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I Stole A Thug's Heart: Memphis and Nyla’s Love Story

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Memphis Lincoln was known for his quick temper and even quicker trigger finger. Anger had a tight grip on him as he vowed to avenge the death of his sister. He and his other siblings have been astray, but they agree to mend things under one condition, he lets go of the past. The promises to himself and what his siblings were asking of him was a battle within itself. There was one thing he wasn’t willing to let go of... and that’s the fact this his father had to go. In the midst of battling his need for revenge and wanting to be a better man, he meets Nyla Barnes.

Nyla would have never imagined that a night out with her best friend would lead her to the type of attraction she was afraid of her entire adult life. Memphis was fine, charming, smart, passionate, and claimed Nyla the moment he met her. But, the ghost of this man’s past begins to haunt them and Nyla finds herself being dragged into a world she wants nothing to do with. Now, a decision has to be made. Will she walk away from all things Memphis? Or will she love him like no other woman has before he loses everything in the name of revenge?

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 31, 2021

432 people are currently reading
225 people want to read

About the author

Aubry J.

20 books330 followers

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5 stars
1,044 (67%)
4 stars
367 (23%)
3 stars
123 (7%)
2 stars
15 (<1%)
1 star
4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
Profile Image for Brittany.
163 reviews2,362 followers
September 11, 2025
Memphis Memphis Memphis

I loved Nyla for Memphis... but that dang on BENNY... I knew something wasn't right with that boy. But the shocker of them all was MISTER. Why kind of daddy was that. Omggggg
Profile Image for ReadnliftwithShar.
1,909 reviews
September 19, 2022
😳

This book had me swiping pages so fast. I couldn’t get enough of Memphis and all the craziness that he came with. He fears no man, he is a ticking time bomb, and he always gets what he wants! I liked Nyla for him. She was a little timid but her calmness definitely matched well with Memphis. This book did not lack drama and plot twists. My first read from this author but it will not be my last.
Profile Image for JazzReads .
1,121 reviews33 followers
April 6, 2025
good book

This book was apart of a traveling BOOKCLUB pick by one of my book club members. I loved Memphis and Nyla story. Memphis was not playing about Nyla and I loved that. I love Aubry J writing style and I look forward to reading other books by her.
Profile Image for Lacie.
395 reviews
April 4, 2023
Memphis!!

First I love the name of my hometown!! Memphis don’t play about the women in his life!! Such a great read!!
Profile Image for Ashley Thomas.
375 reviews4 followers
April 9, 2025
Too many errors

Okay this was a decent story regardless of how unbelievable it was. This story is very insta love. Memphis was cool even though he was nutty. I liked that he let Nyla see who was from the beginning and didn’t hide himself. Nyla was cool too even though she had her moments where she was annoying. For instance the first time you met this man he was in the middle of a shootout. So it was annoying that every time someone spoke on his gangsta she acted so shocked as if it was new information. She literally watched this man kill and left with him that same night. But things got overwhelming after the run in with your corny co-worker/bed buddy? Yeah made no sense. Like he said he didn’t force you to be with him and anytime you could have walked away, because he never hid who he was.

Also I’m sorry but the fact that Memphis did so many illegal things publicly that led to no repercussions was shocking. He killed folks out in the open in a crowded club and no police were called. So you will definitely have to suspend your belief when it comes to some things.

And also there were entirely too many errors in this book. It needs an editor so bad there were missing words, misspelled words or just the wrong words used entirely which took away from the story.
Profile Image for LaTosha Webber.
1,201 reviews72 followers
August 7, 2025
Memphis!!

I was so excited to finally back up and read Memphis’s story and I really love the whole interconnected universe Aubry has been creating since the beginning of her writing career. The way it was basically love at first sight for Memphis was so sweet. I think it’s interesting to be reading older works by Aubry and being able to see not just the growth in her writing but knowing exactly the things she would have done differently if she retold this story. Anyways this was good and I liked it a lot. It didn’t have the level of humor I’m used to and I love that, that to is something she’s grown into more as she has progressed. Cause I know she’s been funny as heck all her days, but the confidence in her narrative voice has definitely blossomed! I know this is basically a mini dissertation on one of my favs but idk what else to tell you!? The men are still the best kind of unhinged (with a purpose), down real bad behind the woman they love, and it’s family over everything! And the fmc is lovable, strong, intelligent, and just a little crazy her dang self. So at its core it’s very much a Aubry J. story, just not as polished as she is now. Which is interesting since this title is under a publisher so I was a little thrown off by the number of typos but oh well. The auto buy behind this one is still in effect forever and a day!
Profile Image for Renada Boddie.
249 reviews16 followers
April 17, 2025
Memphis and Nyla

I enjoyed this book. Memphis and Nyla knew what they wanted from the first moment they met and did not let up. I like how Nyla was just as crazy for her man as Memphis was for her.
Profile Image for Q Owens.
2,580 reviews30 followers
September 4, 2021
GREAT BOOK!!!

