Everyone except for Ladi. She's tried her hand at love and the cards that she'd been dealt never stacked up. After getting her master's degree and moving back to Miami, Ladi's only focus is securing her dream job. Something that Ace Baptiste has never been… is unsure. Everything that he wants he goes for and gets it. So when he first lays eyes on Ladi and felt a connection that was undeniable it only made sense for him to have her. Will Ace's persistence be enough to make Ladi his lady or will she be the one thing that he fails at capturing? Ladi's dream job has the potential to lead to a dream love, but that's only if she opens herself up to experience it. Will she put forth the effort and give Ace a chance, or keep her heart closed off to his untainted love?

    

    Too dangerous. Too stalkerish. Too deadly. Living the life at the college of her dreams with her two best friends Ayanna and Melody, Zoey “Zoe” Richardson is single, having no time for a man and remains focused on her classes so she can graduate next year. Zoey and Yanna have ladies’ night at a local club while Mel follows behind her consistent unfaithful boyfriend to a house party. Getting ready to end their night, Zoey and Yanna ends up rescuing Mel from another unbearable lover’s quarrel, putting her in the crosshairs of Keno. A night where chaos erupts simultaneously in her life. Having to rely on Keno’s help, the two exchange numbers and starts getting to know each other better. Being the sweetest and most charming person she has ever met, it doesn’t take long for Zoey to fall head over heel for Keno until the real him surfaces. Unfortunately for Zoey, Keno’s wolf in sheep covered skin is revealed a little too late, costing her to endure a lifetime of regrettable decisions. Attending FAMU Homecoming weekend turns out to be the best thing that happens to Keno Daniels. According to him, he finds his future wife in Zoey. Despite his on and off relationship with his ex and his current legal woes, Keno sets out to woo Zoey, despite her claim of not wanting a relationship. Claiming Zoey has his, Keno is devastated when Zoey learns his truths and sees the real him, ending their brief relationship. Except, Keno is not easily convinced it’s over and refuses to let go. Ending things with Keno sets Zoey on the right path, leading her to meet her true king—Ezekiel “Zeek” Taylor. After forming a year long friendship and unknown crushes, Zoey and Zeek gravitate towards each other and find a real connection with each other. A connection that has them talking about the future, one with marriage and kids. However, moving on is not so easily done, especially with Keno popping up everywhere. Indiscretion, heartbreak, lies, relationships, love, and dire consequences are easily found in this mind-blowing, page turning story. In Author Lakia’s debut African American Urban Fiction standalone “When A Savage Is After Your Heart,” everything is not fair in love and relationships.

    

    

    But as both a writer and an African American, he is offended and angered by the success of We's Lives in Da Ghetto, the exploitative debut novel of a young, middle-class black woman who once visited "some relatives in Harlem for a couple of days." Hailed as an authentic representation of the African American experience, the book is a national bestseller and its author feted on the Kenya Dunston television show. The book's success rankles all the more as Monk's own most recent novel has just notched its seventh rejection." "Even as his career as a writer appears to have stalled, Monk finds himself coping with changes in his personal life. In need of distraction from old memories, new responsibilities, and his professional stagnation, Monk composes, in a heat of inspiration and energy, a fierce parody of the sort of exploitative, ghetto wanna-be lit represented by We's Lives in Da Ghetto." But when his agent sends this literary indictment (included here in its entirety) out to publishers, it is greeted as an authentic new voice of black America. Monk - or his pseudonymous alter ego, Stagg R. Leigh - is offered money, fame, success beyond anything he has known. And as demand begins to build for meetings with and appearances by Leigh, Monk is faced with a whole new set of problems.

    Whether she is writing about an enraged teenager gone "wilding" in Central Park, fifteen-year-old Latasha Harlins gunned down by a Korean grocer, or a brutalized child who grows up to escape her probable fate through the miracle of art, Sapphire's vision in this collection of poetry and prose is unswervingly honest."Stunning . . . . One of the strongest debut collections of the '90s."--Publishers Weekly

