The Rebel King (All The King's Men, 2)

WAO just WAO!!! There’s so much I want to say about this exquisite, compelling and emotional story. After 5 days I feel like nothing I say will give justice to the incredible book I read. Once I got to the end I literally stare at the wall in amazement. The level of knowledge and perfection in details that Kennedy put into this duet needs an ovation. I never get tire of saying that with Kennedy’s books there’s ALWAYS a lesson to be learn.

“The past is behind us. The future is ours. Figure out how you can change the world right now, and don’t fear it. Do it.”

The Rebel King was the perfect conclusion to the All the King’s Men duet. It will keep you on the edge of your sit from beginning to end. It is so much more than an incredible and passionate love story. It’s also a story with a socio political lesson. A book that will educate us in culture, human equality, love of the land and even history.

“True empowerment is about choice; figuring out what we want and going after it.”

A book with intrigue and even a bit of suspense throw in the mix to make this a perfect culmination to an already mesmerizing duet.

I don’t feel worthy of writing a review cohesive enough to give you all the powerful feelings this story evoke in me.

Lennix and Maxim have become my favorite power couple. Their convictions, strong personalities and determination are to be admire. There’s nothing this two can’t conquer. Their passionate about their beliefs and can convince anyone to see a better way for the world. They could change the world, I can feel it in my bones. I wish that there would be more humans with their level of passion and knowledge to actually achieve more good and real change in the world.

Lennix Hunter is the kind of woman I wish I grow up to be. She is a fighter a righteous, compassionate and sensible woman. In this book her strength will be challenged but at the end she will succeed fiercely.

Lennix love and connection with Maxim is the kind that you only get once in a lifetime and endures and last forever. It’s beautiful, passionate, powerful and undeniable.

”She’s an extension of me, and I’m an extension of her. She’s a layer of my skin, a chamber of my heart. She’s the tattoo on my chest. Endurance.”

Maxim Kingman Cade is my new book boyfriend obsession. He is power and his possessive and protective side made me melt for him. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do or place he wouldn’t reach for Lennix. If I thought he was delicious in book 1, in book 2 he brought me to my knees in admiration and with pure desires.

”I don’t want any man to ever hear her unravel that way again. She’s mine completely. And I, unequivocally, belong to Lennix Moon Hunter.”

I could keep talking about this book, this duet for hours, days and years. I can’t wait to have more of this world that Kennedy created because I need more. There’s no way I’ll be done with Lennix and Maxim.

What a conclusion! This is going to be a shorter review, but not because I disliked the book. In fact, it's quite the opposite. It is a world in which Kennedy Ryan submerses us in totally and completely. Just understand that this is a duet and you MUST read book one, The King Maker first.

Kennedy Ryan not only writes a book about two people that are strong and both alphas, but she takes on writing about politics. About the environment. About indigenous people and the way they have had life taken from them. She takes it ALL on and puts it on her shoulders, creating a world of beauty, of evil, of strength and endurance, and one in which we want to see our world prosper. But it takes work. AND that is what The Rebel King is all about. Working for the outcome and not just having it handed to you. It's going to be a different journey if you're up for it, but you cannot deny Lennix and Maxim's belief in a better world.

If you read book one, you can understand why you need to read book two. That cliffhanger left us literally on a cliff. And all the things Lennix and Maxim do out of love and duty to each other and for their country is what makes this book easily one of the most unique experiences you will have in a romance. Be prepared for all the feels. Good, bad, sexy, evil, hate, hurt, sadness, love, understanding, frustration....it's all there. Be forewarned that this wasn't an easy book to read. There were things happening that literally broke my heart, but also I knew Kennedy was going to put it back together. My emotions were just splayed in every which direction. Even in the end, I don't know how at ease I felt. But I feel there is more to their story and to the story of the side characters. They were all just too strong and all wanted to make a difference. I need to see that through. I'm ready for more, but will take this Happy For Now ;)

"The past is behind us. The future is ours. Figure out how you can change the world right NOW, and don't fear it. Do it."

4.5 rebel stars

If you thought the road to HEA was a bumpy one in The Kingmaker, you have no idea what you're in for with The Rebel King. This sequel is a harrowing testament to fierce, unwavering love. It's a beautiful account of resilience, fortitude, and conviction. And it's one of the most passionate romances I've read in recent memory. 

