The month of May has come and gone, and it left lots of good reads in it wake.
Darby Baham
What happens when the first blush of love fades?
Jennifer Pritchett feels increasingly invisible and left behind as her friends move on to the next steps in their lives. As she goes to therapy to figure out how to bloom in her own right, her boyfriend, Nick Carrington, finds himself being the one left behind. Jennifer wants their relationship to have more intimacy, but he can’t help but feel like he’s being compared to others—and found wanting. Can they each get what they need out of this relationship? Or will the flowers shrivel up before they do?
Love Belvin
Ashira is now in the know of Jas’ complicated world—or is she?
The “construction laborer” is really a wealthy felon with too many inexplicable circumstances to fathom for her narrow worldviews. But will Jas share more of his complexities? Will Ashira be able to absorb them with understanding, leaving the judgement behind?
Two souls, still galaxies apart, but bound by love.
The unanticipated UFO has collided into her world like a ferocious asteroid. Find out if their unmitigated passion for each other is enough to flourish in Grace.
Publisher’s Note: “Grace” is book TWO of a THREE book series. It ends on a suspenseful CLIFFHANGER. This book contains angst, violence, profanity, sexually explicit content, and potential gory material. If any of these elements is not what you prefer between the pages of a novel, this is not the venture for you.
Iris Bolling
What happens when dysfunctional families meet the Lassiters? They all learn the meaning of LOVE… Love is Kind, Love is Patience, and Love… lasts for a Lifetime.
The Lassiter siblings have been blessed with an internal detector identified as the love gene. Now, that they have found love, one obstacle after another is threatening their happy ever after….
An International Affair
Luke Lassiter is determined to give his fiancé Sasha Coles the perfect wedding on the beautiful waters of the Mediterranian sea. Now that Luke has won over Sasha’s heart, he wants to protect her peace of mind.
The imp, known as Stephanie Coles, is doing all she can to disrupt her daughter, Sasha’s life. Her goal is simple, money…money…and money. If Sasha’s happiness is destroyed in the process…well, that’s just a plus.
Between planning a destination wedding and trying to protect her newfound family from her mother, Sasha is at her wit’s end. Unbeknownst to her, plans have been put in place by her family and Luke’s to ensure that this wedding goes off without a hitch.
The only way to get Stephanie from between them to have their happy ever after may be throwing her overboard, however, that could lead to An International Affair.
Maurice Broaddus
Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Kelly Yang, readers will love this heartfelt and genuine story about building community, finding family, and the power of Black girl magic.
Bella “Unfadeable” Fades is determined to stay out of trouble. A wiser-than-her-years graffiti artist known for tagging walls and bridges in her Indianapolis neighborhood, the Land, Bella plans to spend her summer break laying low and steering clear of anyone who might tip off to social services that she’s living on her own.
But keeping a low profile is all but impossible when Bella discovers people in high places are trying to defund the Land. She has to find a way to fight back.
Getting involved will mean putting herself out there—making connections with unlikely friends and attracting potential enemies. But if Bella doesn’t put her trust in her neighbors and learn how to bring her community together, her home—and her future—will never be the same.
Parker J. Cole
Obeying the final wishes of her dying mother, Bernadette Hicks travels to Denver, Colorado to become a mail-order bride. Plagued by grief for the only man she will ever love, she doubts marriage is the right path for her. Imagine her shock when she arrives and finds her true love alive and well!
Instead of a joyful reunion, Bernadette is dumbfounded to discover that Big Tom, known now as Flavius Stone, wants nothing to do her. What will it take to figure out why the love of her life says he no longer loves her? She can see it in his eyes that he’s lying. Will a miracle bring him around? Is there anyone who can help her figure out why he is denying his love for her?
Delaney Diamond
A cat burglar and an assassin run for their lives across Paris—and try not to get distracted by the sizzling attraction between them.
Assistant antique dealer by day, cat burglar by night, Sable Devereaux has lived in the shadows for years. With one final heist, she can walk away from a life of crime and open her own antique store, retiring to the quiet existence she has always dreamed of. But during her last theft, she witnesses a murder and goes on the run to escape the cross-hairs of some very powerful people.
