The High Price of a Good Man: A Novel by Debra Phillips -St. Martin's Press/Paper - $12.95 NOW $10.36 Order by CK, MO & Call-In Credit Cards

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Queensiha Renae Sutton is a very confident, plus-size woman. She is never so desperate to have a relationship that she cannot walk away from a bad situation. Yet, she does want a companion. Poetta Chenell James, Queenie's best friend, tricks her into attending a fundraiser where male celebrity look-a-likes are being auctioned. Queenie outbids all the other women for a date with the handsome Zeke Washington. As good looking as Zeke is, he has a household situation with his roommate, Sweet Willie, that makes dating difficult. Poe's love life takes a turn for the worse when she discovers that Jimboy, the man she has been dating, is married. She performs a hex on him, but it goes wrong and he dies. Despite the heartaches they experience looking for a mate, they remain friends and find love in the strangest places with the most unexpected men. Lillian Lewis Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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  A Love Noire: A Novel by Erica Simone Turnipseed - Amistad/Hard Cover - $19.95 NOW $15.00 Order by CK, MO & Call-In Credit Cards

When Noire, a hip, Afro-wearing Ph.D. student, walks into Brown Betty Books, her righteousness kicks into overdrive amid the self-identified "talented tenth" who wear their double degrees and five-hundred-dollar shoes like badges of honor. And then Innocent walks in, sits down beside her, and turns her on her head. A dashing, well-heeled investment banker originally from Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, Innocent seems interested in her ... but he's one of them.

Before meeting him, Noire shunned the "bourgie" world of black monied cosmopolitans like Innocent, opting instead for socially conscious -- but economically challenged -- artists and urban intellectuals. Their mutual attraction blossoms into lust and eventually love, but it lives in the shifting sands of personal beliefs and professional ambitions that are often at odds.

Set in present-day New York City with jaunts to Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean, A Love Noire is the story of an unlikely couple that struggles to discover whether their passion will keep them together, or if their differences will tear them apart. Stripped to their barest selves, Innocent and Noire transcend all they've known to learn the redemptive power of love.

A Love Noire offers an insider's look at color and class struggles, urban living, life in Africa, the notoriously unpredictable and heady New York dating scene, and good old-fashioned love. A natural and potent storyteller, Ms. Turnipseed writes of love and family with grace, and A Love Noire, her debut, marks the arrival of a resonant, sparkling voice in contemporary fiction.

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  The Polished Hoe by Austin Clarke - Amistad/Hard Cover - $24.95 NOW $18.00  Order by CK, MO & Call-In Credit Cards

When Mary-Mathilda, one of the most respected women on the colonized island of Bimshire (also known as Barbados), calls the police to confess to a crime, the result is a shattering all-night vigil. She claims the crime is against Mr. Belfeels, the powerful manager of the sugar plantation that dominates the villagers' lives and for whom she has worked for more than thirty years as a field laborer, kitchen help, and maid. She was also Mr. Belfeels's mistress, kept in good financial status in the Great House of the plantation, and the mother of his only son, Wilberforce, a successful doctor, who after living abroad returns to the island.

Set in the period following World War II, The Polished Hoe unravels over the course of twenty-four hours but spans the lifetime of one woman and the collective experience of a society characterized by slavery. Infused with Joycean overtones, this remarkable novel -- winner of the 2002 Giller Prize, the Commonwealth Writers Prize Best Book Award, Canada and Caribbean region; and a bestseller in Canada -- evokes the power of memory and the indomitable strength of the human spirit.

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   Fear Itself: A Fearless Jones Novel by Walter Mosley - Little Brown & Company/Hard Cover - $24.95 NOW $17.47 Order by CK, MO & Call-In Credit Cards

In offensive bookseller Paris Minton's friend Fearless Jones drags him from the safety of his shop into more trouble-big, big trouble-in 1955 Watts. Leora Hartman wants Fearless to track down his own employer, watermelon salesman Kit Mitchell, the father of her son, who's left his home with no forwarding address. But the inquiries Fearless enlists Paris to make are complicated by three dangers. First, Kit's vanishing act is only the beginning of a case that will feature the disappearance of some much more important people and claim Kit's life along with those of a brother and sister killed in separate but equally grisly incidents. Second, Paris and Fearless will soon be playing out of their league, caught in the crossfire between two of LA's heaviest hitters-cosmetics queen Winifred L. Fine and crafty developer Maestro Wexler-and inevitably attracting the less-than-cordial interest of the LAPD. Third, all the parties Paris talks to, from Leora Hartman to Winifred L. Fine, lie to protect their own interests, turn his quest to their advantage, or hide their involvement in a chain of violence and betrayal that stretches all the way back to a priceless Fine family diary begun by a slave 300 years ago. Paris (Fearless Jones, 2001) ends by wrapping up a mystery with perhaps a dozen too many tangles, accepting himself as a killer, and guaranteeing that no matter how well he succeeds in his errands to the powerful and fearsome, he'll never get rich. Agent: Gloria Loomis/Watkins Loomis Agency
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  Sister Betty! God's Calling You Again by Pat G'Orge-Walker - Kensington Pub Corp/Hard Cover - $22.00 NOW $16.00 Order by CK, MO & Call-In Credit Cards

