Renee and her mom made a deal -- Renee could get an education, and Kendra would live with her grandmother. But now Renee's out of grad school and Kendra's in high school ... and getting into some trouble herself. Kendra's grandmother lays down the law: It's time for Renee to take care of her daughter. Kendra wants this badly -- even though Renee keeps disappointing her. Being a mother isn't easy, but being a daughter can be just as hard. Now it's up to Kendra and Renee to make it work.

    Flake.There is "The Ugly One," whose only solace comes when she is locked inside her own head. In "Wanted: A Thug," a teenager seeks advice on how to steal her best friend's bad-guy boyfriend. And then there's Erika, who only likes white boys.​Sharon Flake takes readers through the minds of girls trying to define themselves while struggling to remain relevant to the boys in their lives. This is a complex, often humorous, always on-point exposition of black youth resolving to find self-worth . . . any way they know how.

    An even better listener. And handsome as heaven on earth. He is God's Gift to Women. Julian Payne gets into bed with millions of women every night. As an after-hours radio talk-show host, Julian captivates his female audience with his deep voice and sensitive spirit. Women can't get enough: They call in, begging for his advice about love, lust, commitment, and betrayal. Julian provides his listeners with the blunt male perspective, and he always has the right thing to say. But when it comes to his own romantic life, or lack thereof, he's at a loss for words. A widower and father to ten-year-old Samantha, Julian wants nothing more than to settle down again with the right woman. Just when he thinks he's found her in Dr. Terri Ross -- smart, stunning, and with her own counseling practice -- Julian is confronted by a ghost from the past: Olivia Brown, a woman with whom he had a one-night stand. Suddenly Julian finds himself in a situation with a woman who's determined to win him over...or make his life a living hell. Michael Baisden's hottest offering yet, God's Gift to Women is a compelling tale about the consequences of sex with a stranger.

    Out of options, and out of time, she accepts an indecent proposal in hopes of a little financial stability. Her money-making body and mesmerizing curves, takes her to the top of the game in no time and Envy starts to make more money than she could count or that she knew what to do with. But everybody knows that more money, equals more problems and soon Envy realizes that she'd bitten off more than she could chew. She finds herself caught up in a world full of money, sex, lies and deceit. Even murder seems to be on the menu. Envy learns the hard way that all attention ain't good attention; especially when it's unwanted... or when it's married.

    . . When Pastor George Landris, the dreadlock-wearing minister of the new mega-church, Followers of Jesus Faith Worship Center, urges his congregation to approach the altar and cast off their strongholds--also known as their weaknesses--it's the start of intense soul-searching for many.From a married couple's twin addictions to gambling and gluttony, to a female member's adulterous affair, a computer expert's obsession with cyber-porn and a therapist's workaholism, the Pastor's church family is about to open the proverbial floodgates. And that's just the beginning. There's also the woman whose battle with mental illness hides a buried trauma, and the religious devotee who's so busy fearing the devil she's forgotten what faith is really about. The plot only thickens when the Pastor's wife lightens his load by helping him counsel--and finds herself at the center of a decades-long deception.Insightful, witty, and always poignant, Vanessa Davis Griggs delivers another compelling novel, taking readers behind the scenes of mega-churches, and showing the amazing power that redemption and faith can have on people's lives.

    The land in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Meet Falen. She’s grown up in the infamous Fifth Ward and life has never been easy. Her crack addicted mother left she and her sister years ago to fend for themselves. Now at nineteen Falen is left homeless and hopeless. Along with her best friend Toya the two try to climb out of the gutter. Tino is one of the biggest ballers in Fifth Ward. He’s pushing major weight. The ladies love him and he loves the ladies. He’s a sucker for a nice round rump accompanied with a pretty face. So, when he encounters a troubled Falen sparks ignite instantly. She’s everything he never knew he wanted and he’s everything she’s always been afraid of. Even as Tino tries to assist Falen she just can’t elude misfortune. Problems take on a new meaning until she stumbles across a drop being made. After consideration Falen and Toya make a brash decision to step in during a small window of opportunity and steal what they think is cash. To their complete and utter shock they ended up snatching ten kilos of cocaine. With their backs against the wall they have no choice but to get out in the streets and hustle. In this story of love, lust, and betrayal friendships will end and bonds will be broken. Money is the root of all evil and it can turn the most innocent person into a ruthless conniver. Taking ten kilos from a hustler can change lives forever, especially when no one seems to know who’s at fault. With an all-out war promising to rear its ugly head, will Tino be able to save Falen? Or will both their futures cease to exist?

