Book picks similar to
Sweet Giselle by Karen P. Williams


betrayal
african-american
nope
adult-romance

Caged


D.H. Sidebottom - 2016
    After an extensive search he was never found. Twenty-one years after a random call out, Judd is found chained and beaten in the basement of an old rundown farmhouse where he has lived the life of an animal for the last twenty-one years. Kloe Grant is assigned as Judd’s personal therapist. It’s her job to rehabilitate him, to guide him back to normal life. But as Judd’s only emotion is rage, Kloe finds it both heart-breaking and challenging mending a soul that’s not only broken but caged inside him by the demons of his past. However, when Kloe’s relationship with her patient raises some eyebrows, Kloe can’t fight against the powers that want to see her fail, and with an arm behind her back, she walks away, leaving behind a man who has come to live life again for her. Four years later Judd, now known as Anderson Cain, the darkest and most formidable cage fighter in a world where violence and crime are the only way to keep breathing, Judd finds there’s not a lot in life that can abate the rage that still twists and prowls beneath his skin. Not until a chance encounter brings him to her door. To the woman with the bluest eyes and the most stunning smile, the woman who took his hand in the darkness and led him through the door into the sun. But Kloe Grant left him when he needed her the most. She took the only shred of hope and trust he had left and annihilated it. She starved his belief, and she fed his fury. She owes him. And he’s going to make sure that this time, she pays. In blood. In lust. In pain. And with her soul.

Criminal


Terra Elan McVoy - 2013
    Her friends tell her that Dee is no good, but Nikki can’t imagine herself without him. He’s hot, he’s dangerous, he has her initials tattooed over his heart, and she loves him more than anything. There’s nothing Nikki wouldn’t do for Dee. Absolutely nothing.So when Dee pulls Nikki into a crime—a crime that ends in murder—Nikki tells herself that it’s all for true love. Nothing can break them apart. Not the police. Not the arrest that lands Nikki in jail. Not even the investigators who want her to testify against him.But what if Dee had motives that Nikki knew nothing about? Nikki’s love for Dee is supposed to be unconditional…but even true love has a limit. And Nikki just might have reached hers.

Still Beating


Jennifer Hartmann - 2020
    This book contains subject matter that may be sensitive for some readers, including rape, as well as strong language and explicit sex. 18+ only. Please read responsibly. When Cora attends her sister’s birthday party, she expects at most a hangover or a walk of shame. She doesn’t anticipate a stolen wallet, leaving her stranded and dependent on Dean—her arch nemesis and ultimate thorn in her side. And she really doesn’t anticipate waking up in shackles in a madman’s basement.To make matters worse, Dean shares the space in his own set of chains.After fifteen years of teasing, insults, and practical jokes, the ultimate joke seems to be on them. The two people who always thought they’d end up killing each other must now work together if they want to survive.But Cora and Dean have no idea their abductor has a plan for them. A plan that will alter the course of their relationship, blur the line between hate and love, and shackle them together with far more than just chains.

The Stalker Chronicles (Pilar and Xavier #2)


Electa Rome Parks - 2012
    Tall, dark, and handsome bestselling male author Xavier Preston thought his nightmare - in the form of Pilar, a fanatical stalker/fan - had finally ended. Little does he know it's only beginning. When Xavier met Pilar, he got much more than he bargained for. What started out as an erotic one-night stand quickly turned into a dangerous game of obsession and pain, with both parties playing to win. Then she simply disappeared. Stunning Pilar hasn't gone away, though. In fact, she has been very near, watching his every move and patiently waiting for him to realize they were meant to be together forever. She still believes they're soul mates, and the only option for her is "Until death do us part." If she can't have Xavier, then no one can. Now no one is safe--not his friends, and definitely not him. Revenge can be a real killer.

