Anario Anderson is a professional poker player who thrives on taking risks—except when it comes to love. After a messy breakup with his daughter's mother two years ago, he's embraced the bachelor lifestyle and left serious relationships off the table. But everything changes when he meets China Armani, his daughter's intelligent, beautiful, and cautious teacher, at a school open house.

She was the pretty girl from the South whose life had been planned out for her since the age of fourteen, when she had her first boyfriend. She never anticipated that one decision would turn her world upside down. He was a smart kid from the slums who was known for his handsome looks, tantalizing eyes, and smile. He grew up in a dangerous environment, to most, and instead of turning away from danger, he embraced it, using it to his advantage to get where he wanted in life, which was out of the hood.

Calliope "Callie" Palmer is one year fresh out of a relationship with a heartbreaking end. Since deciding to focus on herself and her bakery, the last thing Callie is looking for again is love. When her best friend recruits her for a photoshoot with her fiancé, Callie has a feeling she's being set up. Her initial apprehension is replaced with immediate attraction when she lays eyes on the handsome Thane St. Thomas.

Xander Brown is a skilled surgeon who lives a carefree life. With him being the Chief of Surgery at GHM, his plate is always full. However, he made room for the one woman he couldn't see himself without. Zara Lyles is the hood Barbie; that's all about her family. She does what needs to be done for them to survive, all while keeping a certain elegance. As usual, she has it all together without the help of a man.

Michelle and Kelsie have never had it easy, but the one thing that has remained consistent in each of their lives are each other. Both in their early twenties and with the stress of the world on their shoulders, they both manage to still be there for each other through it all. Michelle's dream is to be a top stylist, well her dream was a reality until she was fired from Naomi's shop because of her boyfriend. Tasheem is all Michelle knows, and that's being physically and mentally abused by the man she has loved since she was younger.

One fifteen-minute encounter as teenagers changed everything for Rex Goode and Truce Redmond. They both walked away different people. For him, it catapulted his career in boxing. For her, it challenged her commitment to family. Years later, Rex is a retired boxer, single father, and furniture store owner who has left his fighting days behind him. Truce is a dutiful daughter, loving big sister, and owns the popular soul food restaurant, Redmond’s. On the outside, her life is perfect, until it’s not.

After being in a relationship for three years, Noelle Frost is faced with the reality that she was definitely the better half. Her friends, ecstatic she's dropped the dead weight of a cheating boyfriend, urge her to get away for the holiday and take some time for herself. Not sure if that'll fix anything, but willing to try, she books a last-minute trip to the world-renowned Mistletoe Mountain Resort. Noelle boards the plane with the promise of peace and relaxation on the horizon.

Eve has a thriving career, loving friends, and family with a picture-perfect relationship… or so she thought. That was until she received a message from her long-time boyfriend Adrian, shattering whatever dreams she had for the two. Saint is all about his money and has little room for anything that doesn't include that or his three-year-old son, Myheir. That was until his cousin convinced him to join him and his friends on their annual Friendsgiving trip.

After the untimely death of his father, Rosier "Zoo" Boudreaux rightfully inherits Boudreaux Enterprises. Although he anticipated being in charge his entire life, he could have never prepared for the dark secrets, dirty money, and unethical practices that lived after his father's demise. Though thrown for a loop, he wastes no time claiming his seat at the head of the table and demanding the respect of his constituents. After all, Zoo was trained for it.

These are the tenets that rule the De Santis family—until an arranged marriage potentially threatens all three. Born into the most ruthless crime family in the South, Azreal De Santis is bred to lead, dominate, and rule. When a strategic marriage forces him to take Natoi Kingston as his wife, Azreal learns power is not always defined by strength, blood is not the strongest bond, and loyalty isn’t always black and white. Sometimes there are shades of gray.