I took a few weeks off, so I’m playing catchup. It’s a new year, but before I get into the swing of things in 2026, I want to spotlight some of favorite reads of 2025. Last year was banner for me. I listened to about 300 books, and there were a lot of great ones. Use my affiliate links to check out some of my top picks, in no particular order.
Rounds
Monica Walters
Being a doctor is Glover Israel’s passion. He tends to his patients like they are his children and takes pride in providing excellent care. He doesn’t have a good reputation among hospital staff, because he requires the same level of service from them toward his patients as well. Having to financially take care of his paraplegic father leaves little time for much of anything outside of work. The only things he can seem to find time for are carnal pleasures. He’s not looking for a relationship or anything close to love. So, he makes his rounds through potential candidates at will . . . until he literally bumps into Delaney Boutté.
Loving the wrong man can be hard to overcome emotionally. Delaney Boutté learns that lesson the hard way. When her relationship starts to fizzle and she finds out about her boyfriend’s philandering ways, she chooses to get even. Doctor Glover Israel seems to be the perfect candidate, since he has the reputation of being the womanizer of St. Ambrose Memorial Hospital. She knows he’s attracted to her, and physically, she’s attracted to him too, but she knows her heart isn’t ready for anything more than the carnal pleasures he’s known for indulging in.
Through their interactions at the hospital, the two quickly realize that there is more to their attraction than the physical aspect of it. Glover has nothing to lose by going for it, but Delaney feels her heart can’t withstand any more disappointment or heartbreak. Can the man that has avoided his feelings for so long convince the woman of his dreams that he’s ready for something real, or will she leave him to the proverbial streets from whence he came?
https://amzn.to/4q7Pfvl
Crash
C. Monet
Sametra Andrews knows how to run into burning buildings, but facing her own emotions has been a harder fight. For seventeen years, the devoted single mother and fearless firefighter has kept life simple: protect her son, avoid heartbreak, and never depend on a man to show up.
But one rainy night shatters that plan. After a devastating car crash leaves her son Samaj hospitalized, Sametra meets Dr. Malik Holloway, a fine physical therapist with Alabama roots, healing hands, and an energy that disarms her defenses without even trying.
She wasn’t looking for help. Definitely, not looking to fall. But Malik makes it too easy to do both.
As Sametra rebuilds her life and wrestles with old wounds, Malik becomes more than just support. He becomes the reason she learns that love can rise from the wreckage.
The Sweetest Thing I’ve Ever Known
AshleyNichole
After ten years in an ugly relationship, Choyce is finally free. Not only is she free, but she’s also caught the eye of her new neighbor’s grandson. He’s everything her ex wasn’t and everything she’s ever wanted.
Plus, he comes with a gregarious, loving family that is all too eager to bring Choyce into the fold. Can she leave her ex in the past and accept the sweetest love she’s ever known?
Contains mature themes.
https://amzn.to/4qHVqpW
My Crazy Love
Charae Lewis
A go getter by nature, Amoni Cash always makes sure to obtain whatever his heart desires. That includes the women he sets his sight on. One has him by the history they share and the other has his heart in a chokehold. Not sure which way he should go, Amoni figures he can have it his way and entertain them both.
The plot thickens when a team player grows tired of not being the star player. In the blink of an eye, Amoni’s ideal life is transformed into ruins when he finds himself losing control. Couple that with his family dilemma and an adversary who vies for his most beloved possession, Amoni is forced to confront the consequences of his selfish decisions.
Love’s Most Wanted
Shvonne Latrice
Kabrina Kenneth had no complaints when it came to her life. She had the career of her dreams and the man to go with it which was something she deeply coveted coming from her particular background. But when her dream life turns into a nightmare literally overnight, Kabrina’s anger and hurt causes her to make a huge mistake. Feeling like she can’t catch a break and is doomed to pay for the sins of her mother, Kabrina does whatever she can to hopefully rectify what that one night of betrayal, anger, and sadness has caused. But because that mishap is better known as Unique Compton, she realizes it will be harder to fix.
Unique Compton, the handsome, charming, and flirtatious up-and-coming actor has always lived life on his own terms. Refusing to follow in the footsteps of his brothers before him, Unique vows to never lead a traditional, boring, monogamous lifestyle. Equipped with two girlfriends, a role on a popular show, and an aura that makes most women become putty in his hands, Unique feels like his life is set. But underneath the sexy smile, pretty eyes, and light-hearted demeanor he must constantly deal with his beefing significant others as well as a work situation he wants to take to the grave. To make matters worse, the pretty girl who makes his heart beat a little faster named Kabrina has entered his life in a way he never imagined, making things, namely his love life, all the more difficult. And even more so when she connects him to a person he had long ago tried to forget.
