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Allure of the Game
A superstar in urban lit,
Essence
bestselling author Danielle Santiago concludes her gripping Harlem trilogy with a sizzling, streetwise novel about an all-female drug cartel.
Twenty-year-old Arnessa didn’t grow up on the streets. But when her mentally ill mother abandons her and her older brother is murdered, Arnessa has no choice but to hustle just to keep herself and her little sister alive.
Kisa “Kane” Montega, on the other hand, has a wonderful marriage, two beautiful children, and lives in a stunning home on the outskirts of Charlotte. Her cousin, Kennedy, has spent two years away from the volatile music industry, focusing on her children and building a solid foundation with her rap star fiancÉ, Chaz. But in spite of their success, both Kane and Kennedy are gravitating back to their old ways and the game they thought they’d left behind. After a chance meeting, Arnessa goes from being a low-level dealer to partner in their cartel. But the bigger their empire gets, the more haters they have to contend with—and the more each one of them stands to lose.
Sexy, suspenseful, and unflinching, Danielle Santiago’s Allure of the Game gives fans exactly what they’ve been hoping for—a deeply satisfying conclusion to an unforgettable trilogy, packed with insight into the mean streets she knows so well.
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2009
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772 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 15, 2011
Allure of the Game by Danielle Santiago
Harlem Born
Author Danielle Santiago is back with her highly anticipated novel Allure of the Game that will conclude this trilogy! Kisa Kane 'aka' Kane of Little Ghetto Girl, and her cousin Kennedy Sanchez of Grindin' are now running legitimate businesses, done with the drug game. Or will the allure of the game eventually draw them back in or will they be forced back into th game?
Arnessa Binds is a young, beautiful woman that is forced to care for her younger sister, Cenise when their mother abandoned them, never looking back. After her brother is murdered, Arnessa steps right into the role he played and jumps head first into the game. When Arnessa refuses to relinquish her turf to Suef, a well-known drug dealer around the way a chain of events spiral out of control and nobody will be left the same.
Allure of the Game by Danielle Santiago was a very good read. I have been anxiously awaiting the release of her latest novel, since her last novel Grindin' dropped in 2007. As with her previous novels I was not disappointed. The only problem that I had with this novel is that it has been so long since I have read the author's previous books. It took me a minute to somewhat remember the storyline of the other novels. It would have made it easier if Ms. Santiago would have wrote a refresher chapter of what happened in the previous books. Regardless, it was still a very good read!
Reviewed by Leona
StreetLitClique
http://www.wix.com/streetlitclique/st...
Harlem Born
Author Danielle Santiago is back with her highly anticipated novel Allure of the Game that will conclude this trilogy! Kisa Kane 'aka' Kane of Little Ghetto Girl, and her cousin Kennedy Sanchez of Grindin' are now running legitimate businesses, done with the drug game. Or will the allure of the game eventually draw them back in or will they be forced back into th game?
Arnessa Binds is a young, beautiful woman that is forced to care for her younger sister, Cenise when their mother abandoned them, never looking back. After her brother is murdered, Arnessa steps right into the role he played and jumps head first into the game. When Arnessa refuses to relinquish her turf to Suef, a well-known drug dealer around the way a chain of events spiral out of control and nobody will be left the same.
Allure of the Game by Danielle Santiago was a very good read. I have been anxiously awaiting the release of her latest novel, since her last novel Grindin' dropped in 2007. As with her previous novels I was not disappointed. The only problem that I had with this novel is that it has been so long since I have read the author's previous books. It took me a minute to somewhat remember the storyline of the other novels. It would have made it easier if Ms. Santiago would have wrote a refresher chapter of what happened in the previous books. Regardless, it was still a very good read!
Reviewed by Leona
StreetLitClique
http://www.wix.com/streetlitclique/st...
June 6, 2011
Welcome to the Game, Lil' Momma
Four years after leaving readers with the classic line in the anthology Street, "Welcome to the game, little momma." Author Danielle Santiago releases the highly anticipated full story Allure of the Game. Allure of The Game does more than chronicle Arnessa and her naive sister Cenise's stories the novel works as a trilogy tying together Little Ghetto Girl: A Novel and Grindin': A Novel. All of the girls are back Kisa, Kennedy, Eisani & Yatta with their respective mates however the guys are stuck riding shotgun while circumstances force the ladies to hold things down. Once the ladies have immersed themselves back into the street life freeing themselves from it won't be so easy this time around.
Once again Danielle Santiago weaves an incredible tale filled with strong female characters that aren't afraid to go all out when their loved ones are in jeopardy. With so many authors missing the mark with trilogies Danielle clearly demonstrates how it can be done right. Welcome back to the game Lil Momma next time don't make your fans wait so long!