The raging emotion between Maxim and Lennix is arguably more intense in this second book than it even was in the first. (And that speaks volumes because the emotion was next level in The Kingmaker!) The Rebel King finds this couple in the most unthinkably perilous situation, circumventing a terrifying course of events that tests their foundation and brilliantly demonstrates the unshakable thread connecting them no matter what obstacles intervene. This is a book that shook me. It was terrifying in moments, brutally devastating at others. But at the core of this book, of this entire duet, is a love story that will not relent. It's all consuming, the fiery chemistry between these characters, and that burn hurt so damn good. So much has changed for Lennix and Maxim in this second book, but we're never allowed to forget who they are, what they stand for, what they continue to fight for, and what they mean to each other. And perhaps most importantly, we're never allowed to forget that one single person can set into motion the profound change they wish to see in the world. 

There truly aren't words. The Rebel King is outstanding! Masterful. Phenomenally written. An edge of your seat, spellbinding conclusion to a wholly unputdownable duet. I was in sheer awe of Kennedy Ryan's writing in this book. I was overcome by the brilliance of her word weaving and seamless storytelling. I was shaken by the palpable NEED between these characters and I was utterly blown away by the way this story unfolded. These characters truly come full circle in this second book, everything they've gone through both together and apart brings them exactly where they were always meant to be and there's a sense of perfect rightness as I closed the final page. 

I devoured this book in a matter of hours today. I could not put it down, could not get over what I was reading. Every word is important. Profoundly impactful. Every page a luminous step in the most unforgettable journey. I won't get over this couple, won't get over the genius of Kennedy Ryan. I can't recall the last time I read a book where the gravity of LOVE between characters leapt from the page and gripped me the way this one did. All The King's Men is an absolute MUST READ duet, one I know I will still be thinking about for days to come.

In true Kennedy Ryan form, I was holding my breath so tightly in my chest while witnessing the ebbs and flows of the main character’s lives. She proved again why she is the best she is at her craft. This was much slower than Kingmaker, but there was a lot of pain and sacrifice on every page. I was very worried about where the story was going throughout this book and that goes back to Kennedy’s writing: she keeps you guessing in a stressed state 😆 I love these two so much and I just want to know more about them! Here is to hoping appearances in Queen Move!

You know how there are books that you wait and wait for, anticipating their arrival, and they just can’t live up to your expectations and all the hype??? Yeah, THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM!!!...THE REBEL KING is the perfect conclusion to the All The King’s Men Duet and so much more....But you MUST read THE KINGMAKER first!! ♥️🌼🔥 I don’t even know where to begin...There’s nothing I can say about THE REBEL KING that won’t be said over and over again, and in way better words, than I can express, because, let’s be honest, Kennedy Ryan has set the bar extremely high, for what now constitutes a “good book.”♥️🌼 The ALL THE KING’S MEN Duet is informational, educational and thought provoking in the best of all possible ways.....and inside those enlightening pages, is also one of both the hottest and the most beautiful love stories ever written.....I laughed...I cried....and I felt everything in between.....Kennedy Ryan’s words evoke feelings that are, sometimes, life affirming and even, dare I say, life altering.....proving just how powerful words are when conceived in the right heart and delivered to paper through the right vessel.....As she subtly educates us, Kennedy Ryan has the potential to either change or validate what we believe, and, therefore, who we are...She makes us want to be better people... Maya Angelo said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”......You can’t read this duet and not just know better, you HAVE to do better...♥️🌼🔥 Maxim Kingston Cade and Lennix Moon Hunter are the perfect characters...I love their vibe, their strength, their intelligence, their principles, their chemistry and their passion for each other and their world and I, especially, love that unconditional, never ending love they have for each other....This author’s talent of putting these emotions on the page, is just...not normal....♥️🌼🔥 The more books I read by Kennedy Ryan, the more inadequate and unworthy I feel even writing a review for any of her books....I truly believe she is now and will always be remembered as one of the best romance authors for long after her writing stops (I’m actually glad I won’t see that day.)....So, for as long as I possibly can, I will devour every book she writes...♥️🌼🔥

I really enjoyed the conclusion to Maxim and Lennix's story and Ryan's dedication to inclusivity and complex emotive characters is so appreciated and well done. I read about 65% before the loan expired and it was another 4-5 weeks before I got it back - I was ok with that, hence less than 4 stars for a well-written and quality sequel. Always a fan of Kennedy Ryan.

