For Maleek Jones, hockey is his wife. Everything and everyone else is his mistress, an aside. When unexpected responsibilities land in his lap, the balance of his world is disrupted, changing the way he sees everything.

Songwriter, poet, and best-selling author Travis Hunter was named Author of the Year by readers of the Atlanta Daily World. In The Hearts of Men, a reformed player, a workaholic trying to overcome his past, and a faithful husband diagnosed with lung cancer all struggle to be the men they hope to be. But life and human frailty have a way of throwing stumbling blocks before the best of intentions.

The Johnson Sisters is the riveting story of a close-knit bunch struggling to keep the family legacy going in spite of their differences.

NBA star Paul "Polo" Logan is known for his on-court prowess and his off-court philandering. Kendra Doll is the main woman in his life, and although their past bonds them together, it also may be what tears them apart. He’s ready to make a change and truly commit to her, but is it too late?

Eliana Barlow has spent years longing to be a mother. With six miscarriages, she is finally blessed with a beautiful baby girl through the loss of her best friend Porchea. The loss of her husband in the line of duty only two years later proves to Eliana that life can be cruel. Dealing with heartbreak in the midst of raising her daughter is no easy task, but Eliana manages to do it all with grace.

It’s that time of year again, and Zuriah Price is excited to go home to celebrate the holidays with her family. A native of Houston, Texas, Zuriah now lives in Chicago and is in her third year of internship to become an anesthesiologist, and things are going perfect. Great loft, an awesome career, and a doctor boyfriend, Zuriah has all she needs, and falling for another man is not on her Christmas wish list.

Love happens when you least expect it. Derrick knows this all too well after falling for Kea, his best friend’s girlfriend. But as fate would have it, he has just found out the love of his life is also his sister. Derrick is devastated by the news, but the beautiful and alluring Trinity is more than eager to help him forget about the turmoil he’s going through. Little does Derrick know that Trinity has her own secrets, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep them buried.

What happens when the boy next door doesn’t want to be your homeboy anymore? That’s the question 25-year-old JaNair Livingston has to ask herself when the sexy and charming Semaj Jones wants to become more than just her neighbor. Any woman in her right mind would be attracted to the tall, dark, talented, and sexy Mr. Jones. So what was JaNair’s problem? Jerome Hayes, JaNair’s newest love and current boyfriend, has been sweeping her off of her feet since the day they met.

Kennedi Westbrook has beaten all odds. Statistically, she was destined to be a failure. However, she proved statistics wrong by becoming a sought-after psychiatrist and owner of Healthy Minds, a counseling and psychiatric practice in downtown Atlanta. To many, she is the personification of a perfect woman, only because no one knows of her greatest affliction...her mental illness.

Meet the members of the Love, Joy, Peace, and Deliverance Community Choir, a group of young adults joined together through their passion for singing the Lord’s praises - although their hearts are far from the things of God. Patrice Russell was raised in the church, but she is hell bent on living like the devil, not even trying to get help for the sex addiction she knows she has. Lorene McCall has been Patrice's best friend since childhood. When she's not singing, Lorene is cussin' like a sailor.

Leila has always been stuck on her husband and never thought her love for him would dissipate. Even throughout the constant pain and suffering, she has hope that he'll come back to her. But Devon's cold heart and abandonment has left room for her to be rescued by another man. Rayshon Johnson - not the perfect man, but a better man - comes along and rolls the storm away, providing Leila with the emotional comfort she desperately desires. He kisses her where it hurts and helps her shed her insecurities, building his woman up from the inside.

Skylar and Brinay Williams are the true definition of “sisters from another mother”. The product of an extramarital affair, Brinay has always been the outsider in her father’s family. When her mother dies unexpectedly, Brinay seizes the opportunity to put some distance between herself and her painful past. A change of scenery seems to be just the cure Brinay needed as she soon finds herself on the path to real happiness, excelling in college with the man of her dreams by her side.

Shawn Black seems to be a mild-mannered family man who loves music recitals, football games, and family outings. What observers don’t realize is that Shawn is living a life on both sides of the fence. He harbors dangerous secrets that could hurt his family. Shawn makes a mistake when he befriends James, a gold-digger with an agenda. Pushing Shawn head first into a life of lust and deception, he will get what he wants.

