Louis Kingpin, King David, has left a vacuum in the underworld. He leaves behind his vast empire to his surviving heirs, David Jr. and Davita. Born barely ten minutes apart, they were raised very differently.David Jr. is college educated. His mother always pushed him to do the best he could so he could one day legitimize and run the East St. Louis crime family. She thinks she's above and beyond the game. All she wants is the money that she believes she and her son are due.She taught Davita a different set of rules. Davita has been raised to use anybody and everything to get that money by any means necessary. She has embraced the business of the streets, and she is ready to ascend to the throne that her father has unexpectedly left behind.The question remains: will the family ties that bind keep the family together, or will sex, greed, drugs, and their mother's divisive ways tear it all to hell, bringing St. Louis down with them? David Jr. and Davita have decisions to make!

    Essence Bestselling Author Brenda Hampton presents Don't Even Go There, the story of Chase Jenkins, a troublemaking, backstabbing diva, who will stop at nothing to get what she wants, even going after her boss's husband.

    'In Too Deep' is a gripping novel about three brothers who choose very different life paths.

    Morrison links two beloved series in a riveting tale of envy and seduction that has basketball star Darius Jones up against a woman who takes being a fan to the next level.Darius Jones is living the good life. He's got a chance to become the league's most valuable player, he's crazy in love with his wife, and his relationship with his mom has never been better. But Darius also has a stalker who's determined to be the number one woman in his life. And no matter where he goes, she's there. . .scheming to kill his wife, Fancy; charming his manager and mother, Jada; manipulating his son's mother, Ashlee; and worst of all, dragging new mother Honey Thomas into the mix with one of the most heartless schemes ever. With his life quickly unraveling, Darius must gamble all he's worked for to save his wife, reclaim his son, and stop a madwoman from ruining the lives of everyone around him. . . . Never Again Once MoreIn Soul Mates Dissipate, her phenomenal Essence® and Blackboard bestseller, Mary B. Morrison left readers cheering with her tell-it-like-it-is-and-then-some story of Jada and Wellington, two lovers whose connection is tested, but never broken. Now, in this eagerly awaited sequel, Jada and Wellington find themselves facing new conflicts that will challenge the decisions they made years ago.Do we choose love, or does love choose us? That's the question Jada Diamond Tanner can't seem to stop asking herself after ten years of marriage. She thought she'd chosen the right man in Lawrence Anderson, her steady, reliable husband and the man who helped raise her son Darius. But did she choose the right life when she turned her back on Wellington Jones, the soulmate whose fiery kisses took her body and spirit to a higher level than she ever dreamed possible?For twenty years, Jada has struggled to keep her distance from Wellington, and he's paid her in respect. But now, the cracks in Jada's carefully constructed life are beginning to show. Darius is a young man out of touch and in trouble. When his destructive behavior threatens to destroy him, Jada reluctantly lets Wellington take more control and be the father Darius needs.With each day back in Wellington's company, Jada begins to question the choices she has made in her life--choices made out of fear, out of foolish pride, out of denial. Slowly, she begins to realize that she still has one choice left: to get true to herself. Armed with the courage and the fire she's been missing for years, Jada's out to seize the opportunity she thought she had lost--and this time, she'll say, "never again once more."Soulmates DissipateBringing the soulful, sexy, and totally uncensored voice of black women to readers everywhere, Mary B. Morrison is blazing a new trail in African American erotic fiction that has made her one of the most exciting, and most popular, authors writing today. Exquisite ebony-skinned fashion photographer Jada Diamond Tanner may have her pick of fine men, but no one has captured her heart like gorgeous financial advisor Wellington Jones. From the moment of their first embrace, Jada is sure he is the soul mate she has waited for. But while the love she shares with Wellington is exhilarating, Jada finds herself facing challenges she never could have imagined--from Melanie Thompson, bright, beautiful, and talented, but hungry for the love she has never had. . .and from Cynthia Jones, Wellington's overbearing socialite mother, who believes Jada will never fit into her circle of aristocratic friends. Forced to make difficult choices, Jada will soon learn some painful lessons about love, trust, and commitment. But she will also discover deep emotional strengths in herself, along with the courage to celebrate the joy each day can bring--with or without the man she loves.

