King of Chatham by London St. Charles is another great entry in the Kings of the Castle series. I definitely recommended it to my followers.

When Zuri Okusanya, an exotic Tanzanian Princess, arrives seeking refuge from an arranged marriage and its deadly consequences, Mariano is now forced to relocate the women in the shelter to an even more secluded place. He is striving hard not to lose his heart to the forbidden goddess, all while fighting an enemy who’s supposed to be an ally and fending off immoral attempts by men who covet his seat on The Castle’s board.
This was a pretty good read. I liked both main characters. I liked following both of them on this adventure. I look forward to reading more from this author.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

So we meet Zuni who has left her homeland because her father was a horrible person (i hate that the one you should be able to count on you can't) fathers that treat there daughters like commodities kill me, maybe its because I have the best dad on earth. Anywho as Zuni is escaping she goes to a woman shelter for abused woman where she meets Reno. Reno also doesn't have the best dad, but hers still takes the cake..Reno is trying not to feel anything for her but eventually the forces could not be stopped.

A phenomenal and fast paced read. Reno, one of the kings of the castle is the owner of a shelter that helps women, especially those who are victims of human/sex trafficking. One of those women, African Born Zuri is in America to finish school and hopes not to be forced to marry a man her abusive father.

The author really did her thing with this story. It was a great romance mixed with suspense and fast paced that kept you on the edge of your seat throughout the read. I couldn't put it down. It was also great to see characters from the authors previous book (The Husband We Share). I am truly going t make sure I keep up with the author's future works. Great job

First, thank you NetGalley, London St. Charles and Naleighna Kai for a copy of this amazing book. If you love to read books that have romance, action and suspense, then The King of Chatham is the book for you. The King of Chatham is Reno, a man who helps women who are victims of violent and abusive relationships to get away from those lives and move forward to better ones. Reno has always had one rule since he opened the shelter and that is to NEVER FALL IN LOVE with a client. That all changed the day that Zuri walked into his shelter looking for help. Zuri is a young woman who has been attending college in Illinois, she went back to Tanzania for her mother’s funeral, and while there she needed to escape back to Illinois because her father, Godfrey, who tried to use her for his gain. Zuri’s mother told her that if she ever was in trouble to reach out to Reno for help. The minute these two locked eyes, the chemistry was obvious. But their story would not be an easy road. While protecting Zuri from her father, Reno had to deal with his own problems. Reno had secured apartments in safe areas where he would place some of the women in need, but someone was starting to cause trouble in these neighborhoods and he had to deal with it personally. Also, Reno had his own family problems to deal with. I highly recommend this book because you definitely go through every emotion while reading it. London St. Charles you are an amazing author.

I think this one was my favorite in the story so far. I thought that the main characters, Reno and Zuri, were really fleshed out and I liked them both a lot. It was refreshing to see both of them had a back story, and a way to connect the reader to them. I loved that he fell for one of the women he was trying to help through his women's shelter, and found that plot point really interesting!

I absolutely enjoyed reading Mariano (Reno) and Zuri’s romance story, it was a rollercoaster ride with a happy ending.
Although it took me a while to get into, I feel like there was a huge info dump but I'm glad I continued it.
This my first timing reading a book written by London St Charles and I must that it will not be my last.
I highly recommend this series!

King of Chatham by London St. Charles is book two of the nine book Kings of the Castle series penned by various female authors. Book one, Kings of the Castle is an introduction to all of the Kings but focuses on Vikkas Germaine. Books two through nine are standalones with no cliffhangers and can be read in any order, though I’m reading them in sequence.

Nine former students and future Kings of The Castle are recruited by their former teacher and mentor, Khalil Germaine. He directs them to root out and eliminate the corruption that has infiltrated The Castle, a humanitarian endeavor he founded. They vow to protect The Castle and each other from future attacks. Along the way they meet some extraordinary women. This is the story of Mariano DeLuca.

