Author Spotlight – Christina C Jones – My Favourite Author

Christina C Jones

I first discovered Christina C Jones back in 2019, during my second year of university, when Kindle Unlimited and I were getting reacquainted. I’d had KU for a while at that point, but most of what I’d read were books by white authors or urban romances (you know the type, The Kingpin and His Love, parts 1, 2, and 3, lol).

What I didn’t realise then was that there was this whole world of contemporary romance written for Black people, about Black people, just living regular-degular lives. I know it sounds obvious—of course, those books exist—but at the time, they weren’t mainstream in the same way white romance stories were. Back in 2018, even fewer Black romance authors were breaking into bestseller territory.

Discovering CCJ completely opened my eyes. She introduced me to a whole new world of stories, and through her, I discovered many of my other favourites, such as Kennedy Ryan and Asia Monique. For that, I’ll always be grateful.

Now, six years later, I’ve read every single book CCJ has ever written, and I still eagerly anticipate each new release. Funnily enough, I realised I haven’t talked about her nearly as much on this blog as I have with other authors; I’ve only recommended her a handful of times. But, she’s without a doubt my absolute favourite author, and I can’t wait to share her brilliance with you all.

About the Author

Author and digital content creator Christina C Jones has spent the past decade serving the Black reading community. She released her debut full-length novel, Strictly Business, in 2014 — a story that laid the foundation for what would grow into an expansive universe of interconnected characters. More than 80 books later, CCJ has firmly established herself as a consistent and beloved voice in Black romance. A timeless storyteller, she is celebrated for her ability to seamlessly weave the complexities of modern life into compelling tales featuring Black characters across nearly every romance subgenre.

Girl, Have You Read 

Beyond her novels, Christina C Jones is also the co-founder of Girl, Have You Read, a brilliant digital platform dedicated to amplifying Black authors and Black romance stories. Discovering Girl, Have You Read was genuinely a game-changer for me. Not only did it introduce me to so many more authors that I now know and love, but it also highlighted just how diverse Black contemporary romance truly is.

There are so many talented writers out there who simply need greater visibility, and this platform helps shine a light on them. To me, Girl, Have You Read is a reflection of CCJ’s commitment to advocacy and community-building. It shows that her impact goes far beyond her own books, serving as a testament to how deeply she values diverse voices within the romance landscape.

Notable Works

I haven’t actually read all of Kennedy Ryan’s books, unlike some of my other favourite authors, but I’m now genuinely inspired to go back and read them all. That said, here are the ones I would wholeheartedly recommend:

Why You Should Read Her Books

Honestly, you should read her books simply because she’s a great writer and you won’t be disappointed. But also because she tells Black stories in such an ordinary and relatable way. We talk so often about how we don’t get to see Black people just be, and how much of our representation is rooted in struggle and trauma. That’s why it feels so refreshing to read stories that reflect our everyday lives.

Of course, our reality is what it is, and the undercurrent of race will always be present — but that isn’t all we are as Black people, and those stories deserve to be told as well. CCJ has written across so many different corners of romance: from supernatural and fantasy (there’s nothing I love more than Black witches and vampires), to dystopian tales, and even biker romances. Black people exist in every facet of society, and every one of those stories deserves its place on the page.

CCJ is by no means the only author doing this important work, but she’s the one who introduced me to it, and for that I’ll always feel connected to her. Her stories feel natural and familiar to me, and I love that I no longer have to imagine the characters as Black, because I already know they are.

She’s also created what I fondly call the CCJ Literary Universe. All of her stories exist within the same world, and while the books outside of her series can be read as standalones, there are often cameos and references to characters from her other works, which I absolutely love. As someone who has followed her career for years and read everything she’s written, those little Easter eggs always feel like such a treat.

Quotes

“Graduating college isn’t the end, getting married isn’t the end, even death isn’t the end. All those things are just the beginnings of new stories, maybe happening outside my creative lens. It’s not up to us to tell a complete story – that’s not possible. Our job is to tell the story we see. Anything else has to be left to the imagination.”

Christina C Jones, Behind the Scenes

“You wanna know my secret now, for keeping anybody in my life? You have to treat me as well as I treat me. No exceptions.”

 Christina C Jones, Love Notes

“The feeling of someone being there for you, lifting you up, allowing you to be yourself, flaws and all, and loving you anyway. Someone that you can hang with, laugh with, someone who makes you feel completely comfortable…”

Christina C Jones, The Trouble With Us

Upcoming Projects

One of the things I love most about CCJ is that, while we’re waiting for her full-length novels, she never leaves us hanging for too long. She has a whole collection of novellas and vignettes, some completely standalone, others expanding on side characters from her bigger stories. I recently read her newest release, Please Reconsider; it’s only 32 pages, but it feels like a perfectly formed short episode in a wider narrative. It’s light, fun, and enjoyable, just like so many of her shorter works.

These pieces are available exclusively through her website, and she’s one of the few authors I consistently spend money on, especially since I can’t get these shorts anywhere else.

I don’t think she has any new full-length novels coming out in the immediate future, but I’m definitely hoping she’ll surprise us with something soon.

Final Thoughts

The title of “favourite author” is not one I give out lightly. There are so many writers I adore and read consistently, but there’s simply no one else I can honestly say I’ve read everything by — so in that sense, CCJ takes the crown by default. I truly hope she continues to evolve, grow, and share her stories for many years to come, and I’ll be here reading every word until the very end.

I also hope you’re enjoying this “month of faves” as much as I’ve enjoyed putting it together. This blog has slotted so seamlessly into my life, and I can hardly believe it’s been over six months of posting, pretty much twice a week, every week. I’m so grateful for every one of my readers, and I’d love to hear your thoughts: what you love, ideas you have, recommendations to share, or even suggestions for how I can continue to grow and improve In Novel Company.

See you next week!