Customer Reviews

Harlem on Lock

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Harlem Scott is like most teenage girls. She gets good grades in school. She has dreams of going off to college to become a social worker. The only difference is that both of her parents are drug addicts. Harlem On Lock by Karen Williams tells the story of Harlem growing up in the projects of California.

Harlem and her parents moved to California when she was very young. They moved from New York so that her parents could try to kick their drug habit. But like most people with an addiction, it is not an easy one to break. With her parents so far gone, Harlem is left to take care of herself. At the tender age of seventeen, Harlem witness the death of her mother, Aja, to a drug overdose.

Shortly after the death of her mother, Harlem suffers abuse at the hands of her father to support his drug habit. After being tied to a bed for days and repeatedly raped by multiple men for money, Harlem is finally rescued by Chief. Chief is a notorious drug dealer that runs the projects that she lives in. He takes her to the hospital and once she is released, she is taken to live in Chief's home as his new woman. While there, she begins to dream of a life that was once unimaginable. Being the woman of a drug lord has its ups and downs, everything she could have ever wanted, yet punishment for every little infraction. Will Harlem be able to survive this new world or will she succumb to the pitfalls?

Harlem On Lock was a very interesting read. It showed that everything that glitters is not gold. At times it was difficult to read some of the abuse that the character suffered because the scenes were so vivid in my mind. Karen Williams penned a wonderful debut novel that will be a hit with fans of street lit.



Reviewed by Shavon Williams
APOOO BookClub

Reared by drug-addicted parents, Harlem is a 17-year-old girl looking for a way out of a life of poverty and pain.

After being rescued from her father by a man named Chief, Harlem goes from one abusive situation to another. Harlem now has a fancy roof over head, plenty of food on the table, and new clothes on her back, but nothing prepares her for Chief's wrath.

The one person Harlem thought she could depend on is a young man named Savior, who promised to scoop her up and take her to a better place. Now that Harlem is in Chief's clutches, living happily ever after with Savior seems like just a dream.

HARLEM ON LOCK is an emotional and suspenseful tale that engaged me from beginning to end. First-time author Karen Williams did an excellent job creating a story with unforgettable, life-like characters.

Harlem was born in New York, but raised in California to parents addicted to drugs. Harlem's mom was a beautiful woman that was now strung out on drugs and had lost her beauty. She loves her daughter, but loves the drugs more.When Harlem's mom dies of a drug overdose her father comes up with a plan to sell his own daughter's body to anyone with money so he can keep getting high. Chief the project Dopelord, rescues her and she thinks her problems are over. Now that Harlem is living with Chief in a mansion she finds out her hell has just begun. Chief is an abusive,controlling,and cruel man who makes life hell for Harlem. This book starts out with a bang and finishes that way as well. This is a great debut novel by Karen Williams.

This novel was absolutely incredible....But due to the cards she was dealt....poor Harlem was born into a life of poverty due to her parent's drug addictions.....And the drama continued throughout the entire story as she tried to keep her head above water....trying to live in a world of nothing but chaos where her well being was concerned....A must read.....I HATED EVERY BIT OF CHIEF'S CHARACTER....GUYS LIKE HIM SHOULD BE THROWN UNDER THE JAIL. SODOMIZED....TORTOURED....AND DIE A SLOW DEATH....GOTTA GET THIS BOOK....U WON'T BE DISSAPOINTED....

gypsydeva@trimaxxPublisher.com

(5 out of 5 Trinities)

Harlem on Lock is a page turner for sure! It is the well written story of a seventeen year old girl who lives in the projects with her heroin addicted parents. Even though she is bright and loves school dreaming of going to college, she is a survivor and soon finds her own hustle to feed her parents drug habit. Upon her Mothers death Harlem finds herself in the even more dangerous world of adults, power, drugs,greed and violence.


This is a fast paced read and this talented writer keeps you on the edge of your seat! If you are new to the Urban Fiction scene this book is filled with excitement.

Deva
Ecstasy News
javonmania.com

Karen Williams did her thing on her first book!!!, I finished it in less than 24 hours!!! Keep up the good work!!! Simply the best book I've read in a long time!!

Introducing Harlem, born in New York, but bred in California to two junkies that are always chasing a high. Harlem has had to fend for herself since forever and did things a kid shouldn't be exposed to in order to support her mother's habit. As if life wasn't cruel enough, upon her mother's death due to an overdose, Harlem is subjected to an even more horrible act masterminded by her father. Chief, the neighborhood kingpin, ends her abuse at the hand of her father and is depicted as a hero.

Living with Chief, Harlem is introduced to a lifestyle that she couldn't even fathom in her dreams. But, as Harlem has learned early in life, all is not what it appears to be. In the midst of Chief's dissatisfaction and brutal mental and physical abuse, Savior, Harlem's childhood love, reappears and his disapproval of her is blatant. Love has never found a home in Harlem's life, will she accept love from the wicked Chief of which is certain and known, or will she risk her life for a love that she's never had the chance to experience?

In Harlem On Lock, Ms. Williams locks her readers in with heart-wrenching scenes as you become captivated with Harlem's misery and root for her to prevail. Albeit a common storyline, the execution of which she conveyed Harlem's story was very commendable! Karen Williams' debut novel is undeniably an impressive read, and I believe that her literary skills will only improve with each project. Great job!

Reviewed by Tazzyt2bossye
for Urban Reviews

HARLEM ON LOC WAS OFF THE CHAIN. IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I'VE EVER READ AND I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN. WOW, I JUST WISH IT WAS LONGER. IF YOU PURCHASE AND READ THIS BOOK, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. IT WAS EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Harlem On Lock introduces us to seventeen year old Harlem who has been through alot of bad things.Her parents are drug addicts and she hustles to feed their habit.She had no food.No money for clothes.After her mom died,her father prostituted her which was sad.She ends up being rescued by a drug lord by the name of Chief who was just crazy.She went from one bad situation to many more bad situations with Chief.
It was sad what Harlem had to endure but she didn't give up.Her and Savior were good for each other.This book was good from beginning to end and I'm looking forward to Karen William's next book.

What an easy read! I found it hard to put this book down! It kept my interest and I could NOT put it down! I cant wait to see more from Karen Williams!