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Urban and African American Fiction May 2018
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New and noteworthy titles.
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American Histories: Stories by John Edgar Wideman In this singular collection, John Edgar Wideman, the acclaimed author of Writing to Save a Life, blends the personal, historical, and political to invent complex, charged stories about love, death, struggle, and what we owe each other. With characters ranging from everyday Americans to Jean-Michel Basquiat to Nat Turner, American Histories is a journey through time, experience, and the soul of our country. “JB & FD” reimagines conversations between John Brown, the antislavery crusader who famously raided Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, and Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist and orator, conversations that belie the myth of race and produce a fantastical, ethically rich correspondence that spans years and ideologies. “Maps and Ledgers” eavesdrops on a brother and sister today as they ponder their father’s killing of another man. “Williamsburg Bridge” sits inside a man sitting on a bridge who contemplates his life before he decides to jump. “My Dead” is a story about how the already-departed demand more time, more space in the lives of those who survive them. Navigating an extraordinary range of subject and tone, Wideman challenges the boundaries of traditional forms, and delivers unforgettable, immersive narratives that touch the very core of what it means to be alive. An extended meditation on family, history, and loss, American Histories weaves together historical fact, philosophical wisdom, and deeply personal vignettes. More than the sum of its parts, this is Wideman at his best—emotionally precise and intellectually stimulating—an extraordinary collection by a master.
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He Used to Love Me: Renaissance Collection by Dorothy Brown-NewtonWhen 27-year-old Jakiyah Smith left New York after a failed relationship, she had no plans of returning, but the death of her sister has forced her to come back. Now Jakiyah must help to care for her sister’s child, but she soon finds herself surrounded by drama. German, the man she thought she would be with forever, is still with the woman he left her for. To make matters worse, Jakiyah’s mother is the side-piece’s newest friend. As Jakiyah struggles to come to terms with what has happened to her sister, she must also figure out whom she can trust. She learns that not all smiling faces are friendly, and now she’s second-guessing the people she would have laid her life down for. Jakiyah’s life has quickly spiraled out of control, and she regrets her decision to move back home.
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The Parking Lot Attendant: A Novel by Nafkote TamiratA reviled member of a dysfunctional Ethiopian immigrant community in Boston reflects on the experiences that brought her and her introverted father to America and traces her growing bond with the community's charismatic con-man leader, whose schemes embroil her in a plot with unanticipated repercussions.
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Something About You by Bridget Anderson Kentucky farm girl Kyla Coleman grew up believing in the power of healthy living choices to enrich and transform lives. Pursuing her PhD while working at her cousin’s bed-and-breakfast and organic farm leaves little time for a personal life. Until Kyla meets a very handsome and incredibly astute out-of-towner, Miles Parker. There’s something about the baseball legend turned food industry entrepreneur that instantly captivates her despite their wildly opposing views. His quest to end world hunger has long been Miles’s passion. And Kyla’s the first woman who shares his special altruistic dream. But she’s strictly hands-on, and soon Miles is finding it hard to be hands-off around the enchanting, whip-smart country girl. As mutual desire leads to a scorching affair, a business opportunity drives a wedge between them. Can Miles persuade Kyla that he’s worthy of her trust in order to create a meeting of minds and hearts?
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The Comedown: A Novel
by Rebekah Frumkin
A street-smart drug dealer and a simpering addict become unlikely partners when a deal gone tragically wrong and the disappearance of a quarter of a million dollars set in motion a series of odd and captivating events that evince racial, class, religious and generational divides.
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Bad Men and Wicked Women by Eric Jerome DickeyWhen his pregnant and bitter daughter blackmails him for $50,000, Los Angeles enforcer Ken Swift embarks on a clash of wills that is complicated by a contract that spirals out of control, revealing the vengeful nature of a dangerous adversary. By the best-selling author of Finding Gideon.
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To Tempt A Stallion by Deborah Fletcher Mello Orthopedic surgeon Nathaniel Stallion is ready to put down his scalpel to pursue his real dream—opening a restaurant in Carmel, California. He’s even hired a top-notch marketing guru to ensure his success. But Rebecca “Bec” Marks isn’t the unassuming buddy he remembers from college. This Bec is confident and wreaking all kinds of havoc on his libido. Now his best friend’s sexy curves have him thinking less about a publicity strategy and more about carnal seduction… Bec has had eyes for Nathaniel from day one. And regardless of Nathaniel’s naivety to her not-so-innocent schoolgirl crush, her ardor for the tempting newly crowned restaurateur remains intact. This time around she’s determined to win his heart for good. But when a rival beauty and Bec’s meddling ex-fiancé threaten her romantic plans, she’ll pull out all the stops to convince this Stallion that his soul mate has been right in front of him all along.
