When people say Black Lives Matter, they aren’t asking just for focus on Black suffering. Black joy matters, too. In honor of Valentine’s Day and this wonderful book (pictured above) in our library’s collection, here are some dreamy romances about Black characters.

If you like contemporary romance and haven’t read Talia Hibbert yet, congratulations on the good news you’re about to receive. Act Your Age, Eve Brown is the third of the Brown sisters trilogy, which has no weak spots! Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong. Meanwhile, Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner’s on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car–supposedly by accident. Yeah, right. Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she’s infiltrated his work, his kitchen–and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like Eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore… and it’s melting Jacob’s frosty exterior. In addition to the print book, you can get the ebook on Libby and Hoopla, the eaudiobook on Libby or Hoopla, and a Playaway audio in the library.

If you’re more of a historical romance reader, there are books for you too! Alyssa Cole has written contemporary as well as historical, including the wonderful Reluctant Royals series, and recently has branched out into thrillers. A Hope Divided is set during the Civil War, with a scientist spy working for freedom for herself and people like her For all of the War Between the States, Marlie Lynch has helped the cause in peace: with coded letters about anti-Rebel uprisings in her Carolina woods, tisanes and poultices for Union prisoners, and silent aid to fleeing slave and Freeman alike. Her formerly enslaved mother’s traditions and the name of a white father she never knew have protected her–until the vicious Confederate Home Guard claims Marlie’s home for their new base of operations in the guerilla war against Southern resistors of the Rebel cause. Unbeknowst to those under her roof, escaped prisoner Ewan McCall is sheltering in her laboratory. Seemingly a quiet philosopher, Ewan has his own history with the cruel captain of the Home Guard, and a thoughtful but unbending strength Marlie finds irresistible. When the revelation of a stunning family secret places Marlie’s freedom on the line, she and Ewan have to run for their lives into the hostile Carolina night. Following the path of the Underground Railroad, they find themselves caught up in a vicious battle that could dash their hopes of love–and freedom–before they ever cross state lines. The library has the book not only in regular print but large print, ebook on Libby, and both ebook and eaudiobook on Hoopla.

For those of you who love a queer romance, look no further. D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding is a fake-dating reality TV tale gone wild. 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. You can read this book in regular or large print, check out an audiobook CD,  ebook or eaudiobook on Libby, and ebook or eaudiobook on Hoopla.

So go forth and revel in the love!