Book picks similar to
permission to love by karlee north


5-star-reads
lgbtq
poetry
queer-sapphic-non-fiction

Adored By A New York Drug Lord


Tya Marie - 2018
    An endless bankroll, access to the latest designer clothes, and the envy of every chick on the block are all part of her fantasies when she meets Ward, an up and coming dope boy. When Ward stakes a claim to the beautiful Normani, she accepts without hesitation, a decision she makes without considering the consequences that comes with dating a dope boy. The lifestyle Ward provides is as lavish as Normani expects, but she soon pays the price for being a thug’s solace when she’s the victim of a botched murder-suicide. Unable to return home, Normani is sent to live with her estranged aunt in Brooklyn. It is there that Normani lays eyes on a shiny red Lamborghini with no idea that its owner was going to change her life for better and worse. Uriah “Urban” Mackenzie has always been held in a high esteem throughout the streets, and not because of his charismatic charm, deep chocolate eyes, and politician’s smile. Urban is the head of “The Trust,” a prestigious crime organization known for running guns, human trafficking, and funneling millions of dollars in cocaine throughout the East Coast. Urban leads The Trust with an iron fist, refusing to allow anyone to one up him lest they deal with his wrath. He has New York City in the palm of his hand, with everyone bending to his will, except a bold and brazen Normani. Love has never been on Urban’s radar—even with a longtime girlfriend on his arm—but Normani’s beautiful eyes and damaged smile pulls him in. Soon Urban finds that he's willing to risk the life and legacy he’s built to see if the grass is truly greener on the other side.

Rhythm of Remembrance


Samir Satam - 2020
    – Shubhangi Swarup (Latitudes of Longing)

The Story of DeLano Trevino


BriAnn Danae - 2018
    Deliberate. Menace. Executioner. Those were just a few words to describe the DeLano Trevino. For the majority of his life, he had been deemed the quiet one. Light on his toes, but swift with his trigger finger; no target was ever left untouched. No enemy ever left breathing. That was until he made the mistake of letting his best friend’s killer roam freely. Six years have gone by since he left the grimy streets of California. After the brutal killing of his best friend, Lano uprooted to the Midwest. Over the years, his rank in the streets solidified him as one of the most ruthless men to grace Kansas City. To most, especially the women, his entire persona yelled dangerous, but not to all. Attracted to what she knew wasn’t good for her, Anika was smitten with Lano from day one. His hood charm turned her own in ways no other man had ever done. Their friendship blossomed into a full-blown relationship with ease and was rocky at first, but there was no turning back now. She was invested, respected as his woman, and held as much weight in the streets as he did. That was until Samia, Lano’s ex and his best friend’s sister, pops back into their life. When a trip to his hometown ends with bullets flying leaving Lano shot, all bets are off. The notion of making peace with his past was terminated immediately. With a thirst so strong for revenge, treachery overshadowed any rational thoughts Lano has when it comes to protecting the ones he loves. If it was a war his enemies were seeking, they had better come prepared with guns blazing. DeLano wasn’t laying down for a soul. He was snatching the lives of whoever during his deadly ambush and sending them straight to their maker.

Chief and Freedom 2: Love In The Back of a Bando


Dama Cargle - 2017
    The consequences of their actions made everyone around them vulnerable to the wrath that was heading their way. Chief is riddled with bullets and his queen is missing. However, there wasn’t a man alive who was going to get away with shooting Lucci’s little brother and live to tell about it. He sets out on a warpath, and the entire state of New Jersey is his war zone. Anybody can get it. Things are falling apart with one enemy after the other revealing themselves and coming for the throne Chief sat upon. Freedom was new to Jersey, and since her arrival, the city has chewed her up and spit her out. Nonetheless, when Chief crowned her, she thought all was well with the world. She soon learns that there is a price that comes with being the wifey of the boss of the underworld. Because of Chief, she is now in the hands of the enemy where she endures the unimaginable pain. Things happen to her that she wouldn’t have wished on her worst enemy. Her captor is very familiar to her, and that leaves Freedom asking questions about what is really going on. Find out what happens when friends become enemies, and loyalty is tested. War has been declared, and the whole city is the battlefield.

