Member Reviews
Hot. Hot. Hot!
This book by Kennedy Ryan kept me flipping pages (on my kindle) from the first paragraph to the last. I couldn't get enough of this story and the spice.
I had no idea what to expect going into this book but I definitely didn’t expect THIS. Oh my gosh, I will be raving out The Kingmaker for absolutely ever. Read upon re-release I’m mad I didn’t read it sooner. It’s a story of pure passion, for activism, politics, and for each other. Absolutely cannot wait to continue on with this series. 5 stars.
Overall this book was pretty good. It's spans over 10+ years, however the characters only have like 10 days worth of interaction before the last 1/3 of the book. Very much insta-love, which I don't hate, but I also didn't feel much but last between the characters. While the few days they spent in the first 2 acts of the book, they try to get to know each other, it was all very very fast. And then THE ending happened. Something I was not expecting and still not sure how to feel about it
So this is my third Kennedy Ryan book, I am aware this is a re-release but it’s new to me! Kennedy knows how to reel me into a love story. Why? Because Kennedy never fails to deliver a captivating story. From engaging characters, to perfect pacing and unforgettable storylines.
Lennix and Maxim couldn’t be from any more different sides of America however, the chemistry between the two is undeniable. In a romance, you want something organic but also the thing fairytales are made of. Kennedy delivers just that.
Lennix is a fierce, ambitious, strong and determined woman driven out of pain and love for her heritage is a strong heroine.
Maxim is a handsome, intelligent, ruthless man yet passionate about sustainable resources. He is the perfect counterpart to Lennix, if he wasn’t a Cade.
The way in which Kennedy makes it possible for the two to go after what they want but somehow still linked and truly never losing the connection over the years is remarkable. It allows the story to be much more than romance. You are able unearth a real power dynamic among relationships, passions and history. We tend to move on after things happen but the heart and mind do not.
Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for selecting me to receive an eArc!!
4⭐️
2🌶️
There is just something about Kennedy Ryan’s writing that makes a good story. The flow was good, the plot kept me invested and that ending was insane! I don’t want to say much because I truly think you should go in to this blind. Just know you’re in for a journey.
I enjoyed The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan. I think a few things knocked it down a star for me that are by no fault of the book and a fault of my own. When reading the synopsis I don’t think I was quite so aware of the heavy political contents, many books will involve their jobs or politics and it’s more of a subplot or not heavily focused on. If you choose to read this book (which you should, it is great) it definitely goes very in depth into Lennix’s Native American roots and her work at protests that eventually lead to her work in politics to fight for the unheard voices through leading campaigns for minorities.
Unless environmental conservation is something you are DEEPLY interested in, there will be parts of this book that you have to skim and just take it at face value because you may not understand it. Most romance novels can be read and understood at a middle grade reading level, but as a college graduate there were things here that I just said, “Alright, I’ll take your word for it and hope this isn’t important to the plot later.” That being said, this book does educate you on important issues that we should be paying more attention to. From Native American’s and the land that has been stolen from them, to green energy. This book gives you an incredible doorway to learn more about these issues in your day-to-day lives.
I rated this book 3.5 stars for the following reasons: I did not like that they met when she was 17 and he openly called her jailbait. I hated the 10 year time jump. I did not like the way she handled the employee who had slept with the candidate. It felt icky. The candidate did something wrong too. The reason for their third act breakup and not speaking for 10 years was not as powerful as I’d hoped. All of this being said, I am looking forward to book 2 and I will be reading it, and I do recommend this book. I think that part of the trouble I had here was that Bloom generally does not publish books with such HEAVY content and the synopsis did not show the weight of the content. If I had a better idea of what I was walking into, I think I may have had a more positive response. I want to make it clear that from my perspective, a 3.5 star rating is a GOOD rating. It means I will recommend, but I had some personal issues that others may not experience. And as I reviewed this as an arc, I paid deeper attention to the contents.
Thank you Bloom and Netgalley for the opportunity to rate and review!
I’m so thankful for having received the arc for this book!! You just gotta love a Kennedy Ryan book. This book was really interesting, the difference of opinions, the storyline, the romance and honesty the slow burn as well!! I can’t wait for the next one!!!
A political Insta-love story through the decades. I felt like something was missing throughout the book, I have mixed feelings about the entire plot. Part 3 was where I felt the plot picked up its pace and I could not put it down. Could have use a bit more tension between Lennix and Maxim where it was necessary especially when they saw each other after a decade l.
