The month of May proved there are so many good black books and so little time. Here are a few of the releases for the month.
Come Ride with Me
A.C. Arthur
For Michel “Mica” Monroe, finding out she’s the heir to a motorcycle shop comes as a bittersweet reminder of the father she barely knew. Now, Mica has to leave the sheltered life she’s built for herself to start anew in a town where nobody knows her, to run a business she knows nothing about. It will take her MBA and the tenacity she inherited from her father to turn Bellamy Motors around financially and morally. But when one sexy mechanic steps up to help her, Mica realizes that keeping her father’s dream alive just might turn out to be the most passionate ride of her life!
Nash Waters owes Bell Anderson his life. So, when his mentor dies leaving the bike shop to a guy none of the staff has ever heard of, Nash is the only one determined to make the relationship with the new management work. Whatever it takes is what Nash promised Bell on his deathbed, so when the shy but oh so sexy accountant comes into the shop to see if it can be saved, Nash is first to offer his help, with business and definitely with her pleasure.
Allure: The Arranged Hearts Series
Iesha Bree
Allure /əˈlo͝or/: the power to entice or attract through personal charm.
In the world of creativity, Lore Reed shines as a beacon of boundless imagination, her sculptures and paintings capturing the essence of emotion and beauty. Raised in a household where freedom and exploration reigned supreme, Lore’s carefree spirit knows no bounds. Yet beneath her artistic façade lies a longing for stability and family. With a heart ready to embrace love’s allure, Lore sets out on a journey of discovery that promises to redefine her life forever.
Across town, Niko Lockwood, a legend on the football field, faces a crossroads as retirement looms and a new career beckons. Amidst the roar of the crowd and the glare of the spotlight, Niko craves the quiet joys of home and family, a longing that propels him toward the doors of Arranged Hearts. However, tensions arise within his family, particularly with his father, a retired football legend who has always exerted control over Niko’s life. As Niko navigates this new chapter, he must find the strength to forge his own path and fight for the love he deserves.
As they prepare to step into forever, the unknown will cause them to question whether or not they’re making the right decision. Yet beneath the surface lies a tantalizing hint of familiarity, a connection that defies explanation and ignites a spark of intrigue. While their love for each other is unwavering, outside forces threaten to tear them apart. As family tensions mount and expectations clash, will Lore and Niko’s arranged marriage withstand the storms of doubt and resistance, or will “I do” turn into “I don’t”?
Starting Over with the Maverick
Kathy Douglass
The cowboy she hadn’t counted on
After losing her husband, Elizabeth Hawkins is happy to be reunited with her rodeo-riding sisters and extended family, even if she expects her time in Montana may be brief. But she’s thrown when Bronco native Jake McCreery ambles into her heart…and even more when it looks as though the commitment-shy cowboy wants to stay! The rugged rancher is also a widower with three kids; she has two. Together they could make a beautiful life, but only if they can find the courage to take a second chance on love—with each other.
In This House
Ebony Evans, Tanisha Stewart, Kaylynn Hunt, Jhordynn, Monica Walters, Untamed
As Hazel Woodbine approaches her 100th birthday, her walls carry unspoken stories of love, tragedy, and bizzare occurrences. Secrets long kept hidden are exposed as each family’s story reveals a different thread of the house’s past. These gripping tales will keep you guessing about the real meaning of Hazel Woodbine’s eternal existence, as they reveal sinister truths hidden in the foundation and surprising links that go beyond time. Immerse yourself in the captivating secrets that await as five families face the challenges of life, death, and the mysterious energies that connect them to this extraordinary home that is 100 years old.
Long After We Are Gone
Terah Shelton Harris
“Don’t let the white man take the house.”
These are the last words King Solomon says to his son before he dies. Now all four Solomon siblings must return to North Carolina to save the Kingdom, their ancestral home and 200 acres of land, from a development company, who has their sights set on turning the valuable waterfront property into a luxury resort.
