Why am I passionate about this?

I write sexy, stylish, and sensational romance. That means I write sentimental and steamy stories (like Hallmark movies, but with a lot of sex) featuring at least one main character who always keeps it cute. Iā€™m a Brooklyn native who writes unapologetically bold, character-driven stories. My novels feature diverse ensemble casts who are confident in their right to appear on the page. My work has been featured in Entertainment Weekly, O-Magazine, and the Library Journal. If Iā€™m not writing, I am probably trying on or looking for my next great makeup find.


I wrote

Vanessa Jared's Got a Man

By LaQuette,

Book cover of Vanessa Jared's Got a Man

What is my book about?

Vanessa Jared, a 40-something divorcee, decided that the best way to pull herself out of their post-divorce slump was toā€¦

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Heated

LaQuette Why did I love this book?

Cyrus is a man who has planned his success down to the most minute detail, including the type of girlfriend he should have. College, law school, career, and companionship have all been carefully orchestrated to contribute to Cyrusā€™ preconceived notions of what wealth and success look like. It isnā€™t until his girlfriend hires an unmatchmaker company to break up with him, and he meets Zora (an owner of that unmatchmaker company) that he realizes heā€™s had the wrong idea about success all along, especially with the type of woman he should want in his life.

I love this book because it upholds the notion that happiness canā€™t be bought. No matter how much money and prestige you have, unless you know how to love and be loved, success can end up being a hollow victory. Besides the running commentary on what happiness truly is, this book is equal parts steamy and funny.

By Naima Simone,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Heated as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From USA Today bestselling author Naima Simone comes Heated, a sizzling novel about a breakup professional who embarks on a fake relationship with a client's ex-the one person she wasn't supposed to fall for.

Zora

I'm Denver's unmatchmaker. Every city needs one.

Why? Because people break up-and sometimes they should. But when I learn that entertainment attorney Cyrus Hart is someone else's mistake, I can't believe it. He's smart, successful, and sexy as hell.

When a chance encounter with Cyrus turns into something more, I can't help but fall for him. Our chemistry is undeniable. But his ex used myā€¦


Book cover of The Worst Best Man

LaQuette Why did I love this book?

Max and Lina have a complicated history, to say the least. Heā€™s the brother of her ex-fiancĆ©, the former best man at Linaā€™s wedding, and heā€™s also the reason her intended groom left her standing at the altar. As she makes a bid for a prominent hotelā€™s business, sheā€™s paired with Max on a marketing project that forces her to deal with the man that ruined her life. Determined to keep him from ruining everything again while indulging in a bit of petty revenge, Lina seeks to get Max to drop out of the marketing campaign. But as they spend more time together, she realizes that Max, who was the worst best man ever, might be the greatest love of her life.

I love this book because itā€™s rich with humor, heart, and culture. Mia Sosa does a terrific job of making us laugh, while still making us aware of the problems women of color face in the corporate world. Although serious topics are explored, such as racism and misogyny, the author handles these matters with a light hand while celebrating the joy of Afro-Brazilian culture.

By Mia Sosa,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Worst Best Man as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

"A romantic comedy that's fun and flirty, young and fresh." - PopSugar

Named one of the Best Romances of 2020 by EW, Cosmo, OprahMag, Buzzfeed, Insider, and NPR!

Mia Sosa delivers a sassy, steamy #ownvoices enemies-to-lovers novel, perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory, Helen Hoang, and Sally Thorne!

A wedding planner left at the altar? Yeah, the irony isn't lost on Carolina Santos, either. But despite that embarrassing blip from her past, Lina's offered an opportunity that could change her life. There's just one hitch... she has to collaborate with the best (make that worst) man fromā€¦


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Book cover of Flowers and Stone

Flowers and Stone by Jan Sikes,

The year is 1970 when the lives of Darlina Flowers, a young fledgling go-go dancer, and Luke Stone, a wild rebel Texas musician, become powerfully intertwined. The wild ride of their love story journey will make you laugh, cry, and root for their success.

This is a riveting true storyā€¦

Book cover of The Geek Who Saved Christmas

LaQuette Why did I love this book?

Gideon Holiday loves Christmas. Heā€™s literally dripping with holiday cheer. Unfortunately, his grumpy next-door neighbor, Paul, the man Gideon is crushing on something fierce, hasnā€™t a drop of appreciation for the holiday or the accompanying festivities. That holds true until Paul finds out the younger brother he raised plans to visit for the holidays. Just like when they were kids, Paul seeks to give his brother a joyous holiday to make up for the tough times they had when his brother was a kid. But since he knows nothing about getting into the holiday spirit, heā€™ll need Gideonā€™s fabulous Christmas powers to make this the best holiday his younger brother has ever had.

This story is filled with humor and heat. While Gideon is teaching Paul how to loosen up and join in on the neighborhood holiday fun, Paul also teaches Gideon that he doesnā€™t have to be lonely. Itā€™s a great story of two people giving each other what they need most and providing the ever-elusive balance we all crave in our lives.

By Annabeth Albert,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Geek Who Saved Christmas as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

His grumpy neighbor needs some holiday sunshineā€¦Gideon Holiday is the perfect neighbor. Need a cup of sugar? Spare folding chair? Extra batteries? Heā€™s always ready to help. And heā€™s waited years for his hot, grumpy, silver fox neighbor, Paul, to need him. For anything. But this December, Gideon would be happy if he could just get the Scrooge-like Paul on board with the neighborhood holiday lights fundraiser.