Falling For A Savage : Soraya & Jadyn's Story


Koya - 2016
    Wanting to escape the life she felt was a lie, she moves to Atlanta ready to start her new beginning. Everything is better and she starts to feel like a new person until she meets him. Jadyn Harris is the nigga to know and to be seen with. Growing up in Alabama and dealing with life has turned him into a savage. After getting the offer of a lifetime, he quickly packs up and heads to Atlanta, ready to cash out. With money on his agenda, running into Soraya was something he never counted on. When they begin to fall into a web of feelings, things become hazy. With life hitting them at every turn, Soraya starts to realize that the life she's put herself in was one she wasn't prepared for. Trying to see the good in Jadyn, she begins to question if Falling for a Savage was worth all that comes with it?

My Savage and His Side Chick


B. Love - 2019
    Sisters Catalina and Kaia want nothing more than to be the main women of these eligible savages, but they soon realize that other women aren’t their only competition – the street life is too. In the “My Savage and his Side Chick” two-part series loyalties are tried, forbidden bonds and souls are tied, and love and lives are put on the line. Will Javaris and Amari come out victorious in the end, or will they learn the hard way that the game isn’t played fair… and the streets always win?

I'll Never Love A Dope Boy Again


Twyla T. - 2017
    When she loses the love of her life to the streets, she vows to never love a dope boy again, but some promises are meant to be broken…. Demetrius is a product of the streets and has spent the last five years in jail because enough was never enough. When he is released from prison, he tries hard to turn his life around, but as the saying goes…old habits die hard. Only settling for jump offs, he is mesmerized when he meets Kamora and instantly makes up his mind that he will do whatever it takes to win her over. Will Kamora be able to keep the promise that she made to herself after she meets the charming and persistent Demetrius? Will Demetrius be able to leave his dope boy ways alone to get Kamroa or will he be forever tied to the streets?

Wifey vs. The Streets


Chrissy J - 2015
    She knew it was a better life outside of the projects and she wanted it. Damon Young was that nigga in the Fort Green projects. He controlled everything over there. He had been checking River out for a while now and he finally got the chance to speak to her, when he stopped his worker from putting hands on her. Take a ride with both River and Damon and see what they go through to make their relationship work. River feels like she's in a losing battle with the streets for Damon's heart. What will happen when life-changing events occur and a new man by the name of Major Atkins enters River's life? Will she still have to battle with the streets for the love of her man or will she walk away from it all? Find out in Wifey Vs the Streets...

Treat Me Like Somebody 2


Nikki Simms - 2015
    Nothing but a four letter word and in part two of Treat Me Like Somebody, you'll find out just how true that is. After forgiving Justice for sleeping with Tammi, Jaz gives him one more chance to prove that she is all he wants. She thinks he is on a straighten narrow until a certain someone moves back in town. Finding out that your mother isn't your mother is heart breaking. After confronting his mother he realized that he never really knew her. He fought hard to get Jaz to forgive him and just when everything is going good, the unexpected happens. Not wanting to lose the love of her life, Mya finally tells Harlem her big secret. After being caught in a room with Diesel, it really left her no choice. She thought that once she came clean, he would understand but she was sadly mistaken and regretted even opening her mouth. Harlem hated the day he met Mya. After learning her secret he wanted nothing more than to forget he even know Mya but after a tragic accident and almost losing her, he knows he don't want to witness life without her. There's only one problem Diesel. Take a ride with these couples as they witness betrayal, long lost lovers and damaged hearts. Will they find out what love truly is or will they fall deep into temptation.

His Heart Ain't Loyal


K.C. Mills - 2016
    He’s street raised but business minded. Being part owner of a Harper’s, a successful bar and grill, affords him a certain lifestyle and plenty of women who want to share it with him. Larken is young and paid, and in no way interested in settling down anytime soon. Family secrets have a way of curbing his appetite for commitment, and he has no issues with that whatsoever. Sydney knows what she wants, she just can’t seem to get all her cards lined up to make it happen. Life somehow keeps getting in the way of her future plans. Sydney’s only focus is finishing school and starting her career, which leaves no room for relationships of any kind. The down side is that without a car and a job, she doesn’t have the ability to make that happen. When both are snatched from her because of a shady business deal, she’s at a loss and struggles to figure out her next move. Larken just happens to be in the right place at the right time and offers a solution to Sydney’s current situation. The two have no intention of making any kind of connection, but sometimes you find just what you need when you aren’t really looking. Will Sydney tame Larken’s wild side, and will he prove that he’s worthy of her time? Or have the two crossed paths at the wrong time, rendering them incapable of the love that neither of them know that they’re missing.

