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Click here to watch an exclusive one-on-one interview with Beverly Jenkins.

Beverly Jenkins has a way of giving you goose bumps. Sure, her novels are moving, whether they're historical love stories told in post–Civil War settings, or sizzling contemporaries set in the high-powered world of pro sports. But more than that, she's got a way of connecting us with the characters and subjects she writes about that's simply unforgettable.

Jenkins' romances don't just tell love stories; they also gently expose readers to African-American history, traditions and information not always taught in school. When we sat down to our interview, I asked Jenkins to describe the most surprising piece of history she'd ever put into one of her novels.

She told the story of one line — one single, stunning line she discovered while doing research. It spoke volumes to her about the humanity stripped from enslaved individuals, and about how much love and emotional connection meant to one freed slave. The line said something like, "He sold himself back into slavery for the woman he loved."

That kind of cutting to the profound heart of the matter — whether intensely stirring or seriously joyful — is what Jenkins does best. You can experience Jenkins' dynamic, award-winning style in her newest contemporary romance, "Deadly Sexy," out now from Avon.

Watch my exclusive on-camera interview with Beverly Jenkins.