Though the message on the kitchen white board is written in Marley's hand, her mother Rachel knows there has to be some other explanation. Marley would never run away.As the days pass and it sinks in that the impossible has occurred, Rachel and her husband Paul are informed that the police have "limited resources." If they want their 14-year-old daughter back, they will have to find her themselves. Desperation becomes determination when Paul turns to Facebook and Twitter, and launches FindMarley.com.But Marley isn't the only one with secrets.With public exposure comes scrutiny, and when Rachel blows a television interview, the dirty speculation begins. Now, the blogosphere is convinced Rachel is hiding something. It's not what they think; Rachel would never hurt Marley. Not intentionally, anyway. But when it's discovered that she's lied, even to the police, the devoted mother becomes a suspect in Marley's disappearance.Is Marley out there somewhere, watching it all happen, or is the truth something far worse?

    Genesis Bass has lived in hell since the age of fourteen and hasn’t gotten any better. Being locked away in an extravagant mansion one would think she was living the life of a Queen only to find out that she is living the life of a prisoner. Under the watchful eye of Master Knight Genesis can only pray that she would one day be set free. With no one to love her and no one looking out for her she learns how to deal with her situation instead of allowing her situation to become her. Even though she is strong she is not strong enough to escape from the hands of Master Knight until her she is shown the truth about keeping faith. Khalid ‘Truth’ Richards is considered the real deal. A man who believes honesty is key and is as cool as fan should never be taken lightly especially when in a blink of an eye he can become deadly. Successful business owner by day and hired hitman by night he hustles to make sure his money is always looking right. Love doesn’t live in the world of Truth because once a man’s heart is broken it is broken beyond repair. But what happens when a deadly hit man with a broken heart finds someone who is as equally broken? Killing Me Softly with a Love so True is a tale about finding love in a hopeless place all the while learning how to conquer any bad situation. Both Truth and Genesis have never experience love until they fate pushed them together. Will they be able to put their differences to the side and embark on a love journey that can lead to marriage bells or will they self-destruct never experiencing what real love feels like?

    After years of holding her head high amid the whispers and secrets, she finally decides to make a move for herself, only to be hit by another unexpected blow. Being the bigger person once again, Talia stands by Satch when a deadly situation arises. She never expects that walking away with only the clothes on her back and the money in her secret account would place a target on her back. Marsean comes to town to pay his respects to a business partner. However, when greed and envy start to affect his business, he prolongs his stay. He meets Talia, fully expecting the opposite of what her vibe gave off. Realizing that things are never as they are told and hardly ever as they seem, he decides to get closer to her in an effort to find the truth. The one thing he doesn’t count on is that the more truth he uncovers, the more questions arise. Toxin’s grief over his best friend has to take a back seat because business has to be handled first. In honor of his best friend, Toxin refuses to allow anyone to take advantage of Satch, even in death; regardless of who it is. Auntie Ethel is the poster child for misery loves company. She’s lived off her nephew’s money and penitentiary chances that he took without regret. Now that he is no longer among the living, she feels that everything her nephew owned and worked for should go to her and no one else. And there’s only one way to make that happen.

