What could be more elemental than Phire and Ice? Sapphire Henson and Isaiah Harrison had been riding together since childhood. She held him down through his days in the game and his thot-filled nights. But Phire had grown tired of Ice’s arrogance and when he crosses one bridge too many, is there a way for this couple to bounce back… especially when a sexy arms dealer known as Bleu is waiting in the wings to make her his own “Sapphire Bleu?” Elijah Harrison, II, can’t understand the back and forth nature of his brother Ice’s relationship with Phire. He’s convinced that Ice should be more like him and avoid drama by dodging relationships altogether… that is, till a wounded angel crosses his path one night. Ariana Alexander makes Jah throw away all his no-attachment rules. But will she allow her past to destroy any chance of their future? Joshua (Jace) Taylor was supposed to get his family out the hood the legitimate way—with his phenomenal basketball talent. His best friends, Ice and Jah, work hard to keep him out of the game and Jace works just as hard to keep up his college kid façade. Meeting the beautiful Laila MacNamara stirs his darkest desires, bringing out the side of him he wants to keep under wraps. Her heated responses to his dominance make it unlikely that the bad boy in him will stay hidden. Just as they begin to explore the limits of their passion, the intoxicating world of professional basketball, with its endless excesses, pulls at him. At twenty-one, can Jace stay strong enough to be true to Laila? Join these childhood friends from the East Side of San Antonio as they struggle to figure out where life—and love—will take them.

    With the life style her father lives, she made it her business to branch off. Even though her beauty was evident, men wanted her more because of her last name. The Banks name carried weight in the streets and for once Air wanted her own life. She moved out of the city and focused on herself. One encounter at a restaurant led her into the arms of a man that was just as heavy in the dope game as her father. Not knowing of his way of life, she started falling for his charm. Ghoul has always been a cool, calm, and collective guy. He’s very calculated and knows how to keep it together even in the toughest situations. But sometimes, that’s easier said than done. Ghoul has been a Dope Boy for years and one thing he knew how to do was keep the street life and home life separated. Besides making sure his money was stacking up, his only other concern is taking care of his dying mother. Who knew by him doing something so drastic one night, would have him shift his energy to Air. Air was sassy, sexy and had a spark to her that made him want her even more. Ghoul laid all of his cards on the table for her in the beginning. There was nothing she didn’t know but Air had one secret she kept away from him, for a reason. With secrets being kept and enemies plotting, once the two collide, lives may be destroyed. Will these two have a chance of survival once Air finally reveal her secret? Will Ghoul have to constantly fight for Air’s attention to get her to see that even, Dope Boys Need Love too? Secrets will be told, love will be lost and only the strong will survive.

    So being bad for him was never on her agenda... right? Running away from her father’s house to live a life with her boyfriend of four years was supposed to be her perfect fairy tale ending. Until six months later, he kicked her out, forcing her to live on the streets of Detroit. Vowing to only focus on what matters, Zoerina Banks bounces back, grinds her butt off, and stacks her paper. However, it becomes easier said than done when the biggest distraction hits Ms. Banks—sending her life on a wild, uncontrollable rollercoaster. It’s his way or no way. That’s the number one rule Khadarious ‘KD’ Dixon has always stuck by and been successful with. He’s ruthless on the streets, ruthless to his enemies, and even ruthless with his women. Even with his heavy past influence in the streets, he’s always been specific on wanting to be low-key. But being low-key when your name is always in everyone’s mouths is much easier said than done. Those that know who he is, either love him, fear him, or loathe him. And the streets always know how to lure him back in, one way or another. He’s arrogant, spoiled, and everything she shouldn’t want in a man—everything she should be running far away from. But her attraction toward him is undeniable, undeniable and dangerous. She convinces herself that she doesn’t want anything to do with him. But who is she trying to kid? He’s never been one with commitment. She’s never been one without it. A new hood love. An irresistible chemistry. A perfect match. But could Zoerina’s biggest enemy, turn out to be the dangerous man she’s fallen in love with?

