other than the fact that it took me literally almost an entire month to read this one … I actually really enjoyed it! it had all of the yellowstone vibes with the romance of THE EDENS series!

following lennix, a native american trying her hardest to protect her home and change politics for the better, and maxim, a son of the white politician trying to build his empire, THE KINGMAKER solidifies that love stories can exist amongst the chaos.

what I loved most about this one was the time jumps. lennix and maxim’s story spans over 10 years, and I loved seeing them at different stages of their lives!

this was 100% an emo romance, and I seriously wasn’t expecting to love this one as much as I did! the beginning was intriguing enough but the middle dragged SO much until the final time skip.

and can we talk about how persistent maxim was? like honey, I wouldn’t date you either without a reason LMAO 🫠

thank you so much to netgalley and bloom books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! and thank goodness I have the next one because this one ended in SUCH a cliffhanger!!!!!!

rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: paso robles cabernet sauvignon

Kennedy Ryan is an amazing author and The Kingmaker did not disappoint. I was rooting for Maxim and Lennox the entire time - even through that cliffhanger ending (Kennedy - how DARE you??!!). The writing was smooth, making this an easy can’t-put-it-down read.

Lennix has been through so much in her life and could be closed off with her emotions, but instead she was so completely open to loving Maxim - in whatever form that relationship took.

The love scenes were delicious and spicy. And Max was a hero that was easy to support, even though he hid some key pieces of information about himself from Lennix.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kennedy Ryan and Bloom Books for this advance copy. These are my honest thoughts.

What an interesting and spicy read! This book touches on politics, climate change and the struggles that Indigenous people (especially women) face in the world today amongst other things. It was so interesting to read about a subject that I was not very familiar with before. Lennix was such a strong and independent character who didn’t let love distract her from her ambitions and mission and I loved that about her. Maxim was dreamy. He was such a good man despite his upbringing.
The love story was beautiful and I loved how they found each other again after all those years, not once, but twice.

Thank you netgalley and Bloom books for an earc of The Kingmaker. This was my first book by the author and I love it!!

This is the book that got me hooked on Kennedy Ryan - it is so so good and I'm so excited for her that it got picked up!

I loved the story of Maxim and Lennix and how their upbringings are at odds, yet they manage to find space to come together. Lennix is an American Indian who is protesting a large corporation building a pipeline on scared grounds close to her reservation. It's a heartbreaking start because I know this is a real life issue that still occurs to this day. Then we have Maxim who is the son of the owner that has brought this awful company to these lands. Yet when things don't go as planned, Maxim ends up arrested with Lennix and she doesn't know who he is. While behind held, the two of them manage to build a connection. But like many romances, it's a right place, wrong time situation. (I think context matters in the review because the set up really informs the rest of the story!)

Flash forward several years and they stumble on each other yet again in Amsterdam. I absolutely loved the development of their relationship and exploration of their initial connection. This is the story of two strong and passionate people who truly have the power to change the world. Kennedy did an excellent job of highlighting social justice issues while weaving a believable, yet still swoon worthy romance.

I highly recommend this book - it is so freaking good!

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan

Did I cry ? Yes, yes I did … but this is a Kennedy Ryan book so that’s a given 😂

Truly nobody writes romance like Kennedy does. We’ve got all the swoon worthy aspects of our favorite romance reads , but she also touches on such important topics that’s so rare to find in reads 🙌🏽

My heart sings with joy reading about poc main characters !!
I hope you all love this read as much as I do 🥹❤️

“In what world could you possibly think I would belong to you?” “In the one we make together.”

i absolutely devoured this book. i loved the whole dynamic between Nix and Maxim, and man oh man, i LOVED Maxim. he says the cutest things. If you want a book that makes you fall in love with the couple and root for them the whole time, even when you know they're being stupid, definitely read this book.

Also, THE CLIFFHANGER??????? *immediately reads book 2*

This was my first Kennedy Ryan novel and I was happily surprised at how much I liked this book. It was spicy in all of the best ways. Plus, this book was so much more than just your average spicy romance it had a lot of substance to it, and reading the novel kept me highly engaged and wanting to know what was going to happen to our two main characters.

The novel had a lot of heart to it and made me think a lot about life on the reservation for Native Americans and how as a society we have made those people assimilate to our customs. It was such a powerful romance read that many times while reading the story, I was blown away by how beautiful the writing style was and the deeper meaning behind the novel.

While a virgin falling in love with the main hero trope isn't one of my favorites in this novel it just worked for me. I cared deeply about the main characters and was rooting for them to get together the whole entire novel.

The only downside is the slow burn between the two of them and that it took them over ten years to finally admit their true feelings for one another. The diversity in the novel was nothing short of beautiful and I even loved the parts that were set in my state of Arizona.

The Kingmaker was one powerful read and I plan on continuing to read the other books in the series as well as Ryan's other works because I loved her writing so much. This book gave me hope and opened my eyes to a completely new and beautiful culture/heritage. That ending and cliffhanger just about ended me and punched me right in the gut. AN AMAZING READ!

