Cartier Cartel

Cartier Cartel #1

by Nisa Santiago

Cartier Timmons and Monya White were born to teenage mothers who were also best friends. At 15, Cartier formed her own crew aptly named the Cartier Cartel. The main and only vision of the crew; Cartier, Monya, Bam, Lil Momma, and Shanine was to do petty crimes in order to wear the flyest gear. While Monya loves boys, clothes, and money (in that order), Cartier is tired of the petty boosting to keep a few dollars in her pockets. Always wise beyond her years, Cartier observes how the corner boys hustle drugs and figures her crew could do the same. Cartier realizes too late that her and her crew are in more trouble than they can handle. Once a rival drug-hustler gets murdered, Cartier's Cartel will need to make a life-altering decision.

Genres: Urban, African American

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 15, 2008

About the author

Nisa Santiago came bursting onto the literary scene in 2009 with her debut title, Cartier Cartel. The book garnered rave reviews and left her readers wanting more. She followed up with the sequel, Return of the Cartier Cartel – which turned into a national bestseller. The Library Journal declared that Santiago’s sequel, [Return of the Cartier Cartel] “Will keep readers hooked to the last chapter.”


Born and raised in Brooklyn, and now living in Harlem, the author is moving at full speed with her writing endeavors. Coined the Duchess of Hop-Hip lit, Santiago humbly admits, “I’m just grateful to be doing what I love as a career and not just a hobby.”

Her latest novel, Bad Apple – The Baddest Chick is slated for an October 2011 release date. The author emphatically states that her decision to start a new series instead of penning part 3 to Cartier Cartel was a brave one. “My readers love Cartier and they wanted more.” Santiago wants her readers to know that she has so many stories to tell and shows no signs of slowing down. Dirty Money Honey is an anthology with her peers, Erica Hilton and Kim K., Melodrama Publishing’s new trinity of authors.

Reviews

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm, this book was a mix of everything---theft, drugs, murder, jail, and of course hood romance and I liked it..It was interesting to read about the Cartel and their members and without much description (this is one of the only urban reads where there was not an outrageous amount of label dropping and fashion) and I appreciated it, this book kept it straight up real..Okay so this tells the story of basically two best friends Cartier and Monya and how they grew up, formed a crew with three other girls and ran the streets of Brooklyn..until the streets caught up with them..Growing up together since childhood as their mothers were best friends Cartier and Monya did everything and when poverty and the want for the finer things in life got the best of them they decided to make things happen and began with simple shoplifting, taking off clothing sensors and petty larceny..things went well but the money came too slow and ambitious Cartier decides the next move for her crew is to hustle drugs like the dudes..From there you can see the division of the crew, how Cartier becomes bossy and disrespectful to the others and how Monya goes from the shy follower to a woman jealous and hellbent on becoming something by herself..As the drug game gets popping the girls also get haters and one significant threat that takes the crew down with a sad chain of events that ends with Cartier doing a seven year bid..For the realness of the book I did like it, it was fast paced, informative and just drama on top of drama..I really liked Bam, hated Monya and Jason and thought Cartier really grew up at the end of the novel..will definitely be reading the next book, what in the world can happen now?...

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Cartier Cartel" by Nisa Santiago was really good. Cartier and her crew, Monya, Bam, Shanine and Lil Momma develop a crew and, in the beginning, they hustle by boosting clothes to be in fashion and to look good around the hood. But, it doesn't take long before greed takes over and drugs enter into their hustlin' scene. And, while they're getting their hustle on, one of the crew gets beat bad, and Cartier and Monya go to jail for murder. However, because she feels responsible for her crew, Cartier ends up taking the charge and looses more than her peace of mind in the process. Cartier begins to realize who's really for her and who's not. And, when she finally gets out, her problems are not over, but take a turn for the worse.
Join Nisa Santiago as she takes you on a ride that will leave you wanting more, anticipating what's going to come up next and how everything will come out at the end.
I give it 4 stars.

[JazzyRacquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book !

Can't Wait To Read The Second ! ♥

[Zeairah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yooo This Book Is Popping ! iLovee it Soo Far Im On 291 !

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Cartier Cartel and thought it was good. The plot was good and it kept me reading. I would recommend this book.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. Didn't think the things that happened in this book were going to happen, but very good book. I need to get part 2!

