Book picks similar to
The Art of Deceit by Fabiola Joseph


qwoc
urban-fiction
5stars
barnes-and-noble

Naughty


Brenda Hampton - 2003
    Nestled in his lavishing home in Chesterfield, Missouri, he captures women with his wealth, charm, nine-plus inches of goodness and amazingly good looks. Although his bed is never empty, his heart is. He feels nothing for the women who love him dearly and continues his search for the perfect one. When Scorpio Valentino, an attractive, seductive and charming woman saunters into his view, she offers Jaylin a life of altering changes. Her intention is to make his life a living hell, however, Jaylin is not about to take the fall. Surprisingly, soon, love presents itself. Not for the women in Jaylin's life, but he experiences love through becoming a father to Scorpio's five-year-old daughter, Mackenzie. She's his guardian angel and is there for Jaylin through the tough times he's bound to face.

Swag (Wahida Clark Presents)


Angel Santos - 2013
    With traps set in place, Jazmine pulls Love s right hand man, Thump into the mix, causing a deadly, yet twisted love triangle. Even with the cops on his trail, Love has his fingerprints on everything in the city, including the mayor that he helps get elected. All is still going according to plan until a New Jack named Swag steps on the scene with the same determination as Jazmine to knock Love from the top spot. Which of the two will be successful? In the world of treachery, lust and corruption, the one with the power has the most Swag!

Full Circle


Ayana Ellis - 2010
    Told with comedic rawness and colorful sarcasm, Ellis's second novel is an epic story of love, loss, pain, and forgiveness that shines a spotlight on the painful reality of domestic abuse.

The Wives We Play


Briana Cole - 2018
    It's easier that way. Her needs are taken care of and she doesn't have to give more of herself than she wants to. No messy feelings involved. But when the man she's seeing poses an unexpected question, Kimera quickly realizes that she's not the only woman pulled in by his charm.Their new arrangement doesn't require much from Kimera, but she soon discovers that someone else is pulling the strings. She's not looking for complications, yet she can't help feeling that there's something devious at play.And the truth is more complicated than she could ever imagine . . .

Choke Me, Spank Me, Pull My Hair


Nicety - 2013
    Most of them fail but there are some that can be salvaged if you're willing to put in the work. Starla isn't getting what she needs at home so naturally the first piece of sexy tail that swings her way, she will pounce on. But nothing is what it seems in this tale. Will Starla get more than she bargained for or will she get just what she needs? Slide right into this short, sexy, steamy erotica guaranteed to WOW you every second.

Pretty Young Things


Chase Moore - 2013
    Young, pretty, and wild, both females will do whatever it takes all for the mere love of convenient cash. However, will things become more than either woman can handle after some reckless decision-making? Hood, gritty, and raw, "Pretty Young Things" will take you on a wild ride unlike you have ever experienced.

Samson


Jacquelin Thomas - 2010
    He’s a man of God—and most definitely no saint. Handsome and charismatic, Samson is controlled by his lust for beautiful women, a weakness that stirs up trouble, heartache, betrayal, and damaging rumors—and soon costs him his marriage, his best friendship, and even his new job. Samson loves God and tries harder than ever to keep his temptations in check. Then he meets Delinda…Beautiful, irresistibly sexy, and married to a famous NBA star, Delinda has Samson head-over-heels in love…in a dangerous affair that leads to a physical confrontation with Delinda’s husband.Now, the disgraced pastor begins a journey he could never have anticipated, where his heart is now his guide—not a heart of lust, but of new wisdom and a new kind of seeing. God will forgive Samson’s past—but will Samson himself be able to let go of bitterness and regret, and find a new light in his life?Inspired by the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah, Jacquelin Thomas powerfully portrays a modern-day pastor’s dance with earthly desires…and the faith that made him whole.

The Liar's Club


Layla Jordan - 2010
    What no one knows is that Sinclair used to be Detroit hustler Ms. Tracy Franklin, wife of Kwame Franklin, who is now in jail. When Kwame is released from prison, he tries blackmail. Then the tabloids get involved.

Bitter Baby Mamas' Club


Lady Lissa - 2018
    That's what happens. It's all fun and games for them until those two pink lines show up on a pregnancy test. Then that's when reality sets in and they check out. People tell you that you should've known what kind of man he was before you laid down with him. They try to make you believe that you're to blame for having to take care of your child by yourself. They tell you that child support is a broke bitch’s hustle and even go as far as suggesting abortion, like the man is supposed to be exempt from taking care of the responsibility that he helped create. The worst part of it all is when the man who lied with you refuses to take care of his child and starts calling you a bitter baby mama when you're forced to seek financial help through the courts. Money doesn't make up for lost time, birthdays, school functions, and holidays. It never stops the tears from falling once you realize that being labeled as a "bitter baby mama" is now your reality. Meet Marcus, a man who doesn’t know who he wants to be with. He’s torn between his childhood sweetheart and his baby mama. As the two women continue to battle over one man, who will come out on top? Will anyone be the winner in this situation or will everyone lose in this game called love? At the end of the day, the struggle of being a mother will take precedence over everything else. Follow this couple along with another dramatic couple as they try to make their relationships work. Do these baby mamas have a reason to be bitter or are they just making trouble for their baby’s daddy because he wants to move on without them?

