Who will come out on top? “Family isn’t everything; it’s the only thing,” has been the code Tyrik Anderson, aka, Tye has lived by since his first child came into the world and breathed his first breath twenty-one years ago. However, just because Tyrik lives by codes and morals, that doesn’t mean his son Shy does. When Tye’s connect Carlos is viciously robbed, Carlos vows vengeance against all involved. Circumstances causes Tye to exit the game, however, he soon learns that he’s more involved now than ever before. Tye has no idea what’s going on around him, but he’ll soon find out that the same person he’s willing to take a bullet for, also happens to be the same one behind the gun. Although raised by one of the city’s most respected drug dealers, Shy just can’t seem to stop fucking up. Cars, clothes, and trust funds aren’t enough to an ungrateful Shy, who seems to would rather trade the streets over his comfortable lifestyle. Instead of listening to his father, Shy chooses to embrace the streets with his two friends Drama and Rum. Up to no good, and with ill intentions, they soon begin what will ultimately be a bloody war in the streets. Tye’s daughter Tasha seems to be doing it all right, and to her, it’s finally paying off. Enrolled in college and successfully running her dad’s business, she still finds time to make room for love. Rich is like a dream come true to a naive Tasha. However, just like her father and brother, he’s tied to the streets in more ways than one. More titles coming soon from UPTOWN BOOKS. If you enjoy reading titles by MESSIAH RAYE, check out his colleague SHONTAIYE

    When she falls in love with Eric, one of her victims, all she wants is to find her baby sister, and settle down with her new love. But River soon becomes a prisoner of her dangerous world. And escaping it may cost her more than her life.By the time she turns sixteen, Starr is working for a pimp and turning tricks daily. But when an assault by one of her "dates" lands her in the hospital, Starr meets a woman who wants to help her change her life. Starr's heart is too hardened to believe in second chances, but soon she begins to long for more than selling her body just so she can survive. However the game does not give up its players so easily.Enter Eric's cousin, Yung Slim, fresh out of jail after seven years. He's looking to reclaim the streets and take care of some old grudges. When Yung Slim goes to battle, Eric—torn between his love for River, his ties to his cousin, and the lure of the streets—gets in too deep. When the war breaks out on the battlefield of the streets, who will be left standing?

    In Jazmyn's case the bad outweighed the good .This isn't your ordinary love story. Jazmyn was in love with her boyfriend Prince of four years, but after the constant cheating and being his human punching bag, she is finally fed up. The only problem is she is too scared to leave. Prince is your average pretty boy type. The kind that thinks he can have any woman he wants just with the lick of his lips. He is deadly in love with Jazmyn and won't let nothing or no one get in his way or try to take his girl. That is until Justice Carter comes into the picture. Fresh out the pin and back home to claim what is rightfully his, Justice is a force to be reckoned with. While serving a four year bid, he left to his best friend Diesel who tried to take him for everything he made a name for. But with the help of his brother Harlem they make Diesel wish he never crossed him. Harlem is handling his business and locking down his brothers territory. He has another side to him that nobody wants to meet. After years in therapy, he learns how to control his anger. He is in love with a chick he thinks is too scared to love. But after realizing she's not the woman he thought she was, things get deadly. Samya and Jazmyn are best friends. With a mother as a crack head and a dead beat for a father, Jaz's mother Tuesday takes her in and raises her as her own. She is hard working and don't take no shit but is far from perfect herself. She has secrets and skeletons in her closet so big that she is to scared to tell anyone including Jaz. She is in love with Harlem but even he don't know about her past. Treat me like somebody is filled with drama and suspense. Secrets will be revealed and love will be tested. Will friendship get in the way or will love conquer all?

