A COMPELLING AND GRIPPING STORY

"The heart speaks in whispers but sometimes by the time you listen its too late"

Hook shot is a compelling and gripping story. A story of, choices, domestic abuse and survival.



Wow, I was blown away with this story, not only does it awaken the awareness of domestic abuse but tells the story of two relationships, one that was destined to heal and one that had the potential to destroy.

Iris is young when she first meets Caleb, she is swept of her feet by the golden boy in Basketball, she has her own ambitions, her own future to look forward to. Iris is a strong independent young woman with a mother who used men her whole life to get what she wanted and Iris is determined to break the mould, determined to go through life being dependant on nobody. All Iris's plans and ambitions are destroyed when she finds herself in a relationship with an obsessive, possessive man, a violent and destructive to the soul relationship she didn't see coming.

Iris first meets August when Caleb is playing away,she is watching a game in a local bar near her hotel and they chat the night away, its like their souls are aligned, like they have known each other years and in the moment when it's time to say goodnight Iris doesn't take it any further and even though the pull is strong for them to kiss she tells August she has a boyfriend, that moment, if only Iris had known this was a sign, an invisible crossroads in her life.




August felt Iris, it was more than attraction so when he see's her again at a game he believes it's fate until he discovers the boyfriend she was taking about was his rival in the sport Caleb.

Caleb is a possessive and vindictive guy, she didn't see the evil side to him until it was too late, the once strong black woman became a shell of herself when she became trapped in a relationship she couldn't get out of.

Many times August and Iris cross paths, and even when they are apart he thinks of Iris. August has no idea what Iris is going through behind closed doors he sees only what the media see's, the golden boy of basketball and his new fiance but he was taught one thing by is father and goes by has gut and that is, when the time is right he needs to take a shot.

"The last thing I wanted to be was a poster child for domestic abuse, not with the way our culture finds a way of blaming the victim but none of that was the deciding factor in why I finally spoke, I spoke because maybe there's some girl like me, young, vulnerable, naive, flattered by his attention, maybe she thinks that jealousy means he loves her more or that's cute but she realises slowly, surely, shes being cut off from her friends, isolated from her family, being moulded into something shes not, into what he wants her to be. The heart speaks in whispers but sometimes by the time you listen, its too late"

A beautiful but powerful story. August will make you week at the knees and your heart melt.

This story is bittersweet and worth the five stars given. Kennedy Ryan has a way with words and when I listened to this book in audio, the words either went straight to my heart or sat at the forefront of my mind for me to ponder on.

I have read Book three HOOK SHOT which is Lotus's story, Iris's cousin and when I read that I was eager to know Iris's story. Each book ca be read as a standalone and the author gives away no spoilers to the other stories. I am eagerly wanting to read other books in this series and more books from Kennedy Ryan.

1 person found this helpful

Long Shot

The story and narration are good BUT according to the author there are chapters that are omitted in the audio book. I feel so so cheated

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Could listen forever

I have read this book so many times, this story line has become one of my many comfort reads
The readers voice!! Omg I could listen to him forever

All the emotions, just brilliant

It’s been some time since I read the book, I knew the audio would be a hard listen due to some of the contents. However this was brought to life with so much emotion by the narrators. I felt every single one of those emotions.

Kennedy has a way to bring us to our knees with her words. This just brought it to another level.

An amazing book from a fantastic series.

Iris and August’s story is one of heartache, heartbreak, violence and then so much love. It’s certainly a very powerful read and so well adapted to audio.

"wow" you need to listen to this book...

im not one to listen to narrators im not used to but I loved it! narrator's performance was excellent. They sunk into their character and brought them to Life. my imaginations were wilding😂😭🤣😠. Good Work Kennedy.

Engaging, Touching, Real

I really enjoyed this story, and thought it was a truely excellent book. This novel covers the really difficult subject of domestic violence, toxic relationships, and coercive control with care and in a believable way, but also really depicted the absolute awfulness of the situation so vividly.

Iris truely was an amazing character. She went through so much with her ex-partner, she really was a warrior princess. August is the basketball player who she meets by chance, but it's a case of the right person, at the wrong time and wrong place. Covering a number of years this story sees August and Iris' relationship develop over time, and against adversity. This is a genuinely gritty and real story.

I would recommend this to readers who enjoy sports romances, contemporary fiction and people finding light and hope from darkness.

This is a complete standalone story told in dual pov. The two narrators were absolutely excellent, and really brought this story to life for me.

True love finds a way

This was a powerful and moving book reading it but this audiobook brings it to another level. Thankfully Iris survives everything Caleb does to her and August is one amazing man. The love Iris and August have for one another is so heart warming that it heals the heart after hearing all of the horrific things that Caleb does.

So sad that this book represents what really happens in the society today. Thankfully there are strong women out there who do make it to the other side.

I have heard Sean Crisden earlier this year and I think he is becoming one of my favourite narrators. I really love his voice. It’s so southing and really matched August’s character in my head to perfection. Jo’s performance was amazing as well.

Definitely happy to add this one to my library and so worth the credit used.

A Heartbreaking Romance!

I don’t know why I’m surprised, because Kennedy Ryan’s writing always blows me away, after I’ve been pulled into the story so much, it feels like you there the story. You can’t get story out your head, I worked with victims, not victims, survivors for many years. Kennedy still me shedding tears in so many parts. Thank god the parts with August and Iris make me smile. I thought I was reading a sports romance, and it did involve sports. Baseball was a subject that brought Iris and August together.
The larger story arc opens your eyes, Kennedy's books often helps us to open our eyes to a wider issue, and has done so spectacularly that has made very difficult for me not give away spoilers.
I will say this book doesn’t leave your mind for days after and is clunking away in mine. This is not for the fainthearted, but is a special book to me. Five stars is not enough for writing this good.
After reading the book and now having brought to life with the narrators I can only say it still made me cry Perfection.

Amazing

Absolutely loved this, I completely felt all the struggles and emotions in the storyline. Would 100% recommend.

fantastic

excellent audio, I've already read the book, the narrators took what was already an amazing book to another level. u love live loved this audio