I enjoyed that the characters had real life issues, but the dialogue was cringe worthy. Do people actually talk like this in their lates twenties and mid-thirties??? I'm not sure this book or series is for me.

Thank you Sourcebooks for the complimentary copy.

This is the final book in this trilogy, and it was a great read! Lotus is such a strong woman for all that she had to endure in life and at such a young age. The chemistry between Lotus and Kenan is *chef's kiss*. Overall, this entire series is worth a read! Kennedy Ryan is an impeccable writer!

Having only read the second book in this series, who isnt a sucker for a single dad trope?
And a powerful, yet vulnerable woman?

What a pair these two make. The chemistry is divine. I love how even though they want to stay away from eachother, they cant.

Kenan, taking a chance on love again after his crazy divorce? what a man. How he treats Lo, is beautiful

If you want a quick, easy smutty romantic read, this is for you.

What an incredible book! The love between Lotus and Kenan wasnt what I expected as it truly took things so much deeper. Their circumstances were each complicated in different ways, but the love and support they showed as they took their time to lead up to a romantic relationship was heart warming. By the end of the book I was completely invested!!

As much as it is a beautiful, unique love story, as with all books in the series there are some extremely heavy themes. I highly recommend that you read the trigger warnings prior to beginning the book. In saying that, these heavier topics are discussed with honesty and are an intrinsic aspect of the storyline.

I was lucky enough to receive all 3 books in the series as ARCs as a result of their re- publication with Bloom Books. Thank you again to Netgalley and Author Kennedy Ryan for taking me on a beautiful journey into this sports romance series!

This book was just as good as the previous two. I am really starting to fall in love with this author. Lotus and Kenan were wonderful characters, I loved them together. I really enjoyed this one and I am sad to see this series finished. 5 stars.
I received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest voluntary review.

4.5 out of 5 stars!

Having met Lotus and Kenan in the first two books, I was ready to read their story! Lotus didn’t have the greatest childhood having suffered trauma no child should ever experience. If not for her grandmother, Lotus would have probably gone through life on a different path. Here she was taking the fashion science by storm at 25. A very far cry from her beginnings. Both she and her cousin Iris embody resilience. Then there’s Kenan. He’s a divorced father of one, successful as an NBA player, but his personal life is in shambles following his divorce. He wasn’t looking for any entanglements. But the attraction between Lotus and Kenan is difficult to tamp down every time they see each other. There were still many triggering aspects in this book (check them!) but not as harrowing as the first. Lotus and Kenan had to fight for their HEA, which made the ending that much more heartwarming. I applaud the author for having the courage to touch on very difficult subjects that sometimes don’t see the light in real life.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher at my request and voluntarily left this review.

This series is so good! This is a re-read for me and didn’t disappoint the second time around. It wasn’t simply a basketball romance. It was emotionally gripping, powerful, and the romance is impeccably written! I love Kennedy Ryan’s book, but especially love this series!

Hook Shot is the story of two people that deserve love. I thought I was getting one story when I started to read it but I ended up with something unexpected. Kenan was introduced in a prior story. Hook Shot shows how the events in the prior story have played out and how they have affected him. Lotus is not looking for any kind of a relationship. She needs to get herself together because she has decided that meaningless relationships aren't working for her anymore but trauma from the past is holding her back. They recognize something special in each other but they both have to travel their paths separately before they can find a path together.

I'm going to skip most of the details to focus on the end and the feelings the story elicits. I thought the bad guy(s) added a nice layer to the story. I like how Kenan and Lotus interacted with the bad guys. I found myself chanting yes, yes as they broke down each barrier put in place by the bad guys. I thought the interactions with family and friends were powerful and important. The author didn't waste time on throw away scenes. Each scene helped to build the reader's emotions.

I will give fair warning that this book contains some content that might trigger some readers. I thought the author did a good job rolling out the details of what happened to Lotus when she was younger without being gratuitous. In addition, if you are extra sensitive, the author chose to tell the reader up front which chapter details the situation so a reader can skip it. In addition, there is a supernatural component to this story. Lotus comes from a long line of voodoo practitioners. This is a key component of the story and runs through the entire book. It is up to the reader to either read it as supernatural in fact or to say that it is about the belief in the supernatural.

This is a contemporary romance that mostly takes place in New York. This story involves the aftermath of a vicious divorce and the effects it has on the children of divorce. It involves childhood trauma. It involves people making life changing decisions. This story is full of love, sadness, triumph, and tears. If you are looking for a well written story about two people who deserve lasting love, give this a try. I will read more from this author in the future.

