The way this book ended first of all should be illegal!!
It's impossible not to love Lennix, she is just the perfect character and I'm rooting for her so hard.
Kennedy Ryan is one of those authors whose shopping list I know I would love.

Of course I’m speechless. What else is new?
Leave it to Kennedy to make you sob while reading the very last page, the very last line of the book. Seriously, the amount of times I cried reading a Kennedy Ryan book had me looking for a support group. Is there a community out there for us? A compensation we can claim somewhere?

I’m truly in awe of how carefully and beautifully culture and tradition was explored in this book. Each page reeks of knowledge, you know? From the tribes and ceremonies, to the countries and languages briefly mentioned, It’s evident how much time, energy, and resources Kennedy spent on this book. And that’s one of the many reasons I found this book beyond beautiful. It was entertaining and educational.

I really want to appreciate Kennedy Ryan’s writing. Her writing style is just perfect. I love the pacing of her books and she really knows how to blend words like recipes. She knows how to make them palatable and emotional and striking. Every book I’ve read of hers is beautifully jotted. Effortlessly well written. Poetry. So enticing that you forget you are reading sometimes.

Lennix and Maxim’s story is one of a kind. It’s very intense, yet so seamless. Emotional. Very emotional. Also inspiring. Lennix is a definition of a strong, devoted woman. I love strong women. Maxim is a man in love, but he is also a man with passion. A determined man with big dreams. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciated the depth of the book. How much I loved the roads taken by both characters.

I’m so eager to get my hands on the rest of the series!!

The Kingmaker is an absolutely incredible novel that left me spellbound from the very first page. Kennedy Ryan's talent shines through in this powerful and heartfelt story of Maxim and Lennix, two characters whose fiery intensity is matched only by their unwavering dedication to their passions and convictions.

I fell in love with Maxim and Lennix at first sight and was swept away by their love and connection, which felt like a once in a lifetime kind of love that came right off the pages. Ryan's writing is so emotional and riveting that I felt every word straight down to my core. The way she captures every look and touch between the characters is breathtaking and made me hold my breath when all seemed lost.

Without giving away any spoilers, I can say that The Kingmaker is a gamechanger to be reckoned with. Ryan's compassionate heart comes through in her writing, and her characters are so well-crafted that I couldn't help but be in awe of their story. I loved every word of this novel and can't wait to read The Rebel King.

In short, The Kingmaker is a magnificent novel that showcases Ryan's immeasurable talent as a writer. Her characters are powerful forces to be reckoned with, and their story is one that will stay with me long after I've turned the last page.

This book felt like a romance book and a political TV drama series (in the second half) all in one. Super unexpected but really well executed! The story is set over a long time frame which can sometimes be clunky but the wonderful writing style made this story really interesting and enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

I was not expecting this book, in any way shape or form. Kennedy Ryan opened the NetGalley ARC of this book up for 500 people before it went back to request only, which is amazing accessibility wise for people who may not have been able to read it otherwise. I was super excited to get my hands on it, thinking it wasn't out yet, and then by the end realized it was already out, along with the rest of the series which is great because now I don't have to wait to read the next ones!

I have not been this captivated by a book in a long time. I read it in one day, which is not my norm. I could NOT put it down. The way that Kennedy Ryan wrote this book made these characters so lovable, and so BELIEVABLE that I could feel their connection jumping off the pages and it only pulled me in deeper. Some of the tropes in this can be hit or miss, but Ryan did them so well. Maxim and Lennix were the definition of powerful, on their own and with each other.

This book also discusses incredibly important issues. The Native American representation in this book is so important, especially since there is not enough Native American rep being published. And while the book does have a large political element, it focuses on the important of giving power to the people who are wanting to fight for injustice and change for marginalized people, and that is something that is relevant still four years later, and will be relevant until there is real change in our country.

This is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far, and my first Kennedy Ryan book, and I'm so so so excited to read more by her!

* This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
The King Maker started off as a slow burn, with them Nix being 17 years dealing with a heavy loss. Maxim dealing with his crazy father. Now after that things picks up in Amsterdam with a week of passion, things were a little spicy. This book had a lot of politics(which I really enjoy) knowledge on how Indigenous women go missing and none really care. How rich people have the world at their finger tips and still want more control and power. I didn’t expect this book to be spanned over such a long period of time like 14 years.This was too good, i can’t believe i finished this book in two days i was so invested. Of course i don’t expect anything less from Kennedy Ryan. I instantly went to to look for the second book! Yes ma’am i need it asap

Oh gosh this book was absolutely incredible.

I don’t know what Kennedy puts in her books but they have me hooked and invested.

