NOW A TOP 25 AMAZON BESTSELLER.
A deeply emotional standalone romance set in the worlds of professional basketball and high fashion.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 … 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 plans
from 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.
A warrior. A baller. The one they call Gladiator.Kenan Ross charged into my life smelling all good, looking even better and snatching my breath from the moment we met.
The last thing I need is him.
I’m working on me. Facing my pain and conquering my demons.
I’ve seen what trusting a man gets you.
I. Don’t. Have. Time. For. This.
But he just keeps coming for me.
Keeps knocking down my defenses and stealing my excuses
one by one.
He never gives up, and now…I’m not sure I want him to.
Wow!!! This was well worth the wait and being the 3rd book in the series. #Kelo did not disappoint. It was a fantastic slow burn! I loved Lotus but i extremely loved Kenan and his patience. Good god he was hot. There was a few people i could have done without but without the story wouldnt have been what it was. Now the people i enjoyed the rest of the bunch from the hoops series! I highly recommend this and the other books before this!
As always Kennedy Ryan has given us all a masterclass in writing romance.
You know when you’re blessed to read a truly incredible book? A monumental love story? I experienced that when I read my advance copy of HOOK SHOT by Kennedy Ryan. This book BLEW MY MIND.
– sports romance that made me care about sport
– older hero, younger heroine
– sensible one meets free spirit
– BURNING hot love scenes
– constant lolz
It’s so brilliantly, beautifully written, so stunningly romantic and deeply emotional, tackling some heavy themes in such a real but ultimately uplifting way.
The hero is a divorced dad with cheating ex-wife issues, an antisocial jazz lover, a gentleman badass and a serious sex appeal explosion. Kenan Ross had me drooling on every page, I swear to God.
Meanwhile, the heroine, Lotus, was a truly wonderful soul with a wicked sense of humour, a fashion designer with skills and ambition, a powerful woman in more ways than one who feels like such a role model to me. I especially loved the treatment of her faith and of her experience of mother/daughter connections. This quote gutted me:
“My mother gave birth. Whoop-de-do. Cats and dogs give birth to entire litters. There is no miracle to birth, from what I’ve seen. The miracle is what follows. The miracle of selflessness. The phenomenon of nurturing self-worth and sacrificing for a child—feeding not just their bodies, but their souls.“
Raising a glass to the mothers who did even more than give birth, the mothers who didn’t give birth at all, and the mothers who couldn’t give birth but are most definitely mothers. For that aspect of this story alone, I could thank Kennedy Ryan on my knees.
But there’s more. So, so much more.
The amazing friendships and loving connections between women, the constant laughter and sweet in-jokes of Kenan and Lotus’s relationship, their unwavering gentleness with each other, the ROMANCE of how he treated her like a goddess at EVERY TURN, and oh my god you guys, the sexual tension. And the fireworks when that tension came to a head. I don’t even know what to say right now, I just…. LOVE AND LUST AND BEING ALIVE, THAT’S WHAT THIS BOOK IS. And every minute of it ripped me apart and stitched me back together again with little sparkles inside! I cannot recommend it enough.
Content warning: this book deals with child sexual abuse and suicide (the incidents are unrelated) and the growth and healing and care depicted felt so pure and wonderful. (If you need more info and warnings about that aspect, feel free to message me.) In particular, I so appreciated reading about a survivor flourishing within a relationship while working through her issues, because as you guys know, my thing is – EVERYONE deserves, can get, should have, a HEA. Putting people in different situations at the centre of romance is vital.
This is the third book in the hoops series. It can be read as a stand alone but it helps to have read the previous 2 books to know the back story on the great supporting characters. This is Lotus and Kenan story. They both have a little baggage form life to deal with. In this book Kennedy Ryan hits on some emotional topics as she has done with this series. She deals with several topics that anyone could face. Kenan and Lotus both have issues they have to deal with but they also have a undeniable chemistry that neither of them could fight. They were willing to take a chance on each other and make sacrifices for each other. I thought the story was realistic, intense, humorous and steamy.
Another slam dunk from Kennedy! Emotional, powerful, and completely unforgettable.
SLAM DUNK!!!!
Kennedy Ryan is such a word wizard! Her words touch your soul! They grab you and never let go. The way she writes makes you feel every emotion, see every scene so vividly. She is truly talented and conveys the emotions brilliantly! I felt as if I were living the story personally.