    For the McKenzie men, being on top in the streets came easy. But when it came to finding love, they were not so lucky.Remee McKenzie, the oldest of the McKenzie boys, has been with the love of his life Rumor since high school. However, his constant infidelities and wild ways have devastating consequences destroying the relationship between the two.Rumor has literally been through hell and back with Remee only for him to walk away and be with someone else. Except even when he is supposed to be out of her life it's like he never left. Tired of living in a painful cycle with Remee, Rumor takes breaking up with him into her own hands. Will Remee lose the people he loves the most for good or will he find a way to make things, right?Sire McKenzie, Remee's younger brother met Arabella at a time in her life when she needed him most. Unfortunately, they are torn apart by outside forces. Their time together even though brief leaves a lasting impression on them both. When they meet again years later, Sire barges his way back into Arabella's life, causing her to fall in love all over again. All while leaving out secrets that will break her heart.Arabella has moved on from her horrific past and is now happy. Even though she doesn't have much, she can give her son a stable life and that is all that matters. At least until Sire walks back into her world. Now her heart wants a man who has always been out of her league. Will she last in his world or lose him once again?Cahir McKenzie, a cousin to the McKenzie brothers, is the definition of a damaged thug. He is a king in the streets and the one who took his family out of the slums. Yet his attitude toward the opposite sex is vicious and degrading, at least until he meets Eternity. She began to unfreeze his ice-cold soul, but it only makes him want to hurt her before she can hurt him. When he says the unthinkable, will Eternity ever forgive him?Eternity is a single mother who works double-time to give her son the life he deserves. Meeting Cahir was never a part of the plan. Seeing more to him than just a killer in the streets, Eternity's heart begun to yearn for Cahir. However, his actions showed her that they could never be. Will she give up on loving a bad boy or put up a fight?Will these couples' journeys finally end in true love? Or will it all come tumbling down, in the end, leading straight to disaster?

    and Patrice Balark teamed up to bring you book one of this new and exciting drama filled series, The Wife of a Kingpin: Malik & Micah’s Story. Of course, romance, sex, deceit, backbiting, and illegal dealings will be served up like a five course meal. After losing his mom at the age of 18 during his senior year of high school, Malik Jefferson took comfort in the only thing that made sense to him at the time... the streets. Malik along with his best friend and right hand man, Rico “Goo” Grady, were taken under the wings and learned everything street by the connect who happened to be dating Goo's mom. They started out as corner boys and were making smooth waves along the way. After the connects demise, Malik and Goo went from the corner to the top. After being challenged for the top position over and over, the duo answered the call of being as ruthless as they wanted to be, thus informing Chicago and the world a new Kingpin had arrived. Eighteen year old Micah Sanders is all about her business. Not only is she a full-time student at the University of Illinois, but she also works part-time while being an unknown boss on the side. Coming from a life of privilege, Micah doesn't rebel against her upbringing, but she prefers to rely on herself to make her own way in the world. Despite having it all, she is only missing one thing, her now deceased brother. While everyone else may have forgotten about his untimely death, it stays at the forefront of Micah’s mind along with seeking revenge on whomever committed this heinous crime. Will she get the answer to the question that has been nagging her for so long? The first encounter was at random. The second encounter was accidental. But, the third encounter and every one afterwards were by design. After crossing paths with the beautiful mystery woman, Malik had to have her. It had been a while since the last time a woman captivated and held his interest that much. However, it was something more to the lady than meets the eye. He was on a mission to claim and to make Micah his woman. Malik and Micah are on the verge of starting something great. But, what happens when two bosses collide? Who will rule in the end? I don't know, but find out in book one of this new series. Warning: This book contains a cliffhanger.

    Thereafter, he was his worst enemy. A tough-as-nails father who firmly enforces his old-fashioned ways, a mother who has little or no say, and a son with a penchant for getting into misadventures. The boy tries to convince his parents that something is wrong with him, and he is really physically ill. He suffers three years of humiliation, agony, and punishment from the school and his father. The school principal, gave him swats, detention and isolation, where he spent all day locked up in an empty storage room. His emotionally unstable father spanked him ferociously. The boy was also whipped shirtless with his shorts on leaving him with welts all over his body from head to toe. He suffered other cruel punishments as well. The school and his parents misjudge him almost costing him his life. The parents get a divorce. The mother and brothers moved back to Wisconsin from Texas. They found themselves in an all-black housing project, being the only whites there for almost four years. He grows up quick and learns that life isn't as simple as black and white. When he turns 18, he decides to move back to Texas to seek vengeance from his father in a small country town with his father and his new mother. He hasn't seen or talked to his father in almost four years. Things fall apart fast. The young man and his younger brother end up out on the streets being homeless for two months and encounters unpredictable adventures. A raw, uncut true story.

