Queen Move

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Deserves more than 5 stars. It was like I was watching a movie while reading. Kennedy’s writing was phenomenal. Took me on a ride that I didn’t know I need. It is so much more than just a romance book. It touches basically every problems that we face today in society: racism, feminism, dreams, family.u2063
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The friends to lovers and the reunion was so beautiful, but so painful too. Kimba is legit a Queen. I adored her so freaking much. She put her dreams and other people before herself. All she does is work, work, but when she saw Ezra again, she knows she wants him. Ezra, Ezra…how much I feel for him. He was such a good man. I love him so much! I love that he doesn’t force Kimba AT ALL! He respects her so much. The chemistry was EVERYTHING! The steamy scenes were fire!! I can go on about them forever. Lol Timing was just not right for them. I was not expecting the twist at all. YOU NEED THIS BOOK!u2063
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“She is a queen…her soul is royalty” – Adrian Michael

“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness” -Oprah Winfrey

I knew after Kennedy Ryan introduced readers to Kimba Allen in All the King’s Men Duet that her story was going to be epic, not only because she is an independent woman who owns who she is and never allows anyone or anything to stand in her way, even if she has to fight with everything that she is and weather any storm to achieve her goals. She’s a fierce warrior who bows down to no one and refuses to compromise her principles or allow other people’s prejudices to dictate what she accomplishes in life. And because of her fighter personality, her tenacious attitude, she goes after what she wants, both personally and professionally.

When it was revealed that Kimba would be getting her own book, I was worried that there wasn’t a hero who could live up to the woman that she is, who could go head to head with her, challenging her in all the best ways, lifting her up and allowing her to reign, never forcing her to bend at the knee because no one is above her. But what I also knew was that because Kennedy Ryan created this majestic and beautiful heroine that she would craft Kimba’s perfect soul mate – a hero who stands by her side, supporting and praising who she is and what she does – and I can wholeheartedly say that Ezra Stern is Kimba’s match in every sense of the word.

Like Kimba’s backstory, readers learn all there is to know about Ezra as an adolescent, still finding his way in the world, to the driven and influential man he becomes. And through his journey, we see clearly why he is who Kimba wants and needs in her life, as more than just a friend. There’s so much to understand about what Ezra believes in and how those beliefs lead the words he uses and the actions he takes to open people’s minds to causes and principles, not only near and dear to his heart but also that are essential to creating a much-needed path in life for those, both he and Kimba, champion for and work relentlessly to build-up instead of knock down.

I know I sound like a broken record, but a hero and heroine who have a shared history with a strong connection, regardless of the time or distance spent apart, are the kind of couple I adore, and I relish in their story because readers get to understand the beginning of the characters’ relationship as friends and then follow them into the ever-changing dynamics between them, as they struggle with their new and real feelings for each other, and the bond that Kimba and Ezra has, is self-sustaining, because they’re never far from each other’s thoughts and their ideologies are complementary, which means that it’s never a question of if there will come a time they will find their way back to each other but when they will realize just how unbreakable and essential their bond is.

Kennedy Ryan’s writing and storytelling continue to leave me spellbound, in the way she meticulously weaves together layered plot lines and multifaceted characters but also in the way that she uses her platform as a voice for social change, understanding that the dictates of the past are outdated and need to be revamped so that multiple perspectives and ideals are considered and even celebrated and it’s in that celebration that Ryan’s words, ideas, and ideologies provide opportunities for reflection and, hopefully, growth.

5+ Poison Apples Review

Kennedy Ryan always has powerful and vibrant female heroines. She just knows how to write them it’s definitely an experience to remember. Queen Move is well crafted, addictive and compelling. A story that starts as babies to awkward teenage years to reconnecting as adults. Kimba and Ezra has been intertwined eversince and their story is beautiful and never changed how they saw one another. A soulmate deep connection with friendship and love. Though they faced trials in their path it was clear they wanted simply the other, it was heartbreaking at times. I felt for them their connection, it just was intense from the start.

We got to know Kimba in All the King’s Men duet. She definitely made an impression. Kimba always works for others to achieve their goals and I rooted for her to find hers. She’s strong bit she needed her own safe haven at times from all the changes in her life. I think Ezra was her match, as a young shy kid he grew into his own and knows his mind. They both knew each other well and sees the best of the other. I adore these kinds of young love separated and reunited stories. This just had everything I would want in one, rich characters and well developed backstories.

Ryan has crafted another emotional, engrossing and sexy story. Ezra and Kimba faced tough odds along the way, old family secrets and revelations it took time. It wasn’t easy but when given that second chance together they worked on it. Being that they grew up in different households they were seamless in flow. Unforgettable kind of love story.

Single Dad and second chance from Kennedy Ryan! Yes, please! Kennedy writes beautiful stories and this one is no different!

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.

. . .
.

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.

Queen Move is such a fantastic blend of old + new Kennedy Ryan. There are parts of it that feel like the Kennedy Ryan of the Grip and Kingmaker series and parts that feel like The Bennetts and Soul Series. There are parts that are bold and unwavering in showing the world what it’s like to be a powerful woman of color in a predominantly white man’s world and parts that are shimmery and soft and romantic.