Agent and master-of-disguise, Hunter Mitchell is intrigued when he has to subdue the sexy thief after she breaks into his Parisian apartment. Then he quickly learns he must protect her—and himself—from an organization hiding much more than a murder.
The couple races across Paris in a fight to stay alive and stop one of the most powerful organizations in the world—and discover what they’ve been looking for all along… is each other.
Aaron Foley
Suddenly jobless and single after a devastating layoff and a breakup with his cheating ex, advertising copywriter Dominick Gibson flees his life in Hell’s Kitchen to try and get back on track in his hometown of Detroit. He’s got one objective — exit the shallow dating pool ASAP and get married by thirty-five — and the deadline’s approaching fast.
Meanwhile, Dom’s best friend, Troy Clements, an idealistic teacher who never left Michigan, finds himself at odds with all the men in his life: a troubled boyfriend he’s desperate to hold onto, a perpetually dissatisfied father, and his other friend, Remy Patton. Remy, a rags-to-riches real estate agent known as “Mr. Detroit,” has his own problems — namely choosing between making it work with a long-distance lover or settling for a local Mr. Right Now who’s not quite Mr. Right. And when a high-stakes real estate deal threatens to blow up his friendship with Troy, the three men have to figure out how to navigate the pitfalls of friendship and a city that seems to be changing overnight.
Full of unforgettable characters, Boys Come First is about the trials and tribulations of real friendship, but also about the highlights and hiccups —late nights at the wine bar, awkward Grindr hookups, workplace microaggressions, situationships, frenemies, family drama, and of course, the group chat — that define Black, gay, millennial life in today’s Detroit.
Namina Forna
It’s been six months since Deka freed the goddesses in the ancient kingdom of Otera and discovered who she really is… but war is waging across the kingdom, and the real battle has only just begun. For there is a dark force growing in Otera—a merciless power that Deka and her army must stop.
Yet hidden secrets threaten to destroy everything Deka has known. And with her own gifts changing, Deka must discover if she holds the key to saving Otera… or if she might be its greatest threat.
The Merciless Ones is the second thrilling installment of the epic fantasy series in which a young heroine fights against a world that would dare tame her.
Joya Goffney
Monique is a preacher’s daughter who detests the impossible rules of her religion. Everyone expects her to wait until marriage, so she has no one to turn to when she discovers that she physically can’t have sex.
After two years of trying and failing, her boyfriend breaks up with her. To win him back, Monique teams up with straight-laced church girl Sasha—who is surprisingly knowledgeable about Monique’s condition—as well as Reggie, the misunderstood bad boy who always makes a ruckus at church, and together they embark upon a top-secret search for the cure.
While on their quest, Monique discovers the value of a true friend and the wonders of a love that accepts her for who she is. Despite everyone’s opinions about her virtue, she learns to live for herself, inspiring us all to reclaim our bodies and unapologetically love ourselves.
Jasmine Guillory
Sometimes to truly know a person, you have to read between the lines.
Isabelle is completely lost. When she first began her career in publishing after college, she did not expect to be twenty-five, still living at home, and one of the few Black employees at her publishing house. Overworked and underpaid, constantly torn between speaking up or stifling herself, Izzy thinks there must be more to this publishing life. So when she overhears her boss complaining about a beastly high-profile author who has failed to deliver his long-awaited manuscript, Isabelle sees an opportunity to finally get the promotion she deserves.
All she has to do is go to the author’s Santa Barbara mansion and give him a pep talk or three. How hard could it be?
But Izzy quickly finds out she is in over her head. Beau Towers is not some celebrity lightweight writing a tell-all memoir. He is jaded and withdrawn and―it turns out―just as lost as Izzy. But despite his standoffishness, Izzy needs Beau to deliver, and with her encouragement, his story begins to spill onto the page. They soon discover they have more in common than either of them expected, and as their deadline nears, Izzy and Beau begin to realize there may be something there that wasn’t there before.
