The Kings of Charleston: 1 [Paperback]

The King's of Charleston is a mixture of young romance and mystery. Author Kat H. Clayton's writing pulled me into the story right from the beginning. The characters particularly Casper, is unlike the typical high-school rich girl who comes from wealth and society. Cal, the alpha male is not your typical high-school boy and he is a bit of mystery and intrigue rolled up in a sexy package.
This story was full of intrigue and the story was unique. I thought the story was a little light on romance, (but I like heavy romance)! The mystery part of the book was more developed and captured my attention, but I felt the attraction and romance part of the story could have had a bigger role. The reading was fast and easy and I basically got through the book in one afternoon. The secondary characters in the book were strong, in fact Cal's friend Alex was a favorite and his connection and interaction with Casper was entertaining. Alex was a mystery and he came alive in words to me.
Overall I felt the book was pretty well rounded and the story flowed pretty well. I liked that the author took her time unraveling the mystery, but felt that other parts flew by quickly without enough detail.
If you like mystery with some romance woven through, then pick this up. If you are looking for something entertaining and a quick read that will keep you glued to the pages as the plot is unraveled, then grab it! I look forward to book 2 in the series, All the King's Men. I can't wait to see what direction the story will go. Give it a try! 3.5~Stars

The King's of Charleston is a on the edge thriller that brings you into the world of Kythera. Casper was forced to move to Charleston and is determined to hate it. Then she meets Cal. He is gorgeous and mysterious....maybe too mysterious. Casper realizes that there is a lot more going on behind the scenes in this picture perfect town. Worse yet, she has a part to play. Will she maintain the centuries old secrets or rebel?

Kat H. Clayton is a gifted writer that makes the reader feel like that are right there beside the characters, feeling what their feeling, and falling in love just as fast. Casper and Cal are drawn to each other right from the start. As the story progress and the more mystery and darkness that surrounds Cal and his family, Casper is more determined to find out what is going on, and what it has to do with her. Each page will have you guessing. Each chapter will have you plotting, running, and stealing little moments of peace with Casper and Cal. This suspenseful romance will have you looking behind your doors, and jumping at noises in the night. A gripping fast read that will stick with you long after you have turned the last page!

There were a couple of things that attracted me to The Kings of Charleston after reading the synopsis. First off, I am a big fan of secret societies in the books I read. I love the mystery, the initiations, all of it. Plus it feels like most secret societies in books and films are either a) totally elitist and snobby (and thus, aching to be trounced in a very public fashion) or b) sinister and foreboding in nature, and usually up to no good. The Kings of Charleston definitely gave me a sinister vibe. And I really wasn't sure if there was a supernatural or paranormal element at work before I started reading, so I was curious about that as well.

And I also liked that this book was set in the south. I'm a Florida girl, and have actually never visited Charleston, South Carolina, but I'm drawn to books with southern settings, be they East Coast, Gulf Coast, or Deep South.

So, basically the story goes like this: Casper Whitley, heir to family fortune built on thoroughbred horse breeding and racing, is completely uprooted and distraught when her family moves her from her beloved Kentucky horse farm to Charleston. Once there, she begins to meet new business associates of her father's, including one very hot guy by the name of Cal (why are guys named Cal in YA book's hot? Has anyone else noticed this trend? I digress...) But something about this new life, and the new people they are surrounded by, just doesn't feel right to Casper. She notices that a painting in her house which bears the inscription Kythera on it is also in Cal's home. What's more, Cal, his family, and some of the other new friends she meets all have black cars with a red "K" marking them. And then there are the tattoos that Cal and some of the others have that also have that strange word Kythera on them. Casper, still reeling from the move, wants to know more but every time she questions someone about Kythera, be it Cal or just a random Charleston local, they clam up and change the subject. Hmmm. Very curious indeed...

I won't go into any more details because part of the fun is trying to figure out what the mystery of Kythera is exactly. But as I was reading I was reminded of John Grisham's book (and adapted film) The Firm. Remember that? Recent law school graduate is courted by a big firm who offer him a ton of money but in the end turn out to not only be extremely shady, but also seek to control every aspect of his life. Like that book, there are quite a few twists and turns and surprising revelations in The Kings of Charleston as well.

I will say that as far as characterization, some of those featured in The Kings of Charleston felt like they could have been better developed. Well fleshed out characters is a big thing for me when I'm reading, and I would have liked more in that regard.

And, as you can surmise from the synopsis, there is definitely a romance at play. The romance was fine in my opinion, but there was insta-love in full effect, something that I'm not a big fan of. And, hate to tell you, but this one does end with a bit of a cliffhanger! (The good news is that the second book is already out!) On the bright side there is no love triangle, so woo hoo for that! :)

In the end I was entertained by The Kings of Charleston and the story that Ms. Clayton crafted. I was hoping for better character development, and more realistic romance, but was pleased with the mysterious secret society plot and southern setting.