The Corner Slim's Revenge


Alex Richardson - 2006
    He is about to retire from the game with the beautiful Lisa, a sista he loves and adores. She feels the same for Slim but that love is put to the test when an old flame steps back into her life and he is also rich--seven figure professional athlete rich. Will she succumb to the old flame that's burning or will she stay loyal?Finally there is Myte--a sexy Latina who is conniving and out to get paid. She beds one of Slim's most trusted men and it doesn't take long before she has him stealing from the crew. With the DEA and Chicago Police on everyone's trail, Myte and the Latin Kings' top dog, Felix, orchestrate the heist of a million dollars from Slim--a Chicago based mob outfit's million--and it causes the death of one of Slim's most trusted soldiers. Slim is devastated and exacts his revenge on all that weren't loyal and no one on the streets of Chicago or Gary is safe.

Mama Don't Like Ugly


Rekaya Gibson - 2011
    Her mama finds her dark skin repulsive, so she abuses and neglects her. Also, she constantly compares Dana to her light-skinned sister. Regardless of Dana's unconditional love for her mama, she still encounters a cycle of torment. Will mama finally realize that Dana is a beautiful person in spite of her dark skin or will she continue to spew those hateful words, "Mama don't like ugly?"

Daddy Long Stroke


Cairo - 2010
    Daddy Long Stroke, is a womanizer. Arrogant and self-indulged, he is what every woman secretly craves in the bedroom—rough, rugged, and ravenous. And he is always happy to deliver. Alexander knows no boundaries when it comes to pleasing a woman, leaving no area untouched, not even her heart—or her wallet. But love is the last thing on his mind. Getting paid, and whetting his sexual appetite are the only things that motivate this salacious gigolo. And any woman trying to claim him finds herself on the receiving end of heartache, tears, and drama. Written in raw, graphic language, Daddy Long Stroke is a cautionary tale of one man’s insatiable thirst for sex and his quest to bed down as many women he possibly can—no matter the costs, and no matter who gets hurt in the process.

Indiscretion


Charles Dubow - 2012
    Someone who writes it down after it's all over. Why am I the narrator of this story? I am because it is the story of my life—and of the people I love most. . . ."Harry and Madeleine Winslow have been blessed with talent, money, and charm. Harry is a National Book Award–winning author on the cusp of greatness. Madeleine is a woman of sublime beauty and grace whose elemental goodness and serenity belie a privileged upbringing. Bonded by deep devotion, they share a love that is both envied and admired. The Winslows play host to a coterie of close friends and acolytes eager to bask in their golden radiance, whether they are in their bucolic East Hampton cottage, abroad in Rome thanks to Harry's writing grant, or in their comfortable Manhattan brownstone.One weekend at the start of the summer season, Harry and Maddy, who are in their early forties, meet Claire and cannot help but be enchanted by her winsome youth, quiet intelligence, and disarming naivete. Drawn by the Winslows' inscrutable magnetism, Claire eagerly falls into their welcoming orbit. But over the course of the summer, her reverence transforms into a dangerous desire. By Labor Day, it is no longer enough to remain one of their hangers-on.A story of love, lust, deception, and betrayal as seen through the omniscient eyes of Maddy's childhood friend Walter, a narrator akin to Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, Indiscretion is a juicy, richly textured novel filled with fascinating, true-to-life characters—an irresistibly sensual page-turner that explores having it all and the consequences of wanting more.

Small Town Odds


Jason Headley - 2004
    Enormously likable and a habitual screw-up, Eric Mercer has settled into a sometimes raucous, underachieving life in his one-stoplight hometown—a life cobbled together from his part-time activities as bartender at the American Legion, assistant mortician, and father to his beloved 5-year-old daughter, Tess. Tess seems to be the main reason smart, talented, twenty-four-year-old Eric is staying in town, though her mom, a centerfold-quality beauty, would have it otherwise. When Jill, the lost love of his life, returns to Pinely in the same week that the town goes nuts in preparation for the high school football team's Big Game, life unexpectedly shifts into high gear, and Eric must blunder his way toward enlightenment—fast. Authentic and refreshingly unpredictable, Small Town Odds is written with an acute sense of place and character reminiscent of Richard Russo.

Country: by Danielle Steel | Summary & Analysis


Book*Sense - 2015
    Steel is known for her heartfelt love stories and this piece joins the ranks with the charming romance between Stephanie Adams and Chase Taylor. Although the plot itself is the familiar blueprint to many romance novels, Steel’s well-developed characters steal the show and provide an enjoyable performance. Stephanie and Chase shine in the leading roles, their strong likeability factor making them a team to root for. Steel takes care to give all the characters a clear purpose and journey of their own, adding to their depth and to their level of importance in Stephanie and Chase’s lives. Stephanie Adams has devoted her entire life to her husband and her children, remaining trapped in a loveless marriage in an effort to keep her family intact. The sudden death of her husband sends her reeling and she feels lost without his familiar presence. With her children grown and living elsewhere, she is forced to face the reality that her life no longer holds the purpose it once did. Danielle Steel’s novel is a sweet romantic tale that brings together an underappreciated widow with a famous music star in a simple twist of fate that changes their lives forever. This companion to Country also includes the following: • Book Review • Story Setting Analysis • Story elements you may have missed as we decipher the novel • Clear, concise description and analysis of personalities • Summary of the text, with some analytical comments interspersed • Thought Provoking /or Discussion Questions for both Readers & Book Clubs • Discussion & Analysis of Themes, Symbols… • And Much More! This Analysis fills the gap, making you understand more while enhancing your reading experience.