Final Rating 4.5 Stars
Four years after leaving readers with the classic line in the anthology Street, "Welcome to the game, little momma." Author Danielle Santiago releases the highly anticipated full story Allure of the Game. Allure of The Game does more than chronicle Arnessa and her naive sister Cenise's stories the novel works as a trilogy tying together Little Ghetto Girl: A Novel and Grindin': A Novel. All of the girls are back Kisa, Kennedy, Eisani & Yatta with their respective mates however the guys are stuck riding shotgun while circumstances force the ladies to hold things down. Once the ladies have immersed themselves back into the street life freeing themselves from it won't be so easy this time around.
Once again Danielle Santiago weaves an incredible tale filled with strong female characters that aren't afraid to go all out when their loved ones are in jeopardy. With so many authors missing the mark with trilogies Danielle clearly demonstrates how it can be done right. Welcome back to the game Lil Momma next time don't make your fans wait so long!
Final Rating 4.5 Stars
January 23, 2017
An excellent end to a series. I wish she didnt allow certain characters to outshine other characters but she tied everything up nicely. Veey enjoyable.
July 31, 2014
When I have a book I really like, I keep it. I do not loan it out and I occasionally go back and re-read it. With that being said, `Little Ghetto Girl' is a book that I read when it came out over 6 years ago in 2007. It is one of the books that took my love for urban fiction to another level. I was first introduced to the Danielle Santiago's literary work in 2007 when I purchased `Little Ghetto Girl' from a book vendor on 125th Street in Harlem, long before I started ordering my books via amazon and before I moved onto e-books for my kindle and iPad. To this day I still have that book and I have read it numerous times, the last time being when I purchased `Allure of The Game'.
`Allure of the Game' is the follow-up to `Grindin' which was released after `Little Ghetto Girl'. I will admit while `Grindin' had reappearances from characters in `Little Ghetto Girl', I didn't see too much of a connection at first but `Allure of the Game' comes through and tied it all together. We see the entire gang -Kisa & Sin, Elisa, Kennedy, Chaz, Shawn, and Butta. We are introduced to Butta's new lady and her little sister. As always, Santiago's work doesn't disappoint and she's able to hold the reader's attention. What I loved most about this read was her ability to include all of the characters without losing the story.
`Allure of the Game' is the follow-up to `Grindin' which was released after `Little Ghetto Girl'. I will admit while `Grindin' had reappearances from characters in `Little Ghetto Girl', I didn't see too much of a connection at first but `Allure of the Game' comes through and tied it all together. We see the entire gang -Kisa & Sin, Elisa, Kennedy, Chaz, Shawn, and Butta. We are introduced to Butta's new lady and her little sister. As always, Santiago's work doesn't disappoint and she's able to hold the reader's attention. What I loved most about this read was her ability to include all of the characters without losing the story.
November 20, 2011
This book is centered on Arnessa who is doing whatever is needed so she can provide for her and her younger sister. When she gets in over her head, Butta steps into her life and a romance blossoms. Besides love, Butta introduces Arnessa to some new girlfriends: Kennedy, Kisa, and Eisani. These girls definitely know how to hold it down for their men.
‘Allure of the Game’ is the first piece of work that I have read by Danielle Santiago and after reading this book I was left scratching my head wondering why I haven’t read her work before now. Her style is so raw and real that I did not want to do anything else but read this book. Now, I must go back and read Ms. Santiago’s previous works. I would recommend this book to others.
‘Allure of the Game’ is the first piece of work that I have read by Danielle Santiago and after reading this book I was left scratching my head wondering why I haven’t read her work before now. Her style is so raw and real that I did not want to do anything else but read this book. Now, I must go back and read Ms. Santiago’s previous works. I would recommend this book to others.
May 3, 2024
This was a good read, after reading a few reviews I see that it’s a series. This was the first and only novel I read from the author. I read this quite some years back, but I am willing to give this author another read
Want to read
May 27, 2010i would like to read this book hurry up please
July 5, 2011
Ok so this was a awesome way to tie up loose ends to the previous 2 books, but I still want more
July 7, 2011
Great book. Definitely reccommending to friends and family.
December 17, 2011
Very Very good read:)
June 17, 2012
it was nicely written just wasn't for me at this time.
May 10, 2012
Loved the way she brought all her books together great book..
October 3, 2012
Loved this book. My favorite character Kisa "Kane" is back in this one. I wish this wasn't the last installment to this trilogy.
September 8, 2014
Good but mad i read this frist. And not in the right order....
November 13, 2012
This one just OK to me.
February 19, 2013
It's a ok read
March 12, 2013
Picked up where I left off (pg 100) & didn't put it down until I finished this well written ending to tie up loose ends from the previous two installments.
"Dope" read.
"Dope" read.
October 11, 2014
Allure of the game by Danielle Santiago,it was missing something to me
July 28, 2015
Brings Lil Ghetto Girl and Grindin characters together, and adds new ones! Loved this book! I have read it at least 4 times! lol
January 24, 2016
Great read!! Love loved loved it!!
October 9, 2011
Very well written.
December 3, 2012
pretty good read
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews