Strength is defined as the quality or state of being strong. When Monica Edwards’ life turns upside down, the only thing she has is her strength. With both of her parent’s being killed by a man she considered family, Monica isn’t sure if she can take life anymore. Eddie, the love of her life, tries to keep her encouraged, but he can only do so much. Will an unexpected twist of events break Monica down, or will she use her strength to keep on going? The beautiful Olivia Gold is stuck in a dead-end relationship. After leaving her family to be with her prince charming, she finds out that the man of her dreams is really the man who causes her the most pain. When Casper, a wealthy financial advisor, enters her life, she jumps at the chance of being with him, but is she truly ready? Will she have the strength to leave everything she knows and take a chance on a handsome stranger? The finale of an Atlanta Love Story is not your ordinary love story, so expect the unexpected.

Identical twin sisters, Denver and Aurora Andrews were always close until a traumatic situation left the twins to figure out life on their own. Denver was the one who had her entire life planned out by the age of ten. After achieving the dream husband, career and home, she still feels like something is missing when it comes to love. Malik isn’t doing it for her anymore. She’s over the lies and is ready to be with someone who knows her worth. The comes Myles Mills, a handsome and very successful kingpin with a thug allure that catches her eye. Myles has never had a problem getting ladies, so when he meets the beautiful Denver Andrews, he knows that she’s not like the rest. She’s off limits but Myles has a hard time leaving her alone. And, eventually it becomes clear that he won't...

People say that God gives his strongest soldiers the toughest battles, and seventeen-year-old Monica Edwards knows that to be true. Born and raised in Atlanta, Monica is familiar with living the good life because her father is one of the biggest kingpins that the city has ever seen. When her life suddenly changes, she is forced to leave behind the life she’s known and is forced start over in Douglasville. She isn’t looking for love when she meets Eddie Miller, but she can’t ignore the undeniable attraction she has to him. Eddie Miller is the co-founder of the infamous S.D.C gang, and he has no plans of slowing down. He’s focused on building an empire that will allow him to step out of his father’s shadow, but from the moment he meets Monica, he knows that he has to have her. Eddie is used to getting any woman he wants. His good looks and charming personality make it hard for most women to resist, but Monica is different. In this twisted love story, Monica and Eddie will discover that everything isn’t what it seems. Their love will be put to the ultimate test.

"Poetic knew that when her family found out what she's been up to, things would not be easy, but what she never expected was for her twin sister Lyric to completely turn everyone against her. Now being completely exiled, Poetic is pushed further into the arms of Ahmeen. The love between them only intensifies when Poe has no one else to turn to but Ahmeen. He treats her like non-other than the Queen she is. The bond she is has with him is more than she could've imagined, especially when The Shakur family takes in her with open arms. Things are blissful but when Poe finds out that her big brother Maino is in trouble, she's unable to turn her back on him like he did her, ultimately putting her relationship and life at risk. Ahmeen took four bullets all from his flesh and blood Moni. Moni never expected for Ahmeen to walk away but to his dismay, not only did he, but he's came out stronger and with a heart of vengeance. There isn't anywhere safe that Moni can go with Ahmeen on his trail...but witness protection. Ahmeen tries his hardest to move on with his life and continue ringing bells in the streets. Now more richer, more respected, and more known than ever, Ahmeen is dealing with knowing that his product is becoming internationally known. With the love of his life by his side, and a me baby on the way, Ahmeen is living every man's dream. The only problem is, he still hasn't told Poe about Kiani. Scared that he will lose Poe, Ahmeen continues to keep his son secret, only digging himself deeper into the grave. Not only that, he still has Maino gunning for him and when the Mexican cartel approaches him will he accept the offer to rid of Maino for them?"--Page [4] of cover.

