As an investigative journalist, Karina Ashworth’s job involves delving into New York’s black market of criminals and mischief where sin is almost too tempting to ignore.When she crosses paths with a man whose smile is a little too cunning—and his power a little too vast—she learns very quickly that dancing with the devil is far more enjoyable than she had ever imagined.But Uilleam Runehart is not … Uilleam Runehart is not at all what he seems, and as a notorious fixer with a thirst for power, he’ll do anything to obtain his title.
Ruthless.
Sinful.
Seductive.
How much would you pay to be a king?
From Romantic Suspense author, London Miller, comes the first book in a sexy, thrilling new series following a man with too much power and the only woman that can bring him to his knees.
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I really liked it. Waiting for the next one!
What a great teaser for the first book of a series! Loved the character dynamics of Karina and Uillium. Totally hot!
Uilleam Runehart’s father demanded perfection and anyone who betrayed him paid the ultimate price.
When Uilleam discovered the power that was in his father’s name he knew he wanted that for himself.
Karina Ashworth has just moved to New York City and got a job with the Gazette Post as a reporter.
When she stumbles on an apparent suicide she wonders of there is more to the case than meets the eye. Soon her investigative work gains her the attention of “The Fixer” who must decide what to do with her.
When Karina and Uilleam meet sparks fly but Uilleam must decide what he is planning on doing with Karina and she herself must decide if she is going to give up on investigating the possible murder of Miranda Abernathy.
When someone else has a score to settle with The Fixer will Karina get caught in the middle?
This was an interesting book with so much more to come.
I liked Uilleam and I understood why he craved the need for power/fear after growing up like he did with his father. That being said he was definitely an interesting Fixer who had his own agenda right from the beginning. It was interesting to see how he played certain characters and yet he himself received his own surprise at one point of the book that he was not expecting.
I really liked that Karina had smarts and knew she was onto something with the apparent “suicide” of Miranda Abernathy that led her to dig a little deeper. I liked that she followed her instinct and had friends in the right places that she could rely on for information.
There were definitely sparks between Uilleam and Karina but I had no idea what was going to happen because of his job. I had no idea if he planned on removing her or keeping her so I kept on turning the pages to find out! Uilleam definitely had a lot of pull which we saw with what happened to Orion which
did make me mad.
I was shocked towards the end with Karina’s mom and I think there is so much more at stake and a bigger game than we ever thought and I must wait for the next book to let me know what happens next! By Rebecca
4 Stars
Review by Leah
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
The storyline of the White Rabbit: The Rise, the first book in The Kingmaker Saga, by London Miller was exciting to read. It left me with so many questions, so where is book 2?
Ok… I know. I know only 4 stars for a London Miller book. Gasp! I am a huge fan but it took me almost three-quarters of the book to connect with Karina Ashworth. There was a block with her character that I could not get past.
There is depth. There are layers upon layers of story in this book. From Karina’s background/family business that I feel like I missed something from Uilleam’s childhood. Uilleam is a fixer and his ultimate goal is to be on the top of the criminal world. To do what his father could not ever do.
Karina is a journalist trying to figure out what she wants to do in life. To be a journalist in NY or go back home to the “family business”. There was A LOT of stuff going on in this book. A lot of push and pull. A lot of characters that I wish I knew more about. It is just so much information with no downtime. This is not a fluffy, rainy day, easy read.
I am interested in book two to see if it goes more in-depth with Karina’s family and what they do and how it pertains to Uilleam. London has weaved an intricate spider web that I cannot figure out but I do know that I really like Uilleam. I wish there was a bit more interaction between him and Karina throughout the book. It felt like half of the book was one story and then the other half was another.
White Rabbit: The Rise by London Miller is the first book in her Kingmaker Saga. An intriguing tale of a mastermind criminal fixer and the investigative reporter that brings him to his knees. Well-written and well-paced, this story is every bit as twisted as it is sexy. The world-building is fantastic and the characters are perfectly flawed. Each of them have a secret background and details are doled out piece by piece throughout the story, and as this is a cliffhanger ending to be continued in book two, White Rabbit: The Fall, we still don’t know all their backstory or what it means, ultimately, for Karina and Uilleam’s future together. Loved it – Will definitely be continuing this series. Enjoy!
