This book has all the feels- love, passion, longing, angst. It is an insane romance story with amazing chemistry between Maxim and Lennix. I was hooked within the first few chapters. The story travels through time it starts when Lennix is 17 and meets Maxim for the first time. Then fast forward 4 years to when they meet again. The third part is 10 years later Lennix is working the campaign for Maxim’s brother who is running for President. I loved the social and political aspects of the story. I loved the Native American aspects of Lennix’s story. The story does end on a big cliffhanger! I can’t wait to continue the story with the next book. Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

DNF at 15%

I liked the characters and the indigenous representation.
What I did not like is a man in his mid twenties pining after a 17 year old. Immediate no. I don’t care that it jumps 4 years to her being 21. It’s still gross. The author could have at least made her 18 at the beginning, come on.

𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary romance📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
It’s so much more than a romance. Kennedy Ryan can do no wrong!

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Strong characters
Beautiful writing
Powerful storylines
Great chemistry and tension
Enemies to lovers
Second chance romance

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Diverse characters

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
The cliffhanger ending!
I wish there was a little more romance
10 years seems like a large gap without contact

I am such a fan of Kennedy Ryan's writing and the way she always tackles real issues with such care and compassion in all of her books and The Kingmaker is no exception. This is an exceptional book that kept me engaged from the outset.

Lennix Hunter is a very strong woman who is a member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, an American Indian tribe. Her heritage and her culture are a huge part of her and who she is. They have shaped who she is and she is a strong and formidable heroine because of it.

Maxim Cade comes from wealth and privilege and while he is appreciative of that, he does not see eye to eye with his father on the business that he runs and Maxim has different ideas of what his future is going to look like. He doesn't share the same beliefs as his father and he sets out to carve his own path even if that means setting out completely on his own.

Lennix and Maxim are brought into one another's universe and once they are, it seems as if they were always meant to be there. The connection between them is apparent and so very strong from the second they meet. While this is a love story, it is about so much more. We learn so much about Lennix's heritage, which I so appreciate, and Ryan did a marvelous job of really digging in and making sure we understood the nuances along with the broader strokes. We also learn so much about what is happening to our planet through climate change, which is such an important topic right now. While we are being entertained, we are also learning, which is such a skill in itself.

This was an extraordinarily powerful book and I have no doubt that The Rebel King, the next book, will be as well. I can't wait to get my hands on that one as well!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

This book was interesting. I enjoyed the dual point of views of Lennix and Maxim. I love that they both are willing to grow together. They stay true to who they are. This book was written really well. I was not expecting the ending at all! Can’t wait to read more books by Kennedy. Thank you NetGalley and Kennedy, and Bloom books for the ARC!

WOW!!
I have read a couple other books by Kennedy Ryan and each one amazes me, this one did not disappoint.
The story of Maxim and Lennix is pure intense fire. Their story is heartfelt and very powerful. This book was / is a gamechanger.

This is an epic love story that covers over a decade. Often when this happens there is no backstory given, which I need, but Kennedy Ryan does not disappoint and gives you that foundation so you become invested in Lennix and Maxim. When they first meet Lennix is only 17 years old, but this meeting leaves a mark on the both of them. This first meeting strikes such a chord in both of them that when they meet again many years later, that spark from all those years ago starts to burn again, only now everyone is of age. Kennedy Ryan does a wonderful job showing you how intrigued they are by each other. She lets them get to know each other slowly through words and an intimacy that is sometimes overlooked.

Lennix is a member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, an American Indian Tribe. Her identity is her culture, background and heritage. It has helped her to grow into the powerful and strong woman that she is. Maxim Cade is her perfect match. He is born into wealth and has been groomed to take over his fathers empire, but Maxim has other plans. He doesn't agree with how his father sees things and so he cuts himself off from his father and strikes out on his own.

The connection between Lennix and Maxim is very strong. Even after being apart for many years, and you can feel it. This story is so much more than romance. It is a powerful love story. It is the story of a man and a woman, the story of love between a woman and her heritage and a woman and man. Kennedy Ryan has done such a wonderful job telling the story of of Lennix's past. She did such a wonderful job that I didn't want it to end.

The Kingmaker is a wonderful story of two people who go after what they want. It's suspenseful and sensual. There are not enough words to describe how wonderful this book is. It is definitely a must read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this wonderful story in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fabulous. A sweeping romance that includes: political intrigue, family dynamics, class systems, etc.
It opens with the female main character that is protesting a pipeline from Cade Energy. Lennix stands up against the pipeline that will destroy land that was sacred grounds. Maxim Cade (son of her enemy) sees her and quickly tries to intervene.
He gets arrested with Lennix and the others. He feels things for her that he shouldn't. Once he gets released from jail- he disowns his father and goes on his own.
Four ears later- Lennix and friends end up in Amsterdam on a trip. Who does she encounter in the club? That's right..Cade.
They give in to their flirtations and spend a week together. Cade doesn't tell Lennix the complete truth of his identity and he goes to Antarctica (he is involved in climate change). She leaves for an opportunity in politics. They don't say goodbye in Amsterdam. Cade is life or death situation in Antarctica and his father rescues him. There is a press conference and that's how Lennix discovers the truth of Maxim's identity. She rejects him and they both go about living.
Ten years later, Lennix is known as the Kingmaker. Maxim's brother decides to run for President and Lennix is his political adviser. Maxim makes his intentions clear to her. Lennix finally decides to allow her heart to feel.
The book ends on a cliffhanger. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Thank-you Net Galley, Kennedy Ryan, and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

This book is so interesting!! One thing I don’t like about it was the way the ARC was sent- it made it a difficult read.

