From Wall Street Journal, USA Today Bestselling and RITA® Award-winning Author Kennedy Ryan, comes a captivating second chance romance like only she can deliver…..Book Riot Pick – Best Romances of 2020O Magazine – Best Romances of 2020All About Romance – Best Romance of 2020 (Reader Selection)The boy who always felt like mine is now the man I can’t have…Dig a little and you’ll find photos of … who always felt like mine is now the man I can’t have…
Dig a little and you’ll find photos of me in the bathtub with Ezra Stern.
Get your mind out of the gutter. We were six months old.
Pry and one of us might confess we saved our first kiss for each other. The most clumsy, wet, sloppy . . . spectacular thirty seconds of my adolescence.
Get into our business and you’ll see two families, closer than blood, torn apart in an instant.
Twenty years later, my “awkward duckling” best friend from childhood, the boy no one noticed, is a man no one can ignore.
Finer. Fiercer. Smarter.
Taken.
Tell me it’s wrong.
Tell me the boy who always felt like mine is now the man I can’t have.
When we find each other again, everything stands in our way–secrets, lies, promises.
But we didn’t come this far to give up now.
And I know just the move to make if I want to make him mine.
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A Powerful Connection
The connection is established almost from birth and even though almost 25 years keeps them separated, Kimba and Ezra are finally brought back together to give them a second Chance. Love and loss, lies and secrets are all part
of this story. Kennedy Ryan has written a beautiful story with strong, intelligent, powerful characters.
Kennedy Ryan is a gifted storyteller. I particularly enjoy the strong female characters she writes about. I would also recommend her All The Kong’s Men Duet where Kimba is first introduced. Beautiful cover on this book.
Kennedy Ryan gifts us with another powerful, emotional, intense story that will leave you breathless.
Kimba and Ezra stole my heart. The way this story is written, with such passion and heart, and the depth of the emotions it draws out of you, is just incredible. Seeing this journey from them as babies, their growth together, their growth apart, it is a sight to behold.
Kimba and Ezra’s journey is beautiful and painful. They hold each other’s pasts, but do they hold each other’s futures? Queen Move is a story filled with heart, friendship, family, and love that you don’t want to miss.
A powerful, epic romance about a childhood friends torn apart and later reunited. Some loves are destined to be, and Ezra and Kimba’s romance is one for the ages.
If you want a romance with depth, look no further than Queen Move. It’s rare to find characters so well fleshed out, so rich with history, whose emotions feel so real. Almost from page one, I felt that deep ache of nostalgia and longing, a sweet melancholy that made the book unputdownable. I also just love to see a powerful, tough woman who’s still in touch with her needs and feelings (and working to understand these parts of herself better all the time), and you get all of that and more in Kimba.
Kennedy Ryan’s Queen Move combines the best elements of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. It’s got loads of angst, family drama and secrets, great, strong characters, plenty of world-building, and hot sex. It is an incredible book.
Kennedy Ryan is an exceptionally good writer. In addition to creating a very compelling story, there were quote-worthy snippets throughout the book — the kind that make you stop and say, “Oh, nice!” She follows her own pattern (story covers a long period of time, alternating first person POVs) and she does it very well.
Kimba Allen is a Black girl from a strong family. Ezra Stern has a Black father and a white Jewish mother. They were probably fated to be together from the very beginning — they have the same birthday! But life separated them for years, during which each developed their purpose for being. You can’t deny fate, however, so they reconnect and realize their deep bonds never died. All would be great except for many complications in their way.
I quickly turned the pages so see how Kimba and Ezra would work things out. It wasn’t easy. On a personal level I connected with two elements of the book. I grew up in an area with many Jewish families. And I experienced early menopause. Ryan did a great job with these two situations. Her excellent writing made this an emotional story of a love that would not be denied.
Wow! I could not love this story more. Kimba and Ezra were made for each other. I don’ t think I have read about two people who were so perfect for each other, but who had to overcome so many odds in order to be together. Their story is powerful and will leave you wanting more even after you close the book. Kennedy
Ryan is a brilliant storyteller.
“Hazak, Hazak, Venithazek.”
Kimba and Ezra have been friends almost since they were babies. With their close families, this friendship was guaranteed for life. Or so they thought. When Ezra’s family moves in strange circumstances and all contact is lost, only the memories remain.
