Now a Top 30 Amazon Bestseller! “This story sets a new bar in the genre . . . Exquisitely written, meticulously researched, tender, yet oh-so steamy–this is the Mary Poppins of Contemporary Romances: practically perfect in every way.” — Natasha Is A Book JunkiePower. Passion. Betrayal. Raised to rule, bred to lead and weaned on a diet of ruthless ambition. In a world of haves and have nots, my … world of haves and have nots, my family has it all, and I want nothing to do with it.
My path takes me far from home and paints me as the black sheep. At odds with my father, I’m determined to build my own empire. I have rules, but Lennix Hunter is the exception to every one of them. From the moment we meet, something sparks between us. But my family stole from hers and my father is the man she hates most. I lied to have her, and will do anything to keep her. Though she tries to hate me, too, the inexorable pull between us will not be denied.
And neither will I.
THE KINGMAKER is the epic and powerful first installment in the All The King’s Men Duet by USA Today bestselling and RITA® Award winning author, Kennedy Ryan.
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“On rare occasion, you come across someone who just gets you, and you don’t have to figure out your place. Wherever you are is okay.”
Every time I finished a Kennedy Ryan book I’m in complete awe of her writing. She is a writer that research her topics deeply and you can truly see it in her work. She is invested in bringing to light many social issues in her romance novels. I couldn’t be more happy about it. I need a deep connection with the characters, an intriguing plot with purpose in my romance novels and with Ryan you get that and much more.
The Kingmaker, book one of the All King’s Men Duet left me astonished. It’s a book that talk about present issues that I had no idea how important and the magnitude of complications and injustice they brought to the people in this story and US society. It’s also a very passionate love story. The emotional depth of this characters made me sigh, swoon and want more.
Lennix and Maxim are a power couple. I think I have said this about each of Kennedy’s book but it’s true. As individuals they are admirable. The type you would look up in real life. They both are strong and resilient. Passionate about their beliefs and convictions. Determine and with strong wills. Incredibly knowledgeable and successful. Both Lennix and Maxim have sacrificed a lot of themselves to achieve the greatness that will help so many in return.
I feel like I learned a lot about Lennix heritage and cultural background. It was an eye opener for me. She is a strong woman and you can feel all that power surging through her from her ancestors. And I really mean feel it. It’s the magic of Kennedy’s writing.
“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.”
Maxim, Maxim, Maxim! Not only is he super sexy hot. The guy brains turn me on even more than his body. This man is all power. His commanding presence, strong convictions and also his possessive and caring sides made me hot, bother and wanting. He is definitely “a WOLF IN WOLF CLOTHING.”
“I feel like a god. Yet every time she gasps and groans and tightens around my body, SHE conquer ME.”
The story spans over a decade but trust me the pace and events in those ten years made this romance a more powerful one. You will see how real, strong and passionate the love between Lennix and Maxim is. A once in a lifetime romance, a deep an meaningful connection. The sexy passionate scenes and their chemistry left me breathless and also very very hot.
“If a kiss has a sound, this one is the concert of our breaths and sighs and moans. If a kiss has a taste, it tastes like this. Hunger flavored with yearning and spiced with desperation. With bites and growls and tender licks and soothing whimpers. Perfectly served portions of sweet and scorching.”
Don’t you just got goosebumps reading that quote? Imagine all the rest of this magnificent read. Now I have to go because I’m a woman in a mission. In the the upcoming days I need to stalk Kennedy until she gives me book 2 because I NEED IT NOOOW.
Wow!
Throughout The Kingmaker, power was the burning theme. Power in love, in hate, in family, in life. The prologue alone was so powerful my chest ached at the finish. In every chapter the strength of Ms. Ryan’s words had my blood heating, my thoughts racing. Her prose is profound and eloquent. Her deep commitment to get the underlying message right is awe-inspiring. She goes above and beyond to give not only a phenomenal and epic romance but a story that means something.
Maxim Cade and Lennix Hunter are characters we should all aspire to emulate. They are principled, committed, compassionate, loving, respectful, intuitive, forgiving but with flaws that anyone could relate to and understand. Each time they are together it’s charged with a hint of sexiness. They are, no doubt, a power couple but just as powerful and unique as individuals as well.