Bad Apple - The Baddest Chick


Nisa Santiago - 2011
    Young and beautiful, seventeen-year-old Apple believes there's one thing she can do better than anyone -- herself. Her selfish actions turn fatal in a New York minute when she gets tangled up with a ruthless drug dealer. He wants his payment in blood with interest. Apple tries to clean up her mess, but the lines between vengeance and reality begin to blur. Apple steps into her role as a main chick a little too easily.Apple's twin sister Kola is leading a fast life of her own with a prostitution ring. Though she's making long money, she's not satisfied with second best, and she sets out to knock Apple off. Her wicked scheming explodes into the ultimate betrayal.Nisa Santiago's tale of beautiful sisters from Harlem proves that when sibling rivalry spins out of control, loyalty is just a word on the streets of the Big Apple.

Damaged


Kia DuPree - 2010
    After she is sexually and emotionally abused by her foster parents, she turns to the one person she knows she can trust--her boyfriend Chu, a mid-level drug dealer. But when life finally starts looking up for Camille, Chu is brutally murdered. Again feeling abandoned and helpless, and refusing to return to the system, Camille finds herself living with a stable of women in a tiny run-down apartment building in Washington, D.C., working for Nut, a deranged pimp. Fed up with her life, Camille is forced to right her wrongs, and slowly learns that her past does not necessarily determine her future.

Moth to a Flame


Ashley Antoinette - 2010
    With reign over the city's drug trade, Benjamin Atkins made sure that his precious daughter, Raven, was secluded from the grit that the city had to offer. But when Raven's young heart gets claimed by Mizan, a stick-up kid in search of a come-up, there's nothing Benjamin can do about losing her to the streets. She chooses love over loyalty and runs off with Mizan, but her new role as wifey soon proves to be more than she can handle.Puppy love always feels right, but things turn stale, and she soon finds that everyone she loves has disappeared. All she has is Mizan, but when hugs and kisses turn to bloody lips and black eyes, she realizes that Mizan is not who she thought he was.Raven becomes desperate for a way out, but this time, Daddy can't save her. Every time she finds the courage to leave, fear convinces her to stay. Like a moth to a flame, Raven is drawn to Mizan, even though she knows he'll be the death of her.When the hood life she chose becomes unbearable and the only way out is in a coffin, what will she do?

Bang


E.K. Blair - 2014
    But I’m not innocent. I haven’t been for a very long time. My innocence was stolen from me. Taken was the life I was supposed to have. The soul I was born with. The ruby heart embedded in a life full of hopes and dreams.Gone.Vanished.I never even had a choice. I mourn that life. Mourn the what-ifs. Until now. I’m ready to take back what was always meant to be mine.But every plan has a fatal flaw. Sometimes it’s the heart.**Due to the dark and explicit nature of this book, it is recommended for mature audiences only as some scenes may be particularly disturbing.**

Her So Called Husband


Chenell Parker - 2014
    Cherika, his wife and mother of his kids, has held him down through thick and thin. However, Alexus, his side chick, is the one who holds his heart. Cherika loves Dre with every fiber of her being and she is not going down without a fight. Meanwhile, Alexus questions if loving Dre was a mistake from the start. Dre's cousin, Keanna, has an agenda of her own, but who's side is she really on? After all is said and done, who will be the last woman standing in this suspenseful, jaw dropping love drama? Find out what happens when lies are told and secrets are revealed in this enthralling beginning series of Her So Called Husband.

BFF'S: Best Frenemies Forever Series


Brenda Hampton - 2014
    With enough backstabbing, finger-pointing, and disrespect to go around, this trio sticks to their motto of "What she can do, I can do better; and whatever she has, I want a piece of it too." Much competition is thrown in the mix, and jealousy is so thick that there will be no place for anyone to run when the mess hits the fan. Only then will they attempt to put their many differences aside, but when severe damage is already done, it may be possible to forgive, but certainly not to forget.