Years later, now adults, Kimba sees a ghost from the past at her father’s funeral. But the company he brings, makes her catch a glimpse of how his life went on.
Professionally successful and descended from an influential family, Kimba is at the top of the world. But her personal life makes her uneasy, and old unfulfilled desires make her question what really matters.
Ezra is a renowned teacher, has a son and his love situation is complicated. Reviewing Kimba after so many years and at a time when their lives are upside down, will bring up old feelings.
Second chance will be the watchword for this couple. But not everything is as it appears. Ezra’s personal situation is complicated. Kimba’s family is about to suffer a setback in its immaculate image. And a secret from the past can disrupt that meeting for good.
Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with the characters. Kimba is strong, determined, self-possessed, but I found her a bit too much at various times. Ezra made the situation clear with her ex early on, but the secret affair bothered me, as did the new pregnancy. The big secret of the book was predictable, it was briefly explored as an adventure and forgotten. It could have been more developed, or have some relevance.
The book is well written, the chemistry between the couple is interesting, but I didn’t like it. A pit, unfortunately.
“Big moves make big waves. Do big things. Make big waves.”
I think this quote right here sums up everything Kennedy Ryan writes.
Every story she tells she makes big waves. She does big things. And makes the biggest waves.
I think my favorite part of this entire story was actually knowing the whole story itself. I don’t feel like I missed out on anything important from the past that made me question their future, and that is because Kennedy is one of the best story tellers of this time.
I love strong leading ladies, and I think Kimba is one the strongest we’ve seen yet. She works hard and loves big and doesn’t settle for anything less. But her mama said it best when she told her “Life don’t care about your plans. Life will make a mess of your plans, honey.”
First loves will sometimes be the most important one of them all and watching her and Ezra make their greatest moves was a beautiful thing.
I can’t wait to see what’s next from Kennedy Ryan!
I don’t usually claim book boyfriends, but Kennedy Ryan’s Ezra is my new book boyfriend. Page after page, he made me swoon. I’m pretty sure I highlighted more of his chapters than Kimba’s, and I adored her. She’s a badass heroine! I loved tagging along with her to work functions and watching her make moves. I also loved the vulnerability to both these characters, and I loved their entwined pasts. (I want more of their moms!) As usual, Ryan writes an emotionally gripping, unforgettable story.
3 1/2
First off I love Kennedy Ryan’s books. She always writes powerful stories. Still and Grip are one of my favorite series.
There are things I loved and hated about this book.
Loved:
the first part when Ezra and Kimba were children.
Ezra’s relationship with his son Noah
Kimba and Noah’s relationship
Mona and Ezra’s relationship
Mona and Kimba’s relationship
Kimba’s relationship with her siblings
The relationship between Kimba and her dad
Some of the issues mentioned
Erza and Kimba’s relationship
Hated:
Basically everything involving Akio
The last 20% of the book
The politics, issues, drama, ect ended up overshadowing the romance
The secret of why Erza ended up moving away when he was 13, and they lost contact for 24 years
Overall I really liked Erza and Kimba together, but I felt like the events of the last 20% of the book ruined them. They had so much chemistry and passion leading up to that, and then it all just stalled because of the events that happened.
This was my first book by Kennedy Ryan and it won’t be my last one of hers. It was everything I was expecting from her. She didn’t disappoint. There are so many great things to say about this book. Do yourself a favor and just read it!
Simply OUTSTANDING!!!
Kimba Allen and Ezra Stern grew up across the street from each other. They became the kind of friends who could practically read each other’s minds. But life happened and they lost touch. Sadly, those weren’t the times of the Internet and social media, so it takes a family tragedy to bring them together again decades later. Their childhood love instantly resurfaces as hot very-adult attraction. But Ezra is taken.
Jump to another two years later. A situation has arisen that makes it possible for them to be together, but it’s complicated. I was happy the story didn’t fall into the traditional crazy ex-girlfriend trap, thought it kind of started out that way.
Kimba is a strong female character. We see a glimpse of this in The Rebel King, where she’s a secondary character, and it was nice to see the consistency in her character. She’s principled and shows incredible inner strength with her choices and the sacrifices she’s willing to make to keep herself from compromising herself.
I love romance heroes who show unwavering desire for the heroine. Ezra is one of them. There’s never a doubt about his love and his choice. Plus he’s not a douche.
