Contemporary African American Fiction

“Kirwan’s excellent debut brings charm, complexity, and plenty of heat…This mature, steamy romance will have readers swooning.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review "Noué Kirwan’s exquisitely-written debut left me breathless.”—Farrah Rochon, USA Today bestselling author of The...

It’s less than a week before Sonya Morrison’s wedding when she decides to pass her legendary little black book on to her cousin Courtney Andrews along with all of her best wishes. Courtney, who’s fast approaching thirty, thinks every woman she knows has somehow met a man who is husband...

Amara Johnson has spent her life following the rules, always choosing stability over risk. But when she returns to Memphis for her estranged grandfather’s funeral, she inherits more than just his crumbling house. She inherits his unfinished story. A once-renowned blues musician, his name has been nearly erased, his legacy buried beneath family silence and years of regret.

Walker Jareau prided himself on being a player. Women came a dime a dozen, and he was like a revolving door... until he met the one woman who threatened to swipe his player card—Jorja Sandifer. The beautiful dancer captivated him from the moment he laid eyes on her. It didn’t take long for the friends with benefits to migrate into an unconventional relationship, laced with a bit of toxicity. Feelings developed, and neither wants to come clean until Jorja has had enough.

When Sam is stuck sharing the streets for Chicago’s summer festivals with a man she can’t stand, she’ll find it’s often a bumpy road that leads to love…. As office manager of the city’s leading luxury boudoir and pinup photography studio, lovable grump Samantha Sawyer has...

When an unexpected Player Two enters her life, a gamer must decide if their relationship is worth leveling up in this new romance from the author of The Love Con. Samara Reynolds has built a large following as a gamer under an anonymous screen name, and uses her skills as a DEIA consultant to...

Billionaire Londoner Steven has moved to America to expand his house renting business. Here he meets Julie, an African American woman who may just be the person to help him get the properties he's after. But will this business relationship be all that blossoms from the time spent together? Or will something a lot more personal occur?

An amateur online sleuth must enlist the help of a jaded PI to clear her name while taking down a shady tech start-up in this exhilarating romantic suspense novel. Fiona Addai is ready to set her plan in motion. To honor the anniversary of her brother’s death, she’s going to steal back his...

At the celebration of her best friend's wedding, Claudia Stevens is trying to sort out her tumultuous emotions, regarding the groom's best man and brother, Jaden Alexander Rose. What started as a platonic relationship, has turned into a battle of wills whenever they find themselves together. Their heated exchanges have risen to the surface, and desire spills over on contact. However, Claudia fears she is not enough to be on the arm of a prestigious benefactor like Jaden. And Claudia is sure that's why he's friend-zoned her.

Best friends Amelia and Amaru have done everything together for the past thirteen years, including raise their children together. For those around them, love radiates from the duo on a soul level that makes them question why they haven’t taken things further. One failed relationship after another reminds them why their friendship is so important. No amount of sex or romance is worth risking the bond they share. When Amelia’s questionable choices in men causes Amaru to view her differently, he can’t stop himself from wondering if he can become the exception to her no dating friends rule.

Syre Reign has always been seen as the family screw-up. Wherever he goes, his reputation as a hothead with repeated run-ins with the law precedes him. From a young age, Delilah Gold has groomed her sons and nephews to take over her online empire. Everyone has a place in the family business, even Syre as the head of security. Now that Delilah is retiring soon, she sets a plan in motion to merge her family dynasty with the infamous Black family through a marriage of convenience.

Peace. That's what Synovi now had and cherished more than anything. Free from all the disturbances his chaotic life once ensued, he wanted nothing more than to keep it that way. With a thriving business and relationship, almost nothing could take him back to that dark place of no love. His Love didn't reside there. His world is still hers, and she is still his. Without warning, Torin inserted herself into Synovi's life and remained. She's the person he can run to when everything begins to fade, but there's a price to pay when you have a good heart.

A steamy contemporary romance novel about a forbidden love between plus-size fashion designer, Sophia, and billionaire playboy, Ethan. Sophia has always struggled with her weight and has learned to embrace her curves and love herself. She has built a successful fashion business catering to plus-size women and is proud of her achievements. But when she meets Ethan at a fashion industry event, she is immediately drawn to his charm and good looks. Despite knowing that a relationship between them would be taboo, Sophia can't resist her feelings for Ethan.

The New York Times bestselling author checks in to the hotel of readers’ dreams for an ardent romantic adventure that lasts just One Night. For one night, a couple checks in to an upscale hotel. The pair seem unlikely companions, from opposing strata of society, but their attraction is...

Celeste Styles is starting over. After losing her cherished salon in a suspicious fire, she has finally left her adulterous relationship and her drama-filled life in Brooklyn for the peace and tranquility of Atlanta, Georgia. But when Rah-Lo heads down south after deciding to leave his wife Asia, Celeste is floored and isn't quite sure if she wants to rekindle their affair.

Picking up where Essence best-selling author La Jill Hunt's Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda left off, Too Close for Comfort follows Paige Michaels and her no-nonsense friends as they search for love. Paige has finally broken loose from her no-good man, and she's loving the single life - until Quincy Westbrooke shows up.

Embria Taylor is an expert on fixing the lives of others but can’t seem to make sense of her own. When a handsome stranger forces his way into her world, she quickly learns that being open to new possibilities just might be the missing ingredient to securing her happily ever after. Rahshon Allen is a man that speaks his mind and makes no apologies for who he is or how he feels. Those characteristics are what land him right in the middle of the chaos that seems to be just what he needs to escape his dark past.

Best friends? With a celebrity? Impossible. That's how Sesali feels after a chance encounter with super producer Dash Dean. His offer of friendship has to be a smoke screen for an ulterior motive. Besides, she already has best friends, and one of them has staked a claim on Dash.

Emotionally avoidant James Wolf has spent his life running—from his past, his pain, and most importantly, from himself. Now nearing 40 and feeling the weight of profound loneliness, James escapes his life in Chicago for the vibrant yet isolating Florida Keys. There, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that challenges the walls he's spent a lifetime constructing. When an unexpected reunion with Lily, a long-lost friend, disrupts his carefully controlled world, James must decide whether to continue living in isolation or take a chance on connection and healing.

An upcoming book to be published by Penguin Random House...