The Sins Of My Beretta 2


Trenae' - 2016
    What happens when jealous ex-lovers and demons from the past refuse to stay there? Unresolved issues keeping coming back until Sin has no choice but to face them head on.Putting a whole new meaning to the term “love triangle”, not being able to handle all of Ghost’s baby mama drama, Sin finds herself in the arms of the rugged youngster by the name of Rello. Can she forgive Ghost for his short-comings or will Rello Show her that all she needed was the love that only he can give?With Rock missing in action, will the ones that vowed to always love and protect him still be there or will what he’s hiding from them be too much to bear?On this final ride with the crew, you will see what it means to do anything in the name of love even if it means killing the ones closest to you.

Captured By A Royal Thug 2


Heiress - 2018
    Sounds crazy right? Well it happened. So much has happened to Bella and her two friends that even they can’t explain the events. They went from finally getting comfortable in Africa, to being snatched out of their element once again. Love, hate and envy surrounds them and just when they think they got it all figured out, here comes more drama. Bella is now torn between survival and love. She has to choose whether to live without the love of her life or die with the love of her life. Tough choice to make right? Well she made it and it just might be the worst decision she ever made. Leah has made the conscious decision to choose love over stability. She allowed her heart to speak for her and that alone just might lead her to her death. Twan has too much of a good heart and his love for Bella and Leah and now Princess Zara might just cost him his life. At the end of the day, he must choose to live for him or die for the ones he loves. So many decisions. So many outcomes. So much death. These three friends have been put to the ultimate test. After all the deceit, the covered-up secrets and the threats on their lives, will they make it out alive or will one wrong decision leave them without a head? Will love be the answer or will it be their downfall?

Quotes of Wisdom - 99 Buddha's quotes


Raja Vishupadi - 2013
    These quotes are a source of inspiration and motivation.Read these quotes to meditate and think about all the wisdom they contain.

Taken, But I Want You


Krystal Armstead - 2016
    No matter how much time has passed. This was the case for David “Blue” Jacobs. At the age of sixteen, Blue’s adoptive mother moved him from Greenville, North Carolina to Washington, D.C. in search for a better life. She thought that she was making a better way for Blue, but she only turned him into more of a monster. It wasn’t until the loss of a loved one that Blue decided to straighten up his life and leave the streets alone.When Blue left Greenville, he left behind his best friend, Chrystal Alison. Chrystal’s life was dependent upon her relationship with Blue. Misused, abused, and abandoned, Chrystal turned her life over to the hands of those she thought would help her. Chrystal finds herself trapped between a lifestyle that she doesn’t want to live and the people that she feels obligated to take care of by any means necessary.Just when Blue thought it was safe to say that he’d never see Chrystal again, every step he takes seemed to led him right back to her. The heart wants what the heart wants. No matter how many times you tell yourself that you’re better off without that person, a part of you will never be able to let go. Take a ride with these characters on their journey to recovery, forgiveness, and closure.

A Hood Love in Atlanta 3


Mz. Demeanor - 2015
    Mona-Lisa and Delano have had their share of ups and downs but their bond was unbreakable. However, the storm is far from over as they struggle to become untangled from the lies they fell victim to in the beginning. Just when Marissa was trying to put her life back together, karma came back around and dealt her a hand that she may have to throw in. Will Mona-Lisa and Delano be able to stand the pressure of a love that’s been nothing but drama from day one, or will they finally have to call it quits? Will Marissa be forgiven so that she can move on, or is she left standing on the other side? Since fighting for his life, Todd has come to realize the error of his ways. Without anyone in his corner, all he can rely on are his old methods and hope they don’t become his last ones. The tension mounts on the streets of Atlanta for the last time. Who will be left standing when the smoke clears?