Meet Trent Bailey, who is fighting for the right to continue his stellar professional football career after enduring striking legal woes in the recent past. Trent cannot and will not blow his second chance for anyone; after all, this is the blessing he's been praying for. After receiving confirmation that staying focused is all he needs, it's what he aims to do. No distractions. That's until he bumps into two unexpected overnight guests.

Thaddeus Patrick Lourie saw her, wanted her, and declared that he would have her. No person, thing, or beast would stop him from having his rightful mate. As the next in line for the top, there were expectations set. What happens when the set expectations go against his destiny of having her? Will he stick to the expectations or show his teeth and move toward his destiny?

Jamison Jareau has suffered a terrible loss. His wife of eighteen years passed away the day she gave birth to their son. Consumed with grief and guilt over her death, Jamison has thrown himself into work and raising his four children without her. Two and a half years have passed since he lost his soulmate. The kids are growing up and Jamison realized he needs a little more help with them than he wants to admit. At the urging of his mother-in-law, he seeks a live-in nanny to alleviate some of the stress of being a single parent.

August Hanson was the silent type, the kind who spoke through his actions and not his words. He possessed enough power to make me feel safe and secure. I was ready to open up and share the parts of myself I’d never shared with another, and then I got hit with a truth that changed everything. There was a slight chance he’d still want me, only he had to accept our baby, too.

These are the tenets that rule the De Santis family—until an arranged marriage potentially threatens all three. Born into the most ruthless crime family in the South, Azreal De Santis is bred to lead, dominate, and rule. When a strategic marriage forces him to take Natoi Kingston as his wife, Azreal learns power is not always defined by strength, blood is not the strongest bond, and loyalty isn’t always black and white. Sometimes there are shades of gray.

Sadik Ellis blew into my rather insipid world at breakneck speed and with gripping force. He held all the features: striking feline eyes, golden russet skin, incredible sex appeal, wealth exuding like the enticing scent of cologne, and mind-blowing determination. He was also trouble from the other side of the tracks, something I'd sensed. Sadik was an Ellis man with a solid education, his own thriving businesses, and self-obtained wealth. However, the Ellis family was known for their long underbelly ruling of the state of New Jersey.

Atlanta, Georgia, 1950–Michael can’t believe his eyes as he watches the man he loves marry a woman from the back row of Mount Zion Baptist Church. When the beautiful couple is pronounced man and wife, he leaves his home in Georgia for the chance of a better life in New York City. Alexander is just trying to exist in Queens, New York. Although his family is aware of his unnatural attraction to men, they adore him. The price of hiding his true identity from the rest of the world leads to a deep and painful loneliness for Alex, even in the bosom of a loving family.

Kora Caselli is the second oldest of the Caselli siblings. Right along with her brother, she’s had to grow up quicker than she wanted to. Sacrificing the life, she thought she would have to be there for her youngest siblings and step into a role that was always chosen for her. As a federal judge, Kora Caselli, or Judge Case, has built her career on being fair—sometimes, tough—and about business within her courtroom. At 34, she’s one of the youngest and most feared judges in the system, known mostly for the high-profile cases she has tried.

Escape to Chateau Hills, California, home of the prestigious King Dynasty Resorts & Vineyard. CEO Zeno King faces pressure to maintain his late father's vision while also modernizing the family business. When alluring new sommelier Ayasha Black challenges Zeno's traditions, simmering attraction clashes with his lingering resistance to change.

Michelle and Kelsie have never had it easy, but the one thing that has remained consistent in each of their lives are each other. Both in their early twenties and with the stress of the world on their shoulders, they both manage to still be there for each other through it all. Michelle's dream is to be a top stylist, well her dream was a reality until she was fired from Naomi's shop because of her boyfriend. Tasheem is all Michelle knows, and that's being physically and mentally abused by the man she has loved since she was younger.

Billie Hopkins is discontent living life for her mother. The painter and baker spends her days working at her family’s business. Even though she wishes she could change her life, she doesn’t have the motivation to do so… Until her boyfriend of three years breaks up with her and gets engaged just six months later. Worse, his fiancée wants to hire Billie to bake their wedding cake. That seems to be the final straw that breaks the camel’s back and forces Billie to do something different with her life—even if it’s just for three days.

Sports reporter Tanika “Nikki” Ryan is at the top of her game until she isn’t. Squinting at the teleprompter and flubbing lines, she loses her coveted Thursday Night football spot to a younger, less qualified woman—and that’s only the start of her troubles. After her impaired sight leads to an accident nearly costing her life, Tanika finds herself in the office of handsome widowed optometrist Gideon Miles. There, mysterious circumstances lead Tanika to an enchanted pair of glasses, changing her world—and Gideon’s—forever.

I had my chance at love and I threw it away. I don't deserve another. I've dedicated my entire life to my community. There's no time for anything else. But then I met her. Ciara Jeffries is everything I told myself I didn't want but she might be everything I need. If I can just hold on to her.

In this collection are updated stories from some of your favorite Valentines.

