Contemporary African American Fiction

Covina Hurley has lived a privileged life as the daughter of a retired major league baseball player. With privilege comes shelter, and with shelter comes ignorance to many life experiences. When she makes the choice to open herself up to new experiences, she never thought that love would be one of them. Will her new life experiences be damaging to who she is as a person, or will it grow her in ways that she never thought were possible? Will it do both?

Yves worked so hard to build a better life and rid herself of her ex-husband. When she sees him in Vee’s kitchen, her entire world feels like it went back to the day her daughter died. With her ex-husband back in her life, she has to deal with all the past traumas that their marriage has caused. If Khalif re-entering her life isn’t enough, a blast from the past comes back into her life proving to still have the keys to her heart.

Dakota Buck, a rough-around-the-edges music executive, strides through life calling the shots with an aura of grit. Yet beneath his rugged exterior lies a complex man shaped by a past marred by betrayal and disappointment, leaving him guarded against true connection and trust. Although willing to open his heart, Dakota yearns for a bond that transcends the superficial or nothing.

Following a chilling winter of revelations and newfound relationships, sunshine breaks through, and Koya Priest finds herself basking in its rays. Before truly enjoying them, dark clouds warn her of a brewing storm. Coming to terms with what she didn't want to accept, the fearless beauty despises that she may be more like her father, Duke, than she realized. Having been referred to as intimidating and downright ruthless, Parish Sneaux doesn't let the opinion of others worry him. Parish makes no exceptions regarding his respect, family, and the gang. That's until he gets a rude awakening.

At the celebration of her best friend's wedding, Claudia Stevens is trying to sort out her tumultuous emotions, regarding the groom's best man and brother, Jaden Alexander Rose. What started as a platonic relationship, has turned into a battle of wills whenever they find themselves together. Their heated exchanges have risen to the surface, and desire spills over on contact. However, Claudia fears she is not enough to be on the arm of a prestigious benefactor like Jaden. And Claudia is sure that's why he's friend-zoned her.

Alexis Marshall never meant to cause the accident that left Jon-Jon Robinson paralyzed—but though guilt plagues her, her husband hopes to put the past behind them. After all, he’s in the middle of selling a tech business—and if Alexis admits to texting while driving, the deal could collapse and cost them millions. Meanwhile, Alexis’s life is not as shiny and perfect as it may seem from the outside. She has secrets of her own. As she becomes consumed with thoughts of the young man she hit, can she reconcile her mistake with her husband’s expectations?

Anissa Dent is experiencing heartbreak like none she’s ever felt. Her husband of nearly twenty years has fallen victim to crack cocaine after a devastating loss. All her efforts to help him have failed, and to protect herself and her sons, she divorces him and has him removed from their home. That doesn’t stop him from popping in and out of their lives with promises of getting clean. Anissa desperately wants to move on in her life, but her love for what once was is holding her back. However, attending a family barbeque with her son proves to be the restart she desperately needs.

Fall in love with these four stories of Christmas in Crescent Falls.

After her husband Chris’ shocking secret is revealed, Meghan wakes up in the hospital to even more devastating news. On top of learning this news, Meghan has been thrust into a new role, but Meghan isn’t so sure she is up to the challenge. And it doesn’t help that Meghan now has major fears and insecurities in her marriage. Will Meghan be able to get over her fears and insecurities or will she and Chris’ relationship be broken forever? Candace finally has everything she wants. She has the clothing store she always wanted, and she and Jamal finally get married. But Candace is ...

Carol has made some big moves since her divorce from Wallace. She’s become a nurse, runs the Strong’s Family Clinic, and now, she’s ready for love. Baxter, her date to Wallace’s reception, is a handsome, rich, retired Airman but something is not there. Carol wants a love to call her own, but she refuses to settle just for the sake of having a man. So, while her friends are left to wonder about Baxter and her, she’s putting more time into talks with Carlotta (her only daughter), and her best friend Isha. She’s beautiful, seemingly smart, and has such a wonderful sense of humor. ...

Best friends? With a celebrity? Impossible. That's how Sesali feels after a chance encounter with super producer Dash Dean. His offer of friendship has to be a smoke screen for an ulterior motive. Besides, she already has best friends, and one of them has staked a claim on Dash.

Dash Everly aka D-Roc, to his fans, is living his dreams. Growing up in the projects wasn't easy, but the scars of his past fueled his drive for success. It's all falling into place, but something's missing. Some unexpected news leads him back to the woman who left a mark on his heart all those years ago. He's determined to stake his claim regardless of her circumstances.

Lunchtime Chronicles: The Nooner was written by USA Today Bestselling Author Reana Malori Forbidden desire can be sexy. Joy was not frigid. Her ex-boyfriend made that claim just before he walked out the door —after she discovered he was cheating. But something about his words lingered long after their disastrous relationship ended. Focused and career-driven, she had no time for men who couldn't handle her in the bedroom or outside of it. Loneliness was not a good bedfellow, and she was tired of not having someone by her side at night. It was fun exploring her newly awakened desires alone....

Cartel Jareau has always been the protector of his siblings. The handsome chef has a bit of a roughness to him. Aside from his family, very few people get to witness his sensitivity. When he met Adina Harold a year ago, he had no idea that intervening in an embarrassing exchange would lead to falling in love with a woman he could never truly have. She was spoken for. Forbidden, yet during turmoil brewing within her home, they somehow fell in love.

Catch my gaze means your eyes better always find mine.

For years, Kalvin Wise's only focus was making sure his baby sister Ciara was safe and loved. Being the product of a toxic union, Wise and Ciara were left to their own vices to survive in the world. Wise refused for his sister to feel the same emptiness he did growing up, which meant survival by any means necessary to provide balance for himself and his sister. Forced to leave her past situation alone, Noa finds herself circling back into the single life. Going with the flow and refusing to settle, she also decides that her approach to love has to change.

First love. Second chances. Is it possible the second time around is better than the first time?​ Running away from guilt nine years ago sent Valencia in the arms of pursuing higher education living in another city. She learns to cope with the loss of making the wrong decision led by selfishness. Valencia doesn't allow depression to settle, but instead chooses to experience life to the fullest without Lorenz, her first love. While having a life of her own, relationships teach her that having a kept secret can only get you so far.​ Going back home is always a good thing, unless you’re ...

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.

Dominoes opens in London, twenty-nine days before a young couple’s wedding. Layla is a mixed-race woman—with a Black, Jamaican mother, and a white father she’s never met—and Andy is a white man of Scottish descent. When they first meet at a party, they can’t believe how instant their chemistry is, and how quickly their relationship unfolds. Funnily enough, they even share a last name: McKinnon.

Suvi Summers never had luck in the love department. Failed relationship after failed relationship leads her to an unforgettable interview with the matchmaking service. Blaze Snow was a ladies' man. He’d never had any trouble finding a woman, but keeping her was a different story. When his best friend signs up for a matchmaking service, he goes for moral support but ends up in an interview of his own. Neither of them expects to gain much from the service, but when they meet at the alter a few weeks later, they are forced to come to terms with feelings neither of them were prepared to reveal.