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mayawata_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I LOVE how they put his daughter first. One thing I love about this series is how relevant the problems the characters face are. How brutal and heart wrenching the trauma can be while also showing that life can be beautiful. Lotus and Kenan worked so well together. This might be my favorite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Death, Mental illness, Grief, Sexual content, and Car accident
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It was love a frist sight for Kenan, but Lotus's past has her shying away from any long term commitments.
As usual, this book is so beautifully written. This story is so heartbreaking and emotional, yet has so many heartwarming moments. The characters are so vibrant and well developed.
Their chemistry was palpable. The tension and banter was perfection. I loved the slow burn in this book. They took their time to slowly transition from friends to lovers. The slow pace of their relationship makes so much sense considering Lotus's past trauma and Kenan's challenges with his ex-wife. Their relationship isn't perfect, but they choose each other and have open communication.
Kenan has been through a horrible and public divorce after his wife cheated on him with a teammate. His ex-wife was so emotionally abusive and was a master at manipulation. He is such a empathetic, compassion, protective, and complicated man. He didn't let many people in, but he felt an instant connection to Lotus. He was so patient with her and his letters were so endearing.
Lotus was a strong and mighty woman. She is struggling with PTSD and has massive trust issues. She was a survivor.As a child, she was raped by her mother's boyfriend and then her mother rejected her for him. Her circle is small, but close, it takes a lot for her to trust. She was bold and loud, yet vulnerable and struggling. It takes a lot for her to let Kenan in, but once he is in, he is her world.
The addition of Voodoo was interesting. Lotus was raised by her grandmother and was taught about her "power".Lotus predicts death around Kenan. They end up discovering that his daughter has ODed and then she almost dies. Lotus assumes this was the feeling she gets, but later in the book Kenan is in a car accident and is declared dead. Lotus and Iris somehow save him with their "energy". To me it seemed like a bit of a gimmick in the book. I would have liked to have seen it explored more.
Tropes: friends to lovers, found family, slow burn, single dad
As usual, this book is so beautifully written. This story is so heartbreaking and emotional, yet has so many heartwarming moments. The characters are so vibrant and well developed.
Their chemistry was palpable. The tension and banter was perfection. I loved the slow burn in this book. They took their time to slowly transition from friends to lovers. The slow pace of their relationship makes so much sense considering Lotus's past trauma and Kenan's challenges with his ex-wife. Their relationship isn't perfect, but they choose each other and have open communication.
Kenan has been through a horrible and public divorce after his wife cheated on him with a teammate. His ex-wife was so emotionally abusive and was a master at manipulation. He is such a empathetic, compassion, protective, and complicated man. He didn't let many people in, but he felt an instant connection to Lotus. He was so patient with her and his letters were so endearing.
Lotus was a strong and mighty woman. She is struggling with PTSD and has massive trust issues. She was a survivor.
The addition of Voodoo was interesting. Lotus was raised by her grandmother and was taught about her "power".
Tropes: friends to lovers, found family, slow burn, single dad
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Rape
gabichatslit's review against another edition
5.0
I have the most bittersweet feeling growing in my chest, having completed this series now. So much so that I stretched this last book out because I didn’t want it to end and to leave this world that Mrs. Ryan created and this lovable cast of characters.
And wow, was it easy to love and root for Lotus and Kenan.
Two characters who had an undeniable connection, who meet during a crossroad in their respective lives and try to ignore (mostly on Lotus’s part lol) what they know will be a life changing love. Getting to see more of Lotus upbringing and her time with MiMi was really nice, despite the heartbreaking circumstances. I enjoyed seeing how devoted she was to her career as well. And I loved her conviction— in herself, in her love, in her faith even in the face on misunderstanding or other’s uncertainty. I loved Kenan’s surety of Lotus. His commitment to her and to his daughter. To being Lotus protector, her ‘gris-gris’.
Also the bits of Song of Solomon, made my heart ache and brought tears to my eyes.
This book was so beautiful and healing in its portrayal of love. I loved seeing Lo’s village grow and provide space for her to heal and grieve and stretch. She deserved every second of her HEA and Mrs. Ryan delivered ten-fold. This is my new favorite book series.
And wow, was it easy to love and root for Lotus and Kenan.
Two characters who had an undeniable connection, who meet during a crossroad in their respective lives and try to ignore (mostly on Lotus’s part lol) what they know will be a life changing love. Getting to see more of Lotus upbringing and her time with MiMi was really nice, despite the heartbreaking circumstances. I enjoyed seeing how devoted she was to her career as well. And I loved her conviction— in herself, in her love, in her faith even in the face on misunderstanding or other’s uncertainty. I loved Kenan’s surety of Lotus. His commitment to her and to his daughter. To being Lotus protector, her ‘gris-gris’.
Also the bits of Song of Solomon, made my heart ache and brought tears to my eyes.
This book was so beautiful and healing in its portrayal of love. I loved seeing Lo’s village grow and provide space for her to heal and grieve and stretch. She deserved every second of her HEA and Mrs. Ryan delivered ten-fold. This is my new favorite book series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, Rape, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Misogyny, Car accident, and Pregnancy
aquickreads_17's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual content, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Racism
thelibraryoft's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I wanted to like this book. I really did, but no. It started off really good. Lotus was starting a phase of celibacy to help herself heal from childhood trauma. Keenan is a NBA star, single divorced father, in NYC for the summer attending family therapy to help his daughter get through the divorce and the bad press that came with it. The MMC & FMC have some undeniable chemistry, but decide to be friends as they work on themselves. In the beginning of this book all of the minor conflicts get resolved super fast because they have great communication. . . BUT as soon as they decide to be together the story changes. It really bothers me that they keep saying “oh we haven’t had sex” when they really have done every version of it except P in V. There are a LOT of bible references, and Keenan becomes disrespectful of Lotus’s belief in voodoo. He also gets really possessive to the point of basically just saying “No, you’re mine” when she tries to end things for the good of his daughter. At the beginning of the story he is constantly putting his daughter first but he stops doing that towards the end. Overall, Lotus is a queen and deserves way better than Keenan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicide attempt
sydneymcduffie's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Rape, and Child abuse
Moderate: Suicide attempt
100_pages_hr's review against another edition
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Sexual assault
blakeandbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Rape, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I just KNEW as soon as we met Kenan and Lotus in the first book, that I wanted to read their story as soon as I finished. And this book did not disappoint; I liked it even better than Long Shot.
As always, Ms. Ryan breaks our heart but she puts it back together. I cried so many times during this book, and the love story is so beautiful (the Song of Solomon quotes? Are you kidding me?? *sobs*)
As always, Ms. Ryan breaks our heart but she puts it back together. I cried so many times during this book, and the love story is so beautiful (the Song of Solomon quotes? Are you kidding me?? *sobs*)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Rape, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Car accident and Panic attacks/disorders
veektorya's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Abandonment, Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Infidelity