The Tradition of Us

By Barbara Howard

A single father struggling to create Kwanzaa traditions for his young daughter gets help from his new neighbor, a family therapist who's also navigating her first Kwanzaa after reconnecting with her African roots following her adoption. Together, they build new traditions while healing old wounds.

When a grieving widower and a woman searching for her roots meet over a stranded cat, they discover more than just holiday traditions-they find each other.
Griff Matthews is barely holding it together. Two years after losing his wife, he's struggling to raise their daughter, Terra, while honoring the past and building a future he can't yet see. When Terra begs to celebrate Kwanzaa-a tradition Griff never fully learned-he's determined to try, even if it means stumbling through it alone.
Amy Thomas knows what it's like to feel unmoored. Adopted by a white family, she grew up disconnected from Black culture, and now, as an adult, she's piecing together an identity she can claim as her own. When she rescues Griff's cat (and his dignity), an unexpected invitation changes everything: Celebrate Kwanzaa with us.
As Griff and Amy navigate the seven principles of Kwanzaa-unity, self-determination, faith, and more-they discover that love, like tradition, isn't about perfection. It's about showing up, building something new, and having the courage to believe in second chances.
But when Griff's in-laws question his choices and Amy's past insecurities resurface, their fragile connection is tested. Can they trust the love they've created, or will fear and doubt unravel what they've built?

Tropes: Holiday romances with emotional depthStories about cultural identity and belongingSlow-burn love between two people healing from lossClean / No Spice romance stories

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GN4ZZC4Z
• ISBN13: 9798233830716
• Release Date: December 2025
• Publisher: Black Swan Publishing
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 0.49 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 8.0"