Thugs Need Love


Jahquel J. - 2015
    But, the men in their life can't say the same thing about their relationship with these ladies. As the old saying goes, with more money come more problems. Diamond and Justice have been together since they were in Jr. high school. Going from rags to riches they took different career paths. Diamond became the hottest female rapper in the industry and Justice is the top King Pin in New York. Justice is making more money than he knows what to do with it. He has women throwing themselves at him all day long, but the only person he wants is his fiancé, Diamond. Between touring, appearances and working on her new album, Diamond barely has time for Justice. When Justice finds out Diamond isn’t only entertaining her fans while on the road, will he leave? Lance and Justice have been friends since kindergarten. When Justice and Diamond hooked up, it was only right that he and Diamond's best friend, Noble, hooked up as well. Noble is the top producer in New York and is high in demand everywhere else. Always on the road with Diamond, she loves to put her work before Lance and their son. When Lance starts eyeing his new DJ that starts working at his club, nothing will ever be the same. Indigo is the hottest DJ straight from Miami. She moved to New York to start a new job as the co- host of a popular radio show. When she lands a night gig for a popular nightclub, she starts eyeing her boss, Lance. Not being one to ever play second, Indigo ignores Lance’s advances and focuses on her career. But, how long will she be able to ignore his advances? Naomi has had a crush on Justice since they met three years ago. Justice has seen Naomi at her worst, but still holds her in the friend zone. Tired of being alone, Naomi starts a relationship that isn’t all that good for her and full of secrets. Will she come out winning?

Fly Betty


Treasure Blue - 2013
    All of these women are vying for one thing – an opportunity to live a luxurious, lavish lifestyle by snagging a rich and famous singer, rapper or athlete. But being drop-dead gorgeous and super fly are only pieces of what it takes to catch one of these wealthy and highly sought after young millionaires. Where luck, timing and persistence can be determining factors on the surface – deceit, lies and manipulation are what it really takes to have a chance at catching their men. Betty Blaise, or Fly Betty to those who truly know her, was not in it to be a wife or even the baby momma of a wealthy public figure – she had her sights set higher, much higher. While most of these women use sex as their weapon of choice, Betty, a senior majoring in psychology, has developed a weapon that proves much more powerful. Up until now Betty has lived her life according to her own strict rules and standards, refusing to compromise for anyone, even if it potentially meant shielding herself from true love. But when she encounters a man that she would never have anticipated falling for in a million years, soon, the very rules Betty once lived and died by are going to be put to the test. The very tools she used so effectively against wealthy men begin to turn against her – and deadly consequences are sure to follow.

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.

Suspicions


Sasha Campbell - 2011
    . ." --OOSA BookclubThese women are about to learn more than they ever wanted to know about secrets--and the men who keep them. . .As the owner of Situations, the hottest beauty salon on the south side of Chicago, Noelle Gordon has a direct line to the private lives of her clients. But when an abandoned baby girl appears on her doorstep, Noelle finds herself at the center of a personal drama. Meanwhile, Noelle's employees are discovering that their own romantic relationships harbor a secret or two. The truth isn't always pretty. But can they find the strength to live with it--and with the men they love? "A drama-filled story." --Urban Reviews "Juggles each 'suspicious' intimacy issue in serious soul sistah style." --Publishers Weekly

The Spark


Vi Keeland - 2021
    A deep, velvety voice answered, and as luck would have it, he had my suitcase, too.Donovan and I met at a coffee shop to do the exchange. Turned out, it wasn’t just his voice that was sexy. The man holding my luggage was absolutely gorgeous, and we had an immediate spark. He got me to admit that I’d snooped in his bag and then convinced me to make it up to him by letting him buy me coffee. Coffee led to dinner, dinner led to dessert, and dessert led to spending an entire weekend together. Donovan wasn’t just handsome with a panty-dropping voice. He was also funny, smart, and surprisingly down to earth for a man who wore seven-hundred-dollar shoes. Did I mention he also did my laundry while I slept?Definitely too good to be true.So what did I do to repay him for his kindness?I waited until he was in the shower, then ghosted him.My life was too complicated for such a great guy.In the months that passed, I thought about Donovan often. But New York City had eight million people, so what were the chances I’d run into him? Then again, what were the chances I’d run into him a year later…when I’d just started dating his boss?