Mariano “Reno” DeLuca is a former architect of Italian descent. He built a state-of-the-art women’s shelter in the hood. The Second Chance at Life Women’s Shelter is a safe haven for women. Reno started the shelter in memory of his high school friend, Ebony, who was beaten to death by her boyfriend. He has a strong reaction to new client, Zuri Okusanya, and is falling for her, even though his personal policy is to not get in romantic entanglements with the women seeking shelter and protection.

Zuri Okusanya is a Tanzanian Princess seeking protection at Second Chance at Life Women’s Shelter. She’s been told that she can trust Mariano DeLuca. Zuri is falling for Reno, which is ironic, since she’s running from a man.

King of Chatham is a perfect accounting of Reno’s story. The main characters, Zuri and Reno, are both well-rounded and likable. Reno’s place in the world of The Castle is cemented and his personal world is revealed. Zuri is little more than a footnote in book one, but she finally becomes a living, breathing character with a complete backstory. The plot kept me interested from start to finish. The dialogue is vivid and representative of the time, place and the individual characters. As advertised, the ending is perfection that doesn’t leave you hanging from a literary cliff.

King of Chatham is definitely a main dish in the multicultural literary feast served in book one. I completely enjoyed this novel and rate it an easy 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys multicultural romantic suspense or well-written contemporary romance. Be aware, there is explicit sexual content that may be offensive to some readers.

My thanks to Independent Publishers Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

When I first saw this series it really interested me to read, so I have been gathering the books as they are released. I have to admit the characters surprised me too as when I think of Kings, I thought it was at first - Royalty boundaries but then it became clear that it was more suburb boundaries as the book is set in Chicago. It also has a mafia suspense feel to the covers too and I wondered if the Kings were baddies but as I got to know the main character in King of Chatham Reno and his buddies - the other Kings, I realized that they were all deep down really nice guys who appear tough but deep down have big hearts and want to help and clean the city up. King of the Chatham starts off with us meeting Zuri - a Tanzanian female who has returned home despite warnings to mourn her mother at her funeral. During that night, her father tries to stop her from leaving but she manages with her Mama Winnie's help to escape. Her mother before she died, made sure to give Winnie an address for Zuri to use if she was ever in danger. Mariano aka Reno DeLuca is King of Chatham and owns a Women's Shelter for abused females. When Zuri arrives he wants to help her and feels a strong connection. During the book, he tries his best not to get romantically involved with her but by the end of the book, he gives in to temptation. Though not before we are given a big huge suspense and action-packed storyline. I really enjoyed this series and looking forward to reading the other King's stories. King of Chatham has something for everyone from friendships to romance to suspense and edginess. There was also a character in this book Xavier who is a policeman who has his own story - The Husband We Share which I am looking forward to reading as the blurb reminds me of Taryn Fisher's The Wives.

As soon as I started reading King of Chatham by London St. Charles, my mind already cast actor Gino Anthony Pesi (OWN's "Ambitions") as Mariano 'Reno' DeLuca. Pesi seems to match everything the character Mariano is in book 2 of the Kings of the Castle series.
King of Chatham is plethora of themes - romance, drama, thriller - with a touch of Romeo and Juliet. Mariano is a tough guy with a soft, respectful heart and soul when it comes to protecting women in abusive situations. He uses his riches to establish a safe haven for these women and children, but his good works are challenged by an increase in criminal activity in the Chatham area. These activities put the women clients at risks, especially when one woman arrives.
Zuri Okusanya (who I think either Lupita or Danai would be perfect to play) is fleeing from Tanzania and an arranged marriage. She's royalty but was promised to a native man that she doesn't want and now, she is a target. She arrives at Mariano's shelter as she was instructed to do. At first sight, Mariano catches feelings, an absolute no when it comes to clients. Playing with abused women's hearts is not his forte. However, there is something about Zuri that makes Mariano want to throw rules out of the window. When Zuri reveals the same desire for the King of Chatham, all hell breaks loose as two families cross paths that ignite danger for those involved.
Is it worth the risk for love? Mariano thinks so.

