We Go Slow by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie, Illustrated by Aaron Becker
A walk through their bustling city neighborhood brings a girl and her grandfather closer together in this gentle, contemplative picture book that’s “a reminder of the importance of being in the world with unhurried attention and open hearts
Dominion by Addie E. Citchens
The sins of a favorite son rock a small Mississippi town in this taut Southern family drama.
Reverend Sabre Winfrey, shepherd of the Seven Seals Baptist Church, believes in God, his own privilege, and enterprise. Besides the barbershop and radio station he owns, he has an iron hand on every aspect of Dominion, Mississippi, society. He and his wife, Priscilla, have five boys; the youngest, Emanuel, is called Wonderboy—no one sings prettier, runs as fast, or turns as many heads. After a surprising encounter with a stranger, Wonderboy finds himself confronted by questions he’d never imagined, and his response will send shock waves through the entire community. Told from the point of view of the women who love these two men, Dominion illustrates how we enable the everyday violence and casual sins of the patriarchy.
A Lesson in Deceit by Allie Shante
Riley Monroe has a pretty normal life, well, as normal as it gets being a human living in a world where magic can exist freely.
She's been surrounded by magic users her whole life to the point that she hardly notices anything abnormal in her quaint suburb. She didn't expect her world to change the night she meets River St. James at a bar. He's charming, confident, and just so happens to be able to read her mind. The tattooed telepath piques her interest, even when he tells her he's a student at the institution where her father works: the notorious Mystic Riegan University, a school that caters to both humans and magic wielders…
This Kind of Trouble by Tochi Eze
A riveting tale of forbidden love centered on an estranged couple brought together to reckon with the mysterious events that splintered their family.
In 1960s Lagos, a city enlivened with its newfound independence, headstrong Margaret meets British-born Benjamin, a man seeking his roots after the death of his half-Nigerian father. Despite Margaret’s reluctance, their connection is immediate. They fall in love in the dense, humid city, examining what appears to be their racial and cultural differences. However, as they exchange childhood stories during lazy work lunches, they uncover a past more entangled than they could have ever imagined. Margaret’s deteriorating mental health combined with the shadow of events that transpired decades ago in a small village sets their gradual fracture in motion.
Postive Obsession by Susana M. Morris
A magnificent cultural biography that charts the life of one of our greatest writers, situating her alongside the key historical and social moments that shaped her work.
As the first Black woman to consistently write and publish in the field of science fiction, Octavia Butler was a trailblazer. With her deft pen, she created stories speculating the devolution of the American empire, using it as an apt metaphor for the best and worst of humanity—our innovation and ingenuity, our naked greed and ambition, our propensity for violence and hierarchy. Her fiction charts the rise and fall of the American project—the nation’s transformation from a provincial backwater to a capitalist juggernaut—made possible by chattel slavery—to a bloated imperialist superpower on the verge of implosion.
Bestie by J Marnet
Sylvia convinced herself something was missing. Her marriage had become predictable, her husband, Rel, distant. No fire. No spark. No emotion.… But the truth was darker. She didn’t really want passion, she wanted proof. Proof she was still desired. So she invented a spicy little “experiment” to fix what she claimed was broken:
One night. Two rooms. No emotions. Just curiosity… and maybe closure.
ALL B.A.R.K. NO BITE by Michelle Nicole
Betrayal. Kidnapping. Secrets. Domestic Violence. Failed Relationships. Death. An unsure future.
These four resilient women grow stronger in their friendships as they navigate life together. Bianca attempts to keep her friends in check while trying to ensure the men in her life will not continue to leave her. Alicia struggles to parent her siblings with the challenges of her career. Katrina embarks on a journey with her sexuality that may cause her life. Regina is one car burned, busted windows and slashed tire event away from prison time. Embark on a journey with these four young ladies as they attempt to launch a FBI investigation on one of their lovers by themselves.
The Crown Prince by Mary C. Kim
Zaysh was never meant to rule. Sent to the Princes’ School against his will, exiled from his freedom and his desires, he returns home after three years only to discover that his brother has married into a powerful kingdom and gained the upper hand in the race for the throne.
The solution standing before him seems to be a marriage with a princess of even greater political weight. Before surrendering to this new duty, Zaysh plans one final week of unrestrained freedom—a sex-filled escape before everything changes. What he doesn’t expect is the woman who bangs on his hotel room door and demands he stop having sex.
