African American Contemporary Romance

Thanks to her cold-hearted ways with men, Cynthia Gibbons doesn't blame the folks in town for calling her the "Ice Queen." They don't know the secret she's kept for 20 years - that she once fell crazy in love with a guy who had no money, a guy who broke her heart in the worst possible way. But now Korey Walker is back in town, and Cynthia isn't sure how much longer she can keep the biggest secret of all - that she still loves him.

Tiffany Richardson went from the bottom to the top in a matter of months, because she stumbled into a job that landed her executive producer and head writer for a hit television series called Boy Crazy. All was well and things were perfect for Tiffany until the day she got the news that her show was going to be cancelled, before going home to catch her man in bed with the hired help.

Blackboard and Essence best-selling author Francis Ray has been honored with the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, as well as the EMMA and Golden Pen Awards. Here, she continues the saga of the Grayson family with Morgan's story. Mother Ruth Grayson is pushing her son to get married, but he resists - until he meets Phoenix, a beautiful artist with a secret.

Debut novelist Michele Grant pens a juicy tale in Heard It All Before. Best friends Jewellen and Renee think they know Dallas men like the backs of their hands. But that’s before Jewellen unexpectedly falls for a guy from the wrong side of the tracks, and Renee gets lured away from her own man by a hard-bodied hottie.

With smoking hot hits like Lies Lovers Tell and What Love Tastes Like to her credit, Zuri Day has built a considerable fanbase for her scorching contemporary romances. When 40-year-old teacher Gwen Smith travels home to care for her sick mother, she meets a potential new mate who makes her head spin. A “black Fabio,” 26-year-old Ransom Blake knows his way around the bedroom—and he’s about to take Gwen back to school for some lust lessons.

In Baby Momma Drama, sisters Jasmine and Stephanie struggle to understand the complicated relationships they have with the men in their lives. Luckily, they’ve got each other to turn to when the going gets tough.

Beverly Jenkins is an incredibly popular author of African-American romances. The Taming of Jessi Rose is the unforgettable tale of Jessi Rose Clayton. In trying to save her family ranch from falling into the greedy hands of the wrong people, Jessi finds a unique solution-hiring outlaw railroad robber Griffin Blake as her protector. Now, with this strong, bronze-bodied man on her side, Jessi might just be tempted to mix business with pleasure.

When young millionaire John Sebastian decides to win back the great love of his life, he vows to succeed no matter what it takes. But he soon realizes that he will have to prove himself worthy of her.

He's Miami's hottest new MVP. She's the woman who makes it all worthwhile. I brought us to Miami, my engagement ring on Roxie's finger, and nothing feels better than this woman by my side. She keeps me home, keeps me grounded, and having her with me on this new journey means everything. I'm well aware of what Roxie's given up to come to Miami with me: an entire other life, and any sacrifices I've made are none compared to that. This woman is made for me and I am for her, and if we can get through what we dealt with in college, I think we'll be golden here.

An Essence best-selling author, Rochelle Alers also boasts a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and Zora Neale Hurston Award. Sweet Southern Nights continues the Eaton family saga, which finds Dr. Levi Eaton far from his Northern roots, volunteering at a Kentucky clinic. There he meets Angela Chase, whose sultry Southern hospitality is just what the doctor ordered. But as their relationship deepens, Angela worries Levi may discover the secrets she’s been hiding.

Author Naomi Chase leaves readers breathless with hearty helpings of naughty gossip and juicy scandal in her novels. Anticipating a coveted promotion, Tamia Luke will finally have the glamorous life she’s always wanted. But the sexy Dominic Archer recognizes Tamia from her days as an adult film mistress. Now Tamia will have to satisfy Dominic’s every desire in order to keep him quiet—and she’ll have to figure out how to stop her rage from becoming lust.

Essence best-selling authors of Love Don’t Live Here Anymore, the husband/wife team of Chiles and Millner use a dramatic “he said, she said” approach in a novel that carries listeners right into the hearts of two lifelong friends. Aaron and Nina grew up on the same street and have been best buddies for 25 years. Now they wonder if they might ruin their relationship if they make room in it for passion and romance.

Evan Murdoch hoped things had finally settled down in his life. But now he's caught between two feuding women: his pregnant fiancée and his recovering alcoholic wife, who's fighting their divorce with every dirty, seductive trick she's got. But even that doesn't compare to the dangerous secret Evan's harboring - one that could send a Murdoch to jail for a very long time.

In Rhonda Bowen’s breakout debut novel Man Enough for Me, Jules Jackson has her life under control. There’s no man in the mix - until Germaine comes along, and she falls hard. But when Jules discovers Germaine is hiding something big from her, she starts digging for answers. Soon, everything starts falling apart, and Jules must decide to take her new love on faith or risk losing it all.

Jasmine Cox Larson Bush and Rachel Jackson Adams have been through a lot together - from fighting for their husbands to become the head of the American Baptist Coalition to getting mixed up in a terrible murder. Now the frenemies have found themselves the stars of First Ladies, a much anticipated new reality television show. Jasmine balks at the idea of airing her dirty laundry on national TV, but Rachel sees it as the perfect opportunity to take her brand to the next level.

Leticia Langley is used to fighting for what she wants. That's how she wound up being the first in her family to graduate from college. So what if she's never had a date? All that's about to change when she gets herself a job as a food columnist for The Journal - and treats herself to a makeover that will transform her life. With her hot weave and a dazzling new wardrobe that shows off her curves, the opposite sex suddenly takes a shine to Leticia.

Lutishia Lovely writes tales of church life that are positively scandalous - in all the right ways. Side-splittingly funny, bawdy, and chock-full of oh-no- you-did-not moments, A Preacher's Passion stars Passion Perkins, who despite her name hasn't had a man in her inner sanctum for five long years. But things are about to change.

The Company We Keep follows successful record executive Teri Stewart as she scours L.A. for love. Just when she's ready to give up on men altogether, into her life strolls charming DJ Harrison Starr. He's got it going on - obviously - but he's also hiding a dark secret that could destroy their budding romance.

After being shot and nearly killed, Celess imagined she’d put her habit of courting danger behind her. But a chance meeting with fellow daredevil Sienna quickly changes Celess’s plans. She jumps back into the fire of risky enterprise, putting her life on the line in pursuit of big bucks and high-style living, but Celess can’t help but wonder how much longer she can elude the dire consequences. Picking up where Never Enough left off, Celess is thrust back into the sex trade, guided by her friend Sienna.

Delightfully mixing inspirational romance and contemporary fiction, Vanessa Davis Griggs’ novels are gripping emotional rollercoaster rides. Here, aspiring event planner Melissa Anderson falls for the handsome, successful Marcus Peeples. But there’s a catch—he’s divorced—and Melissa struggles to reconcile this withher spiritual beliefs.