    Stay tuned at the end of the book for A SNEAK PEEK INTO LOVING ANGEL 3. Meet bad gyal Raven and her sisters Mickey and Mel. All three Bronx girls are having problems with love, lies, lust, secrets and betrayals. Raven may act like a hard as nails thug princess but she has always had a soft spot for her best friend Jay. He’s the person she talks to when she has problems; the nigga she makes moves with, slanging weed to increase her paper and the one person she knows has her back no matter what. But lately Raven’s platonic love for Jay has been changing and she knows that he’s feeling the same way too. There is just one problem standing in the way of them being together; Jay’s older brother Davion who is also Raven’s boyfriend. Will Raven and Jay give into their forbidden love? And if they do, what will happen if Davion finds out? Mickey has always been in love with her secret boo and after years of watching him with other women, he’s finally in her grasp. There is just one problem; no one can know about their relationship because her boo has a closet full of secrets and she is now one of them. Will Mickey and her lover continue their deceitful love affair and what will happen if someone should discover their secrets? Mel and Ripper have been together since they were teenagers but Ripper can’t seem to keep his dick in his pants. Although Mel loves her man and wants to be with him forever will she keep standing by him even when he keeps playing her over and over again or will she take a page from his book and start playing him at his own game? All these answers and more are just one-click away. Find out what will happen if these three sisters allow their forbidden love to become unchained.

    At a young age, being adopted by people the complete opposite of her complexion, she had a hard time growing up. Milani didn’t want for anything, yet, she felt empty inside, she was searching for answers, because nothing made sense to her. Until something changes her life drastically, causing her to be uprooted once again, and placed in the home of an unfamiliar face. Kaiszer Karter was the son of the infamous Kason Karter. He had been through a lot, and seen a lot at a young age, which made him numb to life. Being groomed for the family business since age thirteen, he never got to live a normal life. Growing up, he was always the relax, quiet, chill brother, who no one really paid attention too. After stepping up and providing for his family the only way he knew how, he starts to really get to know himself, and his aura completely changes. This is no ordinary love story, this is a story that can only be understood through taking a moment to walk in each character’s shoes. This is a story of two couples from completely different backgrounds falling for each other. You’ll get to know Milani, her best friend Toriyah but also the Karter Brothers, Kaizon and Kaiszer. How can two people, with completely different upbringings, have so much in common? The only answer to that question is that they were destined to be together, despite the wrath they encounter. But when it goes and gets tough, who’s willing to keep their feet planted and fight for the relationship? Will they be standing alone after the dust settles, or will they walk away from all the drama together?

    Getting ready to graduate valedictorian, she took pride in her smarts and still holding on to her virginity. She is the oldest of seven children and she was determined not to end up like her mother, whom she hated. When her best friend's brother comes to town for the graduation, she starts rethinking her decision to remain a virgin until she is married. One major factor is their nine year age difference. With only a summer in front of her she tries to get close to him. Will she be able to make him look past her age and let her in? Or will he string her along all summer?

    Devastated that Juelz married his long lost fiance, Ciera has to make a hard decision for herself and her unborn child. Will she be able to get through her pregnancy drama free or will she be forced to return and face Juelz? Two of the people who Juelz considered closest to him have committed the ultimate act of betrayal. The excitement of Kenya's return is causing him to walk around blind to the truth. Will Juelz be able to see through the lies and realize who is really in his corner before it is too late, or will loyalty be his ultimate downfall. While rescuing Ari and his niece Kari, bullets hit Zelan and it may be the end of their perfect romance. Will Zelan be strong enough to pull through, and grow old with Ari? He is the key to Juelz finding out Kenya's hidden lies, but will he live to reveal them? In the end, everyone will have to make hard decisions that they never saw coming. Ari and Ciera will be forced to admit that a Billionaire Finessed their Hearts but is that a good or bad thing?

    She's smart, beautiful and takes pride in being a shoulder for everyone to cry on…but when no one is around and reality sets in, she's filled with hurt—a hurt that she can't seem to overcome. Everywhere she turns, she's reminded of the reasons that trust isn't too high on her priority list. But when her heart forms a bond with the one man that she's been trying to steer clear of, her entire mindset begins to change. For most of his life, Caleb has been that guy—the one that no woman should take seriously. He's a playboy, and he doesn't shy away from the title. Women know upfront what he's bringing to the table, and if they don't like it, then they can keep it moving. But what happens when the tables turn? Caleb isn’t used to being the one begging for more, but when it comes to Gabi…that’s exactly the case. He can't stay away, and he doesn't want to. Determined to get what he wants, Caleb goes the extra mile to win Gabi’s heart. But when lines are crossed, and trust is broken, everything takes a turn for the worst. Something so promising quickly turns into heartbreak. Will there be a future for Caleb and Gabi? Or will walking away from each other become their only option?

