Susan Spain

Considered "slow" by his father, Lonzo tries his best to help his family in Culpeper, Virginia, during the Civil War and, in the process, comes to some decisions about how to live his life.

"It wasn't easy for Yvonne Cable to get over a heartbreaking relationship and revamp her life. But now the once-broke single mom is Atlanta's most sought-after interior designer--and one-half of the media's hottest power couple. She and her celebrity fiancé, Nathan, are a perfect, practical match, on--and off--camera. And with their new home improvement reality show the object of a fierce network bidding war, there's no limit to how far they can...

"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...

Janelle Marshall's life is finally going according to plan. Her perfect, upscale career--and her perfect, successful boyfriend--will make her future as secure and predictable as her childhood never was. And with luck, Little Bill, the grandfather who raised her will someday understand why she'd rather play it safe than be impulsive. But just when she should be happiest, she gets a distressing call: Little Bill has gone missing. Now Janelle must go...

"An unstable childhood and a bad marriage have left Nova unable to trust anyone--especially herself. She'd do anything for her young son, but feels she'll never be a good enough mother. She's got major talent as a stylist and makeup artist, but big-time success would mean leaving the safety of Martha's Vineyard and the only family she has left. Still, she needs to kick-start her life in a new direction. The last thing she needs is her childhood frenemy,...

Trisha R. Thomas' top-selling fiction has captivated audiences, garnered honorable recognition from the NAACP, and captured the attention of major Hollywood film studios. Nappily Married follows the lovable, sharp-witted Venus Johnston as she strives to make a name for herself while juggling the responsibilities of marriage and motherhood. Former flame Dr. Clint Fairchild just might be the one to give her a hand.

When her husband gets a job with David, a gospel megastar, Brianna, a lonely young wife seeking solace in religious studies, finds a connection with David that causes her to question her faith, fidelity, and the sovereignty of God.

From an inside peek at the inner workings of Hollywood to the backstage drama of Broadway, from a poignant look at the black upper class to an honest look at the WASP elite, this elegantly wrought memoir of an extraordinary family has something for everyone. Growing up with a black Auntie Mame-like mother (who performed with the likes of Lena Horne) and an Anglo sea-faring father, Susan Fales-Hill moved seamlessly between many worlds. But it was...

In this spunky update of a classic, a young woman finds she's not a fair lady, she's a fine one- actually more than fine when it comes to her musical skills. This gift hasn't gone unnoticed by several key men in her life. Before Imani makes it, though, she still has to learn how to navigate issues of trust and identity and how to find the strength to be her own inspiration.

Essence best-selling author Gwynne Forster writes thought-provoking tales of love and personal growth. In When You Dance with the Devil, Forster explores the complicated lives of two lost souls looking to start over at a Maryland boarding house. Fannie Johnson has seen darn near all the world has to offer at her Thank the Lord Boarding House. After spending 35 years under the thumb of her vindictive mother, Sarah Jolene Tilman is ready to strike out...