Satin Doll

Harlem native Regina Harris has lived a hard life. By the time she was a teenager, both of her parents were dead, her sister was strung out on drugs, and Regina was left alone to raise her niece. To make enough money to survive, Regina quit school and embarked on a career as a professional shoplifter. Drifting into the drug life, she narrowly escaped death in a shooting. This terrifying event begins the novel and marks the turning point in Regina's life. She returns to school and eventually becomes a freelance writer. Although her new life affords her opportunities to socialize with her middle-class peers, she still parties with her girls from the old 'hood. It's during one of these girls' nights out that Regina meets Charles Whitfield, a lawyer from a prominent black family in Philadelphia. As their romance blossoms, Regina's past rears its ugly head, threatening their love. From its dramatic beginning to the fateful ending, Satin Doll is a witty and truthful take on relationships, friendships, and class distinctions.