    Then the way to fame was leading him toward a mistake that could send him straight to hell...She never looked back.Lies, drugs, too many men-- golden skinned singer Topaz Black would do anything to get a hit to the top of the charts, even walk away from her friends and family. But surrounded by greed and lust, the love the longed for seemed to be slipping away forever.He broke all the rules.Brought up in South Central L.A., movie producer Gunther Lawrence learned early how to get the wealth and women he wanted-- and to turn his back on his roots. Now, blinded by Hollywood's glitter, his illusions may shatter when he discovers who really controls his career.As their lives touch, ignite, and explode, three talented African-Americans pursue fame at any cost...and the price may be their happiness...or their lives..An alternate selection of the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club

    ONE REASON TO LIVE. THREE WAYS TO DIE. Trill Johnson has five years of jail time under his belt, two women trying to get inside his pants, and one mission: Get the suckers who sold him out. And get ’em good. Sunni James will do anything for Trill. Lie, cheat, steal. Even risk losing her successful beauty salon to save him from the mean streets of Richmond. Precious Pay will do anything for Trill, too. She cribbed his kid while he did his time; now she wants Trill to pay for the leg she lost in a robbery gone wrong. But when love is a lie, who do you trust? When the deals turn dirty, who do you betray? And when the guns start blazing, who’s going down?

    Los Angeles-based cosmetics tycoon Steven Chase has come a long way from his humble beginnings. Steven's family, including socialite wife, Janet, and four grown children, live a life of privilege in exclusive View Park. But when Steven wants to expand his empire by adding a chain of hair salons, one woman stands in his way. Once Steven realizes he can't seduce her with money, he tries a different approach: his handsome attorney son, Carter... Meanwhile, spoiled debutante Haley Chase is busy getting into high-profile trouble on her lover's yacht, pediatrician Leigh Chase is determined to start a free clinic—against her parents' wishes—and Michael Chase is busy doing Daddy's dirty work. His only soft spot is for his wife, Kimberly, who has her own ambitions—plans that may one day shake the very foundations of the Chase dynasty—and change their view from the top forever...

    This funny, sexy book has something for everyone!

    In this sexy, suspenseful slice of urban fiction, an ambitious womans love ofeasy money and fast living leads her to the brink of destruction.

    She embodies every young woman’s starry-eyed dreams and heads for Hollywood. On her rugged road to fame, Charlene’s using everything in her might to erase the past–even at the point of compromising her own love story. Charlene still can’t wipe away her deepest fear that shakes her very core… Raven.Raven Shaw grows up in her mother’s tiny Christian town Bellwood, North Carolina. She’s a feisty, confident young thing who won’t hesitate to use her fist when bullies mock her as a bastard. Overcoming teen depression, she finds love. A first love, a teenage romance to die for. Now, Raven can’t be fully committed to the man that has her heart until she learns shy she’s been neglected.When their path’s collide, Raven asks to questions–two family secrets–that can ruin their lives, leading mother and child on the road of feeling like a “Miss Nobody”

    . . a new drama. Treasure Hernandez is back with her second street series, chronicling both sides of Baltimore's black market. Derek Fuller is the head detective of a Baltimore narcotics unit. His team has been assigned to take down the biggest drug operation in the city. There's only one problem: the head of the operation is his brother, Scar Johnson. Separated in Baltimore's foster care system, they came from two different walks of life, but both met at the top on opposite sides of the law. With the Assistant District Attorney in their back pocket, this was a marriage made in heaven--until the drama and deceit enters. Delve into this treacherous story of love, deceit, lies, and murder. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and once one brother feels betrayed, the only retribution is death.

    Nothing came easy for her and everything she had, she had to fight for. The battles seem endless until she meets Sincere, who seems to be the perfect man for her; but once again life gets in the way of her being happy. Join Brianna as she weaves her way through life and be there for her triumphs and her downfalls as she tries to play the hand that life has dealt her.

    Welcome to Louis B. Armstrong, New York City's most prestigious performing arts school, where the gifted, wanna-be starlets, and It Chicks are "all" on the rise. But when rehearsals give way to hot and heavy after-school sessions away from the barre and without the mic, the" real" drama begins. Meet the hottest cast in town: Tangie, the Dreamer. Skye the Drama Queen. Eden the Bombshell. Trey the Bad Boy. CJ the Thug with the Heart of Gold. Izzy the Wild Child. Regina the Silent Threat. And the Entourage: Marisol, Kamillah, Blackadocious, Vineet, and Lyle. They're all playing the fame game and will do whatever it takes to nail it.