    . . and Passion. Rochelle Alers' Sweet SurrenderManicurist Maria Parker can't help but notice when a hunky financial planner brings his niece into Della's for a manicure. And when he starts to frequent the salon himself for manicures from Maria, she's pretty sure he has more than cuticles on his mind...Donna Hill's It Could Happen to YouWhen Della turned Rosie's Curl and Weave into Della's House of Style, a few things managed to slip through the cracks-and now she's is under fire by the IRS. When a by-the-book IRS agent comes to investigate, Della is infuriated by his presence in the salon-and reluctant to admit that she's growing more than a little used to it...Felicia Mason's Truly, HonestlyHigh-maintenance investment banker Sheila [last name] needs some serious pampering. On a whim, she decides to get a shoulder-length weave at Della's House of Style, and afterwards, visits and salon's lounge, where a sexy D.J. has a song in mind for her...Francis Ray's A Matter of TrustSingle mother Hope Lassiter, once a critically acclaimed actress, is now a cosmetologist at Della's House of Style. When a handsome director tries to woo her back to the stage, Hope has to wonder if his intentions are more than professional. . .

    From dealing with her religious zealot of a grandmother to birthing a child that was a product of rape, Lavender deals with more issues at thirteen than most women twice her age. Not ready to be a mother, Lavender leaves her baby on her grandmother’s doorstep and finds the first ride she can out of the city. On a quest to find herself, Lavender rides a rocky road, teetering between life and death. Fifteen years later, she’s still searching for herself when she meets Shyheim Roosevelt. A caring, charming, and handsome youth pastor, Shyheim Roosevelt has been tasked with finding Lavender and bringing her back home. Carnal opposites attract when, in finding Lavender, Shyheim finds himself. From her outspoken opinions and alluring personality, she’s everything he could ever ask for in a woman. Her past is of no consequence to Shyheim, who also has a rocky past but has been living how his parents wanted him to for a little over a decade: by the Word. However, after spending just a small amount of time with Lavender, he understands that, like the Bible, people are capable of being multifaceted. The only things standing in the way of their love are Lavender’s reservations, his parents—and the woman he’s due to walk down the aisle with.

    The prequel to G-Spot, the #1 bestseller that established the Urban Erotic genre. Meet the Man and the Myth...the Kingpin and the Killer...The Lover and the Legend...The Gangsta who put the G in the G-Spot...The TRUE King of Harlem! "I didn't come to Harlem ridin' shotgun. I came packin' one!"--GRANITE MCKAY. WARNING! This here ain't no romance, it's an urban erotic tale These gutter plots I drop will have you biting off your nails! A menace has arrived, a terror Harlem’s never seen He started from the bottom and turned a dollar into a dream! Before the ballin and the stuntin and the sexin and the flexin, Brutal vision and ambition is how this gangsta manifested! So let’s stand up and salute the ruthless boss who paved the way Let’s go back B4 the G-Spot to: The Legend of GRANITE McKAY!

    Despite the exceptional qualities and his obvious interest in her, things are moving too slow between them. Unlike most men who can’t wait to get in her pants, this particular man refuses to take things to the next level.DARYL JACKSON has grown tired of the nightclub scene and wants to settle down, but he has a secret that always seems to interrupt any potential love connection once he reveals it. He believes Michelle is the ideal woman, but can she handle the truth?After six weeks of dating, and still no attempt from him to get her “horizontal,” Michelle grows sex-starved. She is driving herself crazy trying to figure out Daryl’s problem! During a weekend getaway in Palm Springs, Michelle finally puts an end to the what’s-wrong-with-Daryl guessing game and demands to know what’s up. Not only does Daryl answer all her questions, Michelle learns first hand that you really need to be careful with what you wish for!

    He’s a good-looking, smooth-talking former pro-basketball player, but he has a problem: He has never been satisfied with just one woman. Then he meets Terri and everything changes. Sort of.Genesis knows that Terri is perfect for him, and they become engaged. But Genesis just can’t seem to stop cheating on Terri nearly every chance he gets. Genesis’s best friend, Prodigy, constantly warns him that he’s going to mess up the best thing ever to happen to him, but Genesis is not ready to listen.After dealing with a family crisis, Genesis realizes the importance of his relationship with Terri, and he begins to change his cheating ways. He knows that once he says, “I do,” everything will fall into place. But it may be too late, because one of his past indiscretions comes back to haunt him, and Terri has a few surprises of her own for Genesis.