     The Hussle and Heart series, dedicated to the late Nipsey Hussle, travels to the slums of Channing City and places a magnifying glass on the lives of the biggest hustlers with the biggest hearts.

    A mother who hates her, a father she never knew and trying to raise her 1 yr old sister Jezya; nothing for Xyla was easy. Determined not to become a product of her environment, Xyla does all she can to graduate with a full scholarship and leave Maryland behind her. A twisted night of events leads Xyla to Taej McCoy. Trying her hardest to fight the strong attraction between the two, it isn't long before she falls hard for him. Take this emotional ride with Xyla and Taej as their love is tested in more ways than one.

    Her mother's husband Snake offers her a job that she can't refuse, but in true Shaka fashion, before she can complete the task she runs into a little drama. It's nothing she can't handle, or so she thinks. It doesn't take long for her to decide that Miami is just as stressful as North Carolina, and she briefly returns to Raleigh to avenge the attack that caused her to lose her unborn child.Nick is home from jail and ready to get back to running his empire, along with finding out just who was brave enough to put hands on Shaka. Nick takes a trip to Miami hoping to get his girl back, but what he sees there, deters him from wanting to reconcile with Shaka. Once he's back to the money, here comes the drama as the two seem to go hand in hand. Nick inherits some unexpected beef, and things get real, fast.Crucial is devastated after the loss of his brother, and it changes him, unfortunately not for the better. Kennedy's love for Crucial is the same, but she has to make the decision to stick with him and risk hurting herself or betraying her heart and saving her sanity. Which one will she choose?

    Knowing this, how far will one go to get their happy ending? More importantly, who will they have to drag down in the process? Sherice is a gorgeous model-turned housewife who devotes her life to her husband Mr. Big and their 3 year old daughter. She knows her husband occasionally has other women but as long as her house is taken care of and the women know their place, she turns a blind eye. However, she has a huge choice to make when a shocking secret threatens to ruin what she has worked so hard to build. Mariah is a sexy, sassy business woman who can take care of herself. She has only one weakness: Mr. Big. When she fell in love with him two years ago, she had no idea that he would come with so much baggage. She will soon find herself at a crossroad when one event throws her life off course, and she is left with a decision that will surely change her world forever. In a world of lies, sex, and deceit... can you truly be happy or will it always be too good to be true?

    There’s nothing like those fresh labels and enough women to start a cheerleading team. Being the highlight of the city can be a good thing or a bad thing. It causes a lot of enemies and a lot of problems. Memphis is a single dope boy that doesn’t mind switching women and stuntin’. He has the money and the hate that comes with but what he wants takes times. Memphis is not a patient man and is used to having his way throughout life but when he encounters the woman he’s been trying to have; she has stipulations that he can barely stick to. Miami, the wild baby boy that makes things happen for his family. He’s young but he’s wise and is always ten steps ahead of his enemy. Miami has one weakness and his enemy tries to use it against him. He drives himself crazy trying to put the pieces to the puzzle together, even pushing his family away. Nobody wants to see Miami lose his cool because when he does, somebody dies. See what’s the big deal about a dope boy. Are they really worth the hype or they just another dude full of drama and empty promises?

    Let Taffy Douglas and her daughters, Chyna, Karrine and Simone take you on a reading journey like you've never had before! This Mama ain't no joke, and neither are her daughters who live for the love of trouble!

    Erica learns that falling in love with a Rude Boy isn’t easy. The boundaries of her relationship are tested when outsiders seek to destroy the love she’s found. Will love withstand the test, or will she fold under the pressure? Erica isn’t the only one who falls for a Rude Boy. Jade finds herself slowly falling in love with the handsome, yet mysterious Detective Keenan Elba. The loving and doting father of three managed to sneak past the wall she built around her heart. There’s just one problem standing in the way of their chemistry… his wife! Will these ladies truly find happiness or will Falling in Love with a Rude Boy prove to be more complicated than they ever imagined????