    

    My father, Quincy, alongside his twin brother Quintin is known to the world as the leaders of the Taylor Cartel. Expensive cars, designer bags, shoes, and clothes, don’t excite me. That’s probably why I haven’t met a man yet who could hold my attention. Most think because I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth that I’m one of those prissy broads. But I’m far from it! I just so happen to run two of the most lucrative businesses, Daddy’s Girl, a Gentleman’s Club, and Taylor Made Constructions. Life is good, but it hasn’t always been sweet for me. I’m no different from the rest of the women in the world when it comes to these men and their games. Pierre was my first everything, he was my first love, and my first heartbreak. Even though I lost at the game of love, I still won a prize, and her name is Harmony Taylor. That’s right, the first time I had sex at the tender age of fourteen, I got pregnant. I know it sounds bad, but it is what is. I made a vow to myself to never fall in love again until I met a man that could live up to my father’s standards… JA I got the typical hood story. Grew up with a single mom. My pops died in a shootout when I was young. Word is, he was the toughest man alive and the right-hand man to the Taylor Twins. After my pops were long and gone, the twins looked out for us, they practically raised me and they are the reason I’m a young, ruthless, and rich now. Growing up protecting my OG and little sister Skylar, you’d think I’d be better with women, but the truth is told, it’s the opposite. I’m emotionless and simply unlovable, or so I thought… In this Urban Fiction Romance, you’ll take a ride with Princess and JA through the world of love, heartbreak, and broken promises.

    Unfortunately, her father forces her to find a suitable match. A fortuitous meeting at a ball leads her to make an elaborate plan with Lord Cavendish to convince everyone that they are courting. Dejected and heartbroken, Anthony Cavendish agrees to be part of Elizabeth's scheme, as he views it as an opportunity to make his lost love crawl back to him. What happens though when their scheme paves the way for true feelings to start blossoming? Will they both realise that their goals, as well as their hearts, are perfectly aligned?A Beauty for the Scarred DukeWhen the Earl of Upperton sells off his daughter Isabella as a bride for the disfigured Elliot Covington, Isabella feels terrified. Due to marrying a man she never met and whom she believed to be a monster, she truly believes her life is over. What she has yet to discover though, is that beneath the scars, there is a caring and kind gentleman. The moment they both realise they are meant to be together, outside powers will try to tear them apart forever. Will the Duke be able to let go of the pain and guilt that has swallowed him whole?A Charming Lady for the Intriguing BaronetIf Selina had her way, she would marry a commoner and live in happiness. Her encounter with Alexander, reinforces her belief that the life she has dreamed of could be in front of her. The experience is similar for Alexander, Baronet of Chesterfield, as he is convinced that Selina will be the woman who will bring hope into his life. When the beautiful woman discovers his true identity, she will reject him for the very reason that makes him the most eligible bachelor. Can the charming Baronet compensate for a rocky start and earn Selina’s trust?A Governess for the Brooding DukeWhen Georgette is left penniless after her father's sudden death, she becomes the governess of the orphan nieces of the Duke of Draycott. Soon, she finds her heart entrapped by her employer's presence, and yet she knows that she should suppress her emotions and compromise with her lower status. Little did she know that the Duke would see the light her caring presence has brought to his shadowy estate. Spiteful persons will threaten to keep Georgette away from his life forever. Will they find the courage to claim their feelings for each other?For the Love of a DuchessEngaged to be married to the handsome Miles Gainsborough, Eliza Ashton, could never imagine how easily happiness can turn into disaster. When her father confesses that she is the only hope of saving them from financial ruin, she finds herself set to marry the unbearable Duke of Lytton and Miles is nowhere to be seen. Her life will take an unexpected turn though when she meets Daniel Winchester, an accomplished attorney who will manage to break through the wall of thorns Eliza has started to build around her heart. Will Daniel win Eliza’s wounded trust?Kind Ella and the Charming DukeAfter her father’s death, Ella is left devastated. Her mother marries the Earl of Dandridge, a cold hearted father of two spoiled young ladies in search of a suitor. When Rufus is reported to be searching for a suitable bride, the Earl will plot the most appalling schemes to hide Ella away. Ella’s rebellious heart makes her defy the orders to abstain from the Duke’s masquerade ball. A defiance that will act in her favour, as that is where she will meet charming Rufus. Little did he know though that claiming her heart will be the most difficult mission in his life.If you love clean Regency romances that feature dynamic and inspiring women of the era and determined, yet charming, male protagonists, then you will love this collection!