I really liked the premise of this book and how it began, I felt that was really important to lay the foundations of not only this book but the duet. The characters are SO well crafted and I really feel that Kennedy did her research for this one. I especially admire the authors note at the beginning.

When reading this I had the very strong feeling of right person/wrong time & this is what I got. I also got second chance (anyone who knows me knows that this is one of my favourite tropes). I found myself nervous, excited and giddy reading this one - I love a book that has me feeling multiple emotions.

I will say this book does span across multiple years and I just needed to highlight how well done the timeline is. When reading the latter portion of this book I couldn’t help but think of how Lennix was giving me Olivia Pope from Scandal vibes and I just loved it!

There are some themes which I found really intriguing. I liked the oil vs renewable energy and the political swing to this. I found it incredibly interesting about how topics such as Native females going missing - I almost felt like this book educated & informed me. This added “more” to the story. It wasn’t just a romance book, it had depth and so much to it.

Also… that ending 🤯 I need to start the next book asap!!

Kingmaker is very different to other Kennedy Ryan books. It’s a lot more politically charged, reminiscent of a Scandal (TV show). I found it okay but not one of my favourites. If you’re looking for strictly romance you too probably won’t love this one in its entirety but it’s defo worth a read.

The Kingmaker was not at all what I was expecting. I feel like it just fell a little flat for me. There was character development, yet I didn't feel like anyone actually developed for the better. This is only the first in the series, and I do think I will continue on to the second installment to see if the story engages me more moving forward. There were enough redeeming qualities to give book 2 a chance. Hopefully Lenix and Maxim bring everything together moving forward.

As a huge fan of Kennedy Ryan, I jumped at the opportunity to reread The Kingmaker which is part one in a duet series that serves up a great deal of romance suspense! Lennix is a proud Yavapai-Apache woman and Maxim is the son of the man whose company is putting down the pipeline on Indigenous land.

Lennix is an activist who shows readers a powerful example of what it looks like to fight for what you love despite the forces trying to tear you down. Maxim wasn't expecting to fall in love with her and the journey they take towards falling for one another and returning to one another when the timing is right is one every romance reader won't be able to put down!

I love how this book deals with important issues such as sacred land, social injustice, global warming and MMIW (missing and murdered Indigenous women). Kennedy Ryan is such a gifted writer and her ability to write trauma-informed stories is what makes her an auto-buy author for me every time.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!

⤷‧₊˚ 1.75 ⭑
„some people leave an impression, but lennix left her mark on me. shaped like a star.“

i don’t wanna believe that this is the same author that wrote the hoops series..
i was so excited when i saw this book on netgalley, i was so sure that I’m gonna love this but sadly i was wrong. this was disappointing so far my least favorite kennedy ryan book. i never thought that i‘m gonna hate a mmc written by her but i hate him so so much he was so fucking annoying i was so close to dnf this book because of him.

I wasn't expecting a weird mafia romance story that was boring and generic. I had to DNF. I did like that it was character driven but the storyline was lacking.

The Kingmaker is book one in All the King's Men series by Kennedy Ryan.
This book sucked me in so quick my head was spinning.
One of the most amazing, entertaining, and engaging stories I've read this year.
The writing is superb! Like unbelievably addicting and beautiful.
The characters are fleshed out and so real. I loved this character driven, romantic story.
The storyline is so good. The plot is expertly crafted. I loved everything about it.
A compelling story of politics, drama, rich and powerful I’ve not read a story like this in some time.
Kennedy Ryan has written a profound, empowering, and beautiful book.
Not to mention emotional, angsty, sexy, and completely captivating.
I can’t wait to read the next two books in stunning series.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Bloom Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

* This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Felt like a generic mafia type romance book. Did its job of keeping me entertained for a few hours and forgotten by the next day.
Plot was subpar. Characters kind of mediocre and flat with no characteristics that stood out.
This is definitely not this author’s best work. Go check her Hoops sports romance books, it is where she shines best.

This book is very unique which was quite enjoyable, it’s both a romance story and an advocacy piece at the same time. This book spans a time period of over a decade and has a lot of history and information about indigenous women, land and environmental protection.

Our female main character Lennix is an indigenous American. She has been involved in protests and advocacy for her ancestral land and people after her mom went missing and was never found. She meets our mmc Maxim during a protest and they instantly have a connection.

The first half of this book is the love story, whirlwind relationship, “betrayal” advocacy and then there’s a 10 year gap where the main characters are away from each other. The book becomes this political drama in the second half it’s really confusing but I like it and there’s a lot of sexual tension between the main characters.

This book felt very well researched, at times it felt like too much information/policy for a romance book but the book is more than a romance. I was definitely surprised by the smut in this book and once the book got into the political plot I was really enjoying it. Also that cliffhanger really left me wanting the next book right away.