    Ethic and Gunna believe just that until they are hit with the inevitable. Enemies are still lurking, waiting to snatch everything that they have worked so hard for. Charisma is in a better head space than she has ever been. With graduation coming up and Ethic in her corner, everything seems perfect. When tragedy hits, Charisma steps in to care for her little brother with the help of Ethic. Harmony is definitely a work in progress, but she is determined to beat the battles she’s faced with on an everyday basis. Gunna has been by her side and doesn’t plan to go anywhere. In this finale, can these couples overcome the disadvantages that life constantly throws at them or will they succumb to it all?

    They've got a two hundred year-old house, an autistic son obsessed with the Titanic, and 17 chickens, at last count. It's the kind of paradise where stay-at-home moms team up to cook the school's "hot lunch," dads grill grass-fed burgers, and, as Lucy observes, "chopping kale has become a certain kind of American housewife's version of chopping wood."When friends at a wine-soaked dinner party reveal they've made their marriage open, sensible Lucy balks. There's a part of her, though – the part that worries she's become too comfortable being invisible-that's intrigued. Why not try a short marital experiment? Six months, clear ground rules, zero questions asked. When an affair with a man in the city begins to seem more enticing than the happily-ever-after she's known for the past nine years, Lucy must decide what truly makes her happy – "real life," or the "experiment?"

    For years, she put her all into her man, but his disrespect and disregard for her true worth has left her hurt and emotionally scarred. Determined never to be made a fool again, she is desperate to find a job and stand on her own two feet. But her world is turned upside down when she meets Amell Moss. Amell is powerful and intimidating, feared by most people who cross his path. All his time is spent running a national chain of clubs that he uses as a front for a multi-million-dollar drug business, so love is the last thing on his mind. His focus is on his business and exposing the snakes around him who only want to see him fail. But when he meets Leah, he’s immediately drawn to her fearless demeanor and beautiful spirit. And Leah can’t deny the intense magnetism she feels for Amell. Will they find the love that they’ve both been missing in each other? Or will those around them end their chance at love before it can even begin? Find out in this hood love story bursting with lies, betrayal, secrets, and most of all, the pursuit of real love.

    The collaboration between authors Twyla T. and Patrice Balark in this series is off the chain as the magic between the pages leaps off in bounds. Unlimited pandemonium, uncovered secrets, and revealing truths are exposed as the drama continues in the second book of this series. After losing not only his mom, but his high school sweetheart, life became different for Malik Jefferson. He began to show everyone in the streets who the real boss was. Along with his best friend and right hand man, Rico “Goo” Grady, Malik is that Kingpin that people know not to mess with. However, it seems like someone didn’t get that message and decided to take the reign from the duo. Malik and Goo are being challenged again, and blood will be shed. Will the culprits ever learn their lessons? Or, will Malik lose his position as Kingpin. Micah Sanders’ life was good, with the exception of her brother’s death. While attending college and making boss moves on the sides, her silent, but efficient transport still caught the attention of the boss. Malik and Micah had undeniable chemistry and found themselves in a relationship that was good for both business and pleasure. Even though things were changing for Micah’s life, she still had one goal and one goal only…to find her brother’s killer. When the road leads to the man that she has totally fallen in love with Malik Jefferson, Micah’s world is instantly thrown into a world wind. Just when Malik and Micah think that everything is on an even kilt…BAM! Life comes right on it and knocks everything right off of its axis. Nothing will remain the same. No one will be left unaffected. Find out how all the chaos unfold in this installment of The Wife of A Kingpin 2. Warning: This book contains a cliffhanger.

    Big sister and guardian of her family, she is thrown to the world without a harness, no guidance, and no help. Dahlia is not afraid to get her hands dirty or do the unthinkable to make sure her and her sister aren't separated. Love is foreign and get it by any means reigns supreme for her. Raising her sister was her only concern, but as her sister Deja prepares to set sail on her own journey, Dahlia is forced to focus on picking up the pieces and finding her own way. What was supposed to be a favor for his little brother turns into so much more as Ty'Key spends time peeling back the layers of Dahlia Starks. Ty' Key Patterson is handsome, strong, and willing to suffer the catastrophe of any damage Dahlia brings his way as long as she is. Both alike in so many ways, they run into different situations that could not only damage them personally but damage a long-standing friendship. Will they be able to clean up the damage or crumble like ashes scattered amongst the rubbish?

