American Contemporary

Anika was born into poverty, deep in the hood. However, her life’s journey has taken her from her humble beginnings to the pinnacle of success as a successful chemical engineer. But her road to happiness has been paved with unexpected twists and turns. As Anika approaches her thirties, she finds herself living a life of reckless abandon, throwing caution to the wind, and indulging in the temptations that surround her. Her decision to turn away from God during her teenage years haunts her, leaving her searching for meaning and purpose in a world that often feels empty. However, when a ...

In his new position as head of the Baptiste family business, Saint faces many challenges. Nothing could have prepared him for the challenges that came with dealing with the alluring Naoki Childs. She was the insoluble problem his big brother, Jahad, talked about. A problem that couldn't be handled with a phone call, a meeting, or by simply emptying his clip. Saint thought he'd never be faced with a problem he couldn't handle, especially where a woman was concerned. But he quickly learned that Naoki wasn't just some woman. She was much, much more than that.

You’re Not a Girl in a Movie is a new collection of powerful poems by Hala Alyan, winner of the Arab American Book Award in Poetry and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. In these nine extraordinary poems, Alyan wrestles with the intimate themes that have driven her acclaimed body of work to date: the aching loss of homeland, the image and worth of women, and the violence of love. In Beirut, Brooklyn, and roads in the American West, she unravels the effects of decades of war and displacement on love and human worth and identity.

The past is a tricky place. For some, it's a place to be held on to desperately, for others, a place never to be revisited. For Micah Oramah, the pain of a profound loss has caused his faith to be shaken. Blinded by grief, he questions if serving God is actually worth it. Former gay makeup artist, Zainab Baruwa-Phillips is head over heels in love with God. The only cloud is her past which she is desperate to erase. However, she'll learn that her past is a strength God is looking to use for his glory. Almost everything in Shola's life seems to be falling apart. With a rain of emotions ...

The unforgettable story of a young English lady and the warrior who saves her from sure death, a woman and a man from different worlds, two bold hearts who find passion in a divided land and swear to love each other forever. “I am so in love with her books every spare minute has been spent reading them since I found the first one! 3 books in and it's this one that is my favorite so far, I love The Raven!”—Melody Banks Raven watches with his younger brother Takooko through the trees near the Susquehanna River as the enemy Mohawk war party heads north in several canoes with their ...

Zahi was young and living life to the fullest. Then, he was thrust into fatherhood and forced to change his outlook on life, love, and happiness. The self-proclaimed bachelor did not expect to be swept up in emotions he'd never felt. However, caring for his daughter, Zuri, charged a part of his heart that he thought was dead. The spark awakened a need for more out of life. From the moment he laid eyes on India, he was drawn to her. The pull was so intense, and no matter how many times he told himself to stay away from her, he just couldn't follow his own command.

Sparks fly when Nico Martin rescues Elysia Walsh from a fire at her clinic. She has a predictable routine to which she clings. Nico is impulsive and the complete antithesis of her. There’s no denying the attraction between them, but when she’s determined to avoid commitment, and he’s falling fast, their fling could go up in flames.

They said I was a bad idea. Poor. Violent. Criminal. They said I'd amount to nothing, and I believed them, too. Until I met her. Layla Barros saved me from my worst, but to do that, she lost the best herself. Now it's my turn to bring her back to life. If only I can figure out how to do it. I'll do anything to protect the chance we finally have together. I'll follow her to the other side of the word: Brazil. Cuba. You name it. But how can I be her true north when I'm still finding my direction, too?

Janessa is dating a former pro football player, Anthony. He has an amazing body, he has financial means and for many women, he would be the ideal catch if it were not for his wandering eye. On the day of her wedding, she has jitters because she's worried some woman, groupie or another scandal may surface due to HIS many infidelities. He has been caught by the media, bloggers and at times, made her the laughing stock of the pro wife and girlfriend community. When it's that time to object at the wedding, her heart briefly finds peace when no one steps forward. Then, without warning, not one ...

Three lives are intertwined by ambition, rejection, and seduction, as three men chase their dreams, and hope the end justifies the means. Gary must take on the conservative elite to grasp the political opportunity of a lifetime, while Cabrien pines for love, and holds a secret that could destroy those who’ve hurt him—and many more. Armando receives an indecent proposal that would enrage most men, himself included. But everyone has their price. Love is cheap and memories are long in Tricks for a Trade, where every day is a careful dance between ruin and reward. Gary, Cabrien, and Armando...

