Her mama finds her dark skin repulsive, so she abuses and neglects her. Also, she constantly compares Dana to her light-skinned sister. Regardless of Dana's unconditional love for her mama, she still encounters a cycle of torment. Will mama finally realize that Dana is a beautiful person in spite of her dark skin or will she continue to spew those hateful words, "Mama don't like ugly?"

    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?

    

    He said....She saved me from being alone and dying to soon. Moses Parks is a man with the million dollar plan but soon realizes that money can not buy happiness. Searching for something else to live for while dealing with his failing health, Teka comes into his life as a breath of fresh air. But then she goes away. Without warning. Moses refuses to forget about her and makes it his mission to find her and continue what they started. But she's broken. She's unable to love. Somehow, the two lost souls become one and it's the greatest love story ever written. But... is it really? Is love all its cracked up to be? Nako introduces readers to a new set of characters that are individually dealing with trials and tribulations while trying to love each other but unaware of how to do so properly. In this new series join her on an emotional roller coaster as two people from different sides of the track find their way to each other although every thing seems to get in their path. Salvation is an exciting and emotional read and one you won't be able to put down or forget. Disclaimer: This is the prelude to a three book series. The book ends on a cliffhanger.

    When Greg's abuse damn near kills Jade her sisters Corrina and Telissa step in and remove her from the home. As Jade deals with her hurtful past and her current abusive relationship she is introduced to a new way of life and new friends. She seems to adjust well to her new environment, but when the past starts to reel its ugly head Jade fights to stand her ground. Will she follow her heart and move forward or will she be snatched back into the depths of hell!

    To her surprise, she gets a taste of her own evil ways when, eye-stealing Simone oversteps her bounds with the one she wants, JL. A smooth talking entertainer, JL has always had many women, Joyclyn is no different. But as soon as things start to heat up in the bedroom things take an unsuspecting twist. JL is left trying to place back the pieces and keep his secrets a secret before it ruins not only his career but the innocent ones involved. Tasha has always loved Malik, problem is he was never available to begin with. Vowing to finally leave him alone forever, he resurfaces announcing his love and that he would finally leave his wife. But when Trey comes along and gives her the desires of her heart... she had no idea she would be committing the same mistake twice. A story of betrayal, scandalous sex, revenge, lies, and more grace the pages of this tale. One thing these women can t seem to make happen is letting their mistakes go. Or can they?

    

     Imagine waking up in your once beautiful mansion, being pampered by housekeepers, and maids, surrounded by people who literally worshipped the ground you walked on...all simply because you were considered 'Hood Royalty.' That had been the life for twenty four year old,Sanai, until it was all suddenly snatched away from her when her fiancé was sentenced to 25 years, leaving her with absolutely nothing but pain and heartache. Sanai had two kids and one on the way, and just with that pressure alone she finds herself at rock bottom, forcing her to move back to the low income section 8 projects where she was born and raised. It doesn't take long for Sanai to see that being a pretty kept chick can only get you so far, especially in a world full of savages, thugs and drug dealers. Growing up in Newark's Southward, life hadn't always been easy for Saint. From birth, he had been thrown into the gang banging lifestyle, following in his mothers footsteps as one of the most vicious Crips throughout New Jersey. Saint and his left hand, Cuz, only have two things on their twenty year old minds: getting money and sleeping with multiple women that loved their lifestyle. Above all things they plan to one day take over the legacy and run things just like their parents. That is, until Saint runs across the sexy single mother that moved into his projects. Kayla and John have been together for eight years. Their relationship transformed from two happy people, into strangers who coexist fearing the idea of being alone. At wits end, Kayla agrees to give their a relationship one last shot by allowing another woman into their bedroom. Just when things start looking up, Kayla meets the rough, straight forward, Havoc, who shows her that real men don't need much in this world to be satisfied. But is Kayla ready to leave a 'grown boy', or is she too focused on the longevity to get her happy ending. Sit back and enjoy the ride as the gang experiences the wins and losses that come along with the game they love. Sometimes you have to lose people in order to make room for those worthy of being in your life... loving the Plug is cool, but it's that Savage that your heart desires.

