Contemporary African American Fiction

Still reeling from her husband’s untimely death, Deborah Robinson needs a fresh start. So she decides to pack up her family and return to her grandmother’s ancestral home on Cavanaugh Island. The charming town of Sanctuary Cove holds happy memories for Deborah, and, after she spies a gorgeous stranger in the local bakery, it promises the possibility for a bright future. Dr. Asa Monroe is at a crossroads. Ever since the loss of his family, he has been traveling from one town to another. When he meets Deborah, the beautiful bookstore owner with the sunny smile, Asa believes he has finally found a reason to stay in one place.

Jacqueline E. Luckett’s debut novel was heaped with critical acclaim and selected as a “recommended read” by the Essence Book Club. Set in the City of Light, her second novel, Passing Love, is a tender tale of love and discovery. After Nicole-Marie Handy leaves a marriage proposal behind to travel to Paris, she discovers that her father had a secret affair with a woman there many years before.

In this captivating tale, Tressa's voyage will expose listeners to a side of a struggling single mother that has yet to be revealed to them. Nikki Turner, the bestselling author of A Hustler's Wife, once again takes you on a safari through the jungle of the fierce and stormy streets, leaving you on the edge of your seat and begging for an encore.

Happy in marriage and motherhood, Sherise is back at work and ready for a big promotion to White House press secretary - until an incompetent rival gets the job instead. Something's dirty and Sherise is going to get to the bottom of it... Billie's law career is thriving, and she's newly engaged. But between her fiancé's disapproving mother and his angry ex-girlfriend, Billie's plans for the future may be put on hold - permanently...

Hot on the heels of his summer blockbuster, The Other Woman, Naughty or Nice arrives in time to heat up the winter holidays. Eric Jerome Dickey's fans have come to expect a spicy callaloo, full of richly drawn relationships, subtly developed conflicts, and witty dialogue, served up in some of the hippest prose being written today.

At 35, Destiny Day is at the top of her game: she's the shrewdest and most ambitious sister walking around in a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes. But when she meets Taye Crawford, an independent financial advisor, Destiny finds herself moving in a direction she never anticipated.

A New York Times best-selling author and award-winning journalist with publishing credits in Essence and Vibe, Aliya S. King uses her experience covering celebrity culture to create juicy tales of sex, ambition, and betrayal. In Diamond Life, Alex Maxwell’s rapper husband, Birdie, sees his album go multiplatinum - but life in the spotlight might be too much for his marriage to withstand.

It's business as usual for the infamous gold digging Gibbons women of Chesterton, Virginia. But this time, middle sister, Stephanie, may be the one getting played…Stephanie Gibbons has finally hit the jackpot. Her new sugar daddy, Isaac, is loaded and treating her in high style. When he proposes, Stephanie is sure she's set for life - until she finds her bank account empty, Isaac gone, and a strange - but very attractive - man following her.

Thirty-something writer Regina lives in Harlem with her four-year-old daughter. And no matter what she does, drama follows her wherever she goes. Her world is thrown for a loop when shady Little Joe re-enters her life looking for some action. Unfortunately, her lingering feelings for her congressman ex-husband aren't helping either.

Essence best-selling author Daaimah S. Poole delivers the scandalous and sexy goods her fans can’t get enough of in this sizzling tale of women trying to score. Adrienne Sheppard isn’t raking it in as an NFL star’s baby mama, so she’s looking to get wifed. Zakiya Lee is pregnant by the NBA’s hottest new player, but fame is wearing her out. And sports reporter Cherise Long has a pro athlete picked out too—but he happens to be Adrienne’s man.

G-money is back, but this time he's on a mission. Not only is he running things all by himself now, but he still has unfinished business that needs to be settled, with Detective Nelson, Rell, and Big Mel. When an unstoppable force meets an immovable object the outcome isn't pretty. Also find out what happens to Ali, Nancy, and the rest of the gang.

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.

In Abide with Me, Harris returns with the utmost finesse to his signature themes of love, friendship, and family, and craftily guides his irresistible characters through new challenges and heartbreaks, and ultimately to redemption through love. At the end of Just As I Am, Raymond Tyler, Jr., was beginning a relationship with Trent, a fraternity brother from his college days, while Nicole had found love with Jared, Raymond's buddy from Atlanta.

Nationally best-selling author Mary Monroe penned the widely acclaimed novels God Don't Like Ugly and God Still Don't Like Ugly. Red Light Wives is a sassy and scandalous novel of six women who engage in the world's oldest profession. They have something else in common too, their "manager," Clyde Brooks - a charismatic but hard man who fills many roles in each woman's life. But soon, an act of rebellion may change their relationship forever.

Sometimes love can take you by surprise. Kara Newell has a big-city life that needs a major shakeup. Her dedication as a social worker is unwavering, yet her heart tells her that there is more to life than just work. Kara gets the push she needs when, shockingly, she inherits a large estate on an island off the South Carolina coast. Now the charming town of Angels Landing awaits her—along with a secret family she never knew she had.

In the hood, every day is about struggle and survival, and no one understands that daily grind more than 22-year-old Kaeyla “Goldie” Dennis. She’s been the “wifey” of an older, wealthy man since she was 15, but the discovery of their longtime affair by his real wife brings to a crushing end her hood-fabulous lifestyle in their low-rise project in Newark.

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.

When Skylar starts planning a huge charity auction at the resort, it's Rio's job to keep an eye on the prized art she collects from donors. Though he's not blind to Skylar's beauty, Rio is nothing if not professional - and he refuses to make a move. But when a mysterious stranger enters the picture - and puts Skylar's life in danger - Rio attempts to protect her - only to be told, in no uncertain terms, that Skylar is capabale of taking care of herself. Her brazen independence is enough to drive Rio crazy - with desire.

Olena Day’s first love died tragically, and her college boyfriend left her for nother woman. Now a successful, independent 43-year-old,she begins a passionate relationship with Matthew, a man 18 years her junior. Can a relationship finally end happily-ever-after for Olena—or will it be torn apart once again?

There's always a man around the corner, and church trustee James Black should know - he's usually that very man. Meet a deliciously dysfunctional family in this riveting new novel, filled with intrigue, sex, and surprises.