But the first thing I see when I get home is eighteen-year-old Callie, and after that relaxing is out of the question. The little brat is living in my house while her mother is on vacation, and I can't stop thinking about her and what I'd like to do to her - if only she wasn't half my age and completely taboo. She won't leave me alone, though, and when she barges into my bedroom I can't take any more. Turns out it's Callie's first time, and I'm all out of protection. Do you think I'm going to stop?This story is *too taboo* for us to leave an excerpt, so use the "Look Inside" feature to get a preview.

    She was born into a life of poverty that she never asked for. Her mother dropped her off at the local fire station as a newborn and her father could have been any of the local crackheads that she passed by on the daily. Jumping from foster home to foster home and living a life that gave her nothing, she was tired of it, she wanted more. She deserved more– she desired to live the life of the rich and famous.  Nothing was more memorable than the day she met Boogie. Boogie had the paper, the cars, the money, and the drugs that could help her with her come up– until an unfortunate turn of events happen to Boogie. There’s a new dealer on the block… and her name is Swiss.

    . . a beautifully wrought hymn of praise to readers and book-lovers in the most sacred of places, the libraries where we find both." --Cassandra King, author of the best-selling novels The Sunday WifeWHEN ADELE COVINGTON becomes an author in her sixties, she goes on a book tour to speak to the Friends of the Library groups in ten small towns in her home state of Mississippi. Chasing her personal demons through the Christ-haunted South of her childhood, Adele befriends an eclectic group of wounded people and decides to tell their stories. From Eupora to Meridian, from a budding artist with an abusive husband to a seven-year-old with a rare form of cancer, each story contains elements of hope and healing and honors the heart, soul, and history of the Magnolia State.

    In "Mercury Rain" a soldier fighting a new enemy learns the importance of holding on to his memories. "Blackwater," the title story of the collection, is an homage to Stephen King's short story, "Graveyard Shift," and it tells the tale of Paul Hawkins, a mine worker who disturbs something terrifying in the Blackwater Hills of Durham, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1976.

    Demonstrating a range of styles, topics, and themes these stories display each writer's craftsmanship and talent and together form a testament to the grand literary tradition of the South.Includes:Final season by Marlin BartonThe blues is dying in the place it was born by Rick BraggBitsy by Jill Conner BrowneS. Trident by C. Terry ClineMy heart's content by Pat ConroyThe octopus alibi by Tom CorcoranI would like to go back as I am, now, to you as you were, then by Beth Ann FennellyThe girl from Soldier Creek by Patricia FosterChristmas 1893 by Tom FranklinCome home, come home, it's suppertime by William GayEverything must go by Jim GilbertGoing back to the bridge in Berlin by W. E. B. GriffinJust a little closer to the Lord by Winston GroomLove like a bullet by Melinda HaynesLeft behind by Frank Turner HollonThe last days by Silas HouseThe fall of the Nixon administration by Suzanne HudsonA modern tragedy by Douglas KelleyPayback by Tom KellyKilling Stonewall Jackson by Michael KnightWhite sugar and red clay by Bev MarshallBlackbird by Barbara Robinette MossAnd when I should feel something by Jennifer PaddockHow this song ends by Judith RichardsFrom Tucson to Tucumcari, from Hatchabee to Tonopah by Richard ShackelfordVietnam by George SingletonJesus, beans, and butter rum Lifesavers by Monroe ThompsonArnold's number by Sidney ThompsonThe dead girl by Brad WatsonThe right kind of person by Steve Yarbrough

    But what he finds is a working-class community devastated by the economic downturn--a town without anything to hold onto but the past.Staying with his grandmother, Roy discovers a family history of good intentions and bad choices, of making do without much chance of doing better. Around him, families lose their sons to war, hunting accidents, drugs. And Roy, along with the town, falls into old patterns established generations ago.A novel-in-stories in the tradition of Bonnie Jo Campbell, Donald Ray Pollock, Denis Johnson, and Alan Heathcock, Country Hardball is a powerfully observed and devastatingly understated portrait of the American working class

    He’s street raised but business minded. Being part owner of a Harper’s, a successful bar and grill, affords him a certain lifestyle and plenty of women who want to share it with him. Larken is young and paid, and in no way interested in settling down anytime soon. Family secrets have a way of curbing his appetite for commitment, and he has no issues with that whatsoever. Sydney knows what she wants, she just can’t seem to get all her cards lined up to make it happen. Life somehow keeps getting in the way of her future plans. Sydney’s only focus is finishing school and starting her career, which leaves no room for relationships of any kind. The down side is that without a car and a job, she doesn’t have the ability to make that happen. When both are snatched from her because of a shady business deal, she’s at a loss and struggles to figure out her next move. Larken just happens to be in the right place at the right time and offers a solution to Sydney’s current situation. The two have no intention of making any kind of connection, but sometimes you find just what you need when you aren’t really looking. Will Sydney tame Larken’s wild side, and will he prove that he’s worthy of her time? Or have the two crossed paths at the wrong time, rendering them incapable of the love that neither of them know that they’re missing.

