Celeste O. Norfleet

Set in the summer of 1968, a provocative and devastating novel of individual lives caught in the grips of violent history—a timely and poignant story that reverberates with the power of Alice Walker’s Meridian and Ntozake Shange’s Betsey Browne. At the end of a sweltering summer shaped by the tragic assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Bobby Kennedy, race riots, political protests, and the birth of Black power, three coeds from New York City—Zelda Livingston, Veronica Cook, and Daphne Brooks—pack into Veronica’s new Ford Fairlane convertible, bound for Atlanta and their last year at Spelman College. It is the beginning a journey that will change their lives irrevocably. Unlikely friends from vastly different backgrounds, the trio has been inseparable since freshman year. Zelda, serious and unyielding, the heir of rebellious slaves and freedom riders, sees the world in black versus white. Veronica, the privileged daughter of a refined, wealthy family, strongly believes in integration and racial uplift. Daphne lives with a legacy of loss—when she was five years old, her black mother committed suicide and her white father abandoned her. Because they will be going their separate ways after graduation, Zelda, Veronica, and Daphne intend to make lasting memories on this special trip. Though they are young and carefree, they aren’t foolish. Joined by Veronica’s family friend Daniel, they rely on the Motorist Green Book to find racially friendly locations for gas, rest, and food. Still, with the sun on their cheeks, the wind in their hair, and Motown on the radio, the girls revel in their freedom. Yet as the miles fly by, taking them closer to the Mason-Dixon line, tension begins to rise and the conversation turns serious when Daphne shares a horrifying secret about her life. When they hit Washington, D.C., the joyous trip turns dark. In Virginia they barely escape a desperate situation when prison guards mistake Daniel for an escapee. Further south they barely make it through a sundown town. When the car breaks down in Georgia they are caught up in a racially hostile situation that leaves a white person dead and one of the girls holding the gun.

A Novel

One Night in Georgia

She Said, She Said (Kimani Tru)

How did Kenisha Lewis's life go from near perfect to sheer chaos in just a few months? Coping with family tragedy is tough enough without getting kicked out of private school and sent to the local public school, where she's forced to make some major adjustments. New friends (and enemies), new clothes, a hot new guy who might be mixed up in something serious. It's no surprise that those close to her think Kenisha's moving way too fast. One thing's for sure: in order to deal with the trouble that's coming her way, she'll have to figure out who to trust, who to ditch and how to be true to the person she really is.

Fast forward

Helen Cavanagh

Candy Papers

One of “The 17 Best Summer Reads of 2019” by Harper’s Bazaar! Set in the summer of 1968, a provocative and devastating novel of individual lives caught in the grips of violent history—a timely and poignant story that reverberates with the power of Alice Walker’s Meridian and Ntozake Shange’s Betsey Browne. At the end of a sweltering summer shaped by the tragic assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Bobby Kennedy, race riots, political protests, and the birth of Black power, three coeds from New York City—Zelda Livingston, Veronica Cook, and Daphne Brooks—pack into Veronica’s new Ford Fairlane convertible, bound for Atlanta and their last year at Spelman College. It is the beginning a journey that will change their lives irrevocably. Unlikely friends from vastly different backgrounds, the trio has been inseparable since freshman year. Zelda, serious and unyielding, the heir of rebellious slaves and freedom riders, sees the world in black versus white. Veronica, the privileged daughter of a refined, wealthy family, strongly believes in integration and racial uplift. Daphne lives with a legacy of loss—when she was five years old, her black mother committed suicide and her white father abandoned her. Because they will be going their separate ways after graduation, Zelda, Veronica, and Daphne intend to make lasting memories on this special trip. Though they are young and carefree, they aren’t foolish. Joined by Veronica’s family friend Daniel, they rely on the Motorist Green Book to find racially friendly locations for gas, rest, and food. Still, with the sun on their cheeks, the wind in their hair, and Motown on the radio, the girls revel in their freedom. Yet as the miles fly by, taking them closer to the Mason-Dixon line, tension begins to rise and the conversation turns serious when Daphne shares a horrifying secret about her life. When they hit Washington, D.C., the joyous trip turns dark. In Virginia they barely escape a desperate situation when prison guards mistake Daniel for an escapee. Further south they barely make it through a sundown town. When the car breaks down in Georgia they are caught up in a racially hostile situation that leaves a white person dead and one of the girls holding the gun.

