Uncatergorized

Classic Romance: African-American 1sts

African-American romance, and its history, is very important to me.  As readers of the genre I feel it should be important to you all as well.  Just like any other other part of our wonderful mosaic of history, the African-American romance community has many firsts to celebrate and to hopefully emulate.   

Rosalind Welles (aka journalist Elsie Washington) is the writer of the first ever multi-cultural/African-American romance ENTWINED DESTINIES and Sandra Kitt’s ADAM AND EVA (1984) is well-known as the first African-American romance (written by an African-American) for romance powerhouse publisher Harlequin. 

As we near the anniversay of the June 1980 release of ENTWINED DESTINIES andcelebrate the first African-American romance writer to hit the New York Times bestseller list (you go, Brenda Jackson!!!)  I thought it would ne nice to highlight these African-American romance firsts as the true classic romance they are: 

~::~::~::~ 

ENTWINED DESTINIES (book description): Kathy Godwin is an up-and-coming reporter for a London-based magazine. While covering a major oil business conference, she meets tall, dark and devastating Lloyd Craig, a top echelon executive with TransGlobal Oil. His response to her, as well as to her questions, can best be described as cold and sarcastic, and she wonders how he can dislike her when he doesn’t even know her.

Lloyd’s reaction to the petite beauty is an immediate, intense desire to possess her. Though he’s determined to fight his attraction to Kathy, he can’t help asking her out or stealing a few searing kisses and tender embraces. Despite his growing feelings for her, Lloyd knows they can never be more than friends…that he can never be free from his wounded past to commit to the only woman he’ll ever love.

 

~::~::~::~ 

 

ADAM AND EVA (book description): When Eva Duncan flees to the Virgin Islands to heal from the double tragedy that took the lives of her husband and young daughter, she meets the most remarkably self- possessed little girl on the plane. Her father is just as irresistible…if only he weren’t so bossy and overbearing.

Still recovering from the pain of his recent divorce, Adam Maxwell is reluctant to open his heart to another woman. Then he starts spending time with his daughter’s new friend in this tropical Eden and Adam’s burgeoning desire has the single dad yearning to be a family again, to have and to hold Eva in his arms forever….

 

 

 

Used copies of these books are available for sale.  Last year I brought ENTWINED DESTINIES for my own personal collection of certain romance favorites.  In fact, that’s a scanned copy of my actual book–it was difficult finding a copy of the cover on the Internet.  I plan to search out an original 1984 issue of ADAM AND EVA as well (the cover pictured is from the 2006 reissue).  These two book should be read and treasured.

Congrats again, Brenda J !!!

Best.

3 thoughts on “Classic Romance: African-American 1sts

  1. I haven’t read either of these but I will be adding them to by to be read pile. Hopefully I will be able to find the both of them.

  2. Ok Niobia,

    Looks like I have to add these to my wish list. I am anxious to read your next installment of the Strong family series.

  3. Hi Niobia,

    I enjoyed reading your, would please send me a email to let me know when the next Strong Family Book is coming out. I am from Walterboro
    s.c.

Comments are closed.