Nanzee Johnson, a simple girl with a New York dream. Her desire to acquire an education at New York University in the Big Apple was shared by her travelling companion and childhood friend, Gwen Duncan. While struggling to get a solid footing in their new home, Nanzee stumbles onto a chance meeting with a dashing stranger, Basil Barden. The meeting brought about a rift between Nanzee and Gwen. Accused of overstepping certain boundaries, Nanzee had a decision to make while Gwen threatened to expose her to her father. Nanzee soon finds herself alone and reliant on the man who took her breath away. He is already on a mission and willing to do anything to keep her dependent and breathless. Her pride, concerns about White Man’s Burden syndrome and her father’s bigotry, are no match for the overwhelming affection she had developed for Basil. Indeed, these hurdles were unworthy of comparison to what he offered her. Nanzee wonders how she might prove herself worthy of Basil’s love. When he propositions her, saying that in her agreement she would be saving his life, Nanzee knew she had found a way to redeem herself to him even if in her eyes alone.

Nanzee and Basil Barden-Love, with their family, continually and un-dauntingly conquer whatever life metes out. Meanwhile, Gwen Duncan is on the rollercoaster ride of her life; she finds herself enduring things she emphatically detests. For Love, her reason for endurance is the cause of her misery. He is determined not to be bullied by her. She will know there is a difference between Basil and himself! Nanzee, on occasion winces at Gwens thoughtlessness; but she determines never to let it ruin her marriage. Meanwhile, Gwen, herself moves through a maze of uncertainty as their friendship forged since childhood is threatened.

It's a beautiful love story of Beverly and Jonathan who met while in high school. They had most of their classes together. Beverly's father does not want her to see Jonathan because he believes that Jonathan is not the right person for her. Beverly asked her father if she could invite Jonathan for dinner so he and her mother could get to know him but her father said, "no." Jonathan did not attend church because he worked Sunday's to help out with his twin sisters. After graduation, Jonathan and Beverly lost contact. He went to Dallas, Texas and becomes a Preacher. Years later, after Beverly had graduated college and started her own business, her father realized that she was still in love with Jonathan. So he started out to find Jonathan without Beverly's knowledge. It's a lot of surprises in this story. It touches the heart. Also, a clean story without a high sexual overtone. It'a good reading for Christians and Non-Christians.

When Sarah was eleven her parents separated and sent her to live with her Grandmother Mrs. Brown. Sarah was very hurt and felt like it was her fault. Her parents felt they needed time apart to resolve their differences. She loved her grandmother very much but missed her parents. Sarah decided that she was going to make the best of her situation and focus on her grades in school and participate in sports. Coming up to her twelfth birthday, Sarah prayed that both of her parents would be there. They came and had a special envelope for her. On the front it read, A Miracle for Sarah. In the note, her parents asked for forgiveness of what they put her through and if she would forgive them, they would take her home that night. Sarah opened the envelope and read the note. She said, “ Yes ! Yes!” They hugged and cried.

“Perfection in short story form, I am in love with every single word Bolu Babalola has written. So rarely is love expressed this richly, this vividly, or this artfully.” —Candice Carty-Williams, international bestselling author of Queenie A vibrant collection of love stories from a debut author, retelling myths, folktales, and histories from around the world. A high-born Nigerian goddess, who has been beaten down and unappreciated by her gregarious lover, longs to be truly seen. A young businesswoman attempts a great leap in her company, and an even greater one in her love life. A powerful Ghanaian spokeswoman is forced to decide whether she should uphold her family’s politics or be true to her heart. In her debut collection, internationally acclaimed writer Bolu Babalola retells the most beautiful love stories from history and mythology with incredible new detail and vivacity. Focusing on the magical folktales of West Africa, Babalola also reimagines Greek myths, ancient legends from the Middle East, and stories from long-erased places. With an eye towards decolonizing tropes inherent in our favorite tales of love, Babalola has created captivating stories that traverse across perspectives, continents, and genres. Love in Color is a celebration of romance in all its many splendid forms. “Babalola’s writing shines”—New York Times Book Review

Feminist icon bell hooks reminds us of the full spectrum of feeling we spend in love through her inspiring collection of love poetry, with a new introduction by Cole Arthur Riley, author of Black Liturgies. Written from the heart, When Angels Speak of Love is a book of fifty love poems by bell hooks, one our most beloved public intellectuals, and author of over twenty books, including the bestselling All About Love. Poem after poem, hooks challenges our views and experiences with love—tracing the links between seduction and surrender, the intensity of desire, and the anguish of death. “Love must clean house, choose memories to keep, and memories to let go,” she writes. These verses are expansive yet accessible—encompassing romantic love, to love of family, friends, or oneself. In any iteration, these poems remind us of both the beauty and possibility of love.

The tangled skein of love and relations are featured in this second volume of poetry by Saraj "Saraj verbalizes through her poetry the turmoil of love in a dream that is her reality." Rufus Tiefing Stevenson CEO, JAH KENTE INTERNATIONAL, INC. Curator, The Tiefing Collection "Sarajs mastery of words and images comes not only from an insightful mind but a heart open to the human condition. Her imagery draws deeply from nature, using it to paint pictures of profound emotion." Ann Elizabeth Houston Actress and teacher "Sarah's poetry has most usually moved me to tears. It is haunting in its depth, spiritual in its insight, and loving in its profound pain." Dr. Kresten Jespersen Librarian