Political Plot
Instalove/lust
Time Jumps
Age Gap
Open Door Romance
Lennix and Maxim as their story begins when she's 17 and they meet at a protest of an oil pipeline Maxim's father is trying to install over Native American land. Their paths reunite four years later- Lennix is trying to figure out what she wants to do after college graduation and Maxim has just finished his PhD in Climate Science and is headed to Antarctica for 8 months. When their paths cross again in Amsterdam, their connection is immediate, but Maxim is hiding something big.
His estranged family, specifically his father, is the one responsible for the oil pipeline. The third part of this story takes place 10 years after Amsterdam when they come back into each other's lives! Lennix is a successful campaign planner for politicians and Maxim is still trying to reverse the climate crisis and win Lennox back
It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.
Let me just start by saying, the ending of this book I was not prepared. Also, if you haven't read a Kennedy Ryan book, She cares so much about the characters and the stories she is writing and it shows.
Thank to netgalley for the arc.
💭 ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
This was not at all what I was expecting but in a good way. Pleasantly surprised by how gripping this story was. I loved the Native American element to the story. It gave it so much more body. The steam was real, which was a pleasant surprise. I loved the start of the end but I’m not quite sure how I feel about the ending. Definitely an interesting read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🤓 ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Native American stories
Strong female lead
Insta Love
Tight friendships
ꜱʏɴᴏᴘꜱɪꜱ:
𝘐𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦-𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘴, 𝘔𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮 𝘊𝘢𝘥𝘦'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘪𝘭 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭…𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘵 𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦, 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘱.
𝘓𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘹 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮'𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴. 𝘈𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘪𝘭 𝘱𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵. 𝘏𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘩𝘦'𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘩𝘦𝘳.
𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘓𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘹 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘥.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️🌶️This was a book about our heroine Lennix and her navigation though the world as a person who has the odds stacked against her and Maxim who has had almost everything handed to him on a silver platter. They are drawn together by unfortunate circumstances that drastically change the course of their lives. They each go through life trying trying to better the world, one by using politics for bettering the people and the other trying to save the worlds deteriorating environment. Honestly I was not sure about the reading a book that has politics in it. I read books to be lighthearted and fun and was a little nervous. I was so impressed with how eloquently the whole story was brought together. It could have easily been too much one way or the other but it was absolutely perfect. I loved how dedicated the main characters are to better themselves and the world. This was and epic love story! Fate keeps bringing them together and they both know what they have is rare but the question is how much will they both fight what they feel? There is so much that happens to these two and between these two over such a long amount of time that it’s really something special. I cannot recommend this book enough and will absolutely be reading the next one soon!
The first in the All the King’s Men duology, The Kingmaker follows Lennix Moon Hunter and Maxim Kigsmen Cade.
Lennix Hunter fights for her people and has come face-to-face with Cade’s oil company several times. But when a stranger protects her in a protest taking a violent turn her world turns upside down. Maxim Cade represents everything Lennix hates but if she doesn’t know the man she felt the pull towards is a Cade, Maxim has a clean slate to have her.
I loved every page every sentence Kennedy Ryan has written to build this story. The Kingmaker is not entirely a love story but a story about two people chasing their dreams and building their lives.
Maxim and Lennix give the star-crossed lovers vibe since the beginning but the sexual tension between the two is so strong that their attraction towards each other pulls into their world soon enough and leaves you hungry for more.
The story takes place over 15 years and so we as readers get to learn about both the MCs and their story as they live their lives and build their strong empires. There is betrayal, heartbreak, and a lot of pinning between the characters I was rooting for.
My first impression of Maxim Cade was a spoiled rich kid who would inherit his father’s empire and will go through a change of heart. Maxim proved me wrong from the first page. He was brave enough to make his own bold choice and walk through them. I loved him.
Lennix had big goals and she took her time choosing and exploring her options because she had no one else to prove anything to but herself. Maxim and Lennix had one week to themselves in Amsterdam and the build-up for their love story happens in one week full of passion and intimacy.
The kingmaker wants me to pack my bag and fly to Amsterdam in the hope of finding my own Maxim. (I’ll take him even if he isn’t filthy rich.)
This was my first Kennedy Ryan book and I loved her writing style. Her research about the indigenous people in North America is reflected well in the story.
Really enjoyed this action-packed journey that is filled with dangerous and exciting charters, heart racing twists and emotionally thrilling turns. An edge of your seat emotionally thrilling roller-coaster ride from beginning to end and I can't wait to see what happens next.