In this romance filled with secrets, jealousy, and unexpected love, you will experience what happens to a man so hellbent on avoiding true love, that he ends up falling head first right into its trap.
The Filling Station
Vanessa Miller
Sisters Margaret and Evelyn Justice have grown up in the prosperous Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma–also known as Black Wall Street. In Greenwood, the Justice sisters had it all–movie theaters and entertainment venues, beauty shops and clothing stores, high-profile businesses like law offices, medical clinics, and banks. While Evelyn aspires to head off to the East Coast to study fashion design, recent college grad Margaret plans to settle in Greenwood, teaching at the local high school and eventually raising a family.
Then the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre upends everything they know and brings them unspeakable loss. Left with nothing but each other, the sisters flee along what would eventually become iconic Route 66 and stumble upon the Threatt Filling Station, a safe haven and the only place where they can find a shred of hope in oppressive Jim Crow America. At the filling station, they are able to process their pain, fill up their souls, and find strength as they wrestle with a faith in God that has left them feeling abandoned.
But they eventually realize that they can’t hide out at the filling station when Greenwood needs to be rebuilt. The search for their father and their former life may not give them easy answers, but it can propel them–and their community–to a place where their voices are stronger . . . strong enough to build a future that honors the legacy of those who were lost.
https://amzn.to/4stesSr
Hear My Heart
Tay Monae
Growing up deaf in a family that ignored her caused Nakyra to embrace the silence. When she meets Rome, she believes she’s found the one, and after years of being together the two decide it’s time to finally tie the knot when tragedy hits. Then he comes into the picture, and her whole world is suddenly flipped upside down. No matter how forbidden he might be, she can’t seem to ignore the feelings forming for him. Everything she thought she knew is suddenly being tested and leaves her conflicted.
Nakyra’s now torn between staying committed or facing new possibilities.
https://amzn.to/450OEmQ
His Missed Shot
J. Nichole
When Chloe moved to LA, she wasn’t trying to meet a star or become one.
While working for a famous chef, Chloe made a delivery to Chris’ house. Although he had the physique, the face, and that devilish grin that made her want to spread open for him on the counter—he was a client. And she was strictly forbidden from fraternizing with clients.
Chris made it to the NBA and already had one championship ring. Finding a woman to settle down with wasn’t exactly what he wanted. But he saw her in his kitchen. Then his main concern was no longer winning another championship. It quickly became convincing her that she wanted him as badly as he wanted her.
Will Chloe give him a chance to shoot his shot—or will she be working hard on her defense?
https://amzn.to/4b7qCdR
Where We Found Our Home
Natasha Bishop
Lincoln
I had my chance at love and I threw it away. I don’t deserve another.
I’ve dedicated my entire life to my community. There’s no time for anything else.
But then I met her. Ciara Jeffries is everything I told myself I didn’t want but she might be everything I need. If I can just hold on to her.
Ciara
If I don’t get out of this town I’ll lose my sanity, my loved ones, and my life. I need a fresh start and Austin, Texas feels like as good a place as any.
I wasn’t supposed to build connections and I definitely wasn’t supposed to fall in love.
Lincoln Cole has other plans for me. He has me breaking all my rules and I feel safe in his arms.
But safety is a luxury I don’t have.
I thought I ran far enough but my past will never let me go and my recklessness may just get Lincoln burned.
Honor and Wealth: Remy
Dahlia Rose
Sinead Christie was dedicated to the foster kids in her care. Was she surprised to be groped at a charity event trying to gain donations for her kids? Nope, because rich people felt that for their money, they could do whatever they wanted. But that was when she met the mysterious billionaire, Remington Durant, for the second time. With one act of kindness, Remy changed Sinead’s life forever. He slipped a check with more zeros than she’d ever seen into her purse and made sure she and the kids were taken care of. Remy even showed up at their home with gifts for the kids and a heart to make a difference. From their first date, she found that he was more than just his money. As their connection deepened, Sinead found herself falling for the former soldier with a heart of gold.
Raised with a platinum spoon in his mouth, Remy made sure he was exactly the opposite to what his father believed and how he was raised. He joined the military, served with men and women, and suffered loss along with them, and when he took over everything his father built, Remy set about to change it in every possible way. Danger threatened her and the children he grew to love. Remy realized that falling in love with Sinead was something unbreakable, and he would protect them at any cost. What was between them was more than just passion and desire – it was the healing balm on his soul. And when he loved, Remy loved with everything he had, and anyone in his way would face the full force of the soldier billionaire and his wrath.
