Tressie faithfully prays every night that God will send her a thug. It isn't long before her prayers are answered, and she meets a handsome ex-convict named Payce Boyd. He is a fine roughneck, everything Tressie imagined and more - that is until Tressie experiences firsthand the reality of being a thug's girl. Seeking solace and comfort in the sanctuary, Tressie soon learns valuable lessons and shocking truths about herself and others.

New York Times best-selling author Iyanla Vanzant recounts the last decade of her life and the spiritual lessons learned—from the price of success during her meteoric rise as a TV celebrity on Oprah, the Iyanla TV show (produced by Barbara Walters), to the dissolution of her marriage and her daughter's 15 months of illness and death on Christmas day.

The story of Maya Angelou’s extraordinary life has been chronicled in her multiple best-selling autobiographies. But now, at last, the legendary author shares the deepest personal story of her life: her relationship with her mother. For the first time, Angelou reveals the triumphs and struggles of being the daughter of Vivian Baxter, an indomitable spirit whose petite size belied her larger-than-life presence - a presence absent during much of Angelou’s early life.

Tony and Elizabeth Jordan have it all - great jobs, a beautiful daughter, and their dream house. But appearances can be deceiving. Their world is actually crumbling under the strain of a failing marriage. While Tony basks in his professional success and flirts with temptation, Elizabeth resigns herself to increasing bitterness. But their lives take an unexpected turn when Elizabeth meets her newest client, Miss Clara, a wise, older widow who challenges Elizabeth to start fighting for her family instead of fighting against her husband.

Anne Lamott meets Elizabeth Gilbert in this inspirational, side-splittingly funny exploration of the power of living with love, forgiveness, and honesty. Glennon Melton became a sensation when her personal essays started going viral. Giving language to our universal (yet often secret) experiences, her hilarious and poignant observations were read by millions, shared among friends, discussed at water coolers, quoted in The New York Times, and have inspired a social movement.

Confessions of a Video Vixen is the widely anticipated memoir of Karrine Steffans, the once-sought-after sexy siren who appeared in the music videos of multiplatinum hip hop artists such as Jay-Z, R. Kelly, and LL Cool J. A top-paid video dancer, Karrine transitioned to film when acclaimed director F. Gary Gray picked her to costar in his film A Man Apart, starring Vin Diesel.

For Brenda Spahn, entrepreneur and businesswoman, wealth was a lifestyle - until a brush with the law threatened to send her to prison. In those dark moments, Brenda made a promise to God.

Spared incarceration, a renewed Brenda glimpsed into the lives of women serving time in one of the worst places in America - the JuliaTutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, Alabama. What she saw prompted a God-inspired vision. With a heart to help and a will that couldn't be crushed, Brenda fought the system and overcame tremendous obstacles to take ex-cons into her home.

Popular author Bettye Griffin crafts a wholesome romance about four friends heading into their silver years and still learning about love. Elyse, Susan, Grace and Pat are all turning 50, just like the Chicago housing project where they all grew up. As they gather for a reunion with other former residents, the women learn it's never too late to follow their hearts.

Her popular novels include If It Ain't One Thing. Here listeners meet Georgia Brown, a housewife of 11 years who is married to a radio personality who might be having an affair. Georgia is fed up and set to break out on her own. But when her husband puts her on the air to tell "her side" of their story, she discovers she likes it behind the mic. And this will have major consequences for their marriage.

Lexi, Jewel, Jermane, Capri, and Angel are women trying to hold on to their friendship, even while the messiness of life gets in the way. They share many things - complicated relationships with men, the stress of professional life, and closeness to God. Fortunately, their lively Sunday brunch sessions keep them on track through their whimsical adventures.

Life was good, God was blessing and the Marshall family was riding high, until Carmella Marshall's husband, Nelson asks for a divorce and then moves in with his girlfriend-who also happens to be her twenty-three-year-old daughter's best friend. Her son gets arrested, her daughter drops out of college, the bills go unpaid, and then Carmella has a nervous breakdown. But when Nelson left and her life fell apart, she realized just how weak she could become, without the strength of God guiding her way.

Michelle knows being the first lady of Mount Zion Baptist Church is an important and much-coveted position, so she always gives thanks for a dutiful husband and a prosperous life. But she also prays for Darvin to spend more time with her, talking about something other than Mount Zion's affairs. Michelle's faith is further put to the test when the seductive vixen Daphne Carlton arrives on the steps of their church, determined to make Michelle's life a living hell so she can get rid of Michelle and assume her role as the first lady.

What was the pastor of New Day Temple of Faith thinking, approving the creation of the New Day Singles Ministry? Better yet, what were its members thinking when they joined? Doreen, lovingly known as the Church Mother of New Day, thought that when she presented the idea of the ministry to the pastor, it could serve as a foundation to empower, encourage, and enlighten the church's single members.

Donna Goodman never wanted to be a preacher's wife. Nevertheless, falling in love with Pastor Walter Goodman was unexpected, thrusting her into a lifestyle that she feared most. Unwilling to accept the role of a perfect wife, Donna left Walter and his congregation behind. Enter Tracy. Beautiful yet damaged, Tracy Broussard wants one thing only - to be loved. Instant chemistry between Tracy and the separated Walter leads her to believe that her dreams are finally coming true.

Essence best-selling author of Redemption, Jacquelin Thomas tells the Biblical story of Jezebel as a riveting modern drama. All her life, small-town Georgia girl Jessie Belle Holt has known how to use men. Her ticket out of Mayville isTraynor Deveraux, a trusting pastor with a brilliant career ahead. Seduced by the trappings of position and power, Jessie Bell uses her wiles to nudge her unwitting husband into national prominence. But how far will she go to sustain and expand her power?