The Kingmaker is a contemporary romance book but also very different than anything I’ve read before.

I really enjoyed the uniqueness of the flash forward timeline. It gave us the ability to see some real character growth.

I also appreciated the minority cultural representation and the untouched political issues discussed that you don’t often see in romance books.

The cliffhanger is brutal. I was not expecting the ending. I’m amped to read book 2 and complete the duet.

Read if you like:
📸Flash forward timeline
💕2nd chance romance
🏛️Politics
👩🏾Olivia from Scandal vibes
🏞️Minority culture rep
‼️Opinionated and stubborn MC’s
🔎Romantic suspense
2️⃣Book 1 of 2

First off, thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book! Of course, the first thing that I have to applaud is the author’s beautiful prose. Told from dual perspectives, the way that Kennedy Ryan writes the feelings and thought processes of both the main characters is simply wonderful, and makes it so enjoyable to read. Even though there is instant connection between the two from the moment they met, their love story did not seem like the typical insta-love that the readers may find difficult to believe and follow. Instead, their story felt real, stimulating and genuine.

Another thing I would like to point out is the fact that the story is bigger than just the romance. I loved how both Lennix and Maxim, despite loving each other, are their own independent persons with strong goals and values. The incorporation of political commentary into the story as a subplot also makes it more of an intriguing read, and I loved how the author even included several feasible solutions to climate change within it. I could also tell that she has done amazingly extensive research on Native Americans to best develop Lennix’s character.

The only thing that bothers me a little bit was how they immediately liked each other the first time they met, and at this time Lennix was only 17 while Maxim was already a master’s student. There’s just something about this context that didn’t feel right. But I loved how it grew gradually over more than 10 years. It makes their relationship seem even more genuine and developed. Overall, a really captivating book that explores not only romance, but also larger and more serious themes.

Maxim and Lennix have such an epic love story that spans over a decade. Kennedy Ryan does an amazing job laying out the foundation of the story. At first, I was skeptical because I had no intention of reading this but I'm happy I did. This definitely won't be my last Kennedy Ryan book.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for letting me read this new edition ARC of The Kingmaker!

I genuinely do not think I could recommend this book enough! There is an excellent reason why I've heard about Kennedy's work as much as I have on Booktok. However, does it need to be loved and hyped up more? YES!

This dual POV romance follows Lennix, an young Apache woman who wants to change the world for the better by bringing power to marginalized voices, and Maxim, the son of an oil tycoon who falls out with his father over the use of fossil fuels and climate change.
The story follows our two main characters over a fourteen year time span and we are able to see how they grow and change as people, each finding their own success in their chosen fields. When they are brought back together for Maxim’s brother Owen’s presidential campaign, they finally decide to give their relationship a real go after all the years of near misses, lies by omission, and it not being the right time. We end on a crazy cliffhanger ending and I can’t wait to see what happens in the second novel of this duet.
Overall I found the writing and character development to be compelling and really well done. The spice was sprinkled throughout and I have a feeling we’ll see a lot more of it in the second book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Lennix and Maxim meet while Lennix is protesting a pipeline that Maxim's father wants to build on her tribe's sacred lands. The two have a connection immediately, but the time isn't right for them. What follows is an entire life with the two of them circling each other, but never quite getting it right. Maxim hasn't been truthful about who he is to Lennix, and both have plans and goals that don't include attachments to other people.

This book is an amazing and intriguing look at indigenous people and their many struggles, and also at politics and the games that surround it. In each point of their lives, Maxim and Lennix stay true to who they are: Maxim to his pursuit of saving the world from climate change, and Lennix to standing up for the marginalized.

Their relationship is heated and passionate but with so many backward steps and obstacles, that kept me reading and dying to find out if they would ever make it to a happy ending or not. This was an amazing story of two incredibly focused and strong people who somehow managed to fall in love depsite all the odds. I absolutley loved everything about it!

Thank you to Bloom Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Kennedy Ryan just never misses for me. When I first started this one I wasn't sure if it was going to be as impactful, because it started with the characters so young. One thing I like about Ryan's books is she doesn't shy away from time jumps which can encapsulate characters across their lifespans.

Lennix and Maxim come from opposite worlds but somehow find themselves crossing paths at multiple points in their lives.