Can’t Get Enough
Kennedy Ryan
Hendrix Barry lives a fabulous life. She has phenomenal friends, a loving family, and a thriving business that places her in the entertainment industry’s rarefied air. Your vision board? She’s probably living it.
She’s a woman with goals, dreams, ambitions—always striving upward. And in the midst of everything, she’s facing her toughest challenge yet: caring for an aging parent. Who has time for romance? From her experience, there’s a low ROI on relationships. Anyway, she hasn’t met the man who can keep up with her. Until…him.
Tech mogul Maverick Bell is a dilemma wrapped in an exquisitely tailored suit and knee-melting charm. From their first charged glance at the summer’s hottest party, Hendrix feels like she’s met her match. Only he can’t be. Mav may be the first to make her feel this seen and desired, but he’s the last one she can have. Forbidden fruit is the juiciest, and this man is off limits if she plans to stay the course she’s set for herself.
But when Maverick gives chase—pursuing her, spoiling her, understanding her—is it time to let herself have something more?
https://amzn.to/4aKhqMb
All the Smoke
T’Lyn
Solomon Tate lives by one rule, loyalty over everything and leads by example. Solomon takes care of his people and all he expects in return is for everyone on his team to remain solid. Anyone who refuses to show loyalty no longer earns his favor, family is not exempt.
Kaori Randall embraces one concept. Love and be loved. She is raised by parents and grandparents who are the example of happy healthy relationships. Kaori has high expectations when it came to her own personal happiness which makes the fail of her own love life a huge disappointment.
Instead of allowing herself to wallow in disappointment, Kaori refocuses her efforts into school and work. She hasn’t given up on love but refuses to set herself up for to fail, however, an encounter with a man who defies the exception of everything she believes she wants and deserves once again has Kaori hopeful.
Her heart begins to explore the idea that she just might find her one. Unfortunately the risk feels greater than the reward because she’s not positive she’ll remain standing through all the chaos and destruction once the Smoke clears.
Yeah…Thanks
Jahquel J
Every day I turned my camera on, sat in front of my tripod, and recorded myself doing my makeup, hair, or getting ready for an event. My supporters watched wishing they had the newest designer bag that I had just worn, or the mountains upon mountains of PR every brand sent to my front door. They wanted to be Harlym J., and I mean, I couldn’t blame them. I made this lifestyle look like a piece of cake with three cherries on top.
What they didn’t see was the breakdowns, tears, and weekly visits to shake my titties for a perverted correction officer just to see my man. They didn’t see the arguments and moments of loneliness while all my other friends were moving on with their lives. They were getting married, getting pregnant, advancing in their careers, and all I was getting was action from my rose.
I wanted to hate Ashton Willshire. I mean, he’s self-centered, rude, and cocky as ever. There was no way I was going to give up something familiar for uncharted territories. I don’t know if it was the gold teeth, the tattoos, or the way he tied his du-rag. All of it drove my senses haywire, and I hated it.
So, yeah … thanks.
Never Better…Thanks
Jahquel J
When I envisioned the life that I wanted for myself, I pictured myself sitting in a rocking chair in the nursery me and my husband had spent months designing. I pictured looking down at a baby that resembled the both of us, and thanking God that he chose me to be their mother.
My reality was that I was staring down at another negative pregnancy test and realizing the possibility that I had failed another cycle of IVF, alone.
There was no husband here to comfort me, or a nursery that I could sit and sob in.
Each time that one line appeared, a small piece of me always died inside. It was like the plastic test was determining my future. My fate. Letting me know I wasn’t worthy of giving life. Becoming the one thing I had always wanted to become: a mother.
After taking this failed pregnancy test, I had to tie my scrubs, plaster a smile on my face and go out there and care for my patients. So, when someone smiled and asked me the dreaded question … How are you? I always smiled, though dying on the inside, and responded with, Never better … thanks.
https://amzn.to/3YxvJwe
Better Than Your Ex: Young and Stony
K.C. Mills
Donovan Barron, aka Young, is Southside to the heart, and nothing can change that, not even an NBA career. Refusing to conform has led to Young being dubbed as “Atlanta’s Bad Boy”. Living lowkey and making money are his only priorities until he is forced to switch it up.
Stony Dorrian refuses to let anyone tell her how to live her life any longer! For too long, she has allowed her parents to control everything in her life, including her relationship with her boyfriend, Dallas. Officially fed up, a chance meeting allows Stony to live a carefree for once, and it just might change her life forever.