[Shanta Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

[Shanice Romany · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was great had me wanting more

[Nikki Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK READ 1 AND 2, CANT WAIT FOR A 3RD...

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story read like so many simliar titles, I didn't see the point in reading very much of the book.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cool a little hard to get through lol

[Niaja Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book these chicks did it all...can't wait to read pt2.

[Unique811 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't what I was expecting. But it was decent.

[°BeauutiLovve · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can u say. This was good

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my freaking goodness. This book was sooooo good. I downloaded it for free via the Hoopla App. You can use your library card to checkout books without leaving home. It's a great app.

The Cartier Cartel is one of those books you don't want to quit reading til the end. The more you read the better it gets. I'm sop ready for book number II.

Check out my book club page on Facebook. The Shades of Pink Social Book Club.

[Denise Gilliam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the bomb. They started off as friends till the end. Got a taste of money and jealous and envy and backstabbing got in the way. The girls we hit with some trials and definitely some tribulations. They loved they hated but they knew the risk to every thing. Jason was foul as two left shoes. Monya was a dirty bird too. Bam was my girl and Lil Momma was just lil momma. Cartier took no tea for the fever. Just read this you will surprised like I was this book blew me away.

[Joy McGuire · Rating 5 out of 5]

KARMA IS A BITCH....
I'm Skipping Right Where I Need To Be: Cartier Carry A Lot Of Guilt Around For The Whole Cartel Crew, But They Has Chooses To Make For Themselves Knowing The Events That Could Go Either Way.....Jail Or Death, And They Wanted Money, Power, And Respect.....God Don't Like UGLY!!!!!

[Shelima Theresa Maynard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I hope Ryan gets what he deserves. Monya been through so much. She didn't deserve to die like that. I know Cartier are going to get justice for both of her friends. Great Read!

[Stephanie Wiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!!!

Wow ... A lot took place in this book and I loved every single word ... I cannot wait to read the sequel!!!

[Elise Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I have been waiting so long for it. It's a shame the life that some young people have to live to survive.

[Mary M. McClendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juvenile Start

This started slow but get better as time passed. Hate cliffhanger s, but this is so Good. Will definitely read the next one.
No Sweat

[Sheila Takyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay. This is my second time reading this. It felt like the first time I read this book. Yes, I have to read book 1 and 2 again so I can continue the series.

Anyway. I started book 2 right away and the action started right away. Let the games begain as hushand and wife (Cartier) shut the city down!!!

[Lesa Divine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this book was a good read. At first I was like grrr hurry up and start some drama but, it was a great read.

Cartier, Monya, Bam, Lil Momma and Shanine all grew up together they started there Cartel crew they was stelling from clothing stores to get all the fashion clothes they want. But, then Cartier the leader of the group thought that it's best that they hung the block by selling weed but, she didn't see enough money she they all started selling drugs until Donnie a drug dealer that wants his corner and didn't like that the Cartel crew was selling on his corner lead to him beating up Bam leaving her in the hosptial and then the Cartel crew fall apart leaving Cartier and Monya to handle Donnie for what he did to Bam. That then lead Cartier doing time in jail while she in jail she married Jason he always liked Cartier but, she never gave him the time of day because she was busy running up behind Ryan another drug dealer that didn't hold her down while she was locked up.

Her relationship with Monya had faded away she became closer to Bam that kept her knowning what was happen on the block. Jason wasn't been faithful to Cartier he was sleeping around.

Cartier gets out of jail to try and want to work things out with Jason he say he going to be faithfull but, time tells then Cartier ends up leaving for a while.

At the end I couldn't not predict what the author was going to do but, it looks like it will be a part 2 to this and I can't wait to read it because now I am on the edge of my seat to find out more.

Great book Nisa Santiago did her thang. :) Will totally read more by this author.

[India Jones-Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I can say is wow! The book tells the tale of how poor parenting can alter a promising child's future. Meet Cartier Timmons. She was born to a teen-ager mother, Trina. Trina is so wrapped up with her own happiness, she leaves her daughter to fiend for herself. So, Cartier, the brains and brawn of the group, and her girls, Monya, Lil Momma, Shanine, and Bam decide to take matters into their own hands. They start boosting clothes as a means of survival.