London St. Charles nailed it! Mariano DeLuca runs The Second Chance at Life Women’s Shelter. In my book, protecting women and children from abuse already makes him a hero. Mariano is smitten when Zuri, a woman from Tanzania running from an arranged marriage, winds up in his shelter. Mariano fights to keep her and the other women in his shelter safe from gangs that threaten violence against them. Plus, Zuri’s fiancé comes to town, promising big bucks to anyone who can help him find Zuri. But he meets his match when he comes up against Mariano. This is one you’ll want to read again and again.

ARC received for review

I started reading the first book, but there was just too much being introduced that I was overwhelmed. I put it down. I wasn't lost for not having read it. There were a couple things that I'm sure were talked about in it, but no biggie.

Reno and Zuri have sparks flying from the beginning. He resists due to a promise he made, but in the end she wins him over. His dad is something else, but then hers is worse. The bad guy is taken care of which surprised me. I thought it would take it to the end of all the books to take care of him.

King of Chatham was my first book from the Kings of the Castles Series and I am hooked. Since it is Book 2 I do feel that I need to go back and read Kings of the Castle to find out how each of the Kings came to be but London St. Charles did a wonderful job making this book stand on its own. There was so much diversity in this book you could feel the struggle that the main characters, Mariano "Reno" and Zuri went through to be together. The start of the book gave a picture into Zuri's life back in her home country. It showed the struggle that women have to face with arranged marriages and mutilation to their bodies. It showed the strength that not only her mother demonstrated by being with her husband but also in the way that she helped to free Zuri with her friends. Returning home to say goodbye to her mother was one of the hardest sections of a book I have ever read. Knowing the danger Zuri would be putting herself in showed the love a daughter truly has for her mother.

When Reno goes home and realizes the type of man his father truly was it broke my heart. I know for so many men that their father is always their hero and you could see how this turned Reno's life around when he realized his dad was a racist and partnered with Zuri's dad to get her back home and away from his son. I loved how through it all Zuri and Reno's love conquered all.

I do hope that we get more Skylar in the future because I loved her character and how fierce she was. I also can't wait to start the next book in this series and eventually read through all of the Kings. I love how the romance kind of takes a back seat to the mystery and the crime world. Its about not only falling in love but also making sure that people go down for their wrong doings not only to the castle but to the areas in which they live. Lastly, I can not wait to read more from London St. Charles especially her story about Detective Carter from the book.

Thank you to netgalley, London St. Charles, and Marco Publishing Group for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This my first timing reading a book written by London St Charles and I must that it will not be my last.
I loved Zuri and Reno story and didn't want to put it down. There is mystery, drama, romance, suspense.
Reno is one of the Kings of the castle and he is the King of Chatman and runs a high efficient home/shelter for women with the help of Skylar who was a victim. Skylar and Reno help women who have been abused physically and mentally and who are simply down on their luck.

Zuri is from Tanzania Country in East Africa and is being forced into an arranged marriage at a very young age and is to under genital mutilation which is practice in Tanzania. Zuri's mother does not want an arranged marriage nor genital mutilation for her one and only child. Zuri's mother is on a work Visa in the US and she meets Reno at a conference and informs that when her daughter comes to US to attend college and comes looking for him she wants him to her help her daughter.
I would most definitely recommend that The Kings Of The Castle be read. These books are awesome.

: 3.75 stars-KING OF CHATHAM by London St. Charles is the second instalment in the multi-authored / multi-cultural contemporary, adult KINGS OF THE CASTLE erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on nine ‘brothers’ from the streets of Chicago (Vikkas, Reno, Shaz, Jai, Daron, Kaleb, Grant, Dro and Dwayne) mentored and taught by the mysterious Khalil Germaine at the exclusive Macro International Magnet School in Chicago. This is King of Chatham, Mariano ‘Reno’ DeLuca, and Tanzanian Princess Zuri Okusanya’s story line. KING OF CHATHAM can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion. Some of the events in King of Chatham run parallel to and cross over with the events of book one Kings of the Castle.