Deborah Fletcher Mello

Regina Hart

Three romances from three of Urban Literature's best known authors. In Sealed with a Kiss by Celeste O. Norfleet, small-town boy Dean Everett struggles to go back to his high school girlfriend having been away and made it big in the tech world. In Mistletoe Lane by Regina Hart, Benjamin Brooks' marriage is ending due to his wife having had an affair. Sad though he may be, Benjamin is readying himself to launch back onto the dating scene. Though details of Deborah Fletcher Mello's contribution are yet to be announced, it is bound to be both sexy and sensational too.

A Christmas Kiss

Janice Sims

Felicia Mason

Mistletoe kisses, Christmas wishes and the joy of falling in love... A Gift from the Heart by Celeste O. Norfleet

This Holiday Magic: A Gift from the Heart / Mine by Christmas / A Family for Christmas

If there's one thing Kenisha Lewis has learned, it's that the people you think you know best often surprise you the most. And not always in a good way. It seems the revelations just keep coming. First, her grandmother and her dad are having money troubles, which means she'll probably have to stay in public school and get a part–time job. And then there's her boyfriend, Terrence, who has more secrets than she could have imagined. Kenisha can't believe Terrence is dumb enough to get mixed up in a string of robberies. Or that he'd cheat on her with his old girlfriend. Or could it be that she just doesn't want to admit the truth? Where Kenisha goes, drama follows, but she's getting stronger and smarter every day. And she doesn't plan on getting played again….

Getting Played

After being dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Shay Daniels isn't looking to get burned again. But that's before she meets legendary love expert Quinn Anderson at a relationship therapy retreat. Th e jaded travel show host vows to get an exclusive story on the gorgeous, enigmatic Dr. Love. Shay may not be buying into Quinn's whole relationship philosophy, but boy is he hot. Th en the widowed entrepreneur throws Shay a challenge: he'll teach her the art of seducing a man by becoming her partner in an erotic test run. But he never expects his passionate student to surpass the teacher. Now the only exclusive he'll give is the one on Shay's heart.

Come Away with Me

The magic of Christmas makes holiday dreams come true in this trio of romances that includes Celeste O. Norfleet's A Gift from the Heart, in which Janelle Truman is stunned to discover that workaholic Tyson Croft has been transformed into a caring family man as he helps her save her father's company. Original.

A Gift from the Heart / Mine by Christmas / A Family for Christmas

This Holiday Magic

Nothing has stopped savvy psychologist Natalia Coles from having her own family. She doesn't know the anonymous donor of her two young sons and intends to keep it that way.

Cross My Heart (Mills & Boon Kimani) (The Coles, Book 2)

An appetite for seduction... Every woman on Key West is swooning over newcomer Chase Buchanan. All except bakery owner Nikita Coles. Bad enough that he's bought the building next door, blocking Nikita's plans to expand her business. Worse, he works for a big oil company. She can't trust the man or his motivations, even if he does look good enough to eat.... Convincing Nikita to sell her property will be a challenge, but Chase is ready for it. The Coles family has a rich history on Key West, but the Buchanans never give up on what they want. Seduction begins as a business strategy, and quickly becomes the most pleasurable experience of Chase's life. Yet winning the battle of wills could mean losing the love he never expected to find....

Just One Taste

Before he was a football legend, Devon Hayes fantasized about Hollywood actress Jazelle Richardson. Now that he's famous in his own right and ready to settle down, meeting Jazz through The Platinum Society seems like destiny. Their sensual chemistry is overwhelming except Jazz wants the one thing Devon can't give her—a life away from the spotlight. Born to movie star parents, Jazz has seen the problems wealth and fame can bring. Reeling after a loss, she's not sure she's ready to get close to anyone again, especially someone who's so attached to his celebrity status. But by the time Devon figures out what matters most, will he have lost the woman his heart chose to love long ago?

Heart's Choice

Special events planner Jacqueline Murphy's love life is a disaster. Her low point? Being dumped by her fiancé on Friday the thirteenth. So why should her luck change when she accidentally rear-ends the car of her next-door neighbor...

Celeste O. Norfleet

About

Books

Join the club