Stride: Self-Care For Black Women Over 50

Typical teenager Joanna Gore Alex is less than thrilled to be the new girl in a new school. During her first day, she quickly learns teachers obviously favor the popular students and her classmates have no interest in being nice. Just when Joanna believes the day couldn't get any worse, she has a slightly embarrassing and awkward altercation with one of the hottest guys at school. But as the school days pass by, Joanna forms friendships with some unexpected classmates and discovers exactly how strong she can be against the school's mean girl. When Joanna is drawn to one of her brother's new friends, Frank, she feels like she's known him forever. Even his full name - Francis James - sounds familiar to her for some reason. Joanna quickly learns life isn't all about handing assignments in on time (although it is important), she discovers the meaning of friendship, family, heartache, and most of all, love.

On his birthday, Ravi Lazy Arsenio asked for an original plea while blowing out candles on a birthday cake to bring down an angel in his life. When Ravi headed to his room the same day he was startled by a strange man being in his room wearing only leather trousers. The man named Raymond said that his life belonged to Ravi whose purpose of his arrival was to take care of Ravi as well as help him in all of Ravi's lazy daily life, evidenced by a large tattoo bearing Ravi's name on his chest. Ravi wants to report it to the police but undoes his intentions when he finds out there's a big secret they have to cover up about Raymond that comes out of nowhere. Plus Raymond's behavior like children under five years old who cry easily, there is something that surprises Ravi is that he has big wings, black and soft, coming out of his back. Not only that, Raymond always shoots scents that almost make Ravi lose control of himself. Raymond's arrival also makes Ravi's life more complicated than before which leads him into a big problem that Ravi never imagined. Who exactly is Raymond? What is the real purpose? What dark past did Raymond and his family try to hide from Ravi all along?

After her mother shoved her away, Astrallaine moved in with a woman she didn't know. She must be self-sufficient and capable of standing alone — without leaning against other walls. Will she be able to continue in life when a man appears and makes her even more miserable? Will she be able to let go of the wretched version of herself?

I bought a handsome, aloof incubus online. But he wouldn't stop making that low humming sound, just standing there, staring at me in silence. His body was burning hot. Worried he might be sick, I hurried to contact customer service. After listening to my description, the person on the other end went quiet for a moment. Then they said, "Um... is it possible that your incubus isn't sick—he's just starving, maybe wanting to kiss you, or... do something else?"

At first, I thought it was just a regular body check-up. But when I wake up on the cold examination chair, the feeling of the binds on my limbs snuffs out the last trace of my hope. I growl at him threateningly. Still, I can't stop him from sliding his hand along my inner thigh all the way up. That's when I feel the cool latex being inserted into my body. I can only sob softly from the invasion. But the feelings of excitement, embarrassment, and humiliation keep surging into me. Once the check-up is over, I vow to never see him again. But what I don't expect is to see him haunting my dreams like a phantom…

I begged my husband for weeks before he finally agreed to come with me to my prenatal appointment. The whole time, he just stood there with his hands buried in his pockets, watching me coldly as I handled everything on my own—paying the bills, checking in at the front desk, running around like crazy until I was completely overwhelmed. The second I walked into the exam room, he vanished into thin air. And to top it off, he took off in my car, leaving me to take the bus home by myself. As soon as I got on the bus, my phone buzzed. He'd sent me a screenshot of a receipt: [Companionship fee: 50 dollars] [Round-trip gas: 7 dollars] [Total: 57 dollars] There was also a voice message attached. "Our marriage is strictly fifty-fifty. What does your pregnancy checkup have to do with me? Why should I give up my day off to go to the hospital with you?" Listening to that icy message, I suddenly remembered the way he once got down on his knees in front of me, begging me to help pay for his education. I was so angry, I just started laughing. Fine then. If this was a fifty-fifty marriage, it was time to settle the score!