Ayoka knows heartbreak all too well. Betrayed and humiliated, she flees to Maputo in search of peace and anonymity… only to get caught up with a stranger who turns out to be anything but ordinary. Their meeting is chaotic. Their chemistry is instant and electric.
The Paths That Cross by Humble Pressure
Noah had everything he could ever want, and whatever he didn’t have, it was never too far out of reach. However, love and a peace of mind were what he needed. After surviving a childhood no one should ever be subjected to, he was finally ready to admit it was time to heal and move forward. But he couldn’t move just yet, without her. Revealing his true self was foreign to him, but it was now or never if he was going to have her in his life and start the next chapter. But his past wasn’t too far behind him, and it was ready to move, too.
Teagan created a life for herself that most young girls wouldn’t imagine. She had her blossoming career and friends turned family. Recovering from a bad breakup, she finally meets the man who has occupied her mind for years. The stolen glances and distant stares were no longer enough for either of them. Wasting no more time, they dove headfirst into their whirlwind romance and took a chance at what they both have been needing. But Teagan’s past is back- with a nasty vengeance- to make sure she doesn’t get away, ever again.
Single & Crochet by Ciana Smoak
"I just want to be single and crochet."
Since the passing of her grandmother and being dumped by her ex in the same year. Heartbroken Anylee Smith has been focused on one thing. Becoming the best Crochet Fashion Designer. With the acceptance of having her designs displayed on the biggest runway in the world in the Virgin Islands, Anylee's dreams are on the tips of her fingers. But when one of her models cancels at the last minute, leaving her out of compliance with show rules, Anylee struggles to find a model to fill in.
With her ex, Santoro Reeves, celebrating his birthday in the Virgin Islands, the last thing they expected was to be reunited. Desperate to stay in the show, she settles for Santoro to be her model, based on the expectation of a few rules to keep her head focused on the show and clear of Santoro. But with Santoro breaking the rules, Anylee tries her hardest to keep their relationship strictly professional. But with Santoro back in the picture, she questions if her focus can stay on the show.
Tell Me I’m Not Dreaming by Monique Fisher
Four best friends, one trip to New Orleans, and no clue what the Big Easy has in store for them …
After an adventurous vacation exploring New Orleans, four best friends decide to visit a psychic. When she predicts that each of them will find true love in the new year, they don’t believe it. But they soon discover fate will not be denied.
Rolling Into Love by Morgan Evans, Illustrated by Ernesta White
When Morie, a bright and determined thirteen-year-old, discovers she’s pregnant, her world feels like it’s falling apart. Faced with the judgment of her peers and the pressure of family expectations, she embarks on a transformative journey to rediscover her worth and reclaim her sense of self. Along the way, she learns that love—whether romantic, familial, or self-directed—is not about perfection but about persistence, resilience, and acceptance.
Signed, Sealed, & Seduced by Nadia Nicole
Thirty days. No vows. No mercy. Just pleasure and power.
Zyla Thompson is running out of time—and options. Her cancer diagnosis is devastating enough, but the skyrocketing cost of treatment threatens to steal what little hope she has left. With her insurance maxed out and her body fighting for survival, her husband turns to the last man anyone should owe a favor: Roman Knight.
Cold. Commanding. Corrupt.
Roman doesn’t do handouts. He collects. And when it comes time to settle the debt, Zyla shows up to beg for grace.
Childlike Faith by Porsha Deun
Have you ever told your child (or a child in your life) to do something silly or crazy and watch them do it? Even if they weren’t fully confident in it, did they still did it? Yes? Why do you think that is? The classic “because I told them to” has little to do with it and more to do with their FAITH in the person who gave them the instruction. They have a childlike faith.
Do you listen to God the way your child listens to you? Do you have faith in God like how your children have faith in you?
Yeah, me too. This book is for the both of us!
In this devotional, you will find a few examples of childlike faith being expressed by both children and adults throughout scripture and leaves space for you to reflect and adjust.
Here’s to growing our childlike faith!
The Bumpy Road to Love by M. K. Morris
Janie Twain loves a good road trip.
The kind where she can sit pretty as a passenger princess with 70s music blasting and her feet kicked up on the dashboard. Unfortunately, this time she’s on her own, and with a droplet of gas in her tank and a dying phone, it’s not likely she’ll reach Green Narrows before sundown.
What’s a frustrated, out-of-town girl to do?
Nick Sommers hasn’t had a chance to relax since returning home from a six-month deployment. This exhausted Navy SEAL has a lengthy task list of things to catch up on, including being there for his sister during her messy divorce.