Cheris Hodges
No matter what, the four very different Richardson sisters always uphold their family’s reputation and legacy—a historic bed-and-breakfast in Charleston, South Carolina. But romance that one sister never saw coming will up-end all their expectations . . .
She’s the responsible sister, making sacrifices to run the family’s treasured B&B. But for once, Alexandria Richardson decides to take a vacation—a singles’ cruise, where she throws caution to the wind. And the handsome stranger she meets is just what she needs to make every moment sizzle—for all seven wildly sexy days. Energized and refreshed, Alex returns home—only to discover her holiday hottie is also the renowned architect tapped for the B&B’s major renovation project. How is she supposed to manage a business—and an all-consuming desire?
Wesley Prescott knows how easy it is to put success above everything else. And he has a lot riding on the prestigious Richardson deal—and on working smoothly with the suddenly serious, buttoned-down Alex. But he can’t resist teasing out the daring, adventurous—and lovable—woman he knows she truly is. Will mixing business with way more than pleasure convince them both that this is one fling that won’t be so easily flung?
Mya Kay
Jezzy Watson, a fiery, sports agent from Philadelphia, rose to the top of her game in just three years. She has an inkling for getting some of the best deals in the business and this earns her an “Agent of the Year” honor at New York Fashion Week’s charity event.
It’s been ten years since she’s seen her high school sweetheart, Trent Rucker, who now plays for the New York Giants. As soon as she lays eyes on him at the event, the memories and pain come flooding back. When Trent broke up with her on prom night, he not only broke her heart, but his promise to go to college in New York with her so they could conquer the sports world together.
Upon reconnecting, Jezzy makes it clear she’s very much in love with her fiancé, Marcus. When Trent pays her a visit at her office bearing flowers as a peace offering, she immediately shuts him down. But Trent is more determined than ever to make things right with Jezzy, at least to maintain a friendship. However, his actions to do so show not only him, but his fiancée Kelli, that a friendship is not the only thing he wants.
Love and pain resurface in this novel where Trent will soon learn that he may have completely fouled out.
Mya Kay
Brooklyn Myers loves her best friends, Tessa and Laila. They are indeed sisters. They’ve each been on a journey of self-discovery since graduating from college. After a year of struggling to find work in their fields, Brooklyn is the first to find her groove and take a leap of faith into entrepreneurship. She writes a book, Brooklyn’s Basement, based on the four years she spent in a sex trafficking ring and launches an online boutique called, Brooklyn’s Closet. With Tessa and Laila as her business managers, things are starting to look up for them. Then, one cold weekend in the fall, she goes to a business conference hosted in downtown Philadelphia. There, she meets Barry Carter, a handsome businessman, and owner of, Carter Sports Management & Consulting. They bump into each other at the food truck on their lunch break. As they share their personal stories over lunch, Barry notices a sadness in Brooklyn that makes him want to explore her world. He listens to her heart and decides that even with his recent heartbreak, she’s worth pursuing.
Months go on, and Brooklyn and Barry get more acquainted, learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Despite his recent breakup months prior, he knows that Brooklyn is worth the pursuit. Just as their love journey goes deeper, Barry’s ex, Simone, shows up, begging him to take her back. Brooklyn does her best to endure Simone’s antics, but after she’s confronted by Simone while working with a major client, she walks away, not caring that Barry can’t control Simone’s actions. She’s had enough. As weeks go by, Barry becomes more determined to fight for the woman he knows is meant to be his wife. He’ll do anything to get her back – even if it means he has to risk getting hurt again. Will Brooklyn realize that bumps and bruises come with real, God-fearing love or will she allow the past that haunts her to push away the man she knows God sent her?
