Valentine’s Day is today, and if there’s one thing I love, it’s African-American authors. This year is the perfect chance for you to fall in love with some old favorites and to find a few new Christian, mainstream and romance authors. Here are a few I love. Please note, this article contains affiliate links.
Stacy Hawkins Adams
Why you’ll love her: She has a way with words and storytelling.
Check out: Winds of Change series, including Coming Home
A.C. Arthur
Why you’ll love her: Her romances offer intriguing plots, and her young adult novels take on the paranormal.
Check out: Her After Hours series, including her latest, Laws of Attraction
ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Why you’ll love her: She consistently delivers great stories.
Check out: Her latest life, More to Life
Francine Craft
Why you’ll love her: Her contemporary romances will make you happy.
Check out: Never Without You Again
Angie Daniels
Why you’ll love her: She’s not afraid to write what’s on her mind.
Check out: The first book in her Knockin’ Boots series, Command and Control
Natasha Frazier
Why you’ll love her: She inspires readers one page at a time,
Check out: Her Love, Lies and Consequences series, including her latest, Out of the Shadows
Sherelle Green
Why you’ll love her: She offers sexy, sassy, and sophisticated stories with a touch of drama.
Check out: To Marry a Madden series, including her latest, Caden’s #Situationship
Bettye Griffin
Why you’ll love her: She shows us real-world romance.
Check out: From this Day Forward
Vanessa Davis Griggs
Why you’ll love her: She deftly incorporates the spiritual into real-life issues.
Check out: Blessed Trinity series, including The Other Side of Divine
Linda Leigh Hargrove
Why you’ll love her: Her books build bridges.
Check out: Her Newland Road series, including her most recent, Cooking School
Carolyn Hector
Why you’ll love her: She finds the romance in every situation.
Check out: Falling for a Beauty Queen
Donna Hill
Why you’ll love her: Whether you’re interested in romance, women’s fiction, chicklit or mysteries, she’s got you covered.
Check out: Her latest, Forever Mine
Alexandria House
Why you’ll love her: She writes real black love for mature adults.
Check out: Her Them Boys series, including her latest, Shu
Jacinta Howard
Why you’ll love her: Love is beautiful, humans are messy. She writes about the space in between.
Check out: The Prototype series, including the first book in the series, Happiness in Jersey
Piper Huguley
Why you’ll love her: She brings African-American history to life with her 20th century tales.
Check out: Home to Milford College series, including The Representative’s Revolt
Brenda Jackson
Why you’ll love her: She creates stories about families that make you want to fall in love.
Check out: Husband Material
Norma Jarrett
Why you’ll love her: Her books will remind you of hanging out with your girlfriends.
Check out: Her latest, Salt and Sky
Beverly Jenkins
Why you’ll love her: She’s the pioneer and queen of African-American historical romance, and her modern-day stuff will hook you
Check out: Rebel, her latest historical romance
Wayne Jordan
Why you’ll love him: He’s one of the few men writing romance, and he does it oh so well.
Check out: The Knight Trilogy, including One Gentle Knight
Michelle Lindo-Rice
Why you’ll love her: She enjoys crafting fiction centered around faith, friendship, family and forgiveness.
Check out: The first book of her Lovetown series, Small Town Love, which she coauthored with Michelle Stimpson
Sheryl Lister
Why you’ll love her: She writes sweet, sensual contemporary romance
Check out: Closer to You
Tia McCollors
Why you’ll love her: Her Christian fiction stories have a realness that is unmatched
Check out: Days of Grace series, including Monday Morning Joy
Rhonda McKnight
Why you’ll love her: Her Christian fiction stories just seem to get better and better.
Check out: Her Restoration series, including her latest, The Winter Baby
Vanessa Miller
Why you’ll love her: Her stories minister to readers.
Check out: Rain series, including Through the Storm
Tyora Moody
Why you’ll love her: She writes soul-searching mysteries with a dash of romance.
Check out: Her Serena Manchester series, including Bittersweet Motives
Stephanie Perry Moore
Why you’ll love her: She is one of the few authors writing Christian fiction for kids and young adults.
Check out: Swoop List series, including Give It Up
Victoria Christopher Murray
Why you’ll love her: She has a gift for storytelling and a way with words.
Check out: Seven Deadly Sins series, including her latest, Greed
Kendra Norman
Why you’ll love her: She pens stories that could happen every day.
Check out: Her Solomon series, including Song of Solomon
Unoma Nwankwor
Why you’ll love her: She shares faith and romance with an African spice
Check out: Sons of Ishmael series, including the latest, Redeemed Through Love
Vanessa Riley
Why you’ll love her: She writes historical fiction and historical romance (Georgian, Regency, and Victorian eras) featuring hidden histories, dazzling multi-culture communities, and strong sisterhoods.
Check out: Her Advertisements for Love series, including the latest, The Bewildered Bride
Kimberla Lawson Roby
Why you’ll love her: She delivers powerful stories of family and friendship
Check out: Her first nonfiction project, The Woman God Created You to Be
Farrah Rochon
Why you’ll love her: Whether you love the hustle and bustle of the big city, or the quiet serenity of small towns, you’re sure to lose yourself within the pages of one of her romance series.
Check out: Preorder her upcoming book, The Boyfriend Project
Toni Shiloh
Why you’ll love her: Her books are soulfully romantic
Check out: The Maple Run series, including Risking Love
Pat Simmons
Why you’ll love her: Her inspirational romances are big on faith and well-researched genealogical subplots.
Check out: The first book in her Family Is Forever series, Lean On Me
Maureen Smith
Why you’ll love her: She writes several genres, and she does them all well.
Check out: Denver Rebels series, including her latest Sin Bin
Michelle Stimpson
Why you’ll love her: Her books are relatable and will have you laughing out loud
Check out: The first book of her Lovetown series, Small Town Love, which she coauthored with Michelle Lindo-Rice
Chandra Sparks Splond
Why you’ll love her: She writes real, relatable reads for teens and tweens
Check out: Her latest young adult novel, Get It Together
Kim Cash Tate
Why you’ll love her: She does not shy away from tough subjects and tells them in a way that leaves you wanting more—of a relationship with God and more of her stories.
Check out: Hidden Blessings
Jacquelin Thomas
Why you’ll love her: She writes Christian fiction and romance in a way that no one else can.
Check out: Phoenix
Tiffany L. Warren
Why you’ll love her: She writes great characters and plots.
Check out: All the Things I Should Have Known
Lisa Watson
Why you’ll love her: Her characters are memorable and fun.
Check out: The Match Broker series, including Love by Design
Pamela Samuels Young
Why you’ll love her: Her legal thrillers spotlight people of color in a way rarely seen.
Check out: The Dre Thomas and Angela Evans series, including her latest, Failure to Protect
What authors have you fallen in love with and why?