Start-Up City: Inspiring Private and Public Entrepreneurship, Getting Projects Done, and Having Fun


Gabe Klein - 2015
    Sleek, legible mobility platforms are connecting people to cars, trains, buses, and bikes as never before, opening up a range of new transportation options while improving existing ones. While many large city governments, such as Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C., have begun to embrace creative forms and processes of government, most still operate under the weight of an unwieldy, risk-averse bureaucracy.With the advent of self-driving vehicles and other technological shifts upon us, Gabe Klein asks how we can close the gap between the energized, aggressive world of start-ups and the complex bureaucracies struggling to change beyond a geologic time scale. From his experience as a food-truck entrepreneur to a ZipCar executive and a city transportation commissioner, Klein’s career has focused on bridging the public-private divide, finding and celebrating shared goals, and forging better cities with more nimble, consumer-oriented bureaucracies.In Start-Up City, Klein, with David Vega-Barachowitz, demonstrates how to affect big, directional change in cities—and how to do it fast. Klein's objective is to inspire what he calls “public entrepreneurship,” a start-up-pace energy within the public sector, brought about by leveraging the immense resources at its disposal.  Klein offers guidance for cutting through the morass, and a roadmap for getting real, meaningful projects done quickly and having fun while doing it.This book is for anyone who wants to change the way we live in cities without waiting for the glacial pace of change in government.

Streetfight: Handbook for an Urban Revolution


Janette Sadik-Khan - 2016
    Her approach was dramatic and effective: Simply painting a part of the street to make it into a plaza or bus lane not only made the street safer, but it also lessened congestion and increased foot traffic, which improved the bottom line of businesses. Real-life experience confirmed that if you know how to read the street, you can make it function better by not totally reconstructing it but by reallocating the space that’s already there.      Breaking the street into its component parts, Streetfight demonstrates, with step-by-step visuals, how to rewrite the underlying “source code” of a street, with pointers on how to add protected bike paths, improve crosswalk space, and provide visual cues to reduce speeding. Achieving such a radical overhaul wasn’t easy, and Streetfight pulls back the curtain on the battles Sadik-Khan won to make her approach work. She includes examples of how this new way to read the streets has already made its way around the world, from pocket parks in Mexico City and Los Angeles to more pedestrian-friendly streets in Auckland and Buenos Aires, and innovative bike-lane designs and plazas in Austin, Indianapolis, and San Francisco. Many are inspired by the changes taking place in New York City and are based on the same techniques. Streetfight deconstructs, reassembles, and reinvents the street, inviting readers to see it in ways they never imagined.

Dream Cities: Seven Urban Ideas That Shape the World


Wade Graham - 2016
    It tells the stories of the real architects and thinkers whose imagined cities became the blueprints for the world we live in.From the nineteenth century to today, what began as visionary concepts—sometimes utopian, sometimes outlandish, always controversial—were gradually adopted and constructed on a massive scale in cities around the world, from Dubai to Ulan Bator to London to Los Angeles. Wade Graham uses the lives of the pivotal dreamers behind these concepts, as well as their acolytes and antagonists, to deconstruct our urban landscapes—the houses, towers, civic centers, condominiums, shopping malls, boulevards, highways, and spaces in between—exposing the ideals and ideas embodied in each.From the baroque fantasy villages of Bertram Goodhue to the superblocks of Le Corbusier’s Radiant City to the pseudo-agrarian dispersal of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Broadacre City, our upscale leafy suburbs, downtown skyscraper districts, infotainment-driven shopping malls, and “sustainable” eco-developments are seen as never before. In this elegantly designed and illustrated book, Graham uncovers the original plans of brilliant, obsessed, and sometimes megalomaniacal designers, revealing the foundations of today’s varied municipalities. Dream Cities is nothing less than a field guide to our modern urban world.Illustrated with 59 black-and-white photos throughout the text.

Lost In That Hood Love


K.C. Mills - 2018
    More money than he can spend in a lifetime and women at his beck and call. In less than twenty-four hours, Cage's priorities change with the birth of his son, which he wasn’t expecting, and a chance encounter with a woman who quickly piques his interest. They say you find what you need when you stop looking, and that is definitely the case when Cage crosses paths with Desai. Not to mention the fact that his twin brother is still heavily in the streets, placing Cage, in the middle of a situation that is threatening to pull him back into the life he promised to never return to. Can Cage learn to balance his new responsibilities and keep the drama at bay, or will he be forced to choose between responsibilities and love? Crane Andrews is still deep in the streets and had no plans to quit living the fast life anytime soon. Although Crane loves and is very much dedicated to his fiance, he often finds himself sharing a bed with other women. Until now, he has always been able to keep that side of his life hidden. When paths cross, and his worlds collide, Crane has to do damage control. Chaos from the streets slithers into the mix of the drama in his personal life, and Crane quickly realizes that it might all be too much to handle on his own. These twin brothers have always had each other's back, and nothing has changed for them other than the fact that there may be another Andrews who needs the same protection. Will they be able to maintain balance, or will the chaos of it all be too much and take them under?