While fighting to save the Kingdom, the siblings must also save themselves from the secrets they’ve been holding onto. Junior, the oldest son and married to his wife for eleven years, is secretly in love with another man. Second son Mance can’t control his temper, which has landed him in prison more than once. CeCe, the oldest daughter and a lawyer in New York City, has embezzled thousands of dollars from her firm’s clients. Youngest daughter Tokey wonders why she doesn’t seem to fit into this family, which has left an aching hole in her heart that she tries to fill in harmful ways. As the Solomons come together to fight for the Kingdom, each of their façades begins to crumble and collide in unexpected ways.
Told in alternating viewpoints, Long After We Are Gone is a searing portrait on the power of family and letting go of things that no longer serve you, exploring the burden of familial expectations, the detriment of miscommunication, and the lessons and legacies we pass on to our children.
Troubled Waters
Mary Annaïse Heglar
The world is burning, and Corinne will do anything to put out the flames. After her brother died aboard an oil boat on the Mississippi River in 2013, Corrine awakened to the realities of climate change and its perpetrators. Now, a year later, she finds herself trapped in a lonely cycle of mourning both her brother and the very planet she stands on. She’s convinced that in order to save her future, she has to make sure that her brother’s life meant something. But in the act of honoring her brother’s spirit, she resurrects family ghosts she knows little about—ghosts her grandmother Cora knows intimately.
Cora’s ghosts have followed her from her days as a child desegregating schools in 1950s Nashville to her new life as a mother, grandmother, and teacher in Mississippi. As a child of the Civil Rights movement, she’s done her best to keep those specters away from her granddaughter. She faced those demons, she reasons to herself, so that Corinne would never know they existed. Cora knows what it feels like to carry the weight of the world—and that it can crush you.
When Corrine’s plan to stage a dramatic act of resistance peels back the scabs of her family wounds and puts her safety in jeopardy, both grandmother and granddaughter must bring their secrets into the light to find a path to healing and wholeness.
Her Pretty Lies
Angela Henry
You trusted her like a sister. Now they think you killed her…
The paramedics tell me I’m in shock as they load the body bag into the ambulance.
Only days ago, I had everything. A man I wanted to marry. A prestigious fellowship for graduate school. A perfect new apartment. I’m a psychology student. I should have known she was hiding something from the start…
Now I’m shivering under a foil blanket wondering how my life became a nightmare.
And when the paramedics check me over, it’s not concern I see on their faces. It’s fear.
They think I did this. They think I killed her…
A Little Kissing Between Friends
Chencia C. Higgins
Music producer on the rise Cyn Tha Starr knows what she likes, from her sickening beats in the studio to the flirty femmes she fools around with. Her ever-rotating roster has never been a problem until her latest fling clashes with Jucee, her best friend and the most popular dancer at strip club Sanity.
It makes Cyn see Jucee in a different light. One with far fewer boundaries and a lot more kissing.
Juleesa Jones makes great money dancing the early shift and spends most evenings with her son, her Sanity family or at Cyn’s house. Relationships are not high on the priority list—until she’s forced to admit that maybe friendship isn’t the only thing she wants from her bestie.
But hooking up with your ride-or-die is risky. Jucee isn’t just Cyn’s best friend—Jucee is her muse. When Cyn lays down her tracks, it’s Jucee she imagines in the club throwing it back to every note. If they aren’t careful, this could crash and burn…but isn’t real love worth it?
Love On the Highlight Reel (audio)
Christina C. Jones
First impressions don’t have to be everything.
But second, third, fourth impressions create a reputation, and those are hard to break. In the public eye, where everybody is tuned in to your every move, and behind the scenes, where certain people are privy to the real you… or at least what they perceive you to be.
Jordan Johnson is a man under pressure – from his teammates, fans, family, and the one person who wants to see him succeed as badly as he wants it for himself. He’ll do whatever he has to in order to not let anyone down… and maybe find an unanticipated connection along the way.
