Book review:
The Kingmaker was absolutely incredible, emotional, riveting and gripping. It is a story of passion with incredible prose, is thought provoking, and has so much heart.

Lennix Moon Hunter is a budding young indigenous girl of the Apache tribe, who has just crossed from a girl to womanhood by partaking in the ceremony- Sunrise Dance. Lennix and Maxim meet at a pipeline protest. They are both there for different reasons, but they connect. Lennix is 17 and Maxim is in his early twenties, so it’s not the right time for them. Not yet. Their encounter is momentary but impressive enough for both of them to feel the lingering sentiments that stir in their hearts.

After a few years, and they meet again in Amsterdam. The timing still isn’t right for them, but this time, they can’t stay away from one another. They spend time together that changes them forever, but they both have to get back to changing the world. Angst-o-meter is sky high, sentiments whirling like a powerful hurricane, dreadful cloudy danger at every turn and the end note is jaw dropping and will stun you into silence!! Maxim is on his own mission to change the world for the better and Lennix is to save it. Together they shall make their own world together.

The author's writing is pure gold and this story is utterly stunning. About hope, loss, pride, ambition, heritage, and love, with courageous and strong characters, characters with flaws that make them even more human.. It is layered with emotion, charisma and passion all richly depicted with beauty and written with Kennedy's usual effortless style and class. The Hero and Heroine have power in their passion, their friendship and their chemistry. I felt it, believed it and want the world for them.

Overall, "The Kingmaker " is a powerful story honoring the legends and legacy of the Native- American indigenous people, their proud heritage and affinity to their land & Language.

I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book. I think it was all of the time jumps there were. It just made me feel so disconnected from the characters since we don't really get to see them become who they are completely. At one point there is a very long amount of time that is jumped and I just felt like I lost touch with the characters after that and that the issues between the two main characters were very repetitive. The ending was insane though and it did make me intrigued enough to want to read the next book in the series!

Kennedy wrote some beautiful complex characters in this book. It's a wonderful passage of time and a completely jaw-dropping cliffhanger.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bloom Books for letting me read an advanced reader copy (even though I'm posting after release lol) of The Kingmaker!

Wow. I don't know how Kennedy Ryan does it but she elicits feelings when you read her stories that are so powerful and The Kingmaker does just that.

Lennix's and Maxim's story is so beautifully written that it felt like I was the one falling passionately in love for the first time. The whirlwind romance that's laced with lies and betrayal and second chances. I am also so impressed with the amount of obvious research Kennedy did surrounding the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement and on the effects of global warming and using clean energy. The passion Lennix and Maxim has for their respective causes is so moving and inspiring!

I am eagerly waiting to start The Rebel King because WHAT A CLIFFHANGER!

This was my first Kennedy Ryan book. The description promises attraction, romance, power, and conflict. It did not disappoint. I appreciated and enjoyed her strong writing style. The characters of Lennix and Maxim are both extremely strong-willed, self-assured, and self-aware, yet they grow and develop as characters from start to finish. And their story of attraction and romance is told from both their points of view over the course of 10 years. The underlying themes of climate change/environmental sustainability, politics, Native American rights, and recognizing and supporting marginalized groups in society intertwined within Lennix and Maxim's romance story kept the plot interesting for me. I also find the settings for a story an important part of the plot and in The Kingmaker I could easily envision Lennix & Maxim in these places; the locations were very well researched and described by the author: Amsterdam, DC, and rural America. The ending hit me by surprise; I can't wait to read book #2 in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kennedy Ryan for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Ummm that ending....excuse me what!

This book had so much history woven into it, and I think it beautifully represented the American Indian culture and the immense pride and love Lennix has for her family and community.

The love story of Lennix and Maxim was beautiful, and so powerful with how it truly stood the test of time and they were able to grow together in so many ways.

The steam was *quite steamy* and I couldn't get enough of their love for one another.

Three cheers for some seriously strong, powerful, independent leading ladies in this book as well. I absolutely LOVE to see that!

A great book, and I cannot wait to read the other two in this series.

One of the things I have really come to appreciate about Ms. Ryan's work is the care she takes with her characters, particularly her female character. In "Before I Let Go," it was her expert handling of mental health and depression and, in "The Kingmaker," it was how thoughtful she was about portraying Lennix's culture. I think it is easy for authors who are not of a certain race/ethnicity/culture to rely on stereotypes to develop their characters, but Ms. Ryan did not do that here. She did her research and gave a voice to missing and murdered Indigenous women, something I don't think I've come across in any books I've read in the past. I think that made the book for me more than the romance.