3⭐️

<b>“I have to go make my world, but when the time is right, I’ll be back for you.”</b>

Maxim’s family owns a large fossil fuel company that is building a pipeline in a Native American reservation. Lennix is a young Native American girl who’s protesting the pipeline. When things start to go badly at the progress, Maxim rushes to protect Lennix and they end up in jail together and Maxim doesn’t reveal his true identity. Four years later, fate brings them together again in Amsterdam.

I really wanted to love this book, but the activism aspects (while interesting and important topics on their own) kind of ruined this book for me. I was expecting a romance, which it does have, but the depth to which climate change and Native American issues are discussed is so much that it becomes distracting. By halfway into this book, I actually didn’t even really like Lennix or Maxim anymore. Maxim literally knows the entire time that Lennix has strong, negative feelings towards his father’s oil company and kept his identity from her. Lennix’s virginity is discussed ad nauseam to the point where it does actually seem like she’s slut shaming a little bit, AND after 10 years later, she is literally slut shaming an employee she is firing for sleeping with a candidate. I understand that what the employee did was wrong, but Lennix seemed really immature in her handling of the situation. Overall, the romance was okay, but the majority of this book is about activism and the romance almost takes a backseat.

<b>“In what world could you possibly think I would belong to you?”

“In the one we make together.”</b>

When I tell you I was NOT prepared for this story .. I WAS NOT.

Kennedy Ryan does it once again. She gives you a dramatic tale filled environmentalist billionaire CEO, Apache bad ass FMC who just gives you LIFE with her attitude and incredible determination! We get Politics, Climate change, Family drama, Loyalty, second chances, fated LOVE… AH!!!! We get it all!

Hands down o e of my favorite stories from Kennedy Ryan!

This is my 1st time reading a book by Kennedy Ryan and I must say that it will definitely not be my last. This is entertaining easy, emotional, action packed, page turner, drama, tragic, twisted, betrayal, mystery, suspenseful, witty, romantic, steamy, cliffhanger, great characters and a plot that held me captive. This is a remake from 2019 not sure if anything is different from when this book was first written or not. Kennedy did a great job with “The Kingmaker”. Not use to reading political oriented books. Reminds of what going on in the real world, but it’s all good. Kennedy did her research and it shows. Hats off to you lady. Can’t wait to read the next in this series.

I received an ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

This book had me hooked from the very first page. I was intrigued by the American Indian culture and could tell the author had done some research. Lennix Moon (loved this name) is a strong young woman who endured so much hurt at the way she lost her mother but used that hurt to help her people. The chemistry between her and Maxim made them my new favorite couple. The ending OMG!!!! I love a good cliff hanger! Definitely going to start book 2 in this series! Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.

It’s a unique and angsty story. It will suck you in from the beginning with its twist and turns. I loved the characters and the storyline. Looking forward to reading more.

This book was INTENSE and SO GOOD. So excited to reread for this rerelease. I couldn't put it down. Felt absolutely every emotion and all the feels. Maxim and Lennix were such amazing leads. So much power, passion and just INTENSITY. Highly recommend.

I've heard so many great thing about Kennedy Ryan's work. I'm looking forward to reading her other books. This one in particular I was not able to get into. I appreciate authors using their craft to amplify voices from backgrounds other than yours, but I feel there were gaps in the delivery and the ability to sell the story from an indigenous point of view. If felt forced in my opinion.

The King Maker is my first Kennedy Ryan novel and certainly not my last. The author did an outstanding job building the sexual chemistry between Lennix and Maxim. They were perfectly matched with all that counts - ambition, good looks, charisma, and brains. This was an absolute treat to read.

The prose in The Kingmaker is nothing short of breathtaking. Ryan's eloquent writing style effortlessly transports readers into the world she has created, immersing them in the raw emotions, vivid landscapes, and turbulent conflicts that shape the characters' lives. The pacing is masterfully handled, maintaining a delicate balance between heart-wrenching moments and heartwarming intimacy, keeping readers engaged and invested throughout.

As the narrative unfolds, The Kingmaker becomes more than just a love story. It is a profound exploration of personal growth, redemption, and the transformative power of love. Ryan's ability to navigate complex themes and deliver a satisfying and emotionally resonant conclusion is a testament to her storytelling prowess.

In my opinion, The Kingmaker is an exceptional novel that effortlessly blends romance, social commentary, and compelling characters into a thought-provoking and unforgettable reading experience. Kennedy Ryan has solidified herself as a formidable voice in the genre, and this book is a shining example of her talent. Whether you are a fan of contemporary romance or simply enjoy beautifully crafted stories that leave a lasting impact, The Kingmaker is an absolute must-read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you so much!

Whew this book was fabulous! It was engaging and kept me reading. The plot and characters are well developed and was a different type of read for me. Definitely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Kennedy Ryan!