Customer Reviews

The High Price of a Good Man: A Novel

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Queenisha "Queenie" Sutton was a beautiful and very successful woman. She did whatever was needed to get what she wanted. That included snaring handsome Zeke Washington! While at a charity fund-raiser Zeke was put up for auction. Winner "purchased" him for a single night. Queenie was determined to make him HER man! She even went to her best friend, Poetta, who put a "voodoo hex" on Zeke. But Queenie got a lot more than she ever expected!

Meanwhile, Raymondo (a co-worker) was out to make Queenie HIS woman. But Queenie wanted no part of him! As for Poetta, she was not just a side-line character. Poetta had her own trouble. She was in love with a married man. But the man dropped dead when her love spell went wrong!

If you like "sister-hood" then this book is for you! Filled with humor and a sassy wit, this story was easy to like. Well written characters that will keep you reading.

This book is hysterically funny. It had me laughing out loud on the New York subway. Especially the parts where Queen interacts with her co-worker Raymo and her dates roommate, "Sweet Willie". Where does Debra come up with this stuff? If you're looking for a good read, I highly recommend this book.

L. Hayes, author of "Afroetry".

I really liked "The High Price of a Good Man." It was a little wordy and slow reading in the beginning but once we met Sweet Willie things picked up. Women "big or small" can appreciate the humor and camaraderie between these characters. I found the story entertaining and the situations painfully true. I admire the honesty, the wit and humor applied to the topics of friendship, love, self-esteem, and weight. We have to love ourselves before we can love anyone else!

The beginning of the book was really promising with the lure of a novel about a confident, professional plus-size sistah, Queenie who had it going on. The book turn a turn for with the subplot of Queenie's weird best friend Poetta and her witchcrafty ways and the road trip that ensues from it. The book *finally* comes back around to its senses near the end, but by that time I was already exhausted from the ridiculous detours from the subject matter the author took.

Queenie is far from insecure. She'll let you know that not even her plus size frame can make her vulnerable to no good men. She loves herself. All 6 feet of herself! She has no problem with turning the heads of men. She just wishes she can find a man of her own.

The Queen encounters Zeke Washington and fights to make him hers. She tries to change herself inside and out, even listens to her best friend Poetta's advice on throwing in a voodoo love charm.

Raymo starts a war of his own. He fights to make the Queen his forever. He loves Queenie just the way she is. His only problem is being too short, so she thinks, along with being a pest!

The High Price of A Good Man is another "looking for love in all the wrong places" read. We give all we have to man who can't accept us for who we are, while the true men of our dreams pass us right on by.
Still, with the many twists and turns, and the surprise Raymo has in store, makes The High Price of A good Man a delightful, sassy, fun read.

Rolanda,
Nothing BUT Page Turners Book Club

Queenisha Renae Sutton is a full-figured diva, large and in charge, and she doesn't care who knows it!! Queenie begins this book by saying, "First of all, just for the record, I love me some me." Her infectious sass and go-getter attitude sparkle throughout the book.

Queenie has two constants in her life--her best friend Poetta James, a "candle-burning, incantation chanting" sister, whose specialty is "the beautification of hair;" and Raymundo Carlos Morales Castillo, or "Raymo", the male buyer at Macy's, where Queenie works. Not only is Raymo Queenie's male counterpart, he is hopelessly in love with her, and goes out of his way to show her his affection. Unfortunately Miss Queenie persists in degrading and embarrassing the man as much as possible without putting her job in jeopardy. Raymo reminds Queenie too much of Monroe, her first Latin lover, the man who broke her heart.

Into every diva's life an obstacle must fall--Queenie's obstacle comes in the form of a man by the name of Ezekiel "Zeke" Washington. Zeke is a Denzel Washington look-alike up for auction at an AIDS Date-a-thon, which Queenie attends after being pressured by Poetta. After paying over $1200 to date Zeke for one night, Queenie comes up with several elaborate schemes to persuade Zeke that she is the woman he needs. Zeke's only concern is Queenie's size. He even gives her "herbal pills" to assist her in losing weight. Not only does Queenie begin to lose weight; she also loses her self-esteem in her quest to make Zeke her man. Her stunts range from amusing to outrageous, but the reader will feel Queenie's pain.