    Go to America with their three sons, travel west, and start a cattle ranch. Unfortunately, Benedict only made it as far as Independence, Missouri. Her husband gone, Honoria must choose. Go West and fulfill his dream, or go back to England? She chooses the dream. And, as luck would have it, to make it a reality, she must do the unthinkable. Get married. Jefferson Cooke wasn't looking for a wife. Heck, he and his two sons were heading West to make a fresh start. Then along came Honoria Sayer. Beautiful, refined, a real lady. Not to mention a disaster on the Oregon Trail. So why was he considering the unthinkable? Enjoy this sweet, clean, western romance set against the backdrop of the Oregon Trail! And check out the rest of the books in the Thanksgiving Books and Blessings Collection One Series. THANKSGIVING BOOKS & BLESSINGS, Collection One • Book 1: GONE TO TEXAS By Caryl McAdoo • Book 2: GATEWAY TO THE WEST By Susette Williams • Book 3: TRAIL TO CLEAR CREEK By Kit Morgan • Book 4: HEART AND HOME By Pauline Creeden • Book 5: NO TURNING BACK By Lynette Sowell • Book 6: DAUGHTER OF DEFIANCE By Heather Blanton • Book 7: NUGGET NATE: MOYA’S THANKSGIVING PROPOSAL By George McVey • Book 8: UNMISTAKABLY YOURS By Kristin Holt • Book 9: ESTHER’S TEMPTATION By Lena Nelson Dooley

    Even if it meant striking a deal with the surly, and devilishly handsome, mountain man to do it. More lives than just her own depended upon it… She was the type he swore never to fall for again…He was a complication she could ill afford…Together they will discover love is worth the risk, no matter the cost…Lady Ann Dunneroy finds herself in a desperate situation and her search for the man responsible leads her on a perilous journey to the American West. Relying solely on her wit and resourcefulness to survive, she strikes a deal with a rugged mountain man by the name of Grayson Stone. The more time Ann spends with Grayson, the less certain she is of the original mission she embarked upon. Determined to do what is right, Ann must make a difficult decision; one that may break her heart and perhaps cost her very life as well as the lives of those she loves most…Grayson Stone is the leader of the wagon train and it’s his job to ensure everyone arrives safely; a duty made aggravatingly more challenging when he agrees to escort a reckless, young woman along the way. A hard man, as rugged and imposing as the mountains he calls home, Grayson wants only to live a peaceful life of solitude. But something about the tenacious Lady Ann makes him yearn for more… A story of love and loss on the Santa Fe Trail! Follow the hoyden daughter of an earl, from the ballrooms of London to America’s wild frontier; where she must choose between her heart and her honor. Excerpt from Ann’s Valley: “Nothing has changed.” Grayson’s words were direct and curt. Ann stiffened, feeling her anger with him return, “I hadn’t been under the impression they had.”“Do not confront me again on the matter. I will not change my mind. No woman or child allowed on the trail unless accompanied by a guardian. Is that understood?”“Perfectly.” She leveled him with her most imperious stare. Then added impertinently, “And do you own the trail, then?”His jaw clenched in irritable fashion, fastening her with a menacing glower, “Don’t even think about following on your own.”“You can’t stop me.”

    

    Former Texas Ranger Emmett Strong seems to be just the man Benficklin’s town fathers are looking for, once they’re satisfied that his Chinese wife, Li, is “sufficiently civilized.” But Benficklin doesn’t want to pay a deputy. That leaves Emmett’s sidekick, Juanito, with little choice but to take his own bride, the former saloon girl Geneve, up the road to Santa Angela, looking for honest work in a crooked town.Reputations aside, it turns out that Benficklin—not Santa Angela—is the town with the next scandal on its hands. Only days after Emmett’s arrival, he steps out first thing in the morning to find a dozen men standing in the middle of the street, all in a dither over the ravaged, scantily clad body of a young, murdered Mexican girl who’s been left lying there in the dirt. Initial indications suggest hard-drinking cowboy Quirt Langdon may have done the dirty work.It doesn’t take long, however, for Emmett to sense that things aren’t exactly as they appear. Fort Concho’s Captain Roderick Prentiss seems peculiarly interested in what is clearly a civilian case. The debonair—if somewhat eccentric—gambler Nate Chaffin, who has taken up residence in Santa Angela, gives the impression that he knows things he’s not telling. And to top it all off, Benficklin’s mayor and first lady end up assassinated in their own backyard.While local officials pressure Emmett to hastily hang either a suspect or a scapegoat, honor drives the former Ranger to seek true justice for the poor murdered girl, as well as for the mayor and his wife. Ill-tempered townsfolk, pilfered evidence, and somebody taking potshots at him and his wife make Emmett wonder whether he’ll live to unravel the mystery or become the next corpse folks find in the dusty streets of Benficklin

