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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Needs a better synopsis…Very politically biased theme…Wasn’t a mafia romance read after all…
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So right off the bat, I couldn’t help but feel this book’s primary purpose was about promoting/spreading a biased political agenda/viewpoint. In fact, it did so very matter of fact and on multi-levels, IMHO. It starts off leaning heavily towards what many would label as far leftist liberal views (i.e. all fossil fuels are bad, oil companies are greedy, evil murderers with US Native Americans who stand up against them in protest as frequent, easy targets who they silence one way or another). The hero’s daddy being showcased and lime lighted as a living proof prime example of the ultimate gas corporation owner, Mr. Evil. The heroine is a US Native American girl whose family and tribe are just one of many who have been victimized by this industry/this guy in particular, ruthlessness and greed.
Whichever way politically this author swings is not my concern. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. I am just not a fan of being blindsided when biased politics are used to prop up my romantic reads, even if I agree with that mindset. For I am very much aware that others do not share my views and am respectful of that. I do not want to feel trapped in the cross hairs of such arguments when I am looking for a romance escape. If I wanted to read a politically charged/controversial themed, accusatory book, I would seek out that genre. At the very least, I expect a hint of that type of forefront/backdrop in the synopsis to be spelled out. I thought this was going to be a mafia romance, folks. At least from the time I stopped reading, it was not.
Fortunately, I accessed this book via Kindle Unlimited so did not purchase it. Here’s to hoping others enjoy it. I wish the author continued writing success. But, seriously, write a better, informative synopsis, please.
(These comments are based on a Kindle Unlimited version. This is not a detailed ARC review. I was not compensated in any form for writing this review.)
The creme de la creme of writing.
The Kingmaker is part one of a duet telling the story of Lennix Moon Hunter and Maxim Kingsman Cane. This is the fourth book from this author that I have read, and my expectations were very high and I was not disappointed.
The story is engaging from start to finish and leaves you in on no doubt that Lennix and Maxim are meant for each other. Kennedy Ryan’s writing style draws you in and makes you feel the emotions of her characters.
I enjoyed the glimpse into Native American cultural practices, some of which were so similar to the African culture. The author takes the pains to show the reader the Native American experience, which some readers might deem to be more detailed than necessary, but I understand why the author would have felt the need to shed that much light on it.
The cliffhanger wasn’t the one I expected, although I still think what I expected will happen in the concluding section.
If you like the TV series Scandal (The Fixer, to South African readers), then you’ll love this.
*I received an ARC of this book. My review is given voluntarily.*
I’m still tingling from this amazing book.
I knew, just knew from the very first chapters that Lennix and Maxim would have my heart. Oh she is magnificent. Age 17 an activist like little Greta Thunberg single handedly trying to save our beautiful planet. Lennix is strong in her conviction, powerful in her words. A champion of her people. She has my total respect.
Maxim has the same conviction. The same power. The same passion. And that man, as far as first dates and first kisses go, he broke the mould. He reshapes what best in class should be. He raised the bar to the heavens. Men/women do you best. Be like Maxim.
Plot was perfect. I screamed at the book. Screamed at Kennedy. I do love it when I feel like I’ve been dragged by a truck for a mile, had a refrigerator dropped on my head and had dynamite thrown at me by a road runner. Meep meep!
God it was good. Tingles! Bring on book 2 please.
Kennedy writes with so much passion, the words nearly steam off the page. It is clear that she has a keen ability to identify emotions and bring insight into situations. Given the subject matter, I know she must be an empathetic listener. She holds sacred the stories she has gathered and brings beauty to their experience. Yes, this is a love story and there is no lack of heat to the relationship between heroine and hero, but the context of their relationship is everything.
I loved the characters, I loved the concept, very unique storyline in many different ways. It grabbed me from the beginning, but left me hanging with a cliffhanger in more ways than one. To get my meaning you have to listen to Jo Raylon and Jason Clarke tell Maxim and Lennix highly charged story
We are the sky and the sea, and the horizon is where our hearts meet. Every part of that world is made by and from and for just us two.
Read. Devoured. Inhaled. This book set a path straight to my heart, and is holding it hostage. Kennedy Ryan has a way of crafting words, of breathing life into characters, that make them so real, so important. There doesn’t seem to be any topic that she can’t write in such a way as to transfix and transport the reader into the story, and she has outdone herself with this one.
