His brother, O bon, finds himself having to survive the game of being his only sibling. Together they'll navigate you through a single tale of lies, lust and revenge. Two very unpredictable endings will teach you why it's called Stained Cotton.

    An unexpected temptation. And stakes so high no one will walk away unscathed…   Gorgeous Nicole is about to get everything she's hustled for. She's having her rich, married lover Rashad's baby. And a lucky break has made her a media heroine—and the perfect new wife material. With one more deception here, a couple more little seductions there, she'll finally push Rashad's wife, Kiara, completely out of his life. With her formidable competition gone, Nicole will lock down Rashad's ever-wandering interest, and be the next Mrs. Eason for sure… But there are some temptations even this sexy schemer finds tough to pass up. Especially her first love, ex-con Ajalon, who's just walked back into her life. His intense hunger, chiseled body, and mind-blowing endurance are throwing Nicole off her game and reigniting emotions way too hot to control—or resist. But he’s also handed Kiara, and another interested ex, the perfect ammo to expose Nicole and blow her world apart once and for all. Now the only guarantee for all involved is shattering scandal—and mutually assured destruction…Praise for the novels of Cydney Rax   “The book we can’t put down.”--Essence® on My Husband’s Girlfriend   “Fascinating, witty, and thought-provoking.” –Zane on My Daughter’s Boyfriend   “Filled with family drama.”--APOOO Book Club on My Sister’s Ex

     For Annie and Will, who have left their marriages to be together, the future is fraught with the complications of starting over. Both have left pieces of themselves behind: For Annie, it is the husband and friend she has known since childhood; for Will, it is the five-year-old daughter he adores. And for the Korean-born Sungae, one of Annie's English-as-a-second-language students, it is a search for the words that will help her resolve the sorrows of her tragic history. As Sungae struggles with the new language and with her memories, her story unfolds in ways that will have profound consequences not only for Sungae, but for Annie, Will, and their former spouses. A lyrical and deeply moving novel about love, loss, and language-and about confronting life's tough choices-The Language of Good-bye "weaves a wonderful story [about] letting go of the past and moving forward into the future" (Gail Tsukiyama, author of The Language of Threads).

    Being in a relationship with ladies' man, Jay'vion, Asia is ready to throw in the towel. Jay'vion is the true definition of the song 'Can't Raise a Man.' Having a hard time being faithful and committing himself to Asia, he finds himself alone and lonesome. The last woman has approached Asia for the last time, and though letting go might be the hardest thing she's ever had to endure, she knows it's something she has to do. What hurts the most is falling for another man when you already have one of your own. Tangela has always lived by the rule of loyalty, even if her man is serving a five-year sentence. When she meets irresistible, fresh out of prison Quintez, she knows to stay far away from his kind. Little does she know, whatever Quintez wants, he gets. That includes her. Will Tangela continue to be loyal to her man, or will Quintez be one temptation she will not be able to fight? This is one rollercoaster ride you don't want to miss.

    But things really get interesting when Caesar and his boy Canyon come into the picture. These rich thugs have always been ones to get whatever they want--even sexy, stubborn women who think they can't be tamed!

    The once unshakeable enforcer slash irristible ladies manis now an expectant father! Angelique is pregnant with theirbaby however the fairytale ending may have to waitbecause Dallas is mad as hell with dangerous plans of relationship sabotage. Life continues to throw Tyce curve balls but will he strike out and lose his new family? Will his ex girlfriends vengeance break up a happy home? You would think having a baby for the very first time is enough responsibility but pile on the cruel intentions of a love sick female and you have one helluva stack.Join Tyce for the ride of a lifetime as he uncovers lies, makes tough decisions, and protects the ones he loves. All while being swagtastic and snacking on an endless supply of sweet Skittles. It's game time baby...are you ready?

