1) Oney: My Escape From Slavery by Piper G. Huguley and Diana Rubino
It is 1793 – a decade after General George Washington led America to victory in its fight for independence from Britain.
With freedom secured, the general has been persuaded to accept a second term as president of the new nation. But in his heart he wants to go back to being a farmer. And being a farmer means he has slaves. Leading a nation is a demanding and often lonely business and Lady Washington is unable to persuade her husband to give up his public ‘duty’.
At least she has help. Oney Judge is her ‘personal servant’ – and soon-to-be confidante. Oney is a ‘quadroon’ – three parts white and one part black. So, unlike the white people who so recently gained their independence from the Mother Country, Oney is not free. She is Lady Washington’s inherited property, though the word ‘slave’ is never spoken. Oney works in “the big house” at Mount Vernon, sewing dresses and serving tea. Lady Washington treats her as well as her own grandchildren. But though she is often mistaken as a Washington relative by visitors, Oney remains in bondage.
In the spring of 1796, Lady Washington tells Oney that she will make her granddaughter Eliza a nice wedding gift. Oney soon discovers this does not mean sewing a negligee or a quilt for a gift. No, it means that she will be the gift.
This is the day that Oney decides to escape – to put her forced bondage behind her and make her bid for freedom. On May 21, 1796, Oney walks straight past the Washingtons and out the front door. Although they make several attempts to capture her, she lives the rest of her life in freedom.
Diana Rubino’s Oney: My Escape From Slavery is a painstakingly re-imagined account of a true and painful story told generations on. At its heart is the paradox of liberty – for an individual, for a race, for a nation. In a modern world where cultures and histories collide, it is a timely reminder of perspectives on ‘slavery’ and ‘freedom’ that we may have become blind to. It is a big, strong, uplifting book with a soul.
With freedom secured, the general has been persuaded to accept a second term as president of the new nation. But in his heart he wants to go back to being a farmer. And being a farmer means he has slaves. Leading a nation is a demanding and often lonely business and Lady Washington is unable to persuade her husband to give up his public ‘duty’.
At least she has help. Oney Judge is her ‘personal servant’ – and soon-to-be confidante. Oney is a ‘quadroon’ – three parts white and one part black. So, unlike the white people who so recently gained their independence from the Mother Country, Oney is not free. She is Lady Washington’s inherited property, though the word ‘slave’ is never spoken. Oney works in “the big house” at Mount Vernon, sewing dresses and serving tea. Lady Washington treats her as well as her own grandchildren. But though she is often mistaken as a Washington relative by visitors, Oney remains in bondage.
In the spring of 1796, Lady Washington tells Oney that she will make her granddaughter Eliza a nice wedding gift. Oney soon discovers this does not mean sewing a negligee or a quilt for a gift. No, it means that she will be the gift.
This is the day that Oney decides to escape – to put her forced bondage behind her and make her bid for freedom. On May 21, 1796, Oney walks straight past the Washingtons and out the front door. Although they make several attempts to capture her, she lives the rest of her life in freedom.
Diana Rubino’s Oney: My Escape From Slavery is a painstakingly re-imagined account of a true and painful story told generations on. At its heart is the paradox of liberty – for an individual, for a race, for a nation. In a modern world where cultures and histories collide, it is a timely reminder of perspectives on ‘slavery’ and ‘freedom’ that we may have become blind to. It is a big, strong, uplifting book with a soul.
2) Blindsided ( Relative Ties book 2 ) by JL Campbell
Gordon Raimes is used to having things his way and is a man on a mission. When his fiancée leaves him standing at the altar, he's blindsided by her desertion. Embarrassment is the last thing on his mind, but family matters. He's been a man in charge all his life--charming, decisive, and forceful. Caroline's retreat, and subsequent disappearance, forces him to question his methods. When he's unable to get her to communicate, he pulls out all the stops to fix what's wrong between them and get the woman of his dreams to the altar, where she belongs.
Caroline Byrd is living her dream--following her passion and looking forward to life with the man at the center of her world. Then family problems, involving the law, turn things upside down. There's no way a man like Gordon can understand what she's going through, and she cannot risk embarrassing him and his family any further. Her plan to disappear fails because Gordon refuses to cooperate, but Caroline knows it's a matter of time before he discovers her secret. Has she given up too quickly on the man she loves or will he prove her suspicions true?
N.B. Blindsided is a sweet romance. While there are references to the act of lovemaking, there are no open-door love scenes in this book.