Nicole Richardson is a woman with a purpose – prove herself worthy of her place in a male-dominated field. Fiercely competitive, wielder of tough love and motivation, and terrible at dealing with things outside of her control. Between making sure the players are thriving, and coping with a changing family dynamic, a relationship isn’t even on her radar.
Denying their chemistry would be a waste of words, but giving in isn’t an option.
A season on the line.
Reputations at stake.
The threat of seeing their personal lives played out on the evening highlights.
With all of that swirling around them, Jordan and Nicole have to decide if it’s worth the effort to make the play… or take a knee.
The 7-10 Split
Karmen Lee
For teacher Ava Williams, some subjects are not up for debate. Like history—specifically, the one she has with Grace Jones, bowling pro and local celeb. Who is now, for no identifiable reason, teaching at the same small-town Georgia high school as Ava. Once upon a time, they were thick as thieves, best friends, rivals who pushed each other, and total bowling nerds. Then they shared a kiss, sweet and confusing…and after that, they split and nothing was ever the same.
Ava is pretty sure she has every reason to hate Grace. Especially when the school’s soggy potato of a principal announces—finally—that the students can have the bowling team Ava has been pushing for, for years…only to hand it to Grace.
Now they’re expected to be partners and lead their new bowling team to victory in six months. And with that, their rivalry is back. Fierce, ultracompetitive…and with an undeniable attraction that pushes, pulls and crashes together. It’s history. It’s chemistry. And it’s just a matter of time before it explodes…one way or the other.
Game of Two Halves
Unoma Nwankwor
In the electrifying world of professional football, their lives intersect in an unexpected way.
Nonso Chijuka, a gifted but troubled midfielder, fresh off a several month long ban from football travels to Viva City, London determined to redeem himself both on and off the field. However, the reception he receives is mixed as he navigates through the highs and lows of fame while also fighting his personal demons. Just when his redemption is within reach, Nonso finds himself drawn back into a web of scandal and danger, putting everything he has worked for at risk.
Yinka Martins, a strong-willed, intelligent, and successful financial advisor on the cusp of becoming partner at Apex Financial, finds herself drawn to the charming footballer who has the potential to disrupt her carefully constructed life.
As their relationship grows, Nonso struggles to find a balance between starting anew and severing ties from his past, while Yinka is torn between staying in her comfort zone or taking a leap of faith. When they discover that life, like football, is a game of two halves, will they be able to blend their worlds and build a future together, or will their differences tear them apart?
Game of Two Halves is a gripping story of love, forgiveness, and redemption that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final whistle blows.
https://amzn.to/3VoIVTh
The Stones We Cast
Chelsea Maria
In shadows of Hollywoods glamor and fame, two souls find themselves entangled in a tumultuous dance of desire and vulnerability.
At the pinnacle of her facade, Sunnie Austin, a mean girl with a heart scarred by past wounds, hides a vulnerable heart, yearning for love but hesitant to relinquish her guarded exterior. Her world collides with that of Ezekiel Donovan, a man whose name echoes through the corridors of adult entertainment, reigning supreme as the industry’s crown jewel. Their connection is immediate, yet fraught with the weight of their individual burdens.
However, their path to love is burdened with challenges as they grapple with letting go of the personas they’ve crafted for themselves. Sunnie struggles to shed her mean girl image and embrace vulnerability, while Ezekiel wrestles with leaving behind the allure of his adult entertainment career for a chance at true intimacy.
As they navigate the treacherous waters of their desires, their bond deepens, fueled by shared traumas and unspoken desires.
But beneath the veneer of their budding romance lies a tapestry of pain and longing. Ezekiel’s struggle to relinquish the allure of his past threatens to tear them apart, while Sunnie grapples with the demons of her persona and the relentless pursuit of self-worth. Their love is a fragile beacon amidst the storm, tested by the stones they cast at each other and themselves.
Tell Me: The Prelude
Tina Martin
I never wanted to fall in love.