    She's trying to hold everything down while her baby daddy serves a ten year bid for drug trafficking. The last thing she's looking for is love. Between working and taking care of her daughters she's stretched thin. One night by chance she meets Jaeshawn, a thug in his own right. Jaeshawn aka Larry Bird runs everything from New York to Virginia and everything in between. All he wants is a woman to call his own, but that woman isn't his baby mother, Kaysha, who wants to make her family work. Kaysha and Jaeshawn have a one year old son, Keyshawn who Kaysha uses as a pawn against Jaeshawn. Maddie is in a hateful relationship with her man, Jared. Jared is mentally and physical abusive, and has a terrible jealousy problem. He forbids Maddie to hang with her best friend, Tiara, and keeps tabs on everything she does. When Tiara introduces Maddie to John, an Arabic God , who is also Jaeshawn's right hand, she doesn't think it will go far, but boy is she wrong. Jared, Dyron and Jamal are all friends and have one thing in common: Dread. Dread runs Queens and has an beef with Larry Bird. But when Jared , Dyron and Jamal start landing in trouble, and Dread is the common denominator, things go haywire. When Tiara enters Jaeshawn's world one cold winter night, his entire worlds changes. He sees her right to take the throne beside him as the trap king's wife.

    progresses with the pandemonium of ever changing twists, secrets, lies, and love in Pretty Lips That Thugs Love 3, the final book of the series. Ashanti McNeal finally walked away from the only relationship that she had ever known with Kentay Mills. However, Kentay vowed to never let his wife Ashanti go, especially to his brother Ahmad. But, is he fighting a losing battle? Despite Kentay’s protests, Ashanti has moved on with her life to delve in new beginnings with the only man who has shown her what true love is about, Ahmad Jones. Just when Ashanti and Ahmad thought their footings were on solid ground, life came blazing in a flash to interrupt their fresh start. Will the new couple’s life together end before it really had a chance to begin? Fate had a way of testing the new couple’s commitment and love to each other. Will the tests proved to be too much? Or, will Ahmad and Ashanti stand strong in their love for one another? Karma finally came crashing into Kentay Mills’ life and sent him to the place that he didn’t want to go, prison. However, his circumstances didn’t prevent him from hoping to see the outside world again. Kentay still behaved and acted like the boss that he was, even behind those prison walls. Due to negligence on behalf of the police department, Kentay received word that his sentence would be cut short. Unfortunately, an unexpected brawl sent him to the infirmary that led him to come face to face with his past. Kentay had no choice but to succumb to the shocking secret from his past. How will this new eye-opener affect him? Will Kentay become a changed man after his stint in prison? Or, will he continue down the same old path that led to heartache and destruction? Ashanti’s world is rocked upside down when lies and secrets are discovered. These revelations will undoubtedly have a crucial impact on her life. Can she still trust the people who were always supposed to be straightforward and honest with her? Kentay and Ashanti. Ashanti and Ahmad. Brother versus Brother. Revelation after revelation. Will the turmoil ever cease? Will love win in the end? Find out in this final installment of the Pretty Lips That Thugs Love.

    After serving a 3 year bid, Marquez swore to himself that he would never step foot in another prison. Determined to turn his life around, Marquez occupies his days working at a local car shop. Despite the low pay and endless hours, Marquez does not let that deter him. His world is then shaken up the moment he meets Breanna, a cute, around the way girl, whose main focus in life is attaining her degree and escaping the gritty projects of Brownsville, Brooklyn, for good. Both from troubled pasts, they find themselves drawn to each other in ways they would’ve never fathomed. Breanna becomes the light to Marquez’s life as she opens his heart to something foreign to him. Love. Marquez then begins to realize the possibilities of obtaining a better life outside of the hood. It is until he is faced with an unexpected tragedy that shatters his world for the worst. His dark past now becomes a reality as the grim streets claw at every ounce of his sanity. Now, Marquez must decide whether to continue on the right path he vowed to take or succumb to the dangerous lifestyle he has always known. The streets.

    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?

    Even though, he's book smart, he can't seem to leave the streets alone. He's his dad's protégé, and perhaps better than him. Ja’Keem met Camilla Jones their freshman year at UBR. From that fateful day, they’ve been inseparable. He can't seem to leave her alone, either, but that doesn't mean he's ready to be tied down. Ja’Keem refuses to put a title on what he and Camilla have, because he’s enjoying the college lifestyle, as well as the streets. He has the best of both worlds, and doesn’t see a reason to change. Camilla is no lame, though. She knows her worth, and demands her respect. However, when it’s all said and done, will Camilla be able to say “that’s all me” without looking stupid?

    

    This is a code that Jakari Roberson lives by. He definitely applies this philosophy to his relationship with Qia. He loves her with all of his heart and treats her like a queen. There isn't anything he won't do for her. However, Jakari has a big secret that he has managed to keep hidden from Qia for the past 14 years. He has finally made the decision to change, but is it a little too late? In Qia's eyes she has the most loving, attentive, romantic, and faithful husband in the world. But, will the picture of her fairytale life shatter when she finds out what Jakari has really been up to? Will the love for her husband be enough to make her stay? Or, will his betrayal be enough to push her over the edge and into the arms of someone more deserving? Take a journey with these high school sweethearts. It is certainly a long difficult one, but it will be well worth it if they can figure out what constitutes a marriage and if their marriage is really worth saving?