Book picks similar to
Forever and a Day by Jasmine Barber


african-american-romance
betrayal-in-review
drama
love

No Silver Spoon


Katie Flynn - 1999
    Dympna, the only girl, adores her father Micheál. She does her best to help her English mother and the family rub along by working hard and expecting little.But beneath the smooth-seeming surface there are hidden secrets. Beatrice idolises her clever eldest son, but her attitude to her husband and to Dympna is puzzling. Yet when the family desperately needs money it is Dympna who crosses the water to Liverpool, to send money back for them.Meanwhile, in Liverpool orphaned, half-starved Jimmy Ruddock struggles to escape from his background with little success until he meets Elsie, a tough young slum-dweller who helps him to better himself. Then he starts work abroad a Fleetwood trawler, and meets up with Dympna...Set in the late 1920s and 30s, No Silver Spoon charts the pleasures and pains of life - and love - in the glorious countryside of Connemara and in the fiercely competitive streets of the Liverpool slums. It confirms Katie Flynn as one of the most beloved and bestselling saga writers in Britain.

What Hurts the Most


Tynessa - 2015
    Being in a relationship with ladies' man, Jay'vion, Asia is ready to throw in the towel. Jay'vion is the true definition of the song 'Can't Raise a Man.' Having a hard time being faithful and committing himself to Asia, he finds himself alone and lonesome. The last woman has approached Asia for the last time, and though letting go might be the hardest thing she's ever had to endure, she knows it's something she has to do. What hurts the most is falling for another man when you already have one of your own. Tangela has always lived by the rule of loyalty, even if her man is serving a five-year sentence. When she meets irresistible, fresh out of prison Quintez, she knows to stay far away from his kind. Little does she know, whatever Quintez wants, he gets. That includes her. Will Tangela continue to be loyal to her man, or will Quintez be one temptation she will not be able to fight? This is one rollercoaster ride you don't want to miss.

Beautiful Oblivion


Jamie McGuire - 2014
    She has held down a job since before she could drive, and moved into her own apartment after her freshman year of college. Now tending bar at The Red Door, Cami doesn’t have time for much else besides work and classes, until a trip to see her boyfriend is cancelled, leaving her with a first weekend off in almost a year.Trenton Maddox was the king of Eastern State University, dating co-eds before he even graduated high school. His friends wanted to be him, and women wanted to tame him, but after a tragic accident turned his world upside down, Trenton leaves campus to come to grips with the crushing guilt. Eighteen months later, Trenton is living at home with his widower father, and works full-time at a local tattoo parlor to help with the bills. Just when he thinks his life is returning to normal, he notices Cami sitting alone at a table at The Red. As the baby sister of four rowdy brothers, Cami believes she’ll have no problem keeping her new friendship with Trenton Maddox strictly platonic. But when a Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever—even if she is the only reason their already broken family could fall apart.

Undertow


Elizabeth O'Roark - 2013
    It almost seems like enough until Nate Sullivan comes home. Nate – her childhood best friend, her first love. The boy who left without a trace one night and broke her heart. When their attraction threatens the future she and her parents have so carefully crafted, loyalties will be tested and secrets will be uncovered. Giving in may cost her everything. But how do you resist the only thing you’ve ever really wanted?

From Mistress to Wifey


Erica Hilton - 2011
    Jasmine was always overlooked for her brains and praised for her beauty until she met Nico, the educated hoodlum with a sexier, smarter, and even prettier wifey on his arm. His main chick, Mia, is a force to be reckoned with a quiet storm who will ride or die for the love of her life.Frustrated and caught between a fledgling video-vixen career and dysfunctional friends, Jasmine wants to be upgraded from Nico's mistress to his wifey. But Jasmine soon finds out that the glitz and glamour of huge diamonds and fancy cars come with an even heavier ransom drug deals and murder.Meanwhile, Mia's not willing to let go of her man so easily. She digs up dirt on Jasmine that can destroy her, but Mia can't even imagine what lengths Jasmine will go to, to keep her secret under wraps.

Until Friday Night


Abbi Glines - 2015
    But while West may be Big Man on Campus on the outside, on the inside he’s battling the grief that comes with watching his father slowly die of cancer.Two years ago, Maggie Carleton’s life fell apart when her father murdered her mother. And after she told the police what happened, she stopped speaking and hasn’t spoken since. Even the move to Lawton, Alabama, couldn’t draw Maggie back out. So she stayed quiet, keeping her sorrow and her fractured heart hidden away.As West’s pain becomes too much to handle, he knows he needs to talk to someone about his father—so in the dark shadows of a post-game party, he opens up to the one girl who he knows won’t tell anyone else.West expected that talking about his dad would bring some relief, or at least a flood of emotions he couldn’t control. But he never expected the quiet new girl to reply, to reveal a pain even deeper than his own—or for them to form a connection so strong that he couldn’t ever let her go…

When a Rich Thug Wants You


Pebbles Starr - 2014
    But things really get interesting when Caesar and his boy Canyon come into the picture. These rich thugs have always been ones to get whatever they want--even sexy, stubborn women who think they can't be tamed!