At thirty-seven years of age, I haven’t taken the plunge, nor do I plan to. I’ve seen the damage love can do. It pretends to care, but then it tears a person down. It’s manipulative. Damaging. It lies. It hurts. It makes one weak. I know that all too well after seeing what it did to my dear mother. That’s why when women – beautiful, successful women – try to get my attention, I easily shun them. All of them. They see the exceptionally fine, black man with money. They know nothing of the dark secrets I carry – secrets I can never share with anyone.
And then SHE happened – just appeared in my life out of nowhere.
Her gaze left me speechless while igniting a fire in my soul, stirring emotions I swore never to embrace. Something awakens inside me for the first time in decades, and I can’t control it. I’m not supposed to have these feelings. I was dead inside. Where did these desires come from? Why do I have this potent yearning to be close to her? To touch her? To kiss her lips?
This can’t happen.
So, I fight it. I can’t fall for her. Love was never a part of my plan. But these feelings coursing through my body are real, and I don’t know if avoiding her is something my heart will allow me to do.
A Girl Like Me (audiobook)
Tay Mo’Nae
Ne’a comes from a tough childhood and just wants to be loved properly.
She’s selfless, nurturing, and dealing with codependency at home. The issues she has are like a stain in her life that she wants to wipe away permanently.
Zane is newly separated from his wife and returns home to BFR for a job and to restart his life. He’s known to have a savior complex, and running into Ne’a makes it hard to ignore. While falling in love wasn’t in his plans, something about Ne’a keeps pulling him to her, but his ex-wife refuses to let go easily.
It’s hard to fall for someone who is damaged. It’s hard to rebuild when you’ve been burned. These two learn that as they grow closer together while facing the challenges thrown their way.
Pretty Shattered Mind
Robbi Renee
Mind can be defined as the element of a human that gives them an awareness of
the world’s perspective on their experiences. The mind holds our thoughts and
feelings. But what happens when the chaos of your thoughts makes it
impossible to find clarity? When the noise of heart-wrenching memories
drowns the whispers… the desires of your heart.
Aminah Loveless finds herself haunted by her past. Her first love, Malakai, was
her one and only true love, but the scars he left behind and the promise she
made him have left her wary of opening her heart again. On the surface, her life
is every woman’s dream: a supportive family, a blooming career, and amazing
friendships, but the yearning for one key component was missing… love.
Nicolas Touissant was a kind-hearted and understanding man who was
immediately intrigued by Aminah. Her words say she wants nothing but
friendship, while their magnetic connection speaks a different language. There
is no hesitation in Nicolas’s heart or head. He is ready to make Aminah his one
and only, give her the world.
Second-guessing her every move, Aminah finds herself torn between giving love
another chance or staying committed to an unfulfilling pact. Although Nicolas’s
compassion and patience are potent, he is growing impatient with the pretty
shattered beauty.
Nicolas and Aminah’s path is fraught with challenges, uncertainty, and pain.
Will their love story be a poignant exploration of friendship, adoration, and
healing or will their journey end before it truly gets started?
Ella: A Novel
Diane Richards
When fifteen-year-old Ella Fitzgerald’s mother dies at the height of the Depression in 1932, the teenager goes to work for the mob to support herself and her family. When the law finally catches up, the “ungovernable” adolescent is incarcerated in the New York Training School for Girls in upstate New York—a wicked prison infamous for its harsh treatment of inmates, especially Black ones. Determined to be free, Ella escapes and makes her way back to Harlem, where she is forced to dance for pennies on the street.
Looking for a break into show business, Ella draws straws to appear at the Apollo Theater’s Amateur Night on November 21, 1934. Rather than perform a dance routine directly after “The World Famous Edwards Sisters” number, the homeless Ella, wearing men’s galoshes a size too big, risks everything when she decides to sing Judy instead. Four years later, at barely twenty-one, Ella Fitzgerald has become the bestselling female vocalist in America.
