Urban Reviews - Your Source for the Best in AA Fiction!

  You never forget your first love. Isn't that what they say? Verity Hill knows this truth intimately. She didn't simply miss Wright "Monk" Bellamy when they parted ways in college. She's haunted by his touch. Every kiss, any lover since—it's a shadow of what they had.   Time heals all wounds. Isn't that what they say? Monk doesn't believe that for a second. He wasn't simply betrayed when he and Verity split. He was devastated, with parts of him left behind in the ruins of all that was destroyed.   More than a decade after their disastrous breakup, Verity and Monk must work together on the set of an epic Harlem Renaissance biopic. With Monk, now a world-class musician, creating the score, and Verity, an award-winning screenwriter, penning the script, there's Oscar buzz before shooting even begins. This once-in-a-lifetime project could catapult them both to new heights, but can they can put the past behind them for the sake of the film … for the...

  For years, Tyrone Houston was known as the quiet, dependable man who ran the Houston Family Funeral Home and Crematorium. A pillar of the community. A devoted father. A man who saw the dead every day - and treated them with care. Or so everyone thought. When Tyrone dies, his children receive a shocking final request: a scavenger hunt through his past. Each clue leads them deeper into hidden rooms, secret records, and graves that shouldn't exist. The truth waiting at the end is worse than any nightmare. Tyrone Houston wasn't just burying the dead. He was creating them. And his daughters had no clue that a real life boogie man was living right in their home. If you haven't gotten right with the Lord, now is the time. This is not for the faint of heart. Pre-order your copy of Vengeance today!

  Since their fast friendship as teenagers over 30 years ago, Louisiana natives Remi Landry and Bianca Fuentes Perez have seen each other through the best and worst of times. Now, as Remi grieves the sudden death of her beloved husband of 25 years, and Bianca struggles with the fallout of a divorce she didn’t see coming, the women are amid their greatest challenges yet. Remi and Gerard spent their honeymoon and summers in Napa and on the Sonoma Coast. Their love of wine led them to buy a Victorian home in Wine Country—and then a winery on the site of an age-old vineyard. They spoke endlessly about retiring to run their winery. But with Gerard gone, Remi must sort through his things and reevaluate their assets, and her future. Bianca is grateful to be there for Remi. After all, Remi was her rock when Bianca’s husband left—and throughout the breast cancer diagnosis that followed. Now in remission, and with her daughter a thriving college freshman, Bianca hopes for a brighter future. ...

  Savvy has her work cut out when an old friend hires her to cater a company luncheon at a nearby office building on Chicago's South Side. Stepping out of her traditional soul food comfort zone, Savvy whips together a menu of Creole classics, with her own spin, of course―mini po’boys with assorted fillings, sunburst salad, and bread pudding using Great Aunt Essie’s famous buttermilk biscuits. But when someone is found dead in the company’s conference room, Savvy’s culinary creations are suddenly in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. While the focus should be on their delicious flavors and inventive techniques, Savvy’s beloved café instead becomes the center of a murder investigation once again. Caught within a messy web of gossip, miscommunication, and fraught coworker relationships, Savvy will have to settle the confusion to clear her name. Somebody’s hiding something, and with the help of her trusty assistant manager, Penny Lopés, Savvy sets out uncover exactly who is to bl...

  Mona Johnson is an aspiring screenwriter working behind the scenes for one of Hollywood’s most sought-after and award-winning producers. Smart, focused, and determined to protect her future, she knows better than to mix business with pleasure, especially when the man in question signs her paycheck. Terrance Beckham has it all: power, prestige, and an industry reputation that opens every door. What he doesn’t have is love that isn’t influenced by his fame. Tired of being desired for the wrong reasons, Terrance steps into the online dating world under an anonymous profile, determined to find something real. What he finds is Mona. Online, their connection is effortless and intoxicating. Offline, it’s complicated by secrets, proximity, and a truth that could destroy everything before it begins. As outside pressures mount and past relationships refuse to stay buried, Mona and Terrance must decide whether revealing the truth is worth risking their hearts and their careers. In Hollywood...