Read this for
- An Indigenous fmc
- rich/powerful mmc(who wants to save the planet)
- Spicy scenes
- Indigenous advocacy
- Environmental advocacy
- Political Drama

Thank you Sourcebooks Bloom Books for this arc of the republished version of this book coming May 23,2023!

The Kingmaker drew me in immediately. Lennix was a heroine I could literally feel. Her activism and love for her land and people….was wonderful. The fact she was Native American was lovely, we do not often get the romantic as a Native. I also loved the intro of Maxim and the connection he felt when seeing Lennix at a protest, a protest against his father’s oil company. The family dynamics and myriad other differences is what appealed to me most even with the couple’s attraction.

Ms. Kennedy gave wonderful detailed information about reservation life, politics, being committed to what you’re doing. I was enthralled by the imagery of Amsterdam and Antarctica and the vividness of both places. This book was fully romantic but it was the places, the careers of the characters and how they navigated that kept me fully engaged from the start. We were also gifted great sex scenes.

All I can say if you’re new to Ms. Ryan’s work or have read everything by her, you will love The Kingmaker and enjoy getting to know players, especially Lennix and Maxim.

I am a new Kennedy Ryan fan. I was brought into her world with Queen Move (one of my favorites of 2020) and have gone back, and I am reading all her "older" books. This one (whose characters we see in Queen Move also) was freaking fantastic.
Kennedy Ryan gives you a love story and also gives us a POV from an indigenous woman in America and what life is like for American Indians and their ongoing fight. One of the things I love about Kennedy Ryan's books is that she does her homework - she teaches me another POV and teaches me about a community that I might not otherwise know about.
Fantastic Book - on to book 2!

This is the first book of @kennedyryan1 we’ve read. I picked this up after watching a recommendations video from Jess over at @peacelovebooks. I’ve enjoyed most of the recommendations I’ve found on her YouTube channel and oh my this was no different. ⁣
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If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. ⁣
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The story is about Lennix and Maxim. The pair meet at a protest where Maxim leaps to Lennix’s defence, putting himself in harms way. They have an instant connection and while separated again almost straight away the story follows their individual and joint stories as they grow into everything they want to be an come back to each other. ⁣
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I didn’t want the story to end and took my time with it to eek it out over another day or two than I needed. The characters and story were addictive to read. The chemistry between them and just the way Kennedy writes each of their perspective. They’re so mature, they’re ambitious and respectful of tradition and belief and doing the right thing. The story explores climate change, politics, racism and doesn’t shy away from the gritty dark sides of all of these aspects. Of course the heat between the two characters was off the charts but again going back to the way it’s written everything about this was just.. more. ⁣
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“A found-ness, a seen-ness I didn’t even know to look for. So this is contentment”⁣
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I knew there was a second book but was entertaining the notion that it might be about a secondary character. I didn’t expect the ending to be a cliffhanger. I’ll definitely be reaching for the next book after this. ⁣
I loved the writing style, I love finding a new author where you find yourself wanting to read their full back list. This has happened a few times to me this year namely with @taliahibbert and @tessabaileyisanauthor.

Chills. No one makes me feel so much that I am physically overwhelmed with emotion the way that Kennedy Ryan does. The writing is extraordinary, the characters are complex and well-developed, and the love story is one so deep, mature, and enduring it gripped me from the beginning and hasn’t let go.

Maxim Cade and Lennix Hunter are such powerful, fiery, passionate characters as individuals and an extraordinary force as partners. The Kingmaker tells a story of ambition, heritage, hope, loss, and grief set against the backdrop of a breathtaking romance that spans more than a decade.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloom, and Kennedy Ryan for the gifted digital review copy!

The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan is an enthralling and captivating novel that is the first in the All the King's Men duology. The story follows Maxim Cade, a man determined to make his own way in the world and leave behind the legacy of his family's oil empire. He meets Lennix Hunter at a protest for the oil pipeline that is set to destroy her ancestral land, and they are drawn to each other despite their opposing views.

The novel is well-written, and Ryan's prose is engaging, drawing readers into the story and immersing them in the world she has created. The characters are well-developed, and their emotions are raw and real. Maxim and Lennix's chemistry is palpable, and the tension between them is intense.

The novel is not just a love story, but also explores themes of power, family, and social justice. Ryan deftly weaves these themes into the narrative, making for a complex and thought-provoking story.

Overall, The Kingmaker is a must-read for fans of romance and contemporary fiction. The novel is beautifully crafted, with well-rounded characters and a compelling story that will keep readers engaged until the very end. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read the next installment in the trilogy.