A Gamble at Sunset
Vanessa Riley
Georgina Wilcox, a wallflower with hidden musical talents, is furious when her reclusive older sister—the recently widowed Viscountess—refuses sorely needed help from the Duke of Torrance, the only gentleman who has shown kindness to the bereft Wilcox sisters. Georgina decides to get back at her sister and shock the Viscountess by kissing the first willing stranger she meets in the enchanting gardens of Anya House. Unfortunately, her sister is not the sole witness. A group of reporters and the ton’s leading gossips catch Georgina in a passionate embrace with a reticent composer, Lord Mark Sebastian.
The third son of an influential marquis, the tongue-tied Mark is determined to keep the scandal from ruining Georgina’s reputation and his own prospects of winning the celebrated Harlbert’s Prize for music. Under the guise of private voice lessons, the two embark on a daring gamble to fool the ton into believing that their feigned courtship is honorable while bolstering Georgina’s singing genius to captivate potential suitors. Sexist cartoons, family rivalries, and an upcoming ball test the fake couple’s resolve. Will their sudden fiery collaboration—and growing attraction—prove there’s nothing false about a first kiss and scandalously irresistible temptation?
https://amzn.to/4bDvFjm
Her Private Security Detail
Patricia Sargeant
Danger forces an innocent woman to hire some very personal security in award-winning author Patricia Sargeant’s latest novel of heart stopping suspense!
Philanthropist Symone Bishop is the most desirable woman Jeremiah Touré has ever met. She’s also way out of his league, and he can’t get involved with his client. Jerry knows how to protect Symone from the external threats menacing her nonprofit and her life. Can he save her from the devastating secrets the Touré Security Group uncovers? He knows he has to stay close to keep her from harm, but is he in danger of getting too close?
Desire: The Arranged Hearts Series
Kay Shanee
De·sire /dəˈzī(ə)r/a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen.
Unsettled… that is the word Desire Chambries uses to describe how she feels. Although her preschool students bring her joy, her personal life needs resuscitating. She’d love to get married, but the dating scene lacks quality men. Most were barely boyfriend material and definitely not fit to be someone’s husband. At thirty-five years old, her hope of finding the man of her dreams and becoming a wife is fading fast, as is the idea of having children of her own.
One lonely Friday night, after being stood up for the third time, she sees an ad for Arranged Hearts on social media. Her interest is piqued, and before she second-guesses herself, she completes the online profile. Once she presses submit, things move rapidly, and she finds herself agreeing to spend the rest of her life with a man she’s never met.
Aziel Harris has to make some lifestyle changes since he plans to run for a second term as mayor of his hometown. His image has taken some major hits as of late, with women coming out of the woodwork to stake their claim on him. Not to mention, he’s raising his sassy three-year-old daughter, Azaria, alone, and single fatherhood as a forty-two-year-old is harder than running the city.
Unbeknownst to him, his assistant completes a profile for him with Arranged Hearts. Initially, he refuses to go through the process, but knowing a team of people are counting on him to continue his reign as mayor, he agrees to marry a woman he’s yet to meet.
Desire and Aziel don’t expect marrying a stranger to be easy, but neither of them are prepared for the obstacles thrown their way. Will the arranged hearts commit to forever, or will ‘I do’ turn into ‘I don’t’?
A Run at Love
Toni Shiloh
A CONTENDER RUNNING FOR THE ROSES
As a Black woman in a field with little diversity, Piper McKinney is determined to make her mark on the horse-racing world. Raised on a Thoroughbred farm in Kentucky, Piper’s dream is for her horse to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby. With the help of her best friend and trainer, Tucker Hale, she gains national attention but must grapple with the complications that arise when a journalist delves into her past as a transracial adoptee.
A BEST FRIEND RACING FOR LOVE
In an effort to win Piper’s heart, Tucker formulates a plan to train Piper’s horse to victory, hoping to prove himself to her, her parents, and his own self-doubts. Then a shocking scandal hits the media, implicating both Piper and her parents, and she and Tucker will have to survive the onslaught to find their way to the winner’s circle–and each other.
