You've got the kind of mind I love to read: THE KINGMAKER.

The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan
My rating: 4+ of 5 stars

Maxim Cade grew up wealthy, son of an oil magnate. Lennix Hunter is the daughter of a Native American mother and white father who split when she was a child. When Lennix and Maxim meet by chance, she doesn't know he's a Cade--the family that represents all she despises. They both know the attraction between them is undeniable, but are their differences too great?

I've recently discovered Kennedy Ryan's books, and I have really enjoyed those I've read so far. My favorite thing about her books is that they are a wonderful combination of romance and social topics. In THE KINGMAKER, Ryan covers Native American culture, such the Yavapai-Apache Nation, an American Indian tribe. The novel deftly covers the tribe's culture, as well as the horrible indignities they have faced in their history. Using Lennix, including her past and present, we learn about how much her family has gone through, as well as so many of the rituals and ceremonies that means so much to her and her tribe.

The book also touches on climate change through the Cade family, between Maxim, who has no desire to be a part of his father's oil business, and his father, who hates that his son is spurning all he has built. These various topics give depth and structure to THE KINGMAKER.

Oh, but don't worry, there's plenty of romance too! In a tale that spans decades, Maxim and Lennix's story is hot and heavy with tension and banter and longing and wanting and so much more. It's beautiful and often stressful, but gorgeously written. I really enjoyed this one! 4+ stars.

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