I found my inspiration for the perfect romantic date standing at Macy’s fragrance counter.  Impeccably groomed and stylish, this couple turned heads.  Tall and striking with mixed gray hair, he wore a black fedora, black leather jacket and black wool slacks. He smiled often, and mostly down at her.  A few strands of gray streaked her ear-length bob. She wore a gray and black shawl over jeans tucked into knee-length black leather boots.  Both of were over 40, and their black was definitely beautiful.  In fact, in the words of Evelyn Palfrey, they were a “marvelously mature” romance novel cover come to life. While they sampled fragrances, he held her close by his side. Customers and sales clerks were ready to swoon!  So instead of sneaking a spray of Ed Hardy (which I dearly love), I imagined the perfect romantic date for this beautiful couple.  For purposes of pure fantasy, I’ve taken the liberty of naming them. So here’s my take on date night for Lincoln and Damali.  (Did anyone notice the slight similarity in our names)?

For this special night, a plain old shower would be sacrilege! Instead Damali sets the mood long before Lincoln’s arrival with a long luxurious bath, the fragrance from many jasmine-scented candles and the honey-dripping voice of Kem for background music.  She knows her man well; before her fragrant soak, Damali places two Martini glasses in the freezer. When Lincoln arrives, she plans to meet him at the door; soft, fragrant, elegantly sexy and with his favorite cocktail – shaken, not stirred.

Equally attuned to his lady love, Lincoln shows up with a bouquet of pink stargazer lilies, deep purple irises and white snapdragons.  Along with Damali’s favorite flowers, he’s brought a taste of heaven, but she knows that slender bottle of St. Michael’s Chocolate Zin is for later – much later…

It’s mid-October and the weather gods have blessed them with an unusually warm day.  Outside her chariot awaits in the form of a convertible Nissan 370Z. She loves riding with the top down and as always, the man who loves her aims to please. Grooving to Kermit Ruffins’  “Good Morning New Orleans” and “Treme Woman” they take a slow drive through streets alive with the special energy of Saturday night in the city.  Lincoln knows Damali loves sunsets and he’s timed a perfect arrival.  At the Tidal Basin they stand arm in arm watching day and night meet over the water in a spectacular autumn sunset.

Then it’s on to Georgetown, the elegant and exclusive 1789 restaurant and a meal made for lovers. They dine on Bosc pears with bleu cheese, Bay scallops prepared for two, a bottle of Chandon Brut, sunburst tangerine cheesecake for him, pumpkin bread pudding with eggnog custard sauce for her. When Damali offers a forkful to Lincoln, it slides onto his tongue like a promise.  Their  gazes lock, and there is no mistaking the meaning. The dessert wine is tempting, but there’s Chocolate Zin waiting at home. They’ll drink it while she thanks him for his surprise gift of a 1789 wine pairing workshop.

On U Street, they tuck themselves into a small booth at a late night jazz club. Thigh to thigh, with her head resting on the arm wrapped around her shoulders, they’re immersed in the sultry, sexy vocals of the club’s headliner. It’s the perfect time to present him with two tickets to Marsalis at the Kennedy Center. She smiles, looking forward to a long night of mutual expressions of appreciation…

They close the club down, and on the drive home, a special song replaces their jazz playlist.  “I’ve waited all day long just to hold you in my arms,” Teddy Pendergrass croons.  Lincoln drives with one hand on the wheel and the other holding hers.  At a traffic light, he brings her hand to his lips. “Go on, brother!” a driver yells from the car in the next lane.

Just as Teddy whispers “close the door” they’re in front of her house.  Could it be perfect timing or sheer magic? Damali hands her keys to Lincoln, knowing that for him and for her, it’s both.

I hope you enjoyed my take on Lincoln and Niambi (oops, I mean Damali’s) perfect romantic date.   I’d love to hear yours!  Be sure and leave your comment below!