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Heads of the Colored People: Stories
by Nafissa Thompson-Spires
"Calling to mind the best works of Paul Beatty and Junot Diaz, this collection of moving, timely, and darkly funny stories examines the concept of black identity in this so-called post-racial era. A stunning new talent in literary fiction, Nafissa Thompson-Spires grapples with black identity and the contemporary middle class in these compelling, boundary-pushing vignettes. Each captivating story plunges headfirst into the lives of new, utterly original characters. Some are darkly humorous--from two mothers exchanging snide remarks through notes in their kids' backpacks, to the young girl contemplating how best to notify her Facebook friends of her impending suicide--while others are devastatingly poignant--a new mother and funeral singer who is driven tomadness with grief for the young black boys who have fallen victim to gun violence, or the teen who struggles between her upper middle class upbringing and her desire to fully connect with black culture. Thompson-Spires fearlessly shines a light on the simmering tensions and precariousness of black citizenship. Her stories are exquisitely rendered, satirical, and captivating in turn, engaging in the ongoing conversations about race and identity politics, as well as the vulnerability of the black body. Boldly resisting categorization and easy answers, Nafissa Thompson-Spires is an original and necessary voice in contemporary fiction"
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Collusion by De'nesha DiamondIn D.C.’s cutthroat political arena, revenge is the ultimate nuclear option. Framed for a high-profile murder, Abrianna Parker finds herself hurtling down a conspiracy rabbit hole in a desperate attempt to clear her name. Her only way out is to go after the most powerful man in the country. But the powers that be play dirty—and expose her billionaire adoptive father, Cargill Parker, and his criminal activity. With charges of collusion swirling on Capitol Hill, police and Federal agencies force Abrianna off the grid. But she’s not alone. By her side is ex-con turned private investigator Kadir Kahlifa, a man as seductive as he is dangerous. While battling a fiery passion, they team up with their band of street rebels and digital revolutionaries to burn through deception and spin to uncover the truth before it costs more innocent lives—mainly their own.
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Dead on Arrival
by Kiki Swinson
Because of her husband Reese's gambling debts, Dawn Spencer and Reese get drawn into a lucrative illegal-immigrant-smuggling ring, but after several immigrants turn up dead on arrival and Reese bets more than he can ever repay, the Feds and cold-blooded loan sharks begin closing in.
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It Must Be Love by Nicki Night Rules Were Made to Be Broken... Jewel Chandler’s list of boyfriend requirements is extensive—and Sterling Bishop doesn’t meet any of them. Sure, the wealthy businessman is gorgeous, but he also has an ex-wife and a young daughter. Sterling knows he’s the only man for Jewel, and the sexy heiress’s efforts to keep him away only fuels his determination. When steamy days melt into desire-fueled nights, Jewel wonders if he’s truly the one for her.
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The Black Widow Clique by Genesis Woods Best friends and blood sisters for life, Melonee Reid and Fiona White have one goal in life--to get rich and live comfortably-- but growing up in the inner city of Los Angeles isn't helping them obtain that goal. That is, until Fiona comes up with a plan to marry for money and murder for even more. The girls seek out older, established, wealthy bachelors, drawing them into a web of deception with their good looks, sexy bodies, and loving personalities. Once their last names are changed and the ink is dry on the insurance policies, the clique executes their plan to have the new husbands die "accidental" deaths, leaving their fortunes to the widowed wives. Their little marry-for-money scam works for years, until things take a drastic turn and one friend's connection to the new mark has her questioning her role in the Black Widow Clique. The other friend still wants to carry out the murderous plan to get a hold of a multimillion-dollar insurance policy. Friendship will be tested, lies will be told, and loyalty will come into play when one black widow decides that their cozy web of deception, love, and money isn't big enough for two anymore.
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Full Figured 12: Carl Weber Presents by La Jill Hunt After many years of misery, Zen Brooks is finally free. Free from her cheating husband, free from a dead-end job, and free from more than one hundred pounds of weight that she worked hard to lose. Now, she is enjoying life and determined not to ever go back to being the person she was. Josh Miller had the world in the palm of his hands. Once one of the top players in the NBA with millions of dollars in his bank account, there was nothing in this world that he wanted and couldn’t have. But his fame and fortune was short-lived, and his world and career came crashing down because of bad habits, bad choices, and a bad attitude. Will Zen gain the life she wants after losing what she thought she didn’t need? Can Josh become a better man now that he has nothing to lose and no one to hold onto? This is a story of love, trust, defying the odds, and facing demons of the past in order to find peace in the future.
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Title You May Have Missed:
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All Hail the Queen: An Urban Tale
by Meesha Mink
When her on-again off-again husband is attacked while guarding a high-profile celebrity, Naeema "Queen" Cole, who singlehandedly brought down Newark's most notorious bank robbing gang, goes undercover to find out which of her man's enemies wants him dead.
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