"Four months before her wedding, Yvette Thurman realizes this might be her last chance to have a sexual fling with a white man. But she never thought placing a personal ad would lead her to discover she was a lesbian. Yvette’s small town life in eastern North Carolina never prepared her for the personal journey she undertakes as she struggles to find her heart’s path. Through personal ads and late night visits to an adult bookstore, Yvette learns more about her own personal desires than she ever did when she was engaged to be married. If she embraces her true self, can she find acceptance and love from her family and friends? Or will she be forced to hide who she really is from those she cares about the most?"

"Leah Tubman had no way of knowing the informational interview she had in 2008 with the shapely marketing manager would lead to her planning a same-sex Southern wedding, complete with a rabbi and rum cake, seven years later. She and Patricia Goldman may come from different faiths, but their love knows no bounds. When the two women meet, they don’t need a Supreme Court decision to fall in love, but thanks to the split June 2015 ruling making gay marriage legal in the United States, they plan to make their interracial mixed love affair official with a fall wedding. It takes an allergy scare and a brunch complete with sex and syrup to bring them close to wedding bliss, but Leah wouldn’t have it any other way."

Kathleen anticipates a simple night of handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, sipping on an intoxicating concoction, and enjoying the parade of creatively attired children appealing for sugary snacks. It’s been two years since the inspiration for her appreciation of Halloween headed South to chart her academic path. She doesn’t expect a little girl inspired by a character named after two days of the week to inspire her first steps of experiencing sexual bliss with a woman older than her grandmother.<br><br>Lena exists only to be a guide and support to her nieces. She spent her life traveling the world and expects to spend the rest of her life watching over her family and yearning for the one day of the year she can break free of the confines of her home and experience the world. It’s been decades since a woman entices her to the point of sharing the secret of her eternally youthful appearance.<br><br>Two women cross paths on All Hallow’s Eve and, after a night of passion, decide to push past the line between life and death to create a new reality. Sometimes, in order to find the thing missing most, you have to open yourself up to being <i>Ghosted</i>.

Sedalia and Charlotte meet during a Moral Monday rally. Pizza and the pursuit of social justice bring the North Carolina former debutante and repeat criminal trespasser together. Their love grows to be a comfort in the midst of crazy, everyday life. But when Charlotte is arrested the night before their wedding, can Sedalia manage to get her to the altar on time? Is Sedalia ready to sacrifice her special day for the struggle? Their different approaches to balancing their work and personal lives create an issue in their marriage before they even manage to tie the knot.

Nona Essex had no idea she would find the woman to ignite the embers of her heart after a break-up at her sorority sister’s wedding reception. But her annoyance at her tablemates’ complaints soon turns to arousal when a honey-voiced lawyer named Vaughn sweet-talks the doubters and sparks Nona’s interest. Conversation leads to an invitation to satisfy some late night cravings with the woman. Dinner together inspires Nona to reconsider opening herself up to the sexy woman named after a jazz legend.

"Magazine publisher and mother of three Octavia Banfield has a lot on her plate. Still, she is willing to shed all the hats she wears to put on her baker cap to make her lady lover Audra her favorite cake. Her reason is simple -- to celebrate their life together and their love. In a culture that tries to erase their role in society, Octavia and Audre decide the sweetest revenge is to enjoy each other and some sweet adult time together. Red velvet cake may be just a mixture of eggs, butter, and milk, but the icing on the cake is the love two Southern women have for each other. Note: This short story was originally published in the charity collection, Love Is Proud."

"When Zora comes to visit her childhood hometown for the Fourth of July, she expects to be helping with the family business, greeting old neighbors and friends, and carefully avoiding the topic of her sexuality. But then Zora's old mentor introduces Zora to her granddaughter Sarah, a blast from Zora's past, now grown into a leggy brunette who remembers Zora more than fondly. As the two women reconnect over old memories, sweet treats, and tales of the intervening years since they'd last met, Zora begins to suspect the attraction she feels for Sarah might be returned. The sparks flying between them ignite into fireworks celebrating their independence from sexual solitude when they explore a new way to use the town library."