I loved the H and h. Kenan is a sexy basketball player. He is broken and bitter due to being cheated on by his ex-wife who has put him through the wringer & is still putting him through Hell. He is not interested in a relationship after that. He is staying focused on his daughter and his career. Lotus is a strong, smart, kickass, independent woman who is career driven. She works in the fashion industry and is damn good at what she does. She has recently put herself on a hiatus from men.
Kenan and Lotus have met before because Lotus is friends with Kenan’s agent, Banner. He remembers her cinnamon skin and luscious curves. What happens when they both have to go to the same yacht party and see each other? Kenan wouldn’t mind a quick roll in the hay or even a summer fling but not a relationship. Lotus hasn’t forgotten how sexy he is. When she sees him, he’s even better looking than she remembers and smells delicious too but she is determined to resist his charm! She is still working on overcoming past hurts and demons. Kenan wasn’t looking for anything but Lotus gets to him. Will Kenan be able to lower his defenses and want something more? Kenan is relentless when he wants something. Can he get Lotus to open up to him? Can Lotus move past these obstacles to take a chance? This won’t be an easy road for either of them.
This is book packs a punch! It was all consuming! It was beautiful & sad at times but Kennedy heals us with a HEA. I couldn’t put it down. There are so many aspects that I loved! You had me at hello Kennedy!!! I loved it! I wish I could give it more stars. <3 I highly recommend reading this book, heck the entire series! They are all wonderful, standalone books that will touch your heart and soul and stay with you for a long time to come. Thank you for this beautiful love story!
****ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.****
~ Books & Magic Shop Reviews ~
The HOOPS series has become one of my all-time favorite series after starting it with LONG SHOT last year. Kennedy Ryan has a way with words and this long-awaited release has been no let down; if anything, my expectations have been EXCEEDED.
HOOK SHOT by Kennedy Ryan is absolutely moving, mouth-watering, and magnificent! Kenan and Lotus are a gem of a couple whose connection is intense and deeper than anything you’ve ever felt in a romance novel. The character-building by Kennedy Ryan is phenomenal and captivating. The two are different, both strong and weak in different areas. They help one another heal and grow.
The book is realistic and raw; it’s not a quick, easy read. It’s heavy but so worth it! If you’ve read anything else from the Hoops Series, you’ll fall in love all over again with Lotus and Kenan.
Extremely grateful for the opportunity to read this novel! 100% Recommend!
5 stars!!
My love for Kennedy Ryan’s words just increased. I didn’t think I could love them anymore, or I could find another story that touched me as much as her previous books did, but this one might just take the cake.
As always with Kennedy, you will get your romance, but you will get a little something extra. You will get a lesson, or a bigger picture of sorts. #kelo is no exception, but what I think I love the most about this “lesson” was the maturity and growth. I think the best way to describe this would be a soul searching journey.
Kennedy’s heroines always are exactly that heroes- they walk through fire and they come out stronger. Lotus is no exception. Her story was a hard one, but the path of self love, self acceptance, and growth was nothing short of amazing. She makes you want to be the bigger person. She makes you want to make those bold decisions, and makes you want to do some soul searching on your own life.
There are touches of New Orleans and my home town, and I think Kennedy captured it perfectly. There is something about NOLA that gets in your blood, and if you aren’t from here, you won’t get it. It might be a fictional story, but what she wrote about NOLA is the truth. There is nothing like it.
Kennedy’s ability to capture my heart and seize my emotions never ceases to amaze me. We are faced with a lot in this book, but it was the perfect balance of swooning over Kennan, wanting to be Lotus, and wanting to hop on the interstate and make the 45 min drive to the city I love so much. Your emotions will be put through the ringer, but the ending makes it oh so sweet and oh so worth it. I was sad to see this book end, only because Kennedy always leaves me wanting more. This was a beautiful story that I will be recommending for awhile to come. 5 full stars from me!
I’m so grateful to receive another ARC from Ms. Kennedy Ryan… I love her! She’s such a rockstar.
I love basketball. I was a Bulls fan in the 90’s… I had my folks buy me Jordans even when girls wearing boy’s shoes at that time were criticized… but I didn’t care. I wore what I wanted and what would make me happy…
In the last couple of years I found myself cheering for Golden State simply because I’m a SF 49ers and SF Giants fan… plus it doesn’t hurt that Stephen and Klay are easy on the eyes. I’m just saying… I’d always argue that it still has connections to my 90’s Bulls because of their coach, Steve Kerr…
So enough about that… lol.
