Another fantastic book in the Hoops series. This one focusing on Kenan and Lotus and their firey attraction we got a glimpse of in Long Shot.

Lotus opens the book up with very delayed trauma shockwaves from her childhood unexpectedly and decides she needs to get herself right before getting with someone new. Unfortunately for her, the is right as Kenan Ross comes back into her life and he's been thinking about her non-stop. Lotus fights the instant attraction and chemistry between the 2 of them as she continues to work on self-improvement. Kenan being a kind, patient man grants her that space, while also getting her to open up to him and they get to know each other better.

I really liked how this all went about and you could just feel the tension and longing but also the respect. Kenan is going through a very messy divorce and is trying all he can to be supportive of his daughter, but also can't stop being in petty fights with his ex, who drags Lotus into it. Lots of messy angst and posturing there. Fun times.

The final conflict was not one I entirely saw coming, but it also made perfect sense and the way Lotus handled the situation gave me greater respect for her as a character.

I was so excited to finally read Lotus’s story and Hook Shot not disappoint. Kennedy Ryan likes to make me feel all of the things and I knew this would have some tough moments with what we knew about Lotus’s past. I loved the little glimpses we got into Kenan and Lotus in the other books so I knew them coming together in this 3rd book would be epic.

I freaking love Lotus with all that I am. She is just a powerful badass woman who can get shit done! I love how she took control of her life and lived so authentically to herself. And Kenan. This man gave me one of my favorite tropes. WHO DID THIS TO YOU???!!!! I am always looking for book recommendations with this in it and this one just feel into my lap. I loved how Kenan was with his Lotus and his daughter and I would devour another book with these characters in it!

I can’t wait for Kennedy Ryan’s next book because I will blindly jump into anything she writes! She is forever an auto-buy author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Kennedy Ryan is one of my favorites. This is a re-release of her Hoops series, with Hook Shot being the third book in the series. I can't say enough good things about this book! I loved the chemistry between Lotus and Keenan, and the sisterhood between Lotus and Iris, as well as the relationship Keenan had with his daughter. If Kennedy Ryan is going to write it, I am going to read it. All her books are impossible to put down until you finish the last word.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5, 🌶️🌶️
Hook shot BLEW ME AWAY!
so excited to have finally gotten lotus and kenans book! I’ve been so eager for them and hoping they would get their own story and i loved every moment of this book. And incredible edition to the hoops series! As always Kennedy knows how to capture you with her writing style. Not only writing a book with a great storyline but bringing out every last emotion! It was steamy and the banter was great! A heroine that was fierce and one that also exhibits strength, love, compassion and grace. & Kenan our damaged MMC. I wasn’t expecting this side to him, this deep dive into his character. The growth, the way he was able to slowly build that trust with lotus! I wasn’t ready for their book to be over!

Another incredible read by Kennedy!!!

This was my favorite book in the series and also one of my favorite books of the year. I really wish I could give this book more than 5 stars because for me, this is the kind of books that deserves endless stars. I fell in love with these characters in Long Shot and since I saw their first scene together, I knew they were gonna be my fav couple. Lotus Dupree is one of the strongest female characters I’ve read and she deserved all the happiness she got at the end of this book. I really recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you netgalley and Bloom for this free arc in return for an honest review


Holy shit!! This book was on another level. Saved the best until last. This book covers many triggering topics with ease grace and sensitivity. I loved every second of this!!!

Finally! I made it to Lotus and Kenan's story.

I was so excited for these two and I loved every second of this book. I cried. I laughed. I loved. I loved these two so much. I don't even have words to express my love for them but I am trying here.

This book did not go the way I thought it was going to go. I loved the way Kennedy Ryan added the magic or elemental aspect of the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan is the third book in the series, Hoops.

I picked this book because I really like the author. I know almost nothing about the game of basketball, but there was very little game action in the book. Most of the story took place over the summer.