    Sisters Catalina and Kaia want nothing more than to be the main women of these eligible savages, but they soon realize that other women aren’t their only competition – the street life is too. In the “My Savage and his Side Chick” two-part series loyalties are tried, forbidden bonds and souls are tied, and love and lives are put on the line. Will Javaris and Amari come out victorious in the end, or will they learn the hard way that the game isn’t played fair… and the streets always win?

    

    Reese and Dirty are thrown into a whirlwind filled with turbulence and destruction. Talliah’s looking for a come up and has her sights set on Dirty. Csic’s number one priority is women period, the more the … read more

    He admitted, not only to his insane obsession with the death of his ex-right hand Calvin, but that he was disengaging from his illegal actives. With a heart filled with pride, Bella went in search for her husband, only to find him in a compromising situation. Gun in hand, bullets sprawled over his customized mahogany colored desktop, tears cascading down his handsome face, and a heart filled with rage, Bella walked in just as her husband had began to transform into the monster that he’d much rather avoid being.Bella is frightened, hoping that her words didn’t alter the love that had been administered between the two. She’s left wondering, is RahMeek capable of loving her the same even after secrets have been revealed and evils have resurface?

    With Tammy stuck with Rick’s infidelity sitting in her face she has to face whether or not she wants to do the right thing or what her heart's telling her to do. Everyone knows Tammy is good for running and pushing everyone away when things get hard, but with Latrell there it prevents Tammy from going back to a habit she’s known her entire life. Then, her life is altered when she finds out something might be wrong with Ricky. Will Tammy let the pressure make her crack? Or will she allow Latrell to take some of the burden she’s carrying?Avon is stress free and enjoying her career. While living in Los Angeles, she gets cozy with the director of her new show, but can’t move on because Ace is in her mind. Her mind gets back to thinking of what could have been, instead of moving on. When she gets back to New York and finds out that Ace hasn’t moved on and is waiting for her, will she get back with him? Or will she continue to leave what they had in the past?When you’re done; you’re done and there is nothing Iesha could do. Ace is ready to be with Avon and give her his all. He wants nothing more than to make her his and pick up where they left off. Except, Avon isn’t so quick to forgive. What happens when he finds out that Avon arrived in New York, but she’s not alone?Essence is stuck between a rock and a hard place. With the truth of what Honey and Kamari did behind her back, she stuck. She loves Kamari and all that they have, but doesn’t want to be back in a relationship based off lies. With the hate brewing in Honey, she’s ready to rid her son from Essence anyway possible, even bringing up some skeletons that Kamari hid back in Houston when he boarded the plane to New York. Will Essence be willing to fight for what she has with Kamari or throw in the towel? Sept is up and finally ready to get his life together. Thinking he has another chance to make what he messed up with Essence right, he takes a chance. Will Essence fall back into bed with Sept over Honey’s revelations? In this drama filled sequel, things are sure to take off and secrets will be revealed. In the end, let’s face it, there can always be one BAE.

    With her best friend, Hiro, and her boyfriend, Yohan, both along for the ride, will she be able to keep her focus, or will blurred relationships cause her to be in over her head? Hiro Smith’s main focus has always been basketball and his best friend. However, when the dynamics with him and Akela begin to change, he’s left questioning their friendship. When he crosses paths with the alluring Zuri, he’s forced to figure out feelings he had no idea existed. Hades, fresh out of prison, and Loyalty are adjusting as new parents. The two think they have it all figured out until his street life, her career goals, and parenthood become hard to balance. Will they be able to keep their heads above water, or will the stress of it all cause them to make illogical decisions? Every relationship isn’t meant to last, and sometimes friendships are just that; a bond that shouldn’t be taken further. Find out in this standalone if love can be misguiding or if it leads them exactly where they need to be.

    When she loses the love of her life to the streets, she vows to never love a dope boy again, but some promises are meant to be broken…. Demetrius is a product of the streets and has spent the last five years in jail because enough was never enough. When he is released from prison, he tries hard to turn his life around, but as the saying goes…old habits die hard. Only settling for jump offs, he is mesmerized when he meets Kamora and instantly makes up his mind that he will do whatever it takes to win her over. Will Kamora be able to keep the promise that she made to herself after she meets the charming and persistent Demetrius? Will Demetrius be able to leave his dope boy ways alone to get Kamroa or will he be forever tied to the streets?

    He started from the bottom, but at a very early age, he always knew that he would one day run the streets--with his crew by his side. Take a look at how it all began for them all. From before he met Rozalyn, to when he was with Shalea, and before he was crowned king.