Contemporary African American Fiction

Did Mark mean what Alison Lind hoped? Was her boss declaring his passion for her? Did he really feel the same way she secretly felt for him? Apparently not. Instead of asking her to be his lover, he was asking her to be temporary nanny to his baby niece. Not an ounce of desire in sight. Or was there? Living together, spending time in intimate surroundings, created a sensual tension too powerful to ignore. How long before this strictly business relationship turned into a strictly passionate predicament?

All work and later for play has always been Nikki Wade's motto. Until the enticingly hot yet complicated Bakari Youngblood convinces her otherwise while at a conference in Jamaica. After a tough emotional two years of pain and loneliness and one night of unexpected passion with Bakari, Nikki gives in to his request to be uninhibited. And soon, she rediscovers herself and realizes that love is possible again. But is that love possible with Bakari who seems to be holding something back?

In this day and age, one would believe that skin color would not matter, but in this coming of age novel, Sandra Ray learns that it still matters in a painful way. Although she is twenty three, attends college full time and works as a sales associate, she has a little growing up to do. She realizes she can't live with her sister and brother-in-law forever and is angry and bitter from feeling a lack of control of what happens in her life. When her sister and brother-in-law try to set her up with a successful Pediatrician she resists with all her might.

Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist, music producer, and actor T.I. and his bestselling celebrity collaborator, David Ritz, continue the explosive story of Power and Beauty that began in the street-lit epic Power & Beauty. When his mother, Charlotte, was killed, Paul “Power” Clay and his closest friend, Tanya “Beauty” Long, fell under the spell of a savvy and ruthless Atlanta businessman named Slim, who promised to protect them.

Sometimes, you just need someone to help you see things in a different light. A shift in the angle.

Jeb wanted to be a professional hockey player. He spent all his youth playing hockey and neglected his school work. However the only reason he did not play in the NHL was because he was size. Now in his old age, he feels bitter and depressed as he spends all his time watering the outdoor hockey rink. A black boy on one of the local hockey teams is struggling because of his hockey skills. The boy also struggles in school. Old Jeb decides to give the boy some hockey lessons; and in doing so, old Jed finds redemption by helping the young boy to succeed.

Following a chilling winter of revelations and newfound relationships, sunshine breaks through, and Koya Priest finds herself basking in its rays. Before truly enjoying them, dark clouds warn her of a brewing storm. Coming to terms with what she didn't want to accept, the fearless beauty despises that she may be more like her father, Duke, than she realized. Having been referred to as intimidating and downright ruthless, Parish Sneaux doesn't let the opinion of others worry him. Parish makes no exceptions regarding his respect, family, and the gang. That's until he gets a rude awakening.

Fall in line or get replaced. That's how my businesses operate. Being named the Dallas representative for the Mr. Black Organization was an honor, not a job. However, it's not easy to change the way someone maneuvers. I was determined to make this year's Juneteenth celebration unlike anything this city had seen before, starting with a road trip focused on Black culture. I had a plan, my purpose was clear, and my team was set. Until a wild-card photographer got thrown in the mix.

Yazmeen Franklin is as green as they come. Her only real friend is her older sister, who raised her after their mother died. Because of their father’s poor example, Yazmeen has little trust in men, so dating is foreign to her. During her sophomore year of college, she lets her guard down and finally gets close to a man. However, he is a known womanizer, and she keeps him in the friend zone to protect her heart.

Cheyanne Taylor has seen and experienced the evil that comes from the love of money. She was born to parents who chased wealth and status more than they prioritized nurturing and loving her. Thankfully, her billionaire grandfather adopted her and provided the stable home she needed. After years of toxic relationships with men of wealth or who used her because of hers, Cheyanne decides to keep her identity hidden.

