Hello, June! Hello, Summer! In this month of youth, of pride, of weddings, and of emancipation, it’s fitting that we feature Romance stories that are current and diverse and that celebrate the joy of love and acceptance in all colors, shapes, or forms.  

New Adult Romance 

Despite having a great job and a solid group of friends, Margaret Parton feels like something is missing; almost as if she is behind in life and the only person that doesn't have it all "figured out." While her friends are getting married, earning promotions, having children, and traveling the world, Margaret is struggling to adjust to her adult life in San Antonio. Alone. 

One day, while at her favorite coffee shop, Mr. Americano enters Margaret's life and sweeps her off her feet. Thanks to Mr. Americano and a series of seemingly perfect dates, Margaret experiences the whirlwind romance she's always dreamed of. But will it be enough? Join Margaret as she learns to navigate life, love, happiness, and heartache. 

The reality of growing up and falling in love combine in Addison Rose's contemporary romance novel, Mr. Americano. Whether you've already done both or are still in the process, everything happens for a reason, and the best is yet to come. Now available from popular book retailers. 

Addison Rose is a qualitative researcher, dog mom, creative storyteller, and now contemporary fiction author! A graduate of Texas A&M University, Addison dedicates her days to brand strategy research and her nights to writing (and reading!) romance novels. Addison is passionate about crafting fairytale romances that are rooted in reality yet empower readers and dreamers everywhere. 

LGBTQIA+ Romance 

D’Vaughn and Kris have six weeks to plan their dream wedding. 

Their whole relationship is fake. 

Instant I Do could be Kris Zavala’s big break. She’s right on the cusp of really making it as an influencer, so a stint on reality TV is the perfect chance to elevate her brand. And $100,000 wouldn’t hurt, either. 

D’Vaughn Miller is just trying to break out of her shell. She’s sort of neglected to come out to her mom for years, so a big splashy fake wedding is just the excuse she needs. 

All they have to do is convince their friends and family they’re getting married in six weeks. If anyone guesses they’re not for real, they’re out. Selling their chemistry on camera is surprisingly easy, and it’s still there when no one else is watching, which is an unexpected bonus. Winning this competition is going to be a piece of wedding cake. 

But each week of the competition brings new challenges, and soon the prize money’s not the only thing at stake. A reality show isn’t the best place to create a solid foundation, and their fake wedding might just derail their relationship before it even starts. 

D’Vaughn & Kris Plan a Wedding, a fake-dating romance featuring Black joy, plus-sized heroine, and Mexican pride, is available from your favorite booksellers.   

Chencia C. Higgins is just a girl from Texas who writes stories in which Black women are loved out loud. In 2019 she won an RSJ Emma award for her debut paranormal romance, Janine: His True Alpha. She resides in Houston with her family.