Caroline Byrd is living her dream--following her passion and looking forward to life with the man at the center of her world. Then family problems, involving the law, turn things upside down. There's no way a man like Gordon can understand what she's going through, and she cannot risk embarrassing him and his family any further. Her plan to disappear fails because Gordon refuses to cooperate, but Caroline knows it's a matter of time before he discovers her secret. Has she given up too quickly on the man she loves or will he prove her suspicions true?
N.B. Blindsided is a sweet romance. While there are references to the act of lovemaking, there are no open-door love scenes in this book.
3) Esquire: The Lawyer of Faith by TK Ware
Francis Newberry was a loving mother, a devoted wife, and a faithful servant of the Lord—those qualities shifted when her life was threatened by her abusive husband. A heated argument created a ghastly scene that sent Missionary Francis to jail for the crime of a double homicide—husband and the neighbor. Frozen in unprecedented horror, she turns to the one man known as ESQUIRE. As the case unfold, strangers from the past resurface and the eyes within the darkness is revealed— a devilish plot created by a pack of evil men with one agenda.
Charles enters a trial of injustice that will cost him something most precious.
Charles enters a trial of injustice that will cost him something most precious.
4) Broken Clocks by Danielle Allen
According to my grandma, a broken clock being right twice a day meant that in any given situation, perfect timing only happens twice.
I fell for William Grayson in a matter of minutes. The connection between us was undeniable, but our timing was off. I was dating someone and by the time I was single again, he was taken. And a year later, when we finally got together, it was clear that we were soulmates. But circumstances out of our control cut our time short.
We were a little older, a little wiser, when our paths crossed again. I was entering a new phase of independence in both my career and my life. He was growing professionally and moving to a new city. And even though our timing was off, it was still clear that we were soulmates. But for the second time, circumstances out of our control cut our time short.
My grandma was a wise woman, but my love life taught me that there’s no such thing as perfect timing.
There’s just timing… Because nothing is perfect.
There’s just right now… Because tomorrow isn’t promised.
For as long as we’d known each other, William and I just wanted to be together. It was as simple and as complicated as that.
I fell for William Grayson in a matter of minutes. The connection between us was undeniable, but our timing was off. I was dating someone and by the time I was single again, he was taken. And a year later, when we finally got together, it was clear that we were soulmates. But circumstances out of our control cut our time short.
We were a little older, a little wiser, when our paths crossed again. I was entering a new phase of independence in both my career and my life. He was growing professionally and moving to a new city. And even though our timing was off, it was still clear that we were soulmates. But for the second time, circumstances out of our control cut our time short.
My grandma was a wise woman, but my love life taught me that there’s no such thing as perfect timing.
There’s just timing… Because nothing is perfect.
There’s just right now… Because tomorrow isn’t promised.
For as long as we’d known each other, William and I just wanted to be together. It was as simple and as complicated as that.
5) Her Unexpected Valentine by Sherelle Green
His rules of engagement
Miami’s steamy fashion and beauty scene is finally taking notice of Nicole LeBlanc. She’s just landed a coveted gig as lead makeup artist and hairstylist on a series of Valentine’s Day commercials being shot in Hollywood. And once she locks eyes with the seriously sexy creative director, she’s certain he could fulfill her own secret romantic fantasies. Too bad Kendrick Burrstone doesn’t do relationships, despite their over-the-top chemistry.
After being burned by love, Kendrick lives by two unbreakable rules: dodge Cupid’s arrow and never mix business with pleasure. But both on and off the set, Nicole’s fiery touch is tempting Kendrick to take another chance. Until a vindictive ex and a nasty extortion plot ignite a media frenzy that could end his rising career…and cost him the heart of the sweetest and most passionate woman he’s ever met.
Miami’s steamy fashion and beauty scene is finally taking notice of Nicole LeBlanc. She’s just landed a coveted gig as lead makeup artist and hairstylist on a series of Valentine’s Day commercials being shot in Hollywood. And once she locks eyes with the seriously sexy creative director, she’s certain he could fulfill her own secret romantic fantasies. Too bad Kendrick Burrstone doesn’t do relationships, despite their over-the-top chemistry.
After being burned by love, Kendrick lives by two unbreakable rules: dodge Cupid’s arrow and never mix business with pleasure. But both on and off the set, Nicole’s fiery touch is tempting Kendrick to take another chance. Until a vindictive ex and a nasty extortion plot ignite a media frenzy that could end his rising career…and cost him the heart of the sweetest and most passionate woman he’s ever met.
6) A Taste of Desire (Deliciously Dechamps) by
On-Air Passion (The Clarks of Atlanta) by
On Pointe: MacLaine Girls novella 1 (The MacLaine Girls) by
For Pete's Sake (Wiley Brothers Book 1) by
Diary Of A Godly Fairy: A Little Lie Has Big Consequences by
