What began as a tiny flame when we were young now threatens to consume us.
The Close-Up, an all-new riveting and emotional Hollywood Renaissance/HOOPS novella from New York Times bestselling author Kennedy Ryan and 1,001 Dark Nights is LIVE!
Available now!
Amazon US | Amazon Worldwide | Paperback | Audiobook
Blurb
I met Nazareth Armstrong when I was eighteen years old. From the beginning, my brother warned me to stay away from him. Told Naz to stay away from me.
Our hearts didn’t listen.
I shared one magical night under the stars with my brother’s rival, thinking it was the start of a once-in-a-lifetime something.
But one awful moment ended it all.
Years later when we meet again, we’ve both pursued our dreams, lived a little, found success…but never found love. What began as a tiny flame when we were young now threatens to consume us. I’m more drawn to Naz than ever, but his complicated history with my brother makes whatever this could be…nearly impossible.
But Naz accepts impossible as a dare.
Through his clever maneuvering and dogged determination, I find myself on a yacht with him and his friends cruising through the Mediterranean. It’s a whirlwind set ablaze. Away from reality, surrendering to the tender heat of his touch, I forget that everything could burn.
*This is the love story of Takira, who first appears in Reel, book 1 of the Hollywood Renaissance series. Characters from the HOOPS series also make appearances, but you do not have to read any of those books to enjoy this one.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
Add to GOODREADS
Review
5 stars!
Takira meets Naz the night before the basketball’s big game. He plays with her brother and has been warned to keep away from his sister. At the end of the evening Takira and Naz find themselves alone on the rooftop and they spend time getting know each other. There is a spark there but they don’t get to explore more than a taste before they are interrupted. Promises to reconnect after the game give both of them hope to explore their connection.
The game doesn’t go as planned and life changes for both Naz and Takira’s brother. Years later, Naz runs into Takira and that spark is still burning. He’s off limits even more than ever but thats not going to stop Naz. He wants the chance he missed and will do anything to spend time with Takira.
The Close-Up may only be a novella but it packs in a whole lot of feels, fun, heat, and heart in its pages. From he moment Naz and Takira meet, there is something there. I felt their connection and loved the time they spent talking and really listening to each other. They only get part of the night together and then its over leaving them wanting so much more with hope they could see each other again. Then everything falls apart.
When Takira and Naz meet again they are at different places in their lives but they are still very much off limits. My heart went out to Takira’s brother and I totally understood her stance on the situation but I so wanted her to just take a chance on Naz. Just when she seems she isn’t going to budge, Naz surprises her and they are finally able to reconnect.
These two are fantastic together both in and out of the bedroom. Not only are they are real and honest, opening up to each other and letting the other in, they also can to turn up the heat, bring on the swoon, and have so much fun together. I loved that Naz didn’t give up and that Takira followed her heart.
Overall, I loved The Close-Up. The story is fast paced and easy to devour. The feels are real and I couldn’t get enough of Takira and Naz and their second chance romance. We also get more of the characters from the Hoops series and I loved all of their interactions. They are such a fun group and they make me want to revisit the series.
*ARC generously provided by the author and Social Butterfly PR*
Hollywood Renaissance
Reel (#1)
Review
Buy: Amazon | Paperback | Audiobook
The Close-Up (#1.5)
Review
Buy: Amazon | Paperback
About the author
USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Kennedy Ryan and her writings have been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Cosmo, TIME, O Mag and many others. A RITA® and Audie® Award winner, Kennedy writes empowered women from all walks of life and centers those who have found themselves perennially on the margins of traditional storytelling.
Her Hoops Series (Long Shot, Block Shot and Hook Shot) and All the King’s Men Series (The Kingmaker, The Rebel King and Queen Move) have been optioned for television.
An autism mom, Kennedy co-founded LIFT 4 Autism, an annual charitable initiative, and has appeared on Headline News, Montel Williams, NPR and other media outlets as an advocate for autism families. She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son.
Join Kennedy Ryan’s MAILING LIST
Sign up for TEXT ALERTS
Connect with BLUE BOX PRESS
Instagram | Facebook | FB Reader Group | Amazon
Pinterest | Book+Main | Website | BookBub
