Fueled by her crooked grandfather s blood and her gold-digging grandmother s teachings, Kyla mastered the arts of manipulation and seduction at an early age. While other girls were learning simple addition and subtraction, Kyla was being trained to divide men from boys in hopes of multiplying her funds. As she propels through adolescence and into her teenaged years, Kyla s heartbreaking beauty and notorious sex appeal become her trademarks. The more attention she receives, the more she craves; and she seizes every opportunity to increase her status in her urban St. Louis community. Kyla truly believes that the world and everything in it is at her disposal. That is, until she meets Shard Phaylon, a suave and powerful young kingpin in the illegal drug trade. From the beginning, the mysterious Shard presents an alluring challenge that spoiled Kyla has never before had to face. In an effort to live up to her family name, she blindly and tirelessly pursues him and his many assets. Kyla s misguided affection quickly blossoms into complete devotion; and she soon finds herself acting as a witness and eventually, an accomplice in Shard s immoral and dangerous schemes. Her newfound love for him begins to eclipse her lifelong love for the Brown family, and she becomes completely torn between the two. Just when Kyla believes that she has her life all mapped out, though, she suddenly begins to unearth bizarre and unsettling clues about Shard s past and present. It is only after Shard commits the ultimate act of betrayal that Kyla discovers the disturbing truth about him and learns an even more disturbing truth about herself.

    But Matt returns with an assassin on his trail. When he encounters a young woman with secrets, a woman he is drawn to and who needs him, he must choose between helping her or endangering her.Miranda (Randi) Richards, a young meteorologist, takes a job in a remote area near the Olympic National Park to nurse her wounds after her parents brutally disowned her when she converted to Christianity at college. When Randi, a world-class, middle-distance runner literally runs into Matt on a park trail, she believes she's found someone who can help heal her heart. But she learns Matt has secrets that threaten both her heart and her life. No Safe Place is an action-filled, romantic-suspense story that races from the scenic beaches of the Olympic National Park to the beauty of Lake Chelan in Central Washington State, a story of courage, honor, faith and love.

    Newly divorced, 40yearold Desa Rae finds herself alone now that her son has gone away to college. She's taken to her bed, watching life pass her by-until Roc, a 24yearold with a jawdropping body comes along. Desa Rae can't keep her eyes open or legs closed to a man who excites her like no other man has. But can she really be serious about a man who is almost the same age as her son? Avery Belmont is a diva in her own right. Smart, sassy, and successful, she has always had it going on; so much so that not only did the fullfigured beauty catch the eye of Duke, the sexiest dude on the block, but she encouraged him to leave the dope game and become legit. Now, seven years later, Avery is working hard and trying to move ahead, but it seems that Duke isn't feeling the same way. Working with Kurt, her attractive coworker, isn't helping her situation. Is the love between Avery and Duke strong enough to keep them together, or will the strength of that love make them realize it's time to let go?

    Though not happy with his decision, Sarah supports her fiancé, despite the fact she’s already given up her apartment and teaching position. When Sarah’s best friend, Pippa, suggests Sarah move to Sunset Cove, she figures a new town, new job, and new friends are just what she needs to help her through the separation. If she’d known one of those friends would turn out to be kind-hearted, good-looking, and well-built, Officer Kevin Jenkins, she might have figured a little harder. Though Sarah goes out of her way to keep her relationship with Kevin on a friends-only basis, it’s clear their feelings for one another are teetering toward something more. Now Sarah must make the most important decision of her life. Will she go for diamonds or donuts?

    No matter what, you don't talk to the cops. You don't snitch. But when young bus driver Andre Bolden witnesses a murder on his route, the code gets personal and every decision leads him deeper into worlds that he never intended to enter. In this rich story that ratchets up the tension and suspense at every turn, the reality of life on the street is infused with spiritual truth. Gifted storyteller Booker T. Mattison's realistic tale of revenge and redemption offers hope about the strength of community against violence and intimidation. Early Praise for Snitch: ""Snitch" absorbed me to the point that I felt that my life and the lives of my family were at stake. It's just that good. "Snitch" should be required reading for anyone with a pulse and a conscience."--Lisa Cortes, executive producer of the Academy Award nominated film "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire""AMAZING--down to the last line. Bravo!"--Victoria Christopher Murray, "Essence" bestselling author

    . .Sherise, Billie, and Erica will do anything to penetrate the capital's shimmering social circle of movers and shakers, even if it means engaging in some risky business. Sherise's dangerous game with a ruthless powerbroker is putting her on the White House fast track--and derailing her marriage. . . High-powered lawyer Billie will use any weapon to battle her sexy ex-husband between the sheets so she can move on after heartbreak. . . Erica's prestigious new promotion at the Pentagon means bad news for her former-hustler boyfriend that may wreck her dreams for good. . . And when drama even these divas never saw coming turns explosive, they'll have to fight fire with fire, and prove their loyalty to each other--because in D.C. you always need someone to have your back. . . Praise for Angela Winters "Entertaining. . .the pacing is fast and the drama (is) unrelenting." --Publishers Weekly on Never Enough "A Dynasty-esque mix of money, power, sex, and crime." --Washingtonian.com on View Park

    If you haven't found one by then, I'll find one for you!"Rose wasn't shocked by her mother's announcement. Since Rose's two older brothers had married, her mother had become obsessed with weddings.Rose wasn't against marriage; she just hadn't met the man of her dreams yet. She'd know him when she saw him. He'd be tall with broad shoulders, and he'd have dark coloring to complement her pale skin and fair, red hair. It would be love at first sight.When Jacob comes to town, Rose sees him and knows he's the one!Her hunch is confirmed when they spend every spare moment together. When Rose learns some scandalous news about Jacob, she is devastated and turns to her close friend, Mark.Mark isn't much to look at, and he's only a shade taller than she, but Mark is a man who would never let her down.Is her good friend Mark the one she should be with, or should she give Jacob another chance?Should Rose risk trying to make something more out of Mark's friendship, or will she be risking her heart only to be disappointed again?

