Power isn't given. It's woven. Kiyanna Trudeau built her life on precision. As one of Houston's most celebrated young chemists, she's spent years solving impossible problems while quietly holding together a family that never truly saw her. Success has earned her prestige-but never the love she's always craved. Nikolas DeVille has spent his entire life preparing to inherit one of the city's most powerful empires. Disciplined, fiercely loyal, and burdened by legacy, he's convinced there's no room in his life for distractions. Then one chance encounter changes everything. What begins as undeniable chemistry quickly becomes something far deeper-a love that feels inevitable. As Kiyanna finds herself embraced by the DeVille family in ways she never imagined possible, she also becomes entangled in a hidden world where loyalty is sacred, betrayal is deadly, and every relationship is another thread in an intricate web. But someone has been weaving a different future. An unseen enemy from the past is quietly dismantling everything the DeVilles have built, using poisoned trust, buried secrets, and generations-old resentments to wage a war no one realizes has already begun. As Kiyanna's scientific brilliance uncovers truths others overlooked, she transforms from outsider to the woman capable of holding an empire together. Now, with the people she loves in the crosshairs and the future of an entire legacy hanging by a thread, Kiyanna must prove that the strongest webs aren't built through fear- They're built through love. ~~~~~ All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

So, how that sound If you called me when your nigga's not around You been lost too long girl, it's time you been found Tell me how that sound If I put you on a plane and had you fly around When we, link, up girl, you know it's goin' down Just let me pack this pre-roll and we rollin' out Girl, I'm tryin'a feed you, tell me how that sound

Jasmine Green has been unlucky in love for as long as she can remember. When she is dumped unceremoniously by text three years ago, she decides to only focus on friends, work, and law school. While on her first girls' trip to Essence Fest, she bumps into Montana Keyes, a handsome, charming, NBA player with the Knicks. There is instant chemistry between them and they enjoy a passion-filled weekend. She is content to leave their weekend as a pleasant memory while he promises a future. Although she finds herself drawn to him and wants to see what could happen, past hurts resurface. Can she trust herself enough to take a chance on love? Excerpt: Montana focused on my lips. "Like, I said, I'm in front of you right now." "Oh, so you trying to tell me you still want to be with me?" "What do you think?" He leaned to kiss me slowly and the moment his lips touched mine I was lost in emotion and I welcomed his kiss. We kissed heavily for a while as the ocean continued to wave around us. Montana then began to use his tongue and had moved on top of me in between my legs. It was almost like we were naked since his pants were thin and I could feel his hard length directly against my center. I had both hands rubbing the back of his head enjoying the kiss and the passion he could evoke from me. He ran his hand up my bare thigh toward my apex and toyed with the edge of my thin fabric. Then reality dawned that soon he would be inside of me and I wouldn't be able to leave him again. I pushed him off of me before I succumbed to my need for him. "Please, stop. It's me and not you, okay? You have done nothing wrong but I can't do this. " "Damn it, Jasmine!" He cursed in frustration. "Why are you such a coward?" I flinched at his anger and quickly got up and took off running in my bare feet back to my suite. I could hear his footsteps behind me and I only ran faster. I couldn't let him catch me...

When all it takes is seven days... Nia Winston, a young high school principal, stands in a fan line at the Essence Festival in New Orleans, hoping to get Justin Ray, the hottest R&B singer, to donate to her non-profit. When they meet sparks fly, or maybe it was just Nia's imagination. Until Nia has a surprise meeting with Justin, a month later while she is in Atlanta and Justin asks her to spend one week with him no strings attached. Wanting to escape her own problems back at home, she agrees and has the most passionate time of her life. As real love develops inexplicably between Nia and Justin, she can no longer hide the truth. And when her truth threatens to harm Justin's white-hot career, she leaves him one night with only a goodbye text. Two years later, Justin unexpectedly comes back in her life, demanding answers. All of her emotions come rushing back, but is she ready to give up everything she cherishes for a man she knew for only one week and a world she never wanted? Excerpt: As soon as the pilot announced that we were safe to move around, Justin softly demanded, "Come here." My nerves really were frayed because I felt like he could tell me anything to do and I would do it. I have never felt that way about a man. I could easily be submissive to him and that scared the hell out of me. I didn't know it was possible to be so willing to do what a man asked of me without thought. I undid my belt and unsteadily walked to stand in front of him. "Take your jacket off and put your hands on my shoulders." As soon as I did, he tugged my dress down...