Black Artemis

Street hustler turned Bronx bond agent Jasmine Reyes is all about second chances.

In this hardcore novel of love and betrayal, a female ex-con moved by the power, poetry, and dangerous passion of Tupac Shakur has plans to play it straight and do the right thing for her future survival. But her lover Jesus, the man she went to prison for on a gun possession charge, is intent on bringing her back into his game. She finds herself caught between inescapable yet contradictory forces-the passion for the streets and the inspiration of her conscience, just like her idol Pac. With righteous anger to burn, she's got to pull her life together before it's too late.

Cassandra Rivers and Leila Aponte have been puttin' it down as Sabrina Steelo and Fatal Beauty on the underground hip hop scene. Even though Cassie dreams of working it like Wu Tang while Leila fantasizes about becoming the Latina Big Pun, it's all good because they're as tight in life as they are on the mic. But when G Double D, founder of gangsta rap label Explicit Content, seduces Fatal with promises of solo stardom, she falls for his rap hook, verse, and sample. Burned by Fatal's betrayal, Sabrina must forge ahead alone, driven to beat her partner-turned-rival to the streets. Before she knows it, Cassie's drive leads her right into the center of Explicit Content drama. G's got secrets, none of them good, and Fatal's in danger. Her bond with Fatal is too deep to deny, and Cassie's competitiveness quickly turns into concern. But G Double D makes it clear-ride or die. Cassie has to decide what she's willing to risk to achieve her dream-including Fatal's friendship and perhaps even her life.