I was hooked from the very first page of THE KINGMAKER. Lennix and Maxim will make you believe in soul mates, two people drawn together, against all odds. They are a couple that shouldn’t work, but hope and love overcome, as they do.
And, yes, their story is unfinished here, but these two are strong, stronger than distance, stronger than passing time, stronger than the forces that want to keep them apart. I can’t wait to see what Kennedy has in store for them, because it is going to be epic.
Once again, this author amazes me with her talent and ability to write an epic love story rolled into an important, relevant story about an issue we should all know about, yet probably don’t. She enlightens your mind and captivates your heart with her words. The story moves flawlessly through the years, the characters push and pull grabbing you and taking you along on their life journey. It’s wonderful, painful, joyous, sad and completely addicting. I didn’t want it to end, and yet it does, leaving us and her fiery, dynamic heroine dangling, literally and figuratively. Luckily, Book 2 is releasing shortly, so I don’t have long to wait. I desperately need to know what happens next! I love, love, love this book and highly recommend it to all.
Wow. Just wow. It’s Kennedy Ryan y’all. Need I say more?
This book was brilliant. Just like all KR books are. This couple is so special and I can’t wait to see them thrive in book 2. After that ending, I have no idea what to expect and I am absolutely dying to read how it will all play out.
What can someone say for Ryan’s writing except that it’s perfect? What can anyone say about the stories she produces except that they are out-worldly magnificent? What can anyone say about her mind except that it’s f***ing BRILLIANT!!!
Every time I get my hands on a Kennedy Ryan story, I never know what to do with myself after I finish it. And this tìme couldn’t be an exception.
With every new story, Ryan gives her all. But with Lennix & Maxim it seems to have given more than that if that’s even possible. The way their love & pain unfolds is magnificent. From the very start, you know that what you’re about to read will blow your mind off completely. And it may sound kind of cliche, but I am honestly out of words. I simply adored every moment, every line, every emotion that coursed through me will I was falling deep into the beauty that is Maxim & Lennix.
But what I can surely have some words to say about is that daaaammneedddd CLIFFHANGER!! I mean, C’MON!! What the heck was that? I was left breathless for days. I couldn’t believe the smack that I got from that ending.
I really need The Rebel King to get here ASAP so I can get my thoughts in a row so they can start making sense and my heart to recover!!!
It’s no secret that Kennedy Ryan is one of my all time favorites. She has the ability to pull me right into a story and keep me sucked in up until the very last page. Her writing is astounding. And the way she moves me while telling a story so relevant but yet so heart warming is one of my favorite things about her story telling. And let’s not forget the steam… because Maxim and Lennix have a lot of it.
The Kingmaker is such a gorgeous story. So relevant with issues we are facing in today’s society but also keeping you on your toes with the romance and angst. It’s the perfect blend. Ryan is a master at it. Lennix is part of the Yavapai-Apache Nation and she is proud of her colors. She isn’t afraid to shout their rights and work hard to have their voices heard.
“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.”
Lennix is a warrior and she’s ready for battle. She knew she always wanted to do something to help people’s voices be heard, while never losing her roots but the last thing she expects is to meet a man at one of her protests.
“The harder I have to work for something, the harder I take it.”
Maxim is no quiet bird. He knows what he wants in life and plans to work hard for it. No matter how much he disappoints his father. Maxim is out to save the world. It’s all he wants to do. And he is determined to succeed. But the last thing he expects is a woman to swoop in and take his every thought. He’s not a dating kind of man. But one encounter with many kept secrets leads to more lying and heartbreak over the years. Years lost and moments stolen. But can they recover from the lies and find love and peace in each other?
Such a gorgeous story. One that kept me on my toes. And I can’t wait to finish Maxim’s and Lennix’s story in The Rebel King.
WOW! This book was beyond epic! Ms. Ryan did an amazing job making these characters seem so very real. The amount of research that must have gone into writing this book is astonishing and I applaud the author for this.
This incredible story was chalked full of love, angst and hot as hell sexy times. Lennix and Maxim were a classic case of meeting the right person, dare I say THE ONE, at the wrong time. The wait was worth it to see these two finally get where they needed to be, but that cliffhanger!!!! I need the next book!