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Sister Betty always wore a big cross hung around her tiny wrinkled neck, carried a much too big Bible, and constantly smiled for no apparent reason. The children had heard that no matter what the situation was, she would just clasp her petite hands together, look up toward heaven, and give you a smile. Sometimes while laying her hands on your head and praying, her false teeth would fall forward. Before they hit the floor she would snatch up the teeth by their metal hook. She'd put them in her pocket and keep right on smiling showing her pink rubbery gums. Every so often, she mumbled some words that she claimed only her and God understood, but would benefit whomever she prayed for...

Sister Betty hasn't been the same since God called her on the phone back in '84. A devoted member of Ain't Nobody Right But Us—All Others Goin' to Hell Church, she's always looking after the welfare of her fellow congregants. It's a big job, considering they're none too good at looking after themselves—or each other. With an ATM and a Blessing Dispenser in the church vestibule, and Sister Ima Hellraiser in her path, Betty's got her work cut out. Still, doing His will is what it's all about for Sister Betty and seven of her most hilarious and inspirational adventures are gathered in Sister Betty! God’s Calling You, Again! a soulful treat from Pat G’Orge Walker for fans of God, gospel, and good times.

As the Bible thumpin', don't-you-dare-sass-me Sister Betty, Pat G'Orge Walker performs at churches, universities, writers' conferences, and on Chicago's WYCA radio. Now, she brings Sister Betty and her adventures to a wider audience with this uplifting collection of tales and spiritual teachings, straight from Pelzer, South Carolina and the Ain’t Nobody Else Right But Us—All Others Going to Hell Church.
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  Serpent in My Corner (Arabesque) by J. Daniels - BET Books/Trade Paper - $15.00 NOW $12.00  Order by CK, MO & Call-In Credit Cards

The moment Hennessy Cooper sees Tristan James "T.J." Jackson, she knows that falling for him won't just mean risking her heart, it could endanger her career -- and her life. Because Tristan is an infamous criminal -- the prime suspect in a string of high-profile robberies -- and Hennessy is the undercover FBI agent assigned to bring him in.

Raised on the tough streets of South Central L.A., Tristan left behind his homeboy image to become a smooth professional thief. Now he's about to pull off one last big heist -- stealing precious Egyptian artifacts from a New York museum -- unaware that his charismatic new cohort has a different mission in mind.

Hennessy's job description sure doesn't include getting emotionally and physically involved with a notorious crook, even if he is beyond fine. But as Tristan slowly reveals the sensitive, intelligent man behind his tough facade, her loyalty wavers, and they begin a passionate affair.

Instead of trying to entrap Tristan, Hennessy desperately wants to save him. But what will happen when he learns who she really is? And even if she can convince him to believe in her love, there is deadly deception lurking all around, as those closest to them seek vengeance for the past.

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  Diary of a Groupie: A Novel by Omar Tyree $19.95 - Simon & Schuster - Hard Cover NOW $14.00 Order by CK, MO & Call-In Credit Cards

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Tabitha Knight lives a very peculiar life. A child of foster care who has grown into an attractive and ambitious adult, she now finds solace, excitement, and security in the company of rich and famous men whom she dates as a discreet and charming groupie.

Everyone wants to be loved. Tabitha understands that. She shares her gifts with those who seek and, perhaps, need love the most?male celebrities. She remains anonymous by changing her name, age, and address as often as she changes the men she dates.

Only a few things remain constant in her life: the continued love and support of her foster sisters in Seattle and the record she keeps of her life in her secret diary.

When a wealthy banker offers Tabitha a huge paycheck to help bring to justice a high-profile celebrity who is known to have sex with underage women, Tabitha finds herself on the wrong side of desperate men, some of whom have more to lose than just their privacy. Those who want the information in her diary to stay secret threaten Tabitha, her sisters, and anyone who comes to know its contents.

Omar Tyree, the New York Times bestselling author, is back with a suspenseful thriller of what happens when a young woman threatens the famous and powerful.

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  Married but Still Looking by Travis Hunter - Paper/Villard Books - $11.95 NOW $9.56 Order by CK, MO & Call-In Credit Cards

    Women have flocked to Genesis Styles ever since he was a teenager. He’s a good-looking, smooth-talking former pro-basketball player, but he has a problem: He has never been satisfied with just one woman. Then he meets Terri and everything changes. Sort of.