Let’s start with Kimba. I love how Kennedy Ryan writes women. She creates these powerfully strong heroines–really admirable women–and shows us how even the most badass of us all can still be human. I cannot think of one female protagonist of Kennedy’s who I don’t think is WOWOWOWOW. Truly. But Kimba? Kimba is one bad ass woman and I just really, really, REALLY think the world of her. I loved her confidence and yet I also loved that she still had this soft underbelly like many of us do.

And Ezra? Gah. Ezra is going to have hordes of women in love with him. Just as Kennedy writes amazing female characters, she writes really wonderfully nuanced male characters as well. In this case Ezra is powerful and confident but also just a huge softy for Kimba. He exerts just enough alpha to have you swooning and the right amount of softness and sweetness to be appealing without being weak. Loved him.

As with all of Kennedy’s novels, she gives us some things to consider– women + women of color making waves and taking their rightful places in the world, biracial characters showing us the struggle of feeling like they’re too much or two little of something, infidelity, bigotry, marriages of mixed faiths, and being involved in a relationship that doesn’t always look like or seem like what people assume it should. So many things to consider–and in Kennedy Ryan’s hands all of these things are woven in seamlessly, with nuance, and they give interesting texture to the romance of Kimba and Ezra. I love that Kennedy is fearless in what she asks her characters to do and her readers to consider. I love that she never shies away from anything–she just goes for it.

Another thing I enjoyed about Queen Move was the focus on family. It was rich with family–blood family and those who you make a part of your family–and it starts when Ezra and Kimba are just babies. Their history sets you up for the almost instant connection they have years later. You’re rooting for them to connect and hating that they may not. Kennedy keeps you guessing ..it’s only at the last sentence can you breathe a sigh of relief, hoping that you may see them again through the eyes of a secondary character you meet in the novel. I should also note that Ryan also captures the humor and bickering of siblings and the challenges of coming back home after you’re grown so perfectly. I was laughing and feeling Kimbra’s frustration because I’ve been there myself!

Anyone who knows us knows we have been on the Kennedy Ryan bandwagon from the get go. We’ve enjoyed reading, discussing, and sharing her novels with readers and have loved watching her career and writing grow and flourish. So I say with no doubt: Queen Move is going to hit the best seller list and stay on it, I’m sure.

Kennedy’s books burst with grit and authenticity, and QUEEN MOVE is no exception. She never takes the easy way out. And she somehow manages to make it look like diving into new worlds full of rich, diverse characters with complex backgrounds…like writing challenging, difficult situations isn’t as easy as breathing.

Her imagery is stunning, her words crafted and molded as if she sat for hours and handpicked each and every one just to turn the reader into goo.

I’m sitting here trying to think how to write the love that just flows from this book. From the time that Kimba and Ezra have known each other since they were babies. They were growing up, and had their first kiss and then he moved away.

Move forward through the years until they meet again and you can feel the way that they’re drawn together still. No matter what part of the book you are reading, you can feel that they’re two parts of a magnet that are drawn together.

The author has a way of drawing me into the book, feeling all of the emotions that each character feels. Not just the main ones, but even the secondary ones. I get ALL the feels.

I loved Ezra, he was such a strong character and so was Kimba. They both followed their dreams, stood up for what they believed in and made major differences in peoples lives. Will they ever have a chance to be a couple as adults or do they have too much going against them?

You’ll never find a book like this (unless of course Kennedy Ryan writes it!) It was the perfect book! You’ll never forget it and you won’t get over this book hangover!

4 stars

Do you know when a powerful person – in the way she walks, in presenting herself, the person’s aura – enters a room and everyone notices? That’s how Kimba is, our heroine. I love it when I read books with strong women and here Kimba transmits to us readers through the lines all her power. I became a big fan of this character.

QUEEN MOVE was my first read by Kennedy Ryan and it certainly won’t be the last. I really enjoyed her writing, how mature, and how wonderful her characters are. In the midst of a true love story between Kimba and Ezra, the author also discusses serious issues, about the strength of women and the representation of women in society, but without being a militant. She puts on a real character who fights against all obstacles for the things she wants. And I loved the representation of natural hair in this book! As a person who went through hair transition many years back, I think it was the first time that I read a book that really portrayed this subject, about the right to wear your hair the way you want.

Kimba was a great child who grew up to become a wonderful woman. And Ezra? Ahhh, he was just perfect! He’s the kind of guy I want to have for myself someday. And what I loved most about him was how he encouraged the woman he loves and he always made it clear how proud he was, without being intimidated by it.

I just thought that some of the chapters towards the end were a little fast. I thought the book already had a light drama and it was kind of unnecessary to add one more to the end. But I loved the book as a whole. I read without even realizing which page I was because I was so focused on the text. QUEEN MOVE already made me a Kennedy Ryan fan and I highly recommend this reading.

A million stars wouldn’t be enough.