Add in a moody damsel in distress, and that list just got longer.
Nick feels compelled to help a stranded Janie when he pulls up to her broken down vehicle. From there, an odd connection forms, and the two find themselves crossing paths more frequently than they appreciate.
We Can’t Be By Ourselves: A Collection of Poems & Short Stories by Imani Leonique
“Do you love me?” she asked.
“Do you really love me?” he pondered.
“Are you going to stick by my side?” she pushed, urging an answer from her best friend.
“Can I do this without him?” she wondered.
“Do I love you?” “Can I trust you?”
“Do you love me?” he asked.
Again and again, around and around we go—yearning for connection with friends, lovers, family, anyone.
In all the stories you hear or read about love, do you ever really wonder how we can’t be by ourselves?
In her stirring debut, We Can’t Be By Ourselves, Imani Leonique weaves words into windows—opening our eyes to the quiet beauty and aching truths of human connection.
Through ten intimate short stories and ten soul-baring poems, she explores the tender, tangled threads of friendship, family, and love. These pieces pulse with memory, longing, and resilience, asking: What holds us together? What pulls us apart? And how do we carry each other—when we can’t carry ourselves?
A Mother’s Cry by Katiana Gustave
Karina and Willard have been what you would consider high school sweethearts. Until senior year, Willard's chance of graduating has been on the line, so he was set up to get tutored by Vanessa. someone who was a nobody, even Willard used to join the crowd when they've made jokes about her. But after being able to graduate and actually spending time with Vanessa, Willard started to feel differently about her and now he chooses to cut everything with Karina and be with Vanessa. Karina isn't too happy about Vanessa taking her place and so she is doing anything necessary to get her spot back in Willard's life.
The Gravity Between Us by CC Latrice
What if love wasn’t about fixing what’s broken, but embracing what’s real?
Kaydence Monroe has learned to survive in silence—until a chance encounter shakes something loose in her spirit. Strong but guarded, she’s two years into a celibacy journey, rebuilding her life on her terms. Hussain Romano is a man haunted by grief and guilt, holding himself together by the thread of control. When their paths cross, it's not sparks that fly—it's something deeper. Something ancient. Something worth fighting for.
Set against the soulful backdrop of Chicago, The Gravity Between Us is a slow-burning, emotionally rich story about love that doesn't ask you to shrink. It asks you to stay. To surrender. To be seen—even in the places you’ve tried to hide.
This is a love story for the healed and the healing, the strong and the soft. For anyone who's ever prayed for a love that meets them where they are—and stays.
The Dark Call Of Shadowstorm (Echoes Of Silver And Shadows Book 2)
I didn’t mean to crash into a magical kingdom, threaten royalty, or get branded by an ancient realm called Shadowstorm like it knew my blood. But hey, when your bestie vanishes into a fantasy world and your granddaddy’s journals hold the secrets to open a portal to a fantasy world called Vareth, you pack your whiskey, seasoning, edge control… and jump.
His to Crown by Shanette Shanté
Emerald Rae was born to reign—but every crown has a cost.
Feared in the streets and envied behind closed doors, she rules a legacy built on power, loyalty, and secrets. But when betrayal strikes close to home, Emerald learns that love is a luxury—and trust can be lethal.
In a world where freedom must be earned, how far will she go to protect her throne?
Stolen Smiles (Stolen Series Book 1) by Alaniece Sansbury
Will he be the one to restore her smile…
Or will he break the heart she didn’t think she had?
Cold. Calculated. Detached. Emotionless. This was Renlyn Lancaster… that was until she was forced to cross paths with Roman Winters. Despite her past trauma, will she allow Roman to get close, or will fear set in? Fear that if she gives him her heart, he’ll shatter what little remains of it and take her soul right along with it.
Ready or Not: A Slow Burn Novella from The Nape Series (Book I) by Olive Winter
One night.
One city.
One interaction that changes everything.
Solène gave up on happy endings. Desiderio is done with safe choices. Neither is looking for love—but when they cross paths on a crowded rooftop in Brooklyn, the pull is instant. Irresistible.
What begins as flirtation ignites into a night of wandering the city, sharing secrets and developing a connection that happens once in a lifetime. But when the sun comes up, the question isn't whether the night was real. It's whether they're brave enough to risk everything for what comes next.
Ready or Not is a sultry, heart-stopping romance about giving love a second chance, instant attraction, and the kind of night you never forget even if you tried.