She swore she’d never come back to Sunset Springs. He never stopped waiting. When aviation mechanic Maribel “Mari” Hernandez is forced to return to the Texas town she fled years ago, the last thing she expects is to be face-to-face with her first—and only—love. Dwight Hayes, the rugged cowboy with storm-blue eyes and a past that drove them apart, is still working the Stanley Ranch... and still igniting every spark she buried long ago. Sent to inspect a ranch-owned helicopter, Mari plans to do her job and leave quietly. But when secrets from the past surface—about love, betrayal,...

Nobody’s perfect, everybody has a flaw or two, right? Yep, Olivia Johnson knows this all too well, but at the same time, she knows that some people carry flaws that are more burdensome than the ones that others are carrying. Seeing that Olivia has ADHD and is nowhere near as quick-thinking as her smart-as-she-wanna-be sister, Lyric, Olivia understands this fact more so than most. However, being a woman of faith, Olivia also wholeheartedly believes that God never puts more on a person than they can bear. So, with the help and love of her closest friends and family members—well, most of ...

In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is planned - from the layout of the winding roads to the colors of the houses to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules. Enter Mia Warren - an enigmatic artist and single mother - who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenage daughter, Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons.

Syre Reign has always been seen as the family screw-up. Wherever he goes, his reputation as a hothead with repeated run-ins with the law precedes him. From a young age, Delilah Gold has groomed her sons and nephews to take over her online empire. Everyone has a place in the family business, even Syre as the head of security. Now that Delilah is retiring soon, she sets a plan in motion to merge her family dynasty with the infamous Black family through a marriage of convenience.

This is supposed to be her happily ever after with the man she fell in love with at first sight... except her new husband’s family hates her. The more Sharmeka tries to be respectful and cordial, the further Rick’s parents push back against her marriage to their son. Rick loves Sharmeka with all of his heart, but finds himself torn between maintaining his wife’s affections and gaining his parent’s acceptance. When their final thrust destroys the fragile trust between she and her husband, Sharmeka begins to think that maybe love wasn’t meant for her after all. This story is a BWWM ...

A domineering force in Miami’s volatile criminal underworld, Brad Black is respected. Feared. His deadly accurate trigger finger and indestructible persona has earned him his intimidating reputation and, up until six months ago, hookers, drugs, and protecting the Black empire was the sum of his life’s purpose. Until he saved her. Wild, brave, and beautiful, Pearl Kennedy is Brad’s kryptonite.

Celebrated author Cheris Hodges pens romantic tales that hit all the right notes. In Recipe for Desire, Marie Charles’ party-girl days come to a screeching halt with a DWI arrest and a totaled Jaguar. Sentenced to 500 hours of community service at a local women’s shelter, her only bright spot is a fellow volunteer, TV star Devon Harris. But Devon wants nothing to do with Marie and her selfish ways - until her work at the shelter has her turning over a new leaf.

Tabitha Knicely is overwhelmed with sorrow and exhaustion caring for her beloved great-aunt, whose dementia is getting worse. When her neighbor Marcus Whittington accuses Tabitha of elder neglect, he doesn't realize how his threats to have Aunt Tweet taken away add to Tabitha's pain. Then Marcus gets to know the exuberant elderly lady and sees up close how hard Tabitha is fighting to keep everything together. Tabitha finds herself leaning on Marcus more and more. And he's becoming more than happy to share her burdens.

And to Some, God Gave the Gift of Prophesy… Charity is a gorgeous youth counselor who believes in using faith and love to make a difference in the lives of almost everyone she meets. Because she’s so in-touch with her walk with the Lord, she knows that God has given her the gift of prophecy — she’s even seen prophetic dreams of hers come into fruition, more than a time or two. When Micah, the ‘fine-as-he-wanna-be’ prodigal son of her pastor returns home after years in the music industry, Charity is convinced that God has destined Micah to be a part of her family via him marrying...

Thirty-three year old Sierra North is beautiful, saved, and single. She has patiently looked on as her younger sisters have all gotten married. Sierra is happy for her siblings, but she can’t help but want a special someone for herself. When she develops an attraction to the handsome manager of her local supermarket — Camden Mason — she thinks she’s found her soulmate. Her family and friends try to convince her that Camden isn’t the one for her, but she doesn’t want to hear about that. She finally forms a friendship with Derek Young, a talented, saved contractor who’s settled ...