The very same hood she craved but was off limits to her after the death of her father, one of the state’s biggest kingpins. Being released from the reigns her mother kept hold of, she finds her way back to the hood….and attracted to one of its most eligible ballers. Demonte is every woman’s wet dream…tall, dark, handsome and paid. When he crosses paths with Orchid, he’s determined to make her his. Eventually wearing her down, a one of a kind love begins that doesn’t go unnoticed. When jealousy, deception and envy come into play, lives are lost and the drama begins. Having lost the love of her life, Orchid struggles with picking up the pieces of her heart and raising a son on her own. After years of living in solitude, she emerges bigger and badder than ever….ready to take on life. When she finally opens her heart and again let’s love in, her past catches up with her and puts in jeopardy her happily ever after……or does it?

    Just when she thinks the nightmare can’t get any worse, her father is charged with the crime. Rachel will do anything to prove his innocence, but her loyalty is tested to the limits when she crosses paths with Nicholas Hunter, the ruthless prosecutor bent on sending her father to prison… Nick Hunter is thirsty for justice, a man made cynical by the horrors he experienced in childhood. He shows mercy to no one…until he encounters Rachel Calloway, the first woman ever to make him question his convictions. From the moment they meet, a forbidden attraction sizzles between them that neither can ignore.As danger lurks in the shadows, Rachel soon finds herself in the biggest fight for her heart…and her life.Ghosts of Fire is a 97,000 word romantic suspense novel that was originally published in 2002.Praise for the Romantic Suspense Novels of Maureen Smith“…a haunting, suspenseful story that documents Maureen Smith as a writer of considerable promise and ability” — Midwest Book Review on Ghosts of Fire “Few authors pen work that is so thoroughly engrossing the characters leave a lasting impression” — Romantic Times on With Every Breath“…keeps you guessing and hoping that these two will get together and find the perpetrators responsible…one of the best romantic suspense stories I’ve read in a long time” — The Romance Readers Connection on A Heartbeat Away“With a deft touch and solid cast of characters, Smith gives equal credence to spicy romance and nail-biting suspense on her way to an explosive conclusion” — Publishers Weekly on Whisper My Name“Smith weaves a captivating tale of mayhem and murder…a romantic suspense thriller that will stay with you long after you turn the final page” — San Antonio Express-News on Whisper My Name“…a tense page-turner that will further enhance Smith’s reputation in the romantic suspense genre—a reputation that is well deserved” — Romantic Times on Like No One Else

    

    With her mother on drugs, she has to work the block to keep food on the table for her sibling and herself. Now at 18 years old, she is ready to leave the street life behind and focus on college. It has always been her dream to get out of the slums of Mississippi and move on to a better life. All of that changes when the infamous Romario Jones sets his sights on her. Standing at 6'3, smooth light brown skin, mesmerizing light brown eyes, and a fly swag to match, Romario Jones has always been the ladies dream catch. Things only gets better when their former mentor, Hypno, steps down and hands Romario and his friend Jace, his drug empire. Thing quickly unravel as jealousy, love, and tragedy strikes. Jace won't stop at nothing until he gets back what Romario has stolen from him. Can Eniyah survive the grimy streets of the Sip while also steering clear of her growing feelings for Romario, or will she stay in the game that she is fighting to get out of?

    She's the owner of a booming private school in Miami, her relationship with her man Mitchell is promising and life couldn't be any better. Or so she thought. A chance encounter with one of her students' father turned her world upside down. She never expected to fall for the King of the streets.Single father, Kayne Grant is feared by many and wears his title as Florida's Connect proudly. He rules the state with an iron fist like any Jamaican Rude Bwoy would. Nothing moves period, without his approval. He has a lot of money, power and respect. He also has his fair share of women. But when he meets the beautiful, complicated and feisty Danity, who also happens to be the owner of his daughters’ private school, she gives him a run for his money.Follow Danity and Kayne on their roller coaster ride of a relationship. What happens when a good girl falls for a Rude Bwoy? Will she be able to tame the beast in him? Or will his many women and ties to the streets tear apart their perfect fairytale?

    After gracing the cover of a popular magazine that highlights black professionals, Amelia knew she’d finally made it. Now that her career was taking off, she no longer had an excuse to ignore the storm brewing between her and the man she’s known her entire life.Real estate mogul, Israel Holloway, has worked tirelessly his entire adult life to get to where he wanted to be. So, working hard to get who he wanted to be with was a task he had no problem taking on. Israel longed to be the number one man in his best friend’s life, and in an attempt to win her heart, he turns to the one thing he knows will get her attention and keep it. But will it?Signed, someone very close to you.*please note, this is book one in a four book series but can be read as a standalone novel.

    She’s strong, smart, independent, and well-rounded. Her life has already been figured out, and she is living it to the best of her abilities, along with her year-long boyfriend, Zaire. Things seem to be going well until Harper is given some news that stuns her, leaving her angry with herself for being so naïve. Zaire isn’t the man she thought he was. Still reeling from that news, she decides to go and have a great time at the Houston Livestock Show. Her interest was only in the concerts happening, but a certain bull-rider steals her attention. Doing her best to resist him only makes her want him more. Legend Semien, bull-rider extraordinaire and a legend in the making, has made his passion a professional career. He loves the risk and suspense of it all. Being in the limelight of the rodeo circuit, he’s cocky and expects to be able to get whatever he wants. That expectation applies to women too. His conquests always approached him, and he was living the life he thought was meant for him to live. The moment he sees Harper, he knows that he wants her. There’s something different about her though. She doesn’t approach him. Destined to make her his, he steps out of his comfort zone in a quest to get what he wants. While Harper and Legend are like night and day, they are attracted to each other like magnets. Despite the baggage and complications of their past lives, they attempt to get to know one another. Will they be able to leave their old lives behind in pursuit of a life together?