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About Niambi Brown Davis

Niambi was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. She and her family lived for many years in Washington, DC and for three and a half years, made the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago their home.  From Dusk to Dawn, her first full-length novel, and Love’s Redemption, a digital novella, were both published in 2008. In 2010 her novella Sanctuary was released as an Apple iTunes application.  She is editor of Travel and Enjoy, an online travel magazine which will begin publication in 2011. Niambi indulges her passion for travel and sailing by serving as publicist for Black Boaters Summit and as a member of the National Association of Black Travel Writers. She has written for Travel Lady Magazine, the Queen Anne’s County Record Observer and for Dorchester Publication’s Bronze Thrills, True Confessions and Black Romance Magazines. Aside from travel and writing, Niambi is an avid reader of historical fiction, and deeply involved in tracing the history of both branches of her family tree.  Her day job is running the business of Sand and Silk, Niambi’s own line of handcrafted bath and body products.

Visit Niambi online -

Website – http://www.niambibrowndavis.com/

Sand and Silk – http://www.sandandsilk.com/

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1079326739#!/niambi.davis

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Niambi’s latest release – Sabor a Mi

Love is the last thing on ballroom instructor Melody Walker’s mind.  Her parent’s storybook marriage has been torn apart by her father’s one-time act of infidelity.  Her brother, a leading local conservative, nearly ran his own marriage off the rails with a woman known to the world as “Nazi Barbie.”  When her boyfriend’s indiscretion delivers the bad news in person, Melody has had enough.  Out of the blue, an unexpected chance to dance drops into her lap and mambo is the only thing on Melody’s mind. It’s just as well, since she and the sexy Latin pro she’s paired with hate each other on sight.  When resistance turns to romance, Melody has a choice – should she follow her heart or her head?  She’s not the only one grappling with matters of the heart. Will a threat make their decisions clear or even more complicated?

Available for download at
www.innervisionbooks.com

Usually when one thinks of romance, an evening of dining and sipping on wine, at a five-star restaurant with a dashing, handsome date may come to mine. A bouquet of long stem roses, a crackling fireplace, Godiva chocolates or an exotic weekend getaway may also spell out romance with a capital R.

I’ve been the recipient of such decadence when romanced by my soul mate. I absolutely enjoyed and basked in each and every treasured moment. I mean, what girl wouldn’t want to be pampered by the love of her life?

Some may find what I’ve described as the stuff romance is made of. In part, I do agree. But for me, it’s the simple things which speaks romance to me.

A few months after giving birth to my oldest child I wasn’t quite ready to leave her in the care of anyone else for more than fifteen minutes. So any ideas of going out for a romantic evening was nixed. Because spending quality time together was important to both my hubby and myself, we decided to bring an evening of romance to us.

After getting the baby to bed we had the most romantic picnic right in the middle of our living room floor. Flickering candles, red wine, a scrumptious steak dinner, hours of cuddling and talking was one of the most romantic dates I was blessed to have with my husband.

So what was your most romantic date?  Be sure and leave a comment below.

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About Victoria Wells

My love for reading began when I was about eight years old. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White was the first book I can remember reading. I have vivid memories of being excited about weekly class trips to the library. I would search the shelves until I found the perfect book that would take me on an adventurous journey with vibrant, life-like characters.

It was at the age of fifteen when an upperclassman slipped me a Harlequin romance novel. Immediately I became engrossed in the romance genre. Years later when I discovered there were romance novels written by African American women with African American characters I nearly lost my mind! I have an extensive library of romance novels that just keeps growing and growing.

My love for this genre and a need to find a place of escapism is what encouraged me to write my first novel A Special Summer. For me, being able to sit down and write for hours transported me into another a world. It was a world where I could forget about the troubles of the day and get lost in the lives of my characters.

Although reading and writing are near and dear to my heart, being a nurse practitioner is my first love. I’ve dedicated my career as a nurse to taking care of patients with Sickle Cell disease. Community involvement also plays a crucial role in my life as a nurse. In 2002 I started a free hypertension clinic at my church to help bring awareness to the African American community on the importance of screening and management of the disease. In addition, I’ve organized blood drives for children with Sickle Cell Disease and health fairs on various health issues affecting our communities. I’m also a proud member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Chi Eta Phi Sorority Incorporated, and The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc.