Janiece Hawkins never thought she’d find herself involved in a love triangle—especially with a married man. KP, the man of her dreams, sweeps her off her feet long before he tells her he is married with two kids. Too deep in love to let go, she becomes accustomed to being KP’s other woman. She doesn’t have a problem with her role as KP’s mistress until she meets Isaiah. He’s ready to commit and make Janiece his. He will stop at nothing to win her over, even though Janiece is stuck on KP. Who will she run to when she is ready to love?

True friends are hard to come by, and even when you find them, it can be an all-or-nothing situation. Jada battles with being the glue that holds her group together, and she finds herself continuously stuck in the middle of her four girlfriends’ family and relationship drama. Together, the girls witness life and death, sticky situations, and the pros and cons of relationships. Their true dedication to their friendship is tried again and again, but there’s only so much a chick can take. Once each girl has reached her boiling point, there’s no telling who will get burned.

Milan Brooks, a fashion buyer with a chip on her shoulder, has been through her share of cheating, disrespectful men. In most people’s books, she’d be rated a true dime, but she still hasn’t been lucky enough to find a loyal man. When a chance encounter with a childhood friend turns into a promising relationship, Milan thinks things might be different this time. Unfortunately, her younger sister steps in with plans of her own.

How long does it take to fall in love? It most certainly can't happen in one night . . . can it? A one-night stand, an engagement, and a wedding, all within the space between New Year's and Valentine's Day. Could it be love? If so, is it meant to be?

In Married But Still Looking, a handsome young bachelor struggles to give up his appetite for casual sex when he finally proposes to the woman of his dreams.

Songwriter, poet, and best-selling author Travis Hunter was named Author of the Year by readers of the Atlanta Daily World. In The Hearts of Men, a reformed player, a workaholic trying to overcome his past, and a faithful husband diagnosed with lung cancer all struggle to be the men they hope to be. But life and human frailty have a way of throwing stumbling blocks before the best of intentions.

My name is Kennedy Desiree Carter. I met the love of my life, Damion "King" Carter, five years ago. Back then, you would not have been able to convince me of the way that he would change my life, in good ways and bad. I was a good girl; on my way to college with a high GPA and big dreams of becoming a child psychologist. Yet, as soon as I met King, I also dreamed of being the best rider that any street nigga had ever seen. I was a good girl with a bad boy fetish, and King was the ultimate bad boy that came to love me in ways that I had never felt before.

All Sevyn wanted was to finish law school and make her late grandmother proud. She was never the one to color outside the lines or go against the rules. When Sevyn is suddenly faced with past due bills and eviction, she becomes overwhelmed trying to stay above water. Nasir is content in his relationship with his long-term girlfriend. The two of them have an understanding. Inviting another partner in the bedroom has never been an issue—until now. When Sevyn joins the couple for one night of pleasure, Nasir instantly becomes attracted to the innocence surrounding her.

Cheryl Robinson, a bright voice in African-American fiction, delivers a fresh tale of love in the modern world. Porter is a handsome Detroit firefighter who just got burned by his cheating girlfriend. Winona is a single mom who is getting by despite an old secret that haunts her. When Porter and Winona meet, they must face their pasts to allow their present romance to grow.

Expect the unexpected. That's what they say, but it's easier said than done. How do you expect a change so huge it rocks you to your core? How do you prepare yourself for an event that will alter your life forever? One breath. One second. One minute. One hour. One day at a time, you learn to live with your unexpected reality.

The night Jennifer Monroe meets Vance Etienne, the father of a young woman in her life, she knows he's her one. But somehow, she finds herself thinking of the past with her ex-husband more often than she should. There's no doubt about what Vance and Jennifer feel for one another. Can they let the hurt of the past go to focus on their future? Will their pasts be willing to release them from its grasps to pursue an intentional and all-consuming love?

Momma's Baby Daddy's Maybe is an Essence best seller by popular author Jamise L. Dames. This steamy tale revolves around the lives of the three Jacobs siblings: wild Kennedy, corporate Simone, and handsome Derrick.