This book was a whopper. I swear each chapter I was like, I CANNOT get more addicted to this. But I did. I got completely addicted to it. The characters and the story? All of it was absolutely top notch. I swear this woman cannot write a novel that isn’t perfection.
This novel is like second chance love meets Scandal meets? I don’t know. Another movie I can’t think of the name of.
But it was amazing. I fell absolutely in love with not only the first time the character met, but the end of book as well. SO much happens with this read. You start feeling one way and then as the book progresses you have all the feelings and not all of them are good feelings.
The blurb tells you the jest and I don’t want this review to be a summary of the read. I want you to know how I was feeling while I was reading because for me that’s what draws me in. I want a read that leaves me so full of emotion, a week later I can still tell you how much I loved it.
Author Kennedy Ryan once again crafts and weaves words into a masterpiece that few can achieve. She takes passionate people and topical issues and crafts their story to bring attention to human issues that need to be explained and have light shed on them. She does it eloquently, with sensitivity and reverence. There is no one else that has her skill at writing this type of story. She brought together and then reunited two people that are passionate about causes, that live and breathe them. She created a dynamic chemistry and passion between them that mirrors their dedication to the causes that they believe in.
Lennix and Maxim’s story is on that you need to read. You will live and breathe it. It will capture your soul and live in your heart. You will be riveted to the story and be anxiously awaiting to read The Rebel King. Bravo to Author Kennedy Ryan. I believe she has another Rita winner on her hands!
So here’s the thing: my psyche KNOWS it’s going to be effed the eff up (in the best way imaginable) whenever I read a Kennedy Ryan book and the fact that this is a duet let me know that all the bracing was required before diving in, so I waited until the last feasible moment to read and yet I still was/am WRECKED (once again, in the best possible way). From my immediate connection to Lennix in the prologue because of her Native roots, to the EPICNESS of the romance, to the realness and relevance of the story, to the real life take-aways I always get from a Kennedy Ryan joint, to the utter SEXINESS that leaves me longing and inspired EVERY DAMN TIME – Kennedy Ryan is who I want to be when I grow up and I can attest to the fact that I am already a grown@$$ woman. I want to be the type of person IRL that would be worthy of a cameo in her books – her characters are a composite archetype for life. Her words are a baptism of fire and each time I am immerged into them, I am reborn a better person. This may all seem like hyperbole but I am so sincere y’all. I don’t even want to get into specifics of the plot because it feels like a disservice to give any facet of it away and spoil the discovery of it as a whole as it truly merits. I CAN NOT WAIT for The Rebel King – except for the fact that actually physically have to. Don’t be like me; go read this NOW. Also the audiobook is stellar as well. Best of 2019 fo sho. All the stars in the galaxy and what not. You know, the yush for Kennedy Ryan.
I took my time with this book. Soaking in every word, sentence, paragraph, page. It was as if I was in another world watching the scenes unfold before me. I loved the realness of the issues in the book. They were extremely relatable and made me love the book even more.
This book will be over odd those! Hard to forget, hungover, and emotional! When two paths cross you’ll never know what to expect! Kennedy Ryan keeps making magic! She’ll an author I’ll always one-click and never question! Hard core fan!!
Whenever I see Kennedy Ryan has a new book on the horizon, I will immediately get it and jump right in, not knowing where the journey will take me, and that’s alright because not once has she or her stories let me down, and this first part of her new duet once again had me enthralled from the first page. This story is different from her previous works, yet no less powerful in the words and actions. Lennix and Maxim are two people from vastly different backgrounds, yet they both want the same thing out of life, and how their feelings, thoughts and actions will either benefit or detract from the overall goal.
Lennix and Max are two people whose paths should have never crossed. They come from extremely different backgrounds and even the way that they met is probably something that should have never happened. But it did and it became the catalyst for a wonderful love story.
If you have read any of Kennedy’s books, you know that she consistently gives us great books to read. She does her research an gives us more to think about than just romantic story. And this book is no different. Both Max and Lennix are committed to their causes and work very hard to meet their goals. Together they are a force to be reckoned with and I LOVE THEM SO MUCH.
This is the first book in a duet so this one ends on a cliffhanger so get ready to finish this one and immediately want to the next one. I can’t wait!