Book picks similar to
Strawberry Mansion: A Philadelphia Story by Julia Press Simmons


african-american
urban-fiction
fiction
mooched-swapped-reserved

Dear Drama


Braya Spice - 2012
    Right is leading her down a dark path and bringing her nothing but pain.

A Hood Legend


Victor L. Martin - 2004
    When Menage Discovers that he has a flare for flipping stolen cars into more cash then he can handle he befriends Dwight who helps him with his operation. What Menage soon learns is that when doing shady business, shady characters lurk where you least expect them. Follow Menage as he balls outta control, outrunning the law and bullets that may bear his name.

A Kingpin's Dream


Briana Crosby - 2015
    With loving men of power comes drama and jealousy. Can Briana and Persia handle everything that comes their way or will they crack under pressure? They say that love is forever but is forever enough?

Giving Up the Dream


J.L. Campbell - 2011
    In a perfect life, these promises are easy to keep. When faced with spousal betrayal, idealistic oaths take a back seat. Justine Charles made the ultimate sacrifice for her dying husband. Will she rally after his death or be forced to give up a final chance at happiness?

Sugar Walls


Brittani Williams - 2007
    In this sexy, suspenseful slice of urban fiction, an ambitious womans love ofeasy money and fast living leads her to the brink of destruction.

Her Heart & His Crown: A Royal Love Affair


Bianca - 2017
    Pilar thought that life in Florida would be great, since it is nicknamed, The Sunshine State, but little did she know, dark clouds would surround her, after getting involved with Brandon ‘Blizzy’ Lewis, who had his own set of problems; women and gambling. Barak ‘Duke’ Ramses, a native of Egypt, and next in line to be crowned King. At the age of 16, his father, dropped him and his younger brothers off in the United States, as an effort to make them men, and find their own way. Duke made a way for himself, and his brothers, after opening up a chain of pool halls. After Blizzy, one of his faithful customers, and best friends, started stealing money from the company and the customers, putting the Florida location in jeopardy of being shut down. Duke sends one of his brothers to take care of Blizzy, not knowing that Pilar was only inches away and witnesses the murder. After being caught and begging for her life, Duke spares her, but not before putting a strict detail on Pilar, making sure she doesn’t go to the police. Pilar gets fed up with being followed, and ends up moving into Duke’s house, against the wishes of one of his brothers, who also thought that he was not fit to be King. After getting to know Pilar personally, Duke starts to develop feelings for her, but he can’t act on them, due to the secrets that he has. Will Duke risk it all and act on his feelings for Pilar or will he walk away and leave behind an affair that could lead to something special?

The House That Hustle Built


Nisa Santiago - 2015
    Pearla is a born hustler, and Cash was born to steal. Pearla sets her sights on Cash and motivates him to take his petty crimes to the next level.Together, the two get money throughout the tri-state, while friends and family want to be upgraded without putting in work. At first, the couple makes it rain in the hood, taking care of those they love, but a hustler always knows when to draw the line.Suddenly, Pearla proclaims the ATM closed, and a quiet storm begins to brew. When the beggars can't beg anymore and the borrowers can't borrow anymore, friends become enemies. Words and bullets are exchanged, leaving The House that Hustle Built under attack and at risk of collapse.

Death Before Dishonor


50 Cent - 2007
    ONE REASON TO LIVE. THREE WAYS TO DIE. Trill Johnson has five years of jail time under his belt, two women trying to get inside his pants, and one mission: Get the suckers who sold him out. And get ’em good. Sunni James will do anything for Trill. Lie, cheat, steal. Even risk losing her successful beauty salon to save him from the mean streets of Richmond. Precious Pay will do anything for Trill, too. She cribbed his kid while he did his time; now she wants Trill to pay for the leg she lost in a robbery gone wrong. But when love is a lie, who do you trust? When the deals turn dirty, who do you betray? And when the guns start blazing, who’s going down?

The Millionaire Mistress


Tiphani Montgomery - 2006
    Just when she thinks she's got it all, times get tight, and her body is put to work in the bedroom. Between sexin' married men for hire and searching for the man who would get her out the game; her life is shattered when her cousin Oshyn, pulls in a drug dealer with deep pockets. Oshyn knows her conniving cousin would do anything to walk in her shoes, so she flaunts glamorous gifts and icey diamonds, given to her by new love, Brooklyn Jones. Chloe gets senseless and resorts to desperate measures when she can't steal Brooklyn from Oshyn. When her wild sexual escapades don't work, she uses the ultimate betrayal as her weapon. But her plan is destroyed when a tragic moment happens that shocks everyone. Will Chloe look past her evil ways and change for the better, or will their fate be a replica of their dark family secret? There's a reason why their mothers are locked down and six feet under.

A Street Girl Named Desire


Treasure E. Blue - 2007
    Blue returns with a gritty against-all-odds urban fairy tale set in the same unforgiving neighborhood as that of his breakout debut novel Harlem Girl Lost. Desire was born on the streets of Harlem–literally. Her mom, a crack-addicted prostitute, delivered her on a bitter winter’s night after turning a trick and being brutally beaten by the john. Taken from her mother by the state, Desire grows up unwelcoming foster homes, until a local Good Samaritan takes her in. With Miss Hattie Mae’s love and Christian guidance, Desire gains confidence, joins the church choir, and discovers that she’s got a set of pipes–which soon attract the attention of hip-hop’s biggest exec. But the road to superstardom is paved with dangers and temptations: drugged-out, violent rappers, untrustworthy pro athletes promising romance, and vicious drugs. Despite her phenomenal success and Miss Hattie Mae’s kindness, Desire seems destined for a fall from the top that will slam her back onto the pavement where her mama left her–until an unexpected angel picks her back up. . . .

