You're always my destination: HOOK SHOT.

Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Kenan is dealing with a messy divorce, an ex-wife out for revenge, and a teenage daughter who wants nothing more than her parents to get back together. Lotus is busy with her fashion career, but comes up short when emotional and sexual trauma from her childhood affect her present-day relationships. Still, she can't help but be drawn to Kenan, a handsome and kind basketball player. As for Kenan, he's head over heels for Lotus, even if she's 11 years his junior.

I'm a fan of Kennedy Ryan's Hoops series (this is the third and final book), because I adore basketball. This book is related to the others (Kenan plays hoops with August; Lotus is Iris' cousin, and Banner is Kenan's agent), but can easily be read as a standalone. I will say that when you read the books closer together, they do feel a bit more formulaic. But overall, I enjoyed this one. As I said, I loved the basketball angle, with Kenan as the player, and seeing glimpses of his teammate August, who we know from other books. There's a good tie back to Lotus and Iris' childhood and New Orleans roots, too.

As with all the other books from this series, Kenan is a really, really good guy, but a bit possessive. This is the straight-up formula for Hoops. Please be aware the book covers sensitive topics like child sexual abuse and there's a trigger warning for suicide. The story felt just a tad bit long for me--it could have been shortened just a little. But it's sexy and fun, with great banter and strong chemistry between Lotus and Kenan. It tackles a serious topics while still giving us a flirty read. 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books in return for an unbiased review.

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If you wanna see a miracle watch me get down: BLOCK SHOT.

Block Shot by Kennedy Ryan
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I really loved LONG SHOT, the first book in this series, so I was really excited when I received the next two books as ARCs, as they are being re-released. I am a total sucker for sports books, especially basketball ones. These books can be read independently, though some characters do reoccur. BLOCK SHOT picks up with Jared, the stepbrother of August West from the first book. Jared is a ruthless sports agent who has built his agency, Elevation, from the ground up. His life motto is built around not getting attached to anyone, especially women. But he cannot get a certain woman, Banner, his college best friend, out of his mind. They shared one special night together before a misunderstanding tore them apart.

BLOCK is an interesting book. Jared is not necessarily a good guy, and it takes a while to grapple with his desire for Banner. He is dominant, possessive, and pushy. Jared refuses to take no for an answer in all areas of his life, especially with Banner (not sexually, thankfully) or care she has a boyfriend. That's a little difficult to take in. He does grow throughout the course the book, but perhaps not as much as he should. He's not the easy-to-love hero that August was, though you come to understand his flaws.

There's a ton of focus on Banner's weight and while the book seems to be focused on body positivity--Banner loves herself at any size, so does Jared, etc.--that was a stretch at times. Body positivity morphed into a constant discussion of her size and the emphasis is less on health and more on her losing pounds, not eating, what she ate, etc. No thanks, and it seemed rather triggering for anyone with food disorders.

I did love Banner's intelligence and spark. That woman was tough! And freaking smart! It's great to see a woman in the sports agency market, especially one beating all the boys. The basketball talk was enjoyable. Her relationship with Jared was charming and quite sexy. Overall, while I didn't love this one quite as much as LONG SHOT, it was still a fun read. 3.5 stars

I received a copy of this book from SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.


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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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Take me home and leave me there: LONG SHOT.

Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

August West is about to play a huge game in the NCAA tournament. The night before the big game, he meets a beautiful and mesmerizing woman, Iris, and they have a wonderful conversation. Nothing more happens, but August cannot get over Iris. At the game, he realizes that Iris is the girlfriend of his greatest basketball nemesis, Caleb. Iris and August cannot be together, but they also cannot stop thinking about one another.

This is the first book I've read by Kennedy Ryan, and I was totally into it. I *love* basketball so living in the world of the NBA (August is quickly drafted), even a slightly fictionalized NBA, was so much fun. I need more NBA romance in my life.

The first thing to know about LONG SHOT is that it's not a light and fluffy read. It offers a very realistic (and potentially very triggering) look at rape and domestic abuse. This part of the story can sometimes be horrific and hard to read. However, I think it's very respectfully done--even educational--and really debunks the awful "well, why didn't she just leave?!" argument so well. But, if this is a tough subject for you, I would recommend skipping this book.

Otherwise, LONG SHOT offers an emotional, sexy story. August is a wonderful character, and I just adored Iris. There's a cute kid and tons of basketball references. You will cry, you will swoon, and you will root for Iris and August forever. 4 stars.


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