White Rabbit: The Rise by London Miller is book One The Kingmaker Saga. This starts the story of Karina Ashworth and Uilleam Runehart.
Katrina is a investigator reporting who goes above and beyond to get her story. Uilleam is a fixer in the criminal world who for the right price can make problems go away and stay that way. These two worlds collide in a world of danger. But along with the danger that is sparking is also their desire for each other. But as people that should be enemies only seem to want desire.
Their story doesn’t end her and will continue into the next book ‘White Rabbit: The Fall’, which I can’t wait to read next!
Oh wow, this book was amazing.
Once I seen this beauty I knew it’d be one I would want to read. After reading a couple books from this author before and loved them I knew I’d love this one too.
Uilleam and Karina are both amazing character. The chemistry between these two is so damn hot it burns. Then comes the sexy times and damn, you feel like you need to throw yourself into a cold shower just to cool yourself off.
There’s a few secondary characters in this beauty but one I couldn’t help but love most, Orion. I liked his role in this book.
London Miller writes incredible stories and this one was definitely up there at the top with some of her other that I’ve loved. It’s incredibly well written and gah, I just loved it so much.
White Rabbit is a slow burn, angsty and extremely hot read. It’s fun and intriguing and you’ll find yourself not wanting to put this book down.
This is the first book I’ve read by London Miller but I know it won’t be my last. This book was nothing what I expected and it was the best thing ever. Uilleam and Karina are captivating and mysterious protagonists. Uilleam may dabble in the shady side of the world and yet he can be incredibly kind and considerate. Not to mention charming and self-assured:
*“When would you like to leave? I’m flexible.”
“Lovely flowers or not, my answer hasn’t changed.”
His smile was a little smug. “You like me.”*
While Uilleam is an enigma, Karina is even more puzzling. Her past is clouded in shadows and very little is revealed. I think London Miller did this by design to keep us hooked and you know what? It worked! Karina is an incredible woman who is strong, has a sense of justice and is incredibly determined. At first, I imagined that Karina was the white rabbit but now I don’t think so. I think it’s the reader who is the white rabbit dropping down the hole that London Miller has created for us. I think all the characters in this tale were fascinating and, in some cases, entertaining. Orion is one example. His interactions with Karina are interesting and I think there is more there hidden underneath. But this was my favourite line of his:
*“Hello?”
“Is this what you sound like when you f*** because if it is, I’ll try a little harder to get you in my bed.”*
The entire story was compelling and I loved every second I spent reading it. There is an incredible richness and depth to the story. There is so much detail and thought poured into the tale that the reader is dropped down deep into its depths. It was an absolute joy to read and if I could give it more than five stars, I would. I can’t wait to read the next instalment in this series.
So I didn’t know what to expect at first since I’ve read all of the Den of mercenaries series and we see snippets of the Kingmaker. I didn’t want to be disappointed that he wouldn’t live up to expectations but London has truly outdone herself in creating the world of the Kingmaker and showing us how he truly came to be. I’m anxious to see what comes next!!!
Curiosity and intrigue were at the forefront of my desire to read White Rabbit. It was the chance to understand Karina, the woman who has been referred to throughout the Den of Mercenaries series. Karina was a woman I was prepared to despise. I was startled when I instantly connected with her and it made me wonder what on earth could have happened between then and now.
Essentially, White Rabbit is the story of the Kingmaker’s journey to infamy. He exists at the top of the chain in a complex powerful world. Well at least I assumed he did because now I can see he has company. Friends are far and few. Loyal alliances valued above all but what is life without friends, especially when your family is more about business than love.
In true London Miller style, she opens the story with a commanding first sentence. From there her writing draws you into a world of characters that operate outside of conventional boundaries. It is the story behind the story in more ways than one. Karina is working as a reporter for a newspaper. She has been raised to understand words have power. The truth of such resonates throughout the book. One word can be a command, a death sentence or if you’re lucky the reason you wake to see another day.
