Contemporary African American Fiction

All hail to the West Coast, where its natural resources of breathtaking beaches, smokable trees, and beautiful women are unlimited. From the freezing top of Mt. Denali in Alaska to the fly-ass architectural marvel of California's Golden Gate Bridge, the region is one of the most desirable places to visit on Earth. But for a problematic girl like Temper Chey, it's a prison, and she's dying to be freed.

Some secrets will kill you. No one knows that better than Jada, Alex, Miranda, and Candace, who’ve previously lost one of their friends, Stephanie, following a heartbreaking betrayal. Now Stephanie’s boyfriend, Corey, is hitting the streets of Atlanta with a vengeance in an effort to get the haters that took his girlfriend’s life, all while trying to take back his title as the king of the hood. Stephanie may be dead now, but the secrets lingering between the rest of the crew seem to just keep piling up and coming to the forefront.

An ex-con learns the hard way that it’s better to be with God than without. Deon “Rocky” Rockford is released after spending time in jail. He may have been “saved” on the inside, but now his term has been overturned. He is also free from the shackles of the prayers of the men’s ministry of the New Hope Church and wants only to focus on himself. Fearless and strong, this big guy won several fights behind bars and feels ready to forge a new life in Shelton Heights. Soon he will see that the only “rock” he can count on is God.

Isaiah ""Ice"" Abernathy has always worshiped his older brother, Seth. For years they’ve been not just brothers but best friends—and as Seth starts his senior year, Ice is eager to spend as much time with his brother as he can, making memories before Seth goes to college.

Indigo Ace had a rough life growing up. Her mother is a prostitute and her father is a pimp who despises her. Solace Mack is the only pimp in Atlanta, but when Indigo’s mother dies and Solace kicks his only daughter out on the streets, Indigo is forced to boss up. She follows in her father’s footsteps and becomes a female pimp, infringing on her father’s territory.

Hustle, Virginia, is a small town full of dirt roads, fast-talking men, and people going nowhere fast. It is also home to the Fortune family - a connected band of boys and girls that grew up fluent in having less but craving more. Nestled comfortably between their reality and unspoken dreams, the Fortunes spend their days tending to the farm, keeping trouble at bay, and hoping for a brighter tomorrow.

Jess Roberts thought she had a good life with Esias. Despite all the chaos of their kids and her taking classes, they still seemed to keep it together, even if she does feel neglected and a little trapped in her life. Then fellow student Jayson Winston comes into the picture...and rocks her world. Jess finds herself tangled up in an innocent game of email truth or dare with the alluring Jason, which heightens with every exchange and finally explodes in a massive affair. Jess soon realizes she needs to save her good marriage and tries to cut all ties with Jayson.

Lisette, the flawless beauty with the take-no-prisoners attitude, is back! Along with her partners, Marlene and Aida, Lisette continues to ruin marriages at the request of desperate, wealthy wives willing to pay large sums to stick it to their husbands. Control is what it’s all about, and that’s just what Lisette gives back to the wives.

Confident and determined, video vixen Koreen Wilson has it all: money, fame, supportive friends, a loving daughter, and an adoring fiancé. What happens when Koreen continues to risk it all to for her insatiable sexual appetite? Meet Koreen's closest friends: Ivonka Roux is the finest attorney money can buy. With her 38th birthday looming, Ivonka is desperate to find Mr. Right and start a family...even if it means ignoring red flags.

After taking one look at May Roberts, Ben knows he has to have her. But he's a player known for breaking hearts, and May is tired of playing games. After a night of the hottest sex she's ever experienced, May promises herself it won't happen again. But something about Ben awakens kinky cravings she never knew she had.

The girls are at it again and have taken revenge to the next level. Dana has gone through an ultimate test of will and faith, but she refuses to sit still and live her life being dependent on others. Stephanie is in a world of her own and wants to transition away from Dana and Brittany. Jeryca's future keeps her visiting her past and remembering how Farrah was there for her, which sets her teeth on edge. She is going to make everyone involved pay dearly - even the ones currently in her circle.

Vera Wright-Turner thinks she has it all under control until she meets and greets herself. Born on the flip side of the hustler's game, she is the child of a 15-year-old drug addict who places her in a trash dump with a note that read, "Please forgive me...my mother's only 15...." Well, that is of little consolation to Vera as she lives her gold-diggin' life full speed ahead, only to come to a crashing halt when she realizes that facing up to the flip side of the game is the only way she will survive.

Midori Hunter has it all, and on the outside looking in, one would think Midori is happy, but it's another story when you don't marry for love. Tired of her cheating husband and with being lonely, Midori takes a liking to Jaydah B., the sassy best-selling author. They appear to be a match made in heaven. When the lies that both women have told threaten to be exposed, who decides who stays and who goes? Midori and Jaydah have a lot on the line, and both could lose everything they've worked for. That's why their love affair has to remain their little secret.

Essence best-selling authors Kiki Swinson and Noire have attracted huge audiences for their sexy, anything-goes fiction. Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless features a novella from each author. Swinson’s electric “Shamelessly Rich” showcases a spoiled bad girl facing a life-changing choice. And in Noire’s “Puttin’ Shame in the Game,” three gorgeous ladies set their sights on a wealthy cop.

Regina has been craving attention from Mark, her common law husband of eight years. As far as she's concerned, he's a square, and she finds herself making excuses to stay out of the house and out of his sight. With no kids and feeling stuck with a man who has no intentions of marrying her in the eyes of God, she makes a decision that will only bring drama and confusion into her once predictable life.

Greed is defined as an excessive desire to possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially wealth and power. A gold digger is defined as a person who dates someone simply to extract money from them. Twenty-six-year-old Chanel Franklin fits both definitions to a tee. Her "Married to the Money" mentality leads her to make more than a few bad choices. On the road to riches, she gets caught up in a whirlwind affair with a certified baller.

Chanel Martinez, a five-foot-nine bombshell with a devastating secret, will trick the average player on the spot. Between credit-card scams, wild nights on the town, and her over-the-top lifestyle, no ordinary man can handle a real relationship with her. In comes Samuel, a Jamaican baller destined to sweep Chanel off her feet. Their short-term romance turns into a love affair that Chanel all of a sudden cannot resist. Unfortunately for her, Samuel has something to hide of his own. Imagine - two lovers, two mysterious secrets, and the law...all wrapped up into one novel.

Just when Carlie decides she’s done with dangerous men, she’s thrown right back into the fire by Kirk, her manipulative and deceitful new lover. Not even the diamonds and extravagant gifts can keep the tension from rising when Carlie realizes that Kirk’s sleazy sidekick will do any and everything to steal her man - even if it means extortion.

When his father, one of Houston’s most notorious kingpins, is arrested and the money stops coming in, Chris King, not used to fending for himself, must learn how to rule the streets of Houston if he wants to survive another day.

After one night as a stripper, Cindy decides she can’t take it and quits. Unlike most of the girls she knows from the streets, she’s not ready for that kind of grind. That doesn’t mean she can’t hustle, though. In order to make money without being groped by men in the club, Cindy starts a phone-sex company. Her lip services quickly gain popularity, and she ventures into other aspects of the sex industry.