Explosive, sensual, and unapologetically raw, Rich and Rotten delivers Jahquel J.’s signature blend of passionate romance and high-stakes family drama—where love is the most dangerous game, and trust is the rarest luxury.

In Greenwich Pointe’s world of Black wealth and power, Tatiana Rich has everything money can buy—except freedom. When her kingpin father forces her into a strategic marriage with the Sterling dynasty’s heir, she begs Nazir Kane—the man she fell for during her college years—to run away with her.

By morning, he’s vanished without a word.

A decade later, Tatiana is rebuilding her life after her husband Karim’s tragic death. While raising their daughter and growing her luxury spa empire, an assassination attempt on her father brings an unexpected guardian: Nazir Kane—now a powerful security specialist assigned to protect her family.

Living under the same roof as the man who shattered her heart is torture enough. But as old flames reignite, darker truths emerge about the father who controlled her and the husband she mourned.

With enemies closing in and whispers that her husband’s death wasn’t an accident, Tatiana must decide if the man who once betrayed her is the only one who can save her now . . .

Yoshon Santana once ruled Brownsville, Brooklyn with an iron fist. When his fiancée fell ill, he stepped back and allowed his sister, Yolani, to take his place. After her death, the streets no longer fulfilled him. The same streets he gave everything to seemed to offer him nothing in return. From a distance, he now watches as Yolani runs things his way.

With a possible girlfriend on the horizon, Yoshon finds himself wanting something different. At thirty-eight, he is ready for a wife, children, and the white picket fence surrounding his mansion. Every woman he meets fails to hold his interest until one night during one of New York's infamous blizzards. He comes across a woman and her young son sleeping in a car. Offering his help to the beautiful stranger changes his life, though he does not realize it at the time.

Twenty-five-year-old Golden was once accustomed to cars, mansions, and money. That life came crashing down when her husband, Grand, decided she deserved bruises to match the luxury he provided. After packing up and disappearing with her son, Golden returns to her hometown, hoping to reconnect with the grandmother she left behind. When things do not go as planned, she finds herself working two jobs, washing up in public restrooms, and sleeping in her 2004 Nissan Maxima with her seven-year-old son, Gyan.

There is no such thing as a guardian angel, especially one wearing Timberlands and driving a Tesla. The question is, will Golden lower her guard and pride enough to accept Yoshon's help, or will she continue struggling on the same Brownsville streets she once escaped?

Hazel is married to Yolani and loves her wife deeply. What she cannot tolerate is the constant disrespect and Yolani's unwavering loyalty to the streets. Hazel is tired of coming second to the life Yolani refuses to leave behind. While running her nail shop, an old boyfriend resurfaces and begins to complicate things. Will Hazel turn back to her past, or will she fight for the marriage she vowed to protect?

Yolani stepped into her brother's size thirteen Timberlands and runs the streets the way she sees fit. With a frustrated wife at home, women constantly within reach, and more money than she can spend, settling down is the last thing on her mind. What she has yet to understand is that the same streets she controls are the same ones that can swallow you whole. With a secret weighing on her, will the truth finally come to light? And when it does, will Hazel remain by her side, or walk away in search of the love she truly deserves?

The year is 2008 and eighteen year old Kenni, and her best friend Saylor are Brooklyn's hottest thing walking. Kenni, looking for a man to wife her up and spoil her, and Saylor, looking for a man to put her onto the hustle. Both have different goals, but same outcome; money. While Kenni is giving every hustler with money her attention, Haze, her neighbor is in love with her. Kenni could care less about Haze because his braids are nappy, sneakers are dirty and he doesn't live in a big mansion, he lives in the apartment next to hers in Marcy Projects. After finally be tired of Kenni playing him, Haze decides to let her see what the life of a hustler's wife is really about. When Bridge comes onto the block and locks eyes with Kenni, he knows that he has to make her his. Bridge, A Kingpin from Maryland, decided to spend his summer in Brooklyn, and make money at the same time. Once his eyes are set on Kenni, he can't forget the beauty, and he won't stop until he makes her his. Being Bridge's girl comes with a lot more than money, clothes and cars. And Kenni soon finds out that being a hustler's girl isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Darren is Bridge's cousin, and has eyes for Saylor. While Darren works for Bridge, he still has enough money to spread around. Especially to his wife and children in Philly. Saylor and Darren enter a dangerous situation where any one of their hearts could end up broken. While Darren just wants a side piece in Brooklyn for the summer, Saylor wants to learn the drug game and be on top, while being with Darren. The golden rule Saylor makes Darren promise is not to break her heart... Will Darren break the rule? Or, will he become so caught up in Saylor that he's ready to leave his wife? Two girls with two different goals, but one thing for sure; All The Dope Boys 'Gon Feel Her.