A few chance meetings between Stony and Young turn their worlds upside down and force the two strangers to become closer than they ever imagined. The odds are definitely against these two as they navigate through life together.
Drama plagues the new couple and just might be enough to end their relationship before it even starts. When secrets are exposed Stony and Young may find that it’s just too much and not worth it. Will these two survive everything that life throws at them, or will the drama succeed in breaking up the newfound couple?
Plus Size Player
Danielle Allen
Nina Ford doesn’t like to put all her eggs in one basket. She works multiple jobs, she enjoys multiple hobbies, she dates multiple men.
In her thirty years of life, Nina has never come across a man who has all the things she’s looking for.
She loves fun and excitement—and she has a man for that.
She loves confidence and humor—and she has a man for that.
She loves intelligence and ambition—and she has a man for that.
She loves passion and romance—and she has a man for that.
She’s always been content rotating a few men in and out of her life to get her needs met. But when Russell Long, her designated “Fun Guy”, shows her that he’s good for more than just thrills, it seems too good to be true. Nina finds herself in a predicament.
She’s found everything she’s ever wanted in a career in one job.
She’s found everything she’s ever wanted in a partner in one man.
Inevitably, her eggs are bound to get cracked.
Like her back.
Bent but Not Broken
Mary Monroe
Brimming with unpredictable twists and scandals, the latest Depression-era Alabama novel from award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Mary Monroe tells of a mistreated wife who finally finds the love she’s longed for—only to be plunged into deceit, betrayal, and murder . . .
As a young woman, Naomi Simmons grabbed her one chance to escape the overwhelming demands of her selfish family by marrying devout older man Jacob Purcell. But it only landed her with a controlling, unfaithful husband who delights in hurling insults at her and their troubled now-teenage daughter, Ethel Mae. So, Naomi is amazed and touched when Homer Clark sees her for the vibrant, intelligent woman she truly is. Believing the handsome, worldly widower is her love of a lifetime, Naomi plans to leave with Homer and start fresh in the big city . . .
Then Jacob suffers a debilitating stroke, and Naomi can’t bring herself to abandon him. Unfortunately, Homer refuses to listen—or understand. Relieved when he leaves town and disappears, Naomi dedicates herself to the now-grateful Jacob’s care. And she feels truly delighted and blessed when Ethel Mae finally gets her life on track away from home—and comes back with good news . . .
But Ethel Mae’s surprise will shock Naomi to her core and threaten everything and everyone she holds most precious. With no one who can help her—or believe her—Naomi battles increasingly insidious mind games even as her world starts falling apart. Can she defeat what appears to be a twisted scheme against her? Or will she be forced into a devastating showdown that will leave no one undamaged—or standing?
https://amzn.to/3NgzdRi
The Love Lyric
Kristina Forest
An R&B singer and a corporate executive find love that hits the right notes in this USA Today bestselling romance by Kristina Forest.
Iris Greene used to be a woman with a plan. But all of that changed after she met the love of her life at twenty-five, got pregnant and married…and then became a widow and a single mother all in alittle over two years. Now, after years of hustling, Iris is the director of partnerships at a beauty company and raising sweet six-year-old Calla by herself. Despite her busy life, she still can’t help but feel lonely. She just needs to catch her breath—and one night, at her sister’s wedding, when she steps outside to do just that, she sees a certain singer who takes her breath away. . . .
By all accounts, pop R&B singer Angel Hughes has it made. He’s a successful musician and has just scored a brand ambassador deal with an emerging beauty company. But he’s still not fulfilled; he’s not producing songs he’s passionate about, and there’s a gaping hole in his love life. When he visits the Save Face Beauty office to kickstart his campaign, he’s delighted to see Iris, his stylist’s sister—the beautiful woman he’s secretly had a crush on for years.
Despite their obvious attraction to each other, they must stay professional throughout the campaign tour—a goal that doesn’t quite pan out. But when it becomes clear their lives aren’t in sync, can they fall back in step to the same rhythm and beat?
https://amzn.to/3Nl1dTT
Under the Influence
Kimberly Brown
Alanis Kapri is living the American Dream. As the star quarterback of the Carolina Hurricanes, life is luxury. Unfortunately for Alanis, he’s considered the NFL’s problem child. One too many negative press runs have landed his head on the chopping block. He’s been given an ultimatum: clean up his act or be cut from the team. Reluctantly, Alanis agrees to the terms. However, when the team hires him a reputation management consultant, the last person he expected to see was her.