I’ve been lucky enough to receive an ARC from each book in the HOOP series… and I gotta say that this one is definitely my most favorite. I’ve never connected to a male main character so much… His upbringing, his personality…
I’m not totally allergic to people. It might not even be obvious that I’m an introvert but I so friggin am… I love my alone time. My alone time is my comfort zone… aaaand well, we both got cheated on. So yeah, I get Kenan…
And with Lotus, well… I come from the far east. I’m a Catholic and was raised in a loving bi-religion household… my Dad is a muslim and my Mom is Catholic… I pray as often as I can but at the same time I also believe that there are things that cant be 100% explained by science… there’s nothing wrong with following superstitious beliefs as long as it doesn’t affect you or others in a negative way.
All the time I kept on thinking about Kobe Bryant or a younger Anfernee Hardaway as Kenan… and Ciara as Lotus… I know they’re married but it’s them that popped in my head…
I think we could all learn something from Kenan and Lotus’ story… their resilience… their patience… their focus… their candor… their strength and their determination to make it work.
I love the book! I actually found myself crying over the last couple of chapters. It’s not as angsty as I expected coz I remember with August and Iris’ story, it was…
It’s not a light read but like I mentioned earlier, it’s not that angsty and I loved it… The flow was flawless—get it??lol I’m such a dork. But seriously, the flow of the story, the pacing… the characters… it’s all great. I just wish there was a longer epilogue… thats all. I’m a sucker for those.
If you’re a fan of A.L. Jackson, Marni Mann, Devney Perry and Kandi Steiner, this is the book to pick up next! I definitely recommend!
I absolutely love Kennedy Ryan’s writing and I can’t recommend Hook Shot enough! No one writes powerful romance the way this woman does. Must read!
•Standalone
•Fashion designer
•NBA Baller
•Single dad
•Brooklyn, NYC!
•Older Man/Younger Woman – LEGAL!
HookShot by Kennedy Ryan was another phenomenal story in this Hoops Series. This was a slow burn, love story about two individuals who had an intense chemistry and a soul deep connection that could not be denied. It’s a story about love and about healing.
Kennedy gave us two fantastic characters in Lotus and Kenan. Lotus was a force to be reckoned with and although small in size she was a gladiator in her own right and I love that she was portrayed with such strength. Kenan…what can I say about this amazing man, his looks will have you swooning in no time but its his characters that will really catch you and make you fall in love with him.
As with all Kennedy Ryan stories I’ve read to date, this was beautifully written and well-crafted. The characters were all complex yet well-developed and they were so real and relatable you will be rooting for them from the get go. The storyline dealt with a range of different topics and will evoke a range of emotions from you and have you hooked until the end. HookShot was captivating and engrossing and worthy of more than 5 stars. I loved it and would highly recommend it.
Ah, this 3rd book in the Hoops Novel series was absolutely perfect. Kennedy spared no expense pulling the emotions out of me and then slowly putting me back together.
Rate: 6/ 5 stars
My goodness! Every time. Every single time. This lady knocks me on my ass with her magnificence, with her powerful words and brilliant stories… this lady writes MAGIC. Complete and utter magic. There is no other way to describe it.
These two were magic all on their own and from the second their eyes touched each other for the first time. I am dead. Dead in love with these two. Just dead after reading their brilliant and utterly imperfectly perfect story. These two, they were it. I love each and every couple in this series, specially Janner but these two just had something extraordinary that I cannot get over. I just loved every single second of their story, every single word, even the hard ones, the ones that had me boiling with fury and the ones that had me clutching my chest unable to deal with all the emotion.
I never want to say much about the actual story in my Kennedy Ryan reviews because her words are made to be experienced. You need to be punched in the gut with them, have them squeeze your heart and shine in front of your eyes, and most of all, have them touch you so deep you just can’t deal with how much you love what you just read.
This lady is magic and I love LOVE being put under her spells. She deserves that RITA nomination more than anyone. She deserves this oscar for romance authors because she is a freaking QUEEN UNICORN and her stories are the very freaking best I have ever read. Her stories are real, raw, powerful and just filled with so much magic! There’s that word again but I honestly don’t have any other word that explains her talent and what her books are to me other than this one – magic.
Hook Shot will hook you in and never let you go. This book is brilliant. There is so much between KeLo even when there is nothing between them. The connection these two have is out of this world. These two are from another galaxy. Their story had so much heat and steam, so much fun and beautiful moments. The banter between them was everything, their conversations had me laughing and smiling like a fool. I cannot get over how much I loved these two!!
Lotus was so strong and powerful and just an amazing soul. I loved her so much. She is definitely up there with Banner has one of my favorite female characters. And Kenan oh my god, this beautiful beautiful man. He was so amazing. I have no words to describe how much I adored him. He was one of the sweetest and hottest heroes I have ever met.