Dismayed at what she now has to consider her life, Loriana tries her best to balance it all. The unforeseen death of her mother has her suffocating in grief, feeling as if she’s lost it all. While struggling internally, she smiles on the outside to save face. That’s until she can no longer keep up her façade. When she least expects it, the breath of fresh air she was desperately gasping for is given. On a rollercoaster with her emotions, wondering how her first love became her first heartbreak, she finds herself. Those good days she prayed to God for had finally came around.

Anissa Dent is experiencing heartbreak like none she’s ever felt. Her husband of nearly twenty years has fallen victim to crack cocaine after a devastating loss. All her efforts to help him have failed, and to protect herself and her sons, she divorces him and has him removed from their home. That doesn’t stop him from popping in and out of their lives with promises of getting clean. Anissa desperately wants to move on in her life, but her love for what once was is holding her back. However, attending a family barbeque with her son proves to be the restart she desperately needs.

Sienna Shaw thought she’d found forever when she met the wealthy and charming Tyir Willis. For months, Tyir wined, dined, and wooed Sienna until she agreed to relocate to be closer to him. In the blink of an eye, Sienna’s would-be fairytale love is snatched away. Being a single mother was never on Sienna’s list of things to do. When her prince charming turned out to be a frog, she’s left to figure out how to navigate through motherhood alone.

Jakari Bolton: protector and provider… He takes on those roles when his father gets incarcerated for hideous crimes that are still bothering him ten years later. Jakari is so busy taking care of those he loves he forgot that he needed care too. Anger, guilt, and hurt have guided his life’s trajectory, and he doesn’t know any other way to be. So when he has to pick up his cousins from school and runs into librarian, Yendi Odom, he doesn’t know how to handle her.

Loving hard doesn’t do anyone any good when the love isn’t reciprocated. If Rondo Simpson could have a do over in his love life, he would jump at the opportunity. The woman he’s loved for over ten years has committed the ultimate betrayal and has convinced him that love just isn’t in the cards for him. Even attempts at love before her seemed to be one-sided and leaves him heartbroken. However, unexpectedly, the type of woman he’s been longing for walks into his life when everything is in disarray, stealing his attention from the word go.

Life has never been easy for Pastel Saint, but she isn't afraid of hard work. This has always been Pastel's attitude until the load she's carrying threatens to break her. One day she's on the verge of falling to pieces when an unlikely party presents her with a silver lining in the form of a proposition.

Adonis "Drayko" Loving had been trouble since he learned to walk. Living a risky lifestyle finally catches up with him, forcing him to suddenly leave Ohio and find a fresh start elsewhere. After relocating, he finds himself struggling with adjusting to his new surroundings. Living a single, drama-free life by getting money and staying out of the way comes to an abrupt end when Nyoka crosses his path. Her slanted, sly eyes pull him in and make him rethink and reevaluate his entire life.

After a disastrous attempt at a one-night stand, Eliott Rayne is content with never seeing the wildly confident and ridiculously handsome Dane Clarke again. Two years later, she's mostly pushed him from her mind when he barrels into her life once more as the best man at a wedding she's been hired to photograph. Her first instinct is to run, cancel the job, and get as far away from Dane as possible. But Dane has other ideas. When Eliott reveals the embarrassing reason behind their failed night together, Dane is undeterred

Phox Bello is a fearless, headstrong, high-stepping bombshell of a boss who will do just about anything to secure her empire. The thought of having to collaborate or partner with anyone makes Phox itch with contempt. Hades Metellus is a man who reigns supreme. Everything he touches turns to gold or ash if he so desires. Hades controls everything from his mafia throne, and the power feeds his soul. The thought of having to share space at the top is a concept that he could never wrap his head around, but he better be prepared to get spun. What happens when the two bosses link up?

Just when things seem to be going well, a curve ball is thrown at Tae causing Brenna to take a step back from their situation. Now becoming a father, Tae puts all his attention on his son, ignoring the yearning inside of him. Brenna thinks moving on is the key to her problems, but what she soon learns is the heart wants what the heart wants. The only question between them is can Brenna put aside her issues with Tae's newfound fatherhood to give them a real chance?