They are severe chronicles of gangstas, written by men and women who have starved and bled and survived by the code of the streets.Essence magazine’s #1 bestselling author Nikki Turner has earned her rep as “the Princess of Hip-Hop” with gritty urban novels like A Hustler’s Wife and The Glamorous Life. Now she lends her considerable street cred to this anthology, the first of its kind–an explosive collection featuring edgy new writers Turner handpicked for their ability to evoke the street, and the people who live by its rules, in hot, hyperrealistic stories. Turner scoured the ghetto, the prisons, and every crack and crevice around the country to bring you these impressive new fresh-from-the-street voices. Never one to disappoint her fans, Turner even throws in a raw gangsta tale of her own. From a buppie who risks her entire well-groomed world when she’s suddenly turned on by a thug (“Gotta Have a Ruffneck”), to a lesbian pimp who gets what she deserves from the women she’s turning out (“Big Daddy”), these stories will shock, entertain, and make you fly through the pages.

    You gotta throw a lil something out there for it to come back." From Memphis to Atlanta, Kema goes from country to lavish living. She's grimy and down right gritty, born with no filter. Every since the age of fifteen, she has held her own. Everyday of her life is a drama filled episode. Dimples is a beautiful down to earth girl that's trying to live comfortable. Stripping is getting is getting old to her but that's all she knows. Now that her baby daddy is out of jail things are looking up so she thinks. Shy and passive Tiana wants nothing more than to keep her grades up and finish school. Things take a drastic turn when she finds out that the person that she thought that she knew was her worst enemy.

    Now at the age of 25, she has done just that. Big house, dream job, and even engaged to her college boyfriend. She has it all, but she is consistently left wondering, am I really happy? Is my life complete? After getting into it with her fiancé Troy, about the one thing she desires so desperately, she decides that it is time to let her hair down and escape reality for a while. But what she isn’t prepared for is the person she finds herself bumping into. Sawyer McKnight, the neighborhood’s bad boy, is now the hood’s hottest rapper. He went from the slums to the mansion but still, he is missing someone to share it with. In this love tale, you have two people from the same background but different walks of life. Can the two be what the other truly needs or will they just settle for what they’re already used to?

    There ain’t no leaving me.” – Esmin Though he never tried to fight it, Esmin didn’t think his initial attraction to Greigh would be anything more than what she tried to make it; forbidden. Up against a battle to keep her heart, and keep her brother’s out their business, he’s also coming to terms with becoming a dad. A role that his own father lacked in due to incarceration and one Esmin wanted to conquer regardless of his shortcomings. The undeniable connection Greigh felt with Esmin from the beginning, is much more than she expected it to be. She vowed to never cross the dangerous line that he walked on and went for playing it safe, but those lines were quickly blurred when she became pregnant. Learning to not only love him and the new life growing inside her, Greigh finds herself struggling to balance her life and their relationship. Falling in love and staying there isn’t an easy task. In fact, falling in love will be downright agonizing for this couple. When life throws a curve ball their way, Esmin and Greigh both must come out swinging at the perfect angle. But, at what price does love cost? And, will it be worth all their efforts in the end to fight and forgive or to let their hearts wander?

    Until one night she meets Ghost a bad boy rapper with a play boy image. A one night stand with him changes her life forever. Kevin (Ghost) Jackson is a bad boy rapper who loves the party lifestyle and dealing with different women. He never thought he would settle down, until he gets Angel pregnant and is forced to slow down. Everyone disapproves of his relationship with Angel including his mother who makes him choose. Embark on the journey with Angel and Ghost as all the odds are against them to find true love. Will they become a family? Or will they allow people to get in the way of their true happiness?

    Dating online is hard. Dating online in your thirties is hard. Dating online in your thirties after being in a ten-year relationship is hard. What’s not hard? Meeting men who aren’t really single. Having your time wasted. Receiving unsolicited pictures of genitalia. Said genitalia. When did dating become so complicated? I just want to find a nice, good looking man who replies to my entire text message and doesn’t text me “WYD” every hour. I just want to find a fun loving, intelligent man who doesn’t have a Master’s Degree in Cheating, Shenanigans and Tomfoolery and isn’t fluent in lies. I just want to find a man who is actually the height he listed in his dating profile. I jumped back into the dating scene with tempered expectations. I didn’t think all the men I would meet were going to be amazing, but I didn’t think so many of them were going to be disasters.

    Her only hope of surviving is to travel to America, a land of freedom and opportunity, and reunite with her brother in Baltimore. There she'll find new challenges, and perhaps, if she can put her painful past behind her, a new chance for love and lasting happiness.

    

    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?