Want to know what made this book even more amazing? Let me tell you… this lady knows how to wrap up a series… this book made me so happy. Most characters in the Hoops Series either made an appearance or were mentioned and it made it so special man. This series is one of my favorites ever and every character is so special to me, so getting to see them again and see how they are doing really warmed my heart and made this book even more amazing than it already was.
More? Yes! Grip! Freaking Grip and Bristol were in it too. I squeeled when he was mentioned and about died when he appeared. Thanks for putting all our babies in one book Kennedy.
Rated 4.5 Stars
I was excited for and highly anticipated Lotus’ story ever since she stepped onto the page in Long Shot. Hook Shot was well worth the wait. I loved it. I ran the gamut of emotions while reading it. As with all things Kennedy Ryan it dealt with some heavy issues yet the story didn’t feel dark or depressing instead it was beautiful rendition of life both the good and the bad. I enjoyed Kenan and Lotus’s journey, it wasn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination but it was amazing. I definitely recommend this book and series.
This book felt so much like a deep conversation between lifelong friends. Something that flows so seamlessly from beginning to end. Kennedy Ryan has a unique way of inviting you into a conversation, mid sentence, and making sure you get the whole story. Her writing prose is lyrical, poetic, and invokes deep emotions like not many can do. So many times, I wanted to snap my fingers and say yasss. Right from the beginning, I was smiling at the banter between Lotus and her girlfriends.
Lotus was like a flower in bloom. We slowly learned pieces of her character as they were exposed bit by bit. Her power is quiet, but ever-present and I think this is something that Kenan saw about her right from the start. She has a certain grit about her that is easy to identify, and hard to look away from. She is one of the most resilient characters I’ve ever read.
Kenan is mine. I’m claiming him. He has the body of a God, the mind of a master, and the heart of a lion. Kennedy knows how to write the best men, and I think she used everything from her toolbox while she was crafting Kenan. He was caring, understanding and patient with Lotus. He identified something in Lotus right from their first chance encounter, and I think his soul just knew.
What kind of man is meant for Lotus? And what kind of woman is meant for Kenan? Their chemistry is off-the-charts. Their flirting had me blushing, and I was downright giddy with every new interaction between them. They were fated, destined to be, and watching their relationship progress was such a pleasure. The culmination of their love story was so perfect, it was as if Almighty God himself wrote it.
Hook Shot is a story of resilience, a tale of true soulmates, and an exemplification of the power of love.
Alright. Hook Shot. Holy crap. I know by now Kennedy is a total goddess and she has the power to break me — and put me back together again — with her words. But whoa. This book. I’m not even exaggerating when I say I read it from cover to cover in one sitting. Lotus and Kenan gripped me from the very start and held on through the end — and even several days after finishing, to be honest. I have nothing but love for this book, these characters and their story. Nothing I can say will do it justice, but I’m still going to try. Also, sorry not sorry about the plethora of quotes. Kennedy’s words are so gorgeous. I couldn’t NOT include so many of them. And believe it or not, I highlighted even more than this.
You all know I read for the romance. I gotta get that HEA. But, even more than that perhaps, I’m here for the characters. I love the swoony and drool-worthy guys, but I think I love the strong, kickass women even more. Lotus was exactly that. Is she real? Inspired by someone real? Because if so, we need to be friends. Romance needs more of these utterly amazing women. I thank Kennedy for continuing to share their stories. I loved the connection she had with her MiMi and her (equally amazing) cousin Iris. And naturally, I loved what built between her and Kenan throughout this book. Kenan’s definitely one of my new favorite heroes, in case you’re wondering. Not only is he smoking hot and one hell of a baller, but he’s a really great guy. Also a great dad. He blew me away.
Can we talk about the chemistry between Lotus and Kenan for a minute? Wooooooow. I swear, I thought flames were going to literally jump out of my iPad. That’s how hot they were together. The slow burn build between them basically made me itch. I wanted to lock them together in a room until they ended my suffering. Oh, and the payoff for the wait was 1000% worth it. *fans self* #KeLo is EVERYTHING. I can’t say much more without running the risk of spoiling things, but they gave me ALL THE FEELS. Every single one of them. At one point, I was straight up crying and didn’t even realize it until the tears hit my iPad screen. THAT good.