Paul Frost has no intention of decking his halls or blazing any Yule logs. Even if his spunky bowtie-clad neighbor does look perfect for unwrapping, Paul would prefer to hide away until Decemberā€¦


Book cover of American Royalty

LaQuette Why did I love this book?

Duchess is a female rapper whoā€™s worked hard to get to the top of her game. As a rapper, sheā€™s reached the pinnacle of her success. As a skincare entrepreneur, sheā€™s almost at the precipice of realizing her dreams when bad press caused by an unscrupulous adversary in the entertainment industry nearly topples her ambitions. An invitation to a charity performance for the Queen of Englandā€™s late consort is exactly what Duchess needs to erase the bad PR. At least she thinks this is a good idea until she meets and ends up having to stay with Prince Jameson, the patron of the charity events. Instant sparks fly, but as a member of the Royal family, Jamesonā€™s life is entirely mapped out for him, and that doesnā€™t include falling for a savvy and outspoken Black rapper. The scandal could ruin them both if word of their relationship gets out.

Funny, heartfelt, and steamy, I love this story and everything it represents. At its heart, it is about not compromising who you are simply to appease others. Loving ourselves is the way we learn to show love to others. Itā€™s also how we teach others to love us. And like anything else we love, we must protect our self-love from anything or anyone who would seek to harm it. Not to mention, as a Black woman, I will never tire of stories where Black women get to live the fairy tale and are wooed by royalty.

By Tracey Livesay,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked American Royalty as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In this dangerously sexy rom-com that evokes the real-life romance between Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle, a prince who wants to live out of the spotlight falls for a daring American rapper who turns his life, and the palace, upside down.

Sexy, driven rapper Danielle "Duchess" Nelson is on the verge of signing a deal that'll make her one of the richest women in hip hop. More importantly, it'll grant her control over her life, something she's craved for years. But an incident with a rising pop star has gone viral, unfairly putting her deal in jeopardy. Concerned aboutā€¦


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Book cover of Love Love TV

Love Love TV by Gabriel Ruesso,

Christopher Jope was supposed to be the next great celebrity heartthrob. But then he was demoted to third wheel in the supernatural throuple romance he starred in years ago. Now, heā€™s a B-list celebrity at best, struggling to find success in his work or love in his personal life. 

Thingsā€¦

Book cover of Jolly Rancher

LaQuette Why did I love this book?

Even before he loses his memory, Diesel is a man who says what he means and doesnā€™t take foolishness from anyone. That usually works to keep people in line. Except when it comes to Mandy, it seems to generate the exact opposite reaction. Before his loss of memory, her stubbornness irritates him to no end. Once heā€™s lost his memory, however, that annoyance turns to outright attraction and lust. The humor in this story comes as Mandy tries to keep things platonic between them because of Dieselā€™s memory loss, and the fact that sheā€™s convinced herself she canā€™t stand him. But as they spend time together at his snowy cabin, Diesel is intent on wearing her defenses down.

This is the funniest, amnesiac love story I have ever read. Itā€™s emotionally messy and yet so adorable and sexy at the same time. The two leads are both alphas, which leads to a great deal of tension and laugh-out-loud dialogue that keeps you turning the page. Ultimately, this story is fun and joyful. In todayā€™s publishing landscape, it can be very difficult to find a lighthearted read with a Black woman frolicking, living her best, blissful life. I, for one, am always in the mood for that.

By S. London,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Jolly Rancher as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

We might be enemies, but Iā€™ll convince her sheā€™s mine by Christmas.

Diesel Conrad

Amanda says weā€™re enemiesā€”I call bull.

My mind is a bit tangled after my fall, but my gut tells me this woman is mine.

Granted, Iā€™ve forgotten some insignificant shit, like my name, but Iā€™m certain of two things.

She wants to get naughty with me, and I have the equipment to give her a very merry sleigh ride.

Amanda ā€œMessy Mandyā€ Murphy

All I want for Christmas is my winter white vacation, but my twin sisterā€™s grinch of an ex-boyfriend roped me into selling hisā€¦


Explore my book šŸ˜€

Vanessa Jared's Got a Man

By LaQuette,

Book cover of Vanessa Jared's Got a Man

What is my book about?

Vanessa Jared, a 40-something divorcee, decided that the best way to pull herself out of their post-divorce slump was to form The Savvy, Sexy, Singles Club and start the "Do Me" portion of her and her friends' lives.

But on the two-year anniversary, a sexy sheriff shows up on Vanessa's doorstep wanting her to help him keep his little sister from marrying her no-good ex. Vanessa is not down for this at all. She wants nothing to do with her ex... until she spots a photo of her ex's new fiancĆ©e wearing her grandmother's ringā€”which he clearly stole from her. So now it's on. Vanessa is ready to take this trifling (fill-in-the-blank) down. What she does not expect is to fall in love along the way.

Book cover of Heated
Book cover of The Worst Best Man
Book cover of The Geek Who Saved Christmas

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Desperate to honor his fatherā€™s dying wish, Layken Martin vows to do whatever it takes to save the family farm. Once the Army discharges him following World War II, Layken returns to Missouri to find his legacy in shambles and in jeopardy. A foreclosureā€¦

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