Trippin' Off A Crazy Hood Love


Kelly Marie - 2018
    There are no women who would do anything to have a balling boss or street king. And there are no dope boys! This is a story about love and how unpredictable it really can be. Meet Immanuel ‘Manny’ West, a pretty boy, ladies’ man, who prides himself on bagging the baddest women Harlem has to offer. He is a player and makes no apologies for it. His reputation as the man who loves too many bitches to settle down doesn’t stop women from throwing themselves at him. He knows he has a rep to keep and would rather die than be seen with a chick who wasn’t up to his standards… that was until he crossed paths with Rai-Elle. Rai-Elle isn’t your typical hood beauty that catches all the niggas’ eyes, the one who the bad boy sees and just has to have no matter what. No, Rai-Elle or just Rai, as she liked to be called, spent most of her life being invisible. And when people did see her, they saw a dude from her tomboyish looks and swag. What started out as a defense mechanism ends up being the same thing that Manny likes about her, even though he doesn’t want to. Will he knock down that wall she so desperately hangs on to or will he allow his friends, his rep and the pressures of life to walk away from the one woman who may not look like she fits him but is everything he ever needed nonetheless? Then there is Gideon West, Manny’s younger brother, who is following in his brother’s footsteps of having the baddest females on his arm. One day he comes across Lyriq, a chick who could never get the time of day from him just from how she looked and dressed. A friend dares Gideon to talk to her, and not being one to back down, he accepts the dare. But unintentionally, he ends up falling for Lyriq in a way he never saw coming. But what happens when Lyriq discovers the truth just as Gideon finds himself unable to live without this girl? Find out what happens when these two brothers encounter women they never thought they would even look twice at and try to deal with the way they are trippin’ off a crazy hood love.

Hooked 4: Addicted to A Supreme Love


Bianca Marie - 2018
    Can they make it? Supreme and Denim have been through so much in the short period of time that they have been together. With Denim clinging to life, Supreme doesn’t know if she’ll make it or not. He’s never been a praying man, but they say prayer works, and he’s praying to the high heavens that she comes out unscathed. Black can't seem to find Carmella anywhere, but when he finds out her location, secrets are revealed. Will he be able to withstand the betrayal? Unique has met Trap, and although he seems to be perfect for her, she still has some guards up. Trap is trying everything he can to break down the barriers to Unique’s heart, but it’s harder than it seems. These couples will take you on their last ride to find out if love is worth all the trials and tribulations that they’ve been through. Some couples will survive while others crumble, and new love will appear. When you're addicted to someone, it’s hard to shake them, and these couples are hooked.

She Fell In Love With A Hitta


Antoinette Sherell - 2018
    The only issue with that is she may be loving the wrong person. When she finds out a truth that hurts her to the core, she allows her feelings to affect more than just her love life. So much so, it costs her the pampered lifestyle she’s accustomed to. With no money or assistance from her parents, she learns the truth about love and life the hard way. Twin brothers, Achilles and Adonis Heart, are heartthrobs who can’t seem to get their love life in order. Achilles is considered heartless and callous, but the truth is that he has no idea how to love. Even though he’s certain that he wants to work things out with Gi’Dore, their love is so toxic there may be no hope for repair. On the other hand, Adonis is a ladies man but still deeply in love with his longtime girlfriend, Teagan. Terrified of monogamy but knowing he wants to marry her someday, he attempts to stop his cheating... or at least slow it down. Unfortunately, it backfires in a way he never expected. Love is everything but predictable, and with these three... you never know what you’re going to get when their hearts are on the line.

Married to a Boss 2


Lucinda John - 2015
    After going through a series of betrayals, the men will do anything to protect their family and business. With Ralph laying on his death bed, Lisa is out for blood as she seeks for revenge and mourns her lost.Faces from the past returns and cause more havoc, sending the fellasinto beast mode. Lies are revealed, hearts are broken, and trustbecomes an issue as the ladies; Lala, Honey Lisa, and Cinnamon, livethe life as being Married To a Boss. Will it all be worth it? or willthe trials break them all apart?

Tampering With A Thug's Heart 3


Coco Shawnde - 2018
    With either knowing the route to rekindle their love, they grow distant. Israel is taking on fatherhood the best way he knows how, and he encounters more than he wished for. Finding Aubrey is at the top of his list. With his search, more truths are revealed than he expected. Being the man he is, he stands tall with everything coming his way. Even with things changing in his life, the one thing that hasn’t changed is Tiphani being his best friend. Times grow hard, but does that mean all love will be lost? This last installment guarantees to take you on a ride. Will love conquer all, or will it just not be enough to allow love to flourish? Tampering with a thug’s heart doesn’t seem like the right thing to do when your heart is played on right back.

