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Romance novels are a new thing to me. And there is one woman who made me a hardcore fan of the fantastical genre: Jasmine Guillory. As we head towards the chilly days that are perfect for curling up with a good book, this is your guide to the magical Guillory-verse and each of the awesome standalone (sort of) novels that connect it. There’s something for every kind of reader here from cynic to dreamer, city meet cute to British Christmas romance. If you’re looking for something delightful and charming to dig your teeth into, Jasmine Guillory’s books are it.

What is the Guillory-verse?

Berkley Books

A reinvention of the romance genre, Guillory’s books each tell the story of an unexpected couple. Her leads are Black women and the stories are contemporary. This isn’t the classical period romance with swooning women and handsome dukes—although there is nothing wrong with those stories. This is a gateway series to a wider love of all romance, as I can attest. These are stories you can easily connect with, relate to, and believe in. The women here are busy, loving, complex, and have no plans on finding love, but all do. With every page turn Guillory crafts a realistic world you want to live in and people you want to know. Though you can read the books in whichever order you’d like—I started with the magical Royal Holiday—they all share connections which help to build out the world and are fun to spot as you go forward.

So here’s a rundown of each of the titles to help you prep your Guillory-verse reading list:

The Wedding Date

Berkley Books

Sparking off the series is this charming tale of a fake-romance turned real. When Alexa Monroe gets stuck in an elevator with a handsome and arrogant doctor named Drew, she doesn’t think much of it. But when he asks her to be his plus one to a wedding, things heat up. See, she has to pretend to be his girlfriend, which sounds like it might be fun… until things start to get too real.

The Proposal

Berkley Books

Nikole Paterson is dating a hot but barely there boyfriend. He’s cute enough but she can sense things are coming to end… until he proposes to her at a Dodgers game in front of 45,000 people. When the press starts to swarm, she’s saved by a stranger named Carlos and his sister, who pretend to know her in order to help her escape. The pair embark on a whirlwind series of hookups which are meant to be anything but serious. Well, you can guess how that turns out.

The Wedding Party

Berkley Books

Maddie and Theo are both best friends with Alexa (from The Wedding Date!) but the only thing that they can agree on is how much they hate each other. After a drunken hookup which was amazing, they start a secret relationship while they help plan Alexa’s wedding. But as the nuptials draw closer and they start to realize that they don’t have many booty calls left, things get complicated and the pair have to decide what they really want from each other.

Royal Holiday

Berkley Books

When Vivian Forest gets the chance to join her daughter Maddie (yep, the same one) on a work trip to England, she can’t say no. Their adventure takes them to the Christmas home of the Royal Family where Maddie will be styling a member of the monarchy. Vivian is given free reign of the sprawling grounds and gets a tour from Malcolm, the Queen’s handsome private secretary. Connecting over the festive season is all well and good but Malcolm is from London and Vivian lives in the Bay Area… so it couldn’t really be more than a holiday fling, could it?

Party of Two

Berkley Books

This timely offering is Guillory’s newest book (it recently hit shelves). Olivia Monroe’s life is on the brink of true stability. She’s moved to LA to start a law firm with her best friend. She has a gorgeous home. The last thing she needs is a new boyfriend. Especially one who just happens to be an upcoming political superstar. When the pair meet in a hotel bar they instantly connect but can they really find happiness together? You’ll have to grab a copy to find out.

Whichever book you decide to pick up you’ll likely fall in love. Each story is incredibly engaging, delightfully romantic, and a total joy. This is the new series you need in your life.

Featured Image: Berkley Books

The post Getting to Know the Radical Romance of Jasmine Guillory appeared first on Nerdist.

Jermaine Jae By Charli Penn ·October 27, 2020October 27, 2020

Actress Emayatzy Corinealdi and her husband, Jermaine Jae, recently revealed their beig news—they’re expecting their first child together.

The first-time mom-to-be is taking in every moment of this special once in a lifetime experience and allowing it to empower her in new ways.

“I’ve really been enjoying pregnancy,” she tells ESSENCE. “Watching my body change and grow to accommodate this new life. I’m welcoming all of it. I feel so beautiful and confident and strong.”

The Middle of Nowhere star, 40, is also enjoying the experience of connecting with the new life inside of her and how it’s changing her own.

“I’m finding that being pregnant is such a spiritual experience,” the Ballers star shared. “Yes, life is being created within you, but also, it’s an opportunity to draw even closer to God and to your unborn child. Those quiet moments, when you say that silent prayer that’s just between the three of you….it’s just so special.”

Corinealdi is absolutely glowing too, sharing these stunning maternity photos she shot at home, which is where she usually dives into a lot of DIY projects, but can’t do them as much since she’s pregnant, she told PEOPLE.

The next stop is parenthood for the happy couple who are counting down the days until they meet their little one. Congrats!

The post Actress Emayatzy Corinealdi Is Pregnant and Glowing: ‘It’s Such a Spiritual Experience’ appeared first on Essence.

