They beat the odds and turned their lives around. But now three best friends will go head-to-head with ambition, deception—and each other . . . Derrick. Ricky. Jamal. One's responsible; one's still a player; one's upwardly-mobile. Sentenced to the Branch Avenue Boys' Youth Institute at twelve, they grabbed the chance for better futures. They stayed tight even when their lives diverged—but the times . . . they are a-changing. New deputy mayor Jamal is anti–corruption, which means severing ties with Ricky, now a "criminally-adjacent" businessman. But political power plays and unrequited love will lead Jamal to a lethal choice . . . Ricky doesn't mind running a front for DC's biggest drug dealer, but when he pursues a sexy customer at his strip club and discovers she's a cop, any wrong move could end Ricky's good times permanently . . . Now the Institute's new leader, Derrick is torn between his job and his... **They beat the odds and turned their lives around. But now three best friends will go head-to-head with ambition, deception—and each other . . .** ** ** Derrick. Ricky. Jamal. One’s responsible; one’s still a player; one’s upwardly-mobile. Sentenced to the Branch Avenue Boys’ Youth Institute at twelve, they grabbed the chance for better futures. They stayed tight even when their lives diverged—but the times . . . they are a-changing. New deputy mayor Jamal is anti–corruption, which means severing ties with Ricky, now a “criminally-adjacent” businessman. But political power plays and unrequited love will lead Jamal to a lethal choice . . .   Ricky doesn’t mind running a front for DC’s biggest drug dealer, but when he pursues a sexy customer at his strip club and discovers she’s a cop, any wrong move could end Ricky’s good times permanently . . . Now the Institute’s new leader, Derrick is torn between his job and his fiancée, Melissa. But when a cute new instructor who supports him and his mission arrives, he wonders if he should leave Melissa behind, not the Institute. However, this dilemma is nothing compared to a problem brewing right under his nose, and the fallout will strike at the heart of the three friends’ bond—and put more than their survival on the line . . . ** ** **Praise for *Lust & Loyalty*** ** ** **“Ellis has created another phenomenal novel.” —*RT Book Reviews*** ** ** **“The secrets, scandals, and surprises will keep fans turning at a furious pace.”  —*Booklist***

Three best friends from the streets found success—in very different ways. But with a crisis detonating around them, their bond could also destroy everything they care about . . . No matter how tough the odds, Ricky, Derrick, and Jamal learned to unite and fight during their time at the Branch Avenue Boys' Youth Institute. But their adult lives have driven them apart—and set off a series of events their friendship may not survive. All Jamal's political achievements can't erase his bargain with D.C.'s corrupt mayor. And when he finds himself the latest target on Mayor Johnson's hit list, he'll risk everything to end the mayor's deadly reign—even if it's the last move he ever makes. Institute head Derrick refuses to cave to D.C. drug king pin Dolla Dolla and sell out all he believes in. But his courageous stand might cost him the Institute—and the woman he loves . . . With a pregnant girlfriend, Ricky can't stay on...

Success didn't come easy for three best friends from the streets. And now dangerous choices and reckless desire will push their bond to lethal limits . . . A stint at the Branch Avenue Boys' Youth Institute taught Ricky, Derrick, and Jamal to unite when the going got tough. But fallout from their very different adult lives is making loyalty something they can't afford—and igniting drama they never saw coming . . . Arrested during a city-wide raid, Ricky must inform on D.C's drug king pin, Dolla Dolla—and find the woman who loved and betrayed him. But revenge is a slippery slope that's putting a target on his back . . . Institute head Derrick hopes reuniting with his fiancée will keep his secret affair with a colleague in the past. Unfortunately, one of his students is hiding Dolla Dolla's major stash—and Derrick's attempt to do the right thing will have shattering consequences . . . Jamal's backroom deal with...

Three women scorned, one wealthy, vengeful bigamist—and killer bad news no one saw coming. In Shelly Ellis' shocking follow-up to The Three Mrs. Greys,a trio of betrayed wives finds that no one can be trusted—maybe not even themselves . . . Diamond. Noelle. Vanessa. As Cyrus Grey recovers from a near-fatal shooting, the women who each thought they were his only wife are fighting hard to make new dreams—even if it means going one dangerous step too far . . . On trial for Cyrus's shooting, Diamond is determined to clear her name—and get back the husband she still loves. But uncovering the truth will reveal more secrets than she ever imagined. And unexpected desire is bringing them all too close to home . . . Beautiful Noelle has found happiness with new love Tariq. But Cyrus' scheming confronts her with an unthinkable conspiracy—and an impossible choice to save all she hopes for . . .

One wealthy businessman, a trio of unsuspecting wives, and an explosive turn of events. In this scandalous, twist-filled new series from Shelly Ellis, will too many secrets and one devastating bond unite three women—or destroy them? Noelle. Diamond. Vanessa. Each woman believes she is Cyrus Grey's only wife—until he's nearly shot to death. Now, as he lies in a coma, the deceptions keep coming, unraveling everything they thought they knew . . . Gorgeous model Noelle's marriage to Cyrus anchored her—though she couldn't understand why he wouldn't have a baby with her. They certainly had the money. But she's learning fast just how Cyrus became so rich—thanks to his fatally attractive business partner . . . For Diamond, marrying Cyrus saved her from the streets—and being a pimp's punching bag. But her past makes her the police's prime suspect in Cyrus's shooting. She's determined to get to the...