  Shay Baker—daughter, close friend, photographer—suddenly takes her own life, the ghosts of unanswered questions and unresolved feelings haunting those who survive her. Left in her wake is a series of mysterious photos and letters, some sent to key figures in her life, others to only passing relationships. One recipient, Royal, cannot square what he knew of Shay with her ultimate end, and resolves to stitch together insights from others chosen by her, setting off a sequence of revelations each more shocking than the last. Part mystery, part study of our shared lessons on desire,  Baker's Dozen  reveals and unravels grief, family history, and the ties that bind. Preorder your copy of Baker's Dozen today!

  1926:  Harriet Stone, a liberated, educated Black woman, and Lovey, the orphaned, biracial 12-year-old she is bound to protect, are Harlem-bound, embarking on a new, hopefully less traumatic chapter in their lives. They have been invited to move from Connecticut by Harriet’s cousin, Junetta Plum, who runs a boardinghouse for independent-minded single women. It’s a bold move, since Harriet has never met Junetta, but the fatalities of the Spanish flu and other tragedies have already forced her and Lovey to face their worst fears. Alone but for each other, they have little left to lose—or so it seems as they arrive at sophisticated Junetta’s impressive brownstone. Her cousin has a sharp edge, which makes Harriet slightly uncomfortable. Still, after retiring to her room for the night, she finally falls asleep—only to awaken to Junetta arguing with someone downstairs. In the morning, she makes a shocking discovery at the foot of the stairs. What ensues will lead Harriet to questi...

  Wesley Batchelor is desperate for an image reboot— stat . A mysterious social media influencer keeps revealing his many reckless romantic liaisons, putting everything Wesley has worked so hard for at stake. Worse, he’s in deep trouble with his grandmother and Batchelor Enterprises boss, Joyce, his one and only true cheerleader. So he’s stunned and relieved when his gorgeous ex, private detective Albany Keyes, is recruited to track down the leaker . . . All Wes has to do is keep a cool-headed professional distance. Easy, right? Until the incendiary passion between him and Albany suddenly reignites. And he realizes he wants more from her—just like always . . . For Joyce's sake, Albany reluctantly accepts the assignment to aid Wes. After all, she needs the money to regroup after a disastrous divorce. But this time, she's going to call the shots. She doesn’t need her heart re-broken by the only man she's ever loved. Yet she soon finds their differences are drawing them togeth...

  Falling in love is the easy part, maintaining your relationship is where it gets tricky. This group of tight-knit friends are all taken aback by the sudden revelation that Jason has not only become a father to a five year old overnight, but he's also found himself in an unexpected romantic entanglement with someone new. The marriage between Mike and Kima faces strain as he hires an attractive new employee. Meanwhile, Deja questions her suitability in her relationship with Kurt upon encountering an unforeseen houseguest that disrupts their harmony. As the drama continues to unfold, it remains to be seen if any of the relationships within the group will survive the challenges that lie ahead. Pre-order your copy of A Tricky Situation today!

  Because life’s too short, and mean girls ain’t sh… Jazmyn Payne fled her hometown―and the fatphobes who made her life hell– the minute she graduated high school. Growing up, her haven was her Aunt Addison, and when her health takes a drastic turn, she insists that Jazz should spice up her life. Emphasis on  spice . But dating is the last thing Jazz had on her mind. Until Lamar Anderson sits next to her at the local sports bar. He is sexy, fun, and refreshingly drama free. With him she's able to pretend that everything is alright. But as real life intrudes, Jazz has to decide if she can leave the past where it belongs… for a love that she deserves. Pre-order your copy of Big Girl Blitz today!