Black Shield Maiden
Willow Smith and Jess Hendel
Lore, legend, and history tell us of the Vikings: warrior kings on epic journeys of conquest and plunder. But the stories we know are not the only stories to tell. There is another story, one that has been lost to the mists of time: the saga of the dark queen.
This saga begins with Yafeu, a defiant yet fiercely compassionate young warrior who is stolen from her home in the flourishing Ghānaian empire and taken to a distant kingdom in the North. There she is thrust into a strange, cold world of savage shield maidens, tyrannical rulers, and mysterious gods.
And there she also finds something unexpected: a kindred spirit. She comes to serve Freydis, a shy princess who couldn’t be more different from the confident and self-possessed Yafeu.
But they both want the same thing: to forge their own fate. Yafeu inspires Freydis to dream of a future greater than the one that the king and queen have forced upon her. And with the princess at her side, Yafeu learns to navigate this new world and grows increasingly determined to become one of the legendary shield maidens—to fight not only for her freedom but for the freedom of others.
Yafeu may have lost her home, but she still knows who she is, and she’s not afraid to be the flame that burns a city to the ground so a new world can rise from the ashes. She will alter the course of history—and become the revolutionary heroine of her own myth.
Control
Omar Tyree
Dr. Victoria Benning knows it’s unethical to discuss the therapy sessions of her clients, but the drama of their unpredictable lives tests her professional role like never before.
First, she counsels Mrs. Melody, a brutally honest, gorgeous rap artist who relies on sexual leverage with men to elevate her music career. Then there’s Charles Clay, a hot young film director and master manipulator with a fetish for opportunistic women. Tyrell Hodge is a frustrated screenwriter, part-time driver, and full-time complainer who desperately needs a break. Dark & Moody is a music producer who prays for a blood sacrifice in order to succeed. Joseph Drake, a venture capitalist from a powerful, slave-ownership family, now suffers from a spell of White guilt.
And Destiny Flowers is a hopeless dreamer who struggles to keep her mouth and mind at peace—while harassing the tolerant doctor she hopes will ultimately help her.
Working around the clock, Dr. Benning observes a troubling, treacherous common denominator that plagues all six clients: a desperate impulse to grasp control of everything and everyone in their lives—no matter the cost. It’s a struggle with which she’s all too familiar. Determined to head-off tragedy, she comes up with a brilliant game plan to make their collective talents work in everyone’s favor. . .
But just as she moves into action, inexplicable events quickly turn fatal, as the doctor finds her plan, her career, and her personal life all spiraling into madness—and hopelessly out of control.
Sweet Honesty
Joan Vassar
Atlanta, Georgia, 1950–Michael can’t believe his eyes as he watches the man he loves marry a woman from the back row of Mount Zion Baptist Church. When the beautiful couple is pronounced man and wife, he leaves his home in Georgia for the chance of a better life in New York City.
Alexander is just trying to exist in Queens, New York. Although his family is aware of his unnatural attraction to men, they adore him. The price of hiding his true identity from the rest of the world leads to a deep and painful loneliness for Alex, even in the bosom of a loving family.
When Michael’s life collides with Alexander’s world, both men are afraid to trust. Sweet Honesty is an African American M/M romance that provides a glimpse of black love from a different lens and time.
Passion: The Arranged Hearts Series
Monica Walters
Passion /ˈpa-shən/: a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept
Giselle King refuses to wait for time to pass her by without obtaining everything she desires. After fulfilling her goal of becoming a dental hygienist and having financial stability, she knows she’s ready for a family. Years of dating proved to be a waste. An arrangement was made to bless her with two beautiful children, who keep her busy, but she’s still not totally happy. She wants a loving relationship with the man of her dreams… a man that’s perfect for her. Impatience with the dating process causes her to make another arrangement. Arranged Hearts has a reputation of pairing couples, promising a high success rate. If an arrangement worked for having her babies, why wouldn’t it work for obtaining a husband?
