Poole brings you the sizzling tale of two ex-best friends who can't forgive, won't forget... and will find out what matters most... Nicole and Tia just know nothing can break up their long-time friendship. But when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes along, Tia takes her new boyfriend's advice to sue Nicole's mother after a car accident. Now Tia has money, a flashy new home in Florida... and one furious ex-friend out to grab some of the good life for herself. And when wealthy businessman Derrick starts burning up her sheets, Nicole sees a future as sparkling as the engagement ring she's expecting... until...Tia turns up broke, with a new baby in tow... and news that Derrick isn't the man he seems. Now Derrick will marry Nicole only if she drops Tia for good. And between lies, lust, and betrayal, Nicole must gamble on whom to believe, what she really wants - and a choice that may cost her everything...

    She's still looking for the perfect man: very tall, very educated and very cultured--all wrapped up inrich chocolate brown. So far, her insecurities about her generouscurves and her independent streak have kept her searching.Nick is a self-made mogul who works hard, plays hard and loveslife's finer things. He's not perfect, but he makes Dakota feelbeautiful, desirable--and maybe a little too vulnerable. Dakotacan't surrender to a take-charge man, and Nick has worked toohard for everything to give up control. Moving on would beeasy--except for a little complication called love.

    After receiving guardianship of Stacy, the biracial daughter of an old friend, Deanna comes to terms with her own goals and identity as an African-American woman as she and Patterson Temple join forces to protect the frightened child.

    So when she agrees to accompany her best friend Renee to a Southside ball game, her only concern is keeping her cool around the peeps. She's not there to ogle men like Renee, but the moment Jewel lays eyes on Roman Montgomery, she begins to wonder just what she's been missing. When it comes to men, Jewel's heard it all before, but suddenly it seems like Rome's working from a whole new script. . .Renee Nightingale loves to fall in love. Right now, she's got her sights set on landing a rock from her current main squeeze, Gregory. She's not getting any younger, and she sure isn't going to reach thirty still single. And to ensure no one plays her, she's always got a game going on. So when temptation comes calling in the form of a fine, young man with a chiseled physique, she can't resist--and why should she? What Gregory doesn't know, can't hurt them--or so she thinks. . .

    But when Katja's ski-ing holiday ends in disaster, a new teacher must be found very quickly. Anita is up for the challenge, but - fresh from a break-up and an operation that's left her feeling physically and emotionally vulnerable - the last thing she's looking for when she moves to Sunnybrook is a new relationship. So it's Sod's law that she should find herself with not one but two guys vying for her attention. Sven, from Denmark, is a bit of an enigma - but maybe passion lurks beneath his cool reserve? And as for twenty-five-year-old football coach Ross - surely she'd be asking for trouble getting involved with a gorgeous man a decade her junior? (Although her football-mad son Rufus seems to love him.)Moving in with Bertha proves a real comfort - but can Anita get to the bottom of what's troubling the older woman?Anita's job at the True Loaf Bakery is only temporary, but she finds herself drawn ever deeper into life in the village - especially when she finds a child's bracelet from long ago, in the rubble of the newly-renovated building. Solving the mystery of who it belongs to takes Anita on a journey of discovery - a journey that might just help her discover what her own heart really needs...

    Forced by events that leave her to fend for herself as a teenager, she evolves into a money-hungry vixen as an adult. Using her physical attributes to lead a suspect lifestyle, Honey treats men like toys—good for a while, but always disposable.That is until she meets handsome and charismatic Khalil Graves, an up-and-coming filmmaker who's desperately trying to escape the demons of his painful childhood. Already engaged, Khalil can't seem to shake his attraction to Honey. What he doesn't realize is that he's a pawn in Honey's plan for revenge.Honey's attempt at vengeance quickly unravels, complicated by her possible involvement in a murder and a devious plot to score a payday lucrative enough to free her from her unsavory lifestyle.In A Taste of Honey, Essence bestselling author Darren Coleman delivers another sizzling, drama-filled tale that is sure to take his reputation for delivering page-turners to another level.

    He wasn't the type of man that went around adding notches to his bedpost. Cream considered himself a king in search for his queen. He thought his girlfriend of four years would be the one; until her monstrous and gold digging ways came to light. Ci Ci walks into his life and steals his heart but not without dealing with the past. Cream is hiding a secret from Ci-Ci not because he doesn't want her to know; but because he doesn't believe she can handle it. Will he keep her in the dark or will their relationship come crashing down when she finds out. Darius meets Iesha who has given him nothing but attitude since they first met. He refuses to give up on her without a fight. Unfortunately, someone in her family doesn't want her happy and continues to try and sabotage her happiness.

    They are all career women with different businesses or careers, husbands and even children but something is missing, something they can't find at home, in a store or even in a book. So, they search for this missing piece in the beds, arms, cars, offices and even in storage rooms of other men who don't mind paying for what Dem Dam Divas can offer. They enjoy the thrill of sneaking, creeping and even vacationing on someone else's dime but what happens when it all becomes too much? From being found guilty with no evidence, secretly wanting someone who doesn't want you, loving only to not be loved back, caught up in a dream that you're about to be awaken from; will it be worth it in the end? Will their secret lives be revealed and will it become too much to handle? Will they regret their actions or stand by them? Will they finally question whether this secret is really worth keeping?