Aubry you did the darn thing with this book. I was so glad to read about these characters. I loved this book from beginning to end. This is most definitely a must read. I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Charmy Reads.
457 reviews16 followers
August 6, 2025
Overall, I enjoyed this book. There were a few predictable moments but it was still a good read. I’m so glad Mister got what he deserved!
Profile Image for Taees_Cozy_Corner.
841 reviews1 follower
July 7, 2025
perfect

Memphis was crazy and I loved him lol. I felt bad for Nahla because she didn’t deserve the way she was treated. Benny was a waste of space and I knew he was gone be a problem from the beginning!!!
Profile Image for Libna Tsephania.
18 reviews1 follower
February 6, 2024
I had a good time

2.5 stars

I did enjoy this story. I really liked the dialogues and the back and forth between the characters.

But I feel like the love story lacked depth. In the sense that I didn't really feel the chemistry between the two main characters.
I know, I know... he doesn't do romantic things but a little romance por favor!

Also, there was a lot of telling and not much showing... as in telling me that their relationship got more serious instead of showing me how they grew closer to each other (outside of having sex) you know

For exemple in the restaurant scene I thought we were going to see them interact outside of the bedroom but she just said "we enjoyed ourselves" and we moved on to the next scene.

Overall, I had a good time reading this book 😊

P.S.: How many times can one shrug their shoulders 😂
47 reviews
June 3, 2024
good read

This was my first time reading anything from this author and all in all it was a cute quick read. I gave it 3 stars for all the grammar errors also I kinda felt lost or confused when the author would mention other characters like I needed to go look at her other books cause I missed something. I loved Memphis and Nyla together it was crazy but hey lol. Good read all in all though
2,670 reviews23 followers
April 7, 2024
Yeah This Was Good!

This was a story with all its working parts. The writer gives us a story riddled with mystery, drama,action a little bit of romance and a lot of hot sizzling chemistry!🔥🔥The story moves at a pace where you don't experience any down time or like the story falls off and gets boring.(not the case) This was not only good writing but its a story that's well thought out and with a developed dialogue. The characters come to life in a visual way,that you imagine seeing them in person. I love that Memphis takes it upon himself to watch out for his family and that they are all about family even if it is filled with sadness and abuse. When Mister gets his just rewards ,I love that old saying"you're only as smart as you think you are".The ending was so so sweet and the fact that we get a happy ending is just icing.
Profile Image for Lizzy Clark.
886 reviews28 followers
July 23, 2025
WHEW CHIL🤦🏽‍♀️

OR ABOUT MOTHERFUDGESICKLESTIX TIME SHE KILLED MISTER BIH AZZ OFF 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣!!! I WAS OVER HIS CRYBABY BIH AZZ AND ALL THE HAVOC HE WAS CAUSING IN THEIR LIVES

I WOULD SAY I WAS SHOCKED ABOUT BENNY, BUT I’M NOT!!! THAT NINJA BIH MADE JUST LIKE THE REST OF THOSE 🙄🥷 MISTER CHOSE TO HELP HIM WREAK HAVOC ON THEIR LIVES. HIS JEALOUSY COST HIM BIG TIME 🤷🏽‍♀️

I WANNA READ MORE ABOUT TRIGGA AND GOLDEN🥰

IT WAS GOOD CATCHING UP WITH THE REST OF THE FAMILY

BOY MEMPHIS & NYLA JUST FIT🤎. I HATED THAT ALL THE DRAMA KINDA TOOK AWAY FROM THEIR STORY. THE WAY MISTER AND BENNY DID GET 🤬🤬🤬 I STILL ENJOYED THEIR CRAZY JOURNEY TO LOVE. LOVED THAT IN THE END THEY FINALLY GOT THEIR HEA❤️‍🔥

