Showing results by narrator "Leon Nixon" in All Categories

An African American writer's concise, heartfelt take on the state of his nation, exploring the war between the values he has always held and the reality with which he is confronted in 21st-century America.

Sonya Lee and Eric Morris have been homicide detectives for more than two years and have worked hundreds of cases together. They have impeccable conviction rates and numerous accommodations. When a psychopath terrorizes the streets of Cleveland, decapitating bodies along the way, the case is then placed into the hands of two detectives who have only been given a limited amount of time to solve it and hold someone accountable. That is, until one of their own is murdered and the daughter whose parents are politically connected are abducted.

Menace and Speedy are two local dope slingers with much in common, but two things in particular. They're both young and hungry. Business is booming, and while most people in their position would be satisfied, Menace and Speedy aren't "most people". They want to be among the drug game elite, and the only way to do that is get hooked up with a "connect". A major supplier who can provide enough product to help the duo graduate from "dealers" to "kingpins". One day, the pair finally acquire the long sought-after connect.

“Powerful memoir. . .Ford’s thought-provoking narrative tells the story of African-American pride and perseverance.” –Publisher’s Weekly (Starred) “A masterful storyteller, Ford interweaves his personal story with the backdrop of the social movements unfolding at that time, providing...

The story of two pioneering Black NFL football players that changed the face of America’s game for generations to come. There is no position in pro sports more important than an NFL quarterback. But quarterbacking was the exclusive domain of white players for many years, and when Doug Williams...

In the middle of a raging storm in Alaska, Bess stops to tie her shoes. And just like that, the boy is lost, gone in a flash, swallowed up by the snow. Bess is a California girl, while Benedict, with whom she and the boy live, is the last in his family’s long line of rugged Alaskans. Benedict knows better than to venture out in such weather. But he has no choice. He must find Bess and the boy before it’s too late.

Jazz legend Cootie Williams left home to start his career as a professional musician at the age of fifteen. In 1940, after eleven years as one of the major soloists with the Duke Ellington orchestra, Williams was lured away to the band of Benny Goodman, one of the most popular bands in the country. At the time, it was a controversial move―it was still taboo for African Americans to share the bandstand with white people.

I never expected to find a mate, much less five. What does a girl even do with five men? Silly question . . . you enjoy them!! Unfortunately, my untimely death had a detrimental impact on my love life. Don't worry, dying didn’t stick. I'm alive and kicking. Alas, my death came with complications—namely, my father, who happens to be a prince of Hell. In return for saving me, he now wants to use me for his own nefarious purposes. Shocking, but I don't trust him as far as I can toss a snowball in Hell. Worse, my mates are treating me like I'm as fragile as cupid wings.

Following the path of Sebastien, Sean, and Benji Bennett isn't an easy feat. Too bad life has a way of dismantling your world, leaving you to figure things out on your own. Tavious is the youngest member of the Bennett family, making his way through a maze full of roadblocks. Is he ready to step into the footsteps of those who paved the way before him? He's a recent college graduate ready to take his profession by storm, but will he take this walk alone or have a willing companion by his side?

I didn’t want to love anyone. Love made you vulnerable, dumb, confused. The savage in me could never allow a man to rule my world. I was the ruler, the queen, the one who people feared with just the whisper of my name. I controlled the tempo when it came to the opposite sex, and that included...

Bentley didn't come to Hardwood High to fall in love. She came to prove something—to herself, to the people who doubted her, and maybe even to the chickens named after Destiny's Child living in her backyard. Her plan was simple: survive her first year teaching English, build a community in her...

Ebony Callaway wasn't looking for love. After a messy divorce, all she wanted was peace, her art, and to figure out how to keep up with Basquiat, the too-big, too-stubborn puppy who turned her quiet life upside down. Enter Dr. Tyler Hill. The handsome, steady veterinarian who shows up to help...

Celebrating a decade of Columbia Global Reports, the Forerunners series revives groundbreaking works of investigative journalism and incisive analysis published a century before CGR’s founding. These texts, once forgotten or underexplored, reflect CGR’s core mission: fearless reporting...

When it comes to business, Mr. Black Los Angeles, Dante Powell believes in planning down to the smallest detail, and that includes the Juneteenth festival he's spearheading. His personal life is another matter, however. He lives by one simple rule—no strings, only flings. But he didn't count on the one night of explosive passion he shared with Jayana Cole or seeing her again.

For Alaskan senator Jessup, a Napa Valley break starts out as an innocent holiday-until he meets Paige. Their chemistry is explosive! And the temptation to have the Hollywood star for himself proves irresistible…but the spotlight’s trained on her every move. Will their holiday romance crash into reality with the return of a familiar face from Paige’s past?

Cut-throat litigator Brandon Washington isn't used to being ignored. So when Cassie Garrison, the newly discovered half-sister of his firm's biggest client, refused his repeated attempts at contact, he set out to teach the elusive heiress a lesson. He would travel under an assumed identity to her Bahamian home. And using every skill he possessed, he would uncover all of Cassie's secrets. But once his seductive mission was accomplished, would Brandon find his professional mission at war with his very personal interests?

When reporter Jasmine Carmody began hanging around Savannah’s most respected family looking for a story, protective Wesley Brooks warned her off. Day and night, she sensed him shadowing her every move, felt his every breath and wanted his touch…Wesley would do anything to stop Jasmine's exposé on his adopted family – even seduce her. But her unexpected virginity surprised him, and so did their overwhelming passion. Soon he'd have to make a choice – trust her with all his secrets, or risk losing her forever.

These are stories about the choices we face in love and in relationships; and braving the consequences that may follow. Which path will you choose when your heart comes to a crossroads? Five Houston couples are forced to make choices about their relationships that will either keep them on the same path or completely change the trajectory of their lives.

Lessons in Gratitude tells the story of Aaron Dworkin, a MacArthur Fellow, social entrepreneur, and spoken word artist who has dedicated his life’s work to changing the face of classical arts in the world. The themes of persistence, passion, and loyalty shine through stories of an unhappy childhood, a lifelong search for identity, and the obstacles of race, culture, and class. Listeners will learn how the author greets these challenges and how they drove him to make a difference for people who are shut out of opportunity.

My mission in life is simple. Family. Food. Freedom. Most people don't question my love for my family. And I make my living as a celebrity chef. The freedom part? The thought of being confined-behind bars, at a desk, or in a monogamous relationship-is not something I want for myself. Unfortunately, it becomes a problem when women want to make me their Forever Bae. Even after I make it clear that I'm not looking for more than short interlude.