Once they get a taste of the good life, Cartier wants to stack more paper, so she decides the Cartel, as they call themselves, will start hugging the block. That decisions puts all of the girls lives in danger. One of the Cartel members lives is almost taken away from a jealous drug dealer. Not wanting to concede defeat, Cartier comes up with a plan to get back at the drug dealer, which opens up another can of worms for the crew.

After much thought and deliberation, Cartier decides to confess to a crime she didn't commit. Taking one for the team. She finally realizes that her selfish actions put her whole crew in danger. The people she thought would ride out her bid with her, turns their back on her. The only people who ride it out with her is her mother, surprise surprise, and the neighborhood friend, Jason, who has lusted for her since their teenage years.

Once out, Cartier comes face to face with a former Cartel member who wants to be just like Cartier, Monya. Which woman will win?

This book had me own an emotional roller coaster ride. I understand why Cartier made some of her decisions. It seems like she would grow up, just to revert back to her childhood.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very refreshing read. I thought it was going to be another book about girls from the hood trying to come up and fall in love with a big time drug dealer and then they go up against "the haters". End of story. But this was nothing like that. Yes, the 4 main characters who were friends, did start off with some kind of "come up" but just as quick as the story picked up is just as fast the story line took a turn, and the friendships of the girls ended. What I love is that Cartier, as the main character, was not my favorite because she was so selfish and bitchy but completely did a 180 and became the main character we were ment to love lol. The flow of the book and pace was perfect for me, although the prison sentence seemed dragged out, but I guess it was the effect of going through 7 years. I think the most annoying character for me was Cartier's mother -_- > like I just can't with her, smh. I LOVED how Cartier & Monya flipped the script on Jason, thought that was one of the best moments of the book, because it was so random, unexpected && hilarious (embarrassing for Jason, he deserved it) ! I am curious to read the second book. Overall this was a great read for me and I will start looking for book 2 :-) !

[Ms.Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do the Ladies Run This Mutha...

The Cartier Cartel, headed by Cartier Timmons, is an all girl crew out to make money. They started out boosting, but Cartier saw the bigger picture and greater potential in stepping up their game to drugs. If the boys can do it, why can't they? With drug dealing, however, came different risks. They traded in having to watch out for mall/store security to the dangers of other dealers. When a confrontation with a local dope boy, Donnie, goes terribly terribly wrong, will the Cartel remain standing?

This novel's initial pace is slow as the relationship of the girls is detailed. It's not until about the middle of the book that the plot picks up speed, which is unfortunate. From that point on, it was an enjoyable story and a very quick read. Like another reviewer mentioned, I'm not too hot on the idea of a sequel either. I would have preferred a complete story.

3.5 stars

[OOSA · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Cartier Cartel" chronicles the lives of a group of female friends from the 'hood' who survive by stealing clothes and other merchandise from high-end stores. Cartier, the main character, is the group’s leader. The book starts with her tense relationship with her unfit mother who seems to be more interested in partying than seeing about her teenage daughter.

Nisa Santiago does a good job developing the characters as they go from their teenage years to their adult years. However, the relationship between the girls seems to be nonexistent towards the middle to the end of the book. The story then shifts towards a love triangle involving Cartier.

Overall, it was a good story; full of drama and a a few twists and turns.


Reviewed by: Jermaine

[Dee Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another action packed series from Nisa Santiago! Although Cartier gre up without much, she knew how to swindle & get paid. She & her friends had an elaborate scheme for getting money. After the brutal beating of one of the crew, the team divides & nothing is the same. After taking the charge for a crime she did not commit, her life changed dramatically. This book was definitely a page turner filled with surprises. To read part 2 to see what happens next.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Urban Fiction book. It seemed that Nisa Santiago was the author to go to and I have to say this was strangely addictive and made me put in a request for the next one in the series as soon as I finished the book. They stories are graphic, characters are making some very bad life choices but they are seen as bad choices which, at least for me, put something positive in the story..."don't live your life this way" would be the response to come away with.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good. I can not believe Monya and Cartier started a relationship together. I was glad to see they were able to move passed all the bad that happened in the past. It was sad what Ryan did to them girls. And now I have to get part two to see if Ryan gets what he deserves for killing them.