Kenan Ross, pro basketball player, father, divorced, introvert, Gladiator... these are just labels. He is so much more than the names and roles ascribed to him. Now, he's willing to risk opening up to the one he's been drawn to since he first laid eyes on her. They are in the same city, he's ready for a chance.
Lotus has to deal with her past as it's impacting her present. Her plan is to go on a sex hiatus while she works on herself. Fate has other plans when the one man who sets her tingling is front and center in her life. From the first kiss, they are like magnets. But the outside forces still in play are throwing some major roadblocks to their happily ever after.

This book contains sexual assault. There is a warning at the beginning of the book. There are also mentions of Voodoo, so if you're easily offended by things you may not understand, you've been warned.

ARC review for re-release of Hook Shot on 10/10/2023!

5/5 stars
2.5/5 spice rating

Me currently trying to process this amazing book = *mind blown emoji*

Kennedy Ryan, I am in awe!!!
Tropes: single dad, professional basketball, mutual pining, second chance, emotional healing *check TW's, heavy topics discussed*

From the first interaction on the boat, I was sold. I read this entire book in one day. I could not put it down!

The mature conversations about feelings and where they stand as a couple will always be a huge YES from me. It's incredibly refreshing how it was written in this book.

Lotus is so real and relatable in how she speaks and Carrie's herself as a woman. A mid 20's young woman living in New York who is bright and vibrant and a good network of friends around her.

Kenan is the older, supposed to be jaded man coming off of his divorce but he's talkative and pleasant only around her? Another big
YES from me.

From the banter, to the spicy scenes (especially the ice bath scene), to the overflowing love they share for one another, I loved this book. I enjoyed it so much!!

Kenan and Lotus story is deeply emotional, one being scarred by an ugly divorce, the other by childhood abuse. Ms. Ryan handles both topics with utter care and manages like no other author I know to transport all correlated feelings in a truly emphatic and sympathetic way. I often had to stop reading to digest the storyline, to compose myself because she touched my very being with every word.
Hook Shot is the more than worthy conclusion to this intense series, and although the plot was hard to stomach at times, I loved and enjoyed the story very much.

A big thank you to Bloom Books for providing an ARC.

• 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 •

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Hook Shot
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Kennedy Ryan
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

It is another gold medal for Kennedy Ryan. WOW. There are good writers, there are great writers, and there are the writers who are just on another level entirely. Kennedy Ryan is one of them. We get to know Lotus in Long Shot. Even though, both books can be read as a standalones, I would recommend you to read Long Shot first; JUST BECAUSE IT IS SOO GOOD (not because it is needed). This book is different from Long Shot, but just as good! Lotus and Kenan’s story is emotional and sweet. The characters are well developed and the story really makes you feel all the emotions. If you are ready for a heavy book hangover, definitely go read this book!

This is a re-release but I have not read the older copy (2019) to know if there is anything different.

I love single dad romances and this did not disappoint! It is a very emotional read as it touched on childhood sexual abuse, divorce, cheating and suicide. I was also intrigued how the story (lightly) incorporated voodoo. I enjoyed the scenes where Lotus was involved in the work rooms of high fashion since I am also a sewist. Great story with some steam and well developed characters.

Once again, Kennedy Ryan has wowed me with a book. This series (Hoops) is basketball-themed.
Kennedy Ryan writes characters that are multi-dimensional. Kenan has been through it recently (we met him in the other books). His wife cheated, he was traded, and his daughter is struggling with the divorce. He wants to be there for her, be there for his teammates, and heal.

Lotus has had a life of sadness and abandonment, but in the midst of that, she has her Mimi (great-grandmother) and cousin, Iris (whom we met in Book 1. These two women have been by her side in thick and thin, but she still has some healing to do.

