About the Book

Set in the dynamic worlds of professional basketball and entertainment, two of Kennedy Ryan's most critically-acclaimed series-Hollywood Renaissance and HOOPs-collide in this tale of forbidden romance.

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.

Review

The Close-Up is a beautiful and emotional second-chance romance. Takira’s always wanted this great, epic love story. When she meets Naz when she is a teenager, everything clicks, and they have an amazing night together. Their connection felt effortless and intense, but before they got a chance to fully explore it, everything blew up, and they were ripped apart for twelve years. Even after that time, their bond remained undeniable.

Everything was nicely constructed in this novella. Nothing felt rushed. The pacing allowed for their history and lingering feelings to unfold naturally. I completely believed in Naz and Takira’s romance.

Naz had dreams of taking care of his mother and believed that a professional athletic career was the best path. As a teenager, he lived in the shadow of Cliff— Takira’s brother, who was so talented that Naz rarely had the opportunity to play. However, after Cliff poorly acted during a game, Naz was given the chance and played like his family’s life depended on it because it did. Meanwhile, Cliff mourned his almost professional career with drugs and alcohol.

Takira’s conflict was especially interesting because she wanted to remain loyal to her older brother and protect his sobriety, yet Naz still had an undeniable pull on her heart. That tension gave the story extra emotional weight.

Final Thoughts

The Close-Up was a beautifully written and emotional second-chance romance with strong chemistry and believable depth. The novella features a heartfelt tension, smooth pacing, and a moving love story.

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