    Genesis knows that Terri is perfect for him, and they become engaged. But Genesis just can’t seem to stop cheating on Terri nearly every chance he gets. Genesis’s best friend, Prodigy, constantly warns him that he’s going to mess up the best thing ever to happen to him, but Genesis is not ready to listen.

 
    After dealing with a family crisis, Genesis realizes the importance of his relationship with Terri, and he begins to change his cheating ways. He knows that once he says, “I do,” everything will fall into place. But it may be too late, because one of his past indiscretions comes back to haunt him, and Terri has a few surprises of her own for Genesis.

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  Second Sunday by Michele Andrea Bowen - Hard Cover/Walk Worthy Press - $22.95 NOW $17.50 Order by CK, MO & Call-In Credit Cards

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The author of Church Folk once again takes us on a hilarious journey into the inner sanctums of African American church life. In 1970s St. Louis, members of the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church prepare to celebrate its 100th year anniversary. However, with the unexpected death of its pastor, the church faces a terrible dilemma: finding a new pastor not only in time to prepare for the church centennial, but also in time to ensure the survival of the church itself! It seems as though everyone has a strong opinion about who the new pastor should be. Bowen weaves the hilarious stories of several church members as they plan, plot, and connive ways for their favorite candidate to win the pastorship. Will they be able to sort out their differences before the anniversary? God Only knows...

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  Night Work: A Novel by Nelson George, Trade Paper/Simon & Schuster, $12.00 NOW $9.60 Order by CK, MO & Call-In Credit Cards

"In New York City, there are at least three times as many doors as people. I work behind those closed doors. I work in darkness even when the light is on. My name is Night and I do night work."

Dark-skinned chocolate, sexy and smooth, Night earns his keep by pleasuring rich white women around New York City. But he's grown weary of this seedy, criminal life. If he could just get someone to sign him to a record deal, he'd willingly say good-bye forever to the emotionless sex that is slowly numbing his soul.

Just when his dream of becoming an R&B vocalist is about to be realized, Beth Ann, a beautiful supermodel deep in debt to a dangerous drug ring, begs Night to help her move a large quantity of Ecstasy. He reluctantly agrees, but the good deed sinks him deeper into the nightlife he's been trying so desperately to escape. It also puts him on the radar of the NYPD, and when one of Night's clients is found murdered the cops are quick to add it all up against him. Now Night must fight the fallout of his past and try to forge a path back to his future, before it takes off without him.

A stunning portrait of the unholy intersection of New York's sexual underground and the entertainment business, this gripping novel will appeal to fans of Chester Himes, Donald Goines, and other noir masters.

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  A Love' Like No Otha' by Stephanie Perry Moore, Trade Paper/Walk Worthy Press, $13.95 NOW $11.16 Order by CK, MO & Call-In Credit Cards

Surviving life's setbacks through her relationship with a man who helps restore her faith in God, Zoe Clark discovers A LOVA' LIKE NO OTHA'.When thunder and lightning strike on the morning of Zoe Clark's wedding, her seemingly perfect world is turned upside-down as she loses her fiancÈ to a pregnant girlfriend she never knew he had. With her engagement shattered, all her life's plans seem over. Unemployed, sinking deeply into depression, and wrongly blaming God for her troubles, Zoe seriously contemplates ending her life. But God sends Chase Farr to reintroduce Zoe to the importance of having God in her life. Yet when Zoe's friendship with Chase turns romantic, he suddenly backs away--further confusing Zoe with his decision to remain a virgin. Through life's twists and turns of celebration and sorrow, Zoe ultimately learns what it means to truly trust in God--but in the end, does this revelation come too late to fix things with Chase?

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  The Bridge: A Novel by Solomon Jones, Hard Cover/St. Martin's Press, $23.95 NOW $ 17.00 Order by CK, MO & Call-In Credit Cards

Sometimes, Philadelphia Police Detective Kevin Lynch feels he has spent his whole life trying to put his past firmly behind him. But a frantic call for help from a childhood friend whose child has gone missing changes all that.

Now Lynch must summon the courage to return to his childhood home, the infamous projects known as The Bridge. As the case unfolds and the search for Kenya, the missing girl, intensifies, the secrets guarded by her family and friends begin to emerge. And the hidden truths are more sinister and malevolent than Lynch could ever imagine, and once again, The Bridge threatens to be his downfall.