Trigger


L.P. Dover - 2017
    . . that’s what I am. It’s what I do. It’s what I live for. I’m no longer the Preston Hale everyone knew. I left that life and the people in it a long time ago the second I made my first kill. I wasn’t going to give in, but when I heard the screams there was no going back. It triggered the pain, the need. I knew what I had to do, and I did it well. But I never expected for Emma Turner – the only link to my past – to come back into my life. She triggers a different emotion inside me, something I hadn’t ever felt. It’s not a want to kill . . . but a need to CLAIM.

They Way That I Love You(Parts 1& 2)


Dominique Thomas - 2015
    ​Inga is battling what to do when it comes to her on again off again boyfriend. She loves him with all that she has, but will that be enough to get to the happily ever after that she so desperately wants? Tegan is doing big things in her life. She's on her way to law school and living with the love of her life only she has someone on the side too. Tegan struggles to decide who matters most. She loves both men, but can only have one who will she choose? Elsie isn't a happy girl. Her only true love up and married another woman while she was away at college and now she's went from being his only girl to his mistress. Feeling like she is in a no win situation, Elsie makes a drastic decision, but is it the right decision for her? Harlow is living a double life. She is a successful stylist and a daddy's girl with a lot of skeletons in her closet. She's in love with two men and once everyone knows the details about her love affair she fears everyone will see her differently especially her father; someone that she doesn't want to disappoint. Harlow struggles to make the men she love happy and the man that brought her into this world happy. Harlow knows that it is only a matter or time before her secrets are revealed and she has no clue who will have her back and who won't when the smoke clears. The Way That I Love You Part 2 Synopsis: Inga’s fed up with Dante and his lies. After years of dealing with his mental abuse, she’s finally decided to move on, but the person she finds comfort in is the last person you would expect her to be with. Tegan’s marriage is struggling because of her infidelity that recently came to the light. Tegan fights to hold on to the first man she ever loved while wondering if he will ever forgive her for the mistakes that she has made.Elsie is now with Aiden and finally happy only he’s showing her things that she never saw before and she can’t help but to wonder did she make a mistake with choosing him? Elise starts to miss Elijah and contemplates being with him, but knows that Aiden won’t let her go without a fight that she isn’t sure she will survive. Harlow's life has changed drastically in the blink of an eye. She is now married and has so much on her plate that the things that she fought the hardest for like her company starts to fall behind. Harlow is still hiding secrets that could tear her family apart and will do anything to keep the men that she love happy only that is starting to feel like a goal she might not reach with so many obstacles standing in her way. Will the women find the peace they long for? They've fought hard to be with the men that they love, but anything worth having is not easily acquired. Follow Inga, Tegan, Elsie and Harlow on their journey and see how the women deal with drama, heartache, friendship loss and even death.

Loyal To His Love


K. Charelle - 2020
    He’s been in the streets for years and is now realizing the benefit of building his legal status as well. Both worlds keep him busy and his pockets full. As much as he appreciates his status, the women appreciate it more.Kyori Spencer is the type of woman who takes full advance of all that life has to offer. Even if it’s not by way of her own bank account. It just so happens that the man she committed herself to, has loosely committed himself to several other women. When is enough, enough? Kyori soon finds herself fed up and on the verge of catching an assault charge until the extremely handsome and very assertive Asim Nour steps in for the save.Amir Nour has resigned to living life to the fullest and with the status he’s built working alongside his big brother, Asim, that’s an easy task. However, a chance encounter with a beautiful woman intrigues him enough to wonder if it’s time to end his playboy ways.Lear’ah Marshall just can’t catch a break. After losing her sister, she’s struggling to find a reason to live and not just sit home alone watching life pass her by. That within itself is a challenge considering her current living situation. After paying for college she’s stuck with the roommate from hell whose boyfriend is anything but respectful. Lear’ah is fed up but financially strapped. Will a gorgeous stranger be able to present a reason for her to smile or will Lear’ah decide that he’s just not worth the trouble?Welcome to the what happens when chance encounters turn into the possibility of happiness, if only the ladies can find a way to let go of the past and embrace the future.***THIS WILL BE A TWO PART SERIES***