Mya Kay
Brooklyn and Barry are back. After two years of marriage, they’re about to welcome their first child into the family. Even with a bundle of joy on the way, all isn’t going so well in the Carter household. Brooklyn is suffering from antepartum depression and no matter how happy Barry and others try to make her, she’s sinking deeper and deeper into a pit of darkness. Barry’s been hanging around with a new potential client – Diamond Richardson – an Olympic swimmer who doesn’t seem to care that Barry’s married. Brooklyn’s mother was released from prison a year ago on good behavior – now, she wants to move in with Brooklyn and Barry doesn’t seem to think it’s an issue, which causes another rift in their marriage. But when the police show up at the door causing Brooklyn to go into labor early, will Barry still think she’s worthy of another chance? Can Brooklyn handle the new set of demons that have emerged along with the joys of motherhood? Or will she succumb to the pressure that’s trying to take her out?
Mya Kay and NeTasha Jackson
Kennedy Fletcher and Shayla Reese were born and raised in New Jersey. Six months after graduating from Bloomsburg University with degrees in Film & Creative Writing, the suburban raised Christian girls head out to Hollywood to live the life of their dreams as screenwriters. Kennedy, the responsible and mature one, meets Chad Lawson, a young entrepreneur who’s a Hollywood executive who works at MGM and has a first-look deal at HBO. Immediately, sparks fly, and they begin a courtship as Chad shows Kennedy the Hollywood ropes. Shayla, the spontaneous and abrasive one, falls for his cocky, rich friend, Lincoln DeSanto, who is a rising A-List actor and just landed a $5 million movie contract and a role in a killer TV series.
Kennedy is falling for Chad more and more each day. Until she meets Keith, a controlling and narcissistic lawyer, who will stop at nothing to woo her. Chad feels her pulling away, but Kennedy places too much confidence in her flesh as she struggles to decide which guy is better – the one who feeds her spirit and soul or the one who feeds her flesh and fantasies? After Shayla lands a job on Lincoln’s next movie, she finds herself drowning in his lies and the glitz and glamour of Hollywood scandals, not to mention a tragedy that leaves Shayla facing prison time. Will these two girls be able to stand on the promise they made to their parents and to God to stay true to their faith or will they end up working for the devil full-time in a world full of lust, lies and Hollywood pandemonium?
Ebony LaDelle
Hitch meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this witty and romantic teen novel about a self-professed teen love doctor with a popular radio segment who believes he can get a girl who hates all things romance to fall in love with him in only three dates.
Prince Jones is the guy with all the answers—or so it seems. After all, at seventeen, he has his own segment on Detroit’s popular hip-hop show, Love Radio, where he dishes out advice to the brokenhearted.
Prince has always dreamed of becoming a DJ and falling in love. But being the main caretaker for his mother, who has multiple sclerosis, and his little brother means his dreams will stay just that and the only romances in his life are the ones he hears about from his listeners.
Until he meets Dani Ford.
Dani isn’t checking for anybody. She’s focused on her plan: ace senior year, score a scholarship, and move to New York City to become a famous author. But her college essay keeps tripping her up and acknowledging what’s blocking her means dealing with what happened at that party a few months ago.
And that’s one thing Dani can’t do.
When the romantic DJ meets the ambitious writer, sparks fly. Prince is smitten, but Dani’s not looking to get derailed. She gives Prince just three dates to convince her that he’s worth falling for.
Three dates for the love expert to take his own advice, and just maybe change two lives forever.
Rae Lyse
After the introduction of a controversial criminal justice reform bill, the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles grants Andre “Dre” Owens clemency. Suddenly, he’s forced back into a world that’s more complex than what he remembers… and full of tempting distractions. Most are skeptical that he deserves a second chance, and he is too, until a free-spirited dancer bounces into his life.
Much to her family’s dismay, Natasha “Tash” Breaux dances to her own confusing beat. She’s used to existing in a world that refuses to understand her and carrying the weight of a past that still lingers in the present.
After a mutual friend thrusts them together, Natasha agrees to help Andre cope with his newfound freedom, but there’s a problem—he makes her question everything she thought she knew about herself and the people around her.
She’s the ultimate distraction.
He’s the ultimate enigma.