The second in the All the King's Men Series by Kennedy Ryan, this is the second half of Lennix and Maxim's story. Other books are filled with tragedy and triumph, but most of all by the compelling and overwhelming love Lennix and Maxim share, propelling them through the immense strain of a presidential candidacy and term, as well as the intense pain of the loss of Maxim's brother Owen, the man they all believed would be the next president. Sadly, the psychopath who kidnapped Lennix in The Kingmaker assassinates Owen, the politician of the family, just as his campaign is taking off. After the initial grief of Owen's death, Maxim is approached to run for the presidency himself, largely based on both his success as a businessman and his furious surrogacy of Owen's candidacy. Maxim is courted by Owen's party, the Democrats, but he makes the choice to run as an Independent. Prior to the public announcement of Lennix and Mason's relationship, it leaks to the press by scorned former employees. The two manage to survive the inevitable curiosity and rumors, with Lennix actively pursuing a career path separate from Mason's campaign. That only lasts so long as Maxim needs her as The Kingmaker and as a lover, and she realizes Maxim fulfills so many of her own desires and needs as well. Although she initially is reluctant to give up her position as The Kingmaker and her causes, especially those of native peoples, especially missing indigenous women, Lennix realizes that just as Maxim is shaping his path as the potential first Independent President, she can craft her own role as the president's spouse. The book concludes with many steps toward reconciliation, Maxim and Lennix toward their future together (possibly at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue), Maxim with his father, Lennix with the senior Mr. Cade, and Mr. Cade with Lennix as well as her native peoples and lands, as well as to some of the devastation to Owen's death. Additionally, Kennedy Ryan provides a bonus epilogue o The Rebel King that provides even more details and satisfaction to Maxim and Lennix's story. I strongly encourage reading both The Rebel King and the bonus epilogue. Kennedy Ryan has created a fascinating love story with characters so compelling and the fascinating combination of money, politics, privilege, rebellion, and protest that there is a great challenge to put the books down once started.

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 genre-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.

Book 2 of this series begins where Book 1 ends, with our heroine (Lennix) held captive in a remote jungle in Costa Rica. The ensuing rescue is dramatic and violent, leading to tragic consequences later in the story as our villain seeks revenge for the death of his brother. The theme of revenge forms a dark backdrop to the plot's ongoing blend of romance, family conflict, political aspirations . . . and lots of explicit sex scenes that leave nothing to the imagination. If you enjoy eroticism, you'll love this book! If not, you might want to skip it.

(WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!) I enjoyed the first half of this story. Maxim and Lennix find time to deepen their relationship while she works long hours managing the presidential campaign of Senator Owen Cade, Maxim's brother. But a lethal twist at the halfway point destroyed my favorite character and left me in tears. What the heck? Was Owen's death really necessary?

And how on earth did our villain manage to plant a bomb in Owen's SUV when it's guarded by security agents? The villain must've had inside help, right? I figured it was Bob, the driver who's supposed to take Owen home, but he drives another car instead. Did Bob know Owen's SUV would explode? We're never told of Bob's (or someone else's) involvement in the assassination, and that plot hole still bugs me.

Similarly, how did our villain elude capture for weeks after the assassination? Surely the FBI and other federal agents would pursue him, along with Maxim's private security team, but the assassin seems to have no trouble hiding out in various places after making a threatening phone call. That whole scenario seemed unrealistic to me.

While the assassin remains a hidden threat, Maxim decides to make his own presidential run, with Lennix as his campaign manager. But Lennix has a firm rule: she and her staff must never sleep with a candidate. She and Maxim will have no sex for the duration of the campaign--more than a year. (Yeah, right. She soon breaks that rule, and their intimate relationship is exposed to the world.)

Maxim's campaign (and their steamy sex scenes) consume the final 35% of the story. The political stuff bored me, and even the sex got repetitive after a while, despite the many varieties Maxim and Lennix enjoy. The assassin lurks in the background until Maxim's security team tracks him down in an abandoned building in Oklahoma City toward the end of the book. Unarmed, our villain is killed with one bullet between the eyes, fired by Maxim's top security guy. That's it? That's the final big confrontation with this dangerous fellow? Afraid so.

This rather disappointing story finds some redemption in a lengthy and heartwarming epilogue--one of the best I've ever read. If only the rest of the book had been as good! Nevertheless, that epilogue--a fitting conclusion to this incredible love story--raises my rating to three stars overall.