I live in the Philadelphia area with my wonderful husband and beautiful children.

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Visit Victoria online –

Website – http://www.victoria-wells.com/

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=1452371240

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Victoria’s latest release – Key to My Heart

Sassy talking, no-nonsense Ava Peretti has a mysterious past that has finally caught up with her. Agonizing nightmares terrorize her by night as painful memories of a love lost haunt her by day. Ava has vowed never to love again, but she will soon find out that sometimes vows are made to be broken.

Attorney Langston Warrington III is the one man that can make Ava love again. The only problem is . . . he’s her archenemy! And to make matters worse, Langston has a secret of his own—a secret that will change Ava’s life forever.

Click here to purchase the book from Amazon

Love in due time…

When I finally had a conversation with the man that would one day become my husband, I wondered how come I had never had a conversation with him before.

Let me back track…

You see, in that initial long telephone conversation—with him in New Jersey and me in graduate school in Ohio—I found out that he and I had crossed paths so many times and yet we didn’t know each other. Or so I thought…

I suppose I should back track even more…

My husband and I where “introduced” to one another for what I thought was the first time by one of my sorority sisters. She ran into him in the laundry-mat and remembered him from high school. They started chatting and she thought he would be perfect for me and that if nothing else, he could take me out when I came home to visit New Jersey. She took his number and gave it to me. I didn’t call him for a while, figuring I would just call him the next time I visited New Jersey. In fact, I thought about not calling at all because I had decided to stop looking for Mr. Right because I had been constantly finding Mr. Wrong. I had even taken some time to reflect on the kind of man I wanted and I made a list of about twenty things—very few of which I even remember now—that my ideal man had to have. I do remember that number twenty-one on the list went something like this: If he loves me, I mean really love me unconditionally… I’m talking loves my stinky drawers… then number 1-20 are totally negotiable.

So, I wasn’t going to call him at all. But one night, I got kind of curious and dialed the number…

That was when we had our first very long conversation and I found out that our paths had crossed so many times that it seemed extremely odd that we didn’t know each other already. We lived in twin tenements as kids, apartment buildings right next door to one another—542 Broadway and 544 Broadway. We had even attended the same grammar school for a while. He lived on one end of East 24^th Street at one point growing up and I lived on the other. We went to the same high school! Fair Eastside by they side we’ll stand… And here’s the kicker, he attended the church that my ex-fiancé’s father was the minister of. It was like some weird six degrees of separation thing! And I couldn’t help but wonder how we had always been so close but yet so far? Maybe our paths were supposed to cross a long time ago?

Or maybe we weren’t supposed to meet at all…

We started to write each other and send each other cards. And, along with those letters and cards, we sent pictures. When he sent me his picture I realized that I had met him before when I was in high school and went to church with my ex. I remembered trying to tease him about something but he was kind of quiet and shy back then. I also remember being kind of intrigued. But I was with someone at the time… So whatever little inklings of feelings I felt didn’t go anywhere.

Anyway, we wrote each other and had long phone conversations. (This was pre-texting, e-mail and video-chats) We grew close via letters and phone calls before we even had our first date. And then I came home to New Jersey for my little sister’s graduation and we went out. And he kissed me. And he was a really good kisser. And he continued to be his sweet loveable self and before I knew it, I had already fallen in love.

But that’s not how I knew he was the one…

I knew that he was the one because I truly believe that our paths kept crossing for a reason. He was supposed to be in my life. Maybe we didn’t meet earlier because we wouldn’t have been able to appreciate finding our other halves until the time was right? I know that he’s my best friend and we connected on a level that I can honestly say I have never connected with anyone else before.

I also knew that he was the one because he nailed number twenty-one on my list. He loved me. I mean really loves me! And as much as I joke around that I’m the sweetest most loveable woman in all-of-the-world, I have to be honest with you all and admit, loving me isn’t always easy… (But let’s just keep that our little secret.)

