Dwayne Harper’s passion is giving disadvantaged boys the tools to transform themselves into successful men. Unfortunately, the minute he steps up to take his place among the men he considers brothers, two things stand in his way: a political office that does not want the competition Dwayne’s new education system will bring, and a well-connected former member of The Castle who will use everything … will use everything in his power–even those who Dwayne mentors–to shut him down.
Tiffany Mason is harboring a dark secret that can shatter Dwayne’s dream, not to mention his heart. While he is everything she could want in a handsome, intelligent, and driven man, her past makes her second guess the acceptance of his recent proposal. But while she’s searching for a way to disengage from the best relationship she’s ever had, a mutual female friend goes full throttle in an undercover mission to help Dwayne fight those who oppose him.
Things become complicated for everyone involved when Tiffany’s past becomes part of a blackmail scheme with the ultimate goal of another woman wanting Dwayne all to herself. Now Tiffany wishes she had been honest with Dwayne from day one so she wouldn’t become a weapon that could be used against him on more than one level.
One of these women holds the key to Dwayne’s success. The other can cause his downfall.
Dwayne must choose the right queen, fend off his powerful enemies, and forge toward the success that’s due him as a King of the Castle.
ABOUT THE KINGS OF THE CASTLE SERIES
Each King book is a standalone, NO cliffhangers
USA Today, New York Times, and National Bestselling Authors work together to provide you with a world you’ll never want to leave. The Castle.
Fate made them brothers, but protecting the Castle, each other, and the women they love, will make them Kings. Their combined efforts to find the current Castle members responsible for the attempt on their mentor’s life, is the beginning of dangerous challenges that will alter the path of their lives forever.
These powerful men, unexpectedly brought together by their pasts and current circumstances, will become a force to be reckoned with.
Book 1 – Kings of the Castle (the introduction to the series)
Book 2 – King of Chatham
Book 3 – King of Evanston
Book 4 – King of Devon
Book 5 – King of Morgan Park
Book 6 – King of South Shore
Book 7 – King of Lincoln Park
Book 8 – King of Hyde Park
Book 9 – King of Lawndale
“My absolute favorite part from the whole series were the Queens. The way they came together and fought in place of their Kings showed the true power of a female and what we will do to protect not only what is ours but those we care about.” – Kimberly L., Goodreads
DON’T MISS the hot new standalone series, Knights of the Castle. The Kings of the Castle made them family, but the Knights will transform the world.
Book 1 – King of Durabia
Book 2 – Knight of Bronzeville
Book 3 – Knight of South Holland
Book 4 – Lady of Jeffrey Manor
Book 5 – Knight of Grand Crossing
Book 6 – Knight of Paradise Island
Book 7 – Knight of Irondale
Book 8 – Knight of Birmingham
Book 9 – Knight of Penn Quartermore
Love how Dwayne handled his challenges that came through his enemy. #goodguy
So as I had mentioned previously I have read these books out of order and I honestly felt that that was ok since they can be read as standalones however I always found that I enjoyed more when I read all in a series, it just gives you a little more awareness. So in this one we have Dwayne Harper who as the name says if the King of Lawndale, he has taken his place in the Castle of Dwayne and is the last of the Khali’s boys. Dayne has made is his passion and goal to assist the boys who were as he once was and has decided to help and mentor them. in education. His school only hosts about 20-30 at a time so that he can give them more attention and help them discover what they want to do with their lives. However things as you know can’t run smoothly and someone start spreading rumors trying to hurt his name and the school, when one of these rumors and hurtful slander goes after one of his student he will go no hold bar especially when they make his partner Tiffany one of their targets, and he has more than enough backup with his friends the other Kings.
rcvd an ARC at no cost to author…(netalley) voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.
KING OF LAWNDALE by Janice M. Allen is the ninth and final instalment in the multi-authored/ multi-cultural KINGS OF THE CASTLE 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 Dwayne Harper, and Tiffany Mason’s story line. KING OF LAWNDALE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but I recommend reading KINGS OF THE CASTLE (Book one) for backstory and history. There is a slight cross-over with the author’s THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY TO DO A WRONG THING where the reader is first introduced to Uncle Bubba and Dwayne. You do not have to have read the aforementioned story in order to understand or follow the current time line.
Told from several third person perspectives including Tiffany and Dwayne KING OF LAWNDALE follows several converging paths including the building relationship between Tiffany and Dwayne, as well as the ongoing struggle with the attempts to destroy and discredit Dwayne Harper, and his Excel Charter School on Chicago’s Westside. Dwayne Harper has always been about the education of the under privileged, and starting his own charter schools gave Dwayne a chance to pay back to the community but Alderman Eduardo Sanchez sees competition and trouble from Dwayne Harper, and does everything in his power to take down Dwayne Harper including going after the woman with whom Dwayne is in love. Enter Tiffany Mason, whose own three year battle with her soon to be ex, is draining the life out of our story line heroine. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Tiffany and Dwayne, as Dwayne and the Kings of the Castle forge closer to the people h*ll bent on taking it all.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including all of the previous story line couples, Khalil Germaine and his large extended family; Alderman Eduardo Sanchez, and several of his goons; as well as a number of boys who attend Dwayne’s Excel Charter School.
KING OF LAWNDALE is the culmination of nine story lines, each focusing on one of the ‘Kings’ of Chicago, Kings who work tirelessly to bring positivity, and abundance to the out of control, gang infested neighborhoods of Chicago’s crime riddled streets and homes. As each King wages battle in his own district, the men are pulled together in an effort to ferret out the people responsible for trying to kill their mentor and friend Khalil Germaine. The premise is engaging, entertaining and exciting; the romance is clean and sweet; the characters are numerous, energetic and colorful.