Kennedy Ryan’s talent is beyond measure. The Kingmaker is a heart-pounding journey. I’m at a loss for words. It’s a good thing The Rebel King comes soon.
Just wow!! I mean from other books Kennedy had written before i had known that tis other has an intense way to write her stories.
This story caught my interest from page one. Because of the themes this romance dealt with besides besides the tangling energery between the hero and the heorine.
So many of the themes this author brought up in this book are so actuell and improtant to talk about. All this themes made a perfect cocktail to make the story even more interesting.
We saw the protagonits fight for all this things they wanted and to watch them on their ways to the persons they want to be.
But even if we had some serious themes in this book there had been a lot desire between those Characters and also there had been a lot of dialogues wich made me laugh. But also I tears stired my eyes more than one time.
This first part of the duet find an end wich makes the wait for the final book in this duet.
Maxim is a young man who isn’t really interested in his famamilys money and works hard for his own empire. We saw thta he his will is iron and if he wants something. He loves fiercly and his family seems to be important to him. He has humor but is laso really serious.
Lennix is a young women who fights for her ideas and is a good person. She is a strong person who doesn’t give up easy.
To conclude you can say that this catching and really touching story is more than a must read. Well choosen words and this themes made an amazing story together wich really much enjoyed reading. i Laughed, Cried and feel like had to hug the characters.
GENDER-BENDING DUET REALLY PUTS YOU THROUGH YOUR PACES—CAN YOU HANDLE IT?
This is a review for both books 1 and 2, since they are two halves of the same story. (No spoilers.)
This is a really intense gender-bending duet, mixing romance, thriller, science, social science, history, and politics. After reading the sample for book one it went in a direction I wasn’t anticipating. I’m not gonna lie, it was a really hard read for me. If you’re an emotional reader like I am, this one will wreck you. And it wasn’t because Ms. Ryan isn’t an exceptional writer, because she is. And it wasn’t because I was triggered by anything, because I wasn’t. There were just so many heavy issues and such relentless intensity; so much angst and melodrama that it was too much for me all in one story. I was on overload.
Many people liked this duet and I’m not saying you shouldn’t or even that I didn’t. I liked the story once I was done with it, but getting to the end was a rough road. If anything I’m disappointed in myself. I failed the test. I don’t quit a book easily, so I persevered, but it was draining. Maxim and Lennix took an epic journey and loved on a higher plane, and I needed to finish this journey with them. These books had moments of greatness and tbh some moments of boredom and times when I hated both MCs. But to be fair, the story was expertly crafted, juggling so many balls in the air at the same time. The characters all had amazing substance and dramatically matured over the course of 15 years. (Great big kudos for the many inspiring orations these two MCs made. They gave me chills.)
Ms. Ryan fearlessly put her beliefs out there and she knows this won’t be for everyone. I like her ideas but that was a whole lot to handle in just one story. That’s only me though. You should try it if it appeals to you, just know what you’re getting yourself into first. This is intense.
Three stars for the emotional whiplash.
Five stars for quality of research and writing style.
Disclaimer: If you are a racist, a tRumplikin or an all around shitty human being, this story is definitely not for you. For everyone else, it is AMAZING!!
I really was not sure what to make of this story when we started off on a Reservation having a ceremony and leading into a protest. I was al so quite confused when a man and his son were driving in a limo talking about his future. The beginning seems to be two separate stories altogether but then a few chapters in and Amsterdam happens.
These characters are so powerful and flawed and loving and wise and foolish and well, just everything. Not just the main two but all of them. I felt the time lapse and the hard work and the drive and I felt the connection and the pain. This story weaves together a tale older than time with results that are unique to Doc and Nix.
So you can bet your ass when I finished this book, with literally two cliffies at the end, I bought the second and have already started. If you were wise and love some adventure, reality, and a plot with your alpha male/strong female love story, I suggest you start this book and catch up because time is wasting on other books.
Loved this story. Amazing characters.
I love love looooove this book. I couldn’t get enough of it. The passion, the betrayal, the chemistry was everything and more. I recommend reading this book and the next one.
