opinion of her character and relationship with Paul.Still, she underestimates Lucien's determination to prevent her appearance at the family gathering -- until he spirits her away to an isolated bayou mansion. To submit to this abduction is impossible; Sherry makes every effort to thwart Lucien's plan. But how can she escape the unwilling desires of her own heart?
Heads or Tails
Leslie A. Gordon - 2015
Deeply committed to her devoutly childless marriage, Hillary doesn’t know the first thing about infants – and has zero interest in learning. But Margot’s postpartum depression has reached a dangerous peak. With the baby a sperm donor production and Margot’s mother Jean suffering from Parkinson’s, there’s no one else. And for reasons nobody knows, Hillary owes both Margot and Jean.Fans of Jodi Picoult, Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner will be drawn to the fresh premise of HEADS OR TAILS, a story that explores themes of friendship and loyalty and what happens when your core identity is challenged. The gripping second novel from the author of Cheer: A Novel, Beshert and Peeps, HEADS OR TAILS will stay with you long after you’ve read the final page."Gordon really hits it out of the park...a terrific follow-up to the author’s absorbing Cheer: A Novel." -- CHICK LIT CENTRAL"[A] a beautiful examination of family." -- Girly Book Club