And they’re so focused on how different their worlds look when they endure them together, neither of them realizes the trouble that lurks beneath their budding friendship.
Rhonda McKnight
That’s what most women learned when they tried to capture Stone Bennett’s heart. Addison Ingram did it easily, without even trying and now the two are headed down the aisle for the wedding everyone has been anticipating…or are they?
Just before the wedding events begin, Addison discovers Stone has a secret and then her worse nightmare is confirmed when she accidently follows him.
Will what Stone’s hiding end the wedding plans or add a whole new dynamic to the world the Bennetts and Ingrams have known?
SL Partee
Adolescence. It can leave you stuck between a time of adulthood, but still needing the security and comforts of home. Dove Goodwin-Yeats is now a young woman trying to navigate through a world that’s changing every day. Her relationship with her best friend is evolving into something else, and for the first time in her semi perfect world, she doesn’t have a plan.Will Dove’s view of her environment become more than she can handle when the unthinkable happens?
Crimson Watts- Brown was a boy forced into manhood. After catching his first body as a child, he adapted to eat or be eaten long before anyone else in his age group. Seemingly from opposite sides of the tracks, he and Dove somehow forge a bond. The old soul and the young street hitta are no longer children, hiding what’s in their hearts. But are they ready for what life holds for them? Can Dove truly accept Crim for what he is? Will Crim ever trade love for war? There are many obstacles on their road to happiness, and each of them is left with a choice. Will they or won’t they? Find out in this Spinoff to A Christmas to Remember: Dyver and Marlowe, and Tainted by a Hustler’s Love 1-2.
Kelis Rowe
Sparks fly when Orion and Ray meet for the first time at a roller rink in Memphis. But these star-crossed souls have a past filled with secrets that threaten to tear them apart before their love story even begins. Found poetry, grief, and fate collide in this powerful debut.
Ray: Just once I’d like my birthday to be about me, and not the day my father died. I want to be Ray Jr., the tall girl from Memphis with the poetry beats and the braids that stay poppin’. And when I meet Orion at the skating rink, that’s exactly who I am. He pulls my hand, and instead of being defined by my past, he races me toward my future.
Orion: When I dive into the pool, it’s just me and my heartbeat. There’s no dad, no dead sister, and no distracting noises. But I can’t hold my breath forever. And since I met Ray, I don’t want to. The closer we get, though, the more I see I’m not the only one caught in her wake.
With a lyrical blend of found poetry and poignant prose, this stunning debut captures young Black love and a decades-old family secret that may shatter a romance that feels written in the stars.
Hana Sheik
Escape to Istanbul, where a nanny may just tempt a bruised billionaire to give love a second chance in this heartwarming romance by Hana Sheik.
A single dad’s greatest temptation?The nanny on his doorstep! Billionaire Faisal is anxiously awaiting custody of his little girl, who’s been living miles away with her mother. First he must win the approval of her nanny, Maryan, who has traveled with her to Istanbul. While he shows Maryan the delights of his city, the instant attraction between them is hard to ignore. But Maryan leaves in two weeks, so Faisal must decide how much of his bruised heart he is prepared to risk…
Eva Sherie
Jameela was satisfied in life, until she wasn’t.
Her wild thoughts lead to reckless nights…
Her reckless nights lead to…
Crowning Glory (audiobook)
Pat Simmons
Cinderella had a prince; Karyn Wallace has a King.
While Karyn served four years in prison for an unthinkable crime, she embraced salvation through the Crowns for Christ outreach ministry. After her release, Karyn stays strong and confident, despite the stigma society places on ex-offenders. Since Christ strengthens the underdog, Karyn refuses to sway away from the scripture, “He whom the Son has set free is free indeed.”
Levi Tolliver, for the most part, is a practicing Christian. One contradiction is he doesn’t believe in turning the other cheek. He’s steadfast there is a price to pay for every sin committed, especially after the untimely death of his wife during a robbery. Then Karyn enters Levi’s life. He is enthralled not only with her beauty but her sweet spirit until he learns about her incarceration. If Levi can accept that Christ paid Karyn’s debt in full, then a treasure awaits him.