His love made me realize what real love is and allowed me to really open up my heart, knowing it would be cared for and cherished. I knew that he was the one because it was due time, time for us to meet, time for us to love.

So when did you know it was love with your spouse?  Be sure and leave a comment below!

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About Gwyneth Bolton

Gwyneth Bolton was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. She currently lives in Syracuse, New York with her husband Cedric. When she was 12-years-old, she became an avid reader of romance by sneaking her mother’s stash of Harlequin and Silhouette novels. In the 90s, she was introduced to African American and multicultural romance novels and her life hasn’t been the same since. While she had always been a reader of romance, she didn’t feel inspired to write them until the genre opened up to include other voices. And even then, it took finishing graduate school, several non-fiction publications, and a six-week course at the Loft Literary Center titled Writing the Romance Novel; before she gathered the courage to start writing her first romance novel. Gwyneth has a BA and an MA in English/Creative Writing and a Ph.D. in English/Composition and Rhetoric. She teaches classes in writing and women’s studies at the college level. She has won several awards for her romance novels, including ten Emma Awards and the Romance In Color Reviewer’s Choice award for new author of the year. When she is not teaching or working on her own African American romance novels, she is curled up with a cup of herbal tea, a warm quilt, and a good book.

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Visit Gwyneth online -

Website – http://www.gwynethbolton.com/

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=1039714933

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Gwyneth’s latest release – Rivals in Paradise

Cicely Stevens needs the vacation of a lifetime. After being cheated on by her boyfriend and passed over for a promotion, she’s off to the Caribbean for a weekend of hot island fun. And there’s no sexier bad boy than her old college rival Chase Yearwood, who’s on the same plane en route to his lush estate…and whose kiss Cicely never forgot. When he takes her in his arms again, he’s more irresistible than ever. But will she lose her heart before this fling is flung?

They call him the “Wolf” because of his legendary skills in the boardroom—and the bedroom. Now is Chase’s chance to even the score with the woman who once beat him at his own game. But can rivals in business become passionate partners in love? Under a romantic tropical moon, he’ll seduce her with a passion that will have her begging for more!

Click here to purchase the book from Amazon.

My Fantasy Superstar By Adrianne Byrd

I have a feeling that I’m about disappoint a lot of my romance fans with this blog post.  Everyday, I sit before the computer and I cut open a vein and pour out dramatic romantic fantasies in book after book.  And maybe it’s me or a sign of some considerable years slipping by, but I don’t fantasize about the new batch or even the old batch Hollywood and music sensations.  None.  Nada.  Zip.  I just don’t.  I, like most of my friends, get a peculiar thrill waiting for their personal demons to start leaking onto the gossip blogs.  Whether it’s coming out of the closet (let’s face it: most of the gorgeous ones are gay.) or they have an insatiable drug habit or are inflicted with the latest and greatest craze: being a full blown sex addict.

So this is hard.

But then I turned my television set onto the Food Network.  Here I have to admit from time to time I do get a few….tingles.  C’mon there’s really something sexy about a man who knows his way around the kitchen.  In my opinion, nobody does that better than Patrick Neely.  Patrick, Patrick, Patrick.  Yeah, it’s a little awkward, checking him out while his wife Gina is buzzing around the kitchen too, giggling and doing whatever she’s doing—but damn.  Did he just make Peach and Blackberry Cobbler?  Before you know it, I’m crossing my legs and reaching for a cool drink.

I can just picture me coming home in a slinky, black halter dress (because that’s how I dress every day, didn’t you know?) My hair is swept up and I’m blinging diamonds on my ears, neck and wrists and wearing six-inch Christian Louboutin that, let’s face it, I can only manage to walk in in a fantasy.

Like I was saying, I’d walk into the house and instantly be seduced by an array of lips smacking aromas.  Patrick is right there, wearing nothing but a white apron and smiling at me with those warm brown eyes and adorable, pinch-able cheeks.  He lists the evening meal that he has slaved away over all day and I can barely walk straight to the candle-lit table.  And let’s face it, a palate orgasm is different from an actual physical orgasm and it’s potentially stronger for women because…well, to blunt you’re more likely to climax several times in one meal.  But for added measure, I’d love for Patrick to sit his cute butt down and spoon fed me every delicious morsel while some Luther Vandross croons about how a house is not a home…unless there’s a man in the kitchen.