Hook Shot is a special book. And really, all of the Hoops books have been. They’re unique and beautiful, with gorgeous romance and characters whose stories make you feel. They’re more than a book, they’re a total experience. Kennedy achieved auto-read author last year when I read Long Shot and the entire #Gripstol series in a weekend. (Talk about a lot of feels!) Each new release bumps her further up my list of favorites. I have all the love for all of her books. I’d read her grocery list.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Favorite Quotes:
Just as I decide I’m giving up men while I figure out what the hell is broken in me, the sexiest man I’ve ever met dribbles into my life?
I once asked MiMi if voodoo was bad, if we were bad. She said we weren’t bad. We’re just.
“Sometimes we hold so tightly to the hurt from the past that we miss the happiness ahead, and if there is one thing we deserve, Lotus, it’s happiness wherever we can find it.”
“Too often religion says yes, I do have all the answers, and if you don’t like them, you can’t sit at my table. So we have all these tables. Too many tables, and not enough love.”
“I need simple, but I want you.”
This kiss wipes away every man who came before him in a baptism of greedy lips and searching tongues, dipping me, dousing me, saving me. Changing me. I’m new. Different.
“What if she gave me to you? What if I’m your gris gris now?”
And I want to be eaten whole. Don’t parcel me up. Don’t take me in small bites. Consume me in one starving gulp, because that’s how I want him.
“You have stolen my heart with one look of your eyes.”
“No one has to tell a queen to wear her crown.”
“You’re magnificent. I think in another life you ruled a planet. You were the king of your own galaxy.”
You populate my dreams. They are rich with the scent of you. Your heart is on my pillow, and I taste you in my sleep.
NO SPOILERS!
Hook Shot was PHENOMENAL! Kennedy Ryan simply blew me away with the storyline and characters, and her beautiful prose had me addicted from page one. I fell head over heels in love with Lotus, Kenan, and their unforgettable love story. The entire Hoops series has been outstanding, and though I’m incredibly sad it’s over, I can’t wait to devour whatever Kennedy Ryan releases next!
Kennedy Ryan’s love stories are truly one of a kind, and she’s never been afraid to tackle the tough topics, even when they’re sometimes difficult to read. The storyline she created for Lotus and Kenan was far from easy, but the message behind it was powerful and important. It was a beautiful journey of healing, hope, redemption, and most importantly, love and finding happiness with who you are. Although there were some difficult moments throughout, the author had a perfect balance of heart, heat, humor, drama, angst, and swoon-worthy romance. Ms. Ryan created something beyond special with Hook Shot and the entire Hoops series, and I will forever cherish them with all of my heart and soul.
I fell fast and hard for Lotus and Kenan. They have been two of my favorite characters from Kennedy Ryan so far, and I absolutely loved and adored them and their story with all of my heart. I loved their personalities and smoking hot chemistry together, as well as how their relationship progressed throughout. I loved reading the story from both Lotus and Kenan’s point of view, and all of their banter and interactions with each other. Every time they were together, it was magical, and I truly envied the undeniable connection they had together. I never wanted their story to end, but I was ecstatic with the conclusion.
Hook Shot was yet another outstanding, addicting, beautiful, breathtaking love story from Kennedy Ryan, and I would HIGHLY recommend it and the entire Hoops series of standalones! Everyone needs Kennedy Ryan’s beautiful words and love stories in their life, and I honestly can’t recommend her books enough. Kennedy Ryan has quickly become an auto one-click author, and I am so excited to read whatever she writes next!
4.5 #KeLo stars
Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan…HUGE FAN of Kennedy’s work! I read a lot of books, but Kennedy stands out in my eyes for so many reasons! Her ability to reach into your heart and connect with your emotions is simply stunning. I can honestly feel the love, pain and happiness in my own heart. I carry the weight of the characters struggles when I read her books.
Lotus and Kenan’s journey was no different. The two of them are pure fire and their chemistry leaps off the pages in spades. Kenan is simply a dream! His love and devotion for his family is definitely one of his most attractive qualities. He is the book boyfriend extraordinaire! Lotus has a sad past, but doesn’t let that get in the way of her living her best life. She is strong, resilient and extremely loyal to the ones she loves. She holds her own and I loved her fierce attitude.
This love story is about patience, acceptance forgiveness and sacrifice. There is so much passion and love in this romance, don’t be surprised when you’re swept off your feet
This is such a fabulous series and I’m so excited for this brand new standalone. It has all the things I love in a romance including a sexy single dad who plays professional sports! I can’t wait to fall in love with these characters and their story!
Sports romances are a guilty pleasure for me. I’m not a huge sports fan, but for some reason I can’t quite explain, I just LOVE sports romances. And this one is a steamy, sexy, and fun page-turner with truly memorable characters. Don’t miss it!