I’ve been intrigued by Lotus ever since reading the first book in the Hoops series (Long Shot). We finally get to her (love) story and it’s intriguing as herself. Kenan is literally grumpy to everyone but her (and his daughter of course) and it’s cute and funny to see. I’d expect them to be stubborn with each other but they ended up falling for each other immediately without doing pride and emotional gymnastics. Their love was pure and emotional to read. I love Lotus, she’s as strong of a woman as Iris and Banner. They’re all strong in their own ways. I loved seeing the Iris and August tidbits. The relationship Simone (Kenan’s daughter) has with her parents is so real. I’m glad that Lotus understands what she feels and knows what she needs that she will sacrifice her relationship with Kenan in the meantime. I love that all of them had their flaws and was addressed rightfuly so. Death was a big part in this book, it was equally interesting and horrific. I learned a lot and cried a lot. This is the last book in the Hoops series and I will miss all of them.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Lotus and Kenan were everything good about romance! This was a beautifully written slow burn story with well fleshed out characters that I fell hard for. One of my favourite combinations is a damaged hero and a confident, brave heroine. The balance they bring to each other is chefs kiss.

Definitely recommend this one.

I received this book as an ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books through NetGalley and this review is based on my own opinion.

A single, divorced dad is about to enter his last years as a NBA basketball player, Kennan is still picking up the pieces of his once so perfect life when he meets Lotus.
Kennan promised himself he wouldn't trust a woman again but he wanted Lotus from the moment he laid eyes on her.

Lotus is a 25 year old girl, living her dream in the fashion industry in New York. Focusing on her job and trying to make piece with her past she swore off men but from the moment they met, she was drawn to him.

I expected a lot of this book after seeing so many things about it online but unfortunatly it was only a 2.5 star read for me.
I really struggled to get into the story for the first half of the book and once I finally got a bit into the story the author rushed a lot of different storylines towards the end of the book.

I'm not a DNF reader and I'm glad I read until the end to see that Kennan and Lotus got their happy ending.

A compliment about the way the writer wrote about difficult topics throughout the book tho.

Make sure to check the trigger warnings before you start reading!

Hook Shot is the third book of the Hoops series of interconnected standalones. This book…I don’t even know what to say. This book touched me on so many levels. I feel like it was written just for me. I found so much of myself in Lotus and her story. I don’t know that I have ever connected with a book as much as I have with Hook Shot! This story is more than a romance. It is about a journey through healing, of heartache and loss, putting others before yourself even though it hurts, finding oneself and loving yourself, and learning to let love into your heart even after being hurt. Kenan and Lotus’s story is so beautiful and the writing will make you feel like you are right there with these characters. I’m sad this series is over but what an ending! Thank you Kennedy for another amazing story!

another fantastic edition to the Hoops series. Kennedy Ryan's writing style is unlike any other. the story was packed with so much emotion. Just make you swoon, tear up and scream in joy all in one book.

Kennedy Ryan is in my top favorite romance authors of all time. She writes difficult pasts/presents and healing journeys of her characters with such care and tenacity. I absolutely loved Kenan and Lotus. They were both so easy to root for, and I could not get enough of their friends to lovers dynamic. Their chemistry was so palpable!! Literally every moment they’re together I was obsessed with them. Kenan is a single dad trying to help his daughter through his divorce via family therapy, and Lotus is taking a break from sexual encounters in order to process her childhood trauma. They both are starting from places with trust issues and difficult pasts, and they slowly begin to form trust and love and intimacy with one another that they’ve both never experienced before. There isn’t a 3rd act breakup, but they do take some time apart towards the end of the book. Lotus initiates this, and the reasoning is so important and necessary that it made me love Lotus so much more.

So many characters from her different books were woven into the story, and I loved getting those cameos wherever they popped up.

CW: child sexual abuse, toxic relationship, infidelity, child abandonment, grief, death/death of parent, suicide attempt, injury/injury detail

Ugh, my love for Kenan and Lotus is endless. Hook Shot hit me in a different way, at a personal level, and I spent half the book crying and the other half smiling. Kennedy Ryan really deals with a difficult subject and relationship building through it with such grace and strength. It's the kind of romance book that makes you know you aren't alone and gives you hope.

It also features a strong Queen, with Lotus running her own show, recognizing her needs, holding down for herself when her friends don't see it, and then letting herself take what she needs when she knows it's time. She's empowering, she's the kind of FMC I want in my books, from start to finish. Even better? Kenan sees this in her and loves it. Sure, he fumbles along the way, no basketball star always dribbles perfectly the first time, but he practices until he perfects it. Their friendship to lovers is that of time, effort, and patience, and we love that. This one also really ties in the pieces of the previous two novels perfectly, giving us Hoops fan the closure we needed and the happiness these characters deserve. Instant favorite.

I loved this book. The characters are realistic and have some baggage, but Kennan is fantastic. He doesn’t believe he will ever trust a woman again, but he can’t help but want to be near Lotus and break down her walls. Lotus is strong and has trust issues. She slowly lets Kennen in, but she has a lot to unpack.

I cried and held my breath throughout this book. The things he said and promised melted my heart. The conversation she had with her mom was heavy. So rarely does an author write such realistic characters that you are drawn in right away and don’t want to come out until the end, but that is exactly what Ms. Ryan did. Bravo!

I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

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!!!