Finding each other, again, at not the best time, these two start a friendship, but both know that their relationship is inevitable.
Watching these two come together was beautiful. Kenndy Ryan brings you into their lives and souls. I couldn't put this book down because I needed to see their HEA...I knew it was coming, but the journey was as great as the destination!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloom Books, and Ryan's Kennedy for this arc!

I have anticipated this book since I read Long Shot and it was so good!! There were parts that were challenging to read so please read trigger warnings. Lotus was such a strong woman and had to over come so much. Kennedy's writing is something I can't get enough of!

All thoughts are my own.

Kennedy Ryan does it again! I was nervous to read this third book in the series after being disappointed by the second one, but it totally delivered what I was hoping and expecting it to. KR knows how to pack so much emotion into a romance and I appreciate the topics that are discussed in this one. Kenan wasn't my favorite love interest but Lotus is EVERYTHING and I loved how she stood up for herself and put Kenan in his place when she needed to - and when Kenan's daughter needed her to. Be sure to look up content warnings because there's a lot in here, but major ones are sexual assault, toxic parental relationship, substance abuse, and a suicide attempt.

I wish I had liked this one but I did not like the writing style or the storyline. The main characters also felt sort of juvenile which was odd for an adult romance.

HOOK SHOT By Kennedy Ryan

Divorced. Single dad. Traded to a losing squad. Cheated on, betrayed, exposed.
My perfect life blew up in my face and I'm still picking up the pieces.
The last thing I need is her.
A wildflower. A storm. A woman I can't resist.
Lotus DuPree is a kick to my gut and a wrench in my plansfrom the moment our eyes meet.
I promised myself I wouldn't trust a woman again,but I've never wanted anyone the way I want Lo.She's not the plan I made, but she's the risk I have to take.

 😊What i liked -

✔️ Sports/Single Parent /Age Gap. 
✔️ Kenan was a perfect combination of strong, sweet and vulnerable.
✔️ Lotus was a strong character with a ton of flaws and past traumas.
✔️I liked how the author addressed some serious topics with a lot of care.
✔️ It was a nice read with a ton of emotions.  

 😊 What could have been better -

✔️ I like reading books in one go, but even though I liked this book it did not keep me glued to it.

 
😊Who Should read :

👶Beginners
💝 Romance Lover
🏀Sports Romance
💞Age Gap Romance

 My Rating : 3.5/5

P.s- Please check the Trigger Warnings for this book.

Thank you, Kennedy Ryan and Sourcebooks, for a copy.

A wonderfully written, compelling, and angsty final book in the Hoops series. If you liked the others you're going to absolutely fall in love with this one.

Just the characters themselves are what make this one so great. He's so completely obsessed with and devoted to her like ugh sobbing. There was also some 🔥🔥🔥 chemistry going on there.

It did start to drag a little bit in some places which is why I couldn't give it the full five stars but still holy heck read this.

It's always so hard to gather all the thoughts one has after reading something from Kennedy Ryan. Because on one hand it's gushing because the book was so great, but also somehow no thoughts, head empty.

I was going into it prepared to be hurt again, because it's what I have come to expect. And I wasn't disappointed. Lotus & Kenan were such a lovely couple and I wanted nothing more than for them to happily ride off into the sunset, in the cotton candy clouds. It was really nice to revisit the New Orleans roots that Long Shot started, even if it was painful at the time. I also appreciated that Lotus wanted the best for Simone first, before anything else.

With the Hoop series, I do recommend checking out trigger warnings, because there could be quite a few for folks.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Bloom for an e-copy,

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.25⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary romance📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
Such a beautiful love story.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Sports romance
Emotional reads
Single dad
NY setting
NBA player/Fashion designer
Strong FMC
Great character development
Spicy reads

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Realistic and real
All the flowers

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
It was a little to long for me, i felt like it dragged on at times

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
★ “It’s in Kenan’s arms, in the harbor of his love. That’s the safest place I’ve ever known.”
★ “We’re stretching each other, absorbing each other. We’re falling in love.”