ALTHOUGH THE EDITING WAS OFF AS FAR AS NAMES BEING MIXED UPS TOWARDS THE END, IT WAS WAY BETTER THAN THE FIRST FEW BOOKS IN THESE CRAZY FAMILIES INSTALLMENTS
115 reviews
March 23, 2024
Gangsta but a lover

So Memphis gets a bad rap and I get it but I loved him for Nyla and vice versa Nyla for him. She softened him and showed him he was capable of being loved and giving love. Babyyyyyyyyy the way Benny and Mister got handled was everything I didn’t know I needed. I loved how everyone came together despite the bad, the hurt, the killings, and the dislike. Because one thing they did was forgive each other for the hurt and circumstances that wasn’t for them and moved on to heal and bond as a family. It was beautiful to see. The ending was the best part for me and I definitely got teary eyed🥰 slowly knocking your catalog down Miss Aubry and I’m loving it down. Great read!!!!!
Profile Image for Kina M.
757 reviews11 followers
October 15, 2021
great

This was a really great story. I loved Nyla although she kind of pissed me off when she decided to go with MJ. Ik she didn’t know who he was but I was hoping she didn’t take his case at all. I loved Memphis and honestly they were really good for each other. I loved how she truly wasn’t over the top, and her calm demeanor was everything. I was only gonna give three stars because of the many errors, but the story was too good. But please get an editor the errors were as simple as just proofreading and that’s it. But it was sooooooo many of them I did get a little aggravated while reading.
458 reviews2 followers
November 7, 2021
Wow!!! Now that’s what I call a gripping, riveting, and beautiful story….

This my first time reading this author and am I happy I did that. This was so complete, riveting, fascinating and gripping that you will stay at the edge of your seat waiting on the proper explanation for all of this hate with Mister.
Memphis and Nyla were so cute with him talking about “he don’t do romantic”… yeah right!!!
He did so much romance, I think! But one thing that got to me was how did he let Mister get that close, when you knew he has been in your tail? Besides that, everything else was fire… I will read a MS. Aubrey J. Anytime…
69 reviews1 follower
Read
March 12, 2024
This was a good book but not the best in the interconnected series in my opinion. I think it’s definitely needed to read so you are caught up on how all these families and friend groups work between the Numbers, De Corte, Rush brothers, Cooper sisters, Lincolns, Carlson and all the supporting characters. Memphis and Nyla story was interesting to me mostly because I was able to see Megan and her introduction before my crazy Krude stepped on the same. If you are rocking with this interconnected series, then you have to start from the top and along the way find your favorite couples. It’s funny reading backwards because you pick up on previously lost context.
Profile Image for The Urban Fiction Librarian.
411 reviews49 followers
March 23, 2024
So Memphis gets a bad rap and I get it but I loved him for Nyla and vice versa Nyla for him. She softened him and showed him he was capable of being loved and giving love. Babyyyyyyyyy the way Benny and Mister got handled was everything I didn’t know I needed. I loved how everyone came together despite the bad, the hurt, the killings, and the dislike. Because one thing they did was forgive each other for the hurt and circumstances that wasn’t for them and moved on to heal and bond as a family. It was beautiful to see. The ending was the best part for me and I definitely got teary eyed🥰 slowly knocking your catalog down Miss Aubry and I’m loving it down. Great read!!!!!
Profile Image for Tenika Glover.
821 reviews4 followers
July 18, 2025
She Stole His Heart!!

Memphis is a complicated man who exemplify thug behavior in dresses suits. He is unhinged and is a protector of all his family, friends and especially his woman. He knew she was going to be his woman as soon as he saw her at the park. Nyla is a little hood. She is operational research analysis and is staying in the house her grandmother willed to her but she's yet to unpack. Mister has been watching from a far then he noticed that she is Memphis girlfriend and that plan his much sweeter. Memphis wasn't playing when Mister took his girl. He had to go plus Benny. Memphis said that he wasn't romantic but he proposed to Nyla at Dove and CJ wedding.
Profile Image for Phaze.
315 reviews1 follower
November 3, 2025
Memphis and Nyla

Instant attraction with these two.

However, Memphis is not gentle and short on patience. Memphis is looking for someone that have deep connections. He meets Nyla at a family/friend event and is interested.

Nyla thought she could play in his world for fun. He wanted her and they did their thing, then she leaves.

Nyla is the bestfriend of Meghan and know surface level info of the world that Meghan is a part of. She sees Memphis and tries to to not respond to her attraction to him.



When she realize what being with him means, she wants to peave. She doesnt realize that once she entered his space, she became a weakness to Memphis.