To that end, I was initially skeptical of Lennix and Maxim's story because the way it started was less than ideal. But when they reunited, there could be no doubt they were meant to be. They had both lived and experienced so much in their time apart. While Lennix absolutely had every right to keep Maxim at arm’s length (because he was in the wrong), in the end, he wasn’t his family. I was definitely on the edge of my seat at the end and can’t wait to see what happens next for these two.

I LOVED both Lennix and Maxim as individuals. From the jump, I wanted everything that Lennix wanted. Her character is beautiful, strong, empowering and FIERCE. She has LIVED a life and she is fighting for those around her. Maxim is rich, hot, cares about the world and global impact AND he has his PHD?! Sold.

So with all that being said, I GET why these two are pining for each other but I don’t feel it on the page. I think their love will hopefully be developed more in the next book but with that cliffhanger who knows?!?!

Also- did this give anyone else Yellowstone vibes or just me?

Thank you to NetGalley and Kennedy Ryan for an ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 5/5 Stars

WOW! This was my first Kennedy Ryan book and I was blown away. This book made me feel all types of things and I am obsessed!! Can’t wait for more

Kennedy Ryan always puts such care into this book. I went in completely blind and ended up enjoying it.

Lennix is of Native American descent and an activist for people. In contrast, Maxim comes from a wealthy family that does not value the same love for the planet or people. Even so, these two were so well matched. They were both extremely educated and that played out in their conversations. I loved how strong Lennix was, not just in her activism but in her relationship with Maxim.

This was a romantic story but also had critical underlying themes, more than I expected. It is not my fave Kennedy Ryan book, but I would still recommend.

This wasn't what I expected. I have to admit that I was thrown off by the age difference during Lennix & Maxim's first meeting, but I enjoyed the ups and downs of their reconnection. I liked being able to see them separately throughout the years, to learn more about the people they were becoming. It was clear that they ignited a flame that couldn't be extinguished, but getting everything to align wasn't easy.

This book feels very different from Before I Let Go, mostly because of the characters. While I wouldn't relate to their experiences, I did enjoy their growth. What it does have in common is the way it captured my attention. The drama? The cliffhanger?! This is the second book I've read from Kennedy Ryan, and I'm in interested to hear more of her stories. I enjoyed the book overall, and will read the rest of the series. Thank you to Kennedy Ryan, Bloom Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I really loved the care that was put into this book. I went in completely blind based on my love of Kennedy Ryans Hoops series. Based on that I should have known the story would be well researched, but this exceeded my expectations.

Lennix is of Native American decent, and an activist for people. While Maxim comes from a wealthy family that does not value the same love for the planet or people. These two were so well matched. They were both extremely educated, and that played out every one of their conversations. I loved how strong Lennix was, not just in her activism but in her relationship with Maxim.

This was a romantic story, but also had important underlying themes. I highly recommend this book, and this will definitely be a top recommend when looking to read anything by Kennedy Ryan.

Kennedy Ryan's storytelling is a captivating journey, pushing boundaries and exploring important issues. Her writing is pure gold, creating stunning characters with flaws and evoking a range of emotions. From the first few pages, she immerses readers in a world that feels special and thought-provoking. With truth, heart, and soul, she weaves a compelling narrative in "All The King's Men" duet. This story has it all—emotion, charisma, and passion, depicted with effortless style and class. The power of the Hero and Heroine's chemistry and friendship is palpable, making readers root for them wholeheartedly.

Review: The writing and story were entertaining, but parts were so dull and corny. The Native American aspect saves this book, but I wouldn’t have minded it to be in the book even more.
Recommended For: Romance book readers.

To be honest, I really couldn't get into this one. I'm a mood reader so unless I'm gripped right off the bat, I skim or stop. I skipped around a bit with this one to find parts that I enjoyed.
There's a lot of political intrigue in this book with Native American rights and climate change. About 20ish% is when Lennix and Maxim meet and have a fling in Amsterdam. Around 58% is good when it gets into the drama of betrayal when Lennix finds out Maxim's been lying to her about his real name. I also enjoyed the dramatic ending. It made me want to go back and actually read it all. I think I'll try to read this book again later and hopefully it goes better then.

Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!

