But when they finally track down who was behind a brutal beating of a priest, not everything turns out to be as it seems.

     When Dana, the police detective brings tragic news the next morning, Sadie Zook, the mother of Rebecca’s best friend, becomes drawn into the investigation to find the murderer. Sadie finds that Rebecca lived in a secret world of Englisch friends and possibly Englisch boyfriends. She also knows that Eli, Rebecca’s father, is very controlling and would not understand why Rebecca would be interested in the world outside the Amish community. Then there is the matter of Mark, a young jealous Amish boy, who wanted nothing more than to court Rebecca. As Sadie investigates further she finds herself drawn deeper into a pool of potential suspects and personal danger.

    When the abuse from her foster father begins to escalate, Dynasty has to leave the situation. Out in the streets, naïve and on her own Dynasty’s situation goes from bad to worse when she is rescued by Dymitri. For five years, Dynasty is trapped in a mentally and emotionally abusive dead end relationship. Besides her best friend Miracle, Dynasty feels alone in a cold, cruel world. After being setup for a murder he didn’t commit and spending the last five years in jail, Safaree is ready to get his life back on track. Upon his release from the penitentiary he jumps head first back into the streets; his ultimate goal is to take down the man who set him up. When Dynasty and Safaree meet the vibe between the two of them is undeniable. Dynasty starts to feel whole again with someone other than Miracle by her side and Safaree sees Dynasty as not only a blessing but a means to an end. The only problem is Safaree has a secret that will have Dynasty questioning everything. Miracle has her own struggles in life and vows to never fall in love after everything she’s been through in the past. If she was to even consider falling in love, a man in the streets would not be her ideal mate. Ryan however is looking to change Miracles way of thinking. His focus has always been on his daughter and making money in the streets after spending is whole life in foster care but now he is trying to add Miracle to his priority list. The danger of Ryan’s street dealing may be more than Miracle can handle though. Will Safaree’s secret be big enough to push Dynasty back into Dymitri’s abusive arms or will she finally walk away? Will Dymitri even allow Dynasty to leave or will she pay the ultimate price? Can Ryan convince Miracle to give street love a chance even if it can be dangerous? Find out as these couples experience the highs and lows of life and relationships in His Love Got Me on Lock.

    Jaden is the new boy in town, as quiet and stoic as a teenager can be. From the moment they meet, their lives entwine. They’re meant to be together, simply fated since they laid eyes on each other. Together, they outlast the odds for years, through high school and college, loving and learning as they go. Headed in different directions, as Hazel develops a talent for writing and speech, while Jaden has harbored a romantic athlete inside him all his life, somehow they stay as united as two souls in love should be. But there are warnings, small signs which hint at an impending disaster. What will happen when that tragedy strikes, and upends everything they made together?

    

    You know, the kind that are made with pictures ripped from magazines with special notes about your life goals or biggest wishes. (Mine of course, is covered in glitter!) As a single mom, it’s hard to put my dreams and goals first, but I made my list. 1. Finally finish my degree 2. Learn how to cook new recipes. 3. Travel outside of Washington state. 4. Buy myself something that makes me feel desirable. 5. Find real, honest-to-goodness-rip-your-heart-out-and-hand-it-to-someone-love. The realist in me knows that last one is a bit far-fetched, but when an old college friend shows up in my driveway offering me something I can’t refuse, my mind starts wondering if maybe that last goal could be attainable after all.He’s kind, compassionate, strong, helpful, and attractive. All positive attributes of a great man. There’s just one problem. He’s my Ex’s best friend.

     For ten long years young Dirk Blackthorn has followed his drunken father from one city to another, always having to cheat and steal for his next meal, and never knowing what the future might hold. A magician turned con artist, Dirk’s father Thad has taught him everything he knows. After being driven out of just about every southern city in Agora, they have come to Kell-Torey in search of a new beginning. With winter on its way, and all but a rusty coin spent on his father’s drinking, Dirk must make full use of his skills if they are to survive the harsh northern cold. As Thad descends deeper into his drunken delirium, Dirk becomes determined to make a name for himself in the city’s criminal underworld. Featuring two of Legends of Agora’s most beloved characters, Blackthorn Rising is a fast-paced coming of age tale wrought with sword and sorcery, it is a story of failure and triumph, and a testament to the unrelenting spirit of defiance and adventure within us all. FROM THE EDITOR Blackthorn Rising is a book that sticks with you. Michael Ploof’s stimulating prose and evocative cast of characters are incapable of boring you on any single page. The plot is sharp, charged with dark wit, adventure, intrigue, and emotion. Enjoy Dirk Blackthorn’s bumbling journey to manhood as he rises to become a great thief, and an even greater man. I loved every minute of editing this tale, and I know you’ll love every minute of reading it. --Holly M. Kothe, espressoeditor.com