"Shelly Ellis is a new favorite to our list." --Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling authorsSecrets and scandals are a way of life for the Murdochs of Chesterton, Virginia. But the lies that bind them may end up tearing them apart...With his drama-filled marriage behind him, Evan Murdoch has finally found happiness with his longtime friend turned fiancée, Leila Hawkins. But when his party boy brother, Terrence, is seriously injured in a car accident, a gossiping press puts the family back in the spotlight. Soon Terrence could face a lawsuit--and much worse, if his vengeful half-brother, Dante, has his way. Terrence's only bright spot is journalist C.J. Aston--but is she really on his side, or does she have another motive?. . . While Terrence struggles to recover from his injuries, Paulette, the little sister of the family, is struggling with a secret: she's pregnant, and unsure whether the father is her blackmailing ex...

"An immensely talented writer." —Cydney RaxIt's business as usual for the infamous gold digging Gibbons women of Chesterton, Virginia. But this time, middle sister, Stephanie, may be the one getting played. . .Stephanie Gibbons has finally hit the jackpot. Her new sugar daddy, Isaac, is loaded and treating her in high style. When he proposes, Stephanie is sure she's set for life—until she finds her bank account empty, Isaac gone, and a strange—but very attractive—man following her.Sexy P.I. Keith Hendricks has been tracking Isaac all along the eastern seaboard—where the con man has left behind a trail of heartbroken, swindled women. But when Keith confronts Stephanie, he's not sure if she's Isaac's accomplice—or his next victim. The only thing that's certain is his overwhelming attraction to her. And when Stephanie joins him on the hunt for Isaac, neither can ignore the sparks. Soon Stephanie is wondering whether true love is worth...

"An immensely talented writer." –Cydney RaxThe notorious gold digging Gibbons women of Chesterton, Virginia, are minding their own highly-paid business when second eldest sister, Dawn, is reunited with the one man she never dreamed she'd see again...Dawn Gibbons is shocked when her long-lost father reappears in her life. Seriously ill, his dying wish is to reconnect with her. But for Dawn, it's complicated—her wealthy father comes complete with jealous relatives—and a handsome young lawyer Dawn finds dangerously sexy. Dangerous because he's engaged—to her newfound half-sister. One thing a Gibbons woman doesn't do is steal her sister's man. Yet for the first time, Dawn may care about love more than money...Xavier Hughes isn't easily thrown, but the electricity between him and Dawn leaves him unsettled. And when his suspicious fiancée insists he investigate Dawn's background, it only pushes him closer to the one woman he should resist. Soon,...

For the wealthy Murdochs of Chesterton, Virginia, managing scandalous damage and killer drama is now their only chance at survival . . . For Evan Murdoch, the bad news just won't stop. As he battles an attempted murder charge, he's on the verge of getting forced out of the family corporation—and fears he can't trust his new wife, Lelia. Enter savvy family matriarch Ella, whose wild-card schemes might be the answer to his prayers—or lead to disaster like he's never seen. With Evan sidelined, his ex-playboy brother Terrence struggles to keep Murdoch Conglomerated from catastrophe by becoming the new public face for the company. But a secret he tries to hide from his fiancée could send his best intentions—and last chance at love—down in flames. Fiery Murdoch sister, Paulette, will do anything to protect her infant son—and her secrets. But her worst nightmare is about to come true. And with their vengeful...

"Shelly Ellis is a new favorite to our list."—Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling authorsIt's a life of high-profile drama for the powerful Murdochs of Chesterton, Virginia, and they just keep the scandals coming...Evan Murdoch hoped things had finally settled down in his life. But now he's caught between two feuding women: his pregnant fiancée, and his recovering alcoholic wife who's fighting their divorce with every dirty, seductive trick she's got. But even that doesn't compare to the dangerous secret Evan's harboring—one that could send a Murdoch to jail for a very long time...Party boy brother Terrence Murdoch is recovering from his devastating car accident. But his relationship with his journalist girlfriend may not survive—especially when she reconnects with her family, her church—and her ex...After the attempt on his life, half-brother Dante Turner lays low—but not for long. A mysterious young...

Over three generations, the Gibbons women of Chesterton, Virginia, have built their reputation as a family of shameless—but refined—gold diggers. They even have a strict set of rules by which they operate. But the rebellious, youngest Gibbons is about to break them all...Lauren Gibbons is committing the ultimate family betrayal: abandoning the tradition of seducing men for money. Nothing is worth the abuse she's endured from her sugar daddy. Now a sous chef, Lauren is hoping to break from the past for good. And when she meets hot former NFL player Crisanto Weaver, she even lets herself imagine a future. But the small-town rumor mill—and her own sisters—aren't ready for a new Lauren. Between her conniving relatives, her vengeful ex, a mountain of debt, and a whole lot of haters, can she escape her old life, and create something new?"Can't Stand the Heat marks the debut of an immensely talented writer whose characters leap...

"Feisty, flirty, and smart...Shelly Ellis is a new favorite to our list."--Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author Between the fall-out from his father's latest shady business dealings and his wife Charisse's alcoholism, Evan Murdoch has his hands full. But he should be most concerned about the scandalous affair Charisse is having right under his nose--with his half-brother. Evan's being pushed to the edge, and no one knows that better than Leila Hawkins... Leila is back in Chesterton, divorced, penniless, and desperate enough to do anything to save her mother's home from foreclosure--including turning to Evan, her former best friend. But Evan isn't interested in friendship. Instead he makes Leila a shocking indecent proposal... Meanwhile, Evan's newlywed sister, Paulette, wants to be the perfect wife. But a blackmailing bad boy ex has reappeared in her life--and he's threatening to reveal her most painful secret... ...