    Fall Rivers, Massachusetts. When Ryan Lochlan was orphaned after losing his parents to Ireland’s potato famine, he sailed on a ship to America for a better life. His dream came true when he met the beautiful Abby McVinny, even after her father threatened him with a shotgun. From the moment their eyes locked, their lives intertwined, and there began a journey of love, adventure, and tragedy. Ryan and his best friend Mick know how to defend the family against thieves and outlaws, but so do their women—the McVinny girls know how to handle a shotgun or two. www.ChloeEmile.com

    She’s tried to work, pray, sex, sleep and smoke her problems away but she can’t escape the gloomy, grey clouds hovering over her head. Just wanting to be happy, she's blinded by love; Messiah only sees what she wants to see – always building up to be let down and ultimately crashing. She craves love and admiration but doesn’t love herself enough to know when it’s time to let go of an old flame. Directionless, she coasts along through life numb, until she meets Shyhiem, the man who will change her life forever. He’s everything she never knew she wanted, but everything that she absolutely needed. Without permission, Shyhiem marches into her life and turns everything upside down. He’s rude, cocky, angry and devastatingly handsome. To the world, he’s nothing but an ex-convict with a chip on his shoulder; but to Messiah, he’s an angel sent down from heaven who teaches her how to love again. When Messiah finds herself wasting time, daydreaming about when she’ll see or speak to him again, she knows she’s in trouble. Love wasn’t in the equation for her - especially since she still has feelings for her ex - and Shyhiem has a ghetto baby mother and two kids… Will their love prevail or will self-doubt, self-pity, and a sense of emptiness stop everything before it starts?

    

    Cincinnati, Ohio will either make or break you, it all depends on who you are. Deron "Killa" Hutchins earned his street name as an enforcer for one of the biggest kingpins in the city. Although respected and feared as a cold-blooded killer, Deron has a warm heart for those he loves, including his wife and grandmother. When a special assignment from his boss uncovers a shocking betrayal that scorches Deron's soul, all he can think of is murder, but that's easier said than done when it's his wife who has caused the carnage. In the blink of an eye, Jada went from happily engaged to single and mad as hell. Before she can even begin to process the end of her relationship, she is abducted and held captive in a luxurious environment, but she has no idea why. To add insult to injury, Jada finds herself drawn to Deron, her sexy, stoic captor. During her time in captivity, they become close, but the kidnapper and the kidnapped have more in common than they know, and the results could mean death for everyone.

    She's sweet as brown sugar with candied yams... Honey-coated complexion... Music camay... Let's hear it for the girl... She's from around the way... Sade is not your typical around the way California girl. Coming from a good family, in the rough part of Compton, the senseless murder of her mother at a young age leaves her family in shambles, and Sade forging a way as a woman without the gentle guidance that only a mother can provide. With her razor sharp tongue, and free spirit, Sade is trying hard to blaze her own trail, despite the wishes of her controlling father and bougie ex boyfriend. Q is the Robin Hood of Tree Top Piru. Under the hardened, heartless exterior that he puts up, is a man longing for the stable love he’s been missing from his baby mama Camari. With enemies lurking around every corner, and treacherous women always trying to claim his heart, a chance encounter on a doomed night sets him on the path to finding the sense of calm that he’s been longing for in his chaotic life. Is Q even capable of loving someone that needs to be loved? Or has his heart been entirely shut off from love because of the ways of the women in his past? Will shared experiences create unbreakable bonds between Q and Sade? Or will secrets, lies, and jealousy rip them apart before their love affair even begins? Get into the story of Q and Sade, two star crossed lovers from Compton. Romeo and Juliet ain’t got nothing on this real hood love story!