  I nspired by real-life legendary choreographer Katherine Dunham’s groundbreaking expedition into the heart of Caribbean dance culture, this uniquely captivating novel imagines the experiences of three very different women who accompany her, hoping to find their destinies—yet find themselves forced to survive a historic event . . . Chicago, 1935.  Othella is an orphaned con artist who needs to escape the city's brutal underworld... or else. Vivian Jean is a wealthy wife, student, and anthropologist eager to prove herself professionally and personally. Zinzi is a Jamaican labor union activist determined to bring change to her homeland's plantation system. Thanks to a series of fortunate mishaps and coincidences, all three join Dunham’s voyage to the Maroon village of Accompong in Jamaica’s Cockpit Country—and perhaps discover what they desperately want most . . . Through skill and curiosity, Othella becomes a valued member of the expedition, even as she struggles to conceal he...

  When a tainted drug starts claiming lives across the city, Detective Harriet Foster and her team race to track down the source…before it takes one of their own. Chicago’s finest are scouring the city for a tainted new opioid making the rounds, but they’re coming up empty. With five people already dead―a college kid, a new mother, and three poker players―all they really know is the drug’s name: Edge. Where it’s coming from is still anyone’s guess. Detective Harriet Foster doesn’t have time for guessing games. She needs answers. And when the next overdose hits Homicide where it hurts most, Harri is determined to get what she wants. But keeping her eyes squarely on the prize proves harder than expected. Still reeling from her last case (and the stain of suspicion it left on her career), Harriet finds herself at a tipping point. The drug isn’t the only  edge  she needs to worry about. If she can’t come back from her own, there’s no telling whether this investigation will le...

From  The   Queen of Sugar Hill  author ReShonda Tate—a new novel inspired by beloved Harlem jazz performer Hazel Scott and the equal parts exhilarating and tumultuous relationship that changed the course of her life. Harlem, 1943.  At just twenty-three, Hazel Scott is a woman on fire. A jazz prodigy, a glamorous film star, and a fierce advocate for civil rights, she’s breaking barriers and refusing to play by the rules. Then Adam Clayton Powell Jr. walks into her life. Harlem’s most electrifying preacher-turned-politician, Adam is as bold and unyielding as Hazel—charismatic, powerful…and married. This kicks off a decades-long relationship that propels them into the center of a political and cultural revolution. As Hazel’s star rises, Adam takes the national stage in Congress and the couple becomes the toast of the country. But when their affair turns into a marriage, behind the glamorous façade is a battlefield of ego, ambition, and sacrifice. Forced to choose betwe...

Money has always been one hell of a motivator, and this rings true for Tyise and Eryn. A couple of Philly chicks all about getting their paper. Using their beauty to get what they want is easy, but they want more and are willing to do whatever to get it. All good things come to an end, and when the block gets hot they have to get ghost before their enemies get the drop on them. You're supposed to be able to love the one you're with, but what if you just can't trust them? Somebody has to GO! Get ready for the ride as Tyise finds out who's really for her, and what she has to do to stay ahead of the eight ball. Everyone is suspect in these streets, and you can't hesitate to pull the trigger... even if it's on someone you love. Pre-order your copy of Motives today! Check out the review for Motives here :  https://bit.ly/Motajsr  

  Bel-Air  meets  Legacies  meets  Cloak & Dagger  in this explosive and innovative fantasy debut… Yasir Salah's life is not without its challenges… Forced to live with his uncle without a reasonable explanation, he finds himself adjusting to the most nerve-racking situation imaginable. New school. New rules. New flow—while wishing he could hit the reset button and go back to his life in Atlanta. The changes to his body defy explanation, from the supernatural energy pulsing beneath the surface of his skin to his eyes changing colors to match his mood swings to his mysterious connection to a stunning beauty who has him completely spellbound. All he can do is what his uncle told him: keep a low profile, try not to be noticed, and keep his anger under control. No matter how badly he wants to—some things are easier said than done. But what no one knows—not even Yasir himself—is that the horrors of a tragic event have awakened something hidden deep within th...