The story feels simple, but it’s not. I like how it weaves in issues like racism, interracial relationships/marriages, infidelity, friendship, loyalty etc. without detracting from the romance. At the end of the story, we’re left in no doubt that Kimba and Ezra are meant to be, and they HEA is well-earned.
The characters were interesting and well-developed. The romance was sweet. The sex scenes were hot. The story-telling was top-notch. If you like second chance romance stories and soulmates, the you’d definitely love this story.
Queen Move is a spin-off/sequel (standalone) of All the Kings Men duet, and I enjoyed seeing Lennix and Maxim. I also liked the honourable mentions of Lotus Ross from Hook Shot.
**I received an ARC of this book. My review is given voluntarily**
What a beautiful, epic love story.
When I read the All the King’s Men duet, I really wanted to hear more from Kimba. Not only because she was this stunning Black queen, unapolagetically a warrior in politics. Now, you get to see how that fire began. Having been best friends at such an early age, Ezra and Kimba shared one of those great friendships that has the potential to grow into something very special. But, with life being what it is, your compas shifts. Sometimes it takes time and a lot of work to figure out, and maybe get what you deserve in the end.
The racial undertones–and overtones had such a profound affect on both Ezra and Kimba, with shared and also completely different perspectives. Having it ingrained in their DNA, family means so much to both of them.
I am madly in love with Ezra, and Kimba felt like a member of my family.
It IS possible to go home again!
“The years fall away like a torn veil separating him from me, then from now.”
Kimba and Ezra were once best friends, born on the same day, and even had their first kiss together. But, as sometimes happens, life intervened and they lost touch with each other.
Once they find one another again can they get across the Miles of baggage in between them?
Kimba doesn’t know if she says yes right now if she’ll lose herself, and with that all the work she’s done to help the people she’s wanted to help make a difference her entire life.
A story as old as time, but told with fresh eyes, lies, and secrets, promises, and manipulative people might conspire to make sure this short time all Kimba and Ezra will ever have.
Kimba is an amazingly strong Black woman seemingly content on doing nothing but politics and protecting her father’s legacy all her life, but on the inside there are a million questions, and a body that seems determined to leave her old and alone.
Ezra has outshone the life he imagined. A beautiful son, a school he started to help POC have an amazing place to learn, and suddenly a re-introduction to the girl, now definitely a woman, he married in a simple ceremony in his backyard with rings made of bottle caps. He might be able to have everything he’s ever wanted so long as he can convince the women in his life that this is the road he’s meant to be traveling.
Kennedy Ryan gave us an amazing book, her Queen’s Move, showing us it is possible to go home again, to focus on yourself and your own desires beyond everything else, with words that are both poetic and lyrical in her use. Worth far more than 5 stars, this book knocked everyone else out of the way to land in my number one spot for 2020. Here’s hoping there will be a book about Mona, or even Keith, to have another tiny glimpse at Ezra and Kimba!
Kimba and Ezra were thrown together at 6 months old and that began such a powerful story. As in real life, time and distance does not always mean the end of a friendship/relationship.
So much of this story touched me. I also loved the cultural relationships in the book. But the twist had me shocked to the core!
Well done, Ms. Kennedy!
Wow!!! Just wow!! Such a passionate filled book! Kennedy Ryan has truly outdone herself!! Kimba and Ezra’s story was incredible!!
I loooooooooove this book, oh my god, Kennedy Ryan can write one heck of a man. Ezra is so real and male and misunderstood and deep and tangible and beautiful and jezuz, just FYNE!
And Kimba is my girl!!! She is a BOSS without even trying, and is cool as f*ck I love that she has #SelfCare on lock, despite what what the Universe urges her to do. I looooove her .
This has so MANY twists and turns about this two people who’s known each other since the cradle. Their journey is so remarkable and absolutely worth ALL my time.
I was totally drawn into Kimba and Ezra’s epic love story. Kennedy Ryan made each of them people I cared deeply about, rooting for them as they navigated all the obstacles in their path. I loved how supportive Ezra was of Kimba, loving her not just in word but in action, letting her find her way to him rather than pushing her to make a decision in haste. Watching Kimba wrestle with wanting Ezra while staying true to herself and what she valued was a joy. There was such a poetic, moving way their love was written about, from its earliest roots in childhood to how that played out in the much messier adult world. This was my first Kennedy Ryan book but it definitely won’t be my last!