     He's My Thug, I'm His Peace by Theresa Reese follows the love story of two lovers from conflicting backgrounds. Young, smart, pretty, and never breaking any rules. Well, almost never. Lucy Hinton is the epitome of a good girl and in her eyes, the only type of man she needed was one from the cloth. Lou, as her family calls her, fell head over heels for Pastor Hassel. She quickly learned that everything that glitters ain't gold. Her life takes a turn for the worst when secrets began to fall straight from the pulpit. Handsome, smart, thuggish, and a street king, Asaad Daniels is only focused on getting and keeping money. The streets had taught him that women always ended up being a man's biggest downfall, so he never took any of them seriously. He had always been a hit it and quit it type dude; however, the first time he laid eyes on Lou, something inside of him shifted a little. He didn't know if she was another man's wife or not. But then again, he didn't care. Men lie. Men cheat. Women lie. Women cheat. Today's world was a fashion show. And nearly everyone wanted to be in a relationship with someone that had money or looked like they had it. Two independent souls from two different worlds cross paths and their lives change forever. Author Theresa Reese takes you on a roller coaster ride in the first installation of her riveting new series, He's My Thug, I'm His Peace, where secrets unravel, loyalty is tested, and some lives may be lost. Can Lou be the peace that this thug needs? Every relationship deserves a second chance if it's really true love. Or maybe…Not.

    She works hard and plays harder. Paradise is newly single and definitely ready to mingle after her on again - off again boyfriend was a little too friendly. Paradise thought she had her life figured out and knew it all until “Chaos” came and became more than just a family acquaintance. Chaos name speaks for itself and he definitely lives up to the name. Chaos has never been in love and he is perfectly fine with that, can’t miss what you never had. He snatches souls for a living without a care in the world. Even though he causes so much Chaos in others lives, his is cool and calm until Paradise enters his life on a more personal level and returns the favor to him. Find out what happens when Paradise and Chaos attempt to co-exist; causing chaos in the lives of their loved ones.

    Being placed in a group home wasn’t her ideal place to live, but she soon grew to love it because that’s how she met her best friend Glamour. Now a grown woman, her mission is to become some trapper’s Bonnie, but what happens when she meets the smooth-talking and persistent Vonnie Kross? Vonnie isn’t just you’re average trapper. In fact, he is one of the most paid suppliers in the Atlanta streets that every woman craves to get a taste of. Ever since his father grew ill and died, he dropped his dreams of ever going off to college and took over the family business. Everything in his life is sweet, or so he thinks. The moment he decides to pursue Mahari, his entire world goes into a spiral. Glamour is one of the best makeup artists in Atlanta and the ultimate party girl. One drunken night leads her to meet playboy Grayson. An utter mistake has her quickly pushing him away until, finally, she decides to give him a chance and see where things can go from there.

    

    

     Nola Bentley is the oldest of the Bentley sisters. She’s capable of giving her sisters relationship advice but can’t seem to apply it to her own. After being in an eight-year relationship with her boyfriend, Rue, without receiving a ring, she begins to second guess whether their love is worth the fight or not. Rue is a selfish man who only thinks of himself and what will benefit him; not even their son can change that. His selfish ways drive Nola right into the arms of his boss, Desmond McEntire, who’s had his eyes on Nola for years. Things get heated in the love triangle, leaving Nola stuck to make a decision that will leave one of them hurt. Izabel Bentley is the middle Bentley sister who has completely given up on love. After being constantly cheated on and manipulated by her ex-boyfriend, Josh, Izabel vows to never love another. She puts all her time, love, and energy into her foster care business and two daughters she shares with Josh. An unexpected, messy situation with one little boy tugs at her heart; leading her to his father, Omari Marks. Not usually the one to bend her own rules, Izabel finds herself battling the thoughts of giving love another try. Omari seems to be the perfect man to give in to, but will Izabel’s stubborn ways cause her to miss out on a love that could be real? Tatum Bentley is the youngest of the Bentley sisters, and has endured the most out of the three. An abusive, controlling relationship with an older man leads her to doing the unthinkable; attempt of suicide. During the relationship, she’s forced to shut out everyone she loves; including her best friend, Dylan Pierce. Dylan saves her from ending her life, then leaves her to fight for herself. Years pass by before they’re reunited, and old and new feelings emerge from both sides. The only thing keeping Dylan from professing his love for Tatum is his fiancée, Monet. Knowing Tatum is who he’s supposed to be with, he goes above and beyond to show her, but will his disappearance make it impossible for Tatum to forgive him?