Book picks similar to
Love Don't Have to Hurt by Lucinda John


lucinda-john
standalone
street-lit
african-american

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.

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.

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?

Never Made Love to a Thug: Until I Met You


Cherie Briggins - 2017
    Some would even call her stupid. Feeling as if she's constantly on a rollercoaster ride of love and abuse, Mirror finally wants off. She's losing herself and her future is starting to look bleak. Until he steps into the picture. Now that Trust is a free man, he's focused and determined to be the King of New York. While hustling day and night, the only thing he wants is money, respect and those to fear him. But when he spots a beautiful girl sitting on a stoop, will he continue to be as focused as he once was?

Tamed by a Beast 2: An Urban Love Story


Indigo Love - 2017
    Will she be able to get away, or will she become Ramos’ next victim? Jamir’s put in a position where he makes another enemy who becomes a real threat. Due to that, he puts killing the man in the picture with Kay on the back burner...for now. His hit list is getting longer; however, he’s not moved. That only makes him go harder. On the hunt for Yummy, he finds out that the plot thickens with her and she’s planning to take him down by any means necessary. Will he find her before she gives him up to the FEDS, or sends someone to murk him? Keeping DEA Agent Daniels on his payroll is also proving to be a waste when he admits to not having a way to keep a warrant from being issued for his arrest. With that looming over his head, he tries to focus on protecting Kay, as well as keeping his own life and freedom intact. He also notices a drastic change in Kaylen that he never saw coming. Kaylen is frantic to find her sister Kylie, who has been taken by DFACS and returned to her unfit mother Connie. In the process, she is attempting to cope with what has happened to Laila. Feeling like everything is too much to bear, she decides to shed the layer of innocence that was once her shell. Now, she feels the burning desire to get vengeance, even if it means she must commit the act of murder herself. The hate she feels for Yummy is festering and all she wants to do is end her life. It starts to become an obsession. However, Jamir wants her to stay out of it and let him handle the situation. Will she back down and let her man be her voice of reason, or will she stick to her guns? Was Kylie’s decision to go back to her mother a big mistake that she’ll regret, or has Connie really made a change for the better? With the chaos surrounding Jah and Kay on one hundred, it’s a fight for these young lovers to stay alive and in love. Will they come out on top in the end, or will one of them, or both, be added to the growing body count?

My Husband's Other Women 2


Regina Swanson - 2014
    You would think that he would finally be satisfied but when it comes to Rayvon’s adulterous ways, you can never know for sure. Is his new family enough to help him leave his mistresses bed for good? Janice will soon find out that all that glitters ain’t gold. Being a wife instead of the mistress slaps her in the face as the roles change and now she has to deal with what she used to dish out. After finally being rid of her tumultuous relationship with Rayvon and starting a new family, Stacy is finally happy. Fortunately, Stacy was able to keep her daughter’s true paternity away from Rayvon. But how much longer can she keep it a secret? As hearts are broken and secrets are revealed, nothing is off limits in this story of these husbands’ and wives’ battles to keep their families together.

Addicted to the Hustle: A Carolina Love Thing


Zaii Renae - 2016
    With an absentee mother and alcoholic father Logan has the weight of the world on her shoulders. All Logan can really count on are her crazy ass friends Margo, April and her secret crush Ameer Sanchez to keep her sane. Ameer Sanchez is a young rich, and in demand. With a small circle that consists of his best friends Jacob and Daniel, he doesn’t need much else to hold him down, well except for that special someone. He's fine as hell and on his way to living out his dreams. He also has everything he wants and can have any girl he wants but ever since he laid eyes on Logan he knew that he had to have her. Unfortunately, for this bunch, life isn’t always as simple as it should be. Ameer is struggling to keep his head right, and do right by Logan but life keeps getting in the way. Keeping his past in the past is not working out as simple as he thought it would be. Friendships and relationships are challenged, and some may not survive. Not to mention that the streets are invading their circle with a vengeance. Roman is the plug that Jacob and Daniel work for and he has an offer that they can’t refuse, even if they should be running from it. With Roman about to step down will the guys step up and take his place or will unforeseen circumstances make it impossible. Will Ameer be able to handle a relationship and running the streets? Will Logan be understanding of his constant demanding schedule? Will outside forces as well as, the ones closest to them try to tear them apart? And ultimately, is being Addicted to the Hustle really worth it?

Multiple Me's II


Sasha Wright - 2014
    Will City be able to make it back to Ocean? Can Mikey and Oneca’s relationship stand against everything going against them? How will Moneca adjust to her new found freedom? Will Rex finally let go of his obsession with Moneca? Find out how they all learn to move on after discovering Oneca and Moneca’s shocking secret all while dealing with the new twists and turns coming their way.

A Hood Nigga Fetish 2


Johnazia Gray - 2015
     Hennessey and Keice are facing a very tough time in their relationship due to all the drama his ex-girlfriend, Camille has caused. With Camille getting killed in the middle of revealing a disturbing secret, will Keice be able to deal with Hennessey again? Or, will she just let it go and move on? With Jessica going through a tough phase in her life, will she try her best to get the kids and show everyone that she can be a wonderful guardian? Or, will she focus more on getting her life back on the right track instead? Desmond is simply trying to let go of the street life and focus on him, his son and his relationship with Jessica. However, temptation may just lead him back to his old ways. Will these couples stand the test of time? Or, will they find it easier to go their separate ways and leave the drama of their past behind them? Find out in A Hood Nigga Fetish 2. A Must Read!