Solomon Jones’s The Bridge is a gritty, suspenseful novel in which the root causes of crime share the stage with their tragic consequences, allowing an intimate window into ghetto life.
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-The lawyer turned on the tape recorder, handed his client a cigarette, and lit it for him. Black drew hard, squinting as the smoke rushed into his lungs.
-"Where do you want to start?"the lawyer said, lighting a cigarette of his own.
-"I guess there’s only one place to start; at Broad and Erie."
-Johnny Podres, a politician whose record against corruption had been propelling him straight to the mayor’s office, is found murdered in a North Philly crack house.
    Enter Samuel Jackson, a.k.a. Black, a drug addict who knows better, a man embittered by the fact that he can’t seem to escape from his addiction to crack cocaine or, for that matter, from himself. Though he was once a family man with a wife and son, Black’s only concern these days is getting his next high, that is, until he stumbles across a friend and fellow addict, Leroy, and both become prime suspects in the Podres murder. Black and Leroy hook up with two female pipers: Clarisse, a registered nurse who is slowly losing to crack any semblance of a respectable life, and Pookie, who already has lost it. Soon the hunt is on for all four as they try to stay one step ahead of a police department under tremendous pressure to solve the case—because if a killer isn’t found soon, this could blow up into one of the biggest scandals in Philadelphia history.
    Solomon Jones weaves a suspenseful story against the backdrop of corruption in the Philadelphia police department and centers it on a group of drug addicts who, in the process of fleeing the law, come to terms with their own addiction, leading to some devastating consequences.

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  Proverbs for the People by Tracy Price-Thompson, Taressa Stovall, Hard Cover/Dafina, $24.00 NOW $17.00 Order by CK, MO & Call-In Credit Cards

Contemporary African-American Fiction Featuring Short Stoies by:

• Pearl Cleage
• Omar Tyree (writing as The Urban Griot)
• Margaret John - Hodge
• Travis Hunter
• Parry (Ebony Satin) Brown
• Venise Berry
• Donna Hill
• Tracy Price - Thompson
• TaRessa Stovall
• Frankkline White

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  Sexual Healing by Jill Nelson, Hard Cover/Agate, $23.95 NOW $17.00 Order by CK, MO & Call-In Credit Cards

From Publishers Weekly: A brothel for women? Journalist Nelson, the author of several popular nonfiction books (Straight, No Chaser; etc.), offers a ribald take on the battle between the sexes and one heck of an entrepreneurial scheme, in her wickedly funny first novel. Lydia Beaucoup and Acey Allen are 40ish best friends living in Oakland who find themselves going in circles when it comes to dating and finding a satisfying relationship. After a gab session in which the two women fantasize about the ideal man, Lydia comes up with a startling solution: she proposes opening a brothel in which sexy black male prostitutes attend to the sexual needs of black women. Acey thinks she's joking, but Lydia is dead serious, and she asks for a sabbatical from her job as an ad copywriter to put the crazy plan into action. Nevada is the chosen location, and after getting a prostitution license, Lydia uses her own dates to begin recruiting prospective employees, starting with a sexy UPS guy named Odell, who becomes the de facto manager. Bizarrely, funding comes from the wife of a rich right-wing zealot who made a fortune selling arms, and the spa opens to rave reviews from the first wave of clients. Trouble surfaces when a conservative preacher on a family values kick gets wind of the project from a tabloid editor and tries to shut down the spa. Nelson has fun with her mischievous conceit, and there are more than a few hilarious scenes. The comedy is underpinned by her solid, convincing depiction of the friendship between Acey and Lydia, and an engaging, breezy style. The novel has its flaws-it's cluttered with secondary characters, and the conceit is stretched perilously thin at times-but it's a great read anyway, and a standout in the genre of African-American popular fiction. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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  The Night Before Thirty: A Novel by Tajuana Butler, Hard Cover/Villard, $19.95 NOW $15.00 Order by CK, MO & Call-In Credit Cards

New, from the number one bestselling author of Hand-me-down Heartache and Sorority Sisters, a novel about five women on the verge of turning thirty, whose lives are changed forever when they meet through a national radio contest

At first glance, you couldn’t find five women more different.

Catara is a personal shopper in New York who dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Embarrassed by her weight, she lets a lack of self-confidence derail her goals. In Atlanta, Lashawnda has gone from a string of bad relationships with men into one with a woman that doesn’t seem much better. Elise is realizing her dream of opening up a gymnastics school in Louisville, Kentucky, but between working and taking care of her grandmother, she can’t find much time to nurture herself. Tanya’s relationship with her boyfriend is at the breaking point. She’s ready to leave Chicago and fast city living to settle down and have a family, but her man isn’t on the same page. Alecia lives in Los Angeles and has been getting by on her looks for a long time, but when her (married) boyfriend makes it clear that his wife comes first, she has to realize that beauty fades and she must prepare for her future.

But these women do have something in common—they all share the same birthday and are about to turn thirty. When the number one syndicated black radio show in the country sponsors a Night Before Thirty Getaway Weekend, these women meet, and while their time together is brief, the impact they have upon one another’s lives is everlasting.

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