Summer is back, and this time she’s pregnant and doesn’t know who is the father of her baby. Despite the bad cards life has dealt her, she’s trying to move on and live her best life while tackling college at the same time. Problem is, one of her lovers isn’t ready to let go. The king of Harlem, Carlos Mills aka Loso, is still the street’s finest. Now that everything on the block is running smoothly, he's finally ready to focus on his personal life and commit to his girlfriend, Amaya. He’s got it all figured out. They’re gonna get married, buy a new house and start a family. Everything is perfect until people start to show their true colors. After Remy’s boyfriend found out the truth about her and DC’s affair, she starts to uncover Sur’s secret life too. She wasn’t the only one with skeletons in her closet. But, as the old saying goes... Some lies can get you hurt. DC has now found himself in a love triangle that hits a lot closer to home than he thinks. Promise, his baby mother, isn’t the only woman who has gained a place in his heart. And if that’s not enough, imagine finding out that both of your women know each other almost better than they know you. As these couples embark on a journey of love, heartbreak, betrayal, and pain, they’ll find out that people and things are not always what they appear to be. The minute you think life is what it should be, those slithery snakes come out of hiding. Get ready to unfold all the drama in Diary of The Plug’s Daughter II.

Georgia Center for the Book has chosen Atlanta Noir as one of 2018's Books All Georgians Should Read! Kenji Jasper's "A Moment of Clarity at the Waffle House" nominated for a 2018 Edgar Award for Best Short Story! "Atlanta has its share, maybe more than its share, of prosperity. But wealth is no safeguard against peril...Creepy as well as dark, grim in outlook...Hints of the supernatural may make these tales...appealing to lovers of ghost stories." --Kirkus Reviews "These stories, most of them by relative unknowns, offer plenty of human interest...All the tales have a Southern feel." --Publishers Weekly "Jones, author of Leaving Atlanta, returns to the South via Akashic's ever-growing city anthology series. The collection features stories from an impressive roster of talent including Jim Grimsley, Sheri Joseph, Gillian Royes, Anthony Grooms and David James Poissant. The 14 selections each take place in different Atlanta neighborhood." --Atlanta-Journal Constitution "Now comes Atlanta Noir, an anthology that masterfully blends a chorus of voices, both familiar and new, from every corner of Atlanta...The magic of Atlanta Noir is readily apparent, starting with the introduction Jones pens. It doesn’t rest solely upon the breadth of writers but on how their words, stories and references are so Atlanta--so very particular, so very familiar and so very readily, for those who know the city, nostalgic. And for those who don’t? The sense of place it captures inspires a desire to get to know Atlanta and its stories." --ArtsATL Akashic Books continues its award-winning series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each book comprises all new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the respective city. This much-anticipated and long-overdue installment in Akashic's Noir Series reveals many sides of Atlanta known only to its residents. Brand-new stories by: Tananarive Due, Kenji Jasper, Tayari Jones, Dallas Hudgens, Jim Grimsley, Brandon Massey, Jennifer Harlow, Sheri Joseph, Alesia Parker, Gillian Royes, Anthony Grooms, John Holman, Daniel Black, and David James Poissant. From the introduction by Tayari Jones: Atlanta itself is a crime scene. After all, Georgia was founded as a de facto penal colony and in 1864, Sherman burned the city to the ground. We might argue about whether the arson was the crime or the response to the crime, but this is indisputable: Atlanta is a city sewn from the ashes and everything that grows here is at once fertilized and corrupted by the past... These stories do not necessarily conform to the traditional expectations of noir...However, they all share the quality of exposing the rot underneath the scent of magnolia and pine. Noir, in my opinion, is more a question of tone than content. The moral universe of the story is as significant as the physical space. Noir is a realm where the good guys seldom win; perhaps they hardly exist at all. Few bad deeds go unrewarded, and good intentions are not the road to hell, but are hell itself...Welcome to Atlanta Noir. Come sit on the veranda, or the terrace of a high-rise condo. Pour yourself a glass of sweet tea, and fortify it with a slug of bourbon. Put your feet up. Enjoy these stories, and watch your back.