This book was absolutely amazing. It is so beautifully written. The Kingmaker is such a powerful read that touches on politics, the environment, and the struggles of Native-American indigenous people, with an epic love story mixed in.
Lennix is a Native American Indian of the Yavapai-Apache Tribe. She is brilliant, bold, and determined to make the world a better place.
Maxim is born into wealth. His father wants him to take over the family business, but Maxim refuses to follow in his father's footsteps. He's ambitious, brave, and also determined to make the world a better place. Lennix and Maxim's love story is full of heartbreak and passion spanning 4 continents and nearly 2 decades.
"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 right, I'll be back for you."
I rated this book 5/5 stars. Kennedy Ryan's writing is seriously so incredible. I didn't realize spicy scenes could be so beautifully written without being fade to black or even a hint of cringe, but Kennedy does it more than once! This book is powerful and moving, and should be at the top of everyone's TBR! If you like second chance romance, alpha heroes and heroines, and books that make you want to change the world, this is a MUST read!
Thanks so much to Kennedy Ryan and NetGalley for the ARC to read and review!
Kennedy Ryan does not miss!!! This is a new series that has me gripped. The cliffhanger at the end is intense and honestly feels like a crime (but it definitely has been excited for book 2)!
Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Book and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!
I'm gonna be real y'all. I didn't like this.
I just don't think there was any reason to make her a minor. And once she's not, all that talk of her finally being not off-limits was super gross. I know this book was originally published in 2019, and even that feels like too late for this kind of plot. I'd expect it in like 2016 and before.
I'd say 2.5 but I'll round up to 3 on here.
The first in the All the King’s Men duology, The Kingmaker follows Lennix Moon Hunter and Maxim Kigsmen Cade.
Lennix Hunter fights for her people and has come face-to-face with Cade’s oil company several times. But when a stranger protects her in a protest taking a violent turn her world turns upside down. Maxim Cade represents everything Lennix hates but if she doesn’t know the man she felt the pull towards is a Cade, Maxim has a clean slate to have her.
I loved every page every sentence Kennedy Ryan has written to build this story. The Kingmaker is not entirely a love story but a story about two people chasing their dreams and building their lives.
Maxim and Lennix give the star-crossed lovers vibe since the beginning but the sexual tension between the two is so strong that their attraction towards each other pulls into their world soon enough and leaves you hungry for more.
The story takes place over 15 years and so we as readers get to learn about both the MCs and their story as they live their lives and build their strong empires. There is betrayal, heartbreak, and a lot of pinning between the characters I was rooting for.
My first impression of Maxim Cade was a spoiled rich kid who would inherit his father’s empire and will go through a change of heart. Maxim proved me wrong from the first page. He was brave enough to make his own bold choice and walk through them. I loved him.
Lennix had big goals and she took her time choosing and exploring her options because she had no one else to prove anything to but herself. Maxim and Lennix had one week to themselves in Amsterdam and the build-up for their love story happens in one week full of passion and intimacy.
The kingmaker wants me to pack my bag and fly to Amsterdam in the hope of finding my own Maxim. (I’ll take him even if he isn’t filthy rich.)
This was my first Kennedy Ryan book and I loved her writing style. Her research about the indigenous people in North America is reflected well in the story.
The writing and the plot were easy to follow. It definitely falls into new adult.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC.
Kennedy Ryan truly has a way with words. I read Queen Move first, so I had a basic sense of Lennix and Maxim and was so excited to read their story too. It did not disappoint. Kennedy has a way of taking very serious topics, mixing them with romance, and coming out with a masterpiece. Getting to learn more about the cultures of Lennix, an indigenous woman. Lennix was such a strong, independent woman, and Maxim not only matched this, but encouraged it. I will say she was a little too headstrong at some parts, Yes, it did suck that Maxim lied to her, but she also could’ve taken time to listen because the reason was very valid. I feel like him breaking away from his father was enough proof that he didn’t want to be tied to him any longer. Overall, another fantastic book from Kennedy, and that cliff hanger?!
I LOVED this. So much more than I thought I would. It was so gripping. That moment when I turned the page and it was 10 years later - my god 💔 I just hate/love that kind of angst. Their chemistry was off the charts. And that cliffhanger!!! I cannot wait to read the next one - I’m confused though, because I don’t know if I should read The Rebel King or Queen Move?!