This book was not what I expected it to be. From the description, I wasn't expecting to have an introduction into the lives of Native Americans or to have an introduction to work in environmental change. Those elements of the book were enjoyable and I really enjoyed the first half of the book where we got to see more of who Lennix really is and how her background impacted the rest of her life.

A part of me feels like the true messages related to Native American people were downplayed by the love story that was central to the narrative. At times it felt like just a cheap ploy to create a more intriguing character, rather than actually being part of the story. I do wish the author had focused the plot on more of the impact to Native Americans rather than just using it to inform how the characters meet.

I did find it interesting that the story takes place over such a long amount of time. I don’t normally read books about MCs in their 30s, which I know a lot of people will enjoy.

Overall, the love story was really good and I loved the MCs personalities together. I think a lot of people would enjoy this.

I'm sorry, did Kennedy Ryan just write one of my all-time favorite academic romances? Yes. Yes, she did.

If I finish a book and haven't learned anything within those 300-or-so pages, then reading it was never worth it. But with "The Kingmaker," I learned SO much about Native American culture and politics. It was heart wrenching, beautiful, and well written.

This book has absolutely everything you could want from a romance novel--passion, lust, and all-around incredible writing. I mean truly, I don't say this about many authors, but Ryan's words spoke directly to my soul. And every single time Maxim Cade opened his mouth, I couldn't help but swoon. He's literally so poetic, but it's always believable. Do they even make men like that?

However, while Maxim really is a dreamy male love interest, Lennix Hunter's character takes the cake in this book. She's determined, bold, intelligent, and everything I aspire to be. I loved watching her grow during each time jump throughout the book, and I could see her develop from a teenager into a woman from the time the book starts until the time it ends.

And speaking of the ending... WHAT IN THE WORLD, KENNEDY. We need to have a word (and that second book) ASAP.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the team at Sourcebooks/Bloom Books for this e-ARC. What're the odds you'll send me the second book in this duology?? (I'm begging)

EDITED FROM ORIGINAL REVIEW AFTER FURTHER CONSIDERATION:

I normally judge a book by how much I think about it once I’ve read the final page. I finished “The Kingmaker” this morning, and I've found myself thinking about it often.

I liked the complexity that Ms. Ryan has given to both Maxim and Lennix. Lennix is deeply rooted to her Apache heritage, so much so that it really defines the choices she makes in her life. After experiencing loss, we see a driven and confident adult Lennix, so much so that it’s not so easy to see that those losses also left their scars. In her quest to change the world, she needs to find a way to open herself up to possibility and love. Meanwhile, Maxim is so passionate about climate change and forging his own path, but the further he goes to achieving his goals, the more he starts to sound like the person he is at odds with. There were many times where I couldn’t figure out if I was supposed to root for Maxim or consider him the heel of the story.

While I am not as educated on these topics, it felt like Ms. Ryan handled the portions of the book revolving around the Apache culture and traditions, as well as climate change initiatives, with respect.

EDIT: After sitting on this for awhile, I think my biggest issue with this book how the love scenes are handled comparative to the topics handled. There is a lot of attention paid to MMIW, and having respect for these women's lives, but then during sex scenes or the lead-up to sex scenes, Lennix is often mentioned as Maxim's possession. I really tried to overlook this when thinking about this book because I did like the characters and the larger topics, but I wish this was handled a bit better considering the importance of the larger topics. From the few steamier books I've read, this seems to be a popular trend, but I have to think Ms. Ryan could have done better. As much as I liked the overall, when I think about what I read it always feels a little muddied because of this.

With this, I still think this is a worthwhile read, and I already have my next Kennedy Ryan book lined up. I give this book 4/5 stars.


**Thank you SO MUCH to Bloom Books, NetGalley and Kennedy Ryan for the advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion. It was a privilege to read this book!**

Kennedy Ryan finds a way to make me root for couples that I don't even think should be together!
And Lennix and Maxim are no different in that respect.
It's refreshing to read a story about Indigenous Americans and even better when the plot is connected to real life/real world events.

Lennix is an advocate for Indigenous people. Maxim is an advocate for climate control. Their paths cross over and over again until destiny (or fate) has its way, but did it win out in the end?

Seeing how strong minded Lennix is had me cheering but gritting my teeth because her strong mindedness also translated into her being stubborn.

The ending sent me reeling, so now I HAVE to get my hands on the next book!

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

The Kingmaker is my first Kennedy Ryan read but definitely won't be my last.


Lennix is a fighter for her pack and wants equal rights for everyone out there. She goes out on Indian reservations and fights for piplines NOT to be built. She's a campaigner and everyone wants her on their team for her values.

Maxim is the complete opposite of his father. He cannot stand his father's values and wants nothing to do with the family pipeline business. Hence why he runs after Lennix when his father is about to make a big speech in the past.

Lennix refuses to give up who she truly is but will she be able to withstand the Kingmaker?