    A decade later, a bit of fate has brought them back into each other’s lives. ** This is a short story. If you prefer longer stories, please check out another Té Russ title

    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.

    Her new love, Derrick, is everything she's ever wanted in a man. Until she meets Nathaniel Woods. Nat is Derrick's best friend - happily married with a wonderful wife, beautiful daughter, and a booming career. But when he meets Derrick's new girlfriend, he can't take his eyes off her.

    Her husband, Johnny, is suddenly hard to reach, distant, and works late too often for Geneva not to be suspicious. Is it because she’s been pressuring him about having a baby? Feeling lonely and neglected, Geneva bonds with Samuel Owens, a colleague who is having marital trouble of his own. Soon, their relationship blossoms into an uncontrollable affair.  Bored with her husband, Samuel, and dead set against having a child with him, Vivana Owens is biding her time until she’s ready to leave—and she’s spending it with Johnny Mayfield. It’s just a fling—until Vivana becomes obsessed with Johnny, especially once he tries to win back his wife. But affairs don’t end easy—and soon one of the unfaithfuls will end up dead, one will end up in jail, and one just might get away with murder… Praise for Playing the Hand You’re Dealt   “Will keep you guessing straight through to the explosive ending."—Victoria Christopher Murray   “Unforgettable characters and a page-turning storyline.”—Lutishia Lovely

    A retired professional baseball player, he returns to his home in Detroit to purchase a major league franchise. Rion has to tackle government corruption and systematic racism in his quest. He didn’t realize that one person held the key to all of his dreams until she knocks him off his feet. Rion becomes completely mesmerized by hazel eyes along with a no nonsense attitude and tough city girl exterior. Tauri Patterson is the city Prosecutor and her job is to fight for the citizens of Detroit. Her strength and intelligence have made her one of the top litigators. Little did she know that when she received Rion Shaw’s case on her desk, her life would never be the same. The six-foot four decadent chocolate dream walks into her office and changes her life. She’s swept off her feet by the confident warrior who knows who he is and what he wants. Together they must overcome the threats against them in order to achieve the task before them. Rion and Tauri find that love and family can overcome every barrier.

    ​Inga is battling what to do when it comes to her on again off again boyfriend. She loves him with all that she has, but will that be enough to get to the happily ever after that she so desperately wants? Tegan is doing big things in her life. She's on her way to law school and living with the love of her life only she has someone on the side too. Tegan struggles to decide who matters most. She loves both men, but can only have one who will she choose? Elsie isn't a happy girl. Her only true love up and married another woman while she was away at college and now she's went from being his only girl to his mistress. Feeling like she is in a no win situation, Elsie makes a drastic decision, but is it the right decision for her? Harlow is living a double life. She is a successful stylist and a daddy's girl with a lot of skeletons in her closet. She's in love with two men and once everyone knows the details about her love affair she fears everyone will see her differently especially her father; someone that she doesn't want to disappoint. Harlow struggles to make the men she love happy and the man that brought her into this world happy. Harlow knows that it is only a matter or time before her secrets are revealed and she has no clue who will have her back and who won't when the smoke clears. The Way That I Love You Part 2 Synopsis: Inga’s fed up with Dante and his lies. After years of dealing with his mental abuse, she’s finally decided to move on, but the person she finds comfort in is the last person you would expect her to be with. Tegan’s marriage is struggling because of her infidelity that recently came to the light. Tegan fights to hold on to the first man she ever loved while wondering if he will ever forgive her for the mistakes that she has made.Elsie is now with Aiden and finally happy only he’s showing her things that she never saw before and she can’t help but to wonder did she make a mistake with choosing him? Elise starts to miss Elijah and contemplates being with him, but knows that Aiden won’t let her go without a fight that she isn’t sure she will survive. Harlow's life has changed drastically in the blink of an eye. She is now married and has so much on her plate that the things that she fought the hardest for like her company starts to fall behind. Harlow is still hiding secrets that could tear her family apart and will do anything to keep the men that she love happy only that is starting to feel like a goal she might not reach with so many obstacles standing in her way. Will the women find the peace they long for? They've fought hard to be with the men that they love, but anything worth having is not easily acquired. Follow Inga, Tegan, Elsie and Harlow on their journey and see how the women deal with drama, heartache, friendship loss and even death.

    A bodyguard. Two people whose hearts need mending.Autumn Raine is an international superstar. She's living the dream, at least that's what she's showing the world. After her safety is threatened Autumn's life begins to unravel and with her world crashing down around her, can she learn to trust anyone again?When Nathan Regan, an ex-elite soldier is assigned to protect her, Autumn might just have to let someone past the barriers she's put up around herself. But with Nathan fighting against his own demons, will they begin to find solace in each other?Two people, from very different backgrounds will have to come together to face their future.Previously published as Security.