    Sky’s unscrupulous means of getting by haven’t caught the attention of the owners of the club who just happen to be the biggest crime family in LA, the Kasabian Cartel – at least not yet. Unknown to Sky, there’s drama unfolding behind the scenes in her personal life as her boyfriend Blade’s lies slowly start to unravel, as well as his secrets – like the fact that he is engaged to another woman. Meanwhile, Sky’s crazy baby daddy who is behind bars on drug charges is up for parole and plans to come home to reclaim what’s his. Just when you thought things couldn’t get more complicated, Sky’s childhood friend Ryzen who has secretly carried a torch for her is reunited with her after sixteen years. He is determined to finally speak up and confess his feelings, despite the fact that Sky doesn’t even remember who he is. Things aren’t any better for Zuri as she and her serial cheater of a man Flex are constantly at odds with each other as their relationship grows more and more toxic, and she’s too stubborn to quit while she’s ahead. Will their “struggle love” be her undoing? Or can he change before it’s too late? If you enjoyed “When a Rich Thug Wants You”, you’ll love this African American urban romance that’ll have you flipping through pages as drama and scandals endlessly unfold.

    The collaboration between authors Twyla T. and Patrice Balark in this series is off the chain as the magic between the pages leaps off in bounds. Unlimited pandemonium, uncovered secrets, and revealing truths are exposed as the drama continues in the second book of this series. After losing not only his mom, but his high school sweetheart, life became different for Malik Jefferson. He began to show everyone in the streets who the real boss was. Along with his best friend and right hand man, Rico “Goo” Grady, Malik is that Kingpin that people know not to mess with. However, it seems like someone didn’t get that message and decided to take the reign from the duo. Malik and Goo are being challenged again, and blood will be shed. Will the culprits ever learn their lessons? Or, will Malik lose his position as Kingpin. Micah Sanders’ life was good, with the exception of her brother’s death. While attending college and making boss moves on the sides, her silent, but efficient transport still caught the attention of the boss. Malik and Micah had undeniable chemistry and found themselves in a relationship that was good for both business and pleasure. Even though things were changing for Micah’s life, she still had one goal and one goal only…to find her brother’s killer. When the road leads to the man that she has totally fallen in love with Malik Jefferson, Micah’s world is instantly thrown into a world wind. Just when Malik and Micah think that everything is on an even kilt…BAM! Life comes right on it and knocks everything right off of its axis. Nothing will remain the same. No one will be left unaffected. Find out how all the chaos unfold in this installment of The Wife of A Kingpin 2. Warning: This book contains a cliffhanger.

    And they vowed they would watch over eighteen-year-old Zabu Davis, their baby brother. Intelligent, driven, and charismatic, Baby Brother had resisted the lure of Brooklyn street life and was headed for Stanford University on a pre-med scholarship. But on the eve of his departure for California, in a split second of blinding violence, Baby Brother's life is thrown onto a tragic collision course. Soon, his devoted brothers follow a path of blood justice that will rock the city streets. Baby Brother was their pride and joy. Now, he's their reason to fight for vengeance.

    Pregnant with her second child, she's got a career, a college degree- and enough common sense to know that her boyfriend, Malik, may not be ready for fatherhood. But when Malik surprises her with a marriage proposal, it seems that Kim's got her man for the long haul. Or does she?Despite his honorable intentions, Malik can't seem to stay clear of other women. When Shonda Robinson, the shapely new receptionist at the law firm where Malik works as a paralegal, comes on strong to him, his resolve finally crumbles, along with his heart - and his future plans. Shonda may not be the most moral - or discreet - person around, but she knows a good thing when she's got it. That good thing is her love for Malik, and she intends to keep it at all costs. Unfortunately, she's not the only one who feels that way. What follows is an emotional roller coaster ride of changing plans, changing partners- and a surprising change of heart - as three people wrestle with what's right, what's wrong- and what's real.

    She’s struggling to leave her trophy wife identity behind and make ends meet as a full-time event planner. When her handsome new neighbor needs to throw the perfect birthday party for his niece, Juliet offers her services. If she pulls this off, maybe she can get her life back on track. But to do so, she’ll need the help of the Cupcake Posse. Too bad her friends are grappling with problems of their own:Missy’s recovering from injuries; Nell’s trying to thwart her mother’s matchmaking efforts; Selena’s husband wants her to work less when she needs to do more; and Bria’s facing obstacles she never anticipated trying to save her late aunt’s bakery.Join the Cupcake Posse as they work together to navigate the difficulties of life, loss, and love. They continue to rely on each other, never losing sight of the importance of friendship and family, but will that be enough to save the Berry Lake Cupcake Shop?

    She had to fend for herself at a young age; life was hard from the get-go, and she must figure out a way to get herself out of the poverty stricken environment. Unlike other girls her age, young Mimi wants more out of life; she wants a way out of the ghetto. Fate intervenes on her behalf when she meets one of New Orleans’ biggest dope boys. She instantly falls in love with this mysterious stranger; everything in her life changes for the better and her future seems brighter. She will soon learn however, that being a hustler’s wife comes with serious consequences. Years later, Mimi decides to move to Atlanta, where she has it all; a beautiful family, fast cars, the finest clothes and everything that she’s ever dreamt about. How can a woman that has so much going for herself be so unhappy? With a man that’s constantly cheating and her past rapidly catching up to her, she must figure out a way to get all these secrets out in the open—without taking a loss. Take a ride on this roller coaster with Amina Washington and uncover the SECRETS OF A KEPT BITCH.