SOME BACKGROUND: Nine men, all ‘brother’s in arms from the mean streets of Chicago, have been called together by their former mentor Khalil Germaine in an effort to re-make and reclaim the restrictive and exclusionary THE CASTLE, an institution now involved with illegal activities including drug trafficking, human sexual slavery and more.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Reno and Zuri) KING OF CHATHAM focuses on the safety of Tanzanian Princess Zuri Okusayna. Several years earlier, Zuri’s mother and the women of Zuri’s tribe helped rescue our heroine by sending her to the USA to avoid female genital mutilation, and the forced marriage to a man as brutal as her father. Zuri’s father Godfrey had sold his daughter to an older man, for money and prestige, money with which Godfrey wasn’t willing to part. But the death of her mother found Zuri back in her homeland facing down her father and the man who claimed Zuri as his own. Once again, Zuri would need the help of the women in the community in an effort to remain free of the absolute rule and abuse of the men of her tribe in Tanzania. Enter King of Chatham, Mariano ‘Reno’ DeLuca, and the man with whom Zuri would fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Zuir and Reno, and the potential fall-out as all attempts to protect Zuri fail when her father, and the older members of The Castle, battle to prove they are still in control.

King of Chatham, Mariano ‘Reno’ DeLuca, is a wealthy Italian American who knows racism and prejudices first hand having witnessed his father’s attacks against anyone he deems unworthy including men and women of color. Mariano DeLuca runs a private clinic for abused and battered woman, and will find his happily ever after in the guise of Tanzanian Princess Zuri Okusayna, a client with whom he has no business getting involved.

Meanwhile the Kings of the Castle begin to unravel some of the horrendous crimes of their predecessors including human trafficking when a series of young, Russian girls are brought into Reno’s sister’s medical clinic.

The relationship between Reno and Zuri is one of immediate attraction but forbidden by the rules and ethical issues of Reno’s position as owner of the women’s centre where Zuri has been placed. Zuri knows Reno is the man that calls to her heart but her past is determined to reclaim what is not his to own. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually explicit language and text.

All of the Kings of the Castle play secondary and supporting roles including the quick reappearance of their mentor Khalil Germaine. We are introduced to Zuri’s mother Suby and father Godfrey; Reno’s sister Sofia, and their parents Giacomo and Emma DeLuca; women’s shelter receptionist and Reno’s assistant Skyler Pierson ; Mama Winnie; Djimon, the man to whom Zuri was sold; Detective Carter and Detective Xavier Sharpe; several women living and working at the shelter including Olga Smirnov and her son Yvengy; and Frank Maddox, a man deep into the trafficking and demoralization of women and girls.

KING OF CHATHAM is a story of family and betrayal; sacrifice and love. The fast paced premise is engaging and captivating; the characters are numerous, energetic and dynamic; the romance is seductive and tender.



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B&N (Sandy_thereadingcafe) posted

King of Chatham is deliciously written with a blend of Italian and African cultures woven into the thread of a Metropolitan Chicago. I have followed the career of London St. Charles from The Husband We Share, Sugarcoated Deception, and now to King of Chatham which is a superb addition to this standalone Kings of the Castle series. London delves into taboo topics of forced marriages and skillfully adds devilishly handsome, Reno DeLuca, a millionaire whose past includes losing a friend through domestic violence which guides his current choice to leave the architectural world and open a shelter to protect women and children who are in desperate need.

Zuri finds her way through the doors of Reno's shelter just at the point she is set to achieve a personal goal here on American soil. The far reaches of her family's power can be felt in the fear she feels knowing that her mother sacrificed everything to ensure her safety and her father would rather see her dead than not enter into the marriage he is forced her into. Soon, Zuri and Reno are embroiled in a plot orchestrated by an enemy of the Castle that also has the tentacles of Zuri’s father hand in it is well. This story, and the entire series, has a unique flair and the plots are both simple and intricate at the same time.

--USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Naleighna Kai

I Love that there are stand alone stories for the Kings. You get the opportunity to know them on an individual and personal level. In King of Chatham, we follow Marino DeLuca, his women’s shelter and Zuri, a strong, Tanzanian goddess who enters his life with a past and present he vows to protect. London St. Charles definitely delivers on EVERY aspect and writes an intense and spellbinding story you’ll never forget. Bravo, my sister!