    Charming, handsome, and perfect, he's everything she's ever wanted. But her plans go awry when she finds out John may already be planning to propose - to another girl Filled with humor and a touch of sass, this book reminds you that finding love is a journey of self-discovery.

    Her cousin Chloe’s wedding is the following day and she needs to get from Northern California to Los Angeles. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have enough money to fix her car, much less buy a bus ticket. When Jake Bellomy, the hot Biology lab partner from last semester, offers to give her a ride home, she takes him up on his offer, even though she knows things are bound to get tense since he traded her for another partner in their Biology class. Kendra knows he’s a jerk, but what she doesn’t realize is that God has a way of revealing that people aren’t always what they appear to be.

    She is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that this time they make it without fault.Tamar on the other hand is knee deep in the game, further than ever before. With a set of new demands; he is forced to recruit a new team that pushes him to prove why he is and will always be the boss.Taron and Journey are deeply in love and looking forward to becoming one. They thought they had everything a couple could ever want until another woman-Latoya, shows the both of them exactly what they’re missing.New couple Jamir and Erica will show you just how Justice is served.Will these couples overcome what’s being thrown their way or will they let it destroy everything they’ve built?Find out in this drama-filled 4th installment of Rozalyn.

    Falling in love with the local handyman wasn't in her blueprints. Deidre McIntyre didn’t exactly purchase the gorgeous old home in the Shenandoah Mountains on a whim. The building had seen better days, but she had the skills—and the time—to fix it up. And maybe it would provide the fresh start she was looking for. Local handyman Jeremiah Crawford has a soft spot for Peacock Hill. When someone from out of town purchases it, he swings by to offer to help fix it up...and investigate the new owner’s plans for the property. The pixie-like Deidre isn’t at all what he expects, but he’s happy to hang around and enjoy the view. When Deidre’s ex-boyfriend, a popular TV house flipper, shows up demanding a piece of the action, Jeremiah must decide if Deidre—and Peacock Hill—are worth fighting for. Falling in love wasn’t on the blueprints, but it might just be worth the change in plans. She renovates old houses. Can he restore her heart? The first book in the new Peacock Hill Romance series of contemporary Christian romances by Elizabeth Maddrey takes readers to a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia where new friends gather to restore a Gilded Age mansion, discover their passion, and fall in love. Buy A Heart Restored to begin construction today. (This novella was previously published in the Love at First Laugh box set in March 2017. That box set is no longer available, but if you read the whole set, you've already read this one.) Read all the books in the Peacock Hill Series! A Heart Restored (book 1) A Heart Reclaimed (book 2) A Heart Realigned (book 3) A Heart Redirected (book 4) A Heart Rearranged (book 5 - fall 2019) A Heart Reconsidered (book 6 - winter 2019)

    The good life wasn't handed to him on a silver platter, though. Growing up in the Cleveland ghetto, his father was shot by a drug addict, he worked the streets to help his sister through college, and he made his fair share of enemies along the way.Yet not even his tough upbringing prepared him for the mysterious DVD that showed up on his doorstep, its contents revealing an explicit sexual encounter between his wife and another man, whose face was purposely blurred. Sierra's betrayal is heart wrenching, and Denmark's on the warpath to find out the identity of the man behind it. One thing's sure: It's someone close to him.Suddenly everyone is suspect, especially his two best buddies, and he'll stop at nothing to exact his revenge-even if it means sleeping with their wives to get it. But when Denmark takes justice into his own hands, he discovers a truth even more shocking than his wife's infidelity. . . .In this gritty revenge tale, Freddie Lee Johnson III takes us into the mind of a man consumed with grief and rage. Full of jump-off-the-page characters and fast-paced drama, Other Men's Wives is an explosive ride fueled by love, lust, and deceit.

    From four-time "Essence"-bestselling author Lee comes the compelling tale of a marriage that is tested when infidelity--and tragedy--come into play.

    Never mind that he's her one-time teenage crush and a longtime friend. But when her son, Stevie, needs an expensive surgery, risking her heart is a small price to pay for her little boy's happiness. Ethan Echeverría leaves women before they have a chance to leave him the way his mother once abandoned him. Then his dad gives him an ultimatum: get married and become the owner of the family auto shop chain or stay single and lose it. Considering Ethan has always cared for Mercy, getting married might result in more than ownership of the shops and a loving father for Stevie. It could be the second chance they need. Their feelings toward each other grow, but so does Mercy's jealousy. When Ethan's past crashes into his future, will she end up heartbroken and alone again? This book is also available free of charge if you sign up for my newsletter.

    She's always been close to her mother, especially since the death of her father. But when Serena learns of a devastating family secret, she feels betrayed by the one she trusted most. As she questions how someone as devout as her mother could have lied to her for years, Serena pulls away from both family and faith. Without the haven of hearth and home, she flounders as she tries to help a girlfriend trapped in an abusive relationship. Burying herself in her prestigious career doesn't help either. With the help of a possible new love in her life, Serena realizes that, instead of resisting the voice, she needs to listen to the One who speaks to her heart.