African American Contemporary

Marcus Major, author of the Blackboard best-seller Good Peoples, crafts this fun, stylish and delightfully perceptive tale of four best friends, an oath - and one very special young woman. Colin, Dexter, Ibn, and Michael have been inseparable since college. Besides sharing similar interests, they have someone very important in common - Erika. Erika is the little sister of a friend who died, and they’ve promised to watch out for her.

In Crush, three of today’s hottest romance authors offer tempting tales about crushes that compel women to risk it all for love. In Wanted: You by Lutishia Lovely features a man receiving erotic letters at his place of employment that shock his assistant. In White Mocha by Michele Grant, a woman who’s normally conservative about romance gets all fired up after enjoying an eyeful of a handsome coffee shop owner. And Cydney Rax’s From One Lover to Another stars a woman who shows her badgirl side when her ex refuses to take no for an answer.

From national best-selling author Rochelle Alers comes a sizzling, sensuous story of three diverse 30-something women whose lives are forever changed when they are invited to join the exclusive world of the Pleasure Seekers.

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Brenda Jackson ignites fierce passions within her devoted fan following. Her Steele series features an African-American family whose members find love in the least likely places. Here, gift shop owner Stacey Carlson harbors secret fantasies about her sexy landlord Eli Steele. Looking to change his playboy image, Eli thinks proposing to Stacey is a good way to start. Their arrangement is supposed to be strictly business, but when real sparks fly between them, Eli begins reconsidering his stance.

In every sense of the word, Santiago Acevedo is a boss. Men respect and fear him, and women worship and desire him. But not all is well within the Acevedo family. Santiago learns of his wife Melanie's affair from his second in command, Basim. Murder then becomes his motive, and every move he makes thereafter proves detrimental to his precious daughter, Eva; his troubled son, Tariq; and his moneymaking empire.

There's nothing like brotherly love, and the love Terrell shared for his younger brother, Montrell, was like no other. Four years after Montrell was born, Terrell witnessed the death of his father who was shot down in the front yard of their house. Terrell held his father in his arms and watched him as he took his final breath. Since his father was no longer there to protect him, Terrell had to take over his position. That day, Terrell made a pact to protect his family at all costs.

Mary Monroe is the author of Essence best-sellers including The Upper Room. Here, she examines the emotional webs that are woven between friends, lovers, and families. Carmen Taylor is absolutely dependable; she feels responsible for everyone she knows. It will take one reckless night to make Carmen realize that she might be able to lay her burdens down and take a chance on real happiness.

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.

Daisy Parker is Jasper's lover and mother to Jay, his nine-year-old son. But when Jasper doesn't come home one too many nights, Daisy decides she's had enough. But Jasper hasn't been partying; he's been murdered. In shock, Daisy is further devastated to learn that Jasper was married and has left everything to his wife. Now without a home or a job, Daisy must figure out a way to support herself and Jay. And when a sexy ex-boyfriend resurfaces, Daisy's life becomes even more complicated.

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.

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.

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.

Vanella Morris is extremely happy with her long-time boyfriend, Alton. But Vanella is also uneasy and apprehensive about making the big commitment. The time has come to make the decision of her life: walk away now from this good thing, or convince Alton that, by living together, the marital bliss he longs for can still be theirs.

When her baby sister announces she's getting married in thirty days, sexy but single flight attendant Montana Moore realizes that she's soon to be the oldest - and only unwed woman in her family. With the help of fellow flight attendants and a zany network of airline employees, Montana embarks on a thirty-day, thirty-thousand-mile expedition to charm a potential suitor into becoming her fiancé.

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.

In this first ever short story collection, New York Times bestselling author Francis Ray takes us on five steamy, sexy adventures. From a timid, dowdy duckling who turns into a confident, sexy swan which sends her into the arms of a handsome artist; to a bridesmaid’s explosive encounter with the best man; to an unproven actress who is being wooed to the stage by a handsome Broadway director.

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.