Showing results by author "Christina C. Jones" in All Categories

That's how blogger, Bianca Bailey begins the first post of what's supposed to be a new series on her website, in response to her readers curiosity about her feelings on love. That post never makes it to the public eye, but those three words perfectly sum up Bianca's outlook, and rule the way she interacts with the men around her — including Rashad. Rashad isn't interested in anything serious either, but for a different reason. Rashad loves women, and women love him, but he's avoiding trouble — the nickname his father uses for the kind of woman that makes you forget all others exist.

There’s no such thing as a right time to fall in love. It happens, or it doesn’t. Possible to fake, but not force. Impossible to simply wish away. This is the path that Rob and Iris find themselves on. He’s adjusting to cross-country move, a new job, and an existence that doesn’t include the woman he thought he’d spend his life with.

For better or worse… That was the promise Denver and Kensa made, but it’s a sentiment they’ve somehow lost along the way. What started as a passionate wildfire has diminished to a flicker, all but snuffed out by unspoken fears, perceived betrayal, and a complete breakdown in communication. Can either of them tuck their ego away long enough to rekindle their flame?

Nicole Richardson is a woman with a purpose—prove herself worthy of her place in a male-dominated field. Fiercely competitive, wielder of tough love and motivation, and terrible at dealing with things outside of her control. Between making sure the players are thriving, and coping with a changing family dynamic, a relationship isn't even on her radar.

For Nalani Stark, legacy matters… maybe more than most things. Important enough that when that legacy — inextricably tied to her mother’s memory - is challenged, she’s forced to consider even the most undesirable options… Such as a match made in hell with Orion Sterling. The heir to the competitor she grew up being warned about. Orion is a man well-accustomed to getting exactly what he wants. Other than opportunities to grow the family business, he’s moved by very few things.

After her latest ill-fated attempt to find a forever relationship of her own, Tori Kennedy is content with connecting the dots for others, bringing them together in pursuit of lifetime love. Fresh off of the demise of her marriage, she decides to take advantage of an opportunity to do something a little—okay, a lot—crazy, and heavily fueled by an overload of emotions.

Something Onyx has never been a stranger to, never strayed far from, despite his best efforts otherwise. This time, though, the stakes are higher than ever before, when his past is threatening to touch—and destroy—everything he’s grown to care for. The only choice is to face it head on—a task Tati is more than willing to share. Unanswered questions and unexpected attacks are jeopardizing the Predator organization from all sides, and she’ll do whatever it takes to protect the people she loves—including peeling back secrets, lies, and betrayals, layer by layer.

A name–a definition–that was never supposed to be triumph, but a condemnation. A reminder of a certain place in the world–of a responsibility to the other living beings in the ecosystem. As second-in-command of the Predators MC, Tatiana Tate is well-versed in both the expectations and reality of sustaining her way of life. In the wake of a tragedy that shook the whole organization, she’s had no issues stepping into power beside her lifelong friend–her brother.

Murderer is a title she never expected to wear. Friend? Sure. Boss? Hell yes. But murderer? Never. If only she hadn’t threatened exactly that, just before someone winds up dead, and her fingerprints are all over the murder weapon. All he wanted was to live a quiet life, without all the danger and darkness of his past. Those plans are blown when he’s accused of a crime he has nothing to do with, leaving him with a hard decision…remain in the shadows, or do what he can to help a friend?

Love that says something, instead of just looking like it. Love you can always trust to feel like home. For both of them, it’s something that has always been just outside of their peripheral, something to be observed rather than experienced. A depth of feeling reserved for people who were “into” that, those with a different outlook, those more...deserving. Until their paths cross.

Everyone is a stranger at some point, right? Pulled by an explicable, undeniable thread of...something...Nick and Noah find themselves keen on becoming more. Hashtags and flights, and late-night text sessions lead to a connection neither has experienced, or expected. Beyond the shiny veneer of social media, further than the shallow depths of a good selfie, down to the real, for real stuff that relationships are made of...Can Nick and Noah actually reach their prematurely awarded goal?

If there’s any one thing Pierre and Logan have in common, it’s their ability to invite snap judgements based on shallow views of who they are. Logan is the privileged only daughter of a respected family whose legacy runs long and deep. Pierre is the moody, orphaned son of big screen royalty who couldn’t possibly live up to the prestige of his pedigree. Or maybe not.

Sometimes, the worst lies are the ones we tell ourselves. They build and build into a façade of transparency and false truth that we present to the world...until it comes crashing down because of that one person who sees right into you. “Just one more time.” “It’s not even like that.” “I’m not tripping about it.” “I’m fine. Really.”

Two years after leaving the neighborhood to pursue an opportunity she couldn't pass up, Sydnee Scott is back. She's smart, sassy, and maybe a little bit spoiled, but she's ready to reclaim her place in her family, and in the family business.... Or not. That spot is currently filled by Harlan Ramsey, head manager. He came to Stacks - the man, and the restaurant named after him - looking for connection, and he got it, in the form of a surrogate family.

Eddie is arrogant, quite vain, and slick at the mouth - or simply confident, discerning, and unafraid to speak his mind, if you ask him. Astrid is annoyingly perky, unpolished, and a little delusional about Eddie’s attraction to her - or, according to her, energetic, authentic, and absolutely spot-on about the driving factor of a certain local tattoo artist’s “hatred” of her. Undeniable attraction. They may think they’re opposite but have more in common than they think.

Fallon is the definition of a woman with her “ish” together. Flourishing business, a home of her own in a new city, a relationship on the verge of marriage, and the opportunity to create a life that looks exactly as she wants it. She’s ready, and willing, to embark on a new adventure. She just didn’t expect to have to do it on her own. Business is great, but the home? A total mess. The relationship? Dead in the water. The “new adventure”? Looking more like a disaster. Until Sean.

Simone is a woman on a mission: Stop being boring, and fall in love. That's easier said than done with no prospects on the table...or under the table...or near the table. Her luck changes when fellow neighborhood business-owner Roman Taylor walks through the door of her flower shop. Roman is single, successful, and sexy - everything Simone is looking for to embark on a whirlwind summer romance with the potential to spark an everlasting love. But things are never as "perfect" as they seem.

Everybody knows you don’t marry the rebound guy. And yet, that’s exactly what Charlie does. But once the husband is out of the picture - kinda - she’s ready to leap forward with her life. She returns to the neighborhood she left, the business she missed, and into arm’s reach of Nixon - the reason she needed a rebound guy in the first place. Other than rebuilding her life, Charlie has one main goal now that she’s back in the place she considers home: Stay as far away from Nixon as she can.

Vivienne is one of “those” people, the kind who believes in love at all costs. Broken hearts are a natural product of that, and Viv is used to dealing with it by simply ignoring the ache and moving on to a new love. But this time, she can’t seem to shake the pain - until Carter comes along, handing out easy smiles and the kind of attention that makes her not feel so fractured after all.

Keris Bradford is a woman on the brink. Of what? She doesn’t quite know. Her life is shifting, rapidly, and the sudden, captivating intrusion of Laken Kimble isn’t exactly...reassuring. For Keris, Laken is comfort and risk wrapped in one very appealing package. For Laken, Keris is barrier and providence all at once. For both, there arises a need to navigate those contrasts to a conclusion neither was looking for...a need to answer a simple question. If you want this...what are you willing to offer in exchange?