Seeking Salamanca Mitchell

Kenji Jasper. Harlem Moon, $12.95 (368pp) ISBN 978-0-7679-1675-2

The son of a cop meets the daughter of a crook in Seeking Salamanca Mitchel, a D.C. story of star-crossed African-American lovers by Kenji Jasper. When Benjamin Baker goes to work for Alfonse Mitchell, he knows him only as an ambitious restaurant owner and entrepreneur. Soon, however, Ben is the wheelman for Mitchell's burglary ring and dangerously in love with Mitchell's only daughter, Salamanca. Then Salamanca gets pregnant, and Ben cops a seven-year prison sentence. Their efforts to stay in touch and steer clear of vindictive Alfonse drive this heartfelt, breathless novel to its explosive conclusion. .

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