Inspired by long-buried true stories of enslaved people who dared to fight back, this powerful novel offers a searing portrayal of resistance. From Clay Cane, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author of The Grift, it's a must-read for fans of Colson Whitehead, Jesmyn Ward, and Percival Everett.

As turmoil simmers within a divided nation, smoke from another blaze begins to rise. Sparked by individual acts of resistance among those enslaved across the American South, their seemingly disparate rebellions fuel a singular inferno of justice, connecting them in ways quiet at times, explosive at others. As these flames rise, so will they.

Luke, quick-witted and perceptive, and Henri, a man of strong and defiant spirit, forge an unbreakable bond at a Virginia plantation called Magnolia Row. Both seek escape from unimaginable cruelty. And sure as the fires of hell, Luke and Henri will leave their mark among the lives they touch...
Like Josephine, a young and observant girl who wields silence as her greatest weapon. A witness to Luke and Henri's resilience, she listens, watches, and waits.

Then there's Charity Butler, inspired by a formerly enslaved man who found his freedom fighting alongside Josephine. At his encouragement, Charity rises up for her life and family—only to face a deeply unjust system.

And finally, there is Nathaniel, who ruthlessly exploits other Black people and mirrors the cruelty of the white men who, like him, are enslavers. A perversion of the system of slavery, his rule is both fragile and contradictory.

Burn Down Master's House is a singular tour de force of a novel—breathtaking in scope, compassion, and timeliness that speaks powerfully to our present era.

In this stunning sequel to her acclaimed debut My Brother’s Keeper, #1 national bestselling author ReShonda Tate Billingsley brings her real-deal insight to a heartfelt new novel about a wife and mother on a daring rescue mission—to save herself.
 
Freshly forty-five, Aja James knows that her life is good, complete with a loving, wealthy husband, well-adjusted children, and a beautiful home. Yet the truth is, she feels painfully unfulfilled, stuck in the present, haunted by a painful past. When a friend suggests a girls’ trip to a tropical paradise, Aja hopes a change of scene will also change her perspective.
 
On vacation, filled with fun and freedom, Aja is relieved to find her spirits lifting. But her good time also shines a light on what’s troubling her: from her siblings to her husband and kids, she’s spent nearly her whole life taking care of everyone—except herself. She’s lost her spark. She’s lost her identity.
 
Desperate to turn things around, Aja makes an impulsive decision—one that outrages her family and stuns her friends. But it may also be her wisest choice. Because it’s only through learning what she could lose—and what’s truly worth keeping—that Aja can transform this temporary fix into real, lasting happiness.
 
 
“Billingsley puts a spin on the question every woman will ask at some point—who am I outside of the people I love? More to Life answers that timeless question with grace, resilience, and a fresh voice.”
—Jessica Pack, author of Whatever It Takes

UPDATE: We have added a waitlist for this event. Waitlist tickets are not guaranteed. If a ticket becomes available, you will receive an email with steps to get a ticket 

Celebrate the release of Rich and Rotten with Jahquel J!

EVENT DEETS

When: Friday, May 1 @ 6PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St., Houston, TX 77004).

What: This event is a signing only. You will have the opportunity to get a signed copy of Rich and Rotten and take a photo with the author. Each Signing Line Ticket comes with a copy of the book of Rich and Rotten.

How: Purchase a SIGNING LINE TICKET to guarantee a spot in the signing line. Each Signing Line Ticket comes with a copy of the book of Rich and Rotten. You can bring up to 5 previous books by Jahquel that you would like signed. Please note that each ticket is for entry of ONE person. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Explosive, sensual, and unapologetically raw, Rich and Rotten delivers Jahquel J.’s signature blend of passionate romance and high-stakes family drama—where love is the most dangerous game, and trust is the rarest luxury.