My’Elli Love is the best at what she does. The boss attitude and confidence she possesses came after many years of taunting and whispers. Repairing tarnished images comes with ease when you’ve had to repair your own. As the top consultant of Elite Persona Management, difficult clients are her specialty. However, nothing could have prepared her for the moment Alanis Kapri walked into her office. Face to face with a painful part of her past, My’Elli must come to terms with the old feelings that have resurfaced right along with that pain. As she peels back the layers of Alanis’s carefully crafted persona, My’Elli finds herself drawn to the man beneath the headline-grabbing antics.
Alanis is faced with the challenge of changing his image all while seeking forgiveness from the woman he hurt, and dealing with trauma from many years ago. Beneath the cocky exterior lies a man haunted by his past and struggling to find the true meaning of his success. As Alanis and My’Elli navigate the treacherous waters of love, career, and family trauma, they must learn to trust in themselves and each other. Can they overcome the ghosts of their past and the obstacles in their path to build a future together?
https://amzn.to/4bl9G3k
And Then Life Was Beautiful
Asia Monique
Couri Mitchell
August Hanson was the silent type, the kind who spoke through his actions and not his words.
He possessed enough power to make me feel safe and secure.
I was ready to open up and share the parts of myself I’d never shared with another, and then I got hit with a truth that changed everything.
There was a slight chance he’d still want me, only he had to accept our baby, too.
August Hanson
Couri Mitchell was my type, the kind you married the first chance you got.
She possessed enough power to silence the chaos around me.
I was ready to grab ahold of her and never let go, and then I got hit with a truth that changed everything.
There was a slight chance she’d still want me, only she had to accept my daughter, too.
https://amzn.to/4svT7YE
The Perfect Affair
Lutisha Lovely
When Jacqueline Tate meets Randall Atwater, he’s everything she’s read about—brainy, witty, handsome, and cool. And after a week spent with the most fascinating man she’s ever known, there’s no way she can give him up. There’s just one problem: Randall’s wife of twenty years. No matter—men like Randall are few and far between. Jacqueline knows that with a few bold moves, she can win him over. But will this turn out to be a battle worth fighting?
The Nature of Love
Toni Shiloh
A doctor feeling fractured
Dr. Erykah Kennedy, a renowned orthopedic surgeon, finds herself at a crossroads in life. At forty-one, she’s achieved remarkable success in her career, yet when it comes to her love life, she feels hopeless. But when she meets Christian Gamble, a passionate wildlife conservationist, an unexpected bond forms between them despite their contrasting worlds.
A wildlife enthusiast ready for more
Chris has yet to find someone to share his adventures with, but as his friendship with Erykah starts to blossom, he begins falling for her in every way. When tragedy strikes and Erykah suddenly becomes guardian to her nieces, Chris helps her pick up the pieces.
Two hearts destined by nature
With their lives turned upside down, finding their way to a lasting love while putting their faith in God may be the biggest challenge they’ve ever faced.
That Love Thing
Bailey West
Acclaimed author Bella Roe, known for her poignant stories about love, harbors a deep skepticism toward the existence of true love. Despite her immense success in the literary world, she remains convinced that the passionate relationships she writes about are nothing more than figments of her imagination.
Everything changes when Bella meets Leven Chandler, a charming and grounded man, at a book signing event. Like Bella, Leven is not actively seeking romantic love. He dedicates all his energy to his children and his demanding job, believing that love is something he can no longer afford to pursue.
Bella and Leven experience an immediate and undeniable connection that shakes their preconceived notions about love. Their encounters are filled with heartfelt conversations, shared laughter, and a growing intimacy that neither can ignore. But both are hesitant to explore their feelings further, uncertain of what lies beyond the boundaries they have built around their hearts.
Will Bella, the skeptic of love, embrace the possibility of a true and lasting connection? Can Leven, consumed by his role as a father and provider, allow himself to open his heart to a new love?
https://amzn.to/45CpsmH
Pick Up Your Feelings
Kimberly Brown
Bleu Levell is cautious with her heart these days. After unknowingly having children with a married man, she’s recovering from heartbreak and betrayal. With her children’s father locked up on gun charges, Bleu has thrown herself into work and motherhood. It wasn’t until she meets photographer, O’Shea Boulware, her massage client, that she considers opening her heart to love again.
Tables turn when her ex, Isaiah, is suddenly released and looking to get that old thing back. His possessive nature won’t allow him to let Bleu go so easily, even with his wife in his back pocket. Even with years between them, he still loves Bleu and is willing to pay the ultimate price to have her.
What happens when obsession turns deadly? Join this trio’s journey of love, betrayal, revenge, and redemption as the drama unfolds.