BLACK COFFEE

Rough, ready and thoroughly raunchy, this previously self-published military romance puts a literal spin on the war between the sexes. Sparks fly when sergeants Sanderella Coffee and Romulus Caesar, two black soldiers rising through the ranks in the military, first meet in Virginia, where Sandie is training to apply to Officer Candidate School. Romulus is an unhappily married drill sergeant who dreams of escaping his stale marriage, but is held back by the love and responsibility he feels for his twin sons. Sandie is a single mom with three children, determined to advance her military career, battling sexism and self-doubt with her quick wit and urban wisdom. Their romance is a rocky one from the beginning because of the army's tough policy on fraternization (that Romulus is cheating on his wife to be with Sandie doesn't help), but theirs is a meeting of body and soul, and even army disapproval can't keep them apart. They enjoy great sex, which the author describes in graphic detail, and they both share the same no-nonsense outlook on life. Price-Thompson's inventive, colloquial prose gives the novel swing and cadence, though she sometimes veers into parody ("Antoine was a cute dark-chocolate 'Bama slammer, my afternoon delight and midnight snack, my ever-ready Freddie"), and her eyes-wide-open perspective on army life and love is refreshing. As the title suggests, this is not a light-hearted, sweet-talking love story, but an energizing slice of ultracontemporary romance. 5-city author tour. (Jan.)