I think one of my favorite things is that Lennix doesn't compromise her values for Maxim, which could so easily happen. They both maintain their personalities and who they are, but are willing to grow together.

And now I just have to wait for the follow up because that cliff hanger.... WHAT

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m perplexed that I had not read this book before. For some reason I thought it was mafia? I don’t know I’m an idiot but if you are like me IT’S NOT MAFIA. Not that I wouldn’t read mafia romance by Kennedy Ryan because I already loved her before this but HOT DAMN this book. Like I am going to think about Amsterdam every day of my life now so thanks for that. Like ughhhh. Totally ends on a cliffhanger so have The Rebel King at the ready so you can start it immediately. This duet has to get picked up for a Netflix series. It’s seriously so perfect for it. Like so much suspense and drama! Political and environmental activism. Not to mention the amazing Native American heroine that is such a freaking bad ass. Maxim is ok too I guess. ;)

Kennedy Ryan's writing is beautiful. Here, as in all of her books, she creates characters with meaningful relationships and backstories that are firmly rooted in our reality. This one didn't quite live up to the hype for me, but I'm sure this re-publication will bring in many new fans for Ryan.

THE CONS:
-I was uncomfortable with Lennix being 17 when she and Maxim met. I was relieved that nothing romantic happened between the two at the time, but the idea that she was so young but "mature" and he'd basically left enough of an impression that no one was good enough for her in the intervening four years before they met again rubbed me the wrong way.
-Personal preference, but I hate when books get hung up on a female main character's virginity and the value of giving it to the right person. Virginity is a patriarchal largely religious concept and it's just frustrating to me to see characters who are supposed to be so intelligent get hung up on it, and always becomes a weird power trip for the male to "take" that virginity, so that made like a quarter of this book, and arguably the most romantic section, uncomfortable for me.
-For a romance novel, this book has a lot of politics and a lot of action, plus a cliffhanger instead of a true happy ending. I think it's important to know what you're getting into before you pick it up.


THE PROS:
-I was initially nervous about an Indigenous main character being written by a non-Indigenous writer, but Ryan was clear that she's done her research and worked with Native folk to get things right here. As a non-Native myself I can't tell, but I hope that's the case and things felt genuine. I'm glad she doesn't shy away from the issue of MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) and I'm glad there is time spent on this novel addressing this issue in a very real way - I feel that'd be bold for 2023, let alone 2019 (when this book was originally published.)
-There's some great climate change commentary here with valid solutions.
-No one writes a sex scene like Kennedy Ryan. Steamy, simultaneously rough and tender, detailed without feeling cringey - the spicy parts were my favourite parts of the book, and I'll probably back for the sequel despite the fact that this was overall middling for me.

Lennix is a crusader. One of her biggest enemies is the Cane family. What she didn't expect was to fall in love with one of them.
Maxim wants nothing to do with his corrupt father. For him, that looks like lying to the beautiful girl he meets at a protest.

This was an interesting book (the first in a series). I liked Lennix and how much of her culture and backstory we got. I liked Maxim's character and all of the climate facts that came along with him. The beginning of the book was my favorite, honestly. Seeing them meet when they are young and so idealistic. But, I did have some problems as the story went along. I didn't like how the book was paced. I think it would have been better if the past and present chapters were mixed.
The present day chapters run like an episode of Scandal. Lennix played the part of Olivia. BUT, I wanted to see more of how she became that hard person.

All in all, this was an interesting action, spicy romance.

Rating 4.25/5

The Kingmaker was amazing. This story covers interesting topics about indigenous people, their culture and sustainable energy. I thought the author did a phenomenal job researching everything so that it could be portrayed as accurately. I liked how it was woven so well into the story.

Maxim and Lennix love story was one of those heart stopping, once in a lifetime love story. The wild, intense connection they had in the beginning was so deep. I felt their love. It was beautiful and real and painstakingly heartbreaking at times.

I loved seeing their growth individually and as a couple. I liked how they both strived to be the best and wanted to accomplish big goals. They were both career driven. I loved their determination.

The writing was amazing as well. The beginning was a bit slow for me. The second half definitely captivated me more. I'm excited to see how their story concludes.

Thank you to netgalley and Bloom books for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

🌺 THE KINGMAKER🌺
(Release date - May 23)

I stayed up so late last night to read this and finished it this afternoon and was left on a LITERAL CLIFFHANGER because the second book doesn't release until June 😭

This is book 1 of All The Kings Men Duology, and it did not disappoint!

🌺 dual POV and takes place over the course of 10+ years
🌺advocacy subplot (including topics such as Native American land, climate and sustainable practices)
🌺forbidden romance / he falls first

I loved this book for all of the above and the fact that both main characters did not compromise their dreams/morals to be with each other. It was important to both Lennix and Maxim to better their worlds and both stopped at nothing to do so. Safe to say I can't wait for the second book.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher @read_bloom for the ARC!