Growing up in Philly, Tate knew there were few paths for him to take. He could follow after his brother and friends, getting sucked into the streets, or he could work hard and find another escape route. Tate eventually finds his way, choosing to work tirelessly at chasing and achieving his dreams. Yet, even with a humble mindset and a go-hard grind ethic, he finds himself in a situation where things begin to disintegrate before his eyes. He's not built to be a quitter, so Tate is prepared to do any and everything before he gives up the one thing he loves.

Xander Brown is a skilled surgeon who lives a carefree life. With him being the Chief of Surgery at GHM, his plate is always full. However, he made room for the one woman he couldn't see himself without. Zara Lyles is the hood Barbie; that's all about her family. She does what needs to be done for them to survive, all while keeping a certain elegance. As usual, she has it all together without the help of a man.

Babies, chaos, and mayhem. Marley and Czar are back, and this time around, the couple is ready to tackle parenthood! They have everything planned out, but as always, things don't always go as planned when jealousy is lurking in the shadows.

Eve has a thriving career, loving friends, and family with a picture-perfect relationship… or so she thought. That was until she received a message from her long-time boyfriend Adrian, shattering whatever dreams she had for the two. Saint is all about his money and has little room for anything that doesn't include that or his three-year-old son, Myheir. That was until his cousin convinced him to join him and his friends on their annual Friendsgiving trip.

Calliope "Callie" Palmer is one year fresh out of a relationship with a heartbreaking end. Since deciding to focus on herself and her bakery, the last thing Callie is looking for again is love. When her best friend recruits her for a photoshoot with her fiancé, Callie has a feeling she's being set up. Her initial apprehension is replaced with immediate attraction when she lays eyes on the handsome Thane St. Thomas.

Eighteen years have gone by since the separation, and now Journal is an adult. She's struggling out here in the real world, and in a very unhealthy relationship with her longtime boyfriend, Hakeem. Everything in her life changes the day that she meets Mr. Genesis Banks, better known as Slick.

As teenagers, Summer Knight and Echo Abara spent one unforgettable summer as camp counselors. Beneath sun-soaked days and starry nights, their bond deepened from easy friendship into something more—an unspoken love neither dared confess. Life pulled them in different directions, yet their souls remained tethered by time, distance, and a shared secret.

Quamir "Soul" Kelly comes through like a thief in the night, wiping out those who cause friction in the organization. His profession stems from the mistreatment as a child, and now, he's the one soulless person you don't want to encounter. He is thorough and accurate each and every time, even when it comes to things that are unexpected.

After being in a relationship for three years, Noelle Frost is faced with the reality that she was definitely the better half. Her friends, ecstatic she's dropped the dead weight of a cheating boyfriend, urge her to get away for the holiday and take some time for herself. Not sure if that'll fix anything, but willing to try, she books a last-minute trip to the world-renowned Mistletoe Mountain Resort. Noelle boards the plane with the promise of peace and relaxation on the horizon.

Those who knew the streets in Houston knew one thing for sure. The four brothers of the Kinsey Cartel were as crazy as hell. The oldest two, Tremell and Tristan, aka Tre and Tripp, might just have been the craziest of all. Crossing any of them could end your life, especially given Tre's unique skills at murder. No one messed with them… until a pair of best friends, Shamar and Cyn, came in and turned Tre and Tripp's world upside down.

Michelle and Kelsie have never had it easy, but the one thing that has remained consistent in each of their lives are each other. Both in their early twenties and with the stress of the world on their shoulders, they both manage to still be there for each other through it all. Michelle's dream is to be a top stylist, well her dream was a reality until she was fired from Naomi's shop because of her boyfriend. Tasheem is all Michelle knows, and that's being physically and mentally abused by the man she has loved since she was younger.

Asher Kane Wilson and Katniss Raven Roland have reentered the stadium. A lot has changed since the last time they were here. A new little fan was born but that wasn’t on either of their programs. In this continuation of Naughty F.A.N, find out if the new rules of the game call for a touchdown or technical foul.

In this urban love story filled with betrayal, jealousy, shocking revelations, and forbidden obsessions, will the good girl and extra rude bad boy be able to develop a true love? Or will Camarih's negative outlook on life and love, continue to be true? But how easy is it for her to walk away when she gave him her all, and when there wasn't much left to begin with?

Camarih was baffled upon hearing Tony Wacko's deeply hidden and disconcerting secret. Feeling like she is unable to trust him with anyone anymore, she decides it's time to cut her losses as much as she can, and press on. Only hiccup is that Camarih must've forgotten that her newfound and now ex love isn't quite right up top. Packing up and starting anew won't be as easy as it was with her past relationships, because once the unhinged hood boy sets his sights on something, he never lets it go.

She was the pretty girl from the South whose life had been planned out for her since the age of fourteen, when she had her first boyfriend. She never anticipated that one decision would turn her world upside down. He was a smart kid from the slums who was known for his handsome looks, tantalizing eyes, and smile. He grew up in a dangerous environment, to most, and instead of turning away from danger, he embraced it, using it to his advantage to get where he wanted in life, which was out of the hood.

I had my chance at love and I threw it away. I don't deserve another. I've dedicated my entire life to my community. There's no time for anything else. But then I met her. Ciara Jeffries is everything I told myself I didn't want but she might be everything I need. If I can just hold on to her.