Whooo.  That sounds like the beginning of a sermon.

Now y’all can judge me about coveting another woman’s husband if you want—but this is my fantasy.  I could go on and on about what I’d do to that man with strawberries and a certain alcoholic whip cream…but if you’ve read any of my erotic sex scenes…you get the gist.  All and all Patrick leaves me quite sated and satisfied—I’m probably even a borderline diabetic with a heavy vase of the itis by the end of the night.

I can’t imagine anything beating a night like that…then I turn the channel to HGTV and see a team of handing men building things.  Ooooh.  Who’s that guy with the hammer?  I wonder if he could build me a new deck?  I get that tingle again.

Yeah…my fantasy men have definitely changed over the years.   Don’t judge.

So who is your secret superstar fantasy?  Be sure and leave a comment below!

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About Adrianne Byrd

National Best-selling author Adrianne Byrd has always preferred to live within the realms of her imagination where all the men are gorgeous and the women are worth whatever trouble they manage to get into. As an army brat, she traveled throughout Europe and learned to appreciate and value different cultures. Now she calls Georgia home.

In books, Adrianne found a way out of her awkward teenage years and into a world of fictional friends that would stay with her for a lifetime. It wasn’t long before her imagination took flight and she was writing her own love stories. Within a year, she completed her first book, which she vowed would never see the light of day.

Ms. Byrd has won many awards, including RT’s 2004 Best Multicultural Romance, Romance in Color’s Readers Choice Awards, and Slam Jams Emma Award. She also writes Women’s Fiction as Layla Jordan, Street Lit as De’nesha Diamond and Young Adult as A.J. Byrd. She has also been featured in many national publications, including Today’s Black Woman, Upscale, and Heart and Soul. She has also won local awards for screenwriting. For the future, she looks forward to continue creating characters that make people smile, laugh, and fall in love.

Visit Adrianne online at:

Website – http://www.adriannebyrd.net/

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/#!/adrianne.byrd

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Adrianne’s latest release – Lover’s Premiere

Limelight Entertainment is Sofia Wellesley’s whole life. So she’s fit to be tied when she discovers her agency is about to merge with Limelight’s biggest rival—run by none other than Ram Jordan. Sofia had a major crush on gorgeous Ram growing up…until her childhood friend became her worst enemy. So why is her traitorous heart clamoring for the man she hates most in the world?

Ram knows what caused the rift between the two Hollywood families, and he’s determined to protect Sofia from the truth. But now…he wants more. He wants all this lovely, sensual woman has to give. But getting Sofia to trust him will take his most persuasive powers of seduction. From L.A. to Vegas, the spotlight’s on passion as Ram fights for a future together—and the love that could be theirs at long last….

Click here to purchase the book from Amazon

Be sure and stop by every day to support the tour! One lucky winner will win a Kindle courtesy of A Hopeful Romantic, as well as other great prizes courtesy of the participating authors!

Whatever You Like

By day, Lena Morrison is an ambitious grant writer. By night, she’s an escort to some of Chicago’s most successful men. Sex isn’t on the menu—Lena’s job is to provide her elite clients with comanionship and sparkling conversation. She enjoys the extra income, but even more, Lena loves the empowering feeling of being appreciated for her beauty and her brains.

When tycoon Roderick Brand hires Lena as his date for a private party, their electric attraction leads to the most erotic night of her life. Incredible as the experience is, she vows not to mix work and pleasure again. But Roderick is relentless. His irresistible proposal: three weeks fulfilling all his fantasies, in exchange for a million-dollar grant that will guarantee Lena a major promotion.

Lena can play that game. She’ll give him the hottest, wildest sex he’s ever had, then she’ll walk away, leaving him aching for more. But when it comes to desire, rules—and hearts— are easily broken. And the best-laid plans have a way of working out in ways neither could expect….

