African American Contemporary

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.

Publishers Weekly called award-winning author Michele Grant's Heard It All Before a ''scorching debut.'' This sequel follows Roman Montgomery's charming brother Beau, who shows up at his sister's Dallas condo looking for a place to stay. Instead, he finds her new roommate, Belle - equal parts attitude and beauty - who wants nothing to do with Beau's pretty-boy act. But when she offers him a job, Beau sees a chance to make something of himself - and prove he's more than just a pretty face.

Nothing invigorates the five Carter brothers more than an honest day's work - and the right women to come home to at night. Douglas Carter never expected the summer job he took at the post office 10 years ago to become his career. But now, at 28, he has zero regrets. He's happy to have a regular paycheck, good friends, and a sweet plan for retiring early. If only his cute but oh, so uptight new coworker felt as content as he does.

Meet Orchid, a goal-oriented good girl whose origins began in the hood. The very same hood she craves, but it's off limits to her after the death of her father, one of the state's biggest kingpins. Released from the reins her mother kept hold of, she finds her way back to the hood and is attracted to one of its most eligible ballers. Demonte is every woman's wet dream: tall, dark, handsome, and paid. When he crosses paths with Orchid, he's determined to make her his.

Momma's Baby Daddy's Maybe is an Essence best seller by popular author Jamise L. Dames. This steamy tale revolves around the lives of the three Jacobs siblings: wild Kennedy, corporate Simone, and handsome Derrick.

Lance Montgomery, renowned relationship expert, has perfected the art of being a playa. His acclaimed workshops and bestselling books prove it. His most popular title, The Playa’s Handbook, caused a major uproar among black women and men, and shot to the top of the bestseller list.

Leila is crushed when Dev, her boyfriend of four years, breaks up with her right before graduation. Just when she’s thinking she wasted her entire high school experience on a dead-end relationship, her best friend Bree reminds her that Last Chance Dance is just around the corner. A high school tradition, the Last Chance Dance gives all the students one last opportunity to find love before they graduate. All Leila has to do is submit three unrequited crushes to the dance committee and if any of her crushes list her too, they’ll get matched. Presto: new relationship, just like that.

Twenty-six-year-old Kymani can’t seem to catch a break lately. Over the past few years, his life has gone from unlimited potential to feeling stuck and uncertain about the future. His dead-end job offers no comfort or hope of change and his love life is nonexistent, making everything twice as hard to cope with. One day a chance meeting sets Kymani on a new path and breathes newfound motivation into his life that could turn things around once and for all.

Would you compromise your marriage to get out of debt? Naomi and DeShaun seem to have the perfect life, but when money runs low, they have to face the hard truth: Nothing lasts forever.

Every woman dreams of getting married to the man she loves. So why is the independent, vivacious Glover having second thoughts about her engagement to her rich, sexy boyfriend, Lionel? Meanwhile, Louisiana country boy Max decides moving to LA will better not only his career chances, but his love life. It’s just his luck that the beautiful woman who can help him professionally - and personally - is about to be married to another man. A chance meeting at an employment office gives new meaning to the phrase “reality check” as Glover and Max try to sort through the drama that is bound to happen if they get together.

After the demise of her relationship with longtime boyfriend DonTravious, Nicole thought God had truly blessed her the day Kendrick Taylor walked into her life; her prayers for a lasting love had been answered. Life with him was bliss - until he walked out of her life without a second thought, leaving her more broken and alone than she'd ever felt. Nicole resigned herself to the fact she was going to be alone. She was tired of looking for love and only being left out in the cold. She was content to mourn the love she'd lost...or rather never had with a now happily married Kendrick.

Maven Edwards was raised on the ruthless streets of Detroit but makes it out in one piece. An executive in the music industry, he has fortune, fame, and good looks, but an ice cold heart from time spent in various orphanages. Maven isn't looking for love, or even one female to share his wealth and success with. He is a bona fide ladies' man. The more arm candy he has to flaunt at celebrity parties, buy high-priced gifts for, and take on luxurious trips, the better. He's all about building his brand, making money, and collecting beautiful women who can coexist as sister wives.

Gaza was born and raised in McGregor Gully, one of Jamaica's grittiest housing projects in the slums of East Kingston. Growing up in poverty, he was exposed to robbery and murder at a tender age. In order to stay alive, he quickly adapted to a life of crime. Now he is one of the coldest killers and richest kingpins to ever walk the streets of Kingston. Whoever comes into contact with him and his crew either loves them, fears them, or wants to see them dead. The entrance of Catherine into his life just might change everything.

At 72, Johnny Ribkins shouldn't have such problems: he's got one week to come up with the money he stole from his mobster boss or it's curtains. What may or may not be useful to Johnny as he flees is that he comes from an African American family that has been gifted with superpowers that are a bit, well, odd. Okay, very odd. For example, Johnny's father could see colors no one else could see. His brother could scale perfectly flat walls. His cousin belches fire. And Johnny himself can make precise maps of any space you name, whether he's been there or not.

Sometimes you go in search of a new beginning. Other times, it finds you. Tonya Martin enjoys her job as a professional chef for a Wall Street bank, her East Harlem walk-up, and the freedom to live and love by her own rules - right up until the day she finds herself suddenly downsized. But a spontaneous trip to New Orleans opens up a new opportunity. With time on her hands and her daughter soon graduating college, Tonya has the chance to reach for her own long-cherished dream - opening a restaurant on her friend Hannah's beautiful Garden District estate.

The small town of Belle Haven, Louisiana, is still struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the Gulf oil spill, and its residents will do whatever it takes to get it back on its feet. So when local English teacher Carissa Melody Wayne is asked to appear on the weight-loss reality show Losing to Win, she agrees. She doesn't realize that others from her past will be joining her, including her high school nemesis, an acquaintance who's been nursing a long-time crush on her - and most shocking of all, Carissa's ex-fiancé...

Meet Keisha Montez: a gorgeous college student on the brink of stardom. All she has to do is put her assets to work.... Blessed with a body that won't quit, Keisha is also one very smart, tough woman with big hopes for her future - a future where she'll do whatever it takes to make enough money to get through school and see her dreams become reality....

One morning, Felicia is startled to see police at the house of her long-ago lover, Luther. When she learns that Luther's wife and young son have been murdered in their home, she refuses to accept the police's contention that the man she once loved could have committed the crime.

With Finding Mrs. Wright, nationally best-selling author Sherri L. Lewis offers a compelling tale of a single father seeking a better future while dealing with his crazy ex. Devon Wright’s young daughter, Brianna, is the most important person in his life. After his last relationship, Devon isn’t looking to get involved with another woman anytime soon. But all that changes when his friend introduces him to Cassandra - and Devon wonders if he might actually have a chance at love.

No one is going to tear down the farmland that's been in Crystal's family since the turn of the 20th century - especially not the multimillion dollar suits behind Welco Industries. And until Welco's president meets with her, Crystal wages a fiery one-woman protest to prove she means business. When he finally appears, Douglas Wellington III is far from the elderly curmudgeon she expected. Crystal issues a challenge: spend one week on the land he wants to destroy. He agrees, if only to be alone with her.