I enjoyed reading The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan and enjoyed the author's note that was placed at the beginning. I appreciated the cultural input that Ryan led with and the quick paced chapters placed throughout. While this didn't catch my attention the whole time throughout reading, I definitely will be looking to grab the second one based on that ending!

Thank you Sourcebooks Bloom and Netgalley for my earc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Is it enough to just say I'm obsessed with Kennedy Ryan and leave it at that? Probably not but it's true. The Kingmaker is such a deep and beautiful story that covers love in all its forms. Love for people, for your culture, for family, and yes for romantic love as well.

This one was a no for me. I hated the main characters and never made a connection with them. Lennix is made out to be vapid and only likes Maxim because he has a pretty face and went to a protest. She literally knows nothing about him. Maxim is just a lying liar who lies. Lennix is apparently too “in love” to clarify who his SENATOR BROTHER is when you know, there’s only 100 senators. It’s idiotic. While the author thanks some natives for their help it still seems gross that she is writing about a natives experience.

Also, this is not even a new book, but a rerelease so my review means literally nothing. Not an appropriate use of NetGalley in my opinion, since I would have skipped reading a book that was over 3 years old already.

I enjoyed The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan. I found the story intriguing and emotional. The writing was concise although I found the pacing a little slow at times.

The relationship between Lennix and Maxim was definitely tense and suspenseful and kept me interested and reading. However, I had a hard time liking Lennix. Certain relationship complications felt overblown and drawn out by her character and it definitely pulled me out of the story at times. I wish we'd had a little more character development with the side characters. In some ways they were more interesting than main.

The spice was on point and definitely made the relationship between Lennix and Maxim more interesting. I wish the timeline had been tighter so we could have been given more Romance scenes. But I'm anxiously hoping for more in the second book. Overall really solid book and I'm excited to continue with book two when it's released.

The Kingmaker" by Kennedy Ryan is a beautifully written and engaging romance novel that kept me captivated from start to finish. The characters are complex, realistic, and incredibly well-developed, making it easy to become fully invested in their lives and their love story.

The story itself is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, filled with moments of triumph and tragedy that left me feeling a wide range of emotions. The author's writing style is poetic and lyrical, making even the most mundane moments feel like something special.

But what truly sets this book apart is its powerful message about social justice and activism. The author seamlessly weaves in themes of political activism, social inequality, and the power of community to create positive change in the world. It's a timely reminder that love and justice are intertwined, and that we all have the power to make a difference in the world around us.

Overall, "The Kingmaker" is an absolute must-read for anyone who loves romance novels that are equal parts heartwarming and thought-provoking. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a powerful and inspiring read.

Kennedy Ryan never fails!! Just like her other romance books, this felt incredibly real because of the research and context she provided. I loved this book because of the truth it told and how it gave a historical lens about missing Indigenous woman and the government’s takeover of their land. The spice was spicing!! Although I find the “love at first sight” theme always hard to believe, I really enjoyed how powerful the female, main character of this book is. Her love interest can’t get enough of her!!
I can’t tell you the last time I was left on a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger in a romance book at that! I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!

I have tried multiple times to get in to this book but I just can't connect. I'm already annoyed with both characters and their choices. Dnf at 20%

First half was great. It was a whirlwind of romance and politics and the set up was great since we got to know the characters and their dreams. I loved how ambitious they were.
Second half kinda lost me. The ten year jump felt unnecessary? I wish we had more moments between them but it was great to see them established in their careers.

But 10 years of pining after someone? I’m quitting. It could’ve been done well but no effort was made on both their sides. Or is that because we never got to see that on paper? I’m confused.

And my god do I hate it when grown folk lie to themselves and aren’t honest. And it’s stupid little things too.

I’m still interested enough in the second book since it is Kennedy Ryan. I just hope book 2 strikes the balance just right.

“I know it’s unreasonable because I met her no more than an hour ago. We’ve had one conversation. Some people leave an impression. Lennix Moon Hunter has left more than an impression. She’s left her mark on me. And it’s shaped like a star.”

I absolutely loved this book. I received this ARC from NetGalley and I have absolutely fallen in love with this source/website for ARCs. I have found so many new authors that I absolutely love and stories that will stay with me for a very long time.

I’ve got to thank NetGalley for introducing me to Kennedy Ryan. This is my first book of hers and I loved it. Everything was done beautifully – the writing, the characters, the story, the ending. You know it’s a good book when the characters are amazing as individuals but when you put them together.. *chef’s kiss*

We meet Lennix, who is part of the Yavapai-Apache Nation Indian Tribe. She’s dedicated to her background and confident in her beliefs.

Maxim is someone who grew up in wealth and power but doesn’t want to hold true to his father’s views.

“This is not about blaming for the past. It’s about us all being responsible for the future.”

I loved that Kennedy included so many current issues that the world is dealing with. Because of this, The King Maker is much more than a romance novel.

