Adam Brent, owner of Brent Books and Cards, has had a long love affair with books and book-selling, it shows in his store; the attentive staff, relaxed atmosphere, and quaint decor are all steeped in tradition. Following in his daddy's footsteps, Brent wants the book lover to have a comfortable shopping experience.

And you get just that. Large windows allow plenty of sunlight to stream in; browsing the shelves becomes a surreal experience. There are tables with things to pick-up and touch and look at (if you're into that) and the patrons are genuinely warm and friendly and quick to ask if you've read a particular title they're considering buying.

As a small, independent bookstore Brent does what small bookstores do best: make you feel as if you're queen (or king) of the world. But, the African-American and Hispanic and World literature selections fall short of the mark. Looking for specialty titles? You'd do better going elsewhere.

Centerstage Reviewer: Venita Griffin