Karina is a natural born queen who is unaware of her potential. Her motivation leads her to her destiny. Torn between her heart, family expectations and moral compass, she is conscious of the impact her choices will have on her and others. There is as much mystery surrounding Karina as there is Uilleam. I adored her enquiring mind and the way she struggled with finding her centre each time drama erupted. Minimal time spent with her family merely added to the growing lists of questions I have about Karina. The question is how much she is willing to pay to be the queen…
Uilleam on the flip side is more transparent than he has been in any book so far. He’s about to build his army of mercenaries. While I know who to expect, the backstory of how they became to be with the Kingmaker is what I am craving. So far, he has Skorpion at his side. It was good to catch up with him, even though he was busy working. We know there are more mercenaries to come and here in is where my thirst for the next book is building on top of what caused the inevitable rift.
White Rabbit is just the beginning and readers will be relieved to know that while the phrase ‘To Be Continued’ leaps off the final page, the ending is resoundingly a HFN and will leave you in a good space as we wait for the next book to arrive. Be sure to scroll through the chapter headings, they provide a hint at what you have to look forward to beginning with The Would-be King.
From personal experience, I know just how mind blowing it is to be taken completely off guard by something you don’t expect, such as a white rabbit appearing out of nowhere. You see, once upon a time I looked out my kitchen window to see just that in backyard. After blinking and shaking my head several times, it was still there, folks. Now I was tasked with the tricky job of catching the big guy, so he could be returned safely to his wayward home. Not to worry though. It all ended well. Turns out he belonged to a nearby neighbor. I’ll never forget how crazy it felt though to go door to door asking people if they had lost their white rabbit. Yeah, some of them likely thought I had lost my mind.
To say I was at a loss for words when that happened would be an understatement. Once again, I’m finding myself caught off guard trying to pen my thoughts to paper on White Rabbit – The Rise by London Miller. It started off unexpectedly like a detective/murder mystery type read, but the reader actually knows upfront what has happened. You end up watching Karina and Uilleam, the main couple, circle around each, all while ultimately falling head over heels in love.
There are twists, turns, and several secrets tied up in this storyline, my fellow romance book loving friends. That doesn’t even include the hints of underlying subplots and interesting sub-characters that are likely to be further revealed as this series continues to unfold in future books. Just know this main couple both have very complex pasts and backgrounds that are likely to eventually crash and burn.
So venture if you dare down this complicated, criminal rabbit hole with Karina and Uilleam, as they are sure to have to deal with more than one devil to secure their future and happiness.
Title: White Rabbit – The Rise, Series: The Kingmaker Saga (Book 1), Author: London Miller, Pages: 389, to be continued ending, some very steamy scenes after 60%, criminal backdrop, both have complicated pasts, past child abuse, great subcharacters, intricate plot put into motion, virgin heroine, no OW drama, one OM seems interested in her, no cheating, romance safe.
(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review. There is no affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/PR firm.)
Captivating. Enthralling. Mesmerizing.
I would have to say this is London Miller’s best book to date. The wait is finally over as we see the story of Uilleam Runehart & Karina Ashworth. This book is a standalone and previous books do not have to be read. The chemistry is off the charts in the first installment of The Kingmaker’s Saga. This book is the start to what I can say will be an amazing series. Watch their story unfold and their love evolve. The characters, storyline and everything else in between will have you invested. Reading London Miller’s words is like watching a movie as the story is played out and the development of the characters is amazing. You feel like you are right there and know them. Kudos to Ms. Miller for giving us Uilleam (the kingmaker) & Karina (belladonna) in this emotional, intriguing must read. Looking forward to the rest of the saga!London Miller
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was amazing and absolute homerun. I cannot wait to read the rest of the books about Karina and Ulilium. The build up from the Den books had me on Pins and needles waiting for this book. I also Didn’t expect their story to start the way it did. I feel like we see a different side to Ulilium in this book. Which is nice. We see an entirely different side to these characters We are so used to them being out each other’s throat’s. Plus the steaminess and alpha was was amazing!! I absolutely love this series and these characters and I feel like every book is getting closer and closer to the end. It makes me sad but so excited at the same time. Can’t wait for what’s next!!!!