Source: ANGELA WEISS / Getty

Former Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden called in to 100.3 WRNB in Philadelphia and spoke with host Mina SayWhat on Monday to discuss what’s at stake in the presidential election.

With only a week until November 3, candidates are in the last stretch and are ramping up their campaign stops to hit a series of battleground states. Biden is scheduled to travel to Georgia on Tuesday where he will spend time in Atlanta at an early voting event.

“There’s so much at stake in this election. It’s the first time I’ve ever run for office that it’s not about the competition and winning, there’s so much at stake,” he said.

“I think we have an enormous opportunity to bring this country back in a way. the United States is the only country om the world that geos through crisis and comes out stronger, so I’m looking forward to Election Day.”

“We have to stop this hateful kind of talk we use. From the time he came down the escalator in his hotel talking about his candidacy, talking about ‘we’re going to get those Mexican rapists,’ and he talks about banning Muslims, and he pours fuel on every single fire, the way he goes after people is so personal and viscous. He talks about being Abraham Lincoln. My lord Abe is rolling over in his grave by the comparison.”

Biden condemned Trump’s embracing of white supremacists as well as his attacks against his family which have become deeply personal, hitting on Biden’s surviving son Hunter and his deceased son Beau.

“I think what’s happening is the blinders have been taken off the American people, they understand the systemic racism in America. They never really thought about it that way before, they say what happened to George Floyd, they’ve seen what’s going on…and they’re ready to do something about it,” he said.

Biden condemned Trump embracing white supremacists as well as his attacks against his family which have become deeply personal, hitting on Biden’s surviving son Hunter and his deceased son Beau.

Biden also said he believes his plan addresses important topics which lend access to improving ones quality of life, including education. Biden wants to allocate more money to schools, and touted his universal pre-K plan. “All the studies have shown it increases 54 percent the ability for them to go all the way to college. He also talked about giving a $15,000 credit to first time homebuyers.

“For me it’s been all about family and state and country, for real,” he said.

“The character of America is on the ballot, that’s what up for grabs.”

During a Biden for President press call with Black press outlets and reporters on Tuesday former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams advocated for Biden, saying the last four years have been chaotic with Trump.

With ongoing police brutality against Black communities, a recession spurred by the coronavirus pandemic, coupled with the ongoing coronavirus outbreaks as several states tick upwards in numbers, Abrams pointed out the lack of leadership during Trump’s administration, especially within the last 7 months.

“The other choice that we have is Joe Biden. A man who has proven that he can provide strong steady leadership. Someone who has listened to experts in the past and has helped guide this country through challenges both economic and health care related and someone who understands that we need a leader that can unite the country to deliver the results our family’s need so desperately in this moment,” Abrams said.

The Biden campaign will launch a series of ads targeting Black voters in battleground states including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Ohio and Arizona. The 60-second ads will feature Biden’s running mate Sen. Kamala Harris issuing a final, closing appeal.  A second ad titled “Rise Up,” will emphasize that your right is your voice.

By Nandi Howard ·October 26, 2020October 26, 2020

There’s truly no prediction on what will start a social media discourse week by week. Usually on Twitter, where trendy topics emerge and conversations begin, there’s a search engine of subjects that are ready to be picked apart. Most recently Hermés bags, particularly the Birkin, has fallen victim to being the latest hot topic.

There’s no one celebrity to point to that particularly made this conversation emerge. Our favorite It Girls like Cardi B, Rihanna, and Megan Thee Stallion have all been seen with this luxury item, but a recent video of Saweetie surfaced—while the rapper was promoting her new single “Back To The Streets,”—that left Twitter debating just how important a Birkin bag really is. “If he’s not buying you a Birkin, then send him back to the streets,” the Bay Area artist exclaimed.

Saweetie says if he can’t buy you a Birkin, you don’t need him, sis pic.twitter.com/3qTA6svZQ5

Social media took to express their thoughts about this video. “Your man doesn’t have Quavo money and you don’t look like Saweetie. Let’s end the convo there,” one user wrote, while another said, “Saweetie that advice is too casual for me…. I’m a college student, where am I going to find a Quavo?”

Now that women rappers are showing off their Birkin bags, it seems like many more celebrities and Twitter users have weighed in on the conversation. Enough to make Offset defend the way in which Black people celebrate luxury. “Black people having access to luxury shouldn’t be a debate,” he wrote. Cardi also responded with a video posing the same question, “why don’t you all do this to white celebrities?”

Despite the Hermés item being widely discussed, it is actually quite a rare find. According to British Vogue, due the scarceness of the bag, most look to secondhand retailers to purchase this item. While similar inaria-label="British Vogue (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/buying-an-hermes-bag" target="_blank">British Vogue, Giorgina Ramazzotti states “investing in a Birkin or Kelly bag is now a historically safer investment than the stock market.”

Starting at $10,000, if you’re lucky enough to snag this investment before the holidays, brands like Farfetch, Rebag, and Christie’s sell the hard-to-find Hermés bag. Check it out below.

The post How To Get Your Hands On An Hermés Birkin Bag appeared first on Essence.