Gaile Parkin Grieving over the murder of their son and the murky details of their daughter’s death, Angel, an inspired and popular baker, and Pius, a university professor, leave Tanzania with their five grandchildren for Rwanda. Angel is commissioned to bake cakes for every occasion, and her interest in the story of the celebrant and the client as well as the nature of the celebration expands her role to confidante, therapist, financial adviser, and matchmaker. She is privy to the most intimate stories, some as horrific as those of victims of the 1994 genocide, others as mundane as unrequited love. Upon hearing the stories, Angel is compelled to help with more than cake making. Most touching and symbolic is her role as surrogate Read more…

By Frances Ellen Watkins Harper First published in 1892, Iola Leroy is a stirring novel by the great writer and activist Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.  It tells the story of the young daughter of a wealthy Mississippi planter who travels to the North to attend school, only to be sold into slavery in the South when it is discovered that she has Negro blood. After she is freed by the Union army, she works to reunify her family and embrace her heritage, committing herself to improving the conditions for blacks in America. Through her fascinating characters—including Iola’s brother, who fights at the front in a colored regiment—Harper weaves a vibrant and provocative chronicle of the Civil War and its consequences through African Read more…

Rachel a bi-racial Danish and Black, light skinned with blue eyes black girl is delivered to her black grandmother after her mother, brother and baby sister fall off the roof of their apartment building. Her new neighborhood is surrounded with mostly black children and as far from home as she could end up. Rachel struggles to fit in with her new family and piece together her shattered life. Her coming of age story is contrasted with stories from some of those impacted by the tragedy. Through Rachel’s memories and stories from her distant father, her mother, her mother’s employer, and a young boy who witnessed the tragedy, we slowly piece together what happened on the roof as well as more family secrets that contributed to it. We also Read more…

By Angela Johnson In this third book of the trilogy set in Heaven, Ohio,  Shoogy (aka Sweet) finally leaves home. She finds a new home in the cabin in the woods with Curtis, who has returned to after a tour of duty in Iraq. Through Shoogy’s eyes, we see the town of Heaven and its inhabitants, some of them her friends. We also see the torment of Curtis. Both confront and wrestle with demons. Johnson does not place a pretty veneer on this story about family and war and refuge and friendship. She trusts readers to be able to handle the Read more…

by Pitts, Leonard, Jr.Before I Forget is the story of an aging R&B star, James Moses “Mo” Johnson, who at age 49 is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. While struggling to understand his illness, Mo wants to reconnect with his son whom he's neglected over the years and his father whom he has not spoken to in 30 years. Before he loses life as he knows it, Mo decides to take his son, Trey, back to his hometown to visit his dying father. This story is a wonderful, touching novel about the relationship between fathers and sons.- reviewed by Glenda, Beatties Ford Road Branch, Read more…

by Roby, Kimberla Lawson Kimberla Lawson Roby’s sequel to The Best of Everything pulls you in until you are hooked. Alicia’s prayers are finally answered. She meets her second husband J.T. Valentine, an up and coming minister, who has a craving for women like his father-in-law, the Reverend Curtis Black. Alicia shows great strength in dealing with her situation as a mature adult. I highly recommend this book. It is a fast read and very entertaining! However, I would like to see Roby go another direction similar to her book Changing Faces for readers who do not prefer sequels. – reviewed by Tina, Beatties Ford Road Branch, Read more…

by Warren, Tiffany L.Darrin is looking for a story after he sees Bishop Prentiss on TV. He just knows there must be a scandal behind the man or his ministry. He travels to Atlanta, leaving behind his difficult family and latest lover (who is just one of many he has used for carnal reasons only). As he sniffs around for a story, he gets involved with members of the congregation including the bishop’s daughter, Emoni. As the two move from jesting to friendship to something more, what will happen when Emoni learns the truth about Darrin? This novel has alternating chapters so readers get both Emoni’s and Darrin’s perspectives of events. The laugh-out loud humor and deep reflection also alternates in this Christian-faith novel. – reviewed by Read more…

by Rochelle AlersIvan Campbell is a handsome successful psychotherapist who is known to his friends as a “love'em and leave'em” bachelor with no interest in settling down. Due to his past he has formed a barrier that no woman has ever been able to break. As a favor to his decorator Ivan attends a gallery opening featuring an up and coming photographer that will change his life forever. Nayo Goddard is a career orientated women who has nothing but photography on her mind. As they hit it off Ivan realizes that Nayo is a strong independent women and he wants more than she is willing to give. Will he win Nayo or will she “love'em and leave'em”?- reviewed by Vivian, Scaleybark Branch, Read more…