The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan Series: All the King's Men Duet #1
on November 17, 2019
Pages: 369
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Women's Fiction
Amazon
"I'd do anything to keep her."
Power. Passion. Betrayal.
Rita Award-winning author Kennedy Ryan delivers the epic first installment of the All the King's Men Duet.
Raised to rule, bred to lead and weaned on a diet of ruthless ambition.
In a 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.
Activism, while admirable and essential in the real world, isn’t something I would think to base a fictional romance around. In fact, I wasn’t sure The Kingmaker would appeal to me, but knowing what a versatile storyteller Kennedy Ryan is, I was excited to see what she had up her sleeves. What she produced utterly dazzled me.
Maxim is instantly drawn to Lennix’s fearlessness and commanding presence.
They meet several times over the course of a decade and a half, but the timing is never right for them to be together. First, because Maxim is seven years older than Lennix, who is 17 when they meet, and later due to lies, grudges, and ambition.
Lennix and Maxim are both intense activists. Lennix is determined to fight for the rights of all marginalized people, but particularly Native Americans. Maxim is passionate about climate research and building an empire that revolutionizes ways to protect the environment.
I will say that the speeches about conservationism and the plights of Native Americans are highly educational but become redundant at times. However, there are so many additional aspects of the story to enjoy, not the least of which is the sheer magnetism between Maxim and Lennix. These are two highly intelligent, influential, and passionate people. Their chemistry in and out of the bedroom set my Kindle on fire. Maxim’s family feud adds another excellent dimension to the plot.
As expected, Kennedy Ryan’s use of figurative language enriches each page. Her words are a feast for the reader. This absorbing story left me eager for more. The Kingmaker ends – as all good books that are the first in a duet should – on one heck of a cliffhanger. I’m diving right into book two, The Rebel King.
Recommended for fans of:
Second chance romance
Native American history
Climate change
Politics
Passionate chemistry
About Kennedy Ryan
A RITA® Award Winner, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Kennedy Ryan writes for women from all walks of life, empowering them and placing them firmly at the center of each story and in charge of their own destinies. Her heroes respect, cherish and lose their minds for the women who capture their hearts.
Kennedy and her writings have been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Oprah Magazine, TIME and many others. As an autism mom, she has a special passion for raising Autism awareness. The co-founder of LIFT 4 Autism, an annual charitable book auction, she has appeared on Headline News, The Montel Williams Show, NPR and other media outlets as an advocate for ASD families.
She is a wife to her lifetime lover-husband and mother to an extraordinary son.
So when I was reading this one I felt kind of meh about it for part of it. It wasn’t really until the ending that I wasn’t prepared for or ready for that I was hooked.
Great review!