“Do what you need to do. Change your world” he says softly, his eyes connected to mine so intensely there’s no hope of looking away. “I have to go make my world, but when the time is, I’ll be back for you.”
Lennix Moon Hunter or Len as her friends and family call her is Native American, she is proud of her heritage and a strong advocate for her people. She never got over the disappearance of her mother whose case was never solved. Now she fights for indigenous people, their land and the women who go missing.
Maxim Kingmaker Cade comes from a rich and powerful family. Maxim’s father decided to try and build a pipeline onto an Indian reservation and Maxim didn’t agree which caused a rift in their relationship. He wants nothing to do with the family business.
Maxim and Lennix meet while protesting the pipeline. He saves her from being bitten by a dog and they both get arrested. Sparks flu between them until she tells him she is 17. When Lennix is twenty-one, she along with her two best friends go on a trip to New Amsterdam for spring break, and she’s delighted to realize fate has placed her in the same city with the man she knows as Maxim Kingman. They spend time together, and it’s immediately clear there’s a deep attraction and connection between them. They both agree that their time together comes with no strings attached because they both want to focus on their careers. They both soon realize that they both have feelings for one another and cannot keep their promises. Maxim feels guilty for keeping his true identity a secret from Lennix, he’s afraid she’ll turn her back on him forever if she discovers who he really is.
I love that Lenix is a fighter for those who don’t have a voice. Maxim fights to make sure he is nothing like his father, to save the earths natural resources, and for Lenix or Nix as he likes to call her. He walked away from his fathers legacy to fight for what he believes in. This book ends on a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to read the Rebel King to find out what happens. This book is really good and can’t wait to tell my friends to read it.
Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read the Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan she is a great story writer and getting you to feel what the characters are feeling. I just discovered this Kennedy Ryan and can’t wait to read more books by her.

Lennix is a 17 year old Native American who, when we first meet her, is speaking at a pipeline protest. The pipeline in question will run right through her tribe’s lands & Lennix isn’t having it.

21 year old Maxim is also at the protest because his father is the oil tycoon responsible for the pipeline. Maxim, who is studying climate science, is not in the family business and is appalled by what his father is doing.

Maxim is captivated by Lennix’s impassioned speech and when chance throws them together and they both get arrested, Maxim and Lennix end up really getting to know each other. There’s a mutual attraction there but nothing happens since Lennix is underage. Maxim also chooses not to tell Lennix who his father is.

When they happen to cross paths 4 years later, the attraction is still there and this time, Maxim and Lennix give in to it and both end up wanting more. But what will happen when Lennix finds out who Maxim really is and that his father is the man she hates most in the world?

This was a really good read! I really loved Lennix and admired her passion and her sense of determination. I don’t normally like having politics in the books I read, but in this case, I loved how Lennix used her voice to actually help elect candidates who have Native American’s best interests at heart.

I wasn’t quite as enamored with Maxim at first because of that lie of omission, but I understood where he was coming from and was really hoping he would come clean so he didn’t wreck his chances with Lennix since the two of them were so good together.

I also really loved the inclusion of Native American culture and traditions. One of my favorite scenes of the whole book was when Lennix described the Sunrise Dance ceremony where a girl becomes a woman.

The Kingmaker is actually the first installment in Kennedy Ryan’s All the King’s Men series and it ends with a cliffhanger that will have you screaming to get your hands on the next book!

The Kingmaker was absolutely incredible!! Maxim and Lennix were pure fiery intensity. Their story was so powerful and heartfelt that I felt every word straight down to my core. This novel was truly incredible!! From the first page to the very last page I was completely engulfed. n love with Maxim Cade and Lennix Hunter at first sight and knew that they were both powerful forces to be reckoned with. Their steadfast dedication to their passions and convictions were awe-inspiring. I loved them separately, but together they took my breath away. With every look and touch between them, I felt every chill and shiver. I loved their passion for one another and how their love and connection felt like it was a once in a lifetime kind of love that came right off the pages. The Kingmaker made me swoon and melt but also made me hold my breath when all seemed lost. I loved every word of this story and truly can't wait until The Rebel King. Absolutely Hands down read this you will not regret it.

I have tended to love Kennedy Ryan's books so jumped at the chance to read this one via Netgalley. It's a tricky one to review because there are a few points of differences between this and other romances which definitely impacted my rating. Further, given this is a duology, I feel I'm pre-empting without really knowing the outcome of the story.

Firstly the FMC and MMC meet when the FMC is 17 years of age. It's always a concern for me when I read romances where there is a significant age gap and in this one I felt the MMC very much was in a position of power and knew of their age difference. There was ick factor for me. That this then morphed later into him invading her privacy and stalking rang alarm bells for me - again, he was wealthy, had power and utilised these to find out more about her - all against her wishes.

Secondly the book involves themes of environmental issues and politics and at times these very much overwhelm the romance. I wondered if more focus on the missing women would have been more effective, and more emotion evoking (I for one can feel my eyes glaze over when discussing politics in a romance).

Third, I just wasn't sold on the romance and want to see how it plays out.

I'm thinking this is 3.5 stars (rounded).

This is a second chance romance of a couple who shared one week together in Amsterdam. Lennix is a Native American woman and Maxim is white American man.. The book is perfect for readers of second chance romance and political activism.