I will be checking out more of Kennedy’s books! I highly recommend this one!

Kennedy Ryan is one of my favorite authors. She has the most beautiful writing and she sucks you in with her lyrical words. Her powerful stories and strength-filled characters are one of the things I love about her writing.

However, sadly The Kingmaker was not the story for me. I enjoyed the first half of the book, but I kind of lost interest in the second half. I felt like there was too much information dumped on readers and I just sort of lost interest. But I will still read the second book in the series, because of my love for this author.

Overall I appreciated how much effort was put into the research behind the ethical issues and cultural history of this story. This was cute and heavily political which I appreciate and typically enjoy. I do think however Maxim was a bit stereotypical which made it a bit painful to read at some points but overall this was a good story! A bit heavier romance than I’ve seen and I loved the premise again.

● Book Review ●
• Name: The Kingmaker
• Author: Kennedy Ryan
• Genre: Romance
• Rating: 4 ⭐️
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●Thoughts ●
This book was such a fast paced romance read and I enjoyed it. The book is not just a simple romance but the complexity is what really stood out to me. Specifically, the aspect of heritage and diversity was written so well in this book. I really enjoyed how Kennedy Ryan incorporated the aspect of heritage of Native American people and she did it so well. A strong fmc is what I love and Lennix is one if them and how Maxim (mmc) complement each other and how they were made for each other is perfect. Absolutely enjoyed the way she delivers her characters and plot so well ♡♡♡.
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● Appreciation ●
Thank you Kennedy Ryan, Netgalley, and Bloom Books for the e-ARC copy!
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● Tags ●
#romamcebook #booktok #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #romamcebookrecommendation #thekingmaker #kennedyryan #bloombooks #arc #arcreview

Stunning!
Is there is one book to read in 2019, this is it!!
Powerful and exciting!
Hauntingly beautiful!
Unique, smart, and thought provoking.
Lennix and Maxim’s story is bursting with passion, humor and self discovery.
From page one I was swept into a world I knew little about and the author took great effort in creating a story that was insightful and smart.
Fast paced and captivating, I couldn’t put this book down as Lennix and Maxim get to know one another and in the process themselves!
More importantly, this is not just a sexy steamy romance. It’s an insightful story of self discovery and loyalty!
Worthy of 10 stars!

The Kingmaker is a powerful story of two people; both determined and bold enough to go after what they want. The story unfolds over time after Lennix meets Maxim when she is 17 years old. They have an immediate and undeniable connection. The second time they meet, the connection grows more intense and what can only be described as palpable physical attraction has become more apparent.

Lennix is a Native American member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, whose cultural heritage and background are true cornerstones of her identity. They made her the strong and dominant woman that she has become. She is the impressive heroine.

Maxim grew up with wealth and a predefined destiny to inherit and run his father’s vast empire. He doesn’t want the future that is laid out before him, and doesn’t share his father’s principles. Maxim wants his freedom from his father and his rules; therefore, he ventures out, determined to make it on his own.

Kennedy Ryan creates a love story that supersedes any boundaries of romance, and immerses you in the fabric and the foundation of the tale of Lennix and Maxim.

Thank you to Kennedy Ryan, NetGalley, and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest and unbiased review.

3 - ⭐⭐⭐

A fine book, but a not-so-romantic romance.

Personally, I didn't care for all of the environmental science talk. I know that was mentioned in the synopsis, but I suppose I didn't realize just how much it would be talked about. There was quite a bit of it and a lot either went in one ear and out the other, or it'd break my immersion and make me think about all of the sad and depressing things that are actually happening in the world. For me, reading is an escape, and being frequently reminded of the horrors of climate change while I'm trying to escape in a romance is not what I would ideally seek out.

In terms of characters, I liked Lennix as a protagonist. I really enjoyed her personality and I loved having a native American lead since they're sorely underrepresented in literature. On the other hand, I didn't like Maxim at all. I didn't find much redeeming about him and he just came off as a painfully average white man. I didn't understand how he's supposedly obsessed with Lennix, yet he didn't seek her out and had no problem seeing other women during their decade apart. It genuinely didn't feel like he was hung up on her until he saw her again, which left a bad taste in my mouth.

I also didn't love the time skips and thought that they didn't feel super necessary. It just seemed really weird that these people have known each other for so long and they straight up didn't communicate.

When it came to the romance, I could take or leave it. It felt like all they did was sleep together or have tension because they wanted to sleep together. I didn't feel much of substance between the both of them in terms of love or an actual relationship, but I could see where their ideals lined up and I can't deny their chemistry. It could be that this is something that gets more development later.

Maybe this book or this series just isn't for me, but it was my first book by Kennedy Ryan and I did enjoy her writing style! I don't think I'll read the other books in this series, but I'm definitely not opposed to reading something else written by her. I've heard great things about Hoops, so I'll plan to come back to that sometime in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review!