    Everyone who is anyone in Atlanta knows the Galleria family and their influence in Atlanta. Paul has three daughters – Jade, Kharisma & Happy Galleria. This is Happy’s story. Twenty-nine-year-old Happy Galleria is unhappy with the way her life is going. Her life plans were to be married, excelling in her career, and pregnant with her first child. However, her boyfriend, Phil, has other plans. Trying to make partner at his law firm, his plans don’t include a family, marriage or setting roots anytime soon. Happy has always been good with remaining emotionless, but will her emotions start to show once Phil ignores her pleas for wanting more in their relationship? While rushing to her gate for her birthday trip to Bora Bora that her sister surprised her with, Happy bumps into a man – literally. Peeved that the man has delayed her from making her flight, she yells, curses and continues to her gate. That man is her pilot. Colt Wright is a pilot who has worked himself from the ground up and has just moved his family from New York to Atlanta to work with a top airline. A single father to a ten-year-old girl, and trying to keep his eye on his aging mother, Colt Wright doesn’t have time for small talk. After losing his child’s mother to cancer, he wants more than casual talk or one night stands. He wants a woman – the Wright woman. These two cross paths and nothing may remain the same. Happy has baggage, but Colt is used to dealing with baggage, being a pilot and all. Will Happy remain Emotionless?

    Ciera and Ari have goals to accomplish, and nothing is going to stand in their way. Never having been in a real relationship, neither girl is equipped to deal with the extra emotions that it takes. So they think, but when they meet the Kassom brothers, all of that will change. Juelz Kassom, runs a billion-dollar drug empire and has decided to go legit. In his exit, he decides to leave the empire to his brother Zelan. Can Zelan handle the reigns? Juelz heart belongs to his deceased Fiancé Kenya, and their daughter Kari he has vowed to never love again. Until he comes face- to -face with the beautiful Ciera Voss, can Ciera break down those guarded walls around his heart? There are many snakes surrounding Juelz Empire, and personal life. Can he and Ciera’s romance stand the brewing storm coming their way? Zelan (Zel) Kassom has always followed the motto “I am my brother’s keeper ” his respect for his only brother is unimaginable. Ready to step up and become the King of New York. It was time; he was ready for the crown. Ever since, the breakup with his ex girlfriend, Zelan has no interest in a relationship. Until his encounters with Ari Voss, no matter how hard he tries to rid his mind of Ari, she plagues his every thought, his every move.

    Even if that means killing anyone and anything standing in her way.Once again these two couples try weathering the storm they call Gangsta Luv.

     Raised in the heart of the hoods of Brooklyn, 18-year-old LeTavia was the oldest of two children looked after by their grandmother after their mother ran out on them. Built with a strong sense of responsibility, it was this trait that pushed her to protect Deshaun Banks, aka Gunplay, the very first time she laid eyes on him. Gunplay, a born hustler, ducked into a local food spot, hoping to dodge the police that were searching for him but what he found inside ended up being more than he expected. When LeTavia immediately assisted him by attempting to hide him from the cops, he not only avoided being placed in prison for the rest of his life but he found the one woman who he would learn is loyal to him from Day 1. Or is she really? Five years later, Gunplay is released from prison and runs into the person whom he owes his freedom to. Now 23 years old, LeTavia is a full grown woman and just as desirable to him as she was the day they'd first met. Immediately, Gunplay sets his mind on making her his but Quisha, the chick who held him down for five years of lock up, isn't having that. Cutta was the king of the Harlem streets before Gunplay was locked up and, after his release, he's even more powerful. When he hears that Gunplay has been released, he has one goal in mind and that's to end Gunplay's life for a betrayal he blamed Gunplay for years ago. But when fate brings him into contact with LeTavia, his plans take a turn that even he didn't expect and the result threatens to tear down everything that LeTavia and Gunplay have built. Is real love always loyal love? When the rules of the streets are mired by the desires of the heart, the results can be treacherous and, oftentimes, deadly.

    If erotic content and short stories are not your cup of tea, then this experience is not for you.

    

    So where did she go wrong? How did she go from vacationing in London and planning to go to Paris with her husband, to having her heart broken? How far will she go to exact revenge for the hurt and deceit done to her by the very ones she called her friends?

     Avion has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Everyone relies on her to hold it together and keep the family moving. But when she seeks a much-needed break, she finds herself stumbling into something that isn't easy for her to get out of. Samson has the world at his fingertips and isn't looking for a soul to share it with. When his best friend drags him out for a night of relaxation, he spots his forever. But when Avion runs off to return to her reality he stops at nothing to find her. Relinquishing themselves to love is easy, staying in love is the hard part. Can Avion and Samson climb the mountain and let love have the final say so, or will they falter and give up on everything love has to offer? Find out in Because Love Said So.