Oh my God. I had chills so many times reading this book. It completely blew my mind. The King Maker managed to surpass my expectations AND be nothing at all like I expected. It is angsty and MESMERIZING! The push and pull, back and forth is indescribable. The chemistry between Lennix & Maxim’s is OFF THE CHARTS. This was so beautifully written and such a heartwarming amazing story that ends on a cliffhanger. (Don’t fret…the next book has already been released!!) One click now and you won’t be disappointed! Jason Clarke & Jo Raylan do an amazing job portraying the characters, bringing them to life and humanizing them with their emotions, attitude and personality.
This was a such a good story line. I really liked the uniqueness of it and how relative it is today. I personally hate when there is a long gap of time in the storyline because it makes my heart hurt for how much time is lost between the two characters but gosh, I really loved Maxim and Lennix. It ended on a cliffhanger and I have no idea how the story will pick up in the next book!
So emotional and intense! I devoured this duet and completely loved.
3.5
I’m not sure where to start. It is long, drawn out over many years. It includes Great passion, lots of anger, and determination. Lots of information about Indians and clean energy. I’m liking it, but it just ends on a major “cliff hanger”.
I loved this book. But that comes as no surprise because I love everything that Kennedy writes. She’s one of my top must-read authors. Her books are so much more than romances. They explore social issues that only make the stories that much richer.
Can’t wait to read the sequel.
I know I’m late to the party on this, but I finally read this duet having read and LOVED Queen Move a year ago. I have no idea what’s wrong with me but I seriously missed out.
One of the best books I’ve ever read. The series is thought provoking
Started a little slow but became more of a page turner as story went on.
Currently reading! I have purchased the entire trilogy. Awesome so
far!
Had to order the next in the series.
This book, one of two, is shortly to be on TV, it’s that good. Great plot, with rich characters and a wonderful love story. What else do you need or want. I’d reread it in a heartbeat, except that I have thousands of other books waiting to be opened. You won’t be disappointed by this set.
A compelling story that stole my breath and touched my heart. FIVE BRILLIANT STARS!
OMG! This book! After weeks of reading dull books with predictable plots and cookie-cutter characters, I discovered this brilliant gem–a story that stole my breath and touched my heart. I devoured every finely-crafted word in this stunning blend of romance, suspense, political intrigue, family conflict, danger, betrayal . . . and quite possibly the most erotic sex scenes I’ve ever read. This book has everything I’ve been craving, and this is just the beginning of a fabulous three-book series!
I loved our hero, Maxim Cade–a dark, powerful and brilliant capitalist/environmentalist who plans to invest billions of dollars in clean energy projects designed to reduce the effects of climate change. In short, he wants to save the world. Unfortunately, Maxim is the son of Warren Cade, an oil tycoon whose gas pipelines disturb Native American burial grounds and contaminate rivers on Indian reservations.
Our heroine–Lennix Moon Hunter–is half Apache and a crusader, courageously fighting for the rights of Native Americans and all marginalized people by giving speeches and organizing protests. Lennix hates Warren Cade and everything he represents, blaming men like him for the disappearance of her mother–one of countless Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in this country. Lennix gets involved in politics, supporting candidates who fight for the rights of marginalized people. She’s so successful at getting candidates elected that she’s dubbed “The Kingmaker.” And her next candidate is none other than Senator Owen Cade, a presidential hopeful and Maxim’s brother.
As they work together on Owen’s campaign, the smoldering passion between Maxim and Lennix flares to new life, finally burning through all of Lennix’s defenses in a secluded garden on New Year’s Eve. (That scene is incredibly hot, but it only gets better. There’s a flight on Maxim’s private jet, where he . . . oh, yeah. I’ll say no more.)
Their story doesn’t stop there, because danger awaits in a remote jungle in Costa Rica, leading to a literal cliffhanger. I held my breath just long enough to jump into Book, 2, The Rebel King. I’m loving it already! With matchless prose, flawless proofreading, compelling plots and unforgettable characters, this series easily earns five brilliant stars and MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!
This would have been a five star read if it didn’t have a cliffhanger ending.