    His love for Ocean and the news of the baby they created may be the only thing that will save her life but will it be enough to save what they’re trying to build? Sony and River just can’t seem to get it together and the back and forth between the two is stopping anything that they’re trying to develop. Ivanka is trying her best to make herself relevant in Sony’s life but her constant run ins with River’s savvy banter is stopping her at every corner. With their past in the way can the two come together and be what they both desire? After everything that Cherice has been through, she again finds herself in a situation where she has to choose between the man in her life and her family. Unbeknownst to Cherice, Bryce has an ulterior motive that may cause her to lose everything. Will she be able to see past his deception or will she once again fall victim to love? With new threats on the rise and old snakes still lingering, will the Sharp brothers be able to hold their reigns in the streets and keep the women they love safe? Or will they get sucked up in the world of being a Carolina Hustla?

    The smart sister from Baltimore City has looks, brains, a promising job offer, and now, it looks like she's met her dream guy in handsome law student, Devin Patterson. Though their backgrounds couldn't be more different, wealthy, sheltered Devin falls hard for savvy, inner-city Clark. They're more than lovers; they're soul mates, and their storybook romance is the envy of the campus. Caught Up In Love - But out in the real world, their bond will be tested again and again. From the strain of long-distance love and the pull of two high-powered careers to the well-meaning-but-misdirected advice of friends, the prejudices of family, and the strong allure of new passion and players, Clark and Devin are in for a ride that could tear them apart for good. Caught In The Mix Now - for two people caught in the mix of secrets, family drama, lies, career struggles, and the hard truths of growing up and moving on, love is anything but easy- and doing the right thing by yourself is the hardest lesson of all.

    And he's always in control. Until now. . .Pleasure is his name, one that women whisper--and scream--with desire. As a popular exotic dancer and top escort, he strokes his clients' deepest longings and fulfills their every sexy fantasy. His climb has taken him from the streets' most lethal ride-or-die ladies to the even more dangerous world of wealthy, powerful women. All along, he believed leveraging his chiseled body for a life of luxury would help him outrun his tormented childhood and bitter distrust. . .But now a mysterious woman he doesn't recognize has him at her mercy, determined to punish him for reasons he doesn't understand. Saving his own life means Pleasure must figure out which of the women from his past has a deadly obsession brought on by either the insatiable passions he ignited or the pain he caused. And when a long-buried secret arises, will he be able to survive? Or will facing it completely destroy him?. . .  Praise for Niobia Bryant's Mistress series"Enthralls to the last twist." --RT Book Reviews on Mistress, Inc."I love how Niobia takes these characters through hell and back, while entertaining us from beginning to the very end." --Cydney Rax on Mistress No More

    

    He learned not only how to survive amongst the deadliest criminals but how to rise to the top, from growing up in the gritty streets of Brooklyn. Nico used those survival tactics to become the leader of a multi million-dollar drug empire. But with money and power, come the so-called friends and enemies, ready to take it all away. Before Nico became Precious Cummings first love, he won the heart of the streets. Follow his story in Nico Carter.

    Black drew hard, squinting as the smoke rushed into his lungs."Where do you want to start?"the lawyer said, lighting a cigarette of his own."I guess there’s only one place to start; at Broad and Erie."Johnny Podres, a politician whose record against corruption had been propelling him straight to the mayor’s office, is found murdered in a North Philly crack house.Enter Samuel Jackson, a.k.a. Black, a drug addict who knows better, a man embittered by the fact that he can’t seem to escape from his addiction to crack cocaine or, for that matter, from himself. Though he was once a family man with a wife and son, Black’s only concern these days is getting his next high, that is, until he stumbles across a friend and fellow addict, Leroy, and both become prime suspects in the Podres murder. Black and Leroy hook up with two female pipers: Clarisse, a registered nurse who is slowly losing to crack any semblance of a respectable life, and Pookie, who already has lost it. Soon the hunt is on for all four as they try to stay one step ahead of a police department under tremendous pressure to solve the case—because if a killer isn’t found soon, this could blow up into one of the biggest scandals in Philadelphia history. Solomon Jones weaves a suspenseful story against the backdrop of corruption in the Philadelphia police department and centers it on a group of drug addicts who, in the process of fleeing the law, come to terms with their own addiction, leading to some devastating consequences.