    After losing his mother and every sense of belonging that he’d ever had, Egypt has become a lover of the streets and nothing more. Outside of his best friend, Auto, and respected gang leader BB, Egypt has love for nothing and no one. If it wasn’t about his sister, his gang, or his money, Egypt didn’t have time to entertain the joys of life, with women being one of his biggest casualties. He was young and on the come up. The last thing he had time for was falling in love. Unfortunately, hood prostitute, Dream, had other things in mind. She may have been around the block a few times too many, but not even that could deter her from the love she had for Egypt. Sure, they’d hated each other for years, but even he knew that was all a façade to cover up how she made him feel. With a made up mind, and a spitfire attitude, Dream allowed Egypt to do everything in his power to avoid her until one day he finally allowed his truest feelings to be revealed. If there’s ever been a love story that should have never been told, it was theirs. At least that was what they thought until giving their hearts a chance to stitch together in the most imperfect way.

    New to LA with a couple mil to flip, Grey opens South Beach, the newest addition to the Los Angeles club scene. In the midst of starting his business, he meets an exotic beauty by the name of Nakami. Enamored by her beauty and fiery personality, Grey courts her not knowing that her father, Hero, is the biggest drug lord on the West Coast. Nakami and her father prove to be the connect that Grey needs in order to get back to his hustle. But at what cost? Kimani Summers, Grey's younger brother, is making a name for himself in the modeling industry and is also pursuing a career in acting. When he hears that his brother has relocated to LA, he's not happy. Knowing Grey and the trouble that tends to follow behind him, Kimani is reluctant to interact with the brother he hasn't seen or talked to in over five years. Hesitantly taking Grey up on the invitation to attend the grand opening of his new club, Kimani meets Nakami's best friend, Blu. After losing the last woman he loved tragically, Kimani doesn't want to fall for Blu, but he can't help it. When these four lives are intertwined, things get crazy! And when everything is all said and done, friends will become enemies, business and personal relationships will crumble, and lines will be crossed that will affect the lives of all parties involved.

    In Rena, Audrey finds the loving relationship she longs to have with her own troubled daughter, Francesca. When Audrey's son, Stiles, comes home from Duke Divinity School, Audrey is overjoyed because he has decided to follow in his father's footsteps in the church. Upon his return, Stiles finds Rena all grown up and quickly takes notice. It doesn't take long for the two of them to fall in love, but Rena's fairy tale life is disrupted when her old flame, Frankie, learns about the relationship. In this explosive novel, the old adage about what's done in the dark turns out to be more true than anyone can imagine.

     We’ve all experienced it. Naively going through life thinking it won’t happen to us. When it does, it rocks you to the core and infiltrates your body like a virus. You put your trust in someone only to have it ripped to shreds in the blink of an eye. Even I’m guilty of it. Years ago, I stood by – watching – as my friends tortured Annie, the girl I was in love with in high school, never standing up for her. How was I to know that one bet back in high school, between the PITCREW, would come back and haunt me so maliciously. I’ve since lived my life trying to make up for it. I finally gained the courage to seek out Annie and ask for forgiveness. I just didn’t know she was right under my nose. Under my body. In my bed. With a new look. A new name. Embyr’s plan was to get revenge on us all, and in the process, she set off a chain of events that would turn our worlds upside down. She conspired to have me fall in love with her and then crush me with the blow. She succeeded, but didn’t realize she would hurt just as much as me. However, the road to recovery has its twists and turns. If I ever thought my heart would survive – I was mistaken – and if I thought that was the end of the betrayal – I was dead wrong.