Showing results by narrator "Lauryn Nichols" in All Categories

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.

By day, Andre "Dre" Boudreaux is the poised and ruthless second-in-command of Boudreaux Enterprises, negotiating multi-million dollar construction deals with a cold, calculated charm. But by night, Dre becomes something else entirely—a shadow in the dark, a silent executioner tasked with eliminating threats to the family empire before they ever come to light. His latest assignment takes him deep into Milly Grove, a neighborhood buzzing with tension, secrets, and silent wars.

Port Lucia is as warm as it is beautiful and gleaming. But the streets are cold, and life underneath Javier's control–colder. With every line of deceit and hit of abuse, Reign dreams of a place where she is free from his hold and the decisions she made that landed her under the lock and key. In the dark corridors of her mind, she mumbles prayers for an escape. When it becomes a reality, she runs and never looks back. The problem? Javier wants his most prized possession back–alive, and will stop at nothing to ensure her return.

North King has always been quieter and more reserved, but the youngest of the three King brothers is ready to take his place on the throne. Content with fading into the background, North just goes through the motions of life, enjoying his family and his work. That is, until he meets the quick-witted, charismatic Aspen Frost. Everybody knows her, but only a few see her for who she truly is, a deep well with dreams and plans of her own. Ready for a different pace, she decides to forge a path she never saw coming... or maybe she never let herself see. Until now.

Jules "Boko" Boudreaux is the younger brother of the newest leader of the Boudreaux family. After locating the missing best friend of his sister-in-law, Bridgette, the two quickly form a bond and become a staple in each other's lives, and he vows to find everyone who hurt her and ensure their undoing.

After the untimely death of his father, Rosier "Zoo" Boudreaux rightfully inherits Boudreaux Enterprises. Although he anticipated being in charge his entire life, he could have never prepared for the dark secrets, dirty money, and unethical practices that lived after his father's demise. Though thrown for a loop, he wastes no time claiming his seat at the head of the table and demanding the respect of his constituents. After all, Zoo was trained for it.

Rule number one: do to these men how they do to you. That was the rule Savanhi put into place after love and loyalty were shattered, or at least what she thought was love and loyalty. A rule she was hellbent on upholding until she crossed paths with Noble Paulson, Jr. Captivating and assuring, Savanhi dived into the depths of him, just for a night and a mutual agreement—no vested interest. If Noble knows anything about rules, they're made to be broken. His return home was ushered in by several uncertainties. However, there was one constant—he needed to be back in Savanhi's space.

Julius Gallalucci's plans have all fallen through, leaving him stressed and scrambling weeks before his album release and tour announcement. When the pressure becomes too much, he and his team duck off to Eastover to revamp and recharge. What he didn't plan for was his world to clash with a wide-eyed beauty who would prove more of a muse than a distraction.

In the heart of a grim and relentless quest for vengeance, Reaper is a man driven by the shadows of his tragic past. Ruthless, grimy, and irresistibly sexy, he is determined to destroy anyone who stands in his way. His heart, long hardened by pain and loss, knows only the cold embrace of revenge. Yet, amidst the chaos and carnage, a beacon of forbidden beauty captures his eye—Lotus. She is everything he never expected: stunning, untouchable, and trapped in a world as dark as his own. Their attraction is forbidden, a dangerous dance neither can resist.

Lance Christopher is a semi-reformed thug who was lucky enough to run into the right connection to propel him to the top. His success, of course, hasn't come without its fair share of bloodshed, problems, and disappointments. A dangerously ungrateful brother who won't shake his street mentality and a money-hungry ex who tricked her way into his heart are just some of the issues he faces that money can't seem to fix. Lance doesn't want much more, just peace and a woman who can relate to him and help him battle the demons he faces.

For brothers Krypt, Khrome, and Kavalli, their opportunity to learn was cut short. The death of their father, Duke, left them with more duties than they expected. Equipped with hustle, an education, and a rowdy group of young go-getters behind them, they feel they can take on whatever problems arise. The streets and the women who hold them down think otherwise. With budding relationships in the air, coparenting becoming non-existent, and raw betrayal by the ones they love, can the brothers keep the Priest name alive, or will their father's death be in vain?

“Triumphantly Black, queer and contemporary… The dialogue snaps and shimmers.” —New York Times Book Review on D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding Music producer on the rise Cyn Tha Starr knows what she likes, from her sickening beats in the studio to the flirty femmes she fools around...

Ajoni "Khaotic" Brooks lives his life like any other hustler. He makes his money, takes care of his family, and stays out the way. He goes above and beyond for the ones he loves, and that very reason is why he has to do a five-year bid. His last weekend as a free man was spent enjoying life and the little freedom he had left. What he didn't expect was for that night to change his forever.

Viper moves like a serpent. Silent, controlled, and undeniably lethal. He doesn't chase—he watches, he waits, and then he strikes. A man of unwavering dominance, he takes what he wants and keeps it. Kross is no different. She slithers through the world with precision, a hypnotic danger wrapped in beauty. She was never meant to be caught. Until one wrong step puts her in Viper's hands. He doesn't know her secrets. She doesn't know his limits.

Maximus Burton is home after four years of sitting in the state penitentiary for a crime he didn't commit. While time passed him by, he devised a plan to get his money up and to finally stand in his light. Waynesville might be crawling with affluent citizens, but Trae Way is one hundred blocks of crime, murder, and deceit. Where family is foes, and foes want your life. Eden Sage is trying to get out and stay out of Trae Way by any means necessary. She's attempting to leave her past of stripping and hustling men behind her and looks forward to the future.

Meeting Lance Christopher seems like a dream come true for Alize McKoy. Once living in a motel room and working retail, she now has a new job at a high-end car rental agency, a luxury apartment, and is also on the path to getting her children back any day.

The unexpected always had a way of finding Orielle, and at this point in her life, she was drained. After a betrayal that fractured her heart and eroded her mental peace, she redirected her energy to what grounded her the most. As a rising, talented R&B singer with a growing fan base, there was nothing like heartbreak that made her unleash her best work. Or maybe it was the man who'd unintentionally become her muse? Fresh out of jail and on a mission to redeem himself, Najee unknowingly became the inspiration behind Orielle's passionately raw lyrics.

Solomon takes care of his people. All he expects in return is for everyone on his team to remain solid. Anyone who refuses to show loyalty no longer earns his favor, and family is not exempt. Kaori Randall embraces one concept: love and be loved. She is raised by parents and grandparents, who are examples of happy, healthy relationships. Kaori has high expectations when it comes to her own happiness, which makes the failure of her own love life a huge disappointment.

After a heartbreaking loss, Mark O'Neil finds himself back where it all started—Lavendale. With a great push from his family and friends, he makes an appearance at All-Star weekend, where he finds himself reevaluating his life. His list of things to do: regroup, spend time with his boys, and land a contract with the Lavendale Knights. Saving a soft-spoken beauty wasn't on his agenda. When they collide, he is unable to see anything other than her.

I'm the illegitimate son of a mafia boss and a natural-born killer. As my father's enforcer, my assignments are dark and demented. I'm willing to cross any line for my family. Until her. She's everything I shouldn't want—innocent and timid with a smile that makes me forget to breathe. She's a walking angel in designer heels and the daughter of my family's sworn enemy. On command, I took her like a thief in the night. Now she's mine—even if she doesn't want to accept her new reality.