Debra Phillips weaves a wonderful story in The High Price of a Good Man. When I first began to read it, I immediately thought "ghetto fiction", however, at its conclusion, I deemed it a very good story, filled with drama and comedy; with just enough "ghetto flavor" to keep it interesting to the younger reader, yet not turn off older readers. I must add that I especially loved the poem on the dedication page. It's touching and sweet.

Readincolor Reviewers
Rowena Winfrey

I loved this book!!! The main character reminded me of my best friend Pam, (spirited, funny, and in a room full of good men, she'd find the ONE who's a wife beater, behind on his child support, jobless and an ex con), the best friend reminded me of......well me, (a little spiritual and a LOT crazy), and Raymo, (the male lead), reminded me of another good friend Dave; who, after loving a mutual friend for 3 long years, FINALLY got the woman of his dreams!!! Isn't life like that? This book reminded me of real LIFE, (well except for the part with the monkey and the part with the snakes, but....you have to read it to find out what I'm talking about!). Sometimes, like the main character Queenisha, we think we know everything thing there is to know and can't nobody tell us anything differently; isn't it a wonderful surprise when we're wrong?! Isn't it awful how sometimes we can see other's faults, but fail to see our own? Why is it that our best friends can see our wrong turns but can't see that they're driving down a dead end street themselves? Congratulation Ms. Phillips! This book is great!! Anyone who reads this book will see pieces of themselves and a few of their friends within these pages....well except for the monkey and the snakes and stuff.....but you have to read it to find out what I'm talking about!!

The High Price Of A Good Man by Phillips had me laughing out loud and wanting to and trying to read parts of it to my husband. The High Price Of A Good Man isn't all laughs though. It's about a self-assured, six feet, size sixteen and don't-take-any-[thing] sister Queenie and her best friend Poetta (Poe). Queenie sometimes questions Poe's sanity, yet she can't see how she herself has begun to change trying to MAKE Zeke HER MAN. Poe tries to be the voice of reason and a good friend. Unfortuantely, some devastating events happen in both of their lives but ... if they live through it, they just may find love where they least expected.
I would definitely recommend The High Price Of A Good Man by Debra Phillips, a sometimes laugh-out-loud funny book with a serious message. It makes you wonder just how much are you willing to pay for a "good" man and just how much you ARE paying (for those of us that's married or in a relationship) ... and it also make you ask just what is a good man? I bet no two women would have the same answer.

In Debra Phillips' latest, California resident Queenie is a plus-sized diva working as a buyer for a major department store. In her mind's eye, her size has never been something she was ashamed of; rather, it was something she embraced and flaunted. Her co-worker and peer, Raymo, embraces Queenie and her voluptuous frame as well, bringing her homemade food and flowers on a regular basis. But Queenie can't be bothered with Raymo; he reminds her too much of her past.

Queenie's eccentric best friend, Poetta, talks her into attending a benefit auction and the wares up for bid are dates with celebrity look-alikes. Queenie is bored and antsy until Zeke, a Denzel dead-ringer, is placed up for bid. Queenie sets out on a mission to win not only the bid for a date with Zeke, but also his long term affections.

THE HIGH PRICE OF A GOOD MAN is a convivial read, abounding with Queenie's and Poetta's antics. As Queenie narrates much of the tale, we become deeply aquainted with both her voice and her personality. There were a few moments where I said "Ohmygawd" out loud, to quote Queenie and express my amazement at the shenanigans in which she partook to find out just how high THE HIGH PRICE OF A GOOD MAN was. I openly encourage those looking for a jovially moral-based story to pick up this book.

Reviewed by CandaceK
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Hats off to Debra what a funny and enjoyable book.The book was a wonderful story that kept the reader wanting more,never a dull moment. The story will make you laugh out loud a must buy if you want a good funny book about two friends and their crazy love connections. Love will make you do strange things. Can't wait for your next novel this one was great.