    After getting caught reenacting what she sees, she runs away from home and seeks refuge in the streets of East Hammond,IN where she becomes vividly exposed to the rugged street life. Cuz: A focused hustler who's recently released from serving a 5 year sentence. Cuz places Precious under his wings, but only if she agrees to earn her keep by any means necessary. On their rise to power they encounter Shree, LaToya, Sonya, and Neicey. All five women have the same agenda needed for their journey at hand and agrees to live by Cuz's creed. "Never bite the hand that feeds you, unless that hand tries to slap the taste out of your mouth." Shaunta'e Howard is a new author to the game of books. Although she has been writing all her life this is her first release. She is a very outgoing young woman from Hammond, IN via Chicago, IL. She has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Devry University and a MBA in business from Keller Graduate School of Management. She is a mother of a 15 year old son and 5 year old daughter. In her spare time she enjoys reading, dancing, and any activity involving family and friends. Look forward to Shaunta'e bringing more your way. This is just the beginning.

    

    Never had she imagined it would go by so quickly. Memories of friends that had long since come and gone. Laughter that still echoed through the corridors of her mind. Each thought of those people made her stomach turn on end. The betrayal she felt from them was more than she could comprehend. Xavier was dead. He had passed, and Dawnika knew it before they even got to the hospital. It came as a bit of a shock that he ended up like his father. He was healthy, never did anything that he shouldn’t have. For Christ’s sake he was captain of the soccer and football team. Xavier was as healthy as could be, yet he gave no sign of life. One moment, he was breathing, the next he was lying, sprawled out on the couch. They were watching cheesy horror flicks, and laughing at every flaw, when he started to appear uncomfortable. At first, she wasn’t really worried, of course that was the first mistake that she made. He was her boyfriend, and she should’ve always been concerned, however, she wasn’t. The reason why would remain unknown to her. Twenty minutes later, he was complaining of chest pains and asked her to call an ambulance. She did, but when they arrived, she knew they were too late. He wasn’t breathing. He wasn’t moving. That of course nearly gave her a heart attack. Moreover she passed out, and when she woke up she was at the hospital, lying in a bed.

    With his main girl Kierra Lawrence by his side, DeWayne rules the town. Sneaking in and out of beds but DeWayne was always about to slither his way out of any whorish problem he got himself into. DeWayne and Kiara had their share of ups and downs from women to extra kids but they always stayed together until Ariane came along. Kiara is a lawyer with money and brains but Ariane has a body with hustle and street smarts and with DeWayne mixed in, disaster isn't far behind. There is no way to stop the madness and with DeWayne caught in the world wind, the women have no choice but to fight for the love of their life, but at what cost? Find out in Main Chick vs. Side Bitch

    This is the reality for Sheneya “Shene” Rivers whose life has always been filled with drama and pain. At 14, her life goes from bad to worse when she gets pregnant and sold into marriage. For the next few years she struggles to survive her initiation into womanhood until she escapes. Thinking she has found a moment of peace, she begins to rebuild her life but lurking in the shadows is a force from her past that will stop at nothing to return to a life she had worked so hard to escape or leave her in a grave. Will Shene find the strength to survive for her future or will she succumb to horrors of her past?

    

    She has everything a street bitch would want the cars, money, clothing, looks, and to top it off the best plug to the dope game in the world, yet all she really wants is the love her father use to give. Have you ever been in love? No! Hurricane hasn’t either up until her father’s dead. Until she thought she meet the man of her dream. She married him, they work together side by side in the street. Yeah he did normal nigga shit, lie, and cheat, but that’s what men do. Hurricane father schooled her on that when she was younger. He would say if you leave nigga because he cheats you will never have a man. He told her street don’t need love, they need money that was her daddy motto. Hurricane catered to her husband, head every morning, breakfast in bed, clothing laid out, bath water ran daily! So tell me this why would he try to kill her??? You can’t believe it? Me either gone read the book you haven’t heard the half of it.

    Young Trace LaFon counted that a good thing or he’d never have lived long enough to become a Texas Ranger or partnered up with Xavier Falcon. But the two become a part of history the very first time the Rangers were ever used as an arm of law enforcement in the Lone Star state. GUNS ALONG THE RIO is the first of this pair’s adventures as both they and the Rangers grow up on the Texas Frontier gaining experience and wisdom mixed with a lot of cowboy common sense and humor. As any cowpoke knows, good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. Colorful and historical characters make up this tale base on “The Cortina War” along the Rio Grande in 1859.