Get ready to fall in love with debut romance author Charese Powell. I recently spoke with her about her release, Crossing Lines at City Hall.
Tell me about your latest book.
My debut novel, Crossing Lines at City Hall, is a steamy, emotionally layered political romance set in the fictional city of Langston Heights. It follows Celeste Evans, a brilliant and commanding chief of staff to the mayor of Langston Heights, and Malachi Owens, a former Wall Street golden boy turned grassroots nonprofit leader. They’re constantly at odds—ideologically, politically, and emotionally—but the chemistry between them simmers just beneath the surface. It’s a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers story filled with ambition, secrets, sharp banter, and the kind of tension that keeps you turning pages at 2AM.
Why did you decide to write it?
I’ve always loved romance—but I wanted to tell the kind of love story I rarely saw growing up: one where Black characters were front and center, navigating passion, power, vulnerability, and joy. I spent years in corporate and nonprofit spaces, so I also wanted to explore what it means to fight for your people, your heart, and your future—all at once. This story came from that intersection of desire and purpose.
Who is your favorite character in the book and why?
Malachi. Hands down. He’s principled, passionate, and frustratingly self-controlled—even when every nerve in his body is screaming for Celeste. Writing him was like peeling back layers of ambition, grief, and longing. He loves hard but quietly, and when that dam finally breaks? Whew. I still get butterflies.
And listen—when I picture Malachi, I see the rapper Skepta. It’s giving tall, brooding, intense. It’s giving “walks in the room and the air shifts.” He’s got all the main character BDE I love in a male lead: smart, sexy, emotionally complex, and just a little bit dangerous in the best way.
That said, Celeste’s best friend Reese is hilarious and a total scene-stealer. She lives out loud, tells the truth even when it stings, and keeps Celeste from spiraling more than once. If you don’t have a Reese in your life, you’re missing out.
What was the hardest part about writing the story?
Letting my characters be messy. I wanted them to be complex and fully human, which meant making choices that weren’t always clean or easy. Writing those emotionally raw moments—especially when it came to betrayal and forgiveness—forced me to sit with discomfort and still hold the heart of the story steady.
Also? Trusting that the story (and the characters) would go where they needed to. I’m a control freak by nature, and this book took twists I didn’t see coming when I started. But, baby—I love this book. And I love these characters.
If you were to write a book about your life, what would be the title and why?
This Isn’t Like Me.
Because for most of my life, I did the “right” things. I climbed the ladder, played by the rules, kept my dreams tucked safely away. But the real magic happened when I finally broke the mold—when I started living a life that was mine, on my terms, without worrying about what anyone else might think.
What would you tell your 16-year-old self?
We did it!! You’ve wanted to write a novel since you were nine or ten, and you finally did it. I know you keep putting it off—but look at God.
Also? Buckle up. Very little will go according to plan, but it’ll all work out. Sometimes in harder ways than we hoped. Sometimes in more beautiful ways than we could’ve imagined.
What is something readers would be surprised to know about you?
I got hooked on steamy romance novels during the pandemic—and one year, I read over 100 of them. They had me in a serious chokehold, lol. That obsession is actually a big part of why I wrote my first one. Full circle moment!
Also, Charese Powell is my pen name. I chose it as an homage to my grandfather, who bought me my first word processor and always believed I was meant to be a writer. He saw this dream for me long before I had the courage to chase it.
Tell me about a book that changed your life and why.
Look. I’m an introvert at heart—been reading since I was a tyke—so honestly, there are so many books I could put on this list.
But The Third Life of Grange Copeland is the one that’s stuck with me the most. It’s layered, searing, and so criminally underrated. I read it when I was around 12 or 13, and it was one of the first books that showed me the power in telling our whole stories—the messy, painful, complicated truths. It made me realize that our lives, in all their nuance, deserve to be on the page.
What’s next for you?
Part 2 of Crossing Lines at City Hall drops in January 2026. It’s even sexier, messier, and more emotionally intense. I’m also working on a new standalone novel with a delicious one-night-stand-turned-complicated-romance at the center.
Do you have anything you would like to add?
Just a huge thank you—to the readers who show up for Black love and to platforms like Black Fiction Addiction that make space for our stories to shine.
Use the Black Fiction Addiction affiliate link to purchase your copy of Crossing Lines at City Hall by Charese Powell.
To learn more about romance author Charese Powell, visit her website or connect with her on social media.
Website: www.chareseinlove.com
Instagram: @chareseinlove
Email: xoxo@chareseinlove.com