The party scene of lust and temporary fulfillment was no longer appealing to Gentry Fleming. Those years have flown by in a haze, and now, his desires have shifted. As a successful veterinarian, the love of animals isn’t enough. He desires a family: a devoted wife and beautiful children. He’s already set his life up perfectly to accommodate them. The problem is the women he meets only intrigue him physically. While that’s important to him, it isn’t all that he needs. He wants a woman that would be his perfect complement. His patience is running thin, so he decides to hire someone to weed out the undesirable for him. Arranged Hearts seem like his best option, and he’s down to take the risk.
If the pairing is successful, love will eventually come. That can happen quickly, or it could take some time, but Giselle and Gentry are willing to work toward it. Their attraction and chemistry couldn’t have been matched better, but opposition rears its ugly head. Gentry doesn’t work well in an environment filled with drama, and Giselle isn’t a fan of it either. However, at this point, it is out of their control. Will the arranged hearts commit to forever, or will I do turn into I don’t?
Areeys
Altonya Washington
In Joshua, Montana the Kentt family is an old name. For generations, they’ve offered their own brand of protection, incorporating considerable wit and brawn. Kentt Securities grew from a small protection outfit to one of the largest security agencies in the world. Areeys Kentt is fourth born in the generation soon to inherit the crown and Helena Scot was the one he wanted by his side. The couple seemed destined for success and then…the world turned.
skin & bones
Renee Watson
At 40, Lena Baker is at a steady and stable moment in life—between wine nights with her two best friends and her wedding just weeks away, she’s happy in love and in friendship—until a confession on her wedding day shifts her world.
Unmoored and grieving a major loss, Lena finds herself trying to teach her daughter self-love while struggling to do so herself. Lena questions everything she’s learned about dating, friendship, and motherhood, and through it all, she works tirelessly to bring the oft-forgotten Black history of Oregon to the masses, sidestepping her well-meaning co-workers that don’t understand that their good intentions are often offensive and hurtful.
Transformation
Bailey West
Former NBA star Zechariah Aldaine’s world shatters with a career-ending injury, leaving him to navigate a life outside the basketball court’s spotlight. Known for his competitive spirit and charismatic presence, Zec now faces the challenge of finding purpose in a world where he’s no longer the star player.
Wilhelmina (Billye) Couture, a poised and private businesswoman, inherited her mother’s legacy as the third-generation owner of a flourishing enterprise. Her world, unlike Zec’s, thrives away from the public eye. When she reluctantly steps into a public role on the planning board of the high-profile Noir Gala, her path collides with Zec’s, sparking a clash of wills.
Zec and Billye find themselves at odds. He sees her as a privileged know-it-all stepping into his domain, while she views him as an arrogant, controlling former athlete. Their mutual disdain is palpable, fueling a feud that neither one is willing to lose.
But when an unexpected crisis threatens the Noir Gala, Zec and Billye are thrust into an alliance. Can they work together to salvage the event and allow their antagonism to transform into mutual respect, and then something deeper?
Blood at the Root
LaDarrion Williams
Ten years ago, Malik’s life changed forever the night his mother mysteriously vanished and he discovered he had uncontrollable powers. Since then, he has kept his abilities hidden, looking out for himself and his younger foster brother, Taye. Now, at 17, Malik is finally ready to start a new life for both of them, far from the trauma of his past. However, a daring act to rescue Taye reveals an unexpected connection with his long-lost grandmother: a legendary conjurer with ties to a hidden magical university that Malik’s mother attended.
At Caiman University, Malik’s eyes are opened to a future he never could have envisioned for himself— one that includes the reappearance of his first love, Alexis. His search for answers about his heritage, his powers, and what really happened to his mother exposes the cracks in their magical community as it faces a reawakened evil dating back to the Haitian Revolution. Together with Alexis, Malik discovers a lot beneath the surface at Caiman: feuding covens and magical politics, forbidden knowledge and buried mysteries.