    Late nights, early mornings, and broken promises were all that she’d ever known with Cash. Fed up with feeling like the mistress while the streets were his main chick, she broke things off with him. Now a year later, Fallon still can’t get Cash out of her head and neither could he. A chance encounter with Cash reveals that he is finally ready to make his exit from the streets and marry the woman of his dreams. There’s only one rift in their fairytale ever after…What do you do when the woman you love is already taken by your older brother? That is the dilemma that Strap faces on a daily basis. He’s loved Fallon since he was a teenager but she never took him seriously. Now a grown man, he knows that he’d be perfect for her, much more so than Cash. Will the pent up feelings Strap has for Fallon ultimately overpower his loyalty to his brother?Shantreis and her boyfriend Outlaw are the epitome of hood love. They fuss and fight only to make up in the morning. It was a routine that they were familiar with for years but now it’s starting to get old. Outlaw can’t seem to leave his baby momma Kaleesha alone, prompting Shantreis to give him a dose of his own medicine. When an old flame named Blaze comes to town, a one-night stand turns into a whirlwind affair. It seems simple who she should choose, but after Outlaw changes his ways, the decision is even harder to make.Drama kicks into high gear when lust, secrets, revenge, and lies come into play over women who are already taken.

    Mastering life’s principal and hellacious course of Hard Knock Life 101 was nothing to eXavier and eZekiel Yarbrough at an early age. Their wisdom and fearless innocence allocated them guardian angels over baby cousin, iYanna. Drug addictions, immorality, abuse, and evil are all cycles that these three have a vivid familiarity with, yet out of the wicked mentalities that assaulted them grew love, loyalty, hope, tenacity and nobility. Despite the licks they gave, as well as took, they found a safe haven in an old head called Diego. A man that knew the streets and the streets respected him. This family has an abundance of dysfunction, but their devotion to each other is unrestricted and immovable! Friends for life. Life has not been particularly kind to Najia Kennedy. She's had to sacrifice more than she's wanted and taken more L's than wins. But somehow, she's managed to stay on her feet with her head held high, all the while searching for where broken hearts go. Love remains elusive as her son's father pops in and out of their lives with empty promises and leftover lies. Najia's friendship with iYanna has withstood the test of time and her shenanigans, as she factors into the equation that is XYZ. Love forever. The streets don't owe him anything. He's taken everything he's wanted by omission or commission. Kreed is a new breed of boss, college educated and street smart. He's the boogeyman in a suit, encompassed in a mystical aura of strength and power that leaves many starstruck. He's so immune to the world around him that he's stunned at the foreign emotions caused by the feather-like thundering of a miniature storm called iYanna. He envisions her as his future, but her family views him as a catastrophic danger to all that they've invested in her. Love and hurt, joy and pain, good times and bad, take all as prisoners. When you have everything you want, is there room for more? When you have nothing, will you accept anything? XYZ is a spicy urban romance with charismatic characters, life altering situations and breathtaking moments that will fascinate you from beginning to end.

    Their loyalty to each other has no boundaries, until it starts to affect India's relationship with her boyfriend. Will she have to choose between her friends and her man, or will he chose for her?

    . .Bishop T.K. Wilson has done all he can to make First Jamaica Ministries a success. But with his last choir director getting caught in a scandal, attendance and cash flow are down. To fill the pews and collection plates, Bishop is counting on a new choir director, the charismatic Aaron Mackie, to revive the church.Aaron has been waiting his entire life to prove he has what it takes to be a big-time choir director. But his ways around women, past and present, could cost him more than his job. Soon, the Bishop is dealing with in-fighting, jealousies, and personal vendettas. But a final piece of the puzzle has yet to be revealed: Someone has been robbing the church blind. Someone whose connection to the Bishop is far too close for comfort. . ."A masterfully written gem." --RT Book Reviews"Faith, hope, and fornication constitute the theme of this lusty tale." --Booklist (starred review)

    Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Annie Groves.Maeve Brannigan is only eighteen when she leaves her rural home in County Donegal and moves to Birmingham, where she falls in love with handsome Brendan Hogan. But married life isn’t as idyllic as she’d imagined, and when Maeve falls pregnant with their first child, she soon realises that Brendan isn’t the man she thought he was.Saddled with a violent husband and with two young’uns needing her protection, Maeve bears her life as best she can. After a particularly vicious attack, she is forced to flee back to Ireland – but her presence is greeted with open hostility by the close-knit catholic community that she was once so eager to escape. Driven away to face her abusive husband, Maeve’s future looks bleak. Will she find the strength to break free and make the prospect of a better life a reality rather than a distant dream?