A Staten Island Love Letter 4: The Forgotten Borough


Jahquel J. - 2019
    While the streets are calm, their home lives are far from that. Free is carrying their son and Ghost is over the moon with the pregnancy. This is his second chance to parent and become one with Free. While they’re preparing for the birth of their son, a curveball comes out of thin air and rocks the foundation of their home. How will Free and Ghost get through this? Just when they’ve find a solution and solace to their first problem, Ghost is hit with something that has the ability to take him away from Free and his children. How will Free be able to handle a new baby and this new issue? Will she stand tall and be everything that her man needs her to be? Or will she flee again like she did all those years ago? Liberty and Staten are together and far from happy. Chanel may have accepted that she and Staten may never be together, but she’s not willing to go away, especially with her about to have his first child. While Staten is trying to juggle being the head of the streets, a new dad, and a boyfriend to Liberty, will Liberty find her comfort in something else? When Liberty starts becoming distant, and Maliah and he start spending more time together, what will happen? All Staten wants is someone to love him, but with Liberty fighting her own demons, will she lose Staten’s heart forever? Will Maliah fill the void that is inside Staten’s heart? Or will Staten fight hard to get the woman that he loves back? Justice and Priest are happy and welcoming their first child together. While Justice is trying to keep calm and stop freaking out over her pregnancy, Priest is battling his issues with his nieces. Love is now sixteen and has found her way into the same hoods that Kiss once frequented. While trying to raise both his nieces, keep Kiss on the right track, and raise his nephew, will he start to lose it? Especially when someone enters his life and starts to wreak havoc for both he and his family. The crew is back and ready to give you a glimpse of their new lives. Make sure you’re ready to cross the Verrazano bridge and pay that toll so that you’re welcomed back into the forgotten borough; Staten Island

Wifetress: One Man's Wife, Another Man's Mistress


Melinda Graves - 2015
    But she will soon out and someone is going to pay!Aliyah is attempting to put her life back together after an unsuccessful suicide attempt due to a horrific husband when someone from her past gives her a reason to live. Will Carlos let that happen?

Soft City: A Documentary Exploration of Metropolitan Life


Jonathan Raban - 1974
    This book recreates the city in its teeming, unknowable variety. Part fact, part fiction, it holds up a mirror to the modern city and finds there a stage for a unique personal drama.

Tru Love


Bree - 2016
    When Tru’s parents are murdered they become closer than ever. What happens when Tru and Sincere fall for the two people who they don’t want to love? Each other. Sincere is about to be the King of New York and has plans on taking over Miami. With family secrets surfacing and jealousy rising will he succeed or will someone he trusted his life with be his downfall? True love is hard, but it’s even harder when you’re running from it.

I Wanna Love Somebody 3: The Finale


Nique Luarks - 2017
    Secrets are revealed, breaking bonds and exposing hurt she’d buried a long time ago. The only sure thing in her chaotic life is her blossoming love for Kai. He's everything she needs, and she's everything he's never had. But will Kai's past hinder their growth? Things seem to be finally falling into place for Kenya and Cole. They are both learning to love and trust again. Their only issue is Cole's hot temper and Kenya's rebellious nature. In order for them to work, someone has to be willing to compromise, but who? In this last installment of the I Wanna Love Somebody series, we say goodbye to the characters we have all grown attached to. But before they go, they teach us that love really does conquer all. And even though it can feel like a losing battle most times, we all wanna love somebody.

A Hood Dilemma is Still Bittersweet: A Naptown Triangle (A Bittersweet Hood Dilemma Book 3)


Natavia - 2015
     Tassana is on the right path for the sake of her son. The problems between Osari and Tassana might cause her to go back to her old ways. Osari is trying to make it right for the sake of his family until his secret comes out. When all has been revealed, will it drive Tassana away permanently? Shimmy and Dez are young and in love until Kiwanna comes back into the picture. Dez is forced into making a tough decision leaving Shimmy with a lot of questions. Armory is a guy with a motive, will Shimmy figure it out before its too late? Kyree is stuck between two men, Osari and Pernell. Pernell does everything he can to get Kyree back. Kyree is torn from her past with Pernell, which is causing her to fall in love with another man. The man Kyree falls in love with is in love with another woman. Every hood has its dilemma, even when one dilemma ends many more occurs. Everyone is in a love triangle, but there is only room for one, who will they choose? This is an urban tale of love, heart-breaks, secrets and lies.