Janice Sims
When the perfect man…
Is just your friend
Kindergarten teacher Marley Syminette adores her close-knit, vibrant community of Port Domingo, Florida. She knows almost everyone in town, and they all know her. But Marley has a secret: she’s in love with her best friend, single dad Sebastian Contreras. Finding the courage to say “I love you” feels impossibly hard… What if it shatters the most important relationship in their lives?
Yahrah St. John
Will these former friends with benefits rekindle a flame…or settle scores? Find out in Yahrah St. John’s Locketts of Tuxedo Park series finale!
From lovers to friends to lovers again?
It’s complicated!
After losing his football career due to an injury, Xavier Lockett found solace in the arms of singer Porscha Childs…until a misunderstanding tore them apart. Now a sportscaster at a top Atlanta network, the former star quarterback craves another taste of the woman who helped him turn his life around.
But Porscha wants a hit record, not a second broken heart. Yet Xavier’s still irresistible. The sparks between them ignite an inferno that lands her in his bed, but can she trust that this time they’re both playing the same game?
Joan Vassar
Tracy Strong has spent the last ten years loving Africa.
Africa Walker has spent the last ten years loving Tracy.
The only thing keeping them apart is everything. Travel back to 1985, New York City and experience being young, Black and in love.
Monica Walters
Being rejected by girls during his teenage years, Dylan Berotte chooses to live his adult life on his own terms. When he finally emerges from what he considers his ugly duckling phase, he only wants one thing from women… temporary pleasures. Simply the thought of love sours on his stomach. It isn’t until the scare of his lifetime occurs that he decides to reevaluate his life’s choices. Taking a permanent hiatus from his lifestyle of loving them and leaving them, he stumbles upon a woman that literally renders him speechless. For the first time, he doesn’t know how to proceed.
Skyler Fontenot is an upcoming attorney looking for a new start. Love has disappointed her, and, in her mind, she believes distance can be the cure. After accepting a case that is beyond her expertise, she solicits the help of another lawyer in Beaumont, Texas, with hopes of impressing him enough to where he will offer her a position at his firm. One thing she is not expecting is to meet a man that will change her life’s trajectory in the blink of an eye. Despite what she tells herself regarding love, every part of her is against her plans for herself the moment Dylan Berotte opens his mouth.
Drama is the last thing either of them want, but it seems that is exactly what’s in the cards. Dylan’s pending circumstance, at the very least, would give any good woman pause. Once it’s revealed to Skyler, it brings her to a crossroads, and she doesn’t know if she has the patience or if she trusts Dylan enough to even take a chance on him. Will she choose to risk her good sense to be with Dylan, or will she just cut ties altogether and move on in life without him?
Denise N. Wheatley
Catching serial killers is her specialty
Until one follows her home
Attacked and left with a partial heart-shaped symbol carved into her chest, forensic investigator Lena Love finds her latest hunt has become personal. But leaving LA to return to her hometown comes with its own danger—like detective David Hudson, the love she left behind. And soon sparks fly, even as Lena is targeted and stalked, and bodies—all marked with the killer’s signature heart—are discovered in David’s jurisdiction…
Denise Williams
Gia loves her job as a professor, even when it means dealing with an elusive rival academic who’s made it his mission to criticize her work. When she meets him for the first time, she’s shocked to learn they’ve met before. Months earlier, they shared a perfect New Year’s Eve together in an airport during a weather delay.
After months of working together, Felix still can’t believe the person whose research he’s been challenging is the same captivating woman he kissed that night. The two couldn’t be more different. Gia is bubbly, friendly, and extroverted and drives ordered, serious Felix nuts.
Now the two have been assigned to embark on a five-school tour for work. Gia and Felix can’t imagine a travel partner they’d enjoy less until they feel the sparks fly over their shared armrests, security mishaps, and a shared hotel room. They’ll need to decide if they can manage their professional tension, or risk missing the connection of a lifetime.
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