In Greenwich Pointe’s world of Black wealth and power, Tatiana Rich has everything money can buy—except freedom. When her kingpin father forces her into a strategic marriage with the Sterling dynasty’s heir, she begs Nazir Kane—the man she fell for during her college years—to run away with her.

By morning, he’s vanished without a word.

A decade later, Tatiana is rebuilding her life after her husband Karim’s tragic death. While raising their daughter and growing her luxury spa empire, an assassination attempt on her father brings an unexpected guardian: Nazir Kane—now a powerful security specialist assigned to protect her family.

Living under the same roof as the man who shattered her heart is torture enough. But as old flames reignite, darker truths emerge about the father who controlled her and the husband she mourned.

With enemies closing in and whispers that her husband’s death wasn’t an accident, Tatiana must decide if the man who once betrayed her is the only one who can save her now . . .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Join us at Kindred Stories to celebrate two legendary authors: Beverly Jenkins and Brenda Jackson!

EVENT DEETS

When: Saturday, October 25 @ 7PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, #2, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP WITH BOOK to support the author and our store programming

*Attendees are required to purchase at least one recent release by one of the attending authors.

ABOUT THE BOOKS

Calling All Blessings

Tamar July, town matriarch of Henry Adams, KS, is being haunted by dreams of her humiliating wedding day, sixty years ago, when she discovered her intended, Joel Newton, was already married. The truth left her furious, heartbroken, and carrying a child, her son Malachi “Mal” July. Why are these dreams coming to her now? And is the great horned owl perched on her backyard shed somehow connected? When Joel’s legitimate son comes to Henry Adams wanting to meet his half-brother, Mal, Tamar must deal with her past, her anger, and explore what it means to truly forgive.

Tamar isn’t the only one being tested. Teenager Devon July wants to be anyone but himself. When he first arrived in Henry Adams, as an eight-year-old foster child, he wanted to be a preacher. Then, to be like his adopted brother, Amari. Now, he’s decided to be a variant of James Brown—wig included—rather than who he really is, a boy who lost his beloved grandmother and is the son of a mentally challenged woman. Will Tamar be able to guide his spirit quest and place him on the road to finally being at peace within himself?

As the big August 1^st celebration nears, town owner Bernadine Brown has a lot on her plate, chief among them, what to do with former mayor Riley Curry’s monstrous tribute to his hog Cletus. There are no secrets in Henry Adams, but there’s never a dull moment either. 

Spilling the Tea

After sustaining injuries in Iraq, Chancellor Madaris was told he’d never walk again. Chance credits his great-grandmother Mama Laverne with giving him the will to heal and prove the doctors wrong. He has a healthy respect for her meddling ways and knows he’ll eventually end up next on her matchmaking list.

When Zoey Pritchard was eight, she survived a car accident that took the lives of her mother and father, and was sent to live with her great-aunt who refused to speak about her parents. Zoey has no memory from before the crash, but she’s been having the same dream over and over…

Searching for answers, Zoey travels to Houston, where she uncovers a scandal involving her parents and the wealthy and powerful Madaris family. Her trail leads her straight to Chance’s door. The dislike and intense attraction are instant and simultaneous. But to help Zoey restore her memory, he grudgingly introduces her to his great-grandmother…

Was it chance, or Mama Laverne’s plan, that threw this pair together?

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

*Paperback Release Date - 8/18/26*

In this taut Southern family drama, the sins of a favorite son rock a small Mississippi town.

Reverend Sabre Winfrey, shepherd of the Seven Seals Baptist Church, believes in God, his own privilege, and enterprise. Besides the barbershop and radio station he owns, he has an iron hand on every aspect of Dominion, Mississippi, society. He and his wife, Priscilla, have five boys; the youngest, Emanuel, is called Wonderboy―no one sings prettier, runs as fast, or turns as many heads. After a surprising encounter with a stranger, Wonderboy finds himself confronted by questions he’d never imagined, and his response will send shockwaves through the entire community. Told from the point of view of the women who love these two men, Dominion illustrates how we enable the everyday violence and casual sins of the patriarchy.

A Black Southern family drama that deals as much in tenderness and humor as it does in brutality, Addie E. Citchens’s Dominion reveals the many sinister ways in which we are shaped by fear and patriarchy.