CHURCH FOLK

This third book in Warner/Walk Worthy's copublishing venture spotlighting African-American culture shows promise for the general market, but will be a hard sell to the CBA. Young, handsome Theophilus Simmons is learning the ropes of being a black clergyman in the 1960s. He's also regretting his affair with the hot-to-trot Glodean, who's pleased numerous pastors with her sex-capades. After Simmons marries "jook joint" cook Essie Lee Lane, the couple settles into pastoral life at Greater Hope Gospel United Church—where Glodean is a member. There's trouble brewing. It's not long before they discover that the church leadership is actually running a call-girl service out of a local funeral home. The issues are hot—but not as hot as the characters. In every chapter, pastors are either leaping into bed, resisting sex, having sex, talking about sex or contemplating their next hop into the sack. Readers will enjoy the rich glimpses into the spirit-filled African-American church of the '60s, complete with politicking, blackmail, colorful dialogue and extensive clothing descriptions. But the sexual situations and language—e.g., "dick teasers," "hell," "damn," "bitch" and "balls"—will send most CBA retailers, and their conservative clientele, running in the opposite direction. Regardless, many African-American readers will embrace this steamy morality tale, with its bold themes and fallible characters, as a satisfying addition to the scanty collection of African-American fiction with Christian themes. (June 21)