    . . Essence and Blackboard bestselling author Karen E. Quinones Miller returns with the follow-up to Satin Doll, her debut novel about four sassy women from Harlem. Puddin': Yeah, y'all know I'm gangsta wit' it. And that's why I don't give a hot damn about swindling these stupid wimps for whatever-be it a drink or their precious platinum credit cards. I may not have a college education like Gina and Tamika or a bougie job like Yvonne, but my sexy ass gets the job done.Yvonne: Let's face it: I'm too fine to be alone. I'm intelligent, gainfully employed-and did I mention how fine I am? Well, it's a lot harder to find a good man than you'd think. So why does everybody have a problem with me getting back with my ex? Please! He'd almost be perfect if he didn't still have a wife.Tamika: I guess I'm the most quiet out of all my girls. Marriage, motherhood, and med school will do that to a sista. And, hell, having a full-out drug war land in your home will certainly do the trick. It'll also keep you stressed, angry, and maybe even a little judgmental of your friends when they're sleeping with the enemy.Regina: Yeah, Little Joe ran the game twenty years ago. But it was that same game that helped me jump off my writing career. And after seeing him for the first time in years, I've got to at least talk to the man. Never mind that he looks better than ever and still has that same sexy swagger that I found irresistible. Or that he might not be the best example for my daughter...or that I'm still feeling my politician ex-hubby (just a little bit). Never mind all of that. Because talking never hurt anybody, right? Blending themes of friendship and street angst with tough, sexy, independent female characters, Satin Nights captures the edginess of urban grit and celebrates the strength of sista-hood.

    After years of being a victim of domestic violence, Skye is caught between their extravagant lifestyle and his controlling behavior, but knows she has to get out. In a desperate attempt, Skye flees the abusive marriage with her three children in tow, and vows never to go back. She even begins a new life with a new identity, but lives in fear, knowing that Sandino won t rest until he finds them. Brace yourself as a shattered woman is determined to rebuild her life and protect her family at all cost, even if it means death. Besides, who wouldn t fight against their most treacherous enemy; even if it is your own husband?

    Tania, fifteen years old being raised by her heroin addicted mother and being beaten on a regular basis meets Nico, the biggest drug dealer on the south side of Chicago. Realizing how she is being treated, Nico takes Tania under his wings and shows her a better life. When forced to separate due to the betrayal of a mutual friend, will they be able to maintain their relationship?

    Choir girl Elise thinks she's found a good man in Jay, a truck driver who came blowing into her life one sultry night. Irresistible and sensual, he's caught up in romancing Elise. However, when she's ready for happily ever after, he realizes that he can't just walk away from his wife and two children. And Elise just can't seem to let him go. Everyone knows that singles ministry leader Renee is full of herself. When she starts her latest interior decorating project, she thinks her client's husband is hot, and together, they're on fire. Meanwhile his wife wants to be friends, and it's not long before a twisted game starts to unravel. For twenty-five years Tess's life revolved around her unfaithful husband (who sits on the deacon's board) and their two wonderful sons. But now the kids have left the nest and Tess wants to spread her wings. While busy seeking her first job and creating a new social life outside the church, Tess meets a new man--a most forbidden man--who rides into the picture to rock her world off its steady axis. All the while, First Lady of the church and counselor, Faye is keeping a secret of her own that is much deeper than any one of them could ever imagine.