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.

Sicka Than Your Average: A Good Girl Turned Savage


Mz Toni - 2016
    The only problem she didn't factor in was the distance Harvard would put between her and her nine year old sister. When you have a mother who can't let go of her youth, and a father too busy trying to make ends meat to provide for his family Charm has no choice but to pick up the slack. Charm makes the hard decision to attend college to build a future for her little sister when tragedy strikes leaving Charm to question her purpose in life.

Team Us


Denetra Shuntelle - 2014
    DEM BOYZ is a crew who is ran by DeMoni, his younger brother Kashawn and their best friend KeyMarley. Loyalty is tested and friends quickly become frienemies. The people you put all your trust and faith into will betray you the worst. Who can be trusted? Secrets are revealed that will either make or break the crew! Will DEM BOYZ be able to protect the sheltered women they love most? If so, at what cost? Enter the lives of 18yr olds Golden and Nickayla. These best friends have it all! Brains, beauty, money, Power and respect. Golden has a bright future ahead of her, but hits a slight bump in the road. She has 2 very overprotective big brothers that love her more than life. She has a boyfriend who in her eyes can do no wrong! Everything that glitters surely is not gold! When the wool is snatched from her eyes will she be able to handle the truth? Nickayla has been holding on to secrets of her own. The heart loves who it loves no matter the circumstances. What happens when webs of lies and deceit slowly unravel? Once everything is out in the open, who will be left standing to pick up the pieces? You can truly expect the unexpected.

It's Either Me Or Her 2: A Side Bitch Story


Tiece - 2016
    With a new hit single out, featuring a sexy rapper by the name of Yung Gunner, she’s certainly making waves of her own. She’s in a good place, and just wants to live drama free while enjoying her life. However, with Brooke using she and Chase’s unborn baby as a ticket back in his life, things can get real ugly at any given time. Chase is feeling good about the decision he’s made. Being with Rayne makes him happy and it keeps him focused. Now all he wants to do is be the hottest producer around, while taking Rayne’s career to the top. And with the signing of Yung Gunner to his record label the only way from here should be up. But dark secrets began to surface that threatens to end his relationship with Rayne and bring his entire empire down. Brooke is quickly learning that she can’t play with fire without getting burned. Skeletons in her closet start falling out all over the place leaving Brooke feeling vulnerable. With her ex-lover, Q popping up in Atlanta things quickly spiral out of control as she attempts to run from her past. There is only one problem with that. Q is not letting her out of his eyesight until he gets what she owes him and some. Will Chase and Rayne hold it together? Or, will Brooke find a way back into his life? Find out what happens when two women are both in a race for one man’s heart in, It’s Either Me Or Her 2.

The Hitta Next Door: An Dangerous Love


Neicy P. - 2019
     Tracey was forced to grow up too fast. When her father passed, and with her mother being more concerned with chasing a high than raising her daughters, she became the sole caregiver for herself and her rebellious little sister, Toni. With trying to rein Toni in already being a constant distraction, an even bigger distraction then comes along when a U-Haul truck pulls up right next door. Boston was a man about his business. His reputation preceeded him before the Cuban Mob called him to handle one of the biggest jobs of his career. As always, he planned every step, and was on the path to success and cashing in. But then, he met Tracey, and the one thing that he had no contingency plan for threw him completely off his square. Now he has to decide whether love is worth risking his life and reputation for. When you find out that you're sleeping with the enemy, do you place your life in his hands, or take him out before he does the same to you? When power is the motive, there's no loyalty but, as the details unfold, Tracey and Boston just may end up needing each other in order to survive.

Mekhi & KoKo 2: A Ghetto Love Story


Sol - 2016
    An unexpected shooting in the club sets off an unfortunate chain of events, leaving you to wonder who will be eliminated and what couples will live to see a happy ending in this epic finale. KoKo is finally ready to give Mekhi her heart but to do that, she has to cut ties with her baby's father for good. Too bad Homicide won't let her go without a fight. Tired of being a victim of sexual and physical abuse, she decides to woman up and fight back so she can be with the man her heart desires. But does she love Mekhi enough to die for him? That's the million-dollar question. Mekhi is no longer willing to play KoKo's game of “Hard To Get.” He's ready to lock the red-headed beauty down and is prepared to pay whatever it costs to be with her. Even if that means he has to come out of retirement and revisit the streets. Is he war ready? Or will he end up losing the woman of his dreams for good in the battle of love vs the streets? In the blink of an eye, both Mesha's lovers, Nas and Dutch, figure out her dirty little secret. She's been sleeping with them both so there's no telling who the father of her unborn baby is. When the DNA results come back, she'll have to say goodbye to one of her side niggas forever. Will that be her play brother or her new love interest? Dutch reigns all the way from New York with a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove. His legendary street king of a father taught him all he knows so he brings his talents to the south. Once the CokeBoyz is taken down by the FEDS, he decides to step up and take over. But along with all the money and hood fame that comes from his new position as The Plug, he soon realizes that new snakes are born too.