On her second birthday in 1967, Bernice McFadden died in a car crash near Detroit, only to be resuscitated after her mother pulled her from the flaming wreckage.  Firstborn Girls  traces her remarkable life from that moment up to the publication of her first novel,  Sugar . Growing up in 1980s Brooklyn, Bernice finds solace in books, summer trips to Barbados, and boarding school to escape her alcoholic father. Discovering the works of Alice Walker and Toni Morrison, she finally sees herself and her loved ones reflected in their stories of “messy, beautiful, joyful Black people.” Interwoven with Bernice's personal journey is her family's history, beginning with her four-times enslaved great-grandmother Louisa Vicey Wilson in 1822 Hancock County, Georgia. Her descendants survived Reconstruction and Jim Crow, joined the Great Migration, and mourned Dr. King’s assassination during the Civil Rights Movement. These women's wisdom, secrets, and fierce love are passed down like L...

Born into slavery on a Mississippi plantation, Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield has been raised in the safety of Philadelphia’s Quaker community by a wealthy adoptive mother. Sheltered and educated, Eliza’s happy childhood always included music lessons to nurture her unique gift: a glorious three octave singing voice that leaves listeners in awe. But on the eve of her twenty-fourth birthday, young Eliza’s world is thrown into a tailspin when her mother dies. Eliza’s inheritance is contested by her mother’s white cousins, leaving her few options. She can marry her longtime beau, Lucien, though she has no desire to be a wife and mother. Or she can work as a tutor for rich families. Her mother’s dying wish was for Eliza to pursue her talent and become a professional singer, but that grand vision now seems out of reach. When a chance performance on a steamboat to Buffalo, New York, leads to a surprising opportunity, fearless Eliza seizes her moment. Within a year she is touring America, singing...

In 1919, a high school teacher from Washington, D.C arrives in Harlem excited to realize her lifelong dream. Jessie Redmon Fauset has been named the literary editor of  The Crisi s. The first Black woman to hold this position at a preeminent Negro magazine, Jessie is poised to achieve literary greatness. But she holds a secret that jeopardizes it all.   W. E. B. Du Bois, the founder of  The Crisis , is not only Jessie’s boss, he’s her lover. And neither his wife, nor their fourteen-year-age difference can keep the two apart. Amidst rumors of their tumultuous affair, Jessie is determined to prove herself. She attacks the challenge of discovering young writers with fervor, finding sixteen-year-old Countee Cullen, seventeen-year-old Langston Hughes, and Nella Larsen, who becomes one of her best friends. Under Jessie’s leadership,  The Crisis  thrives…every African American writer in the country wants their work published there.   When her first novel is releas...

A marriage of convenience saved Lady Abigail Worthing’s family from disgrace, but she’s finding her absent husband's endless conditions increasingly repressive. Unable to stay at their London home during the oncoming winter, she accepts a ride to the country from her neighbor, Stapleton Henderson. However, she's less than delighted that she’s his excuse to avoid a dinner held by Lord Charles Duncan, one of London's most powerful—and relentless—magistrates. More irritating, women are decidedly unwelcome at the evening’s prestigious discussion of criminality—even though Abigail and Stapleton have solved several cases together . . .   Then an unexpected blizzard strands them at Lord Duncan’s with his now-houseguests. Suddenly, an evening of fine dining, fine brandy, and insightful debate becomes an inescapable—and deadly—ordeal. The ultimate test for Abigial’s skill. One of the dinner guests is found dead in front of the Berkley Square mansion. And when another party is murder...

It Happened One Homecoming: A Collection of Short Stories. . . It’s Time For Us She is . . . Shauna Carter is a fashion designer getting ready to launch her signature line of fashion, but before she puts on her fashion show, she has to celebrate her classmate’s second chance at happily ever after. She didn’t expect to run – chest first—into the groomsman who she was quietly crushing on when she was an undergraduate at Johnson C. Smith University, an HBCU in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is. . . Michael “Mike” Broussard has one regret in life and that’s letting Shauna Carter get away. Sure, he was a notorious playboy in college, but that was only because he knew he couldn’t be the partner that Shauna deserved. But times have changed and he’s ready to show her that now is the time for them to make that move to be together. After Halftime Sometimes, a dream can become a nightmare. . . Autumn Brown-Robinson has one wish before a terminal illness takes her life. She wants to reunite her col...