Ava Lydell is determined to earn a living as an artist. The talented painter-sculptor left her family and the violence of the Deep South for the sunny coast of California only to see her dreams ambushed by the nation's economic crisis, The Great Depression. Lacking patronage and reliable sales, her fledgling studio fails. Now, she finds herself faced with poverty, eviction...and a slightly younger, handsome stranger far too dangerous for her tastes.
A successful bootlegger, Chase Jenkins has more than most Colored men in this age of Prohibition. Yet, his business savvy and acumen are unable to solve a haunting question: who murdered his baby brother? Fixated on finding a killer, he has no time for diversion. When distraction comes packaged in the form of a "midnight" beauty with sultry lips and curvaceous hips who's facing eviction, Chase involves himself in her plight despite his better judgment. Instant attraction and resulting passion prove more than either Chase or Ava bargained for.
Will Chase abandon the hunt for his brother's murderer long enough to submit to Ava's enticement? Can Ava love a man despite his risqué line of business and questionable lifestyle? Indulge yourself in a spicy, risky romance where both heroine and hero must learn the art of love.