Customer Reviews

Entangled

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book Entangled is the best book I read in 2003. It is very suspensful and it flows like water. Although I don't read a lot of the street stuff this book will appeal to any reader because it is so well written I would reccomend it to teenage girls and young girls because of the Lessons learned. The writer takes you on a journey so hold on and fasten your seat belts. K Elliott is a hot new talent that is just getting started. I look foward to more of her novels

Urban Hip Hop is one of my favorite genres. K-Elliott's debut weaves a fast paced tale of drugs, street life and a quest for Diamonds and Pearls. After serving five years for drug conspiracy Jamal vows never again to go back to jail. After being released he realizes gainful employment is a difficult task.

In the meantime he connects with his childhood friend Dawg, who entices Jamal to contact his cocaine connection, Angelo in Florida. On a flight from Charlotte to Florida Jamal and Dawg meet Keisha Ferguson who is traveling with her girlfriend Dream Nelson. Jamal meets Dream and becomes mesmerized not only by her looks but her name.

Dream is a middle school history teacher at Spaugh, and Jamal is a drug dealer. The contrast between the two lives is fascinating especially when Dream attempts to keep Jamal from his life of crime. As well as watching the transformation Dream goes through to help her thuggish man. I enjoyed reading the romance mixed amongst the violence and drug dealing that became a part of both their lives.

When two worlds begin to collide there is no telling where the pieces will fall. Dream got so tangled in Jamal's world she almost lost her own. The undertone references to God were truly a welcomed sight amidst the violence and drugs and mistaken glamour of the streets. One message I walked away with after reading this book was He is always in the midst, working it out. No MATTER WHAT

(Originally read and reviewed Dec 2003)

It's been five years and Jamal Stewart was leaving Coleman, Florida heading to Charlotte, North Carolina. Jamal's stretch was spent looking at lavish mansions and luxury cars. The only plan he had was to live his life with an ordinary job. Imagine Jamal, big time hustler accustomed to having everything, now being apart of the working class.

Dream Nelson, a 24 year old opted to follow her parents footsteps as an educator. An only child, from a good neighborhood and a loving two parent household found that she was enticed by that notorious bad boy brand. Her current man was actually on lock serving time for vehicular homicide. Dating straight laced academic types just didn't work for her.

Agent Mark Pratt joined the Drug Enforcement Agency instead of the church like his father and father's father. His goal was to have a career that would impact other people lives. His lifelong dream was to rid the streets of drug dealers, get addicts into treatment and all would be good in the hood. Conflicted by his religion and job, Mark hated that his thoroughness usually targeted black men that lead to their jailing.

As shocking as it is to believe a black man who happens to be an ex-con is unable to find a job. And people wonder why prisons seem to have the revolving door affect. Forced to jump back to his reign on the streets Jamal is just trying to get some major money and then live legitimately. Yeah, that's how it works.

A trip to Miami to boast his freedom and a much needed vacation from visiting jail and teaching children Dream and Jamal lives become ENTANGLED.

Dress him up and take him out on a night with the folks and he comes dressed like an infamous pimp. Take her out and she's on her first official drug run. My days are cold without you, while I'm hurting while I'm with you. And though my heart can't take no more, I keep on running back to you.

At best I'd say the story was choppy. The impending shock factor was ruined by contradicting characters. The potential for a strong story with complex characters is there, but somehow it gets buried. Instead an intensified hood tale flops into HUMDRUM!

Reviewed by: Crystal

This was really entertaining from start to finish! Very well written and thought out. After reading this I will be reading all of K. Elliott. Great Job!!!

K. ELLIOT'S DELIVERY WAS SMOOTH...THIS BOOK OF URBAN FICTION IS MORE REALITY THAN NOT. ELLIOT STRIKES A NERVE, EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE STREET/URBAN DRAMA HAS FEELING...MOTIVATON...PURPOSE. A MUST READ, IT WILL BREAK YOUR HEART BUT YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID!

Entangled has all the elements of a great movie. It had me mad, at times I was elated. I prayed for the characters as they lived their lives. I loved the story but hated the ending but hey its a sad part of life. But anybody who has read the coldest winter ever and B Moore careful I suggest you read entanglel. I promise that you will love it.

This is the best Hip-Hop fiction I have read! The story is so real. K.Elliott has weaved a suspense novel that is full of twists. There is so much going on in this novel and Elliott has pulled it off with a plot that pulls you in right to the very last page. Jamal just released from prison wants to the right thing but gets sucked back into the life of dealing. While looking for his mother who he lost contact with. Dream is a pretty do good school teacher who can't help but love Jamal and soon finds her life Entangled. There is so much in this plot, A white cop, a black cop, a good cop, a bad cop, a lost mother, a stripper. Street life in the truest form.

Entangled won our The Best Hip-Hop Fiction 2003 Award!
If you like Hip-Hop Fiction, you will love this new addition.

Dawn
Mahogany
Of Albany, N.Y.

I have read many novels, but K. Elliott is more than just TALENTED, he is truly BLESSED WITH A GIFT! This novel is about a young man, Jamal, who desires to do the right thing, after being released from prison, but gets caught back up in the game. He meets a young woman, Dream, who is trying to remove the negativity and the lifestyle, but ultimately finds herself caught out there with him...doing the Drug thing! Jamal's best friend, Dawg, who was holdin' it down for him when Jamal was originally sent to prison, befriends a DEA agent unknowingly, who only has one goal in mind...beating Jamal at his own game. This is just half of a synopsis about the novel...K. ELLIOTT WEAVES, AND TURNS THIS NOVEL INSIDE OUT LEAVING ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND YOU THIRSTING FOR MORE. IF YOU BUY THIS BOOK, YOU WILL NOT BE DISSATISFIED. TRUST ME!!!! BOOK CLUB PRESIDENT, RITA HOPES.

First let me say that I am a reader, who likes to read different authors, subjects, all types of books. After reading these reviews, I thought the book would blow me away. Needless to say, I didn't not enjoy the book. The book wasn't poorly written, but the plot was on a below average level. I was disappointed at the main characters stupidity and how the leading male was more focused on himself. I am not thrilled that I even spent $0.99 on this book, as it was not worth the change. So disappointed!

Though I love to watch movies surrounding street urban drama, rarely do I venture into this genre with books, but with Entangled, I'm glad that I did. With every paragraph, every chapter, I had to know what would happen next. I literally became angry when I had to put it down! The description of the characters instantly gave me a mental representation of each of them and the action within the plot was just enough to make the reader want to finish it in one read. I think the thing I enjoyed the most about this book was the fusion of romance and urban lit genres. I may be "discovering" K. Elliot late, but I plan to explore the other novels he wrote and edited.

The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because I (speaking only for myself) am not accustomed to so much cussing. With that being said, I think that if the language was taken out, it wouldn't be realistic.

*E. Marie