Profile Image for JeaNida Luckie-Weatherall.
2,996 reviews47 followers
September 4, 2021
Great Read

This book was so good from beginning to end. Held my attention and I couldn't put it down. Still enjoyed these characters and the storyline. Memphis was was attractive to Nyla at first sight, as well as she was intrigued with him. They were meant for each other and I loved how she stole his heart. So glad that Mister finally got exactly what he deserved. Cause he took these characters threw hell and back, but they always came out on top. So loved how everything turned out. Highly recommend this standalone. Great job Aubry J.
721 reviews
September 8, 2021
I couldn’t put this book down

I’m so happy for Ny to fall in love and be with someone who she didn’t expect to be with. Memphis is a different kind of breed and I like how cocky he is knowing what he wants and I’m glad that he saw and snatch up Ny before any one else can. Mister is a buster how can you hate your own seeds and their momma it takes two to make a baby but I’m glad he don’t have to haunt his kids and Ms Rose anymore because they beat him At his own game. This book is fire I definitely would recommend this book to others read
Profile Image for whateverpsays.
33 reviews2 followers
November 18, 2023
Not gonna lie.. this book definitely had me wondering what the author was thinking in real life. 🤣 The main characters were moving so fast with the relationship. Literally, they met once before and was sleeping with each other the next time they met (and unprotected at that?????). Plus the MFC pissed me off by acting so naive although she was supposed to grow up in the same environment as the other characters. It was a typical hood story read; it’s quick if you’re trying to reach a reading goal.
896 reviews5 followers
April 2, 2024
Memphis and Nyla

I loved these two because they were both unapologetically themselves. Memphis let Nyla know what it was from the start hell first time of them meeting he was shooting up some ish. I just felt like both of them needed each other even when they were arguing. They just fit even with the slight romance side of Memphis he was definitely sweet on Nyla for sure!! I just knew something was still cooking with Benny just too many sneaky things happening but I was still in disbelief though buy it be like that sometimes!! I can't wait to read about everyone else.
Profile Image for SumFire.
706 reviews2 followers
September 26, 2024
I knew Benny was going to have chest vibes after how he got handled by his best friend in Fell For the Opps. Hell, he could have just chosen to disassociate from CJ and the Crew since he felt singled out. Instead, he turned out to be a monster in how he handled Nyla. Guess it was always in him.

Memphis was fine, charming, smart, passionate, and claimed Nyla the moment he met her.

"I ain’t got friends, Nyla! I got family! Every person I put you in front of knows that when they see you, they see me. That if some shit goes down, then they are to protect you like they would me!”

He was NOT romantic by no stretch of the imagination, but he loved that girl to the point it was comical. With the punishments he doles out a girl would miss a call or two 🥴🥴 too.
Profile Image for Halimah Grant.
1,226 reviews6 followers
September 9, 2021
Fantastic

This book was really good Nylander really got memphis to change some of his ways for real she was definitely the one he needed in his corner I loved them together even though he was a little crazy but he didn't play about the people he loved it's just messed up what mister tried to do but like Memphis told him they won the game and he lost I loved the ended and how it all played out for them..great read
169 reviews2 followers
September 12, 2021
Karma

This was a great read from beginning to the end. I love Memphis and all that he stood for. After everything his father did too him he was still standing. Nyla was a woman after a man’s own heart. She brought the best out of Memphis even though he fought it hard. Sad that Mister even as death approach him still didn’t want to apologize for how he treated his children or the woman in his life. Benny was a snake and he got what he deserved. A great job!
Profile Image for T K Vaugh.
1,718 reviews12 followers
January 6, 2025
Happily Ever After

I was so disappointed in Benny!!!…He really switched up & was helping the very person that was attempting to injure his best friend girl!!!…To truly be envious of your ex girlfriend brother is wild!!!..
I was so glad that they were able to rescue Nyla from the mess that Mister baited her into!!!…
I hope there is more to come for these friends and families!!!..
I love Momma Rose, she played no games at all!!!…
7 reviews
October 17, 2025
😭😭😭😭

So first let me say I love Aubry J. and anything she writes is going to be 🔥🔥🔥. I decided to read her entire catalog from the beginning to current. I absolutely love Nyla and Memphis. The chemistry was there and Memphis is definitely on my book BAE list. You won’t be disappointed at all. I suggest you start at the beginning of her catalog as well since CJ and Dove and the rest of the crew are there. It’ll give you the backstory.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews