The Kingmaker is another hit from Kennedy Ryan and is deserving of this re-release. This story grabs you from the beginning with the instant attraction between Maxim and Lennix, both fighting for change in a world that mocks them for their beliefs and traditions. This love story spans decades and has everything to love about romance stories: chemistry, intensity, second chance romance, and angst with a side of political intrigue and activism. And the cliffhanger has me holding my breath, waiting for the conclusion of this epic love story.

3.75 ⭐

I have very mixed feelings about this book
Literally hated Maxim until the truth came out. But Lennix is someone I connected with deeply, especially with what she went through with her mom's death at a young age. I just loved her growth and the vision she has for herself and the world and was really looking forward to the political campaign. I admire Maxim but I also feel he's too privileged. Yes, we are shown his personal conflicts but it wasn't as deeply felt or portrayed compared to Lennix. I hope to see more in book 2

When Lennix was 13 years old, her mother disappeared at a protest for a pipeline across Native American land. Ever since then, Lennix's goal in life it to help protect the livelihood and land for Native people. Maxim, on the other hand, is the son of the biggest oil mogul in the country. When Maxim cuts his father out of his life for not sharing the same ideals about saving the planet, he abandons his last name, instead choosing to go by Maxim Kingsmaker. When Maxim and Lennix meet at a pipeline protest, they are inexplicably drawn together. This book spans two decades of their lives and their relationship. Can a relationship be successful if it started in betrayal?

Well, I'm going to be perfectly honest. I have absolutely no idea why I requested this book. I think I was just too eager, saw the pretty cover and the title, and assumed it was probably a fantasy romance. I was definitely wrong haha. This was definitely a political romance filled with tons of spice. Because I'm not a huge fan of excess sex scenes or modern day politics, this one was hard for me to enjoy. I do think the story was very well written and I really loved the Native awareness it brought out. I honestly think that if you are a political romance fan, you'd probably rate this book a 4-5 star. Unfortunately, I'm giving it a 3 stars, just because it wasn't my cup of tea.

This is my first Kennedy Ryan but I loved it! I really enjoyed how Ryan deftly incorporated serious real-world topics like the climate crisis and MMIW into a romance novel. These characters care deeply about these issues, and we get a chance to see into their respective brains as they grapple with trying to make the world a better place. I also loved this approach to a second-chance romance - the kismet of running into each other after a fleeting encounter, and the journeys both characters go in in the intervening years. The characters are both swoony even if the MMC is a bit of an alphahole, and the steam is steamy. This book ends on huge cliffhanger and I am immediately diving into the next one.

Lennix is 0ne of the most well-written female protagonists! It is going to be extremely difficult for me to say anything negative about this book. She is highly intelligent, passionate, and fiercely loyal. Her Native American background is such a refreshing change and I love how it plays such a critical role in the plot.

Maxim is sexy AF, confident, and determined. He wants to solve the issue of climate change, so this man has some goals. It clearly derives from the complexity of having a father working in the oil business - Maxim and his dad clash all the time and he often lives in the shadow of his dad. Maxim keeps the identity of his father from Lennix when they meet at a protest for a pipeline when they are both young. Lennix is seventeen, so they do not start a relationship due to her being underage. Four years later, they have a chance encounter in Amsterdam where they enjoy each other's company for a week. They plan to keep it going, but their career hopes get in the way. Maxim's secret comes back to haunt them both.

Will they find their way back to each other? Dear reader, you will have to get this book to find out! Kennedy Ryan never disappoints!!

Three and a half
My first book by this author and I have to say I enjoyed this very much and yet I’m not giving it a higher rating because for me the romance element just didn’t particularly feel right. I very much liked that the heroine was a Native American woman with strong cultural beliefs and a heritage that she was proud of. Plus as the story progressed Lennix becomes very much her own woman . Maxim has it all money, looks you get the idea but clearly from the start has some serious daddy issues. I applaud him for gaining his independence and boldly making his own way in the world . However I cannot help but roll my eyes at the idea of him becoming the global warrior portrayed and oh yes by the way hugely successful financially through his endeavours !
This is a story that very much reflects today’s political and ecological climate and honestly I’m all for that. This couple cannot keep their hands off each other but I just missed romance and felt unbridled passion wasn’t a substitute. The bottom line is I really had fun reading this but I’m not sure if I’m desperate to read the next book.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I am so excited more readers will find The Kingmaker thanks to the lovely people at Bloom Books. I jumped at a chance to re-read a book that is equal parts an important story of Indigenous and climate activism and breathtaking romance. Simply this book is powerful.

This story highlights the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the fear of going missing and the threat of violence is a reality affecting Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited individuals across the United States and Canada. Do not let this book be your only source of knowledge on the topic I urge you to learn more (if you are in Canada consult the Final Report from the Commission on MMIWG).

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…
Characters: This story is incredibly powerful and so are its characters. When we meet Lennix she is a young Indigenous girl, a member of the Yavapai-Apache nation straddling the worlds of Indigenous activism and being an older teen getting ready for college. Her character is inspirational throughout the book for a multitude of reasons. For her indigenous activism, spurred on by her mother’s disappearance Lennix was on the front line of protests from the age of seventeen. I also admire the care she holds for herself, something as simple as the way she treated her virginity was very profound. Of course, you cannot help but admire the hustle of the adult Lennix you come to know, the political activist and campaign organizer. A powerful heroine needs a hero to match and Lennix finds a lover and a rival in Maxim Cade. When you meet Maxim, he decides to forsake his father’s money and name to pursue future studies in the field of climate, something his oil company-owning father abhors. It is very difficult to not fall hard and fast for this charming and caring man. He too is driven and passionate, no doubt the qualities Lennix fell for.
Setting: This book takes on a few settings as it is told over a period of many years. When you meet our characters it is in Arizona at a protest against the laying down of a pipeline on ancestral lands. The most special chunk of this book is actually set in Amsterdam, as it is where our characters start to fall in love and have many firsts. Much of the later part of the book brings us to the moving and shaking of Washington, DC politics and campaigning. I live for all the political drama and I know others will eat it up too.
Pacing: The pacing is just so compelling. There are many time jumps in this book and they suited the story so well. It really helps you understand the gravity of Lennix and Maxim’s relationship as it transcends obstacles such as time and distance. I love the start of the book, both the prologue depicting Lennix’s Sunrise ceremony and her mother’s disappearance. As well as the first few chapters thrust us right into an important day: Lennix’s impassioned speech while leading a pipeline protest, Maxim joining in defiance of his father, and their meeting for the first time.
Romance: The way these characters came together that fateful night of re-connection in Amsterdam, wow it was just electric. Kennedy Ryan did a phenomenal job depicting Lennix’s first time, it had immense meaning and importance, while still balanced against Nix’s agency. I am going to use the word powerful again but I cannot help it, it is a powerful relationship. The way they fall fast and hard is breathtaking. No fear this book’s heavy themes are balanced with scorchingly hot sex scenes. It truly is Kennedy Ryan at her best, with her special mix of powerful storytelling, BIPOC characters, and equal parts activism and adoration.
I just want to reiterate that there is so much care put into this book. Kennedy Ryan discusses her research into cultural practices and current issues helped along with the assistance of Indigenous women. Kennedy’s admiration for Indigenous culture and womanhood is evident, making this an even more beautiful book.

Pub Day Book Review • THE KINGMAKER

Happy re-release day to @kennedyryan1!

I’m going to start by stating that Kennedy Ryan is now an auto-buy author for me 🥰 THE KINGMAKER was a beautiful and powerful love story. Lennix and Maxim are extraordinary together, you can feel the love radiate through the pages. Separately they were a force to be reckoned with...but together?! ❤️‍🔥 I love how Kennedy gives her female characters a voice - powerful and sexy AF.

Leave it to Kennedy to not only write a beautiful love story but also incorporate important topics with such ease and grace. These elements only elevated Lennix’s and Maxim’s stories. And we get both POVs 😮‍💨

All this to say, I can’t wait to read book 2 - THE REBEL KING after that cliffhanger! 🙌

Thank you @netgalley @read_bloom @kennedyryan1 for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 🖤

Diverse representation of characters, and wonderful perspectives from the indigenous culture! I loved the themes in this book and can't wait for the next book to come out! I recommended this for LibraryReads for the diversity and accuracy to the cultures represented. Five of five strong stars.

4.5⭐️ this story was definitely so much more than i anticipated

as much as this is a romance and i loved to see the developing love between Lennix and Maxin, this story was so much more! we are completely emerged into the Native culture and history. we get all these political aspects, we get into activism, we get it all!!

back onto the relationship though, i do wish that Nix wasn’t fighting herself so much, granted i don’t know how i would feel in her position given the information she had, but like, 10 years??? baby at that point-

and can we talk about that ending?? hello?? it went from 0 to 100 so quick and i can wait to see how the next story will good

This book has you hope to right from the start! It is captivating, emotional and the writing is amazing. The ending had me screaming and I can’t wait for the next one! Five stars and I would give even more if I could.

Okay. I’ll admit I’m late to the Kennedy Ryan party. I requested this book on NetGalley not realizing it was for a re-release but she has me hooked!! I will be getting my hands on the second book as soon as I can!

Mixed with romance, conflict and real life issues this book not only has you begging for more but also thinking about our world in a whole new light. Nix’s fire and Maxim’s passion are forced to be reckoned with on their own but put them together and those two are unstoppable. I cannot wait to see the rest of their story unfold.

The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan
Genre: contemporary romance
Format: ebook
Length: 352 pages

Thanks to NetGalley, Bloom Books, and Kennedy Ryan for an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

✨Read this if you enjoy: ✨
📺 Scandal vibes (tv show)
🗳️Political Plot
🔥Instalove/lust
⏳Time Jumps
🖤Age Gap
🌶️ Open Door Romance

In this book we follow both Lennix and Maxim over the span of several years. Lennix is a woman who isn’t afraid to speak out; she is constantly trying to bring a voice to the voiceless. Her passion for equality of marginalized people only increases when her own activist mother goes missing. Maxim and Lennix meet during a protest…but she doesn’t realize that it’s Maxim’s own father who is trying to build a pipeline on her ancestral land. Maxim comes from a father who isn’t used to hearing the word no. But Maxim has no desire to take over the family business, instead he wants to make an impact helping the environment.

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, what have you been doing? One of the things I love the most about Kennedy Ryan is that she does her research. She cares so much about the characters and the stories she is writing and it shows.

Whew, Kennedy Ryan knows how to write a steaming hot romance with loveable mcs! This one features Maxim "Doc" a rich philantropist and environmentalist who spends his time in places like Antarctica and the Amazon to push his agenda for a greener planet and Lennix "Nix" who fights for big oil companies to stop putting pipelines on sacred grounds and works to help diversify and bring voices to people of color. The story spans over a time frame of >10 years and I loved seeing how Maxim and Lennix's relationship grew and the chemistry between them was 🔥

Thank you NetGalley, Bloom Books, and Kennedy Ryan for a copy of this re-release!

The Kingmaker follows Lennix Moon Hunter and Maxim Kingsman Cade over the span of several years. Lennix is 13 in the beginning of this book, and by the end she is 31. She is an activist for the marginalized groups using her experiences as an Indigenous woman to help better the world. Maxim Cade is the son of a oil tycoon who doesn’t want anything to do with his “family” business. He prefers green energy and wants to help with climate change and environmental protection!

I was not prepared for the end of this book, and I’m so glad I have the second book waiting to be read because that cliffhanger is shocking! I absolutely loved all the diversity in this book. Kennedy Ryan did note that she got input from Indigenous people to help her get it right in her book and it shows. One thing that I didn’t like and it took me out of the story we’re all the time jumps. I get it. They are done to make sure the story doesn’t drag, but still.

Read this if you enjoy:
* Activism/Political Themes
* Olivia Pope vibes (TV show “Scandal”)
* Second Chance Romance
* Instalove/lust
* Age Gap
* Time Jumps
* Indigenous MFC

I felt indifferent about this book. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. I think it was the story itself for me. I want to read more from this author in the future, but this was not the book for me.

Thank you to BloomBooks and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: missing parent presumed dead, grief, toxic relationship with a parent, kidnapping, missing indigenous women,

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary romance
-forbidden romance
-political intrigue
-insta attraction
-It's always been you

This was a reread for me and I got sucked right back in to Maxim and Lennix's world. How these two kept circling each other's orbits. Both are so passionate about justice and doing better in the world, yet in different ways. Lennix was just a BAMF who took no prisoners and just was always looking to do the best for the world with her life. A great friends and just a dedicated public servant behind the scenes Lennix's character was so informed by her upbringing as a Native American and I loved all of those insights into her and her background.

Maxim is an alpha with a capital A and just gone on Lennix from the very first moment. He never had any doubt about her and was just all in, but also equally as passionate about his own future. I mean who doesn't love a hot nerd who's into protecting the world from climate change and has a bunch of graduate degrees. Try not to swoon.

These two have their share of obstacles in their path but with some major sexual attraction and an inability to stay away from the other, these two are just such a match for the other. Beware the ending of this book will make you desperate to read book 2.

Steam: 3.25

Absolutely 5 stars! Thank you so much Bloom Books and NetGalley for this ARC I was riveted. This had me way interested in more than the romance although the romance and spice was incredible. This has second chance, indigenous rep, social changers/activists, a dash of politics, and a surprising amount of adventure.

When I read the first two parts I thought I knew what to expect (and was enjoying it) but then the story got even twistier. Heads up this ends on a cliffhanger but I know the next one is going to be amazing. Excited to have discovered this in the cover re-release.

This is one of my favorite romance novels I've ever read. I love Kennedy Ryan's writing and how she creates her characters. This story is the perfect balance of romance and steam.

I just finished The Kingmaker and holy h. e. double hockey sticks. I devoured this book overnight.

Ms. Kennedy has intricately woven a storyline that had me diving in head first and I was taken into the world of Cade. The fabric of this story is intriguing, romantic, and emotional with topics that are relevant to our world today.

The chemistry between Maxim and Lennix sizzles through the pages and it just keeps building momentum.

Two individuals, strong, confident, and driven going in separate directions but seem to somehow find it's way back to one another. Their story has taken a hold on me and I have to find out what happens next.

Warning, it ends with a cliffhanger, which I was not aware of. I am definitely adding The Rebel King to my must read list.