My review….

Ohh ladies!!!!!!!! All I have to say is “have mercy” and “umph, umph, UMPH” about this book!!!! You are going to need a fire hose, a bucket of ice, a pitcher of lemonade, an ice cold Coke, a mountain of snow and any other cold item you think of when you read this book! It starts off hot and gets even hotter! Oh, and you’re going to need a tissue or two because it’s also a beautiful love story. That’s all I’m going to tell you. No spoilers here!

Do not waste any time buying this book when it becomes available. Make sure you have some uninterrupted time when you crack open this book because you are not going to be able to put it down. Send the hubby and kids somewhere for a few hours and get your read on! When the hubby or significant other gets back, if you have kids, put them to bed because you are going to want to play! Men will be writing Maureen thanking them for this book!

I have to say Kimani made the right choice choosing Maureen Smith to launch the new Kimani Nights line! She will be a hard act to follow.

Renee Williams
All the Buzz

Charlene Quinn can’t believe her luck when she lands a major contract with L.A.’s hottest record label. Even more thrilling, she’ll be laying down tracks with none other than Akil Hutton in his private Miami recording studio. Despite Akil’s gruff, take-no-prisoners attitude, Charlene is powerfully attracted to the driven music producer. She never dreams the feeling’s mutual…until the night she ends up singing a song of passion in Akil’s arms….

His shy, innocent new client isn’t Akil’s usual type. Until he hears her sing. With her celestial voice and voluptuous body, Akil knows Charlene is headed straight for stardom—and his heart. But the powerhouse producer’s holding tight to secrets from his past—ones that may drive his new protégée away. What will it take to keep the angelic singer in his arms forever…long after the last sweet, sensual note fades away?

So, I’ve watched Just Wright at least once per day for the last couple of weeks. That’s sad I know. LOL But I absolutely love that movie! I am such a sappy, hopeful and hopeless romantic. I love a good love story. But since I am a big girl, I especially love the stories where the character is a plus sized girl like me and she is able to find true love. I’m the same way with books. If a story is super romantic and I can identify with the character, I re-read it over and over again.

I saw myself in this movie, always getting looked over because of my size; guys preferring my skinny sisters and friends over me. It hurts! Even though I have had several relationships, and even been married, I have yet to find my Prince Charming, the one who realizes I am the one, regardless of my size. I’m not giving up hope yet though!

So what about you? Are you the same way?

I love, love, LOVE this movie! 

Leslie Wright, a straight-shooting physical therapist, gets the gig of a lifetime working with NBA All-Star Scott McKnight. All is going well until Leslie finds herself falling for Scott, forcing her to choose between the gig of a lifetime and the tug-of-war inside her heart. Oblivious to her romantic overtures, McKnight is instead drawn to the affections of Leslie’s gorgeous childhood friend Morgan, who has her sights set on being an NBA trophy wife. Is Leslie destined to play the role of “best friend” forever or will Scott finally see that what he always wanted is right in front of him?

From Shonell Bacon

To All READERS of ROMANCE FICTION!

I would love your input on a pilot study I’m conducting titled “Romancing the Reader: Preferences of the Romance Fiction Reader.” With this pilot study, I seek answers to several questions, to include:

1- Why do women read romance fiction?

2- Is there a difference in the reading/purchasing habits of romance fiction readers depending on race?

3- What aspects of romance fiction do readers enjoy most?

4- What problems do readers find with romance fiction?

5- Do women read romance fiction from authors outside their race?

6- Does age of reader affect 1) reading of romance novels and 2) reading of romance novels across race?

For this pilot study, I am administering a survey, which is located on Survey Monkey

The survey should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete and consists of 26 questions on romance reading preferences and demographical information.

Names will not be used in the study. If you agree to participate in the study, please go to Survey Monkey [http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/romancefiction] where you will first read the consent form before completing the survey.

You can contact me at shon.bacon@ttu. edu if you have any questions.

I thank you all in advance for considering my request. Shon Bacon