Ace & Bleu: A Dope Boy Love Story


Sol - 2017
    After his older brother stepped down and passed him the throne, Ace is tasked with the difficulties of transitioning from being Underboss to H.N.I.C. The job was tough but flipping the culture of an established drug empire had to be done. His money along with his squad had his foremost attention for the longest time, all he wanted to do was get richer by any means necessary. He wasn't looking for love but there's always the exception to the rule.Bleu Majors was the exception to every rule. When he saw her, he knew he had to have her. She was gorgeous, smart, driven and he felt like she could handle a man of his caliber. But he forgot to read between the lines on the pages and took the woman off face value. You've heard of the saying don't judge a book by its cover right? The blue eyed beauty had an insatiable appetite for bad boys and the fast life, the rush of it all really did something to her. Ace offered her all of that in the most addictive way. But the problemwith living life in the fast lane, is that when you make it to your destination so quickly...you just might not be prepared. Follow them on this rollercoaster ride full of betrayal, steamy romance, lies, murder and deceit as they battle between love versus lust. Will love conquer all or will temptations get the best of the dynamic duo? You know what they say about those temporary fixes… Now ask yourself this question, are you ready for Ace & Bleu?

Baby Girl


Shavon Moore - 2009
    Fueled by her crooked grandfather s blood and her gold-digging grandmother s teachings, Kyla mastered the arts of manipulation and seduction at an early age. While other girls were learning simple addition and subtraction, Kyla was being trained to divide men from boys in hopes of multiplying her funds. As she propels through adolescence and into her teenaged years, Kyla s heartbreaking beauty and notorious sex appeal become her trademarks. The more attention she receives, the more she craves; and she seizes every opportunity to increase her status in her urban St. Louis community. Kyla truly believes that the world and everything in it is at her disposal. That is, until she meets Shard Phaylon, a suave and powerful young kingpin in the illegal drug trade. From the beginning, the mysterious Shard presents an alluring challenge that spoiled Kyla has never before had to face. In an effort to live up to her family name, she blindly and tirelessly pursues him and his many assets. Kyla s misguided affection quickly blossoms into complete devotion; and she soon finds herself acting as a witness and eventually, an accomplice in Shard s immoral and dangerous schemes. Her newfound love for him begins to eclipse her lifelong love for the Brown family, and she becomes completely torn between the two. Just when Kyla believes that she has her life all mapped out, though, she suddenly begins to unearth bizarre and unsettling clues about Shard s past and present. It is only after Shard commits the ultimate act of betrayal that Kyla discovers the disturbing truth about him and learns an even more disturbing truth about herself.

Ellipsis: The Novel


Kristy McGinnis - 2021
    When unplanned pregnancy threatens to derail everything, she fears life is over. Instead, she discovers motherhood to be her new calling. For thirteen years she and her son Charlie are a unit and her world is complete. Everything changes when violence erupts at Charlie’s school. As she reaches out via text in desperation, only the words and the animated ellipsis on the phone screen offer a buffer between life and death. Can she save the person on the other end of the messages in time, and in the process can she save herself too?

Lie Next to Me


Sandi Lynn - 2014
    I had to keep running because, if I didn’t, he’d find me. I looked behind me as I ran through the streets; scared, alone, and in the dark as the mist of rain hit my face. There was no time to think, and there was no time to stop. My shoes were soaked as they sloshed through the puddles of the dimly lit streets.My name is Rory Sinclair, and the night I was violently attacked was the night that changed my life forever. One man, a man named Ian Braxton, made it his mission to heal me, to save me, and to show me a world that previously had been only a dream to me.Ian Braxton is far from perfect. He’s a self-absorbed, demeaning, arrogant, and a womanizing millionaire. He makes it so easy to hate him, but so very hard to resist him. We’re from opposite sides of the spectrum. He comes from money and I come from poverty. When our worlds collide, his struggles become mine, and mine become his, leaving us with one question:How much would you give up to be with someone who was meant to be yours?

Possessed: Part One


Coco Cadence - 2015
    I’d take off my heels and throw them at his face, if they weren’t so expensive. Why? Because my boss, the sexy, billionaire bad boy Leo King, wants me to be his wife. That’s right. His wife. Except, it isn’t real. It’s all pretend so his family believes it, and I’m supposed to go along with it. Asshole doesn’t even begin to describe him, and it’s only going to get worse. Especially because his cocky attitude and sudden interest in my private life make it difficult to concentrate on something other than his sexual innuendos. I always do what he wants, and we both know it. It’s not like I have a choice. Agree or get fired. I’m going to need a drink … Or twenty. The first part of Possessed, a three-part series from Coco Cadence. Note: This ends in a cliffhanger.