In a wholly unique saga of family, history and community, Malik must embrace his legacy to save what’s left of his old family as well as his new one. Exploring the roots and secrets that connect us in an unforgettable contemporary setting, this heart-pounding fantasy series opener is a rich tapestry of atmosphere, intrigue, and emotion.
A Little Bit of Love
Synithia Williams
Their first meeting changed her life
Their second one changes everything
Sheri “Li’l Bit” Thomas will do anything to help revitalize the community she loves—even work with Lieutenant Deandre King, the cop who once arrested her after a stupid breakup stunt. Opening her new restaurant is a great first step. Partnering with the handsome widowed dad on an outreach event for at-risk youth and businesses is an even better one. But neither counts on the attraction simmering between them—or the potential problems with Deandre’s teen son. Is Sheri’s past a bad example for him, indicative of drama to come? Or is she the mom—and wife—they never knew they needed?
https://amzn.to/3V5IvA0
Waiting for Friday Night
Synithia Williams
Friday nights in Peachtree Cove are all about football. But this season, the drama isn’t just on the field…
In the wake of losing both of her parents, Halle Parker was certain of one thing: she wanted a family of her own. And she wasn’t going to let a little thing like being single stand in her way. So, she used an anonymous donor and kept every last detail a secret—from everyone. But now, fourteen years later, Halle’s daughter, Shania, is determined to unravel the identity of her biological dad. And what she learns blindsides everyone…
When Quinton Evans’s pro-football days came to an end, he was eager to begin coaching and teaching, and he’s never looked back. But when Shania, a wide receiver on his team, reveals that she’s his daughter, he’s blown away. The one thing he refuses to do is walk away, even if Shania’s strong-willed and gorgeous mother wants nothing to do with him.
Halle knows that once you let the cat out of the bag in a small town like Peachtree Cove, you’re gonna have to do some damage control. But with Quinton suddenly popping up everywhere she turns, it’s all Halle can do to fight for the future she envisioned and the family she created. If only fate—and the undeniable heat sparking between her and Quinton—didn’t have other plans…
Shades of Love
Bree Wright
In a swirl of neon lights and pulsing music, Zina and Terrance’s worlds collided at a club. A chance encounter led to a night of electric connection, their souls entwined as they danced under the club lights. He dubbed her ‘Blue’ for her striking blue dress and matching wig, and their chemistry ignited a passion that left an indelible mark.
Fate plays a hand, reuniting Zina and Terrance within the gleaming walls of Terrance’s tech empire. Old feelings rekindle, but so do unanswered questions and lingering hurt. When the truth surfaces, Terrance demands to be a father to their son, setting in motion a complex journey of rediscovery and reconciliation.
As they navigate the challenges of co-parenting, the spark between Zina and Terrance reignites into a blazing inferno of love. Can they rewrite their story and forge a future where love, family, and a shared past come together in a beautiful, unexpected harmony? Shades of Love is a story of second chances, forgiveness, and the redemptive power of love.
Intimate Allure
Sean D. Young
In the heart of the city, nestled between bustling streets and hidden alleys, lies Simone Reid’s lingerie boutique, Intimate Secrets, a haven where women discover the beauty of their bodies and the power of their sensuality. Simone, a traditionalist at heart, has dedicated her life to helping others embrace their allure, yet she struggles to see her own.
Darius Mitchell, a corporate powerhouse whose ambition knows no bounds changes all that. He is tasked with acquiring Simone’s business, he enters her world expecting a simple transaction. But as he gets to know the woman behind the boutique, he discovers a beauty that transcends the physical—a beauty that challenges his beliefs about love and ambition.
As Simone and Darius navigate their undeniable attraction, they find themselves on a journey of self-discovery. Simone learns to see herself through Darius’s eyes, embracing her sensuality and beauty. Meanwhile, Darius comes to understand that while ambition is important, love is the true path to fulfillment.
“Intimate Allure” is a heart-warming story of forbidden love, workplace drama, and the enduring power of the human heart. Join Simone and Darius on a journey of love, betrayal, and redemption that will leave you breathless.