Backpage


Jade Jones - 2013
    Sweater Robinson moved to Atlanta with nothing but $300, a dream, and a dark past she wanted nothing more than to forget about. Just when things are starting to look up, someone from her past returns, forcing her to choose between love and loyalty.Royalty Jackson is often hot and cold due to his abrasive personality, but one thing that’s certain is his love for making convenient cash. Getting money by any means necessary is the motto he stands firmly by, and he’ll do whatever to get it even if it means turning on his friends and loved ones.Lady Carter has a lackadaisical attitude when it comes to most things until a life changing event forces her to make a difficult decision. Will her outcome be the happy ending she always envisioned?Capricorn “Cap” Daniels is usually a man of very few words. However, he has no choice but to finally speak up for what he wants. After all, closed mouths don’t get fed…but falling in love brings consequences and conflict.Deception and betrayal are at an all-time high, and ‘loyalty’ is simply a word. Will these four friends be consumed by jealousy, distrust, and greed or will they make it out unscathed?

It's Like Candy


Erick S. Gray - 2007
    When she falls in love with Eric, one of her victims, all she wants is to find her baby sister, and settle down with her new love. But River soon becomes a prisoner of her dangerous world. And escaping it may cost her more than her life.By the time she turns sixteen, Starr is working for a pimp and turning tricks daily. But when an assault by one of her "dates" lands her in the hospital, Starr meets a woman who wants to help her change her life. Starr's heart is too hardened to believe in second chances, but soon she begins to long for more than selling her body just so she can survive. However the game does not give up its players so easily.Enter Eric's cousin, Yung Slim, fresh out of jail after seven years. He's looking to reclaim the streets and take care of some old grudges. When Yung Slim goes to battle, Eric—torn between his love for River, his ties to his cousin, and the lure of the streets—gets in too deep. When the war breaks out on the battlefield of the streets, who will be left standing?

Congratulations


Darrin Lowery - 2007
    That's why no one is more surprised than her when she starts dating Thomas Anthony Young, the fit and handsome office heartthrob. After eight months together, Tiffany is sure that he's about to propose at any minute.Instead, she's taken off guard when they have a senseless argument. Thomas abruptly departs for a business trip, leaving Tiffany hurt and confused. In an effort to cheer herself up, she calls her friend Alicia for some company. Alicia already has plans to attend the wedding of a cousin she's not too fond of. She suggests that Tiffany go with her. They'll make a brief appearance and then spend the rest of the day together, shopping and catching up. Neither one of them is prepared for the pandemonium that breaks loose when they get to the wedding and Tiffany discovers that Thomas is the groom!

Southern Kings


K.C. Mills - 2017
    Their circle is tight, and no one comes before family. Keys being the oldest holds the family together since all they have are each other. However, each brother often takes the leading role when it comes to business and life decisions. Together, they run an empire that has allotted them money, respect and power, which of course fuels tensions and has enemies lurking in the shadows. Either way, they stand tall and they stand together. After surviving a traumatic childhood, all three brothers are left a little unstable, with hearts of stone. It drives them to succeed in the streets, but creates a void where matters of the heart are concerned. Yetti especially was dealing with some serious demons, one of which was forced by his mother choosing his life over hers. His past has made him unwilling to open up, and his motto in life has basically been hit and run as far as women were concerned. Their only benefit to him was to satisfy his needs. No connection, no emotional commitments. Reelle was exactly what Yetti needed, although neither of them realize it at the time. She is the ying to his yang, so to speak, and the peace in the middle of a storm. After being burned by the one person she put her all into, Reelle, much like Yetti, had no plans to give her heart away, but unfortunately the universe had other plans. Keys is set in his ways and enjoying life by his own terms. His status has placed him in the position to have just about any woman he sets his sights on until he runs across Asha. Their first encounter was one for the records. She took control and forced him to play by her rules This only fueled Keys’ curiosity and had him chasing her for more. Asha has no intention of being any man’s fool, not even the infamous Keys Masters. As much as she’s drawn to him, she fully intends to make him earn a role in her life, but little does she know, that attitude is what wins him over. Hayes is the baby of the family and seems to have it all together, with a long term girlfriend and beautiful baby girl, you’d think life should be perfect, however new struggles seem to be finding the two of them daily. These brothers and the women they’ve crossed paths with have a few life lessons to learn. It could either make them or break them especially when you add jealousy, and envy from outsiders. The streets aren’t kind when it comes to matters of the heart and defending your empire. Hopefully they will all find their way out with their hearts intact.

The Black Widow Murders: THE CHRONCLES OF DAVID HANGER SERIES


Fyre Mouth - 2014
    David Hanger is in love and trying to find a balance between the woman he loves and the job that he loves even more. Will he finally take the time to love before his job ruins his chance? Or will he continue being the sex magnet that he is?