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.”

I didn't like the previous book in this series, but I wanted to give this book a chance. I thought it would be different. But boy, did I struggle with this book. But I finished it, so there's that. This was just an okay read for me.
2.5 ⭐ rounded up to 3⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the E-ARC

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

I was waiting for Lotus and Kenan sinds Long Shot.

He was obsessed with her.

I am so sad to see this series finished.

Kenan is a divorced single dad that only wants the best for his daughter.

Lotus a wild card with a special believe.

Kenan has a hard time trusting woman since his ex cheated.

Lotus is living her dream of fashion in NY.

With her sister Iris being married to one of Kenans teammates they run into each other quite often.

From there on something sparks and that leads to an amazing story.

Kennedy Ryan is a bookish queen and this book hit the spot! I haven’t read many basketball romances but Kennedy did a fabulous job with all the lingo & terminology. I felt so many emotions reading this book & it’ll take me 3-5 business days to recover.

Kenan Ross, a single, divorced father nearing the end of his basketball career. His once-perfect life is in shambles, but everything changes when he encounters Lotus DuPree, a vibrant and passionate young woman. Despite their differences and a significant age gap, Kenan is drawn to Lotus like a magnet. Lotus, at twenty-five, is focused on her burgeoning career in New York's fashion scene and has no room for love after past betrayals. However, their undeniable chemistry pulls them together when Kenan moves to New York for the summer to be near his daughter. Kenan is determined to break down Lotus's emotional walls, while she is equally resolute in protecting her heart. "Hook Shot" is a story of love, trust, and the transformative power of genuine connection.

It is an emotionally charged contemporary romance that leaves a profound impact on readers. This novel defies conventions by exploring love in all its complexities, making it a standout in the romance genre. Both the characters, Kenan and Lotus are brilliantly crafted, with depth and authenticity that make them feel like real people. Kenan's struggles as a single parent and Lotus's determination to protect her heart from further pain create relatable and empathetic characters. Their chemistry is palpable, and their journey of self-discovery and healing is beautifully portrayed.

The writing is a masterclass in blending passion with vulnerability. The narrative delves into themes of trust, second chances, and the power of love to heal wounds. Readers will find themselves deeply invested in the characters' lives and rooting for their happiness.

The book is a testament to the idea that love is worth the risk, even when past hurts loom large. It explores the idea that genuine connection has the power to transform lives and break down emotional barriers. Kennedy Ryan's storytelling is a journey of growth and self-discovery that lingers in the hearts of readers long after the final page.

It is a captivating contemporary romance that challenges conventions and delivers a powerful message about the enduring nature of love. With its compelling characters and emotionally resonant narrative, it's a book that will leave a lasting impression on anyone seeking a love story with depth and authenticity.